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December 31 Only when.....LATTE OF THE DAY: PEPPERMINT FLAKE PEPPERMINT, VANILLA TOPPED WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND BROKEN PEPPERMINT PIECES...
It's only when we let go that life can truly happen.......
Yep... it's true... it is only when we let go of whatever it is holding us back at that particular moment that allows life to happen.... I don't mean living... we live each and every day... with each and every breathe we live... LIFE is what we make of it...
Too often we get caught up with technology, and conveniece and the constant daily struggles that we sometimes forget that we must let go of things in order to move on...
Take for example the Isrealites coming out of Egypt... They were heading somewhere wonderful... they had it all... all they had to do was let go of the anger and resentment and whining they did while in captivity... they had to let go of thinking they were all alone and had to do it alone that God was not there to help them... They were the promised ones, after all, and had everything they needed or wanted given to them...
YES THEY HAD THE FIRST WIRELESS CONNECTION TO GOD AS GREG SAYS... YES ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS WORSHIP AND OBEY GOD... WITHOUT WHINING... WITHOUT COMPLAINING...THEY HAD THE ULTIMATE COMMUNICATION WITH THE GREAT I AM... WHY DID THEY GRUMBLE AND COMPLAIN AND WHINE ALL THE TIME? WHY DID THEY NOT SEE ALL THE GOOD THEY DID HAVE AND WANT EVEN MORE? WITH ALL OF OUR TECHNOLOGY TODAY, YOU WOULD THINK WE WOULD NOT COMPLAIN AS MUCH AS THEY DID...
But, as I see it all too often, that is one thing that we definately have in common with the Isrealites.... I am not saying everyone does it... No there are a lot that don't... but they are hard to find.... If they had let go of their grumblings and let GOD do as HE had planned all along, the forty year journey would not have been as tough I don't think... they needed to learn something and by not letting go, they learned the hard way...
Just as we do... when we don't let go, we are choosing to take the lower road... the lower road away from GOD... for when we take the higher road, we give the things to GOD and let go of them...
It would be real easy for me to be upset and angry that they told me I had my anniversary off from work only to find out that I had to work it after all... It would be easy for me to grumble and make my time at work this afternoon miserable because I bust my behind working for others for their convenience and no one can do the same for my convenience or my pleasure... but GOD WILL be with me this afternoon... walking by my side as I slice meat for others... and as I serve them deli chicken... and yes even as I deal with the co-workers who need off early for that last minute New Years party they were just invited to... GOD will be there to take it all for me and turn it into something good and wonderful....
Just as HE was with the Isrealites, HE will be with me, watching what and how I deal with the things that are placed before me today... I choose to let go of the negative things today, so they don't weigh me down on my journey...
TEACH ME, LORD, WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO AND I WILL OBEY YOU FAITHFULLY; TEACH ME TO SERVE YOU WITH COMPLETE DEVOTION. (PSALMS 86:11)
If I had one prayer and one resolution for the new year, it would be that... that I obey GOD faithfully, to serve HIM with complete devotion, without complaining about the conditions in which I must be in to serve HIM and obey HIM in...
December 29 prepsLATTE OF THE DAY: OLD FASHIONED CHERRY CHEESECAKE VANILLA, IRISH CREAM, CHERRY, AND ALMOND The sweetness of desert in a coffee
As another new year fast approaches, I prepare for some many needed changes.... some are good, some are necessary... some are heart wrenching... some just are... My oldest told me he was moving out in January or February... is sad and good and heart wrenching all rolled up into one... my second oldest will be out the end of May or beginning of June... that one just is... I am not sure how I am going to feel about the first... the second one is needed... for everyone's sake...
New Year's Eve is also my anniversary... I have been married for 14 years now... when everyone said it would not last a year... It has been an adventure... some fun times... some rough times... some good times... some bad times... but I love him.... He won't tell me yet where we are going to dinner but it will be grand... I am looking forward to it... just some together time... just the two of us...
I have spent a lot of time thinking on things lately... perhaps I will share them on here... to help sort some of them out... but for now I am going to go crochet some more... have a couple of hats to do that I promised my little neighbor friend
 who just so happens to be Boo's friend too... December 27 Wacky WednesdaysLATTE OF THE DAY: JINGLE JAVA CINNAMON AND AMARETTO
WACKY WORD WEDNESDAY
I am going to start putting up a new word from the dictionary every Wednesday. I won't promise that it won't be a word that you know but it will be something that isn't used often, at least not often where I am or in the circles I am a part of.
Today's word:
ABNEGATE
V.
