New Every Day

I just put up our new 2010 calendar today. I don't know about y'all, but when I look at that new calendar I can't help but be filled with excitement. A fresh new year just filled with hope and promise are before me. As I look at the calendar right now I can see that all of the dates are empty, but I'm sure that it won't be long until they start to fill up. One thing that is for certain is that it going to be up to ME how I fill up those days. (Gulp;) So I need to ask myself this: Are my days going to be filled with things that are pleasing to God? Are my days going to be filled with caring for my home and family? Are they going to be filled by showing God's love to other's. Most importantly, are they going to be filled with meaningful time spent with Him? Or, on the flip side, are they going to be filled with too much television watching, blog surfing, phone conversations, and just plain laziness? (Another big gulp;) A few simple questions, but very important, indeed.

Sure, there will be days, probably many days, where I mess up. I'm human, and that's what we humans do! I might start off the day with good intentions, but somewhere along the way they crumble into dust. But, the good news is that when I put my head on the pillow at night and I can rest in the fact knowing that God's tender mercies are new every day! When the sun rises the next morning I know that my slate has been wiped clean. I have a fresh new beginning. A chance to make it better. A chance to live for God! So, I will face the day with renewed determination and enthusiasm. I will try to learn from my mistakes and keep "on" keeping "on" until my very last breath.

What are you going to fill your calendar with this new year?

"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it white."

Words of wisdom from the late Mr. Bing Crosby

Picture courtesy of Allposters

What Has Become Of Us?
a.k.a. You're Kidding Me, Right?

I'll set the scene. Girl gets up in the early morning, stumbles to the kitchen to get her first cup of coffee, then sits down to hear the news. Top story on the Today show: David Letterman s*x scandal. CLICK............... Top story on Good Morning America: David Letterman s*x scandal. CLICK............... The CBS Early Show: David Letterman s*x scandal. CLICK...... Cable News: David Letterman s*x scandal. Girl turns off television in disgust and goes back to bed and pulls the covers over her head........

How To Turn A Cloudy Day Into A "Partly" Sunny One!

Uh, oh.................I knew as soon as I woke up it was going to be "one of those" days. Fortunately, these days don't happen too often, but when they do everything looks gloomy, doomy, and I feel downright "puny." BTW, I looked puny up in the dictionary and it said, "not feeling up to regular strength, weak." Yep, that's how I feel. And I'm not just talking physically, but emotionally as well. Kind of weak in spirit, I guess you could say. Can any of y'all relate?

It's exactly on days like these that I am so grateful that I have a household plan in place. A plan that I follow daily, so if I am having a "bad" day, the whole household doesn't have to suffer. It's days like these I'm so glad I have thought ahead and have something nourishing in the freezer that I can just pop in the oven and still have a nice hot meal on the table for my family. It's days like these that I'm also so glad I have kept up with the laundry. Believe me, before I had my plan in place there were many a time I had to do a quick wash just so there would be clean clothing for everybody to wear that day. Oh, so not fun....... And finally, it's day's like these that I'm so glad I keep up with my household chores on a daily basis, because this allows my home to look presentable even if I don't either feel like, or have a chance to clean that day. Bottom line, I don't want my family to suffer just because I am not feeling "up to par."

Whenever I do have one of these days I know what I should and shouldn't do. I know that these kinds of days are NOT conducive for taking on big projects, trying out new recipes, trying to resolve conflicts, etc.... I allow myself some "slack" without feeling too guilty. I keep telling myself, "this too shall pass," and praise God, it always does! In case you are ever having one of "these" days too, I wanted to share with you a few things I try to do to make my day go a little smoother.

First of all, when I'm feeling "puny," it's usually because it's that "time of the month," or I have just totally overdone things the day before. I have learned that I need to listen to my body, and if I'm feeling tired I will actually take a (GASP) nap! Yes, we are allowed to do that, ladies! I also make sure that I go to bed early so I can catch up on the rest my body is needing.

