A Prayer

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Then I said:

"O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,

let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you.

We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'

"They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.

O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." Nehemiah 1:5-10 (NIV)

JW's thoughts:
Recognize the decay.
Release the burden (of hurt, pain, sin, unbelief).
Pray with praise, thanksgiving, with sorrow.
God will hear. I promise.

The Runaway

The chill of the late summer evening made Danny's teeth chatter as he sat on the curb waiting for the bus. He fingered the small backpack that sat beside him on the ground. Earlier, he ran from his house in a hurry forgetting his jacket. But he couldn’t go back, not now.

“Where you going, Son?” His father's voice startled him from behind.

But, Danny just stared at his shoes and didn't answer.

“Are you taking any money with you?”

The boy nodded then pulled a wad of bills from his pant pocket. “Grandma gave me some.”

“You know, Son, we wish you would come home.” His father cleared his throat.

“It’s not fair," Danny yelled. “You don’t love me anymore.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way, but we do love you, ” he said quietly. “If you leave we will miss you.”

Danny pursed his lips as a big tear ran down his cheek. “Why did you tell me no?”

“Sometimes… fathers have to say no,” he said. “Are you hungry?”

Danny nodded.

“So where are you going?”

“I don’t know - I can't cross the street yet.” He pouted. “I'm going to wait for the school bus to pick me up.”

“You won’t go to school until next year." His father sighed then held out his hand. "We talked about this.”

“That’s not fair.” The boy stomped his foot then surrendered his five-year-old hand to his father’s.

“Not everything is fair. Do you even know what fair means?"

Danny looked up with his big blue eyes and shook his head.

His father bent down to Danny's level and lifted him into his arms. "Let's go back in the house and have a snack and a story before bedtime.”

*******

In the middle of my third grade year we moved from our country home to the city...out of MO...to Illinois. I remember when I left my best friend. I cried. But I remember being excited about moving to a new place. I've always been adventurous like that.

When we arrived, I couldn't believe that I would actually get to live in the big city. However, Washington Illinois wasn't really...that big. But to me it was.

I loved the new house.

That first night I stood outside in the driveway and looked up and down the street at the houses with their lights on and I was happy. Maybe my lips smiled, I don't know, but I know my heart was smiling. I was thinking that in those houses had to be other children to play with and I was pleased.

And there were...children who became my friends...up and down the street. I really loved living there in the city. But my folks really really wanted to come back home to MO. We did...three years later.

Comments on the photo:
Have you identified me as pink dress girl?
Have you noticed that I look like a baby Mary Tyler Moore?
Have you noticed that my legs were bowed? (They still are)
Have you noticed that wonderful old car in the background?
I don't know who lived on the right, but a highway patrolman and his fam lived on the left... next door to us.

One final thought. I think we were so cute that we're lucky our parents didn't try and sell us to Hollywood.

Did you move as a child? How many times? Did you love it or hate it?

Have a great weekend.

Reason #3 I love blogging...

because it can be all about me. Is that selfish? Is that pretentious? Is that spoiled?

And I love it because I get to experience wonderful gifts like this Kreativ Blogger award from Mattenylou at On Larch Lane. Thanks so much.

Visit her if you haven't yet. WAIT, let me tell you about her blog first. She lives in the East. She features the world just outside her back door and New England to boot. I love her photos and the way she writes about her world. Sometimes when I am there visiting, I expect her to step out of the page and offer me a cup of tea. She has a most interesting blog. You won't be sorry when you visit.

I am suppose to tell you seven (more) interesting things about me. I really have to scrape the bowl to find those interesting things. Because my friends, I am boring. But that's OK. Not everyone can be interesting. So, I humbly accept the role of the most uninteresting blogger on the Internets. Is there an award for that?

This is not one of my seven, just a funny conversation with a friend of mine (I work with her). You know how my mind roams and rambles and this will give me an opportunity to use my listing skills. So she asked me Tuesday if I would ever marry again. I said probably not.

I'm too picky.

And I told my friend that it would be too much trouble to marry again. But, I also told her the things I miss about marriage:

1. I have to change my own light bulbs now.

2. I have to get my own gasoline.

3. I have to eat my own chocolate cookies and they are not as good as...his. (I will deny this if you ever tell him.)

She laughed, shook her head and said "No really."

I said. "Really." (I'm complicated like that.) "I will never ever marry again."

Now seven interesting things about me or... whatever!

1. I have broken my pinkie toe twice... badly (turn away don't read this if you are squeamish) where both times the toe separated from my other toe like a fork in the road. OUCH.

2. I misunderstood the explanation of procreation in the 4th grade. After a passing kiss on the cheek from a little boy, I thought I was pregnant. I mourned for a good week wondering how I would ever tell my parents.

3. My grandfather died of Parkinson's disease. Watching him suffer was so hard. I was 12ish. I still cry thinking about it.

4. I love riding motorcycles.

5. My favorite breed of dog is Boxer. I love all dogs, but the Boxer is my fav.

6. I dance sometimes to music in the dark -for relaxation and exercise not because I am dancing with myself. I'm not that desperate. Oh and not in complete darkness because why bloggers... remember??? I'm. scared. of. the. dark.

