Mary's Heartbeats

I've got the best running shoes ever!  Running shoes were at the top of my list for this year's birthday gift.  I must admit though I was a bit skeptical of my husband's suggestion to order them off the Internet.  Usually, I go and try shoes on especially checking out the comfort and support for my feet.  But now I would have to just wait until they arrived.  The reviews were positive.  Putting them on was like wearing a snug stocking.  Actually, very comfortable as if you didn't even have a shoe on!  Instantly, I noticed there was no sensation of a thick heel, and to my surprise, it made quite a difference.  Trying them out for their first run was like running on air.  I couldn't get over how comfortable such a light shoe was.  No wonder these shoes are called "Nike Free!"  Plus, they are the color of a brilliant lime green!  Certainly, that will aid in guiding me on my path.  So, yes all has been quite well wi...

Looking into her eyes is looking through the years of history.  Those deep blue eyes were Granny's.  I remember how big they looked behind her thick glasses.  The glasses magnified  the sparkle of joy and humor always found within them.  She was the only grandparent I really had.  Her husband had died before I was born, and my mother's parents had been deceased as well.  She seemed to make up for that though, as she was always filled with "oceans of love."   Granny loved us, her open arms and wide grin warmly greeted us whenever we would visit. Her hugs engulfed you.  She would have a homemade meal waiting for our arrival, especially made by her and Aunt Lucille.  Often we would eat out on their enclosed front porch during the hot summer days.  Dessert would be her signature "Sunshine Cookies," white puffy cookies with scalloped edges that always made you want more.  Her eyes teased you to indulge as she passed the coo...

Each day, the flowers seem to unfold before my eyes!  It was such a great surprise to come home from a very busy day and find the beautiful purple arrangement there in the kitchen sink, just waiting for my attention.  Right next to it was a card, exclusively for "Mary Strubhar."  It was an early Mother's Day gift from my son!  My response was to melt with warm tears flowing down my cheeks.  There's nothing like being loved for being just Mom .   It's times like these that I think I understand my own Mom so much better.  The only thing is that all my insight into this knowledge has come too late for me to share with her.  I would love to have a conversation today with her.  I wish I would have been more sensitive to her tears that I often didn't get.  I knew that those tears were evidence of her passion and love, although I didn't really know the depth of that love until unfortunately she had gone.  Oh, I always knew she lov...

I pounded on the bedroom sliding glass door, "Hey, you!  Watch this!"  I did it again until I got the response, "What?" Up to the grassy area I went, and with almost perfect precision I executed my 2nd round off.  My landing was a tiny more wobbly than when I did the first one out of sight at the other end of the yard.  "What are you thinking?" my husband called from the room, "You could kill yourself doing those things, don't you know your age? You are supposed to be wiser not foolish. . . "  I chuckled to myself, yea, I can still do a cartwheel or round off, after all these years, it's gotta be my strong core!. . . I have had a good week, not as depressing as I thought.  It is somewhat odd to find yourself at the start of your senior years.  My oldest brother, of course, reminded me of the fact that I am officially now a full fledged member of AARP. Yet, I actually  feel more empowered with life.  I appreciate the goodness that God ...

If only. . . it just isn't right.  It's not like He didn't get the message.  They had made a point to get word quickly to the Master, the Healer.  Their brother Lazarus was sick, death was inevitable if no help arrived.  Surely, He would come or even just say the word.  All this time, they had believed and followed Him.  He was a regular house guest for them, He hung out with them, He fit right in like family. . . He would certainly come.  They knew His compassion and care, they knew His love, surely He would be there now for them.  They didn't doubt their beliefs, this had to be the Promised One! If only . . . that's all that Martha could sputter out, as she saw Him finally walking up the road.  "If only, You would have been here, my brother wouldn't have died . . ." she cried to Jesus.  Where were you?  Didn't you get our message? What took you so long?  Her mind must have raced with so many other questions and accusation...

I had my week all planned out.  I just enjoyed a great run with the Goldy boy.  "You did good, ol'buddy!" as we came through the backyard gate.  He did his usual thing, prancing toward and plopping directly into the pool.  I stepped inside to get my water.  I looked up as I heard Goldyn in the corner of the yard barking ferociously through the fence at the dog on the other side.  It's not an unusual occurrence, in fact at times it seems to be a ritual, as to which one can outdo the other.  The noise stopped and again I looked up.  Goldyn was back in sight but seemed to be rubbing his lip with his paw.  "Come here!" I called to him.  He came dripping with blood from his mouth.  I did my best to see, and sure enough, his lip was ripped as well as what looked to be a jammed up tooth!  My plans flashed through my head and came to a screeching halt . . .untimely . . . The sun was warm, the breeze inviting, as I pulled my bike ou...

"You are an Eeyore!" my husband affirmed.  "No, I'm not,"  I protested, "I am always hoping for the best, I'm optimistic."  "You're an Eeyore, a doom and gloom, fearful that the sky has fallen," he continued with a chuckle.  "Well, maybe I am a bit realistic . . . " I paused.  Mmm . . . maybe I have been parading more like Eeyore these days.  We all know them well, the one who can rain on your parade and crush a celebration with just one look.  Yes, it's much too easy to feed our disappointments and starve our joy, especially when we want to feel that we've been right and wrongly used. He was an obvious fact.  He once was blind and now he had sight.  Yet, no one seemed to rejoice with him over his miraculous healing.  Instead, they argued with one another about how he got his sight.  They kept pestering him, asking "how did your eyes get open?"  They even dragged him into their synagogue, questioning hi...