"Open seven days a week. Closed Sundays."

A Window Into My Good Life...

2009-08-02T11:04:00.003-07:00

Interview With a Six Year-Old

2009-07-26T14:15:00.005-07:00

Today, I got to do an exclusive interview with a very important person - My daughter!

Q. When are you the happiest in your life?
A. "When I'm at the park."

Q. When are you the most proud of yourself?
A. "When I win a prize at the Boys & Girls Club."

Q. What do you wish we had more ability or time to do together?
A. "More time together to go to the museum of art."

Q. What is one the you don't like about me?
A. (Giggling) "I can't believe you just asked me that!"

Q. OK, let me change that - What is one thing you would change about me?
A. "(That) You would have a pretty robe in the morning."

Q. What is something your mom always says to you?
A. "I love you!"

Q. What makes you happy?
A. "Staying with my family, and making jokes."

Q. What makes you sad?
A. "Friends being mean to me, and (when) they don't let me do what they're doing in fun activities."

Q. How old is your mom?
A. "Uh, you know how old you are!"

Q. What is your favorite thing to do?
A. "(To) color and read."

Q. What do you want to be when you grow up?
A. "The President!" (I thought she wanted to be a judge?)

Q. What are you really good at?
A. "Um... ah... thinking... sports, knowing things; telling people what they're going to do, and what they're thinking."

Q. What are you not very good at?
A. "Not very good at making signs."

Q. What is your favorite food?
A. "Brownies!"

Q. If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?
A. "I would be Dora, because Dora teaches kids Spanish."

Q. How are you and your mom the same?
A. "(We're) both girls."

Q. How are you and your mom different?
A. "We don't have the same hair and eyes."

Q. How do you know your mom loves you?
A. "Because she says so."

Q. Where is your favorite place to go?
A. "To the museum."

Q. What is your favorite cereal?
A. "Cocoa Pebbles." (That used to be MY favorite, too!)

Q. What is your favorite vegetable?
A. "Broccoli and carrots."

Q. What is your favorite drink?
A. "Chocolate milk."

Q. What is your favorite toy?
A. "Gabriella doll, and Troy doll." (From High School Musical)

Q. What is your favorite TV Show?
A. "Kids cartoons, Wipe Out and Superstars."

Q. What is your favorite game?
A. "The basketball game on the Internet, and checkers."

Q. What is your favorite book?
A. "The soft sheep one - where you feel it how soft it is."

Q. What is your favorite restaurant?
A. "The Olive Garden."

Q. What is your favorite holiday?
A. "Christmas!"

Q. What is your favorite animal?
A. "An elephant."

Q. If you could change your name, what would you pick?
A. "Gabriella."

Q. What do you love about your mom?
A. "Uh... that she cares about who she is, and doesn't act act like somebody else, and she just 'bes' herself."

Q. What do you love about your dad?
A. "That he loves me."

Q. Where would you like to go on vacation?
A. "The North Pole."

Q. What are some of your wishes for this year?
A. "I wish I had all the toys that are High School Musical."

Things We Learn From Our Children

2009-07-09T18:28:00.005-07:00

A 4 year-old’s voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

A 6 year-old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36 year old man says they can only do it in the movies.

A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

A good sense of humor will get you through most problems in life (unfortunately, mostly in retrospect).

A king size water bed holds enough water to fill a 2000 square foot house 4 inches deep.

A magnifying glass can start a fire even on an overcast day.

Always look in the oven before you turn it on.

Baseballs make marks on ceilings.

Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

Children in the backseat cause accidents, accidents in the backseat cause children.

Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing pound puppy underwear and a Superman cape.

If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

If you use a water bed as home plate while wearing baseball shoes it does not leak -- it explodes.

Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids.

It is strong enough however to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 by 20 foot room.

Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a four year old.

Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

Plastic toys do not like ovens.

Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.

Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

Quiet does not necessarily mean don't worry.

Super glue is forever.

The fire department in Dallas has at least a 5-minute response time.

The first anger of Christmas morning: Batteries not included.

The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy. It will however make cats dizzy.

There is no such thing as childproofing your house.

VCR's do not eject sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

When using the ceiling fan as a bat you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit.

When you hear the toilet flush and the words Uh-oh, it's already too late.

You probably do not want to know what that odor is.

You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on.

The Methodist White Lie Cake

2009-07-09T18:01:00.003-07:00

Have you ever told a white lie? You are going to love this, especially all of the ladies who bake for church events:

Alice Grayson was to bake a cake for the Methodist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa, but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered it the morning of the bake sale and after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix & quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack up for Scout camp.

When she took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured and she exclaimed, "Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake!" This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church, and in her new community of friends. So, being inventive, she looked around the house for something to build up the centre of the cake. She found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and then covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect. And, before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter and gave her some money and specific instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30 and to buy the cake and bring it home.

