Tundra Clothes, And All My Girls, Emma, Emily, Nicole and Kelly, Read This Book!!!

   I began my morning, hunting for my Boston clothes. My 'Beyond Nippy" sweaters, the layer of the Tundra clothes. Colorado garb, or in my world, under 70 degrees!! Today takes it up a notch, even my socks, are thick and creepy. The frigid wind howls, and my 40 year old sweater looks awesome!! Its like an old friend, came back for a visit!!  Winter has come, minus John Snow, and I will work hard at a sweet disposition.
    Before I get way off my topic, I wanted to share with you a couple of good reads. Someone for Christmas, who probably loves me, sent me Michelle Obama's book, and I thank you. I respect her and love her husband, The President of my Heart. Also I received a cookbook, magnificent, Whiskey in a Teacup, that has stories and dishes from my beloved south. Thank you V and K. I have made every thing in that cookbook, at some time in my life. I will for sure, return to my roots for a re-make
   The book I want to talk to you about, I read a review and downloaded it. Girls Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. A humorous self help book(yes old people still seek help!) or just a diary like in the life of a woman. I read the first four pages and I thought, this is going to be good. Then a little more into it she mentioned it was a Christian book!! OK, C.S. Lewis, Max Lacado, The history of all religions, I have read. But zealot Christian thinking, or any fanatic, pious religious person, I steer clear of. MOST, not all, but most overly christian, Tammy Faye Baker people are the very worst people. Blind and intolerant in their beliefs, scare me. So when this lovely lady, went full tilt Jesus, I paused. Well she, handled her faith with humor and dignity, and I enjoyed the heck out of this book.
  My faith remains in tact, and she did not turn me into an atheist yet. ( I do practice Buddhism along with The baby in the manger) ( they are both happy with me)
  Back to the book, here are some of the many highlights, that I chose to share with you.
         1. You and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are.
         2. Life is not supposed to overwhelm you at all times. Life is not meant to be survived. Its meant to be lived.
         3. You become who you surround yourself with. ( or as Mary, my mother, says, "Don't lay with the dogs, you will get fleas!)
         4. Moving does not change who you are, It only changes the view.
         5. My inter monologues are incredibly dramatic!! ( YES!)
         6.Our words have power, but our actions shape our lives.
         7. Nobody's psychosis is one layer deep. I am a Vidalia onion of issues. ( yes, again)
         8.I hate chaperoning field trips!( Fact!! these kids go to Europe now a days, cancel field trips!!)
         9. My dreams are for me to manage, no one else.
         10. The hanging chads of wishes and dreams that still hadn't come to fruition. ( we all have them)
         11. Do you have faith in my plan or not. ( I think that was God talking to her) ( Let Go!)
         12. Stress always catches up to you and your body will act in a negative way.
         13. What are you options? Ignore, Battle, or medicate chaos until we feel numb! ( must be other options, research!!)
         14. Jesus looked at Chaos and said, " Bring it On" Being overwhelmed is not a new concept.
( I have never had to cut up a chicken!! I am good!)
         15. When you suffer a severe loss, for years afterwards you assume, that every person sleeping too long is dead, Every sitting person, unmoving person, could be gone to heaven!( Its not a fun way to live, in fear) ( there is an absence of explanation with grief) ( Honestly to love and continue to live, is the journey)
     Gosh there is so much more, you can even add to the list, your own rules of living. Growing up, jobs, having babies or not, being a daughter, sister, mother-in-law. ( I do not write this blog just for women, but my view is totally female, so men, adapt these words to help you also)
   I think most of us, could write a book, just like Rachel Hollis.
   I thank her for doing it for me.
   Hope you can squeeze out an hour to read, rest and restore your precious self. So that when you have to put on some, Tundra Clothes, and the day is gloomy gray, and John Snow will not be around until April, you have some answers to your chaos.

Siphoning It Off

   I came across this word, siphoning, last week. I love to find, see, use words that have lost their way.
I asked the hubs, "When have you heard the word, siphoning, lately." He, hummed, " I don't know?"
"Iam serious!!! Its a great word, why don't we use it anymore!!" I so kindly raised my angelic voice.
My beloved, did not respond. He may have tuned me out. (I think I taught him how to do that!)
  It is not easy to live with an artist!! Passionate about the universe and all its fixens!! ( now there is a word!1 from The Swamp)
   I grab my pencil and write down where I see this magic word, so I can explain it to you, the reader of stuff.
  I have one grief book, that I have used for almost twelve years,  Healing After Loss by Martha Whitmore Hickman. It is daily grief mediation, that I have found through the years, to be just as good every day with or without profound grief. People go through all kinds of grief everyday, this is just a good book to have. I am not a daily kind of page reader, I would sit down and read most of the book in a day, delayed gratification and I, are not BFF.
   This was written on Jan 12 day, so I am in the same month. I could quote August as well, but I like to take my reader, with baby steps, with me.
   So the devotional story talks about a lady who lost her daughter, and began to write ( sounds familiar) She wrote down her feelings, daily events, occasion of recall, sorrow and hope. It was a way of moving grief away, putting it in another place, siphoning it off!!!
  That is how I deal with grief, writing and art. Possibly life in general. We all need to cope and thrive somehow. Pray, Preach or medicate. Find what works for us, to be better humans, each day. Kind to ourselves and others, leave the day a smidgen better. Siphon off the ugly and share the good.
    The end of the little story says, "I will be open to new ways of resolving my grief."
  Resolving grief, day to day chaos, addiction, pain, sickness, sadness, find a new way to make changes, try another way! If it is not working, pick up a paint brush, write a poem, take a walk.
  The dear, young Van Gogh  was asked , " Why do you paint." He answered with each stoke of the brush, "So that I don't have to listen to my brain thinking."
   You don't need to lose an ear, to see the power in healing.
    Be Still and Know, now that was from another, I hope you know, familiar source.
   On this cold, January Day, when I get to celebrate all of my Baron Grandsons birthdays, and remember my sister with a smile ( Trudy would have been 65) I am a happy person, I carry with me the tools.