30 Days of Thankfulness and...Staplers

30 Days of Thankfulness.
Let's see...
Day 15 I am thankful for 24 hours in each day
        16 Magic markers, even the smelly ones
        17 Friends with the same quirky sense of humor
        18 Classic books like "The Secret Garden"
        19 Slippers
        20 Laughter that starts from the inside and bursts out with unbridled delight
        21 Baby smells (other than the diaper thing)
        22 Forgiveness and grace
        23 "Snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes..."
        24 A good movie to watch with my kids
        25 Ginger Ale
        26  A Car stereo
        27 Nieces and nephews
        28 The amazingly full moon with the bright stars as an audience
        29 Warm fuzzy blankets
        30 A sister-in-law with a lot of patience, two days in a row. (Thanks Sherrill)

Yes, I was a teensy little bit behind. Just a little.
But now I am not. Whew.
And thinking of thankfulness, I came across this paper today written by Ryan. I just had to share.

I have many things to be thankful for. One of them is staplers. That might 

sound strange, but have you ever stopped to think about how much we 

need staplers.

If we didn’t have staplers, then we wouldn’t be able to put papers together.

I think staplers are important because they put papers together and you 

can put stuff together.

My favorite thing about a stapler is they snap and you can make paper 

air planes with them and they shoot out staples.

I hope you see why I am so thankful for staplers.

Ryan

Hit the "Be Still" Button

This week has seriously gotten away from me. I mean, wasn't it just Sunday and here it is, turning into Friday already. I know I have the same amount of hours as everyone else, but maybe mine are on fast-forward?

Really, I think a pause button would be nice sometimes.

And a mute button.

And a button that dispensed chocolate on demand.

You know the saying, "Time flies when you are having fun"? Well, it also flies by when you are just plain ol' too busy to sit down and enjoy the moment. Like this week, and probably the next, and the next after that. As we head into December and the holidays, I am already feeling like it is over before it has even started. I am anticipating the busyness, the craziness, the hustle and bustle of getting the holiday checklist completely marked off.

But what if...?

What if I crossed off some of the checklist?
What if I made a conscious decision to stop everything for 20 minutes every day?
What if I spent that time reflecting, praying, or simply being silent?
Would would happen?

Besides the obvious things, like holiday baking not getting done (which, to be honest, I don't do all that much of anyhow), or the gifts not getting wrapped with creative bows, buttons or beads, or not having my shopping done by the second weekend in December, or not making the perfect handmade gift for each person, what would happen?

I might actually be at peace with myself, with lower expectations to reach.
I would have time to reflect on how Mary and Joseph might have felt on their journey.
I would find time to rest.
To pause.
To be muted. (Okay, yes, I know that would be a stretch for me, but you never know. Christmas is the time for miracles).

Psalm 46:10

New International Version (NIV)

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God

  I will be exalted among the nations,

  I will be exalted in the earth.”

So, for this week, and the next, and the next, and even the next, I will be still.

I will hit pause.

I will hit mute. 

Now, if someone would just bring me chocolate. 

Love,

Dianne

Bender Christmas

Today was the Bender Christmas Get-Together. I know, it's still November and the Thanksgiving turkey leftovers are still in the refrigerator, but nevertheless, we celebrated Christmas today. This tradition started years ago when Grandpa and Grandma started going to Florida to spend their winters there.

What?! And miss out on all this good Garrett County/Somerset County weather?

But off they would go, the sooner the better, and our Christmas became the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. Even though Grandpa is no longer celebrating on earth with us and Grandma doesn't always head South, the tradition continues.

I would love to share some pictures from today. I really would, but (you knew that was coming didn't you?) my camera reformatted my little card thingie and I couldn't take any photos to commemorate the day. So instead, I'll try to paint some glimpses with words of today. And a little of yesteryear...

The farmhouse with greenery and lights across the archway dividing the dining room from living room.
Ceiling lights shaking as grandchildren frolicked upstairs.
Trays of peanut butter fudge and cookies to numerous to comprehend from Aunt Marlene.
A roaster with dark and white turkey meat separated.
Bread, butter and grape jelly in a dish.
Aunt Gloria's humongous bowl of tossed salad with homemade dressings.
Playing Shanghai (a card game) with various aunts, uncles and cousins; Uncle Rich especially.
Grandpa reading Luke 2.
Drawing names for gifts and keeping it a big secret until the next year.
Cousin Carson being first in line for food.
Opening presents and going in order of age, youngest to oldest.
A whole day to play with cousins.
Going sled riding in the pasture on some of the grandest hills ever.
Singing Joy To The World.
Candy canes on the Christmas tree.
Grandkids putting together a Christmas themed church service.
The Grownups doing the dishes.
Oyster stew with the little round crackers.
Homemade Root Beer.
Burp.
The family growing in number with new babies, new brides and grooms.
Moving from the farmhouse to the firehall.
Little cousins crying when they have to say goodbye til next time.
Food, family, fun and faith.

