Journaling

I’m a journaler; I write in a personal journal every day or at least try to every day. In my journal I freely write about all my fears, pains and loss; my wishes, hopes and dreams. I write about the day I had the problems that arose and the frustrations when the problems couldn’t be resolved. I write to God in my journal it is a place for me to unload in a tangible way. Someone once asked me about what I write and basically I write what ever comes to mind in my journal.

If you are reading this you know that I am also a blogger. Now here lately I haven’t been quite so faithful about blogging every day. On my blog I choose not to write about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. I have made a choice not to blog about anyone unless it would be uplifting. I don’t blog about things that may be intentionally hurtful to someone. Just because I have the ability to write on this public forum, I choose not to be public about all things.

Starting tomorrow I will begin to transcribe my personal journal into Word format to become a record of 2007. As part of that record I will incorporate some emails I have written or received this year that were worthy of saving as well as the blog postings I have done this years starting in May. All of this information will be a review of the year 2007 has been. I always find it interesting and insightful to go through this little exercise. How is it you know where you are going if you don’t know from where you have been?

My new journal is waiting for me to record the journey that will be 2008, a journey that is only a part of what my life story is and will be. Each year is like a new chapter in a book it may have a new theme or just bring clarity to the plot as it unfolds.

I write. I totally enjoy the process of writing. When I was in sixth grade I wrote a book that was published locally, too bad all the copies my mom had were damaged and had to be thrown out when I was in high school. Writing is a part of who I am so I will continue to write both in my journal and on the blog.

So if you are reading this hopefully you will find my life journey somewhat interesting and come along and be part of the process and I guess if you don’t you will just stop reading the blog.

In retrospect - 2007

The tree is untrimmed and outside waiting on the boy scouts to come and pick up, the snow globe is dried out and deflated ready to be packed in the box, the last pages in the devotionals have been read and the journal entry for December 31, 2007 is finished. It is time to reflect a little on 2007.

This past year:
- We lost our dear Wally
- I had foot surgery that due to complications is still an opportunity. There are times when my foot is so hot you would think that someone took a blow torch to it.
- I officially became a grandmother and now have a delight in my life that is unspeakable.
- I spent the year looking for a new job and had 4 very near misses and I’m still not sure I am over the disappointment of the last one.
- We said good by as two interns moved out in June and then greeted two others that moved in this fall.
- Kyle and I had great getaways in Phoenix, Leavenworth, Lake Chelan, and Puerto Vallarta. I even had a great tan.
- Survived a Christmas with most of MY family in Jackson WY.
- I started a blog.
- I only read through the Bible twice this year.
- We purchased a Wheelchair van that is such a blessing.
- We persevered against the IRS, and WON.
- I was able to take my mother back to Michigan to visit her friends and families
- I got the opportunity to eat REAL coney dogs in Michigan.
- I made new friends and deepened relationships with others.
- My husband has blessed me with his time, his energy and his love this past year.
- I celebrated another ‘check up’ cancer free.

This year as years in the past had victories, losses and opportunities for changes but did I change for the better or worse. Did I make the make the most of every opportunity? I’m not sure but what I am sure of is that next year will come and have more opportunities and I am approaching 2008 with more of anticipation for change than in the past.

Best of New Orleans

Kyle and I went to dinner tonight and if you have ever eaten in New Orleans, LA or have ever wanted a taste of REAL Cajun food then I would highly recommend Alligator Soul in Everett, WA.

Meal started out with an Alligator Beignet – a single morsel that was so full of flavor you wanted to lick the plate to get every last drop of the crawfish white gravy.

Just as they clear those plates the waiter brings us each a plate containing two small bowls. In one was a rich brown nectar of the gods or what mortals would call Gumbo, in the other bowl was the soup of the day- Scallops in a parmesan cream.

Next came the Crawfish ‘n’ Sweet Corn Andouille Grits, this could easily be a meal by itself, but no it didn’t stop there.

Finally we got to the Entrée – going with the chef’s personal recommendation - Hoppin’ Jon Ham Hock – a ham shank on top of a mound of black-eyed peas, collard greens and white rice. If you order this either be prepared for a doggie bag or split it like we did.

Now after all of that we saved the best for last – a light fluffy pastry stuffed with crushed bananas topped with a banana rum caramel sauce and powdered sugar – Banana Foster Beignets. I devoured them even though I don’t eat sweets, they were amazing.

All this plus an atmosphere that was relaxing and filled with a little live jazz music, so if you go I would recommend that you make a reservation. I have eaten in some of the most well know restaurants in New Orleans and this place is equal to any of them.

