Skorts not Shorts
Another earache and sinus infection? What? Not again? Medicines are working and I’m beginning to feel better. Today and every day, I’m thanking God for the healing He gives.
During the time of sickness, I was not able to go to the grocery store. Low energy level left me wanting to sleep more than usual.
That meant dear sweet husband Alan would take care of the grocery shopping and trip to the big box store. Two lists had been written on note paper. Alan added a few more items that I had forgotten. Things were going great.
Alan asked, “Hey, Mimi, would you like me to purchase another pair of those shorts you liked when we were at the store last week?”
“Yes, honey, that would be wonderful.”
The clothing item was actually called “skort”, but I had a feeling hubby would not recognize that name. So, I simply agreed with him and called them “shorts”.
After inquiring about the size needed to purchase, he gathered the list, his wallet, and cell phone. Leaving for the store with every confidence that all items would be bought. He even asked what color I would like best.
I rested while Alan was shopping. A few hours later, he returned with bags of groceries and items from the big box store. Tissues, laundry softener, ginger ale, milk, etc.
A burst of energy entered my body and I began putting groceries away as we emptied each bag. Knowing I would soon find the new skorts. Oh, the excitement!
The last bag was emptied and no clothing was found.
“Mimi, I checked and the store didn’t have any more shorts. They had something called “skorts” but I thought that was the wrong thing. I guess we waited too long to go back and get more.”
Laughing out loud, I explained the situation.
“Alan, skorts are what you were supposed to buy.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought they were something else, not shorts.”
A few minutes later, the sound of Alan picking up his car keys from the counter caused me to question if he was going somewhere.
“Yes, I’m going back to get you two pairs of those things.”
“Really?” I asked. “You don’t have to do that.”
His reply was that he didn’t mind and he wanted me to be happy, especially when I was sick.
This act of kindness may seem like a simple thing. In our marriage of over 42 years, we have shown love to each other in big ways and small ways. I am thankful God blessed me with a loving husband, who doesn’t mind looking for ladies clothing. 🙂
Have you been the recipient of an act of kindness? Have you shown an act of kindness to others? Share in the comments. Spread the love of Christ every day.
Blessings and giggles,
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
Stocking Up and He Knew Why
About a week ago, my husband and I felt a sudden need to stock up on groceries. Bad weather was not in the forecast. The kitchen cabinets and refrigerator held many items for meals. So, why did we both feel the need to stock up on soup, rice, toilet paper, facial tissues, water, etc.? We had no idea. But…God knew.
After Alan and I had completed our shopping at the local grocery store, we went back home and emptied the bags. We commented “Well, I guess it’s a good thing we bought this stuff. Now, we don’t have to go to the store for a while.” and “Glad we’re all stocked up.”
Little did we know that in two days, the awful coronavirus would hit our family. God knew it was coming. God knew we needed to be prepared and stocked up on groceries. Alan began feeling achy and developed a stuffy nose. Two days later, he tested positive for the virus. I tested negative.
Some other members of our family tested positive, while others remained with a negative test result. We are blessed to have our vaccines and boosters. Everyone affected is quarantined and feeling better every day.
This virus affects people in different ways. We’ll never know how the virus came to us, yet, we do know we are thankful for the love and prayers of family and friends, and strangers.
Alan’s symptoms are not as bad as they could be and for that we are thankful.
We continue to pray for everyone affected by the virus and yes, that is everyone in the world. Whether you have had the virus yourself or know someone who has had it, we are all affected.
God constantly shows us His love in every moment of the day and night. While Alan and I were shopping for those extra items and wondering why we felt the need to shop, God knew what would be happening to us.
The love of God is eternal and He cares for us deeply.
During this time of quarantine, Alan and I have watched old movies, read great books, studied Scripture, and video chatted with family. This quiet time has allowed us to slow down and rest in the moment. We’ve noticed the sunshine more, the sounds of ice melting on the roof, the sound of wind whipping in the trees, and the quiet of the neighborhood. The freezing temperatures last night caused the azaleas in the front flower bed to shrivel and pose like a statue.
We also gave thanks to God for His provisions, even though we didn’t know why we would need extra groceries in the house.
When those times come and we don’t understand what is happening, going to God in prayer can bring peace and comfort that only He can give.
You are cherished and loved by Him.
Have a glorious day and stay warm and healthy,
Blessings,
Melissa Henderson aka Mimi
Beeping Along…
That sound! That annoying sound! Again…and again… Yes, I am talking about the smoke alarm beep that seems to follow me wherever I go. Alan and I usually change the smoke alarm batteries twice a year. The time change that moves us forward one hour or back one hour is always a good reminder to change the batteries. Yet, for some strange reason, this time, I decided we should change the batteries ahead of schedule. No problem.
