I’m always surprised when I don’t die when I’m exercising. Especially when it involves burpees. I don’t like burpees, and I don’t believe our bodies were meant to do them. My morning exercise time is only 30-40 minutes, but the way I carry on, you’d think that I’d been at it for 37 hours with no break. (And I can’t begin to count the number of times that I flop to the floor, and dramatically whisper through parched lips as if it’s my last breath, I caaaaan’t!) I have forgotten … Exercising is a temporary event. For 40 minutes I Continue Reading
Putting Life Together Again
Who on earth thought this was a great little jingle to read to children? Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, Couldn’t put Humpty together again. Really. It’s not cute. It’s scary. {I also have a problem with Little Jack Horner who sat in a corner intending to eat a whole pie. He stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum and decided that eating a pie with his fingers made him a good boy. Good grief.} But back to Humpty Dumpty… We usually imagine Humpty Continue Reading
No complaining … really?
There are some verses in the Bible that make me scratch my head and murmur, Really? Did you really mean to write that? I’ve been studying one of those verses the last few days … “Do everything without complaining or arguing…” (Philippians 2:14) There must have been an “… except when …” or “… unless this happens …” that was somehow omitted, right? Because … Thanksgiving family get-togethers. Long shopping lines and tired clerks on the Friday after Thanksgiving. And the refs calling the football game are clearly wearing Continue Reading
My Hallmark Story
Oh, Nooo. Nooo. Noooo. It’s too early… Waaay too early. But they have begun. TV commercials for… Hallmark. Holiday. Specials. Now I like a good sappy, cry-til-your-eyes-are-puffy and your face-is-blotchy movie like everyone else. (Except my husband Steve. He would rather read a book.) But sometimes…they are just a bit too much.... Continue Reading
If Only…
Oh, if only… Sigh. There were those moments. Moments when I didn’t say words that were kind. Moments when I was more concerned with what others might think about my opinion, than with what needed to be said. Moments that would have welcomed a Do-Over. If only… …I had asked myself if my words were loving before they left my mouth. …I had chosen to be inclusive rather than exclusive. …I had considered the other person’s heart instead of my own insecurities. The moments that can so quickly strangle my peace were not “big Continue Reading
Let It Go
Good heavens. We are so hard on ourselves sometimes, aren’t we? I was driving down Rice Street yesterday and noticed the white light flashing over the intersection ahead, indicating that an emergency vehicle was somewhere in the area. Checking my rear-view mirror, I saw the ambulance lights flashing, coming up fast behind me. I pulled over to the side of the road, up against a curb. (Just like Mr. Taus taught me in driver’s ed.) But there wasn’t enough room to get completely out of the driving lane. The car behind me zipped around Continue Reading
Look for the Color
For your consideration ... Is life looking a little gray? Try making this little shift ... Look for the color. Literally. Look for the colors around you. When we start seeing bright colors, we wake up! Things seem more interesting. Life looks different. The reminder came to me as I sat in the corner chair in mom’s apartment. It had been a long night of ups-and-downs as mom tried to fall asleep. Looking out the window I saw clouds and rain. Gray. My day was scheduled too tightly. Gray. I was tired. Gray. My little world was ... Continue Reading
Our Response
I hope we don’t miss it… In all the scheduled church services, the pageantry, the choir rehearsals, the Easter Sunday breakfast… I hope we don’t miss it. The opportunity to quietly make our hearts right with God. The colors, the emotions, the waiving palms. The darkness of Maundy Thursday, the deathly beating of the drum on Good Friday, and the Alleluia celebrations on Sunday morning. I love what they mean and what they remind us of during this Holy Week. They draw me in and speak to my heart. But…At least for me… It’s easy Continue Reading
Opening Prayer
Hi, Friends. I’ve just started reading Dallas Willard’s book, “Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23.” Wow. His words are reminding me of how little I expect from this amazing God. He is a generous God, and I too frequently live in a state of scarcity. Dallas wrote a poem that begins this book. It spoke right into my heart. I hope you can find a few minutes to let its message linger in your soul. Lord Jesus Christ, We are so thankful to you that you have said, ‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s Continue Reading
