Friends For Infinity and Beyond

My best friend gave this magnet quote to me a few years ago.

When I think about friendship, I think of talking on the phone, sharing a confidence, shopping, watching movies, and helping each other. (There are more things we could add to the list, but these rolled off the tip of my fingers.) Friendship, even at its simplest, is balm to the soul. The feeling that someone other than your mother actually wants to interact with you has a magical effect changing each person at least a little bit for the better.

It's no mystery that I am grateful for my friends. I blog, talk, tweet, and facebook about it too often for people to not know the depth of my gratitude for my entourage of support and kindness. Well, if you didn't know already, I hope you have a feel for it now. If you like, look up friendship in the table of contents to see what else I've got on the topic. Making new friends and spending time with any sort of friend (even friends of my friends) makes me really happy.

Looking into the future, I see all of us looking back recognizing how far we've come and relishing these times of new found friendships that last. I see ties that bind lasting forever.

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the moon

I was reading a slice of life last Friday by Mandy and it caused me to reflect on my own relationship with my mother. She and I didn't always get along like peaches and cream, but since her passing nearly ten years ago, I have been able to realize what a beautiful (although imperfect) relationship we had. It truly has been a treasure for me to look back and see what a selfless example of love I was given. I hope you enjoy the poem inspired by this most recent reflection:


The Moon

Me asking for the moon
Her trying to give it
Me taking up her time
Her getting frustrated
Yet giving it gladly
Her loving me
Her sacrificing
Her giving and giving
Because somehow
What I managed to accomplish
Gave her the moon

Her patiently watching
Waiting for the day 
When I could take over
Her teaching me
Just before she left
How to receive the moon
From the bright eyes of a child 

fried chicken picnics

What was a favorite place to go with your family when you were young?

9. 

When I think about my favorite places to go with my family when I was really young, my first thought is of Disneyland. But after pondering it a little longer, I'd have to say that the park was my favorite place of all places. We went to several parks around the Las Vegas valley. Some were nicer than others. Some had duck ponds, and we'd feed the ducks then head over to the playground.  Most trips to the park included a picnic with fried chicken from KFC or possibly sandwiches. The one memory that I have making the park the best place to go growing up is at a park that no longer exists.

It was called Lions Park and it was pretty much a long straight shot from our house up Washington. On this particular occasion that I recall, my parents wanted to do a Family Home Evening at the park with fried chicken dinner for our picnic. I remember us driving to the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant down Nellis to get a couple of those huge buckets of chicken then heading up the hill to the park. My mom spread out blankets on the grass. My dad started throwing a frisbee with us. Then mom called us over to the nice picnic spread with piles of warm fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and biscuits. Everyone was so happy to eat, but once mom started to attempt to teach us a gospel lesson as part of the family time, my little brothers whined and fidgeted like nothing else. (Looking back, I know my mom was trying to use the fried chicken as a sort of bribe to get everyone to pipe down and listen for a little while.) Well, she was always outnumbered, and therefore, overruled. We all got sent off to romp around on the tallest slide I ever slid down as a child and swing and run. There was also an old train engine on display which we would stare up at in awe every time we saw it. 

Although I don't recall any part of the lesson my mom tried to teach that day, I do remember the example my parents set of family togetherness. So even though they might have thought nothing sank in on those family nights, the hidden message always came through loud and clear. Family is important. Also, I miss those simple days of picnics and parks. 

Once it warms up, I foresee a fried chicken picnic in my children's very near future.

Seeking to Become - March 2013

A new commandment I give unto you, 

That ye love one another; as I have loved you, 

that ye also love one another.

John 13:34

Not that I think I'm a terribly hateful person or anything, but I know I have room to improve in the loving others category. When I speak of others, I mean it in the most literal sense. Others does not include my children and friends and the family members who are easy to love. I have no need to be commanded to love this set of people. By others, at least when God is talking to me, I think he means the individuals who fall under the "Other" category who are not so easy to love--the people we avoid or justify unkindness toward because they somehow deserve it.  I have one person in particular who I have allowed myself to speak about in almost 100% negative ways for the past couple of years.

As I contemplate on what I can do during this month to become more Christ-like, I know I need to cultivate more love for the Others (most likely in the form of true patience and charity for at least this one person). I hope you will join me. 

If you have any experiences with this challenge throughout the month, feel free to share it in the comments section. 

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Slicing My Way Through March

I cannot tell you how excited I am for this month writing every day for The Slice of Life Story Challenge. Last March, I was in a very sad, sad place, and I look forward to comparing this upcoming experience with the tone of last year.

As I see things, there are always stories to tell and things to reflect upon. One of my favorite genres to use when reflecting is poetry, so I hope you're ready for more of that and a few fun things I do regularly now on Mondays and Saturdays. Also, I have a few book giveaways planned as a little bonus for coming over to enjoy my slices of life throughout the month.

No matter what, I know I will be enriched throughout the month with reconnecting with slicers from last year and making new acquaintances. 

Here goes nothing!