Hallmark...

I am one of the reasons cards "sing",
glitter isn't optional
and sappy writers have jobs
even in a difficult economy.


I honestly love giving and receiving cards.
Yesterday, a very dear friend sent me a birthday card.
I grinned when I opened it.
A "regular" card would have been enough to make me smile...
but this one...
this one hollers out happily that I am "queen".
I laughed out loud and smiled again.
As someone who fails miserably remembering birthdays,
I sooth my guilty feelings by sending cards whenever I feel like it.
I must admit though,
it is nice to be remembered.
My card was even early,
as my birthday isn't until next week.
I assure you when I count my blessings,
I count my friends.
Better than riches,
though I wouldn't turn wealth down,
friendship is something that defies fiscal assessment.

May you and I be the kind of friend we are glad to have...
I wish you good things,
blessings,
peace.

Learning from our friends

A long time ago a friend showed me how to crochet granny squares. I have forgotten how to start the pattern and don't ask me how to cast off the stitches in the end but, if someone helps me get started, I find the process very soothing.

Many years ago some junior high kids showed me how to make really neat paper boxes out of used greeting cards. The process delighted me so very much that to this day I still make them. I love to use the bitty boxes in lieu of real cards. Many years at Christmas, I make tiny fortune sized messages that I nestle inside atop a bit of fiberfill "snow". When I add the crowning touch of a Hershey Kiss and close the lid, I can't help but smile.

I could go on and on retelling wonderful stories of what I have learned from friends through the years. Just recently I learned that dancing can be fun and that corn hole is fascinating. I've come to appreciate friends of all ages. I believe that we all have something to important to share. Be it a really beautiful ability to remember our friends birthdays or an unbelievable recipe that we are willing to graciously pass on.

Our lives are made richer by those who we come to care for.

I feel so blessed by the kindness that has been shared with me.

I pray that you and I...

That we,

will share our gifts

as we count our blessings.

Tonight and always...

peace to you.

Goodnight

Talking with friends...

It used to be

that if your little sister was on the phone

and your newest crush called

you'd miss the message.

Now with call waiting,

it is slightly possible

that a endearing sister,

could help a big sis out.

Could things get better still?

Instant Messaging.

Is it the new "call waiting"?

Say you have work to do,

and you are waiting to hear back from an important client...

(O.K. truthfully, you are waiting to hear if your Pizza Hut order is coming soon!)

...Just teasing a bit with you....

Instant messaging can let you know if you've received a message while you continue to work away on necessary and useful matters.

What I am curious about is this,

how do you feel about Instant Messages?

Do you like them?

Is our society too "instant" already?

Me?

I like instant messages from friends,

from time to time.

They are like happy "squeaks" from a little child,

or the last piece of bubble gum in the pack...

Good under the right circumstances.

After all,

too much noise

or stale gum

may not be good.

I suppose you can tell it is Friday night...

my mood is light and I'm a tad silly.

May you be equally blessed

with peace for your moments

and happiness

to carry you on your adventures.

Pitch or Pack

This morning my youngest daughter pushed my buttons. A beautiful and loving girl who just happens to have autism, my kiddo's issues sometimes make me a little nuts. Puberty is a hard time for any child and when you have a few extra things to deal with, sometimes it can be rough.

We had a few words.

She's grounded for a while.

Later... after a few hugs for her and two phone calls for me, the world was right again. I am seriously convinced that everyone should have at least two numbers that they can call and let their emotions out.

For me, the first call went to my folks. I was exasperated and it was good to talk to people who, not only love me but who also have lived long enough to have sincerely good advice.

The second call was to my sister of my heart, Betty. Once related by marriage, now we're just friends. She has a child with special needs and so she "gets" many of my concerns. Beyond that, Betty is a fun person who I just honestly like.

Life brings us all many experiences.

Today, as I pack boxes, I am finding all sorts of relics from my past. I am deciding what to keep and what needs to go. It is not easy. I am a keepsake kind of girl.

