Groovy Tuesday - Groovin' for God

Yes

2012-01-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

I've made the decision to keep on blogging ~ with a twist. When God gave me the word "imagine" for 2012, I didn't know where He was taking me. I still don't have a Biblical verse to hang my hat on, just a simple word. But that word is loaded with possibilities and I think that's the whole point.

I have been yearning for a change ~ changes are coming down my track like a freight train ~ and the year has just begun!!! There is much to share already but first, I feel compelled to create a new blog. Groovy Tuesday - Groovin' for God has served me (and Him) well, but I feel His urge to move on to a fresh blog, a clean sheet of paper. And so on Monday, I will be writing elsewhere on a new blog, and will post its location here if you care to take this new journey with me.

I consider it pure joy to have had the privilege to speak through Groovy Tuesday and it remains to be seen if Groovy has finished its work, or whether posts will pop up from time to time.

~ but first, I must go skiing for a few days to breathe the cold air, view the amazing scenery and soak in the incredible handiwork of God. His creation inspires me.

Curiosity and Lingering Questions

2012-01-23T15:48:00.000-08:00

I came back to Groovy Tuesday today out of curiosity. I haven't posted on this blog for several weeks now and I wondered if still attracted me the way it used to.

I'm not sure about the funky background I've picked for this year's theme. I've probably lost some of my followers due to a lack of consistent posting. And changes have occurred within the Groovies that makes me wonder if I should go solo.

I do miss the blogs that I have linked to and have been following up to now. I do miss the thrill and challenge of daily posting. I just wonder if I should put this blog to rest and start anew.

Back But Maybe Not

2012-01-04T21:10:00.000-08:00

I have been on a forced hiatus this past week. I was trying out some new layouts and got caught in never-never-land for a bit, and was unable to post. That's okay. I've been thinking that perhaps Groovy Tuesday has come to its natural end. It started out as a blog about a group of groovy women and their quest, struggles and triumphs in trying to live God-focused lives. It slowly morphed more into my personal blog. I've changed and have a new focus this year ~ and that is why I have been wondering if it's time to end this blog and start a new one.

On the other hand, the Groovies are still meeting on Tuesdays. A few of the names have changed but we are still a bonded group of women sharing our quest, struggles and triumphs. And so our stories continue. Imagine the possibilities.

Listen and Act

2012-01-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

" When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like, 'If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.' Since then ... I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer had been 'no' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Your time is limited ...Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition....Put a dent in the universe."    (from Steve Jobs' June 12, 2005, Stanford Commencement Address, last sentence from separate interview)

I believe that we are all intended to put a dent in the universe, but to take Steve's quote a bit further, I believe we are not on this earth merely for our own pleasure, accomplishments and self-satisfaction. The world may tell us otherwise, but we all matter; we all have a place and a purpose. The only way to impact the world in a self-less way is by knowing who you are, whose you are, how you are wired and for what purpose ~ and then take action! The cost of not doing so are great not only to you but to your place in the world. The rewards of doing so are immeasurable and often unexpected.

Imagine the dent that you have been created to make!

Happy New Year!

Ring Out the Old and Welcome the New

2011-12-30T07:12:00.000-08:00

Two days partying in the city with the Groovies and our hubbies. Shop. Play. Dinner. Dance. Maybe even ice skate in the holiday rink. Yahoo! However you ring out the old and welcome the new, have fun, be safe and I'll see you in 2012.

Christmas. Birthday. New Year.

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today is my birthday. My week's celebration begins with Christmas and ends with New Year's. It's like the coveted hat trick in hockey.

I used to hate that my birthday got lost in the midst of these two big holidays but now I like being sandwiched between them both. It's an endless party, not in the literal sense, but in my heart. It's a time of so many beginnings and endings, thoughtful reflection and hopeful expectation. I actually feel unburdened and open to the possibilities of beginning the new calendar year with a new birth year.

I've never had to work or go to school during this celebratory week. That's probably another reason it feels so grand. And I've made a point not to rush into the first few days of the new year. I just want to breathe in the freshness, slow time down just a bit and absorb being in the moment before the moments become a blurr.

Time is precious. It's becoming even more so.

Imagine ~ In Celebration of a Gift for You.

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

Imagine ~

For unto us ~ a gift for all mankind ~ a child is born ...

the Light of the World

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Merry Christmas, World!

Imagine ~ In Which Christmas Do You Believe?

2011-12-24T05:44:00.000-08:00

Imagine. Tonight a big, fat Santa is going to deliver toys to boys and girls all over the world before the sun rises. He's going to do it while riding a flying sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, one with a glowing red nose.

Imagine. Tonight Joseph and a very pregnant Mary are finishing their journey to Bethlehem. They're going to welcome their first-born in a barn, visited by shepherds and angels. Tonight the Son of God is preparing to make His journey into a world that will joyfully greet Him and eventually reject Him.

Imagine. It's a choice to believe. Both Christmas stories sound magical and a bit unreal. One, however, is not.

Imagine ~ In Love and Acceptance. That People Matter.

2011-12-23T05:14:00.000-08:00

Imagine. A world in which love, not hate, fills our hearts. Imagine. A world in which acceptance, not rejection, rules our relationships. Imagine. A world in which people, not things, captures our focus.

Now imagine a Father, a King, sending His only Son to live among mankind as one of us. Imagine a Son who comes not only to model love, acceptance and that people matter, but then goes to the cross and dies so that we may live eternally in His royal kingdom. Who does that? Imagine.

Imagine ~ In the Spirit

2011-12-22T05:46:00.000-08:00

For life's everyday joys, sorrows and sniffles, reach for the gentle comfort of Kleenex tissues. With the perfect balance of softness and strength, each tissue soothes your sniffles, sneezes and tears, and leaves your spirits uplifted. ~ (back of a Kleenex box)

Imagine that the comforts of life are not found or paid for in a tissue box, nor in anything manufactured by man. Imagine, instead, that they are found in a different kind of box, one found in a manger.

Imagine, for life's everyday joys, sorrows and sniffles, reaching for the gentle comfort of a Savior. Imagine, with the perfect balance of softness and strength, that He will soothe your sniffles, sneezes and tears, and leave your spirits uplifted. Imagine.

Imagine ~ In the Light

2011-12-21T05:26:00.000-08:00

Hooray! Winter solstice. Today is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere! Hooray! That means the daylight will slowly be lengthening. Hooray!

Imagine a day with no light. Imagine perpetual darkness. Imagine being eternally lost. Or imagine, instead, His unending Light.

Imagine ~ I Dare Not

2011-12-20T05:22:00.000-08:00

Imagine. What if teenage Jesus decided He wasn't going into ministry but chose instead to live out His earthly tenure as a monk on a solitary hill? Imagine. What if pre-teen Jesus decided He just didn't want to follow His parents' rules anymore (earthly and heavenly)? Imagine. What if baby Jesus decided He wasn't crazy about His impending human circumstances and refused to be born? Imagine a kind of rebellion not seen since the days of Satan's fall. My imagination can barely go there; my heart scarcely beats at the very thought.

Imagine

2011-12-19T07:55:00.000-08:00

Imagine if Mary had had a change of heart. Imagine that she succumbed to the social and cultural pressures of being an unmarried mother. Imagine that she decided that the responsibility of raising God's Son was just too much trouble or infringed on her personal plans. Imagine that Mary opted for an abortion instead. Imagine how different the world or your life would be. Imagine.

Serving in the Army

2011-12-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

I'm off to ring bells for the Salvation Army at our local mall. This will be my 3rd or 4th year ringing, and I must admit I wasn't such an ardent fan in the beginning. I just didn't know what this army was all about and it seemed kinda cheesy to be standing by a red kettle ringing a bell. But I've come to know this army as one that really does help those in need, and spends very little of its receipts on administrative costs.

So I'm joining my Groovy sisters and our husbands for a fabulous homemade breakfast extravaganza before we all go out and do our duty. We are humbled to know that we have both the resources to celebrate together and to give to others this Christmas season.

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing yee dismay.

Of Sugar Plum Fairies and a Christmas Mouse

2011-12-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

from Google images

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

I have a thing for peanut M&M's. I keep a wee tiny bowl of them on my desk for inspirational munching while I work. Turns out someone else has been munching, too. We recently discovered that we have a Christmas mouse in our house who apparently has a thing for peanut M&M's, too. My husband discovered the leftovers behind my laptop. Evidently our little mouse loves the chocolate and peanuts but isn't a big fan of the outer sugar shell, which are left in a neat pile.

We weren't completely sure we had a mouse until my son said he saw it scurry across the kitchen floor and squeeze under the stove. Now I'm pretty impressed. There isn't a whole lot of room under that range to scurry, particularly if you have been feasting on peanut M&M's.

I was totally enamored by our little guest, until my hubby told me that it might be a girl and girls have babies and that leads to a family of mice. I don't want to know what he plans to do about it. I prefer to keep visions of sugarplum fairies and our M&M-eating Christmas mouse in my head.

Throughout the Year

2011-12-14T05:33:00.000-08:00

December is full of anticipation and prone to exaggeration ~ wanting and giving lots of gifts or hoping for perhaps just the right one, overdecorating both the inside and outside of our houses, making and eating too much high-calorie but very yummy food, trying to forget old hurts (or even fresh new ones) to embrace love and joy. It can be crazy and over-the-top but I dig it anyway.

One of the things I really, really like about this season is getting together with friends to reaffirm our good will toward each other, if not all mankind. There's something very weird, yet very magical about how maudlin and loving and accepting and altruistic and peaceful we feel this time of year.

And then there is sweet January. It's the quiet interlude after the hectic holidays and before the new year rises and grabs us by the throat. Our houses return to normal as the decorations are boxed up and stowed away. The meals become more manageable. The busyness settles down to a familiar hum. And we all go back to whatever we were doing before the fantastic interruption of Christmas.

It's too bad that the sweetness, the love, the acceptance, the peace and the joy don't linger longer. A refrain of one of my favorite songs of this season is "oh that we would only feel this way throughout the year." (or something like that) If truth be told, I'm talking about myself and not just the world around me. I can choose to act this way past magical December and beyond sweet January, and then those feelings will follow me throughout the year.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-12-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

Not to be a Negative Nelly during this most wonderful time of the year, but do I have to get some kind of cold or flu thing every December? Don't get me wrong. I'm not terribly sick, just sound it because my nagging cough has trashed my voice box. It's just annoying. It could also be God's clever little way of getting me to slow down enough to absorb the true beauty of Christmas, reflect on the year that is coming to a close and ponder on the one that will soon be unfolding.

I do love December/January for those reasons. It's arbitrary, I know. We could have chosen any time of year to mark its beginning and end, but our calendars are already printed for 2012. And I'm glad for it. I'm glad that the end of my year is marked by the birth of Christ. It's a most satisfactory kind of ending ~ an ending that celebrates a new beginning ~ and what more wonderful way to start a new year than with a birth of new life or a rebirth of renewed life?

Who Does This Kind of Thing?

2011-12-12T05:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Believers and Non-Believers and Curious Seekers,

I have an incredible word lesson to share with you. I can't take credit for its content but I can share it with enthusiastic passion, a childlike wonderment, and an astonished and grateful heart.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!- 1 John 3:3

{Love }

With our narrow range of words in the English language to convey a specific meaning, we may read the word "love" and think of parental love, romantic love, adulation or even adoration. But none, none of those meanings convey the message of the original Greek text. The specific Greek word for "love" in this instance referred to a "foreign" love, a "who does this kind of thing?" love. It is a completely uncommon and unexpected love.

What god loves his people so much that he sends his son to live among them, love them and ultimately die for them so that they can be embraced into the family of this god?