When the daughter arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. Amanda grabbed her cell phone & called her mom. Alice was horrified-she was beside herself! Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, ridiculed! All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people pointing fingers at her and talking about her behind her back.

The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake and would attend the fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member and try to have a good time. She did not really want to attend because the hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down her nose at the fact that Alice was a single parent and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa, but having already RSVP'd , she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home. The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust old south and to Alice 's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert!

Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake! She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, the Mayor's wife said, "what a beautiful cake!" Alice , still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was a prominent church member) say, "Thank you, I baked it myself."

Alice smiled and thought to herself, "God is Good."

(No, I didn't write this. I don't know where this story came from, but I thought it was too funny not to share!)

Does Anybody Hear?

2009-06-08T18:49:00.010-07:00

Take four and a half minutes to sit back and watch the video below.

Afterward, think about your feelings. How does this make you feel, after watching this? Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever known someone else who may have felt this way?

Maybe you know someone who is going through this kind of pain RIGHT NOW, but they don't show it on the outside. Maybe they are right there, in front of you, crying out for love. Only you can't hear them, because they are crying on the inside. And they are hiding the fact that they are hurting.

If someone tapped on your shoulder and said, "Please help me - I'm hurt" Or fell down on their knees in front of you and screamed, "PLEASE! IT HURTS!" would you pretend that you didn't hear, slowly turn your back and walk away? No, of course not.

But, most hurting people are not going to tell you that they are struggling and in pain. Not if they think that nobody really cares. You have to look past the mask they wear. Really make an effort.

Still, if you're too busy with your own problems... well, I guess nobody can blame you there. Right? I mean, a person can only do so much, one person can't fix the world - can they?

Well, now wait a minute. Do you recall the parable of the Good Samaritan? How everybody wanted to just walk past the man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road? Everyone, EXCEPT the Samaritan, that is.

The Samaritan was the only person who noticed the badly injured man, went right to his side, and took it upon himself to help this other person, who was far too hurt to help himself. He didn't care about how this inconvenienced him. He didn't care that this person was not one of his own kind. He took him, tended to his wounds, put him on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and looked after him. But it didn't end there. The next day, he gave the innkeeper two silver coins, telling the innkeeper, "Look after him, and when I get back, I will reimburse you for any extra expenses you may have."

Now, isn't that how Christ teaches us to love each other? How can the hurting man on the side of the road be much different than the person who is hurting on the inside?

Take a look around you. Do you see them now? Take a closer look...

Does Anybody Hear Her lyrics
Songwriters: Hall, John Mark;

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying but the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning for shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching for a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her
Never even met her, never even met her

Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me

Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?

He is running a hundred miles an hour
In the wrong direction

If We Are the Body

2009-06-07T20:40:00.006-07:00

In reading through some blogs today, I came across one in particular that struck a chord with me. Someone has decided that in order to be an effective Christian and bring others to Christ, one must use the "tough love" approach, and quit worrying about hurting people's feelings and how you come across. One must approach a sinner, and not gloss over the biblical truth, but rather be firm and whack that sinner over the head with the nearest King James version. (OK, I made that last part up.)

Now, for the record, I have absolutely no problem sharing the Gospel. Christians are called to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. However...

There is an effective way to do it, and a not-so effective way to do it. Your chances of winning someone over to Christ are pretty slim if you are too busy condemning and persecuting them for their sins. Do you think you are doing them a bit of good by ramming that Bible down their throat?

Instead, think about Jesus. Think about how He must have made Matthew feel at very that moment when Matthew KNEW he wanted to follow Jesus. And all the other disciples. Jesus didn't act Pharisaical. He didn't need to.

Allow me to get personal for a minute. I am a divorced, single mother. Yes, I know divorce is a sin. And believe me, that is certainly by far NOT the only sin I am guilty of. And I am also aware that I am not the ONLY one who has ever sinned. We all have.

And yet, there have been times when I have come to church, that I have felt the heavy stares of judgment. More often than not, I have felt uncomfortable, like I don't fit in. I can't count the number of times where I have walked in alone, and walked out alone after service was over, and not one person said anything to me. Am I not supposed to be there? Am I wearing the wrong clothes? Or maybe it's because I didn't bring my bible with me? Or maybe because I do not have a husband to accompany me... was I supposed to have one of those? I don't know if it's all in my head. It could be. But the point is, I still FEEL that way.

Has anyone ever felt like an outcast in church? I know I am not alone. Maybe it's time for a change. Maybe it's time for one great, big group hug! Everybody - GROUP HUG!!

Now, didn't that make you feel better?

