1. Do you have an iPhone and, if so, how do you get apps and what are your favorites?
2. What is your fondest memory of K-3rd grade?
3. What makes you cringe at the thought of touching?
4. If you could have any celebrity show up on your doorstep who would it be and why?
5. What would you say is your best physical feature?
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1. Do you have an iPhone and, if so, how do you get apps and what are your favorites?
No, but all my friends are getting them and going on and ON about how awesome they are. I was at Best Buy shopping for a lap top the other day and they had a buncha iPads hooked up for people to play with. WOW. I almost totally blew off the lap top to get the iPad. BUT...it has that touch keyboard and I type a lot. HOWEVER...I would LOVE to have an iPad just to play with, take on road trips, be able to be on the internet, blog, tweet...whatever, from where ever. But an iPhone...the screen is so teeeny! And so are the little buttons! So I vote for an iPad.
2. What is your fondest memory of K-3rd grade?
When I was in 2nd grade we lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, and our class took a field trip to the Wonder Bread factory, or bakery, or whatever it is called. They showed us all the big mixing bowls and the flour and the whole fascinating process, and after the tour, they gave us FRESH wonder bread with peanut butter and jelly. That was a very good day in 2nd grade.
3. What makes you cringe at the thought of touching?
Snakes. Any kind. Ewwwwww. Totally.
4. If you could have any celebrity show up on your doorstep who would it be and why?
Well, I am just the world's biggest George Strait fan, and have been for some time, and I would just be tickled if he knocked on my door. I would totally invite him out to the patio for a few cold longnecks. Then I would ask him how he got so handsome, I mean how he got interested in singing. Oh, just so many questions...like which of his many songs is his favorite. I almost cry every time I hear "Amarillo By Mornin." I love that man, I mean that song. :-)
5. What would you say is your best physical feature?
I would say my smart alecky sense of humor. What? That is not a physical feature?? Oh, well then I guess my eyes. They're blue, like every person in my family tree for generations. I think that is kinda cool.
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Okay, my fellow 5QF'ers...it's time to link up! I am looking forward to reading your posts!!
After watching GLEE (my FAVORITE show!) last week and their tribute to Lady Gaga, I knew exactly what song I wanted to use for this today. I never really got the whole Lady Gaga thing, but some of her music is all right! I have to say I really dig the Glee kids doing it a lot better! And those costumes are just kind of out there. But this song is totally bad A!!
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
This blog was always meant to be a positive place, a place of encouragement in a discouraging world. I haven’t written much of anything lately. Truth is I have had trouble finding anything encouraging to write about. I’m no preacher and certainly not a model Christian, though I do love the Lord and try to live for Him best I can. But Lord knows (as well as everybody else!) that I am a far cry from the Christian or the person I need to be.
Like so many of the unfinished writing, art, and other projects lying around my cluttered house, I am one of those “works in progress.” I know the Good Lord isn’t finished with me yet. I haven’t been able to write anything encouraging lately because I haven’t even been able to encourage myself.
The Bible says that when David was struggling, he “encouraged himself.” I’ve always tried to do that, as well as encouraging others. But there are just times when it seems like life targets you and a thunderstorm of trouble comes your way, with literally everything that can possibly go wrong actually going wrong.
Lately I’ve felt like a kid stranded in a heavy rainstorm with the streets flooding and just climbing up a light pole and holding on for dear life; trying to hold on to my faith, my peace, even my sanity some days. In times like this your mind starts messing with you and you may even start thinking God is mad at you or out to getcha. I know I’ve had my share of those thoughts.
We’ve had an awful lot of rain in our region lately and that’s unusual. Farmers love it, gardeners are happy for it…it is a blessing to this part of the country. But honestly it rained and stormed so much, both literally and figuratively, I started to wonder if we would ever see the sunshine again.
Well you know what they always say, nothing good lasts forever. Not sure I agree with “them,” but I do know this. Nothing BAD lasts forever either. Sometimes you just gotta ride it out, whatever it is, like that kid in the rain clinging to safety till help arrives. And I know from my own experience if you cry out to God for help, He will answer.
