Shirley is the proud mother of two beautiful young ladies. She enjoys spending time with them on their ranch in the deep South with their three paint horses. Always looking for an adventure, she looks forward to hikes in the mountains chasing waterfalls, or scouring the coast for beautiful lighthouses! Shirley writes to encourage others and often times shares things that motivate and inspire her. She believes in living life to the fullest because no one is promised the gift of another day. Join her as we honor our bodies, minds, hearts, souls, and our Almighty Creator, God above!
One of my most favorite things to do is explore! I love and adore a good adventure!
Whether it’s waterfall chasing … where you can get right up next to it and feel the cool mist falling from the very top of the mountain, cascading down …
Putting around in our boat feeling the rock of the waves and having “sea legs” after you dock the boat …
Imagining what it would have been like back in the olden days at the Chapel of Ease and what this beauty must have looked like in it’s prime …
Playing in the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches 70 miles off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico …
Or walking through a place of great history where you can almost smell the gunpowder and hear the boom of the cannons…
Life is all about exploring!
It’s fun, exciting, exhilarating, and it gives you something to look forward to! When you come back from one adventure, the planning should begin for yet another. Life is boring without taking time to see what this great big world has to offer, and rest assured, there is something for everyone! Even if none of the above pictured adventures would be one you would seek out, find something that will thrill your heart and tickle you to the very core of your being … then do THAT!!
Life is too short not to get out there and take advantage of every opportunity to explore, be one with nature (or whatever your adventure might be). Just DO it … and take pictures along the way! Share your adventure and the thrill with your family and friends, take THEM with you!! The more the merrier!
Just have FUN in life … make memories … because when you’re old and gray, you will have wonderful stories to share with the grands and great grands!!
Here’s to celebrating life, love, and to all of the memories yet to be made!
Sometimes we can have the best of intentions, and yet we still fail miserably. We don’t set out to hurt anyone’s feelings or make anyone angry, but that is the end result, unfortunately. Today that happened, and it left me feeling horrible. My daughter’s wedding is in just a few days, and we want everything to be absolutely perfect for her special day. It’s a day little girls dream of their entire life. Twirling around in princess dresses, wearing plastic tiaras and fake glass slippers, one can only imagine Prince Charming coming to sweep you off your feet just like in the movies.
And they lived happily ever after …
At some point after the honeymoon phase has ended, you will want to look back on your wedding day to re-live each moment! That is when good quality pictures are going to be so appreciated. Your wedding should not be left in the hands of an amateur, but instead, a seasoned professional would be better suited for such an occasion. They will know the perfect angle and snap amazing shots of the bride and groom smiling and having the time of their lives together.
This was the basis behind my intention today when I commented about a photographer my daughter trusted for her bridal portraits. Here we are two and a half weeks AFTER her bridal portrait session without a professional picture to have enlarged to display at her reception. One picture was sent, heavily filtered and edited to the point that the green grass appeared … dead and lifeless in the pictures!! Much to my horror, too, because I worked tirelessly for months upon months getting my yard to look amazing with plush green grass and flowers popping everywhere. Imagine my shock when the edits took away from the beautiful surroundings! I commented, not realizing I was hurting my daughter’s feelings in the process. It was no reflection of her at all, but the editing style of this photographer. Honestly, when I saw the engagement shots, I had no idea of what the surroundings looked like at the location they chose at that point so it really didn’t occur to me to notice the faded, washed out look that I later learned is this photographer’s “style.” My daughter and her fiancé got engaged in November of last year, and I just assumed the surroundings in those pictures were due to the change of the seasons. Going from Fall into Winter, one would not expect to see vibrant green, so I didn’t think anything of it.
Until now.
I’m sure there are a ton of people that love the editing style this photographer chose, but I am a fan of more traditional pictures without all the heavy editing. People can take it to the extreme, and I’m sure their intentions are pure as well. The pictures can either turn out faded, as these have, or they can appear overly edited to the point that they take a muddy brown looking lake and turn it into a beach paradise as if you have been swept away to a tropical island somewhere with blue water. I honestly detest the heavy editing because it gives unrealistic expectations. I have actually been to a few of the places pictured and edited to this extreme only to be devastated and disappointed in the surroundings not looking anything like the pictures I had seen previously! A more nature look in pictures is needed and desired, so you see the true beauty of your subject, not some heavy editing or filters used to turn something into what it truly is not. In this case, it was the appearance of dead grass that turned me off immediately. You see, I had taken pictures myself that very day, and I had a “real” picture to compare the heavily edited picture to, so it really screamed at me when I saw it. Again, it’s no reflection on my daughter at all. But she took it personally, even though my intention was not to make her feel bad about her choice of photographer.
