A lot has been made of this verse but I am going to simplify.  I’ll let the intellectuals find the needle.  What I am mostly interested in at this point in my life is the Father/Son relationship with God.  So I ask , “Why did our Father create us to look like Him?” 

  Can you think of anything more natural for a Father to do?  I can’t.  I wanted my children to look like me.  And if anyone said so, it pleased me. This is just another easy-to-understand hint from the Father on how much He wanted us to be His family.  From the beginning of time, He wanted this.  And nothing should be more pleasing to us, and to God, than for someone to say we look just like our Father in heaven.  Physically, they aren’t going to say this.  But spiritually?  Yes, they will.  All we have to do is to look like our Brother, Jesus, and we will look like our Father as well.  Because Jesus said, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” John 14:9   So if we look like Jesus in our character and like the Father in our design, then we  look like the Father both from birth and also from rebirth!  See how much our Father desires us to be His children?!  Beautiful!  Both inside and out!  

  Don’t let anyone convince you that you are ugly.  It’s just not the truth.  We look like our Father and He is beautiful!

As with the Aliayah Lunsford case, a few months earlier, there are discrepencies in the case and in the stories that set people on edge, such as the cast on her arm, and the fact that time has been called into play. Sadly, these issues also cause many people to simply give up hope, fearing that family members are liekly involved and that there is little hope for a safe return.

With the newest edition of the case becoming a criminal investigation, due to new evidence, people are even more on edge and losing hope fast. However, while many cases do end badly, there is reason to hope that each one will not. Police have stated that they believe that there was foul play involved in the disappearance, but haven’t elaborated on it. Still, they claim to remain at least somewhat optimistic for Ayla’s safe return, and hopefully the public will too.

One can only hope in cases such as these, that a loved one was involved, and that they are simply hiding the missing away safe and sound, as that really is one of the best case scenerios.

Her loved ones have set up a website for her, which you can visit at aylareynolds.com. They are offering a generous reward of $30,000 to anyone that has information that will help to solve this case.

Stay informed, report anything that you might know, keep hope alive, and pray that this baby comes home safely!

In this case, little Aliayah was the buzz of the Internet from the end of September to the end of November, and then it all went quiet. It is difficult to even find an update on this case. Of course there was plenty of speculations flying around, which is always the case, but there seems to be little hope amongst the majority of folks believing that this little girl will be brought home safely.

Hope really started to dwindle when we learned that the dates and times of Aliayah’s last known whereabouts feel under speculation, then the step-dad pulls a vanishing act. Afterwards the trail seemed to go so cold that police were fairly baffled, leaving us all to wonder just how long this little one had really been missing. Yet there was still sparks of hope, a small lead here or there, but they quickly fizzled.

It all started to look as if the parents were in on it, and that there was a cover story being put into place to pacify any questions as to the child’s whereabouts. That is when most people gave up the hope that this child would ever be found – alive or dead. The general, (and unofficial), consensus is that she was likely killed earlier in the year at an unspecified time, the parents covered it up, and when social workers showed an interest in checking out the family due to the new additions coming soon, they decided it was time to Aliayah to “disappear”.

With so many inconsistancies, including statements from family members, it is difficult to know where to stand on this one. I, for one, hope that the family had nothing to do with killing and hiding her and that she will be brought home safe and sound soon.

So if you say a prayer or make a wish, remember this little one and the family and loved ones that are still worried and hoping for a safe return!

Cover of Feelings

Once upon a time there was a woman who had been desperately hurt most of her life. From her early childhood through her adult life. It seemed the relationships she was in never seemed to work out. Though she had three children, all of her personal relationships seemed to just end for one reason or another.

In her older years after a bad bad breakup with a man she truly loved and wanted to spend her life with, being the romantic she was she still believed in love. 

She wondered around for almost two years, dating a bit but never letting anyone get too close to her. If they began to get too close she would push them away.

Being afraid of being hurt again and not knowing if she could sustain it if that happened again. She had tried so hard and still did not understand how selfish and uncaring someone who one day says they loved her and the next telling her to leave.

