Let Them Wait! I’m A Klutz.

I didn’t fall. The floor just needed a hug.

Hatha Yoga Standing Balance Pose – Warrior 3 (Photo credit: myyogaonline)

Tripping, stumbling and a little off-balance.  That’s me.  I have always been a little on the clumsy side – ok  – so I’m a klutz.   This could be why I was always picked last at  baseball when I was a kid.

 

That’s ok.  I was never going to be a serious athlete.  Playing a little recreational tennis and par 3 golf were more my speed anyway.  I just wanted to feel athletic.

 

But I have always had trouble keeping my balance.  Even when doing some yoga and Pilates, it was always a challenge for me to balance on one leg.  And I have lost my balance when getting dressed or undressed in my own closet.  I have done some weight training and core strengthening exercises – but they don’t help.

 

Years ago I had a couple of bad falls.  Once in California when goofing around with family on the rocks at the ocean, I fell and sprained my right thumb – leaving me unable to write or play the piano for about 6 weeks.  Then later I fell down cement steps at the church where my husband was on staff – and broke my right foot.  I had to wear a “boot” cast for 6 weeks and could not drive.

 

It was during this time that Greg was installing new stairs in our 2-story home.  The bannister was torn out and the only way for me to go up and down the stairs was to walk very close and hug the wall while being careful not to fall again.  It must have been hilarious to watch.  Wouldn’t you have just loved to be a fly on our wall during those days?

 

I remember riding to the store with Greg and then having to walk the short distance from the parking lot to the store.  Because it was also an intersection for other cars to drive on – Greg did not want the cars to have to wait for us – so he did what any sensible guy in his position would do – he dragged me across the road.

 

I remember feeling indignant.  I mean – good grief, I was the handicapped one!  “Let them wait”, I said.  Was I wrong to feel like that?  Shouldn’t we make allowances for the ones that are slower?  Less capable?  Visibly not able?  Are people really that much in a hurry?  Can’t we slow down for all the klutzy people – like me?

 

Here’s my prayer today:  That we will all remember to slow down – look around and give others much grace and allowance.  That we will use love as a guide as we prefer others above ourselves.

 

Remember – inside everyone – is a klutz waiting to have great balance who needs understanding and a wide berth.

 

God Bless

 

Using Laughter

As far back as I can remember – laughter has always been a part of my life. Even today while relaying a very funny story to my husband as we were traveling to an appointment out of town – I was reminded that humor plays such an important role in relationships. Without it, our relationship over the years would have been much too serious, too dry and stale – as humor seems to work like a balm of soothing medicine – breaking down misunderstandings and helping us from becoming too inwardly focused.

I’m sitting in a crowded Starbucks this morning while writing this. I forgot my earphones which turns out to be a rather fatal flaw in my attempts to fully concentrate – as I am sitting rather close to another table where two young men are talking really loudly about scripture, the bible and what they are learning about both. Normally it would be a curious thing for me to observe and silently witness those around me as I am a captive audience in a small room with many people – even humorous if you will – but today as I try to write it does not seem very humorous. In fact – the more intent I am about keeping to myself – the more they seem to talk even louder – as if, somehow – they are trying to witness to me and everyone around us. Funny. I’m afraid to raise my head up from my keyboard – even though it would be amusing to stop, and look right at them and say, “You needn’t try so hard – it’s okay – I’m already in”

Life has so many of the humorous “moments”. Laughter breaks any tension in a room – between people and removes awkwardness in a second. My students are so funny and I have spent much time over the years in my music studio just laughing. Yesterday one of my teenage male students was there with his guitar practicing with me for an upcoming recital in a couple of weeks. He was telling me a funny story about his brother and I’m still giggling about it today!

Another side note – I have a portable case and keyboard for my iPad 2 that I am typing from. It is wireless and for the most part works. However, once in a while I will strike a key and I get it repeatingggggggggggggg like this. So frustrating – not sure what I’m doing wrong for it to have that function and it takes SO MUCH TIME to go back and keep correcting! Once the repeating letter seemed to have a mind of it’s own and went for 6 lines before stopping!! Yikes. Not a good feature. But you’ve got to admit – it’s funny.

