Well howdy Readers! It's me, Miss Dottie, here in North Central Texas. It's a cold damp day (thanks Lord for the rain last night) ~ a perfect day to relax and enjoy the Sensational Six. I've got the fireplace going, washer going, dryer going, and, when I finish chatting with you, I will have my mop going. To be honest, I am enjoying my Winter break from daily gardening duties. It's given me a chance to catch up on my reading and household projects.
Did you know that today is Squirrel Appreciation Day? I was watching them scamper around in the back yard this morning. My goodness they are fat little rascals. They managed to strip the pecan trees this year and have buried pecans in nearly every pot and hanging basket outside. Wouldn't be so bad except they are not neat about their digging ... dirt everywhere! They are cute but not so nice to the birds who want to nest in "their" trees.
This past week, I decided to d-e-e-p clean and managed to tackle the cottage, casa, and shed. I wallpapered kitchen shelves and decluttered each room including drawers, closets, under beds, etc. I did more giving away and have started some tubs marked, "For Victims Needing Essentials." I need to remember the vow I made to myself in 2002: travel light, my dear, travel light. This is my temporary home. The things of this world I hold near and dear will be left to be sold or maybe they'll find their way into one of my children's or friend's homes. The only thing I will take with me to my eternal home in Heaven is me. I wonder if I'll be assigned new clothes or if I will live in a mansion or a small cottage. (Laugh) It doesn't matter to me ~ I'll be on the lookout for people I have only read about in my family, my parents, and friends who have contributed to my journey through life. I cannot even fathom what it will be like. Just the thought of looking into my Savior's eyes blows me away!
I came into this world on a cold, wintry morning. I've walked many a mile and have led an amazing life. Yes, there have been trials (some almost more than I could bear) yet each mile has taken me closer to my forever home. The other day I was thinking about my baptism and how important that day was to me. It was the day that all anger and resentment miraculously disappeared from my entire being. Maybe that was the Holy Spirit's gift to me!! I could begin blogging about my life without having flashbacks and sitting in a corner, cowered, crying. It was like talking about another me. When Pastor George pulled me up out of the water and said "made to walk in the newness of life," I did just that. I was a new creation and those attending my baptism said I had a radiant glow about me. I felt this sense of peace. What a day ... I knew for sure I had secured my place in my eternal home.
I've moved so many times since I left home at seventeen. Adventure is my middle name and, I must say, I've enjoyed each city (Glenwood, Moorhead, Yuma, Minneapolis, Houston, Plano, San Antonio, Dallas, Plano, Lakeville, back to Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Hillsboro) that I've called home. I was hoping that my move to McKinney, TX would be my last stop but ... one night, I heard this little voice inside me saying I needed to move to Hillsboro, TX. What???? Nooo.... This girl liked the city and being close to family and friends. I didn't want to go but that little voice kept nudging me.
Preparations began in 2010 for the move southward to the house Michael grew up in. The renovations (we gutted the inside) took nearly two years. In early March of 2012, we packed up our belongings and began our journey. For awhile, getting things in order and having garage sales to get rid of excess furniture and stuff filled my time. The lil casa was cute and comfortable. New work had begun in March 2012 on turning the garage into a cottage just for moi! I tried churches in the area and none clicked. I had a deep sadness that began to fill me ~ I questioned God, I was lonely ~ I missed my family and friends terribly. It seemed I was nowhere close to finding a church home.
Funny how it seems like I have to come to the end of myself before the Lord reveals his plan for my life. In May 2014, Susan and John invited us to attend the Open Range Cowboy Church in Whitney, TX. I felt this urgency to go. I did. The second Sunday, I joined. God knew where I was meant to be and all of a sudden, I did too. Was the journey and wait worth it? YES!! I am loving this temporary home where I go to worship ... my little cottage where I write ... the gardens that are a work in progress. Maybe I had to experience riding the crest of the wave and living the life that few others have gotten to live just so I could find out what was really important. Will the Lord give me the desire of my heart to live out my life here? I guess, I'll wait and see. For now, I am blooming where I am planted! Miss Dottie
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of life ... for giving me a purpose in helping others in your name and for taking away the resentment and anger I held tightly. I pray for others who are going through rough patches in their lives ... financial difficulties, health challenges, relationship woes, addictions, self-depreciation, and that horrible hole in the heart that can come from trying to "buy" ourselves into feeling better. Only YOU can fill those gaps in our lives; and, Holy Spirit, I ask that you woo the broken, the warped, and the hurting. For those Readers outside of America especially Russia and France, I pray for your safety and freedom. For those Readers in the United States, I pray for an awakening to truth and the importance of selecting a Christian to lead our country. Most of all, I want to pray that all Christians would become a part of a Bible-based church family where they are loved, cherished, encouraged, and taught to grow in God's purpose for their lives. Amen, it is so...
