Keyboard Update

Currently the keyboard that I spilled Coke on is drying. We put it through a rinse cycle in the dishwasher and have it propped up near one of the heating vents in the house to help the drying process along.



The report on its condition is this: The keys are working! They are no longer sticky! I'm waiting at least another day before I plug it in and see how it works. I have to make sure it is completely dry before I fire her up.

I Am a Sinner and a Saint

Katie makes me out to be much more than I am. I am so faulted it's pathetic. Here's a self-assessment of some of my faults, I...



- am very impatient. VERY!

- can be way too critical of others

- am stubborn (my staff informed me of this today as a matter of fact! LOL)

- hate putting my laundry away and have a problem with piling my clothes on my dresser.

- don't pray enough

- eat out too often

- am addicted to the internet and Battlefield 1942 online.

- can be easily irritated at the constant chaos of children in the house.

- spill Coke on keyboards

- am often too quick to anger when simple things do not work right, or I can't find something (like a remote control).

- hate going to the doctor (I have to be in immense pain or feel death coming on)

- worry too much about finances

- panic if I am invited to someone's house for dinner (because of my eating disorder...which is simply the fact that I am a very picky eater and that's a whole other post.)

- am terrible about sending out greeting cards on appropriate holidays/birthdays.

- have a very low tolerance for stupidity (which is so not Christlike!)

- form opinions about people according to the condition of their teeth.

- have rebellious tendencies

- PRIDE - I have a MAJOR pride problem!



There's a lot more wrong with me, but it is nice that Katie is able to "forgive" all the faults and manage to see a bit of Christ in me. That right there is yet another miracle God performs in me daily!



I am a sinner. I am a saint only through Christ.

I Hate Blinds!

I went through ALOOOTTTT of trouble replacing old blinds in the livingroom window because the ones hanging there were broken. Well, the ones that replaced them just broke. They are really wide and we have support brackets across the middle to keep them from breaking. The problem isn't there. The problem is pulling the string to open and close the blinds. I opened them today and the weight of the blinds caused the string pulley area to snap...just like the last set of blinds. I hate blinds! It's time to think of another form of window treatment!

Keyboard in the Dishwasher

While I was blogging the last post, the keyboard began to do some very strange things. At the present moment, I am typing on our old keyboard and the new one is in the dishwasher.......yikes!

What a Way to Start a Day

I just got back from a trip to visit my family last night. Gracey (my car) was riding pretty rough. She needed an oil change and is due for her 80,000 mile tune up. I also took her for a ride down a pretty muddy gravel road and she looked a mess. I woke up this morning to the phone ringing. Sue called from work to tell me that she had taken Gracey and left Jeepers with me today because Gracey was at Firestone getting a tune-up and oil change...then she added "And I'm also getting her cleaned...did you go mudding yesterday or something?" LOL. An 80,000 mile tune up....wow! I was waiting until later on in the year when finances were a little better. She thought it needed to be taken care of now and she took care of it. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. I don't know what I ever did to deserve such a friend. I only know that I see Jesus every day when I look at Sue. He lives in and through her. She doesn't believe it sometimes. She says that she doesn't behave very Christlike sometimes but, neither do I. Even the best Christians often tend to behave very human. But, every day when I walk around this house and drive my car and see the blessings all around me that God has provided through Sue who selflessly sacrifices daily for my family, I can see that He still "walks with me and talks with me" just like he did with Eve in the garden. He just wears a different suit of skin. I see him through many others daily as well but, it is through Sue that I have seen Him more in my life than anybody else and I don't think she will ever realize or could ever know the impact or the difference she has made. I don't think she can imagine the legacy that will be left behind long after we are gone because of the difference she has made in my life and the lives of my children. God has been using her to make a big difference. He had a work to do in us and she was one of His very important carving tools. I praise my God for saving us and for sending us such an awesome gift in sending His Son to die so that I can be saved by His grace. I praise Him for my salvation and for sending me and my children the awesome friend and sister that I have in Sue. I am blessed beyond anything I could ever put into words.



Thank you, Lord.

I Didn't Learn My Lesson

I didn't learn my lesson. I am sitting here with a Coke on the computer desk.

Preaching to the Baptist's in the Back

Church was great today! It was soooooooooo good to be back in fellowship!



The message was on being optimistic. It contained a lot of stuff I needed to hear about looking at situations with optimism. We saw a film clip from the movie "Alive" about the Uruguayan soccer team crashing in the Andes and how those that survived 70 days in the wintry mountains had optimism keeping them going. Paul, our pastor, shared about how Caleb came back to Moses with a spy report and said "we can take that land", but the others advised against it out of fear. Paul said that if we don't look at things optimistically, the outcome isn't very optimistic!



He used an analogy about a bunch of grapes. When you open the fridge to eat some grapes, sometimes in that bunch, there is one grape that looks rather "malignant" he said. I chuckled at that. He asked "what do you do with that bunch of grapes? Do you throw them all away? He said, "no, you remove that malignant grape and throw it away and then enjoy the rest of the grapes." Paul explained that often times we get so fixated on that one tiny malignancy, that we don't enjoy the rest of life.



Paul talked about how we need to learn to be optimistic in the face of many turns in life, including: Challenge, Adversity, Failure, Change and God's Work. It was a great message.



At one point Paul said "hey, I just thought of something...everyone stand up and turn around." So we all obliged and then he went hustling back into the sound booth at the back of the church. It was funny because on his way back up the aisle he said "everybody watch me, oh, I'm in a hurry, I have to go to the bathroom!" LOL Anyway, once he was back in the booth, he started preaching from there! He said, be optimistic about this change...those of you who normally sit in the back are now in the front. HA! This is one way to preach to the Baptist's in the back! and those in the front are now uncomfortable with being in the back." It was an interesting illustration for us today.



It is amazing how God speaks through His people and can use humor to do it! I was laughing a lot during this message today, but it really spoke to me.



There is nothing, absolutely no situation that God can not handle. What appears as a boulder of trouble weighing me down, is a BB bouncing around in the boxcar that God just sent off with all my problems.



The whole point? Don't let what you see control you, let God work.

Christmas

Christmas 2003 was a good one. I slept most of the day, but managed to enjoy the kids having a blast at Christmas. It seems like each Christmas I spend sleeping because the retail season just wears me out!



Katie and the kids are away for a few days and I have been enjoying my time here alone. I have enjoyed doing my bible study and playing my computer games. Today I went to the movies and it was so fun. I sat there in glee as I got to pick my own seat...literally too! There was me and an elderly couple in the theatre to see Master and Commander. I sat in the second row middle. I love it up close! I like to get sucked right into the picture, the movie itself if you will. I also knew that Katie probably wouldn't enjoy an action film such as that, especially one that takes place on the high sea because she has a tendency to get that motion sickness thing going on with that "virtual" movement stuff. So, I enjoyed the movie and savored the popcorn too! Yum! I love movie popcorn. I am so glad that it has been declared healthier for the human body than broccoli. (In my dreams)



I had a nice Christmas and was happy to receive the gifts that I did. My parents are wonderful gift givers and this year I actually recieved some gift cards to WalMart. I like gift cards. I spent about half of the sum today. I decided to use the gift given to me to buy the kids some bookshelves for their rooms. They don't have any. Their rooms contain a bed, and a dresser. Tiffany's dresser has some broken drawers that I wish I was skilled enough to fix, and Justin has only a box spring and mattress, no bed frame at all. Because they have no bookshelves, all their toys and other things like books, and knick knacks simply lie on the floor. I got tired of that and decided to use some of my gift to get them some nice decent furniture for their rooms. Kids aren't going to care about bookshelves because you don't really play with them, but I know I will enjoy having their rooms with some stuff up off the floor! I guess it was all selfishly motivated! LOL



Now if only I would get motivated to put the shelves I bought for myself together so that I can get my room straightened up! LOL

I Spilled Coke

Help! I spilled Coke all over my keyboard. I'm surprised the keys are still working...albeit a little sluggish.



I'm such a dork!

Remembering to Trust

I read a short devotional from Nicole Johnson . In it she was talking about how we do not forget how to ride a bike once we learn. She explained that our muscles have memory and even if we haven't ridden a bike in years, as soon as we swing our leg over the bar and sit on that seat, hanging on to the handle bars, our muscles remember what they need to do to balance and to ride that bike.



She talked about emotional memory too. How we remember certain wonderful things about our childhood, and can just as easily remember the bad. It is actually possible to feel the same emotion as in that specific memory.



The she talked about how we often struggle to trust God. Nicole Johnson suggests that we learn to rely on our "trust" memory of sorts. Remember how God came through for you the last time? Think of those times that the bill got paid when you didn't see how it would be possible. How that situation at work came to fruition and all is well. Remember how you prayed for someone you love and God worked it all out? God earned your trust. Remember all the times He earned it. He never fails you. Johnson says we have "trust memory". The more we use it, the more we will learn to trust Him. By meditating on those times in the past He carried you through, you will learn to trust Him during those future crises that may come your way. Once you learn to trust, you won't forget how and pretty soon it will be like getting on that bike again!



I thought that was kind of neat!

