Beautiful

As I drove down a stretch of NC highway toward Chapel Hill (Blue Heaven--by the way) on Saturday, the canvas of color just took my breath away. Did the trees turn those vibrant shades of yellow, red and orange over night, or have I just been too busy to notice? Yesterday I soaked it in the reflection of those amazing colors in a pond as I sat by a fire at my friend's farm .

This time of year is my favorite--but maybe I say that at the beginning of each new season. I really do love the seasons.

I love the crisp, cool mornings, the stunning colors and the smoke in the air of fall.

I love to wake up to one of those rare, white, snowy mornings of winter in NC.

I love the crocuses poking up their cheerful heads, cherry trees blooming and little kids riding their tricycles down my sidewalk in spring.

And I love digging my toes in the sand while my big boys swim in the ocean and nieces and nephews build sand castles during the long, hot, humid summer.

Isn't God glorious? It amazes me that though He could have created the world in a very utilitarian way, He chose to make it indescribably beautiful. When one season would have done, He created four with nuances unique in each part of the world. When one butterfly species could have pollinated our flowers, He made 17,000 species of every color in the paint palate. And then He created a world of people (especially women) who would appreciate each brush stroke.

Beautiful, simply beautiful.

What is a Hero?

A hero is the woman on the left, Frances.

When it came time to retire from her profession, Frances prayed, "Lord, show me my next assignment."

Today she is busier than ever. She and many other volunteers organize a huge yard sale every month to raise money for orphaned children in South Africa. Frances is a sweet, soft-spoken warrior who believes God's promises don't fade with age.

A hero is the woman on the right, Becky.

Becky tirelessly bakes the world's best pound cakes and strawberry pies. She bakes to earn a ticket to South Africa one small piece at a time. She's done it year after year for to wing her way across the ocean to serve.

When Becky speaks about the miracles that her faithful Father delivers on a consistent basis to care for orphans in Africa, her face lights with a light from a passion that burns intensely. She has seen God at work and delights to join Him. Becky is infectious, and we all sat on the edge of our seats following her every word.

A hero is the woman in the middle, Mama Mary.

This 72-year-old woman claims the heart of a 16-year-old as she cares for over 200 orphans in South Africa. Out of a love for her Jesus and a compassion for the fatherless in her country, she began to take in children before she had a facility or the means to feed them.

For years she provided meals from the scraps that she collected at the end of the day at the market, and put them to bed on wall-to-wall pieces of foam on the floor of her tiny home. With a third grade education and a heart that expands for each new person in need, Mama Mary continues to build a home for the homeless. In the wee hours of the morning, she immerses herself in the children's Bible that she has taught herself to read, and Jesus refills her for the next day of service.

I've found my heroes. I'd love to hear about some of yours.

New Friends in High Places

I'm sending a shout out to all my new girlfriends from Trinity in Clovis, CA. They were such a warm group and lots of fun. Everything that happens at ECCO stays at ECCO, right? Here are just a few pics of some of my new friends at our beautiful retreat center at the edge of Yosemite. Gorgeous!! (The women and the mountains.)

This is Nancy. She was my first speaker liason ever, and boy did she spoil me rotten. I was prayed for and fed like a queen! (She even snuck a coffee maker into my room. Love her!)

Meet hostess extraordinaire, Karen. Her home in the foothills is as warm as toast, and her views are killer!

That center beauty is Pattie--dedicated and godly women's director. Cutie on the end is worship leader Cathy. Both of them are amazing women. And Pattie, I'm still thinking about your on-purpose-funny Genie move!

These women are dedicated hikers that made it to the bottom of the waterfall while I waited for them up the hill. I figured it was better than rolling down while taking the whole crew with me!

Thanks for a fantastic weekend, friends!

Mountains to Climb

Sometimes there's a story that haunts you because of its shear beauty and inspiration. When it comes in a package of a woman who has faced hardship with a wicked sense of humor and a tenacious faith in God, it's unforgettable.

Below is a copy of an email from my new friend, Andrea. Before you read this email, you have to know a little of her story. Andrea and her husband have 4 children. The two middle girls are 11-year-old identical twins with cerebral palsy. They are beautiful girls who are confined to wheel chairs and have a vocabulary of about 5 words.

Andrea loves her girls deeply, but life at her house requires lots of hard work and patience--beyond what most of us experience. The most stunning this about her email is her perspective.

If you're struggling today, please take time to read this:

...It made me think of one day my daughter Hannah came home from school (she was in the 7th grade--so middle school dramatics should be inserted here) so upset because all of her friends lives were soooo easy. She said all they ever had to do was homework, and then they were free for the rest of the day to do whatever they wanted--one of those lucky ducks even got to ride a horse after school.

They never had to help with disabled sisters or set the dinner table. It wasn't fair that they had it so easy and she had it so hard.

I panicked and prayed real quick for the right thing to say. It wasn't fair, I felt that way too about other peoples lives. It concerned me that I sometimes looked at my friends who seemed to have it all together in the same way and felt immediately convicted.

