Still Searching

Efficiency vs. Kindness

2011-09-28T08:10:00.000-04:00

If you had to choose, which of these do you prefer; efficiency or kindness? That probably depends on whether you are on the giving or receiving end of the equation. People tend to consider themselves to be good and therefore the automatic reaction is most likely "kindness". But don't be so quick to answer! Think about different situations and what each calls for. For example, if you are at a restaurant, it goes unsaid that you'd like to have a waiter or waitress that is kind. However, you want him/her to be efficient as well. Now, if that really kind waitress fails to keep your glass full, gets your order wrong and then ends her service by giving you the wrong ticket, will you overlook it simply because she was kind? I'm not referring to the occasional tough day had by all. Instead, this is the type of service that you can take at face value, realizing that its a normal day for this waitress. In that exact same situation, would you have noticed if that waitress was sour, as long as she kept your glass full, answered all your questions, delivered your food exactly as it was ordered and appeared with the ticket with precise timing, almost as if she came and went unnoticed? I know what my answer is! What then, does this say about me? It says that when given a choice, I prefer efficiency and that's all. There really is not much else to add to it. I expect the most of people so ideally, I'd expect them to be efficient AND kind while doing so. However, recognizing that God gave us all strengths, weaknesses and preferences, I stand very clearly on the side of efficiency. Think about different situations in your life and what you prefer. Can you be both kind and efficient at the same time? What about those times in which it is you who is choosing to be one or the other? What would people say about your service?

Evaluating my Views

2011-09-19T15:56:00.000-04:00

I'm not one to get into political discussions but feel it necessary to share my recent enlightenment on the unlikely chance that it may change some one's future visit to the polls. I first debated whether or not to share the specifics of how this occurred, afraid the focus might shift to a particular political figure or party. I decided instead to share the general idea, in hopes that you the reader will get where I'm going with this. While listening to the evening news one night, I overheard a sometimes controversial political figure tell a reporter very frankly that what they were asking was none of their business. My first reaction was shock, not just in the bluntness of the answer but in the fact that he was not willing to offer an explanation to the question. Although it was in reference to what might be considered his "private" life, that was not the issue. That is a different story altogether and one that I could spend too much time on debating (and of course I will in a later post). The point was that he made a choice for his family that some argued made him inadequate to be knowledgeable about a different choice. Let me explain. Obviously, this would have been easier had I been willing to share the specific story! The person asking the question was implying that if you do not have a personal experience with something, then you can't possibly have a valuable opinion on the subject. Ponder that for just a moment. I'm sure that anyone reading this would consider themselves to be at least of average intelligence and therefore able to make a decision about something based on observations, and research. Then why is it that we would automatically assume that because someone is making a different choice that they can't possibly understand the reasoning for ours? I believe that I am open minded and considerate and I'm sure you think the same about yourself and that allows us to have opinions on and vote on things that we may not have any personal affiliation with. This particular example left me with a lesson I had not yet learned in my 30+ years. I will not be quick to judge someone else's ability to understand what I am going through simply because that person has not had the same experience. God gave us all the ability to be compassionate and have empathy that should be used to make all of our decisions involving others!

Time 4 Learning

2011-08-22T15:21:00.001-04:00

Most who read this blog are parents. Even if you don't have a child of your own, there's probably a child in your life whose education is a concern to you, whether it be a niece or nephew, friend or other family member. If that's the case, I feel compelled to share Time4Learning with you. I first heard of the website through a friend's recommendation and later saw it again while searching online for worksheet supplements to our homeschool classes.
A little bit of background about my middle child: she does not like to read. I was once worried that she might be illiterate until high school because she dreaded Language Arts so much each day that she was putting more effort into refusing to read than she was into learning! After lots of struggling with her and way too much worry on my part, she did in fact learn to read. Still, there was no excitement about reading or enthusiasm for language arts. I did some research and found that Time4Learning could be used as a core curriculum or as a supplement. Because the site includes games and activities, I figured it couldn't hurt to try it, especially since there's no contract! After learning my way around the site, I introduced it to my daughter so she could get familiar with the format before school starts.
Within 3 days (and school hasn't officially started yet), she had gone through several lessons, activities and quizzes and had done well in most areas. And yes, it did include lots of reading. How do I know how she did? That's easy! There's a parent login where I can track what she's been doing on the site without standing over her shoulder. That's right! She is learning on her own without my supervision and yet, I can still supervise on my own time!
So, the point of this post is this. If you homeschool or not, this site is a great supplement to learning (or core curriculum of course). And by the way, its not just for language arts. Other subjects are included and it works the same way! Finally, learning made fun AND effective. Try http://www.time4learning.com/ and I'm sure you'll agree! Oh, and tell them I sent you!

As a member of Time4Learning, I have been asked to review their online education program and share my experiences. While I was compensated, this review was not written or edited by Time4Learning and my opinion is entirely my own. Write your own curriculum review or learn how to use their curriculum for homeschool, after school study or summer learning.

Still Searching: Obligations

2011-08-19T14:24:00.000-04:00

Still Searching: Obligations: Obligations are usually surrounded by a negative connotation. But why? What are they and what makes them bad? Obligations are generally peop...

Lost Keys

2011-08-01T15:00:00.000-04:00

You've been there. If you haven't, consider yourself lucky and know that its only a matter of time before you share this experience. Its morning, already at least 5 minutes past your designated "leave" time when you realize you forgot your lunch and run back into the house. Now, second time down the steps, and you realize you've forgotten to put something in the mail or to take something out for dinner. You're already late so what's a few more seconds? Finally, getting into your car to leave, feeling rushed and anxious because you're late and it happens. There's no key. How can that be possible? You put it in the same place everyday just so this will not happen. You search frantically through every known place and it has vanished. Your eyes close and you take a deep breath, thinking back to the last time you got out of your car to try and remember where you put the keys. Nothing. Blank space. Well, except for the panic beginning to set in because now you are so late that you'll need to call someone and let them know that you are late. An announcement of your failure to meet a deadline! Of course everyone knows that this ends one of two ways and maybe you can add your own experience as an ending. Either you found the key and were late to where you were going or you didn't. Perhaps you had to call someone to come and get you and have a new key made. Either way, life went on and the incident became a story that you have shared with someone while laughing at a later point.
So many times, we let the lost keys dictate the ending when the ending is going to happen no matter if the keys are found or not. It happens often in life but your reaction to it is the real key.... pun intended. You can let it control your mood for the remainder of the day and decide to succumb to the frustration and possibly even the anger that this extreme inconvenience has caused you. Or, ideally, you will admit the mistake, correct it, and move on. You can choose to abide by those words spoken in the Serenity Prayer: "Accept the things I cannot change." Accepting them does not mean defeat. It simply means what it says so take it literally. You've already lost your keys or maybe its something much bigger in your life. Accept what you can't change such as the past and move on in a positive direction, making a change for the better in the future. It may be as simple as not letting it ruin your day but in the bigger picture, such an attitude of optimism can change your life!