Can't Stop Pounding the Nails

Well, sometimes I just feel like a failure at everything. I am not the friend I want to be. I am not the person I want to be. I am not the Christian I want to be.



I'm not sure this is a good thing, the fact that I am constantly worrying about my Christian witness. It is one thing to be conscientious, but I think I obsess. I obsess to the point that I am always thinking to myself, what is the "right" thing to do? Or, how could I have done that...I've blown it now, this is why people don't come to know Christ, because of people like me.



I can't stand that I make mistakes and totally blow it sometimes. I did recently when I spoke careless words and hurt somebody. They would never confront me, but I know I was in the wrong. It's been bothering me. Today I talked with this person and apologized for speaking words that hurt and for even thinking them. I was wrong and I asked for forgiveness. It all ended ok, but I can't take back those words.



My mom taught me once that sticks and stone may break your bones but words will hurt more. I believe it to be true. You can put a cast on a broken arm (or maybe not in my grandma's case), and it will heal, but that word that pierced a heart still hurts and it won't go away. I feel like such a loser.



I always feel guilt. Katie says I am right to feel conviction, but wrong to always feel guilty. That I am not perfect and I will make mistakes. I get sick of screwing up! "Guilt is not from God", she says, "condemnation is straight from the enemy!" I know this to be true, but it's hard. I want to please God. I want God to smile on me. I want to arrive in His Kingdom in Heaven and have Him look into my eyes and say "well done my good and faithful servant", but I am not deserving of these words. I know that Jesus' perfection is what God will see, and does see, when He sees me. I know that Jesus takes my place. I know that my sin is nailed to His cross. Sometimes I really hate that. I hate that my sin put Him there, hanging on a tree, and I still can't stop pounding in the nails.

Christmas

Interesting Christmas for my family this year. I got an email from my ma yesterday telling me how my Gram (maternal grandmother) fell while placing gifts under the tree and broke her arm. It was a bad break but with her age being 87 and her osteoperosis (sp?), the medical people decided to immobilize the arm, rather than insert a pin which would require surgery. I am sad to learn that it is my Gram's right arm because she is a crossword puzzle person and writing will be difficult. Her mind is sharp as a tack and those crosswords keep it fine tuned! She is also an avid reader. I think she has read every book in the library...twice, maybe even more than that!



Then today I learned that my sister Dawn, who is moving to Las Vegas, picked up the trailer she was going to use to move her things. She planned on hauling the trailer behind her car. Today, on the interstate, after she picked up the trailer, the U-Haul people apparantly didn't hitch it up correctly and it came loose, smashing into the back of her car. She is okay, thank the Lord, but her car is not good. Obviously this is NOT a good thing and has put a dent, literally, into her moving plans. I am just thankful she is ok and wasn't involved in any serious accident when the incident occured.



All this helped to make this holiday very memorable for my family!



It's nice that this season is coming to a close. I posted some good sales numbers and my staff worked very hard. I appreciate them very much. We had fun today too! I kept announcing every now and then in my "NASA" voice "T-minus two and a half hours remaining...". My assistant insisted that a "watched pot never boils" and I kept on announcing "T-minus one hour and 14 minutes." Shortly after that I announced "T-minus one hour and 25 minutes remaining" and said "OH NO! TIME IS MOVING BACKWARD!" LOL This day did seem to last forever and then my company requires us to stay until all this stuff is done. Every year I say "It's Christmas Eve, when the paperwork and sales reporting is done, we go home." When Tiffany finished the paperwork, I said "let's go!" and we all dropped what we were doing and left the store. My staff couldn't believe I had them just drop what they were doing, but I think it is wrong to keep them there longer than need be. I'll get the stuff done Friday, hopefully, and I don't want to be a scrooge! I think it is ridiculous to stay late on Christmas Eve.



I have a great staff to work with. We have so much fun! There are those not so good days, but for the most part I've got good people working for me. It's a treat to be with good people and enjoy our work. It can be overwhelming at times, but when we all work together, we are successful.



I am happy that I will be going back to a five day work week. I have been working six day work weeks and putting in 55-60 hours a week. I'm exhausted. Being on five day work weeks again will be a welcome relief and will allow more time for God. I plan to use my time a bit more wisely when it comes to my intimate time for Him. I really need Him, and I have just about knocked him out of the picture. I'm ashamed. But, I'm ready to recommit!



That's all for now. Merry Christmas! He Lives!

Earthquake

Found some interesting stuff at Maps of Recent Earthquake Activity in California-Nevada. Nothing like a natural disaster to provoke interest in something.



Why is that?

The Last Christmas

A sister in my church was recently diagnosed with lukemia. She was given 3 months to live without chemo and a year with. She has many other health problems and I have recently heard that aside from diabetes, she has also suffered from a stroke. We have some of her things here that we were keeping in storage temporarily until she found a permanent place to live. She found an apartment just before she was admitted into the hospital. She's been there for several weeks and will be there for several more.



I don't want to give too many personal details because I don't know how she would feel about it. I think that it is safe to say that she has had a very hard life and has been very depressed lately. Things have appeared to be quite hopeless even though we know that with God all things are possible. Now, it seems that God is calling her home. From the most recent report, it seems she is failing fast.



As I watch the news and see all the Christmas related commercials and conversations on t.v....I can't help but wonder what goes through her mind as she lays in that hospital bed. She has no blood relatives with whom she has a relationship..only the church. The hospital is a long drive and we ( the church family) are trying to visit her as much as possible. I wonder if she is lonely. I wonder if she wants to be alone. I wonder if she thinks "This is may last Christmas on Earth." I wonder if she thinks about Jesus and being with Him...if she anticipates it...if she is afraid...or is she sad when she thinks about how she will not be here next Christmas?



What is it like to KNOW the time that God has chosen? I know there are some benefits like being able to say your goodbyes and being able to make the last moments count and planning your last days and making arrangements for what you will have left behind....but, what does a person think about when they are alone? Does she talk to Jesus? Does she cry? Is she thankful? Is she at peace?



I wonder if she believes that she is dying or if she believes that she is going to get a miracle and live? Is she? Who knows?



I can't imagine what it would be like in her shoes. I don't feel comfortable asking these things. I want to go see her. I did go and see her last week but she was very sick and I don't even know if she remembers my visit. Sue and I stopped in with the kids. She had just begun chemo. Things looked a bit brighter then but now, her body is just not cooperating. It's almost easier to know what to say at a funeral than it is to know what to say when your friend is dying. I feel afraid when I see her...what if it's the last time this side of heaven? What if I say the wrong thing? ( I'm gifted that way.)



I just wonder...what would it be like if I knew that this would be my last Christmas. Talk about a flood of mixed emotion. Please pray for my friend. I know this must be so difficult for her. Pray for us as we attempt to minister to her needs. Thank you.

Jeepers

Jeepers, my jeep, is an awesome vehicle that I inherited. It is not often that people inherit $35,000 jeeps with less than 6,000 miles on them. I was blessed, and still consider myself blessed that I have a nice vehicle to drive. I must say though, that I have learned something valuable through my experience with this jeep.



I have learned that $35,000 does not necessarily buy quality.



I could never afford to drive a jeep like this if I were to buy one right out. Sometimes I miss my old $10,000 pick-up.



I have had this jeep for a little over two years now and I have just crossed 42000 miles. I have had one problem after another. The major problem was with the brakes which I noticed as soon as I drove the thing home to TN from Ohio. It took me a year of convincing the dealer down here that there was a problem and I was expecting Jeep to cover it.



I had a problem with the rear passenger side door lock that was taken care of before the warranty ran out at 35,000 miles. I also had a problem with water leaking in the headlamp and therefore causing the headlights to blow. They took care of that without cost to me, which they should have, but now I have yet another broken thing...now the driver side door lock is making a horrendous sound and the diagnosis? The mechanism needs replaced, it is covered under "warranty" after a $100 deductible. Oh brother. I don't understand why with a $35,000 vehicle I have had the thing in for small things that I don't think should "break" after such a short time/mileage.



My little pick-up needed repairs now and then, but they were your basic maintenance things. I drove that thing to 180,000 miles! For an additional $25,000 toward a vehicle's worth, I expect better I guess. Should two lock mechanisms need replaced in such a short time? I've already had the brakes replaced! Seals busting out on the headlamps? What's next? I know, the power windows. I hate power windows. The simpler things in life just don't seem to break as easily. Give me my crank!



I do feel blessed to have a vehicle, and a nice one at that. I also feel blessed to have the $100 to pay the deductible today because I can't stand broken things and want it fixed. I guess I just want value.



If Daimler/Chrysler says the Jeep is worth the $35,000 price tag, then I expect $35,000 worth of product. In my estimation $35,000 should not buy these sets of problems for at least five years!



My own words just came back to haunt me. Katie just responded with a saying she has banned from this household. I used it rather inappropriately toward her the other day, which inspired the banning, and she is now showing me how ineffective it can be. She said "suck it up." LOL



That's the last time that will be used in this household.

My Christian Walk

I haven't been to church in weeks. I hate that. It's amazing how being out of fellowship with other believers can really take its toll. My spiritual life is weakening. It is not good. I want to feel holy!



