Back to the Roots

As I recently moved back to my hometown, it's like entering into a new culture. After living the city life for so long, I laughed as I noticed I didn't know how to slow down here. I bet it takes about a year!!
Some musings on the difference between here and there:

People in the city are out and about more...literally out on porches, working and say hi and strike up a conversation.
In the country, we say HI, but in the suburbs, people are mostly in their house. Whenever I walk, I feel like I am the only one on the planet in the neighborhood.

In the city, I would have guys yell out the window. Here guys, smile and say HI.

City- DIVERSITY. People don't look like me.
Here- not much. People look like me.

Country- When I can go in the backyard, cross the creek, and discover a hiking trail and walk it with my cup of sweet coffee without seeing another soul and seeing many varieties of birds and some deer.
City- When I can get in my car and go to the local coffee shop full of people and see people walking dogs.

Country- Family value. Eating together...the classic meat n potatoes, roast and mashed potatoes meal and always a big pitcher of iced tea, especially on Sundays. Playing games at meal time.
City- Visiting friends houses for meals and visiting cultural events.

Country- In a way, country talk and city talk seem similar. I see my family pace similar to the pace of the culture I came from in the city.

Country...um, Confederate Flags:(.
City....Black Lives Matter Yard Signs

Country...WalMart Clothes shopping
City....Awesome vintage and resale

Country...Hard work, and nice things; wealth
City...more visible poverty

Country- light colors of dress
City- Black dress

Country- absolute quiet at night, stars, and calm
City- Absolute NOISE at night, cars driving by, and busy

Country- BE, BE, BE
City- DO, DO, DO

Country- "them" and conversation with racism twinged statements
City- Positive conversations about racism; honesty

Country- the one and only drive through "Hit N Run" with frozen cherry Pepsi's
City- Café Style QT's

Country- little donut shops and a church on every corner
City- Quaint coffee shops and bakeries on every corner

Jesus on a Chain

Walking in the activity center where I used to work today, I am hugged on the leg and greeted by a small person, a cute face asking if I could walk him upstairs. I am busy talking to a teen artist telling me about how he is learning to airbrush and starting his own clothing line. The little guy runs off and I get to listen to a teen who, before, didn't have much motivation for his amazing artwork, now excited about cultivating his gift.

Just around the corner, a little boy with a gold chain comes up to give me a hug. I kneel down to ask him his name and come eye to eye with a person on a medallion on a chain. It looks to me like an Egyptian pharaoh. I ask him what it is, and he says, "Jesus." I ask him to tell me about Jesus, and with wide eyes, he says, "He turned water into wine!" "He parted the water." I ask him if he knew what Jesus thought about kids and told him the story about the disciples telling the kids to get away from Jesus; that they were bothering him. Jesus never was too busy and always had time for the little people thinking they were very special!
"Nuhuh, that's not true!" this little boy says indignantly. "Oh yes it is" I say as I get to tell him it's because kids are special. He is special.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 16:18

Carrying the Load

Today I happened to look down on the kitchen floor to what I thought was a spec of dirt. Well, dirt doesn't move and as I squatted down to get a closer look, what I saw made me think. A large ant was crawling, but couldn't crawl as fast because there was a piece of lint stuck to his back right leg. As I examined the ant, God reminded me that is how we are. We can carry around burdens that slow us down.
As a woman, I have often thought I have to do everything for everyone, which I am learning is just plain exhausting. I am learning, bit by bit, to take care and then care for what I can...not everything. Also, letting the little things be little things and not turn into bitterness, unforgiveness, regret, or anger. These are heavy burdens to carry! To have these buried landmines in my heart affects my health and the relationships with others around me. It's like a volcano and when I have talked with the person instead of ignoring things, I have found that over time, the relationships gradually improve as trust improves.
All that from a little ant. I love how God uses the everyday things..


Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1


“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22).

What's up with the RITZ?

Well, back in my home town here..in Illinois and I never remember RITZ crackers being so popular when I was a kid. Now, they are everywhere. This may not be funny to anyone else, but I said to myself, "If I see another box of RITZ crackers, I am going to create a blog post!"

Lo and behold, in the checkout line at Walmart,,,there it was RITZ! I mean, how many of these can you eat in the cold season? I have to admit, I do like them with cheese and summer sausage, but my sister and I were not raised on them. We were from a health food family, which I am grateful for now. I'm talking applesauce with pizza type of family. One vegetable or fruit with every meal and NO SODA!!

Anyway, back to the RITZ. I saw them on my family's dining room table for a straight  month, at Schnucks, in pantries, and at the front display at Walmart. I had to smile as I am just thankful for the little things; small crackers in a small town.