Wordful Wednesday/Woeful Wednesday!

Wordful Wednesday should be renamed
This day is making me feel ashamed!

I’m starting to feel like some old crone
For I keep forgetting to write a poem!

Then I quick have to write one on the run
This is getting to be not very much fun!

I feel like sometimes I am going insane
Maybe I'll say the rain is to blame

Next week I promise to be much better
I’ll try to be a ‘get up and go-getter’!



Okay, that was lame, my apologies!
Seriously, I’m thinking I will re-name the Wordful Wednesday post to Woeful Wednesday on my blog!

A Cluttered Life

I’m trying hard to de-clutter my house and my life. It’s equally hard to do both. I’m finding it hard to let go of the many ‘things’ I’ve collected over the years. A lot are just taking up space and collecting dust in various rooms around the house, and the rest are boxed and stored in both the attic and the basement. And I ask myself, “What good are they doing anybody sitting in boxes? Wouldn’t it be better for someone to get enjoyment out of them?” The answer is yes, but I keep thinking that I will one day unpack those boxes and I will be the one getting the enjoyment out of my things once again. Awhile ago a very smart blogger, Jerelene, had a list of rules to follow posted on her blog Jerelene’s Journal, and one of them was ‘Get rid of everything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or joyful’. Excellent advice. But my problem is that every item I pick up when trying to make a decision if I should discard it, give it away to a family member, or donate it to charity, somehow every single item speaks to me, saying it is still useful, or it is still beautiful in my eyes, or in some way it will still give me joy.

I thought about my sister Diane and the time we were cleaning out my parents place to move them to live closer to us. Diane very systematically picked up an item and made a split second pass/fail decision on whether it would make the move with my parents or not. She didn’t consult anyone, she didn’t labor over the item, she didn’t bother to ‘ooh and aah’ over every single thing, and there was no time for reminiscing. Emotional attachments seemed to play no part here. She very matter-of-factly said, “This has served its purpose, it’s time for it to go.” Case closed. And then she quickly moved on to the next item.

I, on the other hand, belabor the point and dwell on every little item, thinking about how I first acquired it, the many uses I had for it, and if it happens to be a gift from someone, especially one of the kids, it’s near impossible for me to part with it. It doesn’t matter if I haven’t set eyes on it for years and years, it doesn’t matter if it’s been stored away collecting dust somewhere, it doesn’t matter if it was once forgotten altogether. Once seen again, it is like an old friend, bringing back a flood of memories, and a torrent of emotions. How do you expel something like that from your life? Can’t something useless be made useful? Can it not be repurposed? Isn’t everything that evokes a sweet memory beautiful? And doesn’t even a bittersweet memory hold a place in our hearts?
I can take hours pondering over one box of goods, and in the end, the box is repacked and stored away to go through another day. (Sigh)

I’m definitely going to have to summon a bit of my sister Diane's practical method into my thought process before I try to tackle the task of de-cluttering my home. Before I start this chore my mantra will be, “This has served its purpose, it’s time for it to go.” Over and over again I will repeat those words to myself. And when I finally really mean them, I will stay strong in my resolve as I take on this mission.
All winter long I told myself I would start going through things come spring. But I am still too weak, so now I am telling myself I will start this process in the Fall. (Big sigh here.)

De-cluttering my life is another matter. My head and my heart are cluttered with too many negatives, so I am willing myself to rid myself of old grudges, unpleasant memories, silly arguments, and anything that gives me that anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach. Wherever and whenever at all possible I am ridding my life of the negative. Not an easy feat for me as my first reaction at all times is to go into attack mode (you can’t get more negative than that), I get defensive at the least little offhand remark. I am teaching myself to take a breath before I go on the offense. I am apologizing for my rude behavior instead of ignoring it (or worse, trying to justify it). I am trying to give others the break I would want them to give me and I am trying not to be overly sensitive. It’s not easy to change a lifetime of bad habits and I’ve been failing miserably lately. I’m finding it just as hard (if not harder) to de-clutter my soul as it is to de-clutter my home.

So, please wish me luck, keep me in your prayers, and please everyone, keep writing and posting, because visiting you each day is a big help to me!

What Happened To 'Sun and Fun'?

Okay, the first day of summer has come and gone and still no sun. I heard on the news today that twenty of the last twenty-three days it has rained. I am tired of rain. I don't feel extremely energetic to begin with anyway, but with all this rain I don't feel like doing a thing except maybe curling up with a good book.
I don't even feel like writing on my blog. It's not writer's block as I never run out of things to talk about and write about, it's just that I have a case of the 'blah's', I feel like my flowers outside look ~ limp and shriveled. I know the flowers need rain, but obviously they don't need this much rain, and I know for sure they need a little sun each day. And so do I. All this raining is draining to me!
Well, I'm off to get my cup of cheer for the day as I'm off to read my favorite blogs. Thank goodness you are not all like me!