If We Are The Body lyrics
Songwriters: Hall, Mark;

It's crowded in a worship today
As she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way? There is a way?

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tell him that his chances
Are better out on the road

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way?

But Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way?

If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way? As Jesus is the way

A Helping Hand and a Good Pair of Ears

2009-06-07T09:07:00.007-07:00

I admit it - I've been "hiding out" since my lay off. I'm sure many of you are wondering what has been going on lately, since I have been absent from posting here, as well as commenting on other people's blogs.

Well, it's been challenging, to sum it up to one word. A little melancholic, I have been trying not to get sucked into a pity-party for one, and trying not to dump on my friends and family. I try to be outwardly positive with people I talk to, and if I write anything about myself on my blog, I don't like for it to be depressing.

A very sweet friend suggested that I should pour my feelings into my blog, regardless. Write about everything I am feeling, the highs and the lows, because it just might help someone else who is in the same situation. Very good advice. He's right. (Thanks, Kevin!)

I hate to admit it, but being laid off from a company that I've been with for eight years has felt very much like a divorce. It's affected me more than I was willing to admit. Financially, it has kicked the feet out from under me. Emotionally, it has temporarily left me dazed, and as silly as this sounds, wondering if there was in some way that I was partially at fault.

You know, when a person looses their job, they can easily get lost in a sea of self-doubt. Which can immobilize them from reaching out to others, and turning their situation around. A strong network of friends and loved ones is SO critical at this juncture in our lives. I am not the type of person who asks for help. If I didn't have any one who cared enough to check in on me, I'd be a goner.

Well, I am happy to report that I have recently been working. Still in the real estate world, however, on the escrow side. With all the foreclosures in the Phoenix area, we have been very busy. And keeping busy is just what I need right now. Consider me blessed!

If you know someone who has recently lost their job, please check in on them whenever you can. Keep in touch. It's a hard, lonely place to be in. You know, most often a "helping hand" is really just a good pair of ears.

My Heart Breaks

2009-05-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

Please keep this family in your prayers.

I have been following their story for a while now. Just a few short weeks ago, things were looking up. It seemed like their baby girl, who had been born prematurely, was going to finally get to come home. After all, the first ten months of her life had been spent in the hospital, undergoing seven major surgeries and 248 procedures. The smallest baby to ever have open heart surgery.

Tomorrow, a recently taped episode of "The Doctors" will air on television, sharing their story. (See the preview here.)

Today, I got this message via Facebook; "With a very heavy heart, I wanted to let all of you know that Kayleigh died last night. Please keep the Freeman family in your thoughts and prayers. God bless you all. Thank you for loving, supporting and praying for sweet Kayleigh."

I can't even begin to imagine what they are faced with this very moment, and will be faced with on the road ahead. Please, please pray for them.

Selling Yourself as a Commodity to Land that Job

2009-04-26T21:32:00.001-07:00

It can be said that selling yourself to land your next job is much like selling a commodity.

As opposed to a recent college grad, I have eight years of hands-on business to business sales experience to help me do this. My sales experience may not be recent experience, since I've had a non-selling job for the past eight years. Still, much of it is like riding a bike. You can't unlearn cold-calling and canvassing. You can't forget things like doing your homework on your prospect, and knowing to pitch the right products/services to your prospect. And one doesn't forget that there WILL be rejection - you can't take it personally. (Even it if is your "person" so to speak, that you're selling.)

The job market may just be the most competitive it's ever been in my lifetime. Sending out resumes to companies via snail-mail, facsimile, or even on-line is practically a futile effort. These companies are receiving hundreds of resumes for every job posted. Nobody is reading resumes anymore - they are scanned. It's survival of the fittest out there now, with thousands of applicants all vying for the same jobs. And the companies doing the hiring not only know this - they are using this to their advantage.

In order for me to stand out from the crowd, I'll need to develop a marketing strategy. I will need to devise an approach to give me an advantage over the competition. I will need to brand myself. I'll need to be memorable.

I am seriously considering setting up a professional blog, like this one, along with a video resume. Recruiters and hiring managers will have access to these links found on my social media websites. I am going to have some business cards made. I will have these with me where ever I go. I will give them to everyone I meet; at networking events, job fairs, on interviews, you name it.

What are some other things that a person can do that can give him/her an edge over the competition? Maybe it's bringing the hiring manager breakfast every day, until he agrees to hire you... or sending a singing telegram?

I'd be interested to hear what kinds of things you've heard about other people doing, or that you've personally tried to get your foot in the door. What was the outcome?

God Must Really Love Me!

2009-04-26T21:29:00.002-07:00

"God Must Really Love Me".

Tonight I watched a really heartwarming show on Dateline called "You Might Be Rich!" It showed some very deserving real-life people, who have been faced with various struggles, finding out that they have some money coming their way.

