Just writing to say Happy New Year! 2011 has been a year of the very best in things and the worst with loosing Ivan this October ... but I am looking forward to 2012. I joined a gym today that just opened near my home. I even worked out (ouch ... lol).
Good things are coming in 2012 ... I hope you see everything you've been hoping for this new year ...
God Bless!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
RichardStep Writing Challenge - Round 2
Oh how revealing writing of yourself is ... it is definitely perspective ... for me I'm required to answer this from my view of the TV. Not literally, but, I wasn't sitting in front of the TV ... I was in a box looking through a crack ... I missed a lot as a child, so I'll write of what I could see through the crack in the box. Most of the shows I saw made me laugh. There really wasn't a moral to them; they were just funny to me.
Your Point Of View
a. Experience the importance of having a strong char/knowing char:
i. Pick one of your favorite shows from childhood; write about a normal day from the main character's POV
My favorite show was "Lassie." This show invoked a full range of emotions in me. It was about a little boy named Timmy who owned a beautiful collie dog named Lassie. Each story was about how Timmy lived a normal little boy life and managed to get himself into some sort of danger. Lassie was the faithful dog who always came to the rescue. The bond between Timmy and Lassie was as strong as any human relationship ... no words were needed; the love was seen in Timmy and Lassie's actions.
ii. Pick one of your favorite shows from childhood; write about a normal day from a back/weak character's POV
Leave it to Beaver was another favorite show of mine. It was one of those shows that just made me laugh. I don't recall learning any life's lessons from it. Beaver was always doing something stupid and I suppose I could relate to that ... he always seemed so naive as to why anything was happing around him. His brother, Eddie, and parents all seemed so well meaning, but ... none of the characters had any real substance to them - I don't recall crying or being fearful for any of them. I did want to punch Eddie most of the time.
Oh how revealing writing of yourself is ... it is definitely perspective ... for me I'm required to answer this from my view of the TV. Not literally, but, I wasn't sitting in front of the TV ... I was in a box looking through a crack ... I missed a lot as a child, so I'll write of what I could see through the crack in the box. Most of the shows I saw made me laugh. There really wasn't a moral to them; they were just funny to me.
Your Point Of View
a. Experience the importance of having a strong char/knowing char:
i. Pick one of your favorite shows from childhood; write about a normal day from the main character's POV
My favorite show was "Lassie." This show invoked a full range of emotions in me. It was about a little boy named Timmy who owned a beautiful collie dog named Lassie. Each story was about how Timmy lived a normal little boy life and managed to get himself into some sort of danger. Lassie was the faithful dog who always came to the rescue. The bond between Timmy and Lassie was as strong as any human relationship ... no words were needed; the love was seen in Timmy and Lassie's actions.
ii. Pick one of your favorite shows from childhood; write about a normal day from a back/weak character's POV
Leave it to Beaver was another favorite show of mine. It was one of those shows that just made me laugh. I don't recall learning any life's lessons from it. Beaver was always doing something stupid and I suppose I could relate to that ... he always seemed so naive as to why anything was happing around him. His brother, Eddie, and parents all seemed so well meaning, but ... none of the characters had any real substance to them - I don't recall crying or being fearful for any of them. I did want to punch Eddie most of the time.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
RichardStep Writing Challenge - #1
Okay Richard ... let's see how this challenge works :-) ... your first is:
1) No Free Lunch - I've never accomplished anything that I wanted without first taking some sort of action. Whether it’s shopping or studying ... I had to purchase something one way or another to gain what I wanted. The cost depends on whether I want to live it or live with it.
2) Simple but not Easy - My pastor makes it look so easy to get in front of thousands of people every week and open and share his heart with his congregation ... but I know even though it looks like he does it with ease, he has dedicated his life as an instrument to be used by God. Could I open my heart and speak such encouraging scriptures time after time ... looks so easy from where I sit, but I know better.
3) Five Excuses to Kill My Dreams: A) Oh, no one wants to know about that. B) Oh everyone will think I'm crazy. C) It's not my place to tell that. D) I don't understand. E) My brain is going so fast (like a merry go round) the words are all mixed up.
