‘Bout time I visited my blog and actually wrote something…you know, just in case there really is someone out there who drops by every now and then, wondering what’s going on in my world (hey, it could happen!).

Recently, I got a gig writing for an online publication, Examiner.com. My official title is the Orlando Christian Women’s Examiner. It’s fancy speak for “I get to write articles pertaining to Christian women with a local angle.” When I accepted the gig, I thought to myself “psh, piece of cake!” You see, writing has never been hard for me. Being a student of language, I enjoy the nuances of the art – writing, reading, sculpting words to create a masterpiece, especially on a topic I absolutely love… However, this formal writing adventure I’m just embarking upon has me scratching my head a few times too many.

It’s one thing to blog about n’importe quoi (whatever), but quite another to come up with topics you think other women would be interested in and sound like an expert while you’re at it. What’s more, you have to post frequently, to encourage traffic on your page! If you’re a praying person and have noticed how infrequently I’ve been blogging of late, please consider this a prayer request… and come visit my Examiner page as often as you can – it translates into pennies for me. And feel free to leave a comment or two, or email me (but only if you have something nice to say )

Until next time  – peace!

Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday to all you beautiful women out there!

In our church, we don’t only celebrate mothers, but all women on this special day. This is because all women are mothers, in a sense. We are wired to be loving, nurturing and life-giving, whether it’s to our own progeny - biological, adopted, spiritual or otherwise – or someone else. That’s just how we roll!

For those of you women who are dealing with the characteristic frustrations of raising well-mannered children in a sometimes contrary culture, you’re not alone, as the following video featuring Anita Renfroe will demonstrate. For others, I know you will recall hearing these words at some point earlier on in your life. It’s amazing how similar mothers are, regardless of the language they speak, or what part of the world they live in. Even if you’re one of the 10,000,000 viewers who’ve seen it before, have another laugh at this video. By the way, you should hear some of the things she says in yoruba (a Nigerian language) like I did, growing up.

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day, y’all!

Ruth: every mother’s dream for her son. What a girl! I call her sugar-n-spice (and everything nice).

After her husband’s death, when she had every reason to heave a sigh of relief and wish her mother-in-law Naomi a good life, she stayed with the older woman. A Gentile woman, like Tamar and Rahab, her quiet devotion to Naomi earned her a good catch in Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer (see Tamar’s story) who happened to be a kind and generous man. Didn’t hurt that he was was well-off, either (I’m just sayin’…)

What I love about Ruth is that she was this sweet, gentle, fiercely loyal girl, yet I detect a hint of caliente in her. When Naomi gave her instructions for catching Boaz’ eye, she didn’t shrink back from it. What was it about her past that made her choose to stay with Naomi rather than go back home to her family after her husband died? Was it a fascination with the God of Israel whom her beloved mother-in-law worshipped? I suspect that she’d seen enough evidence of Jehovah’s living presence to want to return to the dead gods of her people. She knew which life she wanted. Those famous words of hers to Naomi: “your people will be my people and your God will be my God” still give me goosebumps when I read them. Lord, give me a daughter-in-law like that! I’d bet after Boaz and Ruth got married, they moved Naomi into the White House – I mean, their home, with them.

At the end of her story, she earned herself a good man, her very own book of the Bible and a spot in Jesus’ lineage.  You go, sweetie (pun intended).

 

OK, can I just go on record for saying this (all the while naming no names to protect the identity of the innocent)?…

No woman, regardless of age, tribe or tongue, color or creed, whether dead or alive, in the past, present or future. No woman – EVER! EVER!! EVER!!! – deserves facial hair!

And that’s all I’m gon’ say about that!

 

A friend shared this video with me. Since I’m such a fan of Pink (the ideology, more so than the color), I thought it was very ‘a propos’. Long live strength and femininity; long live pink! Enjoy…

So… I started a women’s study group in my home recently, on Liz Curtis Higgs’ “Bad Girls of the Bible: and what we can learn from them” Nice. I’d been looking for a fun book that would stimulate discussion and at the same time provide some “meat” and a bonding experience. Tall order? Well, I found it.

