You know every time I start to feel discouraged, or overwhelmed with life, or the dull ache of unfulfilled dreams, God reminds me that I have it really good after all. I have a dry, safe place to live-unlike the people down the street who just had their house burn down. I have a (relatively) healthy family-unlike many of my friends. I have a (hopefully)secure job, for now-unlike many friends and most of my town who have been laid off from jobs that were supposed to be more secure than mine. I have friends who love and pray for me.
I see so many people living out my dreams for my life, and either throwing it all away or hating every minute of it. I just think to myself "can't you see what a treasure you have in front of you?" and it hurts. I tend to fall into a depression of sorts when I'm overwhelmed with being a PK, or having a tough time at a job I never wanted, but God obviously wants me in, or when I hear from my friends who are living their dreams, and just want to share their joy. But every time that I fall into the trap, God shows me just how good I have it! He shows me that some of those friends that I envy have so many struggles themselves. The pain they feel is a million times worse than mine. He lets me see just how rewarding being a PK can be, by sending someone along with an encouraging word. He shows me once again just how perfectly this job I didn't want was an integral part of His plan for my life.
One day I'll have to write my life story for ya'll. I tend to shy away from it under the excuse that most of ya'll know it, but I've seen in reading some of your accounts just how much goes on behind the scenes that we looking on from the outside don't see or understand. Mostly though, I'm scared at what I'm going to have to face. I tend to internalize everything, but when I let it out, it really comes out.... :) So be patient with me.... it will come one day, I promise! In the meantime, pray for me, huh? And whenever you think your life isn't making the impact you would like it to, remember you've made a difference in the life of a Florida girl trapped in New Jersey. Ok, I know, I'm working on the trapped feeling, and striving to feel content where God has placed me during this season of my life! :)
For all of you who have posted your stories-Thanks so much. You'll never know how much God has used your story in my life.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
A Serious Addiction
Can you tell I have a problem??? :) Do I even have to mention these all came today in one shipment??? Or the fact that I had three others in my purse??? Or that I know all of the local mail staff by name, and they know me, and know what is in the box or envelope before asking?? I just cling to the fact that there are worse things to be addicted to, and thru the help of an awesome bonus program at work, (which has just been discontinued... grrr) and PaperBackSwap.com, I no longer spend all my money on books! :)
My other addiction.... crocheting! I've been keeping my hands busy while watching TV.... See? Watching TV can be productive! :) I just love when it actually starts to look like a blanket, or whatever I'm making.. :)
Just had to share my happy moments with you! Have a good weekend!
Monday, January 19, 2009
You may be a MK/PK if.....
A Missionary friend of mine sent this to me, and it is so true! I enjoyed it so much! I know many of you might not "get it" on some of them, but it is a good way to get to understand what your PK/MK go thru, and what we deem as funny! :) I know some people I've shown this to think some of these are "just so sad.." makes me laugh even more! :)
You might be a MK/PK if:
- you sort your Christmas mailing list by continents
- you can speak three languages, and can't spell in any of them
- you cruise the Internet looking for fonts that support your "native" language's alphabet.
- you feel you need to move after you've lived in the same place for a month/year...
- you have a name in at least two different languages, and it's not the same one.
- you don't think that two hours is a long sermon.
- you haggle with the checkout girl for a lower price.
- you refer to gravel roads as highways.
- fitting 15 or more people into a car seems normal to you.
- you know how to pack. (really pack... like fitting all your earthly possessions in 1 bag that weighs under 50 lbs)
- you realize that furlough is not a vacation.
- you do your devotions in another language.
- you have friends from or in 29 different countries.
- you speak with authority on the subject of airline travel.
- you can cut grass with a machete, but can't start a lawnmower.
- you watch nature documentaries, and think about how good that animal would taste if it were fried. ROFL!!!
- you consider a city 500 km away to be "very close".
- you have a time zone map next to your telephone.
- you read National Geographic and recognize someone.
- you can't answer the question, "Where are you from?" in less than 20 minutes. Hahaha
- the family gathers round the computer to check the email.
- you forget that your grandparents speak only English.
- you have a passport but no driver's license.
- you watch National Geographic channel and recognize someone.
- you keep dreaming of a green Christmas.
- you wince when people mispronounce foreign words.
- you have strong opinions on how to cook bugs.
- you know there is no such thing as an international language.
- most of your friends can't speak English.
- you watch a movie set in a foreign country, and you know what the local people are REALLY saying!
- you think nothing of straddling white lines to pass between buses or trucks travelling side by side, because There was plenty of room, Officer! Honest! At least 15 centimetres clearance!
- the message on your answering machine is in two languages.
- you habitually buy food supplies in bulk.
- you are cold when it is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- you always have music handy because someone will have you sing a special. (even when you can't sing!)
- you've perfected the "genuine" Barbie smile!
- you know they lie when they say it takes less muscles to smile than not to smile.
- you've taught every Sunday School age group by the age of 16.
- you've memorized the major fast food's menus. Prices too!
