Author: Susan L. Prince
Hayden, the 7 year old neighbor kid is over. He has been walking around with a sheet of paper. I'm not really pay attention to what he is doing, but now and then he sits to write on that paper and will say "75 - 76 - 77.." and Katie asked him "Are you writing all those numbers?" and Hayden said "yes, I'm going 1 to 99 for now" and then he excitedly continued "I can't wait until I get to twenty-five thousand"
Monday, May 05, 2003
Pictures of Tornado Damage - Jackson, TN 2003
Author: Susan L. Prince
Here are some pictures of the damage in downtown Jackson, TN. There are more pictures here.
This is a picture of a semi overturned on the major through route, Highland Ave. in Jackson, TN.
Damage at a downtown store antique store called "Two Silly Sisters".
Damage to Mother Liberty Church downtown. This is a historical building in Jackson built by liberated slaves in the late 1800's. The front of the church you see here is the only wall left standing. If you walked in the door, you would end up right back outside. The pictures are so misleading because one only sees part of the picture. Because it is the front wall of the church, it can be rebuilt and still maintain its historical building status.
This is the Post Office. Again, a misleading picture. The building is destroyed, what you see is all that still stands until the wrecker crew gets there. Some may not be getting their mail today, or the next day, or the next....
Here are some pictures of the damage in downtown Jackson, TN. There are more pictures here.
Night of the Twisters
Author: Susan L. Prince
Last night we watched the storms until 1:30 am. That was after they hit to our north and to our south. It was scary. Downtown Jackson on the south side was hit bad. 14 dead in Madison county is what the reports are but since the newpaper building was damaged, no paper until late today. It is being printed out a Union University because of the damage at the Jackson Sun. News is sketchy.
I am thankful that the storms apparantly missed us. Part of the shed out back blew off, but it doesn't appear to be anything that can't be repaired. Tornados hit in our county, north of here. We did get the kids in our "tornado shelter", the designated place in the house that we go during storms. It gets so scary during the wind and rain.
Today I am thankful I was protected and I am praying for those affected by these storms. Looks like the threat for severe weather will continue for most of the week.
Wonder if the mall is open today? I will have a day off if not. It seems kind of weird to be open for business on days like today, but the "wheels of commerce must continue to turn." It does seem that sometimes people who run retail businesses, for example the mall, won't close if there is money to be made. I would close, but I'm not in charge.
Last night we watched the storms until 1:30 am. That was after they hit to our north and to our south. It was scary. Downtown Jackson on the south side was hit bad. 14 dead in Madison county is what the reports are but since the newpaper building was damaged, no paper until late today. It is being printed out a Union University because of the damage at the Jackson Sun. News is sketchy.
I am thankful that the storms apparantly missed us. Part of the shed out back blew off, but it doesn't appear to be anything that can't be repaired. Tornados hit in our county, north of here. We did get the kids in our "tornado shelter", the designated place in the house that we go during storms. It gets so scary during the wind and rain.
Today I am thankful I was protected and I am praying for those affected by these storms. Looks like the threat for severe weather will continue for most of the week.
Wonder if the mall is open today? I will have a day off if not. It seems kind of weird to be open for business on days like today, but the "wheels of commerce must continue to turn." It does seem that sometimes people who run retail businesses, for example the mall, won't close if there is money to be made. I would close, but I'm not in charge.
Sunday, May 04, 2003
What I Did
Author: Susan L. Prince
I asked What Would You Do? earlier and now I will tell you what I did.
I watched in amazement as the two women trampled over the poster. I was silent. I was disgusted by their total lack of respect. These women weren't blind. They were physically able to walk around the poster. They totally disregarded the fact that it was a poster about to be displayed and walked right over the top of it. They creased the corner and didn't even seem to notice any of it. They could not NOT notice it!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS A BRIGHT GREEN POSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They turned to face me and asked if we had the new Ginuwine CD. It was at this moment that the two women noticed that something was disturbing me. I'm sure the ire showed on my face. With pursed lips, and biting my lip and I just couldn't look them in the eye. I said rather sternly, extremely short, and labored through my somewhat clenched teeth, "yes...I believe we have that CD". I walked to go get it with a puzzled sort of smart-alec, I-can't-believe-they-did-that look on my face and I overheard the one lady say "wow, she's in a bad mood today!" and both of them walked out of my store.
I was glad they were gone. Sorry I lost a sale, but glad they were gone. I didn't need their business.
I asked What Would You Do? earlier and now I will tell you what I did.
