Tag Archives: Change

Reflections: Spirit Feeding † Flesh Starving

Posted on May 5, 2024 | 5 comments

I had my thoughts all planned out on how my reflections post was going to play out. But then I realized I didn’t really answer any of the questions. So I’m copy & pasting question and answers after.

There is one thing that is certain in the world of blogging. Bloggers come and bloggers go. Some people can handle the isolation that comes along with being a blogger. Some can’t and so they move on to bigger and better and more instant gratification social media events. One thing is certain, change: it can be good, it can be bad, but it is inevitable.

We tend to follow blogs we are familiar and comfortable with. When visiting new blogs takes too much time to find the post or the beginning of the challenge, I leave.  If I can’t find out how to comment, I’m probably not going to spend time visiting again.  If I have to create a username or an account on that platform, forget it. (Sorry, I’m not doing that.)

Time is precious. We all want to make our minutes count. Once they are gone we can’t get them back. I know I am going to use my minutes on something I enjoy. If reading and commenting on a new blog is more like work than a hobby or enjoyment, I’m not going to do it.

I enjoy this challenge very much and I enjoy my fellow bloggers, who I visit and who visit me. I wish I had had more time to visit this year. (Work really cuts into my hobbies and things that I enjoy doing) Maybe next year will be different. I always say I’m going to blog more throughout the year, but somehow I just don’t seem to do it. Maybe this year will be different. Change is good, change is bad, and change is inevitable.

• Did you win? YES
o Did you post an alphabet of letter-inspired posts? YES
o Did you HOP to other A to Z participants? YES
• Do you believe your blog saw an increase in traffic and comments during April 2024? YES, because I don’t post much throughout the year.
o Did you check the MasterList to be sure your entry was correct? YES and it is.
• Do you feel the A to Z Team (Arlee Bird, J Lenni Dorner, Zalka Csenge Virág, John Holton, Jayden R Vincente, and Ronel) supported you, your blog, and this challenge enough in 2024?John visited often (thanks, John) 
o What changes do you hope the team might consider for next year? Maybe ask if more people want to be involved with helping support the new bloggers who join.  Example have each team member have a team of  “helpers per say”.  Separate the list of challengers and divide that list and give them to the “team helpers” that way they would be responsible to for visiting each and every post.  I don’t know, just thinking out loud.
 Will you do the challenge again next year? YES
o Did you use the http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2024-graphics.html Graphics page? YES
 Is the HTML useful to you? NO I just copy and paste.
 Are there any other images or graphics the team could offer to help you? What other images or graphics are there?
o Any suggestions for the team? GO TEAM
o Any thanks? Thank you team for all you do.  AND THANK YOU to my fellow bloggers who visited consistently and commented and offered encouragement.  I appreciate you all, and wish I had visited more.  I could tell you my excuse, but everyone has those and in the end they don’t really matter.  
o Any requests for the 2025 team’s theme? (The posts you’ll see on this site in April.) What was the theme this year?
o Any post ideas or requests for our monthly posts on the blog from June to February? Little challenges to get us involved.  Writing prompts, add a picture, create a poem, think of a new game.  Just “tossing it out there”.  ☺
 (Guest posting requests? Poke team captain J!  https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/)  POKE POKE POKE
o Have you followed the social media of the A to Z Challenge? YES, but I really hate social media lately.
• What was your favorite comment left by another A to Z participant on your blog during the challenge? 🏆 I love all comments that are left on my posts, with the exception of premade copy and paste comments that you see on everyone else’s posts.  “Visiting from A-Z, good luck” and then they post their link.  It’s like they didn’t even read the post.  Just they just commented to comment and to get traffic to their blog. 
• Did any other A to Z participant make you and your blog feel especially valued this year?  All of my regulars make me feel valued.  Love you guys.
• Do you have a favorite blog that you found during the challenge this year? YES!
• Do you feel you had a positive impact on the Blogging Community during the hop?Probably not anymore than anyone else.
• Did you invite or encourage any other bloggers to join the challenge? YES
• Have you learned anything because of the #AtoZChallenge? YES, time is precious.
• Did you use a theme in 2024? Any thoughts on themes? YES, if I use a theme in the future, my posts will have to be done ahead of time.  It just didn’t work for me this year. I find a lot of my writing comes out best when it is spontaneous.
• Was taking part in the challenge a positive experience for you and your blog? YES, I love this challenge.
• Consider the significance of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge, our values (community and inclusion), and your feelings about the experience. How may this influence your future blogging, learning, or actions? I really want to write more throughout the year.  We have a group among us who care about each other and offer support and encouragement.  That is important.  Even if we only get together April, I bet a lot of us could reach out with a post in the middle of the year and the true supporters of this community would be there in a heart♥beat.
• Any other thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the #AtoZChallenge 2024? Can we do APRIL CHALLENGE IN AUGUST?  
• Will you consider doing the challenge again next year? YES

