Windows

Windows are awesome!

 

And I'm NOT talking about

Windows 8

operating system ~ which I can not understand

or figure out!

 

I'm talking about the kind of windows that you can look

out~of

or

in~to.

 

The kind of windows in your house.

Stained glass ~ while very cool ~

will have to be a discussion for another day.

 

Today,

I LOVE windows!

 

When I was three~months~old, my parents bought a home.  It was a hundred~plus years old at the time.  It's fifty years older than that now.
This house has great windows!  Big windows that look out toward the street to the West and a big window in the dining room that looks out to the yard and the street on the South.

The first thing my Mom did every morning, was open the curtains to let in the light.

 

When our boys were small, we lived in a high~rise apartment at the University of Utah.

I loved to watch the sunrise in the morning.

Our apartment faced North and West....I would watch as the shadows begin to disperse across the valley....

....first the Great Salt Lake turned blue...

...then the shadows marched eastward across the valley revealing the city bit by bit until the entire valley was filled with light.

It was awesome!

 

When we moved to the Pacific Northwest, the home we lived in had a wall of windows and sliding doors on the back of the house.  The blinds were NEVER closed, because the trees and fence blocked any view into the house and let in the coveted beauty of light especially necessary in a mostly gray weather environment.

 

When the home sold ~ and we moved to an apartment for the short term, our apartment has lots of West facing windows (which made it excruciatingly hot in the summer), but is awesome for every other season.  We also live on the top floor...so the blinds can be open and I don't feel like I'm in a fishbowl.

 

Where, you might ask, is all this leading?

I came across an awesome quote that says:

 

"As long as you have a window;

life is exciting."

~Unknown

 

This appeals to me, because since we moved into this place, and our table is near the window,

I feel like the "Gladys Kravitz" of the building.

For those who don't know who Gladys Kravitz is ~ let me explain.  On the seventies sit-com "Bewitched", there was a character named Gladys Kravitz.  She was constantly watching out the window through her blinds, to see the goings-on of the neighborhood.

 

Our window overlooks the parking lot, the Leasing Office, the garbage and recycling cans, and the sidewalk.  I sit at my table to write, or read, or craft, or whatever else....and my eye is drawn to each movement outside.

I see people coming and going.

Walking the dog.

The little carts with maintenance men hustling to and fro.

Leasing office agents taking potential residents to look at apartments.

Sometimes, I just sit and watch the rain.

 

I am seldom bored.

 

The windows in our lives allow us to see the beauty of nature, the changing seasons, and when it's dark outside, we watch for the light.

 

So, for today ~ and every day ~

Enjoy your windows...

...and just call me Gladys.

Bubble Breaker

Bubble Breaker...

...is a game on my phone.

I discovered this game when cell phones first started to "get smart".

The concept is simple.

There are five different colored "bubbles".

The goal is to find combinations of two or more bubbles and "pop" them.

Simple right?

 

There are many variations of this game.

Some have cool sounds.

Some continue to add bubbles each time you rid the board of  bubbles.

Some bubbles actually making a "popping" sound and the bubbles around them move, as if the force of the pop temporarily moved them out of their space.

 

I'm told there are more exciting games...

....like "Bejeweled", or "Candy Crush" or a host of others.

 

But me, I'm a simple gal.

I like what I like.

 

At first, I believed the object of the game was to clear the board of all bubbles.  But the more I played, I began to realize that I was accumulating points for each series of bubbles popped.

Hmmmm.....so, maybe, the object isn't to clear the board of all the bubbles.

Maybe the object is to link more of the same color bubble together to accumulate points.

See ~ I'm very quick on the uptake here.

This is a thinking game.

This is a game of strategy.

This is a game where popping one series of bubbles can seriously hamper your strategy

if you don't think it through and take the time to look for the consequences of your move.

Failure to think ahead can change the entire outcome of the game.

Sometimes, I've worked to get a series of like colored bubbles together

and by not considering the ramifications of a single, simple move, I've un-linked an entire series of bubbles and lost points.

 

Bubble Breaker, is not much different than life!

