Who Woulda Thunk....

This is kind of a neat thing....

The other day I was walking from the employee parking lot to the employee entrance and Brian, (who works with Dan in the security department) was speeding by in the golf cart. He pulls over to me and says.."Wanna ride...are you late? 'cause I gotta go take a picture of something. Wanna come with me?"

So naturally I hop into the golf cart and he speeds around and we drive. I am thinking...' this is great, we're going to take pictures of an investigation or something.'

I say to Brian.."is this an investigation? Like you can be Grissom and I can be Katherine?" I was really excited. Perfect way to start my day at the hotel. EXCITEMENT....

"No." Brian said..."We're gonna take pictures of an eagle that is on top of the Ritz Carlton Flag Pole."

"Cool."

So we haul up the front driveway (which is strictly prohibited by employees by the way) and you could barley see the eagle because it was so high up on the tippy top of the flag pole on the very top of the hotel. We caught up with door guy Tom who was with some guest who were also taking pictures and got a much better view.

I tried to take a picture on my phone, but it was just to far away. But Brian got this one from the Loss Prevention camera. How cool is this....So here i think I am starting my day at the hum drum hotel I work in with some kind of cool investigation when I am really starting my day with a kiss from God. A reminder to me that HE is working so hard in my life, that he gave me the gift of seeing one of His very own amazing creations. It was a perfect way to start my day at the hotel. When Brian and I got to the employee entrance, before getting out of the golf cart I thanked Brian for letting me share in that moment.

Who woulda thunk...an Eagle on top of the flag pole....ooo maybe we could market this idea..

Christ Died for EVERYONE..Not just.....

I have recently been "accused" of not being a good Christan. That I do not walk in the fear of the Lord. That I have far to much faith in the human race and that I do not worship correctly and live by the book. That my own opinions do not matter and that I should only seek God's opinion. I have been challenged to dig deeper into the Bible and see clearly the word of God, to disect it and find each and every meaning that there could possibly be in every word scribed. To lift my hands in gratitude and praise each week in the front row of a church and allow the Holy Spirit to flow through me. To re-dedicate myself, to re-baptize myself and give it all over to God...only then I will enter the gates of heaven and have my crowning glories....

Gotta tell you something ...when this accusation came across me. I was so hurt I could not believe that a "friend" could possibly say some of the things that were said. I could not sleep that night and spend a distracting day at work with a heavy heart. I prayed that day for God to lift this off of me and make my heart still so I could hear HIM and find HIS peace in me. HE did.(naturally)
My husband and I talked about this and prayed on it together and separately to find our solution of what to say to this accuser. We were told ...Be still . Forgive and walk away. As I have done and as Dan has done also. He too was very hurt.

My husband and I are not boxed in people. We have to be out there in society with our line of work. we interact with people each day and we talk to them each day. We do not solidify ourselves to the confines of our home and a church where we are safe. We cannot do that. We go to church. But we do not go to the church that this person wants us to go, and since we do not then we are not good people. Each day I ask God to let His Will be my Will and His words be my words. Now I know that not always are His words my words, because there are many time that my words are my words, but what I try to do is to be the best bible that someone will read. I TRY this, I may not always succeed, but I have to give it a shot. There are a lot of people out there who will never read the bible, but they may meet me and see that my loving word and kind actions say something special about me. It would be my FAITH.

My parents were the cornerstone of my faith ever since I was young. We belonged to a great church. All with wonderful friends and leaders. As I grew my love for God was always in the back of my mind, but it may not have always came out of me. (I think most of us can attest to that) but you know what I have learned from all my travels all over the world, the sick, the poor, the imprisoned, the loving, the challenged, the lifeless, the scientists,,the prostitute,s the homeless, the peacemakers, and the peace wants, those that say they are PRO life and those that say they are Pro choice, the political parties the everyday Joe's that mill around....we are all children of the Lord. Matt 7:1-2 says...do not judge or you too will be judged- For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." I think of this all the time when my selfish persona come out of me and I have something to say about someone....this my "friend" IS fearing God. To think that I could be judged just as harsh as I have just judged someone.

