Betrayed

I would venture to say there are very few of us who have not felt or been betrayed by someone or even a circumstance.  In retrospect, we often can see that the erosion of our trust happened little by little – even under our unsuspecting noses. And it’s painful. It’s infuriating.

 Betrayal comes like a thief to the unsuspecting heart or the oblivious friendship stealing away what is most sacred.  It is masked by false friendships and armed with motivations such as jealousy, idle gossip, pride and arrogance.  And it almost always happens with little regard for the outcome.  Recently the piercing arrow of betrayal has found its way into our lives, and I cannot think of many things more torturous to one’s confidence in humankind.

Oh, the questions we’ve asked ourselves silently and aloud.  “Why?” “How could he? How could she?” The answers are not there – and may never be found.  Yet through the devastation, confusion, self-doubt and anger, we’ve discovered a strength that only comes through the questioning.  It’s so hard for us to wrap our minds around being manipulated because SB and I  don’t operate in that manner.  We curse the pain because we would never intentionally hurt someone ourselves.  And the only compartment we can truly find to place such betrayal is in the pity box.

We pity the ones who have caused us sleepless nights and such hurt. We pity them because we know that all we really leave behind in this world and in the lives of others is our word, our integrity. And they have none. If they continue doing to others as they’ve done to us, their legacy in this world will be the example of what not to do.

What comes to mind are basic life lessons most every kind person learns early in life. Somewhere along the way, simple human kindnesses are exchanged for selfish motivations and the fallout can change the biggest heart needlessly.

Like Robert Fulghum reminded us in his book, All I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten, it doesn’t hurt to remember how to treat others: “Share everything; Play fair; Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody; When you go out in the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.”

 What we put out into the world, truly does come back to us – any five year old knows this.

Remembering Sadie Love

“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own; live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan…” -”The Once Again Prince”-Irving Townsend

In her last hours she didn’t have to tell us she loved us or she was sorry for anything.  She lived that way every day.  What I remember most is how she taught me the lesson of unconditional love.  Sometimes she was sassy and misbehaved. But I don’t remember many of those moments anymore.  What I do remember is no matter what was going on, whether she ignored our commands and tore off through the woods in search of a big Labrador Retriever adventure or if she was lounging at my feet, there was always room in Sadie’s day to give us love. Time after time, lick after lick, she loved us.  If we were late getting home, she didn’t mind. If we were intent in our own agendas and activities, she just moved in a little closer. Sadie lived life big. From her paws and ears to her barrel chest and bark, she left her mark on this world and in the hearts of all who knew her. For Steve and me, she stole our hearts from the day we each met her and took pieces of them with her as her big heart beat its last… bum-bum..bum-bum…. 

The pain of losing our beloved Sadie cuts as sharply today as it did 85 days ago. Our hearts break all over again every time we talk or laugh about her. Yet the boundless joy that was ours for nearly eleven years  trickles through the cracks in my heart like warm honey.  The gift of her life was magical. She was an angel disguised by yellowish-white fur and ears as soft as cashmere.  When that fragile circle of life was breached and she took her last earthly breath, my heart was breaking in a way it had never been pierced before. I held her close for one more moment and whispered, “Thank you, ol’ girl. You loved us well.”

A lot has happened

Do you ever wonder where time goes? I’ve been asking myself that since my last post… Friends, it’s been way too long and I’ve missed you all.  So much has happened and I felt during December that I needed a break from blogging. Not that I was some master blogger, but it was consuming a lot of my time I needed to focus on some other things.  But, I’m back, and I hope you will oblige me and follow me around a little more. 

Just so you’ll know, you need to stay tuned because there WILL be some changes to this blog in the very near future and you wouldn’t want to not be in the know, now would you?

Just for kicks I will do a little listing of things I’ve been up to since we last met in bloggy world:

1. Celebrated Christmas

2. Celebrated New Years

3. Celebrated Easter

4. Interviewed for 3 jobs, of which I landed one.

5. Traveled to Mexico and returned on the same day as the BIG swine flu outbreak hit the media.  We didn’t get sick, thankyouverymuch.

6. While in Mexico became the 14th woman to have completed a world slam of harvesting all 6 wild turkeys in the world. Yes, the things we do for love… I will be posting more about that, so stay tuned….lots of fun things to laugh about.

7. Decided I needed bangs again so I could be fashionably in style…it doesn’t happen a lot, so be impressed.

8.  Have walked Sadie and Lily about a million times since December…and cherish every minute I get to do it.

9. Have hired some workers to make some repairs to our home.

10. Accepted a job based out of Nashville and have commenced to burning up the highways between here and there because my home is still here and my work is there…makes for interesting times. More on that later too.

There are many more moments I plan to share with you – just know I’m thrilled to be back to writing – the walls are coming down again, thank you Jesus!

Tomorrow I head out to Charlotte for a wonderful conference, She Speaks hosted by Proverbs 31 ministries…I simply cannot wait to share about the experience, especially since I’m planning on getting a big Chi-O hug from a former college friend named BooMama!

Peace out, my friends. Peace in your hearts.

Weebles Wobble

Whew! The trip all over the country in about 36-hours of BooMama’s Tour of Homes has made me tired! I’ve enjoyed peeking into everyone’s homes. Ya’ll are some decorating women for sure! Lots of beautiful homes and ideas! I enjoyed everything. 

One of my favorite things to see was everyone’s nativity scenes. I’m particularly intrigued because until Sunday afternoon I didn’t even own the first piece of a nativity set. True. Now how did that happen? All I can say is I can be a little picky about nativity scenes….or it’s more like I have champagne taste on a beer budget. I don’t even like beer, but here I am digressing… AGAIN!