Visit others in the reflection hop!
Cheers,

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Noise: Spirit Feeding † Flesh Starving

Posted on April 16, 2024 | 3 comments

Before I got my hearing aids, I didn’t realize how much noise there was in a day. Having 50% hearing loss in one ear and more than that in the other caused me to miss a lot. Some of the noise is pleasant, some not so much.

I never noticed in the morning when I fed the cats the one who thinks he’s a puppy always would rub my hand when I dumped the food in his dish. He also offers a meow of thanks which I had never heard before. (I know this sounds gross, but I didn’t know how loud toilet paper could be). It makes me smile when I hear Robyn tell Ella “It’s Granny,” and Ella says, “Leo, Leo, Leo”. The morning walks with Tall Cool ☺ne past the ponds fill my ears with croaking frogs and chirping crickets. The morning song of birds singing. I am amazed to hear the noise that I missed for so many years.

There are also noises I’d rather continue to miss, but with good there is also bad. Angry customers who swear under their breath because their bill went up and they think I can’t hear them cussing me out. More angry customers because apparently they couldn’t prioritize so their insurance lapsed and now they have to pay more of a fee to get it reinstated. A screaming child (in the grocery store, in church, anywhere). The noise of a siren just means something awful has happened or is about to. The gunshot of our neighbor shooting snakes will give me goosebumps every time I hear it.

I think we have a lot of noise in our lives. Some of it is good and some of it not so good.

Zephaniah 1:14 ~ The great day of the Lord is near, It is near and hastens quickly, The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter, There the mighty men shall cry out.

Just something to think about.  

Cheers,

             

This is part of the A-Z blogging challenge.  Don’t forget to visit some of the other bloggers in the challenge and also check out Crackerberries Kitchen!

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Changing Direction: Spirit Feeding † Flesh Starving

Posted on April 3, 2024 | 5 comments


Sometimes we let our minds dwell on the negative that’s going on in our lives. Things we cannot change. Neighbors, positions at work, relationships, money, etc. Even though this minute issues exist, we shouldn’t let that be the focal point of our being. We have to accept the fact that we are not in control. We might think we have to do this in order to do that, so we can get to that next thing. Uh huh, you know what I’m talking about. “Buy gas, go to work, buy gas, come home from work.”

Remember the story of Jonah? He did not want to go to Nineveh. It didn’t matter what he wanted, God said he was going to Nineveh. Sometimes we’re like Jonah. We choose our own path instead of staying on the path that God’s already mapped out for us. It’s easy to do and we’ve all done it. I’m just glad I haven’t been eaten by a whale … yet.

Sometimes when things seem really wrong it’s a good idea to change direction. One morning last year when Tall Cool ☺ne and I were out for our morning walk, we were almost run over by a truck. We both ended up in the ditch (truck never stopped to see if we were okay) and I ended up with poison ivy for a month! We wear reflective vests and headlights, so it wasn’t like they didn’t see us. It was the scariest thing ever, and intentional. We had to change direction. Trust me when I tell you, now when we see lights coming, we get off the road completely.

Change the way you think. Clear the mind from all negative thoughts. A clear mind is a healthy mind. Count blessings. Concentrate on thanking God for where you are right now because the struggle you might be going through right now is part of a bigger plan later on.

What are you struggling with right now? Give them to me and I will put them in God’s pocket with my struggles and He will see us through it together.

Cheers,

This is part of the A-Z blogging challenge.  Be sure to visit other players and don’t forget to check out Crackerberries Kitchen.

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Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Blogging, Christianity, Spirit Feeding • Flesh Starving, Writing

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Quiet Life – Feeding the Flock 23

Posted on April 20, 2023 | 3 comments

“…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your own hands …  “

~1 Thessalonians 4:11

 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people minded their own business and didn’t try to run other people’s affairs?

Be blessed,

There’s a quick Pork recipe in Crackerberries Kitchen today.