I could not help but think of the Pharisees in the Bible. The word Pharisee translates into the meaning of Separated Ones. These blokes were harsh. Hey were all about for insisting that the Laws of God be carried through and they had a special commitment to keeping that Laws of tithing and ritual purity. They were concerned for other matters and they limited themselves contacts with Jews who THEY BELIEVED were not pure and clean and the Gentiles. They would never break bread at the home of a non-pharisee for fear of the home and food not being "ritualistically clean" and "pure". They continuously criticized others for not keeping the Laws and for being "sinners". They looked down on tax collectors, prostitutes and the unclean. Such a contrast from who Jesus loved on. They questioned Jesus so much in the New Testament and Christ did call them out on their ways. They observed the Laws carefully as far as their appearance went, but their hearts were far from God. Their motives were wrong because they wanted human praise. They were often called Hypocrites. Luke 18:9 says.."trust in themselves that they are righteous". This can easily happen when people think God's will is the same thing as their list of what they want.

I will tell you that a few days later I was handed an apology and asked for forgiveness on the words that had already hurt me. I do forgive. Absolutely, No resolution without forgiveness. No love with out forgiveness. The forgive part is really the easy part for me. The hard part of this for me is the thought and action of this persons righteousness to tell me that the free will that God has given all of us is wrong and the only way into the gates of God's glorious kingdom is this person's way. Hmmm
Religious people have to keep one important thing in mind...that they too are sinners in gods eyes and that Christ died for EVERYONE.

October's Link to the Rest of the Year.

I am so happy that it is October...Really because it just means that we are one step closer to cooler weather here in Naples...Record Highs have been hitting us and when the day is spent at 94 degrees...not even Miles wants to be outside. a few weeks ago we got a little spoiled and had a few cool mornings. Miles and i made it a point to get up even earlier and take our walk...(just in case it would be hotter our usual walk time.) It was SOOOO nice. Miles had an extra bounce in his step and I was so grateful for the longer walk with no humidity. Perfect. Over the summer we walk everyday,but it is to hot....by the time we are at the duck pond down the street, Miles is already tired and lethargic. I am sweaty and angry. We go our normal boring route and have no excitement..but the cooler days because we can move faster and walk further it's all an adventure. We cut through yards in the complex, find new gecko spots, chase the ducks, meet other dogs, try out different walking paths, you know he is the original Indiana Jones or Grissom of pooches. We love the walks and hopefully it will cool soon enough for some longer ones...
October in New England is stunning, also in DC. But i remember walking down Fering Rd. in Hingham, (my home town) on my way to downtown and the trees on either side of the street were like a canopy of colors. Like I was walking under an archway of crisp, gold, red, Terra cotta, burnt sienna and pale browns. It was always breath taking. then walking on 3A along the harbour and looking and looking across it to Worlds End in the fall always made sense. The colors. It's God's canvas..telling us that the nesting months are upon us and he is painting us one last giant painting of HIS brilliance until the new awakening in the spring when the crocuses pop up. Autumn in DC is s brilliant. Walking around Arlington Cemetery is breath taking. One year Mom, Dad, Dan and I went up there together and had a stunning time, we loved the crisp air, the colors and the monuments at that time of year are virtually empty. It's like the National monuments to yourself. We all took a ride to Mount Vernon VA. to walk around George Washington's home. It was stunning also. the trees were so alive and the added bonus was it was Harvest Days while we were there. so down the big hill from Washington's house, was all kinds of festivals for children. Story time with George, candle making, pony rides and much more. It was perfect. Maybe in a few years e can go back with baby.

October is also the START of it all...now on a personal note, it is the start of us knowing what we are having as far as baby is concerned....we know the sex in two weeks. so excited.
But it starts all the Holiday preparations and more. We are kind of losers so we are not big Halloween people. dressing up and going to a party is not really our idea of fun. Sitting home watching the world series is what we like to do... (YUP LOSERS...) but Halloween bleeds right into All Saints Day and then Veteran's Day and then BEFORE Thanksgiving the Christmas carols start on the radio...(to be honest I LOVE Christmas carols...so I don't mind that to much.) We then approach Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays. It's sooo pressureless. You just eat and spend time with family and have fun, but after that, it is balls to the walls with Christmas.

It will be our last Christmas with just Dan and I and Miles...next year will be baby's first Christmas and baby will be about nine months then so it could be fun....

But you know. It's all about October now. I love seeing the decorations and the pumpkins and the costumes and how outrageous things and people are. Creative too. I love the fact that it's a month to put things to sleep and begin nesting. There is no pressure in October. None.

