Baked, Boiled, Fried and...

Yesterday evening I took a trip to my local "big box store". I was only there for toilet paper. But I have recently figured out that the toilet paper is very strategically placed in the store. Do you know where they keep it? IN THE BACK OF THE STORE! That means that folks have to pass by EVERYTHING ELSE to get to it, and then pass by THE REST OF THE STUFF to get to the register. So going in for ONE thing and coming out with JUST THAT ONE THING is virtually IMPOSSIBLE.

They got me well before I got to the toilet paper. I was going up and down the meat aisle and right next to that are the yummy side dishes. Oh what a variety there is to choose from! So I looked at THIS, and I looked at THAT, and soon thereafter found myself pushing MASHED POTATOES around in my cart. MASHED POTATOES!!! I can't tell you the last time I even had mashed potatoes, but all of a sudden my mouth began to water at the thought of enjoying spoon after spoonful. And when I got home, I did just that. Heated those bad boys up and got MASHED POTATO WASTED!!!

NO, that's not something that I do often, and YES I know that mashed potatoes aren't "good for me". But I wanted them, and after the week I'd had...I NEEDED them.

Once they're gone, I'm sure that I'll be "over it" and won't have another spoonful of mashed potatoes for who knows how long. But for now...while they're here...I'm gonna enjoy them.

So how 'bout you...

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What is YOUR favorite "comfort food", and how often do you have it?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Those who can...DO.

After a long day at work I headed to the store to pick up a few things for dinner and then began to make my way home. I was hungry and tired, until...I passed by the local church and saw that the American Red Cross was having a blood drive there. All of a sudden, my hunger and fatigue faded and I pulled into the the parking lot of the church.

Without an appointment I walked inside and was warmly welcomed, as always. I checked in, read the required paperwork, answered the routine questions, got my finger pricked...PASSED the iron levels test, and DONATED my pint of blood.

Wouldn't you know it...as I was laying there on the donation table, guess who popped into my thoughts {insert Jeopardy theme song here}...you guessed it...my Mom.

I got to thinking about how much she LOVED veins...the good ones that're easy to spot, and those tough ones that are barely visible. Those were her favorites because they gave most nurses quite a challenge...but they were NEVER a challenge for her. My mom could start an I.V. on ANYBODY. Young or old...didn't matter...she'd find that vein!

So anyhoo...I laid there hooked up and squeezing until my bag was full...and my heart was fuller.

I love being a donor, and I especially love the fact that as an "O-" universal donor, I can give to ANYONE. That comes as no surprise. God gave me the blood type that matches my personality.

I understand that there are many folks who, for various reasons, don't donate blood. I pretty much understand all but ONE reason...FEAR. I've heard people say, "Oh no...I'm afraid of needles", or, "I'm afraid of blood." For those folks I've got a little secret..."DON'T LOOK AT THE NEEDLE AND DON'T LOOK AT THE BLOOD. LOOK THE OTHER WAY!"

Anyhoo...I'm glad that I gave and I'm glad that I can give to anyone who has a need. If I can remember to go every 56 days

, I will.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's YOUR blood type? Have you ever donated blood? If so, when was the last time?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Holding On...barely

So I've been trying to "hang on" but as each day passes the task becomes more and more difficult.

It's funny how some areas of my life are absolutely AMAZING, and other areas (really just ONE) are swirling around like a turd in the toilet. For me, that ONE area is work. I just can't seem to get it right. I can't seem to find what it is that I've been searching for when it comes to a career...and it's beginning to take a toll...a MAJOR toll.

I've fallen back into my depression and I feel like I'm coming undone. I hate this feeling.

Why is it so difficult?

Why is it that some folks are in that dream careers already, and I...I am still scratching and clawing trying to find my way. Clearly I've gone wrong somewhere. Clearly.

Anyhoo...this whole thing has drained me mentally so I'm going to end tonight's post here. Oh, before I close...for all of the folks who will read this and say, "Just be thankful that you have a job." Yes, I get it, and I am...yet I know that God has more planned for me than this...I just know He does. And I want it. I'm ready for it.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Are you operating in YOUR dream career, or are you still scratching and clawing like me?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

One Step at a Time

I posted the following on my running group's page this evening. Thought I'd share it here with all of you. Once again, my beloved mother has made an appearance in my thoughts...I don't think a day has gone by that she hasn't. And I am a-ok with that. Anyhoo...here it is:

"After being absent for the past 3 months, tonight I "got back out there" with the The Lakewood Lovelies. I've gotta say, these were the most emotional 2.93 miles I've ever done. With every step I thought about the reason that kept me away for so long...my Mom. My Mom who walked HER last STEP on 9/17/14, had her right leg amputated on 9/25/14 and took her last BREATH on 11/9/14. All I could think about tonight was how much she would've LOVED the opportunity to have done what I was doing. So tonight's 2.93 miles were dedicated to my Mom. It wasn't my fastest pace, nor my longest distance, and once again...I came in last...but FINISHED. That's all my Mom would've cared about...FINISHING. And it would've been enough to make her proud. Sooo good to be back with my "sole sisters" again...who welcomed me with the LOVE and encouragement that is BGR!"