I watched in amazement as the two women trampled over the poster. I was silent. I was disgusted by their total lack of respect. These women weren't blind. They were physically able to walk around the poster. They totally disregarded the fact that it was a poster about to be displayed and walked right over the top of it. They creased the corner and didn't even seem to notice any of it. They could not NOT notice it!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS A BRIGHT GREEN POSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They turned to face me and asked if we had the new Ginuwine CD. It was at this moment that the two women noticed that something was disturbing me. I'm sure the ire showed on my face. With pursed lips, and biting my lip and I just couldn't look them in the eye. I said rather sternly, extremely short, and labored through my somewhat clenched teeth, "yes...I believe we have that CD". I walked to go get it with a puzzled sort of smart-alec, I-can't-believe-they-did-that look on my face and I overheard the one lady say "wow, she's in a bad mood today!" and both of them walked out of my store.
I was glad they were gone. Sorry I lost a sale, but glad they were gone. I didn't need their business.
"Some Tips"
Author: Susan L. Prince
I've heard or seen somewhere that servers at restaurants are not impressed by the tipping habits of church goers. Sunday afternoon after church is a busy time for servers, lots of gluttony going on. I decided to ask my server if this was true.
I asked "Who tips better...the Christian after church on Sunday, or just regular folk during the week?" and she wasn't sure what to respond at first. I think she may have been hesitant because she didn't want to offend with how she answered, but she proceeded to say "Honestly?" "yes" I said, and she continued "Definately the 'regular' people during the week tip better. We work are butts off on Sundays and tips are light. Any server here will tell you the same thing. Business is slower during the week, but the tips are much better." So, there you have it from my own spontaneous poll from someone who knows.
I thought that was a sad commentary on Christian behavior. I don't expect Christians to lavish gifts on servers, but to be stingy and non-appreciative is unacceptable. There are servers who are not deserving of great tips, but most are very hard-working, and at very least deserve the minimum 15% tip. I look at restaurants as great places to witness. What kind of example do bad tips leave? If servers know that Sundays are bad tip days because that is when the church goers eat out, what is that saying? Christians have a label. "Bad tippers." I don't like it.
I've heard or seen somewhere that servers at restaurants are not impressed by the tipping habits of church goers. Sunday afternoon after church is a busy time for servers, lots of gluttony going on. I decided to ask my server if this was true.
I asked "Who tips better...the Christian after church on Sunday, or just regular folk during the week?" and she wasn't sure what to respond at first. I think she may have been hesitant because she didn't want to offend with how she answered, but she proceeded to say "Honestly?" "yes" I said, and she continued "Definately the 'regular' people during the week tip better. We work are butts off on Sundays and tips are light. Any server here will tell you the same thing. Business is slower during the week, but the tips are much better." So, there you have it from my own spontaneous poll from someone who knows.
I thought that was a sad commentary on Christian behavior. I don't expect Christians to lavish gifts on servers, but to be stingy and non-appreciative is unacceptable. There are servers who are not deserving of great tips, but most are very hard-working, and at very least deserve the minimum 15% tip. I look at restaurants as great places to witness. What kind of example do bad tips leave? If servers know that Sundays are bad tip days because that is when the church goers eat out, what is that saying? Christians have a label. "Bad tippers." I don't like it.
What Would You Do?
Author: Susan L. Prince
I've blogged about my experiences working in retail before and now I am curious as to how I should have handled a certain situation recently. I'd also be curious to know how other's may have dealt with it and what maybe Jesus himself would have done.
I was in the process of replacing an outdated poster in the easel at the front entrance of the store. The poster is approximately 2 foot X 3 foot. It is not overly huge. As I was removing the old poster I had laid the new poster on the floor next to me. Yes, I was at the front enterance but the poster was next to me and there was plenty of space on either side that customers entering would see it and be able to easily walk around it.
Here is what happened. While taking out the old poster two women came into the store behind me. I turned to my right as they walked in and right across my poster. Both of them did this, as if it weren't even there. The first woman caught the corner of the poster and didn't even seem to notice. The woman behind her walked across and managed to crease the corner that the first woman had folded upwards with her step. I stood there stunned, amazed at the total disregard for that poster, the store and me, as they marched on in.
How would you react to this? As a Christian, what would an appropriate response to this be?
I've blogged about my experiences working in retail before and now I am curious as to how I should have handled a certain situation recently. I'd also be curious to know how other's may have dealt with it and what maybe Jesus himself would have done.
I was in the process of replacing an outdated poster in the easel at the front entrance of the store. The poster is approximately 2 foot X 3 foot. It is not overly huge. As I was removing the old poster I had laid the new poster on the floor next to me. Yes, I was at the front enterance but the poster was next to me and there was plenty of space on either side that customers entering would see it and be able to easily walk around it.
