Posted on

Dreaming Out Loud…

“It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.”
~ Erma Bombech ~

Did you know that Erma Bombech was one of my favorite authors when I was a young, married woman? She ‘tackled’ family with a lot of humor, don’t you agree? Did you also know, that she lived here in Arizona? Okay, now to the real topic of this week’s “In Other Words”…

Dreams — I had many. In the 70’s I wanted to become a ‘rock-star’; than a nurse, but I couldn’t stand to see blood. In the early 80’s I wanted to become a motorcycle-police-women (no women were allowed in the German police-force though; even my dad couldn’t help). But than I met my Sweetheart, and all I wanted was being married and have children…Sadly, we were only graced with one son…

I still have many dreams. Like riding around the country on the back of a motorcycle; holding my grand-baby in my arms (after Daniel gets settled and will find a fitting wife)…travel the world and finally retire to San Carlos.

So, why does it take courage to show others our dreams? Because those are our personal dreams, they are unique to us. What is a dream for me, might sound silly to someone else…

But I know that there is One person I always will have the courage to share my dreams with – no matter how silly they might be…I can share them with my Heavenly Father, because He knows already what will become reality and what will always be a dream.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ~ Isaiah 55: 8-9

Sig Tag

CWO Tuesday Meme


Our hostess for this week’s ‘In Other Words’ is Kari at the CWO Blog…Hope to see you there. Please scroll down for my “Tackle Project” this week…

Posted on

My Ordinary Life…

“No distinction was made between the sacred and the everyday…their life was all one piece. It was all sacred and all ordinary.”
~ Sue Bender ~
author of Plain and Simple

Do you live an ordinary life? I have to say, I do. I get up every morning to go to work, Monday – Friday; prepare meals for my family; pay our bills on time; wash cloths…You know, the whole nine yards. There is really nothing exciting going on my life. Or is there?

As I was reading over the quote several times, I did a search of the book on-line and read the back-cover. I like to get more information when I try to write about something I am not familiar with. But I think, you know that by now…As I was reading the back-cover of Sue’s book, one simple question got stuck in my head: “What really matters?”

What really matters to me on this side of heaven? Having a big house, a nice car, jewelery? I have to say – no. Material things really don’t matter to me. You might think I am making this up. Ask my husband. He will tell you that I wouldn’t mind living on the beach somewhere, with no care in the world. I guess my dad rubbed more off on me than I like to admit. He always said: “You come naked to the world, and you will leave naked. What really matters in this life, are your relationships and love!”

I have to totally agree with my dad. There is really nothing that matters more than my relationships and the love I have for the ones closest to me; and even the love I have for the ones that really don’t like me much. I like what Paul is saying about love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” ~ (ESV)

Yes, love is what matters most! Love for my Lord, my family, my friends and even my enemies. No riches of this earth can compete with love. No house, no cars, no jewelery…That for me is living an ordinary, but sacred life.

Sig Tag

CWO Tuesday Meme


Our hostess for this week’s ‘In Other Words’ is Ann at Holy Experience…Hope to see you there.

Posted on

The Ultimate Educator

“Don’t let schooling interfere with
your education.”
~ Mark Twain ~

I guess I do still have a language barrier…I thought about this quote since Friday and couldn’t figure out what Mr. Twain was suggesting. So, first I went on-line and consulted the Webster Dictionary. After that it still wasn’t clear (I guess the summer heat did take every last usable brain-cell) I checked my German-English Dictionary, which didn’t help either…Humph, so I swallowed my pride and checked with the two guys I live with (I am talking about hubby and son ~ what did you think?!?)…And low and behold, they were able to explain it to me…

Okay, so with the new knowledge/insight I set off to write about the quote in my own words…So, with school we might not be learning enough to get us through life? Hmm? Really? I never thought about it that way. Well, when I looked at the definition on Webster for school/schooling (1a: to teach or drill in a specific knowledge or skill “well schooled in languages”. b: to discipline or habituate to something “school oneself in patience”), schooling is described as a ‘drill‘…

Thinking about ‘drilling in somthing’ or ‘really knowing something from the heart’, that is when it hit me right between the eyes. There are some Bible passages (actually a lot of them) that I read over and over again, and really don’t understand. But than one day I read the same passage and the little light bulb goes on “Aha, this is what it means”. So in order to really understand the Bible, I need the help of the Ultimate Educator. Only with His help can I understand the meaning…

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” ~ John 16:7 (NIV)

I am probably way of on putting this particular quote into my own words. Like I said, I think I have a language barrier ~ especially on this quote…I hope that next week, I will understand the quote from the beginning and don’t have to poke around in the dark :grin:…


CWO Tuesday Meme


PS: Looking for “Tackle Tuesday”? Please scroll down :wink:.

Posted on

Leaving a Legacy?

I thought about the whole notion of “reproduction,” and what it really means to replicate yourself. Is it merely about the passing on of eyes and chins and hair color? Or is it, rather, the replication of the heart? Do we leave a bigger mark by passing on our genes, or our thoughts?”
~ Shannon Woodward ~

I remember after we got married how much I yearned to have a child; actually I wanted many :).

It took us two years to conceive. I had the perfect pregnancy. I wasn’t sick at all (just lost a little weight through the first 3 months) and I ate sensible. On June 11th, 1985, I gave birth to a perfect little bundle of joy. I was afraid leaving the hospital, because I didn’t know if I could handle the responsibility to raise a child…But I had help. My hubby was the greatest. He gave our son baths, changed diapers, helped as much as he could…and his favorite part, reading Dr. Seuss to Daniel. We had great years, we had challenging years (I just say teens ~ had major help there from the Lord)…But all-in-all is was a great joy to raise a child.

Yeah, we only had one chance to pass on our ‘legacy’. Daniel has great features from the both of us, but also some traits that ~ well lets just say that are not so good. Did we do everything right raising our son? To be honest, I don’t know and only time will tell. The most important part though is that our son knows the Lord…

Thinking about the quote all day, it hit me at lunch time. Do we only reproduce through our own flesh & blood? Not really. We can also share our values and beliefs with people who are not related to us. Isn’t that what the Lord called us to do? Share the Good News will the entire world; who ever wants to listen to us. We can plant seeds all over the world, especially through our Blogs :). God can make it grow…So, even if you don’t have children on your own, you can pass on your belief with sharing the Good News…

“And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” ~ Luke 10:2-3 (RSV)


CWO Tuesday Meme