Tag: WordPress

Healing in Hugs

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I saved the last cookie for my daughter. She broke it in half, and brought half over to me. This is how we live our life.

We are sitting at the table together. She is doing school while I write. There is a difference between living together, and being present. When I stepped away from Social Media, I realized we didn’t hug each other as much as we once did. It was time for that to change. There is healing in hugs.

Some of my favorite daily activities now include, sitting at the counter of my favorite coffee shop, and being present for the person working behind the counter. To walk into one of the shops downtown, and hug the owner for no reason than they’re there another day. People in town wave when they see my truck. How many of those waves were missed?

I freely give my laugh, a listening ear, a smile, and hugs.

My daughter is finding her way through this life, and the only thing I have done different is to be present, and give hugs.

It was awkward at first for me to just walk up and hug her, so to lighten it up, I counted. I’d hug her and say, “There’s one.” In my mind there was a minimum of three a day.

She is almost as tall as me now, but it’s still a hug, and it heals. Somedays three is all we can remember to do, but there are those special days we lose count, and just hug.

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We Always Do

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Today is one of those days you just go with the flow of the day itself. My daughter came home yesterday, and will leave tomorrow. She has a busy couple of weeks ahead, thanks to her father, but the last thing I told her lastnight was…

We will get through it. We always do.

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One of my faves taken 9/19/2015. 

Cherish the Moment

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The weekend is here, and I hope you have moments.

I am blessed to enjoy moments everyday, but for some, that is not possible yet. To relax your body, and mind to the point of seeing what is happening right in front of you.

My fave moment this week by far, was with my daughter.

She came home Monday, and was mentally and physically exhausted from her weekend of travel. It was late afternoon, as I stretched out across my bed; gazing out the window to clear my mind, and relax. She came in my room wrapped in one of her favorite blankets. We call it ‘bonding’ time.

She curled up at the head of the bed, and laid against a mass of pillows. She started telling me everything about her weekend, as I laid at the foot of the bed and listened.

We laughed at things that happened, and were somber about others.

In moments, time is passing, but it feels very still.

I couldn’t hear her voice anymore, as I looked over to see her asleep. She had talked it all out, and now she could rest. I tiptoed out of the room, taking the moment with me.

Food For One (Toasted Pimento Cheese on Wasa)

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My daughter and I prepare most everything we eat.

As I was making this tonight, I wondered how many other people prepare a meal for one. It’s easier to grab something at a restaurant, or fast food chain, but for me, that gets expensive, and I’m particular about what goes in my body.

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Toasted Pimento Cheese and Taheebo Tea

My tried and true cookbook is 100 Days of Real Food.

Have you ever gone by the recipe, and it didn’t make enough, or it made too much? I haven’t found that happening with these. I feel successful when I cook.

This recipes are designed for 2 adults and 2 children, (her family), and I made this in its entirety, to have some later. The recipes are easily cut in half, for when my daughter is not here, or make the whole thing, and freeze what’s left.

After leaving North Carolina, and moving to Texas, it was difficult to find good Pimento Cheese. The author of this cookbook is from Charlotte, NC, and she knows my heart.

Use Organic ingredients if you can:

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (I grate half smoked and half sharp cheddar. Tillamook brand)

1/2 cup cream cheese softened

3 Tablespoons diced, jarred pimento, with juice (I use olives instead)

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon Paprika

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 or 2 drops of hot sauce

Whole-grain crackers, for serving (such as Ak-Mak brand. I use Wasa)

Mix all ingredients, except crackers, with a wooden spoon.

The original recipe says to spread the crackers, lay them on a baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes.

Instead, I lightly broil them until melted. Along with my evening meal, or before bed, I drink a cup of Taheebo Tea to elevate my immune system. A couple of droppers full, in a cup of hot water with honey is very soothing. Enjoy!

Feel the Music (Plumb)

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Prayer doesn’t need to be complicated.

My two favorite are, “Thank you God”, and “God help me.”

