Beauty

Random 5 Saturday ~ Birthdays, Rinks and COVID19

Posted on March 7, 2020 by emjayandthem

It’s Saturday, the sun is shining and it’s time for 5 randoms from my world. Ready? Set? Go!

1 ) Celebrating oldest boy’s birthday later today ~ which called for some home-made baking straight out of Mommacita’s kitchen. My blueberry-loving boy gets a blueberry/peach cobbler and the rest will enjoy a Triple Chocolate “Rink” Cake (good enough to take to the rink, a nod to the winter home of my childhood). That sheen on the cake? That’s from butter in the homemade chocolate buttercream frosting. Margarine is never gonna give you that sheen ~ Love baked in every bite!

Blueberry Peach Cobbler

Triple Chocolate “Rink” Cake

Indeed it is

2 ) Speaking of the Rink .. it remains the H E A R T of my prairie home. Talking with my sister last night she filled me in on the “Spa Spiel” happening this weekend – a 3 day curling bonspiel, with 16 teams, ages ranging from grade school to seniors. (** Winning team gets a trip to the local hot springs Spa**) The rink kitchen will be humming with volunteers frying onions for “rink burgers,” serving up homemade pie, homemade soup and homemade buns, all donated from area residents. Those not curling will be visiting, skating, playing cards, eating pie and enjoying what’s likely to be the last winter “hurrah” for the real ice of that small-town prairie rink. Spring will come and the ice will go – it’s just the way it’s always been.

I remember coming in to warm up, after skating for hours, and finding enough change for an ice cold-coke or Sprite out of this cooler. We’d pull our drink out of the frosty water, wipe it off with the rag that’d been there forever, and enjoy, our cheeks burning as they warmed. It is not possible to craft a better childhood and I’m so glad to hear those prairie traditions continue!

the old Coca-Cola chest …

3 ) Signs of Spring are everywhere – but March came in like a Lamb. We all know what that means!

Roar !

4 ) Woke up to emails from airlines that I have upcoming business trip tickets with ~ and assurances about clean air and cabin cleaning…. No CoVid19 around here yet but the FLU (which kills thousands every year) has been rampant, with many schools having to close for a week at a time. NoroVirus, Influenza A and H1N1 are all in play – blah. Between us, I’ve got a feeling my corporate conferences are about to be scrapped. And that’s OK by me.

5 ) My new indulgence – Cuban coffee ~ oh Mylanta, so good!

What’s new in your world?

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Faith, Family, Food, Home, Joy, Life, Thoughts, Wisdom, Women, Work, Writing | Tags: airlines, birthdays, blueberry, Cafe Bustelo, cake, coffee, common sense, coronavirus, COVID19, Cuban Coffee, flu, H1N1, health, influenza, Lamb, Lion, March, Rink, safety, travel, wash your hands | 6 Comments

The heart has no wrinkles

Posted on February 14, 2020 by emjayandthem

Happy Valentines Day! 💖💖💖

Recovering from dental surgery (an extraction & bone grafting to prepare for a future implant, ye-ouch), I feel the love from hubby – otherwise known as “he who doesn’t cook”- the same man who bought omelettes we could warm up. He heats them just so, then cuts everything so I can eat it. (I had made soup but it’s too painful to slurp…)

I awoke with a start at 4 a.m. today and lay in bed thinking about the Valentines of my youth .. and remembered to being young/newly married, when we still bought gifts and cards and did all that “stuff” and I compared it to the love we share now.

And I smile my gap-toothed smile appreciating that “Real love” is hubby telling his wife – the one who looks like a goalie on the losing team “it’s not that bad” & then asks “is there anything I can do for you?”

Real love is hubby asking “what book are you reading now?” even though he’d rather watch sports or politics than talk books. 📚

Real love shows up, checks in, accepts the bed hair, mismatched jammies and fusses to make sure all is well. Real love turns up the heat, warms up the leftovers, scolds with a finger point reminders to take the antibiotics and pain meds on a regular basis. Real love does the best he can.

And that, my friends, is all the Valentines Love I need

I hope you are feeling loved today – be it self-love, partner love or pet love! XO

1970s punch-out Valentines; google.images.com

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Growth, Love, Men, News, Opinion, Personal, Relationships, Romance, Thoughts, Women | Tags: heroes and valentines, leftovers, love stories, mature love, Real love, the 3 sides of love, the heart has no wrinkles, true love, Valentines Day | 10 Comments

It’s only fitting

Posted on December 1, 2019 by emjayandthem

It’s only fitting that, on my very last day of 9 glorious days off, I’d wake to this:

12.1.19 First snow an Emjayandthem(C) photo

It was, by far, the best sleep of my entire week off … the house calm, dark and quiet.

