Something Beautiful

Women, this post is for you. Men, feel free to read as well, but know that I am directly addressing women here. I'm in one of those moods where I feel like standing up on a soapbox and saying my piece even if no one agrees with me.  Several factors have contributed to this post, and it is something that has been stewing around in my mind for a while, so here is comes. I feel like I have license to say what I'm going to say because I am a woman, and as I already stated, I am specifically directing this at women. I apologize in advance if this post seems indelicate, but I am in a no-filter-say-what-you-mean kind of mood. I am sick to death of reading things about men's behavior. There's a whole range of them from the "How dare he hold the door open for me" type to the "Why aren't there any more gentlemen" type. I've seen them and read them. What I haven't read is anything addressing women's behavior. I am continually shocked by wh...

Happy Valentine's Day!!  Just a few thoughts on this day for you. I love Valentine's Day. I just love celebrating in general, so any excuse to have a celebration makes me happy. I was thinking this morning about this penchant I have for celebrations, and whenever I think about celebrating I always think about my Grandma Sylvester, a lady who celebrated every single holiday including flag day. I am so thankful for a legacy of celebration that has been passed down to me.  I'm going to be honest with you; I have not always loved Valentine's Day. In fact, there are several years, in the not-too-distant past where I would say that I hated Valentine's Day. As a single person on a "couple's holiday" I would just get very frustrated and depressed. But over the last several years, I have slowly been learning something not just about this holiday, but about love in general. Jesus said it is better to give than to receive, and I for one believe it. This is ...

Not all the time, but every once in a while, I get the opportunity to do something I have never done before, but secretly in the back of my head have always wanted to do. I had one such opportunity last night. I threw a dinner party. Now for those of you who know me, this is nothing new or unusual. However, last night was special because of the style of dinner party. It was a served, sit-down meal with seven courses. With the exception of the first course, I made the entire meal.  I got to make new dishes that I have never made before. I got to try my hand at several new things, as well as throwing in those old tried and true recipes. It was a delightful culinary challenge for me.  It wasn't until I was sitting down after the meal was over that I realized just how satisfied I was. I was satisfied because I had accomplished this task, but it was more than that. It was that feeling of having looked into the face of something that was challenging and conquering it.  An...