So Much Heaven-on-Earth Packed Into One Day

On Saturday, Bryson and I started with breakfast at Ollie’s – a Tulsa family favorite since our first grandson was born 26 years ago. Of course, we had to make some memories there – so many trains running around the walls of the restaurant along with train memorabilia everywhere.

When my oldest grandson came to Tulsa not long ago – he had to go there for “old times sake”! It's a must-see for your children and grandchildren!

Then it was spending the day with Great Granny, Aunt Karen and Uncle George. Bryson was the kingpin. So much love packed into one little boy in one day!

The best part of the time was a baking class and making a chocolate cake Now, Bryson and I have the step-by-step recipe indelibly imprinted into our minds, on paper, and on photos. So much joy seeing Great Granny in her element. Oh, how Bryson loves his Great Granny – just loves to sit in her presence. Then it was playing the Game of Life while I went to church.

This day's Grand Finale was breathtaking. It was my joy to be the confirmation sponsor for the oldest daughter of my precious Tulsa “Anderson” Family. My husband and I "adopted" the whole family years ago. Owen, son #2, is my godson and now this special blessing. What an honor to be asked to walk her life journey with her. Bishop David Kondrela anointed Grace and declared “Be sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.” I love the beauty, the sacred ceremony and the “knowing” the day and the time of this beautiful sacrament forever.

I knew heaven was a part of this most sacred and beautiful time as I saw the gorgeous “yellow roses” floral arrangement at the altar. I like to think my sweetheart had something to do with them and, in fact, was a part of this special day and occasion. Yellow roses were the flowers at our wedding. Every home we lived in, after that, we planted a yellow rose bush and for every special occasion, I received yellow roses from my sweetheart.

"Heaven on earth" is when we pause to bring worship from earth to heaven and then God brings heaven to earth. When we take time to be thankful for the journeys, whether they are winding and twisting, or 4-lane smooth highways, and have gratitude in it all, heaven shows up on earth. Any time we pray, “Father, let your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we’re asking God to declare the truths of heaven into this world.

I know what heaven on earth is and every day I invest my time in looking for and living in my heaven on earth. Yes, one day, I'll get to graduate from this earth to heaven, but I sincerely believe God delights in our appreciating the heaven we can have daily as we commune with Him and let Him make His presence known in every facet of our lives. This day was about “heaven on earth” moments. I recognized them all. I savored them all and now I’m blogging and posting and I’m hearing that God just may have used me to encourage someone to start experiencing heaven on earth in your daily living.

Yes, all those "heaven on earth" times sure makes this journey so sweet on the way to "heaven in heaven". Every day, we can make the choice to have "heaven on earth" moments. Maybe it's time to take stock in YOUR "heaven on earth" blessings, too!

Love is Giving AND Receiving

I hit the ground running – rather, driving to Tulsa on Friday for my Tulsa love fix – spending time with my dear mother-in-law, some of my friends from Hyde Park, my bestie - Sheila Michie, my godson and his family,and other precious friends from my home parish, Church OfThe Madalene, my Life Group sisters and my sweet great niece, Anna and my sis, Karen. Whew! I was able to pack a lot of love into these three days.

Adding to that mix, was attending Catholic Charities “Cooking Up Compassion” on Saturday night, where over a thousand guests were a part of this annual fundraiser night that brings hundreds of thousands of dollars into this most worthy organization that feeds the poor, provides dental care, education and immigration services, disaster relief services, takes care of unwed mothers, provides adoption opportunities to loving families and so much more – all done with such dignity and love by this caring community.