Things can be awful…the worst you can imagine, and in the blink of an eye, one touch from Him can change everything. One hug from a friend, one message from a preacher, one line from a song, one memory of a past victory….God can use so many things to encourage us when we are too beaten down to encourage ourselves.
He is not “out to get us.” He loves us with an everlasting love, and the very second we reach out to Him, He is there with outstretched arms reaching for us.
If you are struggling today, I just want to tell you, Friend, I’ve been there, and it sucks. I’m really sorry for whatever you are going through. But don’t give up on yourself and don’t give up on God. He always brings the sunshine after the rain, and everything looks spectacularly clean and beautiful. Hang in there.
I never intended this blog to be overtly “religious,” but more a place of encouragement and thoughts for positive living. However, I find that as a Christian I simply can’t separate my relationship with God from my life, for a blog or anything else. But, if you are not religious, please don’t feel that I am attempting to be a preacher. I am just relaying my own experiences and what I know God has done for me.
People have many ideas about God and who He is. I can’t say that I agree with them all, but I judge no one for their beliefs, or for their lack of belief in God. Whatever your beliefs, I want you to know you are a welcome guest here. I think one of the most important things I have ever learned is "Judge not or you will be judged in the same way you judge others."
Thank you for stopping by. I hope you’ll come back again. I will leave you with what I think is one of the most beautiful passages of scripture. It is a blessing that I wish for you, and I hope it gives you peace.
"The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."
~ Numbers 6:24-26
Man, I have really neglected my blogging duties lately! Got a new job and it has been kicking my butt! I actually have to stand on my FEET for hours at a time! The horror! I have been so spoiled with desk jobs the past few years and done a lot of @$$ sittin', which if you know me at all...you know I LOOOOOVE!!
So this 45 year old woman is paying homage to the aging process and even though I am doing my dangdest to fight it kicking and screaming, gravity and time is a real bad combination! And I think I may end up on the losing end!! No worries...it's all good.
I earned every one of these laugh lines and every ripply spot on my butt! So to celebrate the fact that even a slightly middle aged broad like me finally got off her @$$ and got an actual JOB doing actual WORK, here is a little song in celebration of us ladies of a certain age. Enjoy!
Till next time...keep lookin up! It's really not that bad folks!! :-)
Here's how it works:
1. Grab button
2. Paste the button. Somewhere on your blog or even just in your post .
3. Write about a memorable song. Any one you like.
4. Post the link to your post on this post's Mr. Linky.
5. Read about other memorable songs!!!
Okay, I know this song is kind of old, but I just heard it on the radio the other day and I just can't get it outa my head. It is such a cool song! I dig it!
Wow! Is it time for this again already! I LOVE 5QF's!! Here goes...
Rules (as always...): Copy and paste the following questions to your blog. Answer them, then c'mon back and link up! If you'd like, you can grab the MckLinky Blog Hop code! I would also luuuurrrrvvvveeee it if you'd link back to me, Mama M.!
If you don't have a blog, but would still like to play along, feel free to leave your answers in the comments of any blog along the way!
Questions for Friday, April 9th: (Thanks to Renee, Pam, LulaLola, Robin, and Me!! for their question suggestions! Wanna be linked in a future 5QF? Head on over to my Blog Frog community to offer up YOUR best question suggestions! Oh, and does anyone think we need to start a fresh thread for 5QF over there? Sometimes, I feel lost with all the questions over there!)
1. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
2. Did you ever go to summer camp?
3. What sends you running and screaming in the other direction?
4. What is something you do that drives your spouse nuts?
5. What is currently your favorite song?
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1. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
Well, of course I would want it to be someone like myself...gorgeous, naturally blonde, smart, funny, and with a fantastic body!! Gosh there really aren't any women in Hollywood like that!
OK so I would just settle for gorgeous then. So, my first choice would be Reese Witherspoon or Sandra Bullock because they are southern gals. And obviously Sandra can do blonde because she just did it in the Blind Side. But if neither of those gals were available I would totally settle for Jennifer Aniston of Kate Hudson. Obviously I am delusional, but since I get to pick, just humor me and let me believe I look as good as them!
