A Little Older, Worn Out and Loved

Rocky reading my Bible on the patio

Several years ago husband build us an enclosed patio with a pond and a fountain. There were many reasons for the enclosure. We hid from the neighbors. I wouldn't lay in the sun when the neighbors could see me. The enclosure gave us the feel of being away from home. The pond and fountain brought a soothing quiet to our day. We enjoyed our time of togetherness-sometimes I slept on the swing and he snoozed on a lounge chair. Awe, peacefulness. Then husband died. For six years I did nothing inside that patio except let the weeds grow. This spring friend Pebbles said, "This is such a haven." With her encouragement and help, the weeds are gone. Pebbles planted my tree and two lilac bushes and I added succulents in the planter.

Of course, a patio needs a table and chairs-I'd given away the beautiful swing and thrown out the messed up lounge chair.

To several friends I said, "I need a table and chairs for the patio...cheap or free." Sure enough, Jake and Jeanie found this, picked it up and delivered it to me.

"I'm so sorry we didn't see the scratches in the glass," Jeanie said.

You know I'm thrilled with this set, the umbrella works great, the chairs are comfy and Rocky and I don't care about the scratches. If we have visitors we can use a table cloth, but then our dishes will cover the worn spots and no one will notice.

In the cool of the morning, we do have those once in awhile in Omaha, I enjoy sitting on the almost forgotten patio, drink coffee and read my Bible. Rocky nudges my arm and then wanders off to try and catch a bird or two while they play in a tree outside his reach.

My first tomato this season

Today I say thank you for the gifts of love: Husband for the patio years ago, Pebbles for reminding me to enjoy the sanctuary and her help in the renewal of the space. Thank you to Jake and Jeanie, too. My table and chairs are a treasure. I’ve decided they are like me—a little older, a bit worn, but those who care about me overlook those scratches and wrinkles and love me anyway.

Photo by Pat Mingarelli 

And guess what? My guests will have homegrown tomatoes from my flourishing tomato bush.  Sign me: Still Lionhearted, Kat

Pasquale (Pat) is with Wordsowers Christian Writers.  Check out his photography if you are interested in a new headshot for your author page or business cards. 

Don't forget the July 28, 2016 is another time for writers to come together for a monthly meeting at the Swanson's Library, 6-7:45 with an afterglow (fun get together) at Village Inn on 79th and Dodge following. 

How Did I Survive Diapers and Kid Schedules?

Paddy Dog Ready to Race after a Rabbit 

Paddy Awfulous O’Reilly died in August 2013, only a day before his fourteenth birthday. After spending those last minutes crying over him, I said I’d never have another dog.  Husband always did the potty training and the exercise with the dogs we owned, besides, it takes a lot of time to take care of a dog. 

We all know, you don’t ever say never, right?

When the young man stood at my doorstep and said, “I’ve got to get rid of Buddy, but I don’t want him to go to just anyone,” I still didn’t want a dog. But then I’d always said, “If I ever did get another dog, it would be a Border Collie. They are so smart.” For months after Savannah heard me talk about Border collie she sent me pictures of BC puppies. None of them tempted me.

But Buddy (now Rocky Balboa) from next door, well, he wormed his way into my heart in minutes. He’s such a good dog, gentle for his 75 pounds and he’s good company.

Somehow in the three years between Paddy’s death and Rocky’s in, I forgot big dogs shed.  They play in our backyard and drag in dirt and muddy footprints.  They demand food and water. They need space to pooh in the backyard—and since husband isn’t here, I’m the number one pooper-scooper-picker-upper.  (Yes, I have a plastic gizmo, but the smell in the heat gags me. How did I survive diapers with three kids?)

It’s now seven weeks since Rocky moved in. I still have a box on the couch—yes he tried couch sleeping. The TV room has three stuffed toys and a dog bone right in the pathway from Front Parlor to kitchen—yes, that’s his play area. Every morning instead of sitting in my comfy recliner I sit on the floor with a lap robe over me. Rocky snuggles next to me while I read my Bible—he likes his comfy, next to Mom time.

Sometime each day I remind Rocky he is a gift to me from God. He is lots of work. We don’t have a real schedule to get all his mess cleaned up yet, but he’s company. He came already trained and he’s big enough to scare away most burglars.  

Unforgiveness grows like the Kudza Vine

These story telling moments are not perfection, they are meant for me to share with you—heart to heart. Like if you were sitting in my living room. Well, actually, we’d probably sit on the glassed in front porch or my enclosed deck with a wonderful patio table, chairs and umbrella.

Kudza covering my trees while
I partied in Hawaii. 

I mentioned my tear filled day a few days ago. It truly happened because someone overheard their name mentioned and asked another person what I said. It all grew huge like Kudza vine that covers my trees in ten days or less. 

At my age I know better than to say the name of someone if I haven’t said what I plan to say to that person—does that make sense? Hope so. I’m in a hurry. But fact is I did speak without thinking about how my words could hurt.

If you don't know about Kudza, it takes over whole yards and houses if left alone. Well, I didn’t know if anyone knew anything about anything about what I said, but I knew I knew and I better stop the vine before it covered my friend. 

