A Good/Bad Deed

Okay- so I mowed the backyard yesterday. I hadn't done that since last summer after Pete had his neck surgery. Then I mowed EVERY week and quickly grew tired of the tedious task. But yesterday I tackled the heat so I could relieve my hard-working husband of the responsibility when he got home from work. I donned my bikini top, shorts, visor and tennis shoes. What I had forgotten was that we now have a different lawn mower. I quickly learned it blew grass everywhere, and when I was finished, pieces of grass and dirt clung to my sweaty body.

I learned some good and bad lessons from my mowing debacle. First, I am still strong and able to do the job. But most importantly, I woke up dizzy-free (thanks to a double dose of allergy meds). Last summer every time I mowed the lawn, I had some of my dizzy problems the next day, but so far, so good. The bad news is I woke up sore. I have a blister on my hand between my thumb and pointer. The knuckles on that hand (the right) are swollen (palm side) and they hurt. Plus I have a dull headache that won't go away. Oh well- these negative consequences will not keep me from helping out again; rather, they will be used as lessons learned. Next time, I will dress appropriately and mow in the opposite direction (Pete said that prevents the grass from blowing up on you). I will wear garden gloves to protect my hands. Last, but not least, I will not wait until the grass is as long as it was. Then maybe I will feel better the next day. Have you done anything lately to help someone out?

Thanks to Anonymous

An anonymous reader made a comment on one of my posts. This is what he/she shared:

Know God / know peace.
No God / no peace.

I love that so much! Thanks to whomever wrote that. I will cherish that thought forever.

A Simple Life

Remember, no matter where you go…there you are. (~Mary Engelbreit)

I used to try and run from myself. How, might you ask, could I do such a thing? Well, for me it was easy. I wrapped myself up in other people's problems, forever trying to be the hero and save them. In doing that, I didn't need to look at myself and what was bothering me. Instead, I focused on THEM- my children, my husband, my mother and my friends. Part of wanting to help others is just my nature, and it is a good thing to do; but I have found that I must first seek MY peace and happiness before I can truly help someone else. That is what I am doing today. And guess what? I am happy with myself- truly and honestly happy. My life is simple now, and I plan to keep it that way. No more over-committing myself or saying "yes" before thinking things through. I now can say "no" and give no reason. I don't worry about people-pleasing or wonder what they will think of me. I answer only to God now and I know He won't let me down. So even though someone took my name off a project I worked hard on, I am okay with it because God knows the truth. (Plus, I am still praying for this person, and it works).

So my question to you is- how do you simplify your life?

Everyone Matters

To have one's individuality completely ignored is like being pushed quite out of life. Like being blown out as one blows out a light.
~Evelyn Scott


I love this quote. What it means to me is that everyone matters, and we all want to feel important, or needed. When we give attention to other people in our lives, then we will get attention, too. Take, for instance, blogs. Whenever I visit a blog and leave a comment, chances are high that the writer of that blog will visit mine. If I become a follower on their blog, then they, too, might follow mine. I was gone for a month-long sabbatical and when I got back, I was truly dismayed to find a colleague, who was also a friend, had completely obliterated me from her life. She took my name off her followers, and my other blog off her list. We are in a writing group on-line together that automatically sends e-mails to everyone on the list, and she invariably leaves me out. How does this make me feel? Horrible. Unloved. Small.


God, ourselves and the other person are blessed when another person respectfully recognizes our presence. Compliments help us grow. Being shunned makes us wither up. Does God want us to act that way to a fellow human being? I think not. So, as difficult as it may seem, I am doing the only thing I know to do (after, of course, I retaliated and removed her as a follower and took her blog off my blog list)- I am praying for her. Guess what? I no longer feel that ball of anger and resentment growing in the pit of my stomach. I no longer feel hurt and belittled. I will not let anyone blow out my candle today. And when I see this woman at the next writer's guild meeting, I will give her a sincere compliment.

A Brand New Day

...whatever is true...whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely...think about such things...put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
~Philippians 4:8-9

I have peace today. My peace doesn't come from material things, like a big mansion or fancy car. It does not come from a show I might put on to impress people. Rather, my peace comes from within. Knowing that God is in control of my life, living for the moment instead of ruing over the past or fretting about the future- these are all tools I use to find inner peace. I am so grateful for my serenity. People might try to break my peace, but I remind myself that humans are all fallible. Only God is perfect. So if I feel vexed at some point in the day, I simply pause and ask for God's will to be done and say the Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Try this simple prayer in your daily struggles. It really does work. May you have peace and joy within today. It's a brand new day- let's make it a great one!

Love Everyone, and Pray For Those Who Hurt You

Cheerfulness is the atmosphere in which all things thrive.

~ Jean Paul Richter

I am quite disheartened that a colleague of mine has completely obliterated me from her life. Why~ I do not know. All I know is that I came back from my sabbatical and she had erased herself as a follower on my blog, and had erased my blog from her list of blogs that she reads. She has excluded me from her life. It saddens me that this once good friend has abandoned me for a reason I am oblivious to. The old me wants to butt my way in and try to find out what's up, but the new me will just sit back and let it be. It is what it is, and today I don't have to fret over other people's reactions. All I can do is pray for her- and I am. Acceptance is the word here. If I can ACCEPT that not all people will like me, and that I have no control of their perceptions or reactions, then I will remain at peace. And, for me, peace is the key to my serenity~ to my cheerfulness. Even though this has happened, I am extremely happy and I owe that to God.

