It seems fitting that I was tagged by my blogging friend, Mark, on my first week of substitute teaching AND my fifth blogging anniversary. Before I play, I need to get something off my heart:
A game of tag was going on about 50 yards away. Screams and yells pierced the air as a crew of cuties tangled into a pretzel. They started to scatter at the sound of a nearby whistle. As I approached them, part of the pretzel crowd began tellingme yelling about what happened (and who was rightwrong). Questions began rolling off my tongue like I had rehearsed them. But, I hadn’t. I realized that the solutions I hoped they could come up with were the desires I wished for all ages. From assessing who was hurt and how I could help them, to ways she, she, she, and he might do things differently the next time, and how can we resolve it? And being me, I talked about forgiveness and grace while stressing the importance of keeping one another safe (this was not a middle school fight where one punched another one in the face–but you can understand what I was trying to do). Back in the room, we played a DIFFERENT game of tag. “When you’re tagged (vocally) would you share something kind about a friend?” Ah, communication. They all wanted to talk at once and very few wanted to listen. Is it me or are they more distracted these days? What did I hope to accomplish? Kindness, empathy, patience, and the list goes on. Tag is a teacher.
Our world has changed, but tag hasn’t. I’m so glad God doesn’t change. And guess what else? Love is still love.
I’m going to chase them all and tag them with love.I’m going to tag YOU, too.
Here are my answers to “tag, you’re it!”
How did you come up with your blog name?
I’ve been embracing imperfection with faith (our God doesn’t expect perfection, but he wants our hearts and will!), flannel, and fresh air for many years. All of these have been essential on my journey. Imperfection and messiness. Ah, brokenness can be a beautiful place to begin restoration! My love for the 3 F’s (and even more–Family and Finley) keeps me grounded in what matters most.
If your blog was a person (fictional or real), who would it be?
Me. It might be Finley? 😉
What helps you create new content if you feel like you need some inspiration?
My time with God, family, friends, and nature inspires me! Life experiences, circumstances, and learning anything new help me create new content! Life IS the content. The hardest part is narrowing down my mind. If I had time, I could write each day. Other writers inspire me, too!
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with?
Martha taught me a collaboration one time! My time collaborating with all of you as friends and family, even in conversation, is essential to me. What I love about the blogging community is how eclectic and well-rounded all my friends/writers are–from faith to food, the great outdoors and animals, humor to high-jinks, and history to science! I love it all!
Is there anything more you wish you had or would like to learn as a blogger?
I hope to keep improving as a writer and reader. Learning is a great thing—I don’t want to stop!
Do you have a specific style of blogging?
Hmmm. Inspirational essay style? It varies, but most can expect it to have a faith theme!
That basically sums it up. Thank you, Mark, for tagging me. Matt wanted to play tag–so you’re it! Also, my friend, C from Joyroses, and Martha, you’re tagged! Of course, if you’re too tired to play tag, I understand!
Thank you, EVERYONE, for your support these last 5 years. My family, along with this writing community, former colleagues, friends, and hometown family, continue to encourage and inspire me on my life journey. Particularly my playground-like experience thriving with Stage IV NET. I thank God for all of you. Do you know how loved you are? ❣️
Karla & Finley
Have faith💛
Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air
K.L. Hale
An unexpected gift–teacher’s bag! (thank you, Linda)Mindset! Amen! Meet S’mores and Truman
There were hints during their childhood where military futures seemed obvious. Today I watched home videos, circa 1998, –the boys were running around the Naval Aviation Museum in Florida. With happy tears and giggles, my eyes soaked in the moments they ran around the aircraft, sat in a helicopter, and marveled at the USS Alabama.
“Can I please take your picture?”, I asked on Friday. Memories, like the stifling heat, melted my heart. Where did the last eight years go? He would leave his military base, after 8 years, for the last time. Nearly twelve years ago I stood and watched his older brother sign THE contract that began his military career. “I wish his brother were here,” I thought. Two boys became two men with families. One will leave a career and begin another. One will continue and be relocated. Will it forever be a “mom” thing?
Life doesn’t pause for a picture.
My pause came today.