7. Mercy by Duffy is my new favorite song.

There you have it. I reserve the right to pass the award on later. I am thinking of having an awards evening soon, with gowns, a black tie event with Entertainment Tonight covering the red carpet. I will let you know on that.

I have to go now.

I'm moving.

It is suppose to snow here in MO 6-12 inches Friday. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

So I'm moving tonight.

I don't know where yet, BUT if you live in a warm climate and have an extra bedroom and you will cook for me- please extend an invite. I'm not much trouble. Don't worry I will eventually leave. Just so you know my interests are: cleaning, eating and writing.

6-12 inches of snow in MO. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? (It bears repeating.)

Just to pull this all together (as if I could):

My reason #1 for blogging is to get to know you. Reason #2 that I blog is that I look forward to reading your posts. Reason #3 is because my posts can be all about me.

I have asked this before but tell me again new or old reasons why you blog. I love hearing them.

P.S. Would you like a little snow?

Why can't everyone be like me?

I came out of the aisle a little too fast and nearly ran into him at the small grocery store. He didn't seem to see me or our near collision. He just walked on by.

His clothes were dirty.

His hair was big and wild.

His gaze was straight ahead. "It's my birthday," he chanted loudly. "It's my birthday." He held a can of something in one hand and waved the other in the air, as he spoke.

I had to look for something at the end of the aisle, but, I tried not to get to close.

"Uh huh, uh huh," he chanted. "I can't help it." Then he moved on talking to himself. Eyes stared straight ahead.

We've seen people with mental illness behave like this in public or at least I have. Sometimes we turn away because...they are scary...sometimes...we are disgusted. And we don't know what to do.

This man made me nervous… a little. He didn't seem to acknowledge anyone around him. And he had a can in his hand. But actually...

hidden in his wild hair was a Bluetooth device that I saw later. Once again, I assumed something different than the reality.

Sometimes we assume the worst about people. Sometimes we are totally judging the wrong thing. Is that fair? Is that love?

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." ~Mother Teresa said.

The right way to serve others is to satisfy the heart...not the mind. It's difficult...sometimes...to look past the surface. But who are we to cast that first stone? Who are we to say you are poor and I am better? Who are we to say you are different, not like me, I am better? Who am I? None better than another.

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

Love is not.... turning away, being critical, or unforgiving. Real love from person to person should be...could be unconditional....should be loving.

Judging or loving? Those are my choices today.

To answer my own question: Why can't everyone be like me? Well my goodness it's because it is better that way.

Oh and for something fun to read, go check out the story at Something She Wrote. She put out a little exercise... a little challenge...to contribute to a story from an idea. Then Janna put it all together as a story. She went to a lot of trouble. It was so much fun. I contributed twice. My pride will tell you that I was the first contributor. My first part starts with "Had I been here before?" and ends with "I needed to watch". I also have a blurb later. It was so much fun.

If Monday would...

Last Monday was a holiday. That was great. But when you don't have a Monday in your work week, then you have a double Monday on Tuesday. Are you following? All of Monday's troubles gang up on Tuesday and frankly she has no choice but to shove onward to Wednesday. Well, by the time Friday strolls into the picture the poor woman is exhausted just looking at the trail behind her wondering what to do. The favored day Friday is no longer a delightful day of work-lightly, but a fast train where everyone is pushing and shoving to get on.

Have you ever noticed that life does not stand still? Hang on tight or you might miss something. Hang on tight or you might be trampled.

Family
I learned if all goes well, I will have another grandchild later this year. I am so hap hap happppppy! Have I ever told you that although being the mom of my two children is the highlight of my life being a grandmother is what I was born to do? So my son and my D-I-L will be adding to our family.

My daughter last week taught her first college course and she loved it.

(photo) JW Circa 1982 - Am I an antique? Can I claim that ladies and gents...antiquity?
Yes being the mom of my two children...well it is a privilege...

...and a million blessings.

My dad is revving up to self publish another book. It is filled with delightful tales of boyhood. More about that later.


Writing
I wrote two shorts last week and primped (not pimped) another to send out. I haven't done that in a long time...send out my beloved shorts...and prepare my mind for rejections. (Is that too negative?)

I need not to take it personally.

I just need to write and submit, write and submit.
Entertainment
I watched two DVDs last week. That is a record for me. I hope I won't be embarrassed to tell you I watched: I Robot and Star Trek (2009). Do you see the trend? I am rarely pleased with movies...almost always disappointed. But I loved both of these movies. If you like sci fi, I recommend both.
The Doc and I finally got to hit some thrift stores and the cutest antique shop in downtown Springfield. It was a rainy day. I started out with well...normal hair. And ended with frizzy...poofy... Medusa inspired hair. You know how I hate that.

I started having heart palpitations when we ran through that fast food place (at the end of the day) that we used on Black Friday. Remember when the back brake light (in her car) caught fire and I tried to put it out. You might want to revisit When We Got Back To My Daughter's city. Flashback. Flashback. I told her I smelled something burning. She said I didn't. It pays (or not) to have a psychologist in the fam.

