Weekly Photo Challenge: Window

January 10, 2014 8 Comments

Outbuilding window at Hofwyl-Broadfield Historic Plantation in Georgia

This past summer, my sister and I took a road trip together to visit my brother in North Carolina. Our travel days were limited so we knew we didn’t have the luxury of doing the tourist thing. I get to travel a lot with my job and to visit my out of state daughters, but my sister hasn’t had the pleasure of getting away much in recent years. When I saw the sign for Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation Historic Site, in Georgia, I was determined to stop because I knew my sister would be thrilled.

We were both so glad we took the 2-3 hours to visit. Hofwyl-Broadfield is the site of a historic rice plantation, with the original house and some of the original furniture and outbuildings. We walked and took pictures under the big moss and fern covered, live oak trees and enjoyed the stories the guide told about the families that lived there.

My sis and I live in the same small town, but it seems like life and work and family keeps us running in opposite directions. We both genuinely try to make more time for one another, but it seems we never do it enough.

This trip was therapeutic for each of us; it was a time of long talks sprinkled with tears, about things only your sister would understand . We also laughed until we cried and prayed together about the things on our hearts. We then shared a great visit with my brother and more of the talking, laughing and sharing.

Although it was short and sweet, it was refreshing and necessary. Reminiscing on it tonight reminds me why it will remain high on my list of favorite trips!

Filed Under: Family and Home, Photography Tagged With: Georgia, happy tears, Hofwyl-Broadfield, laughter, photography, road trip, siblings, sisters, vacation, weekly photo challenge

The Everyday Things

January 9, 2014 5 Comments

This morning the routine I followed was the normal one. I was logged into my computer and plugging away by 6:00am. Knowing that I am the most productive in the morning, I try to make the most of my “prime” hours. Phones, emails and IMs are usually pretty quiet until around 7:00am so I was surprised when at 6:26, I saw an IM blinking at the bottom of my screen.

Quickly, I opened it to scan the contents and smiled to see it was a nice guy from up north and the question he posed was relatively easy, so it shouldn’t take much time. I hurriedly typed out my response, scanned for typos and hit “send”. I was done and could now move on to another task.

He thanked me, and then he said something that would change my morning. He said, “by the way, Lisa, how are you? Sometimes I ask a lot of questions and forget to ask the really important one, of how one is doing.”

Suddenly it occurred to me that I’ve known this man for many years and had no idea how he was doing either. As usual, I hadn’t taken the time to stop and ask. Why are we often too busy to be polite?

This man had (probably unknowingly) just preached an entire message that went straight to my heart and exposed, once again, the selfishness and “much too busy” attitudes lodged there.

So, I replied, “I understand what you are saying; we all get too busy to slow down and really care, don’t we? How have YOU been?

He began to tell me that 2013 had been a tough year for him and he was glad to see it go. He had lost his mother in law to cancer, and while he and his wife were cleaning up her estate, his wife of 37 years fell ill and was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. He lost her in August.

Wow! I hadn’t known and my heart ached for the grief and pain that must still resonate within him. With the tears that now filled my eyes making the screen almost too blurry to see, I did my best to convey my heartfelt sympathy and congratulated him on such a long-lasting marriage. He advised me to cherish every moment of mine and I told him I would heed his advice and take it to heart and we said our goodbyes.

Only a few moments had passed, but I looked at the day ahead with a fresh perspective. I wonder if he even had a clue how his words affected me today or how grateful to him I am.

Everyone is going through things and I want to know, I want to care and I want to bring comfort when I can.

Look someone in the eyes and ask them how they are today or tomorrow, and then give them time to respond. If and when someone asks you the same, give them the benefit of an honest answer. You might give them the opportunity to comfort you. We all are blessed when we give or receive.

And, always look for the lesson or the reminder in the everyday things.

Filed Under: Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: death, helping hand, kindness, love, loved ones, sympathy, tenderness, too busy

The brightest child ever

January 7, 2014 3 Comments

Today I am missing my little granddaughter, so I am doing what cold, lonely, forsaken (just kidding except for the cold part) grandmothers do who live 848 miles away when they can’t squeeze their little angels. I am pining over old photographs and videos. They aren’t really “old” considering my one and only grandchild isn’t even four yet, but you get the point.

As much as I loathe technology at times (very few times), now isn’t one of them. For those of us who don’t live close to our kids, aren’t we blessed to have Skype, Facebook and other social media to share the milestones? When my son in law was in Afghanistan, he was able to “watch” Christmas and other events to an extent. I’m honestly not sure if that made him feel better or worse, but at least he could see his wife and daughter in real time.

Just today I was considering how different things were when mine were small. Of course, we had telephone and videos if you had a big, clunky video camera and a way to play the tapes (I’m not that ancient), but things weren’t nearly as “instant”. I remember my aunt and uncle living a few hundred miles away and they would have my young cousin talk or sing into a cassette tape recorder and send to my grandparents. We would all gather round’ to hear his sweet little voice and then deem him the brightest child ever!

The video I’ve shared above also stars the “brightest child ever”, my darling, my angel, my Ayda. I hope you enjoy as she tries to figure out if she likes the fur on the stuffed animals. We laughed over how they made her “shiver”.

This one shows her silly faces as she sings along to the “goodbye song” from Yo Gabba Gabba, which I hope I never have to watch again for as long as I live, but I would for her 🙂

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/zero-to-hero/

Filed Under: Family and Home Tagged With: grandchildren, granddaughter, proud grandparent, thankful for technology, toys, yo gabba gabba, zero to hero

Just a Happy New Year

December 31, 2013 2 Comments

I am feeling a tad like the New Years Eve grinch tonight.

The fireworks are making all the dogs in my neighborhood bark. I think they are having a contest to see who can bark the longest and loudest and to see which one can get the last bark in.

As for New Years resolutions, I don’t ever make them. If I already realize I should change something, why wait until 1/1 ? I guess some people enjoy having a set day and starting time. To each their own.

I do think it’s good to reflect on your accomplishments as well as your failures and adjust the sails if need be, but why wait? We should do that all year long.

Oh, and I’m a morning person, so this staying up to watch a ball drop never interested me. I’m already getting tired, so hopefully the fireworks are over soon.

In all sincerity though, I do wish you a very Happy New Year! May all of your goals be accomplished, may you excel in all you do, may you love more, forgive more easily, spend lots of quality time with family and prosper both financially and spiritually. And, may you remember to write 2014 at least by February 😉

God Bless!

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Filed Under: Family and Home, Photography Tagged With: Fireworks, Holidays, New Year, New Year's Day, New Years Eve, Times Square Ball

I am mom

December 30, 2013 6 Comments

Dearest Mother BIG tag (Photo credit: AForestFrolic)

From the time you see that soft, wiggly, bawling baby, you fall in love. You become a fierce protector. You are mom. This tiny gift from heaven rocks your world and melts your heart.

You vow she will always be safe in your arms, sheltered by your love, kept far away from all evil and danger. She needs you.

She will be given every opportunity, receive plenty of praise and encouragement along with proper discipline and instruction.

As the years go marching by in this journey, you stumble, yes you even fall a time or two, but you do your best. You learn quickly that this thing called parenting is no easy feat. Your best isn’t perfect, but you never give up. You defend, you teach, your love grows deeper.

She drives you crazy sometimes. She reminds you of when you were that age. She makes you want to tell your mom you’re sorry again.

She grows up overnight and it seems she doesn’t need you as much anymore. Thankfully, she still calls and asks your advice. She doesn’t always take it. You probably drive her crazy sometimes. You have dreams and goals and hopes for her. She has different ones, but you will love her anyway.

Your love grows ever deeper and she returns that love. She begins to realize that you often make sense and tells you so. You watch her become more like you in many ways. You become one of her closest confidantes.

She’s not perfect; she stumbles and yes, even falls sometimes, but she gets right back up. You are her biggest fan and you secretly hope she got that tenacity from you.

Your role as a parent never ends; it merely changes. You continue to pray that as the years pass and you both continue to grow older, that you are always what she needs you to be. You are mom.

Filed Under: Family and Home, Poetry Tagged With: daughter, Family, Home, life as a mom, Mom, moments, Mother, Mother daughter relationship, Parent, Relationships

Cookies, lists and common sense

December 21, 2013 10 Comments

Chocolate peppermint cookies

Today has been a beautiful day in Southwest Florida but I have spent almost all of it inside, with the air conditioner cranked up and Christmas carols on. I spent the day baking and making fudge, then allowed myself to take the time to deliver some to an elderly couple I haven’t seen in a while. My first thought was, “I’ll quickly drop it off, so I can deliver others and get back home”. Then, I thought about it some more and said to myself, “No, you will stop and breathe and relax and visit with them because you never take the time to do that anymore”.

I made up my mind that the days preceding Christmas were not going to be stressful this year, and that I would approach it differently . Instead of having unending lists and must-dos because I have to, I decided to take it one day at a time, to do what I can and if something doesn’t get done, so what? Seriously, what’s going to happen if I don’t have all the shopping done by December 20th or I forget to buy all the ingredients for mom’s red velvet cake? Nothing, that’s what.

If I forgot to make half of what I’m responsible for, our family would still have enough food left over to feed another family for a week. And, if lo and behold that one gift I ordered online for my youngest doesn’t come in? Well, then she will live and have a nice surprise a few days late.

I’ve come to the conclusion that we need to all step back and think about WHY we do some of the things we do. Sometimes it seems we’re like hamsters stuck on the treadmill, running ourselves ragged, without accomplishing much. Although I love traditions, if they become rote robotic type activities, they lose their significance and might as well be abolished. What if you just make up a brand new tradition that fits your family?

Yesterday, I went to town to do some of my shopping and had it on my list to pick up poinsettias because I have an empty vase sitting here. I also had two more pages of neatly penned items to do. However, when I noticed my stress level beginning to climb and felt my allergy ridden body begin to tire, I came home. No poinsettias and the list is missing many check marks. I don’t care. No one even knows and wouldn’t know now if I weren’t telling.

That’s my point, I guess. We put ourselves under so much pressure to achieve self-inflicted goals that serve to prove what? That we are exhausted and snappy and stressed?

This attitude is quite the departure from the norm for me as I even say sometimes, “I thrive on chaos”, or “I work better under pressure”. Don’t misunderstand, I believe in responsibility and I take my obligations very seriously. The problem that I’ve always had to contend with is that I over extend myself and give myself way too many “imagined obligations”.

Thankfully, I’ve finally learned my family wants my love and attention more than anything. When we grasp that, the things like baking are actually fun and relaxing. I didn’t set a goal for how many cookies I had to bake and how many people had to receive theirs today…I just baked and danced around my kitchen singing Christmas carols and texted pictures of cookies to family members. It was fun. I’m having fun a few days before Christmas!

As I write this, there are presents to be wrapped and a craft project left abandoned. I will get around to wrapping the presents, but the craft project can wait until next year. My house is clean, decorated and smells like cookies and peppermint. I think we will all live if I fail to make one more decoration, especially if that means I have more time to enjoy my family.

Merry Christmas!

“Memories are the treasures that we keep locked deep within the storehouse of our souls, to keep our hearts warm when we are lonely.” Becky Aligada

Filed Under: Family and Home Tagged With: Baking, Christmas, Cookie, Family, Holiday, Poinsettia, Red velvet cake, Southwest Florida

Glimmer, don’t Gripe

December 19, 2013 5 Comments

christmas lights (Photo credit: harold.lloyd)

While we dream of a White Christmas, children in a dusty street dream of shoes to wear

While we stuff the turkey and then our bellies, many are digging through garbage for dinner

While we share enchanted kisses under the mistletoe, someone somewhere is suffering violence at the hands of a loved one

As we carefully wrap gifts in shiny paper a laid off dad unwraps an envelope containing a bill he can’t pay

As we go caroling and attend plays and parties, the old man down the street cries tears of loneliness, feeling abandoned

While we fill our spare bedrooms and pull out couches with family and friends, a single mom and her children sleep in the street

And as we deck the halls and our homes with sparkling lights, many are searching for just a glimmer of hope

I write all this, not to upset anyone, or make anyone feel guilty for enjoying your Christmas and family. ENJOY your family, really take the time to enjoy each and every one of them! Look into their eyes when they are speaking, pay attention and show your love abundantly. If you are among the blessed, be thankful for your blessings and don’t you dare complain!

Be the glimmer of hope for someone, whether you think they deserve your attention or not. After all, when we think about the true meaning of Christmas, isn’t it about a gift of love we didn’t deserve? Don’t let anyone on your street be hungry, hopeless or lonely this Christmas season. If we all do that, think of what we would accomplish!

Filed Under: Family and Home, Inspirational Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas lights, Holiday, Religious, True meaning of Christmas

The lost laces

December 18, 2013 7 Comments

Shoe lace on a sneaker (Photo credit: MoHotta18)

I began writing this on November 27, 2013 and about two paragraphs in, I got a phone call that my beloved Granny starring in this little story had gone home to heaven. If you are a follower, you will know I have many posts starring the precious, Granny. I hope you enjoy this one!

Granny lived in the yellow house across from the K-12 school I attended during my elementary years. Words would not begin to express the comfort that was derived from knowing she was so close, knowing that while I studied, she was in her rocking chair with the bible open on her lap, or visiting with one of her many friends, or maybe even baking my favorite chocolate pie.

One day in particular brings back another memory of a day Granny single-handedly turned my grey skies to blue. It was a school day and on that day, I had P.E. as we called it back then, for physical education. This meant I had to bring and wear the required hideous uniform which consisted of blue loose legged shorts which made my bony legs even more apparent, a white t-shirt, tennis shoes and white socks. P.E. went well as far as I recall, except for Tommy calling me chicken legs, which always got him into trouble and upset me far more than I let on.

Afterwards, for some reason that eludes me, several of us had not only removed our shoes, but our laces as well. When it was time to change and go back to class, I discovered that my laces were nowhere to be found. This distressed me greatly and in retrospect, I have no idea why, but it provoked me to tears. Granted, I was well known for losing or misplacing things and I was horrified at the idea of admitting that I had done it again. This was also during a time in our lives when money was tight and I didn’t want to be the reason for another expense, albeit a small one, so perhaps this contributed to my extreme dismay.

I vaguely remember making my way to the office, with one thing on my mind and that was to call my granny. I dialed her number on the rotary phone and when that beloved voice answered, I whispered my dilemma to her looking away from the eyes peering at me from across the counter. Granny told me to come right over after school and not to worry about a thing.

So, when school was out, instead of boarding the hot, smelly school bus, I ran across the street to granny’s house.

After making sure I was well fed and hydrated, Granny and I left for the local hardware store. We lived in such a small town, I remember doubting we would be successful in our quest. Granny swung open the door and I followed as it chimed a greeting to us and announced to the proprietor there were customers. She marched straight up to the counter and asked for white shoe laces, without even mentioning my name, bless her heart. And lo and behold, they had some.

Granny paid and we waited for the little brown paper bag holding the laces to be passed across the counter. I gushed with relief and thankfulness and Granny just smiled and hugged me tightly to her.

Now, I don’t know all of the details and never did ask, but my mother showed up later that afternoon to pick me up and not a word was uttered about missed school buses or missing laces.

My heart still swells with love and gratitude when I remember how granny always made me feel like I was the most important person in the entire world. It’s funny because if you ask my siblings or my cousins they would tell you the same thing. She loved us all and made each of us feel like number one without slighting anyone. Tonight I’m feeling very blessed and thankful for her highly valued presence in my life once again.

Filed Under: Family and Home Tagged With: elementary age, Family, grandparent, Granny, Home, love, Shoelaces, siblings

Weekly Writing Challenge: Collecting Details

December 17, 2013 11 Comments

The weekly challenge was to remember three details from your day or week and write at least a paragraph containing them. This is my take on the challenge.

The endless blue sky was abundant with birds making the south their home for now and the mild, dry temperature, made it a perfectly beautiful day for a walk.

I slowed my pace and glanced backward as I heard the rumbling of a car in the distance behind me. My tennis shoes made crunching sounds in the gravel as they left the smooth black pavement to let the car pass. As the car slowed, and inched closer, I could hear the country music flowing from the radio, and as it closed the distance I could smell the smoke billowing out of the driver side window before I could see it. When it was parallel with me, it became apparent that I could have reached out and wrote words in the dirt on it’s red paint job, but of course I refrained.

I passed the house on the corner with the always well manicured lawn and the smell of something wonderful tempted me. I wondered if the couple who live there were enjoying their lunch together, as much as the doves were enjoying their bird feeder. Not a quarter of a mile later, the smell of low tide assailed my nostrils as I passed the canals and creeks along my route. The fiddler crabs hurriedly retreated to their muddy, watery refuge as they realized an intruder in the midst.

All too soon, it was time to turn around and head back home, so as not to overstay my lunch break. This brief repose from work rejuvenates me and strengthens my resolve to face the rest of the day. The time spent on meditation on thankfulness, in prayer and yes even in song, in the midst of God’s glorious creation, soothes me. I can forgive the intrusion of the cars rushing by, because they remind me I’m not stuck inside, at least not for a few moments.

Weekly Writing Challenge: Collecting Detail (dailypost.wordpress.com)
Weekly Writing Challenge: Collecting Detail (blogsondamove.wordpress.com)
One Hundred Miles: Collecting Detail (suzie81.wordpress.com)
Weekly Writing Challenge: Collecting Detail (taciturnalchemy.wordpress.com)
Weekly Writing Challenge: Collecting Detail (aliefiamalik.wordpress.com)
Weekly Writing Challenge: Collecting Detail (paytonswritingawaytheday.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Escape (Reading while travelling) (chrisbreebaart.wordpress.com)
Weekly Writing Challenge: Collecting Detail (brightlyimagined.wordpress.com)

Filed Under: Family and Home Tagged With: Bird, Creative writing, fiddler crabs, long walks, Walking

Oh Christmas tree, MY Christmas tree

December 8, 2013 10 Comments

Christmas 2013

This Christmas is a first of sorts for my husband and I. December 25, 2013 will be our first Christmas as empty nesters.

Don’t worry; this post isn’t going to be a sappy one lamenting a dismally quiet household and no one to wake up with us on Christmas morning. Although we are disappointed that our eldest can’t make it home this year with our only grandchild, we will have our youngest and her husband here for the holidays.

With all of the ornaments laid out on the kitchen table this year, I made a decision. I was going to split them and ship them! I painstakingly and with absolute fairness, separated them into two large flat rate postal boxes. I wrapped them using bubble wrap and tissue paper and one Christmas dish towel (a little extra). One of the boxes is on it’s way to Louisiana while the other heads for Texas. Why, you might ask? Well, I decided I had a couple of choices. I could hoard them all and continue to have the same old tree year after year, or I could send them each a little piece of home, while also helping these young couples build up their Christmas decoration stock. Why keep them until I’m old and grey? (wait, I’m already grey without color every six weeks) – anyway, I figured I would let them enjoy them and have memories of home hanging from their trees.

What was in it for me? To be honest, as I packed all the cute, kiddie looking ornaments, I was dreaming of a tree similar to one I’d encountered on Pinterest, with a woodland animal theme. You might think I’m not sentimental enough and that I should be pining for the ornament that a 6yr old made in art class. Well, I did keep a couple that were made by their own little hands. However, not for my tree; just for the memory. I much prefer the memories of spending time with them and our conversations and laughter to things.

I marched right to Kohl’s the following day where I had already eyed the ornaments I liked and filled up a basket with owls, foxes, cardinals and others that would match my theme; Then it was off to Target and then Family Christian Store for more tree decorations. I turned on Christmas carols, turned down the A.C. (yes, good old south FL weather) and began. A couple hours later I stepped back, pleased and beamed when my husband said it was beautiful.

As families grow and change, a new tradition or a new twist on an old tradition helps to move us forward. I have beautiful memories with my children decorating and them picking out an ornament every year, but they don’t live here anymore and this tree makes me happy. It let me pour out some creativity and refresh an old theme. We can’t dwell on the past and the way things were. Things and people change and we can’t allow ourselves to get bogged down in the yesterdays and how things used to be. We grow, people pass on, family members move, more members are added.

If you find yourself in a new season in life, make a change, do something different, something new and enjoy it!

I am reminded of a similar post called “Gone are the matching bows” that I wrote at a different time in my life last year about Christmas trees and letting them be for the children; you can click on the link below to check it out.

https://longwalksanddarkchocolate.com/2012/11/28/gone-are-the-matching-bows/

Burlap & Memories: Rustic Christmas Tree (lilsuburbanhomestead.com)
The Tree Is Up (karenrossepp.wordpress.com)
ugly sweater ornaments (raesdays.com)

Filed Under: Family and Home Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas tree, Family, Pinterest, Texas, Tree

Weekly Photo Challenge: Window

The Everyday Things

The brightest child ever

Just a Happy New Year

I am mom

Glimmer, don’t Gripe

The lost laces

Weekly Writing Challenge: Collecting Details

Oh Christmas tree, MY Christmas tree

Goodreads

Show me some love

These things keep coming up!

Archives

Follow Blog via Email

Check out some of my most popular photos and ramblings

Blogs I Follow

How many people have stopped by to check it out?

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

“Memories are the treasures that we keep locked deep within the storehouse of our souls, to keep our hearts warm when we are lonely.” Becky Aligada

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Related articles

Share this:

Related articles

Share this:

Goodreads

These things keep coming up!

Archives

Follow Blog via Email

Check out some of my most popular photos and ramblings

Blogs I Follow

How many people have stopped by to check it out?