Boundaries

Life has been different for me this year. Evolving perhaps, I don't know. Difficult at times? A definite yes. Easier at times? A definite sometimes. A year that is only in it's 5th month has brought this blogger to ponder things to extremes. Tonight, as in the past few nights, I ponder "boundaries"

When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life...... simple statement eh? It's called boundaries.

By definition - (googled this)

1. Something that indicates a border or limit.
2. The border or limit so indicated.

Seems straight forward, and pretty clear. Yet when it comes to our own lives, and the lives of others boundaries can get blurred. What is okay, what is not okay.. and sometimes when one oversteps.. it's simply no longer a boundary but a control issue.

What is ours to own? What is ours to let go? What is none of our business? How does one set healthy boundaries, how does one learn to let it go. These are things I keep in mind. When I find myself wondering about something I stop and think to myself, have I set up healthy boundaries? Am I overstepping a boundary. Basically is it my business (my work, my home, etc). If it's not... then that's a quick let it go.

I don't claim to know what is okay boundary wise for this person or that. What I do know is that when one sets healthy boundaries, and let's things go, they will have peace. To control is to be out of control.

Draw the line, a healhty line, stick to it, and all will be well.

What on Earth am I here for?

What on earth am I here for? A profound question indeed. Does one really have the answer to this question? Perhaps they do, perhaps they don't, perhaps... like me, this is something to ponder from time to time. What on earth am I here for?

Almighty God and Father made each of us become one to His liking, to His purpose. Repeat... His purpose. So again, I ask, What on earth am I here for, or what is my purpose? I personally don't have the answer to this. I strive to live my life fruitfully, and for His glory, however, I'd be lieing if I said it was easy. Most days it feels hard... for I am hard on myself, sometimes to extremes. Learning to let go, and let Him be the guide sounds easy, it takes time. It takes an open heart. It takes faith and love. I can honestly say that I try, and will continue to try.

An analogy here. Let's take a tree. You plant it, you water it it, you nurture it, etc. The tree grows, and when mature enough it bears fruit. From time to time the tree needs pruning, shaping, it encourages new growth for the tree. This is much what our Heavenly Father does for us, daily. Pruning can be painful, however if we keep in mind the new growth that comes with pruning, we are truly being blessed with each pruning. For He knows when it's time, and in His time He will prune.

Accept challenges, triumphs and defeats, as lessons. How have I grown in His likeness? How can I become more like Him. Simple statement, yet as humans, in our earthly forms, we tend to complicate even the simplistic.

For today, let's keep it simple. Let's take the tree, be like the tree. You plant it (God's gift to us of life). You water it (Learn more about God daily) You nurture it (Never will He leave he). You prune it (God's gift of eternal love). The tree (you) bear fruit. I pray that the Lord our God will continue to help me understand life's challenges as Blessings, no matter how sad or difficult they may seem, for each day - each event in life is a Blessing from God.

To my family and friends, may we see the simplicity and goodness in Life through Him. Amen!

Hearts Tears

Tears of happiness
Tears of joy
Tears of relief
Tears of sorrow
Tears of anguish
Tears of pain
Tears from the heart
Unseen by others
the most loving
tears of all
I miss you Mom

Tim the Tool Man

Oh... Tim the tool man would have been proud of me this morning. Arghh arghh.... (a bit of laughter here thinking about it)... 8:30 am I decide that I must weed-whack one (just one) side of my front yard. So out I go.

Trim line in the weed whacker and bam! Weeds gone. Hey this isn't so bad... so I tackle the other half of the yard. By now I'm thinking "power tools"... this is good! Grab the leaf blower, grab the hedge trimmer... anything else? Hmm... darn shucks... these tools will have to do. So off I go weed whacking, trimming bushes, clipping rose bushes (25 of them mind you), and did I say weed whacking (ha!).

I think I freak the neighborhood out sometimes. Mainly a Hispanic community, where, mind you, and I mean no disrespect here but women just don't do this sort of thing. Every time I get the power tools out and work the gardeners for hire seem to come out, drive by, honk smile, and more often than not hand me their business card. I mean come on, who is this gringo girl out there working in the yard? Not her place. I can only smile inside.

Despite the dust, the weeds, and my constant "ah-choo" "ah-choo" (sneezing up a storm here), I finish the yard. Oh, it feels good to see the yard done. Oooooooooo... what's that... my arms feel like rubber, as if I've given them a workout of their life. I must retreat. Retreat into my safe little hobbit hole, crawl into a bath, or a shower, or both! Let the warm water ease the muscles (that I didn't realize I had, and this seems to happen ever time I get this tool man mentality of power tools)... relax. A job well done.

