Face Book -- Friend OR Foe?

“If it's very painful for you to criticize your friends - you're safe in doing it. But if you take the slightest pleasure in it, that's the time to hold your tongue - Alice Duer Miller”

I can remember when Face Book came out. I was addicted to My Space at the time (wow, doesn’t that seem so juvenile? Now) I was torn between both and the world of Face Book was so new – a little too “mature for me”.

Well a year into it and convinced, I finally signed on and became a Face Book Addict! My Space became a thing of the past and I began to connect again with the same friends on Face Book. Gosh, wasn’t it so fun at first? Posting statuses and pictures of your life with family and friends – and some people began to use Face Book more than email, so maybe it was the only way to connect.

Time has passed now, and unfortunately it seems not only has Face Book been used for good, but for some as evil too. Maybe not even evil, but are you REALLY friends with everyone you “Friend” on face Book? Granted – I am sure not. I have plenty of “likes” of many bands, shows and celebs that I follow, but my actual “friends”, yes I can honestly say, I consider them all just that – friends. I have went to school with you, I have worked with you, I have maybe even spent a night in jail with you (kidding), but the fact is, after all is said and done…though we don’t see each other EVERY Day, I bet you $5.00, I could call you if I wanted to talk – you have just portrayed that availability to me, and I am thankful.

What about the other “friends” on Face Book or other Social Networks? After watching ‘Social Network’, I see how easy and fast relationships spread on the “Network”. I once sought out to find people from my past – and quickly realized for my husband and I – those people are in the past for a reason and not meant to be sought out. I also quickly learned how funny it is to see those same people as “friends” on this social network, when in reality it is the furthest thing from that – ha!

In ending --- I as you, receive “Friend Request” a lot – I as you decline a lot as well. Are the ones you are requesting OR accepting as "Friends" for TRUE friendship or just a selfish request into connecting to the past or connecting to future for the wrong reasons? The saying “Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer” is so played out --- Keep your Friends Closer ALWAYS --- Just Saying…

Helping Others Succeed

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do - Edward Everett Hale”

Today’s word with Joel & Victoria goes on to say “In Scripture, the Apostle Paul would have never had the impact he did without a man named Barnabas.” “Barnabas stood up for Paul and used his influence to open a door with the other disciples. Paul went on to write over half of the New Testament.” “We don’t hear a lot about Barnabas. Paul greatly overshadowed him. But if you were to ask Paul he would say, “I won because Barnabas helped me win. I succeeded because Barnabas took a risk and opened a door that I could not open on my own. Barnabas believed in me when nobody else did.”

This was yet again another perfect timing for me to receive this word. Through my life, I have been helped by so many. I have been offered opportunities that have been so beneficial to me. I have many, many people to thank for all these doors that have been opened and the number one person being GOD…and it seems so many times GOD does get overshadowed in our everyday lives (me guilty as well), when in reality HE is the one that has had our lives mapped out since before we were born.

I feel that as gracious as GOD is with us, we should only strive to be more like him and always look for opportunities to help others as well to ensure they are bettering their lives. This does not necessarily mean by doing this with materialistic ways such as money, etc., it is as simple as mentor to someone as Barnabas was to Paul and take a risk on someone that is not able to open doors on their own and believe in someone when no one else does.

For me I have had a lot of people take chances on me and risks so to speak and I feel that I have failed no one. I strive to do the best I can in all that I am set to do…this is for my personal relationships as well as my business relationships. I however have made wrong decisions through my life and that is where the risk comes into play that may have been taken on when it came to me – but in the end, I feel that the risks that were taken were well worth it and I have come out more knowledgeable and full of gratitude just as the other party was.

In my recent years, I have been so fortunate to be blessed with a husband, family and friends that have taken a chance on me and instilled much trust and though there were times of disappointment and trials to overcome, they stuck with me and for that I am forever grateful! The same goes for my job – I have been so fortunate to work with such an amazing team of people whom I have learned from and continue to learn from that through the trust and confidence they have placed in me and me in them, I climb higher and higher each day in all that I do!