So, anyway. Sunday SB and I went down to help his mother host a luncheon for her Sunday School class. It was a very nice lunch and I learned that my husband DOES know how to wash and dry dishes. Who knew? I mean, nothing like getting things done for “mama”, right? Never mind that my dishwasher is on its last cycles of splishing and a-splashing our dishes and I’m resorting to washing most things by hand these days at our house. But who am I to complain? I’m just happy the pipes aren’t gurgling tonight, which means the Roto Rooter dude (aka, SB with a piece of equipment that has a rolled up wire coil slushing around in the area of the septic tank) will have a big job as soon as it stops raining.

So anyway, after everyone left on Sunday, my mother-in-love invited me down to the basement for some bargain shopping, which means I totally get to go down and find some really great treasures FOR FREE! I ended up with about 3 boxes of ornaments, an antique drying rack, a 1930′s Christmas light set in this cute little box (SCORE!), a bag of pecans from the freezer, and a few other odds and ends. It’s enough to make a bargain shopper swoon with sheer delight at some of the things I brought home.  But my prized possession is the beginning of a nativity set that is the Fontanini brand. I’m really excited and in full hopes of adding to it. 

I was almost as excited about my “new” nativity set as I was to see the one in someone’s house that was kinda like the Fisher Price people but reminded me of one of my favorite toys as a child – the Weebles.

Everyone, sing along with me, “Weebles wobble but they won’t fall down!”

‘Twas the Nights before Christmas

Edited Note: Um… I just realized I forgot to actually LINK this to BooMama’s site yesterday! So I’ll wait to add another blog for another day – just in case I get some people popping over!! Honestly. I wonder about myself at times!

It’s my first time to be on the BooMama’s Tour of Homes. And I’m kinda excited. I took all my pictures last night. But waited until this morning to post. Why? Because well, I just did. But it looks like I”ll be something posting #300-something and I like high numbers!!!  So here goes: Welcome to our 5-Acre Woods -inside the home, of course, because nothing screams lack of Christmas cheer like a bunch of leaves that haven’t been blown yet!  I’ll spare you the details.  It’s quite embarrassing. Enjoy my little rendition of the tour.  I’m posting a favorite recipe of December Cider later – so maybe you’ll come back for a visit!

‘Twas the nights before Christmas and I worked through rains and fogs

to make our home look like the Season and didn’t even disturb the dogs.

The greenery how cheery, the deer at peace….

But the manger scene is missing the Holy Family – good grief!

But what to my wondering eyes should appear?

A Christmas rabbit rug – Oh, please watch your step, dear!

Your eyes how they’ll twinkle, your lips how it will smile

when you notice our collection of Byers’ Choice Carolers – they’ll welcome you for awhile.

Fall into our pillows with a cup of hot tea,

You might even watch a Christmas movie with glee.

Over our bed we wouldn’t know what to do…

without our sign to protect us, “Angels Watching Over You.”

But the best part of this Christmas tour of my home

is the tree full of ornaments, ribbons and lights that are shown.

Merry Christmas, from our home to yours.

No real animals were harmed in the writing of this blog!

“Rudolph got ran over by a Grandma…hanging out in our yard the other night…”

I’m so blessed to be married to SB. He’s a wonderful decorator of the backyard, of sorts. We have a couple of deer stands hanging in some of our trees – for target practice only, mind you.  You see, he likes to bowhunt – ANYTHING – so we have nothing short of a Cabela’s catalog hanging around our house and in our backyard. If you ever need to see a bow target such as a deer or turkey, up close and personal, feel free to come on over.

For a couple of years now, we’ve had this lifelike deer target standing among a few of our trees. And he’s had his fair share of arrows thrown his way.  And you know, he’s weathered a lot of thunderstorms and squirrels running to and fro around him. In fact, about 3 days ago, I walked right by him in his upright self while I was chasing walking Sadie in the backyard, and thought, “I can’t believe this thing is still in this great of condition.”

The next morning, as I looked out at all the rain coming down, I noticed the deer wasn’t there – or at least I didn’t see him.  Then I looked harder and realized, the deer target was in a pile. On the ground. In several pieces.  And I thought, “Oh my. What in the world happened?”

Here’s what I saw:

I’m hoping Rudolph doesn’t get cold feet about visiting our home this year. ‘Cause I’m pretty sure the rest of the reindeer would have his back if he was unfortunately met with the bully deer that wreaked havoc in our yard the other night.

Fa la la la la!!!

Christmas Rules

Just so you’ll know, I didn’t make these rules up. A dear friend (*cough, Teresa, cough*) sent these to me and I have NO idea who was funny enough to write them. So if you are reading this and you actually came up with these hilarious Christmas rules, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due.  Until then, enjoy these rules! I plan on not breaking any… in fact #2 has already been obeyed!  And I do have an issue with a part of #8 because well, any pie that is called Mincemeat pie isn’t considered a pie or a type of dessert in my book.  Just my sweet tooth opinion.

Enjoy, everyone.

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

  1.   Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit.  In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately.   Go next door, where they’re serving peanut butter balls.

  2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly.   It’s rare..  You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it.  Have one for me. Have two.  It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!

  3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy.  Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

  4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

  5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

  6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s.  You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

  7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.

  8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three.   When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

  9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

  10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

  “Life should NOT be a  journey to the grave with the  intention of arriving  safely in  an attractive and well preserved body, but  rather to skid in   sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly  used up, totally worn  out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”