Sheila Scribbles

#Hashtag Dangers

2016-07-13T11:30:00.000-04:00

Read #Hashtag Dangers on my website by clicking here.

Floss Does What?

2016-07-09T09:15:00.000-04:00

New blog on my website - check it out here!

4th of July Ponderings

2016-07-06T07:43:00.001-04:00

Check out my latest website post here.

Have a great day!

Do I Want to Write?

2016-06-25T07:56:00.002-04:00

Newest post on my website can be found here.

Don't Say That!

2016-06-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

My latest post on my website ~~~

http://sheilascribbles.com/family/dont-say-that/

I'm Moving

2016-04-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

I want to start with THANK YOU! Thank you to everyone who welcomed me with open arms into the blogging world way back in January of 2009. The encouragement I received has helped me grow in so many ways!

That said, the word I chose for this year was LEAP. I chose it for a couple of reasons. One, it’s a leap year. Two, I’m going to try and “leap” more. One of those leaps for me – is moving from Blogger to my very own website.

People ask me why and I’m not sure I have an exact answer. Other than, it just seems like the time is right.

SO, this is to announce that from here on out – I will be on my website instead of here. I hope that you will come visit me at my new home – SheilaScribbles.com.

No Longer a Cliche

2016-03-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

A week ago my awareness of an evil in this land moved to a new level. The evil is child abuse, and my great-niece fell victim to it. My niece's fiancee is the accused, he was taking care her daughter while my niece was at work. An "accident" happened and he took her to the hospital. There she was air-lifted to a children's hospital and hospital workers quickly concluded that the injuries did not add up. She turned four years old in the hospital. Two days later he was arrested and is now in jail.

My great-niece was in critical condition for a week, in a coma, partially paralyzed, and honestly I doubted she would make it. Through the power of social media, hundreds of people heard the story and have prayed for her. Now she has started responding, but without more divine miracles, she will have special needs, including a permanent tracheotomy because of damage to her airway which prevents her from breathing in enough oxygen.

It all sounds rather cliche to those 'outside'. It's the mother's boyfriend. She's a single mom, etc. It's like one of those stories you hear on the news (far too often) that happens somewhere else, or on an episode of Law and Order SVU. Both are absorbed for the moment and then quickly replaced by the next news story or the newest episode of Criminal Minds. I am very guilty of reading or watching out of curiosity and then moving on.

I have, of course, always opposed child abuse. But somehow when it touches someone in your own world - it takes on a new reality. Child abuse will never again be just a 'tsk tsk' response. There is nothing cliche about this tragedy.

Four Weeks Until

2016-02-28T08:43:00.002-05:00

The sun is shining, the sky is clear, and the promise of spring is in the air.

Easter is four weeks away. My childhood memories include new clothes (head to toe), dying hard-boiled eggs that only my father would eat, and going to church with an anticipation that this was indeed a high holy day, that outshone all the other Sundays in the year.

Now I am an adult, with grown children who don't ask for new outfits (okay, let's be honest- my boys never cared about a new Easter outfit), don't dye eggs, and two of the three won't be home to go to church with us.

I'll go to church with the anticipation of a pleasantly full sanctuary, a filled parking lot, and a family meal afterwards. I do view it as a high holy day, a day set aside to remember the ultimate sacrifice and gift of Christ's death and His resurrection. But I don't view it as outshining all the other Sundays in the year. Every Sunday is a day set aside to remember Christ's life, sacrifice, and triumph over death. Every Sunday is the opportunity to come together with others who believe as I do. Every Sunday is the opportunity to get over myself and focus on the gift of life that Christ gives me. Every Sunday is a high holy day.

I Missed It

2016-02-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

wikimedia.org

It has come as a complete surprise to me that Beyonce's performance at the Super Bowl half-time show was anything more than entertainment. First of all, I want you to know that I watched the entire show. I didn't miss any part of it, I was sitting in my seat when it started and when it finished.

While watching it, nothing struck me as being controversial about Beyonce's performance except for perhaps those legs of hers. I didn't notice the berets, I only saw that her dancers all had shorter black hair and she had long blonde hair. The comment the commentators made was that her outfit was paying homage to Michael Jackson, and I thought, "oh yea, I can see that".

Now it seems there were all kinds of "statements" being made. Reportedly she was paying respects to the strong female leaders in the Black Panther Party (that's the berets apparently). I didn't see the music video that was released the day before the Super Bowl that set the stage for controversy with the police, so I had no preconceived ideas.