Oh boy, Mom! Now what?
Days before the wedding, and you’re insulting the photographer’s editing style! Yep!
ONLY because I want my daughter to have excellent QUALITY pictures to reflect back on in years from now. The editing style might be “in” right now and “trending,” but in years from now when the pictures typically DO fade from age … what will they be left with? That is all I kept thinking. If the images and backgrounds, their surroundings and objects in the pictures already look faded and washed out, it only gets worse as time goes on!
Ah … but there is a backup plan brewing! Mom always has a Plan B!
While we won’t have another “professional” photographer present at the wedding, there will be a lot of pictures being taken by others. We have a dear family friend on “video” duty that day, and he will also be snapping some quality pictures of his own throughout the ceremony and reception. Thank GOD for good friends with lots of TALENT, too!!
Now it’s the best of both worlds. My daughter has her photographer, and I have mine! ~grin~
Oh I’ve seen the work of this gentleman through the years, and he most definitely has an eye for photography. I am trusting him to capture the moments of the happy couple with a twinkle in their eyes and beaming smiles on their lips. THAT is what I look forward to seeing – in living, vibrant color!!
What about the missing professional bridal portraits? Again … Mom always has a Plan B in that regard as well! Those pictures I snapped the day of the bridal portrait session ended up saving the day! Literally. I took my pictures and had a 16×20 collage made for her special day, and I have a 8×10 for her bridal portrait to display at the reception! I was very pleased with the way they turned out, too, on the canvas and am excited to have them on display for all to see. Oh my “little girl” makes a beautiful bride, for sure!! So all was not lost, after all. My daughter WILL have her bridal portrait after all!
Nice “save,” Mom!!
At the end of the day, my intention is to have amazing wedding pictures for my daughter to one day show her very own children. I imagine she will want to reminisce with them, just as I have with my own two daughters about my wedding day. Long after the day is over, I want those memories sealed forever in good quality photography to be shared for generations to come!
My intentions are true, honest, and pure. I only want the best for my daughter – on her wedding day – and throughout life!
In the still quiet, do you allow your thoughts to run wild? Or do you take that opportunity to talk to God?
Do you sink back into your favorite plush lazy chair, kick your feet up and take advantage of the quiet time to relax? Or do you stay so busy that you do not allow yourself any down time?
All of these questions are definitely something to consider. If thoughts are running through your mind consuming you, and they are negative in nature, that leads to potential problems of stewing over situations where people have “done you wrong.” Does this bring you joy doing this or change the outcome of the situation? Surely neither one of these, so why allow something like this to zap your energy and take up space in your head? When negative thoughts try to creep into your quiet space, take that opportunity right then and talk to God about it. God is the only one that can make peace in those quiet moments you have alone with your thoughts. Turn it over to Him, and watch Him work wonders in your life over these hurtful situations you’ve endured.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking advantage of some leisure time to relax and rejuvenate your body and soul. However, if you stay so busy running from here or there, ask yourself what you are running from with all of your busyness. Perhaps it IS your quiet thoughts you’re trying to silence so they don’t consume you. Again, take it to God and leave it at His feet.
It’s now 20 years later. Do you still remember what happened on September 11, 2001? Have you forgotten what you vowed never to forget?
Where were you when the world stopped turning?
I was driving down the road delivering a bid for my employer when the news came over the radio. It was as if everything started moving in slow motion as I heard the announcement. I called my fiancé to see if he heard anything because maybe, just maybe the voice on the radio was mistaken. Much to my horror, I listened as the second tower was struck and up in flames.
It WAS the day the world stopped turning due to violence, terrorism, and an attack on the United States of America!
