May 21, 2012
Glaucoma and a CT scan.

Glaucoma has been called the “silent thief of sight” and I have it. I was diagnosed about a month ago and have been using eye drops nightly. Until death do us part, they say. I hear and read that a side affect of these drops are longer, fuller eyelashes. Bring it!

So I have accepted the glaucoma. I’ve lost some sight in certain areas, but if we get this under control…I will keep my vision as it is now, which is good! However, as a precautionary measure, they sent me for a ct scan of the head and orbits. Until last night, I didn’t think much about what this could mean. However, today…it hit me. Yes, it could be nothing. Or, it could be something. But what? I don’t dare go there. Some trust in horses and chariots, but I trust in the Lord, my God. I will be fine.

10:44pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixLw3zEk
May 7, 2012
*Cha-ching!

Ever heard the jokes about a priest, a rabbi and a minister who walk into a bar? Well, here is a new one.

I, Connie, a 6 ft blonde, married for almost 18 years, and a missionary walk into the bar… and I’m given $100.  
 
Now that you heard the punch line, let me tell you the story.
 
One of my favorite people and best friends, Caroline, got married yesterday. I drove to Alabama with another friend on Tuesday to prepare for the celebration. Not only did I have the honor of being a bridesmaid, but also her decorator.  We began immediately with last minute errands, organizing, list making, and hard labor.

Before we knew it, it was Thursday night… the Bachlorette shower!  Planned by the maid of honor, Caroline and I showed up to another bridesmaid’s home where gifts were given and food enjoyed. As planned, once the party died…a handful of us drove to downtown Birmingham to check into our hotel for the night and hit a couple bars. *Cha-ching.
 
From donrock.myadventures.org


I disagree with drunkenness, it has the potential to lead to making poor decisions, not to mention, can be costly in many ways. With that said, yes, I occasionally have a drink. Many of my friends drink - I don’t judge. *Cha-ching I frequent bars seldom. The most time I spend in bars have been in ministry overseas. 
 
As 2 am rolled around, we left one bar and walked to another. One where few people were hanging out in. A place for us girls to hang out, bond, laugh, and enjoy the music. Here’s what happened next.
 
HIM: Hey, what’s your name? This is a great Journey song. I bet you don’t even know who that is.
 
ME: Connie, and yes, I recognize the song. My HUSBAND and I saw them in concert.
 
HIM: No way! You are too young. How old are you? 24? 25? 26? 27?
 
ME: Stop. I’m 39 going on 40.
 
HIM: Whoa! I guess you are old enough to know who they are! And dude, you are older than ME!
 
I laugh and walked away, flattered that he thought I was younger than I am.
 
I watched this man striking up conversations with the others. Like I said, the place was near empty. I kept requesting 80’s music…and enjoyed watching my new friends celebrate Caroline. It took 2 hours for me to drink my one Blue Moon. *Cha-ching. At this point my ears were ringing and I was getting tired. So when the gals wanted to move to the back patio for fresh air…I was all over it.
 
Then a funny thing happened. “Him” walked over to me again. In my mind I was thinking… “Please go away, close talker”.
 
HIM: So what do you do for a living?
 
ME: I do missions and humanitarian work.
 
HIM: Like what? Are you a Lutheran?
 
ME: Nope. I’m a Bible believing individual…non-denominational.
 
HIM: I’m a **** and a sinner and I’m going to hell.
 
ME: I’m a sinner and I’m going to heaven. No need to go to hell.
 
HIM: I don’t go to church.
 
ME: (laughing) Good, I don’t either. *Cha-ching I mean, I don’t go every week. You don’t need to go to love God.
 
HIM: I like to go out on my boat and fish on Sundays instead.
 
ME: Well, God doesn’t just exist in a church building. Do you believe God can be anywhere?
 
HIM: Umm, yes.
 
ME: God’s on the boat fishing with you. You know He still talks…right? I bet if you talk to Him next time you are out there, He will talk back. Just listen for Him.
 
HIM: I see Him in your eyes.
 
ME: What?
 
HIM: I see Him in your eyes. You are a good person.
 
ME: Thank you! I’m happy to hear that. Consider this possibility…. that God sent me here to tell you He knows you exist, that He hears you, that He loves you and you don’t need to go to hell.
 
HIM: Thank you! What is your next trip?
 
ME: Thailand in a couple weeks.
 
HIM: What will you be doing?
 
ME: Funny you should ask. I’ll be working in bars telling girls in there the same thing I just told you.
 
HIM: I want to give you some money.
 
ME: OK!
 
HIM: Here is a $100. Do good with it. You know I have a wife and 2 kids. A 5 year old and a 3 year old. I’m a bad man.
 
ME: God loves you and knows your heart.
 
HIM: Thank you for telling me that. Please help those women. They need to know too.
 
