Blocked? Hah! Not For Long!
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Posted:Aug 22, 2007 3:03 pm
Last Updated:Aug 23, 2007 10:10 pm 778 Views
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That's it.
I'm taking the congas outside.
I'm going under the grapes. I'm going to take out some frustration.
After my died, my ex-husband tried to get the insurance money. He even threatened to have me put in prison on charges of man-slaughter, since I was driving the car at the time of the accident. Why he would care, I don't know, since he hadn't seen his in five years. Even though I had begged him to visit them.
So I invested the money in blocked accounts for my surviving . No one could touch the money until they turned 18. That's the way I wanted it anyway.
I spread their money out so if the market crashed, it would have little effect on their investment. Stocks, mutual funds, real estate, etc.
Now my has been accepted at the Art Institute of Portland. She will be attending this Fall, Lord willing. Except that we can't get the money out, the lawyer who stood for us before is unavailable, the judge is inactive, I can't afford a high-priced lawyer, but don't qualify for a low-priced one because of my 's investments (which I can't access). ARG!
But, like I told my , I'm a pretty determined person. It'll happen, don't worry.
It's just so---ARGGG!
Where's my conga??!!
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God really DOES have plans! How about that?
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Posted:Aug 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Last Updated:Aug 21, 2007 2:30 pm 727 Views
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I first played piano for church at 13 years old. It's what I do.
Until now.
Where I attend now, the worship minister doesn't like my piano playing. He says I ad lib too much. I sound like I'm playing for a revival meeting. He says the composer wanted what's written to be played that way.
But I play how the Spirit moves me to play. So I'm out of worship team for the first time in ages. I couldn't figure out why.
Until now.
This congregation has been very tentative in its worship. The worship minister told me that he agonizes over it sometimes. How can he get the congregation involved? He has a bunch of great musicians up front. Great singers. Great music. He tries to keep the worship focused on God. What is he doing wrong?
Now I am in the congregation during singing. And boy, I love to sing praises! When I get going, I get loud! I close my eyes and my spirit takes off! My tells me that people five rows up sometimes turn to see where that voice is coming from. She told me it's a good thing I have a good voice (her words), because when I really get going, you can hear me all over the sanctuary. To me, I sound a little like a vacuum cleaner. One of the singers in choir calls my voice "bluesy". Hope that's a good thing.
But I sing like I play the piano. I add things. Well, I grew up around people who sang out! And I'm worshipping the Creator!
What I hadn't realized is something my told me the other day: when I get going, other people start getting into the worship, too. She said she noticed that when people's heads turned looking for my voice, they would loosen up and stop focusing so much on the screen with the words, and start focusing on the words. The singing became more energetic.
Me? I'm busy having fun worshipping.
I DO feel a little like a big mouth when the pianist comes up after church and says she could hear me singing this morning. She said it was beautiful, though.
Hmmm.
I just hope God feels the same way.
What I'm wondering is---is it possible that this is why I'm in the congregation during singing, rather than on the worship team?
At first, I felt displaced, but now I begin to see a purpose.
God really is masterful, isn't He? Using even my big mouth!
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After the Dance and Orange Roses
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Posted:Aug 14, 2007 10:27 pm
Last Updated:Aug 17, 2007 4:45 pm 1132 Views
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Guess what! I sold another painting today!
My second!
I was at the doctor's office when I sold the first one. A man who works in the office saw
the painting and wanted it for his girlfriend.
Today I was at another county office and someone who works there bought one I had recently finished. I called it "After the Dance". A woman in a satin dress is out fishing at what could be sunrise or sunset. She has a bucketful of fish, and one on the line. There's an old mill in the background. In one of my poetry books, I wrote a poem about it.
The man at the doctor's office bought a bunch of orange roses on a black background. It's so exciting to think that people actually like my "stuff"...who woulda thought?
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Giving
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Posted:Aug 14, 2007 2:54 am
Last Updated:Aug 20, 2007 1:02 pm 769 Views
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I've been pretty frustrated the last few years because I don't have more money to give away. Things have been tight recently. I told God I wanted to be able to give to people and causes. But it seemed the more I TRIED to GIVE, the less I HAD to give. I've wondered what the deal is...here I am, wanting to help others out, and I can't. Not financially. Then, because of a car accident, I can't help out physically, either.
Lately, though, I have discovered ways...
Like giving my hair to cancer patients.
Like sewing dolls for the in Haiti.
Like painting pictures for people. I never realized how much my paintings meant to people! But if they can convey to someone that they are special and thought about at a time when that person needs to be encouraged---I think that's a good thing.
Also, I've discovered that when my neighbor's wife across the street comes out to garden, she is very uplifted by certain hymns that I play on the piano. And not just her. I hear from people up and down the street, that they feel good when they hear me practicing hymns on the piano. It must be God speaking through the music, because I'm no Liberace.
Also, I share from the crops in my vegie gardens.
And there are people who walk by my house frequently; I sometimes give them flowers from my garden. It seems to make them feel good.
And simply thanking someone for something they did for me once that helped me feel good during a difficult time---that seems to help people.
