CH.CH don't mean a thing unless UR in it

What's the point of going to church? This question arise my thoughts especially when our teenagers want to choose when they go and don't go to church. They don't have a choice. End of discussion. We get up and go, they go for 8:00a.m, they get up and go for 8:00a.m. Our children don't have a problem wanting to go and hang out with their friends whether it's over to their house, the mall, the movies, talent shows, basketball games....whatever. But just as soon as we mention church, it's like, "ahhh, do we have to go?" When did going to church become the question of the day? Why would they even ask such a thing! Heck yeah, you getting your tail up and go and give God some praise whether they want to or not. And we got great church, so what's the problem?

So hubby and I asked these teenagers of ours, "Why is it that you don't have a problem with going to some of the places we allow you to go, but want to sleep in on church day." You wouldn't believe their answer when they said, "Our friends are there." So I wanted to know, "So you don't have friends at church?" I told them that Jesus was their friend. The reply was, "Moooooooommmmmmm!!!" What? Did I say something wrong?

I remember when I was younger at home, probably around the age of our daughter now and my dad would say that if we wanted to go and party with the devil on Saturday, then we would go and party with Jesus on Sunday. Just as soon as something comes up and the kids want to be anywhere but here, they are so full of energy and hyped and ready to bust a move; but saying the word church makes them soooo sleepy, soooo tired. I say to them that they should have gone to bed earlier because the routine hadn't changed. They know we going. They know they going. I told them that even when they get grown and gone and come for a visit to make sure they bring some church clothes to go to church. The 16 year old said, "Well looks like we won't be staying long." My reply, "Fine with me."

Lovingly yours,

Kindness Given, Kindness Received

When my car was down for three weeks, I was just simply amazed at the kindness that was offered by various people to give me a ride. Some people I called, while others called me or even mentioned that if I need a ride, they were there for me. None of these people would have been available had I been a snob. I truly believe that when you treat people with kindness, it will come back to you in some shape, form or fashion.

So after getting my car back, I was truly thankful for the kindness of others. It seemed odd that I would go to lunch at 12:22. Not 12:00, not 12:30, but the odd time of 12:22. I was backing out the parking lot to head to subway when I saw one of my co-workers walking. I just figured he had parked a little ways away. I let the window down and jokingly said, "Hey, you going my way?" He said that he wasn't trying to get in my business but wanted to know where I was going for lunch. I said subway. He then wanted to know if I could do him a favor. He said that his key wasn't working right in his car and that he had to walk about two miles back to work. He needed to go home, pick up his other key and be dropped back off.

I told him I could do that and to hop in. His house was no farther than maybe 3 miles, I'm guessing. He said he needed to go in real quick to his house, and grab the other key. I told him that I didn't mind. He was out in a jiffy. Along the way, he said that I might as well stop and get my subway sandwich since I was going to pass it anyway. So we both get out and we each get a five dollar foot long. When I moved on down to pay the cashier, he told me that my money wasn't any good there and that he paid for my sub. I was thankful, even though he didn't have to do that. I took him down to where his car was and sure enough his other key did the trick.

It's just always a good thing to be nice and show some kindness to people because you never know when someone will show some kindness back to you.

Lovingly yours,

Is the boss in?

When faculty and students come into the office, my face is usually the first person they see before they see the boss. I am like the gatekeeper of some sort. It may be something I can help them with before they go in to see the boss. My boss as well as myself hates it when faculty just walks right in and don't say anything. I normally can catch them and say, "She's on the phone" or "she has someone in her office right now." It irks me with a passion when they just stand there as if the other person in the office will just magically disappear and the person who's waiting don't have any sense of respect.

So I ask whoever (or is it whomever) is waiting to please not stand in front of the doorway and that the boss will be with them shortly and for them to please have a seat in the hallway. Well one staff person in particular is so nasty that I wish I did not have to deal with her in any given manner. She will make the devil cuss. So she comes down the hall and says, "Is she in?" But before I can say yes or no, Ms. Sarah has already walked into the boss office. My boss told her about this and that she needed to see me first.

