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Everyday Life

When I thought about a blog, I had so many things I wanted to do! Yet, sitting here, I thought, “Why would people read my blog?” i.e. Everyday Life.

Simple. I want to share things that I think about – at random! We all think about random things. I want to put some of it out there. I am always open to sharing ideas or opinions – if that doesn’t shake people up! People are naturally curious about other people’s lives or thoughts – as long as they do not have to “participate” in them. Well, here we go!

We may not always agree but we can agree to disagree (as the old saying goes). We cannot always see another person’s point of view because you and I have different experiences in why we think the way we think.

Never underestimate the power of changing your mind after you have read, heard, or have seen what and why someone believes or understands to be true.

Thank you for viewing my page and I am hoping to get more content up as time allows.

Sincerely,

Tammy

How Do You Act Your Age?

How do you act your age?  Do I represent the age I am?  What should I be doing at this age?  Are you acting your age?  Really?  What does that look like?   It was my birthday yesterday.  Yes, another trip around the sun.

I journal as often as I can or think about it.  One question that popped into my head, after remembering how many times I was told to act my age – I have never been this age, how do I need to perform?  Do I need to act a certain way?  It is strange to think about that question.  As children, we assume we should know or at the very least our elders think we should understand this question.  When do we know how we should act our age?

I do not feel the need to be any age.  Why?  It is just a freaking number.  Yes, my body has slowed down in many ways.  I have gained a few more pounds, my gait has slowed, my energy isn’t what it used to be, and the ever-present post-menopause has set in – ahhh, changing a few other things too!

Never feel pressured to be something you are not.  I am not my age – and yes, I will tell you how old I will be tomorrow.  I don’t mind telling anyone.  I think most people are afraid to say their age.  Just think, we have lived through so many changes, opportunities, and life moments that have made us who are!

Looking at those “around” my age, I think, do I look that old?  Do I act like my mother or grandmother when they were that age?  Seriously, what is this age supposed to look like from the outside?

I am the oldest in my family, a mom, a grandmother, and a great-aunt.  Do those titles define my “age”?  NO!  I love being who I am.  If that means that I am a little childish, silly, or weird, so be it.  I can’t help but wonder if I change to suit my age, that changes who I am.

This is my sister and me this past summer.  July 2022.

I love my graying hair.  It defines who I am too.  Occasionally I put in some low lights because that is who I am.  I like to up the ante a little and it makes me feel good.  My hair has been gray for over 10 years.  I am pretty proud of it too!

Anyway, how do you act your age?

Do I stop being me?  The me that laughs loud when I hear something funny or say something that makes me laugh?  The me that blurts silly things out in the middle of conversations because I following the “squirrel” in my head?  How about the me that will change her mind even after declaring another thought?  Or the me that finds confrontation hard to deal with and will keep things to myself?  The me that goes headlong into action without knowing all the facts because I want to try something new?

Age is just a freaking number!  I will never be defined, labeled, or told to ACT MY AGE!  You go ahead and think about this.  I have thought enough about it.  I want to just go with the flow, be me, and that is why you like me – and I hope you like others too – because we are who were are regardless of our age.

I just want you to know that if you are being who you are – the right people will always be who they are with you!  Take me or leave me, I love people being themselves.

P.S.  I turned 56.. 😁

 

How does your shower make you feel?

The soothing fall of water. The warmth of the droplets. The silence of the streaming liquid falling down. Close your eyes and think about those sentences. What do you see? What do you feel? I am describing how my shower feels.

Taking a shower is one of the most cleansing things. It washes away the dirt and sweat. What else does it do? For me, it washes out the noise of the day. It silences my head. Makes me feel relaxed and comfy. Weird, yes. Awesome, yes.

I often feel my thoughts being drowned out from the chatter they release inside my head. The bad day that was, gone down the drain. I like to stand under the large shower head and hear the droplets hit my head and hear the rush of running water. The silence I hear is priceless.