Adding to that mix, was attending Catholic Charities “Cooking Up Compassion” on Saturday night, where over a thousand guests were a part of this annual fundraiser night that brings hundreds of thousands of dollars into this most worthy organization that feeds the poor, provides dental care, education and immigration services, disaster relief services, takes care of unwed mothers, provides adoption opportunities to loving families and so much more – all done with such dignity and love by this caring community. It was a joy to be able to give along with others who have such deep appreciation for what Catholic Charities does for those in need, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. There were live auctions where we saw generosity go to a whole new level, especially when the top earning, auctioned item -- Fr Jack Gleason and Fr Gary Kastl will offer their culinary talents to create a 7-course feast for 12 people -- went for $24,000. Bishop David Konderla’s handmade and carved wooden bowl went for $5,500. Four Dallas Cowboy Tickets went for $5,000. An adorable Goldendoodle puppy went for $9,000. I’m sure it wasn’t the items, themselves, as much as it was the opportunity to make a difference in so many lives impacted by Catholic Charities.

Yes, love is giving and receiving. The rewards are so many when we make the effort to connect, remember the reasons why the people in our lives made such an impact on us. It's like a boomerang -- when we give love, it will come back to us. If we give joy, we'll receive back joy. Like this first photo of the little bird and his reflection, we should be a reflection of what we want to receive. If we want love, we give love. If we want truth, we need to be truthful. What we give out will come back to us. It's the law of reciprocity.

That LAW isn't new at all. It started with the greatest of all GIVERS when Jesus said, "Give......and it shall be given!" We've heard the words: "Serve....and you shall be served." "Love....and you shall be loved." "Be a friend.....and you shall have friends."

Zig Ziglar, a dear friend of ours, said, "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want." Smart and truly successful people get this. Most times we give..... with absolutely no expectation or desire to receive back.....but it's just those laws....God's Laws of Reciprocity.....YOU WILL RECEIVE, when your heart's attitude is to GIVE, SERVE and LOVE! REAL LIVING comes from a heart of giving!

The Great Unknown But Great Friends Behind

So I’m in the final countdown to two big events next Tuesday, November 8th:
1) The election – I’ll be voting based on my conscience and aiming for the party and its candidate that aligns closest to my belief system. I sure don’t know what November 9th will hold, but I know that no matter which party is elected, God will still reign and He will be in control. What assurance that is!!

2) My saying “See ya’ later!” to Tulsa as I make my “pilgrimage” home to Texas. I’m leaving based on my conscience, God’s very obvious nudges, and aiming for the work God will have for me there. I sure don’t know what tomorrow will hold, but I know that no matter where God leads, I’ll follow; where He guides, He’ll provide. He is so trustworthy – of course I can place my confidence in Him.

Reality that I'm leaving really set in over the last couple of days with so much love shown me by dear friends. Precious giirl friends, my Hyde Park Family and my Church OfThe Madalene Women of the Madalene. I am indeed a most blessed gal that have walked and run this journey of faith with me and all are so valuable to me. I'm so thankful for the memories as an Oklahoman -- that started way back in 1971.....a 7-year stint in Canada in between but back here in Tulsa since 1993. I cherish that season and now a whole new adventure awaits me . My hope is built on the faithfulness of God. He's been with me every step of the way, so why would I expect that to change?

Maybe your focus isn’t on the election or a big move, but we are all in need of God’s guidance in our lives—when to move forward, when to slow down, when to wait, when to say “yes” and when to say “no.” The most important thing in knowing God’s guidance is not about knowing a formula, but knowing God; not about hearing opinions, but hearing God’s voice; not about striving, but resting in God’s wise and wonderful will.

Here are some affirmations of faith that we can ALL speak over our lives:
~ I don’t know the next step on the path, but I know the Guide. “ I will instruct you and teach you concerning the path you should walk; I will direct you with my eye.” Psalm 32:8
~ I don’t know the next chapter in the book of my journey of faith, but I know the Author and Finisher. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” Hebrews 12:2
~ I don’t know the best decision to make, but I know the Counselor “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor.” Isaiah 9:6
~ I don’t know how the need will be met, but I know the Provider. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

NO FEAR….only great hope and expectancy....SOMETHING GOOD is gonna happen for you and me!

Sweet "going away" photos of my dear friends attached!

Coincidences or Divine Appointments?