Black Sheep

2011-07-25T12:56:00.000-04:00

For most of my life, I've walked the straight and narrow. Like any teenager or young adult, there were times when I strayed, but only briefly and not very far. I'm not saying that to boast but because its a fact. Speaking in fact, there are moments that I wish I had "lived" or rebelled a little more during those years but you can't redo the past so its not something I dwell on. Now that I'm out of my twenties and have really begun to figure out who it is I want to be for the rest of my life instead of what I want to be, I find myself surprised as my eyes are opened. My eyes have been opened to myself and my view is ever changing in reference to those around me. Most of all, I am surprised by what I notice to be other people's perception of me. That's sounds confusing but really it just means that I try to see myself through the eyes of others according to their reaction to me or their words about me. Seems narcissistic but its actually very revealing and useful in making the necessary changes in life to live more like a person aspires to be. After all, if others do not get the impression that you are trying to give or that is not a true representation of who you are, then you should be making changes. Or should you? Maybe if others do not see your true self or intentions, they are looking through lenses that have been stained by jealousy, anger, resentment or some other negative emotion. You may find that you feel like the Black Sheep when it is the last thing you ever thought you'd be labeled. Generally, the Black Sheep is a term used to reference the one that strays from the normal, and is usually one who does wrong. Perhaps that is not always the situation. Sometimes, the Black Sheep is simply the one who is different and it shouldn't be assumed to be bad just because its not normal. Many great prophets were probably considered Black Sheep in their time because they stood out from the normal and not always in an accepted manner. They were living out God's purpose for their life but because it wasn't what everyone else was doing, it was viewed as being wrong. The purpose of this post is this. If you find yourself being judged as the Black Sheep among your friends or family, you should examine the reasons for that. However, if you find that its only because you do things differently and that you are following where the Holy Spirit is leading you, continue on your path. To be called a Black Sheep because you are open about who you are and your purpose in this life is one of the biggest compliments a person could ever receive!

Still Searching: Recycle bin...... now there's a great concept!

2011-07-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

Still Searching: Recycle bin...... now there's a great concept!: "Why is it that we tend to retain so much useless information and be so proud of ourselves when we can pass it along to other people? Genera..."

Consideration

2011-07-02T13:37:00.000-04:00

The definition of the word "considerate" according to Merriam-Webster is the following: Thoughtful of the rights and feelings of others". Wow, that's a lot of meaning in just a few little words! When I was a child, I was naïve enough to think that people genuinely cared about others and that everyone meant well with their actions. I am saddened to now see that I was so incredibly wrong. Children do tend to believe that adults try to do the right thing which includes the fundamental principle of the consideration of other people. Taking a closer look at the word, here is my idea of what it means to be considerate. First and foremost, always put yourself in someone else's shoes. As literally as possible. Try to imagine yourself in the same situation and think about how you may feel or react. This simple yet powerful concept will help you identify and sympathize with other people in almost every encounter you will have in your lifetime. If you are unsure what to say or do for someone, resort back to what you would like to receive yourself. This serves as a great guide in case you can't remember the Golden Rule. If you are interested in studying further, the Golden Rule is summed up in the Bible, Leviticus, chapter 19. Along with several of the commandments reiterated, God speaks through the writing of Moses to tell us to do to others as we want done to us. It seems simple yet remains one of the most difficult things for a human to do. That is of course, unless you are a Christian.

There are many good people in this world who do care about the rights and feelings of others. Some of those people are Christians and some are not. You do not have to know Jesus to know what is right and wrong but it does help serve as a reliable compass to have the Holy Spirit guiding you. Its also very convenient to have an all knowing savior and a never failing book to reference when you have questions about how to treat others. Although there are lots of considerate people in the world, those numbers continue to decrease. Despite that, I find that I am still shocked when someone lets me down. That shock is magnified when it occurs with family or from someone I considered to be a close friend. Fortunately, we have Jesus on our side whom we can always trust and who will not disappoint us. He has already shown His consideration for His children in what He has done for us. Let us not forget to let Him be our example and to remember that His will is that we try to follow that example in everything that we do. Let us learn to be considerate of each other, knowing that the most important being in the universe is considerate with each of us.

Can I Get a "Do-Over" Please?

2011-06-29T23:26:00.000-04:00

Everyone has days that they wish they could do over. For some, those days come more often than for others. Opportunity has much to do with that. Let me explain further. Someone who works a full time job and has a family is less likely to wish for "do-over" days because they have probably done everything required for that day. They have worked a full day, tended to their children, perhaps done some housework and the day is over. Occasionally, that person may tend to be a little more relaxed at work or may let the children watch television for the only couple of hours that they were together but for the most part, the working person with a family will not have too many slack days. Moving on, there's the person who is unemployed or who has several hours a day to spend as they wish. I'm not suggesting these people have no responsibilities but rather that they have a more flexible schedule. They might be more likely to relinquish their responsibilities and do something else like nap, watch TV, read a book, etc. Getting the idea yet? And then there are those who have responsibilities but have the most flexible schedule. This group of people are more likely to want for "do-over" days because they have the most opportunities to become complacent or for lack of a better word, "lazy". I do not mean to say they are lazy people but that they have more opportunities to have a lazy day. Before continuing and possibly offending, let me point out that I consider my current situation to be somewhere in the middle and often wish for "do-over" days myself. Today is one of those days and therefore is what prompted this post.

I am ONLY talking about what I consider to be lazy days and not the times when we have said or done something we wish we could take back. That's a whole different ballgame that I do not have room for here! I spent today with my entire family at home, with the exception of a trip to the grocery store. Of course there were a few mandatory items taken care of such as a load of laundry, load of dishes to put away, meals, baths and things such as that. Still, that left sooooo many hours of the day to be productive. I was not. Instead, I watched television with my husband, played on the computer, chatted on the phone with a couple of friends, and played with my children. Before I knew it, they day was winding down and it was already time for the children to prepare for bed. I realized just how much time I had wasted in the day. But was it actually "wasted"? The idea is subjective so I'll stick with what it meant to me. After a little examination of today's activities (or lack of), I decided that it was not a complete waste. Yes, I absolutely could have been much more productive than I was and I'm not so sure God would approve of my day. His word does say in Ecclesiastes 10:18 "Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.." OK, maybe that's a little extreme and would require many days of consistent laziness but it still points out that God does not approve of laziness. Still, I remind myself of the story of Jesus, Mary and Martha. He scolded Martha for being so busy that she could not take time to listen to Jesus and enjoy his company. Often, preachers will relate this story to our lives today, reminding us to take time to enjoy what we work for. Obviously, this could be taken out of context or to an extreme but the simple point is this. Beware of idleness and be careful to not let it keep you from your responsibilities and the work God has assigned you to accomplish. However, take the time to enjoy what He has already given you. I believe there is a middle ground where I can be motivated to work towards His ideals while taking an occasional day such as this one to enjoy the gifts He has already blessed me with. So on second thought, I think I'll pass on that "do-over".

