friends – Coffee and a Typewriter

Two are better than one…

“Will you be my accountability partner?” Eeeeeeeek!!

I have nothing to hide. My life is an open book. I’m known to be a good encourager. But when faced with that question, I would often prefer the ground open up and swallow me before I force my response of, “Sure.” Honestly, it’s a question that sometimes makes me feel trapped! I mean, how does one possibly say “Sorry, no.” to that question?

Here’s the deal with me…I lean towards being an introvert. While many become depressed and discouraged in solitude, I actually become revived and refreshed. My preference is to always do things alone. I want to make it very clear that my reasons for resistance are all about me, and no one else. I want to be in control of what I do – and don’t do. I don’t want the responsibility of letting someone down, because I know I will. I struggle with guilt, and I don’t want to create another “thing” that I will end up feeling guilty about. I do not care for drama or pity…and these are all things that I associate with accountability. I’m a pick-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps kind of gal so I usually don’t linger too long in drama. I like to brush myself off and move on, so I’m not good in this area if someone wants to linger way too long for my amount of comfort. And pity…I do not like people to feel sorry for me, so I’m reluctant to share things that I’m struggling with. If I only have myself and God to be accountable to, then I won’t have to deal with any of this.

When I started out with my walking last summer, I would typically head out around 10am or so…by myself. The wheels are always turning in my head. I am always aware of my surroundings; waiting for my take-away lesson to journal about. Some days I would listen to music as I walked. I loved how it would flow with the breeze through the trees and orchestrate all life around me. Other days I preferred to walk in silence to just give my mind a rest, or maybe I’d decide to make it a prayer walk, lifting each person up that I saw along the way. I’d pray for my friends and family as they were put on my heart. It was therapy, in sweet, sweet solitude.

My closest friend saw what I was doing and wanted to join in; however, we would need to change the time of our walk to the crack of dawn. I’ll admit, I was not thrilled about this when we first set out on this little “accountability” thing. She was excited to be doing this together, but I really wasn’t fully invested and did it a bit begrudgingly. While I walked for exercise, it was so much more than that to me. And now…it would be different.

Here we are, eight months later, and I can’t imagine walking without her. Something really happened in me. Oddly enough, I found myself excited to get up, get dressed, lace up the shoes, and wait for the peppy blonde chick to show up at my curb. Our walks went from one-mile to six-miles in a matter of a couple of months. Our fitness apps show that we walk anywhere from an hour to an hour and thirty minutes, but to us it feels half of that.

We talk about everything and nothing. My walks have now become a different type of therapy. I have found other ways to find the solitude that I still need, but I’ve learned that it’s not good for us to go through all of our journeys alone. If I am struggling or having an off day, she is somehow in the opposite mood – and the reverse is true. Like iron sharpening iron, we are able to lift, encourage and nudge each other into healthier ways of thinking and feeling in all aspects of life. Being an accountability partner goes in both directions. It’s being equals; when one is weak, the other is strong. It’s each of us being transparent and sharing, believing in one another, and lifting each other to new and improved heights. As well, it’s all about celebrating together in our victories!

Left to my own vices, I wouldn’t depend on anyone when I’m struggling. Because of my optimistic nature, I know that I’d make my way through it…but without some accountability in my life, I don’t know that I would have grown to the heights I’ve reached; mentally, physically and spiritually.

What about you? Where do you land where the A-word is concerned? I want to encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone, just dip your toe into an atmosphere that you just might need, but have been avoiding. Why not invite a friend or a couple of friends over for a simple cup of coffee? Invite a friend to walk, or go on a bike ride. Pay a visit to a group at your church and be open to making a connection or two.

Encouragement and motivation is out there waiting for each one of us. Don’t wait for it to come knocking at your door. Take it from a lifelong encourager like me…take the first step and dare to be someone’s accountability partner.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
~Proverbs 27:17

tandem_blue_vintage

The Simple Gifts of Christmas

As we move closer to Christmas, I’m beginning to see more posts on the social networks…some with the countdowns of shopping days left, some with happy remarks about how far they are with their shopping, and several with not-so-happy remarks about how much they need to accomplish. What I read between the lines is the stress that often comes with this season. I just want to encourage everyone, who might be getting caught up in this sort of stress, to lay down your lofty expectations and just embrace the beauty and simpleness of Christmas.

