Connecting by Feedly

RIP

I'm sure most of you are aware that Google Reader will be a thing of the past on July 1st. For months I have been trying to figure out how to stay in touch with the blogs that matter most to me, and I have finally made a decision. Yesterday, I joined Feedly and was happy to find that all of my "followed" blogs from Google Reader transferred over at the click of a button. What's more, by choosing the "magazine" format, I have been able to approximate the look I am used to, and I think this will be a smooth transition for me.

Having said that, I am not pleased with this latest action taken by Google. I'm not sure why they keep pulling the plug on services loyal customers have enjoyed over the years, and their doing so continues to erode my trust in them. Still, I am going to push forward as best I can. Who knows? Eventually, Google may let Blogger go as well, at which time I will probably move to Wordpress and get used to that, too.

For now, the main thing is staying in touch with all of you, and Feedly will allow me to do that. Just wanted to spread the word in case others are worried about the same thing I was...the prospect of losing touch with blogs and bloggers I have grown to care about.

Our connections are worth preserving!

=)

PS. You will need to make the change prior to July 1st or the data from Google Reader will be lost, leaving you to recreate the list of blogs you follow as best you can.

PPS. I just joined Bloglovin, too. It was easy to transfer my Google Reader stuff with just one click, though the site does a lot less than Feedly. However, it has a social component Feedly doesn't have. Over time, I will decide which one I prefer!

for more C posts, click below

Delightful Decorations

 

 For me, decorating begins and ends in the kitchen.

That's the heart of the home, after all.

 

 (Although the dining room gets a fair amount of play, too.)

 

 Of course, the whole gang loves to hang out in the family room as well.

 

 It's the perfect place to soak up that old Christmas feeling.

 That being said, I suppose our very best Christmas moments...

 the ones that warm the heart and lift the soul...

 are probably spent in this cozy spot, the living room.

 

 Our family does some pretty good living here.

 Not because our tree is both ridiculous and spectacular.

But because of the best decorations of all...

 the ones we welcome in most gladly.

 

 Our dear young adult friends, adorning the room with love and joy.

{beyond measure}

=)

click below for more D posts

Y Can't We Just Get Along?

From what I've heard, read and experienced, this election brought some disturbance in the force for many people in our country––creating large and small tremors among blog pals, other friends, and even family members. This poem, which is not really directed at any one person, is meant to be sort of a universal outcry. Still, I will say that it was written from my paradigm and did spring from a couple of interactions that troubled me.

Y Can't We Just Get Along?

(written for Alphabe-Thursday, the letter Y)

©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

Why can't we just get along?

Can't our friendship still be strong

even when we disagree?

Why ya gotta wail on me?

Couldn't we just let things ride,

honor one another's side,

respect the liberty to choose

and tolerate each other's views?

Am I so wrong; are you so right?

Is every question black and white?

The "facts" aren't always what they seem;

most truth lies somewhere in between.

So here's a thought: Let's both stand tall

for our convictions, one and all.

To our own selves, let us be true.

(Romney, me; Obama, you.)

The die is cast; the deed is done.
You're super glad Obama won.

I'm super sad that Romney lost.
Must good relations be the cost?

Can't you lean left...Can't I lean right
without a friendship-ending fight?
The truth is, only time will tell
if our votes served this country well.

Both of us guessed the best we could.
Both of us thought our guess was good.
Now let's employ some common sense,
and let go of our arrogance.

The one thing sure to doom us all
is this: the mind too closed and small
to listen, learn, or compromise...
to see through someone else's eyes.

So let's be friends, friend. You and me.
It starts with us, and maybe we
can be the start of something grand
across our now-divided land.

We're still Americans. Speak up,
discussion fills our nation's cup.
But don't forget humility.
The future is no one's to see.

We all just guess the best we can.
There is no magic answer man.

for more Y posts, click below

And the Winner Is...

The hubby - just an inch away from a hole in one.

