Just north of the border…

Wiwohka7 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What’s the best local dish you’ve ever eaten while traveling?
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You know, of all the places I’ve been, probably the best local dish I’ve ever eaten while traveling came off one of those Gut Trucks, as they call em.

It was when my husband was a truck driver and we were bouncing all over this beautiful country! We always used to pick up a load down in Laredo, Texas. It shipped from there, just north of the U.S. border, all the way to Seattle, Washington.

It so happened that my husband’s company had a facility located in Laredo, and whenever we went down there, we stayed at the hub for several days. While the truck got it’s maintenance done, and our shipment was being loaded onto a trailer, we got some R&R, along with showers and hot food.

When I say hot food, what I mean is that there was always one of those food trucks serving cooked meals. The truck looked like it had been through a war, but the food was amazing!

My favorite dish was their Beef Chimichanga. Actually, I should add an S at the end, because the dish came with two, not just one. I could never finish, but my husband was a happy camper. He could order his Prawn something, or other, and then eat my leftovers later on.

Now, I’ve had Chimichangas many times, and in numerous locations across the states, mind you. And, they were in actual sit down restaurants, too. Out of all those different locations, I swear that the Laredo Gut Truck had the best out of them all!

Aren’t you glad that I told you? Now, if you’re hungry you can get in your car and drive all the way to Laredo, Texas. Once you get there, just drive around looking for some greasy old food truck. It’s been a while though, so I recommend you take some antacids and hand wipes with you, just in case.

Hugs

A friend of a friend of a friend…

Wiwohka5 Comments

I was reading through 2 Kings this morning, and paused when I came to chapter 10. It’s the part where King Jehu destroys the entire family line of Ahab and Jezebel. In this section of scripture it’s described quite vividly how God’s words came to be fulfilled. Reading of how Jehu went about killing off the 70 sons of Ahab, along with anyone closely affiliated with them, I found myself wrestling with a small handful of questions.

One question, in particular, was why Jehu executed the close friends of Ahab, his sons, and I suppose even Jezebel? After only a few moments of wondering, it became obvious that Jehu was removing even the tiniest possibility of any more poisonous behavior arising from Ahab’s bloodline, not to mention the fact that he was fulfilling Gods own judgement. Tough learning curve for God’s children, I’m sure.

But, what about in today’s modern society? How would the world look today, if this was the particular rule of thumb for any new president taking office? At least we don’t have to worry about that happening, as modern government is all about scratching backs, and borrowing favors from friends. Sorry, but that’s about as far as I’m willing to go in speaking of politics.

What about work, family, and/or church?

Are you willing to take the hit for a friends lousy behavior? I’m not!

I know this is a rather light way of touching on that thing we call tolerance. It reminds me of that old adage, “you are like those you associate with”. I can attest that this is a real struggle, as I’ve had to end relationships in the past due to behavior I wasn’t comfortable with being around. I’ve even had the opportunity to catch myself doing something I shouldn’t, but was too uncomfortable to voice my disagreement. I could go on, but I think you’ve already picked up on where I was headed.

While we can all be glad our government doesn’t clean house like King Jehu, or any other king of that day, it does answer a lot of questions about peoples bad behavior. Modern society is the result of humans behaving badly, without any checks and balances. During all those years of growth as human beings, we’re still struggling with the same issues. In many cases, those issues may have changed in appearance and mannerisms, but the outcome remains as it was back then.

Integrity, accountability, and morality are difficult to find these days, as the world basically lives as he or she pleases. It makes me think of biblical times, when the Israelites were living “as they saw fit” (that parts in the book of Judges). If you read scripture, you’ll know that there’s a revolving door of repentance, revival, obedience, followed closely by tolerance, unaccountably, and an absence of morality.

Apparently, we’re still circling the same wagon, as they say.

Personally, I pray that God always hold my feet to the fire, regarding my own behavior. If it makes you feel any better, I’m far from perfect. And, I am a real pain in the arse, at times. But, by golly, I shall be the master of my own decisions and behaviors!

In those moments that matter, I want it to be God’s influence that surfaces in my actions, and not the bad habits of others.

