"So, where are you from?" The question I least like to hear when meeting someone new.

My dislike doesn't come from any shame of the past, nor from some hidden desire to have lived in and conquered a huge city, or even from having to try to pronounce - let alone, spell! - some of the towns in which I've lived. It comes from the fact that I have numerous towns which I have called home, and yet I have not had long-term stays in any of them. It's difficult to explain in a simple reply.

Background: When I was born (in South Carolina), my father was a university professor - pastoring in Georgia on the weekends. During that time, he felt that God was directing him to pastor a church full time. So, when I was three, we moved.

Enter the first difficult spelling and even more difficult pronunciation on my list of homes: W-A-K-A-R-U-S-A, Indiana! (Actually, it's pronounced just like it looks!) If I were ever to list a "hometown," this area of Indiana (Wakarusa/Nappanee) would be it. My first memories of home were there. The time during which we lived there was a time of joy, a time of growth, and a time of learning for our family. And that, after all, is a lot of what makes a place worthy of the title "home."

Many pastors go to a church and stay for 20, 30, even 40 years. That can be a good thing. Though I'm sure he would have loved that, my dad was one of God's special servants that was often led by Him to go to a church that needed Dad's gentle touch. I won't list reasons on a public site lest they be misunderstood regarding the churches to which our family was called, but I will say that my dad never SOUGHT to move, God just opened the doors to a church with a special niche that he could fill, and after much prayer - and always after family discussions - we would start fresh in a new church and see God use us for however long He chose. Then He would open the proverbial door to a new ministry in which to serve, and we would walk through it.

Only after I graduated from college did my father become a staff evangelist for a large Christian camp, and at that point, my parents could settle indefinitely wherever they chose and be based out of their home as they traveled around the world and across the country.

While I've always longed for "permanence," I have not known that - even as an adult. I have come to see that my desire to experience and learn new things either came from my moving to new places, or my moving to new places came from my desire to experience and learn new things. Growing "stale" is not an option for me - and I hope it never will be. If that includes buying new address labels now and then, then so be it.

Enter Facebook. I've heard many jokes about it. I've seen the obsession that can occur. I've seen the ups and the downs of it. My niece Jillian first introduced me to it while she was a student at Cedarville University. "You'd LOVE it," she said. It sounded fun, but I compared it to other sites known for their "stalkers," bad advertisements, and security issues. So I stayed away.

A few years later my friend Anna told me about the security of the site - I choose WHO sees what I post and who DOESN'T see what I post - and I choose WHAT they see, as well - and I thought, "Fine, I'll give it a try. But I won't be one of those Facebook-obsessed people." As is the case with the majority of Facebook users, I became hooked - instantly. Yes, I became obsessed, and yes, I spent WAY too much time logged in - looking at pictures, posting pictures, chatting, etc. But, as with most things, it became balanced and found it's proper place in the scope of daily life, and I now limit myself to not greater than one-half hour per day on Facebook. In fact, I usually spend far less than that - generally around 15 minutes, total time.

Years have now passed since I first logged in, and I am trying to convince my brother to "join the Facebook family." He recently gave me all the excuses I once gave to both Jillian and Anna. But when replying to his question, "What makes Facebook so special?", it hit me why it is that I actually look forward to my daily dose of Facebook. People I hadn't seen or even heard from for years - people from ALL of my communities, are on Facebook. It's my "unchanging" community. All in one place. I can come and go as I please - and all these friends are there. They are only a mouse-click away.

So, in the midst of the recent "purge-your-friend-list" craze, I have chosen not to "de-clutter" my Facebook friend list. They don't have to "write on my wall," "Inbox me," or even "tag me" in any of their old pictures (in fact, I'm probably glad they DON'T tag me in the old ones!). They are my one consistent, ever-growing, ever-changing, ever progressing community! I accepted their friendship or requested their friendship because at some point along my journey, they were a part of it . . . and on Facebook, they still are.

Several years ago now, while living in Minnesota, I began using the month of November to demonstrate either verbally or in writing my gratitude to those who have touched my life in one way or another. Don't get me wrong, I think we should be grateful every day of every month, but I know for myself that I sometimes need to focus on remembering that "God and others are actually responsible for the achievements in my life." 

