Blog Break

I'm going to take a break from blogging for about a week. Everyone needs a little time off. You get the good end of this deal, though. That means I will have more material to write about!

I'm still taking steps in the right direction with my medications, but I am having to rest.


See y'all (a lit bit) later!

Memories Rewind: Wrong Number

We had just sat down to a lunch of hot dogs and chips at Papa's house. The phone interrupted our conversation. "Is this the Bantam Chef?" I have to stop here to say that my Papa loves to play jokes on people.

"Yep." he says with a serious face.

"Well, what's on special today?" the man asked. By this time, my brother and I were covering our mouths to stifle the laughter.

"We have hot dogs and chips with a side of pickle" Papa replied. The man was still clueless that he had not called Bantam Chef. He repeated his order and hung up fully expecting hot dog, chips, and a pickle for lunch. As soon as the phone hit the receiver, laughter erupted from our mouths! We had been quiet during the entire phone call, which seems like an eternity to a couple of kids.

I couldn't believe Papa had truly fooled that man. I was amazed because I hadn't had quite as many jokes under my belt. I couldn't help but wonder how that man reacted when he didn't get the hot dog special as I bit into my hot dog.

Have you ever played a joke on someone? I'd love to hear it!

Being Honest

Over the past few months I have been doing some serious thinking about this blog. I first started this blog so that I could keep writing without hurting my back by bending over to write in my journal.

One thing I know is it's not good to compare your blog to other blogs. Why? You are not everyone else. You are uniquely you. If you say something, own it. Don't be ashamed of your beliefs. Be yourself, and don't waste time trying to be the next big blog. Just write. I've found when you write from the heart, no one can ever surpass you in followers, comments, etc. I know you're thinking, "What did she just say?" as you process that last sentence. Yep, that's right. When you fully embrace you and stop worrying about pleasing others or having the coolest giveaways, you will be overcome by a sense of peace. Peace comes when you quit putting unnecessary pressure on yourself to be someone you're not.

At the end of the day, I write for me. The day this blog becomes a fluffy feel good blog is the day it will be shut down. I've been constantly reevaluating things. My main priority is making sure that I'm doing what God wants me to do and not what I want to do. If my follower count goes to 0 tomorrow, that's OK. I never want to post something just for the sake of having a post that day. Anyone can do that. If you like my blog, great! I know that my self worth doesn't come from comments. Doing something out of habit means you lose that spark of creativity that you once had when you blogged (or wrote) something when you loved doing it.

I had thought about removing the follower's widget from my sidebar. I decided against it though because I don't want to deny someone the opportunity to connect with other bloggers on my page. It's good to look for inspiration in other blogs, but be careful not to let it consume you. As long as my motives are right concerning the different elements on my blog, it's OK to have comments and followers.

It just helps me to take a hard look at things every once and a while, you know? What things do you need to rethink in your life?

P.S. I am experimenting a little by turning off the word verification comments. I have several dyslexic friends, so I hope this removes a little of the headache for them!

Memories Rewind: More than a Cheeseburger

Granny took my brother and I to McDonald's for cheeseburgers. After eating, we made a beeline for the playground.

Climbing ever so carefully into the maze of twists and turns, I had made it. The fun awaited me on that huge yellow slide.

"Wee!" I shouted as I slide down to the bottom. No one was around so we had the place to ourselves. As I breathed heavy because of running countless times around the playground, I climbed up that ladder like a pro. Granny got her money's worth that day! E had caught up with me inside, so we went down together. Giggling as we slid faster and faster, we were met with an....unexpected surprise.

The homeless man that was often seen wandering around town was at the bottom of the slide. I was terrified! His scraggly beard was too much for me. "You kids keep it down in there!"

I didn't wait for him to finish. I scrambled up that slide crawling over the sea of arms and legs as I went. McDonald's wasn't the place for grumpy old men. By the time we came back to our table, he had disappeared, but that was definitely the day McDonald's left us with more than a cheeseburger!

Do you remember a time when you were met by an unwelcome visitor?

Constant Sound in the Storm

I wrote this almost a month ago, but I thought this was the right time to post it.

Rain on a Tin Roof by digifishmusic Please click the first link to listen to that distinctive sound. Blogger doesn't accept WAV files, so a link is the next best thing.