Alligator Soul
3121 Broadway
Everett, WA 98201
http://www.alligatorsoulrestaurant.com/

It sure didn’t hurt that this place is one to the stops that Kyle delivers to and they really appreciate Kyle’s customer service.

Santa Snow Globe and Gag Gifts

I have been told that I have a unique way of picking out the perfect gifts and cards for people. I know that one of my purposes here on earth is to give. One of the hesitations I have about ‘Christmas Time’ is that gifts are expected and I much prefer to give gifts without anyone knowing where they came from but nonetheless I still enjoy giving the perfect gift.

This year I think I did pretty well including getting Kyle his Snow Globe lawn decoration and giving Denny his chocolate bars last Friday. I did have a couple of near misses, I finally found Kyle’s lost stocking stuffer on Christmas Eve I had hid it in my stocking (what was I thinking?) I brought home a Dolphin wind chime from Mexico thinking it would be for our granddaughter but I found out it was really the perfect gift for my daughter-in-law as I picked it up to show them. Then I bought a small massager thinking it would be great for my husband and it turned out to be the perfect gift for my mom because once she tried it she didn’t let it go until I took her home, Kyle so understood and let her take it.

Other hits were the Star Wars action figures in the stocking for our son’s and my husband, as of last night Kyle was still walking around talking like Darth Vader. Or how about the pooping reindeer I got for our son’s and our interns. One of the best was when our daughter-in-law shouted out to her daughter, “look mommy got snowman poop from Santa”.

There were serious gifts that made impacts too; a Razor scooter for our granddaughter especially when Grandma Karen road it around in the house, the puppy for our youngest son, a Camcorder that burns to a DVD for our oldest and his wife, and the copies of Harpers Weekly for Kyle.

Giving for me is not only a joy and an act of worship to our Lord, but it is my purpose.

Back At You

I'm driving home on Saturday afternoon from seeing a movie with my husband and I get this message on my phone. It is this picture with the caption "The Grand Tetons"








What a lovely inviting winter wonderland. My niece is so kind to send this to me. She and most of the family are out in Jackson Hole, Wy for Christmas leaving all of the rest of us back here in the Pacific Northwest and our joyous winter weather.



I had Kyle pull over at the side of the road so I could send her response:

The Cascades

Merry Christmas Clan, thanks for sharing. I'm so glad you all got to go and I'll see you in a week or so.

Hershey Bars

He asks, “Who are you?” I place my hand into his; it is warm and smooth to the touch as I say, “Karen”. He says, “I’m Denny.” I tell him that it is a pleasure to meet him as I squeeze his hand just a little and look into a set of eyes rimmed in tears but clear and alert.


These past few weeks have been pretty frustrating and difficult at work and today hasn’t been much different. I texted a friend this morning to see if she could meet me for lunch but it just wasn’t going to work out. I got into my car at about 11:30 and headed down to one of the local strip malls to stop in Rite-Aid to get a few last items for Christmas and then over to Taco Time for lunch.

I grab a cart when I see that they have a Blow Up Santa Snow Globe on display and it is 50% off. I run through the isles getting all the small items I wanted; a number of small bottles of lotion for my mom to give to her friends, some Barbie and Hot Wheel Band-Aids as stocking stuffers for our adult children (stockings are for fun), another box of Christmas cards for my mom to hand out (that will bring the count up to 125), and some Chapstick. I go to the check out counter, pay for my stuff and am starting to push my cart out the front door when I hear the man behind me telling the clerk that he didn’t have anyone to buy a Christmas gift for him so he was going to splurge and buy himself one. I turn around to see this gentleman probably about 80 years old in his worn plaid flannel jacket holding two boxes of Hershey chocolate bars. I take another step and then I realize what it was that I heard.

I put my cart aside, walk back to the register and tell him that I would like to buy him a Christmas present this year and handed the clerk some cash. “Why would you do that”, he asks and I tell him that Christmas is about giving and I just want to bless him. That is when I got to meet Denny.

After a brief exchange of Merry Christmas I see those around us all smiling and I need to quickly leave as my eyes are now brimming with tears.

Denny I want to thank you for making my Christmas just a little Merrier.

What If...

What if you could put what ever you wanted to say on a billboard for all to see? What would you print?

Your undying love for someone?

Your frustration with the situation you are in?

The plea of your heart?

Your favorite joke?

What if you could put what ever you wanted on a billboard.

Frosty

Stocking Stuffers

As you can see from this picture we have a number of Christmas stockings hung on our fireplace. When I was a kid we didn’t have stockings so a few years ago when we moved into this house and had such a great mantle I decided we needed to have them.

