I want to take a moment to thank some pretty special people in blog land.
First and foremost, all of the wonderful followers I have. You don't know how much you are so appreciated and while many of you do not have a blog or a link that I can follow, I still want you to know I appreciate you so much.
For me, following someone is more than just clicking that I will follow, it means checking in and checking up on them to see how they are doing and if I don't see you have posted for awhile, don't take it personally if I drop you a note and ask if you are okay, healthy and still blogging. I truly care about all of you.
Secondly for the wonderful women out there who arrange destash alongs and finished project blogs so I have a reason to empty my stash and get myself in gear to finish all those little projects I have lying around.
I was looking today and I am still behind the eight ball with the following:
1- Son & DIL's quilt (waiting for fabric to arrive in the mail)
2-My granddaughters biscuit quilt (waiting to be moved to take it downstairs and finish)
3-Hexagon quilt
4- NASCAR quilt for my quilt rack
These are the quilts that I hit and miss on and with the encouragement of the sights I have signed up for I know I will get at least 2 of these completed this year.
Thank you all for being a part of my life!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A Day At The Lake
We have a local lake in our area and it has recently been revamped for family fun and yesterday I took our 3 grands and 3 of their friends and another friend met us there, so here are the 7 of them drying off all smil
es!Here are some of them have a blast. Little man is playing with an small floaty tube and the boat has the 2 girls and their friends in the boat in the back.
Initially they didn't want to go in because the water was ice cold...make no bones about it, the water is snow run off, it is cold! But once in, they loved it.
This park is wonderful. They put the docks up and enclosed it into a wading area for the kids, they planted grassy all over the place and they put up covered picnic areas and lots of garbage cans. This is an amazing place to take the kids when it is warm and sunny and not spend lots of money, but they can have wonderful m
emories!
She conquered the beast and the kids in the front were safe to go swimming again and she just had a blast with this shark. Actually I think it was a dolphin, but she called it a shark!
Here is the oldest, the more cautious of all of them. It took awhile for her to get in the water, but once she got in and warmed up, she did not want to get out!
We haven't had a summer here in our area since 2009 and then it was short. So yesterday, it was 80 degrees, the sun was out and the kids had a blast.
I can't wait to see your summer pictures of family and friends!
Please Visit My Friend Melissa
When I was a police dispatcher we worked for a very small department which made it nice because we got to know not only the officers, but their wives and families. One especially wonderful lady I met was Melissa. Melissa is a straight shooter, tells it like it is and has a heart for the truth and God.
Melissa has Vasculitis and has gone through pure medical hell for many years. I remember when she first got sick, she had suffered so much and everyone thought for awhile I think that it was in her head. She got sicker, they said it was allergies, she got sicker, they scratched their heads!
Melissa is currently going through Chemotherapy and for the longest time, she kept her hair. A few days ago, it began coming out in clumps and she had to make a difficult decision to either cut it short or shave it!
Last night, she shaved it off. Melissa is a very strong lady and she seems to be okay with it. I want to lift Melissa up today in prayer and make her smile. Can you all do me a huge favor and stop by her blog and say hello, follow her blog she has some profound things to say and let her know I sent you by!
Lets make Melissa smile and laugh! Just hop over to: Gods Writing the Song.
You will have a new friend and meet an incredible woman who has walked along an incredible journey!
Melissa has Vasculitis and has gone through pure medical hell for many years. I remember when she first got sick, she had suffered so much and everyone thought for awhile I think that it was in her head. She got sicker, they said it was allergies, she got sicker, they scratched their heads!
Melissa is currently going through Chemotherapy and for the longest time, she kept her hair. A few days ago, it began coming out in clumps and she had to make a difficult decision to either cut it short or shave it!
Last night, she shaved it off. Melissa is a very strong lady and she seems to be okay with it. I want to lift Melissa up today in prayer and make her smile. Can you all do me a huge favor and stop by her blog and say hello, follow her blog she has some profound things to say and let her know I sent you by!
Lets make Melissa smile and laugh! Just hop over to: Gods Writing the Song.
You will have a new friend and meet an incredible woman who has walked along an incredible journey!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Asian Flare for Sunbonnet Sue
As you can see, I chose to leave the main body of the quilt as is. It works well you s
it it over a couch or chair and I liked that. the border is a dark blue Asian print fabric I picked up over 5 years ago in Phoenix. I am not really sure what it is, acetate, polyester. but it has a very smooth satiny feel to it and then embroidered into the cloth are birds and other scenes.
it it over a couch or chair and I liked that. the border is a dark blue Asian print fabric I picked up over 5 years ago in Phoenix. I am not really sure what it is, acetate, polyester. but it has a very smooth satiny feel to it and then embroidered into the cloth are birds and other scenes. I can tell you it was difficult to cut and sew because it frayed so much, so instead of using a rotary cutter, I used old fashioned scissors and it seemed to work better.
Since I don't have a serger, I sewed a straight seam down the edges and then a zigzag style stitch over it and then came in 1/4" from that seam to sew the one I wanted it. Cut the seam when I was done and stitched over the top of the raw seams. It seemed to stop the fraying!
The back is the same type of fabric but it has a black background and all these wonderful rich colors for pagoda's, flowers, trees, it just reminds me of the Japanese tea garden in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco I visited as a child.
I had over a yard of this fabric, but this quilt was 28" x 32 1/2" finished, so I used what I needed and then tossed the rest out. I know, I hear you all screaming, but it was just a mess. I am just hoping the way I sewed all the seams and ends that this quilt will hold up to wear and tear.
Then again, it won't in a house of animals or kids!
Our Faith is Gods Opportunity
1. In the book 'same kind of different As me,' Denver Moore states when he was homeless something he learned is that 'Our limitation is God's opportunity and that when we get to the end of our rope and there isn't anything we can do, God takes over!' (Hall & Moore. same kind of different As me. Thomas Nelson publishing. 2006). How has this statement been authenticated in your life?
Wow! Where do I start? In 1998 my husband and I separated, I was living in a condo with my boys & our home was heading for foreclosure, I had gotten a realtor who specialized in selling foreclosed properties. My husband was in Minnesota. The realtor called me and told me the next day, I had to go to banktruptcy court. I said I would and the next day, I stayed in bed, hid under the covers and did nothing. I went to work and immediately got a call that our home sold just less than an hour before going to the court steps. I thanked God right where I was sitting. A few minutes later, the realtors secretary called me and said we lost the house and why didn't I go to court. I told her what I just learned, she hung up and called back a few minutes later. She invited me to lunch a few days later as she wanted some of my faith to rub off on her!
When my youngest son went to jail, I was terrified. He suffers from Autism & all I could do was put him in Gods hand. Several weeks into his time, I went to visit and he asked me if I would pray the sinners prayer for him, at first I balked as we were sitting down at a table, there were others close by and he was cuffed. But I did. When he got out to await trial, he insisted he be baptized before he was sentenced to prison because he wanted to make sure if something happened to him, he would go to heaven. Our pastor arranged it. My son was released early, never harmed and was watched over like a hawk. God protected my son when I couldn't.
