The end of June

I'm sorry if I told you something you didn't know in the title. But, it is my duty to let you know the world is spinning out of control and it is the.end.of.June. Don't panic. This, too, shall pass just like the days are passing before our eyes and the end is near it will be Christmas soon and I don't have any presents purchased and...

Other than knowing time stand still for no one, I feel you can handle what I am about to tell you.

I am typing with a very painful finger. I sacrificed my pointer finger, this morning, for my youngest. Hold your applause for my selflessness. Sit down as I tell the tale...

I am very fancy and have a French Press coffee maker. Wee, wee. Or as the French spell it, oui, oui. It is routine to ask my son "coffee, no coffee" almost every morning. Those are really the only words I can utter. I double what I'm making and 3 minutes later we are pouring coffee into our semi-fancy mugs. Yes, he is 18 but a momma can do for her child while he is still home. We both like creamer because it is not about the coffee at all. Coffee is just a holder of cream and sugar goodness. So, while opening the new creamer which still had a seal on it...I cut my finger on the metal-like seal AFTER I so carefully washed it off because ANTS. Now I'm sporting the ever-so-fashionable-fabric-like band-aid.

Speaking of ants. They are the bane of my existence (I hope I just used that expression correctly!). I have NEVER had ants other than a few who hitchhiked into the house on our clothing. "This certain brand" [which starts with a te and ends with and rro] works great I was told by some who have ants every year. Perhaps I should have questioned taking important advice like this from a person who has ants every year.

So I purchase said bait [I'm not sure how I feel about feeding them what they want...sugar, don't we all want sugar?...and waiting for them to die from the Borax] and put it out. Let me tell you, the ants sent out an APB alerting their friends and neighbors about the party at our house.

If you've never used bait, here is what you do. Place a few drops of the bait on a cardboard cut out. Then, they'll come over for the "pool party" and hang out around the "pool of eventual death". Seriously, they surround the sugar-goo. They are to take it back to the 'nest' and it will eventually kill all involved with the evasion of my house! So what if it takes a couple of weeks. YES a few weeks.

But, it does work...I think. Where they were coming in...not an ant to be found. However, I was awaken this morning by a husband on his way to work saying, "I gotta go. And, there are more ants. I took care of most of them." Those romantic words will wake a girl right up.

Yes, he did take care of some but left plenty for me. So, now we have ants in a different spot...or two. Woo.hoo. And, now the ants are enjoying another pool party at another location...but still in my house!

You must feel so privileged to know that exiting news. I work through the pain just to entertain you. Or is it bore you? [shrugs] Same thing.

After I put the band-aid on my ouchy, I looked out the window and saw this.

It is one of our momma cats. What you can't see are the four kittens all trying to climb up the 'igloo' to pester love on her. Personally, I walked through the circle in our house and would gently push the door toward the closed position as I was walking. We have an old house and if you go through all the right doors, you're walking in a circle. I mean it is a mother's responsibility to teach her children problem-solving skills, right?! Back to the cat...see how she is peering down on them. Yeah, I hear a "na-na-nana boo-boo", too. Sometimes a momma just needs a break while lovingly keeping an eye on her younins'.

And, I will leave you with this piece of wisdom:

Run Run Runaway

from flickr

I'm really going to do it this time! They'll never find me at Grandpa and Grandma's house. Thought my angry nine-year-old self as I tried to tie all my stuff into a bandanna. I still had to look for a stick in which to attach it, but, as soon as I found one, I was out of there.

Apparently I wasn't the smartest when it came to running away from home. I have this image of myself on the floor of my bedroom trying to find a stick in which to tie on the bandanna filled with all my precious things. Because everyone who ran away looks like a hobo and all worldly processions fit into a bandanna.

Yes, I had/have a vivid imagination. I even got out the door without my mom seeing me and made it as far as the neighbors before turning around. I remember looking back to see if anyone noticed or missed me yet.