Last year I went to the dollar store and found these that had iron decals so I could put everyone’s name on the stockings (make note: they don’t come with spell check if you make a mistake and transpose letters, you have to go and buy a new one- but that’s another story).

I put the stockings up on the day I put up the tree but it was just a week or so ago that I saw Kyle over feeling the toe of his. I always thought that stockings got filled on Christmas Eve by Santa? After catching him I have started putting things in all of the other stocking and his is still empty. Now I have all the stocking stuffers bought and Kyle’s are hid because I keep them in our bedroom.

Now here’s where I have to admit that I can’t remember where I put one of Kyle’s stocking stuffers. I know I had it here in the house, I just can find it anywhere and I have no clue where it might be. It’s looking like I will have to go and buy another one before Christmas Eve. See what happens when I try and harass my husband. If I would have just put it in the stocking when I brought it home last week I wouldn’t be in this situation

Can You Hear Me Now?

There I sit in the ER room waiting, wishing I could at least send a text, but no coverage for three hours. That is what how I spent my Saturday morning.

It all started when I got a call from the nurse at Spring Estates saying that I needed to take my mom to be checked by a doctor. They are concerned about how she is acting, but also knowing that they tend to over react I head off down to Kenmore.

I load her into the van and we head off to the hospital ER. While in the waiting room I have just enough time to get a quick text off to a few folks that I know would pray. Then back to the exam room we go.

They come in ask a few questions and then tell us that they want to do a few test before they decide and the waiting starts. It is then that I realize that even though I had good coverage in the waiting room, there is zero coverage in the exam room. As I sit there and my mom dozes as we wait for the test results I really want to “reach out” and touch someone but I also don’t want to leave my mom in case the doctor comes back while I am gone. So I sit and wait, sit and wait.

Finally, the doctor comes in and declares my mom in good shape and he sends us on our way. Due to my mom Parkinson’s she has some interesting reactions to certain things.

As I sat there and waited I reflected on how we are so tied to being in constant connection. We get so frustrated when we can’t contact anyone at anytime. How dare someone not be at our beck and call or how important am I that I can’t be out of contact for just a few hours, I may actually miss something.

Then I thought about how we are never out of range for prayer and that the Word promises that He will never leave us or forsake us. When we are out of range of everyone else, our families, our friends, our pastors we are always within range of the Holy Spirit.

“Lord, Can You hear me now? Good.”

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2007 when...

1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.


2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.


3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.


4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.


5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.


6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.


7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen


8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.


11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )


12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.


13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.


14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.


15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.

Facts of Interest

In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have 'the rule of thumb'
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Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden'...and thus, the word GOLF entered into the English language.
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The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
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Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.
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Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
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Coca-Cola was originally green.
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It is impossible to lick your elbow.
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The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:
Alaska
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The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...)
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The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
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The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour:
61,000
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Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
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The first novel ever written on a typewriter, Tom Sawyer.
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The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
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Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
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111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
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Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace
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Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common?
A. All were invented by women.
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Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
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Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A. Father's Day
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Animal Crackers

Animal crackers are amazing; these little bits are tasty and timeless. I have seen them calm a two year old that needs to be still and calm a stressed out engineer that is working on a problem while up against a deadline.

Just a few, a camel, an elephant or a horse and everything else just seems less important. Try it, I’ll pass the box.

Socially Acceptable

Last night I was having a discussion on what is socially acceptable in on circle may not be in another. An example it really isn’t very socially acceptable for a 36-year-old man not to be married in some circles say the church and if he were out in the bars every night picking up woman it would be just fine in other circles.

Now how about seasonal questions, I know first hand that because I don’t participate in Halloween activities at work it is not considered socially acceptable, but we all get through it.

Last week one of the bloggers I read regularly commented on how he disliked snow. My goodness the responses he got were amazing, he was called selfish and berated for posting something like that on his own blog. I guess not liking snow isn’t socially acceptable. However, if you lived somewhere like Montana or Michigan and made a statement like that where snow is abundant you would probably get more folks that agree with you than those opposed.

And now the big sacred cow Christmas, yes Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ and a lot of people live for this time of year, but think about it, at Easter we don’t morn the death of Christ because He is past that, so why are we so fixated on His birth. Don’t get me wrong. I love Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him. In that I celebrate who He is every day. So when someone isn’t totally gaga over Christmas and the hoopla are they socially unacceptable?

That is the question: who determines what is socially acceptable in the social circles we live in?

