Nikon - My Grandma Eckert

Grandma Retrospect

Well, This is probally my last blog for the New Year. I have very vivid memories of my Grandmother. She just passed away this month. Some of the memories good and some bad. But all in all, she was one who could turn the whole world upside down. If she were in her 40's and 50's today she would be Hillary Clintons match for sure.
She did well in life and had a good heart. In the end it was her heart that stopped. I can hear her say; "I lived my life well, Lorraine, it's your turn now.
This is the season she will be missed most. She was always generous and fun to hang out with. I remember tea time and sweets galore. We would go back for seconds late at night when Grandpa was sleeping. Now they are both asleep forever.
I remember so vividly being misunderstood by her. And nothing I could do or say could make her change how she read me. It was like she always turned to the wrong page and I was never on it. But that was okay. I carried on and life went on.
As I ponder my Grandmothers life and look at the faded photographs, I notice that in whatever situation she was in she enjoyed life. With her cat glasses and all, she managed a smile or two.
I could recall when I was younger going to the Bronx every weekend. She always had the latest fashions from Alexander for us. She gave us a dollar or two to go to the local egg creme store,where there was a variety of candies and ice cream and such.
We would eat lunch New York style and dinner was well prepared. And then dessert, what can I say we were always well fed. I left my grandparents home with fond memories of wonderful conversations and and fun times.
Then they made the retirement move to Florida and my grandmother had to learn how to drive. No more subways. No more Alexander Liz. No more trips around the corner to the grocery store. But she did it, she got her license. And a sense of accomplishment for her was felt across state lines.
Well this closes another chapter in my life as well as hers, It seems as I get older, more of these chapters are closing. It's like that song "we go round and round and round in a circle game." Well thats alllllll folkkkkkkkksss!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Nothing worth having comes
without some kind of a fight.
Got to kick at darkness 'til it
bleeds daylight." Bruce Cockburn

"Call to me and I will answer
you and tell you great and
unsearchable things you
do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

A Visit to Belize
Central Prison

The only high and medium security prison in Belize;
Prisoner population = 1,200

I just want to share about the love of Jesus
I’ve experienced in Belize. There is many,
but for now I will share one incredible
experience in this wonderful week. And I’d
have to say, this was one of the highlights of my week.
On August 12th, 2004, my husband, Bill, John D,
Tim T. & I had the opportunity to visit Belize
Central Prison in Belize, delivering over 200
bibles in Spanish and English. On the way we picked
up John W., a most amazing man. John is a
devoted Christian, local businessman and the
Warden of this prison. He has incredible insight and
vision into the rehabilitation process that can only
come from his personal relationship with Christ. He’s
a living example of "WWJD." This prison has all types
of hardened criminals (drugs, murder and rape
are the 3 most common crimes), and John has the
desire to give them their dignity back by preaching the
Good News of Jesus Christ and treating them like
human beings. The prison’s conditions prior to his
taking over were not fit for any human. He’s been in
charge for two years now and the changes have been
dramatic.
The first stop on our tour was the youth facilities –
one of the first things John did was to separate the
youth from the men. We stood around inside their
sleeping quarters and chatted with several young
men who were incarcerated for all sorts of crimes. I
was stunned at how respectful they were to us, as
well as the quality relationship they had with John
W. What stunned me even more, unlike the
Hollywood version of prisons & wardens, was the
incredible and real concern John had for these youth.
Tim Tam told them about the Bibles we brought and
they couldn’t wait to get their hands on them!
Then we traveled through a maze of prisoners that all
seemed to know about the love and concern John had
for them. You see, some of these men had been jailed
for years before John took over, and they knew what it
used to be like. John shared so much with us about this
prison you could tell he was personally and emotionally
involved. One of the points he made is how each
inmate now had access to counselors, additional
education, more exercise time and even some
recreation time, but more importantly they all had the
opportunity to hear about the saving grace of Jesus
Christ.
As we traveled through the rest of the facility we
entered the Education Center that housed the
counselors and computer lab. Right after we met with
the woman who runs the counseling programs I had
an experience that filled my eyes with tears of joy. I
met this man named "Steven K". He was serving a 12
year sentence for his crime and almost died because
his throat had been cut with a machete. "I made one
mistake a few years ago and now I’m paying for it. I
have Christ now and He has forgiven me. And I want
to basically finish out my sentence and live my life for
Christ." That statement touched and deeply moved me.
Shame on me for thinking their sins were any less
forgivable than mine because they’re in prison! It is
Christ who has the power to forgive and Steven has
found it. Again, you could see the relationship that John
had established with him.
My next moment was a scary one… we went through
the building where men were imprisoned but not yet
sentenced. It was awkward, but I managed to walk
through the cells smiling and saying hello. All I could
think of was how much these men needed Jesus.
After we finished we visited the most unique
feature of this prison. They had their own Disc
Jockey and radio station! The DJ’s name is Santiago
and he runs their Christian broadcast program over
the PA system. Santiago is serving a life term for
murder. He reads scripture, plays Christian music,
and plays stories and different broadcasts that have
a Christian message. Christian radio was being pumped
through the entire prison. Through every intercom.
Through a huge system of speakers. In every building,
including solitary confinement. When we met Santiago
it was clear he was on fire for the Lord and he started
sharing how God is using him in this prison. He then
caught us off guard as he did an impromptu live interview
with John D… live throughout the entire prison!! He asked
John to tell the listeners about himself and share some
advice. John told them what we were doing in Belize in our
orphan ministry and he told them that there is hope in
Jesus and that Jesus forgives them, no matter what.
Santiago then proceeded to interview me. Same questions,

