MEN - Advise which may save your life!!!!!

MEN - Advise which may save your life!!!!!

You should RECOGNIZE when your significant other has an upcoming "special date" such as a birthday, anniversary, Mother's (or Father's) day, etc.  With technology today there is NO reason that you cannot remember a date - put it on your digital calendar, set your alarm, add it to Outlook as a recurrence.  You are doomed if you don't.

You should PLAN something ahead of time taking into consideration your significant's interests.  This does NOT have to be costly.  Breakfast in bed, notes in places they will see, scavenger hunt to find their birthday cake, picnic in the park, dinner at home with friends.  PLAN it YOURSELF, don't rely on your kids, in-laws or their friends.  Take the bull by the horns.  You are doomed if you don't.

Let your significant KNOW you recognize THEIR day and PLANNED something ahead of time so they don't wonder if you cared enough to think and plan for them.  Dinner with no reservations doesn't count.  Flowers you pick-up at the grocery store don't count.  Boxed, unwrapped chocolates don't count (unless you are serving on a silver spoon in bed for breakfast).

Be thoughtful about your plans.  Be wise with your money.  Most of all realize, the day isn't about you, it's about them.

Read carefully as this may one day save your life!

I sure do feel lucky that God wrote that book for me

February 28, 2011

My Grandpa Allen is 81 years old.  He has a hard time seeing things with his eyes anymore so it’s hard for him to read his Bible.  When I visit he has me read his Bible to him and that’s what I did yesterday.  After I got done reading his Bible to him he said “I sure do feel lucky that God wrote that book just for me and just for you.”  It reminded me of when I was a little girl and my Grandma Allen said the same thing to me.  She always told me, “Carrie, God loved you so much that he wrote a book just for you.”  At the time I didn’t understand what my Grandma was saying to me, I really thought the Bible was written for older people who could read it and understand it.  But earlier this week I read a scripture in Matthew that says “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 

God made sure to include children in the Bible because YOU as a child are important to Him.  God loved you so much that He wrote a book just for you.  My Grandma always was able to explain things to me in a way I could understand, so what she did when I was little was to put my name in place of words in the Bible so I could see how God had written a book just for me.  Now I will read the same verse the way my Grandma used to read it to me “Let Alexandria come to me, Let Adam come to me, Let Agnes come to me. . .  and do not hinder Alexandria, Adam, Aggie, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”

Let us pray: “Dear God, thank you today for bringing these children into your house of worship.  I pray that we remind our children today of your love and how you prepared a special book just for each of them to read and grow to know you better.  Help each of us learn your ways through your Holy word.  We love and praise you.  In Jesus name, Amen.”

Why does death capture the young?

Why does death capture the young?  I have been at a loss of words lately on this matter.  I have been reading God's word and praying, still I have no good answers.  I have sought out answers others have given in hopes that I might understand.  Here is one that I read and it does make sense. "God does not Will "bad" things to happen in life. Rather, "bad" things happen in the freedom that comes with the gift of life. When "bad" things happen to any of God's children, God is grieved and suffers with us, experienced most vividly in the hurt and suffering of Jesus the Christ for all humanity. Any "bad" thing which happens is never the last word. Rather, God is the deepest and last word, and that word is love and eternal life with God."  I know this does not console a broken heart or the feelings of helplessness.  I do think that all things work together and for what reasons, I may never know.  I know my struggles have given me the opportunity to learn of God's love more deeply, of His caring hands and of His goodness.  All things which I have taken for granted during my life.  There is only one thing I know, it is that we live and we all will eventually die.  When and where and how, none of us know, but we can know that our hope is in God and that we can turn to Him to ask questions and seek comfort.  He has NEVER failed me and He will NEVER fail you.  Hugs and love to you.

A Little Green

I just prepared a creamed corn casserole.  It looks pretty tasty if I say so myself.  As I looked at the ingredients mixed up in the bowl, I knew there was just something missing . . . a little green.  My love for making casseroles comes from my Grandma Wanell Allen.  She could pull any combination of ingredients out of the fridge and make the tastiest eats you could imagine.  If she thought the taste might be a little questionable, she would throw bacon or cheese or Ritz crackers with butter on the top for good measure.  Without fail she always had a little green in her casseroles.  Sometimes she threw in green beans, peas, spinach, dill, parsley, broccoli, or collards.  She always had something green on hand.

My grandparents hosted many of my date nights.  I always jokingly told my dates "watch out for the casseroles, Grandma cleaned out the fridge and you never know what the green is".  I told them to steer clear of the "unknown" at dinner and stick with what they knew they would eat.  Without fail my dates wouldn't scoop out a portion of casserole and without fail my Grandpa would ask my dates if they weren't hungry.  He would keep on talking about how good Grandma's food was and ask why they wouldn't eat more and then offer them more food.  I would often watch as my dates squirmed in their seats as Grandma would offer them casserole as she saw it was missing from their plates.

Only a few passed this little test of mine and took Grandma up on her offer for casserole.  You see, my Grandma would never serve anything questionable, but just the thought made several of my dates squeamish.  I figured, if they didn't have the nerve to try Grandma's casserole, they weren't worth my time.  Many only got that first date, while only a few others moved to the second date.

If only Grandma knew about my little test . . . and that little bit of green, she may have had more fun with dinner.

