Saturday, November 08, 2003
Many thanks to one of my favorite people for one of the nicest and most unexpected gifts, a Treo 600 PCS Vision Smart Device! Words cannot adequately express my appreciation. Due to the risk of embarrassing this treasured friend, I will not name him here...may I just say that both he and the gift are a great blessing. During this time of Thanksgiving, I especially give thanks to God for giving him the gift of life and the rest of us the gift of knowing him.
Thanks, friend.
Marti
Thanks, friend.
Marti
Friday, November 07, 2003
Two days without Blogging!
I was very busy on Wednesday, without time for Blogging (again, something for which to be grateful). Thursday I was at home and at the doctor. Great news! No malignancy...I think I didn't realize how intense my feelings were until I actually heard the words, "It was benign. Nothing to worry about."
I had tried to rest in the fact that if malignant that it was caught soon, but the real truth of the matter is that NO ONE wants to have cancer anywhere in the body! Is there ever a really "good" cancer to have? No, I don't think so, in spite of the few friends who told me this, or even in spite of the fact that I said the same thing to myself.
I still left with enough issues, but without the "Big C" hanging over my head, and that makes me exceedingly grateful.
Jeff will be out of town from Saturday through Monday and Craig is still out following the birth of his bouncing baby boy (9lbs. 9 oz) That will mean a lot of work this weekend, made better because Dan is coming to town tomorrow (WhooHoo!). I would have loved to spend time more with him, but am grateful (notice how I keep finding ways to slip that word in? that I will have 10 days with him the 13th - 23rd of November!
Wow, something to think about: If you limit your actions in life to things that nobody can possibly find fault with, you will not do much. by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
I was very busy on Wednesday, without time for Blogging (again, something for which to be grateful). Thursday I was at home and at the doctor. Great news! No malignancy...I think I didn't realize how intense my feelings were until I actually heard the words, "It was benign. Nothing to worry about."
I had tried to rest in the fact that if malignant that it was caught soon, but the real truth of the matter is that NO ONE wants to have cancer anywhere in the body! Is there ever a really "good" cancer to have? No, I don't think so, in spite of the few friends who told me this, or even in spite of the fact that I said the same thing to myself.
I still left with enough issues, but without the "Big C" hanging over my head, and that makes me exceedingly grateful.
Jeff will be out of town from Saturday through Monday and Craig is still out following the birth of his bouncing baby boy (9lbs. 9 oz) That will mean a lot of work this weekend, made better because Dan is coming to town tomorrow (WhooHoo!). I would have loved to spend time more with him, but am grateful (notice how I keep finding ways to slip that word in? that I will have 10 days with him the 13th - 23rd of November!
Wow, something to think about: If you limit your actions in life to things that nobody can possibly find fault with, you will not do much. by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Whew, today has been a busy day for the Car girl at Alexander Auto! And of course, I am grateful for that. October was a rough month, with little sales activity and few people even considering buying vehicles!
One of the most interesting things happened just a few minutes ago when I was hit on significantly by a young soldier who offered himself so I could know what it was like to be with a Filipino from Hawaii. I was seriously embarrassed and when I lightly told him my husband wouldn't appreciate it, he said, "You never know, maybe he would appreciate it!" By the way, I was NOT flirting! I was in the middle of pulling a credit application and very serious about what I was doing...
Last night I enjoyed the privilege of entertaining my granddaughter. It was the first time that she had spent the night at our home without her parents. We had a delightful time and went swimming until about 11:30pm (I can do that because I am the grandma.)
She did say to me, "Grandma, we need privacy because we don't want anyone to see our ___ (insert a part of the male anatomy that is unique to males).
" I replied, "Ashley, we're girls and we don't have a _____" We have a ____"
"Inside or out, Grandma?" "We have a ____outside and a ______inside." "Okay, she said"
"We still need privacy," I concluded! "Even if we don't have a _____."
All that being said, here are a few things for which I am grateful.
* I am grateful for the innocent and inquisitive nature of children.
* I am grateful that Ashley's adorable horizontal sleeping caused me to learn what it was like to sleep on both sides of the bed in the same night! I chuckled every time I got up.
* I am grateful that I am not too old to be "hit on."
* I am grateful for warm showers (I had a cold one on Sunday morning. DJ was showering interminably)
* I am grateful that I still have body parts that are working, even if some are working improperly.
* I am grateful for books, I still love learning.
Thought for the day: Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
by Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC), 'Pro Plancio,' 54 B.C.
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
One of the most interesting things happened just a few minutes ago when I was hit on significantly by a young soldier who offered himself so I could know what it was like to be with a Filipino from Hawaii. I was seriously embarrassed and when I lightly told him my husband wouldn't appreciate it, he said, "You never know, maybe he would appreciate it!" By the way, I was NOT flirting! I was in the middle of pulling a credit application and very serious about what I was doing...
Last night I enjoyed the privilege of entertaining my granddaughter. It was the first time that she had spent the night at our home without her parents. We had a delightful time and went swimming until about 11:30pm (I can do that because I am the grandma.)
She did say to me, "Grandma, we need privacy because we don't want anyone to see our ___ (insert a part of the male anatomy that is unique to males).
