Hope

I was reading my June issue of the Ensign a couple of days ago. That's a monthly magazine published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There, on page 9, is a beautiful poem titled "Walking with Two Sisters" by Larry Hiller. I tried to copy the poem here, but there is a copyright issue. No can do. However, the entire article is available at the posted URL with the poem. Please read it. It was a wonderful uplifting thought about Hope. It's one man's perspective that really seems to explain what Hope truly is. I'm going to cut the poem out, laminate it and tack it to my bathroom mirror. I think it will be a great way to start my day.

The article, condensed by yours truly:

We all know the three sisters: Faith, Hope and Charity. Faith comes in strong and can move mountains. Charity is modest and refined. But Hope seems fickle, like she's unable to make a decision. The author, Larry Hiller, states it's based on the way people use her name: I "hope" I find my watch; I "hope" it doesn't rain. It's a 50/50 chance on what Hope is likely to do.

His interest in getting to know Hope was based on a scripture he heard quoted in a Sacrament meeting: Romans 5:3-5 (look it up or read the article). He didn't "get" the scripture and pondered it for a while. He finally came to the conclusion that "Hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience."

I love the way he describes Hope: "Her eyes have the deep, knowing look of someone well acquainted with sorrow...the confidence of one who clearly sees a bright future even when the next hours seem fog shrouded. Hope is steady and strong, a friend I am glad to have beside me during my own trials."

As I read this article, I wrote some thoughts on the page: Hope doesn't give up. Hope will always find a reason to go on. Hope knows something better is on the horizon; Hope diligently seeks for it. Hope lives in all of us. We just need to let Hope out more often.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=6a25ceb47f381210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Donkeys among us.

I don't use foul language. Not usually. Unless I'm REALLY mad about something. Then, forget about it. All decorum and politeness goes out the window. I'm trying to do better. Most of the time I succeed. That said...

This morning on my way to work, I saw one of my neighbors (theDonkeys) cut off another driver. You know the Donkeys. They're everywhere. I'm sure they've got a branch of the family living right next to you. Once I tell you their names, you'll say, "Oh, THEM. Yeah. I see THEM all the time."

First up, there's JACK,
and his sister IMAN (that would be pronounced "I'm an," not "E mon")
Next we've got the twins: HEZAN and SHEZAN
and the twins' older sibling: WHATAN
Last, but not least, the truck-driving cousin: HAUL.

So, how many Donkeys do you have lurking around in your neighborhood? Do tell.

Kindness of Strangers

Weird title for post, but I thought it was appropriate in a way. Saturday I was driving up the W road to go home. Almost to the top, I saw a "thing" in the road. Well, it turns out the "thing" was a turtle. It's neck was stretched way out and it was trying to get to the other side of the road. I straddled it and all the while was saying, "Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh," and cringing because I didn't want to smoosh it. I glanced in the rear view and saw it was still alive, just as my mother said, "You didn't hit it." As I looked in the rear view mirror, I saw three cars behind me. Not one of those three vehicles smooshed the turtle. Two straddled it and the third swerved around it. I'm at work on my lunch break and had to post this. I haven't been able to get that image out of my mind. People amaze me. You've got some that will kill over a "funny look" and others that respect all forms of life.

There's a song out with a refrain, "God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy." Pretty much sums it up.

(Well, not the beer part.)

allow me to introduce myself

Hello. My name is Teresa. I live in Tennessee. I opened this account in 2006 and have never used it. I'm going to jump in now because several friends are blogging and I'd like to keep up with them. Yeah, yeah, I'm a follower, not a leader. Whatever!

I'm also a funny, sarcastic, irreverent, twisted, oddball with a "unique" view on life. Hence the tag "Suck a Lemon." What the heck is that all about? Well, I just can't follow that trite old saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Who the heck carries sugar and a pitcher around with them where ever they go?! Hello people, not me! I've got enough crap to carry without adding to the burden. Not to mention, I'm just too darned lazy to go through the process of mixing and measuring and stirring and all that garbage that goes with "making lemonade." Forget that crap!

When life hands you lemons, suck on them and make funny faces! It's instant gratification and people will wonder what in the world you're up to. When tragedy falls on me, it usually lands right on my head and knocks me out for a while, leaving a huge goose-egg. However, I'm usually able to see the humor in the tragedy within a short amount of time (often as they're stitching me up).

I'm not perfect. (I only pretend to be. I figure if I tell myself how wonderful and perfect I am, I might actually hit the mark some day.) Oops, I digress. Sorry. As I was saying, I'm not perfect. Heaven knows I've got a nasty temper and a bad attitude. However, at the same time (how's this for an oxymoron?) I'm also loving, kind-hearted and nurturing.

I may initially be totally torqued about some perceived slight, freak out and go on a tirade about it. What I lovingly refer to a a meltdown. However, in couple of minutes it's over, I'm calm and rational. I can actually dissect the situation, realize I over reacted, apologize to whomever I've offended and go from there. Assuming that I was wrong; which most of the time I am. If I was right and I was wronged (great sentence, huh?), I don't hold grudges. I'm (usually) just as quick to forgive as I am to apologize.

I'm difficult to get to know. I have to "feel you out" to see if I'm going to be comfortable around you. But if I find that you are in my comfort zone, you have found a psycho-bizarre funny friend for life. I'm kind of like a 2-legged lab. You know about Labrador retrievers, right? One minute you want to kill it, the next minute your laughing your butt off because of its silly antics. Gotta love those labs!

I don't really know what else I could write. If you want to know anything, ask and if it's not too intrusive, I'll answer. The friends that I mentioned who are blogging? They're Bela, Amber, Lindsey, Melissa, Melanie and I'm sure I'll find some more as I wander around in cyberspace. If you happen to run into them, give them a hug from me and tell them to stop by and say hi.

Until the next time...