It is this "who does this kind of thing" love that is at the heart of the Christmas story. It is the love of God who gladly, willingly, lavishly spills His most precious treasure over us.

It is with deep and humble gratitude, Lord, that I receive your priceless gift. And as a child on Christmas morn, I eagerly tear at the beautiful wrapping to behold and embrace the love that resides inside; Your unfathomable, "who does this kind of thing?" love that is given freely and lavishly from You to me. I can only love you back in my own uncommon and unexpected way..

One Glorious Gift of Love

2011-12-10T16:57:00.000-08:00

(photo from Google images)

It has been a fast and interesting couple of days. Thoughts swirling. Visions streaming. Emotions running. Good stuff. Not so good stuff. But right now what sticks with me is the Christmas spirit outside my living room window. I can always tell when there are little kids living on my street because holiday lights, colored and white, fancy and simple, spring up on almost every house. It's like the whole neighborhood catches holiday fever, vicariously re-living our own childhood through their excitement and joy. It's so pure. So sweet. Somehow kids are able to wrap up twinkling lights, presents and baby Jesus into one glorious gift of love. It's a magical celebration and I don't want to miss a moment of it.

Join Me Today and Tomorrow

2011-12-08T05:42:00.000-08:00

Two day pop-up shop. Giving back. Helping others. Freeing the enslaved. Merry Christmas.

http://www.studiounfiltered.com/2011/pop-up-with-us-this-holiday-shopping-season/

Undeserving Gift

2011-12-07T05:53:00.000-08:00

I wasn't very nice yesterday. I always get a bit flummoxed the week that I prepare for a jewelry show, but yesterday was over the top. It's like all heaven and earth and my family know that my time is tight and unavailable, yet the universe converges to want my time, attention and whatever else I'm willing to give right now, this week when I am pressed and distracted. All this is to say that I wasn't very nice to a certain someone who didn't deserve it. I was even aware of my bratty behavior while engaged in said behavior, but that didn't stop me. Yet God presented me with the sweetest gift that alleviated some of my pressure.

Maybe He was giving me an "atta girl" for at least being aware of my poor performance; or maybe because I made a point to apologize sooner rather than later. All I know is that I didn't really deserve that sweet gift but I got it anyway. A cynic would say it was to make me feel all the more guilty about my actions. My heavenly Father would say it's because He loves me and gives me His best even when I'm not giving my best to others.

Thank You, Abba. Lesson noted. Gift appreciated. Today I'm going to pay it forward.

Each Day

2011-12-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

Nothing to say. Busy with jewelry making for my show this week. With trying to stay focused on each day of this joyous season and not get to far ahead of myself. With actively incorporating yoga back into my work-out routine. With trying not to get freaked out that yet another birthday is rapidly approaching as this year winds down. How can another New Year's be upon us? I'm still navigating this one!!! Oops, sorry, back to trying to stay focused on each day of this joyous season.

Confession

2011-12-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. I'm a fairly healthy eater, eschewing a lot of junk and prepackaged foods, but at Christmas, I am hopelessly attracted to all the sugary goodies that load the grocery shelves this time of year. The cookies, candy and other confections are all so enticing. Fortunately, I am also attracted to the smorgasbord of good foods. To me, eating freshly baked squash is just as enticing as a peppermint chocolate cookie, even more so because my tummy is really happier without the sugar. Well, okay, my tummy may be happier, but my brain is saying "goodie, goodie, goodie, a cookie!" So I'll be dieting along with the rest of you come January, but in the meantime, let the sugar plum fairies arise!

Nowhere and Nothing

2011-12-02T05:20:00.000-08:00

Took a restorative day yesterday. It was exactly what I needed after the Thanksgiving weekend. As wonderful as it was, I needed a day to go nowhere, do nothing (except what I chose to do in the moment) and slow cook a roast. Without it, the upcoming busy, busy weekend, with no time for rest, would drain me as much as it entertained me. Thankful for mid-week sabbath.

Christmas Lights and Marriage Building

2011-12-01T05:16:00.000-08:00

Can we talk? What is it with husbands and wives, and Christmas lights? The Groovies were at my house, which is fully decorated inside and out for Christmas; the sight of which got a laugh-filled conversation going about our spouses and Christmas lights. Waiting, waiting, waiting for a husband to install the lights so a wife can finally decorate the tree. A wife helpfully re-stringing the outdoor lights because a husband has hung them a bit "off," and he's feeling the opposite of helped. A husband who breaks off the tree stand spike while mounting the over-sized tree, so the tree has to go back to the tree lot and have a fresh cut made before it can even be decorated. And that's just some of this year's stories. Don't even ask about the encounter with the tree topper angel.

The conversation had us in stitches as we made fun of ourselves and the situations. After all, the lights are meant to be a decorative expression of the peace and good cheer of the season, not an object of marital discord. What lesson did we learn? Buy a fake tree. One that has the lights already installed. And that, dear readers, is my marriage building lesson for today.

(Postscript~ So after our gab fest, I had to ask my husband if he feels in any way dishonored when we put up our lights. He said, heck no. He thrilled with his part ~ putting our fake, pre-lit tree together and stringing the outside lights in my designate pattern. And he's more than pleased to step back and let me do the rest. ~ Wait a minute here. Is he getting off easy or is that teamwork? LOL)

From My Perspective Anyway

2011-11-30T05:25:00.000-08:00

"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point." ~ author unknown

Your Turn

2011-11-29T07:20:00.000-08:00

competitive ~ (adj) ~ determined by competition

After nay saying the hype around the iphone, I finally succumbed and bought one about a month ago. Can we say fun? It does a zillion different things I have yet to figure out, and oh yeah, it's a phone, too.

Fellow Groovy, Peppermint Patty, also bought one and we have discovered the Words With Friends application. If you're not familiar, this app is Scrabble played via our smart phones. It's funny how you think you know someone until you engage in a bit of friendly competition. Sweet Miss Peppermint, whom I've known for years, has a real competitive streak in her. Yikes! We have five games going simultaneously and she is ruthless and relentless ~ in a nice way, of course. She's keeping me on my toes, which is good for my brain. Old words are resurfacing and new words are being discovered. And in a way that only social networking can do, I am connecting daily with my friend, which is something we didn't do before.

Thank you, Miss Peppermint. Your turn!

Celebrating Food, Friendship and Love

2011-11-28T05:42:00.000-08:00

The long Thanksgiving weekend has come and gone, and Christmas is upon us. The pre-Thanksgiving hype about Christmas turns me off, but oh, how I love celebrating Thanksgiving itself by welcoming Christmas. It just seems a natural fit. I spend a wonderful day sharing food, friendship and love, then spend the day after decorating and preparing for the most life-giving food, the most intimate friendship, and the most powerful, unconditional love that is Christ. It's a magical time of year ~ the music, the decorations, and the spirit of brotherhood and peace in the air, all wrapped around the promise that is Christ.

The kid in me relishes the surprises of Christmas present; the adult in me bathes in the memories of Christmas past. It really is amazing how powerful those memories are and how I am drawn to recreating those sights, smells and sounds. Yesterday I made a beef stew that simmered in brandy and cranberries for over 3 hours. The smell was positively divine but the taste even more so. Add my family around the table, which has been set in the first of many festive displays, music of the season, a house lit only by candlelight and the Christmas tree, and I simultaneously breathed it all in as an adult and a child. I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

This Christmas season, however you celebrate, with whomever you celebrate, and even if your celebration is tainted by loss, my prayer for you is that you, too, are filled to the brim with gratitude for the gifts of life, love and peace that is only Christ's to give.

I Am Me

2011-11-26T05:05:00.000-08:00

I met an elderly woman this week who in my mind is beautiful and worthy of being accepted for who she is ~ despite a recent stroke and heart attack ~ rather than being branded as someone who used to keep a perfect house, made prize-worthy meals and dressed impeccably. I found her witty and charming. Granted, I didn't know her then so I have nothing to compare her to now but maybe that's how it should be.

Why is it we often refer to an aging or chronically ill or newly disabled person as the person they used to be? Why is it we can't allow this person the dignity of being who they are now? It seems to me that he or she then becomes frozen in what was rather than rejoicing in what is.

Rethinking Black

2011-11-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

Black Friday. I always used to think that was a very weird name for the biggest shopping day of the year. I know it refers to the theoretical day when many retailing businesses enter the four short weeks when they earn most of their entire year's profits, but it still sounds so morbid. There once was a time when I eagerly anticipated this shopping day. While the men watched after-Turkey-dinner football, the women would be at the kitchen table plotting out our Friday shopping route. That was back in the day when Black Friday offered the absolute best deals of the season, after which prices would be at their highest until Christmas Eve.

Lots of things have conspired to take away the magic of Black Friday and make this crazy shopping day much less appealing. I spent 5 years in the corporate buying offices of a large company. That will take away your enthusiasm for Black Friday. Instead, it starts the highly angst ridden days of praying that your business plan works and you end up a hero instead of a bum at the end of the Christmas season.

For the past 5 years years or more, it seems that retailers have gotten more anxious and nervous, and began offering ridiculous deals all throughout the Christmas shopping season. I mean why drag yourself out of bed when you can get almost the same deal two weeks later when the corporate bigwigs start to panic and demand greater sales volume? So it just didn't make sense to me to shop in the Black Friday mayhem.

On-line shopping became more appealing. Nothing like sitting in my jammies with a hot cup of tea and let my fingers do the walking, and my credit card do the shopping. Besides, I love it when the UPS truck stops in front of my house with packages to open and re-discover what I purchased.

The biggest determent to Black Friday is that we sort of stopped giving gifts because we sort of don't need anything. Not that we don't want anything, but we no longer wrap Christmas up in a pretty, bow-covered box. It has become more about the gift that was given to us 2,000 years ago that still remains fresh and vibrant and meaningful, long after the last sale has ended.

Giving Thanks by Word and Deed

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." ~ Colossians 3:17

Happy Thanksgiving!

Appetizers Before Turkey

2011-11-22T05:17:00.000-08:00

Road Trip ~ Quickie

Today and tomorrow. Tahoe. Snow. Mountains. Skiing. Then home again, home again, jiggety jig. In time for Thanksgiving with the family.

Thank You, Lord, for husbands who are willing to take a 48 hour side trip, for daughters who are willing to cook the turkey, for sons who are willing to drive grandmothers and meet us at the family gathering.

Gimme a Break

2011-11-21T05:47:00.000-08:00

Lesson from the Garden ~ Backyard Remodel

As you know, the backyard remodel is on hold while a new roof was being installed and subsequent interior patching and painting was tackled. All done. Bravo! But as you also know from this continuing saga, when it rains it pours. So, our hot water heater decided it wanted to be part of the fun. Fortunately, we still have hot water but unfortunately, the tank is leaking enough that it needs to be replaced. And yes, we are now in the process of buying and installing a new one. (Ironically, the hot water heater went out the last time we installed a new roof 15 years ago. I see a pattern here!)

My husband's response to this latest addition to our unintended detour from the outside in, "Gimme a break!"

And that's how we went into the weekend. But we did get a break! After two previous cloudy and rainy days, the sun came out on Saturday, the day that my girlfriends and I took a ferry adventure to a lovely little, artsy town on the bay where we enjoyed laughter, good food, sunshine and each other's company. We were doing an early birthday celebration for two of us since the holidays make it difficult to do otherwise.

On Sunday, my husband and I tackled the house to complete the small finishing details that previously felt too overwhelming to even think about. I think we are ready to refocus our time, energy and money back outside to the backyard where it all began.

Thank You, Lord, for this sweet and much-needed restorative and fruitful weekend.

