He Said, She Said

It has been said that men's brains are like waffles, neatly compartmentalizing information into separate and distinct sections, while women's brains are like spaghetti, criss-crossing lines of thought meandering hither and yon with extensive overlap.  Nice theory.  Shall we put it to the test?

This week I began the search for a computer desk or table to put in my little office at home, but since it is a little office, there were shape and size requirements that couldn't really be fiddled with.  And money was an issue, too.  My price range was "cheap."  That's okay.  I wasn't in any rush to find said furniture piece.  I would come across it when I came across it.  However, as with most things, I sent a prayer heavenward asking the Lord to lead me down the right path.

Well, He did indeed lead me.  He blessed me with a computer desk of the right shape and size and price, even thought it wasn't the solid oak beauty that would dwell in my dream office.  That's okay, too.  I live in the land of second-hand, eclectic furnishings where nothing matches and nothing resembles even remotely the pulled-together arrangements found on the pages of Country Living magazine. Don't get me wrong ~ my house is pulled together. I pull pieces from a variety of flea markets, thrift shops, and yard sales and arrange them together in a comfy, cozy manner reminiscent of our first apartment together as newlyweds.  Thirty-five years later I'm still perfecting the art.

I couldn't wait to share the news with my husband of how the Lord provided, right down to the specifics (well, except for the solid oak beauty business, but that's not His fault ~ I didn't ask for it).  I realized halfway through my tale that I was losing his attention when his eyes glazed over and his head started tilting. I needed to make a drastic move before the drooling and snoring kicked in, so I dared to ask my husband if I was taking too long, and you'll never guess what he said. You'll never guess!  Well, yeah, you probably can guess.

It got me to thinking about the theory that men's brains are like waffles and women's brains are like spaghetti and that I had just bought my man a ticket for the spaghetti train and what a painful ride that must have been for him.  I hurriedly finished the story for him before he lapsed into a coma and slid out of the chair.  He was grateful.  And he was excited.  I could tell by the twinkle in his slowly closing eyes.

We pick up the computer desk tonight.  And even though it's made out of composite pressed sawdust, I'm grateful and excited, too.

Now, if my husband were to tell this story, it would go something like this:  "I needed a desk. I looked for a desk. I found a desk."

Where's the fun in that? 

Holy Week Haiku

nail, nail, nail pounded
crushing through forgiving flesh
my God, my God, why...

~

bloody, bruised, beaten
bearing the sins of the world
love hangs on a cross

~

wounded, sacred head
shrouded in darkness and death
sin's wages now paid

~

casting off grave clothes
He, who once was dead, drew breath
exhaling new life

Palms

Palms waving, people waiting,
Gathered in the street,
Straining for a better look
At the Messiah they would meet.

Palms swaying, people saying
Hosanna! to the King;
His humble entry into town
Inspires the crowd to sing.

~*~

Palms laid bare, full of care,
Hammered to the cross;
Sweaty, bloody, lifted up --
His followers at a loss.

Palms unlike the leafy fronds
That lined the path He'd taken;
Palms of labor, palms of love --
Crushed, but not forsaken.

~*~

O, people, keep on offering
The palms of pageantry,
For they usher in the Son of God
Whose palms have set men free.

Clover Day

It seems appropriate on this St. Patrick's Day to post one of my first poems written years ago...

"Clover Day"

'Twas but a barren brown patch of God's soil
Wanting just a wee bit of man's toil;
With a seed and a song,
Faith! It wouldn't be long
'Til the birth of earth's first green trefoil!

(I like to think (hope? pray?) that maybe, just maybe, my writing skills have improved since then.)

Creamy Fruit Salad

This is an easy and yummy recipe that I think you'll enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 11-oz cans mandarin oranges, drained
2 9-oz cans diced peaches, drained
2 8-oz cans pineapple chunks, drained
3 cups mini-marshmallows
8-oz bar cream cheese, softened
8-oz cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix together the fruits and marshmallows.
In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, yogurt, and sugar; gently fold into larger bowl.
Refrigerate one hour+ before serving.

Yield:

8-10 servings

Leave of Absence

My poor blog. I haven't forgotten you. I am on a temporary leave of absence in order to devote more time to pressing family matters, both near and far. I have every intention of coming back and filling your pages with focused and inspirational thoughts and poems. I just don't know when that will be.

Snowballs!

January, the first month in any new year, stretches long in front of us ~ a harbinger of hopes, a dangler of dreams, a blank book of accomplishments. It is the landscape of new fallen snow, pock-free, pristine, pure. I am tempted to keep my hands off so as not to mar the illusion of fresh starts and sinless beginnings it offers. I am tempted to hang January on the wall and gaze on its beauty from afar rather than dive in and mess up the scenery. But...(yes, there is always a but)...

We are not called to merely sit in the bleachers of life to watch others play, watch others tackle, watch others score, watch others make snow angels. We are called to pull on our boots, grab our gloves, and dash headlong into the white stuff, to work up a sweat underneath our woolens, and to make our marks.

January, the first month in any new year, stretches long in front of us. Time to make some snowballs!