2. Did you ever go to summer camp?
Oh yeah!! All the time! I grew up in Alaska and we had this really awesome summer camp right near our town that people would come from all over the state to go to. It was so cool! Had a big lake for swimming and they let you go water skiing and sailing and kayaking, plus they had horse back riding. It was soooo much fun!
Later, when I was grown up and my kids were little I found out they had a family camp, where the whole clan gets to go and stay in a cabin and do all the fun stuff together as a family. THAT was really fun! I loved that place. We live in Texas now, so I want to find some kind of a ranch or something similar that does the same kind of thing, where the whole family can go and have fun.
3. What sends you running and screaming in the other direction?
Ryan Seacrest. I can't stand that guy! Come on America, let's vote HIM off!!
Not a big fan of spiders and snakes, but hey, I live in Texas so I have to deal with them. I don't run screaming, I just slowly turn around and go the other way!
4. What is something you do that drives your spouse nuts?
OK, this could take a while! Actually my husband is so patient and sweet. He is a saint to put up with all my crazy jibberty babble. But he is Mr. Organized and I am Mrs. Not so much. Apparently he has this crazy notion that "there is a place for everything and everything should be in its place." I know...INSANE right?? So gets a little irritated at me for things like not having my phone on, not having it charged, not knowing where it is most of the time....
Or stuff like using his shiny tools from his perfectly organized many-drawered filing system tool box and not putting it back and leaving it out in the rain....silly stuff like that!
5. What is currently your favorite song?
Well, I have millions of favorite songs. I LOVE music, especially classic rock and good country. Since my son and I are about to go to a Miranda Lambert concert, we have been listening to a lot of her music. ALL of her songs are great, I especially dig Gunpowder and Lead and Kerosene. But she has this new one out called, The House That Built Me. That is such a beautiful and poignant song. I just love it. Can't wait to see her in concert! Texas girls rock!!
Thanks for playing along. Looking forward to reading all of yawl's answers! Fun to get to know you guys this way! Thanks for the great questions this week!
Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to a blog post. Answer them then c'mon back to link up! Grab the MckLinky bloghop code, if that's your kinda thing! I'd LOVE it if you'd link back to me, Mama M.!
No blog? Feel free to answer the questions in the comments of any blog along the way!
Questions for Friday, April 2nd: (Thanks to Natalie, LulaLola, Pam (for inspiration for #3), Lily, and Renee (who is on FIRE! with the questions!!) for their question suggestions! Wanna be linked in a future 5QF? C'mon over here, to my community and offer up your best question suggestions!)
1. Do you sing out loud in the car when you're driving?
Umm...is there any better place to sing? And any other way to sing than LOUD? In my car I sing my heart out, am always on pitch, and know every word. When I sing during guitar hero not so much. Too bad no one is ever around to hear how awesome I am in the car!
2. What would you never be caught doing?
Going to a Jonas Brothers concert. Even for my little girl. I have limits!!
3. Will you go #2 in a public restroom?
Okay, first of all..eww! And like someone else said...Heeeelll to the NO! Unless it is an emergency. Then of course...hell to the yes.
4. Have you ever broken a bone?
I went 44 years without so much as cracking or chipping a bone. Then I got a motorcycle. Took it for a ride in the pasture, there was an incident with a low lying electric fence and my arm broke clean in two. Like a twig. I don't recommend it.
5. Do you prefer cooking or baking?
I prefer someone else doing both!! But if was forced at gunpoint to choose I would have to say cooking because it is so much easier. I mean you stick the pop tarts in the toaster and VOILA!! Breakfast is ready!!
Okay, I love music, so when I heard about this fun Friday Follow I had to get in on the action. The first song that came to mind was this one. This guy played the Stars Hollow Troubadour on Gilmore Girls. He was always standing on a corner doing a cover of some old song and sounding fabulous. I LOOOOVE this song...it really does make me SMILE every time I hear it. My favorite kind of music!