A Good Mom

2011-06-22T14:50:00.001-04:00

Last summer, while laying in the sand watching my children play in the ocean, a friend commented on how easy my life must be. Putting it into context, she was simply making an observation about that moment and her intention was not to imply that my life in general is easy. Still, she went on to say that I was lucky to have children whom I could trust enough to not stand beside them in the water, fearing that they would disregard my instructions about their depth limit or that they may wander down the beach unattended. She also implied that to be able to enjoy myself while watching my children was something that I should be thankful for because not everyone can do that. Finally, the conversation concluded with her sarcastically noting, "Boy, aren't you a good mom; taking your children to the beach for them to enjoy the beach!"

Although I knew that she had no ill intention and that she most likely did consider me to be a decent mother, I also felt like she envied my "luck" and felt that a good mom would be doing something different at that time. I felt judged. It was very much implied that I was enjoying myself too much to have been a good mom in that moment. This idea really got my thoughts stirred up!

I began to question myself at that point. Would I be having so much fun if I were indeed working on being a good mother? Most people I know do not consider work to be labeled as fun or enjoyable, even if they have chosen their careers. That was not meant to be a blanket statement but instead a general observation. For decades, people have estimated a mother's worth and job description. Although it varies, a broad consensus is the job is difficult and never completely appreciated. I personally believe that to be considered a good mother, its critical that a woman do more than be present with her children. So then, what does constitute the label of being a "Good Mom"? Here's my opinion, asked for or not!

A "Good Mom" can be summed up in only one sentence. A good mother is one who instructs her children about God, protects them and responds to their needs, and teaches them the lessons of life while setting a good example in a joyful manner. Most mothers fit into this category or miss it by just one small aspect. The majority of mothers teach their children about life, some teach them about God, few set the best examples but rarely do they do all that while keeping a joyful heart. No one will be perfect enough to maintain all of this all the time...... "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23

Proverbs 31 describes the perfect wife according to God. However, there is reference to her children as well. Donna Partow writes about this woman in her book (which is great by the way), "Becoming the Woman God Wants Me To Be". She says that "Any determined, hard working woman can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan. That's no great accomplishment. A woman who is so wise she has figured out how to get the bacon to come to her and has trained her children to be servant-hearted enough to do the frying- now that's a valuable woman!" (Partow, p. 29) Thank you Donna Partow! Too often, I would doubt myself in my role as a mother when I made my children do housework for chores and yes, even let my 12 year old cook dinner occasionally! Now, when I feel guilt rising as my 7 year old is vacuuming or my 5 year old is dusting, Donna's words ring in my head and I am instantly pleased. It does in fact take discipline and determination to train a child correctly. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 Who are we to judge others when their hard work is paying off and they are able to relax?

My conclusion is this. Although I make mistakes and will always attempt to be better, I AM a good mom; as are most of the women I know. My children are physically and emotionally nurtured. They will not be perfect either and there will always be someone who disagrees with my methods in raising them. None of that matters to God and should not matter to us. He intends for us to teach our children how to be disciples for Him and to love each other in doing so. As long as I strive to meet God's will for myself and my children, doing so in joy and love, who else can judge me?

False Prophets

2011-04-06T19:56:00.001-04:00

Recently, I was enlightened during a sermon about interpreting God’s word. I have to admit that I immediately began to think about false prophets as mentioned in the Bible and how we have to beware of them and the lies that they spread to anyone willing to listen. I also began to think about the form that those false prophets come in. I left the sermon feeling good about myself and assured that I would look out for these people or things that cross my path. It wasn’t until a few weeks later, while reading some assigned Bible passages and textbook chapters for school that it hit me like a ton of bricks. When I say that, I mean that it actually felt like something knocked the air out of me for a moment. Through that giant gasp, I realized that God was speaking to me about me! I had been guilty of being a false prophet! Let me stop here to clarify that I have never intentionally misquoted the Bible or falsely summarized any passage. However, I have often added my input to scripture when my opinion was not necessary. Many times, I have even gone as far as to add my own views regarding what it is God was trying to tell us through His word. Can you believe that? Me. A simple servant in the eyes of the almighty creator, portraying myself as a teacher and believing that I have the authority to offer anything more to God’s word than what is already written. Once I convinced myself that I was innocent of any ill intention, I acknowledged my incompetence and need to learn more about the Bible. Of course God intended for man to pass on His teachings and explain things to those who need to hear the plan of salvation. That being said, it is not up to us to decide what God meant by His words simply be repeating them. Take a pastor for example. Not just anyone can stand before a body of people and preach the Bible. A pastor has been labeled so because he has learned more than most about the Bible. He has studied it in context, in history and with great detail so that he better understands what was meant by each word. I do believe that there are people who have been given the gift of preaching whether they have attended school for the title or not. For those who have learned and been led by God, I am thankful. I too am called to preach the gospel (as is every person) and I plan to obey that command. However, I am now aware of my limitations of interpretation of scripture. What that means is that sharing the gospel is quite simple, as is sharing scripture. I just need to leave it up to God to share its meaning with those who hear it and not take His words through my own analysis.

Let Jesus be our example. When teaching the Jews at the Feast of the Tabernacles, they asked, "How did this man get such learning without having been taught?" Jesus answered "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory. But he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." John 7:15-18

Soap Opera Dreams

2010-12-08T19:21:00.001-05:00

Ok, I’m about to admit something I never thought I would publicly announce but here goes….. I’m addicted to a soap opera. Days of Our Lives to be more specific or DOOL as its fans know it. I love several of the actors and actresses on the show as well such as Alison Sweeney, Shawn Christian, Molly Burnett , and James Scott, even though lots of their storylines are a little farfetched. Still, I watch every episode on my DVR, waiting anxiously to see what will happen next and who will find out the big secrets first! This is what I’d call a guilty indulgence. Of course I know that half of what I watch would never happen or that things don’t happen in real life the way that they play out on the show. That’s what makes it all the better. You know that they are not abiding by the same rules as the rest of the universe so anything is possible and there are usually surprises revealed that you never expected. The best part of watching my soap is that it momentarily takes me into the story and therefore pulls my mind away from all my worries in my own real world.

