Attitude

Hi there, Diamond Glamour Girls,

Viet Nam War

I hope you are ready for Memorial Day! For those of you who follow my tweets yesterdays tweets were KISSES. When I was a child my sisters friends were drafted to fight the war that no one wanted to call war, "Viet Nam". It was after the 60's riots and it always felt like something terrible was about to happen. Where some choose to battle others choose to stay away from. I used the (GNB) Good News Bible. Some argue about the choice of bible, I figured if Billy Graham was about the good news I wanted to know. There was a thing called POW bracelets. You purchased the bracelets and were able to write to soldiers to encourage them. My thoughts were I was a child (under the age of 12) and didn't really know what to write adult men fighting a war they didn't want to. I would read the newspaper and listen to the news, to young to understand the ramifications the "war" "non-war" would have in the lives of these men (forgive me, back then the wars only had men or at least that is what was mainly written about. Anyway, I got to experience how encouraging the word of God is to men.



During these times my dad would help me with attitude and the importance of it:

• Philippians 4:5 (GNB) Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon.

• Teaching me also about the beatitudes. I enjoyed learning what was appropriate and pleasing to God and for a child it was knowing it was a way to have standards, guidelines, measures in her life. It was learning what you can control and what you can't. I could control what I wrote in letters I couldn't control what these men experienced, saw or had to do. They were called to something I was not old enough to understand. 

Convalescent Woman

A few years ago, my aunt was sick in the hospital. I grabbed my bible and sat at her bedside reading Psalms. The love I felt for my aunt at childhood was great. As an adult I read the Psalms in the hope that she would hear me. That she would know love.  I have the best memories of my aunt. Like I said in another blog she was my encourager as a child. She was a nurse, by profession and as an signal mom raising her two children (signal mom) she went back to school to see if she could become a doctor. What a powerful role model for my youth. I watched her and tried to think like her. "All things are possible." One of the things she would ask me is: " What would you attempt to do if you know you couldn't fail." "Faith in God includes Faith in His timing." Hab 2:3  The pain of seeing her there void of herself, was enough to pain myself and cry out for God's grace and mercy in her life. Little did I know that those cries would call a priest to her bedside to give her last communion known to Catholics as Eucharist (last rites). Psalm 6:9. My uncle should up as well. I handed him my bible in the hopes we would pray for my aunt. He read a few verses. When the priest arrived he left. For what reason I do not know, I just knew I couldn't leave her alone without family. I stayed and the priest allowed me the honor of feeding her the communion (the Eucharist). I remember saying out loud I didn't want her to choke, he assured me she could still swallow. He laughed. Assuring me she could still swallow. We both prayed over her. I stayed a while longer after the Priest had left. They moved her back to the convalescent home and she died much later. Later I met my cousin and spoke with her. I confess, I am not sure if I signed in that day, at the hospital. All I know is I sat their praying and loving my aunt the best I could.

Why do I share this story with you? Honestly, I am not sure. My truth is not anyone elses or is it? I believe in the goodness of God. One of those knowing God knew I didn't have to carry my aunts sadness or seeing her die in front of me. Like the men I prayed for. Some got to come back and tell me what the letters meant. Others never returned or if they did I didn't get to hear from them. Those I still remember by name. Those I still carry a remembrance of. Knowing that all things work for the good of those that love Him.

What do you want at your beside when your old?  Attitude of Gratitude (Psalm 90:1). The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. Psalm 29:3  He promises that we will never have more than we are capable of dealing with. I know my Lord is a Good Lord.  Shout! Thank you!

Click on a sponsor. Tell a Veteran or an Aging person thank you. Check your attitude, did you know they both served people? Maybe not with fame, or glory, but with life comes service in one way or another.
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A Way of Escape...Do I need one from the past Fires

Hi there, Diamond Glamour Girls;

How many San Diegans are feeling the pressures today of the past. The past that will be in their lives for sometime until they can recover from it. Will the past come back to haunt them in the future? If so, why? Can the past hold you trapped without a future?

