Monthly Archives: March 2017

Random 5 (Lion) Friday

Posted on March 31, 2017 by emjayandthem

It’s Friday! It’s time for some Random thoughts ~ here we go!

1 ) March roared in like a Lion and …well she’s still roaring. Yesterday brought freezing rain and lightning, all the same day. Today .. rain and winds. The grass is greening and the Robins are fat… hmm. Maybe April will come in like a lamb?

google.images

2 ) Old favorites ~ I put a tee shirt on the other day and laughed because I remember when it was new. 10 summers ago. I still like it and still wear it but now just around the house ’cause it’s a little worse for the wear. It’s like an old friend, comfy, soft and forgiving. It’s from the summer we took Mom on this trip, and that’s the shirt in the picture below. Sissy and I are going again in June and Mom will be with us in spirit, clapping her hands, grinning widely and taking it all in.

One of my favorite pictures of Mom & me… having a Killian’s in Branson, MO. Summer 2007.

Of course we saw an “Elvis” show! Tony Roi as Elvis was AMAZING!

3 ) I wrapped up 7 consecutive weeks of heavy work travel and meetings. Yesterday we were asked to set goals for the year – one of the goals surrounds meetings & outreach. I smiled realizing I’m halfway to the goal. Yes!!

4 ) It’s Friday. I can hear the birds singing and my calendar, for the most part, is wide open today. I have a few projects to tidy up then I’ll hand the reins to another and my team – and be off on v.a.c.a.t.i.o.n. It’s 34F here and 75F where we’re headed …and there’s not a schedule in sight. Ahhh.

photo courtesy of the Farmers Almanac.

5 ) Amazing. Yes, that’s it. Ha!

That or glasses!

How about you? What’s the oldest piece of clothing you still wear? What are you looking forward to? Have you set any new goals for the year? Have you amazed yourself lately? 🙂

Happy Spring, peeps!

The Glad Surrender

Posted on March 26, 2017 by emjayandthem

Lately my work life is all consuming ~ looking back and ahead I am struck by these four things:

1 ) Traveling every week for work & so that means restaurant after restaurant – and eating healthfully can be a challenge. Typically I have a big breakfast sometime during the day and supplement with foods I bring with me. But, I’ve discovered the wedge salad and that has become my new favorite. I’m sure it’s 10,000 calories but I don’t care. Here’s is one I enjoyed a few nights ago with shrimp and a Skinny Girl Margarita. Yes I was that gal photographing her food … ha!

dinner on the road recently

2) I’m tired. Tired of work, tired of calls, tired of projects, tired. I’m tired of increasing pressure, endless demands and unrealistic expectations. In just a few weeks we will shut everything off and head to a warm vacation. In response to bosses who’ve asked anxiously if I’ll be online while away I’ve answered no, I’ll be IN line for a beach towel and a lemonade by the pool. Looking forward to no schedule, no calls and no clocks. I know what will happen – we’ll sleep deeply, be up early, and smile our way through sun, tunes, good foods and warm waters. And when we get back it will all be there waiting for us.

3) The one thing saving my life right now is weekends. And sleep. And wedge salads. And that pool image above 😉

4) Many flagship stores around us are closing – K-Mart was first, Sears was next, and now, certain J.C. Penney stores, too. Out of solidarity I stopped at JCP one night last week, hit a sale, and walked out with >$300 in merchandise for $95. If I could get a deal like that more often I’d go to the mall more. Hmm.

** How about you? What new-to-you food are you loving? Have you came upon any deals lately? What are you excited about? When’s the last time you took a break? Can you embrace the Surrender?**

“Work is a blessing. God has so arranged the world that work is necessary, and He gives us hands and strength to do it. The enjoyment of leisure would be nothing if we had only leisure. It is the joy of work well done that enables us to enjoy rest, just as it is the experiences of hunger and thirst that make food and drink such pleasures.” ― Elisabeth Elliot, Discipline: The Glad Surrender

Categories: Blogging, Confidence at any age, Determination, Faith, Fashion, Food, Fun, Life, Opinion, Personal, Quotes | Tags: Discipline: The Glad Surrender, Elisabeth Elliott, getting away, not online, schedule, shutting off electronics, sunshine, taking a break, vacation, work | 2 Comments

Lions, Lambs and funeral luncheons

Posted on March 19, 2017 by emjayandthem

Mother Nature has been mercurial again – here March roared in like a lion, with freezing temps, bitter cold, blowing snow and lashing sleet. All this after a mid-February warm up to nearly 70F. The latest round felt like a mid-winter spanking. Are we safe to assume March will leave like a lamb? I’m not so sure.

A friend passed away last Sunday ~ shockingly young, leaving a wife and two children plus a business and employees to take care of. We struggled to absorb the news and rally around our friend. As expected, a call went out for food and folks didn’t disappoint. At the wake Friday night, were crocks full of hot foods like meatballs, macaroni and cheese, Sloppy Joe’s, Fettuccine Alfredo and Lasagna plus trays of cakes, cookies and squares, salads, raw vegetables, fresh fruit, deviled eggs, boiled shrimp, crackers and cheese, a baked ham and the fixings for sandwiches.

There’s something so comforting about being able to help at a time of sadness.

Many commented on the abundance of foods and I thought of Mom and my Auntie and all the times they’d done the same. It’s nice to be part of a community that comes together and provides sustenance when needed.

Later that evening, reflecting on the day, Hubbs and I chuckled at how we’d both observed the same thing: older gentlemen – every one of them had a big slab of cake (sometimes two), cookies or brownies on their plate ~ we laughed about how we could see my Dad or his Grandpa doing the same – how they knew enough to”go for the good stuff first.”

Co-mingled in the sadness is a lingering feeling of fellowship, the memory of a room growing loud with laughter and toasts to a good man.

And as the wind howls outside here today, no lambs are in sight.

** How does your family or community navigate loss? Are you experiencing Lambs or Lions where you live? **