Fun Friday – Is Your Shower a Scary Place?

 

Photo Credit:  Pinterest

Standing in the center of the shower, warm water taps the back of your neck and trickles down. Lathers of soap surround you; feeling relaxed, you’re able to think clearly. So clearly that ideas began to flow like a running faucet. Everything is dancing in your head, story ideas, the grocery list, calls you want to remember to make. How will you remember it all?

In a writer’s group discussion, the question came up about where our ideas come from. My rapid reply was, “in the shower.” The organizer of the group mentioned that there are Bathtub Crayons that can be used to write your thoughts on the shower wall. My imagination came to life as I said, “Is that safe? That could be the scene of a horror movie.”

I could see my wall notes being misinterpreted. After I’ve gotten dressed and left the room, my notes scribbled on the wall, drying in smears, my son would enter. Scenes flash in his head from Freddie Kruger, Jason, Michael Meyers, and Norman Bates from Psycho. My words come from scriptures, but when whispered may sound like the voice from a character just mentioned.

“…I know the plans I have for you.”

“…seek and you shall find.”

I’ll have to be careful with those Bathtub Crayons or soap scum won’t be the scariest thing in the shower. Have you ever gotten in the show and begin to think about everything you need to do for the day?  By the time you twist the knobs to turn of the water, all of your brilliant ideas slid down the drain with lathers of soap and water.

Perhaps those Bathtub Crayons aren’t such a bad idea afterall.

What things trigger your creative juices?

Wordless Wednesday - Pages Promotion Book Festival

It's a great time of year to curl up with a good book. Stop by Pages Promotions Virtual Book Festival (searchit on Facebook) and discover a new author you may want to follow. It's free to join the author interviews in the Zoom room.

My reading is at 7pm tonight (Eastern). Register to receive the link.

Check other authors who have appeared at the festival. There are too many to list them all. You'll have to stop and join the fun.

Muffins with Mom - My child was a science experiment

Photo Credit:MindChamps

Hydrogen, Oxygen and Peroxide, what does this combination equal? Are you puzzled? That’s exactly how I felt about child rearing when I had my first son. Puzzled – like I was experimenting. Leafing through an old photo album led to memories of when my sons were younger. If you don’t have kids yet, I recommend planning for two; the first one will be an experiment.

My collection of books included – What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and What to Expect, the Toddler Years. Cutting your child’s hair was not one of the chapters. When my son needed his first haircut, off we went to the barber shop. Floppy four-inch braids were scattered around his head.

The  leather barber chair looked like it was swallowing my three-year-old son’s body. He hunched his shoulders and curled his body inward at the buzz of the clippers. When the barber was done, my son held a lone braid in his hand and said, “hair broke.” My son and I both survived that first haircut, but a few years later wasn’t as successful.

We were visiting Granny for the day and my sone needed a haircut. In her not so wee voice Granny said, “We can go to the barbershop up the street.”

At the barbershop up the street my son hopped onto the barber’s chair unaware of what awaited him. Clippers buzzed, hair dropped to the floor, more hair then we realized, disappeared. We paid the barber, gave a tip and went on our merry way. Until…

Upon closer inspection of my sons’ new look, a discovery was made. My lip twitched, my eyebrows raised, and I bellowed, “Ma, half his eyebrow is gone.”

As sure as the sky is Blue, my son’s eyebrow was shaved in half. And I gave the guy a tip for doing it. The first child is an experiment.

When describing a task to you, have you ever had someone say, “it’s as easy as riding a bike?” Riding a bike is not always easy. I remember as though it were yesterday, the first time my son maneuvered his bike without training wheels. I held the back of the bike seat for a few feet as he rode, then let go, sending him into a gentle glide.

He kept gliding… past two houses, then down a neighbors’ driveway and out into the street. I heard faint screams as I looked in my sons’ direction. I transformed into Usain Bolt as I finished a 50-yard dash in three seconds. I rescued my son from the mean streets of the subdivision before he crashed into anything.

By the time the second child comes along you become a little more mellow. Son number two came running in the house one day after playing baseball with friends. He had tripped and hit his tooth on something. There was blood all over his white t-shirt, I panicked and screamed, “Oh my goodness, get in the bathroom right now…and wash that blood off your shirt or that stain will never come out.”

What is one funny reflection from when your child was younger or when you were a child?

  

Fun Friday – Family for the Holidays

 

The coronavirus pandemic has everyone thinking differently – from ho hum to panic and everything in between. In my case, my thoughts are thistled, family frantic, and the Holiday feels hopeless.

Christmas is typically celebrated at my house with food, funnies, and family stories. This year I’ve decided to distribute a Holiday letter. You get to see it first…

Home for The Holidays (or Stay at Your Own Home)

Dear Family,

Due to the national pandemic Christmas dinner will be different this year. While my house is a comfortable size, the square footage may not accommodate our needs. The six foot social distancing would leave some of you on the front porch, with others waiting outside the sliding door to the backyard.

In order to save you from foreseeable frustration and bah humbugs, our celebration is going hybrid. Some of you can join us in person, others…we’ll send you a Zoom link. If you are not selected from the lottery to attend in person, you can still drive by and leave your dish on the porch or someone will come out to your car. A dessert and take-home activities will be pre-packaged and given to you.

