Romantic Evening

     My romantic evening with Bill.  I am sure Cupid is rolling his eyes, but I named my Roomba Bill!  My grandkids think it is a motorized pet.  My granddog is petrified of it…..he thinks it is some kind of living creature or the Terminator.  Bill has magically enhanced my life as he moves about my house without emotion, cleaning my floors.  Granted, Bill is not excited to see me when I get home, but he will vacuum for me until he dies…..what dedication.   I love my Roomba!

Online Dating Woes

        Several years ago, at the encouragement of friends, I decided to dabble in on-line dating. I wanted to make sure that I had a RECENT picture to ensure that my date would not feel like the walk from the door to the table was a scene out of the movie "Dead Man Walking". 

        A good friend offered to take photos of me for my online dating profile. She encouraged me to perch on the railing of her deck overlooking a gorgeous lake. With the sun setting in the background, I prissily perched on the railing. I was concentrating on tilting my head slightly and smiling while waiting for the click. All of a sudden it felt like my body was on fire! Who knew I was perched above a wasp nest! The little critters had flown up my shirt and pant legs. Suddenly I was yelling and running for the house while simultaneously stripping. Not exactly the photo opp I wanted for my online dating profile!

The Trixter got Tricked!

           Walking past the desk, I suddenly did a double take; a student was sitting at his desk wearing a camouflage jacket with the hood up.  Since camouflage is the art of disguising yourself to blend in with your surroundings, it was NOT working.   As I approached the student, I realized that there was nobody inside this uncamouflaged outfit.  Somebody had created a “fake student” for my benefit by pulling the handle up on their backpack and dressing it in their camo  jacket (they even stuffed the face area with some paper).  If you ever need a second passenger for the “dummy in the passenger seat scam”, this character would be great (not that I am promoting it). Hmmmmm….I wish I could clone this kid as he did not let out a peep all period!

Stilettos

     Scoot out of the way because Nana is trying out the grandkids motorized Christmas scooter. Supposedly, one of the key features of this scooter is a handy twist grip throttle which makes the motor start immediately. It was like driving a very fast car wearing a pair of stilettos….hence my scream! Needless to say, I won’t be scootering around town!

One Word

No New Year’s resolutions for me.  According to statistics, nine out of ten people will fail with their new year’s resolutions; half of those will fail by the end of January. This is my second year to pick “One Word” to lay over my life for my New Year’s Resolution.  My one word to focus on this year is “purposeful”.  The definition of purposeful is: having a purpose, full of determination.

I have focused on choosing a word that reflects on:  my passion for life; my values, provides guidance; gives me strength; challenges me, brings frustration; brings joy.  As we all know, life passes by at an alarming rate.  My one word goal for 365 days will be to strive to be more purposeful about noticing possibilities.  As I walk through 2015, I want to consider five key areas of my life…..my spiritual life, relationships, health, work, and finances.  I need to remember to ask myself, “In what ways can I be more purposeful this year?” 

“Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people)”.  Ephesians 5: 15 Amplified Bible

Have you thought about dropping the list of resolutions and choosing one word to impact your life this year?  Ask God to give you one word to lay over your life; embrace your one word, reflect on it, and share it.  What is your one word? 

Pooping at the Park

      Taking my little grandsons to the park sounded like a wonderful idea.  The boys were swinging and squealing, and jumping and running, when out of the blue, Ryder, the three year old, lets out a blood curdling scream!  Looking up, I realize he is holding his hiney as he runs towards me!  He frantically yells, “I have to poop!”    Now there is no bathroom, so in a panic, I quickly grab a couple of peanut butter and jelly stained napkins from our picnic lunch and prop him up by an isolated tree with his britches around his ankles.  At this point, his older brother, Cross, squats down beside him and announces, “Nana, I am going to watch it come out!”  I am not sure, but I am thinking there is a city ordinance stating that it is not proper to publicly poop at the park.  I can just imagine the 6:00 news discussing a pooping perpetrator at the park.  I am frantically looking from side to side hoping that nobody else walks up on this scene.   I am sure I sounded like a cheerleader as I encouraged him by repeatedly chanting, “Hurry, poop, poop, poop!”   Between my cheers and his brothers ogling, suddenly everything came to a halt with NO results.  Batting his cute little blue eyes and not caring that he is practically naked at the park and trying to crap under a tree, the boy exclaims, “It went away!”  Footnote:  The next time I take my grandkids to the park, I will be bringing the dog’s pooper scooper and a plastic bag.  Who knew!

Invisible Wounds

                          

               After getting my grandson, Ryder, ready for preschool, he quickly disappeared. Suddenly he returned with a band-aid that he obviously wanted to wear to school.  I exclaimed, “Awwww, do you have a boo-boo?” Knowing he didn’t, I attempted to put it on his arm.  Smiling sweetly, he pointed to his flawless little forehead.  I gingerly applied the band aid to his fake injury and kissed the delicate pretend wound. 

          Proudly, Ryder sauntered into his preschool classroom that morning, where the teacher immediately made a fuss over his invisible wound.  You would have thought he had gone bungee jumping, catapulted 400 feet in the air, and landed on his forehead.  Smiling in the background, I now understood why he wanted to wear the band-aid.  

          As I reflect on that morning, I am reminded that there are people all around us who have invisible wounds  –  death of a loved one, picking up the pieces of a broken family, loss of health, feelings of rejection, loss of a job, financial troubles, heartbreak from a broken relationship, or disappointments. 

          Invisible wounds seem to hurt even more during the Christmas season. We are surrounded by people who just want the season over.  Thank goodness we have a loving compassionate God who has a ready supply of band-aids to put on our invisible wounds.  His word tells us, “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3). 

           God’s word tells us not to look out only for our own interests, but to take an interest in others, too (Philippians 2:4).  As I think about my “area of influence” I am asking God to help me to be sensitive to those around me with invisible wounds, those who are struggling through this Christmas season.  I want to live out my faith in front of others and make the most of every opportunity (Colossians 4:5).

                                                                                                         

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you that you specialize in using ordinary people.  Lead me to people with invisible wounds, and show me a way to bless them.  Help me to live out my faith in front of others and be a positive influence.  Guide me supernaturally and use me to touch the brokenhearted!  Help me not to lose opportunities that I will never get back.  Read:   Psalm 147:3; Philippians 2:4; Colossians 4:5;