I did it. I finally did it. I achieved the ultimate achievement by far....I got a REFUND from Dell Inc, or shall I say "Delirium Inc" One might think after dealing with the "customer service" or as my friend Kari R so eloquently put it "customer runaround" (clever my dear, C-lever!) you were in a delirium and may want to commit yourself to either a small room with no light or windows, OR an mental institution. It all started over a yr ago when on a sunny spring day, my son Tyler wanted to buy a laptop computer, his VERY first laptop...but not just any computer, but a Dell Inc computer. Now one knows that when you go to buy something such as a computer one SHOULD do some research, comparison shop, etc,. However, if anyone has ever been a teen, or has a teen you know rational and common sense can sometimes lack (sorry kids, but the parts of your brain that control those 2 necessary elements are not fully grown until you are at least 21) My son Tyler wanting "instant gratification" (who doesn't??) asked me to help him put together a Dell laptop online and walk him thru the process of purchasing.
We get the system and within a 1, it starts having "software issues" We begin the arduous task of getting a hold of someone to get it resolved, after all Tyler was smart and purchased a long term extended warranty (which turned out to be more fabulous than if he had with another purchase, you'll understand later)We get it resolved, only to have something else occur, I forget exactly what as it has become a haze in my mind now. I decide as these problems continue to occur that MAYBE, just maybe he should get a refund and go into a store and buy one so that if a problem arises, he can take it to the store vs try and do it on the phone and such. When I speak to the customer runaround, ah-hem! I mean service I am notified that Dell has a 21 day policy vs a regular 30 day(or sometimes longer, dep on the item and store)policy, and guess what?? Its the 23 or 24th day! Again, deeo haze set in already at this time. Of course it is, right?! That my friends is when the "fun" begins! So to spare you a year long of details of the amount of emails that if laid side by side would measure 10 football fields (at least)and phone calls that had I had to pay for would be in the thousands of dollars which how curteous of them , its a 1-800 number....isnt Dell thinking of the customer??(Note: sarcasm in tone)I will say I have been hung up on, by phone AND chatting online, told I would be contacted back only to be ignored, spoken to as if Im stupid and the list goes on we come to the last say few months. Now mind you during all this "fun" transpiring we have exchanged my sons system a total of 3 times. I must tell you since Dell is soooo curteous and put the customer #1, the 3rd time they exchanged the system it was "as a favor" to me. Gee, arent they sweet??? I also must tell you that I was told that the 2nd system was going to be a "new" system and quickly found out when Dell says 'new', they dont really mean 'new' but 'refurbished'...note to self: contact Websters dictionary to notify them of the multiple definitions of 'new'. And gosh, since my son paid 1209.09 for his original computer, he shouldnt expect a 'new' system, right? I have many reasons to believe he was sent their def of 'new', and I will keep it at that.
I must say the systems they sent caused such laughter, which I now think was just the delirium I spoke about setting in, inc the 2ND one having the bottom piece very loose, and oh come to find out the screws are STRIPPED!! Wow, if that says 'new' I don't know what is, right? I mean who would think that when you go to a store, say Target and you buy say a box of cookies that it would be ridiculous of you to think that the package would be sealed and unopened right? Well, apparently if Dell sold cookies, you could expect not only the package open, but cookies missing!
So, let me just inform you, the saga doesn't end there. Oh and one detail I have forgotten to mention is that as we are going along following all their directions to try and solve the different issues with each system I asked numerous times to get a refund, which I was told was not possible because "so much time had passed". As if I didn't know right? I only spent countless hours contacting these people by email, phone and such. I mean who doesn't mind doing so, right? That is MY idea of F-U-N! (sarcastic tone again in case you didn't catch that) Lets see where were we, I'm confused, are you? (Pausing to read again to see where I left off as Ive gotten lost) Oh and also another thing I must note, is that I have been passed around by customer service more times than that ugly sweater your Aunt Thelma knit for you Christmas of '88 Gosh, this is going to be a way long story that I cant cut down as much as I thought I could. So, during this I contact several authorities, one inc the Attorney General (by the way if you want something done, contact him!) That's where the story takes a turn for the better. I was contacted again by the person I had been dealing with most recently, Mr. Nicholas Martin, and lo and behold he is not of Indian descent (no offense to people of Indian descent, I just cant understand you, as you probably me) and is the kind of person I would have EXPECTED I could have dealt with all along. Language barriers make it all the more interesting. He informs me the letter from the Atty General was received and he wants to discuss it with me. I decide I don't want to do it by phone, it ends up going awry and email is much easier to say my peace and be done. He requests I do a diagnostic and send him the results, in order to try and see whats wrong with the system, which is slower than your 87 yr old Granny with her walker! After some research we realize its worth 500.00 maybe, not 1200.00 which is what my son paid PLUS it doesn't have the extras my son paid for. However I guess they thought since they "did us a favor", they also were so "generous" and threw in a blue ray player, I guess out of the kindness of their heart. Not gonna fly with me. I'm a momma lion protecting her "cub", I'm gonna get a refund if I have to drive their and go to Dell Inc myself! You moms can relate. I inform him of these details and also tell him I will not stop til my son has a refund. One note I even went so far as to "build" a Dell on their site such as the one they sent, and it came to about the amount I said previously, no deal! I will say on their behalf I didn't already, is that this last time they DID send what seemed to be a "new" system by my standards of "new", again probably as a favor.
So here we are now. I was notified in the next email from Mr. Martin that he was processing my refund, lo and behold! What I didn't mention previously is the details in that letter from the Atty General. Apparently there was a big investigation of Dell and they admitted to a bunch of wrongdoing shall we say, inc the kind of stuff they did with me and came to a settlement which inc giving refunds to customers who have been abused by this wretched company. I was sickened by reading the charges that they admitted to doing, its saddening because I know I would have purchased more products from them. I do like their options such as colors of systems, and such. Its appealing but of course we know how they can work. Of course I cant say ALL Dell systems are bad, I have heard from a selective few they liked their Dell. So, I have been told a refund is in the process and I think we have reached the end, FINALLY! The sad thing is though that I do not trust this company so I cant even send in the system until I know fully how, when I'm getting my refund which should not be the case. It should be a fluid transaction, but then again this whole thing should have been a fluid transaction.
The moral of the story is this: Perseverance and diligence is KEY! And it pays off. It was rough, tiresome and being that I have continual health challenges, it made it even more difficult. But I was determined, as a mom but also as a principle. You might be wondering where the "daisies" in the title come into play and I would say that this task of seeking resolution was nothing like a field of daisies by any means.I will say this is not even the WHOLE story. I know I'm not alone, my friend Kari R has a similar story, see my link to her blog. No one should be treated as I was, nor my son was. SO if you are reading this, and you have had similar experience with your Dell by all means, let me know and I will put you in touch with all the necessary info. I'll let you know when Tyler receives his cold hard cash. Hopefully he'll buy his mom something pretty with that cold hard cash as a kickback for all her perseverance and diligence :o)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Story of "Jack" and his Transgendered Sister "Grace"...
Did I get your attention? Good, this is a story worth reading. Yesterday one of my beloved kitties, Jack (the black and white one in the pics on here) was savagely mauled and killed yesterday by either a coyote or mntn lion. The brutality of it and that it was during the bright of day (2PMish) causes us to think it was a mountain lion, but you never know because apparently animals such as those are feeding their young right now, and need food more than usualy I guess you could say. For some, their animals being killed would just be a matter of fact sort of thing, but for me quite honestly Im devastated. Yes, its not one of my family members, however my animals have always, always been a critical part of our family.
Jack, and his sister Grace (which later turned out to be a male, but shhh dont tell anyone cuz "Grace" is a transgendered kitty because I refuse to change her name esp for reason below) were a gift from my husband when I was really sick from MS and having a hard time. He thought having a "lap kitty" would help me cope with being in a wheelchair because at that time, we were told it was permanent and would get worse as time went on. Amazingly enough we had been looking for a kitten for some time and had lost another kitty, Stormie about 1 1/2 yrs before that from someone in our neighborhood poisoning several cats in the surrounding area. I didnt think I would ever get another cat after seeing Stormie go thru what she did and trying to deal with the loss of her. So, when we found "Grace" at a pet store close by where they were giving them away for free, we brought her home. When we told my daughter about the other kitties that were there, she said "I want the black and white one!" I was already attached to Grace and knew I wouldnt take her back, so it ended up being that my husband went back to the pet store and brought Jack home. It was great comic relief and "medicine" for me and I attribute my getting well partly because of them. I am amazed at how animals have that effect on a person and its not the first time I have had that happen. My kitties somehow, as did other animals we've had know when Im sick and will stay in bed with me when I am not well. My cats so much as would "investigate" nurses who would come for treatments and such as if to check and make sure they were "ok" and then watch over them every step of the way. People even remarked about them and they way they acted. Animals are great therapy.
Later on, we added a "brother" Olliver who has been an interesting mix to my feline family. Then we got "Roxy" and subsequently "Bruiser". Roxy is a chihuahua and Bruiser is a dauschaund and chihuahua, also known I found out later as a "chiweenie". All of their pictures are plastered all over here...which reminds me, I need more recent pics as I havent been here in a while! Roxy and Bruiser also have this amazing sense of when Im sick and wont leave my bedside if Im not well. I would have never thought I would have 3 cats at one time but now Im glad I did so Grace has someone with her as a companion. Jack recently decided he wanted to be an "inside and outside" cat, which when I got them we knew they would be inside cats because of what happened to Stormie. Unfortunately he got a taste for the outside one day when someone accidently let him out, and now we know the result of that happening. I will say funny enough if you look at more recent pics since we got Roxy and Bruiser aka (R&B ha ha!)you would think I do not have kids! Since my pet family members are way more willing to pose and my kids who are teens and for whatever lame reason shun the camera, somehow know at all times when I have camera. My son Tyler is the most likely to have the most pics since he started dating he has a girlfriend who loves having pics as much as I do....so I have her as part of my ammo :o) Otherwise I have side views of them which arent that good for a scrapbook or the kind of pics you want when they are kids. So, I DO have 3 kids, you just dont know what they look like unless you have seen them in person! Maybe I can get some shots when they are sleeping....hmm thats an idea.