This time of year the retail business is in full swing. I love it! Sales and selling, people buying and I thrive on making a person's shopping experience in my store pleasant. Many people are dragging around a lot of "stuff" and come into my store looking very tired. I try to keep smiling, keep my associates smiling so that the fatigue in the faces of the shoppers won't manifest itself in any ugly way. On the underside of my name tag lanyard, I wear a little note to remind me of my purpose. Katie sent it to me via another associate a few years ago when I was feeling down, it says "When you walk in His Light, the lost will see Him more". I try to always remember that.



Problem with retail is that at this time of year, when life gets hectic, working keeps me away from fellowship. I miss my brothers and sisters. I miss worshipping with them. I miss watching the Spirit move during service, which is why I am pining for this upcoming Sunday. I will work the late shift, which will allow for me to attend church. I am part of the body and I feel a need to be ATTACHED! LOL



Only a little more than one week and life will begin to settle down again. Whew! Another holiday season will be over! I seriously need to re-evalutate my commitment to Him, and some things will need to change. I look forward to what He will lead me to do.

Make-A-Flake

I created some snowflakes. It was fun. I was sent to the site by a friend who emailed me the website. Try it here!











I think I did better on my second try!



Here's Katie's creation, I think she has a gift!

Wedding Song

Someone found my site doing a song search: Google Search: "when two or more are gathered in his name" wedding song. They were probably looking for the Wedding Song by Paul Stookey, from Peter, Paul and Mary called "There is Love".



Beautiful song. I'll have it played at my wedding.

Spam Squad to the Rescue

This is good.



I am curious to know, however, how much business spam does bring in for people. Do people really "click here" for information about penis enlargement? Is it possible that someone actually reads the "ad" and says to himself "hmmmmmmmmmm, I think today is the day I will become a real man!"



Do people really put thousands of dollars into the account of the foreigner who needs to raise money for the organ transplant for his daughter?



I figure spamming must actually bring in business or it probably wouldn't exist, it would be pointless. What's worse? The spammer, or the one who actually responds in a positive way to spam!?

Britney Spears

Found this quote at Plugged in Online

Don't Look At ME!



"These parents, they think I'm a role model for their kids, that their kids look at me as some sort of idol. But it's the parents' job to make sure their kids don't turn out that shallow. It's the parents who should be teaching their kids how to behave. That's not my responsibility. I'm not responsible for your kid."

- Britney Spears

I would agree that Britney Spears is not responsible for "your kid." But, if, as she contends, it is parents who are responsible for their own kids...WHAT THE HECK WERE HER PARENTS DOING OR NOT DOING THAT SHE TURNED OUT "SHALLOW"?



Just a thought.



*Katie just added: Kids imitate their "idols", they are their "role models". Kids do not look to Britney Spears' parents as their role model!



**Another thought from Sue: LOL, Katie, that was funny! Whether entertainers intend to or not, the fact is, they are in the public eye and they are watched. Kids will imitate, emulate, and idolize popular figures. It is the parents' job to raise kids with morals and values, but entertainers do have a responsibility as well, not in raising kids, but in upholding common decency and an acceptable moral code (I'm not going to debate what or who decides what is moral). If anything, many entertainers demonstrate how NOT to behave. We often see those in the public eye in the news because of drug addictions (Robert Downey Jr.), divorces (Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman), and controversies (Dixie Chicks), to name a few, which are consequences of the lifestyles they have chosen to live, good or bad.

I Love My Parents

I received this lovely card from my mom. I am so blessed.



Today is my adoption anniversary and each year I remember it as a very special day when God gave me a family.



Here is what the card read:

"In a couple of days (today), Pilar (my newborn niece) will be 4 months old, just the age you were when you became ours. Wow! I pray that every child can bring as much joy to their parents as you have brought to us. God bless you." Signed "With all of our love on our special day, Mom and Dad"

Newsworthy

I am in a dress.



A black formal.



For the symphony.



I haven't worn a dress since....ummmmmmmm, well....I'm not sure. It's been that long.



The framily wants to take pictures.



ugh

Christmas Blessing 2003

Every year since I have been a single mom, I have recieved a special Christmas blessing. This year, I have had many wonderful blessings from God. But, the very special blessing that God did for me for Christmas happened today and he used Sue to do it again. Sue has the gift of giving. There is no doubt about it. She enjoys using the blessings God gives her to bless others...and she does this on a regular basis.



This year, due to the lack of child support, I was having to trust the Lord for Christmas for the kids. Sue has been worried as to what I was going to do for them. The kids drive her crazy, but she loves them deeply. She always wants them to have a nice Christmas and she always helps to see that happen. But, this year, it just wasn't looking good. I kept telling her that I was just going to have faith and that this is my problem and she shouldn't worry about it.



I always tell her that if God wants her to provide for me and the kids, that He will provide for her to provide for us. If He doesn't do that, then it isn't for her to be concerned with...it's my responsiblility. Well, I guess God wanted her to be concerned. Today, right after I got off the phone with Child Support Services and got the usual run around, I prayed, "Lord, I have done good to have faith up until this point, but, it's getting down to the wire and time is running out. I know that you always seem to come through at the last minute, but I have to ask your forgiveness because I am losing faith. I am beginning to feel that you are just not going to come through this time." When I finished, there was still a faint glimmer of hope. "There is still time left...God can still pull through," were my thoughts. But, honestly, I was beginning to "worry." I'm so human.



Then, not five minutes later the phone rang. It was Sue. Her voice was shakey and it sounded as if she was crying. I started to panic. Then she said, "I wish I had faith like you."



I was thinking, "Yeah riggghhtt!!! If you only knew!"



Then she went on to tell me that she had gotten a bonus that she was totally unexpected and that it would take care of Christmas for the kids. It touched my heart so deeply that God blessed her in such a way and her first thought was not of herself, but somebody else....my children.



Just when I think I can't take life anymore. Just when I get to the point where I say, "I don't want to do this anymore, this it too much!" God sees that I am teetering on the edge of "more than I can handle" and he lifts the load enough for me to get relief and refreshment and rest in Him...to gain strength for another day, another trial...and to "keep on truckin'" through the trials of life on Earth....ever striving for the day when I will sit at the foot of the throne, casting crowns at the feet of Jesus, crying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!"



Nobody will ever EVER be able to convince me that there isn't a God who isn't interactive in the lives of His children every moment of every day. And nobody can convince me that He doesn't dwell in the hearts of His people. He comes to me through them...I see Him in people like Sue. I could write a book on countelss testimonies like this in my personal life alone. God is faithful. His promises are true. He fulfilled the Old Testament Promise in the New Testament when He sent His Son to be born in a manger. Christ...Emmanuel...God With Us...and He Is With Us! He knows our thoughts, our needs and our hearts desires...even before we do. He hears our cries and He answers. He is the Provider! He is my Father, Husband, Brother, Lord, Friend, Comforter, Healer.....He IS!!!!!!!!!!



Joy To The World! The Lord Is Come! Let Earth Recieve Her King!

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room! And Heaven and Nature Sing!

Tis the Season

Retail retail retail!



I got a call from a customer:



"Do you have the Boyz II Men Christmas CD?"



"I have the Boyz II Men Christmas Collection for $9.99"



Rudely, in a stern tone the caller said, "I SAID, DO - YOU - HAVE - THE - Boyz II Men Christmas CD?"



So I repeated in a tone that revealed my irritation "I said I have the Boyz II Men Christmas Collection for $9.99. It is a Christmas CD by Boyz II Men. The Boyz II Men Christmas Collection."



*click*



Yesterday I had an older gentleman come in and it was apparant to me that something was not all right with him. He had a speech impediment that made it difficult for me to understand him. He would alsoo get easily frustrated with me as I worked to help him find the song recording he was looking for. He kept telling me something about "Yumah, but I spelled it with an "A", but on the record they spelled it with a "U". I tried different spellings but was having little success. He kept telling me how he wrote the song back in the 60s, but he couldn't tell me who recorded it. He couldn't remember. He got upset that he "drove all this way for nothin'". He finally got distracted looking for another song. He wanted "Rainy Night in Georgia" which I found for him by Brook Benton. He was telling me that he wrote that song too. I asked "Were you in Georgia when you wrote it?" He said "no, Memphis". (It is not difficult to believe that songwriters from that time would ventrue into my store which is in the next nearest larger city to Memphis.) I then confirmed "so, you wrote 'Rainy Night in Georgia' and you weren't even in Georgia?" and he got very irritated by that and got down right mean when he said "You have no reason to know that, It is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" So I just said "I'm sorry, I was just interested in your songwriting motivation is all."



I came home to find out who the real songwriter for "Rainy Night in Georgia" was and learned that it was NOT the man in my store today. Poor guy, is probably very confused.



Have to love retail this time of year. We get all kinds!

God Still Blesses

It's retail season. Life goes at a very fast pace for a retailer like me. Days buzz by and I get exhausted and I LOVE IT! It's a SUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGE! An bonifide ADRENALINE RUSH!



