The Big Cheese

It had been a long time since I watched anything on the Disney Channel. But yesterday, my family wasn’t home. My husband and daughter went to Seattle to help our son move back home for a while. I was flicking the channel, because I could, and stopped for a moment on the Disney Channel. A moment was all I could stand. The show that was on was so cheesy and the acting was so bad I felt bad for those kids. I bet you when they grow up, they don’t include that show on their resume. I had to change the channel. I know the programming is for kids, but kids have taste don’t they? Okay, maybe they don’t notice the cheesy lines but their parents do.

I remembered when I watched the movie Aladdin with our kids when they were little. Tom and I laughed our heads off, while the kids missed many of the jokes. Many parents watch television with their kids. Why should they suffer through shows like; Barney and Blues Clues. I was grateful my kids had Sesame Street. Okay, so there was Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. I’ll admit it, I liked Mr. Rogers even though it was guilty of the Big Cheese.

There really isn’t anything wrong with cheese. I mean one of the movies I love is the King of Cheese – Dirty Dancing. Yeah baby that right. I loved the music and the dancing but the rest of the movie leaves a lot to be desired. It had some of the worst lines ever written. A couple of examples:

“Why don’t you go back to your playpen, Baby?”
“Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”

Note to screenwriters: don’t call the main character Baby, because it leads you down the path of the Big Cheese.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Holiday Traditions

During the holiday season different families have their own traditions. When Tom and I got together I learned that Italian families have a pasta dish during Thanksgiving. I thought that was cool. My family had ham. The real difference was in the sweet potatoes. His mom made them in a round dish and used big marshmallows in the shape of a smiley face. My mom used a rectangular dish and placed small marshmallows evenly throughout the dish. When we got married and combined our traditions we compromised, but not when it came to sweet potatoes. His way, not everyone got to enjoy the marshmallow goodness in every bite. I won him over to my way.

You can imagine how different things must be for other cultures that come to live in the US. In talking to my boss last week, I asked what he was doing for Thanksgiving. He is from Brazil and so he was spending it with some friends from Brazil. I asked if they had turkey and stuffing, etc. He said yes to some extent but probably not they way I would. So I told him that I would bring in a little taste of our traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Monday, I came in with my containers of food so that he could have it for lunch. It was crazy busy and he didn’t have time to eat lunch. He took it home. My boss has five kids, four of which are at home. When he was heating it up, everyone wanted a taste. They all went crazy for it, so much so that his wife would love for him to pay me and instead of coming to work, go to their house and cook Thanksgiving dinner. They would buy the food and all I have to do is cook it. I said I wouldn’t mind, because I would do be doing something I love to do – cook.

Doing something you love to do, no matter what it is, is very satisfying. I love to write and even though I don’t get paid for it, it gives me life and is one of the most gratifying things I can do. I’m not the best writer there is. My grammar is terrible, but I love to tell a story. I love seeing the words on the page. I love seeing the story come to life and developing characters that you can care about. I’m enjoying starting my second book and watching it develop before my eyes.

What gives you life? What do you enjoy doing that you don’t get paid for? Hey, I may never get paid to write books, but I’ll still write them. Life is short, do what you love to do.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Christmas Cards

Tonight our church got together to decorate some Christmas cards. It was lots of fun. All the women (this year, we had some teenage boys, but that’s because of the teenage girls) gathered at the church, ate some goodies and laughed while making some pretty cards (pictured above). This is the one woman’s event I really enjoy doing, even though I don’t like to admit I’m girlie.

When my husband bought me my laptop for my birthday, we went out to get a bag for it. He picks up this bag and my first reaction was, “That’s a real girlie bag.” He said, “Well, you’re a girl.” It made me laugh. I am a girl, but I never really thought of myself like that. What I mean is, growing up I did many girlie things, but I also did lots of non-girlie things. I loved playing sports, hanging out with the guys and being a real tough chick. I grew up in a tough neighborhood and I was not easily intimidated.

Normally I don’t do woman’s event, but tonight was the exception. It was one of those occasions that being girlie was fun. Thanks ladies for a great evening. Maybe I’m softening in my old age . . . nah.

© Nadine Z. 2006

The First Snow Fall

Every year it happens – the first snow fall. This morning I got dressed for church and usually I like to be comfortable, nice jeans and shirt. I like to keep our people on their toes and mix it up a bit and wear a skirt. So I got dressed and I liked the way I look, with my brown skirt, high heel brown shoes and nice shirt. I didn’t quite put on my high heel shoes when my wonderful husband looks at me and says, “You look cute.” Okay note to all the men out there cute is not a word your wife wants you use to describe how she’s dressed. Puppies and kittens are cute. Little babies are cute. After the high heels, make-up and earrings came on, he changed his tune. Now I looked hot. Note to all men, hot a much better word to describe how your wife looks. We’re about to leave when I look out my window and see the first snow. It’s coming down like gang busters. I thought to myself, well off with the skirt and high heel shoes. I had to settle for cute.

When I was a kid, I loved the snow. It meant that sometimes school was delayed or even cancelled. I got to stay home and play in the snow, make a snowman or have a snowball fight with my friends. The best part was coming in afterwards and having some hot chocolate with marshmallows.

I grew up and my kids experienced the same. Looking at it through a parent’s eyes was different. If the snow day was just one day, it was cool. But when we were in West Virginia the snow day lasted a week. Then they went to school and it lasted another week. They went back to school for two days and another week off. Those hills filled with snow and the school buses couldn’t drive through them. I started to hate the snow. Kids get restless after a long period of time.

Ever since we got into an accident in the snow, I’m really not a big fan of it anymore. I don’t like the way people drive in the snow. Around here, they don’t plow as they did in New York. Only the main roads get plowed and the side ones are disasters. So the first snow fall is not what it once was for me. That’s really a shame, because it is pretty.