We have so many choices!

Some are small, simple and don't really seem to matter in the grand scheme of life.

Others, have far reaching ramifications and can change, in the blink of an eye, all that we've worked so hard to gain.

Each choice in our life ~ really does matter.

Each choice ~ big and small ~ has an impact on who we are.

 I won't go so far as to say that each choice gives us points...

...but each choice will either bring us closer, or move us farther away from God.

We link our lives together by making consistent choices.

When we include God in those choices, He will guide us to carefully make the best choice.

When we make a poor choice ~ we can (and should) ask for forgiveness...in this way, our missteps don't change forever the ability to link our "bubbles" together.

 

Like Bubble Breaker ~ Life ~ is a thinking "game".

It is a "game" of strategy.

Each of us need to know where we're going,

and how our consistent choices will get us there!

We need to think carefully about the opportunities and choices before us and decided if they will bring us the desired outcome.

A "cleared board" ~ simply existing,

OR

a "cleared board" and lots of "points" ~ happiness and joy of accomplishment and a life well lived.

 

Really, it comes down to choice...

...in Bubble Breaker ~ and in Life.

Fall

It's fall!

The high temperatures have gone from high seventies

to low sixties.

And rain has returned to the Pacific Northwest.

It's not yet, constant gray skies and rain...

...just a taste every few days.

The weather seems to breaking us in slowly.

 

I love the turning colors of the leaves, on deciduous trees. 

(Did you know that I was an adult with a second grader before I HEARD the word deciduous?  And I had to ask him what it meant.  With infinite kindness and great disgust he replied, "It means...trees that lose their leaves."  I was grateful he didn't add, "DUH", but he was still a sweet little second grader and not a sarcastic teenager.)

I love the colors, and how they paint the neighborhood ~ green, red, orange and yellow ~ and one year, I found a leaf that was a little bit blue too ~ of course, that was because someone had been using spray paint ~ but it had blue on it.  I think that counts.  Don't you?

 

 

I love cool, crisp days when the sun is shining.

I love walking outside and hearing the oh~so satisfying crunch of fallen pine cones when you step on them.

I have even come to appreciate gray skies and rain.

Because I can appreciate the gray skies and rain ~ I am even more appreciative of blue skies and sunshine.

 

Look around ~ appreciate the beauty of each season ~

Find the beauty that God created for our enjoyment and remember to thank Him!

 

Happy Fall!

Wisdom on Wednesday

Wisdom on Wednesday

 

"Some chores must be put off many

times before they're forgotten."

 

 

I'm getting pretty good at putting some things off...

...like cleaning the bathroom...

...paying the bills....

...but it takes a concerted effort before they disappear.

 

Happy Wednesday!



Who Are Ya?

In the movie, "Paint Your Wagon",

gold-miner's establish a town, which they call, "No Name City".

Through a series of events, No Name City becomes a boom town.

Eventually a Parson shows up, and seeing what the town has become, says, "O God, Lord of Hosts, close thine eyes, and hold thy nose."

He begins to preach on the street and he begins by asking,

"Who are ya?"

 

This is a question we've all faced at one point or another.

Other people have asked it outright, or have deduced their own answer based on our actions.

Most ask this of themselves from time to time.

Who am I?

 

We all have many answers ~ some seem obvious

I, myself, am a woman.

A wife.

A mother.

A daughter.

A sister.

A friend.

A busy~body (more about this in a different post).

An advocate.

A teacher.

 

The list for most of us, could go on.

But are those title's ~ those labels, who you are?

Do you see yourself as more?

The experiences throughout life add to who you are.

 

What role does heritage play?

Are we influenced by those who have gone before?

 

I love the show,

Who Do You Think You Are?

I love it, not because "stars" trace their family lines.

I love it because it shows how important families are in our lives.

I love watching as the story unfolds.

I love as the connections are made and the "star" makes a parallel ~ how the life of an ancestor influences who they are today.  Who they are as a person.

How a single trait, like tenacity, or devotion to family, or patriotism, or a host of others is something their family still has today.

 

It is the same for all of us. 

