Thursday…randoms. Why not? <3

The sun is shining and what is left of the mums are blooming like crazy after that last bout of rain here on the prairie. What is not left of the mums needs to make their way to the yard waste bin…not looking too pretty out there with all the brown, dead blooms. 

It has been a busy week and I will catch you up to speed with some new developments soon, but for today we are hitting some randoms from the file I keep on my phone…

Let’s go 

Random #1

When I was a kid, I loved the game Pay Day except for the part where I would draw a card with an unexpected bill or tax assessment. 

The parts that were good made the game fun, and rolling a bonus or passing pay day and getting a fist full of paper money was the best. 

Those penalties tho, seemed unjust and painful. 

I had no idea how realistic the game was and that this would be life ever after once I finally got to escape being a child and not able to “do what I want”….

Anybody else?

Random #2

No secret here, I love clothes. 

I even started a “fashion” file on Instagram to save looks that catch my eye. 

Sadly though, I have learned over the years that what looks very nice on a tall, thin 30 – 50 year old model (yes…I am of a certain age where these are the wistful years I harken back to) does not translate to a woman who seems to be shrinking and widening daily. 

There are memes about this. Perhaps you have seen them. 

A photo of a model in a flannel shirt and then one of an every day mom dressed like a lumberjack. 

I have gotten in the habit of assessing potential clothing options with a hefty dose of reality. This helps my mood immensely and I can just admire what I see and move along…a helpful phrase that can be applied to clothing and many other areas that produce negative feelings in us is simply to say…that’s not for me.

Turns out old dogs can learn new tricks <3

Random #3

At the World Series, there is always a night where the teams and the fans “Stand for Cancer”. It grips me every year. 

The stadium is silent as athletes, managers, stadium workers, folks in the best seats and people in the nosebleed hold up a sign with the name of someone they love that they are grieving or supporting. 

Granted it’s sponsored by a major credit card company and can seem a bit like one giant advertisement for them if you let cynicism sneak in. But for the most part it’s just a huge reminder that the loss of health and wellness is a huge equalizer in our daily lives. 

Every single person we meet today is struggling with something either in their own being or on behalf of someone they love. 

Let’s move gently even if we can’t see the name on their sign. 

Random #4

It’s soup and tea weather and I could not be happier. 

And if you think I have swapped tea for coffee, think again. All weather is coffee weather. 

That being said, I had the idea to share a couple of my favorite tea options this time of year. 

Tea at this time of year is my preferred mid-afternoon choice and then decaffeinated in the evening is so soothing. 

Most of these are Republic of Tea but I am sure you can find options from other brands. 

I love the Ginger Peach Black tea and the Earl Greyer from this company. I learned from our Sarah to splash some milk in the latter. She loves oat milk in it, which I would say is my favorite. But if I don’t have that, I use regular milk and it’s delish. 

I know green tea is so good for me, so I do try to use that at least a couple of times a week. My favorite is the Lean Green from Republic of Tea as it has cinnamon in it. 

In the evening, my go to is the Peppermint Bark. This is a very mild mint flavor and almost like a sweet treat. I am selective in my mints and this one is just right. I also love the Stress Less Winter Mint and the Beauty Sleep from same company. 

Another favorite is Blue Lullaby tea from Big Heart Tea Company. It was gifted to me from Sarah a few years ago and is not only very delicious and soothing, it is the most beautiful shade of blue ever. 

What’s your favorites? Would love to know…

Random #5

Yesterday when I was driving home from helping at the church cafe, I saw a couple walking along the leaf strewn sidewalk as I entered the houses of our area. 

The lady was carrying a small plastic grocery bag. Her companion was using one of those cane like pincher gadgets to sort through the leaves and pick up any trash he found. 

Their quiet act of service to the houses along this street lightened my heart and made me want to do better for others. 

You have no idea what your small acts of kindness, generosity and courtesy are doing to bless and encourage others throughout each day. 

Keep running the race with excellence. 

Your life matters much. 

Have a great day.

Come back tomorrow.

You are dearly loved <3