Plan B (Nashville Part II)

Yes, I know this is really, really, really..... REALLY OVERDUE.

However, my life shortly after that made that trip to Nashville, took an unexpected turn of it's own, and I am currently dealing with my real life "Plan B."

Remember this post? I traveled to Nashville to film a video promo for Pete Wilson's book 'Plan B'?

You will have to check out THAT post for photos and video from the filming shoot if you missed it.

Do you remember me also saying that I had negotiated Pete a little 'trade out' for my travels to Nashville?

Do you also remember me saying that I would write another post with those details?

Well, lucky you... this is that post today. *smiling* Its seems like months ago, but this was only February.

By the way, are all of you ready for Easter this weekend? I am finding it harder and harder to prep for anything ahead of time like I used to do so well. I am becoming more and more of procrastinator and I don't like to say that out loud. I don't considered myself to be one to procrastinate at all. I am a go getter and doer. Until these last couple of years now having two children, schedules and travels to keep up with, I now seem to plan for holidays, birthdays and special occasions at the last minute.

My point is...... I am going shopping this evening after Morgans nap for the "Easter Bunny."

Nashville Part II.

Once upon time......

Just kidding!

Two-years ago this month, I was a pretty BIG pregnant girl women, ready to burst. My dear BFF told me of another pregnant women and of her blog. We (the blogger and myself) had the same exact due dates of April 14th. Both of us were also carrying daughters. I thought how fun and exciting, and I couldn't wait to get online to check out her blog.

Unfortunately, my BFF being the best of friends she is, would not allow me to view this bloggers website until AFTER I had given birth to my own daughter. That of course, for me, is NOT cool. I went into asking question after question, for I wanted the details and to know WHY? I don't like being in suspense at all.

She would not share no matter how many times I bugged her about it.

On April 14, 2008 at 8:16 AM I gave birth to my healthy beautiful daughter MacKenzie Morgan Paige. It was a beautiful spring day in Florida. I remember it well.

About a week or so after going home with my new bundle of joy, my BFF finally gave me the link to that blog.

I remember getting the kids down for bed, husband in bed and I was sitting up on the couch alone with my laptop reading her blog. Tears begin to fall, my heart ached and broke for what I was reading.

Her story touched me so deeply, and I instantly grew a bond with her forever.

A lot of us being in the same blogging circle know her well and her daughter's story.

Her beautiful daughter Audrey Caroline, was diagnosed with a heart defect and wasn't expected to make it to birth. A week before her due date, her mother was scheduled for a c-section to deliver her little girl. On April 7th, Audrey Caroline was born, and she lived for 2 1/2 hours. Her mother was able to hold her, hear her little heart beat, kiss her, feel her breath and see her eyes. After 2 1/2 hours in her mothers arms, and her sisters sitting on the bed around her and their mother, she quietly slipped away and into the opened arms of Jesus, her Heavenly Father.

I cry as I type this, thinking about her story. I remember how I felt the first time I read her story and two years later I still feel that way.

April of 2008... two mothers due on April 14th. Two mothers gave birth to their daughters. Only one mother went home with her arms full, and the other went home broken hearted and with empty arms.

Something about that seems so unfair. Even though I am the mom with the full arms.... it still feels unfair.

April 2008, one angel God chose to stay for His purpose, and one chosen to return early for HIS purpose. Little Audrey Caroline has touched so many lives in her months in her mothers womb and her brief 2 1/2 hours here on earth. I only hope and pray that I can reach that many lives and share the story of my Savior as that little redhead beauty has. I hope that I am able to raise my daughter in a way that is pleasing to Jesus. That she becomes a so filled with her own love for Jesus, that she'll be used by her creator to tell a beautiful story that was written by Him.

A year went by and here we are with another passing year. Has it already been two-years? Two years since my little princess was born, and two years since her little princess took her last breath? A part of me is sad in many ways. Sad because my little girl is growing up so quickly, and very sad to see that my new friend isn't getting to celebrate the birthday of her little girl once again. Instead, its another hard milestone to face.

I read her blog (every post) and I always admire her beauty, her strength and even her humor. I had hoped to meet her one day, and always imagined what that greeting would be like. I imagined us both just meeting eye-to-eye, face-to-face with an instant bond, huge hugs and tears down both of our face. I simply just wanted to hug her. Not that she necessarily would want to hug me back the same.

Never did I know this day would actually come, and I would have the chance to meet her.

Then Nashville and Plan B came into the picture.

I am sure most of you know who I am talking about.... and with out further waiting. I asked Pete if he would have any pull with setting it up so that I could meet my sister in Christ, Angie Smith.

