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One of the things that makes life so sweet is sharing time together in little ordinary ways that, when you're together, become extraordinary.



We love grocery shopping together. It usually begins in produce with mushrooms and peppers. We laugh at ourselves because we aspire to be green, but, as usual, we have left our canvas grocery bags in the car.



Before entering, we recite what we're going in to buy. We tell ourselves that will be IT. We know we are lying. Inside, we select our produce and wander around with our cart. He drives. In my area of the deep south, we call them "buggies." He insists that they are "trollies."



We cannot resist good cheeses and fresh tuna. He has a pretty serious chocolate habit, so dark chocolate always manages to sneak its way in when I'm not looking. We pick out something to surprise the girls, and we're always teasing, laughing, and generally goofing off. I can't think of a single time we've shopped for groceries that wasn't fun. And I think, "I'm happy. We're happy...genuinely happy."

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PandorasBx
19:00 Jul 31 2010

Sounds magical, I'm happy for the both of you.

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Joli
19:18 Jul 31 2010

Better, I think...because it's just real.

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Requiem
20:01 Jul 31 2010

Reading this, sugar, gives me all kinds of smiles. =)

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xxEmaeraldxx
21:21 Jul 31 2010

I must post over some of my chocolate chip cookies lol, they are seriously chocolately... happy to hear it is all working out over there :)

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Vampirewitch39
21:31 Jul 31 2010

Both of you are blessed with the other. :)

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BubbleGumClaudia
06:23 Aug 01 2010

AWWW he's a sweetheart.......you two are so cute together

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Nightgame
20:37 Aug 06 2010

Thank you for sharing this, it brings a great big smile to my face just imagining you laughing your way through the market. I'm very happy for you both.

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Rough, rough day yesterday.



Today at work, we had music playing as usual. We keep it fairly low and I'm barely aware of it, if at all. I realized I was singing while working and it was along with a hymn that was on. I vaguely remembered a tragedy associated with its composition, so I looked up the details.



Source: Wikipedia



"It Is Well with My Soul" was written by Horatio Spafford after a number of traumatic events in his life.



First was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer).



Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire.



While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.



"When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know,

It is well, it is well, with my soul"



That wasn't the end of his story. The Spaffords later had three more children, one of whom (a son) died in infancy. In 1881 the Spaffords, including baby Bertha and newborn Grace, set sail for Israel.



The Spaffords moved to Jerusalem and helped found a group called the American Colony; its mission was to serve the poor. The colony later became the subject of the Nobel prize winning Jerusalem, by Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf.



I needed this today. Yesterday was bad. If I had a pistol, I'd at least wing yesterday in the shoulder, but I'm only in charge of my small lot in life. I need to face the reality of what is and what is not and to understand that I cannot influence everything, sometimes not even a son or daughter and what happens in their tomorrow.



What I can do is allow peace to attend me through the swells of heartache that are assured if I live and breathe. I can find joy on the other side and be good with that because it is well with my soul.

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Morrigon
21:08 Jul 28 2010

I must learn that song..

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birra
23:14 Jul 28 2010

Amazing what people can overcome.



Makes some of my own self-pity seem pretty damn selfish and insignificant...

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BubbleGumClaudia
01:29 Jul 31 2010

You my dear are a treasure! I can see why Stabb grabbed you up!! I fully give you kudos for this post!

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I have no words to describe this day effectively. I feel raw, as though all my nerve endings have been exposed for the world to see and jab at will.



I rarely feel helpless. Today I do. I needed better words and I had none. I needed something to sway an unswayable mind that is so dear to me. I'm crushed and heartsick.



And stuck here at work. For the first time, it is killing me to smile and carry on. I need to leave. How can I help anyone when my mind is determined to circle my own hurt?



Isn't it remarkable that on such days it can really appear that the universe is targeting you? This day has had little mercy, just piling one difficulty on top of the one thing that is killing me:



A 5 gallon water jug (for hurricane preparedness if you like irony) flooded my car. It smells like a wet dog.



I lost a car title for a vehicle we're donating to a client.



The $350 ad for our Center is going to publisher and I cannot get the proof right.



I have not one but TWO youth groups (BIG ones) that need direction and things to keep them occupied...marginal chaos, though appreciated.



After work, I have to drive an hour to do a client home visit out of area. I will need to focus and care about her troubles.



I need my faith and strength so badly today. But I feel small and ill equipped to take one more step.

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Vampirewitch39
19:47 Jul 27 2010

Ok- what did you do with my Joli? I don't know who this woman is but she is not the same one who has whipped butt getting money for those in need, who runs a charity with a smile, who has a kind word for all of those about.



The same woman who deals with her family illness with willpower and love.



Our Joli knows she is strong, that you take life on looking for that silver lining. Yes... clouds are about, but our Joli is the one who cheers us on, who will give you a hug and say "Life is good- look at all the great things you have going for you in your life."



So this Joli- the one saying she is ill equipped to handle things... that is going to be replaced with the powerful Joli that is full of grace and love. And a backbone of steel.



Take a deep breath in.... and do what you can. That is all anyone, even God, can ask of you. Not everything has to be perfect, it just has to be. How you handle it is what matters.



One day, one step at a time. At the end of the day you will know you did all you could.



*hugs*

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Morrigon
20:49 Jul 27 2010

You give me so much hope for this world and all of our hearts.



Who you are and what you do have changed my life.



Sucks about the 5 gallon water jug though... heh.

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LiamK
23:40 Jul 27 2010

Check your mail. According to the tracking number, there should be something there for you.

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Sinora
12:35 Jul 28 2010

I'd offer to slap you but Stabb might not like that :) Instead I'll just remind you that what your feeling is all about being human. Your very good at being human, so obviously your just having an off day, it will get better.

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School supply time!



We have a program at the Center that helps low income families to get public school uniforms, shoes, and school supplies - none of it with government money...all through private donations (some from people on this very site!)



Last night, Stabb and I went and bought out Wal Mart. Talk about a fun project...and people were asking us why we had so much and if we were teachers. That opened the door to be able to tell people a little about the Center. If I haven't said so lately, I love my job!