Solitude
I know you are all wondering what in the world is up with Melli? I'm wondering the same thing! I even asked God what's up with me last night! One of two things is happening. 1.) Either He is fixing to set me on a new course... which may be a few months off or right around the corner... but I have noticed that when He needs me to change for a reason, that change takes place BEFORE the reason is revealed! OR... 2.) this could just be the season and the effect that Lent and Holy Week have on me. It's possible that after Easter I'll be right back to myself. I don't know. But today in our
2010 Lenten Devotions, this spoke a great deal of where I'm at... so I thought I'd share it. (in it's entirety)
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Mark 6:31
Solitude
Jesus said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."Solitude is a commodity in short supply. We live in a world of instant communication with tweeting, instant messaging, and mobile computing, along with cell phones, wi-fi, and the world-wide web. You can well imagine our culture shock when we went to the top of the world for a sabbatical. When we arrived in Fort Yukon, Alaska, for a four-week stay, we discovered that we had no internet, no television, no radio, not even a telephone. We felt like we had been cut off from the rest of the world. To be sure, within a few days we did get active phone service, but it was still remarkably quiet for bulk of the time. The silence was deafening.
Despite the culture shock, the solitude was good for us. We were able to do reading that we rarely found time for in our daily routine. We talked much more than we usually do and were able to come to some new resolves about our time and our future that usually eluded us for lack of serious reflection. We even got quite a bit more rest without the temptation to stay up for the late news and even later late-night comedy. Solitude was Jesus prescription for His weary disciples and it is His prescription for us when we find the work is relentless and the battery is dead.
Surprisingly, we found it hard to deal with solitude. We were so used to busy-ness and activity that the opposite was uncomfortable. Once we were rested we were eager to quickly return to all the commotion of our lives. Yet, it took an extended period of time apart from such commotion to renew in us a larger perspective on our lives and a greater appreciation for our blessings. We resolved to slow down our lives upon re-entry and "smell the roses" along the way. These were good resolves.
It is very easy to lose perpective in the press of our hectic lives. It is healthy to step out occasionally and take inventory. Am I honoring God with my life? Am I using my God-given abilities? Am I making a difference in the lives of others? Is the world a better place because I am here? These are questions that require some reflection. Solitude provides the setting for such reflection. "Come with me to a quiet place," Jesus says, "and get some rest."
Lord Jesus, teach us the grace of solitude. Renew in us our ability to hear you speaking in the still small voice. Restore perspective in our lives that we may see our lives within your larger will and way in this world. Amen.Rev. William Simmons, Volunteer
Christ Memorial Lutheran Church
St. Louis, Missouri
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I am finding as much solitude as I can get the past few weeks - and that is keeping me away from blogging - both posting and commenting as much as I normally do. I wish I could GO to the top of the world for a sabbatical! But since I can't, I'm eeking out what I can get, right here where I'm planted. And it's good.
I do want to share with you that I am being SO blessed with Luz this week! It has come about that NOW I not only get to take her to Easter service with me on Sunday - but I also get to take her to the Tenebrae service Friday night! She will be coming here after school on Friday to spend the night, and I will take advantage of that time after school, to teach her a bit about what she is going to hear and see Friday night. I want her to know that it is a sad and somber time - but I don't want her to be scared by it! And I want her to knOW the reason we are in such CELEBRATION on Sunday morning! (and that it has nothing to do with the Easter Bunny!)
Just stuff...
My seeds are sprouting!
(have you ever seen them sprout with a fuzzy thing like that?)
These are the radishes.
Hi guys! I don't have anything going on to tell about... I just don't seem to be able to pull a post together anymore except maybe every other day! I don't know why! I just don't know! I was going to play Flashback Friday yesterday - but then I remembered that I had done an in depth post on my childhood Easter's LAST year... and my readership hasn't changed much since then ... not that I really expect y'all to store in your memory banks MY childhood -- but I just didn't feel like doing the same post again ... so if you really want to know, you can peek
here! But otherwise, I didn't really see a point.
I can't believe that it is almost APRIL! It seems like March only arrived DAYS ago! This month has flown by!
