Happy New Year

It's the year 2009 and you and I are still alive! I know that's a weird thing to say but I do think about these things. Alright so I'm a weirdo. Maybe I think about dying more than what is probably healthy but if it weren't for death I wouldn't be so thankful to be alive. I look at life the way an artist paints a picture, with life being light and darkness death. The darkness is very important, because without darkness we wouldn't even see the light. So maybe death isn't a topic you want to read about as you skip merrily about from blog to blog. But the truth be told ..it's always haunting me. Not a day goes by that I don't miss the ones I've lost to death. Now a new year rings in and it's so full of promises and hope and renewal but I can't help but think that it will also bring it's share of heartaches, disasters, darkness and death. One thing that always keeps me plugging along is hope. If I were to lose everything I own, I hope that I would not lose hope. If I lost everybody I love, I hope I would not lose hope. If I were down as low as a worm ...I just hope that I would not lose hope. Even if it seems as if the only thing that changed today were the hands on the clock or the page on the calendar or that day turned into night... I still hope. I hope against hope. That means that even if I don't really believe that anything good will happen to me today...I still hope something will.

I'm not here to talk politics because that causes arguments and I sure don't want to push my religious beliefs on anyone, I don't want to divide. I would be the first to admit I don't have any prophetic answers about life and I spend ridiculously many hours pondering my own destiny and wondering if I even have one.

But thank-you for visiting me because I put myself out there and it's good to know that somebody cares enough to read what I write. Happy New Year...I hope.

Prayer vs Physics

There are 2 lawn mowers out back behind the shed. Neither one of them work for one reason or another. The lawn needs mowing and has gone to winter's nap without a final cutting. But today the weather is warm for a January day. Short sleeves are enough and comfortable to work around the yard. But I can't do what really needs to be done. The leaves are difficult to rake because they're entangled in the long grass. I wish I could take care of the lawn.

I look at those 2 rusty broken lawn mowers and wish for 1 that works not 2 that don't. Wishes are fine but actions speak louder than words. So.....I attempt to start the one that doesn't have a broken cable. It sputters and poops out. The sputtering was like a promise to me. I wouldn't give up. This goes on for several minutes. I pray out loud ...God please help me. I pray the Our Father in my heart. I summon on St. Jude out loud to intercede my prayer for me... because he's the St. to pray for in hopeless situations.......Please! I pull that rope , I pull that rope I pull that damn rope all in vain. My arms start hurting and I'm all out of breath. It sputters --starts and then stops. .. Damn it ....! Over and over. Well it has oil it has gas maybe it's the spark plug. My son says if it were the spark plug then you wouldn't get a spark. But I was getting a spark. It's primed and it's on the right setting...what the heck? I remember I gave up on this thing long before the cable broke on the other one. I needed a lawn mower so bad and saw a man at the dump hover over to the one I was junking at the time and he said he would sell me one real cheap. I bought this stupid ol' rusty thing from him. I paid him 50 bucks...why then won't it ever work right? I got ripped off. I was doing the Christian thing by helping him out, jeesh now i got nothing to mow this lawn with.

My son tries with his strong arms... nothing. I kept at it saying to him I'll just keep praying it will start. I assured him....."You should never under estimate the power of prayer."

Then Tom gets an idea and he tinkers around with the one I've given up on because after all It has a broken cable and not a chance of a sputter from that one. He bypasses the cable and rigs it to work with an old shoe lace cut down tied with a simple bunny bow to the throttle, as if he had tied his shoe and the lawn mower started. He said "Mom....never underestimate the power of physics."

I was so happy I wanted to dance.
And THEN...he mowed the whole entire lawn. How sweet is that?
Now I ask you...... was my prayer answered?

Amen =)

Smile

I Love this song, I've been singing it to myself today.

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though its breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through for you.

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

-instrumental interlude-

Thats the time you must keep on trying

Smile, whats the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

Courage

When I'm feeling really bummed out, like as if --- who cares? I read this little verse and it always cheers me up. I should share this with you and then when it's your time to feel blue you just might remember this too. Besides--- "I care."
Until next time, GOOD LUCK! <3~elaine

Courage

When all of life looks dark and blue,

Keep on hopin'!

Smiles will always help you thru,

No use mopin'!

Thinkin' Fates hard knocks are due,

That's poor dopin'!

Someday Luck will come to you,

Keep on hopin'!