“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.” – Lloyd Alexander

~ I must be learning quite a bit then...

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” – President Woodrow Wilson

Regie Hamm - This Is The Time Of My Life

What stood out to me more than the "contest" were the lyrics of the song Regie Hamm penned as "This Is The Time Of My Life" and the story of David's brother Adam - the one who believed in him enough to get him to agree to audition. Originally I had been looking for a shorter clip with just the song, but then realized I wanted to have those brief moments with his brother congratulating him too - in addition to his humbled reaction to winning.

LIFE IS SO SHORT!!! There is such a need to taste every moment and live it out loud...regardless of what you are doing!

The way to make your dreams come true - let go, give into love, and let the bitterness burn!!!




Regie Hamm - This Is The Time Of My Life

I’ve been waiting for my dreams
To turn into something
I could believe in
And looking for that
Magic rainbow
On the horizon
I couldn’t see it
Until I let go
Gave into love and watched all the bitterness burn
Now I’m coming alive
Body and soul
And feelin’ my world start to turn

And I’ll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time,
This is the time
To be more than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life

Holding onto things that vanished
Into the air
Left me in pieces
But now I’m rising from the ashes
Finding my wings
And all that I needed
Was there all along
Within my reach
As close as the beat of my heart

So I’ll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time,
This is the time to be
More than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life

And I’m out on the edge of forever
Ready to run
I’m keeping my feet on the ground
My arms open wide
My face to the sun

I’ll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time,
This is the time to be
More than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life
More than a name
Or a face in the crowd
This is the time
This is the time of my life.
This is the time of my life.

Point Of Grace – How You Live

I

Point Of Grace – How You Live From the album How You Live

Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress, use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes

And have what you want, but want what you have
And don't spend your life looking back

Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances and let it all out
'Cause you won't regret it
Looking back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

So go to the ballgames and go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children, dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night

Don't run from the truth 'cause you can't get away, no
Face it and you'll be okay

(Chorus)

Oh, wherever you are and wherever you've been
Now is the time to begin
So give to the needy, and pray for the grieving
Even when you don't think that you can
'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So think of your fellow man
And make peace with God, and make peace with yourself
'Cause in the end, there's nobody else

(Chorus)

Inspirational Speech by Dr. Randy Pausch on the Oprah Winfrey Show: The Last Lecture

Dr. Pausch passed away on July 25, 2008

But Somehow There's Peace

Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)

It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
And all I can do is surrender

(Chorus)

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something Heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow Your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...

(Chorus)
Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly
Something Heavenly

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out

Laminin - How Great Is Our God!

Today I received this clip. It is so amazing, I thought I would post it here as well.

May you be encouraged by this short YouTube clip given by Louie Giglio on a molecule within the human body called Laminin - a cell adhesion molecule.

Thank you for how you serve our country...

Here I sit amazed and grateful for all the men and women who have, are, and will continue to serve and protect our nation and freedom.

Today my mind is specifically centered upon the families I have had the privilege of getting to know in the past three months and how they are daily serving our nation. Although the men of these families are the ones officially wearing the uniform, I have watched how valiantly the women married to these men along with their children have served as well.

What makes this Memorial Day even all the more special is one of these families were able to reunite this past Thursday and celebrate the holiday weekend together.

For years I have known about Vandenberg Air Force Base - essentially all of my life. However, three months ago God directed my footsteps to community of believers being pastored by those with a vision and heart to be a place of refuge and home for those who call this geographic area home including those stationed at the base for their current assignment.

As a result, I have been given the privilege and opportunity to connect with these incredible men, women, and children who willingly and valiantly choose to serve and protect our nation and freedom.

Thank you for the gift of your friendship and how you choose to serve our county!!!

El Día de los Niños

Today I had an opportunity to get together with 3 girlfriends from church and 6 children (4 girls and 2 boys). We met a few locations to distribute some donations one of my girlfriends had acquired.

One of the locations was the People's Self-Help Housing Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP), http://www.pshhc.org/programs-yeep.html.

People's Self Help-Housing (PSHH), is a non-profit charitable organization in California that relies upon various donations. Their mission statement is: To provide affordable housing and programs leading to self-sufficiency for low income families, seniors, and other special needs groups on California's Central Coast.

The YEEP program offers a year round, daily after school educational program for K-12th grade students. Many of the resident parents within the community we visited today are primarily Spanish speaking with limited English skills. So the staff along with local volunteers come in to work side by side with these children and help them with their various homework assignments.


What we discovered today is that April 30th is El Día de los Niños ~ The Day of the Child. It is a holiday which is widely observed throughout Mexico and Latin America; a day set aside to value and uplift children.

We were already excited to give away the school bags filled with school supplies such as color pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, and paper. However, after we learned what a special day today was we were amazed with God's perfect timing...we did not know the cultural significance of today, but He did. It was such a blast getting to watch the 6 kids with us distribute the school bags one by one to all the children who came to the Education Center today. There was so much joy and delight!!!

Unfortunately none of the 4 of us brought our cameras today, but I know we all were impacted and have mental digital photos (I found the previously taken picture above on the internet of the actual facility we were at today).

Here is another photo I found...it makes me wonder how many of these children were actually present today? What was so inspiring was their absolute delight ~ it did not matter that it was school supplies, they were gleefully exuding gratitude.

When we were out in the parking lot we were kind of knocking ourselves for not having more planned, but then it hit us ~ that gives us another opportunity to come back again on another day...and maybe next time one of us will remember to bring the camera :).

A.NiesingPhotographer...Check It out!!!

Today I found this great photographer via the internet ~ Andre Niesing

You have to check out his work - he is an incredible storyteller!!!

the website ~ http://www.aniesingphotographer.com/flashv4.html

the blog ~ http://theanblog.blogspot.com/

So am I getting married? Not yet...at least to my knowledge...and it would be quite a surprise since I am not currently seeing anyone.

Have I joined a band? No.

Am I getting some portraits? Well even though I am overdue for some, no.

So why then? I found him on Facebook...of course I joined the Facebook group :).

After viewing his website and blog, I was totally inspired!!! Why? Because I have begun to explore some varied interests when it comes to design. And I totally love the way he captures reality!!! As I was looking at his galleries, my eyes and creativity were fully stimulated...how did he do that???

So now take a moment to check out his website/blog and allow yourself to be inspired at what he has captured through the lens of his Canon EOS Mark II Digital Cameras.

Inspired to what? To enjoy life and live it to the fullest!!! Granted we may not have his camera, but almost everyone these days has some type of digital camera. Regardless, even if you are using a disposable camera or standard camera ~ get out there, enjoy life, and capture a few snapshots of how you chose to live life to the fullest for that particular moment!!!

PS If you happen to need some professional photos...maybe he is your solution...he does travel all over.