So as you may or may not know, we have a new family member. Another “J” for the J, J, and J family. J # 4. I’d call him Tiny J but seriously, he weighed 10 lbs 13 oz. I’ll just call him adorable, sweet, precious. It’s safe to say I’m pretty much saturated in grandbaby bliss at this moment. It’s real. It’s ethereal. It’s indescribable. Continue reading “Cookie-induced nostalgia. What? Yes.”
Author SimplyB
Nurturing. And waiting rooms, part 2
So it all started here. 1976. My first baby, tiny little blue eyed girl. Stole my heart and introduced me to a new experience: Nurturing. Prior to this moment, as the baby of my family, my nurturing experiences were limited to furry kittens. AKA Smelly Cats. This baby girl taught me a lot about being a mommy and loving someone more intensely than I’d ever loved anyone before.
Mommy
Recently I was touched by a story a dear friend shared with me. She is the mother of 5, three girls and two boys. One of her sons passed away a few years ago unexpectedly when he was in his early twenties, following a seizure. The younger son has really struggled since the death of his brother. He’s suffered a lot of personal tragedy as a result. My friend knows deep sadness. Brokenness that has brought her face down at the feet of her Savior Jesus. Her faith has grown from brokenness.
Fences and Fear
Let me just preface this post with this unfortunate fact: I failed swimming lessons when I was a grade school child. Dropped out before the session was even close to being complete. The configuration of my body parts didn’t lend itself to really being much of a swimmer. 😜 But I was able to float (on my back) and potentially avoid drowning. In my mind that was close enough to success. Mission accomplished. Sort of. The failure stayed with me and put a dent in my level of confidence around water.
Small things
Starting at about age 30 or perhaps a year or two sooner, I began to dream about retirement. You may relate. Just looking forward to the day when the alarm clocks stop loudly interfering with our blissful sleep. Forcing us to put on happy faces and head off to work. Day after day after day. Cruel behavior, those pesky alarm clocks. Continue reading “Small things”
The littlest firecracker
There’s this boy who occupies a big part of my heart. His story is pretty miraculous, being born around 25 weeks gestation and weighing in at a tiny 1 pound 10 ounces. Continue reading “The littlest firecracker”
Can I see your photo ID, please?
Do you simply adore the picture on your driver’s license? Is it pure joy to pull that precious picture out and show it to airport security, or at checkout counters, or to the police officer when you’ve been pulled over for traffic violations? Continue reading “Can I see your photo ID, please?”
From party lines to selfies
Do you ever think about how much telephone technology has changed over the years? Even over the past decade with all the smart phone advances…. simply mind boggling.
Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s most every home had a stationary telephone. Attached to the wall by a long cord. I remember a time when we merely lifted the handset and waited for the operator to answer: “Operator”, and then we’d give her the name of the person we wanted to talk to. “Connect me to so and so”. Just that simple. Continue reading “From party lines to selfies”
Three words
Every living person will have, is having, or has had a chapter in their life story that can only be described as a dark valley of sadness and despair. Broken chapters. There’s no way around it. No way to skip over them and hurry on to the good part. Brokenness can show up in many different forms. Death, addictions, abandonment, on and on. The list of possible scenarios really is endless.
Chance encounters of the Grocery Store kind. The power of kindness.
Sometimes grocery store shopping can be irritating, almost a torture.
But sometimes it can be quite the opposite.
I was at Dillons the other day and found myself next to a young female customer in the produce department. As I reached up to select a container of fresh pico de gallo she asked me my opinion of the pico. We had a really nice conversation and she was so friendly. We visited for quite a while. She once operated a restaurant. And she actually enjoys chopping up jalapenos and onions by hand! At the end of the conversation she gave me a warm smile and said, “I hope you have a very blessed day.” I reciprocated with “I hope you do, too.” Continue reading “Chance encounters of the Grocery Store kind. The power of kindness.”
Who? What? I thought I knew. And a bonus recipe for you.
A couple weeks ago I was on a walk and ran into someone I hadn’t seen for some time. I waved and loudly called out “Well hello there how are you? Haven’t seen you in years.” As the distance between us lessened I was faced with the unfortunate reality that not only had I not seen her in years, I’d actually never seen this person. Ever. Did not know her. She just kind of looked at me and kind of awkwardly said “Hi. Fine.” Looked a little frightened as she walked on by. And I just kind of awkwardly moseyed out of her range of vision. Man, I really don’t enjoy those moments of mistaken identity.
Continue reading “Who? What? I thought I knew. And a bonus recipe for you.”
Beside the still waters and bicycling against the wind. It’s all good
Camping season began for us last week. Took our first trip to the lake for a few days. The weather cooperated magnificently.
During a conversation with a friend of mine I mentioned that we were planning to camp at a nearby lake. He said “Why in the world would you drag your camper 25 miles away when you could just stay at your house and enjoy your lovely back yard?”. That’s a valid question from a non-camper. But if you’re a seasoned camper, you know the answer. I don’t need to explain.
