This weekend, one of my BEST FRIENDS, Bridget Bogle will marry Jason Ireland! I am a bridesmaid in (what will quite possibly be) one of the most beautiful weddings I will ever attend....
Love you both! Congrats Mr. and Mrs.!!!!!!!!!! [almost] ;)
Mark and I moved to Naples, Italy on April 22, 2012. We will be there for three years and will be documenting all aspects of our crazy new life overseas. Enjoy! Ciao! -The Bakers
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
BBBS Interview
Mark and I had our BBBS interview Tuesday! We both think it went really well!!! We were asked a lot of questions.... it took about an hour and a half of talking.....
We were asked about our preference for our "Little"....
"Do you mind if your "Little" has been affected by incarceration?" <--This would mean that the parent or sibling was in the big house. Our response... What? Isn't that the whole point of this program? To be a positive influence on someone less fortunate than yourself? Of course we don't mind! BRING IT ON!!
As I've said before, Mark and I would love to have a young child as our "Little." Right now, we get to 'play' with a 13 and 15 year old on a normal basis. (Nathan and Evan) We hope our "Little" is between the ages of 8 and 10.
Then the interviewer asked about Mark and I... It went something like this.....
"How long have you two been together?"
"Seven Years."
"Wow! How long have you been married?"
"About eight months."
"Okay, do you two have any children?"
"HAIL TO THE NO!!!" <-- That response was said by both of us at the same time......
"Okay..... When are you two planning on having kids?"
"[Mark] 2015."
"Haha! That's awesome! Reallly, though... what do you really want me to type into the system....?"
"Ummmmm.....2015......"
:)
This.Is.Going.To.Be.Awesome.
We were asked about our preference for our "Little"....
"Do you mind if your "Little" has been affected by incarceration?" <--This would mean that the parent or sibling was in the big house. Our response... What? Isn't that the whole point of this program? To be a positive influence on someone less fortunate than yourself? Of course we don't mind! BRING IT ON!!
As I've said before, Mark and I would love to have a young child as our "Little." Right now, we get to 'play' with a 13 and 15 year old on a normal basis. (Nathan and Evan) We hope our "Little" is between the ages of 8 and 10.
Then the interviewer asked about Mark and I... It went something like this.....
"How long have you two been together?"
"Seven Years."
"Wow! How long have you been married?"
"About eight months."
"Okay, do you two have any children?"
"HAIL TO THE NO!!!" <-- That response was said by both of us at the same time......
"Okay..... When are you two planning on having kids?"
"[Mark] 2015."
"Haha! That's awesome! Reallly, though... what do you really want me to type into the system....?"
"Ummmmm.....2015......"
:)
This.Is.Going.To.Be.Awesome.
More office Politics: Carry-Ins
I have already blogged about the birthday cake breakfast surprises that happen each week in my office. I haven’t touched on the subject of carry-ins.
This morning I got the stink eye from the co-workers again. We were having a carry-in breakfast for one of the ladies (I didn’t know her) who was leaving because of a promotion or something. Like I said… I didn’t know her.
Last week, we had a sign in sheet that went around so everyone could sign up to bring something in for the big breakfast. The sign in sheets in this office are intense. In any other office I have been to, they sign in sheet is placed in a common area, for everyone to sign at their leisure. Not here. The sheet is in a manilla folder. On the front of the folder is a list of everyone in the department. When the folder gets dropped off at your desk by someone you do not know, you have to initial the front of the folder by your name and DATE the darn thing. This is ludicrous in itself.
As if that weren’t enough, then you have to sign the sign in sheet. At the top there is a reason for the sign in sheet. Then you have to fill it out appropriately. In this case, the reason was because (let’s call her) Patty was leaving. What was I going to bring? Hmmm… Nothing. So instead of lying about my contribution, I decided not to sign the sign in sheet. I had already initialed the front, so I wouldn’t get the folder back. I then passed it on to one of my co-workers. (One whose name was on the list with no initials next to it, of course…)
This morning (apparently) was the breakfast carry in. It (apparently) started at 8:15. I walked in (past everyone crowded around the table congratulating Patty) at 8:30. Yep, I looked like the ‘you know what.’ To top it off, I had nothing in my hands to contribute to the breakfast carry-in. Now all of my co-workers are aware of my (lack of) contribution. Nice.
