Good?

ME

(Walking toward a high school student on the sidewalk.)

Hi, how are you?

STUDENT

Good. How are you?

ME

Good.

STUDENT

(Walks on by)

Good. Good.

What I gleaned from this conversation is that we were both doing fine. Do I still have it or what…you know speaking “their” language?  Right?

Good. Good, good.

A Week's Learning

I learned last week:

1.      You can’t make people DO anything, but you can ask nicely.

2.      If parents put their children’s welfare over their own desires and lusts, I’d be out of a job.

3.      Writing: The more you do, the more you do. 

4.     Goals don’t have to be daunting.  Choose one goal a month (not 1040 or is that just me), make it doable and experience it.  

5.      There is nothing better in this world than crisp fall air…unless it’s crisp dark chocolate.

6.      People own too much stuff and yet we continue to add to it.

7.      There is still a lot of hate in the world over stupid things.

What did you learn last week?

Experiencing Loss

Have I ever told you about my friend Madeline*? She was 80 this year and said she doesn’t like to think about being that old. I told her, it’s a good thing. I’ve known her for years. She knew my family before I was born. She helped me through a very difficult time in my life.

Madeline came to mind as I watched the programs covering the anniversary of 9-11 and the losses experienced. I have friends who have lost a child. I have friends who have lost a spouse. My son lost his best friend in a car accident. The loss of someone we love is nearly impossible to shake.

Madeline lost both of her children.

So they sat down with him (Job) on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.  Job 2:13 (NKJV) (parenthesis mine)

Although I was young when it happened, I clearly remember when her son died.  This is how I remember the tragedy. The news spread through the countryside like wildfire, as they say. He’d been swimming in a river, at a state park, with friends. He dove in and an undercurrent pulled him down and he drowned. I think he was 18.

Several years later, Madeline’s daughter (who had three young children) was diagnosed with cancer and could not win the battle. She died too.

Two children born and loved—and then they were gone. I can’t imagine anything worse.

Madeline is one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. I’ve never heard her blame the river or the cancer or God. I’ve never heard her say that she should give up. I’ve heard her talk about the blessings of her life.

His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”  Job 2:9-10 (NIV)

It’s easy to blame and understandable, but peace and blame cannot coexist. Blaming has nothing to do with healing and blame can lead to bitterness. It muddles the mind and interferes with the peace in our soul.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ( said Jesus) John 16:33 (NIV)

 In my own heartbreaks, my faith in God and his ability to help me overcome terrible times has kept me alive…literally. Madeline says the same thing.

*Name changed to protect my innocence.

Resources: Holy Bible and Bible Gateway

Distracted, but why?

Dear Journal,

Why am I so distracted? Why can’t I get back to my blogging schedule?

• Is it because I didn’t go to kindergarten…because I couldn’t. They didn’t have it at my school.
• Is it because I keep thinking about planting new mums where I killed the old ones?
• Is it because I keep looking for a black Pug or a Brussels Griffon or a Boxer puppy that I can’t commit to?
• Is it because I’m busy not turning my back on teaching Kiki Dee how not to lash out at me—you know not scratch?
• Is it because I dream of taking a nap and then I nap and then I dream of being awake?
• Is it because I keep moving my furniture around and then back again?
• Is it because I’m restless, but not young? (You know The Young and the Restless?)
• Is it because I get caught up in reading everyone’s blog?
• OR is it because my focus thingy is broken?

~~Teresa

Happy Birthday!

This is just for me, but you may read it if you want also. I want to wish my second oldest grandson a Happy Birthday. He is 10 years old!

I picked him up from school yesterday and we had dinner out, just the two of us. We came back later to my house and he opened his gifts from me. We talked and played a card game of his choice.

He is a precious child.

I enjoyed the time with Grandson 2. He said he had fun.

It's important to me to spend one-on-one time with my little ones, once in a while. I hear their inner voice better when there isn't competition. It's important to be heard especially if you're a child.

