Heffalump’s and Woozles…

Daily writing prompt
Which activities make you lose track of time?

Hmmmmm… what’s an activity that makes me lose track of time, you ask?

School seemed to last a lifetime…

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Being grounded felt like an eternity…

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When I was pregnant with each of my daughters, I counted each and every day…

Don’t ask me about dieting because I counted each and every calorie til I broke down and binged… Don’t judge!

The point is, most of my activities through the years did nothing to help me lose track of time. But, since you’re already here I’ve decided to put my thinking cap on. I want to try and make you lose track of time.

Honestly, I only had to think on it for a moment! Three things immediately came to mind that I’m certain will satisfy today’s prompt.

1.) A good book

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    2.) Being with someone you love

    3.) Sleeping (my personal favorite!)

    Sleep has a two-fold bonus to it, when it comes to losing track of time. There will be times when I wake feeling like I’d only just closed my eyes. And, I’m fairly certain that I slept in the same position throughout the night.

    Then, there will be those nights spent dreaming of beautiful and wondrous places. You know what dreams I speak of, don’t you. They’re the ones so fantastical that they couldn’t be real. Those are the dreams that make you want to fall back asleep, unsuccessfully attempting to revisit the dream. In futility, you strive to seek the place you’d just left off, before dawn had so rudely disturbed your slumber.

    While I may not have mastered the art of revisiting a recent dream, there are many of my dreams that revisit me from years past. Sometimes, I can’t remember if they were dreams, or memories. It’s strange, but I can recall the first time I dreamt each of them. I can’t recall my first love, nor any of my childhood teachers, but I can tell you exactly when and where each dream began. Isn’t one’s memory such a tricky thing? Whether it be a dream or a memory, the emotions I felt back then are just as real to me now, as they were the first time…

    Now that I went and got all nostalgic on you, it’s pretty clear to see why sleep is my favorite time burner! What would the world look like without sleep? That’s where dreams are made! I can’t imagine what the world might be like without dreams, can you?

    Yeesh! I don’t want to think about that possibility… how depressing would that be? Whatever we do, let’s never stop dreaming!

    Cookie?

    Waste…

    Daily writing prompt
    What bothers you and why?

    Waste of time

    Waste of life

    Waste of love

    Waste of might…

    We were all born with gifts, but only get one lifetime to use them. No one knows of their own departure date, so when you see an opportunity to use your gifts, don’t waste it!

    Give as much love as you can, even when it hurts! No, this doesn’t have anything to do with allowing yourself to be used, abused, or discarded. It means giving of yourself without expecting anything in return… just do it for the sake of love.

    Make the best use of your time, your life, your love, and yes, your might! Be the best version of who you are and to the best of your ability, because no one knows what tomorrow will bring.

    If God gives you a gift and you don’t waste it, He will always bless the work of your hands. Why? Because He knows you to be a good steward of that which He bestows upon you!

    Think in terms of a cup that has a leak in the bottom… not a major hole, nor unrepairable tear, but tiny little cracks in the bottom. Over time, the water slowly escapes through those tiny fractures. Or, better yet, think of a flower pot that has a hole in the bottom. When the plant is watered, if the water just sits in the bottom of the pot, it will destroy the roots of the flower. Thus, the need for the hole. Simply water the flower often enough to keep the soil moist, while letting the extra water drain off, allowing the soil to remain healthy and fertile.

    You know me, always writing about rushing water and broken pottery.

    At least you know there’ll be cookies at the end!

    Absolute!!!!!!?????????

    Daily writing prompt
    List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.
    • Pain hurts!
    • Some loves last forever… and some don’t!
    • Life begins!
    • Death is real!
    • When a stone is cast upon the water, the ripples will always follow!
    • Human kindness is divine!
    • Ignorance is taught!
    • The eyes are the window to the soul!
    • Puppy breath is the best high!
    • A babies laughter can make everything better!

    Cookies?

    The adventure of seeking security…

    Daily writing prompt
    Are you seeking security or adventure?

    56 years of being the last one on the list, the one at the end of the line, or the stand-by friend has done it’s damage. You know what they say about the truth of things… If everyone else in the room disagrees with you, then it must be you that’s wrong. Personally, I think that adage stinks like a bag of rotten eggs!

    I’ve simply decided that I want to go home, I don’t really like it here anymore. I’m on an adventure of faith… the faith that my heavenly home is being prepared for me, as I speak! There shall be NO security upon this broken and fallen world… not for me! I’m going home! This world is just a process I have to get through to reach my destiny… Home!