Twenty years later, we might have flashbacks of that day, or we might have to educate the young ones of the significance of this day. Maybe they learned about it in history class, or maybe they saw the look on their parent’s or grandparent’s faces as they re-lived the moment.
Now 20 years later, we’re dealing with emotions after President Biden pulled out of Afghanistan leaving a lot of our military equipment behind. We fear there will be another attack on the United States, some even fearing it would be today with the nation in mourning once again. Others feel it would be too predictable, though.
One thing is for sure, we all need prayer. The families and friends are still mourning the loss of their loved ones from the attack on this day, and although it has been 20 years, the hurt is no less felt than the day it all happened. At this time in 2001, I was dealing with the loss of my sister in July, only to have this act of terrorism occur two months and two days later. What a devastating time for our family and for our nation. We felt some comfort from those that rallied around us and others in their state of mourning, for our personal loss and the loss that shook the United States of America. One thing these tragedies had in common is they brought out the compassionate and caring nature of others. These tragedies allowed for more love to be shown, and this entire world needs more love!
Today, the world is more divided than ever. With controversy on both sides regarding the vaccines – whether to take it for the preventative nature it is intended for or whether it’s a conspiracy from the government – we are bickering and fighting each other over our individual beliefs. Race is also still a hot topic – with racism on both sides.
What if we brought back the love from 20 years ago? The compassion that was felt back then needs to be resurrected today. There needs to be more caring individuals and less fighting amongst each other. United we stand … divided we fall! Don’t we remember that, too?!
As the nation remembers, let us be the change we wish to see in the world …
Yesterday, my youngest daughter turned 17 years old. Eek!! Where has the time gone? Seriously?! It seemed like just yesterday I was begging God for my little miracle baby. He answered that prayer, and I have had the privilege of watching this six pound three oz little baby (at birth) grow into a beautiful young woman.
I remember when I was approaching the last few days of pregnancy with her. The doctor was concerned for my petite frame delivering a large baby, so he decided to schedule me for an induction. He did the same when I had my oldest daughter, so this did not came as a surprise to me. I was due the latter part of September, but here I was given a choice as to when the induction would occur. The choices were either the 8th or 9th of September, which were the days of the week he did inductions (Wednesdays & Thursdays). I remember telling my father that I wanted my baby to have her own day to celebrate her birthday. While it would be cool to have a “birthday twin,” I would not ever want my birthday to overshadow hers! She deserves her own day, and so I chose Wednesday, September 8th, as my induction day.
Arriving at the hospital with my bag, the hospital staff asked why I was smiling. I responded, “I am going to meet my baby today!” They were focused on the events that would happen prior to her birth. Meanwhile, I was more focused on the moment I would cradle my newborn in my arms. At 2:40 p.m., I knew that moment was nearing when the doctor asked if I wanted to watch my daughter’s birth. With a nod of my head, they turned the mirror, and I watched my baby come into the world at 2:44 p.m. Oh, what a glorious day!!
Fast forward 17 years, and we celebrated by taking my near adult child to eat at one of her favorite restaurants. But first … we had to make a stop by Claire’s for her second ear piercing! She has been after me for many months to let her get a second piercing. Honestly, she thought I was set against it, but that wasn’t entirely true. When she was little, she begged me to get her ears pierced, but when I did, she hardly wore the earrings. I asked her to commit to wearing earrings this time for six months, and then we would talk! (I, personally, LOVE earrings and feel naked if I leave home without them!)
She appeared confused when we arrived at the mall. I made an excuse about how I had to pick something up, and although she complained, she walked alongside me until I started to slow down in front of Claire’s. Then she knew … and a gasp of excitement escaped her lips. I told the lady what we were there for, and my daughter took her seat. She is now the proud owner of TWO ear piercings. ~grin~ She was so tickled with the thought of getting her ears pierced, and afterwards, she was taking selfies to show her friends.
We did more than just going out to dinner and getting her ears pierced, as new clothes were involved as well. Doesn’t every “girl” enjoy getting new clothes for their wardrobe? She put one item on immediately, threw her long locks over her shoulder, and strutted inside the restaurant. We took “selfies” together with the silly Snapchat filters and laughed at how ridiculous we looked in them. It was great fun! I’m glad we had this time together, and I’m glad she had HER very own day to celebrate!