I would much rather see these kind of uplifting stories about people being blessed, than the doom and gloom we so often read (or watch) in the news these days.

But being blessed isn't necessarily about money. Most of us can find other evidence in our lives as to how we have been blessed by God.

Craig Morgan posted this video to give everyone an opportunity to share the reasons that they feel they have been blessed.

Upload a video to your YouTube Channel.

Then POST AS A VIDEO RESPONSE TO THIS VIDEO.

Please allow a couple of days for your video to show up in the video response section.

(If you don't feel like sharing, check out the video anyway. It has a pretty powerful message.)

Am I Pure Yet?

2009-04-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

I lost my job this week. The day after Easter. I tend to not spend too much time blogging about really significant events in my life. However, this event is about to change my life drastically.

I am a single mom. I am the sole breadwinner of my little family of two. Just over two years ago, I was fortunate enough to buy a modest house for my daughter and I to live in. It was our escape out of the 20 year-old condo complex in a run-down part of the metro-Phoenix area.

The condos were built in 1981, to originally serve as apartments. Somewhere along the way they were converted into condominiums. The ventilation system was all inner-connected with the other units, so our unit always smelled like cigarette smoke. We carried the smell on our clothes, and in our hair, so you just know we were also breathing it into our lungs. And there was no yard for my little girl to play in. There would be no way I would let her outside without an escort, in any event. We didn't know our neighbors - most of the units were rentals.

After our exodus from the rat-race, and moving to our new house together, I commuted on the inter-state over 30 miles to my job each day. I was able to come home every night to enjoy simple perks, such as parking inside my own garage, having a cold drink on my back patio, while my little girl could swing on her swing-set in the backyard. To me, nothing beats living in your own house. I'd rather be stuck doing my own home maintenance and yard work, than share to walls with neighbors and be able to hear their every move. Or compete for parking spaces in a parking lot with all other residents and nonresidents alike, leaving your car exposed to the elements, neighborhood cats, door dings and in some cases, theft and burglary.

Due to the housing crisis, my house, just like everyone else's house, has lost significant value. But that's not the real dilemma. My job was in the new home construction industry. My livelihood. When the housing market took a dive, so did my industry. And after so many months of steady decline in the building industry, our company had taken hit after hit in this lousy market, and was forced into filing chapter 11 last September.

Now, seven months later, the post-filing layoffs have begun. My job, and many others, has been eliminated. In the worst of all labor markets since (who really knows when?) the early 80's, the media reports. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about loosing my house. It may not be worth much nowadays, but it's my family's own little slice of heaven.

Now, I am just NOT sitting around, crying in my beer. I am rolling up my sleeves, asking everyone I know for a recommendation, personal reference, for any job leads they might know of. I am being proactive. I am going to be attending a "pink slip party" soon, which is a networking event for people who have just been laid off, or are worried that they might be laid off. I have my network built up on LinkedIn and Facebook. I have been hitting the on-line job boards and the job search engines. All the things I am supposed to do.

I know that I am going to have to put my nose to the grindstone and treat my job-search like a full-time job. I can't afford NOT to. After all, I don't have a husband to carry me through this. I didn't get a severance package. I don't have a fattened calf to slaughter. I don't have Daddy's money to bail me out.

Still, I have something greater than all these. Know what that is? My faith. This is a test of my faith. For some time now, I have been falling off my horse and getting back on, over and over again. The reason why I have been falling off so many times is because I keep taking my eyes off of God, and looking towards the ground. I haven't been walking by faith.

He is going to see me through this. He always takes care of me. He always makes sure I somehow survive. And when I come through this, I will be stronger. Purer. A very dear friend use to tell me, "The purest gold goes through the hottest fire."

Looking forward to being 24 karat, by the time this is all over with. :-)

Good Friday

2009-04-10T16:25:00.003-07:00

Good Friday is bittersweet for me. When I think of all that He endured on this day... the endless beatings, the humiliation and degradation, the cruel torture, the unbearable agony of the crucifixion... I am overcome with angst and emotion. I can't explain just how grief-stricken I feel inside.

And yet, I feel so incredibly grateful. Wow. WOW! He DIED for me. So that I could be SAVED. I certainly don't deserve it, and yet it has been done... for ME. A gift of grace. The realization of it all is so humbling. It makes me want to change my ways, become a better person.

I have news for you. He died for YOU, too.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-08T00:00:00.001-07:00

The Worst Drive-Thru Foods in America

2009-04-06T13:16:00.007-07:00

What I learned by reading this:

Avoid any sandwich made on honey wheat bread.
Stay away from the DQ Blizzard and opt for a small chocolate sundae instead.
You’d be better off eating two Quarter Pounders than McDonald's Large Triple Thick Chocolate Milkshake.
Skip biscuits at all costs.

