Out with the old, in with the new! Happy New Year to all I hope 2011 ends well for all of you and 2012 begins the same, and continues to be even more so.
2011 has been a trying year for our country and the world in general. Many weather tragedies occurred in the US as well as other countries, with the tornado in Joplin, Missouri at the top of the unwanted list for us, with the many deaths and destruction. Much suffering and unrest has occurred around the world. Yes, I am a loyal, patriotic American. Like it or not, and I don’t, in this present-day world we live in, we are affected by what happens in the rest of the world, and what we do affects many other countries.
We share the planet with many others. If you believe in creation, as many say you do, then God is responsible for everyone in this world, everywhere. If God is responsible for all creation, then why are some so mean and others not? Oh yes, ‘free will.’ We freely get ourselves into all kinds of trouble.
I am disturbed by the militant Christian who rants, raves, shouts and uses ugly word protesting what he/she feels is discrimination against Christians. In a simple example, I’ll go back a few years, when many put bumper stickers on their car that said, “If you love Jesus, honk!” Well that day, I decided to honk. The driver responded with very rude words and gestures. A Christian demonstration? Are we convincing anyone we’re a Christian with our words and actions? It's that "Walks like a duck, talks like a duck" thing. Oh, I know no one is perfect, but maybe we could be a little less imperfect?
Many have had personal tragedies in their families this past year, as mine has. The loss of jobs and homes has, and is being borne by many. Which way to turn? Wet to do? How to keep your family fed, housed and closed, not to mention healthy?
One of the seven deadly sins is greed. I believe that one of the reasons for our current financial situation is corporate/investor greed. Not satisfied with a good, healthy profit, but pushing for a bigger and bigger profit. There is nothing wrong with making money, making money is a good thing, depending on what you have to do to get it, and who you have to walk on. The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil, not money itself, but the love of it, when you are willing to do anything to get it.
Wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever your life was in 2011, my hope for you is a better 2012. Please, have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Have you heard of “Do One Nice Thing?” One woman’s [Debbie Tenzer’s] attempt to make the world a better place by doing an act of kindness for someone, somewhere; simple or more complex. Is there a good deed you can do? Even a small deed will make a difference to someone. I’ll leave you with an old adage, “If you would change the world, first change yourself.”
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
What Happened to November
I know it took 30 days for the month to go by, and there were four weeks and two days in the month, and 24 hours in each day. But it seemed to go by so fast that it was like picking up a book, opening the cover and arriving at the back side of the book while bypassing all that was in between.
Needless to say, I don’t now participate in many of the same things I once did, due to age, health and the circumstances of my life. So, what did happen in those 30 days?
I admit to spending a good portion of my time with my Kindle. What a boon that is! My eyes were getting to the point where I had great difficulty in reading new books; either purchased or borrowed from the library, due to font size and the faintness of the ink used in printing. My Kindle has the advantage that I can enlarge the size where it can be comfortably read.
I spent part of each Wednesday afternoon with a group of women who have an interest in handcrafts, plus a few others who don’t ‘craft,’ but stop in to chat and look over what we have done. Most of us crochet, though there are a couple of knitters and one woman makes quilts. Such pretty and useful items emerge from this group. I only crochet, and as I have said before, it is fun to see what you can make out of a straight piece of string.
There were two or three trips to the grocers during the month, and one stop at the local yarn store. Shopping has never been one of my favorite activities, so I avoid it as much as possible. There was little else I needed, and I made a relatively small online purchase for those items. Of course, there are the odd bits and pieces of daily life, plus phone calls from family, conversations with neighbors, and so on.
I had to renew my car license this month, so had it inspected and winterized, and it’s good to go. Also had a medical checkup, which went well, except I have to follow through on one thing, which I have not yet done. Tomorrow, I promise myself I’ll call about that appointment.
Of course one must allot some hours to eating and sleeping and attending to various household tasks. I usually make daily checks to see who said what on fb, read and answer emails [at least some of them], check out genealogy correspondence, and do a little research. However, there has been a day or so in the past few months when I haven't even turned on my computer. Strange!!!
Last, but certainly not least was the Thanksgiving holiday. I had a great dinner as usual, with Russ and Jan and their family. I enjoyed being with them, also as usual, while missing the one who couldn’t be there.
