needs

What a blessing when a husband tells you this:

"God's given me a real wake-up call these past few months into just how deep and diverse and free-spirited you really are....you're so much strength, creativity and womanhood crammed into one person that it's overwhelming." ~ Jon, Aug. 28, 2008

Every woman needs to hear words of affirmation applicable to her own personality from her man. Similarly, a woman needs to be understood by him. It's like an emotional security blanket that keeps you warm and protected. It's lovely.

"You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job." ~ Laurence J. Peter

our yes means yes, no but really!

Isn't it amusing and yet baffling when people are skeptical when you say "I'm doing great, we're doing great", after they ask how you're doing? "Are you really?", they ask. Then Jon is asked the same question by the same person and again it's "Really, you guys are really doing okay?" I suppose it gives Jon and I something to chat about later as we sip our coffee, not that we lack conversation material these days. I bet they think "this", I say. I bet you're right, Jon says. Or maybe they think "that", Jon says. Yup, that's another possibility, I say. Perhaps people think you're in denial, or you haven't dealt with problems, or you're stuffing things down, or you're hiding things. Perhaps in reality they think they know the problem and since the outcome isn't what they expect to see, they are confused. Perhaps they have miscalculated the problem entirely. Things don't add up...maybe their equation is wrong, or at least off the mark.

I can't help but get a little irritated by their doubt, and yet I realize that the questions are asked with sincerity and concern. I find comfort when I am reminded of those with whom we are most intimate who do know how we really are doing. Their happiness for us is satisfaction enough while we wait patiently for others to realize that we are doing damn fine. Finer than fine. In fact, we've never been better.

“Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All thing pass; God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for. He who has God Finds he lacks nothing: God alone suffices.” ~ St. Teresa of Avila

the path of least resistance

"You know the path of least resistance? It can lead through a minefield." ~ Alicia Keys character in "The Nanny Diaries"

a new breed of knitters

I love knitting. I taught myself how to about 3 or 4 years ago. Two years ago I started selling felted bags at Etsy.com. That's slowed down due to other similar projects quietly under way.

Knitters never fail to impress me. On Ravelry, the knitter's social networking mecca, I get to see people's latest designs, creations and projects. Want to know what a knitter looks like? I give you today's knitter below. These are not model shots. These are knitters showing off their own stuff.

Aren't these knitters hot!!?

hindsight

Earlier today I was pondering a dream from last night. It was nighttime and I was going down a beautiful lush country road. The funny thing is I was effortlessly floating down the road, at about the speed of a car. I faced what I was traveling away from and was amazed at the clarity I had. In reality I need glasses to see distance, but in this dream I could see with crystal clear vision. It was dark, but everything was illuminated. I was so amazed at my ability to see so far and so clearly that I thought to myself in the dream "wow, I've never had a dream where I could see this clearly".

I turned to face the road ahead of me and it was foggy. I could see the silhouettes of the trees, but they were shrouded in fog. Isn't that often the situation we find ourselves in? It's the path of faith.

Hindsight is 20/20, or actually 40/20:

"Hindsight is closer to 40/20, which is exceptional vision. This means that from 40 feet away, you see what the rest of us can only see from 20 feet away. Does that make sense? 40/20 hindsight vision indicates that when you step back from a life experience, your perception is amazingly sharper and loaded with much more detail so you can learn the life lesson." ~ Fran Briggs

I'm thankful for hindsight, and for feeling affirmed. I think God often lets you work through stuff, analyze and sort through crap, get angry, harbour hatred, face yourself, swear a lot, get bitter, see the lies and manipulation, and uncover the truth. Then after a time, when you get tired of the hating, he helps you to let that go if you want him to. Maybe it's then that he confirms to you that yes you see things for what they were. By then, you figure "I thought so" but you're too thankful for being out from under it feeling free and healthy that the temptation to get bitter again is too weak to reclaim its grip on you.

“March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path.” ~ Kahlil Gibran

lost in translation

Many MANY moons ago, a certain someone sent us the link to this commericial which for some reason none of us here in this house has ever forgotten:

a strong church body

taken yesterday evening in a vacant apple orchard
For years Jon has read the Bible to the kids before bed. It's a bedtime ritual that has spawned many conversations. The kids are now 15 and 11. I'm so grateful that he does this with them.

Tonight he was reading 1 Corinthians 12 and this part stuck out to us both:

"...there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:25,26

It's a reminder that the strength and well-being of each member of the body is essential to it's functioning well.

a mighty fine quote

"To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich, to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never, in a word to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common, this is to be my symphony." ~ William Henry Channing

it goes both ways

"What is slander? A verdict of "guilty" pronounced in the absence of the accused, with closed doors, without defense or appeal, by an interested and prejudiced judge." ~ Joseph Roux

True, but also...

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." ~ Galatians 6:2-5

integrity and truth

my one hydrangea, despite having 3 hydrangea bushes. that makes it special.

"Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people." ~ Spencer Johnson

*jon ripped a page out of a reader's digest magazine after seeing this quote in it, and brought it home from work to show me. it's a good one.

i must ask myself....

"You've got a heart filled with passion.
Will you let it burn for hate or compassion."
~ Jose Gonzalez, (album: In Our Nature)

credulity

"Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about. And since we know least about ourselves, we are ready to believe all that is said about us. Hence the mysterious power of both flattery and calumny." ~ Eric Hoffer

credulity: A disposition to believe too readily.
calumny: A false statement maliciously made to injure another's reputation.

move night a flop/attempt #2 scheduled for tonight

Well, my "me time movie night" was a flop. Firstly, I was sure "Steel Magnolias" was available to watch online for free (yes I know, tisk tisk). The night I want to watch it, it goes missing.

Then, right before Jon headed to bed he thought he heard something in the garage. He did. It was a bat!! A BAT!!! Kind of disturbing, but after all they're just little mice with wings right??!

I ended up watching "Fool's Gold" which was really cute but.... So the only recourse I have is to try again tonight. I've already seen "Under the Tuscan Sun" but I'd love to see it again. A woman finding her strength. Can't beat that.