MJR: Frankly, My Dear . . . - Frankly, My Dear . . .

My Treasure Jar

Aug 9, 2015 | 2 comments

Remember when I went to Blue Ridge and so many crazy awesome writing-editing connection things happened? And how I drank lots of sweet tea?

Sweet Tea at Blue Ridge

And remember how, before I went, I was big on collecting pennies and coins in my jar?

My Penny Jar

And you know how I have a writer’s mind so I link cause-and-effect like other people don’t? Well . . .

Say hello to my new “jar”.

Sweet Savings

Every time I drop a coin or bill into my Sweet Savings bottle, it’s a reminder of what I’m striving for. And the fact that it’s a much bigger container than the little jar is an indicator of just how big my dreams are.

But wait . . . there’s more.

I’d not found pennies on the sidewalk for quite a while. At least a month. And y’all know how I feel about pennies, right? They’re the essential building block for life.

The Penny Parable, available at Amazon

So I’m starting to feel a little let down, you know? A little ignored by God. Oh, stop! You say. Not finding a penny does not equate being abandoned by God. I know that.

Don’t you think I know that?

And yet . . . as I’m sipping my sweet tea, and missing my Blue Ridge peeps, and wondering why I’m not finding pennies, God creeps into my psyche. You know how He does. That still, small voice that hijacks your thought process and turns you on your heels because you secretly asked Him to even though you’re not sure want to admit it.

So the prayer-conversation went something like this:

ME:    Go away.
GOD: Is that really what you want?
ME:    Yes. Maybe. No. I don’t know. I’m mad at you. Go away so it’s easier for me to be mad at you.
GOD: Why are you mad at me?
ME:    Because I miss my people. And I have unfulfilled dreams. And you haven’t given me teddy bears or pennies for a really long time. I miss that.
GOD: You know why I used to give you teddy bears and pennies?
ME:    Because you loved me. And you know I collect teddy bears and pennies. They used to call me the ‘Teddy Bear Rescue Mission’ because I’d find so many abandoned teddy bears on the roadside. I’d take them home and fix them up. And I still have them. And the pennies state right there ‘In God We Trust’. And when I needed to remember to trust You, You’d give me a penny. Or more. And You haven’t lately. Nothing. At all.
GOD: I don’t give you pennies as often because you already know to trust me. You still trust me. You don’t need the reminder.
ME:   I know. But it’s still nice to be told You’re thinking of me.
GOD: I’m always thinking of you. And I don’t give you teddy bears any more because you don’t need them. The bears I used to give you were for comfort and security. You’re growing up nicely and don’t need that any more.
ME:    I know, but . . .
GOD: But you still want them. I understand. And when you appreciate those gifts as gifts I’ll let you find them again. But right now, you want them for the wrong reasons. Right now, you want them so you don’t feel alone.
ME:    Yes.
GOD: But you’re not alone. And you know that.
ME:    Yes.
GOD: I have something better for you to collect: People.
ME:    People?
GOD: People. Every person you know is worth treasuring. Some are more valuable than others, and some are older than others. But every one is a treasure.
ME:    I’m a people-collector?
GOD: Yes.
ME:    So you’re telling me I don’t need pennies or teddy bears, but I do need people. And these coins are symbolic of the people in my life. Past, present, and future. The people I interact with are important. They are my fun, my security, my soft hugs, my reprimands, my world.
GOD: Yes.
ME:    You know, when you put it that way, my treasures far outweigh what’s contained in this bottle. There’s family, writers, church, the day job, Facebook peeps, supporters.
GOD: I know.

[Insert seriously long pause as I contemplate the need to recognize the value in others, and the necessity of showing others how valuable they are to me.]

ME: Hey, God?
GOD: Yes, Child?
ME: Will you be my first penny?
GOD: I thought you’d never ask.

Remember the Value of Your People

And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!

