Grains of Gratitude (Belated Edition)

My husband made it home!! I am so grateful. Life seems back to our version of normal. It seems we’ve been busy, but I’ve not much to show (or tell) for it. Do you ever seem like you run around faster and faster and then stop and say, “What did I really do?” Hrumph!! I feel like those Veggie Tale veggies singing, “Busy, busy, dreadfully busy!”

I need to thank all of you who left me a comment last week. I am so grateful for the wonderful people who reach out across the internet to share comfort and peace. Bless each one of you.

I’m grateful that the day turned out to be beautiful. Spring is arriving slowly, but it is fascinating to watch the trees and plants change sometimes hourly. I can step out in the morning and see one thing and then go out to get the mail at lunch and there are more buds, leaves and birds!!

For the first time in several months I’ve sat down to craft again. I had squeezed in a few items that were necessities, but it had been since last July that I sat at my desk just for the pleasure of playing with color and paper and glue and…just stuff. There were many reasons why I couldn’t/didn’t/wouldn’t do this before, but I am grateful I am at a place where I can use my creativity again.

Have a great week everyone!

Grains began over at the every busy Christine's blog--Brady's Bunch.

A Bride So Fair--Blog Book Tour

I haven't had the chance to participate in any blog book tours lately and then I received two new books from Glass Road Public Relations & Barbour Press. How exciting. The first book is:

A Bride So Fair by Carol Cox

After growing up in an orphanage, Emily Ralston loves being around children and thoroughly enjoys her job at the Children’s Building at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. As the receptionist she helps check in the children and ensures they are safe and well cared for while their parents view the fair. She could not have known what God had in store for her…

When Columbian Guard, Stephen Bridger, drops off a three-year-old named Adam as a lost child, her life irrevocably changed. While the sparks of attraction are undeniable, Emily tries her best to ignore them as she and her best friend, Lucy, scheme to keep Adam safe and happy, far away from the orphanages they both know too well.

Soon Stephen learns about Adam’s mother while both the mystery and his relationship with Emily deepens. As they learn bits of truth, danger and deception now threaten to undermine their growing relationship. Why is a young woman murdered while surrounded by thousands of fairgoers? What secrets could a sweet, abandoned little boy possibly hold? Can Emily and Stephen solve the deadly mystery before time runs out?

CAROL COX is a native of Arizona, whose time is devoted to being a pastor's wife, mom to her grown son, and a home-school teacher to her daughter, church pianist, and youth worker. She loves anything that she can do with her family: reading, traveling, historical studies, and outdoor excursions. She is also open to new pursuits on her own, including genealogy research, crafts, and the local historical society. She plans to write more historical inspirational romance, in which her goals are to encourage Christian readers with entertaining and uplifting stories and to pique the interests of non-Christians who might read her novels.

I will follow up tomorrow with book number two--and that will include a giveaway! Check back!

Technorati tags: books, blog book tour, Carol Cox, A Bride so Fair,

Wordless Wednesday

Klipspringers and Meerkats

For more Wordless Wednesday visit WW HQ

Technorati tags: Wordless Wednesday, zoo, klipspringer, meerkat,

"I Thought You Would’ve Gotten Past that by Now"

There are still days I struggle with baggage over my mother’s death. There was much left undone, unsaid, unacknowledged. Because that was how she wanted it. Her passing left behind things that had been hidden or glossed over for many, many years. Don’t get me wrong. She was a great lady who made a difference in many lives. But she (as are we) was human.

Sometimes I think I should have one big blow-out melt-down and be done with it. That that would wipe the slate clean and I could move on. The converse thought is that if I allow the melt-down I might never climb out of the pit.

One of my IRL friends has shared that she was surprised I was still not “over” my mother’s death. I guess it is coming up on seven months now. Mom had been sick for over three years and in this friend’s opinion I should be moving forward. As in done with it.

The problem with losing a loved one (or having any other large life trauma, like divorce, major health issue or job loss) is that it is your sorrow and not someone else’s. Life does march on and we have to keep marching or get left far behind. Our society we doesn’t dwell on the past much and our own lives are so complicated it is hard to remember the thorns someone else is trying to remove from their heart. We’re past it, we aren’t thinking about it, so it comes as a surprise that our (possibly close) friend is still struggling. We’re encouraged as a society to put a good face on it and this too shall pass.

My friend surprised me with her attitude because she is someone who others turn to for advice. But she is not a Christian and would never consider Christian wisdom a viable thought when addressing needs. So I suppose that plays into it. And since I’ve known her for over a third of my life and it’s not really a new thing about her, I’m surprised I’m surprised. But it caught me off guard. She’s a good person with some good qualities, but with very defined and rigid ideas of how things should be.

I think I am moving forward, but apparently not at the pace my friend would like. I have some really good “normal” days. And then I have some others. It’s only been in the last month or so I was able to start sorting photos to scan and many items my father gave me were left in boxes until I could face them. I tried, probably to early, to address some of this before and just wasn’t able. But with time and faith and a loving God time will move on and I will too.

