INCONCEIVABLY BLONDE....

Note:   OK, this is mushy me again, but from a different place...   You see, I began writing this after hearing my hubby talk about his experiences when he served as a full-time missionary for our church down in Argentina in the mid-1990s.  Listening to his stories filled with inspirational, transformational experiences, emotional tears, and personal reflections, I  caught a slight glimpse into the journey he took--before, during, and after his mission, and the sacrifice, the service, and the extreme joys and sorrows he must have gone through.  There I was--totally speechless (and those of you who know me pretty well know how RARE that I am ever speechless)...I "sat All Amazed" at this man sitting across from me, bearing his soulful experiences and reflections.... One evening after listing to his mission stories,  noting especially the hardships he experienced as he tried making the transition back into regular life after his mission e...

As holiday shopping kicks up a notch with each passing day, folks tend to get a bit more stressed, watching their spending especially THIS year, "making those lists, checking them twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice" :::thinking 'HMPH, BAH HUMBUG' as I unwrap my Emergency chocolate, take aim with my piece of coal, and chuck it at the trash bin in my office:::  After all, 'tis the Season, right? "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...."  "Santa, Baby, just slip a sable under the tree for me, been an awful good girl." "Deck the Halls, 'Tis the season to be jolly--Fa-la-la-la laaaa-la-laaaaah-la-laaaaaaa", and all that good stuff.... OK--Yeah yeah yeah, that's great and all. Now please move a little farther so I don't peg you with my charcoal or candy wrappers.  Hey, I'm being NICE and not NAUGHTY--you gotta warning :) This year I just haven't had time to feel all "Christmas-i...

Lights out, visitors gone, it’s just you and me, no phone, no TV. Just us girls.   Hush now, don’t worry-- I’m right here, and I’m staying. It’s all right, I won’t leave you. Get some sleep, now. I’ll be here. Let me grab my nail file, trim your nails, file them down just a bit, nice and round, nice and smooth.  Those little things make such a big difference. (We girls understand that.) Trusting me, letting go, letting me take your hand in mine-- Once, strong, quick and nimble… Now, trembling and feeble, weathered and weakened by pain. Rubbing lotion in to massage away the strain of the day. Those beautiful hands-- so elegant and graceful, writing and typing stories, covering glories and events through the years.  Stories I could only imagine…. Those very same hands held us as babies, helped others, cooked, cleaned and worked us into the family we are. Those same hands that wiped tears from my eyes, picked me up when I’d f...