After the two years passed, she seemed to have come to terms with what transpired in her last relationship and decided if she met someone whom she really cared for she would promise herself to give them a chance and not push them away.

Well, one day after chatting on line with a new guy, she decided to meet him. The first date went well, but that lusty, can’t keep your hands off each other type feeling just wasn’t there. She decided that she probably was guarding herself from more pain and disappointment so she decided to give him a chance and see him again.

Her milestone birthday was the weekend of their first date and the guy asked her to spent it with him. The girl had not made any plans and was going to be all by herself so she took him up on his offer. he planned the entire weekend, fun filled with stars, balloons, laughter, good food, good company, and memories to be made and they were.

After that weekend ended the man was telling the woman that he loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her in his arms. He showed her nothing but love and concern for her feelings. This went on for some time and the woman being afraid she would be hurt again was very guarded with her feelings and didn’t want to move too quickly. She knew that with each time they saw each other and spent time together her feelings grew for him and she was falling deeply in love with him, but she decided not to tell him right now because she herself wanted to be certain her feelings were real and not just lust.

After a few weeks she decided the time had come when she needed to tell him her feelings and say those three magical words. The woman never told anyone she loved them unless those were her true feels, so when the words rolled off her tongue she knew in her hurt that this man was the one she wanted to spend eternity with. He was so happy when she told him her feelings and for her listening to him tell her he loved her made her all warm and so happy inside. She really never thought she would let herself fall in love again. She thought she was destined to be alone for the rest of her life, but this gentle man had enveloped her with his compassion for her feelings and with his love. When they were together, nothing else mattered to her except them as a couple. His strong arms around her made her feel safe and as if nothing could ever hurt her again.

As time passed  by, this all changed. In an instant she did not know if this man would continue to be a part of her life or not. The empty feelings that he had made go away once more returned as her emotions went wild.

How could anyone tell someone they love them one second and the next change their minds? She was confused and scared. How in the world can this be happening again?

Why do people say things they don’t mean is what went through her head. Yes, she is a romantic, but if you love someone then you just don’t walk away when something you don’t comes into play. You stick around and explain things and come to a compromise. In her heart the girl thought that once more she had been taken for a ride, a ride of her feelings and pain filled her heart.

This pain had disappeared and she felt trust for this man and in a short instant he was gone……and once more she stood alone but a piece of him she will always keep and will live on in her forever….

Mr. X before boarding the bus at approximately 8:30 am on Thursday morning at the corner of Orange Ave and San Antonio Dr listened intently to a woman in a wheelchair. Then she starts to explain why she had a stroke. One her blood pressure was off the chart along with her blood sugar that makes her a diabetic. Then out of the blue she states “her husband is black” So, Mr. X interject the following statement, “So you have heard many statements about bi-racial children” At this point she figuratively pull out the cure all, the King James Version of the Bible. At which time she quoted and testified as to how the lord had correct many problems in her life. I never said a word. As she is finishing her mental release the bus is arriving .The reason for the bus ride is to avoid looking for a parking space and outrageous parking garage fees.

He is going downtown to the Gas Company’s main office to correct a billing problem that was slightly annoying. During the bus ride he was reading European Civilization Since The Middle Ages. He was looking for the reasons that led Europe to approach Africa and African People in such a violent Manner. He is so involved in his research that the bus arrives at the transit mall without him giving any real notice. Once Mr. X is off the bus he walk about a quarter of a block waits at a signal light; when it displays walk he crosses the street heading south. Once crossing the street he then turns West and repeats the light sequence.

While at the light he thinks to himself an elderly person would have to be and impala to cross the street in the given time displayed on the crossing signal. From hear he crosses the street for a second time, there is one more crossing prior to the walk past the main library and the section of the downtown park directly in front that is occupied by people in transition. Now he is entering the Gas Company’s main entrance the information sign is visible at this point. He turns left at the sign and walks to the assistance section. There are several people waiting in sun-faded chairs. They seem to have similar problems. While he is waiting two people walk in one male one female both Spanish speakers, they both are on their berries.

