Inspiring Hands

Every Wednesday I head down to the church for a class called Inspiring Hands. Our teacher challenges us to look at the world in new ways and t listen to what God is saying to us. She often has painting assignment that are really challenging such as painting blindfolded or only using 2 color. I have loved getting back into art. I used to draw and paint in my other life and it feels restorative to be painting again.

Tonight she asked us to listen to what God was saying to us about life and to paint it on black plastic. In an hour and a half the class each painted and then explained to the class God was saying to us.

I find this time very important in my life. So much of what I do is for other people ... but this is completely and totally for me. I am reminded that it is important for me to find things like this that breathe life into me. I think it is time to start looking around for other things that I can do and experience.

Who knows what i will find next?

Just Connie

Birthday Party Celebration

I spent a couple of hours at a local restaurant tonight celebrating the birthday of a friend. He is a great guy that does so much around town that people are completely unaware of. So it was very fun to surprise him tonight. There were about 25 or so others friends, family and colleagues to celebrate with as well.

I really enjoyed the time I spent with them tonight, going fro table to table to sit and talk with those I do not get to spend a lot of time with. I was also fortunate to be able to sit next to my pal Cambria who is 7 years old and lots of fun. One of the highlights of the evening was saying to her as she was leaving, "Come and give me a hug" and having the man next to her think I was talking to him and coming over and giving me a hug. It really made me laugh and I told little Cambria that I was going to have to hang out with her more often.

Tonight and yesterday reminds me of how important it is for me to spend time with people. I can get so isolated in my evenings and weekends that I forget that for me people bring life, joy and energy to me. I am glad to met such great people and I really think that Willamina is one of the best places in the world to live. I am so glad to be here.

I just hope Willamina is glad to have me ....

Just Connie

Tonight's Musings

I went out to lunch with good friends today who were celebrating their 52nd anniversary. I find it amazing and wonderful that they have been married that long and I rejoice for the wonderful life and the incredible family this couple has built with their love and devotion.

I have to admit that there is always a part of me that is saddened when I realize that I will never be married for 52 years. I can hardly imagine what it is like to be loved so much that someone would stay with you through the years. I think that is a wonderful thing and there is a part of me that will probably always want to loved like that.

But I am happy with my life and am very thankful for the many things that God has restored in my life I think it is important to focus on what I am thankful for, not for the losses in my life. So here are some things that I am thankful for tonight.

• My wonderful, incredible  parents
• My children
• My family
• My friends
• My home
• My community
• Ministry
• Increasing good health
• Insurance (so very thankful)
• My wonderful Hope Puppy
• For the opportunities still ahead of me

It is wonderful to know that there is a lot of life ahead me. A lot of time to learn and grow and love and minister.

And that is a pretty precious gift ....

Just Connie

Duck Races 2014

Yesterday I spent the day playing in the creek. It was our annual Duck Races in Willamina. It is always lots of fun and very busy. This year was no different ... it was very busy and lots of fun.

My job began at 9:00 with the setting up of the "finish line" in the creek. The finish line is built of wire fencing overlaid with chicken wire ... so we had to get the huge roll of wire  unrolled and down the steep bank to the creek The wire is heavy, sharp and very unwieldy. We struggled down the bank and somehow made it without falling on our faces or loosing control of the wire.But once it was down it was my job to pull it across the creek which everyone enjoyed as it it involved moving a few steps and falling down into the creek ... walking a few more steps and falling again..

Eventually the finish line was completed the finishing chute installed and the ducks were released. It is an incredible sight to see 2,000 rubber ducks floating down the creek. As the winners lined up in the chute my job was to call out the numbers for recording. There were happy faces all around cheering for their ducks and listening eagerly to hear the winners.

Before I knew it, it was time to be dismantling the finish line and that is when I took one more tumble .... right into the wire fencing. So I now have a reminder of the this year's Duck Races...bruises and cuts up and down both arms. However, in spite of everything, it all got cleaned up and put away for next year.