The Worst Drive-Thru Foods in America

The Power of Connection

2009-04-03T08:51:00.005-07:00

Yesterday morning on the Air1 morning show, Scott Smith was talking about one of his Facebook friends reaching out to him last night. She is a military wife, living in Jacksonville, Florida. Her husband is currently serving overseas, and they have two small children.

She sent him a message that told him that she feels all alone; her family lives thousands of miles away, and she is hitting a wall by turning to alcohol for comfort. She recognizes that this is a serious problem. So, Scott in turn asked another female friend of his (who just happens to live in Jacksonville) to contact her and see if they can't get together for coffee, or whatnot. He went on to say that we need to realize "the power of connection" and there are many of us facing difficult times right now, and that many of us feel alone. Some of us in doing so, turn to alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc.

Wow. That is a giant step for her to reach out like she did. It's a simple gesture to send a message on Facebook. But to admit that you feel overwhelmed and that you feel swallowed whole by life is a huge undertaking. If you have no trouble asking for help when you need it, well, you are much better off than most of us.

I know that when I am hurting, my tendency is to turn AWAY from others. To withdraw and disconnect. Which is really counter-productive, because people just assume that I am busy, and thinking that I need more space, they leave me alone. And a result, I feel even more alienated from my friends and loved ones. It's a vicious cycle. And it doesn't make any sense, because I have nothing to loose by reaching out, but there is much at stake if I don't.

When I was in my twenties, I used to turn to food. I was a very unhappy person in very unhappy circumstances. Food was my "drug of choice" because it widely available, and gave me comfort. Food was my friend who could always cheer me up when I was sad. Food never chastised me. Food never belittled me. Food never pushed me, threw things at me, and it never called me names. Food was there for me when I felt that no one else cared. Food gave me security. I wanted out of my circumstances, and food was a temporary reprieve.

Most of us are really good at holding things in, and covering up emotions. If connecting with another person early on helps keep us from turning to unhealthy things, maybe we should heed his advice. Connect with one person each day, before the end of the day. Even if you don't feel like it. Maybe the person on the other end really needs that connection. Most of the time, we don't really know what is going on in that person's life. They could be going through hell. Maybe it's YOU who is going through hell. You don't need to go through it alone.

Reach out and connect. What have you got to loose?

Connect with me on Twitter.

Arizona State Superintendent Tom Horne Says "Don't Panic"

2009-04-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

Arizona State Superintendent Tom Horne says that some school districts have overreacted by assuming that budget cuts will total 60%, and are already planning teacher layoffs. This is "dangerous" according to Mr. Horne, because this negatively affects the teacher's morale, which will in turn affect the students, and ultimately hurt their education.

Horne stated:

“There are still a lot of uncertainties, and estimates are dangerous. However, some school districts have overreacted, and are planning to send out notices for layoffs of teachers based on assumed 60 percent budget cuts, which are way out of proportion to anything that can be reasonably anticipated. These excessive layoff notices can create unnecessary panic and consternation, and can adversely affect the quality of education by damaging the morale of teachers who, in the final analysis, would not lose their jobs. It is therefore important, that even though there is uncertainty, the schools have an idea of the proportion of cuts to be anticipated.”

(This advice might have been more beneficial given sooner, as the AIMS tests were held yesterday.)

See his idea on the federal stimulus package, and how it may relate to pending cuts in the state education budget here:
pr03-31-09.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-01T05:14:00.001-07:00

A Great Way to Save Money on Good Food

2009-03-28T17:42:00.006-07:00

Today I picked up my first order from Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op.

Bountiful Baskets is not a business, but rather a group of people who work together for mutual benefit. Two moms started the co-op, and not as an entrepreneurial venture, but as a way to purchase quality, fresh food for their families. They are a grass roots, all volunteer, no contracts, no "catch" co-operative. They depend on volunteers to make it happen.

I got a variety of fresh fruit and produce, plus five loaves of multi-grain bread - all for the cost of $29.50, which included a handling fee of $1.50, and a $3 "first-timer" charge. This is a great deal, and you are helping others get a great deal, too. With the conventional produce offering, you get approximately $50 worth of grocery store-quality produce.

Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op has many different pickup sites throughout the Phoenix metro area, and will soon serve the Yuma area. Mine was at a local park, just a couple miles from my house. I am very pleased that they actually have not one, but TWO sites in my little community. (I initially thought I would have to drive over 30 miles into Phoenix for something like this.) They operate every two weeks at each site.

As a group, they purchase items at deep discounts. Items are then distributed evenly among participants. They use their website to make monetary contributions toward the pools of money used to purchase products. Contributions for participation are collected for the amount required in each pool by the deadline listed on their website. For produce baskets, they purchase from a warehouse that supplies produce to many local restaurants and grocery stores. In my opinion, this is better than the produce you would get from a grocery store.

