Sad But TRUE

I usually have plenty of patience and go through my day without too many complaints. Today was just one of those days when I had to wonder what is wrong with people??

I was sitting at a stop light and felt a small jolt.  I looked in my rearview mirror and the car behind me (which had been sitting behind me for a few seconds already) had tapped my bumper.  So, of course I got out to inspect my bumper and to make sure all was well.  The man got out of the car looking confused and said " I don't know what just happened, did you just hit me?" I laughed and told him that my car doesn't go backwards when it's in Drive and that he had bumped me.  I asked him to pull off at the gas station ahead, which he did, and we exchanged information.  He was nice, but he never offered an apology.  It was not a big deal but it did get me thinking about this topic.

Later on in the evening I took my son and daughter to Bruester's for ice cream while their brother was bowling with his youth group.  I placed my order and then asked the young man if they had Coke products.  He looked a little puzzled, looked over his shoulder at the fountain drinks dispenser and contemplated his answer.  He then said yes, we have Coke, so... I ordered a small Coke.  When he came back with my drink, it was very peculiar.  It had very little ice, and was warm to the touch.  I very suspiciously sipped the straw and tasted warm, flat, syrup that didn't even resemble Coke.  I handed it back and told him how awful it was.  He said "yeah I know, our machine isn't working and I don't know what is wrong with it."  Um, okay so why didn't you just say that???  He was going to let me pay for it, walk away and attempt to drink it, when he knew it was undrinkable.

For some reason, there are some people ( more than I want to admit ) that have no idea how to deal with the plain and simple truth.  Instead of saying "I'm sorry" and giving you an answer or statement that you might not want to hear, but is true, they go the wimpy route. What is so difficult about saying "I'm sorry" or "No" when it precedes the truth?

 

Where is there dignity unless there is honesty? Cicero

Pictures are Worth.........

I used to be very camera shy. Anytime somebody tried to take a picture or video of me, I would run in the opposite direction. I usually avoided being in the pictures by being the one taking the pictures all the time. Being a Mom, I still take a lot of pictures but now I make a point of getting somebody to take a few of me too.

My silly attitude changed when a friend and her 9 year old daughter died in an accident. She left behind her husband and three small children. At the funeral reception guests were asked to write their favorite memories to save for the surviving children. I wondered how my own small children would deal with such a loss and how they would be able to remember me if there were very few photos to reflect upon. Would they remember the days at the park, the trips to the museum or playing in the snow with me? Would they remember how much fun we had?

Yesterday, I attended the untimely funeral of another friend whom I had lost touch with after High School. She passed away at the age of 36. At the service, there were photographs everywhere. There were huge pictures on easels, in frames on the tables, and on poster boards. There was a slide show playing on a large screen in the chapel. The photos of her at all stages of her life helped us to remember who she was, and how beautiful and alive she was. What a blessing for her family to have taken so many pictures!

Both of my Grandmothers passed away in the past year. Their photographs are even more important to me now, and hopefully, they will be important to the future generations who will never have a chance to meet them. .....Smile and say cheese!

R.E.M.

I talked to my best friend Lori today.  We got onto the subject of music (which is our BOND of friendship) We both love R.E.M. and used to sing our hearts out to their...gulp.....tapes!  We used to drive around in my U.G.L.Y. brown Reliant station wagon (with no working heater) wrapped in blankets, belting out the lyrics to great songs like Finest Worksong or Driver 8.  Boy could we sing!  

I always drove, which left poor Lori with the job of rewinding and fast forwarding the tape player to the songs of choice and reading the lyrics from the teeny tiny tape inserts.  She was darn good at it though.  Of course, there were tons of other bands that were blessed to be covered by our awesome, talented, voices, but R.E.M. holds a special place for both of us.  The sound of Michael Stipe's background vocals on the Indigo Girl's "Kid Fears" still gives me chills....

Ebay!!

I love selling on ebay.  I just opened an ebay store after selling on and off for the last 6 years.  My Mom got me hooked on it when I was home all the time with my three children, who at the time were all under the age of 6.  I was just beginning to home school them and needed a productive outlet just for me.

I say productive outlet because I've never been the type to join groups or clubs for some reason.  I don't really have any hobbies and I don't enjoy myself unless I'm being productive (with the exception of being on vacation).  I have no idea why.  I rarely just sit down to watch t.v. or a movie, unless I have three loads of laundry to fold, or can do paperwork or bills at the same time.

The thing I love about ebay the most is I get to have so much flexibility.  I would love to open an actual store in "real life"  but I could never commit enough time to it.  I have so many other things going on and I love being able to close down shop for a few weeks to go on vacation or just take a break when I'm tired of it.  I hope that you'll check out my store when you get a chance.  The link is http://stores.ebay.com/CONSIDERING-THE-LILIES  

I'm sure you'll notice the "Considering the Lilies" theme carries over to the store.  Just for the record, I named the store first, and then started the blog. I also have a website www.Considering-the-Lilies.com that I'm working on. 

The reason the scripture speaks to me so much is because I am so often reminded of what the important things in our earthly life really are.  I'll give you a couple of hints - they have nothing to do with money, possessions, or what the lost souls in Hollywood are doing today.  God has provided for my family every step of the way and He never lets me down.  Never!  Every time I have needed Him, He has come through.  Not always when or how I wanted Him to, but always when I needed Him to.  He knows our needs better than we know our own, if we seek Him first, all these "things" shall be added to us.  Take a minute to read Matthew 6:25 - 34 and have a great day!