New Year's Eve (All dressed up...NOT)

This is my dress. The one that I was gonna wear to a New Year's Eve night out with "my guy". Well...I call him "my guy". He hasn't gotten that far yet. A girl can dream though, right?

Well...as you can see...the dress still has the tag on it. Yes folks...this dress is on it's way back to the store.

Things didn't quite work out as I had planned. He was "booked" well in advance of New Year's Eve and by the time I asked him about "our" plans...I was too late for the "biggest night of the year". I know...it's my own fault...thinking that HE would want to spend New Year's Eve with ME. I was being hopeful...VERY hopeful.

I gotta say though...I DO LOVE this dress. It's so "out of the box" for me. Like nothing that I'd ever wear. But I'm trying new things and thought that the dress was a perfect start. I was really ready to "wow" him.

Oh well, c'est la vie.

The dress may go back to the store...and then again...it may find a nice cozy little spot in my closet.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever bought something for a special occasion, only to have the plans fall into the toilet?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Patience and Love

Today, I'd like to share with you a little lesson that I learned (or was at least reminded of) last week. Hope it helps you as much as it helped me.

***

Last week I ordered a phone for my son. I ordered it in enough time for it to arrive and be his Christmas gift. Notice, that was GIFT (singular). I was only able to get one gift per child this year, but that's alright. It's not about the gifts anyway...I digress.

So I order the phone and it was scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday, 12/21 by 3:00.
I wait at home all day. 3:00 rolls around and the driver is not here. I call the shipping company to find out what's going on. I'm told that due to the holiday rush deliveries were delayed and the driver would arrive by 6:00. Okay.

I waited until 5:00 and then had to leave. I left a note on the door for the driver letting him know that I waited until 5:00 and asked that he make another attempt the next day.

Thursday comes and again, I spend most of the day waiting for the driver. According to the company's website, the package would be delivered by 3:00.

At 2:52, I decided to call as the driver had not yet shown up. I'm told again that due to delays the driver had until 6:00 to show up. Okay. Not happy, but ok.

So I wait.

5:00 rolls around again, and I decide to call. The agent who I spoke with this time told me that my package never left the shipping center and that I could go and pick it up.

Are you kidding me?!?

So my package had been there ALL day and I could've picked it up that morning?!?

Not happy, but ok. I got in the car and drove over. I got there at 5:45.

I get to the shipping center and the woman at the counter says, "If you're here to pick up a package you have to wait until 6:30 when the drivers are back and have unloaded their trucks."

I tell the woman that I had been advised that my package was already there and asked if I could just pick it up instead of waiting.

She takes my door tag, punches my info into the system and says {wait for it...wait for it...}, "Ma'am, your package is out on the truck for delivery".

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!

I had just been advised on the phone that the package never went out for delivery and was available for pickup at the shipping center. Can you tell...I was NOT happy.

The woman then advises me that I'd have to wait for the driver to return and unload the truck. I could pick up my package at 6:30.

Can you guess what happened next?

You're pretty smart, so I'm sure that you can.

6:30 rolled around and there was no package. My driver had not returned yet.
Then 7:30 came and went.
As did 8:30.

At 8:45 the woman calls me over and tells me that "the manager" would be out shortly to speak to me about my package. This can't be good.

So I wait, and out comes the manager who tells me that the driver has not made it back yet and that the shipping center was about to close. My options at that point were to either let the driver attempt delivery again the following day, or I could have them place the package on "hold" and pick it up the following morning.

I opted for the "hold" and decided to come back the following morning. With smoke coming out of my ears I headed back to my car.

Fast forward to the next morning.

I get to the shipping center at 9:00 when they open.

I give the kind woman at the counter my door tag, she punches in my info but doesn't say much. Uh-oh.

I wait about 10 minutes and then ask if my package is there for pick-up since it had been placed on hold.

In chimes the young whipper-snapper at the next counter who says (with much attitude), "The system does not show that your package was placed on hold, so we can't guarantee that it's on hold. You just have to wait while we research this".

Okay...the smoke alarm is about to go off now.

I respond with, "Wait a minute. I was here for over 2.5 hours last night and was told by the manager that my package would be placed on hold for pick-up this morning."

"Well, it does not show "on hold" in the system".

"I don't care what it says "in the system". I saw the manager place a sticker on my paperwork last night so that the item would be placed on hold."

"Well it's NOT on hold in the system."

This could not be happening...it just could NOT be happening. At that point, I was about to go off.

