Rain, Rain! Don’t Go Away – You are Welcome in this Day

Oh, the wonderful rain that has come to us in Frisco. Two days in a row means the blistering heat has subsided and I don’t have to water plants and grass. My two fur-pals haven’t been too crazy about it – they don’t like playing or walking in the rain. I've learned not to complain about the heat, the cold or rain, because, here in Texas, it's subject to change daily. We might as well brace ourselves and go with the flow!

Isn't that like our personal "climates", too? One day we are bright with a sunny disposition. Things are going our way -- even the lights are turning green before we get to them. And, another day, it's cloudy, rainy with thunderstorms overtaking us. The thrills of that "shout-hallelujah" victory can be overtaken by that "woe is me" agony of defeat.

But it's inevitable that there will be ups and downs in our lives. And, Lord, have mercy – we have had plenty of ups and downs the last few months, haven’t we? A country music legend, Lynn Anderson, made the song "Rose Garden" famous. The lyrics were: “I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there’s got to be a little rain sometime.”

When we read the writings of the Apostle Paul, we might think that he and Lynn Anderson partnered up in writing that song. Paul knew suffering and he wrote to us about it, but he weathered it, because he also knew God’s peace in the suffering. He was talking about a calm that comes because of God's love for us. The calm that comes even when the storm clouds gather. Paul even had the audacity to tell us to "rejoice in our sufferings"! He said in Romans 3:3-5 "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

Really? We're supposed to rejoice in our sufferings? Sufferings like being in isolation, having to home school our kids, an illness, a relationship break-up, a divorce, facing bankruptcy, the death of a loved one, wayward children, losing a job or even suffering through this presidential election rancor-- we are supposed to rejoice in those sufferings? God didn't mean for us to celebrate loses or even ignore pain or suffering. No, no, no. Instead, he meant that suffering is a part of life. No matter how many times we complain that life is not fair, Paul wants us to know that suffering (a little rain) is the part of our lives that helps us grow to be hope-filled people of character and determination. That rain gives us hope for tomorrow’s beautiful rose gardens in our lives.

What Lynn Anderson's song doesn't tell us, and what Paul wanted so desperately for us to know, is that God loves us so much that He promised never to leave us alone. The rain comes and suffering comes, but with God, we'll receive patient endurance. And patience leads to character. And character leads to hope. And hope will not disappoint us. That's a mighty fine recipe for pulling us from the darkest of times, to the brightest sunshine times EVER. That's when we'll be singing "Rain, rain – don’t go away – you are welcome in this day!” Because, tomorrow we’ll be singing “I’m walking on sunshine – whoa oh! – and don’t it feel good?"

Life Lessons Can Be Learned From Bocce

On April 14th, I celebrated living here in Frisco for one year. I can hardly believe it’s already been a year and I’ve grown to love my community. I’m so busy with my church and ministry activities, my traveling and my children and grandchildren that I haven’t met that many people here. That’s changing as I joined yet another really enjoyable team sport, Bocce. It's a sport played between two teams with from 1 to 4 players on each team. A set of bocce balls is composed of 8 large bocce balls (4 of one color and 4 of another color) and one smaller ball called the ”pallino” (Italian word for 'cue ball'). One point is given for each bocce ball that is closer to the pallino than the opposing team’s bocce balls. While bocce can be played on lawns, we have 12 courts here at Frisco Lakes.

Throwing balls toward a target is the oldest game known to mankind. As early as 5000 B.C. the Egyptians played a form of bocce with polished rocks. From Egypt, the game made its way to Greece around 800 B.C. The Romans learned the game from the Greeks, and then introduced it throughout the empire. From the early Greek physician Hippocrates to the Italian Renaissance man Galileo, the early participants of Bocce noted that the game’s athleticism and spirit of competition rejuvenates the body. Thanks to many Italian immigrants at the turn of the century, Bocce has flourished in the U.S. -- now more than 25 million Bocce enthusiasts here. Next to Soccer and Golf, Bocce is the third most participated sport in the world and is considered the oldest known sport in world history. So, you’re welcome – now you know about Bocce.