The years have gone by. Some things have changed, but some things don't ever change. So much that I enjoyed as a child is being enjoyed now by my own children. It was a good day, a very good day indeed.

I ate too much, laughed just the right amount, and enjoyed the fellowship with family in abundance.
Thanksgiving may be now past, but I am thankful today and my heart is full.

Love,
Dianne

The Day After, Before, and Until

The Day After Thanksgiving.
    Yes, I ate turkey yesterday, in-between sleeping. 
Black Friday.
No, I was not shopping at midnight or in the wee hours of the morning. I thought about it, but I was just not organized enough to do so. 
The Day Before the First Day of Maryland Hunting Season.
     Yes, my family hunts, although I do not. I just never did.
32 Days Until Christmas.
     Yes, I have some Christmas shopping done, but this year feels like a last-minute kind of year. 
Today.
     So what does today hold?

I am thankful I didn't have to work my on-call last night. So thankful. I was actually going to be leaving my house at 9:30pm to head to work when my phone rang at about 9:15 and I was reprieved. Of course, the three times the phone rang after that, I just knew it was work calling me in, but I am truly thankful it was not. So, that means I got to sleep last night.

Sleep, what a glorious affair.

I am at present listening to Flamenco guitar music (Don Soledad), eating Greek yogurt (chocolate chunk) with bananas and granola, thinking about brewing a cup of coffee. I have some charting to do for Job #2 and a home visit later this morning. I work at Job #1 this evening. In-between, I should pull some Christmas decorations out of the attic, wrap some presents for the Sunday get-together, get some groceries for the same get-together, order Nutcracker tickets. . .

Feeling Overwhelmed. Not a glorious affair.

I pause.  

Psalms 118:5  When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place.

I breathe. 


Psalms 110:1-2  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

I will spend about 2 hours driving today for work. What an opportunity to shout, to worship, to sing, to praise. To be thankful on this day...
The Day After Thanksgiving.
Black Friday.
The Day Before the First Day of Md Hunting Season.
32 Days Until Christmas.
Today. 

Love,
Dianne

Eternal Perceptions

What is my perception of eternity? Hmmmm.....
What is my perception of eternity? Thanks to one Joe Guydo and a question he asked on Facebook, I'll try to answer. Here goes...

After working 3-12 hr shifts, I could say that at 3:00am, the nights felt like an eternity.
But, it still had a time frame, a 12-hour block of time with a beginning and an end.

Eternity is infinite, it goes on without an end. Like a circle. But, like a circle, there has to be a point at which the circle was started, although once connected, it has no end. I guess I look at that as Creation as the starting point and once in motion, is endless. Maybe not as we see it in an earthly way, as in someone is born and they die, having a beginning and end on this earth, but in a spiritual way. We live, we die, but if we are believer's in the Christian faith, then life goes on, even after death, forever. Eternity. Never-ending perfection with God.

As a kid, and honestly, even as an adult, I have wondered if I will be bored in the ever-after. I mean, singing (me?!) forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever... But I don't think that I will have any perception of time, whether it is time past or the sense that time is passing at all. I don't know for sure what that will be like, but I know that God will be there, He has prepared a place for me and eternity will be spent with the creator of my very being. It promises to be good, good beyond what I can even comprehend or my human mind can even begin to grasp.


John 14:2-3 New International Version (NIV)
"My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."


I just finished a book (The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner) that dealt with the "End Times", the Apocalypse and how these authors wrote about it made me think, "What if...?"
For instance, this book dealt with the whole idea of other dimensions, other parallel worlds that are existing at the same time as the one I am living in. Kind of like thinking about time travel in a way. It allowed the world, as it was known, to come to an end after a terrible time of destruction, turmoil and uncertainty, and those that believed were transported to a new earth. Definitely a different way of thinking about eternity, but interesting nonetheless. Worlds that continue beyond death.


eternity [ɪˈtɜːnɪtɪ]

n pl -ties

1. endless or infinite time

2. the quality, state, or condition of being eternal

3. (usually plural) any of the aspects of life and thought that are considered to be timeless, esp timeless and true

4. (Christian Religious Writings / Theology) Theol the condition of timeless existence, believed by some to characterize the afterlife

5. a seemingly endless period of time an eternity of waiting

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

Eternity. What a question. I hope my answer does it a little bit of justice. 