Well that is my blog article today. Between the distractions of the two young men trying “get me saved” and my portable wireless keyboard – that’s all I’m good for today. Both these things will make a great story to tell Greg later – can’t wait 🙂

God Bless

Things That Go SQUEAK In The Night

I am used to unusual noises in our home – especially at night.  We live in an older home and it likes to POP and CRACK at the most inconvenient times – like when I’m all alone.  When we first moved in – almost 10 years ago, I was downstairs in my office – and the wind blew a door shut upstairs.  I was SURE there was someone in our house!  It sounded creepy like footsteps above me!   And going to sleep was difficult at first.  But over time I have become accustom to it.  When we have guests here – often they will hear something above their heads and then look at us quizzically, and then ask, “are you sure there is no one home”?   We will then nod and look at each other with knowing looks (we could really have fun with people if we chose to) and say, “it’s just our old creaky house – it likes to settle.

It is also not unusual for Greg to be gone until the wee hours of morning.  He is a contractor in his “other” job, moonlighting for a company called “Northwood Construction” and they are contracted out to many Starbucks stores in the greater Seattle area.  So his job includes, and is not limited to:  window washing after hours, high dusting, pressure washing and light maintenance.  Last night it was another late one.  He has become an expert at slipping in very quietly – that is until we got a puppy. Dogs have an uncanny way of smelling and hearing you before you arrive – and our puppy is always looking for someone to come and see her and is listening intently – especially for Dad to come home after working.

So Greg can not exactly slip in unnoticed anymore.  Daisy will jump off the bed, and I will hear her running down the hall, clickety click – down the stairs and then to the back door wagging her tail madly and waiting for that magic moment when Greg opens the door.  Last night was no exception.  But Greg was very quiet and soon I drifted back to sleep.  The next thing I remember was hearing a very loud SQUEAK from one of Daisy’s toys and wondered to myself, “why is she playing with her toys in the middle of the night?” and then I heard a very LOUD CRASH – which had me sitting straight up in bed yelling, “Greg?  Is that you?  What’s going ON?”  This was accompanied by Greg laughing out loud and saying, “well – first I tried to turn out the light down here, I stepped on this blasted squeaky toy and then in the dark, I knocked over the coffee table!”  We had a good laugh as I accused him of playing with Daisy’s toys and telling him I was sure it had been her!

It’s the little comedies in life that give an extra sparkle to relationships and have us looking at ourselves and others with humor – as we all try to  take ourselves a little less seriously.  And folks, if you can laugh at things even in the middle of the night – then I would say that you have passed the test and have found the little things are some of the most important things, after all.

Here’s wishing you and yours a little more comedy and a little less tragedy as you discover laughter and the true medicine it is 🙂

God Bless

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Are You Bored?

Image via Wikipedia

What is your first thought when you see someone write on facebook, twitter or any other social media – “I’m SO BORED”?

Do you think it’s funny?  You’re one of those that can identify with this – and find yourself relating back with humorous chit-chat to relieve their boredom?

Do you think it’s lazy?  Are you one of the ones raised in my generation with parents who thought it was some sort of “sin” to be bored?  And would immediately create a new and “fun” project to keep you from ever saying “I’m bored” again?

Last night Greg and I were watching “Modern Family” – on the program Claire’s girls had been talking inside, while their mother Claire was outside.  The girls said they were ‘bored’.  And just like I remember from my childhood, Claire came in and immediately gave them the project of cleaning the kitchen cupboards and everything else in it.  Yes – it was just what I remember – which is why I was never bored.  Busy – yes – but not bored.

Too many times I see this online and I cringe.  Honestly when I read this I have this mental picture of someone staring straight ahead at a pasty white wall, mouth opened, with a little drool coming out – nearly stupefied and ready to PASS OUT!

Now that may not be what you are indicating when you say, “I’m bored” – but to those of us raised with parents from the “builder” generation whose value came from hard work – then to US it looks like you just need a project, chore or something to DO that’s constructive!

