Being the queen of curating detail-oriented, ambitious to-do lists (you should see my BuJo) - I like to get a jump-start on my days by writing them the night before.

I’ll usually start by sitting crossed-legged, with my dry-erase board in front of me, and my dry-erase markers on my right side. Once situated, I’ll set my alarms for the morning, then jot down the most productive thing to do tomorrow at the top of the list:

✨ Wake up ✨

Why write down “wake up?”

It’s part of the formula for the perfect strategy, of course.

• It’ll continue my very impressive success streak of over 15,400 consecutive days completed (i know, right 💁‍♀️).

• It’ll be done before my feet hit the floor.

• It’ll set a good tone for the day, in a sense that “I already completed something.”

• It’ll be sooo satisfying to draw that line. (Some of you know exactly what line I’m talking about, and for those that don’t know… it’s that line that changes wake up to wake up.)

And since the task to “wake up” will be completed before I even eat breakfast, clearly I will be able to do ALL THE THINGS on the list.

Walk 5 miles? Read an entire book? Freezer meal-prep a month’s worth of meals? (And so on…)

Of course I can do all that. I can listen to an audio book, plan out my meals, and make a grocery list while I walk five miles. Because multitasking is (as easy as) a walk in the park, right?

What does it matter that I haven’t been using my gym membership for a while, or that I’m not an avid reader, or that I don’t have the freezer capacity to meal prep for a month in advance right now?

These questions get tossed aside because…

(cue the confetti canons)

🎊 I’m optimistic. 🎊

I yawn, deeply, just before a second wind kicks in, and my list is complete.

The perfectionist in me is tired, thankful that bedtime has arrived, as I’m just one sleep away from another list of tasks that need to be completed just perfect.

Everything was going according to plan.

I woke up and I was already making additional progress on crossing this thing, that thing, and the other thing off of my list fearlessly, obediently, and perfectly…

Then at some point, one thing led to another and I was completely off track..

The perfectionist in me braced itself.

I expected embarrassment, failure, and regret to come rushing in. But they didn’t.

There was no time to sit in it or over analyze it. I had tasks to get back to - important ones - and now even less time to do them. Especially if I was going to do them perfectly.

During this distraction, because my mom was a really great source for advice, I found myself in the marketplace browsing “Mom’s [Perfect] Solutions” (a place in my mind where all of my mom’s advice is stored). Before I figured out if I was going to just “window shop” or actually “buy something,” I decided on dinner and a quick show.

Then, in a moment of synchronicity, while looking through the TV guide, I noticed one of my mom’s favorites was on: Miss Congeniality. I had seen the movie countless times, but I still put it on. With the good intentions to watch only until I was finished eating (don’t we all know that trap?) I soon decided to stick around for the long haul of it.

Then two specific scenes happen:

Miss Rhode Island, Cheryl, is asked, “Describe your perfect date.” Misunderstanding the question’s nature she answers,

“That’s a tough one. (giggles) I’d have to say April 25th. Because it’s not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”

In a scene shortly after, she reveals to the girls, she had such a good answer for that perfect date question,

“My idea of a perfect date would be a man who takes me to a romantic dinner and then we walk along the beach barefoot discussing books, music, and movies.”

My interest peaked in a way it hadn’t before.

Though I didn’t necessarily agree or disagree with Ms. Rhode Island - I hopped online and searched - for the perfect calendar date and the perfect romantic date - to see what others thought.

The answers? ALL different.

Because, not everybody only needs a light jacket on April 25th (or any other specific calendar date) and not everyone likes walking along the beach barefoot.

Even after the google searches, and long after Miss Congeniality was over, I still thought about the idea of the perfect date.

One day kept coming to mind.

A day marked by betrayal, suffering, and death.

Hardly what anyone would call perfect.

And yet, since the 4th century it’s been solidified, as well as recognized and observed (almost universally), as what we call “Good Friday.”

Because what the enemy meant for evil, God used for good. Where human actions fell painfully short, God’s will was still perfectly accomplished.

