It's Never Too Late...

To Read a Good Book How was your weekend? I had a great weekend, but it flew by way too quickly! Friday, I had dinner with my friend Nicole, Saturday Michael and I invited our friends over to watch football all day, and Sunday I started reading a new book that I could barely put down. Though watching SEC football and stuffing my face with good food while hanging out with everyone was fun, the highlight of my weekend just may have been reading this great book! I joined a small group through our church this semester. It is a women's young professionals bible study, and we are reading Francine Rivers' collection called Lineage of Grace. As the collection states, these are stories of five women whom God chose - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Each was faced with extraordinary and even scandalous challenges, but each took great personal risk to fulfill her calling. Each was destined to play a key role in the lineage of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. The first story I read was about Tamar. She was treated like a slave, abused by two husbands who left her childless and widowed at 18. She even prostituted herself to fulfill what she believed was her destiny because she had faith and patience, and it is what she had to do to survive. I won't spoil the end...but the story is amazing, and I am so eager to read the next. All I could think about is how the little things in my life (which is amazingly blessed compared to hers) make me impatient and complain a lot, but this woman survived so much and she never complained! This is a great book for me because I sometimes feel that I have given up so many chances for God to use me. If you feel like your life lacks spiritual meaning, go and pick up this book, and you will change your mind. Then share the book with a friend. The best part for me is that I get to share this experience with 11 great women! It's Never Too Late to Read a Good Book It's one of life's great simple pleasures. Teake a journey. Relax. Learn. Go back in time. Or forward. Be inspired. Or challenged. Share.

Pic of the Day

Yesterday, my friend Jenn and I had lunch before heading to downtown Birmingham for the annual Art Walk. It was so hot, but it was fun to see so many people downtown supporting our local artists.

On our way back to the car, I had a wonderful opportunity to take a picture of our old City Federal Building. The sky was beginning to cloud up and produce a Birmingham afternoon storm, and I just thought it was so beautiful.

A little piece of my own art...

It's Never Too Late...

To Remember I remember exactly where I was 9 years ago today when we witnessed the horrible attacks on September 11, 2001. I was a freshman at Henderson, and I was sitting in my dorm room getting ready to head to my 8 a.m. class when I saw the video of the first plane crashing into the the World Trade Center. I remember how long it took me before I realized what I was watching was actually happening and was not an amateur video of some other place at some other time. It was the most shocking scene I have witnessed to this day, and though it happened a thousand miles away, I along with everyone around me, was terrified at what else could happen to us! I cannot believe it has been 9 years since these attacks because it still seems to be a fresh memory...one that remains a topic of discussion for many every day. It was a day that caused more hatred and racism than we all thought possible, it changed political views, peaceful citizens turned to anger and smaller acts of racism and terrorism on our own soil, and it launched a war that has killed thousands and still rages today. Unfortunately it is the hatred and violence these attacks caused still making headlines today, the most recent headline being Gainsville, Florida Pastor Terry Jones' plan to burn Korans as a protest against a plan for an Islamic cultural center to be built close to the site of the 911 attacks. So far the Korans have not been burned, but what has occurred is a backlash of both Christians and Muslims coming together in the name of peace and community to show that Pastor Jones' act is just as despicable as that of the terrorists 9 years ago. To me, he is only giving the terrorists exactly what he wants, and he is out of his mind. Fortunately, in the wake of the increasing racism against Muslims that have occurred in our country, there are people who have become more open-minded and realize that Muslim is not Muslim, just as Christian is not Christian. There are many forms of both religions, and millions of Muslims are ashamed and don't support the acts of the radicals 9 years ago. I remember the fear, confusion, and anger I felt 9 years ago. I also discovered a sense of patriotism and pride in being American because I knew we would bounce back and become stronger, but we can't move forward with hate in our hearts. What I choose to remember is the good that came from this day, and the selfless acts of heroes who exhibited the true American Spirit. It is their legacy that we should remember! It's Never Too Late To Remember Our memories are a treasure trove - our living photo album. All the pivotal moments are captured there. Even some we've jammed into the dark recesses. Take time to visit your memories. Spool through them. Enjoy them. Be sobered by them. Learn from them. Then add to them.