On Sunday Morning there was a wonderful segment on Nancy Meyers. I love almost every movie she has written. Almost. I would like to spend a week with her. She is brilliant in my opinion.
I have always been interested in script writing, I just don't know how to do it. But my first writing attempt in sixth grade was...a play. Does that count? I wrote several that our school put on as little plays maybe skits. I rewrote some childhood stories. But it was fun. I love love love going to plays. Love it.


Sometimes I forget

I went out to answer the door. You know Kiki comes a knocking twice a day. I hurried because frankly she has little patience and will swipe at me if I don't move fast enough. As I turned to come back in my house well...lookey there. I forgot to take my keys out of the lock. They had been there all night.
Even though I live in a very safe place where many people do not lock their doors, I didn't like the fact that I neglected to bring my keys indoors.
You know what a scaredy cat I am. Meow!

As much as I would like to stay in bed on Monday mornings and pull the covers over my head I can't do that. But Monday can be like a new year- you know...with new beginnings...fresh starts. I truly believe this but...um where is Friday, my favorite child?
What's in store for your week?

The Lord Reigns...

The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.

The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.

Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.

The seas have lifted up, O Lord,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is mighty.

Your statutes stand firm;
holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.
Psalm 93 (NIV)


JW thinks: Nothing is too difficult for God because he is quite mighty and awesome. Believe. Hope. Have faith. Rest.

Sew What!

I need to catch you up on my crafty side. I live to write, but I like to do other things as well.

I forgot to show you these pillows that I made for two of my friends for Christmas. I love birds. I love birds on pillows. One friend of mine likes the primitive decorating style. So this is my rendition of primitive...I made her this pillow.

I was trying to figure out what to get the other friend and I decided to make her this pillow.


I don't know if you can tell, but I embroidered x's for the eyes and little bird feet.

Both fabrics are 100% percent cotton. After I drew, cut out and ironed on the birds I sewed around the edge with a single stitch. I didn't want it to show much. It was fun.

I have one more I am making like this that I hope to use as a give away later.

I have started sewing some again and am reminded how much I like to sew.

This is a project I did right before Christmas. It's not perfect so...don't look too close. I needed a slipcover for this chair.

Chair History: You know me and chairs. Well in 1973 my friend/cousin and I stopped at a yard sale. I saw this wing back chair for $2.50. I had to shove it into the back seat of my 1965 Mustang. At the time, it had a yellowish tapestry fabric. I used it in my bedroom. Then when I got married I took it with me. Eventually, the bottom fell out.


Fast forward to 1988. I got it reupholstered in a rust color fabric. The color was very IN. The fabric, my friends, will NEVER EVER wear out. That's what they told me and it's true. But the color well....



Right before Christmas this year, I made this slipcover. I needed something to go with my off white slipcovers over my couch and chair.

Here are the side details.


This how I fitted the fabric or made the pattern.

Sew there you have it (Sorry I just had to use the word)... my crafty side.

I know this about you. You enjoying blogging. Do you have other hobbies or interests that bring you joy?

Coastal Living in MO

You know how I love to post and post and post. You know how I love to read the blogs.

But...my....favorite magazine came...Coastal Living was delivered. And...

...it's on the bed tempting me. I hate those temptations, don't you?


And I really need to read it so that I can keep my house up-to-date and all...you know cottagey. Even though the nearest body of water is the mud puddle at the end of my driveway I really need to visit the coast...even if by paper. No, I haven't forgotten MO. I love her too.


So, I have freshly made chocolate chip cookies. I have my "episode" of Coastal Living waiting. The only thing that could make this better is if George Clooney dumped his new girlfriend. If yas hear about that, let me know.




I have my jams on. My hair's up in its scrunchy thing.
SO um excuze... me until I read my magazine and eat a chocolate chip cookie (if only I would eat one) and relax a bit...and maybe think about what to do with my Medusa hair.



I'll be back, soon.

Forever yours, Coastal Living, and George Clooney's,
Love, JW

Wednesday Inspired

Like people that I know... Wednesday inspires me.

For some reason Wednesday reminds me of a person who gets along with everyone...a person who inspires the working people to keep on, keeping on. Wednesday is kind of a catalyst. Once we touch Wednesday... we are encouraged and push on to the weekend.

You know what I think about the human spirit? I think the human spirit is a catalyst. A catalyst can be anything that instigates change.

Like Tea to Water.

Like Light to Darkness.

Like Love to Haiti.


Somehow love is beginning to penetrate the darkness and pain the Haitians are experiencing. The long awaited help is arriving. The despair is being answered. The grieving can begin. Starting over... is on its way.

Crisis is the worst place to be. I have never known anyone that has said, please put me in a crisis so that I may grow. Nope. And not me either.

I've been in crisis.

I've been in the dark.

I've been in the struggle.

I've been at the end.

I have experienced the human spirit as a catalyst in places I didn't want to be and as hope for places I longed to be.

You are a catalyst to someone- me too. You may be the light in the darkened room. You may be the kindness that turns the hate. You may be the $5.00 that feeds a belly. You may be the smile that changes a day. You may be the love someone has never felt.

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18 NIV

You are the human spirit. You are God's hands, his heart, his words... his love. You are the human spirit that changes the world around you...your little world...that touches a bigger world.

