“Look at the Ball, Not the Moon”
Notebooks, backpacks, water bottles, pencils, pens, paper, lunch boxes, and more are ready to go on weekday mornings during the school calendar year. Yellow buses pass by and stop so students can board. Along with adjusting to school schedules, there are also new events such as sports and music groups. How do children and adults stay focused?
Recently, grandson Rowan joined a local soccer team for kids. He has participated in swim lessons and other creative activities. Being part of a sports team can be a great way to learn patience, physical and social skills, how to work together, show kindness and compassion, and how to share.
Some of Rowan’s soccer games are on Saturday mornings. Other games are scheduled for the evening. Bop and I have been blessed to attend some of the games. Driving to the soccer field parking area, we find a spot to park and begin unloading the items needed to watch the game.
Sunhats, sunscreen, foldable chairs, water bottles, and bug spray. Yes, it’s still warm in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Bugs like sweat.
Our family walks across several fields making sure not to intrude on other teams already playing their games. We find a spot where we can view Rowan and his team, the Sharks. Children ages 6-7 arrive wearing their bright orange Sharks shirt which displays their team number. Rowan is number 5.
This particular evening, the game started at 6 p.m. The sun was lowering in the sky as the game started. “Go! Team! Go! Go Sharks!” was shouted by family and friends. The other team had family and friends cheering for them, too.
After a full day of school, organized sports can be a bit draining for young children. At one point during the game, the referee noticed that most of the focus was not on the game and the soccer ball.
The ball was in play and the game was in process, but there was something more fascinating than playing soccer. The sky was growing dark as night approached and the moon was becoming visible high in the sky.
As the referee realized what was happening, he blew the whistle to pause the game. He looked to the sky and spoke to the kids.
“Look at the ball, not the moon.” He tried to regain their interest in the game.
A few seconds later, the fascination with the moon was over and the game continued. People on the sidelines tried not to laugh, but seeing those sweet children looking at the moon was a precious sight.
The Sharks won their game that evening. High fives and “good game” congratulations were shared by both teams as each team member stood in line. Great sportsmanship and fun for all.
The distraction of the moon reminded me of how often I am distracted by things or events in life. I admit that during my prayer time, I have thought of my “to-do” list instead of focusing on God. I am thankful God forgives me and is ready to hear my prayers at any time of day or night.
What distracts you in life? Is your “to-do” list keeping you from sharing time with God? Are you focused on Him or yourself? These are questions that I have asked myself.
God sent a message that evening. Yes, His creations are wonderful to view. Pause and look at the moon. Thank God for His love and forgiveness. Always keep your focus on Him.
Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
Oranges in the Trees
“What are we doing today at Mimi’s?” This is a question I hear often from Rowan and Eden and also, the neighborhood children. School is finished and summertime activities have begun at Mimi’s house. Warm weather is here and that means bubbles, water balloons, splash pads, science experiments, and more ways to have fun.
Last week, I found instructions on how to make a bird feeder with oranges, granola, popcorn, and peanut butter. You may wonder why I would choose such a sticky and messy activity. The laughter that filled the house and the smiles of Rowan and Eden were great prizes even as we made a huge mess in the kitchen.
Bop had purchased two oranges at the grocery store. One for our project and one to eat. Always being safe first, I cut the orange in the middle which gave a half for each child. With paper towels ready for clean-up and the kids standing where they could see everything happening with our project, we were ready for the activity to begin.
“Mimi, what are you doing? Why do you have an orange?” Five and ¾ years old Rowan spoke first.
“Mimi, orange?” Two years old Eden spoke next.
I began to explain how we would make granola from the ingredients and then, fill the orange halves. But, first I had to scoop the “pulp” out of the orange. What an experience! This particular orange was filled with major pulp. The more I scooped with the spoon, the more juice squirted all over the kitchen counter and onto our clothes and hands.
Giggles started. We all laughed at the mess Mimi was making.
