I can be all the way in the back of the RV, enjoying a snack from the comfort of my bed, only to be approached by a cheeky ant out of nowhere… as if they just magically arrived! No… they are not harmful, nor aggressive, but I disdain them nonetheless!
Ants and I go back a long ways, if you remember the time I wrote about the midnight Kool-aid incident of 2007. Grabbing a glass to take a drink, while in darkness of night, I swallowed a mouthful of more ants than I care to remember. I never could get the red stain of spit Kool-aid from off my comforter. We have been sworn enemies ever since!
I will hunt them down like a bloodhound, indiscriminately squishing them with my fingers, all the while, giving out loud warnings to all their kin! It’s now heading toward warmer weatherish, so they are getting active! I have learned recently that the best way to eat anything safely, requires keeping all food out of the bedroom. Don’t laugh, but when my husband brings home a snack for me, I will eat it in front of the trash can, just to ensure that all incriminating evidence lands only in the bin.
Night before last when my husband had his container of cinnamon rolls on the counter for like 15 minutes, I swear, I went to steal a bite and nearly ate a family of ants! What is the lesson that I most recently learned… nothing is safe when there are ants nearby!
From the time that I was a tiny girl, dreaming in full color on a nightly basis was my life. Unrelenting, the dreams came, some were good and some were not! To this day, I have full memories of a handful of dreams that repeatedly visited me in the night.
While you may think this is awesome, having constant nighttime entertainment, it has actually been more of an exhaustive burden! Isn’t it sublime to awaken on a sunny morning, discovering that you hadn’t moved at all throughout the night; you feel like you just laid down to sleep… sooooo restful. Well, I didn’t have this luxury for most of my life, until our RV came to rest in this very spot last year. Suddenly the dreaming stopped!
For over a year now, my dreaming has been nonexistent, MIA, if you will! It just suddenly disappeared! At first, I assumed it was because I had been exhausting myself with all the writing that was gushing out of my brain onto the page… my writers block had definitely been miraculously removed, for which I am eternally grateful. After a time, as the writing began to amp up, I found myself on the other side of the sleep number coin… insomnia! I had so much that I wanted to write down, I lost the ability to shut my brain down long enough for a decent amount of rest.
Aside from feeling exhausted, I didn’t actually mind not sleeping… you can sleep when you’re dead, as they say. I settled into a routine of writing til I dropped, tossing and turning for 2 to 4 hours, and back at it with coffee in hand! For a girl with a history of childhood trauma and nightmares that would make you cringe, the silence was glorious! Gradually, as the words emptied out of my overflow brain bags, sleep returned… just the sleep, without any dreaming at all! It’s been like this for a while now.
I want to say that it was maybe 4 or 5 nights ago that I dreamt for the first time in over a year. When I woke the next morning, I had just a brief realization about some kind of dream, but it was gone in the blink of an eye. I wasn’t bothered by any particular memory or feeling, aside from the disappointment of dreaming… I liked the quiet of sleep.
I have had some form of dream now, every single night, but with no residual memory of it… weird right?!
At first, the fact that I’m dreaming again bothered me deeply. I think it comes from having no control over where my mind goes when I surrender to sleep. This made me realize something I hadn’t thought about before. Though I believed I’d given every part of myself into Gods hands, I had yet to fully trust Him to protect my unconscious mind. There’s a lot of scary stuff rolling around in there!
Throughout my entire life, every bad dream brought forth many residual emotions of fear, shame, guilt and loathing about whatever occurred in the dream! I truly felt like I needed to be forgiven for things I didn’t actually even do. Have you ever dreamt that you did something very bad or embarrassing, only to wake up feeling so glad nobody saw what you dreamt? This has been my track record… until now.
So far, there hasn’t been any residual memories, or overwhelming self-loathing to follow me throughout my day. I’ve no idea why the dreaming has returned, but I do know in whose arms I rest my spirit within, while I’m sleeping! I do know that my spirit is much stronger today than it was even last year, so I believe that God is producing growth within this vessel. When one replaces fear and loathing with faith and grace… the cloying darkness has been replaced with peaceful freedom within my dreams.
In truth, there really isn’t anything that I hate to be asked! All one has to do is browse through some of my writings, to discover that I tend to be the over-sharer… the T.M.I. giver… the disclaimer girl!
I make every effort to be as transparent as possible, as I seek to reflect a clear level of candid honesty with anyone that might stop by the Lobby. This is my choice… my way of being real!
If I’m to hate anything, it would be one of two things… it is much worse for no one to ask me questions at all, and for those that do ask questions of others, it would be the way in which the question was delivered!