When our boys were young and still at home, and HB and I were just taking off in our careers, money was very tight. Most Christmas’s were focused on our kids. He and I didn’t exchange gifts for years, and if we did we would come up with an idea for something to be enjoyed by the entire family. One year, it was a new TV. Another, a new VCR. Remember those? And another time, it was a new game system. And we never bought the newest, state-of-the-art, version. No, we were usually a couple of years behind what was most popular. It’s just the way things were.

But, in spite of the tight finances, we never allowed it to squash the Christmas spirit inside our home. We couldn’t provide a lot of “things” under the tree, but what we could provide were memories. So, we made a conscientious decision to turn our focus to creating something that money could not buy and that was time together as a family.

If you were to ask my kids, they would probably only remember a handful of gifts received. Probably ones that were sentimental in nature. Okay…they’d probably remember that first game system we bought too. That was a pretty big deal that year.

But, what they would clearly remember would be…The drives up the hill to play in the snow. How we’d take a break from the cold and crowd into the back of the old suburban to eat summer sausage and cheese – and drink hot cocoa from dad’s big Stanley thermos. They’d remember days where we planned movie marathons until late into the evening. And like I said, they’d remember that one year we got the game system – and not because of the system itself, but because of the hours we spent together playing, to the point that our hand muscles ached from gripping the controller for so long. They would remember a home filled with life, love and laughter.

And don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not trying to convey that gifts are bad. What I’m trying to say is, resist the urge to be pulled into the peer pressure that often comes with this season and thinking you have to buy the biggest, most popular, “what everyone else is getting,” gift. Don’t create a memory of Christmas as being a crazy and stressful time of year.

Regardless of where you are in life…commit to making this season a memorable one for you and everyone you come into contact with. I have found, while “stuff” can be fun and sentimental, it really isn’t what it’s all about. What people truly long for most of all, no matter who they are, is time spent with loved ones. Your time is the most rewarding gift you can give.

So in the true spirit of Christmas:

Invite a friend or family member over for dessert and a fun movie.
Spend an afternoon baking and decorating simple sugar cookies with a child.
Take a drive somewhere to see Christmas lights and enjoy being around people.
Make a puzzle or play a game with good music as your background.

…the list can go on and on. Simple. Fulfilling. Memorable.

In addition to celebrating the gift of Jesus
…these, to me, are the true and simple gifts of Christmas.

~CindyLu~

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

We had an early Thanksgiving this year. Real early!

My youngest son and his new bride were returning to their mission field in Mexico earlier this month, so the family decided we needed to plan something before they left. Yep, Thanksgiving came early…like, November 1st early. It had all the makings of our traditional feast and festivities. We had a wonderful time visiting, chowing down, and playing our annual game of Bingo!

An added plus was that it opened the door for the kids to spend time with other family members this Thanksgiving Day. No need to synchronize our clocks to fit in with other celebrations taking place. This year will be a quiet one for me and HB, but honestly, it sounds really romantic. I’ll still make “the” dinner, but just for two. Strangely, I’m totally okay with that.

That said, the problem with the earlier fesitivies…we all feel like we should be in Christmas mode! We feel as if Thanksgiving has already come and gone! Let’s put it this way…I’ve had my little Christmas tree up for almost a week now. It usually doesn’t go up until the day after Thanksgiving. And we’ve watched, at least, one Christmas movie. I suppose the nice twist to that is Christmas won’t feel rushed as it sometimes does. By getting a little head start, the season will feel like it lingered for a while – and I’m totally okay with that.