When I think of how big this month really is... and what it leads to...it's as heart warming as Spice Pumpkin and Cinnamon.

So Now We Know....

Well, it's no secret anymore .....not that it ever was really...but I am having a baby. I am having it. I am the condo so I am saying "I" am having it. I will carry it and deliver it. Dan, he is what we call..."The Semper Fidelis" so he steps aside.
At the moment his job is to just do what he does and every so often make supper for me. But I have everything covered.
So far so good. It's all coming together . I am in my 14th week. OFFICIALLY in my 4th month. I have had NO morning sickness, just pure fatigue. Tired all the time. This may pass or it may not, but whatever comes out of this I am pretty excited....Dan is too. This whole thing was a true shock. We (I ) had no idea that I was pregnant. I was never sick...but for some reason God found us fitting to be parents and has given us this baby to raise. We don't know yet if it is a boy or a girl..we will find out in the middle of October. Dan wants a girl and I guess I can honestly say I would like one too, but I will be happy and completely into having a boy too...so whatever God wants for us...We are working on picking names... I would like to stick w/ family names, because they are easy and no one can complain about it..."you can't name a baby this or that " don't like hearing it. I would absolutely name my daughter Lhotse (one of my favorite names...after the Lhotse Face on Mount Everest..but no one would understand... if you TRULY know me you would understand.)
We are discussing how we want to raise the baby too....really working on understanding on what each other thinks about different things....I am NOT interested in being this child's friend...Not even until it's like 30...I am interested in being it's mother. I am not fond of parents who forget and give up on parenting and focus on friendship...you re asking for trouble down the road....
I had my parents to look back on and how they were with my sister and I. I had Molly and Brian and Curt and Becky and Ellen and Ron to show me beautiful marriages and wonderful child rearing.. I look back on those days and can clearly remember how they did it and can gleam from it all. This is My child. Dan and I. We will make up our mind on what to do. I could care less if you agree....I may not agree w/ how you do it, but I would never judge you on it...you do it your way and we'll do it our way.
It's the same w/ being pregnant. Everyone has all this stuff to tell you.... Do this, Do that, I had this, I did that...guess what. everyone is different. Each pregnancy is different. Even if you are having your second or third or fourth or first kid...it's never the same. This is all the beauty of it. I don't take to much advice. In fact I have stoped asking or even listening to some people. If I have a question I save it for the Doctor, or someone who has been in the SAME EXACT POSITION as me...40 and pregnant....I feel this way because I need to experience it. Not you, ME....I am the condo and have no control over my body now. I have given it over... like my life.
I gave it over, and you know what. It's all good. Giving it up and over and no control is way better, than fighting or fidgeting or wondering...I am letting this roll and am SOOOOO happy about being chosen for this child's condo... SO Now We Know....we know we can do this and we are good enough people to have this baby. Now we know....

Winner...

When I was a kid.. I was maybe 12 years old would be safe guess....and I am sure it was a weekend night, which meant mom was working... she suggested that I go to see the Cohasset Youth Theatre Production of "Mary Poppins" she said "the Birmann kid's are in it and Brenda's friend Abby directed it, after Angela will pick you up." So I went.
It was at Cohasset town hall. Not a real stage. The audience sat on the floor, mostly kids and it was a cute local children's production. Micheal Birmann was the bank teller...Tina was the mother (I think) and Brenda was like the assistant director. I don't know if she was even in it.
The Birmann's use to be neighbours of our when we were young. Then they moved to Cohasset, the next town over..to a cool OLD crickity house a stones throw from one of the best beaches in New England. If you don't live there you don't know about it...in fact even those that do live there don't know about it...SO good family friends.. my parents were the three Birmann kids God Parents..you know. They were more my sisters age, but all in all, they were a nice group to be with growing up....
So back to the show....when I got to the play, I bought a ticket and they told me to keep the stub. It had a number on it and there is a drawing during intermission. It was a hand written number so it wasn't like one of these professional ticket stubs with like 25 different numbers on it. This was a low budget youth production and it was good. I find a place to cop a squat on the floor and the show started.... Very entertaining I must say. I was there by myself. I knew no one, on the floor, only in the cast, so I enjoyed it. During intermission they had the drawing...Brenda and Abby stood upfront and showed the prized. there may have been five or six and they were nothing special to the average Joe, but to the kids it was heaven... LARGE Candy bars. the big ones. the jumbo size ones. back then they could have cost, like $1.50 which to a child candy purchaser THAT was a lot of money (since regular candy bars were like 5 cents or 10 cents)
SO they called numbers and kids got up and got their candy, and to my surprise. Abby called my number.. I was shocked. I got up and Brenda saw it was me and said "yeah, Missy." It was great. I was sooo excited, it was a Nestle Crunch Bar. Naturally I opened it during the second part of the show and shared it with a few kids around me....but I won something..it was great...