How?

Through Jesus’s obedience, stewardship, sacrifice, death.

And ultimately, Jesus’s resurrection.

And just like that… with those few dots (a to-do list, Miss Congeniality, and Good Friday) now connected, I saw something I hadn’t seen before.

It wasn’t quite a fork in the road, but more like a precursor for a pivot.

Before I could “get back on track,” things began to change.

And what I started to realize… Will be continued in part 2 - so stay tuned!

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Right now, (most of) this post is an introduction, of sorts, to this specific series titled: Things You Should Know About My Dad. The WHY behind it, if you will…

The introduction, and heart, behind this series has great potential to branch out into other series (such as, Things You Should Know About My Mom) &/or individual posts, but I'm not sure what that would look at this time. But I just really feel led to do this, at this time, and specifically in regards to my dad -

I came across a photo the other day of someone I don't do as much life with now as I used to.

It was a candid shot, and that particular person isn't really a fan of candid shots. But I'm glad I took the photo. Because although looking at it may evoke emotions like grief or sadness - it didn't make me feel angry and it helped me forget the rough times between me and that person. It also reminded me that I was thankful for a variety of reasons, including the time I used to share with that person. It also reminded me that, even though it looks different as time has passed, I still love that person.

A quick parallel was drawn that the same can go with others in our life as well, including our parents.

How we love them (and feel loved by them) can, and does, change over time as days, months, and decades are added to our lives.

In one of my classes for school today, we we very briefly discussed Matthew 22:37-39.

It reads:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

This scripture has been interpreted, many times as a replacement for the 10 commandments.

When what this scripture is doing is really reinforcing the 10 commandments.

“Love the Lord thy God” by:

• having no other gods before me.

• not making any graven image.

• not taking the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

• Remembering the sabbath day, and keeping it holy.

“Love thy neighbour as thyself” by

• honoring thy father and thy mother.

• not killing.

• not committing adultery.

• not stealing.

• not bearing false witness against thy neighbour.

• not coveting.

Will how I love God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit change? Absolutely.

Will how I love [others] change? Absolutely.

But I want to love and honor God in all I do, and although it is not limited too, it does include honoring my dad.

And that's what this series Things You Should Know About My Dad is about.

Honoring my dad.

Because to be transparent, sometimes it can (really) hard to set aside situations, feelings, and/or previous conversations that want to “pay a visit” in times between conversations, hugs, hearing I love you, etc.

And it's hard, not just because we can get fleshy (for a variety of reasons), but it can also be hard because the devil's top two battlefields are: our mind and the people closest to us.

And I want to die of my flesh and I do not want the devil to have victory either.

Honoring my dad has been an area of my life I have struggled. I've also struggled with how to love him, how to show him love, and feeling loved by him.

But God can redeem and restore anything. And I'm a willing vessel to let this area of my life be redeemed and restored in a way that shows I love the Lord and I honor my father.

And one small personal contribution for that area of my life to be redeemed and restored is by this series: Things You Should Know About My Dad.

So, I hope you stick around to read about things I recall and love about my dad as I strive to honor Him - in spite of anything/anyone that would try to tell me I shouldn't.

I would love it if you would join in the conversation in the comments and share a thing or two you love about your own dad, how you honor your dad, and/or any kiddo/dad advice you would like to share.

And before I go, here's two Things You Should Know About My Dad:

- Everytime I see a Volkswagen beetle, I think of my dad and it makes me smile.

- Everytime I hear the song “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood, I think of my dad and it makes me giggle and warms my heart.

You are loved, and I hope this post encourages you. I know it will encourage me on my good days and any days I might find myself in a struggle.

And thank you for finding it important enough to read these posts about my dad, a man I love so very, very much. Thank you for reading & remembering things I'll be sharing about my dad with you. You have no idea how kind and precious that is to me. But more on that later or this post will turn into a book. 🤭🥹💕

P.S. - individual posts will be published about the Volkswagen beetle & the song “God Bless the U.S.A.” because they both deserve more than what feels like an a mere “honorary mention” in “the spirit of sharing things” in things you should know about my Dad regarding this post.