My family dynamics is fixin' to change again. Well... it changes DAILY with Krysti's schedule! But Amanda, Hector, Luz & my Mathew are going to be moving again in a few months - and this time they are hoping to be within a few miles of me! When THAT happens, my time with family is going to quadruple easily! I'm really very excited! I mean, it's been GREAT having them only 45 minutes away ... but having them MINUTES away is ALMOST as good as having my own cul-de-sac! Poor Mathew though... he's really SAD about this move. Right now he only lives about 5 minutes from work, and this is going to move him 45 minutes from work. This really is not his first choice for living situations... but he and Amanda are so close that I'm not sure they will EVER live apart! Honestly -- I MIGHT only need 4 houses on a cul-de-sac! LOL!
I had GREAT news from a friend today who just found out she is expecting to be a grandma for the first time!!! I'm sO happy for her I could just spin cartwheels! Like me, she has waited a long long time for this to happen and miraculously it finally has! God is sooooooooo GOOD! I will be praying for a very healthy little bundle for her to hug and love on! Isn't it amazing how good news for someone WE care about, makes US so happy too? I LOVE that! It's like love echoes!
Okay... I'm off to pedal now! Barbara... I'm going to FINISH
To The Golden Shore today! And I have thoroughly enjoyed MOST of it! I know that all the parts I didn't enjoy were integral to the story though... they just ripped my heart out!
Friday's Fave Five
Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday Fave Five in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Thank you Susanne for hosting this inspirational sharing game!
1. Last night was our last class for Session One of First Place 4 Health. We have two weeks off and will start the next session on April 8th. You guys are going to think I'm crazy but I was just a teeeeeny bit disappointed. I had set a goal for myself to lose 25 pounds during this session and when I stepped on the scale last night I was down 24.4 pounds. I KNOW! I KNOW! It's great! It IS! I'm happy. But there was just that... little ... awwwww... just over a half pound to go! But it's okay! That .6 pound will be gone before the next session starts anyway!2. For our last session we had a "feast" and a celebration. Each of us brought in something really yummy and low fat/cal that we like to make. I took crab quiche. And I've discovered that if I just fail to put a pie crust in the pan, the inside cooks really nicely and saves THAT many more calories! (which in this case, the crust has more calories than the filling ANYway!) And everybody LOVED it! So yes... I'll share.... I usually make 2 pies for my family -- so if you only need one, cut it in half!1 lb. crab meat
6 large eggs
1 cup egg substitute
1/2 cup chopped onion
8 oz. shredded cheese
2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
Salt & Pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together, pour into unbaked pie shell (or not)
and bake for 15 minutes at 350. Reduce heat to 325 and continue
baking for an additional 30-45 minutes. (smaller pies will be fuller)
The calorie count for the filling is only 107 calories per slice - 8 slices per pie. Frozen pie shells are 130/140 per same size serving. Sooooooo... WHO needs CRUST??? Notice, I do not use ANY milk or mayonnaise in my quiche! Sometimes I make spinach and mushroom quiche, or I used to make broccoli/bacon for Dennis. I haven't made that one for quite awhile. But I make all of them the same way. I've never had a complaint!
I got some really yummy recipes from some of the other gals too!
Pray for me! Pray for the class!4. I took Luz's Easter dress and one of her hats from a prior year up to one of our local flower shops, and they did a beautiful job of matching flowers to put on the hat to the dress! I just can not WAIT to see her all dressed up on Easter Sunday! And I get to take her to church with me! Have I mentioned that? (a time or ten maybe?)5. I know this is getting old, but SPRING has just got me tickled pink! I went out the other day and bought all kinds of seeds, and starter thing that holds 72 little seed pots! I came home and planted those seeds, and then Dennis came home and put up a grow light under one of the kitchen cabinets for me, and I'm SO excited because my trash can garden is under way for this year! And two of the pots have already sprouted! I planted some cantaloupe, green beans, spinach, lettuce, red cabbage, green zucchini squash, and yellow straight neck squash, and multi-colored peppers, oh and brussel sprouts! And radishes! LOL! By the time I get all my trash cans and buckets filled with plants there isn't going to be room on our deck for ME!!! But I had such FUN with it last year, that I'm excited to do it again! So. What's up in YOUR world this week? Labels: Friday Fave 5
Random Dozen (South Lakes Version)
1. What is your favorite sign of Spring?
Oh boy... that's HARD! I LOVE to see the first bits of green showing up... but I ALSO LOVE to hear the birds start to sing! I don't think I can choose...2. Did you remember to spring forward on March 14? If not, how did it impact your day?Yep! I LOVE springing forward! It's falling back that I'm not too crazy about... But when the days get longer and there is more daylight! Ohhhhhhhhh BOY! SUMMER's COMING!!!
3. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what vegetable would you plant in a garden this year?
ALL of 'em! No... I can choose! Asparagus! That is my absolute favorite veggie - and it is likewise MOST of my family's favorite as well! Fortunately for ME, we have a farmer who sells it out on the side of the road almost allllllllllll summer long! CHEAP! I love that man!
4. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what fruit would you plant?
We're actually talking about planting blueberry bushes! I had thought about it - and even mentioned it 20 years ago. NOW we are wishing we had done it THEN! But I would also greatly love to have a POMEGRANATE tree! (or two)
5. What is your least favorite insect?
Oh. Again... it's a toss up! Between gnats and mosquitoes. You know, where I grew up they SPRAYED and we didn't HAVE mosquitoes! And it was in the SAME STATE I'm in now! I do not understand why my county will NOT spray! They're AWFUL! And those biting flies are bad too - but they're only around for 3 or 4 weeks and then they're gone!
6. March 22 was World Water Day. To celebrate, here are some water questions. Do you drink bottled water? If so, what brand?
I do. We have well water and frankly, I don't TRUST it! It is VERY VERY hard! When I see what it does to my plumbing... I wonder what it does to MY plumbing! I usually drink Aquafina or Deer Park. I'm not picky... and I don't even CARE if it's just tap water -- as long as it's not MY tap water! LOL!
7. Have you ever been somewhere that it was not safe to drink the local water? If so, how did you handle that?
I have not.
8. How many glasses of water do you drink per day?I TRY to drink at least 8 glasses -- 64 oz. a day. I was doing really well with that for a good while -- lately I'm having trouble getting started early enough!
9. March 24 is the birthday of Harry Houdini. Have you ever watched a professional magic show? Share.
Professional how? Like David Copperfield? David Blaine? Or like the guy who comes to the kids school? I have never seen a big name magic show live -- but I've seen impressive magic! I love to be tricked like that! We went to a Cirque du Soleil show once that featured magic. THAT was GREAT!
10. Have you ever been a participant in a professional magic show (up on stage!)? Nope.
11. March 24 is also the birthday of Steve McQueen and Clyde Barrow. Do you like Westerns or gangster movies? If so, what is your favorite?
I do NOT like gangster movies - but with that said, I did LOVE Bonnie & Clyde! I think I saw that one 3 or 4 times when I was a teenager. I love John Wayne movies, and Clint Eastwood westerns too! I was never a big Steve McQueen fan though... and truth be told, I really prefer James Bond over all of them! (do any James Bond's have a birthday?)
12. (Really random) What U.S. state that you've never visited would you like to visit someday?
ALL OF THEM! I really really want to see Mount Rushmore (South Dakota) and the Grand Tetons (Wyoming) ... and I also want to see the Grand Canyon (Arizona) ... But I'd also like to head north even here on the east coast -- I've never been further north than New York and I would LOVE to see Niagara Falls... and eat lobster in Maine! I'm thinking at least ONE of these things IS going to happen THIS summer!!! I know for darn sure I'm not just sittin' around this house all summer!
Ohhhhhh! And about my necklace? From yesterday! YOU GUYS made me soooooo happy! MOST of you saw what I saw or something similar! So I'm NOT crazy! I saw black birds! Or black swans! Some of you saw ducks -- that's cool too! I immediately said I saw BIRDS in that necklace, and the ARTIST thought I was nuts... but after I pointed them out to her, she saw them too. But all her little artist friends, and my own Krysti all thought I was nuts! They all saw an "S"... oh big deal! ANYone can see an "S"... Some said a snake! Well, yea... an "S" and a snake look pretty similar... but I am just SO happy that a bunch of you saw birds or ducks or swans! I LOVE you guys! See? THIS is why we're friends! We SEE things alike! LOL!
Labels: Random Dozen
Local Art Show
Saturday Krysti & Mom & I went to a local "art" show. LOL! Okay... sOMe of it was real art! But on the ground floor was an exhibit of "spaces". Created spaces. Nooooooo... not like the show Creating Spaces... or any of those designer shows! NOTHING like that - trust me! Well... here... just let me SHOW you! For once it was not against the "museum law" to take photographs! UNfortuately, I can only show you what it "really" looks like -- and not the artistic part of it -- which was the lighting! Oh, just come along....
