Making peace with your hair

I had my haircut yesterday. Actually it is more of a trim. It is a short hair length, so it is just a matter of keeping it . . . short. Many thanks to the student at the beauty school for doing my hair. It looks good. 

I no longer color my hair since making the decision to let it go grey. I can't pinpoint the date. My eyebrows have been turning grey for the past two years. Some of my eyelashes are even grey.  When the beautician started to tell me that we needed to color my eyebrows in addition to my hair, I had to stop and think. 

What am I coloring my hair and eyebrows for? For whom?  I am not vain in terms of appearance. Don't get me wrong.  I do take the time with my appearance - to make sure I come across that I feel good about myself, with careful application of make-up, coordination of clothes and shoes. Adding jewelry to my ears, wrist, neck, and fingers. I enjoy putting perfume on.  

I think I still look good - my face is still somewhat youthful. My husband still desires me. My 17-year old thinks I'm a cool Mom. My peers, friends, and acquaintances don't really need me to have my hair colored.  They need me to be there for them as a friend and colleague.  

The fact that my hair on my head is greying should not affect how I feel about myself.  Yes, I am . . . getting older. It is life. Admittedly, this age thing bothers me more than my hair and eyebrow situation. But it is another topic for another day. Today it is about making peace with your hair. 

Yes, many women think the hair on top of their head is their crown jewel. I beg to differ - your jewel is who you are -- inside. Your jewel is your heart, your loves, your compassion and generosity. 

I apparently had made peace with my hair some time ago and it began with the decision not to color it.  I like the streaks of silver around the top, sides and back.  The grey on my eyebrow, I think, add interesting flair to my face. (you can see them when you stand closely to me -- if I will allow you to invade my space!) 

So, make peace with your hair today. May peace be with you. 

What kind of a wake are you leaving behind?

We sometimes talk of what we want to leave behind - in terms of a legacy.  I like to live in the now. Today. Not tomorrow. Not sometimes down the road in the future. How about today? 

When we wake up and go about our day -- what kind of lasting impression are you making today? I am often amazed how people seem to forget that they leave behind lasting impressions in their day to day activities.  Even if we're strangers in passing - we leave behind impressions.  However temporary.  Whether you intended to or not, you could have an impact on how another person feels about themselves or how they may approach the rest of the day.    

Think of a boat in the water. Think of the "wake" it leaves behind as it goes down the water.  That is you -- throughout the day. Is the wake you're leaving behind large tumultuous waves? Or are they soft, gentle waves?  

Our life on this green earthy ball is temporary.  You cannot predict tomorrow.  So, why are you pondering on what kind of a legacy you are going to leave behind when you die?  Think about now. What kind of a legacy are you leaving behind today, while you're alive? 

Rejoice! May peace be with you. 

May peace be with you today. 

The Scent of a Woman

My daughter said to me the other day, after she hugged me -- I smelled good. She also said, that my scent was only unique to me. Like Nana (my mother) has her own smell.  My daughter hugs quite a bit. She likes to be hugged and held. We do it quite a bit - on good days, and on bad days.

For her, what we smell like -- gives her memories of whatever special moments she draws on from our time together while growing up. 

"For the sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories, and it's a pity that we use it so little." (quote by Rachel Carson)

Now, was she referring to perfume?  I think not. I wasn't wearing any the other day. My daughter is convinced that everyone has their own unique body odor and it is recognized between child and parent.  As much as she is growing up and soon will be attending college in a different state, lately she's been reaching out and hugging us more often. She's also been waxing nostalgia -- often triggered by her sense of smell, touch, sounds, and sight. 

Scents do trigger memories-- mostly good. In my case, my husband, I think smells great all the time. I love his aftershave -- it is so clean and crisp. Nothing peppery or floral.  My mother (Nana) always smells like freshly cleaned laundry.  I love walking into a coffee shop because I love the smell of freshly ground coffee. What does it mean for me -- my many quiet interludes have been while enjoying a good cup of coffee.  Often it is when I am sitting out on a deck by the lake from that special place I usually journey to in the summer time. 

I love baking bread and how it makes my house smell. I can remember my great grandmother who baked quite a bit while I was a little child - I loved the smell of cooking. It meant to me that everything was alright despite how terrible the world was while growing up. 

