Smile and Be Joyful

May 30, 2020 Have you ever tried to convince someone to not be afraid of something?  “Oh, just pet the dog, it won’t hurt you!” Or “Just go with me to the party, what’s the worst that could happen?”  (not helpful)  Fear is an emotional response to a real or perceived threat.  Phobias involve fear or anxiety that is excessive or out of proportion to the object or situat ion.   So, phobias are fear and anxiety “on steroids”.  Social phobias are the most common type. They are considered an anxiety disorder and include excessive self-consciousness in social situations.   Ag oraphobia is fear of being in places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.   Other specific phobias that round out the top 10 list are fear of: flying, heights, enclosed spaces, insects, snakes, dogs, storms and needles.   Most people have more than one phobia on the list.   My sweet Bonni Ann’s childhood...

May 29, 2020 Yesterday was the last official day of the strangest school year I have ever experienced.   I have been involved in the public-school system for over 50 years as either a student, a teacher or a parent and no other year holds a candle to this one for “out of the ordinary”.   It started out normally enough, but no one could have predicted that we would not return to school after Spring Break.   I am experiencing   a strange sense of loss.   There was no closure to this school year.   Yesterday, after checking my temperature and filling out a health questionnaire, I went up to school to “finish out the year” during my scheduled time slot, wearing a mask.   The halls were practically empty.   There was no one to see or talk to or celebrate the end of school with.   There was no standing in line to check out and turn in keys while chatting about “what are you doing this summer?”.   Everything was “virtual”.   Severa...

May 28, 2020 There are many products that advertise miracles in order to get our attention.   Who wouldn’t jump at the chance for true “Miracle Weight Loss”?   What balding man would not buy a “Miracle Hair Growth” product if it actually worked?   And every day, I get texts and junk emails about “Miracle Oils”, that some people say truly help their chronic pain.   Some of these products do help some people.   If someone advertised a “Miracle House Cleaning Wand”, I might be tempted to give it a try.   But true miracles are God’s department.   A miracle can be defined as “ a surprising and welcome inexplicable, or highly improbable extraordinary event” or “an amazing product or achievement”.   So, basically, it is something that “works” or happens, but we don’t understand why or how.   A more Biblical definition of a miracle is “ an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and...

May 27, 2020 I heard them coming before they got to me.   Racing and pushing each other on the stairs, my two oldest daughters were headed my way and they both wanted to be the first to tell me something.   Kati, the little one, got there first and made her big announcement, “Jodi’s gonna tell on me!”.   I still laugh out loud every time I think about that.   I don’t even remember what Jodi had to say because I was laughing at Kati for telling on herself.   Another famous tattling incident was the time Kati reported that “Jodi threw Ken’s arm across the street.”   Not nice, but definitely hilarious.   Poor Malibu Ken never could keep his arms in the sockets.   I wish I had written down all the funny things my kids said and did over the years.   I know I’ve laughed a lot.   I love to laugh and enjoy even more, seeing others laugh.   Laughter is good for the soul.   It momentarily lightens every burden and it is some...

May 26, 2020 I am a “dog person”.  Everyone in my family loves dogs.  We have bought dogs from breeders, rescued dogs from shelters and found dogs in parking lots and voting lines.  Their overall cuteness attracts us to just “take a look” in the box or cage and then their wagging tail, perky ears and soulful eyes reel us in.  And if the dogs can’t do it on their own, the equally adorable children that we already own can usually cinch the deal.  (“Mommy, please?” “It’s so cute.” “It loves us!” “We’ll take care of it.” “You won’t have to do anything.”)  It has taken me over 30 years to stop falling for those lines.  Before that, I was the one saying them to my mom or dad.  Dogs add a lot of love and laughter to our lives.  But one thing I have learned is that there is no such thing as a “free puppy”.  (and no free kittens either)  From the first minute after you say “yes”, money is required.  To begin with they need a col...

May 25, 2020 “ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)   On this Memorial Day my thoughts go to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for not only their friends, but people they never met, for their country.   Where does one find the courage to join the military, leave their own loved ones and put themselves in harm’s way?   We also cannot forget those who gave up years of their lives, being away from their families, missing birthdays, weddings, holidays.   And there are those who come home from serving but are never the same because of all they have been through.   Today as I live my safe little life and celebrate Memorial Day with my family, I want to be more aware of how easy my life is compared to those who are away from the people they care about, serving their country.   Also, I want to be more grateful that I can see my children today and spend time with them, while s...

