tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51786708910410139532024-02-19T05:09:12.086-06:00Touching FamiliesEverything touches your family. Even people and activities that seem to have nothing to do with you will in some way touch your family. Sometimes it is good to have another person's perspective about what is happening around us. This is that place.Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-57395535118885091642013-02-23T22:42:00.001-06:002013-02-23T22:42:47.613-06:00#16—Sitting<br />
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<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/16--sittingchair_zps77947f1f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/16--sittingchair_zps77947f1f.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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#16—Sitting</div>
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Sitting. Seems harmless. Seems unproductive. Seems like a waste of time. Sometimes "sitting" is a waste of
time, but other times it is an expression of love and kindness that can touch
every family member.</div>
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Some recent
examples in our family include the following:</div>
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being
gone from home for 12 hours—with most of that time sitting on bleachers—so I
could take a daughter to a traveling recreational basketball tournament;</div>
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repeating
the above the next weekend;</div>
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driving
4 hours in one direction for a college visit, spending most of my day sitting
in parent and general information meetings, and then driving home again;</div>
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repeating
the above again for another child going the opposite direction to visit a
different college; </div>
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leaving
home at 5:30 and driving 2 ½ hours to take my kids to a group-rate skiing trip
and then spending 10 ½ hours dividing my
time between waiting (and reading) in the lodge and walking out to check on and
watch my kids on the slopes; and</div>
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simply
watching a good family show together</div>
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How can
this be an expression of love? The
investment of time can often be more valuable and appreciated than the
receiving gifts, money, or even special privileges. The 1970's introduced the idea of parents concentrating
on spending quality time with their children and worrying less about spending
quantity time with their children. The
idea became more solidified and put into practice in the 1980's and 1990's. However, the long-term results have shown
this idea to be greatly flawed. Yes,
having some "quality" time between parents and children is important,
but often memorable, quality time comes as a result of spending <i>quantity</i> time.</div>
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For
example, on the return trip home from a college visit, my daughter stopped in
the middle of a conversation and said, <i>"This
is kind of weird." <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> "What do you mean? What did I say?"<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> "No. That's not it. It's a good kind of weird. It seems like we are always doing this or
that, and our conversation is usually you telling me what I need to do or my
asking you questions about what I need to do or questions about homework. This is nice.
Just talking."<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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That conversation
happened because I took the time to be <i>with</i>
my daughter and spent enough time with her to allow the "urgent" to fade
away and to allow a time of pondering and reflection to drift to the top of our
conversation.</div>
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As I am
writing this, the majority of my children are playing a game on a coffee table
with another daughter sitting next to the game while reading her book. A few feet away from them, my husband lies on
the floor watching another daughter build with Lego blocks. I am purposely positioned near all of
this. Despite some differences in our
hands-on activities, we are spending time together as a family. I know it will not technically fit everyone's
definition of spending time together, but too often choosing to stay together
in the same room for an evening is overlooked as making a difference. Contrast this to a family that spends its
time in separate rooms (or bedrooms) every night. The overall relationships are different.</div>
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Another
example would be my grandson yesterday.
I have not seen him since Christmas.
Although he was not terrified to have me at his house, he did rush into
my arms. In contrast, after spending
time with him—sitting on the floor next to him while he played and gradually
talking to him and playing with him—he began leading me around the house to
show me things and was willing to give me hugs and kisses. This did not happen because of something
wonderful I did with him (quality time), but because I had spent an extended
amount of time with him (quantity time).
He did not need me to bring him a bag full of presents. He simply needed me to spend time sitting
with him. My sitting with him whispered
words of love and kindness that touched his almost 2-year old heart. Even though "sitting" can sometimes
be a lazy escape and a waste of time, at other times sitting can be powerful
and life changing. How has
"sitting" made a difference in your life?</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-58498773776057221192013-02-04T22:29:00.002-06:002013-02-04T22:29:45.465-06:00#15—Thank You for Your Patience<br />
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<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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#15— Thank You for
Your Patience</div>
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I barely made it through January and the "wind
left my sail." The good news is
that I had no funerals or visitations to attend this past week. Woo Hoo!
Now, it's time to get back to work.
At this point I make no promises when I will finish this series, but
hopefully, I can get back to a fairly dependable routine and find a way to
touch your family.</div>
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Today, the
expression of love and kindness I would like to suggest is patience. I admit that I chose this topic for selfish
reasons because I definitely need a little mercy from you and your gift of
patience as I have failed to keep up with the writing schedule I originally
proposed. One of the daily verses that come
to my email inbox this week was on this very topic:</div>
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"A
person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an
offense." Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)</div>
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As you can
see here, a person's patience is not an indication of what another person
deserves, but it is more of a reflection of the character of the person
extending the patience. Unfortunately,
this verse also condemns me for not being very wise. If I were a wiser person, I would extend more
patience. I do not know how I can be so
painstakingly patient some days or regarding some situations but so explosive with
impatience at other times. </div>
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This gift
of patience may be easy for you to express to others with love and
kindness. Yet, it is something I have to
continually choose to possess and express.