Alan, and our son Mike, gathered the new batteries and a bag to put the old ones into, so as not to confuse the new from the old. Smart thinking.
Daughter-in-love Christine, and grandchildren Rowan and Eden, and I, sat outside on the back porch, while Alan and Mike changed the batteries. All was well until Mike shared that one of the alarms in a hallway wasn’t working properly. Interesting. Usually, when one alarm isn’t working, the others start beeping. Luckily, the green lights were showing all the other alarms. The one that wasn’t working didn’t cause the others to beep.
Alan decided to purchase a new alarm for that hallway. Locating the code on the back of the device, he drove to the local home improvement store and purchased a new alarm. With the new alarm installed, the beeps were gone. I was so happy not to hear those beeps. Although, I am thankful for the alerts if there ever was a fire.
I put the sound of the beep out of mind. A few days later, our local writers group met for the monthly meeting at our church. When we arrived, two nice gentlemen were already in the fellowship hall. They explained that they were there to work on the smoke alarms and assured us that any beeps we heard were just a test.
My first thought, “Oh, my goodness. Can I ever get away from the beeps?” Then, I thanked the men for working on the alarms. They explained how the pastor knew the situation. They would have to return and work underneath the building to correct any unnecessary beeping. Something about wiring, etc.
The writers group began the meeting. All was quiet for a while. I thought how wonderful that no beeps had started. Then…it happened, Our guest speaker began her presentation and… you guessed it. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! I left the group at the table, went to make sure there was no fire. Everything was fine. Just the beeping that the gentlemen had informed me might happen.
Our dear presenter gave her presentation while the smoke alarms continued to sound. Luckily, the beep was in a closet and not extremely loud.
After the meeting, the group discussed the annoying beep. We were glad to be able to get through our meeting without having to leave the building.
With the church doors locked, several people in the group decided to meet at a local restaurant for lunch. Vehicles were filled with writers, and off we went to the local eatery.
The vehicle I was riding in was filled with laughter and joy. We took a couple of wrong turns, but ended up right where we needed to be. As we scouted for a parking spot, a familiar sound was heard inside the vehicle. A beep, beep, beep. Much lower than the smoke alarm beep, but, still a beep.
We all laughed and asked what was making the sound. Our sweet driver shared that the beeping sound was alerting her that she was running out of gas. More laughter as we recalled the beeps we had heard all morning, and now here was another beep.
I looked for the message God was sending. I love how he sends us messages about the simplest things in life, even beeps. Every time I think about the different beeps I’ve heard lately, I laugh out loud.
I believe God was reminding me to always be alert for His messages. Pause, slow down, and rest in Him. Smoke alarms, car alarms, and other alarms give us the opportunity to pause and be aware of our surroundings. I pray I will be ready to listen and follow His guidance.
How about you? Have you changed your smoke alarm batteries? Is God trying to get your attention?
Have a blessed day,
Melissa aka Mimi
Sleeve Surprise
On a cool summer morning, I chose my outfit for the day. Cream colored jeans, white pullover shirt, and a lime green button up shirt to complete my look. Heart necklace around neck, step counter fastened on my wrist, socks and shoes on. I was ready to participate in a virtual writers conference and then, attend a neighborhood ladies luncheon.
All was going well. There was a bit of time before the events began, so I decided to complete some chores. Wash a few dishes, put away some clean laundry, and answer emails.
Yes, this day was going great. I was ready to face the world virtually and physically.
Until…a few hours into the morning, I noticed a strange lump on my left wrist area. What in the world?
You may have guessed this, as many people have experienced similar situations.
As I reached into my sleeve, I pulled out a ball of material. Yikes! A pair of underpants! How could this have happened?
I had been wearing this outfit all morning and never felt anything unusual.
Then… I paused and remembered.
The past few days had been stressful. A good kind of stress. Lots of writing and speaking opportunities. Decisions had to be made about each opportunity. My mind had become focused on the worry of the moment. Should I write this article? Should I work on my novel? Perhaps I should stop writing for a week. Maybe I need to make a list of things to do before attempting any of those things.
Pausing, breathing slower and slower, I looked at the strange sight that came out of my sleeve. I laughed out loud. A good hearty laugh. The kind of laugh that makes your belly shake.
Then…I thanked the Lord.
With all my worrying about tomorrow and my to-do lists, I had forgotten to go to Him for comfort.
The Lord has a wonderful sense of humor and often sends me the silliest messages. Sometimes those messages are found through a surprise in my sleeve.