Not only did Pete know Angie well, she also attends his church where he is the pastor. He wrote me back with wonderful news and a few more surprises.

1) Yes, that he was able to set it up so that I can meet Angie.

Angie, also knew of me, as we had been in communication through the blogging world, and as well she new my BFF and a couple of others from my church. Small world, right?

To my surprise she told Pete she knew who I was and was just as excited to meet me.

As if that wasn't exiting enough, Pete also told me that her husband Todd Smith, who is a singer in the band Selah, whom was supposed to be out of town, is now in town, and will also be joining in that greeting. He made dinner reservation for his wife Brandi, (whom I call a friend of mine now) himself, me, Angie and Todd Smith.

2) I then get another email a few days later saying that one of Angies BFF's, and also blogger/mommy, Jessica Turner. Whom I also follow and know through blogging. That her and her husband, Matthew Turner, also wanted to join us for dinner.

WOW!!!!

What an unexpected, joyful, wonderful and amazing surprise for me.

I arrived in Nashville. I filmed the video. The book will be released in one month now.

Then evening falls and its time for dinner.

Yet, I am given another surprise.

Angie and her entire family are meeting us at The Wilson's home, so her little girls can hangout with their little boys (3 girls and 3 boys, by the way).

Its time.

They arrive, the doorbell rings and my heart beats with excitement and I must admit, I'm a little nervous. I didn't want to play out my original imagined greeting there in the house in front of all the kids and other adults. So I gathered my composer, I walked around the corner and I see three beautiful little girls walk through the door and one of the most beautiful women (inside and out) that I have ever met. We both smiled, hugged and smiled again. I am quickly introduced to her daughters, Ellie, Abby and Kate, and her husband Todd.

They are everything you would expect them to be in person, and much more. What a lovely, God centered and God loving family.

We finally get the kids settled in with the sitter and we load up in Pete and Brandi's car. The cold air so crisp and fresh.

You would have thought we've all been friends for years during that drive to dinner. We were talking and laughing, telling story after story. It was a very humbling and rewarding moment.

Once we arrived at our dinner place, Bri Bistro Italiano (need I say more?). We are quickly greeted by Jessica and Matthew.

Okay, I seriously started to wonder if everyone in Nashville were as nice as these folks I am having the pleasure to eat dinner with tonight. Jessica gave me a hug, I shook Matthew's hand and instantly became friends.

Jessica is one smart cookie. This girl is fun, and loves to share in on good deals. Such a great personality and big heart for moms. Matthew, a doting dad, and a blogger himself. I need to find his blog again. They are new parents to a little boy, and both just love him and God so much. Such a pleasure to have met them.

As we are seated around our dinner table, the conversations all quickly begin, the food is being ordered and laughter fills the room. At one point I remember fading off into my own thoughts for a second, while looking where I was sitting. I was sitting with some amazing people. I felt that God was up to something but I wasn't sure what exactly. All I know is that in that moment, everything was right. I felt blessed.

At another moment, I remember sitting there thinking about Angie as she sat there next to me, telling many of her funny stories. And she had lots of funny stories. As she was talking, I remember thinking of Audrey. Thinking "this beautiful mother next to me, lost her child." I quickly had to break my thoughts or I would have just lost it right then and there. I honestly just can not imagine that kind of loss or pain.

However, I remember thinking that I had not mentioned Audrey at all. I didn't want to be the one to bring up something so fragile and painful. I also didn't want to be just another one of those that didn't bring it up, like it was the forbidden fruit to talk about, or to have her feel that she wasn't able to talk about her daughter with me. When I saw the door open for a moment to ask her, I gently tapped her arm and said "I think about Audrey often." She smiled, her eyes so gentle and you could tell how much joy it brought to her just to have heard the name Audrey. As we talked for a moment, we also got to talking about her current pregnancy. What a beautiful pregnant lady she makes. She had the "glow" although before dinner that evening she wasn't feeling all that well. This pregnancy has made her tired. She is expecting another daughter and soon she will be the mother of five princesses.

Ahhhh.... what a night. What a trip.

I still sit here all wide eyed and amazed, how God shows us HIS love, beauty and grace every single day. I often wonder how often does God try to say hello to me in some subtle way that I miss every day, or take for granted?

Because of conflict in schedule of work and travels, I wasn't going to make that trip to Nashville. Someone else would have filled in my spot. Instead, God said "no, this is YOUR trip Misty. I have some special people for you to meet."

And that I did.