I’m sure what most of you mean is this:

1)  I don’t have anything pressing right now to do.

or

2) I have some free time (Yay for ME!)

or

3) I can chill for a while in my quiet place (if you’re a guy – your “nothing box”)

For me – these all apply – but you will NEVER hear me say or EVER write on social media that “I’m bored” – not EVER.  To me – that is a sign that my mind has ceased to function – that I am beyond the point of  enjoying  a good book, sitting quietly and watching a good movie – playing word games and puzzles to increase my word knowledge and ponder on the many things I need to prepare the next day or week.

How about you?

Are YOU bored?

God Bless

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Finding My Sense Of Humor

A sense of humor… is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.
Hugh Sidey

Image via Wikipedia

I totally agree with the above quote.  Ever know someone who wasn’t on the same page with you – as far as humor goes?  Instead of smiling, or laughing and seeing the joke – they criticize and try to “correct” you?

Ah – the value of seeing the lighter side of life!  Sometimes the ones that have the best sense of humor are those that have been through much in their lives.  I’m reminded of stand up comedians – and very funny entertainers.  Usually there is a story there that propelled them into channeling hurt and frustration into laughter and making people laugh.  And usually it is those that have been through the most in life – that have the best grasp on it.

I don’t know why we are made the way we are – we all have different personalities, work ethic, family traditions and backgrounds – and yet, somehow we all have the ability to laugh and feel joy.  And when we lose that ability to laugh – especially at ourselves, we lose real meaning and our lives become very heavy indeed.

I believe that God created each of us with that special gift of laughter and conversation – unique to human beings – so that we could express and experience His nature to the full.

Do you ever find yourself losing your sense of humor?

If so – you are not alone.

There are MANY things in this life that will rob you and me of that joyous laughter and appreciation for the little things.

Life is hard.  There are bills.  And worries.  And illness.  And teenagers.  And aging parents.  And more bills.  And relationship problems.  And on and on and on and on it goes.

We can’t change them.  They just are.

But true joy comes from knowing Jesus as your personal Savior.  We were hopelessly lost in sin and death – and then Jesus…

That’s enough to bring a smile and a laugh – but if it’s not enough for you – try taking a walk today and looking around at the trees and nature.  Take a deep breath and whisper a prayer, “Thank you Lord – for all of this BEAUTY today – thank you for providing a release from stress and the burdens of life – and help me to find that laughter and deep joy that only comes from you – help me to find that laughter again – help me to find that much-needed humor that YOU created for me”

It may not change any of your circumstances – but it will change YOU!

I am praying for you today.

Laugh at something or someone today.  Take a chance.  Have a belly laugh.  Laugh down deep – laugh until you cry.  You will be glad you did.

God Bless

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You’re NOT The Boss Of Me

Greg and I are dog sitting for our pastor and friend this week.  I have never owned a dog so I wondered how it would work out – but it’s been amazing.  Macy is a very sweet – but very active beagle.

Yesterday we took her for a long walk down by the Cedar River.  In the car she was not always happy to be just in the back seat by herself – she would hop up on my lap and try to poke her face out my window!  So cute – but she’s a heavy dog!  She also did NOT like staying on the trail – but sniffed EVERYTHING and went wildly running with reckless abandon!!  Because she is VERY STRONG Greg held her leash – after she about pulled my arm out!  It was very interesting seeing how she interacted with other dogs on the trail – and how the other dogs did the same – no matter how well-trained they were.

After we got home – we were eating dinner on our back deck – with Macy tied up in the yard with a long lease.  The little Chihuahua’s next door are quite BOSSY and were barking their “orders” to Macy from their backyard.  Macy barked back.  It was as if she was saying, “You’re NOT the boss of me!”

When was the last time you went on an adventure – or watched someone’s animal for them – only to learn something about them that was interesting and new?

When was the last time you barked to someone, “You’re NOT the boss of me”?

Here’s a picture of Macy

Enjoy and God Bless

 

Far Side Humor

Ever feel like this?

