Curbs and Barriers

Curbs and Barriers--


Curbs are important.  They provide guidance.  They tell us that we have come to the end of a parking space.  They basically tell us to stop.  Since they are constructed of cement, they mean what they say.

Now, usually I respect curbs.  I know they are there for a purpose.  However, every once in awhile things go a tad wrong.  Once I was upset with a service department.  They parked my little yellow bug against a long, rectangular cement parking barrier--a curb.  Well, I didn't see that barrier.  I should have put the bug in reverse.  I didn't.  I put it in drive.  Naturally I hit that barrier.  There was a choice involved at that point.  Back up or drive over it.  I drove forward.  Was a bit of a rough ride for a little bit until the back wheels cleared that thing.  No doubt men were watching with amazement.  Probably men from the service department as well as salesmen.  I held my head up high as I made my way to the street.  I meant to do it that way.

Then there is the time I drove over a railroad tie.  I was doing home bound tutoring.  Again, I was in a bug.  I saw the railroad ties in the front yard.  Actually thought I would miss them.  Alas, I didn't.  That time I hung the car over the ties.  Had to call my husband at work to come and remove the car which was suspended just a bit.  He is a very patient man.

The last encounter I had with a barrier/curb was tonight.  Our grandson plays on a baseball team.  They were playing for the win in a tournament.  When we arrived, all of the parking spaces that one pulls into were taken.  There was a cement rectangular block at the end of each space.  Beyond the pull- in spaces was a place where you could pull a car beside the barrier.  All I had to do was drive the car beside the barrier--not into it.  Easy.  Done it a million times.  But not a million and one.

I pulled too close to the cement barrier and drove for a tiny bit on top of it.  That would not have been any big deal except there was about six inches between the end of one barrier and the beginning of the next.  Instead of driving off, I drove straight.  We went down just a bit, and then hit the top of the next one.  I think there was a small hissing sound.  It's hard to tell from inside the car, you know.  We unloaded the car--chairs, a blanket, water.

We walked down to the ball field, opened the chairs and began to make our nest.  After a bit my husband decided to go to the store for peanuts.  I stayed in my chair.

Several minutes came and went.  It certainly was taking a long time to get those peanuts, I thought.  Eventually he returned.  I noticed that his hands were really dirty.  Almost black.  They were perfectly clean when he left on the trip for peanuts.   Maybe he stopped to help some little old lady with a flat tire.  He is that kind of guy.

He said after he left the parking lot, he heard a thud, thud, thud sound.  He was able to manuver the car into a bank lot.  Guess what he discovered?  You are correct.  A flat tire.  In about ten minutes he had it off, and the spare installed.

Trying to squirm out of blame, I suggested that the makers of the barriers had made a mistake in design.  Each barrier has a sharp edge.  It would have been much safer to have rounded those edges.  And why were they separated by six or more inches?  Why not butt them up against one another?  Had they been installed end to end, I could have driven off with no problem.  Yes, it was definitely a design flaw.

It seems the four inch hole in the tire cannot be repaired.  Guess we will need to purchase a new tire.  Just last weekend we had to have the car towed due to a dead battery.   Do things really come in threes??

Yep--Life Changes!

Yep--Life Changes!


 Everyday we make plans.   We say we will do this or that tomorrow or next week.  That is life happening.  We assume our lives will continue uninterrupted.  We forget that everything in life is subject to change in an instant.  Accidents happen.  Illiness arrives.  Jobs disappear. Someone we love moves away to another city or state.  Death brings us to our knees.  These and other changes force us to evaluate everything we hold dear.

How we approach these happenings says so much about who we are, and what we believe.  I don't think there is a right or wrong way to deal with the experiences of life.  I have not walked that mile in your shoes so how could I pass judgement on your way of dealing with life?  Being critical of others does nothing to build relationships.  Criticism separates.  It leaves chasms that often cannot be crossed. When people say they are playing the devil's advocate, what they really mean is they are exercising their right to be critical.  Why not simply say there is disagreement and continue the conversation?

