Monday, February 26, 2018

Grief

      Today begins the process for my friend Jodie to say goodbye to her beloved, Michael.
Actually, that started last Monday when he unexpectedly died. It just gets real today and tomorrow as many will come to pay their respects.

I've thought of her constantly.
Eventually, I will pass this book along to her. It's a journal of sorts, written by C.S.Lewis. He wrote it when he lost his wife, Joy. It's raw and real. The way a journal should be.

He writes, "No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid...At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says."

There are so many wise words within the pages of this book.
Grief.
My heart is with her.

                

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Brief

This morning I woke up next to my hubby. I've done that now for almost thirty years. Admittedly, it's a routine I have taken for granted. 
Meet my friend, Jodie.
On Tuesday morning, she woke up alone because on Monday evening, her Michael passed away. 

The news took my breath away.
I don't have many words right now.

If you think of it, would you say a prayer for Jodie and her children?

http://www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com/
Here's a link to read about Michael Bierbrauer. His obituary pictures him with Jodie. 

Life is brief. Live it well.

Monday, February 19, 2018

English garden

I just received these birthday flowers from my in-laws.  They reminded me of an English garden.
Such a lovely surprise to come home to. My senses are in high gear. Astoundingly breathtaking.
Thank you David and Suzie, for the sensory trip to England!

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Purse/Backpack


A couple of months ago I was listening to an interesting conversation on the radio. 

The announcer asked "How heavy is your purse?"

He then went on to explain how carrying a heavy bag can actually start to affect your posture. That gave me pause. I thought, My purse is heavy. Really heavy. 
Why do I carry around all that junk in my purse? 
I didn't have an answer! I still don't. I don't know why I do, but I do!!  I NEED it all! 

I knew I wasn't giving up my favorite lipstick, billfold and hand lotion for a smaller pouch!
So, what's a girl to do?

Well, I started researching! I paid particular attention to what women carried. Clutches, huge totes, key ring wallets. Just watch sometime! There are lots of different kinds being hauled around! 

One that intrigued me most...backpacks! They look like purses! So I asked those that carried them what they liked about them. Most were the obvious answer...free hands.
But the posture thing came into conversation too. It got me thinking. For months now I've been looking and trying to decide if I like them.

I finally found one!
My son says I'll hate it! What does he know!
I'm excited to arrange all my stuff and try it out.

I'll let you know!
What do you carry? Do you like the idea of a backpack purse?


  



Monday, February 12, 2018

Rachel

Dreams come true. 
Meet Rachel.
I met her at a writing conference a few months before this picture was taken.
I decided at the conference to come to this retreat with Rachel and many other writers. We're on the beach in Destin, Florida in this photo.

Here's where we got to work out our stories. Yeah...it was grand.

Rachel only briefly (very briefly) mentioned a dream to have her book become a movie at this retreat. If you weren't listening, you wouldn't have even heard it.

Well, fast forward to last week.

She finally got to spill the secret.
Her book is now being filmed for the Hallmark channel. It's going to be a movie!! 

Here's the book.
Once Upon A Prince!
A tale about an American girl and a prince. 
Sound familiar?
I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing the screening just might coincide with a certain huge wedding being planned across the pond??? Hmmmmm....timing is everything. Who knows for sure? Only Rachel and she's not telling!

Stay tuned!
Want to know more about Rachel?
Visit her website at rachelhauck.com.







  

Thursday, February 8, 2018

What are you giving up?

It's that time of year. Lent.
I've had many ask me, "What are you giving up for lent this year?"

My answer is simple. Nothing.

To me it's more about what I'm gaining and learning.

I'm excited to read through this book during lent. Even more fun is the fact this is my friend Amy's published works!  She's from America, but now lives in England.  I expect to see her while on holiday in England later this summer.

Not just throughout lent, but all through my year of jubilee, I've made a commitment to writing one letter a day.
I love to write others and got the idea while watching the movie Julie and Julia.
Have you watched?
(I was trying to give you the link, but the URL wouldn't let me. SIGH)

Youtube the Julie and Julia trailer.

It's basically about Julie, who loves Julia Child. Julie decides to cook Julia's recipes for an entire year. She loves to eat!

