Hard Things

In the book, The Help, one of the main characters is known for her prayer list.  "Aibileen" records the names of people who need prayers and then each evening she opens the list and offers up prayers for those individuals.  Those around her believe that her prayers are more powerful than most and being on her prayer list is a good thing.


Lately, I have felt that I need to have my own prayer list. There are so many people I know who are facing heart breaking things in their lives.  Without an actual list, it's difficult for me to remember everyone I would like to include in my prayers. I don't have any special connection with Heaven and there's no evidence that my prayers have any real impact. Sadly, in most cases there's not much more I can do than offer up sincere, heartfelt prayers to He who knows  best how to help.


My list includes friends and family who are enduring many hard things:

• addictions to harmful substances or habits that threaten lives and cause individuals to look for happiness in places it can never be found
• ugly custody battles where the health and happiness of young children hang in the balance
• too early farewells to a spouse, parent, or child
• hopelessness
• single moms who are the soul providers for their children - going to school, working, keeping a home and helping their children navigate life without the involvement of their fathers
• sweet couples who desperately want to be parents but have not been granted that wish
• disabled children
• life's choices that lead to misery, confusion and low self-worth 
• estranged families
• sudden and unexpected unemployment
• divorces that destroy once happy families
• depression and mental illness
• loneliness
• debilitating diseases with no end in sight

That's a weighty list.  My hope is that my small offering will have some impact for good. Given all of the sources of negativity all around us pointing out all the reasons we should give up and quit trying I want to be a source of encouragement and hope.

Yard Work

It has taken me weeks to spruce up my tiny little yard after a very long winter. Now that the weeds are gone and flowers are planted it's such a nice little outdoor space that is all my own.  I most enjoy eating breakfast on the back porch.  It's quiet, cool and refreshing - a great way to start the day.

Here's a look:

Wasp Catcher

I love the dining room windows - from the inside as well as the outside.

Surprise lilies.  A friend gave these too me several years ago.  They haven't shown their faces for the last few years but happily this year they seem to be reaching for the sun and excited to bloom.

Climbing hydrangea given to me by a sweet friend.   It has such interesting blooms.

Paver steps from the gate.

I love terra cotta pots and thoroughly enjoy having fresh herbs right out the back door.

Beautiful Japanese Maple - highlight of the space. The tree was given to me by some special friends.  Perhaps the reason I enjoy this space so much is all the reminders of people I love.

The neighbor's quaking aspen - I love the sound it makes when a breeze is blowing.  For some reason humming birds seem to really love this tree.

Generosity

The best kind of generosity is the kind that doesn't involve stuff or money.  I was the recipient of just such generosity while grocery shopping this weekend.

I was loading my groceries in my car when a fellow shopper pulled up and rolled down her window.   I recognized her as the person ahead of me in line at the cashier.

She said, "I'm not being fresh but I just had to tell you how pretty you are."  I was surprised and a little taken back.  As I laughed awkwardly she said, "I was ahead of you in line and noticed you.  Everything about you is pretty; your hair, your face, your outfit, your shoes.  I love it all. You're just cute!" Through my awkward laughter I expressed appreciation.  As she drove away she said, "Who goes to the grocery store like that?"

See what I mean by generosity without stuff or money? She made my day, MY WEEK and all it took was 30 seconds, a willingness to reach out and a genuine compliment. The result of her generosity is not just the compliment she gave me but also the reminder that I have the same opportunity to be generous with others.

High, Low, What Do You Know

I recently attended a conference for my church.  The focus of the conference was strengthening families.  Much of what was shared didn't exactly pertain to me at this time in my life but I enjoyed the conference and tried to find ways that I could apply the council that was given.

For a portion of the conference an entire family were invited to speak.  The two youngest members of that family shared some things that I thought were particularly intriguing.  One teen shared that in their family, as they take turns saying the family prayer each day, they take a moment and share something positive about the person who will say the prayer.  She said that since they started this practice they don't have trouble keeping track of who last said the prayer and each member of the family is eager to take their turn.  I thought the parents in that family were brilliant to come up with such an approach. I'm not really sure how to apply this to me but I wanted to share it with my vast readership.

The other teen who spoke talked about how dinner-time is managed in their family.  He said that a big rule is no distractions are allowed.  No telephones, texting, or television.  He also said they play the High, Low, What Do You Know game.  They go around the table and each member of the family shares the best thing that happened to them that day, the worst thing that happened to them and something they learned during the day. I didn't really think this had application to me either but the more I thought about it I realized that I could apply this to my life by recording a daily list in my journal.

Here's my High, Low, What Do You Know for today:

High: With the help of my Dad, figuring out what was causing the major ruckus coming from my old car.  We had a good laugh when we figured out a simple problem my mechanic had been unable to figure out.

Low: Leaving my parents house.  I always feel sad when I say goodbye to family and friends - it means I'm returning to a quiet house by myself.

What Do You Know: It's important to have a ratchet set in metric sizes, as well as, traditional sizes. (A small ratchet set costs less than $5.00.)

15 Days

Tonight I am celebrating! My garage is tiny and it seems crazy that it would take so long to clean and organize  but it was a major effort that included building shelfs, hanging storage racks, filling two boxes to be donated to the local thrift store, spraying for bugs, and filling the rubbish bin to overflowing.

Over the past several days I built shelves to hold all of my shoes. It was so exciting to convert the messy pile that usually occupies the space next to the steps into a well organized wall of footwear.

When I finished filling the shelves I counted all of the shoes and then felt ashamed and grateful. All of those shoes indicate the abundance with which I am blessed.  I couldn't help but reflect on some of the people I met in Asunción, Paraguay this summer.  I think I would feel embarrassed if any of them were to ever visit my home and see all of those shoes.  I made a decision - I will never have more shoes than I have right now.  

My Days...

Montevideo

Uruguay’s capital and by far its largest city, Montevideo is a vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural life. Stretching nearly 20km from east to west, the city wears many faces, from its industrial port to the exclusive residential suburb of Carrasco near the airport. In the historic downtown business district, art deco and neoclassical buildings jostle for space alongside grimy, worn-out skyscrapersthat appear airlifted from Havana or Ceauşescu’s Romania, while across town the shopping malls and modern high-rises of beach communities like Punta Carretas and Pocitos bear more resemblance to Miami or Copacabana.

Weather

A note from my friend Mimi...

July is the coldest month of the year in Buenos Aires, but its nothing like you are used to in Utah.  It could be 37 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, but it could also be running in the 50´s, 60´s or even 70´s.  In other words, it´s UNPREDICTABLE.  You will probably encounter rain, remember that the city is on the Rio de la Plata, which is very wide when it reaches Buenos Aires, therefore we have the weather of any city by the sea.  Because it´s winter, it´s completely dark by 7 pm.  The stores will still be open, there will be plenty of activity on the streets.  Do bring some warm clothing, especially a warm coat and a scarf, you will feel the cold in a different way since it´s humid, even more if it´s windy.

Abasto de Buenos Aires

The Abasto de Buenos Aires was the central wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 1893 to 1984. Since 1999, it has served as a shopping mall, Abasto Shopping. It is also famous for being in the area where the tango singer Carlos Gardel, known as El Morocho del Abasto ("the dark-haired guy from Abasto"), lived for most of his life. Today, the surrounding area, though part of the Balvanera neighbourhood, is sometimes referred to as Abasto. 

Paint 'til You Faint

One Day Painting Marathon:

Four Chairs

One Bathroom

Three Large Canvases

The next day I could hardly move
but it felt great to cross those three big projects off the list.