I so enjoy being around people who get a kick out of life.  No agenda.  Just living.  When bad things happen to them, they seem to have the ability to take it in stride.   They possess an inner strength that is like a second skin.  They wear it all the time.  They are never without it.  And when challenges come to others, they are there to support.  That support does not include giving advice.  They understand that everyone has to walk their own walk.  Their outstretched hand tells everyone who they are.  Their love and care is genuine, and everyone knows it.

I have been an observer and participant in the challenges of life.  Each of these has provided me with valuable information.  As an observer I have watched and listened to others as they navigated the muddy waters of life trying to find firm footing.  As a participant I have questioned the whys of life.  Why do people get sick?  Why do those folks who do good suffer so much?  Why is life so hard for some and so easy for others?  Actually, I don't think life is easy for anyone.  Even those who seem to have it all experience the same emotions that the rest of us do.  Life can be hard.  And it can be wonderful--sometimes in the same day.

Faith gives me the strength to face my tomorrows.  When I visit with the Spirit,  there is a peace that comes.  It envelops.  It may not provide the answers I need for the whys of life, but I know that there is a way forward.  It is not a crutch that I lean on.  It is a source of power that I feel down deep in my bones.  It is personal for me.  Some understand this.  Others may not.

I will continue to make plans.  The bathroom remodel will be completed.  Time with friends will happen.  Study will continue.  Someone dear to me will experience pain.  I will be there to help carry that burden.  Loss will occur.  Life will change.  This is the reality we live with everyday.  Even though we are aware that challenge will come, let's continue to make the plans to help those in need, to listen to others, to love more deeply, to be less critical, to practice kindness every opportunity we get,  to laugh out loud, to sing happy songs, to put that bounce in our step.

Who knows?  Someone may be watching us.  Watching how we handle the ups and downs of life.  We may be the light for someone.  Certainly we have all had someone be a light for us.  We are in this mess together.  It is a good mess even when pain arrives.

Life is uncertain.  That is a given.   We will win, and we will lose.  The lessons we learn along our journey are the building blocks of our character.  Let us be about building our lives one brick at a time adding joy, love and understanding to those who share our space.







 

Correct Coffee Shop Attire

Correct Coffee Shop Attire--



For years I have been visiting coffee shops.  Love the atmosphere.  Love the coffee.  Everyone is friendly, and the mood is congenial.  Usually there is a selection of food items, tea and coffee.  Magazines on a rack for enjoyment.  Many tables and chairs where people can pass time visiting, talking and reading.   In one particular coffee shop I watched a man tutor a child in the art of chess.  Connections are made between employer and possible employee.  Coffee shops are the place to be for just about everything.

When I visit my favorite coffee shop, I usually take along a book that I am reading and a notebook for jotting down ideas for writing.  However, I don't feel I really belong.  You see, there is a particular look that is required for truly belonging in a coffee shop.  Figured it out yet?

I observe most people bent over watching the screen while their fingers are busy poking those keys to make words.  Yes, the computer is required gear for a coffee shop.  Today I feel like I am among the  in-group because I have the computer setting in front of me, and  my fingers are dancing across the keys.  It really doesn't matter what I am doing.  This silver magic box means I belong in this shop at this table.  I feel included.   I am among those who conduct important business while sitting having coffee.  Well, that might not be the truth exactly.  More often than not, I am reading my emails and checking my bank balance.  But I belong--yes, I do.

I remember how it felt when I didn't know how to get connected to the internet at coffee shops.  Sometimes I would ask for help.  Not being computer literate, the directions would usually fly right through one ear and out the other.  I tried to look like I understood.  Don't think I fooled anyone.  You could almost see the sympathy in their eyes.  One person even came over to me and asked if he could help.  You simply have to swallow your pride and be grateful for the kindness of strangers.  Now, I am very proud to say, I am able to connect to the internet just about anywhere.  What a delicious feeling.

Yes, this little silver tablet is my friend.  It goes with me almost everywhere.  It travels well.  And it keeps me in the loop.  Who could want more??

Happy computing!

Good Morning

Good Morning!



Good Morning!  May this day be the day you have been waiting for.  May it bring you love.  May it forget to bring anything that might cause you pain.  May you walk in the knowledge that you are loved beyond words.  And may you love others with all your heart.

Take care.

Peaches--Like Us?

Peaches--Like Us?