Maybe this is why God made search for THESE ways to help people. Maybe money was easier...shorter-lived...who knows? I just know the beautiful smile I get from the 93 year-old lady who walks past my house, after I give her one of my prize roses, and the friendships I have cultivated through different types of art, and the smiles that are yet to be---these things are incredibly precious.
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I hope dolls are just the beginning...
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Posted:Aug 12, 2007 11:55 pm
Last Updated:Aug 14, 2007 2:25 am 742 Views
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Some friends of mine are going to Haiti in October. Haiti is wracked with poverty and disease. One of my friends said that in the evening, you can hear the drums of the different religions. Voodoo and occultism play a large part in the Haitians lives, leaving them with an economy that struggles as much as their souls because the people rely on religions where they mutilate themselves physically and spiritually. I can't go because of physical constraints, so I offered my abilities however my friends might need me. I paint, sew, crochet, do woodwork, embroider, design, and write.
Finally a chance has come! They're taking dolls to the , and need help making them. One of my friends' husbands, who is a college professor, said, "I am a nuclear physicist, but I can't figure out how to put these things together." And I thought, whoa, this would be so great! To make toys for in that country.
I can't wait to start. Hope I get to do more...
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Am I shallow or Smart?
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Posted:Aug 11, 2007 6:47 pm
Last Updated:May 13, 2024 3:0 am 645 Views
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Okay, here's the scenario:
I go online.
I meet someone who seems nice.
That person did NOT post a self portrait. They didn't tell what they look like. They didn't tell what hobbies they like. Suddenly, I'm not all that interested any more. I feel shallow. But what if we meet and he is boring, spiritually immature to the extreme, and ugly?
Why should I waste my time?
I still feel shallow, though...
Couldn't the person have told a little bit about themselves, and posted a pic? But why should I need that stuff? I can weed out the ones I don't like when I meet them in person, right? Why should I have to weed them out in person? That is what profiles are for isn't it? ARGH! I wish I would quit arguing with myself about this!
And still I feel shallow...
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What a beautiful time of year
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Posted:Aug 8, 2007 9:51 pm
Last Updated:Aug 9, 2007 5:07 pm 854 Views
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I can't seem to get the camera to work. Oh, well.
The garden is yielding!
So far we've gotten green beans, a cucumber, LOTS of strawberries...I see a tomato turning red, several squash, plenty of peas(peas aren't supposed to be "on" this time of year. Shows what they know!)That's not counting the gobs of garlic, the jalapenos that are only flowers right now, the sunflowers that aren't quite finished yet, the blackberries that aren't bearing berries yet, the pumpkins that are popping up everywhere....I LOVE this season! We have hummingbirds that adore the crocosmia---they come and hang around, even sitting on the branches and hovering right in front of my face at times. Butterflies all over, especially since I put in the butterfly bush last year. And the Foxglove finally bloomed, after a year or two. Same with the phlox. And my is right: the grape DOES look like a Motley Crue wig. The lavender and pampas grass are taking off.
I could hear a band singing in the park four blocks away yesterday. The "Blues".I sat out in my yard, listened to the blues, and sewed. It was wonderful.
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How Long Was It?
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Posted:Aug 8, 2007 2:07 am
Last Updated:Aug 8, 2007 2:45 pm 754 Views
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I hadn't mentioned the LENGTH, had I? Minor detail.[ ] My hair used to be down to my rear end, or there-a-bouts. Now it just brushes my shoulders. It'll grow back. Then I'll have more to give away.
I'll have my take a pic of it tomorrow after she gets home from work. She just started working yesterday, so she's tired tonight.
I thought I'd put in one of the poems I'm having published: it's called "Talented Kitty"
What a talented kitty!
She does woodwork with paws!
Then she writes sonatinas
While wrapping ow-ees with gauze.
It's going to have some of my 's artwork illustrating it.
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Hair---mine today, theirs tomorrow
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Posted:Aug 6, 2007 10:42 pm
Last Updated:Aug 8, 2007 1:28 am 755 Views
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Went to the eye doctor today. I'm not any blinder. Good news.
After that, I went and got my hair cut. Gave it to cancer patients. I've never seen anyone get so excited about hair. It was great to be able to give it.
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Where to from here?
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Posted:Aug 4, 2007 9:36 pm
Last Updated:May 13, 2024 3:0 am 649 Views
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Well, one of my books is written.
Now to get it printed.
My says I can "patch" it with a floppy.
The company has said it will print my book.
All I have to do is get it onto a floppy so I can patch it with this printer that doesn't really work with my computer. Seems like it's always something (grin).
Questions:
Where do I get a floppy?
Thanks:
Thank you LeRoy, for coming over and criticizing my grapes. It was the thing that spurred me to write this book. ]
Being in the hospital last week didn't make finishing the book easy, but it DID make it interesting.
Especially waking up to a crowd of firemen after someone had called 911.
Oh, well, at least when I fell off the porch, onto my pumpkin and tomato plants, the plants don't have a bunch of bruises like I do. I thought the plants were gonners, but they're recovering really well. I think I killed a flower plant, but oh, well, what can you do?
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