Here's how it works: Every day in the month of November you select someone who has impacted your life. This is not about giving gifts, making fancy handmade cards, or empty flattery - it is about demonstrating gratitude with your heartfelt words! You can email them, call them, send them a card that day, or talk to them in person. But you do it EVERY day in November - regardless of how much time you think you have. It takes mere seconds to say, "Thank you for the yummy cookies you bring me every year on Valentine's Day - your kindness encourages me and reminds me I am loved." Then you hit send, lick the envelope, say good-bye, or give them a hug - depending on your method for delivery!

Getting started is the hard part - so guess what? As if this post weren't already long enough, I'm going to share with you MY plan - the one I'm using THIS year, that is. I will add here that, as a follower of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I will also take a brief moment to pray for the same person that day. If you don't know someone in the listed category, go back and repeat a category from before - just choose a different person this time!

November:

1. God - I'm serious about this one - On November first I will THANK Him and ask Him to "guide me into gratitude" the remainder of the month! He deserves my FIRST praise, and my HIGHEST praise!

2. Someone I have met within the last year

3. A friend from church

4. A friend from the neighborhood who does not attend my church

5. A relative - non-parent

6. A musician in my church (choir member, piano player, choir or orchestra director, vocalist, etc.)

7. A relative

8. A child who works hard or is consistently respectful (non-family member)

9. A store manager or clerk that has been especially helpful (they'll look at you oddly, but that's okay!)

10. A friend from the past (high school, college, former work location, etc)

11. A Veteran (this one is NOT optional - I call my dad EVERY year specifically to thank him for his service in the Air Force, even when I'm not doing the Thirty Days of Gratitude! Vets deserve our lifetime of thanks!)

12. A pastor or other vocational Christian worker

13. A relative

14. A friend

15. A teacher

16. Someone over the age of 60 who has been an example to me

17. A manual laborer whose skills have been a blessing to me or to others

18. A high school student who in some area, large or small, has chosen to be a visible leader for what is right

19. A co-worker

20. A friend

21. A non-vocational worker in my church (Sunday school teacher, nursery worker, kids' club leader, etc.)

22. (Thanksgiving day) Verbally or prayerfully demonstrate gratitude for my country and my countless blessings

23. Parents or Grandparents - if yours are deceased, stop today to thank the Lord for their influence

24. A coach/choir leader/director/teacher

25. A missionary

26. An administrator - school, work, organization, etc.

27. A friend or family member

28. A community worker - postal carrier, fire fighter, police officer, mayor, congressman, etc.

29. An author or writer whose words have impacted my life (email contact info is often in the back of the book)

30. The neighbor, friend, or family member of my choosing!

Do as you choose or use this as your guide - but I'd love to have you join me for these "Thirty Days of Gratitude!"

Before a letter can go out of my office, I make certain that at least one other person proofreads it. In the case of something going out to the entire organization, I have a minimum of two people proofread it or look it over before it is sent. I consider myself fairly competent in the area of grammar and extremely particular in the area of presentation. However, much to my embarrassment, the item sent to others for a "second look" often comes back with many corrections or suggestions written in red.

This afternoon I proofread something for someone and thought, "How could she have let this go? Didn't she see these GLARING errors?" It was at that very moment that I thought about why errors like that occur.

When I write something, I know what I mean to say. My mind thinks through the words, the sentences, the paragraphs, and the page, and my fingers begin to serve as the tool for getting the words from mind to screen (or page, as the case may be.) The problem comes when my fingers get ahead of or fall behind the thoughts making their way out for the public to read. The end result is that things get messed up - words become misspelled, words are dropped from the middles of sentences, and emotions felt in the heart are poorly represented by the end result of the written words.

We ALL make these mistakes at one time or another. It's inevitable. So in reality, the problem is not so much that the mistakes occur, but that we don't see them. Our minds jump over neglected letters and even fill in the missing words. Our emotions are expressed in our minds as we re-read our own thoughts.

Enter the proofreader. And the red pen. And the careful teaching and explanation about the markings as a means of helping the writer not to make the same errors next time. The end result? A carefully-crafted page with words that look like they should and mean what they were written to communicate.

So what's the big deal about proofreading? Well, my lesson from today's "red-pen moments" served to remind me that I need to apply Psalm 19:14 to my writing as well as to my spoken words. The verse states the Psalmist's prayer as he asks the Lord: "let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." I do not wish to minimize the holiness of God in any way, but in essence, I was reminded today that God must be my "Proofreader."