The other day, I think I had a gross lunch. It really didn't settle to well with me, so I was laying in bed trying to pass the nausea w/o acting on the nausea...flipping channels waiting for Oprah to come on and my phone rang. a New York number, so I was sure it was the car insurance place trying to sell me road side assistance AGAIN....
"hello."
"Hi, I am looking for Missy Williams.." her voice was very pleasant...and since she asked for 'Missy' I thought it was someone that my sister gave my name to to do her nails....
"This is Missy."
"Hi Missy, my name is Mary Lenore from Bop Star Baby. Your name was given to me from 'Pregnancy & Newborn magazine' and you won the great gift.. a Bop Star Baby basket...."
"I won the gift basket? Really...?"
"yes, I am the ........" and she went on. we had such a nice conversation. Well long story LONGER.. but Once I got off the phone w/ her I looked in august issue and saw that the gift basket is worth over $800. of gifts. I also checked her web site and she is the lady that designs baskets for the stars babies...This is a great gift. a car seat and much much more... She said she likes to personalize the baskets so I will call her back in Oct when we find out what we are having,and then she will send it along.
You know what... my husband was SOOOOO excited. We don't have a lot or want a lot. We just want this baby that is growing in my belly. We are blessed to have this winning. very blessed.
I was SOOO excited.....It was like winning a Nestle Crunch Candy Bar. It's been years since that play and that candy bar, but I remember the feeling of winning.....Sure I won some swim races and track races and softball games.
But it's always the unexpected win that feels the best...A candy bar or a baby gift basket...they were both unexpected wins....a winner...

Lots To Catch Up On...

So it has been a while since I posted...I will catch you up on some things that have been on my mind lately.....
I am coloring my hair as we speak. I am at the point of sitting blogging while the hair color sets into my scalp... my full head of hair is twisted on top of my head in a pin knot with smelly hair color. Dark Brown has been my color of choice. As i approach 40 this upcoming weekend, the grey in my hair is endless...I mean endless... I would LOVE to be all grey... yes I would.. I think it is beautiful... But my hair is long and it would take a long time to grow grey... which reminds me I am also going to cut my hair soon...
SO I let the hair color sink in while I blog.

1. I am over Jon and Kate plus 8. I am over the nonsense. I am OVER her hair style, Come on cut it or grow it. But no more. I wonder is she THAT famous that she needs two body guards?
But really enough already, it's like Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton...ENOUGH..

2. I don't care WHO you are but there is always some kind of dysfunction in your family. Yes there is and if you don't want to admit it then that's fine, but just know others see it...I have this cousin, growing up who really thought he was WAY better than his family. He was well educated. Harvard educated actually.(which is great, I love Harvard..dabbled there a little myself) and when we would have family holidays and dinners or celebrations, he pouted because he did not want to be there. He hated being with his family. He as beyond them. He married a nice educated woman and they had two kids.They would come to family parties but didn't like it and he would sit alone and make it known that he wanted nothing to do with the low life's of the family...which was all the rest of us...Whatever. Now I have not seen this person in years... I mean Years.. and it's fine, but I had the same experience a few weeks ago...not with him but someone else....You know what. If you don't want to be a part of the family ....then don't. Then just don't come. Because sooner or later you will stop being asked to participate And according to you that is fine... I will share one last comment on this topic though.. My oldest brother was killed in a car accident in 1976...It's been thirty some odd years since he passed, and you know what
he's gone. I have wished for thirty some odd years that I would do ANYTHING to have two minutes in the arms of my brother. When they are gone, they are gone... no getting them back.