So Jack, I miss you already, Im sorry you had to go thru whatt you did, and hope it was quick and you didnt suffer. I feel guilt in my heart for ever letting you out even if you wanted it and bugged us as much as you did wanting to be let out. I wish animals went to Heaven so I could have the assurance I would see you again, but I have been told since animals dont have souls they dont. I guess someday I will find out and maybe I will be surprised. If you are in Heaven now, I know you are probably sun bathing or if there are gophers up there, you are on it! You were a GREAT gopher catcher, although I didnt like the "presents" you brought home every time. Just know, Im thinking of you all the time loved you so much and hope and pray I can see you again. RIP Jack xoxo your human mommy
Jack, and his sister Grace (which later turned out to be a male, but shhh dont tell anyone cuz "Grace" is a transgendered kitty because I refuse to change her name esp for reason below) were a gift from my husband when I was really sick from MS and having a hard time. He thought having a "lap kitty" would help me cope with being in a wheelchair because at that time, we were told it was permanent and would get worse as time went on. Amazingly enough we had been looking for a kitten for some time and had lost another kitty, Stormie about 1 1/2 yrs before that from someone in our neighborhood poisoning several cats in the surrounding area. I didnt think I would ever get another cat after seeing Stormie go thru what she did and trying to deal with the loss of her. So, when we found "Grace" at a pet store close by where they were giving them away for free, we brought her home. When we told my daughter about the other kitties that were there, she said "I want the black and white one!" I was already attached to Grace and knew I wouldnt take her back, so it ended up being that my husband went back to the pet store and brought Jack home. It was great comic relief and "medicine" for me and I attribute my getting well partly because of them. I am amazed at how animals have that effect on a person and its not the first time I have had that happen. My kitties somehow, as did other animals we've had know when Im sick and will stay in bed with me when I am not well. My cats so much as would "investigate" nurses who would come for treatments and such as if to check and make sure they were "ok" and then watch over them every step of the way. People even remarked about them and they way they acted. Animals are great therapy.
Later on, we added a "brother" Olliver who has been an interesting mix to my feline family. Then we got "Roxy" and subsequently "Bruiser". Roxy is a chihuahua and Bruiser is a dauschaund and chihuahua, also known I found out later as a "chiweenie". All of their pictures are plastered all over here...which reminds me, I need more recent pics as I havent been here in a while! Roxy and Bruiser also have this amazing sense of when Im sick and wont leave my bedside if Im not well. I would have never thought I would have 3 cats at one time but now Im glad I did so Grace has someone with her as a companion. Jack recently decided he wanted to be an "inside and outside" cat, which when I got them we knew they would be inside cats because of what happened to Stormie. Unfortunately he got a taste for the outside one day when someone accidently let him out, and now we know the result of that happening. I will say funny enough if you look at more recent pics since we got Roxy and Bruiser aka (R&B ha ha!)you would think I do not have kids! Since my pet family members are way more willing to pose and my kids who are teens and for whatever lame reason shun the camera, somehow know at all times when I have camera. My son Tyler is the most likely to have the most pics since he started dating he has a girlfriend who loves having pics as much as I do....so I have her as part of my ammo :o) Otherwise I have side views of them which arent that good for a scrapbook or the kind of pics you want when they are kids. So, I DO have 3 kids, you just dont know what they look like unless you have seen them in person! Maybe I can get some shots when they are sleeping....hmm thats an idea.
So Jack, I miss you already, Im sorry you had to go thru whatt you did, and hope it was quick and you didnt suffer. I feel guilt in my heart for ever letting you out even if you wanted it and bugged us as much as you did wanting to be let out. I wish animals went to Heaven so I could have the assurance I would see you again, but I have been told since animals dont have souls they dont. I guess someday I will find out and maybe I will be surprised. If you are in Heaven now, I know you are probably sun bathing or if there are gophers up there, you are on it! You were a GREAT gopher catcher, although I didnt like the "presents" you brought home every time. Just know, Im thinking of you all the time loved you so much and hope and pray I can see you again. RIP Jack xoxo your human mommy
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Milk and Cookies
I saw a show today where a family would have milk and cookies together which opened up many conversations between them. They talked about their day, their problems, and hopes and dreams. It made me think about how we can have "milk and cookies" with God anytime, any place. What is your fav cookie? Mine are the old standard Oreos. Just the thought of Oreos and milk makes my mouth water and wanting to run to the store for a quick stop for a package...or 2. Oreos dont last long int his house, so if youwant any you have to act fast! I have been known to stash a package or 2 in my closet...shhh dont tell my family. Oh c'mon you know you have a stash somewhere right??? We are women...oreos and esp chocolate are a necessity to surviving this life, lets be honest here. Ok maybe Im being a llittle dramatic but Im still have a stash and will always have one. If you tell me where yours is, I'll tell you where mine is. :oP
The truth is, we dont have to wait for Him to finish what He's doing worry we are talking too much or taking up His time. We dont even have to worry about how many calories are in the cookies we have with Him....wow fat free AND calorie free! It doesnt get any better than that. But we do know and can have the assurance if we dont that we can talk to God about anything and I mean anything...significant or not so significant...big or small...joys and struggles. Hes there.
I find myself forgetting that during the day. Lately I have been so focused on "remembering" everything I need to do and getting my to do list completed (do you EVER get to check the last thing off, really?? Not if youre a mom/wife you dont!)I have been feverently reaching for the target which I thought and many times think I need to reach....to do all and be all. It seems the more I am unable to do such an impossible feat, the MORE I want to be it. I want control of my world...even if its in my home, life and even my mind which I seem to be losing these days. Sometimes I forget to do something as simple as take my medicine (which everybody has done a time or 2 right?)or something as significant as missing an important appointment or what is hardest for me which is completely forgetting I have a to do list at all. Now this might seem like a good thing but imagine your child coming to you as they do everyday if you have kids big or small and saying "Mom, whats for dinner (It seems they do that MORE when they are teens doesnt it??Ha Ha)and you have even forgotten you have to make dinner. How about asking your child if they have homework...the list goes on and quite frankly I have forgotten what I have forgotten to do theres been so much.
So it seems to me its even MORE important now for me to stop and have Spiritual Oreos and milk with the One who knows All and is All. Oh yeah that reminds me...thats one of the BIGGIES I forget to do, and not just always out of busyness but out of sheer complete memory loss from ms which I have. Thats one thing I CANT forget I have, how I wish I could. Anyways back to what I was saying....I many times have completely and utterly have forgotten to talk to God or quite honestly that He even exists, and I feel really awful about it. Its not that I have disconnected from Him, its just that my mind these days just completely blocks me from the reality that I know God is REAL. Its hard to explain and I wish I could explain it to get it out so people can understand. Its kind of like a loss of awareness in a way. Its one aspect I dont like for many reasons...1 being that if Im honest it goes back to the control factor.
I use to be the person who could remember everything detail on my to do list, phone numbers (didnt even own a phone/address book) friends birthdays, what bills are due on what day, kids school activities and what activities I needed to do what for. The list goes on. There were so many things I use to remember that I cant even remember them all. Now, I have to write literally everything down, the exact second I have found lately I remember or think of something I need to do. Which reminds me...think for a second the many things you do in a day. Now think about if you forgot to do those things....how would that feel, what would be the effect? Not a fun thought is it? Not just a simple you forgot and you remember later that day or something, but a complete you forgot and dont remember it until (if you do at all or find it written down on a list you forgot where you put it) maybe weeks later or something triggers you to remember it. What if you forgot you had a job, school, kids, bills to pay (sometimes I wish I could forget those things even existed Ha Ha)an important deadline or appointment, church, church activities etc>Or emails you were supposed to answer and forgot to. The list grows because we have so much responsiblity and life is crazy sometimes. My reason for opening that up is not to gain pity ( but a new pair of shoes or purse would help my mood for sure) but to cause anyone reading this to think about the fact that in all that madness God is there...He knows my trouble. He knows that I have although forgotten Him, I havent forgotten Him in the sense Im off doing my own thing (although we all have a tendency to do that which is a whole other topic. But you know what I mean. Its about awareness vs a rebellious will.
So at the end of the day, despite all that I will forget today or tomorrow God is always there, waiting with milk and cookies.Thats my point. Yes I do have one and so far I havent forgotten, it, lucky you! All I know is that despite what I have going on in my day, and you in yours, we have a God ready and waiting to hear about those troubles. Even if we do forget to talk to Him out of busyness or disease just know that when you do remember, Hes there waiting with a plate of Oreos and a tall glass (with a wide opening for dunking) of ice cold milk. Isnt that amazing? He knows our hearts and He knows our minds, forgetful or not. By the way, are you a dunker or a purist and eat the cookie straight? Or maybe you are one of those who peels the top off and eats the middle FIRST and then dunks....No matter what way you eat your Oreos know that God is never forgetful and ALWAYS mindful of you and I. Never forget that...and even if you do it doesnt mean its not true so write it down somewhere on your to do list.
Now even though its morning, Im off to have milk and cookies...no not the real kind which reminds me, I need to go to the store!See how it goes??)but the kind that you can have in the AM and not feel guily and more importantly the kind of thing we should start every day with.
So the next time you want to hit the floor running to try and get that to do list done, just remember God is waiting to have milk and cookies. Just think you wont have to worry about running out of milk or cookies...which reminds me again...Im out of Oreos. I better go now so I can write it on my to do list before I forget such an important thing.
So, heres to milk and cookies and the God who is waiting to have them with us!
LG
The truth is, we dont have to wait for Him to finish what He's doing worry we are talking too much or taking up His time. We dont even have to worry about how many calories are in the cookies we have with Him....wow fat free AND calorie free! It doesnt get any better than that. But we do know and can have the assurance if we dont that we can talk to God about anything and I mean anything...significant or not so significant...big or small...joys and struggles. Hes there.
I find myself forgetting that during the day. Lately I have been so focused on "remembering" everything I need to do and getting my to do list completed (do you EVER get to check the last thing off, really?? Not if youre a mom/wife you dont!)I have been feverently reaching for the target which I thought and many times think I need to reach....to do all and be all. It seems the more I am unable to do such an impossible feat, the MORE I want to be it. I want control of my world...even if its in my home, life and even my mind which I seem to be losing these days. Sometimes I forget to do something as simple as take my medicine (which everybody has done a time or 2 right?)or something as significant as missing an important appointment or what is hardest for me which is completely forgetting I have a to do list at all. Now this might seem like a good thing but imagine your child coming to you as they do everyday if you have kids big or small and saying "Mom, whats for dinner (It seems they do that MORE when they are teens doesnt it??Ha Ha)and you have even forgotten you have to make dinner. How about asking your child if they have homework...the list goes on and quite frankly I have forgotten what I have forgotten to do theres been so much.
