Friday, May 29, 2009

Rest And Peace

“Mentally blitzed” and “physically exhausted” are descriptors for the end of this work week. It’s as though every ounce of brain power has been drained and there’s no place for a quick refill!

Meetings, errands, and odd interruptions added to my frustration of not finishing a time-sensitive task today. That means finding a way to take care of business before Monday… on top of household chores and the planting project I put off as soon as I took a minute for supper tonight.

But first I must rest. Deep sleep will help. A book and bubble bath is on my list.

More importantly, I must go to God. He will carry my burdens… renew my mind… and provide needed strength. What a relief to let go of the stress when I spend time in prayer.

If I could rewind today, I’d begin by entering God’s presence and letting Him take care of each moment.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

A Plant's Gotta Grow

A momentous occasion occurred today. Those who truly know me will be shocked... Are you ready???

I purchased bedding plants without the company and advice of a qualified adult!! My local hardware store had the best prices and at the risk of throwing cold cash into the wind, I spent considerably less than $25 to get a little collection of wave petunias, portulaca and tomatoes.

This is a big deal. My black thumb is infamous. Give me a houseplant and it WILL die. It's only a matter of how long the little thing will struggle to remain green in my presence.

My ancestors grew things. Crops and flowers and trees. Fruit that could be harvested and made into jams and jellies and wonderful desserts. Grandma's tulips loved her so much they sprung forth from the earth while snow was still on the ground.

So, tomorrow after my day job is done for another week, I will get dirt under my fingernails and try this torture known as yard beautification.

Way back in high school biology class I learned that plants are programmed to grow and reproduce. God supplies the sun and rain and I'll thrown in a little TLC. Maybe this season will mark a turning point in my love/hate relationship with green things.

If people are supposed to bloom where they're planted, I wonder what the Gardener would say about me?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Ordinary Day Made Special With Friends

Another busy day at work... the usual projects and interruptions... but made special by quick connections with friends.

Some people I've chosen to include in my world. Some have selected me! Still others that I work with - and we've gone way beyond the surface-y work stuff that colleagues share. These relationships are a blessing.

I've also enjoyed the snippets of information and comments from my Facebook friends - there's always something that makes me laugh as we desperately try to sum up a moment of the day for our status updates.

There was an incident today on another "social networking" site that bothered me. I signed up to be able to read blogs of some musicians I follow. Apparently mere mortals aren't allowed to get the news unless we're in "community!" Less than 20 minutes from the time I joined, I had a "friend request" from Tim in Florida.

Should I be flattered? Is he that desperate for friends? Or is this the new normal? Making online friends? Nothing that wrong with it, I guess.

Except that too often I don't take time to see the folks I love - those who live nearby - face to face! Nope. Just a quick email. Short phone calls have to make do. Too busy. Meetings each evening. Kids. Dogs. Sports. Forget about coffee together. Just won't happen.

Unless... you make the choice to act. Rearrange your schedule. Grab supper from a drive-thru and rent a movie. Drop in and make yourself at home. Even for a few hours. Make sure to give them a hug. Say, "thanks for being part of my world." Express appreciation for what they mean to you.

Yep, that's the better way to go. Life is short. Say what you need to say to your friends. Spend time together. Work will always be there... house and yardwork too.

I need to get back to basics and nourish my soul with the soothing rain of relationships. That's what's truly important.

If you hadn't guessed... I ignored Tim's friend request. His loss, Ha Ha!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Music of my Life

The thought of blogging has both intrigued and terrified me for some time now. It's crosse my mind that perhaps I really have nothing to say. And yet... what if I do? Would anyone read this? Can I make a difference with my words? Maybe just the act of blogging will allow for exploration of new ideas and clarify solutions to problems I'm facing.

Just a few words on the title of my blog. I've been known as "that girl" since my young niece was just figuring out that I usually attended family events but couldn't remember my name. She asked her mom if "that girl" was coming for supper. I was, and the name stuck.

As for the symphony... I love music and believe each of us has a part to play in creating beautiful harmony in our world. Sometimes the tempo is fast. Other times it's slow. Discordant notes find resolution. Sometimes there's a middle-aged tenor singing in Latin! But at some point, I choose to play the notes the composer has laid out specifically for me. When we're all following the Conductor, it's an awesome experience.

My symphony won't be finished until the fat lady sings (LAAAAA)... ha ha. I think the concert has been great so far!