TO DENY; TO REFUSE OR RENOUNCE; TO RELINQUISH OR SURRENDER.
With that being done, I heard some news that saddens me... not that I knew the person nor did I care much for what this person did... that didn't sound right either... this person was a powerful person of sorts... and he died at 93... he wasn't in power when he died... and he was quite human... made his mistakes and had wonderful accomplishments I am sure... but it still saddened me that he died... mostly because he was once a president of our United States... a job I would never want... YES, the former president Gerald Ford died Tuesday afternoon and it saddenend me... I was too young to realize what he was doing as president... I don't remember caring at the time one way or the other...
I think it out of respect that I am saddened by his death... I was sad when Reagan died too... But it does have me thinking about some things...
The respectful nature of our society as a whole is disappearing... I may not remember all the stuff that Ford did as president but I do remember being respectful to my elders because they were my elders and not because they did something for me that deserved it... I remember respecting and revering our leaders because they were our leaders not because we always agreed with them... I know that there were those out there that were not respectful but it seems to be way more apparent lately... more prevailant... more rampant... just plain more of it... and not just with the leaders either.... the disrespect is all over... in work places... on the roads... in the air... on the tv... on the internet... in the schools... EVERYWHERE.....
May God guide us all and show us the path back to respect and to HIM...
December 23 Mary, my heroLATTE OF THE DAY: ITALIAN CUSTARD ITALIAN EGGNOG AND CARAMEL
Mary's song of Praise
Mary said, My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad because of God my Savior, for heremembered me, his lowly servant! From now on all people will call me happy, because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me. His name is Holy; from one generation to another he shows mercy to those who honor him. He stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans. He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of his servant Israel. He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all his descendants forever!
Luke 1: 46 - 55
How happy she must have been... God's gift to her and to the whole world is amazing...
I have to wonder about something... IN a time where being a single mother out of wedlock was punishable by stoning to death, Mary took what was told to her and what was given to her and was happy about it... She did not concern herself with what man would or could do... she trusted God completely... Joseph took in this woman he was betrothed to, even though on all outward appearances she was not faithful to him... there had to been rumors and talks from those that were not associated with the family...
If I had to pick one hero... one person who I admire the most... It would be Mary... long before I ever took my first breath, this woman went through what I did so that I would also trust in God... why I didn't see it before I have no idea... why I turned away at 17 instead of trusting in HIM to deal with the rumors and talks I have no clue... But God knew I would go and HE knew I would come back to HIM...
As I think about things, God layed before us everything we would go through... granted they didn't have all the comfort things we have in today's time but all the feelings, all the pains, everything... were experienced before us... it is written in the bible... If we look it is there... we all just need to remember that we are not alone, that someone has already gone through what we are, and that God gave us each other to help heal and get it all out... and HE gave us those before us as a guide as well...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! December 18 Mary, did you know?LATTE OF THE DAY: CREME BRULEE VANILLA BEAN AND ITALIAN EGGNOG SYRUP
There is a song out... duh you're thinking there are lots of songs out... hahaha.... no this song is one that has been redone by several artists... it is about Mary and her baby... It asks her questions about what she knew about her baby boy she delivered...
Mary did you know that the baby you delivered would soon deliver you?
Mary did you know that the baby boy would walk on water?
Mary did you know that when you kiss your baby, you are kissing the face of God?
Those are some of the lines...
Here are my questions to Mary.....
Mary did your heart break when your baby boy fell for the first time?
Mary did your heart jump when HE spoke his first words to you? What were his first words?? Did HE say momma or daddy like our children or was His first words Father and God?
Mary, did HE come to you when the other children were cruel and mean to him??? Did he confide in you when he was having fun with the other children?
Mary did he run and play or did he sit and learn and pray?
Mary, did He make you things as my children used to?
Mary, did your heart break when HE was lost to you but was with His Father and teachers?
Mary did you know then that HE would become the greatest teacher of all???
Mary did your heart break when you heard He was going off to spread the word about His Father? Did you long to keep Him close to you to protect Him from the evil in the world?
Mary did you know that HE would one day, in His 30's, die before you to save you?
Mary, how did you get through all the pains of being a parent of the most important baby born on earth? Did you feel all the pains we feel today? God gave you the grace and wisdom you needed to do the most important job you had to do... may HE grant me the same grace to raise the children HE blessed me with...
