A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.
A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.
A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.
A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.
A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.
A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.
A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.
A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you HAVE an argument.
A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after you've had a fight.
A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!
What kind of friend am I? What kind of friend are you?
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Finally!
Today, I took the anticipated trip to IKEA. Swedish for heaven. And guess what...I bought my couch and arm chair. My living room is slowing coming together. I know what you're thinking, why in the world are you buying couches now if you don't have a living room to put them in now? Well, because I can. And because I don't want to be stuck without couches when I do get to move into the house. Plus, unbeknown to me, IKEA is having a promo...get 20% back in a gift card on any couch that you purchase. Yeah me! So, someday (pray sooner rather than later) when you come to visit, you'll get to sit on one of these...
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Hello quiet...
Welcome November, where weekends are free and plans are not definite. Oh yea, and the month of turkey.
Here comes the busy month of October. Who'd have thought October of all months would be busy. So my resolutions are:
November's resolutions are...
1. Focus on getting into the Word on a regular basis.
2. Work on losing weight for my own quality of life. I have to change my eating habits by eating heathly foods and being active.
3. Go somewhere.
4. Exercise - walk, Bosu ball, pilates...
5. Start major renovations on the house once it's appraised.
7. Do something BOLD or DARING! Let me know if you're daring to join me...
8. Purchase couch and entertainment unit for house, research closet storage units.
9. Not over indulge at Thanksgiving. Eat health until I feel satisfied, not stuffed.
Here comes the busy month of October. Who'd have thought October of all months would be busy. So my resolutions are:
November's resolutions are...
1. Focus on getting into the Word on a regular basis.
2. Work on losing weight for my own quality of life. I have to change my eating habits by eating heathly foods and being active.
3. Go somewhere.
4. Exercise - walk, Bosu ball, pilates...
5. Start major renovations on the house once it's appraised.
7. Do something BOLD or DARING! Let me know if you're daring to join me...
8. Purchase couch and entertainment unit for house, research closet storage units.
9. Not over indulge at Thanksgiving. Eat health until I feel satisfied, not stuffed.
Good bye busy...
Time to recap on October's resolutions...
1. Continute to try to actively seek God in my day to day life, worshiping Him and bring Him glory. Being like Jesus to people.
2 words, I suck...
2. No point trying to lose 35 pounds in the next 8 days for the wedding. But I can work on losing weight for my own quality of life. So it's time to change my eating habits by eating the daily recommended amount of fruits and veggies every day. Baby steps...
Well, the wedding happened. Oktoberfest happened. Gaining weight happened. Looking back on the pictures now, blah, I'm pudgy! I don't like being pudgy! And I don't want to be pudgy anymore!
3. Go somewhere at least an hour away from home! Possibly camping at the best place to camp at the end of the month.
Went no where. Had no time to go anywhere.
4. Find someone that can refinish furniture. I have a dining room set (table, chairs, and hutch) that all need to be refinished to remove scratches and stained a darker color. I'd do it myself, but there are too many curves to deal with, plus I don't have somewhere covered to do it right now.
I found a place in Turlock that refinishes furniture. Now I just need to call them and price it out.
5. Exercise - walk, Bosu ball, jump rope...
Pilates anyone? I know I need to do something cardio also though. Time to start running with the dogs.
6. Have at least one major thing completed on the house. To have all base boards sanded and walls cleaned (for now).
One room has been sanded - base boards, door frams and window frames. 4 rooms to go, at least they are small. Peeled more wall paper in the master bedroom. Just waiting for the house to be appraised (Friday 11/2) before proceeding with big things. Until then, the house needs to look like poop so it's appraised at a lower value.
7. Do something BOLD or DARING! Hummmm....I have some ideas.... Probably not the wisest or cleanest thoughts... Muahahaha...
Had thoughts, and still do. Need to make a phone call first...
8. Make it to IKEA to purchase couch and entertainment unit for house.
No free weekend to go in October, but I'm going Saturday. Yeehaw!
9. Have the best darn Oktoberfest yet!
Yea, it was pretty good...!
10. Dance my little heart out at Rylen and Jim's wedding!
I danced, I drank, and I was merry! Definitely one of the best weddings I've been to or in ever!
1. Continute to try to actively seek God in my day to day life, worshiping Him and bring Him glory. Being like Jesus to people.
