GROW

  

 

I think I'm hearing "no"

when I want to hear "yes"

so I keep waiting to hear "yes".

Maybe it's time I grew anyway!!!!!

~ Linda

 

 

June 4, 2008

 

 

"Grow"

No, there's no theme here.  I'm not challenging myself to write stories with one word titles.  I did discover that one word can mean so very much.  One word can carry a lot of weight.

Words like, "yes," "no," "stop," "go," "win" and "lose," seem to be particularly important to us.

So, it came as no surprise to me when, on one early morning in late October, I walked out my door and saw it.

It must have been there for at least a day or two.  I might ask myself why I didn't see it before.  But I know why.  I wasn't meant to see it then.  It had to be that day.

It is how God works.  It is how God teaches me to see when I am trying to hear. It was my "yes" when I thought He was saying "no."

It is how God makes me "stop" when I am on the "go."

He shows me how to make something a "win" when I thought I would "lose."

I was rubbing the night dreams from my eyes as I opened the door.  It was still dark and I wanted it that way.  I wasn't looking for the bright side of anything.  I needed to slip into this day slowly, so when I stepped out onto the deck and stood there waiting for my dogs to come back in, I made no effort at all to even notice anything.

But, in God's plan for me, this little thing would appear so much bigger. I have no idea how it got there.  I can't even imagine that it just fell and took root, but it certainly took advantage of wherever it ended up.

There is about five feet from by back door to the railing that surrounds a small deck.  One step up and you have access to our hot tub.

The thick brown cover used to keep the tub hot when not in use, has a handle on each end.  To remove it you simply fold one half on top of the other and then slide it off to one end.  Each handle is made of fabric and carefully stitched into the vinyl for strength.

That morning in the darkness of a cold October day, I discovered a small seedling growing from the seam of the handle facing the door.

It was about 3/4 of an inch tall and the only survivor of the first plant killing frost of autumn that very day.

I rubbed my eyes again and went back into the house to get my glasses. Upon closer look, I was amazed at what I saw.  This tiny seed found its way into the side of the handle and without hesitation and against all odds it began to grow.

There it was.  "Grow."  It was spectacular!  Fabulous! Wonderful! Now eager to see the sunrise I hurried through my morning routine and grabbed my camera

I had to capture this.  I had to take this picture and place it somewhere where I can be reminded everyday.

Reminded of what?

Everything does not have to be perfect. Nothing has to make complete sense. All the parts don't have to be in place. All plans don't have to be made nor the timing absolute. You hear "no" but feel, "yes"; You want to "go" but feel the need to "stop"; You want to "win" and fear you might "lose."

Take a moment to realize that everything God wants for you, everything God sees in you, everything you are and everything you will be is already ready inside.  Like the seed, wherever you land you can "grow."

When the seed ended up in the handle of my hot tub, it did not waste a moment to moan, complain, whine, cry or curse.  Right where it was, God provided everything it needed to become everything He created it to be.

You might well point out that it is not where seeds belong.  It will not thrive there.  It is doomed and wasted.

You would be wrong.

It was chosen by God to be there for me when I needed to be encouraged and inspired.  And in turn, God knew I would share this with you.

A seed planted.  A man inspired.  A story shared.

It's not where you are planted, but how much you "Grow."

Now . . . Grow!

 

........."I believe in You!"

..................~ Bob Perks ~

 

 

 

 

WISHING EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU

PICTURE PERFECT FRIDAY ~ TWISTED

 

TWISTED

LIFE

WITHIN

SHARED

BEAUTIFULLY

 

taken as always with my Kodak Z740 Digital Camera.

Marco . . . I'm sure you've made the angels smile

 

We chat and comment with people every day  that touch our lives in more ways then they can imagine!  I signed up on Yahoo 360 and made a page in July of 2006 ~ Shortly there after I connected with Marco.   I was his second friend and a third soon followed ~ for the longest time he was very content with having just the three of us ~ he was a private man!   The other two eventually disappeared and after awhile, one by one other people begin to know my friend Marco and connected to him.  You could not help but like Marco!!!  He loved his family and loved to travel . . . He was so proud of his homeland Italy.  (He lived in the UK)  He had lost his son and was a big influence in his grandson's life (Dylan) and how he loved him!!!