But hey, at least he won the tournament!

 Of course, there was a small price to pay.

You've heard of the Master tourney's green jacket, right?

Well, my hubby's tournament has a jacket, too...a "special" red one.

 I think you can spot it on my man (a little right of center) in the chapel.

 You see, the prize comes with a penalty.

You have to wear it to church the first Sunday after winning!

Please note that the loverly patch boasts three stars, 
not all of which you can see in the last picture.
These were added by Ada, one of the "proud" wives.
(The jacket itself was purchased at a thrift local store.)

;)

Ahhh, sweet victory!

for more happiness, click below

A Happy Hello

IT'S A JENNY SIGHTING!!!

Couldn't quite decide which pic I liked most...

so you're getting both!

Guess who got to bid a happy hello to our friend Jenny (the beautiful gal on the right) last Tuesday? Yep, it was yours truly. Too bad I didn't get in the picture...But my hubby did, and so did Jenny's friend Sue and her darling daughters. We all met up at Gayle's Bakery in Capitola, California. Good eats and even better company!

And yes, she's every bit as much fun in person.


Holla, Jenny!

;)

Empathy

Of all the treasures in the earth

and underneath the sea,

no prize is valued more than this,

nor held more gratefully:

that friend who gets behind your eyes

and sees what you can see.

© 2012 all rights reserved

EMPATHY (em-puh-thee) noun:

1. Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings and motives. (American Heritage)
2. The power of understanding and imaginatively entering into another's feelings. (Collins)
3. A deep emotional understanding of another's feelings or problems. (Fairview Triple)
4. The ability to understand and share another's feelings. (Oxford)
5. The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings of another. (Webster)

No matter how you define empathy, it's an easy quality to recognize when it's coming your way. Most of us have many people in our lives who show affection and sympathy, but the friends who are able to demonstrate true empathy are few and far between. It seems empathy is more of a gift than a given, and not everyone is emotionally wired to offer it, however good his or her intentions.

Yesterday I had lunch with a woman whose empathy abounds, and I am lucky enough to call her a dear friend. A wiser and more intelligent person you will never meet, but what I love most about her is that she always seems to "get it" when I am sharing a thought, feeling, or experience. In fact, she "gets it" so much that frequently she is able to provide me with additional insight into the very thoughts, feelings, and experiences I am sharing. Needless to say, spending time with her is a rare pleasure; and once my "other half" retires, we hope to spend more time with both her and her husband (a gem of a man who happens to be one of Dave's favorite golfing buddies).

Life is good, and so is an empathetic friend!

click below for more E posts

A Gift of Hope

Yesterday was a horribly sad day for a family I love very much...which means it was a horribly sad day for me, too. It had been a perfect morning, the sunny but crisp kind that makes me believe anything is possible, and I was filled with warm thoughts of my mother (whose 85th birthday it was) and how fortunate I am to have her still living and loving me as I prepare to turn 60 next month. Her goal, set several years ago, is to be sitting in the audience when our son Todd graduates from medical school...and the way she's going I won't be a bit surprised if she makes it to that red-letter day and beyond.

For this and many other reasons, I was feeling happy and blessed when the phone call came that would replace serenity with sorrow. The daughter of two of our dearest friends woke to find that her 7-month-old baby had slipped away in the early morning hours, a crib death, and it felt as if the very heavens were weeping. Born prematurely, this valiant little soul had fought his way through numerous struggles, one after another. To the joy of family and friends, he had emerged from those early battles victorious, only to go to sleep perfectly healthy and stop breathing before the break of dawn. It was and is unthinkable, and the large community of people who love and support this family are joined in grief and sadness.

