Laurie Van Dermark's Blog, page 2

MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN MY FAVORITE PLACE…CHIMBOTE, PERU

I’ve been traveling to Chimbote, serving the poor, since 2001. Friends of Chimbote is an organization comprised of Christians, from various denominations. We forget the small differences that divide us and instead focus on making Christ present to those we meet.

Most Chimbotanos in the barrio live without electricity and running water. Their estera shacks have dirt floors and no roofs. During my June visit, we built estera dwellings for families and provided dental care, thanks to Dr. Hines. D...

JUST WATCH ME!

This is the post that started a mind revolution today! The comments I have received indicate that many of you have a grand wish list of things to accomplish. A wish is defined as “a hope or desire for something.” The problem with a wish is that it lacks action. It’s a sentiment without follow-through. It’s the “I’m sorry” without change attached. Unfortunately, we don’t have fairy godmothers to wave a wand. We do, however, have a mighty God who has well equipped us for our journey- if only we...

MENE. TEKEL. PERES.

When I first moved to Wedowee, my spirit flocked to the White family. They have remained part of the Inner Sanctum and are on the short list of my most trusted confidants. Last week, their precious Luke was diagnosed with Leukemia. This isn’t Luke’s first rodeo. Unfortunately, he’s a pro at making miracles. Spending the first part of his young life recovering from heart surgeries, his equally amazing parents, Rachel and Will, have had to rise to super human status over the years. Having just...

MONDAY BLOG: Cougar Town…

THE VENTI BIG OMISSION

Hi, my name is Laurie. I’m forty-one and as it turns out, quite the ageist! This is a new revelation not fully understood until last weekend. An early morning conversation with a physician and another friend took a turn down Accusatory Lane. Evidently, I have game. Who knew? My friend painted a picture of men falling at my feet; tripping over themselves to be helpful and my innocent smile causing them to go weak in the head. I vehemently denied this nonsense, but the mal...

MONDAY BLOG: Don’t eat that!

I live in a small town- and by small, I mean tiny. We don’t even have a traffic light. What we do have is an awesome community of families who bond together in solidarity to look out for one another. You never have to wait very long for news. Word spreads like wild fire around these parts.

I can’t say that I was surprised to hear that I’d become the topic of conversation this past January. I suppose it was my turn. I’d been overlooked for the better part of a decade. I’m sort of a recluse. I k...

ROTTEN FRUIT: Do you hear the words coming out of my mouth?

We live in an age of instant gratification. No one likes to wait on much of anything these days. Patience is a virtue that trips me at every step. I find it to be my greatest character challenge. My Wednesday night bible study group just covered the fruits of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing like being asked if you struggle with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Was that a trick question?

ROTTEN FRUIT

Our lack of patience- my particular...

SO THIS IS LOVE…

“I wanna love you and treat you right; I wanna love you every day and every night: We’ll be together with a roof right over our heads; We’ll share the shelter of my single bed; We’ll share the same room, yeah!- for Jah provide the bread.” ~ Is This Love, Bob Marley

Talk of love met with some resistance last night. This message cracked me up…

What has happened to our society, people? Why do perfectly amazing women write, “Boooooo! Boycott Love!” This is perplexing. In all of my years on this pla...

PEOPLE CONSUMERS: Eat or be eaten…

“They deem me mad because I will not sell my days for gold; and I deem them mad because they think my days have a price.” ~ Kahlil Gibran

Konichiwa…my son’s favorite foreign greeting.

I’m not quite sure how our conversation went from Jay Z to Spirited Away, but our words took their philosophical turn right after I watched a video of Stacey rapping, If you’re having guy problems I feel bad for you hon, I’ve got 99 problems and a guy ain’t one- while playing the banjo. I’m not kidding. She’d had...

I have seen the promised land…and you’re not it.

THE PROMISE…”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11-13

We all falter, but if you’re a “mean what you say, say what you mean” type of person, you better strap on the armor of God because it’s a cruel world out there. Relationships with fami...

The few…the proud…the Inner Sanctum…

“Be courteous to all, but be intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.” ~ George Washington

Thanks to the diva of the family, I’m writing my Monday morning blog from bed instead of my desk. Lola runs the house. All hail Lola.

I’ve had so many things to be thankful for over the past seven days. Our trip to DC was relaxing and enlightening. I enjoyed hanging out with my son. Sometimes, I forget how hilarious he is because we have this really bright l...