It's Impossible

I am a huge fan. I love the show.

I love the inspiration it provides for people to make positive change.

And, during the season finale this week, Jillian Michaels, said it well,

"Make impossible your favorite word."

Make it impossible to go backwards.

Make it impossible to stop dreaming.

Make it impossible to rest on who you've been in the past.

Keep going. Keep moving. Keep building your life.

Think on that today with me.

Remember VT

4/16/2007

Shortly after I woke up the phone rang. I hear my friend, the one who knows me well enough to know that I don't tune in to the local news often, start saying how she's sorry to be calling so early but...

There's been a shooting at Virginia Tech. Did you know? Have you talked to him?

And, as I try to get more details from her, I learn the shooting isn't near his dorm. I don't know his classes well enough to know where he'd be at that very moment but fairly certain he would not be in an early class. He's a Senior and enjoying his last few months of college. I hurry off the phone explaining my need to check things out.

A single shooting. No need to panic. I'm sure he's ok.

I turn on the news just to make sure. In disbelief, I stand in my living room and watch as chaos unfolds on the VT campus. A nightmare of senseless shooting ensues.

I need to call my husband. And, I start trying to process. It's 3 hours earlier on the West Coast, where he's at on business.

It's so early to call and wake him up.

Oh, my gosh...

but, what if it's him.

My cell phone starts ringing. The house phone joins in the ringing. Our friends and family are trying to check in with us to see if he's ok.

And, I'm staring at horror on the tv screen trying my best to take action.

But I can't.

I can't move, think, decide, pray, act.

Finally, I grab the phone and dial my husband.

He's fully awake. Fully aware. He just got off the phone with him. He's ok.

...and it's his birthday.

We talk off and on over the next few hours as the tragedy unfolds. What do we do? Should I go get him?

But, he's choosing. He wants to stay.

We pray and grieve for the students and faculty and family members and friends who are the Hokie Nation. And, I begin to watch and listen and admire him during his last few weeks on campus.

Keenly aware that he has become a man.

Steady in choice. Ready to defend. Built to lead. Proud to serve.

I am so proud of you, Army Guy!

Happy Birthday!!

We will continue to invent the future through

our blood and tears and through all our sadness

...we will prevail...

-Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist

Spritual Landscape

Planned communities are chock full of master gardeners whose joy abounds as spring brings their craft and showmanship into view for the rest of us. One quick spin around the neighborhood and the sights and smells of gardening beckon a quick trip to the local nursery or, at the very least, into the bookstore to grab the magazine highlighting "10 Quick Things To Do Now For a Fabulous Yard".

And I live in such a community.

I subject my friend LeAnne to many conversations about flowers, shrubs and grass tending as we power walk through my neighborhood. I admire the handiwork of those around me tremendously as somewhere deep inside of me screams, "I want my yard to look like that!" Hanging my head I confess I am without the honorable green thumb of so many other residents.

Alas, my laments pour out upon LeAnne's not-so-into-yard-stuff ears as I struggle to find ways to keep out of the "written notice for bad yard maintence" bin of the homeowner association police.

Continuing to stroll, LeAnne tells me about a guy in her neighborhood who gets down on his knees to get the weeds out of the grass in his front yard. We laugh a little at the intensity of his approach. Pretty meticulous. Yard worshipper, perhaps. He voraciously attacks the arch enemy, Weed, allowing the much tended Lawn to display purity and beauty.

And, then I got to thinking...

Our spiritual landscape requires much of the same approach.

Getting on our hands and knees

brings us into extreme close proximity

to the very things we must root out

if
we desire

our hearts to be
pure
spiritual landscapes.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

Matthew 13:3-8 MSG

Mississippi Dreamin'

When Copernicus, aka Cappie, heard his brother in Mississippi wanted to come see him, he just couldn't help himself. He jumped up and down, spun around a few times and then, after much excitement...headed to the couch for a nap.

{{dreaming sweet dreams of Dell's arrival}}

....oh, Dell....

Please come to Virginia !!

Anniversary

Anniversary: April 2

Roses made her squeel with delight.

A book made him bust into wild expressions of appreciation.

Dinner at home of grilled steak, baked potato, sauteed mushrooms, steamed broccoli.

Conversation that traversed dating, wedding and a love that keeps getting stronger.

Yeah, I really do love him that much!