For the past month and a half I have been on a soapbox on social media sites. I have always paid attention to what is going on in the political spectrum of our world but just held my tongue. It was during the government shutdown that my tongue could not be held any longer. The final straw for me was when the feds said the money for the families of the deceased soldiers would not be available. Those families were not financially assisted in getting their loved ones home. The people on food stamps were still getting their money. The politicians were still getting their paychecks. The old people were still getting their social security checks. But the families who sacrificed a son, daughter, husband, wife, they were getting nothing. I came unglued.
And so it all went from hell in a hand basket from there:
Government shutdown, blaming and name calling on both sides of the House, Senate, and administration,
Roll out of Obamacare, blaming and name calling on both sides of the House, Senate, and administration,
Failure of Obamacare website, blaming and name calling on both sides of the House, Senate, and administration,
Cancellation of millions and millions of valid health insurance policies, blaming and name calling on both sides of the House, Senate, and administration,
and all of the other things hashed out, hashed over and beat to death in the media and social media,
and then to top it off Oprah wants me dead because she thinks that all old white people are racists!
I am labeled a conservative Christian. I do not consider myself over the top or without compassion for all points of view. I draw the line on biblical sin but will try hard not judge should you choose to live in sin. God's judgement will be harsh enough on sinners, of which I am one. I am not a liberal, which I find out is someone who believes the government is here to take care of the people. I believe God takes care of people first. I believe we have to take care of ourselves. I believe we have to take care of each other. Then, once all of that has been done, the government can come in and help. But from what I understand the liberal mentality puts the government before anything, even God. This does not work for my mentality.
For forty days I spouted off on Facebook, Twitter and email how mad I was about all that was happening in our nation and to our liberties. I pretty well ranted and raved about each an everything going on through the day. It seems like there was something every single day that fired me up and made me want to make sure that everyone else knew it was happening. I watched as some fired back either with me or against me. The rest of the people went about their own business, oblivious to what was happening, so I thought. It seemed to me like most did not care and were not interested in our national woes.
Most of my Christian friends were fairly quiet on the subjects I brought up. As I think about all of this now I realize that most care but do not know how to respond. I still think most people do not think they can do anything to change anything. Most are willing to let it all play out and as long as it does not affect them directly, they will live with it. As a Christian I know that God has the ability to change all things but He also lets many things happen as they are supposed to happen. He does not change the outcome of destiny in many instances. He has given mankind free will to choose and does not intervene in that free will the majority of the time. He is a God of love but He is also the God of free will whether or not the free will decision is good or evil. He is not a master manipulator.
So for now I am off the political soapbox and will sit on the sidelines with the rest of the nation and watch things play out. Just because I am not speaking out does not mean I have quit caring. I will just pray in the quiet of my own life that one by one the people in our nation will arise and sound the alarm. We do not have to live in fear of what is coming because God is with us and He does care what happens to us. All of us! Christian, non-Christian. Liberal, conservative. Good, evil. He cares about all of this and all of us. He doesn't need me to be His mouthpiece even though I thought He did for 40 days. I did what I thought was right and I am still doing what I think is right. Sometimes silence speaks more than words.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
You are Somebody to Someone
You are not a nobody.
You are somebody to someone.
Someone is watching you and listening to you.
You may think no one is, but there is at least one person looking at you and hearing what you have to say. As long as you are walking and talking someone is watching you. Even the 5 year old watches to see what the 10 year old is doing. Even the 80 year old watches the 90 year old.
Someone in your circle sees you.
Someone hears you.
It might be the clerk in the grocery store. It might be the kid who pumps your gas. It might be the person who normally sits behind you in church. They are watching you and what you do and what you say can have an impact on them.
Don’t ever think you do not have an impact on someone or that you are nobody.
If you sit by quietly and say nothing you will not be heard but you will still be seen.
Someone will eventually ask you a question.
You will eventually have to speak.
You are somebody to someone and you are here on this earth for a reason and that reason may only be for one other person.
You are not nobody.
You are a voice in this world, your world.