Lord I ask that you put back into me that child like love for the snow. Let me once again love the purity, the fun and enjoyment it brings.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Day After Thanksgiving Sale

I was going to post this yesterday, but it was my son’s birthday and I wanted to write about him.

The custom for the day after Thanksgiving in our culture is to go the all the sales that start at five o’clock in the morning. This means after cooking all day you’ll need to get up by four thirty in the morning in order to be on line for the great deals that await you.

You might as well know, I am one of those crazy people who do this. Since the kids were little and we didn’t have much money, I wanted to make the most of the budgeted amount of money we had for their presents. Now before you start to go that place in your head where you argue that Christmas has become commercialized, blah, blah, blah, let me say this, I agree. But that’s not the point of this story. I love Christmas time and the shopping of presents to bring a smile to my family’s faces.

I believe what I told my kids when they were little and we didn’t want to lie to them about Santa Claus. My family by the way still haven’t forgiveness us for that one. We told them about a man named St. Nick and the good that he did and how that developed into Santa Claus. We also told them that some children believed he was real and that they should never tell them he was only pretend.

We told them that on their birthdays they are the only ones who get presents because we celebrate the fact that they were born on that very special day. But on Jesus’ birthday, He was so special because of what He did for us, everyone gets presents and we decorate the house and celebrate Him by having a big party. We use to bake Jesus a birthday cake and sing, Happy Birthday to Him.

Here’s a side story about Santa Claus: When my daughter was five years old, she went to a private Christian school in New York. Her class went to a retirement home to sing for the elderly. Afterwards the children talked to the residents. That night we asked her, “How did it go?”

She told us, “It was good. I was talking to this lady who was really old and she asked me what I wanted Santa Claus to bring me for Christmas. I just told her what I wanted for Christmas. I figured if she was that old and still believed in Santa Claus I wasn’t going to tell her the truth.” She was a very articulate child.

Back to the sales. I always enjoyed shopping and getting something I know my family will love and at an affordable price. Something I noticed as the kids got older is that the things they wanted were more expensive. So now they get fewer things and it doesn’t take as long. So I picked up the couple of items on their list and I got to go back home and sleep for a few hours.

© Nadine Z. 2006

A Mother’s Joy – Part II

Today my baby boy turns twenty one. Yes, I know he’s not a baby anymore. He hasn’t been for a very long time. He’s grown into a very smart and talented young man, whom I am very proud of. He has been on his own since he went to school to learn film making and will be coming home for a few months to save money to move to LA. I will miss him, but I’m so grateful that the Lord is providing this time together before he goes.

It reminds me of his birth twenty one years ago today. After I had his sister two years before that, the doctor informed that I tend to have large babies and this one was no exception. So he had planned for me to have a C-section. I thought this was great. The last time I was in hard labor for eighteen hours so no labor was cool with me.

My dad was a funny man. He insisted that I was carrying his first grandson (at this time he had three granddaughters whom he loved very much). He thought it was the most ridiculous thing he ever heard that a doctor would tell you when a baby should be born. He said, “Only God knows when a baby is going to be born. Who does this doctor think he is? My grandson will be born when he wants to be.”

So I checked into the hospital on a Sunday and was scheduled to have the baby on Monday morning. My father was right. I started having some pains that were very familiar to me. After the second one, Tom asked, “So when are you going to tell me you’re in labor?” My doctor was a fancy dinner party a couple of hours away and by the time he got there, I had been in labor for four hours. It wasn’t that bad. I had this beautiful baby boy and my dad had the satisfaction of being correct on two counts.

My husband was very funny. Afterwards he seen me and said, “Hey babe you done good.” He was really happy because the Giants won that Sunday and he had a son. Now we had a match set.

Now we were preparing his sister for his arrival for nine months. We even came home from the hospital with a gift from the baby to her. After a few days she came to me and said, “Mommy, you can take it back now.” When she realized he wasn’t going anywhere she started to adjust.

Today they are good friends and often would go out together. I love that they get along. I am a blessed woman. Happy Birthday, Tommy, I love you so.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving and I’m about to cook up a storm, with help from Tom of course. I know I probably said this before, but he’s an excellent cook. Today he’ll help me make dinner for dear friends who will join us for Thanksgiving dinner.

The last few years we had gone to Seattle to spend it with our son. He was in school and we brought Thanksgiving to him. The best part I think for him was that we left the leftovers in his refrigerator. I’m sure he ate well for the next couple of weeks (I always overcook). It was fun for me to bring a little bit of home to his home. What I did was cook all week before Thanksgiving to make sure everything was done. All we had to do was reheat it when we got there.

This year we’re staying home. There is nothing I prefer more than cooking in the kitchen, except of course if I’m cooking with Tom. I know I mentioned that before, but he’s so cute it’s worth repeating. On today’s menu we’re have turkey (of course), ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, corn, green beans, pork stuffing with pine nuts, cranberry sauce, rolls and of course pumpkin pie (which our friends are bringing).

Thanksgiving is not all about just the great food we share. Usually everyone reflects on the things in life they are grateful for, so I’ll do the same. I’m so grateful to God for everything He’s done for me and all that’s He’s given me. His mercies are new ever morning and His grace is sufficient for me. This may sound cliché but that’s not my intention. I’m grateful that God loves me and the following reasons prove how much. I’m grateful for my husband, who loves me more than I can say. I’m grateful for my children, whom I love and am very proud of. I’m grateful for other family members. I’m grateful for our church and the wonderful people in it. I’m grateful for wonderful friends. I’m grateful for life, even though it challenges me most of the time.

As I started my list, I realized that there are so many things I’m grateful for that it’s difficult to list them all. So Lord, thank You for everything! Amen!

© Nadine Z. 2006

A Couple of Jokes

Today, I wanted to share a couple of jokes with all of you. They made me chuckle and I hope it gives you a chuckle also. I love Joke of the Day. Sometimes the jokes are funny and sometimes not so much. You decide.