May 24, 2020 The dictionary definition of bored is “feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one’s current activity".  The definition for misery is “a state or feeling of great distress or discomfort of mind or body".  For many people, boredom is a source of intense misery.  That is probably where the expression “I was bored to death”, came from.  So, what is the cure for boredom? If you google that get ready for an overload of information.  The good news is maybe you won’t be bored anymore.  Just reading the list and tossing out the “thanks, but no thanks” ideas will occupy at least a couple of hours of your day.  The human brain and body crave stimulation and new experiences.  That’s why, as soon as places of business reopened, people flooded from their houses, forgetting or not caring about the guidelines for staying safe during this pandemic.  For some, the pandemic of boredom overshadows the fear of the corona v...

May 23, 2020 “Well begun is half done.”- Aristotle.   I always thought this quote came from Mary Poppins.   She says it in the movie.   Apparently, Mary studied Greek philosophy.   Either way, I agree.   If there is something that needs to be done, having a game plan is vital.   But ideas and plans are the easy parts of a project.   Dreaming and imagining take very little effort. (Hello, Pinterest!)   I can do that in my recliner with my feet up.   Ideas and lists… piece of cake.   For me, the hard part is physically starting the work.   READY (yep), SET (got it), GO! (you mean now?)   But, once I start, I’m like a boulder rolling downhill.   I gain momentum and you should probably stay out of my way because I also believe “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” And “Finish what you start.” (I’m such a mom.)   People are God’s projects.   We are a work in progress.   He is always thinking of u...

May 22, 2020 When I was a kid, we had a “Magic 8 Ball”.   One of us got it as a birthday present.   Trust me, my mom would not have bought it.   It was just a toy and we knew it (because my mom kept telling us) but we still asked it a million questions.   We would shake it up while asking important things that we wanted to know.   “Does Michael like me?” Shake, shake, flip it over… up floats the plastic triangular answer to the top of the bluish liquid…. “Don’t count on it”.   Well, let’s just ask that again… Shake, shake, flip it over… “My sources say no”.   One more time…. Shake, shake, flip it over…. “You may rely on it”.   “I knew it! Michael likes me! Woo-hoo!”     This is the optimistic response to the “Magic 8 Ball”.   Just keep asking until you get the answer you want.   The odds are ever in your favor because the triangular answer face “It is certain” is one of twenty possible responses, ten of which are positi...

May 21, 2020 I am a morning person and I love my morning coffee.   Sometimes it’s what gets me out of bed.   I love the aroma when it is brewing and the taste (after I doctor it up a bit).   We keep it cool in our house at night, so it also offers a lovely warm up from the inside out, as I sit and enjoy my (temporarily) quiet house, ponder my day, say my prayers and read my daily devotional.   I especially enjoy holding the warm cup in both hands because it eases a little aching they sometimes have in the morning.   I’m always a little sad when the coffee is gone.   The empty cup isn’t warm anymore and it’s time to rise and shine and really start my day, leaving behind my soft blanket and comfy chair.   What kind of day will it be?   Smooth sailing or choppy waters?   A walk in the park or an uphill hike in the desert?   I’m not worried.   I’m not alone.   Whatever the day brings, God is with me and for me.   My he...

May 20, 2020 When the girls were little and there was a squabble, after it wound down, I would turn them toward each other with one hand on each back and say, “Hug your sister!”. There would be some resistance as I pushed them together but when their eyes met a smile would start and a hug would follow. I saw a picture on Pinterest of two kids wearing one big white T-shirt together that said, “This is our makeup shirt”. They didn’t look too thrilled. My guess is their mom made them stay in it together until they made up. That’s creative parenting at its best. Let’s face it, apologies are hard. None of us like to admit when we’re wrong.   I personally think that just saying “Sorry” is not an apology. We need to add the word “I’m” in front to make it a legit apology. Otherwise it’s a kind of “fill in the blank” incomplete sentence. In our head we could be saying “YOU’RE sorry!” or “THAT’S sorry!” or “YOU’LL BE sorry !” When we say, “I’M sorry”, we are out loud admitting we did...

May 19, 2020 Just do it!   This phrase made famous by Nike always reminds me of trying to pull my teeth, as a kid.   (Why couldn’t teeth just fall out? Why couldn’t they Just Do It?)   This painful terrifying process usually went something like this.   I would feel the loose tooth in my mouth and would start to work on loosening it more by wiggling it with my tongue or fingers.   This would go on for a day or two.   Then came the dreaded moment when my dad noticed what I was doing.   “Lisa, do you have a loose tooth?” Talk about wanting to lie!   I had a plan.   I knew how to get the tooth out (eventually). But once dad knew about it, that tooth was coming out before bed time no matter what.   I think dad secretly worried that I would choke on the tooth in my sleep.   Or maybe he was trying to avoid orthodontic expenses.   Either way, the man was relentless. “You pull it, or I will!”   I can’t even comment on the fe...