Always remember you are loved and prayed for ... YA YOU!
Good Morning Readers! Come on in and sit by the fire. It's a beautiful day in North Central Texas albeit quite cold. I must be a funny sight all wrapped up in a blanket as I make my runs from the cottage to the casa! Last Wednesday and Thursday, I was fed up to the gills and I needed to rest my brain and heart. I locked myself up in the cottage and read from my Daily Walk Bible and Diana Gabaldon's book, OUTLANDER (850 pages devoured in two days!). There were two things I wanted to accomplish: (1) I needed to continue my Bible reading because that grounds me and prepares me for prayer and a more positive outlook on life. (2) I needed to lose myself in an intriguing book that would take me away into another realm so that my brain could rest. It worked. It always does!
2016: Enrich my mind I LOVE BOOKS, THE SMELL OF THE LEATHER,
THE CONTENTS, AND WHAT THEY TEACH ME!!
From the time I was about five, the library in my hometown (built in 1908 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982) was my friend. I learned to read very early and loved adventure books ... Sinbad the Sailor was a favorite (I still have it). I found I could go anywhere in the world and learn about cultures, countries, and interesting characters. The quest to find out why people do what they do and think has helped me evolve as a person.
My mother read to me every day as a small child. She made sure my brother and I had new books to read every month supplementing them with other books from the library. It was a tradition that passed from her to me to my children and now my grandchildren. We are all voracious readers and seekers of truth. We share books, discuss what we've learned, and are continually growing. I like that. Growing up, there were no smart phones, computers, or tv's (until I was in grade school). Books, music, and family gatherings were a way of life. Children and adults gathered to dance, play music (family bands were commonplace in my grandparents and parents day), and enjoy competitive sports. Church was a focal point for smorgasbord suppers, worship, and raising young folks to be moral adults. I never heard anyone say they were bored! My sport of choice and my own entertainment was hiking through the countryside and reading. One thing I learned from books was to think logically and solve problems. Biographies were a favorite to read and I especially liked the ones where men and women rose from nothing to leaving their mark on this world. If they could do "it," I could do "it."
Dr Romance
With each season in my life, my book reading has changed. As a relationship coach, I read every on this topic I could find and grew in knowledge of how relationships evolved. I wrote the material for the Dating University at Great Expectations and loved every minute of it. I still smile when I'm going through old papers and find some of my columns from my days as Dr Romance. As a young mom, I read about children; as a single mom with teens, I read about teens; as a mom with a child addicted to alcohol, I read the Big Book and carried my Alanon book with me; when marriages failed I believed it was my fault and began my quest to read powerful books on fixing myself. In between books educating me, I read biographies, and fiction.
In the early 1980's, my boss and his wife gave me a Bible for my birthday. (Ohhh, they would get in trouble for that today!). Each year I read through the Bible making notes. For some reason, this is the book I hold most dear. It's a reminder of my Christian walk over the years. Every time I open it and the words leap from the paper like they were brand new, I smile and say, "Thank you, Jesus!"
Confirmation Class Glenwood Lutheran Church (I am bottom row, 3rd from left)
I am sad to say that even though I always had a Bible, I didn't read it from cover to cover like I do now. I was baptized, attended Sunday School, and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith. I memorized Bible verses and creeds. Looking back, I would say I had head knowledge and was a good person. It wasn't until I faced a crisis in my faith that I turned to the Bible and began to study it. From that time forward, I was not going to take a pastor's word for what the Bible did or did not say. I was hurt and angry as I moved through the pages of the Good Book. You know what? That anger I felt in the 1990's began to dissipate and I found myself hungry to learn and grow forgetting about resentment and unforgiveness.