2 words, I suck...
2. No point trying to lose 35 pounds in the next 8 days for the wedding. But I can work on losing weight for my own quality of life. So it's time to change my eating habits by eating the daily recommended amount of fruits and veggies every day. Baby steps...
Well, the wedding happened. Oktoberfest happened. Gaining weight happened. Looking back on the pictures now, blah, I'm pudgy! I don't like being pudgy! And I don't want to be pudgy anymore!
3. Go somewhere at least an hour away from home! Possibly camping at the best place to camp at the end of the month.
Went no where. Had no time to go anywhere.
4. Find someone that can refinish furniture. I have a dining room set (table, chairs, and hutch) that all need to be refinished to remove scratches and stained a darker color. I'd do it myself, but there are too many curves to deal with, plus I don't have somewhere covered to do it right now.
I found a place in Turlock that refinishes furniture. Now I just need to call them and price it out.
5. Exercise - walk, Bosu ball, jump rope...
Pilates anyone? I know I need to do something cardio also though. Time to start running with the dogs.
6. Have at least one major thing completed on the house. To have all base boards sanded and walls cleaned (for now).
One room has been sanded - base boards, door frams and window frames. 4 rooms to go, at least they are small. Peeled more wall paper in the master bedroom. Just waiting for the house to be appraised (Friday 11/2) before proceeding with big things. Until then, the house needs to look like poop so it's appraised at a lower value.
7. Do something BOLD or DARING! Hummmm....I have some ideas.... Probably not the wisest or cleanest thoughts... Muahahaha...
Had thoughts, and still do. Need to make a phone call first...
8. Make it to IKEA to purchase couch and entertainment unit for house.
No free weekend to go in October, but I'm going Saturday. Yeehaw!
9. Have the best darn Oktoberfest yet!
Yea, it was pretty good...!
10. Dance my little heart out at Rylen and Jim's wedding!
I danced, I drank, and I was merry! Definitely one of the best weddings I've been to or in ever!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
BOO!
Even though I'm not dressed/dressing up. And I really don't want to pass out candy. And orange, with or without black, is just NOT my color...
And here are a few Halloween Statistics from the US Census Bureau to put in your useless knowledge bank.
41.0 million - The estimated number of potential "trick-or-treaters" 5- to 14-year-olds across the United States in 2002, down by about 40,000 from 2000. This number is greater than the "baby boom" children in this age range counted in the 1970 census (40.7 million). Of course, many "kids" older than 14, and younger than 5, also dress up for the holiday.
106 million - Number of potential stops for "trick-or-treaters" i.e., housing units occupied year-round.
790.7 million pounds - Total U.S. pumpkin production in 2002. Illinois, with a production of 299 million pounds, led the country. There also were big pumpkin patches in California (150 million pounds produced), Pennsylvania (117 million), New York (107 million) and Michigan (60 million). The value of all these pumpkins was $83 million.
1,040 - Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2001. These establishments employed 45,913 people and shipped $12 billion worth of goods that year. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments (with 116) followed by Pennsylvania (with 107).
2,715 - Number of formal wear and costume rental establishments across the nation in 2001.
Where to Spend Halloween? - Some places around the country that may get you into the Halloween spirit are:
Transylvania County, N.C., with 29,499 residents.
Tombstone, Ariz., with a population of 1,537.
Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,228) and Pumpkin Bend township, Ark. (population 307).
Cape Fear township (New Hanover Co.), N.C.; and Cape Fear township (Chatham Co.), N.C. (populations of 15,711 and 1,170, respectively).
Skull Creek township, Neb., with a population of 295.
And here are a few Halloween Statistics from the US Census Bureau to put in your useless knowledge bank.
41.0 million - The estimated number of potential "trick-or-treaters" 5- to 14-year-olds across the United States in 2002, down by about 40,000 from 2000. This number is greater than the "baby boom" children in this age range counted in the 1970 census (40.7 million). Of course, many "kids" older than 14, and younger than 5, also dress up for the holiday.
106 million - Number of potential stops for "trick-or-treaters" i.e., housing units occupied year-round.
