Silence

This article was originally published on May 9, 2012 on the old blog


Without a word, you spoke to me.

Without a gesture, I understood.


You tried so hard, yet I was blind.


Every breath carries an explanation.


Do you hear?                     Silence caresses your ears and delivers a gift.


Peace, Love, and Grace.

What do you want for Christmas?

You gave it to me.

What do you want for Valentine’s day?

I have enough already.

What do you want for your birthday?

I already have it.

What would you like for Mother’s day?

I’ve had it all along. You’re love will do just fine

My Amazing Stranger

This article was originally published on January 28, 2012 on the old blog


Occasionally through life, we are granted the gift of meeting extraordinary people.

Smokey's Baseball Game 2010

As we sail through life, it's easy to forget some of those people who made an impression on our lives in a small way. Like an amazing stranger that you never see again. Life gets busy, booked up, full of working hours, too many things on our "to-do" lists, people go home (busy) each evening and watch TV for several hours...until they retire for the night. We simply just do not have the time to think about someone we met briefly many years ago that made a tiny impression on our day. I am guilty of this as well as others are. So, this morning I have thanked God for several chance encounters I've had with people over the years. (I've been working on my memory since July of last year and recovering those lost memories has been progressing as I sift through pictures. I take pictures so often, there are many to remind me about specific days. Especially if there was an emotion attached to a photograph...and, I'm a chick...so their's ALWAYS an emotion.) 

In the "Fan" section directly above the players.

I remember the first baseball game we attended. I didn't know the real rules of the game, so I kept asking a friend (who sat 4 seats away with 2 empty seats in-between us) why different things were happening. He was frustrated, frowned a lot, and finally said, "Look, I came here to WATCH a game. Okay"? I smirked and thought to myself, "Fine, I'll ask someone else :-P ".   I looked around, observed most of the women were melting in multiple layers of make up, stumbling up and down the stadium steps in high heels, and only talking to other women. The men that sat near or next to them were holding a beer, hot dog, or pop and staring straight ahead at the game. The men were focused and the ladies were socializing in the sweltering heat. The men occasionally gave a head nod or fake smile to the women. This seemed to make those women very happy (or at least they smiled big and chuckled loudly).

So, I turned to my oldest son & told him I'd be back in a few minutes, stay put. He nodded. You see, both of my boys had asked me questions about the game, trying to learn it as well & I couldn't answer their questions!  :-(  My dad never really watched sports or played any, so my brother wasn't into any sports either. My mom... Are you kidding?  I had to learn them on my own. I squeezed out of the row of seats and went up the steps to the vending areas. I walked around for a few minutes, watching people interact with each other. Most of the men were in their own world's. As they walked, went in & out-of-doors, ordered food, or were going up & down the steps... their minds were on the game - I mean like total game zombies.

That's not a bad thing either, but I needed to find someone who was into the game enough that they could answer some simple questions, yet, I wouldn't be dangerously snapping them out of another reality into mine so sudden it resulted in brain damage or a scream at me!  :-)   From observation, I could already tell the other women had already scarred the men's mindset: "Will she ever shut up? I just wanna watch this game. Why does she come with me? I'm not flirting with any one. Geez!!"

I found one!! A very slender older man wearing a green shirt was standing in the 2ft X 3ft smoking section. He was staring at the field, but there was nothing going on down there. The game had like, paused. I lit a cigarette and stirred up the courage to say, "Hi, would you mind if I asked you some really dumb questions before the game gets started back?" He looked at me oddly and answered, "I guess."  I said, "Great! Thank you. Can you keep up with me if I go really fast- so you can watch the game?" He looked at his shoes, took a deep breath & said "Sure."

So, off I went:
Me: "Why is that guy on the mound throwing the balls away from the guy with the bat? Doesn't he want the guy to hit the ball?"
My Amazing Stranger: "Strikeout. Pitcher wants to only barely stay within boundries...wants batter to swing & miss."
Me: "Oh... Why Are the guys waaay out in the field running so far & hard to catch balls that going to land near their own players closer up the field? Why doesn't the other player just get or catch it?"
My Amazing Stranger: "guard the base. don't leave it" ...taps finger on chin... "Or lazy player and over compensating player."
Me: "hmm, okay...why so many intermissions?
My Amazing Stranger: "Drink Beer, gotta pee"
Me: "Thank you! Am I bothering you?"
My Amazing Stranger: "No"
Me: 'Why are there so many people over on that bank past the outfield?"
My Amazing Stranger: "It's free. You can't see the game."
Me: "What's an inning?"
My Amazing Stranger: "the # of times a team is in the field/at bat"
Me: "How many are there?"
My Amazing Stranger: "9"
Me: "Tired of the questions yet?"
My Amazing Stranger: "No, but the game will start soon."
Me: "Okay, Who are the good guys?"
My Amazing Stranger: a got a chuckle out of him.."There are no good or bad guys. The Smokies are in white shirts and pants."
Me: "hm, yeah that's what I meant to say."
***Queue the Awkward silence***
Me: "Will you be back to smoke soon?"
My Amazing Stranger: "In 2 more Innings."
Me: "Could I come ask you more questions as my kids ask me?"
My Amazing Stranger: "Yes"

And with that, he put out his cigarette and went away. We met two more times and I asked probably 30 more questions about the game, players, and things they did on the field. Each time he didn't seem aggravated or bothered by my questions. I think that he understood that I really wanted to learn the game we were watching and that the questions he answered, I told my boys when we parted.  That was when I added the Reds to my bucket list. My Amazing Stranger was from Cincinnati  :-)

Back to the List!