I broke a rule. I gave him a hug and my business cards. I told him I’d pray for him and his family. I also told him that if he wanted to send in $100 each month to help, that I would gladly take it! We both laughed.
 
As we left at 4:30 am (5:30 am my time) he came over to say once again, to say thank you.
 
As we turned the corner, I looked at Caroline and the other bridesmaids and said, “Guys, I made $100 tonight!”  We shared a laugh that of all people, of all places… God is at the Bachlorette party! What a testimony.
 
We called it a night and walked to our hotel.

*Cha-ching… the sound of money. Either I will gain or lose prayers and support over this blog.

11:33pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixL57fm7
April 28, 2012
Us.

I love him.

1:24am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixKT3GnJ
April 18, 2012
Humility.

I read recently that humility is simply knowing the truth-that our skills and abilities, our success and stability, our health, and even our faith, are all gifts from the Creator. We own nothing.

That’s humbling and freeing. Something freeing about knowing and walking in that. Who cares what people think. Who cares who thinks I’m “entertaining”, (I hear - weird). Who cares who thinks I’m “free-spirit”, (I hear - absent minded), Who cares who thinks I should speak in tongues or stand on chairs. (I hear - they think I don’t have as healthy or powerful of a relationship with my Heavenly Father as they do).  I could go on and on and on, but who cares! That is my pride alone. Only I cared. Yup. Only I care. I know this because I’m tempted to tell you all about it!

I struggle with pride. It usually comes out in the form of frustration when I don’t get credit or acknowledged for what “I” do, or things “I” know. I’m reminded…He has my back. He knows. That’s all that matters really. Why? Because it’s NOT me, not the work “I” do. It’s His work through me. Yup. We know this…heaven forbid I come off telling you something you already know. Consider it a reminder. A reminder to myself…that you happened upon.

I’m rambling. 

4:34pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixJtvUsh
April 18, 2012
"If I own nothing, then no one can take it from me."

— Rosemary Budd

3:59pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixJtoB7H
April 8, 2012
Say what? Dominican Republic

Another trip. Another team. Another community to fall in love with.

This time, 24 of us, plus our Dominican family…shared 2 “showers”, where we bucket bathed after hauling our water from an underground water source. One toilet. Of which needed to be removed for unplugging and no running water. Imagine. Say what? You didn’t know…

The team slept shoulder to shoulder in humidity and heat on the church floor. Four batteries provided electricity - sometimes…and yet, no one complained. These students came prepared to work and work hard. They smiled, loved and lived. They shared and gave. They were stretched and grew. Most importantly, they came alive. They experienced first hand the Creator speaking. They listened and were “rocked”!

11:37pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixJLNhJ2
March 27, 2012
Money in any currency.

1 Timothy 6:3-10

If anyone teaches anything different and doesn’t agree with sound teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ and teaching that is consistent with godliness, that person is conceited. They don’t understand anything but have a sick obsession with debates and arguments. This creates jealousy, conflict, verbal abuse, and evil suspicions. There is constant bickering between people whose minds are ruined and who have been robbed of the truth. They think that godliness is a way to make money! Actually, godliness is a great source of profit when it is combined with being happy with what you already have. We didn’t bring anything into the world and so we can’t take anything out of it: we’ll be happy with food and clothing. But people who are trying to get rich fall into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful passions that plunge people into ruin and destruction. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal.

3:54am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixIeBHnF
March 26, 2012
i’m a daughter. a sister. a friend. a wife. a mother to none & yet to many. i’m created by the creator. i laugh when it’s appropriate & when it’s not. i love the awkward & funny, but hate the sad. my heart’s been broken & mended. i create, share & live for the story. i’m the tall one in the middle.

i’m a daughter. a sister. a friend. a wife. a mother to none & yet to many. i’m created by the creator. i laugh when it’s appropriate & when it’s not. i love the awkward & funny, but hate the sad. my heart’s been broken & mended. i create, share & live for the story. i’m the tall one in the middle.

10:39pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixIdY7uV
March 16, 2012
Purchase Effect 2012 Spring Items!

Check us out on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/purchaseeffect

8:26pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixI5jTt8
February 19, 2012
365 project.

I thought I’d try something different for me. http://365project.org/connierock/365 Here’s where it will get tough and I may have to cheat. I wanted to do only iphone/Instagram, because I like the “look”. Time will tell if I follow thru with a picture a day or not, and if I do, will they all be from my iphone and Instagram?

Here’s one from work. I was hoping for a reaction, but never heard a thing. Miss Piggy, has been floating around for years. As the years have gone on, she has been “altered” to say the least. I was pretty proud of my addition. (no worries, it was just a piece of paper rolled).

12:59pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZQt9ixGgS5vH
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