All-day long we are bombarded with noise. This is a different kind of noise. The kind that makes you forget the rough days or unwanted thoughts. It calms me and I always feel so much clearer after taking a shower. I don’t know that a bath does the same for me.

It is relaxing. Soaking the aching muscles, the bubbles – if you use that, feeling surrounded by water. Letting the tired legs and arms float after a long day of work. There is silence here too if you are lucky to have the bath to yourself!

The interruptions during a bath are audible. The sounds through the door or maybe your cell phone within reach. Maybe that’s why I love a good shower. I can close my eyes, feel the water coming down, and hear nothing but the droplets on my head.

I think that is why I love the lake or the ocean. Being near them when they are breaking drowns out so much noise. There does not have to be much wind to hear the water moving. Choosing to just sit, listen, and watch. Time stands still for a few minutes or longer. Forgetting the world around me as I close my eyes is almost magical.

Somehow a shower can do the same thing. If you listen you can hear nothing. No phones, no kids, no dogs or cats, no traffic, no radio or television. Silence. In a world with so much noise, we have to find our moments of peace.

I feel so restored after a nice shower. I gain some energy, my mind is clear, and I am ready to tackle projects.

What kind of cleansing ritual do you enjoy? A nice hot soak in a tub? A powerful long shower? Don’t get me wrong, a nice soak in a jacuzzi tub is awesome too!

Enjoy your cleansing ritual – find peace!

Hugs – Are you a giver or receiver?

What can be felt when you give a hug? Security, hope, care, love. The human touch. Simple. Satisfying. Safe. Do you give hugs more than you receive hugs? That’s a toughie because I would like to think you get one for giving one!!

I love hugs. Tight, close, and with two arms wrapped around me. What type of hug do you prefer?

Hugs can change you in an instant – even when we don’t feel like getting or giving one. Why? Weird display of affection and not sure what the other person may or may not feel about it? Scared that it will bring back emotions from a time that was hard?

I have had two of those profound hugs.

When my little sister lay on her death bed in September of 2015 and had her last day of being coherent – she grabbed me tight and I was scared – scared to squeeze her back in her frail state, scared that it would be forever the last time. She pulled me down to the bed with her thin arms and all the strength she could muster and Love was given. I had a hard time trying to bend over the bed as I tried to hug her back without falling on her! It was the last time. (I smile thinking how strong she was!)

When my little brother greeted me at our 2021 Christmas gathering in January 2022. All the emotions and tears of the last 6 years poured out onto his shoulder. I didn’t realize it then, but, it was a forgiving hug – to me anyway. It felt so honest and surreal. He held me so tight that I couldn’t do anything more than start to cry. I know I needed it. It wasn’t just the hug, but the unspoken words – I Love You. (As I am typing this, I am crying again.)

The truth is, hugs come in so many ways. We hug shortly as a greeting, we hug longer with our significant other, we comfort hug those that need it. I saw a diagram of what a hug looks like from the inside. Two hearts close to each other. Never mind that we hug from behind too.

That feeling of embracing arms encircling yours. The warmth of a body next to yours – now behave, this is for all audiences!! Haha! The chin resting on your shoulder or in the case of me hugging my hubby – my cheek on his back, squeezing tightly. The other thing about a hug is – smell.

Both of my grandmas always smelled like a good perfume. My grandpas like fresh aftershave. They say children always know the smell of their mother or father. I love hugging my hubby because he smells like him. Yes, after 39 years and different colognes, he still smells like him (Whether that is good or bad, I don’t care – it’s always good to me.)

Now back to hugs. When was the last time you “felt” a hug? Really! Think about it. Where were you? What was the reason for the hug? Was it reciprocal? Did you initiate the hug or did someone else? Start paying attention to your hugs from now on.

I want to feel the hug for the reason it was given or for the reason, it was received – notice the receiver, the length, and the reason! Life is too short for the little things to go unnoticed. I gave hugs to my two other brothers because I wanted them to feel how much I loved them and appreciated them. One brother is not that big of a hugger and the other is kind of a hugger. Who knows, it may have been the last hug that I gave them. I hope not!