I have often said SHE was one of the absolute BEST birthday presents I have ever received. For you see, her birthday is September 8th, and MY birthday is September 9th! What a gift, indeed, to be able to hold my newborn baby in my arms the very next day as I celebrated my birthday as well.
Now fast forward those 17 years, and I turned 50 years old today!! ~gasps~
Birthdays are fun, aren’t they?!
I have been enjoying a half of a century worth of precious memories, and I thank GOD for this opportunity each and every day! I recognize how TRULY blessed I am, and I pray God allows me 50 more years with my family and friends! Oh, how I pray to see my yet-to-be-conceived grandchildren grow up and look forward to my great-grandchildren as well. I’ve often said, “I want to be an old, old woman, rocking her great-great-grandchildren on my front porch.” And I still mean it today!
There is more life out there for me to live. There are places in this world I’ve yet to explore, and I want to take all the adventures I can! I want to stay active and keep pursing happiness found in the great outdoors. While my birth certificate says I’m 50 years old today, I don’t FEEL like it on the inside. I’ve been told I don’t look like it either, and for both, I am eternally grateful!
A lot of people get so depressed when they reach a milestone birthday like this. For some, they think they are “over the hill” and like there is no help for them once they hit the big 5-0. Not me, baby! I know there are people who take for granted that they have more time on this earth, and there are those who pray with all their might for more time! More time, indeed!! I am one of those people. I look forward to the adventures ahead, with my family surrounding me and accompanying me on this journey!
Here’s to 17 years … oh, do we remember 17!
And here’s to 50 years … and many, many, many more to come for us both as we enjoy our birthdays together!
This movie will only be in theaters a limited time. We cannot encourage you enough to go see this movie October 4, 5, or 6, 2021. Please click here to get your tickets.
Our world is in turmoil, and our freedom is at stake here. This timely movie touches on the liberties we were ALL given in the Constitution of the United States of America. It will take ALL of us to stand up against those in Washington, D.C. and defend our God given rights! This powerful movie will invoke you to rise up for the cause!
I was given the honor of a pre-screening of this movie, and together, my husband I watched as forces threatened to limit, restrict and completely strip parents of their rights with THEIR children. This is a touchy subject right now, with the mask argument on both sides within the school systems. It goes further than that with the controversy over the vaccine for children 12 and over. Some argue the government is trying to take our freedoms away by mandating masks and vaccines. On the other hand, many welcome the mask and vaccine mandates that are being handed down in an effort to save lives. There are arguments on both sides for and against, but at the common core is everyone’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It has been years since we’ve been in school studying the constitution, right? Maybe we all need a refresher at this time. Allow me …
The Constitution of the United States begins with three powerful words: WE THE PEOPLE. The whole meaning behind these words is simply that the government exists to serve the citizens of the United States!
Please watch this movie. Then, take action for what your heart feels passionate about!
October 4, 5, and 6th are your opportunities to see this powerful movie.
Having a retired Colonel as a boss and your own father as retired military certainly gives you a greater appreciation of those who have served our country. These great men served and then retired with honors. Both are passionate and proud of their time spent in the military.
I have close friends who agonized over their sons and daughters going into the military in years past. Many prayers were sent up during the time they served, and thankfully, they had a happy ending as my friend’s sons and daughters all returned home safely.
As things escalated in Afghanistan recently, I’ve watched my boss struggle daily. He posts his own thoughts on his Facebook page, so there is no doubt where he stands on this subject. It has certainly been a devastating blow to the United States of America. We have been shaken to our core due to the lives lost and American’s left behind in Afghanistan. Senselessly, 13 lost lives due to a suicide bomber. Thirteen beautiful individuals set out to serve their great Country, and they lost their lives at the hands of pure evil!
Scrolling through Facebook last night, I couldn’t help but see Nikki Haley re-sharing pictures of the fallen soldiers. She re-shared a look into four lives; however, all 13 were shared on Stand For America‘s Facebook page. I sat reading about each of these heroes. Looking at their pictures, with them smiling and in uniform, made my heart hurt deeply! It is one thing to “hear” of such a tragedy occurring, and yet another to put faces with the numbers reported to have lost their lives. Thank you, Stand For America, Nikki Haley, and others, for sharing so the world could learn more about these beautiful soldiers.
