Pinterest Postings Tell All

I love Pinterest.

It's like shopping without the clutter.

You don't have to dust it, move it, pull pages out of it.

There's no need to purchase different colored folders to keep the articles for 'someday.'

Heck, they do it for you.

I've spent hours and hours daydreaming, snickering, pinning and emailing different pins.

Instead of 'honey do' lists, hubbys now dread hearing, "Dear, wait till you see what I found on Pinterest."

They cringe, I tell you.  More eye rolling husbands exist today due to Pinterest.

I learned something else interesting about Pinterest: What you or your friends are interested in is posted there in plain sight for anyone who wants to get acquainted.  Or stalk.

Talking to a friend the other day, she shared that she had very few pins on her health board, but over 100 pins on her recipe  board.  Mine is glutted with cute pets  and rude sayings.  Very few (if any) recipes.

So I came up with a great way we can interact with other pinners like my friend.  She is more than welcome to try her recipes on me.

I, in the meantime, will play with and pet any available cute animal while making rude comments.

More Mis-Adventures

I promise you the stories I share with you are real.

When I describe clumsy, distracted, unbelievable situations that happen to me I ain't lying.

So here's a new one for you:

This past week I really tried to buckle down and get some paperwork done.  Yes, I procrastinate, mostly because I forget what I'm supposed to do until it's almost too late to do it.

Not THIS time- I promised myself.

So I settled down at my desk, got my files ready, charged up my cell phone and began returning phone calls to insurance companies I was supposed to contact weeks earler.

I certainly didn't think I'd misdialed: I mean, they give you many many (many many) numbers from which to choose.  Certainly ONE of those numbers would start me in the right direction.

I should have known something was wrong when the voice that answered the phone was one of a young lady who just sounded too happy.  No insurance company really has employees that sound that chipper, do they?

I became suspicious when this young lady asked me if I like to have fun.

Have fun?  I'm calling an insurance company.  They don't really care if I have fun.  They want my provider number and any other number I can come up with.  They mean business.

Ooooohhhhhh....I listened further.  This young lady was suggesting I didn't need to be lonely tonight.

I hung up.  And started laughing.

OF COURSE I dialed a 'dating service' number instead of an insurance company!

No lie.

Ode to a Sister-in-Law

Ode to a Sister-in-Law

Oh, masterful sister-in-law!

Gracious hostess, provider of playing cards

And massive slabs of barbecued meat.

How can I describe your many talents oh

Thou rememberer of all things directional?

Thou fair includer of friends olde and newe

For playing games and telling stories, embarrassing

And non.

Sharer of refrigerator, camper, and picnic table.

How does one describe thy virtues, thou

Leader of overboard outhousing?

Thou guider of husband, however futile.

Thou listener of father-in-law, however eternal.

Thou director of sisters-in-law whose only desire is

To lighten your load and receive your praise?

We bless you and praise your name to the heights

As an anchor in the householde of Sir Ronald.

Let me ring out the words of our hearts.

You done good.

You're HOW Old???

Greetings from Ye Olde Funny Farm!

I just recently celebrated yet another birthday and I've made several observations:


You know you're getting old when:


Your friends admire your new orthopedic shoes

Even teenagers open the door for you

Waitresses automatically show you the back of the menu

When clothes shopping you find yourself saying, "It looks comfortable."

When you still have your favorite songs on cassette

Your adult children search your closet for the retro party they're throwing.

You can pretend you can't hear someone and they believe you

You find yourself comparing yourself to a peer and wondering if you look as old as they do

You realize a cute male model in a store looks like your grandson

When someone says your white hair looks good on YOU but THEY'D look too old

You see a photo of yourself from behind and you think it's your elderly aunt

Facebook pictures of your old high school friends show they've gotten older

You make fun of an old lady not dressing for her age and realize you're wearing the same shirt

While car shopping you skip over the red sports car in favor of the 4 door with more comfortable seats and is easier to get in and out of.