A heavy quiet that only fresh snow can insulate us from a hurry-up / busy world. Cocooning from the noise around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Leftovers, Holiday Travel, deadlines, to-Do lists. Z-z-z-z-z-z

Planning to go out I re-planned and stayed in.

Coffee up. Decorations out. Christmas is-a-coming.

Fa-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la!

I’m always intrigued by what I end up doing when I’m “off.” Intentions are good but sometimes one should just lean in and “be.”

Example:

I went to bed when tired (10:30, 12:30, 1:30) and got up when I wasn’t (6:30, 7:30, 8:30.. ) ~ it depends and every day differed.

Worked out twice, but still clocked 10K steps daily **in the house**. One day? 13K 🙂 and that was while cleaning!

Cleaned, scrubbed, sorted and donated.

Read, read, and read some more.

Watched a movie. One. Meant to watch more, but visiting got in the way.

Subsided on take-out, leftovers and charcuterie.

And it was wonderful.

Your turn:

When’s the last time you surprised yourself?
What have you learned by setting plans aside and embracing what life brings you?

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Blogging, Faith, Family, Growth, Home, Joy, Life, Seasons, Self Discovery, Thoughts | Tags: charcuterie, Christmas, cleaning, holiday, leftovers, no stress, relaxation, rest, sleep, snowfall, steps, time off, vacation, winter, winter delights | 11 Comments

Love in a rocking chair

Posted on November 10, 2019 by emjayandthem

Going through family photos last year, I snapped cell photos of the ones I wanted and this one takes me right back to our farm Kitchen, the heart of our home.

and Emjayandthem (C) photo

– The morning sun streaming in through sheer curtains trimmed in cheery yellow.

– The metal pail to the right, filled with garden tools and produce.

– A can of coffee and a tin of Raleigh salve atop the fridge.

– …. and our family rocking chair.

It’s where she sat restless kids or misbehavers, those who needed “time to think.”

It’s where she put us as she laced up shoes & boots, tied scarves and matched up mittens.

It’s where she placed items before heading to town – a baby gift, a dessert to drop at the rink, a bill to be paid.

It’s where she read to us – and where we learned that, reading to children, even before they can understand words, teaches them to associate books with love and affection.

She taught us there was always time for stories, for love and affection.

No wonder I love books – and her – so much.

+ + +

What does this photo say to you?

Categories: Beauty, Blogging, Family, Growth, Home, Joy, Life, Mom, Opinion, Personal, Quotes, Thoughts, Wisdom, Women | Tags: affection, coffee, family, life, love, love of books, love of reading, memories, Mom, old photos, parenting, Raleigh salve, Reading, reading to children teaches them to associate books with love and affection, rocking chair, simple pleasures | 12 Comments

Random Fall Five ~ Benefits, Passages and Christmas Trees

Posted on November 3, 2019 by emjayandthem

Here we are – we’ve set our clocks back (blah) and turned the page to November. Time for 5 random thoughts:

1 Benefits: In comes November and along with it 2020 Benefits enrollment & Holiday planning, just like that. For the first time we’ll only have hubbs & I on our insurance ~ feels weird and suddenly I feel old. Or maybe it’s that Daylight “Savings” experience!

2 Home: The later the season, the more I want to be home. Yesterday the weather brought us a rainy/snow mix, it was cold, windy and dark, most of the day. A “good day for a house,” Mom used to say. After errands and leftovers I settled in with a good book and read till I couldn’t anymore; I woke still thinking about the story and the characters in it, eager and happy for another day to finish it. I have to pace myself because I read quickly and this story is one worth savoring:

engrossing!

3 Passages: When we got the news of our friend’s Dad’s passing 2 weeks ago, I started cooking. Soup on the stove, placed an order for deli sandwiches, and baked up a fruit cobbler. Later, I texted his wife and asked if we could drop off food for them ~ she gave me an affirmative and a plan was set. See I’ve been that friend who’s offered to help saying, “just let me know what you need,” and then never heard anything further. And I’ve learned that you don’t wait to be asked to help by someone in shock and grieving – you just do it.