Love,
Dianne

PS: Yes Joe, it does feel like an eternity since the Pirates actually had a winning season. 

Three More Questions Answered

Time to answer some more miscellaneous Facebook Questions:
First, here are three from the one and only Ms. Melanie Byler:

    #1 What's your most embarrassing public bathroom moment?

Really? You had to ask? Like you think I would have a most embarrassing bathroom moment.
Well, actually I do. Big surprise there.
When I was pregnant, very pregnant, like 3 days away from Adrienne's birth, I was shopping with the Bender gang. I had to use the bathroom, quite urgently in fact, as only a pregnant woman would know. As I am in the bathroom doing my thing, with who I thought was only my sister Kim, I am singing a song about this being such a relief. Not in a beautiful, meaningful way, but in a goofy, I really am relieved kind of a way. When I go to leave, there is no sister in sight, but there were other miscellaneous ladies using the facility. They were all polite enough to glance at my belly, smile in understanding, and said nary a word.

#2 What was my favorite band as a teenager?

For me, Christian music didn't really play a role in my life until I was 13-14 years old when the local WAIJ station came on the air, playing only Christian songs. Up until that point, I listened to WFRB, the best country music station around. I liked Kenny Rogers. As far as a band, I was quite a fan of Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart. 

They had the look,

 they had the hair, 

they could rock 'n roll with a Christian flair. 

I also liked to listen to David Meece, Steve Archer, Geoff Moore, and Amy Grant. I guess they weren't "bands" per say other than Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart, but that's who the radio played and who I liked. Oh, I also liked DeGarmo & Key. I still have an album of theirs up in my attic. Yes, the old type record that could double as a frisbee. If only I had a record player that worked...

#3 Which chid is your favorite?

Boy, she knows how to ask questions, doesn't she? Now, it doesn't say which of my own children but I am guessing that's what she meant. Picking a favorite child is like deciding which sunset was the most amazing, which Starbucks flavor I savor the most, which color in Autumn is my favorite, or which snowflake makes winter so beautiful. No one else has Adrienne's way with kids, Aaron's gift for music or Ryan's imagination. Amy is an artist like no other and Heather dances her way into the very core of my being. Adrienne thinks deeply and her reflections make me pause and wonder. Aaron is the one who calls me Mother Bear and it completely warms my heart. Amy is quiet, but has a way of encouraging that is loud, if you know what I mean. Heather has faith that moves mountains. Ryan is tenderhearted and is a good friend. They all like pizza, but with different toppings. I like my kids, not just love them because I have to. They are different too, like pizza toppings, but they all fit right inside my heart like a puzzle all put together. Or the best pizza ever. 

And that's 3 more questions answered. Just a few more to go, so keep reading. If you ask, I will answer (eventually!) 

Love,

Dianne

Make a List or be Listless

I hate waking up in the morning and my first thoughts are of the "To-Do List" looming over my day. Instead of stretching my limbs lazily as I slowly let my focus bring into view the shadows dancing on the ceiling, cast by the fleeting rays of sun, I am instead groaning inwardly outwardly as the list if "to-do's" grows by the second.
-sign Ryan's planner
-finish getting papers together for a meeting this morning at 10:00
-exercise before meeting at 10.
-shower
-gather folders and files for today's home visits
-visits at 2:00, 3:00, and 6:30
-charting
-update care plans
-do the dishes
-laundry
-make shopping list for Bender Christmas
-get Ryan to Christmas program practice
-pay bill at Gnagey's Garage
-etc

And so my day starts with all the busyness, hurry and bother. It all makes me feel a bit whirlwind-ish.
Then, I pause, a mug of peppermint mocha in hand. Coffee begs to be savored, to be enjoyed. I have to slow down, for just a minute or two, or ten. I read something in Psalms. I think I'll write my blog. I have time.

Psalms 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens. Selah."

One verse in the midst of many. One small verse, but it speaks so loudly. My burdens, compared to so many, are relatively few. Are relatively minor. But I can know that, big or small, my burdens are carried. I am not alone. He goes before me, and He knows the way. He knew my "To-Do List" long before I did.

