Archive by Author

A Grave Lesson

8 Apr

 

I was at the cemetery a few days ago.It’s a family friendly cemetery and I enjoy my time there sharing a story or sweet memory with whoever accompanies me. In the headstone section shepherd hooks sport colorful baskets of flowers and benches are scattered liberally amongst the markers.

After refreshing the flowers on my parent’s grave I took a moment to see how everyone was doing. My eyes scanned the rows of flat markers and I was pleased to see that most had flowers and many had  tinkling wind chimes or pinwheels. Diagonally across from my parents lies Dave. Instead of a flat marker he has raised granite one. I knew Dave and he had been a bit of a jerk during his time on earth but his grandson loved him very much. For years he has left flowers, statues and trinkets to show his love for this man. I find it touching and a reminder to me just because I think someone is a jerk, doesn’t mean they aren’t dearly loved.

 

NOTE- This blog refused to go the way I intended. I meant to talk about characteristics of friendly cemeteries versus the cold, flat no flower ones but somehow Dave just took over. Interesting.

Onisha

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Easter Dresses

5 Apr

My Take

DiVoran Lites

April 4, 12 2012

I walked through the children’s department in Penny’s the other day and saw rows of pastel dresses with lace, embroidery, and ruffles. My heart yearned as it recalled pictures of my mother as a girl in her Easter finery, me in a dotted Swiss dress she made one year, and our young daughter in a yellow dress and white hat. We also have a photo of our granddaughter in a poufy, flower-print dress playing with her dollhouse on the back porch.

II Corinthians 5:17 tells us that when we are in Christ we become new creatures, our old lives are over. One reason we wear new clothes at Easter is to symbolize this newness.

One day Christ died a painful and bloody death, but then he walked out of the place of burial alive. Why did this miracle happen? Let us ask the Spirit of Christ who is now with us. Isn’t that what Easter is really all about?

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Was It a Miracle, Serendipity, or Synchronicity?

31 Mar

My Take- DiVoran Lites

Springtime

March 31, 2012

This morning, I felt compelled to step outside as spring frolicked in our back yard. Birds sang, and butterflies fluttered. I started to walk around the perimeter, but I spotted a weed. Truthfully, I’d seen it before, but I procrastinated plucking it from the damp earth. It lifted easily and then, I saw another one, and another. I ended up pulling most of the weeds. When I got back to the tiny jungle under the eaves that we call the shade garden, I noted that it was so lush with growth it could easily supply a new area. I thought about thinning and transplanting right then, but knew that would cost a whole day’s energy and I had other things to do, so maybe another day, better yet, someday, when Harold calls, we’d have a job for him.

Harold is our godsend. He lives in his van, but he has other resources when he needs them. He was a boxer in his youth, but they passed him over because he didn’t have the killer instinct. Every month when he gets his social security check, he buys gas and parts for the van, and food. Last summer he went to Georgia and spent a few months fixing up his sister’s house. Now that he’s back, he’ll call and ask for a couple of hours of work now and then. That helps him and it helps us, too.

Well, guess what, as I entered the house, the phone rang, and it was Harold wanting work. My husband said, “Come on over.” We looked out the front window and there he was,  having called us on his cell phone. In one hour, he had thinned the shade garden and we had plants all the way to the corner of the house.

After many years of failure we now garden as simply as possible. In Florida, aloe, spider plant (ours is green and white), bromeliad, and ferns are practically indestructible. Purple Queen adds pink and purple to the mix.

Was it miracle, serendipity, or synchronicity that Harold called when he did? I call it God. This year, as spring dances into summer the shade garden will become lush and full. There will be no room for weeds then, and I’ll get up in the morning’s relative cool and walk around the garden soaking up stillness in perfect peace and maybe I’ll pick a weed or two as well.

DiVoran is also a gifted artist. See her work at http://goo.gl/z1xIz

Folded Flag

29 Mar

Great post today by DiVoran. I enjoyed it, hope you do too.

Folded Flag

My Take

We are at a funeral in a church. The wife of the deceased holds out her hands for the folded American flag. We’ve seen it on T. V.many times. What we have not seen is the prayerful ceremony that precedes it.

Earlier, one of the woman’s sons brought an uniformed airman to her and introduced them. The straight-backed military man said respectfully, “I am sorry for your loss, Ma’am.

After taps, played on a solitary trumpet, two air force men walked to the front, one carrying the flag, which he slowly and ritually began to unfold. He handed an end to the other man who backed up the length of the flag, opening it with great ceremony and care. They stretched the beautiful stars and stripes full length and opened it like a sheet that would go on a bed. Later we learned that it would have gone on a coffin if there had been one. They folded it again and tucked in every end. No mother has ever folded her baby’s clothes more lovingly. One of the airmen hugged the triangular bundle to his heart with white-gloved hands and bowed his head. The other airman seemed to be on watch. A reverent hush fell over the gathered family and friends and God was honored. I call that prayer.