In closing, don’t immediately rule someone out that you might not know very well. Allow yourself to be maybe the only person that is available to this man or woman. The only person that is able to offer direction and open doors that will better this man or woman – be the difference in a person’s life – you will never know the impact that they can provide to you and others until you try.

XO Till Next Time

All "Hacked" Up!

“The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him - Henry L. Stimson”

So it finally happened! Mike and I were hacked! All these years we have gone safely and never had an interruption in any of our personal websites such as emails, banks, etc. Well today I received that dreaded email “Your password has been changed – if you were not the one to do this, please contact…” At first I thought it was one of those scam emails that say something has been changed to your bank so please send us your account number and so on, but it wasn’t, it was our MD Anderson website.

Because this website holds personal health information, contact information and correspondence between our doctors, I immediately called the MD Anderson website and reported the email I received and to my surprise, our password REALLY had been changed…not by us nor MD Anderson. I asked if it was maybe a monthly random act that the website does for protection, but it wasn’t…someone actually logged on and answered our personal questions and changed our password. Now granted the questions and answers were easy, so anyone who knows us could have accessed it. Well we have now learned our lesson and a few additional ones while we were at it.

First of all, again, because this is a website that holds such private information I did have MD Anderson investigate and they were able to retrieve an IP address. Unfortunately that is all they could provide, so we took it a step further. I spoke to the Houston Police Department and just as hacking into someone’s email, by logging onto the MD site and because it is a personal site and has email function, it is considered a felony forgery charge – wow! I had no idea! I submitted the IP address to the Police Department and we are awaiting a call now to find the results. Thank goodness for technology! I am not sure as to what our next step will be when we retrieve the information from the PD but Mike is adamant about pursuing charges if necessary.

Ugh! It’s such a feeling of violation! All I can say to all is, when setting up accounts, whether email or any others, be very specific and not so lenient when setting passwords or security questions. It is a shame to think that someone would do this, but you live and learn and learn we did. I hope this is help to someone who has been a victim and Mike and I know now in the future to be more careful.

Till next time…

I Take A Deep Breath And I Scream From The Top Of My Lungs WHAT'S GOIN' ON!!

“Prayer gives a man the opportunity of getting to know a gentleman he hardly ever meets. I do not mean his maker, but himself - William Inge”

Hi Everyone!

Well I first want to start off and thank you all for the prayers that you continue to send our way! As you have seen through previous updates, they are working and continue to work! Today is no different!

Today like all other appointments, I was filled with anxiety as always. I feel now the anxiety I have built up is just the reality of the disease. Though GOD remains so involved and continues to heal Mike, it may one day take a turn and GOD may need to change Mike’s game plan. As for now, his plan is for Mike to continue to heal from head to toe and be a living testimony of how great our GOD truly is – for this we remain so happy and our faith remains strong.

Today the Dr’s office was a little late and that just added to the anxiety as you wait along with all others, hearing different stories and testimonies – makes the mind wonder. Mike and I sat there and chatted and then they called our names. As we waited in the room, we said a prayer like we had early this morning, but not only were we asking for blessed results, we continued to thank GOD for bringing us this far and for Mike’s continued strength and the excellent team of doctors that he has placed us with.

Vikki (Dr. Tsao’s PA) walked in with all smiles as always and with reports in hand and proceeded to read us what they said. Now I like the way Vikki reads the reports it is the best…she never really reads directly off the report, she instead talks to us and explains each section and talks about how each part of Mike that has been affected by Cancer is working now. She went on to tell us that the reports are getting better each time we see them.

As of the PET Scan Mike had on Monday, the report today shows that the spots that were on Mike’s lungs (the original spots that were of the main concern when he was diagnosed) were GONE! YES GONE!! They have been the main focus of the chemo treatment and the original source of the Cancer – and they are gone! The only remaining Cancer that Mike is battling now is what remains in the lymph nodes and some of the bone area (which includes the spinal bone) and sternum. The Brain / Spinal Cord and Fluid remain Free and Clear of Cancer and NOW The LUNGS --- THE LUNGS ARE CANCER FREE!!! (Somewhat – excluding the lymph nodes that sit along the lungs).