I have choices today. I can choose to complain about what needs done, about how busy I am, or how little time I have. Or I can realize that by other choice I have made, that this is my life right now. I can now choose to be positive in my attitude, I can choose thankfulness and gratitude.

Speaking of thankfulness, I am really behind on this 30 days of thankfulness...
Day 5: Adrienne (It was her birthday!)
Day 6: Freedom that living in the USA allows
Day 7: Our farm which gives us a glorious place to live
Day 8: Gray cats
Day 9: My bed with lots of pillows and blankets
Day 10: Deep, restful sleep
Day 11: A day at the Bender Cabin
Day 12: Twenty-four hours in every day
Day 13: Laptop computers
Day 14: Leo is at home with me this morning

I like lists. I could add that to my thankful list. Or #16 on the "To-Do List" could be "Add liking lists to the thankful list." 
And while I am on the topic of lists, did you ever think about the connection to the word "listless"?

listless |ˈlis(t)lis| adjective
(of a person or their manner) lacking energy or enthusiasm
There you have it. There is a reason to make a list. To be without a list, to be list-less, is not where I want to be. 
Time for an about-face. I am thankful for my "To-Do List". Yes, I am. 
Love,Dianne

What I Dreamed and What Came To Be

Time for another Facebook Question. This one was from Lisa-Anna (thank you, by the way!)

"How did getting married at a young age affect your capabilities of becoming the 

woman you dreamed of becoming as a child?"

Wow. That's a question. 

Wow. Now for the answer...answered with more questions. 

This might be a long one. 

As a child, what did I dream of becoming? 

How kind of woman did I think I would be? 

I remember thinking that I wanted to be a wife and mother, first and foremost. I also thought of a variety of careers that I thought I would like to try: 

     -florist

     -marine biologist

     -archeologist

     -interior designer

     -architect

     -author

     -artist

     -librarian

     -restaurant owner

(not necessarily in that particular order)

What kind of woman did I hope I would be?

     -an adventurous one

     -kind and generous

     -creative

     -good sense of humor

     -helpful to others

     -serving God

When I started dating Leo, I was 15 years old. When he proposed, I was 16. Even though he is four years older than me, we were both still really young. At the time, I didn't think we were that young, but now, looking back? Yeah, we were young. 

Two years later, October 1988, we were married. I was 18, just out of high school, and he was 22. I didn't have any immediate plans to head to college. I was a wife and wanted to be a mother.

The years pass; it is now 1993. I have two small children under the age of two. We are living close to Leo's parents and I am figuring out how to live in a trailer creatively. I am an interior designer and architect as we redesign our kitchen. I am building my book collection and we have story hour, many times a day; I am a librarian. 

1995-1996 The Louisville Years

Sometimes cooking for large youth groups for a week at a time, I like the challenge of meal planning and then taking the big green work van to the grocery store to load up. I organize the menu and my workers and make it work; I am a restaurant owner. I learn about scrapbooking from a friend and a new hobby keeps me sane; I am an artist. 

Fast forward a few years to 1997...

Baby #3 is a few months old and we are now living on the farm. I am content with where I am; I have no desire to attend college to have a career. Even if I did, I don't know what I'd go for. Probably something with journalism or English. But who has time? I keep a journal for myself to reflect back on someday; I am an author. I have a large yard as my canvas and gardens start to slowly form; I am a florist of sorts. I dig in the dirt; I am an archeologist. (I know, that's a stretch, but you never know what I might unearth someday.) We have a pond; this however does not make me a marine biologist. I am not even sure why I would have wanted to do this as a child. I think I wanted to talk to dolphins. 

Then along came 1999 and after having Baby #4, I thought I'd like to be a midwife. I started college classes that Fall and in the Spring of 2003, I graduated as an RN, ironically not one of my childhood dreams. Since then, I have worked pretty much full-time as a nurse in either OB, NICU and now also with Personal Home Care.

All that being said, do I think getting married young affected my capability to achieve the dreams I had as a girl? 

In a word, "No." 

I still garden quite a bit and I love making bouquets to adorn my table (florist). I like to read about and study history (kinda like being an archeologist without getting dirty). I frequently rearrange my rooms and like to repaint and redo elements in our home (interior designer/architect). My book collection has grown and I like to collect my favorites or lend them out (librarian). I still scrapbook and on occasion, I like to draw (artist). I continue to plan meals and sometimes cook for my family (restaurant owner). Oh, and I have a blog (author). As for the marine biologist, I still have no idea. 

