Recent Ramblings

NaNoWriMo, Anyone?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:33:01 -0600

I was fortunate to be asked by a friend, Donna Russell, who writes the Creative Muse Journal, to do a two-part interview about my first-time of participation in National Novel Writing Month, which takes place every November.

If you’d like to read the interview please click here.

National Novel Writing Month challenges you to write a 50,000+ word novel from scratch during the month of November. There is an incredibly supportive website here which also links to a great site for children and young adults who want to participate.

You won’t fall short of information, support, or encouragement on this journey as it is one that is undertaken by thousands of people worldwide. It started in 1999 with only 21 participants and has grown and grown each year.

Over a billion words have been written so far!

Well, better be getting back to writing and thanks, Donna for asking to interview me! It was fun analyzing why I doing such a crazy thing and enjoying the heck out of it!

In Honor Of Our Country’s Veterans A Pittance of Time

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:01:39 -0600

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time". Terry later recorded "A Pittance of Time" and included it on his full-length music CD, "The Power of the Dream".

Obama’s Plan with thanks to Dr. Seuss

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:20:54 -0500

Obama’s Plan
(With Thanks to Dr. Seuss and “Green Eggs and Ham”)

“That Health Care Plan
That Health Care Plan
I do not like that Health Care Plan.”

“Do you like this Health Care Plan?”

“I do not like this Health Care Plan
I do not like Obama’s scam.”

“Would you like it here or there?”

“I would not like it here or there
It hasn’t worked, not anywhere.
I do not like this Health Care Plan,
I do not like Obama’s scam!”

“Would you like it in your house?
Would you like it for your spouse?”

”I would not like it in my house,
I would not like it for my spouse,
I would not like it here or there,
It has not worked - not anywhere!
I do not like your health care plan!”

“Would you like it with a cold
Would you like it when you’re old?”

“Not with a cold
Not when I’m old,
Not in my house,
Not for my spouse,
I would not like it here or there,
It has not worked - not anywhere!
I do not like his health care plan.
I do not like Obama’s scam.”

“Would you? Could you?
Just for me?
Take it, take it!
It’s all free!”

“I would not, could not just for thee!’

“You will like it, you will see
You will like it
Just trust me!”

I would not, could not just trust thee.
I don’t believe you! Can’t you see?!”

I would not like it with a cold
I would not like it when I”m old.
I would not like it in my house,
I would not like it for my spouse.
I would not like it here or there.
It has not worked - not anywhere!
I do not like this health care plan.
I do not like Obama’s scam.”

“For me! For me!
For me! For me!
Could you, would you?
I’m on T.V.!”

“Not just for you! It just won’t do!
It’s not for free, you can’t fool me!
You’ve lied again! Bam! Let me be!

I would not could not, with a cold
I could not, would not when I’m old,
I will not have it in my house
I will not have it for my spouse
I would not like it here or there,
It has not worked - not anywhere!
I do not like this health care plan.
I do not like Obama’s scam.”

“Say!
In the dark?
Here in the dark?
Can’t I keep you in the dark?”

“I would not, could not in the dark.”

“Would you could you when in pain?”

I would not, could not when in pain,
Not in the dark, I’m not insane!
Not if it’s free or just for me
I do not like it, Bam you see
Not in my house, not with a cold
Not for my spouse, not when I’m old
I would not like it here or there,
It has not worked - not anywhere!
I do not like this health care plan.
I do not like Obama’s scam.”

“You do not like the Health Care Plan?”

“I do not like Obama’s scam.”

“Could you, would you sign by noon?”

“I would not, could not sign by noon.”

“Would you, could you sign it soon?”

“I could not, would not sign by noon,
I will not, will not, sign it soon.
I will not sign it if in pain
Can’t you see I”m not insane.
Not in the dark, I can’t trust thee
Not if it’s free! Just let me be!

I would not like it with a cold
I would not like it when I”m old.
I would not like it in my house,
I would not like it for my spouse.
I would not like it here or there,
It has not worked - not anywhere!
I do not like this health care plan.
I do not like Obama’s scam.”

“You do not like it,
So you say
Sign it, Sign it
Anyway
Try it and you may I say!”

“Bam!

“If you will let me be
I will try it.
“You will see.

“Say!

“I can’t get meds, my doctor’s gone
The wait for tests is five years long
My mom chose death, my baby died
Thank you for this down hill slide

“My body still is wracked with pain,
I can’t get chemo for my brain.
I got pneumonia from my cold
My spouse died too, no growing old

“It’s still a failure here and there,
It’s still not working anywhere.
And if I could go back in time,
I’d beg you PLEASE to read this rhyme.
(Oh, by the way, my dear friend Bam
I still HATE your health care plan.)”

copyright 2009 by Jeremy Gray and deni weber

Image from “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss
text added by poem authors

To Jamie

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 10:28:43 -0500

Today’s devotional is going to be a bit different.

