Dear Reader:

I had some sort of epiphany after leaving Doug Cargill’s office (my Horace Mann “rep” and old friend) yesterday.

But before I tell you what happened…let me fill you in with my visit to sign away a lot of savings…it’s just money…right?

I went in and told him that I had a fairy tale for him before I put a big hole in my annuity fund. He sat back with a big grin and said…”Tell it girl!”

Once upon a time a beautiful young princess happened to look down at the royal palace’s entrance floor and saw a big crack in it followed by a distinctive un-leveling floor base.

She immediately told her mother, the queen, who stared in horror at the dipping cement. “Oh no” she said….this can’t be happening because the royal cement floor  holds up my two royal columns which then holds up my royal roof. “

“This is supposed to be a fairy tale…not a horror story” the Queen lamented…feeling quite alone and forlorn. Pity party…Pity party!

“Maybe you should think of selling all of this royal “stuff” and finding something closer to your children and grandchildren”...suggested the beautiful princess.

“ I couldn’t ever leave my Happy Room, my delightful deck and my magic moon gate garden that I built for my royal grandchildren with trees in the process of bearing their royal names in stately stature. These are my sanctuaries that bring me much joy.”

” Besides... I have fixed up almost all the royal rooms…new paint, new appliances, new fixtures…it is so close to being perfect…I can’t throw it all away.”

… “So even if it drains most of the royal funds…I will rebuild and save the kingdom…it might never be perfect…but, to me, it will be close enough…perfectly imperfect.”perfectly imperfect!

And so the queen called in the royal workers and told them to do what  needed to be done to keep the royal roof from falling in on her royal crown…  to rebuild the royal palace so it can entertain family and friends for years to come…filled with laughter and love.

This command was perfectly “imperfected” throughout the royal palace…because nothing on earth should ever try to be perfect…we have to wait until we go live in God’s Kingdom for that!”

…………………

Doug laughed and said that “the royal paperwork was ready to sign” so I can finish the completion of the “Perfectly Imperfect” happy home!”

I had been dreading that visit to remove hard-earned savings… so that is why I tried to lighten the mood and  conversation.  It ended up with Doug and myself just laughing at getting older, becoming perfectly imperfect “seniors” who are just happy to have these earthly problems…if we have a problem, that means we are still alive and kicking!

Once I let the money issue go…it actually was quite freeing. On the way home I felt almost giddy…like an albatross was off my back.

It was then that the epiphany hit me. I was never meant to have a whole lot of money because I would never have been forced to become more creative which was and is my passion.

I appreciate every penny I have now…that would not be the case if I had too much more than I needed…I would think that I was totally in control of my life and put God in the back seat along my journey.

Instead I am so appreciative of my deck,my garden, and home…where I can commune with God…to form a daily reliance on Him. Instead of relegating God to the back seat… God will take his seat up front to direct my journey.

So until tomorrow…God, You know us so well…what we can and can’t handle…so all we need from You is Your assurance that You will always love our “Perfectly Imperfect” selves!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Walsh sent me the following video about a conversation he had with Rutledge about his name….Walsh is telling him that his name is Rutledge Dickey Dingle while Rutledge denounces that name for Rut Rut Ding-Truck!