Starting Today

I will only drink one cup of coffee. :)

Dear Rebecca

You came into the world on a very rainy fall day--maybe that's why to this day you like rain, but hate the gray skies that so commonly come with it.

You were born into a family of all boys, and grew up almost like an only child--don't feel bad about all the time you spent playing alone--it has made you value friendship very highly.

Don't worry about the fact that you have so much to say.  There will come a time when you will need to speak up for the children in your home who "have no voice of their own."

When you marry young, and some people criticize you for it--take their advice and "think about it", but in the end follow your heart.  Your marriage will be one of the best decisions you ever made.

Don't feel ashamed when your dream of becoming a nurse doesn't work out.  Your life's vocation will include a lot of caring for sick children.

Infertility will take you by surprise and bring you to your knees, but for the rest of your life there will be others walking the same road that you can encourage.

You will stumble and falter at times, but you will pick up the pieces and go on.  You will need to go back and say "I'm sorry", but this will only serve to make you stronger.

When you look at others and are tempted to compare yourself remember "I am fearfully and wonderfully made;"

You are unique, your life has a specific purpose, and no one can fulfill that purpose, but you.


Sometimes we are pretty hard on ourselves.  We look at our past, and our mistakes and we see all the failures.  This idea of writing a kind letter to myself is not original to me.  Go visit here to read Betsy's version of it.

Beauty In The Ordinary

Our neighbors pond in the snow.

Are You Living Your Dream

.......if not maybe you should change what you're dreaming.

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“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”
― Socrates



I think all of us go through periods of discontentment.  However, I've begun to realize that my contentment has more to do with being happy where I am rather than trying to reach some unattainable goal.

Winter Wonderland

A few photos from around the yard.

Clock wise from the top left.

Pines in the snow.

Clothesline post.

Picnic table.

Winters supply of wood.

Our woods in the snow.

Enjoy!!

Only A Minute

It only takes a minute to.......

Say "I'm sorry"

Give a backrub

Smile at a stranger

Wipe a toddler's nose.

Say "yes" to what God is asking of you.

Send an encouraging note or email.

Say "I Love You"

Whisper a prayer for someone.

~~~~~~~

Too often the excuse I use for not doing things is "I don't have time."  In reality many good things can be done in just a minute.  These are just a few I thought of.

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What can you do in one minute?

I Am That Lady

I am that lady.  You know, the one who stands behind you in the checkout line and strikes up a conversation with you about the weather, or the price of milk.

I'm pretty outgoing by nature, but I didn't always talk to strangers.  Let me tell you how I came to this point.

After I started adding children to my family, and I was at home a lot I became lonely.  My days stretched before me long and unending with only laundry, and dishes to break the monotony.

I felt hurt and ignored when the phone remained silent and no one stopped by.  Had my friends forgotten me?  I pouted silently when my mailbox was empty, and the clerk in the store didn't even say "hi".


Couldn't anybody see how starved for adult conversation I was?


Then, one day I was waiting in a line--it might have been at the post office, or the grocery store.  The location really doesn't matter.  I noticed the lady behind the counter, I had seen her enough that I knew her face, but today it looked a little different.  Her hair was a little out of place, and her eyes looked tired.

I quickly read her name tag, took a deep breath, and said "How are you today Phyllis?"

Her head came up in surprise, and she answered "I'm tired."

"Working too hard?" I questioned.

What happened next took me by surprise.  She told me her husband had died unexpectedly last year, and left behind a lot of debt.  She was working two jobs, and she couldn't sleep well at night.  She told me about the five cats she had rescued from the animal shelter, and how they kept her company since her husband had passed away.

Phyllis and I saw each other off and on for the next several years until her retirement.  I always enjoyed chatting with her, and I would plan my errands to fall during her work shift.  Since she has retired I rarely see her anymore.

However, I learned an important lesson the day I first talked to Phyllis.  There are a lot of lonely people out there, and if you are one of them I have the perfect solution.

~~~~~~

Reach out!

~~~~~~

If you are willing to get out of your comfort zone a little and strike up a conversation you may make a new friend.  Sometimes my efforts are met with a cold stare, but more often than not I end up chatting with somebody new.

And even when I never see them again I walk away with a warm feeling in my heart.

Oh, and I'm almost never lonely anymore. :)