I missed it all. I didn't notice the X formed that reportedly was for Malcom X. I didn't see the black berets for the Black Panther party, and even if I had seen them it wouldn't have made me think of the Black Panthers. I didn't see anything except a beautiful woman singing and dancing.

What happened to entertainment being just that, entertainment? Why does everything have to be a "statement"? Do performers have a right to express their opinions about things? Of course! But in my opinion, not at entertainment venues. I don't go see a 'performer' to hear their political opinions. I don't go to see a 'christian artist' to hear them preach. I go to hear or see them using their talents to move me, to experience "the arts". If I want politics or social justice, I'll go to a rally or read the newspaper. If I want a sermon, I'll go hear a preacher or read my bible.

I'm tired of so many things having layers of meaning. How about "what you see is what you get". I'm going to enjoy music and performances for what they are - entertainment. Hidden meanings, subtle messages? I don't care. I'm just going to listen, watch, and stay on the surface.

Newton, Panthers, and Super Bowl 50

2016-01-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have a confession to make. Last Sunday was the first time I watched a Panther game all season. Now, that's not unusual since just like those "Christmas/Easter church goers", I'm only a Super Bowl football fan (gotta love those Snickers and Doritos commercials!).

http://weupit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/
Panthers-Newton-lands-Sports.jpg

I didn't know who Cam Newton was (by the way, he's the Panther quarterback), didn't know he was African American, and while I had heard of "dabbing" I didn't know that was his move.

Since their fabulous win in that game against the Cardinals, I've learned a lot. I learned that Cam Newton is a generous man. I saw him giving TD balls to the young fans in the stands, but didn't know that was uncommon. I saw his incredible smile during the game and his interview after the game was short and I thought gracious.

My google search revealed that his career is not without complaint. People complain about his celebratory dancing, or not yet marrying the mother of his newborn son. He has been called arrogant and classless. Yet most of my google search, and my Facebook feeds are positive. His generosity, especially to children, his joyous demeanor, his hard work to get where he is, are all promoted.

Football has had a big run of bad publicity over the last year or so. The list of players who have been arrested is extensive. I find it somewhat a relief that the complaints against Cam Newton are about excessive celebrating and being arrogant in his abilities and not for hitting women, driving drunk, or illegal drug use.

It's all very interesting - but people do know this is only football right? It's fun, it's entertaining, it's exciting - but football is not likely to change the world. I'll be watching the game at a Superbowl party Sunday along with millions of others. I'll cheer on the Panthers like everyone else at the party (we are in North Carolina after all), but come Monday morning life will go on and it won't matter how much Cam danced or dabbed or gave during the game. What will make a difference is what each of us do with our lives. What we believe in, how we spend our time, where we give our energy, and living outside of ourselves.

Go Panthers!

Snow Gifts

2016-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

We just experienced the gift of a snow day, actually three snow days. Late Thursday night, early Friday morning, it began to snow. And snow, and sleet, and snow, and sleet. Weather forecasters called for it to be one of the worst storms we've had in awhile. It wasn't, instead of the 8 -12 inches predicted we got about three. But that's okay, here in the South that's enough to shut everything down. My work was cancelled and Friday everyone stayed home. Saturday we all stayed home. And even Sunday most churches were cancelled because the secondary roads weren't even close to being cleared.

I stayed home. I brought work home with me on Thursday in anticipation of this event. But what did I do? I slept late, I watched Sherlock Holmes (again), I watched movies. I cooked, I played games, I did nothing of consequence (though I did keep up with my email at work to rearrange appointments that had to be cancelled). Sunday I started to fret, I could have worked on things. I could have cleaned, I could have worked on taxes, I could have written, I could have done a number of productive things. It was an unexpected gift of time that I could have used better. Then I stopped myself.

It was an unexpected gift of time, and I did spend that time well. I spent it on myself and on my family. I am emotionally, mentally, and physically rested.

As Emily says in her book Simply Tuesday, sometimes you need to sit on a bench instead of building cities. The past three days? I sat on a bench, and I have no regrets.

God Comforts - Why?

2016-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

On my way home from work yesterday I saw a church sign. It said, "God comforts us so we can comfort others". My first reaction was, "no He doesn't".

I had a whole dialogue with myself about it. I had my mind set that He comforts us because He loves us and cares for us. Period. As a parent I comfort my children because I love them and I want to let them know how much I love them. That's why I wrap them up in my arms and hold them tight. Period.

Then I looked up the phrase and a scripture came up, 2 Corinthians 1:4

Now what do I do . . .