Even Tony Gets It

2011-11-19T06:19:00.000-08:00

Warning: I'm about to go off on another rant about the media/fashion industry's distorted message that being poverty thin makes a woman desirable, successful, and beautiful. They would coil at my positioning of the words "poverty" and "thin," but that's the level of mockery in which they regard real, every day women. This attitude is so pervasive that even our elementary school daughters are being teased and mocked for their normal, pre-puberty bodies.

So I was intrigued when a columnist in our local newspaper took up my flag. Actually, he doesn't even know me, but he is the father of four daughters, and he does write a seriously funny and often irreverent column on modern culture as he sees it. And even he sees this obsession with extreme thinness as perverted and downright unattractive, so much so that he was surprised over his alignment with Miley Cyrus on this subject since he's not a big fan of hers. And I quote his reaction to Miley's comment that she's tired of people calling her fat just because she has curves rather than a broomstick for a figure.

"It's the definition of 'attractive' that's changing. Only the fashion industry ~ with its hold on the hearts and minds of so many females ~ hasn't gotten that through its collective, well-coiffed head. Despite years of criticism from medical professionals and otherwise incredibly sensible people like Miley Cyrus and me, the fashion industry still exhibits its wares mostly on the frames of women who weigh as much as my left leg, telling us 'this is what women should aspire to look like.'

I'm not sure why, because expressionless women who get carried away by a moderate breeze aren't that physically attractive. And it's not just me...Healthy women who are physically and mentally strong are the new black...The fashion industry is woefully behind on what constitutes 'attractive' in the 21st century. No longer do men want someone who looks like she's spending too much time giving blood. At least Miley says so. And,odd as it feels, I couldn't agree more."

(Blogmeister's note: Tony Hick's article published in the 11/18/11 issue of Tri-Valley Times)

Yoga Lesson

2011-11-18T06:08:00.000-08:00

(photo from Yoga From the Heart)

Do you ever have the feeling that you've missed the boat? I had that eerie feeling yesterday morning as I pulled into the parking lot for yoga class. Too many parked cars, no one walking toward the door. Granted, there are other businesses in the vicinity and those car could belong to them, but the 15 minutes before class typically brings a flood of people ready to stake their claim on the yoga mat. Bikrim (hot) yoga has become very popular but not many studios offer it, so this studio is always jam packed, with late comers looking for the few leftover inches that haven't already been claimed.

At first I thought I was one of the unfortunate stragglers, but as I got closer to the door I had this sinking feeling that the class had already begun. Trust me, you don't want to miss a second of this class because it starts fast and picks up speed from there. As I put my hand on the door, my heart sank. Sure enough, right there on the posted sign, 9:00 a.m. not 9:30. I was not only not early, as I had originally thought, but I was very late. As I walked dejected back to my car, my spirits lifted at the thought of coming back at night and taking the class then. It will be harder as I am a morning person and don't thrill at the idea of exercising at night, but the thought gave me hope.

That's the cool thing about second chances. I may have the nauseating feeling that I've blown it or missed out, but there often comes another opportunity to do or try again ~ like my walk with Christ. I try to follow in His footsteps but sometimes I lose sight of them, or willingly step off to the side. In His grace and mercy, I can acknowledge my error and be encouraged to get back on His path. This thought gives me hope.

Barnabas aka Rainmaker

2011-11-17T06:03:00.000-08:00

I attended a very interesting networking group this morning. It wasn't a typical business group where people are looking to make connections and make a buck. It had a philanthropic focus and the attendees were there to see if they could help someone else make connections, raise funds and be successful in their nonprofit venue.

The idea is that once a quarter, three speakers present their organization's vision, goals and needs. Then, during the breakout sessions, we, the audience, participate in small group discussions in ways to best fulfill those needs. It was interesting, exciting, challenging and fulfilling. I hope to make this a regular habit. It's right up my Barnabas alley. I really get a kick out of making connections to help others succeed.. Just call me Rainmaker.

Nature's Palette

2011-11-16T05:36:00.000-08:00

I don't think that I shall ever see a beauty as lovely as an autumn tree ~ my view this morning as I walked.

Put Out

2011-11-15T06:06:00.000-08:00

There's a reason God has me "put out" ~ as in put out of my work room so my son could have a safe landing from joblessness ~ as in put out of my subsequent work corner so the ceiling could be repaired and the walls painted ~ as in put out over the chaotic disruption of the temporarily unusable back yard. He's teaching me something. I guess I have to stop feeling "put out" about it and wait to be "poured in."

Conversion

2011-11-14T05:18:00.000-08:00

It took the entire day but I scored my bi-annual conversion. No, not the 3-point kind in football. It's the glorious change over of my house from one seasonal look to another ~ kind of like a new beginning twice a year. The area rugs and pillows get traded out. The bed covers get heavier and more opulent, or less, depending upon the temps. Even the decorative glassware gets swapped according to season. I do it because it gets me in the mood for the changing weather, and because honestly, I get bored. Warm weather gets more cool blues and greens. Cool weather gets more warm reds and golds.

I must admit I used to even move the pictures onto different walls and re-arrange everything in my display cabinets, but I'm over that. I did get my husband to repaint the living room walls since the newly repaired ceiling had to be painted. So now my house is fresh and ready for the months ahead, and it feels good.

The Reason Is...

2011-11-12T04:16:00.000-08:00

"What exactly is God's motivation toward humanity?...love...If the message that God wants to get across to us is just about getting our beliefs right, then He didn't need to come Himself. If God's entire intent was to simply overwhelm us with the miraculous so that we could finally believe, no personal visitation is necessary. There is only one reason to come Himself, because in issues of love, you just can't have someone else stand in for you." - (Erwin McMannus, Soul Cravings)

So I'm sitting here in a coffee shop looking out at the humans running through the rain-soaked parking lot and I ask, "Really? Really? He desires us car-driving, shopping-obsessed, self-absorbed suburbanites?" Yet in the hills just beyond, it is still, and I see Him waiting patiently indeed, His passion fully kindled and His desire undeterred ~ a passion and desire for which I am fully grateful.

Nebulizer to the Moon

2011-11-11T05:58:00.000-08:00

My 95-year-old mother lives with cancer and heart disease. She takes a handful of meds daily, which she has been doing for years. She's a fighter, a trooper, a lover of life but a horrible patient. So her current battle with a stubborn cough/cold has her under the weather mentally and emotionally,not just physically. The cough is yucky and she's not thrilled with the meds designed to make her cough more so the gunk doesn't settle in her lungs. But the symptoms aren't getting her down as much as her inability to remember when to take what of the new drugs on top of the drugs she has already been taking. Add to that her lack of mechanical and technical acuity, and you would think that asking her to use a motorized nebulizer to deliver meds directly to her lungs, was asking her to build a space ship and fly it to the moon

I get it. I really do. Being unhealthy sucks. Being sick on top of unhealthy is even suckier. Keeping track of meds throughout the day is a complete distraction, particularly at her age. But honestly, I was caught off guard by her tears over an inability to figure out the nebulizer. It wasn't the nebulizer, per se. It was her feeling helpless and frustrated over having to deal with all of this ~ added to her difficulty remembering what to take when, which makes her feel dumb.

She has always been hard on herself when it comes to matters of the mind, and she hates it when she feels "stupid." I don't know if she heard those words growing up, or if she decided for herself that the intellect was everything. It's too bad she doesn't get that in her Maker's eyes, she is valued just because she is His.

Outside In

2011-11-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

Lessons from the Garden ~ Backyard Remodel

Today is the day my backyard remodel completely disrupted the inside of my house.

If you remember the sequence ~ for the want of a repaired outdoor wall, the waterfall had to come down ~ for the want of replacing the facia boards, the overhanging shade shelter had to come down ~ for the want of a replacing our leaking roof, 5 men camped on my roof for 4 days ~ for the want of a more eco-efficient roof, the skylights had to be raised ~ for the want of raised skylights, the interior ceiling wells had to be reinforced ~ for the want of refinishing the interior ceiling wells, new plaster had to be laid down ~ for the want of new plastering, the prior leak damage in the living room and master bedroom had to be included ~ for the want of including these rooms, the furniture had to be moved to the garage ~ for the want of painting the repaired ceilings, new paint had to be purchased.

So today I'm hiding out in my kitchen, because it's about the only room in the house that is "safe."

This backyard remodel is totally upside down and outside in!

Season of Thanks

2011-11-09T05:26:00.000-08:00

thankful ~ grateful
grateful ~ appreciative of benefits received

It's November. In light of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, it's so cliche` to expound on the things for which I'm grateful ~ and I wasn't going to do it just because it's the season to do so ~ but I've been thinking and I really do have much to be thankful for. And so, while I do express appreciation throughout the year, I will also participate in this annual ritual of giving thanks.

I begin with a deep gratitude for life. My life. Living things around me. God's creation. Thank You, Lord, for breathing life into me, into this world.

In the beginning, God created .... (Genesis 1:1)

Thankful for My Friend

2011-11-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

I have never really thought of God as my friend. Lord. You bet. Creator. Check. Father. Yes. He's my designer and creator, and I am privileged to be called His daughter, but friend? For someone to be a friend means I have to know him or her. And the more I know this person favorably, the more I choose to be in relationship.

In this Thanksgiving season, I am grateful for my friendship with God. I am thankful that in His Son, I have not only salvation but an approachable role model on how to live a fulfilling and loving life. Christ chooses to walk in relationship with me, as I Him. Our friendship is sweet and while I sometimes balk, I am thankful for His loving willingness and ability to hold me accountable for the actions I say I want to live by daily. Thank You, sweet Friend.

Puppets

2011-11-07T05:13:00.000-08:00

One of the bloggers I follow on a fairly regular basis has decided to sign off for the entire month of November. She's neither writing blogs nor reading them, tweeting or re-tweeting, not even Facebooking. She's gone AWOL not for any other reason than she feels she needs a break from virtual life to focus on her real one. Some people might argue that her on-line community is merely an extension of her local one, but I get where she's coming from. I really do.

I've been wrestling with some of this social media stuff myself ~ more specifically with Facebook. For a venue that captures so much of our lives, which we willingly post, I might add ~ we have so little control over how the Facebook Masters manipulate us Facebook puppets. They have our information in their hands to be dispensed, disposed of and/or archived to their liking. That's the part that bothers me. So lately I've been deleting photos (although I know Facebook keeps them in their basement) and been more selective on my personal posts, saying less. That's not so hard.

The tough thing is I'm a commentator ~ I like to comment on other people's posts. I guess that makes me feel like I'm part of the dialogue, but maybe it's more just about expressing my opinion simply because I have one. And I'm beginning to ask myself if that's really necessary; do people really care about my two cents' worth? Do I really care? And it's about at this point that I have to stop getting all philosophical about social media and just accept it at face value for what it is. I'm just to be more careful about which media I attach my puppet strings to and how frequently I dance their dance.

Groove On

2011-11-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

My husband and I spent the afternoon listening to rock classics on Pandora radio, and breaking into impromptu, spontaneous dancing. Boy, it sure brought back many, many memories and it was fun to get a groove going in our living room. Not that it was planned, but it sure was appropriate to take a blast to the past since he is celebrating his birthday today. So honey, you're only as old as you want to be today. I suggest you shake them hips and keep the groove on!

Happy Birthday to my Main Squeeze and Life Dance Partner! Love you!!!

(groovin' at Halloween)

How Did Our Back Yard Remodel End Up Inside?

2011-11-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

Lessons from the Garden ~ Back Yard Remodel

The back yard remodel has moved indoors. I swear some day we will get back to actually reworking the back yard, but right now the "side" job of replacing our roof has taken us back inside. It seems that the foam installation is upwards to 3 inches thick and so the skylights had to be raised from their original height. That means the inside "well" that transitions from the bathroom ceilings to the skylights had to have new drywall in order to cover the extra wood that was installed to raise the skylights. Are you still with me? Of course, that means the entire "well" has to be re-textured and we all know what that means ~ it's gotta be re-painted!