From Kindergarten to playgrounds, ballfields to gyms, campgrounds to dances, toy jeeps to trucks, and cars to college and work. From a few miles away to hundreds (and thousands!). Different states, places, people, and jobs. Family reunions and funerals. Celebrations, certificates, and promotions. Discouragement, discipline, and detachment. Relocations, rules, and routines.Military Life. Both of them will remember “those days“.
No matter what career you choose, where you live, or who you become, you’ll remember “those days”. You’ll remember the circumstances that shaped, molded, and maybe tried to destroy you. Will you remember the things that grew you or grounded you? Will you cry over what you lost or what you gained? Will you be bitter over the ‘bad’? Will you remember the people that invested in you? Or those who protested? Did your career make you care more or more callous? Were there lessons in love and life or greed and grumbling? Will you remember the relationships in which you were reawakened or those in which you rebelled? Do the mundane memories muster magic? Does faith fix your fragments? What do you remember about “those days”?
“One of those days” is…TODAY.
It’s been one of those days.A day to reflect, remember, and realize. It’s held hard conversations, humility, and hope. We ALL have “those days”. No matter how we appear on the outside, our inside might feel hurt, pain, or weakness (have I told you how I hate cancer?). Evenamid unexpected events, I pause and praise-for I’m thankful to God for another “one of those days”.
These days I have a peace that passes all understanding.The truth of a future without pain, worry, or heartache–it’ll be one of those days. 🤍
Originally recorded by Karen Peck & New River–cover by K.L. Hale
Do you know how loved you are? Have faith. 🤍
Scenes of “Wings over Whiteman”, Whiteman, AFB–and a Mom and sons (YEARS ago)
To my sons: words can’t express my love and pride. Congratulations to Jay on eight years of service and Jarrod, your eleven, almost twelve years of service. To my daughter-in-loves: thank you for supporting them, your children, and me on “those days”. Just as my family and friends here do the same! How can I not be thankful for “those days” when I feel such love and support?
Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air
Lesson plans were turned in every Friday. Objectives? Standards? Methods? Materials? Guided practice? Activities might be engaging, appropriate, and enjoyable; what about closure? Although I planned closure activities, it was the student/learner who achieved closure. Even today, God knows I love lessons, learning, and practice. Ah, life lessons. What do I continue to learn?
“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” T.S. Eliot
Books, entertainment, and activities provide life lessons for me. Recently, I finished a 2nd reading of a book by John Eldridge titled, The Utter Relief of Holiness (what does holiness mean to you?). If you’re not familiar with the works of John and his wife, Stasi, and you’re a lover of God, others, nature. adventure, all things wild, and common sense, you might enjoy their wisdom and insight. Stasi’s book, Captivating, helped me understand why my weird dreaming heart loves great adventures. Last night I sat in awe at the latest episode of The Chosen. Although there will be negative thoughts and naysayers about the particulars of this show, I enjoy the lessons I’m learning through this series. As I ponder and pause, reflect and review, several thoughts from the book, and my own, have surfaced.
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
“Popular goodness” can ruin one’s thoughts on the work of holiness. Why wouldn’t I strive to be Christ-like and pure in my intentions and daily walk? Is being moral the same as loving God?
My heart-searching “takeaways”:
If I have hatred in my heart, yet give clothes to the homeless, am I GOOD?
Am I more righteous if I’ve been married 40 years but hold resentment towards my spouse?
Is the smug man holier than the man who smokes cigarettes and loves God and others?
If I force my family to pray before a meal and yell at them on the way to church, am I holy?
Do I talk to Jesus one day a week and assume that’s “good enough” to enter his Kingdom?
Do I treat one neighbor with disdain because of politics and think I’m “holier than thou” (what does HOLY mean to YOU?)
Do I continue to repeat sins and habits because I’m allowing triggers in my life rather than staying connected 24-7 to the true source of love and power?
Am I being Christ-like if I’m holding a grudge?
If I say I love Jesus, but not others, am I a true believer? Am I holy?
If my cancer spreads more does it mean I’m being punished? (NO!) (If you’ve watched The Chosen, you might recall season 3’s episode of the conversation between Little James and Jesus–truth and tears!).