This has always been a magical time of year for me. Growing up as a 60’s and 70’s child, our home would take on a whole new life in November and December. My mom has always had a zest for fun and tradition. She would begin cooking up delicious seasonal meals. Did you hear that? My stomach just growled…no, seriously! Oh…and the baking…cookies, pie, popcorn balls, and my grandma’s fudge. Mmmm.
(My grandma always claimed she got ahold of Mrs. See’s recipe – and honestly, I wouldn’t have put it past her.)

Then there was my dad, an old romantic. There was just something about this time of year that put a dance in his step. He loved all sorts of music (and always had an awesome stereo system), so he’d fill our home with seasonal music…Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, oh…and Mahalia Jackson, singing “O Holy Night”…it still takes me back. Magical, spiritual…wonderful.

Can you feel it? Maybe it’s just me, but even talking about it takes me back. There was just a heartbeat in our home – and because of it all, they instilled tradition in me, especially at this time of the year.

So, I thought for the next month or so, I’d spend some time blogging about the holidays. Since we’re still a week ahead of Thanksgiving, I’ll definitely include that, but I’ll be directing most of my writing towards Christmas. As many of you know, HB and I are all about legacy, so we’ve kept many of our old traditions alive, but have added some new ones into the mix.

In keeping with my Simple Life Adventures (yes, I’m still working to achieve simplicity), from earlier this year, I’ll also share with you simple ways that we’ve brought the season into our home, without getting caught up in the commercialism that often comes along with the holiday. Blech!

The desire of my heart is for Thanksgiving and Christmas to always have deep meaning in my family. So, each year I start out by asking God to fill my heart with His perspective and to help me focus on family, friends, love, laughter – and, of course, the true reason for this beautiful season…His Son, Jesus.

So travel along with me as we enjoy and embrace this Christmas season together, because it really is…The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

~CindyLu

Simple Somethings

“You never know when one act
or one word of encouragement
will change a life forever.”

When I came across this quote today, my heart did a mental rewind to Saturday when I came home and found a message “from” my chair. *giggle* I still don’t know who put it there, but honestly, I prefer it this way. Their little act of fun and kindness really touched my heart in a big way. (Read “To: My Favorite Booty” if you’d like the details.)

In fact, it touched me in such a way that I’ve decided to pay it forward – and not just once, but every time I get an inkling to do a simple something for someone else. If a moment presents itself, I plan to act on it.

That simple something might come in the form of a handwritten note sent to a friend who just happens to be on my heart that particular day. Or maybe when I’m in line picking up a special coffee drink, at a place that reminds me of someone else, I’ll get a $5.00 gift card to send to them. You get the gist…I just want to be better at slowing down and responding to thoughts of the heart.

I know that in my busyness I miss many opportunities like these. Someone will flutter through my heart and before I know it, I’m off to the next thought. Sometimes when I’m out and about, I’ll see a simple something that reminds me of a friend or loved one. I’ll have that thought of “Oh, I should get that for…” but again, my mind will move on to something else. The moment is gone.

Do you ever have moments like these? Do you ever wake up with a certain someone on your heart, or have a thought of someone just flutter through in the midst of other things going on in your mind? Like, just out of the blue? Do you think it might be possible the thought is there for a reason?

What if we were to slow down a little bit and just linger there for a few moments. Encouragement, sent to another, in any shape or form is always a wonderful gift. Right?! So, I want to encourage you to act on it in some little way. Because, you never know…what you may think is very small and silly could change a person’s entire day – or life.

As you can plainly see…someone’s simple something meant the world to mine. 🙂

Happy Monday, friends!
~CindyLu

To: My Favorite Booty!

I cannot stop laughing at this!

After a busy morning, I had just come home and was getting ready to begin some Saturday afternoon chores. I walked through the house, pulling back curtains, and opening windows to let the sunshine in.

I stepped out onto my front porch to re-arrange some of the chairs, from visitors we had earlier this week. As I walked across to where my two favorite wicker chairs sit, I noticed a piece of paper laying in the seat of one. I almost dismissed it as something one of my grandsons probably left there. But the words caught my eye and I had to do a double take…

It took a minute for the words to register. I somehow let out a laugh that sounded a bit like Goofy, “GUH-HYUK!” and then slowly opened it and read the rest of the message…

BWAHAHAHA!! Oh my goodness….this just made my day. I can’t help giggling over this very simple, but extremely sweet, note. I especially love the Harley-Davidson note paper. Hahaha!!

