Morning Motivation (whatever time your morning starts)

Here is your morning motivation:

For those who are struggling to get out of bed in the morning and find the motivation to keep going through the motions, take comfort in Paul’s words:

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10.)

Okay...now where is my coffee?! ;)

Oklahoma City Bombing

I don’t know how I could forget.  I don’t think I really did.  I was anxious, upset, irritable all day and especially during my scheduled night shift on Wednesday.  I didn’t realize why until I got home Thursday morning and was crying for what I thought was no reason.

 

I was there.  I was in the ER that morning as a student nurse.  I saw things that a person should never have to experience, see, smell, or hear in their lifetime.  War, at home, here in America.  Did you ever think it was possible?  I know I didn’t.

 

What makes us remember 9/11 and forget 4/19/95?  Shame on me, and shame on America.  We can never forget…

 

Life does go on, it's just maybe different.

Happy Thoughts

Just a happy thought before I'm off to work...

"Do you know why they call it 'PMS'? Because 'Mad Cow Disease' was taken."
--Unknown, presumed deceased

Mothering #4

Here are some pics my Mom took in January 2006 when she visited Hannah at her Dad's in Oklahoma City.  The little girl with Hannah is her half-sister, Katie, who obviously likes her picture taken (lol).  Hannah is at her Dad's right now, but will be returning for Mother's Day.  Can't wait!

 

AIR

Give yourself the gift of fresh air.  Breathe it in deeply, feel your belly expand, and let it out slowly.  Instead of another cup of coffee, take a brisk walk in a crisp autumn air to revive your senses (I don’t think the author truly understands my addition to caffeine or the fact that I live in AZ).  When cabin fever starts to suffocate you, energize yourself with a dose of frigid winter air (again…I live in the desert).  Feel it tickle your tongue and tingle against your tonsils.  When tensions rise, step outside for a little air (let’s hope it’s not on a 117 degree day).  Air your troubles to a friend you can trust, and clear the air of misunderstanding and mistrust.  When spring lifts its head to say hello (hello…it’s April and we are already getting 90 degree temps), open the windows and air out the sheets and blankets and rugs.  Hang them over balconies and on clotheslines and from the branches of trees for a good soak in the sun-drenched air (my Nanny used to do this).  Air out the cushions and the camp gear, and be certain to air out the dog (don’t they always need airing out?).  Shampoo and air-dry everybody’s hair in the sun.  Anything that’s feeling stale and musty can benefit from a breath of fresh air.  Get yourself moving and breathe!

Mothering #3

I've got to go to work tonight.  I just got through spending Easter service with my family.  I hope you have a blessed Easter.

Here is another Well Being word:

AGREE:

Move to the place where everyone can say yes.  Agree on the concept if not the details.  Agree that a new bike is a good idea, but not this bike at this store, and not today.  Agree to pick out the right bike tomorrow.  She wants television; you want a nap.  Agree on a quite reading.  You want pizza.  He’s set on Chinese.  Agree to do chicken instead.  Agree that the homework is a bit unreasonable, and ask him to agree that it still must be done.  Agree to organize the school fund-raiser as long as they agree to try something radically new.  Agree that you might have handled things with a bit more finesse.  Will she agree that she jumped in too fast?  Agree that it’s time to redecorate the family room.  Will they agree to get rid of that horrible old sofa?  Agree that your ways of looking at the world are miles apart, and agree to honor those differences.  When you come to a standstill, agree to disagree.  When everyone agrees that the subject is closed, you can all agree on a movie.

 

Mothering #2

I spoke to my daughter today.  She cried.  I cried.  Hopefully we communicated.  I have a friend who is also worried about her child.  Lord, please show us the right path, the right words to communicate to our children that we love them and only want what is best for them.  Keep them safe and show them the right direction.

 

 

ACCEPT

Accept the way things are.  Recognize that there are some things you never will change—no matter how smart and loving you are.  Accept that people will always do the best they can in that moment.  Accept that if they had the capacity to do better, then surely they would.  Accept a compliment graciously; don’t apologize.  Accept a gift with gratitude; don’t push it away.  Accept that your child is going through a prickly stage, and acknowledge that you have stages of your own.  Know that this, too, shall pass.  Your body is changing, so you’d better accept it.  Accept that it will never be what it was before, and that eventually it may even be better.  Accept aging without fear.  Accept the fact that you can’t do it all.  Ask for help and accept it.  Accept an invitation to get together with other mothers, and meet each one with an air of acceptance.

Mothering

What do you do when one of your children wounds you so deeply that you feel as though your heart will never mend?  Do you just go on, acting as though nothing were wrong for fear of total alienation?  Or do you let them know your pain and thereby give them the “power” that comes with knowing that they can control you to come degree?

