IT'S MY PARTY & I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO!

Therapeutic. Really? Whoever said crying can be good for you has obviously not encountered one of MY episodes. If you’ve been blessed to be around me during one of my hissy fits, then I apologize and you are exempt from reading the next two paragraphs. (You’ve already lived through this and once is definitely enough.) For everyone else, here’s a hint of what this scenario looks like (from a safe distance):

PHASE 1: I first realize that I am about to spontaneously burst into tears, and I momentarily loose my voice. This is probably a good thing, except that it causes me to have a terribly sore throat. Eventually, I am able to swallow the knot in my neck that was causing me to be a mute and gain back some volume. Not such a good thing. This pushes me into PHASE 2. I then loose my ability to gauge my own volume so I begin shouting everything I say as if I were in a crowded nightclub. Telling me that you right next to me and can hear me just fine will only fuel the fire; avoid that conversation if at all possible. Phase 2 is sometimes followed by and other times combined with (even worse!) PHASE 3. I go into anxiety driven, panic mode and begin to stutter and form words that really don’t exist. (SIDEBAR: This is the phase that usually freaks my hubby out the most. It’s bad enough that I’m yelling, but now I’m speaking in tongues and he can’t even figure out what I’m saying or what his polite, safe response should be. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The man is a saint for putting up with me.)

So that’s what it sounds like. What does it look like? Oh, I’m so glad you asked. It’s really rather attractive. As a matter of fact it’s so pretty that if you’re single lady trying to catch the eye of that someone special, pay close attention, this should definitely do the trick. My cheeks get all patchy like a baby with a bad rash, my eyes swell shut like I’ve just been hit with two baseballs, my nose runs like a kindergartner at recess in 40 degree whether, my hands shake as if I’ve just downed three or four redbulls, and my head throbs so loudly that I’m sure a helicopter is about to land in my front yard. How’s that for a pretty visual? Are you getting the full spectrum on this just yet?

So you tell me, what could possibly be therapeutic about all that mess? The follow up alone requires either a day or two of seclusion OR dark sunglasses, a baseball hat, heavy duty concealer, a bag of frozen peas, Sudafed, and half a dozen Advil just to clean it all up. So really, what good comes out of it? What could all of that ranting and raving possibly do for me that wouldn’t be better served by bottling it up and not letting things bother me in the first place?

Even though it’s not what I always want to hear, the answer to that question would be TONS. The problem with bottling up all your problems and issues is that there is only so much room in a bottle. Eventually, if you keep trying to pour more stuff into it is going to spill over. Worse yet, once you shake up or add pressure to an already full bottle, it’s likely going to explode!

The real problem we face is that our “bottles” aren’t endless and that at the rate we keep adding our problems into them they fill up fast. But the good news is there is a solution. God, in His brilliant design, has created our “bottles” with built-in “vent holes.” You can let you problems out of the bottle a little at a time so that there is always room enough for what is coming next. Crying isn’t a sign of weakness. It actually signifies strength and an instinct to survive. Crying is God’s way of allowing us to vent. As unattractive and painful as crying might be, it really does serve a purpose and help keep us healthy.

So today my prayer for you is that you poke a few holes in your bottle. Let out some of what you’ve been storing up. Cry, scream, or shout if you need to. It will only hurt for a little while, and in a couple of days your stuffy nose and the swelling in your face will go back to normal. Once you’ve emptied out your bottle a bit, have a chat with God about it. I’m sure if you listen with your heart, you’ll learn that He has a lot of solutions for a lot of your problems. He’s been waiting patiently for you to bring Him those problems for a long time. Truth is, He is the only one with an endless bottle and He wants you to put your problems in His bottle. Remember Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Hmmm...releasing me from my worries; now that is truly something to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Morning Hysteria!

It's 7:45am and I've been up for several hours with insomnia so needless-to-say, I'm feeling cranky and tired and I'm in a terrible mood. (SIDEBAR: Over the years my hubby has come to call these moods "exceptionally cute." Bless his heart.) So far we've had one "overnight accident" that we've had to clean up, one tantrum because a child absolutely hates to brush her teeth, and one teenage zombie that is monopolizing the bathroom and refusing to speak to me. My hubby is taking me in to work because yesterday I left the lights on in my van and killed the battery. I couldn't jump start it because someone was parked next to it, so I'm going to try again this morning. SIGH.