God bless you all!!!! December 15 rambling again..LATTE OF THE DAY: BUFFALO SNOWMAN CHOCOLATE BIANCO, CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI,
WALNUT
It saddens me that one of my blogger friends has shut down her site because of nasty people or a nasty person... I don't know what it is about this time of year but some people just get mean... spitefully mean... I wrote last time about a person at work... it isn't getting much better yet but it is going to... they finally hired a new person so I won't be working as many hours... unless the one person that splits the shifts does what she says and transfers to a different department... then I will be right back to where I am now...
I have been thinking about some things that go along the journey I am on... I know I am not alone in my journey... not by a long shot... there are a lot of people in my life... they all fill different needs that I had or have or just a place in my heart that I have for them.... there are those that I value what they have to say more than others... they keep me in perspective... they are all in it for a purpose... whether mine or God's... they are there...
I am having an ok holiday season... I am almost done shopping for presents... will do some tomorrow... I made 12 batches of fudge this afternoon... and a batch of almond roca... I will give most of that out as gifts next week...
Sometimes I don't feel appreciated... and then I think about things or God sends me one of my little angels to let me know just how much people do appreciate the things that I do do for others... I wish I could give you all some of the fudge that I made...
I will be on again tomorrow... with more than just ramblings :)
Merry CHRISTmas
OH and to my wonderful and kind and special friend... if you read this.... please please email me at f_i_t_babe@hotmail.com please ... Merry Christmad and have a safe trip :) I will be praying for you December 09 Along a JourneyLATTE OF THE DAY: SILVER BELLS EGGNOG SYRUP AND CINNAMON
God works in mysterious ways... He gives us what we need as we need it... He doesn't do it in our time table... He does it in HIS... we must be faithful and wait upon HIM...
Years ago, I used to speak in front of others about God... I used to lead others to HIM... I always knew HE was behind me and in front of me... HE always gave me the words I needed to do the job HE wanted me to say...
Then along my journey I made some choices and walked off the road I had been on... I never stopped to see if God was behind me... I never stopped to see if HE was beside me... I jsut kept making my choices... I felt that I let God down and let all those that I looked up to down... There were times on that trail that I should have died but didn't... there were times that I had been given loads of things that I didn't deserve... There was always food for my child... there was always someone looking out for the both of us...
Yes, God works in mysterious ways... HE knew I would come back...
I had a friend ask me the other day why I looked so unhappy lately... I told her what had been going on and how it made me feel... I will share the abbreviated version here...
At the place I work, there are a lot of power hungry people who think they know everything but yet know very little in the whole scheme of things... they think that just because something looks good on paper, it is gospel and if others can't get it to work the way is says on paper there must be wrong with that person... they never once spend any time actually trying to attempt to do the stuff that looks good on paper... one such person and I clash all the time... she expects the impossible from me and me alone... and this bothers me... it angers me... it irritates me... she often pulls the other person in the deli out right before lunch rush, leaving me there by myself... If I call for help she tells me everyone else has their own jobs to do and I have to do it on my own... if I don't get all my shift duties done because I am too busy helping customers, then she makes me feel retarded and slow, often yelling at me in front of customers or demeaning me in front of others...
Now, I have to tell you that I am not a slacker and can usually multitask very well... there is a reason that she does it.. I know this ... I knew this all along... the store director says I am dependable and don't need a babysitter to get a task done above and beyond what they expect... but I am also human and quite frail at times... I mean who doesn't want to hear "good job" or "way to go" once in awhile... even a "thank you" would be nice... The store director knows that if I see what is expected by the paper standard I can usually and will usually find a way to do it quicker and more efficiently with the same quality that is expected... nothing less...
However, his assistant can't get it in her mind that someone might just know more about things... and after putting in 36 hours of work in three days, I just can't find it in me to be happy... because all that was told to me was how I didn't get my shift jobs done and I didn't do this and I didn't do that... not taking into account that it was the first week of December and everyone was doing their food stamp shopping and everyone was out getting things for parties and just stopping for a bite in between present shopping... and not taking into account that she pulled the opener from the deli to help her do something else... so I think I did pretty well under the conditions... but nooooooooooooo I had to stay late to finish up all the work... does she make anyone else stay after to finish the shift stuff?????? NNOOOOOOOOOOOO..... does she demean them in front of others???? Again NOOOOOOOOOOO........ so why is it me that she does this too??? and is there any question as to why I am unhappy lately??? This just hasn't happened this week... she has been doing it for a while... it just took this week to get me to a place where I can't even find a smile for her... and it is only at the store that I don't look happy...
The friend I was talking to told me something that has made me think... she told me that that person is that way with me because she relies on me to get the job done... she knows that I will get it done... and make her and the store director look good in the process... so now I am reliable and dependable... and I still feel hurt and unworthy and unwanted and miserable...