Well, I love to write. I'll be sending lots of snail mail all over the country (world too!) throughout the year!
It's a great goal if I do say so myself.

What am I giving up? Absolutely nothing, except maybe a bit of time. But, I'm gaining the fact that I'm doing something creative that hopefully will bless lots and lots of people who normally go to their mailboxes and pull out junk mail and bills!

How about you? Giving anything up for Lent?






Monday, February 5, 2018

Reading material

It has been a pretty adventurous week for me. One fun thing after another. Turning 50 does that.

I'm hoping to relax a bit and catch up on some English magazines I just purchased.  Don't they look delightful? 

I'm also reading a book for research. Taking up a bit of time, but I'm gaining details I need for my book idea.  For now, all I will give away is that it's about letters. Right up my alley!

Have a lovely week. 

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Two Things

Well, it happened.
I turned 50.
It was amazing.
Every second of my day was wonder filled in every way.

We spent the night at the Saint Paul Hotel. Wonderful doesn't really describe the place. Check for yourself!
https://www.saintpaulhotel.com/
Hubby wanted to eat here for breakfast. It's a pretty famous dining car in St Paul. Many movies have been filmed at this location and lots and lots of famous people have stopped by.
Here's a peek inside. It was quite entertaining listening to the staff speak of the place. I was perusing the back of the menu, peeking at the "who's who" list.
In the meantime, the staff learned (thanks to hubby) I was celebrating my big birthday. He can be such a big mouth!! 

Me: "New Kids on the Block ate here?"
Server: "Yes. They're actually really nice guys. I waited on them. And by the way, they're not New anymore. They're the OLD kids now. Kind-a like you...OLD!"
Seriously! He said that! Witty dude. Good thing I can take it!!  It actually was pretty funny. SIGH!
BTW, the hash browns were amazing.
Pedicures! They're the best.
I'm not even embarrassed to admit this...(okay, maybe a little...insert whispering here!) I didn't shave before I went.   Shhhhh!!!  
Nope. I didn't!  
The gal doing my pedicure told me she actually likes it better if her clients don't shave. GASP! She told me it feels like "prickly cactus" otherwise!  HA! Score for me!
Are you surprised? Of course I'd go to a bookstore on my birthday! Duh!

So, I named this blog Two Things.

Two things stood out to me on my day. Of course, the entire day was magical. Delightful, lovely, entrancing, fabulous, wondrous. It was great.

First one: 
My phone was on silent and I forgot about it throughout the day. When I realized it, there was a voicemail. From Spain. At first I thought it was a scam call, so I ignored it. Later in the day, I saw it on my phone and decided to call my voicemail. To my sheer delight, it was my dear friends from Spain. I was so sorry I hadn't picked up at first. 
Ironically, I saw a movie on my birthday. It was about a guy who received a voicemail and called it every day for eight years just to hear the voice on the other end.
I believe seeing that movie wasn't a coincidence just because of this very dear call from Spain. If I would have answered, they would have sang happy birthday to me and that would have been that. But now, I have their recorded voices and I get to play it over and over again. Like right now...I just played it while writing this! I LOVE THAT so much. It is a dear gift to me and one that I get to re gift myself over and over again.

I'm telling you, things happen for a reason. 

Then, second one:

Hubby and I needed to get gas in our car. He filled and I went in to pay. I knew immediately the guy behind the counter was in an awesome mood and was just so jolly. He was genuinely interested in how my day was going. 
Well, ask my best friend whom I spent most of the day with...I told EVERYONE I came in contact with that it was my birthday, and not just any birthday, but my 50th.
This 20 something cashier heard my proclamation too! What proceeded still makes me giggle. 

Not kidding. He jumped around, saying "You're kidding!" "You just made my day." He sang  me 'happy birthday.' I soaked it all in. It was great! (I'm smiling right now!) We high-fived each other, my white hand entwining his black hand. Our eyes met and we just smiled the biggest smiles at each other and didn't let go of each others' hands. Other customers caught our sincere kindness toward one another. It was a magical moment. Such a great way to start my year of jubilee.

I'm telling you, we are entertaining angels on a continual basis. The gifts are everywhere. We just have to be open to see them.

The future looks bright.

Happy jubilee to me the whole year through!