Category: Other Posts

A Day to Remember

I am officially a published author!

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View my book here:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/574005

Thank you to Julia Ryan for the beautiful cover and to my daughter Britta Ann for all her help with the technical stuff.  I’m excited to start this new journey in my life and would like you to share it with me.

Just For Fun!

Treasured Moments

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River Forest Stream in Summer Have you ever meandered along a meadow brook like the one pictured here? The trees would clasp their branches over your head, sheltering you from the noon day sun. You could rest beside the slow-moving water, your back against the trunk of an arching tree. Maybe take off your shoes and dip a toe in the cool water before ‘going all the way’ and standing barefoot, the clear water rippling against your ankles. You could lean your head back and close your eyes, listening to the gentle gurgle of the stream, the birds singing in the shade of the trees. A breeze would whisper through the green corridor and you could sigh with contentment and peace.

Mountain StreamOr maybe you’ve hiked along a mountain trail, climbing over the occasional rocks until the rush of water grew louder in the trees. You pressed on, following the sound until you brushed past the edge of the woods and stood at the brink of all that roaring water tumbling over the smooth rocks. You could breathe deeply of the wet earth and pine trees in the spring sunshine. All that water would beckon you to cool your tired feet. A boulder beside the stream would be your chair as you slid your toes into the frigid, sharp depths. Tiny stabs against your skin as you adjusted to the spring flow.

What about the night air, crickets chirping to one another? Fireflies flicker in the dark trees, tiny lanterns spaced in the meadow. The silvery light of the moon stretches across the navy surface of the water, pulling your gaze to the heavens above. What sweet peace fills your soul as you revel in all that has been created. These are the treasured moments. The ones that come far and too few between. Remember to enjoy them this summer, either alone or with those that are special to you. I know I will be looking for some!Mountain Stream at night

Marriage

The wife I want to be when I grow up…

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CinderellaIt may start out with Cinderella. A little girl wants to wear the frilly, flowing gown and the sparkly, glass slippers. And, “Oh yeah, I need a Prince to go with that pretty dress!” The husband of her dreams is actually an accessory.

Summer SceneI moved on to the cottage perched daintily in a grassy meadow, pink flowers sprinkled here and there, a rose covered white picket fence guarding the little house. I would have lots and lots of children skipping through the meadow, laughing and playing together in utter enjoyment of one another’s company. I don’t know where they all slept in that tiny house, but dreams don’t make sense a lot of the time. A husband and father…he was around…somewhere.

As I grew older, I thought more about the kind of husband I actually wanted to be married to. Of course he would have to be handsome and love me immensely. Yes, I would love him and I still wanted the little cottage and a couple of children. They would still frolic in the meadow, loving one another and never arguing. I don’t know why I thought this, I grew up the oldest of four. But again, dreams seldom make sense.

Thankfully, by the time I was old enough to marry I was thinking more about the attributes of a husband. I wanted him to be patient and kind, hard-working and willing to support a family. (Remember, I was down to two children by this time, not a tough job.) I wanted him to love the Lord as I did and live his life for Him. Of course I still hoped he would be handsome and funny and love me forever. I still wanted the rose covered picket fence and adorable house.

And what kind of wife was I going to be? I knew I could cook and clean and again, I was the oldest of four and had babysat…A LOT before I married. I could do all the everyday tasks of general survival and I was and am still pretty good at them. But what kind of wife am I?

Do I lift my husband up in prayer each day? Do I support him in his endeavors as he always has mine? Do I give him a smile even when I don’t wish to, a stroke of his back when I know he’s down? Do I prepare a special meal for him just because he means so much to me and I want to show him I care…even when my day has been lousy? Do I love him and stick with him even when there are times when I want to run from all the responsibilities of being a wife and mother?

Honestly…I can answer ‘no’ to each question above.

The wife I want to be when I grow up…is no longer a dream. I can make it my reality, my life. Not through my own strength, but God is there, showing me the way. The wife I want to be is loving and kind. Giving that pat and smile even when I don’t ‘feel’ like it. Being by my husband’s side even when I want to run. There is no honor or beauty in ‘having our own way’ or expressing our ‘rights’.

