That's What Friends Are For!

My dear friend, Peggy Whitson, is here from Illinois for a visit. Having her here is such a blessing. I wonder if there's anything as uplifting as friends who have known you for a long, long time. In Peggy's case, the poor woman has had to put up with me since the late seventies. Yes, THAT long.

The woman's a saint.

Few people know me as well as Peggy. And few people can make me laugh as hard or as long as she. And few people can speak truth to my heart and spirit like she does. All of which just makes me cherish her more.

Interesting thing is, we're quite different when it comes to our personalities. But God has used that to help us teach and refine each other. I get her to giggle like a little kid; she stirs me to integrity and transparency.   I'm the Golden Retriever to her Terrier. And I love that. And I love how God also breathed similarities into us. Some of those similarities might seem...bad. We both deal with asthma and fibromyalgia. We both struggle with memory issues. We both are fighting diabetes. But here's what's so cool about it: because we truly understand these things from the inside out, we are able to encourage one another. And laugh. Oh! How we laugh. Like the time we went hiking here in Oregon, up a trail that was decidedly more difficult than two asthmatics should have hiked, and we had to stop every few minutes to wheeze and suck on our inhalers. Not so much because the hike was hard, though it certainly was. But because we were laughing so hard. We joked that we'd probably pass out, or even expire right then and there on the path. But we'd go out knowing we'd TRIED, and we'd be smiling.

Peggy and I share something else: She is a writer, too. Not just a writer, but a really good writer. She sees life in ways that make me stop and think, and she's so honest in what she writes. I love reading her work. Which is why I'm so tickled that, just today, she started a blog, Life in the Fog. I'm delighted to tell you about and, in this small way, share one of God's greatest gifts in my life--the inimitable Peggy--with you. So go visit her blog, and if you like it, go back. And hey, tell her I sent ya.

She needs to know how much she owes me.

Make Time for Laughter

Life is stressful, no getting around it. And it seems more stressful lately than ever before. Maybe it's paying close to $5 a gallon for gas (I always laugh when I see the news reports on "the national average" for the cost of gas. Oregon is always a good .20 to .25 cents more than the national average!), or it could be that people aren't getting out as much in an effort to conserve gas, or the upswing in lost jobs, or the constant barrage of political arguments...

Whatever the cause, stress seems to be the greatest malady most of us face today. Happily, I have a solution to offer you. No, not for removing all the stress, but for helping you deal with it.

Laughter.

Yup, that's it. Laughter. Take time to add laughter to your day. Here are a few simple suggestions for doing so:

1. Watch classic humor videos. Anything by Victor Borge, Red Skelton, or Jack Benny. I'm telling you, those things are hysterical!

2. Listen to old time radio programs such as the Bob Hope show, Abbot & Costello, or Evening with George Burns.

3. Check out some of the following videos and websites:
Abbott & Costello: Who's on First

Carol Burnett: Went with the Wind, pt. 1 & Pt. 2

Tim Conway's Elephant story

Victor Borge & Dean Martin: Music & Punctuation

Snoopy.com

Comics.com

4. Spend some time with small children, just listening to them talk.

5. Spend time with someone who you know has a great sense of humor and always makes you laugh.

Remember, the joy of the Lord is your strength for facing whatever comes your way. Ask Him to open your eyes to moments of joy and laughter each day, to let your heart be open to celebrating the blessings He's give us.

May you find your days steeped in His joy and the pure laughter of a child.

In Him,

Karen

I'm Being Stalked!

It was a dark and stormy night. The rain pelted my window, and even through the darkness I could see the storm clouds roiling, churning...moving across the night sky like some undulating viper. I sat in the dim light of my office, staring at my computer screen, alone except for the characters playing out their lives in my head.

That's when I felt it. Something flicked the back of my hair.

Considering how short my hair is, I knew whatever was behind me was close. Veerrryyy close. Slowly I turned--and found myself staring into a pair of gleaming eyes. Malevolent eyes. Eyes that warned me not to move another fraction of an inch...

...without scratching those fuzzy ears.

