Heartfelt Thanksgiving

 

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.

Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

~Proverbs 23:24, 25

~ End Quote

Costly Clarity

requested illumination
                                yields
unspoken inevitabilities
                        in a
cresting tsunami
                   of
nodding sighs
~me

When you have spoken the word, it reigns over you.
When it is unspoken you reign over it.
~ Arabian Proverb

~ End Quote

One Century Ago...Happy Birthday, Anma!

She was only five feet tall, but she packed some spunk and sass in that little body.

Strength, vigor, intelligence, perseverance . . . and lipstick!

I love her still.

"Grandmothers are just antique little girls."

~author unknown

~ End Quote

Do You Address Your Own Soul?

Words first:

Still my soul be still,

and do not fear though winds of change may rage tomorrow.

God is at your side,

no longer dread the fires of unexpected sorrow.

Chorus:


God You are my God,

and I will trust in You and not be shaken.


Lord of peace renew

a steadfast spirit within me

to rest in You alone.

Still my soul be still,

do not be moved by lesser lights and fleeting shadows.


Hold onto His ways

with shield of faith against temptations flaming arrows.

Still my soul be still,

do not forsake the Truth you learned in the beginning.


Wait upon the Lord

and hope will rise as stars appear when day is dimming.

~ End Quote

Pushin' Fifty: The Discount

Old folks . . . who are they?

People in the United States who are more than sixty years of age are commonly referred to as senior citizens or seniors. These terms refer to people whose stage in life is generally called old age, though there is no precise way to identify the final stage of a normal life span. People are said to be senior citizens when they reach the age of sixty or sixty-five because those are the ages at which most people retire from the workforce. ~thefreedictionary.com

According to insurance companies and obstetrical offices, I was considered "elderly" or "senile" while pregnant for my last two children. Yes, m'am, if you are pregnant at age 35 or older, that's your label; but if you have been pregnant more than five times, they call you "grand." I guess that's supposed to make up for the first bit of name-calling.

Yes, I've lived with the knowledge that I have been considered "elderly" in the medical world for quite some time now, but I thought I had several more years before I would be considered a "senior citizen" . . .

[Enter seniordiscount.com.]

Many Chick-fil-A locations offer a 10% discount or a free drink with purchase. Since each Chick-fil-A restaurant is independently owned and operated and the senior discount can vary by location. Most locations provide a free small drink or coffee with purchase or a 10% discount to customers 50 and older. Participation, age requirement and discount amount can vary by location. Chick-fil-A is one of the largest privately-held restaurant chains and the second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the nation, based on annual sales. 

Stage Department Stores offer a 20% discount every Tuesday to customers 50 and older through their Club 50 Plus. You can apply at any store for free. Proof of age is required. Discount Excludes Clinique, Estée Lauder, Lancôme, YES merchandise, The Beauty Bar, gift cards, Tuxedo Rentals and previous purchases. Stage Stores brings nationally recognized brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family to small and mid-size towns and communities with over 660 stores in 33 states. The company operates under the Bealls, Palais Royal, and Stage names throughout the South Central states, and under the Peebles name throughout the New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern, and Midwestern states. 

Burke's Outlet locations offer 15% off all purchases every Monday when you join the Burke's Outlet Monday Club. Available to people 50 years of age and older. Monday Club is free to join, but you must register for Monday Club Card which is available at any Burke's location. Burke's Outlet offers brand name apparel and accessories for the entire family at up to 70% off department store prices. In addition, most stores carry shoes, home furnishings, gifts, and toys. Burke's Outlet Stores are located in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. 

At Premium Outlet Malls, shoppers 50 and older save an additional 10% off every Tuesday at all participating stores located within the Premium Outlet Malls. Called the Premium Outlets 50+ Shopper Club, shoppers simply present photo identification with proof of age to the cashier at participating stores. Visit the information center at each mall for the most current list of participating stores. There are currently 56 Premium Outlet centers in 27 states.

I might be pushin' fifty today; 

but on Tuesday, hon, I'm going shopping!

