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June 23rd, 2009 - Father’s Day 2009
We celebrate the dad’s in our lives by what else…eating!
I don’t know about your house, but at mine, my guys love to eat…and watch sports. So they decide what time to eat according to church service, the game-times, and then they do the grilling, while the girls fill in the blanks. (Blanks: salads,veggies,desserts, clean-up.)
This year after eating while the guys were rooting on their favorite golf pro’s, the girls took the little guys to see the movie “UP.” It was my second time seeing it in 3D and I loved it. I was surprised how many dads were there with their children. What great sports!
Anyway my guys would not have liked “UP,” it was too “girly,” I believe that was the way one of my sons described it. By girly I think he meant it was too full of tender emotions. My daughter-in-law, Danya, her mom, Gail, and I were very pleased with the underlying lessons of love, marriage, faithfulness, grief, letting go, and new beginnings.
When we came home our men had taken naps, caught up on scores, and were basically happy campers…and ready for what else? More dessert.
How did you celebrate dad?
June 15th, 2009 - Hartford, Connecticut rocks!
I love the people, “The Dish” restaurant, Trumbull Kitchen, and Pratt Street.
Pratt is lined in street lamps, coffee shops, and the best Optometry shop around (more about that in a future post).
My friend Amy took this picture as we darted between rain drops on our way to a little coffee shop. Isn’t it London-ish? I love the brick sidewalks and the dart-in shops that promise muffins and lunch. (There were a couple shops I would not have darted in, but mostly I enjoyed the strolling experience.)
If you go to The Dish…don’t miss out on their free bread rolls, dripping in homemade pleasure, served up with a side of whipped herb butter. And their Kitchen Sink Salad has to be my most favorite salad ever! So much flavor and just the right amount of crunch. Oh, did I mention the creme brulee? Melt in your mouth comfort food …personified.
Oh, my, I’m making myself hungry. I just wanted to say wherever you’re at enjoy the ambience. Today I’m home working and I’m loving the sunshine falling in long patterns through the living room windows. Look around…now look again, and I bet you’ll find something amazing. Don’t miss the view.
P.S. If your in the H. CT area and you drop into the Trumbull Kitchen on Trumbull, order their mac&cheese. Good enough to be illegal!
June 10th, 2009 - Romance in the arena…
”I’ve never done this before, but I am going to ask a policeman from the city of Rochester to join me on stage,” Mary Graham announced, at the Women of Faith Conference last weekend.
The arena audience jumped to their feet and applauded that one of their own was being recognized. When the camera picked up the uniformed man headed in Mary’s direction the women clapped louder, because he was, how shall I say, “hot!”
When he joined Mary she began interviewing him…then she said, “Do you know any women in attendance?” And that’s when we realized something was UP. He of course did know someone and mentioned her name. Not just her first name, not just her last name, but even her middle name. The young woman let out a yelp…and Mary invited her to join them on stage. The gal ran down the steps, jumped over a small wall, and sprinted to the platform. Her long hair streamed in the breeze of her gait, while unmistakable joy danced all over her face.
By then we were all holding our breath in anticipation. Then he did it…he knelt down on one knee and began proposing, while thousands of women teared up…okay bawled. And she accepted.
Ah-h, romance.
April 29th, 2009 - This Little Piggy Went to Market
I love a good market!
My senses start to percolate as soon as I walk in the door. The smells are mixed: chocolate, bread, popcorn, olives, cheese, salami’s, flowers, etc. One deep breath and I gain 3 pounds… Come take a tour with me. It’s the North Market of Columbus, Ohio.
…………………………..
This little Piggy Went to Market…
April 21st, 2009 - Apology
I know, I know, where have I been?
Truthfully, I’ve been sitting in my sad.
Sometimes it’s hard to carry-on as usual when everything feels changed. I never=2 0anticipated that my dear friends death would jolt me so deeply. I am a person who has known losses of all kinds yet this one has left me emotionally undone.
Grief is demanding. It insists on our undivided attention. It’s hard to focus to read or quite honestly, remember what I’m doing. And it zapped my energy, while it diminished my enthusiasm for things I have always loved doing…like my blog.
It’s not that I haven’t been doing anything, but the things I have done wipe me out. And I have unexpected bouts of tears…which trust me can be embarrassing. I have been doing my Facebook, but you should see the backup of mail on my desk. I just returned from a fun trip to a friend’s birthday party where I had a great time…but now I am wiped…again. Geesh.
So forgive my tardy blog presence…I will…try…hard….to do better. I believe in being pro-active, but I confess its easier in theory. The Lord has comforted me throughout this time, but He has not allowed me to bypass the grieving process. Loss, when we lean into it deepens our personal well of compassion…that is once we get past our own all consuming “it’s-all-about-me” feelings.
