Articles

Do You Have Your Bloom On?

Do You Have Your Bloom On?

two-ladies

Two mature ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress. One leaned over and said, “Life is so boring. We never have any fun anymore. For $5.00 I’d take my clothes off right now and streak through that stupid flower show!”   

“You’re on!” said the other old lady, holding up a $5.00 bill. 

As fast as she could, the first little old lady fumbled her way out of her clothes and, completely naked, streaked through the front door of the flower show. 

Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause. The naked lady burst out through the door surrounded by a cheering crowd. 

                                    “What happened?” asked her waiting friend. 
                               “Why, I won first prize for Best Dried Arrangement.” 

clip_image001.gif

05b09cbddaac24960233b1ec4503b78f

clip_image001.gif

Reflecting:

I love beautiful flower beds, and have long admired people who have a creative eye for designing them.  I use to read garden books and how-to books trying to learn the proper care of plants and how to grow them.

My mother could make anything grow, however the growing and gardening gene missed me somehow.  I either loved my flowering plants too much with water, fertilizer and conversation, or dried them out with not enough. I have a hard time keeping anything alive but a cactus!  

Because of my lack of talent in the floral department, when we built our home I chose evergreen plants that wouldn’t lose their leaves. They looked wonderful but not much color or contrast.  So one spring I went to Michael’s, a craft and hobby superstore to buy some beautiful tall silk flowers in pinks and reds.  My conditions were large flowers with extra-long stems and they needed to look real. I was so excited about this bright idea, I couldn’t wait to get home.  After arranging them in the evergreen bushes and flowerpots, I felt satisfied with my little touch of creativity.

When people drove by they would comment on my beautiful flowers, I was glad they noticed but hoped they wouldn’t get too close and learn my secret to success!

As summer turned to fall, my flowers were still in full bloom, however one evening we had an early winter storm blow in with heavy sleet, snow and wind.  It lasted for two days, it was so cold I forgot about my flowers outside.  After the storm was over and the snow melted, my flowers were still standing and blooming, my secret was out!

I have learned there are over 230,000 to 270,000 species of flowering plants according to David Bramwell, and each one beautiful and special in its own way. I think God looks at each one of us like a beautiful flower too, made perfect, beautiful and special. He loves and accepts us just the way we are, no conditions!

Luke 12: 25-28, the Message- says;

Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all?

Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it?…

If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?  

Do you know how special you are to Him?

Lovingly, Karan

Thank you for stopping by and sharing you time with me. Have a great weekend dear friends.   Much Love and Hugs

Will you Still Love Me ?

Will you Still Love Me Tomorrow?

  

Couple_Laughing_iStock_000008477914Retirement- and how to have fun!

Working  people often ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting. Well, for example, the other day, my wife and I went into town and went into a shop. We were only there for about 5 minutes. When we came out, there was a police officer writing out a parking ticket. We went up to him and said,”Come on man, how about giving a senior citizen a break?

He ignored us and continued writing the ticket.  I called him a dummy.

He glared at me a started writing another ticket for having worn tires. So Mary called him an idiot.

This went on for 20 minutes. The more we angered him, the more tickets he wrote.

Just then, our bus arrived and we got on it and went home. We try to have a little fun each day now that we are retired. It’s important at our age!   Author unknown                                                                                                                      

I’m doing this because I love you!

remote

clip_image001.gif

 

THE GIFT OF LOVE

Looking for a gift or just a unique way to say “I love you?” What do you give when his dresser is full of cologne and you’re both on diets? When flowers die too soon, and you’ve already spent next month’s paycheck? Here are 19 great inexpensive ways to tell the love of your life just how much you care.

