Ok girls O mine. I'm not sure where I got it from but nonetheless, I think it's a pretty good story to pass along. It's a story about the colors of Christmas. If you've heard it already well then good for you but you'll hear it again.
Here goes:
The Christmas tree is always an evergreen. Evergreens never change color so they represent Jesus' love which is unchanging.
The color red used on a Christmas tree represents the blood Jesus shed for your sins and mine.
Blue is the color of Royalty. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Use this color and remember Him.
The color white is a sign of purity. Use this color on your tree to represent the virgin birth of Jesus.
Silver and gold was brought to the baby Jesus as gifts to a King. Hang these from your tree as yet another reminder of what the season is all about.
I love all the colors of Christmas but those classic colors listed above are my favorites because of this short little story about the symbols of a Christmas tree.
As time marches on you'll come to realize more and more how the stories of Christmas' meaning have gone to the wayside. When you put up a Christmas tree each year or take it out of the box, I hope you will tell your children this story as you do. It will start a family tradition that will make a difference in this world I bet. By the way Candi, purple is a color of royalty too so change up if you want! Personally, I like your teal tree! Love you all!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Blessed heavenly Father
You have given me another today and for that I am grateful. May I always see each sunrise as a gift from you to me. I will stumble and I will fall today in my efforts to walk more closely with you but you dear Lord know my heart is pure in effort and love.
For my ability to get up and provide for myself and my youngest I am grateful. For the clothes on my back and the food on my table help me to never forget that it is by your hand that I have all of these. You, merciful father have given me a piece of your earth to tend and grow. Each time I cut a flower from the yard I pray you will then remind me from where all things come. When I see other homes and wish I had better help me to never forget that you have given me all that I need.
You stood, kneeled, and laid down beside me when I was sick and I felt your healing hand. I pray dear Lord that you do the same for those who are suffering either in sorrow, addiction, pain or disease. Let them feel just how powerful you truly are.
Please change the hearts of those who don't know you and show me how I can help you to do this. Keep my eyes open for a chance to lead someone to you even if its in the smallest of ways.
You died for me Jesus & I in return have done nothing for you. Show me how to be a soldier.
Amen
You have given me another today and for that I am grateful. May I always see each sunrise as a gift from you to me. I will stumble and I will fall today in my efforts to walk more closely with you but you dear Lord know my heart is pure in effort and love.
For my ability to get up and provide for myself and my youngest I am grateful. For the clothes on my back and the food on my table help me to never forget that it is by your hand that I have all of these. You, merciful father have given me a piece of your earth to tend and grow. Each time I cut a flower from the yard I pray you will then remind me from where all things come. When I see other homes and wish I had better help me to never forget that you have given me all that I need.
You stood, kneeled, and laid down beside me when I was sick and I felt your healing hand. I pray dear Lord that you do the same for those who are suffering either in sorrow, addiction, pain or disease. Let them feel just how powerful you truly are.
Please change the hearts of those who don't know you and show me how I can help you to do this. Keep my eyes open for a chance to lead someone to you even if its in the smallest of ways.
You died for me Jesus & I in return have done nothing for you. Show me how to be a soldier.
Amen
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Sometimes at work we get really busy. I mean we'll be in the middle of doing something like maybe putting up stock, placing stock orders, answering the phone and turn around only to find that the counter has filled up with people so all you can do is say..."Who's next?" The guys will raise their hands and we're off filling orders.
I noticed the other day an older man sitting quietly waiting for his turn. Even though he was seated on one of our bar stools he stood out in the crowd because he wore a cap that proudly read "Korean War Veteran". I made the assumption that Kenny was helping him and Kenny assumed that I was. Still he sat there, waiting, never once raising his hand to get what he needed or saying that he was next.
When it was at last down to two people, the veteran and one other bearded man the vet still didn't speak up he simply let the other customer take his turn as had how many other people?
