Backyard Blessings
Several days ago, Life Changes were the topic of conversation on That's Life. Huge, mega life changes, as in move out of state, away from family, know only a few people where we are going, new neighborhood, new church, new home, new everything. Well, that Life Change day is here. We leave in just about 30 hours for our new destination.
I sat in our current backyard this morning sipping a piping hot cup of coffee while the movers were moving furniture and boxes into the POD. I felt a great sense of peace and contentment amidst the chaos. I thoroughly enjoy sitting in the backyard and listening to the birds gingerly call to each other. My roses are in full bloom so the entire yard was filled with the scent of roses. Whoa! What a gift! What a blessing! I was thinking it was the nature in my backyard's way of saying "Farewell, old friend. You have taken good care of us and we thank you for helping us grow and become beautiful."
One thought led to another and I remembered so many things that happened in this backyard - the Women's Breakfast, our son and daughter-in-laws engagement party, pizza parties, my father-in-laws memorial with the entire family sharing a meal on a beautiful summer afternoon and then of course, Great Oaks Preschool - kids running and playing and having a blast, family Game Nights, many years of Easter Egg hunts, playing super hero with my grandson, burying Ziggy, my son's pet lizard, sitting on the roof and looking at the stars or the fireworks that seemed to explode right over our yard, the huge owl that would swoop across the yard each evening looking for dinner, the raccoon that got trapped behind the shed, the chicken that flew into our yard and fell between the sheds, the baby bunnies that were born under the sheds, the husband and wife ducks that came each morning to eat the sunflower seeds, the squirrel that traversed the telephone wire above our fence always stopping to taunt the dogs with a wild shake of his tail and his lively chatter. So very many cool, happy, blessed memories -- and then it happened, the tears began to flow. Happy tears of life well lived. Happy tears of family fun. Happy tears of friends gathering in a place that was filled with love and laughter and shenanigans. Critters large and small that felt welcome, safe and comfortable visiting our backyard. (The gophers were not so welcome, however.)
This backyard has always been a place of happiness for me. A place to feel blessed. A place to think, draw, write, read and just sit and be myself - soaking in the quietness of the backyard. I pray that I will find that same peace, contentment and blessing in the backyard of our new home. When we were there a couple months back, I kinda got the feeling that I will. I wonder if it is not so much the location of the backyard as it is the state of mind of the person that is in the backyard.
Backyard blessings to each of you, wherever you are!
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Within You
Within You
Within you lies the capability to love.
- to fill another so full they are made complete.
Within you lies the power to forgive.
- making bitterness an unwelcome guest and allowing heart wounds to heal.
Within you is the opportunity to do or be whatever it is you are passionate about.
- following your heart - your hopes and dreams may be the answer to another's prayer.
Within you is the ability to make a difference.
- coloring your world - one beautiful brush stroke at a time - with your God-given talents and
gifts - makes a difference in your life and the lives of those around you.
Within you is found everything you need.
LOOK. SEARCH. FIND. ACCESS.
And be all you were created to be.
Rd 3/24/16
Within you lies the capability to love.
- to fill another so full they are made complete.
Within you lies the power to forgive.
- making bitterness an unwelcome guest and allowing heart wounds to heal.
Within you is the opportunity to do or be whatever it is you are passionate about.
- following your heart - your hopes and dreams may be the answer to another's prayer.
Within you is the ability to make a difference.
- coloring your world - one beautiful brush stroke at a time - with your God-given talents and
gifts - makes a difference in your life and the lives of those around you.
Within you is found everything you need.
LOOK. SEARCH. FIND. ACCESS.
And be all you were created to be.
Rd 3/24/16
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Life Changes
Life Changes
When I was a little kid, growing up in the Chicago area, it didn't seem like much changed. I went to the same grade school for 8 years, then the same high school for 4 years. All that time, we lived in the same house, I had the same friends and we went to the same church. We went to the same grocery store every week - called the A & P. We got to drink pop (soda) and have popcorn every Friday night. Once a month my dad took us to White Castle for hamburgers. Once a year we went to River View - the nearest amusement park to our home and once a year we went to the Zoo. Not much changed, year to year, day to day, but I was never bored. We played outside until dark and then when it was dinner time, my dad would give his loud whistle and we would run home. We went to the park, we played in the fields, we built snowmen and snow forts and had snowball fights. We played hide and seek, we played ball, we played school...you name it, we played it. We were having fun and enjoying life without change.
