I really hope.

I can't believe the level of manipulation some people will sink to in order to get their way.   I've been dealing with this person's manipulations most of my life.  It's always the same; if I dare to stand up to this person then everyone looks at me as though I am just plain selfish and evil.  Yet it's this person who manipulates, even faking issues and lies, just to get their way.  And I'm supposed to just excuse the behaviour, "that's just the way they are."  Well, they are that way because everyone keeps making excuses for them!

I'm really upset, I mean REALLY upset because this time it might cause not just my plans to be changed, again, but this time it might cause me to not be able to spend time with someone I love very much.  Someone who if I don't get to spend time with them now, I might never get the chance again.

But the manipulator/liar has done it again.  I'm hoping and praying, yes, praying, that I am wrong and I will get to spend time with the person I really want to spend time with. 

But isn't that what most people do today, they lie, they manipulate, they fake, all to get what they want, whether it be a promotion, a boyfriend/girlfriend, a job, a new dress, a new........  whatever, you get the picture.  

I really hope we don't ALL do that.  I really want to believe that there is still a nice big bunch of us that do right, that work hard, try our best to be honest, and to deal truthfully with whatever life throws at us.  I'm not saying I'm perfect, then I would be a liar!  But whatever I get in my life, where ever I go, I want to do so honestly, either by honest, hard work, or by my Father's favor and grace!  Not because I manipulated, lied, faked my way there.  But no, I'm not perfect.  It doesn't stop me from hoping there are more of the honest, hard working kind of people, than the other kind....

I really hope my visit, my plans don't get ruined.

I really hope we can all learn to get along and love each other without manipulation and lies.

I really hope.......

I'll let you know.

YOU CAN'T YELL ALL THE TIME AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO KEEP LISTENING!

I know I've been a bit more political over the last couple of weeks.  But I won't apologize.  Things are heating up in our world.  Hiding our heads in the sand won't help anything, so I do spout off from time to time.  But I'm beginning to think that I'm "preaching to the choir".  So tonight, I'm just going to say hello.

Hello.  I think we need to say "hello" more, every day.  Perhaps if we would just say "hello", "hi", "hope you're having a good day", maybe even just smile more often, maybe we could break down some walls that would help others to hear what we have to say.  YOU CAN'T YELL ALL THE TIME AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO KEEP LISTENING!    

During the last few days of our 15 years of marriage, my ex yelled at me all the time, (since he wasn't allowed to raise his fist at me again).  On the last or next to last day we actually lived under the same roof, he yelled at me, I zoned, then he yelled at me "ARE YOU LISTENING, WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING?", when he calmed down enough that I was able to "hear" him, he asked why I didn't answer him, I looked at him and said, "when you yell at me, I can't hear you"

I think a lot of the world is the same way.  We have been yelled at about "global warming", "women's rights", "save the whales", "save the trees", "h1n1", "butter will kill you", bla bla bla bla!  And now, no one wants to listen to anything, we all just want to stick our heads in the sand and pretend the world will continue on as it always has been and we don't have to do anything and everything will be fine it we all just go to work, get paid, spend our money and send our children to school to learn how to do the same thing. 

I don't think the world is going to continue on as it always has, in fact, I know it won't, I read the Scriptures, I know this world is going to come to a not so pretty end.  Sad, but true.  Well sad for some.  For the rest of us, what comes after the not so pretty end, will be absolutely eternally beautiful.   I don't know all the details, but I believe it's true.  I'm not telling you that your only choice is to believe the same way I do, that's up to you.  But I know that my faith, my Saviour, my Father Creator, will carry me through to the other side of whatever we have to go through.  It's not going to be pretty, and it might even get a little rough, but that's ok, I know where my hope, my faith will take me. 

I might not have said everything exactly right, exactly like I wanted to say it, but I've got to get busy cleaning house so I can get to bed at a decent hour tonight.  

Blessings & Peace to all of you!

SHALOM!

THIS is what life should be about.

So, I took the weekend off, well sort of.  I had to work yesterday, 1230-9pm,  oh goodee.  It's not a bad job, but it's not a great job either.  

Anyway, through default I have taken a break from writing, from politics, from this gross world we are living in.  

Why?   FAMILY!!!  My mom came to visit!  she'll be here for almost a month and we had a family get together today.   Mom, my sister & me, our families, kids, grandkids, great grandkids, in-laws etc.  good food, good visit.  

THIS is what life should be about.   We need a government that does what it's supposed to do, no more, no less, so we can get on with our lives, so we can live freely.  make our own choices, settle our own issues.


That's it, that's all I have for tonight.  

SHALOM!

refreshment and restoration

When I got up this morning, I had a couple of different subjects I wanted to write about tonight.  But you know what happed?  I went to work, got busy, got tired and forgot! 

My brain is so tired.

So please pardon me if I excuse myself from the world this evening.    Maybe we all need a break now and then?

