toadstools & the queen

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Photo Courtesy of Kristyn Brown Photography

An anxious man once advised:

“All I can tell you is exactly what my father-in-law advised me early in my own marriage:  “You have a choice to make, you either get on that train or you get out of the way because this train is not stopping.” And just so you know…it never will.” 

Moral of the story: A train’s tightly shackled caboose always follows along…because it can’t go anywhere without it.

Readings of the day for Friday, February 5, 2016.

Gospel Reading

Mark 6:14-29 (RSV)

King Herod heard of it; for Jesus’ name had become known.  Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.”  But others said, “It is Elijah.”  And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”  But when Herod heard of it he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”  For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her.  For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him.  But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe.  When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly.  But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee.  For when Herodias’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.”  And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”  And she went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”  And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”  And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.  And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head.  He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.  When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

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Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Divine Love was found in the friends who came to gather what remained.

hugs n’ blessings to all who receive mercy,

for the sake of his sorrowful passion,

from the one True Prince of heaven.

 

i will ‘to-do’ it!

it’s the monday giggles…

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Photo Courtesy of Pinterest

Our daughter is getting married this year.

Hence, Emily Post (the queen of etiquette,) has become my new BFF.

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My Blue Book of Etiquette.

And even though we have never met…

I love Emily! 

She keeps me on track. She keeps me motivated.

She answers my questions when I do not know what to do!

And even when I may decide not to follow her sound advice (which is often,) she continues to applaud my efforts in this mother-of-the-bride role.

Yes, I love Emily!

Because she approves of our daughter’s glitter and sparkle and most definately understands the important etiquette of bedazzling one’s straight-jacket too!

 

Here is the first piece of wisdom she shared with me:

“Great news: Your daughter or son is getting married!

Before you do anything else, take a moment to savor the thrill of this great news.

Finished? Good. Now roll up your sleeves—because whether you are deeply involved in every aspect of planning the wedding or the bride and groom prefer to rely on you as a sounding board while making the major decisions themselves, it’s likely that you’re going to find yourself juggling the roles of adviser, therapist, communications hub, and trouble-shooter. You’ll need to be able to:

Keep the planning process on track without nagging.
Offer guidance without being pushy.
And be a rock of supportive encouragement—even if you disagree with the couple on a particular decision.

All this, of course, is in addition to any specific parental responsibilities that you take on, such as throwing an engagement party, spreading the word about gift registries, contributing to the guest list, bonding with your daughter or son’s new in-laws, arranging a bridal shower, negotiating sticky family situations, and welcoming guests at the big event itself.”

Now…if I could simply get my new BFF Emily  “to actually to-do-it-too!”

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Bridal Shower invites go out!

 

We watched her play in the sandbox,

lose her first tooth,

go on her first date,

graduate from high school

and

live on her own for the very first time.

Now our little girl isn’t so little anymore — and she’s getting married!  

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Best Dad Ever.

And so we’ve been reliving the memorable moments in her life with fondness and looking forward to the days ahead as our daughter becomes a wife …

and maybe one day, God willing, even a mother.

I hopity-hope Emily still approves of glitter for that too!

hugs n’ blessings filled with the kind of fondness that sticks to your heart

like glitter on paper!

Whispers.

Today is 3hugs&blessings Thursday and I can bearly stand it!

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I love pausing in my week, on THIS day (before I am engulfed in all the plans for the Weekend) to reflect on the things I have scooped into the “grateful  pile.”  This Thursday of Thankfulness has developed in a twist-over-a-twirl way.

Spending a little time devoted to ‘blog-reading’ via The Reader, I discovered what a vanilla-esque life I live compared to the vibrant lives I was discovering, through the various posts in the que.  By the time my reading had completed I pushed back, palms against the temples, to rub away the gloom! I had become grumbly-grumpy and not being fond of the agitation that was clump-lumping together I collected myself, my plaid-fall coat, my award-winning (best golden-retriever in the Universe) dog, Helen, and went for a walk.IMG_6478

Three steps away from the driveway and the thorn-in-my brain, agitating thought, became clear; “I live a small life.”  IMG_6583

“Humph!”

I haven’t been to the Rain Forests of Zimbabwe.

I haven’t inoculated babies in Berma.

And I’ve never been commissioned (or been brave enough) to do a chalk-drawing in the middle of the streets of Chicago!

So what’s there to be grateful for???? My ‘pile of gratitude’ suddenly seemed sadly insignificant.

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“Oh, Bother!”

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With each step I began listing in my head the things I had collected in this weeks pile, in hopes of extracting 3 at least ‘medium-than-life’ things I would lift up in Thanksgiving.  Before I realized it…I had walked over four blocks, across 3, back another four toward my home.  As I walked around the final bend to approach our driveway Helen & I came to an abrupt halt IMG_6594when I recognized I had walked this entire distance without a single pause in my mental accounting of blessings, over the course of this one week!  I Giggled as I walked up the driveway, bent down to unleash Helen, then paused to whisper in her ear…

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“We may have a small life compared to most Helen, but it certainly is bountiful!

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17

For These hugs n’ 3 blessings I give Thanks!

*The women I shared a lunch with, the women I prayed with, and a God who brought us all together.

*All the beautiful spaces & places & people from our hometown who have been so wonderful to work with in the planning of our daughter & future son-in-law’s wedding.

*The forever gift my grandmother gave me when she taught me how to crochet, and the joy of now crocheting items for our grand-daughter!

whispering 3hugs&blessings to you, in whatever you do too!