The male ask two questions, one are you in line, the reply “yes” next question “is this the Gas office” although this is not what he thought the man meant, he understood what question, “Yes was his answer” Then in another person walked in she is an employee but he was unaware of it at the time. Now this woman is jaw dropping, drop death in your tracks gorgeous. She is tall slender with a magnificent smile he would see later. She had shoulder length curly black hair and smooth perfect tan color skin. Instantly, his thoughts moved toward a subject that is constantly on his mind the same as when he visits he local bank and encounters this fabulous Latina teller, she also has that tan color and gorgeous brown eye could either of these women display the love that Isis displayed toward her husband Osirus. A woman who loves her husband so much that after he was tricked into a coffin made especially for him. It was pushed into the Nile River and ended up as part of a palace. Isis found were Osirus body was brought it back and hid it from sight. Her brother-in-law discovered the body, opened the coffin chopped the body into 14 pieces and scattered it all over the place, Isis found all of the pieces expect one, she spoke powerful words of the body and it was alive.  Could they express this type of love? Then the person mention above in a very seductive voice said, “next customer” he explained his dilemma and she explained the solution. It was done in record time and with maximum efficiency.

 He then encountered another person who happed to be Latina, he paid his bill and left, at least that what he though. He repeated the light sequence boarded the bus for the return trip. He stopped off at a dollar store drank a coke, when to the local thrift shop and purchase a second semester book on psychology.  While taking a leisurely walk and arriving at his apartment he was startled by a freighting discovery.  He while in mental company several attractive women his programming was interrupted enough to cause him to loose his keys. However, backtracking through the above mentions sequences led him back to where his programming encountered a blue screen this can spell disaster in the computer world, but through it all he found the keys. How do you spell relief?  Found keys.

Boone & Shannon

Some characters are not strong enough to stand on their own.  Like many people they need someone else to define them or give them focus.  The ‘brother & sister’ unit of Boone & Shannon are just such an example

  Boone has always ben in love with his step sister.  She has always known it and used it.  The relationship between them is giver and taker.

Boone begins to come into his own when he joins Locke in exploration.  Shannon remains a parasite, taking but giving nothing, doing nothing.  The first task she was given was firing a flare, and most of us figured she’d be too busy running her mouth to do it.  The second task was to translate French documents at the request of Sayid.

Although one might want to dismiss Boone’s warning of Sayid as to the nature of his sister as jealousy, it comes after the hallucination Locke provoked.

The warning is true, Shannon uses people. She finds someone with power and using her face and body goes after him.  That is why she goes after Sayid. 

Boone is the first central character to die.  He dies and in Locke’s belief it is because the island needs blood.  Shannon’s mourning is, as everything Shannon, shallow, more show than real.

Subsequently, Shannon is killed, and it’s almost a pleasure to see the back of her.

In America they might have been rich and important, but on the island they’re easy to lose and not much to miss.

            I discovered Wal-Mart Supercenter in this tiny Texas town. We voyaged there at least once a week for groceries and general household supplies. One June evening, after living in San Angelo for nearly two months, I made the stay-at-home-mom’s highly coveted solo shopping trip. Rolling down the car window, I eased the 1990 Ford Escort out of the parking lot and onto the street. I enjoyed the hair-tangling breeze as the surface streets led me to Loop 306—even the pungent stench of guano filling the car as I passed under “Bat Bridge” couldn’t dampen my spirits.

The Wal-Mart Supercenter, towering like Mount Olympus in this small wasteland, beckoned on my right as I neared Route 67. I decelerated down the exit ramp, and moments later stared in dismay, craning my neck as the Supercenter passed on my left; I found myself inexplicably traveling not toward my destination, but back in the direction whence I came. I shook off the confusion. I must have been distracted when I exited, and I needed to circle around for another approach. I took the next exit and got back on the loop, pointed toward my goal.

