The Chronicles of Melinda

You put me back together

When I was a broken piece of art

Glued my lost soul back together

And gave me a new start

The vision you designed

I know was meant to include me

As I walk with you on this journey

I can only hope that’s what I’ll be

You constantly amaze me

With the blessings that you bring

And I see a whole new vision

When I look at everything

Now I praise you every day

As I worship only you

And I know that you are with me

In everything I do

There’s no limit to my Faith

Nothing out of reach or sight

And even when I’m in the darkness

I will always see your light!

I’ve always held firm on the philosophy that there’s a clearly defined line between a freind and an acquaintnance.  You can have lots of acquaintances, but few REAL friends.   Let’s “unpack” this theory!

So what is a true “friend”.  Well by definition

1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.

Now here are MY definitions of Friends.

• Someone who is there for you in good times and bad.  They are there when you need them and when you don’t.  Not just when you are in a moment of glory or a moment of need…but also in between! 
• Someone who genuinely cares about how you are feelings; one who never wants you to feel alone and does their best to make sure you don’t.
• Someone who doesn’t hesitate to drop what they are doing when you are in a time of need.
• Someone who understands that sometimes you just need a listener and not necessarily a problem solver. 
• Someone who never passes judgement on you when you tell them your deepest secrets or judge your worth by what you have or don’t have. 
• Someone you can trust to never betray your trust (unless they have to because it’s a matter of life and death)
• Someone who knows when to “Zip It” as Jaime McDonald would say!
• Someone who will offer what they can and who understands that you don’t expect them to ever give more than they have to offer and visa versa. 
• Someone who realizes that sometimes you only need an ear, a shoulder, a hand…and nothing material replaces that.
• Someone who will tell you like it is…they won’t sugar coat somethiing with what you WANT to hear…they tell you what you NEED to hear!  (And we all know that sometimes what you NEED to hear is a far cry from what you WANT to hear!)

So let’s unpack an acquaintance!  What exactly IS  an acquaintance?  By definition:

No need to make a list of my definition.  It’s pretty cut and dry.  You’ve met them somehow. You are social with them when your paths happen to cross after your initial meeting.  You might even remember their name.  But they lack that special something that makes you feel comfortable enough to share the important things in life with them on a more intimate level.    

But you know what.  God puts all kinds of acquaintances in our lives…and it’s up to us to pick and choose which acquaintances we want to nurture into friends.  Remember this:

• Every friend started off as a mere acquaintances.   Frienships are MADE not born. 
• Every acquaintance may have something to offer in your journey on earth.
• Every acquaintance may have something to help nurture your very being and help make you who you are or who God wants you to be.  
• Some acquaintances may come into your life to throw a wrench in your life rather than add light to it.  But when they have come and gone…they will leave something behind with you for you to work with and grow on. 

 So when you are pondering who your friends and acquaintances are…don’t dwell on your real friends so much  You already know who they are…they’ve been in your life long enough for you to already recognize their worth and purpose.  Instead reflect on some of your acquaintances and consider if you should nurture their acquaintanceship into a friendship.  It may be meant to be that way.  Have a great day!                                                                            Melinda

Originally written in 2003 – I re-post this each year across the web to reflect the number of years since the event occurred.  (Originally written “Has it Really Been Two Years…)

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001 when you got word of the events of this day?  I was in physical therpay (broke my ankle that year!)  They played it on the radio in the center…I listennedt on the radio on the way back to work…but it really did not sink in until I got home and watched the endless footage with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.  I had a cousin in the Pentagon that day…she is okay!  For days I watched the endless footage of the recovery efforts…knowing recovery of survivors was slim.  It was like a train wreck with the media coverage…I wanted to look away, but I was glued.

The events of this day I am sure rocked the faith of some…but everything happens for a reason and I have my own thoughts on it all as they relate to faith since I’ve come into my own…but that’s amuch deeper conversation. 

For now…let us just remember and pray for those who were directly affected by loss on this day that they are finding the strength to understand.

Has it really been six years…
Since the devil reared his head
When a day left us in sorrow
Grieving for our lost and dead?
Since our eyes abruptly opened
To the terror of the world
As we glued to our TVs
As this atrocity unfurled?
Since we were forced to take a look
Since we learned that we must see
To not take life for granted
Or the fact that we are free?

