Makes Me Happy Monday: Pinecones
My wonderful big kids have each loaned me their computers throughout this last week so that I can do a few things here and there. My Macbook is still reeling from her tender injury. Only God knows and time will tell how long it will be before I’m back completely functioning on-line. I’ve been able to sporadically check my email and, from time to time, check in on Facebook. I’m still spending days at the Apple store trying to save my photos. Maybe another day or two and I’ll be finished.
With Glory’s Mac in my lap, I thought I’d do a quick Makes Me Happy Monday post … since they are my favorite! *grins*
I love trees. I love leaves. And I love pinecones.
And my favorite jewelry, right now, is adorned with pinecones.
Della and I aren’t really gifty with each other. BUT, when we see something that reminds us of the other, we buy it. So, I bought her a yummy pair of deliciously comfy socks for Christmas …
and she bought me a gorgeous pair of earrings and necklace that match.
Funny thing is … I had a similar pair of earrings marked as a “favorite” on Etsy.
And I just love both of these.
So, the earrings I reach for most often ….
that Make Me Happy on Monday
and every day ….
are these wonderful pinecone earrings that I received as a gift
from one of my best friends.
Thank you, Della, for the gift of your friendship
and of jewelry.
You Make Me Happy …
this Monday morning and always.
How about you, friends?
What Makes You Happy this marvelous Monday morning?
- I have to praise
Stone and I were in the kitchen talking. Joy was on my laptop and Jet was playing a video game. We had been moving all weekend. We rode bikes on trails and went to a nearby skate park. It was late and Stone and I were working on dinner and chatting. There was a hum running through the room … the dog whimpering and groaning (because she just does), video game music, fireplace blower filling the room with warm air, crackle and roar of logs in the fireplace, talking, birds chirping
when I heard it:
*BAM!*
I wasn’t sure I could identify the noise, but it sounded similar to a book hitting the floor. I stepped around the refrigerator to see Joy was leaving the room. I couldn’t see what was in her arms as she had her back to me and was moving into the hall. I said, “Did you drop my laptop?” She said, “No,” and kept walking. I looked around the room and tried to figure out what the sound might have been. I couldn’t easily identify an item on the floor. Maybe a book fell off a table? Maybe something fell over? I searched.
A few minutes later, Joy enters the room and says, “Mom, your laptop isn’t working right.”
Having been home full time for twenty-five years with three little ones underfoot, God has taught me
to be calm.
It’s just stuff and it’s all His ….
and this is His $1,800 Macbook Pro.
My first thought when Joy came out
was disappointment ….
NOT in the fact that my laptop was malfunctioning,
but in the fact that
she quickly, easily, calmly
lied to me
about something H.U.G.E
and kept walking.
Later, she said that she thought that I knew that her tone of voice
was sarcastic. She thought that I had seen her holding it and knew that she had dropped it.
I knew no such.
She’s been working on her science fair project
slowly. It was due today, Wednesday, January 18th. All of her data
was stored on my laptop.
We took the Mac to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store
on Monday afternoon. One of my favorite Genius’ guys, Mercer, helped me.
He’s so patient, knowledgeable and helpful.
He set me up so that I could access my information and pull it off my computer
to an external hard drive.
I was able to pull off Joy’s science fair data and
begin on my photos.
I kicked myself.
This is not the first time I have been in this position …
something incredibly dear to me – photos – being held hostage
in a place I might not be able to reach.
I know better.
I had not backed up my music
or my photos
in at least a year.
My laptop has almost 9,000 photos and
7,000 songs in its memory.
I stood at the bar talking to Mercer and
felt lightheaded
and nauseous at the same time.
I wondered if I might throw up.
But, I didn’t yell
or cry ….
I wasn’t angry with Joy …
I was just hurt
that she would lie to me so easily.
I have spent two days at the Genius bar. Mercer has helped set me up so that I can slowly, meticulously pull my photos, one album at a time, off my computer. I probably won’t be able to save them all, but I’ve made a dent in them. Most important to me are probably swim team photos and camping shots from this summer. I will continue to go in and work, as long as my computer continues to boot up when turned on. Once I save all that I can, I’ll hand over the machine for repair. Mercer believes it will need a new logic board and hard drive, i.e., completely new guts.
