Tag Archives: joy

TaDa! A New Year!

Here we go.  Another year is ending and a new one beginning.  Do you like that or dislike that?

I always like it.  Even though I feel old and my life is flying by, I still welcome a New Year.  I like the idea of changes to come and new adventures and old ones closing, perhaps.

I have very little idea of what is to come for Cate B.  I will still be caring for my lovely grand-girls this New Year.  But those days are numbered.  Last year at this time I was dreading the girl watching to end and them moving on.  I was ready to pack up and run with them dragging husband and dogs with me.  But now, a year later I feel  differently.

I feel that I should start dreaming again.  Dreaming of things that I desire and that the Lord has instilled in me long ago.  It’s still a bit fuzzy and foggy.  I do believe the fog will lift and I will see again.

Sometimes I visualize a tug o’ war going on in my spirit.  Little lies of “you’re too old” against great truths of “you’re never too old”.  I am on the side of truth, even though, somedays it is a battle to believe.  Especially when you say goodbye to a friend who died too young and you see headlines the day after Christmas of deadly storms sweeping the nation.

One of my favorite verses in the bible that tells of great advice for all is:

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”

I want to be worked into God’s most excellent harmonies!  There’s  a dream for the New Year and my life!  I think I’ll start there.

So here goes, Dear Readers, may these last few days of the old year be joyful and fulfilling for you and even more, may the New Year greet you with more Joy and Dreams coming to pass.  May you be able to choose the truth and dwell on it. And may you be found in His most excellent harmony!

And because I cannot resist silliness………….       10530886_797526963601794_8208936784582723757_n

Enjoy!

Cate B

You Are Loved – You are a Gift

Good Morning Dear Readers.  Here we are, the 14th of December 2015.  This time of year can be so “busy” and “hectic”…….

Take the time to remember Jesus.  He is always with us.  He wants your love and your time……

May this season be full of peace and joy and truth for you all.  You are Loved…… You are a gift…….

Enjoy!

Cate B

also posted on Church Set Free

Catch a Falling Star – Hope

It’s that time of year where we are inundated with thoughts of family, friends, food and gifts.  Everywhere you turn it’s there.  We have different names for the holiday season and different beliefs.

It’s a time when memories pop up and some are not welcome and some are very welcome.  I have both.  I choose to remember the good ones and they usually win out totally.  As a matter of fact, sadder ones rarely try to visit me any more.

Some traditions from my childhood and my husbands made their way into our family when we joined together.  Now that our kids are grown and have families they are making their own new traditions mixed with some they loved as children.

And it goes on.  As it should.  New traditions should be forming and evolving.  We can’t live in the past forever.  There is so much in our world that can grow us and form us into better humans.  The things we left behind, whether good or bad, where there to help form us into adulthood, the people we became or are becoming.  Growth never stops unless we stop it.

It can also be a season of sadness and hopelessness and loneliness.  Let’s try to remember people around us, perhaps ones we do not normally pay attention to.  Everyone of us has a story.  Everyone of us has something to be heard.

It is also a season of joy.  Just look at all the colors out there in the decorations.  Even the stop lights are red and green.  I can sit here in my home and think of all the things I could be sad about.  Really, I can.  But I choose to go above and beyond that.  I have so much more to be happy about in this life and I do not want to spend the rest of my days thinking about what I don’t or can’t do or should have done.  I watched a loved one do that and when they passed I was so sad about what could have been if they just decided to get up and take the hands offered them.  I’m sure we all know people like that or maybe you are like that.

This season, look for The Hope around you.  The people you see are flawed, we all are.  But very few will turn away from you if you ask for help, or ask for a listening ear or a hug or a touch.

Enjoy!

cate b

Happy Birthday To Me

I have written before that I just love my birthday!  I’m beside myself with joy.  I rarely get presents simply because that’s not how we roll in our family.  We enjoy each other and eat and if any one wants to buy gifts we do – not because we have to.  Such freedom to love.

So, today is my birthday and I am older!  I went out for Pie with my good friend D.

The Upper Crust, Overland Park, Kansas

The Upper Crust, Overland Park, Kansas

I had Gooseberry Pie for the first time in my life and I loved it.  Tart and yummy!  And this pie shop is so quaint.  http://www.uppercrustpiebakery.com/

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Myself - ackwardly trying to take a pic with D

Myself – ackwardly trying to take a pic with D

 

And then we went to 10,000 Villages.  If you haven’t been to a 10,000 Villages store then you really need to find one.  They are so much fun to see the crafts from all over the world and the history of these stores can be found on their web site: http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/about-history/

And because it’s my birthday I give to YOU a weekend song:

 

 

 

What Was I Thinking?

How can I possibly complain?  Well, I can, of course complain.  It’s a free country.  But it’s more like – why would I complain?  Sometimes when my life is full of questions and very little answers I tend to wander…… in my mind mostly.  Wander and wonder – should we be doing this?  Should we be living here?  Should we, should we, should we…….???????