I have been in sales for too many years to know that her attitude was foul and unacceptable and she needed to be dealt with. I had already decided that I was going to go home and write an unsavory letter to the President of the company explaining my dis-satisfaction. This was all while I waited for "the manager" to come out and explain the latest issue.

As I produced one more heavy huff, my phone rang. It was a call that I didn't want to miss but by the time I got to it, I missed it. Urgh!

It rang again. In my frustration, I answered it in a very abrupt and sharp manner.

"Hello!"

"Whoa, whoa. What's goin' on? What did I do?"

"You didnt' do anything. I'm just at the "shipping center" getting the run around, trying to pick up a package that should be here but I've been told that it's not, and I'm frustrated. And I want to reach over and clobber the rudeness at the counter."

"Wait a minute. What else is going on? This is not like you, and it's not cute. Surely you are not this frustrated over a box?

"It's not about the box. It's about the mis-communication and poor service that I'm getting"

"No. There's got to be more. What's wrong? I need you to get away from where you are and go someplace where you can talk to me."

So I get in my car and for the next 41 minutes I listen to "the voice of reason" calm me down & "talk me off of the ledge".

He says, "You know that all of this anger is not you. What you need to do is go back in there with patience and love on your tongue, because that it who you are. If they have your package, fine. If they don't, just find out when it's expected to be delivered, or maybe you can meet the driver on his route and get the package that way. But with patience and love on your tongue is how you need to go back in there."

I said, "I know. This really is ridiculous that I've allowed myself to get so worked up over a box. Somebody is waiting for their medicine to be delivered so that they can LIVE. I'm just waiting for a phone."

"That's right. Now get back in there You can do this...the right way."

He was right, and knows me so well.

So I go back in...and guess what...

I walk in and the one with the previously nasty attitude greeted me with a smile...AND MY BOX.

While I was outside having some sense talked back into me, they were searching for, and had found...my box.

And in the process, I learned a grand lesson.

In all that we do, we must do it with Patience and Love on our tongues. After all...love WINS...all the time.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: When was the last time that you wanted to "go off" on someone? What kept you from doing it?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Give...don't just TAKE

Out of all the character flaws a person can have, I must say that SELFISHNESS is my LEAST Favorite.

I can not stand SELFISHNESS!!!

Lie to me if you must.
Steal from me if you must.
Exude SELFISHNESS, and we have a problem.

I went to lunch today with some former co-workers. One of them has now started his own cookie business, and his cookies are delectably delicious.

After eating one at the restaurant where we dined, I wrapped up 3 more to bring home to my kids.

I get home and give the first one to my son. He agrees, they are the BEST cookie he's ever had.

About 20 minutes later my youngest daughter comes to get a cookie. I look over to the counter where I had placed them and they are GONE...ALL GONE!

I look over at my son and he says, "What? I thought they were all for me?"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? Did you really think that I bought ALL THREE of those cookies for JUST YOU?!?"

I was livid!!!

I could not believe what I was hearing. Never once did he think to ask if the other cookies were his, nor did he ask if he could have any more. He just took it upon himself to eat the remaining cookies, never even thinking that anyone else would want them.

SELFISH!!!

I couldn't take it. I sent him to his room because at that moment I couldn't even look at him.

And no...I am not making a mountain out of a molehill over cookies. I am making the mountain over the principle.

He has got to learn how to think about others. It is not "all about him".

This is the problem that our entire society has. Everybody is thinking about themselves and no one is thinking about anyone else.

I hate it!!!

It's time that we start thinking about others. And if the change has to start in my home, then so be it. I am committed to eradicating SELFISHNESS...one person at a time.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What is YOUR least favorite trait in a person?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

To No One's Sorrow

"He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one's sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."

2 Chronicles 21:20

***

Everyday, I read my Bible. Today's Old Testament reading came from 2 Chronicles, Chapter 21.

Now I'll be honest...2 Chronicles is not THE most exciting book in the Bible, but it's in there, so I've gotta read it. Can't just skip over to "the good stuff". It's not a smorgasbord. I've gotta take it all.

Before I read my Bible, I always ask God to speak to me and show me what it is that He wants me to learn from. "Illuminate your Word, LORD" That's what I ask Him to do.

Today, I was surprised by what jumped out at me. I was reading about Jehoram and what a ruthless person he was. Because of his ruthlessness, God inflicted sickness upon him and he eventually died a long agonizing painful death.