Today remember someone who has been your help in times of need. Then think about someone you have helped.

Be inspired by your own human spirit.

Photo Source: JW

Sitting on the Floor

Sometimes you gotta get down on the floor or the ground to get photos. It's a different world down under...there.

Remember this one from last summer? In the ditch I was, Mate.

From my bedroom to the room across the hallway. One of my daughter's dollhouses. I "think" she is giving it to her niece. She will be so thrilled.



From the floor outside the main bath. I love blue and white. I have been noted to say, "If I had tattoos they would be in blue and white". Do you like the tile? I did it myself. Please pat me on the back. NOT so hard.


On the floor and down the hallway to another bedroom. What? You see blue and white? Are you sure?

I call this photo Quilt in a Basket. If you need me to come up with titles for your photos, I am your girl for hire. I'm so creative...huh? Oh and I was on the floor just looking down.


Back to the purple bedroom. I think the color will change soon. NO not to blue. What do you take me for?

I don't know why I love this old old chair or why I bought it or why I bought the tapestry pillow. But I love them both. Look at its lines. However, I am not in love with my old lamps any longer.



Boxers on the floor with JW.

Thanks for coming by. Wave at me on the porch. After the Doc sees this photo, I will be signed up for therapy for sure.

What's your favorite photo that YOU have taken, so far? Mine for me is , I think, the wild sunflower at the top.

The Good News

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."

But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down)

or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,

for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10 1-15 NIV

JW's thoughts: You've heard the saying, I have some good news and I have some bad news. It's pretty simple, as I see it...in Christianity... in following Jesus Christ. You either know Him or you don't. You either believe or you don't. You either follow Christ or you don't. It's pretty simple. If you say you “kind of” believe- then you haven't made your decision.

God's love is vast and immeasurable. And frankly we have a difficult time understanding the concept of a larger-than-life being… loving people, but allowing bad things to happen. But, our confusion about God -simply put- doesn’t change who he is or what he does for us.

So, I have some good news and I have some bad news. The bad news first (that's how JW likes it), the Holy Bible says that if you don't believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (who came to earth to live and die, to absolve His people of all the stain of sin - my words), then I won't see you in heaven.

I hope you don't think I am being self-righteous…believing… I... of all people can enter the gates of heaven…and that maybe you won’t. I just know you have to accept and believe in Jesus to live inside Heaven's gates. "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" Jn 14:6 NIV

I didn’t make up the rules.

But, I have good news. I am flawed. I am sinful. I am a human being of the earth...nothing special. You say that's good news, JW? Well kind of. If God can save me for his eternal kingdom he will save you too…if you believe. The good news is that God’s love is reaching out -through all the muck of the world - to you.

Someday when I see God face to face (whew that blows my mind) he will see me as pure and golden, because I am his child. I hope you are too..his child. I know where my forever home is. I want to see you there, because I love you. I really have that in heart.

I don't normally respond to comments here on Sundays, but always feel free to comment. If you have questions or comments that you would like me to respond to, then I invite you to email me. Have a great day!

Aging is a Monster

Aging is a monster if you don’t accept it graciously. I know a few women that embrace the march of time with grace and beauty, forgiveness and love… to self.

I want to be of that mindset. Instead…

I say wrinkles go A-way.

I say waistline come back.

I say gray hair disappear.

I say gravity take a hike.

I say energy REturn.

I command thee, Age, go jump in a Missouri river where the water runs deep.

I can only speak as a woman, because frankly I don’t understand men. But, we women are fighters. We fight our gray hair by dyeing it. We fight our bulges by over explaining it. And we fight the “fall” of our kingdoms (otherwise known as our bodies) by joking about it.

Looking good is so much work and becomes more work as we age.

I say all of this to qualify what I am about to say. To over explain my aging and to joke about the extremes of what some of us do for beauty. Not me…or would I?

I have in my possession a sample packet of "Lip Injection".  The claims on the back is that it is a serum that gives long term lip volume. My luscious pouting lips from my youth are becoming thin lines of skin trying to cover the opening of my mouth. (Isn’t that poetic?)

I wouldn’t puff up my lips with injections for any amount of money. I had a friend who was a little over 30 who did that. Ouch and ewww. But with a free sample of lip puffer, I could apply and see what happens. I mean come on they have tested it on college kids who needed the money- right?

This is what happened.

I tore open the little packet. It had a very nice scent. I applied it to my lips. It produced a nice glossy texture. I smiled at myself in the mirror, but frankly it was a big blur because…I couldn’t see me…because…my eyes are going too. You know.

I went back to my computer.

A couple of minutes later, it happened, a tingle in my lips. Oh.well.I.guess.that’s.ok. However, the tingle turned into maximized stinging. I ran to the mirror thinking I might see new and improved voluptuous lips in that five minute span.

For all the pain and suffering there was nothing. No puffing. No pouty lips. No Hollywood miracle. All it did, my experiment, was irritate the skin around my lips.

But before I forgot the experience,  I ran back to my computer to...blog about it. I mean isn’t that why we jump out of planes, go on a reality shows, write a book, date George Clooney (or is that just me?) and birth babies- for the experience? Now that I am a blogger, I have to log all of life’s experiences for my blog- painful or not, stupid or not because you my followers -might want to know…right? Oh and yes I took photos, but I had to draw the line somewhere in the sand dunes of my craziness. 

