It’s the first real cool snap of Fall 2016 and though Richard and I are not fans of cold weather we made ourselves  get up and get moving yesterday morning. Walking shoes, sweat pants, jacket, and we are off…But wait, I forgot my earbuds and music!!! Back up the stairs I go, grab my earbuds and phone. Now, we are off for our morning walk.

I am sure you are thinking…But your waking with Richard, why do you need earbuds? How can you visit if you are listening to music? Well, the answer is quite simple…I am a woman. I can walk, talk and listen all at the same time!!! And I love my music!!! So, to ensure I am able hear Richard and the music, I wear only one earbud.

Richard was walking on my left and it was during one of his silent moments, I heard these words in my right ear…

(Click To Listen Too)

• Not listening closer to the stories my parents and grandparents told me growing up
• Not getting my college education prior to having my children. I regret putting them through that!
• Not rocking my children more (there’s a story behind that one)
• Not thinking before speaking when angry
• Not reading to my children more
• Not giving my children what they needed most…My full attention
• Not taking more pictures

This list could go on for days…So many regrets have haunted me but yesterday I realized,

“Every mountain every valley
Thru each heartache you will see
Every moment brings you closer
To who you were meant to be
Dear younger me, dear younger me”

Today, I reflect back on the words of the song “Dear Younger Me” and realize, I needed to hear that voice in my ear…The one that said to me,

Who’s voice is whispering in your ear?

Who Are You Listening To?

Love Lee 

Wow, What a Week!!!

It’s finally here, the week we have planned for quite some time…Digging thru storage and going thru boxes to determine what to keep, sell, or donate has been a daunting task.

We knew the movers were coming on Monday so we had to decide what furniture would go upstairs in the area provided for us by our son-in-law and daughter which we refer to as “Meme & Papa’s Apartment”.  Then, we had to determine what we wanted to use to decorate with. So, off to storage we go…Digging thru furniture, boxes, and more boxes. Richard loads up the trailer and moves our “stuff” over to the garage so the movers can haul the heavy furniture upstairs for us.

Then, as if that was not enough work for us… we took delivery on our new 5th wheel so we also needed more “stuff” to set that up. This of course meant even more boxes!
And, you guessed it…The boxes of “stuff” were my assignment. Thankfully all the boxes were labeled which would make this process so much easier…WRONG! The boxes were labeled sure enough but of no help whatsoever!!! For example: Several boxes were labeled “Dishes”…Well, what does that mean? Dishes for serving, eating, cooking…What does dishes mean? So, like any good soldier I began opening each box and unwrapping each dish   to determine its type. Then, as I went through each box, I discovered some boxes did not contain dishes at all.

As I unwrapped the contents of each box I realized this labeling process happens to people all the time. So often people are labeled based on a snapshot of their appearance, actions, or mannerisms. And, for many the label written on the exterior of a person is so very different from what actually exists on the inside.

• The man standing on the street corner holding up a sign “Will work for food” may have a physical or mental ailment which prevents him from maintaining a job and is doing his best to feed his wife and children.
• That snippy sales clerk might have just been chewed out by a customer before you walked up and he or she is trying to recover from the embarrassment.
• The woman standing in line at the grocery store who appears distant and depressed may be grieving the loss of a child
• The kid who sleeps through class each day may not be able to sleep at night because of a unstable home life.
• The alcoholic stumbling in the street may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and trying to cope
• The woman with bruises up and down her arms may have just moved several boxes which were probably heavier than she should have lifted

And OMGosh…I just remembered a perfect example! Richard was pastoring a church and he informed the congregation he would be growing a beard. The beard, he explained was to serve as a reminder to pray for the members of First Baptist Church Brazoria while they prepared for the annual Passion Play. You should have seen the looks on people’s faces when he was introduced in the community as a pastor. Yep, some even label people for having facial hair!

Bottom line we all can be very judgmental at times and should use caution when labeling people because sometimes the wrong label can stick with someone their entire life. And, the label on the outside of the box may not match the contents on the inside!!!

That my friend is Why…

Labels Are So Important!!!

Love, Lee  

Judge not, lest you be judged. Matthew 7:1

Yesterday was HARD…It was a day filled with emotion, miscommunication, and a lot of “Stuff”! It seemed everything was a struggle until…The Letter!

A little over a week ago I received notification I would be getting a letter in the mail and to be on the look out for it. So, each day I would go to the mail box and…Nothing!

You know the old saying “Timing is Everything”? Well, it is true. I received the letter yesterday and the timing could not have been more perfect!

The letter was filled with one’s story of  struggles, failures, and hopelessness.  It was also filled with gratitude, hope, and success generated by a simple question I asked during a conversation we had over 18 months ago. The letter was a such a testimony of how God can use us to make a difference in the lives of others. Did I know that one question in a lengthy conversation would make such a profound impact on someone? No, but God did!

Nothing Comes as a Surprise to God but I do Believe He loves to Surprise Us!

Only God knew what kind of day I would be having yesterday and only God knew a simple question asked over 18 months ago would result in a “Thank You” letter I would receive on the very day I needed it most.

So, while my asking a simple question Made A Difference in the life of my friend…Her “Thank You” letter  Made A Difference in mine!

I Thank God for “The Letter” and I Thank God for My Friend!

Love Lee  

As many of you may already know, Richard and I decided to sell our home back in February. We listed our place and within a week we had a contract. It was then the reality hit…We have a lot of “Stuff” to deal with!

Our plan was to build so we knew we were going to have to put all our “Stuff” in storage. Well, that was easier said than done! Moving 3,600 square feet of a house into storage required 4 separate storage buildings. One might ask, If you knew you were down sizing then why didn’t you just get rid of some “Stuff”

Sounds easy enough right?

WRONG!!!

You see, for us…our “Stuff” represented all we’ve worked for our entire married lives! And, much of our stuff came at what seemed a very high price! We’ve worked shift-work, given up time with our family on weekends and holidays, and  made other sacrifices to ensure our home was pleasant and comfortable.  And, when you have 3,600 square feet… you’ve gotta have a lot of “Stuff” to fill up the place.

Interestingly enough Richard and I have come to the realization home is not about wood, bricks, and mortar but instead, it is all about being with those you love and cherish, making and sharing memories, and most of all…Each other!

We have found that home and it is with our Son-in-Law, Daughter, and Granddaughter. We are very humbled to be so loved!!!

Now, I will be going through our storage buildings to find the “Right Stuff” to put in our area of their home.

So, now the goal is to Let Go And…

Love Lee  

So Today Starts My First Official Week of Retirement…What Now?

In my mind, the word “Retirement” has always had such a negative connotation. It conjured up visions of old people sitting around and doing nothing. And while I am getting older, I will never consider myself old!

So, what will retirement mean for me…Here’s a few things that came to mind!

• Coffee with Richard every morning before he leaves for work
• Having morning Quiet Time with the Lord
• Getting back to my passion…writing  posts for “A Love Lee Place”
• Making myself available to spend as much time as possible with my daughter and granddaughter
• Going to football games competitions to watch the band perform
• Lending a hand when needed and spending time with friends
• Being home to greet my husband in the evenings
• Cooking meals again
• Doing laundry
• Cleaning

The possibilities are limitless so… I will definitely pace myself so that retirement does not become a full time job!!!

Today, I have already accomplished the first 3 tasks on my list.

The Day is Filled With Possibility…What Now?

Love Lee