To whomever left this for me...THANK YOU! Not only does it tell me that you read Zoning In but, wow!, that you cared enough to make a special trip to my front porch to remind me. So I’m raising my hot cup of coffee to you right now, dear friend. I’ve pulled a book from my library that I’ve been wanting to read for years and starting it right now. 🙂 From the bottom of my heart, thank you, for having an awesome sense of humor and a very sweet heart. Praying the blessings of your life runneth over.

Happy Saturday, friends!
~CindyLu

Want S’more?

Earlier this week, in my “I can tell you this…” post, I included pictures from the rehearsal dinner we hosted for our son and [now] daughter in-love. In addition to setting up our fancy pizza spread, I also found the idea for a S’more Bar as our dessert – and I must say, it was a huge success! Many who attended the dinner commented on how they had seen pictures (fellow Pinterest addicts) but had never actually seen one in person or used one. Needless to say, it was so much fun to enjoy this first experience with so many others.

…and since my earlier post, I’ve received several e-mails asking how we made the boxes and what was used inside. So I decided today’s post would be on creating a really fun S’more Bar of your own.

I wanted mine to be three feet long and fortunately HB had scraps of wood to accommodate the request. He made these in about 30 minutes, tops.

For each box, wood was cut to these proportions:

2 – 1×4’s cut to three feet in length (these are the long sides)
1 – 1×8 cut to three feet in length (this is for the bottom)
2 – 1×4’s cut to 8 inches (these are the short sides)
⇒ Once cut, he used your basic hammer and nails to assemble.

Note: You can, of course, make your box whatever size you’d like. I wanted these specific sizes to fit either a 4-foot or 8-foot table, with room to spare.

Now for the fun part:

I bought the “safe heat” sterno cans at our local Sam’s Club. They come as a box of twelve, and we used five cans in each of our boxes. The flame lasts for up to six hours, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. In fact, knowing that I have these cans sitting around has me planning some-more mallow roasts this Autumn.

In keeping with the country chic theme of the rehearsal dinner, I wanted to fill my boxes with a cobble-style rock, (found at Lowes), but you can use whatever style of rock you prefer. Home Depot also carries something similar.

For roasting the marshmallows, I used 8″ bamboo skewers that I found at Party City, but I think you can find these anywhere. I just happened to be there getting other items and grabbed them. By the way, I did not have to soak them in water prior to using for the s’more bar (like you do when used for skewers on the bbq)…just put the mallow on there and roast.

I wanted everything to look pretty, so I put out separate bowls and plates for the graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate. That said, my brain has been working overtime thinking up additional items I could add, like caramel sauce and peanut butter cups. Yummo! Basically, whatever you’d like to eat on your s’more is worth adding to the table.

So that’s pretty much it…
1. make box (or find something else that is non-flammable and would work)
2. place sterno cans where you want them
3. fill with rock
4. put a mallow on a stick
5. have fun!

I’m actually planning a little family get together Saturday evening. To make it a little more in season, I visited my favorite store in the whole wide world – Trader Joe’s! – and picked up some cocoa mix, Pumpkin Spice Coffee and Spiced Cider. I pour the Spiced Cider into a crock pot and serve it hot – it’s a family favorite!

So there you have it…all of the information you should need to create a nice get together.

You will find, as you read my blog, that I’m all about connections; bringing friends and family together for some simple and casual fun. I also love traditions, new and old, and I know this new one will last for years to come.

If you make one of these, I want to know! By all means, send me your pictures!! I’m on Instagram (cindylu_coffeeandatypewriter), so you can always attach me to posts. As well…if you have any easy and fun things that you do, I’d love to hear all about it. I’ll post pictures of our event on Sunday.