3. Ask my opinion and I will tell you EXACTLY how I feel. I am now 40, it is my rite of passage to be honest and I will. If you disagree with me, that is fine. I don't care...but don't be offended with me or anyone else who gives you an honest opinion and it's not what you want to hear. You asked an OPINION, which we are all entitled to have and that's it.....When I ask people and they don't agree with me, it's fine, I don't explain or defend myself unless they want me to, but I am not hurt. I stepped into it by asking. I am learning from that person...(read my Through The Door blog) Open yourself up to friends, family and others who will not always agree...it's the way it is. You choose your life and it's fine with me, and I choose mine. You may not agree, but all of these things are what makes the world go around. Remember God made us in his own image...and look how different we are. Love that...

4.I bought the movie 'Pretty in Pink' today at wal mart for 5 bucks. LOVE this movie...Brat pack stuff you cannot beat. I remember the first time I saw it too. I really was not crazy about it. I was dating Chris Ricci, my first (serious) boyfriend and we saw the movie. We saw a lot of people from school there too, like Jamie O'Neil and Kendra something...her sister. I remember after I stated I didn't like it. But I love it and got use to it as time went on. In fact, my junior prom, I took TD Carpenter and he dressed like Duckie Dale from the movie. That was cool. If it were on TV, I would put the clicker down and watch the movie. Perfectly produces high school growing pains. EVERYONE can relate.

5. I took the Bravotv.com quiz on what New Jersey housewife I was. My friend at work told me to take it. She was Caroline...I could have guessed for her. She is far more matriarchal than I... My result was that I was Jaceline. Eh okay w/ that. As long as I was not Danielle. My husband wanted to know why I was not the sexy hot tempered Italian Teresa...and I said I didn't like to shop... Love NJ housewives cannot wait to see the reunion show tonight and Thursday...

6.Glad to see RUNS HOUSE back on tv. For all of you christian friends and family out there, You should watch this show. It may not be like the Duggers (who I adore) but MTV really can come up with a famous well balanced family and put them on TV. Don't overlook Rev Run and his messages. It's all good and centered around GOD...
I think I am done.

Junkie...

This past Sunday the Tony Awards aired on TV. I LOVE live musical theatre. To me it doesn't get much better than a brilliant Broadway voice that can bring me to the brink of tears. Usually a mans voice.
I grew up with an appreciation of musical theatre. It is how I spent my jr.high and high school stints, as well as my summers in Hingham...Different plays and companies. I was always had a supporting roll. I liked that. Never really wanted the lime lite. I liked back stage too. I would have loved to learn the real way to direct a musical from my high school teacher. The man had nothing but brilliance for choosing the right musical for the talent of the year.
Summer Theatre was also fun. It was a way of spending the summer screwing around with out getting into trouble. The plays and people, the fun we would have. Then when you were asked to work on the Adult shows....you know the plays that only two teens were cast in and the rest were all twenty something plus talent...this was serious business too...these guys in their mind WERE Broadway material and could not understand why they could not make it in the Big Apple...THAT was brilliant because of the cat fights, and how this person should not have this role and that person can't sing or dance as well as I can and blah...but when a drama club member was asked to work backstage on the plays, it WAS big time. You were someone...
Yeah, so each year a handful of us would work back stage and have a great time, cause now we were hanging with the biggies.....
. I loved drama in High school though. President of the Drama club my senior year. Thespian Society troupe #1982 and for some strange reason I was awarded Best Female Thespian...hmmm but all in all, the Drama Club and it's people is what kept me going in High School...
I did not pursue Drama or Theatre after high School. I traveled with Up With People for a year in 1989. That was more good will ambassador stuff and less, much less theatre stuff. So throughout the years I did try to keep up on this musical and that one. Living in Boston it was easy...living in DC was easy too, cause lots of show came and went. But living in Naples, there really is not much around. When shows come here, they are REALLY expensive. The stage at the Phil is so small that you don't get the full effect and the shows stay for three days. They don't camp out like in the bigger cities. Naples doesn't give people a chance to scrape up the money yo see a show...but that's okay
It's why I have the Tony Awards. Every year I watch a small portion of it, the opening numbers and then move on the Gene Simmons Family Jewels, but I get a chance to see and hear what is a new on Broadway. I get a chance tos ee Angela Landsbury win Another Tony for yet another brilliant piece of work. I get to see more and more "famous"people work on stage and develop themselves as "ACTORS" eight shows a week...it's not as easy as TV or movies. I get to see..people living their dream and doing EXACTLY what they love to do...
Yeah, I am still a theatre Junkie...