Disappointment has disappointed, yet again.

Disappointment has disappointed me.

Yet again.

Yet, again, I continue, to try.

So, disappointed.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, disappointing.

Seems as though disappointment, is making a point.

I get it.

I GET IT!!

I shall try, yet, again.

Yet again.

*sigh*.

disappointed even now,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Am chasing down my dreams, best as I know. To not see things progress, to MY satisfaction, has been terribly disappointing. That said, I absolutely REFUSE to allow disappointment, in not having my dream fulfilled, bleed into being disappointed with life. Life is doing what life needs to do. All I can do, must do, is to TRY. That’s it. Try, pray, ask, wait, patiently, and…*shrug*.

The silence, is disappointing. The never ending wait, is disappointing. The mental fatigue, is fatiguing. Nevertheless, the joy, in the TRY, no matter how disappointing, is satisfying.

Keep going, beloveds. Disappointment comes. That’s okay. Talk with it. Ask why it is so disappointed. The answer(s) may surprise you. My disappointment laments it just wants an opportunity. To, succeed. To, fail. To, see what lies over the next hill or around the next corner. Turning one corner, only to find ANOTHER long road or uphill jaunt can be, has been…disappointing. Enjoy the journey. I love you.

Loving you still.

Ah, Life, I am loving you, still.

Still, even though, you are not giving up your secrets to me.

Even, still, when you won’t open the stores, of heaven, and pour dreams so big I can barely contain them, upon me.

Still, even though, I have no idea, where I am going, where you are leading, me.

Ah, Life, I am loving you, still.

Oh, Lord, I am loving you, still.

Still, even though, Your Silence, is growing louder and louder, each day.

Even, still, when You Won’t open doors, for me.

Ah, Lord, I am loving you, still.

Hey, Father, I am loving You, still.

Still, even though, You are leading me down a lonely path, one where I can barely see.

Even, still, when You won’t make my paths straighter.

Hey, Father, I am loving You, still.

Oooo, you, I am loving you, still.

Still, even though, you can’t get/keep your act right, at times.

Even, still, when your get up and go has got up and gone.

Yea, you, I am loving you, still.

*Cassandra turns from the mirror, loving life, Life, God, herself…still*

still,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Unapolgetically me: I may not have tomorrow.

I have been trying to be good. I promise I have. I told myself I would limit myself to posting three times, only. Yep. Yeppers, I PROMISED myself, beloveds, I would NOT flood this blog, then your inbox, with pages and pages of love, endless yakking and lots of coffee and foolishness.

I told myself I would write the pieces, save them as drafts, and gingerly sprinkle them, through your tomorrows.

My heart, though, keeps reminding me, I may not have tomorrow.

Tomorrow, beloveds, is NOT promised. The only promise we have, currently, is the current moment. That’s it. Even then, we have NO idea how many moments, in this day, currently, we have left.

Also, I am just tired of having to censure myself from caring so much.

I care.

A lot.

So, what?

There are much worse things to be accused of, after all.

So, I shall continue to love the only way I know how:

Loudly.

Fully.

Proudly.

Joyfully.

Presently.

Intentionally.

Gladly.

Unrepentently.

And all the other ly’s one can/may think of.

So, what?

loving you unapologetically,

Me(aka Cassandra)

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Life is short. Nuff said. Get to living it. What the world are you waiting for!? Get after it…

Unapologetically me.

I have been waging a war…with me.

My heart, my writer, my being, now free, just can’t stop writing, just can NOT stop being…me.

Me, this me, the heart that can NOT contain all these words inside me.

Oh, beloveds, how I have tried, 54 years long, to stop being sooooooooooooooooo much. Ah, beloveds, I have tried, desperately so, to not care so blasted much. Yea, beloveds, I have tried, to keep my care, to the expected, accepted, the quiet minimum.

Yet, ah heart, I just can’t contain these words, this me, God’s oyster cracker, called me:

Sweetpea.