This photo is of my league team “The Lady Rollers” and we are all about friendship, celebrating each other – win or lose (like yesterday’s game when we cheered for our opposing team when they won the match as it was the birthday of one of their players. The score was tied -- 1 game to 1 game and the 3rd game was neck and neck. The birthday girl’s team, the Bocce Angels, won. If we're going to lose, it's worth it to help make someone's birthday extra special.

I've learned some valuable lessons from the game:
1) Never give up. We’ve been down and it looked like a shoo-in for the other team to win, and lo and behold we would win because all four of our balls were the closest to the pallino and we won the game. We check each other, if at any point, we start speaking negatively about our playing, because – whiners never win, and winners who think like winners, never lose -- well sometime that do, but not because they were whiners.

2) Never say “SORRY”! I love that about the game. We’re all doing our best and if we make an inadvertent mistake, you don’t say “SORRY”. And, if you do, you'll quickly be corrected. The definition of SORRY is feeling distress, feeling upset, downcast, in a poor or pitiful state or condition and we are none of those. Yesterday, we said, “Why say “sorry” – it’s just a game and in the light of eternity, does it really matter? We hold our heads high and think "I'll do better next time!"

3) Cheer and congratulate when someone does well – even if it’s an opposing team member. I love it when I make a really good play to save the game and those gals make me feel like a rock star – rather, a bocce star.

4) Those who are the best…..mentor those of us who are still learning. And they do it with such a sense of TLC. I’m already mentoring the new gals because, after all, I’m a veteran now – having played last year and now this year.

5) No name calling or trash talk allowed. I know that’s common in many sports, but I love the genuine sportsmanship and comradery in this game. Even if we call ourselves names or trash talk ourselves because of a dumb error, others are quick to steer us the other direction.

6) Making friends – Bocce is a great social sport and it gives us a chance to make new friends or bond more closely with old ones. It doesn’t take too much motivation for us to want to play, but just in case we were in a little lazy mode, our friends motivate us to “get our game on”. And that we do.

6) And, here is the best part -- bocce has great health benefits:
-- It helps lower our blood pressure -- our bodies get rejuvenated and our heart gets strengthened
-- It improves balance -- navigating the bocce balls down a court provides helps with our balance.

As I’ve said many times before, I don’t plan on giving up until I’m taken up…..and if that day comes while I’m playing bocce, I just hope and pray my roll was the winning roll that rolls me straight on through the pearly gates! In the meantime, how about a game of BOCCE?!!

Hebrews 12:11-13 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”

A City on a Hill

While in Stonebriar Mall yesterday, I stopped by one of my favorite boutiques, Altar'd State. Favorite -- not because I've ever bought more than two or three items there, but because of the "feel good" experience I get when I shop there. I see this store being a "city on a hill". Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."

It's mostly a trendy clothing-line store for teenage to middle age women, but this over-middle-age-woman bought an adorable jean jacket yesterday to wear over my "trendy" tops. Everywhere in the store you'll see signs that reflect a positive outlook on life, like...."Be who God meant you to be and you'll set the world on fire", "Pray big", "Perhaps this is the moment for which you were created", "Blessed Life", etc.

I came home and delved into their website and I read their Mission Statement (photo here) and their history. It's one of those entrepreneurial, hard-working and living-the-dream story. BTW, the name "Altar'D State" is a reference to both the altar of God and the altered life of a Christian, and according to the CEO Aaron Walters, "because when you live a Christian life, it is a different life." They have 70 boutiques throughout the U.S.

No sooner had I left Altar'd State, that I walked across the mall and there was a new store I hadn't seen before, 3:16.

Catchy numbers with a message that we see on athletes' faces, so I knew I had to check it out. Does it really mean John 3:16? And, to my absolute delight, actually it does, because the entire store is about spreading the Good News that John 3:16 speaks of: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life." There are signs, jewelry, home decor' and a clothing line that spreads the Good News. Bold evangelizing. Impressive.

