Remember the art of letter writing ....

Remember the days we used to write letters?  Do you remember how excited you would be if upon opening your mail box there was one for you?
If so fellow bloggers, check this blog out and take the challenge, I know I'm in!
A fellow blogger recommended this, Smiling Mama, her address to check out a cute blog (http://smilingmama.blogspot.com)

 Here is the letter Writing blog!

http://penpaperstamp.blogspot.com

Have fun,
debi

Outdoor Living with a Splash of Special Meaning ....

My Bob and I have been working in the yard for the last month preparing for our outdoor summer ! This year I purchased some new plant material and planted them here and there. Bob transplanted and moved the larger plants for me without complaint as always, as well as setting out three new hummingbird feeders. He is always right on top of feeding all of our plants and lawn....a habit I loved about my Dad. We have a very similar vision for our outdoor space and we really love putting in the time and then sitting back with a nice glass of wine in the early evening as we take in the fruits of our labor. This morning we both did our first morning reading and coffee outside while watching our Grand dog Turkelton prance about as if he were more deer than dog.

This water fountain in the front yard was donated to us by our friends that moved to Colorado as were our Adirondack chairs out back that I painted orange. I love the water fountain, though the sound of water coming in the front door created in me the need to visit the restroom a little to often :-) So, disconnect the water feature and toss in some color!

The train ringer that hangs on the porch entry was my Dad's, wonderful memories of him whenever a train is involved. I have two girlfriends that actually ring it versus the door bell when they stop by, that always generates a smile and my heart overflows with the love I had for my Dad...

I took a photo of our beautiful dove that chose to sit on her egg(s)in our hanging Christmas cactus....we love to watch her, always as still as she can be and watching the father(we assume)come and go as if checking on her and maybe bringing her food? The first sound we hear outside our bedroom window every morning, the coo of the doves.

  Our friends that moved to the state of Washington,  left us our bench that I painted red, the beautiful ferns outside our dinning room as well as a couple plants down our side yard.

The parrots outback, my Dad made and they fit in perfectly with the tropical feel of our 14 palm trees on our property. My father gave a few of his parrots to friends of mine who treasure them because they too understand how special my Father was. One even named her parrot Ray, after my Dad. He would have had a belly laugh over that!

My favorite splash of special meaning is my red water pump. As a child we would camp most every summer at Wade Lake in Montana with several other relatives. Upon arrival I always went to the water pump first thing, the outhouse second :-) I was so fascinated by the fact we would be pumping water out of the ground during our stay, no dripping facets at our campground. I remember walking to the pump to fill a pot or two for the cooks...generally my Dad and my Uncle's were the breakfast cooks. It stirs up memories I can smell. Fried potatoes and onions, bacon, eggs and coffee all being cooked over an open camp fire at the crack of dawn surround by pine trees and family...perfect.

I love being out in my yard pulling weeds, reading a good book, or just watching the humming birds. While doing so I am surround by all the beauty, reminded of the best of friends, reliving the memories made with them. I can flash back to childhood summers with my family all the while taking in the smell of breakfast cooking.

My Father loved his plants and took pride in his yard always, especially the gift he had for growing roses, a gift my sisters and I will carry on because of him. These two red rose bushes he bought and planted for me when I first bought my home. They are the most fragrant roses I've ever smelled, surely because his big hands planted them.

Looking forward to the next several months outdoors taking in the view as my heart fills once again with happy reminders of times gone by, my nose takes in the smells of childhood and my mind the thoughts of days gone by with just some of those I love.  
This is what echos from my heart today........

Time to make some more time...

I was in a meeting this afternoon and I was discussing how since I've been unemployed I have trouble (more than usual) remembering days of the week, appointments, regularly schedule things like Thursday night Bible study at my house(prior to the gals arriving) or kids coming over for dinner! I believe this is the result of everyday becoming a Saturday, the kind life you lead when you aren't committed to the routine of a job outside the home.