You'll get a variety of high-quality seasonal produce. They balance variety with seasonality in order to get the most appealing and cost-effective basket possible. There are even organic baskets available at some pick up locations. In any event, the co-op encourages a healthier lifestyle.

Here's what I got today:

Make sure that you bring some kind of a container to take your produce home in! Laundry baskets, coolers, grocery bags, and boxes work great. Each site has a 20 minute pickup window. Please show up on time (see the "Pickup Times" table on their homepage for site pickup times). Perishable items that are not picked up within 30 minutes are donated to the local firehouse.

Find them on FaceBook.

The Morning After Airing of the Debate

2009-03-27T13:27:00.013-07:00

Did anyone get the opportunity to watch the ABC Nightline Face-Off last night?

The debate was "Does Satan Exist?" between Pastor Mark Driscoll and Annie Lobert vs. Carlton Pearson and Deepak Chopra.

I wish I could have stayed up late enough to see the debate. With my weekday routine being what it is, I normally can't last past 8:30pm (I am up before the crack of dawn). I plan to watch it online later, when I get some time to myself.

I did peruse a few other blogs today, pertaining to the show. Very intriguing.

Here's what some other bloggers are saying about the debate:

Zach Probst

Allison Huynh

Terri Mackmer

Amy Letinsky

Dr. Derek Vreeland

Russell McKinney

From what I read, Pastor Mark Driscoll rather enjoyed the debate. In closing he said, "My hope would be just that people would reexamine their beliefs. Particularly if they are not Christian. To go back to considering some of the issues of Christianity and Jesus. You are not going to change someone's mind with one debate or one television show. But you can set them on a course of action whereby they study and maybe come to some new conclusions."

That is a great idea! Don't just take someone's word for it - study Scripture for yourself. Take the time to delve into the Bible with a fine-tooth comb.

Read the blogs of Pastor Mark Driscoll and Annie Lobert.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2009-03-26T13:36:00.005-07:00

This is what I found this morning in my little girl's backpack:

"My favorite day of the week is Friday because I get to see my Dad and play with Ema."

(Emma is the little girl who lives next door to my daughter's dad.)

Conjures up so many emotions.

Does Satan Exist? (You might not like my answer.)

2009-03-25T12:43:00.006-07:00

Do I believe that satan exists? Most definitely. I believe that he is alive and well, and continually wreaking havoc amongst all people. I don't believe that satan is merely a synonym for our own sinful nature. No.

I also believe in Angels. In fact, Lucifer (satan) took one-third of all the angels in heaven when he was cast out by the Archangel, Michael (Revelation 12:7-9). Right this very moment, there are many of his fallen angels doing his dirty work, right here with us on Earth.

Do I believe that there is a hell? Yes I do, unfortunately. Do I believe that many people will inevitably end up there? Yes, I do. And I don't wish that fate for anyone. The enemy would have us all believe that there is no such place. (Of course, why else would we repent if there was no hell?) But unfortunately that doesn't jibe with what the Bible says (Revelation 20:10, Matthew 25:41). And I believe that hell is far worse than we are capable of imagining. FAR worse. I truly wish things could be different.

What about those people who never hear the Gospel? What about those who are never taught about the Messiah, or taught about repentance? I do not consider myself a teacher. In fact, I have asked this very same question myself, and have been given various answers. I am not sure that any one person has the definitive answer.

Let's take those isolated people in remote parts of the Amazon, who have never had contact with other cultures, outside of their own. How are they going to be saved? I am not sure of how - whether it's given to each of them in some sort of personal revelation (dreams, visions, some subtle sign) - or if the Holy Spirit lays some kind of conviction on their heart (Romans 2:14,15). I believe that somehow, they are shown the way. God has promised us that He will reveal Himself to us, and has done so in a number of ways, before the Bible (as we know it today) even existed (Romans 1:20). I don't believe that God would deliberately play "hide the ball" so to speak, with these people. How would that serve His purpose to create them, and yet deny them any opportunities for entry into heaven (Genesis 18:25)?

I understand that they will be judged differently than those who have heard the Gospel, and yet still chose to reject it (2 Thessalonians 1:8,9). And people who lived and died before the Pentecost will be judged in accordance to the Law (Romans 2:12). Infants, unborn babies, and small children - anyone under the age of accountability - will go to heaven (2 Samuel 12:23).

A little about me. I consider myself a non-denominational Christian. However, my family is predominately multi-generational Methodist. I grew up going to church and Sunday school weekly. I attended the United Methodist Youth Fellowship functions. I was "christened" as a baby. I went to Vacation Bible School every summer. I went to church camp. My parents raised me with Methodist values. However, I was not truly saved until I made the personal decision to ask for salvation. In spite of having a religious upbringing and training, I needed to take the initiative with my own salvation. Or risk damnation.