She, the assistant store director, didn't come by the service deli at all yesterday... at least not while I was there...
God is trying to show me something... teach me something... have me change something... I am slowly seeing that ... in time I will see what it is that is actually making me feel that way and can begin to work on it... until then, I give it to God to help make me feel better.... December 06 Respect, Valor, and DiscretionLATTE OF THE DAY: IRISH CREAM NOG IRISH CREAM AND EGGNOG MADE AS A LATTE
Due to recent events in a couple of friends' lives and in my own little part of this life, I have thought a lot about a couple of words and what they truly mean.
Webster defines them as follows:
RESPECT: To show consideration or esteem for; to relate to. n. Courtesy or considerate treatment.
DISCRETION: The quality or act of being descreet; the ability t o make responsible choices; the power to decide; the result of separating or distinguishing.
DESCREET: Tactful; careful of appearances; modest
VALOR: Bravory
What, then, do all these have in common? Why would I think of these words and what they mean? Perhaps some people just have to make themselves feel better by not respecting those around them and those they have to come in contact with, whether through a work environment or perhaps an ex or just an every day thing. Respect isn't something that is automatically given to everyone else... Respect a lot of times has to be earned... there is no way around that... and Respect is a two way street... you have to be respectful in order to be respected...
Most of us are raised to use discretion... we just don't even think about it anymore, it is that second nature... We use it in all of our choices we make... We are careful to do the right things, careful in how we dress and act around others in our social structures... we are tactful in how we deal with others in our day to day experiences... we are descreet and don't even realize that that is what we are doing...
Valor... now valor is a tricky one... most of us don't realize just exactly what valor is... bravery is an open ended word that means different things to different people... one can be brave by facing fears... one can be brave by doing some wonderful and glorious act ( which is usually the bravery and valor we hear about)... but one can also use valor in day to day stuff... You use valor in going to a job that just doesn't do what it did for you and still smiling and doing your best ... you use valor when you do not tell someone off or have road rage because someone thought that the second they gained by cutting you off to get ahead of you was awesome... Valor can also be used when patience is being tested by those mistreating you...
So what do all these have to do with each other?????
Well you can't have valor without respecting others on a small level.... you can't have discretion without using valor... likewise you can't have valor without discretion... you have to respect yourself... respect God... respect others.... and when others take that as a sign of weakness then it is a choice we have to make to use that valor and be the bigger person...
I think about how and what was said between the apostles the night they learned of Judas' betrayal of their friend... Jesus did shun him... He didn't send him away and tell him to never talk to him again.... He didn't get angry and yell at him... No he told him to go do what he had to do... He welcomed him in the garden, even with knowing what was going to happen.... He used the valor given by his Father to support the discretion He already had been using in his life... What did the apostles think??? How did they act towards Judas?
How do we act and react to those who have little or no respect for us yet demand that we be respectful to them for who they are? What do we do when we have been betrayed by someone we know or thought we knew? We need to learn to do as Jesus did and forgive them and allow them to do what it is they must do... for it is not our place to persecute them nor is it our p lace to judge them... all we can do is call to our Father to forgive them for they know not what they do.....
Until tomorrow...
HUGS and Prayers......
December 05 5 votes of confidenceLATTE OF THE DAY: TWISTED RUSSIAN NESTLES COCOA MIX AND KAHLUA
I am always amazed at some of the things that come out of the mouths, or fingers in this case... I deleted the very rude and inappropriate comment left by a new person... to think that I would even respond to his page after a comment like that... hmmmm... do I sound desperate on my blog? I didn't think I was sounding that way... do I sound like a person that would jump on the chance for cyber umm umm??? don't think so again... So, if you are back, you very ummmmmmm you can just leave now because I am not interested and won't ask nicely to be allowed to visit your blog because I am not interested in anything your h***y valluim popping fingers have to type...
With that being said...
Life goes on here in the cold Montana state... it is so beautiful with the snow... cold but beautiful... I have been putting in a few long 10 to 12 hour days at the deli... sometimes I have a hard time with how people act and how so more important they think they are above the people behind the counters... sometimes I want to just ask them all what they do for a living and ask if I would be rude in demanding they do something from their place of work that isn't part of their job... but I don't and I give it to God to deal with...
A long time ago I cut out a small part of an article from a newspaper... I taped it to my computer desk and it gets moved from desk to desk whenever I get a new desk or move things around... I thought I would share with you what it says because I have to remind myself of the things it says once in awhile...
FIVE VOTES OF CONFIDENCE
Today is a new day. Hence:
1) I refuse to be shackled by yesterday's failures.