Teardrops
Teardrops show up in different ways. Sometimes… They flow silently and gently down our cheeks and we’re unable to keep them behind our lids. They trickle without warning, letting us know that something is stirring within our spirit or soul. We can brush them away as easily as they slide. Sometimes... They mix with our mascara on the colored pillowcase. Too tired to remove our make-up, not caring about the stains we know we’ll have to wash out when things are calmer. Nobody sees these tears, do they? We muffle our cries Continue Reading
Cheerlessness Is Not Invited
And, although the way be cheerless, We will follow, calm and fearless. Really? Is this what I want my faith walk to look like? Cheerless? I don’t think so. I mean, that is just downright…sad. Those two lines from a hymn written in the 1700’s bug me. Can living a life of faith be hard? Yes. Can there be days of discouragement? Yes. But cheerless? No. Cheerless seems so hopeless. Despondent. Grumpy. I imagine people wearing grey clothes, heavy boots, plodding down a grey sidewalk on a grey day, with no smiles. No Continue Reading
Jesus Sees, Feels, and Meets Your Needs
You see a small child sitting in the middle of the Target aisle. Hunched in a ball, his knees at his chin, his little fists are rubbing his teary eyes. He’s lost. You can feel how scared his heart is. You protectively kneel next to him, one arm on his shoulder, while someone sends a message out on the PA system. The woman in front of you in the check-out line looks like she hasn’t slept in days. You see her tears threatening to spill over onto her cheeks. The child sitting in her cart doesn’t stop crying. And then the clerk says she is Continue Reading
Reset and Recalculate
My energy tank was on empty and I was coasting on fumes. “Frumpy” and “worn out” were self-describing words that I heard repeatedly in my mind. Muscles ached, and neither “fresh” nor “radiant” described my complexion. I felt ... old. And then I heard an interview on the radio that sent me into a “You’ve got to be kidding me!” moment. The young woman was talking about her high school experience — 15 years earlier. She coyly said, “That was when I was young! Let’s not talk about how many years ago that was!” And then she added a Continue Reading
Living in Two Worlds
Wanting desperately to be married. Wanting desperately not to be married. Desperate for a job. Desperate for a different job. Dreaming of a good night’s sleep. Dreaming of the ability to get out of bed. If we live in America, we have much to be thankful for. And…if we live in America, our individual needs and wants are unique. We live in two worlds. In one, we are (or should be) aware of the blessings showered on us every moment we take a breath. Our nights are not interrupted by the blinding lights of missiles hitting Continue Reading
Do What It Says
There are times when I read something in the Bible and it’s as if the statement begins, “Dear Gaye, please read this carefully; it is written for you.” I love it when the phrases that follow that introduction remind me about God’s love for me. About His mercy and grace. His faithfulness. My heart is encouraged, and I breathe easier. I have the habit of brushing that page in The Good Book with my hand as I smile and think about those blessed promises in the beautiful words. And… There are times when the statement that begins, “Dear Continue Reading
Fairy Tale Realities
I wonder how happy we would really be if we lived a fairy tale life. If we had the 18” waist, the long golden locks, the voice of an angel, perfect skin, and a snowman friend named Olaf. (“Let it go,” Gaye!) In our childhood years we dreamed of all the good things that life would bring us when we finally “get big.” I’ll be the first one in line when we’re asked to step forward and talk about all the really, really good things we have in our lives, now that we’re “big.” And…tough things happen too. Even in the fairy tales, life Continue Reading
Stop the Struggles and Sinking
Our weekend sailing trip started with blue skies, white fluffy clouds, and a whole lot of sunshine. Nothing signaled that a storm was just around the bend. Until it hit. I thought the low-hanging black clouds would reach down and wrap us in darkness. The wind tipped our sailboat onto its side. The icy rain came at us sideways; it felt like shards of glass on our faces. Once we got the sails down, the captain yelled, “Just hang on!” You can bet we did. I’ve never been in a storm on the water like that since. (Actually, I’ve never Continue Reading
Start. Do the Work.