Take time to give hugs. You and I should cherish giving them. After all, they are free to give! Even when the giver hugs because they are a hugger, it doesn’t mean that the feeling they leave behind is just a hug. Believe me, I know.

Hugs to you and yours.

Tammy

The cost of a hug - Free.

Will it be a Happy New Year???

Bless you, in the New Year!

Happy New Year – 2022. Time has once again sent us spiraling into the future of so many unknowns. What seemed like a year was actually two. By the time we got through 2020, we flew through 2021. It has been a crazy ride and so far, most of us made it!

I could not imagine how we were going to get through those long months of wearing a mask, staying home, worrying about our loved ones, seeking new ways to shop and play and live.

Checking the Minnesota website there have been 1,022,212 confirmed cases and 10,516 deceased from it – https://mn.gov/covid19/data/covid-dashboard/overview.jsp.

Seeing the reality of this pandemic is surreal. We have not experienced anything like this since 2009 when there was an H1N1 outbreak. Granted we were able to curtail it – not eradicate it – to a less than deadly proportion. The problem with Covid-19 is the variants are making it hard to get an incubation period defined. Symptoms are all over the board. We think we have a cold, maybe the flu, maybe Covid. We just do NOT know what the difference is between all these variants and sicknesses!

We are all trying to be scientists in our own understanding – we are not. Are we holding those that are, to a higher degree and trust, that for the greater good, they know what it is we are dealing with? I do not want to sound like I know anything – I don’t. What I am trying to say is that we need to trust our doctors and scientists to tell us what’s best for each individual – they are.

Too many people “think” they know what is behind everything – like it’s a conspiracy theory. I would highly doubt that so many people would be put in jeopardy. Why would a group of people want to do this? There are special people all over this globe trying to get this under control. The scientists and doctors are working hard all to figure this one out.

We live in a great country and have the world working on this virus. Cancer comes to mind when I think of people asking why have they not figured this out yet. Why, indeed? Cancer, as we know it, has taken many of our loved ones for years and we haven’t found a way to eradicate that! Many forms have been treated in many ways – sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. We have fundraisers to bring in more money for research.

Many people believe that the cure is out there. They believe that because of the money coming in for further research, we haven’t been given the vaccine/shot/medicine to cure/rid/eradicate it. How many of you would agree? I am on the fence. So many treatments work for so many types of cancer. Thinking about this – How often do we get checked for family history? Do we know what health history shows? Have we taken the necessary precautions to prevent it? What are they if there are some? How are people dealing with their health?

Now the reality. Healthcare. Yep, that’s right. Affordable healthcare. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/health-insurance.htm Look at the statistics! Do the research. In a country that is “land of the free and home of the brave”, we aren’t even able to take care of people. We are fighting this battle on slippery slopes. We gain a few steps and then fall further down.

It is scary to think that many people are not doing the right thing because they can’t afford medical coverage. Many of us got shots to go to school. We get shots to stay healthy – flu, shingles, tetanus. Living in fear and living in danger are sometimes the same thing. Some of us are fearful that something worse may happen if we do something and we are being dangerous because we didn’t do something.

Choices – that is all that I can say. We all have them, make them, and have consequences because of them. Remember when you couldn’t wait to make your own choices? Now you can – but now you have more choices to help you make better choices. Don’t rely on the neighbor, your siblings, your friends, or the guy at the mall to give you information. You need to go to a trusted source – NO, not the news (I can’t help but put this in there) – to help you get it right.

Happy and Blessed New Year to All

What’s Your Drive

What a change from the ordinary 9-5 desk job! It is different, to say the least. It has been a long time in the making – and maybe not of my making. I decided that I would learn to drive a semi with a trailer! The employer had a great training opportunity right on-site to learn all I needed to learn to get my license. I just needed to pass my permit test.

