A Victorian Birthday Tea

A wonderful time was had by all.

There was dancing, singing, gifts and the special
birthday cake.

Before the cake we had tea. Constant Comment,
fruit punch and Lemonade. There were chicken salad
and egg salad sandwiches with the all time favorite
peanut butter and jelly sandwich, all courtesy of
Aunt Ruthie's Tea Room

A wonderful way to spend your 5th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Lindsey.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God~

Can You Read This?

letter writing is a dying art
Originally uploaded by Linda Cronin (away till Friday)

RoyaltyLady posted this at her blog and I just had to pass it on. As I told her I had no problem reading this as this is the way I type...This is MY brain at work!
Please enjoy and take time to visit Royalty Lady.


fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too.
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.

~~~^j^~~~

Have a grand day
and
Thanks be to God!

Uploaded on May 17, 2009
by Linda Cronin (away till Friday)

Valid Question

Orange Question Mark Button
Originally uploaded by jhhwild

Sue from In Him We Live And Have Our Being asked a valid question in my comments for the previous past. "[H]ow would you differentiate between blogging and journaling? I'd have a hard time doing so; it seems that, at minimum, it would be easy to "blur the lines" between the 2."

And so I pondered this question. I agree there is a fine line. And perhaps my best answer comes this way. The blog, A Bit of the Blarney, is my home for public discussion and friendly banter with time for serious communication.

The journal, Provident God, is my way of separating the frivolity from a serious time of reflection. And because sitting with paper and pencil in hand does not work for me. I have chosen to exchange paper/pencil for keyboard/monitor.

And so you see the key word here is "separate." Blog/Journal is my way of keeping separate two different worlds for me, the public and private. The Journal is private in as much as I choose not to add comments to the post and those who wish to comment on a particular reflection may do so by email. The Blog, my public domain, is where I have not placed any restrictions on my offerings.

It seems it's simply a matter of semantics. I have chosen to call these two worlds by different names in order not to confuse me. In one I can focus on the inner me. In the other I can be frivolous, witty (?), and/or serious. Friends may stop to add to the "blarney" and share it with all.

So, Sue, I say, "Thank you," for asking me the difference. And what I have come to see is that my journal is an extension of my blog.

Have a grand day one and all.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!!!

Picture by ihhwild

Hoping

Hoping this is just another step in my life as a maturing Christian, I have started another blog, simply for journaling. It's called Provident God, and a place I know I can go to put down my feeling.

Since I have failed in journaling with paper and pencil, perhaps I will be more successful in this media. I HOPE so. I would invite others to do the same. It is not for validation, support or justification. It is simply my thoughts on my personal journey for me. If others find themselves at Provident God and wish to comment they may do so via email.

I would encourage others to reflect in this way, either in this media or with paper and pencil. All of us need to look inside and learn a little more about who we are. It's not always a pretty picture, but you can't fix anything without looking at it.

So now I have two blogs...I hope in this case "expansion" is good. Please stop by Sailing by Starlight and Holy Experience who have wonderful examples to offer.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!!

Just a Mom

Again the wise have entered my world. I'm as sure as I can be that there are those of you who have already seen this Bit of Wit-n-Wisdom. But for me it is new. Offered to me by a friend I now offer it to you.

JUST A MOM

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office,
was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a ..?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom.'

'We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,’ said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in m midair and Looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest, 'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?)
And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, Testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mum.' Motherhood! What a glorious career specially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers 'Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations?' and great grandmothers ‘Executive Senior Research Associates?' I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts' Associate Research Assistants

Anonymous

~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~

So by way of sharing some of the research I have been part of the last week I offer you all an opportunity to do the "Hokie Pokie" with Lindsey and all at her Birthday Tea last Saturday. Being the 'Senior Research Associate' I must commend Annie, Lindsey's Research Associate, for having planned a most successful "project.!"

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!