 

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Posted in #A2ZChallenge, A-Z Blogging, Christianity, Pondering, Quotes and Thoughts, Random, Writing

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KISS: Keep it Simple Stupid – Feeding the Flock 23

Posted on April 13, 2023 | 6 comments



Kissing was  Tall Cool ☺ne and I’s favorite thing to do when we were in high school. We couldn’t wait to get out of the class we were in and meet at the locker for a good old smooch before we went back to class. He was tapped on the shoulder a good many times by our high school teachers to come up for breath. Ahh, the good old days. Oh, don’t get me wrong, we still kiss, but it’s not like it was when we were 16! ♥

I was trying to think of something different I could write for today’s post and the only thing that came to mind was to keep it simple, stupid. KISS. There was a post I had written ten years ago about kissing in the deli department. I like to think my writing has improved since then. I thrived on controversial subjects and bringing things out in the open. I try not to do that anymore just because I’m too tired to fight about it.

Sometimes God lays things on our hearts” and even if we don’t want to “fight about it, His word doesn’t change. Some things are right and some things are wrong. Sometimes we have to take on the fight and deliver the hard truths. Back then I knew there was something wrong with that incident, but just didn’t know how wrong it was.  Some people know how to deliver these hard conversations in a kind and gentle manner. Me, I’m still learning that empathy thing. He says “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” John 15:18.

Be blessed,



Don’t forget to check out today’s German potato recipe.

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Social Blogging

Posted on May 5, 2020 | 1 comment


Now that April is over the writing on a daily basis fell on the wayside. Not that I don’t have anything to say, I do. I have been trying to get caught up on all the other things I let slide. So many projects and activities I want to do. Cooking and playing in the garden and planting flowers, and building rock walls… and then of course there is work. Doesn’t my boss know how much my job interferes with my hobbies? (I’m just kidding) – I’m grateful to have my “work-at-home” job, especially in this day and age.

First of all, I’d like to say thank you to all of my readers who followed my daily posts for the blogging challenge. It was nice to have the support and encouragement and I appreciate each and every one of you. For me, it was nice to check off another year (this makes six to date if anyone is counting). I’m really going to try to post more often throughout the year, be it here or on Joe & Ella’s Journey or in Crackerberries Kitchen. As long as I’m writing something, I’m happy. How about you?

So my rant for the day is all the freaking idiots out there who can’t follow simple instructions. People blame the politicians for the things that are going on. Okay fine, but you know what, we live in a free country. It was our right to vote, and democracy put those politicians in office so if you don’t like it, next time you should get out there and vote. And if you did vote and still don’t like it maybe it’s time to get yourself involved. 

We may not like the way things are being handled but it is our responsibility to abide by the laws and the rules that are being put in place. This shit ain’t never gonna go away if we don’t follow instructions. I don’t like it any more than the next person. But we do have to follow the guidelines set in place if we are going to get through this and maybe have some kind of new normal put in place.

We went to Walmart over the weekend. They now have the aisles set up with tape on the floor going in certain directions similar to the painted lines in the parking lot. They have tape barriers where lines form for the people who don’t know the difference between two feet and six feet. People still can’t follow the instructions. They can’t go down the right aisles in the parking lot whatever gave people the idea they would do it right in the store?  It was crazy, people were looking at each other, who were looking at the arrows, like it was something they had never seen before.  They were like a swarm of flies buzzing around a pile of shit not knowing which way to go.

What pisses me off to no end is when I wait my turn and someone waltzes right in front of me like I didn’t exist.  I was at the yogurt cooler waiting to get my Oikos …there was an elderly couple arguing about something. They finally agreed to disagree and each one picked different yogurts and put them in the cart (ingenious), then sauntered on their way. Before I could take a step up to the cooler, some idiot with ear-pods and his hat half-way backwards on his head stepped right in front of me. He was wearing a mask over his mouth but not over his nose. He also needed to pull up his damn pants.  He decides to take five minutes to text his girlfriend about what yogurts were available in the cooler. If I could have hit him without getting in trouble, trust me.  I would have laid his ass out flat. I fantasied about knocking the hat off his damn head giving him a wedgie with those boxer shorts up around his scrawny little neck. Just because they are wearing a mask they feel that they are invulnerable and can do whatever they want. So annoying! Especially when they aren’t even wearing the mask right. Hey dumbass, the cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

I’m tired of seeing stupid posts on social media platforms about how smart everyone thinks they are. OMG really? Instead of just sharing what someone else is sharing, try researching a little. Ever hear of snopes.com? They have been around longer than any social media platform. People are crazy out there. They will take any tidbit of information, twist it and turn it around until it’s something that makes them look smarter or makes someone else look bad. It’s a terrible world we live in full of crazed killers, drug addicts, as well as unscrupulous companies out to make a buck at any cost, and a government that doesn’t give a damn. I stole that from Snopes… but am I right? Maybe only half the world is made up of those types of people. The other half is made up of gullible imbeciles who believe the rest of the world. Oh Chicken Little, the sky is falling, the sky is falling!