When I reach my limits, when I feel I can't go on any longer, when all I want to do is huddle in a corner and tell the world to go away. That is when God taps me on the shoulder and whispers in my ear, 'watch this.'
God is amazing!!
2- Throughout the book, Denver's initial response to life's challenges often in the book is rooted in his simple faith in God. Why is it so hard for society's successful people to have this kind of faith? What keeps you from having this kind of faith?
I think it is hard for society's successful people to have this kind of faith, because bluntly put, they don't feel they need it. They have good jobs, make good money, can purchase anything they want, why on earth do they need faith? A few months ago, a friend of mine and I were talking and she had been invited to a local societal event that raises money for breast cancer. She was appalled at the women that were purchasing jeans for their young daughters at $150 a pair & not just one, but 5-10 pairs. We live in a high poverty area and she felt they could have donated more to the cause then this.
People who can spend this kind of money have no clue what it is to struggle. They live in nice homes, take great vacations, have great kids and unless something happens in their life as it did in this book to Ron Hall, they are good for a few bucks, making an appearance at church on Sundays, but their faith is not in God but in their things!
I do have this kind of faith. I do believe that God is there for all of us when we need Him most, but He is there all the time, most of us just don't open our eyes to see Him. No matter where I am and what I say I do have this kind of faith. I have seen Gods hand in my life over and over again, He may not answer me the way I want to be answered, but He shows me He has always had my best interest at heart.
I have been wanting to unload some of the junk in our home and all the while I seem to bring in more. However I could live in simplicity with very little. It is less clutter not only for the eye, but for the mind! Faith comes easy for me!!
3- I won't ruin the story here, all I can say is that Rons wife Deborah took Denver in and Denver was the object of her ministry but he became the source of ministry and Denver was equipped by God in his lifetime to be able to minister to Ron's needs. Through what experiences has God worked to equip you for ministry? How has God used you to meet the needs of others?
Wow! This is a big one. I got pregnant at a young age, was the victim of domestic violence, lost a child when I was 23 years of age, got divorced, lived in my car, been hungry, I can go on, but I have always had adversity in my life and worked through it...with God!!
I have been able to reach out to parents and families that have lost loved ones and I can pray for them and minister to them in ways that someone who hasn't lost a child can't. I can relate to how people feel when others tell them to get over it.
I can related to the homeless because my own son is homeless and while we don't live close and I can't help him much, we have tried. I am not afraid to talk to someone in need!
Being the victim of DV, I can talk to others and share my experiences.
By putting me in the midst of doo doo, God has made me stronger and given me compassion and humility towards others. By doing this, God has given me the drive to blanket those in need, write about those in need, show compassion to those in need. No, I can't blanket the world, but I can blanket a few and pass on the need to others. My quilts are my ministry as odd as it sounds to some!
4- In the book Deborah extended her ministry by investing in the lives of others. How are you investing in the lives of others? Through donating quilts, boxes of necessary supplies, talking to others, handing out Bibles, even working with the junior high crowd. God has shown me that everyone needs to stay warm!
5- When someone passes onto the other side, we have funerals or life celebrations. How can such a somber occasion be celebrative? What does this say about the faith of the one who passed away?
Because we are celebrating the person and not their death! Their accomplishments, their family, their kindnesses. It says this person lived their faith, gave to others, showed Gods love to others.
What are some of your opinions? I hope to hear lots of wonderful things and how God has worked in your life!
Wow! Where do I start? In 1998 my husband and I separated, I was living in a condo with my boys & our home was heading for foreclosure, I had gotten a realtor who specialized in selling foreclosed properties. My husband was in Minnesota. The realtor called me and told me the next day, I had to go to banktruptcy court. I said I would and the next day, I stayed in bed, hid under the covers and did nothing. I went to work and immediately got a call that our home sold just less than an hour before going to the court steps. I thanked God right where I was sitting. A few minutes later, the realtors secretary called me and said we lost the house and why didn't I go to court. I told her what I just learned, she hung up and called back a few minutes later. She invited me to lunch a few days later as she wanted some of my faith to rub off on her!
When my youngest son went to jail, I was terrified. He suffers from Autism & all I could do was put him in Gods hand. Several weeks into his time, I went to visit and he asked me if I would pray the sinners prayer for him, at first I balked as we were sitting down at a table, there were others close by and he was cuffed. But I did. When he got out to await trial, he insisted he be baptized before he was sentenced to prison because he wanted to make sure if something happened to him, he would go to heaven. Our pastor arranged it. My son was released early, never harmed and was watched over like a hawk. God protected my son when I couldn't.
When I reach my limits, when I feel I can't go on any longer, when all I want to do is huddle in a corner and tell the world to go away. That is when God taps me on the shoulder and whispers in my ear, 'watch this.'
God is amazing!!
2- Throughout the book, Denver's initial response to life's challenges often in the book is rooted in his simple faith in God. Why is it so hard for society's successful people to have this kind of faith? What keeps you from having this kind of faith?
I think it is hard for society's successful people to have this kind of faith, because bluntly put, they don't feel they need it. They have good jobs, make good money, can purchase anything they want, why on earth do they need faith? A few months ago, a friend of mine and I were talking and she had been invited to a local societal event that raises money for breast cancer. She was appalled at the women that were purchasing jeans for their young daughters at $150 a pair & not just one, but 5-10 pairs. We live in a high poverty area and she felt they could have donated more to the cause then this.
People who can spend this kind of money have no clue what it is to struggle. They live in nice homes, take great vacations, have great kids and unless something happens in their life as it did in this book to Ron Hall, they are good for a few bucks, making an appearance at church on Sundays, but their faith is not in God but in their things!
I do have this kind of faith. I do believe that God is there for all of us when we need Him most, but He is there all the time, most of us just don't open our eyes to see Him. No matter where I am and what I say I do have this kind of faith. I have seen Gods hand in my life over and over again, He may not answer me the way I want to be answered, but He shows me He has always had my best interest at heart.
I have been wanting to unload some of the junk in our home and all the while I seem to bring in more. However I could live in simplicity with very little. It is less clutter not only for the eye, but for the mind! Faith comes easy for me!!
3- I won't ruin the story here, all I can say is that Rons wife Deborah took Denver in and Denver was the object of her ministry but he became the source of ministry and Denver was equipped by God in his lifetime to be able to minister to Ron's needs. Through what experiences has God worked to equip you for ministry? How has God used you to meet the needs of others?
Wow! This is a big one. I got pregnant at a young age, was the victim of domestic violence, lost a child when I was 23 years of age, got divorced, lived in my car, been hungry, I can go on, but I have always had adversity in my life and worked through it...with God!!
I have been able to reach out to parents and families that have lost loved ones and I can pray for them and minister to them in ways that someone who hasn't lost a child can't. I can relate to how people feel when others tell them to get over it.