I’m thankful that I didn’t find the “surprise” while I was at the ladies luncheon.
That discovery could have made for interesting conversation.
Thank You Lord, for constantly reminding me of Your love and glory. Thank You Lord for giving me the giggles.
Have you found any surprises in your sleeves lately? Or surprises in other places?
Blessings, giggles, joy, and prayers,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
Yellow Pollen Cloud
Spring has sprung here in the Lowcountry. A few weeks back, the days were filled with warmer temperatures and the budding of blossoms. The heat rose like a fire pit waiting for hot dogs and marshmallows. Residents wondered if summer had arrived earlier than usual.
Days later, cooler evenings and mornings returned. Blankets that had been stored away in the closet were brought out and returned to the edge of the bed.
Sweaters and jackets were worn again. Breezes turned to wind and Spring announced it was here to stay for a bit. Summer would have to wait its turn.
Watching the azaleas, camelias, and roses shiver in the cool wind was a sight to behold. Some people covered the new buds with sheets. Morning sun provided enough warmth to remove the sheets.
This week, the weather is back to normal for the coast of South Carolina. Most trees and flowers have burst forth with bright colors to enjoy. Tulips, jonquils, hyacinth, and more plants are creating a beautiful landscape in the neighborhood.
I love flowers and all their beauty. Our hummingbird feeder is placed near my office window so I can see the fast moving birds.
Yet, there is a problem with warm temperatures coming too quickly.
Pollen.
The dreaded yellow pollen cloud that accompanies new growth of flowers, trees, and plants.
Standing outside on the sidewalk, I looked to the end of the street. Saying out loud, “What in the world is that? Is that smoke?”
No, not smoke. The yearly yellow pollen cloud had arrived and was here to stay for weeks.
Porch furniture turned yellow. Sidewalks were covered with the pollen so thick that you could see footprints when a neighbor walked to the mailbox.
Sneezes could be heard from yard to yard. “Bless you.” was said over and over.
Now, a few weeks later, the pollen continues to cover the porch furniture, sidewalk, and yards. Thankfully, the amount of the yucky stuff is lessening. Thank You Lord.
When I think about the process that brings the pollen, I remember the journey of growing in faith. Just like the blossoms and buds who try to reach for the sunshine, we grow in faith as we reach for the Son. Our faith grows. The plants and trees grow.
God created the people. God created the plants. Our call is to love God and love each other. Taking care of nature shows God our love for Him, too.
Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
Savannah or Jovannah? Who are you calling?
Have you ever had one of those phone calls when things didn’t go the right way?
Recently, I was occupied and could not answer my phone quickly enough. By the time, I reached my cell phone, the caller had hung up. A red button on the message icon alerted me that someone had left a voicemail.
Entering the correct prompts, I waited and listened for the details of the message. Static on the connection caused the words of the caller to fade in and out. There was something about a reservation for an upcoming trip.
I remembered there was also a prompt on the phone to allow me to read the “transcript” of the call.
Awesome. I would not need to listen anymore. Just read the message.
A person named Jovannah had called to alert me of changes in the reservation. No problem, I would call back and reschedule. All would work out fine.
Tapping the buttons on the phone, I was ready to speak with whoever answered and ask for Jovannah.
A friendly voice answered and gave the name of the hotel and provided their name, too.
“How may I assist you today?” The person inquired.
“Yes, I’m returning a call from Jovannah. I’m calling about rescheduling a reservation.”
“Who are you calling? What name did you say?”
“Jovannah. She called and left the nicest message. May I speak to Jovannah?” I asked.
A moment’s pause.
“Ma’am. There is no Jovannah here. Could you be trying to reach another hotel?”
My face began to blush even though I was alone and the person on the other end of the line couldn’t see me. How could I have made such a silly mistake?
Beginning to explain, I mentioned how the call came from that number and the transcript of the message said Jovannah called.
“Ma’am, could you possibly mean Savannah? Sometimes phones record the messages wrong. We have a Savannah and she is standing right here. Would you like to speak with her?”
Laughing, I said yes and waited for this person to begin speaking.
“Mrs. Henderson, this is Savannah. I left you a message about your reservation.”
As I explained the silly mistake, we both laughed and shared about other mishaps with phone messages at the hotel.
This experience reminded me how we each have unique names. Some of us are named by family members, some are named to carry on the family line, some names are chosen out of a baby book.
Do you know how you were named? Do you know the meaning of your name? Melissa means honeybee.
You have a name here on earth. The most important name you have is “child of God”. You were created by Him and you are loved by Him. I am thankful to be His child and He calls me by name.
Blessings,
Mimi