Happy New Year sprinkled with Tears and Hope

Fort Mill, SC 2007

Writers are supposed to grab a thought,

sit down, and write.  And write...

But what if you have so many thoughts going around 

in your head that you don't know where to start?

That's when I let my heart--led by the Holy Spirit--take over.  So through the happiness of the holiday season,

many are experiencing sadness ... so ...

Sometimes we just need to cry, don't we?  

God sees our tears.  

He promises you that even through the blur of sorrow, 

a light of hope shines brightly--no matter what the loss.  

Even when tears fall, hope stands.  

God says to you, 

"I know the plans I have for you ... 

plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for HE who promised is faithful."  

Hebrews 10:23

Now, moving right along ...

For the last two years my "word" for 2021-22 was courage.

Definition: The choice to confront fear with confidence.

So I obeyed God and started "The Boardwalk Babes"

(with the *encouragement* of my friend Jessica)

((notice that *word* has courage right in the middle!))

I had no idea what I was doing but turns out to be

one of the biggest blessings in my life!

The BBabes are gifted, talented, giving, and kind.

I could go on and on but I'm trying to keep this short.

My "word" for 2023 is Daring!

I'm a RED* -- Retired-Extremely-Daring!

Definition: Willing to take risks. Bold and venturesome.

I have no idea what that holds in store, 

but I know it means that 

I won't be sitting around twiddling my thumbs.

To all who are out there in Blog Land,

I wish you an abundance of blessings for

a Happy New Year

and remember ...

Keep reading and keep that body movin'!

www.amazon.com/author/www.sharonleaf.com 

Traveling towards New Beginnings

From our house, to yours...
Happy New Year 2014!

Christmas is over but the Christmas spirit remains in our home.  I don't start taking down Christmas decorations until January 2nd.  The wonderful part is that I keep my winter decorations out until February...ice skate tree, ice skates all over the house; "Let it Snow" plaques; snowmen sprinkled here and there, and all items that sparkle.  These symbols warm my heart on cold winter days.  Call me silly, but I've been called worse.

New Year's resolutions?  I don't make them.  However, I will attempt to write more (finish "Lady on the Run"), eat less, love more, exercise more, read more.  And so the list goes.  I'm sure you will be attempting some of these too.  And while we attempt, with God's help and some deep discipline, let us not forget to reach out to help others, and to enjoy life.

I wish you a very happy blessed New Year and oceans of blessings!

And remember ...

You cannot discover new oceans 

until you are willing

 to lose sight of your familiar shore.

Photo by The Hobo's Photos 2013

www.sharonleaf.com

Dreams do come true!

Extreme makeover by granddaughter, Destinee
(make-up artist for Mac Cosmetics)

Happy 2013!

My year began with a dream of long ago coming true!  A silly dream for sure, but still, a teen-ager's dream that transpired in her 66th year.  I'm telling you this to encourage you that those dreams you forgot about and buried deep in a hole somewhere still have time to transpire!  Let me tell you my story in a few random thoughts.

When I was in ninth grade I tried out along with fifty other girls for a school fashion show.  Long runway in the auditorium, bright lights, the works.  I was a shy teen-ager, but something inside of me whispered, go for it.  So the next day, shaking from head to toe, I made my way down the runway in front of three women from Bobbie Lynn's Dress Shop.  
Note: I didn't realize until after the fashion show that the women were looking for specific measurements for the clothes to fit perfectly.  I had the right numbers:  34-26-34!  
Confession: This was the only time in my life that I was thankful for small boobs.  

The following week, as I strutted down that runway wearing four beautiful ensembles, focusing on holding my shoulders back, smiling big, and making sure I didn't trip, my mind was telling me, Sharon, you were born to be a model!  That night in my bedroom, I declared in my diary, Some day I shall model again!

... fast forward fifty-three years ...

