Speaking in Metaphors

The Star Trek Next Generation episode entitled "Darmok" changed my life.  I think of it often.  In this episode Captain Picard must learn to communicate with a race that speaks in metaphor under a difficult set of circumstances.

"Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra" is repeated many times in this episode by the Tamarian captain, Dathon.  Picard is eventually able to decipher the line to discover that it was a story of two warriors marooned on an island (Tanagra) who work together to defeat a common foe.

I realized that I do this but with Bible stories.  Almost every occurrence in my life gets told by attaching a Bible story to it.

When I moved us to Nashville because it looked like I could thrive as a single mother there, my Bible story was Genesis 12:1.

Nashville, TN

"Now the LORD had said to Abram: Get out of your country, From your family..., To a land that I will show you."  One version states - "to a land he knew not".  I'd done my research - salaries looked similar, house prices did also.  Beyond that - Nashville was an unknown.  But we packed up and headed there.  I met some wonderful people in Nashville and most of all I met my Bill there.

I'm blessed with people in my life that understand my "Bible speak".

When talking about growing and getting ready for the challenges I faced by saying "David, when he fought the lion and the bear!" (1st Samuel 17:36)  They nod with yes, I understand.

Or when asked how I'm doing and I say "Having done all to stand - I stand therefore." (Ephesians 6:13).  They nod with yes, I understand.

I'm so thankful that my Bible is full of stories that I can apply to my life today and for friends that nod with "Yes, I understand".

So I leave you with this - "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra" - David, when he fought the Lion and the Bear, Abraham, when he went to a "land he knew not"...there's a Bible story to fit every part of our life and it brings comfort, strength, direction - whatever we need for the moment we're in.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Sometimes Good People Make Bad Choices...

 I just read this on Instagram and it hit my heart.

I've always tried to do the "right" thing.  I have to admit there have been many times when I did what "Reia" wanted and not what God wanted.

I'm very thankful for this statement.  I am actually not my bad choices.  Thank you Instagram and "Power of Positivity" for reminding me that we're all human and we often "miss the mark".

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Movies ~ Hurricane Party

I threw myself a Hurricane party for one today.

Photo by Anant Jain on Unsplash

I watched the rain literally hit every window in my house.  ("Note to self" - must clean every window now.)  I also watched the wind whip tree limbs and leaves in all kinds of distorted ways.  (Another "Note to self" - glad I hadn't raked yet.)

I've Laughed, Prayed and Eaten my way through today.  Watched a long list of Christmas movies.  Finished a jigsaw puzzle too - that will be a post for another day.

Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash

I also shed a few tears as I went through my day.  Tears for what I miss (my great, big guy that hated the commercial side of Christmas).  Tears for what I have (family and friends that mean the world to me).  Tears of thanks (I'm very thankful for all I have in my life).

I feel like my insides were washed today while the outside got a good washing from Mother Nature as Nicole passed through my area.

Photo by Austin Kehmeier on Unsplash

I feel refreshed and renewed.  Ready to fight another day.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Nov. 7th ~ Movie... Christmas on Holly Lane

I have my favorite Christmas Movies.  You can read about some of them on previous posts here.  Some haven't been written about yet.  I was pleasantly surprised to add a new movie to my list of favorites.

Christmas on Holly Lane

It was warm, inviting and showed how the love of three friends could overcome multiple obstacles.

Watch the Trailer on YouTube here.

I was reminded that opening up your home to those you love might mean squishing up some but the rewards are tremendous!

Check it out.  It's on Freevee right now.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Nov. 6th ~ Savings - Thanksgiving and Ibotta

Ibotta released this year's "Thanksgiving" Rebate.  They changed it in several ways this year and I think I like the change.  The biggest change to me was we could shop at other stores and not just Walmart this year.

This year - the rebate is in 3 stages.

Stage 1 - buy/redeem the required number of offers (I had to redeem 16 offers but I found yogurt, chips, etc. to make it doable.  Several of the chips were BOGO so that made the offer even sweeter - or - saltier).

Stage 2 - completing stage 1 unlocks your FREE Butterball Turkey.  (Free 3# Frozen Butterball Turkey Breast or $14 cash back towards a bigger Butterball Turkey.)

Now you buy/redeem 4 more offers.

Stage 3 - completing stage 2 unlocks your FREE sides.

It felt like a scavenger hunt and now I'm really stocked up on some good items.  Next stage for me...I'm off to redeem my FREE offers.

If you haven't tried Ibotta out, you really should.  (Just click the + sign of the offer you want to redeem, buy the item, redeem your receipt through the app and you've made some $ back.)

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Nov. 5th ~ Puzzle Completed Day

There wasn't a "National Day" that clicked with me today, so I decided to post my latest completed jigsaw puzzle.  Entitled "Holiday Shop" - 2000 pieces and made by the CEACO company.

It was really detailed.  I mean really detailed.  I kept finding heads, bears, ornaments, cookies - all kinds of things in the pieces.  I really loved this puzzle because it took me awhile and a whole lot of thought to get it together.

Toward the end of a puzzle, I like to put all of the remaining pieces in shape order.  Makes it easier to choose the right piece.  Even with all of the pieces laid out it was days before they all found their way to their correct home.  Whew!  I loved it!

This puzzle was a true puzzle treasure!  It's staying on my puzzle table for a little longer and later I'll bring it out again.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Nov. 4th ~ National Easy-Bake Oven Day

 What a fun day and subject to research!  Easy-Bake Ovens - I had one as a young girl and the miniature cake boxes fascinated me.

Here's some history...the Easy Bake Oven was invented by Ronald Howes after watching street vendors in New York City use light bulbs to keep food hot.  

Not only has the Easy-Bake Oven been around for over 50 years.  More than 150 million little packages of food have been sold.  That's a lot of little packages of food!

Here's a 1963 Easy-Bake Oven commerical I found on YouTube.

Walmart has a present day Easy Bake Oven.  Plus - there's even a cookbook!

What a fun walk down memory lane!  Thanks for visiting ~ Reia