"Turmoil"

What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow
Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man, You cannot say, or guess, 

for you know only A  heap of broken images, where the sun beats,
And the dead tree gives no shelter,the cricket no relief, And the 

dry stone no sound of water. Only There is shadow under this red rock, 

(Come in under the shadow of this red rock),
And I will show you something different from either
Your shadow at morning striding behind you
Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you;
I will show you fear in a handful of dust.

T.S. Eliot 

Secret Grace

 I can understand for this moment
whatever is happening in my life

However heavy my heart feels,
or how difficult the trials may be
I know I can keep on believing,
the myriad that make up

my thoughts and dreams.
I know darkness will fade into morning,
and with this dawn a new day, too.

I understand that our life is an empty canvas

waiting to be drawn out.
I know that we mold, create and shape our life.

With our faith, we trust, to be born again.
I try to lead by example, knowing
  that my smile merely brightens a day for others, 

while their reaction brings my heart closer to home.
I hope that my darkness is hidden from the rear view
  and our pain is halved by sharing the same feeling 

that others endure throughout a lifetime of grace.

JR 8/17

Man that canvas is large.

I'm sure it will look good in your house Steve.

By the way Nick...

take a break from snowboarding and

traveling the world

and come pick up your painting.

They look good together next to each other, don't they?

It's all come Full Circle.

Today was a good day.

It was better than good...

It was Awesome!

I have waited a long time in my profession

to show them what I'm worth.

Today I received a call while at work,

from a principal recommending me for her

open third grade position.

I'm ecstatic to say the least. 

I've had people tell me that I will eventually

have the right things go the right way in my life.

In the past month, I have come to terms with disappointment.

I said goodbye to people that molded my life.

Maybe it was that fresh start that I needed to say goodbye to the 

negative outlying factors that I've dealt with.

Maybe one needs to hit rock bottom before they can 

pick them self up off of the ground and make strides 

within their own soul. I feel that time is now for me.

Here is to better and brighter days.

Thoughts.

A New Day

I believe everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they go right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

Grace filled Tragedy

The last 20 years have brought me many things.

Perspective.

Maturity.

Growth.

Adoration.

Humility.

Belief.

Wisdom.

Thankfulness.

These 20 years have been very difficult for me.

Learning how to walk.

Training myself to write.

Reteaching my brain how to coerce with others.

Keeping my emotions intact during my ups and downs.

But throughout these 20 years I have earned 

Grace.

Patience.

Gratefulness.

Friendship.

So I guess troubling times can turn into a blessing.

I never asked for this long, difficult walk.

I don't think that anyone ever really does.

I'm appreciative of my supportive family.

My wonderful Friends

Anyone that has helped me throughout these last 20 years.

I know it's been a long time

but I feel like August 8, 1991

was just like yesterday.

Thankful.

Blessed.

Wanting more.