I haven't been spending time with God like I should. I'm ashamed of it too. My attitude has been pretty bad around the house and I know a lot of it is do to stress that could easily be relieved if I would talk it over with Him and let Him deal. I'm a control freak I guess.



Even when I feel furthest from my Father, He still chooses to smile on me. The other day a woman came in to recruit people. She has tried to recruit me before to work at Lenscrafters, but this time she wasn't looking for management people, just associates and technicians and was "spreading the word". In our conversation I asked about employee discounts because I could use new glasses. Mine are about five years old now and my prescription could use an update. She said "How's 50% off?" I said "that's great!" and she then gave me one of her cards that guarantee a "friend or family member" 50% off frames and lenses. She only gets 6 cards to hand out a year and chose me today. I am blessed!

Celebration and 24 Hours Without Pain Medication

I am celebrating that I have gone over 24 hours without the need for pain medication! Woohoo! I think the storm of the previous migraine has ended. I am hoping that it was the last. I do believe that God wants to heal me....it's the when part that concerns me! Anyhow, for now I feel good. I have my contacts in again which is something I can't do when I'm suffering from migraine. Sue plays in the symphony Saturday. I pray that I feel this well for that. I have a busy month ahead. I have finals until the 9th and relatives coming in from the 11th to the 16th. I can't wait! Then I have to bake a cake for about 100 for the awards banquet for WRAP which is on the 18th! OH my life! Anyhow, I love the hustle and bustle but in the mean time I forgot to leave time to decorate and shop for Christmas! I'm sure glad Santa will take care of that. What a relief...ummm...anyhow..



I invited my friend, Jeanie to come to the "WRAP" banquet as my guest. I told her it was the "Academy Awards of WRAP" banquet (because it is a formal banquet). She thought I meant the "Academy Awards of Rap" and looked at me really funny because she knows I am not a fan of rap music. I knew immediately what she was thinking and I started cracking up as I cleared up what I was talking about.



Anyhow, after the 18th I hope to finally get some much needed time to relax and enjoy the remainder of the Christmas season....all seven days. But, since I imagine it will be spent rushing around trying to get shopping done and gifts wrapped...oh well isn't that how it always goes? There's never enough time to reflect on what it's really all about is there? Ahhh but, there is...there's the tape player in the car and the church services and well, I think the fact that my job at the WRAP banquet is to say the blessing.........THAT MAKES CHRISTMAS VERY SPECIAL FOR ME! That was a gift from God. I have no idea why they asked me...except that my precious Lord wanted to bless me through it. I think I am looking forward to that part of the evening more than anything. WRAP is a secular organization. To have the opportunity to invite God to be a part of such an event is an awesome gift. Wow, I'm just jabbering on.



I'm sure at the symphony I will hear beautiful music about the birth of our King. I will get to reflect on the meaning of this holiday season then as well. So, maybe all the business will not take away from the Holiness of it all. In fact when I really think about it...My finals..they are because of the calling He has placed on my life. I am involved with WRAP because of the calling He has placed on my life. Sue is in my life because of Him and her being a part of the symphony is a blessing from Him. And she will be blessing Him by playing music that will glorify Him and using a gift He has given her to do it. Wow, He is in it, all around it, through it...He will be a part of the season in all of the activities that keep me busy. I am excited to share this time with Him.



Our church is also doing our first dinner theater this year with our new theatre group. That will be a Christmas dinner theatre...and this Sunday is our annual Renewal Banquet Celebration at church when we renew our Covenant membership. It's the biggest celebration of the year. This is truly an awesome time!



I remember when I was little and I realized that the stories I believed about Santa were just legends. Something magical about Christmas was lost after that. But, then I received Jesus and as I grew in my relationship with Him, each Christmas season began to have a new kind of meaning...better than magic...reality! The story of Jesus is the TRUTH, not a legend. And that will never change. I learned the real story about St. Nicholas and the real story about Jesus. St. Nicholas was said to be a man who loved God and loved with God's love. Jesus is that Love...God's gift to us...Christ.....Emmanuel...God With Us.



Somebody told me this week that Christians on Earth are seeing the closest thing they will ever see to Hell. The lost on Earth with those Christians are seeing the closest thing they will ever see to Heaven. That leaves room for a lot. I wondered...What part of Heaven do the lost see through Christians? And, shouldn't that motivate Christians to want to strive that much harder to reach out to the lost and set a better example through the lifestyle that they live? I know it sure did put a spark of motivation in me to work a little bit harder, and have a little more mercy and compassion on those who need to know Christ's love.



Wow, I sure did go off on a rabbit trail. Oh well, I need to leave it as it is and go back to studying for my final exams. Thank you so much for all your prayers. I will continue to keep all of my beloved prayer warriors up to date as God is graciously answering!



It's all about Him!

Answered Prayer- God's Messenger

This is an update to "Miracle Anybody?"



Today I woke up without a headache. Right about the time I arrived at church, my vision began to go and my head began to hurt again. Then I saw a man talking with my physician. During this time I was folding programs and preparing coffee supplies. The man came to get coffee. His son, Brian introduced him. His name is Barney. He began to tell me how he and his wife had been celebrating 49 years of marriage and was wondering if the man standing beside me was my husband. That happens to me often. We had a laugh and moved on to other conversation. After awhile I fixed a cup of coffee and mentioned that it might help my headache and my physician who is also a member of my church and a brother in Christ, began to converse with us and the topic of conversation was of course...my head. Barney shared testimony about how God had healed him because his church prayed over him and he talked about James 5 and laying hands. He shared his testimony about feeling God's presense and the prayers of many as he went in for 5 bypasses on his heart. (I have no clue if I said that right). There is so much more but I am simplifying it for time's sake.



Eventually, it was just Barney and I talking. He shared stories about God answering prayer as he was fighting for our country in the past and how he felt God's presense overwhelm him during times of great danger. Right in the midst of our conversation his face seemed to glow as his eyes filled with tears. It was so noisy that I couldn't hear him and he had to tell me again because I didn't think I heard him right the first time. He said that the Spirit just spoke to his heart and told him that God wants to heal my headaches.



When I heard him, I felt such a powerful presense of the Holy Spirit. It was as if nobody was in the room but me, him, and God. I had warm tingles running from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet and back up again. I know that what he said was from our Lord. He told me that the Holy Spirit was going to speak to me and tell me personally. I believe at that moment, that is exactly what happened. I felt a huge weight lifted off of me. I wasn't healed in that instant. In fact, I have a headache as I write this. But, for years I have wondered if God was ever going to deliver me from this misery or if it was something I would be plagued with for the rest of my life...like the thorn in Pauls flesh. There was such an immense sense of relief in that moment that I knew that my Lord has heard and does desire to heal me.



I don't know how many have read my first blog regarding this, or how many have prayed. I know there has been at least one. I know that God has heard and answered. Thank you. This is not the end of the story. I will continue to give updates as they occur.



To God be the Glory

Fatigue

I am a retailer. I am very tired. Whew! I LOVE this time of year! It's a giant adrenaline ruusssshhhhhhhhhh! But, I am exhausted! I've worked two long days and sometimes customers are not the most pleasant because they are tired too. They have shopped until they are ready to drop. I tell my employees that they need to keep smiling and helping customers. "Keep a smile on your face and a ho ho ho in your heart!" is what I say! LOL



Yesterday I had a customer say "I'm looking for a song. I don't know the artist or the song title. All I know is that it is gospel." I said "Is it black gospel? Southern gospel? or Contemporary Christian?" and she responded with a blank stare "I don't know." I said, "Well, the hottest thing right now is Mercy Me 'I Can Only Imagine'" and she then said excitedly "THAT'S IT!" That was one happy customer! It's amazing sometimes that people come in expecting us to read minds and pull stuff out of a hat! LOL



Sales were good this weekend and hopefully that will continue throughout the holiday season. I sure do miss being able to get to church though. Katie is telling me I am withdrawing from fellowship. True I choose not to attend Wednesday night service because I'm not interested in the studies being offered, but work is keeping me from Sunday service. I have made it to SaLT group whenever possible though. I have to say that when I am working so much, it is nice to be home when I'm not at work. I feel like I am rarely home at all, so when I have the chance, it's where I want to be.



I feel blessed to have a friend like Katie who holds me accountable. She is watching out for my spiritual well-being and that is a good thing. She is probably right in some aspects that I'm not where I should be.

Miracle Anybody?

Several years ago, I was in the midst of a very troubled marriage. Out of sheer desperation and hopelessness I went online and began to visit Christian websites. I signed several guestbooks and requested prayer. Only one person ever responded. It was my friend, Sue. God answered my prayer that day...in a way that I truly never expected. He gave me a miracle and set me free from a terrible bondage that I had been trapped in not only during my marriage, but throughout my entire life. It was a pattern...a lifestyle.



Today, I am coming online again requesting prayer and hoping for a miracle. I am just as desperate as I was that day in May of 1999. I am asking my brothers and sisters to pray for God to send me somebody who can help me deal with, understand, cure, whatever His will....I just need to be delivered from the pain in my head that overshadows every aspect of every day of my life. I need another miracle. I know My God is faithful so I also ask that you pray that I remain patient and trust Him as He is working in His time and in His way.

