Another Small Pleasure

Today, I'd like to talk about containers.  I love them, all kinds.  I love cute little cubby holes in chests of drawers.  I love decorated tins, especially those with hinged lids.  I have an old Sucrets lozenges tin where I keep my bobby pins.  My mother kept hers in one like that.  I have one of the same shape from a tea company with a gorgeous picture on the front.  That is handy to transport tea bags so they don't get crushed.  These are so fetching that I have to be careful not to buy something I don't need, just because it comes in an adorable package.  The first luxury feature I look for in a car, after self-locking doors, is plenty of cubbys for my sunglasses, C.D.s and small umbrella.

Yesterday at the preschool my grandsons are going to, there was a white wooden box that looked like a building.  It had pictures of the Thomas trains painted on the front.  On top was a flat wrapped cushion that fit perfectly as a lid.  A lid and a seat.  Love it.  When my son was three, my dad made him a toy chest that looked like a circus car.  Instead of the curliques that could have gone on top, I asked for a covered seat/lid.  That worked great.

My grandsons love the container idea, too.  Their trikes have "trunks" and into them they put stones, small action figures, toy salt and pepper shakers, and whatever else they find.  Ty took out his loot yesterday and said, "see my treasures."  They love bags, boxes, lunch kits, cookie tubes, dump trucks and anything else they can put stuff in and dump it out.

Anything useful that has a  small drawer is improved 100% in my view.  I love piano benches, where you may find some enticing piece of old music.

Anyone remember Eeyore and his birthday jar?  He had a burst balloon which he kept taking out of the jar and putting it back in.  He was so happy.  Some days I am like the boys with my treasures and I just take them out of their keepers and show them off.  Sometimes I'm like the donkey and I just quietly enjoy the whole concept. 

Going Forward

Lately, since I have suspended novel reading for a time, I have had a chance to reread some of my favorite non-fiction books.  I try to take time in the late evening, after prayers, to go over some of them.  I find that often, I get so excited about the promises and the exciting things the Lord says that it is difficult to sleep.  I nearly always drift off after a bit of mental wool gathering.  And it is so worth it because what happens is that with prayers, my Bible, and these books which help to put it all together for me, I find that my attitude changes immensely.

 Sometimes when I get busy, I rush through my quiet time and then attitudes that are less than the best come out.  I love the scripture: "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead..." Phil.3:13 NKJ.  Most of my negativity comes from things that have happened in the past.  It is so wonderful that I can forget these things and go on knowing that I have a fresh new day and a brand new life at every turn.  I take the New Creation seriously.  This is what gives me courage to go on.  I know that the Bible says I am new and with His word behind me, I feel that way.

I just think it is so gracious of God to give us this opportunity at every moment.  I even find myself, when thinking some negative thought, saying to myself, "no, I don't have to think that."  I find a scripture somewhere in my memory band that is the total opposite and I quote that.  This works great for relationships.  I can just stop and remember a good quality about some person I was beginning to be annoyed by in my mind.  And when I see that person, I am ready with love from above to share with them.

This process is something I have known about for sometime, but business gets in the way of my "thinking on these things."  God's Kingdom waits.  There just isn't time to rehash old junk.  There's only time to love Him, help someone else, and get on with my life.  Have a great day today.  Nancy 

Talking About Elvis

Some friends and I were having great ice cream at a little shop, and there on the wall was a picture of Elvis Presley.  A story of a chance encounter came out and a discussion ensued.

The first time I saw Elvis was on the Ed  Sullivan Show.  I was a young girl.  My sisters and I weren't impressed.  I was not a big fan.  I might have gone to one of his movies.  I know that I did enjoy a lot of his music, mostly the ballads.

Later, when I was an adult I remember voting for the early Elvis stamp instead of the one with the white jumpsuit.  That was never my era.

Over the years, I heard more and enjoyed more of his music.  When we went to Nashville a few years ago, we saw a performer who did most of the big songs from all  phases of his career.  He wore the different era outfits.  What a great show. If I weren't a fan before then, I became one that night. I got an Elvis Inspirational C.D.  Some of the songs I love on it are: If I Can Dream, Amazing Grace, You'll Never Walk Alone, The Impossible Dream, and Danny Boy.  Danny Boy is one of my all-time favorite songs.  He does it so well and it has a second verse that I had never heard before.  Every time I play that song, tears come to my eyes.

Shakespeare says in Julius Caesar, "The evil that men do live after them; the good is oft interred with their bones."  In Elvis' case, I think it is just the opposite.  There were a lot of things not to like, but because of his music, we have much good to remember him by.  That's pretty much the consensus of our little discussion at the ice cream shop.  As time goes by, those ballads become more and more sweet.  I would love to be remembered for any good I have done.  To further tweak Shakespeare a bit, "so let it be with me."

Fleet Sails in September

Not too long ago, I got a chance to play the New Card game called Fleet.  It was invented by Ben Pinchback and Matt Riddle.  I sat down with my sons to listen to the directions.  I have played several of these detailed, strategy oriented games before.  Often I was overwhelmed by all of the rules and other issues. While they explained Fleet, we played a hand.  The beautiful ships in the fleet jumped out at me and I couldn't wait to draw another card, to see what fantastic boat I'd see.  All of the pictures are so colorful and full of mystery  You get pulled into the game even at this point.  Then there is the bidding which my son helped me to understand.  And there is an accessory card with what happens on each turn so that you can carry on.  I'm not sure at what point I quit asking questions all the time and the play just became natural.  It wasn't too long.  And this from a mostly non-gamer.

There are so many activities on a turn and you need to assess your hand frequently so that it seems like  you are always playing.  Three players was a nice number to play the game, though it can be played by two to four players.

Besides the boats that you launch, there are other cards with things to do that you can draw.  On many of them, there are directions written on the card so that each time you play the game, you could play it differently.  Also, you get to draw on every turn.  It's a comfort that you always get a chance to do better next hand.  And there are many opportunities to get the money you need.  It's a matter of strategy how you spend it.

Well there you are.  I found Fleet to be exciting,visually stimulating, fun, interactive, and while easy enough for a beginner, with enough challenge to  wonder how I will play  it next time.  I did pretty well, by the way.  Only the "master" got more money than I did.  What a way to start.  Hope you can get your fleet sailing soon.

Fleet will be sold on Amazon.com in September.