Life In a Small Town

*I have to trade vehicles..and soon. Mine is not repairable. and my credit is not great...I don't know if I can even get anything new-to-me. *which puppy should I get? should I hold out for what I want, even tho it could take a LONG time, or get one that is avaiable now and make everyone else happy? (not that I wouldn't be happy with whatever is available..it just wouldn't be the dream dog.) *how am I gonna afford going to the NAJA convention and the family reunion? especially if I have to trade my truck in? *my children are growing up and I don't like it. I don't like all the new challenges and things we have to face now. *what movie should I rent this afternoon? I've decided to reward my semi-productiveness with a movie....but what should I get? *what should I eat for lunch..errr,um..breakfast....errr ummm..whatever you call it since it's nearly 1:30 and I've not eaten anything? So many questions today.

That's what my mom would say about me. I'm never satisfied. Nothing is ever good enough. If I heard it once, I heard it a hundred times growing up. And now I find myself saying it to my own kids. But I think it's true...about me. I expect too much from people. I expect others to do for me like I do for them. I am a giver...a doer...and I give and give and do and do... and sometimes I just want to "get" in return. And I do "get". I do. And I'm not ungrateful for the blessings and acts of kindness bestowed upon me. But it just never seems to come from those I expect it to. And I always feel let down. My birthday, for instance: Birthdays have always been a big thing in our family. My mom always made them that way. We celebrate numerous times. There's always a family dinner. Take our August birthday bash...it's a big deal. Lots of bdays to celebrate. And with Mom and Jeanette's bdays being a day apart in April..it's a thing. I've even...

"In the 1920’s a writer (Karinthy) took note that technology (travel, communications, etc) was growing at a rate that would soon allow for global social networking. Karinthy wrote that soon you could take any one individual’s acquaintance and through 5 acquaintances of their acquaintances you would be able to “connect” anyone in the world. This is when the “six degrees of separation” idea began." I don't know about all that...but what I do find very interesting is what a small world it really is. With the advancement of technology, and the social networking via the internet nowadays.....I am forever amazed and awed at how we are all intermingled among ourselves, without even knowing it. Now..I've always been one to "know someone that someone else knows" but thanks to Facebook, my eyes have really been opened to this fact much more lately. Case(s) in point: 1. This first struck home (really hard) with me when I added a friend from my church on Facebook. Janis...

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born A Death Certificate shows that we died Pictures show that we lived! Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly. I Believe... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other. I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I Believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I Believe.... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I Believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I Belie...

Got these in email the other day and loved them. (thanks Jen) A couple of them I really need to take to heart. The following "daily dozen" constitute the personal creed of writer Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894): 1. Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things. 2. Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything, and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with the gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears. 3. Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from misfortunes that befall others. 4. You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you. 5. Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself. 6. Do the things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt. 7. Don't borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than the actual ones. 8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish enmities, grudges. Avoid people who make you unha...

I have found, in the past few years, that the generosity of others is an amazing thing. Just when I need something, it is provided to me. Being a Christian, I call this a "God thing". I ask, He provides. It's part of my faith. I do not ask greedily...but each morning, our traveling prayer includes, "Thank you for the blessings you bestow upon us. We ask your continued blessings on us this day...safety, wellness, and a good day. Help us to be a light in someone's life, a blessing to others, even if only in some small way." And He does take care of us and provide for us. I truly believe I would not be where I am today, if not for His hand on my life. Well...all that said...I tell you...the way in which He provides is truly amazing sometimes! As you know, I need new tires again. 2 of them. This will run me about $260. I made mention of this in Sunday School Sunday morning...just in passing, and at the end of class, one of the ladies came up to me and said that ...

Quote of the Day "You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." ~~~~~ The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 – 2005 ~~~~~

There's just something about the changing of the month from February to March that sets my soul afire. The temps may not change overnight, but I definitely start feeling the spring in the air. Just knowing it's now March makes me feel more alive, more hopeful. Like everything will be ok. To Do: 1. set about getting truck fixed. It died Saturday night in front of Greg's house. Starter or alternator...I dunno. But now I've got to see about getting it towed and worked on. Meanwhile I'm driving the big old tv station suburban. That will be cause for conversation at work today! 2. Delivering the last of the girl scout cookies...and finding a way to pay for the ones that can't be delivered yet. The money is all due Friday..even for the catch up orders which I haven't even gotten yet b/c I haven't turned in all the money from the first order. grrr. I'll have to cover it all up front and hope everyone pays for their orders. That's another $150. 3. The re...