Deanna Doss Shrodes

Writing down who God is and what He does, is beneficial to me. It reminds me of what I have to cling to when everything else is uncertain. Sometimes I make lists about God. Then I read them and re-read them. It helps me.  

So, here's all we had to concern ourselves with, here in the past 24 hours... I sat in front of the fireplace and wrote to my heart's content in the quiet, while occasionally glancing out the window. Love the change of scenery while I write. Jordan was king of the mountain. Savanna made snow angels. We stayed in this beautiful place. We watched two movies last night. Made dinner, did the dishes, tidied things up, sunk down into a bath. Slept. That's all folks...  

Today's our last day in Boston before we head to the Berkshires.  We had a fantastic day yesterday, painting the town with Lou and Nina Zinnanti. They've been showing us all the hot spots of this beautiful town, and been so gracious. Savanna found this necklace for me. Since this is what lots of my friends have called me for umpteen years, it was just perfect... Plus it was 50% off. How could I not justify wearing the wonder, at half the price? I want to point out that this is my first Wonder Woman purchase. All of the other stockpile of memorabilia  that fills my home and office comes from friends, co-workers, church members, etc. over the years. Shout out to all who have given me everything from WW pajamas to lunch boxes to mugs to you name it. Then, I also found a phone case, for me. I got a new phone back in August, when I was at Ormond Beach and forgot that my phone was tucked into my bathing suit top and spontaneously decided to run and jump in the waves. Ye

We began our time away together in Boston, being that the place we're staying in the Berkshires comes available Sunday night. We've never been here before, so this is super exciting. The hotel we're staying in is round. I think that's so cool. It was built in the 1800's and was used to house the lamp oil back then. It's so quaint -- I just love it. It also has small full size beds which I love even more because that means I sleep nice and close to Larry Shrodes. :) Especially in the chill. Oh my! I forgot how cold it is in other parts of the world. I have been wearing three layers on top, including a ski jacket, hat, scarf and gloves. It's been a long time. I'm a Floridian now. I can't remember the last time I wore panty hose, and most days I wear open toe shoes even in winter. We met up with a college friend, Pastor Lou Zinnanti, yesterday. He and his wife, Pastor Kris Zinnanti, are the co-pastors of Christ the Rock Church here in Boston. L

There's no one I love spending time with more than this man...  (Look at how passionate he is when he's preaching. I love that about him...) And these three amazinggggg people... (Aren't they seriously THE most beautiful kids you've ever laid eyes on??!! Larry and I do a great job making babies.) We live in a beautiful city.  But this upcoming week, we get to enjoy an equally beautiful place, the climate of which is something we're not used to any more. Right now it's fluctuating between 1 and 3 degrees. Brrrrr! I am sooooo not used to that kind of weather after 11 years of living in Tampa. The kids love Florida but they do miss seasons and winter activities. A very special couple from Celebration Church provided our family with an incredible gift for pastor appreciation. They gave us a family vacation at their place in the Berkshires of Massachusetts!  (Yeah, I know, that's pretty much the most amazing thing, ever! We are so grateful.)

My family is getting ready to spend some special time off together upcoming. I'm still recooperating from Christmas. A few weeks ago I blogged about that here. I say this not to complain, just a statement of fact that the 2012 holiday season nearly slayed me. As soon as the holidays passed I began writing down my reflections about the season, making a plan for things to be radically different next year. I can't help but think that Jesus never intended any of us to be hospitalized because we half killed ourselves over His birthday party. But I digress... Suffice it to say I hung on for my sister to get here and us to have our time in Treasure Island and I also had my sights on our upcoming family time. :)  Concentrating on those two things got me through the season.   My new year's resolutions this year are the most streamlined list I've ever made. I've intentionally made the list short and simple and I intend to go after it hard. My goal is to accomplish

Yoo hoo................ Are you in there, Deanna? Some of you wonder where I've been. Others may be so busy knocking out your new year's resolutions you didn't stop to notice that I'm blogging here part of the time and elsewhere part of the time now. I haven't left deannashrodes.net,  and have no intentions to. I'm just getting the party started over at Adoptee Restoration . We're 19 days in and it's been an amazing journey for me. It also seems to be making a difference in hearts and lives. The comment thread is super active and my email mailbox has been too much to handle on some days. I try to end each day with an empty box but on a few days I didn't manage it. I guess I need to take my own advice .  It's not good in the sense that there are really that many hurting people out there and in another sense it's awesome to be part of meeting a need! Today, I'm blogging at the community that started it all for me... Lost Daughter