Just sayin…

I don’t want to pick…

Wiwohka13 Comments
Daily writing prompt
Who is the fictional character you relate to the most?
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Not that it’s a bad thing, but I am not the best at only picking one answer. I am a terrible test taker, unless there are multiple choice, and/or essay answers. I know, I know… I’m a chatty typist, as well as, a Chatty Cathy. That means I type about as much as I like to talk, which is a lot!

Anyway, I saw this prompt and was like, “Humphhh! I don’t wanna pick!”

Thinking back on it, I know that I once wanted to be the Ballerina hippo on Fantasia, so badly. That skirt was wonderful and it was like she was dancing on bubbles, she was so light.

I also considered being Tigger… because of the bounce, and all!

I watched so many Disney movies as a child, I was unable to decide which character I might prefer to be, if I were to have the choice.

It wasn’t simply the animated characters, however, because I spent a great deal of time wanting to be the little girl version of the boy who starred in The Black Stallion. Oh boy, don’t get me started on horse movies. I wanted to be the character played by Catherine Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn, the heroin in The Man from Snowy River, or possibly the woman starring in that musical Oklahoma.

Oh my goodness! Now we’ve moved into Musicals. Laughter, and dancing, and singing… oh my!

How many of us wanted to be Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music? Come on, I bet there are a number of singer wanna-be’s, like myself. What about Barbara Streisand in Hello Dolly? If I let myself go here, we would never get it all written down. I told you… I don’t want to pick!

Why don’t I just pick one, you ask?

Because, like everyone else in this world… I am as changing as the tide. I’m not who I was when I saw myself dancing in a purple tu-tu, nor am I the woman who saw herself singing about a few of her favorite things, just before sewing play clothes out of window curtains.

I guess that’s why I can’t pick!

Because deep inside, I think I carry them all with me… somewhat like a package deal, if you will. Each one’s memory brings out a different memory of who I was, at that time. I don’t know, am I being weird about it? I mean, it is only a prompt question after all, and there’s no WordPress Law that states we must answer these in any particular style.

If we’re being fully honest, it’s probably got more to do with having a cold, than anything else. My brain has very little creativity right now. How is it that a cold can reduce us to the mentality of an unruly toddler?

Cookie?

I promise that I washed my hands, and I didn’t breath on them, or anything.

Messages from the wilds of Baby land…

Wiwohka27 Comments

While you may have worried that I fell off the edge of modern civilization, I have not! What I have fallen off the edge of, has to be the land of boredom, because I don’t have time to be bored these days.

Among her rapidly growing feats of achievement are sitting up,

crawling/military ground maneuvers,

Speedway mobility tactics,

And, of course…. People food! Unfortunately, I can’t feed her and take photos at the same time. You’ll just have to trust me, in this regard.

But I will show you some more pictures of how adorable she is, hehehehe! WordPress can go suck a lemon on these extra images. I’ll delete more of my old ones, to make room. It’s worth it!

Oh, and don’t worry! I got her mamma’s permission first, before sharing.

My Heavenly Father has blessed me beyond measure!

My own worst Frienemy…

Wiwohka2 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What is the best excuse you have heard lately?
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While this prompt might be seeking my contribution of an excuse I’ve heard lately, it didn’t specify where I might have heard said excuse. What if my example doesn’t come from outside my head, but within?

I have to confess that since I don’t go anywhere, work with anyone, or have any connection to someone important enough that I noticed them giving me an excuse of some sort… the excuses I’m left to offer you will come from Numero Uno (that means me)!

Within my very own noggin (that means my brain), lives a band of groupies that I refer to as my frienemies. There’s Fibromyalgia, who has a tendency to come up with lot’s of reasons why we shouldn’t exercise as often as we need. Then there’s IBS, whose been with me for over 15 years… she’s so fickle! One minute she swears we’ll never eat that again, while in the very next moment, she’ll offer up a number of excuses why we should be just fine to eat something that’s repeatedly made us ill.

My brain occasionally feels like Johnnie Depp’s character, Jack Sparrow, with his little companions sitting upon his shoulder throughout the movie “On Stranger Tides”. No matter where he was, they both had great reasons why he should take their advice.

