Alaska Day #1

It is 2:45am(Saturday night-Sunday morning) Alaska time and I am just finding time to post, so this will be very short.... Drive to Homer was absolutely beautiful and being with my family....there are no words..... We had a birthday party for my brother Kenneth who turns 50 this week and also for his daughter, Kyra, my niece who turns 18 this week. It was so wonderful to see my dad and hug him......tomorrow we are all headed to Church on the Rock and spending another day together. It is absolutely beautiful here, clean crisp white snow. Just looked at the thermometer and it is 7 degrees outside. The Lord is good. I am incredibly grateful to be here. To make the memories and share the laughter. I am going to bed now. :} My heart is in Alaska.....

Hills & Valleys.....

"I use to think that life was hills and valleys-you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it is kinda like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times, you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for" Pastor Rick Warren

Tonight, as my heart is weeping with those that weep, so far away, as they say goodbye to someone dear and precious, it also is rejoicing with a dear friend who is close, who was given a special gift today.

The Lord asks us to weep with those that weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice. For those that weep, I want to hold you close and let you cry and I will cry with you, asking the Lord to comfort your hearts as only He can do. My heart is raw and hurting for you.... And for my friend who is rejoicing, I am rejoicing with you today, I celebrate an answer to a deep cry of your heart!

When I personally weep, when I personally rejoice..... I am thankful for the people the Lord has in my life to share both sides of the tracks with me.

I weep, not as one who has no hope, but I still weep......

I know you are there, but sometimes, my heart still weeps when everything around me is falling apart and doesn't make sense. When the pain is so deep and we are hurting so badly that we can't even breathe. Lord, I know you are there.... I trust that you are there.... even when I can't see you. "When I don't understand, when I can't see Your plan, I will trust Your heart" through my tears, for myself and for the ones I love dearly who are hurting and weeping tonight.

Holding onto your hand tightly, Terry

Picking up the Blogging Pen Again.....

I love to write and I love having my blog. I haven't written on it for quite awhile and my heart is stirred to be more faithful and to write more frequently. There is so much in my heart that I long to share and this is a great outlet. So I am excited to start blogging again. Maybe I will even post a few things from my book I am writing, about my childhood, growing up on the homestead in Homer, Alaska. Looking forward to posting soon and sharing life with you.

From my heart, Terry

Life Is What Happens When You Are Making Other Plans...

Today is my birthday and I am overwhelmed with being loved from my family and friends. It has been a day of reflections and ponderings of my life and all that the Lord has done for me and my family. The last few years have found me in the "waiting" room of the Lord. It has not been easy, and I have not always passed the test. But one thing I do know is that the Lord is more interested in who I am becoming then where I am going. This week some special things have come into our lives as a reminder from the Lord that He has not forgotten us nor the cries of our hearts....The Lord is faithful. Life really does happen when you are making other plans.....

10 Quirky Things You May Not Know.....

I was reading Beth Moore's blog and she listed 10 quirky things about herself and they were a riot! She encouraged her readers to list their 10. They had to come off the top of your head and not be too deep or serious.....just 10 things that if people really knew you, they would know this about you....I thought it sounded fun....so I am going to give it a try and ask you to give it a try and we will find out some fun things about each other. Happy reading and responding....

1. I prefer plastic silverware over metal
2. I can't go to sleep in a room if the closet door is open...it must be shut
3. I always put my hand on the outside of the plane and say a prayer, before I board
4. I am not a mall shopper
5. I like my food more on the burnt side (toast, popcorn, steak, hamburger)
6. Flipflops are my favorite shoe
7. I don't like clutter
8. I absolutely HATE to camp
9. I love a good book and am sad while reading it because I don't want it to end :}
10. I love to study history....

We each have a story......

As I was driving down the freeway home from work today, passing cars and they passing mine, I took the time to look at each driver. I was wondering who they were, what was their background? What dreams were they pursuing? What wounds were they carrying from their childhood or youth? What makes them laugh, what makes them sad.....and I realized again that each and every one has a story. No one's story is more important than another's. We might think ours is more important, but it isn't. We are all on this journey we call life and we all have hopes and dreams and fears and tears...We bump into people all day long...may my heart be reminded that everyone is important, everyone has a story, and everyone wants to be loved.