This article was originally published on December 15, 2011 on the old blog


This past weekend, the boys & I were blessed to mark another item off our bucket list! #25 was to take the boys to Gatlinburg, TN around Christmas time. I wanted them to see the lights & have a good time & they sure did!

The boys experienced many firsts. They rode go carts, played in a huge arcade, walked the streets in Gatlinburg, admired the lights, stayed in a hotel, swam in a pool in the middle of winter, & got in a whirlpool. Cole gassed us after eating BBQ(shew!) and Nicky bought at least 10 new tiny bouncy balls (we won't go there).  We met celebrities (cardboard), acted out scenes with Droids, posed in silly hats, & discovered Santa carries a double barrel sawed off shotgun! Cole & I got henna tattoos. The boys spent $5 to get me a toy outta various claw machines.

What a great adventure :-) I'm so glad we got back to the list! And I am thankful that God has blessed our lil family again :-)























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What Legacy Will You Leave?

What Legacy Will You Leave?

This article was originally published on September 2, 2011 here.

Last night my boys & I attended a funeral service for my Aunt Patsy. The minister spoke of how she was always smiling, the love she spread, protective nature, & her deep seated faith in our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ (the Legacy she Left).

I wondered how the funeral service would affect the boys. This was their first funeral service since losing their dad in October of 2009. It was difficult for them.

Aunt Patsy's funeral was totally different than their daddy's for many reasons though. The biggest reason being everyone in the family, distant or close, knew the status of Aunt Patsy's relationship with God. Her funeral really was a celebration of her life!! What Legacy Will You Leave? The boys' father very rarely spoke of faith or of any personal convictions for Salvation. When he passed, there was no celebration, only great sorrow. All hoped he went to a better place, but there was great doubt.

Aunt Patsy was full of life and the fruits of her faith were & are so very obvious!! Her Legacy was strong and prevailed.

When it is your time to part from this life, how will your obituary read? What will others stand around & remember about you? What words will they use to describe you?  

It all suddenly clicked for my boys!!

What Legacy Will You Leave?


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Footprints in Life

Which way will we turn next in our Footprints in Life? What direction do we want to take? What's around the corner? Should we worry about things that we have no control over? Should we spend precious time trying to figure life out? Why do we spin our heels worrying about how our kids will turn out? Why do we become consumed with ideas or thoughts?

In the long run, it doesn't matter which way we are about to turn or what's around the corner. Our Footprints in Life are measured not by our own eyes.

There is no need to worry over things which we have no control.
If we spend precious time trying to figure life out, we miss the here and now.

We can't worry how our children will turn out. We must simply put our best effort in to leading by example, not just leading by words. Our examples will been seen in our Footprints in Life.

We must not allow ourselves to become obsessed by any one thought or idea. Lest we find ourselves stuck in an alternate reality, ever missing the present.

Be still. See with new eyes.
Quiet. Hear with new ears.
Observe.
Take in every moment that God the Father gives us and cherish the amazing favor he has granted us each day.

We have no promise of tomorrow.
We have no bargaining power over life.
When a door closes, a window opens.
The cup is half full, not half empty.
We are resilient creatures, fully capable of healing, regenerating, and restoring  mentally and physically. 

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Fake Women?

Originally published on July 24, 2011 on Chrissy Adventures

I keep trying to remember and fill in the black holes of my life that I have lost. I don't know why I'm so obsessed with figuring out who I am, what made me who I am, and how I came to this place in life. It's not a bad place to be, so why does it trouble me so much to remember?

Maybe what I've lost are bad memories and I shouldn't pursue them. Maybe I'll be happier not knowing. Maybe, who I am right now is more important than who I was? Maybe all of these maybes are driving me mad!

I instant messaged a friend last night because her smile was so engaging. I thought I must know her well because I was drawn to her like a magnet. She couldn't believe that I didn't remember much about her. I told her I read about hitting my head, so that may be why I couldn't remember much. She must have fallen asleep at her keyboard, because she was typing and just stopped. I got my pictures down & my high school yearbooks to find her. There she was, flaunting that same engaging smile. As I flipped through the book, a note fell out. It was her handwriting. Studying the bubbly circles and loops, I began to remember a little.
I remember she was always smiling. She was outgoing, witty, and great at conversation, but terrible at writing, so I wrote her English papers. She befriended everyone and anyone. She could strike up a conversation with a random stranger. I remember she was the first female friend I had ever trusted. She was genuine and it never occurred to her to be fake. I remember this is why I liked her. She was truly the first female best friend I had ever made.  

Evidently being raised around mostly men, I'm assuming I had trust issues with women. Maybe I still do? Women are fake by nature. I've noticed this just since hitting my head. Perhaps I've always felt this way?
What causes a woman to lie about little things that are not necessary to lie about? They lie to each other & SMILE while they do it.