How many of us post things on Facebook that we later regret? Our emotions run from ecstatically happy to woefully depressed, and our Facebook or blog postings reflect those extremes. I've been guilty of it far too many times. During those "yipes - - - what-was-I-thinking" moments, I am grateful for the "delete" option. Yet if I would have paused before posting and asked the Lord to let me see my words through HIS eyes, I might have made better choices that could have prevented the use of "delete."

So I guess the way I'm choosing to apply these thoughts are in the following ways:

1. "Let the words of my mouth" - I try to write the way I would speak, but I will strive to be certain that I am speaking in a way that pleases Christ. That means even if something is funny, it is still appropriate, properly-timed, and not unkind or ungodly in nature.

2. "And the meditation of my heart" - My motive needs to be to honor my Lord and Savior. I used to read MANY posts each day talking of God's grace in trials where the emphasis was on the one facing the trial and the comment sections attested to that. I have done it myself. But I desire to leave the reader or listener thinking not of how miserable my sorry little life must be, but of how God's grace is truly "more than enough!" Am I known for my pain or for being a demonstration of His grace?

3. "Be acceptable in Your sight" - In every setting, every thought and every word must make it past His "red pen."

4. "O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." - I can't do this just because I want to. I must daily choose to ask Him to allow the strength He provides to take my thoughts, words, and motives and let them be a channel for His love.

Yes, there will undoubtedly be many red markings on words that I speak and on the words I intend to write - even on Facebook - but I trust that before I ever select "enter," I will run the words past the Master Proofreader.

If you've read my blog very often, you know that you've normally been able to read it - very often! Lately, however, my life has been reminiscent of the childhood game "Upset the Fruit Basket." Hence the title of today's entry. Warning: I have a dear friend who chides me about being "verbose," and I'm afraid I won't disappoint today, for my heart is full, and the page is empty - almost as if asking me to make up for lost time. Read what you wish, skim the paragraphs as you wish, but allow me to share what I've been learning lately.

I like to feel comfortable. Who doesn't, right? But I'm a comfort-seeker of the highest degree. While I love new adventures, and yes, even taking risks, I love even more knowing that it's all going to be okay in the end. I love the adventure as long as I know where it will end and what will be required along the way. As for the risks, I love taking them if I have weighed the possible outcomes, decided they were within my “risk-taking parameters,” and then personally have chosen to take the risk rather than having it thrust upon me. Yes, I know. If those are the “rules,” – well, actually, if there even ARE rules – then I am neither adventurous nor a risk taker. I like to feel comfortable. I want the fruit in the basket to be ripe, shiny, perfectly edible, and picturesque – at all times.

So let’s start with the pear. One of my favorite expressions to use when things change unexpectedly is “it all went pear-shaped.” If you look at a pear, you’ll know what I mean – it’s like the bottom fell out – and things landed in a big heap. At the end of February, my world went pear-shaped. I was just able to see my way through a very real “physical funk” which was the result of my major surgery last fall. I finally wanted to be around people again, and could do more than just function by “compartmentalizing” my days. It was like I finally felt like “Brenda” again – and I was glad! Then on a Friday afternoon, my boss came in and informed me that, due to financial constraints, my job position was being eliminated and being replaced with a part-time position with no benefits. He handled very bad news very graciously and in a godly manner, and for that aspect of it I will always be grateful. From that point on, I think I only heard portions - “You can stay until June 30^th” – “If you find something else, take it whenever they need you” – “Nothing you did” – and the rest sort of all ran together – it was like I was listening to the teacher in the Charlie Brown specials.

Next let’s look at the mango – my favorite fruit EVER! Now in order to incorporate this into my story, I will need to continue with the verbosity for which I am known and loved (ha ha) by telling you why mangos are my favorite fruit – but I will keep my verbosity brief - - - wait, is that an oxymoron?? Oh well - - - In 1993, I went to the Philippines with my parents. We went to a small Bible College in Iloilo City – Doane Baptist College – my father spoke to the students for a special week of chapel services, my mother spoke in special sessions to the female students, and I was privileged to help with a musical group that would be coming to the US that summer. It was there I learned how to choose, cut, and eat mangos! For one of the chapel services, a large choir sang, “Lord, Let Me Serve” – the first I had heard that song. While they were rehearsing, one of the teachers leaned over and told me, “Most of those students will graduate from here and will make $50.00 a month – at the most - serving the Lord in small churches in the hills. So when they sing those words, they mean them.” I think of those dear servants of God every time – honestly, EVERY time I eat a mango!