Fore. . .

A man and a friend are playing golf one day at their local golf course. One of the guys is about to chip onto the green, when he sees a long funeral procession on the road next to the course. He stops in mid-swing, takes off his golf cap, closes his eyes and bows his head down in prayer.

His friend says, “Wow, that’s the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen. You truly are a kind man.”

The man then replies, “Yeah, well we were married for 35 years.”


You Thought Spam was Bad

A man left the streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife on a business trip was planning to meet him the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick e-mail.

Unable to find the scrap of paper on which he had written her e-mail address, he did his best to type it in from memory. Unfortunately, he missed one letter and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher’s wife, whose husband had passed away only the day before.

When the grieving widow checked her e-mail, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor dead. At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:

“Dearest wife just checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Your Loving Husband.

P.S. Sure is hot down here.”


© Nadine Z. 2006

Tire Changers

This post is a salute to all the tire changers out there. You may think that changing a tire is not a big deal unless of course you can’t change one. I’m a pretty self sufficient kind of gal, but there are areas that I am not. To be honest, I choose not to be able to change a tire. I can do some basics like add washer fluid, check the oil, etc. But changing the tire is not one of the basics I have mastered or care to. I know that sounds foolish to some of you, especially if you are the kind of gal who can change a tire.

I know the basic idea of how to change a tire. I’ve seen one changed many times in real life and on TV, but I have never actually done it myself. I look at it this way, at home I have my area of responsibility and Tom has his. The car is his. If it needs to be fixed then he handles it. If I can change a tire then I deny him the opportunity to rescue me. How could I do that to the man I love?

So tonight when our daughter blew a tire on the highway, she called daddy. He came to her rescue and changed the tire in the dark on the side of the road. We both were impressed and overjoyed with his mad tire changing skills. His response was, “It’s only a tire. Anyone can change a tire.” Well that’s not necessarily true. We both said at the same time, “Well, I can’t.”

Just because you can do something without it being a big deal to you, doesn’t mean anyone can do it. We often take for granted the things we do that don’t seem all that impressive to us. The thing we forget is that it may be impressive to someone else if they can’t do it. So to all those tire changers out there, I salute you. Thank you for all the times you rescued us.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Monday Night Football

Are you ready for some football! I love football, but I only love watching the Giants or the Super Bowl. Tonight the Giants are on Monday Night Football. I enjoy watching the game so long as my team is winning. No one likes to watch their sport’s team lose. Some fans are more passionate than others and express the joy or pain in different ways.

You can play any game with my husband Tom and he doesn’t care if he wins. He likes just playing the game. This is especially irritating because he often wins. I on the other hand love to win. I don’t see the sense in playing a game if you don’t want to win. What’s wrong with that? Isn’t that the goal?

When it comes to football it’s another story. Tom loves the Giants and cares whether they win or lose. He gets really quiet if they are playing badly and gives out a shout if they are winning. This is the same man who could care less if he wins a game. As he’s gotten older he’s not as vocal as he once was. Most guys are the same, but there are exceptions.

The crowd in the stadium cracks me up because it takes all kinds. As much of a football fan Tom is, not once did he ever go to a game dressed with the Giant colors on his face, while wearing a wig or some other ridiculous looking outfit. There are limits and I’m grateful. If you’re one of those fans, then no offense.

When we lived in West Virginia they didn’t have a professional football team. They were very passionate about their sports teams though – pee wee, high school, college, it didn’t matter. Where we lived the Morgantown Mountaineers were king. If the game was on, it was piped into the mall, or the supermarket. I’ve never seen anything like it. People planned their weddings around the games so that they could guarantee people would show up. Now that’s just a little bit nuts.

Sports fans are a unique breed. Their passions for their teams make them so. The Giants just scored a touchdown – yeah team! It’s the second half and they are still behind, but it’s getting closer 13 – 10. I’m optimistic that they will win.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Weight Loss

Recently I’ve lost nearly forty pounds. I had started off by eating less, then I had some stomach trouble and lost about fifteen pounds. I do not recommend the stomach trouble method of losing weight. I’m doing better now and eat normally, but I’m just trying to cut down.

I’ve made some interesting observations in this past couple of months. It wasn’t until I lost about thirty pounds did anyone notice. Now I’m a large woman so I understand it was hard to tell. Those who did notice weren’t quite sure what was different. They noticed I looked different and asked sheepishly if I lost weight. Others didn’t know how quite to ask the question if I lost weight. Some still haven’t said anything. It’s all quite amusing to me because it shows how much weight doesn’t matter to those who love you. I mean if they say you look good now, does that mean you didn’t look good before? No it doesn’t mean that, but can sound like it.

Now my wanting to lose weight has nothing to do with the fact that I think something was wrong with me. I know they let fat people into heaven but they usually get there ahead of schedule. (Go ahead you know you want to chuckle.) I want to be healthier. I noticed I don’t get as tired as I did before. I can dance longer and move better. My knees don’t hurt as much as they did before. I can go up and down the steps without the difficulty I had before.

My husband has never said one thing against how I looked. It doesn’t matter what I weighed because all I ever hear from him is how beautiful I am and how much he loves me – everyday for the last twenty-five years of marriage. I’ve been thin and I’ve been large but his love for me never changed it just got deeper with time. This is a good man and that’s one of many reasons why I love him so.

Lord, thank you for those people you put in my life who love me whether they say it with words or they keep silent – it speaks loudly that they love me just the way that I am.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Starting a New Project

I’ve written a novel that I’m quite happy about the story and the characters in it. This idea for this novel sloshed around my brain for some time before I had the nerve to actually put anything on paper. I would write when I was home in between chores, church activities and various other aspects of life. It was fun. I can’t begin to describe the life it gives me. Since then I’ve had different people read it and the feed back has been positive. Now the process of putting it in someone’s hands to read it for the purpose of publishing is the part of the process that you just don’t know about. It’s the hard part.