So it seems to me its even MORE important now for me to stop and have Spiritual Oreos and milk with the One who knows All and is All. Oh yeah that reminds me...thats one of the BIGGIES I forget to do, and not just always out of busyness but out of sheer complete memory loss from ms which I have. Thats one thing I CANT forget I have, how I wish I could. Anyways back to what I was saying....I many times have completely and utterly have forgotten to talk to God or quite honestly that He even exists, and I feel really awful about it. Its not that I have disconnected from Him, its just that my mind these days just completely blocks me from the reality that I know God is REAL. Its hard to explain and I wish I could explain it to get it out so people can understand. Its kind of like a loss of awareness in a way. Its one aspect I dont like for many reasons...1 being that if Im honest it goes back to the control factor.
I use to be the person who could remember everything detail on my to do list, phone numbers (didnt even own a phone/address book) friends birthdays, what bills are due on what day, kids school activities and what activities I needed to do what for. The list goes on. There were so many things I use to remember that I cant even remember them all. Now, I have to write literally everything down, the exact second I have found lately I remember or think of something I need to do. Which reminds me...think for a second the many things you do in a day. Now think about if you forgot to do those things....how would that feel, what would be the effect? Not a fun thought is it? Not just a simple you forgot and you remember later that day or something, but a complete you forgot and dont remember it until (if you do at all or find it written down on a list you forgot where you put it) maybe weeks later or something triggers you to remember it. What if you forgot you had a job, school, kids, bills to pay (sometimes I wish I could forget those things even existed Ha Ha)an important deadline or appointment, church, church activities etc>Or emails you were supposed to answer and forgot to. The list grows because we have so much responsiblity and life is crazy sometimes. My reason for opening that up is not to gain pity ( but a new pair of shoes or purse would help my mood for sure) but to cause anyone reading this to think about the fact that in all that madness God is there...He knows my trouble. He knows that I have although forgotten Him, I havent forgotten Him in the sense Im off doing my own thing (although we all have a tendency to do that which is a whole other topic. But you know what I mean. Its about awareness vs a rebellious will.
So at the end of the day, despite all that I will forget today or tomorrow God is always there, waiting with milk and cookies.Thats my point. Yes I do have one and so far I havent forgotten, it, lucky you! All I know is that despite what I have going on in my day, and you in yours, we have a God ready and waiting to hear about those troubles. Even if we do forget to talk to Him out of busyness or disease just know that when you do remember, Hes there waiting with a plate of Oreos and a tall glass (with a wide opening for dunking) of ice cold milk. Isnt that amazing? He knows our hearts and He knows our minds, forgetful or not. By the way, are you a dunker or a purist and eat the cookie straight? Or maybe you are one of those who peels the top off and eats the middle FIRST and then dunks....No matter what way you eat your Oreos know that God is never forgetful and ALWAYS mindful of you and I. Never forget that...and even if you do it doesnt mean its not true so write it down somewhere on your to do list.
Now even though its morning, Im off to have milk and cookies...no not the real kind which reminds me, I need to go to the store!See how it goes??)but the kind that you can have in the AM and not feel guily and more importantly the kind of thing we should start every day with.
So the next time you want to hit the floor running to try and get that to do list done, just remember God is waiting to have milk and cookies. Just think you wont have to worry about running out of milk or cookies...which reminds me again...Im out of Oreos. I better go now so I can write it on my to do list before I forget such an important thing.
So, heres to milk and cookies and the God who is waiting to have them with us!
LG
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Raising Teenagers is Hard!
I wish someone would have told me....raising teenagers is hard! Today I was out and saw mommies and daddies pushing their babies and walking besides the older "babies" and it always calls me back to when my kids were that age. I remember back then in those times excited about what it would be like when they were older, and wishing it would soon come. And then it did. In some ways I'm glad it did...no more poopy diapers , temper tantrums...you are their world... but in other ways I'm not. ...teen age temper tantrums (they know how to talk back at this age, how I wish I hadn't of taught my kids to speak)they are their world, and you simply exist in it, and the day to day struggles "they" don't tell you about (whoever they are) I haven't quite figured out who they are, but it would have been nice while I was staring at my newly born child that smelled like untainted love the challenges of raising a teen. Somehow I didn't give it thought that how my kids are spaced together that I would have THREE teens at once....what were we thinking?? I long for the days we could jump in the car and go to the park, crafts, waking up after nap time (mostly mine) to make cookies or watch a movie (usually the same one we have watched for the 10,000th time) I know in those days what moms really needed and lacked was physical energy...from being on the go 24/7 and those 2AM feedings or when they were sick and up all night throwing up or crying in pain.
As a mom of a teen what we really need and I know I lack is mental energy. You are constantly second guessing yourself, trying to come up with a solution to today's problem,whatever that may be, and need that kind of energy to tell your teen for the 10,000th time to put away their dishes or to clean up their food mess they seem to think the kitchen fairy is going to magically clean up while they are on Myspace. What I desire is a book that tells me on Page 457 how to such and such, so that I can look in the index at today's issue and find a godly solid fool proof answer.
Today I got to hear from my oldest how one of the rules my husband and I have is not what other kids parents have. We quickly found out that he's hearing the whispers (which seem like shouting to us) that we don't have his best interest at heart...that we are stifling him, controlling him, treating him like a child. In today's world I see a huge lack of responsibility and possibly a lack of that mental energy we need. I am strongly against the teen age community trying to rush through kid hood quickly...it should be savored by the child, but I also know at his age you want anything but to savor it. They would rather chew it up and spit it out and fly thru to the part where they think Easy Street and Freedom Lane meet. I think back to when I was 19 I know I had some of the same feelings, however my childhood was VERY different than my sons and my situation was also VERY different...When I was around his age I was newly married with my second baby. I also was paying my own bills, keeping a household, and was working as much as I could with a toddler (which is the son I am writing about) so on and so forth. I was way more mature for my age (I always was because of my childhood, which helped me throughout my life) My friends (these being new friends) were not my world, my kids were. Thankfully, my son does not have that responsibilities I had but I do wish he would see how easy he has it and what he is missing out by the choices he is making.
I don't think that just because society is loose with its morals and values, what was taboo at my age is now not that we as parents should unleash the reins on our own flesh and blood who the world only wants to suck the life out of and spit him out. When the sounds of his influences scream hard to pull him their way, its hard to pull back when those influences lead him to believe they are right and we are wrong, if that makes sense. What are our options? I feel like my back is against the wall.
So I ask what is a parent to do? I know. pray hard and love hard. Even when it hurts and you want to scream and yell and throw your own tantrum...God willing we will both make it thru unscathed.
I pray each day God for wisdom, Your amazing love to flow thru me and guidance on how to parent one on hand and work my self out of a job on the other. 2 more to go and so far I have no gray hairs. I know the decisions we are making so far are first of all for HIS best ( of which he cant see and chooses to not even look at the possibility of that truth) and that they are from what I know about God and the bible, biblicaly sound rules and values we are holding to for our kids. I hope it does not turn him away completely. Lord I pray against this in Jesus' Holy Precious Name.
I lift my precious flesh and blood up to You Lord and knowing that You love him more than I possibly could ask you to stir his heart to make decisions based on what he has been taught all these years. I pray that he would see we have his best interest at heart, and that even in light that his influences are pulling him one way, he would not let that pulling tear the strings that bind us as a family. May the scissors of condemnation and pride not snip away at the morals and values we have instilled in him, nor chip away at the person he used to be. He's pulled away and is slowly turning away from us and moving more and more towards these bad influences. I know it could be worse, (many families are going thru worse at this age and younger)but for us this has caused us much grief and is a huge turmoil in our family. It has disrupted the common pace of our household. Lord I especially pray that he would not make his girlfriend and her family be his god as I see this as the basis of these decisions. I lift this all up to You knowing you know each detail piece by piece and the needs of our family at this critical time of need and heartache.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
As a mom of a teen what we really need and I know I lack is mental energy. You are constantly second guessing yourself, trying to come up with a solution to today's problem,whatever that may be, and need that kind of energy to tell your teen for the 10,000th time to put away their dishes or to clean up their food mess they seem to think the kitchen fairy is going to magically clean up while they are on Myspace. What I desire is a book that tells me on Page 457 how to such and such, so that I can look in the index at today's issue and find a godly solid fool proof answer.
Today I got to hear from my oldest how one of the rules my husband and I have is not what other kids parents have. We quickly found out that he's hearing the whispers (which seem like shouting to us) that we don't have his best interest at heart...that we are stifling him, controlling him, treating him like a child. In today's world I see a huge lack of responsibility and possibly a lack of that mental energy we need. I am strongly against the teen age community trying to rush through kid hood quickly...it should be savored by the child, but I also know at his age you want anything but to savor it. They would rather chew it up and spit it out and fly thru to the part where they think Easy Street and Freedom Lane meet. I think back to when I was 19 I know I had some of the same feelings, however my childhood was VERY different than my sons and my situation was also VERY different...When I was around his age I was newly married with my second baby. I also was paying my own bills, keeping a household, and was working as much as I could with a toddler (which is the son I am writing about) so on and so forth. I was way more mature for my age (I always was because of my childhood, which helped me throughout my life) My friends (these being new friends) were not my world, my kids were. Thankfully, my son does not have that responsibilities I had but I do wish he would see how easy he has it and what he is missing out by the choices he is making.
I don't think that just because society is loose with its morals and values, what was taboo at my age is now not that we as parents should unleash the reins on our own flesh and blood who the world only wants to suck the life out of and spit him out. When the sounds of his influences scream hard to pull him their way, its hard to pull back when those influences lead him to believe they are right and we are wrong, if that makes sense. What are our options? I feel like my back is against the wall.
So I ask what is a parent to do? I know. pray hard and love hard. Even when it hurts and you want to scream and yell and throw your own tantrum...God willing we will both make it thru unscathed.