4 Christmas trees – Yesterday Hubbs and I spent 2 hours in our local Hardware/Home goods store ~ he had a list as long as his arm and we ping-ponged from one side of the store to another to find all items: Rock Salt, Bungee Cords, WD-40, Tub Caulking, you name it. We found ourselves among the Christmas Trees and shared a look: our tree is beautiful but takes up too much room in the smaller home we down-sized to. We left the store with 2 trees ~ a tall slim tree for the family/game room and a small “frosted” tree for the living room. Our big tree will be gifted to one of the boys – or Goodwill – and we’ll enjoy putting up our smaller ones in a month or so.

5 Holiday plans – Work teams are busy putting in for vacation time off but I’m holding back and trying to stay nimble ~ why? We have a grandbaby due in early December! I could be hosting/cooking for Thanksgiving or loving on the new baby & his parents with a dish-to-pass. We just don’t know ~ so we’re staying flexible. And for this life-long planner, that’s hard to do … maybe I’ll prepare a batch of TLC Chicken Spaghetti now & freeze it, just in case!

chicken spaghetti; google.images.com

How about you?
- What passages are you experiencing?
- Does Fall make you want to be home even more?
- Do your Holiday decorations fit your space?

Categories: Beauty, Blogging, Family, Growth, Opinion, Seasons | Tags: book, chicken spaghetti, Christmas, comfort, comfort foods, cooking for others, Daylight Savings Time, death, families, friendship, I hate daylight savings time, new baby, relationships, Sejal Badani, Thanksgiving, trail of broken wings | 6 Comments

October Random 5 ~ Prayers, Waylon & the smell of home

Posted on October 12, 2019 by emjayandthem

Here we are on the weekend of Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving ~ we’re smack dab in the middle of my favorite season: FaLL, glorious Fall! Crisp apples, sunshiney days, something simmering in the oven. Cozy blankets, good sleeps, wonderful drives and cool breezes.

Here are 5 Randoms from my October world:

1 ) I don’t watch a lot of TV but I binge-watched this series and doing so took me right back to my parents kitchen, soup simmering, AM radio on, and a Hank Williams or Waylon Jennings song on the radio … so good!

Excellent!! For more visit https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music/

2 ) Speaking of, I remember Willie & Waylon from their “Outlaw” Days, partying hard and having fun. But here’s a little some-something I discovered while watching that series … who knew, that before the greasy hair and cowboy hats, that Waylon Jennings was that good looking? Day-umn! **Might have rewound the show, not telling. 😉

A young Waylon Jennings

3 ) A year ago I visited the Billy Graham library in Charlotte, N.C. What an amazing and humbling experience that was, especially when, at the end of the tour, a volunteer asked if she could pray for me. I accepted, and that experience, and her gentle words of faith, remains deeply touching to me. I’ve recently discovered Podcasts and enjoy listening to them while driving to and from my many meetings. This week, the Billy Graham Ministries Podcast appeared in my “suggested” queue ~ random? Not so much.

The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C.

4 ) Cooking last night for a family baby shower this weekend, our kitchen windows steamed up from the heat ~ On the stove simmered Sloppy Joe’s, in the oven roasted Cheesy harvest potatoes and a from-scratch pizza for the hubbs. He may have visited the kitchen several hundred times … I heard the screech of his slipper brakes as the pizza came out of the oven, bubbling and wonderful. We sampled and enjoyed and felt the coziness that comes from a contented life together. And when we got up this morning our house still smelled of all I’d cooked the night before. Say what you will, there’s not a candle made that can match the smell of “home.”

5 ) Fall leads to Winter and you know what that means to me? Books, books and more books! I’ve assembled quite a stack over the summer, some new and some new-to-me … They’re waiting for me like good friends at the ready. Waiting for a perfectly cozy Fall day with sunshine streaming in, a cozy blanket and no particular place to be. Ahh.

So what’s new in your October world?

Categories: Beauty, Blogging, Confidence at any age, Faith, Food, Fun, Gratitude, Home, Joy, Life, News, Opinion, Personal, Seasons, Uncategorized | Tags: apples, Billy Graham, Books, Confidence, country, faith, Fall, Grace in your Space, Johnny Cash, joy, Ken Burns, music, PBS, podcasts, things I love, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson | 6 Comments

September Subscriptions

Posted on September 13, 2019 by emjayandthem

September is rolling along ~ leaves are changing, and wild weather swings have taken us from summer to fall and back to fall again ~ Traveling as much as I do for my job I love to hunker down at home in my down time.