SSgt Taylor Hoover was the oldest among them at 31 years old. He had plans to marry when he returned. Oh my gosh, this gripped my heart and felt as if someone was trying to pull it out of my chest! My oldest daughter will marry the love of her life in 18 days. I cannot begin to imagine the devastation felt by his fiancée and their families.
All of the soldiers are important, please don’t get me wrong. I am only sharing the thoughts that went through my head as I saw their faces and read their stories!
My heart shattered to learn the others ranged from 20 years old to 25 years old. Babies!! These were all someone’s babies. My heart shattered more each time I read about their lives. Life had only just begun for them. They were out on their own in this cruel world as their mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers were back at home praying for them and their safety. Oh the sheer horror and terror they – and their families – must have felt as they watched this unfold at the Kabul airport. I cannot fathom the heartbreak as they received the knock on their doors.
I encourage you to visit Stand For America and read about these precious individuals and their lives. Put a face with a name, just as I did, and they become more than just a number plastered across the television. They were mere babies in uniform.
Tears welled up in my eyes and a lump formed in my throat as I thought of their mothers and fathers. At a time like this, all we can do is pray for them. Their babies won’t be walking back through their doors again. There won’t be any more text messages or voicemails from them. The approaching holidays will hurt even more without their loved ones.
Please pray for the family and friends of these American soldiers. Please pray for our country as a whole and for our leadership to make wiser decisions than those made recently. May God comfort as only He can at this most difficult time as these families and the United States of America mourn.
Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work, I shifted through my jewelry to find the perfect piece. The message was certainly appropriate for these trying times we are all living in. Slipping the necklace over my neck and taking a glance in the mirror, I picked up my purse and headed out the door. “Faith Over Fear” … what a statement piece!
Later, at the office, I hurried to print our case progress logs for the morning meeting. As I took my seat, my boss looked right at me and asked,
“What does your necklace say?”
He is a very observant man, and any interesting piece of jewelry will catch his eye. Once before I wore a necklace that looked unique, as if it had a message written in another language. He asked me, then, if it had a significant meaning, but at that time, the necklace I had chosen to go with my outfit did not. Yesterday, though, the message could not have been more appropriate.
I clutched the circular piece in my fingers as I held it toward him so he could read it as well, then I said,
“Faith Over Fear”
As the words left my mouth and reached his ears, he smiled and gave a nod of approval adding in,
“Wow! That’s powerful!”
Indeed it is. When the media wants you to live in fear and feeds you all the negatives in the world, please choose faith over fear! Choose faith every time, just as I did thumbing through my necklaces that morning as if I was on a mission. Let choosing faith be the mission YOU are on daily.
The noise of the world can overwhelm you. At the moment, we have the potential war in Afghanistan staring us in the face. We are starting to see more Covid-19 numbers that continue to rise in the United States, despite the vaccine that has been made available to children age 12 right on up to adults of all ages. In addition to that, we have the everyday worries of our loved ones that have been stricken with cancer or any number of diseases. It seems there is no where to turn for comfort and hope. That is when it is even more important to choose FAITH, my love!
I’ve heard it said that the Bible is playing out right before our very eyes. For years growing up as a Pentecostal Holiness in the Church of God, we were told horror stories of what the last days would be like. Years and years people have speculated it was the “end times” we were living in. If we weren’t convinced of it before, crack open the Bible that has gotten dusty through the years and refresh your memory of what, exactly, the Bible says! Some people it is just a compilation of “stories,” while others believe these things that have been written will surely come to pass. No matter what side you are on today, please make sure your heart is right and you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior so you will be certain to have eternal life with Him in Heaven. Right now Christians are being persecuted, so what I’m asking seems like a tall order to some. But I beg you to get your heart right with God before it is too late. We never know what is going to happen next in this crazy world. I have urged my very own family to get right with God, if they aren’t (because no one can truly know our hearts and no one has the right to sit in judgement either). But this comes as a plea for my brothers and sisters all around the world because I care what happens to you!
Faith Over Fear, my dear ones.
