I saw a post today called, “Measure Your Words.” The point of the post was thinking before you speak, realizing that your words have power, etc.
I immediately thought of my mom, though, when I read the title.
My mother’s dad would only pay for one year of college, so my mom – in one year – took all the courses required for graduation from the two-year, Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, but one (not available that year) almost graduating. She read voraciously, worked a crossword puzzle and the cryptoquote from the newspaper every day, almost always finishing both.
She could stand up in a meeting and say what was on her mind succinctly and persuasively. My husband has said he wishes he could do HALF as well as she did with no notes, talking off the cuff, no matter the occasion. I personally die off at the idea of speaking in public. When I do, my lip twitches…
I remember that I could tell how angry she was by how long the words were. If she were miffed, her message was straightforward. The more angry she was, the longer the words got. She had quite an impressive vocabulary, making a point of learning new words all the time, memorizing their meanings and proper pronunciation and usage. She once got up in a meeting, ripping the previous speaker’s words to ribbons, using words that were SO long, many of the people – including the speaker – didn’t realize he had been gutted like a fish.
“Measure your words” brings back lots of memories of growing up with a wonderful role model. I would give anything to be able to listen to her now – no matter how long her words were. :0)
Filed under Arts and Crafts - Teaching, Family, Favorite People
As I do twice weekly, I was washing out Sweet Sally’s fish bowl today when all of a sudden I heard a small, “crack!”
The goblet I had been using as her fish bowl for more than a year suddenly gave up the ghost and died. I didn’t hit it on anything, bump it, or do anything differently than I’ve done countless times before. My poor fish was in a small bowl with a towel over it, waiting for her home to be cleaned and her to be able to enjoy fresh, clean water and scrubbed decorations and aerator – but her home was gone.
I had to look for quite a while to find her old home. I got it cleaned up and Sally back in as soon as I could.
I got her wonderful, big goblet from the exclusive emporium of Wal-Mart. I’ve found that a lot of the time, when I really like something, they have quit carrying it the next time I go. We’re going tomorrow, so I’m keeping all appendages crossed that I can replace her home so she is no longer disenfranchised, but time will tell.
I feel as if I’m in the Peter Pan movie – the part where they say, “Clap if you believe in Tinkerbell….” I’m clapping as hard and fast as I can that Sweet Sally gets her home back.
Filed under Challenges, Changes, Family
GrowingBolder.com
Raising kids is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Sometimes your kids become really good people in spite of you. Whatever happened in our case, I’m really proud of our son. He’s across the world from us, living and working in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He spends part of each day learning Thai. His kindness and generosity make me humble.
He wrote us last night, saying he was going out today with New Year’s cards – with money in them – giving them to people he didn’t know who ‘had crappy jobs.’
My eyes are filled with tears of pride that he would think to do this, and actually do it. He makes ‘loans’ he won’t allow people to repay, he gives away stuff he has to people who don’t have it, he gives hugs to me without my having to ask. These are only a few examples of the way our son lives his life. How lucky I am to know such a person!
Filed under Attitude, Family, Favorite People, kindness
Blingee via pinterest
“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” ~Norman Vincent Peale
“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” ~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby
Filed under Family, Friendship, holidays
This is an old picture of our son Brian and me, but it’s one of my all-time favorites. He gives absolutely the best hugs I’ve ever had, bringing tears to my eyes.
He’s living and working in Thailand. He loves it there. He can live alongside good friends, also from the States, do computer work for clients in the United States, and live the life he wants, cooking for himself, working out every day, meditating, and learning Thai.
We’re very lucky, in that we’ve always been close, and he’s a wonderful communicator. We have a chat program he set up that is super reliable and private. We can ‘talk’, sometimes in real time when we’re all up at the same time (he’s 12 hours ahead of us at any given time), or we can leave messages for each other. We can send music clips, photos, etc. We talk almost daily. We tried Skype, but since we live in the sticks. we lose the connection and the images are fuzzy.
Today I checked the chat program to see if he’d left anything.
I read the second-best thing possible – (the first would be that he’s coming home for a visit) –
He’ll try to call us tomorrow for Christmas, when we’re all up at the same time!
Merry Christmas to us!!!!
And to YOU!
I love making things for friends for Christmas.
This year I did personalized note cards for 8 people: the three ladies who work at the post office; my Lunch Bunch friends, Linda and Kay, and my good friends Carla and Nora. I’ll do two other sets over the next few days for the two wonderful waitresses at the Pizza Barn in Greenwood, where we have Lunch Bunch. They gave each of us a Christmas mug! I also enjoyed giving some of my mosaic Christmas ornaments, plus jewelry, etc.