And as if that wasn't exciting enough..... I have MORE SURPRISES to come (Nashville Part III). You are going to like this.

Look out for that post to come very soon. Not like in a couple of months soon, but in like a day or two soon. Its so exciting that I can't wait to write the post and publish it already.

I hope you and yours has a very blessed Easter holiday.

18 days....

and my butterfly will be two years old. I can't believe it. Sniff. Sniff.

contagious

Dictionary entry overview: What does contagious mean?

• CONTAGIOUS (adjective)
The adjective CONTAGIOUS has 2 senses:

1. easily diffused or spread as from one person to another
2. (of disease) capable of being transmitted by infection

Familiarity information: CONTAGIOUS used as an adjective is rare.

Dictionary entry details

• CONTAGIOUS (adjective)

Meaning:

Easily diffused or spread as from one person to another

Context example:

a contagious grin

Similar:

infectious (easily spread)

When we think of the word 'contagious' we normally think of something bad. It typically says to our brain "stay away" and "don't come in contact".

Today we are going to think of 'contagious' as something wonderful and tell your brains to "catch it" and to "try and get it."

My example for today is my neighborhood crossing guard.

I don't know his name. I have never had a conversation with him (until this morning), becuase with his kind of words, there is no need for more sometimes.

I have wanted to take his picture to show as an example many times, but didn't want him to think I was weird or anything. Instead, I looked online and found other photos of cross-guards to use in this post. However, I just had to get HIS photo, because I want to give you a face of the man that I am talking about.

This morning on my way to take Hunter to school, I rolled down my window and said hello, and asked if I could take his photo. In which he joyfully smiled. It gave me the opportunity to A) say hello to this friendly stranger I see every day and B) use this as an example to not only myself, but to my son.

The conversation went like this:

Me: Honey, you see this guard here on the right?

Hunter: Yea.

Me: Watch him when I pull up, he will be smiling.

Hunter: How do you know?

Me: Because, he smiles every day, haven't you noticed?

Hunter: (Looking with curiosity out of the window)

Me: See, he is smiling as he always is.

(I pull up to the stop sign and roll down my window)

Me: (to cross-guard): Good morning. I was just telling my son about your contagious smile.

Crossguard: Good morning (with a hand reaching to his hat, as he nods his head in a delightful greating).

Me: Do you mind if I take your picture and use you as an example?

Crossguard: I just hope there isn't anything in my teeth. (smiling)

Me: Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Me: Did you know that by choice that gentleman chooses to smile every day? Noone knows what his week has been like, or if he had a bad morning or if his life isn't all fun and joy right now. Because even if it was, he makes the choice to smile and be happy and thankful with his life today, and now.

He could choose to just stand there, be grumpy and not smile or look anyone in the eye. But he chooses other wise.

Just like you chose to express attitude this morning over something small. You need to learn to make better choices in the type of attitude you want to express and show to those around you.

I want you, buddy, to practice being positive and contagious, and see how many people you can make smile and feel good in your day.

Then, I gave him an example for him to use at school today.

There is a young girl in his class that for whatever reason will do things that are gross, out of dares of her classmates, just to get the attention from them. Her recent stunt, licking the classroom floor with her tongue. They all laughed at her and say how gross she is. Although, she laughs with them and doesn't seem to mind it, I think later it could, or maybe already is when she is by herself and not having to put up the "front" to her classmates.

Me: (continuing) Hunter, if they try to dare her to do something today, or she is even asking for a dare. Its all because she just wants attention. Why don't you surprise her, stand up for her and say something like "Julie (name change for her privacy), I think you are funny without having to do anything gross. You don't have to do gross stuff to make me laugh."

Maybe those little words by one person can change the way she feels about herself and how she feels she needs to behave to get the wrong kind of attention.

Now, if only we 'adults' can have that same kind of class. Well, we can, but most of us choose not to.

I always laugh and say that we are just a bunch of over grown kids ourselves, some never willing to just grow up and be mature.

So, today I encourage YOU to make a choice and choose to be CONTAGIOUS. Be contagious in our body launguage, your facial expressions, your tone and your words. Choose to smile today and pass the contagiouness on. Make someone else smile today.

Today, I ask, who can I bless today? How can I be contagious? How can I choose to make a positive choice over a negative choice? Yesterday, I had a choice in my life, in a very important area of my life. I chose to do make the contagious and positive choice, and boy am I thankful I did.

Because, at the end of the day, I too was blessed. My family was blessed. And it simply felt nice to put a smile on someone else faces and bless that person even more.

Try it, I dare you. Go out and be contagious!