So Ms. Sarah came in with papers in her hand and wanted to see the boss but her door was closed. She says, "Is she in?" But OMG, she said it soooo nasty that I just wanted to pretend I didn't hear her. I said, "She is in but prefers not to be disturbed right now, so I'll take whatever you have for her and I will make sure she gets it." I couldn't be more plainer than that. Ms. Sarah says, "Well I have this report for her." I said, "Please put it in my inbox and I will make sure the boss gets it." That devil kept itching at Ms. Sarah and so she said, "What is she doing where she can't be disturbed?" She is aggravating me....so I replied to Ms. Sarah, "She is working and prefers not to be disturbed." Ms. Sarah then threw the papers at the inbox like I was suppose to get upset or something. I didn't get upset. I just looked at her with THE LOOK like she was slow, looked at the papers that had fallen on the floor instead of my inbox and kept right on typing.

Ms. Sarah just stood there in hopes that I would get out of my comfortable leather chair and pick up the papers, but I did not. I just sat there and continued to do what I was doing and pretended I didn't see her. So angrily Ms. Sarah said, "I need to see her." I slowly turned facing her and I said, "You will not see the boss now. You will pick these papers off this floor and you will leave my office. If she prefers to see you when she is done, I will have her to either e-mail you or call you when she is available. Until then, do not come back down here unless she requests for you to come." She picked the papers up and hmmmmpppphhh as she walked away.

When the boss did become available, she said she heard Ms. Sarah acting crazy outside her door and was really appalled at her behavior. She said that I handled that very well and wanted to know what was so urgent about the paperwork. I reached in my inbox and handed it to her and she was like, "This is it?" My boss put it back in my inbox and just told me to file it when I get a chance to do so.

Lovingly yours,

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream

This is the sequel to Birthday Blessings from Wednesday, March 17. After I finished blogging about hubby's birthday, and that the ice cream cake that we bought didn't have ice cream in it, I thought that I should go ahead and call the bakery and inform them that there was no ice cream in the cake. I really didn't know what would or would not come from the phone call, so I called and spoke with the manager anyway.
He was the kindest person over the phone regarding the situation and said that he would make it and have it ready for me to pick up. He asked what time did I want it available and I said around 5:30. He said not a problem and for me to come to the bakery and say that he said for me to pick up the ice cream cake at no charge.

When I got home, I told hubby that we needed to go and pick up his ice cream cake before we went to church. He gave me that puzzled look like "what the heck this woman talking about". He said, "We don't have a cake." I told him we were wasting time and that we needed to go and get the cake and then bring it home, and then go to church. He said, "Barbara, stop playing." I told him that I wasn't joking and that seriously he had an ice cream cake waiting for him.

So we get in the car and drove down to pick up his ice cream cake that he so desired for his birthday. When we got there, I gave the bakery people my name and they went in the back and not only brought out hubby's birthday ice cream cake that he wanted, but the cake was bigger than the one we had originally bought. Oh wow. This was totally awesome. There was a handwritten note on the outside of the cake container that said, "No charge." All I could do was thank God as we walked out the store and headed home. Hubby said he was happy that I did that for him.

Lovingly yours,

Birthday Blessings

Today is hubby's 61st birthday. So I called him my little leprechaun, so I got up early this morning just to fix him breakfast in bed. I kept looking at the clock saying to myself that I had to get ready for work, but he enjoyed every bite of it. So earlier, I asked him what did he want for his big day and his requests were very simple. He wanted two things. The first was this shirt and that I go to the mall with him to get it. Now let's just say, I really don't prefer going to the mall. That is my least favorite place to go, but I thought if that was one of the requests, then I would go with him to the mall. So he got his shirt and was happy.

The second request was that he wanted an ice cream cake. This shouldn't be too hard to do. Just go to the store, pick it out and go, right? Wellllllll.....see what had happened was.......