You may also enjoy reading:
Invisible Person in a Sea of People: Robin H. and the 99-Cent Sin
Filigree Frosting
Stop Fighting and Be Still.

Sweeten my tea and share:

My Jamberry Video

Aug 4, 2015 | 2 comments

Remember when I was so excited to sign on as a Jamberry consultant? Remember what a thrill it was when I hosted my first party, earned my first commission, and reached my first goal?

My Mother’s Day Jamberry Nails

Me, too. I’m loving my Jamberry Journey. It’s like scrapbooking on your fingertips – there’s no wrong combination, and you’re only limited by your imagination.

Jamberry Nails: Mad Hatter and Word to the Wise

I mean, you can even upload your own designs to the Jamberry Nail Art Studio. How freaking amazing is that?

Tonight I tried the Indulgence Hand Care Set for the first time. Like, wow! I didn’t know naked nails could look so good!

Naked Fingers made healthy with Jamberry Indulgence

I’m just having way too much fun. In fact, it’s been so great, I’m making more memories. And friends. And videos.

Well, one video.

Okay, so maybe you’re a guy (William or Danny) who doesn’t need his nails done. Or maybe you’re more tomboy-ish or just don’t do nails. So maybe you’re thinking, you don’t want to see this video.

And I agree. If you think it’s about the Jamberry Nail Wraps, please, do not watch this video.

But if you could give This Girl a shout out and appreciate my newly-rediscovered video editing skills (thankyouverymuch, Babycakes MacBook Pro), I’d sure appreciate it like a cool water on a hot day.

Granted I’m no Francis Ford Coppola, but I think I did okay.

What do you think? I personally think it’s kinda jammin’. (See what I did there?)

Thanks for watching. We now return you to your regularly scheduled manicure.

And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!

Sweeten my tea and share:

Five Reasons to Like Ohio

Aug 2, 2015 | 6 comments

Last week I had a Skype session with Keri Jaehnig of Idea Girl Media. We went to school in Michigan before we both moved away. Naturally our conversation took on the what-do-you-like-where-you’re-at-now direction.

I sipped my sweet tea and listened as she told me about her new digs, and I thought, surely I could come up with at least five things to like about Ohio. Can’t I?

Let’s test this theory . . .

5. Ohio State University. I mean the colors alone are worth loving this Big Ten university. Am I right? Red and white. It just screams Christmas all year ’round. Don’t get me wrong, though. I live for the yearly battle against UM. I’ll forever be maize and blue. As my friend Cyle and I discussed at Blue Ridge, ’tis far, far better to be from Ohio and drive north to Michigan for schooling, than it is to be from Michigan and head south of the border.

Homemade Christmas Card with Santa Charm

Santa or Ohio? I get confused . . .

4. Buckeyes. Not to be confused with edible chestnuts, buckeyes are “moderately toxic”. Your stomach will not be your friend if you ingest these lookalikes. Buckeye trees once populated Ohio’s lands, and were made even more popular during William Henry Harrison’s 1840 Presidential campaign. That’s cool. I’m just a fan of that dark brown hue.

Chestnuts or Buckeyes?

3. Fireflies (Lightning Bugs). During summer breaks, we would drive south to visit family in Toledo. We loved starting the trip at dusk, as thousands of lightning bugs lit up the fields. I couldn’t find a decent firefly photo, but here’s an awesome firefly in a jar craft that Dot and I did several years ago.

Fireflies in a Jar (Craft)

2. Cedar Point. This amusement park is home to one of America’s largest Ferris wheels. I’ve never been on the Giant Wheel and given my fear of heights and propensity for quick-onset vertigo, it’s a good chance I never will. Still, I have many marvelous summer memories of my times at Cedar Point, from the amazing food venues to my first roller coaster, Blue Streak.

Cedar Point Giant Wheel

1. But the best reason to like Ohio (and you can’t tell me y’all didn’t see this one coming), is that the longest it will take you is about five hours to get from the southern most part of Ohio up to Michigan.