The Storyteller | Mary Vee

  Photo Credit I went to a really fun party last night. Gifts, fifteen people, celebration style. At this party no two people were physically in the same room. Had I said this, oh, ten years ago, you might have labeled me crazy. I'll add another interesting component: no two people were in the same state, AND at least one was in another country. Ah, yes, I've given you clues. I looked at the title of my last posts and laughed. Seems I've been on a technology binge. This is definitely not a techy blog. We gather to talk about what is happening and give our views. Yet, here we are again talking about a tech related topic. A topic that presented the only means to solve a problem: Fifteen close friends, initially drawn together because we are writers. Living across the United States and Australia. The youngest will soon be married. Few can go to her wedding. The answer? An online party. We set the date and sent our packages to the youngest member. She...

Photo by Mary Vee Yesterday, between breaks at my writer's conference, I-- FaceTimed a call with my daughter who is across the ocean in a study abroad program and heard about her fabulous day. Pshaw, that's nothing, you might say. But, it was everything to me.  I know, I know, technology can be the pits at times. Yesterday the app we needed to get the handouts for our class didn't work for a time. During another session, we were told a number to text for more information. A friend keyed two 9's instead of three and couldn't find the message. Details. Details. Later still, the organization's techy staff took twenty minutes to get the instructor's presentation to display on the board. Glitches. Patience. Stress. BUT, look what we still have. Yesterday, my other daughter, living across the country made a short video of her family and added it to the private collection on You Tube. When I have my next break, I'm going to watch it. I love seei...

Believe it or not, there is a good kind of exhaustion, and you've probably felt it. The exhaustion at the end of the day when your thoughts vaporize the second your head hits the pillow. Hah, perhaps your eyes drifted shut while enjoying the wind down activity before going to bed, and someone from your family said, "Do you want to go to bed?" You naturally said, "No." Even if you really wanted to sleep. True? My family gave me the best week ever celebrating Mother's Day. My son took me for a six-hour, intense hike after church on Sunday. My daughter took me on an adventure climb down a rugged cliff on Monday. No ropes required, but, yes we slid down mucky waterfall saturated earth. Grand Haven Photo by Mary Vee My husband took me to one of the lighthouses on the Great Lakes. Of course, we walked the beach and to the end of the pier.  Ending the three day adventures, my family watched my favorite movie with me. My eyes drifted toward sleep in the mi...

This is a great week to prepare for a fabulous mother's day. Mothers' Day is This Sunday. According to lessons we learned about the birds and the bees, we all have a mother. Only Eve didn't have the privilege of dealing with voicing her opinion to her mother during teen years. However, Eve was able to experience the blessings of being a mother. As the first woman to give birth, she had no one to help her through the experience, although it seems logical God served as the birthing coach. So for all you moms. All you future moms. All you moms who have adopted. All mom-in-laws. From young to old, Happy Mother's Day. So, gang, what will we do to honor Mom? My favorite: the awesome, hand-crafted treasures from little tikes. This post has been brought to you by the one word: CelebrateMother'sDay

Two young men came to the house yesterday. No, they weren't selling anything. They wanted to know if they could fish from the dock. Rewind to the last three summers.  The dock that came with the house had missing boards. Some of the boards didn't hold weight. Until we could afford to repair it, we chose not to use it. One day we found a neighbor sitting halfway down the dock with his feet in the water. He played his music and invited friends.  Um ... no. First, and most importantly, the dock was dangerous.  Second, it was private property and had a sign indicating such. Third...well, it just wasn't nice since he didn't ask. Apparently the previous owners of our home let mostly anyone who pulled in the driveway have access to the yard and lake.  At least fifty cars pulled in those summers, assuming they could park in the drive as before then head across the yard to the lake. We set a policy. We would say no to all, not to be cruel...

There comes a time when each of us have been able to stand up on a box and shine. You may think you are not one, but, if you give me a moment to help you, I think you will agree that you too have had such a time. Maybe more than once, I hope so. A time to shine, to beam from the depths of your heart. It doesn't have to be epic to encourage us. To warm our heart. I think of a small child who comes to an adult with an object or picture. Their eyes are wide and waiting to see the response. A smile fills their face. Their skin may add color. They are so proud of what they've done and are hopeful...so very hopeful to receive recognition. Encouragement. Support. Pleasure. This is an epic moment. I think of a teen who has received the recognition they have longed for. Perhaps the unexpected good grade, being elected for school office, their name remembered by someone they didn't expect would notice them. Something from their family. A neighbor. Affirmation. Encouragement....

Photo by Mary Vee The wintery Springtime photos are popping up in news and social medial like popcorn. They don't look anything like my photo from last year to the left!  From all over the United States, Winter has its hold creating an irritant. Yes we're kinda tired of the white lawns. But, did you know snow has unique chemicals not found in rain? These chemicals seep into the soil and produce vibrant crops. Without the snow, farmers must enhance the soil with specialized fertilizers containing these same chemicals.  I prefer the natural found in snow. Don't you? Let's check back at the end of this growing season and see what the earth has produced. Often times irritants sneak into our day.  Here's a crazy one. This morning, I opened the fridge to get out cream for my coffee. My daughter came into the room and had an important story to share. I listened while grabbing the "creamer", poured said creamer into coffee while keeping eye co...