I’m a beach person. I love the beach, listening to the waves crash, the smells, the vast open space of the water, and the beauty of the sunset as it hits the water. I love seafood – grilled shrimp, crab legs, lobster, etc. I see it as a thing of the past – who wants seafood drenched in oil?
I know I’ve been going on and on about this oil spill. But the beaches I love are in my southern states. I enjoy going to Orange Beach, San Destin, Pensacola, and Dauphin Island. I’m wondering how long it will be before these areas will ever be the same. Will wildlife recover? Marshes survive? Marine life survive? I don’t know, and I know no one else does as well. The news reports are saying it’s the worse oil spill in U.S. history and the sad thing is it’s not over.
Seeing the pictures of seagulls, hermit crabs and birds covered in oil, brings tears to my eyes. These creatures have no idea what is going on and why it’s happening to them. I’m sure they sense fear and are bewildered wondering why and how.
I don’t know what it’s going to take to fix this mess, stop it, clean it up, and make sure it NEVER happens again. Every group, every force we have, every environmental group, governmental group, needs to make sure there are laws, regulations, fines, etc enforced to make sure our beaches, waters, wildlife, marine life, etc is never in this position again. Preparedness – where was it?
I hope the other companies drilling for oil in our Gulf learn from this bad situation. Take preparedness action, take your job seriously, and make sure we never have this happen again. I don’t have the answers or the solutions; I just know the fallout of this spill will carry on for a long time.
I want to walk on the beach, feel the sand beneath my feet, the breeze on my face, white seagulls diving for fish, hermit crabs crawling on the beach, and the smells of the ocean without the burning sensation of oil all around me.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Fowl cries help...
I’m a bird in the vast sky – I fly from ocean to ocean seeking food. As I flew across the Gulf, I noticed so many fish lying on the top water. Eureka I thought, wow – fish everywhere waiting for me. As I dove down to grab a bite, I in turn was grabbed by a slick wet thick dark mass. I panicked as I tried to free myself, but to no avail. It was thick like glue and soon was stuck to my feathers. I cried out a warning to my friends above me, do not come near – the ocean is full of death.
I could see the shoreline in the distance and the waves carried me away. I struggled to free myself, but nothing could free me from this dark mass. I could hear people talking nearby and heard them say words of an oil spill. I didn’t know what it meant, but I knew the Gulf was not the same. As I drifted towards shore, I saw people looking with tears in their eyes. The thick mass had reached the shore, the sand glistened from the oil, the marshes were slowly dying, and you could see the destruction all around.
I don’t understand why someone would do this; it doesn’t make sense to me. I’m just a bird in a vast blue sky, but now I’m stuck in a dark mass of oil. Help me to understand, save me and my friends, fix the waters and fix my habitat, because this is MY home. I’m meant to fly, not drift in this dark mass – make my waters livable again.
I could see the shoreline in the distance and the waves carried me away. I struggled to free myself, but nothing could free me from this dark mass. I could hear people talking nearby and heard them say words of an oil spill. I didn’t know what it meant, but I knew the Gulf was not the same. As I drifted towards shore, I saw people looking with tears in their eyes. The thick mass had reached the shore, the sand glistened from the oil, the marshes were slowly dying, and you could see the destruction all around.
I don’t understand why someone would do this; it doesn’t make sense to me. I’m just a bird in a vast blue sky, but now I’m stuck in a dark mass of oil. Help me to understand, save me and my friends, fix the waters and fix my habitat, because this is MY home. I’m meant to fly, not drift in this dark mass – make my waters livable again.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Oil and water doesn't mix
I'm just a fish in a vast space - filled with water. Today as I swam, I noticed something different - something that felt strange & scary. I looked around me and noticed how it was affecting those swimming with me, they were having trouble breathing, and soon they floated to the top. I thought they were going to get a look at what was transpiring, but then I realized they weren't coming back.
What could it be? Who is doing this? And … why. I swam closer to the big objects in the water to see if I could find the answers. I heard people talking about an oil spill, I wasn’t sure what it meant but I knew it had to be the strange feeling. I heard them say it wouldn’t hurt the wild life, but I wondered if they had seen my friends floating nearby.