May 18, 2020 The big day had arrived. It was my oldest daughter’s first day of preschool. In previous years she had stayed with in-home sitters. This was one of those rare years that I got to stay home from teaching and just be a mom. The preschool at our church was a two day per week program that we hoped would prepare Jodi for “real school “ the following year. The biggest hurdle was going to be “the drop off”. When it comes to being taken and left somewhere unfamiliar every kid’s reaction is different. I knew what was coming and I was not looking forward to it. So I formed a plan or, you might say, I came up with a bribe. This is one of a parent’s greatest tools when trying to convince a child to do something they don’t want to do, without a big fuss. But it only works if the desire for the reward outweighs the fear or dislike of the situation. In other words, it’s got to be good. Candy was not going to do the trick. Promising a trip to the movies or the zoo was not duplicat...

May 17, 2020 Some day when future generations look back at the introduction of cell phones into our world it will be like that story, “A Tale of Two Cities”.   It was the best of inventions, it was the worst of inventions… It is strange how that phone in our back pocket has become such a necessity when we didn’t even have them 20 years ago. (Did we?)   I do love that I can be reached by people who need me anywhere, anytime.   I also love that I can (almost) always reach them.   I can’t imagine taking a “road trip” these days without a cell phone, in case we have car trouble, need directions or want to find the nearest Whataburger.   I can take pictures and videos, send them to my family and friends and they can do the same. Shopping, listening to music, reading a Kindle book, checking in on social media (if I had any) and playing games are all easily done on my phone.   No more looking around at the walls or smiling and nodding at total strangers in...

May 16, 2020 It is storming this morning.   I checked the weather app on my phone and it should clear up by 11:00 a.m.   When I click on the weather radar, it looks like we are about to get a real big downpour with some thunder and lightning but nothing dangerous seems to be headed our way.   While I am looking, I see what the rest of the weekend looks like.   Clear skies ahead… yea!   In fact, I don’t see any possibly bad weather until maybe next Friday.   Of course, the only 100% reliable information here is the radar picture for right on top of my house which just tells me what is happening at this moment.   I could also just look out the window to figure this out.   The farther out the predictions, the more unreliable they become, but they are pretty accurate for the next few hours.   It makes me wonder, if Gilligan and the Skipper would have had access to the weather app, would they maybe have cancelled the intended 3-hour tour? ...

May 15, 2020 Do you ever feel like life is attacking you?   You just want to double over and cover your head and surrender to the madness?   I’ve had days like that.   I’ve had weeks and months like that.   “Come on, Lord, can’t a girl catch a break here?”   Some days start out peacefully enough, with a cloudless blue sky, a warm gentle breeze and birds singing in the trees… I’m just walking along the path of my day when, PLOP, suddenly one of the singing birds poops on me.   I look up in disgust at the offending bird and notice that the sky has clouded up.   A big rain drop hits me right in the eye.   And before I know it, it’s pouring rain and the gentle breeze has become a howling wind.   Just like that, the day has gone from beautiful and peaceful to ugly and aggravating.   If problems are rain drops, then God and His promises are our umbrella.   If it never rained, we’d have no need for an umbrella, and we can’t go arou...

May 14, 2020 Have you ever tried to grow fruit?   It is not a quick process.   We have a small lemon tree with several lemons on it growing in the back yard.   But right now, they are just small green spheres. The little green balls stay the same size so long, I begin to think they’ve given up their calling.   They aren’t yellow.   They aren’t shaped like lemons.   I only know they are lemons-to-be because that tree grew lemons last year. I have seen the proof of what I am expecting to happen.   In fact, all plants are a kind of “wait and see” project and not all of us have a “green thumb”.   My oldest daughter, Jodi, does.   She grows plants of all kinds from ones growing in small pots, from “cuttings” placed in water and from seeds.   Whatever she plants, it grows.   Two weeks ago, she planted some bird seed.   (I jokingly asked her what kind of bird she thought it would grow… Ha-ha, funny, mom.)   She now has a ...

Today I was struggling with what to write.  But I am already thinking about tomorrow's blog...

May 12, 2020 Let me be (brutally) honest with you... the truth hurts sometimes. But “honesty is the best policy”. There are a LOT of quotes and sayings about truth and honesty. I think the question to ask ourselves is, do we really practice honesty or just “honesty”? Are we mean when we finally get “fed up” and spew out the truth about how we feel? Or are we kind and gentle and say things like “I’m sorry if this hurts your feelings, but...”? While it is very important to tell the truth to others, it is equally important not to lie to ourselves. Running from the truth amounts to lying and rarely ends well for the runner. Things never end well when we act like Scarlet O’Hara in “Gone With the Wind”. (“Oh, Rhett, I’ll think about that tomorrow.”) The truth was heading straight for Scarlet's door and she needed to stop “burying her head in the sand” and be prepared. I remember when I learned what “lying by omission” means. I neglected to tell my mom and dad that I had “forgotte...