When one doesn’t bother to ask valuable, and often deep questions, before judging, criticizing or condemning the person they should have taken the time to ask… I consider it a lazy character, in the one not asking!
When one does take the time to ask questions, if they ask another a question only after they’ve already made a judgement… it is very apparent to the one being asked!
**EXAMPLE** How are you feeling today? vs Is there a reason you’re being a jerk today?
Social Media has played a very big part, in my humble opinion, to creating the off the cuff, judgy remarks and Karen accusations that so many people get all over their literary faces from each other. No, this is not an attack on any platform in particular, as those are nothing more than tools to be used for either good… or sometimes more nefarious purposes. We humans still retain the ability to choose what we think, say and do! Nobody is going to get a free ride on this cookie filled prompt answer… not even myself!
God sent his only son to earth for us, where we promptly crucified Him, so one might assume that this was a big epic failure! What did God do? He resurrected Jesus and rolled that stone away, leaving an empty tomb!
God has been righting our wrongs, healing our wounds and miraculously turning our failures into successes from the beginning of time! The Bible says that God is faithful, so logic dictates that only success will follow, from both our triumphs and mistakes.
I am a work in progress, and as God is not done with me yet, failure is just a means for Him to continually show me how He can do anything… the sky’s the limit, as they say!
My future is very bright, as the bible confirms…
“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11
Well, we’ve had a bit of an accident! It’s ok… Boomer will be alright, if he keeps his leg elevated. At least, that’s what Tilly recommends for the fastest recovery.
I was in my office working on today’s projects, when I heard a very loud cry coming from out by the hay loft. Before I could even reach the doorway, Dinky came bursting into the room with such a look of panic on her face! All she could manage to say, through her own tears, was that Boomer had fallen!
When I got to the loft, where I’d heard the cry only moments before, I discovered Boomer laying with his little back leg stuck in a bale of hay. He was crying something awful, which brought tears to my eyes as I tried to gently pull him free. I quickly discovered why he was putting up such a fuss… his tiny green leg was swelling more and more, by the moment.
I gently picked him up in my arms and carried him back into my office, followed by an entire line up of sniffling, crying and generally unhappy babies. I lay Boomer down on a pile of hay to examine his injury, while Tilly sat right beside me, offering encouraging words of support. While I didn’t believe that it was broken, his leg did look very painful and swollen. Tilly helped me wrap it, being careful not to cause Boomer any more pain than was necessary.
The babes are sitting with him now, while we await the arrival of the local doctor. Although it’s most likely just a sprain, I have no desire to rely on my own judgement in this situation, as I am not a Veterinarian. I assure you that he is resting comfortably with Tilly busy mothering him.
From what I’ve gathered, by questioning the rest of the babies, Boomer tried to fly! The problem is, unfortunately, that his tiny wings are much too small and underdeveloped, thereby, allowing him to lift and hold his chubby body in the air.
Off to one side of our little group, I spied a very sad and sorrowful looking babe, trying to melt into the wall. I left all of the other babies to comfort Boomer, while I crawled over and sat down next to Squagon. I didn’t even get a chance to question him, before he tearfully confessed what he believed was all HIS fault!
You see… Squagon IS able to fly! Yes, my little squirrel dragon has a set of his own fully operational wings. The big difference is in the size of my winged compadres! Boomer is much bigger and chubbier than Squagon, being nowhere near ready to experience lift off, as I call it! My poor tiny flyer thought it was all his fault that Boomer followed him up to the rafters, where he usually took flight.
The young dragon had never tried to fly before, so Squagon jumped off the ledge and took flight, never thinking that Boomer might also jump! My tiny furry flyer collapsed in a fit of sobs, dropping his head onto my knee and blowing his nose on my pant leg… I know, gross! Squagon really did think that he had caused all this!
Only after I soothed my young friend, assuring him that it wasn’t his fault, did Squagon finally stop crying. I explained that accidents happen sometimes, through no ones fault at all! Unless Squagon felt that he had taken Boomer up into the rafters, with the purpose of pushing him off intentionally, it was not his fault. When I explained things to him, my little snot maker brightened up immediately, hugged my hand fiercely and ran to be with his friends.
While we all wait for the doctor to arrive, I’ve opened up one of those giant tins of multiflavored popcorn to keep everyone calm and happy… everyone loves popcorn!
Never fear folks, as I hear the doctor arriving as we speak… I’ll update you as soon as I can…
I remember the days before technology allowed kids to spend 6 hours straight in an automobile Movie Theatre, laps filled with juice boxes and stack bags. Nope! I don’t even think I ever saw the inside of a car seat! Just our old station wagon, with parents in the front comfortably seated, while we all were stuffed into the back rows.
