Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Blessed to be busy

Busy, busy, busy.  In the last week or so I have accomplished more than I would normally get done in an entire month (if I was feeling good that is).  Sometimes in the pressure of having lots to do in a little time we forget to remember the joy of service and the blessing of  having the stamina to accomplice what needs to be done.  I captured some of what I have done on my camera, but most of what I have done just doesn't show. 
 I've been washing the dog every 2-3 days due to his skin infection coming back.  This is done on a 70# dog with a water resistant coat.  Since it is medicated shampoo; it stays on for an minimum of 10 minutes.  then it is rinsed and lotion applied while he is still wet.  I then I have to bleach all his bedding and his harness.  It really is a big deal and a lot of work
Then Laura had to move with her family and start all over, so I went through all of my basic things (towels, dishes, beds, bedding, dressers, shelves and just about anything and everything you could possibly need). I found what i could but that also meant the dresser, desk and shelves had to be emptied and those things contained therein had to find new homes around our  house.  Her boys now are sleeping on the beds Laura used when she was little and they have a dresser and desk that Laura also used.  I then looked at thrift shops to gather what I could there.  Next came Wal-mart  and Amazon.  Her brothers drove up to her new home and delivered what we had gathered.  I've also been gardening in the morning while it is cool.  Since Laura wants some houseplants, I have been trimming my container gardens and rooting the trimmings on my kitchen window sill.  I also got my winter greens area of my garden ready to plant tomorrow.  I've also replanted some of my herbs so they are ready to come inside when we start to get frosts.
I also made up some photos and printed them on magnetic paper to send to the people who I visit from church.  I put my name and phone # on them so, if they ever wanted or needs to call me, it would be right there on their fridge.The thing i am most proud of is on the collage at the top.  Last year our church's women's organization made totes and filled them with personal products for the local women's shelter.  I found then that I really loved making totes and designing not just the look but designing them to suit a specific purpose.  When I saw a swap of A Tote and a Note on Swapbot; I jumped at the chance to participate.  I really enjoyed this swap and designed this just for my assigned swap buddy.  She does cross stitch so I designed the tote to fit.  It was large enough to hold a good sized hoop and project book or magazine, but was narrow enough to hold it upright.  I included pockets on the inside and out with some long enough for scissors and rulers.  I added a clear pencil case so that the threads could be stored and seen there.  I also added hooks so the case could easily be taken out and some other hooks to hang things like things like keys on.  All this was done with scraps and leftovers from other projects.
Swapbot has been real good for me, allowing me to be creative in multiple ways and I am learning to meet deadlines.  If I am ever to go back to school or start my own business this is definitely a skill I need to develop.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing what I have been up to.

Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Friday, May 20, 2011

Miracles

A LIGHT IN THE FOREST

I was watching the movie "Field of Dreams"; I haven't seen it in quite a while and had forgotten all the little life philosophies that it contains besides the obvious one of following the inner voice.  There are a lot of metaphors for lost chances, events that change your life and set you on a different path.  As I was watching and contemplating my own life; tears started to roll down my face, not tears of sorrow but tears because my spirit was touched.  With all the changes and different paths that I have taken, sometimes of my own choice and sometimes placed upon me by my health; this movie at this time of one more path change gave me pause to think and feel.  Hence the tears.  Especially when Ray asks 'What's in it for me?'.  Perhaps our lives shouldn't always be about 'What's in it for me?' perhaps it is only after we have risked everything and everything we do seems to bless others while our circumstances continue to go downhill that we need to let go of ourselves and our needs to have what we, ourselves REALLY need for our peace and healing just like in the movie.  After all isn't that what  Christ meant when he said when lose ourselves in service that we find ourselves.  I think sometimes stories can give us pause for thought and that's a good thing.  Christ taught in parables for a reason, sometimes we are moved more by stories then by being lectured.
As the movie was ending good 'ole Rascal stuck his nose over the arm of the chair with his sad eyes and even sadder whine; trying his best to let me know that he had to go out NOW.  Big Sigh! I really didn't want to get up much less go for a walk.  But up I got and as I opened the door Serendipity stepped in and I got to witness the miracle of two adult Robins with 5 little ones gathered round them.  I say miracle because this is something I had never seen before and I found witnessing this awe inspiring.  This circle of life- this new life.  Surprise, surprise I was so entranced I forgot to grab my camera.  Knowing that as soon as I opened the door they would fly away, I just stood there peacefully watching despite an occasional nudge on my legs from my faithful companion.  I did eventually pull myself together, grabbed my camera and monopod and headed out the door.  I did manage to snap a shot of one of the babies in the neighbors yard before they all flew away.  I then saw a different kind of baby bird and clicked his pic.  Apparently since we have bird feeders on our front porch the birds are now enjoying life in my yard instead of the woods where I can't see them as often.  I didn't know such a small thing would make such a difference.  As Rascal and I continued our walk with me much more peaceful; I took notice of the afternoon sunshine on the woods and captured that also.

