THE RED UMBRELLA

Photo credits: Giulio Bernardi
Shticks character Arts by:  Ms. Veronica Shticks Anderson of Theshticks.com

This is the first  picture Veronica did for me.  She was inspired by my post Rain, Rain, Rain.  She dropped this beautiful comment:

Veronica Shticks said...

Lolita, I was very touched by the part where your mother comes and picks you up with her bigger umbrella. I want to be like your Mom and have my little girls remember all the times I was there for them. this is a very sweet post with cozy imagery--at least for me who also associate rain with wonderful happy things. The pictures are beautiful and the storytelling is heartwarming!

March 15, 2012

We became friends through Diane, as did most of my blogging circle of friends, and we exchanged e-mails.  Once you follow her blog, you get updates.  Your comments can be posted in those e-mails and I made one.  Gosh, she has the grace of replying to my comments.  You may visit her blog and find inspiration, some good laughs about daily life, and see her hand displayed in the characters.

Thus, she proceeded to ask me if I wanted to be a "Shticks?"  I told her that it would be my honor.  Who would decline such a generous offer from a very talented lady?  I will be on her drawing board.  Can you imagine that?  What would it feel like being scrutinized with Photoshop brushes and pens?  I think, it needs her heart, her time and her talent.

I gave her freedom to envisage my own character and she produced the Umbrella scene for me.  This is a true gift.

Thank you so much, dear Veronica.  My memory of my mother and the umbrella days will be forever itched here in my page.

 

THE SHTICKS WEBPAGE

P.S.

To Pam:  I think the picture could well be Irish or Scottish Hills.  One of those travel dreams of ours.

MY AMERICAN DREAM

This is Lolita Shticks, in her American dream of personally witnessing the colors of autumn.  ( Pssst.... it is still a dream until now.)  This would be my delight, upon seeing for real, those leaves turning to all kinds of colors, and watching them take their eventful flight down to the ground.  Isn't God the author of Arts?



For photo credit, with gratitude, and for the stick figure of me, thanks to  Thesticks.  The stick figure is an original design by Ms. Veronica Shticks Anderson.  She's got the liveliest, most creative analogies of life in her stick figures, featuring her own family circle, and with great honor, myself in a cameo role (laugh).


Indeed, this is a dream-come-true for me.   This is my first autumn picture.  I was hoping I could stay for winter.  But I was recalled to the office.  Perhaps, I will come back next year in time for the snow.  See you then!

 

http://www.theshticks.com/

"QUOTED"

WORDS TO LIVE BY

QUOTES AND ONE-LINERS

You cannot win if you do not begin.

A day without the presence of God, is a wasteful day. 

In every life, it's hard to learn which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.   

The best way to be successful is for a person

to follow the advice they give others.

Whoever gossips to you will be a gossip of you.

Jesus is a friend who knows all about your faults

but loves you anyway.

Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.

The right angle to approach a difficult problem is the "try-angle."

Even a woodpecker owes his success to the fact he uses his head.

 church is a place where you are not too bad to come in and you are not too good to stay out.

Keep on "keeping on" for the Lord.    By perseverance, the snail reached the Ark.  The happiness of every country depends upon the character of its people, instead of on the form of its government.   The worse moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, and has no one to thank.   Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed and permanently set.   It is not guided missiles, but guided morals, that is our great need today.   When you flee temptations, don't leave a forwarding address.  

May your day be filled with blessings
Like the sun that lights the sky,
And may you always have the courage
To spread your wings and fly.







The memories of tomorrow depend on your attitude today.

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still. 

You have to love life to live it and vice versa. 

A journey begins with a single step. 

How we spend our days is, how we spend our lives.

 

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.

Faith is the vision of the heart. It sees God in the dark as in the day.

The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.

As you think, so you are; you make or mar your success.

It is better to forgive and forget than to resent and remember.

Wherever the Spirit of the Lord sways a heart, there is a passion to serve.

A good thing to remember, a better thing to do--work with the construction gang, not with the wrecking crew.

Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended upon man.

Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.

Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.

Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.

Be careful of your thoughts: They may become words at any moment.

Life is not a problem to be solved but a gift to be enjoyed.

The world needs the peace that passes all misunderstanding.

A handful of common sense is worth a bushel of learning.

Believe and you'll achieve.

Doubt and you'll do without.

Keep your words sweet---you may have to eat them!

The successful person is one who does not let the 
disappointments of life turn him bitter.

Friendship is the art of overlooking the shortcomings of others.

Remember when you were at your best? Now be there again.

The world at its worst needs the witness of Christians at their best.

What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.

One refused to do anything but his best. The result? Success.

Every moment is the right one to be kind.

Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.

Romans 12: 2 NKJV.

There is no royal road to anything. One thing at a time, and all things in succession.

That which grows slowly endures.

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

"For nothing is impossible with God."

People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do.

Character is not made in crisis, it is only exhibited.

The man who humbly bows before God can walk upright before men.

Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life.

Your greatest power lies in the power of prayer.

Don't forget that God is between you and your enemy.

Better, though difficult, the right way to go.

Than wrong, though pleasant, which ends in woe.

Accustom yourself to commune with God, not with thoughts deliberately formed to be expressed at a certain time, but with the feelings with which your heart is filled.

