PB & J Personality Test

Ok, this is kind of silly... yet surprisingly accurate... enjoy!

What Your Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich Means

Your eating style is reserved. You are a bit of a fussy eater, and you have very specific ways you like your food prepared. You don't really have a sweet tooth. If you go for dessert, you tend to go for something light. Your taste in food tends to be quite eclectic and wide. You are an adventurous eater, and you like many types of cuisines. You belong to a class that's all your own. You resist rules and traditions of any sort. You are a tough person who isn't afraid to live life fully. There isn't a lot that scares you. Precise and controlled, you can be a bit anal retentive when it comes to how you like things. You're definitely a perfectionist.

What Does Your Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Say About You?

National Grandparents Day

Happy National Grandparents Day to all those wonderful people that make our life and our children's life so special... This one is for you Grandma :D

My paternal grandmother is Ella McCann, and she is my hero. Born in Banff, Scotland on the 31st of July, 1915, a middle child with no father (another blog another day), one of 10 children and as strong in character as she is tender of heart, her love for family knows no bounds. Grandma only has 5 grandchildren but we, each of us, love her and can only hope to emulate her. Giving in all ways, loving all and a never ending spirit of forgiveness are just a few of the ways to describe who my Grandmother is.

As tough as iron, Grandma made it through many hardships without ever giving up her amazingly positive outlook on life. Yet with that toughness, Grandma is also the gentlest woman I know. Family is everything to her and she would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. Growing up going to Grandma's meant lots of hugs & kisses, hot scones off the griddle with butter and jam, her amazing Scottish shortbread and always time to play a game of chinese checkers. The candy bowls were always full of scotch mints or hard candies and her heart was, and still is, always full of love.

Grandma has survived all but one of her siblings, including their spouses, her husband and soulmate (she still celebrates their anniversary after nearly 30 years of his passing) and one child, my own daddy. Her heart broke with the loss of every single one of those family members and she thinks of each one of them all the time. Yet she continues to shine through each day with an unending sense of wonder at the abundance of joy in her life.

At 93 she is of sound mind in an unfortunately not very sound body anymore. However she did live in her own house alone until she was 91, quite an accomplishment and one she can be proud of. Overall a lovely woman that all who know love her.

And although I am often told I am like her in so many ways, I can only hope and strive to be 1/2 the person my Grandma is. Grandma... this day I dedicate to you, my hero! I love you.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,..."

"... for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~Matthew 6:34

So I've been browsing around the blogging world, it's alot of fun, finding new Blogs to read, learning about people, and their passions. I kinda collect Blogs and enjoy reading those of my friends the most. Yesterday, I came across Ryan Detzel's blogger "this is reverb...". Now I don't know Ryan at all aside from being a brother in Christ, but found that I really enjoyed reading his stuff... it wasn't anything significant that I can pinpoint that attracted me other than his obvious love for God & his lovely family, his zest for life and his sense of humour... funny guy :D! Gotta love, Me First and the Gimme Gimme's... lol. Ryan's writing is excellent and interesting... but his teaching? Wow!

Now I really know how I ended up on his blog, I was lead there by God, because God wanted me to hear what He was talking to Ryan about. All I can say again is, "WOW"! God's timing never ever ceases to amaze me... The message Ryan linked to from today's post was the most significant message I've heard for a long time for me personally and I so seriously needed to hear it. I needed a reminder, and I needed that reminder right now... today. That I am a Princess in the Kingdom, daughter of God, loved by Christ, my King. Take a moment now, or when you're done reading to listen for yourself this life changing lesson.


I have been living in a spirit of poverty, believing that I am insignificant, that I don't really have any value, that I am not good enough; not good enough for my family, for friends, my life partner or for God. God made us in His image - in order that we may love Him. Yet we don't like ourselves very much, sabotaging relationships with ourselves, those close to us and with God, becoming what we believe ourselves to be (self-fulfilling prophecy). Until we can love ourselves as God does, we cannot properly and unconditionally love others or God.


I am going to join Ryan, I'm "giving it up"... giving up focusing on my downfalls; "taking off the spirit of poverty, taking off the spirit of scarcity, taking off the spirit of not being good enough". He who knows the number of hairs on my head**, loves me, chose me, a daughter of God, descendant of Abraham. I will still come up short, I am not perfect, but my true identity, the ultimate truth, is proclaimed by the most High King, I am His Princess in the Royal Kingdom of Heaven. Who am I to disagree with my maker, my Saviour, the God of the Universe, Creator of all? How can I tell Him, "you're not right about me"?