Has it really been six years…
That a day changed everything
For we will not forget
And we will let freedom ring…

                                (Melinda Duarte Copyrighted 2003)

No this post isn’t the lyrics to Chris Tomlin’s awesome song.  I just have got to “go there” and tell you how truly Great I think he is!

I’m going to go backwards in the events of this weekend…because I gotta get it out!

TODAY WAS AN AWESOME DAY!  GOD is truly…putting me to work…and maybe this is what he has meant for me all along.

If you’ve never been to NHC - one of the first things that will draw you in (besides the welcome feeling you get when you first walk in the door whether you’ve been there before or not) is the awesome, awesome worship that the band lays down before the daily message.  So first off I just want to give “mad props” to the Greg Carr and the gifted musicians and vocalists that make up the band at NHC.  God has blessed them with the gifts of music…and they are using their gifts in a BIG way.

I wrote a poem the day after my Baptism.  Poetry is a gift I’ve been blessed with for as long as I can remember…but this time it was very different putting this down.  I shared it with friends electronically, blogged it and then something told me to send it to Greg.  So long story short…my “surprise” I mentioned that I was not telling you about until it happened was that I rapped my poem with the band during worship service today. 

Most of my friends are used to my freestyle fun rapping whenever we’re just hanging out…having fun…cutting loose.  There’s usually a request for a freestyle rap at our social functions that kicks it off…last time was Stephanie’s birthday a few weeks ago.  But it’s been a long time since I’ve put a solid rap out for a reason…on a stage…with anyone’s undivided attention.  (Other than the annual Bull City Cowboy Trail Ride).  And back in my “stage” days… I was rapping about how cool I was, how “unstoppable” my lyrics were and stuff like that. And it was always an audience that included a group of my loud and rowdy friends who would cheer for me like they were at a concert of some headliner!  I was in the house!  Ha ha! But in reality - I wasn’t really saying anything!

Today…I belted out my finding of Christ to an audience of near strangers…some friends…some acquaintances…all brothers and sisters in the name of Christ.

It wasn’t “just a rap” - it was a testament of my being lost, being led to this church, getting saved by a prayer, being Baptized (after stopping at the door the first time I was given the opportunity to be baptized) and worshipping Christ who gave himself on the cross so that I COULD be forgiven of my tainted lifestyle and then walk with Him.  It was my own account of what God can do in your life…if you let him.  And it was a rap…in a church…and they HEARD EVERY WORD…and they LIKED it!

Maybe Pastor Dave wanted to make sure they heard every word because as I was putting up my mic to go sit in and listen to the rest of worship and the daily message with friends…he came onto the stage and asked if they wanted to hear it again and they cheered… Not just my already established friend “fan-club” of co-workers and church family…but I swear nearly the whole room cheered.  And so I came back out …and did it again.  And I was so overcome that they listened, that they HEARD the words and that they were willing to hear it TWICE that I had to choke out the last verse because I was overwhelmed.   

I was tingly…I felt an OVERWHELMING sense of…well…I can’t describe it as anything else than happiness!!!

I sat through Dave’s message on TEMPTED (podcast should be up soon www.encounterengage.com if you want to have a listen for yourself, which I encourage!) on such a spiritual high that you couldn’t have done anything to bring me down.  

After first service let out…one of the NHC teens approached me and asked me if that was my first time doing that. (He may have meant rapping…period…but I thought he meant THAT rap). I said yes…and his response was “That was cool!” Cool enough for an NHC teen to listen to and hear?  Well I’ll take that compliment!  Especially knowing that most of the rap they are hearing these days…is NOT positive and that he thought THIS rap about God was “Cool!”

I was approached by many friendly, familiar and unfamiliar faces praising my words in the lobby after service. 

“So Awesome…Wonderful…Cool…Good job…I Liked it…I Loved it” came from all ages! 

A gentleman said “It was so nice to hear a POSITIVE message in a rap!” 

After second service a church member came up to me and said that my words moved her to tears BOTH times! (And I really didn’t have any acquaintances in second service…so I was pumped that the reception was just as great second time around).