I haven’t always hated contributing to carry ins. When I worked at the hospital, I would ALWAYS volunteer to ‘cook the corn’ for the carry ins. Mark had to teach me how to cook frozen corn, but I got it. AND I got it down to an art. I was really good at it. Then I found out I was the ‘lazy’ one in the department who ONLY contributed FROZEN corn. Awesome. (To give me credit, I WAS SIXTEEN)
Then there was my last rotation. We worked lots of late nights and weekends during year-end reporting. There was a sign up sheet for the first two weeks of reporting. I knew that I would want some things to snack on when I was pulling sixteen hour days…. So I signed up to bring something in. I wanted to contribute, to ensure that I was able to snack on everyone else’s donations.
Then the time came for me to contribute. I brought in Kroger Cookies. Sugar and Chocolate Chip, to be precise.
This is where I must let you know why I BUY food for carry ins. I’m not okay with MY OWN cooking procedures. I probably lick my fingers and wipe my hair out of my eyes, while in the process of making stir fry. What makes you think I’m going to trust you and your ‘CASSEROLE?’ ew. No thanks. I don’t even know what casserole is, besides a whole bunch of random foods thrown together and baked for a set amount of time. I have no idea if you cook next to Fluffy, your nasty feline. No thanks. I’ll stick to the baby carrots in the package over there.
So I brought in the store-bought cookies. There were two other people who contributed that day. One brought in other kinds of cookies. The other brought in bags of chips. We were proud of our contributions… until the stink eye came along… SURE ENOUGH whenever I walked to the bathroom, I would pass clusters of co-workers whispering and pointing to me. All looked constipated. Or just plain cranky.
The three donators that day realized something was amuck. We found out (later) that the sign up sheet was for people to plan a meal! Yikes! What the heck!!?!??! You really expected the three of us to feed all 50-75 people for the SIXTEEN HOURS we were at work together!?!? I hope they enjoyed their cookies.
I did feel awkward walking into work empty-handed this morning. But even if I would have contributed, it wouldn’t have been anything to par with that HOMEMADE BISCUITS AND GRAVY…. Eeeeewwwwwww…. What is in "gravy"????
This morning I got the stink eye from the co-workers again. We were having a carry-in breakfast for one of the ladies (I didn’t know her) who was leaving because of a promotion or something. Like I said… I didn’t know her.
Last week, we had a sign in sheet that went around so everyone could sign up to bring something in for the big breakfast. The sign in sheets in this office are intense. In any other office I have been to, they sign in sheet is placed in a common area, for everyone to sign at their leisure. Not here. The sheet is in a manilla folder. On the front of the folder is a list of everyone in the department. When the folder gets dropped off at your desk by someone you do not know, you have to initial the front of the folder by your name and DATE the darn thing. This is ludicrous in itself.
As if that weren’t enough, then you have to sign the sign in sheet. At the top there is a reason for the sign in sheet. Then you have to fill it out appropriately. In this case, the reason was because (let’s call her) Patty was leaving. What was I going to bring? Hmmm… Nothing. So instead of lying about my contribution, I decided not to sign the sign in sheet. I had already initialed the front, so I wouldn’t get the folder back. I then passed it on to one of my co-workers. (One whose name was on the list with no initials next to it, of course…)
This morning (apparently) was the breakfast carry in. It (apparently) started at 8:15. I walked in (past everyone crowded around the table congratulating Patty) at 8:30. Yep, I looked like the ‘you know what.’ To top it off, I had nothing in my hands to contribute to the breakfast carry-in. Now all of my co-workers are aware of my (lack of) contribution. Nice.
I haven’t always hated contributing to carry ins. When I worked at the hospital, I would ALWAYS volunteer to ‘cook the corn’ for the carry ins. Mark had to teach me how to cook frozen corn, but I got it. AND I got it down to an art. I was really good at it. Then I found out I was the ‘lazy’ one in the department who ONLY contributed FROZEN corn. Awesome. (To give me credit, I WAS SIXTEEN)
Then there was my last rotation. We worked lots of late nights and weekends during year-end reporting. There was a sign up sheet for the first two weeks of reporting. I knew that I would want some things to snack on when I was pulling sixteen hour days…. So I signed up to bring something in. I wanted to contribute, to ensure that I was able to snack on everyone else’s donations.
Then the time came for me to contribute. I brought in Kroger Cookies. Sugar and Chocolate Chip, to be precise.
