Life's ZUPLEZ

4/29/09 Puzzle Solutions
Jigsaw puzzles frustrate me---bringing words to mind like tense and failure. My friend, JoLynn, loves them. Probably words like calming and a welcoming challenge come to her mind.
We even approach the puzzles differently. I check out the picture on the box, turn over all the pieces and shake out all the gray dust from the box, sort those “right side up” pieces according to color, search for the straight edged ones and begin to put together the border. I always begin by focusing on the end product.
JoLynn, on the other hand doesn’t even look at the picture. I don’t know if that’s part of the intrigue or just her way of enjoying the journey of “jigsawing” and being delighted by the end result, whatever that may be. She looks at the shape of each piece---probably seeing patterns in all those knobs and holes---that look like innies and outies to me. Recently she even worked a puzzle with out a border---just knobs and holes---no uniform straight edge. That’s beyond my comprehension.

While I approach the puzzle with the idea to hurry and get it over with, hoping to find satisfaction in completion, she enjoys the journey along the way. She’s actually calm, almost tranquil as she enjoys the “means” to the end of her puzzle. She’s told me that her mind can be elsewhere, sorting our some of life’s urgencies while she’s assembling the puzzle---that’s really beyond me!

Our lives can seem like one big puzzle and we all approach them in our own way. However, watching her I’ve seen some truths, not only in her expertise with a jigsaw puzzle, but also in her approach to life. She knows the end to her life will be eternity with the Lord. This allows her, in both the game and her life’s walk, to enjoy the journey.
Just like she doesn’t try to force a piece of a puzzle where it doesn’t fit the total picture, she doesn’t force herself and her desires above the Lord or those she loves. JoLynn knows well that each puzzle piece only works perfectly in one spot---no matter how much you twist it and turn it. It will only truly “fit” where the puzzle creator intended it to be placed. On that puzzle board, she knows that and is content with the unseen, knowing there will be a beautiful picture that she will see when it is finished. In her life, it’s His plan not hers that she follows, one moment at a time---just like she follows the lead of those puzzle pieces one at a time, piece by piece. She doesn’t compartmentalize all the puzzle pieces and she doesn’t compartmentalize her secular life from her spiritual life--it all works together for good, because she loves the Lord and trusts Him for the unseen outcome---His masterpiece. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
(Hebrews 11:1)

Too often, we make life more complex than it needs to be. In all our busyness of trying to “get it right”, our way, we can become fragmented and frustrated. We wear ourselves out trying to force spirituality. It’s really just simple faith that we need. As we give it to Him, in trust, piece-by-piece, He creates the masterpiece---it’s His work! It’s when we try to take it out of His hands---forcing the pieces of our life to look like they all fit together for good---that we run into problems.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

Hubby's Birthday

4/28/09 HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARRY!!
Today Larry finally catches up with me----since I am 7 months older. I would say who's counting but he reminds me of this occasionally. My rejoinder is usually a comment about the older woman "mystique." Our approaches are different but the fact remains that I was born first. Our approaches are different to a lot of things and over the years we have become more alike than different in our particular ways. One thing we have come to an agreement on relates to “gifting.” Larry, the real shopper in the family, is a lavish as well as a thoughtful gift giver. I, on the other hand, have trouble in this area. So, the agreement is one of grateful acceptance---regardless of the gift.
I do have a little something in a gift bag for him to “open.” But, the real gift idea came from prayer group friend, Anne, to friend Lo, to me. Her exact words were better but since I wrote them on a post it note while downstairs, and lost them before I could even walk upstairs to the computer, you, reader, will get the gist of her idea along with what God has shown me.
“Give the gift of prayer to your husband.” Praying for my hubby today that God will:

• Enlarge his heart with gratitude.
• Guard his heart.
• Fill him with His love.
• Instill integrity.
• Enable him to find joy in His Presence.
• Surround him with godly men.
• Allow him to know how deeply he is loved by Thee and by me.