Father,  refresh and restore my spirit as I sleep tonight.    Strengthen me for the days to come, whatever they might be.

And bless my readers with refreshment and restoration also.    

Something tells me that in the days, weeks and months to come (years if we make it that far?) we will need Your Strength, Your Peace, Your Wisdom, Your Strength.

Thank you Father!!!

Goodnight & Sweet dreams,

Shabbat Shalom!

Is that too much to ask?

When I joined the military in the early 70's (Viet Nam Era Vet), my MOS was 71Quebec, Information Specialist, journalism.  One of the things I remember from the first days of training was about a term called "yellow journalism", which as I remember was referring to journalists who don't just report the facts of the news, but also try to sway the thoughts and opinions of the reader towards their own personal preferences.  

Isn't that what almost ALL of today's so called journalists are doing?  NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN.....  and I hate to say it, sometimes Fox News too.   Nobody just reports the news any more.  Please, can I get "JUST THE FACTS MA'AM".  All I need from the news media is the "pyramid".  Who, What, When, Where & How.  It's not up to them to tell me why unless it's a FACT and not just their opinion!  

I don't want anyone to tell me what to think, what to feel, what to say.  I don't want to be "politically correct".  I want to be honest, say what I mean, mean what I say, respectfully & tactfully of course, but in the spirit of "Freedom of Speech".   

Is that too much to ask?

POSITIVITY

I'm positively positive that we positively need MORE POSITIVITY in this world today! At least I know I do!

I hope everyone has a positively peaceful evening!

:-)

He will never change, I can always abide in His Peace and Grace.

I was driving home from work today, trying to forget all the craziness that happened at work today, all the craziness going on in the world.  I spoke with my dad for a little bit (thank you for blue tooth technology).  Since I live about 45 minutes from work, and at least 30 minutes on a nice quiet little highway, I had a nice drive home.  

So, as I was driving, trying NOT to think about all the craziness, one thing came to my mind.   No matter what happens, The hills, the sky, it all will remain.  Oh, some things might change, if the worst happened the plant & animal life could be harmed, people could be harmed, they could all disappear,  the roads would give way to age and weather.  

But the hills, the rocks, the sky, would all remain.   I know, I know, this is kind of dark thinking.   But you see, I believe I know the end of the story.  Regardless of time and politics and science and "religion", I know Who holds the Victory in His Hands!  

But back to the drive home.  Even as I contemplated all the possibilities, dark as they might be, I suddenly realized, that wasn't the point.  The whole point of my observation was that while some things change, some things just refuse to change.  The peace that washed over me was amazing!  No matter what changes in this world, and you'd have to be living in a cave in the middle of no where to not know we are daily inundated with changes and threats of changes,  some things don't change.  I am still me, and my Father, my Creator is still in CHARGE!  And He still has the FINAL VICTORY in the palm of His Hand.    

I don't know if I'm explaining this in the way I experienced it.  But my real point is no matter what the world or what the enemy throws at us.  He will never change, I can always abide in His Peace and Grace.

And with that thought in mind, I'm calling it a night.

Blessings and Shalom!!!

It went wrong when.....

I was giving a friend a ride home from work today and we got to discussing something we've both noticed.  A lack of caring from the general population.  Not just the younger generation, but all ages.  They don't seem to care about how their actions (or lack thereof) affect themselves or anyone else.  They come to work to make money to pay their bills.  I get that, I go to work to make money to pay bills too.  But I care about doing a good job.  I care about how my actions affect others, my bosses, my agents, my family, the customers, myself, even my little pal, Kaci, my weener dog.  (Dachshund if you must, but he goes by weener dog, LOL)  Why do I care?  Why does my friend care?  Because we were taught to do our best growing up.  Because we don't want to be responsible for our friends, coworkers, family, bosses (& weener dogs) left holding the bag, so to speak.  

I can't NOT do my best.  I can't NOT mind my manners.

That doesn't mean I'm perfect and I'll never make a mistake, but if I make a mistake I want to learn from it and not make THAT mistake again. 

My friend and I also have noticed a serious lack of MANNERS amongst the general population, again, every age.  I talked about this briefly the other day (here's a clue).  But people don't even say please, thank you, you're welcome (they might give you a "no problem" if you're lucky), excuse me, I'm so sorry, etc.. 

Why?  Where did it all go wrong?

They it started with the baby boomers in the 60's, some say punk rockers, some say the hard rockers, the goth's, the bikers, the gangsters, etc etc etc....

I think it went wrong when the rest of us didn't stand up and say "mind your manners!"  it went wrong when parents became worried what would happen if they spank their child as a form of discipline ( thanks so very much for NOTHING Dr Spock!)  it went wrong when people stopped caring about each other, including and especially their neighbors. It went wrong when we stopped paying attention to the world around us and just focused on going to work, to make the money, to pay the bills.

Just say'n.

