How to Properly Deposit Your Dirty Dishes in the Sink

As you walk up to the sink with your dirty dish and look in, ignore all human instinct that says "Clean your environment", just close your eyes and add your dish to the stack.  If it's a plate with eggs, cheese, or even a substance as seemingly innocuous as bar-b-que sauce or ketchup, do not, under any circumstances rinse the residual food/condiments off the plate.

Jesus is the Reason for My Season

I am sure that most of you are familiar with an old song, sung by Foreigner - I Want to Know What Love Is. It is a very soulful song about heartache, pain and love. In it, the singer pleads for someone to show him what love is. I think we have all been through periods in our lives where we don’t feel loved and we wish that someone would just show us what love really is. I know I have.

I remember one of the first times I felt bereft of love. I was reeling from the heartbreak of my first love. I felt at the time that nothing could fill the gaping hole in my heart. I desperately wanted to know what love really was. If the depth of love that I felt for my first love was not lasting, if that was not what love was, then what is love? During that time, as I cried, prayed and healed - I found out what love is. My Jesus, whom I had known since I was a child, came right along beside me and showed me a love much greater than I had ever known was possible. He filled that gaping hole in my heart then, and he has done so during many heartbreaking times since. I don’t need my husband, my kids, my friends or my family to define for me what love is. For me love has already been defined. It is summed up in one word - Jesus.

Jesus. He is why I celebrate Christmas. Oh, I know Jesus wasn’t actually born on December 25th. He probably wasn’t even born in the winter, but that doesn’t matter. I also know about the origins of Christmas. We Christians were not the first people to have a celebration in December. That doesn’t matter to me either. That is not to say that I begrudge people of other religions and faiths their own celebrations, I enjoy learning about their traditions, but I celebrate Christmas, as Jesus' birthday- the birth of love.

My house is all decked out for Christmas right now.  This year the day after Thanksgiving, the time I usually start pulling out the trees and the ornaments, I wasn't feeling it.  It just seemed like a lot of work, not the joy that it usually is.  I wasn't feeling the Spirit or whatever you want to call it, but I decided to start the process anyway, because it was important to my youngest son.  He loves to decorate for Christmas almost as much as I usually do.  So, out came the boxes upon boxes of decorations.

I have been collecting decorations and adding to my stash for over 20 years now. Every ornament has a story. There are the Victorian ornaments that I bought for the first real tree I had when I was living on my own. They represent my independence. Then there are the ornaments I am collecting for my children. Each one has a child’s name and the year. Some have been purchased and others, I have handmade. Each of my four children will have a collection of ornaments for their own tree when they are grown and ready to have their own Christmas trees. They represent the traditions of our family. There are also those ornaments made by the kids through the years with the clumps of glue and the sequins falling off. Each one gives a glimpse of who that child was at that moment. They represent the passing years and the growth of the children. We have other ornaments adorning our trees as well; they are all beautiful and meaningful in their own way. I treasure them all.

As I decorated the house I started to catch the buzz.  I started a frenzy of wanting the decor to look "perfect", as if that mattered.  I reminded myself not to get caught up in the tinsel and glitter, but to focus on what, to me, is the most important thing ever - the most important person ever - Jesus Christ. I began  to be filled with his love and I recalled the holes that he has filled in my heart over the years.

He has filled those holes, in order that I am able to hold on to the love that people who have come into my life have shared with me. If He had not filled me up with his love, covering over those holes, then the love of others would just ooze out through the holes of heartache, pain, disappointment, sadness and hurt. Yes, he has shown me what love is. He has filled all the holes and I am able to give and receive love, because, while I was not worthy of His love, he gave it anyway. He demonstrated a kind of pure love for me, and once I received it, and I saw it for what it was, my life was changed.

I wish all who read this Happy Holidays, and for those of you who celebrate Jesus’ birth with me, I wish you a Merry Christmas. May the love of Jesus fill up your holes and make you whole.

~
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
~John 1:14

Homemade All-Purpose Moisturizer

This recipe is so simple, takes only a few minutes to make, and the finished product can be used on anything from dry elbows to dry lips to sore muscles, depending on what essential oils you use.  It's non-greasy and very healing for the skin.

Make Your Own Air Freshener Spray

I love scents and (good) smells. There was a time when I burned candles daily, thinking I was clearing the air of the nasties.