I feel a pressing need to give thanks
today.
I am a richly blessed woman,
this I know.
I give thanks for ….
428. Comedy, who bought me my laptop before he left, that I would have a dependable tool for my “craft”
429. a new camera that takes photos that makes my heart swell, swoon and sway
430. the incredible beauty of God’s creation all around … in beautiful reds, blues and greens, browns, purples and yellows
431. the ability to walk, bend and run without pain
432. three individually, independently gorgeous children that bless my life and fill it with interest
433. the presence of Stone in my life … and all of the complexity that comes along with the blending of families
434. a cat who is not irritating … because, truly, so many cats are!
435. the rich, mellow sound of the cello. The sound of a cello warms my soul.
436. skin that has been more supple this winter than any other before.
437. epson salt for bathing
438. Yardley soap with all its yummy, natural goodness. It soothes my rough edges and helps winters be less painful
439. fresh spinach in omelets, lasagna, salad and, yes, creamed
440. WordPress, the host publisher for this blog. I love WordPress
441. the fact that Stone is only 2.5 hours away …. not too far …. but far enough that we continue to walk slowly
442. holiday coffee cups with cornucopias, snowflakes, or hearts
443. green house plants that continue to live and bring oxygen indoors
444. daffodils, bright and happy
445. cold weather
446. the bravery to run even the temps are in the 30′s
447. my parents and their years of patient love
448. creating art with letters. I love typography
449. a calm, uneasily ruffled spirit
450. the fact that God never gives up on me and His mercies are new every moment
451. the number three. it is my favorite number
452. red, white and blue
453. my Otterbox – it protects my iPhone from life
454. Goodwill
455. weight loss that has been constant and maintained
456. shadows and light that dance and flicker
457. freedom
458. Glory … who freely loans me her laptop when I need
(and car …. and clothes …. and money …. and anything thing that I ask for …. because she’ just grand that way)
So, for now, I am still without a computer.
And, for now, I continue to give thanks for so much.
Hopefully, I’ll be back next week sometime.
Remember to count your blessings.
{{{{hugs}}}}} to you and yours, friends.
-|<@ren
- Patience Please?
Just a note to say
that I won’t be able to post for a bit,
as I’m having some computer difficulty.
Joy dropped my laptop
and it needs a new logic board and hard drive.
Hope to be back soon.
Blessings, friends.
- Weekend Wishes
May you find great joy
in the the tiny things
that are along your path
as you travel through your weekend.
- “I got this”
It was 5:00 a.m. on Saturday when I logged onto Facebook and saw a status update from Claire mentioning her sadness that she wouldn’t be able to attend her husband’s first road race.
There it was.
A 5k that I could run …
close by and soon.
I’ve been running (again) since last February.
(Almost a year!! *throws glitter in the air* Yay!!)
I run ….. almost ….. everyday.
I don’t run fast … or far. But, I move.
In fact, I was pretty confident that my average speed
is around 10.5 to 11 minute miles.
Not fast … but consistent for me
and better than my speed if I spent my mornings sitting on the couch.
I also go to the gym a few days a week. I’m probably in better physical condition than I have been in a long time. I still have weight to lose (two or three 5lb bags of sugar that I carry around my waist), but I am consistently working to improve my physical health. I do not have health insurance and know that caring for my body is incredibly important. I certainly feel better emotionally when I rev up my system each day. Endorphins are our friends!!
So, Saturday morning, I knew I had time
to get ready and head over to the canal for the event.
I already knew my goal: run without stopping.
Because, typically, on the two days a week when I tackle the three mile stretch, I almost.always walk two times. I only walk for a bit. I try to walk no farther than the length of one person’s yard. I’ve been able to work to a point that I walk less and less. Improvement is the weekly focus.
The morning was perfect. We had nice weather with almost a hundred runners participating.