One day early in March I stood in the grocery store selecting my weekly stash of mangos, and began to cry. Not a boo-hoo cry, but the kind where you find yourself in the middle of Meijer with a tear running down your cheek, and you suddenly want to abandon your grocery cart and head straight for the car so you can cry it all out before the Lord. It was at that moment that the beautiful singing of my Filipino friends rang out in my memory – and caused me to realize that I was in the place of needing to make that song real in MY life – to sing the words and really mean them. Yes, another item for my fruit basket of life lessons.

People are longing to learn of the Savior;

Children are growing not knowing He cares.

Lord, let me tell them about your compassion.

Lord, where can I be used?

Chorus: 

Lord, let me serve; Lord, let me follow.

Give me a place and a purpose to fill.

Teach me to serve; teach me to follow.

Use me to do your will.

Lord, let me serve where ever You need me.

Make me a vessel through which You can flow.

Give me a mission, a place of fulfillment.

Lord, where can I be used?

Ready and willing to give You my talent;

Show me the task and I'll serve You today.

Give me a passion to work for Your glory.

Lord, where can I be used?

Lyrics: Linda Lee Johnson - Music: Tom Fettke

But God doesn’t leave us there. In His infinite, sovereign mercy and wisdom, He knows the end of the adventures we are called upon to take. In ways far above what I could ever ask or think, He has provided a new area of ministry for me in which to serve Him with the talents and abilities He has given to me – for everything, EVERYTHING, I have, is from Him. Starting on June 1^st, I will be privileged to serve on the staff of Brookside Baptist Church as Executive Administrative Assistant to the two senior pastors. As of the writing of this verbose posting (you were warned!!!), I have no housing, am cashing in some retirement to pay for the moving truck, and may end up driving the moving truck myself! In the midst of very dear friends on both sides of the move, I have never felt more “alone” and “uncertain.” But I am reminded of the story that earned strawberries the final role in today’s title.

I’m not sure that I’ve got the facts right, but it goes something like this - George Mueller, known for his faith in the provision of God, once told that he prayed for oatmeal for breakfast each day. God provided. Then Brother Mueller looked around and realized others were eating strawberries with cream for their breakfasts. He was disgruntled until he realized he had not ASKED God for strawberries and cream. Yes, he changed his prayer. Yes, he got strawberries and cream!

When it comes to my future housing and to all things related to the move, I’m reminded tonight to pray for strawberries and cream. I can’t WAIT to see what God does – just because He can!

Well, my friends, if you’ve made it this far, 1) you need to get a hobby! and 2) you’re truly a friend! I guess I’ll close by using a take off of the over-used saying, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” and tell you the lesson I am being reminded of in all of this. Instead of focusing on the fact that my carefully-planned, carefully-arranged, comfortable basket of fruit got “upset,” I am choosing to rejoice as God creates this amazing fruit salad which allows me to “taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!”

It's so cliche to say "Wow, can you believe it's already the end of February?" but.... Wow, can you believe it's...? More than 30 of you have been "Walking-Reading-Writing" this month, and you have inspired me to do the same! It made what can sometimes be a rather dreary month a little more enjoyable, and for that I thank you!

So here's how it works - Since there are generally a few people who can't report until mid-week, you have until the end of the day on Wednesday, March 4th to report your minutes or your point totals. However, remember that the contest ends at midnight tonight - although I hope we all CONTINUE walking, reading and writing! I'll post the winners by Sunday, March 8th!!!

It's time for the next Saturday "Shout Out" - a way of sharing things that I think are worth sharing! Today's shout out goes to Whisperings Solo Piano Radio.

My niece Janelle wrote to me about this great internet station, and I'm thankful that she did! It's a great "background" station for work, home, or just personal listening! The mellow music is a nice blend of sacred and secular "sets" that are calm, relaxing, and unique. It often gets a response such as "I really like that music you're playing. What CD is that?"

A few days ago I wrote in my status update on Facebook that I was listening to and enjoying solopianoradio.com, and several friends decided to check it out. One friend even said her kids fell asleep to it right away - two days in a row! - in their hotel room! Others said they tried it and are now listening to it at work or at home.

When you go to the website, you'll notice a few options that you have. You can pay a small fee, become a member, and avoid commercial interruption. You can also choose to listen to it for free, either via the mp3 free stream, or via Windows Media free stream. The only "commercials" in the "free" option are when the announcer comes on briefly maybe once or twice an hour to tell you that you can become a member. So I choose the "free" route when I'm only listening to it at work.