Silence

Silence speaks

Uneasy silence

Breaking the silence

Silence is a scary sound

Silence implies consent

A moment of silence

Prolonged silence

Above are a few phrases we are all familiar with. Silence is something that most of us are uncomfortable with and/or unfamiliar with. Do you ever just ride in the car or sit at home without the radio/CD/TV turned on enjoying the silence or is silence a signal of the storm to come. If you have ever been in a tornado you know the eerie silence that precedes the storm, it is a silence of foreboding.

I have spent the day thinking about silence. It all started when a friend of mine forwarded me a text; “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14. My reply to that text was, “believing that He hears is the easy part, what do you do when He is silent?”

Are you mourning before God because you have not had an audible response? God will give you the blessings you ask if you will not go any further without them; but His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into a marvelous understanding of Himself. You will find that God has trusted you in the most intimate way possible. Has God trusted you with a silence - a silence that is big with meaning? God's silences are His answers.

On the Outside:

Being the professional I am there is always a measure of calm and poise expected. On the outside everything is cool and collected and there is not a problem that cannot be solved in a mere eight-hour day.

But on the inside:

Is there really ever an eight-hour day?

I'm Done

Think about it, such a simple phrase but so many meanings:

“I’m done”, said in relief as spoken by a teen as they sit back in their chair just finishing up the SAT exam.

“I’m done”, said is anticipation by a child as they finish their peas and can now have dessert.

“I’m done”, said is unbelief when you complete a task that you expected to take all day and it only took a few hours.

“I’m done”, said in excitement as a senior completes that last homework assignment and is finished with High School.

“I’m done”, said in frustration as just one more thing is piled on you.

“I’m done”, said in anger as a disagreement ends badly.

“I’m done”, said in despair at the end of another bad day.

“I’m done”, said as a statement marking a turning point in your life.

“I’m done”, said factually by the worker on the assembly line that has completed a task.

A simple phrase, yet so many meanings, I’m done.

Abandon Ship

Unless you have been totally out of touch we got a little rain in the area today the water was running so fast down the hill on the way to work that I flelt like I was shooting the rapids on some river.

A little after noon we started hearing reports of flooding that prevented people from going into or out of the industrial complex that I work in. Of the three access roads into or out of the complex only one of them was passable and that was under water. It was about 1pm when they decided to tell everyone to leave while they could. As I waited for my team to finish up what they were working on and get ready to head home I looked out the window and it was like someone had given the abandon ship order as everyone was heading to their cars.

I found out that the mom-mobile does not float. As I left the complex I went though water over the road that was up over the running boards on the side of the van. Thank God it didn’t stall out and the area I had to cross wasn’t very wide.

So I sit here typing this up and the power has just gone out so I am going to go and gather up a few candles, the extra blankets and call it a day. I guess I will post this in the morning unless the power comes back on here soon. (the power was only out for 1/2 an hour.)

A Norman Rockwell Day

Today we awoke to snow, not bad for December 1st in the Northwest, usually it is raining. After spending a lazy morning our son, daughter-in-law and grand-daughter came over and we went out for breakfast and then headed out the Christmas tree farm to get a couple of trees.

The weather was just perfect for it, not raining; a little snow on the ground, the air was cold, just what was needed to get into the spirit of things. We found the trees and got the guy with the tractor to come and pick us up, even though we could have carried them it was all about getting to ride in the back of the wagon behind the tractor. After a round of hot chocolate and a candy cane for Katelynn it was time to head home and get the tree in the house.

We brought it in and set it in the stand and it was the perfect height. I dug out the box with the decorations, turned on the classic CD of Christmas music, turned on the fireplace and Kyle and I went to work on the tree as it snowed on and off all afternoon.

The tree is trimmed, the stockings are hung, and the box is back in the closet I guess we are ready. No wait, we still need to find a blow-up snow globe for the front lawn that is what my husband wants this year. We looked at two stores this afternoon and weren’t able to find one. I will go on line here soon and hunt one down. It is really what he wants.

So as I sit here in front of the tree with the fireplace going there is a light snow falling outside it is the end to the perfect Norman Rockwell Day, Merry Christmas everyone.

A Typical Week

A typical week in review:

- 18 meetings that consumed 19 hours -

- helped orgainize a beer and pizza for 100 people ( yes, I have experience catering)

- Creating a new way of doing something that has half of the company rejoicing and the other half upset with me.

- handed out paychecks - one of the fun parts of being a manager.

- dropped off my mothers laundry at lunch one day.

- reacted to almost 1000 emails - today alone over 300 and it is Friday.

- Got chewed out twice for something I didn't do,

- Got thanked for helping someone else meet their goals

- Encouraged a bunch of folks to put in a little extra effort to complete a major milestone company.