Well all that in the first paragraph takes a lot of energy!  I pooped out.  When I get restless and tired of waiting for things to unfold I dream of tropical islands.  Do  you know why?  I do.  I realized it yesterday.  It’s because the few times I visited tropical places was on vacation.  They represent peace and rest and comfort and carefree living.  But I know that living in these places is not all of those things I just listed.  Living in them is exactly that.  Day to-day responsibilities just like here exist in day-to-day life on an island in the Caribbean.  I lived in a beach town. Tourists everywhere all summer long.  I was not tan!  Day-to-day life!

That said, my favorite flower is the Plumeria.  Not only are they beautiful to my eyes but the scent is magnificent.  I live in the mid-west of the USA and it is far from tropical weather.  With our harsh winters and extreme summers we cannot grow tropical plants outside.  BUT!  We can grow them inside.  Since last spring I have been nurturing a Plumeria that I named Lelani  and she bloomed this summer!  I am also nurturing a Plumeria named Carmen Miranda – she has not bloomed yet but is thriving in our perfect, yet rare, summer weather on the front porch.  She is getting big.  Joining them is a Pony Tail Palm I named Sandra Dee and my Hindu Rope Plant that I named Slumdog Millionaire.  It’s alright – I do have a very active imagination and I am fun! And here is a picture of Lelani:

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Miranda

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_Dee

sandra-dee2Slumdog_millionaire_ver2one of my favorite movies…………………..

May you all find a corner of paradise in your everyday world!  It’s there.  You just have to look for it.

Enjoy!

cate b

On My Bucket list

One of the things on my bucket list is to be an unsuspecting “victim” of a flash mob or whatever you call them.  I would be delighted to experience such a thing.  They make me smile, laugh, and yes, even cry.

Enjoy this one from a blog I follow.

http://kindnessblog.com/2013/07/14/elevator-joy-bomb/

cate b

Happiness is a Warm Ukulele

I love to write about things that make people happy.  That bring a smile and a hope and joy. I hope this makes you happy as it has me.

I have a ukulele!  I type that phrase with a big smile on my face.  I can play guitar and chords on a piano or keyboard.  I can play around on a Native American Flute.  I’m not considered an accomplished musician and I’m not excellent on any one thing.  I just love music and I love to try new things.  So recently I got it in my head that I wanted to play the ukulele.  It just looks and sounds like fun!

So, while on a family vacation last month I picked one up from a local music store.  It was a gift.  I held it and walked out of there with a smile on my face very much like a child holding a bag of candy sticks from the local General Store.  I scored big time I thought.

I took it back to the house and googled what strings they were.  I had no idea.  I searched my iPhone for a ukulele tuner and chord chart.  Found one for free.  I tuned it and I played The Boat Song by JJ Heller and Sloop John B.  Such fun.

Now I pick it up when I sit on the couch and just strum and sometimes sing along.  It is a very happy instrument.  It does wonder for me when I get down.

So glad that a little instrument with just four little strings can bring such a contentment to a troubled soul.

IMG_3429 I’m not ready to video tape me singing along.  In time.

Find your little instrument in life to bring peace to your soul and happiness to your life.  We all get those dark times.  For some it will be music for some art work.  For some gardening.  But do it.  It is healthy and the outcome is great.

 

 

 

ukulele moon Next goal is to learn to play Over The Rainbow – Iz style.

http://youtu.be/V1bFr2SWP1I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

cate b

Dear Prudence

Dear Prudence,

The sun is up and the sky is blue in the Heartland today.  Finally.  Come out to play and look around.

I think most people I know like The Beatles.  I was in the sixth grade when these wonderfully life changing four showed up on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Be still my heart.

Know what I like the best?  Their songs are still loved and enjoyed by all generations.  They do not get old.  They lessen the generation gap.  Isn’t that awesome?

 

 

Enjoy!

Sincerely yours,

cate b – rocker at heart and for always!

Pollyanna Syndrome

Being a child of the 50’s and 60’s , to me, was a magical time.  Television was fairly new and in black and white for our home.  I say magical because it was as I look back.  Perhaps not so magical living through it.  Our family faced tragedy early on and things were a bit, well, today we would say dysfunctional.  Back then they would say, actually, they wouldn’t say! Hahaha.

My personality was a plus for me.  I tend to be a bit cheery and humorous and I know that helped me through a lot of tough lonely times.  Having an active imagination helped greatly also.

So, today, the 31st of May in the year 2013, as I sit in a dark gloomy kitchen due to the fact that it is raining once again in the mid west of the US of A, I was thinking about perspective and that reminded me of Pollyanna.  Those of you who are not familiar with the Disney movie starring Hayley Mills (my all time favorite actress and my dog is named after her) then I will give you a little insight.

Pollyanna was the daughter of a missionary family.  Poor, but happy.  She found herself orphaned and sent to live with a very wealthy aunt who was also the matriarch of a small town.  Not happy people.  Aunt was unhappy and therefore the town was due to her controlling.  Pollyanna comes along with a very positive approach to life and it un-nerves people.  We all know at least one Pollyanna – that person who is perpetually cheery or finds the good in everything when you want a pity party.  Who invited her  anyway???

But, Pollyanna’s attitude wins out.  Her attitude rubs off on people.  And I think her attitude it right.  So, for all of us (I said us) who want a pity party today……. here is a little Pollyanna clip of The Glad Game to help us see life from both sides.

Enjoy!

cate b