The only theatre entertainment we saw, was the live action movie of one of the two grown ups in the front, trying rather unsuccessfully to smack us for one reason or another! Our little ears were unceremoniously greeted with the musical threats of the time… some of the greatest hits to listen to were, If I Have To Come Back There, sung by the driver, or Just You Wait Til We Get Home, played by the assistant driver.
What were we to do for entertainment, as well as for our survival? After we tired of picking on each other, as no parent ever stopped the car for the child who cried, Mom, he won’t stop poking me… we looked for games that kept our attentions. We couldn’t play the “That’s who you’re gonna marry”, as we were not stuck in the parking lot of a grocery store, while our parents sought peaceful shelter within the local food mart! When the car is careening down the highway, kids had to get creative!
There were three games we could play for some much needed automobile on-board entertainment…
I’m Going on a Picnic! In this game, since we didn’t have those snacks and drinks, one would call out an item they would take to eat if they could. There was a catch, however, as the next kid had to figure out why that item was chosen, and add an item that matched. It might be the color of the food, or perhaps its shape, flavor or the way it was prepared and packaged. The goal was to figure out the common denominator and add to the picnic.
I Spy With My Little Eye! One child would select something within sight of the car, and then give clues to the others, as to what they were looking at. One could ask about size, color, shape or use… things like that, until someone figured it out.
Punch Bug! This game was usually toward the end of the car ride, as by now we really didn’t like each other very much, there was nothing else to do, and it was a free chance to hit each other. This was a savored game and we saved up all our personal traveling grievances for the opportune DOUBLE PUNCH BUG attack!
So, here ya have it folks… If I were riding in an automobile, my opening sentence would most likely be “Yellow Cloth Top PUNCH BUG!” I’m very talented in using my middle knuckle when I tag your thigh, as it leaves the perfect little round bruise for later.
Yes, I am aware of what the prompt asked us today, but as this is the second attempt at sticking their nose into my business, I chose to write my response the way I wished. If they are so interested in my Autobiography, they can buy the book when it’s released and read the answer there… just sayin.
I love to write! In fact, I love writing almost more than I love talking, which is saying something. You’ve seen me dabble in poetry, revealing my whimsical side. I’ve attempted some audio recordings, simply reading out loud what I’ve already written… I have always loved reading to others, especially children. I enjoy writing fiction, allegories, and funny anecdotes too! But, I will admit that my greatest joy come from retelling memories from days gone by… some mine, some about those in my history.
Why don’t I just stick with writing memories, you might be asking? What if I quite writing about other things, or writing in different form, simply focusing on my favorite style? While I certainly don’t buy into the whole like, share, and follow merry-go-round… I do not desire to settle for simple, nor do I wish to bore you with too much repetitiveness.
I think that I write all over the place because, I do NOT wish to fall into a category… or BOX if you will. There are visitors to the lobby coming from all walks of life, ways of thinking, and wants and desires of differing styles. My wish is to relate to each and everyone who visits, with the ability to connect on their level… their style.
The lobby takes visitors from all over the world, some reading from their office chairs, while others stop by with a baby on their hip and a burp rag upon their shoulder. These are just several examples of the diversity that I encounter, as I greet new literary faces. I meet some that are young and some that are old, of both men and women. Some visitors are healthy and active, while others may be coping with an infirmity of one kind or another.
I believe the reason I write all over the place is to reach the heart of the masses… not to have a crowd following me around, but to do as Jesus did, walk as He walked. If we are made in the image of God and designed by Him, doesn’t it make sense that I want to reach out as far as I can to find those in need? Yes, it takes more work and creativity, as far as writing style and content go, but the rewards far out way the efforts, in my humble opinion.
Am I not intended to emulate my Lord and Savior, in all things?
I shall never attain Jesus’ holiness and righteousness, but thankfully, He does not ask that I do! Because of what Christ did for us, all we are called to do is believe… and follow Him. I don’t know about you, but when I spend all my time with someone, I tend to start picking up their mannerisms and habits. The saying, you are like those you are associated with, is used so frequently because it’s true… that’s the way our minds are built to learn. Study… memorization… practice practice practice!
Jesus spent all that time with the apostles during His ministry, teaching, training, correcting, rebuking and encouraging them. He was preparing and strengthening them for the work ahead. Jesus wasn’t just a sermon giver, was He? Christ healed, fed, taught, and fellowshipped with whomever He encountered… consistently! While Jesus did all these things in actual form, cannot we, as His followers, emulate him in some form or another?
In pondering these things, I suppose one might find that literary words used in LOVE, can heal, feed, teach, edify and offer fellowship with those who draw near.