For family members attending the in-person festivities, BYOM (Bring Your Own Mask) is encouraged. A limited supply of paper masks will be available. Come prepared for your temperature to be taken and a short screening questionnaire to be completed.

The only Hugs and Kisses this year will come from Hershey’s. Your safety is our utmost concern. The Happy Birthday song will be taped to the bathroom mirror as a reminder of the 20 second hand washing requirement. You may sing any version you like.

If you sneeze or cough, you will be sent to one of the kids un-occupied rooms for self-quarantine until the end of the party. This rule includes allergies, the common cold and sniffles. At the end of the night a family member dressed in a hazmat suit will escort you to your vehicle.

Overall, we at the Verges household are excited for those who will join us for family fun during the Holidays.

Stay safe, stay healthy.

Love you,

House Administrator/Correspondence Secretary/Head of Household

Don’t let the Corona virus take the fun out of your family event. What will your Holiday celebrations look like this year?

Wellness Wednesdy - World Menopause Month

 

Motivational Monday – Praising through a Pandemic

 

Inside looking out

Sunday mornings are quiet, and the house is warm, but the view from a picture window tell a different story. Trees swaying, leaves tumbling, and potted flowers dancing in the wind. The old routine of dashing off into the elements of nature, heading to Sunday morning church service is non-existent.

This pandemic can leave you longing for the days of sitting in the pews, rocking, and clapping as the sounds of singing, guitar playing and a piano, fill the sanctuary. Let’s not forget the sound of an infant crying or that usher with the white gloved hands leading you to a seat. You politely smile and point to a different seat, next to your friend.

We are all healing from a pandemic that has crippled us, our community, and our loved ones. There may be no more praising in the pews, but we can still praise from the porch, the parks, and the pastures. My grandmama used to say, “One monkey don’t stop no show” (I’ve discovered that’s actually an African American Proverb).

Virtual services are available and easily accessible. Don’t let your faith wander because the church doors are closed. Shout at the sink while washing dishes; praising because you had food on your plate. Cry at the cupboards – cries of joy, because there is food for another day. Dance on a dusty floor because you have a roof over your head and a dust mop to clean your messes.

Dance like David danced for the Lord, with shouts of joy and noise of horns. Don’t let this pandemic push your faith aside. In a music video I heard Bishop Marvin Winans say, “My present faith is based on a past experience. I know He’s (God) is able to deliver because He already has delivered.”

Think of a time when you weathered a storm – figuratively speaking or literally. Now get up and shout. Praise from the position you’re in right now.

As you settle down and become still, rest peacefully and know that God is in control.

 

World Menopause Day

 

Fun Friday – The lighter side of virtual events

 

A virtual gathering before its. time.

Photo Credit: Chicago Sun-Times

How many Zoom, GoToMeeting or other virtual events have you attended lately? Did you know that there is something called Zoom Fatigue? Yes, it is a real thing; I’ve experienced it and didn’t realize it. It’s that state of having tired eyes, stiff legs from sitting, and feeling drained at the end of the day.

Here’s a fun way to beat Zoom Fatigue while amusing yourself. Pretend you’re part of The Brady Bunch. You remember that TV  sitcom from the early 70’s. During the intro of the show, each family member appeared in a box, like Zoom.  Try this next time you’re virtual - smile, look up, look side to side, and start singing…

“Here’s a story, of a lovely lady…who was bringing up three very lovely girls…”

If that doesn’t amuse you, tilt your head as though you’re listening intently. Remember to adjust every now and then so you don’t appear frozen. When you are tired of sitting, turn your camera off and dance around the room, you’re at a virtual dance party (that’s a thing now too). Keep your microphone muted.

Break up the craziness of virtual meetings by finding ways to bring relief. We’ve looked at the silly side of participating in virtual events. If you’re looking for real solutions to Zoom Fatigue, check out the article, How to Combat Zoom Fatigue.

What are your silly solutions to Zoom Fatigue (or real ones)?

 

Wellness Wednesday – Fall Color Tour

 

Lunch with mom turned into a Fall Color Tour. It was an unseasonably warm day when we decided that take-out from a local grill and sitting on her backyard swing sounded delightful. The Fattoush salad with warm chicken shawarma sat on the backseat of my car as we headed in the direction of home, but not directly.

I drove down streets where yards were littered with leaves, orange pumpkins, or stakes in the ground bearing Halloween ghosts, goblins, and scarecrows. We were like two kids discovering something new.

“Get a picture of that tree.”

“Oooh, look at the Red one.”

Delight in our voices, and a gleam in our eyes, viewing the array of colorful leaves was breathtaking and peaceful.

Have you observed the colorful changes going on around you? If you live near a body of water, take a final canoe trip of the season, and absorb the scenes of nature. Stroll through a forest of trees or drive through a tree-lined neighborhood.

Check out what mom and I saw.

Sometimes an impromptu outing is just what you need to relax. Make it a part of your health and wellness.