I must say, I'm exhausted already and my day hasn't even begun. I was about 43 seconds away from throwing a hissy fit myself, when I had to stop and take a breath. In that moment, I realized, this morning is really not so bad. There where days not so long ago where I ached for some excitement in my life. And you know what they say: be careful what you wish for, or in my case, be careful what you pray for because God is always listening and if He sees fit then you might just get what you asked for.



So I'll take these crazy days, exhaustion and all, because I know they are all filled with blessings from God. I'm working on counting my blessings one by one, and being thankful for them instead of whining about the way they present themselves. So today my prayer for you is that you seek out God's hidden blessings in the places where you least expect to find them. Once you see them for what they are worth, they are all the more sweet.

...School Daze!

Can you feel it in the air? It's just around the corner. In just a few short days summer break will come to a close. Soon my sun kissed kiddo's will rush back to school leaving behind a huge pile of wet swimsuits, sunscreen, flip flops and skateboards. Yep, they'll be trading in their summertime staples for backpacks, lunchboxes, pencil cases and notebooks. As a matter of fact, I currently can't find the couches in my living room because they are occupied by mountains of school supplies and uniforms that still need to be divvied up. (SIDEBAR: That is one project I am not looking forward to managing. When did school supplies get so complicated? Can somebody please explain the difference between wide ruled vs. college ruled, primary composition vs. regular composition, the different types of acceptable scissors, and what the heck a duo-tang folder is? My head is beginning to hurt just thinking about it all again. Ouch!)

And as bummed as my kids are that they won't be sleeping in for the next 10 months, they are so psyched to get back to school, see their friends, meet their new teachers, and find out what new adventures the year has in store for them. I can honestly say that I just can't relate. I was never one of those kids who looked forward to going back to school. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, I missed many a first day of school because I would get myself SO worked up and SO nervous about having to go back that I would literally make myself sick and end up with my head in a trash can for the half the day. (sorry about the visual)

I think their enthusiasm speaks volumes about the schools they attend. My two youngest children are blessed once again to be attending Glades Christian Academy (GCA), a private Christian school and ministry of Church by the Glades (the church at which I am fortunate enough to be on staff). My oldest son has graduated from GCA and is now moving on to middle school for 7th grade. I truly believe that a huge part of the reason they can't wait to go back to school is because of the fantastic experiences they've had at GCA. It makes all the difference in the world. I know it's cutting it pretty close, but if you are still looking for school for your child (ages 3-6th grade) and you are in the Coral Springs area, I highly recommend looking into GCA. You won't regret doing so.

So here's to all of the brave little soldiers about to trek off to their first day back to school, or for that matter, maybe their first day of school - EVER. My prayer for these kids, and for us parents and teachers alike, is that our love for learning always burns strong and bright as the summer sun. Have a wonderfully blessed year!

"People Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Best Friend"

For years I've hidden behind this facade that I don’t have many girlfriends. And lately I’ve come to the realization that I really am full of crap. I’m so ridiculously blessed with the most insanely fantastic group of friends, both old and new. And I’m not just talking about fair weather friends - I’m talking the wipe your tears, help you when you’ve dyed your hair the wrong color, plan your kids birthday party, tell you when your butt looks fat in a pair of white pants, force you to get out of bed and take a shower when your depressed, help you clean your house, or don’t care that you haven’t cleaned your house kind-of-friends. These friends are hard to come by and they truly decorate your life. (SIDEBAR: As I’m writing this I’ve got that song “People let me tell you ‘bout my best friend” playing in my head. That sort of thing happens to me a lot - I always seem to have a theme song strumming along with my thoughts. I’m a little odd, I know.)

I have three “old” friends that I grew up with that have helped define the person I am today. All three of these beautiful, unique women still live in Jersey and unfortunately we don’t get to see each other much. But I carry a piece of them with me every hour of every day (as most of you can probably tell by my attitude problem - just kidding, ladies). I couldn’t give you my take on friendship without giving you a glimpse into my relationships with them because honestly, these are the women who taught me how to be a friend. There is no part of my life that would have been the same without them.

First, there’s Linda. Linda and I have known each other so long she’s practically a strand in my DNA. There isn’t a moment of my childhood or teenage years that can’t be relived without including her in it. Our bond is one that I will literally take from my cradle to my grave. There isn’t even a definition for what our relationship is; to say she is my friend or my sister just would sum it up.

Then there’s Dawn. Dawn and I met in high school and went through more drama together than any two people should know in a lifetime. Through highs and lows, we somehow found our way with a wink and a smile. During a trying time when I felt I couldn’t trust many, it was Dawn who I trusted to stand next to me for the most important day of my life, my wedding. She will always be the Lucy to my Ethel.