You do make a difference and you can make a difference.
You are somebody to someone.
You are somebody to someone.
Someone is watching you and listening to you.
You may think no one is, but there is at least one person looking at you and hearing what you have to say. As long as you are walking and talking someone is watching you. Even the 5 year old watches to see what the 10 year old is doing. Even the 80 year old watches the 90 year old.
Someone in your circle sees you.
Someone hears you.
It might be the clerk in the grocery store. It might be the kid who pumps your gas. It might be the person who normally sits behind you in church. They are watching you and what you do and what you say can have an impact on them.
Don’t ever think you do not have an impact on someone or that you are nobody.
If you sit by quietly and say nothing you will not be heard but you will still be seen.
Someone will eventually ask you a question.
You will eventually have to speak.
You are somebody to someone and you are here on this earth for a reason and that reason may only be for one other person.
You are not nobody.
You are a voice in this world, your world.
You do make a difference and you can make a difference.
You are somebody to someone.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Labels
I feel like we all get labeled. We are either a demonic delusional democrat or a rabid radical republican. We are idiots or geniuses. We are right or wrong. We are winners or losers. We are for or against. We either need to shut-up or speak-out. If we can't have it our way then we don't want it at all. We gorge ourselves or we starve.
I don't like labels. I consider myself honest, fair, loving, kind, apparent, and open. I like people and I don't mind if their opinion does not match mine. I always liked Fox News' motto "Fair and Balanced" and if you didn't think they were, okay. Watch or read something else.
I am opinionated and always have been. Just ask my family and friends.
I don't like labels. I consider myself honest, fair, loving, kind, apparent, and open. I like people and I don't mind if their opinion does not match mine. I always liked Fox News' motto "Fair and Balanced" and if you didn't think they were, okay. Watch or read something else.
I am opinionated and always have been. Just ask my family and friends.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Wildfires and Firefighters the Unsung Heroes
My son was dispatched today to fight a wildfire near The Dalles. It is his first time going out on a fire since his employment with Washington DNR (Department of Natural Resources), less than 6 months ago, which is their version of Oregon's Department of Forestry. He went through the training but was a bit nervous when I spoke with him earlier after he got the call that he was actually going out. He had time to pack and spend a bit of time with his wife, son and daughter.
I am sure the DNR and ODF would never put a firefighter in dangerous conditions beyond their capabilities but as a mother I am going to be concerned no matter what. I started praying the minute he called and told me and I will not stop until he is home safe and sound with his family.
Firefighters are unsung heroes. At least most of the time. The country took notice on 9-11 but since then not so much. Those who have had a fire or been involved with a fire know they are heroes but most of the others do not pay a lot of attention. I have been involved with our local fire district for 20 plus years as a board member and I have always said I would get a firefighter anything he or she asked for if it was in my capabilities. If they need new equipment I will do whatever I can to get it for them. If they need a new vehicle I will do whatever I can to get them that vehicle. My city has about 50 volunteer firefighters that do not get a paycheck for fighting fires or responding to accidents. They do it for a minimal stipend that barely pays for their gas to get to the station and home. They are volunteers and they are awesome!!
My son will receive payment for his services on this forest fire. He will get the experience he needs to help fight forest fires in the future. Lightning will keep on striking. Campers will still be careless. Homeowners will still burn their trash even when the fire season has closed all burning.
Mother, fathers, wives and children will still keep praying for their firefighter to come home safely.
I am sure the DNR and ODF would never put a firefighter in dangerous conditions beyond their capabilities but as a mother I am going to be concerned no matter what. I started praying the minute he called and told me and I will not stop until he is home safe and sound with his family.
Firefighters are unsung heroes. At least most of the time. The country took notice on 9-11 but since then not so much. Those who have had a fire or been involved with a fire know they are heroes but most of the others do not pay a lot of attention. I have been involved with our local fire district for 20 plus years as a board member and I have always said I would get a firefighter anything he or she asked for if it was in my capabilities. If they need new equipment I will do whatever I can to get it for them. If they need a new vehicle I will do whatever I can to get them that vehicle. My city has about 50 volunteer firefighters that do not get a paycheck for fighting fires or responding to accidents. They do it for a minimal stipend that barely pays for their gas to get to the station and home. They are volunteers and they are awesome!!
