Sights, Sounds, Smells and Even Wet Levi’s Take Me Back to the Day

 

Where is one of your happy places? This is a photo from our deck in Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona. This is one of mine. All the memories of family times since I was twelve years old flood back when I see this picture. I can almost hear the creek rushing by. Let me just say that this water is frigid but I loved swimming in it with my mom. There were birthday celebrations, wee ones getting their feet in the water for the first time, fishing, card games, barbecues and catching crawdads. But mostly it was the sitting outside in lawn chairs and just having a cup of coffee and conversation. 

What smells or tastes bring pleasant memories to mind for you? Yesterday I made pinto beans like my sister. She always had a gallon of beans to send me home with since she knew hers were my favorite. I learned a couple years before she died that her secret was using a ham bone that she had baked in the beans. Here I had been just putting one in right from the store. Easter we had a ham so I had a Teri approved ham bone. You guessed it. The smell and taste of that pot of beans made it seem like my generous sister had made them. 

Sometimes it is a song or sound that takes us back to a warm moment. I know that although losing our first adopted son to his mother’s love and mind change was tough, it was God’s plan. I always remember holding him tight in the last hour before she came to take him home singing Somebody Loves You by Crystal Gayle. He was two months old and now just turned forty. I still pray for him and hope his life is fulfilling. The truth is he may never have been told about the two months he spent in my arms but I know. I love that even now, decades later, there is somebody who loves him quietly and prayers for his safety. 

Whether it is visual or some other sense that brings up our past moments they are little pearls that lead us back to another time. I love that the fish in my fish tank remind me of my Grandma Peabody. That I will be generous and know I got that from my dad. Even when I get miffed and raise an eyebrow it feels like I am channeling my mom. In a couple days I will be sixty-eight. That is no spring chicken. But I love all the decades of life I have lived with people who are still in arm’s reach and those I will see again someday. 

Take a bit of time to notice when something catches your thoughts with a memory and smile. What a gift we have in our memories and moments. Even sleeping with a pair of wet Levi’s in a bathroom to keep the light out of my eyes makes me laugh. Yes, I was cold but that uncomfortable night of sort of camping in a thunderstorm gave me my lifelong friend and bestie, Susi. Perhaps she would be willing to take a roadtrip and recreate the moment. After all she says yes even when it is a bad idea sometimes. 

In Him,

Joyful

4-2-24

Who Am I?

 These are the I am statements I need to focus on rather than all the negatives that can get stuck in my head. I am God’s child. As we all know there is nothing our child can do to make us give up on them. How much more does God stand beside me and embrace me even when I fall. I am in a community of believers. There are broken people in God’s church so trust me there is drama and missteps, judgement and harshness. But it is because church is more of a hospital for the ones who need healing and that is why we gather. Being a new creation in Christ is the best. It is not a one time new beginning but a daily, moment to moment renewing. He not only forgives but forgets my mistakes and poor choices. In Him, I strive to do better but He knows I am human even in my faith. Justified and righteous can make me feel superior until I remember it is not by anything I have done or could do. It is a free gift that God gives because His son was willing to pay my debts and bring me into the family. When life gets scary and I am unsure on outcomes, I am so thankful that I am secure in His hands. His embrace and hand holding lets me know that especially when life is tough I am not alone. He doesn’t cause my circumstances but He stays close and walks me through it. The saying not what if but even if is one I cling to. Bad things happen and even if and when they do God uses them for good. That is why sometimes reluctantly I try to be thankful in all things. So many opportunities to be there for other families opened up because of our son’s suicide. I am thankful for being able to help others but not for our loss. This last one is only possible if I admit that He really does not have a tally sheet in heaven. I am free of condemnation by God but I have to work especially hard to not continue to condemn myself. Just let it go sounds simple enough but it is the hardest thing. 

Who I am in Christ is who you are in Christ. This is about a relationship not a ritualistic religion. One can work to follow all the rules and still not be in Him. All relationships need to be nurtured with time spent together. That is why I have my alarm set at 5:30 am. Now for you it may be 10pm that works best. But the point is that to be in Him you have to set aside time for Him. It could be in the car after you drop off the carpool and your minivan is suddenly quiet. It could be at a coffee shop over that chocolate croissant you enjoy.It could be a quick whisper or thought of Him while you are doing another task. Whenever you lean in He will be there ready to embrace the time together. Life is difficult but so much easier when He steps in and goes through it with me. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-30-24

A Cross is our Free Gift

 

Jesus came into the world in a manger and died on a cross for me and for you. He came to serve not to be served. His love is the agape love. His life was His gift to us so that we no longer have to live separated from God. It is a free gift that we can’t earn. We just need to open our hearts and receive it. Simple and true. It is not religious but a relationship with Jesus that sets us free.

Amen

In Him,

Joyful

4-29-24

Wildfire or Wildflowers? Why Can’t Both Be Right?

 Isn’t the saying spread it around like wildfire? This morning my grandgirl said spread it around like wildflowers. Hmmmm that works just as well. Those wildflowers that just cover the ground without the help of a gardener brighten all our days. While wildfire destroys, wildflowers enhance the landscape. Do you ever wonder how those beautiful blooms came to be in that specific location? Was it like Johnny Appleseed where someone was on a mission to beautify an otherwise dreary spot? Perhaps we will never know for sure. But what a joy to be out for a walk or a car ride and see the colorful ground.

When my dad had to go for radiation I drove him and hour and a half each way. Everyday we would comment on the daisies that littered the road as we drove. Those are fond memories I have of conversations with my dad and sweet flowers will always bring up memories of him. I just love that. 