I hear talk of blame, I hear excuses, but it doesn’t change the feeling, it doesn’t bring back life, and I still see the dark ugly spill all around me.
I’m just a fish in a vast space, but this is my home these people have invaded, and it’s my home that’s being damaged. Do they care? Or is it okay to lose a few fish, a few birds, and other living creatures? It matters to me, this is my home – this is my vast space.
In preparing for seasons, we get ready. For summer, we make sure the air condition, the ceiling fans, and all areas of coolness are ready. For winter, we make sure we have fire wood; we make sure the heaters are ready to be turned on for the cold blistery days. For spring, we start getting ready for the upcoming summer months. There are still days we need the heat, and there are days we’ll need the AC. For the hurricane season, we prepare our evacuation routes, we buy bottled water, flashlights and all essentials needed to sustain us. During a tornado season, we ready ourselves and family by getting in a closet, having a radio tuned to the latest news and weather reports. To prepare us for an oil spill … where is the plan of action? What measures are taken and why isn’t there “OIL SPILL PREPAREDNESS MEETINGS”. It seems we have so many groups, so many plans, so many people – but no action of how to prevent such things, how to prepare for them, and how to stop them from happening.
We can’t always predict the weather, the path of a tornado or hurricane, but from past weather disasters, we’ve learned to be prepared, we’ve learned to be on top of our game and learned to take immediate action.
It’s time we learned from the weather. It’s time for a plan of action so they’ll be no more loss in the water. It’s time to take action. No more excuses – just get it done NOW.
What could it be? Who is doing this? And … why. I swam closer to the big objects in the water to see if I could find the answers. I heard people talking about an oil spill, I wasn’t sure what it meant but I knew it had to be the strange feeling. I heard them say it wouldn’t hurt the wild life, but I wondered if they had seen my friends floating nearby.
I hear talk of blame, I hear excuses, but it doesn’t change the feeling, it doesn’t bring back life, and I still see the dark ugly spill all around me.
I’m just a fish in a vast space, but this is my home these people have invaded, and it’s my home that’s being damaged. Do they care? Or is it okay to lose a few fish, a few birds, and other living creatures? It matters to me, this is my home – this is my vast space.
In preparing for seasons, we get ready. For summer, we make sure the air condition, the ceiling fans, and all areas of coolness are ready. For winter, we make sure we have fire wood; we make sure the heaters are ready to be turned on for the cold blistery days. For spring, we start getting ready for the upcoming summer months. There are still days we need the heat, and there are days we’ll need the AC. For the hurricane season, we prepare our evacuation routes, we buy bottled water, flashlights and all essentials needed to sustain us. During a tornado season, we ready ourselves and family by getting in a closet, having a radio tuned to the latest news and weather reports. To prepare us for an oil spill … where is the plan of action? What measures are taken and why isn’t there “OIL SPILL PREPAREDNESS MEETINGS”. It seems we have so many groups, so many plans, so many people – but no action of how to prevent such things, how to prepare for them, and how to stop them from happening.
We can’t always predict the weather, the path of a tornado or hurricane, but from past weather disasters, we’ve learned to be prepared, we’ve learned to be on top of our game and learned to take immediate action.
It’s time we learned from the weather. It’s time for a plan of action so they’ll be no more loss in the water. It’s time to take action. No more excuses – just get it done NOW.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Sun & the Moon
As I was driving home tonight from a long trip, I thought about life & how it compared to the road I was traveling. If you've never driven on the Natchez Trace, then you've never experienced the amazing sights of nature and the solitude of the drive. I thought about life, events going on in my present world, and how the road reminded me of situations in my life. Traveling on the Trace there are no street lights, no stop signs, traffic lights, stores or gas stations. There’s nothing but trees, animals and at times just wide open spaces.
As I looked out my window, I could see the moon shining down on me and it made me think of God, and despite the time of day, He shines like the moon and the sun. He's always watching over us, guiding us, and lighting our way regardless of the road we're traveling.