In high school subtle changes started occurring. I noticed boys, had different friends, had some freedom to spread my wings and try new things. And I wanted to. I wanted to see my life change, but it was rather scary.
After I got married, big time changes starting happening - I had babies, and with each baby we needed a bigger home so we began moving - first a one bedroom apartment in the city, then a 2 bedroom apartment in the city, next a 2 bedroom house in the suburbs, then a 3 bedroom house way out in the boonies. With each move there were life changes: new friends, new jobs, new schools for the kids and of course new responsibilities. Life changes that caused us to grow up real fast.
Then it happened - the biggest life change of all (so far) ...a move out of state and away from family. We knew 2 people in our new locale and they did not live anywhere near where we were going to live. So basically, we were on our own with 4 kids and a dog in a new state where we knew no one. Talk about a life change. This was a job transfer so at least we were not jobless. That was definitely a plus. But we were in an apartment again for a while and again with new schools for the kids, new friends, new church, new everything. We knew living in an apartment was not a permanent thing so we were not surprised when we moved to a 4 bedroom home. This is where we settled for 27 years and made new friends, the kids attended new schools, we settled into church life, community life and we thought this was it. We would be here till the end. No more big life changes, no more moving, no more new anything. Life without change and it was good.
Little did we know God had other plans for us - one more big life change coming our way - RETIREMENT! and with retirement comes yet another move - Surprise!! a doozy of a move - out of state again and away from family to a place where we know just 4 people. (That is an improvement!) This time, it is just the two of us and the anticipation and excitement is unlike any of our other life changes. This time we see it as an adventure. This time, though things will be new, we are older and wiser and see things from a different perspective. Our perspective now says "bring it on" we can handle it. And if we don't like it, we'll move again. There is no fear, no worry, just the knowledge that all the life changes we have been through have brought us to this point. It seems natural for us to be doing this. At this point in our lives, we are strong in the knowledge that God is with us and directing our path. We are ready for this life change and we don't think we will ever be bored. We are looking forward to having fun and enjoying life in retirement with or without any more life changes. And that is good because, That's Life!
When I was a little kid, growing up in the Chicago area, it didn't seem like much changed. I went to the same grade school for 8 years, then the same high school for 4 years. All that time, we lived in the same house, I had the same friends and we went to the same church. We went to the same grocery store every week - called the A & P. We got to drink pop (soda) and have popcorn every Friday night. Once a month my dad took us to White Castle for hamburgers. Once a year we went to River View - the nearest amusement park to our home and once a year we went to the Zoo. Not much changed, year to year, day to day, but I was never bored. We played outside until dark and then when it was dinner time, my dad would give his loud whistle and we would run home. We went to the park, we played in the fields, we built snowmen and snow forts and had snowball fights. We played hide and seek, we played ball, we played school...you name it, we played it. We were having fun and enjoying life without change.
In high school subtle changes started occurring. I noticed boys, had different friends, had some freedom to spread my wings and try new things. And I wanted to. I wanted to see my life change, but it was rather scary.
After I got married, big time changes starting happening - I had babies, and with each baby we needed a bigger home so we began moving - first a one bedroom apartment in the city, then a 2 bedroom apartment in the city, next a 2 bedroom house in the suburbs, then a 3 bedroom house way out in the boonies. With each move there were life changes: new friends, new jobs, new schools for the kids and of course new responsibilities. Life changes that caused us to grow up real fast.
Then it happened - the biggest life change of all (so far) ...a move out of state and away from family. We knew 2 people in our new locale and they did not live anywhere near where we were going to live. So basically, we were on our own with 4 kids and a dog in a new state where we knew no one. Talk about a life change. This was a job transfer so at least we were not jobless. That was definitely a plus. But we were in an apartment again for a while and again with new schools for the kids, new friends, new church, new everything. We knew living in an apartment was not a permanent thing so we were not surprised when we moved to a 4 bedroom home. This is where we settled for 27 years and made new friends, the kids attended new schools, we settled into church life, community life and we thought this was it. We would be here till the end. No more big life changes, no more moving, no more new anything. Life without change and it was good.