In the meantime, autumn is advancing, even here in our mild climate, so that means cooler weather and rain. So the actual back yard remodel will have to be executed intermittently as the weather (and at this point, our finances) allow.

It's never dull around here. that's for sure. Thank You, Lord, for a husband who is handy with tools, that's all I have to say. Well, I could really say more about these unexpected delays but I might cry and after all, my "word" for this year is joy (despite circumstances). And so, this blog post comes to an end while I can still crack a smile.

Change, Change Go Away, Don't Come Back Another Day

2011-11-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

Can we talk? What is it with these techie guys who make changes that are illogical in the real world? I get that innovation brings change, and change is often awkward and difficult. But really, if techies want us to embrace a new idea, it has to at least function in a real person's world. And that's how I feel about the design changes proposed by Blogger. Nuff said.

Allure of the Apple

2011-11-02T05:58:00.000-07:00

So yesterday afternoon three of us Groovies went smart phone shopping. One already had her newer Droid and went as our advisor. One had a phone from the dark ages and was thrilled to be coming into the 21st century. And me, hating my current smart phone for 2 years and happy to finally be eligible for an upgrade.

What did we buy? The dark ages Groovy bought a bright white iphone that gleams with the possibilities of total connectedness. Me? I haven't made up my mind yet. Part of me thinks all this obsession over technical "connectedness" is really not being connected at all, and part of me wants "in." I just don't see me walking around with a phone attached to the palm of my hand. It really is offensive to be with someone, even in a group setting, who is constantly checking her phone, as if the phone was better company than the "live" people around her. Real life slips by while virtual life becomes a poor substitute for reality.

A blogger I follow said she's signing off all social media for the entire month of November. It's not that she's inherently against such connections, but she feels a need to go deeper into areas of her life that require more reflection and contemplation. I know what she's talking about. And yet, here I am wrestling over my next phone. Go figure.

P.S. It will probably be a 16g white iphone 4S. Yep, I'm thinking of crossing over and leaving OS land. It shouldn't really matter since aren't all smart phones "smart?" But the allure of Apple is hard to resist. Even Eve didn't do a very good job of it in the Garden of Eden.

24 Hour Beauty

2011-11-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

Night shots at the beach ~ priceless.

Beautiful. Masterful. Intricate. Deadly.

2011-10-31T06:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween

Beach Time!

2011-10-28T05:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend is Groovy beach weekend. Where we live, October has to be one of the most beautiful times of the year to go beachin' and we are all looking forward to it. But beyond the sheer beauty of our surroundings, we are eager to spend girlfriend time together. We have shared a lot of life, we Groovies, and we have shared even more laughs. It's so refreshing when a group of women can get together with no competition, no back-biting, no gossip, and just thoroughly enjoy each other's company. Make no mistake, we do get into some "heavy" conversations, but that's the beauty of these women. We can laugh, cry, eat, play and pray together ~ and it feels good.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. ~ 1 John 4:7

(Blogmeister's Note: I'll be back on my blog Monday. Enjoy your weekend!)

Chinese Water Torture

2011-10-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

Lessons from the Garden ~ Back Yard Remodel

Drip. Drip. Drip. Not a soft drip. Not an intermediate drip. A steady, metallic drip from my new roof down into my new rain spouts. The good news ~ the roof is sealed tight, virtually waterproof. The unsettling news ~ this wonderful roof doesn't even absorb the dew that collects overnight. Instead, it faithfully directs and encourages those lovely little droplets to work their way over to the spout and off the edge ~ hitting the L-shaped curve in the drain pipes with a loud "thunk, thunk, thunk." Well, not really that loud when the world is awake. But wake-me-up-loud in the early morning when I'm not quite awake but preparing for re-entry. And then I hear it. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. A nice, steady cadence. Like Chinese water torture.

I can't imagine what it will sound like during our rainy season! I guess the sound I will have to concentrate on then is the silence of our dollar bills sitting in our wallet instead of steadily marching to the tune of roof repairs. Hey, that drip, drip, drip doesn't sound so bad after all!

A Different Take on Beauty

2011-10-26T08:36:00.001-07:00

To have beautiful lips, say beautiful things; to have beautiful eyes, look at people and see the good in them; to stay thin, share meals with someone who is hungry. ~ Audrey Hepburn

Art, Conversation and Time Travel

2011-10-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

Met an interesting group of art-minded people last night at my first ever art salon. It was started by a friend of mine who loves the arts. The salon is intended to be a venue for thought-provoking, stimulating and uplifting discussion centered around the intersection of art, culture and life. Thirteen people attended and the room crackled with energy, passion and enthusiasm. It almost felt like college again. Oh my! Perhaps I've found the secret to time travel.

I'm Melting

2011-10-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is with our family, but we have a thing about melting stuff. You might remember my post about the kleenex box and the light bulb in our garage. http://groovytuesdays.blogspot.com/2010/02/hero-and-fool.html Well, this time it's our favorite stainless steel barbecue pan and spatula. It's the pan in which I cook vegetables, make meatballs, fry bacon and more. I use it ~ or rather used it almost every day ~ until it fell victim to benign neglect.

We didn't mean to murder our pan. It just got finished making a marvelous stew for lunch, which we ate down to the last drop. And that's where the trouble started. Whoever took the final scoops didn't take the pan off the barbecue (which had been turned off but was still hot). That was understandable as the pan was too hot to pick up so it was left to cool down ~ but unfortunately the lid to the barbecue was closed on top of it. And so the path to destruction was set.

The meal was enjoyed and the poor pan forgotten ~ until the next time we went to barbecue. I didn't look for the pan right away so there it sat, inside the barbecue, with no one peaking inside for extra measure, and the gas was lit. By the time I came outside to cook, dense smoke was wafting up from under the lid. That would be the black spatula handle that literally melted over the edge of the pan like a Dada-esque clock. To my horror, the spatula had literally fused itself to the pan forever!

I mean, really! You would think that we learned our lessons about burning and melting stuff after the near miss with the light bulb. I guess it can happen to anyone but the facts are clear = take the pan off the grill, clean your dishes and don't light the barbecue until you've looked under the hood. There's a greater life lesson in all this but I'm still too bummed over the loss of my pan and spatula right now to think about what that might be.

I Heart

2011-10-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

Last night it was 73 degrees at 9:30pm. Today it's spectacularly warm (90?), clear, sunny and Sunday! Wow, this is what I'm talkin' about ~ the most beautiful time of the year in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I heart it here. Time to get outside and play!

Not !

2011-10-21T05:42:00.000-07:00

I would love to say this photo graced an article denying that shopping is the way to happiness, but it didn't. It did offer minor acknowledgment that since becoming a mother, the author can no longer indulge entirely in her mantra that clothes-make-the-woman (her baby barely trumped her clothes closet). She spent a lot of time whining about the loss of freedom to attend three-day parties celebrating some big-name designer's new collection. Her tone was partially tongue-in-cheek and partially her truth.

I get it. Really I do. I'm not a clothes horse but I get how women can get wrapped up in the whole fashion scene. What I don't get is when these women allow their clothes, or worse yet, the blind pursuit of shopping to define who they are. I dumbfounded over that concept ~ really, I am. It's a nice capitalistic sentiment that keeps our economy going (and I'm all for that), but it's not the foundation of my self-worth.

Even in my BC days (before Christ), my parents' instilled a sense of value and self-worth in me that stood separate from what I did, wore or looked like. In my AD days (after accepting Christ), I realized my true value in God. I am His child, pre-thought of before I was even conceived, cherished and loved by Him. Don't get me wrong. I still like steppin' out with a freshly washed face and clean, even somewhat matching clothes, but it doesn't make me who I am. Nothing I own or could buy makes me who I am. Nothing.

The Divine Conspiracy of Sacrificial Love

2011-10-20T06:11:00.000-07:00

"When Jesus invited His followers to take up their cross, it was a call to spiritual greatness in the divine conspiracy of sacrificial love." - John Ortberg

That sentence stopped me in my tracks. I had to literally unpack the individual words to embrace the potential of their collective power.

spiritual ~ (n) ~ of, or relating to, consisting of, or having the nature of the spirit
greatness ~ (n) ~ extremely large in quantity or number; of considerable duration

As a Christ follower, the act of "taking up my cross" is not meant to be a spiritual burden, yet it's often how this act is presented by the church. Instead, it is a call to allow the Holy Spirit to flow unimpeded in me, to the fullness and duration that is only His, but in a way that is designed specifically for me.

divine ~(adj) ~ heavenly, perfect, in the service or worship of God, God-like
conspiracy ~ (n) ~ an agreement to perform together

Oh my! Conspiracy! By taking up my cross, I literally enter into agreement with God to participate in His perfect Kingdom plan. It's like I've got the inside scoop, yet I'm only one piece of the puzzle. And to fit into the agreement to perform together, I must perform with the gifts and talents by which I was specifically created.

sacrificial ~ (adj) ~ to forfeit something of value for something or someone considered to have a greater value
love ~ (n) ~ God's benevolence and mercy towards mankind / the benevolence, kindness or brotherhood that man should feel towards others

I get to participate in God's plan to woo mankind back to Eden, back to relationship, back to heaven on earth. And to do so, I first gratefully accept His sacrificial love for me in His Son, Jesus Christ, and then, in turn, I have the privilege of extending that unwarranted but freely given love to others.

It's exciting! energizing! amazing! I have access to the power and might of a most Holy God whose only desire to draw us back to Him. I am invited to participate in His Big Plan. I am invited to accept His gift and then give it to others ~ I am invited to love and be loved. The mere thought makes me giggle.

Bucket List

2011-10-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

Last night my networking-turned-friendship group held their monthly meeting. Our discussion centered around bucket lists. While the women shared their lists I realized that I didn't have any major item(s) for my bucket. Certainly there are things I'd like to do, places I'd like to see, accomplishments I'd like to make, but I'm at a point in my life where I'm more open to what comes my way. That doesn't mean that I prefer to drift aimlessly. It does mean that I'm open to the idea that there may be things that come my way that are even better than things I could dream up on my own. How about you?

(Postscript ~ I think another reason I don't have an overflowing bucket list is that I have done so much in my life already. As we did this exercise I realized just how full my life has been and I am grateful.)

Enshrouded

2011-10-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

Lessons from the Garden ~ Back Yard Remodel

This was the view from my windows while the men were installing our new roof. We lived in this shroud for an entire day. The plastic had been draped for our (house and yard) protection, so it comforting while at the same time eerie and a bit disconcerting. My thoughts bounced back and forth between the shroud being a metaphor for living under a cloud and being clueless, and for living under the loving and secure protection of God's cloak. I guess it's all perspective.

Sometimes when looking out the window I felt the darkness of the shroud which obscured much of the sunlight that day. I felt out of touch with reality in a world of my own. That's kind of a scary place to be, especially if one's "world" isn't healthy. Fortunately, mine is, but I'm just going with the metaphor here.

Sometimes when looking out the window, I felt safe and secure, protected by whatever bits of roofing matter that would periodically come flying through the air. It reminded me of God's desire to take us under His wing where we would be loved and cared for in a way unlike anything we could receive from anyone but Him.

how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, (Matt 23:37)

Arise and Live the Day Anew

2011-10-17T05:54:00.000-07:00

My favorite time of day is early morning when the first strokes of daylight paint the sky, and the air lingers sweetly and undisturbed . It's the look and smell of a fresh start, a clean slate, a new beginning. And maybe today I will get it right. I will keep careless words from leaving my lips, even if they creep into my thoughts. I will be kind, even if I feel slighted or in a hurry. I will look up, even if the things of this world are clinging to my ankles. I will strive to live as the new creation I am meant to be.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ~ 2 Cr 5:17

Seven Seconds or Bust

2011-10-15T05:36:00.000-07:00

I went to a marketing seminar this week on social media, only to learn that blogging is passe`. Not all blogging but the blogging that makes readers sit for more than 7 seconds. Yep, that's suppose to be our attention span these days ~ 7 seconds. At first I was annoyed with people thinking that they are missing out on sooooo much with such short fuses, but then I got to thinking about you. Yes, you.