THIS was the biggest exhibit ...
A CAVE made out of shredded garbage bags!
And maybe a sheet or two...
(I had thought about using this for a weekend
reflection... but I didn't get around to it!)
Come inside...
Yes... Krysti's AMAZED!
(well pretend)
Here Mom takes a seat in one of the rooms.
And I tried to get a picture of what it REALLY looked
like by not using my flash...
This is close... I guess.
Of course, the lights were moving and there were
fans blowing to make the trash bags blow in the breeze...
Maybe ya hadda be there...
Wanna know the PRICE tag on this little lovely???
It was something in the neighborhood of $21,000.00!
ROFLMBO!
I'm NOT kidding!
There was another exhibit (i didn't take a picture) that was broken
umbrellas wrapped in yellow yarn... looked sort of like a family of
yellow spiders --- it was going for over $6,000!
People are CRAZY!
But this next one really WAS cool... although YOU can't tell!
This was just a space filled with straw. I didn't know that until I took the picture. It was pitch black inside with just 2 or maybe 3 laser lights in motion moving slowly in different directions. The effect was VERY cool! As the light caught on the different blades of straw, it looked like little fireflies or twinkling stars or something! It was just this constant movement of rapidly changing light specks! Of all the "spaces" I would say this was my favorite!
Then there WAS some actual art...
This wooden sculpture stood about 4 feet tall -- I didn't
get a picture of the outside. I was more fascinated by the inside!
And then on the upper level there was a lot of paintings,
photography, and drawings. Some were very VERY good...
others... not so much! But the treat was that we got to vote
for our favorite!
I took these two pictures for Gattina!
I knew she would appreciate another artist's cats!
Especially since this artists uses a similar style to Gattina's!
And besides... I LIKED them!
There were also crafting artists on the upper level... and I bought a couple of things!
One was this seahorse.
The colors go nicely with my living room
but I haven't figured out (yet) how to
HANG it! It's does not have a hanger
built into it, and it is very VERY fragile.
But I'll work it out!
The other thing I bought was this necklace...
So far I am the only one who sees what I see
in this necklace! What do YOU see?
(I'll tell you what I see tomorrow!)
Hershey's Better Basket Blog Hop!
I like this kind of pay-it-forward charity, so I will tag too!
HERSHEY’S BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP RULES
- Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.
- Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.
- Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.
- Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.
- Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.
- Hershey’s is donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written by April 4th, 2010).
- Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the donation.
I am tagging :
KarenBarbaraAmberStarAnd anyone else who wants to help!
(don't waste your time going shopping for a different basket or candy like I did! I think you're supposed to give THIS basket! Makes sense since Hershey is sponsoring!)
Princess Purple Dress From The Palace of Pinecone Puddle
Once upon a time there was a little Princess.
Princess Purple Dress was her name!
She drove a pink Barbie car and liked to go on wild adventures!
(which must be hurried because she is almost too big for the
pink Barbie car anymore!)
One day, while driving near the meadow
the Princess found some pinecones.
She collected the whoooole Pinecone Family and put
them in the pink Barbie car.
And then she found a puddle.
She decided that brother pine cone would make a wonderful
boat to float in her puddle.
That lasted about a minute and a half.
Then Princess Purple Dress ran off to see what
else could be found in the meadow.
She found rocks!
The Princess wished she could "skip" rocks...
But, alas... her rocks were to BIG and the
puddle too small... and her skipping skills
left much to be desired.
But her SPLASHING skills were Top Notch!
THAT one GOT the court photographer!
Princess Purple Dress is a GREAT discoverer.
She discovered how well mud squishes!
When Glitter and Mud collide...
A study in Royal Fun.
But Princesses don't really care much for dirty hands...
... OR dirty pine cones. She decided they needed a bath!
(but not the Baby One)
Now in case your wondering if this story has a moral...
it does. The moral is...
Pretty Princesses who play with pine cones
in puddles should NOT wear white shoes!
(and the tights didn't fair well either!)
The End.
Friday's Fave Five - Just Thankful...
Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday Fave Five in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Thank you Susanne for hosting this inspirational sharing game!
