One of the first things Thea did when we got her home was to scratch on the upholstered leg of the couch. Weāve had it a long time, and it already had some claw pulls, but I didnāt want it to get any worse, so I taped foil to the leg and then got some new scratching pads from Petco.
Since we got her, she has learned to scratch on two pads, one in the family room, and one in the studio near her cat tree. Each time she does what sheās supposed to, she gets one small treat. Sometimes she will try to get another by scratching a bit more, but we donāt encourage such shenanigans.
Sometimes Iām concerned about whether sheās happy with us. Do we spend enough time petting and talking to her, does she like her food, is she getting enough water, as an indoor cat is she bored and lonely?
Iām using the internet to get ideas for training her. There are so many schools of thought, but I read and think and experiment withthings like scratching and even shredding. We use a single Greenie to reward Thea for scratching on the pads rather than on the carpets or furniture. At first,I had to catch her pulling at the carpet, then I would pick her up and carry her to the pad. She didnāt get the idea, so I got down and scratched on it myself. I didnāt get any treats, but it kept my fingernails nice and smooth until she learned how to do it too. The thing that is so interesting about cats and probably dogs, too, is that they understand things they see their humans or other animals doing something and they understand exactly what weāre getting at. I donāt need to give her a treat every time now because using the scratching pads has become a habit. By the way, Greenies are good for keeping catās teeth clean so that in future years we hopefully wonāt have to take her to the vet to have them cleaned. After her evening meal, I hide five Greenies in the folds of her red, plush blanket and after she finds them all she lovingly kneads the cover to show her delight.
One night I let her sleep on my bed. She lay quiet and polite at the foot of the bed until 4:30 A. M. when she got up, stretched out on my chest, and rubbed my face with her chin with such sweet-droolykisses I had to change my night-gown. After that, I relocated her to the studio and closed the door. The next morning I saw that she had dragged a brown paper bag out of the recycle bin and started the shredding process. We decided it wasnāt revenge, but a good way to take out her tensions and amuse herself. Bill has become the official provider of brown paper bags. Now when the grocery store checker in her green uniform says, āpaper or plastic,ā we say paper. So far Bill is cleaning the shreds of the studio floor and putting down fresh bags as needed.
Every night Thea and I play the mouse game as she leaps to catch a flying mouse on the end of a wire or ribbon. We have two. We alternate them every night so we donāt get bored. I wish you could see her cat ballet.
Our Jasmine has been gone about six weeks. Her water dish sits on the counter in the bathroom waiting for her. I tell myself itās just a pretty dish, and it matches my drinking water glass. But the truth is it brings back pleasant memories.
Thea, Bill, and I, however, are forming our own routines and we three continue to learn to love and trust each other in new ways. We are working on some kind of protocol to cut her nails. If they donāt get cut they can keep growing until they circle around and grow back into her paws. She is what I hear animal-people calling, a sweetheart.Under Theaās ministrations the sadness about Jasmineās departure grows softer every day.
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DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dadās only comment was, āWell, itās going to be a very short story.ā After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.Ā She says, āI could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.ā
I also remember there was a pier that came out of the castle Miramare.Ā Ā Occasionally there would be sailboats tied up there, maybe some other boats.Ā Occasionally people would be out there fishing off it.Ā Ā I didnāt have a rod and reel, I just had a line with a hook on it, which was a hand line.Ā One of the Italian guys told me that, if you use a chunk of shrimp, you could catch some fish, and sure enough, it worked.
The castle Miramare also had a nice, Italian restaurant, where we frequently had Sunday lunch.
I also remember one Easter, we had dual services out in the grounds (terraced gardens) at the Castle Miramare.Ā Ā In the middle of this big field, we had the local band – the military band.Ā Ā On one side of them, and probably far enough away that you couldnāt hear too much, would be the Protestant service, and on the other side was the Catholic service.Ā One thing I remember was that four of us boys, dressed in our jackets and shorts – for some reason…I guess it was warm enough for shorts, and we were a quartet – we sang as part of the Easter Sunrise Service out there.
As mentioned in my previous post, we enjoyed both summer and winter times in Cortina.Ā Ā Hereās a picture of me golfing, during one of our summer trips to Cortina.
Here’s a picture of the family while in Cortina.
