Life is Good! (the "for real" post.)

 We've had our first puppy romps!

 They're really starting to have funny little personalities now.

They're so friendly and innocent and gun ho!

They romp and they frisk and they chase their shadows and bite each other's tails for about 10 minutes.

Then, they come to us and curl up by our sides - nestled in for a deep puppy nap. 

The world can be a big and tiring place.

Grass is pretty scary, sometimes!

You need someplace safe and warm! 

 Then, farmer Tom comes with the big basket and lifts them all back inside to their safe box.

  

Hmmmmm....I feel like I go through life like a puppy does.

I romp and play and work on growing. I'm very suspicious that I chase my tail or my shadow an awful lot. In reality, I've had some serious slices of pain and frustration. I've had some long seasons of hopelessness and fear.

But,

I've hung on and see that life is good! It is a gift!

I love life!

 I definitely need someplace safe and warm to rest, though! Some place, like, a sunny spot! (Ah haaaaa!) That's partly what I'm doing here in blogland. I want to encourage others with how good life is. I want to provide an emotional and mental respite.

I was just questioning, though, if I was a little crazy.

Does anyone care about the things that make me happy?

What am I doing?!?!?

Then, along came a friend....

a friend who has an amazing ability to very eloquently put into words what she's seeing and thinking and feeling and, heigh ho, at the same time, she puts words to my heart.

(how does she do that?!)

Very cool!

Well, this friend came along just as I was wondering if I'd completely lost hold of my senses when I'd started to blog and she offered me some loving encouragement.

Do you wonder how she did that?

You can see....

She gave me the Life is good award!

Thank you, thank you, Alina!

This really touched me!

However, along with great encouragement comes great responsibility!

I must answer ten questions.

(hopefully, whilst not putting you to sleep - eek!)

Here goes....

1- How many pairs of shoes do you own? 

   Funny you should mention that. (My son, who is sitting here with me, thinks that I have 4.) I have no idea.  I can barely give a thought to shoes.  There are so many other exciting things in this world! I wear my shoes until they just won't stay on my feet anymore. Sometimes, at church, someone will slip me some money and suggest that I buy new shoes. I have to decline and explain that I will probably spend that money on dishes before I ever get to the shoe store.

I think that I'd better do something about my current pair that I wear the most, though.

I was thinking of the bright green ones, this time, that have little dragonflies on them.

(I don't wear this pair to church on Sunday, though!)

2- What foreign countries have you visited?

    I have been to Mexico in some very, very poor areas on a missions trip. We went down to help at an orphanage and a local church for a week when I was in High School.

   I went to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. On a two week whirlwind tour that was wonderful and unforgettable! Whilst there, I kissed the Blarney stone, which may explain a lot.

    I've been to Quebec City in Canada. We went up to see the Messiah performed in a beautiful cathedral there. The mezzo soprano was absolutely stunning.  She was riveting, not only because of her liquid tones but, also, because of her passion and dramatic expression. She made the arias come alive like I've never heard anyone else do, quite like that! We, also, briefly, had fun in the french part of town.

3- Which day of the week do you like the most and why?

     Are you joking? I never know what time it is!!! No kidding!  It's all a blur. I know what the light is doing, though. My favorite part of the day is evening. You know, the beginning of Howard's End when she's walking through the lilacs? ~ that time! Although, I love a cheery morning and a rainy afternoon, too!

4- If you had one word to describe yourself, what would it be?

     I'm a lover.

5- What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?

     The very best things have all centered around being near to God. They're times of prayer and ministry that everything else in this world pales in the comparison with. He is the utlimate sun that shines on me. Everything else feels cold without my Jesus!

     On a simple level, though, the day we closed on our house (May 30, two years ago) was like walking in an incredibly happy dream!

6- What crazy things do you dream of trying someday?

     Really crazy things like, learning to knit and taking a walking tour of the Cotswolds someday. (You never know .... it might happen....)  I do have a dream, though, of making a CD of Chansons (i.e. Faure).

7- What three things would you take with you to a deserted island?

     My bible, my pillow and a friend with  good problem solving skills and a "can do" spirit!

8- What is the one thing that you love the most about yourself?

      I have atmospheric intelligence. (you know, like some people learn well verbally or visually and they have verbal intelligence, etc.) I'm a musician and a princess. =]

9- What do you do when you are feeling sad or depressed?

     Well, that's easy!!! I hold a puppy!

     Okay, so, when I don't have puppies, I go for a walk or sit in a sunny spot (and) or read one of my decorating magazines.

10- What is your idea of fun?

     Playing the piano for 8 hours a day. (weird, I know!)

     Scrabble! (weirder still, I know!)

     Museums!

     Adventures with my kids!

     You know what's really fun, is spending slow hours with someone(s) you like. I love having people over for some sort of respite (food) and then sitting and letting the conversation unfold with lots of stories and laughter or time spent playing board games, etc.

See!

Life is pretty good!

Now, I must pass this award on to someone else.

Of course, there are many blogs that I love and follow. I decided to just pick one and, then, from there, the choice was easy.

Let me tell you why.

Her last few posts have been about:

Counting your blessings, the treat that a well earned bar of chocolate with raspberries and a bouquet of flowers is, red~white~and blue, the seaside, hatching out baby chicks and making scones, etc.

See what I mean?

She knows aaaaaaaaaaallllll about how life is good!

Visiting her blog is lovely, lovely, lovely!

Are you wondering who this well adjusted individual is?

It's

Bertie Meadows

Photo from Bertie Meadows

I appreciate your blog, Bertie!

 (I will attach ten questions at the end of the post if you're so disposed to share or just take 5, if that's more practical. If not, please, feel no pressure.)

Well, thank you, Alina!!!

Thank you, everyone, for letting me share!

 

 If there were any questions from up above or down below that you just know how you'd answer it for yourself, I'd really, really love to know what your thought was!

Love, Katy Noelle xo

P.S. Alina's wonderfully atmospheric blog is The Purple Caravan

Ten Questions

1. What is your favorite dinner to eat? (whether you have to cook it or not, is beside the question)
2. What is your favorite color to wear and/or decorate with?
3. What is your favorite fictional character?
4. If you could be one person for a day (to see through their eyes - experience their world) who would it be?
5. What is your favorite spot in your home?
6. Where is your favorite place to visit? (it could be for lunch, a day, a vacation.)
7. What was your favorite stuffed animal when you were little?
8. Do you like ice cream? (this is a test!)
9. What would you do if you had 500 pounds (she's from GB) to spend on anything you wanted to?
10. What is your favorite time of day?