790.7 million pounds - Total U.S. pumpkin production in 2002. Illinois, with a production of 299 million pounds, led the country. There also were big pumpkin patches in California (150 million pounds produced), Pennsylvania (117 million), New York (107 million) and Michigan (60 million). The value of all these pumpkins was $83 million.
1,040 - Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2001. These establishments employed 45,913 people and shipped $12 billion worth of goods that year. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments (with 116) followed by Pennsylvania (with 107).
2,715 - Number of formal wear and costume rental establishments across the nation in 2001.
Where to Spend Halloween? - Some places around the country that may get you into the Halloween spirit are:
Transylvania County, N.C., with 29,499 residents.
Tombstone, Ariz., with a population of 1,537.
Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,228) and Pumpkin Bend township, Ark. (population 307).
Cape Fear township (New Hanover Co.), N.C.; and Cape Fear township (Chatham Co.), N.C. (populations of 15,711 and 1,170, respectively).
Skull Creek township, Neb., with a population of 295.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
11 Hints for Life
The top 11 Hints for Life
1. It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is more painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let that person know how you feel.
2. A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you, only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and you just have to let go.
3. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.
4. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.
5. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone but – it takes a lifetime to forget someone.
6. Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
7. Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
8. Always put yourself in the other's shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the person too.
9. A careless word may kindle strife; a cruel word may wreck a life; an untimely word may level stress; a loving word may heal and bless.
10. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
11. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, ends with a tear. When you were born, you were crying, and, everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one smiling and everyone around you is crying.
1. It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is more painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let that person know how you feel.
2. A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you, only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and you just have to let go.
3. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.
4. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.
5. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone but – it takes a lifetime to forget someone.
6. Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
7. Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
8. Always put yourself in the other's shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the person too.
9. A careless word may kindle strife; a cruel word may wreck a life; an untimely word may level stress; a loving word may heal and bless.
10. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
11. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, ends with a tear. When you were born, you were crying, and, everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one smiling and everyone around you is crying.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Peacemaking Tip
Ok, so I stole this from the MVC November Newsletter. But I really like it and find it quite profound.
God has given us divine weapons to use in our quest for peace. These weapons include Scripture, prayer, truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. (Eph. 6:10-18, gal. 5:22-23) To many people, these resources and qualities seem feeble and useless when dealing with real problems, and so, instead, we take up ineffective worldly weapons like defensiveness, anger, self-justification, and gossip. Yet the weapons of God are the very ones Jesus used to defeat Satan and to conquer the world. Which of God's heavy-duty artillery (like love and kindness, etc.) will you use today in your conflict? (see also Romans 12:14-21)
Just something for you to ponder today...
God has given us divine weapons to use in our quest for peace. These weapons include Scripture, prayer, truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. (Eph. 6:10-18, gal. 5:22-23) To many people, these resources and qualities seem feeble and useless when dealing with real problems, and so, instead, we take up ineffective worldly weapons like defensiveness, anger, self-justification, and gossip. Yet the weapons of God are the very ones Jesus used to defeat Satan and to conquer the world. Which of God's heavy-duty artillery (like love and kindness, etc.) will you use today in your conflict? (see also Romans 12:14-21)
Just something for you to ponder today...
Twenty Things To Remember
Twenty Things To Remember
1. Faith is the ability to not panic.
2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.
3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.
4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
5.When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
6. Do the math. Count your blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.
11. The most important things in your home are the people.
12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Come on in.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.
17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.
18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, whereas your reputation is merely what others think you are.
No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the angels to read. I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it, I want to have lived the width of it as well. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.
1. Faith is the ability to not panic.
2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.
3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.
4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
5.When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
6. Do the math. Count your blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.
11. The most important things in your home are the people.
12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Come on in.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.
17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.
18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, whereas your reputation is merely what others think you are.
No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the angels to read. I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it, I want to have lived the width of it as well. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
You're Worth It
"You are Worth It"
Do not undermine your worth
By comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different
That each of us is special.
Do not set your goals
By what other people deem important.
Only you know
What is best for you.
Do not take for granted
The things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life,
For without them,
Life is meaningless.
Do not let your life
Slip through your fingers
By living in the past
Nor for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,
You live all the days of your life.
Do not give up
When you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over
Until the moment you stop trying.
It is a fragile thread
That binds us to each other.
Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances
That we learn how to be brave.