With that being said, I passed my permit, training, and my CDL test. I am driving a semi with a trailer – loaded and unloaded – down the highways of southern Minnesota! Where can you go to get that kind of training and get started almost immediately?

It has been one month and I have logged some miles. We do short trips and 12 hour days. I get to see the countryside every day and it is great! I miss going with my husband in the truck when he used to drive cross country. The landscape changes daily – even if it is the same field or road every day. There is always something new to see.

I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy rolling down the highway in that big rig! A woman, a big rig, and lots of places to go. Granted, it is still very much a man’s game when it comes to driving trucks. I have always wanted to at least try to drive one. Having my permit at one time, made me want to drive all the more. Driving a school bus gave me a good sense of what it could be like – minus the kids!

Learning how to maneuver a bus around tight turns, using all the senses to keep everyone safe, and feeling the weight of a large automobile prepared me for this new path I have taken in my life. People really ought to try things out. I don’t care if I have tried several “careers” in my life. I live once and I might as well “live” it!

What scares me the most is thinking that I may not get a chance to try something new – something I thought I would never think to try. Chances have to be taken to live a life worth living. We have all seen that phrase many times throughout the years and it resonates with me the older I get.

People are always saying to me – You changed jobs again? Yes, I have. I am glad to have done the things I have done. Leaving this type of legacy is what I want – when I am gone, my kids and grandkids can say – Yes, mom/grandma did that. I love knowing people that have been at a job for many years. Sometimes I forget that they aren’t like me – which is a good thing!

We are not alike. I don’t want to be like you! To each his/her own. I believe that you can do anything you want – if you want to. I am doing what I want. Challenging myself in new endeavors, opportunities, and situations is always a bit scary for me, I must admit. My husband once told me – You are going to get bored doing this or that. Maybe, and maybe not. There are always parts of a job that are boring or I am not challenged enough. Sometimes that can be changed within and sometimes it can’t.

I will be challenged with this new job – weather, road maps, loads, location headings, traffic patterns, and all the other things that come with driving a semi in a small radius. It’s only been a week. I haven’t even gotten my first, full paycheck, but, where else can I go to make some good money, be home every night, have summers off – if I choose, and work with some great people that want to keep me safe and get me home every night?

Last, but not least, I want to assure you that I would never, in my wildest dreams, tell you to stay where you are if you are not happy. I want you to be happy and to “live”. There are so many people that tell me that they could never do what I have done. I call them out and say they can – only if they want to. Insurance, security, benefits – we all have them at our jobs. Mine just look different than yours right now. We are all in different seasons of our lives. My reasons are not your reasons. We are the product of our decisions. You and I are one moment or decision away from a totally different path. Think about that for a minute.

Make your own choice. I have learned that I enjoy the processes. Learning to do something through reading, doing, and practicing is what I have found drives me forward to try new things. Doing what makes sense, at that moment, is the path on this journey to live. The clock is always ticking and I cannot go back. I do not want to go back. The journey is what I want to experience.

P.S. What’s your drive?

Walk

I have started walking again. It isn’t as much as I used to walk, which was about 3-6 miles a day. Things change, or I should say I have changed and so has life. We take so much for granted, yet it is always there.

I love walking later in the day – towards dusk. The cooler temperatures, the setting of the sun, the stillness on the roads. I have been walking in my little hometown among the neighborhoods. What I have realized is that I miss walking in the country. Right now it is pretty quiet as the farmers have yet to start harvesting and the road that leads to out of town is under construction.

The biggest reason I miss walking out of town is that I miss my walking buddy. She loved going with me every day. Sometimes we would go in the mornings and sometimes in the early evenings. She knew exactly what to expect when I brought out the leash and said we were going for a walk.

She has been gone for over 15 years and I still get tears in my eyes when I think of her. Posha was my dog. She was my companion. She was my protector. She loved to run in the ditches when we would head out of town. I never worried about her popping up over the road into traffic. She was head down, sniffing out, running right with me.