I suppose when I really think about it, I subconsciously expect that when I express compassion and care for my children, they will in turn show that to others. So while I comfort my children because I love them, I also comfort them with an expectation that they will share that with others.

So, I think the sign and I are both right. Bottom line? God comforts us, and sometimes I just need to be reminded of that.

Lottery Dreaming

2016-01-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'll play. It's the "what would I do if I won the lottery" game that millions of people are playing right now. First of all, let me say this is truly just a game since I didn't buy a ticket. I am hoping that if my husband or son win they will throw a few "breadcrumbs" my way.

Like most people there's the obvious, pay off the house, buy the perfect house, take care of our children's college expenses, pay off all our debts, make sure we have a good retirement fund set up, take care of our elderly parents, give to underfunded non-profits, etc. But my son asked me a question last night that I was hard pressed to answer. He asked me what would I do that was purely for me (after all the responsible things were done). I wasn't allowed to say buy a house or travel unless there was an outlandish component to it. The question was what purely outlandish, self-centered thing would I buy or do.

Since he was waiting for an answer I came up with buying a place in Malibu (or thereabouts) and hosting small dinner parties with celebrities I like. Tom Selleck, Chris Pine, Chris Hemsworth, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts were who came to mind (I later thought of Tom Hanks, Mark Harmon, and Jennifer Garner) . I wouldn't live out there, but I'd fly back and forth in first class and hobknob with the beautiful people.

But wait, is that really what I'd want to do? I would like to meet them, but I know enough about reality to know there's a good chance I would be disappointed. I'd feel intimidated by their fame and self-conscious of my lack of sophistication. So what would I do?

I know, I'd buy a beautiful loft apartment in Manhattan for my husband and myself. We'd eat at great restaurants, not necessarily expensive ones, on a regular basis. I'd buy fresh food and fresh flowers from the neighborhood markets. I'd buy shoes and purses without looking at the price tag. I would have maid service. We'd go to all the great places right at our fingertips.

But wait, it gets really cold there, and sometimes bad weather. We're not getting any younger, and moving into that climate might not be too smart. Would I really be able to change into that lifestyle at this stage in my life? Hmmm.. . I'm right back to square one.

The reality is, I'd buy a house that was one level. I might buy a second home, an oceanfront beach house. I'd take vacations around the world. I'd keep my car since it's new and I love it, but I would buy my husband and my kids a new car. I'd have maid service.

Outlandish just isn't who I am, I'm pretty boring. But that's who I am, and I'm okay with that.

LEAP - 2016

2016-01-08T06:55:00.000-05:00

I don't have a nice little badge created yet - but I've decided on my word for the year. It's LEAP. This year I am going to leap into opportunities and out of my comfort zone (at least sometimes). I am currently working on creating my own website (with the help of AslanSolutions). You can go there now, but remember it is a work in progress and will change throughout the month as I design it.

This year holds lots of changes and opportunities for all of us if we'll keep our eyes open. Let's leap together!

New Year - New What?

2016-01-04T06:37:00.001-05:00

Christmas 2015 with my love

Tradition suggests that my first post of the new year should reflect my goals, my resolutions, my new and refreshed outlook on life. In recent years I've jumped on the "word of the year" bandwagon and posted a picture with a word that reflected my outlook for the year.

This year I'm a bit more lax. As you know, as a parent of school-age children, I generally look at my "new year" as when school starts. However, after a Christmas break, a new calendar, and a birthday - I do have some thoughts of "starting fresh". So here goes.

Go to bed earlier. I like to get up early (between 5 and 5:30) because that's when I'm more likely to walk and to write. I like to "piddle", as my husband calls it, before I go to bed (read, do crosswords or jigsaw puzzles on my Kindle) for about half an hour. Therefore, in order to get the sleep I need and want, I'm heading to bed earlier. Eleven and eleven-thirty just won't cut it anymore.

Use MyFitnessPal. I was quite good about this, but I fell away. This is an easy program to use, so I'm back on (it helps that I have some family members who use it too). I just generally feel better when I'm using it.

Less Netflix and less Facebook. I love Netflix and my husband and I have several series we watch. But because it is so easy (love having no commercials!), we tend to watch too much. I love Facebook for keeping in touch with others, and frankly I get a lot of my news there - but we all know what a time suck it can be. I'm not going to get rid of either one, but I do want to control my usage.

Eat dinner at the table. With only three of us at home now on a regular basis, it's super easy to eat dinner in front of the television. We have a great time doing that as we have certain programs (almost always a cooking reality show of some kind), but I know that it would be better to eat at the table. Of course this means I have to keep the table cleared off . . .

