What To Do With The Time That Is Given You

I am very blessed. I have an amazing husband, beautiful and healthy children, a lovely house, an education, friends, and the opportunity to pursue whatever I wish in life. I have been reflecting of late on why it is that I have been so blessed. What is it that separates me from others that have not been so lucky? Is it fate, or perhaps luck? Is it really something that I deserve on my own merit? I believe that the answer to all of these questions is, "No". I am one life experience away from prosperity or disaster. Therefore, what right do I have to do nothing while others suffer? How will I choose to use my blessings? Will I lock them away in my house and provide nothing to others whose circumstances are different than mine? Do I truly believe that my responsibility is to those who are a part of my family only? Am I so prideful that I believe that I am superior in some way to those who were not afforded my life experience? What if it was their own doing that placed them in their current situation....is it really for me to judge whether or not they are deserving of the punishment?

I recently read a book that provided the theme "People who change the world are neither sinners or saints. They are simply people who had the courage to 'Do'". It suggested that when an individual sees another providing for those less fortunate than themselves or engaging themselves a great cause, the individual will call them a "Saint" or "Crazy". This is a form of "passing the buck". If you can rationalize that that individual is different than yourself, then you are off the hook. You can get by doing nothing. If you admit to yourself that people making a difference are exactly like you, than it is also your responsibility to change the world.

If I am a God-fearing woman....than I believe that it is my duty to make a difference because it is what God desires of me. If I do not believe in God...than it is my responsibility to do something because no "supreme being" will be there to intervene on their behalf.

I am a God-fearing woman, and I have come to the conclusion that I am blessed so that I have the opportunity to give. I believe that I will be judged on what I have done with the blessings I have received. 95% of the world's wealth is in the hands of 5% of the world's population....and that gives that 5% a responsibility to the other 95%. Remember, you are one life experience away from being out of that category.

You are always part of the solution, or part of the problem....there is no middle ground.


All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. -Tolkien

You Know Who You Are

So, this last year has been a particularly difficult one for me...for multiple reasons. There are reasons that people know about, and many that no one knows about. I am a very private person when it comes to my pain. I deal with things better when I am in control of every aspect and therefore am not one who shares my pain with others.

I am, however, learning that there are people in which I can trust. I have been amazed of late how the exact right people can show up at the exact right time in my life. I am so grateful for friends who know me well enough to notice red flags and just ask if I am ok...even if I am not up to sharing. I have been touched by how concerned friends have been, and their willingness to go to my defense even if they don't know why. It is nice to know that there are people who are on my team. Thank you for being there for me.

So, I FREAKING APOLOGIZE, then!!!

I know who I am. I know that I don't fit into the perfect mold of this community. I know that I don't have the ability to blend in with every crowd that I am a part of. I am not a chameleon. I am the same person regardless of who I am with. I know that I can be loud, I know that I can be opinionated. I know that I can be a bit much for some people. I know that there are a lot of people who disagree with the things that I do and have done. I know that I hate intolerance to the point of being "intolerant of the intolerant". I also know this makes me a hypocrite. I know that I over schedule myself. I know that I am a perfectionist to the point of being unable to continue with something if I can't do it perfectly. I know that I am sometimes wound a bit tight. I know that I can't type worth my salt. I know that I don't actually know my right from my left without thinking about it for a sec. I know that I am terrible at parking. I know that I don't immediately trust people. I know that I have trust issues and daddy issues. I know that I don't have a healthy way of dealing with any big emotion. I know that I have a lot of surface friends, and very few real ones. I know that there are very few people who know the real me, or care to, for that matter. I know that I hate to look like I am not put together. I know that I am not good at sharing emotion. I know that most people like me...but don't really want to be friends with me. Which really brings me to my point. I know that I am a very flawed person. I will straight -up own my crazy. No one really needs to point out every little flaw that I have to me. Every time I screw up, it does NOT need to be brought to my attention (over and over and over). I would LOVE it if someone would take TWO SECONDS and see what I do instead of what I don't. I feel like there is quite a bit I do for people, and yet, that never seems to be recognized. I would love to be praised for the work that I do instead of chewed when it is not. I know exactly who I am. I know that there is more to me than just my flaws. I just wish that people could maybe come to that realization as well. If you really can't just love me, I would really appreciate if you could PLEASE refrain from continually pointing out all of my faults. I try really hard not to point out yours, and would love if you could find it in your heart to grant me the same courtesy.