Oh, and while I am at it, say hello to your cross-guards. He/she may not be as happy and smiley as mine, but maybe your hello can make them smile at that very moment! Make their day. Appreciate your cross-guards. Even if you can't stop, roll down your window and smile, honk your horn and give them a big smile and wave.

You can say a lot without words, just like this fella in this photo does everyday!!!

paper

I hope everyone had a warm and sunny weekend like we did here in South Florida. Oh, ooops, where are my manners. Sorry my TEXAS friends and family, just had to rub it in a little.

Seriously, nine inches of snow in TEXAS, in March?? Whoa!

My mom sent me this little video via text message of her snow filled yard she woke up to this morning. I never had snow like that as a kid that I can remember in Texas.

Well, it was indeed very beautiful here this weekend. I ended up spending Saturday afternoon at the baseball field watching my little man play an awesome game. The ending was such a fun one to watch. Then I got home and went to the pool for a couple of hours. I met this really beautiful young 22-year-old college girl. I asked her if I can take the chair next to her and the conversation quickly began with no pause. She was studying finances and already has been offered a job in Manhattan come 2011. We talked about life, boyfriends, careers, marriage, the future, children and so much more. I often found myself admiring her long beautiful blonde hair and her youthful tall (5'10") figure and full lips with beautiful teeth. Part of me wanted to envy her and throw myself a pitty party of feeling so old. After all we were 10 years apart.

But as we sat there chatting and getting along so well, the age gap disappeared. She really had her head on strong, and suddenly I didn't feel so old sitting next to her. I just felt like a girl chatting with a another girl. After all that is what we really are, just two girls sitting there chatting.

There were so many things from Beth Moores book coming to mind as I sat there and spoke with her. I took that very opportunity to share some of the book with her and hopefully sent her on her way feeling a little more secure at 22 years old, as I am trying to be at 32 years old. It was refreshing to be outside and hear someone of her age to be so mature.

But lets not talk about the two hour sunburn suntan on one side of my body and face I walked away with. I guess, if you see another blonde girl with the opposite side of her body sunburned as well, you will know who my acquaintance was. *giggle*

So, a guy sent me a letter this morning that he wrote and gave to his pastor and wife. He and his wife were struggling of their 23 year marriage. He wanted a divorce. He didn't share details with me, but he said he had been reading my post and that God placed it on his heart to share with me. I asked him if I could share his letter with everyone here on my blog.

He replied: YES, You may use it!! For I think that ALL MEN should hear this!!!

Here is what he wrote to his wife and shared with his pastor:

Hello,

First, let me thank you for allowing me to stand up today! I wanted to say more about the Paper, Sorry for not giving you one!!

God has brought a SIMPLE piece of paper in my life to see what I have!! PLEASE, Let me tell you the story??

I was getting ready to write something on a PLAIN piece of paper one day and I was told to stop! It was like someone telling me to just look. I looked at the paper over and over, then I heard "turn it over." When I did, it was the same as the other side. "Now, look back at the other side with a magnifying glass. Do you see the imperfections?" Yes!

This piece of paper is like US! On the outside we look pure, but if you look closer you can see that we are not. Is ALL paper the same? NO! Like us we are ALL different on the INSIDE.

While looking at the paper, I noticed how delicate it was, like a woman's heart. Then... I was to tear it. It tore easy, like a woman's heart does. And then I wrote something on the paper then erased it. Is it really ALL gone? NO... some of it still remains. Does it ever go away? We would hope, but it does not.

I can tell you that about 2 months ago "I" was ready to give up on our marriage! I had had enough!! This is when all this paper thing came about! I was asked to look at both sides of the paper........ They look the same to me, so WHY? I was asked "do you think that the grass is greener on the other side?" I had to stop there, take a long look at myself! WOW.... Its not! Its the exact same!

My wife, she asked of 3 things of me that is dear to her heart. I really had a set back, because "I" wasn't giving that to her. I was starting to see were this was going! I was scared!

I have made a commitmeant to look at my marriage a different way than I was looking at it. Now, I see my bride like I saw her almost 23 years ago! I have a lot of work to do and I intend not to stop! In other words, I will finish what I started!

Wow. Right?

I know. He told me he could tell I was a very Godly Women and to stay that way. That he had once turned away from God, angry at him for things physically happening to him over the last few years. He asked if I would just pray for him and he would pray for me the same.

Most of my readers are female. Occasionally, I will get a brave male reader to step out and say hi, or comment about a post I have written. One male reader once said that although my blog is predominately geared towards women, that the way I write, is refreshing and interesting. He liked hearing things from a 'womens' perspective.

