Romance is Dead, and I Don't Feel So Good Myself: The Simple Woman's Daybook

If you would like to join in and post your own Daybook, please head on over to visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

 

For Today: Sunday, June 28, 2020

Looking Out My Window ... Not a good day for me to look out the window.  I've got a hormone-induced migraine-type headache, so this bright beautiful day will have to wait until the medicine kicks in.

I am Thinking...About one of my favorite books.  Lori Wick's Bamboo and Lace was published in 2001.  As soon as our library offered a copy for check out, I read it.  Over the years, I've read it at least five times.  It's a great story of Lily, an American woman born in a foreign country to her missionary parents, and her adventures of visiting America, falling in love, and dealing with an overbearing father who won't let go of dogma long enough to let her have this love.  Wick, whose books are in the Christian romance genre, crafted a beautiful story that I have thoroughly enjoyed every time I've read it...until now.

I was in my late (very late) 20s when I read the book the first time.  I knew that God's answer for me concerning marriage was at least "no now" if it wasn't a flat out "no."  That didn't stop me from enjoying this (and other) stories of pure love and devotion with Christ as the center, and hoping for that love for others (and myself, if indeed God's answer was "not now").  Nearly two decades later, and this book brought me no joy (except for the part where Lily rips her dad a new one--he asked for it).  The story hasn't changed, but I suppose I have.

God's answer about marriage for me has been a definite "no" for many years now, so the change in my attitude about the book has nothing to do with that.  I still hope for that kind of love for my friends and family who are destined for marriage.  No, I think it has more to do with a part of my faith that now has no meaning for others--nothing that is a good example to follow.  When I was younger and not sure of God's answer, holding on to my virtue and saving myself for marriage required faith and strength.  As a child, teenager, and young adult, males of ill repute attempted to take from me that which had not been offered, but failed (praise God).  It took time, but God healed me of the trauma of those experiences.

As I got closer to my 30s, I asked God to keep me from temptation--I needed it.  Now, at 48, the tide has shifted.  The brutal truth is that it's really easy to "hang on" and trust God when no one wants you.  It's easy to hang on to virtue and honor the Lord with my body when every man assumes that a nearly 50 year old unmarried woman must be so because she has 99 cats--just for the record, I do not nor do I EVER plan to own a cat for that very reason.  It's easy to tell younger people to value themselves and their bodies more than a passing fling and "true love waits" when you reach an age of singleness where people at church "started wondering if you liked men."  Yes, I had that said to me by someone back home before I moved to Colorado.  Just for the record, YES, I like men.  Now, whether or not they like me....?  Well, I really don't care anymore. I'm too old for that crap, and apparently, God's got another plan for me.

So maybe my days of reading Christian romance novels are over.  Hopefully, I can find light reading and stories that are more along the lines of Christian friendship where the goal isn't marriage, but growth and fellowship.  If not, I can always read some Lewis Grizzard,

We'll see...

  

I am Thankful...

• For continued creativity.  The ideas are coming so fast that I've had to start writing them down.
• For my car tag coming in the mail without a hitch.  I know that sounds like a simple thing, but I have NEVER renewed my tag online.  I've always paid for them in person.  Plus, this was the first time I'd ever had an emissions test required.  BTW--I'm thankful that also went off without a hitch.
• That Christ has given us His mind (I Corinthians 2:16). Otherwise, I would be up the creek without a paddle with these classes I'm taking.
• For healthy friends who aren't afraid to meet in person.
• For walks outside and pretty things to look at and take pictures of...

• For being reminded of old songs that build my faith.  This one has been playing in my head for the past few days:

 From the Workshop... 

It was chicken day at Auntie's Workshop yesterday.  My friend and co-worker, Emily,
came for a visit.  Along with a scrumptious KFC lunch, we had a little painting
party.  She has forever dubbed him "Clucky."

From Auntie's Test Kitchen...The Workshop and the Test Kitchen fused together in an art challenge this week.  See my post here for the details.

I am Reading...

Given by Tina Boesch
Tactics by Gregory Koukl
Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothuis
The Story of Christianity, Volume 2 by Justo Gonzalez

Completed volumes since my last Daybook:

Secrets of the Vine by Bruce Wilkinson

Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas 

Bamboo and Lace by Lori Wick 

 

Favorite Quote(s) of the Week ...

From a YouTube comment: "Teflon is okay, but nothing says 'this'll teach you for coming home drunk' like cast iron."

From This Southern Girl Can YouTube channel - "Glitter is like the herpes of the craft world.  Once you get it on you, you can't get it off."

Now For Something Totally Different ...