Life has unexpected bumps in the road, unexpected turns, and even the occasional traffic jam. There are times as we enter a "curve" we have no idea what's around the bend. When we face a "hill", we don't know what's going to meet us on the other side; we just faithfully follow the road and observe all the obstacles around us. When there are herds of deer on the side of the road, I slow down wondering if one is going to jump out in front of me or even collide with the side of my car. There are things in life just like the deer, there are situations that force us to slow down, be observant, and cautious.
There are times when life is like a nice country drive, little or no traffic, animals are where they're suppose to be (out-of-sight), and there are no dangerous curves or steep hills to climb. Put the car on cruise; enjoy the scenery and just drive. We're at peace, all is well, and we can just reflect on the joys of life.
Then ... we come to road constructions, traffic piled up, people switching lanes, frustration all around us, and we're stuck waiting and wondering if we'll ever get to our destination. Life is just like this, there are events and situations that force us to slow down, force us to decide whether or not to move ahead or detour another way.
Regardless of our roads in life, God is forever shining down upon us as the Sun and as the Moon. He can see the distance, he knows the road, and he knows the outcome. All he asks is our faith, the kind of faith that can move a mountain, part a sea, and the faith in knowing he loves us unconditionally.
What separates us from God is sin. There may be days we can’t “see” the sun or the moon because the clouds seem to hide them. But just like God’s love, the sun and the moon are behind the clouds waiting for the clouds to move away. God is always waiting on us to seek him, to ask forgiveness, and to glorify his name. God doesn’t leave us even when we walk away from him; he continually loves us and watches over us.
The next time you travel remember God's love, his guiding light, and know that he's traveled these roads, protects us as we head to our destiny and he knows what road we need to travel in life. Regardless of what we encounter on our life road, God is with us always and forever.
As I looked out my window, I could see the moon shining down on me and it made me think of God, and despite the time of day, He shines like the moon and the sun. He's always watching over us, guiding us, and lighting our way regardless of the road we're traveling.
Life has unexpected bumps in the road, unexpected turns, and even the occasional traffic jam. There are times as we enter a "curve" we have no idea what's around the bend. When we face a "hill", we don't know what's going to meet us on the other side; we just faithfully follow the road and observe all the obstacles around us. When there are herds of deer on the side of the road, I slow down wondering if one is going to jump out in front of me or even collide with the side of my car. There are things in life just like the deer, there are situations that force us to slow down, be observant, and cautious.
There are times when life is like a nice country drive, little or no traffic, animals are where they're suppose to be (out-of-sight), and there are no dangerous curves or steep hills to climb. Put the car on cruise; enjoy the scenery and just drive. We're at peace, all is well, and we can just reflect on the joys of life.
Then ... we come to road constructions, traffic piled up, people switching lanes, frustration all around us, and we're stuck waiting and wondering if we'll ever get to our destination. Life is just like this, there are events and situations that force us to slow down, force us to decide whether or not to move ahead or detour another way.
Regardless of our roads in life, God is forever shining down upon us as the Sun and as the Moon. He can see the distance, he knows the road, and he knows the outcome. All he asks is our faith, the kind of faith that can move a mountain, part a sea, and the faith in knowing he loves us unconditionally.
What separates us from God is sin. There may be days we can’t “see” the sun or the moon because the clouds seem to hide them. But just like God’s love, the sun and the moon are behind the clouds waiting for the clouds to move away. God is always waiting on us to seek him, to ask forgiveness, and to glorify his name. God doesn’t leave us even when we walk away from him; he continually loves us and watches over us.
The next time you travel remember God's love, his guiding light, and know that he's traveled these roads, protects us as we head to our destiny and he knows what road we need to travel in life. Regardless of what we encounter on our life road, God is with us always and forever.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Unconditional Love
As a child I heard many times about God's unconditional love. I was at church almost every day of the week, Sunday School, Worship Service, Choir Practice, Training Union and evening worship - that was just on Sunday. Wednesday nights meant potluck suppers, and prayer meeting to follow. Thursday nights were youth Bible Studies, Friday night - skate night, Saturday mornings - Bus Ministry, and Saturday nights - skate night again. I knew God loved us in spite of our actions.