Patio Ponderings

4/27/09 Patio quiet times
What a way to start the day---with a “cuppa” and one of Tootsie’s macaroons--a cool morning, and my heritage snowball bush in full bloom. (The original rooting came from my grandmother’s childhood home in Hampton Station, KY, to my mother's childhood home on South Second in Clarksville, TN, to my childhood home in Hopkinsville, KY, and now back to TN, ready to pass on to each of my children.) Add to that a red Adirondack chair with a pot of bright red double begonias (gift from HHS Student Impact and Andi Darlington) on the table right beside me---a table that is also stacked with my Bible, Jesus Calling, and my "MAC Journey" journal.
I wanted to start my day the way Linda Dickens would have started hers---like a blank sheet given to the Lord, eagerly anticipating what the Lord would write on it. She sought His agenda, His plan.
Mary Flo does much the same---she calls it being spontaneous. I see it as her way of allowing God to be in control and rejoicing over whatever or whomever God brings across her path that day. Not that she doesn’t plan---she does. She has a calendar on her computer that is synced with her palm pilot but that’s just her framework---the parameters of an organized life---not set in stone. (like agendas of type A folks) it's one that is joyfully expectant of additions or deletions from the Lord. She practices Proverbs 16:9. “The mind of man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.”
Jesus Calling, as always, seemed to echo my thoughts. “Come to me with empty hands.” “Let me fill……” So I went to my next standard devotional, My Utmost for His Highest journal. It is chocked full of stickie notes, a picture or two, pithy grabbers and song lyrics. Some are wedged in better than others. This morning when I picked it up, the lyrics of the hymn, “Lord of the Ages” fell out---such a God-thing---just succinct verses to express my rambling thoughts.

God of the morning, gladly your children (child)
worship(s) before you...
I am your(s) now and forever kept by your hand.
(May I) Crown You each moment, “Lord of Today!”
(my paraphrase)

Linda and Mary Flo have done that in their lives---crowning Him each morning, “Lord of the Day.” That’s’ why both of these women’s lives are worth emulating---God directed/directs their steps. Like the apostle Paul, they could say, “do as I do.” “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” (Philippians 3:17) 

Wow, what a testimony that would be---to live my life in such a way that others would see Christ in me, the hope of glory.

Remembering Linda

4/26/09

In Memory
of
Linda A. Dickens
1945-2009

Loving wife
Devoted mother

Prayer warrior
Friend

--one classy lady who lived a life that glorified the Lord—

All who knew her will greatly miss her. She was my Saturday morning prayer “tag” partner. When I asked her to cover my 7 a.m. Warriors on the Wall prayer slot, she never turned me down. When we shared similar prayer concerns, I knew they were safe with her and I knew she would pray.
Today’s memorial service shared the essence of Linda, “servant to all” and “life-well-lived.” To which I say, A-MEN!

DAVID & BRANDY

4/25/09

CONGRATULATIONS
TO
DAVID AND BRANDY ROSE
ON THEIR WEDDING DAY!!!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A GARDEN WEDDING OF TWO PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE LORD AND LOVE EACH OTHER & ARE SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ALL OF GOD’S CREATION, AS PASTOR ANDY SAVAGE SAID.

I HAVE PRAYED FOR DAVID FOR MANY YEARS AND WAS GLAD TO MEET BRANDY---THE ANSWER TO ONE OF THOSE PRAYERS. I HAVE PRAYED SINCE OCTOBER 5, 2008 THAT BOTH THEIR WEDDING AND THEIR MARRIAGE WOULD GLORIFY THE LORD. ANOTHER PRAYER WAS ANSWERED TODAY, APRIL 25.2009, AT 2 P.M.

Food for Thought

4/24/09 Slug Day
Today has been a sleep-in, stay in your gown, 3 naps kind of day---even if not sleeping, I’ve been drawn to the bed. Mama Davenport used to call it “take to the bed.” Lying there awake, I began to plan---1st clue that I’m no longer in Texas (Oz), I’m back in TN. (Kansas). A lot of what happened in Texas is already a blur, like a dream. Just 2 days ago I had sat on the end of the bed and read the Jesus Calling entry aloud to my friends. I had emphasized the phrases, “making things fit your plans” and “compulsive planning.” Then came the “kicker;” “A mind preoccupied with planning pays homage to the idol of control.”