It's been quite a journey to walk with Jesus. He put people in my life to mentor me, guide me, and teach me (one mentor fed me book after book after book). He put the perfect combination of folks to bring me up out of the craziness of life into the light of no secrets. One night I heard a voice telling me to do three things: (1) meet with Pastor George, (2) be baptized, and (3) I would find my purpose and hope in John 21. I was obedient, and there began the transformation of my heart.
In May 2014, the Lord led me to the Open Range Cowboy Church. Halleujah! It was there that I truly found my peace. I was given a book, a journal with blank pages hand crafted by Branden (along with a feather pen). Every Sunday I filled the pages with songs and words of wisdom. At the end of 2015, My book was complete. I turned to journeyman, bookmaker, Pastor Pinner and chose a beautiful leather book in which I will record every moment in 2016 spent at the Open Range Church. To know that he made the book with his own hands and that I will fill the book by my own hand, warms my heart. I am maturing as a Christian with my arms around my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
You see, until I take my last breath, I will be learning and growing as I read and am obedient to my Father. I thank the Lord for giving me the ability to read by the age of 3. I thank my mother for taking the time to read to me and for making reading an adventure. I am grateful for the trials in my life that have kept me connected to the Bible. I lived in a Women's Shelter for 30 days in 2002 ~ what did I take with me? A book ~ my Bible, my strength and hope. Miss Dottie PS "I had a love affair with books, with chracters and their words. Books kept me company. When the voices of the book faded, as with the last long chord of a record, the back cover crinkling closed, I swear I heard a door click shut." ~Marya Hombacher My sentiments exactly! As we part this morning, please remember that you are loved and prayed for.
PSS I declare this read a book day. The pastor of the Open Range Church has written a book and I picked it up yesterday. Yay!!
Happy New Year from my blogging station in North Central Texas! It's looking mighty cold outside today and I've heard mention of some possible snow flurries as temperatures drop in the days ahead. Wouldn't that be just perfect? I always like that first blanket of snow and it's purity. Today, the rain is coming. It's a great day to stay inside. I got lots of books for Christmas and, of course, I have my adult coloring books! My fireplace is back in working order plus my furry kids love to cuddle keeping me nice and warm. Come on in and sit with me by the fire while we chat. It's been awhile since we've gotten together.
I have been praying about where to take my blog in 2016 and, wouldn't you know, this morning when I was reading the latest news on the condition of Joey Feek, it hit me. This year of 2016, I want to be continuing to turn towards the light in ALL areas of my life. It's hard to face truth and light ~ at least it is for me (the proverbial optimist) if truth and light uncovers darkness.
It was a morning in December 2015, that I looked at my naked body in the mirror and nearly threw up. Who in the world was that woman before me? When I worked as a director for Jenny Craig, I called a moment like that the "aha moment." For some, it's looking at a photo of oneself; but, for me, the truth came through a looking glass. (Sigh) Journey towards the light: Physical Truth
Most people wait until January 1 to begin diets and exercise programs ... not me. I had let myself indulge in too many ice cream sundaes topped with peanuts, banana, and chocolate/caramel. My thyroid had been out of whack and, now that it was in line, I knew that day was my day to STOP and turn towards the light. I dug out my Leslie Sansone aerobic walking tape and began my journey to a better body. I've been faithful to (as Nike says) JUST DO IT. I'm cutting down on sugar yet enjoying everything in moderation. If I want a sundae, I make the commitment to double up on my exercise. I do an 18 minute mile so no excuses that I don't have time...
"She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong."~Proverbs 31:17 (ESV)
For a petite lady I have always been strong and have enjoyed being fit. I challenged myself in my 40's to take up weight lifting and Joyce Vedral became my guru. I didn't realize that one could sculpt the body and I learned so much about perserverance, the burn that came with repetition, and the satisfaction in a very short time.
I had a lady that I worked with that joined me in my quest to fitness. Her motivation was taking a photo of her butt (titling it Buffalo Butt) and tacking it to her refrigerator door. She also had another photo of what she wanted her butt to look like calling it Bambi Butt. For me, I wrote motivational saying everywhere ... on my bathroom mirror, in my car, in my office, and even would tack them on my purse.
Remembering this has fueled me to return to weights/aerobic walking and see what I can do with my 60+ old body. That may sound wierd but I think I can make lots of progress. With all my neck/back issues and surgeries, it's important to keep my core strong.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
~Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
It's so important to keep going forward even when you feel like giving up because your results aren't coming as fast as you'd life. For that reason, I don't weigh myself. The mirror didn't lie last December and the mirror (and how my clothes fit) will tell me the real truth.