No wonder I'm tired and ready to go home.

Lights on a Christmas Tree

We stand and look at the lights on a Christmas tree. A small child stands and looks with eyes of amazement at the colors and the reflections all around; the wonder and the hope of what Christmas may bring. A teenager stands and looks with the excitement of a child, but doesn’t want to show it trying to be the adult that is yet to be. A young parent looks with the warmth of the new meaning each Christmas has for their child. The grandparent looks with the eyes of remembrances of Christmas’ past. A giggle, a glisten, a dream, a tear all captured as we look at the lights on a Christmas tree.

Odd Christmas Traditions

In Italy they have no Christmas trees, instead they decorate small wooden pyramids with fruit.

In Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, it is customary for the streets to be blocked off on Christmas Eve so that the people can roller-skate to church.

An artificial spider and web are often included in the decorations on Ukrainian Christmas trees. A spider web found on Christmas morning is believed to bring good luck.

It is a British Christmas tradition that a wish made while mixing the Christmas pudding will come true only if the ingredients are stirred in a clockwise direction.

A traditional Christmas dinner in early England was the head of a pig prepared with mustard.

Sending red Christmas cards to anyone in Japan constitutes bad etiquette, since funeral notices there are customarily printed in red.

12 Days of Christmas - PC

This morning on the news they were talking about the "Cost" of the gifts for the 12 Days of Christmas being higher again this year. I found this "politically correct" version and decided to share it:

On the 12th day of the Eurocentrically imposed midwinter festival, my
Significant Other in a consenting adult, monogamous relationship gave to
me:

TWELVE males reclaiming their inner warrior through ritual drumming,

ELEVEN pipers piping (plus the 18-member pit orchestra made up of
members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called for in
their union contract even though they will not be asked to play a note),

TEN melanin deprived testosterone-poisoned scions of the patriarchal
ruling class system leaping,

NINE persons engaged in rhythmic self-expression,

EIGHT economically disadvantaged female persons stealing milk-products
from enslaved Bovine-Americans,

SEVEN endangered swans swimming on federally protected wetlands,

SIX enslaved Fowl-Americans producing stolen non-human animal products,

FIVE golden symbols of culturally sanctioned enforced domestic incarceration,

(NOTE after members of the Animal Liberation Front threatened to throw
red paint at my computer, the calling birds, French hens and partridge
have been reintroduced to their native habitat. To avoid further
Animal-American enslavement, the remaining gift package has been
revised.)

FOUR hours of recorded whale songs

THREE deconstructionist poets

TWO Sierra Club calendars printed on recycled processed tree carcasses

AND a Spotted Owl activist chained to an old-growth pear tree.

Age Just Doesn't Matter

I have a friend of mine that has learned to skateboard, she learned at the Jr High school after classes from one of her students. You see she is a school teacher and will retire at the end of this year. Here she is in her early 60s, learning to skateboard just to have a common interest and experience with her students. She can now be found on one Saturday a month at the Skate Park just connecting with the kids and trying to keep them out of trouble.

This past Sunday I was blessed with the opportunity to play my guitar for the Jr High service at church. There I am, probably old enough to be grandmother to some of those kids and for a few minutes, with a common interest and purpose we spanned the generations and just Worshiped the Lord.

When we have common interest and purpose, age just doesn’t matter.

Wal-Mart at Midnight

It is during the holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years that traditions become more apparent. There is the tradition of Turkey and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving, a tree trimmed with lights at Christmas, and College football on New Years Day. All of these are traditions that are observed by a number of us.

Then there are the traditions that each family has. My husband’s family has a number of traditions. Pecan pie, sweet potatoes and garlic mashed potatoes are a required at Thanksgiving. Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve starting with a lot of Swedish food, crab and pickled herring, followed up with some singing, piano and poems by the younger children and the evening is topped off with an early visit from Santa (red suit, beard and all). New Years day it is the annual College Bowl Game Extravaganza a little friendly wager going on about who can pick the most winners of the major bowl games.

In my family the traditions were less elaborate for us it was about having an early dinner at both Thanksgiving and Christmas so that we could clean the table off and start working on the biggest jigsaw puzzle we could afford. My sister and I have been known to stay up all night until it was finished except for the last piece. Somewhere during the day my dad would randomly pick a piece off the table and then put it in his pocket so he could put the last piece in. At Christmas we also had the tradition that Santa always brought socks. It started one year when there wasn’t a lot of money and we kids really needed socks. It was exciting to see that Santa knew what we needed. Even today my sisters and I all celebrate Christmas with our own families away from each other and Santa leaves socks at each house for everyone.