Happy Autumn, Friends!

~CindyLu~

Zoning In

Sitting here at work, I just opened the monthly calendar. I need to schedule a couple of personal appointments and wanted to check my availability.

Wow. As I look over the boxes on the page, I am amazed with all of the glorious, wide-open, spaces. It wasn’t too long ago that our calendar was filled with places to go, people to see and things to do. Life was all about schedules.

When we became empty nesters and made various cuts, we couldn’t help but bask in the glory of our freedom. It was wonderful to be able to come home from work and not have to be anywhere at all. Oh, and to have a free weekend? Heaven on earth!

But as I sit here looking at the blank boxes, I’m kind of wondering…have we become time wasters? I mean, I much prefer to be on this side of the schedule, where it’s easy and comfortable…but I can’t help but ask myself, “Am I truly using my time wisely?”

If I’m completely honest, most nights now look something like this:
Come home. Eat dinner.
Grab smart devices. (But are they really?)
Turn TV on. Assume the normal positions on the big couch and then…
“Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.”

That is not the sound of us sleeping, but the sound of us zoning out! We are wide awake, but I think in some way our brains are very clearly making that sound. Ummm…this sort of concerns me as I picture the two of us sitting there together, but zoned out in our own little worlds.

So, I think it might be time to re-think how I’m using all of these wide open boxes. Maybe I could turn off the TV, resist the urge to get cozy in that little corner of the couch, put down the device from time-to-time, and return to some old-fashioned ways of doing things.

I could do something like…

…read a good “fiction book.” I am always reading something but most of the time it’s self-guidance or tutorial related. How heavenly it sounds to hold a book in my hands that takes me to another city, another place in time, where I’ll meet new people.

…talk on the phone (gasp!) every now and then, so the friend or family member, on the other side of the computer screen, gets their true voice back. I used to be such a telephone talker, but modern technology and schedules made me feel like I didn’t have time for small chit-chat.

…actually invite family and friends over to just sit for a spell. With all of the fancy Pinterest ideas (which I do love), it seems every gathering now needs to be filled with entertainment for all of the senses. Can’t sitting, relaxing and chatting over a nice beverage be enough? Yes. I believe it can.

Or how about…

…push the stack of mail aside, turn on some good tunes and light a couple of candles at the dinner table, to turn our Chipotle Burrito Bowl meal into something relaxed and romantic.

…just an intentional focus on Zoning In. The possibilities are endless.

Today I had to step outside the office to go to another building. As I walked along, I breathed in the fresh air and really opened my eyes to all that surrounded me. Wow…it’s a gorgeous day! And I actually saw three little humming birds in three different places. They didn’t even seem to mind that I was so close to them. I love hummingbirds.

But…I was amazed and a little bit saddened by this.
When did I stop taking breaks from my work?
There’s a reason they give us breaks from our work.
Like I said, one extreme to the other…

Friends, there’s a world out there that we’re supposed to be living in. The place you work, the home you live in, the family you have, the friends in your life…we’ve been strategically placed. What simple changes can you make to embrace and be active in your life?

Lifting my coffee mug to you…

Here’s to finding a happy and healthy balance.
Here’s to opening the eyes of our heart and embracing our relationships.
Here’s to Zoning In and enjoying the life we’ve been given.

~CindyLu~

I can tell you this…

Wow…where in the world did September go? As I start this daily blog, I’m struggling with the thought of, “Where do I even begin?” There’s so much I would love to tell you about, but September, in many ways, is a complete blur for me now.

I can tell you this…

Our home was filled with over-the-top busyness and excitement as we prepared for our youngest son’s wedding. I had a blast working my way through Pinterest boards putting the last ideas together for a nice and fun rehearsal dinner. Who knew that you could turn a pizza fest into something glamorous? Add a bit of burlap, lace and silver plates and you’ve just stepped it up a big notch. By the way…the s’more bar was a huge hit! I highly recommend it! My family is already asking when we’re going to have an evening of roasting some-more.

