Apr 25, 2012 |
Welcome to the second “What’s the Word? Wednesday” blog hop!
This week’s discussion is, well, anything. We’re all just getting to know each other around here so go ahead. Link up, share, post, and tell your friends to join the party!
Are there any blog posts you’re particularly proud of? Any get-to-know-you statements you’ve shouted? Spill it (the story, not the coffee!).
I’ll link up a few of my favorite posts from the past few months to give you a taste of my writing styles. I’ve been lucky enough to be featured a few times on BlogHer.com, so I guess I must be doing something right!
Come on in, sit on down, grab your coffee or other favorite beverage, and let’s cyber-toast this great community of bloggers and commentators.
Remember, you don’t have to have a blog; you can leave a comment instead.
Ready? Cheers!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Mar 21, 2012
There are three of you I love like my own (well, one of you is). Each of you has enriched my life in ways you may never know. I’m blessed to be your mother, your friend, your partner in crime (or atleast, in writing about them).
I’m honored that you love me in return. That you share with me your families, your hopes, your dreams, your sorrows. We have goals. We have memories. We have fun. We work well together.
And there are times, oh so many times, that I pray for you. How I want to be a good example for you but I know sometimes I fail. Sometimes I’m immature and selfish. Sometimes I can’t give as much as I should, and sometimes I want it to be all about me.
But then I hear you’re hurting, and all I can do is cry for you, for your heartaches. And this is where I step up to the plate and offer what I have to give you: experience and (hopefully) wisdom.
In some way, each of you is suffering a broken heart. Maybe not completely; and not in the same way. Your hurts are yours. Your sorrows are individual, personal, and private. In real life, you put on a secure mask and you go through the automated functions of daily living. But something inside feels broken, damaged, or just out of sorts.
That’s okay. It’s okay to feel confused, and sad, and angry. It’s okay to wonder if your dreams will ever be reality.
But please … don’t live there. Don’t live in a fantasy land; holding out for something that might not happen, waiting for the Knight in Shining Armor to come rescue you. It’s okay to rescue yourself. It’s okay to be your own person. It’s okay to be You.
It’s okay to send yourself flowers to brighten your day. It’s okay to be disappointed and it’s okay to change your mind about what you thought you wanted in life. It’s okay to still want what you want, but don’t stop there. Don’t let the shadows throw you over. Don’t let the roadblocks stop you. Don’t dream so high that you lose sight of reality and forget to live.
There are many paths, many directions. And just because one isn’t working out the way you thought/hoped/planned… you can still get there. You can take a detour. You can take another path.
Just don’t stop.
Don’t stop believing that you’re worth everything. Everything. You’re worth attention. You’re worth flowers. You’re worth hugs and conversations and coffee dates and smiles and … everything that makes you, You.
You’re worth knowing. And sharing. And loving. And growing. And being.
And if I could make your life perfect, I would. But I’m not magical. I’m just me. I’ve been where you are. You may not think so. You may think you’re alone. You may think I’m just an Old Maid who hasn’t a clue. But you’re wrong. That’s okay, too.
Because whether you believe me or not, I’ve been there. And I’m still here.
For you.
Because I love you abundantly.
And no matter what, no matter what, YOU are worth knowing. Just as you are. But I also know you’re still growing. And I really look forward to knowing the person you’re going to be.
I love you with a Mother’s Love. A Friend’s Fierceness. A passionate, loyal, do-anything, protective, Godly love. I love you. Abundantly. No matter what.
And I always will.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Feb 21, 2012
You’re reading this on Tuesday. I’m writing this on Monday. And I’d love to wait until Tuesday to enjoy it with you, but I have to write in advance so it will post on time. Rest assured, my excitement in writing will only be amplified once these words become reality.
*Insert blissful sigh here…*
Today (your Today, Tuesday; not my today, Monday)… Today I’m getting an early (seriously early) birthday gift. Last year I bought my daughter a mighty fine camera as she aspires to study art and photography. And, as you’ve occasionally witnessed, she has a mighty fine eye for such things. And on the few opportunities I’ve had to use her camera, so do I.
I love this camera. I want this camera. I’m getting this camera. Okay, not hers. She’s keeping hers. I’m getting another one just like it. There’s a method to this madness: she is a natural photographer. I am not. Not. So, after 15 minutes of me trying to figure something out; I won’t have that urge to create an opening in the window or wall. I’ll just ask her for help. Dot’s Tutorials, at your service.
She’s looking forward to it, too. I told her that we can start going on photography expeditions together. You would think there isn’t much opportunity for that here in the desert…
But even a tumbleweed can look good if the camera is right. Dot’s also teaching me the beauty of microphotography: taking really upclose, detailed photos.
All this excites me. A new toy. A new activity on the Mommy-Daughter Date Options List. And new photos for my blog. For my company.
How. Awesome. Will. This. Be.
I can’t wait to take photos of the Coopers. Not to be a broken record, but Old Blue was around again! This time he surprised me. I took the garbage out and when I turned to go back into the house, he was sitting on the fence just watching me. It was great. I didn’t get Dot’s camera in time, but in the next few days I’ll have my own and you’ll have those photos you’ve been asking for. *Insert mutual smiley face here, right?!*
Tomorrow (my tomorrow, your today) should also bring a book I’ve long been waiting for. When I was in grade school, I always defaulted to borrowing this book from both the school and local libraries. I must have read it a hundred times over the course of four years. Since I grew up, I’ve been trying to find it again, but it’s no longer in print.
Enter Amazon. Amazing, Available, Amazon.
