Rheumatology Visit, Please Pray For Me

How wonderful it is to have people that will lift you up and pray with and for you. As most of you know, I had back surgery this past summer and I have Fibrolyalgia.

I also have 3 doctors that seem to work against each other instead of together at times and or blame each other for my problem. I am used to it, though I don't like it.

I went to see my Rheumatologist today and talked to him about my concerns with my memory lately, my agitation at times, inability to speak or concentrate. He is very concerned, but states that the medications I am on should not be causing me these side effects, so as of today, he is taking me off both my medications to see if things improved.

Funny, after looking up the side effects on one of my medications, it seems that almost everything I am going through is directly related to one of my medications. So, I will stop taking both and see what happens.

In the meantime, I am asking you to say a prayer for me that I will not have excess pain, spasms or other side effects from coming off my medications so quickly!

Christian Shirt Giveaway

I am having a January giveaway and if you look on my left sidebar, you will see the link to sign up. One of this months sponsors is Rachelle of Christian Shirts.net who has generously agreed to give one of my blog followers a free Christian Tee-shirt of their choosing in their size.

Here is an interview I did with Rachelle. I hope you stop by her store, tell her you came from this blog and hopefully you will make a purchase and let me know. I would also like to encourage each and everyone of you that have a local Christian bookstore in your area to go in and check out their tee-shirts and if you don't like what you see, encourage the owner of the store to check out Rachelle's shop and put some of their things in stock!

Always, no matter what your political believes may be, remember all of our sponsors are donating these items, so keep politics out of the mix!

Interview with the owner of Christian Shirts.net
1. First name; Rachelle

2. You have such a wonderful mixture of tee shirts, magnets, bumper stickers, etc. in your shop, do you screen print or make any of your own items?
We print all clothing, stickers, bumper stickers, address labels, magnets, coasters, mousepads, and buttons here. By doing this, we are able to customize our designs or print custom images for our customers.

3. Everyone loves tee-shirts, how did you make the decision to open a tee-shirt shop?
Soon after we got married, we were looking online at Christian shirts. We had a lot of unique ideas in mind and began to look into how to print our own shirts. So, about six years ago, we started with just a few designs and only a few products. The Lord has given us this opportunity to work together and have our own small business, so we always pray about what the Lord would like us to do with it.

4. I know yours is a family run business, but is it run by family only or do you hire outside help?
My husband and I run the business. We happen to live far from our families, so we pretty much do it all by ourselves.

5. I love to promote handmade shops, local shops and Christian blogs and shops. Do you sell on Ebay or other arenas you would like my readers to know about?
We don’t sell our products on any other websites, although our shirts are in a few small bookstores. We also have another website for Christian artists, VirtuousPlanet.com. At Virtuous Planet, we invite others to upload their art and sell it on our merchandise. They get commission for each product sold. The nice thing about Virtuous Planet is that we approve all of the images, so only family-friendly images are approved. A Christian artist does not have to worry about other artists on the site uploading images that do not align with Christian values.

6. So many of us dream about opening our own businesses and you have made your dream come true. Ever think about going back to work for someone else?
I was a math teacher for seven years. Although I loved teaching, it did not offer me the flexibility that owning my own business provides me. Even though I am in a different line of work now with this business, I am happy to be doing the Lord’s work by sharing pro-life and Christian messages.

7. What is your favorite item in your store and why?
My favorite design is the side profile of the unborn baby with Psalm 118:23, “This is the Lord’s doing; and it is wonderful in our eyes.” This is my favorite because it sums up the mission of our business.

8. Is there a slow season to shirt sales? What about a busy season?
The busiest season is the Christmas season. It slows down right after Christmas and tends to pick up as the year goes on.

9. What do you do to relax?
Watch movies, spend time with my husband, play cards and board games with friends. Another thing I do in my spare time is sidewalk counsel. I would encourage all pro-lifers to spend at least a little time in front of an abortion clinic praying. You never know…God might just call you to sidewalk counsel, too. I certainly did not expect to be called to sidewalk counseling, but it is a vital ministry in the pro-life movement, and I feel blessed to be part of it.

10. Any other thing you would like my readers to know? Favorite book, band, movies, etc.?
One of my favorite movies is Faith Like Potatoes. I like it because it is based on a true story and has a strong message about putting faith in God. At the same time, just because Angus puts his faith in God, it does not mean that everything in his life turns out perfect. It also doesn’t mean that you can just sit back and relax now that you put your faith and trust in Him. You still have to go out there and do the Lord’s work which will usually include some type of sacrifice for you and your family.