Peach time is almost here.  Peaches are my absolute favorite fruit.  I love everything about them.  The colors, the texture, the feel, the smell and, of course, the taste.  Filling the freezer with peach jam is a favorite activity around this house.  Nothing is better than frozen peach jam on a hot biscuit or toast.  Especially in winter.

My one regret about peaches is the season is so short and can be thwarted by frost in spring.  Once the blossoms cover the trees, everyone watches the weather report praying that the temperature remains above freezing.  There isn't much one can do should a frost threaten.  If everything in nature goes well, the fruit ripens.  It is glorious.  What fun to visit a peach orchard and pick your own.

Now, there is one thing that everyone learns about peaches.  It can cause a bit of saddness.  Those peaches ripen quickly.  Once they are off the tree and in a bowl on the counter, that chemistry thing begins to happen.  They look so pretty on the side that is turned out.  However, on the underside of the peaches, the darkness, change is happening.  Where they touch one another, a small spot begins to form.  If left alone and not eaten on cereal or with milk, that spot will spread to other peaches.  And then when we decide to enjoy one, we discover only half is good.  The other half is rotten.  We only make that mistake once.  The lesson is learned.  We need to keep the peaches separated from one another.

There might be a life application here.  Work with me as I try to explain.

We begin life with the promise of greatness.  Greatness has many definitions.  We all won't be President, but we all can do the right things to support our families and those around us.  We all can take note of situations where we can offer help and change life for others.  We all have within us the power and wonder to make a true difference in this wonderful world.  However, we also have the ability to be influenced by others.  Even though we know the path we should travel, it is easy to be sucked into the world of another.  Maybe it looks more glamorous.  Perhaps there is a hole in our hearts, and someone else happens along and takes us on a journey that seems good.  We almost always know the journeys that are right for us, don't we?  But, we have choice.  We make decisions everyday about the direction of our lives.  I think that is a very good thing.  Choice.  We will absolutely not make all the right decisions in our lives.  We are human.  If we think we are always right and that our way is always best, we are only fooling ourselves.  Everyone who knows us knows the truth that we cannot see.

So, all of that to say this.  The influence of those in our circle is great.  We influence others as well.  We  "touch" one another.  Maybe not physically but certainly in other ways.  I think about young people who are so easily influenced to try drugs or alcohol or sex.  Those things that will certainly take them down a different path from what might be best.  It looks so good and such fun on the outside, but it has a dark side.  That dark side has the power to change us forever.   Does the dark side make us rotten?  No, I don't think so.  But it does tend to spread over us.  Overtake our ability to make the best choices.  Sidetrack our lives.  Cause hurt to those who love us most.  Living with a dark side happens to adults as well.

Like peaches, maybe we should examine who and what we are "against" during our days on this earth. Our decisions must be made thoughtfully and carefully.  Please understand that I am not saying we develop a "I am better than you because I make better decisions" attitude.  We must not stand in judgement over others.  But, we do have that thing called choice.  We can remain true to ourselves and still care for others.  And sometimes our own attitudes can use an adjustment.  Much harder to see ourselves honestly than to "see" someone else.

Even though peaches are so easily influenced by those in the basket with them, I love them to pieces!

Positive or Negative?

Positive or Negative--


Let's visit about all the positives in our lives.  Heaven knows, we hear much about the negatives in this world.  This is written from my viewpoint--which is subject to change without my knowing it!:).  Hopefully, you can take from what I share and apply it to your own life and situation.

My heart hurts for those who have been damaged by life.  Actually, we all have.  No one lives on this earth without experiencing a fair amount of negatives.  Sometimes it comes from our upbringing.  Other times it comes from those we meet and form relationships with.  It can arrive on our doorstep through those who have control over us in the workplace.  You name the  place-negatives can be found.

So, it requires a new mindset to turn those negatives into positives.  This is difficult work.  We are the sum total of all our experiences.  Those experiences that were hurtful tend to hang around in our heads much longer than those positive affirmations we receive.  I have never understood that dynamic.  The ability to reverse trends means we have made the choice to no longer be the victim.  How wonderful that is.  It may mean that our mind is in a good place when negatives arrive on our scene.  That good place allows us to move beyond the negative.  It allows us to know that we are of value, and that we don't need another person to tell us.  We know it from the inside out.

