As I've entered the world of blogging, I've come to observe different types of bloggers. What type are you?

Are you the wanna be blogger like I was when I started? I joined on-line journaling in July 2007 only to not publish another post for six months. I had grand and glorious ideas of what to say, images, provoking thoughts – only to let life steal them all away for a while.

How about a blog stalker? Blog stalkers peak into the lives of others. Others they may never even physically encounter. They get glimpses of different cultures, struggles, situations, and, sometimes; someone’s most intimate thoughts.

A bleeding heart blogger lays it all out there for us to read, sense, try to grasp or imagine ourselves in similar positions. They are not afraid of what others may feel or think about their thoughts and struggles rather they are inviting others into their lives.

Just for fun bloggers post photos, keep family and friends updated on the light, fun and enjoyable side of life. I believe I am primarily a “just for fun” blogger because I am intensely private. However, I believe I am moving and progressing to opening up more and more…while not quite to the same level as the bleeding heart blogger.

Devotional bloggers give us something to ponder. Challenging us to think about God, creation, Jesus, our relationship with Him, our response to Him...

The deep blogger is so lost in their own thoughts that it may be difficult to peak into their lives. Their thoughts may be dark and ominous, yet very real and poignant. The deep blogger doesn’t want to put surfacy words out there for us to contemplate. They want to get lost in the universal unknown world of blogging.

Blogging is an ultimate voyeuristic activity. One can see another’s life from the outside without any emotional or physical contact. Blogging may appear to give us a sense of intimacy that does not exist. It is this lack of true intimacy that can be a problem if one is so wrapped up in blogging that they evade real life. However, blogging can lead to some very positive results. For instance, a blog stalker may stumble across people dealing with deep hard life issues and stop to pray for them. Imagine a world where people are praying for you…and you don’t know their name…and you don’t even know they are praying for you…

Blogging is also a simple tool for family and friends to keep up with your daily life. Our lives sometimes seem to be spinning at warp speed. There hardly seems time to spend 15 minutes on the phone with a loved one. Running errands, working, taking care of our families, keeping up with our households - let alone doing anything for ourselves - are the priorities of the day. The simple life of hanging out on the porch with neighbors and friends seem to have gone by the way side. In my neighborhood, closed garage doors and front doors are the norm. While blogging doesn’t replace good old fashioned chitty chat, it does help to keep up with loved ones more frequently than a once a year Christmas letter.

Let me know what type or types of blogger you are OR if think of any other types of bloggers…I’m sure I’ve missed some.

Caring

Gracious

Giver

Faithful

Servant

Believer

My memoir in six words. Pretty difficult and it may change over the coming days as I ponder what would I really want to be said about me. And do I live up to what I would want?

Two years ago, I chained all my teeth together with braces. Metal mouth became I. My motto has been "pretty teeth." You see, I have had ugly teeth my whole life. Spaces here and there. Two teeth that never came again. I love genetic defects. Although, missing two teeth genetically speaking is far down the line of what is considered important and vital to life here on earth.

Once I got braces, I started noticing everyone's teeth. How beautiful, straight, white...and always comparing to my misaligned, spacious gaps in my mouth. Comparing is not always such a good thing to do. Fortunately, my comparing always led to a desire for pretty teeth rather than a jealousy or envy of the other person. My braces made me appreciate the beauty in teeth at a completely different level than before.

One of the first actions of my braces was to the bridge the great divide between my two front middle teeth. My ortho wired my teeth together, tied them together, looped them together, and all kinds of other things. Well, about a year and half after getting them on, I awoke one day to no gap in my front two teeth. I couldn't hardly believe it! I hadn't seen my mouth without a gap since early childhood.

Well closing the gap open up two gaps on either side of my two front teeth. I went from teeth like Lauren Hutton to teeth like a hillbilly. My teeth now appeared as if I had never been to a dentist. It's a good thing my mouth isn't very large as I don't think most people ever recognized the huge spaces in my mouth. I felt even more self-conscious than before. I would laugh with my hand over my mouth or close my lips when smiling.

Well today is a new day! My hillbilly teeth have been replaced with fake teeth! My ortho fitted me and locked two fake teeth in my braces. Fully bracketed and chained on, my mouth is completely full of teeth. I was shocked when I looked in the mirror. Amazing, a glimpse of what my teeth will be when the braces come off and my 'dental' implants are securely in place.

Below are some silly photos of my "before and after" fake teeth. My friend and I cackled as we took before photos. I think she about peed her pants laughing at my stupid facial expressions. The after photo was fun just for the sake of fun. I know my teeth aren't perfect yet, but they give me hope to continue the journey. So if you are blessed with beautiful teeth, say a word of praise and thanks! And if you are fortunate to have braces, say a word of thanks for an invention that can turn you from hillbilly to human.