The only thing left for me to do now is collect the gardening cards that will undoubtedly be left on my front porch. I just don't fit the mold sometimes, but that's okay, I don't mind. And it gives me a chuckle when I get the looks I do.

Happy gardening to you my family and friends.

God Likes the Way He Made You

Not an original Blog today. Some excepts taken from Joyce Meyer "Starting Your Day Right" Devotions.

Have you ever asked God, "Why did You make me this way?" Sometimes the things we think are our worst faults, God will use to His greatest glory: "But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to him that form it, Why have you made me thus?" (Romans 9:20).

Jesus died so that we might enjoy our life in abundance and to the fullest until it overflows. You are not going to enjoy your life if you don't enjoy yourself. Be satisfied with yourself, and celebrate the unique way God made you.

------

Powerful....Be satisfied with yourself, and celebrate the unique way God made you and Sometimes the things we think are our worst faults, God will use to His greatest glory.....

Reading the devotion this morning again put things in perspective for me. It's really not about you, about me, about them.... what it's really about is Him. His Glory, and his wonderful and beautiful ways that will fill your life, your heart, when you turn to him in total love and commitment. He will use you for His glory. Your life will be filled with abundance and will overflow.

Today I pray, and keep my eyes, my heart, and my being turned to God. To guide me and lead me for his betterment, and for the betterment of those I am blessed to be in contact with. To this, an Amen!

Blessings to you my family and friends.

Patty

Put it out there

The philosophy of positive thinking. I have to admit, I've used it and I've seen the results of putting "positive" energy out there. It works. Believe it or not, that's okay. I don't need anyone to tell me that it does or doesn't as I've experienced it first hand.

Which leads me to something my niece shared with me one day at a BBQ. You have to know what you want, and if another person can't figure it out in "x" amount of time, then move on (she was talking relationships here). I have, to this day thought about that conversation from my niece "D". Interesting comment, but then again, she "knew what she wanted", "she put it out there" and guess what? She's got it! Something this 40-something gal is going to do as well.

So today I put out my Positive Thoughts around relationships, around my career, and around my family. Now time will only tell, and time will let me know when to switch gears. Thanks "D" for your thoughts... bet you never thought your Aunt would take them so to heart.

Positive thoughts and much love to my family and friends this "blog day".

Today

Today is the day
Say what you mean
Mean what you say
Reach for your dreams
Make them reality
No more "one day"
Set a date, go for it
Live, Love, Laugh, enjoy
Isn't that what makes
the world turn?

Ahhh... a beautiful day indeed

Kiss me once, and kiss me twice, and ....

Kiss me once again, it's been a long, long time. Okay, am I dating myself here? Anyone remember that song? Now why is that song in my head this morning. Perhaps I'm going to be kissed by some mysterious stranger, perhaps a frog prince? Is he out there? I believe so :o) Perhaps I've already kissed him and he's just afraid to get out of his frog suit (lol... sorry, that conjured up a funny image for me. A fellow unzipping and jumping out of a frog suit next to a pond covered in lily pads). Okay I'll stop, just a funny little thought for a funny little blog this 'morn.

For those of you that are blessed enough to have your Prince Charming with you, reach over and "kiss him once, and kiss him twice, and kiss him once again!".... you don't want that to have to wait a long long time... and be careful... don't fall into the pond.

Frog Kisses to my family and friends this day- ribbit!

Alone in a world surrounded

Alone in a world surrounded.
Surrounded by sights and sounds.
People of all shapes and sizes.
Happy, sad, mad, up and down.
In a haze, a time warp.
Present, yet apart.
Surrounded, yet alone.
A whisper, a voice, calls me.
Listen intently, guide me.
A mysterious path appears, come to me.
A journey, a thousand miles ahead.
Step towards one's destiny.

Mother's Day

My Mom. Simply the Best. Every one's Mom.... Mrs. "G". Outstretched arms, a listening ear, a gentle touch, a stern warning, side-by-side silence, and mostly an outstretched and open heart. A heart that never judged, rather always loved you for who you were... unconditionally. A gentle giant when it comes to Moms.