We are also joined in hope, because we know God lives. We know that He loves His children. We know that He has a plan for our eternal salvation and happiness, a plan that included the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, who would take upon Him all the sin and sorrow of a world created by His hand. Because of Him––His willingness, selflessness, holiness––the dead will rise again, and the grave has no victory. No matter what we pass through in this life, no matter the pain, no matter the devastation, His love is and will continue to be sufficient for our needs. He is our Shepherd, our Redeemer, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the Savior of all the World. He is Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, Beloved Son of the Almighty God. He is our Elder Brother and Friend. 

How grateful I am that this young mother and father know Him. They have faith in His power to heal and bless them, and their hearts are open to receive the peace and comfort only He can offer.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

Today we are all mourning, and that's as it should be. The family is bereft, and so are the many people who love and support them. Their little one...loved one...is gone for a season, and he will be sorely missed. His sweet smile and spirit will move from conscious mind to memory, and empty arms will ache to hold him close. But Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, and siblings will be upheld and renewed by the knowledge that their son, grandson, nephew, and brother lives on...and their reunion with him will be the sweetest joy imaginable.

In the meantime, they are in my prayers today. And I hope, perhaps, they will be in yours, too.

Whatsoever Things Are Lovely...

I mentioned last week that our good friend passed away, and though I didn't take any photos of his funeral, my mind took some beautiful pictures and my ears heard several stories that will always be with me. I'd like to share one of them with you this morning.

I know I am not unusual in having a ward family that looks after one another, yet the level of caring and compassion never fails to amaze me. On the last Sunday of a great man's life, the high priests in our congregation were just beginning their quorum lesson when the teacher was inspired that the entire group should leave the church building, drive over to our friend's house, and give him the sacrament. They did so, and about fifteen men arrived at the door to provide that service. They were ushered into the room where their fellow quorum member lay in a weakened state, and they gently assisted him in partaking of the sacrament a final time before leaving this earth. Afterward, they stood around the bed and spontaneously sang his favorite hymn, "O My Father." I am told that our friend was clearly moved, but no more so than his wife, who says she will never forget the spirit of love that filled the room. Needless to say, my husband will regret forever that his attendance at the singles ward precluded his being there for such a beautiful moment. An interesting aside is that a neighbor who is not a member of our church heard the music through an open window and was deeply moved by the sound of male voices singing so tenderly to their brother in the gospel. She felt the spirit of that loving encounter in her own heart and could not believe how many men had come to offer gentle comfort in such a way.

Music is one of the most powerful, uplifting forces in the world. Used in its purest form, this divine medium can ennoble, move, comfort, delight, embrace, energize, and heal us. I spent most of yesterday writing an Easter program for our singles ward, and my internet search for those sacred strains that might bring my words to life was good medicine for a grieving soul. Listening to mp3's of hymns devoted to the Savior and His ministry of service and sacrifice filled every empty space in my heart with joy, reverence, and gratitude. A deepened awareness of the magnitude of Christ's suffering and the glory of His resurrection brought me that peace which passeth all understanding, and music was the conduit.

"...and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall be in your minds and hearts through Christ Jesus. Finally...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:7-8).

Today I am thinking about music, and dear friends, and eternity.

And somehow, all is well.

I Am Still Learning: My Giveaway

I couldn't get a great angle here because the light from my kitchen window shines in, but this quote says "I am still learning," and I am happy to say that a bronze plaque exactly like it will be the prize for my 1,100th blog post giveway, to begin today (March 6th) and end Sunday night (March 11th) at 11:59 PM.

The rules are simple and few. All you have to do to enter is be a follower and leave a comment on this post. Easy enough, right? The winner will be announced Monday morning, March 12th.

Life teaches us a lot of things, and today my husband and I are learning once more how difficult it is to say goodbye to a beloved friend prematurely. He passed away yesterday and will be sorely missed by his family and friends (of which he has many). His was a life well-lived, and we have loved and will continue to love him.

Near my bedside table, I have a little poem that reads, "Little by little, time goes by. Short if you sing, long if you sigh. Note by note, life's music plays on. Songs ever changing but never gone." We know that our friend Dave will never be gone, and we look forward to seeing him again one day.

