Remember When?

The Gypsy Mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Remember…

Today’s prompt reminded me of the Tim McGraw song, Back When. For whatever reason when I saw the word remember, this tune popped into my head. If you’ve never heard the song, the premise is about remembering “back when”.

So, I’m going to make up my own “lyrics” to the song, on the fly.

Here goes.

Remember back in the 80′s when legwarmers were crazy? And all the girls wanted to tear the necks out of their sweatshirts so they could look like the girl from Flashdance? Who watched Fame and thought they wanted to dance and sing at the school of performing arts?

Who remembers Duran Duran and Boy George? And Michael Jackson? Everyone wanted to do the Thriller dance.

And asymmetrical haircuts  and big hair and neon colored earrings? It’s totally tubular! And wicked awesome!

Jordache jeans and high top Reeboks?  The preppy look and layered shirts.

Facts of Life at the girls school in Peekskill, New York….wanting friends like Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie.

Trapper Keepers and passing notes. Phones with extra long extension cords. And Friday night football games.

Sure, the 80′s were crazy, but I loved the 80′s.

I’ll always remember the 80′s as my decade!

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Going Home

The Gypsy Mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

Home…

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Home.

The word, to many, means family and friends because…

home is where they love you.

No matter how old, or how far away, one can always go home…

even if it is only in his/her memories.

Today on this five minute Friday I’ve decided to share some of my pictures.

Pictures of home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Beloved

The Gypsy Mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog’s footer}.

3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

Dearly loved

The one that changed me,

forever.

You taught me lessons on love

that I would never have known,

otherwise.

I’m so grateful that God gave me

You.

My dear, treasured one.

You are almost grown,

more man than boy.

I’m so proud of you and pray,

that you will continue to grow

in your walk with the One

who knows your soul.

Cherished.

Always.

My beloved, son.

 

 

 

 

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Brief Quiet Glimpes

Gratitude (Photo credit: ally213)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes, it really is the little things that matter. Oh sure, the big, huge blessings are wonderful and I am grateful for them, but I’m talking about the little day to day things that, in reality, make a huge difference. After all, it is those little things that keep each of us going. The special moments in the daily grind, that make us smile and give us hope, to carry on.

No fanfare.

No hoopla.

No fireworks.

Just the small, quiet, brief glimpses of who God really is…

Father, today I come to You, thanking you for all the little things. Forgive me that I take so many of Your blessings for granted.  Each day is a precious gift. I’m sorry that I am so cavalier with the time that You have given me.

* a soft pillow to put my head on * hot water * electricity * emails * hands that can pet the dogs and hold a leash without pain * good health* smiling faces * making a positive difference in children’s lives * cold winter air and frozen ground * chickens that lay eggs * pets * cards in the mail * a husband to change a flat tire * time spent together

*Thank you for my stubbly faced boy-man, that has grown up so quickly * Thank you for the opportunity to be a mom. I know many who don’t have that privilege. * Thank you for emails from friends. Sometimes the emails are silly and they make me laugh. Other times, I lean on their strength. I’m so fortunate to have good friends. * Thank you for family. I love my family members. The family I grew up with, the family through marriage, and my family in Christ. * Thank you for the beauty of the country. I am still deeply moved by the beautiful sunrises, and gray snowy days. The loud honking of geese, and farm fields that stretch for miles. *Thank you for this life.  I realize that my life might never have turned out this way, had I not had to walk the dark valley to get here. May I never forget that. I try to always be aware that it might never have been. * Thank you, Lord , for Your love for me. A deep love, an all consuming love, a sacrificial love. When we were yet strangers, You saved me. If You chose to bless me with nothing else in this world, but that, that would be enough. And yet, You, through Your love, give me so much more.

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Just Dance

Join us over at The Gypsy Mama.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the prompt: “Dance” with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:

Dance…

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Whenever I hear the word “dance” I always think of the LeeAnn Womack song, I Hope You Dance. I also think of Garth Brook’s song, The Dance.

