What NOT to wear!

I pulled over to the side of the road as my phone rang. I knew the number...the big, big boss was calling. Now in my world, you pull over quickly when those kinds of calls come in because when he calls there is a definite reason why. You hope it is something to do with continued employment and not handing in your office door key.

He asked me to be at an important meeting the following morning (phew) that would have far reaching impact for our company and we needed to make the best impression possible.

I was nodding my head and murmuring hmmms and uh hum's in all the right spots but my mind was racing!

WHAT TO WEAR? Notice I wasn't in the least bit concerned with the presentation or what questions we would be fielding...no. Plain and simple. Cut and dried. Black and white.

Most of my clothes had been given away to charity when we moved and my closet was still looking pretty bare. I hadn't had time to go shopping yet and I wasn't in a hurry either. I had put on a few pounds with our recent move and kept thinking I would wait until I felt better about myself.

Are you judging me? How many of you have made deals with yourself not to buy more clothes until you've lost weight? Hands in the air ladies! So with no time to shake 5-10 by the next day I had to bite the bullet and go shopping.

I stepped into a cute little shop and looked around...immediately feeling out of place. Two beautiful people were working in the store, one younger, one my age and both very well dressed and put together.

I had arrived after being out on farm calls all day having had peoples dogs sniffing me up, cats lodging themselves against my legs and grain dust on my face like some sort of facial mask. Pretty, right? I was sure excited to see what the fluorescent lighting would do for me!

The younger gal started pulling items from the racks and telling me to try things on that were definitely not my style. The longer I walked around the sicker I felt.

My aversion to offending people was making an exit strategy hard to find. How fast could I bolt without being rude? She was being so kind and trying to be so helpful but I didn't want to look like stuffed sausage casing underneath a party tent.

I somehow found myself in the fitting room with an armload of clothes that I didn't like and only shreds of my confidence intact. I singled out 2 items that I though might have possibility, a loose, lacy shirt to wear over a camisole and a long sweater with a button enclosure.

I put them both on together, pulling and twisting the shirt to flatten the unsightly lumps it was causing under the sweater. As I came out of the dressing room the older lady gasped. Not a good gasp. More like a horrified sucking in of air so that nothing would come out of her lips.

That looks terrible she finally said. I was close to tears. I wanted to run out of there and never go back but I had this weight on my shoulders called "an important meeting". What to do?

I swallowed my pride and fear and asked her if they had anything that would suit me better. She was off in a flurry, she had a mission and she was determined to help me find something. Now the funny thing is that I am very competent at my job, I have raised a family and have lived a lot of life already...how come I can't dress myself?

Scenes from "What not to Wear" were flashing through my mind and I realized I had been stuck in a clothing-time warp and it was time to unwarp myself. By the time I left the little shop on Main street I was feeling pretty darn good about myself and had some items in-hand that I loved and knew would get worn.

I unloaded my new purchases at home only to spy a business suit in my closet that hadn't had any air time for awhile. THAT would actually be the perfect outfit for the big meeting. I tried it on, praying that I'd be able to do the pants up.

My lessons for the day...
1. It is a woman's prerogative to go shopping for clothes when she has already has perfectly acceptable items in her closet
2. It is ok to shop before you are in some alternate universe where you are a perfect size 4
3. It is ok to have a sales person tell you something looks horrid on you, at least you won't be wasting your money on things that will find a dark corner in your closet and never see the light of day

And the meeting? Smashing success, business suit and all.


























 

The Tale of a Prairie Date Night...

Fall was normally a very stressful time of year for me. It meant that I was mom, dad, cook, dishwasher, clothes washer, chauffer, bill payer, call maker/returner, chore doer, dog feeder, baker, cheerleader, friend, employee, daughter and wife. Hubby was harvesting.

Sometimes I loved all of it and sometimes I hated it depending on how close to the ditch I was as I sped down dusty dirt roads delivering all manner of items to various people and places.