And last, but DEFINITELY not least, is Vanessa. Vanessa was the very first person I met in high school. We were completely opposite, and still are to this day. But you know what they say, opposites attract. We were not without our troubles, but even differences couldn’t keep us apart. After years of separation, I believe it was the hand of God that drew us back together at the exact moment when we needed each other the most. Her friendship renews me and is a blessing I can’t begin to express in words.

Having said that I have to tell you that my “new” friends, the ladies I get to “do life” with every day are UNBELIEVABLE. They make me laugh (sometimes so hard I snort OR hyperventilate - take your pick), they make me cry, and they push me to be everything God intends for me to be. These ladies, my friends, hold me accountable. They keep me in line. They have similar goals and values and they support me and lift me up each and everyday. To be honest, I don't know how they deal with me most of the time, but I thank them all for sticking it out with me.


I couldn’t talk about friends without talking about my two best friends. My husband, of course - he’s the love of my life, and my other half. No one in the world makes me laugh like he does, and no one ever will.

And finally, my Savior, Jesus Christ. He was there in the beginning, He’ll be there in the end, and He’s there for every single moment in between. When all else fails, He never will. That is a promise you can rely on. My prayer for you today is that you’ll get to know Him, and if you already do, I pray that you'll get to know Him better. He’s truly the best friend you’ll ever have.

Those Crazy Crea's - Click on "Full Screen" to start slide show.

Live From Coral Springs...It's Sunday Morning!

I have HUGE news that was just too big not to share. Today, the church I work for and worship at, Church by the Glades, officially broadcasted on television for the first time. I'm so excited I can hardly sit still. It was outstanding! Go God!

And since my last posting was more of a book than a blog, I'll just give you some quick details and keep this one brief. You can watch Church by the Glades locally in South Florida - Sundays, on Fox WSVN (I believe that's channel 7 for most people) at 11:30am. In a half hour show you'll can get a taste of our message and rock out with our band. It's something to you have to experience to understand.

Even though I am blessed to be a part of this experience on a daily basis, sitting in my living room and watching it from home was such an incredible thing for me. For weeks, I knew it was coming but until the very moment that it actually happened, the reality of what God was doing didn't really hit me. I can just imagine how many people who might never have had the opportunity to experience this, will now get a feel for CBG and what it is all about. I am constantly trying to explain my church to family and friends that have never been there, and it's hard to put into words. But what I couldn't verbalize can now be visualized, each and every week.

Seeing how BIG God is has truly humbled me. Today my prayer for you is that in the midst of doing big things with your life, you will feel small compared to God.

Road Trip Reading

You ever get news from a friend that doesn't directly affect you, but yet totally blows your face off? I got that kind of news a couple of days ago from a very dear friend and it’s totally stuck in my head. I actually just woke up out of a dead sleep to start writing this because I can’t stop thinking about it. (Don’t you just hate it when that happens.)

So I'm not going to divulge my news, but here's the deal that's been going on in my head since having heard it: my hubby and I have been a couple for well over a decade now and I can say with complete and utter certainty that we are hopelessly in love. Not just content or even just happily married…we are ridiculously nuts about each other. You know the kind of crazy you get about someone when you first meet them and you can’t stop thinking about them all them time? Well, we’re still like that. Sometimes we’re just downright gross to be around; we still flirt with each other like two little school kids.

And even though my hubby consumes my thoughts night and day, I’ve never actually stopped to think about how fragile our MARRIAGE is. If we’re not careful and intentional, our fairytale can slip away in a heartbeat. Even as strong and unconditional as our love is, it can be torn to shreds if we tug at it hard enough.

Now I’m wondering, what does it really take to make it last forever. My Pastor, David Hughes, once referred to a marriage as not just being a commitment, but being more of a covenant. When he first said it I took it in, but today that statement seems to be ringing in my ears. So I'll say it again. Marriage is a covenant. (SIDEBAR: Pastor David just happens to be one of the most honest, insightful, Kingdom-minded people I've ever had the honor and privilege of knowing. Do yourself a favor and check out what he has to say about this subject by logging on to www.cbglades.com and downloading a podcast. The series I'm referring to is Relationship Rehab - "4 Wedding Vows and a Funeral." If you have any problems retrieving it, just drop me a line and I'll be more than happy to help you.)


