HAVE YOU EVER?

Have you ever noticed something and thought, "wow...that's cool...I wonder when they added that/built that or whatever" ... only to find out it's been there for several months--or maybe several years?

Cathye: They've added a traffic light at the intersection of Southwest and Southland....finally. We've needed that; I've always had to watch really closely to be sure I turned in the right place.

Friend: Uh...Cathye...that's been there for several months now. But maybe you don't go that way very often.

Cathye: Yeah...that's it! I only drive down Southwest 2 to 4 days a day.

Definitely a "WELL, DUHHHHHHHHHHHH" moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sadly, not the first. Probably not the last)

GIFTS AND TALENTS

Yesterday afternoon I watched the DVD of the concert in Beijing showcasing Andrew Lloyd Webber's music. In fact, I watched it twice. The music was phenomenal! While I was soaking in all the gorgeous music (and singing along with some of the songs!), my thoughts drifted to the subject of "gifts and talents." I do truly believe that everyone is talented in some way, even though so many people feel totally worthless.

There were 2 main trains of thought along this track. The first one was how incredibly talented some people are...the musicians...the vocalists...ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER...and how very blessed we are that they have chosen to share their gifts to enrich our lives.

The second thought was the memory of my journey through the maze of "gifts and talents." I love music. Love, love, love music! I love contemporary Christian music. I have been to many church services where the music was more inspirational than the sermon. (shhhhh...don't tell that to any pastors.) I wanted in the worst way for my God-given talents to be musical. I wanted to share the songs that meant so very much to me. I wanted to bless people with beautiful piano music. But God had other ideas. I have an "ok for choir if standing beside a strong singer" voice, and I never had the opportunity to take piano lessons as a child. For many years hearing all of that wonderful music made me sad. Sad because I so wanted to be able to produce those sounds but couldn't. I missed a lot of joy holding onto MY idea of what my gifts should be.

That seems to happen to a lot of folks. Lots of quotes about it. Lots of stories. But what it boils down to is this: God's ideas aren't always the same as ours. His timetable is almost NEVER the same as ours. But He gives each of us awesome gifts and talents and blesses us as we share them with others. It took me a long time to "live" that truth. I hope you're smarter and quicker than I am.

SUNFLOWER SMILES

One of the advantages of going to the Saturday contemporary service at church is that it leaves my Sunday mornings free. This morning I headed out (all the way to my next door neighbor's yard)to take a few pictures. I just love sunflowers; they are so bright and cheery!!! Here are a few to bring you some Sunday Sunflower Smiles.

Lovies and Huggies!!!!

CLUELESSNESS CONFIRMED

Now and then things happen that assure me that my "suspicion" that I'm clueless is indeed true! This morning as my friend and I were doing our morning rounds at the mall, we noticed that there was a long line in the middle of the mall...strange considering the stores didn't open for another 45 minutes. Well, second time we passed the line, my curiosity got the better of me...I stopped and asked one of the "residents" of the line what was going on. IPHONE..2ND GENERATION or whatever it's called. She said some of the people had been waiting since 10:30 last night...outside, no less. I mean, I can understand that happening in the big cities...but in our little podunkville??????????? Did I have any clue the new IPhone was coming out today???????????? uhhh...that would be a negative.

But, I did get a really great laugh when one of the news stories on our evening news alerted everyone to the fact that there is no 3G service in our little town...or in any of the surrounding towns, for that matter. I won't lead you to believe that I have a clue as to what 3G service is (I apparently wasn't listening very closely during the news), but I did grasp the reality that part of the IPhone "stuff" doesn't work here. Well, duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!! Don't you think that perhaps they could have figured out that little tidbit of information BEFORE all of the phones were sold?????????? Hmmmmmmmmmmm...perhaps I'm not the clueless one after all!!!

EMBRACING THE TRUTH

I'm just as honest as the next guy; in fact, possibly more so than most. Not being told the truth has always been one of my pet peeves...just ask my children. One of the main reasons I hate lies so much is because once told, it calls into question the credibility of all other comments that come from the person who told the lie. At least in my mind, it does. All of that means, I suppose, that I "embrace" truth.

Gotta tell ya, though--there are some truths that I don't WANT to "embrace." I've started walking with my friend at the mall. Does it affect how I feel and how much energy I have??? Uh huh. Have I always been told that exercise gives you energy??? Uh huh. Have I proven over and over again that it's true??? Uh huh. But I don't WANT to "embrace" that "truth!" I want to feel the benefits without doing the walking. Possibly I can "alter" this truth to make it more to my liking??? Probably not??? Well DRAT and RATS!!!

Have I also always been told that what I eat affects the way I feel...that the more carbs I eat, the more I crave carbs??? Uh huh. Do I feel better when I "clean up my act" and eliminate sugar and massive carbs from my diet??? Uh huh. Do I still want junk food and sweets??? UH HUH!!! DANG IT ALL!!! Another "truth" I don't want to "embrace."

I've hit the age when I need to "grow up" and be careful what I put in my mouth. I need to accept the fact that sitting in the recliner blogging on my laptop doesn't count as "exercise." I have to acknowledge that the eggs and milk in homemade ice cream do not make it a nutritional breakfast food. I guess I have to accept that truth is truth is truth, and if I "embrace" part of it, I have to "embrace" all of it. I just need to "bite the bullet" and do what I know I should do. BUMMER...and...SIGH!