Words Strengthen the Heart

Recently, I have been following an amazing lady on facebook, clicking through the occasional links to her blog posts. I hadn't left any comments until the other day, when I felt led to leave one commending and appreciating her bravery and honesty after reading a second post in a row of hers that touched my heart and tore down to the very bottom hidden pieces of my soul.

Today, I saw another post of hers that touched my heart. It spoke about the little things that eat away at relationships if we let them find their way in. One of the things she talked about was forgiveness, and as I clicked through her Things We Love link and saw she loves The 5 Love Languages book, I left a comment on the same post about the book, The 5 Apology Languages, another fantastic book.

After leaving my comment today, I continued to peruse her facebook looking for other interesting and encouraging articles she may have posted. That's when I found this.

A post on the original comment I had left. Tears welled up and spilled over when I read her post, A Comment from Rose. I don't often leave my real name when commenting on a blog, and, in fact, today I did not leave my real name when I left a comment on her blog. I left my name the first time because I did not want to leave my blog address. I know someone in real life who likes her page, a friend who is the reason I like her page. Today, I said the heck with the friend in real life finding out about my blog. I am so glad I did leave my first name the first time, though, because having my real name addressed was more powerful than I could imagine.

I realized I've been hiding behind my own masks. The masks of this blog, my documented life that I look back on and only see the highlights of, the masks of pictures upon pictures that record amazing moments in my own life. Is it possible to be jealous of one's own life? That's how I feel right now, as I sit here in misery on a Monday morning with my kids all grown up, at the age they are not needing me 90% of the time yet needing 100% of me during that 10% of the time they need me, wondering what my purpose is, reading posts like Deidre's with tears falling down my face realizing I'm not the only one out there feeling purposeless. Realizing I *can* do something even with feeling that way. I'm still not sure what, but every time I read a courageous, heartfelt, raw post like Deidre's, I believe I get a little closer to figuring out what God's purpose for me is, to finding out what gives me energy where I can keep going with every passionate fiber of my being.

One of those purposes being realizing how powerful my words are. This isn't the first post that has been made about a comment of mine I have left. This isn't the first time I've noticed my words have made a difference in someone's life, even sweeping changes in some lives. Instead of feeling fearful of saying something wrong, God fully intends for me to use my voice and the passions he has given me that I am oh so slowly discovering with strength. I'm slowly learning this.

Thank YOU, Deidre, for your post. Thank you for bringing me out of my rut today with a glimmer of hope. We are nothing without hope, and today I needed that hope.

Find Deidre on facebook and on the internet at WifeMomSuperwoman.com .

Signed using my real name for the first time on this blog.

Rose

Sailing Monterey Bay

Sailing. My favorite activity in the world, yet I can't seem to bring myself to get excited about spending seven days on a cruise ship next summer. At least we will be near the shore in an intensely gorgeous place covered with glaciers and wildlife, the likes of which I don't see here. I do love the shore view. Watching the shore is one of the most intense relaxing moments for me while sailing. The few times I went to Alaska as a child, the memories of the glaciers, the bald eagles, the moose, the ice sculptures, still stand out in my mind. I don't have a lot of childhood memories that are picture perfect and clear as if they were yesterday, but Alaska is one of them. How do you feel about sailing? How do you feel about cruises? Ever taken a cruise to Alaska? Convince me to go!

Now this, the boat below, I could spend seven days on, a short swim from shore and lazily tanning on the deck, sipping drinks, taking in the sights.

Harbors are such a peaceful place. Sailing out of the Santa Cruz, California, harbor into the wild blue yonder, with rows upon rows of boats patiently waiting for their owners to arrive and take them on another wet wonderland adventure,

 sails dancing in the sunshine, providing dappled shade for those below.

 Shawners gazing out upon the wonders nature has to hold,

 boats with their sails blustering in the wind, flying creatures that also happen to float perfectly well, hazy mountains,

 smooth shores along the ragged cliffs,

 Walton lighthouse with the beach just beyond to one side, the harbor on the other,

the wharf, a sight to see, buildings suspended over water,

 the perfect gazing spot,

 a safe harbor for barking seals.

A more romantic place for me, I could not imagine, except perhaps the beach Brando proposed to me at - less than a mile north along the shoreline.

 Sailing, my favorite place in the world.

Silliness ensues after the water lulls me into a relaxed state of being I never want to leave.

 My view as I sat across from my family.

 My Mom doing the Titanic with the boys.

 Doing our own version of Titanic. Yes, I did the arms.

 Feels like we're alone on the ocean, suspended over water.

 Gazing upon the water, looking for a jellyfish. One will come my way.

Hearst Castle

Thought I'd pop in and say hello! It's been super quiet over here due to my super business which resulted in prioritizing said blog lower on the totem pole.

Keep your eye out for an online book tour stop here on yours truly blog from a good friend, Samira Hodges, author of Milestones young adult novel, about her recently released sequel, Milestones Return to Camp.

In the meantime you can make up your own stories about the vastly intriguing Hearst Castle with breathtaking views of the Pacific Coast which we recently visited on our vacation down the Pacific Coast Highway. If you ever have the chance to go, go. The most breathtaking coastal views I have ever seen viewable the entire drive up to the European style castle and from the entire western side of the building alone are worth it. And I had just driven south on the Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey and Carmel, through Big Sur to Pismo Beach.