Before Johnny and I moved here we lived in Eugene, Oregon, in one of those beautiful apartment buildings for people over fifty-five. While there I'd take a walk around the grounds every day, mostly with Johnny, but often by myself. There was a lot going on in my life, some really hard, painful stuff, and I was getting discouraged, sad, fearful and was, too often, sitting on the pity pot, thinking about just throwing in the towel and giving up.
    For about three weeks, while walking alone, I'd see this elderly woman, probably about eighty or so.-(-lol It just occurred to me that in two years I'll be 80 ).
Any way, to continue...this dear lady was in a wheelchair and always looked very sad.
 I'd always say hello to her. She seldom answered, but once in awhile would nod her head, acknowledging that she heard me.
    One day, while walking by I saw that she was crying, so didn't hesitate to go over to her. "What's the matter, dear?" I asked, while sitting down beside her.
    "I'm okay." she said, wiping her tears with her fingers. "Really." she added, as she looked up at me. I could see that she wasn't okay, that she was hurting really bad. I didn't want to pry but did want to help, so silently asked God to show me what to do.
    "You don't have to sit with me." she said, suddenly, while twisting her handkerchief in her hands. "There's nothing you can do anyway."
   "I'd like to try."I replied, "but can't help if I don't know the problem." She looked down, began wiping her tears as they began to rain down her cheeks.
"I'm old." she said, the pain in her voice so deep it was all I could do to keep from crying myself. " I"m old and wrinkled and of no use to anybody."
   "Oh, but you are."I told her.
  "No! I'm not! That's why you always see me sitting here by myself. My family lives right here in this town but never come to see me. They just dumped me here and left."
    God gave me the words to say to her. "I'll be your family." I said, and hugged her before she could have a chance to protest. "Would you like that?" Her frail arms returned my hug and she broke down- cried so hard I began to cry with her. "Will you?" she asked in a quivery voice? "Will you really be my family?
   "I will." I said, and was.
 That was the beginning of a new chapter in her life- and mine. I walked with her every day, sometimes Johnny went with us. I'd read her stories, and Johnny and I took her for long rides and to dinner with us.
    One day, knowing she was missing her family more than usual, I wanted to cheer her up, wanted to make her laugh. I went to the store and bought two huge bottles of Bubbles and two bubble pipes. I wish you could have seen the joy on her face when she opened the bag and saw that pipe and jar of bubbles. "I remember these." she said, while opening the bottle. "I used to spend hours blowing bubbles for my kids."
   "Well now we can blow them for each other, can't we?" I said.


I grew to love that sweet lady. It broke my heart when she died a few months later. That experience with her taught me a  big lesson; that all of us can make a difference ...can put some SHINY moments in  another persons life if we are willing to try.
   I have, since doing that with that lady, bought many bottles of bubbles, always have some with me in case I run across someone who is sad, lonely, lost, or in need of a friend. I encourage you to do this for somebody, especially somebody like this precious lady. Bubbles, most people think, are for children. But that isn't true. Bubbles are also for adults  willing to view and experience once again, the world through a child's eyes. The best part about trying this is that afterwards, you  feel so good; feel good because you made a difference.Well, I'm  behind on chores so better get started. I hope every one of you has an awesome day; that you're surrounded by people who love you, believe in you, and take time to have some fun with you.

I shared this post again because I have discovered that there still aren't enough people reaching out to others. There are still far to many lonely, hurting, friendless people around us, oftentimes just across the street.

I share bottles of bubbles, magazines, and books. One of the things I love most to do is leave encouraging notes and little surprises for those who serve me: waitresses, cashiers, service station attendants, mail men, etc. The cost is little- the rewards enormous. A few dollars spent on magnets that say "Great job"  "Thank you." "You're really great at what you do." "You really stand out."  can have a lasting effect on another person's life.
   Leaving a post it for a new waitress saying " Hang in there. Tomorrow will be better." Is a huge help too. Of the many surprises I leave I have the most fun with the bubbles. I think it is because we all miss those former years, when life was slower- the world a safer, more calmer place. Sitting with friends and blowing bubbles lets us be a kid again, reminds us that one is never to old to have fun..to enjoy life.

Have an awesome day. Do something for somebody else. And then...do a little something for yourself. YOU count too.

Love you
Barb

I have been up since 4:00 a.m, and would you believe I am out of coffee? Though I only drink one cup a day most of the time, not being able to sleep left me with one horrible headache. Thankfully I'll be able to get some coffee in a bit. I won't drink it out of the cup above, but only because I don't have one like that. I think I will drink it out of the cup my daughter sent me as part of last years Christmas present. It is so beautiful. It's
one of those larger size cups; says "May the God, the source of HOPE, fill you with JOY, and PEACE. Romans 15:13 on it. It is painted in gorgeous autumn colors. Beautiful way to start one's day, isn't it?

 This morning's air was cold upon my cheeks when I stepped out onto the patio. It definitely helped clear my head a little. I wasn't happy that I lost so much sleep, but love waking up early like that; love sitting in the semi darkness, listening to the world wake up-watching it too.
  
 The solitude does something to my heart; always makes me acutely aware of the Lord; of all the beauty he created for us, and of all that he has done for me, and continues to do.
  The silence of the early morning hours is a gift, one I may unwrap as slowly as I choose, and I always unwrap them  slowly. I am never in a hurry to get pulled back into the hustle and bustle of the world- into it's noise and chaos.

