Extraordinary in the Ordinary » Journal

Friday Favorites – Happy Friday!

Topaz — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:21:08 +0000

Here’s just a few of my favorites from this past week.

First, you should be warned. I watch a lot of older movies.

I love this movie. I love Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, and I love them together.

Overboard even has a moral to the story: It’s better to have purpose and be happy than to be rich and bored. But if you can, it’s better to have both.

I’m going to have to say I agree.

We actually watched both of these last weekend. I liked The Burbs better than The Money Pit.

I think the latter hit a little too close to home. Anyone feel free to send over Extreme Home Makeovers anytime. Our family would love a week at the beach while someone did all of the repairs. Of course, there is the issue of color. That could be a problem.

Even though this is an older movie, I think it was the first time that I actually watched all of The Burbs. I love guys. Aren’t they just the cutest? I love that little bit of crazy, guy mischief every once in a while.

My all time favorite from this week was this quote posted on facebook by Donna (Bliss Designs by Donna Marie), a friend of mine. She gets me. She really does. She had me at hello. She knows a lot of great quotes, too.

I think this is my most favorite quote. Ever. I have escaped more into my photography the past two months, and it really does make you feel like you just washed all the yuck right off.

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. -Pablo Picasso

And I will leave you with that on this blissfully beautiful Friday!

You Are the Leading Lady of Your Own Life

Topaz — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:13:20 +0000

I recently read, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. It is a book about what makes a good story. I loved the book. I have to be honest, though. I could not help but wonder what his real story was. If his story is what is in the book, I want his story.

He rode a bike.

He met his father.

He started a mentoring program.

He wrote a book.

They made a movie.

He wrote a book about making a movie.

If that really is his story, I am so impressed at the insight in his book on what makes a good story. You would think that type of insight would have only come from the pain and heartache of a difficult story, which is what he says makes a good story.

By that definition, my story has the potential to be an epic novel. Even a movie. It is a good thing I already know who will play me.

But even still, I find myself yearning for a story like the Pioneer Woman’s story. Now, THAT story will make a great book! Who would not want THAT story??? Even if she has to get up at 4 o’clock in the morning and has to deal with a cow’s private parts. She still has an amazing love story and an amazingly beautiful life. I don’t know about everyone else, but in my mind that is what makes a good story.

Fairy tales have ruined us all. Isn’t that what we all want? Some of us clearly did not sign up for the stories we got.

But the one thing we can all be assured of as believers is a happy ending, no matter what our story. But the happy ending that God talks of is when He comes for His bride, the church. When once and for all we are with Him for all eternity. This life is not where our happy ending lies. It is just the journey. We are only sojourners here.

Now some of us may have some happy stories here. It’s just not “the end”. That comes later.

Through each trial in my life, I have grown. At the age of 46, I am not the person that I started out as at 20. I am wiser because of painful mistakes. I am more forgiving and loving as I have realized my own imperfections and limitations. But as I face the trial before me, I find myself thinking, “Good grief, how much more do I need to grow? How good does a person need to get???”

What is ahead will put me through the press like no other trial I have yet to experience. I am still just in shock when I look at my husband and realize what he has ahead of him. What we have ahead of us. What we are already smack dab in the middle of. It’s been two months since we found out that he has Huntington’s disease. I am still in shock a little. In one moment our story completely changed. All of a sudden we became a story about a rare and tragic disease, a disease that is devastating as the person’s brain cells waste away. We are still trying to find our parts in this story. Once upon a time our story was about buying land with our grown children and living out the life of our dreams. Our story changed in one brief second.

A good story, though, isn’t always about the cards you’re dealt. It’s about how you play them. That is the real story.

And you know what? Hard story and all, in this moment right now, my cup runneth over. I am blessed. That is how I have to walk lately, moment by moment. Five minutes from now I could be throwing myself on the bed in tears of despair.

Definitely read Don’s book. It has a lot of amazing insights. While we do not get to choose our story, it will help us to see the opportunity and challenge to make the story we have a good one.