Have any of you read the book The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young? I am reading it now and cannot put it down. A man who has lost a child gets to spend the weekend with God. This man was mad at God for what had happened to his daughter (she was abducted and murdered when they were on a camping trip). He learns to ACCEPT God's will in his life and finds that God is love. This man also learns to forgive. God loves each and every person no matter what. So, I am going to try and love this person who has hurt my feelings and pray for her. Experience has shown me this works. Wish me luck!

Honest Scrap Award

Nancy, at Voice Over nominated me for this gracious award.
The rules of the Honest Scrap Award are to reveal Eight Honest Things about yourself. Here is what I came up with:

1. When I was a little girl, whenever we went to visit my grandparents in San Antonio, the very first thing I would do when I arrived was get the Pledge out, smell the clean fresh scent and dust their furniture. I loved to dust Nonna and Pawpaw's baby grand piano and other antiques, even though they were already spotless. Ironically, now I hate to dust and would give anything to have someone come and dust my furniture!
2. My nickname was "Goldilocks" when I was little. Then, when I began experiencing the vertigo, my Uncle Bill, who was a pediatrician nicknamed me "Dizzy Blond." I would much rather be Goldilocks!
3. I graduated from Kelly High School with honors and was on the Literary Magazine publishing committee. I loved to write even then. Upon graduation, I got a nursing scholarship to Lamar and went there for a year, but wanted to get away from home, so transferred to Texas A&M. Unfortunately, A&M did not have a nursing program then, so I chose to become a teacher, and graduated, again, with honors. Sometimes I wish I had become a nurse.
4. I student taught in The Woodlands during the fall semester and became a full-fledged teacher by Halloween- before I even graduated in December. I proceeded to teach second grade for six years and then became the district dyslexia specialist for Lumberton ISD for another six years. I thought it was the seven-year-itch! I guess for me, it's six years!
5. I love to run. I would much rather run than walk (walking takes too long). Being outside is therapeutic for me- I feel so close to God when I am outside exercising.
6. Pete (my husband of eleven years) and I had our first date on my thirtieth birthday. We were married the next year and had Katie the following year after that. Then we had Andrew and Nicholas soon after. When Nick was born, I had three children under the age of four.
7. I am shy and quiet, which is one of the reasons I love to write. I am also very sensitive and sentimental. I used to be a people-pleaser, but thanks to a friend named Beth, I now have BALLS (and boy do they feel good).
8. Last, but not least, I am living each day to the fullest, enjoying the present as I pursue my life-long dream of writing. I have a contract with a book out this October ("Christmas Miracles") and have been published elsewhere. Life is good and I am grateful for all of you!

Now, to pass this award on, I'd like to nominate Jeni, Susan and Holli. Keep writing, my friends!

An Attitude of Gratitude

One joy scatters a hundred griefs. ~ Chinese Proverb

I am so grateful today! I have discovered that an attitude of gratitude makes life much easier to deal with. Here are some of the things I am thankful for:

1. My family- Three healthy, smart, talented children who are not one bit spoiled; my wonderful, loving, supportive husband who loves me unconditionally.
2. Two sweet, adorable dogs Snowie and Jake.
3. Parents and a sister who live so close and are always supportive and helpful.
4. Wonderful friends who love me even when I don't love myself- who are supportive, caring and understanding. I am so grateful to know they will ALWAYS be here for me~ thanks, my friends!
5. My modest house- it may not be a mansion, or worth a lot, but it's home and I love it. My children were born into this house and they love it, too. There have been many memories made here.
6. Writing, writing, writing (and my writing peers).
AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST- GOD. Through Him anything is possible!

What are you grateful for today? Please share!

Love to Forgive

"All that is necessary to make this world a better place to live is to love-to love as Christ loved, as Buddha loved." ~Isadora Duncan

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone tried to live by this principle? We would try to see how we could help each other instead of selfishly worrying about our own motives. Life would take on a new meaning as we focused on love for everyone, rather than competition or getting even. We wouldn't hold grudges over past mistakes, rather we would shower the person with unconditional love. Forgiveness would be our creed.

You might be asking yourself how to forgive and love someone who has done you harm. The answer is simple, and it really does work. Pray for that person daily for three to four weeks. Halfway through, your grudge will be gone. Try this yourself and let me know how you do. Remember to pray for that person to have peace, love and happiness, just as you would want for yourself. I'll be anxious to hear from you. I am praying for a certain person, too. Remember "All we need is love," (The Beatles).

No Place Like Home

"There's no place home,"
or so says Dorothy,
and when you come
back from vacation
this is so very true.
Home welcomes you
with all of the familiar
smells and comfortable
beds; everything seems
new and fresh, and even
though the trip was nice,
home is now even better.

I am a friend to everyone who fears you, to anyone who obeys your orders. ~Psalm 119:63

Mary's birthday is today. Her sister, Jeni, who is now a good friend, is getting married next week. Mary's kids are flying to New York today for the wedding so they can be up in the sky close to heaven on their mommy's birthday.

Jeni is just as good of a friend as Mary was. I have been struggling, and was away for a while, but Jeni kept in touch with me, sent me cards and support. I am so grateful for her and am truly happy for her upcoming wedding.

I am also grateful for all my other friends and family who wrote me, called or sent worried e-mails to me (I finally weeded through all of them). To be loved is a great feeling, and showing love is even better. Friends stick by each other through good times and bad. I am lucky to have so many friends who care.

I'm Back!

I'm back! Thanks to all of you for the e-mails (I had over 450 when I got back yesterday). It's good to know I was missed. I took a month-long sabbatical to renew and refresh my spirit. I also did some research and am working on a new book. I will post a longer blog later after I get caught up, but I wanted to let you know I am okay. Thanks again for the care and concern, my friends! What's up with you?