Just Passing Through....

A friend of mine posted recently "this too shall pass".....yep, sure enough...wait long enough and most things go away. Praise God we're not stuck at point A for our entire lives....as for me, I'm kinda curious what's at points X, Y, Z...but not anxious to get there at lightning speed. What I have found is some things pass easily - and if you haven't changed a dirty diaper you might be too squeamish for this blog - like jello and some things not-so-easy like barbed wire.
The first time I heard this was in a support group. I made the comment "this too will pass" flippantly and an old-timer stepped up and replied with the barbed wire comment. Gosh, that's been almost 8 years ago and it's stuck with me (no pun intended THAT time :) ).
That's stuck in my brain today. What am I swallowing?? What will it feel like going down?? Is it really worth it in the end?? Then again, I'm reminded of Ishmael's mom....what a spot to be in. Asked a minister friend of mine once if she had a choice.....after telling me I ask hard questions....he thought about it and said no. She was a slave/handmaiden and had no rights. So her plate was full of garbage and her only choices were swallow it or death. God took pity on her and blessed her son as the leader of a mighty nation (not going into politics here....just concentrating on the woman and her plate of crud). Instead of seeing her as "the other woman" I see her as a woman dished up an ugly meal and am glad I didn't see her name on my plate.
I look at my life and am blessed....yes....I've swallowed plates full of stuff that should only be served with bananas and a piece of barbed wire or two....but the process has left me leaner spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

God....if you can...I'd really enjoy some grilled chicken salad for awhile.

End of a Long, but Good Day....

Wow...other than some seriously insane moments of sheer torture in the store room this afternoon, today has been an incredibly awesome day. Gratitude.....grab onto it and all of a sudden the sky opens up and all sorts of incredible things happen. I think maybe when I'm ungrateful....depressed or otherwise obsessed with "me" my hands are clenched in tight balls, leaving God no way to drop gifts into the palms of my hands....or worse they're on my hips and my mouth is open....ouch. But when I say I choose to be grateful all sorts of gifties get handed out....fill my hands Lord.....fill them so much I can't help but share the things that run over with others. Have you ever thought about what all is implied in the statement "my cup runneth (okay...get past the old-fashioned verbage) over" ?? The liquid runs over the rim of the cup and fall on the floor...creating a splatter and those droplets sprinkle those around you....or if someone else gets close enough you might be able to tip your cup a bit and let the overflow fill theirs too. Think sometimes God leaves the tap on a bit longer when we do that. But back to my day.....I continue to snip loose strands of my old life away....one by one...snip....snip. Today I went to get a safety deposit box drilled....NO....not my box, but someone who stuck me with the bill of theirs. The woman who helped me at the bank was a distant, ex-relative (I usually call them outlaws) and was super nice to me. I think I might've shared news the family hasn't heard yet....then again, if they'd paid the bill on the box I wouldn't have been there. Waited for 45 minutes and then presto it was done....I now have a handful of papers that mean nothing to me. What's the giftie in that....because the woman "knew" me and the situation....and because it took so long to get it done I wasn't required to pay the $150 fee. Woohoo! Then I went to pay my rent and since I'm going month-to-month now I thought I had to pay an extra $200 month. Turned in my check and got a call....Nope...not so...I pay my regular rent amount until I move.....not even questioning that one....just reveling in the gift. I was given $350 today for TCB, showing up and following the rules?? Don't think so.
This evening the doodlebug and I spent time outside with our neighbors....it's what I remember life being like when I was young. The kids played with critters....the adults sat around and talked....blessings....especially when they stared at me in disbelief when I verbalized my age....it's 40 in case you're wondering. Gratitude for the lack of wrinkles on my face....well...perhaps calling some of them dimples is a HUGE stretch. And to top it off this evening I touched base with the sister of my best friend I had from 2nd to 8th grades...hope to make contact with Stacy soon. My hands are open and God continues to pass down the most wonderful things.....need to feel blessed?? Come stand near me and let the overflow from my cup fill yours.....come on, I don't have the flu and smell pretty good for this time of night....come on and be blessed too.