Last month my neighbors invited me to the annual Golden Hills Garden Club Christmas dinner.  I joined the club, and two days later I received a phone call, asking if I would be one of the models in their annual January Fashion Show.  My heart raced as I answered, "I would LOVE to!"  I hung up, looked at the calendar and sighed, "I have three weeks to lose twenty pounds."  Yeah, right.

Last week at Mae's on Main,  I proudly pranced down the aisle towards a room full of sophisticated garden gals, and I tripped.  I quickly composed myself, smiled, and said, "Doesn't every famous model trip up once in awhile?"  And so the fun began ... I was living yet another dream.

I hope this year will be a time for buried dreams to rise up to the surface of your lives.  Old dreams, new dreams, God's dreams.  Some times we have to step out and take a chance, even if we trip up ... hopefully not in a room full of people.  I've learned over the years that laughter is the best medicine and not to take ourselves too seriously.  It was worth the little trip for me to see those women's faces light up and to hear their laughter.  And so it continued throughout the evening.

Being a runway model is exhausting!

Life is short and we never have enough time for gladdening the hearts of those who travel the way with us.  Oh, be swift to love, and make haste to be kind.

The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8 NLT


www.sharonleaf.com

Waving farewell to 2012!

MS Restoration sailing from the Black Sea to Israel in 1995

Let Christ navigate you through 2013

May this year be the year you wave farewell to your safe shore,

and dive into a new ocean of dreams that will lead you to your God-given destiny.

Through rough seas or silky waters, your Captain will guide you to safe harbors.

I wish you smooth sailing and oceans of blessings for the New Year!

MS Restoration crossing the Atlantic in 1994
(from Seattle, WA to Stockholm, Sweden)

(photos by Julie Langaker)

A Few Days after Christmas

Not a perfect Christmas tree, not a perfect Grama

The Christmas season comes and goes like a whirlwind, and before you know it, you're sitting by the fire with your empty coffee mug and wondering, Where did the time go?  I wanted to have my neighbors over for some Christmas cheer; I couldn't wait to go to the annual "Christmas Lights at the Zoo"; I looked forward to a road trip to Charleston to see their Christmas festivities; I had every intention of mailing a few Christmas cards ... the list goes on.  Didn't happen.  Perhaps next year.

I was drawn to my iMac to write down a few random thoughts after Rob and I saw "The Guilt Trip" with Barbra Streisand, and "Parental Guidance" with Bette Midler.  I'm not a movie critic, but for me, both movies had themes that most women my age (40+) could relate to.

Two topics that resonated from both movies--for me anyway--were respect and we're the other grandparents.  Listen to me, no matter how perfect we try to be, we all have quirks*, from the grandparents, to the parents, to the children.  Most of our family quirks we learn to ignore and even laugh at.  Some cut a little deeper.  (*If you don't know the definition of quirk, look it up on google)

As our kids turn into adults, we slowly turn loose of them so they can become who they are destined to be.  Even so, we still want them in our lives.  A simple phone call now and then brightens our day, sprinkles sunshine on the challenges we face in our own lives.  We don't have to agree on much, but a phone call means more than any present money could buy.  You don't have to agree with me, but please, respect me for who I am, your mother, your grandmother.  Now I can hear those amens coming through the wi-fi wires, loud and clear.  Not from the kids so much, but from you mothers and grandma's.

The other topic.  We need to stop comparing ourselves with the other grandparents.  After talking with a few of my friends, I realize that now and then we all go through the comparison thing.  My Mother always felt bad because she couldn't give expensive Christmas gifts like the other grandparents, but her grandkids didn't love her any less.  It was her laughter and silliness that we all remember about Mama Cook.  That's what I'm hoping my kids and grandkids remember about me.

So lets begin this year with this decision: I will not compare myself with anyone.  I will let go, and be me!  I will continue to respect my parents for who they are, and hopefully my children will respect me for who I am.  Like my friend told me, "When our family gets together for the holidays, its a madhouse!  But we're family, and that's who we are."  Well, said, dear anonymous friend.

So there.  That's all I wanted to say for now.  I wish you smooth sailing and oceans of blessings for the New Year!

www.sharonleaf.com