This is where I must let you know why I BUY food for carry ins. I’m not okay with MY OWN cooking procedures. I probably lick my fingers and wipe my hair out of my eyes, while in the process of making stir fry. What makes you think I’m going to trust you and your ‘CASSEROLE?’ ew. No thanks. I don’t even know what casserole is, besides a whole bunch of random foods thrown together and baked for a set amount of time. I have no idea if you cook next to Fluffy, your nasty feline. No thanks. I’ll stick to the baby carrots in the package over there.
So I brought in the store-bought cookies. There were two other people who contributed that day. One brought in other kinds of cookies. The other brought in bags of chips. We were proud of our contributions… until the stink eye came along… SURE ENOUGH whenever I walked to the bathroom, I would pass clusters of co-workers whispering and pointing to me. All looked constipated. Or just plain cranky.
The three donators that day realized something was amuck. We found out (later) that the sign up sheet was for people to plan a meal! Yikes! What the heck!!?!??! You really expected the three of us to feed all 50-75 people for the SIXTEEN HOURS we were at work together!?!? I hope they enjoyed their cookies.
I did feel awkward walking into work empty-handed this morning. But even if I would have contributed, it wouldn’t have been anything to par with that HOMEMADE BISCUITS AND GRAVY…. Eeeeewwwwwww…. What is in "gravy"????
My not-so-little brother....
YEAH!!! MY 'LITTLE' BROTHER IS 14 TODAY!!! WOW WOW WEE WOW!!! LOOOOOOVE YOOOOOOU, EVAN!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
BULLCRAP- Otherwise known as *@#$!*$&!@$*
Wachovia is the devil. Wait… I take that back…. All lending companies are, in fact, the devil. Prepare yourself while I inhale a lot of oxygen just to spit it right back out in the form of PITCHING A FIT.
HOW IS THIS LEGAL!??!?!?!?!?!?
Let me start by telling a tale(s) that got me to this increased level of frustration…..
When I was 20 years old, I decided that I was through with renting… I wanted to buy a house. I was sick and tired of writing a check to an old lady, who was reaping the benefits of my over-priced rent.
I galloped on over to the bank and told them my plans. They were just thrilled to see me. So excited, in fact, that they offered me……. A SINGLE FEMALE WITH A STEADY INCOME….WHO WAS TWENTY YEARS OLD…… $70,000!!! I wanted to punch the lender right in the tooth for even offering me that much. I knew that I couldn’t afford that much of payment on my own…
And thank GOD I didn’t take the $70,000 and run….. I took substantially less than that out of the bank. Then it was time to sign my paperwork…
I pretty much spent an hour or so ‘signing my life away’ as the banker so lovingly put it. I signed and signed my name. They even let me keep the pen. How thoughtful.
I came to the page that the banker lady called…."The scary page…" I’m an accountant… I knew what was coming. The page showed that I would essentially end up paying the bank THREE TIMES what I was borrowing, once the thirty years of payments were through.
This is when I proudly informed the woman that I would be paying extra (nearly 1.5 payments) every month. She told me that was a great plan. Doing that would decrease my interest significantly and would pay off my mortgage in, not thirty, but SIXTEEN years.
I was so proud of myself. I was starting the American Dream. I was going outside the norm and buying a house on my own. I was so young…and proud….
Three years later… I have become a little smarter (and less proud) with age. I love my home and I loved living there. It was very nice and I got the opportunity to live with friends (very cheap) over the years. But there that house sits. Empty. Staged to be sold. College is over and so is my "Hautian Life." I’ve moved on. But the house hasn’t.
I digress…
Let’s say my house payments were supposed to be $450/ month. I always paid AT LEAST $600 a month. Most people would think, "Wow! That really helped you get ahead!"
WRONG
If you do not SPECIFICALLY WRITE on the check EACH MONTH: "Remainder to balance" guess what happens to that extra dough? You are paying the bank more interest!
Now I completely understand if your blood pressure is rising. My fingers keep slipping off the keys because they are sweating with anger right now.
Yep, you read right. If you make an extra payment in the middle of the month, the same thing happens. How OH HOW does one get ahead if this SCHEME is going on?
HOW IS IT LEGAL for the banks to assume the EXTRA MONEY you are paying GOES
TO THEM AS INTEREST AND NOT TO THEM AS PART OF YOUR LOAN PAYOFF?