I apologized immediately when I realize that I had over looked his position in line and Kenny did the same. I could've cried when I realized how this soldier had been treated but I could've sobbed like a punished child when I realized a whole counter full of men had allowed this to happen more than I did.
He sat there wearing his cap never asking to be made first, never asking that his position as "next" being acknowledged. Did any of those men who were in such a hurry to get their order and leave care that this elderly gentleman had helped to make it so they could work in a free nation? Had any of those men shook his hand and thanked him before they so callusly took his place in line? Was there a single man in the crowd that cared for even a split second that this gray haired man in the navy blue cap with gold lettering had made incredible sacrifices for this country that we're all a part of? Did ANY of you in this state notice this man? How many places did he go that day and get the same treatment?
This veteran of the Korean War should've been first in line even if he had been last to come in. He should've been first as a sign of appreciation in case you can't find it somewhere in your wretched soul to say the words "Thank you" to someone who could've very well died for you and your family. It's painfully obvious that the vet didn't ask to be first or next in line but I can't help to wonder...
How many times was he called first into battle? How many times had he missed a first step made by his own sons or daughters? How many first Christmases, Thanksgivings first birthdays had he missed? He missed all kinds of firsts I'm sure. Pathetically he missed his first even in line at an electrical supply store. I personally can't think of anything more sad than an entire group of people being so caught up in their lives and their livelihoods as to not even take advantage of the opportunity to make a soldier FIRST in even the smallest of ways. Why couldn't those guys have performed this one tiny gesture of appreciation? Why?
My uncle Robert Lewter wore the badge of a United States Armyman and served in the Korean War as well as my uncle Henry Long. Leggett Hurst picked up his weapon to cross the Rhine River and do battle with his colleagues of the same mind as to protect and defend freedom. I can only imagine how narrow the lines of communication were all those years ago. Just how many times did a soldier then get to say hello? Why can't we as a nation at the very least make our Veterans first above it all?
I watched that old man struggle to get himself off the bar stool and I apologized once more for my actions. His reply: 'Oh don't worry about it. My wife forgets that I'm in Wal Mart with her sometimes and leaves me. I guess I'm just a forgettable kind of person.'
He laughs at his comment and my eyes fill with water. With a split second of composure I have to ask..."She doesn't forget you really does she?" His laugh is wonderful as he replies..."No girl, I'm just kidding with you!"
I watch him shuffle out the door and quietly whisper a prayer for this old soldier who derserves nothing less than a deep and sincere appreciation from a nation of people that he's protected with this life...he will always deserve to be put first.
I noticed the other day an older man sitting quietly waiting for his turn. Even though he was seated on one of our bar stools he stood out in the crowd because he wore a cap that proudly read "Korean War Veteran". I made the assumption that Kenny was helping him and Kenny assumed that I was. Still he sat there, waiting, never once raising his hand to get what he needed or saying that he was next.
When it was at last down to two people, the veteran and one other bearded man the vet still didn't speak up he simply let the other customer take his turn as had how many other people?
I apologized immediately when I realize that I had over looked his position in line and Kenny did the same. I could've cried when I realized how this soldier had been treated but I could've sobbed like a punished child when I realized a whole counter full of men had allowed this to happen more than I did.
He sat there wearing his cap never asking to be made first, never asking that his position as "next" being acknowledged. Did any of those men who were in such a hurry to get their order and leave care that this elderly gentleman had helped to make it so they could work in a free nation? Had any of those men shook his hand and thanked him before they so callusly took his place in line? Was there a single man in the crowd that cared for even a split second that this gray haired man in the navy blue cap with gold lettering had made incredible sacrifices for this country that we're all a part of? Did ANY of you in this state notice this man? How many places did he go that day and get the same treatment?
This veteran of the Korean War should've been first in line even if he had been last to come in. He should've been first as a sign of appreciation in case you can't find it somewhere in your wretched soul to say the words "Thank you" to someone who could've very well died for you and your family. It's painfully obvious that the vet didn't ask to be first or next in line but I can't help to wonder...
