Happy Punctuation Day!

Happy Punctuation Day! 

Yes, it's a real day and it is today, September 24th!

And on this day, I choose to honor the interrobang. I'm a huge fan of ?! and wish my computer had a special key just for this lovely punctuation mark. However, I am an abuser of the exclamation mark! I use him entirely too often!!!!! But he's just so exciting!!!!

I am, however, excited to announce that you can create your own interrobang in Word by typing Alt+8253 = ‽

Also, do you know there is a special mark to denote irony?

Here it is, let your readers know you are being a bit ironic by preceding your sentence with this: ؟

I cannot find the Alt code to make the irony symbol- and well, I find that a bit ironic. ;) But, feel free to cut and paste it from this page.

Flavorwire offers some wacky punctuation marks. The sarcasm mark, love point, and doubt point are all quirky little nuggets worth checking out.

Even dictionary.com has gotten in on the action, with this fun slideshow featuring commonly used marks. 

I hope you have a Happy Punctuation Day and gain a few wrinkles from this post.

,.?/<>;:'{}[]\|"="+_-()*!#@%$^&—‽...¿

Smile :) donnamusing

Sharing in Sorrow

These past couple weeks, I have shared many sorrows with several friends that I love dearly.

Although the grief is not my own, I share in their anguish. Tears have filled my eyes and overflowed as I lift each one up in prayer. I cannot fathom the heartaches each is facing. 

I have even caught myself enjoying my day and then, remembering each hurting friend, bow in remembrance.

Different circumstances. Diverse losses. Still, sorrow. 

Sorrow: the expression of sadness, grief
            affliction, agony, anguish
            distress, mourning, pain

This morning, as I sang these words:

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest in his unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

I can relate to those words. In moments of darkness, I've felt that God was somehow hiding himself from me. But He isn't; His grace is unchanging, unwavering, immovable. He is faithful. I'm anchored in His love.

The song continues:

Christ alone; Cornerstone
Weak made strong, in the Saviour's love
THROUGH THE STORM, HE IS LORD
LORD OF ALL

I needed this reminder today. Even in the storms of life, when the waves beat upon us, when we don't think we can take the sorrow, He is Lord.

I continue to pray that my friends will somehow see God in the midst of their circumstances, rest in His unchanging grace, receive God's strength for their weakness, and remember even in the darkest of times, He is Lord.

"Surely He has taken up our griefs, and carried our sorrows." Isaiah 53:4

The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge

Do you watch The Gilmore Girls? I've never seen it but now I want to check it out! I have read on a few blogs lately about the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge and decided to share it with you all.

Apparently, over the course of the show, Rory Gilmore was filmed reading 339 different books which can be found here on listchallenges.com. Click on each book cover as you scan down the page and a little check mark will magically appear to help tally your score.

I started the list with full confidence that I'd have at least one-third. I'm ashamed to admit that I have read less than 10%. If I could've counted movies as well, then, my score would've been a bit higher.

However, this list did remind me of a few books that I've been wanting to read but just haven't gotten around to it, yet. Also, there are a few that I certainly don't want to read so I'll most likely never complete the RGRC.

What about you? What is your score? Post below and let's see who has the most.

Smile :) donnamusing

9/11 twelve years later...

The alarm bursted into song at 3:15 this morning. Way too early for me. I don't do early... but this morning I drove my hubby to the airport and sent him off with hugs and kisses.

Today marks twelve years since that Tuesday morning. The morning so many American's lost their lives at the hand of senseless violence. The morning so many other American's stepped up to make a difference; to dig through the rubble, to offer aid, to work through the tears. The morning we all gasped, held our breathe, came together as a nation, and prayed. The morning we will always remember and never forget.

For a moment, it felt strange to send my husband off in an airplane, on this anniversary. But then it hit me, we cannot live in fear. If the enemy were given a foothold, would he not gain ground? No, I hold my head high as an American, thankful for the men and women who have fought, are fighting, and will continue to fight for our freedom. Our freedom to live without fear.