I don't have a "word of the year" yet - but I'm pondering. In other news, I'm turning this blog into a website - SheilaScribbles.com - hopefully I'll have it up in some kind of form by the end of this month. My sister/brother-in-law, who own ASLAN Solutions, are helping me put it together (if you're looking to create a website- check them out).

Happy New Year!

New Calendars

2015-12-22T07:39:00.001-05:00

Every year my husband and I buy a Sierra Club Wilderness calendar for our wall. On it I chronicle our yearly events, daily happenings, and generally use it as "journal" of sorts. We have a drawer full of the calendars that we occasionally go back through and reminiscence (also to recall when we did certain things).This year we briefly considered not getting one, as we use our electronic calendars so much, but we quickly decided we needed it as it is indeed our "memory book".

Last night, after the family had watched White Christmas together (one of the three movies we decided were essential to the Christmas season for our family that all five of us had to watch together), I sat down with the new calendar to transfer birthdays and such. It soon became apparent that next year is a big one for the "milestone" events. Our eldest is graduating from college, our second son will leave his "teens", our daughter moves from sweet 16 to 17 which is practically an adult, my father turns 85, and my husband turns 60. I confess, I started to feel a little melancholy as I finished marking the calendar.

But then, then I remembered the years it took us to get here. The memories, the laughter, the sorrows, the friends, the family - and my spirits lifted. I believe there are great memories just waiting to be made, fantastic experiences just around the corner, and plenty of love and laughter with friends and family to share them with.

Calendars - a great inspiration for memories and hope for the future.

Favorite Part of Christmas

2015-12-07T06:41:00.000-05:00

Last night my daughter asked me what was my favorite part of Christmas. I love this season so I took a few minutes to think.

It is pre-dawn Christmas morning. My husband and I get up early, making sure the tree lights are lit, Santa has left gifts on the fireplace hearth, and that the stockings are full. Then we make a pot of coffee, fix a cup and look at the quiet beauty of the room. That is part one. Then we let the kids, who are by now all gathered in the basement waiting, come upstairs and the merriment begins. Presents are opened, sometimes people are surprised, sometimes not. Sometimes Santa hits the nail on the head, sometimes not so much - but none of it really matters. We are together, the five of us and our little nucleus is tight and connected. Later more family will come over and we'll have a great time with lots of laughter, hugs, and good food. I enjoy it all.

But my absolute favorite part of Christmas has been those quiet moments with my husband and the tree, and then the hour or so with our kids.

I encourage you to think about what's your favorite part of Christmas and why. If you haven't quite gotten into the season yet, perhaps reflecting on this question will help (along with a good Christmas movie!).

Happy Birthday Sue

2015-12-03T05:30:00.000-05:00

Today is my mother-in-law's 81st birthday. One of the amazing things about my mother-in-law is what good friends we are. In fact, I often introduce her as my friend who happens to be my mother-in-law.

I could easily fill up this post with accolades of her many fine qualities,or I could tell sweet, funny, or embarrassing stories. But I'm not going to. Instead, I'll simply say Happy Birthday Sue - thank you for being a great role model and friend to me.

Time to Give

2015-12-01T06:46:00.001-05:00

Where did the phrase, The Season of Giving come from? I went to the trusty old internet to look but came up short. I did find this cool site with plenty of other sayings and their origins which was fun to look through. However I didn't find the answer to my question. But it's really not hard to figure it out. I mean, we give presents to each other, time to charities (ring the bell anyone?), and sometimes even give a little more patience and grace during the month of December.

I'm on board. I'm thinking about presents to give (in addition to the traditional underwear gift to my children), what charities will I participate in, considering the 24 Acts of Kindness concept, and I'll try to wait patiently in line when the clerk is overwhelmed with the customer in front of me with every coupon and deal they could find to get the Star Wars Droid and the last Elsa Ice Palace.

So, in the spirit of giving, I'd like to give you a gift today. Today's gift is the gift of a free Kindle book by one of my favorite authors, L.N. Cronk. It is also available for free as a Nook book. If you don't have a Kindle or a Nook, it can be downloaded to your computer through either of those programs. Be prepared, have a tissue or two ready.

Happy Giving!