My son will receive payment for his services on this forest fire. He will get the experience he needs to help fight forest fires in the future. Lightning will keep on striking. Campers will still be careless. Homeowners will still burn their trash even when the fire season has closed all burning.
Mother, fathers, wives and children will still keep praying for their firefighter to come home safely.
Friday, April 19, 2013
The LAST WORD or LW Gene
I fear I have my father's gene. I know you are saying, "Well of course you have your father's genes! He's your father!" But I have one gene in particular that I am not sure I want to admit I have.
My father was a logger when I was a little girl and I hung around and listened to him talk to others. As I grew older I noticed he always got the last word in. I mean, always! So of course when you have a person that always has to get the last word in, there is the potential for trouble. There are others who also have this gene and when they meet up, and start talking...look out!
Dad and I did not have a lot of communication as adults so I did not have to test out the theory I had that we both carried that same gene. He went his way and I went mine and we only met up once in a while. He passed away in 2009 so I will never know for sure if my theory is correct.
But I will go on to explain that I am almost, positively sure that I have passed that gene on to my children and my grandchildren. Woe is me and woe are all those who have to deal with my offspring. I have gotten a bit better with age but they are young and still learning to "choose your words wisely." The grandchildren have a long way to go. I can pretty well name each child and grandchild that has this "LW" family gene. As I sit here and think about it...OMG....it is all of them. Sorry everyone!
Myself, I have to keep working on letting go of the last word. I am very passionate about certain things and that is where I get in trouble. It's not that I think everyone needs to think like I do and believe in the things I do, but when there is an opinion I have given, I will defend it to the last word. This of course does not make me popular, especially with others that have the LW gene and do not agree with me. They want the last word, I want the last word, they want the last word, I want the last word, and you get the picture.
My daughter-in-law has to deal with the LW gene with my son, my 11 year old grandson, and even my 7 year old granddaughter. She calls often to complain about the LW gene and I listen and try not to talk too much. She needs to get the last word in when she calls and I need to allow her to have it! That is important!
My daughter, who has 4 children, knows exactly what I am saying about the LW gene. She has it and so do all of her children. Now that makes my heart really go out for her. Can't you just hear it? All five of them trying to get the last word in! My son-in-law, bless his heart, smiles a lot. I think he has the BIO gene.
BIO = BLOCK IT OUT
Hope I can do that one day when it comes to the last word. I don't know. LW is a pretty dominate gene.
My father was a logger when I was a little girl and I hung around and listened to him talk to others. As I grew older I noticed he always got the last word in. I mean, always! So of course when you have a person that always has to get the last word in, there is the potential for trouble. There are others who also have this gene and when they meet up, and start talking...look out!
Dad and I did not have a lot of communication as adults so I did not have to test out the theory I had that we both carried that same gene. He went his way and I went mine and we only met up once in a while. He passed away in 2009 so I will never know for sure if my theory is correct.
Myself, I have to keep working on letting go of the last word. I am very passionate about certain things and that is where I get in trouble. It's not that I think everyone needs to think like I do and believe in the things I do, but when there is an opinion I have given, I will defend it to the last word. This of course does not make me popular, especially with others that have the LW gene and do not agree with me. They want the last word, I want the last word, they want the last word, I want the last word, and you get the picture.
My daughter-in-law has to deal with the LW gene with my son, my 11 year old grandson, and even my 7 year old granddaughter. She calls often to complain about the LW gene and I listen and try not to talk too much. She needs to get the last word in when she calls and I need to allow her to have it! That is important!My daughter, who has 4 children, knows exactly what I am saying about the LW gene. She has it and so do all of her children. Now that makes my heart really go out for her. Can't you just hear it? All five of them trying to get the last word in! My son-in-law, bless his heart, smiles a lot. I think he has the BIO gene.
