Threads, Sand, and Da Man
Did you check out M. Pax's Blog post this week? Did you see the sand under the microscope? |
| Check out more sand photos HERE Seriously gorgeous right? |
It reminded me of something my Sunday school teacher once told me about life.
From the back?
This needlepoint is a mess.
We can't yet see how the different threads
make a pattern that will be
this:
 |
Life can be like that. Ugly. Messy. Difficult.
Stick with it and you will see...there is beauty in the disarray.
This is a lesson I have carried with me through some tough times.
Now, thanks to Mary, I have the sand to think of too.
Billions of grains. We trample it underfoot without a second thought.
Who would have guessed something so common was made of such marvelous bits?
Reminder: take the time to see the big picture...and the small.
Life is about perspective. Don't forget to switch it up every now and then.
Can't forget this:
Last week I got a HUGE box of chocolate in the mail. (Who'd have known poking fun at our favorite bald guy will reap such rewards?!)
My husband, always the wary type, asked, "Who sent that?"
I said, "My cyber bro and buddy, Mark."
I said, "My cyber bro and buddy, Mark."
He asked, "What does this Mark look like?"
So, I showed him this:
My hubs asked, "Was that outfit a joke?"
"Certainly not," I said. "He likes to express his creativity in words and fashion."
 |
| Good sport and all around good guy Mark Koopmans |
"Certainly not," I said. "He likes to express his creativity in words and fashion."
"In that case, he can send chocolate." *
*For the record, the ONLY part of the above story that is true is the fact that Mark sent a HUGE box of chocolates. Way too much, in fact. He is far too generous. But! He did elevate my status among my men, hubs included...I mean if this whole blogging thing means food arrives via US Postal...then to the blog she should go!
photo credit: BevKnits via photopin cc
photo credit: BevKnits via photopin cc
& there is this:
Carrie Butler tagged me in this little meme.
Thanks Carrie!
What am I working on? Working on a few stories. I like to work on several at one time. Suits my scattered brain's natural tendencies.
How does my work differ from others of its category/genre? Just like those grains of sand- my words are a reflection of me, but one of many....
Why do I write what I do? I believe in true love. I think a bad marriage/relationship is a soul killer. Find the right person for you and it's life synergism.
How does your writing process work? I imagine it, then I describe it. Sort of like a movie that plays out in my head and I just need to get in on paper.
My turn to pass the torch! The three writers I tag to tell us about their writing process next week are: Tonja Drecker of Kidbits. She has a new home, some cows, and is back at her blog!
Mary Pax of M. Pax- the wise lady with the sandy vision.
Bryan and Brandon wouldn't we all like to know...just how many beers does it take to get to the center of a weekly post?
Carrie Butler tagged me in this little meme.
Thanks Carrie!
What am I working on? Working on a few stories. I like to work on several at one time. Suits my scattered brain's natural tendencies.
How does my work differ from others of its category/genre? Just like those grains of sand- my words are a reflection of me, but one of many....
Why do I write what I do? I believe in true love. I think a bad marriage/relationship is a soul killer. Find the right person for you and it's life synergism.
How does your writing process work? I imagine it, then I describe it. Sort of like a movie that plays out in my head and I just need to get in on paper.
My turn to pass the torch! The three writers I tag to tell us about their writing process next week are: Tonja Drecker of Kidbits. She has a new home, some cows, and is back at her blog!
Mary Pax of M. Pax- the wise lady with the sandy vision.
Bryan and Brandon wouldn't we all like to know...just how many beers does it take to get to the center of a weekly post?
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I think your needlepoint & sand examples are spot on. You just have to know "how" to look at things sometimes to see the beauty.
ReplyDeleteI love receiving chocolates from anyone. Anyone. And I love that photo of Mark Koopmans because I can't picture him ever wearing regular clothes.
Looking forward to hearing about Bryan and Brandon's writing process...a look inside those brains has to be worth the effort.
It is so hard to see the beauty when you're in the midst of the confusion or drowned by the volume. I love to get mail. Period. My grandmother used to send me cards with little things cut from the paper or magazines. I miss that.
DeleteI bet it would be fun to be a fly on Brandon and Bryan's wall while they come up with those hilarious posts! But they may not have time to do the meme. Some people (unlike me!) have their posts scheduled far in advance.)