I don't remember why I wanted to runaway. My parents probably wouldn't let me have something I really needed wanted. And, my Grandparent's house. Yeah, that was only a quarter of a mile away and would have been the first place they would have looked. I was a brave child. Ha.

Psst. Come close to the screen. (she looks to her left, to her right, then whispers) There are days I still want to runaway. (big sigh) 

The reasons are not as small as when I was a child. Right now, the reasons are...well, life. Life. (another big sigh) Life can be joyful. Yet life can be a big pain. I start looking around at others who seemingly have life all together. Their life is easy and fun. They go places, do things, never have any problems (or so it seems). I start comparing. I get discouraged. I get envious. I get down. Why can't my life be easy?! 

I just want to runaway from this thing called life (no this is not a cry for help). I call my friend. She wants to runaway, too. However, our money tree has not blossomed...yet. So, we wait. And, wait. We are still waiting.

My first problem? Comparison. Envy and bitterness come in a close second. And, can we talk about "not fair" problems? I feel small. I want to be noticed. Yes, I'm a mess...as always.

Do I think there is anything wrong with feeling any of those emotions? Nope. God gave us emotions for a reason. I can feel "blue"** and down. But, it's okay. I can feel overwhelmed...again, okay. As in the movie Inside Out notes, sadness and joy go hand in hand.

It's in these moments I need to remember to run to God instead of running away. Remembering His promises and me putting one foot in front of the other as I remember to hold on tight. Joy comes in the morning. And, our mourning can turn into dancing!

Note: I've received an advance readers copy of a book you are going to want to pre-order. Go check it out. Oh, how my copy has multiple sentences highlighted per page. Yes, you will want this book! I'll write about it more as the release approaches. 

**"blue" is not depression. Depression is serious and treatment by a professional is often required. I'm not making light of depression. I've walked with a few friends and it is not for the faint of heart. If you think you or someone you know may have depression, seek help. 

Hearts Made Whole

"Sometimes even the strongest need someone to take care of them."

Caroline is a feisty little thing. She is determined to keep her family safe after her mother, and now her father pass away. Life isn't fair, yet Caroline keeps sailing full steam ahead tending the lighthouse. It's a job she loves. Too bad the inspector of lighthouses doesn't care.

In enters Ryan Chambers. He has a past in which he cannot let go - or maybe the past won't let go of him yet. He.is.a.hot.mess. Caroline just wants to shake him senseless. Yet, she sees something in his haunted eyes. She doesn't want to like him as her lighthouse job was snatched out from beneath her. Yet...

When someone keeps trying to hurt them or send a dangerous message to them, it only makes Ryan and Caroline work harder together. Even if it means giving up a dream.

Hope. Compassion. Love. Guilt. Forgiveness. Unworthiness. Overcoming. And a giggle or three. Those are emotions I would use to describe the theme of Hearts Made Whole. Who among us has not felt one or all of those emotions?

Hearts Made Whole written by Jody Hedlund is book two in her Beacons of Hope series. However, don't let that stop you if you haven't read book one. Jody is a master at series books. She expertly weaves the story and seamlessly welcomes character of one book into another without the reading being confused.

The mysterious happenings had me guessing which character was out to get Caroline. Or was it Ryan they were out to get? After two wrong guesses I finally discovered the culprit.

Toward the end of the book Caroline's sister says, "Sometimes even the strongest need someone to take care of them." I will admit I cried. Yes, I'm a natural-born crier. But, something about that statement just hit me. Maybe it has been several things I've been working through the last few months. Maybe I just needed a cry. Maybe, just maybe, when you're reading a well-written book and you're fully immersed in that world you become so emotionally attached to a character you feel what she feels. Maybe. Or I could have been having an emotional day. Shrugs shoulders.

RUN out to or CLICK on over to your favorite bookstore and purchase a wonderful book by a magnificent writer. You won't be sorry...although your household chores may be neglected for a few days because you can't put it down. Dust and cleaning will always be there so have some fun in the sun (or beach) and read this little beauty.

Author, Jody Hedlund, and her publisher have a great giveaway going on right now. Be sure to enter here.