Recently, I had a dream as I have had in the past about something that is not going to happen in reality. It was one of those clear, beautifully detailed dreams where a loved one who has passed returns as if they have been on vacation. You get to see them, hear them, and hug them again, while questioning where they have been. For a moment in that dream, it’s just so real and exciting that you wish you wouldn’t wake up for hours. I’m sure many others have had similar dreams to mine which is what I’ve labeled my “Soap Opera Dreams”.

While explaining why I enjoy watching my soap, I can’t help but laugh and think, “Did you hear what you just said? God can make my life a soap opera as well.” With God in my life, anything is possible and time spent with him can take my mind off the things of this world that don’t matter. And don’t forget, there are little unexpected surprises along the way. Some of them are good and some are not but regardless of which, they keep life interesting and the storyline is always changing. If you happen to be a fan of DOOL or another soap opera yourself for the same reasons, try to remember that with God, we live out those Soap Opera Dreams!

Dirty Socks

2010-11-03T19:49:00.001-04:00

There are not many things I find more frustrating than enjoying a moment of satisfaction in the completion of my work just before realizing that I missed something. This happened recently when I was doing laundry. I began with a feeling of intimidation as I faced this huge mountain of what I thought just had to be at least 10 loads of laundry. Of course, it ended up being more like 5 but still it consumed quite of bit of my day to load the washer, switch to dryer, fold and put away all those clothes. By the end of the day (or night rather), I felt great satisfaction as I looked at the empty bottom of the clothes basket and shut the doors on the washer and dryer. Feeling very accomplished and probably even smiling, I made my way into my bedroom to begin my nightly “before bed” ritual. As I rounded the corner, my face fell in disgust and horror. There, in the middle of the bedroom floor laid a pair of dirty socks. How could I have missed them as I walked in and out of this room throughout the day?!? There they were; a reminder that I had not completed all of the laundry. While it seems quite trivial, any person who has experienced this moment understands what a feeling of defeat it can bring over you.

Because I am an optimist, I consider it a personal challenge to find the good in every situation. So here goes my farfetched attempt. I wonder if this is how God sometimes feels about his people. He tries so hard to guide us in the right direction and then, after much perseverance, we begin to move. Soon, we are on fire for God and growing closer to him. Just when he thinks it is ok to relax a little and let his guard down, Wham! Dirty socks! Our sins start to come out again and he realizes his work will never be finished. I am reminded of the children’s song, “He’s Still Working on Me”. That is so true and we’d do well to never forget it. If God doesn’t get discouraged with us, then we should never get discouraged in our work. Just remember to be thankful that God continues to work on us and will not leave us finished!

Customer Service - really?!?

2010-10-21T14:09:00.001-04:00

Think back to your past 5 dealings with a person who is in a job labeled “Customer Service”. How many of those have been positives experiences? Why do employers even add that to the job description anymore? According to my own experiences, to effectively do most jobs today that deal with the public, one must simply take up space and do the bare minimum to avoid being fired. I feel justified in speaking on the subject because I have worked in several positions that deal with the public. I completely understand that any job in which a person must provide some service to people in our society is very challenging. These jobs are often the hardest jobs there are. Not only do these people usually get paid the minimum but they are also expected to multitask and often take the brunt of nasty customer attitudes. However, that being said, I still expect to receive good customer service when I’m paying for it and I don’t believe that my expectations are too high.

God’s word says to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing: in everything give thanks; for this is
God's will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Abiding by his word, we should rejoice in our work, no matter what the job. Most people seem miserable in their work for different reasons. Whether or not a person is overworked or underpaid has absolutely nothing to do with the customer so why is it the boss that’s often respected and given honor? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that an employee disrespect the employer; I’m only implying that the anger is being directed towards the wrong person. I’ve tried several angles when interacting with a less than desirable customer service worker. Nothing seems to work. Then I only make myself resentful wondering why I should be the one trying so hard to get something which I’m paying for already. My point to all this is “Why are we so accepting of less that the best?” It’s almost as though we’ve come to expect poor service in most places so we accept it. I don’t believe a person in customer service should have to deal with a disrespectful attitude. I do think they should treat me with some common courtesy when I have a polite attitude. That brings me to the next point. Why then, when I politely suggest to a person who is treating me poorly am I considered to be the bad guy when I am assertive about getting what I’ve paid for, whether it be a product or a service. Why is that I end up having to apologize and feel uneasy when I’m only trying to get what I am owed? Someone please enlighten me on this. If this were an infrequent happening, I’d chalk it up to an intermittent bad day or bad apple. However, considering how often this happens and how many people I’ve heard complain, I’m sure this isn’t just an occasional occurrence.

Now, I’ll try to get to the bottom of all this. Perhaps I am the only person who feels like this is so common. If that’s the case, maybe God is giving me these opportunities to display his love and kindness. Therefore, I need to take advantage of these times and do as he would have me do. I am reminded of a woman who worked for a company with which I had a loan. Because this company did not send out statements or set up automatic payments, she would call me each month to set up the payment. (Not common but it worked for both of us) Each month, I knew when to expect her and we would set up the payment as usual without any excess conversation but we were polite to each other. One month she called and the payment arrangement was different and not what I expected. When I questioned it, she became impatient and almost rude. So, me being me, I questioned her mood. I said to her “You are usually so polite and kind! Why is there a change in your attitude today?” This statement completely took her by surprise and there was a long silent pause. After a moment, I heard her say, “You’re completely right and I apologize. I am having a bad day and should not have taken it out on you. You see, my son was in a terrible accident about a week ago and the doctors are saying that he was lucky to survive and that now my Charles may never walk again.” At that point, the conversation became personal and God’s presence became so evident. After talking in depth for several minutes about her situation, we ended the call on a sweet note (after making my payment of course). She thanked me for listening and caring and most importantly for reminding her that the situation did not have to define her. I believe we both learned a lesson that day which I’ve never forgotten. Expect the best from people and accept no less. While doing so, be patient and understanding because we may not always know what’s going on in the lives of the people we encounter. In those times that the experience ends on a bad note, realize that you have still shown the love of God to another, as commanded. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud” 1Corinthians 13:4

Time Flies

2010-10-13T19:23:00.003-04:00

Although I had not forgotten that I have a blog, I did put it on the proverbial back burner for more than a year because it fell on my list of priorities. For a quick update, Austin is currently playing football and in the sixth grade. He's a challenge for me but I think perhaps its because we are a bit alike. Yes, I now have a middle schooler who in some ways reminds me of myself and I'm not sure how I feel about that just yet. Alex is playing tee ball and dancing; ballet to be more specific. As usual, she excels at both. She has also started first grade this year and we are still at home. We are taking it year by year and so far, we like it. Ashlyn is also playing tee ball and taking a ballet/tumble class. Thankfully, she doesn't need to play ball well yet because she's so cute you can't help but smile. She also seems to prefer the gymnastics part of her class over the dancing which came as a surprise to me. Still, I'm glad that all three children are happy with what they are doing. We have joined a Community Bible Study which we attend once a week and of course, we are attending church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Unfortunately, my husband misses most of these things with the exception of some of their Saturday games because he works so much. We all stay busy but I remind myself often to enjoy this because I know that one day I will miss it. I am still in school working on my "to do by the time I'm 30" list. Obviously, I'm a little behind schedule but I feel better by telling myself that at least I'm not idle which means I'm still moving forward. I've also picked up a few hours of work which I fit in when I can but am hoping to do more as soon as I find a few extra hours in my day. Because of my lack of free time, my blog has suffered. I have been thinking lately that instead of feeling like I have to come up with new material, why don't I post some of the things I've already written for some of my classes? After all, its my material and most of it is blog appropriate. So, that's what I'll be posting for a while. Here goes the first one.