I am, after all, the leading lady in my own life.

Some days, though, I may just stay in bed and not take any chances, though, of screwing it up.

Thought for the Day – The Prayer Closet

Topaz — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:58:50 +0000

I’m rereading The Autobiography of George Muller. It has always been one of my favorite books. He was rightly called a man of faith. He never believed in asking anyone for anything. He believed he should take his needs to God and God alone knowing that He would provide for him. And God did. Definitely a must read.

I came across a passage from his diary that was a very signficant part of his walk with God that I wanted to share here.

“I must offer a word of warning to believers. Often the work of the Lord itself may tempt us away from communion with Him. A full schedule of preaching, counseling, and travel can erode the strength of the mightiest servant of the Lord. Public prayer will never make up for closet communion.”

Wow. It’s no wonder the man had such faith in God. He didn’t just talk of him. He didn’t just serve Him. But he fellowshipped with Him. He had communion with Him. He spent time with Him.

He knew that even doing the Lord’s work would draw him away from communion with God.

This made me think of my own life. My life is filled with so many temporal things that I can easily get lost in the busyness of it all. The next thing you know I am asking a blessing over my meals and uttering a brief prayer before I fall asleep at night. I do not think that is what George Muller means when he talks of “closet communion”.

It reminds me more of an Enoch type connection with God.

Genesis 5:24 (English Standard Version)

²⁴Enoch^(A) walked with God, and he was not,^[a]^(B) for God took him.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary goes on to describe this special relationship:

Enoch.

Enoch was the seventh from Adam. Godliness is walking with God: which shows reconciliation to God, for two cannot walk together except they be agreed, Am 3:3. It includes all the parts of a godly, righteous, and sober life. To walk with God, is to set God always before us, to act as always under his eye. It is constantly to care, in all things to please God, and in nothing to offend him. It is to be followers of him as dear children. The Holy

Spirit, instead of saying, Enoch lived, says, Enoch walked with God. This was his constant care and work; while others lived to themselves and the world, he lived to God. It was the joy of his life. Enoch was removed to a better world. As he did not live like the rest of mankind, so he did not leave the world by death as they did. He was not found, because God had translated him, Heb 11:5. He had lived but 365 years, which, as men’s ages were then, was but the midst of a man’s days. God often takes those soonest whom he loves best; the time they lose on earth, is gained in heaven, to their unspeakable advantage. See how Enoch’s removal is expressed: he was not, for God took him. He was not any longer in this world; he was changed, as the saints shall be, who are alive at Christ’s second coming. Those who begin to walk with God when young, may expect to walk with him long, comfortably, and usefully. The true christian’s steady walk in holiness, through many a year, till God takes him, will best recommend that religion which many oppose and many abuse. And walking with God well agrees with the cares, comforts, and duties of life. (Ge 5:25-32)

Long before I looked this up in a commentary, I was struck by the significance of this special relationship between God and Enoch.

Or more of a Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Even Jesus went into His prayer closet.

Matthew 30: 36-39 (NIV)

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

With all intimate relationships, we need to spend that time alone communing with the other person. If not, a distance develops between us until we spend time reconnecting and reacquainting ourselves. I know the only way to get through what is ahead of me is with much time on my knees. The earthly me struggles with finding time for much of anything. The spiritual me knows that time with God is not a luxury but a necessity.

1 Thessalonians 5 (English Standard Version)

¹⁶^(Z) Rejoice always, ¹⁷^(AA) pray without ceasing, ¹⁸^(AB) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Texting While Driving. This says it all….

Topaz — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:00:41 +0000

Honk if you love Jesus. Text while driving if you want to meet him.
Photo by Sandi Helms

Click here for more information on texting while driving.

Embracing My Inner Monica

Topaz — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:59:19 +0000

If your life were a movie, who would be the best person to play you, not the you that you want to be but the person or character most like you that would capture your essence? This was a question that came up recently in our family.

