You never know ...

I guess there are a lot of quotes I could dig up about minding your tongue. There are many more about how your words affect folks. It's a two way street. Your words might inspire or encourage or they might cut to the bone.
I'll share a very personal story.
About five days after my first child was born my then husband decided he didn't want to be married to me anymore. It sucked, pretty hard. I was mostly angry and because I had a precious newborn to care for I sort of adopted an attitude that I couldn't be bothered by his nonsensical crap. But I was broken on the inside, big ol honkin' knife in my back was hard for me to ignore.
My dear friend Templeton recently released a new album. She's an amazin' singer, songwriter, cowgirl poet. She has a song on this album called "Stronger in the broken places" http://www.templetonthompson.com
This song is an anthem for healing from anything that might have been a tough row to hoe for you. First time I heard it - tears instantly sprang to my eyes. It reminded me of nearly 12 years ago when I took my 6 week old baby to my post-havin'-a-baby appointment. I was alone. My husband was shacked up with his new love and I began the journey of raisin' my incredible son Wade on my own (which by the Grace of God didn't last long). In the waiting room some incredibly well meaning woman asked me or commented that she betted that my husband was sure proud of such a beautiful and perfect baby boy. Still full of a lot of anger, I said with as much grace as possible that I really wouldn't know. Without great detail I explained that Wade's "dad" cheated on me while I was pregnant and was not really pitchin' in with the diaper changes. He was gone. I'll never forget that woman. She didn't belittle my ex-husband (who is making amends these days) but she said. "Well, honey ... you are in a better position than you think. You are beautiful and you have this gorgeous baby boy and you will meet someone wonderful. You will meet a man that will fall in love with this child and with you, so don't you worry."
She spoke my world into existence ... just threw it out there to the universe and about a year later I met Kent. Kent fell in love with Wade before he completely fell for me.
So what you say to someone, even if you are just bein' sweet or thoughtful can hold more meaning for someone than you ever realize.
We are stronger in the broken places ... I think that a lot of people feel broken these days because financial circumstances are beyond their control. It's hard not to feel broken when you don't have money to pay for the things you and your loved ones need. I know what that feels like. I also know we will all be better for the struggles. I really wonder if this isn't our good Lord trying to wipe out that sense of entitlement that plagued our young people and many of their parents too. Many of us have been saying "we need to get back to basics" and how our values were eroding. Well nothing will jerk your butt right into reality and right from wrong like being absolutely forced live on the meager side. Maybe it's a collective smack upside the head? God knows and has been telling us for round about 2000 years that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Sometimes it makes us a little jaded and cynical too. We can get past that. Moral decay is a little tougher to turn at a dead gallop. I don't know but a lot of folks I know are getting back to those basics and enjoying time with their families. They are taking walks and enjoying simpler things. I experience so much joy just from watching my kids. Yesterday, my five year old really thought he could walk down to the pasture and pick up one of the many birds that were feasting on dropped grain and bring it to me. He asked my permission "Mommy, can I bring you a bword." My laughter was the product of pure, unadulterated amusement. You can't pay payments on that.

You are stronger in the broken places!
peace and light
Tess

Blogolicious ....

Today I found out that my electric company is charging it's members twice what neighboring EMCs are! The news came via our local newspaper and well, it just put a hair in my biscuit! I usually don't get angry, I hardly ever "rant". I am calm and I am rational ... my friends would say that I am too nice and give people the benefit of the doubt when they do not deserve it.
But this made me down right "ill" (ill is a southern term for really pissed off and can also mean especially grumpy).
These economy woes have my town, which is a beautiful place in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, sinking in a pit of despair. Our main industry in Blue Ridge is tourism (and people just aren't coming up like they normally do) and construction (which is all but at a stand still). There are tons of new homes on the market in this county. Beautiful log sided homes with generous stacked stone fireplaces and gorgeous views. But guess what? Folks that WILL be buying these type of homes will more than likely buy in neighboring Gilmer or Union County now. Wouldn't you? Twice the electric bill. If I could move, I think I would just on principle! MAD, that's what I am!
The lady my hubby spoke to at the electric company just said that "it' ain't true" that their rates are higher? It's in black and white thou ...
So here is what I'd like to know?
Where are you cutting back to make the dollars as elastic as possible these days? We are eating a few more packages of Ramen noodles than in previous months. We spent a little money on insulation for the house in an effort to save on the electric bill. I bought cheaper laundry degerent, but we didn't like it at all.
That's another question, what is WORTH saving on? I mean, is Bed Head Shampoo really worth the price tag? Tractor Supply sells a feed that is nearly the same as Purina Strategy (even made by Purina)it's at least $4 cheaper a bag. Do you have your Fox Hunting coat altered instead of buying a new one? Do you spend more time at home just watching TV? Have your perceptions of what is frivolous changed?
Saturday my family and I went down to Marietta to Harry's Farmers Market. Next to Barnes and Noble, Harry's is my favorite place to go. Because of the distance we only go once every other month or so. This was the first time we'd been in at least six months. We got a lot of fresh produce (most of which is organic and at least regionally grown). We also got some amazing cheeses so that I could make "Beer Cheese Soup". The first time I had this soup was when I worked at Longhorn when Wade was a baby. I made it a few times then but hadn't made it in years. We got home from Harry's with our groceries and commenced soup making. We turned up the radio in the kitchen and sat at the table together. Kent cut onions while I grated celery and carrots. We sauteed those in butter then went on the grate up our two kinds of cheese. We had such a good time, very relaxing just to make that soup together. I love to cook and being able to cook with excellent fresh ingredients is such a joy. If you are feeling bored and don't have the funds for a night on the town, just dig out a labor intensive recipe turn up the music and find a little joy in creating something different and yummy in your own kitchen.
My beer cheese soup recipe is going up on HorseSouth.com later this week. If you aren't a cook you could always just turn up the music and dance in the kitchen!
Til later ... when I won't be so mad :)

Tess