My senses shifted into high gear as I again saw Wal-Mart on my right. I exited, turned right—and found myself back on the loop, the store taunting me on my left. I was paying attention this time! The store was on my right and I turned right! No problem. I could take Bryant Blvd. to the other end of the loop and come at it from the other direction. It would take longer, and I would have to brave “Bat Bridge” again, but this odyssey was not defeating me.

Fifteen minutes later I saw the elusive titan mocking me on the left side of the street. Mock me no longer, Wal-Mart Supercenter; I will be entering your sliding doors of savings momentarily. I retreated from the vindictive loop, turned left, and saw the sliding doors laughing as I resumed my place on the loop. What’s going on? I know this store is real; I can see it. Why can’t I reach it? Has Dante seized control of the universe and sent me to a new circle in hell? Has Zeus imprisoned me in a life-sized Ford Escort slot car destined to travel the same road eternally? What mischief have I committed to deserve this? I refuse to ask for directions to get to a place I can see. I refuse to walk into a store to buy a map to get to a destination directly in my line of sight. So, I took the next exit, pulled into the gas station parking lot, walked into the store, and bought a map.

December 1999: Midwest City, Oklahoma

            I’d visited Crossroads Mall every Christmas that I’d spent with my in-laws, and several times in the previous days—each time leaving from the same location, but with different drivers taking different routes. This concerned me as I set out alone, and I decided to avoid the freeway route (the “cross roads” that gave the mall its name) after my ill-fated loop of doom fiasco. My husband had emphasized, with the kind of pride suggesting he was responsible for it, that this Oklahoma City suburb is on a grid system with streets running north/south and east/west. Since I knew the general direction, I could take any number of side streets; in a grid system all roads run into each other eventually. I turned onto SE 59th St. ready for some shopping.

I knew what I was looking for. I couldn’t describe it exactly, but a couple of miles down the road on the left was a purplish-mauve two- or three-story building with a sign either in or above the window of a shop that sold…something. I needed to turn left right before or after this building. Then I would just drive until I saw the train tracks, and who could miss a huge mall full of Christmas shoppers?

I might have misjudged the distance to my landmark because after several miles I found myself coming upon I-35, which was not where I wanted to be. I calmly turned around, looking for my purplish-mauve shop on the right. I scrutinized each corner carefully, fruitlessly scanning for my purple-mauve milestone. I eventually came on a street name I recognized, which meant that I had again driven too far.

I chose a parking lot, turned around, and began my westward trek again. Determined not to let an obviously newly painted building be my nemesis, I turned at the next stoplight to seek the train tracks (I later discovered that I shouldn’t have been searching for a purplish-mauve building, but a sign with purplish-mauve letters).

I began to see holiday shoppers with trunks and seats full of gift bags as I-240 became visible. How could this have gone so wrong? This mall will not be my Achilles’ heel. What is the rule for navigating mazes? Always turn right? left? right, then left?  I can’t remember, but I refuse to get on either of those freeways. I’ll turn around, go back to 59th Street, and really pay attention. That building has to be somewhere, and I can find it! So, I pulled into the next gas station parking lot, walked into the store, and bought a map.

December 1999: San Antonio, Texas

Though I had driven across country many times, my destination had never been a large, completely unfamiliar metropolis. Considering my track record and the freeways that looped around San Antonio, I armed myself with my trusty 50-state road atlas and turn-by-turn directions from Oklahoma City to the motel in San Antonio and from the motel to the base where my brother was graduating from Air Force Basic Training. There was no way I was getting lost on this trip.

I made it through Oklahoma without issue, and followed the faded grey interstate through Dallas, Waco, and Austin to my motel in San Antonio. The fact that I didn’t stray from Interstate 35 during the seven-hour trip had nothing to do with my successful navigation of this journey.

I unpacked the car and let the kids watch TV while we waited to leave for Lackland Air Force Base to spend a few hours with my brother, then I herded them into the car, leaving myself 45 minutes to get to a destination 20 minutes away. As I merged onto US-90 from I-35, my mom called to see if I had seen my brother yet; all I had seen were hundreds of cars zooming past me on the freeway. The multitude of cars didn’t faze me; I learned to drive in San Diego and had driven through Los Angeles rush hour many times. But, in the midst of the conversation with my mom I saw them—the dreaded black and orange signs that signaled road construction.  How long had I been obliviously driving past them, clutching my turn-by-turn security blanket, sure that nothing could go wrong? In a strange new city with tortuous roads I had foolishly allowed myself to become distracted.