In our culture today, the Christian gospel is often perceived as outdated and sometimes even foolish. In a world in which celebrities set the standards for normal and money equals control and power, the very idea of placing our faith and beliefs into a man who walked the earth centuries ago seems insane. With millions of followers watching, Oprah once said that “There are many paths to what you call God” and “there couldn't possibly be just one way”. These followers have now been led down the wrong path and it would be difficult to convince them otherwise. If most religions are offering a way that will let a person act according to their emotions, and in which the basis of all works are simply to make one feel good and be happy, then why would a non believer choose Christianity? In addition, if most of the world’s most intellectual and most influential people are not following the teaching of the gospel, then a person would be silly to simply accept this person Christians call Jesus. After all, you can’t even physically see him and his teachings are to a world that doesn’t exist in today’s culture! Beginning to address these objections will require Christians to be better prepared with their witness. We need to try to understand a person’s objections in order to overcome them and answer their questions in a way that they will understand the Christian perspective. We must first gain interest before we can effectively state our purpose and beliefs when we share our testimonies. Credibility goes a long way in spreading the good news to the world!

Thirty-one

2009-07-09T14:24:00.002-04:00

Thirty-one. What does that number mean to you? Is it how many days you have until vacation? Or maybe its the number of anniversaries you've had. Perhaps its only meaning is that seven months see that many days. To me, its even less. Thirty-one is just another number at this point in my life. I guess I should also mention that its my age! Last year, as I approached and passed the dreaded mark of turning thirty, I cringed. The thought of being that age was depressing to me. I should be more clear so that I don't offend anyone. Thirty itself wasn't what bothered me. What bothered me was that I had not marked off most of my "to do before I turn 30" list! That list included the things it should have like finish college, get married, see the world, buy a house, etc. For anyone that knows me well, you know that only one of those items were accomplished and I did that one twice which wasn't on my list. The point is, life just hasn't turned out to be anything I've expected so far. It would be dishonest to say that I'm completely happy with it all anyway but I can accept it for what it is now and move towards the future that I want. A few credit hours are still needed for me to complete my degree but fortunately, there's no age limit to school. Although the house is not in the near future, its still there and still attainable. Thankfully, I don't need that to be happy either. I have gotten married and had three beautiful children, which I tell myself is the reason for having done things a little "backwards". Looking for the positive aspect, I will still be young when my children leave the nest so that I can enjoy the retirement from that job I have on my next list. So, what have I learned from all this? I've learned that being thirty-one this year really means nothing. It was just another day in my life. It didn't change what I've done, what I'm going to do and most importantly, who I am. I'll continue to make my lists and strive to mark each item off because goals are needed. However, I'll try to stress less if I reach another milestone without marking them all off because after all, this life is simply a speed bump in the eternity that we will one day enjoy!

Sorry for the delay

2009-05-12T14:08:00.002-04:00

Soooo sorry its been so long since the last post. And yes, I'm going to give you the excuses of why it has been. So consider this entry an update. I wonder more and more every day how I had the same life before with 40+ work hours added in. I could answer that with a few explanations such as, we are at home so much more so there's more cleaning to do; I've also taken on a few more responsibilities such as teaching a class at church, helping friends when they need me, occasional babysitting, etc. The main thing I'm doing now to fill my time that I didn't before is paying attention to my family and spending more time with them. The "me" time is about the same as before but that's ok because the family time is much more fun than work! I still associate with the outside world and have better relationships with friends and family. Anyway, back to my excuses. Austin has been playing baseball since my last post and is doing exceptionally well. My appreciation to his coach for having the confidence to put him in as pitcher quite a bit. I've been such a proud mom on the sidelines watching him persue an interest that we have been searching for and to be so good at it. The only drawback is the time it takes. He practices twice a week and has 1-2 games per week. Although I enjoy watching him, I'm thankful that the season will soon be ending because we need the break. Alex and Ashlyn have been twirling baton. That means practice once a week for them and the occasional parade or competition. Both love the attention and seem to have fun. Of course, they are just too adorable when performing so once again, I get to play the role of proud parent. This too will end soon for this season. Alex has also been playing soccer. Practice once a week and a game every Saturday. That ended last week and she was glad. I believe the only reason she wanted to play was to be able to put on the uniform and cleats! She was not too fond of practice. We have gotten into a really great habit of attending Sunday School most Sundays and are now going to church every Wednesday night. The kids love it and we need it so that's been a positive change in our house. We went before on Sundays but didn't often make it to Sunday School or Wed. night service. I'm proud of that change. I've also taken on teaching a class on Wednesday nights at church. Its a "young adults" class where we put the Bible into life applications. Its challenging to prepare a lesson that both keeps the attention of the class while teaching what should be taught. However, its a welcome challenge and I've learned so much while studying my lessons. If you are looking for a great Bible Study or want to get your kids more involved in church, come see us at Blake's Chapel. Email me if you have any questions and we'd love to see you there. (carlacitarelli@gmail.com) Other than these things, I've been trying to be more aware of the needs of my surroundings. In other words, if someone needs help, I'll offer it and if someone asks for help, I try to provide it. If you do that, it really can be what you might call a full time job! I can't always oblige but I do my best, so long as it doesn't interfere with my own family and their needs. Oh, and since my last post, Curtis and I spent a weekend in Myrtle Beach for his birthday with friends. I also had an article published the first time in the Topsail Voice so look for more. I need to wrap this up so I can go get Austin and Alex off the bus but will try to enter a new post soon. Stay tuned!

Spring is here! Or is it?

