OK time for a CONTEST...the first person to answer this question correctly wins a Celebrate Cinch Sack full of goodies!
We've been on vacation since Saturday...
Typically we do this AT LEAST once a day on vacation...
It's Tuesday and we haven't done it yet...
What are we talking about?
Remember the first person to answer correctly WINS!
Celebrate!
Jay & Laura~~
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
I AM READING MORE AND DUSTING LESS
This came to my inbox from one of our favorite websites Mikey's Funnies
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip.
It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."
He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.
"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion."
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special. I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life.
I'm reading more and dusting less.
I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event--such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom.
I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary.
If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food.
I'm guessing--
I'll never know. It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with--someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write--one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is...a gift from God.
Enjoy today's gift~
Laura
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip.
It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."
He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.
"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion."
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special. I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life.
I'm reading more and dusting less.
I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event--such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom.
I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary.
If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food.
I'm guessing--
I'll never know. It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with--someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write--one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is...a gift from God.
Enjoy today's gift~
Laura
Monday, March 22, 2010
We get the nicest letters
One of the blessings of our line of work is to hear how the Lord is touching people. Here's a Facebook message we just received.
Hi Jay and Laura,
My husband and I bought your book at your Holland venue, last week...we decided we would read the book together, resulting in when he read a chapter; sitting in our favorite love seat (which has his/her sides) anyways, when we were done I would find the book sitting on my side of the couch, so we went on that way through the whole book....Finishing it today.
Normally, I would not write a "report" on something I read, but really felt I needed to after reading something that touched both of us deeply.
Our marriage is a second marriage for both of us, we will be married 2 years this June....knowing our marriage was blessed by God already, this book just edified that so perfectly for us....we both prayed for a spouse that resembled one defined in your book...and we knew we had it right, but did not realize HOW RIGHT:).
I discovered my husband IS a typical man and that is OK, I knew; but did not completely understand it...He discovered , there ARE FOUR WEEKS IN A MONTH :)....he always has handled that well but understands it more now....I asked him in the beginning (reading) what did you learn, he starts talking all about the divots, I thought Oh no, this is going to be a difficult read, I waited for him to finish, he then told me how this will help our marriage...it then became an easy read....:)
Laura, wow thank you for being you, sorry to say there is 2 of you and I am one of them :).on many levels..I now know I AM OK!...and I am blessed with a husband who has helped me see this and made me believe in myself again, he has spent 3 years helping me "retrain" my thoughts about myself, by showing me respect, love, and cherishing me...WOW am I BLESSED....
I am by no means a writer , but I hope I was able to express what your book has meant to us, I have an almost 18 year old son, who has been in a relationship for 3 years, and we both have suggested this be a must read book for his future...thank you all you both do.
In the end he WOULD take a bullet for me and I WILL follow him to the ends of the earth.....I should have known this from the beginning when he said(written by him) to me " If our love was like water, it would make Noah's flood look like a spring puddle"...
Blessings,
Dianne and Rick
Get your copy of He Said She Said here
Hi Jay and Laura,
My husband and I bought your book at your Holland venue, last week...we decided we would read the book together, resulting in when he read a chapter; sitting in our favorite love seat (which has his/her sides) anyways, when we were done I would find the book sitting on my side of the couch, so we went on that way through the whole book....Finishing it today.
Normally, I would not write a "report" on something I read, but really felt I needed to after reading something that touched both of us deeply.
Our marriage is a second marriage for both of us, we will be married 2 years this June....knowing our marriage was blessed by God already, this book just edified that so perfectly for us....we both prayed for a spouse that resembled one defined in your book...and we knew we had it right, but did not realize HOW RIGHT:).
I discovered my husband IS a typical man and that is OK, I knew; but did not completely understand it...He discovered , there ARE FOUR WEEKS IN A MONTH :)....he always has handled that well but understands it more now....I asked him in the beginning (reading) what did you learn, he starts talking all about the divots, I thought Oh no, this is going to be a difficult read, I waited for him to finish, he then told me how this will help our marriage...it then became an easy read....:)
Laura, wow thank you for being you, sorry to say there is 2 of you and I am one of them :).on many levels..I now know I AM OK!...and I am blessed with a husband who has helped me see this and made me believe in myself again, he has spent 3 years helping me "retrain" my thoughts about myself, by showing me respect, love, and cherishing me...WOW am I BLESSED....
I am by no means a writer , but I hope I was able to express what your book has meant to us, I have an almost 18 year old son, who has been in a relationship for 3 years, and we both have suggested this be a must read book for his future...thank you all you both do.
In the end he WOULD take a bullet for me and I WILL follow him to the ends of the earth.....I should have known this from the beginning when he said(written by him) to me " If our love was like water, it would make Noah's flood look like a spring puddle"...
Blessings,
Dianne and Rick
Get your copy of He Said She Said here
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
I swear I just BLINKED!
I promise I just blinked once and she went from daddy's little girl to daddy's gotta get a gun!
I know it's been said a thousand times before, but I'm reminded to relish every moment with my children...I want to laugh, linger and love like there's no tomorrow because soon I'll blink again and I'll be walking her down the aisle of a church and into the arms of some pervert!
In these days that seem so uncertain focus on the important relationships with which you've been blessed...show your kids how much you love them by giving them TIME...let them see how much you love your spouse by flirting in the kitchen and cuddling on the couch.
You were made to be a blessing so bless those nearest and dearest and when you blink you will have NO regrets!
I swear I just BLINKED!
Jay
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