My very first blog in October 2010 was titled, Don't You Quit and I'd like to end today's blog with that little poem:
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to sile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow-
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out-
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardes hit-
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Miss Dottie
PS "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." ~1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Once upon a Christmas time in 2015, the people in Garland (where my family gathered), Rowlett, and Collin County were sitting in their homes opening gifts placed under the tree and offering toasts to the upcoming new year. Hoverboards were "the" gift to open along with new cell phones, Star Wars shirts and toys, clothing, tools, and a myriad of other things. There were smiles and squeals of joy as well as pouts for not having gotten what was on their "must get" list.
Christmas at the Johnson's
Miss Dottie, Nick & Zach
Grandpa Michael, Nick, Zach
Sibling love ~ Tommy & Jill
C&E (Christmas and Easter) Christians made their way to church because that was the thing to do. Other Christians gathered not because it was the thing to do but it was their reason for the season. A King was born that would save us all!! What a blessing it was to be able to join fellow church family members at the Open Range Cowboy Church this Christmas Season. Music, worship, fellowship ... can't beat that!!
The reindeer have it! Sara & Michael
Keith on guitar...
Pastor Rick Long Ago and Far Away...
I think Miss Dottie's going to get hugged!! Homer, you're the best!!
Susan and Deborah Two of my favorite ladies!
Those in North Texas that had gathered with joy at Christmas soon experienced the devastation of tornadoes, rain, snow, and flash flooding ~ lives were lost, homes leveled to the ground, pets killed or missing. Those presents that were so crucial and important for happiness gave way to the presence of emergency personnel and neighbors gathering to search and offer assistance. Material stuff didn't matter so much anymore but human and animal life did.
Miss Dottie & Jill
Once I heard about the storms that started where I live in North Central Texas moving toward the Dallas and Collin County areas, I texted my daughter in Garland. Sirens were going off there and, like most mothers, my concern was for my child who was in the path of danger. She kept telling me they were okay but still, my mother's intuition said, "No, you're not." I kept her texting until the storm passed. Only then, did I glance up from my phone to look at the television. I was in shock and turned my prayers to those affected by this mighty storm ravaging everything in it's path and wondered why evil always seemed to lurk under the cover of darkness.
Sometimes, it takes a tragedy or a storm to make us realize how fragile life is and what is really important. A young mother went to have her hair done and was on her way home when her car was picked up by the tornado and tossed to a road below the freeway ... her children will grow up without her and her husband grieves wondering, "why."
When you think about it, the storms of life are all around us claiming our hearts, our lives, and our souls every single day. We strive, we toil, and we gather. Yet, it says in Matthew 6:21 that the material things of this world will melt away:
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Where is my treasure? It's in my faith and the people I have invested my resources and time in. I have a blackboard in my prayer closet that has a little gardening lady planting seeds and a water can watering the flowers. It's a reminder that I have a purpose on this earth as long as I have breath. Should the storms of life take me, I leave behind my love of those who chose to walk along with me! Miss Dottie PS I don't know about you but I agree with Lailah Gifty Akita who said, "In the midst of the storm, my only anchor is the Saviour."
Always remember you are loved and prayed for ... YA YOU!
Merry Christmas my precious Readers. This is the Saturday before Christmas and I know many of you are rustling around getting those presents wrapped, preparing for travel, or, having friends and family in. Don't you just love the sounds, sights, smells, and gaiety of the Christmas Season? I sure do.
The sun is dancing on the faces of the pansies and encouraging a few roses to bloom one more time before the cold of Winter sets in. I still like to walk through my gardens checking out what's still blooming and what needs pulling up or, as in the case of perennials, cutting to the ground. The dogren run down the paths chasing squirrels and, every now and then, find me to check in. Kennedy managed to sneak out again last week; and, I'll be derned, if I can find out where he dug out. He didn't go very far but still...
In so many ways, 2015 will be a year I will not be sad to put behind me. I had another major back surgery and Michael lost his job and then fell, breaking his hip. I managed to eat my way through down times and as this year comes to a close, I decided to sit down with myself and have one of those come to Jesus meetings. To gain weight and not exercise has put additional strain on my back, legs, and feet and added to some difficult situations that needed addressing. NOW, all that being said, I am moving on and focusing on getting back in shape mentally, physically, and spiritually. I really want to explore learning to ride a horse. I got on Susie and Terry's horse Hopper last May and loved it!