As a kid it took forever it to be Saturday....now it's how on earth could it be Saturday again?? The mad rush to the market for the dinner guest that are coming tonight!! I thought that was like five days from now, I have plenty of time, not!

Now, I know I'm getting older but I'm wanting to slow things down just a little bit. I'm finding I want to be up earlier and in bed later in order to get my moneys worth out of everyday. I do not want to nap, something most people treasure and take part in regularly. Me.....it's an hour or so of this life of mine and I don't want to sleep through it.

My first thought of what I could do in order to by me some more time...Give away the television. Maybe give it to some young gal in her twenties that thinks she has all the time in the world and can't begin to imagine a date such as 2010 when is only 1985. I mean come on, that is like "in the future", it'll be like the Jetson's then, right? This is the same young gal that has trouble pronouncing cellulite let alone knowing what its like having a personal relationship with it! The same young gal who doesn't need a gym, eye cream, glasses, or something to drink to be "regular".

I think maybe I will add some routine to my life (NEVER thought I'd be saying that) in order to help remember the day of the week, help me to be a better steward of my time, which will help me stay on top of events I have planned for the next week?

I will start my mornings with eye cream, put on my glasses, enjoy some black coffee (plays a part in the "regular" thing ), read my Bible before heading out to the gym to work on that cellulite!

I have so many places I want to see and I now realize that the Jetson's and the year 2020 isn't all that far off. Yep, I'm thinking that twenty year old gal needs a big screen t.v........yep, so she too will one day look at her legs in the mirror and ask herself "how on earth did I survive that hail storm"? Oh, and by the way there is no magic cream or tool that removes those dents like there is for automobiles!

Gotta get busy, time is of the essence....this is what echos from my heart today!

My Favorite Place to be....

My favorite place to be is in the beautiful state of Montana. Montana is where my parents met. He was a brakeman on the railroad, she a telegraph operator that used to wave at him as he rocked down the track to the neighboring towns. I and my sisters were all born in Bozeman, Montana and lived there until Mom and Dad made the move to California when I was four. Our family vacations were always to Montana every year, as so many family members still lived there. Many great childhood memories were made in Montana with all my Aunts and Uncles and too numerous to count..cousins.

Bob and I visit Montana nearly every summer ourselves. As I've gotten older, ever year we head along the Gallatin out of West Yellowstone and I start to feel like I'm home. Strange since I left there at the ripe old age of four, yet I do feel, home. Nothing compares to it's beautiful blue "Big Sky" and the quiet communities that dot the land here and there.
Greek Creek on the Gallatin River was the favorite fishing spot of my Uncle Jack who taught me to fish as a child. His family put his ashes there and the story has been told that upon the releasing of his ashes a big German Brown trout jumped up into the air!

I loved my Uncle Jack so much that Bob and I were married on the rivers edge of the Gallatin River at Greek Creek (famous for some of the filming of "A River Runs Though It").

The day of our I Do's we woke to the frequent summer surprise of rain. Not what I had ordered for our outdoor setting. By the time we arrived that afternoon at the rivers edge the rain had stopped, only remnants of white fluffy clouds against the bluest of skies remained. The smell was of wet pine and clean fresh air, perfect. On our arrival one of my cousins provided me with my bouquet. She surprised me and drove to Uncle Jack's old cabin and picked wild flowers for me to use as my bouquet that perfect day in July. After Bob and I exchanged our vows I tossed my bouquet into the river....to Uncle Jack.