Five Minute Friday Word of the Week:  How

Pinky Lee: The Weekly Hodgepodge

Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

This time last year where were you?  

Last year at this time, I was finishing up the My Mythical Year project.  I was beginning the registration process for my first Theology class and finally feeling like I have some direction about the next phase of my life.

In honor of National Pink Day (June 23rd) tell us your favorite pink food or beverage. Was it on the menu at your house yesterday? Do you like to wear the color pink? If we came to visit would we find this color in your home decor? Blush-fuschia-salmon-raspberry-your favorite shade of pink?

Hmm. Does watermelon count as a pink food?  Pink lemonade sounds good right about now.   None of these are on the menu at present, but I'm planning on adding them to my Independence Day feast. Salmon's an enjoyable pink food I eat once in a while.  I do like to wear pink, but there isn't much of it in my wardrobe at present. If you came for a visit, you wouldn't find the color in my decor unless I have pink fresh flowers on display.  I really don't have a favorite shade of pink--there isn't a pink I don't like. 

Stop and smell the roses, looking through rose colored glasses, a rose by any other name, not all moonlight and roses, no rose without a thorn...which rosy saying currently fits your life in some way? Explain.

"Stop and smell the roses."  After all the nonsense that's been going on, I briefly went hermit again (for a better explanation, see my FMF post here). I knew that this wasn't psychological beneficial, so I quickly squelched that.  It's been hard though.  Yesterday, I got out and took a short walk where I snapped a few photos of things I like.  On the way, I passed one of my favorite spots.  A nearby business did part of their landscape with knockout roses.  Their blooming season is nearly over, but they are still popping out some color.  I love these shrub roses because (from what I've read) they are easy to maintain, plus, they remind me of the azaleas that bloom back home.  It's one of my dream plants I want to use in my yard when I get my own house.

Some photos from my walks:

 

 

Are you a 'reader'? Do you tend to read lighter books in the summer months? Do you have a summer reading list? If so, give us a title or two.

Oh yes, I am an avid reader.  Normally I usually do have somewhat of a summer reading list.  However, with my studies being full of heavy reading, I'm having to slip in a few lighter titles in between.  A few prospective titles on my light list are:

The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal
The rest of the original Curious George series.  I started reading it last year.
I may reread Lori Wick's Yellow Rose Trilogy.
Food:  A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott

Share with us one rose and one thorn from your weekend.

This weekend was more full of roses than thorns.  As I mentioned in my Quarantine Update post on my craft blog, my creative inspiration is back in full swing.  Now, in between work and class, I'm creating arts and crafts again.  I'll update y'all of my current projects later this week, Lord willing.

Another rose from this weekend was being able to worship at my friend's church.  My church still cannot open (so I guess that's a thorn).  I seem to always hear a hymn I've never heard before.  This week was "Hold the Fort" by Philip P. Bliss:

Such an encouraging anthem.

The one thorn for the weekend was learning that one of my classmates passed away.  Understand, all of us are under the age of 50, so the death was a shock.  We weren't close, but we were friends on Facebook and her parents and I attended the same church and I got to know them. So, I feel their heart pain.

Insert your own random thought here.

I got a rare treat last night.  Miss Jane, a friend of mine from church, invited me over for dinner and to attend a small prayer meeting with her.  The food, laughter, prayers, and hugs (fight me!) did me a world of good.

Where You Been?: Simple Woman's Daybook

If you would like to join in and post your own Daybook, please head on over to visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

 

For Today: Sunday, June 21, 2020

Looking Out My Window ... A beautiful summer day.  The view of the large tree outside my "big window" (i.e., my patio door that doesn't go anywhere) makes me feel like I'm in my own cozy little tree house.

I am Thinking...About fall...and what it's going to look like.  Our offices have been working from home since March.  They plan for us to come back into the office in some capacity.  However, their proposed restrictions are not setting well with me.  If I have to wear a mask all day, social distance from co-workers, and have no access to our communal kitchen (meaning nothing to eat or drink all day), I might as well stay at home to work.  Oh, well, I'll just enjoy the summer and tackle the fall when it gets here.

  

I am Thankful...

• For God's continuing provision. 
• For my friends in Arvada who pastor a small church that I can attend until mine can open again.
• For the return of my creative mojo (see below).
• For having a job and the ability to work from home.

From the Workshop... Recapturing my creative mojo and Auntie is now accepting PayPal. Please see my latest Workshop blog post here.