I am fortunate and blessed. My husband shows me daily how to be loving and kind. He always has been there for me, even when I haven’t deserved it or earned it. No, it’s not a special day for us…not an anniversary of any kind. But it is another day we have to be together and share our lives. God has blessed us abundantly over the past 30 years. And He is still working on me to become the wife I want to be when I grow up.

I pray the same for you.

Just For Fun!

Can you smell the flowers?

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Can you smell the flowers?For some reason I’ve been in a beach mood the past few weeks. I don’t know why. I’ve always loved water. The sound of a mountain river, flowing over smooth rocks or a meadow brook, gurgling gently in the heat of a summer day. Tall grasses growing to the water, tiny fish gathered along the edges. Lakes, pristine and clear, reflections of autumn on the surface. But the ocean really pulls me in. (Not literally of course, that would be dangerous!) I could stand on a beach, watching the waves roll in and pull the sand out for hours. Closing my eyes and hearing the rush of the waves puts me in a peaceful state of mind.

Water calms my soul. The picture I posted here really speaks to me on so many levels. I’ve also used it for my Facebook cover picture. The picture is maybe a little idealistic, more a painting really, but it makes me want to walk right into that scene. Smell the flowers blooming in the evening air, making it pungent with perfume. The little ‘ribbons’ of water would lead me to the ocean’s edge and I could stand there until dawn.

So yes, I’ve been in an ocean state of mind lately. Living in Kansas is about the furthest away I can be. Thank goodness for our local lake!

So look at the picture, really ‘step’ into it. What does it make you think of, hear and smell? Just a little bit of peace in a hectic day. I pray your day is wonderful!

A Day to Remember

Let Us Not Forget…

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So many wars, so many lives given, so many families with absent members. Let us not forget our freedom fought for at great expense. Pray for our soldiers, their families…the ones on the front lines still fighting for America and what it stands for. Remember our country, the leaders past and present that have made our nation great. Remember what our foundation is, what we stand for and most of all…remember that God IS in control. Have a happy, safe Independence Day!

Just For Fun!

Remember when…

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Cover Girl make-up was all the rage? I’m thinking of the late ’70’s. All the girls at school were wearing it. During that time there was a commercial running. I want to say the model was blonde and tossing her hair. (Aren’t blondes always tossing their hair? I have few in my house.) This little picture made me think of that and it made me smile. I wanted to share it with you and make you smile too. Thank you to my children for showing me the picture! Have a great day!

Now this makes me smile!
Now this makes me smile!
A Day to Remember

Remember Memorial Day

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Today is Memorial Day…the unofficial start to summer, picnics by the lake, grilling hamburgers and hotdogs in your backyard…the unofficial start to summer?

Remember Memorial Day…when ALL small towns had a parade, veterans marching in their uniforms, small children waving the American Flag? High school bands marched proudly, playing patriotic tunes. Remember Memorial Day?

Remember the Civil War, Flanders (October, 1914), Omaha Beach (June 6, 1944), Vietnam, Iraq (Gulf War) and the continuing battles of today. Remember the men that fought in those battles, some giving their lives for us and our freedom, so many living with the memories of those battles. That is what today is for, remembering those that have died.

PLEASE remember Memorial Day. Fly your American Flag proudly, teach your small children the significance of today. Watch a parade if you can, wear a red Poppy. If you see any of our armed forces on the street, thank them for their service…and REMEMBER.

A Day to Remember

Where are you, rotary phones and typewriters?

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Remember the days when your telephone rang and you went to a certain location in your HOME and answered it? You stood by the base in your kitchen or sat down in a comfy chair, (because you placed your telephone by a comfy chair) because you were attached to the base of your phone? How about typing? You hit the keys with force on those old typewriters…typing a letter was a workout and really did a number on your nails. There wasn’t an ‘enter’ key on those old machines. Or a ‘delete’ key. You kept bottles of white stuff around for the eventual mistake.

There are times when I really miss those days. I’ve never claimed to be any kind of a ‘tech’ person. Don’t even know or understand the lingo. But I think of myself as fairly able to get around a computer or set up a new phone, etc. Until hours like this morning. Yes hours. Hours of trying to figure out how to work this site. About the time I think I have it down, I lose something and I can’t remember how to get it back again. I guess I will have to ask my 10 year old what to do. Children today seem to be born with the ‘tech’ gene. Their little fingers know how to type and they can abbreviate before they turn a year old. I thought it was kind of neat when other kids my age spoke pig Latin when I was a child. I could say my name. Children today have a whole other language that you have to decode to have a conversation with them. If you don’t have Facebook, Twitter, etc. you can even forget the conversation!

