I - (the last word in my countdown)

I -  The all important one letter word that consumes our lives. Such a small little word, and yet it takes up so much of our time. Just in writing this blog, I've become a bit convicted.

1. How much time do I spend talking about myself?
2. How many things on my prayer list are about what I need want?
3. Do I pay attention to the answer when I ask someone a question, or do I spend the time they are answering me on figuring out what I'm going to say next?
4. Do I choose the bigger half of a candy bar when I'm being generous and sharing?
5. Do you realize how many times I've said "I" in these sentences?  :)

It is this author's opinion that she should spend the rest of the day, not using that particular one letter word. Let's see how it goes.... (It shouldn't be to hard since everyon else is in bed and it's 11:30 pm.)



L



L

um..... (part 6 of my countdown)

There are 101 two- letter words acceptable in the game of Scrabble. Did you know that? I had no idea.
Here are just a few that I'm going to try to remember when I get toward the end of a "Words with Friends" game. 

AA, AE, AG, AI, AL, AY

BA, BO

EM, EN, ER, ET

FE

HM

KA, KI

LI , LO

MM , MO, MU

NA , NE, NU

OD, OE, OI, OM, OP, OS, OY

PE, PI

QI, RE, SH, TA, UT

XI , XU

YA




L

You (Part 5 of my countdown)

.You are important. You matter.  You used to believe this when you were young.

 I just wanted to remind you now.

There's a grand world out there. Go take it by storm.

You will make a difference.  I know it.

Yep, I'm talking to you.


:)



L

Brave (part three of my countdown)

a five letter word that has nothing to do with being unafraid.

It is choosing to act when every primieval cell of your body is telling you to run in  the opposite direction.

Sometimes, "brave" is in the little things... taking that tiny step off of the high dive....getting up on stage and belting out a song....  standing up for an opinion that the majority doesn't hold....

I'm not always as brave as I would like to be. I know that there are some things that I will never convince myself to do:

I will never jump out of an airplane.
I will not walk barefoot in the midst of snakes.
I will not voluntarily stick my hand in a clear box filled with mosquitos.
I will never eat guacamole.

Some things are just too scary.

"Be brave", they say. "Try a bite or two". I have forgotten to tell the waiter not to bring me that slimy green stuff along with my fajita.
 "How can you say you dont' like it, if you've never tried it?"
 I shrug my shoulders as I lay my napkin on top of the foreign looking mush, trying not to gag at the sight of it, plopped  on  the upper quadrant of my otherwise fabulous plate.

Some things are just too scary.



L

Gossip (Part two of my countdown)

A small six letter word that negatively changes lives.

Recently, in a certain group I'm involved in, gossip reigned supreme.

It was fascinating to watch (I mean listen...) as three separate events turned and twisted and grew within just a few hours into a mess of  crime, drama, illness, and heroism. Even more fascinating (and troubling) was how quickly people believed it all.

 It reminded me of a story (By Hans Christian Anderson) I read a very long time ago about a good natured hen who lost a feather while preening one evening. By the end of the story, the chicken's innocent remark about losing that feather is passed on from one bird to another, and turns into a wild story about the suicidal deaths of five lovesick hens who have allegedly plucked all of their feathers in solidarity with the first hen. The story is so enlarged with fantasy, that the original hen, when the story gets back to her, has no idea that the gossip was started by her losing one single white feather.

That's how I felt on Monday when I heard "the news".
 I wish I could share more details, but then...

that would be gossip. :)


L

Forgive (Part one of my countdown)

A seven letter word that packs an unbelievable wallop.

Forgive.

I've known people who have forgiven heinous crimes against themselves and their families

and others who can't  won't forgive an unintended verbal jab.

Forgive.

If you can do it, You'll be free.

It's simple. (And yet not so simple.)

Forgive.

It's the other "F" word.



L

Z- Dear Zachary

You have just turned 10 years old. What you don't know is that we have kept a record of many of the funny things that you have said over the years.  Emily has chronicled many of them on her phone and facebook. 

Zachary: "When I was born, my head was with my neck."

Me: "I like the Ewoks"
Zachary: "oh, that's what they're called!! they look like teddy bears!!"
Me: "yeah, they're cute"
Zachary: "but they speak spanish..."

Zachary: My favorite is yellow. I cry just thinking about it.

Zachary: One time I took a nap on my legos. When I woke up they were all stuck to my back!

Emily: The tongue is the strongest muscle in your body.

Zachary: No, your butt is!

Zachary: (Sucks in his belly and counts his ribs) "one, two, three, four, five, six.... six and six is eight!"  (We laugh!)  "Oh it's twelve, I mathed it."

We love you Zachary! Here's hoping that just because you have left the single digits behind you will continue to make us smile.  I'm pretty sure you will.   :)

Auntie Linda