This policy is malicious, wrong, and should be illegal.
So let’s get back to my original statement: Wachoiva is the devil.
I still stand by this. I appreciate them giving us a loan for Mark’s convertible. I appreciate them taking my monthly payment each 1st of the month to help pay off the loan.
What I DO NOT APPRECIATE is the way they have been handling the EXTRA $200 I have given them each 15th of the month. They have been charging it as a regular payment-- One that pays interest payments as well as some of the balance. The payment is posted the way REGARDLESS of the note I send with it…. "ENTIRE PAYMENT TO BALANCE OF LOAN."
Nope… they didn’t care…. They even saw it….. That, my friends, is just not their policy.
I called Wachovia yesterday to have a nice chat. I poured myself a stiff drink and sat down at the dining room table (which is covered by the impulse ‘puzzle purchase’ from last week’s Target visit, by the way).
The customer service representative could see record of the extra payments I was making. She explained that they were posted as normal payments, not payments solely toward the balance.
Read on for the a-hole’s policy on making these types of payments….
"If you would like to make a payment where the entire amount goes toward the balance of the loan, you must send in a check to our address."
"Do I need to write something in the memo?"
"Yes. Please write, ‘entire payment to balance of loan’"
"Wow. I hope I can get that to fit on that ONE INCH LINE. Any other malicious policies you got up your sleeve, asshole? What happens if I forget the note on the memo line?"
"Then the payment would be posted as a normal payment, with interest taken out as well."
"Why would you think that someone was making an extra payment to help PAY OFF their INTEREST instead of their ACTUAL LOAN?"
"I have sent a message on to representatives to post your extra payments you have already made to just the loan’s balance. In the future when you make extra payments, please be sure to send in a check with the memo line filled out. Thank you."
I’m posting this to let everyone know. Beware. The lenders are NOT on your side. They may help you get money for that fancy new car or house. But they will help themselves when it comes to you paying it off. They want to keep you around as long as possible. The longer you are paying off your loan, the more interest you are paying them.
As a person who is (self-proclaimed) pretty good with money and finances….this is the reason [I think] for the policy: Although it is 2009 and you can EASILY send an automatic payment to the lender through your online bill pay system or even through your bank, this is not good for the lenders. If you want to make an extra payment, the lender is going to ensure they get as much interest as they can out of you. In order to do this, they set up a policy where extra payments must be sent via SNAIL MAIL…in 2009…. So that they can ensure those few extra days of interest pile up. Also, electronic payments are nearly automatic transactions. Not with checks…. Those must be manually entered. Nice, huh?
STAY ON TOP of your loan payments. I hate this policy and I hate that I have to watch my account balance like a hawk just to ensure my money is going where it is supposed to.
If you don’t watch it… neither will the lender.
HOW IS THIS LEGAL!??!?!?!?!?!?
Let me start by telling a tale(s) that got me to this increased level of frustration…..
When I was 20 years old, I decided that I was through with renting… I wanted to buy a house. I was sick and tired of writing a check to an old lady, who was reaping the benefits of my over-priced rent.
I galloped on over to the bank and told them my plans. They were just thrilled to see me. So excited, in fact, that they offered me……. A SINGLE FEMALE WITH A STEADY INCOME….WHO WAS TWENTY YEARS OLD…… $70,000!!! I wanted to punch the lender right in the tooth for even offering me that much. I knew that I couldn’t afford that much of payment on my own…
And thank GOD I didn’t take the $70,000 and run….. I took substantially less than that out of the bank. Then it was time to sign my paperwork…
I pretty much spent an hour or so ‘signing my life away’ as the banker so lovingly put it. I signed and signed my name. They even let me keep the pen. How thoughtful.
I came to the page that the banker lady called…."The scary page…" I’m an accountant… I knew what was coming. The page showed that I would essentially end up paying the bank THREE TIMES what I was borrowing, once the thirty years of payments were through.
This is when I proudly informed the woman that I would be paying extra (nearly 1.5 payments) every month. She told me that was a great plan. Doing that would decrease my interest significantly and would pay off my mortgage in, not thirty, but SIXTEEN years.
I was so proud of myself. I was starting the American Dream. I was going outside the norm and buying a house on my own. I was so young…and proud….
Three years later… I have become a little smarter (and less proud) with age. I love my home and I loved living there. It was very nice and I got the opportunity to live with friends (very cheap) over the years. But there that house sits. Empty. Staged to be sold. College is over and so is my "Hautian Life." I’ve moved on. But the house hasn’t.