Over the years, I've learned these things about him:

• He does NOT like chocolate--except Tootsie Rolls
• He has a helpful spirit. He ALWAYS jumps in to help me with anything I'm doing.
• He loves Legos. Give him a package and it's amazing what he will create.
• He adores his oldest brother in a deep heartfelt way.
• He wants acceptance from all and is hurt deeply when he is not valued.

I'm the oldest in my family. He is the middle child in his family or he was for years.  And as I've watched him these years, I have come to this conclusion. It's not always easy being the middle child and one of three boys.

Happy Birthday to a precious soul.

Echoes and Reflections

Dear Journal,   If you hear footsteps behind you…think echo. If you see a face looking in the window at you late at night…think reflection. If you feel you aren’t alone…it could be your cat or dog or it could be…a rogue cricket.

Someone (my sister) once said, “Some things can be explained, and some things can’t.”

~~JW

You’re almost there, grab Wednesday and run as fast as you can--Friday is waiting.  

Something I learned last week...

My posting schedule is sooo off.  So, I might as well tell you something I learned last week just for the fun of it.

9-11

We may be knocked down, but we will not stay down.

After 9-11, I saw America forget differences, love more on family and friends, serve others and grow in faith.

After 9-11, some people grew closer to God. Some people questioned his existence. Some people’s faith remained the same. Our world may change, but God is everlasting.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:1-2

We know how to survive blizzards, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, fire, recessions and—terrorists’ attacks.

America’s fabric is tough. We are tough people. We don’t give up.

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46 1-3 

I heard this week that more young people than ever before are signing up to be firemen, police officers and soldiers.

We’re  truly the land of the  free and brave. I'm proud to be an American.

God does bless America.

Scripture source: Biblegateway.com

Ramble That

~~Netflix~~

Has this ever happened to you? Well, I advise that you don’t…let it happen.

Let’s just say that you return a movie, but you really didn’t, but you thought you did.  

Something will happen.

1.      You’ll wait and wait for it to show on your account as returned.

2.      Then weeks and weeks  two weeks will pass before you get a mysterious white envelope in the mail with no return address.

3.      You WILL open it, because it could be from George Clooney.

4.      But instead, you open it to find one of YOUR movies instead of the one “they”  lent you.

5.      You realize THEY are picky about which movie they get in return.

6.      Then you find out YOU have to return their movie on your own dime and envelope.

7.      You find no mercy, not online nor in the white envelope.

And don’t be asking me why a half way grown woman would own the movie The Goonies. There’s a lot you don’t know about me.  Trust me, you’re safer that way.

Now… I have some questions.

1.      Why the white envelope and not a red one?

2.      Why was there no return address on the outside?

3.      Why was there no one that I can talk to or email directly?

4.      Why do I have 8 movies in my “Saved DVD” list (queue) that NF can’t send me because date available is unknown?

5.      Why did NF allow me to choose those movies in the first place thereby getting my hopes up, IF, I will never be able to view them?

It was all a bit traumatic, but I’m ok now, except, I thought the white envelope might be an invitation from GC. That was a little bit disappointing, but I’m ok now.

I'm OK...now.

Every Good Path

Have you ever argued a point—really to its death, just to find out you were wrong? And at some point you realize you are incorrect, but you keep going?

“I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man I have ever met”. ~Dwight Lyman Moody

Ok, that may just be me, but…

Sometimes pride drives us down the road of erroneous information. When we are prideful we may believe we know it all, but of course we do not.  We are never finished learning.  

God tells us in Proverbs that IF His children will gather His words in  their hearts and minds, accept His instruction, and apply His concepts to their lives then they “will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path”.

If our steps are well thought out, there will be less stumbling on our journey.

Proverbs 2:1-12

1.      My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,

2.       turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,

3.      and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,

4.      and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,

5.      then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.

6.      For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7.      He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

8.      for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

9.       Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.

10.  For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11.  Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

12.  Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,  (NIV)


Scripture resource: BibleGateway