Fridays are a mindset

I just now wrote in my journal: "It’s Friday! Yay!" Then I thought, "why are Fridays such a big deal to me?” I’m a homemaker! 

Friday is a mindset we would do well to live in for more days a week.  We have a better outlook for a day.  We anticipate enjoying the next couple of days rather than dread them. In reality most people have to work at least one, if not both days on the weekend.  Maybe not at the workplace but at home or helping friends and family.  And some kind of “relational” work usually takes place. However, we cheerfully enjoy Fridays because we look forward to a break, a change of pace.

I think retirement is like years of Fridays all strung together. It’s not that we don’t have work to do, but the anticipation boosts our energy level.  We tend to have a clearer mind about what’s important. We don’t try to do too much.  We plan fun activities long awaited and “re-creation” occurs.  Life gets livelier. Our hearts get bigger, and we are able to give and receive love more readily.

My husband recently retired after working for forty years and is taking some time to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. Interestingly, it feels like I retired too.  He had long hours and a killer schedule working from home.  I scheduled around his schedule.  Now, my calendar feels as empty and free as his does.  By the way, I’ve not cancelled anything. J

I’m cheerfully looking forward to the days ahead, just like on Fridays. We are in a transition and probably have more work to do than ever but it feels different. I realize that in a few years, my perspective will most likely change, but today I say “Hello weekend, hello retirement! You have put pep in my step!” I’m just sayin’. Proverbs 17: 22a  A cheerful heart is good medicine...

Crumbs, it's what's for dinner

If I were to develop a brand of dog food, I would name it Crumbs.  Dogs love crumbs!  I don't feel bad when I accidentally rake some off the kitchen counter, 'cause I know my Brandi Lea will scarf them up in no time.

Can you imagine going into PetSmart with your dog to pick up their food and when they see the bag labeled "Crumbs" they go wild, jumping, sniffing, and wanting to rip open the bag?  Of course they would! Did you know there's actually a brand called "Solid Gold Barking at the Moon" (why would anyone want to encourage that in their dog?) and then of course the "IAMS" which could be putting the dog on an ego trip. :)  Nobody gets to say "I AM" other than the I AM.  And then there's my favorite brand "Taste of the Wild"...just sounds inviting and my dog likes it. 

Well believe it or not I realize that the words on the packages are for us consumers, not the dogs - but what I consume personally some days could be considered "crumbs" especially in the spiritual food category.  I make sure I get normal, large, or Super-Size portions of food for the body.  But soul food?  That’s too often best described as a tiny morsel, scraps, tidbits of the real stuff, just a spec, a fragment of the larger portion available …basically just crumbs.  

I think I have it in reverse.  I would be a lean mean fighting machine (or maybe just fit) if I took just the crumbs from my plate instead of the whole plate full, and eat normal portions of spiritual food.  What's on the plate matters, because even large amounts of junk foods don’t satisfy or sustain for very long.  Unfortunately, there's a lot of spiritual junk food out there. (I’ll try to come up with some great menus at another time.) But it starts with regular meals, normal portions, and then menu selections can be fine tuned.  It may take a while to figure out what strengthens and what leaves us lacking.  What inspires, and what makes us tired and droopy.  What makes us want to come back for more, and what leaves us dreading the next meal. But, it won't be long before we’ll find some treats ready and waiting, just for the taking....if we'll just come and get it. I’m just sayin’.

Enter at your own risk. :)

Greetings! Welcome to my wondering and wandering world. I don't know if there is a category for me but if I were to name it, I would call it exploration....so I figure you might need sort of a tour guide intro to get started with me....here's some of what you might should expect from me.

Blogging was inevitable because neither twitter nor FB have enough room for me to express a complete thought...and this is great place to go when you are very wordy, but don't want to impose on others. It's a way to capture your thoughts plus share them, without pushing them into somebody else's head.

I'm aware of how our words affect those around us and that is the reason for my title, "I'm just sayin'". It is a way to say "this is what I think" without being certain...although saying it with pretty strong conviction. :) So these thoughts are what I think I believe, or these are thoughts I believe I think...not sure.

I feel pretty confident that my opinions will change...whether real soon...or fairly later. So, it's probably wise to qualify my blog as being just that...things I think, believe, or feel pretty strongly about, for now...I'm just sayin'.

By the way, something that might help if you choose to come back and read again is knowing that I am somewhat jovial...overuse smiley faces a lot :) and you are invited to read my blog in the most friendly frame of mind possible...actually, if you read with a smile on your face you'll get what I intended most likely....also I say things backwards sometimes....on purpose...and reading slowly might help too. :)

I hope my words are encouraging, challenging, and inviting...yes, especially inviting. I have a mission of sharing God's love through prayer, friendship, and quilting...I guess this is the "friendship" section. But you must know I am not what most/or some would consider a "religious" person, but fall into the "spiritually minded, reflective soul" sort. So, if I say words or talk about things that offend you it's not on purpose. Life itself can be offensive, truth can be offensive, and anything that is not just like us can be offensive...so chances are, you may get offended some where along the way on my blog. Being offended is usually a nice time to ask myself good questions ....and then be determined to find a way away from it....like repeating "I will not be offended by that" over and over until I find myself a new perspective...one my heart and mind can live in peace with. It usually takes seeing/hearing others in a less critical light, having a non-judgmental attitude, and pausing long enough to consider where they are in life. So, here I am trying to share the love of the Creator of the whole universe and I am imperfect. Go figure. But, it is what I believe in and am passionate about and hope you will sense it through this blog.

Succinct is not what most people refer to me as...so my words may seem to need de-coding at times. Frankly, I don't make sense a lot of the time. :) Always feel free to ask if you don't understand something....I may be trying to figure it out as well! Comments are welcome and probably helpful.

"Blessings" will most likely be my regular way to close a blog...it is the shortest prayer I know that covers everything. :) (remember that is part of my mission....for me, praying is one of my ways of sharing Love) When you read "blessings" at the end, know that I truly hope and pray for God's love and favor and help and ____ for you. You can throw one up for me too!

So, welcome into my world....and thanks for letting me into yours. You and I - regardless of how alike and different we are - need others. I prefer face-t0-face over electronic messages but hopefully this will suffice for the moment and if we do get to meet, we'll have a great starting place in our conversation. You are probably a lot more interesting/lovable/valuable than you realize...I'm just sayin'.

Blessings,

Susan