Well, there you have it. Whatever I missed, you don’t need to know, and I don’t need to say; but in enumerating the events of the month, now I know what happened to it.
Tomorrow begins December. Our family has an important birthday on the next day. Towards the end of the month is the most important holiday of all, so...
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
Needless to say, I don’t now participate in many of the same things I once did, due to age, health and the circumstances of my life. So, what did happen in those 30 days?
I admit to spending a good portion of my time with my Kindle. What a boon that is! My eyes were getting to the point where I had great difficulty in reading new books; either purchased or borrowed from the library, due to font size and the faintness of the ink used in printing. My Kindle has the advantage that I can enlarge the size where it can be comfortably read.
I spent part of each Wednesday afternoon with a group of women who have an interest in handcrafts, plus a few others who don’t ‘craft,’ but stop in to chat and look over what we have done. Most of us crochet, though there are a couple of knitters and one woman makes quilts. Such pretty and useful items emerge from this group. I only crochet, and as I have said before, it is fun to see what you can make out of a straight piece of string.
There were two or three trips to the grocers during the month, and one stop at the local yarn store. Shopping has never been one of my favorite activities, so I avoid it as much as possible. There was little else I needed, and I made a relatively small online purchase for those items. Of course, there are the odd bits and pieces of daily life, plus phone calls from family, conversations with neighbors, and so on.
I had to renew my car license this month, so had it inspected and winterized, and it’s good to go. Also had a medical checkup, which went well, except I have to follow through on one thing, which I have not yet done. Tomorrow, I promise myself I’ll call about that appointment.
Of course one must allot some hours to eating and sleeping and attending to various household tasks. I usually make daily checks to see who said what on fb, read and answer emails [at least some of them], check out genealogy correspondence, and do a little research. However, there has been a day or so in the past few months when I haven't even turned on my computer. Strange!!!
Last, but certainly not least was the Thanksgiving holiday. I had a great dinner as usual, with Russ and Jan and their family. I enjoyed being with them, also as usual, while missing the one who couldn’t be there.
Well, there you have it. Whatever I missed, you don’t need to know, and I don’t need to say; but in enumerating the events of the month, now I know what happened to it.
Tomorrow begins December. Our family has an important birthday on the next day. Towards the end of the month is the most important holiday of all, so...
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
My Own Little Room Full of Books
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
Main Characters: a ten year old girl (Opal) and a dog named Winn-Dixie.
This isn’t a book review, so I won’t try to describe the book, except to say that it leaves you with a pleasant feeling. I just want to tell you about one small incident in the book.
Ten year old Opal meets an ‘old lady’ in the small town’s library; the woman who owns it. During their getting acquainted chat, the librarian tells Opal that when she was twelve years old, her father told her that for this special birthday, she could have anything she wanted. Anything! She explained that he was a very rich man, and she had no problem coming up with what she wanted. She wanted a library of her own, just a small one, of course; a room/house full of nothing but books, which she would share with others. To her great delight, her father built a small house and filled it with books, where she read them and shared them with the townspeople throughout her lifetime.
Having fallen in love with books myself, even before I learned how to read; I can only imagine the joy she got from that very special birthday gift. My father certainly wasn’t rich, but even if he had been, I’m sure it never would have occurred to me to ask for such a fantastic gift. Yes, the best birthday gift ever. In its way, my recent Kindle gift is my own little room full of books.
Main Characters: a ten year old girl (Opal) and a dog named Winn-Dixie.
This isn’t a book review, so I won’t try to describe the book, except to say that it leaves you with a pleasant feeling. I just want to tell you about one small incident in the book.
Ten year old Opal meets an ‘old lady’ in the small town’s library; the woman who owns it. During their getting acquainted chat, the librarian tells Opal that when she was twelve years old, her father told her that for this special birthday, she could have anything she wanted. Anything! She explained that he was a very rich man, and she had no problem coming up with what she wanted. She wanted a library of her own, just a small one, of course; a room/house full of nothing but books, which she would share with others. To her great delight, her father built a small house and filled it with books, where she read them and shared them with the townspeople throughout her lifetime.
