What about you?

From time to time people read my blog.  There it is.  My blog.  Just the nature of it is narcissistic.  I write about what I want.  All about me, my troubles, my successes, etc.
What about you?  Who are you?  What about your trials and tribulations?
I am curious.  I can learn from friends and family, and even complete strangers. 
The world is full of everyday stories.  Everyday people going through their everyday lives.  Dealing with life.  What about you?
What are your failures that you would be willing to share?  Not that this is a Dear Abby column, but we can learn from one another. 
I am interested.  I would love to hear from you.  Please, take the time.  It would make this old man's day.  And it can be anonymous.  David

Reslilience is difficult!

This morning I awoke at three a.m.   Thinking about the business.  Thinking about money.  How will we do it?  Yesterday Rita and I put in a long day trying to make something happen so we can fix the truck.  Humph.
I went back to sleep, thankfully.  I awoke at six a.m. ready to tackle whatever comes our way. 
The old adage, "God helps those that help themselves" comes to mind.  If we don't put forth the effort, we won't be rewarded. 
Today, I will put up more listings on eBay.  I will build another doll or two.  Hopefully get them listed as well.
Unfortunately, I am not in control of our customers purse strings!  I can take good pictures, I can list at a good price, but will it be enough?  Only god knows.  That's the hard part. 
Let thy will be done.  I want it to be my will  so badly.  But I must submit it to him.  It will be in His time, His way, the way He wants it.  It is so very hard to submit.  But, I must. 
I have to let go of my pride.  My ego wants to be able to say, "I did it", but it won't happen without His say so. 
So, God.  Your will be done.   I know your will is in my best interest.  I know you are helping me to be perfect.  I fall so short.  I look forward to your lessons, to your teachings, to the opportunities you present me.  I am grateful.  With your help, with your guidance, with your blessings, we can do anything!  David


As always, your thoughts and comments are always welcome. 

Steadfastness? How about resilience?

Its been ten days since I last posted on this blog.  Rita and I had the truck in the shop after a long period of saving up enough money to get it fixed.
We were able to afford to fix the problem and get the fan motor on the A/C working!  Hooray!  Just in time for summer.  It felt good.
When faced with a tough problem, I try to look back to see what I had learned.  Friends and family.  Persistence.  But most of all, steadfastness.  Being steadfast in our faith in the Lord, in our business, and in one another.  It got us through.
We started to make plans to redo the office into a doll production area.  Paint, flooring, lighting, and maybe some curtains.  Looking forward.
But it was not to be.  Coming home from the doctor's office the truck just plain quit.  102 degree heat.  Once again, Susie to the rescue.  We are so blessed to have her in our lives.  Thanks again, again, again, sis!
So, we are home, the truck is in the shop, and we are scrambling to figure out how to get the truck fixed.  The fuel pump is shot.  $850 minimum.  Hooboy. 
Steadfastness got us through before.  It will again.  But I think He is teaching me a bit of resilience this time as well. 
We get down, we fight our way back up.
We can earn our truck back.
And I will appreciate that truck even more. 
The day will come when we have to get a new vehicle.  But for now, I am grateful, and doing my best to be steadfast and resilient!
This isn't anything compared to Job.  I've got it easy compared to him.  David


As always, your comments and thoughts are welcome.

Car troubles! UGH!

About seven weeks ago, I went out to start my truck.  Nothing.  Without going into details, truck busted.  No drive today.  Stay home.  Dang.
My wonderful sister Susie drove all the way to my house to take me to the bank and store to get some supplies.  Thanks sis!
As Rita and I don't get out much, it hasn't been a MAJOR problem for us.  We have had to rely upon Susie, my buddy Larry once, and Stewart and Leslie a couple of times.
Luckily, we don't get out much.  Maybe twice a month to pay bills and get odds and ends.
In saving up enough money to get the truck fixed, I have learned a few things.  First, how wonderful it is to have my sister and friends that are willing to help us.  I am doing all I can to not wear out that friendship. 
Second, my brother Mike and his wife Linda have stepped up to the plate and taken Rita and I out to dinner, and we are expected at their house for dinner this Saturday.  Linda is even going to pick us up and bring us back!  It will be nice to get out.
The care and concern from everyone has been just awesome.  That word gets overused, but I am in awe they are so good to us.  I would do the same for them.  But it feels good.
This morning we have the truck towed to the shop.  On a prayer.  Hopefully it won't cost too much.  If it does, it will have to be towed back until we have the money to pay for the repairs.  Oh, how I hope we can get it fixed.