Thank you for the opportunity to be part of your blogging family!

Are You Unemployed and Looking For Work?

Hello and welcome to my blog! If you are unemployed and looking for work and have been looking for work for awhile now (over 6 months), I want you to know that you are not alone and I want you to know there are prayers going up for you even though you may be in direct competition with me for that job.

My name is Jean Kester and I have been looking for full-time employment since September 2007 when my husband and I moved from the Phoenix area where I was a police/fire dispatcher and trainer for over twelve years.

I am ever so thankful I took early retirement as that paycheck is what pays my monthly car payment. We were smart enough to pay off my husbands truck before moving. While I had done all my research for years into the Grays Harbor area including employment, I could never have guessed the economy would tank, the mill would close down and employers in my area only want to hire people they know. That is a hard cold fact!

Sure, I get frustrated, I plead with God, I pray, I do everything I am told one should do when looking for a job and trust me, I have learned so much from past mistakes that I probably over study. But I want you to know there is someone out here who cares and who will listen!

I have decided that 2010 is the year I am going to get a job, I am going to wear red and toss all the so called professionals opinions out the door with the floor dust! This is the year, I am going to do what I feel is right and not what others say we must do because none of their ideas has worked for me.

Be yourself, look your best, do your best and no matter what, wear red it that makes you feel good or purple, pink, orange just look neat, clean and professional. I am convinced it is what you say about yourself and how well you can perform the job that gets you in the door.

Lets face it, drab colors like beige, brown and black have to get boring for the interviewers as well!

Professional Interviewer

You have heard of professional students? They are students that spend so much time going to school and changing majors with very little motivation to really do anything but attend school and many times just a few semesters shy of receiving a diploma, they quickly change majors so they do not have to quit going to school.

Well, I am beginning to believe that I am a professional interviewer and resume submitter. I have submitted over 200 job applications and resumes in the past 2 1/2 years and out of those applications and resumes, I have had less than 10 interviews and each time I walk away from an interview, I feel this is going to be the job I am hired for and each time I am told basically, thanks but no thanks!

Today, I drove a little over an hour for a job interview and for the first time, I walked out and I just have no idea how well I did. A week ago I had an interview that I felt went great and didn't hear back from anyone and that was for a part-time position. This position is for a full-time position, but I am afraid to think how it will go because I don't want to find out once more I am not accepted.

I know 200 people applied and out of those, I was blessed to have an interview, so I know I am lucky thus far. Out of 200 perhaps there were 30 or so invited to test and out of those I was told a bit more than 1/2 didn't make it. I am still in the running, so I feel good, but not good enough to get my hopes up.

Yes, in spite of what we are told, I wore red to my interview. I am just so tired of wearing beige, black, brown or blue that I wanted something to cheer me up. So, I will pray that God's will be done and wait for the answers!

Prayer Book or Album

I am a member of the Proverbs 31 ministries, meaning I read their devotionals everyday, I follow their blogs and just love the uplifting messages I receive when I am on their web-site, it is very inspirational and thought provoking for me.

Today, I was reading the daily devotional about how we all need to strive to be today what we want to be tomorrow and always put our best foot, words, etc. forward. What I loved was reading about a woman who has a prayer book she uses to pray for others.

I have been around many wonderful Christ filled women, but none have ever shared this amazing idea with me, nor have I ever thought of it. Take a book...any type of empty book I am guessing, (notebook, journal, construction paper, etc.) and have a picture of the person you are praying for in it along with their name and other information such as prayers and answers.

I am so going to go out and begin this and I am starting with those people that need our prayers the most, our leaders from city government to the President of the United States, I am going to put them in my book and pray for them each day. I am going to pray for all our troops and their families as well and no, I can't have their pictures, but if I have a few as a reminder to pray for them, it will be fine.

Of course family members you would want to put in, friends, neighbors and anyone else who will allow you to take their picture and be up front, tell them why you are taking their picture, so you can pray for them.

Have a blessed day and please, say a prayer for me today as I truly need prayers!

Prayers

How many prayers are listed in the Bible? I am not sure, but I found a source that states around 85 not including the Psalms. Prayer is so important that Jesus even told us how to pray in Luke 11:1-4 and Matthew 6:9-13(King James Version):

'Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, They kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.'

I have not always been the best at prayer. Oh sure, I have always prayed and prayed everyday, off and on throughout the day, at night before bedtime, when in need, when in pain, when I had my surgery, when I am thankful, etc..