    I am a woman of God, a child of the Creator of the universe, and right now, I’m struggling with each and every passage in scripture… but I’m reading it anyway! Why? Because it’s not always about doing things only when you feel like it, that’s why.

    The bible tells us that we will have troubles in this world because of Him, but we should still be encouraged because He did all the heavy lifting, long ago. He has made a way home for us, but we need to follow that path if we really wish to get there.

    In my mind, that’s a fairly big adventure! I’m on my way home one day at a time, for only God knows my arrival time. I get to choose how I get there, though. I suppose that I could just give up and wait for my own departure, like a petulant little girl. Or, I can do it with grace, keeping a smile on my face, praise on my lips, and hope in my heart.

    I’m going with the hope of heaven, rather than the cry baby part. I really do get sick of hearing myself complain, so instead, I write strange and wonderful adventurous stories of myself and my imaginary friends. We fill our days with adventures that I shall never do, travel to exotic lands that I’ll never visit, and be the hero that I’ll never really be. These are my adventure in search of security! Anyone is welcome aboard this vessel, if you so choose to join us. Adventures are always more fun with friends, wouldn’t you agree?

    There’s unlimited cookies for my crew!

    I love to laugh…

    Daily writing prompt
    What do you think gets better with age?

    I would have to say that my sense of humor has improved with age… sort of like a fine wine. The older I get, the funnier things seem to be getting. Either that or I’m just crazier than I used to be… it’s possible, you know.

    Cookies?

    I’d give you my brownie…

    Daily writing prompt
    What could you let go of, for the sake of harmony?

    It’s no problem! I can make more…

    See, I told you so!

    Having water in the desert…

    Daily writing prompt
    How important is spirituality in your life?

    Saying that spirituality is important in one’s life seems uncomfortably broad to me, personally. Nowadays, referring to spirituality can go in many different directions. I’ll answer the question from the perspective of a child of God.

    In honesty, I live a spirit-filled life every single day! It’s a very deep and intimate relationship with my maker, God himself! He is my comfort when I am sorrowful, my strength when I am weak, and eternally faithful to sustain me, in all things.

    It’s kind of like traveling through a desolate and parched land. Know where your water sources are, if you wish to survive the sands! I’m fairly certain that water flows throughout the desert, deep underground. It’s there, but the traveler must know where to find it. After you’ve traveled to to those sources enough times, their location becomes embedded in your muscle memory… you just remember.

    As far as my actual spirit-filled life, the bible is one of my water sources. That muscle memory I just mentioned? In this instance, I’m referring to my brain’s ability to recall a thing I’ve read and/or learned… you know, use it or lose it! Then there’s my prayer life, which is my source of sustenance, peace, grace, forgiveness, and so much love… I’m in the presence of my creator!

    As for that spirituality part of the prompt, I am filled with the Holy Spirit, which is part of God’s spirit, sent to dwell within this vessel. It says so in the bible,

    “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

    Anyways, that should answer the prompt in an honest and honorable manner without dragging things out for hours. I could, you know!

    Because I love you, I’ll settle for handing out cookies instead…

    I bake, of course…

    Daily writing prompt
    How do you practice self-care?

    If ever I’m feelin down, or just plain overwhelmed with life in general, I bake!

    Depending on the reason that get’s me in the kitchen, what I might bake varies, greatly. Breads bring comfort, whether sweet or savory.

    Quiches, casseroles, and stews comfort loneliness, somehow. I think they bring back memories of my mother, my daughters, and even the good bits of my own childhood. There weren’t many but I cherish the ones I have…

    Now, if ever my moods of being overwhelmed are simply due to stress… well, that’s when sugar gets involved! Stress baking is most often going to have chocolate and/or caramel in it. Not always, but most often, anything having chocolate in it, is for my husband. He loves chocolate! While I’ll admit that the man loves most anything sweet that I bake, it’s the chocolaty bakes that make his heart the happiest.

    Now, chocolate works fantastic in most of my cookies, mousse’s, and pies. But I’m rather talented at baking an unforgettable Snickers Cheesecake!