How many times was he called first into battle? How many times had he missed a first step made by his own sons or daughters? How many first Christmases, Thanksgivings first birthdays had he missed? He missed all kinds of firsts I'm sure. Pathetically he missed his first even in line at an electrical supply store. I personally can't think of anything more sad than an entire group of people being so caught up in their lives and their livelihoods as to not even take advantage of the opportunity to make a soldier FIRST in even the smallest of ways. Why couldn't those guys have performed this one tiny gesture of appreciation? Why?
My uncle Robert Lewter wore the badge of a United States Armyman and served in the Korean War as well as my uncle Henry Long. Leggett Hurst picked up his weapon to cross the Rhine River and do battle with his colleagues of the same mind as to protect and defend freedom. I can only imagine how narrow the lines of communication were all those years ago. Just how many times did a soldier then get to say hello? Why can't we as a nation at the very least make our Veterans first above it all?
I watched that old man struggle to get himself off the bar stool and I apologized once more for my actions. His reply: 'Oh don't worry about it. My wife forgets that I'm in Wal Mart with her sometimes and leaves me. I guess I'm just a forgettable kind of person.'
He laughs at his comment and my eyes fill with water. With a split second of composure I have to ask..."She doesn't forget you really does she?" His laugh is wonderful as he replies..."No girl, I'm just kidding with you!"
I watch him shuffle out the door and quietly whisper a prayer for this old soldier who derserves nothing less than a deep and sincere appreciation from a nation of people that he's protected with this life...he will always deserve to be put first.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
It's become a regular thing around here that my daughter have friends over EVERY weekend and sometimes on Thursdays. If school's out then my house is full and no matter if I've got $1000 worth of groceries 3 to 4 teenage girls weighing a combined total of no more than 130 pounds can eat every bit! Twelve pack after 12 pack of Mountain Dew and Pepsi are consumed and I think there's about 3 half empty bags of chips just hanging out while a brand new bag is ripped into. Blow Pop & Pop Tart wrappers adorn the kitchen counter mere inches from the trash can while I put on my best smirk, stare at 4 sometimes brainless acting girls & throw the trash where it goes all in a matter of fractional seconds. All 4 girls stare back at me like 'Ok? Good job with the trash thingie Mom!' and my non verbal hints are completely lost!
Every girl that comes over for the night (including my little angel) has enough hair product in tow that alone they could supply a city the size of the continent of Africa with various hair spray, hair gel, volumizer, shampoo & conditioner yet every time you see them it's one of two hair dos they're sporting. I'm confused. Why would you spend that kind of....never mind; I forgot I'm talking about teenagers, in particular teenage GIRLS!
It's scarey sometimes when they all come over because their overnight bags are the size of some of the smaller Samsonite luggage that I've seen. You know, the kind that should be on wheels that when stood on end measure 8 to 10 inches above your waist & are twice your width. I see those things and my first thought is: Her mom has made her mad and she's staying here till she's 30! I have to resist the urge to call social services and go ahead and sign up for food stamps & a place in the projects! Lots of times I've been so afraid of a permanent type of arrangement that I've been able to hear my heart beating in my head while visions of a life of poverty flash before my eyes! It's those times that I've called Pete to the side and whispered "Now how long did you say she was staying?" So far nothing permanent but it never hurts to ask right?
The stairs in my house are REALLY steep (ask Jennifer & Richard) so I wear cleets as a precaution when I go up to check the cleanliness issue that MUST be addressed when teens are in the house! Visitors of Pete's, without fail, comment on the stairs and cling to the rail for dear life both ascending and descending! Have you ever been on a plane and watched the stewardess do those funky hand motions while a voice tells you what she's doing it for? Ok, I sometimes feel like Pete should be doing those hand motions while I tell the girls how to approach the stair issue. Picture if you will, Pete at the top of the stairs hands going in this direction and that direction while I recite: "It is recommended that you take the stairs one at a time being careful to white knuckle the handrail the entire 13 stair pattern. Heels over 1/2 inch are not recommend for this journey & the idea of talking while in a forward motion is not permitted for your safety. We politely request that you maintain possession of your signed form stating that you will not sue should you break a tibular or femur while visiting. Thank you and come again!"