Yes, I do miss the slower, less complicated days of technology. But I do appreciate my laptop and my cell phone in case I need it for an emergency. If I text you, you will know how much effort went into that message. So, please bear with me as I learn to use this site. Strange things may show up and you may try to ‘click’ on something and find nothing. Just give me a few days…or hours. I’ll catch up…eventually.

Marriage

Just Because…

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I don’t think many men would relate to this or understand. I know my husband definitely doesn’t. And that’s okay. God made him different than me and I am so very thankful for that! Being married for 30+ years has had its ups and downs, but I can say with assurance that it has been a learning experience. That’s a good thing. If you’ve been around for any length of time…you should have learned something along the way. If nothing else…don’t repeat that again!

Back to what I started to write. I think women just have the need to COMMUNICATE. It doesn’t have to be important. If it’s not important they can make it so. Women in general, in my opinion need to have that verbal interplay. My husband doesn’t really have that need. He will talk when asked a question, he will have a conversation. But he is probably just as content to not have it. I have conversations…Just Because!

Because the sun is shining and I want to rejoice in that, the clouds are growing dreary and heavy and I want to commiserate. My child has done something I’m pleased with or frustrated about. The washing machine marched across the room again with a full load of jeans and by the way, “Did I tell you? Oh… I did.” My children probably want that one engraved on my headstone! I’m sorry, with five children I tend to forget which one I told what story to. Just Because…

This isn’t a new idea. Women have been getting together for centuries. Quilting, births, meals for various activities like weddings and funerals were always a time for women to get together and share their life. Talking to other women, sharing child care, observing older women in their lives as wives and mothers was a way to be encouraged and instructed. We have lost much of that in our modern times. Everyone is in such a rush that it’s hard to find the time to talk…Just Because.

Marriage

A Wedding…Buttercream or Fondant?

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IMG_2475 IMG_0722I’ve decorated a few cakes in my day. I took the Wilton cake decorating course when I was 18. Believe me, when the course was over I don’t think my family or prayer meeting group wanted to see another cake from me again! We even left half a cake along side a road in Arizona. (And no, we just left the cake, no box or cardboard to litter.) I had made it for my grandparent’s anniversary. After the celebration, the rest of the cake was with us. All those buttercream red roses took on a smell all their own and none of us could stand it anymore. So, we set it beside the road. I hope no unsuspecting desert animal became sick from that one!

So, I made cakes. Birthday cakes usually, a few anniversaries here and there, one wedding cake…which I don’t want to do again! I even entered one in our local fair. But that’s another story. I made cakes when I didn’t even know fondant was a food product, (although I’m still not sure it is!)

Back to the wedding cakes. The trendy, popular covering on your cake of today is the fondant. It is beautiful in it’s clean lines, simplicity and elegance. You can make items out of that you would never dream of. But think back to the buttercream days.The talent of the crumb layer and then the smooth top coat. I’ve  seen some truly beautiful cakes from this as well.

But this post is more than just the ‘topping on the cake’. Remember, this is just my opinion and thoughts on this matter. I would truly love to hear yours as well. For me, the fondant symbolizes what weddings have become. Everything perfect and just right, not a rose petal out of place or a wrinkle in sight. Huge celebrations and expense to go with it, meals for 300 and attendants lining the sides of the church. The Bride and Groom are center stage, but I think get lost in the shuffle. Certainly exhausted after planning the celebration of the century. The ‘Buttercream Days’ for me, symbolize a more relaxed time. The wedding cake was still beautiful, but maybe not perfect. Weddings were about the couple, their family and close friends. It was their time to rejoice and celebrate the union of the two people and their families. You usually didn’t try to ‘wine and dine’ several hundred people. You didn’t go into debt to pay for a few hours of partying. What has our focus become? Is it about the couple and their vows, or how fantastic the wedding is?

There’s a trend toward tiny houses now. Maybe we can relax on the expectations and ‘clean lines’ of our lives. Maybe we can again enjoy the buttercream frosting and focus on what really matters. I know it would certainly take the pressure off me! We have four daughters, two more to get married. You know why I want the buttercream! (It DOES just really taste better!)