I digress…
Let’s say my house payments were supposed to be $450/ month. I always paid AT LEAST $600 a month. Most people would think, "Wow! That really helped you get ahead!"
WRONG
If you do not SPECIFICALLY WRITE on the check EACH MONTH: "Remainder to balance" guess what happens to that extra dough? You are paying the bank more interest!
Now I completely understand if your blood pressure is rising. My fingers keep slipping off the keys because they are sweating with anger right now.
Yep, you read right. If you make an extra payment in the middle of the month, the same thing happens. How OH HOW does one get ahead if this SCHEME is going on?
HOW IS IT LEGAL for the banks to assume the EXTRA MONEY you are paying GOES
TO THEM AS INTEREST AND NOT TO THEM AS PART OF YOUR LOAN PAYOFF?
This policy is malicious, wrong, and should be illegal.
So let’s get back to my original statement: Wachoiva is the devil.
I still stand by this. I appreciate them giving us a loan for Mark’s convertible. I appreciate them taking my monthly payment each 1st of the month to help pay off the loan.
What I DO NOT APPRECIATE is the way they have been handling the EXTRA $200 I have given them each 15th of the month. They have been charging it as a regular payment-- One that pays interest payments as well as some of the balance. The payment is posted the way REGARDLESS of the note I send with it…. "ENTIRE PAYMENT TO BALANCE OF LOAN."
Nope… they didn’t care…. They even saw it….. That, my friends, is just not their policy.
I called Wachovia yesterday to have a nice chat. I poured myself a stiff drink and sat down at the dining room table (which is covered by the impulse ‘puzzle purchase’ from last week’s Target visit, by the way).
The customer service representative could see record of the extra payments I was making. She explained that they were posted as normal payments, not payments solely toward the balance.
Read on for the a-hole’s policy on making these types of payments….
"If you would like to make a payment where the entire amount goes toward the balance of the loan, you must send in a check to our address."
"Do I need to write something in the memo?"
"Yes. Please write, ‘entire payment to balance of loan’"
"Wow. I hope I can get that to fit on that ONE INCH LINE. Any other malicious policies you got up your sleeve, asshole? What happens if I forget the note on the memo line?"
"Then the payment would be posted as a normal payment, with interest taken out as well."
"Why would you think that someone was making an extra payment to help PAY OFF their INTEREST instead of their ACTUAL LOAN?"
"I have sent a message on to representatives to post your extra payments you have already made to just the loan’s balance. In the future when you make extra payments, please be sure to send in a check with the memo line filled out. Thank you."
I’m posting this to let everyone know. Beware. The lenders are NOT on your side. They may help you get money for that fancy new car or house. But they will help themselves when it comes to you paying it off. They want to keep you around as long as possible. The longer you are paying off your loan, the more interest you are paying them.
As a person who is (self-proclaimed) pretty good with money and finances….this is the reason [I think] for the policy: Although it is 2009 and you can EASILY send an automatic payment to the lender through your online bill pay system or even through your bank, this is not good for the lenders. If you want to make an extra payment, the lender is going to ensure they get as much interest as they can out of you. In order to do this, they set up a policy where extra payments must be sent via SNAIL MAIL…in 2009…. So that they can ensure those few extra days of interest pile up. Also, electronic payments are nearly automatic transactions. Not with checks…. Those must be manually entered. Nice, huh?
STAY ON TOP of your loan payments. I hate this policy and I hate that I have to watch my account balance like a hawk just to ensure my money is going where it is supposed to.
If you don’t watch it… neither will the lender.
Dark Times?
GodsMinute.Org Devotion…
You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light!
( 2 Samuel 22:29 *NIV )
We have all experienced dark times in our lives. Times when all hope seems gone, and we wonder how we will ever make it through them. As Children of God, we always have God's light to give us hope, and to strengthen us and guide us out of the darkness! For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. ( Psalms 48:14 )
What a wonderful Heavenly Father He is indeed! Always there with us no matter what happens! Also always blessing us with His Love, Hope, Faith, Peace and guidance. After all it is written; I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. ( Psalms 32:8 )
You see, those dark times actually strengthened us, and shaped us into the people we are today! So, Let us walk in the light of the Lord. ( Isaiah 2:5 ) For when you do, each day you will be able to; Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of God rises upon you. ( Isaiah 60:1 )
Now, To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. ( Jude 24-25 )
All My Love & Prayers,
Pastor Allen
You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light!