It's official. I have an office cat. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm an animal person. LOVE animals. But this is my brother's Kamikaze cat who used to hide under things and shoot out razor claws to slice my ankle as I walked by. The cat I've threatened on a number of occasions with "Can you say 'drop kick'??" NOT the kind of cat I wanted hovering over me. But lately, for reasons known only to cats and the mystics of old, Garfield has decided he likes me. So much so that he spends a good portion of his day stalking me. And when he's not doing that, he's jumping up and walking across my keyboard, or racing crazy circles around my office, or--his favorite pastime of late--scrambling up the back of my chair and perching there, a kind of breathing, tail-twitching head rest while I work (though weather it's to be near me or to watch out the window where the birds are dipping in the bird bath is anyone's guess).

And I have to admit it, I like it. I like that the cat's adopted me. And that he's decided his spot is on the back of my chair. Makes me grin when I feel the end of that twitching tail tweaking at my ear, or the soft nudge of his head when he wants a scratch, or the gentle touch of a paw when he just wants me to remember he's there. And when he deigns to jump up into my lap, I pet him with respect, ever aware of those muscles and the warning they give off when he tenses. Too much. Stop or pay the price. And yet for all of that, when Garfield's claws are sheathed, he's a pretty nice cat.

Kind of reminds me of God. That gentle presence, reminding us we're not alone. That nudge when we need it, that twitch in our hearts when we're about to take a path we shouldn't, the warning that comes with enough time to head off trouble if we'll just pay attention. And if we don't? Well, you know what Scripture says: "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). (There is one place, though, where my comparison fails. Garfield is a nice cat when his claws are sheathed, but God is always good. My actions don't change His goodness. Thank heaven.)

Having this cat hang around has helped me better understand a poem I've always liked: For My Cat, Jeoffry by poet Christopher Smart. It's long, so I won't quote it all, but I'll leave you with my favorite stanzas:

For I will consider my Cat, Jeoffry,
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving Him.
For at first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way...wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in goodness he suppresses.
For he will not do destruction, if he is well-fed, neither will he spit without provocation.
For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's a good Cat...
For every house is incomplete without him and a blessings is lacking in the spirit...
For he is of the tribe of the Tiger.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion...
For though he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any quadruped.
For he can treat to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.
For all this, will I consider my Cat Jeoffry.

And will I consider, and appreciate, my brother's cat, Garfield.

Peace, all.

Karen

Oh My Achin' Antlers!

I first saw this years ago when an agent accidentally sent it to me. I laughed so hard the other editors working with me came to my office to see what was going on. Needless to say, I sent the agent a thank you note. She was embarrassed, but I told her not to be. I'd needed a laugh that day. And she's one of the few people I never forget. All she has to do is say, "Remember me, I'm the antelope lady..."

If you haven't seen this before, you're in for a treat.

Antelope vs. tree

(By the way, if you're blonde, I didn't title this video...)

Here's to laughter!

Karen

For Your Funny Bone

Laughter is good for the soul, yes? Well, check out this site with actual bloopers from church bulletins. Some of these are new, so have fun!

Here's to giggles today.

Karen

Feeling Stressed? Here's Relief!

A friend sent this to me today, and I had a total blast with it. Be sure to try the "manic mode."

Enjoy!

Bubblewrap

Peace (and fun) to you today.

Karen

'Tis the Season

To be sung to the tune of Winter Wonderland


Folly rings, are you listening?
Jesus Christ stores are dissing.
It's okay to say, "Happy Holiday,"
But "Christmas" sudd-en-ly is not allowed.

Folks are rushed, stressed and harried,
Where's the cheer we once carried
Deep in our hearts, good will to impart,
In the wiser days when "Christmas" was allowed?

Seems to me we've lost the heart of Christmas--
It's more than just another holiday!
We've got to find a way back into Christmas,
to see that it's not bad to smile and say:

Merry Christ-mas, God bless you!
Let His peace now unstress you...
The season's a gift that's meant to uplift,
For Jesus Christ was born this holy day!

It's not that hard to rediscover Christmas--
Just get your focus on the tiny One
Who came to bring you joy and restoration,
That little baby, Jesus, God's own Son!

So remem-ber this season
There is no worthy reason
To omit the name of the Baby who came.
So let's hear it:
Merry Christmas, Everyone!