All you need is faith as small as a mustard seed. Imagine what can happen if we all have faith! See Matthew17:20 where it talks about the mountains moving if you just had faith as small as a mustard seed!
Our ONLY hope in this world today is through Jesus Christ! And despite what is going on in the world today, God did not give us a spirit of fear! See 2 Timothy 1:7 for reassurance:
When searching for scriptures to share regarding having faith over fear, I found a website that offers a free prayer guide. I encourage you to look into this, but even if you choose not to, know that God hears you. Whether your prayers are bold and authoritative, or whether you can barely utter the words with tears streaming down your cheeks, God HEARS you!! Even if you cannot speak at all, God knows your heart.
Instead of quoting all of the scriptures they provided, I’ll direct you once more to their site: GodTube
Be encouraged, and choose faith over fear!
Isaiah 41:13 – For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
This year marked 20 years since my sister died by suicide. July 9, 2001 was one of the hardest days of my entire life. It was during that time God carried me, just like the Footprints In The Sand poem says.
When the community learns of such a tragic death, there are so many questions. Believe me, the family has tons more questions they would like to ask, but the ones that hold the answers are in Heaven (God & their loved ones). No one knows quite what to say or do. I thought I would offer some guidance, just as another friend did today. She lost her daughter in January of this year, and she and her husband are still trying to cope. We continue to rally around them and pray, knowing firsthand only God can comfort their hurting hearts. My friend shared this with a plea on her Facebook page, and I now share it with you:
One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.
When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
There was only one set of footprints.
I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life.
This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.
“Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way.
But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints.
I just don’t understand why, when I need You most, You leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.” ― Margaret Fishback Powers
Fathers help shape us into the people we are and will become in life. Some of us have wonderful fathers and look forward to conversations involving them. Others, however, have not had their biological fathers in their lives or have not had them as the best father figure to look up to in life. Instead, they have had to rely on other men to fill that role. Whether it was a grandfather, step-father, or an older man that came into their lives and took the child under their wing to mentor to them, men have an unique role in the lives of children all over the world.
“SHOW ME THE FATHER is the film our nation needs to see. We have become a society that devalues and mocks fathers, but God created the role of fatherhood for a very specific purpose. Many of our children feel unwanted and unworthy because half of their identity is absent. Fathers are necessary for the next generation to heal.” – Nona Jones, Author, Pastor, Speaker, and Executive
The movie SHOW ME THE FATHER is another beautiful movie from the Kendrick Brothers, who are well known for the movies COURAGEOUS, WAR ROOM, and FIRE PROOF. It is their first documentary, though, and people might groan when they initially hear that. However, this documentary shares true stories with wisdom and such power from fathers like Jim Daly (from Focus on the Family), Sherman Smith, Stephen Kendrick, and Dr. Tony Evans. These influential men share their stories and also share the fatherhood of God as well, stressing to us the importance of leaning on our Heavenly Father. God is good all the time, in every situation and circumstance, even if we may not see any good in the situation at the moment. God is ever present, and He is the father we can lean on and into no matter what we face in our lives, even at the hands of our own fathers.
Show Me The Father will be in theaters September 10, 2021, and I encourage you to go see this movie. Take your families with you!! Share with others who may be blessed by the true life stories and what we can all gain from these influential men.