Another thing I do is I try to avoid sugar and caffeine. They will both make my body feel sluggish, as well as sometimes make me feel a little anxious. Goodness, who needs that? I really try to increase my water intake, too. I have a large plastic glass with a lid and straw that I fill with ice water. I leave it on my kitchen counter and make sure to take a few sips every time I walk by. I fill this glass numerous times during the day. Our bodies need that hydration to keep them working properly.

Here's another big thing ~ I turn off the T.V. Listening to the news anchors describe in vivid detail all about the bad economy, rising crime rates, and swine flu is a sure fire way to make me feel much worse. I have found that sometimes "quiet" is the most "pleasant noise" of all.

I also try, try, try to list in my head all the many blessings that Lord has bestowed upon me. Sometimes I will even write them down, because there is something about seeing it on paper that makes an even bigger impression. Shamefully, it is days like these that I sometimes forget how truly blessed I am. I am also a big believer in bible memorization. We all have those special bible verses that we love, the ones that talk about strength, endurance, and God's unfailing love. Memorize those verses so you can always have them on the "tip of your tongue" and "at the ready" when most needed. What a blessing it is to be reminded of God's wonderful promises and his unfailing love for us!

Finally, I can't say this loud enough, "get out of the house and into the sunshine." You will be amazed at how much it can lift your spirits. I really, really didn't feel like it today, but I made myself get in the car and drive to Home Depot. Just the feeling of the bright sunshine in my face made me feel better. I also enjoyed looking at all the pretty plants adorned in the russet colors of the Fall season. I came across these pretty little pansies with their smiling faces, and I couldn't help but smile myself! I bought them, and plan to plant them today. A little digging in the dirt, and the pulling of some weeds is also good for the soul, don't you think?

I guess the reason I wrote this post is I hope if can be a source of encouragement for you. We are all going to feel "down" sometimes simply because we are human. I don't want you to beat yourself up for feeling bad, instead I want to encourage you to seek ways that will aid you in feeling better. So, when you are feeling doomy, gloomy, and downright puny, please remember to pray, pray, pray, turn off that t.v., get some much needed rest, drink lots of water, watch what you eat, and maybe even plant some flowers;)

Just Curious

I know I've been away from blogging for awhile, but since my return it seems like it's really changed a lot. A lot of the people I would read regularly still have their blogs up, but they just aren't posting anymore, and some have left the blog world all together. My question is: have most people joined Facebook and Twitter now? Is that their communication of choice?

I don't "tweet" or "twit," or whatever you call it ~ and frankly my life is not that interesting to be giving hourly updates on what I'm doing;) Do people really care when I'm cooking dinner and doing laundry? Facefook has never appealed to me, either. I think the reason I have always loved blogging is that it really gives me a chance to know people on a very personal level and allows me to connect with people that have the same interests, values, etc.

So, have you noticed the same thing or is it just me?

"You Never Know"

Something to Ponder

Several years ago I had the privilege of going to Kentucky when my baby sister was having her first baby. My family lives in Lexington where the University of Kentucky is located. Being a college town you can always expect massive traffic delays any time there is a sporting event. On the way to the hospital to see my new niece I got caught up in all the traffic. I was in the middle lane and I needed to be in the right lane in order to turn into the hospital parking lot. Even though my car blinkers were on, no one was letting me over (I guess they were going to be late for the game.) Finally, I opened up the passenger side window and got the attention of the lady next to me (that was in the right lane.) I asked her very politely if I could please get over because I needed to go to the hospital to see my sister. She took one look at me and with glaring eyes screamed, "Nooooo, I'm going to church!" I can promise you that the graphic I used in no way comes close to the mean look she was giving me. Well, as you can imagine, I was quite taken aback, to say the least.

That little incident made a big impression on me. And do you know what? The more I thought about it, the more convicted I became. It made me realize that every time I open my mouth to speak I have a choice. I can either choose to speak words that are kind or uplifting, or words that are unkind and uncaring. So now I ask myself, "what are people hearing when I speak?"


I am also very aware now that people are watching my actions. I now ask myself, "do I treat people with kindness and respect? Am I always willing to lend a helping hand when needed? Do I show genuine concern for others?" On the flip side, am I impatient and short with others? Do I choose to walk away from a situation where I know I can be of help? What are my actions saying to others?


