Five Minute Friday - Ordinary

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

Ordinary

The definition of "ordinary" is: Usual, normal, of no exceptional quality, average

Ha!

There is no such thing as an "ordinary" person. How can there be when you've been created by the greatest designer in the world?

God!

God does not create ordinary humans. No way. Each one of us is a unique creation. We were lovingly designed and built by our heavenly Father. We are all children of God. His GREATEST creation.

The next time you are feeling down or depressed. Maybe you aren't feeling successful or happy. Whatever the reason you are down, look in the mirror.

Really look at your reflection. Then thank God and give Him the glory for creating such an extraordinary person.

You are special.

You are unique.

You are loved.

There is no other person like you in the world.

You are You.

Image credit: icetray / 123RF Stock Photo

Five Minute Friday - True

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

True

Telling the truth, even when it's difficult, makes me feel like I'm always hurting someone's feelings. I don't always like telling the truth. But, it pops out of my mouth anyway. As if some unknown force is pushing it out of me.

When I was younger, I had no way to monitor my mouth and I told the truth about everything. I had no way to hide it.

As I've grown, I've learned to tender the truth with a bit of kindness and gentleness. I put myself in the other person's shoes and wonder how I'd like to hear the message. That helps.

I do have my moments where a white lie will push its way forward and spew from my mouth before my brain engages. The doctor will ask, "Did you take all your medication?" "Yes," I'll answer quickly. It's what the doctor wants to hear, right?

"Did you do all the physical therapy exercises, every day?" "Yes," I'll answer quickly, even though I got tired of doing them every day and stopped a few days before my appointment.

Why do I do that? I think it's because I'm afraid to disappoint someone.

Do you tell the truth all the time?

Five Minute Friday - She

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

She

The first time I saw her, she was just a tiny thing, wrapped in a blanket with a sweet little cap on her head covering her dark hair. 

She had large expressive eyes that took in everything around her. I held her close, whispering loving words into her ears that only she could hear. Then I placed her carefully into my husband's arms. He  held her close, while I hovered nearby. She never cried. 

She is so loved. Our first granddaughter. She is growing into a bright young lady. Already at the top of her class in pre-school. She is so excited about learning. She gives me hope for a better future.

I miss her so much, as she lives far away on the other side of the United States, in Arizona, while I live in Florida. I don't see her often, but I love to talk to her on the phone. She calls me "NeNe", has from the moment she could speak. It's endearing. 

She makes me want to be a better person.

STOP

Five Minute Friday - Red

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

Red.

I never thought I'd like the color red. But, with a black and white kitchen the red pops. I love red accessories. I have red mixing bowls. Red storage containers. Red dish towels. 

I dream of William-Sonoma accessories. I put them on my wish list in Pinterest. I love picking out items that I can have in my dream kitchen.

The rest of my house doesn't have anything red. Our bedroom is blue with soothing ocean themes. Our great room is filled with beach and ocean items. Shells. Pelicans. Sea birds. Paintings of ocean themes. Great herons. I love that room. We used to have a 400 gallon saltwater aquarium in it with lots of fish and rock. It was so soothing to look at. We kept it up for over ten years until we decided to take it down and add more bookcases. The one thing our house is lacking is more bookcases. I have books piled on the floor, tables, and open space available. I'm looking forward the wonderful cedar bookcases that will be built.

My office is a tranquil light green. My office is a place of balance and peacefulness for me. I have big boards full of inspirational quotes and pictures. 

Red. It has it's place in my life. It pops.

Stop.

Five Minute Friday - Worship

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

Worship.

I never was one to worry that if I wasn't in church God didn't hear me or love me. I know that God hears my prayers and my cries wherever I am, may it be in the stillness of my room or on a crowded highway.

Growing up, church was something that happened every Sunday. We went to church and Sunday School. I sang in the church choir. I went to church camp. Church was our life. I was baptized at the age of 13 and at the age of 16 I became one with my Lord and Savior through a very moving song we were practicing for choir. 

God loves me. He cares for me. He knows me. Where ever I am. 

