2020 Plans

Five days into January, 2020, and I just now pulled out my calendar for the new year. Nothing is written down in it, not yet. But, I plan to fill it with love & laughter and opportunities that allow me to connect with people this year. For several years I've been hiding, hibernating and recovering from... well, people.

People... that's a funny looking word!  Why is the letter "O" stuck in the middle of the word?

I got it... it's because what they say, what they do, (people) how they act, how they react make you go..."Oh, oh ho... people, some people!  Yup, yup, yup... some people!"

Guess I'm a sucker, but I'm ready to get back in the game. Ready to climb back into the saddle. Ready to join the voices that chant... "Happy New Year! Happy New Year, ya'll...! "

"Yup, yup, yup... Happy New Year, all you, people!"  😀

Cindy Lou

@Copyright 2020 Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

One is All it Takes

One is All it Takes

One little ball of sunshine stood all by itself, and its beauty overshadowed the musty colors around it. Once in view, I was drawn to it, and the world was brighter because of it. One little glow... that's all it took for me to smile, for me to nod in agreement that today is a good day.

One little glow... one little flower in a dark world. Just one... that's all it takes.

Pass it on, y'all...
pass it on.



@Copyright 2019 Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

The Keys

She said that her neighbor dropped by for a visit and had left without her apartment keys.  Realizing the keys were still there, that's when Mama tracked down her neighbor, and she gave away the keys. The neighbor greatly appreciated her efforts.

Meanwhile...

I searched. I searched my purse, my tote bag. I searched the house. I searched my car. I searched through the clutter on my kitchen bar. I searched my purse again. I dumped everything out of my tote bag. I cried. I searched through pockets. I searched the trail throughout my house and garage. I cried. I dumped out my purse. I  cried some more. Then I remembered what Mama had said about her neighbor's keys.  That's when I stopped crying and started yelling my favorite dirty word.

"So THAT'S where my keys are.  No wonder I couldn't find them!  Mama gave them away... #@#*!"  Satisfied I knew the whereabouts of my keys and that tomorrow would be a better day, I finally relaxed and drifted off to sleep.

Tomorrow was a good day.  It brought restored faith in myself.  It brought sunshine and order.  It brought birdies that were singing.  Tomorrow also brought clarity.  Folding the blankets in my car (the ones I had thrown about the night before in my frantic search), I came across the keys:  the missing keys. 

"Well, _ _ _ _!  _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _!!!"

End of Story.

I hate days like that!

           Three little keys.  One big lesson.          

Things I've learned this week:

1.  Write a blog entry every week telling about three things you learned that week. (It's best if it's related to your business in some form or fashion.)

2.  Put your keys in the same place every time AND be cognitive while doing it.  Pay attention every time.

3.  It isn't the end of the world when you have a bad day.  Assure yourself that it's okay and do your best to make the next day better. When necessary, repeat several days in a row.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat...






@Copyright  2014 Cindy Lou Hodges. All Rights Reserved.

Pink Plastic Plates

"You begin to move mountains when you start carrying away small stones."

                                                  -  Doris A. Dillon, Randleman, North Carolina

What I call the "Pink" plate!

I think she was talking about my kitchen counter.  Have you seen my bar lately?  Of course not.  You can't possibly see it because of all the clutter that's on top of it!  Yesterday I saw it as my mountain.  Today I see it as... well, shoot.  It's still my mountain... and a darn, BIG one!

Others might view it as a dumpster:  some, a treasure chest... still others, a laundry basket.  I don't dare drop clean underwear on it, but single black socks get dropped there all the time, waiting for the missing mates.  Eye glasses are supposed to be there, but I can never find a pair that has both lenses still intact.  Receipts, recipes, coupons... you name it... it's all there.  Library books sit there so long that they have to be returned before they are opened, and silk floral arrangements sit there until they sprout roots.

I did make progress this morning, though.  Yesterday my mother asked me about the pile of plates on the bar, and it embarrassed me that my mother hinted at what I should do.  So, when she makes it into the kitchen today, she will see that I have dealt with the issue, one at least.

