My VBF and My Nephew: Famous and CUTE!

Beth and Jude were published in this article in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. The rest of the family is in the article, too! I could not love these people more if I tried.

Witness to Miracles

It's been so long since my heart has walked around in the world in an utter fit of gratitude. But that's what I have right now. I smile a lot. I laugh more. I drive down the highway with tears streaming down my face, beautiful truths rushing toward me -- things I know truly are miracles.

Seriously, how likely is it that I'm blessed to have so many friends who are authentic with me and themselves? And new people come in the door all the time; amazing ones.

Who ever heard of having a girlfriend (one that you made when you were both in your thirties) who allows you to mother her, sister her, kick her ass, and tell her the absolute truth. I mean that I say, "Girl, this is where you tell the truth about this, or I WILL. Go." And then she does. Who ever heard of having ONE friend like that? And I have, what, seven? My cup runneth over. Like crazycakes.

Who ever heard of having a girlfriend like that for 25 years? I have. And a male friend like that, too? I even have one of those!

Who ever heard of having a mentor that can read you like she was actually IN your head? One who knows what you need, and is so in tune with you and with God, *and* is so generous, that she offers exactly what you need? And you didn't even know what it was you needed until she said it aloud? Um, miracle anyone?

Who ever heard of, after years of sleeping with the phone by my head (just in case), sleeping soundly and dreaming sweetly because your brother is sober and in love with God? The twenty months of peace in our family are worth the desperation of the 10 years before them.

Who ever heard of finding friends you thought you lost, discovering you have a heart you weren't sure could be big enough, exercising the courage to create, and smashing through the bad habits to discover who I really am? Feels like a miracle to me.

Who ever heard of having a new chance to move toward the self God created me to be every single day? It's a huge life. I'm grateful.

Scattergories Meme

SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks!

Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...They MUST be real places, names, things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question. Once you're done, forward on to friends and back to the person who sent it to you. Now go! Or, you know, post.

1. Your Name: Stacey
2. Famous singer/band: Sting
3. 4 letter word: Sing
4. Street name: Speedway Drive
5. Gifts/presents: Silver
6. Vehicle: Saturn VUE
7. Items on a menu: Spinach dip
8. Boy Name: Stephan
9. Girl Name: Sally
10. Movie Title: Shawshank Redemption
11. Drink: Singapore Sling (2 pts!)
12. Occupation: Student
13. Flower: Sweet William
14. Celebrity: Sharon Stone (Score 2 points for first and last name!)
15. Magazine: Saveur (we actually get this one.)
16. US City: Spartanburg, South Carolina (2 pts!)
17. Reason for Being Late for Work: Sick
18. Something U Throw Away: Scraps
19. Things You Shout: Shut it!
20. Cartoon Character: Seymour Skinner (2 pts!)