Do you always know when you are getting a phone call you don't want to hear? I was in the middle of watching a movie late Saturday night when the phone rang. It was way past the normal time that my mother would be calling me, so I knew it had to be bad news. I wasn't prepared for the news - fearing the worst. Well, I finally summoned bravery enough to call her back. It was bad news indeed. My oldest brother has a son named Jordan who lives in Florida with his mom, Pam. The news was Pam's mother - Helen - had passed away on Friday April 4th. She had been battling cancer and now succumbed to this terrible disease. I remember Helen having stayed at her house in my early 20's. She was a lovely joyous lady who always made me feel welcome. It was like she never met a stranger. As I think about my nephew Jordan, I grieve for him as he wanders through the path of loss of a loved one. I am comforted to know she did love the Lord. Maybe one day that will comfort her closest family and friends.

On Sunday, I opened my e-mail to find one from a very dear old friend. The title had a name from my past that I hadn't heard in years - Carol. Carol was the best friend of my dear old friend. Carol had been feeling unwell for quite sometime. She too passed away on Friday April 4th from respiratory failure. I met Carol when I was a teenager. My friend and her painted ceramics every Tuesday evening. At one point, they invited me to join them. I felt honored - being 20 years their junior - to be included in their party. They talked to me like an adult, listed to what I had to say, and treated me like a friend. It was a great place of acceptance and love. Even though I haven't seen Carol in years, I will miss knowing she was here on earth. But as my dear friend said, it is better for Carol because she has been unwell for so long.

Times of death always make me think of fleeting life. No matter when it comes, it always seems to be here early. I find comfort knowing when people have loved the Lord. It provides me with peace and a different understanding into their death. It takes the edge off of the "earliness." While I will miss these people, heaven is far better than what we could ever imagine or dream. May they truly rest in the peace of our Lord.

Many of you know our friend, not just mine, Paul. He has been on my heart lately as he is preparing for a big change in his life. He will be coming home from Asia. I have been praying for his leadership while in country, the work he has been doing, his relationships, his re-entry into this amazing, but complex and very selfish materialistic culture called America...I am asking if you too would pray for him as well as the rest of our team returning. They are going to need an extra measure of grace and love from our Lord during this time of transition. Please reach out and encourage them.

Paul with our friend Gilberto at a Village Church staff Christmas party.


Paul and I on my 40th birthday. Denise and I offered "photo ops" all day long. What a great time!

Spring Break has come and gone, but what a time we had. Christopher and I left early on Friday and headed to Kansas City - Missouri not Kansas. My childhood home. My parents, four brothers and their families all live here. I have lots of nieces and nephews. They have been a great joy to watch grow up.

My oldest brother, Jim, has four kids and has been married to Margaret for about 11 years. Jordan lives in Florida and is college-aged. I remember him when he was a baby. My parents and I drove to Mountain Home ID where Jim was living at the time. The town it not far from Boise and sits in a valley at the base of the mountains. What a little guy he was. He was also the first grandchild to represent five living generations in our family. I'll have to find a baby photo and post it later. Brooke is going to be 16 this summer and driving! Eee gads. I can't hardly believe it. Such a lovely, caring young lady. Kendra is married with one son named Skylar. What a fun kid. Krystal is graduating from college this year and ready to embark on life.

This photo is of Brooke Shea and her cousin Rachel.
Jim and Krystal playing Santa.

Jer Bear, formerly known as Jerry, formerly known as J.D., is the next to oldest son and has been married to Janet for - gees a long time! They have one daughter - Rachel. She is a very smart and helpful young lady.

This picture was taken a year ago at Christmas time. She is sporting new clothes from her Aunties.
Shawnie Pawnie Wawnie - oh he would hate and love it! What a nickname from our childhood. Shawn is married to Denise and they have two children. Megan recently got engaged. And Josh found football last fall and I think fell in love with the sport. He is such a loving young man. Kind of a flirt actually. Like father, like son.

These photos were taken at Christmas a year ago also - Megan with her mommie Denise; and Josh playin' pool. Shawn, Megan and cousin Lauren.
Well the baby of the fam is Markie Clarkie. He is the youngest of all five children. I of course was stuck in the middle, but we had fun! Mark is married to Alberta and they have two children: Jake who is a teenager (like Christopher) and missy Lauren. Jake loves sports and is naturally gifted athletically. Lauren is just cute. A girl who loves her "bubba" aka Jake.Hello Miss Kitty was her fave!
The great thing was the younger ones were all on Spring Break at the same time! We had a great time going to the movies, shopping, bowling, and just plain hangin' out. It's too bad we live so far away...