Next, we needed granola bites and popcorn to be ground up a little bit smaller. Bringing out the blender, Rowan immediately asked if he could push the button. Eden knows blenders are loud. “It’s too loud, Mimi.” She spoke before I had plugged in the machine.
“No worries Eden. Rowan can push the button. We’ll cover our ears.” Eden instantly placed her little hands over her ears even though the machine wasn’t turned on yet.
When I added a couple of granola bites to the blender and secured the top, I told Rowan to push the button. He smiled and placed his finger on the pulser. With a few taps, we had granola to mix with the peanut butter.
All ears were uncovered and the blender was put in the sink to wash at a later time. Now we could mix the rest of the ingredients to make our homemade meal for the birds.
Reaching our hands into the bowl, we mushed and squeezed the peanut butter and granola together.
The giggles started as we noticed the icky and gooey mess sticking to our fingers. “Mimi, how are we going to get this stuff off?” Rowan inquired.
Eden looked at me and started to stick a little finger in her mouth so she could taste the bird treats. “Wait, Eden, wait. I’ll get you another snack. This one is for the birds.”
With a grin, she proceeded to wipe her messy fingers on her shirt.
The bird feeder treat was ready to spoon and place in the oranges. Bop had prepared the oranges with teeny holes in each side. We filled the oranges and gave them to Bop to hang in the tree.
A fun and simple, or maybe not so simple, activity that brought laughter and joy. A bit of a mess, but sometimes fun involves making a mess.
Later in the day, after the new bird feeders were filled and hung, Rowan, Eden, and I looked out of the playroom/office window. Downy woodpeckers enjoying the treats we had made for them.
Every day, we look for the birds. We’ve also had bluebirds visiting our homemade feeders.
What a joy to have fun projects! We learn and laugh together. Sometimes we get messy and that’s okay.
Have you enjoyed any homemade creations lately? Share with us. You may inspire others.
Blessings and giggles,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
“Come Back, Honey!”
Laughter and conversations can be heard in our neighborhood every day. In the morning, children and parents gather to wait for the yellow buses to arrive. After school has ended for the day and everyone is home, the time for fun begins. Happy children bring out bicycles, frisbees, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and more.
When Rowan and Eden visit, there are belly-holding giggles, surprises in conversation and actions, amazing stories of what happened at school, and yes, even some quiet time. All of these things provide wonderful opportunities for bonding and sharing the love of God.
Temperatures have warmed in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and outside play is a wonderful way to burn off energy and have fun. One of my favorite activities is playing with bubbles. Sometimes, I bring out the mixture and wands and enjoy the bubbles by myself. However, most of the time, neighborhood kids are playing, too.
Recently, two years old Eden and I were preparing to take the needed supplies outside. She carried wands of various sizes and shapes. I carried the large pink bottle of solution to pour into the circular pans.
With everything in place on two little plastic tables lined up on the sidewalk, we were ready to create fun shapes. Eden doesn’t like for “bugs” to get in the pans, so I have to be on the lookout to remove any creatures before she notices. Sticky fingers don’t bother me.
On that particular day and since then, every time I place my wand into the pan and cover it with the solution, Eden begins to laugh. As I raise my arm, the bubbles appear and dance in the air. She throws down her wand and runs to catch the different shapes flowing toward the sky.
Her energy is limitless, just like her brother Rowan. Her breathing is rapid and her eyes are opened wide as she laughs and jumps in the air to catch the clear circles. The excitement she shows over the simple act of running and chasing something flying through the air is truly contagious.
Along with running, she calls to the bubbles. I’m not sure where she learned this or why she talks to them, but she calls out, “Come back, honey. Come back, honey.”
Her sweet voice brings happy tears and tons of giggles to me as she tries to catch each one.
I’ve never called bubbles “honey” and I’ve never asked them to “Come back.” But, Eden has a plan and for some unknown reason, those bubbles are “honey”.
Bop and I are thankful we live close to Mike, Christine, Rowan, Eden, and doggy Olive. God has blessed us with many joys from this move. Five years in South Carolina and we continue to treasure each moment.
