George Carlin... and eternity

As you grow older, it is only logical that more people you know (or know of) die.
So... When I heard that George Carlin had died, I got a bit sad.

I started to remember some of his comedy from the early days - I was a child of the 70's, when the big event was everyone gathering around the TV and watching together - for us, it was usually a variety show, Carol Burnett, Sonny and Cher... but somewhere in there, I remember meeting George Carlin.

The funniest comedy routines are always recognizing the normal everyday things, then speaking of them and adding a crazy twist - and this was always true of George. I will never forget his hilarious routine about STUFF. He talked about all the stuff we have, then when we go on vacation, we take a smaller version of our stuff with us in a little suitcase... he was just brilliant.

But then, I began to wonder where George was spending eternity.
He seemed like an okay guy - someone you would like... he did lean toward being crude, and his language was too strong for me at times... but I know that these do not determine your final destination.

And I became sad. Sad for him, and then sad for others who have not accepted Jesus as their savior. It is so simple to ask for forgiveness for our human condition, and then to acknowledge that there is one God that created everything... so why is it that not all will accept?

I am reminded to live today with eternity as my focus. And that all of this junk, ALL of these routine and boring details of our lives, even the glorious wonderful things, ALL of it, will fall away and be no more. Because we are living with numbered days. We ARE going to die. Our bodies are starting to die from the moment of our birth. And it is inevitable. So please pay attention to what is truly important. Eternity is a long time.

In order to not leave you with a depressive, sad post - I want to share a few of my favorite George Carlin quotes:
----------
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

I'm always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize I'm listening to it.

Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.

Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did.

The reason I talk to myself is that I'm the only one whose answers I accept.

Maddening Musings of a Mother Unmasked

This is the six word title of my Memoir.

No ~ I am not writing a memoir, but I was tagged to write a six word title for mine!

I say that my musings are maddening, because I am sure that is what my children would say. I have been afflicted/blessed with the C personality (of the DISC model) which is perfectionistic, problem-pointing-out, task-oriented, and indeed, maddening! I have taken a long time to learn this about myself. Thus I am trying to correct this in me... but perhaps it comes too late. At least for these children whom I love so dearly.

Unfortunately, I happen to recognize myself in movies and tv dramas, the mom who expected too much, the one who receives a lovely drawing from her precious child and instead of appreciating it is likely to say, 'how wonderful darling, don't you think the tree should be green instead of pink?', thus squashing a great moment with her realistic point of view.

Oh yes... realistic is MY word of choice, but most others would say pessimistic. In this particular case, I would say this type of thing is even depressing and ugly. :(

Unfortunate that I did not learn it earlier --- but glad that I am learning now... it just shows that I am a slow learning hard-headed stubborn person, or maybe just selfish, or spoiled, or all of the above. It is a wondrous thing that God not only tolerates us, but actually forgives and even really loves us. In all of our mess. In all of our exposed selfishness. How great is our God?

Wow. Did not expect me to be posting all of that, did you? Me neither.
Thanks Great-Granny Grandma! The introspection is something I am used to doing, just not usually baring it all for the world to see/read.

Now, I think it's appropriate that you say prayers for me, and for my children. We oh so need them.

Military in America

When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush.

He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return was enough to bury those that did not return."

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then there was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying, "Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?"

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly, "Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 6,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and the injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?"

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.

Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, "whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English." He then asked, "Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?"

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, "Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German."

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A group of Americans, retired teachers, recently went to France on a tour. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. "You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically.

Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
"Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."

The American said, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."

"Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !"

The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, "Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in '44 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find any Frenchmen to show it to."

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What Is a Veteran?
A "Veteran" -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to, and including his life."

That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today, who no longer understand that fact.

Home from Cropmania

I finally got home tonight... attending Cropmania in Anapolis, Maryland with a friend and my sister. It was a great weekend - I got 19 pages completed, we ate great food, had a lot of shopping opportunities, even a mini-massage, and I am worn out! But it was good, all good!

