The Meaning Behind WarblerInTheRough

When I wanted to start my own blog I asked my brother, Art for help. He has his own blog and inspired me to start writing. He is a programmer so I thought he would be the person to get me started. His first advice was take time to think of the blog name. I took some time and came up with Warbler in the Rough. Although it has meaning to me, no one else would know what the heck it means, ha ha. So I figured I could explain it! Or at least attempt to. :) So here it goes...

Diamond in the Rough (Old Me)

If the blog were mine, I had to think of my whole self. The old me, the present me and the future me. To be honest, I see myself as kind of a misfit. I have always felt different and really, kind of alone. One counselor/friend reworded it for me. Deanna said I am "set apart". In recent years, I am happy to say I have found my place in the world. Still, I haven't remotely "figured it out". Finding that I belong has brought me immense joy, despite my continual shortcomings. Working toward who I want to be keeps me inspired to be a life long learner.

One late humid night, while sitting on a log passing a blunt, a friend and me labeled ourselves Diamonds in the Rough. Contrary to popular belief, drug addicts do have deep conversations, even when they're high. Ha ha. We decided we had real worth, we were just lost in the middle of nowhere, covered in crap waiting to be cleaned up.

I looked up diamond in the rough on Merriam-Webster dictionary. It is defined there as "one having exceptional qualities or potential but lacking refinement or polish".

My "life verse" which means the most to me is Romans 12:1-2. It says, "Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes."

My old self, from the past, is very different from who I am now. I have change my perspective and way of life. The only way this was possible was to let go and stop trying to do it on my own.

Warbler is the name of a street in the neighborhood where I grew up.

Warbler Avenue is about five blocks from my childhood home, which sits between Mermaid and Neptune on South 11th.

Like everyone, I'm sure, my neighborhood had a pretty big impact on who I am today. I would say most of all, it was full of adventure. My family nick-named one of the long roads "Adventure Road". Gulf Park Estates had lots of roads. There were so many houses and kids. There were woods to explore, a beach, bayou and two blue holes. There were always houses being built to sneak into and play “house”.

I have four brothers and a sister. My brothers and I were homeschooled for a few years. For our science class my mom would have us go pick any leaf each and that’s what we would study.

When I was about 10 I’d guess, my friend Madison and I went for an adventure deep in some woods we weren’t normally exploring. We were totally lost, stinking hot and dehydrated. Madison was praying her Hail Marys and I was just wobbling along with her dreaming of water. All of the sudden, we spotted an opening and what looked like a little puddle! The puddle was a mirage... as we got passed it we came upon another and then a huge one! This time it was real! Very real. We ran straight in, clothes on and everything. It was a huge blue hole. As we were laughing and crying and so grateful for water we realized there was a gator about 20 feet away. It wasn’t moving. We kept on splashing away and finally had to come back to reality and find our way home.

Warbler is also the name of a singing bird. (New Me)

I feel like a singing bird! Most days I feel as free as a bird. I have to praise the Lord because of it. For what He has done, is doing and will do. I can't help but praise! I am constantly in an attitude of gratitude which makes me hum, sing and share joy all around. During my 10 years of promiscuity, binge drinking and drug addiction, I was protected from death many times. I know I have encountered angels.

While in the Teen Challenge program in Pensacola, I had a vision during worship. I was on my knees on a old, very used, dirty alter. The cushions where your forearms rest were no longer cushiony. There were about twenty other desperate women in the room crying to the Lord in thankfulness. God showed me about four or so times He saved my life. It was like from above, I was like watching myself and seeing what happened.

I won't go into detail of the times He saved me, but I was so in awe and so grateful that night that I ran to find Deanna and tell her. It was the most miraculous thing that had ever happened to me.

God is still protecting me. He is protecting my husband and my child.

God has blown my mind by saving my dad and bringing him into the kingdom.

I have been able to freely deny myself from using drugs or alcohol, been able to walk out from depression and anxiety- only by God's mercy and grace!

I am still trying to grasp it. My heavenly Father cares so much. I will sing of His love FOREVER!

The point of my blog is to write.

I want to be real about myself. I want to be "unapologetically myself" as my twin calls it.

I want to write about life, dreams, things I have learned and want to learn.

Hopefully, one day I will be confident enough to write a book. Maybe my book could be about freedom from addiction or my life following Jesus.

Join me in my writing journey! Any feed back is welcomed.