For me it all boils down to this: Do my actions and words make people want to know Jesus, or do they make them turn away? Ouch.... Double Ouch..... Triple Ouch..... Talk about being convicted! Just something to ponder...................

I Am Shocked, Beyond Shocked, I'll Tell You......

Tonight while turning the channels to watch the news I landed on a show that made me so sick to my stomach I just had to jump on here and write about it (therapy, I guess.) Anyway, the show was called Toddlers & Tiara's, something I had never seen, nor will never, ever see again. It is a behind the scenes look of beauty pageants for little ,itty bitty, girls. I was absolutely disgusted by this show and am completely dumbfounded as to why anybody would ever put their child in something like it.

Have you ever heard of flippers? I hadn't. Well, if you haven't, let me enlighten you. They are fake teeth that the girls wear to get that so-called "perfect" smile. They also wear "ginormous" wigs, have fake nails, spray tans, professional make-up, and dresses that cost thousands of dollars. Yes, I said thousands. The biggest shocker ~ these girls are, for the most part, only in the age range of two to seven. Have you ever??????

What are these parents thinking? These "girls" didn't even look real, more like made-up plastic dolls ~ it was as if Barbie had come to life, only she was "toddler" Barbie! It was actually really "creepy" in a way. I promise I am not kidding you when I say I was sick to my stomach, because I was. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing.

The most horrible thing in this whole situation is the messages these girls are receiving about what beauty is. I wanted so badly to reach into that tv screen and scrub that make-up off those babies that I could barely contain myself. I wanted to tell them they were beautiful just the way they were, and more importantly, they were precious in Jesus' sight.

After seeing the show I kind of got the impression that in a lot of the cases it was all for the Mom's ego and had nothing to do with the child. Oh, how it grieves me to see parents doing this to their children. We already have tv shows and magazine ads depicting skinny, air brushed models, and as a result we have a generation of beautiful young girls who have eating disorders and low self esteem. Now we have this and it is sending the same wrong messages to even two year old's, no less. Oh, my heavens, if you thought I was worked up about Hallmark, that is NOTHING compared to how I feel about this.

Please excuse me for ranting. If you've read me long enough, you know for the most part I like to be upbeat and positive, but sometimes something will come along that has me scratching my head in disbelief, and just really gets my "dander" up. To make up for it I promise in my next post I will have lots of pretty pictures!

*I guess I should say if you are a fan of the show I don't mean to offend you, and I'm sorry if I have made you upset, BUT, .....sometimes a girl's just gotta do what a girl's gotta do and this is one of those times!!

Pretty Little 'Maters . . .

standing in a row! Don't you just love the vibrant colors of summer? What a gift the Lord has given us, not only are the summer fruits and vegetables delicious, they are also a delight to the eye! I love that! Okay, I'm off to get the mayo and white bread because there is some feasting to be done:)

I "Spy" Spring!

Peering through my kitchen window

A hint of yellow appearing like a ray of golden sunshine

Amongst the cold, brown earth.

It's frilly little head lifting it's head up high

Offering a cheery "hello."

Squeals of delight.

Surely, this is what hope must look like!

*What an appropriate last post for me, because daffodils are my very favorite flower! To me, not only are they beautiful, but they also represent happiness and joy, which is what I wish for each one of you!

Much love,

Susan P.

Valentine's Day
"Pondering"

In the bible we are told to love one another. With Valentine's Day here it's easy to do because it is a day that is devoted entirely to "love." Hearts, flowers, kisses and hugs abound! A day of celebrating love is fun, but, when it's over I have to ask myself whether or not I continue to abide by that principle? I think the truth of the matter is that the real test of love comes the other 364 days of the year!

To be perfectly honest this can really be a challenge because it's just plain hard to love some people. Do you have anybody in your life like this? Sometimes I even think that the Lord has put certain people in my life because there needs to be a major "remolding," and "refining" done in me. After all, it's EASY to love the lovable, isn't it? I think if I would try harder to see these "unlovable" people through the eyes of Jesus then I would be better able to stretch out my hand and open up my heart to them. With that being said, once all the candy is eaten and the roses have wilted, I am going to try and remember that EVERY DAY is a day where love should abound and be celebrated:)

Thank you, Thank you, Thank You, Hallmark!!