We are influenced by those who have gone before, and who love us still.

Those who have gone before us, and are now on the "other side" are part of who we are.

 

I love the quote ~

"For those who are dead, being dead is not the problem.

Being forgotten is the problem."

 

From the stories of those who have gone before, we gain strength, perspective and hope.

 

Perhaps, it's time to remember, to re-define who we are.

It's time to add some depth, and discover new answers to the question,

 

Who Are Ya?



Proclaiming Allegiance

How do we proclaim allegiance?

 

It's "Rivalry Week" in my home state.

Also known as the "Holy War".

Two college football teams come together in an epic (at least we hope) game.

Both play for bragging rights for the coming year.

Stats are kept ~ which team has won the most in their match-ups, who did the best, who's house are they playing in ~ and how will that affect the game?

The schools are only an hour apart by car, so fans from both teams are represented.

Everyone has an opinion (you know what that means).

Families are divided.

 

It's game day!

Flags are flown.

Pranks are enacted against those we know support the opposing team.

And how do we show our allegiance?

We wear our T-shirts ~ emblazoned with the team we love.

We live 14 hours away, and yet we are interested in this game.  We will eagerly scan the TV listings to see if it will be televised in our area.  We have an interest in the outcome ~ after all, we invested a LOT of money in one of these schools!

 

I will give you a hint of who we are hoping wins glory today....



 

What other things do we show allegiance for in our lives?

We show patriotism for our country by flying the flag, saluting the flag, reciting our pledge to show allegiance to our country.

We vote.

We vote our conscience.

We celebrate our country and show allegiance at the beginning of every sporting event, by singing our national anthem.

 

 

How do we show our allegiance to God?

We worship Him the way our conscience dictates.

I am a Christian.

I believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His son, Jesus Christ.

I believe that the Holy Ghost is given to man as a help, comfort, and guide to return to God.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter~day Saints.

I try to follow Jesus Christ and the things He taught.

If you don't believe the same things I do ~ I don't care.

You are free to believe and live your beliefs.

Your right to believe does not trump my right to believe.

The way you practice your beliefs does not change the way I practice my beliefs.

Allowing others to believe God and His teachings, and tolerance for others and their beliefs shows our allegiance to God.

 

Our example in living our beliefs and doing good to others is showing our allegiance to God.

In the New Testament (Holy Bible),  the Savior, Jesus Christ, taught,

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

~Matthew 22:36~40

(King James Version)

 

I believe that if we all lived ~ loving, caring for, being tolerant, accepting, doing good, and being kind to those around us.....we would proclaim our allegiance ~ with no need for t-shirts or flags.  Our very lives would be an example of good.  Our allegiance to God would shine through, and

we would change the world!

Organization

Organization is a wonderful thing!

 

 

The "hubby" and I share an office.

 

My desk is generally organized and fairly clean.

 

The "hubby" who is a clutter-phobic...

....is a terrible slob in the office. 

He will dispute this fact long and loud.

However, every office he's ever had has been a mess.

Stacks of papers, waiting to be filed.  Every possible inch of the desk, the work space, the credenza...covered in stacks of papers.

Now, he's working from home ~ and sharing my office.

This has been a huge adjustment for me!

I am used to having large blocks of time to myself ~ hubby at work ~ kids at school ~ Ahh Space!  Now I have to share, and there he is just always there.

It's been hard ~ but I'm getting there.

 

Yesterday, I had had ENOUGH!

(That's why my post didn't get done)

I went to the store, and bought supplies.

Shelves ~ 40% off & buy one get one free ~ so two shelves for $36 ~ Score!

A few plastic bins, a desk organizer, binders, folders, etc..

 

Then I had him go through each stack of paper.

These were filed in folders, or discarded to be shredded.

The configuration of the room was changed and now he has a very nice work space, with things neatly in place, a filing system, and storage space.

It only took most of the day.

 

I look at it ~ in all it's organized glory ~ take a deep breath,

and release a happy sigh!

 

It feels so good to have a place for things ~ and everything in it's place.

