Think About it Thursdays

Treat a woman like a thoroughbred, and she won't become a nag.

J. Earp

The Dentist

The dental chair.... Friend or foe? For me a hated enemy, that twice a year I would hold back tears or clench my hands repeatedly awaiting the verdict of cavity or no cavity. I have always declared that I would rather go to a GYN visit than the dentist. A friend of mine was sharing her latest adventures from going to the dentist. She had switched to a new dentist since moving out of state and the initial exam took two hours. She had birthed a kid faster than that and cried less tears, and so she now understands my longstanding angst with the world of dentistry.


Probably around ten years old is my earliest bad dental memory. I am polish so you go to the local polish dentist. He was like 70 at the time and had an accent. I don't remember Novocaine being offered because that was extra. During the dreaded drilling process he kept trying to talk to me and kept calling me Di. "How's it going Di? Almost done Di." That annoyed me. Finally, at one point he stopped and looked down at me. I had slid down in the chair so far trying to escape him that he had to stop to get me repositioned. "Hey Di, what's the matter?" Um hello. I am in pain! He offers Novocaine. I accept, even though he insists we are almost done. Not a great memory. My mother tries to find a new dentist after that or he retires. Don't remember which is accurate. My current dentist is sickeningly sweet. She also calls me Di but is so nice that I overlook it. I still spit gobs of blood into the little sink and it takes her forever to scrape, scrape, scrape my teeth! Thankfully, my children have only had the sweet smiley one so they have no preconceived fears. They are thankful for the free toothbrush, flossers and other prizes.

Any favorite "happy" memories to share? Know that I'll feel a couple of knots in my stomach for you.

Cloudy with a Chance of Sprinkles

For the moment chocolate ones!


Here in upstate New York there is always a chance of rain. What else is there to do on a cloudy, dreary day?


Enjoy ice cream of course!

The intensity....

Persistance.....

Determination......

Mission completion!

Sheer delight in a job well done!

Freedom!

I am so appreciative for the many freedoms we enjoy here in America. Each and every soldier, veteran and fallen hero along with their families, has given more than most of us could ever comprehend. I personally want to extend my thanks.

No word gets me more excited than the word freedom. Not only the physical freedoms that we all are used to, but emotional freedom. I went to a ladies conference a couple of years ago and I will never forget it. The speaker told her story of the physical, emotional and mental abuses that went on in her life for many years as a child. Her story was heart wrenching but through her relationship with God and the incomprehensible forgiveness that only could be found through Him, she was able to forgive each person that had abused her. She was free. Physically, she had been free from the situation for a number of years, but we all know that the mind is where the hurts are replayed time and time again. The insanity of replaying the scenarios over and over again can be deadly. Because of the deliverance she received, today she is a counselor helping others to experience the same freedom. So, the part that I will never forget..... At the end of her talk, a 70 year old woman came up to her and was crying. She hugged and talked with the speaker for a long time and you could tell that she had somehow been wounded and never been able to deal with the pain. I could feel myself getting mad and sad at the same time! This poor woman had spent almost her entire life with this unresolved pain. How many years were robbed from her? How many sleepless, crying nights did she experience? I am thankful that on that day, she faced the past hurts and was able to move on to that place of freedom. Let's have a true Independence Day like the words from Amazing Grace:My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my Savior, has ransomed me. And like a flood, His mercy reigns. Unending love....It's amazing grace!

Think About it Thursdays

"A good listener is not only popular every-where, but after a while he knows something."

Wilson Mizner

A Lost Artform

Letters..... No, not ABCDEF Gee Whiz. Cards. Stationary. Correspondence. A pen and paper.

Growing up, nothing brought me greater joy than running to the mailbox and looking to see if I got any mail. Excitedly opening the mailbox and only dreaming of what could be in there. Obviously around my birthday or Christmas time it was a "sure thing" that I would receive a card or small package addressed to me. But, I'm talking about for absolutely no reason at all, pawing through bills and junk mail and seeing my name on an envelope. Oh, the thrill that it would bring. Spying the return address and ripping that thing open was an adrenaline rush. Who loved me so much and took the time to go through all the effort of writing me a letter?

Nowadays, the computer and instant e-mail gratification makes writing something longer than a broken sentence or two, followed by abbreviated words and symbols all too easy. Knowing that someone got a pen, paper, an envelope, and sprung the 44 cents to place a letter in the mailbox brings great joy to my heart. My children know that they are expected to send thank you cards after receiving a gift. I love surprising a far away friend with either a "thinking of you" card or a small box filled with chocolates, seeds, coupons or feminine products (and, oh yes I have)! Won't you join me in keeping the dream of the pony express alive and surprise someone today. (Well technically it will take two or more business days depending on where you are sending it, but you get my drift, right?

Oh to be Seven!

Wait for it........

The wind up......He scores!

Any future cheerleaders here?

They're neck and neck...... a photo finish.... and the winner is....

Half time show. (Yes, it's a dead bat, but, of course.)

The huddle.

Oh yeahhhhhhhh!