Drinking Coffee Solely for Its Medicinal Value - #write31days 10-09-16

This morning we drove away from the fast food restaurant, I took 4-5 drinks of my pre-mixed coffee - grimacing after each swallow, and exclaimed to the LOML:

“So, I guess I’m just drinking coffee this morning solely for its medicinal value!?!?!?”

We both started laughing. I definitely laughed louder and longer. I seem to crack myself up!

I was never a coffee drinker back in the younger days. I had an iced coffee from time to time. But, hot coffee every morning was of no interest to me. But, then… I married the LOML. And, coffee (with extra cream & sugar) began appearing bed-side nearly every morning. Over the years, it’s become a daily routine which has never been taken for granted. It’s a delight to me and a wonderful way to start each day.

The LOML adds a touch of cream and sugar to his coffee. I would rather have a touch of coffee with the cream and sugar. And, the LOML only drinks fully caffeinated coffee. Hence, I might or might not have become a bit addicted to caffeine over the years.

I am... KNOWN

Writing prompt for Tuesday at Ten (week of 3/1 - 3/7/16) is "I am..."

This post is based upon my #JoyDare No. 4400 from February 14th of 2016.

The LOML & I have been friends for nearly

Only the Good Die Young

stuckinindiana sunrise

The LOML and I recently took a trip across the country from the land of "stuckinindiana" to the beautiful, mountainous state of Colorado to help our son and his new bride move into an apartment on the CUB campus. They'll be there in grad school for the next two years. In the days and weeks leading up to the trip, we tried to organize four years of the lives of two students into what needed to be discarded, saved, and what could successfully be taken without the use of a moving van. As we neared the time of our departure, it became very questionable as to whether or not we could make everything fit in two cars. 

Annoying Someone for Life

What's the recipe for a good marriage? Some of the ingredients I'd put in that recipe:

* friendship
* grace & forgiveness
* support & encouragement
* patience
* honesty
* humor, humor, humor

I've been married to the LOML for over 25 years. And, laughter has been a big part of those years together. Oh trust me... we don't see eye-to-eye on plenty of things. And, we both have the "death stare" perfected. But, we enjoy laughing with each other and, often, at each other. 

The old saying says "laughter is the best medicine". There's a lot of truth to that statement - especially, I would say, in marriage. I totally agree with Rita's words below:

"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life." ~ Rita Rudner

Linked with the Nesting Place community through the write31days challenge, October 2014 - post No 2

Other posts of mine about marriage & relationships:

Crazy Spontaneity 

Capture the Flag

Life's Snapshots - Overlooking the Obvious

Empty Nesting in the Moments

A Happy Marriage

You're Not the Boss of Me!

I kept a journal when the kids were young - mainly at the suggestion of Chris - my accountability partner then and life-long BFF now! At the prompting of the Holy Spirit when I was praying back then, I asked her & another friend to meet with me weekly as accountability partners. My youngest was 3 years old. I'd share a "mommy story" each week. Chris would tell me that I needed to write them down in a journal. So, I did. Eighteen years later, I continue to thank her for suggesting that to me!!

Here's a favorite story from that journal...

When our son was 3 and our daughter was 5, they were sitting beside each other one morning at the kitchen pass-through counter eating breakfast. Our daughter made a "suggestion" about how our 3-year old son should do something, He immediately & emphatically replied:

"I don't have to! You are NOT the boss of me!"

Amused at his reply, I asked him who WAS the boss of him? His reply: "Well, of course, you are Mommy!"

I then asked who the boss of his sister was. His reply: "You are."

I decided to test my luck & asked "who's the boss of Daddy"? There was a pause, as he thought about the question. Then his reply: "You are! (pause) You are the boss of everyone -- except the Cates family! (our neighbors to the west).

Whenever I hear or say the words, "You're not the boss of me!" my mind goes back that day with my young children. The words of my adorable 3 year old boy replay in my head & a smile breaks forth on my face.  And, I am reminded that... it's all a matter of perspective!

Screen shot of what I messaged to my sister
when she suggested that I
make lemonade out of the lemons
in my life right now :)

For me, if I could choose anyone or anything to BE THE BOSS OF ME, it would be God's Holy Spirit! I would surrender to the Holy Spirit's authority & thereby be set free to live an abundant life!