Dum da dum da dum. The droplets flicked against the red tin roof as lighting pounded around the house. As I thought about the day, I heard "Dum da dum da dum". Forcing myself to relax for bed, I was lulled to sleep by that constant sound.

That sound drowned out any fuss, any tears, any fears. As I was preparing to write this, something hit me that caused me stop right there....and think. God is a constant in our lives no matter what we go through. He's there to encourage us to keep going, to push us when we get to comfortable, and to love us in spite of our stupidity.

"I'm still here", he says. No matter where life takes us, that constant sound lets us know we are living. If when life becomes too hectic, that sound beckons us back to that peaceful place that we tucked away in our memory bank from childhood.


Don't let the sounds of negativity and chaos drown out the sound of rain. God brings rain as a time of cleasing and refreshing after the storm. Get ready for the rain!

Frustration Mixed with Faith

Things have been moving along a little slowly. The sun is shining, but I don't have any energy to do anything. I was moved down a little more on the Fentanyl.

I've been on 25 mcg since 4/24/10

I start the next step of the journey on Saturday. I will be going down to 12.5 mcg. I'm trying to take it all in stride. I know that my body has to get readjusted, and right now rest is on my daily agenda. Don't worry, I've been sitting up a little on my good days, but it's not as much as I would like it to be. I'm just constantly reminding myself that everything I'm dealing with is a part of the process.

Frustration sets in at times. God is so good that He gently reminds me, "How can you be frustrated when you look at how far you've come?" That really puts things into perspective!
His Word to me and about me hasn't changed. He promised that He would carry me. He promised that His grace would be more than enough for me. In my times of frustration, these are the things I cling to. God is still worthy of my praise. He's still my deliverer, my guide, and my counselor.

Memories Rewind: The Fate of the Toothbrush

I always kept my toothbrush in a cup on the sink. One day E had a mischievous grin on his face, so I knew he was up to no good. We had a heater down in the floor of one of the hallways.

"M, I got your toothbrush!" he squealed.

"Oh no, please give it back" I pleaded as he inched closer to the heater. Dangling the toothbrush while moving away from me, I just knew that toothbrush was a goner. I thought it was going to turn into a melted pink ball of wax. But no! E loved knowing that he had me in the palm of his hand, so to speak.

He giggled to himself as he squatted down near the heater in his stellar outfit complete with diaper and cowboy boots. I wished he'd just get this over with. He loved to mess with me!

I don't remember whether that pink toothbrush found a home amongst the soot or not. I do remember that day like it was yesterday though because life would have been terribly boring if we hadn't kept each other entertained. :)

What tricks have your siblings played on you?

P.S. Today marks my 200th post! It's hard to believe that I have found that much to talk about. Thanks for reading!

Questions Answered!

I did have a few questions from Krystyn, so here it goes.

What is your favorite book?

I'll break this one down into two types. My favorite children's book would have to be the Wishing Well. I couldn't find the author, but I loved that book because it was filled with whimsy. My favorite as an adult(other than the ones I've mentioned on here) would be The Will of Wisteria by Denise Hildreth. She's a great author! Edit: As Denise Hildreth commented, the cover is still the same.

Are your toenails always painted? What color?

No, my toenails aren't always painted. I leave them bare every now and then. Well actually, they are bare more often than not right now. If I'm not having muscle spasms, I get my mom to paint them for me. In the summer I like to wear medium pinks or shimmery oranges. Sometimes red too, but it can get a little messy.

Tam asked what makes you happy and why?-- This question was just submitted.

A good movie. Getting to go out for a few hours without pain. The praise and worship at my church. I love a good movie because not many things are worth watching these days. Having a day with minimal pain gives me the strength to keep believing for my miracle. A day without pain is so freeing. The praise and worship at my church is something that can't be explained. The music springs forth like a river. It's so awesome and humbling to be in services like that.

Since there were not many questions, I will share some things with you. I got some fabulous news today! I've made all A's this semester! I was a little worried about one class, but I did it with God's help. Let's just say I breathed a huge sigh of relief when that class was over. It was more demanding than my the classes that pertained to my major, and it was only an elective. I was determined not to give up, even when things weren't easy.

I will update on my medication progress soon. I have a post written I just wanted to wait a little while before I posted it.