Little did we know God had other plans for us - one more big life change coming our way - RETIREMENT! and with retirement comes yet another move - Surprise!! a doozy of a move - out of state again and away from family to a place where we know just 4 people. (That is an improvement!) This time, it is just the two of us and the anticipation and excitement is unlike any of our other life changes. This time we see it as an adventure. This time, though things will be new, we are older and wiser and see things from a different perspective. Our perspective now says "bring it on" we can handle it. And if we don't like it, we'll move again. There is no fear, no worry, just the knowledge that all the life changes we have been through have brought us to this point. It seems natural for us to be doing this. At this point in our lives, we are strong in the knowledge that God is with us and directing our path. We are ready for this life change and we don't think we will ever be bored. We are looking forward to having fun and enjoying life in retirement with or without any more life changes. And that is good because, That's Life!
Saturday, March 19, 2016
St. Patrick's Day Prayer
St. Patrick's Day Prayer
I missed posting this on St. Patty's Day, but this prayer really applies for everyday, so bear with me.
First a little background information:
Wikipedia gives this information about young Patrick: "According to the Confession of St. Patrick, at the age of just sixteen Patrick was captured by a group of Irish pirates.[34] They brought him to Ireland where he was enslaved and held captive for six years. Patrick writes in The Confession[34] that the time he spent in captivity was critical to his spiritual development. He explains that the Lord had mercy on his youth and ignorance, and afforded him the opportunity to be forgiven of his sins and converted to Christianity. While in captivity, Saint Patrick worked as a shepherd and strengthened his relationship with God through prayer eventually leading him to convert to Christianity.[34]"
By Patrick's own account in his Confession of St. Patrick, the story goes on to say that after 6 years of slavery he escaped and returned to his family in Great Britain where he continued to study Christianity. After becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland as a missionary due to a vision he had that told him to do so. In later life, he served as a bishop and by the seventh century, he had already come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland.
While in Ireland serving as a missionary, legend has it that Patrick used a 3 leaf clover (shamrock) to teach the unbelievers in Ireland about the Holy Trinity.
3 persons in One True God. Father (God), Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit.
I have learned that each person of the Trinity plays a specific role in our lives and so we can pray:
Never let me stop learning about You, God my Father.
Never let me stop trying to be like You, dear Jesus.
Never let me stop listening to You, O Holy Spirit.
- Amen
Blessings to you this St. Patrick's Day.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Don't Rain on My Parade!
Don't Rain on My Parade!
You are daydreaming and thinking and using your imagination and you come up with this fabulous idea. It will solve so many problems. It will benefit so many people. Maybe it will just be really cool! But, you know - absolutely without a doubt - it is a good idea. Then you share the idea with someone else only to have that person say, "You can't do that!" "It will never work!" "That's dumb!" Not only have they rained on your parade - it is now pouring -- buckets. Those words have pelted your idea and turned it into the biggest mud puddle you have ever seen. So what do you do? Typically, if you are like most folks, you let that great, fabulous idea sink into the muck and mire of that mud puddle, never to be spoken of or thought of again.
The inventor of the Knomo Drop & Go Bag had an idea - a parade - if you will. Let me ask you this...How many times has your cell phone battery died when you most needed the cell phone and you were not in a location where you could recharge the battery? It's happened to me plenty of times. I am pretty sure it happened to the inventor of the Knomo Drop & Go Bag plenty of times too! The Knomo Drop & Go Bag has a built in cell phone charger. It is touted as the first in-bag charging device. What a great idea! A purse with a built in phone charger - now that is cool. An amazing parade, wouldn't you say? This was a creative way to solve a problem, benefit tons of people with an added bonus...it is also really cool.
Here's the point. God gives each one of us creativity genes - some more than others, but none the less, think about it, we are created in His image. I can't think of anyone more creative than The Creator, can you? What comes out of your creativity no one else can do. Your sense of creativity is yours alone. Find what you love or are passionate about and do something creative with it. The love of that "thing"- whatever it is - was put there by The Creator. That creative "idea" - whatever it is - was put in your head by The Creator. So, I repeat... do something creative with it. Write that book. Paint that picture. Build that building. Design that invention. Start that program. Just do it! Start now. But, don't let anyone rain on your parade. It is not their parade to rain on.