On the tear jerker day I tried to talk one on one with her. It didn’t turn out well. I prayed, cried and felt bad all weekend.

The next week I asked one of the powers that be to listen in while I spoke with my friend. I apologized and asked forgiveness. My once good friend spilled her anger. The anger steamed, but I could also see the pain and hurt I’d caused her. She finally said, “I just don’t know what to do about it.”

The wise man, the powers that be person said, “When my wife and I disagree and can’t find an answer, we stop and say, 'Can we just start over.'" He looked at both of us. “I can see how you are both right and both wrong, but you are kindred spirits, believers in the Lord.”

My friend said she’d felt miserable all weekend and agreed scrub the Kudza at the roots and start our friendship over- to forgive and go forward. She hugged me. We both cried.

The Lord’s Prayer talks about forgiveness. The Message Bible says, Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.  Matthew 6:12

The good news is, neither of us let this fester into a vine seeking to destroy us. e both knew we needed to pray and seek God’s guidance. You know forgiveness is such a big load lifter. 

Still Lionhearted, Kat

PS In 2010 I flew to Oregon with my mother. Kudza vine covered every bit of fence around my house. I paid Savannah and her friend to pull the vines down. They tagged it "The Devil Vine." Good analogy, huh? 

Mother's Day Quilt and Workplace Missions

Mother's Day 

For Mother’s Day my daughters blessed me with a wonderful quilt and quilted shams. From the photo you can see the wallpaper and quilt don’t complement each other. The first night sleeping with the wonderous quilt I decided I’d paint the walls, but what color? White is blah.

The old drapes match the wallpaper so well, I hated to change anything. Years ago we tagged the bedroom “The Beautiful room.” Did I really want to paint and throw away the drapes?

In bedroom 

A week later I asked Marcy, “Okay, I’ve got to paint, but what color do I paint the walls?” She never gave me an answer, but one of those light bulb moments popped into my mind. “Why not change rooms? The guest-Savannah’s room has white walls and white sheers.”

See the underside pattern? 

With the help of two men, the beds were changed out and the beautiful room is still old-fashioned looking and will offer guests a great sleepover. (If I ever have guests.)

In my new room with the gorgeous quilt, two plants found a home on a bookshelf in front of the south windows. Lovely. Only life happens in spite of glorious gifts and change.

A few days after the move, I listened to Dr. Chuck Swindoll give a great message on my way to work. After I locked the car doors, I sent a prayer heavenward, “Lord, help me in my work place. Give me the heart of a missionary.”

Something inside of me broke loose. By the time I reached my desk tears threatened Why? I felt overwhelmed trying to hold back the crack in the dam. Yes, I’ve spent more money than usual in the last few months with the yard work and changes in the house, but hey, I’m living in the moment. I can save everything and not have fun or I can trust God, be diligent with my finances and enjoy life.

My emotions had nothing to do with bedrooms, changes or finances. I’d asked God to give me a missionary heart, one that cares about others, especially those I work alongside. My heart broke because I knew one of those friends in my workplace felt angry with me.

I emailed my daughters, telling them little about the circumstances, asking them to pray for me.

In only a short time I received an email from Marcy:

I will pray for you today. I have a card in my cube my mother gave me that says, “Hello this is God, I will be handling all of your problems and concerns today. That is my job. Your job is to give them to me, and then trust me.”

I replied, “Tell your mother she’s a smart woman and thank you for sharing with me.” 

Keep reading to find the answer to the problem I faced. 

My New Life with Rocky Balboa Crawford

 I figured out this week I must live for 200 years to get every fun thing I want to enjoy finished before I die. Yikes.

For those of you behind in the Lionhearted Kat world, I am the proud Mom of an eleven month old puppy. For those who know me well, you understand that after our Paddy dog died I said, “No more dogs ever again.” Well this is all Savannah’s fault and yes, she said I could blame her.

Our neighbors brought home a puppy on May 9^, 2015. They housebroke him, trained him quite well and then needed him out of their crowded house. The young man asked me if Savannah might want their “Buddy.” Nope. That isn’t possible, she already has Snookie dog.

I texted Savannah. Do I want Buddy? She texted, “Yes, yes, yes.” And continued to text me until I said I’d pray about another dog in my house. I’m not sure what the Lord said, but I finally said, “I’ll keep the dog overnight and see what happens.”

We neither one slept, but one night isn’t enough to try anything. By the second day I fell in love with the big black German Shepherd/Border Collie mix almost bigger than me. Daughter Marcy saw a photo and said, “If Dad were here, he’d name him Rocky.” So now Rocky Balboa Crawford and me are totally bonded and in love forever.

I told the neighbors, “I’m not sure if you owe me because I took your dog or if I owe you. You raised this puppy through the worst of the worst and I now am enjoying Rocky. He’s such good company.”

If you are interested in the rest of the dog story and my life full of fun, stop back again. I’ll share how God has blessed me over and over again.

Still Lionhearted, Kat 

Rocky Balboa Crawford
German Shepher/Border Collie Mix