My future is straight ahead and I'm not slowing down for anyone every again

Here I am again, up WAY past my bed time!  But hey, it's morning somewhere right?   

I think that's part of my problem though.  I never seem to be living in the moment, I'm either busy regretting something from the past, something I did that I shouldn't have, or something I wish I'd done but I didn't.  Or something I hope I can do in the future or worried that I can't do.  But never really living in the moment.  Except when I'm with my family, especially my grandchildren.  

But I can't exist only when I'm with my family, my grandchildren.  I have to learn to live in the moment, every moment.  It's not something new I'm just discovering.  It's something I've been working at for awhile.  

I was looking at my journal this morning.  I used to fill up a journal every few months.  I've been writing in this journal for 2 years!  So then I asked myself why?  Why haven't I written more, what am I waiting for?  What do I write in my journal?  I suppose the same as anyone else, thoughts, feelings, dreams, ideas.  So why haven't I written more than I have.  As anyone who has followed my blog knows (and I hope there's someone following!) I haven't been very faithful to my blog writing either, not here or in my story.   

So what is it, what is stopping me from doing what I know I want to do?  Why do I let other things get in the way?   Well, I think I've figured out at least part of it.

Fear.

Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of trying, of not trying, bla bla bla bla.....

ENOUGH OF THAT!  NO! NO MORE!!!  No more fear.  

It's time to get real, it's time to start living in the moment and treat my writing like a real job.   So here it is way past my bed time and I have to go to my other job in the morning.   The job I have to use for an income, but my writing has to become as much a priority as my family, or at least a close second?  

I don't come by this decision on my own. But after thought and some prayer, I realized that because of things that happened in my past, choices I made, choices others made that I allowed to take hold in my life, I've been living as if I were a second class citizen.  As if I didn't deserve as much joy and success in my life as others did.  WRONG!  As a King's daughter, I deserve just as much joy and success in my life as any other son or daughter of the King of kings!    Not because of what I've done or haven't done or might do.  But because of who I am in Him!  

Well, now you see what happens when I stay up to late.   

So beginning tomorrow, I spend at least 30 minutes writing, either here and/or in my journal (sorry, you don't get to read that!)  That's my promise to myself, not to anyone else, just to myself.  This is not like the promises I made to lose 20 pounds, or save $200 for some special event or purchase and then it didn't happen.   This is something I can do that doesn't require any extra special effort and no one will know but me and my King, my Creator Father.  Well, and my readers, if I write here or in my story blog.   The only exception will be the Sabbath, any special Sabbath's and days when we have all day family get togethers out of town.  (and even then I might be able to sneak in a few lines, in either my journal or blog).  Is it considered incorrect to talk about your blog IN your blog?  hmmmmmmm.....

 I'm tired of being, acting weak.  I'm not a second class citizen.  I'm strong and the daughter of the King of kings!  My future is straight ahead and I'm not slowing down for anyone every again (including myself!).


 Oh well.  Off to sleep for me now.   Goodnight all and Be Blessed.

Shalom!

Thank you SandiKrakowski for the loan of the picture!  

Here's a clue.

What's wrong with our society?

Here's a clue.

My daughter-in-law, 10 and 3 yr old grandsons and myself were at the highschool football game last night. Our little town has ONE stoplight, the other team comes from a town so small they only have a flashing amber caution light.  I mentioned the size of our tiny communities because you'd think proper manners would be the norm. (Not to say people in big cities don't have manners)

For the most part I was having more fun watching my 3 year old grandson than I was watching the game, he's just so cute! 

All was well until just before half time, and the group of teenagers behind us also started losing interest in the game.  One young fellow said "I told her not to give me the kid to hold, I'd probably f'n drop it. I D... sure don't need to be hold'n some kid. I'm not f'n ready to be a father" 

That was bad enough, but what bothered me more was the looks I got when I turned and said "excuse me? There are little boys here." And I pointed to my grandsons.  (My d-i-l was talking to her friend a few feet away and didn't hear the exchange) The youngster did apologize and curtailed his language the rest of the evening. 

But the looks I got from the people around us?? Disappointing!  The teenagers were fine with it but the older folks, 30+, looked at me as if I had 3 heads and committed the faux pas of the year.  No one said a word, they didn't have to.

When I was growing up we didn't even KNOW those words, and if we said them we most definitely would have been corrected by the nearest adult, but would have also received multiple scoldings from any and every adult in the vicinity, been thoroughly embarrassed, and NOT eagerly anticipating the mouthwashing, hineywarming experience awaiting at home, since we knew our parents would know by the time we got there.  (and this before cell phones).

It wasn't about "taking a village", no thanks hillary. 

It was about minding our manners and being prepared to face the consequences if we didn't.

We don't have that anymore.

That's what's wrong with our society today. 

We can disagree all day, that's ok.  But we can do so with manners.  I'm not talking about  fighting wars, that's different.

But person to person, face to face, could we have some manners PLEASE?