My Take on Mother's Day

Mother's Day comes and goes once every year. People bombard the florist and emerge with something that half resembles a blooming flower. We all go back to our homes and settle into our everyday routine.

I'm all for celebrating mothers and all that she does for us, but I believe it should be done everyday. Thank her for breakfast. Clean the counter so she won't have to. You don't have to think of elaborate ways to show your love, simple is often best.

We are all guilty of becoming engulfed in our own thoughts and plans. Sometimes it helps me to imagine my life without my mother for a moment. Who would support me in all that I do? Who would still love me when I'm finding something to argue about at every turn? Who would be my example of selflessness?

Listen, you won't wake up tomorrow spouting thankfulness from your lips. Having a thankful heart and not just a few thankful words takes practice. You have to reprogram your human nature's desire to be negative and critical.

I'm well aware this is a different kind of Mother's Day post. That's OK! Last year's post is more "traditional". I've said all I need to say about how amazing my mother (and all mothers are) for the work she does. I love that we have a day to celebrate mothers, but I think we have to be careful not to get sucked into the commercial part of it.

What have you done for your mother recently that would be considered creative or out of the box? I love hearing about creative things that I would've never thought of!

Q & A Session

I'm doing something that I never thought I would do on this blog. After much thought, I've decided to do a question and answer session. Since you all comment about your lives, I figured I could share a little about myself. If you're anything like me, you're curious about things!

So, get your questions ready! I'll answer anything (with reason). No inappropriate questions will be answered. Have something you want to ask, but would prefer to do it privately? Email me. The questions will be answered on Monday, May 10th.

P.S. Notice anything different? I've added the Blog FrOg widget. Just take a few minutes to sign up for an account and you'll show up on any blogger's profile that has this widget. This gives my awesome readers a chance to find many more fabulous bloggers!

Update: C'mon ya'll! No one has any questions for me?

Memories Rewind: Simpler Times, Different Times

I spotted the green telephone out of the corner of my eye. I picked it up, and started dialing. The secret was having no plan in mind. Just dial random numbers. As I dialed 4-7-6..., I heard the whirr of the telephone as the numbers went around and around.

"Hello. Hey Susie, wanna play?"

That conversation was over in minutes, but I had a bunch of imaginary numbers...and names in my head. I propped my hand on the table babbling away on that little green phone. That phone looked ancient to me. It wasn't a cordless, and it didn't have any fancy buttons. It was just a phone that served as the connector to my friends, family, and the outside world. I didn't pick up the phone to order the latest invention from late night TV, I called people when I had exciting news to share, when I was sad, or just to say hey.
It's sad to think that we use texting, email, and Facebook to "talk" these days. I still remember the white numbers that faded over time on that little green phone. Although the old rotary phones are a thing of the past, the memories of the fun times come back every time I think about that little green phone. More to come on communicating next week!

What is something that reminds you of simpler times?

Come on back tomorrow for the surprise! You're bound to have a few questions when you finish!

Unfinished Masterpiece

This was published in The Celebration, which is a weekly publication that my church puts out.

*I won't be posting as much this week because I'm preparing for finals. I'll be d.o.n.e. on Wednesday!* :)

In life, we start out as children unaware of the dangers, fears, and failures in the world. The world is a canvas that we get to paint every day. Every word, every gesture whether good or bad, is another stroke to our painting.

Life continues and we get a broken heart, bruised egos, and the like. The painting changes. While the surface colors may still be bright, the undertones are dark. They reflect the harsh reality that we all must face.

As we cross the bridge from teenager to adult, we take a moment to admire our life. Looking at the pattern as well as the path. We realize that we have the opportunity to take the paintbrush and control which way it flows to a certain extent. The decisions we make might branch off into something that looks like it doesn't flow with the painting. It's OK. This is where God comes back in, takes our hand and guides our strokes. No matter how much we hate ourselves and have a deep desire to rip the painting to shreds because we're not satisfied with the way it looks, it's OK. We are not supposed to rely on ourselves to finish the painting! Whether you realize it or not, we are all a work in progress.

God can take the seemingly ugly things and turn them into a beautiful masterpiece. Ask Him to let you see things the way He sees them.

Stay tuned for a surprise on Thursday!

Image Credit: Zlyoga via freeimages.com