We meet  and chat with people on line ~ I don't think we know how much we touch their lives or how much they touch ours.  Maybe we don't think about how close we really feel to them or how much we know about them,  but we show up on their pages day after day with "Good Morning"'s and "How are you today?"'s.  We find smiles on our faces when we receive  messages from them and we miss them when we don't hear anything from them.

When so many of us made the move to Multiply I kept my page on Yahoo for friends like Marco that didn't make the move.  Actually, it was because of Marco and two other contacts especially!!!  Even though I rarely made contact in Yahoo because of so much going on in Multiply Marco was there very frequently with cherry-friendly messages that always put a smile on my face when I did decide to show up and check.  Thank goodness I told him what they meant!!!

I have this love for my friend Marco, not because of his passing but I had it before, not the love of your life kind of love but the love of who he is  . . .  and it made me wonder . . . This is someone I have never laid eyes on or never heard his voice . . .      What is it? . . . How do I know him?

Well, I know from his post that he loved fast and beautiful cars ~ don't know what kind of car he owned and drove ( but than that doesn't matter) but he did post so many beautiful cars.  I know he loved his family!  He was somewhat of a private man ~ he didn't collect friends like some people collect charms  ~ each was important to him!!!  He loved and was not afraid to tell the world.  I think he would have shouted it from the mountain tops when he fell in love with Catarina and he sure put it in song and blog on a daily basis!!! I admired that so much!!!  Isn't that what love is all about ~ a real love from the heart ~ you want to share it with the world!!!  He did ~ quiet and private as he was!!!   Marco was real and from  the heart and he didn't care if others judged that!!!

You probably had no idea how you touched lives, Marco . . .

You will be thought of . . .

And missed so much . . .

BUT I  IMAGINE

The angels are all smiling  . . .  to have you so close!!!

 

 

We lost Marco on June 21, 2008

My heart goes out to the family that he left behind and to Catarina, his love.

Duffy - Distant Dreamer

Let's keep our dreams alive!

2nd attempt at this micro setting on my old Kodak Z740

Yes, guess us girls are a little like guys with new toys. Came home from work this morning and went out to feed my Buddy and saw . . . More ants!!! Since I found that my camera does have this setting for getting closer yesterday have wanted to get out and play. Who knows I may move on to something with more color next ~ lol ~ well, after I learn to use this right! And maybe, after a little more sleep!!!!

Picture Perfect Friday ~ Industry

for those that can't see Photobucket Pictures

PICTURE PERFECT FRIDAY ~ INDUSTRY

    Thank you, Cherie, much better choice of music than I picked!    

in·dus·try: Energetic devotion to a task or an endeavor; diligence

 

Thank you to My Love for the "Industrious ant" idea

 

Nothing is denied to well-directed labor.

~ Sir Joshua Reynolds
      

 

 

For those that can't see Photobucket Pictures today

(Click Picture to ENLARGE)
      

Just to share ~ "The Red Balloon Comes Home"

 
   

Some of you may have received this in your email, I know I did

from my bother in law who rarely sends me anything but family

news and pictures.  He said that he and my sister both thought that

I would love to read it ~ they were right.  What wonderful men and women

we have in our armed services that fight for our safety every day. 

Not only do they have the worries about what is going on around them

but the things we have no idea about going on with their loved ones. 

 And no surprise ~ this is an example of the heart they have! 

It is a very touching story and one I thought you would like to read 

if you had not received it in your email or seen it in Newsweek.

 

"The Red Balloon Comes Home"

Chief Petty Officer Dain Anderson, Navy

 

  ....... ...............                  

 

written by:...............

........ Kristi Anderson

 

 

My husband, Dain, said goodbye to our four kids in 2005, heading to Iraq. Our son Daimon, then 2, felt lethargic. He had an E. coli infection and was critically ill. Our son Dawson, just 11 months old, also came down with the same disease. Thank God they survived! Dain was distraught at being away and dealing with possibly losing his two boys.

After they both got better, Daimon received a red balloon at a birthday party. As he left with his Grandma Bev, the balloon flew into the sky. He was upset, but she said, "Do you think the balloon is going to Iraq to give Daddy joy?" That made Daimon feel better. We told Dain about this. Two weeks later, he e-mailed us a beautiful picture of him holding a red balloon, telling us how happy he was to receive what his son sent. When Dain returned home just before Christmas 2006, he came off the plane carrying a red balloon. I've never seen such joy in a child as I saw in Daimon that day.