I can tell you this…

From the rehearsal dinner to the very end of the wedding, the air was filled with so much romance and fun, that it practically overwhelmed our hearts. I have to believe that everyone who attended, walked away that evening feeling the passion these two have for each other. I know that in my own family, it seemed to rekindle something in all of us; love and passion in our own marriages, and a huge sense of family – and just how important that is in the scheme of this journey we’re all on. Family is everything. It should be.

I can tell you this…

I’m amazed at how fast September came and went. It’s made me aware of just how fast life can continue to flow. I’ll admit, there are times that I want it to hurry up and times when I want it to slow down. But as I sit here and reflect back on the last month, I realize that slowing it down is the better of the two, because I want to capture it all. Yes…all of it; my time spent at home, my time spent at work (imagine that…actually embracing our hours at work), my time spent with friends and acquaintances. But especially, my time spent with my family.

So Welcome October! I’m looking forward to all that this next season has in store for us and I long to embrace every single moment of it.

Do you have any special traditions?
Comment below. I would love to hear how you celebrate family and friends.
Happy October to you.

~CindyLu~

Friday Chats / July 25th

Friday…how do I love thee!

It was a busier than usual week for me. Last night I literally fell into bed at 9:30 p.m. If you know me well, you know that’s pretty early for me. I can often be a night owl as well as an early bird. On Monday, I was actually dreading much about the entire week. There was just too much going on. Much that felt, outside of my comfort zone. I had this feeling of anxiety that I couldn’t calm, yet, I couldn’t put my finger on the reason behind it. I think that after the evening event, my mind and body finally relaxed and so I crashed.

Last night I attended my bosses retirement party at a nice hotel here in town. He still has one more week in the office, but it’s beginning to settle in, that he’s leaving. I am so happy for him, yet, so sad to see him go. If you’ve ever been to this type of event, you know that it can become quite the roast. The CEO, President and a couple of VP’s got up to say their “fond” farewells. But my boss, having the heart and great sense of humor he does, took it all in stride and enjoyed the moment. That said, they did add into the mixture, stories of his heart for the customer that we serve and how much time and effort he put into what he did for them.

Funny thing…prior to this event, I spent a lot of time bending the ear of HB and a close friend regarding the weird anxiety I was feeling. Both assured me that everything would be just fine. I wasn’t being asked to do anything outside of my comfort zone and I really needed to relax. I was concerned that, being his assistant, they would expect me to stand up and say something and honestly, I just didn’t feel up to the task. Not in front of all of those people!! My plan was to stand back, sentiments in check, where I wouldn’t tear up in front of others…where I’d be most comfortable.

After the Execs said their farewells, they opened the mic for anyone else. No one seemed to need to add anything more than what was already expressed. My boss, for the most part, kept to himself so while people admired him in many ways, no one really knew him well. Somewhere deep inside of me, I felt a nudge. So…with heart pounding out of my chest, bottom lip already quivering from emotion, I put my left foot in front of the other and took the podium before a room full of people to share my sentiments. My voice started out with a quiver, but soon I got into my groove. My racing heart calmed down and I was able to paint another picture of a really great man; one they didn’t’ really know. They’d already heard about his heart for the customer, and I wanted them to know his heart for all of us, his fellow co-workers. My message was short and sweet, but I believe it served to be powerful – not so much for the people listening, but for the humble man I’ve really enjoyed working for.

My insightful thoughts I’ve gained from this: I think we have things to say to others that we often hold back on for various reasons. I think we worry that we might sound silly or that we’ll show emotion and then feel embarrassed. But think about that other person. Our encouraging words can lift another’s soul – and they need to be spoken out loud. I think it’s so much better to risk the awkward moment then to never say it at all.

So friends, I encourage you to step up and be brave. Share your encouraging voice with others, whether it’s in a crowd or in private. Send a note to someone who you appreciate and tell them why. I think so many people walk through life not even realizing the impact they have on others. Even their smallest efforts can be huge to someone else, and they need to know this.

