I've never really been a real big fan of change, kinda ironic coming from someone who served in the military and changed duty stations seven times, which included two overseas assignments (one without family/one with) and also a short 90-day temporary duty assignment.
Merrium Webster defines it one way as "to make radically different, transform, to give a different position, course, or direction to.
I like to change my mind, my hairstyle, my shoes, my sleeping position. I don't like to change stinky diapers, the oil in my car, my plans, my routine, changing time. It throws me off and makes me crazy when I don't have control of a situation. I don't really think I am a control freak, but others might have another opinion!
So why should I like this thing called "the change of life" when I don't get any say so in the matter? How did I not see it coming, but knew it would happen? Can't I just change my mind and decide not to participate?
There could be a lot of things about this next second half century that I can like: new babies, new-lyweds, new relationships...all fresh and untouched for the moment by change. But it will come, it is ineffitable, and without notice will show up ready or not. Not anything like your childhood hide and go seek!
So I think I am going to change my mind about how I feel about it and instead will embrace this transformation. Like a butterfly, I'm going to build myself a cocoon and when I feel the time is right, break out of my hardened shell into a delicate creature of God. It won't be easy because remember that this is not my choice, but since this change is gonna happen without my say so, guess I'm gonna let this radically change me and follow the direction that God has mapped out for me.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Too Many Cookies
It's really late and I should be in bed, but baking always gives me energy. Besides, tomorrow is Friday and the weekend beckons me to get a head start.
Almost every Thursday night, I bribe the brownie baker to don her apron to bake a batch of brownies for the guys at work. OK, before you get any ideas, they keep my computer running and me sane when I cannot get whatever flavor of a program to work my way. So, their favorite bribe food is brownies. One of them likes them gooey in the middle, the other with nuts. Gooey with nuts is usually what gets taken and all are gone before lunch.
Cookies joined the mix this week as one of my team members was Employee of the Month for June so we are celebrating at our team meeting tomorrow with a special treat. I made them special for him because he is watching his weight...oatmeal cookies with cranraisins. Yum... I thought I would make a double batch, that way there would be plenty for everyone and the extra would be a great afternoon snack.
I started baking at 8am, each batch took 12-14 minutes, allowing 2 minutes to cool. Two and a half hours later = two full containers and extra in the cookie jar for the main cookie monster to munch on. Had to fill it up because, he ate all of my graham crackers! They are good with peanut butter on them and I can have them on my eating plan (not diet= first three letters are D I E )! Anyway, I started thinking back when the kids were little and how I couldn't keep cookies in the jar...they never made it there, but were scarved up before they even had a chance to cool. Something else was missing, the bowl lickers. I never had to worry about cleaning the bowl because one of them would wisk it away as I put the last of the dough on the cookie sheet.
This takes me back to when all of us kids would be under Mom's feet when she was cooking. She called us her little helpers and we would hand her the ingrediants one by one. We had the best time, made a big mess, but had a great time. We made homeade yeast donuts and used my grandfathers bakery recipe: needless to say the whole neighborhood were treated to a sweet or two.
Your assignment should you choose to accept it, is to dust off those cookbooks, put makeshift aprons on your little helpers, and bake away. Then here is the best part: share them with your friends because I always say, things taste better when you share them!
Almost every Thursday night, I bribe the brownie baker to don her apron to bake a batch of brownies for the guys at work. OK, before you get any ideas, they keep my computer running and me sane when I cannot get whatever flavor of a program to work my way. So, their favorite bribe food is brownies. One of them likes them gooey in the middle, the other with nuts. Gooey with nuts is usually what gets taken and all are gone before lunch.
Cookies joined the mix this week as one of my team members was Employee of the Month for June so we are celebrating at our team meeting tomorrow with a special treat. I made them special for him because he is watching his weight...oatmeal cookies with cranraisins. Yum... I thought I would make a double batch, that way there would be plenty for everyone and the extra would be a great afternoon snack.
I started baking at 8am, each batch took 12-14 minutes, allowing 2 minutes to cool. Two and a half hours later = two full containers and extra in the cookie jar for the main cookie monster to munch on. Had to fill it up because, he ate all of my graham crackers! They are good with peanut butter on them and I can have them on my eating plan (not diet= first three letters are D I E )! Anyway, I started thinking back when the kids were little and how I couldn't keep cookies in the jar...they never made it there, but were scarved up before they even had a chance to cool. Something else was missing, the bowl lickers. I never had to worry about cleaning the bowl because one of them would wisk it away as I put the last of the dough on the cookie sheet.
This takes me back to when all of us kids would be under Mom's feet when she was cooking. She called us her little helpers and we would hand her the ingrediants one by one. We had the best time, made a big mess, but had a great time. We made homeade yeast donuts and used my grandfathers bakery recipe: needless to say the whole neighborhood were treated to a sweet or two.
Your assignment should you choose to accept it, is to dust off those cookbooks, put makeshift aprons on your little helpers, and bake away. Then here is the best part: share them with your friends because I always say, things taste better when you share them!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Ain't Life Grand - Just the Beginning
This blog is dedicated to the all the woman in my life.
