Dismissed

Since no one reads this, I feel more liberty in saying...

I am tired of not being heard.
I have been dismissed for years.

As a teenager, I was told that it was my "thyroid talking" when I tried to express myself.

Later, it was that I was p.m.s.-ing.

Maybe there is a little truth to the hormone thing. I'm definitely not denying that hormones affect me.

I wish that I could be more like my friend. She says it like it is, but she is the nicest person I know. You don't have to wonder where she is coming from - she'll tell you straight up!

It's my fault, really. I have a reputation of not standing up for myself. People are shocked when I occassionally do say something.

I am not a confrontational person; I enjoy peace. Therefore, I evade and avoid certain people, subjects, or situations that cause tension or stress. I have walked on eggshells for others many times in my life. I am usually the one who backs down or apologizes - even when I don't feel I did any wrong. I care about others and how they feel. I just wish everyone was considerate of other people.

I feel that if a person respects you, they will not intentionally do the things that bother you or take advantage of you. I try to be patient after I ask someone to please do/don't do suchandsuch. I have a "long fuse", so to speak. I let things go for a while, until I blow. I am not proud of this.

So, what can I do to be heard? I don't want people to be blown away when I say something. I don't want to hurt anyone. I just don't want to be dismissed. I want to be taken seriously. Respected. Is that too much to ask?

Are You Living in Neutral?

Before we were married, my husband drove a car that had a mechanical problem. It made an awful noise everytime it was idling. My husband would have to shift into neutral at every stop light/sign to make the noise stop. Why didn't he get the problem fixed instead of living with it? Honestly, it was probably because he couldn't afford the repairs.

I was thinking about how we do this with our lives. Sometimes we become content with situations in our lives and learn ways to "live with it." Why not fix the problem? Instead, many of us use excuses such as,

"I can't afford to ________."
"I don't have time to _______."
"I was never good at school."
"I don't know how to ______."
"I'll just ______ instead."
"It's no big deal!"
and even use scriptures,[Philippians 4:11] "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."

While I believe it is the will of God that we should give thanks in all things [1 Thessalonians 5:18], I believe we should also strive to make things better. John 10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

If we see a problem and do not fix it, we are "like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." [James 1:23-24]

Ecclesiastes 10:1 "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour:"

Ecclesiastes 10:10 "If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success."

Luke 14:5 “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out...?”

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

If you don't know what to do, pray, read the Word of God, and seek Godly counsel.

James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraides not; and it shall be given him."

Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."

If you have a situation that you have been "living with" - Stop shifting into neutral and fix the problem! Whatever it is, you CAN do it - with God's help. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Proverbs 6:6-10 "Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber."

Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;"

How I Spent Labor Day.

Guess what I did yesterday...

...for this little guy...



(The date on my camera is wrong - gotta fix it!)





Yep! I MADE a pinata!

I got the idea from At Second Street. Of course it's a little different shape, but the same idea.
Here is the tutorial if you are interested. I was going to do my own tutorial, but I got going on it and forgot to take pics, as usual.

I hope the kids can get the pinata opened; hubby helped tape it ~ a little too generously! ;oD

I learned something new today...

I read an interesting article that I thought might be appreciated - or not! It is called 24 things you might be saying wrong. I found it on my Yahoo homepage. Read it and learn something new!

Happy Friday!

First Day of School

Today is the first day of school.
Fourth grade and first grade.
Wow!
Where has the time gone?

Rachel looked so cute! Remember when kids used to dress in their very best outfit and fixed their hair real nice. That's Rachel. And she was so excited, she got up when the alarm went off and was ready in 15 minutes!

Then there's Emily. She also looked cute. She wore a cute dress, but she wanted her hair in just a pony. She likes it simple. We had to make her get up - 15 minutes after the alarm went off! Ha,ha! She so funny!

Rachel loves school. She has a thirst for knowledge.
Emily likes to go to school to see her friends.

Two very different girls.

(Pics will be added later.)

I've got the mighty Messiah that manifests miracles down in the depths of my heart...

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (Where?)
Down in my heart (Where?)
Down in my heart
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (Where?)
Down in my heart to stay
And I'm so happy
So very happy...

Me & My Blessings