IT IS CHRISTMAS TIME IN TEXAS!!
Although Michael lost his job and we've had to really cut back, I decided not to let that get in the way of having a Merry Christmas. Jesus is my reason for the season and my focus was not only to set up an exercise program (focus on now not January) but drink in every bit of joy that came my way. I haven't been disappointed!
I started out preparing for the Winter Season and Christmas, by getting my tubs out and getting the house and cottage cheery with colors of red, green, gold, purple, and white. I dug out my old Christmas CD's and when I began to feel a little down, I put them on and sang along. I DID NOT allow my mind to dwell on anything negative. Peace on Earth goodwill towards men ... I scrounged around the house, picking up coins that were under cushions, in jars, and laying on table tops. Those coins were designated for the Salvation Army red kettles. I began to pray for America and it's leaders. I prayed that the Lord would show us all who His choice was to run our country in the years ahead. Perceptions can be deceiving and it's so important for us all to be open minded and focus on the cost of our decisions. If something hasn't been working and is getting worse, it's time for new blood and change.
The Open Range Cowboy Church is a BIG part of my life. I cannot imagine moving forward into the new year without my brothers and sisters in Christ. The Cowboy Church reaches out to the cowboy culture but many of us city slickers are drawn in as well. Each time I attend church, I leave as a better person having worshipped with others of like minds and learning more about the Bible and it's history. Last night the children had their Christmas program. They had wagon rides, hot dogs and cocoa, and then their pageant. I hugged and got hugged, laughed, and truly felt the joy of seeing Christmas through the eyes of children. Ahhhh yes...
This Christmas Day will be a special one. As many of my Readers know, I had been estranged from my oldest daughter for many years. It wasn't what I wanted yet I kept the porch light on and prayed that the Lord would work behind the scenes to bring her back to me. For you, Readers, who are estranged from children or loved ones, you know the pain I am talking about. Well, it's been a slow process but I am spending Christmas Day at her home. What a beautiful gift that is!! My son and family and also my children's father will be there. A few people have asked me if that will make me uncomfortable. No, not in the least ... peace on earth, goodwill to all men, remember? Trust in the Lord always ~ I do, and He never disappoints.
Christmas in Texas means snow and/or ice some years and warm weather others. This year? Let's just say, there won't be those fluffy flakes floating from Heaven. We have tumbleweed snowmen to add to all the lights burning bright! I will watch from afar as my Facebook friends and family in Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Ohio frolic in that white fluffy stuff. I don't own a coat anymore preferring to wrap my sweater poncho around me. Kinda like walking around with a blanket!
This is baby Finn's first Christmas. We haven't been able to put anything under our trees because he thinks everything is fair game. He climbed on top of the dining room table to steal my ribbon and tissue paper yesterday and is so proud of himself when he drops whatever he has discovered at our feet. He's a very busy, active puppy yet his calm demeanor fits right in with the other dogs and us, too! We have been blessed. I still think about the miracle of how he came into our lives. It's also Zoe's first Christmas in Seidler Dogdom. Our poor little princess has need lots of rehabilitation and has a long way to go. She loves me but is frightened to death of strangers and men (yes, including Michael). We are patient with her yet don't allow her phobias to keep her from enjoying a full life.
Christmas is just around the corner. It's wonderful to be able to slow down and soak in God's love remembering Christmas's past and present. I carry those memories with me and smile thinking about memory making moments to come. I would like to tell you that all my Christmas's have been merry and bright but I would be lying to you. What I can say is that each Christmas has been filled with hope. Yes, even in the Christmas's that I was all by myself staring into the night sky wondering what my children were doing with their dad and how my family in Minnesota was celebrating. I survived, I grew, and with each blessed year, I knew the best was yet to come...
Miss Dottie
PS "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he? ~ Clarence, It's A Wonderful Life Yes, Clarence, when he/she isn't around there is a hole in our lives. So often, we look so long at what we don't have that what we do have fades away never to be acknowledged. Knowing that, let us celebrate those people that are with us this Christmas and appreciate their presence!
Always remember, you are loved and prayed for ... YA YOU!!