I'm sure most of y'all remember the post I did a few days ago about the Valentine commercial that Hallmark did. Well, much to my surprise when I checked my email last night I received this letter:

Dear Susan,

My name is Deidre Mize, I work at Hallmark in Public Affairs and Communications.

I noticed your recent blog posting about one of Hallmark’s Valentine’s Day commercials and wanted to respond.

When creating this commercial we wanted to show that love can be expressed in a number of creative, economical and heartfelt ways, including Mom’s voice in a valentine.

As is our normal practice, our marketing team tested this commercial before it aired among consumers, including mothers. These consumers responded favorably, so we appreciate receiving different points of view like the one you shared on your blog.

With this new perspective from you and others we have decided to stop airing the advertisement. Please understand that it will take time to fully remove the commercial from the air. But know that we have begun contacting the multiple media outlets that are scheduled to broadcast this advertisement and are working as expeditiously as possible.

Hallmark is about helping people connect. We are continually learning about the intricacies of these connections, and your perspective will help us to look at this differently in the future.

Thank you for your time and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments. As I mentioned, perspectives like yours are important to us.


Deidre Mize
Hallmark Cards, Inc.

I never sent Hallmark my post so I guess they were googling feedback. At first I thought about contacting them, but I decided there would be no point because my opinion wouldn't matter. Much to my surprise, it does!! I am so happy to know that they decided to look at this commercial through a Mom's eyes.
Thank you for listening, Hallmark! Oh, and one more thing Hallmark, keep on making those "sappy" commercials that make us Mom's cry ~ we love those:)

"Boo," "Hiss," and Shame On You, Hallmark..............

I was going to post the pic of my Valentine tree today, but after seeing the latest Hallmark commercial for Valentine's Day I just had to vent a little. To set the scene you have three young girls eating lunch in their school cafeteria. It is Valentine's Day and they are each eagerly anticipating what their Mom has packed them for lunch as a special "treat." The first girl brings out an apple that has been decorated with heart stickers by her Mom (or Dad;). She is looking none to thrilled, let me tell you. The second girl opens up her bag and brings out a sandwich that has been lovingly cut in a heart shape by her Mom (or Dad;). The girl looks totally unimpressed, almost to the point of being annoyed. Cut to the third girl, who whips out an electronic Valentine card done by the ever popular Hannah Montana. Of course, this girl is grinning from ear to ear, and we then cut to see the jealous faces of the other two girls who are coveting that very card. Hallmark is then quick to tell us that for a mere $1.99, we can put a smile on our child's face, too. GRRRR.....................................

Now, I know Hallmark is in the card business and that is what they are trying to do, but what really, really, really BUGS ME is that they are trying to convey the idea that you have to spend money in order to make your child happy. What kind of message is that sending to our children? To me, something that is handmade with love is by far more precious than just plunking down a few bucks. Whatever happened to simplicity, and I guess the better question is "what is WRONG with it?" Are the days of homemade Valentine's cards over? Whatever happened to candy frosted cupackes and pink punch? Do we now have to take our kids to a fabulously expensive restaurant to PROVE our love? Do we have to spend more than we can afford to SHOW them that?

I think it would be safe to say that you will find in most of our memory boxes at home a few pink and red doily hearts that have simply been made with scissors, glue, and glitter, but they are absolutely filled to the brim with precious sentiment. And guess what, Hallmark? To us these cards are priceless!!! So Hallmark, go ahead and make all the Hannah Montana cards you want, just please don't insinuate to us and our children that things that are made from the heart are no good.

Finding The Humor Amidst The Sorrow

As most of you know my Mom suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. I have written several posts about it which you can find here and here. With each day comes new challenges, as well as new sorrows. My sister called me this past weekend and told me she was going to tell me about a conversation she had with my Mama, but she didn't want it to upset me. "Oh, no," I thought, "what is it now?" She then proceeded to relay the conversation that took place. Instead of crying over it I am going to try to find the humor.

