Mary's "Yes" -- My "Yes"

As if one Advent by Candlelight wasn't enough, I was thrilled to attend another last night at St. Bernard's Church. This night, I was able to sit back with dear friends from my Hyde Park community and my ACTS community to focus my attention, and really take in the beauty of this wonderful Season of Advent. Once again, the photos here describe the hospitality of the hostesses that make this night so warm and welcoming. The beautiful songs that were sung that celebrated this beautiful time and short reflection talks by several ladies caused us to hone into this most holy of times of the year. After all, there would be no Easter and Resurrection Sunday were it not for the birth of our Lord.

The talk giver, a renown author and speaker, Lisa Hendey, was eloquent and relevant as she spoke about Mary's "Yes" and our "Yes".

As I heard her speak, Mary's "yes", in a way, became my "yes". Mary’s “yes” changed her life. We all know that "yes" doesn't mean, "The End". It is, in most instances, the beginning of ginormous changes to our lives -- our schedules, our time, our energy (or the lack thereof), our thought processes and our commitment. I know my recent "Yes" to making a huge transition in my life, moving from Tulsa to Texas, holds many unknowns, plus life-altering times ahead, but I know when saying "Yes" to God, He is with me every step of the way.

But here's the deal about Mary's "Yes". Because of her “yes”, she became the mother of Jesus. Though her ordinary life was made sacred by way of an invitation that she affirmed, she was still like any mother. She was still needed by her baby boy in the middle of the night, chased the toddler Jesus with the hopes of a nap soon to come, (I've been there -- haven't you?) and found that her life was no longer hers, but everything about that precious baby consumed her, like our babies were to us. The difference is that her attention turned toward the child who was Jesus. The beloved song, "Mary Did You Know?" was sung last night, and it makes us wonder, if she had known what was up ahead for her and her baby boy, would she still have said "yes". In our lives, we don't know what lies ahead, but with our willingness to follow He Who loves us beyond description and has a Master Plan to work out in us, like Mary, we can resign our own thoughts and submit to God's perfect plan for us.

When we say “yes” to God, He is inviting us to do what is in our capacity to do. Otherwise, He wouldn't have asked. I've learned over and over...."Where He guides, He provides". But most importantly, He invites us to see our ordinary roles as sacred. The sacredness of dependence on God for His grace and mercy to be with us in times of decision making, having His wisdom to guide those He entrusts to us, daily being full of the Fruit of the Spirit as we assist in carving out our children's places in this world, as well as being a light to those God calls us to encourage and support around us.

Mary's "Yes" -- My "Yes" -- I'm there -- How about you?

Adventures Await Outside the Port

When you were a kid, did you play the “I Dare You” game? I did. I remember when friends would “dare me” to jump into the deep end of the pool or jump off the high diving board. They were trying to force me to do something that I was afraid to do, but I yielded to their "dare" and realized I had nothing to fear. In one sense, the word "daring" can seem reckless, but on the other hand, it also means being "bold". If we are inclined to stay within our "comfort zones".....or, as a ship, to safely stay in port, then we'll never enjoy the thrills of conquests and victories....just because we weren't willing to be "daring" and "bold".

I have a case-in-point. I enjoy being a Resident Representative for my community, Hyde Park at Tulsa Hills. I meet potential homeowners and tell them what it’s like to live here. I’m qualified because I was one of the first residents to build a home here when there wasn’t anything but dirt and earth-moving equipment, back in November 2012. There were three of us who built our homes at the same time. It was a gutsy undertaking when we ventured out believing that what the developer was telling us would be reality. He said there would be streets and sidewalks, a beautiful clubhouse that would have all kinds of amenities: tennis, swimming pool, billiards’ room, dining area, library, work-out facility, dance studio, 6-hole putting green, and pickle ball courts. He said this community would be about lifestyle: right-sized homes, maintenance-free yards, gated entry, close to all kinds of shopping, restaurants, and services. AND, here’s the amazing, step-out-in-faith bottom line, WE BELIEVED HIM though we saw nothing but drawings of lots, their locations, as well as the location of the clubhouse. The perfect scripture for that kind of belief is "Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists." Hebrews 11:1

When I heard about this unique, first-of-its-kind 55+ community in Oklahoma, it was exactly what I was hoping for. So, I took the plunge to sell my home, but even before I sold it, I knew this place was for me, but it would take a leap of faith. In essence, I got out of the safe harbor and launched my ship to the open seas.

Now we have fifty homes in this community, a gorgeous clubhouse with all those amenities in it,, as well as wonderful neighbors who have become dear, life-long friends to me. I get amused when people come and are not willing to venture out of their comfort zones though they love what they see here. They see the finished homes, the clubhouse, hear the testimonies of residents, yet they aren’t willing to venture out, even though now there are so many “knowns”, unlike when I ventured out and there were so many “unknowns”.

