Return

Returning .....
Been away, not very far ....
taking the time, to re open a door .....

update

Up date, up date ......

I am out of the storage unit and no longer paying to store anything !!!!!

Do have a stove and a dryer behind my shed that need homes, but the 15 boxes of stuffed animals have a new home ---- just waiting for the kids to come and retrieve (hint, hint) ....

Celebrate the small things that is what makes up the memories of life ..................

lightening

thank you internet picture taker

Lightening ............. something to be watched, something to be enjoyed .....

Last week there was a lightening strike on the hill across the highway ..... I watched the smoke plume grow and then shrink .... life and death of a fire ... because of the location firefighters had to hike into the fire ...... they used the old fashioned method of fighting fires ..... shovels and sweat (yea, they did have chain saws) .... with all the advances in the world I wonder what is it we are giving up to advance ....... Will my granddaughters children know what a book is? Will my granddaughters look back on the extreme advances that are happening in their infant hood and thing how old fashioned?

A few years (3) ago I had a totally awesome black and white TV the picture was crisp and clear .... my youngest got me a color TV (thank you, baby boy) because he did not think mom need to watch movies in black and white .... having grown up on black and white TV I didn't realize there was a problem ..... Narnia was much better in color. The point being the fact that i got to watch TV was cool beans to me, the fact that mom had to be deprived of color was important to the one who grew up on color TV. (I do love my color TV)

Reading the internet (I do like some of the advances) I am watching changes come about where it appears that people are giving up their right and need to think ...... allowing others to think for you is not a safe or natural thing. Just a question, 'Who will be in charge of the thinking in the future?'

George Orwell was not that far off in his writings ....................................

Celebrate

Celebrate the day! Today is an awesome day in that it is .......... (of course the wind is not blowing, the sun is shining and there is a possibility of afternoon rain) .......

I am almost out of the old storage unit and will move remaining thing to a smaller one with the hope of being out by the end of the summer .......

Been finding all kinds of things in boxes .... childhood (my kids) memories ...... books i forgot i had ..... dishes, quilts, artwork and so much more ........ And there are the "WHY?" things ..... (not going to list) ...... if i calculated the cost of keeping all of these things ....... that pottery mug with my blue flowers (the cheap one not the good one) is worth big bucks ...... The Goal is to downsize what is there to fit in less than 1/3 of a 8x10 storage shed in plastic containers .....

Kids if you are reading this time to come and get your stuff ..... blond daughter has the most ..... she said she'd take it home with her when she comes and changes out horses next month. She has no clue what is waiting for her....

I anticipate Celebrating the end of an era ----- storage queen ----- very shortly!

Time Stealers ....

Time Stealers ......

Lately i have been thinking about time ...... the clock is ticking ...... no this is not a morbid thing but a realization about the need to be intentional with the use of this valuable commodity. We are all given a set specific amount of time for our day 24 hours - i believe that that breaks down to 1440 minutes or 86400 seconds ..... taking the stance that on an average work day there is 9 hours used for work time ( i have virtually no commute time) and 6 to 8 hours for sleep - that leaves between 7 and 9 hours to be self productive ..... getting things done and down time ...... how is it that i spend these hours? I'm lucky i have no TV, other than movies and no internet at my house. Soooooooo i should be getting tons of things done, right? As the kids used to say NOT!

So what is it i am doing? To my credit i am running around in circles trying to get @10 things accomplished in a limited time and almost doing it, but is there a better way? In my case the answer is most likely. What is tripping me up? 'TIME STEALERS' ; the following of rabbit trails when i should be focused on the task at hand, not having all that i need pulled together so i can get the job done, not having a plan (in some cases a clue) for what i need done, and the list could grow .... the list of things i want done grows on a daily basis ..... and the thing i need to do just to maintain does not seen to shrink ...... is there hope?

Of course there is. The question is am i willing to look for and make changes? (i wouldn't be writing this if i didn't want the changes, duh) but that takes it back to the question am i willing to make the changes? think about this ..... i want a change but am i willing to make the change ....

Time stealers:

Spending the day reading (my personal favorite), procrastination, not being focused on a task, Facebook, internet games (lol, down time at work!), e-mail, internet period when not used for a specific reason (i can find an online computer... i'm here aren't i?), looking for things that should already be somewhere else, no plan of action ........

Look at the Shoes!

Look at the shoes .....

This is a serious ceremony, a wedding, dressed in traditional clothing .... well till you get to the shoes (they appear new and white)

What things do we add to our traditions to make them our own, to make them comfortable ..... is that a good or bad thing?

PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

OUCH

I love it ---- there are times when there is no better word to use to describe moments in life.