Mama: "Betsy, can I ask you something?"

Betsy: "Sure, Mama."

Mama: "I'm not really married to that man named Jim am I?" (Jim is my Dad)

Betsy: "Why, yes, you are, Mama. Why do you ask?"

Mama: " I don't think I am, because I never would have married a man as grouchy as he is."

Oh my goodness, sometimes you just have to find the humor or you would start weeping and never be able to stop.

Graphic courtesy of : Allposters

Taking Comfort In The Familiar

I wanted to share this picture with you because it has always been one of my very favorites. This picture somehow "draws" me in and makes me want to stay. I guess to me it represents so many things that are near and dear to my heart, things such as home and family.

As you look at the picture you can tell by gazing outside the window that it is a cold winter's night. But, if you look at the scene before you it's easy to tell that inside it's all toasty warm thanks to the roaring fireplace. By the hearth you will find the comfy rocking chair just waiting for you to come and sit a spell. As you rock back and forth a smile crosses your lips as you hear the old familiar creaking sound. As a child you were rocked lovingly to sleep in that rocker night after night. The sound became somewhat like a sweet lullaby to your ears as you drifted off fast to sleep.

Sitting upon the chair is a handmade quilt that your Grammy made. It's made up entirely of scraps, but to you it is a beautiful masterpiece. You recognize many of the scraps because they came from the clothes that your grandparents wore. This old quilt is perfect to cuddle up with, and feels just like a great big bear hug from your dear Grammy!

Beside the chair is a basket of well-loved books just waiting to be read again. You have read them over so many times that you know every word and how each story ends. The pages are tattered and torn, but the words will always remain, even in your memory. Somehow by re reading it you feel like you are visiting with an old friend, comfortable and familiar.

When you look down you will see your beloved furry companion resting comfortably by your side. You remember the days when he would romp and play with great abandon, his strong, sturdy legs carrying him like the wind. If you close your eyes you can remember the feeling of the wind in your face as you ran joyfully across the fields together. Sadly, his feeble legs can't carry him very far anymore, but somehow even in his pain, he finds the strength to make it by your side. The two of you have been through a lot together, and even though words can never be spoken you have a language that is all your own.

Mainly I think I love this picture so much is because it serves as an important reminder to me. It reminds me that I have been abunduntly blessed. You see, the Lord has blessed me with each of these wonderful things that are found in this picture. My heart is happy and content and I rejoice in the fact that my blessings truly overflow! A cozy home, a loving family, good memories, happy times, joy, and laughter. It is my prayer that this picture will remind you of these things, too.
Picture courtesy of AllPoster

Happy New Year

Dear blogging friends,

My New Year's prayer for you is that you will always be surrounded with people you love and that love you. That your life is one that is filled with tranquility and peace. When you cry somebody is there to ease your sorrows, and when you are filled with joy you have somebody special to share it with. That you will take comfort in that fact that you know who your Father is and can rest in the knowledge that he is always watching over you. Finally, when you close your eyes and nod off to sleep, may you always have the sweetest of dreams!

Much love,

Susan P.

"Cookin" Up Some Wonderful Memories!

This post is prompted by a conversation I had with a young lady at the baby shower we had in our home last week. She and Miss Bonnie were friends in kindergarten and she would visit our home quite often. After kindergarten they were in different classes in school so they ended up developing new friendships. As a result, this was the first time I had seen her in over eighteen years!

At the shower Caitlin came up to me and said, "I will always remember Miss Bonnie's birthday party because it was so much fun." This truly amazed me because she was only five years old at the time. I know I have very few memories at that age so I was really surprised that she would remember something so far back. You're probably wondering what we did? Well, first, I'll tell you what we DIDN'T DO: We didn't have a bowling party, a movie party, a museum party, a skating party, or a party at McDonald's. We didn't go to the circus, the pool, or even rent a clown and one of those bouncy things.