Have you played with bubbles lately? Or perhaps another fun outside activity with kids?
Be alert and listen. You might hear someone calling “Come back, honey.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NIV)
Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
Super Exciting News for Readers
I am super excited to announce that I have a story in the new anthology “Charleston Light: Stories Inspired by Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse”. The book contains eight novellas written by authors who belong to the South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).
The inspiration for each unique story in this anthology came from the Charleston Light lighthouse on Sullivan’s Island. My husband (Alan) and I attend church on the island and enjoy learning the history of the island and the people. The writer’s group toured the Charleston Light lighthouse area and agreed this would be great material for stories.
My story is “Second Time Lighthouse Love”.
After two years, widow Lana Pierce continues to grieve the loss of her beloved husband Stan. When the older woman finds a mysterious notebook left on their favorite bench, she wonders if this could be a secret message intended for her. Is another “forever love” possible?
One of the extra special ideas came when the writers discussed how proceeds from sales of the book should be handled. As a group, the decision was made to donate all proceeds to SOUL (Sanctuary of Unborn Life). Dianne Miley, a chapter member of our group, and anthology contributor, is the Founder of SOUL. This faith-based non-profit group provides support, mentoring, and housing assistance for local pregnant and new mothers in need. More information about SOUL can be found on their website. www.sanctuaryofunbornlife.org
Now for more exciting news. I am putting together a launch team for the book. Would you please consider being part of this launch team? There are several ways to help.
Read my short novella for free and write a review and post it on Amazon, Goodreads, and Bookbub. Hopefully, you will enjoy the story and want to purchase the entire book.
Pre-order the anthology ebook. The ebook is $2.99 on Amazon now. The normal price is $4.99, which is still a good deal.
Share this Preorder on your social media. Tell your family, friends, and yes, strangers, about the book.
If you decide to be on my launch team, please read the story by April 14th. All reviews should be posted by April 17th. Amazon will not allow reviews until April 14th.
If you are interested and available to read my novella, please email me at ahenderson312@gmail.com. I’ll be happy to send you a free pdf of my story.
Perhaps you would like to purchase the ebook without being on the launch team. Here’s the link to pre-order.
Have a blessed day and look for lighthouses,
Melissa Henderson aka Mimi
Birthday Lunch…Wrong Car
“Let’s go to lunch and celebrate your birthday and my birthday.” A dear friend recently suggested we go to a local restaurant and celebrate birthdays. Of course, I agreed. After finding a time that suited both of us, we scheduled the day and looked forward to the special time together.
On the chosen day, my dear friend drove us to the destination. A lovely local eatery known for delicious food. Along the drive, we chatted about the recent happenings in life. From joys to worries, this is a trusted friend with whom anything can be shared.
We arrived at the restaurant, entered the building and the front desk person greeted us with a smile. Sharing that we had a reservation, the server took us to our table immediately. The place was crowded as it was lunch time. Sounds of conversations between patrons and staff filled the air. Laughter became louder as chats continued. Dishes of delectable food being delivered and placed on tables made me pause to see what people were ordering.
After placing our orders for food and beverage, my friend and I continued talking. Grandchildren are always a topic of conversation. The delight of living close to those special children was evident in our shared stories of the new school year, overnight visits, and more.
The food arrived and we enjoyed every bite. Dessert was chosen after we had finished eating our meal. Yummy to the tummy. In fact, there was so much food that we asked for “to go” boxes for the extra food.
The time had come for us to leave the restaurant and return home. After thanking our server, paying the bills, and grabbing our food to take home, we stood and walked to the front door. Continuing to chat and laugh, my friend and I watched for vehicles as we crossed the parking lot. All was clear and we headed to her car.
I walked to the passenger side and began trying to open the door. Nothing happened. Dear friend was on the driver’s side attempting to open her door. Nothing happened there either. A few moments passed and I heard her say, “This isn’t my car.”