As panic set in, I realized that I had no need to fear because I had directions. I bid my mother a hasty adieu, considered throwing my cell-phone out the window, and tried to determine where I was. Turn-by-turn directions tell you which exit number to take, so I confidently looked to see whether I needed to continue on my current course or to turn around. My trusty directions directed me to “travel 6.9 miles and take the exit toward TX-13 Loop.” Would I really have printed directions if I knew where the exit was? I have no idea if I’ve traveled 6.9 miles on I-35! I was on the phone for a while, so I decided that I’d probably passed the numberless exit.

I merged to the right to exit, turn around, and head back in the other direction; by the time I noticed the harbinger of black and orange detour death, it was too late. I turned left from the ramp, thinking that the entrance ramp back to the freeway would be to the left, but the intersection was so congested that I couldn’t see a ramp, much less get to it. I drove to the next intersection, where my heart was pierced by more detour signs. Not only was there construction on the freeway, but also on these particular side roads. I’m hopelessly lost in the Labyrinth without Ariadne’s thread to lead me out while Daedalus takes pleasure in watching me drive in circles.  I am not going to fuel his amusement any longer. So, I pulled into the next gas station parking lot, walked into the store, and bought a map.

December 1999: Alabama

My husband arrived in Fort Rucker, Alabama, after a miserable bus trip, to find out that his Warrant Officer training class did not actually begin until after the New Year, and he would have a weekend pass for New Year’s Eve. He begged me to ditch my brother’s Basic Training graduation and make the trip to spend the weekend with him. I refused to flake on my brother, but I did leave San Antonio immediately after lunch instead of spending the whole day.

After lunch I left San Antonio, ready for the thirteen hour drive that would get me to Fort Rucker around 2:00 am. The San Antonio nightmare maze had taught me to distrust my turn-by-turn directions, so when Mapquest.com suggested I drive east into Florida and then turn north, but conventional wisdom told me that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, I ignored Mapquest and plotted my course through Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, then diagonally from southwestern Alabama to Fort Rucker.

Unfortunately, the conventional wisdom that dictates that interstate travel is faster than country roads didn’t cross my mind. Getting from Texas to Alabama was easy; Interstate 10 took me from San Antonio through Mobile. Then, around midnight, I began following the route I had plotted. The children were asleep in the back of the Dodge Caravan, so there was nothing to distract me from the roads—no other cars, no scenery, just the enveloping night—that took me through tiny Alabama towns with no stop lights or distinguishing characteristics. But, at least I knew what road I was on…theoretically. Some stretches of road were named, while different stretches of the same road were numbered—with multiple numbers. Driving down 15/29 or 12/84/134, I came to an intersection with signs proclaiming that this same road went straight, left, and right. 

Around 4:00 am I realized that for the first time in my life I was truly aimless.  I had a direction to go, but no idea what it was or how to get there. Pulling off of the road, I looked at my insufficiently detailed 50-state road atlas to determine where I was. My atlas had no city or town names—which didn’t matter, because the street signs had no city or town names, only countless numbers. Neither the streets nor the map helped me, because I couldn’t conclude which quadrant corresponded to the country crossroad my Caravan had careered down.

Alas—my battle is lost. I’ve so misplaced myself that I need to buy a map, but a city map will not help. I should be proud. I’m moving up in the world. I’ve graduated from getting lost in a minuscule town to a suburb to a major city—I guess I should have realized the next logical step—to get lost in an entire state. So, I drove, and I drove, and I drove, and I drove and I pulled into the next gas station parking lot, walked into the store, and bought a map.

Or if I seemed fine to them.

I began to ponder just getting up and walking away.

With nothing, heading nowhere.

