A New Perspective

There is a part of my life, well not just one part, but this particular part, that I've been struggling with for years.  And by years I mean some years.  Like 25+ years.  Long, hard, resentful, up and down, tears, guilt, anger, hate, disgust, head turning, thought provoking, questioning.....oh, I could go on and on and on.

Well, I got it all handed to me on a big platter today.  I love discovering new blogs, ones that really speak to me.  This really is leading somewhere, I promise.  So today I discovered three new blogs, ones I actually saved onto my blog list, and two of them had posts that God used to speak to me about said situation.  Those things are:
1) Time is short and I will have regret if I don't make things right
2) Things are not going to change - accept it - and realize that right now my role has changed.  I'm not to play the part of Queen of Suffering any longer.  My new role is that of friend.
3) God commands us to love.  And to serve others.  And to help others.  And He has never intended me to carry this burden.  He wanted it ALL ALONG.  Get it?  I sure haven't.

God is good.  That is an understatement to how I want to describe this revelation.  He is so faithful to show us His love and mercy. 

A New Wish

Wishing I had paid more attention!

1)  To my mother when she deboned a fryer.  Did you have to look that up to know what I'm talking about?  Ha.  To save you the trouble, it's a whole chicken.
2)  When my mom was sewing.  She was a semi-professional seamstress; used to sew for people all the time.  Wishing I had paid attention, esp. when she was following a pattern.
3)  English class.
4)  History class.
5)  Algebra.
6)  To my grandparents.  Wishing I had listened more to their stories, watched them as they worked in their shop; they used to make leather goods - saddles, purses, wood items - and were so talented! 
7)  To my dad when he was gardening.  He majored in horticulture and definitely had a green thumb.  For several summers when I was younger, we had a plethora of corn, green beans, tomatoes, watermelon, squash and other yummy wonders from Mother Nature.

Well, the beauty of these things listed above is that my mind is still intact and if I focus, I can still learn a few new things!

Une Nouvelle Amie

I have a new friend.  I feel like I've known her forever.  I can be myself with her.  There are so many things I love and appreciate about our friendship:
She is wicked sarcastic and, since I have been known to deal out a bit of sarcasm myself, this is a good fit.
She is funny.  I'm just funny looking.
She loves crafts and pinterest as much as I do.
Healthy recipes and living green.
Our kids.
Our husbands.
Education for our children.
Garlic and cilantro and eating in general.
And today, I found out she loves ice cream sandwiches as much as I do. 

A New Breath

Each breath we take is a new breath and I suppose we could compare this to a new beginning or a new thought or a new day.  That breath takes us forward, gives us life.
Anyway, I'm taking a deep, new breath right now.  Thinking of my family and how much I appreciate them and am thankful for them.  In the rush of life, it's easy for things to get out of perspective.  What we've been given....WHO those blessings came from....how easily and quickly it could all go away.
Embrace life, my friends, and remember to cherish those around you.

A New View

Have you ever read something, written by someone you admire, and the thing you learn about this person you admire is that they are so much like you?  I don't mean this in a conceited-kind of way either.  This thing you've read is or are the very thing or things about you that you think are quirky.  Or nerdy.  Or downright puzzling.  And, after you read this 'said' thing, you feel a little better about yourself?  You don't feel quite as quirky as you did 10 minutes ago.
Just wondering.

A New Age

Well, I am officially 41 years old.  I like to tease my mother, "can you believe your YOUNGEST child is 41 years old?  41 years have passed since your YOUNGEST child was born?"  She laughs, I laugh, then reality sets in for me.  41.  41!  Yikes.  I certainly don't FEEL 41.  Well, sometimes I guess I do.....I am certainly NOT the spring chicken I once was. 
I am forgetting words.  Like the dust pan.  I can remember the name of it today, but yesterday as I was pointing to it, trying to communicate to my husband that I needed him to pick it up, I couldn't recall the name of that dusty item.  I kept saying, "you know, that thingy over there".  I'm forgetting words a lot lately.  It's either early alzheimer's or the fact that I have two small children who suck the life and apparently the words right out of my brain.  Which one?  Hmmmm.........
My body is traveling south.  I know that most women have a problem losing that 'baby weight', esp. that donut roll we carry around!  I haven't had the time or energy to exercise on a regular basis, but you can bet I'm starting now!  Here's the reason:  this weekend, my husband went to the dirty clothes pile to pull out some jeans (he was going to rake leaves and didn't want to wear a clean pair - good boy); anyway, I was in a fairly good mood until he came to me and said, "how do these jeans look on me?" and I thought his butt looked pretty cute.  Turns out they were MY jeans.  Oh no.  I do have to add that he has diligently been working to lose weight and get in shape, but come on!  My mood turned sour and I committed right then to start exercising.  Soon.  I promise.

A New Year

I woke up this morning feeling very overwhelmed....needing to unpack from being gone for two weeks, laundry out the wazoo, new toys needing a place on our cramped shelves, Christmas decorations needing to be put to bed for the year, and a grocery store trip (since my 5 year old opened our fridge and said, "Hey, where's our food?").  Then I read a Christmas story about a young girl who wasn't sure Santa was real.  Her grandmother, whom she trusted and knew would tell her the truth, said Santa WAS real and then took the little girl to the store, gave her a ten dollar bill, and told the youngster to buy something for someone in need.  The little girl thought and thought and remembered a boy in her class who had no winter coat.  She knew his family couldn't afford one, judging by the notes his mother would send to school, making up excuses why he couldn't go outside for recess on the cold days.  The little girl bought him a coat and she and her grandmother took it to the boy's house.  Sneaking up to the front porch, the little one laid the coat down, knocked on the door and ran.  Hiding in the bushes, she and her grandmother watched as the boy opened the package.  Then her grandmother told her that she was one of Santa's helpers and the little girls knew then that Santa DID exist.
After reading the story, my outlook changed.  I realized that I have so much to be thankful for and I'm ashamed that I forget that sometimes.  I have a wonderful family - much more than I ever could deserve - and my husband has provided us a beautiful home, food on the table, laughter and more preciousness than I can put into words.  God has RICHLY blessed my life.  He also knows when we need reminding.  Thank you Lord for your grace and mercy.