Thanksgiving Dinner: Pain reliever and Phenergan

I was hoping that some of my headache troubles were stemming from a diseased gallbladder that I had removed last Friday. Apparantly that was not the case since I have spent the past three days trying to stop the pain....not the pain from surgery...the pain of migraine. I keep thinking about how good I would feel and how much more pleasurable my life would be if I could only get this problem under control. There are no drugs, no cures, no nothing. I've seen all the specialists, had all the tests. The only sensible solution seemed to come from a chiropracter who is not covered by insurance and very expensive. Isn't it funny how insurance covers drugs and doctors that don't seem to solve the problem but they won't cover those that will? There's something fishy there.



Anyhow, I spent Thanksgiving day popping pills to relieve pain and nausea in hopes to not spoil the day for everyone else. I went through the day trying to fake that I felt okay when really I wanted to be home in bed. I spend most of my life this way. When a person suffers from chronic migraine, it controls every aspect of their life. All plans are made around the hope that they won't get a headache and spoil the day for everyone involved. I would have so much richer and fuller of a life if I could just make my head stop hurting.



God answers all my prayer requests and blesses me every day but for some reason, he isn't touching this one. I have been praying for deliverance for years. Sometimes I wonder, "Am I praying right? Am I asking for the right thing? Am I doing something wrong? Or is this just a thorn in my flesh...and why?" I can't see the purpose God would have for leaving me or anybody with a plague like this. But, then again, there are many people who are left in horrible sickness for no explainable reason right? I don't see how this glorifies God...but I guess since His thoughts and ways aren't like ours, only He can know the answer to that one. Owwwwwwwww! Man! It hurts to sneeze when you have stitches in your stomach! Okay, so this isn't one of my more upbeat blogs...but we're all entitled to a down blog every now and then right? After all....this is where I come to write my thoughts.



I do hope that all our readers were blessed with a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'd love to hear about it too. Leave a comment and tell us about it.



God Bless

My Debut!

The maestro stopped by my store today and gave me my music to practice. He also asked me, just to verify, if I have a music degree? I said "yes" and then he wondered if I had ever played any percussion? I said "no", he said "not ever? never ever?" and I responded "well, I mean, I taught fifth graders how to play." and he said "good enough!" LOL



I will be making my tam tam debut during the December 6th performance.

Mouse Bite

It appears my mouse has bit the dust. Hmmmmmmm $1500 new computer and the mouse is giving me trouble after only 3 months. I'm trusting that Gateway will make this right, and soon!



I can't play games without my mouse! AAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!



I'M HAVING WITHDRAWAL!

Nurse's House Call

Patty Patterson, Katie's RN, just called to check on her and make sure I was encouraging Katie to do her breathing excercises and other such after surgery stuff.



Patty also called to tell me she was ready to do my enema! I said "NOOOOOOOOOOOO, I DON'T THINK SO" LOLOL



She was so funny and such a great care giver! Praise God for nurses like Patty! Woohoooooo!

Superblessed Christian Blog Awards

Check them out here if you are looking for some outstanding Christian blogs. Ganns Deen of Superblessed.net announces the winners in twelve categories of bloggers. Sister's Weblog has been honored with the "Most Enjoyable Female Christian Blog Award" and that is most humbling. When I see those blogs that we were nominated with, I don't know how it is that this humble blog of ours stands alone in any category. Fact is, there are many awesome bloggers out there and I encourage you to visit those that Ganns points to. Some of which I have blogrolled myself!



Have a look around Superblessed.net too! It is another one to blogroll if you haven't already!

She Doesn't Have the Gall!

I got up early this morning and took Katie to the hospital. She had gall bladder surgery. I waited in her room and napped on the hospital bed until she got back from surgery. Now she is home and recovering remarkably well. It is amazing that she had an organ removed at around 9:00 am this morning and is home at 2:30 in the afternoon. Technology is amazing, it blows me away sometimes!



You can have outpatient surgery to remove a gall bladder, but don't even think about easily removing wallpaper from a wall that you want to paint!

The Friday Five

The Friday Five:



1. List five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year. FIVE? It is almost the end of the year and I have to come up with FIVE? Well, first on the list I guess will be coming up with FIVE accomplishment goals! Second, spend more time with God. Three, enjoy the framily more. Four, finish reading the bible through this year...we've fallen behind and we need to make up about a week's worth of reading, but I really want to finish that year long goal! And Five? FIVE? Make it through another holiday season in retail!



2. List five people you've lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again. I guess old friends from high school and college...Lori Eimer, Jenny Sasala and Kim Ross were three high school band buddies that would be fun to catch up with. From college I think it would be fun to meet up again with Doug McInerney, a guy I dated for a short while and I also think it would be cool to catch up with my old college roommate Denise D'Andrea, wonder whatever happened to her? It is amazing to remember back to the days when these people were a part of my life every single day, and now I think more than ten, maybe fifteen years have gone by. I'm so glad I appreciated my friendships throughout the years, I have always been mindful that some people come in to my life just for a season.



3. List five things you'd like to learn how to do. Fly a plane! I want to fly someday! I'd like to learn how to be a radio personality, or at least do my own radio show for a spell, just for fun! I'd like to learn more about computers and all the stuff that goes into web design. I'd like to learn to love people more and myself less. I'd like to learn all I can about Jesus!



4. List five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit). Well, I seem to give away what I have now, so I'd probably give that all away too. I would buy stuff for myself though, to be sure! I want to get a joystick for my computer gaming habit and I'd want to fix the broken things in my house. I'd make sure my family and framily was taken care of financially and the rest I'd give away!



5. List five things you do that help you relax. Being online! NO kidding, I can really veg and relax surfing blogs and the news online. I also enjoy reading my apologetics books, bible studies and the bible itself. Listening to music is another way I can relax. I'd probably really relax if I'd pray more. I can't think of another thing that I do to help me relax...maybe go out for breakfast? Sitting there talking over my cup of coffee is rather relaxing.

Tables and Wells

It's hard to know when to be Jesus turning tables at the temple and Jesus talking with the woman at the well.

Got the Call

I recieved a phone call at work today. Jordan Tang called to ask if I could sub for the December 6 Holiday Concert. Immediately I said "YES!". He asked "are you sure you can do it?" because I think he knows I'm in retail and not working on a Saturday is frowned upon, but I said "I'm going to make it work. I won't blow and opportunity like this!"



So YAY! I get to play with the orchestra again!

Spiritual Maturity

I confess that sometimes I get upset with Katie's kids because they just don't behave the way I think they should. Katie tells me that I am expecting them to act like adults, but they can't because they are kids. She says that kids do not think like adults or act like adults.



I know all this. Children have limited cognitive abilities and limited maturity levels. Children are constantly learning and growing. I taught middle school students for five years and didn't seem to have trouble understanding a child's limited knowledge and maturity. This is one of those examples of having the "brain" knowledge about children, but now that I live with kids, well, it's just different. I guess it was easier to send kids home at 3:00 and let the parent's deal!



At SaLT with WaLT the other night, I learned some small but important lessons. One of which I shared in an earlier post. In that post however, I did not share the conviction that I received that night.



At the top of page 76 of A Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren writes "Parents do not require their children to be perfect, or even mature, in order to enjoy them. They enjoy them at every stage of development. In the same way, God doesn't wait for you to reach maturity before he starts liking you. He loves and enjoys you are every stage of your spiritual development."



This spoke volumes to me for a few reasons. One reason is the fact that I am so easily frustrated with the kids. I realized that my love for them is somewhat conditional. I am ashamed of that. I love Katie's kids very much and they know that, but sometimes my expectations for them are beyond what they can deliver. Through reading this I have learned that my expectations for them are unreasonable and are unfair. It may be because I am not a parent and do not relate to them as if I were a parent. As a matter of fact I call myself the "not the mom". I know that because God has placed them in my life for this season, that I do have responsibility in raising them. They live in my house and I care for them in the limited capacity that a "not the mom" can care for them. I am learning that I need to love them despite the fact that they are kids and drive me crazy! Parents are simply amazing.



So, that got me thinking about the fact that God does indeed love me at the maturity level I am at now. He loves me no different today then he did the very first moment I stepped into the Kingdom. I have grown a lot since my first days on the "milk", and God has shown me love through every moment. In my spiritual walk I have made some wrong turns and acted in shameful ways and God's love for me has never waned. It can't. It won't. From my first baby steps to my current walk, He is loving me at this stage in my spiritual journey.



I love Katie's kids. I want to love them with the love of God! I want to love them with a love that accepts them at whatever stage they are at and with a love that enjoys them through every growing moment, because that is what Love does for me!

Separation of Church and State

On November 13 an Alabama judge was forced to step down from the bench for "the acknowlegdgment of God [as] a vital part of the public and private fabric of our country" (Kyle Wingfield, Jackson Sun). Although some of his methods have been controversial even amongst Christians, his boldness to stand for God and sacrifice for His name is to be admired.



Today, November 17, The Massachusetts supreme court legalized gay marriages and since this has happened, all 50 states in the union will now be forced to recoginze those marriages as legal.



