Best Birthday Ever (an @donmilleris #storyline testimony)

I first heard about the Storyline Conference (http://donmilleris.com/conference) in January after just starting to follow Donald Miller’s blog in December. With his five books having had a profound effect on my faith and on my life, his conference intrigued me. In February and March, I started telling people about it and how much I wanted to go and adding it to all my friends’, families’ and my church’s prayer lists. Things started to fall into place as my sister agreed to watch my kids and I had a few vacation days left at work that had to be taken before July. By April, I just really felt like I was going but I still had no idea where the money was going to come from.

Then one time as I wrote a comment (to someone else’s comment) on Don’s blog about why I wanted to go and that I was trying to get my funds together. Long story short, total strangers ended up buying my plane ticket for me and I purchased my conference ticket with a little extra money I had left over from my tax return. Various people tried to figure out a free or low cost solution for my lodging but nothing worked out so I ended up booking a small suite at the Mark Spencer as the standard rooms were booked. I did get a nice discount due to the conference so it ended up costing less than a smaller room at other local hotels and came with complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea & cookies, and an early evening wine & cheese. Also, Lori Ventola, the lady who won the first conference’s contest, had a change of plans and stayed with me and was able to give me a little towards the room. I thought someone had paid for the room because when I checked in, there was a hold for the amount put on my bank card and when I checked out I received a paid receipt. For three days afterward the hold was gone and the money was still in my account. I even called the hotel and they said that it was paid so I just assumed the Lord was continuing to bless me but unfortunately the charge showed up on Saturday and the money was gone.

Another reason I wanted to go was the conference was that it was happening on my birthday and I hadn’t had a real vacation in soooo long. I was able to go a couple days ahead so I could explore the city of Portland , OR for the first time. All the arrangements just seem to fall into place effortlessly for me including purchasing a few new clothes for the trip for unbelievable prices and getting my hair and nails done. Things I probably would not have done for myself even for my birthday. I was also mostly packed ahead of time (something I’m usually doing in a panic just hours before leaving). This, along with the things that took place just flowed and felt like little winks from God (if you’re familiar with these) that He loves me and I am special.

The flights were long but on time and trouble free. I’ve flown a couple dozen times over the past 25 years and my name has never been called at the airport. Right before boarding on my first flight, my name was called and I got instantly sick thinking something happened to my kids. As it turned out, they had a few empty seats on that flight and had chosen to give me a better seat (an aisle seat closer to the front). Next, right before the second flight, my name was called again and I felt like I was about to be punked or something (my name being called twice in one day and never before in my life!). This time I was asked if I would trade seats with a mom (and infant in tow) who had not been able to book seats next to her two young daughters. This was something I was more than happy to do having been in the situation a couple times before myself.

I arrived at my hotel early that Saturday afternoon and thankfully my room was ready so I went up, put my things away, freshened up, and came down for complimentary tea & cookies. It was at this time that I received a call from Lori (as we had communicated a couple times before this) that she would like to take me up on my offer to stay in my room with me. We had dinner together and caught some glimpses of a parade that was going on nearby.

It was wonderful getting to know Lori and the wonderful ministry that she started (http://www.plumfieldlearning.com). We enjoyed times together and apart throughout my time in Portland. The next day we visited the Imago Dei church. I thoroughly enjoyed the worship, communion time (with real wine), and message about being a pearl to Jesus and will we allow Him to be a pearl to us. Then Lori went off on her own and I visited the Chinese Gardens and picked up trinkets for my daughter, son, and sister. Next I headed to the Portland Art Museum and had a charming conversation with a young stranger on the train. I had time for a quick lunch in a café across from the museum so I could collect my thoughts and catch up with email, Twitter and Facebook. The Portland Art Museum was quite a maze to navigate but some interesting pieces. Thanks to Bank of America, my entry to the Chinese Gardens and the Portland Art Museum were free!! I ended the day by visiting the famous Powell’s bookstore.

Monday was my birthday and it started out a bit blue. The weather had been (unusually) beautiful on Saturday and Sunday but rains and a bit cooler weather were starting to come. Laundry needed to be done and Lori had other plans so I thought I’d be a bit bored or lonely before the conference began in the afternoon. Yet again, God laid another lady, Helen Ryde, in my path and we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at PF Changs and I had a delicious piece of flourless chocolate cake drizzled with raspberry sauce and berries for my birthday cake. Then the conference began in early evening and concluded with a rough cut viewing of the Blue Like Jazz Movie (while the rest of you only get to see the trailer!!) set you be released in spring 2012. During intermission before the movie I got a chance to meet the wonderful couple that paid for my plane ticket. I also noticed that I seemed to be coming down with a cold and losing my voice.