I went home wet, happy and tired. .... I can hardly wait until next year!

Just Connie

Kindness and Hidden Beauty

I had an unexpected call from a friend int he community tonight. He invited me to come with him to see Willamina Falls. I was excited because I have been wanted to figure out where they were for a long time and I had mentioned to him I would like to find them one of these days.

It was a perfect night for a drive up in the woods. There was a nice wind blowing cooling things off from the heat of the day and the hills looked hazy in the evening light.We drove up through the gravel road and finally pulled off next to one of the many trails that traverse this area. I could hear the falls as we got out. I laughed when I looked at the trail because it was straight down. I was sure that I was going to end up on my backside, but I somehow managed to get down the trail without falling and taking everyone one else out with me.

As we got to the falls I was so blessed by the beauty of the falls even with the water being low. I stood there for a long time and just soaked it all in.AS I hiked back up the hill I was very thankful that I have been walking in the mornings. and i managed somehow to get up without embarrassing myself.

Tonight's outing reminded me of a couple of things. First of all, the kindness of a friend to see that I was able to do something that I wanted to do makes an incredible difference. Secondly,  there is hidden beauty all around ....we just need to take the time to look.

I want to pass on the kindness and I want to spend more time looking for the hidden beauty around me. It sounds so  easy but yet somehow....it is so challenging to do.

Just Connie

Unexpected Moments

I took my new car in for servicing today. I have a friend that works in the servicing department and I was very pleased and surprised when he asked me to go to lunch with him while I was waiting for my car.

I spent about an hour laughing and getting to know this young man. At the end of the hour he deposited me at the service department to pick my car up and left me with a smile on my face for the unexpected blessing.

I think it was a good reminder that there are blessings all around us just waiting for us to slow down enough to enjoy them. I think I am going to look harder for these moments and make the decision to enjoy them to the utmost.

I wonder what I will find tomorrow?

Just Connie

Beauty All Around

Some of my photos from the Butterfly House. It was such am extraordinary experience to be among hundreds of butterflies. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.


Just Connie

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Butterflies!

I had an unusual experience this week. I took a trip to a butterfly flight house. it was amazing and I was there right after several hundred Monarch Butterflies had hatched out.

I found them beautiful but also somewhat mesmerizing. I mean how often do you get to stand so close to a butterfly and see the very intricate markings they had.

I came away amazed at God's infinite creativity in this beautiful creation. I am humbled when I remember that Scripture say that after he created mankind he looked and said, "This is good".... and that was after the butterflies had been created.

I guess it is good to be reminded .... God does good work.

Just Connie

Grandchildren

My two grandsons .... I could not believe it when I got to see this photo. Both of them together ... what a marvelous picture!

I can hardly believe I have two grandsons ... a 4 year old and a four month old. I think I am wayyyyy too young to have grandsons already!

But I am so looking forward to being part of these two lives. Looking forward to watching them grow and learn.

What an incredible blessing grandchildren are!

Just Connie

Surprise!

There was a gentle breeze in the air as I gathered my notes and headed to the microphone to distribute the Willamina Chamber of Commerce annual awards. I was surprised when the Chamber president asked to give the first award which was Citizen of the Year. I stood there is shock as she began to list the things I do in the community and called my name.

They awarded me Citizen of the Year. I really do not fee that I deserve it, but I am so very appreciative. What an incredible honor and I am humbled by their confidence in me.There is not much you can say at that point other than "thank you".

So  as I reflect on that tonight I cannot figure out what they see in me or in what I do. Because I do what I love and I enjoy the things I do in the community. I feel like I have been amply rewarded for any little thing I have done with the joy that it brings me.

I think I am still in shock .....

Just Connie

Nothing Like Family

There is nothing like family ... they can challenge you, center you and remind you that you are loved. I have just spent the last two days with my family. How I love them and how I miss being with them every day.