Reasons Why I No Longer Argue About Politics and Religion

A fish out of water; swimming upstream; floundering around; up a creek without a paddle.  The fish/water metaphors abound, don't they?  I'm not sure why all of these sayings came to my mind today since I neither fish, nor swim, and the one time I tried to paddle a boat it was an epic failure, but come to my mind they did, all the same.

Synkinesis: How I learned to Live with it

I made this video a few months ago to illustrate one of the complications some people experience after Bell's Palsy is technically healed.  Meaning, the degree to which my facial movement has improved is as good as it gets for me.

Gone, but not Forgotten

One of my high school classmates was laid to rest today.  Beside her in the ground, also gone to her final resting place, is her youngest daughter.  Left to mourn are the remaining members of her family, and countless others whose lives she (and her daughter) touched in this world.

Women of Joy, 2012, a Weekend to Remember

This past weekend I had the blessing of attending a Women of Joy conference.  It was such a great experience that I felt I need to blog about it.

Fighting Satan

Over the past couple of years something disheartening as occurred in my life-- I lost myself.  I floundered around, desperately trying to fight my way back into existence and it's the biggest uphill battled I've faced.

Getting Crafty

The kids are back in school, so I found a little time to indulge in one of my hobbies.  I love making custom cards for people for special occasions.  I keep telling myself that I should make a bunch of cards up and then when an occasion comes along, I will simply grab one and send it along to whomever.  The trouble with that is, I like the card to be special and custom made just for the person to whom it's going.

Chick-fil-A -- You Make Me Sad

I am sad today.  As a Christian, in America, I scroll through articles, Tweets and Facebook posts about the record sales at Chick-fil-A yesterday and I cringe.  It's a sad thought that hatred and bigotry are the Face of Christianity today.  That they are held up as a beacons of family and moral values.

Just Show Up

Have you ever experienced a day in which you oversleep? Curiously, instead of feeling rested after having extra sleep, you feel a step behind? I think we all have days like this. Every decision seems more difficult that it should; people get on our nerves more than usual.

Getting To Know All About Me

If this is your first time to stumble upon my blog, for whatever reason, I am SO happy you're here.  Welcome.

 I've been writing this blog since 2008, and have worked out many a problem through my writing about it.  Sometimes the problems I encountered lead to life-lessons I needed to learn, and I wanted to share those lessons with others, some posts were intended to provoke a call to action, still others were simply household hints and natural cleaning recipes I've picked up along the way in my years as a mom since 1995.

I am ready to be ME.

I love music.  It helps me make sense of life in a way almost nothing else can.  At different periods of time in my life, a particular song becomes a theme song - an anthem of my life, if you will. Right now, in my life- a time of change and turmoil (some would call it a mid-life crisis), I have so many things going on inside my head and heart that it is difficult to pin-point one song that says it all. Because I am all over the place emotionally, I turn more toward a line here or there in several songs that resonate with me presently.

Psalm 100

 Psalm 100

 I love this Psalm.  I should dedicate myself to re-reading it every.single.day.  The over-riding message in this passage is simple.  We need to stop what we are doing and thank God for who he is.  We shouldn't have to be reminded praise him;  shout his name to the world;  worship him with gladness, and be thankful for the very lives he has given to us.  It really should be second nature, as believers. Unfortunately, we get caught up in our lives, and the problems of the world. We forget to pause, and enter into the court of God, where is is always waiting patiently for us, his errant children, to simply thank him.

Am I Significant?

Personally, I want to matter. I want to be significant. I want to leave my mark on the world. Am alone in this wish? I think it is pretty universal. I think we all want our dash to mean something more than sheer existence. How we go about making that difference, and how to figure out how wide a net to cast in our endeavors are the things that hang most of us up.

Sock Bun Curls

I have been seeing all sorts of great no-heat-shortcut hair curling techniques on Pinterest.  I tried one headband method, which didn't work for me, because I have to sleep with my hair in a high ponytail or bun because I wear a special sleep mask for my dry eye issues due to Sjogrene's Syndrome.  The head-band wrapped hair got all wampy-jawed (Southern/Texas term meaning all effed up) while I slept, so I ended up with some funky-kinky-half-curled-half-crimped hair as a result.

Chase Away Mild Depression

 Many of you who know me, know that I recently entered into treatment for a severe depressive episode. Although living with Major depressive disorder is no picnic, I don't always feel crushing depression in my life. Why? Mostly because - I take my medication; I stick to a good routine; I check my mental pulse often. In a phrase: I take care of myself. Usually, I can shake off the cobwebs of a down period, because I stay on top of my mental illness. Obviously, that was not the case this year, when I allowed things to build and spin out of control.