I realize that everyone’s father story is unique to them, just as the men in our lives are unique. There is no one else like them, and while my father story is a happy one, others do not have a happy story when thinking of their own fathers. My oldest daughter struggles with the difficult relationship she has had through the years with her own biological father. So I understand, and I know first hand some of the challenges she has faced and is presently facing, even at the age of 24 years old. Unfortunately, her father/daughter relationship has been a painful source of heartbreak, and it still affects her today. Our fathers very much affect who we are, and are at the core of our identity and direction our lives take. They can help mold us and inspire us, or they can be the reason we question why we aren’t loved or “enough” for them to want a deeper relationship with us. Such has been the heartbreaking case for my daughter, and I have cried tears right along with her over this. There is not anything in the world wrong with my daughter – and never has been – yet it has pained me greatly that my daughter has questioned her own worth and value due to her father’s inability to be actively involved, take a lead role in her life loving her and being there as a father SHOULD be! Just recently, they had another falling out due to his inability to acknowledge how the things he has said and done have her hurt. Instead of accepting responsibility for his actions and words, he chose to invalidate her feelings yet again and place the blame elsewhere instead of with the person he sees in the mirror daily looking back at him, where it belongs. Sadly, instead of owning up to and correcting his behavior, things escalated to where she has decided not to try any longer with him. It saddens me greatly because my father is so very important in my life! HE is my rock, and the one I always turn to no matter what. My daddy is my everything, and it breaks my heart that my oldest daughter does not have this type of relationship with her biological father. Things could have been so different in her life and their relationship; however, he has chosen to become emotionally disconnected over these years, and in our eyes, has dropped the ball in his role as her biological father. Thankfully, all faith in men has not been lost, as she looks up to MY father with such love and admiration, as well as her step-father. Together, these two men have picked up the shattered pieces of my daughter’s heart and helped restore her faith in what a father is supposed to be. Her future husband has been instrumental in this as well, as these three men have helped change her view of fatherhood. She and her husband will strive even more so now to give their own children (when that day comes) two sets of parents that will move Heaven and Earth to be there for them, loving, nurturing, and making memories! I’m thankful for these men that have chosen to step up and show her what being a father is truly all about, and my heart is thankful these men have shown her the unconditional love and devotion of a father for their daughter/granddaughter.
Similar stories like our own will be told in this documentary, and it will have us all thinking more along the lines of the fatherhood of God as well. Show Me The Father has five men sharing their true stories. There will be story lines, of course, along with plot twists you didn’t see coming, but the movie will inspire and encourage you to be the best father YOU men out there can be for your daughters!
SHOW ME THE FATHER is a film the entire family needs to see, so why not go together to watch it? Be sure to get your tickets at showmethefathermovie.com and join families every where in theaters beginning September 10, 2021.
It still seems surreal. The weekend in Kentucky could not get here fast enough, and then it flew by! We tried to savor every moment, from the first hello hug to the last goodbye text message to everything in between!
Many “firsts” were logged on this trip. The first time setting eyes on Maria in person! The first hug and sitting next to her thinking we waited 23.5 years! Then the fun REALLY began! It was Maria’s very first time riding a horse, hiking to a waterfall, and kayaking!
While we had a lot of fun on this trip, some amazing things happened as well. We went back to the hotel Friday night after dinner and sat outside talking until almost one o’clock in the morning! While we were out there, this gentleman had just arrived pulling a trailer that housed his motorcycle. He was meeting another friend there to ride the mountainous roads together. What fun! My husband and Maria’s husband instantly made friends with him, and together they stood talking as if they all had known each other their entire lives.
It is always fun meeting new people and learning their stories. Why is it always a surprise when God uses ordinary people to deliver messages to us? This was the case on two separate occasions during our time in Kentucky. Mike, our new motorcycle friend, learned of Maria’s diagnosis during the conversation Friday night, and he shared a message of hope. He relayed that his mother was diagnosed with Leukemia but went on to live 30 years with it. Those were definitely words we needed to hear. Maria needed to hear them, especially, as she is staring Leukemia in the face right now. She has her good days and bad days, of course. On her bad days, overwhelming feelings sweep in to consume her, and I can only imagine it is a fight to get back to a good mental place. Mike’s message was right on time. God knew what Maria needed, right when Maria needed to hear it! And … God delivered it through a total stranger … one of his angels in human form! Thank you, God. Thank you!
Saturday morning as we prepared to greet the day and explore on horseback, we saw motorcycle Mike in the parking lot again. I was sitting in the Tahoe with my door propped open waiting on the others when Mike appeared in my door. With the most sincere blue eyes, he peered through into my soul as she said, “I just wanted to thank you …” I looked at Mike with wondering eyes as to what, exactly, he was thanking me for. Then he continued, “I wanted to thank you for what you’re doing for Maria. She told me, and I think it is amazing. You have such a big heart to give her such an incredible gift this weekend. Thank you for who you are and what you are doing in her life.” I was rendered speechless at that moment, because I was not sure what exactly Maria shared with him previously. Also, I am not one of those people that gives a homeless person money while snapping a picture to post on social media either, so I was not sure what to do with his words other than tuck them away in my heart. Tears began to sting my eyes as I realized he knew much more than I was letting on about that weekend, and he recognized me in that moment when I was not seeking any kind of recognition at all. What was done that weekend for Maria and her husband was a gift straight from my heart, and it was something I did not even hesitate doing. You see, right before I offered this weekend to them, my boss had just told me that he was giving me a bonus. Immediately, I decided to pay it forward, and his generous gift to me then became my gift to her. Just as my friend, Greg, has done for my daughters and I in the past with his generous and unexpected gifts, blessing our hearts, now it was my turn to take an opportunity I was given to bless someone else. Paying it forward … a random act of kindness … whatever you want to call it … It makes it all worthwhile when you see the person on the receiving end smile.