This was a relatively boring week -- I haven't gone anywhere or done anything out of the ordinary, so I'm just thinking about some things that I'm particularly thankful for this week...
1. Hands that work, and feet that don't hurt. This hasn't always been true. I have problems with my hands - carpal tunnel - they go numb a lot. But as I lose weight this problem goes away - so maybe it's not REALLY carpal tunnel! And there was a time when my feet hurt so bad that I really didn't want to get up and walk on them -- but that has been a few years ago. I haven't forgotten it though - and I'm just thankful my hands and feet keep going! I can't "power walk" or really walk for exercise at all... I can stroll... but I'm going to do a 5k walk anyway - just for the fun of it!
2. We are still having some verrrrrrry chilly mornings here, but afternoons have actually been warm enough for just a t-shirt ... and maybe even shorts! None-the-less, the cool mornings have made me appreciate those first few sips of coffee in the morning. That warm satisfaction that those first sips bring! I love it!
3. Laughter. Honestly... my kids are some of the funniest people on the planet and I just absolutely love how HARD they make me laugh sometimes! There is nothing better than a sore stomach from laughing! And it's wOnderful with friends... but it's even better with your own kids!
4. Peppermint Patties. This weeks "little treat" to myself. Just one. One little one. 50 calories. Straight out of the freezer to just slowwwly melt in my mouth. Mmmmm....
5. That spring is here! The birds are siiiiiinging! Have you noticed that they don't sing in winter? I had NOT noticed until they started singing this week. They are soooooo bloomin' happy with the sun and the warm and the green that it makes their little hearts SING! And mine too! What a beautiful world we live in! I love it!
Labels: Friday Fave 5
Random Dozen... Blarney and all...
1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?ZerO.2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe? Fleas? Last Fall...?3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?Used to be almost ANY time... but lately... better try sometime around 1:00 pm or later...4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?I'm habitually realllllly early! Drives my kids NUTSO!5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?SHORTS!!!6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day? Absolutely! If not I'd spend the whole day getting PINCHED!7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?Any foreign language...8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live? Fortunately it is behaving rather lambish... not always so... but this year it is! I think it was well threatened that it BETTER! February was BEASTLY enough!9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?Well, I don't think I would commit it to any certain thing for EVERY day! I would add it where needed or desired as the days arrived! Some days I might sleep it away, other days I might get a little extra Bible study done. And some days it might be used to spend more time outside playing! Who knows???10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?Other than that cul-de-sac I want, with 5 houses, I really can't think of a material thing I want or need.11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.
My computer. I take it for granted every day - right up until the minute it crashes and I don't have it anymore! Then I say... Ohhhhhh WHY didn't I back everything up?!!
12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. Mine is "Zoe O'Sullivan." I love it!
It says I am Siobhan Clarke. eh. I think I'll stick with Mary Clare! (never thought I'd say THAT!!!)
Labels: Random Dozen
Strangers - week 6
This STRANGE meme is hosted by Ida at
Idathue.
Just a lady on the beach...
I thought she had an interesting face.
Deep lines...
Busy, FUN Weekend!
