Graduates – the World is Your Oyster!

You did it, Grads, and we’re so proud of you! I know it’s not a laughing matter because the pain is real, but this guy amused me with his sentiments about the graduation situation. The other photo here is of a virtual graduation where robots were used to represent the graduates. Can this be the Twilight Zone?

I've sent off dosh-loaded graduation cards to some of my beloved family members because -- well, there won't be graduations-as-usual. I’ve been entertained by the way some of you moms and dads are making sure your graduates are being applauded – signs in yards, drive-bys, photos, and expressions of love and support on social media. Congrats to all of you -- graduates AND parents! It's a great feat to have made it to this Rite of Passage even though all those 12 years (and more) have ended abruptly in a lack-luster way of celebrating you. But, the celebration isn’t the goal – the accomplishments, perseverance, tenacity, fortitude is what matters. So, well done! What a memory you'll tell your kids about one day!

Of course, you were supposed to have had a BIG graduation party to kick-start your accomplishments. But, instead, you’ve already been introduced to the world of complexities and challenges. In the commencement speeches, you were supposed to have heard “the world is your oyster” as you embark on your adult life. Everything is open to you like the metaphor of an oyster that there’s a chance it has a pearl in it. I’m believing that you will find MANY pearls!

Here’s some GOOD NEWS -- you’ve gained a head start on conquering. You’ve acquired a great start on mental toughness and being a winner and winners never quit and quitters never win. Go forth into this world declaring that “if God is for me, no one (or thing) can be against me!" (Romans 8:31) Run your race. You’re in it to win it – regardless of the way your graduation looked. I pray that all of you graduates pursue God's will first and foremost -- being a God-pursuer. Because as a God-pursurer, you'll land right where God intends you to land.

To all Graduates and Dreamers – “Before you ever came into being, God called your name. He formed you with love and intricately designed every part of who you would become. You truly are made "in an amazing and wonderful way" (Psalm 139:14). You are here because God looked out over all of time and space and chose you for this generation right here -- right now! There will never be another you or another opportunity to do what only you are chosen to complete.

So, go out there in boldness knowing that you don't have to be like anyone else. You are chosen for one life — yours. And the wonderful news? Whatever God chooses for you to do, He has equipped you for it. Being chosen means that success is simply obedience and trusting God will do the rest. Being chosen means that you have God as your partner every step of the way. We'll be cheering you on every step too! The best is yet to be for you and we can't wait to see it unfold. Now show off that life by making it the best life it could ever be for God, others and YOU!

Grads -- Your Future is So Bright, You Need Shades

I have been enamored by all the graduation photos of all who are celebrating this momentous time of the year! Congratulations to all of you -- children AND parents. It's a great feat to have made it to this Rite of Passage that took a village to see it through. I know. I've been there too.

Graduation Day is so exciting! The ceremony is filled with speeches about pursuing your dreams, trusting yourself, taking risks and embracing change. Graduates get to celebrate the past and look forward to the future. This year, my granddaughter graduated from high school. I’m so proud of her. Right along with those who celebrated their child being the valedictorian of their class, I celebrated that my granddaughter was the valedictorian of her class – she was home-schooled. I have a great, great nephew and many family friends who are also graduating.

Whether they are getting ready to go to college, pursuing lofty goals and dreams or are sashaying into the next season of their lives, they all have expectations of how their lives are going to go. They've pictured it in their heads. Some pictures are of traveling the world or pursuing a dream job. Some pictures are of a white picket fence with four beautiful, well-behaved children and an always-loving husband or wife, and some see themselves owning a Fortune 500 company by the time they turn 25. And, there is absolutely nothing wrong with pursuing their dreams, but as those of us older, wiser folks know, those dreams may be absolutely opposite of what God's plans are for their lives and so we pray that all of these wonderful graduates pursue God's will first and foremost -- to be God-pursuers.

To all Graduates and Dreamers – keep these words in mind – “Before you ever came into being, God called your name. He formed you with love and intricately designed part of who you would become. You truly are made "in an amazing and wonderful way" (Psalm 139:14). Your journey on this path is not by coincidence. You are here because God looked out over all of history and chose you for a particular time and purpose. You could have entered the world a hundred years ago or a thousand years from now. But you are in this generation, this time, and there will never be another you or another opportunity to do what only you are chosen to complete. So go out there in boldness knowing that you don't have to be like anyone else. You don't have to do what any other person has done. You are chosen for one life — yours. And the wonderful news? Whatever God chooses for you to do, He will equip you. Being chosen means you will be given all you need. Being chosen means that success is simply obedience and trusting God will do the rest. Being chosen means that you have a great big God as your partner every step of the way. Those who love you will be cheering you on every step too! The best is yet to be for you and we can't wait to see it unfold.

