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A to Z Challenge: “P”aths in life
“Life is a journey, not a destination.” Ralph Waldo Emerson I’m feeling sentimental so you get a schmaltzy “P” blog. Emerson’s quote is one of my favorites. I believe this with my whole heart yet it’s so easy for me to forget. There have been a few things in the news that have reminded me of this lately. And, I remember a friend of mine who liked his job but had his retirement day figured out to the exact calendar date. When we’d talk, he’d say to me, “I only have 690 days left until retirement.” I feel that way too, sometimes. I’ve been working since I was 15 years…
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A to Z Challenge: “G”ood, good Father
Continuing a bit with yesterday’s post of “encouragement”, I had to share one of my favorite songs. I can be in the car, streaming WBGL at work or home and this song begins to play at the appropriate time. It warms my heart and soul. Chris Tomlin sings the version that I know but the song has a neat history behind it with its original writers. The song was written by Pat Barrett and Tony Brown. Tony grew up without a dad so the only person he’s ever called father is God. I had a very loving, warm, hard-working father who had an awesome sense of humor. He loved photography…
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A to Z Challenge: “E”ncouragement
We have so many sources of encouragement! It was hard for me to focus on the 300-500 word limit of a blog. I am encouraged by friends and family, God’s Word, prayer and music. Some days it’s how the light filters through thick, green foliage at the park, like God is warming my heart with a big “hello, I’m here!” To keep this post a readable length, I decided to list a few of my favorite Bible verses that consistently lift a drooping spirit. My favorite translation is the New American Standard Bible. Ps. 103:12-13 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed…
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A to Z Challenge: “B”log has a new look
I haven’t written much on my blog since last year so I thought the Blogging A to Z Challenge was the perfect way to 1) begin blogging again and 2) redesign my blog and get feedback. I enjoy writing. Most of what I do is for a nonprofit that I work for, so while it can be creative, it’s mostly informative. My blog enables me to have a more personal voice. And, I’m comfortable with photography and enjoy it as well. Since those were the two elements that I wanted to highlight, I chose a WordPress theme (by Sculpture Qode) that was more visually appealing. I even have a slider…
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A to Z Challenge: “An”-KNEE-versary
April 8 will be one my one-year an-KNEE-versary since I had my right knee replaced. I was 52 which is young, although my doctor said that he is doing replacements for people in their forties. It amazes me how God worked out all the little details and “obstacles” that I put up, in order to not have the operation. The usual hospital stay for a knee replacement is 2-3 days and then the patient goes to rehab for up to four weeks, for physical therapy. My dog doesn’t eat without me (it’s my fault – I feed him with a fork) and I didn’t want to be away from my…
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Blogging A to Z: April showers
Málaga airport by Bert Kaufmann, Creative Commons license. Flickr. “Caution, moving walkway is nearing its end.” April is a time to look forward. Sunshine stretches into longer days. Crocus and daffodils sprout and remind us that winter, as the moving walkway announcement at the airport warns, “is nearing its end.” I’m thinking about what flowers I’d like to plant, what festivals I’m looking forward to, and what photography possibilities await me. The birds are singing and the intermittent rain we receive is painting the grass green. Things are looking up! And, then I find out that in two and a half weeks, I am having knee replacement surgery. Whaaaat? I…
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St. Francis
I’ve always loved animals. When I was young, we had turtles, a Welsh Corgi and my parents raised and showed English Springer Spaniels. Today, my husband and I have one dog, Hershey (although he prefers to think of himself as a person), and four cats (three are rescues). I shared this love of animals with a good friend of mine, Becky, who passed away last year from lymphoma. She was with me when I spied Hershey as a puppy and was supportive of Joe and me adopting him. Did you know that St. Francis of Assisi, who lived from 1182-1126, felt he could communicate with animals and that he was…
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Quitters never prosper…
© 2014 by Diane Weidenbenner Okay. Officially the saying is “Cheaters never prosper.” But, since I am going for encouragement with this photo and short blog, I’ve changed it up a bit. For any of you out there that are having an especially trying time – you’ve lost a friend to cancer, or you’ve lost your job, or you just need to know that God is real and available, and unconditional in His love … this bridge is for you! It is to remind us that there is always another way, another opening, another opportunity right around the bend. There is always a different perspective, or a lesson to learn…
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It’s all about the journey
A few weekends ago, I watched the 2007 movie, “P.S. I Love You,” again. At one point in the movie, Holly has an argument with her husband, Gerry. Holly is a “planner” and she and her husband aren’t where she envisioned them to be. Their apartment is too small, they can’t decide when to have a baby, etc. At one point Holly says something like, “I’m waiting for my life to begin…” Sometimes I feel like Holly. When I was younger, I’d say, “When I finish college, I’ll fill in the blank.” Then it was “I don’t want to buy a house until I get married.” Lately, I’ve been thinking,…
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When it rains, it pours…
Do you see the lightpole and the white marked parking spaces going into the water? This is Raccoon Lake, flooded from the heavy rains that we’ve been getting in Indiana. Now imagine all that water on our city streets! Growing up, I’d hear people say, “when it rains, it pours,” when a situation went from bad to worse. This year, we’ve received quite a bit of rain and I’ve begun to understand the phrase, literally and figuratively. When it rains in Indiana, it pours. Inundates you like someone pouring large pitchers of water on your windshield every few seconds. Soaks you even if you just have to go a few…