And here is one of me getting ready to ski on a winter trip to Cortina.
And here is one of my parents and myself ready to ski!
One of the highlights for the older Wills – thatās Emily, myself, and Mom and Dad – I think it was the summer of either 1948 or 1949 (I honestly donāt remember which year), we took a car tour.
The twins (Sally and Larry) stayed in Trieste with someone.Ā Ā We actually borrowed a car from one of the persons that worked with Dad.Ā Ā Both he and one of the ladies (who was British) that was on sort-of the administrative staff in Dadās office, and the four of us Wills, drove up through Northern Italy, across the Brenner Pass, through Innsbruck, into Garmisch-Partenkirchen.Ā Ā I remember one of the places we stayed was Garmisch.Ā Ā While we were in Garmisch, we actually stayed in the Eibsee Hotel on Lake Eibsee which, at that time, was the Special Forces Hotel.
Lake Eibsee – credit Wikipedia
On the 10thof May – as we looked out on the lake – it snowed!Ā Ā While we were there, we also took a cable-car up to the Zugspitze, which was nice.
From Garmisch we went further up into Germany, and one of the places we stayed – which I still remember a little bit – was in Heidelberg.Ā Ā We toured through the Schloss (castle) there and downtown Heidelberg.Ā Ā I remember they also took us to a lot of places that I never saw when we (Judy and I) actually lived in Heidelberg.Ā Ā I guess they donāt take tourists there anymore.
Fred in the Heidelberg Castle courtyard
I distinctly remember going through the wine cellar.Ā Ā They also took us up on top of one huge wine keg, which I think they said would hold like 50,000 liters of wine.Ā Ā It was so huge that it actually had a dance floor up on the top of it (it was laying on its side).Ā Ā I remember the young soldier and the young lady who were with us on the trip, actually danced on the dance floor.
āPlease, please,ā I pleaded with my father, ādonāt make me go back there.ā
A tough adjustment.
But he didnāt give in. We had just arrived from Bolivia and unable to speak or understand English, attending school was torture for me.
Back then, there were no ESL classes. There was noĀ dial one for Spanish. There were no teachers who spoke Spanish. Thus, seated at my desk in the back of the classroom, my 12-year-stomach cramped trying to understand the teacher.
Sixth grade girls surrounded my desk, pointed at me, whispering to each other. I did look different, wearing regular clothes from Bolivia rather than the plaid skirts and white blouses they all wore.
They also found my pierced ears to be bizarre. In 1964, pierced ears for young girls was strangely odd.
But to me, everything about our new life in America seemed odd. Once back from school and in our small apartment, I whined about the painful experience. I asked over and over again why we had to leave Bolivia where I had friends, where I was accepted, and invited to join the games at recess.
The complaining continued.
Eventually, we learned to speak English, made friends and embraced the American culture. And now well-adjusted, you would think as an adult my whining stopped. It didnāt. I complained when things went wrong. When my plans fell apart. When my dreams remained as dreams. And when those I loved failed me.
So sad; I was no different than the Israelites when, in the heat of the desert, they growled and shook their sweaty fists at God. With no shame, they had turned into pioneers in the whining department as recorded in the book of Exodus:
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, āWas it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didnāt we say to you in Egypt, āLeave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?ā It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!ā
Can you blame them?Ā
They were probably exhausted, hungry, tired, and thirsty and discontentment was the topic of conversation around the campfire each night.
We get that way sometimes too, donāt we? Deep into our own struggles, we end up terrified like the Israelites. We grumble in the hot desert of frustration. And as we trudge through the dry land of conflict, of uncertainty and nervousness, we desperately look to be rescued.
Though we look around, we canāt see God, whoās ready to do the rescuing.Ā Weāre too busy grumbling. And no matter how we try to get away, theĀ EgyptiansĀ called stress and anxiety come after us, threatening to ruin our day.
Godās mercy shows up.
But they ruin nothing because no matter what time or how much we complain, Godās mercy shows up like morning dew, with a fresh promise to deliver us.
āMoses answered the people, āDo not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.āā (Exodus 14: 10-14)
God, almighty and faithful, will fight our battles. He will lift up the weapons of His power. Our job is simple: to be still. And in that stillness of Godās presence is when our nights know His peace. In the still of our heart is when His whisper brushes through. And in the still of the moment is when contentment walks and settles in for good.
