Finish It 2

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This is the second story beginning for “Finish It” by Author S B Mazing.

How was it possible that she ended up here? She was so careful, followed the rules and took no risks whatsoever.

How many times had she had asked herself that as she looked at the final divorce papers. She had done everything she knew to have a good marriage and now her fifteen year marriage was ending. Paul had found someone he thought “better suited him.”

Her mom hugged her close when Hannah showed her the divorce papers. “Oh, my sweet child,” she had said, “I am so sorry. Sometimes the other person turns our care, our rules, and lack of risks on their heads. There are always risks in human relationships. We humans are so self-centered, even when we are at our best. It doesn’t excuse the bad that we do, but knowing that helps us deal with others’ failures. And our own.”

And as the months passed in waiting for the divorce to be final, she struggled between wanting Paul to return and never wanting to see him again. But unless God changed his heart, he wasn’t coming back. And it wasn’t fair to her daughters to keep him out of their lives or to try to make them hate him.

Her mother was her constant encouragement not to let bitterness control her life. “He is still their father and they want him to be part of their lives,” she counseled. “Besides, bitterness only eats you up.” She hugged Hannah often and then added her favorite quote, “ ‘Forgiveness releases the prisoner, which is you.’ My darling, look what God has done for you.”

Hannah didn’t want to hear that at first. How could she do that? Paul had ruined her life and the lives of their daughters! But as she struggled in prayer each night, praying for grace to not let her own heartache make her daughters’ lives harder, she began to find light wedging into her darkness. As the days put distance between the divorce papers and the present day, she watched her husband interact with her daughters. Her urge to yell at him softened.

One day, her twelve year old came to her. “Mom,” she asked, “can I ask you a question? It’s about you and Daddy.”

Hannah felt her throat tighten, but she nodded. “Of course.”

“My friend, Silvy–her parents are divorced. But her mom makes life miserable when her dad comes to visit and tries to keep him from seeing her. It is so hard for her. Mom, you don’t act that way.”

Hannah hugged her daughter. “Oh, my girl. Your Grandma said something to me when I learned that Daddy and I were getting a divorce. She told me her favorite quote: ‘Forgiveness releases the prisoner, which is you.’ Then she added, ‘My darling, look what God has done for you.’ I know you love Daddy and he loves you, even though he decided not to live here anymore. I wish it could be different, but it isn’t. So, I have learned to walk in that. I don’t want to be Daddy’s enemy.”

Her daughter smiled. “Thanks, Mom. I love you.” She paused and added slowly, her smile fading, “I love Daddy, too.”

Hannah smiled. “I’m glad.”

Her daughter kissed her cheek and skipped out of the room. Hannah reflected on what she had said. Life had not been easy the last few years, but light had penetrated the darkness. She whispered a quick prayer before she went back to her chores: “Thank you, Father, for your forgiveness and for your grace to me to walk in that same forgiveness. I may still hurt, but I am no longer a prisoner.”

FINISH IT

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Author S B Mazing is having a blog event! Join us! She is posting the beginning of a story. Go to her blog and finish the story! She has the instructions there.

She carefully opened the door, not sure what to expect. It had been a while since she has visited. Nothing was the way she remembered and when her eyes finally got adjusted to the dark, what she saw made her shiver.

All her remembrances of the past had been removed, as if she had never been there. Pictures, books, memory items–all gone. Instead, the room had been redecorated into a nursery. She slumped to the floor.

Her brother had invited her to come home; she was anxious to see the room that she had shared with her little sister before–she swallowed hard as tears welled up in her eyes–before the accident took her from them. She had been so young. It was so long ago, but yet like yesterday.

“I’m sorry, Sis.” Her brother’s voice invaded her thoughts. “But it was time to move on. And we needed the room.”

She struggled to her feet and glared at her brother. “How could you?” she sobbed. “It was our room! Have you forgotten her?”

Her brother shook his head. “I loved her, too. But she wouldn’t want us to go on like this,” he whispered. “We’re naming your new niece after her.”

Her sister-in-law stepped next to her husband. “Please don’t be angry. Join with us in our joy. Our little sister would have loved this.”

She pushed past them, angry.  “I’m leaving. I’ll see you–I don’t know when.” And she rushed out of the house.