You've got to love it when a young person is willing to come to a slightly "mature" person ;-) for counsel. You know, they know, the wisdom that's inside them. Very, smart and wise young person. When I received an email from a sweet friend from my church, Megan, asking if I'd look over a project she's doing for her Senior year at Bishop Kelley, I was honored and pleased. She selected the importance of inner beauty for her project. Yes, extremely, wise young lady. But, even better, what seemed to be a simple appointment to review a project, turned into a God-designed appointment. My sweet girl Shawntel Wuerch and the boys were here with me in Tulsa which was perfect timing for both of us to review Megan's project. Sweet opportunity to talk about the inner beauty that God desires from us -- that beauty that comes from within and shines so brightly in our lives. Shawntel is exemplary in both inside and outside beauty. Divine set-up.

Before Megan came to my home, her Mom sent over this photo of Shawntel and Megan ten years ago. Shawntel was the guest speaker for our Women of the Church OfThe Madalene and that night she told her Miss America story -- about her road from a little town, Muldrow, OK to Miss America, how she entered simply to earn scholarship monies to attend college. But God had bigger things in mind for her, and He does for each of us as well. Just like the road to Miss America, with its twists and turns and ups and downs, being the journey God planned for Shawntel, a simple appointment to review a project just may be the "set up" for Megan that started ten years ago when she was excited to have her photo taken with Shawntel. Yesterday, Megan was wearing a Bishop Kelley soccer shirt. Shawntel asked her if she played soccer. Indeed she does, and of all things, her coach is my nephew, Troy Tokarchik. Who knew another little "set-up" to show we're in the same family!

What if each day we started taking note of the coincidences....er.... the divine set-ups, providential circumstances and appointments that come our way that point us in the direction of our God-given destiny? Megan had a project to do. She was impressed to do it on God's definition of beauty. What if this project is the "seed" that Megan is planting for her future? What if what we are doing today are the seeds we're planting for the difference makers and world changers God destined us to be?

Anxious and Worried

I’m sure you’ve heard the buzz about the newest game, Pokemon GO. There are many various opinions about whether it is a fun game which endeavors to get people off their couches and out to get some activity in their lives or that’s it’s an evil scheme to bring harm to children and families. I'm not discussing the pros and cons, but I'm amazed at the things that create instantaneous crazes. It's said that Pokémon GO is the most popular mobile game in American history. In one week’s time, there were over 15 million downloads of the game. The app instructs players to use their mobile devices to catch Pokémon characters in the real world. It has sent multitudes of people into streets, parks, malls and even my church parking lot looking for such virtual creatures.


It seems one of the main reasons for the popularity of Pokémon GO is that it provides a distraction from a world that lives in anxiety and worry about the frightening atrocities that have been happening.

Sunday’s scripture reading at my church was from Luke 10:38-42 – the story of Jesus visiting Mary and Martha’s home. If you’re a server, by nature, like I am, you can only imagine what that meant: clean the house…to spotless, get out the best dishes, and go shopping so you can serve your personal best meal. I’d be busy for days getting my menu perfected. So, yes, I have a tendency to side in with Martha’s angst about her sister who was just sitting at the feet of Jesus while she did all the work. Mary was grasping hold of every word Jesus spoke. He was the royal Guest of Honor and she didn’t want to miss a thing He had to say or even a moment to be with Him.

On the other hand, dear Martha was feverishly getting all the fixin’s ready to serve His her Lord a meal that could satisfy Him beyond description, and give Him the honor He deserved.