Today, I still go to church on Sundays. I still go to Sunday School. And every week I join a women's Bible study group. 

But, those are the most important places I worship. My worship moments are more intimate. 

The first thing in the morning when I awaken and thank God for another beautiful day. The last thing I do as I rest my head on my pillow to fall asleep, I ask God to watch over my friends, family and loved ones. 

Worship. Moment by Moment.

Stop.

Five Minute Friday - Story

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

Story.

I don't know how my life story is going to play out. That's God's plan. And, I'm okay with waiting to see where my journey through life takes me.

I used to have to have to plan everything. Right down to the tiniest detail. I don't do that anymore. More times than not, my plans needed adjusting along the way. I wasn't perfect. And, I'm okay with that.

Now, I live my life day by day. I feel more fulfilled knowing I only have to get through today. I don't have to worry about tomorrow or next week. My story unfolds in front of me one day at a time.

In all God's glory, He knows I can only handle one day at a time. I am comforted knowing that God is writing my life's story and that He has special plans for me.

I'll be patient. I'll wait. I look forward to living my life's story, God's way. Following His path in my life's journey.


STOP.

Five Minute Friday - Broken

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

Broken.

Broken. The link between my brain and my fingers so that I can write is broken. I don't know exactly when it happened. I think it had something to do with the ECT treatments I had. But, I no longer have that passion and drive to sit and write every day and create novels. 

I'm broken.

Can I be fixed? I don't know. Do I want to be fixed? I can't honestly answer that question either. I'm liking the way my days are now, no pressures to write. No deadlines to meet. No angst in attempting to push my characters beyond their breaking point. 

I'm living a very well balanced life right now. Maybe I'm not broken after all. Maybe this is how a balanced life for me works. Life is good. I'm under little stress. I am happy. My hubby is happy. My pets are happy. It is what it is. 

I'm not broken. I've just been bent into a new direction.

I'm following a new path. A new road.

STOP.

Five Minute Friday - Fall

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

Fall.

I love those moments right before I fall asleep. I'm drifting down into the subconsciousness of my mind. The day's worries are far behind me. 

My mind focuses on the prayer I pray right before sleep. Sometimes i make it through the entire prayer before I fall asleep. Sometimes I don't. 

I float away on the softest of dreams, just starting. Not yet developed into full stories for me to enjoy and get wrapped up in while my body rests. It's so nice to dream again. I've had night terrors for so long after the ECT treatments and I was afraid to fall asleep. Afraid of what horrors my mind would conjure for me to recall in the morning light. What terrors would keep me from sleeping at all. 

But, no more. I have sweet dreams now. Real dreams. Fun dreams. I dream. That's the best thing about falling asleep. I fall deep enough that I can actually dream. I awaken the next morning happy and relaxed. Refreshed from a good night's sleep. 

People don't realize how much your body depends on a good night's sleep. Your body needs to recharge. Relax. 

Stop.

Five Minute Friday - Jump

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

Today was one of those days where I had to jump into action. First of all the power went out. A transformer blew at the end of our street. I had a doctor appointment that I needed to get ready for so I ended up taking a shower in the dark. If you've ever tried shaving under your arms in the dark, be so careful. I had to take it really slow. Then after I got dressed, I went out into the living room and found our hallway, wet room and around the 300 gallon saltwater aquarium flooded. The power going off reversed the pumps and they sucked water into the 100 gallon sump under the aquarium. More water than could fit flooded over the sump and onto the ceramic tile floor. Yes, we have ceramic tile instead of carpet for just such occasions. I had to use every spare towel we had to soak up the mess and I still couldn't get it all. Text messaging to hubby turned into a frantic phone call and him making the decision to come home from work and deal with it. What a mess! I jumped into action to get ready for my doctor appointment and headed out to the garage to leave in the Prius. Halted by an electronic garage door opener that didn't work with the power outage. So, I had to jump into action again by leaving out the front door and taking the minivan parked in the driveway.

Stop.


Click on the Five Minute Friday logo below and see what others have written for their prompt. Have a great day.

Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday - Beloved

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

"Beloved"

He's been in my life for nearly eighteen years. We've been married for over fifteen. He's my love. My beloved. My truly other half. My husband. He loves me so much it scares me sometimes the depth of his love. There are days when I feel I don't deserve his love. There are days when I can only subsist on his love. He's been with me and supported me through so many rough times. Through the various hospitalizations for Bipolar Disorder. Through all the treatments that worked and didn't work. Through my mania episodes and depression episodes. He's been my constant. My rock. My love. I'm not sure if I can ever describe to him or explain to him how much he means to me. Not to the depth of my emotions. There's just too much there that can't be explained. I adore him. I need him. I can't exist without him. Life surely wouldn't be worth living without him. 

Stop.

Five Minute Friday - Ordinary

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday.

Ready.

Set.

Go.

Ordinary

God's word lives within me

I used to think I was ordinary. Just a student. Just a mom. Just a writer. Just a grandma. Just a Christian. But, after going to Bible Class and learning about Living Stone faith, I no longer consider myself "ordinary". I am Extraordinary! I am loved by God. Jesus sacrificed His life for me. How amazing is that?

I'll never think of myself as "ordinary" again. Not when I walk with Jesus every day. Sharing my triumphs, my defeats, my troubles and my blessings. God is good. God is great. God made me extra"ordinary" in every way.

Sharing this with you is important to me. I didn't feel extraordinary so long ago. I fell into a deep depression, one so dark, I attempted suicide. God was there. He pulled me out. He saved me. And, now, I believe in Him with all my heart. He showed me the right path to follow. He actually put me in a position to see the sign for my neighborhood bible class. It was then and there I made the decision to walk in and join. God did that.

I am forever extra"ordinary" in every way. In God's way. I follow His path, His plan. He is writing a new story with me for me. My words are His words.

Stop.

Click on the Five Minute Friday logo below and see what others have written for their prompt. Have a great day.

Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday - Bare

It's time for the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday. 

So, today's prompt word was "BARE".

"I bare my soul every time I put words on paper. The essence of my life streams from my thought to actual words, sentences, paragraphs, until eventually they become stories.

With each word I seek in desperation another slice of my soul is shredded for my reader. I thank God that my soul is self-healing, and his love is all encompassing, otherwise, nothing would be left of me after I completed a book. Thank you, dear God, for letting me lean on you while I pour my bare soul into these books for my readers.

Dear reader, I give my all when I write for you. I hold nothing back. I bare my soul and extend it forward for your taking. My words are your words. My thoughts are your thoughts. My imagination is replaced by your imagination of the world I have created for you."

Until next Friday,

Five Minute Friday - Afraid

This is my first attempt at the "Five Minute Friday" blogging post. The inspiration comes from Lisa Jo Baker. 

What you do is set your timer for five minutes and write whatever you want according to the prompt Lisa places on her blog every Friday. Then you go back, link your blog and give support to those who posted before you. And, we connect on Twitter with #FiveMinuteFriday. 

So, today's prompt word was "AFRAID". 

I am naturally afraid of everything. I take that back, I worry about being afraid of everything. I am afraid my husband will get in an accident while commuting to work. I’m afraid my children will lose their jobs or have some terrible illness befall them. I’m afraid that my grandchildren won’t know love or happiness or the beautiful innocence of just being a child.

I’m afraid that some kind of illness will take over my parrot, Bailey, or my dog, Jack. I love them so much and they are so much of a support system for my Bipolar Disorder therapy and me that I don’t know if I could handle having something happen to them. I take anti-anxiety medication all day long, just to keep a tamper on my run away anxiety and worry and fear. It helps. It gives me hope that my fears are unfounded and just nasty voices in my head whispering my deepest fears to me when I least expect it.

I haven’t always been afraid. I used to ride sport motorcycles and ride on the back of my husband’s sport bike going 140 miles per hour. I loved the way I could stare fear down and have it back down, not me.  Those days are gone. Are you afraid of something in your life? How do you handle it?