I wasn't around too much this weekend! I'm sorry. Well... no... I'm really not. :) Saturday I went to exchange Luz's size 6 Easter dress for a size 5, and then Krysti, Mom & I went out for a perfectly horrible lunch at Green Turtle... I ordered steamed shrimp - which were okay. But I also ordered a side salad that came with MOLDY croutons AND the dressing already ON it instead of on the side. I only ate about 2 bites of it. Mom's meal didn't come how we ordered it, and the service was just NOT up to par! That's okay though... my tips reflect my satisfaction. Then Krysti had been DREEEEEEEAMING about a trip to Maggie Moos - so we went there to get ice cream. I was OVERLY good because I hadn't known we were going and didn't look up calorie counts before we got there! But they have a low fat vanilla that is not bad. The scoops are HUGE so I only ate half -- Mom finished it! (after she finished hers...) She looooooves her ice cream! Turned out, I easily could have eaten it all. But that's okay!Saturday night Krys and I went down to Amanda's to play games with she and Mathew. We were going to play Apples To Apples - which I had given them for Christmas - I have heard such WONDERFUL things about that game!!! But we found it to be very boring! I don't know... I think other people must be makin' up there own rules or something... we just didn't think it was all that! So we played Like Minds instead -- and THAT game is hysterical! Oh my goodness! I have not laughed so hard in I don't KNOW how long! One of Amanda's answers actually made me spew my drink! FOR REAL! I was trying NOT to - but I had just taken a BIG sip, and then I laughed sO hard that I could NOT keep it in! It went everywhere.... ROFL! I LOVE to laugh THAT hard!Sunday, of course, was church! Always good! Pastor preached on The Prodigal God! Oh yea... You have NEVER heard this story the way PASTOR told it this time!!! LOL! He WARNED us - with a gleam in his eye - that we had NEVER heard the story like this before! What he did was, took the definitions of prodigal - lavish, extravagant, luxuriant... and instead of applying them in the "negative" to the "son" and his squandering his inheritance, he applied them "positively" to The Father - and his LOVE! Pastor made The Father the central character of the story - rather than the son. It was VERRRRRRY good! After church, Krysti and I went to one of the local private schools to see a musical that my friend Susan had directed, and which featured her son. (they attend my church and Susan is our music director) It was called WORKING, and had a cast of about 25 - it's a very small school, so we were GREATLY surprised by how much talent she was able to draw in those kids! There isn't a "story line" to it - basically each kid portrayed a different kind of worker - Iron Worker, Waitress, Business man, Fireman, Secretary, Office Manager, Telephone Operators! You name it! It was a wide variety. Each one explained about what their job was and what they liked - and disliked about it. And each one had a different song to go along with it. It really was very entertaining! There were a few songs that involved the whole cast and it was just cute! Then Dennis had asked for a chicken and rice dish for dinner that I have made ever since he's known me -- and is VERY fattening! I asked him if he would go along with a modified version this time so that I could try to make it a bit more acceptable for ME! He agreed and I cut the recipe down to almost NO fat! And it tasted almost exactly the same! I was SO pleased! It was amazing! HE loved it - and I loved it! And it didn't ruin my diet a bit! It was just a GREAT weekend! I hope yours was too!
Daylight Savings...
Does Anybody REALLY Know What Time It Is?
(Does anybody really care?)
I LOVE that song by Chicago!
Too bad I couldn't get it to post from YouTube... *sigh*
I took this picture while Mom & I were walking at the beach
the other day... I thought "how appropriate"!!!
God Speaks...
How do you KNOW when God is speaking to you? Yesterday morning I was supposed to go to shopping with Amanda. We were all set to have a really FUN day! I woke up early, was laying in bed talking to God for just a few minutes BEFORE I got up to start Journaling with God (???) and clear as a bell He said to me "do not spend money shopping today." At first I didn't even hear Him - I was busy talking. But then it REGISTERED that He HAD just said that, and I went "WHAT???" Lord! What are you thinking? He repeats... "do not spend money shopping today." So I'm like, then just exactly what WOULD you have me do shopping today? He doesn't usually answer my smart aleck questions, so I didn't expect a response. I texted Amanda that I didn't think I wanted to go shopping. She texted back "Ok. Y?" I told her she wouldn't believe me, but God told me NOT to spend money shopping today. She LAUGHED - told me to be SURE to tell DAD that one and said fine - she had lots to do anyway! So I gave up my SUPER FUN day of shopping with Amanda for reasons I have NO idea of! Gattina will say I am CRAZY - I should have gone shopping! (why wouldn't God want me to have FUN and spend time with my daughter?) To her I will say I have no idea... but I trust He had His reasons.
TODAY... I woke up very early and did NOT want to get out of bed and start my day yet. I had NO plans for today and clearly thought that another hour or two of sleep would be preferred! God said "get up". He didn't say "get up and come journal with me." He just said "get up". #1 - I promised the Lord my first hour of the day in good solid journaling prayer for the duration of Lent. #2 - I am really trying VERY hard to work on OBEYING Him when he SPEAKS to me because I want to hear him MORE, and I feel if I obey He'll speak more! (or I will just HEAR more -- you know... open my EARS, Lord) So, even though I reallllllllly wanted to roll over and go back to sleep, I got up, got my coffee and my journal, and we actually had a great conversation this morning. All about how my life works better when I let Him run it, and I don't THINK I know more than HE does! So THEN, when I was DONE journaling, I thought -- okay! I did it! Now I can go back to bed! And I did. And you know how I know that was NOT God's plan? I was woken up ONE HOUR later by a LOUD knock on the door and my neighbor returning MOM to me -- from where she had found her wandering out on the MAIN road in front of my house! Was I a saint? Absolutely NOT! I wanted to ring her ever lovin' NECK! But was it her fault? NO! It was MY fault! God got me UP - He intended me to STAY up... lesson learned! I HEAR ya Lord! I do! Forgive me for trying to outsmart you! Forgive me AGAIN for thinking I know BETTER! I don't know better! I NEVER know better! I couldn't possibly know BETTER than YOU Lord! I only see 800 x 600 pixels ... and YOU see a billion x a billion pixels... plus! I will NEVER be able to see the WHOLE picture no matter HOW big my computer screen is! Forgive me Father. Again and again... amen.