I pray each day God for wisdom, Your amazing love to flow thru me and guidance on how to parent one on hand and work my self out of a job on the other. 2 more to go and so far I have no gray hairs. I know the decisions we are making so far are first of all for HIS best ( of which he cant see and chooses to not even look at the possibility of that truth) and that they are from what I know about God and the bible, biblicaly sound rules and values we are holding to for our kids. I hope it does not turn him away completely. Lord I pray against this in Jesus' Holy Precious Name.
I lift my precious flesh and blood up to You Lord and knowing that You love him more than I possibly could ask you to stir his heart to make decisions based on what he has been taught all these years. I pray that he would see we have his best interest at heart, and that even in light that his influences are pulling him one way, he would not let that pulling tear the strings that bind us as a family. May the scissors of condemnation and pride not snip away at the morals and values we have instilled in him, nor chip away at the person he used to be. He's pulled away and is slowly turning away from us and moving more and more towards these bad influences. I know it could be worse, (many families are going thru worse at this age and younger)but for us this has caused us much grief and is a huge turmoil in our family. It has disrupted the common pace of our household. Lord I especially pray that he would not make his girlfriend and her family be his god as I see this as the basis of these decisions. I lift this all up to You knowing you know each detail piece by piece and the needs of our family at this critical time of need and heartache.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Marriage is the Joining of 2 Imperfect Lives into 1 Perfect Union
Tomorrow is Jeff and my wedding anniversary ...17 years of wedded bliss! As I thank God for my marriage it causes me to think about all we've been thru ...we've been together for 21 years....it seems like a lifetime together, yet it feels like yesterday too. We have had our fair share of ups and downs...twists and turns, rollovers and crashes, long quiet drives on Bliss Lane enjoying the view. Today I read a relevant quote that I like "Marriage is the joining of 2 imperfect people into 1 perfect union." I know when we got married, Ihad fantasies of what I thought marred life would be like...I wasnt prepared for all the elbow grease a sweat equity it takes to make a healthy marriage work. There have been times when we've wanted to throw in the towel and I am sure I havent been a bowl of cherries to live with (Im just saying that to be
nice, I know it cant really be true...Im a peach!) and my husband hasnt always been either. But thats one of the great things about marriage...even on your worst days (Ive only had one) you have someone that will stick it out (if they are committed to their vows)and see past your faults and flaws.
They are the only person who really sees you for who you are with bad breath, critical comments and after you have barfed for the 3rd time from the flu. They are there to heal the hurts you have gone thru after a bad day and baggage you need to work thru from your past.
I use to think that Jeff was my other half...he use to call me his "better half" (of which I fullheartedly agree) but the reality is that if you dont have 2 whole people committed to giving up of themselves to put their needs before yours....not an easy thing if you are selfish (not me, I dont have that problem) every day, over look faults, be the first to seek forgiveness. If you are "half" a person you dont have what it takes to commit to the relationship and see it thru...its so funny that when you say "for better or for worse" you dreamily think it wont be "worse" and how "love will see you thru"...well honey love dont pay the rent or put milk in the fridge! The love we feel on our wedding day doesnt survive without dedication, faith in God and consistency to see it thru so that when those "worse" days come or those "sick" days come more than "health" days (in sickness and in health) Till death do you part is easy to vow but living with someone who is usually the opposite of you day in a day out for possibly 65 years (average) is quite a feat in todays society a rareity. It helps immensley if your mate is your best friend.
If you can laugh with your mate, you can last with your mate, especially on the worst of days. After 3 kids, a gazillion pets, in laws, places we've hung our hats, couches (that have been spilled on or mangled by our kids and pets), 2 brain tumors and many many sick days, Multiple Sclerosis, floods and thunderstorms, 10 million loads of laundry, 20 million trips to the gorcery store, and many a struggles and problems we've made it thru. I beleive that without Jeff I couldnt have made it thru the stuff Ive gone thru and I have to say there is no one on earth I would have rather gone thru that stuff with. Peace out!
nice, I know it cant really be true...Im a peach!) and my husband hasnt always been either. But thats one of the great things about marriage...even on your worst days (Ive only had one) you have someone that will stick it out (if they are committed to their vows)and see past your faults and flaws.
They are the only person who really sees you for who you are with bad breath, critical comments and after you have barfed for the 3rd time from the flu. They are there to heal the hurts you have gone thru after a bad day and baggage you need to work thru from your past.
I use to think that Jeff was my other half...he use to call me his "better half" (of which I fullheartedly agree) but the reality is that if you dont have 2 whole people committed to giving up of themselves to put their needs before yours....not an easy thing if you are selfish (not me, I dont have that problem) every day, over look faults, be the first to seek forgiveness. If you are "half" a person you dont have what it takes to commit to the relationship and see it thru...its so funny that when you say "for better or for worse" you dreamily think it wont be "worse" and how "love will see you thru"...well honey love dont pay the rent or put milk in the fridge! The love we feel on our wedding day doesnt survive without dedication, faith in God and consistency to see it thru so that when those "worse" days come or those "sick" days come more than "health" days (in sickness and in health) Till death do you part is easy to vow but living with someone who is usually the opposite of you day in a day out for possibly 65 years (average) is quite a feat in todays society a rareity. It helps immensley if your mate is your best friend.
If you can laugh with your mate, you can last with your mate, especially on the worst of days. After 3 kids, a gazillion pets, in laws, places we've hung our hats, couches (that have been spilled on or mangled by our kids and pets), 2 brain tumors and many many sick days, Multiple Sclerosis, floods and thunderstorms, 10 million loads of laundry, 20 million trips to the gorcery store, and many a struggles and problems we've made it thru. I beleive that without Jeff I couldnt have made it thru the stuff Ive gone thru and I have to say there is no one on earth I would have rather gone thru that stuff with. Peace out!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Is it True That Nothing In Life is Free?
Remember the old adage that "nothing in life is free?" Back in my day, which seems like eons yet like yesterday too, a piece of Bazooka gum cost .01, a Big Stick .25, a stamp .10, bus ride .25....the first 2 things being the most important to a kid, which is probably why I remember how much they were. Looking back while comparing prices between then and now, it seems like things back then were almost free, but its all relative. These days you really can't get much for FREE, except maybe frustration and library books. With that sigh of reality comes great news my friend! There is something else, somthing more important that is FREE... no strings attached, no small print, no scheme nor "have to buy such and such" later kind of thing.
This morning I was reminded once again that God gives of Himself for FREE...no strings attached, no small print, definitely no scheme. He sent His Son to die for me (and you) so that I (and those who accept Him as their Savior) may be FREE to have an abundant overflowing with good life. It doesnt means its not a hard life, but it is a good life in some many ways. Sometimes its hard to see that with rising gas and grocery prices and soaring debt this truth still prevails. Even if gas gets to 7.00 a gallon (Please Lord, no! Just the thought make me nauseous), groceries go up to apples costing 2.00 an apple as opposed to 1.00 each (isn't that ridiculous ?!) this truth wont waver. Its easy to lose sight of that given the way our world is these days and the direction it seems to be going. Great news to all my friends! We can have full confidence that His love wont ever fade, dry up, disappear, fizzle out wither away or run out.
I am learning each day that with each day comes new grace. Each challenge is met with the tools to overcome. Whatever what situation we may find our selves in, His grace is there to cover it and His tools available to bring us to the other side. I am the first to say its hard at times to remember that. In the last 10 yrs I have been thru the most difficult , heart wrenching, challenging , joy blasting circumstances in my life. Yet He is there. Its hard to hold onto joy when your life seems to be pulled out from your fingers. Yet He is there. For me, its like having an almost completed puzzle dropped on the floor and I'm trying to put it back together the best I can, with His covering of me. My life as I once new it was no more but its open for a new life to form. So the next time someone says "Honey, nothing in life is FREE", you can let them know there are things for FREE...the most important being the love of God... the One who created life and all that is in it.
This morning I was reminded once again that God gives of Himself for FREE...no strings attached, no small print, definitely no scheme. He sent His Son to die for me (and you) so that I (and those who accept Him as their Savior) may be FREE to have an abundant overflowing with good life. It doesnt means its not a hard life, but it is a good life in some many ways. Sometimes its hard to see that with rising gas and grocery prices and soaring debt this truth still prevails. Even if gas gets to 7.00 a gallon (Please Lord, no! Just the thought make me nauseous), groceries go up to apples costing 2.00 an apple as opposed to 1.00 each (isn't that ridiculous ?!) this truth wont waver. Its easy to lose sight of that given the way our world is these days and the direction it seems to be going. Great news to all my friends! We can have full confidence that His love wont ever fade, dry up, disappear, fizzle out wither away or run out.
I am learning each day that with each day comes new grace. Each challenge is met with the tools to overcome. Whatever what situation we may find our selves in, His grace is there to cover it and His tools available to bring us to the other side. I am the first to say its hard at times to remember that. In the last 10 yrs I have been thru the most difficult , heart wrenching, challenging , joy blasting circumstances in my life. Yet He is there. Its hard to hold onto joy when your life seems to be pulled out from your fingers. Yet He is there. For me, its like having an almost completed puzzle dropped on the floor and I'm trying to put it back together the best I can, with His covering of me. My life as I once new it was no more but its open for a new life to form. So the next time someone says "Honey, nothing in life is FREE", you can let them know there are things for FREE...the most important being the love of God... the One who created life and all that is in it.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
When You Wish Upon A Star
When you wish upon a star
Your hopes and dreams will travel far
Dreams come true and hopes fufilled
Trust in God and pray until--
While you wait for life to unfold
By His will His love is told
How much He loves us, is in His plan
On this earth walked a holy man
He sent His Son to die for you ,to die for me
So we may wish and be set free!
So when you wish upon that star
Remember who made them far
For as far as they are to us
Is how far that we can trust
That He knows our hopes and our dreams
As His child goes not unseen
When you dream do not forget
There is a plan amazing set---
May you wish upon that star my friend
Watch for it around the bend!
Your hopes and dreams will travel far
Dreams come true and hopes fufilled
Trust in God and pray until--
While you wait for life to unfold
By His will His love is told
How much He loves us, is in His plan
On this earth walked a holy man
He sent His Son to die for you ,to die for me
So we may wish and be set free!
So when you wish upon that star
Remember who made them far
For as far as they are to us
Is how far that we can trust
That He knows our hopes and our dreams
As His child goes not unseen
When you dream do not forget
There is a plan amazing set---
May you wish upon that star my friend
Watch for it around the bend!
