Anchored by Grace ~ Kimberly's Blog

Monday Meanderings...

Life is an interesting thing. One of the most fascinating aspects of it are the unexpected twists and turns it takes. Quite often we make our plans and decisions without putting much thought into them, and don't realize the impact they'll have in our lives.

I look back at some of the decisions I've made which have led me to where I am now, and I'm amazed at how often a trivial decision led to a major change. I don't really regret any of those decisions because all of them have led to me becoming who I am now, and I'm pretty happy with that person. The lessons learned from those decisions, however, have taught me the value of wisdom, prayer and discernment, as well as not making decisions thoughtlessly.

I hope I'm a wiser person today than I was 10 years ago, but only time will tell

One of my friends sent me the following which I found mildly amusing as well as containing an element of truth:

Proposed Democratic National Convention

2004 DNC Convention Official Program

6:00pm - Opening flag burning ceremony.
6:00pm - Opening secular prayers by Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton
6:30pm - Anti-war concert by Barbra Streisand.
6:40pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
7:00pm - Tribute theme to France.
7:10pm - Collect offerings for al-Zawahri defense fund.
7:25pm - Tribute theme to Germany.
7:45pm - Anti-war rally (Moderated by Michael Moore)
8:25pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
8:30pm - Terrorist appeasement workshop.
9:00pm - Gay marriage ceremony (both male and female couples)

9:30pm - * Intermission *

10:00pm - Posting the Iraqi Colors by Sean Penn and Tim Robbins
10:10pm - Re-enactment of Kerry's fake medal toss.
10:20pm - Cameo by Dean 'Yeeearrrrrrrg!'
10:30pm - Abortion demonstration by N.A.R.A.L.
10:40pm - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
10:50pm - Pledge of allegiance to the UN.
11:00pm - Multiple gay marriage ceremony (threesomes, mixed and same sex).
11:15PM - Maximizing Welfare workshop.
11:30pm - 'Free Saddam' pep rally.
11:59PM - Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

As many of you know, I'm the absolutely-in-love-with-him owner of the cutest cat in the world, Riley

I was playing with my digital camera last Saturday and took the following photo of him

Isn't he adorable?

I've had him since he was 3 weeks old (he's about 6 now) and he's the best pet I've ever had. I know I'm a pushover for that little face, but he's the best cat I've ever had

I have a half-brother who was born when I was 15. I don't know him very well because his mom and my dad divorced when he was little, and his mom had custody of him. She remarried and moved to Kansas, where Rodney spent much of his growing up years. Well, my little brother is getting married at the end of July and my sister and I will be driving up to Portland, Oregon to attend his wedding. I'm not quite sure what I'm getting myself into, though, because my sister is planning to bring the little ones along - Eli, who'll be 1, and Ariel, who's 4. A 10+ hour trip in a van with two little ones! Plus 3 nights in a motel room...pray for my sanity

Today was a bit of a rough day at work. For most of the morning I dealt with a headache which was exacerbated by noise. And there was plenty of talking in the department which didn't help. I ended up going outside and sitting in the shade during my morning break which was really relaxing and renewing. I love being outdoors enjoying the greenery and being in the shade J I don't like being out in direct sunlight, getting hot and sweaty. I'd rather enjoy the day from the shade, a trait which drove my father insane when I was a child. I'm benefiting from it today, though, with a complexion that's unwrinkled...I look younger than my age, which is neat

I credit part of that to staying out of direct sunlight as well as the oily skin which I thought was a curse when I was a teen. People are shocked to hear that I'm nearly 39 (August 1st is my birthday - mark it on your calendar

) Most people think I'm in my early 30s. I hope it stays that way for a long, long time

Lunch was very relaxing. I drove to a nearby park and sat in the grass under an oak tree reading "Beauty for Ashes" by Dorothy Clark. I enjoyed the fresh air, the soft breeze soughing through the trees, the smell of the loamy ground, the birds and the absence of voices. I'm thankful I don't get this way too often, but there are times when the sound of a human voice grates on my nerves and I turn into a harpy in reaction. I'm not proud of that, and I try to restrain myself, but the best solution I've found is to get away from people and go sit outside somewhere, reading, relaxing, pondering God and praying.

It brings home to me the reality of Psalm 23, where David says of God, "He restores my soul." While being around fellow believers and in the house of God is beneficial, I've found the times when my soul is most restored and peace saturates my heart are when I'm outdoors someplace like the park I went to today, where I'm away from people and can rest in God.

One of my favorite places to do that is the Marshall Gold Discovery Park just outside of Coloma, off Highway 49 near Placerville. It's where James Marshall discovered gold in the tailrace of Sutter's Mill on the American River in 1848. Nearby there's a beautiful huge grassy field surrounded by pines, and it's one of the prettiest spots you'll find anywhere in California.

I bought some candles from a coworker who sells PartyLite merchandise, and am in love with this new fragrance. When I first smelled the new tealights last week my mouth began watering and I immediately began craving strawberries. The new fragrance is strawberry rhubarb, and it's to die for

Everyone loves it, and I think it's going to become my new signature scent for my house. I need to buy a supply of the tealights...I wonder if I can buy them online? Hmmmm....

This morning I planted some sugar snap pea seeds in a tub in my backyard. I'm hoping they do well, because sugar snap peas are a favorite snack of mine

The flower mats I planted don't seem to be doing well - I'm disappointed by that, but I'll learn and do better next year. For now I'll enjoy the flowers planted in containers on my porch and in my backyard

My father emailed me some photos of a pony he and my stepmom bought for the grandkids. She's a 9 year old American Miniature Horse named Tootsie, and looks absolutely adorable! I know my 4 year old niece Ariel is going to be ecstatic when she meets Tootsie

She's a natural in the saddle already, and loves horses as much as I did when I was a child.

My mom and stepdad have a menagerie - visiting them is always fun, and you never know what new pet they'll have. They currently own a number of birds including a Macaw and some smaller parrots as well as canaries, finches, lots of fish, a turtle, a number of Australian Shepherds from the days when my stepmom bred and showed them, 2 Pembrooke Corgis and a small black poodle named Cindy. I can't help but feel I've forgotten something!

The best part of the working day is 5pm, when it ends

And on that note, I'm done!

- posted by Kimberly @ 5:38 PM