I can related to the homeless because my own son is homeless and while we don't live close and I can't help him much, we have tried. I am not afraid to talk to someone in need!
Being the victim of DV, I can talk to others and share my experiences.
By putting me in the midst of doo doo, God has made me stronger and given me compassion and humility towards others. By doing this, God has given me the drive to blanket those in need, write about those in need, show compassion to those in need. No, I can't blanket the world, but I can blanket a few and pass on the need to others. My quilts are my ministry as odd as it sounds to some!
4- In the book Deborah extended her ministry by investing in the lives of others. How are you investing in the lives of others? Through donating quilts, boxes of necessary supplies, talking to others, handing out Bibles, even working with the junior high crowd. God has shown me that everyone needs to stay warm!
5- When someone passes onto the other side, we have funerals or life celebrations. How can such a somber occasion be celebrative? What does this say about the faith of the one who passed away?
Because we are celebrating the person and not their death! Their accomplishments, their family, their kindnesses. It says this person lived their faith, gave to others, showed Gods love to others.
What are some of your opinions? I hope to hear lots of wonderful things and how God has worked in your life!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Our Fourth of July
No, this isn't the scene of some freaky and scary Hallowee movie, it is our front yard last night during our own fireworks show and all this smoke was from one of those smoke bombs , the kids loves walking through it and I got this picture. 
This one on the left looks dangerously like they are playing with fire and my camera as I have said is going out on me, so this was blurry, however, he was waving around a Sparkler and that is why it looks this way! I promise, no children were hurt in the taking of these photos!
In this photo though it is still blurry, you can see they all had Sparklers and these and those silly poppers they toss on the ground are by far, the biggest hits at our house each year!
After having a very bad fireworks accident as I was entering 6th grade many years ago where my dad let us all hold a Roman Candle and the bottom of mine blew out and severely burned me...I won't even hold a Sparkler!
After having a very bad fireworks accident as I was entering 6th grade many years ago where my dad let us all hold a Roman Candle and the bottom of mine blew out and severely burned me...I won't even hold a Sparkler!Always concerned about fires and injuries, I would say in comparison to what I have observed, my husband is one of the most ultra conservative careful people I know. We don't purchase illegal fireworks and we quit going to the beach because that is Washington states version of the war zone.
He always waters the yard really good, watches for embers from the fall out and quickly puts it out if there is any and each year, he builds a platform and launching tube so the grass isn't taking a direct hit and he feels he has more control over what he is doing!
Here, you can see the launch tube is anchored into a wet piece of wood and the plywood is the base for smaller things. In the background the little orbs you see are other peoples fireworks!
Our community has a huge public display of fireworks down by the river each year. We choose not to go just due to the traffic situation, but living where fireworks are legal, we purchase a few and when it gets dark, we light ours off and when they are gone, we watch all the neighbors.
Like this one last picture, not ours, a neighbors and trust me, they had a spectacular display on their own!
Prior to this, we had invited a neighbor over to enjoy BBQ burgers and hotdogs and some home made berry berry cobbler.
The kids love BBQ because I have purchased some of those red burger baskets and red and white paper napkins and they love them for taking to the front porch and eating.
I hope your fourth was as wonderful as ours was!!
Making a Difference, Forgiveness
Right out of the gate, let me stand up and state, ' I have issues with forgiveness.' I am not sure if it is giving forgiveness, a memory issue (not being able to forget I have been hurt), or a trust issue (once you wrong me or hurt me, I probably won't trust you as far as I can throw you). I know Jesus would want me to forgive and I know if I am ever going to make it into heaven, I must forgive...but still, this one is difficult for me.
Not that I never forgive, but even if I do, I may never forget and I may never trust you again. Like people who lie to my grandchildren and tell them one thing and do another, that just rips me to the core and no, I am sorry if you fell the need to lie to a child, don't expect me to get all warm and fuzzy and trust you.
#1- Is it harder to give or to receive forgiveness? Why? For me it truly is dependent upon the situation...but I would say it is harder for me to give forgiveness because when I am hurt to the point that my heart is broken and my body is numb and raw, it is going to take me an awful long time to forgive you. If you break my grands heart or trust...well, as the song of old once said, 'just walk on by.'
#2-Why is it so hard for us to grant unconditional forgiveness? How can your faith help you become a more forgiving person? For me it is hard because I have given that type of forgiveness in the past only to have my heart broken again, so I am not a very trusting person to begin with and to me you have to be able to trust again to forgive. I am NOT saying it is right, I am NOT saying everyone is this way, I AM saying, this is me! I am working on this. I take notes on forgiveness sermons, I read the Bible on forgiveness and I do my best to forgive and just when I do the person does something again and I am ripped again. I am open to any suggestions on this one!
#3-What is the role of forgiveness in my personal life? In my spiritual life? Personal life really dependent upon the person and situation. I had a problem many years ago in which I truly tried to believe I wasn't seeing what way going on, but people kept prompting me asking me why I wouldn't speak up, why I wasn't saying anything, why I was allow a certain person to verbally kick me? I pretended it didn't bother me and I did so for several years later. Then being prompted by the holy spirit to forgive, I sat down and poured my feelings and forgiveness out to this person. What ensued was an ugly awful phone conversation. A few years later this person called me a liar with my mom standing there, however my mom had been privy to the transaction and knew I wasn't lying and stood up and stated such. I forgave. Then one day out of the blue I receive an Email that was sent to my dad and step-mom that said such lies about me, my husband our integrity. I haven't talked to the person again with the exception of once when my mother was dying. This time, I just can't open myself up to forgive.
Several people have made promises in just the past few months to my grands and then not followed through & right now, I cannot forgive them for hurting the kids. It leaves them mistrusting and that is just crap!
On the other hand, I hand a person seriously rip my heart out and then pretend that nothing happened, that we were still friends. I was able to put it on the cross and leave it there. When people are hurting themselves, they will lash out at the closest person. Do I like that? No, I don't and didn't. I gave it to God, forgave them and can still talk to them, however, I am very cautious about what I say or do in front of that person.
4. The ultimate expression of forgiveness is found in God's sacrifice of His son. Because we have been forgiven, we should be forgiving. How would this kind of forgiveness affect your relationships? See my writings above. Logically I know all of this, but from a hearts stand point, I am a work in progress!
Not that I never forgive, but even if I do, I may never forget and I may never trust you again. Like people who lie to my grandchildren and tell them one thing and do another, that just rips me to the core and no, I am sorry if you fell the need to lie to a child, don't expect me to get all warm and fuzzy and trust you.
#1- Is it harder to give or to receive forgiveness? Why? For me it truly is dependent upon the situation...but I would say it is harder for me to give forgiveness because when I am hurt to the point that my heart is broken and my body is numb and raw, it is going to take me an awful long time to forgive you. If you break my grands heart or trust...well, as the song of old once said, 'just walk on by.'
