Uncategorized – Page 5 – Light to grow in; reflections by Genevieve Howard

A need to nest

June 24, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged home, photography2 Comments

For many years, I had no home. I lived in rooms of rented houses or slept on couches owned by generous friends.

But in my heart, my home was knocking. I heard it. In my mind’s eye, I saw it.

I saw acres of green fields. I saw four seasons. I saw my boy growing up in God’s own country.

We sold all our belongings and moved to a place we had never been before. We knew no one. We had no job.

But I heard home knocking.

After a year and a half of searching, we found it. Our realtor asked as we pulled on the gravel driveway, “Is this your idea of paradise?”

Yes. We had found it. A small piece of land to serve as my sanctuary, my place to heal and my son’s space to grow.

I answered that knock.

I came home.

5 summertime things that make me happy

June 17, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged Happiness, photography2 Comments

Summer’s almost here! These 5 summertime things make me happy.

Fresh fruit, all kinds, especially yummy wrapped in a crepe!

Celebrating America with our American cat!

Walks with the dogs.

Lakes, rivers, creeks and other sorts of water, so refreshing when the heat comes.

The sight and sounds of insects (except for horse flies that torment my sweet horse! But I love the fireflies and crickets, the butterflies and dragonflies that decorate our acreage.)

What makes you happy about summer being here? Tell me in the comments!

Sunny, summery blessings on your week

Is grey the color of happiness?

June 10, 2015Posted in Uncategorized6 Comments

I’m not as smart as I was. It takes me more time to puzzle things out. I choose light reading more often.

My hair will never look as good as it did. It’s a rough, grey business that goes its own way.

I don’t foresee running 35 miles a week like I used to.

I’ve shrank. I still say I’m six feet tall, out of habit, convenience and a little bit of denial. If you were to measure me this minute, I’m only 5 foot 11 and a half.

I’m dumber, uglier, slower and shorter. Yet I’ve never been happier.

Why?

I see the small moments of my day. A crazy squirrel. Newly planted flowers. The face of a freshman student walking on campus. A coworker who is generous with her grapes. Cold water on a warm day.

I appreciate the physical abilities I have. Walking. Breathing without pain. Moving. Climbing stairs. Grooming the pony.

I love the people in my life with a lack of inhibition about how I feel. My beloved people mean everything. I shower them with ridiculous crochet gifts. Time to sit together, to eat, to laugh, to argue, to sing. Nothing matters more.

I pray often. Not quite the constantly I strive for, but more than ever before. It brings peace. Calmness. It replaces my own self-generated internal chatter.

I look out, not at myself much anymore. In fact, I sometimes forget to check my hair before I leave the house. I surprise myself when I arrive at a mirror.

What is that independent mess of grey on my head!?

Could it be the beginning of wisdom?

A bit of kindness in my teeth

June 3, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged family, relationships4 Comments

Curb and bradoon horse bit image from Wikimedia Commons

I have bad teeth. Always have. By the time I had all my adult teeth, most of them already had fillings.

It wasn’t a surprise that I needed two more root canals and crowns when I was only 20. The problem was I was poor.

Not charming poor, as in “let’s decorate with used furniture.” Hard poor like I needed to work at jobs where a meal was part of my shift.

The dentist told me it would be $1,000 to fix my teeth. An impossible number.

My brother heard about it. “I’ll pay for you,” he said. “You can pay me back over time.”

I fixed my teeth. When you make $6 an hour, it’s a long way to $1,000. Paying him back took years. After a while, he said I could work it off by helping around his house.

This week was his birthday. He’s been gone five years now since his suicide.

Stories that involve mental health issues and drug addiction are never pretty. They don’t end neatly like they do in the movies with miraculous recoveries where everyone is happy and inspired, stronger for having gone through it. These stories are told day by day, sometimes moment by moment, even five years after.

I’m not going to say he was easy to have as a brother or that I was a good sister.

But on his birthday as I went for a walk, I felt the crowns in my mouth with my tongue and thought, “He’s never far from me. His kindness lives on.”

This week, be generous to someone who needs it.

May God bless you.

May you be remembered for your kindness. May you be remembered.

Broken concrete prayers and dreams

May 27, 2015May 27, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged dream, PrayerLeave a comment

I keep my journal next to my bed. In the morning, I write down my dreams.

Sometimes my dreams seem real.

Some dreams I use as a source of wisdom.

Here is a recent one.

I dreamt I was driving a movie star to an event. He was famous, protected and padded in luxury and wealth.

We drove with the doors locked and the windows shut.

It was the future. Most cities were wrecks of chaos and inequality. People scrambled over broken chunks of concrete for scraps.

Everyone lived in fear. The fear bred competition. Competition meant some would be winners but most would be losers.

I told the movie star, “Your fame isn’t what matters. What is most valuable is your ability to appreciate the ordinary. You can relate to everyone if you are ordinary. You see the worth in a typical day. Enough to drink and eat. A friend to talk to. A roof and clothes. Freedom. Not just freedom, but the freedom to be kind.”

I dropped him off and joined a group gathering for lunch.

They asked me to say the blessing before we ate.

“Lord, I pray for healing. Everyone here knows someone who needs healing. Make us whole. Give us strength to get through the days—and especially through the nights. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.”

Sometimes my dreams seem real.

Some dreams I use as a source of wisdom.

What is most valuable is your ability to appreciate the ordinary.

Lord, I pray for healing.

