Reminders that life is FULL of beautiful things...
Hope you all are well!

Working in our local second hand store/mission has inspired me to look at the old stuff that gets donated and think hard about WHERE we could send it or HOW to re purpose it....

Our MAIN clientele tends to be college age and they are interested in current style and a little dab of vintage/funk. So what do we do with all the donations that come in to the shoppe that we cannot sell???

This photo means so much to me...it is a path to the unknown, yet filled with wonder and beauty. A path that each summer we walk many times and enjoy every. single. time. To go down this path brings joy and wonder and beauty and friendship and laughter and togetherness!

It is a reminder to ME that each day we wake up to unknowns but MUST take JOY in the little things...

I do not want to focus on the chaos that life sometimes brings our way.

I must put aside the busyness and rest in the fact that if we LOOK for it there is JOY in every day.

In a recent tornado in our village a farm was devastated. (Thankfully, no people were injured.) Most farms have feral cats that inhabit their barns and outbuildings earning their keep by keeping the small vermin out of the grain bins and hay. This farm was no different and being spring, there were three NEW litters of kittens in the barns. Most of them died when the barns collapsed and blew away but a local meteorologist found a TINY Calico kitten buried in the debris.

In the next hours...they found two more of Twister's siblings amongst the debris. They were appropriately named, Twister, Lucky and Storm. The two smaller kittens were just TOO small and Storm passed away at the vet's office. We brought the other kittens to Killeny Glen, (the farm family was overwhelmed with having lost their farm) to see if we could nurse them back to health but sweet Lucky passed away under the watchful eye of our Emma. They so needed their Momma, and the storm was too much for their little bodies...but Twister...she continued to fight.

 Little Twister captured our hearts (and all who were exposed to her story of rescue and survival) and even MORE so, the heart of Rudy...our Papillon. Rudy is gentle spirited and sensitive and KNEW the need of this tiny kitten. He nuzzled her and licked her and played with her and she thrived with his attention and love. (AND, feedings every 3 hours!)


The happy end to this story is that the family offered sweet Twister to the local Meteorologist and he happily adopted her. Madeleine and I took Twister to the television station to meet her new owner.

We certainly are going to miss that little ball of fur! But, she will be cherished!!! Thanks Rich!

Another STORMY Wednesday night in our little village, still reeling from tornado touch downs a couple of weeks ago.
We are sitting in our High School Broadway Show when Mitchell sends a text with below photo and the words:


This photo is Killeny Glen and we do NOT have a river through our front yard! Our  TWO sump pumps could NOT keep up with the FIVE INCHES of rain that fell in LESS THAN two hours...Bob and the boys went to WORK bailing out our basement in an attempt to save the contents of our basement. (We just happen to have the contents of a University student's apartment in our basement while he is home for the summer!! YIKES!) As the evening progressed their work was rewarded and four VERY EXHAUSTED guys could slow down their MANY trips up and down our stair case with five gallon buckets of water. 
As we rejoiced in a battle won we got word that a group of homes a mile and a half from our home were under water and a boat was being used to evacuate people and things. MANY homes were filled with water and many others had basements under water from the Flash Flood.

 My Aunt has said on NUMEROUS occasions: "It's a good thing we care about people and not things." Our victory over our basement seemed miniscule in the sight of the homes just down the road. 

~~ I wrote this more than a week ago...and have been reminded on numerous occasions of the MEANINGLESSNESS of "things."

• My friend whose mother has only months to live. (I HATE CANCER.) She gives praise for STOPPING and enjoying TIME. Precious time with her Momma.

•  My friend, whose 22 year old nephew was killed in a boating accident Saturday and gives praise that he died doing something he loved so very  much.

• My friend who lost her entire HOME this past Wednesday evening to a tornado in our little village and gives praise that her beloved dog was spared.

• Our dear, friends who are STILL without a job but give praise that the money has not yet run out.

 

Spring has arrived in the Midwest and with that are gray skies...lots of rain...and regular tornado warnings. It seemed a VERY good day to frequent our favorite Vietnamese restaurant for some Pho.  Pho...well...the broth alone is a sheer act of genius and in my opinion impossible to reproduce at home! Luckily we live close to this little restaurant!  I like mine loaded with bean sprouts and cilantro while Bob heats his up to dangerously HIGH levels of goodness!!!
They have added these tin lanterns to their decor and I LOVE them! Would like to have some for our back patio!

 

HI.

Hope you are all well.

I have not had time to read or write in blog world. I am TODAY. Yep, I AM!

Spring has arrived. (Although our forecast indicates SNOW tonight - please tell me how that is?!?!?)

Our weekend brought opportunity to be OUTSIDE...barefoot...no coats....BLISS. The creek moss is beautiful...and playing in the water is always welcome.


 

I'm suppose to help her.