Thanksgiving, Macy's, and History

2015-11-26T09:11:00.001-05:00

The dressing is in the crock pot, the potatoes au gratin are in the other crock pot,and the hams are in the slow roaster oven. I've done all the prep I can for now, so it's time for the parade! My mother always watched the parade while she prepared for Thanksgiving - so I've got it on too. I actually just got to see the ribbon cutting and the real beginning of the parade! Enjoy your day, and check out the history of the parade. Thank you Macy's and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Eve Musings

2015-11-25T06:06:00.000-05:00

It is Thanksgiving Eve and I have much to be thankful for as tomorrow approaches. Several of my friends have been posting 30 days of thankfulness on social media and I've heard many conversations of thankfulness.

In the midst of this thankful atmosphere, I admit to having some sadness. I miss some of the past. I miss traveling out of state for this holiday. I miss my mother's pecan pies and long talks into the night. I miss a close relationship with some of my siblings and their families. Long ago I gave up my dream of "The Waltons", but I still miss the idea. I miss some of what was and some of what never was.

But then I can't help but think about what I am happy and thankful for. My husband and children give me great joy, and I am thankful for them. My husband is supportive of everything I do and encourages me to pursue life to the fullest. My children and I have never gone through the "shut out mom (or dad) stage". I'm thankful for good health. My knees might bother me from time to time and I don't move as fast as when I was 35, but everything works and the doctor has given me a clean bill of health. I'm thankful that I have a job I love. I work with some really great people, I get to be around college students all day which I enjoy, and I get to meet people from all over the world. I'm thankful for the extended family that lives close by and likes coming to my house for the holidays.

While I am at work today my daughter will make pecan pies based on my mother's recipe. My son will mow the grass for the last time this year in preparation for Christmas decorating on Friday. Today my husband will go buy a second ham because we don't have enough for leftovers with two college boys home for the weekend. Tonight I will prep my stuffing dish to participate in our annual "stuffing-off" competition. Tomorrow I will prepare two kinds of potatoes because my children requested them. Tomorrow I will laugh as everyone complains about the parade on television that doesn't seem much like a parade anymore.

Thanksgiving, it may change as life proceeds, but it still accomplishes its purpose. It reminds me to give thanks for all of my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sweet 16

2015-11-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Our daughter turned 16 this past week, and on her birthday, she was in a Mosaic concert (this is a concert with back to back performances by all the different bands and choruses with no break between) at her school. She was given a solo during the finale. So in honor of her birthday and the lovely and talented young lady she is, I'm posting the video to share with all of you. Enjoy!

Memories from the Corners of my Mind

2015-11-03T06:44:00.002-05:00

I am participating in NaNoWriMo this year (which essentially is a challenge to write a novel (or 50,000) words in the month of November. I've tried this before and not completed,but I'm going to give it a good shot. I've decided to write a memoir. I'm not sure there's much difference between a memoir and an autobiography, but I've decided a memoir sounds less ostentatious than an autobiography. I am not writing chronologically, but am putting it in the right "spot" when I finish each memory or train of thought.

This process is fascinating, and I suspect it will be mentally and emotionally draining by the end of the month.

My motivation? Leaving an account of my life for my children to know how I got to be who I am. My life is not extraordinary, but it is my life story, which makes it part of their story.

What's your story? I encourage you to share it with your friends and family. It matters.

All Saints' Day

2015-11-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

www.funnydam.com

Trick or Treat

2015-10-30T07:37:00.000-04:00

I have fond memories of Halloween. When I was little I remember wearing plastic face masks. I'd have to move it up on top of my head between houses because it made me sweat). Most often I was a princess or a nurse. Later on (no face mask) I recall being a gypsy (I've actually used that one as an adult from time to time - nice and easy!). Two of the best parties I remember going to were actually church parties (bobbing for apples anyone?), back before Christians decided to boycott Halloween.

Stories of razor blades in apples, poison in candy, devil worship, and the rise of not knowing our neighbors well enough to trust them, have brought forth the era of "group candy gathering" through Pumpkin Bashs, Trunk-or-Treats, and block parties.

My children did their share of trick or treating, trunk or treats, and church parties. Through the years I've gone to Halloween alternatives, passed out candy, trudged the neighborhood, and decorated my trunk, Last year we had friends over for dinner and our young teenage daughters went out trick or treating as Mario and Luigi, This year our daughter is going to volunteer at a Pumpkin Bash (she gets to dress up) and then come home. We might try watching our first scary movie (she claims all of her friends have seen a horror movie and she's asking to see one). I don't think Ghostbusters will do it . . .

The number of trick or treaters coming to my house has dwindled through the years, but I hold out hope. I'll be ready with a bowl of candy.