Dreamers and Graduates -- you are chosen for one life - yours. God gave it to you. Now show off that life by making it the best life it could ever be for God, others and YOU!

Giving Thanks For the Daughter I Prayed and Dreamed For

MY STACI's Birthday is today -- December 8th.  I’m celebrating my girl today!  And, of course, my thoughts go to this special day when my dreams came true.....God gave me YOU!     Wow!  He loves me so much to have given me the full package -- a girl that has charm, wit, personality, beauty, strength, athleticism, tenderness, talent, and skilled in so many areas of life, but the best part, He gave me a best friend, a confidant, a mentor and a leader I can look up to and, even better.....a daughter who follows God’s voice so passionately.  I don’t think I could have thought of so much for one full package deal.....but I’m so thankful that God did.
   
I think about the legacy of those who had so little in this world‘s definition of wealth....like Mamaw, but whose prayers cultivated the soil for our seedtime and harvest today.  I think about your sweet Daddy, who if there ever were a “Daddy’s Girl”, you were it.  You gave him, so much to live for, to be passionate about, and to pour into you everything he had!  And he sure did a good job!  His life and heart’s desires live on in you.   I have so many memories of my precious little girl who always dreamed she could be anything she wanted to be.....because she was a dreamer.  But, she never stopped with just dreaming -- she was a doer.....and go getter.  With determination and tenacity, she pursued her dreams and never gave up.  She always knew that God put the dreams there, and He would make the dreams become reality.  And, indeed, so many doors opened to her.   And, in the middle of her dreams and many activities, she never stopped caring for others.  She always found the time to help one more, because, like her name which means “resurrection life” -- has been resurrection life to so many.

And now just look at who the dreamer became......
an amazing Wife & Mother
an incredible Vocalist
an outstanding Trainer
a Leader worth following,
a compassionate Caregiver,
a Mentor and Role Model,
 a bold Risk Taker,
 an all-star Athlete,
a resilient Never Quit Warrior
a loving and devoted Friend to many.
All such amazing qualities of a mighty woman of God who lives on purpose and in the destiny God created her for!
In the world of so many, it would be an honor and a privilege to just know, and be known, by such a tremendous and notable woman!
How blessed I am to be her Mama!
I love you so much my precious daughter!
Happy, Happy, Birthday!
Mom

When Others Laugh at Your Dreams.....JUST DO!

It's "par for the course" that pessimists laugh and ridicule those who step out and believe in something that's never been done before. Often, those negative thinkers become the driving force for DREAMERS to DO and say, "Just watch me!" Think of where we'd be today were it not for dreamers? Dreaming big is what brought us to this day of technology, living in comfort and ease, enjoying conveniences that make life streamlined, traveling to destinations at record speeds, and finding cures for deadly diseases.

Hmmm! Those thoughts sure do make me optimistic about the future because of all you dreamers out there who will keep dreaming and doing and giving us more and more innovations. We can thank those dreamers for just in the last 50 years, we no longer have to get up from the couch to turn the channel on the TV -- thanks to dreamers for the remote! And, for the microwave, the jet airliner, cordless tools and electronics, satellite communications, mobile phones, the computer, video games, smoke detector, the ATM machine, GPS, etc.

Let's start dreaming big! And, if there are those who laugh at us today -- they'll probably be thanking us one day soon!

You Can't Cross the Ocean if You Don't Leave the Shore

Yesterday, I posted our "dead-in-the-water" ship experience. When we boarded that ship, our thoughts were for making yet another great memory, enjoy some needed rest and adventure. Our minds never gave way to "What if we meet with disaster?" We "trusted" that the Captain and his crew would steer us to the pre-planned ports and journey they advertised, and in several days, at the end of our trip, we'd go back home.

But, what about Christopher Columbus -- when he set sail -- not knowing what the future held for him and his crew? Chris was a dreamer and visionary who could see beyond the status quo. When brilliant minds were teaching that the earth was flat, good ole' Chris stretched his faith by leaving his comfort zone (the shore), and ventured out into the unknown. And, just think about it, he didn't have the leading edge technology that reports obstacles, weather, and other vessels, that mariners have today. And, athough he faced every adversity imaginable, he didn't give up until his dream was reality. Indeed, his faith and determination paid off. And Chris certainly gave us some valuable lessons to learn from:

1) We shouldn't play it safe by living in our comfort zone. There's some pretty exciting adventures out there -- so why live with regret?
2) We should ignore critics and seek God for wisdom to claim new territories.
3) We owe it to ourselves to set sail and discover God's will for our lives.
4) We must defeat our fears to be able to find the "treasures" that God has for us to discover.

Isn't it time for us to leave the shore.....and take on a great new adventure that just might be the discovery of a great new relationship, the dream job or opportunity we've been looking for, or the invention we believe could bring in a "boatload"??