Another election has come and gone. Thankfully, in some regards, it was an off year election. One of minimal consequences to most but to states like Virginia and New Jersey it was of gubernatorial importance. It seems that today 'moderate' is the key word a majority of voters are looking for while 'conservative' is the plague of suffering.
Americans complain of being taxed beyond fairness, however they continually vote in the party that is known for establishing new and raising old taxes. They complain of illegal aliens coming in to the country yet they cast their vote for the party which supports amnesty for those who have already shown they do not respect our laws. They complain of healthcare costs, they 'get what they asked for' in the Affordable Health Care Act and it isn't all that it was promised to be so now they complain about what is there on the table. They complain about their guns being taken away yet they don't exercise the power invested in them by the Constitution to vote in supporters of the 'Right to Bare Arms.'
Finicky, finicky Americans! Miserable and handicapped to see the bigger picture! Change comes in stages not in one election and not by allowing the same party to reek havoc throughout our current government. You may not be satisfied with a two party system but in order to stop the bleeding we must quell the hemorrhaging of today so that we can work towards change tomorrow. I find it amusing that those who cried the loudest for change in our political setup during the Presidential election of 2012 have been silent since November 7th, 2012. Is it really change you want or just the right to complain? As I look at the picture before me I would say it is the latter.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
A Vacation Full of Lessons
A week of vacation in South Carolina, ahhhhh, to a point. I have learned a few lessons on this week of no responsibilities, the freedom to nap at will and more sunshine in a week than I've seen all winter in Ohio!
Lesson 1: Do my words and my actions portray the same me? I don't want to be someone who is easily angered, selfishly driven and in need of constant control. I want to be level headed in the face of change, thoughtful of others and their desires and willing to allow others to lead so that all can enjoy time spent together. Temper tantrums do not equate level headedness, or selflessness, or a willingness to give up control. Seeing this in others makes me take a step back and view my own actions. How do I respond to others when the heat is on and when I may be tempted to slip into a foul mood?
Lesson 2: Communication + personal responsibility = a happy vacation!! If something in the plans remains an unknown communicate with everyone else either by phone or in person. Don't assume and don't sit back and wait for someone to do the contacting, be the one who initiates the communication so that there are no unknowns in the schedule. If I fail to communicate with someone else and plans get jumbled I should take personal responsibility for not acting on communicating, don't blame the other person! Sure it would have been nice for the other person to call or ask but if I didn't do either then how can I blame the other person(s).
Lesson 3: Have a plan laid out within the first day of vacation and share it with the group. Work in multiple plans if there are several things you want to do together. Don't wait until the last minute to schedule a big event because it will never come about as planned if you do. This goes back to number 2, communicate! No one person should be in charge of vacation plans or event scheduling during vacation. Prior to making those reservations or big plans bring it before the group so that everyone is on the same page or cancellations will become the name of the game.
Lesson 4: Small, family vacations are the best!! The less people along the fewer the complications.
When the lessons have been acknowledged and appreciated I can say we enjoyed our time here with family! Cousins have enjoyed their time together, brothers have laughed together and great-grandchildren have left their imprint on their great-grandparents hearts. All is right in the world once again.
Lesson 1: Do my words and my actions portray the same me? I don't want to be someone who is easily angered, selfishly driven and in need of constant control. I want to be level headed in the face of change, thoughtful of others and their desires and willing to allow others to lead so that all can enjoy time spent together. Temper tantrums do not equate level headedness, or selflessness, or a willingness to give up control. Seeing this in others makes me take a step back and view my own actions. How do I respond to others when the heat is on and when I may be tempted to slip into a foul mood?
Lesson 2: Communication + personal responsibility = a happy vacation!! If something in the plans remains an unknown communicate with everyone else either by phone or in person. Don't assume and don't sit back and wait for someone to do the contacting, be the one who initiates the communication so that there are no unknowns in the schedule. If I fail to communicate with someone else and plans get jumbled I should take personal responsibility for not acting on communicating, don't blame the other person! Sure it would have been nice for the other person to call or ask but if I didn't do either then how can I blame the other person(s).
Lesson 3: Have a plan laid out within the first day of vacation and share it with the group. Work in multiple plans if there are several things you want to do together. Don't wait until the last minute to schedule a big event because it will never come about as planned if you do. This goes back to number 2, communicate! No one person should be in charge of vacation plans or event scheduling during vacation. Prior to making those reservations or big plans bring it before the group so that everyone is on the same page or cancellations will become the name of the game.