Do not shut love out of your life
By saying it is impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love
Is to give love;
The fastest way to lose love
Is to hold it too tightly.
Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams
Is to be without hope;
To be without hope
Is to be without purpose.
Do not run through life
So fast that you forget
Not only where you have been,
But also where you are going.
Life is not a race,
But a journey
To be savored
Each step of the way.
Do not undermine your worth
By comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different
That each of us is special.
Do not set your goals
By what other people deem important.
Only you know
What is best for you.
Do not take for granted
The things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life,
For without them,
Life is meaningless.
Do not let your life
Slip through your fingers
By living in the past
Nor for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,
You live all the days of your life.
Do not give up
When you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over
Until the moment you stop trying.
It is a fragile thread
That binds us to each other.
Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances
That we learn how to be brave.
Do not shut love out of your life
By saying it is impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love
Is to give love;
The fastest way to lose love
Is to hold it too tightly.
Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams
Is to be without hope;
To be without hope
Is to be without purpose.
Do not run through life
So fast that you forget
Not only where you have been,
But also where you are going.
Life is not a race,
But a journey
To be savored
Each step of the way.
Ah the good life!
Gotta love those days when you get to sleep in 'til noon, and stay in your pj's and watch Hannah Montana all day. Just to later shower, put fresh pj's on, and go to bed. I haven't had a day like this in months. Ah the good life!
Poopie
This one's for you Katie...
THE POOPIE LIST
GHOST POOPIE- The kind where you feel the poopie come out, but there is no poopie in the toilet.
CLEAN POOPIE- The kind where you poopie it out, see it in the toilet, but there is nothing on the toilet paper.
WET POOPIE- The kind where you wipe your butt 50 times and it still feels unwiped, so you have to put some toilet paper between your butt and your underwear so you won't ruin them with a stain.
SECOND WAVE POOPIE- This happens when you've done poopie-ing and you've pulled your pants up to your knees, and you realize that you have to poopie some more.
POP-A-VEIN-IN-YOUR-FOREHEAD POOPIE- The kind where you strain so much to get it out, you practically have a stroke.
LINCOLN LOG POOPIE- The kind of poopie that is so huge you're afraid to flush without first breaking it into little pieces with the toilet brush.
GASSEY POOPIE- It's so noisy, everyone within ear shot is giggling.
DRINKER POOPIE- The kind of poopie you have the morning after a long night of drinking. It's most noticeable traits is the skid marks on the bottom of the toilet.
CORN POOPIE- (self-explanatory)
GEE-I-WISH-I-COULD-POOPIE POOPIE- The kind where you want to poopie, but all you do is sit on the toilet and fart a few times.
SPINAL TAP POOPIE- That's where it hurts so badly coming out, you'd swear it was leaving you sideways.
WET CHEEKS POOPIE- (The Power Dump) The kind that comes out of your butt so fast, your butt cheeks get splashed with water.
TIJUANA POOPIE- It smells so bad your nose burns and the room must be condemned.
UPPER-CLASS POOPIE- The kind that comes from people who think their poopie doesn’t stink.
THE SURPRISE POOPIE- You're not even at the toilet because you are sure you're about to fart, but OOPS! a poopie.
THE DANGLING POOPIE- The poopie refuses to drop into the toilet even though you know you are done poopie-ing it. You just pray that a shake or 2 will cut it loose.
THE WHIPLASH POOPIE- The kind where you push and strain until your eyes are blood shot and the poopie just starts to come out when OOPS! it goes back in.
THE PEBBLE POOPIE- This is the poopie that feels like a log coming out, but looks like a rabbit pellet.
THE POOPIE LIST
GHOST POOPIE- The kind where you feel the poopie come out, but there is no poopie in the toilet.
CLEAN POOPIE- The kind where you poopie it out, see it in the toilet, but there is nothing on the toilet paper.
WET POOPIE- The kind where you wipe your butt 50 times and it still feels unwiped, so you have to put some toilet paper between your butt and your underwear so you won't ruin them with a stain.
SECOND WAVE POOPIE- This happens when you've done poopie-ing and you've pulled your pants up to your knees, and you realize that you have to poopie some more.
POP-A-VEIN-IN-YOUR-FOREHEAD POOPIE- The kind where you strain so much to get it out, you practically have a stroke.
