About
People have always made me tick. I love listening to them, talking with them, sharing ideas and dreams, and helping when it is possible. This has always been and is exciting to me. Basically, that is the motivation behind this website—people! I aim to make you smile, even laugh, give you something to think about, encourage you in your walk of life, and give you a faith lift.
Shaving
The reasoning of this 5-year child was if Daddy so carefully did this ritual every day, it must be very important and something I should do as well. Setting out my plan to make this happen, Momma and Daddy were patient and agreed I could shave with Daddy. The excitement was almost more than I could stand!
The next morning, practically jumping up and down, it was shaving time!! I stood on a chair so I could look in the mirror with Daddy and was given a small mug in which to mix my shaving soap while Daddy mixed the soap in his mug. A soft-bristled brush was given to me to apply the suds to my face. This was so exciting I was ready to shave with Daddy!!! One thing was missing - where was my razor?! Believe me, Momma and Daddy were very creative in convincing me that little girls did not use razors on their faces. My razor was a regular table knife – a smooth edge with no shaving value. As I stood on the chair beside Daddy, I carefully did all the moves he did! When we were all done, his little girl was delighted. Shaving was too much work and took too long, so from that day on, watching Daddy shave was treat enough! This precious memory is vivid even 80 years later.
Judy McKinney
©January 15, 2025
Evening Walks
During my walk, the main sound I encountered was the church bell’s melodious chiming. It was extremely beautiful and comforting. My ears welcomed the deep resonating music of the bell, my heart welcomed the peace it instilled. The huge, old elm trees formed a canopy of softness over the street and jeweled tones of sunset shone through the leaves. Perfection. As I neared the end of this evening ritual, the sunset had ‘gone to bed’ as we had told our young children, and darkness of night silently crept in. Suddenly, lightning began flashing and crackling across the sky, illuminating the horizon and making evident buildings, trees, flowers, and grass, which just moments before had not been visible. Along with the lightning came the deep, rich baritone sounds of thunder. Music of the sky. Mother Nature in all her majestic glory! Judy McKinney ©April 3, 2022
I AM OFFERING THIS GIFT TO YOU
I AM OFFERING THIS GIFT TO YOU
When your feet are cold, you feel chilled all over - I offer socks—coverings to warm your feet and spread warmth up your legs into your entire body. When your belly is empty, and the hungriness is often all-consuming – I offer you corn to sate the yearning deep inside. When your thoughts are filled with nothing, I offer a treasure from outside your present state. A treasure that can be everything you need it to be. You will have this treasure if you always remember you are loved. You are special. You are unique. You are talented. You are caring. You are generous. You are so much more than these few words. Always remember you are loved. Judy McKinney
You may ask, “What treasure do you offer that will fill me with joy and thankfulness”? “What treasure can lift me above the shadows I feel”?b
©January 6, 2022
Winter In Northern Maine
Wintertime Fun
Growing up in Northern Maine meant we had many months of winter. It usually began in November and ended in March, but that wasn’t always the case. Occasionally, it appeared in October, giving us a rare, light snowstorm in April.
Nothing closed due to snowfall. Schools, businesses, churches, stores, bakeries, and restaurants were bustling with typical day activities. This was due, in part, to the men who plowed the streets, roads, and highways.
Winter was a lot of work for the adults. The kids?? Not so much - they had a different view and role. Sliding, ice skating, skiing, tobogganing, and many on-the-spot, spur-of-the-moment fun things. For instance, the snow Dad shoveled from our walkway made a wall, and one could walk right up onto the sun porch roof. My friend and I would go up on the roof, go to the far end, run as fast as we could, and jump off! The snow on the ground was so deep we had to extend our arms out to our sides to prevent us from going ultimately out of sight! We began ‘snow swimming’ up and out of the hole, across the snow-covered lawn, up the back side of a snowbank, and down onto the sidewalk – to do it repeatedly.
The outside skating rink was not open during a snowstorm, but not too long after the snow stopped falling, the men in charge of the rink would clear the snow, and the skaters were free to have fun. Skating would go on for hours with visits to the ‘skate shack’ to get warm and thaw out! A potbellied stove sat in the center and benches were on each wall – feet with skates on them would be extended toward the stove. The heat felt so good, and the warmth traveled straight to our bones. Snow and ice melted from the skates and snow pants. Once thoroughly warmed, it was back outside to the freezing temperatures and the fantastic ice rink!
