*.who are they?!?!.*

When I glance at the curb at an intersection when I head downtown and see a homeless person standing with a sign, it is sometimes hard to see past the layer of dirt on his/her clothes, the exhausted expression on his/her face, and the bags of garbage and meager supplies at his/her side. It is so easy to be distracted by the sign begging for help, money, anything.. hope. Instead of seeing and loving the heart inside, I even tend to dread the disturbance and guilt we feel when we see a homeless person.

Where I work we serve a lot of homeless people, and on days like welfare wednesdays I'm reminded once again that homeless people are more than just a man or woman on the curb holding a sign. They are human beings just like me with emotions, feelings, fears, and dreams. Love, laughter, and pain. Each one has a past. Each one has a story. Each one has a soul.

Emerson Drive has a song out called 'Moments' which is such a reminder of who homeless people really are. They are just like you and I. If you get a chance check out their music video on YouTube.

*..craving..*

I'm craving a road trip. I just have this stir-crazy feeling that I just have to get on the road and be out of here. (I know it's fall and I'm working full time so all these ideas I'm writing are crazy and probably won't even happen but I dare to dream.)

Let's just drive somewhere new; eat fast food and fruit from random stands on the sides of the road; play lots of good music as loud and we can with the windows down and dance; pay for meals at greasy spoon diners with all the change we can muster; stop at a whatever town, city or landmark that interests us; bring a guitar and someone who can sing to panhandle when we run out of money; wear slip-ons and flip-flops all the time; do our own kinda yoga on the side of a hi-way; stop at tiny little churches on Sundays and sit in the back row and sneak out before someone notices us; maybe crash on the floors of some relatives/friends and use their showers; camp out on whatever land we can find in a tent that's way too small; play chinese fire drill at a random intersection, the sit in the car and laugh about how child-like we are; take turns buying the driver monsters and switching off when they start to veer into the other lane; take a zillion and two pictures of the most random things we can think of; roll down the windows all the way while we are on the road and wave at everyone we pass...

Anyone with me?!?!

.it's been sooOooOOoo LoNg.

It would seem that the blogging phase of my life has officially risen and... ... ...fallen.  I don't feel like I have much to offer in the way of meaningful posts these days.  Apologies to all my friends and readers who would rather I at least post a crazy picture or write something about local life instead of waiting for deep inspiration to hit. I promise I will post something SOON!! So please stay tuned...

*.hearing that still small voice in this craziness known as life.*

It's been too long. I'm sorry.

Noise. It's a trademark of our culture, a signet of our lives.  Whispers can be hard to hear over the blare of our society. There's a lot of demand out there.  Insistent shouts increase to an ear-piercing decibel, and pressures to do this and that can catch us up in a vortex that will never be satisfied.

In a world of so much noise, the voice of God is just a whisper.  But you know what always amazes me is how much His whisper can stand out.  It's like a forget-me-not blooming between the cracks in a sidewalk.  The hard and ugly surface is broken by a simple little beauty and a splash of sunlight.

His whispers are so precious. When we're caught in the throws of life, we forget to listen for Him.  Sometimes our over-stressed minds make God out to be a demanding taskmaster.  If you're labouring to fulfill the pressures and demands the world is placing on you, you may just be tuning into the wrong station. ;)

A shout demands; His whisper offers.

A shout invokes stress; His whisper brings peace.

A shout insists on its own way; His whisper invites a way in.

A shout provokes one to labour and toil; His whisper grants a place of rest and sweet tranquility.

A shout carries in its sound waves of a threat of rejection; His whisper carries a secret of acceptance.

A shout suggests anger; His whisper expresses His love.

Go to Him, all of you who labour to fulfill the demands others place on you and He will give you rest.  Listen for that still, small voice.

Be blessed <><

*.uncertain.*

'As we know, there are known knowns.  There are things we know we know. We also know there are unknown knowns.  That is to say we know there are some things we don't know.  But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know.'

I was thinking about some things I didn't know just a couple of short months ago.  Things that are very clear to me today that weren't so clear before.  We always want to now why things are happening, what we should do, or what will be next.  Not to worry, things will eventually fall into place.  We aren't always going to have perfect certainty, but it is refreshing when we get an answer on something we have been wondering about or puzzling over.  There have been many times when I thought I was completely certain I was sure of a situation, but later it became apparent it was the complete opposite. I was uncertain.

I can live blissfully knowing that I don't have to know everything. :)

This morning I woke up laughing :)

I think one of the most wonderful sensations in all of the world to experience is laughing to yourself.  It's like this pent up anticipation that you just can't seem to contain anymore.  It's that much more amusing if you are alone. :) Because when your in a group setting, more than likely you are asked to explain yourself.  But when you're alone, and just being high on life, laughing to yourself. I think it's beautiful.

The reason I'm writing about something so lame, I've caught myself doing this lately.  My pent-up alone laughter comes mostly from memories: someone's funny facial expression, someone's scent, someone else's hysterical laugh.  But I think this laughter also comes from know life is good and that there are many exciting things on the horizon...more awesome things are coming, new beginnings, and fresh starts.

I'd be lying if I said I literally woke up laughing this morning, but I think I came pretty darn close and it triggered some inspiration :)

.happy 21st birthday miss stefanie.

A smile so warm that it would melt the coldest of hearts.  She is graced with beauty but not only external beauty.  Her personality is beautiful, and so is her heart. She has so many qualities that have molded her into such an amazing person.  When someone she loves is hurting, she feels their pain.  And she is always there for them, to be a comfort.  Her love is bounteous and touches the lives of all who know her.  Her free-spirited and fun-loving mind makes her happy and such a joy to be around.  Those who love her just can't help but want to be in her company all the time.  For her honesty she is greatly respected and her modesty makes her so grand.  With her amazing qualities she shines in the darkest of times.  She will always be loved and be looked upon as a role model for many.  May she continue to journey through life with all the love she deserves.  And that all her experiences would continue to beautify her on the inside and that that beauty would shine forth through her beauty that lies on the outside.

Happy Birthday Stef! I loved every minute of yesterday. I'm so grateful I could come and spend your special day with you.  You're A-mazing! I love you. :)