Oh how I miss my Mom this day. First Mother's day without her here. Today she is celebrated in heaven... and as far as I'm concerned "the BEST there ever was". Being a Mom myself I pray that I can be the kind of Mom she was, I mean we are talking some very BIG BIG shoes to fill here.

I miss you Mom. Sometimes so much it hurts ... I'll cry... then I'll smile... because I know you will always be alive in my Heart.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Commuters, Drivers, BE Nice!

I could not resist inserting this "funny" into a blog.

Sandra was out driving her car and while stopped at a red light, the car just died. It was a busy intersection, and the traffic behind her starting growing.

The guy in the car directly behind her started honking his horn continuously as Sandra continued to try getting the car to start up again.

Finally Sandra gets out of her car and approaches the guy in the car behind her.
"I can't seem to get my car started," Sandra said, smiling.

"Would you be a sweetheart and go and see if you can get it started for me. I'll stay here in your car and lean on your horn for you."
===================================================
So the thought for today - when you're out there on the highways and byways and you get caught up in the traffic snarls, think of this funny, smile, then relax.... look at it as being given the gift of time. Meditate, relax, even take some deep breaths, look around, you never know... could be a nice change.

Rainy May Day

Today is Saturday, May 2nd. First Saturday of a new month. With this Saturday comes a rainy day. The heavens rain down upon us as the earth gladly soaks it in, quenched by the rain. The rain helps a little with the impending drought we face. The rain reminds me of the promises of God, the promise that all will be well for those that have Faith and believe. We can do all things through Him.

The rain, however, dampens my spirit a little this day. I'd be lieing if I said I was real happy go lucky today... a downright lie that would be. A fog of depression looms around me this day. The rain feels like tears. Tears of sadness, loneliness, anguish... even pain. I think of Mom. I imagine, envision her smile. Hear her laughter, feel her touch, smell her, sense her... but I can't see her anymore. I miss her terribly.

The rain drenches my skin as I stand at her cemetery plot. Her headstone not in place, but soon. Flowers, cards, little gifts and a softball adorn her place. Sentiments of love, those who miss and those who love her. The rain clings to my body as I stare down. Disbelief, hoping she'll appear. She does not. The rain soaks me, but I do not care. As I walk away I feel numb all over again. I know it won't last, not forever. I cry, and that's okay. I know I'll be okay.

This afternoon I'll rest, for tonight I'll listen to the music of the Mariachi Divas and think of Mom. Laughing, Dancing, Free... at peace. For tonight I'll celebrate her going safely home to our Lord, and carry her with me always.

For now, I'll rest, sleep, and perhaps meet her in my dreams. I miss you Mom. I love you.

Creative Magic

Calling anyone with children to this post. I wonder if you can relate. I'll set the scene.

Earlier in the week your child informs you they need "this" "that" and "this" by end of week for a class project. You make that mental note - "I must get to the store before mid-week". As quickly as you make the mental note - ah... it escapes you. Fast forward to Thursday night. Mom, I guess my project will be late it's due tomorrow. What!? Wild alarms are going off in your brain, like the robot on Lost in Space (am I dating myself here)... "warning! warning! warning!".... No... we must not be late... we still got time... grab the car keys and dash out to the crafts store. Luckily they haven't closet yet. You get all the supplies you need... and then some (due to guilt of "forgetting")... back home.

Okay, what time is it? Oh shoot it's bedtime. That's okay, coffee get the coffee, you can do this. And this is where the MAGIC begins. Here you are with your child on the living room floor, supplies spread out all over the place... neon colored sculpting clay, little rolley polley eyeballs, balsa wood, toothpicks.. paint... oh what fun.

First - sculpt the skeleton out of wood for the structure. Second - mold clay around the wood skeleton and create your creature. Lastly the final touches of eyes, and toothpick teeth. There you have it a prehistoric never heard of creature had you crossed a saber tooth tiger, a deadly frog and a ocelot. Imagine this creature... in NEON colors might I add. The best part was we had "fun" doing it - despite the time (past our bedtime), and despite not getting to bed until... well almost this morning (LOL). Can you say coffee IV drip?

Extra molding clay... what to do? Store it... oh no, this Mom knew just what to make. "A round to it" (or a round TUIT)... which is just a round object that "reminds" you that you eventually have to get "A round to it"... really it's purpose is to remind you that you can't forget, or... well you remember the night before. Will I use this round tuit? No... but it was fun making it and the creative magic late last night was worth "forgetting!"

Happy creative days and nights to my family and friends.