Continue reading “Beside the still waters and bicycling against the wind. It’s all good”
Employment Enjoyment
What was your first job? Mine was probably babysitting my cousins. But my first real job was the summer between my 8th and 9th grade years of school, if memory serves me.
Pioneer Seeds came to our fair little city of Minneapolis Kansas towards the end of the school year offering a gold mine opportunity for those wanting a summer job. $1.40 per hour. Boys and/or girls, equal pay. I couldn’t suppress my excitement at making that kind of cash and I eagerly signed up, along with many classmates. We were going to own Minneapolis by the time summer ended.
Observations from 1600 miles southeast of home
Today marks the end of a glorious two week trip to Savannah, Ga, with my husband the IT consultant. He travels 1600 miles from home every week to earn a living. This is his career. He’s had this traveling gig for the past 13 years. He provides income for us. To put food on the table and pay bills. To buy our home where I am the main occupant. He spends more time living in a hotel than in our home, if I do the math correctly. If nothing else, this trip has made me acutely aware of the sacrifice required in being a consultant. He doesn’t complain. I believe I might tend to whine a bit if I were in his shoes. But whining does come natural to me regardless of circumstances. We all have our gifts. 😃 Continue reading “Observations from 1600 miles southeast of home”
Comfort? Style? Or Companions?
In the past 13 years the hubby has spent more time living in a hotel than time living in our Kansas home. He has experienced every Starwood, Hilton and Marriott brand hotel known to man, and can give you detailed descriptions of them all. Continue reading “Comfort? Style? Or Companions?”
Go ahead. Live. Now. (and forever!!)
A few days ago I had lunch with a dear friend. Over Panera deliciousness, we caught up on life and the goings-on in our individual families. Always a blessing to hang out with Sandy.
We both have new camping vehicles and part of our conversation involved our individual trips we have planned as soon as spring arrives. It seems that both of us and our husbands are almost fixated on the need to just go camping. Just be in the great outdoors. Breathe the fresh air and let our souls relax and our batteries recharge. Quality time with our Creator. Continue reading “Go ahead. Live. Now. (and forever!!)”
64 days and counting.
We have reached that part of the year when the short days and long nights start to wear on me. Just kind of mess with my psyche. You, too?
Mid-January every year, I will google “how many days until spring”, and come up with stuff like you see in the above picture. Brings me a bit of hope. Continue reading “64 days and counting.”
HGTV and contentment
Do you watch HGTV? House Hunters, Flip or Flop, or my favorite Fixer Upper? I’m guessing you have watched at least one episode of these shows, as well as perhaps Property Brothers, HH International, etc. I’ll be honest, I love to watch this channel. No real political undertones, no real drama, and no disgusting commercials that would make you hope your grandkids aren’t watching, and make you wish you weren’t watching. Ick. (talking about you, Sports Networks). HGTV is just stuff about home. Home is a precious topic for most everyone. Continue reading “HGTV and contentment”
Odd treasures & remarkable gadgetry
I’ll start this post with the “remarkable gadgetry” section of the title.
We moved into this house and found these toilet paper holders.
These qualify as remarkable because you simply slide the toilet paper roll onto the rod. No need to dislodge a spring loaded, annoying toilet paper holder rod, reload a new roll, and then struggle to push that spring loaded bar back over before the new roll flies off. Quick, easy, and eliminates the need for ugly loud verbiage leaving your lips. Possibly in the middle of the night when you’re trying to just sleep through a trip to the bathroom. Continue reading “Odd treasures & remarkable gadgetry”
Winter blues? Maybe it’s time to visit an island.
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It’s not officially winter yet but some of the coldest temperatures of the year have descended upon us Kansans. Temperatures that can bring a squeaky whine from even the toughest of us. Probably need to exclude myself from that “toughest of us” group. I just want to be near the fireplace with a cup of coffee and a good book. I was designed to hibernate.
I’d like to give you something to at least dream about. Sanibel Island, Florida. A slice of heaven off the gulf coast near Fort Myers (which in itself is another lovely spot for a getaway, but it is just a bit more lively & commercial).
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| View from our rental condo, 2010, at Oceans Reach Resort. Screened-in lanai. Bliss, I tell ya. |
In 2010 we were looking for a place to take a vacation for our May anniversary and decided on Sanibel from some friends’ recommendation. No buildings over 4 stories high and no street lighting (think very starry nights on a beautiful island) It’s a decidedly quiet and wonderful place. Very family friendly. Lots of seashells, and there is a wildlife refuge that is quite nice. Bike path over the entire island. Historic lighthouse. Plenty of restaurants and groceries, although it’s best to shop for most of your food before you cross the bridge to Sanibel. And you can always cross back over that bridge any time and be in Fort Myers. Easy peasy.
Continue reading “Winter blues? Maybe it’s time to visit an island.”
Simply B 