Wisdom on Wednesday

It's Wednesday.

I think that Wednesday's should be reserved for words of wisdom from others who are smarter than me and whose wisdom is worth sharing.

 

I may or may not expound on what I share.  You'll just have to wait and see.

 

For today's wisdom, I turn to my father, who has all sorts of catchy phrases and wisdom to share.  I've not heard this anywhere else, so I will be crediting Dad.

 

 

 

"Opinions are like belly-buttons.

Everyone has one.

They are firmly attached to it.

And it generally serves no useful purpose."

~ Mick Henline

 

 

 

 

'Nough said!

Except ~ sharing your opinion on occasion is a good thing.

But sometimes people just don't want to hear it.

Amen.

Words

Words have power!

 

As with all things in this world there are opposites.

Light and Dark.

Pleasure and pain.

Good and bad.

Sweet and savory.

Kind and cruel.

 

Words can affect us in many ways.

Words can be used to build and bless,

or to weaken and destroy.

 

Most often, we don't calculate the use of our words.

Most of us aren't that disciplined.

We don't consider the longer term affect of even a single word.

Or the power that words have within us (what we tell ourselves), or over us (what others tell us).

 

 

Words have a lasting impact, and over time can begin to define us if we let them.

We choose what we believe.  We choose how we express ourselves.  We choose the language we use.  We can change the way we use language and words and become powerful forces in building and strengthening those around us. 

 

We've all heard the saying:

"If you can't say something nice,

Don't say nothing at all."

(I believe Thumper said it best)

 

And I LOVE this saying:

"If you can't be kind, at least be vague."

~Judith Martin

 

In her book, "One Perfect Word", Debbie Macomber explores words, and how one single word can change us, build us, and bring us closer to God.

I highly recommend this book if you haven't read it.

 

Words have lasting impact.

For each of us, and for those around us.

 

Choose discipline in what you say and how you say it.

Choose to build.

Choose to strengthen.

Choose to encourage.

 

Choose your words with care, and

choose to be kind.



Of Beer and Brats

I love recipes!  I love to try new things ~ sometimes new dishes turn out ~ sometimes they don't, but it doesn't deter me from trying.

 

Today I found a recipe for chicken that I'm going to try.

I'm substituting chicken thighs with skin, for boneless, skinless chicken breast. 

The recipe calls for whiskey.

I don't drink.

 

 

I don't drink by choice.  I don't care if you drink, I choose not to.

Consequently, I know NOTHING about alcohol. 

I know that the alcohol cooks out and leaves the flavor.

That being said....I'm leaving the whiskey out!

Here's why...

 

One of my brothers (I have four), lived and served a mission for our Church in Germany.  He learned many things that have served him well ~ one of the best for us is that he learned a lot of great German recipes.  He makes the most amazing brats ands sauerkraut.

This was an amazing dish!  I had to try it myself...

 

He gave me step by step instructions ~ which I followed to the letter.

Sauerkraut ~ check

Brats ~ check

onions and bacon fried in butter ~ check

Dark Beer ~  um

 

So I went to the store to get a dark beer.  There I stood on the beer aisle.  Looking over 10,000 different varieties of beer......supreme confusion ruled.....I had NO idea what I was even looking for.

I grabbed one can of Coors beer ~ after all they have compelling commercials, right?

I went to check out and asked the cashier if I had gotten a dark beer. 

She looked at me and said, "I have no idea, I don't drink beer."

She picked up the phone to call the "grocery-guy" and ask him.

"Grocery-guy" didn't pick up.

She tried again.

No one picked up.

She tried someone else.

Still no answer.

 

Finally the nice lady behind me, heaved a big sigh, and said, "What do you need?"

I explained that I was trying a new recipe that required a dark beer ~ but I know nothing about beer and didn't know if Coors was a dark beer.....

She said, "I know beer.  I'll go get you one."

 

She was gone a long time ~ there I stood, holding up the line waiting for the nice lady to bring me a beer.  Finally, she came back with a Guinness.  I've heard of Guinness before, but who knew?

 

The cashier scanned the beer, put it in my bag and I went home.