Our walks would take us around the mile sections. The changes in scenery were subtle, yet significant enough to see them. The colors – even green has many shades – would tell you what part of the year it was. Spring and fall have that distinct smell. I love the smell of the turned earth in the spring when you knew the days would be getting longer and warmer. Fall has the scent of football games, fires, and road trips. What more could you ask for?

Winter cripsness bring back childhood fun – snowforts, sledding, and angels. Summer smells of freedom, long lazy days, cut grass, chlorine. You cannot forget where you came from.

When I walk and flood my senses with smell, I am reminded of everything I did, saw, and lived before now. Walking is a true meditation in life. It frees me from worries and opportunities and helps me figure out the next steps. it is the piece of my puzzle that I have lost and now found its right place to complete the picture.

What do you do when you need to right yourself with the life you have created? do you walk, participate in a hobby, journal, or do you simply sit and meditate alone? I do all these, however, walking is by far the best therapy for me. I would love to hear from you .

God bless.

Where are you supposed to be?

It all started over a year ago. One more move and we hope this will be the last one. Giving up, what we thought was our dream home, to a rough commute. The longest either one of us had to make in all our years of jobs.

The attitude in moving to a “different” community was – we will continue to do what we always do when we need to do it. We are not loud and noisy. We are creatures of habit – aren’t we all. We work, we sleep, we relax on our time. We take care of things when WE want to take care of them.

Sometimes the journey takes you down a path that you would have never thought was on your map. New experiences, new friends, new places and yes, new habits.

The welcoming from a small community is just what we didn’t expect. Coffee on the door step, a bag full of notepads and pens, unexpected introductions from passerbys. Yes, we are nice people and so were they.

A small note attached to the coffee has led to an unexpected habit in our spiritual lives. I have always said that we are believers in our heart. We have talked so many times about revisiting our beliefs and where to go. The work schedules and the time crunches just made each of us feel that we couldn’t start and that we didn’t want to go if the other wasn’t present.

When you choose to return to a place that you needed to have in your life, it changes things. Choices reflect change. Through thick and the thin, the hard decisions become easier when you can see the light. We needed something. We have both been knocked around – by life and by each other (not literally either).

I have had a lot of time to reflect on my beliefs. Each of us has those nagging questions and yes, thoughts. Can I be the person that God wants me to be? Am I worthy all the same? Does He even want me back? Why would He even want me back? So many other questions that I became overwhelmed and we did nothing.

Almost six years ago, my faith was hit hard and I didn’t care about anything. I was mad, angry and found it hard to even think of believing in anything that was good. When you see someone you love being taken from you, all you can do is watch and I had a hard time praying – maybe I prayed because I “thought” it would help – it didn’t. Up until that time I told myself I didn’t need to go to church and I can believe how I want to. No one needs to tell me “how” to do it or what to do.

I watched my sister take her last breath and I knew her faith was so strong that it didn’t matter what I said or did. She has made me think hard about what it means to believe, be faithful, be strong in that faith and those beliefs. I had struggled for four and a half years to figure it out.

That bag of coffee on the step changed everything. If you know one thing about me – I believe everyone comes into your life for a reason, whether for second or for lifetime, and this is true. Some texts and BAM! we are having Pastor and his wife over for a visit – right before the big “shut down” in the pandemic.

That was our biggest “aha” moment. We challenged all those beliefs we grew up to know and guess what – they aren’t any different than they were before. Our eyes were opened up and guess what – so were our hearts. We realized that it didn’t matter how you get there as long as you grow and as you continue on that journey, it will get you there all the same. We had finally found our home.

Fast forward 15 months and we have settled quite nicely into a better routine. New experiences, new friends, new place and yes, new habits. Which brings me to the most awesome of all experiences.

The town we live in is about 500 people and it has two churches and a Christian school. Every 4th of July, there is a huge celebration – a fundraiser for the school. It is absolutely amazing. When you think about this, it will blow your mind.