Here is what happened. While taking out the old poster two women came into the store behind me. I turned to my right as they walked in and right across my poster. Both of them did this, as if it weren't even there. The first woman caught the corner of the poster and didn't even seem to notice. The woman behind her walked across and managed to crease the corner that the first woman had folded upwards with her step. I stood there stunned, amazed at the total disregard for that poster, the store and me, as they marched on in.
How would you react to this? As a Christian, what would an appropriate response to this be?
Saturday, May 03, 2003
What a Difference a Day Makes
Author: Katie
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding...." (Prov. 3:5)
SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER! WOOOHOOOO!!!!! Now maybe I can blog more! Today, I was wondering what to blog about. I couldn't come up with anything. Earlier, I got a phone call from my daughter who spent the night with a new friend. They are going to a birthday party together today and Tiff needed some money to get a present. I had already spent 2 hours talking with Tiff's friend's mom last night when dropping Tiff off. What a wonderful lady she is! She told me this awesome Cinderella story about how she and her husband came together. I didn't get alot of details because both of us are talkers and we have a tendency to go off on a tangent that leads someplace else so we never really finished any particular subject. That's okay though because I know at some point we will go off on a tangent from another discussion that will finish the ones that were unfinished in that discussion. Does that make any sense? LOL I LOVE IT! Anyhow, today, I met this lady's husband. He is a professor at the college I attend. I had seen him before but, I don't think we ever spoke. What a charming person he is! Wow! I feel so optomistic about life while talking to them. They both have children from previous marriages and the ages of their children are from 30 down to age 4 or 5! They are the most fascinating people! I hated leaving both times I have been over there. I would love to have an entire day just to sit and chat with this awesome couple.
He (the husband) had such awesome uplifting, encouraging words to say. One thing he said that really made an impact was right after I told him that I really messed my life up in the past and have been known to be a poor judge of character. He said that one thing he says often and lives by is that it's not important who you were (for better or worse). It's who you are now and where you are going that counts. He used the example of a man who was a football star in highschool and brags about it........has been replaced by another star now. What is important is that that man is doing something good with his life today. It makes sense. The past really DOESN'T matter! The only time I should look to the past is when I want to learn from the mistakes I made and know what NOT to do today.
I mentioned to this couple that since I had been a poor judge of character in the past I have learned not to trust in my own decisions, but to let God guide me in my decisions today and every day. He told me that I needed to surround myself with new people and meet my friends at church (in opposition to night clubs and bars) and perhaps attend a symphony. It was like a confirmation that I am making good choices these days. (To God be the glory!) God has given me an awesome church family full of healthy people ( and many of them enjoy symphonies). I haven't had the opportunity to attend a symphony but it has been a desire in my heart for a very long time! So, I have a short term goal to attend the symphony before the end of this year. Well, my first goal is to get some form of income generating. My long term goals.......stability for my family, education, career, writing a book....??? I have many. I am so happy simply because I have goals....reachable goals that I know, with God's help, I can achieve.
I struggle with forgiving myself for the ways I messed up my life. I find that I repeatedly have to forgive myself. I still suffer the consequences of my poor choices. But, the day is coming when those consequences will have no affect on me anymore. With God's help, I will have rebuilt my life and reached beyond the consequences of my past. I think the most important thing to do every day is to pray for God's guidance and ask daily for His wisdom and discernment in all my choices. It's important to involve God in everything I do every day. I don't think it is a funny coincidence that I have met this family. (Any more than meeting Sue was a coincidence). I am so blessed! I believe with all my heart that God is doing another awesome work in my life and that these people are tools that He will use to mold me and who knows? Maybe He will even use me in their life somehow.
When visiting with this couple, I mentioned the fact that I want to write a book at some point in my life...one that will be a helpful tool that will allow me to contribute to society after I am gone. I don't think the husband realized that I heard him when he said, "Just one?" (That's a blog for another day).
Today, I rejoice that God has opened the door to yet another adventure in my life. I don't think these people realize the impact they made on my life today. Even if I never see them again, I will ponder our conversation and the words we shared will make a difference in the rest of my life. It's not like the words they said were new news to me. It's not like I haven't heard anything like this before.......it's the timing, the presentation, and the heart of the person behind the words that make a difference. It served as a reminder and confimation to things already pondered and perhaps even discussed. I have to remember to trust Him. It also has made such an impact because of where God has me in life today. I can trust Him in my personal struggles. He is with me! He always has been, and always will be.......even to the ends of the earth!
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