By the next morning my cold was pretty miserable and I headed to the pharmacy. Learning that they don’t sell my cold medicine without a prescription in the state of Oregon, I settled for another that helped some but unfortunately made me extremely sleepy. I was fighting to stay awake during the rest of the conference so that took a little away from the experience. I had wanted to speak with Don for two minutes to explain the significance of the book I was having him sign but I was so drowsy and doped up from the medicine, I could barely get something like “nice to meet you” out. It was probably just as well as I didn’t have the exact copy I wanted signed anyway…

On my second visit to a church I just started attending, I was given a copy of “Searching for God Knows What” by the pastor. It became the reason I couldn’t leave that new church, The Woo (http://thewoo.org/about); saved my faith in Christianity; and heavily influenced my reading over the next year. I had sent a dear friend a few excerpts and he was mesmerized by them so I reread the book putting stars next to things that had special meaning to me. Then I wrote a heartfelt inscription and sent it to him. He read it and was deeply touched. Once I had my plane ticket, I asked him to mail it back to me so that I could have Don Miller sign that copy as that was the one that had special meaning for me in my renewed sense of faith and moments shared with a dear friend. In a comedy of error, he sent it addressed to my maiden name. It just so happens that my sister-in-law has the same first name as me and lives in the same building as I do; so even though it had my apartment number, it ended up in her mailbox. I was so disappointed as I finished packing and didn’t have my book thinking that it had been lost in the mail forever all the while she was reading it with no idea where it had come from. It was finally figured out when she started discussing the book with my sister who knew that I had been waiting for it to arrive; however, I was already in Portland and it wouldn’t have gotten to me in time if forwarded. I guess God truly does work in mysterious ways. I wouldn’t have thought to give her the book to read and she might not have taken the time to read it without the added intrigue of how it arrived to her. The final blessing was reading the touching note that my friend had written to me once I got the book back. And all is well, Don signed another copy I had picked up at Imago Dei and I hope to pass that copy along as a blessing as well. Then again, maybe I’ll auction it off on eBay to start up a Mentoring Program that is much needed in my home of Worcester, MA.

Three Must Reads Before You Die

My life has gone through many twists and turns over the years and one of the major ones came last year. I was on the brink of losing my faith (or more like losing faith in my faith). I didn’t really stop believing in God, but I had become disgusted and disappointed with life and what I was expecting as a person who believed in God. But Jesus wouldn’t let me go and led me to the people, places, and most of all BOOKS!!!! that I needed to get me through. Here they are...

I just finished reading “Permission to Speak Freely” by Anne Jackson. This is must read number one. It talks about what you are scared to talk about in religious circles. Having been one of those mask-wearing Stepford-like church goers scared to confess anything was wrong with my life, this book was a refreshing and freeing experience. Although I had come to this realization and began living this way a few years ago, it was nice to see in print what every person should have – a safe place to express what’s wrong with arms of help instead of speeches of reproach. (I wasn’t just fearful of being embarrassed, I was fearful of not being part of the church – the forced misrepresentation that once you are saved, you don’t experience downfalls or sin ever again.) This is a short book but it took me a couple of weeks to read. I could only digest a couple pages at a time – some from relief, some with contemplation, and others with sheer weeping for those who I know need this so badly and my own memories of times past.

Must read number two is a book I read a few months ago, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller. (His book “Searching for God Knows What” was pivotal in the new turn my life started taking a year ago.) From his own experience, he explains that you can look at your life and figure out if you’re living your life (your own personal story) in the way that you want or would if you could (should?). It’s not a self-help book; it’s more like a “wake up!” book. Unlike Anne’s book, this one I read in one big gulp (over two days) which seems to be the general consensus of those who have read the book. I really have to read it again and soon.

Yes, they are both life changing books. So why this order? Because the first one will bring healing and the second one hope; you’ll do better with hope once you deal with your crap and the crap that’s been thrown at you in your life. Which brings me to the third …

The Bible (of course!) – after you read the first two, read the Bible. If you’ve never read it before, you may be pleasantly surprised as to what it says -- and doesn’t. If you’ve read it a thousand times, read it again after these two and I guarantee it will be different this time around. Does it matter what version? No, that is a personal preference. I know some diehard KJV lovers and there seems to be a new version out every year lately but you may want to consider one that has more plain modern English – a personal favorite is the NLT but I haven’t perused all of the newest ones. For those of you who want to read 5 translations all at once (as I sometimes do), I enjoy http://www.biblegateway.com where you can look up a scripture or passage and flip back and forth between translations. Yes, you will want to read these three books before you die and da soona da betta!


As a footnote: even if you don’t believe in God, confessing your fears and short comings, getting help for them, and then living a better life will make you a happier healthier you and have a positive effect on the people around you.

LIVE anyway

Not the most interesting title for a blog. I desperately wanted a title for my blog that, quite frankly, would be the most phenomenally clever phrase to ever exist. I also wanted it to reflect me well. However, it was my first instinct to go with “Anyway” and what I ended up with. I even posed a contest to those dearest to me to come up with a title but none of their suggestions seemed just right.

The name is inspired by a Martina McBride song. A few years ago, I came to the harsh reality that you don’t always get what you want even when your motives are pure and you’ve tried your hardest. My faith was also greatly tested. I guess I started living my life (and still do) like the song. “God is great, but sometimes life ain’t good.” “When I pray it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should but I do it anyway.” The song also talks about chasing your dreams even though you may never get them or might lose them if you do, but it’s worth it to go for it anyway. As “Anyway” was already taken I chose “LIVE Anyway” because that is what I intend to do -- despite what may -- or may not -- come my way.

Many times I get the overwhelming urge to write and feel like I’m going to explode if I don’t just stop and let the words (thoughts, emotions, ideas, etc.) come out of me. Circumstances at the moment are such that I don’t have the time, energy, or right mind-set to finish some of the bigger writing projects that I have. Blogging just seemed like a good way to get it out and give it away.

So, now I start my blog, hoping (praying) I can stick with it and not let it be just another failed attempt to make life happen. Thanks and blessings to those of you who I already know and love (especially those who have been encouraging me in this) and to you who come across this blog in the future.