 

God Bless

Kangaroo Arms in a Gumby World

Image via Wikipedia

I have short arms.  I have always suspected there was something wrong with me.

It started back in grade school.  I loved to twirl on the bar at recess.  Never mind that I had a fear of falling forward – thinking my short arms would NOT save me from landing on my face – but I noticed that the other girls seems to have a much better turning radius than I.  I suppose my short arms actually prevented me from landing on my face and I’m not really sure how all the long armed gumby-like girls prevented hitting theirs.  I guess it was because they were not only long – but stretchy.  Mine were neither long – or stretchy so lucky for me that mine were  on the short side when I did finally master the art of twirling forward.

As I grew in height – my arm length remained short.  Anytime I would buy something with long sleeves – it would be several inches TOO long.  Oh I would roll them up or fold them over – and in the 80’s when it was chic to have arm bands for shirts, sweaters and jackets – I had a pair in EVERY color.  I was cool.  My sleeves didn’t betray my short ‘kangaroo like’ arms.

A few years ago – my daughter and I ventured into the scary dark abyss of hot yoga.  I signed up for 6 weeks of cleansing and stretching classes.  What I did NOT know – is this – in yoga you have to do poses and stretches where you have to move like a gumby and do a back bend and touch the mat behind your head.  My husband calls it “reaching for China” – and only a person with very long and stretchy arms like the super power of ‘elasticity’ – can hope to achieve this.  I found out really quick – that I do not have that.  When we would have to sit and try to reach and touch our toes – I would watch everyone do this with ease.  It was impossible for me.  The poor yoga instructor – I’m sure she did not know what to with me would smiled and say, “do the best you can – you can do the same thing by grabbing your ankles”  Bless her heart.  Isn’t that precious?

I have also noticed that driving in a car – because I am tall (5’9″) I usually have the seat all the way back – but then my arms are too short to reach the steering wheel – so I have to lean forward.  Not a great thing for my posture over the years.  It’s this way for my computer too – tall so I sit back – short arms so I have to lean forward to reach my keyboard – like I’m doing right now.

What to do.  My husband and children have teased me about this for as long as I can remember – and because I love to laugh along – I started saying they were “kangaroo arms”.  I happen to think kangaroos are very cute – short arms and all.  We will not mention that they also happen to be a little round and bulbous in their lower exterior – we will just stick to the arms for this illustration. 🙂  Because my arms are shorter than the normal person who is as tall as I am – it is a challenge to let them just “hang” at my side, elegant and poised.  NO.  Mine stick OUT – in a most bizarre way.  Not long enough to make it sufficiently over the mid section and hip area – they poke out a little.  My daughter has pointed this out to me many times – “Mom, do you have to stick your arms out like that”?  Bless her sweet little heart.  She thinks I actually have a choice.  And I guess I do – in a way.  If I concentrate very hard, close my eyes and visualize longer, sleek, gumby-like arms – then I can make them stick to my sides.  For a few seconds at least 😉

Here’s to all of you kangaroo-like people!  I salute you.  Going through life and doing things meant for only the ‘gumbies’ of the world – such as:

1. Reaching the top shelf in the kitchen or closet without asking for help or stepping on a chair

2. Reaching the steering wheel and resting your back on the seat

3. Doing any kind of stretching exercise requiring that you bend over and touch the floor with your finger tips

4. Resting your arms elegantly at your sides

5. Reaching a keyboard without leaning so far forward that you pull all your neck, shoulder and back muscles in the process – requiring chiropractor visits and massage therapy.   (The massage part is a bonus – by the way 🙂

What physical hindrances keep you from doing what you want to do?  Have people ever teased you because you looked different?  Did you ever feel inadequate and different?  I want to hear about it – mostly because I don’t want to feel alone here 😦  Share AWAY!

God Bless

 

Fighting Fair

Image by Ujwala Prabhu via Flickr

Greg and I had an interesting verbal “sparring match” this morning.  It is very healthy to have these – as I have in recent years, discovered – and yet it is still somewhat foreign soil to venture in to the murky dark abyss of this type of “healthy exchange”.  We are still pretty new to resolving our differences this way.  Even after all the years we’ve been married.  It’s easier to say nothing than to deal with some things.