My other family recently started a tradition were all of us girls head out for a late night trip to Wal-Mart. It is more about being silly and out with each other, but we also end up buying a whole lot more than we planned. We top the night off by sitting and eating McDonald’s after midnight before we head home.

Traditions are what make the holidays special. Some traditions are forever; some come and go as the stages of our life change. But one thing for sure there will always be traditions.

Hit Your Target

This past week I was sitting watching TV with one of the interns that is living with us. A commercial came on and he commented on how he thought that it was really innovative. As I told him I really didn’t like it and found it almost offensive. Considering there is about 30 years age difference between us it really shows who the target was for that particular advertisement.

What clothes we wear is an area that we hit a target every time we dress. Would you go out and build a snowman in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts? Would you show up at the office in a mini-skirt and a halter-top? Now these might be the extremes, but what about the more subtle clothes we wear? When I am sitting around home I really enjoy being comfortable, I put on warm-up pants and a sweatshirt. When I am meeting with customers or even in my everyday business attire I am in a suit with a jacket or a skirt. I do dress down on casual Friday and wear a more casual look, usually jeans and a jacket, but not tennis shoes. I dress for success at the office because that is the target I am aiming for.

So what other areas should we target? What about the food we eat, what target are we aiming at? Or the people we associate with? What about the stuff we watch on the tv or the internet sites we visit, what target are we aiming at?

That commercial will never get me to purchase from that company, but it might get someone else interested. What are you aiming for?

Empty Chair

Thanksgiving is a time to express all that we are thankful for and for God’s provision throughout the year and it is a truly splendid time. As we prepare to celebrate, peeling the potatoes, baking the pies, stuffing the bird; I would guess that all us know of someone, a family member, a co-worker or a friend that has an empty place at the dinner table this year.

This empty chair may be the result of a long illness, a broken relationship, a freak accident, or a circumstance that ripped a loved one away. We will miss those people at our table,we will miss the stories they would tell.

Some of the stories are about life and are from first had experiences. Some of the stories are those of previous generations and will be repeated for generations to come. Some of the stories are of dreams that will never be lived out. Some of the stories will be fulfilled through a different avenue in a different time.

This year we are also thankful for that empty chair; for what was and what has yet to come.

Smiles

A smile is like a Swiss Army Knife, every body should have one, they are used for many purposes and they are easy to carry around.

Think about all the different types of smiles:

There is the wide opened mouth smile of a baby that lights up their whole face.

There is the plastered on smile when you are having a bad day and really don’t want anyone asking about it.

There is the smile on a child’s face as they see grandma and grandpa in the audience at a school recital.

There is the smile of an old man as he holds the door for a lady to enter the room.

There is the smile of clinched teeth when inside you are screaming “you idiot” at someone.

There is the smile of embarrassment that you use when you cut off another driver.

There is the cheesy smile you use when you pose for a picture (sometimes this is a family trait.)

There is the smile that is so encompassing that your eyes seem to disappear behind it.

There is the smile of comfort you use trying to give someone support in a seemingly hopeless situation.

There is the smile of victory as you accomplish a tough goal.

There is the smile of defeat when you don’t win.

There is the smile on an old woman’s face as she cradles a small baby in her arms.

There is the smile on a dad’s face beaming with pride as his son turns his first double play.

There is the smile exchanged between a husband and a wife just because.

And the list could go on. Smiles are like a Swiss Army Knife, everyone should have one, they can be used in any situation, and they are easy to carry. Maybe we should all smile more?

Neither Hail, Nor Sleet,

Tonight as I was leaving work it started to rain, then just as suddenly it became a downpour with full blown hail. Enough hail in Canyon Park that it accumulated on the road. As I was comfortably driving down the road in my mini-van I pulled up along side a guy on his Harley. It was obvious that this guy was uncomfortable. If you have ever ridden a motorcycle in the rain you know just how much the drops can sting, just imagine if the rain is actually frozen?

As I thought of that guy on the Harley I know that even though he ran into a little rain and hail tonight, I’m sure he will be out riding that thing probably later this week when it is suppose to be sunny. When I had a motorcycle I would ride any time it was above 40 degrees. Just because he was uncomfortable he won’t quit riding a motorcycle. He may need to not ride it at times when the road is too icy but I am sure that once the road is clear again he will be out there.

When God has called us to do something it isn’t always uncomfortable. It might mean we have to get up early in the morning to pray and spend time with God when we would rather stay in bed and sleep a little more. It may mean that we attend church services on nights after a busy day at the office when we would rather stay at home. It might mean that we sacrifice a latte or two to give an extra offering to buy toys for the kids at Christmas.