How Things Are Going?

Yikes; I haven't updated this blog in a while.  The reason I haven't updated isn't because I haven't had a lot on my mind, because I have.  I guess I simply have a hard time articulating the internal workings of my mind.  Believe me, there is nothing simply about what goes on in my head.

Rainy Days and Husbands Always Get Me Down

I don't think I am going to survive any more of my husband's help this weekend.  Don't get me wrong.  I love him and I know he means well.  At least I think he does  However, no one can drive me crazy faster.   Today I had to BUY a newspaper because he saved me a trip to pick him up at the auto-shop yesterday by walking home, and  unawares, left our (free) newspaper at the shop, containing all of my coupons.  I had to actually BUY a newspaper today.  I sure hope the coupons are good this week, otherwise, heads will roll.

I Understand Why People Attempt Suicide. (Part 2 )

You can Read part 1 here
Over the course of all the years I've been depressed and anxious, as I stated, I've found different ways to cope.  I've coasted along fairly well since the point where I accepted that medication would be a constant companion in my life.  I've changed medications a few times, been to therapy for a couple of different periods, and then... life goes on.  It's not something I think about on a daily basis, at least I didn't until recently.

I Understand Why People Attempt Suicide (part One)

I have tried to be as open as possible, on this blog, and in my real life, about my lifelong battle with depression and anxiety.  It hasn't always been easy to share, but I believe that monsters live in the dark and the only way to get rid of them is to shine a light one them.  And depression and anxiety are my monster.  I've dealt with depression/anxiety since I was 10.  I'm 47 now, so you do the math.  A long damn time, that I know for sure.  It has it's ups and downs for sure and I have tried a lot of things over the years to make things better for myself.  Or, I should say, to make myself feel better.

Good Versus Evil

Have you had those moments - days or weeks even, where you feel that those around you have let you down so profoundly that it hurts to breathe; but you know that breath - in and out, in and out, is really all you have?

Shut up and Listen

Psalm 28

Discouraged. Disheartened. Distressed. Depressed. That is how I feel right now and this Psalm (28) goes right along with those moods and emotions I struggle with. David seems to be feeling the same kinds of things in this passage. He asks, in verse 1 that his Lord not turn a deaf ear to him.

Why Bad thing Happen to Good People

If God loves all of his children why isn't everyone freed from their burdens? Why is one child  cured from his disease while the child in the next bed is not? Did one child's parents pray harder than the others? Was one child's parent's faith not as strong as that of another? Why do children have to die at all? These, and many others along the same line, are questions that plague us all, both Christian and non-Christian.

Let it Loose

I interrupt the usually serious topics on this blog, to bring you a public service announcement. This one is brought to you by the words lose and loose. Here they each are in a simple sentence:

Tossed About

My mind is like a popcorn popper today. It won't stay on one thing at a time, but keeps flitting around from one thing to the next. So many things to think about - so little time to focus. What I need is to unplug my brain.

Perhaps if I could unplug, then my mind will settle down and stop popping around hither and yon. Then maybe I can focus on one thing at a time and perhaps even get something accomplished. Maybe?

A Pictorial Stroll Down Memory Lane

Hi, my name is Kim.  This is me, when I was a few months old.  My mom had a sadistic sense of humor I guess.  It is the only thing that can explain the hair-do she gave me.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 4-6-12

Psalm 77
Many times in my life I have felt like I was completely alone; that even my God had abandoned me. That is not the greatest feeling in the world. As a matter of fact it is one of the worst feelings imaginable. Sometimes the reasons for these feeling are plain and at other times it is inexplicable why I feel so dejected. I know God is always there, so why is it so hard to feel his presence sometimes?

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 4/3/12

Psalm 98
Two summers ago I challenged myself to read all 150 Psalms and I thoroughly enjoyed reading each one.  The Psalms are so beautifully poetic, and such an encouragement to me. They so clearly illustrate man's struggle with life. One Psalm will be full of praise in a victory, and the next one might rail at the world that seems unfair, still another will speak of the mighty

A Few People Could Stand To Learn a Thing or Two about To, Too and Two

I am interrupting my regularly scheduled Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey post to bring you this critical grammar/spelling Public Service Announcement. I promise not to be too tedious in my lesson today about three little words that cause too much trouble to too many people. Here are all three words in sentences:

• Two heads are better than one when it comes to editing a paper. 
• There are too many rules in the English language. 
• I try to remember all the rules but I get so confused.