Change is Good Only If We Embrace It
I wish I was one of those people who like change, sadly I am not. Some people can just ebb and flow with lifes turns, straightaways, potholes and u-turns, sadly I cannot. I mean on a certain level I have dealt with what "road conditions" I have been dealt. I believe God has a plan for everyone and everything, and in this is which I cling to, and have a bumper sticker on my "car of life". It seems lately I have had potholes, traffic accidents, fender benders, rain and flat tires, and I have to say if at any other time I have not been able to embrace it try as I might. Having a disease which is ultimately fatal, has left you scarred physically,emotionally and mentally has left me just numb. I dont really know how I feel at times, other times I feel nothing. I do my best to put on a positive attitude esp when it comes to my kids, who have been thru so much, but when I look in the mirror I wonder how I got here. How did I get here? One of the problems I have is that I can handle things if I know the "purpose/reason"...in the beginning of my illness I saw how it changed my husband, my kids, myself for the better...we were looking to God, growing closer etc etc and peoples live were being changed by our situation. Then as things progressed I began teaching in my womens bible study...I got fufillment and purpose to such an unexplainable degree...the only other time I felt like that was when I was having babies...I could see how God was using this, possibly where I saw things going (ie my writing career) I was growing, and all of a sudden it seemed...Wham! It was almost like the sky got pitch black and I couldnt see my way...its like that now...Im not able to teach right now, which is a HUGE loss for me...Im pretty much homebound at the moment which is soooo not like the kind of person I am...Im used to it, but I dont like it.
There have been other changes in my life as well besides this illness...Admist that I have 3, count them 1, 2 , 3 teenagers (obv I didnt think ahead and plan that when I was having them lol)and one is 19 which is a HUGE change...hes begun that process (=change)of stepping out of the nest....That has been really really hard...did I say hard? The other 2 are going thru some major changes and I am just at a place I cant take it all in...My husband has been dealing with depression which has its challenges of its own, one being getting a med to help him.
During all this I want to write, esp the books He has put on my heart, but Im have writers block right now...I feel like its not the right time for some reason but then I second guess myself...So needless to say Im trusting God but I cant see my way out, around or even my hand in front of my face, and so this is change at its finest...When the sun comes out will I like where Im at? Or will I be discontent? Will I ever get to a place I can accept this change, if its not going to change for the better? I dont know, I cant answer that. I will say that despite all that is going on I odnt feel a sense of "doom and gloom", I just dont know what to do with this which has been put on my plate.
All I know at this moment is that Im focused on God, trying to stay positive and hoping that whatever is around the corner is going to be good...at least better than it is. So as I said hence the title, change is good only if you can embrace it...Now I cant quite embrace the changes in my life, but maybe for now all I can do is look it in the eye and wave hello. In the coming months maybe we can become batter friends, goodness knows I could always use some of those :o)More on my travels later... TaTa for now, Ive got some driving to do :oP
There have been other changes in my life as well besides this illness...Admist that I have 3, count them 1, 2 , 3 teenagers (obv I didnt think ahead and plan that when I was having them lol)and one is 19 which is a HUGE change...hes begun that process (=change)of stepping out of the nest....That has been really really hard...did I say hard? The other 2 are going thru some major changes and I am just at a place I cant take it all in...My husband has been dealing with depression which has its challenges of its own, one being getting a med to help him.
During all this I want to write, esp the books He has put on my heart, but Im have writers block right now...I feel like its not the right time for some reason but then I second guess myself...So needless to say Im trusting God but I cant see my way out, around or even my hand in front of my face, and so this is change at its finest...When the sun comes out will I like where Im at? Or will I be discontent? Will I ever get to a place I can accept this change, if its not going to change for the better? I dont know, I cant answer that. I will say that despite all that is going on I odnt feel a sense of "doom and gloom", I just dont know what to do with this which has been put on my plate.
All I know at this moment is that Im focused on God, trying to stay positive and hoping that whatever is around the corner is going to be good...at least better than it is. So as I said hence the title, change is good only if you can embrace it...Now I cant quite embrace the changes in my life, but maybe for now all I can do is look it in the eye and wave hello. In the coming months maybe we can become batter friends, goodness knows I could always use some of those :o)More on my travels later... TaTa for now, Ive got some driving to do :oP
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
What Do You Stand For?
Have you ever thought about what it is you stand for? Do you make a concious effort to make a difference in those areas you stand for? DO your values, morals, activities, what comes out of your mouth reflect that?
I have recently begun after 4 years started to walk again which by all counts is only something God can do. My athiest dr even (in not so many words) and though never used the word "God" says so and I wholeheartedly agree)
The fact that I can walk has got me thinking in terms of my life...what do I stand for? The first thing that comes to mind is that my first and foremost desire is to stand for my Creator and my purpose for life...Jesus Christ. Without Him I am truly nothing...my life means nothing, my life will not mean anything in terms of my legacy and what I leave behind when God calls me Home, and my life will have no meaning to me. I will wander around aimlessly, meandering with no purpose or sense of direction. This I do not want in any way shape or form. I want to have an effect on this world that seems to be crumbling, succumbing to destruction aka selfishness, greed and denial of all truth. There also is the fact that for some all truth is truth as they see it. that is there is no 'wrong' or the possibility that Gods truth is the only truth. A sad but true problem with society today. I also want to have an effect that continues to have a ripple effect for generations to come. I hope that what I teach and influence in my children passes on to the world at large. My hope is that of all believers---that God will be satsified with my work here, the purposes He sent me here to fufill in the first place.
I hope that people who know me see Jesus in me---I know Im not perfect but in the whole picture they see that I stand for Him, work for Him, love Him deeply.
I do have other things I stand for...I stand against child abuse, starving and those in poverty, pedophilia, abuse of the environment as I myself learn to take care of it, and I do whatever I can to stand against animal neglect and abuse. However, as I write I realize I need to do more to reflect such a stance. Believing in something or being against it is not enough to make a difference. There is more to do and definitely I need to participate in organizations and groups who are of alike mindsets. I vow to do that from here on out. Otherwise, I am one of many who say they stand for something and yet sit as I did for 4 years and standby as children are abused, people starve and are without the neccesities of life, pedophiles steal childrens innocence and purity, leaving them effected to look at the world completely different, askew and damaged. There are animals who starve and live in horrid conditions, animals needlessly euthanized but for "overpopulation" and lack of room.
I will close with this: Choose what you stand for, take the time to make sure your life represents and reflects what it is we stand for. Then take the steps to stamp an imprint in those areas so n ear to your heart, your purposes, that you will be known for the things you did. And as a result, more impotantly who you are, and in time who you were in years to come.
I have recently begun after 4 years started to walk again which by all counts is only something God can do. My athiest dr even (in not so many words) and though never used the word "God" says so and I wholeheartedly agree)
The fact that I can walk has got me thinking in terms of my life...what do I stand for? The first thing that comes to mind is that my first and foremost desire is to stand for my Creator and my purpose for life...Jesus Christ. Without Him I am truly nothing...my life means nothing, my life will not mean anything in terms of my legacy and what I leave behind when God calls me Home, and my life will have no meaning to me. I will wander around aimlessly, meandering with no purpose or sense of direction. This I do not want in any way shape or form. I want to have an effect on this world that seems to be crumbling, succumbing to destruction aka selfishness, greed and denial of all truth. There also is the fact that for some all truth is truth as they see it. that is there is no 'wrong' or the possibility that Gods truth is the only truth. A sad but true problem with society today. I also want to have an effect that continues to have a ripple effect for generations to come. I hope that what I teach and influence in my children passes on to the world at large. My hope is that of all believers---that God will be satsified with my work here, the purposes He sent me here to fufill in the first place.
I hope that people who know me see Jesus in me---I know Im not perfect but in the whole picture they see that I stand for Him, work for Him, love Him deeply.
I do have other things I stand for...I stand against child abuse, starving and those in poverty, pedophilia, abuse of the environment as I myself learn to take care of it, and I do whatever I can to stand against animal neglect and abuse. However, as I write I realize I need to do more to reflect such a stance. Believing in something or being against it is not enough to make a difference. There is more to do and definitely I need to participate in organizations and groups who are of alike mindsets. I vow to do that from here on out. Otherwise, I am one of many who say they stand for something and yet sit as I did for 4 years and standby as children are abused, people starve and are without the neccesities of life, pedophiles steal childrens innocence and purity, leaving them effected to look at the world completely different, askew and damaged. There are animals who starve and live in horrid conditions, animals needlessly euthanized but for "overpopulation" and lack of room.
I will close with this: Choose what you stand for, take the time to make sure your life represents and reflects what it is we stand for. Then take the steps to stamp an imprint in those areas so n ear to your heart, your purposes, that you will be known for the things you did. And as a result, more impotantly who you are, and in time who you were in years to come.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Hows life treating you?
Hows your life been treating you? I hope all is well. In my small little piece of the world my life has been turned upside down and Im trying my best to keep afloat. In my times with God it has been so comforting to know He knows all my hurts and even feels my pain. Its kind of a funny thing because so often we plan our lives out (at least I tried to) and think we are heading which ever way leads to "good" and "prosperous", whatever that may be in the beholders eyes. For one person prosperity may just mean a sense of accomplishment, success in the work place. For others it may just simply mean $$$. As long as the $$ is flowing in then there is prosperity. For someone else, it may be the family unit...husband/wife/kids/mom/dad etc...To them if you have family, you are prosperous...no material things necessary, but are icing on the cake. For another it may mean having just one more day to be with his family before God calls Him home. There is that man or woman far in the jungle of Africa whose children are starving to death and as she ispraying to God for some help to be able to feed her children who are suffering from starvation and malnutrition and here comes a large truck full of food...it is missionaries coming to serve the needs of those people like her and her children. Or for that person who's life is in momentary shambles...his wife left him for another man...He has confidence in that he has God, if nothing else. How about that young man or woman that has their whole life ahead of them and is ready to take on the world? Whatever the case may be, prosperity can only come from one place and that is from God. Just as our l ives are different so is our sense of prosperity---all of us have it, we may just not be able to find it at the moment. One of the things I love about God is that He gives all His children prosperity, its in His nature to be a giver, but we as the rescipent have to be able to see it. Can you find where you are prosperous in your life? Can you even see it? What does it mean to you to be prosperous? Is it in the things you see, or in the unseen, or both? How can we make the lives of others prosper? There is a saying I heard recently is that goes something like this " True prosperity is serving others that there life may be prosperous " That means to give is to be prosperous? Its easy to think of it in terms of being on the receiving end...to be prosperous means to receive...but I beleive God is saying it is to give in order that we may flourish and grow and create room for more. Thats hard to do when you are going thru the trenches yourself. How do you give when you have nothing to give? That my friend is a answer I dont have, only God can answer that. Your best bet is to talk to Him and Im sure Hes got something in mind.