Rock on Super Freaks! ;-)
Chris
p.s. Am I the only one who still misses Gilmore Girls even though all the people who were in it are now on other shows?! My kids and I still watch the reruns repeatedly! Greatest. Show. EVER!!!
Wow,can you believe it is almost Easter already? We have had such a painfully looong winter, I was starting to wonder if Spring would ever really come back! Finally we are getting green grass, buds on the trees, and warm sunshiny days here in West Texas. Oh happy day!!
I just wanted to share some photos of my kids and me and some crafty fun we had with plastic eggs. We always try to do cool crafts for the holidays and Easter is no exception. But this year we were kinda between paychecks so we just had to use what we had around the house and our imaginations. Actually, I think that is actually the best possible scenario for sparking creativity.
(These are my twins, Sophie and Jesse. They are almost 11, but they were about 6 or 7 here I think...we got these cool kits to use with your real dyed eggs. They had cootie bug legs and wings and stick on eyes. They were just toooo fun!)
So we raided our craft supplies, got out the glue gun and here is what we came up with. I think the kids did pretty well, and most important they had a lot of fun, AND as an added bonus...they continued doing this activity for several days on their own, providing me with some great quiet time to write, stare into space, and things of that nature!
Here is what we came up with from our left over plastic eggs from last year and some odds and ends from around the house...
Well in the end, we had a blast, and against the advice of everyone, we did in fact, put ALL our eggs in one basket! And it turned out fine! So just gather up whatever you can find and have some fun with the kids getting all crafty with it! Happy Easter everyone!
Hey you guys...if you would like detailed photos and instructions on how to make these eggs, especially the bluebird and the bee, as well as other fun craft ideas to do with your kids, subscribe to my arsty craftsy newsletter, Creative License. Lots of fun and free ideas for you and your kids!!
Thanks,
Chris
email me at... absopositive@gmail.com
And just a reminder, Easter is not all about colored eggs...it is all about HIM...
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 New Living Translation
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I've had so much fun participating in the last few McLinky blog hops that I decided I wanted to take part in the Friday Giveaway.
I'm giving away a brand new copy of the childrens' book, "How Sadie Learned To Smile," written by Linda Boulanger, and illustrated by me. This book teaches kids about the importance of being kind to our animal friends, and focuses on the joy of giving an adopted animal a forever home. It also deals with the issue of a beloved animal friend leaving us when his/her life is over. It deals with some sad subjects, but is a very uplifting and heartwarming story. I will personally autograph it for you if you like.
Additionally, I'm including a dog or cat (your choice) angel ornament, also hand made by me with polymer clay. This can be for your Christmas tree or you can just hang it on the wall.
To see more clay creations like the ones above as well as mosaic art work and other things, visit my Etsy shop, Imaginotions... http://www.etsy.com/shop/imaginotions
For more info on "How Sadie Learned To Smile," including details about the author, illustrator, and inspiration for this story, please visit Sadie's website... http://www.SadiesSmile.com
A portion of all the proceeds from the sale of the Sadie book benefit ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation) of Bartlesville, OK...where the original Sadie was adopted and where she met her forever family.
To be entered in the give away, please leave me a comment. Contest ends March 30th.
Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope you will stop by again! :-)
This week's blog hop has as its theme "Answered Prayers."We were challenged to relay a real story of answered prayer from our own experience. Sometimes it is easy to forget how willing and how happy God is to answer our prayers. Like an earthly parent wants to make their child happy, how much more does our Heavenly Father want us to be happy?
I hope this testimony will be an encouragement to you. Thanks so much for stopping by.
In The Waiting Room
by Chris Janzen
When at last I walked down the aisle and got married at the age of 30, I was so filled with happiness and triumph. I was certain my family had given up any hope of me ever finding a guy willing to put up with me and my orneriness for any amount of time, let alone an entire lifetime! How I had prayed there was a guy out there some where that was perfect for me.
Finally, I met him, and in time there we were at the altar, saying those beautiful vows in front of God, our friends, and our families.
