Empty nest day two

Today was one of those days I envision as an empty nest day.... busy from beginning to end! Started the day heading to Marshfield to get errands run - maintenance at the building, working on an awning for the store front, bank, supplies for the party coming up, etc. Had lunch with a wonderful friend - too long in between. Then tonight I took a cooking class - from farm to table - which was a blast. Ended the evening with some cold lime a ritas on the screened in porch of a friend. Doesn't get any better than that, does it?

you never know who is watching

Shot an email to a good friend today - just checking in - miss working with her. Didn't hear back from her, but she is typically busy 15 hours a day, so I figured I'd check back later. So tonight when I gave up trying to get to sleep, I checked my email, and at just about 9pm, she'd responded. With nothing more than an attachment, saying she'd found something in her old Dale Carnegie folder, a speech she'd done in that class.

When I opened the speech, I realized it was about me. And how my attitude when life gets hard had inspired her.

What an awesome feeling, to think that how I lead my life mattered to someone. And that they saw my actions, and my reactions to life.

It's an important lesson. No matter how much you think you don't matter, someone is watching. When you least expect it, they see what you are doing. Whether it's a smile, holding a door, or in my case, the reaction I took to some horrible life events, people see what we do, and it matters.

So make it matter for the GOOD!

Empty Nest "experiment"... day one

While my husband and I go away often for vacations that don't include the kids, this is the first time that we've been the ones left at home, just the two of us. Our oldest has stayed at school for the summer, so she's been gone. But our baby, for the first time, left this morning for three days of intense basketball training.

Day one of our empty nest experiment was a hot one - with temps in the 90s. So a large amount of gardening was out of the question. I did get two bags of mulch laid and a little bit of weeding done before the heat set in, but that was all I could take. Because it was a hot, windy day, I ended up spending much of the day on laundry - washing and hanging out five loads to dry on the line. Green, frugal, and just homey. I LOVE hanging clothes out to dry in the fresh air. What a treat.

Today was also one of my cooking days, so I made chicken noodle soup and baking powder biscuits, and then had to clean the kitchen from all the cooking. Now that the meals have been picked up, and the fifth load of laundry is drying, I think we'll relax with a glass of wine and dinner. I'd say day one was a pretty big success.

the good work....

I love working with my hands.

sweating.

getting dirty.

Today I was able to clean up all of the rock around the house, as well as get the grapes cleaned up. We've been gone - vacations - so I haven't had a ton of time to work outside. Today when I got back from church, I dug right in - and it felt so good. The DH got me some new mulch tonight, so I'm hoping to beat the heat and get it laid in the morning.

There is something soul-cleansing about working in nature.

To feel that body ache, to taste the sweat. It's all SO GOOD. 

'nuff said.

Sharing.....

Since I've left the corporate world, I've been cooking dinner for three of my friends, and their families. All young families with children, twice a week I offer to cook for them - so they can pick up dinner on their way home. Scary at first, I worried about menu choices, etc., but have come to realize that each family has their own tastes, and by constantly changing up the choices, each gets something they want once in awhile.

What I didn't realize is how much it would mean to me to be able to share this love of cooking with these families. And the JOY it brings me! I love getting texts or messages with comments from the kids.

"two thumbs up from our clan"
"you are an angel"
"your bread is amaaaaazing" (I often add a loaf of homemade bread for dinner)
"I need some more of that yummy chicken"
"my tummy is happy!"

All three moms are great cooks. So the kids are not lacking by any means. THis just gives the moms a break once or twice a week. But for the kids, it's like having a restaurant deliver.

Early on, some of the kids were confused. "Why aren't we eating this AT Melissa's?".

Some of them offer suggestions. a.k.a. requests.

They all make me smile. ALL the time.

When I took a few weeks off after my accident, they gently asked (both parents AND kids) when I'd be able to start cooking again. It made me smile. :-)

Delivering one night, one of the kids asked "what's for dinner tonight Melissa?", and I couldn't help but laugh. Two nights later, he was surprised when I showed up, confused to what day it was. I thought it was awesome that he knew I cooked on Mondays and Wednesdays...

I have found that the joy it brings me to share this gift with people I love is more than I ever could have imagined. AND I get to do what I LOVE. Doesn't get any better than that, does it?

words that cut like a knife....

It always saddens me to hear people use their words without any concern for the people on the receiving end. Do we not understand how the receiver feels?

Recently, I was the recipient of mocking, joking, and words that hurt me so deeply. And people simply laughed it off. It must have made them feel so good about themselves. They thought their comments about  my life were funny. Forgetting that it is MY LIFE they were mocking. And they said it right to me, right to my face, with no regard that they were being cold.

I am constantly amazed at how people use curt remarks, either in person, in email, in facebook, or wherever. Comments that maybe don't directly call out who they are talking about, sometimes comments that are completely direct. I will see a comment on someone's facebook page that indirectly talks down about another group of people, and I just want to scream. Those words HURT.

Words hurt people. They hurt like any weapon would. And no matter if it is friends, or family, that say them, the wounds they produce last for a long time.

As a Christian, I know to forgive. And I do. Some would say it means I have no backbone. That I keep letting people walk over me. But it is right to forgive. I just HATE it when I am hurt again, from someone who has done it before, that I have forgiven.

On the outside, I try not to let the effect show. But then there are times that I can't hide it. And no matter if I hide it or not, I hurt. And I know that I am not alone. I see people being hurt by words, and it saddens me so much.

So please people. Think before you speak. SOMEONE is going to be the butt of your comment, your joke. Someone hearing or reading it may be hurt by it.

What are YOU doing? the mustard seed....

Inspired once again by my Pastor's sermon, I ask you the following question:

What are YOU doing? What seeds are you sowing? God asks us to plant the seeds, and He will make them grow. So what are you doing to sow the seeds of Christ in other people?

I struggle greatly with evangelism. It is hard for me, as outgoing as I am. As soon as I started to understand what Pastor's sermon was about, I started wondering "what can I do"? When I leave this place tonight, how can I change my life to sow more seeds of Faith for God? Short of going door to door, or asking people to discuss their Faith, what can I do?

It wasn't far into the sermon when Pastor started answering my question.

Listen....to someone who needs an ear.

Smile...at someone you don't know.

Help...anyone....at any time...because you can.

I can do this. I DO do this. But I don't do these things to sow seeds! I just do them, because that's what we do! I had never thought of these things as sowing seeds of Faith for God to nourish. But truly - if we do live life as Christ would have us live, how is that NOT witnessing?

I have had a friend tell me that my Faith inspires her. Without me outwardly doing it - living my life as I do - is evidence of my Faith - and is inspiring someone. If I can, by my actions, lead others into doing good, then I am happy.

But not satisfied.

I just don't feel it is enough.

So like my entry on volunteering - which led to me volunteering twice for CMN, AND joining LWML (and leading a collection drive) - I now want to create a laundry list of things that I can do to sow seeds of Faith in others.

This one won't be as easy for me. I'm looking to leave my comfort zone. I will have to pray on it. But as always, I will keep you posted!