Mike is still undergoing the clinical trial chemo every 2 weeks, which with how good he is doing is going to soon be spread out. With the results he has been given today, he will also be taken off the Mega-Super Chemo he has been on and will go to a preventative chemo that will be given with the clinical trial every 2 or 3 weeks (They are working in his schedule).

Days like this make the walking out of MD Anderson so much brighter and you can just feel GOD shining upon you when you walk through those sliding doors out into the parking lot – whether rain or shine! As Dr. Grove’s said himself at our last visit, Mike is a TRUE Miracle of GOD – and you know what? I do continue to believe him!

In closing, to you ALL Mike and I remain ever so grateful for all of you. We remain so grateful for all of the prayers, messages, phone calls, letters and all other communication we continue to receive. Mike remains so confident in this WILL BE HIS YEAR and He WILL be Cancer Free in 2011! Your prayers continue to instill strength and courage in us daily!

I will continue to keep you all posted moving forward as always and don’t feel I have to even ask for prayers – I know ending this letter as you are jumping for joy and Praising GOD, you are continuing to pray – For That we Thank you!

Till next time – XO Lyndie

Why? When? Where? What? How?

“For all of us…sometimes, in His orchestrated convergence of time and circumstance, He allows us to catch a small glimpse of understanding. Those moments are gifts to be treasured. But they are not a given – Lisa Whittle

Over the past few years I have become a fan of many blogs – Lisa Whittle being a new one added to my list. I love her view on all things.

Are there so many things that happen in life that we do not understand but yearn to? As a young child death is not something that I was too familiar with. I was fortunate to have both grandparents and great grandparents on both sides. My entire family I had available to me, I had not experienced anyone close to me pass until 2009 when my Grandfather went to be with The LORD. As I get older it seems more and more people I know or that are close to me are passing and though I yearn for understanding, I know that it is not always given and I am OK with this.

Not only is death something we yearn to understand or why it happens, but myself personally I yearn to know why many things happen. A friend of mine wrote today how her bed-time story with her little one has become more of a Q &A rather than bedtime. Ha! I can relate! My Hubby always laughs at me…I seek an explanation for it ALL! I was sheltered growing up and lack I suppose what they call “street smarts” and I am always inquiring as to why things are the way they are…why people are they way they are…why things happen the way they do. He is patient and if he has the answer, he is forthcoming and if not, he recites one of our favorite lines from Joe Dirt talking to Kickin’ Wing, “Well, duh, might as well ask why a tree is good? Why is the sunset good? Why are boobs good?” Makes me laugh every time!

I suppose that we will never KNOW it all nor understand it. This is GOD’s plan and though I DO want to know it all at times…I am thankful I do not. It keeps me sheltered and allows me to live my life with happy heart. I noticed the harder I tried to figure it all out, figure everyone out, I lost sight of doing what GOD wants me to do and that is to work on me…focus on me. My husband and I are my first priority and we learn things about each other daily and are together figuring it out along the way. GOD does not want us to focus on what we have no control of. It will drive us nuts trying to understand others and the world around us. I realized this recently and I have been the happiest I have ever been re-focusing my energy on myself and husband. We are far from being perfect and never claim to be, but know who we are and will continue to be true to each other no matter what.

In closing, I have learned a valuable lesson recently…Do not empower the negative in your life by trying to understand or talking about it…instead pray. Pray not for the understanding of others or circumstances, but pray for peace and thank GOD for the “Glimpse of Understanding” that he does provide and thankful for all your still have yet to learn.

XO Lyndie

RIP Frank Scott

“Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live - Henry Van Dyke”

And NOT living was something that Frank didn’t do.

Frank was one of the first people that greeted us that Sunday afternoon as Mike and I attended our first church service together. Just the day before, in our front yard, surrounded by 15+ Harley Davidson’s Mike gave his heart to the LORD and forever our lives were changed.

That day we were invited to church by a friend of Mike’s from work, whom had been asking us to join him several times, but we felt we were always “too busy”. This time was different and the next morning we attended The Biker Church of Manvel and our lives changed forever.