#2-Why is it so hard for us to grant unconditional forgiveness? How can your faith help you become a more forgiving person? For me it is hard because I have given that type of forgiveness in the past only to have my heart broken again, so I am not a very trusting person to begin with and to me you have to be able to trust again to forgive. I am NOT saying it is right, I am NOT saying everyone is this way, I AM saying, this is me! I am working on this. I take notes on forgiveness sermons, I read the Bible on forgiveness and I do my best to forgive and just when I do the person does something again and I am ripped again. I am open to any suggestions on this one!
#3-What is the role of forgiveness in my personal life? In my spiritual life? Personal life really dependent upon the person and situation. I had a problem many years ago in which I truly tried to believe I wasn't seeing what way going on, but people kept prompting me asking me why I wouldn't speak up, why I wasn't saying anything, why I was allow a certain person to verbally kick me? I pretended it didn't bother me and I did so for several years later. Then being prompted by the holy spirit to forgive, I sat down and poured my feelings and forgiveness out to this person. What ensued was an ugly awful phone conversation. A few years later this person called me a liar with my mom standing there, however my mom had been privy to the transaction and knew I wasn't lying and stood up and stated such. I forgave. Then one day out of the blue I receive an Email that was sent to my dad and step-mom that said such lies about me, my husband our integrity. I haven't talked to the person again with the exception of once when my mother was dying. This time, I just can't open myself up to forgive.
Several people have made promises in just the past few months to my grands and then not followed through & right now, I cannot forgive them for hurting the kids. It leaves them mistrusting and that is just crap!
On the other hand, I hand a person seriously rip my heart out and then pretend that nothing happened, that we were still friends. I was able to put it on the cross and leave it there. When people are hurting themselves, they will lash out at the closest person. Do I like that? No, I don't and didn't. I gave it to God, forgave them and can still talk to them, however, I am very cautious about what I say or do in front of that person.
4. The ultimate expression of forgiveness is found in God's sacrifice of His son. Because we have been forgiven, we should be forgiving. How would this kind of forgiveness affect your relationships? See my writings above. Logically I know all of this, but from a hearts stand point, I am a work in progress!
Another Chance to Win a Go Baby by Accuquilt
Head on over to Sew Crafty Jess's blog and enter for your chance to win an Accuquilt Go Baby, I just did. You have up to 3 ways to win and winner is chosen on July 7th, so there isn't much time, quick, hurry, run!
Just remember when you get there to let her know I sent you her way. Best of luck to all of us!
Just remember when you get there to let her know I sent you her way. Best of luck to all of us!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Win an AccuQuilt Go Baby
Just head on over to Quilting Along the Gorge for your chance to win and Accuquilt Go Baby. Tell her the Quilting Ranny sent you and just follow her easy chance to win! Kathy's giveaway ends July 9th and you will know if you are the winner on July 10th.
Good Luck and may at least one of us from this blog win! :)
Good Luck and may at least one of us from this blog win! :)
Moving On, Sickness and Suffering
I am continuing on in my presentation of the same kind of different teachings. I hope those that are reading along and maybe just lurking around and reading are finding these questions very thought provoking.
1- Bad things happen to good people. What might God be trying to reveal about Himself through these types of situations? For me, I believe Denver Moore in this book stated it best, only good things come from God, bad things come from the devil but that doesn't mean God doesn't allow these things to happen just as he allowed Job to suffer. I believe in doing so, God is doing several things to reveal himself:
A- God is using other peoples sufferings so we can get a blessing. If you reach out to someone in need or in crisis, you are going to receive a blessing. It took me years to realize that if I am struggling and someone offers to help me and I turn them down because I am embarrassed, I not only robbed me of being blessed, I just took away someone elses chance of being blessed. In other words, I just robbed someones blessing!
B- God is trying to use our problems to show us how much He loves us! I may not be hitting the mark here, but I do know in many of the areas my family struggled, I have seen Gods love and grace where I wouldn't have seen it if I had not been struggling. There was a time I had no gas money & God placed it on a friends heart to call me and have me meet her at the gas station where without asking me, she filled my tank. Another time, friends showed up with food when all we had been eating was pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
C-By allowing us to struggle, we are able to help others. Sometimes, we have to be led through the slop in order to shine! If we never struggle, never become sick, always reap rewards, we may never bless anyone else, because we haven't endured trials. Trials make us stronger and God wants us to lean on Him so He can love us through them!
2- Recongizing our mortality puts life in perspective. What are three things for which you want to be remembered? What are you doing to accomplish these goals today?
1- I want to be remembered for helping others. I want someone to tell my children someday that when their home burnt, I made them a quilt and it gave them hope. I gave them something warm to drink on a cold day, bought them gloves to warm their hands.
2-I want to be remembered for my teachings and what I taught others...kindness, fairness, generosity, for seeing things in others no one else has, that untapped potential. I once had a student that everyone disliked, he lied, he broke others things, he stole...but he was the most amazing artist and story teller I had heard for someone his age. At the end of class I would walk around and tell the kids a positive thing about them...I would tell him that while I may not like most of his behavior, I loved his passion for art and story telling and I began to see changes in him. Remember me for those I have showed compassion to.
3-I want to be remembered as the person who would pray for anyone who asked and even those who didn't. I have gotten bolder in my prayer walk, I have prayed for people I don't even know because they looked like they needed prayer, I have stood on the streets of town and prayed for our town. Remember me as the person who prayed for others.
**Daily I work on each of these things. I don't need a star in a sidewalk to show I lived, I do these things daily and I do not ask anyone to toot a horn for me. You have mover and shakers, but I like to be the person that makes people think. I like to be the person that through my adversity, is remembered for giving glory to God!
3- Refresh your memory of the book of Job. Through all of his pain, Job remained faithful to God. What can you do to cultivate that kind of faith in your everyday life?
For me it is just being able to remember that I am daily right where God wants me to be and He holds me in the palm of His hand. I can fight it, I can argue about it, but in the end, I am where He wants to be right now, this given second and ain't nothing I can do to change it!**
1- Bad things happen to good people. What might God be trying to reveal about Himself through these types of situations? For me, I believe Denver Moore in this book stated it best, only good things come from God, bad things come from the devil but that doesn't mean God doesn't allow these things to happen just as he allowed Job to suffer. I believe in doing so, God is doing several things to reveal himself:
A- God is using other peoples sufferings so we can get a blessing. If you reach out to someone in need or in crisis, you are going to receive a blessing. It took me years to realize that if I am struggling and someone offers to help me and I turn them down because I am embarrassed, I not only robbed me of being blessed, I just took away someone elses chance of being blessed. In other words, I just robbed someones blessing!
B- God is trying to use our problems to show us how much He loves us! I may not be hitting the mark here, but I do know in many of the areas my family struggled, I have seen Gods love and grace where I wouldn't have seen it if I had not been struggling. There was a time I had no gas money & God placed it on a friends heart to call me and have me meet her at the gas station where without asking me, she filled my tank. Another time, friends showed up with food when all we had been eating was pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
C-By allowing us to struggle, we are able to help others. Sometimes, we have to be led through the slop in order to shine! If we never struggle, never become sick, always reap rewards, we may never bless anyone else, because we haven't endured trials. Trials make us stronger and God wants us to lean on Him so He can love us through them!