Yes, we were so busy talking and enjoying the day that we attempted to enter the wrong vehicle.
There was a similarity between the vehicles. Same color, same brand.
Only problem was that it was a different model of SUV and definitely did not belong to my sweet friend.
Laughter began and we giggled all the way to the correct car. When we were seated in the correct vehicle, I turned to my friend and said, “You know, “It’s Always A Story With the Hendersons”. She laughed and agreed. Now, she feels like a Henderson, too.
Good thing we didn’t set off any car alarms.
This funny situation caused me to thank God for the laughter and blessed friendships He brings to our lives. We may try a wrong door at some point, but God will lead us to the correct door. I am thankful to know the door to God is open and available in every moment.
Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
Olive and The Keys
“Mom, can you and Dad go to our house and let Olive outside? We’ll be home later.” Our son Mike had called to ask if we could take care of their Boston Terrier dog named Olive. Mike, Christine, Rowan, and Eden were away and wouldn’t be home until later that evening.
Agreeing to ride to their home and make sure Olive had fresh water, food, and the chance to play outside in the backyard for a bit, Alan and I chose a time to make the drive.
As the bright sun of day began turning to dusk, I gathered my key ring that has more keys on it than I could ever use.
“Mimi, are you sure we have a key for their house?” Alan inquired.
“Sure, it’s bound to be somewhere in this pile of keys.” I answered with confidence.
“Which one is the key we need?” Alan didn’t share my confidence.
“Well, we’ve taken care of Olive before, so I know we have a key.”
Alan laughed. “Are you sure it’s not one of the keys that we keep in a plastic bag in the basket on the kitchen counter?”
The basket Alan was referring to is filled with business cards, stamps, coupons, address labels, small mementos, and other things, including plastic bags with keys.
At Alan’s suggestion, I decided to look inside the full basket.
What do you think I found?
Yes, a plastic sandwich bag with the key we needed. Alan was right.
In my hurry to complete the task of taking care of Olive dog, I thought I had the needed item. I was overconfident. I didn’t pause to make sure the correct key was on the key ring.
This reminds me of how there are times when we need to be confident and other times, we need to ask for help. Seeking guidance from the Father is always the best way to handle any situation.
God hears our prayers. Whether we are asking to find lost keys,(or keys we didn’t know were lost) or praying to the Father with big requests, there is comfort in knowing He is listening.
Alan and I were able to visit with Olive doggy and sit with her in the backyard. She constantly looked at the garage door and at the gate. Olive missed her family, but they would be home soon.
As for all the keys on my keyring, I’m still perplexed as to why I have so many keys. I only use a few of them. I’m thankful for God’s reminder to be patient and ask for His help, even with finding keys.
Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
New Neighbor Giggles
“Hello! How are you today? Nice to meet you. Welcome to the neighborhood! Where did you live before moving to the Lowcountry?”
These are some of the questions often heard in our neighborhood. The area is filled with friendly folks. Some have lived in the area for a while and others have recently relocated from another state. The same conversations are shared as each person is welcomed into the community.
A variety of ages is one of the things that makes our neighborhood wonderful. From young couples with new babies to seniors who have retired, we are blessed with caring, compassionate friends.
Recently, Alan and I met a lovely couple while taking our evening walk. Greetings were exchanged and a delightful conversation started. Sharing about children, grandchildren, and reasons for moving, the chat continued with laughter and joy. We talked about how we would easily remember their names because the man has the same name as our son, Mike. The sweet lady, named Joanne, reminded us that her name is the same as a craft store.
When time came for Alan and me to proceed with our walk, we said goodbye. We looked forward to seeing the couple again soon.
Days later, Alan went to the grocery store. He returned and mentioned how he had seen the man we had recently met. “I saw the new guy. He was at the store. He said they are building a house and moving to another part of the state.”
My reaction was shock and disbelief. “Wow, they just moved here. Are you sure? Houses sure do sell fast around here. I didn’t know they were building a home. They are so nice. I’ll miss them when they move.”