She is homeless...separated from her family...spending her nights in the shelter and her days at the library. Her belongings limited to a couple of bags. The library is warm and she can use the computers there to find potential living situations, maybe a job. Her meals are sporadic. Yet, she sits in the shoppe and animatedly talks with us, sharing bits and snippets of her life. Not an easy life. She eagerly tries on some new jeans as she has lost a great deal of weight in the last six months. As she feels more comfortable she helps herself to a cookie and tries on some jewelry. Her beautiful, long hair shines in the sun through our old windows.  Our antiquated shoppe doesn't seem so shabby with such good company. 

She came to us because Julie* (one of our volunteers) started a conversation with her that ended up in a hug and the promise of some new clothes and fellowship. 

I am suppose to help her...but she helped me today.
My life is FILLED with blessings and she is one of them. 


*name changed

So gated communities are set up to keep those we do not want IN...OUT...

And, do the gates keep out all the... "bad guys?" The "riff raff?" The "evil doers?"




I am too quick to draw lines.

I am too quick to judge based on appearance or circumstance.



The people that have blessed me the most are those that I have grown to know through unusual circumstances. Oftentimes uncomfortable circumstances...out of my "comfort zone" due to my complete ignorance.



I do not want to close the gate to learning and growing and loving new people.

Open the gates.

Betsy at My Five Men has been inspired and is also inspiring others to do random acts of kindness...the pay it forward kind...no matter how big or how small. Betsy reminded me of a post from long ago where I had passed a long a coupon to a dear woman one day in the line at the store. She touched me deeply and reminded me that even in the midst of a joyous time of year...there is much sadness.

I was waiting in a rather long line at the art and craft store today. As I waited my turn I did what I often do and watch people in line and those around me. I find myself "filling in the blanks" about these people I do not know...

~that man holding embroidery thread looks grumpy 'cause his wife sent him out to get one more skein of blue to finish the baby bib for their great nephew out in California...
~that little girl has a birthday gift card and is gleefully waiting her turn to pay for her Crayola craft set...

The lady directly in front of me looked to be 70ish and had a sweet, soft face. She turned around to look at something and she seemed sad and distant, deep in thought. I noticed the only thing she had was a beautiful Christmas wreath. It had been crafted in the store with pine cones, holly, berries and a gorgeous antiqued Christmas ribbon with Cardinals on it. My mom enjoys Cardinals so I was intrigued at how pretty the wreath was. Then, I remembered that I had a great coupon for any hand crafted wreath. I pulled it out of my purse and asked the lady if she would like to use it. She smiled and graciously took it thanking me. I told her how lovely her wreath was...and she said she had bought it for her husband. As we chatted I discovered that her husband had recently died and she would be spending her first Christmas without him. He had been a lover of birds, especially Cardinals and she was tickled to find this wreath and planned to place it on his grave later today. By the time it was her turn to pay, I knew she had recently suffered through her husband's lengthy illness and then death. I completely understood why her sweet, soft face seemed so sad and thoughtful to me...she was buying a gift for him.

I am thankful for this lady today...amidst the beauty, joy and excitement of celebrating Christ's birth there is also sadness...I pray I will remember those that hurt ALL the time but especially at this time of year.


If you are interested in joining in or would just like to read about some other acts of kindness, pop over to visit Betsy at My Five Men!


 Originally published 12/08

I have a lot of energy. I have a LOT of plans.
I LOVE lists and organizing and GETTING THINGS DONE.
I attach myself to the miniscule and the details of work and daily life.
Yet, I still oftentimes lack...


I want to LEARN to focus and give FULL ATTENTION to what is important.

I don't want to make diet, exercise and CRAZY NEW YEAR resolutions of ALL I am going to accomplish in 2014, as I do not think that is realistic for THIS chick.

But what I AM going to do is focus my attention on what is IMPORTANT to me and let many of the little things slide. My kids are growing at ALARMING rates...we will be into empty nest phase before we know it...I want to FOCUS on people and NOT on things.

Our village is full of hurting people with many needs. We pretend they do not exist or maybe, that is too harsh...we do not realize the depths of the needs.

He came in the shoppe for the third time...always very tentative until warmly greeted with smiles and welcome from the ladies volunteering. He smiled - never talking. 

He looks through the shoppe with great interest. Each time he visits our refreshment table 2 or 3 times taking a cookie and a drink and enjoying every bite.

On the first couple of visits he picked up an item or two and purchased them...no more than a couple of dollars.  On his third visit he gathered up several items of clothing and tried them on. Pleased with his choices he headed to the check out counter.

It was then that we realized he was hearing impaired. He carefully explained that he had little money but wondered if we would set his items aside and he would pay for them as he is able. It was explained to him that he could take his clothing with him right then and there would be no fee that day.

He was humbled, appreciative and thoroughly surprised.

He then took a piece of paper and wrote:

"Do you have any food?"

Our village food pantry was closed this particular day.  A quick phone call to the pantry found two ladies restocking and reorganizing the pantry and they gladly gathered up supplies for this unassuming man.

This is the purpose. This is why we work so hard.
I sure hope he comes back.