Lesson 577: Shine Bright

There's a bright glow coming from the Lamp Post tonight.

Maybe because we soaked up some vitamin D

last weekend.

Rides to the lake are always worth taking.

Vacant but beautiful shoreline.

Miles of rugged coastline

touched by winter's frozen hand.

Natalie was the brightest of the bunch tonight

as she headed off to Night to Shine

on a cold and windy night.

The special night 

designed for special people

is made possible by the Tim Tebow Foundation

in cooperation with churches

and many volunteers.

They make for a special night for the attendees,

but for the parents and caregivers, also.

A red carpet entrance,

a dance,

a dinner catered by Chick-Fil-A,

and a bag full of goodies

are all part of the evening.

Princess pranced in with a crown on her head

proudly showing off her loot to the Lamp Post gang of regulars.

Please watch this message from Tim Tebow himself--

a good guy

who is working for the greater good.

Weekend homework:
What greater good do you have in you?

What's my good?
I don't know.

I think a lot about it.

I've come to the conclusion

that if you are using the gifts God gave you,

with the best intentions possible,

and giving your best each day--

your purpose reveals itself.

Maybe I've answered the calling I had when walking across

the Edinboro University campus as a sophomore,

making an unplanned U-turn into my advisor's office--

and switched my major to include Special Education.

I hadn't thought about it before that--

just that day.

It was a urge that couldn't be ignored. 

So maybe they are my greater good.

Or maybe it's all these dumb photos I take.

They aren't great,

but they make people happy,

especially when they land on one

that has been Eloised.

It doesn't make Eloise too happy when people steal her camera

to take nostril shots though.

Or maybe my good is in telling you the best places to go for a walk

when the sun shines brightly.

I take Hazel for sniffs lots of places

and we know all of the best and brightest spots around.

Or maybe its in the sharing of the good places to go.

where the lights shine bright,

especially the lunar lights tubing hill

at Peek n Peak Resort.

It could be in sharing all of my reads.
This one looks especially good 

and I'll be starting it this weekend.

I can't wait to read Georgia Hunter's family story.

Maybe I'll write my own someday,

and I'll title it

We Were Lucky, Too.

ELOISE

Lesson 576: Bowler Vortex

Hello, Readers.

Feel like Hell froze over this week?

Sure is cold here at the Lamp Post.

That's why I'm wearing a onesie.

I added this new one to my winter collection

Tonight's post is named for this dreadfully cold weather 

we've experienced this week,

and for my hubby 

who placed 9th in the Erie Times News Bowling Tournament.

It's hard for any of us to be disappointed in a 9th place finish.

Especially when he had almost withdrew minutes before the start.

A back injury nearly sidelined him,

but with an emergency adjustment and

a new technique called cupping that worked really well in this instance,

kept him in the hunt for three weeks 

as well as a top ten finish.

I don't understand athletes.

I suppose that is because I'm not one.

Trying to cheer hubby over a 9 fingered finish,

was like trying to console Sam over a loss over a 

very close basketball game.

The Huskies had themselves quite the dog fight 

in game against the Meadville Bulldogs

in tournament play last weekend.

Sunday's back and forth game came down to the final half second

when a foul was called.

Huskies sunk a claw into a one point lead,

with a lanky Bulldog on the foul line and two shots to take.

Fans suspended all breathing.

Eyes widened in expectation.

The Other #33 stepped up to the line

and confidently sunk the first shot to tie,

and the next for the win.

That's such a tense situation for anyone to be in,

let alone a sixth grader.

Sam and I found the player after the game

 and congratulated him on the way out.

I was happy to find this message on Monday morning!

Hi Eloise...My son was #33 for Meadville. He’s a volleyball kid and pretty new to basketball... so making those shots just meant a lot to him. I also want to thank you for the picture you posted. I was too nervous to get any! Good luck to your number 33:) Kelli

So, what does Eloise do to pass the time during our arctic cold?

My husband and I

 talked to our sister in North Dakota.

Fargo was -31,

and she was proud to say her town 

was actually one degree colder.

I fret over my feral cats

but they seem cozy in their little house.

 I crochet a daily row on my weather blanket.

I got to add black for below zero!

Gray is the single digits,

and white, the teens.

I like to listen to podcasts while I'm driving

or putzing around my house 

reorganizing drawers like Marie Kondo.

Out of the hundreds I've listened to since the summer,

this is my all time favorite--

Oprah Winfrey's own story

she published on her Master Class podcast.

I can't wait for part 2!

Laughter is a great way to shake the cooped up feeling.

Every evening I spend some time at the Scranton Branch

of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

Oh, how I love The Office!

It has risen to the level of being tied with LOST

for my all time favorite TV series.

This was kind of fun,

until I had done 45 crunches in first five minutes.

Winter dances are always fun.

Sparkly dresses make me happy.

Looking for shareable, 

clever words of wisdom

ticks the time by on the clock, too.  

Here's the wisest words of the weekend

while we all wait for spring.

Come on, Groundhog!

Eloise