Dear Reader:

I had another epiphany yesterday, after all our recent discussion on taking time to drink in segmented “swallows” of knowledge consistently, while not wasting the precious waters of knowledge by allowing it to overflow…with nowhere to go.

I am, by nature, a “big picture” person. Once I have an image of an idea and how it needs to be played out to fruition I am ready to go into attack mode and get it done. I am not a “detail” person…so I do better when I team up with someone who is…providing the best of both strengths.

Perhaps that is why I find it frustrating some times to be ‘kept in the dark’ over a problem or situation from which I can’t find a conclusion.

Psalm 119:105 says… “His Word will light our path.”

It has just recently dawned on me that there is a reason we aren’t born with a map attached to us. Or perhaps directions on how to best approach each path we encounter through life…so we can plan ahead.

God doesn’t want us planning ahead. I know you organized personalities are having a tough time with this thought…and the disappearance of my “Big Picture” approach to life is equally intimidating. It’s time for us to look at life and God’s lantern differently.

This concept of living life through un-chartered terrains is scary. It is so much easier to follow other people’s advice. But cheer up…God is always there, with the lantern, to show us the next step…just not the whole journey!

It came to me, recently, that I have never experienced the feeling that my life’s blueprint is completely drawn up. I believe that each of our unique life blueprints are mobile…subject to change as surely as the wind. We are only given the next step in the blueprint…but never the finished product…because we are building our eternal home as we go.

Cheri Fuller (Trading Worry for Wonder) says in her book:

“God has planned things for you and me to do-ahead of time, before we ever thought about them! I believe there are songs in heaven God is still looking for someone to write, stories to tell that He wants told, and help provided for His children who need us…with willing vessels to accomplish these goals on earth.”

With this in mind…it dawned on me that God doesn’t have to always hold the lantern…we are sometimes chosen to light the path for another in His place and in His name…and/or sometimes another person, someone we know or a complete stranger, becomes our lantern-holder. (I love this quote above.)

Ever time I get a little down about any situation that is on-going and just doesn’t seem to want to go away…I like to remember this message.

So until tomorrow…I have decided that I will pretend that I am building the home of my dreams and that each day I get to put something in it that I love…the only criteria, however, is that it must make me happy…so when I walk into a room or by a piece of furniture or an object on a table…I smile.

I don’t need a blueprint…I have one. After all, “There is no way to happiness…Happiness IS the way.” (Thich Nhat Hanh)

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Unfortunately the flu bug has now hit the Turner family. Little Jakie has it…and John isn’t feeling good either. I sent him this picture of the two of them during the snow-in a few weeks ago…to remind John that soon they will be back on top together again.

Tigger decided to show his male alpha dog approval of Minnie Mouse’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.