Scary Drive Home

Yesterday was the wedding for Gentry Cotten & Carrie Moore. I got off work at 4pm, rushed to the grocery store to get ingredients for my Spinach Artichoke Dip & home to mix it up, jump in the shower and get ready to leave - hopefully by 5.30pm for Pecan Plantation. I left at 5.45pm and dropped my appetizer off at Brian & Shelley's house and headed to the wedding held at Drex & Bethany's...it was a nice evening even in spite of the little bugs I constantly felt crawling all over me about to drive me insane! Larry Balderson gave the ceremony and I appreciated his thoughts of Patience & Kindness being the pillars of love. The way he brought these two things out I thought was interesting and I wish to focus on this even more in my life with my relationships. Afterwards, I visited with many feeling like I have not had a chance to catch up with them with my schedule of late. I headed to enjoy the rest of my evening at Brian & Shelley's as they hosted the event out on the patio by their pool. They have done an incredible job at their yard (for which maybe someday I can have myself and won't be envious of) and the food was yummy! Yes, I cheated twice...I ate a half of piece of Chocolate Cake and Hawaiian Cheese Bread...so good!!! All in all, it was an enjoyable evening and I took myself home about midnight.

But...........I had the scare of my life driving home. I took the road back to Hwy 377 and up to FM1187. After I passed the intersection of FM1187 & CR1902...I was followed by two cars either dealing with road rage or out to have an exhilarating experience in a scary way. I do not know which, but it scared me to death! I mean it!!! The highway is a two lane road with a large center median for turning and ample shoulder space on the sides. These two vehicles would follow each other at breath taking speeds with little room between them or ride neck to neck side by side making the oncoming traffic the other way swerve to avoid them while attempting to pass me and the person in front of me. At one point the car following slowed way down, but then so did the car in front. This freaked me out again. I didn't know whether to slow down, stop, move over onto the shoulder or if they would even see me if I did this! I was very, very, very unnerved. I didn't know whether to call the police, or just speed very, very, very fast home. I was shaking so bad. At one point the car in the lead was even with me and kept riding that way...I wouldn't look...couldn't look, what if they had a gun? I sped up a little and a little more until I was ahead of him again as I was near my turn off. This whole ordeal went on until I turned off FM1187 at FM731. As these two vehicles approached me as I was turning, they had decided to roll down their windows and come to a near stop in the intersection...I didn't stay to see what happened, I just scurried around the corner and home glad that I had the degree of safety I had. I still don't know what was the best way to handle this situation, but the adrenaline rush at that hour of the night, was more than enough to do me in!

song ~ different

Different
by Jamie Slocum with Mollye Rees

I have had the right
To stand and fight
But it would have still been wrong
I've had the chance to prove
A hurtful truth
I had to let it go and just move on
'Cause there's a gift called grace
That's captured my life
Though the way of the world is power and pride
I want to be different, Jesus
Just like You
I want to be tender with mercy
Guiding all I do
So when others talk about me
Let it be because I am different
Let the difference be love

Let me have the kind
Of heart that shines
The light and shows you're real
And where hope is dim
And fear sets in
Will you use me Lord to help and heal
I don't want wealth or fame
To define the life I live
Oh let me be known
For what I give
I want to be different, Jesus
Just like You
I want to be tender with mercy
Guiding all I do
So when others talk about me
Let it be because I am different
Let the difference be love

Every day is a chance to serve You
By caring for someone else
I will make the choice to surrender
And not live for myself
I want to be different, Jesus
Just like You
I want to be tender with mercy
Guiding all I do
So when others talk about me
Let it be because
I am different
Let the difference be love

I want to be different, Jesus
Just like You
I want to be tender with mercy
Guiding all I do
So when others talk about me
Let it be because
I am different
Let the difference be love

song ~ can't take away

Can't Take Away
Mike Grayson, Sam Tinnesz, Jason Ingram

All around
All of us
Fear has come and so we must
Ask ourselves
In who we trust
What we have here
Is not enough
So let it ring
In freedom sing

You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
Oh, my God


Waves will come
Winds will blow
But it's not here I've found my hope
My beating heart
My very soul
Is held by one who won't let go
And so I'll cling
To You my King

You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
Oh, my God


A hope that can't be lost
A love that can't be bought
You can't take away my God
Nothing high or low
Nothing you can control
You can't take away my God

You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
No you can't
No you can't
Take away my God
No you can't
No you can't
No you can't
Take away my God, Oh My God, My God.

May 10, 2009 reflection on daily devotion

Perfect Peace
May 10, 2009

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

– Isaiah 26:3
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Prayer is the ship that takes us through life's storms. Board that ship and God will see you through. Another word for "steadfast" is "persistent." To experience perfect peace in our lives we must persist in trusting God.

Brian Tracy Quote of the Day

Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.

- Frederick Wilcox, writer

May 4, 2009 reflection on daily devotion

Accept what cannot be changed
May 04, 2009
Arvella Schuller

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." – 1 Timothy 6:6

To accept what cannot be changed is the beginning of happiness within ourselves, happiness with those around us, and happiness in a situation we are in that we can do little or nothing about. We can begin our journey to acceptance by making a list of daily blessings that we take for granted. Once a year in our home, everyone makes a list of blessings or assets (one for each letter of the alphabet) for which he or she is thankful. Reviewing this list and adding to it is a mental bath that washes away the negative "I wishes" and "if only’s." The result is a poised and tranquil acceptance of life as it really is. If we find it difficult to accept ourselves as we really are, we have even more difficulty accepting others as they are. ACCEPT, ACCEPT, ACCEPT. This is the beginning of contentment with ourselves as persons—and the beginning of contentment with our mates and families as they are.
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Ignite the spirit of contentment in your life by making a list of blessings or assets in your life that you are grateful for. Then accept what is.