I'm quite sure that God loves it when we rev up our engines and venture out into the oceans of discoveries and live life with no regrets. This move was definitely brave and bold, but as it turns out, it's given me adventures of a lifetime living here, travelling with neighbors, socializing and living an active, full and fun life with these neighbors. My faith really paid off.

I’d say, if you’re stuck in some rut and really desire change, then be willing to change, be willing to venture out into the seas and oceans of discoveries and adventures. God built us for bold living. Let’s be bold, brave AND beautiful and set sail for the awesome oceans and seas of life.

What Is It That Makes a House a Home?

My Hyde Park at Tulsa Hills community is one of the stops if you're checking out the Parade of Homes in Tulsa this week. Four beautiful new houses are being featured -- houses with touch faucets, heated bathroom floors, geo-thermal energy features, high-end appliances, and so much more that makes a right-sized house so welcoming.

My post today, however, isn't about homes in the sense of mortar, brick, wood and stone. It's about human lives -- the people -- the families that live in those homes. I started thinking "What if there were a Parade of Homes that we could look at -- one that exemplified "family values" and a place where God's love and character showed Him to be the CENTER feature of their homes? You walked into THAT home and the atmosphere was warm, welcoming and you just wanted to hang out there.

We often say "God is our #1 priority!", and while that sounds really top-notch in terms of ranking order, I remember what my husband and I considered to be our main core value and non-negotiable. It was that God had to be right in the CENTER of our home and family. When a decision was made, it was based on what God's opinion would be. When a little "tiff" (my kids called it "Mom and Dad are having another 'discussion') would arise between my husband and I, we couldn't let the "tiff" last for long, because our CENTER always (sometimes later than sooner) drew us back to harmony and peace.

Our CENTER meant we prayed together, laughed together, listened to each other, helped each other, encouraged each other, forgave each other and gave each other lots of hugs. Did we always get it right? No, but because our CENTER was our non-negotiable, we did course corrections and soon came back to our CENTER. Most certainly, if we made God our CENTER, then, who knows, just maybe others would be drawn to make Him their CENTER, too.

“....but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15.

We Need ANCHOR Stores AND We Need an ANCHOR.

I had to get a new tire yesterday because the old one was "injured", per the sales guy at the tire store. Seems a nail was in an unrepairable spot. (One of the hazards of living in a new community where lots of construction is going on.) So as I sat in the waiting room, I started thinking about how thankful I am to have the "anchor" of living this close to services, stores, restaurants, medical facilties -- all within not even 5 minutes from my home.

Just north of my Hyde Park at Tulsa Hills community, is Tulsa Hills Shopping Center and The Walk at Tulsa Hills, both of which are complete with amazing "anchor" stores, like Lowe's, Sam's Club, Best Buy, PetSmart, Staples, Dick's Sporting Goods, Target, Ashley Home Furniture -- the big named ones. Maybe "anchor" store is a new name for you. When developers are master-planning a shopping area, it's a MUST that those big brand named stores are prominently located so that customers are attracted to them which also causes them to patronize all the other stores and shops in the mall.

I'm quite self-contained when it comes to being able to take care of my daily needs. I can dress myself, cook and feed myself, wash my own clothes, drive to where I need to go, handle everyday surprises that come up, but when I can't do for myself what needs to be done, like that tire, I take it to the place that can do it for me. I am so grateful I live in such close proximity to all those stores that pretty well carry everything I need to take care of my necessities.

And, when I come to the end of my rope or when I need a place of comfort from the storms of life or when I need assurance that "everything's gonna' be alright" in my little world.....I have THE ANCHOR -- not the store -- but I go to the ONE Who is the ANCHOR of my soul. God is that HOPE ANCHOR. Hebrews 6:19 " We have this HOPE as an ANCHOR for the soul, firm and secure."

His anchor is THE ANCHOR STORE.....that draws us to Him for those absolute necessities of life, like peace, joy, comfort, refuge, balance, security, wisdom and all those other "necessities" that cause us to be strong-footed and tethered to THE ROCK that keeps us unwavering in our hope and faith.

What or WHO is your ANCHOR? Mine holds me tight when the winds are blowing and the waves are coming. His ANCHOR holds.

Ever Felt Like You Were Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall…. OR a Glass Window?