What to do with "things" can be difficult to know.

But, without a doubt, I am not confused about what to do with my dearest family and friends.

I will keep them close and cherish them.

I hope for you this day,

someone to call when you are sad,

when you want to sit down and cry,

or even when you want to rant and yell.

May your friends never be farther than a phone call, text or email away.

When life makes you stressed,

May pizza be an option.

May conversation with loved ones help you find a little perspective.

Friendship is a beautiful thing!

Some days we call for comfort, other days we are the ones answering the phone.

Together we are better than we are alone!

Footprints in the Sand

It seems like sometimes we pass on good advice and forget to take it ourselves.

I've been known to warn fellow gardeners not to plant too many unusual things at once, so as to prevent seedling confusion, only to plant ten or eleven exotic experiments myself and become terribly bemused when the wind blows my seed around before it sprouts.

I've even instructed my children that too many cookies will make them sick and then eaten too many sweets myself. (Though at 35 my definition of "too many" is quite a bit different than it was many years ago!)

I'd almost bet that I am not the only one who sometimes needs to take their own advice.

More than a year ago, I assured a dear friend that God was indeed still in charge of the world. I pointed to a favorite childhood poem called "Footprints in the Sand" and told my struggling confidant not to give up.

Today, the same friend gave my advice back to me.

I quickly did a web search and found the familiar poem.

I share it with you here today in the hopes that it reminds you, as it did me, that our Creator loves us and regardless of the storms in our lives, he will never leave us.

May the ones you love be there when you need them,

sharing good advice,

even if it is your own advice,

returned when it is most needed.

Friends for the Journey

When we set out in life we sometimes come upon situations or problems that are too great to face alone.

It is in these situations that we often cry out in frustration and anger at the injustice of life. Sometimes it seems like we don't know how to find our way out of the darkness that surrounds us.

The problem is just too big.

It is at times like this that we often discover the wonderful blessing of friendship.

Some friends come into our life and stay forever, while others are only ours for a short while. As a child I remember hearing Bible stories that told me that we should always be kind to strangers because they could be angels in disguise.

I can attest that sometimes strangers turn out to be angels; blessings sent from God to show us the way out of the darkness. I am not talking about magic, I am talking about friendship. The give and take of real relationships.

Today, I would like to thank God for such a friend. Who, though only in my life for a short time, was a light in the darkness. A beacon of hope when it seemed all hope was lost.

Stop... consider your own life... who has been a blessing to you? Do they know it? Tell them.

Look... into your own heart and always be ready to be angel, a messenger of hope when you are called upon to be kind.

Listen... to the sighs, the laughter, the sounds of life... being a companion on the journey of a loved one is a blessing to everyone involved.

We were not left here to fend for ourselves.... We are meant to help each other.... What a wonderful plan.

Spend a day with a friend

Today I spent twelve hours with my oldest and dearest friend. We ended up visiting four very different parks in what I can only describe as a refreshing whirlwind.

At about nine o'clock we headed South to the Hocking Hills region. My friend hadn't been to down to these state parks in years and she was very excited to visit them as an adult.


Our first stop of the day was to the only real cave in the area, Rock House. ( http://www.hockinghillspark.com/Rock_House.asp) This area is very steep and I wouldn't advise a visit to anyone with wiggly little ones, bad knees or an excessive fear of heights. Since we didn't have any of those issues today, we headed into the woods in anticipation.

The views were amazing and the cave did not disappoint. Over our heads two giant slabs of rock formed a towering triangle and at either end, a sunny glow tempted us to peak out over the cliffs. As our eyes adjusted to the dim light inside, we discovered what was making the cooing sound echoing in the dark. There were mourning doves on the ledges above our heads! I tried to take their picture, but they flew and we ducked in fear of an unpleasant surprise!