Through encourgement, "Second Half Century - Ain't Life Grand" was created with all the young mothers in mind as a way of escape and time travel into the what you will have to look forward to. I'll share some stories from my childhood (my antics: my mother "blogged" way back then on an old typewriter) as well as everyday experiences as I see it. Since this blog is for you, feel free to ask suggest something...my brain is only so big and not that full of ideas.
I do want to add this disclaimer: I have not had any professional counselor training nor do I profess to know everything. You can expect honesty and truth. I can be your best friend or a shoulder to cry on. I'll make you laugh until well you need a diaper and a hankie.
I guess we will see how this goes and I will make a concerted effort to blog everyday. Need some accountability partners here.
So here is today's first one:
Many of you know that I am not a morning person until I have my coffee and some silent meditation on my drive into work. It takes me about thirty to forty five minutes everyday from my santuary to the job. Well this morning was no different than any other and when I finally got out of the door, thirty minutes later than I usually leave, as I was getting in my car, a friend and neighbor shouts her "Good Morning Lazy" to me. In my head I am thinking I need to get to work, but in my heart, I'm thinking she needs to talk. I've known this person for a very long time. Her daughter and my kids went to the same elementary, middle, and high school and now lives in California. We haven't seen one another in a while and after the usual small talk of how come I look so good but still lazy, you never come to see me and have tea, she got to the heart of the matter. She poured her heart out to me. Although I won't share the details, what I will share is that she was hurting and trusted me enough to share why. So I pushed the igottahurryandgettowork thought out of my head and stood still. As we stood there crying in each other's arms, I felt a bond I thought had been lost. She kept apologizing throughtout the conversation for keeping me from leaving for work and how that was more important. I reassured her that I was where I wanted to be. At that moment she was more important. More important than that cup of coffee waiting for me in my car. More important than the stretch of miles that lay waiting for me to travel on. More important than my office waiting for me to turn the lights on.
God has been telling me to slow down. Does he know what He is asking ME of all people to do? Are you serious? Once I get going, there is no stopping me. Even when I am feeling a little under the weather, I still manage to do a load of laundry or straighten up something. Or work on that report that has to go out. Maybe it's the coffee, or is it just ingrained in us in order to satisfy our need for a sense of accomplishment?
I don't know. I just know that during those "down times" He has shown me a different perspective, maybe even a little glimpse of heaven here on earth. That's why He tells us to be still and know that He is God...He has something to show us or teach us. We may not understand it at that particular moment, but as we "go along" and let Him, He reveals His purpose.
So, there you have it. The first. Let me know what you think. Please be gentle.
Through encourgement, "Second Half Century - Ain't Life Grand" was created with all the young mothers in mind as a way of escape and time travel into the what you will have to look forward to. I'll share some stories from my childhood (my antics: my mother "blogged" way back then on an old typewriter) as well as everyday experiences as I see it. Since this blog is for you, feel free to ask suggest something...my brain is only so big and not that full of ideas.
I do want to add this disclaimer: I have not had any professional counselor training nor do I profess to know everything. You can expect honesty and truth. I can be your best friend or a shoulder to cry on. I'll make you laugh until well you need a diaper and a hankie.
I guess we will see how this goes and I will make a concerted effort to blog everyday. Need some accountability partners here.
So here is today's first one:
Many of you know that I am not a morning person until I have my coffee and some silent meditation on my drive into work. It takes me about thirty to forty five minutes everyday from my santuary to the job. Well this morning was no different than any other and when I finally got out of the door, thirty minutes later than I usually leave, as I was getting in my car, a friend and neighbor shouts her "Good Morning Lazy" to me. In my head I am thinking I need to get to work, but in my heart, I'm thinking she needs to talk. I've known this person for a very long time. Her daughter and my kids went to the same elementary, middle, and high school and now lives in California. We haven't seen one another in a while and after the usual small talk of how come I look so good but still lazy, you never come to see me and have tea, she got to the heart of the matter. She poured her heart out to me. Although I won't share the details, what I will share is that she was hurting and trusted me enough to share why. So I pushed the igottahurryandgettowork thought out of my head and stood still. As we stood there crying in each other's arms, I felt a bond I thought had been lost. She kept apologizing throughtout the conversation for keeping me from leaving for work and how that was more important. I reassured her that I was where I wanted to be. At that moment she was more important. More important than that cup of coffee waiting for me in my car. More important than the stretch of miles that lay waiting for me to travel on. More important than my office waiting for me to turn the lights on.
God has been telling me to slow down. Does he know what He is asking ME of all people to do? Are you serious? Once I get going, there is no stopping me. Even when I am feeling a little under the weather, I still manage to do a load of laundry or straighten up something. Or work on that report that has to go out. Maybe it's the coffee, or is it just ingrained in us in order to satisfy our need for a sense of accomplishment?
I don't know. I just know that during those "down times" He has shown me a different perspective, maybe even a little glimpse of heaven here on earth. That's why He tells us to be still and know that He is God...He has something to show us or teach us. We may not understand it at that particular moment, but as we "go along" and let Him, He reveals His purpose.
So, there you have it. The first. Let me know what you think. Please be gentle.
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