The town starts with a Walk/Run sponsored by the local bank. It generates a dollar amount for each person that signs up for this walk. Now, comes the fun part. When you start that walk/run there are 3 times as many people taking part in that than there are people in this town! 1,500 people had signed up for that walk/run of the one mile that is required to generate those dollars. One thousand five hundred people!!

After this amazing feat, there is another fundraiser – smoked bbq pork dinner (and yes you can smell this before the walk/run). The smokers have made some rib racks to be auctioned off before the meal. Krispy Kreme is also available! We enjoyed some of the donuts at home before heading back to the school for dinner!

The school gym was packed with kids, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. The topping on this was the 1919 root beer floats for a dollar!!

We spent the next few hours at home and watched as the kids enjoyed blowup bouncy houses with some cool water attractions across the street – again more fundraising as they could play all day for ten bucks! There were softball games at the diamond, bean bag and spike ball tournaments on the church lawn, too.

The parade started at 6 p.m. on mainstreet. We were treated to parade floats that were homemade by neighborhoods throughout town – you really get to know your neighbors!! There were your garden variety tractors and advertising by local businesses, also. The kids were not dissapointed by all candy that thrown out.

We did not have to make a single thing to eat at home. You see, there were concessions at the field across from the church – brats, chips, water, cookies. This tided us over until the outdoor ice cream social and local entertainment. We watched as people strode from home, cars, and bikes to the church.

We returned home to enjoy the fireworks display that was provided at 10 p.m. It was an awesome display to end the evening’s festivities!

Throughout the day we marveled at all of this. We both commented about how strong this community was, how we were blessed to be a part of it, and most of all how this all played out on this hot July 4th! I do have to comment (as Dave and I discussed this) that all this fun included anyone – there were things to do for any age – without alcohol being offered anywhere for anything or anyone. With that being said, we thought about all the celebrations we have been to and experienced. Nothing has compared to the celebration of Freedom as much as this did.

You may say, but look where you live. You may say, no one must drink. You may say, you don’t drink anyway. You may also say – that town has always been a “dry” town. And I say to you – There are new experiences, new people and new places to be had.

Dave and I often say how blessed were are to have found this place. To be a part of this community has changed many things. We know we have missed out on many things – but, it finally tapped us on the shoulder and showed us a new path.

Yes, I still miss my little sister like crazy, however, without her, I may never have found the place that I have been looking for all these years. Her strength, courage, belief, and faith, have finally taken hold of my senses. I know we are suppose to be here, now. It took a long time, but we are home, right where God wanted us to be.

Habits – Resolutions?

Habits are one of those things that, no matter what it is, it is either bad or good. You name it and anyone will tell you – bad or good.

We all have them. Some of us have had them forever and many of us have just started them. Smoking, eating, drinking, chewing our nails, swearing – these would be classified as bad. Exercising, eating healthy, reading, going to be early, limiting computer time – these would be good.

I have had a few bad ones and a few good ones. I have started and stopped them too. We are always looking for a quick fix, an easier way, or really – we are just plain lazy (I mean that in a good way).

We are conditioned to do things the easiest way with the least amount of energy. It takes discipline and I know I have to really work on staying focused to form that “good” habit.  It is so much easier to just keep doing what I have been doing, because, well, basically, it’s easier!

What is one habit that you would love to conquer, improve, or lose?  Suffice it to say, I smoke.  It is one of those habits I have continually struggled to lose.  I have quit the longest for four years.  I know people that have started the stopping process and proclaimed to the world – I QUIT!  I have been one of them, only to start back up in secret!  Ouch!

What is it that truly makes us struggle?  Have I tried too hard or not hard enough?  I think I have tried really hard and then – BAM! – back at it.  Most people, who don’t know me well, can’t believe I smoke.  I like to think I am a polite smoker and I really only smoke half a pack a day.  Some days, more than others, however, I still smoke.