- you consider someone who you've only met 3 times your best friend. :)
You might be a MK/PK if:
- you sort your Christmas mailing list by continents
- you can speak three languages, and can't spell in any of them
- you cruise the Internet looking for fonts that support your "native" language's alphabet.
- you feel you need to move after you've lived in the same place for a month/year...
- you have a name in at least two different languages, and it's not the same one.
- you don't think that two hours is a long sermon.
- you haggle with the checkout girl for a lower price.
- you refer to gravel roads as highways.
- fitting 15 or more people into a car seems normal to you.
- you know how to pack. (really pack... like fitting all your earthly possessions in 1 bag that weighs under 50 lbs)
- you realize that furlough is not a vacation.
- you do your devotions in another language.
- you have friends from or in 29 different countries.
- you speak with authority on the subject of airline travel.
- you can cut grass with a machete, but can't start a lawnmower.
- you watch nature documentaries, and think about how good that animal would taste if it were fried. ROFL!!!
- you consider a city 500 km away to be "very close".
- you have a time zone map next to your telephone.
- you read National Geographic and recognize someone.
- you can't answer the question, "Where are you from?" in less than 20 minutes. Hahaha
- the family gathers round the computer to check the email.
- you forget that your grandparents speak only English.
- you have a passport but no driver's license.
- you watch National Geographic channel and recognize someone.
- you keep dreaming of a green Christmas.
- you wince when people mispronounce foreign words.
- you have strong opinions on how to cook bugs.
- you know there is no such thing as an international language.
- most of your friends can't speak English.
- you watch a movie set in a foreign country, and you know what the local people are REALLY saying!
- you think nothing of straddling white lines to pass between buses or trucks travelling side by side, because There was plenty of room, Officer! Honest! At least 15 centimetres clearance!
- the message on your answering machine is in two languages.
- you habitually buy food supplies in bulk.
- you are cold when it is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- you always have music handy because someone will have you sing a special. (even when you can't sing!)
- you've perfected the "genuine" Barbie smile!
- you know they lie when they say it takes less muscles to smile than not to smile.
- you've taught every Sunday School age group by the age of 16.
- you've memorized the major fast food's menus. Prices too!
- you consider someone who you've only met 3 times your best friend. :)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Car Discrimination
Have ya ever noticed how people react to you on the road? I mean, obviously people are going to drive differently around certain vehicles. You know, you stay way back from sand, dump, and gravel trucks. (no rock in my windshield, thank you very much!) You are extra cautious around cop cars. You get impatient around School buses. (do they have to stop at every house? The school is half a block away for Pete's sake!) But, you don't really expect to notice the difference just changing cars!
Yesterday I had a rude awakening! As most of you know, I have a MINI Cooper. It's a sports car. It has a very powerful engine, and very tight steering. It's a dream to drive, a whole lot of fun! Well, it has been nearly two years of driving in this car and when you drive a brand new sports car you get a certain amount of respect from other drivers on the road around you! People don't try to drag race you at stoplights or play stupid passing games on the highway because they know you can leave them in your dust if you so choose!
Well, yesterday I had to drive Mom and Dad's car to pick them up from the airport. They drive a Mercury Grand Marquis, it's definitely not a sports car, but still nice. So I didn't expect a problem driving it, I mean, I drove one for 2 years!
So anyway, I'm on the highway, and there was this brand new sporty, hybrid, SUV driving completely normal albeit slow, (come on the speed limit was 65!) and I passed it. Now, mind you I'm on cruise control at about 69 so it's not like I blew by or anything. Completely normal, right? Well about 2 minutes later this vehicle starts to pull alongside me, and just hangs out not quite in front of me. It blocked me in behind slower vehicles twice before I decided to get away from it and prevent an accident. I tried speeding up to pass, and it's matching my speed, I try slowing down, and it slows down. You can just tell it's thinking "I'm not letting this granny car show me up, I am a Hybrid, I rule the road!" By this time I'm ticked! I was about to take an exit just to get away, when we start to get passed by this whole group of cars. Hybrid lets the group of sports cars by without flinching. (ever notice how they travel in packs??) Behind the sports cars, a beat up junker comes flying by. Of course, Hybrid ain't gonna let this fly! It rules the road, it's a hybrid! So it takes off after the poor junker who dared pass it, and I'm left in peace wishing I was in my MINI and among the privileged few allowed to roam the highways without being harassed by the Hybrid.
Yesterday I had a rude awakening! As most of you know, I have a MINI Cooper. It's a sports car. It has a very powerful engine, and very tight steering. It's a dream to drive, a whole lot of fun! Well, it has been nearly two years of driving in this car and when you drive a brand new sports car you get a certain amount of respect from other drivers on the road around you! People don't try to drag race you at stoplights or play stupid passing games on the highway because they know you can leave them in your dust if you so choose!
Well, yesterday I had to drive Mom and Dad's car to pick them up from the airport. They drive a Mercury Grand Marquis, it's definitely not a sports car, but still nice. So I didn't expect a problem driving it, I mean, I drove one for 2 years!