My current moment is not a physical ouch, it is a spiritual one. (try finding a picture for that)

I have been working on my spiritual journey .... placing importance on my relationship with God. One of the must reads in life is Brother Lawrence -- that man had being in the presence of God down. In my small group we have been talking and learning about spending and being in the presence of God during our days (and nights). See where the focus should be ....

This past week things in life got interesting, someone was caught trying to do me wrong ..... trying to do me harm ..... I of course, am not at fault here. (reality --i did not deserve what was going on) My first reaction -- anger== defensive (how dare you)!!!! then came the mind tapes .....

I was driving into town, alone in my truck, no radio on and venting to God ..... do not know how that still small voice got through (i vent loudly) but somehow I heard ..... Why are you practicing the presence of *******(insert name). OUCH!

Practicing the presence of God is inviting Him into our every moment. Acknowledging him in the moment.

I had been spending time inviting stress, discontent, anger, strife, and all else anti-God into my moments .... all in the name of *******(insert name). That did not leave any place for God. Very big OUCH!

What other names to we, you and I practice during our day? How much time is spent pushing God away so that we have room for ________? At the end of the day who did you/I spend the day with?

Funny thing, when I stopped and recognized what I was doing and gave it to God ..... things changed. (yes for my benefit)

Colors

My daughter took this picture ......

What wonderful colors ..... Just in time for Easter .... Hidden inside the flower is a butterfly ....... Hidden mysteries ..... That was the revelation that first Easter morning ....... Have you taken the time lately to spend time with God? He planned for each one of us before the world began ...... what a concept in pre-planning ..... Enjoy the day!

observation

An easy observation is that fixing a large appliance is not as easy as one would think ...... spent part of monday gazing into the back of my washer/dryer ...... looked ok to me ..... however nothing happens when you tell it to start working .... did notice that the floor has a fairly large hole in it and should be replaced ...... soon.

Life is full of things that push us to the limit of our understanding. Fixing an appliance or replacing a floor, maybe even events that happen ...... Where is it that you look for your help?

My help comes from the Lord ..... just waiting to see how things work out.

cat humor

Cat humor ........

computers

Got to love her, she has something to say about everything ....... I have to add that work computers are just as bad.

transporting

Sometimes you find a picture that transport you back to a time and place? When I first saw this I went back to my child hood in northern Virginia. I felt the cold, crisp air, smelt the wetness of the snow. felt the silence of the moment.......... That's what happens when you live somewhere where there is no such thing as moisture/humidity .......

picture

Pictures ...... another to be shared .......

cat picture

Some times you just can't pass up passing on a picture ..... granted it is not Christmas, but I propose this for the new poster cat for elves.

Been a while

Don't know where i found this but i love it. Cats will find a way ..... especially if it includes sun.

The weather is wonderful, I will get to sleep through almost 70 degree weather tomorrow. Maybe the wind will not blow. Have tried to get outside to do some cleaning and prepping for spring, need a vision on where and what I want to do on the property. I see graph paper and erasers .......

With out a vision on what we want to do, we get nowhere fast. That is where i am finding myself at this time. I have been waiting two years for J to move off the property, her staying was part of the purchase agreement. She now wants to stay for another 10 mos. In a weak moment i told her to put her offer on paper, she has not done it, but is believing that it is a done deal.......

I realized that i have, and I do, put things on hold for other people so that they can get what they want ...... NEW thought, maybe I should think about what I need for a change. What is it I want? What will it take to get it?

Wonder where this new thought process is leading and what if anything will I change ..... LOL. the cats have a good idea, sit in the sun and doze ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Why worry

Winter, it does not seem to want to come to this end of the world. Weather has been fantastic, today almost 70 ..... I know from the past that cold weather is out there ..... I so do not want to have to go out and feed in the cold and wet .... Why worry about what has not come to be ....... Jesus tells us not to worry in Matt. telling us to look to the birds and the flowers ..... God feeds and clothes them, are we not more important ......

Recently God told me to sit back and enjoy his love ....... that is not something I have really thought about, much less done. Last Sunday morning on the way to work I told Him that I wanted a present from him, I acknowledged I did not deserve anything but I wanted something anyway. (truthfully, I was thinking in the candy bar or coke realm) And as with much that comes out of my mouth I forgot my request ........... When I got home the girl in the other house came out and gave me a ring she had found up north that reminded her of me, I thought cool beans, God's gift. A copper ring with horses running on the front. I love it. I then went to go out to dinner with some people from small group, one of the ladies decided she was treating, and we were going to one of the best restaurants in town, Wow, a second gift, way out of the coke and candy realm I had wanted to settle for ...... THEN on Monday....... things fell into place and I was given a pick up truck ......... WAY past the candy and coke realm ...... This has been real lesson in 'more than I can ask or think' ...................

As this next week unfolds, I am asking God to keep me mindful that He loves me more than I can process in my simple human mind ........... That He is aware of my needs, wants and even likes ........ I think I will take the time to curl up and enjoy just being with God ........