2009-03-12T11:37:00.002-04:00

What is with the weather here in NC?!? One day we are freezing. The next, we are wearing shorts! Is this the outcome of the global warming that we've been hearing about for most of our adult years? It wasn't like this when I was a child, was it? Maybe its always been this way in NC and I just don't remember it. I don't remember sweating during Christmas break from school or wearing gloves and a heavy coat to go Easter egg hunting. My children have experienced both these things. Don't most places in our country have 4 seasons? How are we supposed to deal with this ever changing weather on a daily basis? There are so many things to consider. I dread going through the children's clothes twice during the year to change from summer clothes to winter clothes and vice versa. We have to wait until its either a steady 80+ degrees or until its been 50- for at least a month before we change them out. This past weekend for example, I certainly felt the need to pack up all the winter things and bring out the shorts and t-shirts. Today, I've sent the children to school in jeans and sweaters! Apparently I'm not the first person to notice this problem. Someone has invented pants and jeans which can convert to shorts in an instant. And Alex owns a hoodie sweatshirt with no sleeves! I suppose that's the answer when you haven't had time to watch the weather before you get dressed in the mornings. That's why windows go up and down easily and a heat pump can change from heat to A/C with the flip of a switch. After all, who in NC hasn't switched from one to the other in the same day before? I'm not talking about those hot flashes that Stephanie mentions all the time either! I'm talking about a 35 degree night and a 78 degree day within 24 hours. Because I always try to find the positives in everything, here are some final thoughts about this. I like to have the house cooler at night so if we open the windows during the day and close them just before bedtime, we don't have to turn on the heat pump for days. That's great for the electric bill! Another plus is that you don't get tired of wearing the same clothes everyday. You're clothes never get worn out because you can wear something from the winter closet one day and the summer closet the next. The last great advantage to this weather. Where else in the world can you build a snowman one week and have a great day at the beach the next week?!?

Like Riding a Bike

2009-02-17T07:22:00.004-05:00

No one has ever jumped on a bicycle for the first time and taken off like a pro. It takes lots of practice. More for some than others but definitely a lot of practice. As I watched Curtis go up and down the driveway with Alex trying to teach her to ride, I began to think about the analogy of comparing life to riding a bicycle. You hear people say it often when referring to something they may not have done in a long time. When asked if they remember how, the response is "its like riding a bike; it just comes back to you." Now, let's compare that to the first time you rode a bike. It didn't just "come" to you. You had to learn the balance and feel of a bike and then learn to pedal and steer at the same time. That's a great feat for a five year old and even some adults. My grandmother never learned to ride a bike so several years ago, my Grandad bought her a 3 wheel bicycle. Although she only rode it a few times, it was the thought that was put into it that counted. Even she knew that to learn as an adult might be more difficult and was not something she was too interested in. Not to mention, who would she find to run down the driveway holding the seat while she pedaled? It wouldn't be Grandaddy with his bad knees and none of the children wanted to be the one responsible if she fell! The point is, she couldn't have done it alone. Nor can a five year old. I suppose that's not completely true. If a person has enough determination, I guess they could learn but it would be so much more difficult. There are so many different ways I could go with this but there's one way that came to mind first. This bicycle analogy can be compared to a Christian's salvation. First, one has to be given the tools to begin. For Alex, it was her new bike. For the nonbeliever, its the Bible. If Alex had not gotten her bike last weekend, it may have been another year or so before she could have learned.
Our church is very involved in giving to foreign missions so that we can spread the knowledge of Jesus around the world. Although I do have some reservations about the program itself, I do not disagree with the premise of needing to get the word out to those that otherwise may never hear it. If a person is never given a bike or in this case the teachings of the Bible, then how will they learn it? That's the first step. The next step is just as important. That's the help of others. Can you imagine how many times Alex would have had to get back on that bike if she had not had her dad's hand on the seat. Even more important was his instruction to her about how to use the machine. Once she begins to ride on her own, I'm sure that she will have some spills and may even require a few bandages before she is riding comfortably without assistance. Still, it would have been so much harder without help and she would have endured more pain and even worse- she may have given up. The same is true with learning to walk with Jesus. Without the teaching and helping hands of others, you may never be walking comfortably without the fear of falling. We have to keep this in mind for both ourselves and for others. If we as Christians fail to mention Jesus to a nonbeliever or give them the Word of God, how will they ever know? Perhaps no one will ever mention it to them. Although you may think it was only a few times that you missed an opportunity or ignored one because of whatever it was going on in your life at the time, think of it this way: You may have prevented that person from spending eternity in Heaven. That sounds so much worse but that's what has happened! We need to take more responsibility for the salvation of others. We need to give them the tools and teachings, and support they will need to learn to walk on their own. We also have to remember that in order to teach others, we need our own support system. That leads me to my belief in church attendance. Don't you realize that this is all one big cycle and that if one step is removed, it creates disruption in the cycle so that it can't operate smoothly or get bigger and better? If you do not get regular spiritual restoration and the support of other Christians, you may begin to forget or slide. Your earthly ways and human nature may slowly take over. If that happens, and you struggle with this in your own life, you are unlikely to take it to others. Also, if you are not attending church, you are not supporting your fellow Christians both emotionally and monetarily. Yes, it does take money and lots of it to operate the Church and its missions. And yes, if you go to church, you are most likely going to be asked to contribute money at some point. Think of it this way. If you are not attending church regularly, you should probably contribute more money because if you are not doing you're part, you should be sponsoring someone else who will! All this does lead to a point and although it may sound more like preaching this subject that discussing it, its all for a very important point that I too need to hear. Christians need to participate more in the salvation of others and take more responsibility for the lost souls of our communities and even our friends. Although there is a best way to present it to others, you can't worry about pride or being offensive when it comes to your friends' salvation. So long as you are doing God's will in a godly manner, the rest will work as it should and He will take over. That doesn't mean a saved soul every time you speak up. It does mean that you have given a person their bike and offered help learning to ride when they are ready. That's the least we can do for others. You also can't give others the best of you of if you aren't giving your best to God first. My own life can be used as an example of this so please don't think that I'm just pointing fingers. I realize my shortcomings and am aware of the things I need to be working on most. I also know that this will be easier with the support of my church family and my Christian friends. Anyone who thinks that they can do this without that support may not be listening to God either. My Grandad used to have one of those tags on his van that said "God is my pilot". That says it all. And last, if this makes you think about yourself and the things that you should be doing different in your life, don't worry: There is some good news ~ its just like riding a bike.