So now I can't stop thinking about the difference between the two. Have I been living my marriage as a commitment, or a covenant? In order to really figure it out I had to consult www.dictionary.com to discover the difference, linguistically, between the two. Here's the verdict:


Commitment: a pledge or promise; an obligation
Covenant: a binding agreement; a contract


Alright, now I'm getting somewhere. The best I can relate this to is renting vs. owning. When we took our vows, did we take out a lease on marriage, or did we sign a mortgage and assume the title? Got it. For us, there was NO turning back. We definitely bought the house. We are in this for the long haul, no matter how many times we've got to refinance or remodel in order to make it work.

So now that I've got this all figured out, I think I can finally sleep. Only I roll over and catch a glimpse of my hottie hubby sleeping, and everything I've been thinking about begins to make sense to me. See, my hubby’s been experiencing some pain in his shoulder for a while now. And lately, it’s been getting worse, a lot worse. The thing is, when he’s in pain, I physically ache for him. So he’s lying there, and even while he's dead asleep it is so obvious that he is in agonizing pain. The only thing in the world I want to do is comfort him and take his pain away. It may seem like a silly example, but I LOVE sleep and at this moment I can't enjoy it. I can’t find joy in anything when he’s hurting. If he’s in a rut, I’m in a rut with him. We are a team, one unit, through good times and bad.


And like the rest of the country, the economy has affected us pretty hard over the last year. We’ve had to change a lot of our spending habits and tighten our belts. Financial hardships have a way of putting a strain on a marriage like nothing else can. But you know what I found? The tighter our belts got, the more we've had make an effort to laugh together. The more our bills piled up, the more we had snuggle up on the couch together. We've refused to let a piece of paper, whether it's a dollar or a bill affect how we feel about each other.


But the biggest lesson we've learned, the one that's taken the longest to figure out, the one that's caused us more problems in the past, is that we have to communicate. It's just not optional; it's not something we can do once in a while. It's something we have to do every, single day or suddenly the little seemingly unimportant details get missed. Sounds like nothing at first, but that type of thing becomes a habit. Before you know it, you find yourself telling each other less and less. And then one day you wake up, and instead of the single unit you once were, you find yourself to be two separate people living two separate lives. This is were it gets REALLY bad.


So we try to make it a habit to talk (this is much easier for me than for my hubby, just ask him, he'll tell you I can't shut up). And when we seem to have nothing much to say to one another, I'll ask him to "tell me the good stuff." That's our little way of reminding each other to find some random detail of our day to talk about. It doesn't really matter what it is. It's the practice of connecting; some way of letting each other in. It might not seem important right at that moment, but in the long run it's crucial.


I guess the point I'm getting at is that to me, marriage is like a road trip. It can be so much fun, and there is so many interesting things to see while your driving. But there are all kinds of hazards along the way if you are not prepared and are not taking precautions. You can get lost, break down, or get in a disastrous wreck.


So for what it's worth, here's my "Rules for Happy Road Trip With Your Spouse"

1. DON'T set the cruise control and expect to ride through your entire life with your partner in the passenger seat. It's so important to be aware of the road your driving down.


2. Be a defensive driver. Remember that there are potholes, detours, inexperienced drivers, drunk drivers, road ragers, and car jackers sharing the road with you. Being prepared for what you are up against will make odds of getting to your destination safely much higher.


3. Work as a team. If you are at the wheel, your partner needs to read the map and let you know where to turn.


4. Check your gauges. Make sure you always have enough fuel, water, and oil. And always keep extras in your trunk. You don't want to be caught in the middle of nowhere with no way to refill. Nothing ruins a road trip like having to walk 20 miles in the heat to fill up an empty container of gas.


5. Road trips are the most fun when you're talking, laughing and enjoying the company of the person your with. Make sure your dishing out all your great details to your partner. It's a long ride; you'll want to know all about the person who's riding with you. Enjoy each other!


6. It gets tiring being at the wheel, and everyone knows it's the duty of the partner in the passenger seat to stay awake with you so you don't fall asleep while driving. But the driver needs to know his/her limits and when you're getting weary, you need to switch seats and let your partner drive.


7. FINALLY...read the drivers manual! All the answers are in there. Don't know where to find one? I'll give you a hint. It's in the drawer of every nightstand in every hotel you'll stop at for rest during your road trip.

So there you have it. That's my plan for getting through the rest of my days with my hubby. They won't all be bright and shiny, but the one thing I can promise is that I'll be here for each and every one of them. And as I look out the back window and see my hubby working on our yard right now, I am once again reminded of just how blessed I am. My prayer for you today is that somehow something you're reading right now might bless you too.