So, when my daughter hugs me, she is drawing up strength from memories she has of me and of us together. I pray that she can carry that with her while she is going so far away in college.  I know it is going to require her to draw a lot from within her to make it on her own.  May the Good Lord God be with her and cover her with peace.  Today, I pray that everyone will hug with their loved ones  -- just a little bit longer today.  Draw up some memories. 

May peace be with you. 

Clear Horizon

 It is now 2009 - in seven months it will be 2010. Last post was 2007. So much has happened. Time has surely flown. Here I am  . . . 

I have a business blog where I discuss marketing and business topics. (www.cmarcomservices.com/blog)

I use social media to network (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter)

I am meeting wonderful people through networking, facilitated by Twitter and LinkedIn. 

I am diversifying in different areas of my life - trying to explore and try different crafts, concepts, skills, and thoughts. 

This is my personal blog and when I first started it - it was a bit hard to write from the personal front. I know it is because of certain characteristics I possess. I used to be a very prolific journal writer. Blogging is a public journal writing experience - sharing your own thoughts, experiences to the public domain in the world wide web.  It is hard -- for me to open up, show and reveal my faults, warts, fears, failures, and nightmares. But then again, this platform could be a place to share joy, good news, celebration, and dreams. 

Where am I at now? Lets say I am at crossroads. I feel this "state" is not something permanent, but it is something that I need to go through. 

1) my (our) only child is graduating from high school and is going to college in North Carolina. 

2) Looking at the fact that we are going to be empty nesters sooner than we thought. We've been married for 22 years now. 

3) my best friend moved away to another state several months ago. I lost my only confidante of the same sex. 

4) we've lost two pets this year 

5) Both my husband and I will be reaching birthday milestones this year. (5o and 45, respectively). 

Maybe by sharing this personal side, will resonate with other people. Let them know that they are not alone either.  Please do contact me and share with me where you're at.  I want to know that I am not alone either. I want to laugh, cry and rejoice with others as this stage of our lives. I don't know what to call it at this point. So, "crossroads" works for me. 

Here's part of the song that is playing in my head: Clear Horizon by Basia. 

"All you need is a clear horizon,

a clear horizon

all we wish is everyday,

hope and pray,

for all of us

a clear and quiet sky"

That is what I am waiting for  . . . a clear and quiet sky. Lately, its been turbulent. May peace be with you. 

Hermit Crabs

My nearly 16 year old daughter purchased a hermit crab this past summer with her babysitting money. Now, I am not crazy about this . . ."creature". But last night it got out of its cage. How, I will never know. But fortunately her bedroom door was closed. It crawled out and down about three feet to the floor, then crawled over about another three feet to her printer which as close to the flooor, and crawled in. My daughter spent the wee-hours in the morning attempting to get it out. The crab's constant . . . "gnawing" woke her up. What was it chewing on?!

My mind is just "boggled" at the possibility if her bedroom door had not been closed. We have four cats and one large standard poodle. I seriously don't think it would have . . . survived. I told her this morning to put some weight on top of its cage since I do not want a repeat of this escapade.

What is it with hermit crabs? I see them nearly all over in retail stores - their shells are painted too! Why are we painting their shells?

Remember the story book by Eric Carle? "A House for Hermit Crab"

How do some people do it?

I told myself that I would utilize this "tool" as a way to share and stay in touch. However, the biggest challenge is finding the time to get in front of the computer and sit to write. I am on the computer most of the day as part of my livelihood. So, when I return home, often I am doing other things and it is not computer related. So, I wonder, how do some people do it. ? I am going to have to try something different to be able to successfully incorporate this into my activities.

Seeing the beauty

We've had a couple of cold days, where it fluctuated between rain and freezing ice. Yesterday looked like a repeat of the day before. Dark, rainy and very cold. About three in the afternoon, the sun came out. It was still very cold - about 22 degrees outside. I had left the office to take my daughter to tutoring. On my way home, I noticed how breathtaking the landscape looked. The sun made everything look beautiful. The trees, plants and ground all sparkled as if they were wearing diamonds and silver. As soon as I got home, I grabbed my camera to see if I could capture that in a photo.

I have always found beauty and peace in landscapes. I try to take notice in the small things. A petal of a flower, while I plant in my garden. The strand of grass while I experience how it feels on my bare feet. The blueness of water under the sky while I sit on a sandy shore of a beach, feeling the ripples of water covering my feet. While I take joy in these things, I find peace during those times.