Directional thinking

Ever thought that maybe the way you are thinking may need to change?

My daily reading, today, from Ken Copeland was on Psalm 23. That about covers it, right? NOT!

In most studies and talk on scriptures we seem to focus on who we are in Christ, not a bad thing to know, BUT how much time is spent really knowing Who God is in us? What a view to face the world from.

Think about it .......... Your defence is defined in the Shadow of the Almighty .............

OH yea thank you Internet for a picture that definitely shows directional thinking

Now it makes since

Well here is an epiphany moment ...... I have for years said that I was using someone else's idea of fun ......... Turns out I was right, I have been using the worlds view instead of God's ...... It is amazing how we let the daily struggles life push God to the side till He only occupies small moments of our lives ...... Reading Brother Lawrence's words on keeping God in our every moment ... OUCH ...... Time to reevaluate ........

Impossibilities

Impossibilities ...... an elephant in a tree, so ......... Just found a letter I started way back when.... it describes, most likely, the hardest year in my life (1996/1997)...... It also describes

how I dealt with it spiritually..... Looking back from here, and remembering all that was in the letter and what wasn't ..... seeing the faith written on those pages ...... remembering ...... the long hours in the Word, the even longer hours of believing and standing ........ In the natural I would not of survived, (wonder how the kids remember that year).

Just recently the Lord said to 'center myself in the saddle'. I know that when I first heard those words, The above time came to my mind and I let fear sneak into my mind...... God reminded me that life does not have to be traumatic to require you to be centered. LOL, he also has reminded me that you can always improve where you are. (will not go into how long it took for me to realize what God was trying to tell me)

SOOOOOOOOOOO, what am I writing about? Nothing, everything ...... A reminder to self, that I've faced impossible situations and with God's help I won...... that what ever is going on in my life now, is beatable with a firm stance in the Lord.

Poohism

another Internet picture .........

One of the very best quotes worth remembering comes from Disney's Winnie the Pooh (not the original pooh)

" I'm not lost I'm right where I'm standing".

true to life ..... you must add .... And that is where God placed me ....

Continued from art

Connection with others ............ Unconditional love .... Profound, tinder, enthusiastic, affection for another from a perfect, unlimited, nonjudgmental positive (non hostile) position.

Supporting, to carry the weight of another without giving way, to provide w/necessities of life, to endure and tolerate/ to submit to, and to uphold as valid.

endure- to bear patiently w/out yielding (not letting go)

tolerate - to allow w/out hindrance- put up with

Nurture, to feed and protect, encourage, educate, train (a life giving relationship).

Friend, attached. bound by emotional ties or affection (devoted to).

devoted- earnest attachment to __________

profound dedication to __________

Hostile, characteristic of an enemy, someone who wants harm or has prejudicial feelings towards another. Opposing words and or actions.

Does the above describe how you interact with others, Christian or not ........ Wait the hostile part ...... OH yea, we are to be non-hostile, the opposite of ............. Stop and think about it .....

Art/ relationships

Playing on the painting software can make even me an artist .... My art is usually in the three dimension form, how I wish I could make what I see show up on a piece of canvas, kinda like a photo .... I do not have the "eye" transfer life onto paper with out some distortion (some days lots of distortion) .......



Our Spiritual life, is like that sometimes ..... We see fail to transfer the truth into our everyday ..... I do not mean we lie and cheat and steal ..... No, we get the instructions, take off trying to follow them, and yet we do not understand what they truly mean.

One of the questions from my small group was "What kind of connection do you think Christ wants you to have with Christian brother and sisters?" The obvious answers are: to Love unconditionally ...... to support and nurture ...... to be a friend. Most of us do not do our family that way, much less acquaintances and strangers .... or those who's thinking and acting are just weird (oh-- wait -- that's me) .....

To love unconditionally -----a profound, tinder, enthusiastic affection for another in a perfect unlimited positive (not mixed) for certain manner ......

Inside dogs

These are the inside dogs, the ones who could not understand why Diva should be the only one talked about ..... Arn't they cute.

Frustration

A friend of mine paid for 3 months on an online dating site ...... I'm not good at going out and talking to people where it might mean something ...... and this is driving me crazy ..... I am attempting to talk to people and not doing very good at it .... would not go back on the site again, exept she paind good money for two more months ...... lol ... it feels kind of like shopping for socks ..... and so many people want to find that special someone ... I would too, but this is almost like begging someone to think I am someone to talk to ...... Thinking that today is not the time to make decisions on anything. (Not that my decision would make much difference.) LOL thinking this is timeout for winning, should go and get some roses .............................