Do you find pleasure in your habit – good or bad?  I just enjoy sitting and doing nothing!  When I sit and have a cigarette, I am doing nothing!  I am a go, go, go kind of person so it means a nice, quiet break from a lot of things.

Boredom comes to mind – eating, drinking, smoking, etc.  I have lots of hobbies.  Most of the time I do really well and find myself absorbed in doing things that I don’t think about smoking.  

Habits – they say 30 days to kick it, but, science has been studying it and it is truly longer for most people and yes, shorter for others.   Mindset, ah yes, that lovely word. 

We have been hearing and reading about it.  I know I have.  Change your thoughts and you will change your habits.  It is a real game-changer and for a positive person like me, you would think it would be easy to quit.  Smoking doesn’t change who I am and so I can still be positive.  

On the other hand, smoking changes who you think I am.  It has all the connotations of being a bad, dirty, smelly, unhealthy person.  Who me?  Have you met me?  Oh, yes, it is unhealthy, dirty, and smelly.  So is overeating and drinking.  

A habit is a choice.  We choose all the time.  Sometimes we are struggling with that choice and so are you.  

Choose to eat better, exercise, abstain.  Personally, I am not doing too bad in the habit department when I think of others who have habits that I wouldn’t want to take on – good or bad.  Choices.

As long as I can work on changing my bad habit – that should be all that counts.  I will applaud your diligence with your good habit as long as you understand and support me trying to make mine go away.  

Our habits do not define us.  

NO, I did not make any resolutions.  If you did, let me know what they are and how you are going to make them stick!

Happy New Year!

When Will it End?

I wrote this middle summer.

It’s been a crazy four months. We started with Covid and now we are dealing with riots. Where does it stop? We have enough crap to deal with and yet people are going crazy – seriously!

If they would spend their time thinking and finding jobs, this country might settle a little and things might get back to a comfortable “normal”.

Destruction never helps anyone – ever. It brings distrust, being uncomfortable, fear, and mostly it disrupts everything we have come to know.

I am all about doing the right things, but, trying to damage everything is not the answer.

Our values, our friendships, any relationships we have, are all turned on their sides because we “feel” that one word or thought spoken, will bring fear where it shouldn’t.

The freedom to have opinions and speech are becoming something to fear!

We should be afraid of nothing. We each have our own beliefs that bring us a reality that we see. No one should fault us for feeling how we feel or thinking why we think.

Nothing makes me sadder than knowing our children and grandchildren, and all the generations to come will have to endure the fear because this country has brought it unto itself.

I cannot undo what others have done – they thought they were right. I cannot change people – they have to change themselves. I can only give a voice to those that want to see healing and better direction to those that are lost.

Time – they say – changes nothing or everything. It’s true. It marches on no matter who leads that change. We don’t get chances to fix what was done. It is done. It is the past.

So many people believe – and I am one of them -that God has about had enough of this. Bringing all of us to a point where some don’t care and that will forever change the face of humanity. How? By delivering those of evil to their end. Wiping out the weak in Spirit. Shaking us by our shoulders and shaking His head saying – NO MORE!

This has got to stop, showing us the evil that the devil has placed in those that do not believe – or it will change things for the worse.

We know what we should be doing – do good, take care of our neighbors, teach our children, pray for each other, see the blessings, lend a hand or food or shelter. These actions will become the “norm”. They are stronger than the violence, destruction, and disease that is going on right now.

Now we are in the Holiday season and are still struggling to feel “normal”. Canceled family holidays, shortened or no vacations, smart trips to the store, no unnecessary travel- all these things are what makes our new reality.

This Fall, Pastor reminded us of Psalm 57 -It is during the Time of Trial for David

57 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

KJV

I couldn’t help but see the value of this verse after I wrote my thoughts this summer.

May your days be merry and bright, your needs be filled, your family be healthy, your appreciation for all you have be strong, do good when you can, pray for those you do not know, and most of all – God will see us throught this.