Broken Things -- All Around

I'm not even certain when it began. Perhaps the problem was visible all those years ago and we didn't notice. Or maybe we DID notice it... but, failed to give it the attention needed. That's the most likely scenario. How often in our lives do we miss the obvious? How often do we neglect something until it's beyond repair?

If I were to read the above words at the beginning of a post, my mind would immediately form these questions:

• Is this post about a failing relationship?
• I wonder what happened?
• I wonder how serious this is??
• What did they do?
• Regardless of the above... I'm sure this is NOT a mistake I've made or would ever make!

Tuesday at Ten - Someday I Will...

A sentence beginning with "Someday I will..." would have been finished in many ways at various stages of my life.

 

As a young child, I would have said,
          "Someday I will... have a pony & live on a farm." 

At a very awkward stage, I would have said,
          "Someday I will... be beautiful & not ugly and skinny."

As I grew older, I would have said,
          "Someday I will... live in the Biltmore Estate!"

My sophomore year in college, I would have said,
          "Someday I will... not be so fat and won't complain about being thin."

 

After being dumped by a guy I really thought was my soul mate, I would have said,
          "Someday I will... BE LOVED!

 

I wish I could say that I "got it" immediately following college. But, I didn't. I wasn't even at that point 10 years ago. Thankfully, at some point as the years passed, I got less and less concerned with "someday" and more and more concerned with "this moment" -- right now. I was looking ahead so intently that I often missed the blessings of the moment I was occupying. I've learned the lesson that SOMEDAY will take care of itself if you give full attention to NOW. 

Linking up with... Tuesday at Ten

 http://i1.wp.com/www.findingthegracewithin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JPEG-image-2CCA02FF19CA-11.jpeg

Don't be afraid to... BE YOUrself!

As a child, I was skinny... the kind of skinny that reminded most people of a child from a refugee camp. I have the pics to prove it too! I'll post a few of those at a later time - perhaps here or perhaps on the Facebook page.

The truth of the matter was that I was so tall & skinny that I got a lot of attention. And, it wasn't the GOOD kind of attention. In addition to that, there were some other things at work in my life which, since happening when I was a young child, made me feel odd & out of place. Needless to say, I never did want to BE ME! I dreamed of being someone else... someone that melted into the scenery and didn't stand out and draw attention.
 
It took a lot of years. But, little by little, I began to accept that I was uniquely created in a good way. My quirkiness hasn't totally gone & I've not really refined much as I've aged. However, I've grown more comfortable with the skin I'm in and the person I was created to be.

I'm sure I'm not alone in these feelings... the questioning of my worth or value... the questioning of my physical attractiveness... the questioning of my place in the world or my impact on the world and those closest to me. But, the "questioning" has been for a season. And, those seasons seem to be getting fewer and farther in between.

Every once in awhile there's a BIG REMINDER that I should not give in to those former doubtful feelings. One such time is depicted in the "stuckinindiana-pairing" I've used for this post. If you look closely at the picture you'll see a beautiful older woman who seemed to be very comfortable with being HER own person. I hope with the passing of each day that YOU and I will become more comfortable and accepting of our own uniqueness!

NOTE TO SELF (and to you, if it applies):

Don't be afraid to... BE YOUrself!!

 

 

(See the blog labels for related postings.)

2015 MAY 3 of 3 ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

Three Gifts A Day: MAY 2015
Based on the book, One Thousand Gifts, (by Ann Voskamp) #1000Gifts #JoyDare
I took the 1,000 Gifts Dare for the year of 2012... continued in 2013... and 2014! Now, I'm into 2015 :) GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS...

Thurs 5/21/15

3591. muddy foot prints across the road

3592. playing outside and sharing snacks with our Little

3593. yummy, yummy soup made by our daughter 

(chicken, chicken broth, whole wheat pasta, tomatoes, lentils, navy beans and avocado!!)

GIRLS DINNER TONIGHT :) The LOML is at a work function

Fri 5/22/15

3594. trying hard to wake up a 2-year old

3595. river otters

3596. getting there in time for dinner... and being served black chili - was that really a blessing??

Sat 5/23/15

3597. pancakes for breakfast at GreatG'Ma's - a tradition

3598. zoo adventures with FOUR GENERATIONS, a pony ride, feeding a giraffe, a log ride, a train ride...

3599. gifted irises which have taken over the south side of the pole barn

Sun 5/24/15

3600. the colors of spring...

3601. apples in the making on our tree

3602. sitting at the end of the cement pond at the end of a FULL day & enjoying our hard work

Mon 5/25/15

MEMORIAL DAY

3603. early morning walkabout

3604. trying to put "baby things" away!