Anyways, that’s my rant. I think the virus has turned people crazy. Unfortunately I fear it’s only going to get worse. If I had a solution believe me I would share it. I think our leaders, as misguided as they may be, are doing the best they can with the people they have helping support them. We have to do our part and abide by the rules and regulations being put in place. If not for ourselves, for those less fortunate: (i.e. the elderly, people in nursing homes, people who are at a higher risk due to being HIV positive, having Asthma, just a weaker immune system, etc).  Have some compassion for others.

Until next time,
Cheers,

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New Normal

Posted on April 16, 2020 | 4 comments


We keep asking each other when things are going to get back to normal. Normal being the way things used to be. Baseball games, music festivals, old home days, high school graduations, rock concerts, sushi bars and drinks after work. As I’m writing this, it feels strange to think about how many normal things have been affected by this virus. Unfortunately things will never be the same again. The normal that we once knew is all new. I don’t think things will ever be the same again. We have to get used to a whole new normal.

Remember how things were six months ago? What do you think they will look like six months from now? What about six years from now? What is normal to you?

We don’t consider ourselves the social butterfly type of people. We did like to do an occasional happy hour at the grocery store that allows one to drink beer while shopping.  There were a few annual activities we liked to participate in each year, a NASCAR race, a few car shows, poultry festival, etc. All those things are now gone! It makes me sad because we looked forward to those outings.

The new normal is not like any normal I’m used to. Instead of greeting an old friend with a hug, the new normal is resorting to a six foot distance wave or a peace sign. The new normal is happy hours with friends from home, on Skype and then posting the collage on Facebook. The new normal is working remotely, at home, only a phone call away. The new normal is going to be hard to get used to.



The next generation will think it’s normal. This generation will tell their grandchildren how they used go to a building and sit at desks when they went to school. They will recall sporting events and music festivals or day trips to theme parks. Vacations were get-a-ways where people flocked to celebrate. Toilet paper could be found on shelves and there was no limit to how much one could purchase.

The new normal doesn’t sound normal at all. I don’t know about you, but I like the old way better.  No cats were harmed in creating this post, me on the other hand, yeah… I gotta bite!




Welcome to the A-Z Blogging Challenge. This year I think it will bring a lot more people together with the epidemic going on right. Being quarantined means more people will flock to the web looking for things to do. This is a great way to meet new people. Maybe you will read something new, find a new hobby, or just be entertained by some random musings. Whatever the case may be, stay safe, drink plenty of liquids and enjoy the trip.

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Posted in A-Z Blogging, Blogging, Creative writing, Humor, Opinion, Pondering, Random, Writing, Writing Challenge

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Unsaved

Posted on April 24, 2019 | 2 comments

Unsaved

Can you become unsaved?  Apparently there is much controversy over this topic. Personally I don’t think you can. I have no doubt that once you are saved, you’re saved. 1 John 5:11-13 is the assurance of salvation. God has given us eternal life. Eternal life is an infinite duration. He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son does not have life. Once we have the Son, nothing can separate us. Romans 8:38-39 states that absolutely nothing—neither death, nor life, no angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate believers from God’s love. If God, the uncreated One, is for us and no created thing can separate us, then our security in Him is absolute.

Take a look at Ephesians 1:4-5 “… He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Why would God make a mistake? From God’s perspective, we have been glorified already because He sees us righteous because of the work of Jesus on the Cross. In the march of time we still must undergo the process of being conformed to the image of God’s Son. Romans 12:2 … do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I don’t think you can become unsaved. There will be trials and tribulations. There will be mistakes made. There will be sin and temptations. Romans 8:36 For Your sake we are killed all day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. For those who love God have always had to face death daily.

It’s a daily struggle. It’s why we keep short accounts with God. We pray, we struggle, we pray some more. We have assurance of forgiveness 1 John 1:9 if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He will guide us. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. He will strengthen us Philippians 4:13 I can do all things though Him who gives me strength.