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One blurry photo, that recalls no specific memory, is my only visual reference of this place.

Being a very visual person, I’ve concluded this place is so significant to me because my feelings override everything I saw.

When I was younger, no special occasion had to arise for my family to visit the state park.

These memories are very specific to the state of arrival.

I never remember going to the park or leaving the park.

I simply remember being there.

Fishing, climbing trees, picnics, boldly walking the walls of dams.

“Lather, rinse, repeat.”

But that wasn’t the extent on my local park’s to do list.

I had lots of exploring, observing, and learning to do, and this was no each-man-for-himself type of adventure.

My mom and I would cut six-pack plastic rings from cans (beer, coke, etc) so animals wouldn’t get stuck in them, as she taught me about protecting myself from (albeit not always intentional) hazardous things.

My dad and I lured in ducks to feed them Bunny Bread, with a bare-handed duck call, as he taught me that sometimes it’s good to speak someone else’s language.

So many feelings rush back when I think of this place. My boundaries were rooted in just the right way to prevent blocking my freedom.

The rules? I don’t remember them.

I remember simplicity, pureness, and wholeness.

I felt connected to my family and nature at the same time.

This place is where my family never gave the impression that we weren’t – or that my mom and dad would be separating in only a few short years.

There was never any fighting, only love.

Always love.

And there were so many things explored and exposed within that love.

I’m still learning because of this place.

About hazardous things, speaking someone else’s language, and how to overcome those “walls.”

I’ve learned that what is simple is true.

I’ve also learned that what is complicated can also be true.

This is especially true for love.

I imagine, some would say that in this case love failed, because of my parents eventual split.

I would only be inclined to say their love failed if we never visited this State Park.

But we went.

Because of this place, not a day passes where I feel unloved by my mom or dad.

Because love never fails.

Ever.

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I have always loved clouds.

With ease, I recall some of my dearest childhood memories, which are tucked in nice and snug between the ages of four and eight.

At the local park, Lake Van showcased the most beautiful reflections that shared space with clouds, ducks, and trees. On Meadowview Drive, our home’s quaint side-yard was the perfect place to watch clouds morph into different shapes and animals. And Volkswagen drives provided the best seats to relax in while storms disguised themselves as bowling tournaments.

These memories don’t just bring me joy, they taught me good things.

At Lake Van, I learned how to tidy up public litter and make barehanded duck calls. On Meadowview Drive I learned how to tie my shoes and play softball. And during Volkswagen drives, I learned how to focus on softness – the wind and rain – during storms and press into a literal childlike faith that there could be a rainbow in the sky at any given moment.

Decades later, I count it as no surprise that I still do these things and carry these lessons with me – as my first memories (of clouds) were formed from such a positive, loving place, with the people I love(d) the most – my mom and dad.

Not too long ago, on a day just like any other, it was time to meet at church, encourage each other, and get into groups to do some soul-winning. Each time soul-winning happens, variables change but, the heart of it is always the same: to share the good news of the gospel and see who would like to receive the free gift of salvation.

This specific time, I found myself on the way to another local park, in a quaint side-seat, during a Ford E-350 drive, riding down the interstate, to win more souls for the Kingdom of Heaven. After cheerfully chatting with the other Soul-Winners for a few miles into the trip, the conversation softened – making room for an excellent opportunity to gaze out of the van’s windows.

Perhaps for some, the clouds that day were to just confirm the nice weather as they casually floated above the breezy palm trees and free-flowing interstate traffic. For myself, the clouds filled up the sky’s real estate and were whimsically transformed by my imagination into chess boards (with the paint worn off after generations of matches) and the fluffiest vanilla cotton candy (that could double as the perfect spot for a nap that would result in the sweetest of dreams).