( 2 Samuel 22:29 *NIV )
We have all experienced dark times in our lives. Times when all hope seems gone, and we wonder how we will ever make it through them. As Children of God, we always have God's light to give us hope, and to strengthen us and guide us out of the darkness! For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. ( Psalms 48:14 )
What a wonderful Heavenly Father He is indeed! Always there with us no matter what happens! Also always blessing us with His Love, Hope, Faith, Peace and guidance. After all it is written; I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. ( Psalms 32:8 )
You see, those dark times actually strengthened us, and shaped us into the people we are today! So, Let us walk in the light of the Lord. ( Isaiah 2:5 ) For when you do, each day you will be able to; Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of God rises upon you. ( Isaiah 60:1 )
Now, To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. ( Jude 24-25 )
All My Love & Prayers,
Pastor Allen
Monday, April 20, 2009
Scented Markers
Did a child invent scented markers? Surely, right?? When I was a kid, I used to secretly sniff things I wasn’t supposed to… Although I never snorted a pixie stick, I loved the smell of gasoline, paint….and SHARPIES! I would secretly steal sniffs when my teacher wasn’t looking. They smelled sooo good.
I remember getting caught one time.. I wasn’t mid-sniff… I had marked all over the tip of my nose.
So there is little to no chance for a kid like me when you made me color my artwork with SCENTED MARKERS! I did more sniffing and less scribbling. And I loved it.
If you don’t want kids to ‘smell’ their markers, don’t scent them to delicious flavors, for crying out loud!
In class the other day, we were all handed scented markers. I felt the ‘smelling’ urge coming back to me from the old days. It was like putting a stiff drink in front of a recovering alcoholic. Mine was supposed to smell like oranges.
I couldn’t resist. I acknowledge that I was in a professional setting. I acknowledge that the others in the class were not smelling (or even seemingly resisting an urge to smell) their scented marker.
The marker did smell like sweet baby oranges. With a hint of toxins. And I think my newly marked orange tipped nose went nicely with my black heels that day.
I remember getting caught one time.. I wasn’t mid-sniff… I had marked all over the tip of my nose.
So there is little to no chance for a kid like me when you made me color my artwork with SCENTED MARKERS! I did more sniffing and less scribbling. And I loved it.
If you don’t want kids to ‘smell’ their markers, don’t scent them to delicious flavors, for crying out loud!
In class the other day, we were all handed scented markers. I felt the ‘smelling’ urge coming back to me from the old days. It was like putting a stiff drink in front of a recovering alcoholic. Mine was supposed to smell like oranges.
I couldn’t resist. I acknowledge that I was in a professional setting. I acknowledge that the others in the class were not smelling (or even seemingly resisting an urge to smell) their scented marker.
The marker did smell like sweet baby oranges. With a hint of toxins. And I think my newly marked orange tipped nose went nicely with my black heels that day.
A YEAR AGO TODAY......
For those of you who have ever been to a Tom Petty concert, you would know that today is an International Holiday.
For the rest of you, let me explain. It is 4/20. That is a SYNONYM [SEE BLOG POST FROM TWO DAYS AGO] for weed, doja, pot, marijuana, etc.
This time last year, I was in Amsterdam. It was merely a coincidence. I enjoyed some coffee and strolled around the city. This year, I will celebrate by working 8 hours at my full time job.
A lot has changed in my life since this time last year. Although my celebrations will be different than many others throughout the world, I must acknowledge the holiday.
Happy 420, everyone!
For the rest of you, let me explain. It is 4/20. That is a SYNONYM [SEE BLOG POST FROM TWO DAYS AGO] for weed, doja, pot, marijuana, etc.
This time last year, I was in Amsterdam. It was merely a coincidence. I enjoyed some coffee and strolled around the city. This year, I will celebrate by working 8 hours at my full time job.
A lot has changed in my life since this time last year. Although my celebrations will be different than many others throughout the world, I must acknowledge the holiday.
Happy 420, everyone!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
“I sent you an email…”
Ummmm…. Then why did you come over and tell me about it afterward? That’s not exactly the point… and the exact OPPOSITE of efficient…. Thanks for playing….
