three trees

THREE TREESonce there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and Queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a Carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and Said 'Peace' and t he storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

It has been a while

So.... I got back from La, and started school. The first day of school I sprained my ankle... I then healed up enough so that I can do my walk, only by God's grace was I still able to walk the walk. The walk was FUN, but hurt. The first day of the walk Tammy drove me to the Cow Palace for the opening ceremonies. After the opening ceremonies we walked from the Cow Palace to Krissy Fields, where camp was going to be. On the walk I saw many people dressed up in pink, actually men too. There were LONG lines for the Porto potties. We had many wonderful volunteers giving us as much water, Gatorade, and food that we could ever need. Also volunteers who crossed us at the street crossings, drove vans to pick up those of us who needed to give our feet a rest till the next pit stop. the first day i made it all the way to lunch then took the SAG bus to camp. At camp we set up the tents and decorated them. By the ways I won best tent decoration for my section. I then met the first aide people who helped my ankle and blisters from the first day. then we had dinner and karaoke. then lights out by 9:00. i think I was out by 8:30. The second day, we started at Krissy fields and went across the Golden Gate bridge. where I found Nelson and Cy ready to cheer me on. God really knew I needed that, I was ready to quit, but by them there it reminded me of why I was walking and that I have people supporting me. I thank God for His perfect timing. I walked though the small towns, took the sweep vans to pit stops and came back over the Golden Gate Bridge to camp at Krissy fields. for more first aid attention, dinner, entertainment and what I wanted most SLEEP. On the 3rd day we started at camp and went to the marina green, I did take the sweep vans a couple of time but was able to cross the finish line. I walked a total of 40 miles of the 60 miles. During the 3 days I meant a lot of wonderful people I meant survivors, relatives, other Christians, and I meant someone who was just diagnosed 2 weeks before this walk. I meant some one who had chemo 4 days before the walk. Wow some of these ladies and men are amazing. My sister picked me up and took me to Olive Garden for dinner. I now know what they meant by these walks being addicting I am already signed up to walk the next walk October 2-4, 2009. Here is my link for the next one http://www.the3day.org/goto/SusanMoritz. The week after my feet hurt from the blisters. I have also had a wonderful birthday. My co workers took me to lunch. I went for a walk and had dinner with some friends then had people over to my house for cake and ice cream. I got a lot of nice presents but what I thank God most for is the friends God has blessed me with. one of my goals for this year is to be better about posting stuff here.