I want to thank all of you for visiting my blog so faithfully and allowing me to create this arena for expressing my feelings, organizing my thoughts, sharing my joys, and working my way through sorrows. It would not be the same experience for me here without your warm (almost tangible) presence and supportive comments. I want you to know that I appreciate your friendship, internet or otherwise. I am learning (yes, like the plaque says, I am still learning) that friends are friends, no matter where you meet them.

{so glad to know you}

=)

PS. Don't be shy to enter if you are a new friend. We have to start somewhere, right? ;)

Old Friends

Please turn your volume up so you can hear my Playlist

as Simon and Garfunkel sing their beautiful song to you.

Old friends, old friends,

sat on their parkbench like bookends.

A newspaper blown through the grass

falls on the round toes

of the high shoes of the old friends.

Old friends, winter companions, the old men

lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sunset...

The sounds of the city, sifting through trees,

settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends.

Can you imagine us years from today,

sharing a parkbench quietly?

How terribly strange to be seventy.

Old friends, memory brushes the same years,

silently sharing the same fears.

Old friends.

- Paul Simon

Last night, my husband sat with an old and dear friend, whose time on earth is coming to an end prematurely. He treasures the hours spent with this good man and mourns the reality that their time together will be far less than they had expected. This morning, I want to celebrate the value of the beautiful relationships we create in this life and the loving friends who make them possible. We are grateful for a sure knowledge that, while our mortal days are limited, the bonds we form here are eternal, in and through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (who is, of course, the oldest and dearest Friend we could ever imagine).

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

for more F posts, click below

The Best Things in Life...

A great memory I have centers around an unusual party one of my best buddies threw for our fun-loving friends when I lived in Southern California. We were all the overworked and underpaid parents of young children, and there was nothing we liked better than a kid-free evening with our crew. No wonder we were so delighted with Rayetta's invitation to make ourselves at home, her home, for a sit-down dinner (a pretty extravagant plan given that we were all on tight budgets). Needless to say, the whole gang signed on wholeheartedly as eager dinner guests. Why not? She was a terrific cook and one of the most enjoyable people you could ever meet, always ready for a good time. I, for one, was counting the days.

The highly anticipated evening rolled around, and we all showed up at our friend's door. She led us to an elegantly appointed table, including flowers, candles, and place cards...the whole nine yards. As if that weren't enough, beside each place setting was a beautifully wrapped gift for every one of us, each package a different size and shape. My first instinct was guilt that she had spent the money, but my second one was curiosity...closely followed by excitement. As I mentioned, none of us had a lot of extra cash, and presents were hard to come by. What's more, Rayetta was a great shopper, and I couldn't help wondering what she had given me.

I wish I could remember what she served, but I don't. All I can say is that she served up a warm, happy atmosphere for good friends to listen to each other, laugh together, and wax philosophical. What a close-knit group we were, bonded by our enthusiastic involvement in church, community, and family life.

Finally, when the conversation over dessert was nearing its natural end, we were invited to open our gifts. With a chorus of "awwww, you shouldn't haves," we ripped off the lovely paper like little kids on Christmas morning, only to find that the presents we had looked forward to so eagerly were items already belonging to us. Yep, my good buddy had cased our homes in the previous month, swiped something unique, and wrapped it up. Even funnier, it took most of us several seconds of effusive thank-yous to notice that what we had opened was, in actuality, our own property! (I was one of these lame brains, disappointed to find that she had somehow purchased a piece of decor identical to one I already had. Duh.) Of course, we all had a good laugh at ourselves, not just because we had been duped, but because the majority of us had never even noticed the item was missing from our homes.

We had a lot of crazy, creative parties at Rayetta's (including one where the wives were blindfolded and had to identify their own husbands by feeling all the mens' legs from the knee down), but I remember none more clearly than the purloined present dinner. I don't think I have to tell you that a good time was had by all!

=)