But, I haven't always been really faithful about getting up in the morning and putting God and prayer first and for the longest time when I prayed at night as ashamed as I am to admit it, I always fell asleep.

I have been a strong prayer partner and prayed for others, for our leaders, my pastors, my family and I have seen prayers answered in the most amazing ways. While as I have said in the past, I am a very strong person and am not shy about speaking up or speaking to others, I have never liked to pray in front of others. However, God wants me to be an intercessory and I have seen that so clearly lately.

The woman I met and prayed for last week at her place of business and invited her to our church never showed up on Sunday. However, today, as I was walking into a local grocery store that I rarely shop at, the same woman with a small child was coming out the door. She recognized me and I her and we talked for a few moments but I didn't mention church, I could see she almost dreaded seeing me.

Than I spoke with a member of my churches prayer team and she and a few others prayed specifically for that business and its employees and the owners and she had a similar happening at the same place with a younger employee. Must be something in the water, haha! While I gave the woman a business card for our church, the prayer team member left the young girl with a book our church wrote.

Prayer, it is powerful and when others begin to intercede, powerful things happen and God begins to work miracles and I believe God wants to work in me and use me to intercede in prayer on the behalf of others.

We can all pray for those we know need prayer. We also need to make a commitment to pray for others. I use Mala beads when I pray and as I touch each bead, I pray for a different person or happening. You can also use a Rosary, a large linked chain or anything else that will help you to pray and name all the people on your prayer list.

Try praying for these people:

• Your pastor and his family
• Your neighbor (yes, even if you don't like them)
• Your co-workers
• The overwhelmed mother you saw in tears in the store
• The single father
• The elderly neighbor
• Your city council
• The person sitting in the vehicle of a car wreck you passed on your way to work
• Police officers
• Fire fighters
• Teachers
• Doctors

Prayers are beautiful to the Lords ears and He isn't looking for fancy words or hour long prayers, He is looking at the genuineness of your heart! Try praying and let me know how it is working out for you. If you would like to join me in prayer, let me know!

January Giveway, You Won't Want To Miss This One!

We have two wonderful shops that have generously agreed to be sponsors of my January giveaway and each one offers beautiful items at wonderful prices. **The two shop giveaways are open to United States residents Only** The note cards and fabric is open to international residents**The first one is Amy from ajewelgift at Zibbet and you will see in our interview that she has several other shops as well.



Amy makes fused glass items and the ones I fell in love with, were the barrettes with animal themes like dogs and bunnies and they are amazing in their detail. For someone who knows a special child or even adult with long hair that is a true animal lover, these barrettes would be a perfect item for them.



I do not know about you, but when I go to WalMart to buy hair supplies for my granddaughters, barrettes are not cheap and the cute ones start out much higher and you get your typical run of the mill everyone has one like it plastic barrette. Amy makes fused glass barrettes starting out at $5.50 plus a $2 shipping charge.



With ajewelgift, you get beautiful hand made and uniquely designed barrettes and earrings for that special someone. Easter and Valentines is right around the corner, kids are back in school and these would make the best stocking stuffers ever! What about the girls that attend school and have to wear uniforms? One of Amy's barrettes would be a perfect complement to the basic blue/tan or green uniform.



Amy is donating not one, but two barrettes to one lucky winner. A small and a 3" of her choice.



Interview with the owner of Ajewelgift:
1. First name: Amy
2. You have such an eclectic mixture of glass items in your shop, how did you decide what you wanted to make? It may be eclectic because I can never settle on just one idea thousands of ideas popping around in my head in terms of different things to do or to try. Usually I narrow in on something that has a specific goal (i.e., this would make a great gift for my friend) and then branch off from there. It’s also true that what you see in my shop are the successes… I try a number of things that don’t work out that well and sometimes I’ll leave an idea alone for a while after one try and then come back and try it again a few months later. Eventually it morphs into something I’m happy with.
3. Wow! Crafting since you were 3 is amazing, what types of mediums have you worked in and what are your favorites besides fused glass? I’ve worked with glass, fabric, wood, and a little bit of metal. Aside from fused glass, my current second passion is making jewelry.
4. How long have you been with Zibbet? I joined in December of 2009.
5. Do you have other shops on Etsy or Art Fire? I do… http://www.ajewelgift.etsy.com/ and http://www.ajewelgift.artfire.com/ and http://www.aholidaygift.artfire.com/
6. Do you sell on Ebay? I do, www.stores.ebay.com/ajewelgift
7. What is your favorite piece in your shop and why? Of the items currently listed, it’s probably a tie between the german shepherd ponytail barrette and the small black and white barrette. The ponytail barrette took quite a bit of time to achieve the result that I wanted, so I like it because it finally worked. The small black and white barrette is just adorable and functional, and somehow just grabs me. I have a number of other items to add to the listings... just need to find a little more time to get them all up :-)
8. You live in the Phoenix area and I lived their for 22 years, have you been able to get any of your jewelry in the local craft shops or resorts? I have not pursued this at this point in time. I have been at a number of local craft fairs.
9. What has been your favorite place to live and why? Probably Hawaii. I really enjoyed the culture there and loved kayaking in the ocean.
10. Any other thing you would like my readers to know? The flavor of dog and animal themed items in my shop is no accident. I’ve loved animals my entire life, and our house is currently filled with 5 dogs.