Father, guide them as they diagnose the problems.  Help them to keep the costs down.  And help us to deal with the answer.  Whether it gets fixed, or we have to wait, give us strength and confidence that we will persevere.  Thank you so much for our family and friends.  We are blessed.  Amen.


Have a great day all!  Lets face this day with optimism and hope!  David

Today is the day!

This morning my sister, Susie, and I will travel to my Aunt's church.  I will be giving a talk on reborn dolls to the senior group.  I can't wait!
I am curious who will be there.  It looks to be a very hot day, so who knows will show up.  But we will enjoy lunch, talk about dolls, and enjoy each others company.
I am certain there are some great stories in that bunch.  I will do my best to help them to open up and share their experiences.  We shall see.
When I asked my friends on facebook for their experiences a high school friend, Cynthia Beebe, shared hers.  For a couple of years she had begged repeatedly for a "Chatty Cathy" doll.  Finally she received one on Christmas morning.  That day her parents piled up all the kids and took them to her grandparents house in Adelanto, quite a drive with all those kids.
They visited with grandparents, played in the yard, ate dinner, and came home.  As they were getting close to home Cynthia realized she had left her new doll at grandma's house.  Daddy would not turn around to go get her doll.  Cynthia was crushed.
Luckily, Grandma found her doll and saved it for her, but it was several months before they returned.
A sad story for a child, but it emphasizes how important dolls can be for a small girl.
I hope we can get a few stories from the seniors.  I am sure there are some.
Do you have a story about a childhood doll?  Or maybe about your own child's doll?  I would love to hear from you.  Feel free to leave a comment.  David

The doll connection

To many people, the revelations I put forth today will be a "duh" moment.  It will be patently obvious to you.  But I ask you to consider the "why" as you read this blog today.
Rita and I make dolls.  Absolutely beautiful dolls.  I am proud of that. 
I have known all my life that girls play with dolls.  I was a typical boy.  Cars and trucks, Lincoln logs, baseball, wrestling in the front yard with friends, camping, you know, guy stuff.  Dolls never interested me.  Its one of those things that make little boys curious about girls.  They are weird.  Playing "dress up."  Talking.  We guys don't talk so much. 
As a parent, seeing my daughters play with dolls, I saw how much joy they got from them.  Not just dressing them, feeding them, putting them in bed, etc. etc.   But they would talk to them.  They would name them.  It was God's practice for them when they would nurture and love their own baby.  Like I said, duh.  No kidding.
I have known all these things intrinsically but it has crystallized in my head.  We men are the hunters, protectors, providers.  We have to learn these things that seem to come so naturally to girls.
When I saw my sister Susie, pick up one of our dolls for the first time, She instantly cradled it in her arms, patted its back, and said "Ahhhhh....."   It was then I began to get the connection. 
The Good Lord sure does know what he is doing.  Women are DESIGNED for babies.  Duh.  Not only to make them, but to love them, care for them, nurture them.  God spends girls childhoods gearing them up for that moment. 
Dolls become a part of a girls memories of childhood.  A part of their innocence.  A memory of fun times they had with other girls. 
Not trying to be sexist here.  But, thankfully, women are different from men.  We all bring different things to the parent table.  Women bring those things that provide for the human race.  Love, caring, nurturing, in short, humanity. 
I am glad I am a man.  But I am grateful for what women bring to this world.  And not just babies.  David