Kill the Killers: A) Since God gives me the desires in my heart, then there is someone that needs to hear it ... even if it's only one ... God is wanting to save that one - nothing happens without a reason. B) I'm not crazy, I have been blessed by many supernatural experiences ... God events are meant to be told, the Bible is full of God events. I will tell them. C) I will tell only what encourages and gives hope, I'll give details only to tell of where the "race" begins, how else will anyone know how grand the win is if you cross the finish line last. D) I don't understand something’s because I'm not ready to do that particular thing at this moment. God is causing me to not fail at what one day I will succeed at. I will understand everything I need at the right time. E) I've cleaned and cleared the clutter in my mind. I'm cleaning and clearing the clutter in the physical, I now am free to imitate the creative gifts that God has given me.
What is this craft?
We write to influence emotions because we have left our perfect homes in Heaven for a time. A time on earth to prove that the devil cannot destroy our relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The enemy distracts us with so many things in this world ... material goods, hardships, sickness, over activity, death, strife and so forth. That is until our hearts are closed and hardened from the pain that's in the world as we know it. If we don't write with emotion and conviction, how will anyone really feel the message we've been given to tell?
1) No Free Lunch - I've never accomplished anything that I wanted without first taking some sort of action. Whether it’s shopping or studying ... I had to purchase something one way or another to gain what I wanted. The cost depends on whether I want to live it or live with it.
2) Simple but not Easy - My pastor makes it look so easy to get in front of thousands of people every week and open and share his heart with his congregation ... but I know even though it looks like he does it with ease, he has dedicated his life as an instrument to be used by God. Could I open my heart and speak such encouraging scriptures time after time ... looks so easy from where I sit, but I know better.
3) Five Excuses to Kill My Dreams: A) Oh, no one wants to know about that. B) Oh everyone will think I'm crazy. C) It's not my place to tell that. D) I don't understand. E) My brain is going so fast (like a merry go round) the words are all mixed up.
Kill the Killers: A) Since God gives me the desires in my heart, then there is someone that needs to hear it ... even if it's only one ... God is wanting to save that one - nothing happens without a reason. B) I'm not crazy, I have been blessed by many supernatural experiences ... God events are meant to be told, the Bible is full of God events. I will tell them. C) I will tell only what encourages and gives hope, I'll give details only to tell of where the "race" begins, how else will anyone know how grand the win is if you cross the finish line last. D) I don't understand something’s because I'm not ready to do that particular thing at this moment. God is causing me to not fail at what one day I will succeed at. I will understand everything I need at the right time. E) I've cleaned and cleared the clutter in my mind. I'm cleaning and clearing the clutter in the physical, I now am free to imitate the creative gifts that God has given me.
What is this craft?
We write to influence emotions because we have left our perfect homes in Heaven for a time. A time on earth to prove that the devil cannot destroy our relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The enemy distracts us with so many things in this world ... material goods, hardships, sickness, over activity, death, strife and so forth. That is until our hearts are closed and hardened from the pain that's in the world as we know it. If we don't write with emotion and conviction, how will anyone really feel the message we've been given to tell?
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Encouragement - Gift & Call Irrevocable
I would be a millionaire if I had a dollar for every time someone said something to discourage me from something I really wanted to do. Yep, at some point and time I've wanted to do almost everything ... but as you may know, there was always someone around to say "You can't do that."
I was thinking today about why I don't write more, and it came to mind about the time a few years ago, an old friend (or thought was a friend) asked "Oh, you going to air your dirty laundry?" after telling her I was writing. I was somewhat shocked and started defending my purpose for writing.
When I write, I'm always drawn to write my personal story, not as a venting session, but as a way to collect the events as well as my progress in hopes that it might be helpful for someone else. My heart’s desire is to help others understand ... if I had only understood, I wouldn't have made a great deal of the mistakes I've made. I also write about my story to give God the glory. Sometimes bad things are allowed (the Bible story about the blind man who was born blind) so that God can work a miracle and He can receive ALL the glory (circumstances where it is impossible with men including doctors).