After the crop, a trip to IKEA was on the agenda - that place is amazing and I can't wait to get one closer to my area. Daughter #2 got some new bed linens and some lighting. I got more mundane things - a glass canister to keep my tea bags in and a dimmer switch for a lamp. :)

Picked up hubby from the airport tonight, since he was gone as well - he was south though, in Alabama.

And we are both off tomorrow (today!) for Good Friday, dinner and a movie is on the agenda, and some organizing of my scrapping materials will be tackled for the morning. Later!

Political Review ~ interesting sites

This is a pretty quick assessment, you answer your views on issues and it will map out who you most closely "match" in the presidential race:

www.electoralcompass.com

And if you are curious about who is giving how much and to whom:

http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com

And for those of us with a comical view of the election process, you need to go here:

http://CaglePost.com

Helping Hand

Tag, You're It!

This is how the tag works:
1 - Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
2 - Open the book to page 123
3 - Find the fifth sentence
4 - Post the next three sentences
5 - Tag five people

So... I first picked up Velvet Elvis, which I started a couple of months ago and cannot seem to finish. Page 123 is a title page, no writing.

Leading to my next book to read, which was a Christmas gift, Mosaic by Amy Grant. And the segment reads:

Tell me what, what can I do
What can I do today?
We've all seen trouble from time to time...

Does that leave you hanging? If so, let me know and I'll finish it out for you! lol

Kiss me once...

...then kiss me twice, and kiss me once again ~ it's been a long, long time...

okay, are you wondering why the kissin' comes in?
well ~
i went to check out my blog, and realize that it has been way over 6 months!! Yikes!
and thus, the long, long time came to my mind, and i remembered a song we learned for a special chorus program we did when i was a 9th grader - wow, now THAT has been a long, long time as well!

I guess i have not had much to say since the last posting? ha! you KNOW that's not true.

seriously, as many of you know, my mom has been battling cancer and i just had too much of real life to deal with - so, i am in between right now, and she is finishing up the chemo - but we are dealing with side effects still...

however, i do have a little less driving and scheduling due to her medical appointments

is anybody out there? i know that this blog is mostly for my own therapy, but i just wondered.

be back to chat again soon.

~ A New Form of Government ~

I wanted to share this excerpt from Ronald Reagan to celebrate our National Holiday, and remind all of us to pray for our men and women in the armed services, those who stand between us and fight to keep our country free. We have such a blessed history, even though it has been hard-fought at times. As our pastor said on Sunday though, God cannot bless us if we do not call upon Him and repent. We need to stand for right; call sin what it is; honor God in what we do. Let's remember to pray for that today.

July Fourth is the birthday of our nation... and on that in 1776 in the little hall in Philadelphia, a day on which debate had raged for hours... The men gathered there were honorable men hard-pressed by a king who had flouted the very laws they were willing to obey. Even so, to sign the Declaration of Independence was such an irretrievable act that the walls resounded with the words "treason, the gallows, the headsman's axe," and the issue remained in doubt.

56 men, a little band so unique we have never seen their like since... pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Some gave their lives in the war that followed, most gave their fortunes, and all preserved their sacred honor.

What manner of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, 11 were merchants and tradesmen, and nine were farmers. They were soft-spoken men of means and education; they were not an unwashed rabble. They had achieved security but valued freedom more. Their stories have not been told nearly enough.

John Hart was driven from the side of his desperately ill wife. For more than a year he lived in the forest and in caves before he returned to find his wife dead, his children vanished, his property destroyed. He died of exhaustion and a broken heart.

Carter Braxton of Virginia lost all his ships, sold his home to pay his debts, and died in rags. And so it was with Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Rutledge, Morris, Livingston and Middleton. Nelson personally urged Washington to fire on his home and destroy it when it became the headquarters for General Cornwallis. Nelson died bankrupt.

But they sired a nation that grew from sea to shining sea. Five million farms, quiet villages, cities that never sleep, 3 million square miles of forest, field, mountain and desert, 227 million people with a pedigree that includes the bloodlines of all the world. In recent years, however, I've come to think of that day as more than just the birthday of a nation.

