The Generosity of Galloping Horses

I was just reading a devotional about judging, and the author used an example from her own life. She related that she was able to visit both her grandmothers' homes, both of whom were quilters. While one grandmother made her practice endlessly, and made her rip things out and redo them to her satisfaction, the other grandmother was always encouraging. She would call out to the grandfather things like, "Look how Laura's improving! I do believe she's turning into quite the seamstress!"
While both women made quilts, the perfectionist wouldn't enter a quilt contest unless she was confident she would win. Her quilts were a work of art. The other woman was more prolific; she had fun, and made functional quilts with great love. Her seams weren't straight, the corners not tight, and the edges had puckers. Her motto was, "You'll never notice from the back of a galloping horse."
What a great attitude! I love it. Perhaps because in my quilts, my projects, and in my life my seams may be a little crooked, too. I'm thankful for those who look with eyes of kindness and generosity, and even squint if you have to, to ignore the flaws you'd never see from the back of a galloping horse anyway.

Gosh!

Recently this question was posed to us, "Are you an asset or a liability?"
It was in regard to emergency preparedness, and I thought it was worth of a bit of pondering. The answer is that I am an asset, as I have food, water, equipment, and some skills. That's emergency preparedness.
What about other areas of my life? As a friend am I a giver or a taker? A glass half full or a glass half empty? An lifter-upper or a dragger-downer?
In my ward am I one of those, or one of those? In my family do I give more comfort or cause more worry? Am I someone anyone would want to be stuck in an elevator with?
This question has popped up in my mind at different times, and helped me to smile when I didn't really feel like it, and give an extra ounce because I really want to be an asset, not a liability.

( My pictures never seem to go where I want them, so let me explain: Dangerous Ground; This mortal experience can be! Colorful Thermal Garden; interesting things along the way. Hiking: though we may need to rest, it's upward motion we're after. Ol'Faithful, what we need to be~steady and worth the wait.)

And the Answer Is...

The first thing I did was make sure there wasn't a third shoe in there, though I really knew there wouldn't be. Zach; yup, and left and a right. Jen; capris. Jenna; LA Fitness, Barbie Training Camp.
In the blink of an eye I thought: How humiliating. I'm already here. I've already changed in the bathroom. I look ridiculous. What if I see someone I actually know? Is there no limit to the embarrassing things I can manage? Really? Who would dare to say something? (Maybe that snotty lady from the pool who said, "Excuse me...I"m trying to DO something here." Like I wasn't?)'sigh'.
Second blink of the eye: You know, I'm more than the sum total of my shoes. You know what else? Who would DARE to say something?! Everyone walks around here not making eye contact with anyone. And this is the one that tipped the scales: I always told my daughters act like you like it- walk with your head up and shoulders out- put a big smile on your face and give off such an attitude of confidence everybody will wish they had what you have. So I did. I squared my posture and strode out onto the floor and up the stairs to the treadmills like I owned the place. Past a dozen guys lifting weights who are so busy watching themselves in the mirror they didn't know anyone else was on the planet, past two dozen people huffin' and puffin' on elipticals so hard they didn't have the air to comment, and into the only empty slot on the treadmills. If anyone saw they pretended they didn't. That was very sweet of them, don't you think? On reflection I believe that my own mother was right. One day she heard me going on and on about my hair when I was in high school. She said something like, "You know, most people are so worried about themselves they really don't even give you a second thought." Humbling, but true. Nevertheless, I was very careful the next time I packed my gym bag.

Hmmm?

So, what would YOU do? Scenario: You've packed your gym bag at o'dark-thirty, had another 'fun' day at the job 20, raced to the gym to sneak in some kind of work-out before you pick up the husband in an hour (another story for another time) and TA-DUH! You have one white shoe with navy trim and one gray shoe with lime green trim. Looking forward to your replies. :)