I remember what happened. I'll never forget the news coming through the airwaves at our office and my friend's grandmother bringing by a small black and white television for us to stay updated. I remember the fear that surged through me, wondering what was next. I remember the agony of the multiple attacks and contemplating how many planes could possibly be compromised. I remember hoping that my cousin and his new bride were already home from their honeymoon. But I also remember something else...

I remember fire-fighters, police, EMTs, military, and regular good old folks stepping up, marching in, and being there. I remember prayers lifted, compassion given, doors opened, and love displayed. On that day, we all bled red, white, and blue. We came together to pray for those injured, to mourn with hurting families, and rejoice with each morsel of good news emerging from ground zero. We stood strong, together.

May we never forget the lives that were lost. Such a horrific loss; the greatest tragedy in my personal lifetime. But may we also remember the spirit of the American people coming together in a time of despair. And may that spirit be one that stays with us, day in and day out for all the years to come.

Always Remember. Never Forget.

Life Lessons From Philippians

I have many favorite passages in the Bible but Philippians must be my favorite book. I tend to go back to it again and again, re-reading the same verses I've long since underlined and highlighted.

Within its four short chapters I find enough verses to challenge me for a lifetime. Here are a few:

Philippians 2:5~
Attitude check! Maybe this was the verse that spurred the whole WWJD? movement. I don't know that for sure, but I do know there isn't a day that goes by that I don't need this reminder. Is my heart where it needs to be? Does my attitude line up with Christ or does my attitude stink?


This one is a lifetime challenge in and of, itself:

Philippians 2:14~
Yeah, I admit it. This was our back-to-school verse this week. I also admit that it wasn't just for the kids. It was for me. It still is for me. "Do everything without complaining or arguing." Really, God? Everything? Let that word "everything" stew for just a moment and see how far you get. If you are like me, you'll start complaining about this verse or arguing how impossible it is to follow. Thankfully, there's another verse in the Bible about nothing being impossible with God.


Here's a great two-parter:

Philippians 4:4-7~
Rejoice in the Lord always. Then the writer repeats the direction: Again, I say, Rejoice! These words always and everything stir up something inside of me. Can it really be done, Lord? Not apart from Him. Verse 6 is where it really starts to get me. Through prayer we can trade in our anxiety for peace. What a deal! Sign me up! Yet, I know that many times when I am anxious, I turn to everyone and everything but prayer. If only I could remember to turn to him first. I hand him my darkness, the crumpling piece of coal. He returns to my hands a shining light, a dazzling diamond. Anxiety for peace.

Philippians 4:6-9~
Another way to have peace in our lives is to keep our minds focused on these things: whatever things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
I am compelled to believe that keeping our hearts and minds on good things keeps us from anxiety in the first place and guides us to have a better attitude. Without a doubt, a better attitude will keep us from complaining and arguing.

So, today I rejoice to be alive! I rejoice for God's goodness and provision in my life! I think of all the wonderful things He has done for me and I praise Him. I turn my worries and fears over to Him and receive his peace. I set my thoughts to Him and already feel a better attitude coming over me.

I am thankful for the answers He has given us. All we have to do is take the time to read His love letter to us!

Do you have a book in the Bible that you are drawn back to over and over again?

Smile :) donnamusing

Feather Pillow

As a child, I remember sleeping over at my GranMa's house. Her sheets were always crisp and I could smell the sunshine that dried them. Better than that, she had feather pillows. Why are feather pillows so exciting? Well, I'm glad you asked.

A Garfield comic strip had given me a grand idea. Somehow, a feather had landed just perfectly so that as Garfield snored, the feather would fly up and then come back down to his lips again. This happened over and over- ultimately, leading my small brain to believe that this could be done. And, so I tried.

Each time I curled up on the crisp sheets after saying goodnight to my GranMa, I would feel around on the pillow and pluck a feather loose. Then, I would try to accomplish my quest. Over and over, I would place it on my lips, blow it up, and then it would land somewhere on the sheet. I'd feel around for it and try again. Much to my dismay, I never achieved the task.