So, maybe tonight, this letter was placed on this guys heart to share with me, because there is someone out there that maybe needs to read it also. And since he doesn't have a blog to share it on...... its being shared here.

I think it is important for all of us to simply take the time and be aware of how we communicate with one another. Too often people forget to use their "sensitivity chip" that we all have programed in us. We get too caught up in our own thoughts, words and feelings that we forget about how we could be making the person around us feel.

I have been guilty of this SO MANY TIMES. I have also been victim of it SO MANY TIMES.

Although, that letter was written to his wife. It can be used as an expression for all of us as human beings. We are all fragile. We are all the same, but different in many ways too.

I love visuals and I will never look at a piece of paper the same. I want to take this myself and practice being more sensitive to those I come in contact with. Be more aware of my words, my facial expressions and let them know I am there.

This goes for our kids too.

Way too often adults (parents) are so caught up with being parents, that they forget they're children, and are just as fragile. I see it a lot in the sports active parents/kids. Parents often forget how easily their words can hurt a child. Words that will stick with that child for a long time, and may never fully be erased from their memory or hearts.

We all demand respect. Everyone deserves respect. Your husbands, your wives and your children. So the next time you feel like being selfish and just spewing out your words.... think of the delicacy of the person you are looking at and think "PAPER."

b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.

Mirror....Mirror... On The Wall.

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror. James 1:23

This is how I want to feel to those that mean the most to me.

I want to be beautiful
Make you stand in awe
Look inside my heart,
and be amazed
I want to hear you say
Who I am is quite enough
Just want to be worthy of love
And beautiful

This is how I feel when I stand up against the world.

Sometimes I wish I was someone other than me
Fighting to make the mirror happy
Trying to find whatever is missing
Won't you help me back to glory

But this is what I feel when I remember the one who created me, and has written out my life and its purpose, before I took my first breath.

You make me beautiful
You make me stand in awe
You step inside my heart, and I am amazed
I love to hear You say
Who I am is quite enough
You make me worthy of love and beautiful

(Lyrics By: Bethany Dillon)

Do you feel beautiful today?

I do.

But not all the time.

I would probably say, not a lot of the time.

Why?

Because when you are going through such hurting times, or you feel so uncertain, confused and even lost in your ways, or the direction you should be going. Its hard to feel safe, or right and at peace. Instead, you feel lonely, unloved, insecure and unattractive.

A young reader sent me this scripture the other night and it hit home with me. I thought I would share it with you all.

God said "But I'll take the hand of those who don't know the way, who can't see where they're going. I'll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I'll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don't fall into the ditch. These are things I'll be doing for them- Sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute" Isaiah 42:16 MSG.

Tonight, I sit in my home alone. In a quiet house. The only sound I hear is the clicking of my keyboard and the dead ringing of silence in my ear when I pause. Well, and that strange knocking sound my refrigerator just made. Sheesh... I am trying to have moment here and satan uses the refrigerator to distract me.

And here! (you will know what I mean by that by the end of this post!)

Too often I feel so unloved. Too often I feel so unattractive. And when I start to feel that way and ask myself "why am I feeling this way?" I am quickly reminded who it is that am putting myself up against. The world? People that don't love me as much as I wished they did?

But when I turn to the right person.... the one that calls me "mine".... at that moment I get a glimpse of the beauty I know that HE sees in me.

And I feel beautiful. And loved.

Tonight, I want to say a prayer for anyone that isn't feeling so beautiful today, or that loved. I want to remind you (and myself) that we are loved. We are beautiful. Look in GOD's mirror, not the worlds. Look to His word and obey it and trust it. Don't fall into the insecurity traps that satan sets up all around us.

Have you ever watched the movie "Over the Hedge?"

In brief its about wild animals that meet the suburban life... and at one point the humans set up traps to catch and kill the wild life entering their yard. As the wild life make out their plans to invade, they show a map were all the human traps are set up all around the outside of the home.... and basically there was a trap...

here.

here.

here.

here.

here.

here.

here.

and here.

here.

here.

here.

here.

here.

and here and here and here and here....

AND HERE!

In every direction you turn.

Satan has set up so many traps all around us, just waiting for us to hit one and fall. Fall flat on our face. To feel alone. To feel unsafe. To feel abandoned. To feel unloved. And ugly.

And again God said:

"But I'll take the hand of those who don't know the way, who can't see where they're going. I'll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I'll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don't fall into the ditch. These are things I'll be doing for them- Sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute" Isaiah 42:16 MSG.