It also commemorates the only true philosophical revolution in all history.
Oh, there have been revolutions before and since ours. But those revolutions simply exchanged one set of rules for another. Ours was a revolution that changed the very concept of government.

Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people.

We sometimes forget that great truth, and we never should.
Happy Fourth of July.
Ronald Reagan President of the United States

Editor's note: When he was president, Ronald Reagan wrote this piece for Independence Day in 1981. Aide Michael Deaver later wrote: "This 4th of July message is the President's own words and written initially in his own hand."

10 Reasons to be Grateful

Everyday we see more evidence of people who've contracted the fatal disease of entitlement. Paris Hilton is great example. Here is a young woman with everything to live for, every privilege, every benefit. And now by flaunting the law, she is going to jail for a brief time. She's all over the news. And the one word I keep hearing from all the newscasters and speculators is the word "entitlement," that she feels entitled.

All of life is a gift to be enjoyed. The Scriptures tell us that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights, that is, God. If you're finding it easy to feel sorry for yourself, and hard to count your blessings, here are the Top Ten Reasons that might help remind you to be grateful:

1. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the millions who won't survive this week. That's a reason to be grateful.

2. If you've never experienced the horror of war personally, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you're ahead of 20 million people around the world at this moment who are. Remember to be grateful.

3. If you're able to attend a church of your choice this week without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost 3 billion people on this planet. That's a reason to be grateful.

4. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world population. That's a reason to be grateful.

5. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, or spare change in a dish somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. That's a reason to be grateful.

6. If you can hold your head with a smile and truly proclaim that in your heart you are thankful, you are more blessed than the majority of people who have every reason to be thankful except the power to be so.

7. If you can hold someone's hand, hug them, touch them on the shoulder, you are more blessed because you can offer encouragement which is, more times than we know, God's healing touch.

8. If you can read this Dave Rave you are more blessed than over 2 billion people in the world who cannot read anything. That's a reason to be grateful for the people who've invested in your life.

9. If at the end of this day you're going to retreat into your home being surrounded by those who love you, you'll experience today what the majority of the earth's population will never experience in a lifetime. That's a reason to be grateful.

10. If you get up every morning convinced of the protection, the providence, and the promises of God for your daily life, if you feel that you serve a purpose, that you've found work that is meaningful; if you feel like your life matters then you have every reason to be grateful.

This was from Dr. David Foster's Blog - he has practical information from God's Word that you can really use... visit him at www.myspace.com/davidhfoster

Lightening Bugs...

I realize that some folks call them fireflies... but I was thinking about them recently. My cousins from Florida were here to visit, this is my cousin who is a year older than me and she has 10 kids and has/is homeschooling all of them... wow, right?! Anyway, they do not have lightening bugs where they live. It was a neat thing then, while at Dad's house, the lightening bugs came out and we were running around like silly kids trying to catch them.

They always signify summer to me, and lazy days of playing at dusk with the kids in my neighborhood - kick the can was always a popular night game. But summer days are longer and more relaxed, right? Supposed to be, anyway. And as an adult, I have lost that carefree feeling. Nothing seems simple or fun, everything is rigid, routine, demanding, stressful... and I am a Christian! What is wrong with me? No joy in simple things; everything is so hard, especially lately.

I just returned from our youth mission trip to Pennsylvania, and this group was awesome. The youth/college students were very unified, no drama really, the adults all worked together, the worship was great... and it was exhausting, but in a good way.

Now, I am back home, back to work, back to bills and back to medical appointments with my mom... and I feel physically and mentally and emotionally exhausted... I sometimes just SCREAM at the Lord, WHY IS LIFE SO HARD?!! What have I done? Don't I deserve a break sometime??? And then immediately, the Holy Spirit within me says, what about Jesus? What did He ever do except LOVE ME? and be OBEDIENT to His Father? You see.. I cannot even have a proper pity party, the Lord just won't allow it.

I know that God is at work all around me, around us, and yet, I sometimes just do not see it. Like I would not have noticed the lightening bugs at my Dad's that night, except that my cousins were LOOKING FOR THEM! If I do not look for God's work, then I am not going to see it. How convicting is that? But I am still so tired...

