Just Because

Wildflowers on Trellis

UPDATE 10/18/09: Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments! Liz, this card is coming your way! Send me a mailing address when you have time. Have a great week everyone! xo ---

The last beaded card. It's been huddled in the desk drawer for months, waiting patiently for a purpose. I'd like to give it away. Just because. Maybe it will serve as a cheerful reminder of spring during the upcoming cold winter months?

So how about sharing a comment about anything you've said recently (or want to say) to God -- a thought, a prayer, a whisper, a heart note, a revelation of his character. It doesn't have to be fancy or clever. Leave as many comments as you want. I'll randomly choose one around noon this Saturday, and mail that person this card. (Make sure I can link back to find your email address or leave it in your comment.)

Me? I often ask God for wisdom -- not even knowing exactly what I may need. Or I may whisper "I love you" while in traffic or shuffling through unpaid bills on my desk. A humble "thank you" standing at the open door of a fully-stocked refrigerator, asking God to bless every person who made that possible. I seek guidance in 'otherhood ... oh so many prayers in this area of my life. Also I ask to age with strength and grace, on a productive path in life. I ask that messages be delivered to my earthly father, who is now in heaven. So much wisdom he shared about God that I only now understand. I rejected it in my youth only to now realize it was the greatest gift I could ever receive.

Love is simple,

karen

Road Closed

Road ahead is temporarily closed ... taking time away from the blog. Relying on the cooler fall weather, preparing garden beds with my hands in the dirt, and nature's wonders to give me a lift. I become lost in my days between 'otherhood, work, running our small household, and so many other things. I often turn to solitude although the foreground of my life goes on. An inner solitude, a time to acknowledge God, reminding myself of his love for us all.

All is well. Sending you much love!

karen

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Although this road is temporarily closed, consider a detour to Kopila Valley Children's Home. Exit here. A beautiful place for amazing little ones. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, visit the site, wander the path ... and be amazed.

Tweet it, blog it, contribute. xo

The Mothership Has Landed

Greetings Earthlings, We Come in Peace

On my way to the coffeemaker this morning, I am greeted by this spiffy card-mobile. Visitors from outer space? Or only Spongebob & Squidward delivering krabby patties en route to Tulsa's new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino? Judging by the crop circles found in the fridge, I surmise someone couldn't sleep last night, was hungry ... and a little bored.

Happy Tuesday!

Let Them Eat Cake

I did not just make a chocolate cake. This, yes, looks like a big chocolate cake (and boy does it smell good). I HAD to make this because I bought buttermilk for homemade ranch dressing for good buddy. You can't throw perfectly good buttermilk away - what was I supposed to do with the leftovers? We do not waste food around here. No sir.

So, if there's buttermilk in the fridge, three things will be on the menu in the very near future: chocolate cake (eh hmmm, pictured above), ranch dressing, and my somewhat famous quiche.

We eat fruit! And vegetables! Salads galore! I swear there's a cantaloupe on the counter right now! Fresh spinach in the fridge. Chocolate cake is healthy ... there are all those claims about the wonders of dark chocolate!

I can't share the recipe for the cake because someone who shall go nameless believes this very recipe is the reason her husband married her. Now, that's ridiculous, don't you think? However, just in case, do keep in mind that I can make the cake ... that causes men to fall at one's feet. I make. the cake. O.k.? O.k. Looking at feet. Not seeing swooning men.

Tsk tsk. It's like putting salt on the bird's tail. If you can do that, the bird is already yours. If he sauntered to the table to eat the cake, D., then I think he was already in over his head. Although I do recall that you baked that cake for him before you ever dated. Crafty. Very crafty.

Don't you think, if this cake were indeed the key to one's heart, that nameless already-married-person would want to share it so others could cast their spell? I may share it and suffer the consequences ... I'll let you know, dear single friends. Because I do believe that this cake could tip the scales (wink, wink), and I don't mean the bathroom scales. I know that's what you were thinking.

Living on a Shoestring

Earlier this week, 1:15 in the morning, I hear from the hallway, "Person? Person?"

I answer without getting out of bed, having grown accustomed to late night awakenings through the years. It's so still and quiet, you could hear a pin drop. "Yeah?"

"Will you remind me Friday to switch my shoelaces? I want the black laces in my white shoes and my white laces in my black shoes, o.k.?"

He must be anxious about something totally unrelated to shoelaces. No need to ask a question. He's probably overwhelmed. "O.k. honey."

"O.k."

Off he goes down the hall. I ponder what could be going on. He sees others his age dating, driving, working, living on their own, going to college. Life sparkles, dreams captivate, passions bloom, the world is magical.

Don't over think it, I tell myself, feeling small and inadequate. I imagine all I would like to do tomorrow if we could. The list wears me out as I doze off.

I reminded him about his shoelaces this morning as promised.

The image above just made me smile.