On the outside I was saying, “I take this man to be my lawful wedded...blah, blah, blah...,” but on the inside I was yelling, “I got me a man!” It was the happiest day of my life...and a wonderfully answered prayer.
We wanted to start a family right away; both of us couldn't wait to become parents. It was a dream God had placed in both of our hearts, and one we'd both wanted for quite a while. Finally we could focus on making that dream a reality. We both agreed we would have just two children, hopefully one boy and one girl. Then our family would be complete.
How impatient I was every month, wondering if this would finally be IT! I wanted a baby more than I had ever wanted anything, and I had prayed for one in earnest. I would be going about my day at work, in the car, at the store...wondering if that amazing miracle had yet occurred. I kept praying and waiting...
As month after long month passed, I fought discouragement and disappointment. I wanted to be patient, but I also wanted to be pregnant! My doctor told me not to worry, that it just takes a little time some times and to keep trying. Control freak me (these days I prefer the term “control enthusiast!”) hated not being able to snap my fingers and make it happen NOW!!
I tried to busy myself with other things, but truly could think of nothing else. I checked out books from the library and read every disgusting, graphic, wonderful detail about the whole process. I was horrified, excited, scared, and I still REALLY wanted to be pregnant! God kept me sitting in His waiting room, and much longer than even the rudest and most inconsiderate of doctors.
Then one day I was making my regular morning pot of coffee, something I had loved for many years. (I like to load it up with real cream and lots of sweetener.) It was so delicious and helped me get my day started, not being one of those freakish “morning people.” That day the coffee was extremely bitter and the cream tasted like it had been sitting on the counter for days. I was dumbfounded. “What in the world is wrong with this coffee?” I tried again to sip it, but it was undrinkable. My husband thought it was just great and finished off the whole pot.
Certain I had a terrible case of food poisoning, I checked in with my doctor. What a relief! No food poisoning, but could it be? YES! Finally I was pregnant! I was so sick all the time, losing my lunch on a daily basis, and usually my breakfast and supper as well! Pregnancy really wasn't as fun as I thought it would be!
Well that was my first pregnancy and God answered our prayer in the form of a strapping ten pound baby boy named Jake. He was healthy and handsome and obviously a genius from day one.
Around his second birthday we started praying for that second baby we wanted. Our plan had been to have one boy and one girl. We went through the same frustrating routine…sitting in God’s waiting room month after month.
Finally when I was sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, pregnant for the second time, the nurse midwife said she wanted to send me over to the hospital for a routine ultrasound. No big deal.
My husband and I settled into the ultrasound waiting room, so excited to see our little bundle of Heaven on screen. As soon as the gooey gel went on my belly and the wand touched my skin, we got the shock of our lives...there were two little bundles in there! We could see them plain as day on the monitor! TWO babies! We looked at each other in disbelief... “Do you see what I see?” We said in unison. The doctor confirmed what we were just figuring out…we were having twins!
A few months later we were back in the ultrasound room to find out if we were having boys or girls. I knew we would be thrilled either way, but I secretly prayed for a boy and a girl. The answer to that prayer was a great big yes in the form of Jesse and Sophie.
We had always wanted to have two children; a boy and a girl. The Great Physician gave us exactly what we asked for, and even more. Our family was and is complete.
Waiting is not something I do well. Most people I know don’t care for it and would prefer to have a root canal than to have to wait for anything. However some things are definitely worth the wait.
The time we spent in God's waiting room was infinitely worth it.
"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."
Okay, so yesterday kind of sucked, pardon my French, but it just did. So in light of the politicians in Washington shoving their health care down the throats of so many who don't want it, I thought I would post a really cool video. This IS supposed to be a POSITIVE blog after all.
I've only ever been to one air show and it was at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. It was a completely awesome experience and my heart swelled with pride and patriotism at the site of all those Airmen maneuvering those amazing planes.
I didn't get to go this particular cool air show, but I sure would love to some time. There are some beautiful old planes here, as well as a lot of other awesome stuff. Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks Brent at McLinky for sharing this!