Selective morality, as Eldridge pens it, —”keeping the letter of the law while ignoring massive problems in our hearts”(p. 73). Is this holiness? Technical rule-keeping is not holiness. What are the heart lessons you’re learning?
I’m human and I fail. I’m a work-in-progress. Holiness is not for the faint of heart! It’s demanding work!
“Doing the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.” ― George MacDonald
“We were created for life, love, beauty, joy, laughter, friendship, and adventure. These are the very things God wants for us.” (Eldridge, 2013, p.66).
Motives are behind everything we do. Are we self-protecting? Living in fear? Do we have complete confidence in God or ourselves? Humans like to complicate things. Do we simply love God and others? What lesson are we teaching? What are we trying to learn?
I’ve invited Jesus into broken places in my life. It’s so healing to have him with me. Wholeness. Holiness. I’m not going to waste this Man of God’s ultimate gift. He carried the weight of my sin (and cancer) on his back—it was nailed with him, brutally, on the cross. He carried it ALL for YOU, too. I’ve surrendered it all to him. Guess what? Surrender is a daily, and sometimes, hourly practice! Did I tell you how I love to practice? He expects me to do my best. When I fail, I repent, renounce, (run?) and close the door. I’m not going to “read a verse a day to keep the devil away.” I don’t want comfortable goodness and leisurely doubt. I’m after something far more genuine: the beautiful holiness of Jesus (Eldridge, 2005, p. 86).
Goodness does matter. But it’s grace alone that opens the door to knowing God.
What if we focused on our own paths to holiness? Can we engage others in lessons of love, compassion, kindness, and understanding so that they can achieve closure in CHRIST?
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
John 11:25
My cancer journey requires various teachers, learning, plans, activities, and standards…but my expected closure? It won’t change.
“Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you! Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. There will be a highway called the Holy Road.
The people God has ransomed will come back on this road. They’ll sing as they make their way home to Zion, unfading halos of joy encircling their heads, welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and signs scurry into the night.
Isaiah 35:3-10 (TM)
Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.
St. Augustine
Have faith🤍
Have you heard of NET, yet?🦓
Thank you, family and friends, for your patience and support. Since my last celebration of my wonderful parents, I’ve had family visits, birthday celebrations, an anniversary gathering, and a treatment day/doctor visit. My adult kids and grandkids visited SW MO. More memories were made to treasure! Trust me when I say the pics of my grandkids are the cutest ever! 🙂 There were battles with sickness and life events. Life will always give new lessons!
My latest PET scan showed lymph nodes impacted; treatments must continue to keep them stable. The largest bone lesions are stubborn; yet, I have wins in the small ones! Future scans will determine necessary steps. Am I disappointed that the cancer can’t just DISAPPEAR? Yes. Treatments do have side effects for me (some new). But I have a LIFE. I’m at peace about it.
A week ago, Saturday, LACNETS held their National Conference. It humbled me that my story was requested to be shared. It was the hardest thing I’ve written in a long time! This organization, including its leaders, fellow cancer patients, and experts, enhances my life. Thank you for believing, supporting, and rallying for all of us. There isn’t a family I know that hasn’t been impacted by cancer or disease. I’m praying for your situation and supporting you as you do me.
This video belongs to LACNETS. Written by K.L. Hale and filmed by Autumn Girgin (Visit Autumn at Girgisaur Productions). Autumn, thank you for all you did to make my story come to “life”. If you or a family member have Neuroendocrine Cancer, I encourage you to visit LACNETS. Feel free to reach out to me for support!
This video, belonging to LACNETS, will stay static on my “About Me” page. Although there are things I’d like to edit or change, the message stays the same–Be an advocate for yourself and others. If you feel something is wrong, seek help. There is hope!
Cancer wasn’t in my plans. We can make the best-laid plans, including amazing activities based on great standards, but in the end, what will closure look like? What did you learn? What do you hope to gain? Did I tell you I love learning?Oh, and I love you, too.
“Love is the beauty of the soul.”
St. Augustine
“We are all very anxious to be understood, and it is very hard not to be. But there is one thing much more necessary.’ What is that, grandmother?’ To understand other people.’ Yes, grandmother. I must be fair – for if I’m not fair to other people, I’m not worth being understood myself. I see.”