Lesson 4: Small, family vacations are the best!! The less people along the fewer the complications.
When the lessons have been acknowledged and appreciated I can say we enjoyed our time here with family! Cousins have enjoyed their time together, brothers have laughed together and great-grandchildren have left their imprint on their great-grandparents hearts. All is right in the world once again.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
A Double Whammy of Reflections
I need to rediscover this blog thing. Too often I find myself 'blogging' in my head while I am in the shower, driving to or from work or I am laying in bed at night rehashing my day in my barely conscience mind. I have the desire, however, I just lack the discipline it takes to sit myself down at a computer and tap out my thoughts onto a white screen. But I am sure I have shared my blogging struggles before so I will spare you the whining.
One good thing of having a birthday in the beginning of the new year is not only have I had to think through the past year because of the start of a new year but I also get to think of the past year of my life and the changes I need to make. I get a double whammy of reflection in the start of the new year.
My motto for the day of my birth was, "It's my birthday and I am not going to do anything I don't want to do." Well that day has slipped through the hour glass and it is now January 13 which means, as I tell my kids, "Sometimes we have to do the things we don't want to do." I now have to put my hand to the plow, sow more seeds and harvest what grows in this next year of my life.
I have spiritual goals, to finish the one year Bible reading schedule I began two years ago, impact the maturity and growth of my kids by being able to humble myself and ask for their forgiveness when I have wronged them, go on a Making Peace With Your Past retreat and be able to move forward from what is holding me back, commit more scripture to memory, have a more sincere prayer life, and a few others I care to withhold between God and me.
I have personal goals of weight loss, exercise, work on my parenting skills, be a more compassionate wife and mother, employment skills growth, journal my thoughts, blog more, read more, watch less television, save more, spend less, get out of debt sooner, eat healthier and I am sure the list could go on. I should stop and write all of these down so that I don't forget what moving forward looks like to my sleep deprived mind at almost 2 am.
The bottom line is I want to change, I need to change some pretty important things in my life. I only go through this life cycle once, I only get one chance to raise my kids and shape their lives, one trip through this life to make memories to cherish so that at the end of my life I can look back and say, "I did my best." There will always be regrets, disappointments, and wishing I could change the decisions I made, after all I have them now and I am not even done living. I just don't want to throw this valuable time away on fancy whims and selfish desires.
I accept the challenge, cherish the opportunity and I brace myself for the ride of my life. With God at my side and His Word in my hands we embark together because, "With God all things are possible."
One good thing of having a birthday in the beginning of the new year is not only have I had to think through the past year because of the start of a new year but I also get to think of the past year of my life and the changes I need to make. I get a double whammy of reflection in the start of the new year.
My motto for the day of my birth was, "It's my birthday and I am not going to do anything I don't want to do." Well that day has slipped through the hour glass and it is now January 13 which means, as I tell my kids, "Sometimes we have to do the things we don't want to do." I now have to put my hand to the plow, sow more seeds and harvest what grows in this next year of my life.
I have spiritual goals, to finish the one year Bible reading schedule I began two years ago, impact the maturity and growth of my kids by being able to humble myself and ask for their forgiveness when I have wronged them, go on a Making Peace With Your Past retreat and be able to move forward from what is holding me back, commit more scripture to memory, have a more sincere prayer life, and a few others I care to withhold between God and me.
I have personal goals of weight loss, exercise, work on my parenting skills, be a more compassionate wife and mother, employment skills growth, journal my thoughts, blog more, read more, watch less television, save more, spend less, get out of debt sooner, eat healthier and I am sure the list could go on. I should stop and write all of these down so that I don't forget what moving forward looks like to my sleep deprived mind at almost 2 am.
The bottom line is I want to change, I need to change some pretty important things in my life. I only go through this life cycle once, I only get one chance to raise my kids and shape their lives, one trip through this life to make memories to cherish so that at the end of my life I can look back and say, "I did my best." There will always be regrets, disappointments, and wishing I could change the decisions I made, after all I have them now and I am not even done living. I just don't want to throw this valuable time away on fancy whims and selfish desires.
I accept the challenge, cherish the opportunity and I brace myself for the ride of my life. With God at my side and His Word in my hands we embark together because, "With God all things are possible."
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