From Auntie's Test Kitchen...This past spring (before quarantine) I went to a church retreat at the Hideaway Retreat Center in Colorado Springs.  Among the wonderful breakfast foods available (though someone needs to teach them how to make real biscuits) was what I call "loose" granola.  I've eaten granola bars, but had never had (sorry, I don't know what else to call it) the loose kind.  Putting it in my cereal or mixing it with yogurt was thoroughly enjoyable and, for me, felt quite fancy. I wanted to recreate that wonderful taste at home.  After perusing the shelves at the grocery store having no idea what I'm looking for, I mentioned it to a friend who gave me a recipe for homemade granola.  The first batch turned out really well, albeit a little overcooked (high altitude, you know).

My view of Pike's Peak from The Hideaway

My first attempt.  The Recipe is here.

I am Reading...

Tactics by Gregory Koukl
Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothuis
The Story of Christianity, Volume 2 by Justo Gonzalez
Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas

Recently Completed Volumes:
The Weigh Down Diet by Gwen Shamblin
A Life God Rewards by Bruce Wilkinson
All of Grace by C. H. Spurgeon
Journey into Grace by Darlene Sala et al.
Holy in Christ by Andrew Murray

Favorite Quote(s) of the Week ...

Rhett:  "Emily [a designer] has really helped me discover my personal style."
Link: "Which is?"
Rhett:  "Lumberjack frou-frou."
-- Good Mythical Morning episode 1673

Galatians 3:28 (KJV) - ...for all are one in Christ Jesus.

"How the he!! can you tell if a fish is depressed?!" -@GregBQuotes on a marine biologist claiming the fish at an aquarium are depressed and lonely because of the quarantine closure.

Now For Something Totally Different ...

Five Minute Friday Word of the Week:  How

 

For the Love of Summer: The Weekly Hodgepodge

Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

Saturday marks the first official day of summer! Whoohoo! Your favorite thing about the season?

Longer days and low humidity.

Love it!, labor of love, not for love or money, no love lost, love handles, love does, love-hate relationship, misery loves company, tough love, love will find a way...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life right now.

Love handles.  The fight against obesity and poor health is a never ending battle.

What's one thing currently causing you to seethe? One thing currently making you smile?

The whole racism, rioting, hate situation makes my blood boil.  I wrote about it more extensively here. Now, on to what's making me smile.  I mentioned on my sister blog that my creative mojo had faded due to the isolation of quarantine (among other things).  I'm happy to report that the creative bug has bitten me once again, and I'm back to creating art.

Of the following to-dos found on a summer checklist (here) which three would definitely make your personal list of summer want-to-dos?  Do you make an actual list?

OK, I'm going to have to cheat here. Many of the activities listed require extensive travel and other people to participate.  The ones I picked that I can accomplish alone at home are: Roast marshmallows and make s'mores (I can do that in the oven), make lemonade from scratch (I have my friend Rosie's recipe for lemonade that I've yet to make), sip a sweating glass of iced tea (all I lack is a tea pitcher), eat corn on the cob, and eat a slice of watermelon.  All of those look like a great Independence Day feast.  The one that I've wanted to do with others, but just never set it up is a picnic in a park.  I would love to do that and combine it with a painting party.

Thursday is National Splurge Day. What might you splurge on in order to celebrate?

Nothing at the moment.  I working on a financial project, so splurging needs to wait at least another month.

Insert your own random thought here. 

Take a gander at my 50 for fifty list.
Also, I am doing another reading challenge this year.  The list of books I've read so far is here. 

Five Minute Friday: "How?"

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How can I define "normal" anymore?  Quarantine rules sent me (a perfectly healthy human, by the way) into federal, state, city, and employment mandated solitary confinement. My psyche got a good old fashioned Southern ass whupping  Now that things have eased slightly in Colorado and we can get out a little more (with a face covering of course), people seem much less tense and afraid (although they're STILL hoarding toilet paper and paper towels-- y'all stop!).

Now, we have the racial tension and chaos going on all over the United States and I feel like I have a big target on my back.  I feel like I did as a kid when the teacher made kids play with me who didn't want to.  It didn't spark acceptance and love; it bred resentment that lasted pretty much until graduation.  Just as I was getting used to the idea of leaving the house more than once a week, I, as a black person have become a problem, and I'm back to not wanting to leave the house.  Now, understand, it's not because I'm afraid for me.  The places I frequent have lovely people and I'm totally safe.  I'm afraid for my Caucasian brothers and sisters.  I don't want them to fear that I assume them racist simply because they are white.  I don't want them walking on eggshells around me--afraid they will say to do something wrong.  They haven't before and they won't now.

I've had a couple of friends ask me if they needed to do anything in light of what's going on right now.  Here's my answer and I would advise everyone to do the same.  Just keep loving people no matter what color they are.  You can love someone without agreeing with everything they do or believe.  Just keep doing that!

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