Not too many people are confused about when to use two in a sentence. It is pretty obvious that it is only used to denote the numeral 2. The most important thing to remember with two is that when writing an important or formal piece of text, one should always spell out numbers one through ten and not use their numerals. The only exception is when you need to insert a date. Don't ask me why; I told you there were too many rules. What I do know, is that when you follow the rule, it makes it as though you know what you are doing. So, next time you want to impress, use two instead of 2, to make yourself look like you are way too smart for your competition.

Now, on to the more confusing and sometimes dreaded to and too. You have to remember to add that extra o to to, when you mean to show there is more of something; when you can substitute also, for too in the sentence. See how easy that is to remember? An extra o in to means extra of whatever it is you are talking about (too cute, huh?).

The word to is a word we all use a lot in normal everyday speech. We can go to the store; send something to someone; happen to overhead something. To is a sweet little two letter word that gives too much of itself not to be appreciated for the wonderful little preposition that it is. We must respect the to and not mix it up with its homonymic counterparts, two and too. It is the least we can do for all the sweet to does for us.

That is it my friends. This lesson was very short and succinct. You can get back to the April Fools prank or two you were planning to play on some unsuspecting loved one. I am sure you think you are way too busy to stop and think about these kinds of things, but it takes less than two seconds to think before you accidentally type the wrong word and totally change the meaning of your sentences.

Back to your regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon programming.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey AKA What the Fudgecake Happened to my Living Room

If you have been reading my blog for the past five weeks, then you know I am having a little rough patch.  Rough patch?  I'd call it more of a  large parcel of land.  Yesterday, being a particularly emotionally draining day for me I went to bed at 6:30.  Yes, 6:30 and yes that's PM (don't judge).

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul 3-29-12

While watching a documentary about the Shakers, I was fascinated by the fundamental beliefs of this religious group. Their belief in simplicity, perfection and worship seems to me a way of life that all of us, whether Christian or not, could learn a great deal from.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3-28-12

Did you know I'm special?  That I am one in a million?  Actually not just one in a million, more like on in a quadrillion or some other unfathomable number way up there in the stratosphere. I don't say that as a boast, but as a simple fact that I believe.  I believe I am the only ME ever created by a loving God who made me, and every other individual ever born, ever to be born, uniquely and individually-- with a purpose for each created person.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3/26/12

Psalm 51
The other day, I posted a blog inspired by Psalm 55, so today I decided to take a stab at another Psalm - Psalm 51.  It is one of my favorites. Truthfully, there aren't too many Psalms I don't love.  I read and re-read them all the time and they give me such blessing and comfort.  Getting back to the message at hand, however, this Psalm reminds me that my God is a God who forgives, and a God who will use me for his purpose. What a wonderful God!

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3/22/12

Psalm 55  is my inspiration and comfort for my post this morning. David, the author of this particular Psalm, is obviously burdened with a trial much different than my own. Wondrously, one of the most beautiful things about the holy scripture of God, and the Psalms in particular, is the words can be applied in our lives, in a vastly different way than they were used for the author.  It's how we draw inspirations and gain wisdom from reading the scripture. The exact circumstance doesn't matter here, but the anguish is the same.

Teens or Dogs? Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3/19/12

Now that we have three teens in the house and one nipping at the heels of teen-dom, I am re-thinking this four kid thing.  No one ever told me it was going to be easy, but no one prepared me for how hard parenting would be.  Oh, they are blessings, don't get me wrong.  I wouldn't trade any of them for a million dollars.  Most days, anyway.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3/16/12

Today, I'm taking a small departure from talking about what's going on with my health because I want to  introduce you to my childhood cookie jar.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3/15/12

I haven't updated this series of blogs in a few days.  There are a couple of reasons for that.  Number one, not much has changed in my mental state.  I have lost a couple more pounds, but the joy is eclipsed by the way I feel.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3-13-12

I think we all want to hear verbal validation, right?  We like to hear that someone thinks we've done a good job at something.  I know I do.  My family of origin isn't too terrible proficient in the verbal affirmation department.  That's not to say they we don't love each other and aren't proud of each other and the things we've accomplished, it's just that we never really said the nice words out loud.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3/11/12

It's been a few days since I updated my blog.  A lot is going on here, so it's been hard to take the time to sit down and give the writing the attention it needs.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3-8-12

Yesterday I went tot he doctor and was very happy to see the number on the scale go down by 7 pounds.  I pretty respectable number for a two week  period of time.  I have to say I was feeling pretty proud. Then today came along.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul 3/6/12

Yes, I realize today isn't March 6th.  I missed yesterday's entry.  But, you know what?  I'm not going to beat myself up about it.  I do that enough as it is and it just causes stress.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 3/5/12

It only takes one small light to pierce the darkness.  That is one of the beautiful things about life.  On Friday, I felt pretty dark, but today I feel the darkness lifting a bit.  There is light at the end of the tunnel.  I hope it's a good light I can see at the end of the tunnel and not an on-coming train!