One night we even went skating in a car!!! The temperature was too warm for the rink to be open and a group of us came up with this brilliant idea – let’s go skating in the car! One of the guys in our youth group had a ’52 Plymouth Fury Coup, and, believe it or not, thirteen of us scrunched into it. The last girl to get in literally laid over the top of everyone else! The car owner went to the end of the street, accelerated to about 40 mph, and drove onto the ice. At the same time, he shifted into Neutral and gave the steering wheel a spin, and we were off! Peals of laughter and squeals of joy filled the air as we bumped off the snowy edge of the rink and went in a different direction. Several minutes later, the car came to a stop; the driver put it in gear and drove carefully off the ice and down the street – to do it all over again! What fun we had.
I should mention that ‘car skating’ wouldn’t have gotten us into trouble with the law if a policeman had happened upon us. For sure, we would have gotten a ‘good talking to’ and told not to do it again, but that would have been it. No property was damaged, the ice was still in good condition and the little Fury didn’t have a scratch. Things were very different in those days, and it was a fabulous time to grow up.
Judy McKinney Transform. It seems that throughout life, we constantly transform. Our thoughts run in a direction we are not happy with. What do we do? We set about to transform those thoughts into something beautiful, uplifting, loving, giving, and positive — thoughts that make us feel better and see others in a clearer light. Bodies of assorted sizes. Tall, short, thin, fat, large bones, small bones, a full head of hair, fine, sparse hair. So many areas to focus on. We cannot alter our stature – if we are tall, we are tall; if we are short, we are short; we can do absolutely nothing about that. Thin bodies are not so troubling to many, while others do their best to gain weight by eating and drinking rich foods and beverages. Fat bodies are always troubling. If not to the person wearing the body, then to someone else who thinks that body needs to be brought into submission to a strict diet. Body types can be excruciating for the owners. The thin body may refuse to gain weight despite consuming rich food and drink. The fat body may refuse to lose weight even on a 700-calorie-a-day diet. Could it be that some bodies are just intended to be the size they are? They may change a few pounds up or down, but never significantly. Transforming what is on the inside could be much more important but not visible to outsiders. Let’s suppose one has a beautiful/handsome face and a perfect body (whatever that may be at any given time) yet is very judgmental and hurtful to others. While transforming the outside may make one's appearance more appealing to others, one's attitude and actions remain unchanged. It is helpful to oneself to change a mindset of negativity to positivity, from complaining to thankfulness, from dislike to like, from rejecting to accepting, from selfishness to selflessness, and from uncaring to caring. These are just a few transformations one can work on that will significantly enhance one's life and, at the same time, have a tremendous impact on others. © 2022 Judy McKinney “And do not be conformed to this world (any longed with its superficial values and customs), but be transformed and progressively changed (as you mature spiritually) by the renewing of your mind (focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His plan and purpose for you). Romans 1:2 (AMP) Various instruments are available, and my musical instrument of choice is the piano. My mom told me that one day, at age 4, I sat down at the piano and began to play. Simple, easy but nevertheless, a song. Thus began my lifetime love affair with the piano! Lessons commenced and practicing was a joy. Hours would pass and I would still be playing the piano. Music has been and continues to be, a major part of my life. The music in the tenderness of a lover’s voice plays a gentle melody in our hearts. A child’s first words cause our emotions to fly and soar as we experience overwhelming joy. Our ears are the instruments that enable us to hear those precious sounds. Gazing at the majesty of a sunrise or sunset fills us with awe. The intricate patterns found on each snowflake cause us to stop in amazement when considering each snowflake has been individually and uniquely designed! The innocence of a child’s face, the diamond sparkles of ice on tree leaves, the steam rising from a boiling kettle – these are a few blessings we receive from our eye instrument. We touch and feel the velvet softness of a rose petal. The warmth of clothes from the dryer. Corduroy ridges of a shirt, the smoothness of silk. The body is an instrument made up of many instruments to give life amazing and awesome music of many varieties. © 2022 Judy McKinney
August 27, 2021 ©
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