**This portion of the giveaway is open to United States residents only.** For my international readers, watch for an upcoming giveaway especially for you!**

The second shop to generously agree to donate is Rachelle over at Christian Shirts.net. Rachelle and her family make beautiful Christian tee-shirts, magnets, bumper stickers, etc.. and she has agreed to donate a shirt to this giveaway. One lucky reader gets a tee-shirt of their choosing.

I know Christmas was just a few short weeks ago, but head on over to Rachelles shop at this time where they have an awesome bargain of shirts for only $10 and if you need shirts for your special event or group, contact Rachelle.

I personally love the Frog (Forever Rely on God) shirt and the Pray It Forward shirt, but there are so many to choose from, the more I look the more favorites I have. I will be posting an interview from Rachelle here later.**This portion of the giveaway is open to United States Residents only**

Now for my many international followers who have been such wonderful readers and supporters of this blog, I am offering the following up for anyone to have a chance to win:

This is an adorable little note card tin that comes with 12 100% recycled greeting cards, tin and envelopes and the ink is soy based, so not only are you receiving this, you are winning something that is earth friendly.

Not only are these note cards, they are actually an assortment of 12 birthday cards, so you won't have to rush out at the last moment for a birthday card, you will have them on hand.

The next portion of the international giveaway is fabric. Once again I am giving up some of my stash and the lucky winner will receive a small mailing envelope full of fabric. There will be no junk and no tiny pieces.

Contest Rules: ( I know, but we all need rules!)

1- Contest open from today, January 5, 2010 until 6:00 p.m. PST January 15th.

2-You MUST leave an email address with your comment so I can notify you when you win. Comments left without an email address will not be counted.

3-You have 3 days from the time I post winners and send you an email to send me a valid mailing address. If you do not notify me within 3 days, you will forfeit your prize and I will choose someone else.

4-Entries are counted like this:

* -Leaving a comment here or anywhere on this blog gives you one entry per comment.

* -Go to ajewelgift or christian shirts.net, look around their sites, come back and leave me a post about your favorite thing in their shops and receive 5 more entries, leave them a comment you came from this blog when you are there!

* -Blog about this giveaway and receive 5 more entries

* -Follow me and receive 5 more entries or if you already follow me, let me know. Please let me know if you are a new follower!

* -Purchase something from either one or both of these shops, send me a confirmation Email of your purchase (I do not need to have personal information) and you will recieve an additional 10 entries. Purchasing something does not guarantee you will win!

Please make each entry separate as they are easier for me to count that way. Good Luck everyone and keep those comments coming!

I Love Old Quilt Patterns

A few years back, I was blessed to inherit quite a few older quilting magazines and books in pristine condition and even though I had to travel north of Seattle to pick them up, it was worth the ride and I was going to be in Seattle that day anyway.........

For the longest time, they sat neatly stacked in my basement and then I went through each magazine and decided which ones I wanted to keep and which patterns I wanted to use and the rest I sold on Ebay, gave away to some quilters I knew and even gave some to the local pre-school.

I love this table runner by Cindy Taylor called, 'Dash Away Runner.' I found it on page 23 of the 1991 Quilt World Christmas magazine and just fell in love with it. Back in 1991, I wasn't even quilting or knew how to quilt, so I didn't even know this magazine or pattern existed until a few years ago.

I made a few modifications to mine. Cindy's was 25" x 47" with an inner and outer border. Mine is 16" x 47" with a single border. Cindy's had a moon and a star on it, I only used the star and mine was made without batting. I also embellished the two lead reindeer with red bows around their necks. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, just don't tell Dasher and Dancer!