Zeb

See the beauty in the front? His name is Zeb, this may be a repeat, but he pulled a cute one the night after Nita went home ...... I had put him in her old pen and he was a major toot to get there, at the gate he buggered, (this horse is yard art, he is unstable on his feet, eats like a pig, and give kisses when in the mood) ..... He became ..... WILD MAN... snorting and bucking and running around the yard .... after he let me catch him, into the pen he went, being assured that Nita did not die in the pen and everything was OK ..... I fed everyone and all was well ....... Went out to dinner and when I came back I had the thought to go out and check on the guys, (all three are pictured here) ....... Zeb, was lying down, sitting up but down, (I was not ready for anyone to lie down at this point) so I went into his pen, walked around to the front of him and said 'Zeb, what you doing?' ........ His response ......... to fall over on his side ........ Do not have a clue if he was asleep and just fell over, if I scared him and he fainted or (my guess) he was just being a sh** and playing with me ....... My reaction ..... to get behind him and yell and stomp till he got up and call the vet to come check him out ...... Good thing my vet is smarter than me .... She got me some meds to relax him told me she would check him out in the am, which she did and there was nothing wrong with the cutie, except maybe a real sick since of humor ..... I do wonder if he thought I put him in the pen to put him down ... LOL

Sleeping, moments

Again another photo that came in via E-mail. Some people have the best luck taking pictures, my animals are cute till the camera comes out then it is: duah!!!!! aren't these guys cute .....

Do not know why but it seems like I can not get enough sleep lately, maybe it is the cold winter, nah, we have had weather in the mid to high 50's, with lots of sun. In fact for all the days I get to sleep in the day time (graves) there will be plenty of sun ..... (if it is light you need to be up and doing) ..... I have tricks to make me believe it is ok to be asleep when the sun is out ..... This does look good, being outside in the sun and (warm) just lazing around .....

Told the other animals that I wrote about Diva yesterday and they all said ' why her, why not me ..... ' LOL Will have to watch for fun things to talk about.

Got a Blessing today, was able to switch shifts and will be able to go to small group early for the dinner that is planned, the pastor's B-day is on monday ..... Get to go home and find something to fix......

Today's thoughts

The freedom to create ..... do not know where i got this picture, besides loving the topic and the colors it I got a cat who given the opportunity would be right there..... Diva, named for Prima ballerina, not demon, is something to behold. Found by a friend out in the weeds and almost dead from dehydration and malnutrition she shows no signs of her early life. Diva, is the curtain climbing variety of cat, in fact her best trick is to be on top of my clothes sharing her long white hair with all I own. I have a weakness for dried roses, Diva took care of all that I had, the dried parts are being vacuumed from all corners of the house, did leave the stems up for a while so she had something to play with. This morning the great sport was to run up and down the hall for no apparent reason other than it was there to do....... she was creating her own fun. No one else in the house was into that game so she did it by herself for at least 15 minutes. Creating time to have fun is something that seems missing in what I do lately, maybe I should take a hint from the crazy one at the house and make time for fun ....... (No, I will not be running up and down the hall) ........

New Year, New Thoughts

Just finishing the third graveyard shift this week, then home to bed to be back at work at 2pm today, and again at 6am on sunday.................. this week is wearing me down .......... Next pay period I start two graveyards a week again ........ Getting toooooo old for these kind of turn-arounds.

Enjoyed Christmas with the grand kids and most of my kids...... Could of watched them interact for a few more days before I came back to my world. The big city was a very busy place to be, everyone having somewhere to go .....

Got back to frozen pipes, stopped up sewage and snow !!! Got the water going, the sewage unblocked (uck) and the snow is almost all gone, just in time for sunday's storm. My car which I asked God for 'a few more days till I go on vacation', went down for the count on sunday when i was coming home from small group. Beautiful night, stars out and crystal clear. Nada dog and i enjoyed the wait for the tow truck. I was extra lucky, being part of the system, I got a deputy dispatched right after the wrecker, so I got to stay warm for the wait. Do not know the extent of the problem, but it will be major.

Schedule change left me working instead of going to a friend's for dinner on monday, surprise, surprise, both ladies showed up with turkey dinner, desert, and keys to a pick up so I am not on foot.... Kinda nice to realize that at my age I have acquired some totally awesome friends.

Got news another friend is in the hospital with possible cardiac, have not been able to get back with her LOL!!!! maybe in the afternoon today.....

I got a 3 month subscription to a dating site from a co-worker for birthday/Christmas gift .... that is a whole new bundle of sticks ..... I can not seem to get a picture on the site .... everything on my computer is not the right format !!!! It is weird to see all those people looking for someone, and it is kinda like shopping when you go in and read the profiles; look good, fit the right questions, write the right words, live in the right area ......... talk about an area for major rejection.

Needing to get ready for my replacement to come in, and run as fast as I can to bed so I can be back in 8 hrs. The dogs are really going to love this one.

Life is fun, just wish I could use my definition of fun, not this mixed up one ......