You can tell me, I won’t tell a soul. What will you do to preserve your youth? Or are you saying to Age, come hither and make me your friend.

Wednesday Inspired

God Has Never Told Me What to Wear to Church

I have a confession to make. It could take you by surprise. I certainly don’t know how to break this news to you. This straight laced wanna be Cinderella…Cowgirl has now worn jeans to her church’s Sunday worship service.

Back Story

Now I don’t know how the rest of the world wheels and deals with Sunday clothing. But when you’re my age, and you grow up country and Baptist you take your outerwear on Sundays very seriously. All of my life I have entered church buildings everywhere with the best clothing that I own on my body.

As a young girl, I wore frilly dresses with black patent shoes. A little older there were more beautiful dresses. As a teenager (I rebelled some) I wore very cute trendy but very short dresses. As an adult I continued my devout pilgrimage. I wore dresses then dress pantsuits. (If you are making fun of me, your monitor is going to explode right now in your face. Shame on you!)

I have worn jeans to many church functions: Sunday evening church, Wednesday church and church socials. But I can’t remember ever… not even in my wanna be “hippy” stage in high school did I don blue jeans in Sunday morning church.

God has never told me not to wear jeans. 

Jeans just never crossed my mind.

Recently, our church started two worship services and I have been going to the later service which is contemporary. I wasn’t sure about it at first with all the psychedelic light shows (which they toned down) and the loud band on stage (which I now love).

But two times now I have worn jeans. I apologized to my daughter the first time I wore them giving her some excuse.

She chuckled.

I apologized the second time, last Sunday, and gave yet another excuse. She told me many people had dressed that way.

I felt guilty.

This is what I have decided about wearing jeans to church on Sunday:

1. The church walls did not cave in.
2. I was not sent home for indecent exposure.
3. I didn’t feel the wrath of God come down on me.
4. My attention was on the service and not on my uncomfortable clothing.
5. I wasn’t adjusting my pantyhose without anyone seeing me. (Yes on occasion I wear them…not too often.)
6. My Bible still opened when I needed it.
7. The church bells did not ring out of protest.
8. The pastor didn’t point me out as a charlatan.
9. There were others…wearing jeans…and they weren’t …teenagers.
10. It was great.

Worshiping God has nothing to do with our clothing, but then you knew that. Our worship is a refection of our soul. It is the pouring out of love in song. It is the surrender of ourselves to someone we don’t understand, but need desperately to fill our empty places.

I will wear jeans again to worship God that's a given …probably not next Sunday, though. Baby steps, People, baby steps.

Is there an "outside the box" for you?

Once Upon a Time

...there were two little girls who were three years old when they met and became best friends and...

their friendship went on and on.... 

They looked nothing alike except maybe their bad taste in hair barrettes.

 

One girl had curly reddish hair and a freckled fair skin color.

Blue eyes.
















The other girl had straight dark hair and a lovely olive skin color.

Brown eyes.




They couldn't  have been anymore opposite in appearance, but...


they shared so many likes and dislikes. 
 
They even liked the same boys, but never competed.
 
They went everywhere together. They did every...thing together.
 
They could even finish each other's sentences...like twins do.
 
So it wasn't a surprise when someone said years later they thought we were sisters because where one went the other followed.

Her parents were my parents.
 
My parents were her parents.
 
You know how the story goes...couldn't have been any closer...not if we had tried.
  

We were twins of the heart.

Best Friends.

Oh to be 18 again.  Ok probably not. We don't stay in touch anymore.  Such is life.

Monday Morning Again, May I Yawn?

As I mentioned Saturday, it is suppose to heat up here this week. Before I went to church Sunday, I really needed to buy gasoline. My tank was so empty (because it was too cold to stand there and pump gas) that it was clearly running on fumes and even the fumes were getting worried. So I did it, and it was very very cold, but it was the warmest day yet and I had to have fuel to get where I was going.

And speaking of Saturday...

I had a great day with the youngest child, Dr. Lovely Daughter. When I talked to her Friday evening she said she would be coming to my area to get her hair cut. You know how we women (and perhaps men) will travel the earth to follow their favorite hair person. It is a serious matter. I’ve had six people that I allowed to cut my hair since I became an adult and that I returned to with only one being a dud. I told that hairstylist that I did not want much cut off -just trimmed; it was my 10th high school reunion. She looked very normal, but she turned out to be Edwina Scissorhands and it became the worst haircut I have ever had. Thankfully, I’m gorgeous no matter what, so I went to the class reunion. (Are you rolling your eyes?)

I wasn’t really going to do anything Saturday just stay in and stay warm, but the Doc came by and we:

• Went to the Library Book Store and bought some books.
• Came back home and ate potato soup, toasted sandwiches and lemon cake.
• Went to a Mennonite store so the Doc could buy some cooking needs. (Is she really my child?)

It was an inexpensive and fun day.