MU Staff Arts & Crafts Showcase 2015

May 20, 2015May 20, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged art, crochet, friendship, speaking4 Comments

My crochet display with beloved friends at the 2015 Showcase

2015 was the best Showcase opening ever!

I was thrilled to see more than two dozen friends from Mizzou, my church and my Toastmasters club at the grand opening. I also appreciated the kind notes of support and prayers from those who couldn’t make it. I felt you there in spirit.

I’m thankful for all of you! It was a day of joy celebrating the retro 1970s crochet glory that is my hobby!

The Showcase will continue until Thursday, 3 p.m., in Stotler Lounge in Memorial Union. We have seven new artists displaying for the first time this year. It’s definitely worth the walk to Memorial Union—you’ll see many fascinating types of art: costumes, leather work, paper, hooked rugs and baskets.

I made a little something for our Chancellor, who is famous for his bow ties.

Guess what @bowtieger…@HowGen crocheted a bow tie for you! Becky Is showing it off at the Showcase! pic.twitter.com/XAxfKGMSsp

— MU Staff Council (@MUStaffCouncil) May 19, 2015

Photos from the show

Standing with my crochet art display during the speech

Giving a quick speech at the 2015 Showcase

Crochet bow tie I made for the Chancellor

The 2015 Showcase with a variety of tables

My crochet display with beloved friends at the 2015 Showcase

My thanks to Natalie Meighan and Michelle Hall for the photos.

Bonus: Campus Authors reception

The schmoozing continued at the Campus Authors reception I attended in the afternoon, complete with amazing food (note the tiny tasty tartlettes in my paw) and classical music in the rotunda. They told me my book sold out.

I love how this photo (courtesy of Laura Foley) makes me look like a rock star with my shades on. Do you think it’s because my Transitions lenses are slow to change back…or it is because the future is so bright…

I appreciate these good times and look forward to more. God bless you today and all days!

Tuesday Fun-day and you’re invited!

May 13, 2015May 13, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged Book, crochet, event, Writing1 Comment

If you’re predicting future thirst on Tuesday, I have the solution for you!

I’ll be part of two separate events on campus, and both of them will have refreshments.

MU Staff Arts & Crafts Showcase Grand Opening
Tuesday, May 19
Noon
Stotler Lounge, Memorial Union

Held in Mizzou’s iconic Memorial Union, the show will feature more than 40 different tables of artwork by woodworkers, painters and fiber artists like me. I’ll have a selection of handmade retro-inspired pieces on display and do a live demonstration of crochet.

I’m grateful for the honor of being one of the speakers this year, so I will appreciate any friendly faces in the crowd!

Enjoy art, refreshments and door prizes at this event that is free and open to the public.

A donation for the Food Bank gets you extra chances for door prizes!

MU Campus Authors Reception
Tuesday, May 19
3 p.m.
Jesse Hall rotunda

As if the word rotunda wasn’t appealing enough, you’ll enjoy light refreshments at this event as well. Held in Mizzou’s other iconic building, Jesse Hall, MU authors published in 2014 will have their books on display…in the rotunda.

This event is also free and open to the public.

(Don’t you think rotunda should be our Word of the Day? As an example used in a sentence, “Oh Winifred, let’s make plans now to mingle with the Mizzou authors in the rotunda on Tuesday.” Way fancy.)

See you there

I hope to see all my friends at one or both of these events supporting my writing and my yarn adventures. You keep me going. Without you, my work would be useless.

Because what is an afghan without anyone to snuggle under it and feel how cozy it is? What is a blog post without anyone to read it?

Thank you for encouraging me with my creative pursuits!

Blessings on your week.

The unknown influence you’re having today (whether you’re a mom or not)

May 6, 2015May 6, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged Knitting, Mother's Day1 Comment

Growing up, I never expected I would have an interest in fiber. I didn’t give it much thought. I was busy with horses and an electric typewriter where I typed for fun!

For years as a child, I saw my mom do needlepoint, weaving the colors through canvas until a picture appeared.

After I left the house, she returned to knitting and made sweaters for my toddler son, and even a sweater for our beloved golden pit bull.

After her death, I bought knitting needles and thought I would try it in her memory. Years later, I’m still knitting and have added crochet to my repetoire.

She died without knowing I would be a knitter like her. She never knew her influence on me.

We can’t always tell how we are affecting others with our actions and choices. But we do.

This is why it’s important to do our best so we help future generations enjoy life.

Whether you are a mom, want to be a mom or will never be a mom yourself, blessings to all the women this weekend. Your loving heart makes a difference–keep on shining, my friends!

From the road

April 22, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged photography2 Comments

I live in the country. I work in town. Between my home and my office, it’s more than 25 miles.

We might put more than 100 miles on the car in day if we have family activities that require some back and forth.

Time in the car isn’t wasted. We have engaging conversations or sing together. If I’m a passenger and it’s daytime, I can get a lot of crochet done! We make up stories about the things we see, like a lazy horse sunbathing or the summery fashion choices of college students when it’s 40 degrees out.

I like the feeling of motion.

When you’re in the car, instead of focusing on the arrival, make the car trip into a destination itself. Challenge yourself to make commute time a fun time!

These are some photos I’ve taken from the passenger seat of the car. See the whole set on Flickr

Postcard from Springfield, Missouri

April 15, 2015April 15, 2015Posted in UncategorizedTagged family, food, travel1 Comment

I recently took a fun trip to Springfield, Missouri, so my son Derek could compete in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) state finals. Enjoy these highlights from our visit!

All photos by Derek Howard, howderek.com