I tried to pace myself. Because I wasn’t on my everyday run course, I wasn’t sure if I would run at my average speed. If I ran too fast, I would wear myself out before the end of the affair, and thus, not be able to make my goal. I tried to focus on running a comfortable pace – especially for this race. It’s been several years since I’ve run in an event so I knew I wanted to reach my goal: finish without stopping.
The event went well. Even at the half-way point, I was feeling pretty good.
I was able to run the entire 5k miles without stopping at all. I even managed to sprint just a bit at the end. My time was 35.10, which is close to the time I usually spend on the street when I run the three mile loop during the week at my house. I was satisfied … pleased, even!
When I got home, I pulled out my conversion chart. I had forgotten that a 5k is 3.10 miles. I did the division and found that
my time
per mile was 11.32.
*palm to forehead*
Well … my course at home isn’t perfectly mapped. I used the car to try to figure out the distance. And some of the time I walk a small part of my course. I stop my watch then … so it’s not perfectly accurate for timing my pace to the distance. I’m thinking all these things through … and talking to my Joy Bucket after I worked the conversion
explaining to her that I am quite dismayed ….
when my lip started to quiver.
I was so angry
and disappointed.
I was angry because I have been working so hard
and found that I was less than I thought.
And I was disappointed
because I had believed in my puffed up idea.
Or maybe,
I was disappointed because I have been working so hard
and found that I was less than I thought.
And I was angry
because I had believed in my puffed up idea.
Either way, I teared
and I slung things and slammed cabinets
and Joy didn’t understand.
But, it was more than just about the race
it was about
my heart.
.
.
This was the second reminder from God, of late, that my “I got this” attitude isn’t His desire.
I say with my mouth and think with my head
that I believe with my heart that I am allowing
Him to be the strength
that directs, enables and equips me.
But, when the truth is exposed
and the exterior is pulled away ….
when the inner workings are revealed,
when the really tough situations arise
my “I got this” set jaw is stronger than my “Lord, help me” cry … every time.
And the crazy thing? I don’t even seem to be aware of the need
to cry “Lord, help me!”
So, maybe that’s the point. I need to LIVE there …
not just cry out when things get tough.
I want to free fall. I want to jump off the ledge … with both feet.
I want to let go of the tether that holds me to anything
other than Him
and .. J{US}T .. hold onto Him.
But, I’m just not sure that I know how.
So, there ya have it. Me … talking about how God
has once again shown me
that I just don’t cut it.
I’m so thankful that He loves us enough
to never, ever give up.
Praise Him.
Now, if you’ll excuse me
I need to go run. *wink*
- He is a Creator
I used to
… almost …
feel guilty
for wanting a new experience with God every day …
every time I worshiped ….
every time I prayed or read His word ….
until I watched this video.
I’m a creative sort. I am always looking for a new challenge, a new goal, a new friendship, a new perspective, a new experience. Life is so rich and deep and full … I want to experience it in a fresh way every day.
And yet, it never occurred to me that it would be “okay” to desire the same newness from God.
“You are a Creator.
Would you create something new in my worship experience with you?
Would you give me a whole new perspective of you when I worship?”
But, now ….
I request with abandon and expect to see, feel and hear something new
every Sunday in worship ….
every time I open my Bible to read …
every time I explore my day, watching for Spiritual/Physical parallels.
So, I thought I would share this video with you
in hope that it might encourage you, as well,
to ask for a newness daily …
as you
walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:19)
…. in all that you do daily.
It’s not that I know that every experience will be new ..
there is a great deal to be said for simple obedience.
We are expected
to be in the Word
to seek His face
to obey the promptings of His Holy Spirit.
Some.times
life is monotonous
and we should persevere …
continue on
even when things aren’t exciting.
But
it never hurts to ask *wink*
Many blessings.
- Dreaming of Stones
After Stone and I spent four full hours at the rock and gem show in Atlanta,
we went back to his house and continued our rock adventure.
He has a few finds out on display in his home,
but doesn’t currently have a display case that will house them all
so many of his rocks, minerals, fossils and finds
are tucked away in boxes under his bed.
When he mentioned that he had more rocks than those out on display,
I asked if he would show them to me.
And he did.
One by one, he carefully unwrapped
and told me stories
of where these riches were found,
how they formed
and why they are special.