I was actually surprised when the name Courtney Cox came out of my mouth so easily without hardly a thought. Remember, I am the person who takes 4 years to choose a paint color, and I still end up being unhappy with it. She plays Monica so well. I am convinced there is a little of herself in that character. I have a lot of Monica in me. I’m bossy. And I like things done my way. I know…I have issues.

Point in case. We got a new dishwasher today, and we forgot the installer would need to get in our cabinet. The cabinet with all of our clean pots and pans. I walked into the kitchen to find a total stranger with his hands all over our clean pots and pans while crawling all over them. There was nothing left to do but as soon as that man walked out of our house we began the long process of washing every single piece that was in that very long cabinet under the sink. It had to be done. Who knew where his hands had been before he touched all of my clean pots and pans. Ewwwww!!!!! OK, I realize this may not be an issue with everyone else, but it is with me. At least we had a brand new dishwasher to get the job done.

So, our last load has just finished washing when my husband comes home from work. I think to myself that I am not going to open the dishwasher until he goes to take a shower, so he won’t have to resist touching them with his dirty work self. But bless his little heart, he wants to open the dishwasher to see how it works. After 10 minutes I’ve convinced him that it’s a very bad idea. He should know this already. He lives with me ever day. But no.

Me: Are you new here????? Do we need to go through orientation all over again????? (Can’t you just hear her saying that???)

Now this is the part where I am sure that most men would walk out and say, “It’s been nice. See ya’ later, you crazy freak show!”

Him: (chuckles) You’re so cute.

Well, it must be true. Love really is blind. He can look at me in all my sickness, and say, “You’re so cute.”

It’s nice to know that I am not the only one who has embraced my inner Monica.

Greyson Michael Chance’s Rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi”

Topaz — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:03:45 +0000

If you have not seen this, you have got to check it out. This is one seriously talented sixth grader. It is a draw-dropping performance.

I love the reaction of the blonde girl in the audience behind him. That is pretty much how I felt…just total amazement that I was hearing such vocal depth, passion, and talent from this sixth grader. WOW! Greyson, you will go VERY, VERY far and are truly EXTRAORDINARY!

I can’t even imagine as a sixth grader sitting there what it must have been like to hear this come out of a fellow classmate.

Having an Identity Crisis

Topaz — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:10:11 +0000

I have no idea what to call myself here. I thought about using my real name, but I don’t like the idea that people like my ex-husband’s wife can google me and find me. She has done that before on Facebook. I do have it as an image file, though, like I’m using in the small “about me” on the right sidebar. That could work. Maybe? Something inside me still says no.

I thought about Shutter Woman, since I like to take pictures. Besides that, Shutter Girl was taken. Everywhere. I like to be somewhat consistent. Besides that, I’m old…er. I think my days of pulling off girl may be over. But I’m just not so sure either of those feel right. Plus I feel like I am copying The Pioneer Woman. Since they both have Woman in them.

So then I thought about using the name Topaz because it’s my birthstone. But part of me worries that someone will think it is my real name. That makes me feel like I am misrepresenting myself. I mean everyone KNOWS my real name is not Shutter Woman. And then I thought about changing my name to Topaz. But then my nickname would be Top (pronounced more like Taupe with the long o sound). I don’t like that.

I actually thought of changing my name a few years ago. But then I couldn’t decide. That is a really big decision. I’m still deciding what color I want to paint the rest of the house, and I started that decision making process about four years ago. Plus the parts of the house that I did paint, I’m not sure if I made the right decision on those colors.

I told my family once that I thought I was going to change my name to Topaz. They looked at me like I had grown another head. They don’t get me.

So if you see my name change from time to time, it’s me. It’s all me. And no I do not have some sort of multiple personality order. I’m just confused. And indecisive. Ok, maybe that is a personality disorder. I don’t know. Let me ask Topaz.

My Happy Place for Today: This Picture

Topaz — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 03:34:21 +0000

My husband and I were sitting on the deck that for some strange reason I like to call our porch, and I started noticing cool things I wanted to photograph…but really did not want to go inside to drag out my real camera. I can be lazy like that. I’m not proud of it. Just being honest.