Sometimes we "leave it all on the pavement" and other times, like tonight, the pavement GIVES us more than we anticipated. Either way...it's all good.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Are you a runner? If so, do you typically run solo, or with a group?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Remembering Dr. King (and my Mom)

So today was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and although I would have preferred to make this a "day of service" volunteering somewhere, I had to work. Oh well.

As I was at work I remembered how as a young girl I would ask my Mom if I could stay home from school. This was well before "King Day" became a federal holiday. I vividly remembered her words.

"You can stay home but you're not gonna just sit around and watch TV all day. You have to write an essay about Dr. King and what he meant to the world." EASY!

Even at a young age I loved to write, so for me that was a "win-win".

Now, all these years later children don't have to ask if they can stay home because this day is now a federal holiday (as it should be).

I just hope that folks who had the day "off" didn't just use it as a day to "loaf around", but instead, used it to serve and meet the needs of others, as Dr. King would have wanted.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: If your employer observed this day as a company holiday, what did YOU do with it?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Spiritual Divide

Today I write with a heavy heart.

No, no one has died, yet at the same time I am saddened by the fact that some folks will, and I will NEVER see them again. Why? Because our spiritual beliefs are vastly different.

I am a believer in Christ. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe that Jesus is THE way, the truth and the life. THIS is what I believe.

With the advances of social media I am sadly realizing that many folks I know simply don't believe the same. Some never believed. Some used to and have chosen not to any longer. Others believe in Jesus and someone/something else. For me...based on my Bible, Jesus is IT. He stands alone. HE is ALL we need in order to obtain salvation. This is what I believe, yet I fully understand that there are many who would argue my beliefs...and that's okay. We all have the FREEDOM to choose.

What I often find fascinating is how siblings can be brought up in the same household, under the same spiritual teaching, and become adults who believe completely different from each other. I wonder...how does that happen? And then I go back to, FREEDOM of CHOICE and it all makes sense. As a result, I am reminded of Matthew 10:34-39. Bottom line...Jesus knew that there would be division amongst family and friends. So since none of this division is a surprise to Him, I imagine that it shouldn't be for me either.

Nevertheless, it makes me sad. More and more I am seeing the rejection of Jesus and it just makes my heart heavy.

Thankfully though, there's still hope. And the same hearts that have been hardened AGAINST Christ, can also be softened before those folks take their last breaths. Until then...it's not too late.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: If you are a believer in Christ, have you noticed a rejection of Christ lately. If so, how do YOU feel when that happens?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Walking to The Beat

So it appears that I was a bit "ambitious" in my "365 Posts in 365 Days" plan. Although my heart, mind, and fingertips were willing...unfortunately, my finances and the internet were not.

At that very end of Wednesday night's post, I ran out of data and couldn't afford to buy more until I got paid on Friday. Friday came, and so did my plans for that night, which meant that I wasn't able to get a post in. So here I am...2 days behind, if we don't include today. No worries...I'm still determined to "get 'er done!"

Today's post was inspired by my afternoon walk. Now that my plantar fasciitis has gone away (THANK GOD!!!) I have resumed my evening walks, hoping to reach my goal of 500 miles walked by 12/31/15.

What I found interesting today is how things have changed. When I began walking as exercise back in July 2012, I would rarely walk without music. I had to have it. And if for some reason, I accidentally left my earbuds behind, it would throw me all out of whack. It was like my feet just couldn't move without the music.

Later on down the line, for safety reasons, I started walking with just ONE ear plugged.

Fast forward to NOW, and I rarely walk with music anymore.

Instead, I now allow nature to be my soundtrack.

If I'm out on trail, I choose to listen to birds chirping or the sounds that rustle in the brush (which typically freaks me out, but thankfully none of the creators of that rusting have eaten me).

If I'm at the beach, the crashing waves accompany my footsteps.

And if I'm walking through the neighborhood, I am met with a variety of sounds that make me smile. Whether it's the chatter of children, or the television in someone's living room, or dinner being cooked in the kitchen...I am always left wondering..."What's their story?"

As I said before, the shift has been quite interesting. If someone had told me 2.5 years ago that I'd be walking WITHOUT my beloved music, I wouldn't have believed them. But...here I am.

Anyhoo...

Let the DIALOGUE begin: If you are one who runs or walks for exercise, do you prefer music or to go without?

Talk to me!

Til next time...