and the piece of advice I offered was to love one another,
because Jesus loves them. Then Bill was interviewed and
he encouraged the listeners to read the Word, that it
would guide them.
Here we were, 3 no-name Christians from Connecticut
sharing the Gospel to 1,200 prison inmates!!! I must say,
God was totally in control as He gave us the words to say
(I know this because I’m so microphone "phobic").
Needless to say, the name of the Prison Radio Station was
Jeremiah 33.3. This is a prison radio station broadcasting
the truth to its audience: "Call to me and I will answer you
and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Oh, there’s so much more I could say about the prison
ministry John has founded, but the one thing I will end
with is that this ministry is totally and completely based
on Jesus. And as I search for the meaning of this humbling
experience with a man who cares so much about people
who commit the atrocities of life, I’ve learned to look beyond
the external ugliness and see that each of us is created in
the image of God. I left a place full of broken individuals
and all I could hear was that still quiet voice inside of me
saying: "I will tell you great and unsearchable things that
you could never know." Things such as how He could take
a prison and transform lives in Belize. How cool is that!!!
In Him Always Lori D

Everything

I found this song, although totally secular probally,
I see it as me talking to God. It fits.
Author Lifehouse

Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where
I find peace again.

You are the strength,
that keeps me walking.
You are the hope,
that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose..
.you're everything.

How can I stand here with you
and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could
it be any better than this?

You calm the storms,
and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands,
you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart,
and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in?
Take me deeper now?

How can I stand here with you
and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could
it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with
you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could
it be any better than this?

Cause you're all I want,
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want your all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want you're all I need,
you're everything, everything.

And How can I stand here with
you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it
be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you
and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it
be any better than this?

How can I stand here with you
and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it
be any better than this?

Would you tell me how could it
be any better than this?

Quote of the day

It is one thing to go through a crisis
grandly,
but another thing to go
through
every day glorifying
God when there is no witness,
no limelight,
no one paying the remotest
attention to us. Osweld Chambers

Learning to Breathe

I need Him more. Picking up the pace.
November will be the time for new
beginnings for me. Lord, Help me stay
focused on the things that
are important to you. Break my
heart Lord for the things that
break your heart. I love you
so. You are so Good

Inspiring Quote
"I am only one, but still I am one;
I cannot do everything,
but still I can do something;
and because I cannot do everything I
will not refuse to do the something
that I can do."
Edward Hale, author and clergyman

Does one think....
..Some.......random...
..thoughts.....

After a while, the fast paced life of
Fairfield County gets to you. II
make me think that there has got to be more
to doing ministry in Fairfield County than
what I am doing now.
One wonders if one little speck like
me can make a difference in Fairfield
County. I was challenged this
weekend at a Missions Celebration
I participated in to be more of an
influence in Fairfield County. How can
I make my Belize experience happen here?
I need to scope it out and decide. I need
to look for opportunities. Oh, now that
this thought is in my mind,
Im responsible for it.

A.A.A.D.D.
(Age Activated Attention
Deficit Disorder)

I was thinking that I did so much
today that it was crazy.
Sat down for 2 seconds.
Where did my day go. How would
have I loved to sit down at the feet
of Jesus today would be so cool.
But it was like I ignored him I was
to busy doing really useless things.
Where did He go? He was waiting,
I simply didn't seek Him out today.
Maybe tommorrow.

As I begin this blog it is my intention to throw out some thoughts and see if anyone is on the same page as I am. I want to intertwine some of my favorite quotes that have inspired my life in many ways. Here's is the quote I will start out with.

One ship sails east
One ship sails west
Regardless of how the winds blow.
It is the set of the sail
And not the gale.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (The wind of fate)