How Much is Too Much....

Wasn't sure when it was the "right" time to write again, but seeing I'm ready for my Sunday afternoon nap, the sleepy part fits....besides I have something to share.
I passed an old flame on the way home this afternoon...actually we were tailed by "The Snake" for awhile...he turned into a parking lot shortly before we turned off onto our street. Creepy, icky....feel like I need to take a shower....but this month I'm focusing on gratitude.
So here's what I've come up to be grateful for....the bean-counter in me is forcing me to number them...truly, I've tried to type this without the numbers and thought I was going to have hives.... 1) we didn't get married **BIGGIE** 2) I don't have to deal with his psycho (yes....she is....just ask him and he'll tell you...plus I've witnessed it first hand) ex-wife for the next 12 years+ 3) I will most likely never have to do 3 kids' sporting events in one day again (not good for the posterior) 4) I won't have to worry about someone over-discipling my child - don't ask about this one....just shake your head "yes" 5) God is able to bless me with someone gentle and kind (and you're downright "hot" too sweetheart) 6) I'm not tied to the Houston area forever and 7)although he tried his best and was able to lie and shake my world for awhile (why people believed him, I'll never understand) he wasn't able to destroy my hopes and dreams. There are other things too personal to share in print....but this proves to me - even a moment of sheer ickyness can be brought around for good if you turn it and look at it from a different angle.
And as a head's up to my single lady friends.....don't settle....don't ever settle....grab hold of God and make the man of your dreams find you hidden in His hands. If the fellow is determined and got the kahunas to go looking for you there he MIGHT just be worthy of you.

Breaking New Ground

Am often awake during the wee hours of the morning and thought I'd start blogging....yep....I'm a newbie, novice, baby, put-your-toe-in-the-water-for-the-first-timer....and I'm sure it'll show. Just sit back and enjoy or moan...I can't hear you anyway. :)

The car started screeching at me on the way to work yesterday....or more precisely the brakes started making that decalcifying-your-spine sound when they need serious attention. Being a single mom has it's drawbacks and one of them is there's only one car in the household....so planning a car repair can feel like (might even look like on the outside) planning an invasion of a small nation OR a child's birthday party. However, God is good all the time and knew I didn't need to make strategic millitary decisions while PMS'y and I'll be planning a b-day party towards the end of the month. He blessed me with a Midas at the end of the street. Have you ever stopped to think what all goes into lining up blessings? God is the ultimate jigsaw puzzle worker, weaver, creator...I'm grateful for the Midas that was at the end of my street before I ever knew I needed it. Was able to take the car at 7am and walk home afterwards. We saw all sorts of things you'd ordinarily whiz by.....woodpeckers diving into bushes ( goofballs of the bird world...I've seen them drink from hummingbird feeders and bang on the side of houses), all sorts of gorgeous flowers, an old barn and shed I've driven past hundreds of times and didn't know were there, blooming cactus, a turtle poking its nose out of water, and the kindness of neighbors we don't know waiting at the intersection so we could cross the street. We've walked around town before and always get looks.....at first I was worried walking is outlawed in Tomball or perhaps we (and this is a HUGE stretch) looked like we might be drumming up business...but not so...it pays to slow down and take things in....how can we be grateful for all that God's given us if we don't even know it's there? Plus, I cross the median or do braille-driving when I turn my head to talk to the doodlebug in the car. Walk places with your kiddos if you're able to....there's joy there for the taking.

For those of you who might be concerned about the car, "Kitten" as the girlie named it, is fine...she got new brakes where needed and a pedicure on the others. Been a faithful car and I've been grateful for it too.....did see an 87 Firebird in the parking lot of the repair shop. Pointed to it and announced I used to drive a car like that one. The look from the girlie's face was priceless..."wow...you were cool once" is how I'd intepret it....and for a brief moment I felt that way too....or was it from the time spent on our sight-seeing adventure. Might never know....but I don't care...my life is good and I'm grateful.