The Spooks

Halloween was AWESOME this year! My kids are HYSTERICAL, and I love to get involved with the craziness. This year, I had a crazy reptile, a bat, and Little Red Riding Hood. The kids went out trick-or-treating with cousins, Tornado, and Princess. It was great. Yep, Halloween is defiantly the favorite! How can you not love the fun and creepiness of this holiday?

The Scariest Thing

So, as you may know, my very favorite holiday is fast approaching...and so I thought it fitting to write about what scares me. I know that there are many who are afraid of ghosts and cemeteries and other such things, but I have never really been scared of them. In fact, I recently visited an actual haunted house with some friends, and have spent a night in a graveyard. (I know, something is wrong with me...if you feel the need to point this out, I suppose you can. Also, the video of the recent haunted excursion and a full report are forthcoming). These things really don't terrify me. I am not going to say that a creepy spider doesn't make my skin crawl a bit, or that a ghost wouldn't make my heart stop for a fraction of a second, but they don't keep me up at night either. However, the thing that really freaks me out is (and I fully understand the mocking that is comming my way for this) unnatural movement. Let me explain this a bit. You know when you are watching a movie, and suddenly the camera is sped up making someone move really fast and jerky? Or when someone is all bent inhumanly? That freaks me out to no end!! I know...it is the weirdest thing ever, but I can't watch that part in the exorcist where the girl is backward bend/walking down the stairs. It freaks me out for days! I can't watch The Ring...and not because of the plot or other creepiness...it is really just the way that that blasted girl comes out of the TV! I am not gonna lie, sometimes even claymation gets me. I am still kind of afraid of the Abominable Snow Monster in Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It gives me the flipping heebies when he first climbs over that mountain...and on that note, so does the old King Kong. What the crap is up with those creepy eyes, and the jerky way that me moves!?!? So, while I may not ever be scared of "What Lies Beneath", or any of the classic slasher movies like "Halloween" or "Scream", just know that I won't sleep without the lights on if you ask me to watch "The Grudge", or even, potentially "Rudolf".

Sectum Sempra

So, I totally forgot to write about the HP6 extravaganza that I had. (Harry Potter, and the Half-Blood Prince). I was asked by a friend of mine, Jordan Quist-Goodson, to volunteer at the HP6 party that the Jordan commons was having. I met Jordan at a few other midnight movie premiere camping crazinesses that I have been to. and so he knew that I was a but nutty for this type of thing. He also asked that Stef, (The Cap'm) join in the fun, as well as invite two others who could volunteer with us. I asked my sister-in-law Jen and her husband Devin if they could help us out. Stef and I dressed up as the Weasley twins, Fred and George, and Jen and Dev were Mad-Eye Moody, and Professor Trewlany. Stef and I handed out Pygmy Puffs, and candy from the "Weasley Wizard Wheezes" store to random people. We were assigned to check VIP people in. Jen and Dev ran the "Hogwarts Express". The evening was complete with butterbeer and cauldron cakes. By the time the movie started, we were all exhausted, but has had a really great evening.

Practice What You Preach

This is another gem that I found in a parenting magazine. I have had it hanging on my fridge for a few years (it is from the September 2005 edition), and it is pretty hammered. I decided to post it here so that I can finally throw it away, but share it with you as well.

Practice What You Preach
Are you sending mixed messages about good values? See if any of these little slip-ups sound familiar.

You tell your child it's nice to help others, but you never drop anything into your supermarket's food-drive bin.

You shout,"Turn off those cartoons", but you spend every evening watching TV until bedtime.

You tell your child she's perfect just as she is, but you're obsessed with your weight.

You explain that people come in all shapes. sizes, and colors, but when a neighbor tells a racist joke, you laugh.

You tell your child to be a better listener, but you interrupt his stories to answer your cell phone.

You say it's polite to take turns, but you hog the remote control.

You tell him to control his tantrums, but you curse at anyone who cuts you off when you're driving him to school.

You say, "Use your words!", but when you're angry at your partner and he asks what's wrong, you snap, "If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you."

You urge your child not to compare herself to others, but you get jealous if your neighbors take fancier vacations than you do.

You teach that it's wrong to steal, but you take towels home from the hotel.