Letās Pray
Father, thank you for the gift of contentment found only in silent, still moments in Your presence. No matter what pursues me or threatens me, I pray contentment is what Iāll find in the quiet moments with You. In Jesusā name, amen.
In the midst of your hectic life, what keeps you from being still?
I welcome your comments. They mean so much to me. And if you would share this post, how happy that would make me.
Janet
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Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title,Ā Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life.Ā You can get itĀ HERE.
Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videosĀ HERE.
Please share:Ā Feel free to share Janetās posts with your friends.
As I am writing this post, my husband and I should have been driving across the line between Florida and Georgia, on our return trip to western North Carolina. But life happens.
My first inkling that our plans needed changing came on Tuesday. Our daughter volunteered to chair a Christmas Tree Walk and Market as a fund-raiser and community outreach project for our church. One of the ideas, is to give local business the opportunity to sponsor a decorated tree that would be auctioned at the event. Excellent publicity for the business. So Tuesday I began visiting businesses to invite them to participate. Did I mention the heat index was 104 degrees F or 40 C? My husband was kind enough to drive me around and keep the air conditioner running which was a life saver. Ā Since this took up one of my days I had planned to get ready for travel, we decided to push our departure to Friday.
Wednesday afternoon, we had a big thunderstorm with lashing rain. It seems that storms from east and west met above our town. Unfortunately, a roof leak that our daughter’s home sustained during 2018 Hurricane Irma reared its ugly presence. It is almost impossible to get a professional to repair a roof, so thanks to our delay, my husband was there to “save the day.” He’s that kind of dad.Ā ā¤ļøšš
So, not sure when we will hit the road. Retirement goes hand in hand with whenever!
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Ā Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Ā Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general Ā “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books Ā where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.
The other day I got busy changing our bed sheets. Although I have no sight, itās an easy task except for the fitted sheets.
The challenge is matching the right corners. And this particular time, no matter how much I turned the sheet, stretched, pulled and yanked, the corners just wouldnāt reach to fit around the mattress.
Could they have shrunk in the dryer? Or did the mattress grow in size? I donāt give up easily. So, I hopped on the bed to give more force to the effort.
While on my knees, to my surprise, I felt a large lump (we blind folks have to do everything by feel). In the middle of the bed was a blanket, all bunched up. No wonder the sheet didnāt fit, the big lump kept it from lying flat to fit around the corners.
Have you done that?
Not with bed sheets, but in life. You try to make it all fit, but something gets in the way. Something, elusive but real prevents life from being nice and smooth.
That something is the lump called misconceptions or mistaken expectations. We carry them with us. With a spring in our step, we move forward, whistling an upbeat tune, carrying our notion of how life should be. How it should go. And what it should include. We expect the right person to make us whole. The right job to bring security. The right doctor to bring a cure, the right counselor to help take our guild away.
But when none of that happens, life isnāt smooth. Weāre undone, unsettled and incomplete.
We need to answer five questions.
The only way we can remove the lump of misconceptions is when we answer these five questions found in Psalm 102:2-5.
The Challenge
Hereās my challenge to you and myself too: Sit back, take a deep breath and commit to remove that lump of misconception of what WE think life should be. Instead, we relish in the truth that Godās power wrapped in love removed guilt by cleansing our sins through Jesus. We boldly claim the fresh confidence we now have, knowing he healed us. We wear that crown of His mercy and compassion that has our name on it. And we declare those desires sitting in the waiting room of our heart to be fulfilled. And then, with security in our step, we sing the victory thatās already ours.
Letās Pray
Father, help me remove the lump of my own feeble misconception of what life should be. I ask for wisdom to recognize that you have the only way to make my life fit your plans, wonderfully good. In Jesus name.
What is the lump you need to remove?
I relish in your comments. Please let me know what you think. It means a lot to me.
Wow! As I began my morning devotions with Jesus Always, the very first sentence blew my socks off.
“A long-term problem can become an idol.”
How can this be? According to the author, an ongoing difficulty can occupy my thoughts until it reaches idolatrous proportions.
Have I found my mind obsessing on problems? Yes! Ā But 1 Peter 5:6-7 offers the solution.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he cares for YOU. “(emphasis mine.
