Leaving it Behind and Looking Ahead

A Few Things learned in 2011

1.    You CAN leave your car keys in the ignition and the alarm will not alert you when you get out of the car that your keys are dangling from the ignition. And, you CAN return a couple of hours later and find your car still there. You CAN.

2.    People complain about being married. People complain about being single. People complain too much. I guess we’re never satisfied.

3.    Reinventing yourself through a new job is like pulling an established tree out of the yard and planting it elsewhere. It’s painful for the tree. Once replanted, it either lives or dies. I, the tree, lived.

4.    Letting go of stupidly will only benefit you. But, stupidity is like static cling, I’m telling ya.

5.    Not everyone is a friend. Be very aware.

6.    You can’t get ahead financially until you stop spending unnecessarily. Duh.

7.    I have commitment issues and that’s that. I need to love myself in spite of my issues, but I can’t commit.

My Writing Goals for 2012

1.    I am joining Write 1 Sub 1 A year long writing experience in Ray Bradbury's shadow, this year—the monthly route. 

2.    I am going to schedule my writing time instead of—not. This method will assault my free spirit mindset and play negatively with my non-commitment issues. It must be done.

3.    I am going to join Blogging from A-Z in April. I need to sharpen up on my alphabet skills. Sesame Street, here I come…again.

4.    I am going to concentrate on finishing one book this year instead of working on all of them. However, I’m worried that the others will be mad at me because I know  what those characters are capable of-- I'm just saying.

I wish you blessings galore for 2012, my Blogging Buds. Happy New Year!

~~Teresa

Winner

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas holiday. It was very enjoyable and busy with my family.

We're all winners, but I'm popping back in to announce the winner of the journal from Wrote by Rote.  Congratulations to Doris from "Hold my hand" A Social Workers Blog.  Don't forget to go read the post at Wrote by Rote. It has a Christmas memory written by Lee called Assembly Required.

Doris, if you will email me your address, I'll get it sent to you.

A Moment From My Christmas Day
Me to granddaughter: What do you want to drink: iced tea, Pepsi, Mountain Dew?

Granddaughter: Mountain Dew

I pour MD into a glass.

Granddaughter: Can I have Pepsi instead?

Me: Of course.