Well then, what did we do? We made pizza together, decorated cookies, and made homemade ice cream sundaes. We had cheapo blow up balloons and homemade games to go along with that. Boy, was I "bucking the trend" at the time. It was the "thing" to do to have your child's party at one of those different venues, never, ever in their homes. I was determined that Miss Bonnie's party was gong to be different. It wasn't about creating huge amounts of debt to have the grandest party in the class, but instead, it was all about creating wonderful memories.

Caitlin went on to tell me that she loved cooking side by side in my kitchen because she never got to do this in her home. It was truly a treat for her! I didn't care one bit that there were sprinkles all over the floor and even a pepperoni or two, or three;) All I cared about was that we were creating memories in that tiny little kitchen of mine! I can't tell you how happy it made me to hear Caitlin say, that, I indeed, had done that all those years ago. It brings a big smile on my face to know that she looks back on that day with such fondness.



Cooking side by side with Miss Bonnie is one of my most favorite things to do!

Finally, I want to leave you with this quote below. It's well worth the read.

"Home cooking is a catalyst that brings people together. We are losing the daily ritual of sitting down around the table (without the intrusion of television), of having the opportunity to interact, to share our experiences and concerns, to listen to others. Home kitchens, despite the increase in designer appliances and cabinetry, are mostly quiet and empty today. Strangers are preparing much of our food. And our supermarkets, which once considered restaurants and fast-food places the enemy, have joined the trend by enlarging their delis and offering ready-to-eat food they call "home-replacement meals." But bringing ready-cooked meals home is not the same as cooking in your own kitchen, where you are in control of the ingredients you use, where you fill the house with good cooking smells, and where you all share in a single dish, taking a helping and passing the platter on to your neighbor. Nothing can replace that."
by: Marion Cunningham

Preparation

This is an Eastern gray squirrel. These little guys have been especially busy in our backyard the last few weeks. I watch in fascination from my kitchen window as they retrieve a nut and then scamper down the tree to find the perfect location to hide it. This can literally go on for hours and nothing seems to distract them from the task at hand. They instinctively know that winter is fast approaching and they are preparing for it's arrival. I got to thinking that we can really learn a lot from nature. What a wonderful trait to always be thinking ahead to how we can better provide for and care for our families. It reminded me of the verse in Proverbs 31 that says, "she looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." With that being said, I am now off to put on my "thinking" cap and figure out ways that I can do just that!

Decorating "Smecorating!"

A "Critique" on "Critiques"

Have you ever seen the show House Hunters on HGTV? I will admit I am a big fan. The one thing that I am not a big fan of is this: A couple walks through an absolutely gorgeous home and then starts to pick it apart because they think it needs "updating." Then they start to figure in the costs of all the remodeling they would have to do in order to make it "livable" for their upscale tastes. I'm telling you, numerous times I have seen beautiful cabinets and counter tops in a kitchen, beautiful tile and vanity in the bathroom, etc... and yet they "stick their nose" up at it and say it would be impossible to live in! What I find so humorous is that in a few years time what they consider to be "updated" will then be "outdated!" Please don't feel that your home doesn't look nice just because you don't have the latest stainless steel appliances or granite counter tops. Just remember, these same people will be spending oodles of more money in a few years updating the things that are in style now.

One other pet peeve I just can't be quiet about is happening around blog land. Some people have self appointed themselves as director of interior design.They have laid out rules about what you can and cannot do concerning the decorating of your home! What??? Apparently, if you have certain items in your home, your home is now considered outdated, as well! In order to be "with it" you need to "free" yourself of said items. Not only that, certain colors, patterns and textures should only be used. The sad part about the whole thing is that I see it breeding discontent in the hearts of many women. Women who before thought their homes were lovely have bought into all of this and now feel like their homes are no longer beautiful. It even has them starting to question their own tastes. This can lead to much unhappiness and we all know what happens when Mama isn't happy:o)