We’ve been reading one of Erma Bombeck’s hilarious books on relationships and in one chapter she writes about a very humorous exchange between she and her husband where she asks him, ‘Linda and Joe have meaningful conversations – why don’t we have any meaningful conversations’?  To which they both agreed, finally that surface conversations were safer in the long run.

Sometimes meaningful conversations between men and women are at crossed purposes and it seems easier to keep it simple.    I mean, since a man is NOT a woman – by any stretch of the imagination – it is difficult to get him to THINK like one.  I believe a meaningful conversation for my husband or any other guy friend of mine would be full of facts and information – sparring about this and that – displaying and ‘peacocking’ ambitions and accomplishments – news issues or politics – or for the Christian man – a debate on scripture or strategy on church leadership and such.

But women would rather talk about how they feel about issues – relationships and don’t care so much about the facts and figures.  And if it’s a news-worthy topic – it’s usually how people feel that are being affected – world events that talk about people and not just strategy and politics for strategy and politic’s sake.  Arguing or debating is not high on our list of ‘fun things’ to do.

Don’t get me wrong – I love a good sparring match – when it’s fun and harmless – debating about this or that – when it’s done right with no personal ‘shots’ or humiliating comments from the other party – and I can usually hold my own with any man on many topics – but it is difficult finding the balance in the sparring – when it’s your husband.

For some strange reason – over time, at least for us – we know how to do the “dance” of our relationship.  The things and words that push all of our buttons – and then have a hard time knowing how to defuse a situation after it IS into more than just a “healthy discussion”.  We know it’s important to not accuse and say things like, “YOU always says this” or “YOU make me feel lousy about myself when you do or say that” – instead we know to say, “I feel like bad when you say this” or “I am not liking what I think you are meaning by that” but alas.  Often times a discussion can turn south WAY before the intentions for saying the right thing is properly communicated.

I have learned how to have healthy and “meaningful conversations” with my husband out of necessity and out of survival – but sometimes we are not always successful – and occasionally – even we blow it.

Today I did not “stuff” my feelings as I would have done in years gone by – I spoke it right out!  It was a pretty stupid meaningless thing – nothing earth-shaking at all.  But it did have repercussions – as any discussion like this will.  And in frustration I heard myself saying these words, “Why can’t you be more like a WOMAN”?  Yeah right.  Really clever.  The problem is this:  Greg is my best friend – and he’s clearly NOT a woman.   He is a man.  He is also my husband.  So many problems with this arrangement – so much potential ammunition to want to KILL HIM at times – because he is A DUMB GUY!!

And so our dance continues.  I am learning to speak out when things bother me (this is so NOT like me in the past) and he is learning to dial it back a pinch when he has that incredible little imp that sits on his shoulder.  The Brat.  It’s not perfect – but it’s a life-long journey that we call marriage.

I suppose this is what they call “fighting fair” – having a healthy and meaningful exchange of words – really listening to what the other person is saying – learning what to say and what NOT to say to diffuse a situation and most of all – to remember to show a lot of love a grace when personal ego and pride are affected.  When your husband is a man and also your best friend – it’s worth the dance.

God Bless

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Happy April! And That’s No Fooling! (via Cindy Holman’s Blog)

As I am usually QUEEN of the April Fool’s pranks – just wanted to post last years blog post on this day – telling of some of my better pranks 🙂 I’m still trying to think of a few for my son and husband – the day is still young –  Shhh!

So to you and yours – HAPPY APRIL to you!!  This year I’m watching MY back 🙂

 

God Bless

As I look at my blog post from last year – I read how it was SNOWING here in the Pacific Northwest!  What a good “April Fool’s” that was!! This year – it’s still pretty cold out – but at least it’s SUNNY!! I am very mischievous by nature and have pulled some WONDERFUL April Fool’s “pranks” over the years – my family knows me well – and never know just what I’ll do to them on this day!!  My favorite one happened when my husband Greg was in seminar … Read More

via Cindy Holman’s Blog