Grains of Gratitude

I am grateful my husband has a good job, I am grateful my husband has a good job, I am grateful my husband has a good job…but…and you heard that coming didn’t you? 

My husband is on the road again. He was gone a few days last week and will be gone for the largest part of this week. He works from home (telecommuting) about 75-85% of the time. So when he travels it really changes our lifestyle. And I miss him and the boys miss him. So I am grateful my husband has a good job and I am grateful that he’s home most of the time. And I am grateful I have such a great guy to miss.

Signs of spring are appearing slowly and I am so grateful. Winter seemed so long this year. And it wasn’t what one would call a “bad” winter for us. I think I am just getting old. Spring is my second favorite season (fall being the first) and it is fun to have noticeable changes to watch daily.

I am grateful for people who are nice to my boys.

The sweet lady who sat behind us in church last night blessed me. Our church family is huge (over 2000 families) and there is no way to know everyone. So when someone steps out and makes an effort to be kind it is such a blessing. She stopped us after Mass and asked if she was correct in remembering our boys had been welcomed into full membership of the Church on Easter Vigil. (She was correct. :) ) Then she proceeded to tell us how nice it was to see young men who were able to focus during worship and be so obviously interested the liturgy. She had something nice to say about each boy individually.

I was grateful she didn’t witness how “wonderfully” (not) the boys behaved in the car ride to the airport (for a rental car for my husband) last night. I am grateful my boys know when it is most important to use their best manners. It affords them several “byes” at home when the manners may fail.

We went to dinner at our favorite place last night after picking up the rental. (I was grateful not to have to cook!) One of the servers (not ours last night) is a beautiful young woman who consistently appears happy and friendly. She made it a point to stop by our table and talk to the boys & to tell us how much she likes to see them. She always makes us smile. Right before our food arrived, Roo (very uncharacteristically) spilled an almost full glass. He was embarrassed and near tears. She came over and put her arm around him and told him not to worry and things like that happened to other people all the time.

I need to remember how special it is when someone takes the time to speak kind and uplifting words. I need to do this more often for others. Just a few kind words can change a person’s entire day. That is my challenge for this week; to try to bless someone with just a few seconds of my time.

Grains of Gratitude began with Christine at Brady’s Bunch.

What are you grateful for?

Faith Lift Friday

I Am

by Jill Phillips singer, songwriter

Visit Sheryl at Taking the Challenge to find other bloggers sharing uplifting thoughts to start the weekend.

Technical Difficulties

For those of you who missed the fiasco of the acid green blog, consider yourselves very lucky. For those of you who saw...Sorry. Hope your vision corrects itself soon. That was yucky!!

I'm not sure this was what I had in mind, but it'll do for now.

Until I find something postable (is that a word? Spell Check says, "No!") Try this:

75

Coming Up Empty

There are a few ideas rolling around my head...I can hear them bumping into each other. But they aren't flowing down the arms, through the fingers and to the keyboard.

Apparently I am


I'll mess around with my colors & photos while I wait for something fascinating to come to mind...I may be waiting forever. Looking back I don't see much fascinating.

Any suggestions?

Edited to add--Well that is obnoxious. Unfortunately I need to run. Look away until I fix the train wreck.

Wordless Wednesday

NEMO & ANEMONE

For more Wordless Wednesday photographs visit the HUB.

Technorati tags: Wordless Wednesday, zoo, clown fish, anemone,
nemo

Grains of Gratitude

Falling off the face of the earth happens sometimes.

My thought was that when I returned to blogging, I would be ready to post everyday, but this pesky thing called life continues to “get in the way.” Just kidding—and certainly not complaining. But one thing I learned during my time off was that “Life” certainly does take a precedent over everything. And I was still very worn down from the business of life. So I decided to go with the flow and enjoy it.

And I am grateful for enjoying: my father’s visit. He learned a lot and talked to some great people at his seminar. He took us out to eat more than once—which he didn’t have to do. He treated himself to a guitar and I hope he starts playing again, something he used to enjoy.

My husband watched the boys and Dad and I got to spend some time out and about. Then he and my husband took care of some things he wanted to do while he was here. That was great.

He also surprised us with a gas grill! We’ve not had one in over fifteen years of marriage. We’ve always cooked on teeny tiny little kettle grills. My husband is quite enamored of this new toy. He’s recommended we used it for everything! Including cereal...ummmm...NO.

My nephew joined us late in the week and we are grateful for his visit. The boys got school work done so that while he was here they could just have fun. And they used just about every moment. They were very good, but not excited about bedtimes. Not enough hours in the day when you are having fun.

I am grateful I got a lot of my house in better order. There are still projects to tackle, but it has been nice to be able to comfortably welcome guests. That was one of my goals in the cleaning, decluttering and rearranging; to be able to feel better about having company. I think I may have got some good habits started.

Grains of Gratitude originates with Christine over at Brady’s Bunch. I’m always grateful to visit her. It’s like a slice of sunshine there.

What are you grateful for?