Being like Jesus is not about keeping the rules, it’s about knowing His forgiveness and committing acts of grace and mercy on a consistent basis. It’s about living a life that values all people. It’s about surrendering our heart to the will of our Father in heaven. Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

I would love to hear your thoughts on being unsaved.

Keep the faith and may God bless you.

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Gift Giving

Posted on April 8, 2019 | 2 comments

I tried to come up with something for G all weekend. Something clever, something meaningful. Something that would knock your socks off.  My muse was not kind over the weekend.  I was dwelling on some self-pity.  Something didn’t go my way, and I was overlooked for  something I did that I thought was outstanding! Don’t say you’ve never been there.  We want to be appreciated more for what we do.  We want to be recognized for who we are, not what we used to be.  We all go through it every now and again. (Slap me, I hate that!)

Early this morning I came across an article posted for the A-Z Challenge about looking to the future. My perspective completely turned around. Every day is a gift and every day we have the opportunity to return the gift in some way, shape, or form. Maybe it’s a simple smile at the drive through window when you pick up your coffee. What about carrying that bag of groceries out to that little old lady’s car? How about a love note in hubby’s lunch box?  A favorite candy bar tucked into your child’s backpack with an encouraging note.  There are so many ways to return the gift of air that we get to breathe each morning when we wake up, and it doesn’t have to cost a dime. It’s free. Smiles and hugs are free.  ☺♥☺

Today I’m dwelling on gift-giving. I’m looking for every opportunity to give some sort of gift even if it just a smile or a kind word. What gifts can you share?

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I’m Saved

Posted on February 5, 2015 | 1 comment

saved3

I get these chain PM’s and emails and text messages quite often. They usually start the same way. “You are being tested” or, “God is speaking to you,” etc.  After reading a short little prayer it says to forward the message to a given number of friends within a specified time frame. After forwarding the message, something wonderful will happen or God will answer a prayer within a certain number of hours or minutes.  I never partake in these chain notes simply because I did too many chain letters as a young adult. Nothing ever panned out the way the letter said it would. The way I figure it, God answers a prayer every morning when I wake up and take a breath and have the opportunity to do something worthwhile to bring glory to Him.

This idea came to me in my middle-of-the-night, non-sleeping hours.  A chain letter of people sharing when they were saved.

I don’t remember the actual date, but I know it was sometime in March of 2008. I was attending church with my husband for over a year, taking notes and learning God’s word. On this particular cold early spring morning, the pastor said a prayer at the end of the service.  While all of our heads were bowed, he made the offer to anyone in the sanctuary who had not given their hearts over to Jesus, to repeat the prayer with him. At that point, he said to look up so he could acknowledge that we said the prayer, and then he would pray for us during the week.

I repeated the words of the prayer. I looked up to the pastor.  He never made eye contact or nodded to me in acknowledgement like he did to the others who also said the prayer throughout the sanctuary. I had intended to tell him I said the prayer on the way out, but he was jaw-jacking with one of the ushers. By the time we got to our truck, I was almost in tears. My husband asked me what was wrong. I told him I said the prayer but the pastor wasn’t going to pray for me that week because he didn’t acknowledge me when I looked up. Tall Cool ☺ne comforted me by patting my knee and saying, “Don’t worry about the pastor. That’s not important. God knows your heart and Jesus will take care of everything.”

Do you know what? Seven years later, Jesus is still taking care of everything.  What’s your “I’m Saved” story?

This is my meager attempt at a chain letter. Please share your story in the comments and be sure to pass it on to your friends through your blog, Facebook status, etc. These are the kinds of stories that are meaningful and proof-positive that God really does answer prayers.

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New Year Resolution

Posted on January 28, 2015 | 1 comment

New Year Resolution

calvinandhobbes

Happy New Year! Someone told me once you could say Happy New Year for the whole month of January. I figured I better get my greeting in before the end of the month. Is everyone still sticking to their New Year’s Resolutions? Or, have they fallen by the wayside?

I’ve been doing a Bible Study, and this morning I read something that convicted me. I recently agreed to participate in this ‘Pay it Forward’ network thing on Facebook. The sad part for me, (and granted my patience probably isn’t what it should be) is the fact that I don’t have five friends agreeing to take part in the connection of kindness with me. It’s okay, I’m going to move forward with the four who did agree.