Some of the girls seriously have terror written all over their faces when they see the stairs! If I knew it would make sense to them I'd start singing..."and she's buyiiiiiiinnnnnngggg the stairway to heeeeaaaaavvvvveeeennnnnnnn" but they'd just think I was demented so I hum it in my head and watch them go up with my fingers crossed. After about the 2nd or third visit they're tackling the stairs in stilletos while texting and I'm sure that I liked it better when they were terrified!
I enjoy my weekends. Doing nothing, working around the house, hanging out with the family or just plain chillin' all day in nothing but jammies. When Pete invites her friends over all that's gone and I'm up and down till 2 or 3 in the morning because I've been woken up by giggles, screams, or huge THUDS when one of the girls have fallen off Pete's full size bed. Two other EMPTY beds in the house yet there are four girls in one bed! How can you say somebody pushed you off the bed when there's 4 of you in a bed made for two?
What really makes me question brain function is when they all get ready to go somewhere. Man what an event this is! You'll never see them more focused! You'll never see any of them concentrate more on what's going on! You'll never see ever again in your life such attention to detail! Put the shirt on, take the shirt off. Switch shirts with this girl. Loan your pants to the other girl because those do more for her butt than they do for yours. Hair up...hair back down. Wet hair again...straighten hair. Ribbon doesn't match...change shirt to match ribbon. Old boots....new boots. Part to the left...back to the right. Position hair to cover pimple on chin. Pose in the mirror, stand to the side..now the other side. Look over your shoulder at your butt...make your seconds ago loaned out pants be given back..change shirts...forget the ribbon. Pull shirt up 2 to 3 inches from the EXTREMELY low rise jeans to expose some skin...pose again making this statement...."Oh my gosh! I'm so fat!" (knowing that 14 Big Mac's wouldn't put so much as an extra ounce on the scales). Friends reply: "No you're not! I am...look!" expose flawless belly and put on fake disappointment face. Group huddle...snap picture. Group huddle again..snap picture. Pete & one friend...snap picture. Pete with another friend...snap picture. Continue this process until all friends are photographed (building up that portfolio for America's Next Top Model I guess...only they know for sure!) Then it's my turn to take pictures of them all. Pete with one friend...snap! Pete with another friend..snap! Group picture. Group picture minus one. Group picture minus two. OMGosh!!! I'm blind! I'll never see Emma again! I'll have to feel out her features!
Pete: Ok ya'll what perfume do you like?
Sniff that one..then this one. Pssstt. Pssst. Pssst! My house smells like the fragrance counter at Belks and they're off! Everyone of them says "Bye Mom"...I just wave in the direction that I hear the voices coming from then feel my way to bed because I know that I'll need to get up mighty early to wash all of those clothes that were on bodies for negative 20 seconds! O the filth negative 20 seconds accumulates! Wash them for goodness sakes!
Every girl that comes over for the night (including my little angel) has enough hair product in tow that alone they could supply a city the size of the continent of Africa with various hair spray, hair gel, volumizer, shampoo & conditioner yet every time you see them it's one of two hair dos they're sporting. I'm confused. Why would you spend that kind of....never mind; I forgot I'm talking about teenagers, in particular teenage GIRLS!
It's scarey sometimes when they all come over because their overnight bags are the size of some of the smaller Samsonite luggage that I've seen. You know, the kind that should be on wheels that when stood on end measure 8 to 10 inches above your waist & are twice your width. I see those things and my first thought is: Her mom has made her mad and she's staying here till she's 30! I have to resist the urge to call social services and go ahead and sign up for food stamps & a place in the projects! Lots of times I've been so afraid of a permanent type of arrangement that I've been able to hear my heart beating in my head while visions of a life of poverty flash before my eyes! It's those times that I've called Pete to the side and whispered "Now how long did you say she was staying?" So far nothing permanent but it never hurts to ask right?
