Our sailing trip had taken us nearly 20 miles in a few hours. We were sailing South along the coast of Lake Michigan, with a storm chasing us. Up until this point it was a pleasurable cruise- but as the storm caught up, my panic quickly increased. I can't say that I am a sailor, I am not. Although I am quickly learning the ropes (or lines, har! har! har!), I've a long way to go, and had just learned points of sail before the adventure. Had something gone wrong and we lost the captain, I would be lost at what to do. I felt like more of a liability than a help this trip.

I imagined the storm was going to hit us harder than it did. In my mind we were going to face torrential down pours, 20 foot waves and 50 MPH wind gusts. I imagined dense clouds engulfing our boat, causing a black out with lightening strikes in every direction. What i've learned is that I need to stop watching so many movies. :)

We did get wet, but not too wet. It was mostly a mildly annoying rain. In addition to it, I placed myself in the cockpit, refusing to move even though I was getting dripped on by the boom above my head. The waves were calm. I don't think they ever got above 1 1/2 - 2 feet the entire trip. This storm didn't bring any wind. It seemed to have sucked it away like a vacuum leaving us to bob a few miles from the shore line. We reached all of 1.5 knots!

As we are watching the storm progress South of us, and my fears begin to subside, not 100 yards port lightening strikes the water. That moment will be etched in my memory for life.

The lightening bolt came down and zig zagged upwards on a slight angle. where it hit the water, there was a blue circular halo that formed at the base of the bolt. The crack it made is indescribable. Think of the loudest thing you can, times it by 1000 and you may be close. What's impressive is out on the open water, the thunder has nothing to absorb the sound. It was kind of like a CRACK, then an echo of sound waves that hit you and passed.

It's an indescribable experience and I imagine that the power behind one bolt is only not even a fraction of the power of God. Who could ever comprehend His power, if we wilt at a fraction of what he's capable of doing?! And He takes that power and turns it to love for us, using it to work out His perfect plan. HOW could we ever deny saying "Lord, send me." If He is for us, who could be against us?

I awake

It was a melody that kept haunting me, echoing in the distance and muffled by my own insufficiencies. The song was incompleteStarting off slowly, a bird would cooWaiting for me to play my part,it was a harmony I knew by heart,But when my world caved in,I decided I'd never winDepression had mastered.Two long years of perceived silenceFeelings overtaken with such violenceCaught in the cold, long winter of lifeBlanketed with nothing but strife...
But in a foggy haze I wakeTo a distant memory of a song birds cooOnly realizing it still sings to meWaiting for me to sing too...
And as I try my voice for the first time in so longIt trembles, as I try to sing my songSlowly i pick up the beatovercoming my defeat...Spring is sprung and I'm awareJoining life slowly, as I dare...Learning to live again my vibrant harmony begins

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

In Memory

Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.


I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn’s rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.

I am not there. I did not die
 
 
It's been 2 years since my mom has died,
it's hard to count all the tears I've cried... 
The longing to see her again hasn't ceased
I miss her more every day.
 
Love you mom

Happy Birthday Mom