Yesterday I came to a new level of understanding that every person around us faces situations we have no idea about. Every single person. Now. Not the past. Now.  I can safely prophesy this to you, my friends. Without exception, every person you meet today is facing a challenge. For some it just occurred, and it's devastating. For others, they have carried the weight of what they face for a long time. Don't underestimate the power of a caring word, or touch. Allow your senses to be heightened to the need around you. When in doubt...still reach out.  What you say or do might just quite literally...save a life.   

There are times truth bumps into somebody else's comfortable world. It's there that we are tempted to be silent about the truth. We are tempted to compromise, to retreat back where we are safe from hurting anyone's feelings. To be sure, we don't set out to hurt another's feelings. But sometimes truth bumps into them and creates an unintended wound. It's important at that point to remember, it's not about us. It was never about us. When truth bumps and it hurts, it's their issue. Totally their issue.  And when they react, they aren't reacting at us but at truth, which can be extremely uncomfortable. Almost unbearable in fact. Why forge ahead when it would be so much easier to stop and avoid all that?     "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." ~Edmund Burke

I love you for just letting me show up. I love that I don't have to do anything, be anything, try harder, stretch myself, change, give, adjust or anything else. I can just be. You take me as is. This might explain why I don't like being away from you longer than about five minutes.

My sister and I are back in Tampa and although she doesn't leave until early Saturday morning, I'm starting to have withdrawals. I miss our special table at Waffle House. We are both creatures of order and routine! Both introverts. (Yes, did you know I was an introvert? If not, you probably don't know me real well.) An introvert or extrovert doesn't refer to whether you are shy or can speak in front of a crowd. The true definition lies in how you recharge.) Almost no one ever believes I'm an introvert when I tell them, but I promise you on a stack of Bibles, I'm a classic INFJ . It's the most rare personality type on the planet -- only 1% of people have this type. I'm convinced Shari is this same exact type but I haven't been able to get her to take the test yet. Maybe today! I will miss watching the sunset with her. Sitting together, yet not always talking. Being fully willing and able to speak, yet not needing to every second.

My sister Shari got us a place in Treasure Island for a few days, just to spend sister-time together. We've sat here and talked til' we're almost hoarse...   And we've eaten amazing stuff like this. We both had our own piece. Shhhhhh... I'm not blogging anything deep today...I'm just enjoying living life today rather than just recording it. Get ready though, deep WILL return. :)  

Oh my stars! Could it get any more interesting? My cousin Henry, who lives in Tacoma, Washington, came to see us on Friday. We spent time talking for hours, and eating Cuban food and ice cream and having a most wonderful time. I only wish it could have been longer.  After seeing Henry off to enjoy the rest of his vacation I had intended on preparing the house for my sister Shari to come from North Carolina. I had six hours or so before bedtime to whip the house in shape. However, our son Jordan became very ill. He called and asked if Larry and I could meet him at the emergency room of the same hospital our son Dustin works at. Jordan has been sick for six days and went to the doctor earlier in the week but nothing they gave him helped. Now in addition to the constant nausea, and pain, he was blacking out and having spasms. We met him there where they began to undergo a battery of tests... He had it all...urine, blood work, ultrasound, EKG, CAT scan, chest x-rays, you name

New Year's resolutions have always been something I've done each year.  I journal, make lists and arrive at my goals for the coming year with a lot of introspection and forethought. This year, I've really streamlined things in an effort to simplify. By simplify I don't infer slacking or scaling back on my dreams.  Photo Credit: qisur, Creative Commons I learned some huge lessons in 2012, one of which is this: "You can make many plans, but the LORD's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21 Last year I set mammoth goals . Some of them, I reached. Victory was sweet. I love success. With other goals, I fell flat on my face.    I learned a lot, though. And, I've tried to remember, I never have to "fail" again as long as I learn. When we take situations and learn from them, there's no failure, only learning. And, learning is good! With less goals, I hope to reach more as well as have plenty of available margin for God to s