Today is a very difficult day for me. Today is/was my daughter’s birthday. Jamie would have been 34 today. Jamie was killed four and a half years ago.

To say that her murder put my life in a tailspin is an understatement. Yet, I have so much to be thankful for at the same time.

Who, but God, could do that?

Jamie,

I am thankful I had the opportunity of being your mom for almost 30 years. I am thankful that you were my firstborn - and only girl. I learned a lot from you. Gramma used to tell me, “You’ll understand when you have your own daughter”, and per usual, Gramma was right.

I was very angry with God for a while. I just didn’t understand. To be honest - I still don’t. But I’m no longer angry. Not at God, nor the person who took your life.

You see, I had a vision, Jamie. I saw you in a beautiful green, grassy field filled with wildflowers of every color. The sun was shining brightly. There was a quality to the sunshine I’d never seen before. You were reveling in it!

There was such delight on your face! Your eyes were closed - your long dark hair flowing around you as you laughed with delight. Your face uplifted to the sunlight. You had a hat in your hand - a white one with long ribbons - the ribbons twirled gayly around you. You always loved to “twirl” in full-skirted dresses - and twirling you were.

You were dressed in glimmery gossamer clothing so white it dazzled my eyes. You spun and spun and spun, oblivious to everything but the joy you were dancing in.

Now - how can a mama be sad seeing her child like that?

Yes, I miss you - more than words can say.

But God is good - and He let me see you as I believe you are today.

And Jamie?

Save some room in that field for me.

The Lord giveth. The Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Whose Life Is Important?

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:05:09 -0500

It has been sad to read about the recent deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

These verses in the book of Psalms came to mind as I listened to the news yesterday.

For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
Psalm 103:14-16 (New American Standard Bible)

Both of these people had fame and fortune - more than most of us could ever dream of having. And yet, in the end, they met the same fate we all will.

Fame, fortune, good looks, talents, can save none of us from the ravages of illnesses or tragedies of life. There is a verse that says the rain falls on just and on the unjust alike.

I think sometimes we look at the “rock stars” and “sex symbols” of our culture as being somehow protected from the adversities of life. Somehow, it seems, we don’t expect tragedy to affect those icons and when it does, as a society we are grief stricken.

Yet, how many people die daily of cancer?

How many are unexpectedly found dead?

How many of these make the news?

Would that we felt the same way about every death: The young girl inadvertently killed in a drive by shooting, the unborn baby whose mother decides she doesn’t want another child, the elderly person dying alone in a nursing home.

Scripture tells us that God shows no partiality and is not a respecter of persons. Yet, we, as a society are hooked on finding out the details of these deaths in a morbid vicarious manner simply due to fame and fortune. We seem to see these deaths as somehow “more important” than others.

I don’t want to downplay these losses. I am sorry the world lost these people.

Yet, I am just as sorry for every death that occurs. I wish each life was seen as precious and valuable and important as those of Farrah and Michael.

Why Break A Baby?

Sun, 31 May 2009 16:38:00 -0500

These are the lyrics to a song I have written. I am hoping to have the whole song up on the site soon, but I felt it appropriate to post the words today.

Why Break A Baby
Sometimes there are words only grown ups should hear
But children are curious and children have ears.
“I heard you talking,” he says quietly.
“You called it ‘abortion’, well explain this to me.”

“Why break a baby?” is the question he posed.
“Why take a baby from the place where it grows?
“I don’t understand this,” he says with a sigh.
“Why break a baby? Won’t you please tell me why?”

It takes me a moment before I can speak.
A lump forms in my throat,
My knees feel so weak.
“If a baby’s not wanted I start to recite,”
When he says “Why break a baby? I just don’t think it’s right.”

A woman has choices, I start to say,
“You see, it’s her body she can choose in this day.
“And abortions are legal,” I’m stammering so.
When he says “Why break the baby?
“That’s all I want to know.”

“Why break a baby?” is the question he posed.
“Why take a baby from the place where it grows?
“I don’t understand this,” he says with a sigh.
“Why break a baby? Won’t you please tell me why?”

Now how do I answer those trusting brown eyes?
Do I recite slogans? Those words of the wise?
Or do I say what I know, really is true?
Abortion, my precious – it almost was you.

The tears are too much now to hold back inside.
I can’t say, My darling, You too almost died.
Unmarried, alone son, what should she do?
You see, little fellow, your mom once chose You.

“Why break a baby?” was the question he posed.
“Why take a baby from the place where it grows?”
“I don’t understand it,” he says with a sigh
And as I draw my son to me, I say “Neither do I.”

So why break a baby is the question I pose.
Why do we take babies from the places they grow?
Why do we make babies, then allow them to die?
Why do we break babies?
Won’t you please tell me why?