We talked more about houses selling fast in the Lowcountry. Some homes in our area are under contract the day the house is placed on the “for sale” listing.
I hoped we could chat with the couple again soon, especially before they moved.
Friday evening, Alan and I went to the local big box store to shop for certain items. As we walked through the aisles, we noticed our new neighbors shopping.
“Hello, hello. How are you all today? Are you really moving?” A perplexed look appeared on their faces.
At that point, Alan began to share the rest of the story. He had not updated me on the mistake he had made. Perhaps he was a bit embarrassed, but now the truth would be revealed.
Alan spoke. “Hey, funny story. I went to the store the other day and saw a guy who looked just like you Mike. I approached him and introduced myself again, reminding him how we met the other day while walking. The guy nodded and said he remembered. I carried on a full conversation with the guy. He told me that they are building a house and moving.”
Later that same day, Alan had seen our neighbors driving by the house. The man, Mike, still had his mustache. The man Alan had chatted with at the grocery store did not have a mustache. Oops.
Alan had enjoyed a conversation with a stranger and the person never corrected Alan’s mistake.
I had to laugh out loud as I shared with our new friends that Alan never told me the rest of the story and about his error in talking with the wrong person. We all laughed and continued with a joyful visit right there in the aisle of the big box store.
I do need to share with our new friends about our family motto.
“It’s Always A Story With The Hendersons”.
Have you chatted with someone who wasn’t the person you thought you were talking to? A case of mistaken identity?
What happened when the mistake was revealed?
Lord, thank You for new friends. Thank You for laughter. May we all find joy in each day.
Amen.
Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
Ten and Ten
Lunch with friends brings conversation, laughter, sometimes tears, always prayers, delicious food and more. Recently I attended a birthday celebration gathering for a dear friend. The fun began while we were riding to the restaurant. Arriving at the establishment, we were promptly shown to our table and the server brought water and menus.
We inquired about the lunch specials, placed orders for food, and began chatting. Catching up on life events and sharing about children and grandchildren are usual topics of discussion. Of course, I have to give the latest update on Rowan and Eden. There is always a funny story to share with everyone.
Sharing life with these friends brings joy. Each person is experiencing a different life journey. In this special group, we know thoughts and prayers will be said for each person.
As we finished the meal and dessert, time had come to pay the bill. Each person was paying for their own food. The server was gracious in creating separate bills for each lady. Some paid with cash and others with credit card.
The nice lady who was taking care of us collected the payments and went to the register.
She returned with change and receipts for everyone. Well, everyone except me. I had paid with cash and was expecting some dollars back. I waited patiently and then inquired about my change. I had planned to give a nice tip, but still wanted the money so I could decide the amount of tip to give.
Several people at our table called the server. We explained how I didn’t get any change back. The sweet lady looked at me and said, “Oh, I know exactly what I owe you. Sorry about that.”
She walked to the cash register and found the amount due to me. Bringing the dollars back, she apologized.
I still wanted to give this woman a nice tip. She had worked so hard to help our group. She was polite, efficient, and quick with the orders. So, I gave a $10.00 tip. This sweet server kept saying, “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
After the luncheon, I arrived home to find a wonderful email from a friend. The news stated that I had won a $10.00 gift card to use online. Wow!! What a nice surprise!
God is so good. I gave a $10.00 tip and He gave me $10.00 back. Thank You God.
Have you experienced anything like this?
Have a blessed and joy filled day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
Canopy Lessons
A glorious sunny Saturday in the Lowcountry called for a local fall festival to be enjoyed by young and old. Crafts, jugglers, homemade food, a scarecrow on stilts, and more brought a fall atmosphere. I signed up to participate and sell copies of Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator. Preparing for the event took time and effort to make sure everything was ready to go. A plastic tub with supplies for the event was filled with books, stickers, bookmarks, and a few candy treats. I also needed a table and two chairs.
Each of these vendor events call for readiness before the actual activity. This time, tables would be positioned on a certain area of lawn. Folks would be ready to sell their items and make new contacts and possible friendships.
