Perspective.........

Link to news story directly below... sensitivity warning......

Police: Gunman's estranged wife worked at nursing home

I won't share all of the ways the story above touches close to home for my husband and I, but this was one of those mornings when he kissed me on the forehead before he left to take his position on the Courthouse steps (to protect it), when I told him, if "anyone comes at you... shoot first"... he replied, "I will". We live in a small-ish town, yet there are days 1,500 or more people come through his door -- the only door with the metal detector. It's astonishing to hear about the weapons he takes from people who want to gain entry through that door. The reason only that one door is used, is that several years back a bomb was placed in the basement. Fortunately, it was placed on top of the "gas" line, not below. This was very close to the time of the Atlanta Courthouse shootings. During the years I've been married to him, this is an exchange we've shared many times. Too many times. Again, too many stories I would have to share to elaborate on the "too many". Sounds hard core, but one would have to live in a law enforcement culture to totally get it... and my husband is the most non-violent person I know.

The simple fact is that we're not guaranteed another moment, much less another day. In one instant lives can be changed. We must be prepared..........

These days, I try to stay away from the news as much as possible, yet I'm trying to make a difference in little ways. Quite possibly insignificant, but only God can judge. Me? I try not judge. Yet, I'm human and know I do.

Another thing I know...

There is only one truth... and it takes me back to The Cross the documentary/move and the one Jesus died on.

Today will be a day where I stay glued close to the news. I'll be hearing more since the "big" news entities are in our town and the next county over.

Good news today... I see the levies are holding in Fargo, ND... waters of the Red River are receding, but it's still "iffy". More bad weather is on the way. Blizzards in Spring??? Again... we have no guarantees... only God's grace and His plan of salvation and our prayers make the difference(s).

The Cross... documentary/movie......

We traveled to Florence, SC to see it today... about 80 miles away because it's not yet playing in NC...

No words to express how humbling to see a man so touched by God...

My prayer for myself is to never be a mosquito again, because at times I have been...

But, to have the weakness and strength to be a donkey...

(you must see the documentary/movie for that to make any sense whatsoever -- it's the key!)

My prayers for my loved ones... for everyone I've ever known or encountered is simply that they will feel compelled to go see it, too...

If I never wrote another word on this blog... my last words would be... 

Please...

       Tell everyone you know (loved ones, friends, strangers... even those who may 

       have hurt you during your life) to go see The Cross... one humble man carrying one

       giant cross around the world for forty years, has the ability to change lives... 

       maybe even the world.

       God Bless You......... Arthur Blessitt!

Keeping my focus on The Cross today.........

One in a series of photos I'm taking of power line poles I'm calling
~ Tattered Crosses ~

Today...

writing many many names left handed on my white board in black

so many it looks like graffiti now since I'm writing over top of everything else I had already on it

in pastel colors of green, lavender, sky blue, and with a few touches of red

so much I could post about, poetry, photography, phoetry, and my amazingly sensitive puppy

so many wonderful things are happening today in my real life and by faith

yet, my focus is on The Cross today and will remain so as I think of all of my loved ones

near and far away...

past and present......

those on earth and those in heaven.........

thank God for the assurance that I'll see many...

so concerned about the ones I may not see there......

yet, thanking God for the ones I know for sure will be there.........

(still making changes around here -- new laptop finally on it's way to me! And, setting up a Twitter account so my husband and loved ones won't have to worry so much about me. When I knock the phone off the hook and don't know it.)

Hallelujah!!!

Didn't type much yesterday... but wrote a great deal of...

...... "phoetry" in my head. It's a real term. It's poetry blended with photography.

Got some stuff done, that needed doing yesterday. Still haven't quite got to rolling today. Much has been on my mind of late and I just wasn't in the mood for completing tasks yesterday. Nor, was I in the groove to do much of anything that required much thought, much less multi-tasking... believe I'm in the same place today.

Yet... Spring is calling to me from both my bedroom and kitchen windows.

Yesterday, it succeeded, so I picked up my camera and began to photograph unlikely pairings and uncommon partnerships surrounding and hanging upon one of my sleeping Crepe Myrtle trees. In the summer it's 2/3 white with 1/3 lavendar. Although when we bought it from the nursery 70 miles from here, it was supposed to be all lavendar, God decided to highlight the lavender with white. In my mind I see the white as a beautiful French lace. Which reminds me of my grandmother.

Took some great shots of my adorable companion Springers, too -- Sydney and Chance. Sydney biting upon my rose bushes... while Chance sniffed the air and listened to the wind. All the while looking like the Strawman from the Wizard of Oz having rolled in the dry Zoysia grass in my backyard. He adores doing that when Spring comes and the ground begins to warm. It's another sign that Spring has arrived.

As I snapped each photo, captions didn't come to mind for each, but rather... poetry... more or less a running poem connecting one photo to another. The combo of which = Phoetry.

Hoping today I'll share the pics and maybe a little of the Phoetry -- we shall see. For that to happen, I must get moving... get rolling on a very late start of my day. Although I've been awake for hours.

In the meantime, I want to take a moment to mention the premiere of movie The Cross -- the story of Authur Blessitt's 40 year journey of carrying a cross around the world in every nation.......... sharing a couple of youtubes to intrigue my readers... the first is the actual movie trailer. The second is a snippet youtube (as I call them) of Arthur's experience in Africa... it's amazing!!! I'll be sharing a few others from time to time. I encourage all of my readers to grab your family members and friends and go see this movie! Enough said for now.........