Jaybird.

Cassandra.

Endless yakker.

Oyster cracker.

God’s goulash.

Jesus’ best bud.

the enemy’s fiercest foe.

The worlds’ sister and friend.

Ah.

Aha!

This is ME, Cassandra, Jaybird, Sweetpea, loving me some you, loving me some me, loving me some Him, unapologetically.

I apologize, world, that I can NOT apologize, for being…me.

For, world, I was beautifully, yea wonderfully made, the bible says.

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!

I shall continue to live, grow, be unapologetically…

ME!!

*hugs self*

I encourage you, beloveds, to do the same.

Life is short.

Join me.

In being.

Unapologetically…YOU.

being unapologeticaly me,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Keep on being you. Life is much too short to be about being someone else. Folk have a hard enough time trying to be themselves. What the world makes you think you qualified to be them when THEY don’t know why they do half the things they do? Enough of that. Be you. Since there is only one you, may as well enjoy being you, eh? Take care and KNOW, of a surety, that you are nolved and that you are not alone.

Unapologetically you: So what.

Keep on being unapologetic.

Unapologetically, you.

Stop apologizing for the way God made you.

You are unique.

Celebrate you, unapologetically.

So, you like polka dots.

So, what?

So, you like to laugh, at THE dumbest things.

So, what?

So, you enjoy quirky things.

So, what?

So, YOU, in fact, are quirky.

So, what?

So, you zig, when everyone else likes to zag.

So, what?

So, you like to be serious.

So, what?

So, you don’t care to take life so seriously.

So, what?

So, you love you some Him, whilst others do not.

So, what?

So, you prefer to do this, whist others do not.

So, what?

So?

What?

So, what then?

What then, do you, make of you?

Does their, not liking it, not liking you, make it, make them, right about you?

Maybe, so.

In, THEIR eyes.

So, what?

Keep on being unapologetic.

Unapologetically, you.

Stop apologizing for the way God made you.

You are unique.

Celebrate you, unapologetically.

I celebrate you.

Unapologetically.

Thank you.

You are welcome.

*Cassandra turns from the mirror, loving herself, loving others, unapologetically.*

#YourLifeMattersToMe

The weight I carry(carried).

The weight I carry…

Is weight, I no longer carry.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, given to me, by others.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, I no longer carry, as it was weight given to me by others.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, I no longer carry.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, given to me, by the expectation, of others.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, I no longer carry, as it was weight, given to me, by the expectation, of others.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, I no longer carry.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, given to me, by me, by my own expectation(s), of me.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, I no longer carry, as it was weight, given to me, by me, by my own expectation(s), of me.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, I no longer carry.

For, I carried the weight, my weight, to The Cross, and left the weight, my weight, there.

There, on The Cross, I crossed the weight, my weight, from the things I had left to carry.

The weight I carry…

Is weight, I no longer carry.

Free.

At last.

Ah.

Aha!

weightless,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: The weight(s) that you carry, leave it at The Cross. No need in your carrying the weight, of the world, on your shoulder. Put it on The Shoulders of He Who was meant to bore them. Weight, bourne, on a Tree, for you and me.

Be encouraged. Remember always, beloved:

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

The perfect sound.

There is a particular sound, a perfectly shot basketball makes, as it flings itself, into the net.

Pop!

Pop.

POP!

That popping sound. THAT popping sound, is the sound a pure shooter, listens for. A REAL shooter, fights for, pines after, chases after, the pop of a perfectly arced basketball. The going making of the basket, is nice. We’ll take it. We grow annoyed with each missed basket. Bemused, with each non perfect sounding basket.

In this search, I spent many an early morning, in hot pursuit. In the chase, I ended many a sweat filled evening, running down that pop.

Even now, I hear the crunch of gravel. Beneath the feet of hastily tied shoes. My ears can still hear the sound of the creaking gate which stood in the way of my defiant foe: An empty rim, a dusted hoop. Waiting, for me. Sneering, at me. Wondering if, today, I just might hear a pop or two.