You may not read my blog daily, but I know some of you are faithful followers; faithful enough to even sign up and automatically receive my posts. I'm not necessarily profound or witty all the time but we have somehow made a connection, you and I. Many of my posts take longer than 7 seconds to read ~ heck, I know they took longer than that to write!

I follow other people's blogs, too. Some write daily, as I try to do (except for my Sunday sabbath) and some post when they get to it or having something significant to say, but it's a deeper connection than 5 lines on Facebook or 140 characters on Twitter. And people want connection! We're relational beings and not just 7 second grazers (although I can graze with the best of them ~ lol).

So here's to you for taking more than 7 seconds out of your day to read my blog and sometimes even commenting back or passing it along to others. Have a great weekend and I'll "see" you on Monday!

The Big Reveal

2011-10-14T05:24:00.000-07:00

Lessons from the Garden ~ Back Yard Remodel

It's amazing the discoveries we've made while working on the backyard. Taking out the waterfall revealed a big stump from a tree that had been cut down by the previous owners. Ripping off the facia boards revealed a stash of long-dead strands of a vine that we had allowed to grow up over the edge of the roof. Replacing the back wall revealed rat nests we hope have been long abandoned. And taking down the shade-producing overhang revealed a blazing sun that was the reason the overhang was built in the first place.

It's like our yard had a secret life that was only revealed when we chose to take away the barriers that separated us. It's like that with people. We have our "public" self that creates a barrier between us and the world at large. It's our "this-is-all-you-have-the-right-to-know-about-me-right-now" self. Then there's our "front door" self. It's the entryway to relationship. It's the door that allows people to step inside our "interior" home and get to share life with us. And then there's our "secret" self, that carefully guarded spot deep inside us that can only be entered with our permission and a secret code. It's like the hidden doorway in the library bookshelf that reveals a passage to another, unknown place. That's where the "real" self lies.

The public self is a very good and appropriate place to be in the right circumstances. It's a boundary that allows us to interface with the world without "giving ourselves away" all the time. That would be down right exhausting and even unnecessary. The problem is some of us get stuck in the public place. We don't let anyone in for fear of being hurt or losing control of the situation or whatever. That's a lonely place to be stuck. It means we keep people at arm's length and don't invite them to step through our front door to our "inner life."

Actually, there are degrees of welcoming people in. Some get to stand on our front porch and get a peek at who we are, but it's just not the right timing to invite them in for tea. Some get the tea-time invitation but our living room, our more "public" inner room is as far as they get. Some even get to use our bathroom where we reveal a bit more of the "real me," but we never fully share ourselves.

And then there's our "secret place," our deep thoughts and feelings. In our lifetime, we are fortunate if we have a few people whom we invite to step across the threshold of our "secret" doorway. They get to know the real me, sometimes even seeing things in us that we don't even see in ourselves. These are the people that we call our close friends; our family whether biological or not. They are safe; they are trusted, they are valued. These relationships are a true gift.

Healthy people have clear, strong boundaries. They know who to let in, at what level and when. They also allow a select few to enter their secret place, to engage in the big reveal ~ to share real life, to hold each other accountable, to walk a soulful walk together. This is the depth that true love flourishes.

The View from Above and the Sound Down Below

2011-10-13T05:05:00.000-07:00

Lessons from the Garden ~ Back Yard Remodel

As I'm sitting here typing it sounds like thunder on my roof. If I ever doubted its strength, I doubt no more. A crew of six men ~ six good-size, strong men ~ have been up there all afternoon pounding and tearing and sawing and just generally beating the heck out of the roof.

I didn't mean for them to treat it so harshly. After all, despite a few small leakage problems, that roof has served us well. The leaks aren't really the roof's fault anyway. After all, anyone knows roofs are meant to be peaked, not flat. I mean who puts a flat roof in neighborhoods that have weather (read "rain" or worse yet, "snow")? The Eichlers and Frank Lloyd Wright's of the world may put them on trendy modern houses but they still leak. Flat-roofed adobes may have been built by the Indians in the desert, but I guarantee given enough torrential rainstorms, they'd leak, too.

So now my roof is suffering the indignity of being torn apart and ripped off the very house it has served so well. In its place will be a nice, new roof with a thick foam covering that is energy efficient, leak resistant (I would never say a flat roof can be leak "proof") and highly durable despite the onslaught of wind, rain and sun.

So as I watch my old roof drive down the street, tossed unceremoniously in a big truck, I bid it adieu. "Rest comfortably in the dump heap, my friend, for a job well done."

Tale of the Unraveling Backyard

2011-10-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

Lessons from the Garden ~ Back Yard Rebuild

I knew it. I knew the "simple" wall repair would lead to other things. Bigger things. Expensive things. We're now onto a much bigger space than the back yard ~ we're reaching for the sky. Yep, a new roof. I just about choked on those words as I typed.

The wall repair necessitated the complete removal of our handcrafted waterfall with pond. As I plaintively contemplated its replacement and finally got around to embracing the design challenge, the roof reared its patchworked head and demanded to be noticed. This means more things coming down like our overhead trellises and a rose bush that had finally made it to the top of the house. It means down comes our back porch awning and lights and even our wind chimes. It means more chaos.

Serenity now!

The Multiple Me

2011-10-11T05:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like two people. There's the normal me ~ the one who fits in very nicely with society. And the alternative one ~ the one who thinks outside the social box. This is not the Christian dilemma of living in the world while not being of the world. This is more an expression of my internal world. I've felt this way for most of my life. Two sides, slightly out of step but somehow cobbled together into me.

Life, Death and Purpose In-Between

2011-10-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Two quotes in yesterday's paper struck a chord with me ~

"Whatever you do, do something that is of some service to somebody else, because if you do, you'll know that it mattered that you were born." ~ as spoken by Ann Curry's dad when she asked his advice on a career path

"It was about the inevitability and unavoidability of death ~ and the importance of putting yourself out there, at risk, for humanity. Because what else, really, is there?" ~ as spoken by Kjerstin Erickson referencing Steve Job's 2007 Stanford commencement address

Two speakers sharing one theme that resonates with everyone at one time or another in his/her lifetime. "Of what purpose is my life? Did it really matter that I sojourned on this earth?" We all share the life spark of birth and the darkening of death, but what we do with the in-between time makes all the difference in the world, however long or short our reach may be.

Guest Post: ~ Tales from the Motherhood: I'm So Judgemental

2011-10-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

Today's guest post was written by a woman from my church. Her comments are very convicting and a reminder (to me) of God's greatest command to love Him and to love one another.

Tales from the Motherhood: I'm So Judgemental

T.G.I.F.

2011-10-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

It's Friday. Everyone loves Friday. We've been trained to parcel our time into daily increments, and faithfully march to the steps of those arbitrarily chosen days (except when we are on vacation). Even if we're not in school or the workplace, both of which rigidly adhere to the parceling of time, our friends, family and social calendar can still be beholden to the formal designation of days. So it's Friday. Hooray for Friday and the promises it brings for your weekend! (P.S. And for those of you whose "weekend" exists on other days of the week because you work on "our" weekends, then I say to you "hooray for your weekend that is coming!")

It's All Good

2011-10-06T05:21:00.000-07:00

Joy despite circumstances ~ so hooray for yesterday and today and most likely the next couple of tomorrows that bring rain and cooler temps. I know I'm whining a bit here, but our summer came so late that I'm just not ready to see it leave. I must admit that the rain cleanses the air and brightens nature's palette, and that our precipitation comes in the form of water not snow. So it's all good.

I got a haircut this week and it is delightful to feel the cool air on my neck. It won't be so delightful when skiing but that's what neck warmers are for. So it's all good.

We need a new roof, which was scheduled for tomorrow, but the unexpected weather has delayed installation. Thanks to my husband's generous application of tar, there are no leaks like we had from an unexpected downpour late last spring. So it's all good.

The rain reminds me that shorter days are ahead. Daylight savings time will soon end and we will be both getting out of bed and eating dinner in the dark. With it, however, comes my favorite day of the year ~ Winter Solstice. Given my aversion to lack of sunlight, it may seem counter-intuitive that the shortest day of the year is my favorite, however, with this day comes the gradual but glorious lengthening and increasing of daylight. It's all good.

How to Be Sensible and Spirited

2011-10-05T05:43:00.000-07:00

I present to you without further fanfare, the approved colors for women's fashion this fall (remember, I don't make this stuff up, I've just edited for brevity) ~

Fall 2011−The Art of Color− Sensible and Spirited

"Taking cues from the great masters, sepia tones of old Hollywood, Chinese opera, cityscapes and countryside, designers are paying close attention to texture, contrast and color for fall 2011 – pairing menswear with feminine twists, warm prints with cool metals, incorporating both old and new influences, and creating an intriguing (my italics) balance between colors.

'Designers take a painterly approach to fall 2011 by artfully combining bright colors with staple neutrals, reminiscent of how an artist would construct a stunning work of art,' said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. 'Much like a painter's masterpiece, there is a certain romance (again, my italics) to this season's palette.'

Bamboo, a surprising fall hue, brings a warm, exotic flavor to the season. Like a filtered sunset on the waning days of fall, Bamboo is a standout yellow with a subtle green undertone.

Radiant Emberglow, a traditional autumnal tone, emanates the warmth of a glowing fire – the perfect panacea to the crisp air of fall.

Offering a sense of continuity from spring, dynamic Honeysuckle adds a bold punctuation point. This playful, reddish pink works with any other color in the palette.

Phlox, a magical, deep purple with a hint of mystery, is an outstanding statement when worn on its own.

Evoking the freshness of a cool mist in a dark forest, Cedar is a versatile, mid-tone neutral green.

Deep Teal, a strong, blue-toned green, suggests ocean depths and the color of the sky as daylight descends into darkness.

Rich, decadent Coffee Liqueúr brings a sense of elegance to fall, and is a savory alternative to basic black. A deliciously warm camel tan, Nougat is tastefully embellished by Phlox, Emberglow or Honeysuckle. Orchid Hush, a unique tone of gray with complex orchid undertones, blends well with any other color in the palette. Quarry, a reliable medium gray, remains, as always, a practical, dependable staple."

(Blogmeister's note: For over 17 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season's most important color trends. Information and color samples can be found at www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20835&ca=4 )

Supernatural Responses to the Unexpected

2011-10-04T05:27:00.000-07:00

My word this year is joy (despite circumstances). Joy is easy when things are going well...as I planned...as I hoped...as an unexpected surprise. Joy is more difficult for me when life gets a little rough around the edges or downright nasty. A friend's husband died Sunday. We prefer the euphemism "passed over" or "passed away" because it refers to a transition from this life to the next, but the fact remains that for those of us "left behind," this person is gone to us. She's an unexpected widow at 61. Who knew? Who ever fully knows what the next moment will hold? So I take comfort in the following words ~

When many things seems to be going wrong, trust Me. When your life feels increasingly out of control, thank Me. These are supernatural responses, and they can lift you above your circumstances. If you do what come naturally in the face of difficulties, you may fall prey to negativism....(Therefore) affirm your trust in Me, regardless of how you feel. Thank Me for everything, though this seems unnatural ~ even irrational....If you choose supernatural responses...trusting and thanking Me ~ you will experience My unfathomable Peace. (from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, Oct 3)

Nobody Knows It But Me

2011-10-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

There's a place that I travel
When I want to roam
And nobody knows it but me.
The roads don't go there
And the signs stay home
And nobody knows it but me.
It's far, far away and way, way afar,
It's over the moon and the sea;
And wherever you are going
That's wherever you are
And nobody knows it but me.