I am going to set my worries aside; for if God feeds the birds in the air, if He clothes the field's in lilies, then what more can and will He do for me? He knows my needs and the desires of my heart, He will be and has been, there for me, moulding and creating me for His purpose; His fingerprints there to remind me He's not done with me, that I am a work in progress...

"Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what hes been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art"
~ Steven Curtis Chapman

Take time to see yourself through the eyes of God... God don't make junk! You are a masterpiece, made in His image, "covered with the fingerprints of God."

*Matthew 6: 25 - 34
**Matthew 10: 24 -31
listen to Ryan here -- and to think this is only part 1... can't wait for part 2 :D
find the book Ryan mentions here -- "The Supernatural Ways of Royalty: How Living Supernaturally Will Take You from the Prison to the Palace"

Laundry, Laundry and More Laundry

Ok, everyone knows how much I despise dislike enjoy love doing laundry... well perhaps not everyone. But my entire readership of what... three people... I'm sure they are very aware of my love-hate relationship with that wonderful chore. So, being the organized person I am... I decide to go through boxes of hand-me-downs for the boys, a sensible 3 days before school is to start. See, very organized aren't I? I also never procrastinate nor am I ever sarcastic **ahem**. Anyway, so I haul out said boxes and figure, "oh, we'll just sort through it all and put what they can wear in their dresser drawers"... ha... yeah... sure we will.

First box reveals some clothes that will fit, some that they have already outgrown, socks that were not paired PRIOR to storage and therefore missing matches on several, and other assorted items. Assorted items include, lost Lego pieces, a bag of electronic cables (wth?), KinderEgg toy pieces, and a bunch of other crap not even worth mentioning. BTW, this particular box is a lovely plastic rubbermaid type container with a lid and wheels.

The 2nd box is a cardboard moving box, well past it's life, falling apart at the corners and the packing tape is drying out and coming off. Only clothes in here, well... sort of, and mouse droppings.... ughhhh, so now we get to the laundry part. I'm thinking the clothes from the 1st box can just go in the boys drawers... ha.... yeah... sure. So not noticing the aforementioned mouse doo-doo at first, I start adding the clothes that fit to the first piles... then I see those lovely little turds... mocking me and my love for laundry. At this point I've realised that I now not only need to wash the clothes that are in that box, but also from the 1st box because... mice don't just defecate, they also pee and although we can't see it necessarily, oh it's there. Ok, maybe I'm a bit anal and the 1st batch of clothes is still fine... but... ewwww, it's rodent poo, and pee... eeeeek, yuck.

Now, on top of the hundreds several loads of laundry in hampers I had managed to ignore most of the summer as the boys dressed in shorts all summer, I have added an additional 5... count 'em... 5 freakin loads of laundry. And this is in the large capacity front load Kenmore Washer to boot... **sigh**. (There are at least two hampers and two garbage bags of bedding alone that needed to be washed prior to all this as well).

So, I have clothes strewn all about my living room, they are piled on the coffee table, on top my crap junk magazine & book basket, on the love seat, 1/2 the sofa, in the plastic box, a laundry basket and on the floor. Just a bit of laundry, no big deal (whatever)... Then on Saturday, we head into the city to do a quick pack, clean and move of ds21's things... quick... ha... yeah... sure. Well, that's for another blog if I bother, but I managed to bring home 3 more garbage bags of laundry, mostly bedding... will it ever end???

Well, I must say I am frustrated and feeling a tad overwhelmed with all this laundry on top of all the other crap stuff chores I need to do and get caught up on... and then today I was cleaning out emails on my yahoo account (not procrastinating at all, really... ha... yeah... sure) and came across this lovely gem. Please take a moment to read and perhaps you, like me, will not feel so bad about our laundry woes after all.

Washing Clothes Recipe

Imagine having a recipe for this ! Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave a new bride the following recipe: This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all.

WASHING CLOTHES Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water. Sort things, make 3 piles 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags. To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water. Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don’t boil just wrench and starch.

Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch. Hang old rags on fence. Spread tea towels on grass. Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. Turn tubs upside down. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

Paste this over your washer and dryer. Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks.