It was not my parents that told me this. In fact, my parents had been somewhat cavalier about my salvation. I'm not sure why. My grandmother was the one who planted the seed, sharing Bible stories with me at her kitchen table over homemade chicken and dumplings and fresh rhubarb pie. And I recall my brother warning me about the tribulation and the rapture. When I was a teenager, my best friend's mother was constantly inviting us to Christian rock concerts, and sharing her testimony with us kids. And when I was 19, a very near and dear friend of mine (thank you Robbie!) finally broke through to me. That was the pivotal moment when I made the decision to accept Jesus as my personal savior. And boy, did I need Him!

I hope this doesn't come off sounding sanctimonious. I am a total sinner! I am FAR from perfect or righteous. I have made some bad choices in the 20 years since, and life has gotten pretty rough at times. Like a child, I get off track and need some redirecting now and then. My Heavenly Father will not cast me aside just because I occasionally disobey, like a "bad child". He loves me unconditionally, and no matter how badly I botch things up, He always has my back, and nothing can snatch me from His hand. Certainly NOT satan.

A man came to Charles Finney, the well-known evangelist, and said, "I don't believe in the existence of a devil." "Don't you?" asked Finney. "Well, you resist him for a while, and you will believe in it."

Watch the "Nightline Face-Off: Does Satan Exist?" Thursday, March 26, 2009, on ABCNews.com & 11:35 p.m. on "Nightline"

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-25T02:18:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-18T00:00:00.002-07:00

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-15T15:00:00.003-07:00

A little sampling of St. Patrick's Day and Irish-themed snippets for you:

The story of St. Patrick:

So, who do you suppose Saint Patrick was? What have you heard about him?

Some of you may have heard that he was an Irish lad named Patrick, that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland, that he was the first missionary to introduce Christianity to Ireland, or that he favored using the shamrock to teach people about the Holy Trinity. Well, these are all myths. We do not know for certain the date he was born, or the date he died, or even if he was ordained as Catholic or Protestant (although some would argue that they know either to be true.)

In the late fourth century, Maewyn Succat (later known as St. Patrick, from the Latin name Patercius) was born in what is now Great Britain to a wealthy, high-ranking family - Roman subjects. When Maewyn was 16, Irish raiders invaded his family's estate, murdered his family, kidnapped and sold Maewyn into slavery. He was taken to Ireland, and remained there for the next six years, working as a shepherd.

Although his family raised him Roman Catholic (it is said that his grandfather was a priest, and his father was a deacon), he had been (like many youth) spiritually rebellious. Now orphaned and completely broken, tragedy, isolation and fear finally brought him to Christ. His faith and love for God were ignited, and he spent much time praying and fasting. He later wrote that one night he had heard a voice in a dream, which he believed was a revelation from God, which said, "You fast well; soon you will go to your fatherland."

He wrote, "And again, after a very short time, I heard the heavenly voice saying to me, ‘Lo, your ship is ready.’ And it was not near at hand, but was distant, perhaps two hundred miles. And I had never been there, nor did I know any person living there. And there upon I shortly took flight and left the man with whom I had been for six years. And I came in the strength of God, who prospered my way for good; and I met with nothing to alarm me until I reached that ship" (Confession of St. Patrick 17 [A.D. 452]). This prompted his escape from Ireland. His escape was nothing short of miraculous.

After escaping and having a second revelation, 15 years later he was ordained as a priest, and began his missionary journey back to Ireland. He not only wanted to minister to Christians already living in Ireland, but to also convert the Irish non-believers to Christianity. He chose to incorporate native Irish beliefs and ritual into his lessons, which proved effective. For the rest of his life, he ordained priests, founded churches and monasteries, taught, preached, baptized, praised God, and when he was finished, nearly all of Ireland was Christian.

St. Patrick, the holy and tutular man
His beard down his bosom like Aaron's ran:
Some from Scotland, some from Wales, will declare that he came,
But I care not from whence now he's risen to fame;
The pride of the world and his enemies scorning
I will drink to St. Patrick, today in the Morning!
He's a desperate big, little Erin go brah;
He will pardon our follies and promise us joy,
By the mass, by the Pope, by St. Patrick so long
As I live, I will give him a beautiful song!
No saint is so good, Ireland's country adorning:
Then hail to St. Patrick, today, in the morning!
-Traditional Irish song

Quotes of the Irish:

Winston Churchill
"We have always found the Irish a bit odd. They refuse to be English."

Barry McCaffrey
"When I get a very generous introduction like that I explain that I'm emotionally moved, but on the other hand I'm Irish and the Irish are very emotionally moved. My mother is Irish and she cries during beer commercials."