Every summer on our way in to where family lives, we first stop at Greek Creek. We set up our beach chairs on the rivers edge, take off our shoes and stick our toes in the frigid water, open a bottle of wine and toast each other and Uncle Jack. On several occasions visitors from the neighboring camping spots would pass by and ask how long we would be staying to which Bob replies, "oh,we aren't staying, we just stopped by for a glass of wine with Uncle Jack....at which time they immediately scan the surrounding area for, Uncle Jack? Its just for grins, we eventually tell them :-)
Every year Bob humors me with the same route there that my Father always took. I'm very sentimental of the landmarks from my childhood trips. He also agrees to driving me by every house we ever lived in, and takes the same photos of those homes every year. I'm so, so happy I married a man that loves Montana as much as I do. He in fact would like to move there! I told him to be sure and write :-) Montana winters are not for me.
In 2008 we traveled to a rented cabin on the Gallatin were we met up with our bestest friends Tami and Scott from Colorado. This was less than two weeks after the loss of my Father. It was a difficult yet perfect trip. Difficult, because every summer I used to call Dad with my Montana report everyday, sharing with him most everything and everyone I saw. This particular trip the Gallatin River was fuller than I had ever seen it, I wanted to tell him. We spent the better part of a day with our friends atop a mountain in Big Sky that provided the most beautiful view I had ever seen in all my trips to Montana. I wanted so badly for Dad to see it with me.
Its that time of year, I begin thinking of Montana and all there is to explore that we have not yet seen, despite a lifetime of summer travels there. Big Sky Country, this is what echos form my heart today....

Trading Bitter for Better

If given the choice of being bitter or better, I choose better.

In the Bible Saul became David's constant enemy due to jealousy. Dealing with the situation was a test of David's faith as it can be with us. Joseph had brothers that hated him out of jealousy, and in the end he was rewarded for doing what was right regardless of the pain his brothers caused him.

If someone is bitter, jealous or hurtful toward us we will likely ask God why he doesn't do something about it!

What I have experienced is there are times when God is more interested in doing something in us, rather than for us. If God can't do a work in us how could He ever do any work through us? There is also the occasion God will give us what we think we want just to prove to us its not really what we want...you know, the old be careful what you wish for!

Being jealous of what someone else has is not trusting God that He has a plan for you.. When you see that others are jealous of what you have, be reminded they aren't really jealous that you have it, they are angry that they don't. They often even choose to be jealous of what one has, yet they don't want to do what you had to do to get it!

How we respond to bitter people is what matters. Our response to them is what shows our true character. Sometimes all we can do is pray for them and know that often, hurting people hurt people. When we aren't walking in love towards others we are providing an opportunity for more wrong and bitterness to enter in our own lives.

I was in a place where I had to make a choice, I could be bitter for the hurt someone has caused me or I can be better, and forgive them. I chose to be better, I let go of what lay behind with the knowledge that God is my vindicator. By holding on to the enormous hurt and anger we eventually wake up and realize all we have been doing is drinking the poison waiting for the other person to die...that poison is unforgiveness, bitterness and anger.

Choosing to be better meant, seeking understanding in the situation (still), learning to have a merciful attitude toward the offender and praying for them. I choose to plant a seed of a better not bitter attitude for my children and grandchildren to carry on. If I can't teach my children the importance of forgiveness, the importance of how we treat and react to others, then I have failed them greatly.

God has forgiven us...Its important to understand that if you can't forgive others He can't forgive you! Choose better, not bitter. This is what echo's from my heart today.

Into Africa

My hubby Bob is preparing for a trip to Africa with our church...Excitement is increasing as the day nears. The group of 12 will leave April 5th at 6:26 A.M. out of San Diego arriving in Dakar 5:35 A.M.. From Dakar they will travel approximately 3 hours to Senegal where our Church has adopted three Villages.

The 12 of them will enter into an very different way of living from what we here in the U.S are accustomed to. The very remote villages they will be visiting have no running water, if they are lucky enough they have a well....one the team has been told not to drink from as the water is far from treated or purified in any way. Matt, our Church missionary that lives in Senegal has informed the team, a "toilet" will be built for their use while there, noting, it will need to be emptied frequently. Upon hearing this, I suggested maybe Bob should be the one to do so since he has invested all those hours in the gym working on those biceps :-)

Matt made the trip here to prepare the team as to what they will be facing and what the proper protocol is when addressing these people. Matt, at the team meeting at our house suggested some role playing as a great way to learn. Matt played the role of Chief of the village and I was asked to play one of his wives. I was told the women are very submissive which, if you know me required an academy award winning performance! Long story short the team is always to address the chief first then the women can be addressed with the chief's permission initially, yet I'm told they remain fairly quite...again a stretch for me....