2- Recongizing our mortality puts life in perspective. What are three things for which you want to be remembered? What are you doing to accomplish these goals today?
1- I want to be remembered for helping others. I want someone to tell my children someday that when their home burnt, I made them a quilt and it gave them hope. I gave them something warm to drink on a cold day, bought them gloves to warm their hands.
2-I want to be remembered for my teachings and what I taught others...kindness, fairness, generosity, for seeing things in others no one else has, that untapped potential. I once had a student that everyone disliked, he lied, he broke others things, he stole...but he was the most amazing artist and story teller I had heard for someone his age. At the end of class I would walk around and tell the kids a positive thing about them...I would tell him that while I may not like most of his behavior, I loved his passion for art and story telling and I began to see changes in him. Remember me for those I have showed compassion to.
3-I want to be remembered as the person who would pray for anyone who asked and even those who didn't. I have gotten bolder in my prayer walk, I have prayed for people I don't even know because they looked like they needed prayer, I have stood on the streets of town and prayed for our town. Remember me as the person who prayed for others.
**Daily I work on each of these things. I don't need a star in a sidewalk to show I lived, I do these things daily and I do not ask anyone to toot a horn for me. You have mover and shakers, but I like to be the person that makes people think. I like to be the person that through my adversity, is remembered for giving glory to God!
3- Refresh your memory of the book of Job. Through all of his pain, Job remained faithful to God. What can you do to cultivate that kind of faith in your everyday life?
For me it is just being able to remember that I am daily right where God wants me to be and He holds me in the palm of His hand. I can fight it, I can argue about it, but in the end, I am where He wants to be right now, this given second and ain't nothing I can do to change it!**
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Homelessness, the study continues
Yesterday I started asking questions in the Reader's Guide of the book, 'same kind of different as me.' I want to make people think of how we as one person can change a bad situation. So, yesterday was about prejudice and today is about homelessness and I think honestly, the two go hand in hand.
1- What is your initial reaction to encountering a homeless person or someone who is in serious financial or personal need? For me, it truly depends on the situation. Living in Phoenix I did volunteer work for a wonderful womens organization. One day I was walking and saw an older lady fall on the ground. I went over to help her up and it was obvious she was mentally ill. She jumped up and started cursing me and swinging a bag at me and I just walked into the facility and asked them to contact security. You can't place yourself in harms way! Another time a man had asked me for $5 so he could take a shower at a local facility that I knew charged for showers., I gave it to him. An hour later, returning to my car, he was there again (no shower) only when I told him I already gave him money, he began cursing at me. You just have to be very aware of your surroundings. I will help where I can, but if someone becomes verbally abusive, I am done...walking away...see ya!!
I have encountered people in serious financial and personal need and I do what I can to help those in need. It is who I am. I remember by son Justin once made fresh cinnamon rolls in home ec and we were going to his orthodontist and would eat them the next morning for breakfast...we saw a man asking for food and Justin gave him the rolls. The man was crying! I have sewn new clothing for children who have nothing and given money to people in need. More often than not, I try to help them by giving them or taking them to a place that can help more than I can. Even if we think we have nothing, we can still see others around us that have less!!
2- If you were in that situation, how would you want others to respond to you? Many times people walk past these people and stare straight down. It demeans them even more. In the mornings a friend and I walk down town a few times a week and we always say hello and smile to people who live on the street. Sometimes they say nothing and keep going, other times they smile back and say thank you. I would want to be acknowledged, not ignored. Do unto others and not a one of us can say we can't afford to give a smile!
3- Other than money to social services agencies, what are three things you can do to provide ministry to the homeless people in your community? 1- Work in the shelters, missions feeding people, talking to people, listening to people. 2- Hand out warm clothing in the winter, bottles of water in the summer and ask them at that time if you can pray for them. 3- Take them to dinner or lunch. Nothing shocks people like seeing someone being kind to a street person and buying them lunch! I will never forget a well dressed, polite young man at Jack in the Box in front of me one day (we have a lot of kids attending school that have no homes in our area due to parents on crack and meth), he was counting change and asking what he could get for his money. A well dressed businessman came up at that time very irate that his burger wasn't fixed and demanded a fresh one. The worker fixed him a new one and told him he could keep the old one. Toss it in the trash said the man...the polite kid asked him, instead of throwing it in the trash, could I please have it? What happened next crushed me...the businessman snatched the burger away from the worker and looked at the young man and said, 'I will give it to my dog before I let you eat it.' I told the businessman what I thought and then I bought the young man lunch! Is that what we have reduced ourselves to? I hope not! 4- Talk to them, just go up and talk to them!
4- Jesus' ministry was often focused on society's outcasts. Why did Jesus seek them out rather than socialize with the religious elite? With which crowd are you most likely to spend time - the outcasts in your communit or the religous elite? Why? I would go with the outcasts because so many times in my life I have been outcast...pregnant at 16 and not married. Divorced with 2 small kids and no place to go. Sleeping in my car. The religious elite don't care about anything but show. They don't want to know you, don't want to help you and they certainly don't want you living next door to them. Even the homeless will help you learn your way around the streets and show you where to get your next meal. I want someone who is going to genuinely care about me and helping me change my life, not tossing me a few dollars and walking away feeling they did all they could!
1- What is your initial reaction to encountering a homeless person or someone who is in serious financial or personal need? For me, it truly depends on the situation. Living in Phoenix I did volunteer work for a wonderful womens organization. One day I was walking and saw an older lady fall on the ground. I went over to help her up and it was obvious she was mentally ill. She jumped up and started cursing me and swinging a bag at me and I just walked into the facility and asked them to contact security. You can't place yourself in harms way! Another time a man had asked me for $5 so he could take a shower at a local facility that I knew charged for showers., I gave it to him. An hour later, returning to my car, he was there again (no shower) only when I told him I already gave him money, he began cursing at me. You just have to be very aware of your surroundings. I will help where I can, but if someone becomes verbally abusive, I am done...walking away...see ya!!
I have encountered people in serious financial and personal need and I do what I can to help those in need. It is who I am. I remember by son Justin once made fresh cinnamon rolls in home ec and we were going to his orthodontist and would eat them the next morning for breakfast...we saw a man asking for food and Justin gave him the rolls. The man was crying! I have sewn new clothing for children who have nothing and given money to people in need. More often than not, I try to help them by giving them or taking them to a place that can help more than I can. Even if we think we have nothing, we can still see others around us that have less!!
2- If you were in that situation, how would you want others to respond to you? Many times people walk past these people and stare straight down. It demeans them even more. In the mornings a friend and I walk down town a few times a week and we always say hello and smile to people who live on the street. Sometimes they say nothing and keep going, other times they smile back and say thank you. I would want to be acknowledged, not ignored. Do unto others and not a one of us can say we can't afford to give a smile!