What I love, love, love about it is the way the author begins with a fictional contemporary narration of whichever “bad girl” she is focusing on in each chapter. She weaves a modern-day story that portrays the life of the lady in question. With just the right blend of humor and wisdom, each “bad girl” evolves from being a character in the Bible to you or someone you know. You totally get her! After all, every one of us, to one degree or another, is a bad girl transformed by grace. In fact, some of us are still works in progress.

The women in our group could not be more diverse. We have women ranging in age from 20-something to 60-something, black, white, hispanic… with that kind of mix, you can imagine how much fun we’re having. At the same time, we’re growing and learning to be conformed more and more to God’s image.

Oh yeah, I’m REALLY lovin’ me some Women at The Well right now!

We all need those. I’m not talking about corporate or political hotshots. I mean those folks who are willing to storm the heavens on your behalf, spiritually speaking, or give you a leg-up when you could use one.

Every now and then I hit a road block. I get weary (take that, all you who think I’m super-woman! Show of hands? None? OK, never mind…) Of course at those times, it’s always me who’s off track or out of focus. I get busy about life and get ever so slightly disconnected from my “power source”. Like the wiring in the turn signal mechanism of my car, that’s all it takes: a barely perceptible - albeit inadvertent – disconnection. Yes, even pastor’s wives suffer that malady. You see, as my husband often says, we’re no more anointed to live the Word than any other believer. It’s an act of my will (I choose to believe) and my love for the Lord (more like His love for me) that keep me grounded. But sometimes I get distracted.

It’s at those times that the love and strength of a friend does wonders. I’ll get that phone call saying “the Lord put you on my heart today and I just got done praying for you; how are you doing?” (thanks, Dubya). Or the email that reminds me of why I do what I do and gives me the oomph to pick up my upside-down smile (thanks, K). Or it’s that 5-minute Facebook online chat that makes me smile, or laugh out loud (thanks, A). You all know yourselves. My friends in high places. We all need them, whether young or old, near or far. So if you don’t have any, go get you some.

There, I’m all better now!

 

It’s done – phew! The fall ‘08 issue of  Pink! is here! Seems like it was only a short while ago that I announced the summer issue, but that was a quarter ago. Realizing how much work goes into a simple two-sided 11X17 publication makes me have a truckload of respect for folks who put out magazines and such. Then again, they probably have a paid staff who can put full-time effort into it. Me, I have my trusty side-kick, Kim, and that’s pretty much it. And trust me, neither one of us is doing it for the big bucks [sigh...I'm not bitter - honest!] In a short while, we’ll have it available to read on our church website or you can ask me nicely and I’ll pop a copy in the mail to you.

In the mean time, I have to tell you that I’m lovin’ me some Well ladies right now! I started a women’s study group in my home on Liz Curtis Higgs’ “Bad Girls of the Bible” and I can tell after just one pre-cursor meeting, that we’re going to have a blast with this one. Of course I won’t be divulging any secrets, but you may do well to watch this space!

Until then, go Pink! No, really, go read Pink!

Oh, and make it an uber-great week! Toodles…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No doubt the attention that Michael Phelps is garnering as a topshelf athlete is well deserving. However, something else caught my attention aside from the indomitable Phelps – Speedo’s LZR Racer, the supersuit of the 2008 Olympics. Here’s an excerpt from The Wall Street Journal:

“[Speedo's] crusade began in February when it blitzed the competition with the introduction of the LZR Racer. It featured a “compression zone” around the torso and other parts of the body that reduced muscle and skin vibration, allowing swimmers to conserve more energy. “

Forget about conserving energy. I’ll even pass on the core-stabilizing properties - a suit that can reduce muscle and skin vibration? Think what other kinds of vibrations it can reduce! The possibilities are endless! Why didn’t Hanes or Victoria’s Secret think of it? I’ll take one, please! And with a price tag of $475, surely they’ll have a layaway program…

Happy weekend!

  

I got to the office today and someone had put a mug filled with candy on my desk. One of my co-workers had come across the mug and it reminded her of me. I took photos (above) of both sides of the mug, but it still doesn’t quite do it justice. It says “Princess In Need of the King”. How cool is that? Since I didn’t come up with that acronym and it’s obviously already taken, I’ll have to think up something catchy of my own. Any ideas? (don’t worry, I’ll give you credit if I use it) Sweeter than the cool factor was the confirmation that there are lots of other PINK warriors out there somewhere. Viva las princesas!