I'm Official

I've recently joined the Okie Bloggers, as you can see to your left, and I somehow feel more official now.

I've blogged about many things during my time with a blog. Gators, kids, marriage, alzheimers, boyscouts, faith and just stuff. I blog to put my thoughts about things somewhere I can find them. If you have read them along the way, that's the bonus for me.

I named my blog Ramblings of a creative mind unleashed because I am sort of random. I have often said I have a trivial mind, I know little bits about a lot of things. Enough to be dangerous so I've heard. :-)

Anyway...today's randomness is laughter. I love a good laugh. I follow The Pioneer Woman mostly because she makes me laugh. She lives her life with remarkable humor and joy. I enjoy that a great deal.

I also enjoy my friends Dwayne and Barb. They like to laugh, a lot! We play cards monthly and I never leave their company without at least one good guffaw! Here they are...


My friend Ellen is also a favorite to have a giggle with. The first time her daughter-in-law met me, we were so caught in the throws of laughter, she thought we were drunk. We weren't. We don't need to be...although being a little tired does help, we just get funnier and funnier. :-)

So here's my advice today -- go have a good laugh! Laughter is the Best Medicine according to Reader's Digest and to me. Life is tough and hard and God has given us the gift of laughter as a release. Give yourself the gift of laughter today. If you can't find it yourself, maybe this will help, my GIFT to you.

peace.

Memory Walk 2009

So we went, we walked and we'll remember. I think the most overwhelming aspect of the walk was not the number of people (over 700), or the music or activities...it was one woman's story.

Maria's family suffers from familial alzheimer's. Her grandmother died of it when she was in her 20's, she never knew her grandmother without it. Maria's mom has it and her 17 year old son has never known his grandmother without it. 3 of her aunts and 3 of her uncles have it. Out of Maria's grandmother's 13 children, that makes 7 children with alzheimer's. Maria's family begins showing symptoms in their late 40's or early 50's. Maria looks to be around 40.

As I listened to her story, I felt such sorrow for this family's legacy. As devastated as my sister and I have been by alzheimer's dad's slip into oblivion, we have no concept of the curse this family lives under.

Looking at everything, here is where I come back to. God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good. He has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams and our biggest hopes. He has supported us, provided for us, given us peace that passes all understanding. I can't fully explain the hope that resides in me but I know where my hope comes from. And I am truly grateful. I cannot imagine living this life without the abiding presence of my Savior, my Creator.

Thank you for supporting me in your thoughts, your prayers, with your flowers and the names of your loved ones, and with your money.

I am more determined than ever to raise the awareness of people about this devastating disease. Maria's family deserves a new heritage.

peace.

From my friend, Ellen

This post was written by my dear friend, Ellen. Her mother also lives with alzheimer's. We are making this journey together, hand in hand, heart to heart. We understand each other and our stories are similar.

Just click on the title above and I hope you are touched by her post. I was.

peace.

the Voice of Truth

I have always loved "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns. I think in many ways, it's been my mantra in life. I am a self-proclaimed Pollyanna. I really do believe God is in control and things will work themselves out, regardless of the voices I hear.

Recently, it's been a little more difficult, but I still believe none-the-less.

In Isaiah 43:2 it says "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

It's comforting to know God is always at work on my behalf, but did you see the "through" part? God will be with me WHILE I'm passing through the water. He promises the river will not sweep OVER me and I pass through. He says when I'm WALKING through the fire, I won't be burned.

Well, the good news is I've been going through it. The better news is I have known each and every moment that God is with me. He is my good shepherd, my comfort, my provider, my strong tower. He is my peace in chaos, my salve when I feel wounded and my support.

Here are the song lyrics:

Oh,what I would do to have
the kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is,
And he's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name
and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
time and time again
"Boy, you'll never win,
you'll never win."

But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth

Oh, what I would do
to have the kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound
of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out
my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
time and time again
"Boy you'll never win,
you'll never win."

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth

But the stone was just the right size
to put the giant on the ground
and the waves they don't seem so high
from on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
singing over me

But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
The Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me (calling out to me)
I will choose to listen and believe (I will choose to listen and believe)
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth

I will listen and believe
I will listen and believe the Voice of truth
I will listen and believe
'Cause Jesus you are the Voice of truth
And I will listen to you.. oh you are the Voice of truth

So I'm listening...

peace.