I have thought about many things, the thing that I have thought of most is how we get trapped in the past in the first place? Loving water my entire life, I love San Diego. Being able to walk along the coast and give thanks to the God of bigness that lives on the horizon. It doesn't matter where you look there is a horizon and you can't really see the edge of what is about to come your way. Somehow, that has always comfort my soul in knowing that no matter what happens in life, God will remain constant and bigger than my human body allows me to be.  At 5'5" approximately between 120 lbs and 140 lbs. when I look out at the ocean I see what I know to be true. I am so much smaller than the horizon. I enjoy this thought. Why?  It gives me a sense of wonder, excitement and the reality that whatever happens in my life it is small compared to the horizon. No I am not talking about the church. I am talking about perceptive. God's perspective. A clear perspective on my life. What I have to do to be right with my God, Jesus and how I was designed to life my life. Not my mom's life, or my sisters, or her children's or her husband life, or any of my families life.  Not even my ex-husband's life. I am thankful. That my ex-husband and I are friends and we help each other whenever possible, that both our children understand and help us whenever possible. Both of them know the truth and help us stay as a family. They are even looking for my new place to live while I am helping mom. Maybe she's helping me? Last night we had to call 911 her husband fell down and we couldn't pick him up. Shout! Thank you! He is okay. Either way I will eventually have God's perspective eventually again. That's God's perspective. Thats SHOUT! Thank You!

Footprints

It has to do with the life God gave me. How to take care of myself. My dad taught me what was right from wrong for the goals I have have before me. It is a way of escape from the everyday burdens. It is the way I stay! Maybe it is even a form of Judges 3:26. What it is to you is not what it is to me. It is a door, an opening a passage, into self perspective. At a time when I am in Riverside County, while I rebuild my loss of home in Encinitas, while taking care of my aging mom and her husband. It is the one thing I miss the most.

With the hurts from the fires many misplaced from their homes. You might be staying in someones house. You might be feeling uncomfortable. Maybe they won't want you to leave the bedroom after a while of staying there. There annoyed you there, yet you need finances to move and you haven't saved that up.  I know how you feel. I understand how much anger,
                                                    frustration,
                                                                    sadness,
                                                      brokenness,
                                                                     sorrow,                                                                                                                                      bitterness.    

  I thought I would share with you how I let go. All of those things stop the lessons to be learned, the joy to be gain in having perspective and a just measure.  Deut 24:15  I jog and/or walk my 3 miles. It gets all the negative feelings out.

Get this there is no easy fix to the fires and the devastation it left behind, other than to trust yourself and do one thing at a time. For today all I can do is......  One thing at a time.  In sharing this I hope you find peace. Peace to heal from the things that happened
that you had no control over. Love to talk you through it. Prayer to help you believe that God really is a Good God.

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"Who Has My Ovaries?" Sisterhood

Hi there, Diamond Glamour Girls;

I grew up with a Mom and a sister.  My mom always wanted to be my sister she could be my sister

When I was still in my youth I can remember men telling my mom she looked so young.  And then turning around and telling my sister she looked old enough to be my mom.  I felt so sad for my sister. She was so insulted. My dad was insulted because they would then ask if he was her father.  My sister's insulted look was something I will never forget.  My mom was so happy because she was always about the beauty. 

 I thank my God for making me a Daddy's girl.  My dad was all about teaching me through scripture. For this I will be thankful all the days of my life. (Phil 4:6) I never could find a way to explain to my sister what was going on. I understood early in life. With both my sister and dad insulted the family arguements would last longer then what they needed to. How do you explain to a sister five years older that was she is being explained is not truth.  I was the "little sister", I didn't know anything, I was too young to know "innoscent".

Did this make daily living easier?  Was it a smooth day all the time?  That is not what he promises.  His promises are others. There are some things that changed my life along the year of growing up reading the bible.  That his word is true even though the cercumstances might not be. 1. Is knowing that there is compassion and it is different than a life of grace and mercy, peace and understanding.  2. Is that it is important in life to acknowledge the pain of others. (Is 13: 8) I tried to explain to my mom, something that she refuses to understand.