Until I became a mother, I didn't fully grasp what Unconditional Love really meant. You love your child in spite of the terrible twos, the independent 3's, and the endless questions of "why" at age 4 and 5.
I remember an incident with my son when he was in the beginning stages of the terrible two's. We are at the grocery store and he wanted out of the shopping cart, and I gave in to his demands. Big mistake, he threw a fit - laid on the floor and I calmly walked over him and continued shopping. I was hoping no one was watching and no one knew it was my child. Within moments he jumped up and ran screaming after me, so much for me thinking no one noticed. It was about a year before I ventured back into that store. I figured my picture was posted with a sign stating "mom with uncontrollable child".
It seems all through the beginning of your child's life you're trying to get them to talk, to say "mama", "dada" and all the words to every animal and color. My daughter loved to talk, she would come home from day care and school hoarse from talking all day. There were times when I picked her up I'd drive home and have no recollection of any of the trip excepting arriving home. She had talked non-stop about EVERY thing that happened that day. I knew every incident with every child and everything that had transpired that day.
As our children grow up, enter the 10 almost 20 age, hit the teenage years where they know everything there is to know about everything in their world, they become different creatures. It seems at time that aliens have arrived on earth, either replacing our children or turning them into creatures we don't recognize or remember. Our thoughts go back to that happy, giggling baby and we reflect back on - what in the world happened?
As a divorced parent and raising two kids on my own, I reflect back to events and situations and wonder was it something I did? Am I to blame for this alien living in my house? This is where unconditional love comes into my mind and I know how God feels when we mess up, we walk away, and we ignore his words. He loves us in spite of the way we act, the way we talk, and the way we live.
God doesn't give up on us. There are times as parents all we can do is just love our children, and to let them go, let them make their own choices and decisions and trust in God to protect them and guide them. Even when dishing out tough love, our unconditional love continues.
If God had human form, I'm sure there would be many days he would have circles under his eyes, worry lines on his forehead, and feeling tired and drained. God promises us he will never leave us or forsake us. God gives us freedom of choice, freedom to choose right or wrong, and loves us unconditionally.
I pray for my children daily, to make the right choices, make good and smart decisions, and to seek God's guidance in all they do in life.
Unconditional love - a love that never stops, never gives up, and a love that is in spite of.
Until I became a mother, I didn't fully grasp what Unconditional Love really meant. You love your child in spite of the terrible twos, the independent 3's, and the endless questions of "why" at age 4 and 5.
I remember an incident with my son when he was in the beginning stages of the terrible two's. We are at the grocery store and he wanted out of the shopping cart, and I gave in to his demands. Big mistake, he threw a fit - laid on the floor and I calmly walked over him and continued shopping. I was hoping no one was watching and no one knew it was my child. Within moments he jumped up and ran screaming after me, so much for me thinking no one noticed. It was about a year before I ventured back into that store. I figured my picture was posted with a sign stating "mom with uncontrollable child".
It seems all through the beginning of your child's life you're trying to get them to talk, to say "mama", "dada" and all the words to every animal and color. My daughter loved to talk, she would come home from day care and school hoarse from talking all day. There were times when I picked her up I'd drive home and have no recollection of any of the trip excepting arriving home. She had talked non-stop about EVERY thing that happened that day. I knew every incident with every child and everything that had transpired that day.
As our children grow up, enter the 10 almost 20 age, hit the teenage years where they know everything there is to know about everything in their world, they become different creatures. It seems at time that aliens have arrived on earth, either replacing our children or turning them into creatures we don't recognize or remember. Our thoughts go back to that happy, giggling baby and we reflect back on - what in the world happened?
As a divorced parent and raising two kids on my own, I reflect back to events and situations and wonder was it something I did? Am I to blame for this alien living in my house? This is where unconditional love comes into my mind and I know how God feels when we mess up, we walk away, and we ignore his words. He loves us in spite of the way we act, the way we talk, and the way we live.
God doesn't give up on us. There are times as parents all we can do is just love our children, and to let them go, let them make their own choices and decisions and trust in God to protect them and guide them. Even when dishing out tough love, our unconditional love continues.
