Westwoods

So, recently I came across this writer/blogger while reading my niece, Lisl's blog:  lislsid.blogspot.com . I have been really enjoying Lisl's writings lately as well, so check her out, but the other gal I keep thinking about says something on her homepage that I have always felt but didn't know how to put into words. Let me explain. I struggle with how to know if what I write is safe for human consumption or if it should be shared at all. I mean, why bother cluttering up a nice person's brain with more useless info that can actually drag a person down if not monitored correctly? Also, the fact that even harmless, fluffy chatter can take up valuable time and space. Who needs that?  Christy at  www.christyfitzwater.com  says it just right about why she writes what she writes. It is all about bragging about Jesus Christ and to lead others to bragging rights about Jesus.  The main goal of sharing our hearts deepest woes should be to also share how Jesus is at w...

      By nature, I am not the most adventurous person. Actually, to be completely truthful, I am not at all adventurous. Great times for me usually involve cool, clean water or a nice long hike in the mountains, and hopefully, the hike in the mountains won't be too long and difficult. My definition of a really good time would be a coffee shack on the top of one of those mountains, where I would be served an americano with a dollop of cream.      Thankfully, God has seen fit to give me a husband who likes high adventure and is always up for a challenge of any kind.  God has also seen fit to provide me with good friends who literally nudge me off my comfy spot and push me into the great unknown and excitement of real living.       Such was the case at our recent family reunion. I had talked bravely of going off the zip line and thought it looked easy as I watched many little children do it as if it were a swing or merry-go-round. It look...

 My baby is ten! And it must be scary... Actually, I don't know why the big eyes but the sweet and sour chicken was good and the using of chopsticks very funny.  She was given girl Lego's for the main gift... Shaunti's birthday landed on the same day of a family reunion, so trying to figure out when to have the cake and gifts sorta got squeezed in the cracks of living.  Andrew and Aletha Kauffman Family Reunion.  Lots of visiting and family history... My sisters and I were talking and realized this group of Aunts don't gossip. At all. Instead they sit around saying what they "appreciated" about someone in their past history.  Two of my favorite Kauffman cousins, Sharilyn and Phil, pictured here with their spouses.  Sharilyn is gentle and sweet and all goodness. OK, that cannot be said truthfully of anyone, but she has always been that in my memory. And I might actually love her a little more, cuz she poked me and said cautiously, "How do ...

     Last week, my hubby and I got away from our busy and chaotic life to go on a camping/boating/fishing trip. I wanted an exotic, palm tree vacation, but my man decided it would be the lake.  Since the lake is much closer than palm trees, It made sense to agree.        I adapt well. Instead of dress clothes for a fancy restaurant, I go to the supermarket and buy shrimp and wine and cheese. Actually, there was no wine involved, but you get the idea. Instead of enjoying white, fluffy towels and smooth, cotton sheets, I found the air mattress and air pump, two sleeping bags and a tent.  Instead of pampering my feet and hands with lotions and exfoliating, I put maggots and corn on my fish hook with my own fingers and dug my toes into gritty sand and sharp rocks.      My first clue that my husband was on vacation, was when we stopped in Troy to fill the boat tank  with gas.  Now, he is usually cordial and charming to...

 Good conversation of course, begins with a comfortable place to be. It doesn't have to be a clean and tidy space, but it should be inviting. It should be shared with people you enjoy being around. They should feel welcomed and honored to sit at your table and share a space of time with you, void of cell phones and computers. A rewarding conversation happens when the one who is listening, is actually hearing what the person is saying, not necessarily what it sounded like you heard. Often, good conversation is a struggle of the heart and has a little battle at coming out clearly. Sometimes, those things of the heart need a little time and a little reading between the lines. Coffee always helps. Between sips you are thoughtful and praying for grace to know what words to use that are encouraging, not empty cliches. There might even be a Bible verse that fits the moment. I miss a good conversation. I miss life before the social network conversations. We used to have time t...

I sat in church a couple Sundays ago singing a song that made my skin crawl. It grated on my nerves because of it's undercurrent gloomy, nasally tone. My mind drew a visual picture of an old man with a banjo and a sour face, while twanging out the words through his nose. Two songs later, we sang a song that flowed smoothly and the words were fitted beautifully to the notes. It was classy by far in comparison and the presentation worked better at getting to my soul. The funny thing is that the writer of both pieces of music were written by the same person. I looked around and saw my friends, women of faith and close to the same age as myself. They all look happy to be singing the same old hymns and listening with attentive faces to the same familiar passages. Were they soaking in a new particular truth? Were they being smitten with a fault or shortcoming? Did they ever say disrespectful things to their husbands as they walked out the door to come to church? If you pinch them, will...

Written late at night: I don't know where my husband is. Should this bother me? I know where he went at six this evening. When this happens, when it gets late and he doesn't answer his phone or respond to a text, I know he is out either fighting fire or doing an ambulance run. I breathe in and out and tell myself to stay calm. I pray first of all, selfishly for me, that I still have a husband. Then, I realize the need is more urgent than me and pray for the people who are having the "real" problem. I learn more about giving and compassion if my attitude is right. There is goodness among the bad and busy. One morning, the kids and husband sat in the hot tub while I brought them breakfast on a tray. I sat in a lawn chair nearby and drank strong coffee and enjoyed the morning sun. This week we spent a day  two days canning green beans and two days canning/freezing applesauce. I won't say here how much applesauce was done. It's too much. I will tell you my h...