Having fallen in love with books myself, even before I learned how to read; I can only imagine the joy she got from that very special birthday gift. My father certainly wasn’t rich, but even if he had been, I’m sure it never would have occurred to me to ask for such a fantastic gift. Yes, the best birthday gift ever. In its way, my recent Kindle gift is my own little room full of books.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Family Loss
This has been a week of loss for our family: two family members in just two days. One, a grand-nephew only 49 years old, who fought a valiant battle against pancreatic cancer, succumbed to that terrible disease. He and his family knew that he was going to leave them. Being of Christian faith, they are secure in the knowledge that he is now in a much better place. That does not change the fact that there will be a great gaping hole in the lives of the family left behind: his parents, wife, children and other family members will be confronted with this empty space, which can only be dealt with one day at a time. I recall a song that says, “One day at a time, Lord, one day at a time.” And I believe living “One day at a time,” is part of the Alcoholics Anonymous creed. Attempting to look at a possibly long road ahead without the person we’ve lost can be overwhelming. Just too much to contemplate.
The day following David’s death, my youngest sister, aged 63, died suddenly and unexpectedly in a car-train accident, where she apparently drove in front of an on-coming train at an unprotected crossing. I’m sure she neither heard nor saw the train, but of course I don’t know why. Was she distracted? Was there a medical reason? A medication side effect that made her less aware of her surroundings?
Susan was not only my youngest sister, but the youngest in our family of 12 children, eight boys and four girls. Now there are only four left, two boys and two girls. The two younger girls were born after I married and were near the age of my own two daughters. They grew up together, more like cousins than aunts and nieces.
The news about Susan was so unexpected, I was in shock. The blood pressure soared and I couldn’t speak without stuttering for a while, until it began to descend to a more acceptable rate .
She, too, has a family: a husband, children, grandchildren, and I’m sure they are having trouble comprehending (if indeed it can be done) so great and sudden loss. She too, is of Christian faith, so no worries for her after-life; but oh, those left behind, who will now have to find a way to live without her. God help them and sustain them. God help us all.
What can I say to you Susan? I don’t know,words fail me. Perhaps, only as I said before: Susan, Susan, Susan!
The day following David’s death, my youngest sister, aged 63, died suddenly and unexpectedly in a car-train accident, where she apparently drove in front of an on-coming train at an unprotected crossing. I’m sure she neither heard nor saw the train, but of course I don’t know why. Was she distracted? Was there a medical reason? A medication side effect that made her less aware of her surroundings?
Susan was not only my youngest sister, but the youngest in our family of 12 children, eight boys and four girls. Now there are only four left, two boys and two girls. The two younger girls were born after I married and were near the age of my own two daughters. They grew up together, more like cousins than aunts and nieces.
The news about Susan was so unexpected, I was in shock. The blood pressure soared and I couldn’t speak without stuttering for a while, until it began to descend to a more acceptable rate .
She, too, has a family: a husband, children, grandchildren, and I’m sure they are having trouble comprehending (if indeed it can be done) so great and sudden loss. She too, is of Christian faith, so no worries for her after-life; but oh, those left behind, who will now have to find a way to live without her. God help them and sustain them. God help us all.
What can I say to you Susan? I don’t know,words fail me. Perhaps, only as I said before: Susan, Susan, Susan!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Making a Mess
Two years ago yesterday on July 31st, I began this blog. The day before, on Sunday, I spilled a full cup of coffee when I attempted to set down the cup on a side table while watching that couple dance their way down the aisle to be married. Not paying enough attention to what I was doing, I set the cup too close to the edge, it bobbled, I lost control of the cup, and the “whole cup of coffee” spilled onto the floor.
Two years later, plus one day, I did the same thing again this morning, though for a different reason. This time I lost the cup as well as the coffee, so every drop went on the floor. Not a great start to the day.
When we were raising our family, I had a motto about making a mess: When you make a mess, there’s just one thing to do about it, and that is clean it up. I’m talking about the accidental, unintentional things that will occur in a home and in a family. I see no reason to get excited about something that wasn’t done as a result of mischief. In that case it would be the mischief that needed attention. Goodness knows, I got scolded and punished plenty of times for the sometimes broken dish, as a result of my clumsiness in the kitchen. I was the family klutz it seems. Yes, I know the reason.
I did have a word or two for myself this morning, due to my not paying attention to what I was doing. Not having the luxury of maid service, I had to take my own advice and clean up the mess. When the carpet dries, I will see whether or not I have to go over it again, and I strongly suspect that I will have to do just that.
