Summer-ized

It's the middle of August. Usually in the middle of August it is blazing hot outside and the heat is rising off the pavement. You really can fry an egg on the sidewalk!  But today, in the middle of August and only 65 degrees out.  It is too cold. I have to admit, I have been summer-ized.  I love summer.  It is my favorite time of year.  Not only is it warm and sunny, but I tend to spend time outside as often as possible, even if it is just sitting on the back step.  Usually it is just sitting outside, but not this summer.  This summer has been less pain. This summer has been walking. This summer has been Momo.

In the summertime, I remember sitting outside, looking at the clouds and then staying out and waiting for the lightening bugs to show up--then catching them in a jar to watch them light up. I did the same thing with my son when he was little. We walk down a dirt road to our friends house...jumping in the neighbor's pool when it was so hot out and we didn't have a pool. Later on taking my kids to the pool everyday for the entire day. Great suntans. Loads of fun. Great memories.

Summer means drippy ice cream cones and eating them as fast as you can without a brain freeze. It's watching the planes come in at Bradley. Listening to the crickets and the frogs make so much noise you wonder how you will fall asleep later...but you do, listening to the crickets and the frogs singing. I still love these sounds. They bring me back to a different summer, a simpler time.

Summer is a great time for day trips and tons of photographs...and I am all about the photographs! Going to the beach, the fireman's carnivals, summer fairs and roaring campfires. I love it. All of these things give me something to photograph. They remind me of the summers I had as a kid, the summers I had with a kid, and the summer I am currently having with a puppy.  

And this year, since we have a new puppy, summer means walking.  Walking like I haven't walked in almost 20 years.  Not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't.  Arthritis is a horrible thing.  But this summer has been wonderful because I am walking.  Until this summer, going for a 45 minute walk was something I could only dream about. I am not sure what changed this year but for the first time in 17 years I have been able to go for a walk. I love it!

Typically, as it gets colder, pain sets in and so does hibernating in the upstairs of my house...where the heat rises.   In the winter, throughout the winter, I just say to myself...only 89 more days of being cold...only 70 more days of winter...only 42 more days of freezing my fanny off!  I can get through this. Oh my goodness! Why is it still freezing??!  I hate being cold. I really hate it.

But for right now, summer is still here.  It may be only 65 degrees outside, but it isn't freezing. I am hanging onto every drop of summer I can.  And for now I am taking walks with my puppy.  Hopefully it will last. But no matter what, I will always have this summer and being summer-ized.

How Life Has Changed!

I am afraid this is going to be a long post...so get yourself a snack and sit back and enjoy!

Someone started a post on Facebook which really got me started thinking, so I am revising the initial thoughts and ideas and expounding on them. Basically it got me thinking about how different things are for kids growing up today than they were for my generation growing up in the 20th century, specifically the sixties and seventies. We really did have it good back then even if we didn't realize it until we were grown up and facing the concept of raising our own children. But isn't that how it is with every generation? We all try to make things better for our own children, but they may be missing out on some of the simplest things in life. Maybe we really aren't making life better for them in the long run. Life's pace is so much faster than it was when I was a kid, and I got to be a kid. I had a childhood where I got to act my age and not grow up too fast.

When I was a child, my mother made me play outside and go looking for friends. She didn't drop me off at the mall and let me fend for myself. I had to tell my mother where I was going, who I was with and when I would be back. If it was hot, you went outside.  If it was snowing, you went outside..and you stayed outside in that snow for hours until your cheeks were rosy and your hands were freezing...what a blast! There was hot chocolate waiting inside and we usually got to make maple syrup sundaes with fresh snow!

If my mom wanted me, she did not call my cell phone, she yelled out the door for me, and I had better be within hearing distance! I didn't have the Internet or a cell phone at my disposal 24 hours a day and I wasn't allowed to just use the phone any time I wanted...at least not till I was in my teens. I still had to be considerate and share the phone with others in the family...and we definitely did not take phone calls during meals!  It could ring and ring and ring--my mom always said the phone was for her convenience not the callers...and she was right! In today's day of cell phones constantly ringing and not going anywhere without one, there are definitely times when I just DON'T want to answer it.

When the street lights came on, I had better be in the house...that was my curfew. When it was time for dinner, I had better be there and eat what was put in front of me. If I didn't eat it for dinner when it was hot, I had it cold the next day till it was gone. (I still have an aversion to split pea soup!)  People were starving in China you know...how many of you heard that one growing up?!  And guess what, it didn't kill me.

You couldn't get away with much when I was a kid.  Neighbors cared about what you did and let your mom know if you did something wrong. Why? Quid pro quo. Because they would want to be informed if their kids did something wrong too. Neighbors counted on each other. Today you might have lived next to them for years and still not even know your neighbor's name!