I'm a pushover.



~~~~Teresa

Merry Christmas!

Christmas on Planet Exile

Christmas on Planet Exile

“Where am I?”

“This is the planet Exile. I’m Marsh Man, who are you?

“I dunno.”

“You need a new name on this planet. I’ll call you BenJoid. You’re from the planet Earth.”

“I forgot.”

“Come in my tent, you’ll be safe in here. We have to stay inside at night because of terrible things. Do you know what’s out there? It’s cold and dark and there are zombies that eat people.”

“What’s a zombie?”

“I won’t tell you, it's too scary.”

“You’d better tell me, Marsh…Man. Is this the land of no return?”

“Yes, we can never go back—ever. This is where people go when they do wrong.”

“Is there TV or games? Are there Angry Birds?”

“No games or TV here, just something called con.tem.pla.tion.”

“I don’t like the dark. Is that when the zombies come out to eat—people?”

“Not as long as I have this flashlight to shine on them. I hope the batteries don’t die.”

“We’re going to miss Christmas.”

“Maybe we can have Christmas here, BenJoid.”

“It won’t be good with no presents or food. You know who I miss the most? Mom. Because I haven’t seen her in a long time.”

“I don’t miss nobody.”

“She was really mad. She said, 'I’m your judge and jury and you need to think about what you did or I'll send you to planet Exile.'”

“You’ll have time to think about it here—forever.”

“Marsh Man.”

“Don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying, crying is for babies and I’m not a baby….  I smell something cooking. I’m hungry.”

“I don't smell anything cooking. It’s your imagination.”

“I want to go home.”

“BenJoid, stop thinking about it or you’ll be sad. You did the crime, now you gotta do the time. We’re in trouble forever.”

“I hope it's not forever. She’s our mom. And--and what if Santa knows we were bad or-or if he can’t find us here on this planet?”

“Marshal? Benjamin? You can come out of your room now. Come help me decorate the cookies for tonight’s Christmas Eve party. And, since you made a tent out of your sheets, you’ll have to make your beds again.”

“I missed you, mommy.”

“I missed you too Benji and you too, Marshall.”

“I’m mad at you because you made us stay in our room for hours. We were desperate.”

“Marshall, you’ve only been in your room for 20 minutes. But, I hope you both have learned your lesson about sword fighting with scissors. Boys who are six and eight years old should know better than to do something so dangerous. You could have hurt yourselves. Now, hurry and get your sheets back on your bed then come help me.”

“Can we save some cookies for Santa?”

“Of course, Benji.”

“I’m glad you let us come back for Christmas, Mommy.”

“What?”

The End

Copyright © 2011 Teresa Coltrin. All Rights Reserved 

Monday Thoughts

What’s been going on with me?

1.     I can’t believe someone wanted me to guest a post. Whew. I feel honored. I’m over at Wrote on Rote which is a wonderful blog about memoir writing by Lee.

2.    I have a new post up on The Ruralhood.

3.    Wednesday I’m posting a dialogue only Christmas story. Wish me luck.

4.    The Tacky Tree is up.  The T.A.C.K.Y.  TREE is up. Out of all the decorations I own, my $5, three foot pop-up, tinsel tree makes me the happiest.

Posts that caught my eye and touched my heart.

Mary from Play Off the Page is filled with love and peace which is what Christmas is all about. She said Love is the Gift of Christmas. I believe it.

Deb from Catbird Scout shares grief over her daughter’s death and seeing a glimpse of hope in a beautiful sky. HerSky Gift. Awesome.

Life at number 10, a Melbourne girl- Leslie has had a shake up. After 12 years of employment with a company they said, It’s not you, it’s me. Really? So unfair.

A Little Selfish Santa Humor

To Mrs. Claus. “You’re only a housewife, can’t you go this year?”

At each stop on Christmas Eve. “One for you, one for me.”

To an Elf. “You’re short.”

To the Reindeer five hours off course. “I don’t need to ask for directions.”

To a young Mrs. Claus. “I don’t want children. I don’t like ‘em.”

To Rudolph. “You weren’t my first choice.”

To a child. “There’s no Santa. It’s all a lie.”

To God. “Can’t you take some of this work off me? It’s your holiday after all.”

From me to you: Breathe and enjoy each breath.

I Believe

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” C. S. Lewis

If you declare 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 profess your faith and are saved.

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes 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.” Romans 10: 9-13 (NIV) Holy Bible



Scripture source: Biblegateway.com

Nothing But Something

In November, I took my eight-year-old granddaughter out for pizza, just she and I. It was her birthday. We sat in a booth drinking our beverages and waiting on our pies. She talked.  I listened. She had a lot to say and I was keeping up with the continually changing subjects.

Then she stopped talking and her eyes grew large. “Is there gum under the table?” Her nose crinkled.

“I don’t know, but DON’T touch under the table.” My voice came out with a desperate quality to it. Then I laughed.

“I WOULDN’T,” she squealed, giggling. “That would be disgusting.”

I laughed again. She matched it.

We both stared at each other saying—nothing because we were both thinking something. There was a possibility that used gum was stuck under the table where we sat.

(I'll be over at Wrote by Rote, on Saturday, where I "wrote" about recording family history.)

Where is my humor?

I’m losing my ability to be funny, to feel funny, my—wit is being compromised because I’m too busy. I’m so busy I feel like I’m running a race with myself and I’m worried how that will end.

·         My day job bled into the night and early mornings last week with interviews for the vacant (other) social work position in our district. Did I tell you that I’m the only SWKR for the entire district right now—since October? Did I tell you that? Did I? I am.

·     Also the end of semester attendance review meeting ran into the evening as we saw students and parents.

·     There are grandkids Christmas programs, but those are the best.

·     After a CT scan I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis. Ouch.

So, I’m behind in all things known as life and holiday preparation and I'm not feeling my best.

I’m losing my humor, I tell ya.

Saturday, I bought three Christmas mugs with coffee and stuff for friends. I carried the mugs in bags to the car. I somehow-don’t know how-flipped one of the glass mugs out of the bag and onto the pavement and watched it rolled. It didn’t break. Another mug that was wrapped in paper hit “something” and broke.

I’m on my last nerve and my humor is waning.

Sunday I returned a coverlet to TJ Maxx. They no longer have a customer service desk (they told me this). No- no. I would need to stand in a long line of shoppers to return it. I did. When it was finally my turn, I put the packaged coverlet on the counter and gave the cashier my receipt. Her eyes became large and looked alarmed as she said loudly, “You’ll have to return this to Marshalls.” I stared at her for a few hours seconds trying to process what was happening then smiled and said, “I knew that.” I apologized and returned it to the correct store.

I’m losing my humor and my mind.

I have a million things to do. I can do it. I can do it. Breathe. Breathe. 

How are you all doing?

Gifts and Blessings

It’s the Christmas season where we experience a flurry of shopping and gathering together with family and friends. Children sit on Santa’s lap and ask for what they want for gifts.  We all like giving and receiving gifts. God loves giving his children gifts, too.

David was a man after God’s own heart. He provided a son, Solomon, to take his place on the throne to keep God’s plan--progressing. God came to Solomon in a dream and asked what he wished for (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon, a young man, said this:

“Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.  Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.  So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3: 7-9 (NIV)

Solomon knew what he REALLY needed and asked for wisdom. God gave Solomon the wisdom (it would be up to him to use it) and much more.

“The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.  Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 1 Kings 3:10-14(NIV)

God's provisions and blessings are more than we could ever imagine when we are open to receiving them.  

Have a great Sunday!

Scripture source: BibleGateway.com

Tis the Season

When you think you're not going to make it through the week with all you have to do or that you'll never get it all done for the holidays, stop and breathe. You'll make it, you (and I) always do!


God didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can? ~Author Unknown

Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. ~Chinese Proverb

Have a Happy Monday and a great week!


Quotes from Quote Garden

A Light in the Dark

If you read my blathering on this blog then you know I have a fear--of the dark. I prefer light bulbs to candles, electric lamps over lanterns.

When my electricity goes off and I need to use a candle or a flashlight, I am amazed how a small flicker of light can transform an entire room. Without the light I can’t do what I need to do without bumping into and falling over things. Light is helpful.

As Christians we have been commissioned go out and tell others about Jesus and how he saves (Matthew 28:18-20). We are to be Gods hands to help, mouth to speak, legs to travel (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). We are to be his light in this world.

Even if we don’t feel like it, we are to represent God in all we do (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). Those we encounter need to see us as one of God’s disciples.  

We are to be the “light on the hill” a beacon of hope.  

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 14-16 (NIV)

Be a light for Him all year long.

Scripture source: Holy Bible, biblegateway.com