Father Bryan V. Brooks gave me a new perspective about that story. He talked about “Discipleship in our active, daily life.” He went on to say, “When Jesus addressed Martha about her busy-ness, He didn’t speak to her about her hospitality. He said 'You’re ANXIOUS and WORRIED about MANY things. There is only the need for one thing.' Anxious and worried. Not only does it fit the description of Martha , but it describes us as well. We live in anxious times – war, violence, terrorism, politics, unemployment. And these don’t include day-to-day worries about family, work, raising children, caring for a home, running a business, caring for elderly parents, balancing family and budgets. No wonder people seek distractions in sports, in games, in looking for Pokemon GO figures in church parking lots (our church was a location where people gathered at 4 am in the morning to find the creature). The anxiety and worry can have a way of throwing things out of balance – like with Martha. Jesus gives Martha and us a gentle correction in wisdom on how to be His disciples. The one thing to be concerned about is to “listen to Jesus”. Welcoming and accepting Jesus – Jesus as the Christ – Jesus as Lord. THIS is "THE ONE THING that is necessary" – to be His disciples. Disciples where busy-ness and duty is replaced with acts of joy and love. If we have our life in the right order – everything else will fall into place. Our relationship with Jesus will bring to completion the Word of God – Christ in us – the hope of glory. In that order, we’ll live and become faithful disciples of Jesus."

Then, no ANXIETY or WORRY will ever DISTRACT us from what’s most important – sitting at the feet of Jesus, being in the presence of Jesus in awe of Him and His holiness. When we are there, peace and comfort abounds.

Looking for Love in All the Right Places

Getting to celebrate life with my special loved ones and friends in Tulsa brings such joy to my heart. Here's what my World of Love's "right places" looks like:

I have precious friends in the community where I live. We laugh, celebrate life, many of us pray for each other and share meals with each other. Several of us are the face of Hyde Park and we represent our community to guests that stop by to visit us. Love in the right places!

My Life Group meets in my home every Tuesday. We share our triumphs and tests, we pray together, celebrate together and do life together. The latest triumph was the birth of this precious baby girl, Ragan Rainey. We prayed for her Mom & Dad to be blessed with her, and indeed they have been. Her two grandmothers attend my Life Group (yes, that's them having received their coronation bouquet) -- so of course, that little girl had no choice but to come into this world with God's blessings. Love in the right places!

I have the most wonderful "family of friends" at Church of the Madalene where I have attended for over 16 years. The women in this church, The Women of the Madalene, are par excellence. They are the most giving, loving and caring women ever! To them, there is no task too great or small when it comes to serving God and His people. Serving with them is truly an honor. Love in the right places!

As if having a family of friends at one church isn't enough, I have a host of friends at Life.Church, which is just a half block from my home. I love serving with these precious people who rock my world (literally) every weekend. I am a part of the Host, Chazown, Baptism, and Operations Teams. Being fully devoted followers of Christ is all about "loving in the right places" -- and the greatest blessing of all is witnessing so many people coming to Christ at each service. Last Sunday, at our Jenks campus alone, over 150 people were baptized in water. Love in the right places!

Then there is my precious godson and his siblings. They are my Tulsa family -- I love these kids and their love for me blesses me so much. All of them have February birthdays -- so of course it's the Month of Love for them AND me. Owen, my godson, is a treasure beyond words to me. He sits by me in church, snuggles close to me, puts his arm around me or holds my hand. Yes, I feel kisses from heaven each time. Love in the right places!

My dear Mom-in-Law lives here in Tulsa. Mom has been such a dear friend to me for 55 years now -- 5 years before my Sweetheart and I married. She has encouraged, prayed for and loved me like a daughter. Last Sunday, Valentine's Day, we had a "Sweetheart" lunch together at Olive Garden. Of course, we talked about the two men that were our loves for a lifetime and because of the richness of those loves, we can be so thankful they're no longer in our past....they are in our future! We'll be with them again one day. Love in the right places!

Tomorrow, I'll be heading to Post Oak Lodge for the Christ the King ACTS Retreat -- Thursday thru Sunday. I was once a retreatant, but now I'm on the leadership team for the retreat. We've met every Monday for the last three months in preparation for this weekend where women will come and be made to feel like princesses -- daughters of the King. It is a weekend like no other I've ever witnessed. Encounters with the living Christ that causes all of our hearts to melt in His presence. We come to know the true meaning of loving God with all our hearts, souls and minds. Love in the right places!

