Reflections from the April 2014 A to Z Challenge

This is my third year participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge but my first year reflecting on the challenge.

I’ve loved every minute of all three challenges. I went to a place I only dreamed about in the past my first year. Thus my dream came true-a writer. The first year I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. My first try at signing up was not successful but someone assisted me and I was good to go.

I’ve completed each year’s challenge. This year was a challenge to say the least. I was ill the whole month of April but I pressed through. Most days I wasn’t sure what I’d written but my mission was accomplished. Several times I was too ill to write but when I felt better I caught them up.

I think you all do a wonderful job managing the challenge. I don’t know the rules to writing so I can’t give any advice or make recommendations. I do appreciate how you can code your blog so people are aware what you are writing and they can decide whether or not your topic is what they want to read.

I enjoyed reading the blogs of the Host and Assistants. They were encouraging, helpful and entertaining. The blogs of the participants were great also. I got to observe the more experienced writers and learn from them how to become a better writer.

Thank you for your hard work, dedication and striving to make each year better than the year before. Keep pressing forward.

I will be back for next year’s challenge.

Youth Renewed

My word for Y is Youth.

the appearance, freshness, vigor, spirit, etc., characteristic of one who is young.

In Psalms 103:5 we are told that God satisfies our mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.

An eagle’s strength is renewed when it gets a total makeover. It’s basically stripped down of everything and the new starts growing in—new wings, feathers, etc.

God can do the same for us. He will take away the old burdens, sorrows and pains that weigh us down and give us a new lease on life.

With the old things gone we will be refreshed and renewed and youthful.

Renewed youth is my portion because the Bible says I can have it.

What about you?

X is for X-ray

I was walking down the hall to my bedroom earlier this month. I heard a noise behind me.

I heard a raspy breathing sound with every step I took. When I stopped walking the breathing sound stopped. I thought I was in a horror movie and the creature was about to take me out.

As I took another step I realized that raspy breathing was coming from me. It became funny once the fear left. My starring role in the horror movie was over before it started.

Every inch of my face hurt along with both ears aching. The muscles in my neck and chest got a workout because with every breath I coughed, coughed and coughed some more.

Another fear set in. I thought I might have pneumonia-never had that before. I made a trip to the doctor to get an x-ray. The doctor didn’t give me the x-ray I went for because the diagnosis was a sinus infection and bronchitis.

It didn’t end there. The medicine was complete but the rattling cough remained. Back to the doctor I went. This time an x-ray was taken.

The x-ray showed no signs of pneumonia and all was clear. Yeah me.

I’m well on the road to recover. The x-ray gave me a peace of mind.

Walk With Me

Come walk with me
In the cool of the day
And the moonlit night
A journey that was planned
A long time ago

The plan hasn’t changed
We are on our way
To recapture the day
That was interrupted
And tore us apart

I had a plan
Before the beginning of time
That would realign us
Into our perfect place

Again I say come walk with me
Let’s commune the way we use to be