 

I don’t have the answers to these questions and wish I did.

 

I received a book today in the mail entitled “365 Words of Well-Being for Mothers” by Rachel Snyder.  I thought I would share a word a day with you.  Perhaps between the lot of us we can find the answers to my questions.

 

ABUNDANCE

Is there anything as big, as full, as rich and round as mothering?  It all seems so huge, too large to get your arms around and too endless to even try.  Blink your eyes and you are plunged into a sea of love with the power to wash you away.  The responsibility is enormous.  The rewards are off thecharts.  The nights go on for years and the days fly by at the speed of light.  You suddenly need more energy and more time and more patience than you ever dreamed of – and somehow, you find it.  You feel feelings that are deeper and sharper than any you’ve known, and you wonder if you will come out alive.  The highs!  The lows!  Your plate is heaped with more sorrow and more pain and more unbridled happiness and more laughter, and like a kid in a candy store, you keep gobbling as much as you can.  Whatever abundance mothering hand you, you always come out with more.

 

Sunday Seven - Episode 32

This weekend, Virginia faced a chance of severe weather from the same storm system that brought baseball-sized hail to Memphis and a string of deadly tornadoes across Tennessee. That got me thinking about this week's question.

But first, Abigail, of "Aesthetic Vibes," was first to answer last week's question about Crayola colors due for a new name! Congratulations, Abigail!

On to the challenge!

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Name up to seven things you enjoy doing during a thunderstorm.

Either answer the question in a comment or answer it in your journal and include the link in a comment. (To be considered "first to play," a link must be to the specific entry in which you answered the question.)

1.      Watching the rain fall

2.     Listening to the thunder

3.     Counting the seconds between the lightening bolts (1-mississippi, etc)

4.     Enjoying the sound of rain hitting the roof

5.      Cuddling by a fire

6.     Watching a movie or reading a book.

7.  Not feeling guilty about doing absolutely nothing.

The Saturday Six - Episode 104

This week's edition of the Saturday Six wraps up the second full year of this weekly meme. Thanks to everyone to decided to play and for spreading the word. There is a special kind of question among the six this week, and similar questions will appear as older versions of the Six from the original blog are reposted here.  Enjoy!

Last week, Laura of "Adventures in Juggling" was first to play last week. Congratulations, Laura!

Here are this week's "Saturday Six" questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal...but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as "first to play," you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your journal in which you answer the questions. A link to your journal in general cannot count. Enjoy!

1. Researchers in France have announced that they have developed a "mirror" that uses digital technology plus user input about diet and exercise to determine what you will look like in 10 years. So if you found yourself before such a device, would you want to have a look?  Absolutely!  Gotta know if I need plastic surgery now or later.

2. Have you done your taxes? If not, when will you finish them?  Good grief, no.  Oh my…do I really have to admit that I’m a terrible procrastinator when it comes to taxes?

3. Has the amount you owe or the amount you're getting back (or what you expect the outcome to be) likely to get you to change how much your employer withholds? Why or why not?  No.  I always hold out the maximum because my husband makes too much money (curses) and we always have to pay.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): Should you quit your job?

Your Job Dissatisfaction Level is 35%

Your job is not bad, but it's probably not a long term thing.
You're just not happy enough to stick around for too long...
And there's little that can change how you feel.
Start looking around for other options, but only quit for something really good!

5. SECOND CHANCE TO BE FIRST TO PLAY QUESTION #1: The Saturday Six began on April 17, 2004, on the old version of "Patrick's Place" over at AOL. When everything moved here, the old comments weren't able to follow. Cdmmw of "I've Got A Fever, and the Only Prescription is More Cowbell" already has a first "link" to her questions on that entry. But for the rest of you, here's your chance to be the first one to answer those original six questions in a comment. For this question, leave your answers in a comment here.  Okay…I’m totally confused.

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #87 from springsnymph: Suppose you're given a box containing a substantial amount of money and it's yours to keep and use however you wish. If and when you open it to retrieve the cash, someone you don't know in another state, country or perhaps even across town will drop dead instantly. This will happen only the first time you open the box. Would you open it?  If it is a “substantial amount” (we're talking lottery money here), then heck yeah.  When it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go.  Unless it were me doing the dropping dead part.  ;)

Betty

Betty is noticeably missing from J-land.  She is taking a leave-of-absence (hopefully temporary) to deal with some personal issues.  Please pray for Betty and her family.  We hope to see her back among us very soon!

We love you and miss you Betty!

 

If I Could Be

From Robin...

