Head Shots with Andrea Merril

I had a fun shoot with Andrea Merril of Christian Devotions (dot) us.

Andrea Merril

Andrea Merril

Andrea Merril

Andrea Merril

All images copyright of Mary Denman

Head Shots of Alycia Morales

I had a great time doing head shots for Alycia Morales. She was having fun and it showed in her smile.

Photo copyright of Mary Denman
Alycia Morales

Photo copyright of Mary Denman
Alycia Morales

Photo copyright of Mary Denman
Alycia Morales

Photo copyright of Mary Denman
Alycia Morales

The Beauty of an Old Typewriter

Old Underwood Typewriter (C) Mary Denman

Beautiful Old Typewriter Keys (c) Mary Denman

Can you hear the clicking of the keys against the paper? (c) Mary Denman

On Sin and Sunburn

This past summer, my youngest son did something foolish. Really foolish. Although at the time, he didn’t think there would be any consequences to his actions.

He went to our neighborhood pool. Without sunscreen. From10 am to 2 pm.

Without being too graphic, he developed a rather large blister on top of the sunburn on his shoulder. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. It hurt me to look at it. It hurt him even worse to live with it.

He needed to attend swim practice, but once the blister split open, it hurt too much. So I told him to go get me a waterproof band-aid. He got it, but didn’t give it to me. You see, as his mom, I knew I needed to test a small area first.

He decided to slap it on before he got back to me.

Waterproof band-aids aren’t small. They’re made to keep a decent size area dry. And they don’t come off with water.

I realized what he’d done when I heard the screams. I ran to the bathroom to find him in hysterics trying to get it off. He was caught in the worst place possible. He wanted it off, but the process of taking it off was more painful than leaving it there. But leaving it there wasn’t an option.

I wanted to step in and help. But he resisted me with more tears.

That’s when it hit me.  

His sunburn was like my sin. Or yours.

You see, he went to the pool without protection, stayed too long and developed a wicked sunburn. And then he disobeyed me and tried to fix the problem himself. He cried and cried because he was in extreme pain. 

Did I need to punish him at that moment? No. He was suffering because of his own actions. Instead, I felt compassion. Deep compassion. I didn’t want him to be in this situation. But I couldn’t take it away from him either.

There are definitely consequences to our sin. And others’ sin. God does not delight in our suffering. He feels compassion for us. Sometimes we have to endure some rough consequences. But that doesn’t negate his love or compassion.

I explained this to my son. His response? He told me to go write this down.

He was deeply sorry and repentant over what he’d done. And that’s the way we need to be with God. We need to run to him to ask forgiveness and for help to deal with the messes we make in life because of our sin.

Think about it, God used my son’s sin to teach me a valuable lesson about His love and compassion. He redeemed the sin for His glory.

I’m not suggesting being laissez-faire about sin. There are consequences. Sometimes very painful consequences.

Learn to listen to God and obey to start with, but when you do sin, run to him for forgiveness and help.

And guess what? My sun used protective sunscreen the rest of the summer.

Wordless Wednesday

Family Vacation

Having fun!!

Our family vacations are fun. Even camping.

So recently, we headed to the mountains of Tennessee pulling a camper behind us. The weather was wonderful and so were the sounds of the river by our campsite. This was our second time in the Great Smokey Mountains National park. 

But we have family traditions for our trips. We buy all the fun food we can and the kids love it. Another tradition is to go into Gatlinburg, Tn and eat at the Pancake Pantry. It’s been there for years and years.

So, the kids could order anything. And they did. We had pancakes with chocolate chips &  m&m’s covering them. Yum. Yum. Yum.

Pancake Pantry - notice the whipped cream!

The kids were so excited. Until they finished off their huge plates. That’s when all the sugar hit their systems. Full force.

We (me included) felt way beyond full and more into the realm of stuffed.

While we thoroughly enjoyed our meals, I realized that eating at the Pancake Pantry is a great place for a treat. Not a daily event. 

And that’s just like life. King Solomon had everything he could ever want, but ended up in depression. (Don’t believe me? Read Ecclesiastes.) He is quoted as saying everything was in vain. 

Now, I’m not saying you’ll get depressed if you eat too many pancakes. But consistently indulging ourselves makes us self focused. We want everything our way. 

M&M's on the pancakes

And that’s where we go astray in our relationship with God. We get angry at God because things we planned don’t go as scheduled. But what an opportunity to learn to appreciate the good times and recognize them as such. And to learn to walk with God in both the good times and the hard times. Because the hard times will come.

So what do you see in your life that needs to be relegated down a few notches and should just be enjoyed every once in a while?

Wordless Wednesday

Flowers inside a dogwood flower

Boot Camp

This past weekend, I attended Writers Advance Boot Camp at The Cove in NC with Edie Melson. It was hosted by Christian Devotions. While we didn’t have to crawl through the mud and climb over obstacles, the weekend was intense. In a good way.

We all received dog tags when we arrived. Throughout the weekend, we were challenged by the speakers. The message was clear.  God does not retreat. We have marching orders. He has called us to advance his kingdom: by serving, ministering and writing.

When he gives us a talent, we are to use it for him. Not for ourselves. And we do need to use it.

I had a wonderful time in a gorgeous setting and made friendships that will last for a lifetime and beyond. Friends that will get in the trenches when times are hard and I want to question God’s call on my live. Friends that will encourage me, challenge me and help keep my eyes on what’s truly important. And I will absolutely do the same for them.

When I join where God is already working, instead of “doing something” for him, there is much more joy and power. And I found that this past weekend.

So, while you may not have attended this conference this past weekend, I do challenge you to ask God what he has called you to do. To join him where he is working. You will find amazing people to work with when you do! 

Wordless Wednesday

Edie Melson on air with Jack & Kimberly on Your Carolina

I Went to the Circus and Found out I'm Wimp

Yes, I went to the circus and found out I’m a wimp.

Recently, I took my boys to Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus. We had a blast. The theme this year was the dragon. So, they featured true kung fu fighters. And what they did was amazing. They used solid oak poles and broke them over each other. Two of them placed a steel pole in their necks and then proceeded to push toward each other, bending the pole as they went. One lay on a single sword and balanced there.

On his stomach.

I’ve seen things like this done before. But what struck me was what the ringmaster said as they started. First came the disclaimer: “Don’t try this at home.” That was a good thing. I have boys. Nough said.  

But the next part is what made me realize I’m a wimp.

He said they’d started training with monks at the age of 5. Five years old. These weren’t children performing. They were men who had been at this for years.

If someone took an oak pole and whacked me with it, I’d end up with broken bones or a massive concussion. But they weren’t injured at all. They’d been training. And their training wasn’t easy. You don’t learn how to deflect blows like that without being hit. And hit hard. Over and over again.

But these men were conditioned to handle it. I complain when I get a small burn or paper cut.

I seek comfort.

They seek training.

So, I realized I was a wimp.

The blows in life are coming. But am I ready? Is my faith in God steadfast in the hard times? I tend to cry and whimper and want the hard times to stop. But I need to realize I’m in training. I can be strengthened by dealing with the blows instead of letting them stop me. 

As I was amazed by these men and what they could do, I realized others can be amazed by how I respond to life’s blows. That is if I let God be my master trainer and let his spirit work in me. If I believe that the challenges are actually meant to strengthen me and not break me, then I can walk closer to God, not questioning his love for me.

And that’s what I want. An unmovable faith and confidence in his love for me. Then I can stop being a wimp.

And after that, maybe I can fly.