LINCOLN LOG POOPIE- The kind of poopie that is so huge you're afraid to flush without first breaking it into little pieces with the toilet brush.
GASSEY POOPIE- It's so noisy, everyone within ear shot is giggling.
DRINKER POOPIE- The kind of poopie you have the morning after a long night of drinking. It's most noticeable traits is the skid marks on the bottom of the toilet.
CORN POOPIE- (self-explanatory)
GEE-I-WISH-I-COULD-POOPIE POOPIE- The kind where you want to poopie, but all you do is sit on the toilet and fart a few times.
SPINAL TAP POOPIE- That's where it hurts so badly coming out, you'd swear it was leaving you sideways.
WET CHEEKS POOPIE- (The Power Dump) The kind that comes out of your butt so fast, your butt cheeks get splashed with water.
TIJUANA POOPIE- It smells so bad your nose burns and the room must be condemned.
UPPER-CLASS POOPIE- The kind that comes from people who think their poopie doesn’t stink.
THE SURPRISE POOPIE- You're not even at the toilet because you are sure you're about to fart, but OOPS! a poopie.
THE DANGLING POOPIE- The poopie refuses to drop into the toilet even though you know you are done poopie-ing it. You just pray that a shake or 2 will cut it loose.
THE WHIPLASH POOPIE- The kind where you push and strain until your eyes are blood shot and the poopie just starts to come out when OOPS! it goes back in.
THE PEBBLE POOPIE- This is the poopie that feels like a log coming out, but looks like a rabbit pellet.
How to impress...
How to impress a woman:
Compliment her
Caress her
Cuddle her
Kiss her
Love her
Comfort her
Stroke her
Tease her
Protect her
Hug her
Hold her
Dine her
Listen to her
Care for her
Stand by her
Support her
Go to the ends of the earth for her
How to impress a man:
Show up naked
Bring beer
Compliment her
Caress her
Cuddle her
Kiss her
Love her
Comfort her
Stroke her
Tease her
Protect her
Hug her
Hold her
Dine her
Listen to her
Care for her
Stand by her
Support her
Go to the ends of the earth for her
How to impress a man:
Show up naked
Bring beer
Words to Live By: Forgiveness
for-give-ness, noun:
1. the act of pardoning, of overlooking an offense
2. the act of sending away a wrong or rejecting it
3. the state of being free from penalty
4. Biblical: the act of remitting sin
5. Personal: the compassion that erases the heart's memory of wrongs suffered.
If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
-Matthew 6:14-15
May I tell you why it seems to me a good thing for us to remember wrong that has been done us? That we may forgive it.
-Charles Dickens
Have you ever heard the term "technical forgiveness"? It's when you forgive the will and the mind, but your heart holds the offense and still demands its due. I've got news for you, it's not good enough for God. The New Testament has two main words for forgiveness, aphiemi "to send away", and apoluo "to release someone" or "to set someone free". When you hold someone in unforgiveness, it is as if you have put that person in prison. And until you forgive that person, he/she cannot be set free. Funny thing is, that person may not even know that you've put them in their own little prison. But the thing is, when yu hold anyone in prison, you are in prison as well.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
-Ephesians 4:32
Tonight has been very trying on my heart. I saw two people that I never thought I'd see again, and quite honestly would be perfectly fine never seeing again.
As silly now as it seems for what one person did to me a year ago, I was really hurt and bothered by it. But in my mind I had forgiven him sometime ago. You forgive because it's the right thing to do, right? And although I'd "forgiven" him, I cared to never have to be in the same room as him again. But tonight I arrived at a friend's house for dinner, before heading out for an activity, and low and behold there was this person on their couch. Nice, no warning, not! It's been a year, I can handle it. My thought was, I'll just ignore and pretend he's not here. That would work, except for the fact that he's entirely too funny to not ignore. I'd be the idiot not laughing at the funny guy because I was ignoring him. So that plan didn't work. As the evening went on things were going fine. Granted, we weren't actually talking one on one with each other, but we could be in the same conversation and play a game together. But we had kind of a mutual, unspoken understanding that things were cool. Phew! Made it over that hurdle...