So the next time you are sizing your life up, remember that true prosperity is not in storing up, its in giving up. Its not that God doesnt want us to be in the receiving end at all.. in fact I believe quite the contrary. Hes that kind of God. He just wants us to share, share what we've been given, which creates room for more...more to be given.
So the next time you are sizing your life up, remember that true prosperity is not in storing up, its in giving up. Its not that God doesnt want us to be in the receiving end at all.. in fact I believe quite the contrary. Hes that kind of God. He just wants us to share, share what we've been given, which creates room for more...more to be given.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Are You Willing?
Are you willing to be lonely, have it all stripped away?
Remain in the fire, day after day?
Be a good neighbor when she spits in your face?
Be proud when they trample on your race?
Would you stay in a friendship when you've been betrayed,
Lied about, gossiped... your trust has been frayed?
Surrender your will; work hard when its hard?
Be uncomfortable, your perfect life's been marred?
When its all planned out and you know where you are going?
God slows you down, blessings stopped flowing?
You sow and you sow, no reaping in sight?
Youre tired, your weak, you've used all your might?
Give, not receive; patience in stress?
Not run away when you're life is a mess?
Stay in a marriage in good times and bad,
In sickness and health, feel used and been had?
If a child has strayed, can you pray without ceasing?
Not take out your anger, frustration unleashing?
Will You look to Him... when He seems far and and not near?
Feel youre forgotten, while you shed all your tears?
Not fall into anxiety in times when peace is far gone?
Continue to worship, praise Him in song?
In times where troubles are many, joy left a long time ago?
You're looking for healing, trust when it's coming too slow?
Stay in His Word, Hold onto His truths?
Not analyze when you're confused?
At times when you doubt; or your life seems cursed?
When you've no money in your purse?
Be an example when you suffer in silence?
Can you stay strong in times of violence?
Forgive in the times they dont apologize?
If a family member has severed all ties?
Are you willing to walk with your head held high?
Look to the Son , when no answers of "why"?
Can you be true to your self in the face of temptation?
Walk away from peer pressure , any sins invitation?
Are you willing to 'be' in the quiet and still?
Stay in the moment when your spirits been killed?
Are you willing to follow whenever He calls?
Widen your territory, break down strong walls?
You are blessed if you are willing; Hes ready to give?
Peace when you find out you're not going to live---
Strength in the Storms, A Boat in the flood
A willing Savior, for you shed His blood ---
Remain in the fire, day after day?
Be a good neighbor when she spits in your face?
Be proud when they trample on your race?
Would you stay in a friendship when you've been betrayed,
Lied about, gossiped... your trust has been frayed?
Surrender your will; work hard when its hard?
Be uncomfortable, your perfect life's been marred?
When its all planned out and you know where you are going?
God slows you down, blessings stopped flowing?
You sow and you sow, no reaping in sight?
Youre tired, your weak, you've used all your might?
Give, not receive; patience in stress?
Not run away when you're life is a mess?
Stay in a marriage in good times and bad,
In sickness and health, feel used and been had?
If a child has strayed, can you pray without ceasing?
Not take out your anger, frustration unleashing?
Will You look to Him... when He seems far and and not near?
Feel youre forgotten, while you shed all your tears?
Not fall into anxiety in times when peace is far gone?
Continue to worship, praise Him in song?
In times where troubles are many, joy left a long time ago?
You're looking for healing, trust when it's coming too slow?
Stay in His Word, Hold onto His truths?
Not analyze when you're confused?
At times when you doubt; or your life seems cursed?
When you've no money in your purse?
Be an example when you suffer in silence?
Can you stay strong in times of violence?
Forgive in the times they dont apologize?
If a family member has severed all ties?
Are you willing to walk with your head held high?
Look to the Son , when no answers of "why"?
Can you be true to your self in the face of temptation?
Walk away from peer pressure , any sins invitation?
Are you willing to 'be' in the quiet and still?
Stay in the moment when your spirits been killed?
Are you willing to follow whenever He calls?
Widen your territory, break down strong walls?
You are blessed if you are willing; Hes ready to give?
Peace when you find out you're not going to live---
Strength in the Storms, A Boat in the flood
A willing Savior, for you shed His blood ---
Friday, May 23, 2008
Meditation (and rain dance)on the Mount
Well I just want to put it out there...although I dont wanna brag...well maybe a little bit...ok no I don't, Im not that kind of person...ok well maybe I am, but Im not like other people who brag all the time...ok well maybe if I had things to brag about like I have now I would brag all the time...no I wouldnt...yes I would...(please excuse me Im having an inner battle here) Ok I admit it...I want to brag about this because its BIG!
So heres the scenario...Its HOT...remember the other day when it was hot enough you could fry an egg on the sidewalk?? (note to self, try that next time its HOT) well, my body goes insane with the heat...MS and heat do not mix, like oil and water kinda thing. So in all the heat, Im feeling awful, Im full on sick...weak, exhausted, nauseated, in pain (way more than usual), seeing spots that kind of thing which is "normal" for me when it gets hot, which is why I fear summer like a big gargauntan spider on the wall...or a nest of wasps...that kind of fear and then I also have loatheness (is that a word?) you know, loathe, to hate, to not be friends with (boy thats an understatment of the century!) every summer I spend like that, believe me it makes for a great summer!
So anyway, back to the HOT weather...so Im sick in bed watching Price is Right along with my other fav shows...normally at 10AM Im up doing stuff but not when its HOT, but when this hot thing comes on, Im lucky to make it to the bathroom. Im upset wondering 'why me', 'why cant I be like other people' etc etc (you know the whole "woe is me" bit, uh yes I do go there, Im honest enough to admit it :oP ) Then, suddenly, I get this GREAT IDEA (Can you see the light bulb above my head? Well if you dont now, you would have , it was there) this idea is the idea of all ideas...I will do a rain dance/ meditation calling for rain...please rain, please rain! Om...om ...om...om ommmmm. Of course Im telling all who will listen of my plight and sunsequent plan...I get to work busily, doing whatever it takes to get rain...om om om...dance dance (Saturday Night Fever playing in the background)
For the next few days I'm working hard...please rain come, please rain come! Om...Om, Om, Om...dance, dance dance! And then.....I get a call today (Friday) and GUESS WHAT! My friend Kari R tells me its raining! Its actually raining! I have special powers, I can make it rain...yippee! Just look out your window (present time 10:18AM) its downright pouring, and I think we even have hail! When I do a job, I do it right! For those of you who know me, I am a determined person, so if I want rain, I will do whatever needs to be done to make it happen, and thus so it is here. My fav kind of weather...well I do like it colder, but I didnt do a cold dance/meditation..my body has a P-A-R-T-Y when its like this! Not that I always feel great, but I certainly dont have the same symptoms to the extent I do when its hot. So I have to brag, I made it rain! I made it rain! I guess there is something to that "Om" thing (well not really, but I had to throw it in for the laugh factor) I love having special powers!! Anyone have any wishes they would like me to work on? Lottery winners? Have a spouse who leaves the toilet seat up or forgets Valentines Day Have a closet that is too small? (OH wait thats Kari R...Kari R never fear! Your superheor friend is working on your closet issue at this moment)Need your house to sparkle and shine before guests come? Well then apparently Im your girl!
Ok so maybe in all reality I dont have powers...I know God is the only One capable of making rain...but just for a moment (and anytime I want to dream) it was absolutely fantastic to think that I could actually make it RAIN! To look out the window, and know all the hard work I had been doing, and to see the fruit of that labor, was quite frankly like bringing new life into the world (ok well Im being a bit dramatic, but go with me here, please) I give all the glory and credit to God the Most High,for He is good...but just for a moment in time, it was nice to think I was a superhero and could make things happen...I had plans...like to make the streets lined with chocolate, and the trees to be cotton candy with money hanging on them like Christmas ornaments, for the next rain to rain jelly beans (jelly belly jelly beans, I only make the best) and wheels on cars to be chocolate chip cookies, and for there to be no taxes yet we get humongous tax refunds and that bills could be paid when you can, no due dates (wouldnt that be lovely?!) oh and the more candy you ate the more weight you lost! Golly jeepers, what else could I drum up???...oh I know...my kids would never talk back to me and would clean up after themselves and offer to do things to help...now that would be awesome! Only Jesus can walk on water, but boy would I love to be able to do that! Any ideas guys? Well, so my dream of being a superhero is now over, at least for the moment...Im thinking of making God a deal that if He lets me be a superhero, I promise to be good, read my bible faithfully, love others unconditionally, be slow to anger and quick to forgive...etc etc you know all the stuff we are supposed to do that we dont always do, hence thank you for your grace, Lord!
The rain has now stopped, my dreams have now been crushed....but there has to be a way that I can be a superero 24/7...I mean who wouldnt want cotton candy money trees humongous tax checks? Ive got a closet to work on that I can in no way make happen without special powers (shhhh dont tell Kari R pls!) Maybe if I make a cape, the powers will be here to stay...so the next time you see me, if Im wearing the cape...your wish is my command...if you need to be saved from a burning building, your kids are giving you attitude, or you dream of world peace, Im your girl! Im off to save the world!Anyone want snow made of marshmallow? If so, someone needs to bring the graham crackers and Hershey bars for a s'more party of all s'more parties....I cant do everything ...Im only a superhero ya know! Im off to save the world...Ta Ta!
So heres the scenario...Its HOT...remember the other day when it was hot enough you could fry an egg on the sidewalk?? (note to self, try that next time its HOT) well, my body goes insane with the heat...MS and heat do not mix, like oil and water kinda thing. So in all the heat, Im feeling awful, Im full on sick...weak, exhausted, nauseated, in pain (way more than usual), seeing spots that kind of thing which is "normal" for me when it gets hot, which is why I fear summer like a big gargauntan spider on the wall...or a nest of wasps...that kind of fear and then I also have loatheness (is that a word?) you know, loathe, to hate, to not be friends with (boy thats an understatment of the century!) every summer I spend like that, believe me it makes for a great summer!