Patrick O'Leary

Autumn Pleasures

2011-10-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

October. Saturday is a wonderful day for a new month to begin, especially a month that brings autumn colors, bountiful harvests, clear blue skies, warm days and cool nights. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord for His creation sings of His goodness!

Bore, Boring, Boredom

2011-09-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

boredom ~(n) ~ to be tired with dullness, repetition or tediousness

"(Boredom) is both a serious problem and a quite recent one. Ancient Greek had no word for boredom. The word did not have its current meaning in English until the last few centuries. We look at the ancient world, and they had no television, no internet, no movies... and we think how boring it must have been. But the ancients were not bored. We are the ones who get bored because our capacity to focus our attention, to delight our minds in sustained thought, has been weakened by our dependence on external stimuli." ~ John Ortberg from The Me I Want To Be.

I must admit that people I know who never say they are bored are those who can entertain themselves, even if sometimes that means simply sitting quietly and observing nature from their front porch.

When we were on our road trip to Bend and beyond, I wrote that one of my very best times was sitting on the front porch of a cabin without internet, mobile phone service, television, radio or any other distraction from the immediate world around me. I was simply absorbed and fascinated by the silence and the beauty of the moment.

My husband and I had both brought tons of reading material with us thinking that away from the busyness and electronics of everyday life, we would have time to slow down and just read. I think I read one magazine in two weeks. Our trip became about our immediate surroundings which we absorbed with our very beings ~ out of which flowed the writings I penned in my blog.

I agree with John's quote. I believe that to keep my mind fresh and alive, I need to engage it and not just be a passive receptor. I think that's why the arts and artistic expression are so important. It's so important to unplug from our plugged-in world and let our minds roam free.

New Moon on the Horizon

2011-09-29T05:42:00.000-07:00

Barn's burned down, now I can see the moon. ~ Masahide

The Groovies got together this week. We try to meet regularly once a month, and with our busy lives sometimes it's not an easy task; but it's always so rewarding and enriching when we do. We laugh, we cry, we lift up, we pray, we hold each other accountable, and we share the good and bad as we dig deeper into our friendships.

"Change" was our big topic this time ~ the often unsettling aspect of change. Whether it's welcomed or not, change is often viewed as negative because change can upset our equilibrium until we develop a new way of "being." Ironically, we're sort of like sharks ~ we have to keep swimming or we die. I love the quote from Masahide because it speaks to the possibilities that change can reveal once the "known" has been swept away and we willingly swim towards it. That doesn't mean that we forget what was before, or that we don't mourn what was lost, or that we don't build on what has gone before ~ but it does speak to the sometimes exhilarating and even liberating new view before us that invites us to step in and participate.

Just Askin'

2011-09-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

"Only 2 percent of women around the world consider themselves beautiful." (pg 80, Oct 2011 issue Elle Magazine.)

What are we suppose to make of this statistic? I think it speaks volumes about cultural definitions and expectations of beauty. I guess my bigger question is ~ does it really matter whether or not we perceive ourselves as outwardly (physically) beautiful? I mean is it something we need to have in order to be content with ourselves and have joy-filled lives?

Too Bad She's Right

2011-09-27T05:19:00.000-07:00

Picked up the October issue of Elle. I don't know why I bother. They usually print disingenuous articles about inner beauty, and then plaster their pages with photos and ads all designed to make us feel "less than" if we don't pony up to the beauty bar and buy, buy, buy. To my surprise, I must admit that the editor's letter was spot on this month. And I quote ~

"Let's just say it: We judge people by the way they look, and that judgment is swift and brutal. The cues come fast: the expensiveness (or lack thereof) of the fabric, the label of the jacket, the provenance of the jeans, the jewelry, the haircut, the bag. And, rightly or wrongly, I'd bet we're hardwired to be fairly accurate in our assessments...our subconscious picks up hundreds of micro-expressions that transmit spot-on data about people's real feelings...But what really happens...is that we draw an equally tough picture of others' intelligence, values, and inner life. And man, are we usually way off.

(Case in point) I struck up a conversation with an older man in a feed cap, high-waisted stonewashed jeans, running shoes, and an Epcot teeshirt...It turned out the gentleman was a PhD physicist and engineer...He was brilliant, funny ...in other words, he was a person of substance and curiosity, who at first glance appeared to my tiny, judgmental mind to be nothing but another bored grandpa occupied by thoughts of bingo and what's for dinner. My point, of course, is that our quick summations of people's looks are often reductive and unkind."

Guest Post ~ Earning Less (Respect not just Money) Than They Deserve

2011-09-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the Washington Times about military pay ...denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year, citing that she stated a 13% wage increase was more than they deserve. A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this.

"Ms. Williams: I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GI's Earn Enough," and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes per month. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.

I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for "Network Technicians" in the Washington , D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience in my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.

Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for IRAQ or AFGHANISTAN; I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience."

As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone. Obviously, they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the government has been giving them. Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE's (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor. Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't be nearly long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it.

You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your open piece. But, tomorrow from KABUL , I will defend to the death your right to say it. You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment right and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective noses at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?" ~A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC

(Note from blogmeister: This post was copied from a friend's Facebook page. This young man's pay and experience is not unlike thousands of enlisted men who serve in the rank and file of our military. Without them, we are vulnerable and defenseless. They deserve far more than they are paid. And no, providing them with housing, food and clothing is not a perk because the negative working conditions, once deployed, far outweigh the measly perks....Remember as well, a soldier's entire family enlists when he/she does ~ parents, siblings and perhaps a spouse and children ~ all who worry about his/her safety once deployed. Can you say that about one of your family members every day when he/she goes to work? God Bless our men and women in uniform.)

Passionate Legacy

2011-09-25T04:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Dad. Four years since you took the stairway to heaven. I love and miss you. Our recent road trip was a tribute to you and your love for the outdoors. Thank you for passing on that passion to me.

Wanna Run Away With Me?

2011-09-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

Did you ever want to run away from being a grown-up? I know. I know. I just got back from two luxurious weeks of running away (see Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond), and I shouldn't complain. But maybe that's the problem. I got a taste of freedom. Freedom from responsibilities, from schedules, from demands (reasonable and unreasonable) from others, blah, blah, blah. I know. I know. I sound like a spoiled kid. And that's the point! I wanna be a kid! I want to go when, where, how and if I please to do so.

That doesn't mean that I want to be completely taken care of. I like to cook meals (but not every night). I like cleaning my home (but not when a new dirty dish is placed on the counter seconds after it was cleaned). I like grocery shopping (but not putting my purchases away). Blah, blah, blah.

Wow, I'm really whining here. My real challenge is to integrate a childlike wonder and enjoyment of the world with the realities of everyday life. Maybe the hippies were on to something with their communal living, or winning the lottery is really where it's at. But to be honest, the realities of housekeeping and general life skills are not the problem. No, I think it goes deeper than that.

It goes to a desire to for me to be able to rest. Truly rest. To be refreshed, comforted and not in demand. I think I've got two choices. I can run away, but then I would have to keep running away to steer clear of the realities of living. Or I can rest in God's grace. He knows my needs. He knows my desires. He truly is the only place, person or thing that I can run away to and get what I need.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need ...(2 Cor 9:8) From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (John 1:16)

At Least Somebody's Getting Paid

2011-09-23T05:16:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

Don't get me started on the sorry state of American politics with its bickering and free-for-all stimulus packages, but in case you were wondering ~ and if it brings you any consolation ~ here's proof that your hard-earned money is being spent on your highways and byways. Every state we traveled had major road work going on. At least my car will appreciate how our tax dollars are being spent and somebody's getting paid. But like I said, don't get me started on politics.

Getting into My Groove

2011-09-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

I just started a new Bible study last night, The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg. I have to admit that at first I was completely put off by the title. It sounded so new-agey, so self-focused, so all-about-me. I'm trying to be about others and looking up, not at me. Soooo boring and self-absorbed to be all about me, me, me. But as I delved into the study I realized that there is merit to looking at, and becoming, the me that God intended me to be when He created me. Not like a work plan where I do works for His kingdom, but flourishing in myself so that I am fulfilled and fulfill my distinct role in His kingdom plans. Sounds like a fine distinction, but there is.

What Ortberg addressed head on, first session, was our being anyone but who we are designed to really be. You know, the "me"

I pretend to be or
I think I should be or
other people want me to be or
I'm afraid God wants me to be or
that fails to be

I've blogged before about how we get sidetracked trying to be what the media tells us to be, or to change in ways that others want us to change. It's tough really figuring out who we are and what our best life was designed to be. Not our "perfect" life or our "no problems ever" life, but our life that flourishes from our own special gifts and talents. Kind of like living in the groove that is uniquely ours.

I think ~ no, let me rephrase that ~ I know I'm going to like this study, even though I may not like the process I may have to go through to reach its intended outcome in me. So get ready with the fertilizer, sunlight, water and weed hoe, 'cause this flower is ready to bloom!

Freewheelin' ~ If You Go

2011-09-21T05:42:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

If you decide to take a road trip of your own, I've jotted down our route, and a few details and highlights that might be helpful.

California

I-5 N got us out of dodge ~ of course, it took us a couple of hours before we ever hit the border so don't hold your breath, sit back and take in the scenery which is kind of boring until you get to Lake Shasta and the magnificent Mt. Shasta.
Hwy 97 NE ~ take the Weed exit (honestly, that is the name of a town) and steer your car past the most northern farm areas in the state, take the double zigzag that is Dorris and begin to soak in the essence of your journey.

Oregon

Hwy 97 N is an almost straight line to Bend ~ stop, do not pass go, stay and enjoy the town, Mt Bachelor and the Three Sisters Wildnerness. Spend the night at the Phoenix Inn downtown (it doesn't come cheap) or a bit out of town at the 7th Mountain Inn Resort (got a great deal on LivingSocial.com) You also might like Sun River Resort. Overall, a great place to hike, bike, shop, eat and pretend you're a local.
Hwy 97 NE makes a diagonal out of town toward northeastern Oregon ~ more farm and cattle country, high desert, small towns. Speaking of which, stop at Moro and check out their antique/junk shops . The town is only about two blocks long so don't go flying by or you'll miss it. Check out the cool restored classic car and sit a spell with its owner (Bob ?). Don't miss the shop that specializes in "estate" sales 'cause it has the best prices and "newest" stuff.
Hwy (interstate?) 84 E runs along the Columbia River that separates Oregon from Washington. ~ You are back on a major highway and heading east and eventually turn, cross that magnificent body of water and head north.

Washington and Idaho

Hwy 90 ~ can't say much, we just drove through Spokane and then crossed the border into Coeur d'Alene, Idaho where we spent the night at a Best Western. We like BW because the rooms are predicable, clean, fairly priced and we get a free breakfast in the morning (well, not really "free" because it's part of our room rate but we pretend it's free).

