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Round and Round and Round We Go
Isn’t it funny how quickly we lose certain skill sets? If I go without walking for a week, the first walk after my break makes my heart pound just a little bit faster. My body feels the burn and regrets that we ever slacked off. I always vow to remain consistent so that I do not have to feel like I’m starting all over again. During one summer break, I remembered that I used to be a champion hula hooper. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t entered in competitions. I didn’t stand in front of large crowds and show off my skills. But I was BAD! Do you hear me?…
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It Finally Happened
Well, it finally happened. I am new to the cat-loving community. And by new, I mean that I love one cat exclusively, Fitz. Since I did not grow up with cats or have anyone very close to me that had a cat for a pet, there are many things about cats that I do not know. Many of my thoughts about cats have been formed from their portrayal in media. I take my cues from movies and television. So, when it finally happened, I was a little unprepared. Have I built up the suspense enough? Are you curious to know what happened? I was sitting at my computer preparing to…
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Tell Me A Story
My grandmother is a masterful storyteller. When I was a kid, I spent my summers with her in St. Louis. Our days were filled with trips to the library to pick out books and sometimes videos. We would hang out at the pool and try to improve our swimming. We would go to the park so that we could get some fresh air. We would visit the zoo. We explored the city. All the nooks and crannies. The days were epic. But nighttime held a special magic that day could not ever provide. Nighttime was storytime. Bible Study Brother and I would get all cuddled up in the bed with…
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Piercing Focus
Unlike many people, I did not get my ears pierced as a baby. I suppose Bible Study Mama had more pressing issues to think about. You may know by now, that even as a child, I had extraordinarily strong opinions. Four or five-year-old me wanted pierced ears. I launched a fierce campaign with Bible Study Mama. She was persuaded by my impassioned plea. She called the rest of the village to see if they agreed with my idea. They complied. We were off to handle business. I wish I could tell you why I wanted my ears pierced so badly. I just know that it was extremely important to me. …
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Funny Bone Express
What tickles your funny bone? What causes you to crack a smile? What makes you laugh until tears run down your face? Or are you one of those folks that have never had that experience? I really hope that you have experienced a good old laugh-till-you-cry. When I am tired, it does not take much to make me laugh from my gut. If you talk to me after 10 p.m., I would probably have you thinking that you were the next great comedian. The simplest joke or sideways comment will set me off. Shoot, sometimes I have to tell myself to calm down. Just last night, I saw a meme…
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A Fresh Wind
A fresh wind. An unexpected wind. I spent a good 30 minutes on Sunday afternoon being a buffer for the wind. Bible Study Cousin had constructed balloon towers for decorations for our life group. The balloons were attached to anchors to help them stand upright. But we had not accounted for the wind. The brisk fall air moved throughout the event. Some balloons could not take the push. As the towers rocked back and forth, balloons made contact with the asphalt and popped. One balloon unraveled from the string and rolled across the parking lot. While I generally enjoy a great breeze, I did not enjoy it in that moment. …
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When Your Safe Place Is Not Safe
Can I share something with ya’ll? I mean, even if you just said no, I cannot hear you. I have played it safe most of my life. I am not big on pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. Pushing publish on my first blog post was THE MOST uncomfortable feeling ever. When I survived the first day after posting, I was relieved. I had made it through that. Being pushed makes me grumpy. I get aggravated because I feel out of control and helpless. I feel vulnerable, and I do not like that feeling. If I am vulnerable that means that I have exposed the soft parts of myself. …
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Outrageous October
Happy Friday! After an Audacious August where I challenged myself to walk 50 miles, I had a Sedentary September. I mean, I continued to work out four days a week at first. Then as the month went on, and I experienced increasing responsibilities, I let the four days slide to three the next week. By the end of the month, I was doing good to get two days of exercise in a week. Bible Study Cousin swears I lead her down the road of destruction when I decided to be more lenient with myself in September. She loves a challenge and living up to a challenge. She created Outrageous October.…
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My Voice, My Vote
I was chatting with Bible Study Cousin on the phone on Sunday when there was a knock on my door. Now, I was not expecting company. And although I wave at my neighbors on occasion, we are not in the habit of just popping over to each other’s house. I could see that it was a man. Maybe it was one of my cousins? Wrong. I was visited by a candidate for Arkansas State Representative. He was polite and loaded with materials for me to look through. This was my first time having a candidate knock on my door. I know I need to be informed about candidates running for…
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Oh, You Saw That?
Yesterday, I shared with you all that the kids that I work with are rough with toys. Heavy-handed, if you will. Sometimes, they do not know their own strength, and other times they are very aware of the power that they possess. Take for instance an incident that happened just this week. Therapy looks a lot like play for the children that I work with. Mainly because children learn so much from play. I am intentional about not towering over children. I lower myself so that they feel comfortable with me. It provides an opportunity for eye contact and makes structured activities seems less intimidating. After my time on the…