Almost angry, I would dribble my way, around the court. Sneering back, I would stalk my prey. Endlessly, pondering. Breathlessly, wondering, which shot, which angle, which heave, would be the one to give up my prize.

Finally, anticipation ended, I would toss the first shot and…

Clank.

Crap.

Heave…

Bounce, tired roam the rim, gracelessly sliding in.

Phooey.

Launch…

Pop.

Ah!!!!

Yea, beloveds, there is NOTHING like the wonderful pop which comes from a perfectly shot shot!

Today, I still seek after the pop.

On, my job.

In my life.

With my family.

With God.

With Life.

With myself.

Now, though, I use my TRY, as my basketball. What is the pop, I am after?

Great question.

God and Life won’t tell me. They only encourage me to try. Both have me wanting, something.

Wanting…

Something.

Toss.

Clank.

Crap.

Heave.

Tired bounce.

Phooey.

Launch.

Pop.

Ah,

Aha!

*Cassandra shuts down her Chromebook after a delicious sounding pop of computer keys perfect sounding as words snapped deliciously from her heart.*

What a perfect sound life makes, beloveds, when it is lived, in the moment, with intention.

Get to living now. Your perfect sound awaits you.

steadying for the next shot,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: It is time. YOUR time. Lace up your tennies and get back in the game. The score is besides the point. Try. Just try. Enjoy the try. Laugh, when you miss. Then, try, again. And, again. And, again. Until…

Ice my way: Make a plan.

Now that I know my body was in need of iron I can enjoy ice, my way, by making a plan.

Before, when I hid my hurt and my heart, behind a never ending, every two hours supply of ice.

Yet, I felt trapped within the never ending every two hour ice making in order to hide my hurt and my heart behind a never ending every two hours supply of ice. Whew!

Still, my hurt and my heart needed that ice. The crunch, was comforting. The sound, was delicious. The making, of the ice, was fun: I have six, colorful, round, silicone ice trays that make deliciously, crunchy, irresistibly, irreverently loud, round ice!…hugs self deliciously*.

The only thing I did not like was being tied to making ice every two blasted hours. I came to need the ice but dread the two hours.

Like clockwork, every two ridiculous hours, I would rush to empty those six, colorful, round, silicone ice trays that made deliciously, crunchy, irresistibly, irreverently loud, round ice.

After a time, the time, making the ice, became a burden, a prison, a what in the world are you doing wasting your life making ice every two blasted hours!?

Habits can be like that, can’t they? The thing we used to enjoy has turned on us and was now enjoying us.

Eventually, I grew tired of wasting those hours. I started taking my iron. I stopped craving ice. I stopped eating ice. For years.

In a way, I am thankful my iron had grown low enough to start up the craving. I am greatful I had to take down those six, colorful, round, silicone ice trays that make deliciously, crunchy, irresistibly, irreverently loud, round ice.

I was able to process. I was able to ask myself if I was needing ice. Or, if ice was craving me.

Ah.

Aha!

To make sure, I stopped eating ice and put away those six, colorful, round, silicone ice trays that make deliciously, crunchy, irresistibly, irreverently loud, round ice. I bought iron. I took iron. I lost the craving for iron.

Now, I can enjoy a bit of ice, every now and again. I limit myself to two trays of, colorful, round, silicone ice trays that make deliciously, crunchy, irresistibly, irreverently loud, round ice.

The same way I limit eating Lucky Charms cereal. I love, love, love the things! I could eat bowls and bowls and bowls. Why, I only eat them every once in a great blue moon. Just the small box. I tried to sneak and order the larger box. Who would know, I whispered to myself. I would, I shouted back to myself. I ordered just the small box.

Today, I live my life, with intention. I told myself, last night, I would wake early, have coffee, do a bit of writing. For, me. For, you. For…*shrug*…no other reason then enjoying the deliciously delightful, delectable, defiant, unknown thrill of writing whatever the world my heart wanted or needed to write about.