So, Happy Friday! Keep your eyes open today for opportunities to tell someone just how much you appreciate them. And let me just say to all of you…I cannot express enough, how much I appreciate you taking the time to read and respond to my random ramblings. It means the world to me. But more than that, I appreciate your friendship. I wish you all a fabulous day!

~CindyLu

Simple Life – Toe the Line

It was fast and it was brutal – and at moments, it was tough. I headed into my bedroom with a 39-gallon bag, poised and ready to tackle the armoire, closet, chest of drawers…as well as a few stacks laying bedside. It was amazing…I did it as quick as I could, not wanting to linger too long where I’d be left wavering in decision. Even so, there were moments, as I was tossing items into the bag, where my brain would say, “Are you sure? You might want to wear that some day!” I did my best to ignore the internal conversation as I continued to toss. But I must admit…there were a couple that I gave into and decided to keep until my next run through – but only a couple.

I’m happy to report that I actually filled TWO 39-gallon-sized hefty bags with clothing that will be heading for the thrift store this weekend.

My focus was specifically on clothing, but my mind began to wander to other things around the room, like my shoes – as that is another area that I can do some clean up. I was tempted to take some before pictures and then decided against it. I mean, some things just need to be kept off the world-wide-web. I’d be pretty embarrassed if my “before” pictures went viral.

But there I was, moving along at a fast pace, that even amazed me. The house began to feel stuffy in my excited frenzy, so I decided to open some windows and turn on the whole house fan (a wonderful device). I was practically speed walking as I turned into the living room to open a window, when all of a sudden…CRACK! I smacked my pinky toe on the wooden leg of our IKEA Poang ottoman.

O…M…GEEEEEE….that hurt! You know how it is when you crack a toe – especially a baby toe – on the leg of anything? The reaction is immediate as you hold back the cry of pain. But then…it seemed weird…a different sort of hurt. Let’s just say, I was pretty shocked when I looked down at my foot to assess the damage and found that my pinky toe was FACING WEST! It was like an out-of-body experiencing, me hovering over my left foot and saying to myself, “Is that really MY foot?!?!”

And then I can’t help but laugh, because in that moment the next thought that rang out was, “Dang it! I don’t have time for this! I’ve got cleaning to do! I’ve got a schedule and people keeping me accountable.”

So what did I do? I turned to my friends. I seriously love Facebook. I grabbed a bowl, tossed in two trays of ice, hobbled to my desk chair, took a picture of my foot before shoving it into the bowl of ice, and posted the picture with a caption that read, “I think I just broke my toe. What do I do?” Almost immediately, the little red notification bubbles popped up with advice for my “dislocated” toe. I received sympathy, directions, even a video showing me what to do. Awesome friends. *insert smile here*

I sent a picture to HB, who was in a meeting and asked him if he could come home and help me. Remember when I told you yesterday how he probably feels anxiety about being away next week? *giggle* He could probably have his own blog about a day in the life of living with me. But this was a new thing…we’ve had a lot of injuries in our home (I mean, I have all boys) but never anything dislocated.

I was not in the mood for a 3-hour tour to the ER, so it was going to be up to him to pop it back into place. A friend of mine called and told me how she had a similar experience and that her husband knew how to put it back into place, so we made a party out of it and I invited them over. They all showed up at the house around the same time and we all circled around my toe while my friends husband assessed the damage. Yep…it was definitely out-of-place. I sat back, put a pillow over my face, and grabbed HB’s hand while our friend grabbed my little toe and the one next to it and rolled it back into place. Am I tough or what?!

I was a little bit frustrated because mentally I was still ready to get some stuff done, but decided to call it a night, put my foot up and continue to ice it. This morning my toe actually feels pretty good and it’s not as swollen and colorful as I thought it would be. I believe my own fast action (photo opportunity on Facebook) and the quick help from my friends played a big part.

I guess I’m going to have to take it easy for the next couple of days and keep my toe iced and elevated so it will continue to heal properly. I suppose I could find something to do while I sit…maybe go through more paperwork…or not.

~CindyLu

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