 If you enjoy His presence, and feel drawn by the attraction of His love, tell Him that you delight in Him, that you are happy in loving Him, and that He is very good to inspire so much affection in a heart so unworthy of His love.

 But what shall you say in seasons of dryness, coldness, weariness? Still say what you have in your heart. Tell God that you no longer find His love within you, that you feel a terrible void, that He wearies you, that His presence does not move you. 

Say to Him, "0 God, look upon my ingratitude, my inconstancy, my unfaithfulness. Take my heart, for I cannot give it; and when Thou hast it, oh, keep it, for I cannot keep it for Thee; and save me in spite of myself."

I am fond of collecting quotes and one-liners.  The above lines are taken from a friend's collection, who shares lots of Godly wisdom in our Multiply community.  His name is Alfie Eskander.

If any of you feels like it, you may pick a line or two to make a post and share it in your own blog. 


 If we are connected and follow each other's blogs, I will be able to catch it immediately. Otherwise, please link.  This would be a lovely avenue to share our thoughts about a "one-liner" and in a way, this would be a sure way to "enrich" ourselves with wisdom picked from our circle of Godly-wise-hearted-extravagantly-loving-encouraging people.


Share also, if you have one written in the past, of quotes, which may not be found in those listed above.  Just put the link in the comments box.  It would be, as sure as five o'clock strikes the face of the clock, I will go and read it. Even if I've been there in the past, still I would re-visit.

This is not an essay writing contest.  It is only intended for learning from each other.  Who knows what would be stirred by these one-lines in us.  No deadline also. 

Pardon also for this may tire your eyes, or make you "thought-weary," but will exercise our hearts and wisdom-fill our minds.

Alfie did not put the owners names.  So I assume they are free of copyright limitations.  But if you recognize any of the quote's owner, I urge you to affix it.  

Thanks.

SWEDISH MASSAGE

Last night was a night of submission.  No, not the "wife-submits-to-husband" kind of thing.  For a few days now, I had been carrying stiffness on the upper portion of my back towards the shoulders.  I was content to rub some liniments on the stiff portions, before I lie down to sleep, to ease the tension.  But last night was different.  The tingling on my nape became something that made it uncomfortable to twist my neck.

I had been eyeing a spa along the way home, which promoted my little longing for relaxation.  My present state made me toy between going or not.   I chose to submit (a little luxury won't hurt).  I needed to relax and I wanted some relief.  I felt that sleep would be restful after a massage. So off I went.

There were several choices on their list.  I told the clerk I wanted something appropriate to relieve me of the muscle tension along my shoulders.  So she offered me the Swedish Massage because they use massage oils with this option.

I was ushered into a cubicle in the darkened hallway lighted only with candles.  There was this aromatic essence in the atmosphere as I went inside and lay down on the mattress spread on the floor.  

True to my estimation, I found myself smiling like that lady in the picture.  My body was enjoying the mastery of this tiny attendant with tiny fingers yet held enough strength to loosen up knots in my muscles.

I know most of you had been to a spa but in the third world this is a treat.  Well, I have worked hard, didn't I?  A reward (to myself) should be in order, huhuhumm.... (two thumbs up).

..... and it was good.  Now where did I hear that one, surely it is in the book of Genesis.  Yes Lord, this little mold of dust needs a little healing.  Thanks.

Some facts I researched about Swedish Massage:
Thanks to Massage Envy.
For the image, thanks to the same site. (Edited by Lolita for added effects).

What is Swedish Massage Therapy?

Swedish massage therapy is the modality that comes to mind when most people think about massage. As the best-known type of bodywork performed today, one of the primary goals of the Swedish massage technique is to relax the entire body. This is accomplished by rubbing the muscles with long gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart. But Swedish massage therapy goes beyond relaxation. Swedish massage is exceptionally beneficial for increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, improving circulation and flexibility while easing tension.
A study conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and published in The New York Times, found that volunteers who received a 45-minute Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as arginine vasopressin-a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol. Volunteers also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system, and a boost in the immune cells that may help fight colds and the flu.
Additional Swedish massage techniques include circular pressure applied by the hands and palms, firm kneading, percussion-like tapping, bending and stretching. Before and during your Swedish massage session, communication is encouraged with your professional massage therapist so that your massage is customized to your specific need.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

• Relieves stress
• Encourages relaxation
• Helps manage pain
• Relaxes muscles
• Improves flexibility and range of motion

....... yes, it was very good.

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS

Isaiah 25:1

[Praise to the LORD] LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.


http://www.inspiks.com/

Do you have the mind of an engineer, an economist, an accountant, a head of State, a scientist, a doctor, a lawyer and all the other branches of studies, all in one?  Which field would be the most emphasized?  Would their be peace, when all at once, everything you have stored in your brain, is being called to surface, in an emergency, or thinking about a divine structure, or the opening of a bud, the intricate layers of an onion, and so on and so forth?


That is why, I just sit here in my window seat, soaking in God's grand creation.  Am I not so blessed, all I need to do is enjoy it?

Thank you, dear God, that you still hold everything in  its appointed place, its designed purpose, the laws it is set to follow, and could still listen to my woes.  Even when I stare at the dawning of the day, Your faithfulness, Oh God is manifested.

Word:  Faithfulness