3- Other than money to social services agencies, what are three things you can do to provide ministry to the homeless people in your community? 1- Work in the shelters, missions feeding people, talking to people, listening to people. 2- Hand out warm clothing in the winter, bottles of water in the summer and ask them at that time if you can pray for them. 3- Take them to dinner or lunch. Nothing shocks people like seeing someone being kind to a street person and buying them lunch! I will never forget a well dressed, polite young man at Jack in the Box in front of me one day (we have a lot of kids attending school that have no homes in our area due to parents on crack and meth), he was counting change and asking what he could get for his money. A well dressed businessman came up at that time very irate that his burger wasn't fixed and demanded a fresh one. The worker fixed him a new one and told him he could keep the old one. Toss it in the trash said the man...the polite kid asked him, instead of throwing it in the trash, could I please have it? What happened next crushed me...the businessman snatched the burger away from the worker and looked at the young man and said, 'I will give it to my dog before I let you eat it.' I told the businessman what I thought and then I bought the young man lunch! Is that what we have reduced ourselves to? I hope not! 4- Talk to them, just go up and talk to them!
4- Jesus' ministry was often focused on society's outcasts. Why did Jesus seek them out rather than socialize with the religious elite? With which crowd are you most likely to spend time - the outcasts in your communit or the religous elite? Why? I would go with the outcasts because so many times in my life I have been outcast...pregnant at 16 and not married. Divorced with 2 small kids and no place to go. Sleeping in my car. The religious elite don't care about anything but show. They don't want to know you, don't want to help you and they certainly don't want you living next door to them. Even the homeless will help you learn your way around the streets and show you where to get your next meal. I want someone who is going to genuinely care about me and helping me change my life, not tossing me a few dollars and walking away feeling they did all they could!
In A Quandary
I have the kids making a word book this summer, so when they see a word they don't know or don't know its meaning, they write it down and we look it up. Yesterday they learned the words etymology & omnomatapeia. Today is is going to be quandary which is defined as plight, predicament 
or dilemma and which I find myself in!
or dilemma and which I find myself in!I love Sunbonnet Sue and discovered recently in my quickly diminishing stash, this wonderful linen fabric and immediately thought of doing some hand embroidery for a small babie quilt, table topper, chair quilt.
Notice anything wrong with what I did? Hmmm, I wasn't paying attention and sewed half of it upside down.
I was just getting ready to tear the seam out, when the oldest granddaughter, an engineer in a previous life or will be in the future, stopped me. Don't do it Ranny, it is perfect. Huh?? In case she hadn't noticed, it is upside down. Yes, she noticed, but when she placed it over the chair both sides were right side 
up. If I changed it and did the same thing, one would be upside down!
up. If I changed it and did the same thing, one would be upside down!So, I hung it over the back of my couch and she was right. If I leave it as is, it would be perfect as a chair or couch quilt, but not good as a wall hanging or quilt. So, you can see I am in a bit of a quandary and while I don't want to hurt her feelings, I am thinking I will have to rip out the seam and redo it.
What are your thoughts? Be honest, we have all made silly mistakes like this. Would you redo it?
Here is a closeup of one of the panels, Sunbonnet Sue and her mom kneeling in prayer. I am sorry the picture appears a bit faded, but after a computer disaster last week (it is up and running, but missing so many things), I do believe my digital camera is going out on us
as I can't get the pictures to appear as bright as they should.
as I can't get the pictures to appear as bright as they should. Not to mention, we just found out the struts in my car are shot! If I wasn't still making payments on it, I think I would sell it and walk! HAHA!!
No, it has been and still is an awesome vehicle and struts should be replaced around 65-70,000 miles and my car has over 107,000 miles. So, it is just telling me I need to take care of it and it will take care of me!
Here is another picture this one is of Sam. As you can see, his hat didn't show
up to well, it is yellow but I love this one of him and the geese! I am looking at completing this with Asian fabrics that will really give this a wonderful embroidered finish look!
up to well, it is yellow but I love this one of him and the geese! I am looking at completing this with Asian fabrics that will really give this a wonderful embroidered finish look!Happy 4th to all of you, be safe and tell a Vet or active military man, thanks!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Join Me In Trying To Make A Difference
You know, I always try to reach out and help others and for those people that have blessed me over the years (you know who you are), I am deeply grateful! Whether it be loving words of encouragement, fabric, a quick note letting me know keep pressing on, the wonderful books I have received or even a note telling me you contributed to one of my many quilting charities or let me know about one you donate to....................I appreciate it!
Not everyone agrees with my posts and I appreciate the chance to be able to talk about those differences whether it be politically, what our core values are or what we believe to be the gospel. I have many friends that are Christian, Catholic, Mormon and even Buddahist...our differences is what makes us unique.
Thanks to the book I have referenced recently that I received and yes Dayna, read from cover to cover, I want to encourage us all as Ron Hall and Denver Moore do at the end of their book entitled, 'same kind of different As me,' to participate in this study with me. You don't need the book, but if you do, you can probably get a copy from the local library.
I want to finish this study and then with permission, I would like to forward the book to my oldest granddaughter who recently turned 16 and have a large Sweet 16 party. When I asked her if she was going to have people contribute with canned food for the food bank, pet food for the local animal shelter, get them to volunteer, her sad reply was: 'you know grandma, I don't think any of my friends are into that stuff.'
I love her to pieces, but think it was more like, 'you know grandma, I am 16 and me and my party are pretty important right now, not getting involved in stuff like that.' So, with that said, lets get this party rolling!
Prejudice:
The book is full of prejudices and things I couldn't wrap my mind around, but knew existed from my experiences of living in New Orleans in the 1980's for a few short weeks. I kept calling my husband and saying, 'you can't believe they still have 'black stores or white stores, what is up with that?'
My dad was in the Army for a bit and I was raised in California an while my grandparents were extremely prejudiced, I stayed away from all that, finding it appalling someone would actually count the number of non-white people on a team and root for the one with more whites. My mind could never wrap itself around that.
So, without further adieu, the first 4 questions and my answers:
1- What are some modern examples of prejudice? Other than racial prejudice, what other kinds of prejudice are common today?
Answer: Where should I start? Homophobia is a type of prejudice where people use the Bible to hate others. I believe you can hate the behaviour, but still love the person.
Homelessness: People are afraid of the homeless as they might ask them for money, smell bad, act weird, remind us we may someday be like them! In my town, we have a old woman that stands near WalMart holding a sign she needs money for her grandchildrens cereal and milk...well, I happen to know her grandchildren, they are grown live with their parents, are embarassed about her behavior & she is neither homeless nor needs the money. Another man stands asking for work and when I worked out of the home, I offered him a job...lets just say I can't repeat what he told me.
