To Write Love On Her Arms

This is an old entry that I wrote, but never posted. Hope it resonates with you.

I believe in love and hope and fighting for life. I believe love and hope are real.

I've experienced each of these in very real ways; this is the stuff life is made out of. This is what I want to spend my life on. People need people, community, and love. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine; and other times it's found in silence, listening. Being rather than saying.

Pain is also very real, and the darkness that comes with it seemingly unbearable, inpenetrable. Sometimes the answers aren't so simple or easy. Sometimes embracing the darkness seems like the only way out.

But I also believe that this pain doesn't have to be the end. That there is always hope and love if one can be brave enough to reach for it. Reaching is changing and change isn't easy, change is blinding, sometimes paralyzing; but change can save lives. Change says that there is more than what you're seeing, feeling, doing now. You are meant for more than a prison of pain and half-hearted smiles, and saying you're okay while inside you are screaming that nothing is okay. There is more, there is hope.

To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit organization that believes in these things. They are committed to bringing hope to the hopeless and love to the lonely. They have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to treatment and recovery facilities. TWLOHA was founded by Jamie Tworkowski. Jamie reached out and found that hope is real; and that God had a plan for him. Through Jamie and TWLOHA, hope and healing has spread throughout America and is now flowing into Europe and Australia.

Over the past few months, I had forgotten how much TWLOHA means to so many people, including myself. This mobilization of hope and freedom is much bigger than the small staff and group of interns that keep it running smoothly. No, these issues of pain and hope, loss and freedom, death and life are universal. It was TWLOHA that really showed me how much I hurt for those in chains, not just the hurt but also the boldness to stand up for hope, love, faith, and peace. I was reminded of these things while reading Jamie's blog tonight.

This is a link to the post I was reading.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=8302385&blogId=358209920

(And if that doesn't work, go to Jamie's myspace blog from myspace.com/jamiewrites and go to the Feb. 15, 2008 entry.)

Jamie has a unique gift of writing; his words seem more like letters sent between friends than him bearing his soul to the countless audience that is the world wide web. His writings are reminders that no man is an island and hope is always there. And that it is the responsiblity of those possessing this hope and love, to give it to those dying for it.

2010- Reaping

Galations 6:7-9
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."


2010. New Year, new decade. Words cannot describe how refreshing and liberating it has been to say Goodbye to 2009. The past year has been quite possibly the hardest and most direction-less year of my life. I literally felt I had no plan at all last year, and if 2009 was any indication, I do not do well without a plan. There was no motivation to do anything, because everything literally felt pointless. But, in the midst of all that doubt and misdirection, I never doubted my life's worth or ultimate meaning. And it was through that Rock and conviction that I dug deeper into God than I ever have, fasted more than ever, prayed more than ever. I sowed so much into 2009, it hurt, to be honest. And that is precisely why I am looking to 2010 with excitement and anticipation for what this year holds; to reap what I have sown.

Matthew 5:3-6
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled."

Those were the first words Jesus spoke in His earthly ministry; he turned conventional wisdom on it's head from the start, and has never looked back. His is not the easiest Way, but it is the best.

Life has been insanely busy lately. Notebooks, photos, and volleyball. More later.

-E

A Quick Note...

I'm sure all your summer months have been quite busy, and mine is no different. The past weeks have been filled with car drives, radio sing-alongs, and various water activites. I just returned from three full weeks of camp at Lake Brownwood, and have hundreds, yes, literally hundreds, of pictures to crop, edit, and perfect. Hope this note finds you all happy and healthy!

Here's a pic of the sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico from our vacation in June!

Happy Fourth!

I hope everyone is enjoying grilled hot dogs, potato salad, fireworks, and their nation today. Go thank a serviceman or -woman.



Happy Fourth!

Beaches and Breezes

As I write this, I am lounging in our condo, yards away from the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. South Padre Island has been full of waves, sand, and relaxation. Thursday morning, Nikki surprised Kaleigh and me with tickets to go parasailing!! We were so excited, not to mention impressed that Nikki had kept them a secret for weeks! So, after loading into the minivan (yes, the minivan), and trekking to the Southern coast of the Island, we were strapped in and "sailing" 600 feet behind the boat. It was so peaceful being up there; you really have no idea how high up you are. The entire excursion took about an hour, so we still had the rest of the day to spend on the beach!

We went horseback riding on the beach this afternoon, which was quite the experience! We had all ridden horses before, so we were that much ahead of everyone else. Kaleigh and her horse Domino got along like old friends, and Nikki was a pro on Reno, but Peanut and I had some rough patches. He was the meanie out of the group of about 25, and he let everyone know about it. It was a little stressful at times, but I think I would do it again. I'm always up for a challenge, after all! Tonight, we went out to Blackbeard's, which is one of the must-do eateries on the Island. We have been responsible little adults and saving money by making food at home, but we did have to splurge once, of course! The food was awesome; according to Nikki, the Blackened Shrimp is out of this world.

Tonight will be our last night on the Island, then we head for Corpus Christi in the morning. Overall, this has been such a relaxing time and it's been so good to spend time with friends. I'll put the pictures up once I finish editing them.

Have a great weekend!
-Liz

Catching Up....

Isn't it strange that so many days go by, and I think, "No, I don't think anything "blog-worthy" has happened today," and before you know it, a month has passed, you're on the verge of back to back happenings, and for some reason, you have to play catch up just to keep things more or less current. So, here's an overview of life around the Johnson abode the past few weeks:

+ The biggest news is that we got two Black Lab mix puppies back in April. My parents went to Brownwood one weekend on business and came back with two skinny, slobbery furballs. They had been abandoned at Lake Ivy, and Mom just "couldn't leave them there," in her words. Their names are Ivy and Elm and they are six months old. They are happy and healthy; each with such distinct personalities and, most importantly, they get along royally with Sam, our Min-Pin/Chihuahua of seven years. I've been waiting for pictures to post of them. Now, the pictures have been taken; editing will happen tomorrow. With any luck, I'll get a post out then all about them.

+ Rebekah's next musical opens this weekend, Beauty and the Beast! Our house has been an opera hall the past few weeks, filled with English verses and Italian sonatas. R plays Madame de la Bouche, the armoir.

+ Father's Day was yesterday, so we went out for lunch after church, and celebrated. A relatively low key start to a crazy week...

+ Mom left today for a workshop in San Antonio for TLC, where she will be working beginning in the fall. She will be back Wednesday, leaving me to play mom to two teenagers and three dogs. This should be interesting....

+ And finally, my summer trips begin on Wednesday. Kaleigh, Nikki, and I are going to South Padre Island for 3 days of R and R, then Kingsville to meet up with some new friends of Nikki's. It will be so good to get away for a few days and relax, especially with all the activities coming up so soon after. Plus, what could be better than waking up to sunrises on the beach, and having no commitments other than fun in the sun for several days.

+ After, I have three camps consecutively, along with various ministry events. Then, volleyball (yay!) at TLC begins somewhere around August 4th. And before I'll know it, school will be back in full swing.

I plan on enjoying every minute of my crazy July. Oddly enough, this is the way I prefer my days: fully scheduled and planned (or planned to be un-planned, in the case of the beach), so I stay busy. The stress forces me to get more things done, I think. Or at least that's my story! Here's to days full of life and loved ones.

With love,
Liz