 

 

 

Wishing everyone

a wonderful week

full of love, laughter,

and special moments

shared with those you love!!!

Must read blogs ~ Johnoh's Humor

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Laughter is good medicine and the place to get the best Medicine is a visit to Johnoh. Although John writes some very informative, educational blogs as well, his humor is the top!!!! Here are a few samples guaranteed to have you rolling on the floor!!!


link to The Male Ego


link to The Last American Caveman


link to Have You Seen Cheries Boobies

Must read blogs ~ Oh God, My Life

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Another series too good too miss!!! Such eye openers ~ you can't leave these without taking something with you! No way to list all of these as she is continually adding to this series with happenings in her life! Wouldn't want to miss a one of them!!!!!


link to 1 of series


link to 4 of series


link to 6 of series


link May 18 of seriers


link May 26 of seriers


link May 29 of seriers


link June 4 of seriers

Must read blogs ~ Africa

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

This is first in a four part series that will touch your heart and maybe change your life forever! Mitch is a fine writer that has really out done himself this time!

link to part I

link to part ii


link to part iii


link to partIV

PICTURE PERFECT FRIDAY ~ EXTRAVAGANCE

 

 

 

 

LINK to PPF EXTRAVAGANCE SITE

 

 

Hat Creek ~ tucked away off a little road in Northern California.     Easy to drive right over and not even know there is so much beauty below.   A perfect place for a picnic with someone you love, but most of all a wonderful example of God's love ~ ~ ~  So much love has He for us, in fact, that He created such extravagant beauty in the world for us to enjoy.

 

 

"Where there is no extravagance

 there is no love,

and where there is no love

there is no understanding."

~Oscar Wilde

GREAT HAPPINESS . . .

    "If we discovered that we had only 5 minutes left to say what we wanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied by people calling other people to stammer that they loved them."
  ~ Christopher Morley      
!

 

Not long ago I answered a telephone call from an old friend I'd not heard from for a long time.

"Hi, Steve," he said. "I just wanted to see how you're getting along."

For whatever reason, our paths had simply not crossed for months. It was good to talk with him. I wondered why we hadn't kept in touch better.

Toward the end of the conversation, he said, "If you need me in any way, I'll be happy to help out." And he meant it!

That call came at just the right time, as they so often do. I needed
those words of encouragement. I hung up the phone feeling a satisfying lump of warmth in my chest.

And that day I re-learned something important about life: life is
primarily about people -- not plans and schedules, not to-do lists and a million tasks left undone -- it's about people.

To love and to know that we are loved is the greatest happiness of
existence. And happiness seems to be something that is in short supply for too many of us! My friend reminded me that it is never enough just to love; we must also express it. What good are our affectionate feelings toward others if we don't find ways to let them know?

George William Childs put it like this: "Do not keep the alabaster box of your   love and friendship sealed up until your friends are dead.  Fill their lives with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them and while their hearts can be thrilled and made happier. The kind things you mean to say when they are gone, say before they go."

Happiness ... may be just a phone call away.

               

~ from "Your Life Support"

~ Steve Goodier

 

 

 

"No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever."

~ Francois Mocuriac

 

 

 

Have a wonderful Week

Call someone you miss & love!!!

I Left My Heart . . .

   

 

 

 

Sitting at the airport in Sacramento thinking back over the last ten days...

I find myself smiling but very sure that it is the memories of the many adventures, the beautiful country, the really wonderful people and not the leaving part that has created this smile.  Not the leaving part for sure, as my heart is not wanting to leave at all.  It belongs here. . .     In fact, it insist upon staying!!!

Everyone has been  so wonderful ~ even the gentleman that checked my bags was so very pleasant. As he smiled and laughed, I was thinking I should be here seeing someone else off ~ certainly not checking my bags!  For every minute with the people that I spent time with was absolutely wonderful.  So right.  Just way too short of a time, but than for some of them a lifetime would not be long enough.  And those I wanted to see but didn't get to . . .

Don't know how the pilot will take the, "Oh no, we're going to have to turn this plane around!!! I left my heart back there!  I must go back, yes, and stay because as we all know, Home is where the heart is!"