Greeted at the door was our friend and he quickly guided us to the front of the church where (our now Pastor) was greeting everyone and with a huge smile and open arms, he welcomed us to Biker Church and we grabbed a seat behind Frank and Judy. Frank’s jacket caught my eye. It was a beautiful leather vest with different patches from various clubs and such and as everyone hustled and bustled around us, Frank and Judy greeted all that walked by and I just watched.

Service started and before Pastor Dave started his sermon, we all were greeted by Frank as he stood at the front w/an introduction for the “first timers” and all other church members. It quickly became apparent that Frank was a jokester and the one of the church. He pointed out the offering plate in the back and reassured us that for your first time attending, it is only $100.00 and if you don’t have it, you can ask Frank…Well he goes on to introduce himself as Frank and ooops, he doesn’t have it either. It quickly caught on and eventually he had a huge 8 ½ x 11 Dollar $100 Bill he held with him when he said this…It was quite amusing and always got the service started off with a chuckle and a smile.

When we do not have guests singers, Frank and Judy are the ones who accompany all of us in harmony. Judy plays the organ and Frank belts out The Hymnals we all know by heart. A real treat is when they sing together…the melody of both of their voices is so amazing and give you chills and the lyrics flow.

The afternoon of our first visit to Biker Church, we were invited to a BBQ at a members home and it happen to be the day of baptisms. We had no idea that this would be Mike’s day. We made our way to the house and immediately were greeted by Judy offering sodas and seat to sit. Frank joined us and put his arm around Mike and said “are you ready”? We were not sure for what, and quickly realized he meant to be baptized. Mike was a little nervous, just because we weren’t prepared, had no extra clothes, etc…but with a huge smile, he said “sure”!

Since that day, Frank has been one our favorites at the church along with Judy. They are the kindest hearted people you will meet. They are the essence of true love and it flowed from their pores. Frank never went without speaking to us and wrapping his arms around Mike and I each time he saw us and never went without asking Mike how he was doing and really taking time to listen to all that was going on.

The day we received the news of Frank’s passing will be in our memory forever, and he will be missed greatly. We will continue to pray for Judy, their Family and Friends for peace during this time and know that Frank is in Heaven now, a place he spoke of often and was confident of going. Frank will not soon be forgotten for his beautiful voice and contagious laugh will forever be with us.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me – Psalm 23:4





****Funeral Services for Frank Scott ****

Scott Funeral Home
1421 E Highway 6
Alvin, TX 77511-2573
(281) 585-1000
Visitation: 5 - 7 PM
Service: 7 PM - 21 E Highway 6

Restoring Memories -- Courtesy of KISS!

Hi Everyone!

Well How Exciting! 20+ Years later at a KISS Concert (Courtesy of One of Vendors Who provided us Tickets for The Houston Rodeo), my Cousin and I shared something really cool!!

23 Years ago in 1988, she attended her very 1st EVER (not just Concert) BUT Rock Concert and It was KISS! Here we are years later sharing this concert together along w/Hubby and Friends and this was my OFFICIAL FIRST EVER ROCK concert! I Know, I know, maybe sheltered, but I just NEVER go to venues (as much as I like music), it Just always seems confusing, parking, etc…but being at The Rodeo made it a little bit easier – maybe?

Either way, it was a great night, fun had by all and not ever seeing KISS before, except from Videos and such, I was not biased and I enjoyed EVERY “Rock-N-Roll” minute of the experience! Something I will not forget!

Also, I did want to thank KISS for doing something so admiral that brought tears to my eyes! During the show, they brought up some military/army soldiers and thanked them for all they do and then proceeded to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Wow! The venue was in a roar and you could just feel the commodity of all coming together! Thank you KISS for that moment!

In closing, I just wanted to share some of our pics with you. Mike and I don’t get out a whole lot, and I am thankful for the time that was spent with Family and Friends at such a memorable event!

ROCK ON!

XO Lyndie

(Carol Ann's ORIGINAL Ticket From 1988)

(My Ticket -- 23 Years Later)