On Another Blog

One of the stories from my blog has been picked up by a website called Imperfect Women. This is a great website if anyone is interested, they have various articles on a wide variety of subjects. It was started by women just like us, seeking to better themselves, and helping each other out along the way. And that's what I love most about this site, the support these women all show for each other, and I really enjoy reading all the human interest stories.
They are also willing to accept articles for consideration to publish. Pay them a visit, I don't think you'll be disappointed!
The article I wrote is one most of you have read already, it's under 'Relationships'.

Jayden's Quote

At Jayden's 'graduation' ceremony from Nursery school we were given a binder that contained all his work from school, some pictures that were taken during the year of the children in his class, and also some of the cute antics of the children that the teacher and her aide had taken note of were written down for us all to enjoy.
One paper had written on it 'famous quotes' from each of the children, and next to Jayden's name was the following quote:

"What time do I have to stay 'til?"

Jayden's nursery school schedule was only three afternoons a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday), but every school day, all afternoon, he would ask that question over and over again. His teacher and her aide said Jayden asked that all year long up until the last few weeks of school!
Poor teacher! Poor aide! Poor Jayden!

I wonder what the Fall will bring when he's going five full days a week?! Yikes!

Father's Day

My Dad will be gone two years in August. My Dad suffered from a rare neurological disease the last few years of his life. This disease left him incapacitated and unable to care for himself. My Dad was on Hospice care the last few months of his life. Throughout this battle, as with other trials he suffered in life, my Dad never lost his Faith.
One of my nieces, and both of my sisters, and myself were Blessed to be with my Dad when he passed.

For you, Dad:

FOUR GIRLS SAY GOODBYE

We are here with you, Dad, you are not alone
Your girls are gathered as you head for Home

We sit by your bed as you labor to breathe
Hearts full of sorrow watching you leave

With love we surround you and stand by your side
And we pray that the Angels to Heaven will guide

We talk of old times to keep the sadness at bay
We know before too long you’ll be on your way

Obligations long ago fulfilled, each and every one
It’s time for you to rest, Dad, your work here now is done

You’ve been missing Mom for much too long
And your life without her seemed all wrong

Lately you talked of when your love was new
You couldn't fathom why she chose you

You said the happiest day of your life
Was the day she consented to be your wife

Now your arms are lifting, reaching up, far and wide
Who’s come to meet you? Is it your bride?

One more breath here with us, and then you are gone
Far from the reach of your daughters arms

Hearts full of sorrow, sinking deep in our grief
But unburdened to know you have this relief

The tears flow from your girls as we break down and cry
A granddaughter’s kiss on the cheek says good-bye

With love and gratitude for all you have meant to me,
Your daughter,
Eileen







Thanks, Pop, for everything.
I treasure in my heart the gift of your last five words to me.

Friday Favorites

Most of my favorites this week are actually Ray's favorites. Whenever we go to any rummage sales at Churches I have to steer Ray away from religious items, he can't seem to pass them up. Soon I will have to open my own church. Most of these religious articles are now in our dining room and living room.

This first is what I call The Pieta. It's not a depiction of the famous Michelangelo Pieta, but it is the Sorrowful Mother holding her Son after witnessing His Great Sacrifice. It is a very big, very heavy statue. I think it's a beautiful statue.





The next religious article he acquired is this statue of The Sacred Heart. This statue is also very big and very heavy.
He is on a dresser in our dining room.




And another of Ray's purchases is Jesus wearing His Crown of Thorns.




We also have in our dining room a statue of the Blessed Mother. This statue belonged to my grandmother (my Dad's Mom). This statue is much smaller than the others.




And the last of my favorites are two religious art pieces that I bid for and won on ebay. These two little works of art hang in our living room.
This retablo is of The Child Jesus.





And this retablo is of St. John the Baptist as a child.






Weekend Forecast:
Saturday ~ Ray's niece is graduating high school next week and her parents are having a party to celebrate the occasion this weekend.

Sunday ~ Happy Father's Day!
I asked Ray what he wanted to do to celebrate and he said his only request was to watch golf (the U.S. Open) on TV! He then offered to barbecue and invite our kids, and his brother and nephew, his sister and her family, and my sister and her husband. So we should have a full house! I hope the weather cooperates!

Have a great weekend, everyone!