Afterwards, we wandered about a little more admiring the various views before we headed back up the road to the next stop, Old Man's Cave! The parking lot near the visitors center was packed and we happily joined the throng. We went down the carved stone stairs, through the tunnel in the rock and climbed out onto the ledge that is Old Man's Cave. Named for a settler who made his home under the rock niche, this is probably one of the most popular and well known areas in the Hocking Hills region. (http://www.hockinghillspark.com/Old_Mans_Cave.asp)


Below the cave, I gave into the urge and joined other hikers in the water beneath the falls, though technically it is not allowed. I almost slipped on some rocks and a toddler skipping stones thought I was a good target. It was pretty funny actually trying not to fall while the little critter winged tiny pebbles in my direction. After playing in the water, we headed back using a path I'd never tried. The towering wooden steps gave me the heebie jeebies and the ledge at the summit was a littler narrower than I liked. But the view was beautiful so I remembered I was a grown-up and kept hiking. ( I admit I'm a little bit of a chicken.)


About this time, we were somewhat tired. We thought it would be smart to head out in search of lunch and have a break. Through the winding roads we went, gearing down to save the breaks on some steep grades and holding on tight on some harrowing turns.


Back up 33 North we went musing about where we should go next. Remembering that 33 passes Lancaster, I told my friend I knew someplace to go. We fought for a while with her Garmin as I really wasn't sure which way to go and neither was the navigation toy. (It sent us to the park office, not the park!) Finally we headed towards the hill in the distance and were rewarded by the sight of Rising Park. This park is fantastic, a real treat for adults and children alike. There is a large pond to fish in, the best playground imaginable (and shady too), wonderful places to picnic, bathrooms and the main event... the hike up the "mountain".


On a normal day, the hike can make me winded. But, as the park was the third stop of the day, we were exhausted! We made liberal use of the carved stone benches on the way up and really enjoyed the view and the breeze at the top! You can see for miles in all directions! (Check out: http://www.lancasterparks.com/.)


The trip down the hill was quicker, (though I'm sure to feel its affects tomorrow). Back in the car, we stopped for some fast food and ended up talking in the air conditioning for more than an hour. It was really great to have a whole day just to visit with no pressing agenda. We considered our options. We both agreed another hike was probably not doable. Yet, we weren't ready to end our day.


Heading in the general direction of Columbus, we continued to discuss possibilities. We ended up at a local premium ice cream store talking and eating amazing peanut butter and fudge sundaes! I was out of suggestions, but my friend was not. She said she remembered a park she went to as a child and thought it would have some benches to sit on and enjoy the rest of the afternoon. (We honestly never run out of conversation. Though she'll tell you I probably could talk all day to a kind stranger!)


Friendship Park in Gahanna, Ohio turned out to hold some of the best surprises of the day. As we walked through the park, my friend talked about how it looked different when she was little. We wandered past a large neighborhood garden in search of the fishing area she remembered.


We found the cement stairs heading down to the murky water. It didn't look like the path had been used lately. But, I was game to see the spot. After all, why not? So down we went and as I looked at the water's edge I saw something I haven't seen since I was maybe nine or ten!

There, just out of reach was a crayfish! A crawdad if you wish. An itty bitty freshwater lobster like creature!

I was so amazed and pleased. I asked my friend if she used to catch them as a child. She said she never had and wasn't sure she'd ever seen one. That was enough for me. I tried to catch it and ended up with both my feet stuck in terrible goo! It was a sight to behold, I really should have known better! I pulled my shoes out and we made our way back up top. Later, when I was cleaner, we finally found that bench.


From the shade, we had a view of the whole park but, especially the garden that is situated near the woods. As the hours passed, our conversation was periodically interrupted by exclamations of delight as a hungry groundhog made repeated trips to his own personal buffet. The furry creature wobbled along and we enjoyed his exploits.


As day turned to dusk, we headed to the car and found our way back to our own part of town. The day left me exhausted physically but filled with deep contentment.



Friendship...the kind that lasts for decades... is a blessing.


Find time, make time, take time for your favorite people.