He referenced back to stories he has shared,
rocks that we had seen earlier in the day
and earlier trips and studies he has experienced.
He told me how a past girl friend told him he was a “geek” or a “dork”
or some other demeaning word
and laughed as
he unwrapped his discoveries and talked.
And I thought how sad … that a passion so deep and rich
could go unappreciated … even mocked.
We all have gifts and passions
and it just seems right that each of us is appreciated
for who we are …
and that others would accept and approve
whether they understand and share the zeal or not.
…. *sigh* …. Such would be a perfect world, wouldn’t it?
.
So, I listened intently with fascination ….
was amazed
and, of course, asked questions
as Stone told me stories of history and point of origin.
And he even shared a few of his treasures with me …
one that I will return, should our relationship not continue
because the rock is
just
that
beautiful and special.
(A Makes Me Happy Monday post, for sure!!)
I have long been a collector. When I was a teen, we camped often.
We camped on a beach that was littered with shells …
many that are hard to find whole and intact in other places.
I have a Sundial and a Helmet
that are favorites because they were found without blemish and still rich with color.
I still have them today on my shelf of treasures.
(The helmet is the shell on the top in the collage on the right)
Many people have a “Bucket List.” My “Life List,” as I call it, includes things that I would like to find. I would love, for example, to find a meteorite, enough sea glass to fill a small bowl and
a Petroskey stone.
After spending some time yesterday on Pinterest and searching around the web for inspiration of all sorts,
I found myself searching through the night
as I dreamed
about looking for Petoskey Stones.
These stones are actually some that I marked on my Pinterest account.
They are decorated by an artist, Yoran Morvant,
and look very much like they are Petoskey Stone inspired.
The Petoskey Stone is actually a fossilized coral remnant and is named the State Rock for Michigan. They can be found around the state and are beautiful in their natural state, but are absolutely gorgeous when polished.
When I woke up this morning, I realized that I had actually dreamed about my hat and gloves …. that have a pattern that mimics that of the stone.
Stone and I have begun to share a verbal list of places we would like to go and things we would like to do. Though he is a Geologist and has studied out west, he’s never visited the Grand Canyon. NOTHING would be cooler than to visit the Grand Canyon … with a Geologist! *swoons* THAT trip is definitely on our “List of Places to See!” I think I am going to begin a journal with a page for each destination and activity, with space for details and a photo of the event when it comes to fruition. Going to Michigan to find Petoskey Stones will have a page, for sure.
So, in my dreams last night I walked, searched and asked for help from people along the way.
I thought about these gorgeous stones all night …
and now
I’m all the more intent
on beginning a “Life List” journal.
How about you? Do YOU have a Bucket List or a Life List?
Would you share a dream or two?
- Makes Me Happy Monday: Biceps and Grit
As the days begin to lengthen, so will they soon begin to warm. Oysters are only available during months with names that have an “r” in them. We bought a bushel a few months ago when Stone came to town, but wanted to have another gathering with some friends. School will be back in session soon so Stone and Jet came over for a few days last week before we are all thrown back into scheduled life. We bought a bushel of oysters, invited a few friends over and stood around the grill trying to stay warm in the high 30 temps while we dined on oysters raw, steamed and grilled in the shells in butter, onion and garlic.
We had a big enough crowd that we almost finished off the bushel. When morning came, crushed ice lay piled around the cooler on the deck, frozen and stiff from the frigid night air, having moved nary a bit from melting through the darkness. Stone was intent on not allowing the three or four dozen oysters that were not consumed go to waste. Before he left town, he sat down with a shucking knife and pried open shells, scooping out the oyster while we chatted.
The warmth of his body and his breath powering down upon the thermometer on his zipper pull gave the false sense that the morning was much warmer than it actually was. The hour he spent outside shucking and then cleaning up the deck and scrubbing the cooler and utensils was greatly appreciated.
His strong work ethic and frugal spirit warm my heart. He is not wasteful. He is quick to offer a helping hand. He does not mind working hard or long.
In fact, while he was visiting, he took a huge slice of time to try to whittle away at a wood pile in our back yard.