And tomorrow/today, I should finally once again be able to read this:
Since I had a small credit at Amazon, the book was free! And since I’ve kept up with my 2012 Reading List, I get a “freebie” read for February. I choose this one. It will take just one day. 24 wonderfully short, attention-grabbing mysteries steeped in the history of our country. And of course, it also means another Mojo Book Review. Can’t wait, can ya?
Today (my today, your yesterday) I’m trying my hand at making chocolate molds. That is, melting chocolates and pouring them into molds. I also want to make ganache and use it for truffles. I’m doing this for a variety of reasons. I have a cake decorating kit I bought last summer but have only used twice. I have melting chocolates that need melting. And I think nothing goes better on blogs than photographs of chocolate. Especially when the treats are homemade.
So starting tomorrow, er… today, I can start taking awesome photos of any and all kitchen creations.
I’m so stinkin’ excited.
Last night, or long ago and far away, I had no idea what I’d be blogging about this week. Now I have too many topics to keep track of. What a difference a day makes.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Dec 9, 2011
One of my favorite Christmas movies is “White Christmas”. One of my favorite songs from that movie is “Count Your Blessings”. I also like the old Ray Conniff Singers version. It’s a good reminder to take a look around and see what you already have, and see that it’s good.
With the car repairs, the unemployment, and even just the busyness of the season, I sometimes forget to slow down and appreciate what I already have.
I’m thankful for songs such as these that remind me to open my eyes, pay attention.
We all have different things that we’re thankful for. That’s the beauty of it. Because if we were all the same, what we have/do/are wouldn’t be special to anyone. One of my friends posted this great reminder on Facebook today:
“Always remember you are unique just like everyone else!”
I’m a glass-half-full kinda Gal. I like finding the Good Things in life, and sharing them with others. I have a motto. When people ask me how things are going, I often say, “Could be better. Could be a whole lot worse.” And I mean that.
Things could always be better. I’d like to be debt free. Have a bigger kitchen. Not be single. I’d like to develop more talent like painting and knitting. I’d like to have enough money to finish designing and landscaping my yards.
But things could always be worse. I could be an invalid. I could be fighting with my family. I could be homeless. I could be in more debt than I am.
So I’m okay with being who I am, where I am. As long as I’m striving to make things better, and not stagnant in the mud of life, things are good. And they are getting better. Little by little.
Friendships are one of the best blessings; second only to God and family. Friends are the ones who get you through the rough times, laugh with you, come over for coffee and stay up late til the cell phone battery dies from talking too much. Friends watch the same TV Shows to see what it’s all about. Friends root for your sports team. Friends are the ones who mail you cookies just because. Friends let you cry like an idiot and dance in the streets. Friends let you attract attention even when they’re usually shy. Friends are amazing. And each one is different.
Just like you.
And I’m okay with you being who you are: unique. There’s no one just like you. There’s no one with your family, your place in life, your sense of humor, your looks, your income, your talents, your offerings. You bring a uniqueness to your friendships. You bring a special quality to whatever task you do.
So when you think you’re not special, or you have nothing to offer, remember this:
You are unique. And I count on you.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Nov 24, 2011
Today is Thanksgiving.
And while this is a little thing, it’s a big deal:
But two days ago I got two new tires on my car.
It happened, because we were planning on an hour-long drive to go visit my daughter’s friend in the hospital. And since I hadn’t had the air pressure checked for a while, I took the car to America’s Tire Co. They do air checks and rotations for free. And since I had $3.42 in my checkbook, “free” was really working for me.
Until they looked at my tires. Left front: treads worn down. Right front: road hazard. Air bulge (I’d hit a pothole last week, but didn’t realize I’d damaged the tire.). He explained this is a major road hazard; unsafe to drive no matter what. I explained I absolutely cannot afford new tires right now. So he suggested replacing it with my spare just to be safe. Again, the phrase “road hazard” kept coming up.
We sat and waited. The plan was for them to replace the road hazard tire with the spare, and rotate the two rear tires. That, at least, would be safer than driving the way the tires are now.
The second service guy called me to the counter. He again stressed the hazard of the old tire, and the limited capability of a spare. And now, they’ve found two nails in a rear tire.
This is not going the way I had planned.
I had to tell my daughter it didn’t look like we’d make it to see her friend. I was almost heartbroke.
A year ago, even a few months ago; I would have panicked. I would have cried in public and called my mom and had a mini-breakdown on the phone. I prob’ly would have used words I usually try really hard not to use.
But instead, I took a deep breath. I looked at my daughter and said, “Say a prayer.”
I went to the counter a third time. And decided to take them up on their offer to apply for credit. “I won’t get approved,” I whispered, all the while praying and trusting that God can do anything.
My last resort would be to “borrow” money from family. Money that they don’t really have to give me, money that I wouldn’t be able to give back.
In less than a minute, I was approved. Not a huge amount, but enough to get two new tires.
20 minutes later I drove away, feeling more secure than I’ve felt for quite a while. My car was safe. I hadn’t known it was unsafe. But more than that, now I knew we were safe.
Shortly after we went home and were just preparing to leave for the hospital, we got the message that my daughter’s friend was being released; healthy enough to come home for Thanksgiving!
I’m still in awe of the way these situations turned out. I knew my tires weren’t the best, but I didn’t know they were this bad. My daughter’s friend was hospitalized for several days. If it hadn’t been for our plans to visit, I would have waited on getting the tires checked. After all, I only drive locally.
Now I have new tires. Now my daughter’s friend is home. My daughter consistently sees miracles in her life. And our life is still Amazing. Because God is always Graceful. And Good.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