We went to the store and since I don't eat chocolate cake, I told hubby to pick the one he wanted to get since it was his birthday. He said he wanted to get something that he knew I would eat too. Now ain't that punkin, cause I probably would have been selfish if it's for MY birthday and gotten something with white chocolate all over it. So anyways, we looked in the freezer at the grocery store and asked the lady who was working in the bakery which one was an ice cream cake. She came out and pointed to what was what. I told hubby to get the cookies and cream but he wouldn't because I don't eat Oreo's either. So he opted for the vanilla cake with white icing.

You would not believe that after we got home and cut the cake (oh we decided to do the cake thing early) there was no ice cream in the cake. How can there be no ice cream in an ice cream cake! Of all the receipts I keep, how come I couldn't find my receipt. Sure enough when we looked at the label on the container, it did say ice cream cake. I will be calling the manager later on today. I might not get any results but what's the worse than can happen? So everyone still enjoyed the cake but I told hubby that it might not be today, but he WILL get his ice cream, because after all, you're only 61 once.

Lovingly yours,

Whose make-up is this?

Well it sure as heck ain't my make-up. I feel it should be called made down or made over, but made up??? Ha! NOT! My cousin gave me some foundation and I NEVER wear the stuff mainly because I can never find my perfect color. So my cousin gives me this stuff when I was in MS the last time. I decided to open it up and try it out. Looking inside the compact, it did look like it was my color, it really did.

Now I do have a little chocolate inside me...ok, a lot of chocolate, mocha, caramel--but light colored, I am not, but I'm not burnt toast either. So I put this foundation on and put on some eye shadow, hooked my lips up with my special plum or burgundy lipstick and then WA-LAH!!! I almost scared myself when I looked back in the mirror, I looked like Sambo from another country. It wasn't chocolate--it was dark chocolate. Everything was too dark. The moon gave off more light than I did.

I looked from the left, then I looked from the right. I didn't see any UMPH or PIZZAZZ in the make-up that I was wearing. I walked into the living room just to get a reaction from hubby and he looked at me like he had seen Kunte Kente's ghost. Was it evident that I looked as black as an Ace of Spades? O to the M to the G!! So I went back in the bathroom to wash this stuff off my face and then I could see the real beauty shining through. HEY, THERE YOU ARE! I'll just stick to what I know for now. For now, my eyeshadow and lipstick will just have to do. I am content with that.

Lovingly yours,

You can't have a testimony without going through a test

When people say the words, "I know what you're going through", do they really? Nobody can tell me they know what I'm going through unless they have actually gone through it. No matter what "it" may be. I can't tell nobody I know how it feels to lose a mother or a father, because my parents are still living. I can, however, tell them I know how it feels to lose a grandmother or a grandfather.

Well my car has been out of commission for two weeks. We were blessed that we had another car to get us from here to there. It has been inconvenient for hubby to get up and take me to work but we did manage to make it happen. Hubby asked me one evening if I was doing ok and I said that I was. He asked me if I was upset about the car being in the shop. I wish I could have told him that I was upset but I really wasn't. I saw this as a test and that it wouldn't be forever that we'd be without the other vehicle. He asked me again, "You sure you not upset?" My reply to him was that you can't have a testimony without going through a test." I also told him that God was probably gonna bless us with a Lexus but we could still make the same payments we do for the Expedition." We could only laugh at that.

So while the car was in the shop, I didn't worry about it but I figured if we had prayed about it and had faith that God would make a way, then He would. Several months ago, two of my co-workers needed a ride from work and so I was their transportation. I didn't grumble or complain about it and they told me that if I ever needed them, they would be there. Well lo and behold, while my car was in the shop, I received e-mails or phone calls at the beginning of the work week from each of the ladies asking if I needed a ride home, and not only that, several people who knew I was without my car wanted to know if they could be of assistance. I was so thankful. The car is now fixed but that was just a test, and we know that trouble don't last always and if you don't know, then you had better ask somebody.

