Think, Write, Delete

Dear Little Sis,

Today I did something for the first time, I wrote a letter to my grandson. Oh, I've written him many times via Facebook and Texting, but this is the first time I've actually written him a letter. I had to. He is now stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and is in his first week of Basic Military Training and the only way to correspond with him is to write a letter. I had already begun to "create" his letter when yesterday I received his address from his mom.

The reason I use the word "create" is because it was more than a letter, I decided to write it in a newsletter format. You know that I've been doing newsletters for the past 10 years at my employment, but this newsletter took on an importance beyond all those I created for my work. My husband couldn't believe how much time I spent writing, searching for graphics, and looking on my Thesaurus for just the right word, all the while imagining how happy he'll be when he receives it. Often these young recruits will read and reread letters from home since its the only communication they have for weeks while they are being tested both physically and mentally for the first time in their lives. All these thoughts ran through my head and challenged to even work harder on my project.

I decided to keep my Newsletter to one page, since I was purposing to make this a weekly issue. After writing about family news events I had a few inches at the bottom of the page. I wasn't sure what to add, maybe a picture, a joke, or leave it blank. Then I thought about the opportunity I had before me...a chance to share my heart and leave my grandson with some of my thoughts that he might even remember, so I entitled the article "Granni Thoughts". I decided to share my thoughts on the significance of writing a letter and how permanent it can be in the world where most correspondences are shredded or deleted. Below is "Granni Thoughts"

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In the old days, everyone who was separated by distance would write letters. I remember my mom telling me of when my dad was in the army and the letters they would write each other. These letters kept them in each others thoughts, made them feel close & were kept for a lifetime. Imagine that, words and thoughts remembered years later. In these days of Texting, Facebook, Chatting, etc. where all our communication is instant and then instantly gone with a click, none of our thoughts, ideas or expressions remain in the future, all “deleted”. Writing letters is a wonderful experience, it teaches us to think about the words we are going to use because we know that they will last. Maybe this experience will also help us to speak more carefully, for those words can also last a lifetime. You’re always in my thoughts & prayers, and I’m looking forward to your letters that I will keep for a lifetime!  Love you much, Granni 

Friendship is "Priceless" in Any State

When I was laid off from my position last August, I never realized the huge impact it would have on me since I had been working most of my adult life. I thought that I would absolutely be loving the fact that I no longer had to set my alarm clock and fight the miserable, gridlocked traffic of a daily commute. I have to admit that the first two weeks were pretty blissful but by the third week, boredom was starting to settle in. I never even toyed with the idea of what I might possibly be doing if I were not employed anymore, other than look for more work. The one thing I discovered was that I truly missed interacting with other people since I am and always have been a "people person." Barbra Streisand phrased it so perfectly in her song, "People, people who need people, are the luckiest people in the world."

My biggest issue since I moved to Texas back in 1998 was: I really had no people. Sure, I have my wonderful daughter, son-in-love and grandchildren. My youngest son is also in Texas with my two youngest grandsons but I had no people of my own to call, friends. I'm partly to blame for this dilemma because I never felt like Texas was my home and that all of my best friends were back in California. I wasn't giving Texas a chance and I was really suffering because of this mindset.

So sitting alone day after day got to be extremely, unbearably lonely and I slowly started to become somewhat of a paralyzed recluse which frightened me to no end. I did not want to be a recluse for I am a "people person." Our Heavenly Father never meant for us to be alone either. So after many months of being alone, I decided that I was going to go over and introduce myself to my neighbor across the street who was also, alone.

In the 10 years that I have lived in my house, I only knew my neighbor to the left of me and we seldom spoke other than a simple, hello. This was a defining moment for me as I nervously approached my neighbor across the street who was out doing yard work. As I introduced myself she extended her hand and said her name was, Gabrielle. She is most definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, a most delightful "angel." And I absolutely had no idea that she was saying to herself as she was winding up her garden hose, "Today is the day"...that she was going to approach me, as well. I know and felt in my heart that it was a God thing that brought us together. She has been all alone in her house for over a year and a half and we immediately shared a common ground. She had left her family and friends in Oklahoma and felt like she was in a foreign land just exactly how I felt when I made my move to Texas.

I had her over a few days ago and we spent the whole afternoon getting to know one another, laughing and talking like there was no tomorrow. We drank tea, I made lunch, we exchanged numbers and did a little shopping. It was a wonderful day and we are planning more wonderful days ahead. We are planning to attend Bible Study and church together along with added social functions. Friendship is priceless no matter where you live. God is so AWESOME and GOOD!! My Almighty Father opened my eyes so that I could feel acceptance and love in any state!
-Little Sis Kathi

Shall We Dance?

To Tara and Bubba-

Some time ago, my husband and I suddenly lost an elderly friend who had been married for over 50 years. It started us thinking about what our life would be like without each other. We had some heartfelt discussions as we expressed how difficult our life would be without each other and what a lonely road we would have to travel.

I thought about all the many memories we have together that only he and I have experienced. And if I were alone, there would be no one to reminisce those unique memories.

It wasn't long after that heartfelt discussion that I saw a movie which contained a scene which exactly expressed my thoughts. The scene is from the movie “Shall We Dance” with Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon. The scene shows the character Beverly Clark, played by Susan Sarandon, is asked why she thinks people get married. Her answer brings a new awareness of the meaning it is to have a life partner.

"Why do people get married?

...because we need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet you know. What does any one life really mean?

But in a marriage—you are promising to care about EVERYTHING-

The good things

The bad things

The terrible things

The mundane things

…All of it

All the time…everyday. You are saying, your life will not go un-noticed, because I will notice it.  Your life will not go unwitnessed—because I WILL BE YOUR WITNESS”.

My Egg Friend

Impacting another person’s life is often a secret we may never know. But when we do find out that we have touched someone, there is a joy that is hard to put into words. Recently, I contacted a Facebook friend about this Blog. In her response she added, “you have a very special place in my heart since you are the one who initiated my knowledge and relationship with our Father.” I was total shock with these words, for I never knew she considered me in this way. That particularly gray and gloomy day suddenly became bright. It also brought to mind my “Egg Friend”.