PS: My friends and fellow bloggers are having lunch together today. I can’t wait! Ā We only get together once or twice a year.
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Ā Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Ā Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general Ā “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books Ā where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.
āI didnāt know any better,ā I whispered to my friend seated beside me. We took turns around the table sharing silly stories about our younger days.
And when I told a few details about how, in my twenties, I belly danced for exercise, some giggled. Others gasped in surprise.
Although I never danced in public, my body sure liked the shape it was in. All those moves and shimmies toned up the muscles.
But years came and went, the body lost its youthful look, and shimmies went out the window.
Now, as a ministry leader, remembering that belly dancing episode, regret, embarrassment and a tinge of shame try to barge in. They try but donāt quite make it because I know women in the Bible who also did some not-so-honorable things. And to our surprise, they received Godās redeeming love anyway.
Iām quoting Joseph Princeās description of these women:
Four women are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (see Matthew 1:1ā16). Interestingly, they are not Sarah, Rebekah, Leah or Rachel, wives of the patriarchs of the Old Testament. Instead, they are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, women who had morally questionable backgrounds.
Tamar resorted to deception and prostitution to produce children through her father-in-law. Yet, it was from her line, the tribe of Judah, that the Messiah came (see Genesis 38).
Rahab was a Gentile and a prostitute in Jericho, who became a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see Joshua 2:1ā21). She also became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth (see Ruth 4:13).
Ruth was morally upright. But as a Moabitess, she was a Gentile and therefore considered unclean. Yet, she became the grandmother of David (see Ruth 4:13ā17), whom the Jews regard as their greatest king.
Bathsheba committed adultery with David (see 2 Samuel 11:4). Later, she gave birth to King Solomon (see 2 Samuel 12:24), from whose royal line Jesus descended.
Naughty, naughty gals by some standards. And although society could have pushed them to the side, God didnāt. He saw beyond their activities and bad choices.
But did these gals know what God was up to? Probably not. Instead, they possibly followed their nightly routine, fed their camels, parked them outside their tents, crawled inside and rather than sleep, they tossed and turned, crying out, āHelp me God, my life is a mess.ā
But God didnāt change the mess itself. Instead, He used them. He had a place for them, even with their tainted past and not-so-pure character. He had designed something big with a divine scenario.
Not only that, but God by using them, had one more purpose: to send you and me a message, loud and clear: even if weāre the kind of women who feel we donāt do enough right, but too much wrong. If we try too hard, or not try enough. If we achieve high goals, or procrastinate instead. If we had foolish ways while we were young, and even more foolish ones as we get older.
God has a plan.
None of that matters because God has a plan. His design includes a bigger picture and a greater purpose. And even when He doesnāt get us out of the mess, He watches how we navigate through it.
And, although, with teary eyes while focusing on the sorry details of our misfortune, Heās at work. Heās putting the pieces together according to His blueprint, guiding each step to make something powerfully beautiful.
In fact, the more we head down the dirty path, the more we need to turn to Him. He will transform the mess into a message to the world that He can use the weak, the fallen and the wrong-side-of-the-tracks kind of gal.
Need more proof? If He can use me, blind and less-than-capable, He can use anyone for His purpose, for His plans and for His pleasure.
Letās Pray
Father, thank you for giving me a calm heart even when you donāt remove the mess in my life. I find peace because you erase from your memory the mistakes I made, the wrong paths I followed and the flaws that are ever-present. I ask that you use me in spite of it all. In Jesusā name, amen.
How will your outlook change, knowing God can use you right where you are?
Iād love your comments. And if you like this message, Iād be so grateful if you shared it.
Janet
______________________________________
Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.
Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.
Please share: Feel free to share Janetās posts with your friends.
Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR
Janet Perez Ecklesā story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.
As a child, who did you go to for answers?
As a teenager, who was your “go to” friend?
As an adult, do you have a mentor who helps you
find answers you seek?
You can engage the wisest person in the universe
as your councilor to the end.
(Without council, plans go awry, but in the multitude of councilors. they are established. Proverbs 15:22)
Move in the direction of life, not fear.
Stand on the promises of God, our Savior.
He promised to always be near.
If you are feeling “in the dark”,
look up to “The Light.”
Keep your eyes on the one who is invisible.
He will guide you safely through the night.
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After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Ā Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Ā Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
Old Things R New 