As the weeks passed, she found herself staring at babies and children everywhere she went. She reflected on what the room had become. A nursery. For her brother’s first child. How he and his wife had agonized for a child, even before their little sister had been killed by the drunk driver. Thoughts of the new baby began to crowd out and dissolve her anger. She grudgingly admitted that she would love having a new baby in the family, that it would be neat to hold her and be part of her life.

She took out the picture of her sister and her that she carried in her wallet. Tears welled in her eyes. “Little sister,” she said, “I miss you. But you will have a namesake. And I will be part of her life, just as I was yours. I can’t be angry anymore.”

A smile crept onto her face. She took a deep breath and went to the phone, still carrying the picture. It was time to go home and visit her family. She dialed the number and waited for her brother’s voice.

A Country in Crisis—How Pop Culture is Devaluing Men AND Women

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What are commercials/current thought doing to our culture? Good read,

Author Kristen Lamb's avatarKristen Lamb's Blog

Meet the "Facelessbook Friends" Age and Invisibility

Back when I was in sales, we had a saying, “Say it once. Say it twice. Say it three times. Say it four times. Say it five times and they will believe.” Traditional marketing has hinged on this tenet for generations. The more people see product, an idea, etc. the better chance it will become “sticky” and meld into the collective consciousness.

This is also the foundation of any dictatorship, a concept those of us in political science called a “Cult of personality.” Propaganda is powerful.

Last post, I blogged about how seemingly innocent ads and blogs are anything but. Yes, I agree, some 20-something telling women over thirty they shouldn’t wear sparkles or eyeshadow shouldn’t affect how I feel about myself and frankly? It doesn’t.

She can go pound sand.

The problem is when an idea or attitude becomes SO pervasive that it translates into a…

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HAUNTING BEAUTY

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Gracing the landscape
Gracing the landscape

Bare trees don’t usually make us think of beauty. I never thought of them in that way. I was used to years of evergreens in the Pacific Northwest; it was beautiful there because it was always green.

However, lately I have seen beauty in those leafless trees, as bare branches reach into a bright blue sky, turning gold in the sun’s rays. Even more recently, I was taken by them swaying in the wind. As each tree’s branches blew back and forth, I was fascinated to see that they formed many intricate patterns where each branch crossed.

This reminds me of people. We are created in the image of God, but at times we are more like leafless trees than ones fully dressed. But as the Spirit of God blows, He can make us glow in God’s sunshine like we are gold. And as we sway under His influence, others may be able to see gracious patterns we create as we interact with others.

IMG_20150130_144817I am also reminded that in my winter of life, I may not look beautiful to others, but because I am alive, there can still be beauty. I especially think of the 101-year-old lady in the assisted living complex. She is in a wheelchair and never says much, but her smile is radiant. She is beautiful.

I have grown to like seeing barren trees in my yard and along the road. I love their haunting beauty.

How to Shop for Large Shoes Online

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I am reblogging this to darlenes corner.

Angelina Pelova (AKA Angie K)'s avatarNot Another Tall Blog

A few days ago I published my first guest post – for Isy B. Shoes’ website. It is with great pleasure that I now present their own guest post on my blog!

Isy B. Shoes is an online shoe shopping directory and community for women with big feet. They are dedicated to making shoe shopping easier and way more fun for women who rock a larger shoe size. Come join them!
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A RECIPE FOR FUN

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Four children, snow, and a day schools are closed–a recipe for fun!

I remember those days. But now, for me, snow is cold; I would rather sit where it’s warm and look at the beautiful white stuff. But my grandchildren had a ball!

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At first, it is just getting out into it.
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Then, they decided to dig out their sleds and take advantage of the hill.

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I’m glad they didn’t invite Grandma to go down the hill! I was content to take the pictures!

OVERCOME BY TECHNOLOGY!

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I recently had to contact support because of a problem with putting links my blog. I just couldn’t do it so the link would be right and connect correctly. Sometimes technology just seems beyond me and there is a big block in my mind. When I was a young, we didn’t have all the access to all the goodies available today, so it is a constant learning situation to walk through today’s ways of doing things. Then as frustration grows, it is hard to contain myself and make sense so the problem can be solved!

I am thankful on two counts. One, for the patience of support. I’m sure they got frustrated with me, but I’m glad they didn’t ignore me. I will probably face other issues and I like having them on my side!

But I am also grateful to God because when He lets these negative things come into my life, I begin to see things about myself that I don’t really like and I can begin to let Him help me change.

So back to my blog with more understanding. And with a new spirit of gratitude.