A favorite moment

5-10-11 reminiscing brain
I was in the dentist chair Monday morning for my usual six month cleaning and check up. The dentist isn’t my favorite place to be, but I do OK. However, this time as I was sitting there having my gums picked at…. I decided to try to think about favorite moments in my life.


Most of these are small, silly little pieces of everyday life that for some reason took on special meaning and were burned into my memory. One favorite moment that came to mind was Greg tracking me down at a State meeting dinner in 2002 and giving me a rose for our 10 year Anniversary.

I was over in Davenport that October, and he was driving on this way home from a Conference in Canada….. his path on I-80 put him coming through Davenport the same time I was in Davenport for a workshop. I think this is a special memory for me, since it was such a surprise, and Greg doesn’t often surprise me like that.... AND also for the fact that it took him some determination to track me down in the hotel.

I sure felt so extra special when he arrived, kissed me, and gave me a rose…. Right in the middle of dinner, surrounded by my co-workers. Someone had a camera and snapped our picture… then he was back on the road, headed home to Des Moines.

I think I am “reminiscing” about Greg, since the last few weeks we have not spent much time together. First he was traveling out of town, when he arrived home, I was sick last week and stayed in the guest room, then he got sick and I continued to stay in the guest room…. Now I’m back in Des Moines. I hope this weekend before my Florida trip we can spend some time together.

Weekend Report

5-9-11 getting healthy brain

This was one of those weekends that turned out nothing like what was planned.  I was feeling better after fighting a cold all week, and then Greg came home from work early on Friday with a sore throat. He spent the better part of Saturday and Sunday in bed.

There was a planned Mini Cooper drive to the Overland Park Arboretum set up for Saturday, which if Greg wasn’t up to going on that, I knew he must be really not feeling well. So instead, I decided to take a short shopping trip down to the Plaza and look for some black trousers to wear at my upcoming national workshop. Eddie Bauer had moved into a new store down at the Plaza, so I got some great deals on pants and a jacket… basically I got the jacket free for the price of the pants. Then I got a few other good deals at J. Jill. Yep.... I did break my promise to myself, that I didn't need to shop for any more clothes this year. :) Well, I have at least cleaned out and given away a lot from my closet this year.

Later Saturday afternoon, after bringing lunch home for Greg and sitting out on the deck in the sun with him a while, I drove out to Molly’s. Jeff was up and about after only being day 4 since his bladder surgery. He was looking good and feeling good. Molly and I then went to the Arboretum, since they were having a plant sale. I didn’t see any Mini’s at that point…. Guess they were all gone by the time we arrived late afternoon.

Sunday, when I arrived back in Des Moines, my garden looked so pretty. Some tulips were still blooming, and every thing had grown over the 11 days I was away. The flowering trees out back were beautiful and the lilacs were also in bloom. My rhubarb was over growing so I pick a bunch to bake a crisp, plus extra to freeze.

Here I wanted to show Kelley what I ended up doing with the bed piece we scavenged off the curb a few weeks back.

TGIF

5-6-11 slow brain
It's been a slow week for me, which is good. I've mostly just been working and resting..... not much other excitement at all this week. So I decided to share some of Greg's pictures from his Mini Cooper vacation out to the "Tail of the Dragon"; which is a 11 mile stretch of road in eastern Tennessee which has 300+ turns in it. (or something like that).... I guess it is a favorite destination for car clubs and motorcycle clubs to met at.

Greg said he had fun and there were about 500 Mini Coopers in attendance. I guess I should have asked Greg to do a "guest blog" on his trip, but I just now thought about it. Sorry.... I'm sure he would have some exciting tales to tell.

Now I'm almost wishing I would have gone, at least to visit my sister and enjoyed the Smokey-Mountain scenery.... well, maybe next year.