Well, maybe I’m way off the mark here, but God did say that He will bless the work of my hands, so in my case, writing IS something my hands are doing. If I seek to give words of love to you, here in the Lobby, will He not bless those words? I don’t know for sure, but as I look over that which I strive to accomplish, in His name and for your sake… God WILL bless it, somehow!
While I COULD wile away the hours here, for your sake I won’t! Why… because I actually DO have a brain!
But… the prompt asked what three things I couldn’t live without, and well, the first thing that came to mind was my brain. Without my brain, which is the central nervous system for this flesh mech, I, just like the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, would simply hang limp on a pole in a corn field.
The second thing that is a must for survival is, again, answered by the a character from that old movie… you know, the Tin Man! Without a heart to pump blood throughout the body, nourishing all of the precious organs that make us flux an flow, we would simply break down, shrivel up and cease to exist!
While I know that you are expecting me to call up the cowardly Lion for my third object needed, I think his courage actually came from his heart, so those two sort of go hand in hand, in my humble opinion. I’m going to call upon our beloved Dorothy… and her little dog too!
What is this thing that I am eluding too? Lungs! How on earth would Dorothy, or Toto for that matter, be a proper example of lungs, you may be asking? Judy Garland, who played the role of Dorothy, had an amazing singing voice, did she not? And, Toto had the ability to bark, which he did a great amount of, in order to protect and save the group of adventurers on several occasions. I am pretty confident in thinking that they both had a decent set of pipes!
Don’t ask me why The Wizard of Oz was the first thing that popped into my head when I read this mornings Daily Prompt question… I’ve no earthly idea.
But… you have to admit that it worked pretty well… and I was fully honest in choosing a brain, heart and lungs as three objects I couldn’t live without. I’m fairly certain that none of us would get along without them, don’t you agree?
In truth, I can get along without every other earthly object if it came down to brass tacks, as they say.
Here, have an apple. I promise, the trees won’t throw them at you…
Once a human… always a human! While time rolls forward, we see the world changing around us, from advancing technologies, to climate changes as well as societal behaviors and interactions.
The more I read about our history, through the bible, the more I’ve been seeing that from the beginning til now… humanity still remains the same, deep within. We like to think of history past as that time in our development where we just didn’t know what we know now… didn’t know any better or didn’t have the tools we have now. It seems, in my human opinion, that we’re the same stiff necked people now, as the Israelites were all those years ago.
It so happens that, as I’ve been reading through the journey of the Israelites, I have simultaneously been reading Paul’s letters to the churches, in both Romans and Corinthians. One day I’ll follow the story of the Israelites journey, as they prepare to enter the promise land… and the next day I’ll spend time reading through the letters that Paul wrote to the church. It almost feels like Paul was often narrating the Israelites story from old, as he tried to teach and encourage Christians, as the number of believers began to grow.
Interestingly enough, even after Jesus died and rose again to free us from the penalty of sin, we still opted to live under the old laws… still chose to live sinfully, using the name of Jesus as our get out of jail free card. The believers in Corinth may have looked at the Israelites as the ones with all the spiritual bad habits and disobedience, but as Paul wrote his letters to the church, they were freely sinning against God and each other within their very own communities, at that time. Idol worship had simply changed faces… became modernized, dolled up, and self-justified. The church still battled with immorality, adultery, incest, backbiting, slandering, coveting, etc. Even today, the church still struggles with the very same things that the Israelites, as well as the Corinthians, were always plagued with… sinful human nature!
Old habits die hard, they say, and good old fashioned human nature is a habit that only ends upon the return of the King! I have told you before and I’ll say it again… I am not trying to teach anything here, only to share observations I’ve gleaned, during my study of scripture. Also, just because it might look bad for us humans, I see something to the contrary… goodness, in fact! Think about it! God has remained faithful, patient, loving and oh so forgiving, even to this day! He steadfastly carries us onward toward the home He has prepared for us, with all our warts, flaws, and dirty laundry. I am confident of this… it WILL all come out in the wash, as they say, when we come to the end of our journeys.
At no time has God yet to revoke our free will to choose the paths we walk, allowing us to believe or deny, to follow Him or turn to our own way. Humans are born with a physical body, a soul residing within, and a mind to use for learning and growing. Mankind must learn to master its very self, making choices that will determine how one navigates the world it was born into… some choices good, some bad, but all made freely as our God given right! Whether it be an Israelite from so long ago, down the paths of history, or a modern day man… we face the same choices between right and wrong. We still must navigate through the rewards or consequences of our choices and actions, same as our predecessors did.
The ONE thing that separates us from our beginnings is the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… the SON of our Creator… the Righteousness of God!
Journey With Me! 