It has been neatly ironed, folded and placed in my seasonal quilt box until next Christmas.

Kids Back To School Today

I have been a very bad Ranny, last week our little guy lost his second tooth and I took a picture of him and forgot to post it for everyone to see. This time, he pulled it out on his own (his oldest sister did anyway) as opposed to having his sister knock it out. So, now for the New Year, he really does want his two front teeth!

As you can tell, he actually has them in, they just need to come forward and slide in between his other teeth!

It took a few days for the tooth fairy to perform its job because he has such a death grip on his tooth trying to catch her as she removed it and gave him his 4 shiny quarters. Finally, disappointed 3 days later, he was rewarded.

So, they are back in school today and I have my bed made, my bathroom clean, breakfast is finished, my daily devotionals are read, my daily Bible reading is done, appointments have been made and all calls completed and it isn't even 11:00 yet!

I want to finish a quilt today, work on another one, do laundry and fix dinner. When I am home alone laundry means going out my side door, down the steps, walk around to my back door and go into the basement and I usually get a load done and then I am done and can't do anymore.

So, what are your plans today?

Do not forget that tomorrow I will be listing my giveaway and it will be fabulous. I have 2 shops (one handmade & one not) that have graciously donated to me for you, so please, when I list these shops, think ahead, think about birthdays, Christmas, Easter, special treats and don't just leave a comment for them, think about purchasing one or two items for gifting later this year.

Yes, I know it is right after Christmas, but it is the time of year my mom starts her shopping and I try to here and there. Just remember these people are like you, they make handmade items or own private shops (they aren't big box stores) and they rely on all of us.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, no more about it until tomorrow!

How Many Handmade Items Have You Purchased?

Last year, I was commited to purchasing handmade items from at least once shop in Etsy, Zibbet or Art Fire each month and I must say that I really did well until my surgery in June and my second surgery in July when I could no longer sit at the computer very well and when my paycheck came to an abrupt stop.

However, on that note, I purchased handmade soaps, note cards, a locket for my granddaughter, teachers valentine cards, a tea cozy, a diaper bag for my daughter in law and a few other things. I supported the breast cancer site in May by purchasing items for my Mothers Day giveaway and I purchased fabric and bamboo batting from on-line shops that participate in the Quilt Dash.

I was in a few apron swaps, fabric swaps and color swaps and I enjoyed each one of them and my grandchildren, well, they love to open all the new packages that arrive in the mail and see what was in them and once in awhile, you blessed them as well by enclosing some chocolates, cute stickers or even fabric to make them aprons with.

I know many of you make and sell handmade, but my question is, do you purchase handmade?
I am not the handmade police, but I believe with the economy the way it is, is more important than ever to support each other and purchase things we would normally purchase from the big 'W,' to purchase from someone who puts love and caring into their products, not buys stuff from China.

I hope you will take a moment and answer my survey on handmade and if you do purchase something handmade, would you please drop me a note, let me know what you purchased, the name of the shop and its URL? I love finding new shops and once again this year, I hope to purchase more handmade and less mass produced items and I love to feature new shops.

If you have a shop you would like me to feature, let me know. While I would love to have you donate an item for one of my monthly giveaways, it isn't always necessary, but is necessary to let me know you have a shop or I may never find you one my own.

Go out and make it a wonderful day and if you need prayers, you know where to find me!

Niki Sews

Niki and her family live in Mesa, Arizona and I have come to know her through her blog over at

Pumpkin Country and met her after I left Arizona. Funny, I think I have more friends in Arizona now than I did when I lived there!

Niki and her husband also have a woodworking/quilting shop and they make some really nice quality products from adorable bird houses (that come already painted), to picture frames, quilts, pillows, wooden signs and some of the things they offer, they sell their patterns for. So, if you want to make it yourself and save some postage, you can order their patterns.

Niki and her husband have been in business for over 4 years and I think have advertised in most craft and handmade magazines, blog sites, craft shows and even held monthly giveaways. While she is NOT having giveaways any longer, she does welcome you to stop by and take a look around. I encourage you to get to Niki's and buy some of her cute birdhouses or little church for your yard so you can have them just in time for spring.

If you visit Niki, make sure you leave her a comment and let her know you came via my blog as I am sure she would love to meet you!

Another Clearance Day & Not At The Stores...

