A few days ago I saw a Facebook friend, who said to me, “Anita, you really know how to live. It’s good…‘cause most moms are so tied up with kids and work or housework and everything else, they have no lives of their own.” I immediately felt guilty, or ashamed. Shoot. Am I one of those people? Do I make my life look easy, happy and fun? Or worse -- make others feel their lives are so not? If so, I must confess – It’s A Lie. I’m just guilty of selectively posting the “best of” takes and capturing quickly fleeting treasured moments on camera. And I post often to simplify. How so? I’m not … [Read more...]
Life: Is it Gonna Make You or Break You?
They say the most stressful things in life are moving, getting married, having a baby, changing jobs, losing a job, getting separated/divorced, losing a spouse or loved one, or falling ill or disabled. And you know that list ain't all of it. What's even worse is when these big game changers hit multiples at a time, or one after another with no rest in-between. So. What do all these high stress generators have in common? They're all major life Changes. Transitions. Turning points. Rites of passage. Bombs (unexpected or even expected). Not easy. Even when they’re good or happy changes -- … [Read more...]
Life Is Like an Onion
As 2015 draws to a close, I am reminded of Momma's famous line from "Forrest Gump": Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." But if I were to come up with some proverbial life-food analogy of my own, I’d say, “Life is like an onion.” If lived well, its many layers get peeled away slowly, gently, timely…just one leaf at a time. A few tears will be shed, and a few surprises – perhaps some bruising inside – may be discovered along the way. Even so, a good onion, after surviving some heat, will ultimately be sweet, not bitter, spicy, or sour. When I look back at my … [Read more...]
Indecision and Faith to the Rescue
My journal entry this morning: I am grateful for the Word and all its truths. I hardly slept a wink last night, tossing and turning, checking the clock every other hour, robbed of peace. We made offers on two homes this week - one on a newer, spacious, practical house about which I did not have a good/peaceful feeling, the other on a smaller, older, charming house I liked instantly but fear we might outgrow before the kids are grown. We are in waiting mode. Our trusty and hardworking realtor (who's shown me about 50 homes throughout four neighboring cities) may have had it with me. … [Read more...]