Years ago, I met a black gentleman that was standing on the side of the road, he had a sign propped up against a bucket...but he wasn't holding it, he had a large trash bag and was picking up the trash along the roadside and he was singing Amazing Grace in a beautiful voice. I pulled over where it was safe and perhaps not the smartest thing, I walked over to him with the last $10 I had. He started crying.
People think I am going to spend it on beer. Not me, I don't like being here, but he told me his story, he was a Viet Nam vet, worked as an over the road trucker, raised his children, sent them to college and had a major heart attack and couldn't work any longer. He didn't retire from the military, so he didn't have a pension, but did receive medical. He was in the horribly, long drawn out & demoralizing process of applying for Social Security. His wife worked earning minimal wage & when the money ran out, he took to the corner, humiliated and embarrassed.
The didn't qualify for food stamps, medical, or cash because his wives meager paycheck was to much for them to be eligible. We talked about the Bible ( Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) and I walked away with tears in my eyes.
I looked for him each time I drove in to Phoenix, but never saw him again.
I could have just drove on that day, but I didn't.
Societal prejudices. Here in my city, the higher up you live, the higher in the air your nose goes, parents buy their children jeans at $150 a pop and Gawd forbid, you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren, they won't look at you and when they do, you can feel their disdain.
What about job prejudices? How many people are without jobs because companies refuse to hire those that are not working, think because they were laid off, they are less than those than haven't been?
Reverse prejudices? My daughter-in-law has lost 2 jobs because and she was told this by one of the leads...honey, you may be hispanic, but you speak English and want your breaks, they don't!
2- What are three things you can do to combat your personal prejudices?
#1- Volunteer...not just once but over and over again. If you are around those you are afraid of, you might find out they aren't so scary! A few years ago when I was working with Americorps, I went into our local mission that feeds the street kids & people had made me fear these kids by what they said. I found out were real jerks. Most of them however, wanted jobs, a safe place to live, to get out of the rain, to help others. They were just kids looking for affirmation.
#2-Read up on those things you are afraid of, educate yourself, talk to someone about these things...I knew a friend who was terrified of being around anyone who had Aids or was homosexual, right up until she began volunteering at a local crisis nursery. Education is often the key to loosing prejudice.
#3-Face your prejudice head on! Sometimes our prejudices are learned behavior we grew up with. Much like the sharecroppers Denver Moore talking about...they grew up in that environment and believed they were right.
#3- What does being prejudiced say about our own personal self-esteem? To me it shows many times we are to self-absorbed, that we feel we are better than others. We hold ourselves higher than anyone else. I will never forget when I began working as a volunteer in the schools, people were shocked that I had a Masters Degree. Why? Because if I was working for Americorps than I had to be uneducated or poor.
We get this feeling of,'that will never be me...' which leads us to prejudice against other people!
4- Read Micha 6:8 (I will put it here); 'He has showed you, O man, what is good, And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.'
What does this verse say about the attitude we should have toward other people?
Answer: I am not perfect, I do my best to reach out to others, but at times my eyes avert away from the people on the roadways...our town is small, the same people day in and day out stand on the roadway, I have seen people getting out of Cadillacs, grabbing their sign and walkers. I give where I can. I donate where I can, I talk to everyone. I drive by these people and sometimes all I can do is ask God to bless them. I have given them socks, gloves, blankets, etc.
My son is homeless, he has made the papers where he lives, my heart shatters that so many people can have mean and nasty opinions of him and they don't even know him. You can't go up to someone and say, 'so tell me, why don't you work, have a job, a family, what is your problem?' But you can be kind and sometimes being kind is the nicest thing anyone has done for them all day or week.
Chime in here, if we want to make a difference, it can take one person or many. I have seen children making a difference and I know if they can do it, I can.
It is okay to have a differing opinion than I do, we just can't belittle, be rude or attack people in this forum. Jump on board and let me hear how you feel!
Not everyone agrees with my posts and I appreciate the chance to be able to talk about those differences whether it be politically, what our core values are or what we believe to be the gospel. I have many friends that are Christian, Catholic, Mormon and even Buddahist...our differences is what makes us unique.
Thanks to the book I have referenced recently that I received and yes Dayna, read from cover to cover, I want to encourage us all as Ron Hall and Denver Moore do at the end of their book entitled, 'same kind of different As me,' to participate in this study with me. You don't need the book, but if you do, you can probably get a copy from the local library.
I want to finish this study and then with permission, I would like to forward the book to my oldest granddaughter who recently turned 16 and have a large Sweet 16 party. When I asked her if she was going to have people contribute with canned food for the food bank, pet food for the local animal shelter, get them to volunteer, her sad reply was: 'you know grandma, I don't think any of my friends are into that stuff.'
I love her to pieces, but think it was more like, 'you know grandma, I am 16 and me and my party are pretty important right now, not getting involved in stuff like that.' So, with that said, lets get this party rolling!
Prejudice:
The book is full of prejudices and things I couldn't wrap my mind around, but knew existed from my experiences of living in New Orleans in the 1980's for a few short weeks. I kept calling my husband and saying, 'you can't believe they still have 'black stores or white stores, what is up with that?'
My dad was in the Army for a bit and I was raised in California an while my grandparents were extremely prejudiced, I stayed away from all that, finding it appalling someone would actually count the number of non-white people on a team and root for the one with more whites. My mind could never wrap itself around that.
So, without further adieu, the first 4 questions and my answers:
1- What are some modern examples of prejudice? Other than racial prejudice, what other kinds of prejudice are common today?
Answer: Where should I start? Homophobia is a type of prejudice where people use the Bible to hate others. I believe you can hate the behaviour, but still love the person.
Homelessness: People are afraid of the homeless as they might ask them for money, smell bad, act weird, remind us we may someday be like them! In my town, we have a old woman that stands near WalMart holding a sign she needs money for her grandchildrens cereal and milk...well, I happen to know her grandchildren, they are grown live with their parents, are embarassed about her behavior & she is neither homeless nor needs the money. Another man stands asking for work and when I worked out of the home, I offered him a job...lets just say I can't repeat what he told me.
Years ago, I met a black gentleman that was standing on the side of the road, he had a sign propped up against a bucket...but he wasn't holding it, he had a large trash bag and was picking up the trash along the roadside and he was singing Amazing Grace in a beautiful voice. I pulled over where it was safe and perhaps not the smartest thing, I walked over to him with the last $10 I had. He started crying.
People think I am going to spend it on beer. Not me, I don't like being here, but he told me his story, he was a Viet Nam vet, worked as an over the road trucker, raised his children, sent them to college and had a major heart attack and couldn't work any longer. He didn't retire from the military, so he didn't have a pension, but did receive medical. He was in the horribly, long drawn out & demoralizing process of applying for Social Security. His wife worked earning minimal wage & when the money ran out, he took to the corner, humiliated and embarrassed.
The didn't qualify for food stamps, medical, or cash because his wives meager paycheck was to much for them to be eligible. We talked about the Bible ( Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) and I walked away with tears in my eyes.