Oshkosh WISCONSIN Air Show 2009 Courtesy of MckLinky Stuff - FREE!
Well...in an effort to post more frequently I am participating in fun things like Five Question Friday. It's easy...just copy these five questions and answer them on your blog then grab the McLinky to share. Thank you Five Crooked Halos for setting this up. Looking forward to stalking all of you, I mean, visiting your blogs today!
1. Have you ever had a celeb sighting? I had a pretty cool one when I was vacationing in Hollywood. I was walking around scoping out the Chinese Theater, the famous footprints and the Walk of Fame and there is 80's teen heart throb Kirk Cameron with a camera guy. He was interviewing people on the street for that show he does on Christian TV. I would have jolly well gone up and gave my opinion to him but I had to catch my little tour bus to the Hollywood sign. Wish I had that picture...but it is lost somewhere on another computer! OH! I also got to go see a taping of Ellen on that same trip and she danced right by us!!
2. What temperature do you keep your house? I like it around 70 all the time, but here in Texas where we live you have the AC on one day and crank the heat the next!!
3. Do you notice dust at other peoples homes? No, because my house is so dusty I am totally immune to noticing it elsewhere. Unless it is like knee high or something... but it's not like I would judge or anything!
4. What's the worst job you ever had? When I lived in Alaska I worked in a fish cannery. It was THE worst! Cold, wet, boring and stinky!!
5. What is your most sentimental possession? My wedding ring and family photos.
I've never been a big fan of growing up. Didn't want to when I was little, don't want my kids to either. Being a grown up is SO over rated. Just ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that yes indeed, I am very childish, I mean ummm...child like. Whatever.
Lately I've been having a real hard time deciding what I truly want to do with my life other than the obvious things of being a good wife to my husband, a good mom to my kids, and keeping the dogs and cat alive and the house clean enough to keep the Health Department away. I love to write and draw and paint and create all sorts of things, and I like to do about a million other things as well.
A friend pointed out to me this week that I am blessed (or did she say cursed?) with the ability to do many things fairly well, and I just need to pick one and go with it! Yeah, thanks Linda! But which one do I pick? One of the things I am really excellent at is procrastinating. My philosophy on that...procrastinate NOW! Don't put it off! Making decisions is definitely not one of my talents.
On the one hand I to LOVE to make stuff...all things artsy, craftsy, and creative make me positively giddy. On the otherhand I have come to enjoy the little luxuries in life like gas in the car and food in the fridge. I want to be an artist but I don't really want to be a starving one! If only there was a way I could make money doing what I really love....
Hey, if any of yawl have figured that out, I would LOVE to hear about it. I have lots of dreams of books to publish, works of art to create, cool crafty classes to teach to kids, awesome topics to blog about, fun businesses I'd like to start...in general I am just kind of a big old mess of confusion!
Well...while I try to sort all this out, I will leave you with some fun stuff to ponder.
Hey...thanks for stopping by, and let me know you were here, okay? I want to visit your blogs too!
Chris OK, there are some things that are just too dang funny not to share. This most certainly is one of those things. Enjoy.
A first grade girl handed in the drawing below for a homework assignment...
After it was graded and the child brought it home, she returned to school the next day with the following note:
Dear Ms. Davis,
I want to be very clear on my child's illustration. It is NOT of me doing a pole dance on a stage in a strip joint. I work at Home Depot and had commented to my daughter how much money we made in the recent snowstorm. This drawing is of me selling a shovel.
Mrs. Smith
OK, I saw this on someone's blog and thought it was kinda cool. Try it on your own blog if you want! C'mon! It'll be fun and we'll get to pick the recesses of your brain. (That sounds really ewwww...sorry)
Yeah...I don't think my dream job is on Monster...and I have already had years of having a brown nose! No thanks!
I am trying a new thing called a blog hop. Someone gives you a topic and you post a story or something about said topic and everyone visits each others blogs. Sounds like fun!
So for this special post, I decided to post a short story I wrote a while back...it actually won second place in a Faith Writers challenge. The prompt was to write about the color black.