The stack of 12 plastic melamine plates, the new ones from Target, is now a stack of eight.  I finally decided that I have not been able to decide what to do with them because I don't want to say goodbye to the four pink ones.  I like them.  They are really pretty, and, "No, I don't have anything else pink in my kitchen."  But, I like them... and after only three months, I realized that!  So, I jerked off the stickers, and now they are mine to keep.  The others... well, they are rather weird looking with their navy blue & white swirls, and I'm already sick of looking at them.  They make me dizzy.  I hope the store will take them back.  If not, maybe I can use them as a "Get Well" present for someone.  Maybe not.

Anyway, I have moved stones today:  stones disguised as dinnerware.  And... if I deal with the eight "weird"  plates, and return them to the store, and if I wash and put in the cupboard the four pink plates... then, I will have dealt with a dozen items... a dozen stones.  That's a pretty good number, don't you think?  And, a darn good accomplishment for a procrastinator who is really skilled at her profession.

Wonder if I could make a living at procrastinating... hmmm...  that would take some creative thinking, and I am good at that. But, I'll think about that a little bit later.  Right now,  I have eight plates to bag, four plastic plates to wash... the four pink, plastic ones...and stones hanging around my neck that are really bothering me. I think it's time to deal with them, and I really should do something about them.

Know anybody that needs a droopy silk floral arrangement?
Seen any extra black socks?
Even one?

Changing the world, one stone at a time...
Cindy Lou



p.s.  Thank you, Lord, that I have the time to sit and think about such little things.  Direct me towards your purpose today, and help me sort through the issues that matter and those that don't.  Direct my feet, direct my actions, and fill my heart with your goodness so that what I "dish out" today will be filled with your love.  I want to do better... really, I do, but I can't do it by myself.  Thank you, Jesus... Amen.

@Copyright 2011, Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

My Morning Prayer...

Morning calls as dove greet dawn.
I arise, not knowing what day may bring.
Aware I am
that I can choose
just how I shall join in
with family, friends, with tasks, and toil
for I am alive....
let my day begin.

I can be a stumbling block,
a stump, a stick in the mud.

I can be a babbling brook.
Babbling I do well.

Perhaps the breeze is calling me
to join in its ballet...

Or fire, oh the mighty flame
devouring its prey...

Or light that shines,
illuminates,
presses darkness to its grave.

What life give I upon this day?
That's for me to say.

--Cindy Lou Hodges

Heavenly Father, only you can provide what I need today, and I praise you for your mercy and goodness.  Thank you, Lord, for lifting me, once again.  May I do the same for others and do it with a cheerful heart.

Sincerely me...
Cindy Lou

@Copyright 2011, Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

Another Day

Another day, my soul awakes,
'Tis listening to the dawn.
What power, oh, ye morning has
to bid the evening gone.

Oh, daybreak, if you only knew
the might your light does cast.
It calls to me.  It beckons me,
for darkness now is past.

Rejoice my soul!  Awaken sleep!
The slumber now is done.
Glad tidings tell.  The light prevails.
The Son the vict'ry won!
                       --Cindy Lou Hodges

Sounds like an old hymn, doesn't it, with the "'tis's" and the "ye's"?  Guess so, and rightly so because today my body feels very, very old.  Actually, today this earthly body feels quite ancient, kind of like an old rusty farm tractor:  one which is missing a few cylinders, a lot of paint, and has been put out to pasture.  (I know of what I speak, because I learned to drive and operate a standard gear shift on one of those old, faded farm tractors.... about two hundred years ago!)

But, the good news is my soul is alive and feels young.  And that's a bea-u-ti-ful feeling:  one that can be shared and given away to everyone regardless of age, race, gender, or economic status!  So, join with me in this transformation as my soul encourages the body to rise & shine.  For indeed, there is a reason to do so... there is a Savior and He has conquered the night!  Arise!  Shine!  For the light has come!

As the little old farm tractor used to say...
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...."

Sincerely clutching to the truth (pardon my pun),
Cindy Lou


"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"  John 8:12, Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV)



@Copyright 2010, Cindy Lou Hodges
All Rights Reserved.