T-H-A-N-K-S...Truly Grateful

Dear Friends, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy when I consider how very good God has been to me this year... True, this year has been one of unbelievable heartache and sorrow, but also an unprecedented year in the number of opportunities made available by God's opening doors for me to minister as both a counselor and a friend. It hasn't always been this way...I've dislocated my shoulder (metaphorically speaking) trying to push open doors God never intended for me to open. I have learned (in my tender years) it's MUCH better to wait for Him to open them, then step through, fearless and strong, knowing that His will and His purposes are being served. Timing...wow...it really DOES make a HUGE difference!

I do not want this time of thanks giving to pass without my saying "Thank You" to those of you who intentionally visit this blog for inspiration, ideas and mild entertainment. I have received many compliments and kind feedback from you, my readers, encouraging me to keep up with the bloggy goodness. And so I shall...Look for a different look in the new year...same "bat channel" same "bat time" (sorry, TV flashback)

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing you are enriched by him, in all words, and in all knowledge;”
(1 Corinthians 1:4-5)

Stay tuned...and keep on finding ways to create, design and worship by AltAring Art!

Hi Honey, I'm Hooooooooooooome!

I am back from the AACC conference and wow...does my brain hurt! I walked my legs to stubs and overtaxed my mental faculties the entire 4 days...but learning is SO MUCH FUN!!!

Anyway, two of my classes were taught by medical doctors, one a neurosurgeon and the other a psychiatrist. They showed images (scans) of the brain after a period of depression, alcoholism, ADHD, caffeine...WOW...what a MESS! They then explained the connection between neurological activity (or the lack thereof) and extended, untreated mental illness. And THEN (for free) they threw in a brain that was a heavy caffeine drinker and compared it to a healthy brain. OH MY GOODNESS. He said that the brain is 80-85% water and caffeine (as everyone knows) DEHYDRATES it and THEN it begins to misfire. The picture was truly a shriveled little mess...see more examples of these brain scan images at Dr. Amen's website.

SOooooooo, guess who's sworn off caffeine? Yes, it's true (COLLECTIVE GASPS HEARD FROM MY READERS) *I* the solidly sworn 42 oz. bucket-o-Coke drinker shall seek to give up the foul drug in an effort to restore my brain to a healthy plumpness. So water it is.

So, a final farewell to coffee...homage to my drug of choice...I submit to you the following:

FIND OF THE DAY...AND MORE!

Greetings!

Just a quick note to say "thank you" to all of you who said a prayer for me during my recent "near death experience." Needless to say, I'm doing MUCH better...I am vertical and able to take in some nourishment. A glowing report after the horrendous week I've had. But I digress.

Today (at 8 a.m.) I leave for Nashville, Tennessee and the AACC World Conference.

AACC is the American Association of Christian Counselors. It is a 4 day "learnfest" with hundreds of workshops and a veritable "Who's Who" in the world of Christian counseling and authordom. 10,000 Christian counselors are expected to attend! I am SO looking forward to it...I have needed a "shot in the arm" in regard to my counseling for awhile now. I am investigating the prospect of internet counseling...Stay tuned for more information when I get back..

MEANWHILE, please feel free to peruse the images in the slideshow...you MAY see some familiar faces. Also, look for recurring themes...

And oh, my "find-of-the-day":

How completely FAB is this? It's a hand thrown communion set..gives a whole new meaning to"little brown jug" doesn't it? A friend of mine found such a set on her doorstep...handsomely packaged in a basket. ALthough it's not terribly Franciscan of me, I admit I am utterly GREEN with envy.

Oh, by the way! I have scanned and will download my AltAred Book collection soon.