Printing Press versus Electronic Books

I love the show Sunday Morning. Something that especially caught my eye yesterday was a segment on the eBooks and the digital book readers. I have this discussion occasionally with Techman from my office. I can't imagine a world without a book.

This segment mentioned that the sales of actual books were down a couple of percent last year.

eBooks may be here to stay. Like all new technology we will see. I am concerned on how this will affect the author who would like to make a living from his or her book.

SM said that JK Rowlings will not allow her books to be digital because of piracy issues and because she wants children to experience a book. I love technology, but I totally agree.

Because it is so new there are few regulations in place allowing authors to get a slice of the pie each time a book is downloaded. They kind of compared it to a movie where the people involved get compensated when the movie (or TV shows for that matter) is purchased in some way.

Bottom line: The written word is not going away, but its format may be changing.

JW's thought: I don't want the physical book to go away, but I realize that digital books are probably here to stay. I think what needs to happen is for someone to figure out how to include the writer, agent, publisher in the profits.  A digital reader can hold many books but only a book can smell like a book. Of course for awhile we thought that about the new car smell and it is now available in a bottle.

What do you think about eBooks and readers? Where do the authors of these books fit in?

Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
we will also live with him;

if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;

if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.  II Timothy 2:11-13 (NIV)

JW's thoughts: It's not always easy to accept what life has dealt or what people have done to injure our souls. And God is not always easy to understand in those times, but we remember faith through hope. Many verses have held me on my feet in difficult times, but this one is most dear from Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV)

It may be difficult to consider hope and believe in something we cannot see. But it is that kind of faith that strengthens our persistence to believe and our perseverance to live on. Hope means everything in the darkened hours of life.

We are on our way in the New Year. I for one am holding onto my hope in God by faithfulness. I will follow Him because He remains faithful. 

It has been the longest week here.

A week ago Wednesday it snowed 3 or 4 inches. It was cold, but it got worse.

The picture was the second snow.

It snowed again on Sunday. The snow kept spitting, even though it is rude to spit.  It snowed again this last Wednesday 2-3 inches. What’s different this time is that it was colder and more bitter. Yes, the weather was bitter. Someone needs to talk to her about her pent up anger.

The wind whipped the snow around 20 miles an hour at times. My house is cold. It feels like I don’t have walls between me and the world… until I go outside then I realize how warm it is inside. My car sputters to start and it is in the garage. I left a water bottle in the car and it froze solid Thursday and it rarely freezes in my garage. Yesterday it started out -10 degrees. Today is suppose to be colder. 

But…

the TV weather people say there is a heat wave coming. I say Yeah, bring it on.

Next week we are supposed to have temperatures of… wait a minute, I am choking up… temperatures of 40 degrees.

I say now don’t play with my emotions…please.  I'm very sensitive.

 

Isn’t it great how a little spark of hope can get you out of bed and back on your feet?

Have a wonderful weekend.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree

...or your writing voice.

When Google recently displayed on their home page a cluster of apples on branches with one falling, it made me realize that the apple REALLY doesn’t fall far from the tree. (You all know, I'm deep like that. cough, cough)

This also started my thinking juices (I love grape) on how unique you all are as writers on your blogs. And how your voice in writing reflects some of your personality and character.

Whether you are a professional writer, an aspiring writer or a blog writer your apple doesn’t fall far from your tree (you).

Writing style is the writer’s voice in the words and structure of what he or she writes (Writing Style). A blog called Mysterious Matters: Mystery Publishing Demystified recommends studying the masters as a good way to learn “how to” put together good crime fiction.  It is a great way to learn...from other writers.  But even then your words must be your own. Your style or your voice will be yours. 

Does it come natural? I believe it does, if...we write as ourselves and not try to mimic others.

What is writing style? Dictionary.com says that  writing style is "a style of expressing yourself in writing". You hear it in tone, mannerisms, familiar words and in mental imagery.  Cindy Rogers shares that "Style does comprise voice and tone, which are each author's individual stamp" (Word Magic, p177).  Just as you and I are not the same person, our individual writing has our own unique stamp revealed in its delivery.

Rogers also believes styles equals interesting writing.

Some of you said you were tearing up when you read about the day my daughter wrecked her car in her first month of her first semester in college.  It might have made you feel a little sad when you read the purse story. And some of you said you laughed when you read about my eating habits.  So who am I? Each post was different. Which of these posts reveal my voice? They are all my voice. You can see my style in the words I use. You can see my voice in the sentences I have constructed. And if I did a good enough job in Don't Go Breaking My Heart then my words took you somewhere else before you found the truth.

This is what I have learned about producing my own writing style:

• Writing style should include your own tempo.
• Your voice should appear through vivid imagery in words.
• Style includes short sentences for drama and mystery.
• Style includes long sentences for description and other things.
• And your writing style may show a passion or statement without throwing it in someone’s face.

Most important for me is that my writing style shows my voice, my character and my experience as I share with you through the words I write.

As I read your blogs or your books I see your tailoring. I see your handprints. Sometimes I see your hearts. I see you.  Good job.  Well done.

I hope to post links to some writers I am learning from in the blogger world in the near future, in case you are interested.

Question: So what do you think about voice? Will you add your thoughts and/or your expertise?