I looked over my receipt.

$8.65 Guinness beer.

 

$8.65 for one beer???

Nope I got charged for a six pack.

I had held up the line and my little run to the store for a beer took forty five minutes! 

 

I never did go back and get a refund.

 

To my mind ~ forget adding the alcohol ~ it's not worth the time or the expense for a little bit of flavor!

Football ~vs~ Soccer

I love sports.

 

Admittedly, I like some better than others.  I like Baseball and I have a few teams that I've liked for a long time.  I like to watch them whether they are having a winning season or not!  I have a few teams that have become favorites because I've lived in the area they play and they've become part of my heart.  There are also so teams that I love to hate. 

Baseball is okay!

 

Basketball, tennis, golf, swimming, track and field, ice skating, curling, gymnastics -- all are wonderful sports and I will watch them on occasion, but they aren't my favorite!

 

I Love, Love, Love HOCKEY!

There is just nothing like a hockey game for good fun!

Alas, I haven't been to a hockey game in 13 years ~ and when we moved, "the hubby" broke ~ yes, you read that right!! ~ he broke my horn!  On purpose!  Right in front of me!

To this day, I'm still hurt.

 

I love to watch soccer and I adore football!

 

Today, we were watching Barclays Premier League soccer.

Everton ~vs~ Chelsea

 

I was flipping between that and college football

Stanford ~vs~ Army

 

And "the hubby" and I were discussing why it is, that so many don't like to watch soccer.  It's an awesome game!  I love to see the skill in handling the ball, the agility of the players, the dedication of the keepers.  They play hard.  And there is drama!  The players are very good at dramatizing a fall to earn a penalty kick....

 

So why is football so much more fun to watch?

 

I have a theory.

Bear with me as I try to articulate this theory.

 

In soccer, there is a lot of skill, practice, team work and time involved.  Soccer has rabid fans all around the world.  Soccer has rabid fans in the U.S.  But at the end of the day, after ninety-minutes of play, the score was:

Everton ~ 1

Chelsea ~ 0

All that work for such a low score ~ the amount of effort put into the game was not reflected in the score.

 

Football on the other hand ~ might not always be a high scoring game, but who can deny the beauty of an eighty yard kick-off return for a touch down?

Who doesn't feel the jolt of a good hit?  A great block?  The recovery of a fumble?  And that's not to mention the immense satisfaction when the quarterback is sacked!  The excitement of a touchdown...

Football teams play in the most abominable conditions and yet, they play.

 

I believe that we like to see the effort rewarded with a higher score.  On a deep level, in each of us, is the spirit of competition ~ the desire to see effort rewarded ~ that effort feels more rewarded when there is a higher score.

The higher the score, the more work involved right?

Okay, maybe not ~ but that is the perception.

 

I'm sure there are many flaws in my theory ~ but I don't want to hear about those flaws, because for now, I'm content.

 

I will go on ~ enjoying sports, but loving football season best of all!

Must run now....the Navy ~vs~ Delaware game is calling.

Writing in Ink

Today I begin,

Writing in Ink.

 

What significance does it have to write in ink?

 

Ink gives the impression of being permanent ~ it's not easily erased or diminished ~ it lasts.  Or so we hope.

 

Ancient writings preserved for hundreds or thousands of years, when discovered, are pored over, studied, displayed and give insight to the time and season they were written.  We are amazed that such writing could last.  They are valuable.

 

Will anything I say on this blog be valuable?

Will it be entertaining?

Thought provoking?

Deep thoughts?

Important?

 

I can't say.

 

I learned a long time ago, that,

"Words ~ once written ~ have a life of their own."

 

Once written, words are open to the interpretation of the reader.  Some words and thoughts last and become classic, others are dismissed and don't make a lasting impression.

That's okay.

 

My hope is that something I write, might in a small way, touch lives for the better.

Bring hope when things look dreary.

Invoke a smile.

Open an avenue for greater study.

Be helpful in the smallest way.

 

So ~ the words I share ~ will have a life of their own,

and I'm writing them in ink.