Civil liberties activists brought Judge Moore under fire for the display of the 10 Commandments stating they were a violation of the separation of church and state. So, does this mean that the church does not have to recognize gay marriage as legal? After all the church is separate...right?



The church (or states for that matter) should not be forced to recognize these "couples" as married couples because in a house that worships the One True God according to the Truth of scripture...this is not acceptable or recognized (under God's Supreme Authority) as a legal marriage. Therefore since "the church and state are to be kept separate" then the church should not be under obligation to recognize these marriages. The Scriptures are clear on this and those who try to alter it or make it say anything other than what it says will be held accountable. Marriage is for one man and one woman. God gave Eve to Adam and told them to be fruitful. He created them man and woman.....husband and wife.



This country's "justice" system has punished a man for acknowledging God as the fabric of our country. A few days later, the same "justice" system has legalized gay marriage in one state, forcing the rest of the country to recognize these marriages as legal...without a choice.



America....In God we Trust? One Nation Under God? Liberty and Justice for all? In this case... Liberty... for people who want no boundaries... Justice? For who? And where is God in all of this?



God has blessed America. There was a time when we recognized that. America has come to a place of complacency. No, in fact, America is getting down right rebellious...the Prodigal child. It appears we are beginning to think we don't need God or His blessing...in fact, we seem to think we did it all on our own. "Give us our inheritance and leave us alone" is our cry. I wonder...will God continue to bless America if we continue down this path of destruction? Or will He remove His hand from our country and let us see just how strong we can stand without Him? He is the foundation...the firm foundation. Take out the foundation and well, we saw what happened on 911.



I wonder if people realize the impact the Massachusetts ruling will have on civilization and the American family? This is a very sad day for America. It's not the end though...there is still hope. Christians, you can still have a voice. Don't be silent. Time is crucial! This is something that will change the family unit as we know it. Every believer must do their part! Don't wait for somebody else to do it. Each one of us is responsible and accountable to God for our actions.....and inactions. For more information go to www.nogaymarriage.com.



Pray for our Land. There is so much to pray for.



"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

SaLT with WaLT

I haven't been able to make it to church lately because of work and other commitments. I hate when I can't get to church!



I make it to SaLT group once in a great while and tonight was one of the great whiles! (A great white while? Nah...don't think so!) I arrived about 20 minutes late, which isn't a big deal because the first 45 minutes or so is simply for sharing a meal and talking together to help establish good relationships within the body of Christ.



I let myself into the house and made my way through the den. I don't think anyone heard me enter through the garage, but as I headed toward the kitchen, Harry heard someone behind him and got up to see who. The moment he saw me his face lit up and his arms opened wide anticipating a hug. Then David shot up from his seat and grabbed me to give me a great big bear hug! All the men sitting at the kitchen table greeted me with an impromtu unison "Suuuuueeeeeee!". What a warm welcome!



I then went into the dining room where the women were and recieved a simple hello. I told them that I may just have to go back into the kitchen since the men gave me a much bigger welcome! LOL The women then challenged the men with their BIG booming "Suuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee we are glad to see you!" cheer! LOLOL



After chatting for awhile we began our study and discussion on the Purpose Driven Life. We talked about chapters 8 and 9 which focused on worship and on how God smiles at us. We had some interesting and enlightening discussion, but I sat there in tears realizing that God smiles at me. I imagined God reacting to me entering the room just as Harry and David did. Just as all of SaLT with WaLT does anytime a brother or sister comes near. He is truly pleased to see me.



I thought to myself "It's easy for Harry and David to welcome me with a big bear hug and smiling face because they don't "know" the "real" me." Sometimes it's easier to love someone when you don't see their "warts" and all, you know? But God knows ALL and can't wait to welcome me into His Kingdom...in fact, I'm already there! He rejoiced the day I stepped into that territory and He smiled.



God smiles when I enter the room and he does know the "real" me. He loves me just the same and is just that excited to welcome me into His home. It was humbling to sit in my chair during our study time today and ponder that. I was welcomed into SaLT with WaLT today by God himself, loving me through His people. I may not feel God's hugs physically, but I felt Harry's, and I felt David's and I heard the sincerity in the "Suuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeee!" when my brothers and sisters were happy to see me come worship with them tonight. Best part is, I was just as excited to worship God with all of them! I think God smiled! :-)

The Aftermath

Well, it's over....finally. Now I deal with the aftermath. I can't write much since President Bush is expected to arrive at any moment to survey the damage for federal assistance. I don't know which is in worse shape...my house...or ME! I couldn't get those girls to settle down until after 3 am! Sue had to work and has put in alot of hours this week and I have been exhausted myself. I didn't mind them being up as long as they weren't SCREAMING!!!!!! What is it with pre-adolescent girls and screaming???



Anyhow, the house is trashed and Tiffany let the girls in her newly painted room this morning (after she was told that it was off limits last night). I sacrificed my futon so that the girls could party in my room and keep out of the newly painted room. So, just before church this morning...she breaks the rules, they knock over the headboard to the bead, it slides down the wall and well....need I say more? I tried to paint over it but it still shows through. I only ask myself...why do I always clean before the kids have a party?



So, I'm in church today and my dear friend, Gwen is beside me. I don't know if we stand and sit and stand and sit as often a we did today on a regular basis. I don't usually pay attention. But, today it just seemed more obvious to me. The longer the sitting periods were between the standing periods, the harder it was to change positions. My legs, my arms, my back....they were screaming at me as loud as all those girls were screaming ALL NIGHT last night! I would grab Gwen and she would pull me up and then I would lean on her as I would slowly sit back down. Finally, the last time we stood up she said, "Why don't you just stay seated from now on?" Thanks Gwen! LOL. The message was good but it was very difficult to focus. I am exhausted. I have a Spanish test Tuesday. I have papers due. One of them is finished. I just have to make corrections. I only have gathered information on the other. I was waiting for a certain trial to end. I'm writing an unbiased (or trying to be unbiased) paper from a liberal and conservative perspective on the trials of Judge Roy Moore. It's for history. We could write about anything after the Civil War. I chose something that was history in the making. It's been interesting watching it unfold and planning my paper.



Okay I have sufficiently digressed. Now, I'm going to take a well deserved and desperately needed nap.



Buenos Tardes

Reprimanded

I've been reprimanded.



"Why haven't you been blogging?" I was asked today. I sheepishly grinned and explained "I've been playing my game." I've neglected the blog because I've been playing an online game.



I also said "Most of my life right now I can't blog!" There's been some interesting stuff going on but nothing I can really blog about and I haven't been to church in a few weeks because of work, so that subject hasn't been explored recently.



Basically I have nothing much to say except that the girls that are here for Tiffany's birthday party are VERY LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS! OMG! I couldn't deal with this very often. I'm not sure I'm dealing well now!



I worked 60 hours this week and when I come home, I like to have peace. Expecially at 10:20 pm!



So, that's my blog for the moment. I'm too tired to sleep. I mean blog! LOL See? I'm not even thinking correctly. I have SaLT group tomorrow night and I may have something more interesting to ponder after the next day/chapter of a Purpose Driven Life discussion.



Later!

Trials

My skin is peeling off. I just finished painting Tiffany's room purple. It was a birthday present. It's the latest amongst the many of too many things I do in attempts to stretch myself extremely thin! And speaking of thin....I think it's working! I've lost at least 15 pounds and I feel great! Well almost. It's been a rough semester. My classes have been great but my health has been a different story. I started off the first half of the semester with one almost continuous migraine. I cannot express how horrible it was. I still struggle but it's getting better. In the process of seeing my physician and switching around my medication, I complained of some stomach troubles. I thought it was from the medicine but the doctor said he though I needed to see a specialist. Unfortunately he was right. Sooooo, now, two weeks before finals with two term papers due and one more regular exam before all my finals, I have to have SURGERY! It appears that I have a stoned gallbladder and it has been that way for quite some time. The stones have been sleeping soundly (bless their little hearts) and not bothering me until this past year. In the process of all the testing, I had endoscopy done and they also have decided that my stomach empties too slow. So, after the surgery I have to go back to the doctor to see what to do about that. I told the specialist that I wanted him to take out anything I can live without while he was in there because I'm probably going to be hollow by the time I'm 40 anyhow....so, why not just do it all in one shot and get it over with?



Besides all of this...before I knew this was going to happen I got invoved with a couple of banquets. I am supposed to be helping with the planning on one. I am supposed to be the one delegating the other. I would rather be the delegatEE than the delegatOR. The reason.....because as the delegatEE I can decide I don't want to do it and I can just not do it (although I probably wouldn't do that). As the delegatOR when somebody decides to back out at the last minute........the job is yours to figure out and THAT IS NOT FUN! Especially when you have finals and surgery to deal with. So, one of my New Years resolutions will be to make sure that I am not the delegatOR for anything!



Okay so if that isn't enough....I decide that I don't have enough to do this week so I agree to let my daughter have a sleep over on the same day that I am planning to paint her room. Why do I let her have a party and plan to paint her room on the week that I have papers due and tests and an upcoming surgery? Because I LOVE TO BE TORTURED! I THRIVE ON IT! IT'S AN AWESOME ADRENALINE RUSH! NOT!