If God had human form, I'm sure there would be many days he would have circles under his eyes, worry lines on his forehead, and feeling tired and drained. God promises us he will never leave us or forsake us. God gives us freedom of choice, freedom to choose right or wrong, and loves us unconditionally.
I pray for my children daily, to make the right choices, make good and smart decisions, and to seek God's guidance in all they do in life.
Unconditional love - a love that never stops, never gives up, and a love that is in spite of.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Season for change
It's the holiday season, Christmas parties, Christmas shows, Christmas events, and programs. We get wrapped up in the moment, in the festivities, and the hectic season. There's a commercial on tv where a child asks "what about baby Jesus?", he's watching his family run around getting ready for a party, cooking, cleaning, wrapping gifts, and he reminds them of what this time of year should be about in our lives. It's not about the presents, the parties, the travel, it's about Jesus, the true meaning of what Christmas is all about - the birth of Christ, and the beginning of hope again in the world.
Lately it seems everyone is wanting to do a search of their ancestors, to find out "where" the family originated, what area of the country and what race and nationality. I find it "strange" that as we go thru life, and after several generations we still have the same choices in filling out any form or document on race. I'm "white", my ancestors were Scottish-Irish and American Indian. I refer to myself as just an American of the Caucasian race. I wonder at times where people get the ideas or mindset that because a person is mixed, or half of one or the other, then they must "pick" what they are in this world. Back when my family obviously crossed the "race lines", did we become Indian or did we remain Scottish-Irish, or when we entered the new world of American, did we cease to exist from our former lands, and just become an American?
When do we, or do we ever just say we're Americans? Why does there have to be a distinction among us, we have American Indians, we have African Americans, Spanish Americans, etc. I understand the wanting to remember your heritage, but it seems there should come a time where you just say you're American. You came here for a reason, or were brought here for a reason, maybe it's time to just be an American. Maybe there needs to be more unity in this country, and less of people trying to be separate.
We live in a country where races do mix, where people marry other cultures, regardless of a person's choice to marry, people need to remember we're all created by God, in his image, and according to his purpose. We have a purpose in life, and God gave us free will to make choices in life - to choose good or evil, and based upon our choices - we still have to answer to God one day.
When we hear about choice - I think about life, I think about children. In my opinion (and I'm not into debating this issue - it's my choice of my opinion), birth begins at conception. Abortion is a choice, but it's not a choice I support. Too often I see people not accepting a child for being born out of wedlock and/or a child born from another race. Maybe if we all did a little family research and see where we "came from", then maybe we'd be more receptive and realize that once upon a time, someone excepted a family remember that "crossed over" the line we have created in our own minds.
In my Bible, and in my experiences, as well in the many times spent in church, I'm taught God is the one and only judge of what is, what will be, and what can be in this world. Maybe it's time we judged less, loved more, and remember the real reason for the season.
Lately it seems everyone is wanting to do a search of their ancestors, to find out "where" the family originated, what area of the country and what race and nationality. I find it "strange" that as we go thru life, and after several generations we still have the same choices in filling out any form or document on race. I'm "white", my ancestors were Scottish-Irish and American Indian. I refer to myself as just an American of the Caucasian race. I wonder at times where people get the ideas or mindset that because a person is mixed, or half of one or the other, then they must "pick" what they are in this world. Back when my family obviously crossed the "race lines", did we become Indian or did we remain Scottish-Irish, or when we entered the new world of American, did we cease to exist from our former lands, and just become an American?
When do we, or do we ever just say we're Americans? Why does there have to be a distinction among us, we have American Indians, we have African Americans, Spanish Americans, etc. I understand the wanting to remember your heritage, but it seems there should come a time where you just say you're American. You came here for a reason, or were brought here for a reason, maybe it's time to just be an American. Maybe there needs to be more unity in this country, and less of people trying to be separate.
We live in a country where races do mix, where people marry other cultures, regardless of a person's choice to marry, people need to remember we're all created by God, in his image, and according to his purpose. We have a purpose in life, and God gave us free will to make choices in life - to choose good or evil, and based upon our choices - we still have to answer to God one day.