I grew up watching Melissa Gilbert in Little House On The Prairie. It was one of my favorite television shows, and I enjoy the re-runs still today. She brings the characters to life, no matter what role she is playing. It felt like watching a family friend on the big screen in her latest movie When We Last Spoke.
Purposely, I do not watch the trailers or read anything on the movies I am getting ready to watch. Instead, I rely on the picture to “speak” to me, as they say a picture is worth a thousand words. If I am not automatically drawn in by the picture, I flip right past it. However, this family picture drew me right in.
Look at the way the older lady at the bottom carries herself. By the look on her face, you know there is a story waiting to be told, and this movie did not disappoint. Aside from that and Melissa Gilbert staring in the movie, I was drawn in also by the smiling faces of the mischievous little girls. Also, let’s not forget the old classic car they are leaning against in the bottom picture!! I had no hesitations at all with pressing play for this movie!
The movie switches between the past and the present day, with lives of two sisters that faced heartbreak at such an early age. The entire family suffered, honestly, but the movie is primarily centered on the two girls, Juliet and Evangeline. When their father went off to war, their mother could not cope with the stresses of raising two young girls alone. Sadly, she chose to drop the girls off with their grandparents, Ruby and Walt, with the girls begging, crying, and following behind with tears streaming down their faces. That was heartbreaking enough, but the storyline continued with more the young sisters had to face. It seemed like one thing after the other, until their grandfather, Walt, broke down crying and asking God why … I think we have all been there a time or two in our lives, if we are honest. We can relate to feeling so overwhelmed with emotion with things happening in our lives, especially when we lose someone we love (whether they choose to walk out of our lives or they pass away). Although we are taught not to question God, it is human nature. It doesn’t mean we don’t love God or that we aren’t honoring Him. We just seek answers as to why we have to face so much turmoil in our lives when we follow Him. No one promises the path will be easy, but it doesn’t have to be so hard either! That is where a lot of people get stuck – you either hang on to bitterness and resentment turning away from God, or you allow Him to comfort your broken heart and pick up the shattered pieces as only He can. There is overcoming and forgiveness intertwined in this movie as well.
The storyline definitely gripped me as it focused on the girls mainly but also on those with a significant impact on their lives. It was interesting as it flipped from the past, with the young girls with what they went through, to the present day with the now grown Juliet and Evangeline, and how what they endured affected them then and now. “Family secrets” were mentioned, and often times when a secret is kept, it is to seemingly protect another member of the family. (No, there was not any thing involving sexual abuse in this Christian based movie. It was the secret the older sister kept from the younger one in the way the mother left. Secrets such as these are often kept so as to protect someone’s feelings and heart.)
Ruby, played by Melissa Gilbert, tickled me in the one scene where she is dancing with the girls. Oh how that warms my heart, as I have danced with my very own daughters just like this, and still do from time to time. It made me reflect back on precious memories of my girls at that age and the fun we had being silly together. Making memories! That is what we were doing, just like Ruby with Juliet and Evangeline.
There was confusion in the mix within the movie as well, but a whole lot of love, too. What struck me was the misconception with one situation in particular and also the part with the great-grandmother that tugged at my heartstrings and truly brought tears. Not wishing to ruin the movie for you, I will choose to leave you in suspense and wondering What is she talking about?!
This award-winning movie is now available for live streaming on Amazon, so watch it and feel the love surrounding this beautiful family. Click here for all viewing options!
Disclosure: Many thanks to Last Spoke Partners for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.