All righty then, without any further ado, here is "Jed's Lucky Day."
“Jed's Lucky Day”
Christina Janzen
Jed picked through the garbage can, looking for a scrap of bread or anything to eat. He was accustomed to getting his meals this way. He'd done it for a long time. His search was fruitless so he hunkered under the cardboard box that was home, trying to get warm in the bitter October wind. Lying on his concrete bed, he watched the brown leaves swirl and dance on the sidewalk. His mind drifted back to happier times.
He saw his beautiful Jet Black mother and the rest of his large family. He had many siblings and they had such fun together playing games and sharing adventures. They were always warm, safe, and fed; well cared for by their capable mother.
A siren blared and Jed was startled back to his harsh reality. None of those things were true any longer. His mother had died and he and his siblings had all gone their separate ways. He had no idea where any of his brothers or sisters were.
He knew it was difficult to be Black, but he never understood it. His ancestors had been royalty. From the first time he realized he was being treated differently because of his color, he was outraged. It was so unfair. He was as strong and smart and good as anyone else. What right did anyone have to make assumptions about him because of his color?
He thought how unjust it was that black was always associated with evil, death, and bad tidings. He wondered why it was the chosen color for mourning. Why did the villain always wear a black hat and the hero white? Who assigned these arbitrary meanings to his proud and beautiful color, and what right did they have?
Jed repositioned himself under his box, trying to get comfortable. He thought of earlier in the day when he had been out walking. The disgusted stares of people were hard to ignore. Some even went so far as to cross the street when they saw him coming.
He may not have been the most handsome, but he was hardly hideous. He'd certainly had his share of companions. There were plenty who liked his “kind.”
There were plenty of others who did not.
Jed was startled by the sound of footsteps. A beautiful young white woman was walking towards him.
“Ugh,” he thought, “just what I need...some snooty white girl and her attitude.” He was more than a little surprised when she walked right over to him and said hello. He remained silent. He had learned not to like her “kind.”
“I'm Abby,” the young woman said, “and I'd like to help you. No one should have to sleep out here on the street on a night like this. I want you to come with me. I can help.”
Jed didn't understand. No one had ever spoken to him with such kindness. This was most unusual.
Abby reached down and picked him up very gently. He immediately started to purr. “This one is nice,” he couldn't help thinking. She wrapped Jed up in her coat and started to sing one of her favorite hymns...
“All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful,The Lord God made them all.”
She continued singing all the way to her house.
“He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell, How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well.”
She brought him in and fed him a can of tuna, which he eagerly dug into. “Goodness, you were hungry, weren't you boy?” He purred his response and gratefully devoured the bounty she had provided.
Abby gave Jed a warm bath, washing off the grime and smell of his life on the street. She very gently and lovingly scrubbed and rinsed his fur, then dried him off with a big, fluffy towel. He couldn't believe his good fortune. He had never felt so wonderful.
All his life he'd heard he was unlucky, undesirable, a bad omen...even accused of witchcraft. Now here was this beautiful creature treating him like the royalty he always knew he was. Finally someone had recognized him!
“I'm gonna name you Jinx,” Abby said with a smile, looking into his brilliant green eyes. Jed didn't know what the name meant, but concurred with a purr, thinking “this is my lucky day.”
p.s. The theme for this blog hop was PETS, but I didn't want to give away the twist till after you read the story. Thanks for reading! Have a great Monday.
When people ask me if I am a "glass half full or half empty" person, I usually say something like, "my glass overflows..." or something to that effect. However I know people who run the gamut from an overflowing glass, like I try to visualize, and others who say their glass is "almost completely empty." I'm not exagerrating! Someone said that to me recently!
Sometimes it is hard to realize or understand how full your "glass" is. Lately mine has felt bone dry at times...and I know logically it is not. But those pesky emotions get stirred up sometimes and it is hard to see how good we actually have it. When we are struggling, it clouds our thinking and affects the way we view everything.