First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer, also your toilet—those two-holers used to get mighty cold! For you non-southerners -wrench means rinse.

And... when you're all done with the wash, it's time to make music... Washboard as a Musical Instrument ... better than any rock song you can think of I'm sure ;).

Blessings,
Shannon

Wordless Wednesday... 30 July 08

"Ordinary Miracles"

I am going to do my best to change the way I look at my life and the everyday occurrences in it. From really taking time to appreciate the special moments to letting go of all those little irritations that we can either do nothing about at that moment, or are just simply part of everyday living. I think we make life more complicated that in needs to be; at least I KNOW I do. "Stop and smell the roses" is so cliché, yet how many of us really do take time to stop and just enjoy a really great moment. And then take that moment and share it. Don't be greedy and hold it to yourself! Tell someone, even if it's your preschooler, an email to mom, or post it on your facebook status ;). You could even share with your favourite animal friend. I think dogs, cats, horses and other animals living within our family lives comprehend more than we give them credit for... but that's another blog for another day ;).

We spend so much time complaining and sweating "the small stuff". If we have a bad day - spilled coffee down the front of our shirt, forgot to charge the cell phone last night, a traffic jam made us late for work, the power is off so we can't heat up lunch and have to eat it cold, and road construction made the drive home long tonight - then we inevitably take it out on those that mean the most to us. I think we all need a “trouble tree” to hang our frustrations from that day on when we get home. When we meet up with friends how often do we share the great things that happened to us since we last spoke? Or do we bitch about the guy that just cut us off in traffic on the way over? Imagine how good you feel when you put a smile on someone’s face by a kind word or a happy story... wouldn’t it be great to strive to do that all the time?

Every day we wake up and get out of bed to get that cup of coffee... is an ordinary miracle. A closet full of clothes to change into and washer for the one that is soiled, we are so lucky to have such luxuries... just another ordinary miracle. A dead cell phone battery could be a peaceful and quiet drive to work before the stresses of the day begin... just another ordinary miracle. The vehicle we drove to work with means we have transportation and the freedom to go anywhere we want to... just another ordinary miracle. 99.9% of the time we have electricity to run our appliances, our computers, to illuminate our nights and we have food on our plate, cold or warm, the variety is endless... just another ordinary miracle. Construction work on roads, buildings, or even building hamburgers at McDonalds means people have employment, today they will not go hungry... just another ordinary miracle. The long spring rains means that the crops will be strong and healthy... just another ordinary miracle today.

I am going to do my best to stop whining about what a crappy day, week, and month it's been. I want to be the one that my friends walk away from the conversation with a smile not just on their face but in their heart. Not because I did anything extraordinary, but because I shared my ordinary miracles with them and took the time to listen to theirs. I already do my best to not to take for granted that we have a good house to live in and always have food to put on our plate; now I also want to do my best to appreciate, really and truly appreciate, all the ordinary miracles.

I was not in a very good mood when I got up this morning. Not that I was grumpy, but more melancholy at how certain areas of my life have turned out not quite as I had designed or anticipated (Note the emphasised “I”). I wasn't growly at anyone, I didn't yell at my boys, in fact I was more gentle than I normally would be in the mornings. But the beautiful sunshine couldn't do it, the blooming flowers weren't workin' it, even the happy puppy couldn't get me to put a smile on my face.

After dropping the kids at school I felt the need to go for a little drive with Sarah (Sarah McLachlan that is, her new album) and just a hint of a smile started to tug at the sides of my lips. Music, whatever is your favourite... another ordinary miracle. Once I arrived at home I set about doing my outside chores, with Sarah now happily installed on my mobile phone. Enjoying the warm sun and fresh rain washed air with my Caoimhe (puppy) at my side that hint of a smile started to grow. Then, while taking care of my horse, Dee, I decided to crawl under the fence and head out in the pasture to give pup some more walk time... This girl that has spent the past 32 years dreaming of living in the country; 32 years of praying that one day she would have her very own horse; this girl went for a walk in the pasture, with Sarah singing “Rainbow Connection” (this is not Sarah but my favourite version) in her ear, a sweet pup on one side and a beautiful black mare following right at her shoulder on the other side, no leads, no prompting. And that hint of a smile grew into one huge grin that for that moment in time, nothing could erase. “Just another ordinary miracle today...” ;). God is great!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." ~unkown

Setbacks and Perseverance

What an eventful week this has been. Over the weekend I made some major life decisions that I’m freaked out about very proud of and looking forward to with great excitement and eagerness. I’ll share more of that after I get settled, once the move is over and the new plans are set in motion.