As the years went on my harvest experience changed. No more kids to get to volleyball or hockey practices and games. Less loads of laundry to do and smaller meals meant that I had some time to ride along in the swather or combine. We used that time to catch up on the days events and sit close for some together-time.

Last night I was able to ride with hubby as he combined for some friends. He called me...can you come out for awhile? I got directions to the field and met him.



We are always looking for new date ideas but hands down, this is the best for any farmer...side-by-side in the combine, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, grubbie clothes on with bits of wheat chaff in your hair, the sounds of harvest all around. Yes, it seems to work.



The sun was slowly setting, streaks of golden yellow sunlight punctuated the dust cloud swirling around the combine as it sucked up acres and acres of a near perfect wheat crop.

I watched as hubby unloaded grain into a waiting truck.





...in awe of the bountiful crops
...thankful for new friendships
...senses alive with the sounds of harvest
...keenly atuned to each distinct element of beauty that surrounded me

It seemed that a deep contentment wrapped it's inviting arms around me in a warm hug. "Days like this make me happy to be alive," I said to my love.

He turned to look at me, our eyes locked. "What? I can't hear you!" I laughed...he had heard. And he agreed. It had been a good day.

And we all harvested happily into the night.

The End.

 

Keeping the SPRING in the marriage mattress

Have you ever wondered how some couples do it?  No, not "it" (I think I have that part figured out) but...IT ~ life~ love~ the pursuit of a togetherness that transcends ups and downs, sorrows and joys, pains and happiness's.

True intimacy in marriage starts long before you hit the hay. Guys have often been accused of not getting this, but ladies, I'd say we need a refresher as well.

Here are some ideas to ponder. I did not get them from some scholarly source...they are from my life and as such, have been tried and tested, and then tested again and tried some more!

1. ladies: bring him a bowl of ice-cream, fold his undies just the way he likes, guys: how about a random hug or all the dirty clothes on the closet floor suddenly in the laundry hamper - look for ways to make each other happy but make sure it's something you know the OTHER person will like!

2. tell him how sexy he looks in his coveralls and make sure you let him know that you appreciate how hard he works to provide for his family; how about telling her how much you love and depend on her to keep the family schedule on-track - take every opportunity make positive comments to each other during the day...little things make the biggest impact!

3. mention to your co-workers, friends and family what a great person you are married to - speak publicly with pride about each other

4. listen to the other person's point of view -  make decisions jointly with equal input from both parties

5. surprise your spouse with some together time even if it's only a trip to the dump - be spontaneous (see #11...)

6. when was the last time you gave your spouse that special "look", how about a wink? If it's been too long their quizzical expression will be a clue that you don't do it often enough - flirt with each other

7. when bad days come (and they will) run to each other and not away - lean on each other for support

8. speak well of each others parents and one day you will hear those same words come out of your children's mouths when describing you - honor your mother and father

9. center yourself each morning to the word of God - order your inner world before the craziness of the day starts

10. we realized that it's better not the fight the phenomenon called "mid-life" and chose to leave out the "crisis" part by purchasing a motorbike - share a hobby

11. enjoy your spouses sense of humor...share private jokes - laugh together

12. stand together through times of hurt or despair, listen carefully to the pain and be compassionate - cry together

13. in the heat of the moment DO NOT point fingers and say "you always..." or "you never..." - don't try to one-up each other, no one will win

14. reaffirm how important the other person is, how valuable their presence is in your life - speak words of encouragement into each other's hearts, you might be the only person that does!

15. abandon all others and all else that would divide your heart - love to the fullest

To cap off the day, our marriage bed needs a couple of things...

Purity~ get into bed with a pure heart towards your spouse, no secrets, no lies and having put the best of yourself in front of your spouse all day

Rest~ our beds should be a place to lay our heads down and find true rest.  Make sure the deep issues of life are dealt with before you get into bed or risk the worst sleep and biggest headache ever!

And...yes, the springs might start squeaking...one of the hazards of having a good marriage!