Those large print books and magazines at the library aren't funny anymore (and you find yourself cussing that the font size on your cell phone is miniscule)

and finally,

You know you're getting older when letting your hair go gray and you can't decide if you're embracing your age or giving up.


So my friends, thanks for the well wishes on my birthday and may I have many more!

See you later;I'm going over to a friend's house and steal her walking cane.

Pushing Through Our Faith

It's one thing to talk about what we believe. Many of us are true scholars when it comes to the tenets of our beliefs.

In Bible college, many of my classmates were downright smug that they could recite the kings of the Old Testament in order and describe the history of the ancient prophets.

Me, I still had to look up the location of Hezekiah in the index when pressured.

I've become aware of what a challenge it is to actually act on what we say we believe, especially when hard times hit.

Then, along with the rest of us (even those who have to 'cheat' by looking in the Concordance) most biblical scholars find themselves shaking in their boots at the prospect of believing it.

Lately, I've found myself really having to lean heavily on the words I nag my clients about:

God is Sovereign;He knows what's going on,
If God is God He will guide and protect,
Scripture says He knows your heart and He will provide your needs,

And the big one:
It has nothing to do with who you are, and everything to do with Who He is.

I've had to sit tight in situations that would normally make me run off and hide.

Lately it seems like all the encouraging words (the things I really believe) are being replayed in my mind despite my personal misgivings.

I've had to invoke the relationship God has promised me through His Word, especially the part about not having the spirit of fear (II Tim. 1:7). I've had to release my grasp on my opinions and emotions, fold my arms and allow God to show me what He can and plans to do in my life.

That last statement is funny, really. I wish I was as 'hands on' with housework, paperwork, and other tasks I'd rather not do as I am with wanting to have involvement in what goes on in my own life.

So, the challenge is not for God to prove that He can do what He says He can do.

The challenge is for me to let Him.

Keep Your Eyes Open

By the way, I have to make mention of the ads on the blog page.
They are seriously funny!

There's an automatic function that posts ads that match key words in my post. So if I say something about God, religious ads appear; if I mention counseling or parenting, something else appears.

Did anyone notice what was posted on one of my first blog posts after allowing ads?

I was speaking about marriage counseling, I guess.

When I checked the post later I noticed an ad headline that asked,

'Cheating, Lying Spouse?' and gave the number for an attorney.

I have no idea where they got the ad for the devil tattoos tho.

When you read my blog, look around the page to see what ads they choose.

Until I figure out (or care to learn) how to pick my own advertisers, I'm just enjoying the added entertainment of random computer-chosen ads.

Maybe you'll get a kick out of it, too.

Out of My Comfort Zone

Or maybe deeper into it. My comfort zone, that is.

I don't seem to think like most other folks.

While I'm generally respectful of the opinions of others, I tend to take a different approach to my outlook on life.

It doesn't take much for me to burst out laughing (NOT recommended at a funeral, as I've learned) simply because I have a running commentary in my head in response to what's going on.

My daughter Kari says I'm the only person she knows who can be alone in a room and start hooting and hollering over something. I tell her I'm the only one who gets the joke!

I've been (mostly) happily counseling for 12 years and I'm pretty experienced in teaching and encouragement.

What I've noticed is that overall, very few of us give ourselves permission to just enjoy our lives; apparently, as believers in Christ we're supposed to be very heartfelt and earnest.

Well, I'm here to tell you, laughter is good for you! It has healing power and forces us to surrender our self-control to the light-hearted moment. Any woman over 50 knows just HOW out of control we can be when we start laughing...Depends, anyone?

I'm planning an informal gathering in mid-September (exact date tba) for folks to gather to be entertained.

Um, by ME.

For quite a while I've wanted to share my ability to tell funny stories, and hopefully, get a chuckle or two out of my listeners. I'm not positive where it will all lead, but I'm willing to risk it.