The stairs in my house are REALLY steep (ask Jennifer & Richard) so I wear cleets as a precaution when I go up to check the cleanliness issue that MUST be addressed when teens are in the house! Visitors of Pete's, without fail, comment on the stairs and cling to the rail for dear life both ascending and descending! Have you ever been on a plane and watched the stewardess do those funky hand motions while a voice tells you what she's doing it for? Ok, I sometimes feel like Pete should be doing those hand motions while I tell the girls how to approach the stair issue. Picture if you will, Pete at the top of the stairs hands going in this direction and that direction while I recite: "It is recommended that you take the stairs one at a time being careful to white knuckle the handrail the entire 13 stair pattern. Heels over 1/2 inch are not recommend for this journey & the idea of talking while in a forward motion is not permitted for your safety. We politely request that you maintain possession of your signed form stating that you will not sue should you break a tibular or femur while visiting. Thank you and come again!"
Some of the girls seriously have terror written all over their faces when they see the stairs! If I knew it would make sense to them I'd start singing..."and she's buyiiiiiiinnnnnngggg the stairway to heeeeaaaaavvvvveeeennnnnnnn" but they'd just think I was demented so I hum it in my head and watch them go up with my fingers crossed. After about the 2nd or third visit they're tackling the stairs in stilletos while texting and I'm sure that I liked it better when they were terrified!
I enjoy my weekends. Doing nothing, working around the house, hanging out with the family or just plain chillin' all day in nothing but jammies. When Pete invites her friends over all that's gone and I'm up and down till 2 or 3 in the morning because I've been woken up by giggles, screams, or huge THUDS when one of the girls have fallen off Pete's full size bed. Two other EMPTY beds in the house yet there are four girls in one bed! How can you say somebody pushed you off the bed when there's 4 of you in a bed made for two?
What really makes me question brain function is when they all get ready to go somewhere. Man what an event this is! You'll never see them more focused! You'll never see any of them concentrate more on what's going on! You'll never see ever again in your life such attention to detail! Put the shirt on, take the shirt off. Switch shirts with this girl. Loan your pants to the other girl because those do more for her butt than they do for yours. Hair up...hair back down. Wet hair again...straighten hair. Ribbon doesn't match...change shirt to match ribbon. Old boots....new boots. Part to the left...back to the right. Position hair to cover pimple on chin. Pose in the mirror, stand to the side..now the other side. Look over your shoulder at your butt...make your seconds ago loaned out pants be given back..change shirts...forget the ribbon. Pull shirt up 2 to 3 inches from the EXTREMELY low rise jeans to expose some skin...pose again making this statement...."Oh my gosh! I'm so fat!" (knowing that 14 Big Mac's wouldn't put so much as an extra ounce on the scales). Friends reply: "No you're not! I am...look!" expose flawless belly and put on fake disappointment face. Group huddle...snap picture. Group huddle again..snap picture. Pete & one friend...snap picture. Pete with another friend...snap picture. Continue this process until all friends are photographed (building up that portfolio for America's Next Top Model I guess...only they know for sure!) Then it's my turn to take pictures of them all. Pete with one friend...snap! Pete with another friend..snap! Group picture. Group picture minus one. Group picture minus two. OMGosh!!! I'm blind! I'll never see Emma again! I'll have to feel out her features!
Pete: Ok ya'll what perfume do you like?
Sniff that one..then this one. Pssstt. Pssst. Pssst! My house smells like the fragrance counter at Belks and they're off! Everyone of them says "Bye Mom"...I just wave in the direction that I hear the voices coming from then feel my way to bed because I know that I'll need to get up mighty early to wash all of those clothes that were on bodies for negative 20 seconds! O the filth negative 20 seconds accumulates! Wash them for goodness sakes!
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