Monday, March 29, 2010

Kids Say the Darndest Things


My oldest granddaughter, Erika, who is in Kindergarten, has been sick a lot this year. Since Christmas she has rarely gone to school an entire week because of holidays, bad weather days or being sick. She missed three days last week because of a nasty stomach bug. She told my daughter, Carrie, the other day, "I used to go to school every day, but I don't anymore."

When she was home last week, her little sister wanted Erika to help her fill her juice cup. Erika quickly responded, "Allie, I can't help you right now. I'm sick. You'll have to ask Lucas to help you." Lucas, my grandson, is 20 months old.

She also wanted to get an early start on Christmas and decided to write Santa a letter. What prompted her was an advertisement on TV for a toy called "Pillow Pets." She told her Mom to tell Santa that the website was http://www.pillowpets/  so he wouldn't forget. Oh, and she wanted Carrie to take the letter to the mall to make sure Santa gets it. I'm sure Santa doesn't get too many letters in March!

My younger granddaughter, Allie, I'm afraid, is turning into a little hypochondriac. She is not like other children who kick and scream when it comes to taking medicine. She is happy to take her dose. And if you have a pain or ache, don't you know she does, too!  When Carrie had to go to the doctor recently, little Allie spoke up, "Me ick, too, (fake cough, twice)," and wanted to go. No wonder she enjoys playing doctor so much.


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Time to Slow Down


Things have been so busy lately
that my feet haven't touched the ground.
I'm running from morning until night,
with no end in sight.
I need a minute, or two, to collect my thoughts,
to hit the pause button on my life,
and breathe slowly.

I need to slow down;
there's so much cramming in my head,
and not enough time to savor the moments.
Get up, go to work, go to bed.

I want to stop and smell the flowers,
gaze at the moon and the stars,
take a drive down a dusty road
and forget the time on the clock.

I want to have long conversations with an old friend
over iced tea on the front porch
and we'll hug each other's necks
when it's time to leave and say good-bye.
because old friendships are a rare and beautiful thing

I want to browse to my heart's content in second- hand stores
finding lost treasures that someone slipped in a box
or the vintage find that reminds me of a childhood memory
now collecting dust in an antique store

I want to sip coffee, slowly,
with the newspaper spread all around
and time to clip recipes and coupons;
read the funnies and work the crossword puzzle.

I want to play with the children
and get down on the floor,
 read stories that make them laugh
and tickle their funny bone

I want to bake from scratch
the recipes my mother used to make
and pour me a cup of tea
from the teapot that I inherited.

I want to listen to soft music
that drowns out the noise
and latest headline news

I want to spend time talking to God
and listening to what he has to say
instead of always feeling rushed
and being on my way

And when I do,
He'll give me a moment, or two
To slow down 
and hit the pause button
So I can stop and breathe.


(c) Anita M. Ashworth 2010



Monday, March 1, 2010

Thought for the Day



A friend shared this with me and I just had to post it on my blog.

 I am not perfect

but Jesus

thinks I am

to die for


Blessings,