Writing Sources:

Strunk,W and  White E. B. (2000). The Elements of Style. New York: Allyn and Bacon,4th ed.
Rogers, C. (2004). Word Magic. Your source for language that enchants, empowers, convinces and wins readers. CT: Institute of Children's Literature.
Writing Style-http://www.esc.edu/esconline/across_esc/writerscomplex.nsf/0/336aa1a4426e652a852569c3006c815d?OpenDocument
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/writing+style

The Witness Protection Program

This has nothing to do with my statement recently "For the first time in my life I want to run away"...Really... BUT…


Here are the reasons why I think I would be a good candidate for the Witness Protection Program.

1. A new identity would not be a problem. I can’t remember my own name half the time.
2. I remember all faces. (In case you want to kill me, I will remember your face….)
3. I can keep a secret... whatever you tell me. (Actually I forget it right after your admission.)
4. I can barely find my way home, hence the help of Agnes (GPS). So a new location is fine.
5. I like to travel.
6. I am suspicious of everyone and every circumstance.
7. A new career might be nice. 
8. Every day is a new day for me. (Actually, every blink is a new day.)
9. I love mysteries.
10. I might, just maybe or perhaps make a good witness. The jury is still out on that one.

However, there may be a problem with my theory of being a good candidate for the WPP....and this might make me nervous.

There are many people out there that believe they know me and recognize me. I guess it's my fairly common looking plain kind of face... because everyone (yes everyone in the whole wide world) "thinks" I am familiar to them.

• I look like their niece.
• I look like their daughter.
• I look like their best friend.

However, I want to point out that absolutely no one has EVER said “Hey, you look like Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock.” Nope, not one person.

A few years ago when I worked for a bank an older gentlemen customer came to my teller window. “Are you Tracy?”

“No, my name is Teresa.” I pointed to my little name plaque.

“Well you look like a Tracy I know.” He said.

I just nodded politely.

He called me Tracy for the next year every time he visited the bank. Not only that, he wouldn't let anyone take care of his banking needs except me...Tracy.

When my sweet beautiful Mama was in the hospital almost two years ago, a woman walked up to me while I was there...at the hospital.

“How are you?” she sang with excitement.

My brain scanned her face like a good computer for recognition. I cleared all checkpoints of her face in my mind. No recognition. So, I just nodded.

She continued to talk.

I listened. I don’t remember what she said, though. I was stressed trying to place her in my mind.

Then at some point she realized I wasn’t who she thought. She said, “I thought you were someone I use to know, but you're not. You REALLY look like her.”

I smiled and shrugged and said, “Sorry.”

She was clearly embarrassed and left.

She looked like a nice person, maybe I should have tried harder to be her friend.

That, dear Blogger friends, is why I would and would not be a good candidate for the Witness Protection Program.

Am I the only one? Are you ever mistaken for another person?



Photo source: Me

Bloggywood and other MM Ramblings

Monday darling, I dislike you more this week than ever -because I have been on a wonderful break from work - job work- for 2 weeks. Why you ask did I not give you credit for the past two Mondays that I enjoyed? Well...the answer is... I don't know.

What's been happening in JW's life?

Update on Kiki: Please add another fear to Kiki's list. She hates cameras? I normally give her a good petting before I go back in the main house and she accepts it before she eats. Well like a good Blogger I wanted a photo of her serene face as I scratched her head, but not on that day. The petting went fine. But then...she closed her eyes and....I whipped out the camera from behind my back and...she saw it and got THE look and she nailed me...literally. It wasn't that bad and she didn't mean it. She just wanted me in my place, so I returned quickly...to my place.

So I rested during the break sort of, after Christmas. Before that I cleaned and cooked like a tornado if they indeed cleaned and cooked. But I did sleep in most days to 8:50 a.m. What happened to the days of sleeping until 1:00 p.m. Oh yeah, I was under the age of 21 and prechildren.

From visiting the blogs I found that many people were glad to get 2009 behind them. Me too.

Now it's Bloggywood time... and the Awards go to Teresa at Journaling Woman.

I have been so fortunate to receive three new awards because I have the best blogging friends in the world.Due to the Martha like behavior on my behalf during Christmas and that I took a break, I nearly forgot about this wonderful award from Lesley at Life at Number 10. I keep threatening to go visit this blogger friend ...no really... I mean literally. But you can visit right now virtually and see for yourself how interesting it is in her neck of the woods across the big pond.

I am suppose to give you a happiness list. You know how I love lists so here goes.

Ten things that make me happy.

1. Seeing the familiar faces of my family.
2. Writing.
3. Sewing and decorating.
4. Traveling then going home again.
5. Painting anything - walls...furniture.
6. Drawing.
7. Listening to music.
8. Playing my guitar.
9. Drinking coffee.
10.Shopping with my best shopping buddy, my daughter.

My next award came from Mason Canyon over at Thoughts in Progress. Visit her. If you like to read go...goooo.... Wait, not yet. She has an incredible blog with lots of information about books. Her blog is so pretty it should be in an art museum. Thanks Mason, I truly appreciate you and this award.

She posted 10 interesting things about herself and I am suppose to do this, but I want to warn you that I am NOT interesting.