I then read today’s entry---“Rest,” “wait on Me,” “be still,” “passive side of trusting” and “excessive planning.” Another kicker; “Your mind is so accustomed to this way of thinking, that you are only now becoming aware of how pervasive it is and how much it hinders your intimacy with me.”
Whoa---ever felt like someone was looking over your shoulder and straight into your thoughts/heart?
I repented of this tendency and began to resist it---and I wish this were the end of today’s blog---then you might think highly of me. But “the rest of the story” continued in the same position but along different lines.
Yesterday, Dr. Ha gave me permission to begin chewing. That’s BIG! Scrumptious, delectable, mouthwatering, yummy are some of my favorite “foodie” adjectives. I began to consider how I might enter into this new and exciting phase. Crunch came to mind---I do like something I can feel when I chew---it makes me realize I have eaten. Of course, I love sour--- pickled okra, grapefruit (a morning staple) and lemon in any form or fashion. I even like bitter when it refers to turnips and greens and dark chocolate. Salty might not be my first choice for this new phase because of some lip and mouth spots that are a little sensitive and still burn…..but I do so like salty---chips, popcorn and olives. Then, of course there is my sweet tooth---For 5+ weeks, I tried a variety of ways to poke sweet things down my throat---even trying to suck icing off of Mary Flo’s pumpkin cake with a straw. It was worth the try.

CONVICTION! What about the Lord and His food? Had I chewed on that? Didn’t I still need to “taste and see” that the Lord was good?” Had I already forgotten the rest of verse 8 in Psalm 34; “How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” His food satisfies the heart with gladness. (Acts 14:17) What about my declaration early on, that I ate His words and they delighted my heart?
I felt a word study coming on----
Sour--- "But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge." (Jeremiah 31:30) I might have to camp out here for awhile, but certainly I understand foods that put your teeth on edge---just like awareness of my own sin of “planning apart from Him” has done to me today. Trust me, my teeth are really sensitive these days---now if I can only get my heart into that condition/state of being.
Bitter---I’m sure my Jewish friends will remember these scriptures from the Pentateuch, first as they apply to the Exodus and then as the instructions for their Passover meals (Seder Supper) observed just this month. “They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” (Exodus 12:8)
“In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight, they shall observe it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” Numbers 9:11
Salty---"Can something tasteless be eaten without salt; Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?” (Job 6:6) “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”(Colossians 4: 6) Salt is my favorite spice/flavor enhancer---am I allowing the flavor of His life to enhance my life, so that others might see Him?
Sweet---How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103)

Just “food for thought” from me to you.

"My" Molly's Birtday

4/23/09 HAPPY 30th MY MOLLY!
Having called you Benjamin for 9 months, we rejoiced When Dr. Albritton told us that we had a girl. We actually asked him to check and be sure. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes,” was the first verse that came to mind. We have celebrated your arrival every day since and even used the verse when you married Corey. Today will be no different---we will just have more “boons” so Owen can join in as well.

Happy Spiritual Birthday to Nathan as well. My journal entry from 2007: Nathan invited Jesus into his heart today. I know no greater joy than this----salvation for my children and grandchildren.