Today is sunny and warm here in New Mexico. The days are getting longer which I just love. Crocus and daffodils are starting to pop their heads through the soil. I am sad that Felix won’t be here to make our deer grazing flower bed this year. But I am happy he has a new beginning with his dad’s side of the family in Tacoma. This year I am lucky to have my great-grandson help me. Who knows how long his family will live close but for now I will enjoy all my time with them. For all those who smile at these first signs of spring and all who have memories of loved ones here or gone, I send a virtual hug. 

Let’s let our kindness and warmth spread like wildflowerson this lovely spring day.

In Him,

Joyful

3-28-24

Hour after Hour on the Hour

 Every hour on the hour…….what would you be willing to do every hour on the hour? Would you take a minute to do just one thing over and over throughout the day? Would you need an alarm on your watch or your phone or both so you would not forget to pause and do that one thing? How long do you truthfully think you could sustain this practice? One day, half a day, one week or would you let the second hour slip by and call it quits? I have been thinking a lot about this. What would my motivation have to be to keep up a practice hour after hour? 

So the reason I am focusing on this is that I have an oxygen meter that connects to my phone to record my oxygen level. It is recommended that I take it on the hour to get a clear picture of how my lungs are working. So far I have downloaded the app but have not started. I think I am afraid I will not follow through. There is motivation to be faithful to this practice for at least a few days to get a baseline of my lungs. But even if I didn’t do every hour I could still record as many as I did and that would be helpful. So why haven’t I started? The old all or nothing concept seems to be paralyzing me from getting started. 

But isn’t that true of many things in life. We stall before we even get started because we may not hit the mark that we deem success. Today is the day as Mel Fisher said that I am going to begin checking my oxygen. What do you want to do on the hour or even once a day? Perhaps you want to just once a week pick up the phone or clean out your fridge the day before the trash comes. Whatever it is you know it will be okay even if you mess up here and there. It is better that most Mondays I clear out all the expired stuff in my fridge than to let it rot. At least I won’t have expired food from the 1990s in my fridge anymore. Oh wait, that was my mom’s fridge not mine. See I am improving even if I misstep on occasion. Better to put practices in place than to wait for fear of failing. It is almost nine o’clock so I better go check my oxygen for the first time but not the last time today.

In Him,

Joyful

3-27-24

Really Look at the Treasures in Your Home

Take a few minutes to look around your home. I know we see what is in our home all the time. But just humor me and look a little closer at what occupies space around you. I look at this picture and I see a high chair that means I have a great-grandson who spends time with me along with his mama. The plant on my table is from a neighbor who is now with Jesus. I am grateful that this plant still lives as do the memories of her in my heart. The red vase was one of two. I have no idea what happened to the other one. But I am thankful that this one is here. They were my mom’s prized possesion. They sat on our buffet and I often held concerts with the crystal stopper as my microphone. Mom never complained although she probably was concerned that I would somehow drop and break it. My joy was worth the risk. The wall hanging was the last birthday present I gave my sister. She was all about her fingernails and this was perfect for her to display her polishes. She never was able to girlie me up to spend time on my nails, use all the lotions and potions she gave me, or spend much time on makeup. But now this holds my shot glass collection. Every trip we go on I try to find a shot glass as a memory of the trip. It is not that I am a big drinker but that shot glasses are small and easy to pack away. Now I have the perfect way to display those fond memories.  My grandkids love drinking out of them and picking just the one they want to use. They could also drop one and break it like I could have my mom’s vase. But the joy they get is worth the risk and I want to be more like my mom. 

Take some time to really look at all the treasures in your home and smile as you recall the back story. Why is it present? Who does it remind you of? If there are no ahhh moments that are stirred up then perhaps you could gift it to someone else. Then when they walk pass it in their home, it will remind them of you. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-26-24

 

Also Each of Us Can Go Above and Beyond with One Another this Week

 

More than is asked for or required is what I want to give. When someone asks for a favor I want to do that favor and a bit extra. Today, some young men are spending their first day of spring break cleaning my yard. The house they are at has been a rental and just let me say the weeds are as high as my eye. I will be paying them well for their efforts but probably give more cash than asked for. But also I am going to go take drinks and snacks for them to energize and keep going.

 The little things that are above and beyond makes others more likely to be there for us when we need someone to go above and beyond for us. This morning my Bible study spoke of an Also ministry. The idea is the same that you do what is needed but also add a little extra. It matters. Susi recently told me about giving some cash to a seemingly homeless man in a parking lot. The cash was no doubt appreciated but she also had a conversation with him about his story. Taking a few minutes to listen is so powerful. I know I feel good when someone is willing to hear me. You reading right now honors me more than you can know. 

This poem spoke to me even though powerful should only have one l. I get sidetracked from what is important. But that we need to listen to God and one another with both ears and eye contact is the best way to make them feel heard. It gets to the heart of your relationship. The cell phone can wait while we stay uninterruptingly present. Statistics say we spend less and less time really focused on a conversation with others than we ever have before. That makes me sad because I believe we also need those extras more than ever before.

 I am the most guilty of what I call multi-tasking but is really my shifting my focus when I absolutely should not. It is time for me to shower and go get donuts for my workers. At least I am starting off the day/week in the right direction. Hope you have a good Holy Week and know that your above and beyond by reading my thoughts is so appreciated. 

In Him,

Joyful

3-25-24

Happy 16th birthday to my beautiful grandgirl, Kayla. Noni loves you.