family | Heartstone Journey

Armor Up

We are with you, sire! For Sparta, for freedom, to the death!

-Stelios (From the movie 300)

The essence of this “rise up” theme is embedded in many narratives; a theme that bears an unshakable source of inspiration for those of us who dare to face evil with unwavering courage!

I love the scene from J. R. R Tolkien’s “The Return of the King” where Aragon is desperately outnumbered. He looks fear right in the eye and finds the strength to inspire his men against what seems like an almost certain defeat against the massive forces of the enemy. Standing firm and riding in front of his army, Aragon addresses these words to his men:

A Reflection in Time

I connected with James on Google+ and recently we had a conversation on gathering strength on life’s storms which he shared that he lost his daughter to cancer back in 2001. He then shared a piece that he wrote about this tough experience. I was so touched by his powerful story that I asked him if I could feature what he wrote on Heartstone. Here is the first part of that story.

Turning Point

Through the tears, I found the courage to shout out with a battle cry to the enemy: “I have allowed you to take much from me, but as long as I stand I will defend my children!”

Conviction is worthless until it converts itself into conduct.

-Thomas Carlyle

Daddy, Carry Me!

I remember some years back taking the family up to the White Mountains of NH for a ridge hike from Mt Washington to Mt Jefferson. The scene of this day was painted by the Master Artist Himself with multiple colors of sunshine peircing through the puffy white cumulus clouds slowly floating by like someone daydreaming.

I have been hiking for years and we spent the prior year preparing the kids for this hike. Spent the day earlier that week at Eastern Mountain Sports making sure that everyone had the right gear for the adventure that awaited us all. I have to tell you that there was an excitement buzzing the air as the kids knew that they would be walking in the clouds some 6,288 ft (1,917 m) up. Not sure they truly grasped this, but nonetheless they were excited.

Jenga…For Real!

I ran upstairs to change out of my business clothes into something more comfortable and came down stairs with the movie in one hand and bottle of wine in the other hand, preparing to pour a victory drink. I asked her if she would like a glass, and she declined, which was not her usual response. So I showed her the movie I had rented and asked her if she wanted to watch it, and she declined that too, saying, “This is not going to be a good night for a movie.” As I stood there puzzled and confused, she continued. “I have something to tell you…” and she handed me a folded letter. With one last glance, she turned and walked into the other room. As I came to the word ‘divorce’ written upon the letter, I fell to my knees, paralyzed as my reality became a silhouette of yesterday arriving at the edge of a broken heart. My happily-ever-after turned to dust.

Armor Up

A Reflection in Time

Turning Point

Daddy, Carry Me!

Jenga…For Real!

Favorite Quotes

Cool Scripture

Never Out Of The Fight!

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