Notes to Self...and whoever's listening

Yesterday marked a huge day for the world when Billy Graham breathed his last breath on earth at the age of 99 and awoke in heaven to a celebration only the Lord could prepare.  His teachings reached each continent, with him stepping onto 185 countries to share the love of the Lord and to preach repentance.    For decades he has preached this, sat with quite a few of the US Presidents, met countless other world leaders, but to him, the greatest accomplishments came with that one sinner that turned to Christ.  Billy himself wasn't interested in the huge celebrations, ones with pomp and circumstance, the ones with fine linens on the table and a huge spread of food.  His daughter even said that he was easily satisfied with a plain McDonald's hamburger and a scoop of ice cream.  He was a simple man with a simple message: turn from your sins so you could know abundant life and and have eternal life . Well, as Billy walked through heaven yesterday, free from ol...

When hashtags became a "thing", I balked at it.  A lot.  I HATED them.  I couldn't understand why everyone was using them and using them ALL THE TIME.  So annoying.   Then, I began to understand what their true purpose was.  Then I started using them here and there.  And, now, I must admit, they can be fun. :)   I see #winning used a lot on people's posts or in the media.  Whether it is a relationship, a new strategy that is working for them, or a game of sorts, it's everywhere.  And, let's face it, everyone likes to win.  I once played on a softball team in high school that only won one game - due to forfeit.  It was a long season.  It's not fun to lose all 4 games when we're bowling, especially when I've personally had a good night.  I'll even admit to crying on my couch the night the Yankees lost Game 7 of the World Series to the Diamond Backs on Luis Gonzalez's single to center field in the bottom of...

It's no secret that I love my nephews.  And the two that live in my house have staked such a claim on my heart that they have pretty much taken ownership of it.  There isn't anything I wouldn't do for them (unless it's buying endless "bucks" to feed their video game addictions) so when Lucas (9 years old) announced he wanted to try out for the basketball team last fall, all he got was encouragement from this aunt.  No matter he had never played it before and that he doesn't have the best running skills, I was willing to sacrifice my time to sit at games on butt-numbing bleachers :)  just to support him.  And that is just what his mom, his grandparents and myself have been doing this past month. The only drawback (besides the aforementioned butt-numbing bleachers, of course): they're team isn't great.  They do have a hand full of good players, but the rest seem to be newcomers and/or not entirely athletic.  Lucas himself falls into both of those...