AND, if all this LOVE in Tulsa weren't enough to bless this heart of mine, I'll be heading to Seattle on Monday for a feast of love with my family there for two weeks, and then back for a week with my Texas family -- no shortage of love there because it's "Love in the right places"!

People ask me "Why are you so happy all the time -- after all, you live alone, you're a widow, you have to handle life and all it gives you by yourself?" I think by now, you know. I'm still here. I'm not done with living. I celebrate each day with as much gusto as I can. Life isn't a destination. It's a beautiful, wonderful, living-life-large JOURNEY of finding love in all the right places. I recommend living this way -- self pity, whining, and complaining is not found here on this journey -- it's all about an attitude of gratitude each and every day! It's finding love in all the right places!

It's Time to Build an Ark

Day 131 of Photo Inspirations - It's Time to Build an Ark
#TBT -- Twelve years ago, I wrote the play,  "The Red Carpet Women of the Bible Walk of Fame", and we performed it for our Women of the Madalene and for other organizations.  The play featured well-known women from the Bible -- to help us, in this modern era, to understand our journeys of faith are not so different from those women whose culture was so vastly different from ours.

I was the Broadcast Announcer, Kiane Sawyer, and provided the narrative. That's me on the far right. From left to right are Mrs. Noah, played by Mary Jean Burns;  Theresa Taron Witcher​, played the role of Barbara Walterstein and she interviewed each character; Sarah AND Judge Deborah, both played by Becky Grossman​; Delilah, played by Shannon Rziha; Martha, played by Margaret Carlin DeWeese​, Lydia, played by Sarah Rehm​, and Widow Mite, played by Nan Sibley.  These women were amazing and hilarious actresses.

With all this rain we've been having here in Tulsa, and with hearing so many, jokingly, talk about building an ark, I thought it appropriate to tell you about one of the characters from the play, Mrs. Noah, and how she handled it all.

Mary Jean, totally in character as Mrs. Noah, entered the stage -- swatting at flies and singing "Rain, rain go away!"  When Barbara Walterstein (Theresa) asked how she survived it all, she said, "Wow -- did I ever have my hands full -- the beasts, the boys, the smells and the noise.  Let's just say, that little show they call "Survivor" was child's play compared to the jungle in that ark!  And, talk about "clean-up"!  Whew!  It was a madhouse for a long time, but I survived.  It wasn't easy.  I could have snapped at any time under the pressure.  But I had one assurance of knowing that it was all a part of God's plan.  And knowing it was His plan, we came out as the world's greatest survivors!  The key to my sanity through it all was taking it all "one day at a time!"  And she left the stage singing "Singing in the rain, I'm singing in the rain.  What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again!"

I followed her with this message and I pass it on to you, my FB friends today:  "Think of it.  Mrs. Noah didn't have a dishwasher, a microwave, or a computer!  She couldn't email her friends.  She had no bug spray or scented potpourri.  There was no praise music to drown out the noises, no Christian TV to occupy her mind, no mall where she could escape.  She was stuck in a smelly, non-air-conditioned, floating zoo!  And yet, she managed to keep her sanity to live "one day at a time", knowing God was with her.  We can learn a lot from Mrs. Noah. As Moms and Grandmoms, we have days of chaos -- running errands and carpools, putting up with messy rooms and noisy fights.  We run ourselves ragged cleaning the ark, straightening the ark and then, the next day, we start all over again.  But the Lord knows what every Mrs. Noah is going through at every stage of life.  And He walks the ark with us each day as we love and care for our kids.  They face incredible dangers and temptations in the world, but when a godly Mrs. Noah gets them "up the ramp and into the ark," she trains and teaches them, loves and prays with them, and keeps them from the floods of life by placing them in His safekeeping.  If God can strengthen Mrs. Noah through it all, He will do the same for us!"

So where's the Bible women of today?  In God's loving care!  He loves and understands; He's there -- wherever we are.  He cares for us.  If you know who you are, whom you serve and where you're going, you're a woman of faith and strength in God's eyes....and everyday we are His royal women walking HIS red carpet, walk of fame.