I was trying to get the Baby Things organized
to give away when I caught this Little
enjoying one of her infant swings!

3605. French braids, homemade cupcakes, family picnic & so much more!!!

Tues 5/26/15

3606. 5 nieces waking up in the house this morning & sharing coffee with me

3607. SUSAN (I told her she was one of my blessings today!!)

3608. visiting w/sister-in-law from south Florida at M-I-L's house

Wed 5/27/15

3609. perennials!!!

 3610. letting go of some expectations (for what our deck & patio should look like)

3611. pruning back the herb garden & sticking it in a vase

Thurs 5/28/15

3612. sunrise walkabout

3613. an adorable, yet extremely destructive, prisoner

3614. a messy great room & a very happy LITTLE

Fri 5/29/15

3615. my walking partner for the day

3616. the things that Koko picks up!

Cigarette Smoking is Harmful
to your help!!

3617. making it through 3 ENERGY-FILLED DAYS caring for this LITTLE...

Sat 5/30/15

3618. fields of winter wheat with the Little

3619. 5 new ladies :)

3620. resting & relaxing under the shagbark hickory tree after a really FULL day!

Sun 5/31/15

Wedding - Amber & Xen

3621. G & J and T & K in the house!!! Church & lunch together :)

3622. family weddings & celebrations

3623. my bed - WOAH, DOES IT EVER FEEL GOOD AFTER A BUSY, BUSY WEEK!!!

Stay tuned for JUNE of 2015. GOD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS! For other daily blessings, search for the blog labels of:

                 #1000Gifts  #JoyDare #1KGiftsJoyDare

How Many SIGNS Do You Need to See?

Linking this week with Tuesday at Ten... the writing prompt phrase for the week: "If only..."

So, today I write about "If only... I had paid attention to all the SIGNS..."

One of my "recent passions" is administrating a "PAGE" on Facebook called When You're STUCKinindiana. Why such a passion at this time in my life? I HAVE NO IDEA. But, it seems to be something that I can't resist :) I believe that everything is for a season. And, I have no idea how long this season will last. As much as I'm enjoying it & feeling fulfilled by it at this time, I'm confident it will end at some point. But right now, I'm focused on sharing life with others through that page... by way of pairing up some of my photos with quotes, sayings, lyrics, etc. for the purpose of relating to, encouraging, inspiring, and affirming others.

When I find a quote or saying (or someone else's original post) that I like, I save it in a file. When someone sends me a favorite quote, I save it in a file. When I write a blog post and a certain "thought" stands out to me, I save it in a file. I pair these up with one of my photos & save them to post at a later date.

In looking back at my life, I noticed that there were a LOT of "signs" that I ignored as I rushed along from one thing to another. I began keeping a list several years ago of things which should have made me STOP to think before I proceeded. If you're interested in seeing that list as it's posted, check out the When You're STUCKinindiana Facebook page & watch for them to post. I'll organize them in an album as I post them too :)

So, how many signs do YOU need to see before you STOP and think before proceeding? Sometimes it's more than I want to admit.

#JoyDare No. 3600. The Colors of Spring

The count began in January of 2012.. The assignment: Make note of three things each day that bring a smile to your face or heart. Jot those down. Ann Voskamp called it a "Joy Dare" in her book, One Thousand Gifts. I took the dare three and a half years ago and... I hit 3600 with this one...

       #JoyDare No. 3600 - the colors of spring

I struggle with depression and anxiety pretty badly in the winter. I long for the warmth of the sun - which I had in my childhood in the mountains of North Carolina & on the beaches of south Florida in my teens & 20's. Now I am "stuckinindiana"  Despite the fact that I'm vigilant about doing what I can to minimize the crazy feelings in the winter, I still long for the SUN, new life, and COLOR. Those things come to me here with the spring.

I was reminded today by the lovely colors of flowers around our little country home that I really feel HAPPY when I see the colors of spring. I'm grateful that the previous owner (and builder) of our current home planted a ton of perennials. When early spring is here and most people are running out to get things ready for planting, I'm still struggling with my energy levels. Thanks to the previous owner, I'm greeted in early spring with beautiful & fragrant flowers, shrubs and trees! My energy level goes up & summer feels even closer :)

What brought a smile to your face or your heart today? It doesn't have to be BIG to feel BIG when you give thanks for it! You might want to try listing a few things each day that make you feel blessed, happy, less stressed, wiser, better, etc.  I bet you'll like it!!