Random Christmas Thought #5

During Christmas I tend to think about loved ones in such a sentimental way.  I remember the most tender of moments and those that make me laugh.   Our family lights candles each Christmas morning as a way to remember those which are not able to celebrate with us, but we want to remember and include in our celebration.  Ladd’s father, Adam, my grandparents, Conward and Wanell and JV and Lucille.  In Christmas’ past, we only lit 3 candles, but last year the triangle of three became a circle of 5 candles.  It felt sad to light the candles and I spent my morning feeling a bit weepy, that is, till I received a call from my sister.  The remainder of Christmas was spent sitting in the hospital holding the hands of my nieces, comforting them and hugging my sister providing her words of encouragement and praying with the family.  My sister’s sweet mother-in-law, Mildred, had a stroke last Christmas and their lives have changed ever since.  They had always planned every Sunday lunch, birthday, holiday, summer fish fry, and pumpkin carving to include sweet Mildred.  Now Mildred does not always remember her family nor is she able to recollect the many memories of the past.

I tell you all of this because I want you to remember, it’s not that a person is with us or not with us physically.  What is important are the memories we hold.  Focus on the good memories, the ones that lift you up, encourage you and make you smile.  Embrace the tears you may shed and the belly laughs you may exert.  Take time to create new memories and traditions this year. 

Random Christmas Thought #4

Bet you thought I wouldn’t have any more thoughts left after yesterday’s rather lengthy thought.  Well, today should be a bit shorter.

Earlier this week when as I was doing my grocery shopping, I noticed a skinny woman and an even skinnier child standing in the canned goods aisle. I noticed the little girl discreetly put a can of Vienna sausages in her coat pocket and the mother do the same.  Looking down at my cart and realizing how full it was and how very little I was intending to spend with all my coupons in hand, I just couldn’t let this act go unnoticed.  I approached the woman and daughter and gently asked if I could pay for the items in their pockets.  She was noticeably embarrassed, but that was not my intention.  After a few moments of tears and asking me not to tell anyone, she let me know of her recent loss of job, husband, electricity and now her pride.  The next few moments we shared were my favorite.  We picked out several other canned goods, peanut butter, bread, fresh fruit, and a few other items.  The items did not cost me much out of pocket, but they meant the world to this struggling mother.  I provided her some information to assist her with her current situation, we said a prayer and she went along her way with child in hand.

So many times I find, especially during the holidays, I get so busy that I lose sight of what is truly important, those around us.  Today, I encourage you to look around and see what act of kindness you can perform to help someone who might be struggling.  Give a hug, an encouraging word, a sack of groceries, a thoughtful prayer, or a pat on the back.  My wish for you today is that you will realize how important you are, how uniquely you were created and how you have the ability to positively impact others.  Blessings to you today!

Random Christmas Thought #3

Well, today my mind is drawing a complete blank on what random thought I could share.  Oh wait!  I just now thought of something!

A few weeks ago Ladd and I were enjoying our morning coffee together, looking at our Christmas tree and feeling a bit nostalgic.  Ladd shared some funny stories about his Christmas’ growing up and then turned to me and asked what funny memories I had of Christmas as a child.  After a few minutes of thought, I looked at him and said “I don’t have those type of good memories growing up”.  During those few moments of thought, all I could think of were my memories of divorced parents quibbling their way through Christmas Eve and Day, fighting of who got what kids at what time, never once asking us what we wanted.  Hours and hours of traveling from one family to the next, on the road most Christmas’ because both parents felt the need to be close to their kiddos on holidays.  I thought of Christmas’ at step families where my sisters and I were never even acknowledged, sitting for hours in homes where we were not even wanted.  I thought of the “re-gifting” we received when we showed-up and the step families realized they were obligated to give a child a gift they hadn’t even thought about.  My favorite, age 13, a set of spatulas, in an open box, re-taped and re-wrapped.  Oh, poor pitiful me right?

These thoughts of bitterness and sadness felt a bit overwhelming for a few days.  Why couldn’t I think of a happy thought surrounding Christmas I kept asking myself.  Then it dawned on me, I had ALLOWED those thoughts to become a part of my holiday memories, defining how I act and react during the holidays.  Though the thoughts have defined many of my traditions now – never leaving home on Christmas day, always welcoming others into our home during the holidays and hugging my family and friends close and telling them how much they are needed, wanted and loved – these same thoughts have cast a dark shadow around this joyous season.  I made my decision right then and there, my thoughts would turn to the good memories of the holidays.

Eliciting the smells and sounds of my Grandma and Grandpa Allen’s house on Christmas morning, anxiously awaiting the gift opening while enjoying a huge breakfast including my favorite spiral sliced ham, chocolate gravy and biscuits.  Remembering the hours of baking with my Grandma’s, decorating trees and listening to the Christmas story right out of Luke.  Going with my Grandpa to shoot down mistletoe so he could hold it over my Grandma’s head and give her sweet kisses on the cheek when returning home.  Watching as everyone unwrapped simple gifts my Grandma Gregory would wrap for everyone . . . socks pinned end to end and stuffed in cardboard wrapping tubes, bras made into slingshots and wrapped like presents you would see in a storefront window, and underwear with buttons and glitter added to sweeten the expressions of those who opened these gifts.  Hearing beautiful carols in my ears and feeling the frosty air on my face.  These are the memories that will now flood my head when I hear the words “Christmas memories”.

My wish for your today is that you will ALLOW good memories to fill your heads and hearts as we approach Christmas day.  That thoughts of loved ones present and past are beautiful and sweet.  I am wishing GOOD thoughts for you today.