"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, to be like us..." Genesis 1:26a
" I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it well." Psalm 139:14
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1Thess.5:11
You are daydreaming and thinking and using your imagination and you come up with this fabulous idea. It will solve so many problems. It will benefit so many people. Maybe it will just be really cool! But, you know - absolutely without a doubt - it is a good idea. Then you share the idea with someone else only to have that person say, "You can't do that!" "It will never work!" "That's dumb!" Not only have they rained on your parade - it is now pouring -- buckets. Those words have pelted your idea and turned it into the biggest mud puddle you have ever seen. So what do you do? Typically, if you are like most folks, you let that great, fabulous idea sink into the muck and mire of that mud puddle, never to be spoken of or thought of again.
The inventor of the Knomo Drop & Go Bag had an idea - a parade - if you will. Let me ask you this...How many times has your cell phone battery died when you most needed the cell phone and you were not in a location where you could recharge the battery? It's happened to me plenty of times. I am pretty sure it happened to the inventor of the Knomo Drop & Go Bag plenty of times too! The Knomo Drop & Go Bag has a built in cell phone charger. It is touted as the first in-bag charging device. What a great idea! A purse with a built in phone charger - now that is cool. An amazing parade, wouldn't you say? This was a creative way to solve a problem, benefit tons of people with an added bonus...it is also really cool.
Here's the point. God gives each one of us creativity genes - some more than others, but none the less, think about it, we are created in His image. I can't think of anyone more creative than The Creator, can you? What comes out of your creativity no one else can do. Your sense of creativity is yours alone. Find what you love or are passionate about and do something creative with it. The love of that "thing"- whatever it is - was put there by The Creator. That creative "idea" - whatever it is - was put in your head by The Creator. So, I repeat... do something creative with it. Write that book. Paint that picture. Build that building. Design that invention. Start that program. Just do it! Start now. But, don't let anyone rain on your parade. It is not their parade to rain on.
"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, to be like us..." Genesis 1:26a
" I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it well." Psalm 139:14
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1Thess.5:11
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Who Do You Trust?
Who Do You Trust?
I have found that each day people make choices in who or what to trust. A knock on the door comes or the doorbell rings - do I open the door or do I open the window first and call out asking who is there? Do I trust that the person at the door is who they say they are? Do I trust that the person is safe and not looking to harm me? Do I trust that what they are selling is for real? Trust is huge!
Who do you trust? - the universe - the world and it's offerings - the stars - numbers - chance - people - the cards - luck? - or God.
God, who loves you without fail - no matter what, all the time with an everlasting love. Jer. 31: 3
God, who created you and knit you together in your mother's womb. Ps. 139:13
God, who laid out every single moment of every single one of your days. Ps. 139:16
God, who knows how many hairs are on your head and finds you valuable in every way. Luke 12:7
God, who has a plan for you, a plan to prosper you and not harm you, a plan to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11
God is a sure thing. The rest, not so much!
Who do you trust?
"Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing." Ps. 143: 8 & 10
I have found that each day people make choices in who or what to trust. A knock on the door comes or the doorbell rings - do I open the door or do I open the window first and call out asking who is there? Do I trust that the person at the door is who they say they are? Do I trust that the person is safe and not looking to harm me? Do I trust that what they are selling is for real? Trust is huge!
Who do you trust? - the universe - the world and it's offerings - the stars - numbers - chance - people - the cards - luck? - or God.
God, who loves you without fail - no matter what, all the time with an everlasting love. Jer. 31: 3
God, who created you and knit you together in your mother's womb. Ps. 139:13
God, who laid out every single moment of every single one of your days. Ps. 139:16
God, who knows how many hairs are on your head and finds you valuable in every way. Luke 12:7
God, who has a plan for you, a plan to prosper you and not harm you, a plan to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11
God is a sure thing. The rest, not so much!
Who do you trust?
"Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing." Ps. 143: 8 & 10
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