Montana

Let's see if I can get this right ~ Hwy 90 to 135 to 200 to 28 to 93 past Flathead Lake.
Hwy 2 E ~ took us right to the western entrance to Glacier National Park where lodging was hard to come by, not because it wasn't available but because we had no reservations. We ended up at the Vista Motel, owned by a couple from San Francisco who don't live there because god-forbid-why-would-you-live-in-a-place-this-remote-in-the-winter? Newly remodeled rooms with really comfy beds, and a swimming pool and two hammocks out back. The downer is it's right off the highway so get to sleep as soon as the traffic dies down because people get up early in these here parts.
Going-to-the-Sun ~ goes directly through the park. It's the only way to get from one side to the other without going 'round the southern end, which you do if you are in a hurry or are entering some of the more remote roads into the park on the eastern side. Take our advice, do GTTS. It's so totally worth it.
Hwy 89 SE ~ bye bye Glacier, through Indian reservation, do-not-stop-do-not-collect-$200-go-right-pass-Browning, along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, past Big Paw Ski Area (love that name) and stay at Stage Stop Inn, an oasis in the dark of the night.
Hwy 15 to St. Helena ~ the state's capitol with a nifty downtown, a cool crepes place and a stunning cathedral on the hill.
Hwy 15 E to 287 to 90 to Bozeman ~ college town with interesting main street worth the stop.
Hwy 90 E to Livingston ~ and the Montana Rib & Steak House, the place to eat
Hwy 287 S to Gardiner and the gateway to Yellowstone National Park

Wyoming

Drive all around the park, stop at everything, take a zillion pictures, don't plan on staying unless you've made reservation like 100 years in advance.
Take the southern hwy out of Yellowstone, stay over at Flagg Ranch ~ not cheap but no cell phones, no internet, no TV, no sound just log cabins and quiet
Keep going south to around and through Teton National Park, go to the top of Sentinel Mt for a killer view and animal sitings, fish, hike, bike, take a boat ride.
Hang out in Jackson, go to the people's market, stay in town or close to town 'cause it will cost you either way (Flat Creek Inn gives discounts to military personnel).
Hwy 22 to 31 to 26 to Idaho Falls, Idaho ~ with heavy heart, get in your car and drive out the steep Sheeps Pass (not open in winter) but don't look back because you might turn to stone.

Idaho

The only state we passed through twice on our trip (if you don't count our home state).
Hwy 26 W to I-15 W to 84 to 30 ~ stop in Pocatella at the Starbucks and say "hello" for us.
Hwy 93 S to Wells, Nevada.

Nevada

I-80 W to Elko to Reno to California to home ~ stayed in Elko at the Hilton where they have the most amazing Herman Miller desk chairs. I was going to take one home but it wouldn't fit in my suitcase and housekeeping would definitely have noticed it missing. No recommendations for food in Nevada, except to say casinos, while cheap, were not on our list. Did do a stop over in Reno at Sierra Trading Post off Hwy 395 S to shop (yes, shop!)

On the other hand, you can be like us: have a general idea of where you're headed and how long you'll be gone, make no reservations because reservations are for sissies, be prepared with a tent and sleeping bags in case you encounter a "no vacancy" situation, take an ice chest with food (just make sure you don't leave it in the car in bear country), and know that this trip will most likely cost you more than you budgeted because freewheelin' ain't free! But oh the place you'll see, the people you'll meet, the stories you'll have to tell.

NoRespect

2011-09-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

Nevada, oh Nevada. You have to be the most boring state in the Union, more specifically, the drive along I-80. Yes, we are very appreciative of this nicely maintained, fairly straight road with a fast speed limit to transport us as quickly as possible across your uninspiring land. And yes, we know that mining is a big draw, as are your casinos ~ you are the land of get rich schemes and dreams. But after touring majestic mountains, dense green forests, lush open meadows, crystal clear alpine lakes, gushing geysers and catching a fleeting glimpse or two of wild creatures, Nevada, you are boring.

Yet, I have a confession to make. This trip has given me a fresher view of your landscape. It’s the first time we’ve driven I-80 in nice weather (read “non-winter”). The abundant sage and other desert plants are pleasantly green, often covered with bright yellow flowers, and emit a pleasant, sweet smell. This verdant layer across the flat valleys brings another perspective to what I had previously deemed as hopelessly dull. It’s a testimony to the tenacity of life and to the beauty of nature’s paintbrush.

So forgive me, Nevada, for my lack of respect. You make due with what nature has given, and you are beautiful in your own way. It’s a life lesson, really. I admire anyone who does not let the dictates of cultural standards of beauty define their self-esteem. They embrace what nature has given them. They stand firm in the knowledge of their self-worth and the beauty of their mere existence. So stand proud, Nevada. Be all that you can be!

How Do I Love Thee?

2011-09-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

It seems that I toss around the word “love” so carelessly these days. I love a good haircut and puppies and a fabulous home-cooked meal with friends. But not really. I am passionate about these things, even really really like them, but love? No, I love people and I love God, and I particularly love the gifts that He has bestowed upon us. And this long intro is my way of saying I love the Grand Teton Mountains. I have wanted to visit this area for years, but honestly, it was the skiing at Jackson Hole that attracted me. I wasn’t even thinking about the mountains in which the resort is located or the national park in which they sit. And oh, what a delightful surprise.

The Teton National Park is adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. After the size and grandeur of Yellowstone, the incredible intimacy of the Tetons was an unexpected gift. Both parks boast of legendary scenery, abundance of wildlife, and delighful treasures around every bend. But the Tetons beckon me in a little closer, encouraging me to stop, venture deeper into the landscape, and take in the sights, smells and sounds that are the Tetons ~ each a gift in itself.

The almost non-existent availability of accommodations at the park and in the nearby town of Jackson were a bit of a surprise (as it was at every national park we visited). I guess we aren’t the only people to have figured out the desirability of traveling in September. There are but a few precious weeks after Labor Day before our northern national parks are shut down to impending snow, but the weather is spectacular this time of year, the first blushes of autumn are setting in, and the wildlife is coming down out of the highlands to settle in for winter. We cherished every step of our hike along a rushing stream straight to a crystal-clear alpine lake at the base of the Tetons.

We were delighted to see the handsome bull elk with majestic antlers, hear their mating call and watch the females all but ignore them. I will admit we were pleased not to encounter bears, which are prevalent in this area, but a small part of us still wishes we had caught a glimpse. We got a hot tip on a sure fire location to spot a moose and her baby but the pair didn’t co-operate for a photo op. That’s okay. We were just happy to be allowed in their territory as brief but very appreciative visitors.

Back in civilization, the town of Jackson was a bit of a disappointment. Don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t quite as picturesque as I had imagined ~ a bit too touristy in the downtown area for my tastes. But I could tell the residents here are as in love with the Tetons as I am ~ even more so because they have chosen to live here where the winters are harsh, the summers sweet but short, and tourism is a primary source of income. The area is flush with artists who are attracted by its beauty, and outdoor types who like to fish, hunt, hike, ski, boat, rock climb, bike and more.

So, we will be back. We aren’t sure when but it will be in the winter when Jackson Hole ski resort mocks us with its high degree of steep and deep skiing, and both the Tetons and Yellowstone seduce us with their winter mantle.

Off the Grid

2011-09-17T05:12:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

I’m sitting on the porch of a small log cabin, rocking in an old-fashioned rocker, writing the initial draft of this blog with antiquated pen and paper. Our cabin has no internet, no cell phone reception, no television, no radio. It is perfectly quiet out. The harvest moon shines brightly overhead. I am somewhere on the road between Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, completely off the grid and it feels good.

My husband and I have spent the past couple of days soaking in the incredible beauty of Montana and Wyoming, and to tell the truth, my brain, my senses, my emotions need a break. Quite frankly, I have no more words right now. The resounding quiet of our little log cabin is music to my ears and rest for my soul as I process what I have seen and heard.

All that I have within me is a song of praise and wonder for the Creator of the universe. I find it difficult to believe, as some would have it, that random chance created such beauty, symmetry and order out of chaos. God created this most beautiful world and to Him, I am grateful.

Once in a Lifetime

2011-09-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

After the dramatic vistas and high alpine experience of Glacier National Park, I was unprepared to experience an equally jaw-dropping beauty of a completely different kind. Yellowstone National Park is a legend in its own right and it lived up to its reputation. The size, the scenery, the mountains, the meadows, the forests, the rivers, the lakes, and the diversity of wildlife would be enough ~ but Yellowstone is not content to merely deliver wow when it can deliver WOW. And that extra something special? The geysers and their other-worldly effect on the landscape.

With geysers literally dotting the landscape of this huge park, one area in particular, the Norris Geyser Basin, stands out. The rangers have built a wooden walkway that meanders by bubbling geysers and over their rushing streams. The color of the water is Hawaii blue but the hot steam smells of sulfur not fragrant plumeria. Walking through the landscape is a bit eerie, like walking on some distant planet. The geysers in this area don’t often erupt but they spew steady steam and their display is worth stopping for.

Of course, everyone goes to Yellowstone to view the showy display of Old Faithful, a geyser that goes off with almost hourly regularity day after day. It is so faithful, that a large complex of lodges, restaurants and a visitor center have been constructed in the vicinity to accommodate the thousands of tourists who come annually for the show. There are at least a dozen or more geysers in the same area and the effect is kind of spooky.

waiting for Old Faithful

But today, today was a very special day. So special, in fact, that the park rangers were encouraging everyone to leave their waiting posts for Old Faithful and to rush over to watch Gigantus as it prepared to explode. True to its name, Gigantus erupts with an even larger plume and more impressive display than Old Faithful ~ but unlike Mr. Regularity, Gigantus erupts very infrequently, perhaps two or three times a year. Its last display was in May, and here, on the very day that we visited, Gigantus chose to erupt again. The rangers were so excited that they were taking their own photos and videos along with the rest of us. And as Gigantus erupted, so did smaller, nearby geysers that normally remain dormant. While Old Faithful puts on its display for about 5 minutes at a time, Gigantus will erupt for the better part of a day, alternating hourly between heavy bursts of water and steam, and just steam roaring incessantly out of is natural smokestack.

Old Faithful smoking in the foreground getting ready to erupt but~

Gigantgus is in the background smoking and boiling like a large cauldron and look what happened

Can we say WOW, WOW, WOW !!!??? Nature put on a spectacular display, and we were reverently in awe and even a bit giddy. And like every other kid in the park, we topped off our big day with a yummy cone of huckleberry icecream.

We would like to make our next visit in the winter. That’s when large game such as elk, bear and bison come down from the high country to over-winter in the flat lands. The park roads are closed down to outside traffic but guided tours can go in by snow mobile or snow cat. I bet it’s a mystical landscape that’s a marvel to behold.

my photo of bison in winter taken of someone else's photo in a hallway of the lodge

Postscript: There's more to Yellowstone than its geysers ~

Am I in Switzerland?

2011-09-15T05:16:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

Glacier National Park. By U.S. standards, it’s sort of a loner park, tucked up in the far northwestern corner of Montana, sharing a border with Canada. Being so out of the way, I bet more Canadians visit than Americans. Canada’s portion of the park has been blended with ours to form the world’s first “peace park,” a symbol of two nations working together to preserve the beauty of our planet.

Dramatic is the word I would use to describe Glacier. Home to dozens of glaciers, the sweeping alpine vistas made me feel like I had been transported to a small corner of Switzerland. The geniuses who designed and built the Going-to-the-Sun road that transverses the park should be forever remembered and appreciated. This technical marvel was built in the early 1930’s, and the plan that was chosen was the more difficult and costly one, but it gave the world a view and experience of Glacier National Park like none other. Don’t go if you have a fear of heights or sheer drop-offs. Oh heck, go, just sit on the floorboards of the car until you reach the top. It’s totally worth it.

So much snow fell this past winter that summer came late the these highlands, so late that the roads didn’t open ‘til mid-July or so. The streams, rivers and waterfalls are filled to capacity with still-melting snows, and the abundance of flowers in the meadows and on the hillsides makes it feel more like spring than almost autumn. We hiked to Lost Lake at Logan Pass and every step was a gift of splendor. We even met up with white-haired goats who ignored us to feast on the over-abundant, fresh and oh-so tasty grasses.

