January 2013 - The Lingering Month

Thoughts for the Soul

I started thinking about blessings and found myself reading about the Beatitudes.  Someone described them like "Beautiful Attitudes".  I really like that.   I mentioned I wanted to dedicate this year to blessings so I am starting with the eight beatitudes.  Not all my blogs are going to be on this but I want it to be running through out this year.  I also want to share the other parts of my life so I can look back and hold on to hopefully some wonderful memories because life sure can be fleeting.

I am trying to appreciate the message that I feel I want to convey and not really worry about a particular denomination.  You could say that for various reasons I feel I am always searching for a place to belong but I also know that I may not find it in one place.  The same message can be running through other places almost like a song that you have heard over and over again. I often find that I have enjoyed listening to different denominations and have heard the same message.  When it is right you feel it.  When it is wrong you also feel it.  The wonderful thing is that I truly believe we have more in common than most of us know and it links us together and that is so important.  So on with my search and this is going to be an interesting, fulfilling, and soul searching year!

Blessed are the Weak in Spirit

There was a piano player filled with pride knowing he is very talented.  He was visiting the Bethoven museum and asked if he could play the piano.  After he played for over an hour he  asked, "So many must have done the same?"   The man at the museum replied,  "Just the opposite.  Many have felt they did not feel worthy enough to play on his piano."

I read this story and read more about what the meaning was for being blessed to be weak in spirit meant.  It reminds me not that we are suppose to be weak but humble.   It is with the grace of God we are blessed with talents.   "By the grace of god, go I "  now has a new meaning for me.  I love how when you are focused on a real message it will reveal itself in life.  Coincidence?  I don't know...but it might be quiet ways god reveals himself to us.  As I was driving on a travelled road I always notice a church that puts out a message on a board as you drive by...... Here is a picture.... The message this month hit me and had to take a picture.

It is when we are at our weakest we realize we need God. Again.. Blessed are the weak.  This year I need to remember I need God when I am weak and strong.

January - the lingering month

Lingering through the holidays into the New Year

I like the word lingering better than procrastinating.  I do linger through life.  I hold on too tight sometimes to the past.  I admire the movers and shakers but deep in my heart,  I linger.  I linger so much that I started wondering about other lingerer's.  Yes, we are the people that leave our lights on a full week after Christmas.  I made sure I also had everything done early so I could anticipate the holidays but I can't help it.  I had to linger and enjoy my lights for an extra week.  Here are some lingering pictures of my fellow lingerer's  as I hold onto Christmas 2012 as I am transgressing into 2013.........

I also have a hard time saying goodbye to my christmas tree so it is on the back porch where I can slowly say my goodbyes.  I remember as a kid hating to see our tree go to the dump.  Very traumatic.  I obviously get too attached. 

So, for me January is for lingering.  In between 2012 and 2013.  Something has to push me into reality......

Then it happened.  Our Septic System needs to be replaced.  Ouch.  Knew that was coming.  Felt it.  Even Predicted it!  I also learned how wonderful my Husband M is.  Bad Scene.  No need to go into description.  Let's just say in my eyes he gets husband of the year award!!!!

So 2013 is here.  Ready or not.  Here are some more January moments of lingering. 

(Stopped at C. Beach this week.  Calm water. Calm Sky. )

(Looking Forward but still looking back)

I also had a road less travelled moment this week.  I decided to get off of the busy main road and travel the less travelled road.  Enjoying the moment until a Dump truck pulls out of nowhere. He sorta messed up my moment so I decided to outsmart him and travel an even less travelled road and ended up back on the main road.  Thinking of how smart I was until the same truck ends up right in front of me again!  Oh well!!  I will try again another time!

January was also the month I finally got to capture on my camera my elusive black squirrel that I have been noticing and enjoying watching since fall.  He loves to tease my dogs.  He jumps on the fences and runs along them.  He flies through branches and plays with the brown squirrels.  He is fun to watch because he is different.  He stands out.  One day I was driving on the road next to mine and there he was flying across the road in front of me.  I have spotted him so many times and in so many different places.  Every time I tried to get a picture it was too late.  But, I finally captured my elusive black squirrel this week in my back yard!  Here he is.  I call him Midnight - the elusive squirrel.

My last January moment I will mention is the wonderful 90% sale at Pier 1 Imports!  So loving it that I bought a lot of great decorations for next year!!  

I almost forgot my other wonderful January moment.  My niece K. for Christmas gave me a warm and wonderful scarf.  I actually use it as a kind of coat.  It keeps me so warm at home when I am chilly and it is perfect for going into stores.  I am always too warm with coats.  I absolutely love it and have to always have it with me.  Thanks Niece K.  It is my favorite winter item right now.  Better than a blanket!