And then another one came. Someone, who was a close very good friend, arrived. This someone that basically walked out of our group of friends with no explanation showed up. She came because she has recently been talking with a mutual friend. And once again, a warning would have been really nice. Completely out of the blue, I was walking into the living room from the kitchen and she was walking into the living room from the front door. I stopped, dead in my track, shocked really. And I'm sure she saw the shock on my face. I thought I'd never see her again, I think a lot of us thought that. But we said a quick uncomfortable hello was spoken and that was about it there. And it stayed uncomfortable the rest of the time. Quite honestly, I didn't want to be in the same room/area as her because I was (and still am) so hurt for how she abruptly ended our friendship. I just wanted to grab my keys and leave. But I couldn't, I knew I couldn't. What kind of message would that have sent? I stayed, I busied myself in the kitchen, I avoided.
But it was hard. This person was a best friend. How can I forgive someone for walking away? Not only walking away, but not giving any reason or even a goodbye. I was torn. I wanted to be mad. And I am mad. I'm mad that I wasn't given a warning. I'm mad that things are so strained. I'm mad that I have no idea what I did to piss her off. I'm mad that she never came to me to talk things out. I'm mad at myself for being so stubborn and I didn't chase my friend. I'm mad that people were so excited to see her after she disappeared 5 months ago. How can they forgive her so quickly, and I'm holding on so hard? I'm mad that I can't randomly call her up or send her a text message. And I'm mad because I want our friendship to be back to how it was before, but I don't know if I can ever trust her like I did.
My heart needs healing. And I need to be able to forgive, let go, and give it to God. I need to forgive her for the things that I'm upset about. But I also need to seek forgiveness for what I did or didn't do. But I horde, oh how I horde. And I bottle. I'm a good bottler of my feelings. All my feelings are safe in that bottle.
God, forgive me for the unforgiveness in my life. Help me to find compassion for the weakness of those people who have wronged me, and give me the grace to forgive them from my heart.
-Amen
1. the act of pardoning, of overlooking an offense
2. the act of sending away a wrong or rejecting it
3. the state of being free from penalty
4. Biblical: the act of remitting sin
5. Personal: the compassion that erases the heart's memory of wrongs suffered.
If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
-Matthew 6:14-15
May I tell you why it seems to me a good thing for us to remember wrong that has been done us? That we may forgive it.
-Charles Dickens
Have you ever heard the term "technical forgiveness"? It's when you forgive the will and the mind, but your heart holds the offense and still demands its due. I've got news for you, it's not good enough for God. The New Testament has two main words for forgiveness, aphiemi "to send away", and apoluo "to release someone" or "to set someone free". When you hold someone in unforgiveness, it is as if you have put that person in prison. And until you forgive that person, he/she cannot be set free. Funny thing is, that person may not even know that you've put them in their own little prison. But the thing is, when yu hold anyone in prison, you are in prison as well.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
-Ephesians 4:32
Tonight has been very trying on my heart. I saw two people that I never thought I'd see again, and quite honestly would be perfectly fine never seeing again.
As silly now as it seems for what one person did to me a year ago, I was really hurt and bothered by it. But in my mind I had forgiven him sometime ago. You forgive because it's the right thing to do, right? And although I'd "forgiven" him, I cared to never have to be in the same room as him again. But tonight I arrived at a friend's house for dinner, before heading out for an activity, and low and behold there was this person on their couch. Nice, no warning, not! It's been a year, I can handle it. My thought was, I'll just ignore and pretend he's not here. That would work, except for the fact that he's entirely too funny to not ignore. I'd be the idiot not laughing at the funny guy because I was ignoring him. So that plan didn't work. As the evening went on things were going fine. Granted, we weren't actually talking one on one with each other, but we could be in the same conversation and play a game together. But we had kind of a mutual, unspoken understanding that things were cool. Phew! Made it over that hurdle...
And then another one came. Someone, who was a close very good friend, arrived. This someone that basically walked out of our group of friends with no explanation showed up. She came because she has recently been talking with a mutual friend. And once again, a warning would have been really nice. Completely out of the blue, I was walking into the living room from the kitchen and she was walking into the living room from the front door. I stopped, dead in my track, shocked really. And I'm sure she saw the shock on my face. I thought I'd never see her again, I think a lot of us thought that. But we said a quick uncomfortable hello was spoken and that was about it there. And it stayed uncomfortable the rest of the time. Quite honestly, I didn't want to be in the same room/area as her because I was (and still am) so hurt for how she abruptly ended our friendship. I just wanted to grab my keys and leave. But I couldn't, I knew I couldn't. What kind of message would that have sent? I stayed, I busied myself in the kitchen, I avoided.