We entered from the western side of the park which becomes overwhelming almost immediately. The eastern side is more gentle, quietly luring you in for unexpected visual treasures. But enough of my paltry words. It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but my humble shots of the Logan Pass areas barely capture the magnificence that is Glacier National Park.

No Passport Required

2011-09-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

I have been spending the past several days immersed in the glorious beauty that is Montana. My mother always questioned why people spent time and money traveling to Europe when we have such beauty to explore right here in the U.S. Well, hiking in Glacier National Park felt a little bit like hiking in the Swiss Alps. The pristine alpine surroundings were breath-taking and awe-inspiring. So inspiring, in fact, that I took over 500 photographs. If I get 10 good ones that capture the true essence of this slice of heaven, then I will be thrilled.

I will post photos later. Right now, I'm in Wyoming getting ready to explore Yellowstone, our first ever designated national park. We have been blessed with glorious autumn summer weather, but have been surprised by the number of people traveling as well. I guess we aren't the only ones who have figured out that once the kiddies are in school, it's time to hit the highways and explore. Despite our lack of reservations, however, we have been fortunate to sometimes grab the last room available at nice hotels. Blessed once again.

Hero and Tree ~ a Tale of Two for Many

2011-09-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes someone comes along who makes sense out of a horrible tragedy. He or she injects hope, love and even normalcy to an otherwise nightmarish scenario. Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the mindless, hateful, evil and tragic attack on the Twin Towers in New York City, I salute one of those heroes. He took the simple yet almost insurmountable task of restoring life where so many lives had been stamped out. Today, I bring you the story, in his own words, of Richard Cabo, Director of the Arthur Ross Citywide Nursery and the "Survivor Tree."

"I had just started working at the Parks Department on September 11 when they brought the 'Survivor Tree' to the Citywide Nursery. During the cleanup at Ground Zero, someone noticed a branch in the rubble of bricks, metal and glass. When they brought it here, it was just a stump except for one branch with a few leaves, and there were still ashes where there used to be the crown of a Callery pear tree."

"I thought it would never make it. I helped nurse it back to life. We stabilized it, pruned it, fertilized it and gave it water, but at a certain point, the tree took care of itself."

"I was honored to be there when the tree was returned to the memorial site last December. It now stands over 30 feet tall and flowers in the spring. It really symbolizes the recovery of America, the way the country, and the city in particular, bounced back."

# # # #

This blogmeister stands and salutes Richard Cabo and every other American hero of that tragic day ~ whether they were one of the fallen, one who suffered the loss of a family member, friend or colleague, one who fought the good fight that day and many days after, or one who is helping rebuild. God Bless America. I love my country, as blemished as it is, there is no other place I'd rather live.

(note from the blogmeister ~ Richard's words and the photos were taken directly from the August 1, 2011 issue of PEOPLE magazine., pg 64)

Three Sisters and a Bachelor

2011-09-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

We spent the day hiking in the Three Sisters Wilderness area near Mt. Bachelor. They had so much snow this past season that the wilderness trails have only been open for a month or so. The wildflowers, the raging waterfalls, the spectacular sky and the pristine high mountain lakes were worth the 8 mile round-trip, 1000-foot vertical hike. No further words are necessary.

Family Legacy

2011-09-09T05:12:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

Bend is a city of 76,000 people located in the middle of nowhere. And that's exactly what I love about this place. I always said if I could pick up my home town and drop it in the middle of nowhere, I would be living in heaven. Granted, "nowhere" must come complete with spectacular scenery, mountains, water, terrific outdoor weather and lots of outdoor activities. Bend is it.

We spent the day riding our bikes around the"old town" area that pays homage to this city's history. It was fun visiting some of our favorite places and finding new ones. About 5 years ago, we (okay, I) seriously talked about buying a place here but it never happened. Once we thought about logistics like relocating my husband's business and dealing with winter (snow), the idea took a seat on the shelf, only to be taken down, dusted off and re-visited periodically (by me).

My very favorite thing about Bend in the summer is the flowers, more specifically the black-eyed Susans and sunflowers that pop up all around town. Their yellow faces glow in the sunshine and make me very happy.

This trip we found a floral treasure that is very special to me. Riding through our favorite neighborhood along the river, we came across a house that hosted my grandmother's flowers in the front yard. I don't know their real name as most people aren't familiar with them, although I have heard them called by their generic name, "yellow sunflower." My grandmother grew them in her yard, and my mother took some and grew them in her's. I loved them so much that my dad dug some up, roots and all, wrapped them in airtight plastic and mailed them 3,000 miles to me. So my flowers are the 3rd generation of the original plants in grandma's garden. I have never seen them anywhere except our families' gardens, and once in a magazine~ until now. I was so excited I almost went to the front door to ask the owners about them, but I didn't. Maybe I will before we leave Bend. Or maybe I don't want to know their real name. Maybe I just want them to remain "grandmother's flowers." It's like a family legacy.

Eulogy to Highways and Car Trips

2011-09-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ To Bend and Beyond

Highways and byways. Back roads and country roads. Paved roads and dirt roads. I love them all! Nothing against airplanes, they take me to wonderful destinations, but roads make the journey THE destination. Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved car trips. My parents used to pile us up in the station wagon with bags and camping gear, and we'd head out on the open roads. They were focused on our final destination, but I was completely absorbed and mesmerized by the view along the way.

And oh, the things I would see! My favorite car to travel in was the one that had a rear-facing back seat. My parents loved it, too, because they would pile the gear in the middle of the car between us and them. My two brothers and I felt like we had our own little secret hide-away, while I'm sure my parents were enjoying their quiet paradise in the front seats. We would scream with laughter when the trucks honked at our wave or when we made faces at the passing cars.

I still get giddy when I'm on a road trip. My husband and I are on a two-week, don't-really-know-where-we're-headed, no reservations adventure. Our loose goals are Bend, Oregon, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. But we plan to be side-tracked many times along the way as we leave the main highways to explore the land and people along the way.

I just love turning northeast at the town of Weed off Hgwy 5 in Northern California just past the glorious, snow-covered, 14,000 ft volcanic Mt. Shasta. Every time we drive through Weed we speculate how it got its name. I say it's the namesake of marijuana. My husband is more pragmatic and says it probably looked like a mangy field before it became somewhat tamed by town folk. I suppose we could Google it, but it's more fun making up our own stories. We do that a lot on our road trips ~ combine our imaginations and true history. After all, it's our trip.

Highway 97 takes us through California's northern most agricultural areas. I fall in love with the land every time we drive by. It's a combination of high desert flora, the intense green of tendered fields and the rusted metal of the railroads that opened up these lands to outsiders.

Of course, all roads need mending from time to time, and that's where we get to watch men play with their grown-up toys. Reminds me of my brothers' Tonka trucks. Reminds me of the Tonka trucks I used to buy at a garage sales when my son was little and I had no money to speak of. I would be thrilled when I came across one. I could see the beauty under its rusted and beat-up facade, and I would take those trucks home, and lovingly sand and repaint them for my son. My, how he loved those trucks, just as my brother did. Road trips are great not just for new adventures but for nostalgic trips back in time.

My very favorite town in this stretch of the highway is Dorris. Good 'ole Dorris is basically a handful of buildings scattered along two jig-jags in the road. But they fly their colors proud and most likely eek out a living in lumber. Some day we're going to stop in Dorris, but it goes by so fast (even thought the speed limit is 25) that it's gone before I get a chance to say, "Stop here."

Within a few short miles of Dorris, we leave the north and enter the south ~ south central Oregon, Klamath Falls, a bird sanctuary and a direct line to Bend.

Life Mentor ~ Guide

2011-09-07T05:38:00.000-07:00

guide ~ (n) ~ 1. one who shows the way by leading, directing or advising, usually by reason of his/her greater experience with the course to be pursued; 2. an example or model to be followed.

Me, a guide? It's a bit intimidating to think that I would be in a position to serve as an example or model to be followed. Doesn't that imply perfection? If that's one of the requirements, then I definitely don't fit the description. The definition doesn't mention perfection but it does refer to a guide as one who has greater experience with the course to be pursued. Okay, now that's a requirement I can get behind. If someone wants to know how not to botch things up the way I have in certain areas of my life, or even how I have succeeded in other areas, then I can guide.

Yep, I've lived long enough to have some pertinent life experience under my belt that might be helpful to someone else trying to navigate similar waters. Anyone who has reached puberty could make the same claim, especially in today's culture. I'm referring to the good, bad and ugly that happens simply by the very virtue of living on this planet. And it's not just stuff that happens between us and other people; it's stuff that we do, or contemplate doing, to ourselves.

However, how I've handled things can sometimes be the best example of how not to do it. Whether one is a believer, a fence-sitter, a questioner or a nay-sayer of His claims as the Son of God, a study of Christ's life can enhance not only our own but our interaction with, and therefore the lives of, others.

Christ doesn't guide us anywhere or through anything that He has not already been. He has experienced our trials, our emotions, our successes and yes, even our disappointments. He knows not only what it's like, but He knows the best way through to the other side. And He navigated life with such grace, wisdom and humility that I am simply compelled to His guidance.

The most helpful guidebooks for me are the gospels of Christ's life found in the first four chapters of the New Testament in The Bible. There are more books written from man's interpretation of His life than I could, or would want to, take the time to list here, but I like hearing directly from the Master. Sometimes that requires interpretation so I turn to Jesus, Life Coach by Laurie Beth Jones. If I ever doubted where He stands on the issues, she makes it loud and clear.

Following Christ's guidance is not for the faint-hearted, but my adventure is going to be grand. For sure, there will be hills to climb and valleys I will slide into, but I will be provided fresh water and restful pastures on my journey. And joy ~ both despite of, and because of, my circumstances along the way.

I've brought my hiking boots and my ballet slippers. I'm ready. Who knows? I might even get the privilege of guiding someone else along the way.

With Nowhere and Everywhere to Go

2011-09-06T05:50:00.000-07:00

Road Trip ~ Open Country

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. ~ St. Augustine

I'm an avid reader yet my library's not full. On the road again with nowhere and everywhere to go!

Results of Our Labor

2011-09-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

More Lessons from the Garden ~ Back Yard Rebuild

Hard labor produces fruit (and a big mess in between). That's it. That's my lesson.

Keeping It Interesting

2011-09-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

It's the journey not the arrival that matters. ~ T.S. Elliot

I've been wanting a change of scenery and I got it last night at the Art Murmur. It's a multiple block, first-Friday-of-the-month happening with open studios, galleries and street vendors celebrating the arts. We finished our visual feast with an epicurean adventure, enjoying an Ethiopian meal while listening to a really good straight-ahead jazz trio. It was simply divine to step away from my everyday life and mingle with other art lovers. However, next time I'm taking my camera. The crowd was way more interesting than the art.

Life Mentor ~ Counselor

2011-09-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

Ever have a friend come to you for life advice? Sometimes they really want to hear what you have to say and sometimes they just want a safe place to share/ vent/ cry. It takes tack, understanding and patience not to burst forth right away with "helpful" advice. Often it simply takes an open ear and a closed mouth.

counselor ~ (n) ~ an adviser

To counsel someone is to master the art of listening. It's a weakness, I must confess; not listening well, that is. I'm getting better at it. I know that I personally don't have all the answers but sometimes it just flows out of me from an other-worldly source. And that source is the wise counsel of Christ. Whether one is a believer, a fence-sitter, a questioner or a nay-sayer of His claims as the Son of God, a study of Christ's life can enhance not only our own but our interaction with, and therefore the lives of, others. He taught me that counseling someone requires an ability to know when to step back and be the "observing" adviser; when to get involved and be the "active" adviser; and when to be the "lean-on-my-shoulder-you'll-be-okay" adviser.

Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. (Matthew 20:30-34)

He taught me not to judge but to share truth with compassion.