shoes Archives - Do Love and Shoes

28
Apr
2020

Mismatched Shoes

categories: General

Have you ever put on two shoes of the same foot? Or two different sizes? Or maybe two different styles? If you have not, let me invite you to go and try.

It’s a weird feeling to purposely put on mismatched shoes. It’s awkward. Even uncomfortable at first. But somehow, I can stand in these shoes. After a few steps, my mind adjusts to appreciate that I can still stand (provided I’m not wearing one stiletto and one croc). Better yet, I can walk, and even climb stairs. It’s cumbersome for sure, but I am still able to maneuver in order to walk and move. This is the best analogy I can come up with to describe what I have been feeling during the past weeks as I isolate with my crew.

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03
Dec
2019

Tight Shoes

categories: General

It has been a long pause around here. I discovered that my shoes were too tight, so I needed to rest my blistered feet. It’s not always an easy fix. Sometimes a simple Band-aid or even dramatically throwing out the shoes, and replacing them with new ones…aren’t the best solutions.

Nevertheless, now that my blisters are healing, and my skin is renewing, I can share what has happened and how I am moving onto better paths.

Have you ever outgrown your shoes? Or bought shoes that were a little tight under the promise of a salesperson claiming the shoes would stretch a little? I have. Sigh. After four pregnancies my shoe size grew, and although genuine leather shoes do stretch, sometimes not as much as I have been told.

The shoe analogy is just an easier way for me to begin sharing about the knots I have discovered in my mind and soul. Grief knocked me down once again this past summer and I have uncovered some bruises I thought had healed. Grief is weird like that! It assaults me when I don’t expect it, and though I know how to cope, at times it seems overwhelming.
Just like the shoes that were a little snug (that I convince myself I can make work), so is the grief that I don’t process properly. Instead I try to box it up and hide it away. We carry on till the blisters burst and we are left raw. (more…)

09
May
2019

Her Shoes

categories: General

It is May! After a long dreadful winter and a wet and sappy spring, the sun and temperatures are finally warmer. But that turning of my stomach has also reappeared. May never fails to remind me that my mom is no longer here to celebrate. But this year, as I cried alone in my car, I kept asking myself how could I honor her memory in a way that is tangible? How can I encourage mothers to be fierce, confident, or a great friend like she was? Slip into her shoes perhaps.

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31
Dec
2018

Old Shoes

categories: General

This is very cliché, we all trying to make sense of the last 365 days in the last hours of New Years Eve. But here I am looking at my old shoes and considering which are really old and which ones are to keep. I realize that in certain ways I do this with my habits. Also with my goals and even relationships. Earlier this year I tried to focus on the word “disengage” in an attempt to be more purposeful on what I needed to be and get rid of bad habits, sin, and even activities that were good but I no longer felt passionate about.

Sitting here trying to make sense of 2018 I find myself going back to 2017 and how the word: Enough still rang true for the past 365 days. I recently shared with my church family about it and I will share here again. (more…)

13
May
2018

Shoes from my Mom

categories: General

Charles Jourdan was my mom’s favorite shoe designer. I guess this taste for shoes is in my genes.

The wave of grief hit me as I drove back home after a very positive morning that included a meaningful conversation I had postponed for too long, buying a gift for my mother-in-law and a cheerful quick meeting with a dear friend. You see, Mother’s Day never fails to remind me that MY mom only lives in my memory. (more…)

24
Sep
2017

Summer tracks

categories: General

This summer I wore running shoes and Birkenstock’s sandals more than ANY other shoes. This may not be of concern for many people, but for a gal who loves shoes it was strange. I traveled to Newfoundland, in the northeast of Canada, for two weeks with my family — a place everyone wanted to go… except me.
I knew it was a beautiful place, but also had heard of the cooler temperatures, that for my tropical blood was less than enticing. However, I had to live out what I preach to my kids: we need to support, make allowances for each other. This was my husband’s wish.
We packed two travel trailers, two trucks and my car. I downloaded the latest Latin album ( Despacito anyone?), and set off for what seemed like an endless road trip. I confess I was a little worried I would lose my cool after a while. I simply need alone time to recharge and there was none of that in the agenda for this trip. I reached out to my peeps and implored their prayers for a heat wave of Grace. (more…)

23
Feb
2017

Broken heels

categories: General

stuck stiletto The feeling of a broken heel is a distinct one. It’s more familiar to gals walking on city sidewalks, getting their shoes stuck in vents, on electric escalators or on public transit. But sometimes heels break because of a worn-out shoe or poor manufacturing or simply because we abuse them by running or jumping.

But the feeling! Sometimes it’s shame or embarrassment. Especially if you’re all dressed-up at an event. Now, if happening during the day it could be freeing as then you have the perfect reason to buy a new pair, or you may be able to repair them. However, the best scenario is when a friend saves you from embarrassment by doing one of two things: taking her shoes off and going barefoot so that you’re not alone, or lends you a pair of her shoes so that you can carry on.

That last possible scenario is a good illustration of empathy; a word I have learned a lot about in this last decade. (more…)

30
Dec
2016

The sixteen lessons

categories: General

I have this new pair of winter boots that I bought in the summer. Uh? I know! I am a bargain hunter addict. When it comes to shoes I do not care if the pair I find is for the right season. If it fits and it is the right price, I will take it!
This is the time of the year when we all take inventory of the things we did, started, quit, abandoned, or simply tried. Sometimes I can get obsess with what I did not accomplish or did not have the courage to start.
This year though I am so grateful I had the courage to start this blog. There were times when I felt very discouraged and doubted if I should keep it up. However, I dismissed those thoughts a dozen times and published a few paragraphs of adventures and shoes I wore this 2016.

The new year is upon us and I cannot wait for snow to wear my new boots, dust off the snowshoes and hit the trails. But before ringing in the new year I need to do my balance sheet.

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23
Nov
2016

Share Your Heels

categories: General

Heel graduation!

I was watching TV last Friday, and got a text from a dear friend showing me her heels find of the day. I chuckled at the text, and replied excitedly, “Woot woot! Heels! Straps and platform?! You are a graduate!”
See, my friend has great style and a beauty that really comes from inside but until a decade ago her shoes did not reflect that beauty.

I HAD to intervene! Fortunately, she was open and humble to my “unasked-for” shoe advice. She now loves when her birthday rolls around and we have our annual shoe hunting day. Obviously, the gift is always shoes, with a good dose of Thai food, laughter and encouragement. (more…)

20
Aug
2016

Fierce lady

categories: General

During a recent flight from Miami to Guatemala City, a lady came down the aisle toward where I was seated. As she’d approached what seemed to be her seat, beside mine, she kindly asked a young man to place her carry-on on in the bin. She then asked me to let her into the window seat. As more people boarded the plane it became evident that my fellow passenger had actually sat in the wrong seat, but the other passenger did not make a fuss, and took a seat instead at the back of the plane.
We took off and the woman asked me what was taking me to Guatemala. I proceeded to tell her my story – I was a temporary missionary headed to Villa Hortencia II. I shared with her about our partnership with Food for the Hungry. She thanked me. When I asked how her trip to the United States was, her eyes became glassy. She said, “it was good, I finally got to see my children and met my grandchildren.” (more…)

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