So, check it out, listen, and enjoy!!!

In June, I had some minor physical aches and ended up at the doctor's office (Okay, it was a kidney stone, and it was more like the emergency room!) which led to a visit to another doctor, which led to some minor surgery in September, which led to major surgery at the end of October. For someone who hadn't been to the doctor in, well.... several years, this was a whole new world for me.

After the minor surgery in September, I met with the physician's assistant who informed me that I would need the major surgery - and should plan to have it soon. I truly am one who, though a situation might make me sad, and it might make inwardly think "that's not fair," I truly think, "I can complain or groan until I'm purple in the face, but it won't change anything, so I just need to deal with it." That's how I felt when she talked with me. It stunk to need the surgery; but the bottom line was that I needed it. It didn't mean that tears wouldn't come - and soon - but for the moment, there were details that needed my attention regarding scheduling, medications, etc.

I went out to my car, turned the key, and the CD I had been playing before I went in for my appointment switched to the next song: "Psalm 121." I listened to the words reminding me that "my help cometh from the Lord," and the tears came - not for my own sorrow, but for this amazing joy that the God of David was still the same God providing help and unfailing love! I wrote the words of the Psalm on a 4x6 card, and kept it in the front of my planner.

The morning of my surgery, my mom came to my room and said, "I just want to share with you the Psalm I read this morning - it was very encouraging, and I want to read it to you - it's Psalm 121." Not ten minutes later, my dad said, "I want to share a verse with you that might be a great comfort to you today - it's from Psalm 121." The Lord used His Word in a very pointed and specific way in my life at that time.

I finally wrote about it today because I recently made some photo cards with one of my favorite pictures that I took at Spearfish Canyon in South Dakota - and I used Psalm 121:1-2 under the picture. I've been sending this card this week, and got a call today from someone who said how much it meant first of all to get a card in the mail, and secondly, the verses had been a great encouragement to them in a time of need. It's amazing what a little card can do. Sorry this was so long, but this chapter has become a treasure to me!

Three VERY important things today - make SURE you read #3:

1. HAPPY 84th Birthday to my wonderful dad! I love you bunches and bunches!!!

2. It's Thursday (Recommended Reading Day), so I'll just tell you for pretty much the "umpteenth time" that you should read Alexandra Stoddard's THE GIFT OF A LETTER if you haven't done so already. It's one of those great little inspiring books that truly motivates you and also gives you great ideas for letter-writing! Pretty much on my "Top Ten Forever" books!

3. Here's the biggie as far as WRW Month goes (though my dad's b-day is THE biggest thing today!): Tomorrow, February 6th, is Wear Red for Women's Heart Health Day. So here's the scoop. IF you wear red on Friday, February 6th, EVERY POINT that you earn will be DOUBLED!!!!! All three of the things we're emphasizing this month are either good for the health of your heart or the joy in your heart, but let's take it one extra step by wearing red to show public support for this worthwhile emphasis! (By the way, if you do your "Walking" part of WRW Month at a mall tomorrow, be sure to stop in at Macy's with your red on, and they'll give you an extra 20% off!!! Three cheers for Macy's!) Even if it's only red nail polish, a red headband, or a red belt - Wear it! (Be sure to tell me that you wore red when you send in your points!)

How are you doing on your Walking - Reading - Writing so far? If you haven't joined us yet, please do. Just check the post from February 1st for all the details! Points can even be retroactive to February 1st from whenever you start!

So do you think your schedule doesn't allow for all of these things? Think again! Here's today's little "mini-tip" - adapt it to your own schedule and your own routine! It's not original - more of a motivator than an idea! 

I've gotten hooked on a tv show on Tuesday nights - but I refuse to be controlled by a tv show for two hours!!! So.... tonight while I watch, I'm going to do some exercising, and then I'm going to make some cards for some people at my church who are sick or just need an "I'm thinking of you" note. My goal is to have the exercise done, the cards made, written, and then stamped by the time the show goes off the air.

Most of you have at least one show you watch each day, a favorite CD you listen to, or a radio talk show you like to have on while you lounge on the couch. So why not earn some points, feel like you've accomplished something, and brighten someone else's day in the process?!

Then of course you'll want to spend a few minutes doing some reading as a reward for your efforts!!