Just a thought
August 18, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller
Heard this week:
The best things in life are rarely things.
Posted by Suzie @ 11:37 am | 2 Comments
Denver News
August 16, 2008 | calendar, community, family
I’ve been in Denver and what a week it was. It ended with a nice surprise–a gift, actually–that I didn’t expect.
I arrived at the Denver Intl. airport and found out that most shuttles don’t go to Arvada, where I needed to be for an interview on Denver Celebration, a Daystar program. I “shuttled” between three or four transportation services who all said, “check out the next guy”.
I decided to rent a car and was surprised that I could rent a beautiful 2008 silver Toyota 4runner SUV for less than the shuttles would have cost. I hit I70 West, and found Wheat Ridge/Arvada 30 minutes later.
I was on ”Denver Celebration” to talk about The Mom I Want to Be and The Woman I am Becoming with host Linda Evans Shepherd. If you tuned in and wondered why my hair was so flyaway, it was because of the fire alarm and evacuation at the hotel while I was getting ready. Nothing like running downstairs and outside with wet hair. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @ 4:15 am | 3 Comments
Susie Larson - Along the Way
August 15, 2008 | family, media interviews, relationships
If you’d like to listen to my interview with Susie Larson on Kim Ketola’s Along the Way LIVE show, please click here!
We talk about The Mom I Want to Be, and I get to visit with listeners of KTIX.
My mom is an alcoholic
August 12, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller
Question: Thanks for your post yesterday, but what about those of us whose parents are still alcoholics?
I was raised with an alcoholic mom. When she drinks she says terrible things. She’s out of control, and sappy and stupid.
I WILL NOT allow her to influence my children. If I forgive her, then she will think she can be in my life again, and that of my children. I won’t let that happen.
Questions from KTIX listeners
August 11, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller
Question: I heard you on KTIX yesterday. You said that forgiveness is the foundation of healing, but what if the person doesn’t deserve forgiveness? I can’t forgive someone who isn’t sorry, who continues to hurt people, and who is a miserable excuse for a parent. I want to give my child everything I didn’t have. If forgiving is part of that, then I don’t know what to do.
The power of touch
August 8, 2008 | relationships
I just want to say a quick hello to the listeners of Along the Way, KTIS radio in Minnesota. Thank you for dropping by. If you have questions about the topic “The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above the Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future”, please e-mail me and I’ll post them anonymously along with an answer next week. Blessings! Suzie
When I was a teen I went to my first nursing home with a group from my church. Mr. Lollis loaded up a group of 20 or so every Sunday. We went to Braum’s first, then to the nursing home where we sang or visited with the elderly.
Often, I felt strange. When you’re 16, old people really are old. They reached for me, hugged me, and held my hand in their soft, veiny hands.
Now that I’m on my way to being an old person, I see those visits differently.
If I were to count the number of times I’m touched each day, the number would be high. The first thing that Richard does when he comes home from work is to walk through the house whistling until he finds me (sounds like he’s looking for a dog, doesn’t it?, but it’s just his way). When he finds me I am crushed in a hug. We hold hands when we walk. I brush my hand across his head gently when I walk past him and he’s watching TV. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @ 4:51 am | 3 Comments
Berry Mauve or Muted Wine
August 7, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller, family, stories
I received a cool e-mail yesterday from a blog reader. Coworkers were passing around my story, Berry Mauve and Muted Wine. She is a cancer survivor and wanted me to know that she loved the story.
It’s one of my favorites, and always will be. So, here it is. A rerun. Same ole girl. Same ole guy. Seventeen years as a cancer survivor celebration coming up in September.
My story shared in Chicken Soup for the Couple’s Soul:
Berry Mauve or Muted Wine
by T. Suzanne Eller
He found me weeping bitterly in the hospital room.
“What’s wrong?” Richard asked, knowing that we both had reason to cry.
In the past forty-eight hours, I learned that I had a cancerous lump in my breast that had spread to my lymph nodes, and there was a possible spot on my brain. We were both thirty-two with three young children. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @ 4:36 am | 7 Comments
The Baffling Call of God
August 6, 2008 | faith, ministry life, purpose
Excerpted from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers
The Baffling Call Of God
“And all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished … And they understood none of these things.” Luke 18:31, 34
God called Jesus Christ to what seemed unmitigated disaster. Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death; He led every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken. Jesus Christ’s life was an absolute failure from every standpoint but God’s. But what seemed failure from man’s standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God’s, because God’s purpose is never man’s purpose.
There comes the baffling call of God in our lives also. The call of God can never be stated explicitly; it is implicit. The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him. It cannot be stated definitely what the call of God is to, because His call is to be in comradeship with Himself for His own purposes, and the test is to believe that God knows what He is after.
From Suzie: Isn’t it funny how we strive after purpose, instead of God? I’m not really talking to you; I’m looking straight at my own image in the mirror. If I look at my to-do list today it is full. Every one of them is wrapped around “ministry”. And yet purpose is not what I do, but who I walk with today who is a friend, is God, is peace, is life, is joy. I love ministry. I love writing. I am passionate about these things.
But the simplicity of faith is that my “calling” is to simply walk with God through the good, the bad, the sticky, the challenging, the amazing, the ordinary days and moments of my day.
If you want to read the rest of this Oswald Chambers devo, click here.
Posted by Suzie @ 4:22 am | 2 Comments
What I’ve Learned. . .
August 5, 2008 | T. Suzanne Eller, mentoring
One of my favorite bloggers shared “What I’ve Learned” on her blog today. As I approach my 49th birthday (September 1 — send gifts and chocolate!), maybe I’m at a place that I can say I’ve learned something, too.
I’ve learned. . .
- that failure only happens when you try something new, so I’m willing to fail
- that being healthy isn’t about looking good, but living life fuller
- that kittens will always make me happy
- that cheesecake is worth the calories
- that you don’t have the people you love in your life forever, so love them in all the right ways today
- that holding a grudge is a huge waste of time
- that most small things are just that…small things
- that I’ll get there, so slow down and enjoy the drive
- that being religious can be far from what Jesus lived and taught
- that my words DO matter
- that it’s important to jump on the bed once in a while just to do it
- to walk through open doors because you never know what you’ll find on the other side
- that people that hurt you are really hurting inside
- that there are no important or unimportant people — every person has a story and every person is worth knowing
- that hanging out with family brings me joy
What about you? What have you learned? I’d love to hear from you!
