Good morning! So many things have happened since I last posted--because almost every detail of my life has changed since then (February 2, 2011--date of last post), I thought a 'fresh look' might be exciting and fun. I struggled and thought yesterday about my focus...should this blog only have one theme/focus...or should I discuss the various family happenings...or should I discuss ministry...what in the world? For now, let's just stick with my perspective on random things that come up in my day(s)!
Did you know? Borders is going out of business. This saddens me, for it has always been a place I love to 'get lost in' (especially the one on Michigan Ave in Chicago--multiple floors of BOOKS). And, because we are currently far away from Chicago, we are frequenting the one that is about fifteen minutes from our home. I haven't met too many people here, yet. Mostly because the whole time we've lived here I have been either studying, traveling or writing (and re-writing!)
I find myself in random conversations with people, while we wait in line, or wait on a table at a restaurant, or in Borders! So while visiting our Borders yesterday, a lady asked me to help her find a book in the section we were browsing! Her daughter needed it for class. At first we were very guarded about our backgrounds, but then, when we talked about our daughters--we both just kept talking! She has four daughters, much closer in age to each other than ours are--but it was good to relate. We talked about many things...how religion is not as important as relationship with God...how being a parent is not for wimps...having so many children put us on the same page.
When she grew up, her religious practices kept her from being accepted in "the South", and now, it is hard for her to be accepted because she has four children. And, by accepted, I am talking about by other women. That's right, just admit it, as women, we look at each other and sum it up, don't we? This was the nicest lady, but most women at her daughter's school won't even talk to her. (I tried to explain this to my husband who was dumbfounded by the non-acceptance thing) But, if you are a woman, especially a woman with kids, you know what I am talking about.
In my experience, as a mom of five kids, women with fewer children (two or less) either admire you and want to know how you do it 'all'...or they have no time for you because they either think you're crazy OR they do not see the point of having more than two (or one, or none!)--most people don't want to 'do crazy,' so they just smile politely and ignore you! I turned 50 this year, and celebrated my 30th anniversary...by the world's standards, I am certifiable! But, I do have a brain, and a voice, and sometimes, I use both! I also love LOVE Love being a mom, and by this point in my life, I love being a grandma...'G-Mar'...the bigger the family the better!--because we are to model, in our families, what the church is supposed to be...
...It is so sad that we do not just press in to one another to find gifts and talents that we can't see on the surface! And, by the way, we never did find the book the lady was looking for...but it suddenly didn't matter, because we had a very real conversations and she was able to vent for awhile--priceless!
Did you know? Borders is going out of business. This saddens me, for it has always been a place I love to 'get lost in' (especially the one on Michigan Ave in Chicago--multiple floors of BOOKS). And, because we are currently far away from Chicago, we are frequenting the one that is about fifteen minutes from our home. I haven't met too many people here, yet. Mostly because the whole time we've lived here I have been either studying, traveling or writing (and re-writing!)
I find myself in random conversations with people, while we wait in line, or wait on a table at a restaurant, or in Borders! So while visiting our Borders yesterday, a lady asked me to help her find a book in the section we were browsing! Her daughter needed it for class. At first we were very guarded about our backgrounds, but then, when we talked about our daughters--we both just kept talking! She has four daughters, much closer in age to each other than ours are--but it was good to relate. We talked about many things...how religion is not as important as relationship with God...how being a parent is not for wimps...having so many children put us on the same page.
When she grew up, her religious practices kept her from being accepted in "the South", and now, it is hard for her to be accepted because she has four children. And, by accepted, I am talking about by other women. That's right, just admit it, as women, we look at each other and sum it up, don't we? This was the nicest lady, but most women at her daughter's school won't even talk to her. (I tried to explain this to my husband who was dumbfounded by the non-acceptance thing) But, if you are a woman, especially a woman with kids, you know what I am talking about.
In my experience, as a mom of five kids, women with fewer children (two or less) either admire you and want to know how you do it 'all'...or they have no time for you because they either think you're crazy OR they do not see the point of having more than two (or one, or none!)--most people don't want to 'do crazy,' so they just smile politely and ignore you! I turned 50 this year, and celebrated my 30th anniversary...by the world's standards, I am certifiable! But, I do have a brain, and a voice, and sometimes, I use both! I also love LOVE Love being a mom, and by this point in my life, I love being a grandma...'G-Mar'...the bigger the family the better!--because we are to model, in our families, what the church is supposed to be...
...It is so sad that we do not just press in to one another to find gifts and talents that we can't see on the surface! And, by the way, we never did find the book the lady was looking for...but it suddenly didn't matter, because we had a very real conversations and she was able to vent for awhile--priceless!
3 comments:
Love the fresh look and enjoyed hearing from you again. Your experience in Borders sounds like many of mine....you can tell we are related! I find that many people are just waiting for someone to talk to and often it helps if it is a stranger...and no one is stranger than me! haha
Thanks, Jill...and yes, I can see you doing the exact same thing...talk and talk and talk! Thanks for the encouragement!
You truly are blooming where you are planted. SO happy for you! Message me and catch me up on jobs and all. MISS YOU SO MUCH! LOVE YOU! :)
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