Flashback Friday #1
Linda from Mocha With Linda fame has started a new meme! This one's going to be fun. Each week she will ask us a question, and we post our answer! It will be something to bring about a memory of some sort to share! (I HOPE I can wrangle a memory each week... we'll see!) I don't do well UNprompted - but I can usually answer a question! Sooooo....This week's flashback revolves around our early driving experiences:How and when did you learn to drive? Do you have any particular memories associated with getting your driver license? How old were you when you got your first car and what was it? Who paid for it?
NOT mine... mine was in NOwhere near this good of shape!
But it is the car - black roof and all...
Friday Fave Five's ... SPRING!
Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday Fave Five in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Thank you Susanne for hosting this inspirational sharing game!
1. First and foremost on my list of favorites this week absolutely positively HAS to be the fact that we have had temperatures above 60F the last 3 days! Alleluia! Praise the Lord! Spring is IN the air!!! It has been sO nice to get outside and just BE outside!!!
2. And speaking of outside... Mom and I took a walk over by the beach on Wednesday... it was lovely! We stopped and had lunch at Sweet Sue's. Very healthy veggie sandwiches - very yummy too! I would have liked to sit outdoors to eat - but it's still a little cool for Mom. So we ate in and then continued our walk. And I ran into a friend I haven't seen since shortly after I left Curves -- 2.5 years ago. We stood and talked for awhile and caught up... it was nice!
3. Sunday, after church, I went down to Peebles to look for an Easter dress for Luz - and one for me too. A friend had given me a coupon for buy one, get one for $1.00! Well... I found a DARLING dress for Luz - with a matching coat! Actually, it's the coat that is so darling -- the dress is very simple - classic. But the coat is just adorable. Amanda likes it, but Luz hasn't seen it yet... I HOPE she likes it. IT was 40% off! And I found TWO dresses that I liked for ME - so I used the coupon on them and got two new dresses for the price of one - plus a dollar! I LOVE it!
4. Crab Legs were on sale for $4.99/lb. yesterday! I got some and we had them for dinner last night! What a TREAT! I had gone to the store to get stuff to make tacos.... crab legs was soooooooooooo better! We'll have tacos tonight!
5. Annnnd... a double header here... Wednesday I pedaled my ENTIRE hour on level 3! Whooo hooo! AND ... look at the little scale! Yippeeee!
And... a wee little bonus moment... it will come later today... or maybe tomorrow... but still... Gattina is going to be doing virtual CARTWHEELS because I got rid of my WINTER blog skin! I'm not thrilled with the new one... but it will do for now... I just HAD to get winter down and ... I just don't have a lot of time these days! Maybe after Easter... I dunno.
I'm off for a playdate with my eldest today! We're going shopping... little girl clothes I believe! Oh deeeeeeear... oh DEAR!
Happiness Is...
A Warm, Sunny Spot!You can see there is still a patch of snow back behind the tree... but for now, Jewlie is sO happy to have snowlessmulch to sun herself on! She has MISSED it! Almost as
much as I miss shorts!
Random Dozen... PLINK!
1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?
YOWL! Probably 20 years...
2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety?I have not bought Girl Scout cookies in at least 15 years! They are the most overpriced calories on the market! I would rather just give the girls a donation and they can sell the cookies to someone else!
3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to?I do not, and I would LOVE to!
4. Were you a responsible child/teenager?
Actually, I was... but not in the ways that most adults thought I should be.
5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see? Not a single one. Nor did I see any that were NOT nominated!
6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?If it's a simple as blood drawn, I can handle that with no prob. There are OTHER procedures I'm not so cool with!