Lovingly yours,

There is a living cactus in my house

The other day I was chillin' in the living room when our 16 year old daughter came in to sit in there with me. She asked what I was doing and I told her that I wasn't doing anything special, just lounging around and watching television. She asked me if I wanted any company, I told her that I didn't mind her being in there if that's where she wanted to be. So as I was stretched out on the couch, she comes and throws her legs across me. I told her that her legs felt itchy and wanted to know if she could get them off me. I looked down at her legs and OMG, this girl had the hairiest of legs. I told her that she needed to go and shave because her legs felt like razor blades.

I asked her when was the last time she shaved and she said that she couldn't remember and then burst into laughter. I said, "well from the looks of it, looks like you haven't shaved since Adam and Eve were on earth." We did find it hilarious but these legs were so prickly and disgusting. I have never had hair on my legs...never, ever, ever. I told daughter that her legs look like cavemen legs so until she shaves them, her new name will be called Beowulf and she will be prohibited from putting them on me until the hair is removed.

I asked daughter if she felt she was a lady carrying around all this unnecessary hair and leaving pokes on anyone that comes in contact with this bush. There was nothing but consistent laughter and she says, "Mom, I'm just too lazy to do it, could you do it for me?" Huh, Me? Shave the legs of a 16 year old beast teenager??? I don't think so--unless she was helpless and couldn't do it herself. Just thinking about it makes me wonder how clogged up my sink will be WHEN she does shave. Drano, here I come.

Lovingly yours,

All dressed up and no where to go

When I walked into work this morning, a co-worker wanted to know where I was going. He don't even know me like that to be asking me such questions. It was none of his business. So I politely asked him what did he mean. He said that I was just too dressed up for a Thursday. Can I not dress up every now and then when I want to without having a reason? I didn't even consider what I had on was all that dressy really. I am not going anywhere except for back to the house when I leave work. If I feel like wearing slacks, I wear slacks. If I feel like wearing jeans, I wear jeans. There is really no dress code here at work, so Fridays don't have to be set aside days to throw my jeans on.

Is there a problem with wanting to look presentable and decent just because I can? Or do I really need to go somewhere besides work? I mean, I did leave the house to come to work, so that is going somewhere, right? I've seen some of the people who come to work in their sweat pants, in their wrinkled clothes and they do be looking a hot mess, but that is their business why they look they way the do. I don't care where they are going or where they are coming from. I'm sure if they wanted me and everyone else to know, they would post a big banner across my building.

Lovingly yours,

Under _ where?

Why is it that I have to see your bra strap out in public? I can't stand to look at people's undergarments. I don't want to know that you have on pink draws. It's not that I can stop and look away when you have on red panties with white pants. I be thinking I'm going to help you out and let you know that you have bled all over yourself when in reality, you're not bleeding except from a serious hole in your head.

That's the point of it being called underwear. It's suppose to go under your clothes. I see the young ladies pass by my office and for starters, their top is wayyyyy too small which rides up and then the pants are wayyyyy too low and therefore I see thongs (ooops, hold on, I think I just threw up in the back of my mouth where the hangy ball thing lies) and all kinds of dirty underwear that shouldn't be seen. It's ok if they have a colored bra on....AS LONG AS I DON'T HAVE TO SEE IT UNDER A SEE-THRU TOP. And it's not just the ladies, yeah the men have on all kinds of stuff too. It's totally disgusting....and while I'm speaking of disgusting, if I see someone else my age with the words JUICY on the back of their pants, I'm gonna....well I don't know what I'm gonna do.

So here is my poem I made up: I don't care here or there, I don't care to see your underwear. I don't want to see it on a boat, or I may have to cut your throat. I don't want to see it at work or then I'll think you are a jerk. I don't want to see it out on the street, show somebody else your meat. I don't want to see it at the school, because you know you look like a fool. Keep your underwear where it should be, and not for the whole world to see.

Lovingly yours,