BIO = BLOCK IT OUT
Hope I can do that one day when it comes to the last word. I don't know. LW is a pretty dominate gene.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Personally Known to Me Bloggers and My Thoughts
I have spent the last hour reading a blog by a man I went to school with and lives in our town, who is now retired and has the luxury of writing almost daily. That and gardening. I am jealous, since I still have to work and come home dead-dog tired most week days. He writes wonderfully and I enjoyed the hour I spent with him this morning. I guess it is a bit more meaningful, at least to me, when you know the Blogger personally and can relate to his stories.
The story about gardening made me laugh. The story about suicide made me cry. I had to leave my comments about the suicide story:
"My neighbors lost a son to suicide. One of my very best friends lost her son to suicide. I have several friends who lost children to suicide. My husband lost his father and his grandfather to suicide. I do not think there is a person who had not been affected by suicide in one way or another. We all know it happens and we all know it happens in an instant but leading up to it takes a lifetime. Love, patience, communication, forgiveness, peace, understanding, strength, and all of the goodness of life on earth play a part in this. I believe in God the Father, the Creator of Life. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He can and will help each person who asks. But not everyone believes like me. Many do not know how, when or who can help. We are all in this life together and need to try to be there for one another. We cannot forget any of those who desperately decided they could not go on. If we forget them we lose a part of ourselves. It is imperative to remember each and every one of them, talk about them with love and forgive them. Never forget them!"
I am glad my friend (I think I can call him my friend) writes his blog and I will continue to read, as I admire him and appreciate his thoughts.
The story about gardening made me laugh. The story about suicide made me cry. I had to leave my comments about the suicide story:
"My neighbors lost a son to suicide. One of my very best friends lost her son to suicide. I have several friends who lost children to suicide. My husband lost his father and his grandfather to suicide. I do not think there is a person who had not been affected by suicide in one way or another. We all know it happens and we all know it happens in an instant but leading up to it takes a lifetime. Love, patience, communication, forgiveness, peace, understanding, strength, and all of the goodness of life on earth play a part in this. I believe in God the Father, the Creator of Life. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He can and will help each person who asks. But not everyone believes like me. Many do not know how, when or who can help. We are all in this life together and need to try to be there for one another. We cannot forget any of those who desperately decided they could not go on. If we forget them we lose a part of ourselves. It is imperative to remember each and every one of them, talk about them with love and forgive them. Never forget them!"
I am glad my friend (I think I can call him my friend) writes his blog and I will continue to read, as I admire him and appreciate his thoughts.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Blogging on a Rainy Day :)
I rarely blog.
I rarely do anything consistently.
I go from one thing to another, to another.
It is who I am.
I would be a lousy blogger for anyone to follow and you would be disappointed in me as a blogger.
I am a good friend though.
I like to help and I will listen.
I like to write but I do not want to write every day. So...I am not a real blogger. Real blogger's write every day don't they?
We are in Washington with our kids and grandkids as I write this.
It is pouring down rain so I thought I should find something to do.
Here I am at my computer.
It is a quiet, peaceful day with family.
I love my family.
That is the one consistency in my life.
I love the Lord Jesus Christ, the other consistency in my life.
Okay that is it for now. :)
I rarely do anything consistently.
I go from one thing to another, to another.
It is who I am.
I would be a lousy blogger for anyone to follow and you would be disappointed in me as a blogger.
I am a good friend though.
I like to help and I will listen.
I like to write but I do not want to write every day. So...I am not a real blogger. Real blogger's write every day don't they?
We are in Washington with our kids and grandkids as I write this.
It is pouring down rain so I thought I should find something to do.
Here I am at my computer.
It is a quiet, peaceful day with family.
I love my family.
That is the one consistency in my life.
I love the Lord Jesus Christ, the other consistency in my life.