While up at our Hyde Park clubhouse on Wednesday, I kept hearing a bird banging into the windows, over and over again. On Thursday, one of my friends sent this text to me: “Drama at the clubhouse today -- a female bird keeps flying into the window from the maple tree -- male just moving from fence to branches watching her -- she must feel the mating dance is a fate worse than death. I'm sure she sees her reflection. It would be laughable except that she will likely succeed in breaking her neck.” LOL!

I was up at the clubhouse again yesterday and I captured this looney bird in action with this photo. She is definitely a "head banger"! Maybe that's where "bird brain" came from. LOL! Of course, this would be my inspiration for today’s blog. We’ve all been there. We’ve tried to accomplish something and so many interferences kept us from it. We’ve tried to teach our child a skill and it seemed hopeless. We’ve tried to lose weight only to gain more than we lost.

As I type this post, I'm up at the clubhouse and that crazee bird continues to bang into the windows, but she will not break through that barrier no matter how hard she tries. I’m watching her and she’ll bang into it, and then fall to the ground, but she recovers and goes at it again.

Albert Einstein is credited with this quote, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I would highly suggest this bird AND those of us who keep riding a "dead horse" fall into that category. It's time to dismount and get a fresh new horse and a fresh new idea....that comes from "in all our ways, acknowledging our ALL-KNOWING Father God.

We will continue to bang our heads against a brick wall or a glass window as long as we are deceived into thinking “It’s my way or the highway”, I can make this happen, I am invincible and when all along, God has the open door and window for us to step through. He wants us to “let go and let Him” be our source of wisdom, knowledge and strength.

Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In ALL YOUR WAYS, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths”. My interpretation “And He will keep you from banging your head against the brick walls and the glass windows. God knows the way in, through, over and under to the answers we need.

Christmas Spirit is Alive and Well in Tulsa

Day 348 of Photo Inspirations -- Christmas Spirit is Alive and Well in Tulsa
I'll admit it -- I'm a hopeless romantic and I love the sweet and tender love stories on the Hallmark Channel -- especially at Christmas.  I am basking in the Christmas spirit and I love those sweet love stories -- "the magic of Christmas".  So, when my community's developer decided to rent the Tulsa Trolley to advertise our Hyde Park community and be in the parade, I was "all in".

I felt like a kid when the trolley picked us up, took us to the staging area where we decorated the trolley with lights and donned ourselves with Santa and reindeer hats.  I've seen many parades, but never had the privilege of being in one.  I loved walking beside the trolley and handing out candy to the kids that lined the streets. I loved shouting out "Merry Christmas" and hearing those fervent responses back from the crowd "MERRY CHRISTMAS".  We belted out those words that mean so much to us.  

In 2009,  local merchants, in order to be "politically correct" dropped "Christmas" from the Tulsa Annual Christmas Parade.  They called it the Parade of Lights.   Then, in opposition to Christ being removed from the parade, in 2011, a large group of Tulsa businesses and individuals sponsored a separate "Christmas Parade".    The estimated 80,000+ people, packed in layers on the downtown streets of Tulsa, plus our Hyde Park family and friends, were thrilled to see the official "Traditional Christmas Parade" brought back to Tulsa.  Much thanks goes to many who stood up for everything good and dear to those of us who still want Christ in Christmas.

I was pleased to have my photo taken with Senator Jim Imhofe (first photo inspiration) who took a personal stand for putting Christ back into Christmas.  I shook his hand and told him how much I appreciated his stand.  He quickly responded, "I'm so thrilled my stand influenced senators from other states to take a stand too.  In our local newspaper he said, "The “war on Christmas” has come to an end in Tulsa this year. For nearly 90 years, residents in Tulsa have commemorated the Christmas season with one large Christmas parade downtown, but in 2009, local leaders decided to jump on an unfortunate national trend of removing the word “Christmas” from the event.  

After 40 years of riding a horse in the parade, I joined many others and said that if Christ wasn’t welcome, then I also would no longer be participating in the event. This is because Christmas isn’t just a holiday that can be sugar-coated for the sake of political appeasement.  It is a day each year that serves as a symbolic and historical declaration of peace on earth and goodwill toward all. Man will never find success in diluting Christmas into a “winter” or “holiday” festival. Whether a person recognizes the life-saving significance of Jesus Christ, the message of Christmas for peace on earth lies in the heart of all mankind. It’s a message we should all embrace, especially as our world faces the greatest level of unrest that we have seen in generations. I am proud to see the Tulsa parades make their peace this Christmas and join together for one large celebration. Jesus won, and I look forward to riding in the parade once again."  And, that's what Senator Imhofe did.