Remember--I am writing from my place in this world.

A huge positive in my life is the ability to make choices.  Sometimes the choices are shallow--what color shall I paint the new bathroom.  Shall we use stone instead of ceramic?  Where shall I plant that new bush?  Shall I do the laundry today or tomorrow?  Shall I mop the floor or clean the blinds this week or next?  Those types of choices give me the feeling of control.  I get to make the choice if and when I will start or complete the choices that make up my world.

Other choices have a much deeper ring to them.  Shall I phone a friend?  Shall I pray about a situation that is hurtful?  Shall I hug a person who needs the human touch?  Shall I extend myself to a new person?  Shall I do the very hard work of evaluating my own beliefs with the intent of making changes should I find some that are not working for me or anyone else?  Shall I be open to new ideas that are quite different from those I have had for a long time?  Shall I listen?

To my mind, all of the above are positive.  They all mean change for the better can be on the way if I allow it to happen.  It seems to me we all hold on tightly to some things that we should let go.  It is a very positive action when we take a hurt and allow it to drift away on the wind.  When the person on the other end of the phone answers and recognizes our voice, the joy that is heard is so very positive.  We have no idea how many people are in a place of need.  Sometimes they sit at the next desk.  Sometimes they live next door.  Maybe they are way across country.  If we are honest, we are in that place of need, too.  What a positive feeling we receive when we reach out from the comfort of our own scheduled lives and touch another.

A positive attitude spreads to everyone.  It is like sunlight.  It goes everywhere.  Sunlight doesn't make choices where to shine.  It just does.  We all benefit from the warmth it brings.  Sure, summer can be a bit hot, but where would we be without the sun?  Our positive attitude spreads like that.  Others can be caught up in our joy and feel a sense of lightness, too.  What about those negative folks we find in residence around us?  Well, they may always be that way.  But, that doesn't mean that they get to determine my attitude.  Or your attitude.  Being positive doesn't mean we don't recognize negatives.  It means we have made the choice about the direction our life will take.  Easy?  No.  Possible?  Yes.

Sometimes I simply want to lash out at those who are negative.  How much fun it would be to speak those words that are lurking just below the surface of my mind.  Boy--could I fix them!  It can take all the strength of character we have to refrain from responding in a negative manner.  We hear one voice in our head telling us to go ahead--give it to them!  And then there is that other voice that is almost a whisper.  It reminds us that being positive brings more goodness into the world.  What do we do?  Lash out or wait and think?  What have you done in that situation?  We have probably been on both sides of that fence.  We don't have to live on the negative side, do we?  We need to climb the fence and plant our feet on the positive side.

Friends, family, faith, a place to live, a husband/wife, a partner, a job, enough food with some to share, a loving spirit, the ability to turn a wrong into a right, looking at the earth as our precious habitat and desiring to make it better, taking care of the business that comes into view everyday, being trustworthy, being dependable--all of these and so much more are the positives of our lives.

When you have time, make a list of the positives in your life.  Get several sheets of paper!  You will need them.  Delve deeply into your life.  Look beyond the obvious.  And then take another sheet and list the negatives.  My guess is this list will be much shorter.  That should get your attention.  Determine if you are giving more time and energy to the negatives than the positives.  Then go about making the necessary changes that will bring more positive energy into your life.  Everyone will benefit from this activity.

Now, I am positively going to get dressed and do something fun!  Talk again soon.

Sing Your Own Song

Sing Your Own Song--


The morning is beautiful.  Cloudy just enough to make the greens vibrant.  A few roses are blooming.  Birds are chattering away about what only birds know.  A few ground squirrels are skittering here and there.  Grass is wet from a shower.  Weeds are sure they are plants that I truly love and want in my gardens.  They can live a bit longer.

A wild turkey visits the bird feeders everyday eating the seeds that are scattered by the birds.  Wild turkeys are quite large.  When it has finished with its meal, it returns to the woods.  Guess we are the restaurant.

Sometimes I don't take time to really look at nature and life.  The interesting thing is it happens whether I am watchful or not.  Time simply moves on to the next moment, the next day.  While I am busy with whatever, life is lived.  My dad told me once that while he was so busy trying to make a living, he never saw the flowers that bloomed along the roadway.  He said beauty was always there, but he never took even a moment to observe it.