There is almost nothing that gives me the pleasure of watching people I care about open gifts from me at birthdays and Christmas. Next year I’m seriously thinking of giving some “Just Because” gifts, purely for the joy it gives ME. I know – I’m thinking of myself again, but at least I’m honest about it….
I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Filed under Encouragement, Family, Favorite People, Friendship
Favim.com
“A hug is a great gift – one size fits all, and it’s easy to exchange.” ~Author Unknown
The experiment took place at a Boys and Girls Club in metro Atlanta, where 83% of the kids come from low-income families. One by one kids are brought into a room to answer several questions. At first, they are asked what they want for Christmas. The video shows different clips of the children revealing their most desired gift – from a dollhouse, to an Xbox 360. Then, the interviewer asks what their moms (or families) would like for Christmas. Each of the kids name a gift that they know that their person would love.
Here comes the hard part of the scenario. The kids are presented with their dream gift, and told that it is theirs to keep. Everyone is thrilled…but then they are also given their family’s gift as well. They are told that they must pick between the presents. Although it seems as if it would be a tough choice, every single one of the kids chooses to act selflessly – and picks the family gift. All of them provide answers for why they made their decision, which are so heartfelt, they will bring you to tears. Wow, what amazing kids!
If the link above doesn’t work, please copy and paste the following URL into your browser – http://www.faithtap.com/5188/kids-particpate-in-difficult-christmas-gift-experiment/?utm_source=shared&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=main&src=shared
Thank you to http://www.faithtap.com via Lenore Garnhum, Facebook
Thanks to Marsha Koenig for her email.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Family
4GIFS.com
Thanks to Marsha Koenig for her email.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Family
Recently we drove to Thibodaux, Louisiana to visit with our dear cousins/great friends, Murray and John. We write, we call, but seeing them face to face and being able to share hugs is the best. They couldn’t make us feel more welcome. We just wish we could see them more often.
The latest trip I was so touched that Murray insisted I choose something I liked from her wonderful collection of glassware. I chose this wonderful purple pitcher because I LOVE pitchers of all shapes and sizes. Murray said there were glasses that went with it; but, although we looked and looked, we were unable to find them.
Murray was setting up for a meeting of one of her clubs, getting out fall things, and found the glasses! They arrived in the mail today along with a nice letter from John.
This set belonged to one of my husband’s aunts, Kathryn Dennis.
I love the set because –
Filed under Delightful Surprises, Family, Favorite People, Favorite Things
Animal House for Real via email from Marsha Koenig
Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library via email from Marsha Koenig
Sabrina Page, Manhattan Animal Care & Control via email from Marsha Koenig
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Family
Thanks to Marsha Koenig for her email.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Family
“Dandelion Fluff” – Paul Militaru Photography
Did you blow on a dandelion as you made a wish when you were a child? I have fond memories of that – wishing for the stars – and then some.
Today I would do it again, if I had a dandelion. I would wish for as many days like today as possible.
It was, in some ways, an ordinary day for us. We did our chores around the house, went to town and did our errands. I did two more sections from my new yoga DVDs and was so relaxed I took a nap. While we were out, my husband asked me if I wanted him to cook steaks on the grill tonight. It was a perfect night for it. The temperatures cooled off and there was a beautiful breeze on the deck. We plugged in our rope LED lights that go all the way around the inside top of our deck, so it looked quite festive. Our dogs and cats were with us, enjoying chasing the occasional ‘something’ across the yard in the grass.
We just finished our glorious dinner, celebrating the weather, the fact that we’re trying to get healthier, and that we are together. I ate my steak, enjoying every bite, and my husband also enjoyed a baked potato, although I convinced him to be satisfied with a much smaller one that he is used to eating.
He is happily enjoying a book now. Recently I re-read “To Kill a Mockingbird” for the umpteenth time. I got on Netflix awhile back and ordered it, so I’m about to go in, grab my ice water, and enjoy one of my favorite movies of all time. The day was all I could wish for. I hope my virtual wish, looking at this beautiful photo by Paul Militaru, comes true.
Sew Mama Sew
This picture gives you an idea of what my good friend Kay is making for her sister, who has Alzheimer’s. She showed it to us yesterday at Lunch Bunch, and I’ve had tears in my eyes off an on every time I think of it.
Kay’s sister is always doing something with her hands when Kay visits – folding a piece of paper, then unfolding it, worrying a thread she found, etc. Kay got the idea that she might enjoy a quilt that had lots of interesting and fun things to do, as well as serving as a lap robe in her chair.
There’s a
I may be forgetting something, but you get the idea. I’ve never heard of a more thoughtful gift, or one that shows more love and compassion.