I’ve read about how Frank Peretti got turned down for This Present Darkness, seventeen times before a publisher would take it on. Those seventeen other guys are kicking themselves for turning him down. Trying to gear yourself up for rejection is not an easy thing. It’s not a pleasant thing. So that’s where I stand. I’m actually sending it out, holding my breath and praying that someone would think its print worthy.

The title of this post is Starting a New Project and I’m getting to that. Ever since I finished this story, I felt like that was the only original story in my brain. So for the month of November I’ve decided to come up with a different post every day as a way of exercising my creativity. It’s helping. So far I’ve been able to. My hope is to start a new project by December.

I was reminded by the Lord how I wrote the first novel in the first place and I wrote about that in one of my other posts about creativity. It was God who inspired and moved me. I let Him take the driver seat. I prayed and allowed myself to touch His spirit of creativity and wrote from my spirit. Why am I sweating starting a new project so much? I don’t know. He does all the hard work.

I have a couple of ideas and I’m just going to bite the bullet and put them on paper. It’s a scary thing to do when your confidence is low, but doesn’t that give God so much more room to move on your behalf? It allows Him freedom to inspire you when you don’t feel you can do it on your own. Isn’t that what He’s there for? Isn’t He the one who placed creativity in us in the first place?

It doesn’t matter what it is that gives you life when you do it, the enemy wants to rob you of your joy. He wants to place doubt in you. Don’t let him. Turn to the Lord and let Him continue to grow that special gift He’s placed in you.

So Father, inspire me and encourage me. Show me I’m not a one note wonder. Cut back the lies of the enemy and place your truth in me.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Yeah! He’s Back

My wonderful husband has been in NY all week visiting his family. Here’s a picture of him, his dad and his siblings above. He’s been having a good time, eating good NY food and I’m really happy for him. But he’s back!!! Yeah!!!

Okay, I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a big nerd when it comes to Tom. I’ll to go on record though that I’m really cool in all other areas of life. I love my husband. Imagine that I married him over 25 years ago because I enjoy spending time with him. I enjoy sharing life – good and bad. I know it’s a concept that might be hard to understand to some, but I’ll try.

There comes a time in your life if you’re a Christian that you realize that God has chosen someone for you. Someone special to love you and cherish you. When you choose that person, you’re choosing many things – love, honor, obey, in sickness and in health, richer and poorer, until you are parted by death. It’s sad to see how many people don’t honor that and give up and move on. Some after significant amounts of time sharing their lives and raising their children. What a shame.

The following is not for the weak of stomach. Be warned before you continue reading it gets mushy.

I realized anytime he goes away how much I miss his smile, his laugh, and the sound of his voice, his touch and just being in the same room with him. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. It’s the everyday in and out of ordinary life that I enjoy. I love when we have opportunity to spend time doing things that are adventurous and fun, but I’m good watching a movie and sitting next to him.

I am so blessed that at such a young age (sixteen) God brought Tom into my life. You could read all about how we met in my May 18th blog article, How It All Got Started. Check out the second half of the story, The Rest of It. I have never regretted giving him my heart. I’m not saying that we haven’t had our fights or our disagreements but at the end of the day I’m grateful that God chose him for me. He’s my first love and my only love. Thank you Lord for the partner you chose for me for I couldn’t have chosen better for myself in a million years. Thank you Tom for loving me and being such a good father to our children. You have my heart always.

© Nadine Z. 2006

The Doctor’s Office

I work in a doctor’s office as a receptionist at least that is my official title. I do a lot more than just “recept.” I schedule appointments, answer phones, take vital signs, and write prescriptions for the doctors’ approval among other things. Today must have been a full moon because people were trying to sell me their craziness, but I wasn’t buying.

The part time gal who works in the mornings and helps out in several ways hands me a note. She informed me that one of our patients died. This is helpful in case they have future appointments, we cancel it. Usually a family member calls us to inform us of this information. So I asked, “Who called to tell us?”

“No one called.” She replied.

“How did you know she died then?” I inquired.

“I’m looking up patients online in the obituaries to see if we lost any.” She said in all seriousness.

I had to laugh, because this is definitely not in her job description. She went on to tell me she sometimes looks up people on the social security deceased list. That’s how she found out her first husband was dead.

Then I get a phone call from a husband of a patient asking why we called his house. I asked first, “Who is this?” You see patients or family members call expecting me to know who they are by the sound of their voice or by their first name. I know I’m prophetic in minor ways, but really. He told me who he was and asked what I wanted from his wife. He was very forceful and insistent that I called. His wife by the way is one of our Alzheimer’s patients. I told him I didn’t call. He insisted again that I did because his wife said someone from our office called her. So I told him I would ask the other gals I work with if they called. When I got back on the phone to tell him no one called he said, “I’m sorry my wife said some other office called her about sending records to your office.”

I know my doctor runs late. I hate this as much as the patients do. Why? Because they yell at me and tell me they have a life. I know they have a life and don't want to wait a half hour or hour for an appointment. So, I just smile and say, "Hey, I'm so sorry the doctor's running late, but I'm on time." You see when they get in to see the doctor finally, he apologizes and they alway tell him it's okay. They never take out their frustrations on him.

Other offices call also to make appointments for their patients all the time. I ask the same questions every time they call. You would think, when I ask for a phone number or what type of insurance they have, they would have that information handy. My favorite is when I ask why are we seeing your patient and their response is for a neurological consult. Right how stupid am I? I work for a neurologist who sees patience for everything from headaches to Parkinson's. He's kind of silly and would like to know which condition he's seeing the patient.