But it was hard. This person was a best friend. How can I forgive someone for walking away? Not only walking away, but not giving any reason or even a goodbye. I was torn. I wanted to be mad. And I am mad. I'm mad that I wasn't given a warning. I'm mad that things are so strained. I'm mad that I have no idea what I did to piss her off. I'm mad that she never came to me to talk things out. I'm mad at myself for being so stubborn and I didn't chase my friend. I'm mad that people were so excited to see her after she disappeared 5 months ago. How can they forgive her so quickly, and I'm holding on so hard? I'm mad that I can't randomly call her up or send her a text message. And I'm mad because I want our friendship to be back to how it was before, but I don't know if I can ever trust her like I did.
My heart needs healing. And I need to be able to forgive, let go, and give it to God. I need to forgive her for the things that I'm upset about. But I also need to seek forgiveness for what I did or didn't do. But I horde, oh how I horde. And I bottle. I'm a good bottler of my feelings. All my feelings are safe in that bottle.
God, forgive me for the unforgiveness in my life. Help me to find compassion for the weakness of those people who have wronged me, and give me the grace to forgive them from my heart.
-Amen
Friday, October 26, 2007
One down
Today was one of two memorial services for my Nana. Since she was a resident of Covenant Village, we had a small service for so her friends and nurses could attend. So I took an early lunch so I could go.
When I got there, just minutes before the service was to start, I was harassed by a little old lady (L.O.L.) for parking in a resident's spot. She said that I couldn't park there and had to go to the guest parking area. In all the times visiting my Nana, I'd never had to park in the guest parking. There were always spare spots open by her building. And of course, guest parking it on the opposite property of where I needed to be. I explained that I was in a hurry, my Nana's memorial service was starting and I was going to be late. She said, in a nasty uncompassionate way, well, you'll need to park over there (pointing), in guest parking. So fine, I'll move. Little did she know I just moved to another resident's spot in a different lot. And she proceeded to try to get the key to her car in the unlocker, with her nose inches from the door. Yes, she was going to drive away, barely able to see where to put the key to unlock the door. So that put me in a mood, and I cried throughout the service that I was late to. Thanks L.O.L.!
It was a very nice service. Dad talked about my Nana's life. Some shared stories of their time with Nana. The Chaplain read Psalm 23. And then I had to go back to work and finish the day.
Service #2 will be in December. Family will be invited, as well as our Hilmar family/community. No L.O.L.s will be telling me where to park at that service!
When I got there, just minutes before the service was to start, I was harassed by a little old lady (L.O.L.) for parking in a resident's spot. She said that I couldn't park there and had to go to the guest parking area. In all the times visiting my Nana, I'd never had to park in the guest parking. There were always spare spots open by her building. And of course, guest parking it on the opposite property of where I needed to be. I explained that I was in a hurry, my Nana's memorial service was starting and I was going to be late. She said, in a nasty uncompassionate way, well, you'll need to park over there (pointing), in guest parking. So fine, I'll move. Little did she know I just moved to another resident's spot in a different lot. And she proceeded to try to get the key to her car in the unlocker, with her nose inches from the door. Yes, she was going to drive away, barely able to see where to put the key to unlock the door. So that put me in a mood, and I cried throughout the service that I was late to. Thanks L.O.L.!
It was a very nice service. Dad talked about my Nana's life. Some shared stories of their time with Nana. The Chaplain read Psalm 23. And then I had to go back to work and finish the day.
Service #2 will be in December. Family will be invited, as well as our Hilmar family/community. No L.O.L.s will be telling me where to park at that service!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Things that make you go Hummmmm...
Have you ever wondered what you've done wrong? In your life? With your family? Towards your friends? You may not know that you've done something wrong, but you just get the feeling. Maybe it's a gut feeling. Maybe it's observation of how others act towards you. Maybe it's because people just disappear from your life without an explaination. Maybe you just know without knowing. Hummmm....