Just the other day, I heard a woman tell another that she looked great in her outfit. The complimented lady was embarrassed by such an unexpected comment, face reddened a little, then she graciously thanked her, turned and left. Once the other woman was gone, the compliment giving woman turned on the lady while speaking to another woman. "Oh my God, can you believe she's wearing that dress? Her butt looks huge. People like that should dress in their size, not their children's." The other woman replied, "I know! Did you see her hair? Her face is too fat for that haircut. Her double chin is, like, huge now!"

At first, I had a flash back of high school, then it occurred to me that these women were bred this way. Will a tiger never change its stripes?

From what I can remember, a lot of the women I have met were "nice" to each others' faces, but ripped each other to shreds once their backs were turned. Why?

I've witnessed this a lot recently. It's not only confined to appearances. This mindset is wide spread, covering discounting someone's accomplishments, clothing, make up-- to when another woman speaks. It festers, bleeds, and spreads like a virus among women.

Could this primal rage instinct come from the constant comparisons that are made of little girls to Barbies, models, or each others accomplishments? Are girls taught that to be worthy of something great in life, they must stomp out the competition? Do parents realize the consequences of the learned behaviors their children adapt from observation?

I'm a parent & by no means am I perfect. I'm sure my boys are as twisted as the next. My intentions are not to come across as hypocritical. These are just thoughts flowing through my mind as I strive to recover my memories and remember why I am who I am.

I have to say, it does sadden me.

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Stuff Dad Said

Originally posted at ChrissyAdventures on WordPress

Father's Day is right around the corner literally and I actual went to visit my Dad yesterday. We live very close to each other, but I guess I just am busy with my life and he with his, so we don't get to visit with each other much. Anyway, while on this trip to see Mom and Dad, I started thinking about things he use to say to my brother and I when we were young.
He has a great sense of humor and loves to laugh, although he isn't the best at joke telling himself. He has a very outgoing personality and at times my mother has hidden from everyone in embarrassment at his very open and comfortable presence. (Check out this video to see how impulsively fun he is in public.) I love that about him though!!
Dad never was one much for profanity. He is a baby boomer born in 1945. He had a few different careers early in life even though he only had a 4th grade education, was drafted to Vietnam, married my mother when he returned home, became an entrepreneur, was and still is a talented musician, writer, vocal artist, and adopted my brother and I in the 70's. In 1991 he dove into pastoring the church and has served the ministry since full-time. Rarely did a curse word ever leave his lips, but he did incorporate some slang into his vocabulary from time to time. He would also throw in a few words he thought were "hip" or "cool" from time to time.
Dad, although I know you are not on the internet and will probably never be - here is a tribute to you and the nutty stuff you use to say (and still do).
Got cotton in your ears? That wind'll fool ya!
There's a fine line between faith and foolishness sister...and we're on the line here!
Know what I'm say'n? Do ya dig me?

Sis, stop that! You're a girl!

Trust me, it'll taste good...
Fetch your brother for me.
This here's a little trick I learnt in 'Nam.
Flip!!!!!! (This word would follow his hammer hitting his thumb.)
Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doin'.
I get the gist of it.
Would you like for me to help you clean your plate? (said with a big hopeful grin)
Now, put this in your spirit... (Insert Advice Here)
Chris, do you ever get tired of talking?
Are you gonna eat that?

Truth in the house! (Always said in church instead of Amen.)

Come to church sometime (said to everyone he ever ran into...ever)
I'm pick'n... (this was followed by an awkward pause until you say "And I'm a grin'n")
Always keep your foot on the rock and your mind made up.  (This was code for I hid some money for you under a rock that your mom doesn't know about.)
Got everything covered? (Code for do you need any money.)
Now get this, ...(Insert random comment)
Are you reading me?
If you ever hit your sister, you'll have to deal with me.
Jesus never asked someone to take a shower or put on deodorant before he saved 'em.
Your mom said go to bed on time, so could you be quiet enough that she thinks you're asleep?
I did it, it was me. (Proudly proclaimed every time mom found something us kids broke, to save us from the wrath of mom.)

You gotta love people where they're at.

Maybe my dad was 1 in a million? I think so and I thank God for sending me and my  brother to him. I know his life changed after we entered the picture and I appreciate the sacrifices he and mom made for us.
Happy Father's Day Daddy. I love you!!

Mom & Dad - Before Kids

Plea to Inventors

I am a woman with PERFECT aim!! I know there have to be other women out there that feel this way too!
I begging someone to invent a pee splash shield for bathroom cabinets.
Let's face it, the sink cabinet in most homes is located less than a foot from the toilet (and even closer in some homes).
This may be shocking news...but boys can't hit the hole! And, it just gets worse when they turn into t

he creatures we call teenagers!! Someone, somewhere - PLEASE invent an affordable cabinet protector. (Wouldn't it be cool if it was a film like the ones that protect our phones and tablets? It could be even be reflective to help these men/boys see how BAD their aim is!)

uhm, I'm done now. Have a happy day everyone :-)