So, here's a word of encouragement ... tune out anything that doesn't agree with what you believe in your heart you should do. Avoid people who tell you you'll never be able to do something, or you'll never be better than someone else ... there is NO contest going on with your purpose in life. Your purpose can't be compared to someone elses and NO ONE else can fullfill your purpose. Someone might be assigned to do a task that God wants done (when HE wants it), but God never revokes your gifts or purpose from you.
I was thinking today about why I don't write more, and it came to mind about the time a few years ago, an old friend (or thought was a friend) asked "Oh, you going to air your dirty laundry?" after telling her I was writing. I was somewhat shocked and started defending my purpose for writing.
When I write, I'm always drawn to write my personal story, not as a venting session, but as a way to collect the events as well as my progress in hopes that it might be helpful for someone else. My heart’s desire is to help others understand ... if I had only understood, I wouldn't have made a great deal of the mistakes I've made. I also write about my story to give God the glory. Sometimes bad things are allowed (the Bible story about the blind man who was born blind) so that God can work a miracle and He can receive ALL the glory (circumstances where it is impossible with men including doctors).
So, here's a word of encouragement ... tune out anything that doesn't agree with what you believe in your heart you should do. Avoid people who tell you you'll never be able to do something, or you'll never be better than someone else ... there is NO contest going on with your purpose in life. Your purpose can't be compared to someone elses and NO ONE else can fullfill your purpose. Someone might be assigned to do a task that God wants done (when HE wants it), but God never revokes your gifts or purpose from you.
Romans 11: 29 - For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Poem - Chilly Winds of Winter
The chilly winds brought rain
Pitter patter oh the pain
Stillness cried it's lonesome cry
On a rain drenched heart so dry
But bitter rain softened the heart
Where bitter reigned from the start.
When the chilly winds blew on by
And the chilly rain left the sky
The garden stood the test
Left enriched and blessed
By chilly winds bringing rain
Upon a heart filled with pain.
Pitter patter oh the pain
Stillness cried it's lonesome cry
On a rain drenched heart so dry
But bitter rain softened the heart
Where bitter reigned from the start.
When the chilly winds blew on by
And the chilly rain left the sky
The garden stood the test
Left enriched and blessed
By chilly winds bringing rain
Upon a heart filled with pain.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Encouragement - Just the We Are
What a perfect time to say thank you to our God and our Lord Jesus Christ for all that He has done. After Jesus rose from the dead, he breathed His Holy Spirit upon us and regardless of the circumstances we can have comfort and peace through Him.
It is all about Him. That's the first step, accepting His gift of grace. It doesn't matter what you've done ... God loves you and receives you exactly as you are. Next we must read the Bible ... this is God, Jesus and those led and inspired by the Holy Spirit speaking ... this is His instruction to life - now and hereafter. Learn of Him by reading and hearing His Word. Be sure the word you hear is from the Bible.
And God will change your heart ... it won't happen over night ... it likely won't happen in a year, but He will change you day by day for the better.
It is all about Him. That's the first step, accepting His gift of grace. It doesn't matter what you've done ... God loves you and receives you exactly as you are. Next we must read the Bible ... this is God, Jesus and those led and inspired by the Holy Spirit speaking ... this is His instruction to life - now and hereafter. Learn of Him by reading and hearing His Word. Be sure the word you hear is from the Bible.
And God will change your heart ... it won't happen over night ... it likely won't happen in a year, but He will change you day by day for the better.
Jesus said in John 10:27~30 (Amplified)
27) The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. 28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. (To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.) And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. 29) My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all (else); and no one is able to snatch (them) out of the Father's hand. 30) I and the Father are One.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Project - Pavers & Cement, Part I
I mentioned in my bio that I enjoyed doing projects around the house. Here's the first of my experiments with pavers, concrete blocks and dry cement. I've now done several projects with these materials and all for different reasons. I started out small to learn the results (of using dry cement mix).