Confession alert: I have never loved shopping but I do love online shopping. 🙂

Something that’s making my life easier and more fun are subscriptions ~ I’ve recently signed up for these:

Stitch Fix is a personal styling service that sends individually picked clothing and accessories items for a one-time fee (the fee counts against any items you purchase). Customers fill out a survey online about their style preferences and how often they want to receive a box -then a stylist picks 5 items to send.
- My take – items are well made & stylish; some items I didn’t love and they went back for free. The items I’ve kept I’ve worn over and over again.
- Pricing can be higher than what I “think” I’d pay – i.e. jeans might start at $80 but I’d rather have 2 pairs of well-fitting $$ jeans I wear over an over again vs. 5 pairs of $50 jeans gathering dust in my closet.
  - get $25 off your first order here – https://www.stitchfix.com/invite/ztkq5wdx5t?sod=w&som=c

Ipsy is a fun way to try out new skincare, health and beauty items – I love makeup, always have. I also love skin care, makeup tools and more.
- Sometimes I get stuck in a routine so, for about $10 a month (or less frequently) Ipsy sends me new items to try, based on the profile I completed.
  - Check Ipsy out here: https://www.ipsy.com/new?cid=ppage_ref_v1&sid=link&refer=1ajs4x

Between new clothes and skin care/beauty items I’m really enjoying going to the mailbox!

There is a subscription service for just about everyone –here are 30 to try including ones for:

Carnivores,
wine drinkers,
Foodies
coffee connoisseurs
unique / learning toys
Puzzle lovers
and more!

Your turn:

If you use any subscriptions, which ones do you love?
If you haven’t tried out a subscription yet, why not?

I may never go to a mall again!

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Blogging, Confidence at any age, Fun, Home, Joy, Opinion, Personal, Products I love, Seasons, Self Discovery | Tags: clothing, home shopping, Ipsy, makeup, Products I love, Stitch Fix, subscriptions | 2 Comments

Sunday Random 5 – Golf, Joe Friday, Wedding Bells & Good Tired

Posted on June 23, 2019 by emjayandthem

Here we are nearing the end of June ~ it’s time for 5 Random Thoughts from my world. Ready? Let’s do this.

1 ) Golf – who knew I would have this much fun golfing? Even the lessons are fun! I tell him this all the time so I’ll tell you, too: Hubbs was right. You cannot golf and work. Beyond being together and being outside, disconnecting from my job is something I’m enjoying so much. I like what I do, but no one needs to do it a-l-l the time! 🙂

2 ) Good tired. We both worked around the house & yard yesterday and I went to bed early ~ It was a “good tired,” the tired that comes with aching muscles and sore feet but the knowledge you accomplished something. Then, to no surprise, I found myself awake at 4, then 5, at by 6:10 I threw the covers back with a “oh just get up already.” Laundry’s done, coffee’s hot and Salsa Chicken simmers in the crock pot ~ I’m enjoying padding around a quiet house on a sunny summer Sunday.

3 ) Joe Friday – Heading to another corporate conference this week ~ there have been even more organizational shifts with senior people leaving and new folks coming in. The bench is deep and the talent is impressive. And, as we’ve done before, we were asked to complete the Myers-Briggs personality test. I’ve taken this test many times over the course of my corporate life and I always get the same result – I’m an ISTJ —

ISTJ – The Inspector (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) ~ Quiet, serious, earn success by thoroughness and dependability. Practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, and responsible. Highly capable and decides logically what should be done and work toward it steadily, regardless of distractions. Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organized – their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.

I’m Joe Friday! Google.images.com

However, the test is only as accurate as your answers are honest. And like we’ve all seen, there are some who “play it” up for the big cheese(s), sit in the front row, hang on the leaders’ every answer, and kiss the ring. These are the same people whose profiles never match up to who they actually are. I’m fine with my results because I know exactly who I am – the good, bad, and the ugly. And that’s exactly why such trips are so taxing!

4) Wedding bells – Our youngest son is getting married in just a few weeks! 10 minutes ago he was this little. But he’s not so little anymore. He still has the same laugh & love for life ~ and now he has a beautiful partner by his side, someone to call his very own. The love between them is palpable and we couldn’t be happier!

Corporate Family picnic, an Emjayandthem (C) photo

5 ) Summer Vacation – After this week’s conference ends comes 15 – count ’em – 15 days off! I’m leaning in for time with Hubbs, time with my sister, trips to the beach and Casino, visits with our boys & their girls, a happy wedding to enjoy and dance to, grilling out, grand-kids, grand-dogs, Golf, sunshine, sunscreen, watermelon, flip flops, tank tops, down time , new books and more good tired.