God promises to “Never leave us nor forsake us”. He never says we won’t be uncomfortable.

If Money Wasn’t an Issue

A few years ago a group of us from work were sitting in a restaurant waiting to catch the shuttle bus to the airport waiting to catch a flight home. While we were sitting there one of the guys asked the question, “What would you do if you didn’t have to worry about the money?” So around the table we went each of us telling what we would do. There was never a question that we all would still do something. There was talk about becoming a college professor, a business owner, a car designer, a historian and then it was my turn.
My response totally surprised them all, one because of the quickness that I responded, two the detail of the response and three it was totally not what they would have expected.

If money was not an issue what I would do is have a small deli in an industrial park where you had regulars. The shop would only be open from about 5am to 2pm and the menu would have a muffins, coffee cakes and a breakfast sandwich in the mornings and then in the afternoon there would be a soup of the day and a limited selection of sandwiches and possibly a special of the day – ie lasagna or bbq port sandwich. I’m not sure I would offer the foo foo coffees; I really don’t want the noise of an espresso machine. We would have coffee with free refills and tea and cocoa. On the wall would be a rack where you would bring in your own cup and would get a discount if you used it. There would be tables and chair, no booths, so that you could sit around and just talk.

I got the idea for the coffee cup wall from a small place I have visited in Albuquerque, NM., I like the idea of the tables and no booths from Barney’s Pastrami shop in Everett, and the industrial park from Ella’s in Canyon Park.

There are more and more days lately that I dream of this place and wonder how I could make it work. But for now money is still an issue and I will keep the job I have and trust God to provide my hearts desire in His time.

A New Calling

On Wednesday I posted an entry about how my husband processes stuff in his life by cooking. I mentioned that he cooked up a storm last Saturday and blessed a few folks with the results. One of those that received some of the lasagna he made actually posted about how good his lasagna was or more correctly how her cold prevented her from enjoying the taste. (http://graumamama.vox.com/library/post/tasteless.html).

If you read that comments from that post it is clear to realize that anyone that has tasted his lasagna wants to be on the receiving end of more of his “processing”. This past summer we went away with a group and they requested that he bring enough lasagna for all. One of the folks on the receiving end of that dinner was one of our dear friends who’s mother is Italian and makes her stuff from scratch and he even said it was good. Not bad for a guy with Swedish, Jewish, German ancestors.

I for one don’t really like lasagna, but I really enjoy Kyle’s and what he made this week was excellent.

I guess my husband hobby of cooking may become his new calling. I joke that I should start selling the stuff on eBay so that I can retire. So how much would a pan of lasagna go for, I’m not sure but it might be fun to find out, anyone interested in bidding?

As we go through life we dream of the perfect job, is that job one that just makes us the most money or is it one that brings us the most pleasure?

NEXT:
If money wasn’t a consideration what would you do for a job?

It's Over... We Think

Our saga started back in May, it was then that we got the first letter from the IRS saying that we owed them $$$$$$$ since they were not allowing our charitable contributions for the year 2005. I read the letter they said we could contend it by sending in documentation proving our contributions were legit, but they also recommended that we pay the back taxes and fines NOW so that we didn’t incur any more penalties and interest. OK, now does that sound stupid or what? There is no way I am sending anyone money that I know they don’t deserve. Not only did we have every one of the receipts we us a CPA to do our taxes just so that we don’t pay more than we need to in taxes each year.

I dutifully make copies of our receipts (again never send in the originals) and send them back to the appropriate address via a registered letter just so I know that they did receive them. I figured once they got the receipts that they would just close the case. We had everything documented down to the penny. No receipt – no deduction.

So then a couple of months go by and we get another letter. This time they accepted a few of our contributions but wanted more details. “Please pay us now and then send us any supporting documentation.” It was after this letter that we contacted our CPA. He agreed we had done the right thing the first time and he called them up and they said it was just the system and they hadn’t reviewed the information I had sent yet.

A month later we get another letter. “Please pay us now we still won’t allow all your contributions.” Another call to the IRS by our CPA and they tell us that we need to send in not only the receipts but all the cancelled checks.

Another couple of months go by and no word from them and then last week we get another letter. “We aren’t accepting your documentation, please pay us $$$$ now or accrue interest and penalties.” WHAT we did nothing wrong all of our contributions are legal and we have every piece of documentation to prove it. For a week our CPA tries to talk to a body and only gets voice mail and finally today he talks to a ‘lady’. She looks in our file and says “Oh, we closed that file just yesterday.” So why the letter last week? “That’s just the system.” When will we have a document saying that file is closed and we owe nothing? “The system will send that out in about 4 weeks.”