I got a really great file box yesterday by a company called Homz and let me tell you, it was about $6 cheaper than any of the others I located. Each year, I clean out my file drawers and shread stuff I saved but no longer need, gather up my tax information for our accountant and go back 7 years and shred all of that.

But I don't just empty the file drawers and files, I removed the file hangers and place them in one of these plastic file boxes so they can be stored in the attic. Before having an attic, all our papers were stored in cardboard boxes in the laundry room. It is really much simpler to just pick up the entire file and store it.

That is what I like about Homz motto, 'life, simply organized,' you just cannot say it or do it any better. When our lives are organized, so are we and we feel better and things flow better than kicking through all the clutter everyday.

I just love being organized and I start each year out on the right foot and maybe this will be the year I am so organized, I even amaze myself! It beats the alternative and that to me is mess and junk all over!

Back in June, hubby purchased and painted some shelving for the kids rooms. Nothing special, but a place for the girls to display the porcelain dolls my mom has given them, their bell collection from my mom and for Jonathan to display his favorite Spiderman items. To me, this helped take their dolls out of their closet and display them. I had also purchased a 5 peg coat rack for the stair well.

I asked in July to have them put up, August, September, October....you are getting the picture. Finally, hubby told me he would put them up a few days ago on his day off and as he stated, 'I promise this time.' Well, they are now up, but on the morning he said he would, he became very angry about the entire thing and I was confused and hurt.

He complained he only purchased 2 (that is why there were 3 identically painted shelves), he hated the way they were made and on and on. I asked him why he was so angry at me for having him do something he said he would do 5 months ago? Why did he have such a problem with it? I also asked him (since he uses the downstairs door more than we do) wouldn't he prefer to have one of his coats right there?

Once the shelving was up, I gave him a hug and told him how much I appreciated it and then, I said, 'I know you will feel much better, because now that it is done, you won't have to hear me nag anymore.'

If we are to uncomplicate our lives and feel better, we simply must get rid of the junk, clean up the messes as we go along, keep everything in the same place (yes John, today I DO know where my keys are, LOL!) and get rid of the clutter!

My hubbies office is a mess and it is so bad, I won't even take a picture to show you. He never throws anything away, he fills the trash can but never empties it, he never vacuums his floor or dusts, it is simply the most unsightly part of our home and even having it in the basement it isn't hidden away enough for me.

What makes me laugh is that no matter how many times I go to do the laundry, if he is down there, he will tell me, 'I will clean up this mess soon,' which translates into hubby speak for, 'I know if I wait long enough, you will get sick of it and clean it for me.' NOT this time baby, not this time. I am limited by my back and my pain and I don't have the umph needed to clean up his mess.

I don't get it! His tool area and his office is a mess. Months ago, he purchased cabinets to hang (they are hung), he put in a countertop and enclosed the patio and yet....it is a disaster and it is to bad, the kids and I can no longer access the back door without worrying about tripping over something.

MESSAGE TO HUBBY AND ALL CLUTTER BUGS....clean up your messes. I am not saying your areas have to be immaculate, but if someone else can get hurt by your clutter, if you see mouse droppings around the area, smell funky smells or see some strange science project oozing out of your mess...it is time to clean up and toss out!

The truck my husband works out of is immaculate! He knows where everything is, keeps it clean and neat and tidy and if someone else borrows it on his day off and doesn't put everything away, he gets upset and yet.............his office is, well lets put it this way, he still has bills down there from last year and they have been paid off!

Hubby used to collect keys (just in case he would need them again), well I can guarantee that #1-He didn't know what most of the keys went to.
#2-He couldn't use any of the old house keys he had.
#3-We had moved so many times, we no longer had the keys.

Aren't we all like that? Honestly? Don't we all have things we collect for reasons known only to ourselves? I am not talking about a true collection such as cookie jars, antiques, etc. I am talking about junk collections? For me, it was old magazines that might hold some wonderful recipe I just knew I would need! Guess what? I tossed those out last year and while I still have a few new ones; you guessed it, I am tossing them out today.

I look at it this way. If I die tomorrow, I surely don't want my family to have to go through piles and piles of junk and wonder why I would pile up such messes all over! We all do it. Whatever works for one, doesn't work for another! But this year, I truly hope I will give more and gather less and put my house in order.

Follow me for my progress!

How Much Fun We Have Had

I guess when you wake up on New Years day and your head isn't throbbing from a hangover, you can remember everything you did the night before and you didn't loose any of your clothes anywhere, then you know life is really sweet and maybe a bit boring, but you know you wouldn't want those old hangover days back for any amount of money!