I am grateful beyond imagination for the Christian brothers and sisters who encourage me... things that are done, maybe just a smile, that will give me just enough energy to push on, and make that next step... even when I am so tired of life.

Take notice of the lightening bugs around your place, and thank God for His Work in your life, even when you are too busy to notice.

Disturbing Info

it doesn’t make sense.

I just read this information...

We live in a day and age when ministry materials for children and youth have never been so plentiful, so relevant, so trusted and so utilized by churches like yours across the country. Yet the statistics tell the hard truth – 75 percent of young people will walk away from their faith by the age of 25. Take a look at your youth group. For every four youngsters learning to serve Jesus today, only one will be doing so ten years from now.

ONE in TEN?!!

We need to remember that we are not "doing program" at church, but we are to be loving people, looking to develop relationships, raising children who love the Lord, and continually spending time with the Father so that we can fall in love with Him more and more ourselves.

Imagine...
(http://www.awana.org/homebase/)

Sudoku Park - Billions of Free Sudoku Puzzles

Do you have a "Stop Doing" List?

I admit, I have been overwhelmed with life and unable to figure this out, but I came upon this article this morning and felt that it would benefit you also.

Creating a "Stop Doing" List
Do you ever get frustrated with feeling like there's too much to do and not enough time to do it? Well, if you have, Jim Collins just might have a possible prescription for you.The basic storyline is that early on in his twenties, Jim took a course in creativity with Rochelle Myers at Standford. Afterward he stayed in touch with her. As a young, energetic and driven individual, Jim regularly planned out his life.

Yet in the midst of all that organized planning, Rochelle said to him, "Jim, I notice that you are a rather undisciplined person." Obviously, that shocked Jim. However, she continued, "Your genetic energy level enables your lack of discipline. Instead of leading a disciplined life, you lead a busy life."

She then challenged him to what Jim now calls the 20-10 assignment. "It goes like this: Suppose you woke up tomorrow and received two phone calls. The first phone call tells you that you have inherited $20 million, no strings attached. The second tells you that you have an incurable and terminal disease, and you have no more than 10 years to live. What would you do differently, and, in particular, what would you stop doing?"

That assignment was the turning point in Jim's life.
The most important question Jim asks of himself each year is, "What do I need to stop doing?"

I love that question. It has a very Pauline ring to it, doesn't it? For Paul regularly argues that for change to occur, you first need to "take off" the old and "put on" the new. Or, to put it in more mathematical terminology, "You need to subtract, before you can add." Anyway you put it, the question that Collins asks is a question all of us, as leaders, need to regularly ask, "What do I need to stop doing, that I'm currently doing, so that I can focus more of my time and energy on the things that matter most and will create the greatest impact over the course of my life and time?"

So how are you doing? If you were to do an inventory of your time, what percentage of your day or time, would you say, is spent on doing those things that matter most? That have the greatest impact? That you're passionate about? That fit your genetic encoding? If, according to Collins, you're spending less than 50% of your time in those areas, then your "Stop Doing" list, may be the most important list you could make this year—or today! In fact, don't go to bed tonight without making one up.


***This came from http://bruced.typepad.com/brucedjohnsoncom/2005/07/creating_a_stop.html***

QUIRKY Quiz

Your Quirk Factor: 40%

You have a few little quirks, but you generally blend in well with society. Only those who know you well know how weird you can be.

How Quirky Are You?

wow... how time flies

The month of May has been so busy for me, I cannot even tell you how glad I am to be nearing the end...
I prepared for Children's Church puppet show, and now we are working on mission tour, as well as block party in July; I am playing piano for the youth choir and have been stretched for that practice; I played piano for my cousin's wedding which was last week; I am still taking Mom to doctor appointments, chemo continues! My job is going well, but has also kept me busy; And I moved one of my girls home from college; On top of that --- my husband and I completed the Awana year with an Awards Program and a Leaders Appreciation Banquet. I am EXHAUSTED!