So here goes. I'll be updating my blog with info as it comes in. I'm looking for a local place for us to gather (hubby Don says we can meet at the park but Honey, I'm not into inhaling bugs for ANYBODY).

Pray for me and pray for the attenders. Especially the attenders.

Thanks.

Humor isn't for Sissies

Humor can be a tricky thing. What one person thinks is side-splitting hilarious the other person will think is dumb.

Tastes differ, that's for sure. I'm often dumbfounded by the glee dear hubby expresses when telling me a terrific joke he heard at work.

Long after the joke has been told I'm still waiting for the punchline.

For years I thought Don's taste in jokes was juvenile; he'll outgrow it and become 'sophisticated' like me, I've told myself.

I'm still waiting.

Then I discover that most men are the same way: men will tell tall tales and stories and jokes about body functions and mothers-in-law.

Women tell jokes about men.

Is there a type of fraternity these guys all belong to? Is that why they love 'The Three Stooges?'Is that why watching someone fall off a roof or get beaned by a baseball bat is rip-roaring good fun?

Why can't they be more like us girls? We enjoy true stories about what funny comment little Joey made while saying his nightly prayers. Puppy and kitty tales (tails?) are always welcome. And we would NEVER stoop so low as to laugh at the misfortune of someone else (ahem.)

We actually take it personally when our fella's joke flops.

What, doesn't he have any intelligence at all? What kind of person does he think I am that he thought I'd like that joke?

It reminds me that God must have a sense of humor; especially when we get all riled up about what WE think is right and wrong or what is appropriate.

Or funny.

I'm amused by my common belief that the world is meant to accommodate me and my opinions. Differences aren't simply unwelcome- they're downright WRONG!

I must concede that God has given us our individuality. If I criticize someone's taste in music or movies or humor I'm insulting the One Who put it there.

I'm saying that what they think or feel isn't valid yet I fight for my own right to think and feel (and laugh) the way I want to.

So funny is relative (and my relatives ARE funny...whacka whacka whacka).
The trick is to relax, smile a little, shake your head in disbelief and look at your unfunny loved ones in awe. Rejoice that at least YOUR jokes are brilliant, well thought out and skillfully delivered.

I hope to encourage dear hubby in his joke telling. Some day maybe he'll stand at a podium somewhere to deliver an important speech, beginning with a joke that will be repeated eagerly for many years to come.

Now THAT'S funny!

Power of the Will

One thing you've probably noticed if you've been following my blog is that I enjoy laughing at myself.

I laugh at you, too, but you don't know that.

Anyway, what I think is really funny is how many excuses/reasons I have for explaining my actions. Depending on my own viewpoint I can reason away (aka excuse)anything.

If I want to do something I'll find a reason (It's the RIGHT thing to do, I want to show my support, etc.).

If I don't want to do it I'll find a reason (I don't 'feel led,' I'm overbooked, I'd be in the way...).

But today is a great example of overcoming true obstacles (I might have broken my toe yesterday falling over something- is 'puffy purple' a medical term?)

Earlier today Don and I found ourselves excitedly riding our bikes together on the Katy Trail. Against 20+ mph winds. Me with a severely bruised toe.

I found a way and managed to overcome real roadblocks. (Don didn't: apparently while I wasn't looking he turned his wheels wrong, took a ditch, and fell headlong over his handlebars. I saw him climbing back onto his bike after his tumble but was unfazed since he tends to fall down a lot).

So...

My will managed to ignore physical pain so I could do what I wanted to do. My stubbornness said those real obstacles weren't big enough to stop me.

My will pushed my thoughts beyond what I thought I could do; I actually forgot for a while that I had aches, pains, and pressing responsibilities.

My thoughts focused outward rather than inward.

So while I nurse my aches and pains (and Don's embarrassment)I'm energized by the ability God has given me to use the power of my will to enjoy life.

But boy, will I ever remember my limitations when I try to get out of bed tomorrow.

Especially if I don't WANT to get up.