Self-Stick Envelopes

I decided to do my Christmas cards today, and I've streamlined the process pretty well over the years.  I keep my addresses updated and print them out on labels; I also print out our return labels.  I sign them all by hand, but I don't mind that part - it makes me feel more connected to whoever I'm sending to.  But the part I hate is sealing the envelopes!  I don't want to lick them - yuck!  I've tried using a sponge, and that works okay, but it can be messy.  So today I opened my new pack of Christmas cards, signed them, put the first label on, turned it over to seal it and... Woohoo!!  They were self-stick!  I had no idea when I bought them.  You would think more Christmas card manufacturers would have caught on to this newfangled trend by now, but this is the first time I've ever seen a self-adhesive Christmas card envelope.  It just totally made my day to be able to rip off that little strip of paper and stick those babies closed.  It really is the little things.  Today I found God in those amazingly convenient self-stick envelopes.

Jammie Time

I just couldn't get warm today, and it wasn't that cold outside.  It was only in the forties so I don't know why I couldn't warm up.  But I also was very tired, and not feeling so great, so I decided to do one of my all-time favorite things - get in my jammies!!  For me, jammie time comes fairly early anyway, but today it came at about 3:00.  Oh, it was heavenly.  I instantly felt better... and warmer, both inside and out.  My pajamas aren't really much warmer than the clothes I had on so I think it must be psychological - or magic. :)  Whatever the reason, jammie time is the best time of day.  Today, I found God in the comfort of an extra early jammie time.

Chattering Leaves

It was slightly cloudy on my walk this morning, but as I neared the tree with the bright orange leaves I wrote about a while ago, I noticed it was still fairly full and glowing.  The sidewalk across the street from it is literally filled with leaves several inches deep.  It took a second to dawn on me that most all of them had come from that tree.  As I was kicking through them (one of my favorite things to do!) I thought "You're still going strong, beautiful tree."  I had just cleared the leaf pile when I heard what sounded like rain behind me.  I turned and saw a torrent of leaves come fluttering down.  There must have been a gust of wind up high that set them off because I couldn't feel it from the ground.  But I had to laugh.  It was almost as if the tree had answered me with it's chattering tumble of leaves.  I know winter is almost here, but I'm still enjoying every minute of this lovely autumn - without a doubt my favorite time of year.  Today, I found God listening to the voice of a tree as it's leaves chattered down behind me.

Dollar Store Decor

My beautiful impatiens that I posted pictures of over the summer died a few weeks ago because of the cold.  Jeff pulled the dead plants out, but the empty planters were a little depressing.  So I decided to spruce them up for Christmas.  I didn't want to spend much money because whatever I used probably would get ruined in the outdoor weather, plus... I just didn't want to spend much money!  I checked Walmart and Kmart and couldn't find anything cheap enough, but while I was in Kmart, I heard someone mention The Dollar Store.  Why hadn't I thought of that!  I found just what I needed there, and it all cost me a total of $6.00.  I was very happy.  I was even more happy when I got home and set everything up in my planters.  It's not the amazing glory of my beautiful flowers, but it's a pretty little scene that makes me smile.  I found God today in brightening up my empty planters with inexpensive Dollar Store decor.

Calvin

When Jeff moved in thirteen years ago he brought two cats with him.  I'm allergic to cats (and dogs, and pretty much everything I touch!).  They make me itch.  But the problem didn't develop until a few years after I had lived with the cats, so we went about minimizing my contact with them as much as possible.  Rikki, who passed away a few years ago, was sweet, gentle, and well-behaved;  Calvin - let's just say Calvin was not.  But Calvin has mellowed in his old age, and as much as it seems that one of his life's goals is to do the opposite of what I want, the two of us have come to an understanding.  I take care of him while Jeff is in Maryland, and he actually listens to me now - most of the time.  He's always been quite the character with a mind of his own, and though age has slowed him down, he still has those qualities.  He's pretty frail now, and each visit to the vet we worry will be his last.  Today was one of those days.  Jeff had to take him in, and he had prepared himself for the worst.  But Calvin is like Timex - he takes a licking and keeps on ticking.  And fortunately, he got to come home again.  Some things will be easier when Calvin's gone - like me trying to avoid his cat hair.  But the house will definitely feel more empty without His Ornery Highness prowling around.  For now, though, he's home, happy, and sleeping in his favorite chair.  I found God today in my arch-nemesis Calvin beating the odds once again.

"Just For Today"

In Father Tom's sermon today, he talked about the times when it seems that everything is going wrong. I know about those times.  I think we all do.  The times when you just have to throw up your hands and laugh, because otherwise you may crumple to the floor and cry.  Although, there are times when crumpling and crying is just what you need to get it all out and move on.  The thing that really resonated with me in his sermon is the prayer he said he uses at these times - "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Just for today."  Just for today - those three words change so much.  I love the Serenity Prayer; it's simple and to the point, but it's also broad in it's scope.  Saying "just for today" brings it down to a manageable size and makes it seem doable.  I used to worry a lot more about the future than I do now.  I think the experience of age teaches you that very few things in life are as catastrophic as they seem to be when you're young.  But I still have to work at it;  I still have to remind myself that God is with me no matter what happens in my life.  And one of the ways I will remind myself from now on is to add those three words to my prayers.  Today, I found God in the words Father Tom so wisely added to a wonderful prayer, "Just for today."

The Bonsai Tree

Marlayna learned how to grow and trim bonsai trees a few years ago, and every now and then she'll start a new one.  She babies them as if they were pets, and they seem to respond accordingly.  She certainly didn't get her green thumb from me.  Most likely, it was from my dad who always has a huge vegetable garden and lots of fruit trees.  Anyway, last week she brought home this little tree (cedar, cypress? I don't remember) that she was beginning to nurture.  It weathers well so she left it on our front steps, and when Jeff and I left for our walk this morning we saw that she had hung a little red christmas ball from it.  It was adorable!  Though it's truly not scraggly, it reminded of the Charlie Brown tree.  We got such a kick out of seeing that little guy decorated for Christmas; it was a great way to start the day.  Sometimes simple is best, and today I found God in a single shiny, red ball on a tiny green tree.