Old Fashioned

 Does anyone else notice what's wrong here? Sorry it's backwards :-)

Ok.  Call me old fashioned....or Traditional, but isn't there something wrong with this picture above?

I got this in the mail yesterday from a company that I won't use their name because that's not the point.  Look at each member of the family...during "family time".

What are these kids learning?  How is the couple keeping communication alive and their relationship?  How are the kids learning social and interpersonal skills?  Are they learning to take care of the home?  Are they learning how a daddy loves his daughters by spending time with them?

Are the girls growing closer together and learning to "be there" for each other later on in life?

All this is telling me is that each person has their own life (how lonely) and each person is not interested in what the other has to say, what their feelings are, what their interests are (besides electronics).

It seems very cold and unloving.

It's hard to go against the grain and not do what "everyone else is doing".  I know...believe me on many levels I know!  It's not easy.  When I choose different I have to hold to what I value...not what someone else is telling me I need to value.

Think of the example you set by holding on to Traditional ways of socializing.  Like picking up an actually phone to call a friend. The anticipation of waiting for a phone call.  The patience of knowing you missed a call or are waiting  for a call to be returned.

I have an older flip phone and have struggled many times over with whether to "update" my self and get a so called smart phone.  I really don't think they are that "smart".  I actually find more people frustrated that the phone or device does what it thinks you want it to as you are using it.  You spend more time trying to "undo" what IT did.  Sounds a bit like codependency to me.

We also don't have a cordless phone in the house. Yep! I have what I lovingly call a Piggy tail phone in the kitchen and in the back of the house.  We don't have Wi-FI in the house, and yes we have cords that go to my computer and my husbands work computer.

I won't go into all MY ways of doing things different.  I encourage all my family and friends to look at things in their life and how they may or may not be affected by the way "society expects" us to have or use certain things.  Or Dress, but that's another post.

Jesus teaches that we are to be different.  That others will know us by our Love.  Will these kids above know how and when to act on this Love that is offered to them?

**Note - I am not saying that smartphones are bad. My husband has one and we have used it in circumstances that I was grateful for it.  My point is having boundaries with devices or at least questioning motives behind using what ever it is.  The family pictured above really is losing valuable connection time, and I don't mean electronic connection. Please, take what you like a leave the rest.

Our Sunday Drive

This little guy let us back up to tack his picture. Only about 3 inches tall.

Last Sunday my husband and I went for a drive.  This wasn't your ordinary "let's go meander the country".  We were going for a drive to provide an atmosphere to talk.  There has been much on both of our plates, but as of late, it's been about life.

Where are we going? What interests do we still have together? What are our hopes for the last 10 - 20 yrs of our life?

Because as life goes on and we change, sometimes reconnecting with our spouse is vital.

Accepting humility as the path to truth and closeness, we talked about our fears, our "unknown" desires, and even a bit of frustrations.

This was all possible in a 4 1/2 hour drive after church.   During lunch we were close enough to home that we made lunch to go and continued on.

During our 24 yrs of marriage driving for us has always been our main tool when we REALLY need to talk.  It provides an atmosphere that we are sitting side by side facing the world....just as our wedding day.  Rather than facing each other.

Have you ever tried to face someone, be vulnerable, and NOT be affected by their facial expressions, arms crossed or * Sigh* and lips puckered.  It's REALLY hard to not be affected.

Yet, going for a drive is an amazing way to accomplish all the above without getting affected (too much) by the others affect displays.

Our drive ended about 3:30pm  and we were holding hands and laughing.  Something we haven't done together in a few weeks.

Did our problems get resolved, some of them.  Most importantly, we were vulnerable to each other and we grew together in understanding our hopes, fears and concerns.

Some areas we are on the same sheet of music, but not all.  And that's ok.  It leaves room for another drive someday!  :-)

Wishing you Christ's peace!

Peeking through

Well, hello there!

It has been a while since I have posted on here.  I am walking through transitions and lifestyle changes due to battling and overcoming some health issues.  It's a slow process, but thanks be to God,  it is working.

As He has reminded me in my prayer time, do my part and let Him do His.

I love that.  It's also easy to forget.   Day to day events, and when I start feeling better, well,  the wish list and to do list seem to quickly drown out His sweet soft voice.

Once again, I am learning to pick myself up, dust myself off, rest and enjoy the process.

I hope to post here more regularly.  If you read it, great, I hope it encourages you or God touches your heart in some way.  If not, well, that's ok too.

There is much to much intake from the internet these days, and social media in general.  (Don't get me started on that! I have quite a soap box for it.)  My posts are truly just my place to write what's going on here in our little town in southern Colorado and in our home.

It's simple, just the way I strive to be.  Though I am know to complicate even the simplest of things, makes life fun!  My husband often rolls his eyes and lovingly reminds me of Keep It Simple.

I try.

Doesn't always happen.

Todays picture is of a little bird in a side window by my stove.  He peeks out each morning to say Hello and brings a smile to my face.  My heart is lifted and I start to listen to the birds singing outside.  Such a gift.

Take time to listen to the birds.  Their song is LOUD in the morning as the sun is coming up.  Then you may hear little chirps through the day and as the day winds down the birds, in their sweet way, quite down too.  A gentle reminder of how we should live.  The rhythm of the day.

Christ's peace be with you.