What am I doing?

Now?

Right now?

Why, I am up early, having coffee, writing for me, yakking at you, whilst waiting for two trays of, colorful, round, silicone ice trays that make deliciously, crunchy, irresistibly, irreverently loud, round ice!

*delicious shiver*

living life with intention and Lucky Charm less,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Don’t be afraid to enjoy those quirky things which help you to enjoy your life. Yes, it is super important to be mindful, to be diligent, to be sure we are not using those things to hide, to hurt or imprison us within walls of overuse, abuse, or taking us away from the life we are trying to live in a healthy and loving way.

Be sure to love you, intentionally. By, looking after your health. By, taking some me time to enjoy some you time. By, making a plan, to spend EVERY moment, in the moment. Life is short. Take the time to take the time to take the time to…live.

It’s about that time, to check on my ice. Okay, I will readily admit those cute trays made ice a million two hours ago. I am in no mood for ice. Just needed to take creative liberties so you could envision me crunching on deliciously rounded ice cubes whilst writing and talking to you…*shrug*. Worked didn’t it?

Be encouraged.

I love You, Unapologetically.

I love You…

Unapologetically.

I love You…

Unequivocally.

I love You…

Vocally.

I love You…

totally.

I love You…

completely.

I love You…

Fully.

I love You…

Wholly.

I love You…

In spite of.

I love You…

Because of.

I love You.

I need for You to hear this.

From me.

First.

I need You to hear this.

I love You, Father(Abba)

I love You, Jesus(Savior)

I need for You to hear this.

Is this enough?

For you?

It is.

*The Father gives Cassandra one last hug, slides her from His Lap and watches hew walk into the rest of her life with Jesus at her side.*

Ah.

Aha!

loving me some Him,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Noting to note. Just needing Him to know how very much I care. It is important to declare one’s love, at times. It causes the recipient to swoon. It fills the recipient with joy. Be sure to let those in your life KNOW that you love them. They need to hear the words. Your heart needs to express and say them.

I find it terribly sad how the world has turned loving God into a punchline, a joke, a political statement or lack thereof. God loves. He is. He is NOT there to make you feel like an awful human. You are NOT a disappointment to Him. Yes, He becomes disappointed when we do things which do not serve ourselves or others. Yes, He wants us safe. Yes, He wants us to love one another. Mostly, He just wants to be there. For you. And longs for you to be there with Him.

God doesn’t need your works. He doesn’t need your money. He doesn’t need for you to enslave yourself to a job, to a position, to an ideal. God needs YOU. Period. He needs your love. He needs to hear from you. He needs to be near you. He needs to hear your dreams. He needs to wipe your tears. He needs.

God needs.

God NEEDS!

God needs?!

He does.

Isn’t that astounding?

What is more astounding is that He needs ME.

ME!!?

Wow.

Mike drop…..

I love you, unapologetically.

I love you…

Unapologetically.

I love you…

Unequivocally.

I love you…

Vocally.

I love you…

totally.

I love you…

completely.

I love you…

Fully.

I love you…

Wholly.

I love you…

In spite of.

I love you…

Because of.

I love you.

I need for you to hear this.

From me.

First.

I need you to hear this.

From God.

I do.

He does.

Is this enough?

For you?

It is.

*Cassandra turns from the mirror, continuing to love…herself.*

Ah.

Aha!

loving me,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Oftentimes, we wait for others to fill our heart with love. Too many times, we wait, anxiously, then feel unloved, unlovable, unseen when love does not appear to have shown up. It is imperative that we love ourselves, first. We can’t give what we have not received. THEN, we have enough love to give away. Once emptied, we must get a fresh refill of love so we can fill ourselves, first. Then, again, love others. Rinse. Repeat.

WHERE do we get refilled? Ah, great question! Keep asking. I shall give you a hint. Lean closer…