We didn't have a pool till I was in my early teens, so we played in the sprinkler and had a blast. We drank from the water hose which was usually just laying there on the ground.  I probably ate dirt as a kid too...you know...remember mud pies? Who didn't make those?  We survived.  I also swam in a pond, walked home from school, did my chores first if I wanted to go outside, and babysat for 50 cents an hour! Don't even try the "My friends don't have to do chores!" act, because when it came to talking back, my mom didn't give a hoot what the other kids were doing...as she said "you are my kid and you'll do what I say!"  I got punished, I got grounded and whatever punishment I had it was adhered to even if my mom wasn't home. My mom was the boss of me whether I liked it or not. Really. Most kids don't know what is good for them.

Hand sanitizer didn't exist, but you could sure get your mouth washed out with soap...and survive it. You learned pretty quick not to talk back or swear! Getting dirty was fine because you were going to take a bath and you did wash up before supper.

When I thought I wanted to try smoking in secret with my friends (filtered of course), I didn't get away with it. I got caught, and I paid a price for it. My mom made me smoke a non filter Pall Mall till I puked. That kept me away from cigarettes for a good 8 years!  When I thought I could shoplift a pack of gum from the gas station down the street, my mother made me take it back and apologize to the owner...and I got grounded for a whole summer! We were definitely held responsible for our stupid mistakes..as it should be. Looking back I see that I wasn't very good at getting away with things. 

I would NEVER have thought about threatening my mother with calling the police. I hear of kids threatening their parents for the most inane reasons. I am not talking about legitimate reasons like child abuse, but just because you didn't like how you were being disciplined. There is a BIG difference. You couldn't get away with that when I was a kid.  First of all, how was I going to make that phone call?? It wasn't my phone and I didn't have permission to use it. Secondly, I probably would have gotten my mouth slapped for saying even thinking it and then sent to my room without dinner.  It didn't matter what time it was! I remember getting sent to bed quite early on some occasions. Maybe even gotten my mouth washed out too.  I never dreamed of threatening my parents.  I know I said other things that were completely out of line though and deserved the punishment. I got spanked when I had it coming and I didn't scream child abuse.  Guess what? Still here. Survived it. Probably better for it.

I also didn't get an allowance. I wasn't entitled to it for the "work" I did around the house. I vacuumed, I dusted, I polished (yes, polished), washed floors and toilets, dishes and clothes.  Those were called chores, and I did them because it was expected of me. It taught me responsibility.  Again, I am definitely better off for it.

It wasn't all about what I couldn't do either.  We spent time together as a family, not on computers or texting, but actually talking together and doing things together. We picked flowers and played hopscotch, jump rope, Mother May I?, freeze tag and Red Light Green Light. We lit sparklers on July 4th, we went camping together, we chased fireflies and we played board games. We rode our bikes or walked if we wanted to go somewhere. We made friends with our neighbors kids because we lived out in the country and that's who there was to play with. 

You know, last of all, I have to tell you, that while raising my son, (now 22 years old and a wonderful young man) I found myself sounding just like my mom sometimes.  I would laugh at myself when I heard it coming out of my mouth and my mother would be rolling!  I think it was the best gift I could ever give her!  It is like she always said...wait till you have your own kids...you'll see.  I love her enough to let her know whenever I hear myself saying something she said to me that I didn't like hearing as a child.  And being the great mom that she is, she always laughed her butt off!!  Thanks Mom, really. You had a part in raising my kid just as much as I did, because you taught it to me first...and I survived it.  You always knew I would.  I think I turned out pretty good despite my mom's loving tactics!!  Today's parents should take a look backwards when raising their kids and remember what they were taught...it is the best thing they can do for their children..and guess what?  They will survive it too.  

Did you survive drinking from a water hose and getting punished when you did something wrong?  I did.  I want to hear your stories too!

P.S.  I thought it was funny when doing a spell check the only two words that came up as problems were Facebook and texting! Hahahaha!

New Family Member

I hope you all don't mind my little puppy story to get me back into the groove of writing.  I had a very busy semester at school with writing, writing, writing! I am the only one in the class who received an A though, so it was definitely worth all the stress, research and writing.  My final thesis was on the true foundation of America.

We got a new puppy about a month ago. She is a Shiba Inu which is a Japanese breed. Her name is Momo, which means "peach" in Japanese. With her thick puppy fur and her coloring, it is the perfect name for her. We are teaching her commands in Japanese too.  It has been interesting getting used to having her in the house and getting her into a routine.  I can say that we are "dog tired" in my house.  It is like setting a toddler loose in the house, but not just a toddler, a toddler with sharp teeth. I can say I am an unofficial chew toy with the bitemarks to prove it!  I love her though.  It is fun and exhausting at the same time. She gets into everything...everything!   I think she has the perfect personality for our little family.  We laugh a lot around here. She has the cutest little bark (so far) and we have heard the famous Shiba scream once or twice already.  She goes to work with me on Fridays and gets along with everyone.  She and Sassy (our cat) are finally finding a way to coexist.