As the NLT puts it..."Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery."

When I read that I thought, "Wow, how sad!"

It wasn't sad that no one cared about this man's death, after all, he had done some wicked things in his life, but then again, it was sad. How sad it is to live a life that no one even cares about once that life is over.

That passage of scripture just reminded me of how important it is to leave a POSITIVE lasting impression on those we leave behind. I always say that I want the lives of the people I know to be BETTER for having known me, than had they not known me at all.

I don't want the end of my life to be "to no one's sorrow". That would mean that no one cared. Or worse, that I didn't care enough about others to have them care about the loss of me.

No, when I go, I don't want people to be so sorrowful that then want to jump in "the box" with me. Last time I checked, those things are only made to fit ONE.

No. I want the people I leave behind to remember me with joy in their hearts. And I want them to say that they were BETTER for knowing me, than to have not known me at all.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever known anyone who's died and those left behind could care less?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Attention Shoppers!!!

So it's the day after Christmas and my babies got me a gift card for the "big girl store" where I shop...Lane Bryant.

Cool!

I've been needing some new clothes so I decided to go use my gift. After all, it's the day after Christmas so there should be SALES GALORE!

NOT!!!

I go to the store and find two really cute tops that I like...each priced at $49.95 (everything is so expensive in that store). But I'm thinking that it'll be okay because just this morning I received the following text from Lane Bryant, so surely I'd get a deal. Here's what it said:

"Up to 60% off store wide!"

Well at 60% off, I could afford the two tops...never at full price though.

So I take my tops to the register...the lady rings them up...and you can guess what came next...

She says, "Just so you know, these are not on sale."

Of course not. That would be too much like right.

So I ask her to put them on hold so that I can come home and check my email to see if there are any coupon offers.

I get home, and...well...you can guess what comes next...there weren't any.

So there ya have it.

I desperately need some new clothes, but not at full price. And even though I had the gift card that my babies gave me, I'm not just going to frivolously spend their money just because it's not MY money. What sense would that make?

So...no clothes for me today. Just have to wait & see when the next coupon offer comes & then hope that the tops are still there in my size when I go back.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Did you do any after Christmas day shopping today? If so, did you get any deals, or leave empty handed as did I?

Take to me!

Til next time...

Celebrating JESUS

Today is Christmas...the day that Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

Now before I go any further, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am well aware of the fact that Jesus was more than likely NOT actually born on December 25th. I get that! And you know what...it really doesn't matter to me WHAT day He was born. All that I know is that He WAS born. Pick a day...any day. Ok...now you go ahead and celebrate His birth on THAT day. Because at the end of the day, the actual DATE of His birth, just doesn't matter. It just doesn't. People get so caught up on an actual DATE that they miss out on the importance OF the day...His birth.

Every Christmas I find myself asking the same question: Why do we give gifts to EACH OTHER when it's the birth of JESUS we're celebrating?

I mean really...when July 14th rolls around each year, my friends and family don't give gifts to EACH other, they give gifts to ME as July 14th is MY birthday.

Jesus' birthday is the only one that I know of where gifts are given to everyone EXCEPT the person who is being celebrated.

So how 'bout this...how 'bout on this day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus...how 'bout we give HIM something. Now you're probably thinking, "What can I possibly give to Jesus?"

Well, I'm glad you asked.

You can give him your LIFE. After all, He gave HIS for YOU. So it only seems fitting that you would give Him yours in return.

You can do that, can't you? Just nod, and say yes.

Here's all you need to do...talk to God. How? The best way that you know how. Just come from your heart. Speak to Him as you would to a close friend. He's not going to judge you on your words, and there are no wrong words. Just talk to Him...for as little time as you want, or as much time. He has all the time in the world...after all, He created time. He'll never rush you, and when you talk to Him, be assured that you have His attention. Buildings can be crashing down in some other part of the world, natural disasters can be occurring, and while you pray to Him, He is able to give attention to your prayer without distraction. He's just God like that!

So go. Talk to Him. He's waiting.

If you'd like, I can start you off...

"Father God, THANK YOU. Thank you for the ultimate gift that was ever given. Thank you for the gift of Your Son Jesus. Forgive me of my sins. I want Jesus to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior"

You can take it from there.