I would like to strongly suggest to "for get a bout it!" Decorate your homes in the manner in which you love ~ as long as you and your family are happy that is all that matters. Let's focus on creating homes that are comfy and cozy, well loved and well lived in. Your home should be an expression of who you are, not just the same old, same old cookie cutter house that everybody else has. So ladies, let us be proud of our homes and be content with what the good Lord has blessed us with! As long as you have love in your house, then it is indeed, a beautiful home:)

On My Heart
(Idolatry)

Warning: Serious post to follow! As I've said many times before, when I first started this blog I really didn't know which direction I would go with it. Correction. I should say which direction the Lord would go with it, because He has surely been the author. So I wondered, would I write about my family, my home, or my Christian beliefs? Looking back through my archives of two years I think I've covered those things and more, and have given you a pretty good idea of who I really am. Of course when I started my blog I hoped that somebody would actually read it, but I didn't want to get caught up in the numbers, the rankings, etc...I didn't want to be defined by how many new visitors I had each day, how many blogger's linked to me, and how many people's favorite's lists I was on. So, to sum it all up, I truly feel that the Lord has guided every key that I have typed and I believe that it is true, especially in this post. If I step on any toes, I'm truly sorry, I feel the need to say it anyway.


Idolatry. I'm sure there are as many forms of it as there are people. Looking it up in the dictionary, idolatry is defined as: excessive or blind adoration, reverence, devotion, etc. The thing I find most interesting about idolatry is that we can be idolizing something or somebody and not even realize it. Before I go on, I am probably more guilty than any of you about this, so don't think I'm "preaching" to you. This is an area in which I struggled only I didn't even know it. It was actually the Lord who revealed it to me and that is why I wanted to share it with you in case you have had the same problem.

Blogging. Oh, how we love it, don't we? What fun it is to get a "sneak" peek into somebody's life, to hear their thoughts, to share their joys and their sorrows. I know that through blogging I have met so many kindred spirits and formed many wonderful friendships. In so many ways blogging has been such a huge blessing in my life, but in one area it had not been. As a matter of fact, I think it you could say it had almost become destructive.

Can any of you relate to this? You have blogs that you visit on a regular basis. You love the blogger. You love her fashion sense. You admire her talents and the way she decorates her home. You are in awe of her mothering skills and how much her husband loves her. You are convinced that she never buys KFC, kool-aid, or store bought cookies, and you KNOW for certain that she even grinds her own wheat everyday (that she has grown in her field, no less;o) She never has mildew, sticky floors, or bad days. She never gets angry at her husband or her kids, depressed, and out of sorts. She is groomed to perfection, and only dines with crystal and fine china, glowing candles, and classical music. But, of all those things, the thing you desire the most is her relationship with the Lord. To you, she IS the perfect Christian. (remember, I'm talking about myself here, too). Never a unkind thought enters her head or an unkind word escapes from her lips. She NEVER misses her quiet time, and she is up by 5:00 am, bright eyed and bushy-tailed ready to tackle the day. She participates in every church activity, and is active in charity work. I could go on and on, but I'm sure you get the picture. Now, I ask you, are there any bloggers you feel this way about? (Don't really answer;o) Just think about it for a minute.


Now, I'm going to tell you the truth. SHE DOES NOT EXIST!! Guess what has happened? In our minds we have "built" her up, so to speak. WE have created this woman and have come to believe that she is the perfect wife, mother, homemaker, and most importantly, Christian. Logically, we know that nobody is PERFECT, but that is what we have chosen to believe about this blogger. So here's what begins to happen . . . . .

*You start to visit her blog numerous times a day and are sad when she doesn't post ~ after all, you need a word from her each day.

*In your mind you compare yourself to her all the time.

*You try to be like her in every way, either be it the way she dresses, cooks,decorates, or even "mothers."

*You start to have huge doubts about your abilities and skills, why even bother,you'll never be like her.

*You wonder why can't you have the perfect family like she does.

* You feel honored whenever she visits your blog and leaves a comment or . . . .

*You wish she would visit your blog and leave a comment.

*You covet her Christian walk and so desire the relationship she has with the Lord.

