Sunday, November 22, 2009

Unexpected Curves on Life's Journey

Talk about some curves! Here are some of the ways my life has been turned upside down in the past few weeks:

1. My son was in an auto accident. He braked to miss a deer on the road, lost control, and slammed into a telephone pole. Thankfully, he's alive! He has his broken jaw wired shut, a broken nose, broken bones around his eye, and a broken collar bone. I drove the 3 hours to go see him last weekend in the hospital. It was hard to see him in that shape, and harder still to leave to drive back home!

2. A long-time close, supportive friendship seems to have ended. What more can I say, than to say that this hurts. This was the friend I would have called first when I learned that my son was hurt. I've heard that when one door closes, another will be open. The trick is to avoid staring for too long at that closed door. I've been finding myself doing my share of staring back, though. Maybe I need to, just for a little while, so that I can feel my feelings of grief over the lost relationship.

3. Speaking of open doors......... I've actually been on my first date since 1979! You see, I was married in 1980 and divorced in 2004. Since then I've been finding healing in many ways. On the very same day that I learned of my friends desire to back away from our friendship, I was introduced to a charming man, who later asked me out on a date! Can you imagine how exciting AND how scary it can be to start dating after 30 years!!!!!!! Whew!

So, for now, one day at a time, I'll keep trusting that God is not surprised by any of the changes along this curvy journey I'm taking. Whatever comes, I'm not alone.

Oh, by the way, this picture came from Flickr....... if you click on it, it will link to the original post. My understanding is that it's OK to post with a link. :~)

Saturday, November 14, 2009

About the Charter for Compassion.....

I learned about the Charter for Compassion from Bonnie at Original Art Studio. I can't explain it any better than Bonnie has...... so please check out her post! As I see so much more polarization in the world, I'm thrilled to spread the word about a group that is promoting something different, and giving voice to words I've felt but didn't know how to say.

Charter for Compassion

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Ch ch ch CHANGES

First, I must say a big THANK YOU to Jayne for suggesting the simple tiara as a costume. It worked! Queen for a couple of hours, I had fun.

Then, oh my, my world has been rocked. If you want to see a picture of how upside down my little world has felt, then watch this amazing rock slide HERE. I'll have to post more about it later, when I've had time to gain some perspective. For today, that's my goal. Keep breathing, keep letting love and faith guide me, (including loving myself just as I am.......... I've found that to be so important!) and learn the lessons life is teaching me right now.

I've had a little bit of help in finding perspective, thanks to Roberta's camera lens HERE.
Oops, just heard my clock chiming. It's time to go to work!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

About masks..........

Well, it's October, and the monthly gathering of my "Wild Women's Gaming Group" (the game usually being Rummikub!) is insisting no admittance without a costume! I ALMOST declined to go, because-
1. I have a church women's event on Saturday, and I really need to spend some time doing housework during the weekend, and
2. I'm intimidated by the thought of figuring out a costume.

Then, I remembered how much fun I have at these gatherings, and how important it is to me to nurture my relationships with my friends.... and I tried to imagine how I would feel doing housework while the gals are having fun. So, I'm going!

So what's with me and my dislike for Halloween costumes? Well, for one, creativity is NOT my strong suit. The bigger thing is that I just don't like masks any more! I spent SO many years wearing a mask all of the time. I had a mask for any occasion! I'd walk into a room, survey the mood, and pull out the appropriate mask. It's like I was living the Santana song "Tell me just what you want me to be..........".

It feels SO good to be living without the masks! Imagine the freedom of feeling however I want to feel, instead of trying to figure out what I "should" be feeling and then trying to pretend. You see, in my masked days, I walked around numb and emotionless. Life happened TO me; I didn't live. Now, I can FEEL my feelings, and I've learned how to "mean what I say, say what I mean, just don't say it mean!" The grammar is awful, but the saying is memorable.

So, putting on a costume is a challenge for me..... and funds are limited. I thought about putting on white face paint, wearing black, and being a mime. That sounds easy..... but, I just don't know about covering my face like that! Sigh.............

I'll be sure and post whatever I decide to "be". Most importantly, behind that costume, I'll still BE myself!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The gift of a sunrise

A few friends and I spent the weekend at a beach house this weekend. Towards the end of the week, the weather forcast was rain, rain, and more rain. Then, on Friday I read that unusually high tides would possible flood roads at the beach. This trip had been planned for MONTHS!

I'm very grateful that the weather was just perfect! I love going to the beach at this time of year! And, it only rained once.

This morning I woke up while it was still dark, looked at the time, and rolled over to go back to sleep. Then, I started getting this urge to get up, and go see the sunrise! I suddenly felt the excitement of a little child who was excited and exuberant about a surprise gift.

I did get out of bed, and wrapped up and went to the beach (we were only a few feet away!). I was sitting there watching the stars, thinking of the Bible verse about waiting for God like a watchman waits for the morning. That verse came to life for me in a new way. I've always thought of it as the watchman thinking that the night would never end. Today I thought about how there was absolutely NO DOUBT in my mind that the sunrise would come right on schedule.

The sunrise was a beauty, as there were clouds in the sky adding drama to the picture. I stood there by the water and sang "How Great Thou Art", feeling very grateful for my unexpected gift of seeing the sunrise over the ocean. Then, right on cue, when the sun was up, the rain started!

Oh, and I had one more gift! I went to a 6:30 p.m. church service this afternoon. What was the prelude so magnificently played? You might have guessed............ "How Great Thou Art".

Yes, indeed, God is great, and, somehow I think He had a hand in my awakening to see His handiwork in the sunrise. God DOES know how to give good gifts to His children.

A brand new look

Well, I've finally changed my blog layout. What do you think? I've been admiring the backgrounds on other blogs, but could never find one that suited ME (except, of course, for the same ones I'd seen on other blogs.

Thanks to One Small Blog (you can click on their link on the top left of this page, if you're interestd)!