I did schedule a scrapbook event for myself at the beginning of this month, so since I had already paid - I did attend. It was so worth it!! I am still working on my Raggedy Ann album, and I got 8 pages done on Saturday. I am glad I went, even though I whined as I was getting ready. lol

I just needed to pop in and say hello ~ I'll be back... :)

New York again...

This time I traveled with my youngest and her friend; Thursday we spent at the Inner Harbor and boy, was it ever cold! I was not aware that the Hard Rock Cafe workers stood and danced on the bar until this trip. I am not a big fan; anywhere that I have to YELL to have conversation with my meal is not on my first choice list of places to eat. Top of the World was the Trade Center, and even though I have done it before, it is always nice. Weather was clear and we had a wonderful view, even though it was bitter cold at the water. The parking garage was $27, I was shocked!

My oldest and her boyfriend drove up for Friday, and we all went to the TV station to sit in the news room during the broadcast. That was a treat, and it had been a while since I had done that as well. They did not have camera-men - it is all automated now. That was different... When we got home, we did a craft project - and we had a chocolate fountain for dessert.

Saturday morning, we got up early for the charter bus to NYC. We saw Hairspray on this trip. Very good show this time - even though we were WAY UP HIGH in the balcony. Gee - those balcony seats can be scary. But I suppose we were fortunate to get them. It was a packed house. Weather this whole weekend was very cold - it was windy in the city, just like last time. But we had a great time. We always stay pretty close in when we go up for the theater - there is just not much time to wander around. Did make it to the theater district and to our favorite little diner for lunch.

Travelled home very early on Sunday morning - it was Easter and the traffic was not too bad.

I'll have photos put up this week. So come on back! :)

**Thanks Missy**

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to Missy for my Spring surprise package... what a terrific treat to come home to... and I really appreciate it. I have "known" Missy since 2000 when we were on Scrapals together, and when I took a trip with my family to Orlando/Tampa, I had hoped to connect with her. She was working and I have family in that area, so we just did not have enough time to get together. But Missy, do you remember telling me about that outdoor flea market somewhere? We did go to that, because we love to do stuff like that, and it was so much fun. I have ordered many of Missy's handmade paper-piecings for my albums, we both seemed to have a Raggedy Ann obsession, and she does absolutely THE BEST work ever. You will not be disappointed with anything that you purchase from her.
ANYWAY, I digress... I appreciate your friendship and the gift was super! Thank you thank you thank you!!

Photos of the trip

Well, I realize that I have been delayed in my postings. Must have been the cold New York wind or the snow or just the changing weather... but I could blame it on my sister or my husband... I have had a cold/sinus/ear ache with temperature and just not feeling good at all! To add to that, I missed work on Monday, but I still was required to attend my husband's work dinner, which was really good and I was happy to meet his boss and his boss's boss, and coworkers, but I was really not well. Oh so, poor pitiful me, I am sure you are feeling my pain! ha!

Cool Slideshows

SPRING in New York City?

I know that it is officially spring, but wow, was it ever COLD in NYC today! Being a southern gal, I do love the sunshine...
But we had a blast. Walked MANY blocks up to Serendipity for frozen hot chocolate... yep, i know it was too cold for a frozen drink BUT that is what they are famous for, so... ya gotta do what ya gotta do, right?

I am happy to report that the show we saw was good - The Drowsy Chaperone - very entertaining, good music and good dancing - just the way a musical should be... and not "R" rated like the last show I saw. :( The bus ride could be improved, not that I am prejudiced, but why do northern people talk so loudly and get into your personal bubble space? Perhaps I am spoiled?

anyway, i am tired and it is late... just wanted to post a quick update. Hope you are well and that it's warm wherever you are!

Who Are You?

I KNOW WHO I AM

I am God's child (John 1:12 )
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17 )
I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19 -20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt. 5:13 -14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27 )
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18 )
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ. (Phil. 4:13 )
I am the branch of the true vine. (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16 ).
I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1).
I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10 )
I am confident the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14).
I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God.


Do you know who you are!?