And I could go on and on and on. Now do you see what has happened? Without your even knowing it, she has become your IDOL. That's one of the insidious things about idolatry, it sneaks up on you without you even realizing it. You have convinced yourself that she is worthy of being idolized by you. To you, unlike Mary Poppins who is "practically perfect in every way," this woman IS PERFECT in every way.

Think on this for a minute. We know that idolatry is a sin and sin leads to destruction. Can you now see the destructive path you are on? I know for me it was a huge shock. I didn't want to believe that I was actually idolizing someone, but when I looked a little bit closer I realized I was. After some much needed "gentle correction" from the Lord, I don't walk down that path any longer, and I'm so glad I don't. That path is surely one that will only lead to much heartache, misery, and disappointment. So, my dear friends, I ask you to examine your blogging habits. Does any of what I described sound familiar to you? If so, it's time to start on a different path. The Lord is just waiting to hold your hand and lead you.

Much love,
Susan P.

*Sometime this week I plan on doing another post about a form of idolatry that I feel is prevalent in our society today. After that I promise I'll post a yummy recipe or a cute craft idea;o)

Ladies, thank you so much for sharing your hearts with me and for you allowing me to share mine!

Conundrum

Yep, conundrum. That's what I was faced with today. I guess I have been living under a rock because I think I'm the only one who didn't know we had an increase in the price of postage stamps starting today. I guess I need to get out more! lol Anyway, because of my lack of knowledge of this rate increase I was faced with a conundrum, or in other words, a difficult decision.

We had a very important letter that needed to go out in the mail today, but I only had 41cent stamps sitting in my desk. Now, normally I would have jumped in the car and done a quick run to the post office to purchase the one cent stamps I would be needing to go along with all my other 41 cent stamps. But, with gas prices being so high, I thought to myself, "is it really worth driving all the way to the Post Office to buy the one cent stamps today and waste all that gas"? I then started to calculate in my head how much money in gas I thought I would be using versus putting on the extra 41 cent stamp and losing 40 cents.

All of that got me to thinking about people who are having to make some much harder, gut-wrenching choices. They sometimes have to choose between buying gas or food, or buying gas and paying the electric bill. Maybe they are faced with the hard decision whether to buy food or get health care for their sick child. With food prices skyrocketing, it's all some families can do to eat one decent meal a day, and I'm sure there are many more that go to bed hungry. I have even heard that the food banks are in dire need of provisions because people are just not able to afford to purchase and donate that extra can of soup or beans.

My little stamp scenario is nothing compared to what they are facing, but it brought to attention the fact that we are all in some way or another, feeling the pressure of these hard, economic times. I think we all are going to have to ask ourselves some tough questions and maybe rethink how we have been living. "What is a NEED versus what is a WANT?" "Do I really need to go to the drive-in window at McDonalds and spend money on a hamburger, all the while wasting precious gas while waiting in line?" "Do my children really need those designer handbags, or do they have to have the jeans with the right brand name in them.?" Taken separately, it might seem that one of these things really wouldn't make a difference, BUT, it does. Maybe in the past, we could have opened up the pocketbook and not felt the sting, but today we all are.

I feel it is very important that we know the priorities in our lives and start to live them out. In order to care for our families it is important that we save money whenever we can. It is also important for us to teach our children the VALUE of money so they will know how to handle these situations correctly when they arise. Finally, above all, we need to be in constant communication with the Lord. How do we do this? By praying!! We need to ask him to give us wisdom in our spending decisions (especially in the the need/want category). Along those same lines we should always remember to give the Lord back His portion, after all, HE IS THE ONE WHO GAVE IT TO US IN THE FIRST PLACE!

So, y'all know me, many paragraphs later you know why a little postage stamp + gas money = my conundrum. It isn't really important what I decided to do. What IS important is that I realized that a decision had to be made and so I tried to carefully consider what the best option would be. It has made me realize that each monetary decision I make, no matter how large or small, can make a big impact, either positively or negatively, on my family and their well-being. When you think about it, it's a pretty awesome responsibility, isn't it?

Sometimes it's those little moments in life when you realize you can go one of two ways, and I have decided which way I'm going. Oh,what a truly humbling experience this was, and just think, all because of a little postage stamp.