As we spoke, I reminded her and myself that whether we like it our not we live a transparent life. Anyone can identify our daily struggles at one glance. We were Everest. You could see us from space. Walking through the mall or down the street with 4 kids, two in wheelchairs and a service dog at our side--we look like a one family parade. We struggle. We have to do things that others don't. We have to care for our girls and put their needs first everyday as a family, and Hannah was a part of that. It's wasn't fair or easy and we didn't get to hide and pretend everything was great. We were constantly exposed to the elements.

Then I remembered (somehow) that Everest wasn't the tallest mountain on earth. The tallest mountain is Mauna Kea (31,000 ft) off the coast of Hawaii under the pacific ocean. No one can see it. It's not visible from space and from the surface it looks flat and calm. I shared with my daughter that her friends could be climbing Mauna Kea, they may have much further to go than she does and they may be climbing it alone. Things may not always be as they seem.

Instead of jealousy, she and I both needed to choose gratefulness. We climb everyday, but we climb in the light. Our mountains look different, but God still sees every step we take and every step her friends take.

In time Hannah began to become aware of difficulties her friends faced, some of which were very serious. We have learned gratefulness over time. Anyway, I remember that story when I want to look at the surface of others situations. Sadly, I have to remember this often. I am reminded to look deeper again and to question just what mountain is being climbed that day. I guess it's really the opposite of what you were saying. I coveted the calm, those who seemed to have it all together. I wanted to share it with you because I guess in principal it's the same. Martha, all of us--it's where the heart lies.

Thank you, Andrea, for sharing your beautiful story with us. Here's a picture of her joyful girls.

Shameless

Ok, today I'm stealing the name of my hubby's band. I'm going to tell everybody that it's my birthday. I know...shameless.

I love my birthday. I love it only next to Christmas and now She Speaks. It all started with my mom, I think. I didn't grow up getting mounds of presents, but Mom made everybody's birthday truly special. You were king or queen for the day in the Dohm house on your birthday.

I would get to pick all my favorite meals. When I was little, I got a shape cake in whatever shape I picked. Nope, it wasn't the material stuff. In fact, I only remember a couple of birthday gifts.

My mom and dad were big on rites of passage. I had to wait until I was 7 to have a real bike and 13 to get my ears pierced. I remember those gifts but not much else.

My parents made the day special by making me feel special. I hope it's a legacy that I'm passing on to my kids, and I love to try to spoil Barry on his birthday.

The big thing that I think about every birthday as I get older is a quote from my dad. He says, "I don't mind having a birthday every year as long as every year gets better." You have to know my dad to truly appreciate that quote. He's the kind of man that makes every year better no matter the circumstances.

This year has been better than the last. Here's why:

• I'm more in love with Barry than ever. We don't have a perfect marriage, but we laugh every day. Perfect enough.


• I love the age of my boys. I loved those cuddly little babies, but I think I love their adultish minds and conversation more. They amaze me.


• My dog Hilde does the full body wiggle every morning when I let her out of her crate. That is reason to smile at the beginning of every day.


• I have two new chairs on my deck where I'm watching the leaves start to turn. Thanks, Mom and Dad!


• I love fall, and God made my birthday in October.


• Mostly, I have a deeper understanding of God's abiding love than last year. For a girl who's a doer, that's a huge blessing. He's teaching me to "be".


• My friendships are even richer than last year, and I'm thankful for my girlfriends. Smooches!

Does anybody else love their birthday? Does anybody share Oct. 8th with me? I'd love to meet you!

Spiritual Food for the Frugal Heart

Oooo, oooo, oooo! I thought of one more thing that thrills my penny-pinching self. It's the internet!

This week I've plugged into some messages that have restored my soul, and they're all free on the internet. Check these sites out:

1. Anne Graham Lotz did an interview with my friend Carol Davis on 106.9 The Light. Make sure to listen to all 3 parts. I listened to part 1 twice!

2. Don't miss Carol's article this week on Dayspring's (in)courage. She's a woman learning lots about hope in hard times, and I LOVE the way she writes so honestly.

3. Here's another great teaching from Anne Lotz. Last month I had a devotion that referenced her 3-step Bible study tool. You can watch a video of her teaching it here.

4. Last, but certainly not least, is a chance to see Lysa Terkeurst speaking about the most powerful 2 word prayer. This message is quintessential Lysa--funny, heart-warming, Biblical and life-changing.

Do any of you have links for us to check out with great teaching? Leave them in your comments so that we can follow you there!

One of Her Favorite Stories Ever

No matter what you think of Oprah, I ask you to support our amazing friend Lysa Terkeurst tomorrow as she gets to tell a powerful story of God's redemption and love on Oprah's show. The ad for tomorrow's show touts Lysa's story (and bunches of other families in Matthews,NC who listened to God's voice) as "one of my favorite stories ever".

If any of you saw the original airing of the story, God's story was really told. So set your tooshy on the couch or set your dvd player or tevo or whatever, and let's all pray that the story will be told in a way that glorifies God. That's Lysa's desire and sole motivation for participating in this follow-up.

We love and support you, Lysa! Thank you for teaching us about the blessings of saying "yes" to God!!