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul 3/2/12

A couple of days ago on my blog, I shared with you my struggle in changing my medication.  At the time, I stressed how important it is to just hold on, because nothing bad lasts forever.  Well, I have to tell you, I'm having a hard time holding on right now.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul 3/1/12

I love Jason Gray , and more specifically, I love this song of his.  I love the simplicity of the lyrics - "Tell me, lest I forget, who I am to you [God]".  I've listened to this song countless time over the past week or so because, frankly, I've forgotten who I am.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey 2-29-12

Two days before I started this blog series, on Fat Tuesday, no less, I went to the doctor for a medicine check. I've been on anti-depressants for almost 13 years.  My depression started long before that, at about age 10, but that was 1974 and not much was known about genetic mood disorders, and certainly not in 10 year old children.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul Journey - 2/28/12

Life is full of ups, downs and all arounds, isn't it?  Some days we feel we can conquer the world and other days it's all we can do to put one foot in front of the other and stagger through until it's time to go to bed again.  Sometimes, I wonder what makes it worth the effort on those days.  I wonder for only a minute before I remember what makes it worthwhile -- People.  My people.  My family and my friends.  And above all, for me, God.

Cabinet Revitalization -Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit 2/27/12

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. ~Psalm 90:17

This weekend was a whirlwind of activity on my journey.  I had the idea that sprucing up my home would help boost my low moods.  I know that things aren't important in life; it's the people who really matter.  However, surrounding ourselves with things that we love goes a long way toward helping us feel content and comfortable.

Healthy Mind, Body and Soul 2-24-12

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~Psalm 139:13-14

This is a picture of me just a couple of months before I developed Bell's Palsy.  I wasn't the thinnest I'd ever been, but I was a respectable size for a 46 year old women with four kids.  I didn't feel okay about the size at the time, however.  I look at this picture here and I look at the picture I took yesterday and in my mind (at the time this pic was taken), I saw myself the size I am now.

Journey to a Healthy Mind, Body and Soul

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. ~James 4:10

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, a day where many Christians, myself included reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus, and in turn reflect on our lives and perhaps find some things we ourselves should sacrifice, for the 40 days between now and Easter Sunday.  Not that our small sacrifices could even measure up to that of Jesus' sacrifice, but we do it as a gesture of obedience and solidarity.

Depression Sucks the Life Out of Me

The past year, for me, has been the hardest of my 47 years.  I've had some tough years along the way, but this one takes the prize.  As I sit here today I feel... numb.  I'm finding it hard to even grasp words I need to describe the depths of emotion I feel.  Depressed?  Yes.  Anxious?  Yes.  Worried?  Yes.  Scared?  Absolutely.  I feel all of those things and yet, it's difficult to describe the combination of emotional soup that is my mind and heart.

Yeast Cleanse Plan

This post was actually written, by me, almost 2 years ago and posted on another website. I decided to repost it here on my blog, just for information purposes. Yeast can be a real problem for a lot of people. I struggle with keeping it at bay. Sticking to a yeast free diet it tough.

I don't call it a diet plan because I don't like the word diet. Any word that contains the word die and requires food deprivation is not a word I want in my vocabulary, so live-it it is. First, let me give you a bit of background as to why I am on this live-it plan in the first place and briefly explain what Candida is.

Message to a wayward teenager:

You aren't half as smart as you think you are and your parents aren't half as dumb as you think they are.   The things you do now will affect the rest of your life, yet you don't understand that.  I know it's hard for you to fathom the rest of your life, when you don't even know what you'll be doing on Friday night, but trust me, a day will come when you understand and you will look back at this time in your life and think -- How stupid was I?

Punctuation Junction

Punctuation. What's its function? It seems to me that people have lost sight of the function of punctuation. It is often overused, underused and worst of all, just plain unused a lot in Internet writing. This makes reading some posts really tricky.