Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Wanna' be Friends?
I am sitting at the pool on vacation in the lovely North Carolina Mountains. For several days now I have enjoyed watching my children play with a variety of people. People from all ages and walks of life. Our youngest find.....from Dubai..a two year old and our oldest find...an eighty nine year old lady who just lost her husband. Alex is quick to say..."My name is Alex, wanna' be my friend?". This is the greatest statement ever. He loves to play with others. He wants to know from where they come, what they do for fun, and how long they will be staying. When we went to the Weenie and S'more Party this afternoon, I heard.."hey...there is our friend Alex." This was nice. Alex is deserving of the title and the honor that comes along with it. It really is very simple. To have friends...you have to first be one. You must show concern for them and their story and listen...really LISTEN!! Alex does these things. I should humble myself and be like Alex. HEY...you wanna' be my friend?
Saturday, July 10, 2010
New Friends
Were you ever a Girl Scout? I was. I remember a little song we sang...Make new friends....but keep the old...one is silver and the other gold. Tonight I had the honor of meeting some of my husband's friends from "the old days". I will admit...I was a little nervous. I wanted to make a good impression. I wanted them to approve. I wanted him to be proud of the life we have created.
I ended up with an even greater surprise. I really liked the guys. My husband remained true to himself...not changing just because they were around. I saw them raise eyebrows and look at me for my reaction...and received approving smiles when my true self was good enough for them. THIS WAS NICE!
An added bonus...we got ice cream after dinner and walked around the historic district of Sanford, NC. There were kids playing in the city's fountain. Our kids ran races up and down the sidewalks. We window shopped and had conversations about the buildings and the history they likely held. The vibe was fun and old-fashioned...and lovely.
The evening was perfect. Nostalgia may be a side effect of being forty....but I am really okay with this one!!
May you find yourself in perfect evenings...that you never expected!
I ended up with an even greater surprise. I really liked the guys. My husband remained true to himself...not changing just because they were around. I saw them raise eyebrows and look at me for my reaction...and received approving smiles when my true self was good enough for them. THIS WAS NICE!
An added bonus...we got ice cream after dinner and walked around the historic district of Sanford, NC. There were kids playing in the city's fountain. Our kids ran races up and down the sidewalks. We window shopped and had conversations about the buildings and the history they likely held. The vibe was fun and old-fashioned...and lovely.
The evening was perfect. Nostalgia may be a side effect of being forty....but I am really okay with this one!!
May you find yourself in perfect evenings...that you never expected!
Monday, July 5, 2010
MEMA HOLBROOK
Today we visited Mema Holbrook at the nursing home. SHE LOOKED GREAT.
I love the fact that she puts on makeup and MUST have a bath every day.
I also love the fact that even tho' she does not love this place.....she is making the best of it.
Since Saturday, she has seen first hand how blessed she is and has the sense to admit it!
I love the fact that she started whispering a little gossip about her roommate.
I love the fact that she is certain she has to go home...
WHY?
Because she promised Mack and Alex to teach them to make her famous pound cake.
Mema is eighty-eight years old. She reads her Bible every day and has a great
sense of humor. I love it when something really gets to her and she throws her
head back and laughs a laugh that is generated deep within her soul.
She is of sound mind and owes it all to her Word Search and Soduku workbooks.
I pray that at her age (should I live that long)...someone will feel about me...the way
we feel about Mema.
God bless you sweet lady!
I love the fact that she puts on makeup and MUST have a bath every day.
I also love the fact that even tho' she does not love this place.....she is making the best of it.
Since Saturday, she has seen first hand how blessed she is and has the sense to admit it!
I love the fact that she started whispering a little gossip about her roommate.
I love the fact that she is certain she has to go home...
WHY?
Because she promised Mack and Alex to teach them to make her famous pound cake.
Mema is eighty-eight years old. She reads her Bible every day and has a great
sense of humor. I love it when something really gets to her and she throws her
head back and laughs a laugh that is generated deep within her soul.
She is of sound mind and owes it all to her Word Search and Soduku workbooks.
I pray that at her age (should I live that long)...someone will feel about me...the way
we feel about Mema.
God bless you sweet lady!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Vanilla Days
Tonight I took my family to the Fresh House in Locust. THEY LOVED IT!
I had the grilled pimento cheese sandwich on fresh sourdough bread...it was delicious!
My boys (all 3) begged to get up and look around the place while we waited for our food. We could hardly eat our meal for "hey mom...they have...you gotta' see this....."
I had talked about the desserts from my previous visit and all three had to order. One double layer chocolate cake with homemade icing (just like Mema makes); one homemade Reece Cup ice cream; and one homemade vanilla ice cream.
I just had an extra spoon...
The vanilla ice cream was the best. Sometimes life is just like that...the things that we think are going to dazzle us and bring us bountiful joy are well...a little disappointing.
Yet at other times...plain old vanilla...nothing special...nothing spectacular is just what we crave. Life gets complicated and we wallow in self-pity and stress. Maybe..we should shoot for vanilla days...looking for the unexpected yet perfect solution to our need for normalcy and peace. Maybe we should take comfort in the "boring" day where we do nothing...yet nothing interferes with that!
You really need to visit the Fresh House. The bluegrass music and quaint atmosphere is guaranteed to calm your savage soul and I guarantee you will not leave there hungry!
God bless you and your vanilla days!
I had the grilled pimento cheese sandwich on fresh sourdough bread...it was delicious!
My boys (all 3) begged to get up and look around the place while we waited for our food. We could hardly eat our meal for "hey mom...they have...you gotta' see this....."
I had talked about the desserts from my previous visit and all three had to order. One double layer chocolate cake with homemade icing (just like Mema makes); one homemade Reece Cup ice cream; and one homemade vanilla ice cream.
I just had an extra spoon...
The vanilla ice cream was the best. Sometimes life is just like that...the things that we think are going to dazzle us and bring us bountiful joy are well...a little disappointing.
Yet at other times...plain old vanilla...nothing special...nothing spectacular is just what we crave. Life gets complicated and we wallow in self-pity and stress. Maybe..we should shoot for vanilla days...looking for the unexpected yet perfect solution to our need for normalcy and peace. Maybe we should take comfort in the "boring" day where we do nothing...yet nothing interferes with that!
You really need to visit the Fresh House. The bluegrass music and quaint atmosphere is guaranteed to calm your savage soul and I guarantee you will not leave there hungry!
God bless you and your vanilla days!
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