We all understand that, don't we?  Houses need to be cleaned, laundry done, lawns tended--all significant things in life.  Children need our care and love.  Committees demand our time. Jobs that we are so grateful to have require our full attention.  Our moments are eaten up with activities that are good.  Certainly we don't want a dirty house or piles of laundry.  Nor do we want our lawns to be overgrown.  We desire to be good stewards of the blessings of our lives. Yet, we go from one activity to another feeling worn down by life. We complain about all the items on our plate.  But, we know that deep inside, we love all the hustle and bustle.  It makes us feel alive.

The rhythm of life keeps the music flowing.   That song we sing each day is the song of our life.  It tells our story.  When a friend asks what is happening in our world, we sing that song to them.  We invite them into our song.  We may even add a verse for them.  The song we sing has many verses.  Some are delightful.  Others tender.  But, as long as we are alive, we continue singing our song.

Take a few moments to sing your song today.  Let your heart fill with gratitude.  Allow your life to be touched by a person, an experience.  Open yourself to whatever happens to enter your private space.

Sing your song proudly!

Celebrate Life!

 Celebrate Life--


I love life!

There is so much to celebrate each day.  Let's examine that a bit.

If we are fortunate to wake up each morning, that is reason to celebrate.  If we have a person who loves us, that is more than enough reason to celebrate.

Waking up to another day is a blessing. When the eyes open to that new day, there is a promise of life yet to live.  We get one more chance to do it right.   One more opportunity to right wrongs, to fight for values we hold dear, to love fully.  One more twenty-four hour period of time to fill with whatever we desire.  Isn't that a wonderful gift?

Having love in our lives is also reason to celebrate.  Love comes from many places.  It can come from family, friends, neighbors, spouses.  It is the glue that holds us together.  Fortunate are those of us who are surrounded with loving people.  Love is much more than a sentiment.  It is a commitment to stick it out when the going gets a bit rough.  It reminds us to look beyond the immediate moment.  Life changes.  People change.  Love remains even though it might get stretched at bit.  Yes, having a person/people who love us is a joy.

Loving others is another reason to celebrate each day.  What would life be like without others who enrich our lives?  While it is true that sometimes love for others dampens over time, it is also true that parts of it remain forever in our souls.  We are the sum total of all the people we have loved.  Each brings something to us that is unique.  When someone I love comes into view, my heart sings.  I am happy to spend time with them.  I look forward to their laughter.  I want to share their joys and challenges.  Loving others is a gift I give to myself.

When I was much younger and heard adults say health was all you really need, I thought they were senile.  Well, they were right.  Being healthy is reason to celebrate life.  It is possible we take our health for granted.  We forget to eat correctly, to exercise, to sleep enough.  And then we pay the price for our forgetfulness.  Getting back on track is the key.  All of us will experience illness.  That is the way of life.  But, we can help ourselves.  Each day we do the right things for ourselves, that is the day we must celebrate.

Feeling that we are valued is reason to celebrate.  Imagine if no one cared.  Imagine if no one ever expressed appreciation for our gifts and talents.   Being valued provides us with the desire to continue.  When someone expresses appreciation to me, I feel a little lighter.  My attitude is more positive.  I truly believe that I can do that next thing that is waiting out there for me.  Value added--we see that phrase in advertisements.  Those people who write those slogans know human nature very well.  They are right.

The ability to think and make decisions is another reason to celebrate.  Many have crossed that line where decision making is no longer part of their options.  We may all get to that place one day, but until we do, let's celebrate our minds.   We are told it may be possible to delay that by exercising our minds.  If that is the case, let's get with the program!  Let's stay mind healthy as long as possible.  I celebrate each day that I am able to make decisions.  Not ready for the rocking chair at the home yet!:)

On a lighter note--I celebrate the woman who cuts my hair!  Years ago when we were new to this area, I visited a hair salon for a hair cut.  The woman asked how I wanted it cut.  I told her to trim it a bit.  I also told her that it was very easy to cut too much.  She nodded as if she understood.  After a bit of cutting, I mentioned that she might be getting it a bit too short.  She replied that she had it under control.  And that frightened me!  When the hair cut was over, I was stunned to find a head with very little hair.  It was absolutely terrible.  So bad that I bought a short wig and wore it everyday until my own hair grew back.  Bet some of you have had similar experiences.  I celebrate my hairdresser who listens and cuts carefully.  Finding her was like Christmas.