But as I pondered on that thought, I realize that I rarely celebrate with the “friends” I have on Facebook who have good news in their life. I see post after post about the things they are accomplishing and sharing with everyone, yet I’m reluctant to “LIKE” or comment on them.  We all want to matter. We all want to be significant and important. We want people to notice what we are doing. These desires are innate. It is how we were made. Recently I haven’t posted anything about my accomplishments because I think people are going to think the same as I do. “Who cares?”

I know, shallow, huh?

Then I read Romans 12:15-16 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in own your own sight.”

When we claim the name of Christianity we are to carry ourselves in a manner that brings glory to God. I’m not saying we need to throw His name in everything we do (like some people do). We don’t have to talk about it, we just have to show it. He knows our hearts, and He knows why we do what we do, and He knows He’s the reason we are able to do the things we do. Some people are so busy trying to convince everyone else that Jesus is the reason they do what they do. In most circumstances nobody cares. And Jesus already knows. So it makes me wonder who they are trying to convince.  Themselves?

I realize social media is not a good supplement for true friendships and fellowship with live human beings. But for some people that’s all they have. In the new age of social virtual life, we need to be more cognizant in our virtual friendships. We should rejoice when they rejoice, weep when they weep. We should make it a point to be a caring and compassionate friend for those in need. 

With that being said, I’m taking the ‘Pay it Forward’ kindness act one step further. I implore you to think of someone who has recently had good news in their life. Now think of a creative way to go all out to celebrate that good news with them. How does that make you feel? Write about it and share this on your own blog.

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Thanksgiving – Day 2 – 10 Healthy Habits

Posted on November 21, 2014 | Leave a comment

health

H is for Healthy Habits

Day #2: Seven Days of Thankful Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving:  the act of giving thanks; a prayer of gratitude to God.

I am far from what you would call the poster child for “healthy”.  I’ve never been a size 6 (it just seems to me like a lot of women want to be a size 6) — maybe in the sixth grade I was but quite frankly I think that if I was a size 6 now I would look sickly.  I don’t consider myself fat, but I’m sure the powers that be in Hollywood or the rest of the world would call me just that.  Personally I like to refer to my curves as voluptuous.  When I dug out my winter wardrobe my voluptuous butt cheeks had a hard time squeezing into my voluminous jeans.  It has been a challenge to make a lifestyle change and adding exercise into our daily routine.

I can honestly say putting the extra pounds on is a lot easier and enjoyable than it is trying to take them off.  God’s word tells us that we reap what we sow in due season.  I was a Big Mac, large fry, diet coke, super-size, please, once a week kind of girl.  I remember hitting the salad bar thinking this was a good healthy choice as I loaded up my plate with cheese and ham and macaroni salad and all those other goodies you find on salad bars that are not actually salad items.  While I was hogging it into me I had no idea that the little butt cheeks were growing into bigger butt cheeks, or I should say, I refused to acknowledge that they would.

We know when we have that extra helping of mashed potatoes that we need to do a little extra work to burn the calories.  Look at the average kid today.  They are HUGE!  Yeah, you have some parents that will argue and say it’s a thyroid problem.  Most generally it has everything to do with laziness.  We live in a fast food and super sized kind of nation.  If your kid works on a farm and takes care of the animals a Happy Meal once in awhile isn’t going to make him fat — it might clog up his arteries in the long run, but how many kids are working the farm and taking care of animals?  Most kids have their butts plunked on a couch somewhere with a bag of Doritos playing a video game.  And the parents wonder why they have to pay more money for the extra-large size clothes and the kid is at risk for childhood diabetes.

Thanksgiving is definitely not a healthy holiday for me.  Too many temptations to deal with: egg nog, turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, squash soufflé, candied sweet potatoes, oyster casserole, stuffed mushrooms, bacon wrapped scallops, apple pie, pumpkin roll, pecan pie, oh YUM!  Even one bite of each of those goodies is way over a normal 2000 calorie plan.  It will be a struggle for sure and thank God for it only coming once a year.

Our health is important to all of us.  Some people take their health for granted.  If you don’t think it’s important ask someone who doesn’t have theirs. Ask someone who is sick.  It’s never too late to make a change for the better. To help with that, I’ve composed a list of ten healthy habits you can do every day that will help you live a healthier lifestyle.