" I replied, "Ashley, we're girls and we don't have a _____" We have a ____"
"Inside or out, Grandma?" "We have a ____outside and a ______inside." "Okay, she said"
"We still need privacy," I concluded! "Even if we don't have a _____."
All that being said, here are a few things for which I am grateful.
* I am grateful for the innocent and inquisitive nature of children.
* I am grateful that Ashley's adorable horizontal sleeping caused me to learn what it was like to sleep on both sides of the bed in the same night! I chuckled every time I got up.
* I am grateful that I am not too old to be "hit on."
* I am grateful for warm showers (I had a cold one on Sunday morning. DJ was showering interminably)
* I am grateful that I still have body parts that are working, even if some are working improperly.
* I am grateful for books, I still love learning.
Thought for the day: Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
by Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC), 'Pro Plancio,' 54 B.C.
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
Monday, November 03, 2003
Time to tear another page off the old Office Depot desk Calendar. Welcome to the month of November, Veteran's Day, our wedding anniversary (now that's something to be grateful for!), and Thanksgiving. This month I want to concentrate on my blessings, on giving Thanks for the things that I often overlook.
As I begin, please understand that as usual, I am so grateful for God, my husband, children, in-law children, grandchildren and my friends. Please don't anyone take offense if you are not specifically mentioned.
Here are a few of my seldom-thought-of things for which I am grateful:
*I am grateful that I get sore when I work out - it lets me know that I did some good!
*I am grateful for my Tempur-Pedic mattress, which holds my body heat on a cold night when my husband is gone!
*I am grateful for my Birkenstock sandals, which are the only shoes that don't hurt the big slice on my right heel!
*I am grateful for my cellphone, which can keep me in touch with my man, so far away in DC.
Thought for the day: Be a safe haven for someone...
"A safe haven is a trustworthy person to whom you can turn, knowing that person will be emotionally available and will respond to you in a caring manner." by Drs. Archibald Hart and Sharon Hart Morris.
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
As I begin, please understand that as usual, I am so grateful for God, my husband, children, in-law children, grandchildren and my friends. Please don't anyone take offense if you are not specifically mentioned.
Here are a few of my seldom-thought-of things for which I am grateful:
*I am grateful that I get sore when I work out - it lets me know that I did some good!
*I am grateful for my Tempur-Pedic mattress, which holds my body heat on a cold night when my husband is gone!
*I am grateful for my Birkenstock sandals, which are the only shoes that don't hurt the big slice on my right heel!
*I am grateful for my cellphone, which can keep me in touch with my man, so far away in DC.
Thought for the day: Be a safe haven for someone...
"A safe haven is a trustworthy person to whom you can turn, knowing that person will be emotionally available and will respond to you in a caring manner." by Drs. Archibald Hart and Sharon Hart Morris.
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
Saturday, November 01, 2003
I read a great story. Following is my retelling, so please forgive both any mistakes and also that I don't remember the author's name.
There was a king who wished to leave all of his kingdom to the most clever of his three sons. As he walked with one of his sons along the very, very long road between the castle and the most distant of his lands, he asked, "Son, shorten this road." The first son thought and pondered and, despairing of a solution said, "Father, I cannot." With that, he turned and left his father there.
Some days later, the second son went on the same journey with his father. Again, the father said, "Son, shorten this road." This son didn't even think about it, he simply said, "Father, I cannot." And with that, he turned and also left his father.
Finally, the King started the journey with the third son. He said, "Son, shorten this road." The third son began to tell his Father the most engaging story that before the King knew it, he had arrived at the destination.
What a creative way to shorten the road!
So what did I take away from the story?
First, while we cannot walk a journey for someone we love, we can be creative in making the journey less boring, less burdensome, less dreary.
Second, I have the choice to give up when presented with a problem, or use creativity to solve it, which the third son so capably did.
Third, I was surprised that none of the sons elected to use the concept of collaboration. Any of them could have asked for the Father's help or guidance, or accessed some of their Father's extensive resources to help them find a solution to the problem.
Thoughts for the day: Make the journey brighter for someone who struggles. Be Creative. Ask your Father for help.
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
There was a king who wished to leave all of his kingdom to the most clever of his three sons. As he walked with one of his sons along the very, very long road between the castle and the most distant of his lands, he asked, "Son, shorten this road." The first son thought and pondered and, despairing of a solution said, "Father, I cannot." With that, he turned and left his father there.
Some days later, the second son went on the same journey with his father. Again, the father said, "Son, shorten this road." This son didn't even think about it, he simply said, "Father, I cannot." And with that, he turned and also left his father.
Finally, the King started the journey with the third son. He said, "Son, shorten this road." The third son began to tell his Father the most engaging story that before the King knew it, he had arrived at the destination.
What a creative way to shorten the road!
So what did I take away from the story?
First, while we cannot walk a journey for someone we love, we can be creative in making the journey less boring, less burdensome, less dreary.
Second, I have the choice to give up when presented with a problem, or use creativity to solve it, which the third son so capably did.
Third, I was surprised that none of the sons elected to use the concept of collaboration. Any of them could have asked for the Father's help or guidance, or accessed some of their Father's extensive resources to help them find a solution to the problem.
Thoughts for the day: Make the journey brighter for someone who struggles. Be Creative. Ask your Father for help.
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
