Pumpkin Cottage

Pumpkin Cottage
sit and visit a spell

Friday, April 14, 2017

Are You Living your Purpose?

It does not matter how old I get, my journey
is always about arriving at a crossroads.
Seeking peace and having so little of it.

My dearest desire was to be simple like my father. 
He didn't seek promotions, wealth, or education.
All these things were available to him and yet
he simply was not interested.

My father was the happiest with his animals.
My heart swells with the thought of his
compassion and love for all creatures. 
Oh, how I have yearned to follow in his footsteps.

It was not to be so.
No matter where I ran,
because this life has been a series of marathons.
No matter the hiding place, the light of Jesus
would illuminate the path directly to me.
No matter the place the wounded would come.

I'm not blessed with the healing of animals like my
father or the healing of bodies like my mother.
My gift and curse is the healing of  the intangible...
of the spirit. 

Five years ago I traveled to a dark place.
The journey dropped me to my knees and tested my
resolve to continue my disobedience and neglect  of a
nagging God-size vocation. And yet, I continued
to run,

I changed jobs, made it a point to lay low, try
to make myself invisible, and ignore the call. 
It was not to be,  every
single evening as I exited my homeward exit
off the freeway. The local university billboard mocked,
"Live Your Purpose."  Mr. Lee says he could always tell
when I  arrived at this destination crossroads,
in our phone conversation, because apparently I would sigh. 
And he would ask, "Are you living your purpose?"


La Posada Hotel, Winslow, AZ

 




















Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Reflections: Road Tripping

Port Hueneme, a sweet destination.
The Get Along has been tired so
very tired. To gain some control, of
what I can't control, my mind calculates
through making of lists.  Eventually,
I have to quiet my mind by get out of bed to
write the stupid list.  The mind and body was
expressing it desire to escape.


Off with a loosely prepared plan, the Remnants of the Past 
vintage show Queen of Arts Show and Sale, and a bike ride.



Such a happy and blessed family.
Laughing in fits as we pedaled to the beach.





























Walked to the coastline.














Watched the sunset.














This family is the cocoon of peace.  We don't take anything
for granted and know we are blessed.  In no time, they will
be grown and on their way, but for now they are ours.
Squeeze every ounce of joy from
each day. 

Monday, November 14, 2016

Fat Girls Get Things Done

There has been a lot of ranting on Instagram.
Most of it election related.  There aren't
enough words.  But, there are actions like making
donations and wearing safety pins.  Smile and
greet strangers, it will be easier as we enter the
holiday season.

My favorite  rant has been #fatgirlsgetthingsdone. 
It's intended as shaming but I'm embracing
it because it's also true. When you are fat, short and
disabled, like me, there is very little that people
can say to hurt you.  For the most part, strangers
don't make eye contact and are all thumbs. It's
okay what I have is genetic and not catching.

I'm fat, not making any excuses.  Emotional
eating is my bubble wrap and helped me survive
years of excruciating physical pain as my spine fused.
Emotional pain as my mother's health and mind failed.

You betcha this fat woman gets things done.


Junk in the Trunk Show September 2016


Friday, October 28, 2016

The Magic of Roadtrips


Mr. Lee and I marvel at the road trip time machine.
We leave before the crack of dawn.
The neighborhood is quiet and pitch dark at
3:00 a.m.

By 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening the Get Along is safe
and sound all tucked in at Pumpkin Cottage.  We
pack so much fun into one day that it feels like
a week.  Do you ever feel like that?



















Thursday, September 1, 2016

A Day to Remember

















House Vintage...Debi Beard



You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

                                                         On Marriage - Kahlil Gibran

Happy Anniversary to my precious partner.


Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Lifetime of Chances


One of the porches at Second Chances Barn
in Fallbrook, CA.  Wonderful venue, super
friendly people, be prepared to be surprised. 
Make room in your vehicle.













































26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were 
when you were called. Not many of you were 
wise by human standards; not many were influential; 
not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the 
foolish things of the world to shame the wise; 
God chose the weak things of the world to shame 
the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this 
world and the despised things—and the things 
that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29  
so that no one may boast before him.
                             NIV 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 

My entire life I have prayed on my calling. 
It's been a slow pathetic attempt.
 
Many tears and disappointments.  I know 
my call and given the opportunity I will 
walk through the door.  

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

My Angels in Vista, CA





































Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for by so doing some people have shown
hospitality to angels without knowing it.

                                  NIV  Hebrew 13:2

It's common for me to feel goosebumps 
while I pray.  I love the feeling, I imagine 
I am in the presence of God.  It's like having a chill
and then warming up in the bright sunlight.  
The goosebumps are encouragement 
to press on in contemplative 
prayer.  

There is  a great need to pray.