Week One

Earlier this morning, I did read chapter one of "Having a Mary Spirit." and then later this evening, after playing racquetball and dinner, I read chapter two. The book has a study guide. It suggested for week one I read chapter one and two. I did that. Then it asks several questions. Already I am working on question number one: "If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?" I haven't answered that one since I am not sure what would be the one thing I would change about myself. I think, most women struggle with their self image. I think that is the norm. Most of the time, we want to change a part of our body or face. But the question the exercise is asking is regarding to a trait or behavior of mine that I would or could change. I think I will have to ponder on that one a while.

I know a lot of my "makeup" comes from my own life experiences while growing up. It defined quite a bit of who I am. It has carried me this far. However, I know I have changed in small ways over the years because it didn't bring the results I wanted or needed. Does that make sense? I would like to think that I am changing or evolving into a better person. . . over period of time. I can say, yes, I am not the same person as I was 20 years ago or 10 years ago. That is a good thing, is it?

January 17th: Passive. My passiveness. I think that would be something about me that I would like to change. Sometimes I feel like I've got one foot in and one foot out. My rationalization often comes from obligations. It is apparent I need to look at things differently.

Psalm 118:24

It is nearly time for me go to the office. Rough night sleeping. The kind where you fall right to sleep, but through out the night, you wake up because of weird things going through your dreams. I fell asleep sometime before midnight and woke at 2:30 am, again around 4 and then before the alarm clock went off at 5:45 am.

Nevertheless, it is another morning and I shall rejoice in it because the good Lord has blessed us this new day. (Psalm 118:24).

I did take a moment to read one chapter of "Having a Mary Spirit." Plus I read the entry for today's date in "Simple Abundance."

A short quick prayer request this morning:
Pray for God to cover my husband and keep him safe.
Pray for God to be with my daughter today during her first round of mid-term tests.
Pray for me for to find confidence and strength in myself

I am thankful for His blessings, including His gifts of love and grace.

A New Day, Another Attempt

I had attempted to start a blog a FEW months ago and got side tracked. So, here I am again, with my own daughter's encouragement - to TRY again. The title, Peace Like a River, is my quest for peace. Peace within myself mostly. Peace for my family, friends and everyone who I encounter.

I have just recently finished reading "Irresistable Revolution." Perhaps it is a book about the lack or absence of Christian hospitality towards the poor or outcasts. Perhaps it is a book about trying to find God in one's daily life and to experience the lessons, gifts, and blessings that God offers. Perhaps it is about one trying to find his or her purpose in life as God has planned. Needless to say, it is a thought provoking book.

Today I picked up a book titled,"Having a Mary Spirit." Written by Joanna Weaver. It opens with Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." I'll let you know more as I continue to read. (Warning: I tend to pick up more books along the way, sometimes reading them as well.)

My daughter picked up "The Color of Law." and we will swap books as we finish reading them. We're also waiting for "The Messiah of Morris Avenue." which will arrive within a week.

Prayer Requests:
1) A young man, by the name of Derik Nielson who recently had joined the army has found out that he is going to Iraq in March. He will be driving a fuel truck. Please pray for God to cover him and to reach out to his parents who need prayers for faith, strength and peace. He is a son of my former next door neighbors of mine.
2) A girlfriend of mine, who discovered nearly a year ago that her husband was having an affair. At the same time, she lost her job. She has decided for the sake of children's happiness to forgive her husband. She believed that by forgiving him will allow her to move on with her own life. Please pray for her and her family. Pray that she will find new employment soon.
3) Pray for my parents who are experiencing stressful times right now. It is a long story, but pray that they will find a new home soon and during the time, may God grant them additional patience and strength during this time.
4) Pray for my in-laws as they work through their health issues.
5) Pray for me as I work through my own self inflicted demons. I look to the skies for peace. I love sunsets and sunrises. That is where I find my peace.
6) Pray for my daughter, who is a wonderful gift and blessing as she prepares for her mid-terms this week. I love her sense of humor.
7) Pray for my husband to keep his eyes and ears open. Sometimes it is so easy to get so bogged down that you forget to look up.
8) Pray for Josh Turner to find Peace too - it can be found in daily communion. . .