I deal with people who are sick, and at times in a bad mood. It’s not always easy, but my response is always to smile, use my most pleasant voice and try to talk them down from the ledge. So Lord, help me to do this excellence even when people are trying to sell me crazy.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Dinner with a Friend

I enjoyed having dinner tonight with a friend. Tom is out of town visiting his family. If you want to read about all the good food he’s eating in Brooklyn, then visit his blog – Emancipation of the Freed. I’m happy he is having a good time visiting his family, but I miss him. I believe since he’s eaten all the good food there is to eat and visited all the family, it’s time for him to come home. His father keeps saying that he’s not sending him back, but I’m not worried. It’ll take more than pizza and bagels to keep him away from me. I can’t wait to have him home again.

So back to having dinner. It’s so nice to have a pleasant evening with a friend and enjoy having good food and even better company. I realize that life can get very busy, but it’s important to make time to visit with friends away from the distractions of the everyday. So thank you for spending time with me tonight. I had a good time.

Dinner with friends is an important part of life. Sharing life over a meal can be so fulfilling. As you all know I love to entertain and I’m blessed that there are other people in my life that enjoy that as well.

So, remember to either invite a friend over for dinner or invite yourself to dinner (depending on how good of friends they are) and share life.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Artwork by Lesley Rich

Driving

I like driving for the most part. Tonight was another story. I was coming out of the parking lot at work, when a car turned in front of me when I was only a car length away. I hate having to step on my brake like that. This wouldn’t have been so bad, if not literally two minutes later it happened again. Now I would love to say at this point my first reaction was one of blessing for those who cut in front of me and nearly caused me to crash.

The growth God is doing in me is that after the second car almost caused an accident, I did ask Him to bless those two drivers and protect them from themselves. In the past, I would have just called them, “stupid” and continue on my way, angry that it happened.

How about people who go ten to fifteen miles per hour slower than the rest of the world on the highway. When everyone passes them, you figure they would realize they are going too slow.

I got healed of that one when I was driving my last car. The car wouldn’t go more than fifty miles an hour on the highway. When the zillions of cars on the highway would pass me, I was grateful that looks couldn’t kill. So when a car is going slow, I imagine that maybe they are having car trouble instead of them being bad drivers. Okay . . . I’m still working on that one, but the point is I’m getting better. It's a gradual progression.

But my ultimate pet peeve is when I’m doing the speed limit and a car drives as close as it possibly can get to the back end of my car and stays there. In my younger days, I would just slow down to make them a little nuts then speed up and wouldn’t let them pass me. I’ve come a long way baby.

I realized years ago that I stopped putting Christian bumper stickers on my car because I was not a good witness. Something had to change. I wish I could blame it on being a New Yorker, but it was one of those areas I needed to grow in. I needed to be a kinder and a safer driver. I was convicted not to just drive the speed limit, but to also react better to other drivers that I found to be lacking in their driving skills. I still don’t put Christian bumper stickers on my car, but it’s because I don’t like bumper stickers.

So the next time you’re cut off, or driving behind someone who’s going too slow, remember that Jesus loves them too. Send a blessing towards them and see what happens. Crazy drivers won’t change, but your heart can. Isn’t that what’s important?

© Nadine Z. 2006

Crazy But True

Did you ever notice how many crazy stories there are out there? If it weren’t true, then it wouldn’t be so weird. Here are a few I came across - enjoy:

1. In Michigan a deer got a plastic jack-o-lantern stuck on his nose. The community where this deer lives is very concerned because the poor deer can’t eat or drink because its mouth is covered. Experts are planning on using a tranquilizer dart to sedate the deer so that the jack-o-lantern can be removed safely without any more trauma to the deer. Can you just picture it? I can and it makes me laugh.

2. In North Carolina a man won by 12,000 votes for the county board. Now this is not crazy, but when you consider he’s been dead for over a month it’s a little nuts. Now I would be so embarrassed if I was the other guy. How could you ever live it down? Imagine being so unpopular that you lose an election to someone who can’t even serve because he’s dead. That man is going to need deep, personal healing.

3. In Iowa, a man called John Kimberlin come up with an idea of using manure to produce heat and electricity. He apparently has a furnace that uses animal waste to produce heat and electricity. Okay this too obvious to even comment on. Manure heat . . . that is all kinds of wrong.

4. A 59 year old German man turned down being released from jail after serving 34 years of a life verdict for murder. So you’re in jail in Germany, and they say you can leave because you have been there long enough. But no you say that’s okay I’m in here for life so I’ll just stay. Maybe he has become so accustomed to his life that he wouldn’t know what to do with freedom. How sad is this? Hey, I’m not saying he shouldn’t be there, but he was offered freedom and refused that’s just weird.

5. Rock, paper, scissors is a game I played as a kid. Little did I know that it would become a world championship event with $8,840 in prize money. I would have continued playing until I developed the mad skills needed to be world champion. Okay, seriously. What’s next – hop scotch world championship?

These stories were a bit bizarre to say the least. I hope you enjoyed reading them.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Freedom in Worship

Today during church, I realized the freedom I enjoy in worship. It’s one of those things that I always knew, but it’s been different for me lately. From the time I could remember having a thought, I loved to dance. I loved to dance so much that I would twirl around the house all the time. By the time I was five years old, my parents put me in ballet class. I loved ballet. I loved other types of dance also, but ballet was something I loved to watch and do.

When I was about eight years old during one of my recitals something happened. My dance class was placed in a line so that all the kids could be seen. I was at the end. I was very excited and I danced with my whole heart that night. The trouble was I was going in the opposite direction of the rest of the class. This fact did not faze me because I continued to dance with gusto. The rest of the kids started to doubt that they were going in the right direction and started to follow me. My teacher who was in the wings was getting very hot under the collar. After it was over, the audience stood on their feet and gave me a standing ovation. The curtain closed and they were still clapping. My teacher told me to go ahead and take another bow. Being the confident little girl that I was, I did go back out on stage and took another bow. I loved it.