2) What I don't know I will no longer allow to intimidate me. I will instead view it as an opportunity.
3) I will not allow others to define my mood, my method, my image, or my mission.
4) I will pursue a mission greater than myself by making at least one person happy that he or she saw me.
5) I will not tolerate self-pity, gossip, or negativism - from myself or from others.
There you have it... I don't always succeed at them... More often than not I seem to fail at at least one of them every day... I don't mean to but I am human and by nature I forget that everyone else is human too... I am thankful that I have a forgiving Father that loves me enough to forgive me when I make a mistake... I am thankful that HE doesn't view me as a failure and a mistake... I am glad that HE gives me the opportunity to learn new things... I am happy that HE is patient and gives me things to learn on HIS time and not mine... and I love the fact that HE made me, all of me, and loves me as me... I don't want to pretend to be something I am not... I don't want to be what someone else wants me to be or seems to think I should be...
HUGS and PRAYERS!!!!! December 02 Tag Two or TooLATTE OF THE DAY: (PART TWO) PEPPERMINT TWIST PEPPERMINT AND CR. DE MENTHE
As I said in the first blog of today (see Updated News) I am doing two today.... this is a just for fun one....... go ahead... I dare you to do this toooooooooo........ it is only 26 things.... you know you want to.... I can see it in your eyes
 A. Available or Single-- neither, married Ok, so copy and paste it... it is quite easy and fun :) Oh yeah, due to recent snow issues, I am back to making beanies for people... I do it while I am waiting at the school, or in my bed supposed to be sleeping but can't.... even have to make some the same color as our security uniforms for work .... Updated NewsLATTE OF THE DAY: CREAMY PEPPERMINT MOCHA PEPPERMINT, VANILLA, HOT CHOCOLATE MIX
SOMETIMES YOU NEED A VARIETY OF CHOCOLATE AND THE PEPPERMINT JUST GOES REAL WELL WITH NESTLES HOT CHOCOLATE MIX
I don't know how cold it is right at the moment, but I do know that we have about 10" to 12" of snow in some spots and it is not quite as cold has it had been... the kids had no school on monday because it was sooo cold... how cold??? without windchill it was like 11f below... each morning when we would go to the school we look at the thermometer built into the top of the blazer I drive and the warmest temp all week long was yesterday with a whopping 14f degrees above and those temps do not include the wind which has been whipping around like it belonged there...
Doing guards last weekend in it was fun... it was cold, miserable, and just down right freezing... and I get to do it again tonight... we have cage fights tonight and I don't think I have to do parking lot so it won't be so bad...
There was so much other stuff that I had been thinking about writing on here... they will wait, this much I know for sure.... I went blog reading this morning... to some of them anyway... will do more again as I can but I have to pull a double today... had to work an 10 hour shift yesterday... but today's won't be so bad because it is split between both jobs.... I am getting off course again....
I don't remember the name of the song... I know it is a newer song out... KLOVE plays it a lot... it goes something like: dance with the angels on streets paved with gold............. fields and flowers and all that kind of stuff.... that is my new happy place in my mind.... I just picture myself surrounded by dancing angels on gold streets with all kinds of flowers all around us... everyone smiling and happy and getting along and feelings of love and hope and gratitude... that is my happy place.... and I have had to use it a lot... both at work and at home... one day I will have to write about it... just to get it out of my system and so I can think about it as I am writing.... but not today...
Today, I am doing two blogs.............................. keep reading...................................................
Today, I am going to do as Jean says and I have been tagged.... I only ask that those that I tag let me know that they are actually going to do it... it is fun and it is a fun way to get to know each other more....
soooooooooo here goes number 1 tag :)
6 Weird Things About Me People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly.In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog. No re-tagging.1) I have bronchial asthma and certain perfumes and colognes set it off real easy... in fact certain smells do not just perfumes and colognes. 2) I always have coffee to drink... except in bed, where I have either ice water or orange juice and lately it has been orange juice every night... 3) I have to be very extremely warm to sleep well... I usually have a personal heater aimed at my head at night... 4) I don't do cherry anything unless it is grenadine or marachino cherries which are more sugar than cherry. 5) I actually like fruit cake.... 6) My wedding band is a plain white gold band, which is what I wanted and like... I don't want to have diamonds on my body and I can't wear earrings or necklaces... I am allergic to them...
Ok, there are my 6 things... it is actually easier than you think... here are my 6 people that I am tagging...... Charlotte (of course), Greg, The cafe` manager ( Susan), Hearts, Schcrochet, Nolanola ... have fun :)
God Bless and Keep You All....
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