Crayola bomb?

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." ~Robert Fulghum

Church Wall, Facebook Wall or Human Wall?

So today I went to write something on a Wall with someone I was “friends” with. There I noticed there was no wall. So I e-mailed her, “where is your wall?”

Here was her response:

“It is just my personal preference to keep my settings private because I have a young daughter and work for a large church.”

Okay I almost had to laugh, except for one thing. I happen to go to this large church and know her through the church, and I too, have a small child. Is there something I need to be aware of? Is there a predator lurking in the Church halls that I do not see and should be aware of? Was there a Church Wall?

Then I came to the realization. This person could see everything on my wall all pictures, comments and friends. I got kind of funny about. This person had full access to my life but I was unwalled on Facebook by her. It was kind of creepy.

Why would anyone want to be friends with someone on Facebook but block them from the Facebook wall?

A series of e-mails went on between her and I. The last e-mail I sent was “I am not sure why you would keep people as friends if you did not intent to be "friends" with them.”

I do not collect friends or care about amount of friends I have on Facebook. What I care about is the human aspect, the relationships, and the friendships. I now realized I had been blocked by her Human wall.

I also realized I was not the issue. This person could hide behind the Church wall, the Facebook wall or the Human wall. It was not the Church, Facebook or the Human wall where communication lacked. This issue was hers and hers only.

I pray that someday she finds contentment behind her Walls. I pray she finds Truth.

A time to rest

Nothing hit me more tonight, than when I was at a general meeting for Livermore Moms and we had the awesome Yoga instructor Katherine teaching,that I needed to rest.

I am not talking about a sit down for 15 minutes and do nothing type of rest, but the rest where no real effort needs to be made and I can relax.

Since the middle of March we have been on the go. We go here, there and anywhere and now it is time. Time to stop, listen, rest and relax.

It is now my job for the next week or so to watch other people be busy and run the rats pace. I am stopping and doing nothing. Yes, I will fulfill my obligations, of taking care of myself, Clark and Emma but little more.

My mind and body are telling me it is time. I need to recharge. I need to just do nothing. I love being around my friends and family (and of course will be celebrating my dad's birthday this week) but I need quiet down time.

Quiet time to rest and relax with no distractions, interruptions or obligations. Quiet time to be me and time to rest.

One month

since Clark has gone back to work. It is strange. Emma wakes up almost everyday and asks where Daddy is. I have to tell her Daddy is at work. I think it is hard for her to understand. Daddy was home for a year. Emma is three now but she got used to having Daddy here everyday all day.

I miss him too. We used to just pack up the car and go whether ,it be for a day trip or a week long trip, we just went. We spent many a night in a hotel.

We have had to change some routines as well. No longer do I go grocery shopping on a weekly basis. I have fruits and vegetables delivered from a local farm and meat is delivered as well. By limiting my time in the store, I spend less money.

This week was hard though. I was sick. Emma had daily dance camp since it was spring break from school. In between we tried to maintain the household. I have to say it was rough.

Then Emma had a mini dance recital today. Clark was able to come (nice thing about working locally) and so was my mom. Emma was timid and shy in the recital, but she tried and she will always be star in my eyes.

Colon Cancer

My grandma died of colon cancer three weeks to the day she was told she had it. My grandma had dementia so really it was my uncle the doctors told. Three weeks to the day she died.

There was no treatment because there was no time. I would like to think my grandma was no in pain and if she was then she would forgot about it. I would really like to think dementia has some positive things about it.

According to the CDC
"When Should I Begin to Get Screened?

You should begin screening for colorectal cancer soon after turning 50, then continue getting screened at regular intervals. However, you may need to be tested earlier or more often than other people if—

* You or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.
* You have inflammatory bowel disease.
* You have genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer.

Speak with your doctor about when you should begin screening and how often you should be tested."

Also accordingly to the CDC, "Of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and rectum) is the second leading cancer killer in the United States."

Colon cancer can be considered a hereditary disease and I am not taking any chances. I have an e-mail into my doctor now.

Humbled

or should I just say my grandma's funeral was humbling. I was very anxious about going. My mom's side of the family is as dysfunctional as the next and I could tell by my mom's voice there was tension between her and her siblings.

Then my uncle started the service, and all troubles were placed aside. It was never more evident and it was like changing of the guard. No longer were my grandparents the oldest living generation, but now my mom, my aunt and my uncle were. No longer were my parents the second living generation, but my first cousins and I were and now there were our children, the second cousins, who were replacing us. In a span of second of when my grandma passed, our whole living family structure changed and with it our history that has yet to be written.

We spent the afternoon and part of the early evening after the service enjoying each other while our kids played. My first cousins and my family ate and laughed. There were promises of new get togethers in the future. Promises I hope as first cousins we keep.

Resurrection Weekend

As a Christian, this time of year for me, is about the resurrection of Christ.

What my belief is that Jesus lived, died and rose again for us, all of us. It allows for forgiveness for all sins and victory over death. He gives our life meaning, purpose, hope, and strength.

Now, for Easter it can be defined in so many ways.

According to Aboutcom:
“The meaning of many different customs observed during Easter Sunday have been buried with time. Their origins lie in pre-Christian religions and Christianity. All in some way or another are a "salute to spring," marking re-birth. The white Easter lily has come to capture the glory of the holiday. The word "Easter" is named after Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. A festival was held in her honor every year at the vernal equinox.

The Easter Bunny is a rabbit-spirit. Long ago, he was called the "Easter Hare." Hares and rabbits have frequent multiple births so they became a symbol of fertility. The custom of an Easter egg hunt began because children believed that hares laid eggs in the grass. The Romans believed that "All life comes from an egg." (Some) Christians consider eggs to be "the seed of life" and so they are symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”


So as I sing His Praises this weekend along with many others, may our voices be heard from the top of the highest mountains and to the bottoms of every sea. We will celebrate this weekend in Glory and know it is about the Ultimate Love Story, the one on the cross.

No symbolic object is needed.