The Principal's Office
April 2, 2009- Christianity.Com Devotion
The Principal's Office
Lysa TerKeurst
"...for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."
Psalm 26:3 (NIV)
Devotion:
Recently, one of my kids got called to the principal's office. On the very day I received an invitation to speak at a national parenting conference. Thank you very much.
Have you ever struggled with letting a circumstance that came your way suddenly define you?
This seems to be a lesson God lets me live over and over. He wants to be my only definition of who I am. I am a child of God, holy and dearly loved. I know this. I teach this. I believe this in the very depths of my soul.
Yet, it is so easy for me to slip into redefining myself when situations arise.
With my head, I was able to see the "principal's office" situation for what it was. My child is in a process of being shaped. My child is strong and while this will serve her well later in life, strength in an immature little person begs to be disciplined. She is a sweet child who made a not-so-sweet choice. All of this is part of the process of growing her up.
I could see all of that with my head.
However, with my heart, I felt like a failure. I wanted to decline the opportunity to speak at that conference and go crawl in a hole somewhere. A hole stocked with chips and salsa, brownies made from a box mix, and ice-cold diet soda.
A part of me felt like I'd been called to the principal's office as the voice of condemnation started haunting me, "You are a bad mom. You have a bad child. You have a bad home."
So, quietly, I slipped away with Jesus. And I did what I've done a hundred times before. I held those condemnations up to the Lord and asked him to help me see this situation the way He wants me to see it. Not the way others see it. Not the way my heart is tempted to see it. But the way He sees it.
And once again He reassured me.
I am not a bad mom.
My child is not a bad child.
My home is not a bad home.
This situation is a call to action. There is a character issue that needs to be addressed within the heart of my child. And kids are supposed to have character issues that need to be addressed.
That's why God gave them parents. That's why God gave me this specific child. God sees within me the ability to be the one He's perfectly designed to raise up this strong little person.
Today is a new day. A day where we can choose to only be defined by God's truth and grace as we navigate this wild wonder called parenthood.
Dear Lord, help me to realize that You have perfectly and purposefully planned my life. Today I am going to make the choice to see the good in each situation with my child. Please help me to be a parent that pleases You with my every thought, word and deed. I admit my dependence on You Lord, and ask for Your guidance. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
The Principal's Office
Lysa TerKeurst
"...for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."
Psalm 26:3
Devotion:
Recently, one of my kids got called to the principal's office. On the very day I received an invitation to speak at a national parenting conference. Thank you very much.
Have you ever struggled with letting a circumstance that came your way suddenly define you?
This seems to be a lesson God lets me live over and over. He wants to be my only definition of who I am. I am a child of God, holy and dearly loved. I know this. I teach this. I believe this in the very depths of my soul.
Yet, it is so easy for me to slip into redefining myself when situations arise.
With my head, I was able to see the "principal's office" situation for what it was. My child is in a process of being shaped. My child is strong and while this will serve her well later in life, strength in an immature little person begs to be disciplined. She is a sweet child who made a not-so-sweet choice. All of this is part of the process of growing her up.
I could see all of that with my head.
However, with my heart, I felt like a failure. I wanted to decline the opportunity to speak at that conference and go crawl in a hole somewhere. A hole stocked with chips and salsa, brownies made from a box mix, and ice-cold diet soda.
A part of me felt like I'd been called to the principal's office as the voice of condemnation started haunting me, "You are a bad mom. You have a bad child. You have a bad home."
So, quietly, I slipped away with Jesus. And I did what I've done a hundred times before. I held those condemnations up to the Lord and asked him to help me see this situation the way He wants me to see it. Not the way others see it. Not the way my heart is tempted to see it. But the way He sees it.
And once again He reassured me.
I am not a bad mom.
My child is not a bad child.
My home is not a bad home.
This situation is a call to action. There is a character issue that needs to be addressed within the heart of my child. And kids are supposed to have character issues that need to be addressed.
That's why God gave them parents. That's why God gave me this specific child. God sees within me the ability to be the one He's perfectly designed to raise up this strong little person.
Today is a new day. A day where we can choose to only be defined by God's truth and grace as we navigate this wild wonder called parenthood.
Dear Lord, help me to realize that You have perfectly and purposefully planned my life. Today I am going to make the choice to see the good in each situation with my child. Please help me to be a parent that pleases You with my every thought, word and deed. I admit my dependence on You Lord, and ask for Your guidance. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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