The pain my sister felt.  The pain I felt when she acted beautiful with other men.  Was it cheating on my Father?  (Col 2:8) What did it produce? It produced difficulties I have trouble speaking of today.  I was raped, my dad explained with the bible. At the age of thirteen my dad had to explain something I wasn't mature enough to understand. It was difficult for him to understand why or how another man could treat his child that way and I remember him crying as he explained.  As a child I then tried to explained my mom what had happened. She refused to acknowledge it saying it was my fault. I don't agree, not all things that happen to young woman are their fault.

Today I sit in her home with her trying to get her to understand and she still refuses to acknowledge the pain within, as a teen and an adult.  She wants me to be her, but the truth is I am not.  I won't ever her! I am a different kind of mom. I insult when young men or old give me compliments.  I am a mom of male children, who I demand respect from.  I demanded respect from their friends and I do not allow them to offend women, sexually or with false compliments.

Do I deserve an apology from my mom, so does my sister, she has to fess up to her ways at some point. I don't know if I will ever get it. I know my Lord thinks so, she has denied it my whole life. My dad, his dad both apologize for the teens behavior, and the ripple affect it had on my life, because of the years missing are not a compliment or the best of testimonies.  The said thing is I am feeling the ripple affect today being here in a house of the woman who refused to acknowledge it in the first place.  I can't help but wonder if her and my sister would have acknowledged it how our lives would be different.

"And in that day you will say: O Lord, I will praise you; Through You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.  Behold, God is my salvation I will  trust and not be afraid; For Yah, The Lord is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation."

"Who Has Your Ovaries?" (Standing Up)

I like many others Americans stop at "Starbucks" from time to time. The last few weeks I have had the pleasure of being there when there are a bunch of students.  Two different "Starbucks" more than a hundred and fifty miles apart.

What blessing it was to hear the same conversation from two different locations I say that not only because the towns I was in was different, the culture or the ethnicity was different, their age were different, maybe even their social economic level was different.  What was the same was the conversation "Respect" .

The first "Starbucks" the teenage girls were sitting talking, I was working on the computer and over heard.  The phone of one of the girls rang, another girl said "Answer it!" A third girl responded "RESPECT!" She had authority in her voice and they all listen. They continued the conversation about what it meant to respect. It was such a good conversation that at the end of it I had to tell them I was proud of them.

On another day, in another town, in another "Starbucks". Two students working together doing their homework.

They were talking about school and what happens in it at the high school level when someone disrespects.  I think the conversation was something to that effect not really sure I had my headphones on. I took my headphones off to move something and heard one of the students to say you have to tell them to respect you! Religious or not people are to respect. 

On the way out of "Starbucks" I gave them my business card congratulating them. I told them they should know that respect should be in the workplace too.

"A teacher of the law healed in respect by all the people, " Acts 5:35

Are world has changed when students are taught respect in school it can't be all back, right?  The wedding industry has change forever with prop eight, the Pope has changed his view point, our government in San Diego has been has been affected. Y a lack of it.  For those that know and understand "pray with thanksgiving". 

For those in school today I pray you learn not only RESPECT but the value one person came make in the lives of many! That prayer today is as relevant as yesterday and it will be even more relevant tomorrow. How do I know? The simple answer is: "The Bible Tells Me So!"

If you read this, let me know. Email me, google+, tell a friend , click on an a sponsor. Let someone know you cared enough to pray to pray for them.

"Who Has Your Ovaries?" (Motherhood)

"And on her forehead a name was written:  "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Rev: 17:5

Oh girlfriend how many times have you argued with your mother?  How many times throughout your lifetime have you pleaded for your individuality?  Mother's of son, are they seen differently then mothers of daughters?  Either way there are some mysteries that shouldn't be known until it is our time.

A bowl on my head I wear so I may worship Him?  What type of mother does that make me?  Am I a harlot because I gave birth to son's or am I an angle like my sons because we all worship, the one the only true God.  Is a revaluation the truth, or a mystery of God for us to discovery.  I know that there are times when I was growing up that my mother and I argued about who is in control and who is doing what.