I know I've done things wrong in my life. And those are consequences that I've dealt with or had to live with. But it's the wrongs that I don't know I do that make me wonder.
I, for the most part, do not do things wrong on purpose. There are the few times that I do. If I did, and I realized later that I had, I'll apologize. I'll fess up. I'll apologize even if someone took what I did, even if it's not wrong, the wrong way and they come to me about it. I just don't like it when people have ill feelings towards me. I'm too much of a people pleaser. But, if I don't know what I did and I'm not called on it, then I don't know about it, wrong or not. And quite frankly, I won't feel there is a reason to apologize.
So, if you're out there, and you feel I've wronged you but you won't come to me, then I'm sorry that you don't feel that you can't come to me about it. But, without know what I've done, I'm not sorry. I work things out with people. And I'll be honest. But until then, I don't know what to tell you.
I know I've done things wrong in my life. And those are consequences that I've dealt with or had to live with. But it's the wrongs that I don't know I do that make me wonder.
I, for the most part, do not do things wrong on purpose. There are the few times that I do. If I did, and I realized later that I had, I'll apologize. I'll fess up. I'll apologize even if someone took what I did, even if it's not wrong, the wrong way and they come to me about it. I just don't like it when people have ill feelings towards me. I'm too much of a people pleaser. But, if I don't know what I did and I'm not called on it, then I don't know about it, wrong or not. And quite frankly, I won't feel there is a reason to apologize.
So, if you're out there, and you feel I've wronged you but you won't come to me, then I'm sorry that you don't feel that you can't come to me about it. But, without know what I've done, I'm not sorry. I work things out with people. And I'll be honest. But until then, I don't know what to tell you.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Warning
I have a confession to make. I haven't been truthful in my blogs. I don't mean that I've been lying or saying things that are false. I mean that I've been hiding feelings. I've been caution when posting blogs. You know, stick to things that won't offend people, won't step on toes, won't hurt feelings, safe areas. Well, guess what. I'm tired of skirting, avoiding, and fearing. It's time to be candid and let it loose. This is my blog, my diary, my journal if you will. Now, this isn't going to turn negative or whatever, it's just going to be a place where I'll express my feelings, fully and truthfully. And if you don't like what I have to say as I write out my thoughts, then don't read, close the screen. I'm not trying to cause drama or hurt people. I know there are people out there that know me, but don't talk to me, and only read my blog to know what's going on in my life. That's fine, but I've avoided things because of you. But I'm avoiding no more.
I'm just giving you a warning.
I'm just giving you a warning.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wedding Pictures II
Now it's time for a select number of photos taken by Bridemaid Tyler. Can I just say, Tyler is one of the most photogenic people I know.
Rylen and Sarah.
Look at me, ahhhh...
Rylen and Jim with most of their families.
Like mother, like daughter.
Tyler and Rachel.
Maid of Honor and Best Man.
The Bride after a quick bite to eat.
Close up!
The neighbors...
Woot, woot! Go Dave!
Rylen and Kim gettin' their groove on.
Brett at his best.
Rylen and Sarah.
Look at me, ahhhh...
Rylen and Jim with most of their families.
Like mother, like daughter.
Tyler and Rachel.
Maid of Honor and Best Man.
The Bride after a quick bite to eat.
Close up!
The neighbors...
Woot, woot! Go Dave!
Rylen and Kim gettin' their groove on.
Brett at his best.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Wedding of the Century!
The wedding is over folks! Rylen and Jim are married. The party is over. The dress is in need of a dry cleaner. I've got some pictures to share with you. And as I get pictures from others I'll share those as well. So enjoy!
Brett with one of the beautiful bouquets.
The beautiful, not so blushing, bride.
Rachie on the party bus. WootWoot!
Dave and I after dinner.
Annie Anne cuttin' a rug.
Steve has got his priorities, beer THEN dancing!
Jim bustin' a move.
Sarah and her man Dave (he's Canadian).
Tyler dancin' a jig.
Brett with one of the beautiful bouquets.
The beautiful, not so blushing, bride.
Rachie on the party bus. WootWoot!
Dave and I after dinner.
Annie Anne cuttin' a rug.
Steve has got his priorities, beer THEN dancing!
Jim bustin' a move.
Sarah and her man Dave (he's Canadian).
Tyler dancin' a jig.
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