Category: life

The Gift of Joy

On By Betty OwensIn joy, life, love, Memories

Friends

I made this meme for a dear friend who was going through a difficult time. Her name is Robin, and back in the day when we lived closer together, she was always the ray of sunshine in my life. Kicking up her heels and celebrating. So when I heard she was facing a tough challenge, I wanted to make her laugh, or at least giggle, and remember those times. So I made the meme.

You know the kind of person who always seems to rise to the top? I had an aunt like that. No matter how bad things got, she always found a way to lighten the mood. She sang a silly song, or danced a little dance. Before we knew it, we were giggling then joining in on the silliness. That’s probably why I was drawn to Robin. Or maybe it was her red hair and the way her nose crinkled when she laughed.

We raised our kiddos at the same time, so when we needed a break, we got together and let them all play while we visited. She’d never let me cower in the corner, she made me play cards, whether I wanted to or not. I got involved because she made me and I always enjoyed myself immensely. But I’d still rather be a troll. It’s my nature. I’m the owl in the tree. She’s a…well…a robin. Robins sing beautifully and flit about. They’re given to hospitality, always catching worms and working on their nests.

So Robin and I, back in the ’80s, used to exer-dance (aerobics) to Donna Summer’s She Works Hard for the Money, dressed in our 80’s exercise get-up with our sweatbands and legwarmers and all that. How we managed to keep a straight face, even part of the time, I do not know. The aerobic part was breathing through the laughter.

I’ve shared the ancient video here.

Is there someone in your life like my friend, who can always make you laugh? Or, maybe you’re the one who has the gift of Joy. I’d love for you to share one of those funny moments in the comments section. And if you do choose to share it, let me know if you’d like me to include it in a collection of funny stories I’ll blog about later!–Thanks for your help.

There are humorous situations in my latest release, Annabelle’s Ruth, sometimes provided by animals. If you love a warmhearted love story, I hope you’ll give it a try. It’s only $4.99 on Kindle and also available in print.

AnnabellesCollageBuy it at Amazon ♥   Buy it at GoodReads ♥ Thank You!

A Connect – Disconnect Connection

On By Betty OwensIn birth, celebration, Connect - Disconnect Connection, friendship, future, Labor Day Weekend, life, Louisville, Marriage, occupation1 Comment

This month is all about connections here on my blog. It’s really a celebration of connections. You know those unexpected, surprise connections that result in life changes? There are good ones, and there are bad ones.

For instance, a good friend in Louisville invited me to spend Labor Day Weekend with her. I was living out of state at the time, so drove in. While there, I received a lead on a job, and met my future husband.

That was a “Connect – Disconnect Connection.” I connected with an old friend, met a new friend and my life changed course. By the end of the year, I was married and working at that new job.

Things don’t always happen so fast, and they are not always positive. Some disconnects include death, divorce, and disease/illness (the 3 D’s). Sometimes, even these devastating disconnects can result in positive changes.

I’m still married, but that job went away when I made a new connection, in the form of a brand new baby boy. He was a definite life change. Another connect – disconnect.

The husband, the new baby, and me – way back when…

Not long afterwards, I was walking down the hall on my way out of church, when I was “accosted” by a stranger who began to kiss my brand new baby all over his face. Don’t be alarmed, Anita Edmonds was the wife of our new youth pastor, and soon became one of my closest friends. A lasting connection.The best kind.

Friendships are often the connects that last longest. And many gain their best life opportunities through friends. A little later this month, I’ll talk about some of these connections. The ones I’ve made as I started my writer’s journey. I’m going to drop a few names in that post. Maybe yours will be there. I’ve made a lot of friends since starting down this road. Folks traveling the same route with similar life experiences are often bound together in friendship–a sense of “kinship”–because we understand, better than anyone.

Think about a time in your life, you made a positive connect – disconnect connection. Consider how it changed your life for the better–set you on a new road. It may have been your marriage, or your education, your occupation, or even your encounter with God. I would love for you to share that moment if you have the time, in our comment section.

I’ve got a couple of guests stopping by later this month to share their experience with connections. I hope you’ll stop back in to read what they have to say. And, as always, thanks for stopping by.