I was told by one of the team members that my master bathroom is larger than the huts that these families live in. The floors, well, they are dirt....and seating is limited. As I look around my well furnished home I feel as though I have too much, and I likely do. When I stated how bad I felt for them I was told these villagers live each day as a very joyful people.....I was struck by it. To be that joyful with not so much as an actual floor, running water, or toilet to name a few of the things most of us take for granted? I think I need to rethink why it is so many of us feel we need more, better, the newer version, the latest fad....is that what we think brings us joy? It makes life easier...or does it? To be without and live joyful daily despite having "the stuff"....something is to be said about these people that do not live in the modern, technology filled world.

For me, joy comes from my relationship with God and knowing who I am in Him, and that should truly be enough. I admit I don't always feel that way. I sometimes have the thoughts, if we just had this, or if money weren't an issue, if I just this, or just that..we live in as state of "if only". Logically I know God is enough yet I live in a world that has come to believe that it's through all this stuff we may find our joy. I remind myself daily God is enough and he has a plan for my life that may or may not include any stuff!

These joyful people are Muslim and do not know a God such as mine, yet they live joyfully. These are not Muslim as in praying several times a day, facing a certain direction kinda Muslims we have become familiar with....these Muslim people believe in witchcraft and worship trees! I know how much more joy they would feel if they new the one true God, which is just what our team is hoping for. To get to know these people, form relationships with them, find out how our team can help them...what exactly are their greatest needs such as clean water,medicine,planting crops etc., and ultimately sharing God's love and promises with them.

I know this trip for Bob will be life changing and I can't wait to hear about his experience. It feels good to know we play a small part in assisting these joyful people who otherwise may not receive any form of help.

Bob mentioned he would bring me a souvenir, what I really want is to know the secret they hold that keeps all of the colors of their clothes so vibrant? Have you ever noticed how white the whites are and how bright the fabric of their clothes are? No washer, dryer or Spray and Wash...I am so curious. (But then again I love doing laundry) :-)

Joyfully anticipating all Bob will learn on this adventure and how it will change our lives....

Its a reminder we come from a God who chose us and we are perfect and blameless in His eyes. He wants us to have peace and JOY....fear, confusion and worry are not from Him. Have Joy... This is what echos from my heart today.....

Down hill since the Bookmobile....

I was listening to a program about a week ago and the topic was this new Kindle. The latest gadget that one can download a ba-zillion books onto....this was kinda bothersome to me.

Let's start with I love books, I collect them, I read them and some I treasure. The first book I remember reading (not counting See Spot Run kinda thing) was in the second grade at Franklin Elementary School. I was proud to have a library card and couldn't wait to use it. I don't know why I chose "Stewart Little" by E.B. White, but I did and I loved it! Charlotte's Web, my second!

A couple years later the "Bookmobile" started coming to our school at a scheduled date and time. This to me was so cool, a library on wheels? It was a big empty bus or motor home I don't recall which, with it's sides lined with floor to ceiling bookshelves! Eventually I think around the 5th grade, for reasons unknown to me the Bookmobile quit coming to our school. I don't recall reading a book for enjoyment after that until my Senior year of High School.

That first book I read was "The Kennedy Curse". I had/have a fascination with the Kennedy family so it was a great, though sad read. Fast forward to age twenty-five, that would be the next time I would read for enjoyment. I received an insert to my TV Guide....the only book ever in my hands back then....the insert was an ad to sign up for the Literary Guild book club. One of those offers where you received the first seven books for pennies with the agreement to purchase four more books in the following year. Seemed easy enough. Here is the truth as to why I signed up, I thought I would appear more mature if I had books on display, especially if I had read them!