We hear someone is trying to take prayer out of military protocol just as it was taken from our schools long ago allowing murder, suicide, and all manner of licentiousness to run rampant among our impressionable young people. No one with good sense wants that for our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen. True patriots don’t want it for our country. But some politicians are given more power than they deserve. Do as they will, however, God has promised He will never leave us or forsake us, so obviously no one can take the Holy Spirit away. He is here to stay, no matter what. Hebrews 13:5.

DiVoran Lites

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How Books & Such And The Disney Imagineers Ruined My Cruise.

27 Mar

I am generally a pretty laid back kind of person but last week the opinions on the blog, Books & Such and the Disney Imagineers just about ruined my cruise on the new Disney Fantasy.

How did this happen? Consider these two paragraphs from the blog:

Building a significant literary career takes perseverance. Some agents and publishers view the self-pubbed author as one who lacks the patience to build slowly and strategically.

When you make a choice to go it alone, some professionals could see it as a maverick attitude. Does it denigrate what a whole team brings to the process?

The whole cruise I could not get these words out of my mind. Would this writer hold the same standard to an artist or musician? Should an artist never let the public see their work until an established gallery decided it was worthy of a show? What about Chris Daughtry, should he have never played in a band before he could be “discovered” on American Idol?  Self publication has brough to the writer the same opportunity to share their craft, artists and musicians have always enjoyed. With the availability of self publication it is ridiculous to expect writers to wait six months for one publishing house to make a decision before they can submit to another house. That is not patience, it is foolishness.

Since I didn’t want to allow one blog post to steal my chill, I headed for my favorite spot on a Disney ship, Quiet Cove.  On the Dream and Fantasy it is an adult only area with  plump chairs, cushy loungers ,a soaking pool, huge hot tub and servers who will bring  you a nice latte  or tea. This is where the Disney Imagineers ruined my cruise. Why would they jam an enormous jumbotron movie screen blasting NEMO! NEMO! next to a quiet area? THINK imagineers, THINK.

If you would like to read the whole blog from Books & Such, you can find it here:

8b

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The Gentle Art Of Friendship

21 Mar

Recently I noticed my friend, DiVoran posting daily friendship tips on Facebook. I told her how much I enjoyed them and she emailed  her tips to me. I have been tweeting them periodically and because they speak to the heart I decided to post them as a column on friendship.This is also a tribute to my mother, my dear, dear friend. She went to sing in heaven eleven years ago today.

 

Genuine Friendship: the rarest of precious jewels

Friendship starts with admiration, respect, and having something in common.

Friends can complain to each other and talk things over, but the friendship can last only as long as both know God is the one with the power to help.

Friends don’t pretend to know everything, even if they do.

Friends speak as kindly and diplomatically as possible, remembering what Mother said, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Friends remember that a pint of example is worth more than a gallon of talk.

Friends toss the conversational ball back and forth.

Friends let many harmless mistakes go. Most mistakes are harmless.

Friends hardly even notice if someone offends them, if they notice, they try not to dwell on it.

Friends forgive, no matter what.

Friends always have time for each other but are careful not to take up all of each other’s time.

Friends answer the telephone in a welcoming way, they call back when you leave a message, and they answer your emails.

Friends listen with their hearts and gently speak back to check out what they believe they heard.

Friends don’t alarm each other.

Friends try to stay as positive as possible at all times.

Friends brainstorm together not shooting ideas down, but putting them in the stew to simmer.

Friends co-operate and help each other not too much, but just enough.

Friends can share their good news with each other.

Friends don’t gossip about each other, or anyone else if they can help it.

Friends are gently and diplomatically honest with each other about how they feel.

Friends remember that others are vulnerable.

Friends don’t try to fix or change each other.

Friends know that others have feelings and try not to trample on them

Friends ask, they don’t demand.

Friends laugh together and pray for each other.

Friends are interested in what’s going on in each other’s lives without being nosy.

Friends become lovely not because of physical attributes, but because they are friends.

Friends never underestimate the value of encouragement toward each other.

Friends aren’t friends because of what they do for each other, but because of the ways they listen and speak.

Friendship means being able to say, “I can’t,” or “I don’t want to,” without fear of rejection or repercussion.

Ephesians 4:32 Be ye kind one to another, tender, loving, forgiving each other.

Friends don’t make derogatory personal remarks to each other, even in jest.

Friends, by their graciousness, make you feel at home.

Friends say each other’s names.

Friends say, I hear what you are saying and I validate it.

Friendship nourishes our souls in the same way that good food nourishes our bodies.

Friends can have different dreams and goals and still support each other.

We are free to have as many friendships or as few as we want to.

 

DiVoran has been a life-long friend of the heart. She has been my teacher, mentor and best of all friend.