Wednesday GUEST Blog

5-4-11 grateful brain 
Thanks Ann for filling in again this week, especially since I've been sick this week and not up to writing much! I believe you might actually be enjoying this blogging discipline? -Judy

Guilty Feelings and Paying it Forward

Ponder this …. Do you think it’s normal to see someone work and feel deeply guilty for no specific reason? I am perplexed with this thought as I was growing up in the big city of Washington DC. Call it culture clash or who else would do this job, I’ve felt uneasy as I’ve walked by vendors on the street corner selling flowers and/or shining shoes in the mall. Intellectually, I know everyone has to make a living and who’s to know, selling flowers and shinning shoes may just be a higher paying job than most would imagine. So back to my question, is it me or do you have an uneasy feeling with this?

I’ve decided not to understand the reasons for my feeling but do something about it. That’s where Paying it Forward comes into play. What a novel concept and one that get’s me off my butt when I see the movie, Pay It Forward.

For the last ten plus years, I’ve walked by an aged man, Eddie, shinning shoes in the skywalk . What I’m embarrassed about is that I’ve never stopped to say hello yet alone have my shoes shined. Then Eddied passed away in January and I learned of what a great man Reverend Eddie Davis was. Yes, Eddie was a Reverend. He died at age 96, working at his shoe shine establishment one day before he died. I regret not stopping to say hello. Rev. Eddie was a great man.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/01/21/eddie-davis-west-des-moines-pastor-dead-at-96/

After he passed, one of his mentees decided to carry on his legacy by keeping the lights on with polish in hand. That’s where my paying forward comes in. After reading the two-part story, I made it a point to talk to his mentee. His name is Scotty, from Mississippi and over the years, Rev. Eddie has helped him out through some tough times. Scotty was honoring the Rev. by continuing his legacy. Shortly after my Dad passed away, I stopped and chatted with Scotty. He was working hard cleaning the small cubby shop (think of a small broom closet) and he was ready for business. I asked how much and he said $6 for ladies shoes and $8 for men’s. With that said, I dropped off the shoe I was wearing and boy did he do a bang up job on my black heels.

As I picked up the shoes, I noticed his hand written cardboard sign on the glass door. That’s when I had my “aha” moment to Pay it Forward. I said “Scotty, would you mind if I spruce up your sign?” He was tickled pink and said “that’s the nicest thing someone has said to me”. He said nope, he did not mind. I quickly snapped a shot of Scotty with my shoes for the sign.

Then next day, I made his sign and as I was taping it to the glass door, he asked “who is Larry?” Oops … I made the sign with “call Larry” instead of “call Scotty”. We both had a laugh and I said to him “Scotty, you will always be Larry to me”.

Paying it Forward helped me put my guilt behind and put Scotty to work. I’ve passed his name around the office and before long, he will have shined every shoes in my closet.

I will be doing a lot of Paying it Forward in 2011 for me and in honor of my Dad.

Chat Later, That Girl

Ann Marie

May Day surprise

5-3-11 shocked brain
I was in bed Sunday night by 8 PM, since I was fighting this cold. I was fast asleep when my iPhone beeped, and I woke to look to see who was sending me a message..... I think this was around 11:30? and I had a message from local TV station sending out a bulletin that Bin Laden had been killed.

This shocked me wide awake, so I got up and turned on the TV and saw celebrating people at the White House. Wow!

I missed the President's announcement, but saw reruns of it. I went to FB and the first thing that came to mind was the tune from the Wizard of Oz in my head.... "Ding Dong the witch is dead, the wicked witch" ..... I blame it on fact that I am still in Kansas this week. It was remarkable to see people posting about this on FB and the excitement generated.

I personally don't believe in vengeance, but I admit I was happy to hear that Bin Laden was dead, and the world some how felt brighter and better at that moment. I was moved to hang the flag out and let myself rejoice..... since I had felt the pain on 9-11, I thought I should also get to experience some joy.

There were a few people on FB which criticized the jubilation and glorification of fighting hate with hate..... and yes I agree with that generally...... but I thought, unless you lost a loved one on 9-11; you couldn't judge an other's reaction to the news.

Now.... it's a new day.... and only God knows what will happen next. Me.... I'll refocus on Peace.