I think God put me at each place in my life for a reason. I think He brought specific people into my life at just the right time to help me be the person I am meant to be. Life has been an adventure, making me adventurous. I have had to be creative with a sense of humor to sometimes keep my sanity. My various roles have allowed me to be helpful to others as I serve God, hopefully with a kind and generous spirit.

I am more than I dreamed of as a girl. Much more. 

And just think, the chapters haven't all been written yet, my story isn't done and the dreamer in me continues to dream. 

Love,

Dianne 

     

Yes, I Like Red Cars

Sniffle.
Sneeze.
Cough.
I do not do "sick".
It is true what they say: "Nurses make the worst patients."
And why do I get sick on what looks to be a lovely weekend? This inquiring mind wants to know.
I could post a picture of me, sick, in bed, covered in a pile of blankets, armed with tissues, books and my laptop, but I won't.
Why?
Because then you would see me with kleenex plugging my leaky faucet of a nose. Not pretty. Not pretty at all.
I think I am simply rundown with an immune system that is dragging it's weary feet. Working four nights in a row will do that. Not sleeping much today will do that. Not eating right and drinking enough water will do that. Burning the candle at both ends will do that. Having a few other members of the family with the same thing doesn't help my cause either.
Maybe we (I) get sick because then I have to slow down; the choice has been taken from me.
So, I will sleep, drink tea, and recover.
Will I learn to slow down and take care of myself? Maybe, but I'm not holding my breath here.
You see, I am stubborn. I think I am invincible. I may not be Wonder Woman, but I am In Denial Woman and I think once I feel better, then I am cured forever. Besides, I have too much to do to be sick. Ever.

So, as I lay here, I think I will answer another random Facebook Question. This one was from Felicia Schrock. Describe my dream car. 
I have thought a lot about that this week as I put almost 500 miles on my car. My dream car(s) actually change with my mood. So....
For work: I actually am quite happy with Scarlet. She is red, she is All-Wheel Drive, she has a good CD player, decent gas mileage. However (sorry Scarlet), what would make her even better is if she was like the Knight Rider car (remember Kitt?) To be able to program in a destination and have my car drive me there while I slept would be beyond amazing.

For a drive in the country:

1920 Oakland 34C Roadster; S/N; Maroon, Black fenders/Black leather; Black leatherette top

Can't you see me with vintage clothing on, a large brimmed driving hat secured to my head with a scarf, it's long flowing ends trailing behind in the breeze as Leo and I explore the countryside. Sigh.

My unrealistic, but "oh what an awesome car" dream:

I want a car that growls when you ignite the engine. I want it to glide effortlessly around curvy roadways while going faster than the legal recommendation. A Corvette will do nicely.

And last but not least is a Chevy Nova; this one is a 1970. I just like it. Period.

And there you have it, my Dream Car(s). But like real life, you make the best with what you have been given. I guess that means I should be a good patient too.
Sniffle, cough, sneeze.

Love,
Dianne

I Know Who I Am Voting For...

I am voting for Ryan Maust for "President for A Day"."

"Why?' you may ask. And this is what I will answer: 

He's a ton of fun in the kitchen, although wearing clothing would be a better option here:

He occasionally cleans his closet, thus helping the environment.

He promotes rest and well-being, although he does not endorse vegetable eating. 

He knows how to make a mess.

He even cleans it up when asked.

(Most of the time)

And the best reason to vote for Ryan? 

(besides the fact that he is cute, funny, loving, crazy, and just a good kid?) 

 I don't know about you, but how can anyone resist a campaign speech like this one? 

“If I were president for one day I would make easy laws to follow. And I would eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with my family. And I would tuck my kids in for bed and kiss them good night. But when I have nothing else to do I would go bowling. Another thing is I would get in my office and work but sometimes I might fall asleep but if I had coffee I would stay awake. And that’s what I would do if I was president for one day.” The End

by Ryan Maust, age 9

Grade 3

My favorite part was how his family was a priority. The candidate I want to vote for would be spending his last day before election eating breakfast, lunch and dinner with his family and then tucking 'em into bed, instead of running all over the country trying to get one last vote.

Today, November 6th, I am thankful for the right to vote, 

and the freedom to make choices. 

Love,

Dianne