So anyway, back to the HOT weather...so Im sick in bed watching Price is Right along with my other fav shows...normally at 10AM Im up doing stuff but not when its HOT, but when this hot thing comes on, Im lucky to make it to the bathroom. Im upset wondering 'why me', 'why cant I be like other people' etc etc (you know the whole "woe is me" bit, uh yes I do go there, Im honest enough to admit it :oP ) Then, suddenly, I get this GREAT IDEA (Can you see the light bulb above my head? Well if you dont now, you would have , it was there) this idea is the idea of all ideas...I will do a rain dance/ meditation calling for rain...please rain, please rain! Om...om ...om...om ommmmm. Of course Im telling all who will listen of my plight and sunsequent plan...I get to work busily, doing whatever it takes to get rain...om om om...dance dance (Saturday Night Fever playing in the background)
For the next few days I'm working hard...please rain come, please rain come! Om...Om, Om, Om...dance, dance dance! And then.....I get a call today (Friday) and GUESS WHAT! My friend Kari R tells me its raining! Its actually raining! I have special powers, I can make it rain...yippee! Just look out your window (present time 10:18AM) its downright pouring, and I think we even have hail! When I do a job, I do it right! For those of you who know me, I am a determined person, so if I want rain, I will do whatever needs to be done to make it happen, and thus so it is here. My fav kind of weather...well I do like it colder, but I didnt do a cold dance/meditation..my body has a P-A-R-T-Y when its like this! Not that I always feel great, but I certainly dont have the same symptoms to the extent I do when its hot. So I have to brag, I made it rain! I made it rain! I guess there is something to that "Om" thing (well not really, but I had to throw it in for the laugh factor) I love having special powers!! Anyone have any wishes they would like me to work on? Lottery winners? Have a spouse who leaves the toilet seat up or forgets Valentines Day Have a closet that is too small? (OH wait thats Kari R...Kari R never fear! Your superheor friend is working on your closet issue at this moment)Need your house to sparkle and shine before guests come? Well then apparently Im your girl!
Ok so maybe in all reality I dont have powers...I know God is the only One capable of making rain...but just for a moment (and anytime I want to dream) it was absolutely fantastic to think that I could actually make it RAIN! To look out the window, and know all the hard work I had been doing, and to see the fruit of that labor, was quite frankly like bringing new life into the world (ok well Im being a bit dramatic, but go with me here, please) I give all the glory and credit to God the Most High,for He is good...but just for a moment in time, it was nice to think I was a superhero and could make things happen...I had plans...like to make the streets lined with chocolate, and the trees to be cotton candy with money hanging on them like Christmas ornaments, for the next rain to rain jelly beans (jelly belly jelly beans, I only make the best) and wheels on cars to be chocolate chip cookies, and for there to be no taxes yet we get humongous tax refunds and that bills could be paid when you can, no due dates (wouldnt that be lovely?!) oh and the more candy you ate the more weight you lost! Golly jeepers, what else could I drum up???...oh I know...my kids would never talk back to me and would clean up after themselves and offer to do things to help...now that would be awesome! Only Jesus can walk on water, but boy would I love to be able to do that! Any ideas guys? Well, so my dream of being a superhero is now over, at least for the moment...Im thinking of making God a deal that if He lets me be a superhero, I promise to be good, read my bible faithfully, love others unconditionally, be slow to anger and quick to forgive...etc etc you know all the stuff we are supposed to do that we dont always do, hence thank you for your grace, Lord!
The rain has now stopped, my dreams have now been crushed....but there has to be a way that I can be a superero 24/7...I mean who wouldnt want cotton candy money trees humongous tax checks? Ive got a closet to work on that I can in no way make happen without special powers (shhhh dont tell Kari R pls!) Maybe if I make a cape, the powers will be here to stay...so the next time you see me, if Im wearing the cape...your wish is my command...if you need to be saved from a burning building, your kids are giving you attitude, or you dream of world peace, Im your girl! Im off to save the world!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Out in Space...I mean My Space
So I have finally figured out the craze with my daughter and millions of people...I finally decided to create a myspace! After getting some tips from my oldest sons girlfriend (I cant beleive he has a girlfriend but thats a future blog...one I will address soon) well actually she did everything to set it up, I mererly gave her a name (user) and pw. I was exhausted by the end of that. I wanted to see what my daughter was doing all the times when I would say "Kayla, can you do such and such?" or "Kayla, did you hear me?" (when I was being full on ignored) and now I kinda know. MY biggest reason for doing one was I figured it was a good way to keep in contact with my sons girlfriend (make sure they were staying out of trouble...I mean seeing hows shes doing) and I talk to several of Kaylas friends who freqent my house and call me "Mom". Its served those purposes well. I also "talk" back and forth with my sis in law which is nice and I can view pics of my neice and put up pics of my kids and my other "babies", my animals. Now you might say "Why dont you just email back and forth?" However for some reason, emailing regular for whatever reason does not attract teens...who knows why?
I like the creative side of it...like a blog (but alot more options) you can pick a layout, music, banners, all sorts of designs,pictures,videos etc etc. Your only limit is your imagnation. So it has taken part of my time away from here (you can blog there as well, which I have) but my loyalty is my blog (at least for now. So if you ever need to find me, just check and see if Im in "My Space" (which I love by the way because its another secret place where its all about me)Who knows, maybe you will decide to come hang out in My Space and make it Your Space too :0P
Come on over 2 my page at http://www.myspace.com/hvnlygrl4jesus
Ta-Ta for now!
LG
I like the creative side of it...like a blog (but alot more options) you can pick a layout, music, banners, all sorts of designs,pictures,videos etc etc. Your only limit is your imagnation. So it has taken part of my time away from here (you can blog there as well, which I have) but my loyalty is my blog (at least for now. So if you ever need to find me, just check and see if Im in "My Space" (which I love by the way because its another secret place where its all about me)Who knows, maybe you will decide to come hang out in My Space and make it Your Space too :0P
Come on over 2 my page at http://www.myspace.com/hvnlygrl4jesus
Ta-Ta for now!
LG
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Pots & Pans and my wedding #2
Here it goes... I am going for round 2 at this blog entry. Earlier, I sat down and wrote a wonderful (I thought anyways, but I might be a little biased) loooonnngg piece and then when I pushed SAVE, it must have thought I said SEND...into cyberspace! I had to scream at the computer as if it was a person in shear frustration and rage and doing so maybe hoping it would bring it back? I would like to speak with that little man in cyberspace who posts blog posts and give him a piece of my mind and then I want to talk to his manager...the nerve of some people! Now I'm sad...For those of us creative writers...writings are our "babies"...like a painter who is attached to his/her paintings, singer who sings a song, ice sculptor... his/her sculpture, the list goes on. You (at least I) become very attached to my writings, no matter the topic or length. When something like this happens, its as if you have to forget it ever existed. You remember. You remember very well. It was a part of you. You exposed, You breathed into something beyond you. You will always remember it and you still look back. I hate that. Plus I cant remember alot of what I wrote, ouch. Now some might say " Arent you being a bit dramatic?" Well, how in the world do you think I got the nickname from a dear friend (Kari R) "Drama Queen" It takes a lot of work to get a name like that, and I have earned every letter believe me.
I am frustrated, and in some ways, funny as though it may seem dont want to sit and write it again, but I must. For a writer, to write is to live and in order for me to live I have to write. Writing for me is like breathing, it takes no effort, is God breathed and a steady rise and fall like ones chest as they inhale and exhale. So here goes. Hopefully it will be better, Lord help me, I really want to relay my story in the way it should be. May it glorify Your Name above all Names. Amen. Here goes:
Well ladies and Gentlemen, I did it. Yes, I did it. I was almost registered for my wedding at Target last week.
What??? you say---
Now you are probably wondering what the heck Im talking about, seeing that in reality I have been married for 16+ yrs, why would I need to register at Target? Seems a bit odd to do that now, dont ya think? Well, thats the funny thing. Well not funny at the time thing but haha funny later kind of thing. I didnt think I needed to register, unless any of you want to send gifts I'd be happy to oblige. However the other day a cashier at Target thought I should, and all but wheeled me over to the registery area.
Here goes the story:
I go to Bed, Bath and Beyond to return some pans which were not only unworthy of 10.00, they should have gone out in the beyond and lose themselves deep into the abyss of pots and pans gone bad. (Maybe I should have sent them to that little man in cyberspace to thank him for all his hard work)After doing so without incident, I head over to Target to purchase a better set found in their AD for that week. In addition to the pan set you get a FREE egg pan in addition to the one in the set. I just cant refuse FREE!! Cameron my youngest is with me, and we find the set ok and the FREE pan, and head to the checkout. We get to the register and I quickly inform the cashier very proudly (Like I did something special) that the pan that I was putting on the whatever you call that thing where you set your items??? on I get for FREE and comes with the purchase. I dont know why but I was concerned that I would be charged for the FREE pan...that would be such travestry and cause for a "panning" over her head or other cruel and unusual punishment ,hence the next days headlines in the VC Star (Women gets "panned" by another for charging a customer for a pan that was supposed to be FREE) You would think I was speaking french because she had this weird look on her face...either that or I had something on my face....maybe lunch or something. So I said it again. She immediately says "Oh, You need to go over and register...huh? now Im thinking that SHE is speaking french...again huh? I explain this time that it is a gift with the set, not a gift for someone and she tells me that the register won't ring it up unless its we go to the blue square thingie of which she makes a square gesture with her hand.
I guess my look must have informed her of my misunderstanding because she says it again and points us to the cust service desk and find some blue square thing and register. Hmmm I wonder in bewilderment. So Cameron and I look at each other and head over..."Sure, Im not getting married but surely I need to register in order to buy a set of pans with a FREE pan. That sounds right doesnt it friends?
We get there and see the blue square thingie and immediately I know this isnt right. So I wait for a sec or two absolutley bewildered as to why this is necessary, all I want to do is buy my pans and other goods and go. Thats it. Hubby is waiting out in the car with a migraine and is probably wondering how much its going to cost him to get out of that store, or if hes going to have to take over my chair and roll me out as Im screaming "No just one more thing I want to look at honey!" "PPPlllleeeeaaassssseeee!