7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?Sunday - church!
8. Do you miss anyone right now?I miss Dr. John's blog posts horribly. Especially... every day. And I miss his end of the day comment. He always saved my blog for last. :(
9. Do hospitals make you queasy?
Not at all.
10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you. Home Depot.
11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items?No... how could I be? Most of them are not true to me! They change themselves all the time. You no sooner decide THIS is the perfect one for you, than it is no longer available! Pft!
12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?
Much harder for me when they are telling me how THEY feel!
Labels: Random Dozen
Stranger Than Art...
This STRANGE meme is hosted by Ida at
Idathue.
This stranger is from my archives - but
I actually DID ask if I could take her picture -
and she was very pleasant about it!
She was making beads at a local art fair
last year just about this time.
Labels: Strangers
To Market, To Market...
My good buddy, my pal, my friend
Gattina is hosting a game I don't play -
Fun Monday - today, and she asked the question,
How Do You Do Your Grocery Shopping? So, I figured I would indulge her!
I'll skip over the part about deciding which hat to wear... and go right to the BIG decisions! I generally do a BIG shopping once every two or three weeks... and then pick up things as needed... or wanted... inbetween. Soooo the first big decision is...
What size cart do I want to use??? - of course!
Now, if I go to Giant Food, they also offer wee little Luz size carts in case you happen to have a wee little one with you that wishes to shop too! Sometimes she's the ONLY one who needs a cart - just depends on what we're there for! But this day she was NOT with us... and we needed ...
The BIG cart ... because I had all those bags!
I don't make a list. I don't use coupons. I have DONE all that in the past... and I'm done with it! Now, I go in intending to get "a few things" and I come out with 6 or 8 bags worth. I know I'm going to DO that, even if I tell myself I'm NOT. I may say I'm only going to fill 3 of these bags this time. But that's a bold faced LIE from me to me. I don't think God even pays attention to that lie anymore! If He does, I'm in deep trouble, because I don't put ANY effort at all into stopping myself.
MY favorite grocery store assaults you right away to get
it over with!
If you can make it past the bakery...
... with the darling football shaped bread loaves...
... and the forbidden fruits ...
We finally find something I can BUY!
Oh! And THEN...
Oh LOOK!
BABY PINEAPPLES!!!
Are they sooooo cute?
Oh yes I did!
And I got some of these too!
I LOVE findin' weird stuff at the grocery store!
They called 'em passion fruits, but if ya google, they don't
LOOK like passion frutis - until you open 'em up.
(that's another post!)
I passed on the cane sugar to the left of them...
I wasn't sure what TO do with it ... and decided I don't
need any more sugar anyway.
Anyway... fruit was not ALL we got - but this
picture is blurry cuz Mom was trying to run me
over with the cart in her anxiety to keep up
with me!
The STOP command no longer works!
I don't know why I didn't take any pictures in the meat and fish part of the store...
but I didn't.
There ya go... waffles, cat food, dishwasher
soap thingies...
(does the clerk count as a stranger for tomorrow???)
So with everything loaded back in the cart, we get out to
the car... and guess what?
Why there's still a HOOLA HOOP in my trunk!
(amongst plenty of other things!)
OY!
But I managed to get it all in there anyway...
And home again, home again jiggety jig!
(no fat pigs were purchased in the
making of this blog post!)
But one Mommy Pineapple
and 4 baby piney's were!
(they are sO sweet!)
Luz thought they were just as adorable as I did!
Hector was impressed too.
He's the pineapple eater at their house.
I gave him one.
:)
So that wraps it up. Kinda boring, huh? I shoulda bought some flowers or something... I don't shop different stores when I grocery shop - because our grocery stores have EVERYTHING and even the meat and fish are really NICE. We do have a couple of local fish markets - and occasionally I'll stop in them, but most of the time, I just stick to the grocery stores. I do not however shop our local Food Lion. I have been in Food Lion's in other areas that are state-of-the-art gorgeous -- but ours is not! I don't know how they stay in business. Because our Giant and our Safeway are really nice! Ahhhhh it's nice to have options! I DO occasionally get meat from our corner market -- it's a little Mom & Pop place -- you know - the one with the cow on the roof! They have a verrrrrrry nice butcher and they specialize and take pride in their meats! It's worth the extra money to get steaks there - but again - our Safeway has really nice meats too!