Gosh the sand is absolutely exquisite, Elizabeth. Who'd have thought, huh? Gorgeous! And I love that it reminded you of something your Sunday School teacher told you - what a lovely thing to remember. I watched a movie last night that had a similar point. About Time - have you seen it? It's really, really lovely. Written by oh, what's his name... Curtis? Richard Curtis? That doesn't sound right but he wrote Love Actually as well. I'm so envious of your box of chocolates lol! Hope you enjoyed them :) xx
ReplyDeleteHi Suzy!! Thanks for the share...you're a lady with a giant heart too. Hugs!
DeleteI don't think I have seen that movie. I will have to look it up.
You should be envious...they were delicious!!
Hi human, Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI love me some sand and so much more to sand than meets the eye, human or doggy. I love to go to the beach and check out the sand. I got my human to fetch the stick.
Well done on being tagged. My human is tagged so the blogger police know of his whereabouts.
Mark has this fascination with smoking his grass skirt. Says it all, really :)
Pawstive wishes,
Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar!
You're right Penny! There is so much more to people than meets the eye...and sometimes the more common looking bits are the most spectacular. Same can be said for dogs. I've never had a pooch who didn't have his or her own very distinct and wonderful personality!
DeleteHow many beers indeed!
ReplyDeleteIf I got chocolate and showed my wife that picture, she would worry about me...
And Mary's sand picture was really amazing. Who knew?
That picture blew my mind (doesn't take much mind you!).
DeleteMy husband deals with my family on a daily basis. Mark is tame compared to the kooky fun he has been exposed to at every family gathering.
Mark, just out making points...
ReplyDeleteHe scored big points with me!
DeleteGoing to M Pax's blog right now! That looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteand haha, nice work on getting it figured out so you can keep receiving chocolate. :D
I'll have to make him some more ugly little dolls....
DeleteThose sand pics are amazing! And I love the comparison of the sand and the needlepoint to our lives. Needed that today, so thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Madeline! I have those days too...much too often sometimes.
DeleteMight get expensive finding out the beers lol life can be a mess but doesn't make the fun any less
ReplyDeleteI suppose vast quantities of alcohol worked for Hemingway...well, until it didn't.
DeleteYes, life can be a mess, but it beats the alternative!
I love looking at things under microscopes. All those microcosms we don't see every day are fascinating to me. It's a different kind of beauty one that takes time and an inquiring mind to seek out.
ReplyDeleteUntil they move. Things moving under a microscope, that I am breathing and eating...that just creeps me out ;)
DeleteI do try to look at the bigger picture - most of the time lol.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay for chocolates!
It's easier to see the big picture once you walk away from it. We need areal views!
DeleteLife is like a needlepoint. I like it. It feels all messy and crazy, but it is beautiful in the long run.
ReplyDeleteLove your response to the hubs regarding the chocolate (and Mark). That was great. Not many guys can pull off a grass skirt and coconut bra with that sort of panache.
That is so true. My husband always tells my boys...if you're man enough, you can carry a pink purse and look studly. He and Mark would be great pals!
DeleteWhen my kids were little, an animated movie came out about Joseph and his colored coat (from the Old Testament Bible story). In that there is a song about the threads of a tapestry. Sometimes you can't see the whole design even though you are an intricate part of it. Silly how much that has stuck with me.
ReplyDeleteI never saw that movie. I'll have to check it out. It is weird how some things stick with you, and some don't...like algebra ;)
DeleteGorgeous picture. It really does teach us to appreciate the small things in life.
ReplyDeleteIt really is gorgeous. It would be good to hang on the wall.
DeleteCool to learn a little more about you, Elizabeth :) And you're right--the big and small pictures are equally as important.
ReplyDeleteAlways glad to share :)
DeleteWonderfully put about the needlepoint and life. I was amazed by the sand too. I'll never look at a grain of sand the same way again.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that awesome? I think I should buy one of the prints and frame it.
DeleteThe sand is absolutely amazing. Who could have imagined? I've seen that pic of Mark a couple of times now and it never fails to crack me up.
ReplyDeleteMe neither. Anyway I can prolong his humiliation (ahem, I mean help him out) is the least I can do ;)
DeleteYay! Chocolates showing up is always a great thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm headed to the beach this weekend and I'll be studying the sand with new fascination.
Me too...well, not this weekend. In a few months. But yeah, totally not the same!