As I got older I became more self conscious about the way that I looked and the way that I moved. God has done something in me in the last couple of months for it doesn’t matter to me how I look or how I move. I started to have that same love to dance again, but this time during worship. At first I stood in the back where I figured no one saw me. But lately I’ve gone up and danced in the front. I close my eyes and I dance before my God. It doesn’t matter to me what I look like. I dance in celebration before God and I don’t notice anyone else there.

I believe it pleases the heart of God. The freedom I feel when I dance before Him is like when I was that little girl dancing in the wrong direction with her full heart and not caring that everyone else was moving in the opposite direction. Obedience to the Lord is where freedom has been for me. So Lord, continue to help me to explore freedom in all ways.

© Nadine Z.

Artwork © Patrick Broderick

It’s the Little Things

I find that it’s the little things in life that can brighten your day. Last week I was having a bad day. I didn’t sleep well and when I woke up I was sad. I’m not sure why I was so sad but I was. The last thing I wanted to do was to get up and go to work. When I did get to work, I realized I was in desperate need of a latte. So I made my way down to the coffee shop to order my drink. The woman who works there is getting to know me. She keeps a punch card on people who are regulars and when you get 10 punches you get a free latte. Cool thing is Fridays are double punch day. So on Monday I knew that my next latte would be free so I headed downstairs and was so happy to start my day with some java juice.

So let’s get back to my bad day. I was yawning uncontrollably. With the lack of sleep and the sadness I couldn’t shake, I needed a latte to help me function. Now some of you understand this and others might think I have a bit of problem. When I walked up to the counter Karen (the latte lady) said to me, “Hey we had a drawing yesterday and you won a free drink.” Now that was a pleasant surprise for me. Twice in one week. I didn’t even know there was a drawing. It was the magic of the free latte that just lifted the sadness off.

You see it doesn’t take much to turn a day around. The best things in life are free. So what are the little things that happen to you that put a smile on your face? Maybe we should spend more time looking for those things rather than looking at the negative things. So Lord thank you for such a minor thing that brighten my day.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Entertaining

I love entertaining. I love to cook and enjoy making nice meals for people I care for and love. Tonight I had the pleasure of cooking for one of our friends who came in from New Hampshire. Usually when she comes into town it’s because of a conference of some kind and this time was no exception. She’s doing a workshop at our church tomorrow and is preaching on Sunday.

The difference this time was her plane came in early and I was able to cook her a meal. Hospitality is of high value to me. It’s something I also enjoy doing with Tom. It’s really fun to cook in the kitchen together. He’s a great cook! A good meal (at least I always hope it is) and a good bottle of wine, followed by a good cup of coffee and dessert. Now that’s a fun evening.

It’s not just important in the home to express hospitality, but also in the church. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, it’s the little things. How do you welcome someone to your home? Do you want them to feel comfortable? Do you feed them? Would they feel comfortable sitting on your furniture? These are questions I try to ask myself.

I remember when we first got here five years ago, the coffee served at the church was really bad. The pots that were used were old, and there was stuff on the inside that I know was against the laws of nature. Nobody drank the coffee. Who could blame them. It wasn’t even the correct color (I don’t think coffee is supposed to look like a weak cup of tea). People knew they would take their life in their hands if they had a cup. Everyone walked in with their own travel mugs.

So one day Tom asked me if I would take over the Coffee Ministry on Sundays. I thought about it and said, “No way. The coffee sucks. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea about me.”

He said, “Well babe that’s part of the problem. Could you fix it?”

Well, I’m always up for a challenge so I replied, “Okay, but it’s going to cost you.”

You see if someone comes to my house, I want to serve them fresh coffee and real creamer not the powered stuff. God only knows how long that stuff has been sitting on a self in the supermarket. So I purchased new coffee pots and bought muffins to sell on Sundays to cover the costs of the fresh creamers and better coffee. After a while others took over and made it even better. Now we have lattes and bagels as well as donuts on Sunday mornings.

My thinking was this, the church was God’s house and it’s important that those who enter feel comfortable and welcomed.

Are they feed? . . . spiritually and physically.
Do they feel at home? . . . Do they feel like visitors or do they hang out pass the time the service is over?

Our church is no better than anyone else’s, but I think that one of the things we do well is hospitality. A little kindness goes a long way.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Dominos Pizza

I was just relaxing watching TV when a new Dominos Pizza commercial came on. They have a new pizza called, “Brooklyn style pizza.” I have to tell you, I’m a bit skeptical. I grew up with Brooklyn pizza and there’s nothing like it in the world. It’s the best.

Now some of you from Chicago might argue that Chicago pizza is the best, but Chicago style is deep dish and you have to eat it with a fork and knife. That’s not pizza; it’s just a pie with cheese. Now don’t get defensive, it’s just my humble opinion.

Pizza is not just about size and the ability to fold it in half. It’s about the crust. Is it thin and crispy? Folding the slice is only half of it. Does grease fall down your arm? Is there extra cheese and does the cheese pull when you take a bite? That’s Brooklyn style pizza! I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

I love the food that’s uniquely New York in its style. Boarhead cold cuts, bagels, pastrami, Italian ice, Italian bread (crusty on the outside and soft on the inside) and Italian pastries to name a few.

If you ever get the chance to visit New York, make sure you see the sights. I’m not talking about the Statue of Liberty, The Bronx Zoo, Coney Island, The Empire State Building, any Broadway show or other New York landmarks. These places are fun and shouldn’t be missed, but for the sake of this article go to Brooklyn and check out the different eateries. Go to a real Jewish deli, an Italian bakery, a pizza parlor, a Greek diner and a bagel store.

The Greek diner needs to be explained. If you’re lucky your waitress will be chewing gum, have a handkerchief on her chest with her name tag pinning it to her uniform and she’ll call you, “honey.” The food is great whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s a unique experience that needs to be had.

Dominos Pizza is cute trying to imitate a classic, but there is nothing like the real thing baby.