Freedom of Religion

So, it has been over a month since I have written here.  The reason? College classes started again and this semester I am taking a Comp 2 class.  There is a lot of writing in this class.  I am writing a thesis paper on the separation of church and state. Basically, my thesis is that the Founding Fathers of our country did not support a government without Christian values.
In doing the research for this paper, I have found a lot of information and quotes by the Founding Fathers of this country.  It has made me think a lot about my own values, how they mirror the thoughts of those who signed the Declaration of Independence and who risked their own lives to fight for this country to exist.  Those men valued honesty, truth, liberty and God.  The first amendment was written to ensure freedom of religion. The Liberty Bell is inscribed with a verse from Leviticus.  The Declaration of Independence refers to the almighty Creator.  These were men that trusted in God.  They were not afraid to say it in public either. Neither am I.
I have learned so much about our founding fathers and their faith in God.  I hope that in writing my paper I will continue to learn more about the foundation this country was built on and the faith that the Founding Fathers believed in so strongly.  We should all remember that America was founded on the blood and faith of God-fearing men who trusted in God and His Word for their foundation.

The Imagery of Glory

It is another snowy day here in New England.  We have had almost six feet of snow in the month of January alone.  Winter is not nearly over. I remember hearing about Buffalo getting more than twelve feet of snow in just one storm. Connecticut has had a small taste of what Buffalo experienced.  After all, our total snowfall has reached six feet, but over several snow storms. 

Job 37 is full of imagery and of the power and glory of God.  It speaks of the thunder and lightening, rain and snow, all created from the breath of God.  How faithful is Job! He trusts God and experiences what he attributes to God's punishment, but he never loses faith in God; he never curses God.

Vs 5-7 says: "God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.  For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.  He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work."

We may not know what God has in store or the reason behind His wonders, but we know that He wants us to know His work and worship Him.  When the heavy snow falls, it puts a halt to our world.  Roads are closed, school is cancelled. We pause and see the majesty of our God. Vs 13 states:  "He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy."

He commands the snow to fall and even though the snow puts a stop to our daily routine, we get to see the wonder of God's awesome power and might.  What more proof do we need that our Lord loves us and wants to bless us?  He cares enough to correct us, He looks out for us and shows us mercy.  

Let Your Light Shine

I watched a movie a while back called Akeelah and the Bee.  It was a good movie and taught some valuable lessons.  There is a quote from the movie that I would like to share. It is Akeelah reading a quote hanging on the wall written by Marianne Williamson:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." 
It made such an impression on me that I had to find it on the internet. It speaks to the very core of me.  It made me look inward instead of outward.  Looking inward takes a lot more courage than you imagine. It is much easier to look outward to try to find reason in what we face on a daily basis.  But it is on the inside that we find the true answer; in our heart. 
God formed us in our mother's womb.  It doesn't matter who you are or what you believe, God still knows you. He knew your name, what you life would be like, the trials you would face and how long you would live on this earth.  He knew it before you were conceived.  
Psalm 139:13-14 says: "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And my soul knows very well."
God knows you. God also knows what and who we need in our lives.  He knows what will challenge me to become a better me; more brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous than I could ever be on my own.  Thank God I am not on my own.  If we allow Him to do so, He will manifest His glory through each one of us.  As we shine, others will see and they will want it too. They will want that shine. They might not know what it is they want, but God knows.  Deep down we all want Him.  We want eternal life with Him.
It is a choice though.  You have to choose God, for He gave us free will to choose Him or not.  God uses us and the abilities He gave us to shine through us. We are wonderfully made.  So let Jesus shine through you today.

Be Strong and of Good Courage

I have been trying to think of something to write about for two days. Unfortunately, I have been in extreme pain and it has quickly forced its way to the front of my mind, trying to be the object of my focus. I have arthritis and with the impending nor'easter about to hit New England, my joints are pretty much screaming in pain. Arthritis is a catch 22 situation--it hurts to move, but if you choose not to move, it hurts even more when you do move. Still, I am forcing myself to focus on God's Word rather than the pain.
Joshua 1:9 states, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
This is my son's favorite verse. He knows, as do I, that no matter what we face God is with us. God knows our fears and our pain, and He still says to be of good courage. I know that God knows my pain and that He helps me deal with it. With His help, I make myself push through the pain every day. Pain could very well discourage me from moving forward in my life, but I know that the Lord has so much more for me. So I face it with the Lord and the courage He gives me.
Be strong and of good courage. God says this to Joshua three times in chapter one alone. Do you think He meant it? Before they cross the Jordan, the men of the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh also tell Joshua that they will follow him, but for him to be strong and of good courage. This is something important we must live by. If we follow His law and do not depart to the right or the left, He will prosper us wherever we go. (vs 7)
Is there anything you are facing and you know God is with you; facing it right along with you, giving you the strength and courage to go forward?