I heard Joel Osteen, my favorite preacher, talk about a woman who looked out the window at her neighbor's clothesline. Every day she would comment on how dingy and dirty the lady's clothes were. She was aghast that she would allow her children to go out in public in such dirty and improperly cared for clothes. Day after day this went on, with the woman becoming more and more critical of her neighbor and her ineptness at doing the laundry. Then one morning the woman was having her coffee, and looking out the window was amazed at how bright and clean her neighbor's laundry was. She called her husband in the room, and said, "Would you look at that! She finally learned how to get her family's clothes clean!" Her husband smiled, and said, "No, I got up early this morning and cleaned that window...it was filthy."
I know I have been guilty of looking at the world through a dirty window. When things are not going as well as you would like it is easy to see everything that is wrong and not remember all the things that are right with your world. Maybe it's time to get out the Windex.
Have a great week and Live Postive!
p.s. Here is a great article from The Mayo Clinic about the Power of Positive Thinking. I hope it helps you see your glass as at least half full, if not more so. :-)
I have been in a total funk lately...no question about it. I don't know if it is the crummy winter weather, the never ending laundry and dishes, or just a lack of interest in all things fun, but whatever it is or was, thank the Lord, it is over now.
Sometimes we just have to ride things out. Waiting can be really hard when you are miserable so I want to tell you another thing I did that helped me lift my mood. I wrote it out.
Writing can be a wonderful form of therapy. It is no secret that keeping a journal is a tried and true method for getting your thoughts and feelings on paper so you can sort them out. When you write things down in the middle of whatever cruddy thing you are going through, you can look back later, with a healthier perspective and gain a depth of understanding. Writing is a valuable tool.
Psychologists and counselors who treat trauma victims and people suffering from PTSD, depression, and anxiety, often encourage their clients to write out their feelings. This is especially effective for victims of traumatic events such as violent crime, war, or childhood abuse.
They have you write and write and write uncensored about the traumatizing event. They instruct you to write everything you feel, complete with curse words and whatever you feel you need to say to the person who hurt you or to yourself. They have you repeat this over and over and over until you are sick of it. Why? Because writing gets it out of your system. When you talk and especially write about the matter so much to the point where it just gets boring and tedious, then it loses the grip it has held you in.
If you have suffered a trauma or been through a difficult time, you know what I mean. The event becomes so all consuming that it has control over you and you can't seem to get past it. Writing about it, puts it in to perspective and allows you to accept it and let go of it. I am not saying you can write about it one time and poof, it is all better. You will know when it is better because it won't constantly have that hold on you anymore. You will be able to think or write about it without it upsetting you or making you anxious.
I really believe this is why things like email, blogs, and Facebook are so very popular. People want to communicate their feelings. Maybe not their deepest feelings to everyone on their Facebook list, but they just want and need to share their thoughts with someone.
I have been a writer for a long time so I personally know the value and the satisfaction that comes from not only therapeutic writing, but just from writing in general.
I've found it is especially helpful to write down the things we are thankful for. Gratitude is such a powerful force and counting your blessings is a sure fire way to pull you out of a funk. Just seeing listed on paper all the many, many good things you have in your life can turn your whole attitude around.
Writing letters to loved ones is great as well. Even though most of us do our "letter writing" in the form of email now, I can't express how much I enjoy both writing and receiving emails from trusted friends and dear family members. There is just something about writing that is very healing, cathartic, and positive.
Of course, as a writer myself, I am biased. I love to write and I enjoy it. Some people say, "but I don't know how to write," or "I'm a terrible speller." It doesn't matter...your writing can be just for your eyes only.
I encourage you to start small with a list of the things you have to be thankful for. From there, just start jotting things down, whether they make you happy, angry, sad, frustrated...write it out. Write about your dreams, your ideas, the places you would like to go and the things you would like to do.
You will feel better for it and you can come back especially to the positive stuff again and again when you need encouragement. Writing has helped to pull me out of a funk on many occasions. It is a way to share your pain, your frustration, or your joy, even if it is only with yourself. Hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great Monday, and God bless.
