Lucy, Carol and Bob

Some days, you have a decision to make... either plow through or go back to bed...

and SOME days that decision gets tested.

I keep waiting for life to lighten. It's been a rough 365+ days. Ready to start out the New Year with a bang!
Proved that theory true with 3 (yes I said 3) separate episodes of stomach flu since the 1st. And what gets me....WHAT REALLY TESTS ME...
is I've only lost 1#. I could stand to lose a third grader off these hips and all I get is 1 lousy pound. With all the knee time I devoted I should have lost 2 third graders!!!!
Seriously???
I find myself asking...
What would three of my favorite people in the world tell me right now...

"Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on."

~Bob Newhart~

"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore ones faith."

~Lucille Ball~

"Comedy is tragedy plus time."

~Carol Burnett~

I drove up to Starbucks not too long ago, put my arm out to the window and begged them to just start a drip right there.

Ahh well it could always be worse right! Having energy is over rated.

With that said, I continue my pursuit with this community of women who have devoted themselves to OPERATION PURPOSEFUL GRATTITUDE!

A list of a Thousand things, beginning with #1. Daily jotting down items on my Thousand Gifts list, working, one-by-one, up to a thousand gifts.

Grab the button and start jotting along with!

#258

Laughter is medicine for the soul

#259

Thankful for a career that stands the test in these uncertain times

#260

That the stomach flu will go away...it's not a cancer diagnosis

#261

Fresh paint on my bedroom walls, so serene.

#262

Listening to the stories of my daughters last perfomance at the Hult Center

#263

Secrets told by a friend

#264

A fresh fall of snow

#265

An adoring son who takes such good care of me

#266

A great man who works hard and loves me equally

#267

My great big Father who watches by day and night!

Dog diary vs cat diary

Funny Friday

The Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing! 
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat's Diary

Day 983 of My Captivity

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now ...

Homeward bound

1,000 Word Thursday

It happens in a B L I N K

Wednesday's Word

"Teach me to number my days".

That's one of my favorite lines from Revives single, Blink. So poignant and so true these words!

I was driving home today from running a few errands, the sun was out and there was a crisp winters chill in the air. Summer is by far my favorite season, however not much beats a clear, cold, crisp and sunny winters day.

Blink is one of my favorite songs right now but not until today did the words paint on a fresh canvas for me.

With the loss of three dear people I loved this last year (gone in a blink), children that have grown up way too fast (try to hold on tight), new fine lines mapping my face (happened in a flash) and a high school graduation just beyond the bend (it happened in the time it took to look back)

I continue to find myself quite reminiscent.

What am I going to do with the time I've been given?

Oh Lord help me to slow. Help me to not let one drop of this life not breathe and pulse to give you Glory!

 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

When you can't sleep

Tuesday's Quotes

                                                   Source: tranzformingproducts.com via Robin on Pinterest

To be thought a fool

I just read the below story the other day and most definitely felt the Holy Spirits stir on my heart...

Late one summer evening in Broken Bow, Nebraska, a weary truck driver pulled his rig into an all-night truck stop. He was tired and hungry. The waitress had just served him when three tough looking, leather jacketed motorcyclist - of the Hell's Angels type - decided to give him a hard time. Not only did they verbally abuse him, one grabbed the hamburger off his plate, another took a handful of his french fries, and the third picked up his coffee and began to drink it.

How did this trucker respond? How would you respond?

Well, this trucker did not respond as one might expect. Instead, he calmly rose, picked up his check, walked to the front of the room, put the check and his money on the cash register, and went out the door. The waitress followed him to put the money in the till and stood watching out the door as the big truck drove away into the night.
When she returned, one of the cyclists said to her, "Well, he's not much of a man, is he?"
She replied, "I don't know about that, but he sure isn't much of a truck driver. He just ran over three motorcycles on his way out of the parking lot."

                                                   Source: Uploaded by user via Robin on Pinterest

Do you love hearing stories like that? Stories of revenge and retaliation?


I sure do and hope I'm not alone. I laughed right out loud.
I've mellowed over the years but my personality is one of a survivor. I'm not afraid of conflict and I almost ALWAYS err on the side of confrontation. It's a character trait that has come in handy AND AT THE SAME EXACT TIME I like the least!


Don't get me wrong, I do have compassion and empathy. Without those guys I couldn't be an effective nurse, mom, wife or friend. However I would love to befriend the fruit of self control a little more oft.


I delight in my God's kind ways and how He gently woos us to Him. I love that He is always doing a work in us as we allow.

 I also adore how He loves to show off for us.

If we wait, are patient and leave room for Him, He will shower us with His Glory and it will rain down on us with healing warm salve.


Forgiving doesn’t mean excusing a wrong or denying that it ever happened. It means we don’t allow ourselves to be consumed with anger towards the one who has done something to us. Instead of cursing the people who have wronged us, we pray for them. 

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

Abraham Lincoln

This weeks multitude

#253 His grace
#254 His mercy
#255 His forgiveness
#256 His patience
#257 His love

I AM WOMAN

 The first Friday of the new year.

Let’s do it. Let’s just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.

For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Let your mind and your words and your heart fly free; wild – no editing, no over thinking.

Won’t you join me?

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – don’t edit; don’t second-guess.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Must: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them in their writing!

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:

Roar…

Alright I'm totally dating my self here. I wish something spiritually slick would have come to mind first but I've promised myself for the season of 5 minute Friday's I would stay true to the rules (i'm generally not a good rule follower:) and stay true to the rules, I will do!

Here it is....

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

Yes that is Helen Reddy's  1970's hit I AM WOMAN. There was a time I would chant those words with pride, I would wear them like a soldier wears his medal proud.

Fast forward 20 something years..eh hem.. and I have a completely different take on what a woman truly is.                                                The world has colorfully painted a picture of what women should look like in today’s world. Magazines are shouting from the rooftops about how we can ‘have it all’.  

                                    It's not true, It's smoke and mirrors!

Yes I am strong but I'm not invincible, I'm steady but not a tower, I am wise but it's the Holy Spirits wisdom imparted to me and HE paid the price...not I.

 “She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” 

STOP.
Surely someone else thought of this song.....?

St. Maarten

1,000 Word Thursday

View from our room on Belair Beach in St. Martin. It's January and this was a must to pull out. Ahhhhh

Twenty Twelve

Ahhhhh I can barely bring myself to write out 2012. It sounds so futuristic for some reason.
But here it is.
We started it out with a bang. Some dear friends swept us away to a night of dancing to bring in the new year.
I can't even remember the last time we have done such a thing. It's just not our norm. Small town, children, jobs, parents, middle age... all prevent it.
What an exhilarating, freeing, healing time.
2011 was a year of loss and valley experiences. None of it without hope and strength from the One we call Daddy, but tough nonetheless.
Have you ever just sat and watched a person dance?  Especially a child, no inhibitions or worries of being cool.
I've long loved the quote:

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”
- William W. Purkey -

May Twenty Twelve be a year of dancing, loving, singing and living!!

Procrastination

Tuesday's Quotes

                              Source: thinknice.com via Kara on Pinterest