As always, your comments are welcome.  :-)

Gratitude

Today, this morning, I am grateful.  For my wonderful wife that gets my goofy sense of humor.  For my brother and sister, that love me and care about me.  For my children, that I worry about and miss.  For my neighbor Brenda, with all her wackiness.  She has a tough time of it in life.  Makes my troubles seem paltry. 
For my home, my truck that doesn't run, for my freezer that iced up and almost lost all the meat, for the front light that blew off and broke the glass. 
I am grateful.  These are all things that can and will be fixed.  We will persevere.  Its just stuff. 
I have love, I have peace.  I love others.  My life has meaning.  Thanks Jesus.  David

This will make you think

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=565674916804570
I saw this on facebook yesterday.  Please take the time to watch it.  It is seven minutes.  But it is so worth the time.  Very powerful.  Take the time.  Now.

My moments of grace

Every now and then God gives us a glimpse into heaven.  Somewhere in our lives we can see moments of absolute peace and serenity.  There are moments of unbridled joy.  We all have our moments of absolute humility.  I could go on and on, but you get the picture.
When I was sixteen, I was a sophomore in high school.  About 1971.  I had been raised by a mother that dutifully schlepped me off to church every Sunday.  I had all the Sunday school teaching a kid should have.  I had recently finished my confirmation class and I was accepted as a member of the church.  We studied the book of Matthew in depth.  I had heard the stories, but this was a real, in depth, look at the life of Jesus.  There was real meaning in that book.  It struck a chord.
In the late sixties and early seventies there was the "Jesus movement".  Maranatha and all that.  The Jesus freaks.  Long hair, bell bottoms, dangling peace signs, love beads. 
I went to a concert put on by the Christian group in school.  I was interested in them.  Mostly because there was a cute girl there, Rene Plum.  Fifty years later I find out she is a minister in Norco.  But I digress.
During the concert, Christ spoke to me through this band.  They spoke of Christ's love.  Of forgiveness.  Of peace, true peace.  I got wrapped up in that message.  Right then and there I gave my life to Christ.  I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.  It was a life changing event.
So my identity was now, David Meese, Son of Hal and Billie, Brother to Mike and Linda, Christian church member, and child of Christ.
At that moment, I was given a cross I could count on.  I could lean on.  I could rest on.  I could use as an anchor when the world was swirling around me.  My salvation. 
At times it seemed like my life was filled with anger, resentment, jealousy, etc.  I would stray away from the cross.  I would put on the pretend face of a Christian, wanting people to like me, to think well of me.  But my back was to the cross.
Then another life changing event would come crashing down.  Talk about sin.  I really screwed up.  Big time.  I lost my marriage, I lost my ability to see my kids for a while, and I lost their respect.  But, even with all that, that cross was still there.  Waiting for me.  He still loved me. 
A simple prayer, and I knew I would be okay.  But it came with heavy responsibilities.  I had to account for my actions.  I had to pay a penance.  I had to atone.  I had to learn.  I had to humble myself. 
My children still love me.  But it haunts them from time to time.  That phrase in the Bible where it says the sins of the father shall be visited upon the son is so true.  Hopefully, they have seen the sin, seen the atonement, seen some humility, and forgiven.  They say they have forgiven me.  I hope that is true.
So.  My moments of grace.  When I accepted Christ.  When I was with my newborn children (there is nothing quite like holding a newborn baby).  Camping in the wilderness, I would have moments alone with the stars, seeing Gods hand in the universe, that first time I talked to Rita and found that unbelievable connection.  I could go on and on.  Each one of these are glimpses into heaven.  Peace.  Serenity.  Joy.  Forgiveness.  Grace.  Contentment.
If I had not strayed, if I had not atoned, if I had not repented, if I did none of that, Rita and I would not be together today.  God had a plan for me.  I learned the hard way, but I learned, and I am so very glad of it.
Thank you Jesus for being my Rock.  I am yours.  David