“Why Break A Baby?” lyrics and music copyrighted 2003 by deni hansen-gray weber. All Rights Reserved.

It’s All About Loss - Or Is it?

Sat, 16 May 2009 11:48:48 -0500

Christians with Chronic Illness Second Blog Carnival

It’s Chronic Illness Blog Carnival time again! Once again, I’ve been blessed by having a post included in the Rest Ministries Blog Carnival. This month theme focuses on the losses we face with chronic challenges and how we can find great gain in the face of loss. I encourage you all to check out the other blogs by wonderful writers who themselves have chronic illnesses yet find overcoming, endurance, and perseverance bringing blessings and peace!

Pay It Forward For Jamie

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:51:21 -0500

I feel a tad uncomfortable about this, but to help out the police in our area, I agreed to do an interview about the death of my daughter 4 years ago. The story that goes with the video can be found at the The NorthWest Indiana Times newspaper site.
More information about Jamie and Pay It Forward can be found at www.payitforwardforjamie.com.
I am writing a book about our journey since the night of Jamie’s death, “Twelve Steps for Life.”
Our family’s motto has become “Overcome evil with good.” It is not a bad motto to live by, even without a tragic precipitating event.
I’d like to thank the reporter, Ken Kosky, and cameraman, Jon. L. Hendricks for doing such a nice job of piecing together my less than perfect presentation style and creating a (for me) touching video about my Jaybird.

Loss or Gain?

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:50:41 -0500

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stall yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 17-18) NIV

Oh, how easy it can be to focus on myself, and all I have lost in the past five years. How easy to feel bitter about the twists and turns of my life. When I dwell on my losses, my mood darkens and negativity escalates. I become envious of those whose lives have seemingly not been touched by illness and loss. I dwell on “It’s not fair!” and “Why me?” I become the type of person I don’t like to be around!

But God is always a gentleman. He gives me a choice. What I choose to do, how I choose to handle the events in my life, either good or bad, belongs to me. Even in the midst of the loss of all things, God shows me that there is something to be grateful for.

I can turn to look at what I have gained rather than what I have lost: Peace, when no peace should exist; Fellowship with other believers; A way to make it through the days of my illnesses when I see no way though; and most of all – the relationship with my Beloved Savior who knows me intimately, calls me by name, suffers with me, and asks no more than I can give.

Sometimes I feel stretched to the breaking point. But when I run to Him at that moment, I find mercy and grace. I find that God does not give me His grace ahead of time, but grants it when I need it. Do I hurt physically? Often, yes. Do I think it is more than I can bear? Sometimes, yes. Does He bring me through it? Always, yes. The ultimate joy for me? I cannot lose my God - my Savior. I once heard it said - “If you can’t praise Me for what I allow - praise Me for who I am.” Yes.

I realize that once again, it is a choice. I can count the loss … or count the gains. Yes, the cost is high. The gains are immeasurable.

Father, thank you for getting me through the times when I have felt I can no longer “keep on keeping on.” Thank you that you have always made the way clear for me. I pray I can always be joyful in You. Amen and Amen. So be it!

Susan Boyle - “Cry Me A River”

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:19:35 -0500

I gotta admit it. I love this woman’s voice. I don’t care what she looks like. I like her voice. I found this video on YouTube - I’m sure it’s recent since her success on “Britian’s Got Talent”, but I was thrilled to find it.

There is a piece of this whole phenomena that bothers me though. I mean, folks were cruel to her until she started singing and then “Wow!” Suddenly she had worth and value because of what she could do.

I find that unsettling. While it is good to look beneath the surface and see that there is more to Susan than meets the eye. (You have no idea how much I wish I had that kind of voice - I SO wanted to be a singer, but my voice in no way compares.) I think it’s satisfyingly ironic the way she put the judges and the audience in their respective places - but what would have happened had she come out and not had a fantastic voice?

What if she had come out on stage and the voice folks expected to come out, came out? What if the voice wasn’t there?

Would that make her any less valuable than any other of God’s children? What if she was simply the kind, gentle (and I think I can safely say, slightly kooky) woman that she presented herself to be. And she had no voice to speak of?

Folks would have continued to snigger - Simon would have rolled his eyes, and she would have been dismissed amongst laughter. Would that have been deserving?

This woman has a beautiful “inside” from what I can tell - that is completely separate from her voice.

We are so, so, so oriented to be “human doings” rather than human beings. Do I appreciate this gal’s voice. Certainly. Do I begrudge the fact that her talent has been brought to light? Not at all.

I do wonder about the way we judge people though - as if there needs to be a miracle inside of them if there is not one readily seen on the outside. Then, they are ok.

Here’s to those of us who are frumpy, can’t sing, and have nothing fantastic to give the world.

God love us all!

Till next time,

deni