tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83405933059693166732011-07-07T20:47:56.759-04:00"Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19 (AMP)Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-36109150954607389052010-01-03T14:23:00.002-05:002010-01-04T09:16:26.562-05:00

"Where the mind goes, the body will follow." Alexander Scotland (2010)Many are the thoughts that race through my mind, every second. When I forget to make those thoughts a prisoner, I become a slave to them.With the new year I can reflect on the leaps and bounds of experience I have enjoyed with the Lord. He has taught me so much....So I'm like trying to deflect all these thoughts; in an out they

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-34027002820237176102009-12-18T00:24:00.002-05:002010-01-04T09:16:49.757-05:00

"As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good." 2 Thess 3:13 (NLT)Read a story that haunted me. Children adopted by a family in New Jersey were starved and treated cruelly for ten years. The oldest boy was found digging in a neighbors trash for food. At the age of 19 he weighed only 45 pounds and stood tall at only 4 feet. I can't imagine what kind of sight

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-78568484843500092932009-12-11T23:25:00.003-05:002010-01-02T00:22:28.442-05:00

"Mercy Triumps Over Judgement...Those who show mercy are shown mercy..."Those words set to soothing tunes and the melodic voice of Julie True set the atmosphere, for a unique reaction to what I call - mini shock.I'm working. I decide that I need to venture to the ladies room. I'm talking with my dad on my cell as I return to my desk. The hues once softly dimmed is loud and flourescent. My bags

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-90274827460259781972009-10-27T08:42:00.007-04:002010-01-01T23:24:33.731-05:00

"those who hope in me will not be disappointed." (Isaiah 49:23) NIVI have to laugh at my last post a bit. BJ wasn't even trying to read that Tony Dungy book. Its been a while since I ventured here; so much has transpired over the past few weeks, you'd have to be in regular contact with me to learn all the details.I realized that at his age, BJ has reached there is not much forcing I can inflict,

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-76719612349145244142009-10-02T14:33:00.010-04:002009-10-02T15:49:32.766-04:00

I have been thinking of BJ just now. Was chatting with my friend Wanda. She shared something that made me reflect on BJ's current condition. The importance of having a friend that really hears - that really listens. Do you have someone in your life that you can bare your soul? Yes, the Lord can be your best friend, if you let him, but is there a physically, living, breathing, human being that you

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-52144076522588978492009-09-06T19:48:00.014-04:002009-10-02T10:27:39.272-04:00

Release - one of Matthew's vocabulary words last week. That week symbolized an end to much of what has been the cause of no blog time; no inclination to write. My mind had been consumed on again, off again with a man who I thought embodied the complete package - the list I had created, for God of who my husband would be. Saved, humble, handsome, kind, artistic... I was in hog heaven. I never had

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-30919733240890534962009-07-24T00:34:00.010-04:002009-07-27T17:28:28.186-04:00

It must have been a few days after my own high school graduation, that I attended my friend Hopey's. I miss Hope. I haven't talked to her in over eight years. I believe she still lives in New York. I first met Hope Elaine Lee in fourth grade, we shared the same class all the way to High School, where she attended Walton, a co ed public school in the Bronx. We danced together, auditioning for the

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-75642064537359238962009-07-22T14:19:00.008-04:002009-07-27T00:33:54.008-04:00

Tonight I am about to join the Facebook group called "Undercliff Crew". How cool. I will get to see all my old buddies from Undercliff Avenue, where I grew up. Facebook is such a great way to find and connect with people you have lost touch with. I am now "friends" with nearly 3o of my old classroom buds from Cathedral High School. A few weeks ago, my fascination with Facebook turned into a habit

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-66468663043205040832009-07-16T22:40:00.003-04:002009-07-20T00:15:58.500-04:00

The routine would be different. At lunch time I'd be heading over to a staff meeting instead of taking my much anticipated jog through historic downtown Punta Gorda. Its always hot, but Gilchrist Park greets me with a cool breeze from the Peace River. I could sit and just stare at it, for hours - if I didn't have to get back to work. Along my precious route there is an amazing tree that sits

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-38941717939218954462009-07-13T22:00:00.007-04:002009-07-14T08:33:56.046-04:00

Greetings Rosebuds!Have you ever tried to complete a project without reading the instructions? Have you ever taken a short cut only to get delayed by a detour? How did you feel? FRUSTRATED? The memory of Sunday afternoon at the ball game felt this way."Whenever I go to the game, they always lose. I think its me." I knew something was wrong with his statement. "You will have what you say," I'd

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-88602023143418398472009-07-04T17:58:00.004-04:002009-07-04T18:48:40.625-04:00