I saw this one dandelion in particular that I wanted to photograph. My husband told me that I should get my camera because it might not be there tomorrow.

In light of the last few days, there is a life lesson here. I went out today and sure enough, there was very little of it left. I managed to find this one in the middle of our cul-de-sac. I knew immediately what I would call it…

My brother told me years ago, just months before he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, that we are never guaranteed anymore in life than the moment we have right now. To hear my husband now after just being tested for Huntington’s Disease the day before say something similar about the dandelion only to go out the next day to find that particular one practically all gone was surreal.

Seize the day.

With any disease we can all find ourselves lost in hopelessness. If the focus is on the life we won’t have or the future we won’t have, we will have missed the day that we do have. Do not worry so much about tomorrow that you miss living today.

Seize the day.

need. more. calgon. and i love that man (not related issues at all)

Topaz — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:07:10 +0000

By the end of the day, I thought a redo would be nice. Remember when you used to could call “redo” when you were a kid? Whatever happened to that?

Yesterday (and today is starting out this way, too) was one of those days that by the end of the day, it was looking pretty bleak to find the extraordinary. I knew there would be days like this after my husband decided to get tested for HD. I tried really hard to find the joy. By the end of the day, on top of being tested and the not so great fondness for the doctor (I will come back later and write more about that), we had more than our fair share of family drama in our house (apparently no one got the memo that this was to be a drama free day) and only 4 or 5 hours of sleep to boot. The only joy that I could find was that I had a box of Calgon in my bathroom. I think I am going to need a lot more.

End of Day 1.

Today I woke up to find that my son had gone off to join the foreign legion. Ok, maybe not the foreign legion, but basically the same thing for the same reason that people go off to join the foreign legion.

As I type this, he just returned back from the recruiter (for whom I will be FOREVER grateful to) who asked him enough questions to realize why he was doing this and sent him home. I love that man. I’m not sure who he is, but I love him. He told him to think on it a month or two and then come back if he still wanted to join. I love that man.

So maybe there is still hope for today. So today I am thankful for hope. Never let anyone take that from you. And the recruiter. I love that man. And Calgon.

Gratitude Journal: Gratitude Unlocks the Fullness of Life

Topaz — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:37:34 +0000

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

-Melody Beattie

I love that quote. I printed it out to keep on my desk.

There are many different views of reality happening at once. In any given situation, there can be sadness, humor, gratitude or any number of other realities. Gratitude is just one of the realities you can choose. It is a matter of focusing on the reality that lives in abundance.

Gratitude does change things. There is power in gratitude. As I read this quote this morning, I remembered a time in my life where a heart of gratitude changed everything for me. It took me a year to get to this point after a great loss, but when I did the joy that had been missing in my life for over year began to return.

When my brother died I was depressed and angry at what I had lost, but it was when I realized what a gift he was in my life and how I had been blessed to have had him for a brother and best friend that I was able to heal and my joy began to return. Nothing changed but my focus. He was God’s to take home when God was ready to do so, but he was God’s gift to me while he was here. We each could have been in different families, but we weren’t. God chose to give me the best brother ever, the perfect brother for me. I have never had that soul connection with anyone else and may never again. I still miss him so much, but what a gift he was. Gratitude. In everything with praise and thanksgiving. Giving thanks in all things. It can be a hard concept to grasp because it isn’t just a head knowledge. Gratitude must be felt to be real.

While I missed my brother, I found gratitude in having had him in my life in the first place. It wouldn’t have hurt so much if I hadn’t loved him so much. In the end, I had the love, and the love remains. It never dies. And for that I am truly blessed and thankful.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4)

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me;
You have put off my sackcloth
and girded me with gladness,
To the end that my tongue
and my heart
and everything glorious within me
may sing praise to You
and not be silent.
O Lord my God,
I will give thanks to You forever.

(Psalm 30:11-12, AMP)

Peace.