I was thinking, while unable to sleep, of the millions of people in the world who are friendless, alone, hurting, sick, worried and afraid; was thinking of how different the world is from the world I knew as a child- even as a teenager. Back then people would linger over the fence, chatting while working in the yard or hanging clothes. A house would burn down, and the whole neighborhood would rush to help, would be providing needs before having to be asked. Back then I could ride my boyfriend's bicycle all over town without having to worry about being kidnapped or raped. My sisters and brothers could play out past dark, and Mom would not have to be worried about them.
Kids got bullied back then, just like today, but the bullying didn't lead to suicide.
The bullying was usually a few punches thrown, a bloody nose and black eye and it was over.

The thing that saddens my heart the most is how fearful everybody is, and the fact that families are not as close as they once were. The internet, cell phones, computers, etc, have taken the place of handwritten letters and personalized phone calls. Everybody (children and adults alike) are in a hurry), are so busy ...each into their own life that

they scarcely know what's happening with the rest of the family, are usually shocked when a crisis arrives and a family member is in trouble. "I didn't realize." is the response.  I didn't know."

Life is such a huge gift, but we take it for granted; always assume whatever needs doing can be done tomorrow. The thing is, there is no guarantee that we have the  full 24 hours that we run our lives by. Bad things happen, and not just to bad people.

We need to do our best to face up to things; to not stick our head in the sand when a crisis hits, hoping the problems and issues will disappear. It doesn't work that way. True- a crisis is no picnic- but if we'll just dig deep and pull up some courage, we'd discover ourselves to be much stronger than we believed ourselves to be.
It doesn't hurt to remember that ATTITUDE is everything. It really is. 
The older I get, the more I realize just how true that is.


Geez! Just read what I've written.What a mess! Well, just hope you understand how hard it is to focus without sleep. I'm going to try to get that coffee now.


Do I have any closing words? Yep!


AND...take time to smell the roses.

Thanks for listening, for caring, for your support, prayers, and friendship.
Love you much.

BARB

What? You mean I actually managed to get here before noon? Wow! Guess I'm doing better than I thought. Most of the time my good intentions fall by the wayside. But...
I found myself thinking of all of you, remembering when we first became friends so many years ago. Oh, but J-Land was such an awesome place, wasn't it? 
   It was such a close family, everybody genuinely caring for each other, all of us there for support as well as simply to enjoy sharing our life experiences. I still have times when those that are no longer with us cross my mind. Miss them so very much. Still, though they are missed, we still have one another, still know that when we hit a rough spot in life, we have but to reach out and we'll be be bombarded with emails, letters, cards, online chats. Sometimes, phone calls too, which pleasured me so much.

Life is good these days. Oh, like all of you I hit rough patches sometimes, have those moments when I have to sit myself down, take a deep breath, and remind myself of all the things the Lord helped me do that I didn't think I could do.

I have managed to finish most of my spring cleaning. Most, not all, because my pain level gets so high at times. But all in all things are looking better. I detest clutter!
My Mom used to tell me "A cluttered house makes for a cluttered mind." She was so right. The tidier my place is- the happier I am, the more content and at peace.

  This apartment complex has new owners again so some changes are coming. The first one is that they are doing away with the garden plots near our front door. They have rose bushes there and most people planted other flowers as well, or decorated them with lights, statues, etc. Those will be removed and replaced with cement. At first I didn't like that idea, but after thinking about it, I realized it is a good thing. We may not be able to plant flowers, but we can still set out flower planters and such. AND...no having to pull up weeds; you gotta love that. :)

The second thing is our patios, which I love. They are removing the patio roofs (don't like that part), and replacing the wood fencing with wrought iron ( I DO like that part).

The older I get- the more I hurt, the more I appreciate things being made easier for me.
I appreciate it, but get frustrated realizing just how many things I can no longer do for myself. I really miss feeling well, but am grateful, nevertheless, that my body still works. lol....Still gets me where I want to go, though much slower, and not always pain free.
 I have so much to be grateful for that I cannot complain. So much! There is always a new day, which offers opportunities to do better, to get healthier, to create new memories. I have a wonderful family, an awesome support system, wonderful friends, and an AMAZING  God who never fails me; is always there to comfort, uplift, bless, strengthen, guide, teach, listen, forgive, embrace, and love. With Him in my life I have enough...have it all.


Spring, one of my favorite seasons, gives us all a chance to be more active, to be outdoors without getting burned by the sun- or almost frozen by winter's wind, snow, and ice.

Our town is a tourist attraction town, and during spring and summer our highways are always heavy with traffic. People coming to visit our town usually fall in love with it. It is not only beautiful but there is plenty to do: rafting, boating, boat rides, fishing, hunting, swimming, hiking, checking out antique stores, auto shows, boat shows, fairs, picnics, movies, just to name a few Anybody visiting here would never get bored.

A lot of you have asked when I'm going to share another story online. I've not forgotten my promise to do that. I will, but am having some computer issues. I didn't want to get started then lose my computer ...and leave people hanging. I'm an avid reader so would hate that! Just as soon as I get things worked out I'll get that done. 


Hoping this post finds all of you doing well.  Take care.
Be good to yourselves and even better to others.

love you much,