Written July 3, 2009 for the Women of Destiny NewsletterThe Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. Isaiah 61:1 (NLT)Have you ever answered the infamous icebreaker questions? "What's your favorite color, what was the

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-74936766803686840012009-05-11T23:17:00.004-04:002009-05-12T08:32:44.120-04:00

Thursday, May 7My outlook calendar reminded me to jet to the county office during lunch time, to gather at the entrance and pray. Maranatha's Evelyn and Tony ministered in music and we all sang "God Bless a America"; it felt great to sing out loud, for the Lord in such a public arena. There was quite a number of people who gathere, many taking time from lunch to take part. Maranatha's own

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-92025400119202942072009-05-11T22:21:00.006-04:002009-05-11T23:16:34.124-04:00

I woke up to a sea of disarray. I was determined not to touch it, or be consumed by it. BJ was with a friend until the evening, and the boys, well, they were going to spend the day with Ma and Pa. This was Mother's Day weekend and I had to train myself to not try and clean. BJ would help once he arrived home, and the little guys would do their part too.I finally had the opportunity to attend

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-12054424125618339562009-04-10T07:09:00.003-04:002009-04-10T08:00:09.784-04:00

5pm at Islands of AdventureBJ and Brandon are done with the Hulk ride and we agree to meet up at the Spider man ride. Alex wanted to ride this from the beginning but the line was too long 125 minute wait. By evening it had dropped to 90. We really enjoyed it. The seat hardly moves but all the simulation makes you feel like you are towering over large buildings, falling, getting splashed,

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-37117555152437437202009-04-10T06:25:00.002-04:002009-04-10T07:07:26.408-04:00

Day one at Universal Studios Islands of AdventureIts mid day and our group of five has split up leaving me some alone time with Alex (my youngest). We are in Jurassic Park and BJ, Brandon and Matthew get on the themed ride that ends with a hefty drop, offering the tumble-over-the-waterfall experience; Alex was not even trying to experience that. We opted to wait a warned two hours to get on the

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-4214397073173929802009-04-07T22:33:00.003-04:002009-04-07T23:43:53.949-04:00

Tonight we are finishing the final touches, for our spring break trip to Orlando. The boys have never been on a real vacation. They got a glimpse of the resort hotel experience during Christmas vacation - that the result of winning a ticket to ICE from my favorite radio station! BJ is much older and has been to Disney, and many other theme parks and attractions; however, as a family we've

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-9225278956860102432009-03-22T23:36:00.005-04:002009-03-23T00:49:06.581-04:00

Tonight we finished the first chapter of Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I try to read to Matthew and Alex before they go to bed. They usually fall asleep as I read. Tonight Alex said, "Mom, I'm not going to sleep or anything. I'm just going to close my eyes to get an imagination about what you're reading." Precious.I have always been a huge fan of Little House on the

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-54119755250660665462009-03-20T23:00:00.000-04:002009-03-21T08:37:51.653-04:00

It was fun hangin' with my sister: uber mom (of four) and devoted wife (to Ivan). She's an awesome lady that Sandi Ortiz. (I will share more about our friendship in a future post.) This weekend they head for a vacation to the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. We went to the Goodwill in Port Charlotte; she found some deals on a couple of clothing items and I went gaga over the books.I am a book

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-33474925056178817962009-03-14T19:15:00.000-04:002009-03-14T19:40:24.246-04:00

“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of earth you will again bring me up.” (Psalm 71:20). The Lord revealed that verse to me in the early days of my rescue from a nine year, emotionally abusive marriage- what a comfort it brought to my soul. I didn’t know what it meant to have an enemy until marriage; pretty depressing. In fact

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-81627400415664570762009-03-14T18:41:00.000-04:002009-03-14T18:42:53.591-04:00

Eight years ago, I fled the cold, congested, and busy confines of New York City to embrace the warmth of Charlotte County, Florida. The move brought me closer to my parents who provided refuge from an emotionally abusive marriage. I made a series of poor decisions that introduced me to unwed motherhood at the age of 18. What led to those decisions? I grew up a Haitian American; an only girl

Rosebud "Muse" icalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06843672553526535289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340593305969316673.post-82766610993514801402009-03-14T16:48:00.000-04:002009-03-14T17:13:17.829-04:00

March 5, 2009"You dance over me, while I am unaware. You sing all around, and I never hear a sound. Lord I'm amazed by you; how you love me..."I woke up this morning with this verse "forget what is behind, strain toward what is ahead. Press on toward the goal, for which God has called you heavenward in Christ." I knew this was not only for me, but for my boys. "Don't remind them of their

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