Ok. It all started on Thursday when I went to meet a new friend. This came about after really feeling a need to find some wisdom in this way off kilter world. So I did something atypical for myself, and I went to go meet someone new. I am just trying to turn over all sorts of new leafs (leaves?). I had sent out an email to a few of the Pastors in town, inviting them to answer some of my questions. Thursday I went to go and meet my first victim, I mean pastor. Continue reading “Little bit of heaven”
So I started watching a Netflix program yesterday called Stranger Things. It is one of those original series that they now produce, and I have to admit, I am totally hooked. It is a suspenseful, horror, sci fi kind of series. So basically, stuff I don’t tend to watch. I like suspense, but I stay away from horror, because it is not good for me. This one though had me hooked quickly, and I couldn’t figure out why? I wondered if it was because I so totally related to the setting. It is set in 1980, so I feel like I am looking at my childhood. (or at least Jr. High) The clothes, bikes, cars, homes, music and TV were all so familiar to me. I looked at clothes that I probably wore, and hairstyles that I totally had. In the show, I was in a setting that made so much sense to me. Not like Sesame Street. I know you are thinking, Sesame Street? How did we get here? Continue reading “Stranger things to post….”
Today was a day of encouragement. Some of it I gave, and some of it I received. The events were nothing spectacular, but it is typically the small things that can have the most impact. This morning, I went to the grocery store, and by the time I came out, my car was in the shade. It was a simple thing, but in the heat of the Central Valley, it provided welcome relief even from this morning’s heat.
When I came home, I had to hurry and get cleaned up, as I had a massage appointment to get to. It was only twenty minutes, but after the stress that I put myself through this week, it was like a little slice of heaven. This week my regular therapist was back from a maternity sabbatical, and I was happy to see her. After my massage, we sat and talked for a few minutes. First she gave me the update about the new baby and the challenges of being a new mom. I told her some of my experiences with the boys, and encouraged her to use her own good sense to make decisions. I advised her to not worry about what other people say she should do, but to take the advice and use her best judgement. I then told her that I had quit my job, and that I was working at blogging and trying to “reinvent” myself. It was then that she was able to give some encouraging words to me. It was a great conversation, and I left feeling better in both body and spirit. Continue reading “Right time, right place.”
Viva La Revolution!! And I do not mean some kind of violent upheaval, I mean the spinning around till you get back to the start. That is where I am today, back to getting some tapping done. I am trying to be mindful of everything that is going on in the world, but life goes on. And isn’t that why we continue to address the same issues? Life must go on. I have to work, pay bills, care for my family, exercise, eat right and try to encourage/instruct my children. (still!!)
I was tapping this morning (yikes) and I found that one step was really hard for me, because of one little problem. I was having a hard time with my weight on my heel and bringing my other foot off the floor. It was all a matter of balance. I felt awkward and terribly clumsy, but kept working on it. After thinking it through, watching the video and practicing that one part repeatedly it finally felt better. It probably did not look perfect, but it did feel a little more natural. Continue reading “Tap dance as life.”
So today as I watch the news and watch officer involved shootings, I am…? I am not even sure. I am angry and upset. I am so sad that families will be going through the emotional roller coaster, that is now their new normal. I am tired of seeing the same bad decision making, incident after incident.
I called my son, because I knew he would be angry. As I spoke with him, I tried to work through what I was thinking, while giving him what I hoped would be wisdom. So I told my son that the best way we can do something at this point would be personal. (At this point, I had a whole paragraph of some of the things that I think need to be addressed, but trying to keep opinion out and see what God teaches me through this.) Continue reading “Where is justice?”
So today I am going back to the start. I said that I have typically 20 things going on in my head at one time, so I am trying to clear everything else out and focus on one thing. I have my tap board ready, my shoes and a video of simple instructions. I have to get practicing if I am going to be ready for next year’s National Tap Dance Day.
It has been a couple of weeks since building my board, and trying it out for a fe
w minutes. Why haven’t I stepped back on you ask? Well, this morning I was asking myself the same thing. I thought back over the past couple of weeks, and wondered what happened? What took my excitement away? Where did the drive go to accomplish something new ? I know the whole tap dancing thing seems a little trivial, but it really is a means to deal with other things that are truly not so trivial. Insecurities, health, doubt, fear, fitness and choosing the freedom to live life joyfully.
I look back on the last few weeks, and I see doubt and fear raising their ugly heads. These two monsters have been attacking me with a vengeance. The avenues of attack? It has been finances, writing, back pain and even discouragement. So where is my defense? I got a kick star
t from reading the bible, making props for storytelling, helping my husband and reading some Max Lucado. That is all just to stay afloat. I also listened to an author/speaker named John Maxwell, and he was talking about one of his books, “Today Matters”. There was a lot in it, but my quick take away was if you put something off until tomorrow, it is more than likely it will never get done.
I have been legitimately busy, but I noticed that this was the only thing that I kept putting off day after day. That caught my attention. I always put off doing what I don’t like, is hardest or most uncomfortable for me. It is a pattern. So when I see this, I know I have to attack it. So here I am, ready to wage war on my fear and insecurity through the art of dance. OK, I use the word art and dance very loosely. You have heard the saying, “Dance like no one is watching.” Well I can tell you, I have never been more thankful that no one is watching.