Okay that is it for now. :)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Memorial Day Rain and Other Things
Do people really blog every day and have interesting things to blog about? I suppose if their life is full to the brim and they are constantly involved in hundreds of things then they might have something to blog about every day. I also guess if a person is filled with wisdom and insight and want to jot down their thoughts of the day then they could blog every day. Me, it looks like I find a little to write about every couple of weeks. Look out world....here I come....slowly and not too invasive. LOL
May 26th and the rain is coming down. Of course it would rain for Memorial Weekend. I remember the camping trips in the rain. Not good. I lost it many times because of the mud, wet clothes, 6 of us cramped into the trailer. Oh you get the picture and if you don't get the picture you should try it. What an adventure!
Now life is quiet and dull. And that is not bad at this age. All of the the camping, weekend activities, running from here to there, going, going, going, it is all for the young ones. Right now the wind is blowing, the rain is coming down, the woodstove is warm and I am comfy in my chair. Ah, Memorial Weekend in the rain. It's not quite as bad as I remember.
May 26th and the rain is coming down. Of course it would rain for Memorial Weekend. I remember the camping trips in the rain. Not good. I lost it many times because of the mud, wet clothes, 6 of us cramped into the trailer. Oh you get the picture and if you don't get the picture you should try it. What an adventure!
Now life is quiet and dull. And that is not bad at this age. All of the the camping, weekend activities, running from here to there, going, going, going, it is all for the young ones. Right now the wind is blowing, the rain is coming down, the woodstove is warm and I am comfy in my chair. Ah, Memorial Weekend in the rain. It's not quite as bad as I remember.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sunny Day But Not So Sunny For Others
Have you ever really thought about the day? I mean really thought about the day? My day today was just like so many others. Alarm went off at 7 am. Got up about 7:10 am. Shower, dressed, makeup, coffee and off to work. Wrapped up work at 5:15 and headed home. Dinner, read the paper, did the dishes and....I decided to write about the day.
The weather was sunny today (finally) but my thoughts were on others. There is a young woman I know and love who has a battle before her. She just gave birth to twins daughters a couple of weeks ago and in the process of all of that they found cancer. She is in her early 30's. She has a husband, 2 small sons and now 2 baby daughters. And she has cancer. Where in the world did that one come from???!!! Those kind of things are unexplainable. God is the Father of love. He does not cause those kinds of things to happen but He can prevent them from happening. He makes miracles happen. I am expecting a miracle for her and her family. I want her to live a long, happy. healthy life. She is wonderful. She deserves better than this. All I can do is pray for mercy, peace and healing. She is young, strong and determined. If anyone can beat this, she can. I am hoping for sunny days ahead for her.
The neighbor lady lost her husband a couple of days ago after caring for him for many years. He was past 90 years old and maybe past 95. He had lived a long, good, full life. But now she is alone to deal with the day to day things. She is one of those ladies that always has a smile and a kind heart. She will find the sun shine even when it's not there. She will miss her husband, her friend, her helpmate. She will have to figure out what to do now. I am hoping for sunny days ahead for her.
Another neighbor lady lost her husband several months ago. They had been married 50 years last summer. I drive by her house and the outside looks just the way he left it. I never see her outside and rarely see her on the road. I am sure the sunshine doesn't matter for her. I wish I knew her well enough to stop and ask how she is. I wish I could do something other than say a prayer for her. I am hoping for sunny days ahead for her.
There was a lady who helped my son and his family while he was in college. She was over 95 and passed away a couple of days ago. She had no children and her husband passed away more than 10 years ago. She was involved with everything and everyone up until the day she died. She was still driving for Pete's sake!! She was quite the woman. Very educated. Quite wealthy. Very opinionated. She will be missed by many but she lived a long, full, eventful life. Her story will be remembered by many and I will always think of her and her generosity towards my children. I hope she is enjoying sunny days right now with the Lord in heaven!
My brother-in-law had emergency surgery yesterday to remove tumors. We just saw him 2 weeks ago and everything was fine. Where did this come from??!! We have no results. He and his family are hoping for the best. My husband is scared for his brother. I am hoping for sunny days ahead for him so he can get back out on the golf course!!