    Sometimes, things are a mixture of stress, aggravation and/or any other factors that give me an excuse to bake… oh, did I just type that? Ok, fine! I just want to bake, ok? I have days where nothing makes me happier than baking a really good pie! Apple crumble, or a cherry cobbler… ooh ooh, and don’t forget peach cobbler. Nothing tastes better than a good cobbler with some old fashioned vanilla ice cream (I just buy that part)…

    Yesterday, I shared about the changes in my health, coupled with my need to completely change my diet. It’s not that I need to lose weight, because I don’t really eat most of what I bake. The problem is that I taste everything I bake, so I have to find some satisfactory substitutes for some of my ingredients. THANK YOU, GOD it’s not sugar, chocolate or anything in the sweet department! It’s the flour, the butter/oil, and any dairy. Never fear, my sweet cookie eaters, for this shall never stop my baking self-care, no no…

    Caffeine free, lactose-free, Gluten-free, low cholesterol, low sodium is not the end… it’s only the beginning!

    Besides, much of what I bake is done for putting smiles on others faces! That’s the part that makes me happy, more than the flavor of the bake! Now take your cookie…

    You’ll never be able to taste the difference… Honest!

    Imagining…

    Daily writing prompt
    How do you waste the most time every day?

    I can’t help it! It’s just what I do…

    Why do you think my cookies are so good?

    Help yourselves…

    You know I’m gonna make more!

    REEEEmix…

    Daily writing prompt
    Write about your first crush.

    There wasn’t any point in trying to re-answer this prompt, as my memory hasn’t changed, nor have any of the character’s in my story about that first crush. Instead, I went and pulled my original prompt answer up and set to work, touching up the edges… and adding cookies, of course!

    Photo by Dellon Thomas on Pexels.com

    Ok, so maybe this is more about the shoes than the boy, but still…

    His Name was Louie and we went to school together, but I’m not certain how old we all were… maybe 5th or 6th grade?

    He used to sit on the steps in front of our school during lunch break, every day. There was a group of boys who always congregated around him, fully inflating his ego, maybe. I would wander over to where they sat nearly every day, hoping he’d look my way. In my silly mind, I was sure that he liked me by the way he always smiled and laughed at what I thought was funny. In reality, it was probably him just being kind, as I think he must have been a nice kid.

    One particular afternoon, I had worn my new Cherokee Wedge high heeled shoes just to look especially pretty. They were really just giant floor level erasers, I am certain of it!

    Anyway, as soon as the class bell rang, I was up and off to freshen myself up in the girls lavatory. Feeling like a model, I began my promenade down the corridor toward the school’s courtyard. Out the doors and down the steps I sashayed, coming to stand near the group of boys that always crowded around Louie.

    Now my friends had been teasing me earlier that week, regarding my view of how he must feel about me. They all said I was just making it up. I was intent on showing them all!

    I started up my usual flirty convo, laying on the demure smiles and light giggles that were supposed to be what you did to get a man. What happened next must go into a play by play of sorts, or a back and forth screenshot for your brain…

    *I teased him about something, and to this day, I have no idea what it was…

    *He made the gesture as if to pursue me, maybe to tickle or pick me up in his arms to circle me around in the air for the world to see his true love for me, showing all those girls a thing or two… wait… ok, maybe that was my thoughts, but all he did was lean forward with a smile on his face… I know Right? God bless my imagination!

    *I turned around, thinking him to be in pursuit, and proceeded to run across the entire front courtyard of our school, just like Julie Andrews did in the Sound of Music. The only differences were, for starters, I was wearing those ridiculous eraser shoes. And, the other key thing to remember is that he was NOT following me! I thought he was, but never looked back to confirm.

    *When I got to the other end of the yard, I turned to realize what had actually been the scene…

    No one following me… me running like a Robin Williams version of Julie Andrews… the majority of my classmates rolling on the grass laughing… and to my horror, ALL the boys on the steps hooting and hollering to join the choir!

    We were all so young, and it might seem as a bad memory, but it one of the funniest things I remember doing, and you know what, I think that nice boy really did like me. I actually remember him laughing with the others but he didn’t look like he wanted to. Honestly, I think he felt bad for me…

    Kids say and do some of the funniest things, and I am forever grateful for all of my youthful funnies, as I am sure that you are as well. I was and am a pretty funny person! Not because I am a great mixer of words and jokes, but because I can laugh at myself without being judgy, and I love to tell others about something I did that I thought was really silly or funny, and they get to laugh with me, not at me. There is a difference!

    Hope this brought out some laughs. God Bless!

    Don’t forget your cookie…