© Nadine Z. 2006

Exploring Creativity

Yesterday, I touched on the theme of inspiration and creativity. I was inspired during my lunch time to write a poem. When I was writing my book, I started to understand the creativity process more. I had a story in mind and I vaguely knew how it started and where I wanted to end up. It was the stuff in between that I was not sure of. So often I found myself just staring at a blank piece of paper (computer screen) asking the question, “So what’s next?”

Inspiration came when I took a moment before each chapter and closed my eyes. I said a little prayer and asked God where do I take these characters next? I opened my eyes and placed my fingers on the keys. The next thing I knew my fingers were typing in record speed and the next chapter spilled out on the page. I felt I shouldn’t get any credit for the story, because I was just a vessel God was using. For me the process was inspiration first and then creativity followed.

I do other things that are creative, like writing this blog. I’ve challenged myself to come up with daily entries if possible. So far so good, but when stuff of life kicks in, it may not be possible to do that daily and that’s okay. I’ve found it interesting how the inspiration has hit me in different ways. Yesterday a poem came to me when just reflecting on hope. The article on the show Heroes came when just thinking about how much I just enjoy that show. I could go on, but my point is this, God is the source of our inspiration. We may get inspired by his creations, or things he places in front of us, but ultimately He’s the source. Creativity is something God places in us and for this I’m grateful.

So how do you express your creativity? Where does your inspiration come from? How do you take advantage of the source of inspiration and creativity? I so love the fact there is a storehouse of creativity in heaven and I can just tap into it because I’m a child of God. How cool is that?

© Nadine Z. 2006

Inspiration and Creativity

I’ve come to realize that inspiration and creativity go together. You never know when inspiration will come. Sometimes it happens when you least expect it. Today during my lunch time I was thinking about hope and what it means to me. My name means hope and lately I find myself desperately trying to hold on to it. Nothing can cause a person to deflate in their spirit more then when they have no hope. Hope is powerful and you don’t realize how much until you don’t have it. So here is a little poem that I was inspired to write during my lunch time.

Hope springs eternal
Hope sings a new song
Hope delivers light into darkness
Hope never disappoints

Hope is a new beginning
Hope is a new day
Hope lives in our hearts
Hope never strays

Hope comes in an instant
Hope sets the captive free
Hope never takes
Hope always gives

© Nadine Z. 2006

Opposites Attract

I was talking to friend on the phone the other day who made a comment about how she’s been enjoying reading my blog entries and Tom’s. She said how different they both are and they really reflect our personalities. I agreed. Tom and I are different even though we have been together for nearly 29 years and married for 25. The love we share gets deeper as the years go by. This doesn’t mean we don’t fight, but it gets less and less each year. How can two people who love each other so much be so different?

It got me to thinking. My friends that are close to me have so much in common with me. Why is that? Because in friendships we want to spend time with people that we enjoy their company and they enjoy ours. They enjoy doing some of the same things we do, thus the basis for friendship. Similar interests, similar tastes. Friends are great. It’s fun to do and spend time with people that laugh at your jokes and enjoy the same movies you do.

In marital relationships this seems to be different. Most happy couples I know have some lots of things that make them very different. In the movie Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise’s character states to the woman he loves, “You complete me.” How true is that? In my case, it’s very true. Tom completes me. There are areas in my life that I needed to grow in. I’ve become more serious about my walk with God in part because of him. He needed to lighten up (at 18 he felt life was over because he didn’t have all together – I love you honey) and laugh more. He’s gotten funnier and I’ve gotten more mature. It’s been great. The sparks that ignite our passions do so because of our differences. We do have many things in common and share some of the same hopes and dreams. It’s the differences that keep life interesting.

So the next time your spouse bugs you because of his/her difference, stop and embrace that difference because it’s what attracted you to them in the first place. Besides as a friend once said, “If you agreed all the time, then one of you would be unnecessary.”

© Nadine Z.

An Egging Story

I love eggs. Eggs are good for breakfast, scrambled or as part of an omelet. I love to cook with eggs. So many good things are made with eggs. But sometimes an egg can be a bad thing. When I was leaving for church this morning, I noticed that my car had been egged. I can’t remember that ever happening before. I mean, I lived in New York City most of my life and my house or car was never egged. I lived in West Virginia and my car or house was never egged. But today, in my nice quiet neighborhood, my car and my garage was egged.

Funny thing is that it didn’t make me mad or upset. Annoyed yes, but not mad. I knew when we got back home I would have to take care of it. I forgot all about it by the time we reached church. There were more important things on my mind. Today we installed three new elders as the two we have now were getting ready to step down. It was a really good day and it went so well. Church was really good.

When I got home, I still had to deal with the dried egg. Tom suggested I look on line to see how to best do it. It’s amazing that you can “google” anything and find an answer on line. The answer I found was not promising, but I tried not to let it get me down. The article I found said it’s best to get dried egg off as soon as possible, within two hours would be ideal. It also cautioned that you might have to a touch up on your paint job. I got a cloth, some water, and said a little prayer. It started to rain as I was cleaning. I’m thinking this is great, but I still didn’t get mad. The egg came off without too much difficulty and the paint managed to stay intact. I said a little prayer for the person who did this and even forgave them for causing damage to my property. I was extremely grateful when it all worked out.

It got me to thinking that sometimes things happened and it creates a mess. When you first look at the situation it may appear that it’s beyond repair. The solution to the problem may also appear to be more hassle than you think, but with a little prayer it all works out. I’ll try to remember the next time that a little dried egg may not be as bad as it look. God rocks for He’s faithful in even the little things.

© Nadine Z.

Taking Out the Garbage

When I lived in New York, garbage was picked up twice a week. Our taxes went to the salaries of the garbage men. When I moved out of New York, I encountered the once a week garbage pick up. This was a concept that was a bit hard to get accustomed to but I adjusted after a while.

