A Little Bit of Heaven

I met a little bit of heaven this weekend.

Her name was Kim.

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Let me tell you about her.

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I was invited to Ohio to speak to a church for a Christmas event and when I got the first call from the event coordinator there was something different in her voice. They didn't have any money for a speaker, she didn't know if anyone would come to the event because my topic is so "non-traditional" and this church is on the traditional side, but she felt God leading her to invite me. So, I accepted.

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All along, we had no idea who would come, if anyone, but all along, I knew it was supposed to happen.

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Happen, it did.

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And boy am I glad.

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Perhaps the event was for me...to let me get a glimpse of what the angels in heaven are like, because I saw one this weekend and her name was Kim.

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You see, Kim was a "Thalidomide baby". I hope I said that right. Her mother had taken a morning sickness medication that was later found out to cause this. She told me that when she was born, her head and neck were on her shoulder (that must have been repaired by surgery because she looked like you and me in that area) but her left arm stopped at her elbow. Her left hand was at her elbow. She was 4'11" tall. Exactly one foot shorter than me.

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She said that for years, she wore clothes to hide her arm. She was embarrassed because she considered herself severely flawed and she hated it. She told me about a time when she was 15 and had dated a boy during the summer and she had gotten so good at hiding her arm that he didn't even know. But one day they stepped into a boat and her coverup slipped off her arm, and he got so scared he ran all the way back to the house and never talked to her again.

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Now that I've told you about Kim's physical appearance (and did I tell you she is absolutely beautiful?) let me tell you about her inner beauty.

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Heaven on earth.

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Kim is an angel walking around in clothes. She told me that the night before she was to go into see the best lawyer there was who was suing the medical company for her condition God woke her up in the middle of the night and told her she was not going to get any money. None. He told her she was made that way to bring glory to Him. That her body was not a mistake, she was not flawed and that is the way He wanted her to be so she could lead others to Christ.

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She told me she is on earth to serve God.

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And that is exactly what she does. To hear of the ways that God provides for her is like hearing sweet music. To be in her house, listen to the praise music she continually has going, to just sit and talk to her is like being with the angels.

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People in Ohio, if you are reading this, you are so blessed to know this woman. And people in Ohio, she is blessed to know you, too, because she told me so. You see, to see beauty is to believe the good around you, not to see the negative.

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Why, oh why, do we think we have to wait to get to heaven to have a slice of it?

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Can I encourage each of you today to be an angel to someone? Will you look at those around you a bit differently? See the good, see the beauty?

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I was so blessed to get to meet Kim's two adult children...wow, did they ever love their mama! Kim's husband left about 7 years ago because of an addiction but you know what, she never spoke ill of him. Hmmm, what can we all learn from this 4'10" Little Bit of Heaven? Yes, she might not look like everyone else, but she sure didn't act like most of us either.

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I got my Christmas lesson this weekend. Thank you sweet Kim.

You blessed the fancy tights right off me!

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Have a beautiful week my sweet friends.

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And now, your Fashion tip of the week:

Do you want to dress up for a party but just don't have a lot of extra money to do?

Go to a Walmart or Dept. Store and buy a can of hair spray with glitter! Spray it on and get all fancy with some sparkles in your hair! You'll look like you just came from the salon!

Teen Boys and Teen Girls

I wonder if there's a class we can send our kids to that teaches them how boys and girls are so completely different in the "emotions" department. And that girls might say one thing and not really mean it the way it comes out and that boys would just rather have fun with no real emotional attachment.

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We had an issue this week that I am sooo not ready for. My son has a girlfriend that he really really likes. The problem is, girls are emotional and boys are not. So when Luke figured this out, he wanted to back out cause all of sudden it seemed serious. A week ago I would have told you he was as serious as a 14 year old can get, but boys are still boys.

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I feel so in the middle of this because Luke's girlfriend is one of my dearest friend's daughter and it feels sad.

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So now Luke wants to take a break and he has told her this. But here's the cute thing (probably not to her, though): He said he wants to take a break because he really thinks if he stays in the relationship he's gonna do something stupid and that will mess things up for later in case he wants to date her when it's true dating time (like when they're 16, each of them aren't allowed till then.) He thinks if he does something stupid (his words) then she won't even want to talk to him when it's time down the road to really date.

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I think that's pretty smart, but it still hurts alot...all of us. Except Luke is pretty much going about his usual activities but I can tell there's a little sadness in him but he's not talking about it.

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And so it is with this part of life.

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How do we tell boys that girls are emotional and how do we teach girls that boys really are still little boys...and they just want to have fun and not get serious? They think they want to, then they get scared and then feelings all get hurt.

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So I'm sad this weekend for all of us. Cause it was such a great excuse to go see my friend MaryBeth...and I'm sad for Luke and Ashleigh cause I think they could have built a wonderful friendship, I hope they still do.

Ahhh, the joy of motherhood!

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Fashion Tip of the Week:

With all the rage of the sweater dresses and since it's the season of crepe-y fabrics, you might find your clothes clinging to your body...Try this:

Hairspray your tights or panty hose and watch the fabric not cling anymore!

OR

If you're somewhere and you don't have hairspray nearby, go into the restroom, slap water on your hands and pat down your panty hose or tights. Voila, no more clinging!