Starting this week out on Sunday with great dread terror anxiety anticipation of preparing for “The Great Migration” on the coming Saturday, we dug right in and attacked the upstairs with a whirlwind of packing. Finally feeling like we were getting somewhere by Monday I was excited to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

And then… Monday evening the throat starts to ache, then hurt, then burn and I dared to take a peek at it and OMG! No!!!! Spots!!! That’s ok, we can deal with this, no big deal. Take some Cold F/X, top up the vitamin C, can’t be strep, just finished antibiotics for strep last week for crying out loud. S’All good. We can do this, I’m a tough biotch!!! No stupid sore throat can bring me down!!! Besides I’ve only got four days until “The Great Migration”. I am woman, hear me Roar!!!

Tuesday morning, as I slowly drag my lazy butt cheerfully bounce out of bed, I think to myself, ‘what’s that I feel? Severe pain in the left tonsil area? Nope, can’t be’. I can ignore that, no problem. Body aching like someone beat me with a baseball bat, I can ignore that too. S’All good. We’ll just pop into town, grab some natural antibiotics… don’t want to be on pharmaceutical ones again too soon. And this shall all clear up no problem, right? Long story short… Wednesday morning I end up in ER with a tennis ball implanted in the left side of my throat and sunk down the side of my neck. The result of which left me so weak that standing for any period of time was difficult at best. Some good strong antibiotics combined with the natural ones (in theory anyway) and the improvement in the pain dept anyway was already noticeable by Thursday afternoon. Lock jaw on the other hand continues to ensure that my waist line keeps shrinking… who’s complaining? Not I **wink**… LOL!

The week for packing was definitely short lived and completely shot out of the water after Monday though. By Tuesday afternoon I knew there was no way on God’s green earth I was going to be able to get the house ready for “The Great Migration” on Saturday, never mind the buyer’s possession date of April 1^st. So with great frustration I call my Realtor and great friend and whisper rasp request a change of possession by one week. But in the words of the dear Scarlett O'Hara, "After all... tomorrow is another day."

In the midst of all this an insufferable obnoxious user old roommate* showed up looking for belongings from my trailer and my storage unit. She gave me no notice, just called and said, ‘hi I’m here I want my things’; Expecting me to jump for joy at her arrival, rushing to do her bidding with expressions of elation. Now remember I’m quite ill and can barely take care of my own family right now, never mind moving furniture and boxes unrelated to my own move. I did manage to put her off for most of the week, however with her cunning ability to twist reality she convince the storage unit owner to cut the lock on Friday. At this point I was ready to rush off and hide at a friend’s house to avoid her invading my home as well, but decided it was time to rid myself of the unwanted human clutter in my life. I was feeling much stronger and with a clenched grin I finally bid the obnoxious abuser old chum and her rubbish cast-offs junk furniture and other items stored in my home and storage unit, a finale adieu.

On a sad note, this same Friday brought some sad news for a very good friend that has already gone through more than a person should have to over the past few months. While still away from her home at her favourite grandmother’s funeral she received news that her home had burned down. The blessing is that no one was hurt in the blaze, most of the family was away at the time and the two that were home that night got out in time. My heart goes out to them as they begin the rebuilding of not just their house and home but their lives in the midst of already grieving for the loss of their beloved grandmother. Chris, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family constantly. Despite the physical distance, I will be doing whatever I can to help from here. God bless you my dear friend, I admire your strength, perseverance and courage, I love you.

Blessings to all, may Angels Watch Over You!!!

*This is a long story going on over a period since late 2006 that I shall not bore you with. However suffice to say that I have never been so badly hurt or so poorly used by someone that called me a friend. Let me rephrase that, at least not since junior high school!!!! Considering I am now 39 and although like to joke about not being grown up, still consider myself fairly mature, but this woman is more than 11 years my senior!!! Go figure... live and learn!