There is so much to celebrate--children, grandchildren, home, jobs, nature, sunny days, rainy days.  Friendships that go on and on.  Special places that hold sweet memories.  The list is truly endless.  I suppose the point of this blog is to remind you and me that it is easy to forget to celebrate the ordinary in life.  It could be that we wait for the big to happen and forget to cherish the day to day stuff of life.  Yet, we live in that day to day place.  Hmmmmmmmm--something to mull over in our minds.

I celebrate each of you who read my blogs.  While I may not know who you are, I am aware that you are out there.  You occupy this planet with me.  We breathe the same air.  Walk the same earth.  We love and care.  We are so much more alike than we are different.  Yes, we are.

A thought for this week--find one thing to celebrate.  It could be a person.  It could be a place.  Whatever it is for you, let it know.  Tell a person.  Enjoy a place.  Allow your heart to sing.  As the song says--

"Celebrate good times, come on!"

Thinking About Prayer

Thinking About Prayer--


In my book study group this morning we talked about prayer.  It was a lively discussion as everyone had thoughts about what prayer is and how to do it.   Is it an activity that requires a special place?  Can it happen anywhere?  Do we need special objects to put us in the mind set for prayer?

Listening to others share their experiences with prayer is helpful. But it is secondary.  For prayer to mean something, it must be primary.  All the books and lectures, the tapes and videos are only a substitute for the real thing.  Each describes a way to reach the Spirit.  Steps to take in that endeavor may also be given.  Yet, prayer remains elusive to me.  I wonder if learning to meditate would help in my search for prayer.  Maybe prayer by its nature is a bit void of a definition.  What is prayer for me may not be for another person.

I walked a labyrinth once.  An interesting thing happened.  As I was walking the designated path, I began to feel something.  A closeness to whatever I was seeking.  It took me by surprise.  It was a spiritual experience.  I left that place knowing something I had not known when I walked through the door.  For me that was an experience in prayer.  It was alive.  It came at a time when I was able to quiet my mind for just a bit.  It was peaceful and emotional.

Back to the steps that some books list as ways to pray.  Does God wish a formula or an open spirit?  Am I saying a formula is wrong?  No, but for me the formula would get in the way. I would try to figure out if I were on step one or three and what happened to step two.  For some a formula maybe the very thing to move them into a peaceful place.  We are all different in our search for God.  Whatever gets us there, great.

Prayer is communication.  There is a time to speak and a time to listen.  Listening means we must be quiet.  Oh--that can be so difficult.  That also means waiting.  In our world we can have almost anything we desire very quickly.  Why in the world should I be expected to wait when I do pray?  Maybe because some things simply take time.  When I am listening to someone express their thoughts, it takes time for me to assimilate what they are saying.  I may need to think about what they shared to grasp exactly the meaning in their words.  There might be a need that I overlooked because I was in a hurry to respond.  The waiting can be a very good thing.  But difficult.

Like Mother Teresa, I don't feel God all the time.  Or some of the time.  Or most of the time.  Or do I?  When others have a need that I can fill, is that a God thing?  When an idea pops into my mind from nowhere and leads me in a new direction, is that an answered prayer?  Is stepping into a situation outside my experience a push from God to move beyond what I know?  When my spirit is moved by another person, is that God showing me grace?  Teaching me?

Prayer needs to be simple for me.  It needs very little.  God and me.  No set words, no objects, no special time or place--even though I certainly love the mountains and Northwest coastline!   It happens in my car, in my home, in the mall, in the grocery store, in church.  For me it is a constant.  Something available whenever I call for it.  It is my friend.

I don't usually write about such personal things.  But, today seemed like a good day to write about prayer, and what it is for me.  As I shared earlier in this blog, each person finds their own way to prayer.  And that is as it should be.

Thank you for reading.

Home

 Home--


For the first time roses are blooming in our plant beds.  We have tried many times to have roses, but they always died.  This year they wintered over.    Red, yellow and pink buds are bursting forth into wonderful blooms.  We didn't have to prune them as the deer did that for us.   A few are pruned very close to the ground but are putting out leaves so blooms are certain to arrive.  As I am writing this, a deer walked across the yard.  Gotta go run it off.