It’s too bad I wasn’t counting my steps. I would have gotten that cute little trophy icon award on my walking app. My wandering had taken on a life of its own. I sat at my desk. Walked to the fridge, opened its door, and took a peek. Closed the door. Checked on mom. Back to my desk. Got up to see if NCIS re-runs were scheduled. Threw out the garbage. Back to my desk. Up and down. Around and around. Two things were unsettling me: I was starting a new, exciting project. I’ve been waiting to start it for the last month. Now it’s time. Continue Reading
Miss Beadle – Behind Closed Doors
It's my 2016 favorite book in the pure entertainment and fun category. And it's a memoir. (That's my always favorite category.) Little House in the Hollywood Hills: A Bad Girl's Guide to Becoming Miss Beadle, Mary X, and Me by Charlotte Stewart. I remember Charlotte Stewart as Miss Beadle on Little House on the Prairie, and vaguely remember her as Betty Briggs from the Twin Peaks TV show. As Betty, she was the eternal optimist who wore a smiley face button to Laura Palmer's funeral. Miss Beadle was the delightful school marm that taught Continue Reading
You Are Not Alone
I was tapping on the keyboard, considering the words and moments I had planned on sharing with you. But then the words stopped. And pictures began floating around in my brain, creating different words. My writing plans changed. From my heart… Continue Reading
Let’s Dance!
The video and memory still make me smile. One of my Facebook friends posted a YouTube video of a little guy—maybe five years old—dressed in pocketed blue jeans, pointed cowboy boots, a blue-and-white checkered shirt, and a white cowboy hat. He was line dancing with a group of adults. Oh, my word. The joy on his little face! He was kicking and stepping and grape vining and toe tapping. Clapping with glee with a smile as big as a Texas ranch on his face. Was he keeping up? Not quite. Was he getting the steps right? Not much of the Continue Reading
This is Livin’!
It’s how my dad lived his life… Creating “This is livin’!” moments. I don’t think I ever heard dad complain. About anything. And I know I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. Ever. He was too busy looking for the good. What an awe-inspiring way to live. Dad really loved life. He found joy in the little things. A good piece of pie. A good (very weak) cup of coffee. Fishing with the grandkids. Eating vanilla ice cream while watching the Minnesota Vikings on TV. Listening to the Twins on the radio. Talking with his Continue Reading
Changing the Words
I love words. And I am tired of words. One reason for this weariness is that I’m finishing the writing on my next book, and everything I write sounds like blah, blah, blah. The bullies inside my head are not sending me feedback messages with smiley faces and pink hearts! (Oh, writing is so humbling!) I know this is part of the process…but ooftah. A bigger reason for this weariness, though, is because the world just seems to be filled with so many words. I watch the news, read the papers, check in on Facebook, and the words are Continue Reading
Asking for a John Deere
I learned it first in farming. Farmers and families coming together when the fields were ready for harvest and the rain was coming tomorrow as sure as the sun comes up. Trucks and combines moving across dusty gravel roads in single file and descending on someone’s farm to help them get their crop in. Then the John Deeres and Massey Fergusons caravanning to the next farm with ears tuned in to weather reports while turning on lights to break through the dusk and men and women in overalls praying for just a couple more hours. People Continue Reading
Losing Part of Tuesday
So then this happened. I had just finished my workout at the Y last week Tuesday. I called my sister from the lobby, and that’s the last normal thing I remember for a while. When I went into the locker room to get my gym bag, the room seemed to be tilted on its side. The lockers looked like they were toppling over. I couldn’t figure out where I was or what I was trying to do. But I recognized the locker number I usually stick my stuff in…and then I don’t remember what happened next. Piecing this crazy half-hour together with Continue Reading