I know my answer is rather lame, but I honestly can’t think of any excuse’s being offered by others. It doesn’t mean I don’t encounter people that fail me, it just means that they don’t bother to offer any excuses for doing it.

Thankfully, God’s faithfulness overrides my disappointment, or frustration. Whether the excuse is mine or someone else’s… that’s what grace is all about.

Just sayin…

Round and round…

Wiwohka3 Comments
Daily writing prompt
Do you think we’re shaped more by our experiences or by who we are?
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Who we are is not who we were
We are who we are because of who we were
Experiences took who we were
Leaving us now, as we are!

Sorry, but this prompt had me chasing my tail, so to speak! I suppose that what I’m trying to say is, I was born with a set genetic pattern, but beyond that moment, everything I experienced brought about a chain of events that shaped who I ended up as. Maybe my genetic make-up played a part in how I responded to the things I experienced, maybe not. My biological brother went through the exact same trauma as I did, and he ended his own life before he was 30. Was he predisposed to suicidal tendencies from generations of genetics, or was it simply from our shared childhood trauma?

I’m not so sure whether or not we’re shaped more by experiences, or by who we are, since it feels like the two things go hand in hand. Perhaps I’m mistaken in my interpretation of the prompt. Wait! Was it because I experienced this question in the past, or is is just my nature?

See what I mean?

I don’t know about you, but I need a cookie…

The laws of nature…

Wiwohka6 Comments
Daily writing prompt
If you had to be an animal for a week, which one would you be and why?
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Normally, I wouldn’t choose to be anything but what I am, but since the prompt suggests that we would have no other option, I think I would opt to be a bird. I don’t suppose that it would make much difference, as to what type of bird I took the form of, though it would have to be pretty… that’s my one stipulation!

Why wouldn’t it matter what type of bird, you may be asking?

I shall explain…

Whether I were to take the form of a predatory bird, or a simple, tiny sparrow, nestled high up in a tree, I would be free!

Free to fly above the trees, free to sit among the branches and sing out beautiful songs, and free to drop down from a great height, to poop on several well deserving heads!

You see, in the animal kingdom, whether it’s a bird or a lion, politics wouldn’t be the thing that takes precedence over survival. With animals big or small, the laws of nature are absolute! You can’t trick your way out, buy your way out, or lie your way out of life’s obstacles. You must simply either overcome them, or be consumed by them… bottom line!

With such stiff rules and regulations about reality within the animal kingdom, I opted for a bird, so as to keep myself safely above ground. That’s where all the big dogs play… well, big dogs, big cats, and big things with sharp teeth and pointy claws!

Hey! What can I say? I do claim to be fairly smart, though I don’t recall saying anything about bravery, at least, not in the real world… and not down on the ground with the wild beasties!

Just sayin!

Cookie?

Dirty little question…

Wiwohka1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
What’s a chapter of your life you’d title "The Hard Years" — and what got you through it?
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For those of you who recall some of my past exploits, you’ll understand how impossible this prompt question really is!

In a nut shell, my life started out painfully, thrusting me onto a path that did nothing aside from adding to said, Early Life Misery. Were there some years that were not The Hard Years? I’m sure there were! It’s just not as easy to remember good and pleasant things, when their crowded out by the “Hard” ones that strive to rob me of my joy.

Maybe it’s that way for everyone, somehow.

To answer the prompt fully, I would have to say that time, itself, yanked me through many a hard year. Yes, sometimes God employs a method that’s tried and true, to bring his children to look up. It’s in those moments of looking up, as I call it, we’re carried through whatever it is that’s overwhelming, painful, and many times, life-altering.

It’s that way for me, at least. Maybe your journey has been steadier than mine, perhaps not. For some, its been far more difficult and tragic. Some may live a life that only has one or two Hard Years in them, while others lives have felt like a revolving doorway of pain and suffering. It’s different for everyone.

Why?

It’s one of those unanswerable questions that I put in a folder labeled “It’ll All Come Out In the Wash”, and I tuck that into the depths of my heart! While my mind understands that some were meant for a softer journey, and others must take a more difficult one, it still hurts my heart to see it!