Whoever you are, wherever you are...may God bless you richly. May the love of Christ dwell in you always. And may you always be thankful for the greatest gift ever given...Jesus...our Lord and our Savior. Through Him, His death, and His resurrection, we now have the promise of dwelling in the house of the LORD forever.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you received Jesus as Lord and Savior? If not, what are you waiting for? He's made it so easy. Don't wait. I BEG you...PLEASE don't wait. Of all the posts I've ever written, this is probably the MOST important. Tomorrow is not promised. Heck the next 5 minutes are not promised. Receive Him now. He's waiting.

God bless you, and Merry Christmas!

Talk to me!

Til next time...

QUALIFIED!

So I'm still on my job search, or should I say CAREER search and I'm just a little "hot under the collar" at the moment.

I found a listing for a job that I am COMPLETELY qualified for, except for one small detail...the job requires that the candidate be BILINGUAL in English and Spanish.

Am I BILINGUAL in English and Spanish? No. And you know what...I applied for the job ANYWAY.

Are you going to tell me that in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, a company will discard my resume which CLEARLY shows that I meet EVERY OTHER QUALIFICATION, except for the BILINGUAL part? What sense does that make?

What the company NEEDS to do is have the position listed TWICE...once for ENGLISH speakers and again for SPANISH speakers. That way, we ENGLISH ONLY speaking folks aren't discounted out of a much needed job for which we are highly QUALIFIED, and the SPANISH speaking clients can still be assisted. All that the company has to do is add this little blurb at the beginning of the call "Para Español, oprima numero dos."

Problem solved!

So...we'll see what happens. When the company calls me for an interview (don't you love my optimism), if they ask me about the BILINGUAL thing, I'll tell them just the way that I've said it here.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever been denied a job for which you met ALL of the qualifications, EXCEPT for being bilingual (if that was a requirement)?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

T minus 364 days and counting

So you've probably heard by now that "the world as we know it is going to change on 12/21/12.

Will it end? Who knows.
Will it just be different that what we grown accostomed to? Who knows.

Here's what I do know though...I'm not worrying about it.

God is in control. Always has been. Always will be.

He created the heavens and the earth. He knows what's going to happen on 12/21/12 and I have complete trust in HIM no matter what happens.

As much as I love my life here on earth, I know that life here can't hold a candle to what life will be like in Heaven. So if 12/21/12 is my "checkout date", so be it. I'll be "checkin' in" in Heaven to LIVE eternally with my Lord and Savior.

So let the timer on the clock begin. Check back with me in a year and we'll see where we all are.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What are YOUR thoughts on 12/21/12?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

BLOCKED

I've heard it said that "all good things must come to an end". Well, I don't know how much of a "good thing" Facebook has been for me but I think that my shelf life has just about expired.

I'm done. Done with all the negativity and angry rants that people post! I mean...I'm no "Polly Purebred" but I like to keep things positive in my posts. That's just me.

Another reason why I think I'm about to bail is because someone who I thought was a good friend (a REALLY good friend) has BLOCKED me.

Oh to have been a fly on the wall when I confronted the person whom we'll call "Casey".

Casey: Hey, did you see that post about what I wanted for Christmas?

Me (thinking to myself...oh no you didn't just ask me about a post after you've BLOCKED me from your profile): Nope. Can't say that I did. It's kinda hard to see your posts since you've BLOCKED me.

Casey: BLOCKED you? What? Hmmm...now let's see...what could you have done or said that made me BLOCK you?

Me: Are you serious?

Casey: Yeah. I don't even remember BLOCKING you. When did this happen?

Me: A couple of weeks ago.

Casey: And you're just telling me now?

Me: Yep. I wanted to wait until we were face to face.

Casey: Wow. So...how did that make you feel?

Me: Hurt

Casey: Oh my God! What is it with people and Facebook. Why do people get so emotional about what goes on there?

Me: So...why did you do it?

Casey: I really don't remember doing it. Let's check it out.

So we log on, and sure enough...there I am on the BLOCKED list...along with about 10 other people...who "Casey" also didn't remember BLOCKING.

As we sat at the computer, I watched "Casey" unBLOCK me and "supposedly" send me a friend request. Funny...I never got the friend request, and I'm STILL BLOCKED from "Casey's" page. Yes folks...somethin' is fishy in Denmark.

So between the negativity and the fact that "Casey" is playing games...I think I'm done.

At the end of the day when it comes to "Casey"...I'd rather be "friends" in real life than to be "friends" on Facebook anyway.

And my 2 best friends know how to reach my outside of Facebook...so that's all that matters.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever been BLOCKED by anyone on Facebook?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Cha Ching!