Motivational Moment – A walk of faith

 

Flip flops, gym shoes, and work boots, this was the collection of shoes in a clump near my front door. How do you determine which shoes to wear for the day? What do your shoes reflect about you?

 Loafer – associated with comfort and relaxation.

High Heel – reflects boldness and confidence.

Gym Shoe – active, ready to get moving

Work Boot – sturdy

Often, we select our shoes based on what we have planned for the day. If you have a presentation at work you dress a particular way, for casual Friday, a different way. Every day is a walk of faith. Is there a shoe that reflects your faith walk? It may be different each day.

There have been occasions where I’ve had a gym shoe day and had to coax my body to get up and get moving. It felt like I needed WD-40 to oil my joints and make them flexible. My feet hit the floor and I roll up one vertebra at a time and whisper a quick prayer.

On other gym shoe days, I spring from the bed as spry as a grasshopper, ready to workout and get the day started. Again, there is a prayer on my lips, only audible to God. The morning ritual was off to a good start with washing my face and brushing my teeth. I know He doesn’t care if my breath stinks, but it makes me feel better.

I pulled on my workout clothes, laced my gym shoes, and bounced to an open space in my Livingroom, ready for a virtual workout. In addition to my workout gear, my faith was right there with me too, on the inside.

Over the course of the week, I’ll strap on a pair of heels and walk bold through my day. By the end of the week loafers will replace heels as I ease into a state of comfort. Flip flops, gym shoes or work boots, no matter what shoe you wear, walk with faith.

Walk into your day bold, confident, and filed with faith.

Fun Friday – The Intersection of Faith and Fun

 

Did you know that there’s ministry through comedy? I’ve stumbled across a Hierarchy of Humor, a Ministry of Encouragement, and a ton of Christian Comedians. It’s at the intersection of faith and fun that comedians deliver humor while also teaching about Christ.

Comedians enjoy making people laugh. A Christian comedian adds a little flavor by spreading the joy of Christ with their humor. It’s like having a vanilla ice cream cone dipped in chocolate, or a vanilla chocolate twist, added delights.

What is the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the term Christian comedy? Do you think it’s going to include – Thou shalt not or Behold….? Quite often Christian comedy is simply clean comedy sprinkled a few jokes including biblical characters. It is also jokes and life stories in the daily walk of someone who happens to be a Christian.

At the intersection of faith and fun, a crash occurs, and ministry happens. Red light revelations happen, its an aha moment. Humor is a way to take your mind on a short vacation away from the stress of the daily hustle and bustle.

It’s the end of the week. Let’s go laughing into the weekend. Check out a clean comic I discovered recently.

 

YouTube Video Credit: posted by Tim Grable

Words of Wisdom - The Pumpkin Prayer

 

Photo Credit: Ministry to Children

There is a pumpkin carving activity that goes along with the Pumpkin Prayer. Check out the Ministry to Children website for details.

Muffins with Mom – Blueberry Pancakes – True Confessions

 

Photo Credit: Pinch of Yum

I never liked blueberries as a child. It took me until adulthood to accept them in my smoothies. Then along came a Facebook post from a friend, with picture of a delightful looking stack of blueberry pancakes, topped with a drizzle of honey. This was something I had to try.

Pancakes were often the breakfast of choice at our house. While my sons were stuck at home with me during the stay home order, I experimented in the kitchen. Award winning Blueberry Pancakes did not develop in my kitchen. My son made a confession last week.

“We didn’t want to tell at the time, but those pancakes had TOO many blueberries. It was like 50 blueberries in one pancake.”

His confession continued.

“Me and Don looked at each other and laughed. We didn’t say at word, just used telecommunication. Then Don asked me, ‘are there supposed to be this many blueberries?’ We kept eating them because you don’t cook that often. We ate fast to get through them.”

My son said I came in the room and asked, “Do you want some more?”

Unknowingly, I was answered with pleading eyes of torture – back away from the griddle.

Blueberries will remain an ingredient in my smoothies, as for pancakes, perhaps I’ll try adding chocolate chips.

Have you heard any food confessions lately?

 

 

Fun Friday – National Book Month – Virtual Book Festival

 

Photo Credit:Book_It_Up-Twitter

National Book Month is celebrated in October and was created by the National Book Foundation in 2003. This National Holiday focuses on the importance of reading, writing, and literature. When was the last time you read a good book?

You can celebrate National Book Month by making time to read, just for fun. Below are a few other ways to celebrate too.

1.      Have a book swap with a friend

2.      Visit a Virtual Book Festival

3.      Share on social media what you’re reading

Are you ready to have fun with books this month? Pages Promotions is sponsoring a Virtual Book Festival the entire month of October. The event will feature book readings by many indie authors as well as interviews. Of course there will be games and prizes.

My reading is October 3 at 7pm. I hope you can make it. Don’t stop there, check out the festival as often as you can during the month. The authors will love your support and connecting with readers is always exciting.

What will you do to celebrate National Book Month?

Ready for fun? Play the Trick or Treat game during the Pages Promotions Virtual Book Festival. Collect virtual candy. The Baby Ruth bar is your candy. Vist the Festival Facebook page for more candy and details.