Past...or Simply In Between?

On my third day past retirement, I gazed out the patio door watching as the snow tried to decide if it should continue to fall or if it was finished for the day. 

First my eyes landed on our Christmas trees left on the back patio earlier in the week after I dismantled their gay ornaments and twinkling lights. What a source of joy they were during December! I really enjoy sitting next to a shining tree with a cozy cup of coffee or glass of wine. It is so relaxing and offers opportunity to reflect on the season and life.

Just beyond the trees I could see our pool closed for the winter and covered with snow.  Oh my goodness, the pool has brought such joy the past couple summers! I'm sure I'll write more about the GRAND adventures in the pool in days to come.

Gazing at the two things made me a little melancholy at first.  They were both past their season and were just sitting there in the cold.  Then I decided that perhaps they were not IN their season, but that didn't mean they were past it.... maybe they are simply IN BETWEEN and waiting for their season to come.

I guess it is a lot like people who are going through change.  Maybe we are simply IN BETWEEN and waiting for our best season to arrive.   

 

Post Without a Picture?

An oldie but goodie

Have you ever noticed that anytime you switch to a new device that you have to learn how to do everything all over again?  I have a new iPad.  I'm excited about it and it even has a little keyboard that attaches to it.  I thought, "Great!  I can transport it easily to where I am. I'll be inspired to start blogging again!"  So here I sit feeling inspired to write a Chockful and Bursting With Joy post.... and I have to learn how to add pictures all over again!  I have access to the photos I've posted in the past, but not to the new photos On my camera. Oh, sadness.  Never fear dear friends... I WILL figure it out.  In the meantime, I'll add a photo that you've seen before - an oldie, but goodie.  

Don't you just love the way your brain grows when technology changes?  You. Gotta love technology.  

The Silence Was Deafening

The congregation started singing an Easter Sunday favorite and my heart was ready, open and expectant. The first verse finished and the refrain began, "Up from the grave he arose,..." I leaned over to my mother with a little smile and whispered, (he arose). She returned my smile with a knowing look.

The song continued through the rest of the refrain and into the next verse.  As the refrain started for the second time, "Up from the grave he arose" the tears burned in my eyes as the deafening silence boomed in my ears, my head and my heart.

My tears spilled over onto my cheeks. I tried to inconspicuously swipe them away but with each verse the silence boomed louder and louder screaming a reminder that my father's strong, deep voice would never again sing the echoing (he arose) in this joyful Easter song.

I tried to maintain a normal expression on my face as my heart screamed and protested at the silent reminder. I missed my dad so badly my whole body hurt.

As I contemplated why I put myself through this pain and considered the possibility of staying home next time, it hit me.  He arose!  These words should bring joy, not pain.  Jesus rose from the dead giving us the promise of life ever after.  A life where I will see my dad again. For me, this promise eases the pain and fills the silence with joy.

Hallelujah, he arose!      

Quiz: What Is Love?

I need your help.  My daughter has asked me to speak at her wedding in June on the subject of love, and while I have my thoughts on the topic, I am certainly no expert. I'd like to approach it with fresh eyes, thus I'm reaching out around the world for your input. Please send me your ideas and thoughts either as a comment here or on Facebook. If you'd like to send them directly to me,  just let me know and I'll give you my email address.

Perhaps these questions will help get you started:  

• When do you feel loved?
• How do you show love?
• What emotions are part of love?
• How is self love connected to love for others?
• Why do we need love?
• Don't stop here - share whatever is on your heart/mind.

The Common Thread

I sought out Nikko Restaurant for two reasons. 1) I thought sushi sounded good for dinner.  2) I had eaten there with Harry and I liked the memory of having a really nice evening with him. 

Located on Amsterdam at 123rd Street, it is dimly lit and they have good food. The wait staff is very attentive and the customers at the hibachi tables in the next room sound like they are having fun. Most voices melted in to the background and I was secretly thrilled when the young lady with the intrusive voice finished her meal and left. 

I've become very comfortable dining alone over the past couple years. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I surf the web or catch up on Facebook. Tonight I was tired after an eleven hour day at work so I texted with Harry, read my Kindle and relaxed. I enjoy this time to reflect. 

If I listen closely I can distinguish at least three languages being spoken. I appreciate other languages and cultures. I truly love the diversity...all connected by a common thread.  

Sweet Smiles and Salty Tears

Sweet Smiles and Salty Tears

I'm feeling a mixture of emotions this Christmas.  I guess that's normal, but it seems to be more pronounced this year.  

This Christmas season we were able to spend time with all of our adult children. It's such a joy seeing them flourish and bloom. Sweet!