So, what’s new in your world?
Do you enjoy the feeling of “good tired?”
Ever taken a personality test?

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Faith, Fun, Growth, Home, Joy, Life, Love, News, Opinion, Personal, Random, Relationships, Romance, Thoughts, Travel, Work | Tags: Beach, coffee, conference, corporate travel, fun, golf, golf lessons, good tired, happy, ISTJ, Joe Friday, just get up already, kiss the ring, Myers-Briggs, personality test, sister time, sleep, tee it up, unexpected delights, Wedding bells | 8 Comments

Spending my Sundays

Posted on May 5, 2019 by emjayandthem

Sunday ~ windows open, birds chirping and lawnmowers buzz in the distance.

3 weeks ago ~ snow; today ~ 70F.

Hubbs hurried around earlier as he readied for golf; I slept in, savored coffee and started a pot of soup. He’ll be back later, wind burnt and sore, happy and tired. We’ll visit over soup and smile at the day.

It really doesn’t matter what season it is, there’s something about Sundays that I love most.

It could be the quiet stillness of the house.

It could be the smell of supper lingering on the stove.

It could be meandering phone conversations with my sister or cousin or none at all.

It could be me starting a new book or reading 5 magazines or sitting on the floor sorting .shoes.

It could be towels tumbling in the dryer and fresh warm sheets on the bed.

It could be me that I spend my Sundays doing whatever I choose.

“Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you’re supposed to. Stay home on New Year’s Eve if that’s what makes you happy. Skip the committee meeting. Cross the street to avoid making aimless chitchat with random acquaintances. Read. Cook. Run. Write a story.”― Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

How do you “spend” free time?
- Do you feel compelled to be productive and get things done?
Are you able to let the day lead you?
- When’s the last time you had nothing to do and a whole day to do it?

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Blogging, Food, Home, Joy, Life, Opinion, Personal, Seasons | Tags: birds singing, chores, free time, golf, peace, quiet, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't stop talking, Reading, soup, Spring, stillness, Sunday, Susan Cain | 5 Comments

Random 5 Saturday ~ rooms, fasting and fools

Posted on April 27, 2019 by emjayandthem

It’s nearly May and *gasp* I’ve hardly been here. As in, on the blog. I’ve driven to and been in meetings all over this state – an excess of 2,500 miles logged in the past 5 weeks. I’ve woken up and thought Monday was Saturday. I’ve wondered where I was – hotel or home? Too much, too much. I’m ready for some down time and soon. So, with that, I do believe it’s time for 5 Randoms from my world. You ready? Let’s go.

1 ) This room: I can feel myself, coffee in hand, meandering my way to that white patio chair ~ birds signing and me humming, you?

2 ) I accepted a last-minute speaking request Monday for an event on Wednesday. 150+ in the audience in a City I’ve never been with people I’d never before met. One had been in the audience for a presentation I’d given at a neighboring conference so that happenstance created the opportunity for this one ~ Motoring there, tunes up, I remembered this quote:

“Great things never came from comfort zones.” …

And I smiled at how much I welcomed the “break” in my ‘routine.’

3 ) Miss Kitty Kitters (neighborhood cat) visited us earlier in the week ~ Spring’s arrival means she moseys by and stops in for a pet or five. I don’t know where winter holds her, but she sure is happy to be out walking ~~the~~ her beat again.

She looks like this and is even cuter!

4 ) Something I’ve noticed working 5 days a week – office or home – I tend to eat on schedule. And sometimes, I think I eat because it’s time to, not b/c I’m hungry. ( It’s that old fear of low blood sugar shakes returning that causes me to do this, I know.) On weekends, I’m up early – between 6 and 7am – but I don’t eat until ~1pm… I mosey through the house, straightening this, cleaning that, and sipping coffee all the while. I eat around 1 and again at 6 or 7pm & then I am done for the night. And I’m just fine, not starving. Not one bit.

An epiphany — I’ve been “Intermittent Fasting” without even realizing it – this. is. how. my. body. prefers. things. to. be. A light bulb went on – I’m gonna give IF a go during the work week, too — for more info on the benefits of Intermittent Fasting (eating in a window only), read Gin Stephens’ “Delay Don’t Deny” – reading now .. and yeah, wow!

