Thursday, April 30, 2009

LATE BLOOMERS OF THE WORLD UNITE


I'm learning that I am a late bloomer in these baby boomer years of mine. For instance, I didn't own an iPod until late 2005. I still cannot fully operate a digital camera, cell phone or play Wii without making a fool of myself. And I am often behind the times when it comes to the latest books, movies, etc.
My daughter and husband have been proudly wearing TOMS for over a year now. I understand and support the concept that TOMS stands for; I really do. But for me, wearing the newest, trendy shoes is an enigma because I am hard to fit. On the other hand, I've witnessed my hubby and baby girl try on a pair of shoes and walk out smiling and swearing that they feel like "butter" and are already broken-in like a great pair of slippers. Not so for me. I could try on the exact same style of shoe and walk away feeling dejected. Nope, it's never that easy for me. In fact, I've spent good money on shoes that felt great in the store, only to give them away later.
Okay, back to TOMS. Last week in California I was determined to try on my first pair of the shoes. Trendy boutiques are everywhere in CA you know. Lo and behold, in the back of an eclectic boutique are dozens of beautiful pairs of shoes. I say to my husband, "they won't have any that fit me!" But once I slip on a pair in my size I am amazed. They ARE comfy and broken in. And they have so many cute styles that it is hard to decide which ones to take home. I am happy! So, even though I am a late bloomer and a skeptic, I wear my shoes off and on for the rest of our time in CA.
For those of you who sit there wondering what I am babbling about: TOMS shoe company was started by a young traveler, Blake Mycoskie. The company was founded on a simple premise: For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about.
www. TOMSshoes.com

Monday, April 6, 2009

101 in 1001 Days update

Greetings.  I can say that I have been working on my 101 list to a certain extent. Part of my problem lies in finding the time just to blog on a regular basis. So this is a partial update. 

#18  Goodbye black thumb--see today's blog. 
#36  Read Bible more and memorize scripture. Still a challenge but I am making progress!
#40  Join the Greenwood YMCA again.  We joined 2 months ago.
#49  Sunrise over Lake Greenwood. The picture you see as my header was taken by me! 
#70  Watched all Rob Bell DVD's. Ready to do it all over again.
#88  Okay this one may be hard to believe but I made a snow angel in SC. I have a picture of it on my camera phone but won't share it. 
#95  I'm becoming a recycling fool. We have two bins in the garage; one for paper & one for plastics.

How Do I Look?

Shopping at Thrift stores has become something of an obsession. I refuse to buy a lot of new clothing at full price until I lose one dress size. Yeah, go ahead and laugh. But I did want to share this lovely outfit that Clinton & Stacy from What Not to Wear would probably hate. This is what I call my bargain basement attire. Bethany take note: shoes are brand new $12; capris $9; red linen shirt $9; necklace $4; white tank .50 cents. I think that about covers it. I'm learning alot about the value of a buck this way. 

Cross this off my 101


Well I have achieved the unthinkable. I have kept my Christmas Poinsettia alive since early December. I have also managed to NOT kill my Peace Lily plant for 18 months. I received another new houseplant last month and I can say, so far so good. If seems that if I water my plants only once a week or whenever they are "dry" that that live! With my daughter and husband as my witness I normally have the blackest of black thumbs. It's gotten to the point where my husband is sick and tired of looking at the enormous red Poinsettia sitting in the hallway. He has just about asked me to let it die a quiet and peaceful death, but I am not ready to commit planticide. I think I will give it one more month and then determine whether or not to pull the plug. Sounds awful doesn't it? 
As for the Peace Lily and the newest member of our plant family, long may they live.  I am working on this green thumb and hereby cross #  18 off of my list. Goodbye black thumb.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Messed up but forgiven

I find that we are all messed up. Dysfunctional, codependent and generally self-centered. If this were not so, we would have no need for a savior, let alone a spiritual accountability partner. For the past 25 years my husband has been my accountability partner. Certainly, girlfriends have always had their place in my life as I will tell them the boring stuff my husband cannot help me deal with. Or the drama that surrounds my life as a woman.
Every day encounters with Jesus remind me again, and again that he accepts me where I am. That I do not have to have my act together in order to pray or to ask forgiveness. So as messed up as I can be one minute, I still have an advocate with my heavenly father. I can still come to his throne as one of his children. And if I have screwed things up on my own, I am greeted with open arms. How cool is this? Initial forgiveness, ongoing redemption and sanctification are the coolest. And Jesus, His is the sweetest name I know.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

my quest for a spiritual attitude

There is so much to living this spiritual life. So many disciplines we can embrace or discard. As I seek to draw closer to the heart of my savior, it becomes increasingly important to check my attitudes, my thoughts, and my desires. Doing this is never easy or enjoyable but is a worthy, noble goal.
In reading "everyday simplicity" by Robert J. Wicks, I discover 3 principles for carving out a deeper spiritual life.
  1. Nourish a spiritual attitude underlying all of life which enables me to view everything---including my sufferings and confusion---in a way that deepens me (us) and makes life more meaningful.
  2. Design "a little rule" of prayer so I can find and nurture a refreshing, renewing place within to be intimate with God;
  3. Learn how to share myself (ourselves) with others in a compassionate way that mysteriously feeds and enlivens me (us) rather than depleting me or making me feel overburdened and resentful.

This is where I find myself today in my spiritual journey. I want to experience real faith, that is to breathe easily, have trust and to be free from fear. I desire a sense of freedom from brokenness, alienation, helplessness, anxiety. I also desire to offer others this same faith. So today I will breathe.