Anyhow, so, I took a test in history yesterday. I studied sooooo hard. I thought I knew the stuff. But, somehow, between here and school I must have shaken my head a little too hard because by the time I took the test ....all the facts that were organized nice and neat in their little compartments in my brain....well.........they all got jumbled up. So, I invented a few new wars and presidents and such. Needless to say I don't think the grade on my test will reflect the endless days and hours of studying I put into it. So, if that isn't enough....I go out and buy the remainder of the supplies I need to remove BORDER from my daughters wall.



Obviously, I have never done this before or else I would have known how ridiculous it was for me to assume this could be done in a night. So, I bought the chemicals soaked the wall...once...twice....and again..and again. Then, I scraped and peeled and scraped and peeled. I went to bed at 2:30 am with a migraine and every muscle in my body crying out in agony. I woke up twice with toe cramps....owwwieeee! Then, today, I painted over the border. I find it hard to believe that a doctor in Boston can remove a heart from a body, put it in a cooler, fly it to California, and put it in another person to save their life...but there is nothing that will take border off of a wall with ease! What is THAT all about?????



Okay so I'm trying to get the room finished up before Tiffany gets home...the clock is ticking and I haven't even made the cake yet so what do I do???? Since I have debris everywhere and I'm still in my sweats... I decide to tell my 13 year old son to read the box and mix the cake ingredients for me. BIG MISTAKE! He asks me to crack the eggs so I pick up the first one and drop it...not in the bowl.... on the coutertop and down the front of the dishwasher. Then I try again and I get it right. I go back to my job and leave him to his.. only to find out that he put the water in...the recipe called for water and he put in water....no specific amount. He just turned on the faucet and put water in it. Soooooooo that cake went down the disposal.



It is now 8:35 p.m. and cake number 2 is cooling in the refrigerator and there are about 9 girls screaming and running all over my house. I AM UNDER THE GRACE OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND IT IS TRULY SUFFICIENT! He may not give me more than I can handle but He sure does keep me close to the mark! AMEN!

The Battlefield

I haven't been keeping up with my blogging as usual. I've been on the Battlefield.



When I got my new Cowbox Computer, it came with a game pack. I knew if I installed one certain game I would get hooked, and I have! I have even joined a gaming community. Nice guys there...they don't play to boost their ego, but entirely for fun. They have a good set of rules that I think allows the game to be played in fun and since they don't really add members based on skill, I figured this was the community for me! (My skill at the game leaves a lot to be desired for sure!)



So, I'm gonna go join a game now!

93!

God blessed me with a visit by an elderly couple in my store today.



I was rather busy and in the rush of customers I was ringing out at the cash wrap, I didn't notice two older women enter my store. When I finally did see one of the elderly women, she was mulling around the easy listening section. I approached her a greeted her with a friendly smile. She smiled big right back at me and said she was just "wasting time" while her friend looked. She pointed to her friend, so I said with tongue in cheek, "Well, okay, I'll go hit her up!" and the women laughed in agreement.



I greeted the other women and asked if she was locating things okay. She said she was and I asked her if she had seen our listening points. I explained how to use them and she was quite friendly and appreciative. I don't usually get customers this receptive to my help, so it was nice. I let her continue browsing and sampling CDs.



Today I got in the mood for some EWF. I put in Earth, Wind and Fire's greatest hits and we were jamming to some Shining Star, September, and Got to Get You Into My Life. It was fun and that music just made me wanna dance! So, as I strolled down one aisle, I was heading toward the first woman I told you about earlier. A wide-eyed, happy-faced, white-haired women probably in her 80s was headed toward me and she "caught me dancing". (I don't really dance, I'm really bad at it so I invented my own ridiculous move that my staff calls The Sue Shuffle. I figure if I make fun of myself, no one else will be able to take pleasure in that!) So I went right up to her and said "let's dance!" and so we did! LOL She started moving and grooving and we both had a wonderful time for a few moments dancing on the sales floor! We laughed and then she went on her merry way and I continued on my project.



A few minutes later I greeted a very old man entering my store. He wore a hat like my grandpa used to and walked with purpose, although with a cane and slight limp. He was thin and frail, but not sickly or anything. He wore a bright smile and I knew he was probably in looking for his wife. Sure enough when I greeted him he said he was looking for his wife and his friend. I said "that's probably your friend and your wife is over there." He looked and agreed and proudly pointed out his wife. While the women continued to look around the store, this man and I talked and joked around. He was pleasant to chat with and he asked me at one point "how old do you think I am?" I answered, "Oh, I can guess this...57!?" (I knew he was MUCH older than that) He said "Oh come on, you know it's higher than that." I declined to guess and he proudly announced "I'm 93!". He went on to say that he can't stand to sit still! He said "I have to be up and around! I'm 93 and I'm walking around like this!" so I said "well, so does your wife! She and I were just dancing!" and he laughed and asked "really!?" LOL The man went on to share and brag a bit about his bride and how they have been together almost 50 years! Wow! I told them congratulations and thanked them for sharing that with me. I said "you have blessed my day and made my heart happy."



I wish I had more customers like that!

Attention Christian Bloggers

Blogs4God pointed me to Five Questions For Christian Bloggers @ e-Church.com a survey that Tim Bednar is doing. He is collecting information as he researches "spiritual blogging" and the "participatory church".



It's only 5 questions to answer and since he is calling for participants publically, I thought I'd help put out the word in case someone drops in at the Sisters' Weblog and hadn't already heard.



Go answer the questions here!

Caption Anyone?

This is a pic of the daughter of a friend. Isn't it cute? Anyone have a catchy caption idea?

Friday Five

The Friday Five:



1. What food do you like that most people hate? I really don't have many of these...I guess what grosses Katie out the most is the fact that I will eat Oatmeal...dry.



2. What food do you hate that most people love? Pizza, I HATE PIZZA! The only thing I do like about it is the dough. Can't deal with cheese, the sauce or anything that will go on top!



3. What famous person, whom many people may find attractive, is most unappealing to you? George Clooney...I can't stand the man! I'm really annoyed by the slight tilt of his head to one side. It was noticeable especially on ER.



4. What famous person, whom many people may find unappealing, do you find

attractive? Gee, I really can't think of any. I'll go with Patrick Stewart...bald is beautiful on that guy!



5. What popular trend baffles you? I think the current trend in fashion when it comes to pants. The real low cut waistline. I see the bellies of some people who has NO business showing their bellies! Those low-cut waistlines should not be worn by the majority of people, in my opinion.

Brains and Eggs

Faye, the best waitress in the world, approached our table at breakfast this morning. She seemed somewhat disgusted and exclaimed "Oh My Gosh!" *gag*.



Katie and I wondered what was up and Faye read our non-verbal language and started to explain. She said "those guys over there just ordered brains and eggs and wanted them thrown on the grill for 5 seconds and stirred around. I could barely serve it."



ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww



I added "I know I'm in the south because people are ordering brains!"

Abandoned Blogs

This got me wondering about all the sites that get abandoned. I like to clean up files I am not using on my computer...can't the files/sites that are abandoned get cleaned up too? Will the Internet ever run out of space?



I've come across some blogs that had never been updated past day one. Makes me wonder why the person even started up? Maybe for them it is what excercise is to me! "Someday I'm gonna do that...etc." LOL



I always find it mildy amusing to run across sites that boast about the "new" part of the site that is 4 years old now.

A Manager Call

I hate "manager calls". Many times it means that a customer is calling and when they specifically ask for the manager, it is usually to resolve a problem of some sort. I have come to dread when an associate hands me the phone and says "it's a manager call."



Yesterday I took the call and said "this is Sue" and the customer said "I'm the woman who you helped today. I was looking for such and such song and the CD you got me was the right one. I'm just calling to thank you for all your help and let you know that if another customer comes in inquiring about that same song, it is in fact the one you sold me."



Yay! I like happy calls!

Siblings

I watch and listen to Katie's kids fight everyday. It drives me nuts! It drives her nuts! Sometimes we wonder if they really love each other.



Tiffany (11) has been really sick with a bad cold. She has been sleeping a lot and suffering with a very sore throat. The doctor even wondered if she possibly had mono.



Yesterday, while Tiffany was in bed at dinner time, Justin (13)asked "Tiffany, can I fix you anything for dinner?"



Katie and I were having a conversation at the time, but we both heard that and stopped to consider what had just happened. We both smiled and got weepy-eyed as we said in unison "they do love each other!"

Does a Blog Represent the Blogger?

**OOPS! I forgot to log in as ME, as in SUE. This post is from Sue!**



What I blog about is true in my life. But, it isn't all that there is. There is much more going on in my life than what I blog about.



I don't blog about some things because it would affect others. (Or effect....DRAT! I just can't get that rule of grammer!) I don't blog about some things because it wouldn't edify. I don't blog some things because it really isn't any body else's business. I don't blog some things because they wouldn't glorify God. I don't blog some things because it's too personal.



I would say this blog represents a part of what, or who I am, but it can in no way represent all of me.



What about your blog? Does it represent you?