So I really love to write, and I typically have 20 things going through my head at one time, so I always feel like it should come freely and with ease. The only problem is, most time it doesn’t. By the end, it feels more like child birth than anything else. Times of struggle, gasping for each new line. Then at times there is rest and a moment where new insight is revealed. So for me, it is not always easy.
This morning though, I was really inspired and wanted to just sit and get my thoughts down on paper. It all started when I read a blog, “Fcuk Pretty.” Well the title had me interested, and when I went to read it, the post had me hooked. I enjoyed the writing and honesty, but most of all I loved the commonality. In my own life, I could relate to some of the feelings and statements that she was relaying in the post. What is the best part though? It was her. I looked at some of the information about her, and I knew that I would not naturally be a part of her circle of friends. (influence?) To me though, that is exciting.
Again, we find so many ways to separate ourselves from each other, and I am done with that. It is boring. I want to risk meeting people who are different than me, the ones that I am not “supposed” to talk to. I want to know their story, and how it may have hurt them or brought them strength. I want to hear about the things that separate us, because when I look at them through the lens of eternity, those things become meaningless.
What do you think? Are you tired of being labeled and put in someone else’s box?
Here is the link to the original post: https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/33316213/posts/1045939154
Seems the link may be having issues. Where is my IT guy? Please cut and paste…it will get you there. Sorry for the difficulties….but I do recommend reading it. Thanks!!
Dinner is almost done and I am exhausted. It is going to be a couple of long weeks as we are getting ready for VBA. I am sure you see signs where you live about VBS, or Vacation Bible School. Here though, we do Vacation Bible Adventure. Both our Senior and Youth Pastors have daughters that work at Disneyland, so that should give you the indication what the place starts to look like. Sets are going up all over the campus in anticipation of the 1,000 or so kids who will attend. During the week, I tell stories
to preschoolers. Today I went and started to get our sets “built”, more like taped together, for the stories. I was happy to have one of our students come out and help me today. I had a picture from Pinterest of what I was looking for, but after showing her that, I gave her free reign to create. I think she did a fantastic job. It is a really cute whale….my pic is not so good though.
This whole undertaking is HUGE! It takes so many people, using so many different talents to put these great environments together. It is always exhausting, but always amazing to be a part of such a wonderful group of people. Are you having your own Vacation Bible School? Or Adventure? If you are, leave a comment about what encourages you the most about being involved in this kind of event.
So I kind of cut her out of the picture because she is a young lady, and I try to be aware of any parental concern.
So today is Memorial Day 2016. We spent most of the day traveling home after visiting family, so it is late in the day when I finally get to think about the meaning of the day. Sad enough to say, it seems that I have only just started looking into the day’s history in the last few years. While there are theories on who began the tradition that became the holiday, I choose to take some time and reflect on the why of the day. I do that not to deny the history of anyone, but because it is in the why where we find our common ground.
Today is the day to remember those who died while serving in the US military. I happen to live in a navy town. It is strange as this navy town is in the middle of California’s Central Valley, and not an ocean in sight. So when I think of Memorial day, I think of the people I do life with. I see them when we hear of an F-18 crash on the news. I watch them come together when one of their own dies. This is what Memorial Day means to me on the most personal level.
A couple of weekends ago my husband and I went to the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, California. While we were there, he was able to check out the trains, and I was able to walk around and see the people who were there for a Civil War reenactment. At one point a man asked if I would like to see some of the artifacts that he had, and I of course was interested. He put into my hand a 12 pound ball that was part of a battle in Fredericksburg, Virginia. As I stood there holding the rather large and heavy ball, the man went on and gave more information about the ball and the other items he had. I really did not hear much of what he said, as I was concentrating on what I was holding. I thought about the ball, and how heavy it was. I could imagine the speed it would have, as it hurtled through the air only to hit the ground and bounce for a time. I thought of the Civil War documentaries I had seen, and all of the carnage balls like these had created on a battlefield. I wondered if the ball had killed someone, taken off an arm or even a leg. I was not able to handle it any longer, and gave it over to my husband. We listened for just a bit longer, and then left the gentleman dressed in Confederate grey. It made me melancholy for a while, and I knew that I could never be a part of a reenactment. For me, the whole thing seemed very weird, not good or bad, just weird. We went on to take more pictures and see the other exhibits there in the museum, but it wasn’t until we got home that I realized what I had done.
I took the picture that is attached. I was really trying to get a good picture of the box car and tree, but there in the side was the cannon. It was sitting there waiting for the reenactment, and I had gotten it into my picture by accident. Since the whole reenactment thing left me feeling the way it did, I really did not want the cannon in my picture. The problem was, I did not like the picture when we cropped the cannon out. So I left it and did not think of it again until maybe Thursday, when it dawned on me that Memorial day was quickly approaching. It felt appropriate. I do not particularly like what Memorial Day makes me remember, but I know that is the whole point. To remember what we lose through war, to remember the sacrifice made by many. I think war sucks, but like my cannon silently sitting in the wings, I know it sneaks into the picture even when we don’t want it. So I am thankful for those who make the ultimate sacrifice, and pray for those who are left behind.
Cheryl Mendoza 