Dear Reader:

Isn’t the greatest lesson in life, perhaps, learning that we always had the secret to our own success deep within us…we had the power to “move mountains” as we go on our way?

The irony of life is that we always think that power is located somewhere else or in someone else…we always look outward when we should be looking inward.

Think about the English expression: “To commit something to memory is to know it by heart.” What we are recognizing is the acknowledgment that memories are kept in the heart, not the head.” 

And it is in these deep-seeded ancient memories that the gift of success and fulfillment was given to us by the scripture of Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”

Each of us has been given the power to achieve remarkable things…but only if we recognize that power/talent within us and use it for others to benefit their lives.

This is only possible if we believe that we have this power to begin with…that God has given us each an unique gift to use for His Glory.

We only get off track when, like Thomas, we let doubt rule the day instead of faith. And isn’t that the greatest challenge that faces us each and every day?

I remember reading excerpts from this book (Embracing Uncertainty) years ago and I am glad I came upon it again…because I definitely need renewal lessons.

In order to find fulfillment during our time on earth we have to re-perceive the future…not as empty but as open to to possibilities and opportunities to demonstrate our strengths and powers.

A new day should not be looked upon with dread and trepidation but with curiosity, wonder, and delight.

This anecdote in Jeffer’s book is one of my favorites. “The Upside Down Teacups”

“I was once told that certain spiritual masters in Tibet used to set
their teacups upside down before they went to bed each night as a
reminder that all life was impermanent. And then, when they awoke each
morning, they turned their teacups right side up again with the happy
thought, ‘I’m still here!’ This simple gesture was a wonderful reminder to celebrate every moment of the day.“–Susan Jeffers

Today when I started this blog…I realized that I was now at 1002 stories since re-starting the blog back on November 25, 2014….but the first time it happened it was really cause for celebration…I had just out-told the fictitious Scheherazade, storyteller of  1001 Arabian Nights by one blog post! That date was May 29, 2013!

It was an emotional victory since when I started the contest on August 31, 2010 I had no guarantee that I would even be around long enough to finish the contest. Yet there I was and now with a total of 2, 570 blog posts to my name…here I still am.

I am one of millions of “God’s poster children”  embracing uncertainty while living with “little c” monthly… check-up to check-up. My on-going condition has taught me faith and for that I am forever grateful!

Tomorrow’s blog will take us back to the Scheherazade Victory Celebration at the house where several of you came and joined in for the party making it so special.

Walsh learned a lesson yesterday too about faith. As he and Mollie talked and texted back and forth over the airport situation and little Lachlan….a very uncertain stage of this drama unfolded.

Lachlan’s doctors (two) gave Mollie the “Okay” she needed to finish out the flight back to Charleston…IF…she and the boys could get transferred to the last flight leaving. She  called the reservation number the airlines gave her but she told Walsh that she had been on the phone for twenty minutes on hold…and didn’t know what to do.

Walsh (texted me later) to say that he told Mollie to “brave it, head back to the airport, and no airline clerk with a pulse could tell her no, once they heard her story.” 

Almost immediately after that text…I finally got the text we had all been praying for…“Prayers answered!!!They got on the 6 pm flight!”

My response was : “I feel like I can breathe again! Hallelujah!”

We have all heard the old tried and true expression: “Look before you leap” but reality is we don’t always have the luxury of being able to see the future before we leap….in this case the drive back to the airport was a ‘leap of faith’ and the saying ” Leap and the net will appear” probably best defines what happened.

So until tomorrow: As the brilliant comedian, Gilda Radner, said after discovering she had a terminal cancer:

“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.  Delicious Ambiguity.”

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Nancyjean Nettles shared in all the solar eclipse fun, creative desserts by making an “Eclipse Key Lime Torte” while adding chocolate glaze to “make it eclipse worthy!” (To heck with eclipse worthy…my mouth is watering for it….yummy!!!)

Anne and her friend, Cheryl, dropped by to see the garden right before the downpour yesterday.

While we were in the back yard Stephanie appeared with the bags of Clemson/Commemorative cokes dressed in the right color…purple! Stephanie…you and your mom, Greta, are beyond unbelievable….I love you both!

The eclipse was equally exciting for children and pets alike: