Happy Monday (yeah right?)

I have not blogged in over a month.  I did actually start one entitled....Happy Thursday.  But I have no idea what Thursday that was.  So.  Start a new.  I cannot believe how fast September flies by.  It is a short month and it's about gone.  I was thinking recently on how people like to build their own selves up without really doing anything.  I mean it's easy to say- oh I will pray!  Did you?  I am thinking of you!  Are you?  Do you have a motto you live by in just one sentence?  One sentence that you adhere to everyday? 

Mine is always.  I will try.  I may not get it done, but there is nothing I have said ...no sorry I can't do that.

Meanwhile.  I am taking some pumpkins to Black Belt Treasures this week.  Not sure what they will think.  I hope happy thoughts!



Today's song.  I Can't Get No Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones

 can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no

Oh Hi

It's Tuesday.  I am going to tell you how much I love to read.  Yes.  I do.  These are books that I think everyone should read at one time or another.

1. 1984.  By George Orwell.  Still significant nearly 60 years after it was written in 1949. It is widely acclaimed for its haunting vision of an all-knowing government.

2. To Kill a Mockingbird. By Harper Lee. The story surveys the controversial issues of race and economic class in the 1930’s Deep South via a court case of a black man charged with the rape and abuse of a young white girl. It’s a moving tale that delivers a profound message about fighting for justice and against prejudice.

3.  Catch-22.  By Joseph Heller.  This book coined the self-titled term “catch-22” that is widely used in modern-day dialogue. As for the story, its message is clear: What’s commonly held to be good, may be bad… what is sensible, is nonsense. Its one of the greatest literary works of the 20th century. Read it.

4.  The Great Gatsby.  By F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Set in the Jazz Age of the roaring 20’s, this book unravels a cautionary tale of the American dream. Specifically, the reader learns that a few good friends are far more important that a zillion acquaintances, and the drive created from the desire to have something is more valuable than actually having it.

5.  The Catcher In The Rye.  By J.D. Salinger.   This novel firmly stands as an icon for accurately representing the ups and downs of teen angst, defiance and rebellion. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder of the unpredictable teenage mindset.

All packed with wisdom.  The best thing ever is a NOOK! 

I am leaving you with some pumpkins. 

And a song. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions.

Thirsty Thursday

Gotcha reading it.  Were you expecting drinks too?  We had a great time on our vacation.  Edisto is still great.  This past week has been thought provoking.  A dear neighbor found out cancer has returned after 10 years.  I was thinking about this list today.  Things I need to practice more of.

1. Courage.  (Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.  -Mark Twain and Isiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.)

Fear is the great thief of happiness.  Courage on the other hand, is fear's opponent. It pushes it back and keeps it in check.  Courage allows us to face life's changes and challenges.   A few times last week I wondered how Lisa got up and faced her day.  Knowing the fight was on once again. 

She is courageous.

2. Patience.  (Patience is waiting.  Keep going when the going is hard and slow.)

Learning to relax is so critical to being human everyday.  Impatience is the irritiation I feel when I lose control. But sadly life is not 100% controllable.  Breathe.  Relax.  Take it in. Out flower beds in the back yard are overwhelmed with nut grass.  So, we are taking up everything and starting again.  Yes.  It will be finished about this time next year.

3.  Gratitude.  (Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18.)

To be grateful is to notice good amidst bad, color against gray, lovely surrounded by ugly.  Count your blessings everyday. 

When we are grateful, our problems don't disappear, they simply occupy less space in your heart, mind and life in general. 

4. Love.  (Darkness cannot drive our darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.  -Martin Luther Kind, Jr.)

The more love that beats in your heart the more happy your heart will be.


I have no Christmas tree pics today.  But wait'll next time.

 

Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver


If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high

 

Vacation! Yay!

Not that I don't love my job, because to be quite honest.  I do.  Sometimes I don't understand everything I am doing and I am bad at BSing my way through things. 

So. With that said.  We go to Edisto Island, South Carolina.  If you visited there you would say OMG how boring.  Exactly.  I been going with my husband Phillip since way before we got married.  Then there is this!  We have been staying in the same house on Ediso since my niece Lauren (we call her Lolly) was still in the womb.  I am pretty sure you can put us down for 30 years there.  It's so great.  We cook our own food.  We tell stories.  So fun.  We boat ride to Morgan Island.  Now Morgan Island is a federal protected island for monkey research.  It's true.  There are monkeys there.  They hear the boat and come running.  Then there is the yearly trip to the mausoleum.  There you have the Legend of Julia Legare ghost story.  She died visiting the island and then when they opened the door to bury someone else her bones were found beside the door.  Not to mention the scratches on the door frame where the poor thing tried to get out.  Every now and again someone will pick her up and give her a ride.  But she is gone usually by the time they get there.  We have never picked her up as of yet.

Mostly for me it's just a book and sitting on the beach.  It's more than enough.

We start our vacation with a trip to Anderson, South Carolina where my husband's family lives.  We cook a pig tonight and we eat him tomorrow night.  It's another tradition.  Of course.  This will be the best pig they have ever cooked. 

Edisto Island, SC

Buried Alive.  Buried Alive.  (sang to the tune of Staying Alive)

More Christmas trees.  Hehe.  Coming to somewhere soon.   

James Taylor.  Carolina In My Mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
And I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind.

Habits and Christmas Trees.

They have nothing to do with each other. I am going to blog about my habits and then I am going to show you some Christmas Trees. Sorta like show and tell.

So. Lately I been really changing it up. I am happy with a lot of things. Oh yeah. I could be thinner. Goodness I could run faster. But. I got time to do those things. I am letting go of this list right here. You love a list.

1. Playing it safe. I am afraid to step outside the box of "hey look! I made this!". But. No. I did make this and you should see it.

2. Doubting. The first step is the biggest and the scariest. No doubt.

3. Negative people. This world is so full of them. Blah blah blah.

4. Dwelling on what I have lost. Oh how I loved preschool. Some idiot decided she would finally finally finally after years of trying (years of trying!) have it her way. It was hurtful. But. I am so so so over it. I have a new job. Not near as much work and I only have to please one person. Just one. Not 20, their parents and their grandparents. It's great!

5. Overlooking the lesson. Things go wrong I think so you can appreciate things so much more when they go right. Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can come together.

6. Holding on to resentment. Please refer to number 4. It's gone, move along.

7. Letting pessimism feed your procrastination. I have two choices when I get up each day. Go back to sleep and dream or get up and go chase it. I have wasted alot alot alot of time with my head down and my heart closed.

8. Giving up too soon. Please refer to the Christmas trees.


Third Day- The Sound of Your Voice.

Singing over me
Bringing peace and mercy
With a song that never ends
Singing over me
Marvelous and holy
Lord, I want to hear your song again.

I'm Fifty.

I am not here to impress you. I don't drive a car to impress you either.  I don't wear name brands very often.  I do love JCrew though.  Anyway.  Simple things to do to impress other people.  Yep.  Here it is.

1.  Be yourself.  Judy Garland said, "Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of someone else".  How true it that?  I am moody and unstable sometimes.  There.  It's who I am.  The only shoes I occupy are mine.

2.  Care about people.  The more you care.  The more they care.

3.  Make other people feel good.  You love a compliment?  Me too.

4.  Be honest and take ownership of your actions.  No one likes a liar.  The truth will reveal itself anyway so whatever.

5. Smile.  Suddenly you are not a stranger anymore.

6.  Say please and thank you.  Rude or grateful?

7.  Help others if you are able.  Lots of ways to do that.

8.  Over-deliver on your promises.  If you know me, you know if I say I will be there or I will do something you can count on it.  It's true.

9. Listen to what other people say.  Sometimes it's the best way to learn.

10.  Compliment people who deserve it.  Eyes focused, ears tuned, mobile phone off. In a world that can’t move fast enough, someone who can find time to listen to others is always appreciated.

11.  Stand up for what you believe in.  But don't flaunt it and push it on others.

 So stop trying to impress people with the possessions you own and start inspiring them with who you are and how you live your life. 

(Christmas in July.  Yes.  It's true.  My Christmas trees are so cute. I will share a picture.)

Zac Brown.  I Ain't in No Hurry Today.

I'd be a fool now to worry
About all those things I can't change
And the time that I borrow
Can wait till tomorrow
'Cause I ain't in no hurry today .

I forgot to take a picture of my one thing I did that last time I blogged.  But I did do something.  Planted some flowers in my yard.  I love yard work.

Anyway.  If is getting closer to graduation time.  So I am gonna list some things that you should know by the time you are 18.  I was thinking there would be 18, but I just don't think it's gonna be the case.

1. You are going to make mistakes.  If you never act, you will never know for sure, and you will be left standing in the same spot forever.

 2.  Find something you really love doing.  If you love it.  It's not work.  If you are loving every minute of it, don’t stop.  You’re on to something big.  Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.

3.  You have to invest some in you.  Yourself and you.  With me it's lipstick.  Placemats.  Just little things that make me smile.

4.  People are not mind readers.  Tell them what you’re thinking.  I do this all the time.  Hate me for it?  You have to tell people what you’re thinking.  It’s as simple as that.

5.  Accept and embrace change.  Change happens for a reason.  Just like the seasons.

6.  Be respectful of others and make them feel good.  Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother. 

 7.  Be who you were born to be.  Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires.

But above all, laugh when you can and let go of what you can’t change.  Life is short, yet amazing.  Enjoy the ride.

Billy Joel, Vienna Waits for You. (I saw him in concert in Clemson.  It's also from 13 Going on 30.  One of my favorites.  We all need one do over).

But you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want
Or you can just get old
You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through
When will you realize...Vienna waits for you
Slow down you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight (tonight)
Too bad but it's the life you lead
You're so ahead of yourself
That you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong
You know you can't always see when you're right(you're right)