Filed under Family
Thanks to Marsha Koenig for her email.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Family
My friend Marsha Koenig sent me these in an email. I melted into a puddle. I thought YOU might need a hug, too…
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Family
AsktheTrainer.com
I’m not the only one using my new exercise ball.
The dogs laborious walk around it, or nudge it carefully out of the way of their bed, which is beneath the entertainment center. They’re pretty leery of it, mostly.
The cats, however, used it as a play opportunity yesterday, and had my husband and me laughing out loud. :0)
My husband noticed it first. Abby, our older tortoiseshell cat, was on ‘our’ side of the ball. She was looking at the ball funny for some reason. All of a sudden Smoke, our short-haired gray cat, suddenly leaped from behind the ball onto Abby. They rolled for a second, then split up, opting to try it again. Abby didn’t leap, but was totally engaged in the game. Smoke leaped a couple more times until Abby hissed at her. The next time, the ball suddenly came at Abby, running right into her, causing her to leave the area.
I swear I heard Smoke giggle…
Filed under Amazing Animals, exercise, Family
Thanks to Emily Davis, trendingly.com
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Family
Whoever “Sam” is, I applaud this drawing. I love the color and the sense of humor! Great job!
This morning I’m remembering our recent vacation, where we drove to Thibodaux, Louisiana to visit our cousins/good friends Murray and John.
To say we had a wonderful time just doesn’t say enough. I’ve been having lovely, random thoughts and emotions ever since we came home. Here are some of them –
I could go on. I find a happy image floating in front of my face from time to time. Or I grin, thinking of something we talked about. We are so lucky to have relatives/friends who encourage us to come see them, make us SO welcome when we do, give us such good feelings to enjoy long after we come home, plus memories to last a lifetime.
Filed under Family, Friendship
Thanks to Emily Davis, trendingly.com
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Family
We left Monday morning to drive 9-1/2 hours to Thibodaux, Louisiana
to visit our relatives/good friends, Murray and John. We got there about 5:00 in time to relax before a wonderful dinner and great conversation.
I can’t say enough about our visit. It was so good to hug their necks and have two full days to enjoy them. They always offer to take us all kinds of places, but we wanted a relaxing visit to catch up on what’s been happening without a huge schedule to follow. Our time with them was perfect, though never long enough. We drove back Thursday, getting home about 6:00 in the evening.
I came home with goodies – some beautiful earrings from a shop called Old Estate (I think), though our relatives call it “Jerome’s” because they know not only the owner, but the whole family. My husband chose the earrings, so I love to wear them, knowing they were hand picked.
I also came home with things that have been in the family for years. I’ll treasure these, finding each a place to live in our home.
We made a shovel bird (our version of a bird feeder with personality), since Murray has a gorgeous court yard type of garden lovingly tended by Robin, whom we met. She’s a lovely person, taking good care of their yard and all the plants. The shovel bird was new, so even though it had bird seed in the shovel part, no birds were using it. I figured the paint and polyurethane smell, plus its being new in the garden, made it unattractive to the wonderful variety of birds they have. Murray texted me while we were on our way home, saying, “A bird is in the shovel bird!” :0)
Murray and John are watching sugar, too, and introduced us to many things that made my sweet husband start to believe that avoiding sugar doesn’t have to be the end of the world! We found
In my own efforts to get the lard off, I’m reading a lot of information on the paleo form of low carb eating. I downloaded and printed a bunch of information and will plow through it this weekend. I’m trying to get my body’s attention, since it seems to have gotten used to my regular efforts and I’ve been on quite a plateau.
We’re pigging out the rest of the weekend and will get serious Monday morning.
Happy vacation to us! We couldn’t have had a better time.
I hope that you had a great week, too.
Filed under Family
Thanks to Emily Davis, trendingly.com
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Family
I’m sorry to report that Angie, the Angelfish, is no longer with us. :0(
I cleaned the fish bowl and both fish were swimming around happily. The next day I didn’t see Angie. I looked all around the bowl, but didn’t see her. I thought she might be hiding in the neon ‘house’, so didn’t worry.
Today I cleaned the bowl again and found her UNDER the neon house. I have no clue how she was able to get under it. So now Sally, the bright yellow fish, is alone until we can arrange to get back to Fort Smith and see if we can find compatible friends for her.
Note: I have a ceramic bowl I put the fish in while I’m cleaning their ‘goblet.’ While I was cleaning, I saw movement beside me. Sally had suddenly jumped out of the bowl and was flapping around on the counter! I quickly brushed her from the counter into my hand and then back into the ceramic bowl, putting a towel over it. When her home was nice and clean with fresh water, I carefully poured her back into the goblet.
I will look for a deeper bowl to keep her in while she waits for her ‘maid’ to do the cleaning…
Filed under Family
creativeartworksblog 