The Start of a New Day

2009-02-04T08:35:00.002-05:00

Is this a good or bad notion? Depends on how you look at it... your perception. This idea can absolutely be a positive thing or motivation for your life. Unfortunately, some people (myself included) may use this as a crutch for a negative action. The non-believer probably uses this more often but that's just an assumption on my part. To be able to do something negative which may include anything from a white lie to drug abuse and simply think, "tomorrow's the start of a new day". That thought can be very enabling to a person with lack of willpower and strength. You'd like to keep that thought in the back of your head when doing something negative and think that the slate can be miraculously wiped clean so that you can start fresh tomorrow. What is it about the dawn of a new day that makes us think it will go away and all will be forgotten? Its simply not true. The damage that is done today will see its consequence tomorrow and may not be forgotten. We are always responsible for our actions and their outcome. I speak from experience. I'm one of those "starting tomorrow" dieters. Food is definitely my drug of choice. I compare it to a drug because in excess that's what it is. Too much or the wrong kind is bad for you, puts you before family and keeps you from living the life that you really want. Doesn't that describe a drug? Some may disagree but I believe that food is very addictive. It's familiar and helps you forget about other things for just a few moments. It can also be a social pressure just as a drug can. Most of what we do socially is centered around food. I say "we" knowing that there are some healthy people out there who do not live the same lifestyle. So let's just assume I'm talking about my life, my family and my friends. We plan our outings around dinner plans. Lunch at the park, gatherings at church, parties at restaurants. Doesn't that sound familiar to you? Of course this is not true for everything we do but the majority of the time it is. So we give in, we go out to dinner or to the party and think, "OK, I can start again tomorrow". Why does this make any sense? It doesn't! That extra food we ate yesterday doesn't disappear overnight just because I have good intentions of getting back on the wagon tomorrow only to fall off again. Or as Oprah said last week, "I didn't just fall off this time; the wagon fell on me". Remember that post about starting the New Year off with good intentions? I did. So what happened? Life. Again. Its no excuse but its my story. So, here we go again because its the start of a new day.
What about the positive side of this notion? Yes, there is one! When life goes bad, or we do screw up in some way, tomorrow is the start of a new day. God willing, we will live to see the next day and have a chance to make things right. When we lose a loved one, we know that life will go on and tomorrow will come. We can wake up each morning and decide that today will be a great day because we choose for it to be. Sometimes life throws unexpected tragedies at us which can slow or sometimes cause it to stand still. No matter what, tomorrow will still come and it will be the start of a new day. For Christians, this means much more that the literal interpretation. God is forgiving, no matter our faults or wrong doings. He will forgive and all we have to do is ask. That seems simple enough so why do we hesitate? Never hesitate because he's always there. We have a tough but forgiving and loving God. My human self is so thankful for this because its only by grace that I get to start over so many times. I may fail over and over but I know that there is someone who will still accept me as I am and be my support at the start of a new day. "With the love and mercy from our God, a new day from Heaven will dawn upon us" Luke 1:78

Catching Up

2009-01-27T13:31:00.002-05:00

Its been too long since I've posted a blog. Normally, that wouldn't be an issue except this time, it shows how slack I'm already being on my intentions for this year. If you read the last blog, one thing I intended to do was to be more organized which would include things like regular blog posts. But what is regular anyway? Guess it depends on who you're asking. Some people have a set schedule like weekly and others are like me. I like to call it "free spirited" in which I just post when I think of something or when I feel like it. So for this entry, I'm just going to catch you up a little, if you care to know what we are doing here in a corner called Watts Landing.

The biggest thing to note is that although we are still dealing with the loss of my Grandad, our family is staying strong and moving on just as he would have expected. We can't believe just how much stuff he had and how much he "dealt" with. So many accounts, papers, and business things that we have lost track. And he seemed like such a simple man. Apparently, there's nothing simple about death and we are finding that out the hard way. More specifically, my mom and my aunt who are handling all this are finding this out! The good news is that we are learning to survive without him and realize that life does go on. Slowly; but it does.

I have a new atmosphere at home the past couple of weeks. Alex began preschool so I am left with just one child during a 7 hour block of the day. I knew I'd miss her but must confess looking forward to the change of pace and a little more freedom. I'm not sure why but those of you who are parents know how much of a difference just one child can make, especially outside of the home. Running errands seems much easier and doing simple things at home. I was a little worried that Ashlyn might be more clingy without someone to play with but I have been pleasantly surprised. She is much more independant here by herself and is learning to play with more imagination. She and I now have more one on one time and to anyone that's seen us together, you may think that's the last thing she needs. However, she seems to be letting go a little easier since I have more time to focus on her during the day. I have been very surprised and am happy with how she's adjusting to this change. Alex loves school but doesn't understand why she can't sleep late and then go. She's only getting up about 30 minutes earlier than usual but she, like most of us, would rather wake up on her own. Still, she's enjoying the bus rides, meals at school and friends to play with. Anyone that knows Alex knows that she's been wanting to go to school for quite a while so it seems as though there was no adjustment period at all for her since she was sooooo ready! With school comes the dreaded "attitude". We've already experienced hands on the hips, the eyeroll and occasional huffing and puffing. Not that she didn't ever do this before; its just become a normal part of her normal conversation now that we are trying to eliminate. Other that these minor things, preschool has been an awesome thing for us.

Austin is doing mostly well. All A's except for math which he has really been struggling with. Mostly multiplication, word problems and compound problems. If anyone has any suggestions, please share! Baseball will be starting again soon and he's excited about that and looking forward to seeing his friends outside of school. He also has a birthday coming up and he'll be in double digits this year -10. Can you believe that because I can't. He's a great 10 year old and I hope to still be saying that about him even after we enter the teenage years. Pray for us.

And now for my hubbie. He finished his EMT class in December and took his state test in January which he passed of course. So now, he has one more certification under his belt and hopefully, things will slow down a little for him. We support what he's doing but selfishly, we miss him at home. Maybe now we can see him a little more often.

Last, an update on me. As you may know, being a mom and wife, your life is usually spelled out by your children and husband's lives. I'm no exception. If you'd like to know what's new with me, just read about the rest of my family. Some days that's very rewarding and some days I wonder just where that girl from high schoolwith all those big dreams went. I know that this will all pay off in the end and that I am rewarded by simply seeing my children flourish. They are a gift from God and I'm sure that they are my ultimate purpose. Still, I am human and have selfish wants that I may even get to fullfill one day. In the meantime, I will accept my role and continue on, hoping that I always do the best I can at this job I have been given. After all, its a lot tougher than I thought it would be!