As I was staring, enamored by the beauty and creativeness of our Creator, all I could whisper was, “Glory Glory Glory.” Shortly into my cloud gazing and glory-giving, we passed some humongous architecture. As the architecture was blocking my view of the clouds, all I could think was, “Hidden, hidden, hidden. Unhide it, unhide it, unhide it.” Before I knew it, the architecture was no longer blocking the clouds and I softly laughed out loud. That laughter was quickly followed up with a quiet exclamation that proclaimed, “unhidden glory!”

Growing up, in addition to my love for clouds, hidden and unhidden things have almost always fascinated me.

Most of us are familiar with hide and seek, hot and cold, I Spy, Easter egg hunts, and opening gifts on different occasions – like birthdays and Christmas. I even have some of my own unique memories that involve hiding and unhiding.

– Once I hid on top of the refrigerator (in the shadows of the upper refrigerator cabinet) from my aunt when I decided to surprise her with a spontaneous game of hide and seek.

– Another time, after cutting my beautiful bottom-length hair in a very steep, diagonal manner up to only one of my shoulders, I hid my mamaw’s sewing scissors (in the closet) and my abstract haircut (by sitting with my back against the couch) from my mom.

– And then there’s the time I created my own snackbar (only one Bridgette-sized arm length away) between my box-spring and mattress. This left both of my parents perplexed as my mom stocked up on them literally two days ago, my dad hadn’t eaten (perhaps any of) them.

Eventually everything that was hidden became unhidden.

How?

Fantastic question.

Now that “one of these days we’ll laugh about it” has arrived, I’m delighted to tell you what happened.

– My hiding spot on the refrigerator was revealed when I giggled – just loud enough to give myself away.

– My first (but not last) haircut of that particular day was revealed when my mom pulled me over to her because she wanted to braid my hair while my aunt and her friends continued cutting each other’s hair.

– And my secret snackbar was revealed during a routine task I didn’t know existed at the young age of four – flipping the mattress. You can only imagine the shock on my mom’s and my faces when we realized what each other was up to in our own spare time.

Even so, I kept exploring ways to hide and unhide things over the years. Not because I got away with it – but because even when I didn’t, I had a safe place to land with my parents when what I had done came to light.

And how much more is that true with God?

Psalm 139:7 says, “Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”

Nothing is truly hidden from God – and yet, in His love, He still invites us to come close.

Looking back, that moment of architecture “playing hide and seek” with the clouds was more than just beautiful. It revealed (even more of) God’s glory. It led me to dig even deeper into the scripture on God’s glory – and how it is sometimes hidden and sometimes unhidden. I’ll be sharing more about what the Holy Word says on this in future posts (because there are many stories that speak to it).

Scripture also reminded me that from those initial moments of seeking God to the moments where his glory becomes unhidden – there will be seasons of waiting to either reveal something to others or have something revealed to us. In those moments, we are called to yield, to listen, and to follow God’s instruction and timing.

For everything there is a season… a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Ecc. 3:1,7

This doesn’t mean everything is meant to be delayed. But according to God’s will and His perfect timing, some things must wait before they are revealed. And that waiting (in scripture, the lives of others, and even our own lives) always has a purpose.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time… though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come. Habakkuk 2:3

Seeking, discovering, experiencing, waiting, and/or participating in the revealing of God’s glory is something that has been happening since the beginning of time. God created the first of those who did those things, and He already knows who will be the last to do those things while on this side of Heaven before Jesus’s return.

Not every mystery, nor every bit of God’s glory, will be fully revealed on this side of Heaven.

But even so, I desire to be obedient, a good steward, and a faithful servant. Both online and offline. In every season of seeking, discovering, experiencing, waiting, and sharing the glory of God, I want to completely yield to and follow His permission, His instruction, and even His correction (through convictions and sanctification and edifying myself).

Unhidden Glory is a small part of my personal Rehoboth. So, thank you for being here with me and sharing how God reveals His glory in your lives as well.

(Unhidden) Glory to God,

Bridgette

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