So anyway, I'm on the highway, and there was this brand new sporty, hybrid, SUV driving completely normal albeit slow, (come on the speed limit was 65!) and I passed it. Now, mind you I'm on cruise control at about 69 so it's not like I blew by or anything. Completely normal, right? Well about 2 minutes later this vehicle starts to pull alongside me, and just hangs out not quite in front of me. It blocked me in behind slower vehicles twice before I decided to get away from it and prevent an accident. I tried speeding up to pass, and it's matching my speed, I try slowing down, and it slows down. You can just tell it's thinking "I'm not letting this granny car show me up, I am a Hybrid, I rule the road!" By this time I'm ticked! I was about to take an exit just to get away, when we start to get passed by this whole group of cars. Hybrid lets the group of sports cars by without flinching. (ever notice how they travel in packs??) Behind the sports cars, a beat up junker comes flying by. Of course, Hybrid ain't gonna let this fly! It rules the road, it's a hybrid! So it takes off after the poor junker who dared pass it, and I'm left in peace wishing I was in my MINI and among the privileged few allowed to roam the highways without being harassed by the Hybrid.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year!
Yay! It's a new year! Full of promise , exciting, who knows what will happen? Could be good, could be bad. Whatever it holds, I'm looking forward to it. Looking back, I have had a pretty decent year actually. So this year I am resolving to:
Become an Actress! Jk :) But I do resolve to have more fun, do more things "just because", and overall just enjoy my life! Why should we spend all our time stressing out about things we can't control? As the song says "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think" I really think it helped me get thru last year. I went on 3, count em, 3 vacations! And I needed every one. By the way the pic is of me on vacation last January in my starring role as Sandie Dessert! :)
I also resolve to go out of my way to make time for friends, and make new friends, and visit old friends, and get them to visit me... hint, hint. :) God has truly blessed me this year in the friend department. I started the year pretty depressed at my lack of friends in the area, and of having lost contact with those out of the area. But, God heard me complaining and sent answers in the most creative ways! 
I also resolve to cook more..... yeah, Mom! I know you'll help me out with that one! I have always loved baking, but Mom pushed me out of my comfort zone and actually has me cooking. And you know what? I actually like it! And I learned I can fry a mean chicken! Thanks Paula Deen! :) Above see the apple pie that was really good and that I now have to make for Pat next time I see her......
And lastly I resolve to enjoy my kiddos! I know! Not a hard one! But, even when I'm burnt out, and stressed , and sick, I'm going to give them my best. I have a hand in shaping their lives, and I don't want to fail them. Yes, I know, Sunday School is 1 hour every week. But, I had Sunday School teachers who have influenced me and their effect is still being seen. Pic is of me and Zechy, my buddy and class clown/smarty pants. (too smart this kid... learned to read and shocked me out of my wits by reading his memory verse! I never would have caught on, but it was a new verse we hadn't learned. :) Did I mention he's autistic?)
Become an Actress! Jk :) But I do resolve to have more fun, do more things "just because", and overall just enjoy my life! Why should we spend all our time stressing out about things we can't control? As the song says "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think" I really think it helped me get thru last year. I went on 3, count em, 3 vacations! And I needed every one. By the way the pic is of me on vacation last January in my starring role as Sandie Dessert! :)
I also resolve to go out of my way to make time for friends, and make new friends, and visit old friends, and get them to visit me... hint, hint. :) God has truly blessed me this year in the friend department. I started the year pretty depressed at my lack of friends in the area, and of having lost contact with those out of the area. But, God heard me complaining and sent answers in the most creative ways! 1. Becci introduced me to Facebook, where I have connected with people I haven't heard from in 10 years!
2. Shauna introduced me to the blogosphere, and now I know all about you guys.... :)
3. Becci's best friend from college graduated, moved home, and got a job. Did I mention she's my age and needed a friend?? :) Isn't God great?
BTW the pic is of Andrea, above mentioned friend. :)
I also resolve to cook more..... yeah, Mom! I know you'll help me out with that one! I have always loved baking, but Mom pushed me out of my comfort zone and actually has me cooking. And you know what? I actually like it! And I learned I can fry a mean chicken! Thanks Paula Deen! :) Above see the apple pie that was really good and that I now have to make for Pat next time I see her......
And lastly I resolve to enjoy my kiddos! I know! Not a hard one! But, even when I'm burnt out, and stressed , and sick, I'm going to give them my best. I have a hand in shaping their lives, and I don't want to fail them. Yes, I know, Sunday School is 1 hour every week. But, I had Sunday School teachers who have influenced me and their effect is still being seen. Pic is of me and Zechy, my buddy and class clown/smarty pants. (too smart this kid... learned to read and shocked me out of my wits by reading his memory verse! I never would have caught on, but it was a new verse we hadn't learned. :) Did I mention he's autistic?) So, to all you out there in cyberland, Happy New Year! May God bless you, and may you allow Him to guide your paths this year.
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