^{Ignore the Katie signature...it was my post (Sue). Oops!}

John 15:5

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5 NKJV).



Other versions of this text use the word remain instead of abide. I like the NKJV because the word abide just seems like a deeper word. So, I looked abide up in the Strongs Complete Dictionary of Bible Words and found some Hebrew words for it. Here are the results of my findings:



Meno: to stay, remain.



Parameno: to be permanent, persevere.



Prosmeno: to remain: to adhere to.



As Christians we have the promise of the Holy Spirit living in us. "You, however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" (Romans 8:9 NIV).



The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ is the Spirit that abides in us....permanantly. He remains there, and so we must adhere to, and remain in Him...permanantly. (This is easier said than done when we have a mind and soul that is constantly pulling us in another direction.) That's why we have to focus and let His Spirit have control of our life... not our mind, not our fleshly desires, not our emotions. So, when life is overwhelming and it seems that nothing positive is happening and there is no light at the end ot the tunnel....search for the Light that shines from within. Focus on Him.



For the Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)



Child of God, do you have any strongholds stealing your joy?

Are you in a downward spiral that you can't seem to break free from?

Focus on the Spirit that lives in you...Abide in Him! It's a daily and sometimes a momentary thing that you have to do but if you keep your focus there, He will take care of the rest. And do me a favor, remind me of these words if you see in the future that I have lost my focus!



"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Ps. 119:105)



The lamp is to our feet and a light to our path....at our feet. It only shines far enough for us to see where we are going...as far as we need to see to get to the next step. So we should focus on getting to the next step and trust God to get us to the destination...one step at a time. He knows the way.



"Don't worry about tomorrow. Today has enough trouble of its own" (Matt 6:34).



"Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28)



"Praise be to the Lord God our Savior who daily bears our burdens!" (Ps. 68:19).

Do I Have A Life?

I shouldn't be blogging. I should be doing homework. Fact is... I don't blog anymore because I always have homework or housework to do. There is always something. I occasionally check emails or catch up on Sue's awesome blogs and read with sinful envy while wishing I had time to write the stuff I ponder like Sue does. It causes me to wonder.......Do I have a life? I have spent the last three years of my life with my face buried in a book or cleaning a house. I never have time to do the things I enjoy and when I take the time to do them I am eaten up with guilt. Sue says I spread myself too thin when I do the things I enjoy. Truth is......I do. So now I am to the point of not doing anything again. I just do homework and housework. I'm going nowhere with my life. I am working hard trying to earn a piece of paper that says I have some kind of knowlege that I don't feel that I have. I just study to pass tests on information that is soon forgotten.



Sometimes I just feel like I am chasing my tail. I'm running around in circles going after something that I'll never catch and accomplishing absolutely nothing along the way. In the process I find myself getting very dizzy. There are so many things I want to do...but there is no time. There are so many things I need to do...so in the time that I do find, I try to get some of the needs taken care of and I find the wants still waiting to be fulfilled. The biggest thing I want to have time to do is write. I have several books I want to write. I wonder if they will ever come out of my head and make it on to paper. I'm not getting any younger. If I'm going to live my life I better get started!



I want to blog about the awesome day I had while sitting in a radiology waiting room (I was having tests) but that will take a long time (something that is not very free to spend these days for me). I met several people who touched my heart in a way I will never forget (unless I go senile). I did see that in spite of the fact that I may have no life, whatever it is that I do have, it was very blessed by those people (if that makes sense). I do have a life because I realized yesterday that it was changed because of a few very special people who are fighting just to stay alive. That is their focus in life. So yes I do have a life. I just hope I'm not wasting it.

Justice

Woman who hid grandkids given custody after having been jailed this past summer for interfering with the custody order.



Some parents just should not raise kids. I admire the sacrifice this grandmother made for her two grandkids. She, in my opinion, earned the grand in grandmother.



Poor kids.

Potential

In college, my trumpet professor shared a bit of wisdom with me one day as I struggled through a lesson I wasn't prepared for. He said "Potential is just a word".



I don't know why I thought of that, but I did, driving to brass choir rehearsal tonight. I guess it was because I was listening to a young woman lament about the man she might marry, who is very unmotivated and "doesn't have any goals in life." She stated she wants to be a stay-at-home mom and have a husband who will support his family. She justified the situation, and possible marriage to this guy, because he has "potential". I thought potential is just a word. I was thinking that if only she had that bit of wisdom she would possibly save herself from making a big mistake.



That was a great tidbit of wisdom I gained one day so many years ago. I wonder if that saved me from making some bad decisions in life. I bet it did. It also serves as a healthy reminder that potential isn't anything.



Then I started thinking about all the other bits of wisdom I accrued just because of the people that have crossed my path in my lifetime.



I had a very awesome band director in high school during my senior year. You know he is good because he is now conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble. It's a very prestigious group and now they have a great conductor to boot! Actually, they probably have never had a bad one. Anyway, one day Mark Scatterday said to me "don't be afraid to get where you are going in life because of who you know." At the time, as a young adult in my senior year, I was ready to take on the world and anything I got in life was going to be because I EARNED IT! Well, while hard work is important, I have learned that sometimes the "breaks" you need come because you know someone in the right place at the right time.



Now, I have a useful piece of wisdom for you, NEVER try to use tub margarine instead of stick butter when making caramel popcorn. Trust me, it won't work. LOL



So, what are some bits of wisdom that someone gave you during your lifetime and how has it impacted you? I'm curious to know so blog about it and let me know in the comments, or post your response in the comments here if you'd like.

Back to Work

Vacation is over and today was my second day back. As I tried to get some things back in order I thought to myself It is amazing that I have been able to keep things in order and stay caught up this year, Christmas should be cake.. Then I said out loud "Oh wait! I still haven't caught up from last Christmas!"



I thought It is amazing that I am able to get done all that needs to get done around here, and then I said out loud "Oh wait! I get very little done. What's amazing is all that corporate expects one to get done!"



I think I need a vacation! I was having conversations with myself at work today.

Dry Spell Part II

Tubbs in his comment to my last post said "as much as I'd love to believe that dry spells are impossible in the Christian life, I have to admit to their existence." When I am "high" in the Spirit I can't ever imagine being in a valley. When I am on that mountain, the valley seems like it doesn't exist because as I look out over the horizon, I can't see the valleys, all I see are the many peaks that lead to that horizon.



God gives us the mountains to get us through the valleys.



You know that passage in Isaiah 40? C'mon, the one about eagles wings?



"31 but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Do you know what Isaiah 40:30 says?



I thought I'd look up the word "faint" on the Bible Gateway and I discovered that in the NIV there are 38 verses that contain "faint" or some variation thereof. Some actually refer to men of God being faint or fainthearted. Glad to know I'm in good company, although, I wouldn't declare that my spiritual state is exactly faint at the moment. A bit weary and tired, but not to the point of total exhaustion enough that I would faint, or stumble.



Job grew faint. David even writes about being faint in his psalms. Jeremiah was faint. Being "faint" is talked about in Ezekial and Jonah as well. Being faint of heart is not anything that is new and Christians are not exempt from feeling a bit dry. We know God is here, lavishing His love on us. The only reason we may not "feel" it is because we are not allowing Him to be our life. I know that I stand in the way of that and I can't blame anyone but me.



It is a good thing that as a Christian I don't live my life based on "feelings". Sometimes I just live in obedience. God will bless that. I know He will. I will "soar on wings like eagles"! There is joy, it's just hidden right now.

Dry Spell

It's amazing to me that even during what I call a spiritual dry spell, God still manages to use me. I will never understand him.



I received an email from a friend yesterday and she shared some difficulties she is going through spiritually. I was sitting there reading it thinking me too, me too, I totally understand, man, I could have written this! In it she thanked me for listening and understanding and shared some new discoveries she has made recently through a book I loaned to her simply because it was interesting and I thought she might like it. I wasn't trying to "teach" anything at all. I just passed along something that I liked. God used that as much as he's used my words to her. Amazing.



I am reminded about the apostle Paul and how he often wrote letters to encourage the churches in different cities. He wrote from prison and I got to thinking that while we read about his joy in Philippians and about how he finds himself content even in the worst of circumstances, I wonder if he sometimes wrote those encouraging letters trying to encourage himself? I mean, I can often say nice things to help people through a tough time. I will write notes that encourage others. I will send a card with a simple "I'm praying for you" and I can sometimes just listen to a person share their troubles. All the while, I am sharing "words of wisdom" that I sometimes don't follow myself. I share scripture, God's promises, even though I myself don't apply those promises to my life. I find it hard to believe that every moment that Paul was beaten almost to death, or sat in prison for great lengths of time, that he rejoiced in each moment. I am sure there were times he felt beaten down and tired. He had to feel stressed out just like I do at times, but he always knew where and to Whom to turn. He drew on God's strength when his was faltering, but I don't believe for a minute Paul never felt drained. I think writing those letters, which ended up in scripture, was somewhat therapeutic for him and God used that in Paul's life just as much as He did in the life of the Church.



I can be in a spiritual dry spell and yet God continues to use me in the spiritual lives of others. I am blessed by that immensely, and I am also humbled and at times ashamed.