Finally a cashier comes to the desk> I explain to her "The cashier over there told me in order to buy this pan set that comes with a FREE pan, that I need to come over here to the registry thing and register on the blue square thingy, and that it wont ring up at the register. She said I'll have to pay for the FREE (in case you havent noticed I like saying that) egg pan. By then a second cashier comes over and hears what Im saying. The first cashier looks at me with that you're speaking french look of which I have come to know and use myself, and will store it away the next time this happens (note to self...do not let this happen again!) She says "I dont know why she told you that, its not true." Gee theres a thought. The women talk it over for a sec. I think trying to figure out what in the world thids lady would say this. I am figuring by now that she is a new cashier and have pity on her, despite my frustration.
As we are talking, I notice the ad is sitting there and so I show them the ad, not realizing that there is a CLUB WEDD logo at the bottom directly under the ad giving details on how to register. Then the cust service cashier says some things that I will never forget the rest of my life "Oooohhh, now I know why she said that, you have to register in order to buy these items" Ok duh I have already been told that how many times now? What I want to kow is why. The words ringing in my head as though I had a deja vu moment there. I am bewildered and about to flip a lid or gasket or something, maybe a wheel off my chair...something like that...it wouldnt be pretty..."Woman in wheelchair "pans" two women in Target for speaking french to her." Great role model I would be for my son Cameron, huh? Over the course of our discussion of this not making sense to me and her trying to explain it to me over and over pointing to this CLUB WEDD logo, I finally come out and say, (trying so hard not to lose my cool) (SIDENOTE those of you who know me knows this is a rareity, at least I would like to think so, except for my family they would probably say Im like that all the time hahaha)
After about 10min, I say words I never thought would come out of my mouth in all of history "You mean to tell me that I cannot buy this pan set with the FREE pan unless I am getting married???? She then says words back to me I thought I would never hear "Yes that is correct, you see this logo under here says that, again pointing to the logo." "You have got to be kidding me" "Seriously???" "You are telling me I cannot buy this pan set with the FREE egg pan unless I register and am getting married??? I repeated it again to make her hopefully notice how obsurd that sounds. In my mind I picture me trying to pay for it with $$ in hand and the Target employees telling me "NO, we will not accept your $$ unless you are getting married...what a thought huh? No person I know would turn down $$ when you want to buy what they are selling...isnt that the way its supposed to go??? Finally, totally exhausted and ready to go home except I couldnt stand the thought of going to the car and explaining to my husband not only the unbelievable story, but that because I returned the awful set prior, we now have no cookware (is that really so bad though now that I think about it ladies??) So I ask her, "Can you please ring this up and see if it will work...again with the picturing in my mind of the register saying "is the person getting married?" If not Im not opening...what a thought. She agrees and rings it up...lo and behold what do you think happened my friends??? Any guesses???It didnt do that! We decide to ring the pan set up first then the FREE egg pan , it said pan set so and so is 49.99 ...so I waited in intrepidation and she rings up the egg pan and it says something like "gift" 0.00 ....gee imagine that!! What a thought...the computer was smarter than the employees! oooppss did I just say that?Just writing it is putting me back to that oh so scary place of stress and bewilderment and the thought of multiple pannings, but more than anything shaking my head at a story I surely will be telling my grandkids..."Now little Timmy and little Jessica" (I hope my kids dont name their kids that...hopefully they will have names like Kaeden, or Kylie Rae or something out of the ordinary (cant think of other names although in the prev log I had some good ones) oh sorry Im drifting off the subject must be from my delerium from the whole escapade. And with that I pay and am off to the car with my purchases and go home.
So the moral of the story ladies and gentlemen is if you buy a pan set...make sure you register first on the blue squeare thingie!
Tata for now--- I need a nap after this!
LG
I am frustrated, and in some ways, funny as though it may seem dont want to sit and write it again, but I must. For a writer, to write is to live and in order for me to live I have to write. Writing for me is like breathing, it takes no effort, is God breathed and a steady rise and fall like ones chest as they inhale and exhale. So here goes. Hopefully it will be better, Lord help me, I really want to relay my story in the way it should be. May it glorify Your Name above all Names. Amen. Here goes:
Well ladies and Gentlemen, I did it. Yes, I did it. I was almost registered for my wedding at Target last week.
What??? you say---
Now you are probably wondering what the heck Im talking about, seeing that in reality I have been married for 16+ yrs, why would I need to register at Target? Seems a bit odd to do that now, dont ya think? Well, thats the funny thing. Well not funny at the time thing but haha funny later kind of thing. I didnt think I needed to register, unless any of you want to send gifts I'd be happy to oblige. However the other day a cashier at Target thought I should, and all but wheeled me over to the registery area.
Here goes the story:
I go to Bed, Bath and Beyond to return some pans which were not only unworthy of 10.00, they should have gone out in the beyond and lose themselves deep into the abyss of pots and pans gone bad. (Maybe I should have sent them to that little man in cyberspace to thank him for all his hard work)After doing so without incident, I head over to Target to purchase a better set found in their AD for that week. In addition to the pan set you get a FREE egg pan in addition to the one in the set. I just cant refuse FREE!! Cameron my youngest is with me, and we find the set ok and the FREE pan, and head to the checkout. We get to the register and I quickly inform the cashier very proudly (Like I did something special) that the pan that I was putting on the whatever you call that thing where you set your items??? on I get for FREE and comes with the purchase. I dont know why but I was concerned that I would be charged for the FREE pan...that would be such travestry and cause for a "panning" over her head or other cruel and unusual punishment ,hence the next days headlines in the VC Star (Women gets "panned" by another for charging a customer for a pan that was supposed to be FREE) You would think I was speaking french because she had this weird look on her face...either that or I had something on my face....maybe lunch or something. So I said it again. She immediately says "Oh, You need to go over and register...huh? now Im thinking that SHE is speaking french...again huh? I explain this time that it is a gift with the set, not a gift for someone and she tells me that the register won't ring it up unless its we go to the blue square thingie of which she makes a square gesture with her hand.
I guess my look must have informed her of my misunderstanding because she says it again and points us to the cust service desk and find some blue square thing and register. Hmmm I wonder in bewilderment. So Cameron and I look at each other and head over..."Sure, Im not getting married but surely I need to register in order to buy a set of pans with a FREE pan. That sounds right doesnt it friends?
We get there and see the blue square thingie and immediately I know this isnt right. So I wait for a sec or two absolutley bewildered as to why this is necessary, all I want to do is buy my pans and other goods and go. Thats it. Hubby is waiting out in the car with a migraine and is probably wondering how much its going to cost him to get out of that store, or if hes going to have to take over my chair and roll me out as Im screaming "No just one more thing I want to look at honey!" "PPPlllleeeeaaassssseeee!
Finally a cashier comes to the desk> I explain to her "The cashier over there told me in order to buy this pan set that comes with a FREE pan, that I need to come over here to the registry thing and register on the blue square thingy, and that it wont ring up at the register. She said I'll have to pay for the FREE (in case you havent noticed I like saying that) egg pan. By then a second cashier comes over and hears what Im saying. The first cashier looks at me with that you're speaking french look of which I have come to know and use myself, and will store it away the next time this happens (note to self...do not let this happen again!) She says "I dont know why she told you that, its not true." Gee theres a thought. The women talk it over for a sec. I think trying to figure out what in the world thids lady would say this. I am figuring by now that she is a new cashier and have pity on her, despite my frustration.
As we are talking, I notice the ad is sitting there and so I show them the ad, not realizing that there is a CLUB WEDD logo at the bottom directly under the ad giving details on how to register. Then the cust service cashier says some things that I will never forget the rest of my life "Oooohhh, now I know why she said that, you have to register in order to buy these items" Ok duh I have already been told that how many times now? What I want to kow is why. The words ringing in my head as though I had a deja vu moment there. I am bewildered and about to flip a lid or gasket or something, maybe a wheel off my chair...something like that...it wouldnt be pretty..."Woman in wheelchair "pans" two women in Target for speaking french to her." Great role model I would be for my son Cameron, huh? Over the course of our discussion of this not making sense to me and her trying to explain it to me over and over pointing to this CLUB WEDD logo, I finally come out and say, (trying so hard not to lose my cool) (SIDENOTE those of you who know me knows this is a rareity, at least I would like to think so, except for my family they would probably say Im like that all the time hahaha)
After about 10min, I say words I never thought would come out of my mouth in all of history "You mean to tell me that I cannot buy this pan set with the FREE pan unless I am getting married???? She then says words back to me I thought I would never hear "Yes that is correct, you see this logo under here says that, again pointing to the logo." "You have got to be kidding me" "Seriously???" "You are telling me I cannot buy this pan set with the FREE egg pan unless I register and am getting married??? I repeated it again to make her hopefully notice how obsurd that sounds. In my mind I picture me trying to pay for it with $$ in hand and the Target employees telling me "NO, we will not accept your $$ unless you are getting married...what a thought huh? No person I know would turn down $$ when you want to buy what they are selling...isnt that the way its supposed to go??? Finally, totally exhausted and ready to go home except I couldnt stand the thought of going to the car and explaining to my husband not only the unbelievable story, but that because I returned the awful set prior, we now have no cookware (is that really so bad though now that I think about it ladies??) So I ask her, "Can you please ring this up and see if it will work...again with the picturing in my mind of the register saying "is the person getting married?" If not Im not opening...what a thought. She agrees and rings it up...lo and behold what do you think happened my friends??? Any guesses???It didnt do that! We decide to ring the pan set up first then the FREE egg pan , it said pan set so and so is 49.99 ...so I waited in intrepidation and she rings up the egg pan and it says something like "gift" 0.00 ....gee imagine that!! What a thought...the computer was smarter than the employees! oooppss did I just say that?Just writing it is putting me back to that oh so scary place of stress and bewilderment and the thought of multiple pannings, but more than anything shaking my head at a story I surely will be telling my grandkids..."Now little Timmy and little Jessica" (I hope my kids dont name their kids that...hopefully they will have names like Kaeden, or Kylie Rae or something out of the ordinary (cant think of other names although in the prev log I had some good ones) oh sorry Im drifting off the subject must be from my delerium from the whole escapade. And with that I pay and am off to the car with my purchases and go home.
So the moral of the story ladies and gentlemen is if you buy a pan set...make sure you register first on the blue squeare thingie!
Tata for now--- I need a nap after this!
LG
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