Oliver Herford
"The Irish gave the bagpipes to the Scotts as a joke, but the Scotts haven't seen the joke yet."

Brendan Behan
"If it was raining soup, the Irish would go out with forks."

James Boswell
"The Irish are a very fair people, they never speak well of one another."

Colin Farrell
"Being Irish is very much a part of who I am. I take it everywhere with me."

Oscar Wilde
"I can resist everything except temptation."

Irish Proverbs:

A friend's eye is a good mirror.
A hair on the head is worth two on the brush.
A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life.
A trade not properly learned is an enemy.
A turkey never voted for an early Christmas.
As the big hound is, so will the pup be.
Better be quarrelling than lonesome.
Don't talk about a rope in the house of someone whose father was hung.
Even a small thorn causes festering.
Everyone is wise until he speaks.
Good as drink is, it ends in thirst.
If you do not sow in the spring you will not reap in the autumn.
It is a long road that has no turning.
It is not a secret if it is known by three people.
It takes time to build castles. Rome was not built in a day.
Nodding the head does not row the boat.
Praise the ripe field not the green corn.
Put silk on a goat, and it's still a goat.
The man with the boots does not mind where he places his foot.
There is no fireside like your own fireside.
Time is a great story teller.
When a twig grows hard it is difficult to twist it. Every beginning is weak.
You never miss the water till the well has run dry.

Irish Blessing:

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

Enjoy these delicious recipes:

Crock Pot Corned Beef with Cabbage

Ingredients:

3-4 lb. corned beef brisket
Water
1/2 c. chopped onions
3 carrots, cut in 3 inch pieces (optional)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1 head cabbage, cut into wedges

Directions:

Place corned beef in large crock pot. Barely cover with water. Add onion, carrots, garlic and bay leaves. Cover and cook on low 10 to 12 hours. Serves 6 to 8.

For Cabbage: Place cabbage wedges around beef for last 30 minutes or cooking time or until done.

No Peek Irish Beef Stew

Ingredients:

2 pounds cubed stew meat
6 carrots, chopped
2 onions, chopped
2 cups cubed potatoes
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons tapioca flour
1 cup tomato-vegetable juice cocktail

Directions:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
In a roasting pan, combine the meat, carrots, onions and potatoes. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, tapioca flour and juice cocktail and mix well. Pour this mixture over the meat and vegetables and cover tightly with foil.
Bake in the preheated oven for 5 hours.

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9"x5" loaf pan.

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda. Toss the raisins with the flour mixture until coated. Blend egg and buttermilk together, and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in butter. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Wrap in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor.

Have a wonderful and safe St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

I got tagged for a fun meme from Under The BIG blue Sky . Since I don't get tagged very often, I thought I should give it a try!

The rules:

1. Respond and re-work: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.

2. Tag eight other un-tagged people. (I guess I am a rule-breaker... I am only tagging five!)

Tagging (only if they want to):

Yes, That's My Child Screaming
Eyeglasses & Endzones
He & Me + 3
Mom Taxi
21st Century Dad

Have fun!

***

What is your current obsession: Somehow clearing all of the weeds out of my backyard.

What are you wearing now: Jeans, running shoes, baseball cap and a striped T-shirt.

Who was the last person you hugged: My daughter.

Who is the last person who kissed you: My sweet daughter.

If you were a tree, what tree would you be: A eucalyptus tree.

What’s for dinner: A $5.00 footlong from Subway.

What was the last thing you bought: My Subway sandwich.

What are you listening to right now: Someone singing on the PBS channel, via TV from the living room.

What is your favorite weather: sunny, mid to upper 70's.

What is on your bedside table: Clutter - a lamp, lotion bottle, alarm clock, my girl's book "Sassy," a bottle of Ginko Biloba, a jar of Carmex, a bottle of Benedryl, a half-empty drinking glass, a liquid potpourri warmer, and a ponytail holder.

What is your most challenging goal right now: To make sure I keep my day job... the one that pays the bills.

Say something to the person who tagged you: You are such a wonderful mother to your girls!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished, where do you want it to be: On top of a mountain, with this kind of view (see house, upper left):

Name the things you cannot live without: I can't live without clothes (can't stand to be naked), can't live without food, can't live without water, can't live without shoes (can't stand to go outside barefoot), can't live without oxygen.

What would you like to have in your hands right now: The winning lottery ticket.

Hot or Cold coffee: hot coffee, with milk.

What would you like to get rid of: All this clutter in my house, car and garage.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go: On a cruise ship, somewhere on deck where I can sit and watch the stars.

If you could have your portrait painted/made by any famous artist from any era, who would you choose: Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun.

What is your favorite book: Gone with the Wind.