Our vegetable garden has suffered with all the rain.  Okra has been planted twice and will be planted again.  Onions are ready to pull.  Strawberries have a few flowers with the promise of berries.  The row of beans has healthy vines, however the peppers are not doing well.  A few squash vines are filling out as are the pumpkin vines.  Berries are climbing on the fence. Last summer my husband made freezer jam with those berries.  Lovely.  We love fresh veggies from the garden.

The apple tree is loaded.  The cherry trees have cherries for the first time.  Birds and squirrels will take those before we have the opportunity to pick them.  Guess sharing with nature is not a bad thing.

We don't plant corn anymore.  Raccoon love corn.  We buy it from a neighbor fresh from the field.

Thirty-four years ago we moved to this property.  It was a blank canvas.  Over the years we have removed grass and added plants, shrubs and trees.  I think we might have reached the end of the major landscaping.  We find ourselves enjoying time on the decks or walking around the gardens.  Yes, I do tend to visit with my plants.  I thank them for giving so much beauty to the place.

We love our home.  It is not new.  It is not big.   But, it is very special.  We have given hours and hours to improving it.  People tell us how welcoming it is.  They speak about its charm.  That pleases us.  It is important for others to feel welcome in our home.

If you are in our neighborhood, stop in.  We would love to sit and visit with you.

Thoughts--The Big Dipper

Thoughts--The Big Dipper


Morning arrives, and the race is on.   Get dressed, have a little something to eat, make that all important list of activities to be accomplished, answer a few emails, send a few texts, visit with a friend on the cell,  run errands.  Maybe find a few minutes for a cup of coffee or a coke.  Days are full.  There are only so many hours of sunlight.  Get to it!

Then night arrives.  All the hustle and bustle of the day slows to a snail's pace.  The world is much quieter.  A calm eventually settles over our space.  The mind and body remind us that it  is time to refresh.  Time to get that much needed sleep that will prepare us for the next day when morning arrives.

Recently I was outside late at night enjoying the peace and calm.  No pesky insects because it was a lovely cool evening.  The stars were so brilliant.  I felt I could almost gather them into my hands.  The perfect moment.  Presenting itself for observation was the Big Dipper.  Isn't it an amazing sight in the night sky?

While I was enjoying the view, thoughts came crashing into my head.  Now--I did not intend for that to happen.  I only wanted to be quiet.  But, the thoughts would not be denied.  Isn't it strange how thoughts come at the most inopportune  times?  Like when we think we are asleep or driving down the road.  Or when we are trying to simply enjoy the moment.

The Big Dipper is tipped toward earth.  I thought about what the world would be like if inside the Dipper were things like kindness, love, peace, gentleness, graciousness, forgiveness.  Since the Dipper is visible all over the earth, what if kindness poured from it on all the people of the earth.  What if peace gently floated down upon us all.  What if forgiveness came to rest on all earth people.  What if love replaced fear.  What if each month the Big Dipper gave us just what we earth people need to live in peace on this wonderful planet.  Twelve months of positive to replace the negative we so often live with.   It might look like silvery threads falling from the heavens to the earth. Shimmering in a very excited manner knowing it was bringing only good to everyone.  No one left out.  Everyone included in the wonderful gifts that make us all so much better at being human.

On any given day I would certainly welcome a little more kindness in my life.  A more gracious spirit.  Maybe if I believe strongly enough, it will actually happen--the Big Dipper will truly send those qualities I need into my life.  How magnificent.  Perhaps I will stand outside under the Dipper with arms outstretched anticipating whatever is offered knowing that whatever comes will make me a better person.  I love that thought.

When you have a moment, look up into the night sky.  You maybe inspired to think new thoughts that could change you and the world around you.  Perhaps it has been too long since you took the time to appreciate the beauty of the night.  There is magic in the night.  I hope you feel it, too.

Happy Gazing!

Seeing with the Heart

Seeing with the Heart--


I don't remember where I read this story.  I want to share it with you.

