"Scramping" Therapy

Last night I had the privilege of attending another "scramping" therapy session. For those of you who are not quite sure what this is, or if you even need it, let me explain.

Scramping is a combination of scrapbooking - which I am affectionately drawn to - and stamping - which most in the "group" are passionately drawn to. We get together to share ideas, techniques and "toys". I personally don't have the plethora of toys that my partners in crime have, but I share their desire and urgency to do something with paper :). I, however, did not go for the scramping last night, but for the "therapy".

So. . . . how, you may ask, can this be "therapy"? Well, let me begin by saying - anytime you have a common ground or goal, it is beneficial to all around. One of the things we have in common is mentioned above. But, the most important thing for me is the spiritual side of our "therapy" group. We laugh, cry, listen, sometimes advise, sometimes gripe. Now, lest we get off track and are perhaps a little more unkind than tolerable, the most wonderful thing happens - Heidi brings us back to our place in a most humble, kind, loving, way - which usually makes me feel like the back end of the horse! But, that is what we need. And we need a place to safely do that. And Heidi gives us that place - and I thank God for her! So these little "meetings" are very therapeutic for me. Now, don't get me wrong - sometimes I actually do create something - but I have to confess - my motive for going is usually for the fellowship :)! ! !

How do you know if you need this "therapy"? Well. . . you are drawn by a desire to be with those of like mind and spirit, you have a need to be comforted and uplifted, a need to be with God's children, sisters in Christ and a need to not only feel compassion but a desire to extend compassion.

I'm sure I've blogged about this before, but sometimes one "session" will leave a deeper impression in my mind more than another, and you know me - can't keep it in there! !

So now - PG - if you are reading this, I just want you to know your wife has a wonderful gift that -to me anyway - has become a beautiful ministry. Money and time well invested, I should say and kudos to you for supporting her! ! !

"Did ya give it love?"

For snack today, Helena wanted an apple. She normally eats it whole, but because she has a loose tooth, I had to slice it for her. As I was slicing, a seed fell out and she asked if she could plant it. Before I could answer, Rease told her no, it wouldn't grow.
Helena - "how do you know?"
Rease - "because I tried it before, and it didn't grow."
Helena - "did you give it water?"
Rease - "yes"
Helena - "did ya give it love?"
Rease - silence

Hmmmm. . . .

Moral of story - things grow with love :)

Just playin' around

I'm trying to learn to use power point to my advantage. If I could get the pics to look like scrapbook pages, then, I might just have a new toy!

Happy Birthday, MOM & DAD

Today is my mom's birthday. Had she lived, she would have been 75 years young!

Dad's birthday is the 20th. He would have been 76.

This is a pic of them the year before I graduated, a rare thing, since Mom never liked being photographed.

Heaviness VS Hope

This was the title of Pastor Gore's message yesterday morning. The message and the timing couldn't have been more perfect. It was a message directly from his heart, but I know it spoke to many folk sitting in those pews. I, for one, related to everything he said. Sometimes, as he pointed out, we forget there is hope amidst all the heaviness in our lives. We become so consumed in the things that are causing us such pain and sorrow that we don't see the "light at the end of the tunnel".
There was one part of the message that spoke to me - and that was when our spirits are heavy, the song leaves our heart. Our shoulders even have that slump or heavy burden look. How true that is for me. It's as if life's melodies just disappeared and I didn't bother to look for them. I didn't grab for the hope for a long time. It's funny how cloudy our "vision" becomes, as if we are the only ones in the world with any kind of problem. I know we are to expect trials - its part of God forging us - but I never really thought of it as "heaviness", and you know, that is exactly what it is. I thank God for the hope He gives us amidst the heaviness of life. And I thank God for Pastor Gore and his sensitive openness and for sharing from the pulpit the "light" of hope that God put in his heart, something much needed by ALL of us.

Happy Birthday, Helena Rose!

You're 5 years old today! WOW! And. . . . you start kindergarten in just 2 weeks!

I love you, poly-wog!

Happy Birthday, to you!

Love,

MOM-MOM

xoxoxo

Congrats, Dan and Carrie!

Bob, Ben and I attended an engagement party today for Dan, my sister Donna's second born, and Carrie. They are such a sweet couple and I am excited for them. Sometimes you just know when two people "fit" each other, and I think these two do.

Congratulations guys!

Love you!