This was an amazing visit, my beloved cousin was visiting from Minnesota and I got to meet my new grandson for the first time. I have to admit that I cried when they put him in my arms today. I was so overwhelmed with the miracle that he is. How thankful I am for my daughter and her wonderful husband and the great life they are building together. I am so very proud of them and so very grateful for the bits of time that we can spend together since they live so far away.

So I am back in Willamina tonight wrapped in a glow of love that I think will stay with me for quite a while.It is good to be loved but it is even better to love. How thankful I am for the the people God has given me to love.

I am truly blessed ....

Just Connie

What Do I See In The Mirror?

What do we see when we look in the mirror? For most women when we look in the mirror we do not like what we see. I'm fat ...old ... ugly ... the list goes on and on. Life seems to teach us from an early age that we do not measure up to the pictures in the magazines. You know the ones I mean ... the ones that have been airbrushed and photo shopped.We do not measure up to our own expectations.

I have been reminded of this as I have talked to several women this week. One of them is a beautiful brunette with incredible hair, skin and such a pretty face. She does not think she is attractive. She looks int he mirror and sees someone fat and unattractive and yet she is gorgeous. I told her that I wish she could see herself with my eyes so she could see how fabulous he really is.

As I have thought about it, I have considered my own internal conversations with the mirror about my age, my weight, my nose and well just about everything. It occurs to me that how I see myself is not how others see me. More importantly how I see myself is not how God sees me. How I wish I could see myself through God's eyes. I wonder what I look like through his loving eyes?

I wonder how would we change if we were not so self critical, if we could see ourselves with God's eyes? I have a feeling that it would fill us with a confidence that few of us ever experience. Imagine a life not controlled by our insecurities ... that sounds pretty wonderful to me.

And if I could see myself with God's eyes ... imagine what could happen if I could see others with God's eyes ....

Just Connie

Getting Ready

One of the things that really give me joy in life is to be in the outdoors. Hiking and backpacking energize me and prepare me to meet the demands of everyday life. However I have struggled to get on the trails in the last 6 years. First of all my hiking buddy and good friend Debbie passed away. Suddenly I had had no one to hike with ... no one to share the demands and joys of the trail with. Secondly, for the last two years my health has plummeted to new lows as I have struggled just to stay breathing.

But now, I am feeling better, my lung function is coming up and I am beginning to train for a backpacking trip in about a month. I am taking early morning walks and will try adding evening walks this week as well. I really want to get back in shape and begin to do the things that I love once again.

But as I begin to feel better I am realizing that I am still in need of a hiking partner. I thought for so long that I would meet someone who loved it as much as I do ... but after 6 years I am beginning to think I am not going to just run into someone who loves to hike. I tried a hiking club in Salem but I found myself feeling very much like an outsider on the group hikes they offered.

So I am contemplating what I might do to get to know some like minded people. There are still a couple of month of good hiking weather left.I would sure like to get out on the trails again .... I am thinking ... anyone got any good ideas?

Just Connnie

Numbers

I looked at the numbers on the peak flow meter and said a very spiritual thing, "Crap!" After weeks of a slow climb back to normal, numbers had fallen in the "yellow zone". Yellow Zone means that I am back on breathing treatments. Today after a week and a half at the yellow zone I went in and got a steroid shot.

I have to admit to an underlying fear that this will be my life now, peak flow meter, inhalers, steroids and struggling to breath. But even as I write that fear I recognize that God is big enough, strong enough and powerful enough for where ever I am.

If I really believe that then I need to find joy in exactly where I am today. Breathing treatments and all .... fears and all. There is so much about my life that is good and right. So many ways that I can see God's hand at work.

I guess it all comes down to a matter of focus ... do I insist on focusing on what is wrong or on my fears? Or will I choose to focus on life, love and the many many blessings that are poured out on my life?

Tonight I choose life ... tomorrow ... I will remind myself of this again.

Just Connie