It’s been a quiet year, and I have made it even more quiet. Life gets quiet, like God is giving us a break before He shows us what’s next. I’ve never been good at ‘staying’.

This song comes on the radio every time I hop in my truck.

My prayer today is, “God. Help me to do whatever you would ask of me, and help me to stay.”

 

Me…Not Worried

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I love the way God prepares me for what is next.

Everything you step out and do in life is practice.

It may not be a part of your plan, but by being willing to go forth, and just do, it will lead you onto the next thing.

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I was reminded this week, I cannot help people unless they are ready for change. It’s healthy for me today to set that boundary, and step away. I cannot save souls by posting on Social Media. It may make them feel better for a moment, but that is just a band-aid for something that runs deeper.

God gave me an idea on Monday, so this is day 3 of praying, pondering, and asking questions. I’m gonna move forward with it and see what happens. It is something I’ve done before, and it’s normally successful, but even if it’s not hugely successful, it helps others, and causes me to become better.

The biggest thing God has prepared me for recently is, not having Internet since Saturday. A short time ago, I would have come unglued. Slowly becoming disenchanted with technology, and letting go of all that a phone can do, has brought me to this peaceful space. The Internet will be back, but it’s nice to know, I’ve been able to enjoy life without it.

Enjoy the Day

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My daughter and I don’t own a television, by choice.

Nothing good was added to our life from the noise.

You can hear the natural flow of the day when there is no additional noise. The air conditioning is blowing steadily through the air vent above my head. Sitting in the middle of my bed while typing, the cool air is landing on the back of my neck, arms, and shoulders. There is a ceiling fan in the room, but I cannot hear it spinning over the air conditioning.

There several reasons I let go of my phone, but the noise was a big one. Even turning it to silent, it would light up with quiet noise. I tested myself this week, and left my phone at home while out with my daughter. The only part I missed was the ability to take a picture of our moments together.

I’ve never carried a camera, but maybe that is what’s next.

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Pure-Hearted Humility

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My first year of Blogging, a lady commented on one of my posts that I had been nominated for a Blogger award. I had no clue what that meant, so I thanked her, and continued writing.

I read a Blog this morning by Liz at My Well-being and Learning Journey. She had been nominated for an award. By being nominated, you are asked to nominate 15 other Bloggers. (When I began Blogging, I didn’t know 5, much less 15.) She didn’t pinpoint any nominees. By reading her post, consider yourself nominated. Liz is pure-hearted humility.

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Be Happy Now

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Happiness is top priority for me.

I have let go of a lot this year to find the happines in me.

If you are new here, you should know I have already let go of materialism. Things didn’t bring happiness, and today, I live a very simple life. The more simple my life, the happier I am with me. The rest of this year will bring more letting go, but I am in a good space to share with you what I’ve done so far.

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To find out how happy you are, you need to be still.

By staying busy, and focusing on the task at hand, you might be happy. We are going to gently take away the noise of life, and get down to the being of happy.

This may seem like an odd topic with what my daughter is going through right now, but she has been studying me since she was 5 years old. She knows what all I have removed from my life to find this level of contentment.

This morning, we went for coffee together, and I told her, “I am happy being me.” No outside influences involved, just me. She knows one of the biggest things I let go of was my phone, and her phone is bringing her a lot of unhappiness.

To be a living, breathing example is the best thing to do.

My hope is that some of what I let go of will resonate with you, and you can learn to be happy now.

Turn the Page

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It feels like a new chapter unfolding in our lives.

She wrote, and published her first Blog post today.

She has always been a gifted writer. Maybe that is why she encouraged me to begin this Blog years ago, because she knew how enjoyable it would be. It was a seed in her heart.

She’s had a WordPress account for over a year, and yesterday talked about writing a Blog. It made me smile. Today, she typed one up, added some of her beautiful photographs, and hit publish. I asked God to please let someone read it. It’s had several views, and likes. We needed this today, so glory to God, and thank you WordPress community.

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