Catch the Wave

I planted my bedding plants over the weekend. This pot might not look like much right now, but those little plants are Wave Petunias, and in a few months this pot will be overflowing with pink blossoms.

It's like that with my writing sometimes. I'll toy with an idea for a while in my mind and then just do a brain dump of what I'm thinking. It usually doesn't look like much at first. It will take time, some nourishment, often quite a bit of deadheading, but eventually if I am lucky I will end up with something that makes me happy. Like a flowerpot overflowing with Wave Petunias.

That's my creative process. What's yours?

Tender Graces

I just finished reading Kathryn's Tender Graces.

Virginia Kate, Micah, Andy and Bobby are now living in my head, kept company by generous and loving Rebekha. Grandma Faith inspires me as I start out on the road of "grandma-hood".

It is one of those books that would have been good to read on a hot summer day while sitting on the lawn swing with a cup of iced tea.

I can't wait for the next Virginia Kate book, Kathryn! This time I'll save it for the perfect summer day. I'll try, anyway! Thank you for the gift of this book.

For anyone who doesn't know Virginia Kate, Micah, Andy, Bobby, Rebekha, and Grandma Faith, I strongly encourage you to get this book and fall in love with them the way that I did.

Reflections

This isn't who I am. There is a cranky, moody, hot-flashing, not-sleepng, out-of-sorts woman who is inhabiting my body lately. I don't like her; it's not who I am.For the moment, however unfortunate, she is who I am.

I feel the need to step back and reflect a bit. I feel over-committed (or may I should be committed?!) and need some solitude to get back on track. I am easing up on my committments and trying to make committments to myself. I will walk more; I will eat more sensibly; I will seek to regain the proper focus and perspective in my life.

A few weeks ago our Pastor made the statement that we should all be able to finish this sentence: "The purpose of my life is....". I will find the answer to that question and adjust my priorities accordingly.

Steven Covey said "You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage -- pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically -- to say 'no' to other things." I have these words posted on the wall of my office at work. I will read them more often and act upon them.

This is the, somewhat borrowed, wisdom from the woman who is inside here somewhere. I'll find her, just wait and see......

Call me crazy

Since I turned fifty I've felt that I have license to do crazy things. Goofy fun things, like dancing in the grocery store, and wearing funny looking (but comfy) flower-patterned shoes when I'm out and about.



It occurred to me recently, that some of the happiest memories I have involve crazy and goofy things, they ar not limited to those that have happened since I turned fifty, and most of them, involve my fun-loving husband. Here are a few.

• Having crepes at 3am because we couldn't sleep



• Hearing the Village People and spontaneously doing the Y-M-C-A dance



• Dancing around a swimming pool in Mexico one night - just the two of us



• Having a water fight in the hot tub

What fun and crazy things have you been doing lately?

Blessed sleep

I wake gradually, not wanting to let go of the last moment of sleep. I sense, even before my eyes open, that it is not 1am or 3am when I usually spend some time thrashing about as I try to get back to sleep. My husband still sleeps and the sound of his regular breathing comforts me. Maya and Chelsea have begun to stir, but I don't let them know that I am awake just yet. I sneak a glance at the clock. It is after 6am. I have slept through the night for the first time in many weeks.

I snuggle back under the covers trying to hold on to the moment. My mind wanders to my work in progress, and suddenly I am inspired with new ideas and direction in which to take it.

Yesterday I was barely functional. Like a battery run down to it's last bits of energy I went through he motions slowly. The fogginess in my brain and weariness in my body from lack of sleep a recipe for disaster.

The Ambien I took last night enabled me to rest well. I will be stronger today. I will be healthier today.

I rise now, looking forward to what lies ahead today, struggling against the temptation to take on too much.