Ten things about myself
1. I've played the guitar since I was 16. I taught myself.
2. I grew up in the country...way out in the country. Everyone should be so privileged.
3. I love to sing.
4. I sew and rather well if I must tell the story.
5. I have never been on an airplane and really really want to fly before I die. (my new campaign: Fly before I die.)
6. I am a Christian and am totally and completely in love with the Lord and am not ashamed of my faith.
7. I worked as a proofreader once for a newspaper. (Please don't judge me on my typos here.)
8. I volunteered (about three years) with a domestic violence facility.
9. The first place I would like to visit after getting off that airplane is New York City.
10. For the first time in my adult life I have no indoor pets. I have owned (which isn't true they owned me) a Samoyed, Yorkie, Boxer and two cats. I had three finches, several hamsters and many aquariums with fish...oh and a Beta Fish.


The next award comes from Cop Mama. I like so many things about her blog, one of which is that she shows her faith through what she writes as so many that I follow do. I really like that. Also, I appreciate that she was a police officer for 15 years... a very difficult job. I enjoy visiting her.

The list she wanted is the happy list...listed above. But don't be disappointed becuz... since I love making lists I will treat you to a -no cost -absolutely free to you list of ...hates, loves, thinks and wouldn'ts.

1. I hate cooking, love eating. (But I'm a good cook, my sister said so and she is a fabulous cook.)
2. I love blogging.
3. I think I have the best Mom and Dad in the world.
4. I think I have the best children in the world.

5. You need to know that I wouldn't really marry George Clooney, not really...but don't test me.

After all those lists, if you don't know me by now, you will never never never know me. What song am I belting out right now?

My blogger friends have each pretty much let me off the hook for passing the awards on, but I reserve the right to do so later... after I think about it. It's very difficult to choose between ...those I love. (wink wink)

Here's a question for you or rather a fill in the blank:

For the first time in my life (fill in the blank please). I'll go first. For the first time in my life...I want to run away. Seriously, is that too much information?

Now your turn.

New Beginnings, No Returns

But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the Lord has done.

Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,

and so that you may live long in the land that the Lord swore to your forefathers to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.

The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden.

But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.

It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. Deuteronomy 11:7-12


JW's thoughts: Let this be your year of New Beginnings and No Returns. No returns to accepting negative talk or ideas- not from yourself and certainly not from others. No returns to making the bad decisions you might repeat every year. No returns to giving up. No returns to harmful behaviors.

It seems to be human nature to do what we should not do rather than do what we need to do (Romans 7:19-20). But it is OUR choice. Every day, like a new year, is a second chance to improve our life.

“Oh God of Second Chances and New Beginnings, here I am again.” (Source unknown)

Want a new beginning? Try these things: 1. Try, Try, and Try again. 2. Forgive yourself if you fail. 3. Replace negative self-talk with constructive talk. 4. Position yourself with positive people. 5. Take it one day at a time.

We have been given the gift of a new year and God's eyes are on it from beginning to end (Deuteronomy 11:12).

New Beginnings. No Returns.

For Your Saturday Viewing

It snowed in MO on Wednesday.

I tried to see the beauty in the fluffy snow outside my front door, but my teeth were chattering so that it interfered with my sight.

There is life in this winter wonderland trying to find a way to the deck at the back of my house. But where is Waldo (Kiki)?

I would like to see lovers sit in that swing together in my backyard. In fact, I dare ya's.

...a whispering bush, only found in Missouri, says, "Spring where art thou?" Yes we say "art" and "thou" in MO, bushes and all.

I have had enough winter so I too would like Spring, please.

Something like this?

I will wait for thee O my Spring with mittens on wrapped around a mug of hot cocoa.

From Me to You

May the New Year inspire you to bring your dreams to fruition.

But don't just be inspired...set your goals on paper or post-its (my favorite) and work on them.

According to USA.gov some popular New Year's resolutions are:

Losing weight
Better money management
Saving Money
Getting a better job
Getting in Shape
Going back to school
Drinking less
Quitting smoking
Reduce Stress
Take a Trip
Volunteer more

I'm not sure what my goals are for 2010. This is what I would like to work on, though.

1. Set up special dates with individual family members- if they will. (Have you noticed life is short?)
2. Find a Bible study I can join again. (I would like to teach one again someday.)
3. Write more. I'm just asking myself to write at least 1000 words a day, 5 or 6 days a week. I know I can do that if I would just do it.
4. Budget money... better.
5. Work on liking myself at this time in life.

6. Work on forgiveness.
7. Baby steps back to exercising again.

8. Make less lists. (Just kidding, I can't do it. I won't do it. I need lists.)

That's all I can think of for now.

Oh... and (to myself privately -so don't read this one) may this year include a marriage proposal from George Clooney. Of course, first he has to know I exist. Secondly, I will have to back up my age by 20 some years to fit his type or hope his vision gets worse. (Hey it's doable) Oh and thirdly, I might have to move to Italy. But don't worry, they have Internet there. Now, don't hold your breath on this one. Please, please exhale, JW, don't hold your breath.

Happy New Year, my dear Blogger Friends. I am so glad I found you or you found me. Nevertheless, I am glad to know you.