Creative Writing for the Creator

What beautiful words in this hymn by Getty/Townend! To God be the glory for the hope it brings... In Christ Alone  In Christ alone, my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song This Cornerstone, this solid Ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ, I stand. In Christ alone! - who took on flesh, The fullness of God in helpless babe. This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ, I live. There in the ground, His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave, He rose again And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine...

My dearest Emilia Grace Springtime starts today, On your second birthday: What a lovely day! You are my first granddaughter Born of my first-born daughter This heart-math is clear: I love you twice more! I miss your embrace, your smile, Your face, your happy countenance I celebrate your birthday Even from a distance... I pray in Jesus' Name That one day We will see each other again Until that time Vovó loves you Very very much!

All right, here we go again ... Back to my childhood.  And a little about my first school years. Now it's time to register some memories of my childhood after Daddy's death. Kindergarten had not worked for me: it had been a nightmare to be in a strange place, in the presence of strangers, away from home, and, most of all, away from Mom.  My aunt had also lost her husband to a car wreck about three years before Daddy's fatal accident.  My uncle had been a crazy, cheerful man! He was a doctor. I remember when he brought living crabs to his house (they used to live in a house then) to make a crab boil; he let the kids (me and his three daughters) play with the crabs, which were tied to a long stick. It was a terrifying and exciting experience. I loved being around my uncle. But that was pretty much all a three-year-old (me) could remember. After my uncle passed away, my aunt, three cousins, and maternal grandmother moved  to the same apartment building cl...

Continuing on my early childhood memories, I will start with the two people who played significant roles in my story: Mom & Daddy. Daddy was a Frigate Commander in the Brazilian Navy.  I remember the day Mom and I went for a visit to his ship. Daddy came out to meet us on the dock. He picked me up, held Mom's arm, and we walked on a narrow bridge over the water, connecting the pier and the ship. The railings were made of rope, and it felt wobbly. I experienced a mix of fear and excitement but being carried by Daddy's strong arms made me feel completely safe. He was my hero. Daddy's ship: NT Marajó (G-27), an oil tanker.   I remember Mom's voice singing:  "Viva o Sol do céu da nossa terra,  vem surgindo atrás da linda serra!" "Hooray to the sun in the sky of our land,  rising behind the beautiful mountain!"  What a joyful start to a new sunny day! Mom was the epitome of the 50's musical scene era: a song  f...

I will start with this thought: CHANGE IS INEVITABLE. I need to trace my life back to my origins   (just a little history here, so please bear with me). And I will try to go as far back as I can. What do I remember? So, yes, there I was, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (That's where I was born and raised until my early 30's. You may look it up on the map if you can't visualize it in your mind) My earliest childhood memories bring me back to preschool age.  My first birthday party - 1965 (I so wanted to touch those bunnies on the cake!) My dad was an officer in the Brazilian Navy.               Daddy (far left) - Naval Academy Graduation - 1952    Mom was a teacher.                       Mom's Graduation                         Mom and Dad's Wedding Day ...

It is well known and said that childhood plays a vital role in creating and fashioning one's personality. And, of course, the memories we are able to access may or may not reflect the reality of facts. I guess what I am trying to convey here is that emotions may magnify, distort, conceal, in sum, play with our minds to such an extent that all we have left of our childhood are our 'memories' as we perceive them.  With that being said, other than photographs, documents and videos, I am making a conscious choice to recall my past life as candidly as I possibly can, holding on to my own perceptions and feelings. I will not relate every single detail, lest I bore you (or myself) to tears. I will admit that my account may not coincide with the views and recollections of those with whom I have had contact or crossed paths for a little or a longer time. However, this is my blog and I reserve the right to write as I deem appropriate and applicable. Therefore, I will be writing about...

Depression. What is it exactly? It is in our human nature to seek answers. Can depression be defined (and confined) within a definition entry?  Depression can be as deadly as a terminal disease. It develops somehow inside our minds and starts to eat away at us. Have you ever been depressed or know someone going through depression? YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Today I am finally ready to start sharing my journey battling depression. I am a survivor. And I will tell you my story. So, read on.  Though I am not certain where to begin, I know I do have to start somewhere ... So I will write from a remembrance as it resurfaces: a situation, a feeling, a smell, a sight, a song ...   As we partake of this journey, you will be my companion, and I, yours. A journey of discovery, of startling insights, of unexpected awareness. But, most of all, a journey with a goal: ongoing rescue and deliverance from depression into a life lived to the fullest .  Together we ...