The Signs of Summer's End

It seems "signs" are everywhere - demanding a new season. School supplies are in abundance - a most sure indication that summer fun is fading fast. Then bring on the new school fashion and the race is on. School, in fact, started today for my Kentucky brood. It will begin here on the 31st of this month for most students. The kids probably feel as if they just got out of school for summer break yesterday! I'm sure the Staples commercial says it all for most folks - parents are singing "It's the most wonderful time of the year", while the kids walk around with a scowl on their faces! !

For me, I know summer is winding down when I hear the songs of the cicada. It's as if nature has imparted her own alarm clock. I usually notice them around the second to third week of August. In addition, the crickets seem to amp up their music making. The days are getting shorter, and when I used a clothes line, I noticed it took my clothes longer to dry. The nights are a little cooler and the morning dew is heavier. The grapes are ripening on the vine and some of the plants start to fade. There seems to be an anxiousness in my spirit - waiting for fall - for the cooler days - the beautiful, bold colors that come to take the place of the "prissy" flowers of summer. Add to this the night sky. I seem to notice more and more "shooting stars" as fall approaches, there again showing its bold thrust into existence.

I know there is a lot of "summer" left - but it doesn't hold its own - waiting for fall. I think this is the only season - for me, anyway, that the distinction of change is so noticeable. All the other seasons seem to glide effortlessly into one another. Summer to fall - however, seems to have some kind of boundary - each fighting for the right to stand on their own. Summer - hanging onto those lovely blooms and fall - pushing its boldness into the limelight. No wonder my spirit is so anxious - the waiting and watching almost seem unbearable.

What Does God Look Like?

On the way to Lowes today Rease asked me what God looked like. I told her I've never seen God, no one has. She wanted to know if he was a ghost. I told her no, he was God - always has been. I told her I would see God one day, and she wanted to know if she would as well. I told her yes, if she had Jesus in her heart. She asked me if I loved Jesus. I told her yes. She said she loved Jesus too. Now, Helena is chiming in, asking questions and letting me know she loves Jesus as well. Now - you know - the best question was when they asked Ben if he loved Jesus, and his answer was yes. I am always amazed at God's perfect timing - even if it's from the mouths of babes! !

BIG OPEN DOOR - PRAY FOR ME AND THESE TWO LITTLE LADIES AS THEY SEEK THE FACE OF GOD! ! ! !

I'm Salisbury

A little earlier today I was on the computer. Helena came in and stood by me. She was singing a country song - something about a green tractor. I looked at her and she started it over, waiting for me to chime in. When I didn't oblige, she asked me why - I said I didn't know that song. She said "Ben does". I asked her if she liked country and she said yes and so did Ben. She then asked me if I liked country and I told her "some songs". I made some comment about her being country and she commented that Ben was country. After a few seconds and some thought, she told me: "I'm not country, I'm Salisbury." So. . . . .what exactly is "Salisbury" to an almost 5 year old? :)

All's Quiet on the Home Front

Jenny and the girls left a little while ago (around 11:00) and the quiet is "deafening" to say the least. With so many girls and so much activity, I hardly had time to sneeze, let alone think.

But the initial thrust of the overwhelming silence is worse than all that chatter and nonsense. It takes me some time to get my wits about me to figure out what to do. Yes - I know I say the same about all the commotion - seems there is not middle point for me in this. I truly miss them when they are not around - and I just want to let them know - with all my scolding and fussing, I wouldn't trade them for all the tea in China! ! ! I am truly blessed in being allowed to be a part of their lives and to have a small influence on them. (Pray my craziness doesn't rub off on them - LOL ! ! ! )

I still have Rease and Helena - but school will be starting soon - I lose Helena this year :( and I am sure I will be nuts (for a short time) with all this extra time on my hands!

Why can't time stand still for just a short moment and let me savour the good along with the bad? Why do I allow myself to live this rat race at such a pace that all perspective is shifted towards keeping up?

Sorry - just starting withdrawal.

Well, better go and mull around a little and see what I can get into. Toying with taking a nap, but its too quiet. Maybe I'll just do a little laundry and call it a day :). I'm sure I will find enough to do tomorrow.

"With Me & Within Me"

I was reading Christie's blog post today to her friend Carla. I too, have been consumed lately with life swirling around me, feeling out of control, frustrated that I can't do much about it at times. I so often forget that Christ is within me, settled, calm and waiting for our quiet time, which I can't seem to find very often. It is so reassuring to have friends and friends of friends that can remind me, even if it's in a blog post, that Christ is right here - with me and within me.
It's like a refreshing spring - a cool drink of "water".
Isaiah 58:11 - "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters will not fail."
It was perfect timing.
Thanks! ! !