~ End Quote

Abridged Log . . . Cuatro

A Thousand Words

~ No Quote

Abridged Log . . . Tres

Expanse of Painted Desert

Look closely . . . see her singing? ;-)

More Painted Desert

Sing, sing, sing . . .

Petroglyphs . . . we have our own interpretations. *smile*

The Painted Desert again . . . such variety!

Tired little cactus. ;-(

Grand Canyon -- First Glimpse!!!!

Sunset sliver slipping away...

~End Quote

Abridged Log . . . Dos

Longest river name ever?

Living in so many zones now...

Through a window . . . drive, drive, drive!

It's Mole's blog!

~End Quote

Abridged Log

~ End Quote

When It Rains

I always like walking in the rain,

so no one can see me crying.

~ Charles Chaplin

Praying about the pouring rain . . . with love.

~End Quote

Parody Junkie

I have explored parody a little on this blog before, embedding the lyric play of others and sharing my own attempts at the same. Some are not as fond of this game, and I can appreciate that, but here in this little free space -- I am going to unleash my love of words, the teasing hold they have on me, and my delight when I discover kindred spirits who wanna play.

Having said that, here is the latest:

Keep Your Ham to Yourself

I got a little pigs in a blanket, gonna bring a ring of links
Of some sausage 'n' tenderloin bacon, green ham and eggs
Or eat some pork chops, how 'bout some plain old ribs
Always, no hoggy, no piggy, you know it’s in Leviticus
My honey, my baby, don't put my lunch upon no shelf
She said, don't hand me no swine and keep your ham to yourself

Bacon, baby, bacon
Why you wanna treat meat this way
You know, it's still my supper choice
I still feel it tastes great
That's when she told me the pure meats
Were poultry, fish, sheep and cows
And said, no hoggy, no piggy, or food you get from any sow
My honey, my baby, don't put my lunch upon no shelf
She said, don't hand me no swine and keep your ham to yourself

You see I started to feel bad
And I was about to give in
That's when I started thinking about the New Covenant
That part that talks about dinner
An’ I said, Honey, Acts 10:15 would suggest that I'm right
Please read Colossians 2:16, Mark 7:19, don't fight
And what about Romans verse 14:3 if nothing else
She said, don't hand me no swine and keep your ham to yourself

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

Many thanks to my friend, Cathy, for introducing me to the original song -- with an a cappella rendition, no less -- and for enjoying the fun of this discovery with me. 

~ End Quote

Exposure - Week 74

A picture

of three things

your spouse loves

Meet the Hubs!

dinner • dates • dinner dates •
seafood • pralines • garlic •
family • history • family history •
documentaries • cemeteries • airplanes •
cotton • Levis • stripes •
teaching • talking • traveling •
LSU • football • LSU football
kittens • rockets • oil wells •
biographies • Proverbs • maps • window seats •
laughter • sweat • sleep •
sweet olive • sweet tea • sweet me •
 

He absolutely loves a good view!

Mountain view!

Skyline view!

River view!

 . . . to name a few.

I'll admit, I like a great view, too!

“Like tourists
huffing and puffing to reach the peak
we forget the view on the way up.”
~ Friedrich Nietzsche 

(an unlikely source/see sidebar)

~ End Quote

Exposure - Week 67

A picture 

of spring

Paspalum notatum a.k.a. Bahia Grass

(Peace sign!)

"The terminal dual racemes are each attached to the top of a slender stem or with one slightly below the other. Infrequently, there may be a third present below the terminal ones. The spikelets closely overlap in two rows. They are broad, rounded, smooth and shiny. Inside each spikelet is a tiny flower. The tiny, black, featherlike stigmas and black stamens can be seen dangling at the tips of these flowers." ~ Wiki, the know-it-all

Oh, and by the  way . . .

If someone offers to take your picture with a bahia straw between your teeth, like this:

Decline ;-)

~ End Quote

Happy Birthday, Louisiana!

Louisiana 

was admitted to the Union 

as the 18th state 

on

April 30, 1812.

Two centuries later, we say, 

"Happy birthday, Louisiana!"