TEN HEALTHY HABITS

  1. Be thankful for something every day.
  2. Do something productive every day. (Playing video games, watching TV, or surfing the internet does not count as being productive.)
  3. Say no to that second helping. (Serving sizes were created for a reason. Don’t be one who lives to eat, change that thought to ‘eat to live’.)
  4. Drink more water. An adult body is made up of about 70% water. Water does a body good.
  5. Set goals and don’t stop trying until you reach them.
  6. Get a hobby. (Again, playing video games, watching TV, and surfing the internet does not count as a hobby.)
  7. Learn something new. Discover a new recipe, go back to school, pick up knitting/crocheting, or visit a library. Never stop learning new things.
  8. Exercise more. Park in the farthest parking spot from the store, take the stairs, vacuum the whole house, or walk the dog instead of tying him out. Just move. Anything is better than nothing.
  9. Work on quitting a bad habit. Smoking, swearing, gossiping, chronic grumbling about things you cannot change, etc.
  10. Be happy. Be content with what you have because there is always someone out there that is much worse off than you are.

What change can you make to your lifestyle to be more healthy?

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Throwing Back

Posted on September 18, 2014 | 1 comment

PAPAWOLFME

 THROW BACK

… BUT YOU NEVER CAN GO BACK.

  • There was a time when those who stood out in the crowd were the ones who were looked upon as the outcast, the black sheep, the weird ones.
  • There was a time when those who couldn’t hit the ball, make the basket, or run fast enough to the bases, didn’t make the team.
  • There was a time when learning how to spell and add meant going to the blackboard and writing it out over and over again until you finally had it memorized and got it right.
  • There was a time when hot lunch used to consist of Welsh rabbit over saltine crackers and a spoon full of canned green beans and maybe some apple sauce if you were lucky.
  • There was a time when young men wearing a buck knife on their belt, drove their pick-ups to school and had their rifles hanging on the back windows because there was a good chance they might see a deer or rabbit on the ride home, and that was part of contributing to the family.
  • There was a time when penny candy really was only a penny and if you caught Maynard on a good day he would throw in an extra handful.
  • There was a time when kids could entertain themselves for hours by debating on what the clouds were up in the sky. “It’s a dragon.”  “No, it’s a donkey!”
  • There was a time when Sunday Dinner meant getting dressed up to have a sit down meal with the whole family.
  • There was a time when young people respected their elders and offered to help them without expecting anything in return.
  • There was a time when credit meant running a tab for bread and milk and maybe a pack of smokes at the local general store until the end of the week when the paycheck came out.
  • There was a time when people were embarrassed to be on welfare and wanted to work more than living on the government dole.

 Everything changes. Every day is an opportunity to change something. Make the change in you that you wish to see in everyone else.

 

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Change Something

Posted on March 20, 2013 | 3 comments

change

Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.
Helen Keller (1880 – 1968)

Have you ever gone to a class reunion or hooked up with an old classmate on-line and have them say, “Wow, you haven’t changed a bit!”? I suppose that comment is good if they are referring to physical traits. Unless of course you were ugly as a mud fence, or fat as a beached whale, then that comment probably wouldn’t mean so much.

Sometimes people change and it is pointed out in a derogatory way. “You’re not the same fun-loving, easy-go-lucky person you used to be.” Maybe bad things happened and she grew into an old spinster or he got tired of the world and locked himself up in his house like a hermit. People have a hard time with change, but unfortunately in our lives change is inevitable.

The only thing that never changes is God and God’s word. Pastors will sometimes say it’s necessary to take God’s word in today’s context. It seems like they change things to accommodate their own short-comings. For example, I’ve heard pastors say, “God wants us to have nice things.” Or, “It is okay to have a mortgage and a credit card payment”. Really? I’ve never read, “I want you to have nice things.” Or “do not be in debt to anyone, except the mortgage company and the credit card company”. Nope, I’ve never seen that in the Bible anywhere. Too many people make God’s word accommodating to their own convenience.

Maybe it’s time to change the way we read God’s word. Read it in His context and they way He wrote it instead of changing it to profit ourselves. Change, my friend, is what makes this sad little place we call our world, go round. We’re here for a very short 70-80 years, but it’s enough time to make a change.

Charles H Spurgeon said it best when he said “I’m not who I’m supposed to be, I’m not who I’m going to be when I get to heaven, and Thank God, I’m not who I used to be.” Imagine how great the place we live in could be if every single person would make one positive change in the way we do things!

Change your undershorts

Change the way you think

Change the way you talk to others

Change your attitude about your situation

Change something, anything

What are you going to change today?

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