If I could be a time of day, I would be a:  Sunset over the ocean

 If I could be planet, I would be:  Jupiter

 If I could be a direction, I would be:  Up

 If I could be a piece of furniture, I would be my:  Desk chair

If I could be a stone, I would be:  Blue Topaz

If I could be a tree, I would be a:  Crepe Myrtle

If I could be a bird, I would be a: Red Robin.

If I could be a flower, I would be a:  White Rose

If I could be a kind of weather, I would be a: Thunderstorm

If I could be a musical instrument, I would be a:  Saxophone

If I could be a color, I would be:  Purple

If I could be an emotion, I would be: Joy

If I could be a sound, I would be:  Wind chimes

If I could be a car, I would be a: Land Rover

If I could be a material, I would be: Cotton

 If I could be a taste, I would be: Sweetarts

If I could be a scent, I would be:  Rose Milk

If I could be a word, I would be:  Giving

If I could be a facial expression, I would be a:  Smile

And if I could be anyone, I would be: Me, only better

Now what about you?

Hannah...My Daughter

Hannah loves to write.  Here is a sampling of her work.  Go check out her journal: A Look Into the Life of a Blonde.

New Year's Blues

by Hannah (lupinsmyman)

Thanks to the wonderful Mcg's cat, here's my edited entry:

Hundreds of fireworks lit up the winter sky. Remus Lupin sat alone high up in an oak tree covered in an invisibility cloak he was supposed to be returning to Alastor Moody for a friend. He had been invited to a party at the Weasley’s, but he denied. Normally he would have jumped on the invitation; he didn’t get many of them these days. But tonight too many memories of the old days weighed heavily on his mind.

Eleven years and three months ago James and Lily Potter had been killed by Voldemort, Harry Potter was living at his muggle aunt’s home, having recently turned twelve, Peter Pettigrew was dead, and Sirius Black was in locked up somewhere in Azkaban.

He sighed, fighting back tears. “Well, here’s to the Marauders,” he said in remembrance of the friends he used to have.

No more full moon fun, no more pranks, no more.. no more..n- He cupped his face in his hands and let the tears fall.

Where am I supposed to go now? I’m so confused. Is there really a God up there? How could this happen? My life is torn apart. All these questions but no answers.

He’d been able to keep his control of his emotions for eleven years, but tonight brought back feelings he couldn’t control.

Scuffling noises came from a clump of bushes.

It’s probably just a dog, he thought

A shrill scream pierced the night and a soft red light came from the bush. A hand flopped into view, but it was quickly removed. Grateful for the cloak, Remus apparated out of the tree he was sitting in and crept closer to see a man tuck a wand inside his robes and drag the stunned woman deeper into a wooded area.

“STOP!” Remus yelled and pulled out his wand.

The man, keeping his face out of view, raised his right hand, which was missingthe index finger, waved, and apparated.

There was something familiar about that man. He was short, stout, and had sandy blond hair that was tinged with grey. A gut feeling told Remus that he’d known the man before, but without the face to go with the memory, he was just a thought buzzing inside Remus’ head.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Morning light streaked through the window in Remus’ rented bedroom at the Leaky Cauldron. James had left him a nice sum of money but this was the first he had spent of it.

Walking down stairs into the lobby, he re-read the letter he had written to Albus Dumbledore the previous night.

Albus,
Last night while I was watching the fireworks in a small town in West Sussex, I heard a woman scream. Being under Mad-Eye’s cloak, I went to investigate. I saw a short, fat, man with sandy hair and his index finger on his right hand missing stun and apparate off with the woman before I could stop him. I’m concerned because the man seemed oddly familiar. Please inform me of any information you may have on anyone resembling this man.
Happy New Year,
Remus Lupin.