So these are just the people in my little world that have had "UN" sunny days. Each one is on my heart, in my prayers and not far from my thoughts. It was a beautiful, blue sky, sunshine day on the Oregon Coast today but the dreary little rain clouds were still hanging around in the lives of people I care about.
My solace in all of this is my faith in knowing when life here on earth is through the "SON" will be shining for eternity.
The weather was sunny today (finally) but my thoughts were on others. There is a young woman I know and love who has a battle before her. She just gave birth to twins daughters a couple of weeks ago and in the process of all of that they found cancer. She is in her early 30's. She has a husband, 2 small sons and now 2 baby daughters. And she has cancer. Where in the world did that one come from???!!! Those kind of things are unexplainable. God is the Father of love. He does not cause those kinds of things to happen but He can prevent them from happening. He makes miracles happen. I am expecting a miracle for her and her family. I want her to live a long, happy. healthy life. She is wonderful. She deserves better than this. All I can do is pray for mercy, peace and healing. She is young, strong and determined. If anyone can beat this, she can. I am hoping for sunny days ahead for her.
The neighbor lady lost her husband a couple of days ago after caring for him for many years. He was past 90 years old and maybe past 95. He had lived a long, good, full life. But now she is alone to deal with the day to day things. She is one of those ladies that always has a smile and a kind heart. She will find the sun shine even when it's not there. She will miss her husband, her friend, her helpmate. She will have to figure out what to do now. I am hoping for sunny days ahead for her.
Another neighbor lady lost her husband several months ago. They had been married 50 years last summer. I drive by her house and the outside looks just the way he left it. I never see her outside and rarely see her on the road. I am sure the sunshine doesn't matter for her. I wish I knew her well enough to stop and ask how she is. I wish I could do something other than say a prayer for her. I am hoping for sunny days ahead for her.
There was a lady who helped my son and his family while he was in college. She was over 95 and passed away a couple of days ago. She had no children and her husband passed away more than 10 years ago. She was involved with everything and everyone up until the day she died. She was still driving for Pete's sake!! She was quite the woman. Very educated. Quite wealthy. Very opinionated. She will be missed by many but she lived a long, full, eventful life. Her story will be remembered by many and I will always think of her and her generosity towards my children. I hope she is enjoying sunny days right now with the Lord in heaven!
My brother-in-law had emergency surgery yesterday to remove tumors. We just saw him 2 weeks ago and everything was fine. Where did this come from??!! We have no results. He and his family are hoping for the best. My husband is scared for his brother. I am hoping for sunny days ahead for him so he can get back out on the golf course!!
So these are just the people in my little world that have had "UN" sunny days. Each one is on my heart, in my prayers and not far from my thoughts. It was a beautiful, blue sky, sunshine day on the Oregon Coast today but the dreary little rain clouds were still hanging around in the lives of people I care about.
My solace in all of this is my faith in knowing when life here on earth is through the "SON" will be shining for eternity.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Vacations and Family
A break from work is good! If you take a vacation and stay home you don't really get a break because if you are like me, you work at home on projects you couldn't get done during the work week. So my idea of vacation is to leave home.
Part of my family, daughter and her family, live over 200 miles away so I love spending vacation time near them. They are busy and life for them, with 4 kids is constantly moving, but just being close and involved in a few things is great. All 4 grandkids spent the first night of our vaction with us and we packed it with swimming, walks, shopping, food, movies and just time together. It was only 24 hours but it was good! At least for me it was. Grandmothers love being with their grandchildren!!
I am looking forward to the rest of the week relaxing and spending time near the family. I am blessed daily but extra blessed this week!!
Part of my family, daughter and her family, live over 200 miles away so I love spending vacation time near them. They are busy and life for them, with 4 kids is constantly moving, but just being close and involved in a few things is great. All 4 grandkids spent the first night of our vaction with us and we packed it with swimming, walks, shopping, food, movies and just time together. It was only 24 hours but it was good! At least for me it was. Grandmothers love being with their grandchildren!!
I am looking forward to the rest of the week relaxing and spending time near the family. I am blessed daily but extra blessed this week!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)