When we hear about choice - I think about life, I think about children. In my opinion (and I'm not into debating this issue - it's my choice of my opinion), birth begins at conception. Abortion is a choice, but it's not a choice I support. Too often I see people not accepting a child for being born out of wedlock and/or a child born from another race. Maybe if we all did a little family research and see where we "came from", then maybe we'd be more receptive and realize that once upon a time, someone excepted a family remember that "crossed over" the line we have created in our own minds.
In my Bible, and in my experiences, as well in the many times spent in church, I'm taught God is the one and only judge of what is, what will be, and what can be in this world. Maybe it's time we judged less, loved more, and remember the real reason for the season.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Make Memories
I love Fall, the leaves are starting to change, football has started, and it makes for good cuddling weather.
When I think of Fall, I think of our family vacation trips to Gatlinburg, TN, to Dollywood, and the numerous visits to Cracker Barrel. I think we visited every Cracker Barrel from Mississippi to Tennessee. My parents always wanted to leave late at night or early morning "thinking" my kids would sleep on the way - NOT. As soon as they loaded up in the van, they were ready to be there. My daughter went through a stage where she refused to get off of any roller coaster ride, the more daring, the more she loved it. She had no fear of rides, and loved the speed, turns and upside down motion and never screamed except when you forced her to get off.
My son was always fascinated by the Eagle shows at Dollywood. We happened to be there right before they were getting ready to release some Eagles out into the wild. I have a lot of memories from those trips, and am glad my kids were able to experience so much. If you've never experienced a family road trip, you need to do it at least once in your life.
If we didn't go to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, we spent Thanksgiving usually at my grandmother's. Every year my grandmother made homemade chicken and dumplings and lima beans. We would have turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings, but her chicken and dumplings beat anything. I miss the family gatherings, dinners on the ground, and spending time with family both near and afar. I miss the anticipation of visits, of the holidays, and I miss having all the family together. Seems life has taken us in different directions and in different areas of the states, lives are busy, too busy to take time out and spend moments making memories with each other.
Maybe we all need to take more time for each other, drop a note, make a phone call, and plan a trip to all be together. We can't undo yesterday, we're only promised today. There's a song that states we should live everyday like it's our last. Maybe we should remember that, what would we do if it were our last day? Would we spend time alone, spend time filling in all the minutes with those we love? Dance as though no one was watching? Be carefree? Love like no other? If we did it on our last day, why not do it everyday? Make memories ... spend time with family and friends and just enjoy having each moment with each other.
When I think of Fall, I think of our family vacation trips to Gatlinburg, TN, to Dollywood, and the numerous visits to Cracker Barrel. I think we visited every Cracker Barrel from Mississippi to Tennessee. My parents always wanted to leave late at night or early morning "thinking" my kids would sleep on the way - NOT. As soon as they loaded up in the van, they were ready to be there. My daughter went through a stage where she refused to get off of any roller coaster ride, the more daring, the more she loved it. She had no fear of rides, and loved the speed, turns and upside down motion and never screamed except when you forced her to get off.
My son was always fascinated by the Eagle shows at Dollywood. We happened to be there right before they were getting ready to release some Eagles out into the wild. I have a lot of memories from those trips, and am glad my kids were able to experience so much. If you've never experienced a family road trip, you need to do it at least once in your life.
If we didn't go to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, we spent Thanksgiving usually at my grandmother's. Every year my grandmother made homemade chicken and dumplings and lima beans. We would have turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings, but her chicken and dumplings beat anything. I miss the family gatherings, dinners on the ground, and spending time with family both near and afar. I miss the anticipation of visits, of the holidays, and I miss having all the family together. Seems life has taken us in different directions and in different areas of the states, lives are busy, too busy to take time out and spend moments making memories with each other.
Maybe we all need to take more time for each other, drop a note, make a phone call, and plan a trip to all be together. We can't undo yesterday, we're only promised today. There's a song that states we should live everyday like it's our last. Maybe we should remember that, what would we do if it were our last day? Would we spend time alone, spend time filling in all the minutes with those we love? Dance as though no one was watching? Be carefree? Love like no other? If we did it on our last day, why not do it everyday? Make memories ... spend time with family and friends and just enjoy having each moment with each other.
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