Morning Sunshine

What a treat---Another Broken Egg just opened in our neighborhood (Park & Ridgeway)---clean and friendly with a tasty menu. Large yummy veggie/goat cheese omelet for hubby and a healthy choice for me.

For once I chose a healthy option. Do I hear applause??

House made honey-roasted granola w/ blueberry quinoa, toasted coconut bananas topped with fresh fruit
and drizzled with vanilla Greek yogurt,

Neighborly Gifts of the Garden Variety

Giftedness. The term has educators hearing competent domains. Giftedness certainly comes in a variety of abilities, talents---even emotional quality traits of generosity and kindness. 

It's what one does with his/her giftedness that counts.

Using that gift and "re-gifting" it by sharing with others, brings giftedness to the next level.

Neighbor, Art T. is a professional photographer. Recreating his visual gift (eye for beauty) is evident in his work----whether it's from his CAMERA extraordinaire or his iPhone 6 and all 34 photo apps.

Sharing his picture of my cherry tree brings it to that higher level!! Gifting his giftedness.

WOW---what a gift. Art can always make my garden "attempts" look good, even down to my weathered fence. His gifts keep on giving as I have seasonal ones hanging in my home for all to see and enjoy, especially me!
What a neighbor! What a gift!

Lighthouse Farewell

Farewell Lighthouse. A symbol of stability. A constant for many mid-southerners.

This morning's Commercial Appeal will be the last as a part of the Scripps (once Scripps-Howard) publishing group. Somehow that saddens me---and not because I've already been informed of a rate increase on April 15. It's another end of a journalism era for us Memphians. I was sad when the Memphis Press Scimitar, our afternoon newspaper, "bit the dust" in 1983. And now, more change.

The word is, that change won't be noticeable. I disagree. The lighthouse logo will be missing once the Milwaukee-based Journal Media group takes over tomorrow.

Knowing the One who is the light, (John 18:I2) I like the symbolism of a light house---helping the lost find their way. 

Even the motto, "Give light and the people will find their own way," will disappear. I wonder if that means "Today's Bible Verse" will no longer be published.
Those words might be the only "light" some readers get. 

SPRINGTIME SNOW

March 28, 2015---9:30 AM snow is falling in Memphis, ableit lightly.

I can see it falling on my"new" forsythia, my cherry tree and daffodils, though you can't because it doesn't show in my picture.

Oh happy spring day! Rejoicing in God's world. (Psalm 24:1)

SWEET REMINDERS

"Mind the Message"
Dove Chocolate. Yum! 1/2 price after a holiday.Yum!! Yum!!

All have "messages." A melt in your mouth kind of message.

February messages seem to have many "heart" messages. (RX----2-a-day)

Recent ones were worthy of thought. Heart shaped truths.

• Listen with your heart. 
• Hold hands firmly, hearts gently.

Mind (heed) the message for your heart.

**Just found this in my drafts---and since I'm still eating on that candy,  it's still pertinent.

I'm prepping for a procedure, so it was a lucky find---fingers feel too weak to type.

Friendship of a Circular Nature

I talk in circles. I don't think I've ever had a linear thought---at least not post menopause.

Lately the "circular" talk seems to be getting worse. My main thoughts seem to take off down rabbit trails until even I don't know where I was going with that comment or thought.

Scarily, in the mental health field there's even nomenclature for my condition. Not schizo or A-D-D but simply----circle talker.

How grateful I am for friends who still love me enough to listen in circles and in some cases to redirect me.

Nancy E. is such a friend. Listening in circles. Listening to my particular brand of a circular conversation.

Sometimes redirecting or restating in order to get me back on course. 

After yesterday's mammogram, she was waiting and waiting and waiting and when I came out with final results she encircled me. Hugging circles are much appreciated by circle talkers. 

Much like Gloria Houston's, My Great Aunt Arizona, Nancy hugs when my reports are good (clear and linear) and even when they are not (thoughts and speech needing a little consolidation.)

Hooray for circular friends who understand.

Spring 2015

It's here!! 
Sweet tea awaiting ice.
Sweet "short stories" awaiting reading.
A sweet floral thought from hubby---quick to grab it off the Tri-State table.

Spring is definitely  in the air.

Righteous Food

Most of our recent beach vacation food was fish---natch!

But....we had one great non-fish mid-day treat at Preacher's Kitchen in Gulf Place on 30a. It's just 2 doors down from The Perfect Pig (a "praise the lard" type place)---which also has, familiar to the Liles, a Seagrove location---in Flip Flops former location. Both are owned by the same family.

We were drawn to Preacher's Kitchen because of the name. It's a counter service, build your own burger type place but we just got smoothies. Peach pina-colada was dynamo combo---delish.

"Righteous Food" sign above the counter had my mind whirring----"belly up" to the counter and get your fill. Satisfaction guaranteed!

The owner is also a preacher so I'm sure he, too, understood the spiritual implications.

We have access daily to "righteous food." We just need to open God's word and feast.

Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; (Jeremiah 15:16)

Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8) 

Truly satisfying righteous food.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Pray---then plan. 

Is it because I think and even dream in alphabetical order that I tend to reverse this order, more often than not?

I need a reminder! In all caps, as it were. 

PRAY FIRST, THEN PLAN!!

Taken Aback

"Taken Aback". An idiom from my grandparents generation. (Probably.)

Yet, those 2 words came to mind as I walked past my bedroom chest of drawers. 

I realized (with a thud in my heart) that the picture on top was taken exactly 6 years ago tonight, with my pre-surgeries short hair. 

Taken with hubby and all three kids in the hospital "hotel " room the night before the beginning of my MAC surgeries....from excision to facial rebuilding.

This is the last picture of my "smiling" face, as I knew it, before I went under the knife. 

That "last picture" thought was what had me taken aback.