That was the sound of $140.00 worth of DIMES that I cashed in yesterday.

I'm still unemployed and times are getting tougher so I had to resort to my change bucket for some much needed funds.

The day before yesterday I cashed in $38.00 worth of nickels. Yesterday I was right back at the bank with $140.00 worth of dimes. And I was so THANKFUL to have them.

Not sure when I'll be back to work so in the meantime I'm starting to sell anything that's not bolted down.

I'm not worried though. I PRAY. And since prayer and worry don't go together...I don't worry.

Jehovah Jireh is my Provider and He knows just what I need when I need it. So all is well.

That's it for now...gotta say this though...those coin counting machines are pretty darned accurate. I counted $140.00 worth of dimes while I was at home and that's exactly how much the machine said I had. That was reassuring.

Now...Let the DIALOGE begin: Do you have coins saved up in a container somewhere? Do you think you'll have to cash them in soon?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Urgh!!!

Okay folks...I'm frustrated!

With what, you may ask...with my job search.

You may recall from previous posts how I'm looking to "re-invent" myself and instead of the corporate cubicle job that I've always had, I now desire a CAREER in which I can help people and make a positive difference in this world that we live in.

Sounds pretty good, right?

Well here's the problem that I'm running into...most of the positions that catch my eye require experience in the field.

It's just HELPING people!!! I have LOTS of experience there. However, the ads for the jobs require "so many years of xyz"...or a degree in "abc". I don't have any of that. I just have a heart for service. Isn't that enough?

So...the search continues. That small voice (that I really don't want to listen to) is telling me to just apply for sales jobs (like I've always had) and do the philanthropic stuff on the weekends.

If I do that, I will be so unhappy and unfulfilled.

So for now, I will continue to pray and apply for positions. God knows my heart. He knows what I want next, and He knows that I need to pay my bills.

Perhaps this is just another one of those lessons in patience.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you re-invented yourself?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Gone Home

Yesterday I attended a homegoing service. That's what believers in Christ call a funeral, because we believe that when one who has accepted Christ dies, they go "home" to be with the Lord.

So as I said...I went to a "homegoing" service.

Kinda interesting.

The service was for a woman who I went to high school with. Haven't seen her since high school and I really don't think that I even hung out with her when we were in high school. Yet, something in my spirit told me to go anyway. After all, was her life worth any less just because I didn't know her personally? The answer...of course not.

So here's how the day went...

First...I wasn't going to go at all.
Then...10:00 rolls around and I'm ready to go so I look up the directions to the church only to find that the service STARTS at 10:00. Great...I'm still in my living room and no where near where the church is. So I wasn't gonna go.

Few minutes later, I decide to go...I'll just be late. It's a homegoing service afterall...it wasn't ending any time soon.

So I hop on the freeway and head to the church. I get there and the lot and surrounding streets are PACKED. No where to park!

I circle the block once...nothing.
Twice...nothing.
Three times, and now I'm about to head home.

And there it is...that voice that said, "Go across the main boulevard, you'll find a place to part there".

So I did, and sure enough...there was a spot.

Then I get inside the church and...you guessed it...Nowhere to sit!

I find a spot against the back wall and wonder if I should just leave. Just then, an usher came over and directed me to the "overflow" area. Nope...I wasn't going anywhere. I was IN now.

And I'm so glad that I was.

The Pastor of the church delivered a great message.
Her friends and family gave lovely remarks.
And as I was listening to everyone describe her, it was as if I were at my OWN homegoing service. Her life so closely mirrored mine.

She loved the Lord.
She was a servant through and through, doing all that she could to meet the needs of others.
She loved God's Word...studying it, hearing it, teaching it.

Listening to what a great woman of God she was, I couldn't help but think that if she and I had stayed in touch after high school we probably would have been GREAT friends.

I may not have known her much in life, but in celebrating her life, I'm glad that I got a chance to know what I know.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever gone to a homegoing service (funeral) for someone that you really didn't know very well...or at all?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Time's a wastin'

So I've been unemployed since July 29th. Still no new gig. My heart knows that it's out there, it just hasn't met my heart yet.

It's gotta be meaningful.
It's gotta be life-changing (in a positive way).
It's gotta allow me to take care of my family financially.

Not much to ask for, is it.

So where is it?

Clock's ticking.

Tick.

Tock.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Are you unemployed? How long has it been?

Talk to me!

Til next time...