DeleteOn a side note, there were sea shells randomly scattered through the church parking lot where we ended up "visiting" on Sunday. It was nowhere near the beach. I had to chuckle. I guess we know the sand around here must look like up close--crushed shells.
DeleteLove that! One of my favorite "beachy" things...sea shell gravel.
DeleteI always think things will turn out right in the end, and somehow they do, even if it's not the way you thought it would be. I love the needlepoint analogy.
ReplyDeleteWhich hubby would be jealous of a man dressed like that? LOL Bless Mark.
I'm going to M. Pax now to see the sand.
Yep, though sometimes it's hard to see it. especially in the middle.
DeleteI love your needle point analogy. And Mark is so sweet to do that. Lol! I bet he's become your family's favorite blogger buddy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for passing on the meme to me. So nice of you! I'll try to get it up on Monday - if the cows let me ;)
Oh yes! Mark is tops in this house!
DeleteHi. Elizabeth...
ReplyDeleteSo true.... we do need to look at the big picture, and I ALWAYS make a HUGE mess when I'm creating something beautiful!
Mark is AWESOME> Thanks for the laugh, positing his pic. This guy is really secure in who he is... how refreshing!!!!
That's a wonderful analogy too, Michael! You are so right...there is always a mess to the creative process but if you stick with it, it all comes together in the end.
DeleteOh, so lucky to receive chocolates from Mark!
ReplyDeleteI am a lucky gal!
DeleteOur writing is unique to us.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to receive chocolate from the blogging world.
From a big mess beauty and order can arise.
Beauty can come from disorder.
DeleteYou totally deserve chocolate!
Oh, that sand! I can't believe there are whole tiny shells! I love the idea of messy threads coming together to make a beautiful whole - and it's something I try to keep in mind too. Great post, Elizabeth!.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda! Awesome to see you stopping by :)
DeleteI love that metaphor. It really is easy to glaze over the individual bits that make up something beautiful, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank you for the tag and the mention! To answer your immediate question, we spend so much time at the bar mapping out posts and creating jokes (and well, uh, drinking) that I kinda wish we could use get a tax exemption for business meetings. Craft beers aren't cheap, and those are the fuel of creative madness. Err, genius.
Breakdown - 2 each to plan. 1 while the other guy is writing down what we hatched out, another 1 for me while I draw it out. So I guess a whole 6 pack.
Thanks for reminding me that we may or may not be functioning alcoholics.
I saw The Wolf of Wall Street, add some hookers and drugs and you have a winning strategy...all tax write offs too!
DeleteOh, and you're welcome ;)
He he… MARK. He is SO FUNNY!!! (Of course we all know you are the female equivalent, Liz, so you're hilarious too) ;)
ReplyDeleteBut beautiful message here. The trick is to keep the perspective ALL the time… *trying*
Mark (and his sweetness equivalent Morgan!) is a true friend. He is as real as a human gets, and there is no higher compliment than that!
DeleteOh those sand grains are so lovely - I HAVE seen them before, but I never get tired of them! And the reminders you drew from them are equally lovely. Thanks for this today, Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteI keep looking at all of them on the website. I'd love to buy one, but I'm a little too poor. They are so beautiful!!
DeleteSo true! I've always been fascinated by the tiny things we take for granted, and if there is such a thing, I'm a sand fan. lol My hubby hates it in the car after the beach, or on his feet. But I'm happier than a pig in poo. lol :D
ReplyDeleteMe too Pk!!! I live in the land of dirt, so when I get home from the beach, I will find the pockets of sand and sigh longingly. I just love it!
DeleteThat sand photo is amazing! I'm going to look at the close ups again. So cool to hear about your writing process. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing. Follow the link to see more. So cool.
DeleteLove the needlepoint analogy! I'll head over to M. Pax in a moment to find out what all this talk is about sand!
ReplyDeleteGotta love the picture of Mark in the coconut bra! What a great guy to send you chocolates as a thank you for your hula girl! (By the way, she still gives me nightmares!) LOL.
I enjoyed reading about your writing process. I am the exact way when it comes to seeing the scene in my mind like a movie and then trying to describe it with sounds, smells, visuals, etc. Way cool to find someone else who does that....unless everyone does that? Hope not, I thought I was unique! :)
You're probably having nightmares because you are so good at being crafty! I am not...scary creations are what I do best.
DeleteI'm sure it's just us who share a process...we're special like that ;)