Two men shared a hospital room.  As with all hospital rooms, one bed is located close to the window and the other close to the door.  There is the usual curtain that separates the beds to allow for a bit of privacy.

One day the man in the bed by the door asked the man by the window to tell him what he saw when he looked out the window.  There was a bit of hostility in his voice as he desired that bed by the window for himself.

His room mate began to share in detail what he saw out the window.  He told about the flowers that were in full bloom.  Reds, yellows, oranges, pinks, purples all were blooming their little hearts out.  He said the flower beds lined the sidewalk that wound its way to the front door of the hospital.

He shared about the fountain that was centered in the front of the hospital.  The fountain had a short ledge around it.  People were sitting on the ledge drinking coffee and talking.  Water from the fountain spilled over into a small basin.  There were a few children who were dangling their feet into the water.

People were making their way to the door.  Some were in hospital garb.  Others were in professional clothes.  Still others were there to visit family and friends who might be patients.  He described a young couple pushing a child in a stroller.  They were taking such good care of their child.  It was obvious to him how much they loved one another.

The sky that day was a beautiful shade of blue.  A few clouds were slowly making their way across the sky.  He said the clouds would soon be out of his vision.  He also spoke about the vines that climbed on the hospital walls.  He said they were so green and vibrant.  They gave the hospital the look of grace.

The man in the bed by the door listened intently.  He was trying to see what the man by the window was sharing.  He had been in the hospital quite awhile and was so lonely.  No one had been to see him.

Night fell.  Lights were turned out so that patients could sleep.  When morning arrived, the man by the door was shocked to see that his room mate had died during the night.  He was devastated.  While they had not known one another well, they had shared a bit of their life.  He felt such a sense of loss.

The hospital workers came to place clean linens on the bed and get it ready for the next patient.  And then the thought--maybe he could move to the bed by the window.  He could look out and see all the things he had been told about.  He requested to be moved.  The request was granted.

All settled into his new spot, he turned toward the window.   What he saw stunned him.  There were no flowers, shrubs, sidewalks, fountains, people.  There was a blank brick wall.  That was all.

What does this story say to you?

#48

#48--

Forty-eight years ago today I married the guy on a neighboring farm.   We were friends throughout our elementary and high school years.  However, we didn't date until I was teaching, and he was completing his degree.

We both knew our friendship was long term.  When we were growing up, we picked on one another all the time.  It was fun to dump all his pennies and run like heck to my house.  Fun until he caught me, dragged me back and made me pick them all up.  All the time his mother was watching and laughing.   His dad told me that he always knew we would end up together.

Forty-eight years is a long time to do anything.  In those years we have lived in many places and met many people.  We have gone through difficult times and extremely happy times.  We have experienced births, deaths, illness.   We have enjoyed times with friends and family.   Looking back I can honestly say it has been wonderful.

If I am honest, I must include that there have been some hard moments.  That happens in all relationships.  We have disagreed on many things.  Sometimes we were able to compromise.  Other times we were not.  Unkind words have been spoken within the walls of our house.  But, we are quick to apologize and move on.  We have shared common goals.  I think that is such an important part of lasting relationships.  That doesn't mean that we are together all the time, or that we  have the exact same interests.  We don't.  It means we respect that each of us has certain activities we enjoy.  We know it is healthy for each of us to pursue our own interests.  But, on the big decisions of life, we are partners.

I cannot remember a time I didn't know him.  I have watched him grow from a boy into a young man.  And now into the "more mature years" of our life.  I have loved him every step of that journey.

What makes a strong marriage?  I have no definition.  It depends on each couple, and their goals for life.  Communication certainly plays a huge role in a lasting relationship of any type.  Maybe more so in a marriage.  There is no place to run to when things get tough.  You have to stay and work through the conflict or differences.

Besides communication, showing affection ranks right up there.  In the day-to-day of life, it can become easy to forget to give a hug or a kiss.  A certain look.  Life wears people down.  That partner in life should be our strength.  The one place we feel safe and loved.

Enough about our life.  I wish for each of you lasting relationships.  Ones that grow and change over time yet never lose the magic that was there at the beginning.  We have held on to the magic.  Sometimes it gets a bit tarnished.  When that happens, we take it off the shelf, polish it and start over.

Happy anniversary to each of you when that day comes around.