But you know what…it was not about all these people telling me that I did a good job…it was about the fact that I could put down a positive message of encouragement to follow Christ in a rap…deliver it…and it REACHED people! It TOUCHED people!  I mean…at no time ever back in the day…no matter how “tight” my raps were…did anyone ever tell me that I moved them to TEARS with my words! 

I’ve never felt as good after a rap as I did today!  THIS is not entertainment….this is God’s work!  He is trying to tell me something.  He has given me this gift, allowed me to use this gift for “fun” and now he is putting my gift to work.  I am hoping that he has more plans…because I am at his disposal!!!  Do you know I’ve written a rap or a poem almost every day this week with positive messages?  Now you tell me that’s not coming from somewhere!

 Dear God…you are truly an awesome God.  Thank you for the gift you have blessed me with and the ability to use it to do your work and reach out to people. Thank you for finding me when I was lost and broken and pulling me into the light so that I can experience your love first hand. I pray that you will continue to work through me and let me work for you!  You are….the Everlasting God!                                                                                                       Amen!

*Oh yeah - went to the CCWHA show Saturday.  Ransom was a good boy. Took third in training class, second in Western Go As You Please and FIRST in English Go As You Please adults! And I felt good…but it hardly compares to how accomplished and good I feel today!

You’re the one that I can come to
When noone else has time
To speak about my day
Or just what is on my mind
You’re always glad to listen
You always lend an ear
You never tune me out
And you acknowledge that I’m here
Sometimes I think you chuckle
When I ponder funny thoughts
Sometimes I think you cry
When I wish that I would not
And I feel you hug me back
Even when I hug too long
When I lean on you for comfort
You don’t move to break the bond
A friendship like your is true
And trustworthy to the end
And no human can replace you
My ever-faithful equine friend!

Well just thought I’d post a few random thoughts for the day.  Good things are still happening.

Yesterday I wrapped up a horse abuse investigation with a happy ending.  Owner “donated” the horses to the Rescue League to wash his hands of the situation.  So the horses will be taken care of, placed in responsible homes and that will be that.

Last night was our first Community Group meeting for NHC.  Now what happens at small groups….stays at small groups.  But last night was just a “get acquainted” night and I think we have a good little group of diverse personalities.  I’m all about meeting new people (because…you know…I’m so shy and all!)  so I hope some neat new frienships will result out of this and it’ll be nice to have new folks to share in the journey with.  

We have a horse show this Saturday.  Now I tell ya- I’m ready for show season to be over so I’m not jumping up and down about it.  I’m ready to wrap up the hectic show season and kick off a nice, relaxing trail season with the cooler weather.  But I’ll get to see a few friends I’ve been missing here lately so I’ll clean up the hosses and git-r-done.  I’ll miss next weekends show due to the Doxaministries Womens Retreat, but then CCWHA has our final show on September 22nd.  I’ll go to the Ruritan Fundraiser show on October 6th and then I think that’ll do for show season. Now  I was considerring taking Ransom to the State Fair this year.  I know he’d most likely win all the fees back in placing, but the show at the State Fair is so hectic and I think I’ll just relax.  I haven’t written it off yet…but relaxing vs. work is NOT a hard decision. I mean…let’s compare.

 HORSE SHOW!

• Get up EARLY
• Wash horses
• Clip horses
• Sheet horses
• Double check all is loaded
• Load horses
• Go toshow -1 hour drive time - GAS$$$$$$
• Tack horses
• Spend$$$$ in classes
• Anxiously await classes
• Show ends late
• Untack horses
• Load horses
• Get home late
• Unload horses
• Feed horses
• BE TIRED!!!

TRAIL RIDING SEASON

• Get up when I feel like it
• Pull horses up
• Groom them enough to ride
• Saddle Up
• Hit the trail
• Don’t spend any $$$$
• Get home
• Untack
• Turn-out
• Feed
• MAY be tired…but feel relaxed and fulfilled!

Do you see the comparison? LOL!

This Sunday at NHC God is putting one of my gifts to work.  Now, I won’t go into details to spoil it for anyone who goes to NHC so you can experience it first hand…but whether you go to first or second service I’ll be there for both so make sure you show up.  I”m excited and nervous all at the same time…but since God is putting me to work I have Faith He also won’t let me fail.  If you don’t go to NHC - hey - this Sunday is as good a day as any for you to come so I won’t tell you if that’ll spark your interest to give NHC a shot this Sunday so don’t e-mail me and ask me.  Nah- Ha!  Otherwise you’ll just have to wait until AFTER it happens to find out about it.