Once again, Christmas is a live and well in Tulsa.  Perhaps, you're one that would rather sit back in a dark room, anxiously wait for this whole deal to be over with and be empty of this wonderful Christmas spirit.  I promise you, if you'll get out of your comfort zone and shake off that care-less spirit and go look at some Christmas lights, go see a Christmas parade, Christmas movie,  Christmas program or just start remembering the reason for this season..... perhaps, you'll experience this joy and gladness too.  After all -- Christmas is right there just waiting for us to grab hold and enjoy the ride!

Some Friends Are For a Lifetime

Day 247 of Photo Inspirations -- Some Friends Are For a Lifetime
"Some friends are for a reason, some are for a season and some are for a lifetime.  That's who these sweet women are -- Life Timers.....and to think we've only known each other a couple of years or less.

 What we all have in common is our love for the community that we live in -- Hyde Park at Tulsa Hills -- we met when we moved here -- and now we do life together.  And, we serve as resident representatives when visitors stop by to check out the community.  Those visitors get our first-hand testimonies about the blessing it is to live here.

The pretty lady in the pink is the daughter of the Developer of our community and she has been second to none in providing the best in experiences here.

To our surprise, Vicki is quite crafty.  So much so, that she gathered lovely vases, dishes, bowls, platters and other glass items and made each of us glass bird feeders.  Each one individually created for each of us -- thus my photo inspirations for today.

Yesterday, we celebrated Vicki's birthday with a yummy lunch at Napa Flats, and we gave her a lovely Rustic Cuff bracelet -- a token of our love and appreciation for what she's done for us.  

This little band of women -- are all very different -- all from various backgrounds:  Private Investigator, Voice & Piano Teacher, Nurse, Realtor, Artist, Physical Ed Teacher, Owner of a Bed & Breakfast,  etc., but we all have this in common -- we have all been fashioned by God from the same clay and His plan included our friendships.  Each of us have been on very unique and exciting adventures in our lives -- now we get to be on exciting adventures together in this season.  

You, me, her, them, us, we are made from the same clay. If we keep our eyes on the Artist, we'll realize He specially designed us with our own uniqueness.  We won’t need to be the same, we won’t need to compare, we can just enjoy His grand scale of color and texture and DNA that each of us has.

We can be in awe of the incredible masterpiece He creates, and be delighted when He puts us in the same time and space together -- to be here for each other -- on this amazing LIFE ADVENTURE!

One Nation UNDER GOD!

Day 232 of Photo Inspirations -- One Nation UNDER GOD
Aw!  The 50s...Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, I Love Lucy, Ozzie & Harriet, Leave It To Beaver, Father Knows Best, Poodle Skirts, Hula Hoops!!!

What a great, Be-Bop-A-Lula time we had Saturday night -- celebrating the Sock Hop days of the 50s at my community, Hyde Park at Tulsa Hills.  I did my best  "Olivia Newton John" impersonation from Grease.  As one of the hosts of the event, it was such a treat to research some of the 50s memories, like those I mentioned above, in black and white TV, "Name That Tune" show (we played it at our party), hula hooping (I won that one! LOL!), bubble gum blowing contest, etc.  I am a Baby Boomer, one of the record number of babies (3.4 million) born in the U.S. (must have been a lot of cold nights -- LOL!).  

Goodness -- have times ever changed the way of doing things since then.  Compared to today, it's a wonder we survived those days, and are even here to tell the story!  My fellow 50s generation will recall that, as toddlers, no car seats, instead, we stood by our parents and what stopped us from being thrown into the windshield when they stopped the car quickly, was their automatic arm.  We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles.  When we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or even shoes.  We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.  We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!   We didn't have video games, no 99+ channels on cable, no DVD movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no computers, no Internet, BUT.......WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!  

Lots of blast-from-the-past memories, but I wouldn't trade those days for these days for anything -- particularly when it comes to child safety in cars and otherwise, and brilliant technology that makes life so much easier. There's just no sense living in the past and thinking about the way things were. There's just too much to celebrate about the way things ARE, and that God intended us to be here and be fully engaged AT THIS TIME.

But there's also paramount things that should NEVER be changed.  One of the most critically important decisions that was made in 1954 was the addition of "One Nation Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.  And in 1957, our currency was printed with "In God We Trust" words on it.

Yesterday, my FB post was about those words: "In God We Trust".   Yes, there are those who want to stamp out God from our schools and public places. But, here's the deal -- emperors have tried to destroy those words, philosophies have tried to stamp them out, tyrants have tried to wash them from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it, yet, it still stands. "In God We Trust" is still our non-negotiable.  It is indelibly printed in our hearts, our spirits and our minds.  Now, let's pray that our nation NEVER concedes to letting it go.  

"Blessed is the Nation is "whose God is the Lord." Psalm 33:12



Psalm 100:5;  'For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness TO ALL GENERATIONS."