  • Make a homemade card with a picture of the two of you on the cover. Get ideas for a verse by spending a few minutes browsing through a card shop.
  • Write a poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme.
  • Send a love letter listing the reasons “Why I love you so much.”
  • Pledge your love for a lifetime. Write it on calligraphy or design it on a desktop computer and print it out on parchment paper and have it framed.
  • Bake a giant cookie and write “I love you” with heart shaped redhots or frosting. (Don’t worry about the calories, it’s not for eating!)
  • Kidnap the car for a thorough washing and detailing.
  • Compose a love song.
  • Call a radio station and have them announce a love message from you and make sure your love is listening at the right time.
  • Make a big sign such as: “I Love You, Kristi. Love, Joe” and put it in front of your house or her apartment complex for the world to see.
  • Hide little love notes in the car, a coat pocket, or desk.
  • Prepare a surprise candle light gourmet low-calorie dinner for two.
  • Promise to change a habit that your love has been wanting you to change.

                                                            Thank you, “Family Matters” http://familymatters.net

 

Thank you for sharing your time with me, I am sending great BIG Valentine Hugs to each of you! Tons of Love.

Lovingly, Karan

Discussion question:  What was the best valentine gift you either gave, received or made?

Girlfriend Time!

 

photo (2)

Where would we be without those dear sisters we call Girlfriends. The ones we laugh with, cry with, and shop with. Our mother’s, sisters and friends who encourage, teach, and help us to become better women.

Mrs. Mitchell, my third grade teacher who spent extra time with me, teaching me to read. When I repeated third grade, she never made me feel inferior. To this day, I still cherish her memory and kindness.

I think of my mother who raised me even when the stigma of being an unwed mother many years ago. (I will not tell you how many) I know that choice caused her many hardships in her adult life.

For eight months, I had struggled with depression, which a new medication caused. Depression was one of its side effects. During this time, my family and friends constantly loved, prayed, laughed and encouraged me, always reminding me that God knew exactly where I was. Sometimes when we get into a dark place, it is hard to find our way out.

When I hit a wall, I became overwhelmed, and started looking at all the circumstances and stress in my life, I forgot about all the good things. I took my eyes off of the Lord, instead of remembering all that He has done for me. My cup became half-empty, instead of full.

As I had time to meditate and look back, I realized how God has lead me with His love and faithfulness over the years. He is faithful, constant, and everlasting.

In Hebrews 11: 1-3 I am reminded:

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. By faith, we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

I have found Him to be all I need.
I want to thank all the Girlfriends in my life who daily encourage me to be the best I can be for the Lord. Your loved.
Lovingly, Karan

Thank you for sharing your time with me, I would love to hear from you.  

What have your girlfriends meant to you ?

What someday are you waiting for?

What Are We Saving For?
images (91)

By ANN WELLS

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 eight or nine 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 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 experiences 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, and 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 a 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 fighting a losing battle to stay in 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 this is a special occasion.

By ANN WELLS ~The Los Angeles Times April 1985

images (28)

I love this story and the truth it tells. This season I want to love well and give with and open hand to those around me. I want to “Dance like no one is watching, Love like I’ve never be hurt, Sing like no one is listening and Live my life praising God.

How about you?

 Lovingly, Karan 

  Thank you for dropping by and sharing your time with me. Hugs

Discussion question: What do you think of Ann Wells story? Have you been waiting for saving someday?

Tea, Grandpa and Us!

               Tea, Grandpa and Us!

 images (72)Setting around the dinner table, finishing the last drop of tea our daughter’s renewed their theological discussions with their grandfather.  It was always a fun time when they would try to stump him on his knowledge of scripture and the Bible.

Times were changing and grandpa didn’t like some of the changes he saw in the culture. And his generation couldn’t understand the reasons for some of those changes.  Especially long hair and ponytails on men!  The girls would always try to catch their grandfather on his “long hair” verse.  1 Cor. 11:14, “Isn’t it obvious that it is disgraceful for a man to have long hair?”   But he would never budge.

Trying to change his mind, they were always on the lookout for the right verse or angle to persuade him to change his mind. After all it was a new culture and times were changing.

One evening after dinner our daughter’s thought they had finally