Friday, September 3, 2010

Junior Mints and Elephants and Watermelon Ice

Sunny mornings, gentle breezes, butterflies, bird songs....hmmm, just some of the calming reminders and memories of warm, summer days and appreciating the world around me.   So many things to be grateful for.


Today, going to be 93 again.  But the wonderful news is that God is blessing us with 60's in the mornings and 80's in the daytime for almost a week!  Glory Hallelujah!   That's almost opening the windows weather to air at the house, well, maybe in the early mornings.


I love beautiful blue skies with those wonderful cloud shapes.  Sometimes, the pollution and the gunk in the air along with the total absence of any hope of rain, just gives us a murky sky with skinny little clouds that look like just that "skinny little clouds".  But lately, we've been finding whole menageries in the sky and watching them drift into each other and make new shapes.  I'm such a dork sometimes.  I get excited by some of the most simple of things, but the neat part about it, is that excitement just kinda hangs around for awhile and makes me smile.  So, I guess sometimes it's a good thing that I'm a dork.  I'm sure there are hundreds of other words to describe that one type, but I just like "dork".


Today is Friday, and just happens to be the day before we have my Daddy's big 80th birthday bash.  There are all kinds of friends and family coming, some even from points far away.  It's going to be so cool.  He is so excited about seeing everyone and I think about being the center of attention.


Saturday, we are having a feast!  And with thanks going out to my dearest friends, and family members, it's going to be spectacular!  No one, absolutely no one, will go home hungry!  I promise.  Sunday promises to be filling as well.  Brunch with all of the trimmings from berries to shrimp n grits!  They will be so full, they are going to want to stay another night.


Today's little story is going to be just that, little, but chocked full of wonderful memories, giggles, dreams and peace.


My titles are often elusive and you may not be able to figure out where I am going until well into the blog.  That's not going to be a problem today.  


Junior Mints and Elephants - when my son was much younger, if we were all out driving and spotted some great clouds, he wouldn't always see the elephants and puppies, or the alligator with its jaws open.  He saw things in a much simpler way and one of my favorites was when he looked out the car window and up at the sky and simply said "oh, look, that one looks like a Junior Mint!".  To this day, we still all "see" a Junior Mint when we study the clouds for artwork.  Even in the simplest of things, God sends us a giggle and an ooo and awe.  Just makes me smile, and we had one of those Junior Mints moments a couple of days ago.  I'm still smiling!


Watermelon Ice - missing someone is heart wrenching.  The grief and sadness can be overwhelming.  The "whys" don't make sense to us.  We fear closing our eyes because of reliving that "moment" when they were "gone".  If you stop and think about it, there have been moments and situations in all of our lives when someone that had passed on was able to let us know that "it's okay.  I'm okay and you will be fine.".  Sometimes, it's a hanky in a coat pocket, or the smell of a particular perfume, or seeing an unusual bird that just doesn't fit into the scenario.  Those are the "take your breath away" instantaneous moments that warm your heart, make you smile and quietly send love to the one that has a permanent spot in your heart.  Dreams - sometimes tough to deal with and we wake in tears or feeling distraught, but sometimes, when it's time, those dreams can leave us with wonderful things to take over the sadness and wake us up with a giggle and a smile.  So, here's to someone's dream, watermelon ice and being who you are.  Keep smiling and know that in that bright blue sky with God's floating menagerie, that there are special people looking down on us and giving us "little" wonderful moments to let us know that it's okay.


Time to Power Clean and start cooking.  Y'all be blessed today and always and don't look so far for your memories and your peace.  They are right in front of you.  Close your eyes, listen, remember the smells, the silliness, everything and then just smile!


Love y'all,  God bless you each and every day!
K