To a place where it wouldn’t matter if I had a name or not, because no one would know me.

I wouldn’t need a name, or a story.

If no one who loves me notices here, why would they who don’t know me notice there?

I started to wonder.

I started to wonder.

Kate

She seems a naturally beautiful outdoors type, but she has a darker past than  Sawyer.   Although she doesn’t behave crudely or speak with belligerence, she has murdered, robbed, shot, deceived, and played a role for much of her life.  The difference between herself and Jack is that she doesn’t often reflect with a sense of guilt or judgement.  She is not in a process of analysing why or how, she lives here and now.

She is extremely capable with no need to prove anything.   She knows who she is. 

She doesn’t care that much about leaving the island, she focuses on getting through today and protecting herself from tomorrow.  She makes no enemies among the other survivors, and speaks to others usually only when she needs to.   She doesn’t mind her own company.

Although it is evident that she has feelings for Jack, she is not overwhelmed by them, and can be with Sawyer just as easily.

Although she may appear vulnerable she isn’t.

From her eariliest ‘flash backs’  we know she has killed, without remorse, we know she can track, survive in the wild, concoct complex schemes, but keeps it silent, only bits trickling out to the prying Jack and the dark link with Sawyer.

Unlike other ‘female leads’ she is not interested in pretty, like Shannon, nor being a woman , like Claire, but prefers the understated; she gets attention for what she does and can do, not for how she looks or what she is.  She has no fear, and recalling that she was on that flight as a prisoner going to trial and likely conviction, being on the Island is quite alright with her.

The clues to where to find them are usually in their own habitual behaviour.  You know that saying: people are creatures of habit.  That tells us something. 

Okay, let us assume it is a teenage girl who has gone missing.  The obvious starting point is to go talk to her known friends.  Does she have a boyfriend?  Talk to him.  If you are not sure about whether or not she has a boyfriend ask her best friends. 

Hobbies and interests are a clue as to where she may go or turn up at, at some point.  Is she a fan of a certain type of music played at a certain type of club?  Is she a fan of any sports that she may go to watch?  Does she like window shopping at a particular mall?  Does she hang out with mates in a known location?  Did she go to an Internet cafe?  Were amusement arcades her thing?

Dress style is a clue.  Is she a Punk, Goth, Emo, or Rockabilly for instance?  If she dresses to identify with a group such as these, then go where that type of dresser hangs out and ask questions there.  Show a recent photo.  Sit in your car at a distance and watch a while at times when she was normally out of the house.

Did she take a mobile phone with her?  Have you tried ringing it from a number she would not recognise?  If avoiding you that is the best tactic rather than a withheld number which would draw suspicion.  An unrecognised number is more likely to arouse curiosity.

What kind of food did she like – check out the takeaways or fast food chain restaurants which she may be going to.

Did she have a Facebook account?  Have you access to it?  If not, it is simple to set up a bogus account and “friend” her to see what is happening, although you may find clues to her whereabouts on her wall if she has not got tight security on there.  If you do set up a bogus account make one which will appeal to her.  Find photos of a boy of the type she likes, and download at least five photos of the boy.  Add an album of other photos such as a few of a band she likes, and a few football team related photos and other trivia.  To make it look like a long standing account, request at least 20 friends and post a lot of things on the wall, such as Youtube clips, especially of the music she likes, post a few statuses and jokes.  Make comments on some friends statuses and then send her a friend request and see if she takes the bait.  Make friend requests for the top 3 who she appears to talk to and start gaining their trust.  Gossip with them and see where that leads you. 

Google search her name on the off chance that she might crop up in links to forums or other social networking sites which you could check.

If there is a suspicion that she may have left town, for instance, having ran away from known problems, then think about where she might go.  When people run off it is usually to a place they liked, where they had a nice time, and where they feel safe or simply that they fit in there. Go check that place out.

Even when young people are in some kind of trouble , someone always knows where she is.  They confide in close friends.  If none tell you where she is, leave a number for them to reach you if they hear anything or think she is in trouble.

If you are reading this because your daughter is missing, good luck with the search.