The comma, semicolon, colon, exclamation mark, question mark and period are all marks of punctuation. They are used to separate and organize information between sentences. The comma is for shorter breaks, while the period marks the end of a sentence. A  semicolon connects closely related sentences, and the colon introduces lists or explanations following a complete sentence. The exclamation mark lends itself to profound excitement, while the question mark tends to leave open-ended uncertainty. 

If our life is a book, with chapters and paragraphs, then we can conclude that there are sentences that need to be punctuated. I have found that if the thoughts that are being written aren't ours, then we can't possibly understand the required punctuation. 

God is writing our story.

Don't put a period where God wants a comma.

Don't put a comma where God places a period.

Often God uses an exclamation mark, while the devil uses a question mark.

God conveys his intended message clearly with the correct punctuation, but we miss it in our busyness. Let's work at coming to a full stop and listening.

If you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5

It is the end of the season for a lot of things; school, athletics, cheer, whatever the kids have participated in this school season. For these grand-sisters, it is dance. This season is coming to an end, and a new dance season is beginning. 

If you have never read the book, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, might I suggest you take a few moments for yourself and dig in?

The book is about just what the title says, a boy who is lonely then he meets a mole, and a fox that might be frightening to a mole. The boy is full of questions, the mole is greedy for cake, the fox is mainly silent and wary because he has been hurt by life. The horse is the biggest thing they have ever encountered, and also the gentlest. They are all different, like us, and each has their own weaknesses.

A book of encouragement that leads us to live a little more courageously with more kindness for ourselves and others and to ask for help when we need it because it is such a brave thing to do.

"The truth is everyone is winging it," says the horse.

"I'm so small." said the mole. "Yes," said the boy "but you make a huge difference."

The sweetest gifts and finds. Our youngest grandsister is always thinking of others. Her brain is so advanced that she is way ahead of average. She is constantly on the move and her heart is moving towards kindness and compassion. She was shopping at 725 Vintage and was upstairs, and came running back downstairs telling me about a basket of puppets like the "ones I have." They happened to be Bible story puppets. They needed some love. So fun!.

Then, she bought me these Bluejay earrings. She knows I wear the same earrings every day. She also knows I decorate with fun jewelry pieces.

We are so blessed with amazingly creative and loving grands. God has a plan.

Each day, we get to choose how to learn from each other: one Lord, different people. We encounter some negative and others positive, their faces making it obvious, their words confirming.

“The Mirror Garden”

In a faraway land where emotions shaped the world, there lived two peculiar masks: Negative Face and Positive Face.

Negative Face had sharp eyes that always squinted in suspicion. His frown etched like a canyon, and wherever he went, the skies darkened just a bit. Flowers turned their petals inward, and laughter seemed to stumble midair. They didn't mean to bring gloom—but saw danger in joy, foolishness in hope, and weakness in kindness.

Positive Face was the opposite. Their smile radiated warmth, andtheir wide eyes saw possibility in everything—even broken stones and tangled weeds. Birds sang near, and even shadows seemed to soften. But some said they were naive, blind to real danger, too trusting in a world with sharp edges.

One day, the two faces were placed on the same statue in the Mirror Garden, where every reflection showed not just your image, but your soul.

At first, chaos reigned. The statue couldn't decide which face to show, and the garden withered and bloomed in rapid succession. Visitors fled in confusion—was this place cursed or blessed?

But then, a little girl wandered in, laughing despite the flickering stormclouds and sunshine. She saw the statue and tilted her head.

"Why do you wear two faces?" she asked.

The statue didn't speak, but the garden answered. A single flower grew—half wilted, half in bloom.

The girl smiled gently. "You're not enemies. You're halves of truth. Caution and hope. Fear and faith."

With that, the faces softened—not merging but learning to nod at one another. Negative Face gave Positive Face a wary glance, and in return, Positive face gave a knowing smile. From that day forward, the statue showed both faces—not in conflict but in balance.

And the garden? It grew wilder than ever—sometimes messy, sometimes perfect, always alive.

It takes all kinds to reach others for Christ. We learn from Negative that what we see and hear is a lesson from God, leading us in learning how to act and not act.

We can learn that Positive rubs off love lessons full of hope! They are contagious!

What we are to learn is to be more like Jesus, loving all his people.

We had overnight visitors...

A Minecraft Movie it is!!!

Sometimes, I want to sit and ask you questions. Answering questions is difficult for me because my recall gets redirected. I'm a horrible test taker and have always avoided any job that might require me to take a "test." I did have to take a test for a City job once. It was the worst day of my job application career, but I got the job. 

I am not wired to understand people and what makes them tick in a social setting. I shy away from the torture that lurks within me when faced with large groups and chit-chat. If I have a responsibility to focus on, I can talk myself into being responsible to the task at hand.

It is really easy to become overwhelmed by any deviation from my daily schedule. A meltdown becomes a shutdown. The older I get, the harder it is for me to recharge and bounce back. I can spiral into existing behind locked doors and security cameras.

You won't see it. These things that exist within me. I believe this is why giving grace is so essential. We don't know what is happening inside one another, but we can radiate the love of Christ in every circumstance.

What is evident is how our faith can be apparent even when we are overwhelmed. God will use the broken and willing heart. 

God uses so many beautiful souls to fill me up, to let me know I'm worthy and have a purpose. This is where I want to live each day...where God does the watering and we are his little rays of sunshine that help others bloom.

Be the sunshine for someone today.

#aspergerswired

So, let me sit with you and ask you questions ...

Sometimes, I want to sit and ask you questions. Answering questions is difficult because my recall gets redirected. I'm a horrible test taker and have always avoided any job that might require me to take a "test." I did have to take a test for a City job once. It was the worst day of my job application career, but I got the job. 

I am not wired to understand people and what makes them tick in a social setting. I shy away from the torture that lurks within me when faced with large groups and chit-chat. If I have a responsibility to focus on, I can talk myself into being responsible to the task.

It is really easy to become overwhelmed by any deviation from my daily schedule. A meltdown becomes a shutdown. The older I get the harder it is for me to recharge and bounce back. I can spiral into existing behind locked doors and security cameras.

You won't see it. All of this is what exists within me...and so much more. I believe this is why giving grace is so essential. We can't see what is going on inside one another, but we can exude the love of Christ in every circumstance.

What is evident is how our faith can be apparent when we are broken. 

Many moons have come and gone with these ladies in my life.

Jeanie Pennell, Carolyn Andrews, Debby Ketchersid, Debra Reed.

This is my grandparents, Lucy May and Hugh Robert Etter's 50th anniversary plate. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in 1978. My father passed away just a few years before what would have been my parents' 50th, in 1998. Clinton's parents celebrated their 50th in 2004.

Clinton and I were married on May 17, 1975, in the old chapel of First Baptist Church, Plainview.

It is through divine direction and personal prayer that we met, married, and are blessed to be together still today. God is so very good to us. We have been gifted a son, daughter, daughter-in-love, son-in-love, four grand-sisters and a grandson.

Happy 50th Anniversary to us!