Dotsy's Grateful Heart

4/22/09 Day in the Life of an A.D.D. blogger
As most of you know, one of my favorite subjects to teach is children’s literature. As I’ve said before, there’s just no such thing as a good book that is written only for children, If it’s well written, all readers can enjoy it or learn from it, regardless of age. Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book was the inspiration for this blog---with sincere apologies to Cynthia Rylant.
Just like Mr. Putter, I wanted to write---mystery book for him, the day’s blog for me. I had everything a writer needed; a quiet room, a journal and lots of colored pens, alongside my Bible, computer and jump drive. I thought and thought and nothing came to mind---except “Writing the Blog.” Pleased with that idea, I went down and brewed a cup of tea and got a high protein Ensure, chatted with Mary Flo and took coffee and tea up to JoLynn and Diane. I had spent approximately 2 minutes on the computer and an hour and a half on pre-breakfast. Returning to my quiet room, I read Jesus Calling and My Utmost for His Highest, jotted some notes in my journal and decided fresh air would do me good. I donned tennis shoes and my mask and left with friends for a morning stroll down Turtle Creek---and what a beautiful Texas spring morning it was!
Returning to my quiet room after my walk, I took my last antibiotic, rinsed my mouth and slathered my lips with bacitracin ointment. I read Chapter 3 in Timothy Keller’s, The Prodigal God. Then I opened my computer once again and began recharging it. The power cord to the computer was working; the power cord to my brain had fallen asleep….but my stomach was awake and talking to me. Breakfast at Kuby’s up in Snider Plaza seemed a great idea so once again, I set out with friends in tow. A nice long breakfast with mushed up eggs and grits eaten with an eensy white handled spoon, that I now carry with me everywhere, hit the spot. I was ready to return to the quiet room and write again---but first I had to buy an adorable light weight raspberry jacket at Unmistakably Molly and a kiddie lit book at the Learning Express toy store. Returning to the quiet room, I read the book to get some ideas for the blog and settled down to write. But writing is hard work, so I took a little nap.
Awakening, I showered and dressed and of course, put some self- tanning lotion on my legs. I almost felt like my mother, who in the midst of having a heart attack during her hot oil treatment, wouldn’t go to the hospital until she washed her hair---she wouldn’t dare go out “looking like that.”
Then I opened all the shutters to let in the light. Looking out the window at all the spring colors reminded me that Diane wanted to go to Sprinkles---so a quick car ride got us there. By this time, JoLynn remembered that we all needed to look for “raspberry and brown” clothes for the chosen color scheme of an upcoming event. We never found the clothes but we found a variety of raspberry and brown delights in the form of Celebrity Café cookies, donuts and cupcakes---all of which our bodies will now be wearing to said event.
Returning to the quiet room to a fully charged computer, I checked e-mails, made a few phone calls and wrote out a list of menu options for a take-out dinner from Mi Cocina in Highland Park Village. Then I had to put my feet up because all this blog writing was really wearing me out.
But what about writing the blog? I sat on the end of the bed with computer in my lap and with a tired hand, opened the blogspot document. There was the blog---already written. I had done it sometime earlier and completely forgotten about it. Gratitude welled up in my tired body and I thought about Mr. Putter. He never wrote his mystery novel but ended up writing a “list of good things” instead. His neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, told him not to worry. The world was full of mystery writers, she said, but writers of good things were few and far between. Mr. P was thrilled with her “review” because every writer and blogger loves a good review.
I did the same. I wrote a list of grateful things. I think I’ll call it Dotsy’s Grateful Heart List. That way if you ever “google” me you’ll find that you, my friend and reader, are on the list. If not, just know that you are there. It’s no accident that our paths have crossed, even if only in cyberspace. I pray that you will be as blessed by reading about my MAC journey as I have been by traveling it.
A good analogy would be that of birthing a baby---once the delivery is over, you tend to forget the pain and just focus on the blessing at hand. I, according to Dr. Saporito, have good statistical indicators that my Big MAC attack has been eradicated. Though there were some struggles and painful lessons along the way, all I can remember are the blessings. That in itself is a big blessing.

Q & A

4/21/09 Questions and Answers Because you asked………….

Biggest praise?---so many—But God………He took care of everything. I think Larry is grateful I didn’t lose my teeth—I’m grateful I never had to vomit when my mouth .. was sewn shut
Biggest physical struggle?---breathing
Weight loss?---considerable---no complaints there
Biggest Blessing?---Seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Family, friends, people from near and far … surrounded me with love and prayers. God continually used … His people to meet my every need.
Biggest surprise?---people read my blog---got so many e-mails on … avoiDANCE one, that was a real surprise
Food I ate the most?---Ensure and smoothies with soy protein---& …………every soup known to man, thanks to so many folks for those!
First soft food I ate?---mashed potatoes
Food I craved that I couldn’t eat?---salty and crunchy come to mind, like potato chips and popcorn
Anything I didn’t miss?—make-up—masked folks don’t need it
Any disappointments?---I never figured out a way to get Mary … Flo’s coconut cake into that syringe
Funny “masked” happening?—postal worker saying to me, “I’m okay with your disguise as long as you don’t hand me a note.”
What will I do first with my new mouth? (when I have permission)
Brush my teeth. Elmo kiddie toothbrush is waiting in the wings.
Quote received the most?---"During the storms of life we need to learn to "dance" in the rain."
Sweet compliment?---Nathan, “You have a mouth, Shug. You look really good.”
Sweet prayers?---Caleb’s “ouchie” prayer
Noah’s prayer that I wouldn’t be “ska-uhd” (scared) of the doctors
Precious memory?---TLC from family
Memorable messages?---people saying “Keep Dancing.”
1st verse sent to me and one I received most often? (same answer)
---Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Serene Sabbath and Medical Monday

Time with family and friends on Sunday and doctor appointments on Monday=No postings.