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Hello!

Thirty years ago, Lionel Richie recorded a song titled, “Hello.”

My husband and I were dating at the time and he brought me this song and told me to listen to it—he said that it was our song and that it was how he felt about me!

My very own love song and my very own love story! And both of us in our 30’s!

This is some of what the song says:

I’ve been alone with you inside my mind and in my dreams I’ve kissed your lips a thousand times

Well—this line alone got my attention! How romantic!

Hello, is it me you’re looking for?
My arms are open wide and I want to tell you so much, ---I love you.

I want to tell you time and time again how much I care.

Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow
Hello--Is it me you’re looking for.

I just want to tell you—I love you!

In case you think you have nothing remotely in common with a song that says....my arms are open wide...I just want to say I love you....think again.
Remember I am reporting the facts on the story behind...HELLO!

We all have a love story—oh, not necessarily a human one; but a divine love story!

It is the story of God offering us a loving personal relationship.
God takes the initiative to pursue us and love us and offer us a relationship of love. God seeks us out—sounds to me like a lot of trouble and a lot of work.

My husband offered me a loving relationship in our human lives. God offers one in our spiritual lives.....

Well, yes the story will continue... a true story behind the Hello!

My husband and I celebrate 30 years in 2 weeks...30 years in a second marriage.

I said....yes, it is you I am looking for.....but you will have to wait for more of the story....

Roberta

Hello!

so the rest of the story.....well....my husband wooed me with this song Hello and I said Yes! I said ....it is you I am looking for! I accepted his invitation of marriage and the rest is history.

God woos us continuously and offers us an invitation to the spiritual life and we have an opportunity to say....yes! It is you I am looking for!

God's arms are open wide and says...I LOVE YOU!

and that is the story behind HELLO!

Goodbye,

Roberta

Hello!

I just LOVE the city, don't you?

I love all the hustle and bustle and people going here and there.

I wonder where they are going and what is on their minds....hummmm.....

Atlanta is one of my favorite cities. I lived there for 9 years and yes I would move back there.

I would live in a high rise with a view long and far. I would look out over the landscape and see what I could see.

I wonder if I would become tired of it or miss the fresh mowed grass?

Well, a view is pretty special, right? Maybe fresh mowed grass is not so important....especially if you have to mow it!

I love watching all the people who are so diverse go here and there and all living together.....I am never afraid and maybe I should be.

I wanted to see Underground Atlanta again, but my husband is more cautious than I am. I just enjoy all the people everywhere.

Wouldn't it be great if all people everywhere could enjoy one another as created beings just as we are instead of trying to gather power over others?

Perhaps we are all followers and need someone to follow....maybe that is why people in the city go here and there....all following someone somewhere...
maybe, or maybe all just living their lives in the same place at the same time and making the best of it and some even enjoying it!

Like me!

So, I guess, wherever we live whether it be city or country, we just need to enjoy where we are and what we do everyday...yes, I think that is what I will end on today....enjoy your life, created being, right where you are!

Roberta

Hello!

Prison. I had no idea about prison five years ago.

A young man in my church made a mistake and I went to prison to see him.

I still go to prison to see him. He is gifted, talented, and loves God.

Prison is a whole different community than what we could ever think up.

I have learned more about prisons than I wish to know.

Each of the prisons that I have visited (5 in all) are different and have their own way of doing things.

Yes, I always go through a metal detector, but...this time after numerous tries and taking off as much as I could, I knew it was my under-wire bra that was setting the alarm off.

I knew the only way I could visit this young man was to get rid of the bra.

Don't say NEVER until you are in a situation to test that. I had not seen this young man (he is like one of my grandsons and I love him like one!)...anyway, I hadn't seen him since November. He cleans up trash along the road and he picked up a cigarette butt and put it in his trash bag. Not allowed to do that, so he got written up and was not allowed visitors.

So, I really wanted to see him and drove 2 hours one way to do so.