Then I thought about Christian Brothers Automotive that I drive by everyday. I wondered if the brothers last name was Christian or if they're defining who they are as followers of Christ! I found out that Mark Carr was discontented with his line of work, so he prayed and asked God to provide him a business. The very next day, while Mark was attending a Sunday School class at his church, a friend from the class told him he was an automotive technician, and asked Mark to help him start an automotive repair shop, and they did. The two men were encouraged by their Sunday school class to call it Christian Brothers Automotive, as they were two brothers in Christ. Today they have 150 franchises in 19 states. Ethical, professional and tremendous customer service are their standards, which speaks volumes about living our Christianity out loud with honor.

Why did I share these businesses with you today? Yes, these businesses are definitely being that "light in the world -- the city on the hill that cannot be hidden" like Jesus spoke of and we pray they be continually blessed for their being so representative of "spreading the good news". But, how about you and I? Maybe we don't have a storefront or a "God Loves You" bumper sticker on our car and we don't wear a "Blessed Life" t-shirt (maybe we should), or we don't have signs all over our home that scream "I am a Christian" (maybe we should), but what about the billboard that we show everyday? That smiling face, that generous heart that gives, or the spokesperson that encourages and lifts up those around them. I'm telling you "spreading the good news" in a world that sure could use good news should be what we're all about. St. Francis put it best: "Preach the Gospel at ALL times, and sometimes, use words."

We Can't Soar With Eagles If We're Hanging Out With Turkeys

For over 30+ years, Weight Watchers has been my accountability and sustainability partner to keep this girl in line when it comes to maintaining a healthy goal weight.

This post, today, isn't to advertise Weight Watchers, but to encourage us to hang with positive, supportive and inspiring people and groups that will help us keep "soaring with eagles", unless, of course, we are mentoring others who need an "eagle" role model that shows them how to fly to a higher level in their attitude and outlook in life.

Typically, I simply go in for a monthly weigh-in, but yesterday, I felt inclined to stay for the meeting. I want to make new friends, so I best be showing myself friendly to new groups here in Frisco. I was so glad I did, because, before the WW Leader started, there was already a buzz going on in the room. One of their determined WW members was being celebrated because she had reached her goal weight and has become a Lifetime Member which means all she has to do is maintain her goal weight and meetings, tools, and weigh-ins are FREE forever. This sweet gal admitted that, before now, she was ashamed to admit what her weight had been, but yesterday she admitted "I've lost 92 pounds". And, that's not the best part. Her crowning achievement includes no longer having to take medicine or insulin for Diabetes, no longer having to be on a C-pap machine, her blood pressure medicine has been cut in half and her eye doctor even told her the best thing she could have done for her eyes was to lose weight. I loved how proud she was of her new-found, better version of herself. It seems she has a whole new lease on life.

Not only was I inspired by her story, but her attitude and optimism elevated our thinking that we, too, can accomplish anything when we have the right tools, goals, and undaunted persistence and determination like she has had. And, this sweet gal isn't a "spring chicken" -- but she wants to finish life strong -- and her new self will help her do that.

Another much younger gal had reached her 10% weight loss goal and she, too, was celebrated. She admitted that sugar had been her best friend for years, and since reducing her sugar intake, the pounds have come off. She also shared that now she drinks 3 cups of green tea a day-- a tip she received from one of the founders of the Susan Komen Foundation. (BTW, to remove the bitterness of green tea, she adds a couple of squirts of lime juice.) It's been proven that the risk of breast cancer can be reduced by 50% by drinking green tea daily, and taking a tumeric pill will freeze the growth of breast cancer. Those cancer reducing routines are because she had two cancer scares, but now continues on to a healthy life. I learned all this because I took the time to "hang out" with eagles.