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." Galatians 5:16-17 & 25b

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

HOPE, A Scarf from Target 10-15-13

The way my mind works is, mmmmm - let's just say, CRAZY! Long before the days of 140-character tweets or brief Facebook status updates, my mind seemed to announce things in brief statements. So today, when I jumped in the car to head off to an appointment, my mind shouted the following:

"She donned a neon pink sweater and her new bright, floral scarf from Target... POURED HERSELF INTO her jeans... and headed out the door."

(NOTE: This was said with a very loud, authoritative, announcer-type voice!) 

I'm not really wanting to "come clean" entirely about the above thought. Suffice it to say that my exercise routine & caloric intake have not been what they should. To be completely honest, my lack of discipline is the real culprit. The consequences are quite obvious to me. And, some days you just can't hide under bulky clothes.

My mom used to say, "Draw people's eyes away from your weak areas." For example, if your hair doesn't look that great, grab a nice necklace or beautiful scarf to draw attention away from your hair. She also used to say that a longer top or jacket can hide a multitude of sins. And, she told me that if I had a small stain on my blouse, smile so big that no one would even think to look below my chin. (My mom was always good for giving a piece of advice.)

I don't want to minimize my lack of self-control with exercise & eating. However, I do want to say that there are times (often in the moment) when all our fretting will not change a thing. Sometimes the best thing to do is find some beauty in the not-so-perfect. I love my scarf from Target. I plan to continue wearing it for years to come. I don't plan to repeatedly use it as a disguise for the fit of my jeans. I'll work on that issue. Regardless, I hope that scarf from Target will bring brightness & color to others as they see it. I'm pretty certain I'll get a chuckle the next time I wear it :)

Some days I have to tell myself: Don't get bogged down in the moment... make a plan to get back on track... don't let it ruin your day.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34

Linking this month with The Nesting Place

 for the 31-day Challenge

Caitlyn Young vs Caitlyn Old - 4 Moving to China?

YOUNG Caitlyn
a LONG time ago :) 

In the early 90's, a few things began to really "get under my skin" about a dear, cherished, beloved relative. I pondered those things & came to the abrupt conclusion that I too could easily slip into similar and perhaps the exact (gasp) behaviors. It was at that time that I began a new file entitled, "Caitlyn Young vs Caitlyn Old". About 2-3 times each year, I send the file to a few "sister friends" in the hopes that they will NOT let me edit the entries as I get older to suit my fancy.

Moving to China?

I'm so thankful that a big part of my life has been with my favorite comedian of all time (aka my husband)! Humor always seems to take the edge off of real life, doesn't it?

A few years ago, my mom announced that she was going with a close friend on an alumni trip to China. This would be the mom who gets almost all her clothes (and OUR presents) from a local used clothing shop, who complains that she has to eat cereal for supper due to the lack of money, who wants us to cover the cost of the gas necessary to come visit her grandkids (even when she initiates the trip), and who keeps her house as cold as a coffin in the winter and, in the summer, as warm as - hmmm, you get the idea. Back to the China trip, we were told that the cost of the trip was none of our business. We were even told that there was plenty of money to cover the trip cost. None of her adult children could get a straight answer from her as to whether the trip was something she could handle financially at that time.

Shortly after the siblings & spouses had processed all of this toegether, I received the following note from a close friend:

When I was talking to your husband after the meeting yesterday I said, "I heard your mother-in-law is going to go to China." His immediate reply was, "I hope she moves there." 

My friend went on to comment: "Isn't that hilarious! He comes up with some funny stuff sometimes. And he's so serious about it all too - which is great! Hope I didn't get him in trouble right there :)"

Of course, my husband (the LOML) was kidding. My mom took the trip to China.. and, she CAME BACK! She had a wonderful time, made some great memories with friends and took some fantastic photos. She's still under the same roof; eating cereal for supper under a cozy blanket. We all survived :)

So my advise today to the me of the present and the coming years is "Always keep your humor; trust in the LORD at all times!" 

God always sees the BIG PICTURE and was "spot on" when he inspired the writing of Proverbs 3:5-7 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil."

FORMER POSTS IN THIS "SERIES"

Caitlyn Young vs Caitlyn Old #1 - Sleep Around

Caitlyn Young vs Caitlyn Old #2 - The World Doesn't Owe Me

Caitlyn Young vs Caitlyn Old #3 - Giving With No Strings Attached