Finally, in desperation, I stepped out side the door and discreetly removed my bra and back in and through the metal detector; I did it so quickly, no one realized what was happening.

At the time, this was not funny at all and really, I probably should not have gotten in....but I did and I visited for 2 hours. It was a good visit.

Now, I can laugh about it and how I just did what I needed to do in order to be there for that young man.

We think our lives are filled with trials and really they are, but compared to prison, we take a powerful lot for granted. We are able to feel the wind in our face and hear the rain falling. We can pick up whatever we want along the road and walk wherever we want to. Enjoy each day you have with attention to even the most common element!

And back to the NEVER.....try not to use that word and if and when you do; try to see the humor in it and make the best of the situation that you can!

Roberta....ps....this is one of his drawings from prison!

Hello!

Well, today, this blog is about anxiety.

We all have anxiety, at least I think everyone does, do you?

We become anxious about many things in our lives.

Today, I am anxious about a weekend coming up where I will be teaching and doing some counseling.

I have never been to the location before and already I am thinking:

It is in the woods....will there be air? How about mosquitoes....they love me....should I pack something?

Well, what about the bathroom (I always stress over bathrooms!)....will they be modern? How many are there for so many people?

What about the food....is it camp food? I am such a picky eater...should I pack some snacks?

What kind of clothes should I pack....will it be warm or cool....are we packed in the rooms or not? What about all the people coming....will they like me/will I like them and BTW....how late will they keep us up at night.....I need sleep....

I think you get the idea.....

I am reminded that anxiety does nothing good for us, does it and yet, how do we stop it? I am reminded of all the places I have been, all the people I have met, and for the most part....99% of everything has been better than I expected and anxiety was a waste of time.

Well, I will let you know next week if my anxiety was well worth all the time and energy it took or not; meanwhile, try to think of some ways we can counteract anxiety and just be surprised with whatever comes our way....wouldn't life be a lot less complicated if we could do that?????

Roberta

Hello!

Yep.
I knew it.
I knew my anxiety was a waste of time.

You can say, "I told you so."

I entered the weekend, with anxiety and wow!

I arrived and met 55 other women and 2 men who could not be any more diverse if it was planned.

We were all so different....races, nationalities, socio-economic backgrounds, age, religion, politics.....you name it.

We only had one thing in common.....ONE! We all believe we are children of God.

Imagine that! The weekend was filled with laughter, singing, and just all out fun.

So, yep, you can say...I told you so!

It really made me think about our world and how diverse it is. Wouldn't it be great if we could look beyond our own small world and find just one thing in common with others who are not like us? JUST ONE!

Perhaps, yes, just maybe, then, we could share some time together and discover each other and maybe the world would be a calmer, more peaceful (perhaps filled with laughter!).....just a better place to live in.

Well, as one lady said....it has to begin with me. So, I am going to trash the anxiety and look forward to the next time and anticipate what will be!
Woohoo!

Roberta

Hello!

I planted flowers this week.

I LOVE flowers! Love the way they look and smell.

Flowers make everything beautiful.

As I was digging holes, covered in dirt, sweat pouring off me, mosquitos and ants tasting me....I heard a voice....

"Looks like my neighbor is sitting on her butt playing in the dirt!"

At first, I thought...playing???? I hate planting and getting dirty and all.

Then I realized that my neighbor across from me had looked out of her window, got herself up, took off her oxygen, and made it just outside the door to speak to me!

I smiled and talked with her for a moment.

When I returned to my dirty job, I looked at it a little differently.

I had the opportunity to play in the dirt like a kid and my neighbor had to remove oxygen to just get out the door.

We take many things for granted, do we not?

Thankful today for dirt.

Roberta

Hello!

So, I have just returned from the beach and I am sure that it is good for the soul!

The ocean is amazing:

So strong; yet gentle.
So angry; yet calm.
So vast in places and so small in others.

The ocean is amazing:

It touches us in a place we hardly visit.
It connects us with creation.
It makes us feel very small.