For tonight we are praising God that our little experience with the IRS is over and in 5 weeks if we don’t have a closing letter from them we will try and figure out what the system is up to now.

Processing

How do you process through thing? I need to get them out into thoughts, either spoken or written. As I form the thoughts I usually come up with answers to the issues and perplexities that bother me.

Kyle on the other hand, like most men, internalizes and needs to ‘do’ something. Some men will go and rebuild an engine, clean out the garage, or build something in the wood shop, for my husband he needs to cook.

This past Saturday Kyle needed to work through a few things so into the kitchen he went. He made two large pans of lasagna, a double batch of cream cheese brownies, a cake and a cheese cake. At the end of two hours he had everything done, blessed four different families and had resolved the issues he was dealing with.

When he gets like this I just stay out of the way and keep the pile of dishes and pans stacked in the sink from falling over.

Here he is in mid-process.

Stamped

All we ever want is to be accepted, validated, approved, or accepted. Too bad we have to try and label ourselves and other. All too often our thoughts, actions and visions are nullified, invalidated and negated because others fail to take the time to truly listen.

Is there a greater rejection then to have a dream or vision stamped with a big VOID?

Candle Light

This morning 10 minutes after I got out of bed the power went out. I found the flashlight and then went around the house collecting the candles so I would have enough light to get ready for work. I have found that it works best to get a few candles and sit them up near the mirror in the bathroom and I can do a pretty good job of getting my makeup on without looking like Bozo the Clown when I am done.

I do have a couple of flashlights, they have more ‘candle’ power but because it is focused they are not as practical for lighting up a larger area such as the whole room. I took one candle this morning and carried it upstairs and was able to see well enough to walk around and not stub a toe. But when it came time to write in my journal and read the bible I needed the power of the flashlight to be able to see all the detail.

Light is an amazing thing. One single candle lights up a whole room. Yet you can focus that light to the point that is cuts through tungsten steel (laser cutting) or repair a human eye. We can have many interest but we are the most powerful when we focus our energy.

If Only She Could Talk

On Sunday afternoon Kyle and I came home and found one of our cats sitting at the table in front of an open Bible. This was not posed, this is how we found her. I grabbed the camera and took the shot and still she didn't move. I wonder what she was thinking?

Here are some thoughts that Kyle and I came up with:

* "I got a revelation!"

* "Elijha or Elisha?"

* " I sure hope to get past the begats soon."

* "As for me and my house we shall serve the Lord."

* "See I told you cats rule, He is the Lion of Judah."

* " So when do I get to preach?"

So do you have other captions?

Veterans Day

Pardon Me?

Are you hearing all that you should be? In a crowded room do you need to be looking at someone to be able to understand what they are saying? How about as you walk down the street or through the mall and someone beside you is talking and they look away in mid sentence do you still hear them? For me the answers are no, yes, and no.

I had my hearing tested this past week at work and it showed that I had deficits in certain ranges so Kyle now you know that it isn’t just selective hearing when you speak, your voice really is in a range that I can’t hear.

Not being able to hear my husband speak is a real bummer. When we are out walking or in a restaurant I have to be facing him to hear what he is saying. Just yesterday at lunch we were sitting in a booth talking quietly and he happened to put his had up over his mouth and I lost part of the conversation so I had to have him repeat it. It wasn’t even a noisy restaurant at that. I miss what he is trying to communicate to me at time just because it gets lost in the background noise.

How many times does this happen with God, He loves us and is constantly trying to speak to us and the background noise muddles the words He speaks. He wants us to hear him clearly and often we just can’t filter out the noise around us. We need to focus on His face and we will never miss a word He says.

1 in 7 Billion

Odd, strange, weird, unusual, not normal, peculiar, uncommon, oddball, freak, geek; all words used to describe someone that is different, all adjectives that have been used to describe me. I will be the first to admit I am different.

I am different in my likes and dislikes, I am different when it comes to allergies, and I am different when it comes to my profession. I have come to face the fact that I am different.
I don’t like turkey or seafood, I am allergic to NutraSweet and I am a woman that is a technologist. I am an enigma.

Throughout my life it has always been this way and it hasn’t always been easy to be different. Now I enjoy and appreciate my uniqueness and I know that when my husband tells me that I am “1 in 7 Billion” like he did one afternoon this week, it is a term of appreciation and endearment and not derogatory.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made to be the unique woman I am and I will cherish my difference.

Unique (def): Being the only one of its kind; without an equal or equivalent; unparalleled.