I looked for him each time I drove in to Phoenix, but never saw him again.
I could have just drove on that day, but I didn't.
Societal prejudices. Here in my city, the higher up you live, the higher in the air your nose goes, parents buy their children jeans at $150 a pop and Gawd forbid, you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren, they won't look at you and when they do, you can feel their disdain.
What about job prejudices? How many people are without jobs because companies refuse to hire those that are not working, think because they were laid off, they are less than those than haven't been?
Reverse prejudices? My daughter-in-law has lost 2 jobs because and she was told this by one of the leads...honey, you may be hispanic, but you speak English and want your breaks, they don't!
2- What are three things you can do to combat your personal prejudices?
#1- Volunteer...not just once but over and over again. If you are around those you are afraid of, you might find out they aren't so scary! A few years ago when I was working with Americorps, I went into our local mission that feeds the street kids & people had made me fear these kids by what they said. I found out were real jerks. Most of them however, wanted jobs, a safe place to live, to get out of the rain, to help others. They were just kids looking for affirmation.
#2-Read up on those things you are afraid of, educate yourself, talk to someone about these things...I knew a friend who was terrified of being around anyone who had Aids or was homosexual, right up until she began volunteering at a local crisis nursery. Education is often the key to loosing prejudice.
#3-Face your prejudice head on! Sometimes our prejudices are learned behavior we grew up with. Much like the sharecroppers Denver Moore talking about...they grew up in that environment and believed they were right.
#3- What does being prejudiced say about our own personal self-esteem? To me it shows many times we are to self-absorbed, that we feel we are better than others. We hold ourselves higher than anyone else. I will never forget when I began working as a volunteer in the schools, people were shocked that I had a Masters Degree. Why? Because if I was working for Americorps than I had to be uneducated or poor.
We get this feeling of,'that will never be me...' which leads us to prejudice against other people!
4- Read Micha 6:8 (I will put it here); 'He has showed you, O man, what is good, And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.'
What does this verse say about the attitude we should have toward other people?
Answer: I am not perfect, I do my best to reach out to others, but at times my eyes avert away from the people on the roadways...our town is small, the same people day in and day out stand on the roadway, I have seen people getting out of Cadillacs, grabbing their sign and walkers. I give where I can. I donate where I can, I talk to everyone. I drive by these people and sometimes all I can do is ask God to bless them. I have given them socks, gloves, blankets, etc.
My son is homeless, he has made the papers where he lives, my heart shatters that so many people can have mean and nasty opinions of him and they don't even know him. You can't go up to someone and say, 'so tell me, why don't you work, have a job, a family, what is your problem?' But you can be kind and sometimes being kind is the nicest thing anyone has done for them all day or week.
Chime in here, if we want to make a difference, it can take one person or many. I have seen children making a difference and I know if they can do it, I can.
It is okay to have a differing opinion than I do, we just can't belittle, be rude or attack people in this forum. Jump on board and let me hear how you feel!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Glad To Be Alive Today...Thanks To My Type A Personality and Years of Training
Today, my Type A personality took over it what could have been a disaster. I set my kitchen on fire and while the fire department is impressed with the way I handled it, my husband isn't so happy, but then, neither am I.
First of all let me say, this is not the first time I have set my house on fire, hence the reason why I hate electric stoves, but this was and always is my fault. I turn my tea kettle on for a cup of coffee, go make my bed, head downstairs to do some laundry and hear the ear splitting sound of the smoke detector. Thank you Jesus!!
I yell, fire, shove the kids out the front door, head for the faucet and then remember it is an electrical fire, toss the window open above the sink, grab the box of baking soda and douse the flaming pot holder.
Go to call 911 and my phone is dead. Pick up another phone, it is dead. My cell phone is where is should be and charged, call 911 ask for fire, they are on their way, toss the cat into my bathroom where there is no smoke.
Open 2 more windows, put fans in them, grab a wet towel and wrap it around my face and head out the door. We were all cold, no shoes on our feet, smoke was pouring out the kids bedroom windows (did I get the fire out?).
Fire shows up, The come outside and tell me they are impressed with my calmness ( I was crying because I know my hubs is going to be mad at me & I am embarrassed) & the fact I used baking soda, opened the windows and put the fans on.
The only wrong thing I did was I had 1 fan blowing inside, so they turned it around. The house stinks! I am sure it will for a few days! My husband is upset with me for not paying attention and he has a right to be.
However, I could be angry at him for always insisting he has to unplug the phones so when I went to call 911 I had no phones. But I am not! Nope, today I am just pleased that we are all fine, no one was hurt, our smoke alarm did what it should do, I had the baking soda in the front of the cabinet and salt works as well.
Others might have been in a panic, I know we took many calls on kitchen fires and the damage they can do. But today, my personality did what it always does in a crisis, became calm, got everyone taken care of, thought through what needed to be done.
Perhaps today, besides that fire extinguisher I am going to buy, I need to really consider getting an electric tea kettle.
I sure hope your day goes better than mine! But then, its just another day in the life of an old police/fire dispatcher whether they are real or perceived fires, I am always good at putting them out!
First of all let me say, this is not the first time I have set my house on fire, hence the reason why I hate electric stoves, but this was and always is my fault. I turn my tea kettle on for a cup of coffee, go make my bed, head downstairs to do some laundry and hear the ear splitting sound of the smoke detector. Thank you Jesus!!
I yell, fire, shove the kids out the front door, head for the faucet and then remember it is an electrical fire, toss the window open above the sink, grab the box of baking soda and douse the flaming pot holder.
Go to call 911 and my phone is dead. Pick up another phone, it is dead. My cell phone is where is should be and charged, call 911 ask for fire, they are on their way, toss the cat into my bathroom where there is no smoke.
Open 2 more windows, put fans in them, grab a wet towel and wrap it around my face and head out the door. We were all cold, no shoes on our feet, smoke was pouring out the kids bedroom windows (did I get the fire out?).
Fire shows up, The come outside and tell me they are impressed with my calmness ( I was crying because I know my hubs is going to be mad at me & I am embarrassed) & the fact I used baking soda, opened the windows and put the fans on.
The only wrong thing I did was I had 1 fan blowing inside, so they turned it around. The house stinks! I am sure it will for a few days! My husband is upset with me for not paying attention and he has a right to be.
However, I could be angry at him for always insisting he has to unplug the phones so when I went to call 911 I had no phones. But I am not! Nope, today I am just pleased that we are all fine, no one was hurt, our smoke alarm did what it should do, I had the baking soda in the front of the cabinet and salt works as well.
Others might have been in a panic, I know we took many calls on kitchen fires and the damage they can do. But today, my personality did what it always does in a crisis, became calm, got everyone taken care of, thought through what needed to be done.
Perhaps today, besides that fire extinguisher I am going to buy, I need to really consider getting an electric tea kettle.
I sure hope your day goes better than mine! But then, its just another day in the life of an old police/fire dispatcher whether they are real or perceived fires, I am always good at putting them out!
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