Weekend Report

5-2-11 resting brain
As some of you know, Greg has been on vacation and I have not…. due to work commitments and deadlines in May- I felt I could not get away at this time. Instead, I have spent the weekend in KC looking after our cat, and I invited some of my Des Moines girlfriends down to KC for a “girl’s weekend”. I was hoping to rally some friends together to help show support for Molly as her husband’s cancer surgery is schedule this week.

Not everyone’s schedule worked out well, but Peace Sisters- Carolyn and Sue made the trip down and spend 24 hours with me…. Which I very much appreciated- since I know their lives are so busy. So I want to say Thank You to them. (I got my sidewalk chalk out this weekend)

I tried not to fill our time together with too much activity, but instead, planned for relaxation. Molly arrived first on Friday about 5:30 PM and she and I went for a short walk around the neighborhood, since it was such a warm sunny day, although very windy, and the tree pollen was flying! Carolyn and Sue arrived about 6:30 PM and we ate dinner out on the back deck…. I had prepared some Indian food, wine and margaritas were also consumed. This was a fun evening with stories and laughter…. Just what I needed to help restore my worn out spirit…. I hope Molly was uplifted too.

Saturday morning (not up early), we attended the Brookside Art Fest…. And I had a special eye out for how artists had set up their booths, since one day I am going to try to enter one of these Art Fests. We also visited some of the fun shops in the Brookside neighborhood and came across a creator of balloon art. Now some of you may know that I also can make balloon animals, but where as I use one balloon, this guy was using multiple balloons and was at a totally higher level of creativity than I will ever do able to master…. Maybe I could with some lessons?

Turns out the balloon guy, John, is someone Greg knows through the KC Mini Cooper Club, and I also know his wife Johnna. I decided on a balloon tiara.

Next, we ate a late lunch at a Greek restaurant which Molly introduced me to a few weeks ago. I loved this place – Tasso’s Grecian Food, in Waldo.

After lunch, we headed back to the house and just sat outside on the deck again, soaking up some sun and relaxing. After Carolyn and Sue left, I am happy to report that I managed to remain on the deck in a state of relaxation. Sunday also, I allowed myself just to rest, since I am either suffering from allergies, or am beginning to fight a cold. I am afraid it might be a cold. That seems to be the way my life goes, if I don’t learn to rest, I usually end up sick, and that forces me to rest.

PS: On Sunday, Sue received a nursing award back in Des Moines, being named one of “Iowa’s top 100 Nurses”. Here Friday night, Carolyn presented a similar award to Sue acknowledging her achievement with a….. “damn good nurse certificate”. How blessed I feel to have these women in my life who are supportive and caring of each other. I continue to learn compassion and love from my “Peace Sisters” daily.

My lesson

4-29-11 thinking out loud brain
I have a lesson to learn, and I'm not doing well with it. It's about learning to pace myself, its about living a sustainable life. Me- on the other hand, I'm either moving high speed, eventually hitting the crash and burn stage.... that is where I am now.

I want to blame it on my split-in-two life of the past 3 years, but I know I've had this problem even before now. I can't seem to say no to activities, and I can't seem to learn to schedule in my own priorities into my schedule.

Oprah this week, gave me a wake up call on the show about "Feeling 20 Years Younger"...a new book by Bob  Green...... exercise, healthy eating, sleep and skin care. I've been neglecting all of these lately.

Also Greg pointed me in the direction of a good sermon series from Andy Stanley's church; "North Point Ministries".  BELOW is from their study materials found here: on Part Four on REST.
http://www.groupcurriculum.org/questions/index.jsp

INTRODUCTION

Can resting be a spiritual exercise? Can taking a nap be one of the most spiritual things you do today?


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What kind of person do you become when you are lacking rest? Are you more or less productive?
2. What are the most important things that come to mind when you think of spiritual disciplines? Where does rest fall on that list?
3. Read 1 Kings 19:1-9. God incorporates a pattern of activity and rest in Elijah’s life. Where else do you see a natural pattern of activity and rest?
4. Read Matthew 14:22-23. What steps can you take to incorporate rest into the rhythm of your life?
5. Is your ability (or inability) to rest an indication of your trust in God? Are you living at a sustainable pace?

Wishing myself a slow paced weekend.....