Welcome

Why a blog from me, someone who has never been a writer, someone who has never been articulate or had a solid grasp of the grammar world. Because God told me to write. Several years ago a life storm invaded my family. God kept telling me to write it all down. I argued, but He would not let up. This went on every day for a couple of weeks until one day out of frustration, (I'd like to say it was out of obedience), I picked up a pen and paper and wrote for 7 hours straight! Do you think maybe I needed therapy and God knew it?

I've been writing ever since and have learned to love it! I started out sharing my stories with friends and family. I've now been published in a Nashville church paper, Our Daily Journey (a devotional site of RBC Ministries), PCCWeb Daily Devotional, Ruby for Women Ezine Magazine, and I am a contributor in the book Alabaster Jars, Life in Abundance Collection 2.

Why Ponderings? During this life storm, God led me to a pond in the woods behind my home. There He met me each time, teaching new lessons, reminding me of old ones, showing His presence and allowing me to feel His love through the surroundings of that pond. I found myself returning over and over to ponder, pray and praise. A healing of my heart took place and out of the experience came my first book, Ponderings From the Pond, then a second book, Ponderings From My Porch, and now a third book is in the works along with a memoir about my storm.

Why am I making myself so vulnerable? Because God has done so much that I cannot keep quiet. I have to share. Jesus's last words to his desciples were, "Go,tell." We are his disciples too and this is just one of my ways of telling.

I'm no scholar but I have heard God's voice in my spirit, experience His love daily, and have a desire for others to experience this also. I would love to share with all who visit and I would love to hear from you. If my sharing gets just one to ponder, to be quiet with the Father, to see and hear from Him or to be reminded of something from Him, then this is worth my vulnerability.

As you visit me, sometimes we will be at the pond, sometimes we will move to the front porch, and sometimes we will just be here, there, and yonder. Thank you for coming and please feel free to come back anytime, you are always welcome here.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

*****EXCITING NEWS*****

My first book, Ya Know What I'm Say'n, has been released.


Ponderings

Ponderings

Monday, June 3, 2013

The Night I Peed In the Woods

My neighbor, alias Lucy, she calls me Ethal, came over to get me after work for a short, 2 mile walk. HA! I should have know better.


I grabbed my tennis shoes, put them on quickly and off we went. We made it down to the corner, rounded the bend and up the next street to the golf course. I thought we were going to turn around and come back home. But NOOOO, Lucy wanted to walk into the golf course. I was ok with that. Then she remembered that there was a pond with a bridge and so we took down a path that we thought led to it. As we were walking it was getting darker. As it's getting darker, I told her I had to go to the little girls room.  So did she. She raised her eyebrows and looked towards the woods.  She is used to doing this sort of thing outdoors as she is a kayaker and is always out in places where one has to squat by trees and such. I am not a kayaker or a camper or anything else where this activity is normal outdoors. But I didn't have a choice this night. The evening was getting later and darker and we had walked way off the road. Woods were to our right and when I spotted just the right tree in just the right spot, I stepped off the path and Lucy went up ahead to her own tree.

I prayed as I squatted for there to be no snakes slithering around and I prayed for there to be no poison ivy or anything else poison in said spot. I nervously looked around and squatted quickly and rose faster on my aged, weak knees than I had ever before! Well, I told Lucy, that was quite an adventure! Off we went to make our way to the bridge. But the more we walked, the further we were getting from the destination we wanted. It was getting darker and all Lucy had was a little headlight on her forhead that was I thought was getting dimmer and dimmer. Thank goodness the moon was out and bright enough to light our path. The woods continued to be to my right and in the dark, we could hear the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. It was SO loud and now I'm wondering if there really is such a thing as a boogie man and that he could be in those woods. We were calling him with the crunch, crunch, crunch of leaves beneath our feet. I couldn't help but think how he could jump out at any minute and grab us and pull us into the woods and no one would ever know. I didn't think to tell my husband where I was going, because I thought I would be back soon. I should have known with Lucy, you just never know.

After about 3 miles, and noticing we were gettting further and further into the dark and away from civilization, I must have sounded nervous because Lucy asked if I wanted to turn and back track up the path we just came down. "Oh, let me see, YES!" I said. Now it is dark with only the moon to guide us. The moon was beautiful, by the way, out there in the country over an open field, with the pond that we never could find our way to.


I raised up my arms to the glorious moon shining against the dark sky. I wanted to show Lucy, as if she couldn't already see it. It was majestic out there in the open sky with no telephone poles and wires and buildings and city lights to take away the glory of it. It was beautiful! And I knew out there in the open field, in the dark, with the woods now to our left, that we were being watched. . .not by the boogie man, but by our Savior, our Lord and I suddenly felt giddy. I felt such joy! Praise welled up from both of us. What a mighty God we serve! And then I noticed my 50 year old legs were screaming that they had enough of walking and it was time to get home.

But the moment, out in the field, in the dark, with the woods to our left. . . was glorious! It was worth peeing in the woods.

This was not our first Lucy and Ethal moment. And I'm sure it won't be our last. I love my Lucy!

Do you have a Lucy in your life? Or are you the Lucy?

7 comments:

Beth Zimmerman said...

I don't! I would have loved that back before my knees became arthritic.

Worst place I ever had to pee? That would be a toss up. I have always had a weak bladder. Once my head knows that I have to go ... there is no holding it! So I have peed behind trees, buildings and large rocks. But the most memorable was being trapped on a highway in a huge snow storm and having to squat in the drifting snow, between the front and back doors of our car, in the middle of the highway! I found nothing praiseworthy in the situation ... except that I avoided wet pants! =)

Joy said...

I think I am more like you:)

Anonymous said...

Hummmm...I think I wouldn't be so quick to take another walk, unless you get the directions first! ♥♥♥

Quiltingranny said...

I have been in your shoes, My worst place was the interstate between LA and the AZ border. I kept thinking we were getting closer to the lights and it turns out they were parallel to where we were and many miles away. I squatted between doors and prayed as you that no rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters or anything else would come out of the desert. The worse was each time a trucker came by they blasted their horns.

Renee said...

Love this post! I'm an Ethel & my Lucy of 20 years went to be w/ the Lord 4 yrs ago. I miss her :)

Denise said...

Enjoyed this.

Maryellen said...

LOL I am "Lucy" and I didn't think anything of it! I knew we were not lost but we were getting further and further into the darkness and the woods, and neither of us had told anyone where we were going. It was worth it all to feel that glorious time we spent gazing at the moon and knowing that the creator of all was watching, protecting (even us silly girls) from harm, and I am so thankful to have my Ethel and I share our love for the Lord and each other! One of those memorable moments that etches itself forever into your mind and heart. \o/