Here are finished pictures of my first small scale project with the dry cement mix and pavers. This is an area where the rain water continually eroded the soil due to no rain gutters. I used a preformed plastic edging as a form, placed 2 small pavers to blend it with the driveway edging ... there are several pavers not visible beneath the grasses as the other edge. Once the area was level and the 2 pavers in place, I poured (scooped actually) the quick-set cement. After leveling the cement, I brushed the dust from the pavers and sprayed the entire area with a water hose (very fine mist so not to displace the dry cement). The cement is about 2" think for durability. I think I used 2 1/2 bags of the 50lb quick set (the kind for post setting).
It was easy and I really like the results visibly and no more erosion. I've done several more project using dry cement and will share those later. Happy projecting!
Here are finished pictures of my first small scale project with the dry cement mix and pavers. This is an area where the rain water continually eroded the soil due to no rain gutters. I used a preformed plastic edging as a form, placed 2 small pavers to blend it with the driveway edging ... there are several pavers not visible beneath the grasses as the other edge. Once the area was level and the 2 pavers in place, I poured (scooped actually) the quick-set cement. After leveling the cement, I brushed the dust from the pavers and sprayed the entire area with a water hose (very fine mist so not to displace the dry cement). The cement is about 2" think for durability. I think I used 2 1/2 bags of the 50lb quick set (the kind for post setting).
It was easy and I really like the results visibly and no more erosion. I've done several more project using dry cement and will share those later. Happy projecting!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
In Memory - Celebrate Life and Guard Children and Pets
My first blog will be in memory of my beloved pet ... Ivan. He was my best friend and I lost him three weeks ago to a very sad accident. Ivan was a beautiful gray 10 yr old feline (mostly human). I'm so lucky to have had him, even if he was a cat, he taught me a lot about life. Celebrate your family and pets ... life is a gift!
I had a new A/C installed 2 years ago and was very pleased. My electric bills went down and the house temperature was excellent. However, back in April, the A/C stopped working. The repair man was kind and courteous and fixed the problem ... he said it was just a damaged valve on the refrigerant tank, it had been damaged on install and had slowly leaked over the past 2 years and finally ran out.
Ivan had already started to lose weight at this time ... but, it never occurred to me something was wrong or that it had anything to do with the leak from my A/C. Of course hind sight is 20/20 ... Ivan used to lie on the concrete slab behind the unit ... next to the leaking valve.
After few short months later, Ivan suddenly started having very labored breathing and quickly lost from his handsome 20lbs down to 11. When I took him to the animal hospital, his blood work was good, no infection or disease, but the x-rays showed lung damage / edema. He didn't respond to any of the medications, the lung damage was irreversible.
I'm sharing this story with you in hopes you will block off your outside A/C unit from your children and pets. It doesn't matter if your unit is new or old, there could be harmful chemicals leaking that kill! The local home repair store sells a wide variety of portable fencing that won't restrict the unit's air flow but will keep children and pets away.
Always be safe ... and enjoy every day you can with your children, grandchildren and pets!
I had a new A/C installed 2 years ago and was very pleased. My electric bills went down and the house temperature was excellent. However, back in April, the A/C stopped working. The repair man was kind and courteous and fixed the problem ... he said it was just a damaged valve on the refrigerant tank, it had been damaged on install and had slowly leaked over the past 2 years and finally ran out.
Ivan had already started to lose weight at this time ... but, it never occurred to me something was wrong or that it had anything to do with the leak from my A/C. Of course hind sight is 20/20 ... Ivan used to lie on the concrete slab behind the unit ... next to the leaking valve.
After few short months later, Ivan suddenly started having very labored breathing and quickly lost from his handsome 20lbs down to 11. When I took him to the animal hospital, his blood work was good, no infection or disease, but the x-rays showed lung damage / edema. He didn't respond to any of the medications, the lung damage was irreversible.
I'm sharing this story with you in hopes you will block off your outside A/C unit from your children and pets. It doesn't matter if your unit is new or old, there could be harmful chemicals leaking that kill! The local home repair store sells a wide variety of portable fencing that won't restrict the unit's air flow but will keep children and pets away.
Always be safe ... and enjoy every day you can with your children, grandchildren and pets!
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