Wednesday, May 30, 2018

What Are You Making?

My pastor sends out a weekly devotional email and I enjoyed the one he sent out today.  I hope you enjoy it, too!

One Sunday morning at a small southern church, the new pastor called on one of the older deacons to lead the opening prayer. The deacon stood up, bowed his head and said, "Lord, I hate buttermilk." The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going. The deacon continued, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was totally perplexed. The deacon continued, "Lord, I ain't too crazy about plain flour, but after you mix 'em all together and bake 'em in a hot oven, I just love biscuits. Lord, help us to realize when life gets hard, when things come up that we don't like, whenever we don't understand what you are doing we need to wait and see what you are making. After you're through mixing and baking, it'll probably be something even better than biscuits. Amen."

Whatever you are making, may blessings fill your cup with love, laughter, determination and resilience.  Happy "baking!"

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Hot, Hot, Hot and Humid

Sorry I missed Wednesday's post!  This week just got away from me the last couple of days and it seems we've just gone straight into the middle of summer with temps in the upper 90's this week and the humidity creeping in each day.  Ugh!  By this coming Wednesday we'll hit 100 degrees which is about a month earlier than normal.  Oh no, it's going to be an abnormal summer which just means it's going to be blazing!  It only got down to 80 degrees last night/this morning which is no bueno!  

I'm not ready for the insane heat...in June, July, August and September.  It probably won't get back into the 80's until late October.  NO!!!!  All I can say is thank goodness for air conditioning!!

It is a holiday weekend and I definitely want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!  May we all remember why we are celebrating by acknowledging those who served our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice.  May we never take for granted the lives that have been lost defending and protecting our freedoms.  May the families of those who have been lost feel the love, honor and respect they deserve from all of us and a very grateful nation....now and always!

Blessings to all those we honor this Memorial Day weekend!!

Sunday, May 20, 2018

The Finale...

To finish off my last 2 posts, this is it...the finale!  Tonight, the 3 finalists of American Idol will battle it out on the last show before the winner is announced on Monday night!  So, you know what to do...VOTE!!  

Per my last 2 posts, it would be nice to see the hometown girl win but as we've seen with American Idol, specifically, the contestants that don't win sometimes go on to bigger and better things than the actual winner...like Jennifer Hudson.  So, I won't be totally upset if she doesn't win because I think she'll have a good career and this just kicked it off!

Definitely tune-in and check out my hometown tonight when they feature it during Maddie's hometown visit from last week!  You'll see how big and proud a small town can support one of their own.  After seeing a lot of pics and videos over the past week, it'll be fun to actually see it on the show tonight.  So tune-in!!

Enjoy the show!  May you have a joyful week ahead!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Hometown Support

A follow-on to my last post, Hometown Girl, about a current American Idol finalist from my hometown.  Yesterday, Maddie visited the school in town and the elementary kids all sang "Rainbow Connection" which is the song she auditioned with originally.  Then, they had a dedication at the gazebo across from the library to announce it was Maddie Poppe Day.  Next, there was a parade down Main Street, which means it was only about 4 blocks long.  And finally, there was a concert at the county fairgrounds where hundreds showed up to support their hometown girl!

Since I still have so many family and friends that live there and in nearby towns, I saw all the posts on Facebook yesterday.  It was sweet to see the kids sing the same song back to her and ironic that it's one of my favorite songs, as well.  I remember having that album and listening to it all the time.  And, I vividly remember one night putting on a little play for my mom with my brother to that song.  It was great to see everyone lined up on Main Street for the parade and they ended it on the street my grandparents used to live.  I recognized some friends and family in some of the parade pictures.  And, then I saw a picture of the two-lane road to the fairgrounds with a line of traffic headed to the concert.  Yep, that's a supportive and proud hometown for ya!

Obviously, Maddie's accomplishments of putting our hometown "on the map" as they say is much greater than my little book.  She's made national news and is representing our little town and Iowa in such a humble and kind way.  And, it's been great to see the town so excited and proud of her.  

I remember feeling the same support when I went back for my 1st book signing.  We moved when I was 9 and of course we've gone back to visit many times before I had published my book, but coming back 35+ years later and seeing all the support down Main Street was amazing!  That small little town supported me as really the only adopted child in town when I first arrived and throughout my short 9 years there, and they were supporting me again as an author coming back to say "thank you" to them for their acceptance all those years ago.  It was a poignant time for me and I'm so glad I got to experience it.  You can't put a price on the acceptance and support your community gives you, especially as a young child growing up (who in my case looked very different than everyone else in town).  I'm extremely lucky I grew up in that small farming community and I love seeing the same values and traditions that I grew up with still alive and thriving there as they continue to support one of their own.  It's a special place with special people!

Just a side note, I saw a post about the 3 finalists and the populations of their hometowns since they were all headed home for their hometown visits.  Gabby lives in the Pittsburgh area with 303,000 and Caleb lives in Georgia with around 13,000 in his hometown.  Our small farming community is 1,300 loud and proud!  So, for those watching the finale this Sunday, please vote for Maddie!

May blessings of acceptance and support be given unto you!!

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Hometown Girl

Are you watching American Idol this season?  If you are watching (in the States), there's a contestant, Maddie Poppe that is from my hometown in Iowa.  Yes, that small farming community I write about in my book, Corn-fed with Rice on the Side.  That small town of around 1,500 are pulling out all the stops to support their hometown girl and it's great to see how they rally around their own.  They did the same for me when I went back for my 1st book signing in 2013.  