Though I may not ever fully see the reasons for the way my journey has been, thus far, I do believe that God allowed it for a purpose! No, I haven’t seen the purpose clearly, and quite possibly, I never will. You know, I believe that for some of us, it no longer matters, really. Yes, there are days I wish that I understood things more fully. Who doesn’t have those days? But, then I realize that to have all the answers handed to me, I might be sacrificing my own level of faith, if that makes sense.

My belief in God’s power over this world comes from more than just what I can see, and not simply from what I feel, or think. If we step back and truly observe the world around us, and the place we hold within it, our position is quite precarious. And, with absolutely no guarantees of success, or even survival!

To “get through” those hard moments, days, and/or years, my faith in a Creator that loves those He created has carried me this far, and with all my appendages still attached.

If you haven’t had the chance to try this whole Faith method out, I highly suggest you give it a whirl, as they say. I linked to a definition of the actual word, but if you really want to be adventurous, you could read Hebrews chapter 11. I know that the definition is only in verse 1, but the rest of the chapter makes it all quite clear, in my opinion.

I leave you with this tidbit of encouragement about living by faith: 

Having faith may not make the journey any easier... but the load we must carry will assuredly become lighter!

Just sayin!

Tough question…

Wiwohka2 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What’s a book you think deserves a sequel?
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I can honestly say that this prompt has me stumped, meaning I can’t seem to think of an answer.

Admittedly, most of what I read is usually the segment of a long saga, of one sort or another. From Salvatore to Tolkien, I’ve a list as long as my arm of the numerous multiple-book story lines that I’ve burned through over the years.

I’m a nosy reader, my friends. When I dive into something, I want all the details, and from every angle… even the boring bits!

If it’s not a saga series, it’ll usually end up being multiple different stories from the same author. The story might not be connected to others, but I like to follow a writer if I enjoy their style of writing, regardless of the stories. I’m not sure if that makes any sense. It’s sort of like how we follow other bloggers, not so much based on what they’re writing about, but more because of their style, or personality, if you will.

Now, I know that I’ve read books, as well as, seen movies over the years that I thought should continue into a sequel. I just can’t remember any particular one, just this moment. You’ll have to excuse my lack of creativity this morning, as I’ve been up since 5 with my granddaughter. It’s only noon, and I’m worn out, lol!

As a parting note, I’d like to say something on behalf of all those stories that were ruined by a poorly done sequel… sometimes, less is more!

Truthful Tuesday…

Wiwohka8 Comments

What keeps you awake at night?

Being someone with a tendency for insomnia, this is a loaded question. If I were to give you the complete unabridged version of an answer, we’d be here til the cows come home, as they say.

I’ll cut everyone a break and give an addendum to the question, stating that we only need offer up one item for discussion, and it doesn’t even have to be one of the worst! There, did that help out?

I know it’s helping me!

Oddly, I don’t have single thoughts in my sleepless nights, but groups of them, so we’ll go with recurring doubts as a title, rather than a single thought.

You see, my doubt’s (plural) tend to be what keeps me amped up, late into the nights. I’m grateful that these nights don’t come around much, anymore. Note that I did say much before I got to the anymore part.

Grace is the order of the day! I walk by faith, in the grace that is offered me by my heavenly father these days. It’s not perfect, but neither am I, so it all comes out in the wash.

I’m selfish, you see! While I’d love to tell you that I weep my nights away in steadfast prayer for a world in desperate need of it, I can’t! Why? My truth is blocking my view, apparently. Like a plank sticking out of my eye, the truth of my late night self loathing is quite humbling.

The beautiful thing about my ugly self loathing habit, is that it generates a desire to be more like my lord. Less doubt and more faith! Less staring in the mirror and more seeking those in need.

So that’s how I travel these days, or should I say nights. The truth I’m learning is that grace is always there to cover over my failures, my faults, and my weakness.

There’s a song called “Good” by Matthew West. I’m listening to it right now.

In the song, I’m reminded of how we’re not loved because we’re worthy, we’re loved because God’s good!