You may want gravity to replace what it has let fall, but life is what it is and you learn to live with it. Not everyone can afford Botox lips and to be honest, I can't figure out why anyone would want them!

The girls got a digital camera for Christmas and when we first discussed it, I knew the oldest one would want it, but I didn't realize the youngest likes picture taking as well. They had so much fun today as we went driving around town taking a look at the various rivers and how high they were to their banks. Some had come over so much, the police were barricading roads. Trust me, we stayed out of these areas and only went to places were I knew we were safe.

I am not exactly camera material, but hey...now you can all see my face, hear my voice and realize just how crazy I am. I am soooooooooooo crazy, that no matter how much rain we get, I still love it and it doesn't bother me. It does however bother my arthritis at times.

Today, for the very first time in over 20 years, I bought a set of long johns/thermals and the kids talked me into getting pink. Why? Not that I need them for chills, but I am seriously taking up walking and with all the cold and rain, I need to have something under my jeans or walking pants, so my legs don't freeze. I have numerous sweat shirts, a great waterproof coat, rain & hiking boots, heavy coat, socks, gloves, I just needed the long johns!

The two youngest and hubby all have a set and they wear them religiously. However, the oldest and I just don't wear them...I think we could have used them today as we spent time outside being silly!

In this video, she taped herself holding her camera at arms length as she was fighting the wind and the rain and I think she did a great job. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but it is never boring having them around making me do things I wouldn't usually do!

A Rising River, Hoquiam and Aberdeen

I have lived in the Grays Harbor County area of Washington since June 2007 and never have I seen the river get as high as it is now. It has come over its banks in several areas and today the kids and I went to see what it looked like.

I think what we saw today was just a part of it, as one area in which we filmed, there was debris, driftwood and a huge mess from the bank of the river about 10 feet past the sidewalk and close to one of the stores, there was water that had come up past the bulk head (we didn't get close to that at all).

Enjoy our silliness today as I pretend to be a weather person and my granddaughter the camera person. There is a park called Rayonier but it had water in it and I decided where we filmed was much safer.

This area has been hit hard with rain which is normal, but seeing the river crest its banks is not a normal site to me and no matter where I was or which river we were close to, the water was coming over the sides or dangerously close to it. It has actually begin to come across some roadways in our area!

Help Me To Be A Blessing Today

That is all I asked when I got up this morning and started my Bible readings and prayers. Lord, help me to be a blessing today, to show me Your ways and boy did he! Totally caught me off guard not once but twice!

The girls had a blast last night at their Girl Scout New Years Eve church campout and when I got there to pick them, they were pretty close to having everything all packed up. From there, we went to WalMart and I expected with our local Razor Clam tide, the streets would be packed, but WalMart was almost deserted! Yippee!! No crowds.

We got what we needed (long johns for me so I can begin my short daily walks, groceries and vitamins so I can follow my 'supplement regimen.' Then, we went to Ross, where I was really blessed.

Upon entering, their security asked me how I was doing and I said great and asked how he was and he replied, 'blessed.' Oh, praise Jesus, how nice to hear someone not afraid to use that term and especially on a day in which everyone seemed to have Mr. Crankypants faces on.

Then, I went to look for something to wear to my interview I have next week and found not one, but two business suits for just $13.99 each, so I got both of them. My first instinct is to wear the red one, it is vibrant and happy, but most people say not to wear red clothing, nails or shoes to an interview. What is your opinion? Mine is if I feel good wearing it, I will project that image.

Does it matter? This is a dress with a jacket and the jacket has petite side buckles that a silver, it also has about a 4" pleated bottom on the dress. Next, I found another two piece set and this one is much more conservative and speaks much quieter.

I have several outfits I wear on interviews, one is a black pants set with a beige and black jacket with 3/4 length sleeves and the other is a long straight skirt with a white blouse and black and white mini checked full sleeved jacket. Neither has brought me any luck with a job!

This next one was also on sale for $13.99 and it is also a two piece set but much more conservative in that it is black and light gray checked with a jacket and as you can see, ruffles must be in this year, because it also has a ruffle.

Here is an up close of the second outfit. I know I should wear the dull and boring, but they see so many people like that, should I stand out with the red or not?

As we were leaving someone snarled at the kids for not moving out of there way quick enough and I said, wow, is it me or are people cranky today? The clerk laughed and stated: 'welcome to my world!'