Both of those songs are about not taking anything or anyone for granted. Living life. Sharing days. Looking back and being glad you were there.

In that moment. For that time. Clock hands stand still.

Swaying, and laughing. Stomping and twirling. Moving to slow songs that only you and special others know.

Dancing.

Knowing it won’t…can’t…. last forever……..but, while you are there……just dance.

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Opportunity

The Gypsy Mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.

Today we are writing on: opportunity.

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I love watching the sun as it breaks across the horizon, in all its blazing glory.

A new day. A fresh slate. New opportunities.

Always wondering what this new day will hold.

On some days the surprise opportunity comes in the form of a necessary conversation.

On other days the opportunity comes with a few moments of “extra” time.

And sometimes the opportunity is disguised as a trial. Not really looking for it…but, there it is.

Waiting for what I will do with it.

My times are in your hands… Psalm 31:15 NIV

 

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What’s Down The Road?

To me, there is nothing better than a Saturday drive.

I come from a long line of Saturday afternoon drivers.

Wandering the back roads, looking for the place “not yet found”.

Searching for the perfect picture while making memories.

Last Saturday was glorious. I enjoyed the early spring sunshine (late winter?).

I’m hoping for another good day, tomorrow.

Pictures tell a story of days gone by.

What stories could these houses and barns, on the back roads, tell?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Ace. He greets us when we get back home.

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Always curious. Always wondering. What might be down the road and around the corner?

Take time to enjoy the drive. Look at things in a different way.

You might just be surprised at what you find.

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It’s A Snow Globe World

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is something about snow that I love.

A certain hush falls on the outside, for a few brief moments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It covers all the dirt, and makes even the most mundane things…

beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow softens the world, as it’s whiteness wraps all, in a blanket of stillness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And creates a snow globe haze that seems… magical.

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Enjoying my Saturday and wishing  joy for you this day, my friends.

He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
   and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’  Job 37:6  NIV

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Love Never Gets Old

“Love never gets old“

My son’s words echoed in my heart just as soon as they left his mouth. Wisdom from my boy-man.

At the time, we were goofing around……as we have done ever since he was born, almost 17 years ago.

Times of silliness in amongst the trials of this life.

And isn’t that true? And what we all long for?

Love. Simply, love. The need for love doesn’t get old, or dry up, or go away.

Longing to know that we are valued, important to another. It is necessary… for truly

living.

Sifting through the day to day to find what is true. Real. Intangible.

Scripture tells us,  “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

More than just an emotion that is fickle at best. More than slick advertisements, or self gratification.

Love is sacrifice.

Always.

It is in the giving away that love becomes real. It is in the laying down of personal gain, or self promotion that allows love to flourish.

Love is at it’s greatest when we are least.

Love is…

* holding tight to newborn skin and feeling your heart living outside of your body

* holding a hand when your dear friend just received news that would rip her world wide open

* appreciating what was done for you, to allow you to be where you are right now

* wiping tears from the face of a child that is hurting and just holding him/her

* forgiving those words that were said in anger, and realizing that sin is real and we all are tainted

* starting over because we all need a second chance

* laying side by side, and feeling the warmth that two bodies create

* touching a face and memorizing the contours in your heart

* knowing another intimately, and choosing to love them anyway

* saying “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong”, even when it’s difficult. Words matter and water runs deep, and it is never necessary to drown in that pride.

* sacrificing time, for time is all we have…and it is valuable beyond measure

* setting aside the “I want”  for the “what can I do for you?”

* being the servant and not always the master

* real…when one can look past the facade to the spirit inside

* reaching out and grasping for another that is stronger

Love is all these things…and more.

“Le Prix d’ Amour, C’est Seulement Amour.”   (“The price of love is simply… love.”)

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The View From My Front Porch

The view this morning.

I watched the dark being overtaken by the light.

Vivid pinks and purples…

Making way for the sun…

 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.   Lamentations 3:22-23  NIV

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