The Healing Begins

----------------
Now playing: Enya - 09.Ebudae
via FoxyTunes
This evening I feel a definite improvement in my literal pain in the left side of my butt. A day of forced rest yesterday by my body, if you can't walk to the end of your own yard you sure ain't going very far. A very late nite soak in a hot bath was helpful. Today ice, then heat for treatment, resting more this morning (Wed) and then took it easy in the afternoon but got a bit done at the old place still. But let me tell you, you try pushing a clutch in with a sore @ss... that is no picnic!!! LOL!!!

Healing works in so many ways, it works on our bodies when we've been injured, on our hearts when they are broken, on our minds when we are stressed. Rest is one of the most important aspects of healing; physical rest, rest of mind, rest of spirit. Physical rest is relatively easy, given the opportunity, sit, lay down and if able, sleep. How do each of us find rest in our mind and in our spirit though?

I find my mind and spiritual healing in so many places... God foremost leading me to what I need most at that moment. Laughter when I'm feeling down because of some real or misconceived hurt. Beautiful music such as the Enya song I posted yesterday, giving my mind a soothing rest from hectic thoughts or a hectic day. A lovely sunset to remind me of His greatness, the photo above is the sun setting below the Chinook arch taken from my deck this evening. And today, my mind and spirit healing came from the blog of a friend, a gentle reminder to stop getting in my own way, to dance to my rainsong instead of stepping on my own toes, stumbling rather than dancing through parts of my life journey.

And here I sit, once again ridiculously late when I've been told to get to bed early and... oops... rest so I can heal my sore butt.. LOL! But writing is another form of rest and healing for me and I can say I've also provided a valuable service, helping any insomniacs out there foolish enough to read this to get some rest too ;)! So rest well and sweet blessed dreams! ;-)

One by One

"One by One" ~ Enya

Music: Eithne Ní Bhraonáin
Lyrics: Roma Ryan

Here am I
Yet another goodbye!
He says Adiós, says Adiós,
And do you know why
She won't break down and cry?
- she says Adiós, says Adiós, Goodbye.

One by one my leaves fall.
One by one my tales are told.

It's no lie
She is yearning to fly.
She says Adiós, says Adiós,
And now you know why
He's a reason to SIGH
- she says Adiós, says Adiós, Goodbye.

One by one my leaves fall.
One by one my tales are told.

My, oh my!
She was aiming too high.
He says Adiós,
And now you know why
There's no moon in her sky
- he says Adiós, says Adiós, Goodbye.

No Goodbyes
For love brightens their eyes
Don't say Adiós, say Adiós,
And do you know why
There's a love that won't die?
- don't say Adiós, say Adiós, Goodbye.

- don't say Adiós, say Adiós, Goodbye.
- don't say Adiós, say Adiós, Goodbye.
- don't say Adiós, say Adiós, Goodbye.

A Hitch in my Git-Along

Why is it that just when you need it the most, IT being energy, health, a sound mind and body, all of the above, or at least good portions of it, decide to break down? Ok, the only part broken down is the sound body right now, but that in itself affects the energy & health, and the knowledge that I really need to be doing well is driving me CRAZY!!!! Oh I know what you're saying, soooo, "Silence... I keel you!!!"... LOL!!! We all know I'm already crazy!

"A hitch in my git-along", do you remember that old expression? I use it rarely and only when I'm walking funny for some reason. I have found out it can either mean something is hurting and not working right, or it can mean something's been thwarted, depending on where you are from. I am thinking this is accurate in both definitions right now for me :S.

Two weeks ago tomorrow I was thrown from my (hopefully) future horse... twice!!! Ok, don't ask, yes twice... you know the old adage, "you've gotta get back in the saddle." The only thing... there was no saddle, therein lays the trouble, hard to stay seated on an upset horse without a saddle... long story and I won't bore you with the details. So I am in the healing process and somehow along the way that has included a pulled muscle below my left hip. So now in addition to the back I fell so ungracefully upon, I have this lovely, crazy walk that seems to be getting worse since it started hurting this past Friday.

All this would ordinarily not be that big an issue except for one itty bitty tiny little issue, I have to pack my entire house and move out in THREE weeks!!! This in itself is all great news, but holy gotalot to do Batman! So, I certainly do have something hurting and it is not working right, but it is also thwarting the rather important activity of packing and dejunking my old home. It is also thwarting my desire to train for an upcoming fund raiser, a Mother's Day Run that I've signed up for... and so the saying goes... A Hitch in my git-along, it means so much more to me now. So here is praying for a little less hitch tomorrow ;). Have a blessed day!!!