Most of a fast happens when you are asleep … hence break-fast

5 ) At a meeting several weeks ago a seemingly mild-mannered individual suddenly turned. Red-faced and angry, he snarled, looking for a fight. I didn’t take the bait. In that moment, I remembered these words, and I might have even said them out loud, I’m not sure. See I get angry, too, and I refuse to be bullied or talked over. The meeting soon ended, he’s likely still angry and Jimmy Cracked Corn!

And how was your week? Any AHAs recently?

Categories: Animals, Attitude, Beauty, Growth, Joy, Life, News, Opinion, Personal, Relationships, Self Discovery, Uncategorized | Tags: arguing with a fool only proves that there are two, coffee, Delay don't deny, Donkey, dreamy rooms, eating, fasting, food, Gin Stephens, great things never came from comfort zones, health, healthy, Intermittent Fasting, Kitty Kitter, public speaking, tunes up | 12 Comments

Random 5 for Sunday ~ Good-bye March

Posted on March 31, 2019 by emjayandthem

It’s March 31st ~ Robins hopped in the snow today – their reappearance makes me hopeful even when the weather hasn’t caught up to the calendar.

5 Randoms from my world, here we go ~

1 ) The photo of this bed took me right back to my Grandma’s house ~ to starched sheets, sheer curtains blowing in a summer breeze, and the abject thrill I felt being able to spend the night there. So lucky!

2 ) Someone raved to me about a new bakery that opened and I considered ordering some of their treats for an upcoming event I’m planning. And then I remembered a southern family recipe I’d been given by a Texas colleague – for 7-Up pound Cake – and I do believe that my $6 cake beats a $20 professional one. I might have to triple the recipe.

not my picture

3 ) Saw this and thought, yep ~ that’s been me this winter .. tucked in, books stacked, cozy, don’t bother me 🙂

4 ) Haven’t pulled a muscle but I have fallen over putting on socks. And I draw the line at KALE 😀

5 ) Yes, this, fur-ever and a day ❤

What random thing happened in your world this week?

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Blogging, Home, Opinion, Personal, Seasons | Tags: 7-Up Cake, aging, Books, dogs, falling over putting on your socks, furry friends, Grandma, Grandmother, humor, introvert dream home, kale, life, March 31st, pets, Reading, seasons, sheer curtains, spend the night at Grandma's, Spring, star gazing, starched sheets, the best therapist has fur and four legs, winter | 13 Comments

When the soul weeps

Posted on March 26, 2019 by emjayandthem

I still miss her.

Mom.

This July will be 3 years.

She would not want this, she’d chide me, give me sh*t and push me to “get on with it, for Heavens sake.”

She’d even snort once or twice.

She in her cat-eye glasses and pedal pushers.

She.

All 100 lbs of her.

I miss her.

I long for our conversations.

I suppose I always will.

The depth. The breadth. The range.

The absurd, the large, the small, the swing of it all.

I see her face in little old ladies faces at the grocery story, except they don’t carry a red purse or possess the spunk she did.

You know what I miss most? Our friendship.

How lucky was I?

I know I should just “deal” and be grateful, and I am.

But her name was Gay, and she epitomized the word fierce.

Mom on Buck, an Emjayandthem (C) photo

And I miss her.

“The worst type of crying wasn’t the kind everyone could see–the wailing on street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it. A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived. For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scar tissue than life.”
― Katie McGarry, Pushing the Limits

Who are you missing tonight?

Categories: Beauty, Determination, Family, Grief, Home, Love, Mom, Personal, Quotes, Thoughts | Tags: adapting, Books, crying, fierce, friendship, growth, Katie McGarry, life, loss, loss of a parent, love, love lives on, Mom, no way to comfort it, Pushing the Limits, Reading, Sadness, survival, tears, to everything there is a season, when the soul weeps | 20 Comments

Beauty

Random 5 Saturday ~ Birthdays, Rinks and COVID19

The heart has no wrinkles

Happy Valentines Day !

It’s only fitting

Love in a rocking chair

Random Fall Five ~ Benefits, Passages and Christmas Trees

October Random 5 ~ Prayers, Waylon & the smell of home

September Subscriptions

Sunday Random 5 – Golf, Joe Friday, Wedding Bells & Good Tired

Spending my Sundays

Random 5 Saturday ~ rooms, fasting and fools

“Great things never came from comfort zones.” …

Random 5 for Sunday ~ Good-bye March

When the soul weeps

Peeps Poppin' in

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