2 Weeks from Today

I'll be doing something I've never done before. Something that is so exciting, a little scary and I'll need help accomplishing.

I'm walking in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk. And no, I won't need help walking. :-)

If you have read this blog for long, you know my dad has alzheimers. You can read more about him here.

You may have also read about me, my sister and our families doing the walk here.

If you have, would you consider supporting us? Would you give a little bit of money to help end this life stealing, family burdening, horrible-awful-no good-very bad disease?

I cannot fully express our greatfulness. If alzheimer's has touched someone you know, you understand.

One more thing, if alzheimer's has touched your life or someone you know, tell me their name, I'll make them a flower, and I'll wear it while I'll walk. I'll wear it and we'll all say together that it's time to end this plague. Post a comment here or email me at gr8fulg(at)gmail.com.

Thanks again for your support!

peace.

I love Oklahoma

I was born here and for most of my life, I've lived here. I got married in Oklahoma and have raised my family here, too.

It is so exciting to me to see the rejuvenation of our city. Bricktown, MidTown, and Downtown are once again full of people, life, music, art and great food. We need more things to fully flesh out the area, but we're working on it.

I sometimes grow weary and a little impatient with people who complain about the short-comings in OK. Have you been to the OKC Museum of Art, Bricktown, Civic Center Music Hall, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, IAO Gallery, [Artspace]at Untitled, the Paseo? And that's just the beginning!!

And foodies? Here ya go! Eat Local in OKC

I remember as a child, not going to Downtown. It was dark and lonely down there. A trip to the Civic Center was an occassion for conversations about safety, stay by me and walk quickly.

But we're doin' fine Oklahoma. We taken the challenge and we're seeing the benefits. For those of you who don't know about us, we are a strong, resilient, kind, generous, funny group of folks. We are educated, refined, redneck, cowboy, ballerinas, orchestral musicians, professors, football players and so much more.

The waving wheat still smells sweet but so does the scent of renewal and revitalization.

I'm proud to be an Oklahoman. We're not New York or Washington DC or Austin or anywhere else...but we're good and we're getting better. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. We know we belong to the land and the land we belong to is grand!

peace.

Looking at Life

My life has been defined by so many stages.

I was a kid for a while. I was a teenager, but only until 16.

My parents divorced, we moved to another state and my mom and I became roommates, sharing the responsibilities, bills and raising of my 11 year old sister. I ceased being a kid and quickly became an adult working 35 hours a week and finishing high school. We survived.

I went to college at 18, married at 19, became a mom at 20. I was then a wife and mom. Staying at home when many women were "having it all, being it all". At 22, I had my second daughter and life was defined.

My children are now 22 and 25. I am now an empty-nester. I work full-time. I'm a wife. I'm an aunt, sister, daughter and care-taker of my alzheimers dad. Some day I maybe a mother-in-law, maybe a grandmother.

But most of all, I'm just me. The things in my life and throughout my life God has used to shape me. I haven't always liked me, but I'm liking me more than ever. I've been given so much, filled with so much, and I'm really glad I'm at the point of life that I enjoy sharing what I have to offer. I really do love my life. It's not always pretty, but it's mine.

I'll keep it and I'll be me. Are you glad you are you?

peace.

Couldn't have said it better...

Guest post from my sister Jenny...

My Dad, Jim Pitts lives with advanced Alzheimers.
3 months ago we had to move him into a fulltime nursing care facility. My sister and I assist his nursing home in caring for him and providing for him. Our families together are walking in honor of who he is and who he was, not who he has become because of this horrible disease.

We are determined to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. By participating in the 2009 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk®, My family is committed to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer research, care and support. Michael, myself, Brandon and Emily hope to raise at least $100.00 each to help.

Currently more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, and 78 million baby boomers are at risk – unless we find a way to change the course of the disease.

I want to do my part to fight this disease, but I need to ask for your support! Please make a donation to help the Alzheimer's Association advance research into prevention, treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's. For the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide.

On behalf of myself, my family and the millions of Americans who are living with this disease, thank you for supporting my efforts. We're on the MOVE to end Alzheimer’s!

Here are the links to our fundraising pages, we'd love your help! Send us a flower to wear too! Click here for flower info.

Jenny's Page

Glynis' page