I looked around the room and saw these posters that put everything into perspective. I thought...."What a wonderful environment to be in to gain self respect and self worth! This is a safe place -- it is a supportive and encouraging place! We need environments like this that help us move closer to our goals and dreams!" And I thought about those who often hang out with negative folks, on purpose. I thought about those who watch negative tv shows and listen to negative commentary on the radio, and read it online and they just settle there.....scratching around with "turkeys". And, have you noticed, negativity attracts negativity?

I don't know about you, but I'm determined to hang out in places that will inspire me, empower me and build me up, that encourage me to strive to be a better me, that cause me to look at the bright side of life. I think I'll just keep on hanging out with optimistic friends and family at church, women's groups, Bible Studies, motivational meetings, and at Weight Watchers. Maybe it's time we choose a new "normal" -- the one that soars with eagles instead of hanging out with the turkeys.

Excuse me....I'm "suiting up" for flying today! How about you joining me? "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Where Oh Where is Donna?

Yesterday, someone I just met said, "So where do you live?" It was the first time I needed to explain this season of my life. So I said, "Well, I fly by the seat of my pants, so wherever I land!" LOL!

So, here's the way I roll. I do my best to trust that in each day, I'm on point -- that is, God's point. To be where He guides, provides and selects for my good. After all, His Word declares "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6.

So since my home sold in Tulsa, when I wasn't even trying to sell it, I've been doing my best to acknowledge Him and trusting that my steps were right where He gave me the clear path to walk on. Initially, I thought I needed to quickly find a home in Texas to move to, but by all signs, or the lack thereof, it wasn't time yet. So my life has taken a turn for even greater trusting. Here's how I've rolled:
~ Home in Tulsa sold July 24th; Home closes September 23rd
~ Friend in Tulsa offers me to stay at her home as she is away until December; I finish personal, ministry and business commitments and then make my way to Texas.
~ November 8th -- Leave Tulsa (AFTER voting), and stopover in Frisco for a couple of days and then on November 10th -- arrived in Austin for a few days

The must gratifying part of this journey is being closer to my children and both families have graciously said "Mom/Nana, live with us!" Whew! I'm not homeless! LOL!

Actually, my stopover to Austin includes the celebration of my youngest grandson's birthday. Next stopover will be back to Frisco for a big event that Staci's two will be in and then it's back to Tulsa for a ministry event that I'll be speaking at and then back to Frisco for Staci's birthday. So, you can see, I really am flying by the seat of my pants. I keep myself amused because this isn't "my way". I'm one who likes the comfort and stability of my own bed in my own home, but "It's a new season. It's a new day. A fresh anointing of God's wisdom and direction is flowing my way!" (That's a song I love!)

Yesterday and today, 12-year old Brennan is in a baseball tournament. I love being here to celebrate and cheer him on. At this field are some signs that speak to my season.

FIELD of DREAMS -- Remember that movie? An Iowa corn farmer, hearing voices, interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and the Chicago White Sox come. I'm living in a field of dreams -- where I dream of being an ambassador of Christ -- sharing His love wherever I go. I'm building it in my heart -- and I believe God will use me here AND there.

MEMORIES BEGIN HERE -- Yes, each day I have the opportunity to make memories with my family, my loved ones and my friends. This season has just begun and I plan on memory-making every day!

"REMEMBER: These are kids. This is a game. Umpires are human. Your child does not play in the MLB." I loved this sign which was on every baseball field. You know those unruly parents that can lose their common sense over an umpire's call. In other words -- taking life WAY TOO SERIOUSLY!! In the grand scheme of things, WE are God's kids. Our lives are a game we play daily -- sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.....it's HOW we play the game that matters. Others are human (like us) and when they falter, we love them anyway and hope they do better next time. And God's children aren't expected to be perfect......but most certainly, we do our best to strive for perfection -- to be our very best for our FATHER -- Who really does KNOW BEST!

So, here I am on this grand adventure....taking it one day at a time and trusting that where He leads, I will follow. I'll let you know when I land.....in the meantime, battan down the hatches because the "Donna" jetstream just might be heading your way.....any day!