Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.

I want to start off with a HUGE thank you for all of your prayers over my husband for his surgery and for me as his caretaker. I am truly grateful. The last few days have been a whirlwind. His surgery, pre-planned family events, follow up doctor appointments, etc. I would love to find my bearings again…I think. Right now I feel like a kid who is spinning in circles for the fun of it. There is no plan or direction, it is do what is needed when it is needed. It kind of works though. Haha

For the first time since I started writing in the competitions, I have targeted following the progress of the judging’s. Before, I would hit the entry deadline and wait until the announcement of the winner. I did not follow, on the page of the competition, for any progression results. This is not the case for these last two stories on these very different competitions. Maybe I knew I wasn’t in the running and didn’t care, but I know that could not be true, because I have good stories…just ask me (haha). Maybe I wanted to be surprised. Maybe I didn’t want to know that I wasn’t good enough … or that someone was better than me. Or maybe, I have had more time on my hands this time around. Or…..maybe He did not want me being diverted to something that was just a molding tool, instead of the finished product.

I am nearing the end of my postal career. He wants me to write while I am retired. He placed these competitions in my view to hone my skills. To make me get out of my head of what is and show me that He is everywhere. He gave me prompts to that made no sense and then the desire to see beyond what the world saw them as. Two examples, one of these competitions had the Genre of Whimsy (had to look it up). My location that had to make up 75 percent of the story was an abandoned laundromat. My object was a pin wheel. Then to top it off, the laundromat had to be a portal to someone or something. I am not so sure that I hit the Whimsy category, but perhaps in a warped sense of the word I tickled the edges. The other story had to be a drama, with a musician, and a pair of binoculars.

Each only gave me 1000 words to bring the story full circle. All of my stories are centered around Him. Somehow, someway. He always gives me an avenue to shine Light in or on the impossible or illogical. I think that God uses these competitions to help me see the world for what it is…nuts….but Light is still there if you look. All you have to do is purpose yourself to look.

We all have a habit of saying things like, “I had a good day, but…” “He is very good looking, but…” “I love my house, but…” We see the light of things…BUT…there is always a but. Why does there need to be a ‘but,’ why can’t we just see the blessing in front of us and be happy? The reason is the world has targeted us from birth to look for and anticipate the other shoe to fall. And if you look for it, it most definitely will. If you worry about it, you will call it right and you saw it coming. Where being ‘on top of it’ is helpful, how much did I miss in the process of trying to be prepared?

These last three days have only one preparation in place, move when needed. That’s it. The rest is on me to see the Light and enjoy these days with my husband, in our home, with our pet, and in our hearts. That is what He wants for us. And…if I happen to advance or dare I say ‘win’ one of the arenas, I will take that also. I will giggle big giggles as well. Haha.

Take today and find the Light. If you must find the ‘but’, do so in such a manner that Light wins. Such as, “The temperature is cold, but the sun is bright and beautiful.” See, it really is not that hard.

Be blessed today my friends

***but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on the wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. –Isaiah 40:31