SMH at the pecs--Miss O. so sorry but she gets the prize>>>

Recently, we had an extraordinary time at Pine Hill, where I witnessed two women of God show beauty, strength and most importantly, faith in their lives.  Renee (above) and Mignon (below) have both believed God for their dreams, and in one magnificent day, He showed how faithfulness is rewarded. 

Sometimes you have to crawl into the pool, stand on your work even when it's not moving, believe in what He has told you when everything in the natural is stacked against it.  Sometimes you have to lift yourself into his miracle.

Fittingly, Mignon received an amazing honor--becoming a finalist in the prestigious PEN/FAULKNER competition for her hauntingly prophetic work, the poem The Drift of Tallow.  It's simple beginning line sets the tone--"There is only Jesus."   

In both cases, both women have held a candle, often burning it, in Millay's words, at both ends, holding on to His promise, toiling and knowing, the last half hour of faith is always the hardest.  But we press on for the prize, as Paul wrote, and we celebrate the victory!  KUDOS!

Last night, the sound of helicopters interrupted my sleep.  First notion was to grumble and complain.  Instead,  I remembered a story about a man in Arkansas whose sleep was being disturbed every night by B-52s (no, not the band) until one night, he was just hot enough to make his way over to the landing grounds and make a formal complaint.  When he arrived at the gate, a sign read...Pardon The Noise--It's The Sound of Freedom.  He never complained again.

I rolled over and thought how easy it is to become, as the song says, population one.  To tune out what's real and self-serve.  To be so spiritually blind that we see only our reflections and hear only our own voices, our own distractions--our own noise.

This week, if you haven't already done so, hang a flag.  Pray for everyone in war, on the mission fields for the United States, support personnel, the moms (and many, many dads) back home keeping things together while loved ones serve, the contractors, all  families, and most importantly, The American Soldier bringing the sound of freedom around the world. 

Please pray for the families and friends of the medical missionaries killed over the weekend.  And if you know of anyone you would like me to personally pray for, you may post a public comment here;  or use the contact form under the tab "Her Story."--which is sent directly to my e-mail--read only be me Toni.  I promise to keep them lifted up in prayer and send you a message of encouragement.

May God bless our troops.

Two weeks ago, we lost our beloved Lady, a birddog/rescue dog of loyal blood and beautiful spirit.  She was so protective of her family and a bdff.  But in the valley, God always sends a light, and angels--my pastor and his wife being among those here.  He carried her body and placed her in a deep hole he carefully dug for more than an hour.  His beautiful wife and Mignon said the kindest words of faith, and what seemed to be a very sad moment brought us all closer to the Lord and one another.  The next day at church, two of the youth gave us a handmade wooden cross with her name wood-burned in its seam.  Tears came to many eyes there and we placed it, along with an oak sapling atop her rocky grave.  Days passed and we missed her loving spirit and faithful friendship.  Then God made a new plan.  It's just we're often not aware of the wheels in motion, and very often we expect the bronze when He already has the gold. 

The Kennedy family waited in Picayune with their two Brittanys and through an act of faith, our paths collided.  I was leary of another pet so soon, but over the next days, I prayed and waited.  Finally, I felt in my heart that she was ours and called this lovely family.  They already had her waiting and said, "Come get your dog!"  They had held her for me and well, here she is, Baby.  AWWWWWW!  She's the best!

We miss Lady everyday and she was very much a part of the new book I am writing.  The chapter posted here under Novel In Progress memorializes her spirit and you can expect to find her on many more pages soon.  This one was already written when she was laid to rest.