"You Are My Sunshine" • Eastern Brown Pelican • Bald Cypress • Catahoula Leopard Dog • Magnolia • "Union, Justice, Confidence" • Blue, White, and Gold • Baton Rouge • Louisiana Iris • Approximately 4,468,976 People • Parishes Not Counties • Honey Bee • "Give Me Louisiana" • Alligator • Black Bear • Diatonic Accordion • White Perch • Petrified Palmwood • Milk • Agate • "You Are My Sunshine" • and more . . .

One of these days, 
the people of Louisiana
are going to get good government,
and they aren't going to like it.
~ Long 

~ End Quote

Retrieving Self

After arguing with Storm Jameson and her quotation for several days, I eventually acquiesced. She was right -- somewhat prophetic, in my opinion.

Somehow, I feel that a mall map arrow is pointing at me, saying, "You are here!" ;-\

Ironically, Storm Jameson died in 1986. Her statement had to have been made well before the advent of the internet, yet it perfectly and aptly describes the way I've been feeling online lately: stupefied.

I have lost both focus and priority, and my mind is in overdrive -- so much so that even the most brief of comments seems impossible to write at times. Having divided my attention into a million pieces, each demanding equal attention in my twenty-four-hour day, I have created this vortex for myself, and I am reaping the consequences sorely. Unfortunately, so are others, and I need their forgiveness.

~ I have not been able to concentrate well when I read the thoughts of my dearest friends in their various corners of expression.

~ I have not been capable of giving thoughtful feedback to those I love -- my husband, my children, my dad, and my closest friends. ;-)

~ My calendar has become so full that I feel the need to make appointments with myself to breathe and to think.

~ I've done little to no writing of my own, for what that's worth.

How did this happen? How did I let this "torrent" overtake me? One click at a time, I suppose.

In hopes of recovering what I have lost, that treasured focus and priority, I'm narrowing my online focus and presence somewhat. Two books sit on my bedside table, awaiting my company, and I am praying that I can make whatever changes are necessary to recover my mind from hiding -- while praying that the Lord will not let me miss what is important and essential.

Yes, little red arrow, I am here.

~ End Quote

Bare Bones of Spring Cleaning

1/3 pinky

x 32

 

= my hand

The colon is a widely misused but very useful 
piece of punctuation.

~easypeasy.com

Haha! You never know what you're going to get 
when you search for quotes! ;-)

If people would take care of their body and cleanse their colon and intestines, their problems would be pretty much eliminated.

~ Dr. George C. Crile

ALL of my problems, Dr. Crile? Really?

~End . . . Quote

Ashton

Dear Gray One,

Happy Birthday! They say you have lived the equivalent of 75 human years -- that makes you just a little older than Papa. ;-)

Enjoy your day. I wish it were sunny for you.

~me

All cats are gray in the dark. 

~Thomas Lodge

When all candles be out, all cats be grey.  

~John Heywood

~End Quote

Faith Says . . .

I have to believe
That He sees my darkness
I have to believe
He knows my pain
I have to lift up
My hands to worship
Worship His name

I have to declare
That He is my refuge
I have to deny
That I am alone
I have to lift up
My eyes to the mountain
It's where my help comes from

Oh yeah
He said that He's forever faithful
He said that He's forever true
He said that He can move mountains
If He can move mountains
He can move my mountain
He can move your mountain, too

Oh, I have to stand tall
When the wind blows me over
I have to stand strong
When I'm weak and afraid
I have to grab hold
A hold of the garments
The garments of praise

I know, I know, I know
Cause He said that He's forever faithful
And He said that He's forever true
He said that He can move mountains
If He can move mountains
He can move my mountain
He can move your mountain, too

I have to sing praise
When the hour is midnight
He unlocks these chains
That bind up my soul
My sin and my shame
He has forgiven and made me whole

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Cause He said that He's forever faithful
And He said that He's forever true
He said that He can move mountains
He said that He can move mountains
He said that He can move mountains
If He can move mountains
He can move my mountain
He can move your mountain, too

I have to believe
I have to believe
He's got everything under control
I have to believe
Lord, I believe
Help my unbelief
I have to believe in You
I have to believe

~ End Quote