I have prayed, supplicated, worshiped, cried, given testimony after testimonies of the miracles my God has done in my life. I obeyed God's word to letter, as my father taught me.  Did it make my life easier?  Did it make my life rich? Yes, I would say my life is rich, it might not be material wealth, but it is definitely rich, those that know the one true God can only claim it so.

As my mom ages and I take care of her, it is hard to distinguish with the past.  She sees the world so different then I do.  She saw my dad so different then I did.  She remarried away after their divorce and became a different woman, now she is old and I have difficulty relating to her because she chose through out her life not to be close to my children and I.

In the attempt to not choose the same things she did I write text messages to my adult son's everyday. They are seen as endless annoyances but it is my way of communicating with them in the hopes of having a relationships with my adult young men.  My mom's believe is that men do not need a relationship with their mom.  My believe is that no matter what age you are or what you choose to do your mom is something you can't change. She gave birth to you.  Good, bad, ugly, beautiful she is your mom.  

Forgive me children if I choose to be a part of your life.  Forgive me for my annoying text messages detailing everything I do.  Forgive me if you are bothered with a mom that wants to be part of your life and would not give that opportunity to anyone to replace her.  Forgive me, for bothering you.  Forgive me for praying for you.  Mom's like me prayed for the day of your birth since childhood, we prayed for you to get healed when you were sick, we prayed for your teen years to be safe even if it meant us falling.  We will continue to pray for young adult lives.  And we will continue to pray all the days of our lives that if we are not together we are together.  We are a part of you, you are a part of me.  No God would ever tear that apart.  I know I am your annoyance, but it is only to remind you you our my love.  Your are the Grace that God gave me to watch over.  You are His gift and my presents.

I know not all mom's think this way, but I am who my Father made.

Bon Appétit

 Bon Appétit is the French for 'Enjoy your meal'. It was also used in many other places such as the name of a magazine. But if you heard this or someone wrote it in an email or a letter, just know that it means enjoy your meal.  Definition by urbandictionary.com

It is a word we always used in my preschool class when the children sat down for lunch.  One of the funniest time children have in school.  The teachers and I would ask them about their meal.  What they enjoyed what they called what they were eating.  Kids come up with the funniest words for foods their parents pack in their lunch box.  One of my student’s mom would bring him a warm meal every day at lunch time.  It was my favorite time in school as a teacher and a director. Listening to the children’s laughter, the teacher’s correction on etiquette and then our laughter as our students tried our corrections.  It is so cute to hear a child say please, thank you, may I, could you please….  They look like little grownups….                                                                                           
                                                                                                                              (Picture compliments of Emily Post website)

I stopped teaching and directing because as my own children grew they had needs and my teaching income did not provide enough to live off of.   Here is a little propaganda.  Vote for more educational funds. 

Event planning is a little like being a teacher and a director.  Only the students are grown up and educating them on etiquette is more like reminding them. One of the funniest part of being a meeting and event planner for my clients is attending the food tasting. Just like lunch time in school adult also enjoy a good time and meal.  I love a good meal just like anyone else.  It is not the meal in and of itself.  It is all the preparation for the day, finding the right combination of dishes that would please them.  Talking with the chefs, clients, finding out their interest and creating a special feast for their banquet is my very favorite thing to do.  It takes hours to put all of these things together.  

If it is a wedding, I get the privilege of speaking with her about her and his favorite foods, and then I have them speak with their parents about their favorite foods.  It is a time for their new families to become one family.  Questions help a client find commend things to agree upon to make the day less stressful.   If there is a match we pick a meal.  In alphabetical order there is a beef, chicken, fish, and vegetarian dish to try out.  The fun part for me is seeing if the chief and I can come up with a combination that will make our clients feel like we know them.  Food feeds our body, minds and our souls.  It helps us spend time we share those we love the most.  At the end of each tasting, sometimes at the beginning, we work some magic with mixology.   We come up with a beverage that has their name on it.  It is a drink the couple or the guest of honor is known for.  It may or may not have alcohol.  Usually it is the main drink that is served throughout the night saving my client money.

Then next time you are looking for an event planner, know that there are hours upon hours it takes to make your event beautiful, to make you feel wonderful to hopefully have your day be as special as the person who hired her.