He split logs for an hour or two … not at my request, but at his insistence.
I moved split wood from the pile he was creating to the fence line
and prayed thanksgiving … for him
ever aware that his friendship is a gift from God
and continuing to ask God to take him away
if he is a gift that God does not want me to indulge.
I always pray that I … we, in fact, Joy and I,
bless his life multi-dimensionally
and bring a richness and quality of friendship
that he has not experienced.
Oh, that we might be a blessing ….. please, Lord.
Stone is a man of character
with physical strength, fortitude and strength of will.
He blesses me
and he Makes Me Happy.
What makes YOU happy this marvelous Monday morning?
- Weekend Wishes
May your weekend be filled with peace
dotted with long walks on meandering paths
and padded with gentle talks
that smooth the wrinkles and fill the gaps.
- The first time ….
I lie my head right down in his lap and he asks, “Whatcha been up to?”
That evening by the pool under the veil of a dark, summer sky
I struggled with a similar answer, asked of another friend.
What do I tell him? Do I offer the Sunday School answer
that is quick and neat and easy ….
is it possible to give a short answer ….
children moving, purging and cleaning, projects,
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, traveling, visitors, parties ….
We have talked to some degree of depth before … if you can call it that, me sitting in a chair in his office … him hovering over me with instruments in hand. He has been my dentist for years now. Yet, I know time is short and am not sure how to fittingly answer his query so I simply reply,
“uhhhhmmmmm …….. s . t . u . f . f ??“
He belly laughs up against my head, his strong, gloved hands now guiding my head into a proper position for viewing my molars. He quips as he chuckles and leans down to tell me with Santa-depth in his voice, “I’ve been doing ‘stuff,’ too!” I know I’ve been misunderstood … a newly single woman.
Sexual intimacy …..
nothing could be farther from my “wanting to be holy” heart
or closer to the struggles in my physical life and intangible thoughts.
My tooth has had a dull ache. It is not constant. The pain rears its nasty head when I eat something I should not … like a peppermint candy cane or toffee bits sprinkled graciously over freezing ice cream and carrot cake. These sticky, thick treats are a tempting desire, but leave me throbbing until that tooth is brushed clean again. This is a new sensation for me. I have only experienced this five or six times in the last few months … but I do not want it to worsen, so I head to the healer, protector, mender of teeth.
I have never had a cavity before. My biological mother offered the genetic make up of strong teeth that have served me well these forty-eight years. At my last visit, being concerned about having lost my dental insurance with Comedy’s exit, I asked my dentist, “Is fifty a magic number? Are teeth like eyesight?…. Will their health begin to crumble at an age that ends with a zero?” Amused, he answered, “No, not at all.” And yet … I find myself back within six months of that visit with the first experience with dental decay in my lifetime. One cavity in almost-fifty-years is a good record. But, I certainly do not want this to be the f.i.r.s.t in a string of events in this caramel colored chair.
Following the “stuff” exchange, the dentist and I offer a few back-and-forths and then he quickly brings the conversation back around and then he wonders out loud, “Do you have a boyfriend?” I hesitate a bit with my verbal answer “Yes …. sort of.” I think of my answer “stuff” and he could use that in a misconstrued manner. And I am remembering how Stone continues to struggle with introducing me as his “girl friend.” Having spent all of last week together, he had many chances to introduce me to friends and acquaintances. He chooses the words, “This is my friend, Karen. We grew up together in Thomasville.” Somehow, I feel more like a drinking buddy than a passion or a commitment. I often feel like he ought to slap me on the back as he introduces me. It is a little bit difficult, to be honest. I can.not have a conversation with a friend at church, through email or at a store without bringing him up. And my eyes often well with tears as I share how God is working in my life. Our personalities are so different in some areas …. He tells me that he is a private person
which is when I (pronounced “eeeeeyyyyyyyeeeeeeee”) belly laugh!
I am just as comfortable standing on a table with a microphone …
as I am blogging …
as I am on a stage …
as I am teaching a class.
I don’t believe in taboo subjects …
just taboo or inappropriate ways to discuss them.