Small towns have a way of supporting their own that is special and unique compared to big cities.  It's organic, sincere and filled with overwhelming pride...everyone feels it.  In the big city it can seem more artificial or corporate, but a small town brings authenticity and a big bag of humble pie.  I think you see that in Maddie's performances.  She's original and authentic and I think growing up in a small town where everyone knows everyone has a little something to do with it.

So, if you're in the States...vote NOW (for Maddie)!  I would love to see my small hometown on TV during hometown visits and celebrate not only Maddie, but the town that supports their own no matter what!  I'm blessed to have been raised in such a nurturing and encouraging community.  Thank you!

Blessings to you in the week ahead!!

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Summer Weather Has Arrived

It's not officially summer yet, but summer weather is here.  Boo.  It's been in the 90's all week and I toughed it out on Monday, but had to turn on the AC Tuesday morning.  Which means my AC will be on until sometime in November.  Boo again.

As always, we skipped over spring it seems like and went straight into summer.  It only feels like that because we only have a few weeks in the 70's and I don't feel like we even saw any 80's this spring.  But, here we are with a week full of 90 degree weather which also means that 100 degree weather isn't far behind.  Boo, boo, and boo.

I will say my lawn is looking like a luscious green carpet right now, my red oak tree is full and standing tall, and my garden is growing.  So, even though the weather isn't my favorite right now, some of nature's other beauties are looking pretty good.  And, isn't that what life is all about?  We might not like a certain situation or where we are at the moment, but if you look at things from a different perspective or just try to find the simple joys in each day there will always be something you can smile at that will carry you through.  Just keep looking for the small glimpse of hope that is always there...no matter what.  Sometimes it can be hard and frustrating, but just keep going...keep trying...keep getting up...keep the faith.

May the rest of your week be blessed with hope for a better tomorrow!


Sunday, May 6, 2018

Labels

I'm growing more and more disdain for labels that "we" (society) puts on everyone and everything.  We label each other to the nth degree and can't see that we're all just human beings trying to live the best life we can...just like us.  We're putting people in boxes, corners and pitting one against the other because they're "labeled" this or that.  I'm so over it!

Why can't we just see one another for who we are without all the labels?  Why do we have to put up so many obstacles or borders around ourselves in order to let people see who we really are...or is it a defensive mechanism that we do it?  Are we boldly displaying our labels in order to keep others out?  These days it's hard to tell which is which.  Sigh.  

In the news recently, Sandra Bullock told In Style magazine that she wished people would stop saying "adopted kids" because we don't label our birth kids or one-night-stand kids, etc.  It's true.  Families come in all shapes and sizes and that includes how they were conceived or put together.  But, in the end parents are parents to a child whether they gave birth to them or not.  Parents can be a mother and a father, a mother and a mother or a father and a father.  They can also be siblings raising their younger siblings.  It's all about having a loving and supportive parent to help you grow, learn, and love.  It doesn't matter what or how that looks like and we shouldn't judge other families for not looking the way we think they should look.  We should all just be given the opportunity to build and create loving families of our own because we all deserve that.

I think those that have adopted, are adopted or are thinking about adopting get it.  They know what makes a family.  It's those that won't open their minds to what real families look like now that tend to show their hate and intolerance for others.  And, for some reason many of them feel compelled or think they have the right to share their hate online which is incomprehensible.  I've read some of the cruel and nasty posts people have made online about Sandra Bullock adopting two kids and saying that she's not a real mother.  How dare they!!  Those are the kind of people that need to keep their comments to themselves and also expose themselves to more families that are different from what they "consider" to be "normal" families.  They need to educate themselves and actually listen to other people for a change.

So, if you can just for one week...try to see those that you see and meet this week without putting a label on them.  Try stripping away our societal reflex of putting everyone we see and meet into boxes that we've created in our minds.  See if it changes the way you see people or at least maybe it'll make you aware of all the labels you are putting on people without even meeting them.

Have a blessed and maybe eye-opening week ahead!!

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day...yesterday!  Have you heard of May Day baskets?  Did you ever make them and deliver them to your friends and family?  Looking back at May Day celebration history, it was common in the 19th and 20th centuries with the delivery of baskets common in rural communities.  As the month of April would come to an end, people would gather flowers, candies and other goodies to put in May Day baskets to hang on the door of friends, neighbors and family on May 1st.

We did this when I was growing up in rural Iowa and almost every year my mom and I would forget until the last minute.  So, we would rush home and I'd grab the Styrofoam cups to start decorating them and my mom would pop up some popcorn.  We'd fill up the cups with popcorn and any candy we had on hand and then we'd run around delivering them to my friends.  It was a fun and memorable tradition that I don't thing many people do any more.  They don't do it in the South.  

 Do you have any May Day traditions or did you do any as a kid?  As spring and summer arrive, are there any traditions your family has...maybe around Memorial Day or July 4th?  Does your family get together for family reunions every summer?  Traditions are fun and they give us something to look forward to, as well as, look back on for fond memories.  So, enjoy all those fun, big or small traditions that you celebrate every year!

Blessings for a safe, healthy and fun-filled week ahead!!