One new important part of my “list” of items to take to the festival was a canopy. Since I would be outside, a canopy would shelter me from the bright sunshine and provide a comfortable place for people to look at my books. A few autumn decorations completed the atmosphere of my “booth”.
A few days before the event, my husband Alan and I decided to open the box with the brand new canopy to make sure we knew how to set it up. Wait…notice that we chose a few days before the event to check on the canopy. I would have preferred to open the box as soon as we purchased the item. Yet, Alan felt he could put that canopy together without any trouble. He didn’t need directions. According to him, the photos on the box made assembly look easy.
Picture this. Alan and I are standing in the backyard. Canopy box opened, canopy, spikes, rope, and yes, directions, pulled out of the box.
The video online had shown one person assembling the canopy and lifting the cover with one hand. No problem. Well…
Alan decided not to read directions. He asked if I would stand on one side of the canopy and help to lift the 8 x 8ft metal in the air. No worries until we got the canopy base halfway up and realized we forgot to put the actual cover on the top. What good is a canopy without a cover?
Imagining the neighbors watching the situation, we looked around. A nice man across the street had been sitting on his back porch. “Do you need some help?” He asked. Chuckling, we said, “Thank you, we’ll figure it out.”
By the time Alan and I finally got the cover on and the canopy raised and secured, we were laughing at ourselves.
We should have read the directions first.
The canopy worked great at the event. The sunshine and the strong South Carolina coastal breeze didn’t cause any worries. I was safe and secure under the brand new canopy.
God provides directions for us. The Bible is the Word of God and we can find answers to many questions by reading His Word. Perhaps if we read His directions first, we can deal with troublesome situations more easily.
That canopy reminded me to read directions first, instead of trying to fix things on my own. God will guide us if we ask Him.
Yes, folks, “It’s Always A Story With The Hendersons”.
Blessings and giggles,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
The Weed Walk and Planting Seeds
Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies. Flowers and vegetables can bring smiles and joy to every moment. I find happiness in filling a container with dirt, adding fertilizer to the soil, adjusting a plant in the pot, and providing enough moisture to quench the thirst of the plant. Other times, preparing soil in the ground, adding seeds or plants, and then covering the dirt with water, gives a great opportunity to watch sprouts pop out and the growing cycle begin.
Recently, a neighbor shared a bag of marigold seeds. Grandson Rowan and I decided a good project would be to find a pot, fill it with dirt, poke holes in that dirt, and plant the seeds. Of course, we did not use any system for spacing. We giggled while we stuck our fingers into the dirt. Then, we decided to place many seeds in each hole. When teaching a four year old about gardening, allow for the creativity to flow. 🙂
Rowan and I planted seeds on a Tuesday and a few days later, the photo above shows what we have grown. How exciting to know that we prepared the soil, planted the seeds, and now, we have marigolds growing in a pot on the back porch.
Bop(Alan) has been teaching Rowan to do the “weed walk”. They walk in the front yard and the back yard and check for weeds in the flower beds. A fun time for grandson and Bop, as they share special conversations while looking for weeds. I’m very impressed that Rowan knows which things need to be picked and which ones need to be left alone.
A big smile appears on my face when I hear Rowan say, “Mimi, I found a weed. I better pick it for Bop.” One day, baby sister Eden will be doing the “weed walk”, too.
God’s creations are amazing. Two days ago, an Eastern Hercules Beetle decided to live in the back flower bed. What an interesting sight!
Whether planting, watering, or looking for weeds, I am reminded how our faith starts at one point and then, has to be nurtured. Our faith can grow by reading Scripture, praying and sharing conversation with the Lord, sharing God’s Word with others, attending worship services, volunteering, listening, and many other ways.
Every moment is an opportunity to learn and to teach. No matter our age, there continue to be new adventures and fun to explore.
Have you been on a “weed walk” lately?
Blessings and giggles,
Melissa Henderson aka Mimi