He attached the letter to a black spectacled owl who seemed glad of something to do. This was the first day of 1993 and Remus still didn’t feel much like celebrating. He grabbed a bagel and some pumpkin juice off of a passing tray that was serving various people around the lobby.

~~~~~~~~~~

Diagon Alley was packed with people from various corners of the world who had come to celebrate the New Year with their relatives. Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor didn’t have any empty seats so Remus took his triple fudge ice cream with brownie chunks with him to Flourish and Blott’s Bookstore.

It was considerably less crowded than any of the other stores he had entered before. He went off into the darkest corner he could find, still eating his ice cream, and started reading Building Magical Homes With Small Galleons by H.G. Tea-Vee II.

After being thrown out by an angry manager for eating in his shop, Lupin was starting to get restless. Strolling along some of the less congested streets he felt as if he had no purpose in this world.

Two men were slightly outlined in the dim shadows. A red light flashed and one fell limply to the ground. Remus raised his arm, wand in hand.

“Expelliarmus!” he yelled.

“Expecto Patronum!” the other man said at the same time.

A shiny silver groundhog emerged from the tip of the enemy’s wand illuminating the surroundings enough for Remus to see a short, fat man with sandy blond hair and a right hand missing an index finger. Then he was knocked out by the groundhog patronus.

Remus woke up, drenched in cold sweat, still in the middle of the street, with a red-orange feather lying on his chest. He quickly jumped up (though he decided that wasn’t such a good idea when the pain shot through his head down to his toes). Dumbledore. He must get to Dumbledore! After the pain dulled he apparated to Hogsmeade.

Thankfully, Hogsmeade was not as busy as Diagon Alley. This allowed Remus to run up to the castle (it was more of a limping jog actually) in about fifteen minutes.
“Drooble’s B-best Blowing Gum,” he wheezed at the statue before Dumbledore’s office.

Dumbledore sat at his large desk looking only slightly disturbed by Remus’ smell and torn robes. A small big-eared house-elf dressed in a towel with the Hogwarts crest on the front stood to the side. Dumbledore motioned for Remus to sit. He did, stroking his blond-grey hair and trying his best to straighten his robes.

“Our mystery man has taken another,” Remus said.
“Yes, unfortunately, he has. I believe he is responsible for several other missing wizards and witches. Tell me Remus, what was so familiar about this man?” Dumbledore’s blue eyes stared into Lupin’s amber ones.
“I don’t know. Just the way he moved, his posture maybe. I ‘m not sure. Just some sort of déjà vu. Do you have any idea as to who he is?”

“Yes, Remus I do, though if I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe it.”

“Try me.”

“Alright. Peter Pettigrew,” he said.

“What? But Peter’s dead! He died twelve years ago! He’s one of the reasons Sirius is locked up in Azkaban!” Remus cried.

Dumbledore must’ve eaten one too many lemon drops to think that Peter Pettigrew was alive! Remus thought.

“Listen, All that was found of Pettigrew was a finger. It would be simple enough to cut off his finger and apparate away after killing twelve muggles. With his family background, Mr. Black seemed a much likelier candidate to commit murder and betray his friends than Pettigrew,” Replied Dumbledore calmly. “I think that he will try to stay true to Voldemort and will try to take Harry Potter. I need you here to prevent that. Though Pettigrew was brave enough to pull off his stunt, I do not think he has enough courage to face youand will probabably stay away as long as you’re watching Harry. That should be an easy enough task with you teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.”

“I still don’t believe you, Albus, but if it means saving Harry from Voldemort’s grasp I’ll do it,” Remus said after five minute’s silence.

Dumbledore smiled. “Good, it’s settled then! This kind elf here will show you to your room. Goodnight – Professor.”

This post has been edited by lupinsmyman on Feb 23 2006, 08:22 PM

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Saturday Six - Episode 103

Welcome to the 103rd edition of the "Saturday Six." If you do the math, next week will be edition 104, and when you divide that by 52, and you'll see that will wrap up two full years of the Six!

Last week, Cdmmw of "I've Got A Fever, and the Only Prescription is More Cowbell" was first to play last week. Congratulations!

Here are this week's "Saturday Six" questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal...but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as "first to play," you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your journal in which you answer the questions. A link to your journal in general cannot count. Enjoy!

1. Assuming you have a DVD player and a show you used to enjoy becomes available on DVD...what is the deciding factor on whether or not you'll actually buy it?  How much I liked it and will I watch it once I buy it, or will it just sit on the shelf with the rest of my collection.

2. What do you find generally more offensive: the average prime time television show or the people who want their own personal standards of decency to be the guidelines the networks must follow?  I’ll agree with Patrick and say the “watchgroups”.  Just who exactly are “they” and why do “they” get a say over what is decent or indecent?

3. If you were in charge of the FCC, which of the following would be your priority when it comes to decency on the airwaves: cutting down on violence, sex or profanity?  Probably profanity.  If you cut down on profanity, then the rest will follow.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What horrible Edward Gorey Death will you die?


You will sink in a mire. You like to think you're normal, but deep down you really just want to strip off your clothes and roll around in chicken fat.  How lovely…

5. One of those crazy remodeling shows appears at your door one day and offers to redo any room of your house or apartment for free, but that it can only be one single room that gets a makeover. Would you let them in, and if so, which room would you choose and why?  My bedroom.  It is always the last for everything from being cleaned to getting new furniture.

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #86 from cdmmw2: Do you recall your first kiss? Did you think that kissing was worth all the hype??  Yes I remember, and I’d rather not discuss it.  Does that give you any hints?