True story – I’m living in West Virginia with the kids. Tom is living back in New York until his job in West Virginia is ready. So he moves me and kids into an apartment and shows me how to get around. Another time, I’ll talk about getting around in this place, but for now the point of this story. It’s June, it’s hot and humid. I place garbage out in the can and I start to realized that pick up is only once a week. I go to put another bag in the can and the foulest smell comes up to greet me. There are these tiny white things moving around all over the bags already in there. I thought I was going to pass out from the odor. I call up Tom panicked (now there is so much he could do being hundreds of miles away). He tells me I have to clean it out – garbage day was still a few days away. I held my nose, tried not to puke and did what I had to do.

Well this past couple of weeks, both Tom and I forgot to put the garbage out. Thank God no white things. I meant to do it before going to work, but it didn’t quite happen. So now my garbage cans are overflowing. No foul smell, just looks messy.

Taking out the garbage is never a fun or an enjoyable task, but it is a necessary one. If you don’t put your can out for pick up at least once a week, eventually it catches up with you and overflows. Now you just have a big mess and are counting the days until the next pick up. The bad part is that your neighbors now see that you garbage is overflowing. It’s not a pretty sight. You can almost sense what they are thinking as they drive by slowly pointing at the messy neighbor.

It’s like the garbage in our hearts. If we don’t take care of it on a regular basis, it starts to overflow and spill out onto everything. It’s not a pretty sight and the people who live around us start to see it first. So it’s important to regularly ask the Man whose job it is to take out our garbage to do so. So Lord, I need a pick up today. It doesn’t matter what’s in there, just take it out.

© Nadine Z.

Is That Funny?

I came across this joke. Before you read it understand that I have some very smart, talented, beautiful, blonde friends. If you don’t like blonde jokes, skip the next paragraph

One morning, a blonde decides to do a jig-saw puzzle of a tiger. When her husband comes home from work, he finds his wife still staring at the pieces, unable to put any of them together. The blond looks to her husband confused and says, “Honey, I’ve been working on this puzzle all day and I can’t put any piece together!” Her husband then replies, “Let’s put the Frosted Flakes back in the box first.”

Now why do people pick on blondes? Could it be they are insecure or jealous? Do you find that people will make fun of what they are most insecure about? Comics make fun of themselves and why is that? Is it because if you make fun of yourself before someone else does it disarms them? I love to joke around. I poke fun at myself all the time. Am I being mean about it? No I don’t think so. I only poke fun of those I love, why? Those who know you and love you know your heart. But even too much of a good thing isn’t good, that goes for laughs. As I have gotten older, I’m careful to joke in the appropriate time and the appropriate place and with the appropriate people. Hey, am I always perfect at this?. . . well no. So I’ll like to apologize to anyone who was on that other end of a joke that you didn’t find funny.

I love my blonde friends. Some of them are the smartest people I know. Some of them enjoy a good blonde joke or a bad one. I say all that to say this, lighten up. Lift is short and funny things happen. Excess of anything that’s good is not a good thing, but a little laughter goes a long way.

© Nadine Z.

Seasons of Change

Today my 20 year son had a tonsillectomy. He came home to have this done for many reasons. First off, let me say that my son has been on his own since high school and is a fine young man. He takes care of his bills, works and on the side makes films until he can do that full time. I’m very proud of him.

I was so happy to have him come back here to have it done so that I could see with my own eyes his recovery. It just made sense because there are more of us here to help. His lovely girlfriend also came down for the trip to be with him for the first few days. I’ll have to admit she is a very sweet young woman who loves my son. As a mom you can’t ask for more than that.

It didn’t bother me at all when he asked for his girlfriend to come back first after he woke up . . . until the nurse said, “I’m sorry, they grow up and ask for other people.” Seasons of change were upon me even though I knew that, it became very obvious at that moment.

I recalled when he had surgery as a 2 year old. They placed him in a crib that looked like a steel cage. Usually they wait until the last possible moment before putting children under anesthesia. He was hard to hear him say, “Mommy, no. Mommy no.” Then the elevator doors closed. I was first in his life then, but it’s been a long time since that was the case. Am I okay with this? No, but mostly yes because it’s the circle of life. It’s the way it suppose to be. You raise them up in the ways they should go and then trust God to do the rest. If you do a good job, you’ve raised them to be independent. But he is here, in my home, to recuperate. Seasons change but not as much you may think.

© Nadine Z.

Here’s to Good Friends

Growing up I had two very good friends. One I met when I was 7 years old and she was 5 years old. Her name is Juliana. The other I met when I was 10 years old and she was 9 years old. Her name is Aminie. As we grew older and moved away, we would keep touch from time to time. What amazed me is that no matter how much time passes, one thing stays constant – our friendship.

Recently I emailed Juliana to touch base with her. She was doing well and emailed me pictures of her kids and her. I have to tell you her kids look like mom and are very beautiful. Growing up with these two friends, I had to be very secure (at least pretend I was) because they are gorgeous. From what I can see Juliana has found the fountain of youth. She’s still beautiful and youthful.

One of the reasons, Tom and I are still together, is that all three of us walked into that fruit and vegetable store he worked in when I was 16 years old and he went after me. I know he had eyes only for me then and now.

It’s interesting that we can feel so at ease with each other. It doesn’t matter how much time passes by catching up is instantaneously. It’s comforting to know that someone you trust knows you so well and knows all your stories.

When I was 15 years old my friend Aminie was starting to doubt a life’s dream. She wanted to be a lawyer and doubted she had what it took. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote simply something along these lines, “My friend Aminie will become a lawyer one day because she is smart.” It must have been 20 years later when she came for a visit and took that piece of paper out of her wallet. She said it helped her get through law school. How cool is that?

Having someone believe in you can carry you very far in life. We never know how much a kind word, a little note or a phone call can sustain someone. So here’s to friends you have for most of your life and to the more recent ones. I raise my imaginary glass of wine and toast all you good friends.

© Nadine Z.