From there, I had shopping at a place I will not mention and the Holy Spirit led me to that place and anointed me to do something I don't do and that was to pray in a public place. The place also was empty and as I was checking out, I noticed the girl at the counter was red eyed and weepy and looking around. I asked her if she was okay. At first she said yes and then no.

I am a people person and sometimes forget I do not work as a dispatcher any longer. Are you hurt or in pain? No, she wasn't. Is your boss having a bad day? No. She then told me she has been dating one of the fellas at work and he has a drinking problem and she is drinking more and they are splitting up because he hit her...................Whoa!

Yep! I told her she didn't have to take that she needs to stop it now! Then I asked her if I could just pray for her. She was a bit nervous, but I took her hand and prayed. I asked her to come visit my church and let her know I would continue to pray for her and her situation. She said she has Sundays off.

I then went into a few more shops and as I got back to the van, I told the kids how blessed we were to live in a place where we can pray for others in public. Just as I was backing out, the oldest yelled, 'STOP Ranny STOP!' Seems she picks up our churches business cards and had a stack of them in her seat holder. I put my name and phone number on it and went back it.

She had a huge smile on her face and said, 'you forgot to tell me what time church is.' Please pray with me that she will be there as I felt God led me to her at that moment!

Yes, help me to be a blessing today!

2010 Starting With A Bang!

My son called me yesterday and it seems his wife was terminated from her job in Phoenix where she held an airport clearance for eating on the job or more precisely, she was terminated for eating 15 minutes prior to a scheduled lunch break..........she is Hypoglycemic!

What confuses her so much is that the company she works for at the airport was so caring when she took a month off to come help me due to my surgery and my mom having cancer. They were supportive and even allowed her to come back!

She has never once been remanded for anything and her superiors have always praised the job she does, so she is very confused and upset that she was not only terminated, but the person that terminated her (someone she has never seen), would not tell her why she was terminated with the exception when they came into her work area, they saw her eating a snack and told her she needed to follow them because it wasn't break time.

My daughter-in-law has long had problems with eating and had to have stomach surgery when she was a child. Since then, she has to eat at regular intervals and when she begins to get shaky and dizzy, she needs to have some food pretty quickly.

That is what happened night before last. She was cleaning a bathroom, began to shake really bad and felt very dizzy, so she walked to a vending machine, grabbed a snack and returned to her work area and while working in a public restroom no less (can we say gross!), ate a small snack and it was during this time she was escorted away and terminated.

It never fails to amaze me at how poorly people are treated and worked like dogs and then terminated without any explanations just because Arizona is a right-to-work state. This time however, I believe she has a case against the company for the following reasons:

1- Her company has a policy of progressive discipline and she has never received as much as a lecture.

2- When she returned to work in December, she had to reapply with the company and they re-hired her. Her first night at work at the Phoenix airport, her security badge could not be located, so she was escorted out of the airport by security and told to 'take it up with the company.' No sooner had she returned home and picked her baby up from the sitter, they called her to tell her she could come back, they had just found her badge and her paycheck.

3-She has documented proof of her medical condition.

There are several other reasons and she is very upset as one can imagine as she was the only one working. The one bright thing in this is that several months ago, my son was collecting unemployment and his company failed to meet their deadline for an appeal. Of course, being a corporation, the state of Arizona allowed them to appeal several months past their deadline.

My son being Autistic filed an appeal and requested (as is his right under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the unemployment appeal process ) to have an arbitrator or someone else to help him during the court process. He was denied. He was given a telephone number to the University of Arizona's law department where he was promptly told they couldn't help him.

During the appeal, he informed the judge he needed assistance because he is Autistic. Not only did the judge refuse to give him extra time to find assistance, she flat refused to allow him to talk on his own behalf telling him nothing he had to say pertained to the case.

My daughter-in-law found out, my son can re-appeal the termination of his benefits and request another judge. I have given them a few avenues to follow-up on and pray they can get some assistance.

Why is it, corporations can break the rules and normal Joe's have to toe the line? My daughter-in-law is a hard worker. My son hates not having a job, but once you are terminated, it is very difficult to find a company that will trust you again.

I can only pray for them and hope they can get some help. At this time, it looks like they are going to have difficulty paying rent or anything else and I think, hubby and I can probably re-inflate the air mattress!

With 2010 being only 39 minutes old, I still believe it is going to be a great year, I just feel bad for my son and daughter-in-law who begin it with a big bang!