How to choose seven books? I don't know of any authors by name. I know, I would pick the book by the title or the picture on the cover, problem solved. Kinda like picking a jockey by the color of his jersey, his horse's name or picking a football team by the Quarterback's butt....yes, it's how I became a Niner fan...I digress...

I have to tell you I loved everyone of those seven books and was hooked again as a reader. One of the seven was a Stephen King book so he became my favorite author. I felt so mature name dropping an author's name, let a lone the title of a book :-)
The Thorn Birds took me over the top as far as my love for reading....it was the book that took me into prescription glasses by the time I finished.

Flash forward to 1999, avid Oprah watcher at the time (no more). I was always telling the gals at work about her book club selection. One of the gals thought it would be great to have our own book club, so the Gal Pal book club meetings began to meet every other month. I suggested Tuesday with Morrie as their first read. Wait a minute, "their" first read? Yep, I was in love and wanted to spend all my free time with my man. Wouldn't even consider one night out of sixty away! About five or six months later, I joined....same man....just needed a night away with the gals :-0.

The Gal Pals book club has now been together for eleven years. The same 14 or so gals, with an ongoing rule, we take on no new gals. Of the 14 of us only two remain working at that company. We, review books pizza and wine, and have formed a bond of friendship that is so awesome it is beyond words.

My first book related injury was when the "Left Behind" series came out. I spent a weekend sitting on the floor by my fireplace and read three of those books. Thus creating the cyst on my tailbone that was so painful I still have a sore tailbone some eleven years later! Those were some great books, I took the bullet for the marathon read.

Every other Friday I can be found at the local Barnes and Noble bookstore. I purchase a Starbucks coffee which is within the store itself, and I begin my time walking up and down the isles looking at book covers, reading the reviews on their jackets, right down to looking at the picture of the author, where he or she lives and how many children or pets they have. No explanation for that... This is my walk on the beach, my hour massage, my cup of tea by the roaring fire.....just let me in a book store!

Now, back to these Kindle things. Why??? I saw someone on the train reading a book on one and I made a mental note, it was the same size as an average size book. As I looked at it I thought, but you can't feel the book, you can't look or feel the nice book jacket. No more opening the book to look at the paper its printed on, smooth edges or jagged recycled paper? What do you do with all those book markers you have purchased through the years?

Libraries may become a thing of the past and I shiver at the thought my bookstores may become a thing of the past? Is it not enough you can get books on tape, now you can buy them online, what is happening here ?

I ran in to my "love her to bits" girlfriend Melissa at Barnes and Noble today. The instant I saw her my first thought was, and the first thing out of my mouth....."I have a zit above my lip". Here's why I love her. Melissa quickly replied, "ya well you have no makeup on and braces too" as we exchanged hugs. I briefly discussed my feelings on the Kendall's, in fact she had to tell me what they were called. She listened to me go on, like she always has, another reason I love her. I have to admit at one point I thought she looked at me as though my head zipped up the back!

At that point I ended my share time with, "Kendall's will end up in landfills, books will not! We give books away, we donate them", heck we even take them to consignment stores to make money to buy the new ones. I shared with Melissa that I was going to blog about this and "oh, by the way have you read my blog"? "No", she replied....I still love her. I told her I would even mention my meeting with her in it. She suggested I use a pseudo name, I believe it was Martha she wanted me to use. Come on, Martha? I told her she could be anonymous in a future story.

My fellow friends, don't stop reading books....I mean the real books. Why must everything change, can't we continue to be happy with bound books, holding them in our hands,getting sun screen on the cover, spilling drinks on them, gazing at the Jacket? I will be part of a protest if need be.

By the way, I check out my books to my friends, but I never allow them to take the book jacket with them, ever! They look so nice in my bookcases........

As a side note, I am more mature now, though not because of any given book.. I married the man I leave at home every other month for book club and if I ever give Melissa (far right in the photo) a pseudo name in a future blog, it's gonna be Martha, take note of that.

This is what echos from my heart today!