Tag Archives: lentphotoaday

Apr 17 2025
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Bible, Marriage, parenting, random

Giving Back: Our Journey in Supporting Local Veterans

AKA April 17th #lentphotoaday prompt word is “AMONG”

I sing the National Anthem on top of a firetruck every Thanksgiving morning. It’s an honor to be asked because it’s an honor to serenade and thank the new recruits at the Great Lake Naval Base every year. These kids are most likely far away from home and I am sure missing their family. So our local amazing Moose Lodge #1969 here in Wauconda, of which I am a member, picks them up in a bus and feeds them a glorious Thanksgiving meal. But before they are fed, they bring them to Main Street where they can be honored AMONG our supporting and loving community.

As much as my husband and I have been able to, in the past 15 years living here, we try to give back to our community. We raised three kids and we have successfully finished that era, sending out last off to college this year. So we feel like we can start truly digging in…more time allocated to give back. We have tried to our best to keep the balance and help on top of our parental duties. We donate our time and talents when we can. He DJs for events like National Night Out and I donate my singing for events like the Turkey Trot and Memorial Day. We do also get hired to provide entertainment for events as well, but we always try to give back in some way. Our goal in the next two years is to establish a more solid commitment as to where and how can put our greatest gifts forward, whether it is more active in the Moose charities or perhaps even helping support Bangs Lake. We look forward to the next chapter for us to be more of an asset to our lovely town.

In events like the troops at Thanksgiving and the Turkey Trot race that 100% raises money for charities, we are surrounded by all the workers who are volunteering their time and energy. It feels so powerful to be AMONG a community that comes together in unity, to support and share the responsibility of taking care of one another.

Love you.

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Apr 16 2025
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Bible, health, random

Healing and Reflection: A Journey Through Lent

AKA #lentphotoaday April 16th, word is “HERE“

HERE for it. Present. Ready and willing. Open to God.

I talked about this little Lent refection project to my therapist today. I hadn’t seen her for a few weeks since I was sick, then hospitalized for a week. She was worried and we had a lot of catch up on, mostly focusing on how I need to put all my concentration on getting better. There is no more room for any energy to go elsewhere, other than healing up. We talked about how me being more present to reflect during these spiritually guided meditations is really helping me to stay in my lane. It’s also filling my empty and lonely times with purpose.

So let’s dig in. With Easter just a hop, skip and a jump away…see what I did there?

Not HERE: On what we call Easter Day, Mary Magdalene and the women go into the tomb to see Jesus’ body and they are met with these words: Matthew 28:5-6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

I remember going to Sunday school when I would stay with my grandparents in New Franklin, Ohio. My parents would drop us off there for a week at a time, when they would go on fancy, tropical vacations with friends. There were the good church and there was the yucky church. The good church was the little Presbyterian church right down the street from their house. Grandma was the Sunday school teacher and I can almost smell the glue that we would use to adhere the felt Jesus on the construction paper. We would paste him coming out of the tomb where he was resurrected and leaving for his ascension to Heaven. We colored in the words “HE HAS RISEN” and we framed the paper with popsicle sticks. Then we drank apple juice and munched on Voortman-esque wafer cookies.

I feel like I need a refresher. I remember there being a Jesus cross and resurrection timeline, but I don’t remember the details.

WHOA. I’ll give you a minute. Fascinating to look at it with grown up eyes.

So, Nisan is the first month is the Jewish calendar. Palm Sunday is also the 10th day of Nisan. Today is the 13th of Nisan. To put it in the perspective of this week, on Sunday, the 10th of Nisan, Jesus called himself the Passover Lamb. Wednesday (today) is the day before The Last Supper. It’s also the day that Judas decides to betray Jesus and also, they are getting ready to have a last meal together. Wouldn’t you have given anything to be seated at that table?

Love you.

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Apr 08 2025
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Auto Immune Disease, death, family, Getting old, health, mental health, random, rheumatoid arthritis, writing

Navigating Illness and Spiritual Growth

Or also know as: A Lenten Reflective Journey…With Hiccups.

Ahhh, Facebook….the best online hang in the world to connect, yet simultaneously annoying, politically stressful and chock full of HACKERS.

Last month, I saw a dear friend involved in a Facebook #rethinkchurch daily practice, inspired by The United Methodist Church. She was participating with another lovely friend who moved to the Big Stone Gap, and it’s been nice to be able to keep tabs on her and her wonderful life out there. I was intrigued by the idea of spiritual reflection, with a sprinkle of accountability. It’s always been a good look for me. In the last three years, I very painfully lost my dad and have been suffering from chronic health issues. My kids are getting older, life is moving so much faster. I feel very grateful for my soul mate husband, my loving children, family, friends, my home and my life. I am washed over with the overwhelming need to express my gratitude and thankfulness.

I had somewhat of a darker experience with religion when I was younger. Dark isn’t quite the right word. It’s not a positive word to pinpoint, but it was…problematic? So, as we sometimes do, I put it all in my pocket and I shoved it in the back of the closet. Well. Seems like I’m feeling the need to clean a little house. Exploring my relationship with religion and God has slowing inched over to me on the couch. I’m starting to lean in and I’m starting to listen.

At the beginning of March, I started the daily #lentphotoaday, prompted by a suggested word. I would post it on my FB page, tagging my reflective Lent tribe. I loved it. I was waking up every morning, inspired by nature outside my window, old photos, memories and pulling out our old family Bible. It all felt very cathartic and warm to explore.

And then we got Facebooked hacked.

And then I got really sick.

And then, instead of being able to reflect on my past, present and future relationship with God, and preparing for Easter in my own little way, I was just praying to God that I would get better and not die in the hospital. Not the journey I was intending.

I was in there seven days with a virus that turned pneumonic, and heavy IV steroids that bumped me to coma-high blood sugars. All of that craziness thrust me into a rancid, full-blown case of Diabetes. It sounds dramatic because it is. It sucks. I’m home now in insulin, bruised like a pin cushion, beat-up, weak and exhausted. My new medical path has changed and I will be now focusing on getting better. But I remain positive because LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. I am babying myself so I can keep plugging along. Summer is coming…summer is coming.

In the end, if I can also be honest, I think this worked out. It’s getting me writing again. Also, It was not a comfortable platform for me to be sharing my reflections anyway. My FB circle is used to handling my funny meme’s, annoying mom brag posts and lots of music promotional material. I think it works out for me to head over to this crazy little Heatherland. Its feels so much more appropriate; a public blog, but ironically personal, since no one really reads it.

Therefore, here I am, jumping back into the Lent pool.

Next post: The word of today is BRING.

Love you.

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