Since the ‘spill’ episode, the day has gone by much as usual, doing this and that small task. Among other things, I finished the edge of a crocheted scar and have begun a small baby cap, which is about 2/3 finished.
When I go out again, and pick up new batteries and a charger for my camera, perhaps I’ll post some pictures.
Hope you haven’t had any messes to clean up today; but, if so, I hope they’re all small.
P.S. Being right is good, except when it isn't. More spot cleaning [a realllly big spot] coming up.
Two years later, plus one day, I did the same thing again this morning, though for a different reason. This time I lost the cup as well as the coffee, so every drop went on the floor. Not a great start to the day.
When we were raising our family, I had a motto about making a mess: When you make a mess, there’s just one thing to do about it, and that is clean it up. I’m talking about the accidental, unintentional things that will occur in a home and in a family. I see no reason to get excited about something that wasn’t done as a result of mischief. In that case it would be the mischief that needed attention. Goodness knows, I got scolded and punished plenty of times for the sometimes broken dish, as a result of my clumsiness in the kitchen. I was the family klutz it seems. Yes, I know the reason.
I did have a word or two for myself this morning, due to my not paying attention to what I was doing. Not having the luxury of maid service, I had to take my own advice and clean up the mess. When the carpet dries, I will see whether or not I have to go over it again, and I strongly suspect that I will have to do just that.
Since the ‘spill’ episode, the day has gone by much as usual, doing this and that small task. Among other things, I finished the edge of a crocheted scar and have begun a small baby cap, which is about 2/3 finished.
When I go out again, and pick up new batteries and a charger for my camera, perhaps I’ll post some pictures.
Hope you haven’t had any messes to clean up today; but, if so, I hope they’re all small.
P.S. Being right is good, except when it isn't. More spot cleaning [a realllly big spot] coming up.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
June 2011
Another fast-traveling month has zipped by with more storms, but not so violent thank goodness. The aftermath of the really bad ones will be felt for a long time by many.
I’ve been quite busy with one thing and another, and I find myself as usual with not enough time or energy, to do all that I would like to do, so by the end of the day I feel a bit used up.
I have been enjoying visiting with the ladies in the craft class/club here, while we work on various projects. It is nice to see these beautiful things emerge. And good to see the pleased smiles of those learning to do something new. I don’t want to take on any projects that I would have no place to put them when they’re finished. I only crochet, choosing various items, which don’t take a long time to do, and will eventually benefit someone somewhere.
I hope you had a good month and will have a good Independence Day celebration with your family, while we remember all who have made this possible and those who still give their service to our country.
I’ve been quite busy with one thing and another, and I find myself as usual with not enough time or energy, to do all that I would like to do, so by the end of the day I feel a bit used up.
I have been enjoying visiting with the ladies in the craft class/club here, while we work on various projects. It is nice to see these beautiful things emerge. And good to see the pleased smiles of those learning to do something new. I don’t want to take on any projects that I would have no place to put them when they’re finished. I only crochet, choosing various items, which don’t take a long time to do, and will eventually benefit someone somewhere.
I hope you had a good month and will have a good Independence Day celebration with your family, while we remember all who have made this possible and those who still give their service to our country.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
May 2011
Another month has gone by. I bemoaned April because of the bad weather: too much rains and too many killer storms. The month of May night not have had as many tornados as April, but it had one of the deadliest. In addition to the many lives lost and people who were injured, I heard this morning that 8,000 homes were destroyed in Joplin. It sends your head reeling.
I applaud the volunteers and government officials who have done tremendous work in the area and all still have much to do. Sever years ago after my husband died, a friend asked me how I was doing. I said I don’t know, I just get up in the morning, do what I can, go to bed exhausted and try to get some sleep, then get up in the morning and and do it all over again. There are so many things that need doing in the tornado aftermath, the one foot in front of another regimen must be very trying indeed. God help you all and give you strength to do what you must.
I applaud the volunteers and government officials who have done tremendous work in the area and all still have much to do. Sever years ago after my husband died, a friend asked me how I was doing. I said I don’t know, I just get up in the morning, do what I can, go to bed exhausted and try to get some sleep, then get up in the morning and and do it all over again. There are so many things that need doing in the tornado aftermath, the one foot in front of another regimen must be very trying indeed. God help you all and give you strength to do what you must.
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