Open to Interpretation

I have some of my moments of greatest clarity at grocery stores. I was struck by another grocery store conversation I had last week. I stopped at my friendly neighborhood Safeway to get Valentine goodies. Another teacher was in front of me at check out, and we visited a bit as we unloaded our carts. The checker asked if we were teachers and if we were getting party supplies, to which we answered yes. The first teacher said that she was keeping it simple, and said the kids didn't need much, and what she had was plenty. Sort of firm and no-nonsense about it. The checker was 6'5" if he was an inch, and looked about 30-32 years old. He was a high-school football star kind of guy, all-American, clean cut, really big and tough. He says, so sweetly, "I was thinkin' I would surprise my little girl and bring cupcakes to her room today. What do you think?" And teacher number one says, "Well I'd put them in a baggy and send them home. They don't need anymore junk." He was quiet and then softly said, "oh". She finished her transaction and bustled out.
I put my rather eclectic mix of presents for my 4th grade team, LeighAnn, the kids 'junk', my sweetie, and cards on the belt. Our big ol' football player/dad/checker rang up my stuff, and politely told me my total. As I was swiping my card I looked him in the eye and said, "If you bring cupcakes to my room, we would all say, 'thank you' to your daughter, and she would choose a friend to help her pass them out. We would eat them, and we would love them." I swear I thought he had a tear in his eye. He smiled a crooked smile and said, "thanks."
My moment of clarity happened on the trip from the checker to my car. The words on a saying posted at school came to mind: "We judge ourselves by our intent, while we judge others on their actions. Seek first to understand." Isn't that the truth? The poor guy wanted to make his little girl happy, and one teacher saw a mountain of sugar the kids don't need, frosting in places we have to wipe, expensive, store-bought, red-dye, fat-laden monstrosities, a fair amount of which would land in the garbage after the frosting had been licked off the top.
Oh, when these things happen-Please might I remember the intent of a daddy who just wanted to show his love for his baby-girl.

Seeking That Which Is Lost

I've been struck by Luke 15, verses 4-10 these last couple of weeks. To paraphrase, What mother, having any number of children, if she loses one of them, doesn't leave everything else behind in order to seek out the one who is lost in the wilderness? Who wouldn't exhaust every effort, spend all that she has, in order to go after that which is lost until she find it?



It's been easy to liken this parable to my life of late because of an experience of a friend of mine. Her son and his girlfriend went into the Sierra Nevada mountains for a short camping trip. Through a series of bad breaks the scenario turned quickly treacherous; the weather turned, the truck battery died. Using tricks I'd never thought of he was able to get his truck started, and, having been out in the mountains wet for a couple of days, decided to attempt a flood-swollen river crossing. In the attempt the truck was lost to the river, though Ryan and Viola were able to escape and scramble to safety.

Ginny can't know what is happening to her son. All she knows is that he hasn't shown up for appointments made, Viola hasn't reported to work. Days are passing with no word. She heads to California to help in whatever ways you can; organizing searches, calling, praying, searching, praying, digging, praying.

Every mother everywhere relates to the gut-wretching mystery of wondering what has happened to her child. (I assure you, it matters not whether the child is two or thirty-two.)After nearly a week of severe winter conditions it becomes more and more unlikely the outcome can be positive. When all there is left is to leave it in the Lord's hands, that's what you finally do. A prayer time is set aside for 3:30 on Saturday afternoon. We commit our most sincere hearts to the task.

As the state of California will not send up a helicopter with no known logical place to look, the family must hire their own helicopter. After the paperwork is completed, a plan is mapped out, the helicopter goes up at last. Simultaneously, the lost couple are trying to think what else they can possible do, having finally left their fate in the Lord's hands as well.

After an hour or so of searching the helicopter heads toward a small hill. Ryan and Viola hear the rumble of the chopper blades and begin to run out of the woods toward an open field. With the sun behind them, the helicopter pilot flies over the rise and sees a couple on their knees in a field, overcome with emotion that their salvation has come.




What feelings come over them all can only be speculation, but we can imagine, that when they have found that which is lost, there was rejoicing. Ginny called, texted, emailed, shouted to all her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found that sheep which was lost!"

And in my report, she added, "Vicki, the helicopter found them at 3:30."

Life is Like a Pinata

~Life is a lot like a pinata~

We each bring to it different strengths and talents

We approach it with varying levels of enthusiasm

There is always someone willing to help

If you are willing to listen to the experienced you can learn a lot

Sometimes you feel blind-folded----swing anyway

Those watching over you are rooting for you

We collectively benefit from the hard work of those before us

A combined effort yields the best results

If you stick around the hard work eventually pays off