We just hit the one year mark since Harry's mother died and last month it was two years since my dad passed away.  The empty hole left by their absence seems much larger during holidays.  Salty.

Our GRANDS are growing in number and height. They bring joy on so many levels. Sweet!

The question mark around my job brings pangs of uncertainty.  Salty.   

I love Christmas music!  Christmas Eve worship!  The celebration of Jesus' birth!  Sweet!

I am married to the most understanding, loving and patient man I have ever met.  Sweet!

At the end of the day, sweet smiles and salty tears are essential to a chockful and bursting life.  

IN IT FOR A LIFETIME

 circa 2005

On this day in 2006, feeling terrific after a 50 pound weight loss, I hit "Lifetime" status at Weight Watchers.  It felt terrific!  Here we are 9 years later and I'm close to that mark...only 5 pounds over it.
It was important to me as I lost weight to think of it as a LIFESTYLE change - not a diet - and as I sit here now, I can say that it truly was.  My food choices are most often healthy and I get exercise on a regular basis.

As I made small changes one at a time, I'd ask myself, "Patti, is this something you can continue doing (most days) for the rest of your life?"  If the answer was yes, I made the change.  If not, I didn't.


Thinking back the biggest changes were:

• I cut out soda and replaced it with water.  (Both regular and diet soda. I used to drink a lot of diet soda.)
• I eliminated most processed foods.
• I now eat mostly fruits, veggies, lean meats, low fat/fat free dairy, whole grains.
• I move more.  I didn't used to get much exercise, now the minimum I do is a 30 minute walk.  Many days I run, ride bike, or go to the gym. My goal is 30 minutes/day for MOST days.

My regimen isn't perfect, that's for certain, but I listen to my body and I feel good.

I guess it boils down to what you do MOST days because I'm in this for a lifetime.  

DO YOU LIVE IN THE FRONT ROW OR THE THIRD ROW?

This photo floated around Facebook a year or so ago and yesterday it crossed my feed once again.  I immediately felt like I could identify with the gleeful gals in the front row.  Having fun.  Embracing life.  Up for an adventure.  Filled with joy on the journey.

However I've been pondering the gals in the third row and would like to know their story. They don't look scared.  I'd say they look deep in thought, preoccupied, bored, or even sad. Perhaps one of them just found out heart breaking news. Perhaps they ride every day and it's no longer exciting for them.  Could it be that they are in a meditative mindset?  Do they see something the others have missed? Maybe they laughed so hard on the previous turn that they peed their pants and now they are embarrassed. Without knowing them, we just don't know.
  
Granted, while I would choose to live in the front row and I'm a firm believer in attitude being a choice, I think we've all been in both the front row and the third row at different times in our lives.

I guess it just depends when the snapshot is taken.    

Gesundheit!

Maggie, our 2 year old black lab, is the kind of dog they make movies about.  She's infuriating one minute then cute and funny the next.

Magnolia Rae is a southern girl.  She was born in Alabama on May 13, 2013, the 13th puppy and the runt of the litter.

I think when she was a puppy she developed a complex because of all the people who commented on how large her feet were.  We told her not to worry about what other people say, but we can tell. She's sensitive about her foot size.

Any time we sneeze she is immediately on high alert and comes running to make sure we're okay.  She's sound asleep in the other room and we sneeze?  She's there in a flash.  Playing out on the porch?  Yep, she's there immediately. It has gotten to the point where I sneezed last week while traveling in NYC and I looked around half expecting her to come bounding in to check on me.  I even had this visual in my mind of her leaping and bounding over the map covering the 1020 mile distance in 3.2 seconds and crashing over the skyscrapers to check on me.

She's a hoot.  She's drives us crazy.  She's our Mags and we love her.    

The Teal Pumpkin Project - Trick or Treat!

What a great idea!  I just read about The Teal Pumpkin Project and what a great idea!

It's all about raising awareness during Halloween around food allergies and promoting safety, inclusiveness and empathy for those who have a food allergy. A non food treat option benefits children with food allergies, as well as those with diabetes and other conditions. 

It easy to join in.

• Display the sign or a teal pumpkin on your porch, door or easy to see spot letting trick or treaters know that a non-food treat is available at your home.  
• Purchase a non-food option (need ideas?  click here for suggestions) and be sure to keep your bowl of non-food treats separate from any candy, to ensure that the non-food items stay safe.  
• When the little ghosts and goblins come knocking simply ask which they would prefer. The non food items are very popular with everyone! 

What a great idea!  Happy Trick or Treat friends!