Much love to all my blogging friends….Patsy
March 2nd, 2009 - 10 Things About My Husband–Les
10 Things About My Husband–Les
1. He is from a town of 100 people, Gay, Michigan. Yes, I said Gay.
2. He won a blue ribbon in the 4 H club for his br ussels sprouts.
3. Les attended a one-room schoolhouse until high school. There were 3 in his 8th. grade graduating class.
4. He was a commercial fisherman on Lake Superior and a lumberjack in the Upper Pennisula of MI by the time he was 14.
5. He sings…all the time…that is when he’s not telling jokes. Les knows hundreds of songs by heart. Hundreds. Maybe millions.
6. He makes great pasties (Finnish Meat Pies).
7. He creates spectacular stained glass lamps and stepping stones.
8. He was voted Educator and Citizen of the Year by the school system in our hometown of Brighton, MI. Yes!
9. Les shaved slick bald on Valentines Day 2008…and kept it. Cool!
10. He is politically savvy, numerically astute, and a constant tease. Les is an attentive husband, involved dad, and a devoted grandpa!
What A Man!
February 21st, 2009 - I Love Words!
I love words. I like big words like Encyclopedia. And little words like Pen. And medium words like Notepad.
Words write stories on my mind: crimson velvet, snow-laden evergreen, gentle giant, dancing brook, chubby pillow, profuse garden, antique rocker, etc.
Words bid others to come near: “How are you?” “Here I am!” “Do you have a minute?” “Whazsup?”
Words express faith: “I believe.” “Christ is King.” “I’ll pray for you.”
Words encourage progress: “I”ll try.” “I think I can.” “Yes.”
Words bring resolution: “You were right.” “I’m sorry.” “Let’s negotiate.”
Words affirm: “Great job!” “Good choice!” “You’re amazing!”
Words comfort: “I care.” “Let me.” “I love you.”
So why oh why do I use words that are spiteful…sarcastic…foolis h…and negative???
We have a choice.
I have a magnetic board at my desk covered in healing words to keep me on track and inspired. It serves a couple purposes..
1. It reminds me to think before I respond and then choose words that lend themselves to peace and well-being.
2. And if no one is saying anything that builds me up (we’ll all have times like that) I can self-nurture and say them to me. “Patsy, you rock!” 
Talking nice to ourselves salves the heart.
Here are a few words from my collection: soothe, bless, gratitude, laugh, meditate, grace, create, serenity, courage, wisdom, beauty, care, nourish, etc.
What are a few words you’d put on your board??
February 16th, 2009 - The 3 Be’s…
Left on my own I’m a bore. Really.
Actually even with the help of dynamic pals I can be stogy, overly cautious, and a tad dull. I need others to buff my stuff. Oh, dear, that sounded personal. What I mean is when you tell me your dream mine grows wider. When you share the risk you took in your life I get, well, riskier. And when you sing your new song I am motivated to find the words to my own life melody.
God designed us to yodel. Or at least belt out sounds to inspire others. No, I don’t sing, but I have an inner Alpine yodeler dwelling within me…sorta. I have musical desire just not a singing voice. But the song I’m speaking of is more than hitting a high C, it’s joy for life! The words are clearly written in ones enthusiasm and ones attitude toward people.
Scripture encourages us to “Sing a new song.” No old whining, no predictable griping, no joy-stealing grousing. I find it helps to hang with light-bearing folks who catch the vision and don’t hesitate to sing and shine. Somehow their sparkle rescues me from being drab…they buff my stuff.
Do you have any stuff-buffers in your life? If not rent one or better yet….become one!!
Be uplifting!
Be kind!
Be joy-based!
3 Be’s…that’s a lot of honey.
Yo-da-la-ay-hoo!
(I can’t even spell it.)
February 9th, 2009 - Light
“Light obliterates darkness but darkness cannot obliterate light.”
My ears perked up when my pastor stated this truth. I immediately thought of a friend who can’t sleep if any light seeps in under doorways or sneaks around the edge of window coverings. It has to be absolutely dark or she can’t rest. She said even a soft glow from a night light keeps her up. She blames it on her thin eyelids that just can’t shut out the rays…even with her eye mask.
Light is powerful. And light does its best work in darkness. It exposes, illuminates, and defines. Flip a switch and light chases dark into distant corners. Light always–always–wins over darkness.
Not surprising when we consider that Jesus said, “He is the Light of the world.”
So what does that mean to us? It means Jesus can pierce through our darkest day or our bleakest night with His light. He does this through nature that is coded with His light-bearing glory, His Word that shines into the dark recesses of our heart, and His people whom He uses to brighten our existence through fellowship and accountability.
Remember there is no dark so dark that Christ can’t find us.
January 27th, 2009 - Costly?
I don’t do fragrance. I wanna. But (ah, ah, choo!) I can’t. Yet every once in a while I cheat….and when one cheats one pays a price.
Recently I couldn’t resist the deal of two giant pump (think gas pump size) shampoos for $20.00 at the beauty salon. But they are fragranced. Always a hitch in the getalong. And, get this, it smells just like Cinnabons…with extra icing. Un, huh.
So far I haven’t broken out in hives, but unfortunately since lathering up I’ve gained 7 lbs.
It’s very inspiring.
What inspires you?? Has it been costly??