On the flipside…I’m a little frustrated.  Well perhaps frustrated is not the word.  But it seems that all of my close friends are spread out in opposite locations and it’s not convenient for any of us to get together on the regular.  We try to get together for dinner once a month, but there’s always somebody missing from the crew because it’s hard for us all to commit to the same night.   Of course, it makes the time we DO get to get together all the more meaningful…but sometimes you just wish you could jump in the car when someone is feeling down to go offer some in-person support (or when you are feeling down and need THEIR in-person support!).

I’ve created some photograph slide shows to music and thought you might like to check them out (if you haven’t seen them already).  They are all to music, several minutes long.  The Heart Association Video is a full 10 minutes and three songs long…so pull up a chair and grab your favorite snack and drink! 

Taira and her Horses  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8Yn_7hMRKg

He’s Skip An Ransom (first horse I raised from Starfire)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCP-j8gUEh0

Hemp Mr. President (a.k.a. Ron) One of the best horses I’ve ever known! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGRVDQ8bO9s

 The 2007 American Heart Association Fund Raising Ride Weekend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCFIcJ-OhPc

Mark Carter Jay III February 12, 1947-Jan. 30, 2008

In 1947
God graced this earth with you
One to share your zest for life
With everyone you knew
A provider for your family
Your employees called you friend
You were Blessed a loving wife
Who you’d adore for years on end
A hard worker by trade
Yet you still made time to play
A lover of adventure
You lived life fully every day
When it came to hugs and foot rubs
You had a special hand
When it came to basketball
You were a raging Tarheel fan
You taught “never sweat the small stuff”
Enjoy life…love and live big
And we know because of you
This is how we try to live
A gift to all who’d call you
Husband, father, friend and boss
And now that God has called you home
We are left to grieve your loss
Yet it comforts us to know
That you went to Him without fear
And while you’re loving us from Heaven
In our hearts…we’ll keep you near!

Karissa Green

July 28, 2000- February 3rd, 2006

A child was laid to rest today
She smiles forever and giggles, too
For now in Heaven she will play
As she is watching over you
Though it seems just a short time
That God did place her in your care
We knew he’d need her back one day
We knew not when…we knew not where
But he’ll send strength to bear this loss
Forgive him, that he called her home
Her purpose now your Guardian
A special Angel all your own!

Vincent Anthony Delongis II 

 July 13th, 1987 - May 27th, 2004
A son cherished, a brother loved, a friend remembered

VINCE’S LIGHT

We may never understand why so soon God needed him
Why a light as bright as his, just so suddenly went dim
Why now he plays a beat to a drum that never ends
A beat forever heard by his family and friends
Why now he’s in a place where the Yankees always win
Why now he rides a horse that rides perfect just for him
Why we’ve all been left to grieve, to seek comfort from each other
Why hearts are left to mourn a friend, a son and brother
And yet when we ask why this loss just could not wait
We will remember still a life that was so great
A life that was so full with the love of all who knew
That a light as bright as his was a light that shined so true
For his light brightened others and even though that light went dim
There will always be a flicker through the memory of him!

Vince your light will always shine and we love and miss you.
When I see DMC running through the pasture for no reason at all I will know you are taking that ride I promised you!

Many were touched by your loss this day
Whose lives you have touched in some special way
Some knew you closely and some were dear friends
Some knew you in passing, if just now and then
Some may have met you or not known your face
But all have come here in this special place
A place that is loved more than you would know
A place that is here, because you made it so
A place things are shared and knowledge is gained
Where one common interest will safely remain
A place that forms bonds, where friendships are new
Some that may not have been if not for you
This place we hold common and for all it is clear
That this place exists because you were here
May this place bring comfort to those who now grieve
Who find that your loss is too hard to believe
But now as you soar on a horse with gold wings
All should remember this one special thing
When you were called to the Heavenly Gates
It was to help make in Heaven, a place just as great!

Rita Duarte (My Paternal Grandmother)

December 19th, 1922 - October 11th, 2002

GRAMMA DO YOU KNOW?