The ocean is amazing!

It can rock and roll,
It can move in and out,
It can soothe the soul.

The ocean is amazing!

It calls to our inner being.
It woos us to come and see.
It lulls us to rest.

The ocean is amazing!

Yes, it is good for the soul.
It is wonderfully made.
It reminds us of our frailty.

I could not resist. I had no transportation and yet, I was driven. The tip of the island could not be more than a mile and a half....maybe two. I could do this. I took my camera and I started walking. I took a picture here and there. I stopped at a sea mail box and signed in. I could not see the end, but I knew it was there.

The wind was coming off the land. Not a good sign for me! Yes, the flies bit me and the mosquitos had a field day despite the drenching of deet. I kept walking and walking. Aha! I thought I could see the end of the island! Praise be!

Shucks, this was taking longer than I thought and where was the waterway to follow for my return? I had to circle back a little and finally found a beach access walkway. Thank you Lord.

I found pavement and realized I was in a private community with a security patrol and no trespassing signs posted. I could barely walk. It had been over 2 hours and I was still walking.

Yep, here he came, the security guard. Do you think he will take me to jail, this grandmother of 15? Maybe not. Unfortunately, I know no fear when maybe I should. Well, I usually just wave and act like I know what I am doing. So I waved and he slowed down and waved back. I kept walking.

Here he comes again! Don't look---don't look. I do not look and he drives on by only to stop and talk to some workman. Maybe I look like I work here.....oh, wait, the camera....dead give away and the hot and red face. Oh well, I kept walking.

The scenery was stunning with well manicured green lawns and wealthy homes. Beautiful. If only there was a bench or an electrical covered box so I could sit a while. The sun rose and I got hotter. I almost could not feel my legs.

Itch, itch, itch. Darn mosquitos! Darn flies! I hate insects! And I kept walking. I walked right past the security guard and out of the gated community. Poor guy...must have felt sorry for me. I was feeling sorry for myself! Oh for a drink of water (no, I did not bring any because then I would need a bathroom and there are none on a deserted beach.)

And I kept walking. I thought I might faint. I could feel sand hilled up under my toes. A BENCH! I sit and take off my shoes. I empty my socks and shoes and make a little mound of sand. And the mosquitos surround me and I want to cry. But, I get up and keep walking.

Ok, this has turned into an endurance experience in the heat. After 3 1/2 hours of walking, I finally arrive at the house where I am staying! Woohoo! Thank you God! Water! Air conditioning! Shower! Yeah!

I did it. I got a picture or two and I enjoyed the creation and even though this experience was not good for my out of shape body; it was definitely good for my soul and I am thankful!

Roberta

Hello!

So, I have been spending most of my time with grandchildren. It is summer and we get to be together almost every week.

Today, I took a 7 year old and a 5 year old to lunch.

They always order the same thing at the same place....always.

Cheeseburger and fries for one and pizza for the other one.

This particular restaurant gives children these sticky sticks to play with instead of crayons.

And yes, at times it seems as though it takes forever for the food to come!

So as we are waiting for the food, I look at the 4 year old who is wearing the sticky stick glasses and wonder...

What is he thinking about?

We will never know. The food came and he forgot and that was the end of it!

However, this face holds much and one day we might just learn what was in the mind of this child!

Thinking is good.

Grandchildren are great.

Thinking grandchildren are wonderful!

Until next time.....

Roberta

Hello!

Two blogs in 2 days and I have a 7 year old and a 5 year old (boys) staying with me for 3 days!

However; children are amazing and so very interesting and I often think they are much smarter than we well seasoned folks are.

Today, I finished staging a flip house and took the two boys with me.

Their 7 month old cousin was there and the three of them spent some time on the floor just looking at one another.

Do you think they communicate with their eyes or minds?

I really wonder sometimes....hmmmmm.....

Just had to share one more in two days....this is something we may never know.....but I think I will continue to study it.

Have a great evening and smile!

Roberta