Nearly ten years ago, I spent the night with my GranMa when I'd work at my boss's satellite office near her home. Even still, I would pluck out a feather and try. Mostly just for fun and the nostalgia of it... but, it could happen, maybe.

Well, today that memory came rushing over me as my daughter plucked a feather from the decorative pillow in our office. I watched as she rubbed it up and down her arm. She admitted, "Sometimes, I like to pull the feathers out of this pillow."

I reassured her by telling her my story. So, there we lay trying to blow a feather up from our lips and hoping it would come back to the same place so we could start again.

I'm happy to share that I've tempted my daughter with a lifelong quest.
I'm ashamed to realize that my GranMa probably has a half-filled pillow in her guestroom. ;)

Smile :) donnamusing

Mzungu

It's so good to have my sweet hubby home. We are both glad that he stepped out on faith for this adventure to Uganda but just shy of two weeks was the longest we've ever been apart. I asked him to guest-blog a story that he wrote a couple days into his trip. Of course, I hadn't heard the story before seeing these t-shirts he brought home. The blog explains the shirts so well.

Mzungu 

I learned a new word shortly after arriving in Africa: Mzungu. It’s the name for white people among the Ugandan people. At first you might think of this as some sort of racial slur. And maybe to some Ugandans, it is. I’m sure some have been hurt by white people in one way or another. But that’s not the way I heard it. I heard it from Ugandan children with smiles emerging from ear to ear and hands raised high with enthusiastic waves. They were excited to see us. Mzungu is good. Fun. Different.

Years ago I would have never signed up for a trip like this. Never. I’m comfortable and content in my US born-and-bred life. I like my creature comforts. My food. My warm bed. My health. My family. My god who doesn’t need me to “go.” I can grow where I’m planted.

So, why am I here in Africa? What changed?
Well, first, I met my wife. She’s the reason my involvement, and even attendance, at church had a rebirth after years away. I looked at her and saw a love for Christ that I’d never known. A relationship, not just an acquaintance. I wanted that. I got involved with my church. Played bass in the praise band. Living the US Christian dream. Still wouldn’t be caught dead in Africa, though. Nope.

When I started attending Brentwood Church, I decided to make a shift. I wanted to go deeper with God. I saw people like Jeff Sellers and I wanted to have that same passion and drive for Jesus. I met Jeff for lunch one day shortly after he had gotten back from Uganda in 2012. He couldn’t say enough incredible things about it. He was completely enamored with the people and the country. The seed was planted. God was saying, “GO.” At first I wanted to ignore it. No way I was going to Uganda. But, I realized I had said, “no,” too many times already. Staying the same is not the change I wanted to see in myself. 

So, here I am.
Mzungu. I am a mzungu in Uganda. I am blessed to be within an entire group of Mzungus. A fantastic team I get the privilege to work with. They bless me with their hearts and their kindness.

I have seen a great many things in just the first few days of my trip that I never thought I would see. On the 7-hour ride from Kampala to Gulu, I saw miles and miles of country that was foreign, yet sometimes familiar, and I would snap back to the reality that I am indeed in Africa. I’ve seen monkeys and baboons even before the safari later this week. I’ve seen the Nile River from a bridge with armed guards because of the recent fighting in Uganda and the strategic point the bridge represents. I’ve seen reckless disregard for life and limb in the way people drive on these streets. I’ve seen slums so full of filth and decay that it made my heart ache. I’ve seen the faces of little children delighted at my presence. Holding my hand, the hand of a stranger, as though I was their best uncle Matt (and not to mention delighting in seeing their faces in a photo on my camera). I’ve seen people restored through the work of Sports Outreach Institute. I’ve seen a church service within a small building on Koro Farm full of local people with more spirit and faith than mega churches in the states. I’ve seen Jesus in the people of Koro Farm. And I am touched and honored to be here.
I am anxious to see what’s next. Tomorrow.

Matt Tyree