WHAT A WONDERFUL MIRACLE OUR LIVES ARE!
ENJOY
☺☺☺Johnina ☺☺☺

Friday, March 4, 2011

Pass it along- Mail art

I am a firm believer in spreading the good; of putting out good 'vibes', that in doing so you can make the world a better place.  I have found the old adage "What goes around; comes around" to be true, although I don't worry about what's in it for me.  Mail art has given me an opportunity to share my art with not only the recipient but with everyone who handles the mail in between.  I used to do it a lot more than I have recently and I have decided that instead of doodling and sketching in a journal that I would once again use it to decorate my mail; where all could see it.  How often do we send a beautiful card in a plain envelope?  While the person who received the card might enjoy the beauty or cheerfulness it really limits the enjoyment that could have been created by that piece of art.  When I was doing it on a regular basis the postal workers were always glad to see me and see what I had done and I was always greeted with a smile.  It didn't matter that it was dinosaurs that I had drawn for my grandson or flowers for my daughters and friends, I even spray painted boxes and stenciled them.  The postal workers were always curious to see what I had done.  Now postal workers may get paid pretty well but they are never going to get rich on their salary and if I can bring a smile into their day it makes me feel happy too.
Think about what you could do to bring a smile into another life even if you never see it.  I do not see most of the people who handle my mail.  Try it, make it a habit and see how your own life will change.
ENJOY
☺☺☺☺☺Johnina ☺☺☺☺☺

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Veterans Day

This photo was taken by my daughter of her kids at their great-grandfathers grave at Arlington National Cemetary.  Sometime today pay tribute to those who service your country.

Monday, June 14, 2010

"Lean On Me"

I love just trucking down the road (70's saying) with the windows open, the sunroof letting in more sunshine and wind and singing at the top of my lungs.  It could be just about any artist or group any song with words sometimes 'Phantom of the Opera', sometimes 'The Who' sometimes 'Iron Butterfly' sometimes 'Kenny Loggins' sometimes 'Placido Dimingo' sometimes 'Helen Reddy','I Am Woman', I'm sure you get the idea that I have very eclectic taste in music just like so many of my interests.  Sometimes I think it would be better if I was a lot more picky and than I wouldn't accumulate so many things but there are so many things that bring joy into my life that I really think I like having eclectic tastes better even if it does tend to create clutter simply out of shear numbers of things that I enjoy.  Anyway I'm rambling a little back to trucking down the road; One of the best delights of trucking down the road is turning on my station of the day- today was my oldies station- and hearing a long time favorite song- delightful- can get me revved up sometimes- today the song was "LEAN ON ME" by Bill Withers.  When it was first popular I was the one being leaned on.  My good friend Debbie and I would go visit Mama G an elderly member of our church and help her.  It was always delightful to be around her, she was like a grandmother to us.  Neither one of us had a grandmother nearby and she made the most wonderful apple pies.  I also made it a regular practice to sit with families with lots of small children especially those who had duties on the stand.  The mom was the chorister or dad was conducting the meeting.  These were things I delighted in doing.  Now the song has another meaning for me as I am on the receiving end and have been for awhile.  With my knee replacement coming up next week; as long as I am healthy enough; this is going to be doubly true. Although I have often found that both the giver and the receiver benefit.  This song has much wisdom in it for both sides the giving and the receiving and best of all it's still great to belt out in the car as I go truckin' down the road.

Artist: Bill Withers
Title: Lean On Me


Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's
Always tomorrow


Lean on me
When you're not strong
I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on


Please, swallow your pride
If I have things
You need to borrow
For no one can fill
Those of your needs
That you won't let show


You just call on me brother
When you need a hand
We all need somebody
To lean on
I just might have a problem
That you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on


Lean on me
When you're not strong
I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For, it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on


You just call on me brother
When you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem
That you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on


If there is a load
You have to bare
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me
Call Me
If you need a friend
(Call Me)
Call Me
If you need a friend
(Call Me)
If you ever need a friend
(Call Me)
Call Me
If you need a friend


Keep on truckin' ya'll and sing your heart out!!