To Make Him Proud

2008-12-31T13:54:00.005-05:00

I've been planning to post something for at least a week now but wasn't quite sure what. I haven't exactly been in the best mood and I didn't want to be Debbie Downer by posting something negative that no one wants to read. As most of you know, I lost my Grandaddy last week and I miss him so much already. So, I decided I would try to focus on the good (as was my advice in a recent post)and look forward to the new year and I'll dedicate that to him. We can only hope that the new year will bring better things even if you have been fortunate enough to have a wonderful 2008. We should always hope and strive for better while being satisfied with what we have already been given. To reflect on this past year and what I have been blessed with- I finally got to stay home with my children and get to know them better. This year has been one of rediscovery and findings for myself. I've learned more about myself (some good, some bad) than I ever knew before. Finally, I was able to reflect on life and what I want out of it. Though I may not always get it, it still felt nice to be able to stop and examine life for a moment instead of seeing it fly past me. Priorities have been changed in my life and for the better. Keeping them in check is still a task but at least I know my goals. I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions because I think we should always try to be better people. However, I will throw that aside and publicly announce my "intentions" for myself and my family this coming year. I may regret this when I look back at it later and see that I actually put it in writing but maybe it will hold me accountable!
For 2009, I'd like to be more organized. I did really good when I first came home from work but I'm starting to feel overwhelmed again and that's not really a place I'd like to be. I want to get my house "under control" so that the maintenance of it will be less of a headache. Structure with the kids is something else I plan to work on. Although there's already some in place, it could definitely use some improvement and I think we'll all get along better! Income - I need some and that's all I'll say about that one for now. And, not to be a bummer, but I'd like to at least mention my Grandaddy. I want to continue to do as I would have before to make him proud. I didn't realize until he was gone just how much I depended upon him for advice and his opinion. I also didn't realize that after God, he was next in line of those that I wanted to make proud. His morals and values were steadfast and strong. I could always count on him for the truth and his opinion to be based on the principles of the Bible. Because he was such a strong christian and a wonderful, respected person, the look of pride and joy on his face when I or my children pleased him was absolutely priceless and nothing will ever replace that. And last but not least, I want to be a better christian and worker for God. There are things that I have put off that I should already be doing and I'd like to change that this year. I need to be a more active church member and speak up about my beliefs to others. After all, that would have made my Grandaddy very proud!

Because Disasters Make Great Stories

2008-12-09T08:46:00.003-05:00

Don't you agree? You may not think so at the time of the incident but human nature loves to share negative information. Sometimes stories are told for dramatic effect and sometimes they are told for the humorous entertainment of others. When something happens in our lives that is unexpected and usually unwanted, we tend to share it more than when something wonderful happens. Other than winning the lottery of course! Often, our friends hear about something bad that has happened to us but never hear the positive outcome, which usually follows a little later. They may ask you at a later time what ever happened with so and so and its then that we realize we forgot to tell them it was taken care of! We are so quick to call and complain to them and display our problems yet slow to give them the positive updates. Why do we do that? I think its because we crave the sympathy, concern and attention. People tend to want to help us and take care of us by showering us with attention when we are in need. However, when times are good, there's a quick "glad to hear it" and the conversation ends shortly thereafter. So which side of the situation needs to change in order for us to share more good news versus bad? Perhaps it should be the side of the person hearing the negative or positive news. We should be sympathetic and caring to someone going through a tough time. However, we should be even more excited and share in the joy of the positive news more. This might change how we "ask" for attention. If we know that a good happening will generate as much attention, then we can start being more positive. And we all know that happiness can spread just as much as sadness. For the new year, try to start focusing more on the positives in every situation. Look for the happy things in our lives that we can share with others and be more excited about those same things in the lives of our friends and family. Who knows, it might become a "pay it forward" type of thing. The next time a "disaster" occurs in your life, try to play it down and share it less. And before ending this post, let me share some good news. Our familiy has been truly blessed in the month of December so far. We have received unexpected generosity in many different ways including support from friends and family, the gift of time and monetary gifts. To any of you who have contributed to our blessings, we thank you and hope to return the generosity back to you in your time of need.

The Magic of Christmas

2008-12-03T07:00:00.003-05:00

It took about 25 years to come back around but finally I believe in Santa Claus again! To make a long story short, I discovered the truth about Santa way too early (I was 5). I've always been a little upset over that because I feel like I got gyped and couldn't experience the "magic" of Christmas as long as most children get to. Don't worry Mom, it wasn't tramatic or anything, just disappointing! Christmas has still remained to be my favorite and most anticipated holiday. Everything about it makes me smile- the decorations, the shopping, the giving, the receiving, the chaos, the smells, the smiles, the family, the friends, and most importantly the reason. I look forward to Thanksgiving each year mostly because that's when I can officially start listening to Christmas music and put up the decorations. Unfortunately, some of the excitement was replaced by stress once I moved out on my own and it became more of a responsibility for me. Now, I had to worry about paying for gifts, cooking, cleaning and all those other things we do during the holidays. Don't misunderstand; I love doing those things but do not enjoy the stress of so much to do in such a short time frame! This year some of that should be alleviated due to my lack of employment. Now there are new pressures; financial ones that make us worry and many of you are sharing in that with me this year due to our economy. Each year up until now, Christmas has gradually lost some of its shine in my life. I still looked forward to it and enjoyed the things that come with it but there was more and more dread as well. This year, I was looking forward to the time I have never had before to get prepared and spend time with my family creating more traditions and continuing the old ones. But of course, I was still worried about where the money would come from. I found myself thinking, "I hope there really is a Santa Claus or I might have some disappointed children on Christmas morning". Those of you who are parents know that this thought is more devasting than if you woke up missing a limb! I realized that I have been slowing inching back to my own way instead of God's way. Instead of letting him keep the reigns which I had pledged to him a while back, I was slowly taking them back. So, instead of being in control, I found myself in a situation that I could not handle. I pleaded with him and gave him back the control. He proved himself again in less than one day. Yesterday, I received an answer that was completely unexpected but will provide. I am still in awe and do not quite have the words for it other than thank you. Despite what I read and believe, it always amazing to witness what God can do in our lives. Finally, the Magic of Christmas is back! "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God" Ephesians 2:8

Thankful

2008-11-27T08:38:00.004-05:00

Already, its Thanksgiving again. I can't believe it. Seems like about a month ago when I posted something last Thanksgiving. What our parents said is becoming more true everyday; the older you get, the faster time flies. So much has happened over the last year that I have a different perspective on Thanksgiving this year. I'm still thankful for the many blessings I've received but what I now regard as a "blessing" may have changed a little. Before, it may have been the obvious things but those that we take for granted. That includes family, health, material possessions, you get the point. Don't misunderstand. I'm still thankful for those things but I now see the significance of things I had never before considered to be a blessing. I realize now that even those things we don't understand should be contemplated and we need to appreciate God's intentions and plan for us. Although we should continue to pray for good and for miracles, we should try to find a way to be thankful everyday, in every situation. That includes the trying times; those times that test our faith. Its when we are sad, angry or depressed that we struggle to find faith, to find the positives, to find God. It always seems easier to be thankful for the good and happy times. The next time you are having trouble finding something to be thankful for, remember this. God loves us always, unconditionally. He is forgiving, loving and everlasting, throughout our good times and our bad. No matter how much we turn our back on him, curse him, judge him or do the same towards others, He forgives, forgets and loves. No matter what your situation, whether it be sickness, loss or regrets, remember that His cross was heavier to bear than any that we could ever imagine and for that, we can be THANKFUL. Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving! "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1