I know that you would not want me
To cry or worry so
But Gramma now that you are gone
I wonder did you know
That in a box I keep the cards
You sent me every year
For birthdays and for holidays
And that I hold them dear
I have old gifts and trinkets
That you once bought just for me
But no matter what I have to hold
I need your memory
In my heart I keep the warmth
Of every hug and every kiss
The ones I will no longer feel
The ones I’ll always miss
I’m thankful that with my own child
You got to spend the time
But then there are some deep regrets
That do weigh on my mind
For there is where I keep regrets
Of time we couldn’t spend
I often wish that I could have been
With you ’til the end
I know that you would not want me
To cry or worry so
But gramma now that you are gone
I just wonder if you know!

Laura Pooley Walker

August 19th, 1971-March 8th, 2001
(A friend we met and lost through the love of horses)
SOARING

To some she was a songbird helping find our Childhood Blue
To some a special friend that we were glad to say we knew
To some she was a teacher passing on her special gift
To some an inspiration when our hopes needed a lift
And though there’s now a void that noone else could ever fill
Her memory will guide us when our lives seem all uphill
That found Angel in waiting forever now will sing
As she soars throughout the Heavens
On a horse with golden wings!


Laura, we are so glad to have met you and help you find your “click” with Ginger.  We miss your enthusiasm, S’mores and most of all just you!

    STACEY LAMONT RAMSAY

 March 22, 1971-December 28th, 2001

We’ll miss seeing you ride up on Miss Red many days
You’d stop for awhile, then ride on your way
We’ll miss that you greeted with always a smile
We’ll miss you on trail rides, that may take awhile
Wherever a good time that’s where you would be
And that’s how you’ll live on in our memories
Watching over your family from Heavenly skies
As on a winged horse you forever will ride!

First of all - we have a new addition to the family.  Friday at the bus stop we found a kitten.  It came from the woods across the road.  Friendy as he can be.  He’s a cute little black tabby.  It’s like he heard our voices and was coming to be rescued.  First I had to rescue him from the dogs who were at the bus stop with us.  They caugtht sight of him and took off after him, but I called them back.  I went up to the house to put them up and Taira called for the kitty to come back.  By the time I got back down the driveway he was directly across the road from her just meowing away.  Awww…..

Okay, so he was only supposed to stay the weekend and then I was going to bring him to work for one of the girls….but needless to say Taira has a new kitty.  He is VERY sweet, apparently very grateful for getting rescued.  I forgot how much sweeter boy kitties are than girls.  Kitty Momma and Kitty Cousin are friendly on their own terms, but this little fella (“T.C.” for “Taira’s Cat!”) is just a little love bug.   Don’t even ask how Kitty Cousin likes the little fella - cuz she just doesn’t.

Anyway, my friends Belinda and Vickie came riding on Saturday.  We found ANOTHER kitten while riding horses Saturday about a mile up the road.  He hitched a horseback ride with us to my friend Brian’s and then I went to get hi later in the car.  He was at the end of a driveway and same thing…heard voices and came out of the bushes just a meowing.  This kitty now has a new happy home with a co-worker who lost her senior cat awhile back.   Some people are so darned ignorant.  It doesn’t cost anything to bring unwanted animals to the shelter.  And should they not be adopted, humane euthanasia is far better than starving to death or becoming road tar or lunch for a bigger animal.   By the grace of God we found these two.  I just hope there aren’t a bunch of others from this litter out there that are unfound

We had a very nice ride and cooked out.  Hung out a bit and then they went on their way.  

Sunday- church of course.  9:00AM service.  I’m now investing in two friends - going All In to get them to come to the church and hopefully get saved and commit.  Wish me luck with my wall people.

Monday I was off. We met for a trail mapping and planning where the Bull City Cowboys trail ride will be in October.  Rode most of the trail and then came back for a cook-out.  My friend, who is a very beginner rider, rode Levi the whole trail and he was good as gold.  Even took her on her first lope!  Makes me all warm and fuzzy when one of my boys builds someone’s confidence.  She even wanted to commit him as her mount for the big trail ride.  

Someday I hope to be blessed with my own farm so I can have my lesson program with my own little string of lesson and trail horses!  Someday…

Anyway- it’s back to work for the rest of the week and I’m excited about my first Community Group meeting Wednesday.  I’ll let you know how it goes.  Have a great week!

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