Thanks!

THANK YOU!!!

 Your outpouring of love and support amazes me!

Joy, you have embarrassed me BIG time...

I'm feeling a bit bold today:

I'm not really crazy about overt

in your face "christian speak."

I think it too often turns people off and away.

So, I'm hoping you will bear with me on this.

I am feeling the need to share what God

(yep, it's Him, I'm sure) has been doing with me lately.

I've had my own personally planned life's journey

briskly and abruptly interrupted.

My busy, filled life that I have been

enjoying without a second thought, that I have been 

whizzing through on a daily basis with a strong co-operative body has taken a sharp turn.

I have cancer.

I'm not going into detail here------it's boring, even to me-----

Now here's the good part, the part that I get excited about, the part that I sort of can't wait to see what comes next part.

I am changing.

I am changing every day-----in a lot of ways.

The physical stuff hasn't been so hot, but that wonderful,

internal, head/heart stuff----it's good----very good.

I've never thought of myself as a prideful person----nope, not me. No boasting, gloating, flaunting,etc. 

Nope, nope, nope.

Humble? Not really, but Prideful? Never!

Hmmmmm........

Funny how much we know about ourselves and how little.

First thing to go-----that little thing called control.

Seriously, I know I'm not in control of the universe, but my own body seemed reasonable...

Mine has served me very well for many years.  It has been healthy and hard working with hardly a glitch.  I have been able to bulldoze my way through a lot.

Nope, not this time.

I am human, fragile, and susceptible to "stuff."

This realization came as a shocker to me.  I am human. I cannot overcome everything with sheer will power.

And now, I have delightful hospital experiences to prove it--

This was the second area  that's been exposed.

Now this third area is absolutely silly, and I can't believe I'm even putting this into words.

My height had to be measured this last week, along with my weight and I am suddenly TWO inches shorter than I've always thought myself to be.  Three of us checked it----I am sure---TWO WHOLE INCHES.

I am no longer taller than average. I am completely, wholly, AVERAGE.  How can that be?! 

Pride...it sneaks up in funny little ways...

Fourth??? Really, does there need to be a fourth? Sure.

I will be losing my hair in approximately three weeks.

I will be bald.

I will be bald, average height, and probably still not lose weight.  I will look like Uncle Fester's Broadway understudy.

And then it came to me, how does one's body know what hair to lose?  If the hair on my head goes,.....(o.k. I've not been myself lately, I'm a little slow)

Oh my gosh------I could lose my eyebrows and EYELASHES!!

So, the brow thing can be funky, but my eyelashes------they are long, thick, and frame my brown eyes very nicely, thank you.
Surely I won't lose my lashes...

Pride....there it is again.

So, God has graciously been exposing some things to me.

I am so appreciative of this opportunity.  I have come to realize some junk about myself that I would've just glossed right over.  And, odd as it sounds, it's been fun as well.

I have laughed out loud and shaken my head and said, "AH."

My list keeps growing.

  It may not be earth shattering,

but it's been heart shattering for me.  

I have come to see myself in a different way.

That underbelly is more and more exposed.

I have NOTHING to be prideful about.

(although I'm sure He'll be pointing out more)

EVERYTHING is a gift from our great God.

It is His to give and His to take. 

I am so very grateful that I am on this journey with Him.

It continues to be quite an adventure.

annie

It's time to clean the greenhouse!

The sun is beckoning, 

the fresh spring air is enticing 

and all that dirt and mess

is making me crazy!

 There's feeding and repotting,

cleaning and trashing, 

and general sprucing to do.

I will happily spend the day 

with my babies.

Life is good.

Nothing says 

HAPPY SPRING

like tulips and ranunculus

 Enjoy!

Home Sweet Home

Arriving home after a little R & R is always a bit like "culture shock".

Yesterday was no exception.

After 12 simply gloriously "empty" days----it all came to a screeching halt.

The groceries, the unpacking, the laundry, the mail, the dishes, the laundry, and the laundry...

After a solid 18 hours or more of travel, all that entails, and the slight 'picking up' at home, I gave in and went to bed.

I didn't realize until this morning, just how much "little organizing" I do every day before I head out the door.

Our home was not empty while I was away. 

Oh, no---there were several males here on a regular basis and let's not forget the 4 legged critters too.

It seems as though between work and play, there is NO time for actual PICKING UP  or CLEANING after oneself. 

I find this concept fascinating--- and appalling.

I'll cut Mr. SMF some slack  because he put in some mighty long days at the office, but the rest of the crew??? 

HELLO!!! WE DON"T HAVE MAID SERVICE!

So, today it's off to the grocery again, laundry again, and some REAL cleaning again.

I mean really, what was I thinking---

that I would come home to a place that looked as good as when I left or BETTER??

Of course, being the good Pollyanna that I am, I have BIG plans for all that I'm going to accomplish today.

I'm going to float through it all like Mr. Pelican.

Thank goodness I got some sleep at the beach.

Beach Life

Beach Living

 This is life in full sunny glory

Grin with glee

Jump for joy

Stroll in the surf

Delight in every day

and don't forget the ice cream!

I love the mix of formal with crusty and earthy.

My favorite clock, a gift from a dear friend

A nice old rusty wall cabinet with shelves, hooks, and  hanging bar

Antique linen towels with varying weaves and color

It's all about mixing texture, shape, and color (or lack of).

What floats your boat?

(I'm at the beach)