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Singing In The Zoo

19 Mar

   Thanks to DiVoran for continuing to cover for me while I am away.Enjoy.

I love to hear the noises of the Gibbon apes at the Brevard County zoo. Last Tuesday I got there in time for the apera (short a) and the Gibbons were indeed singing. One was in the cement bunker whoo-whooing out and the other was outside answering in. The bunker made a fine echo and I think they appreciated it. You could hear them all over the zoo, and people were stopping to watch and listen as they always do.

I thought I’d walk around to a place where I could see better, but I ended up next to the kangaroo compound in Australia so I went back to where I was.  Now, however, both apes were singing from inside.

“There aren’t any apes in there,” I heard a tall young man say to a grandmotherly lady in a red straw hat, “that’s just a recording,” he went on, “to make the zoo seem more lively.”

“Oh,” the lady said, in a disappointed voice.

I told myself to mind my own business, but when the young man started to walk away, I took my chance and sidled up to the other woman.

“The apes are in there,” I said, “I saw one of them not five minutes ago.”

“I’d much rather hear that,” her face beamed.

“Me too,” I said. “Maybe, we’ll see them if we come back in a little while. Don’t they make a lovely noise, though.” She agreed.

DiVoran Lites

DiVoran is also an artist. Her works for sale can be found here.
Creative Artworks!.

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My Friend, Rebekah Lyn

16 Mar

I am venturing out onto the wild blue ocean, crossing my fingers the March winds will be gentle and the seas will be smooth. March certainly came in like a Lion, so I am hoping she will go out like a lamb. While I am away, my dear friend and guest blogger DiVoran Lites will be carrying on.

My Friend, Rebekah Lyn

I ran into my friend’s daughter in the grocery store one day and we got to talking about our secret loves, which are novels. Both of us wanted to write one, but the daily round and toil was keeping us from it. As we talked, we decided we could probably help each other, so we began meeting once a month. At first, we talked over some of the things that were stopping us, then moved on, almost unconsciously, to actually writing, and from there to reading each other’s pages aloud, without criticism or critique. Soon, Rebekah Lyn completed drafts for two novels and I was well into one of my own, still enjoying the process.

At last, it was time for Rebekah to publish. With the help of savvy and willing friends, and because of her own hard work, she had an e-book. I ordered it on my Kindle right away and later Rebekah Lyn presented me with my own in-print copy. What a great book! I can highly recommend it.

Over time, Rebekah and I discovered that the full generation (and more) between us, rather than being a drawback, worked to our advantage. Each of us had a new friend for life and a finished novel to warm our hearts.

DiVoran is also an artist. Her works for sale can be found here.
Creative Artworks!.

Links for Rebekah Lyn. Be sure to like her Facebook Page

Kindle Edition

Like Rebekah Lyn on Facebook

Nook

Rebekah Lyn’s Blog

http://rebekahlynskitchen.wordpress.com

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One Perfect Snapshot In Time

14 Mar

I can’t believe I have never visited Charleston, SC. I have always wanted to, why did I never make time? Last weekend we made a crazy 1200-mile road trip for a family reunion.  So of course, it just made sense to throw in a visit to Charleston. In defense of this whacky decision, Rebekah traveled with us and suggested we break up our trip with an overnight at her best friend’s home outside Charleston.

It turned out to be an idyllic weekend. I needed a trip into the past to re-focus my energy. I don’t think we take ourselves quite so seriously when we see how small we are in the realm of time. We ate at Poogan’s Porch, an old home turned restaurant. The floors were original wood, the walls a rough plaster broken up by large windows. Our meal was pure southern comfort and as I sat there with my family, for one perfect snapshot of time, all was right in my world. I don’t have an explanation except that God’s timing is perfect.

Rebekah Lyn is posting her own impressions of Charleston. I bet she has the same food pictures. Stop by and check it out.

http://rebekahlynskitchen.wordpress.com/

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Prose On Clothes

8 Mar

My regular guest blogger, DiVoran Lites will be posting today. You may have noticed my tweets quoting her advice on friendship.

I love soft clothes for home, for my potato couch, and for a power walk. Youth knows mini skirts, but as I recall you can’t cross your legs without exposing your underwear. I remember pointy toe  high-heels. My aunt Waunita wore them to work and they eventually made her toes overlap. Permanently. Are girdles now called Spanx? It doesn’t matter; you still can’t breathe in them. Solomon, said, “behold, all is vanity,” But I’m not here to preach. I’m just here to tell you that this morning I got out of bed and put on a loose tee-shirt, a pair of knee socks with orthopedic sandals, and elastic waisted knit pants. Admit it. When you don’t have anyone to impress, not even yourself, you probably love soft old clothes yourself, do you not?

A verse for thought

Isaiah 61:3

King James Version (KJV)

 3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

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