On love

When one is in love, the world is beautiful. Every day is bright. Every thought positive. Every outing is an adventure. Every person is a friend. And there is a center to the universe.

When one loves, the world is in need - whether the world is one person or many. Every day points to the deep, unmet needs of someone else. Every thought is of how to meet those needs. Every outing is a chance to find solutions to the needs. Every person is a potential helper in meeting the needs. And there is a center to the universe.

When one is loved, the world is completed. Every day is warm. Every thought is grateful. Every outing is a memory in the making. Every person is a bit of an outsider. And there is a center to the universe.

God is Love.

Love the Center of the Universe.

God is the Center of the Universe.

More vanity publishing

It has been a couple of weeks since I posted last, so here I am again with a "vanity" publication. I think these are just fun to read about other people and assume that my informatin is amusing to others.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, Great grandmother
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? A while
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING ? No
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Chicken salad
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 2 sons
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Who, me?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS No
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Nope
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Frosted mini wheats
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Emotionally, yes - physically, not as strong as I once was
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Baskin Robbin Baseball Nut
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Smile
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Weight
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST My mom
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? yes
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? beige pants, blue flip-flops
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Greek Chicken salad
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? TV
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? blue
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? pizza baking
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? my son
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Absolutely!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? football on TV, baseball live
27. HAIR COLOR? Nice & Easy #117
28. EYE COLOR? blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Italian
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Shreck 3
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? pastel Hawaiian print
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Both
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? lemon meringue or cherry pie
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Rod, Stacy
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND ????
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Rapture (Left Behind series prequel)
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Looney Tunes
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T. V. LAST NIGHT? a movie - Italian Job
42. FAVORITE SOUND? my granddaughter's newest words
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles - the original pre-drug stuff
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Hawaii
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? no
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Lubbock, Texas
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? everyone's

Remembering

I didn't have a chance to write this yesterday, on Memorial Day, but perhaps it is never too late to say "Thank You" to all of the men and women who are sacrificing daily to help keep me safe at night. And, even more, to express my deep appreciation for all those who have gone before in ultimate sacrifice so that I can enjoy the freedoms and lifestyle that I treasure today. There just are no words. My dad fought in World War II. My father-in-law served aboard the New Orleans when Pearl Harbor was attacked and fought throughout the war of the Pacific. The best man at my wedding served several tours in Vietnam. These people all willingly said "Yes" when asked to serve and I am so grateful to them. We are a spoiled, complacent and wickedly selfish generation in no small part because their sacrifices helped to create a prosperous society around us. Please join me in recognizing that all we have comes because others gave for us, protected us and helped create a safe environment in which we can work and learn and produce. And then join me in finding someone to you whom you can say "Thank You". It a priceless pearl, this freedom of ours, bought at GREAT price.

Don't miss it!

Yesterday was once a tomorrow. Did you miss the now?

It is the greatest gift we have - now. This moment. This breath. This gentle breeze of time in our grasp that disappears when we blink. Cherish it. Use it. And then remember it, for it will soon be gone. When we worry about tomorrow and regret yesterday, we are in danger of missing the fragile now. Don't miss it.

Being Pretty

When I was a little girl, my mom used to tell me and my sisters, "Pretty is as pretty does." I knew exactly what that meant. At the time I was completely focused on clothes and hair and looks. But, by repeating this to me time and time again, my mother helped me to see that beauty on the inside is so much more important than beauty on the outside. And, even deeper, that even the most physically beautiful people in the world can become very, very ugly by the way they act and the things they do and the words they say and the people they hurt.

Our society is becoming so increasingly focused on beauty. Retaining or regaining our youth seems to be the only worthwhile goal. We are willing to spend lots and lots of money on clothes, cosmetics, surgeries and anything else we think will acheive this goal. And yet we are completly ignoring that inner beauty that shines from within us and glows as beauty to those around us.

Our daily news is overflowing with stories about "beautiful people" who are on drugs, who have endagered others by driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, who are shouting ugly things to their beloved children, who are estranging themselves from others by their mean spirited and selfish behavior, etc., etc.

"Pretty is as pretty does." We need more of that.

Imagine if we were surrounded instead by people who love others unconditionally, who are always filled with joy, who seek to bring peace into hostile situations, who are patient while shopping and driving, who are always speaking and behaving kindly to everyone, who are good and honest in all of their dealings, who are gentle with the fragile souls around them, who show self-control in the things they say and do and in the way they act.

Imagine.

Would not these truly be the "beautiful people"? Would not all of us seek to spend as much time as possible with these people?

Hmmm - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

Perhaps we need less cosmetics, surgery and clothes and just more "Fruit".

Me, A-Z

*A - Age: Almost 58

*B - Bed size: King

*C - Chore you hate: cleaning out the dishwasher

*D - Dessert you love: angel food cake, lemon meringue pie and that lemon cake at Olive Garden

*E - Essential start your day item: Potty trip

*F - Favorite actor(s): Gotta love Mel Gibson and Kevin Costner and Arnold S.

*G - Gold or Silver: both

*H - Height: 5' 4" (once, although I think I am shrinking)

*I - Instruments you play: piano (just a pinch)

*J - Job title: Charge Nurse, Dialysis Unit

*K - Kid(s): two sons

*L - Living arrangements: single story, 2 bedroom, retirement community (NOT an old-folks home)

*M - Mom's name: Marge

*N - Nicknames: Gramma, Sugarlumps, Mom

*O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: tonsillectomy, childbirth x2, hysterectomy

*P- Phobia or fear: being alone

*Q. Favorite quote: most recently heard - "There isn't much in life but love and hard work and that's about the size of it."

*R - Right or left handed: right

*S - Siblings: two sisters & one brother. I am the eldest.

*U - Unique habit: I can fall asleep in about a split second.

*V - Vegetable you hate: none that I've met so far

*W - Worst habit: snacking

*X - X-rays you've had: teeth, lungs, hips, neck, upper back

*Y - Yummy food you make: Apple pie and cinnamon rolls

*Z - Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Texas

Am in Texas this week, visiting my dad. Right now the thermometer says it is 58.8 degrees and is raining. Heard some thunder a while ago, but that seems to have passed. A noted difference to the 105 degrees we had at home on Saturday.

Texans are interesting people. Had occasion yesterday to do some serious people watching over a long period of time in a small waiting room. You can almost pick out those who were born and raised here over those who migrated from somewhere else. But everyone is pretty polite ("thank you", "please", "how sweet of you", "yes ma'am, no sir", etc.), considerate (opening doors, "excuse me - entirely my fault", "no, no - you go first"). There was one crusty old codger who was completly the antithesis of "Texan" as far as politeness goes, but who had obviously been here all of his life (accent, ten-gallon hat, etc.) and he just made me laugh even in his rudeness with his Texas-style phrases. My favorite was "Well, if you throw me out of the bar, of COURSE I'll bruise!"

I have lived in many places in my lifetime, but truly, Texas is a nation unto itself.