I think openness and honesty
permeated with tact and grace
are the richest forms of exchange.
And I would rather delve into the difficult
than skirt around it with fluff.
Yes, he and I definitely have a different approach
to life, speech, conversation, sharing in this area.
I certainly do not want to embarrass him.
My parents have known that I’ve been blogging for years. Only recently have they subscribed to my posts. Yet, even my own father has noticed that my posting has been … sporadic and inconsistent of late. I’m struggling with what to share
how to say it
what is appropriate
and what is “too honest.”
With Stone’s degree of self-protection
and my lack of it,
I’ve waffled around with the topics that I feel I am at liberty to expound upon.
Stone chooses not to read my blog ….
unless I specifically send him a link to a post.
I don’t do that often since he’s a busy man …
I don’t want to intrude and appear to be “the demanding girlfriend” ….
well … because I’m NOT “the demanding girlfriend.”
So, I’m a thinker that “overanalyzes” (Stone’s phrasiology),
thinks … ruminates … ponders ….
and he’s a protected, private man that doesn’t open up easily
and prefers to live “protected” emotionally.
Do you see my conundrum?
Yes, the term “girl friend” sounds high-schoolish. Stone is not just a crush or a passing infatuation. He is an …. investment. Like any relationship, he is work … as I KNOW that I am, as well. We are adjusting and learning and growing. I tell people all the time … Stone, Joy, friends …. “people are messy.” It’s true. Relationships involve people. People are messy. But, relationships and people are worth the work.
The dentist refers to my “boyfriend” answer with, “Ohhhhhh. So, you h.a.v.e been doing “stuff,” and I feel a gentle fury well up within me as I quip back at him unbridled, “No. Having a boyfriend doesn’t mean that I am doing ‘stuff’ and that’s why I hesitated with my answer to your ‘boyfriend’ question in the first place.” I explain that, without a ring on my finger, there should be no sexual intimacy. Before long, he questions me further for clarification. He wonders, “You mean, you don’t try out the ride beforehand?” His question does not surprise me. From my reclined position, I point to the open palm of my left hand with my right index finger as if holding an open book of scripture in my hand and explain, “God’s word says it’s not okay,” and I flip my hand around to slap the back of my right hand into my palm and exclaim, “I want to please God more than I want to please man.” Then I slump a bit in spirit and expound further, “I know. There aren’t many like me any more. I’m an older model.”
With my passion, the topic comes to a close.
I think of the many parallels between the spiritual and physical worlds ….
.
.
I think of decay …
in my teeth, in my life, in the world around us.
I think of God’s perfect will in a perfect world …
complete joyful obedience and perfect bodies without deterioration.
I think of the struggle to keep away from those tempting tastes and lusts
that get stuck in your teeth and your spirit …
that weaken my body and my soul …
that rot my teeth, my thoughts, my being.
I think of the break in the dentin … and the wound in fellowship
when we indulge and further injure our broken, fallen bodies.
And I remember again that God will provide a way out
if I will watch for it and take it when it is offered.
To comfort myself, I ask if I can play music while the dentist drills. I touch the iPod icon on my phone and choose a favorite song. My gums have been deadened and I feel no pain. The sound and the smells are new to me, but there is no discomfort. My dentist performs his task and I lie there reclined, praying and humming as he works … but, yes, squeezing the assistant’s hand. I pray that the procedure works and I will experience no residual pain … I trust him to remove all the decay and plug the hole with his dental magic.
And I simultaneously think of God, the healer, protector and mender of my soul … who fills my spirit with a song as He works his magic in my life. I squeeze tightly to the Holy Spirit knowing there may be residual pain from foolish choices to indulge in lustful sweets. I cry out for a way of escape though I know that decay is part of this fallen world. Yet, with my failings, He is never ashamed to call me His. I am messy and I am work, but He draws me to Him constantly loving me in my messy state. There is no thought, word or deed that will ever surprise Him. He loves me in a way that the world that does not understand. It is a wonderful, beautiful passion. I lie my head right down in His lap as I pour out my heart to His question, “Whatcha been doing lately?” … knowing that He knows the answer, but wants to hear my response anyway.