Even so, I am banking on <i>your</i>
patience for my lack of writing for the last two weeks and for the long delay
of posting the photo above. For those
who have been reading my blog, I referred to a story about this footstool on November
9, 2012—<a href="http://www.touchingfamilies.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-footstool-of-memoriesday-9-of-town.html" target="_blank">My Footstool of Memories</a>—and said I would dig it out of the closet and
post a picture of it. I finally did it
today. Thank you for your patience.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-17544717661316268692013-01-19T22:32:00.002-06:002013-01-19T22:32:51.412-06:00#14— Stepping Up to the Plate<br />
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<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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#14— Stepping Up to
the Plate</div>
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I did not
grow up in a sports family. Our
television was often found broadcasting the same types of shows over and over,
but sports was not usually included in our family's line-up. I played some park recreational basketball
while in elementary school, but that was about the extent of my playing
sports. (Although I got involved with
cheerleading, the pom pon squad, and martial arts, I do not consider those the
same as playing—and then being able to coach—team sports.) </div>
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As a
result, I would consider the tireless efforts of volunteer park league coaches
as true acts of kindness that touch an endless number of families. Recreational team sports have taken a toll on
our family with seven children playing basketball, softball, and soccer if it
is available. However drained we might
feel with the time (and money) commitment that accompanies these activities, it
is not the same as if we were coaching these sports as well.</div>
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So, here's
my hat off to the coaches, score keepers, clock runners, etc., that make
recreational sports possible for our community's young children. Despite the fact that you may have gotten
involved only to keep the program alive so your children could play, no family
would be able to participate if you had not been willing to step up to the
plate and carry some of the responsibility that make park recreational sports
possible.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-32926536885207756782013-01-19T22:24:00.000-06:002013-01-19T22:24:22.176-06:00#13— A Little Time for a Stranger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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#13— A Little Time
for a Stranger</div>
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Sometimes
an expression of kindness can simply be sharing some minutes out of your day to
listen to someone else. I had the
privilege of touching someone this way (and receiving the same courtesy) just
this week. </div>
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I made
arrangements to meet with a delightful woman I was acquainted with several
years ago. She has reached a different
stage in her life and had some questions for me. (In other words, I am much older, and she
wanted to talk to someone who has been there and done that.) Conveniently, we met at a fast food
restaurant about half way between our two towns. </div>
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</div>
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Regardless
whether I was of any help to her or not, I was energized and refreshed after
our two-hour discussion that sped by before we knew it. However, my emphasis is not on this
discussion, but on the one that followed.
After we expressed our good-byes and I was gathering up my things, a
woman from a table nearby came over to me.
"I'm sorry that I overheard part of your discussion. I was not meaning to eavesdrop, but can I ask
you some questions, too?"</div>
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Apparently
our original discussion was exactly the same topic that this woman had been
discussing with a couple of her friends over the past few weeks. Isn't it amazing how we "happened"
to be sitting there together? God knew
who needed to talk to whom that day.
Well, I spent a few minutes discussing the topic on her mind, but then
she went on to tell me an hour's worth of semi-related stories while her
husband read the newspaper in the next booth.
This delightful woman obviously had a lot on her mind, and I will
probably remember some of the things that she shared for a long time. </div>
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Although I had
no obligation to listen to this stranger and had no promise of financial gain
by doing so, my expression of kindness to listen to her ended up touching me—and
my husband since I went home and shared some of her stories—and all it took was
a little of my time.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-91043244973345849412013-01-19T22:20:00.002-06:002013-01-19T22:20:40.387-06:00#12—The Power of a Cookie<br />
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<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/12--CranberryNutCookies_zpsf6b12795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/12--CranberryNutCookies_zpsf6b12795.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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#12—The Power of a
Cookie</div>
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Traditionally,
when someone passed away, neighbors, friends, church family members, and
extended family members would provide meals for the family as an expression of
love and kindness. To a certain extent
that is still done today, but I do not think it is as common as it used to
be. Yet, families are touched and souls
are nourished by condolences expressed through food.</div>
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I had
intended to carry on this tradition with a recent loss of a family friend, but
I was not sure where to take a meal. The
family was often absent from the house of the deceased to take care of related
legal matters. Therefore, I opted to
provide cookies to the family. Some of
the cookies were the soft, delicious kind from the bakery section of a grocery
store, and others were homemade.</div>
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The
homemade cookies came from a recipe we had received from the man we now miss. I do not know if it is a cookie he had shared
with his family or not. I hoped it
was. I thought it might both trigger
fond memories of his good cooking and exhibit some of the influence he had had on
our family. I know nothing I did to
touch this family wiped away their pain, but I hope the cookies had the power to
say, "Your loved one was special to us, and we miss him, too."</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-83919427747411683922013-01-15T21:44:00.000-06:002013-01-15T21:44:24.029-06:00#11— Burned Biscuits That Taste Like Love<br />
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<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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#11—Burned Biscuits
That Taste Like Love</div>
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The
following tips are NOT mine. I would
love to give credit to the author, but I received it in a forwarded email. However, I thought it fit perfectly with my
theme for this month, and I hope it will touch you and your family. Enjoy.
I will add a comment of my own at the end.</div>
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When I was
a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I
remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard
day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs,
sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember
waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his
biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember
what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and
jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing; never
made a face nor uttered a word about it! When I got up from the table that
evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits.
And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits every
now and then." </div>
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Later that
night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his
biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard
day at work today and she's real tired; and besides a little burned biscuit
never hurt anyone!" </div>
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As I've
grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect
things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget
birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over
the years is that learning to accept each other's faults and choosing to
celebrate each other's differences is one of the most important keys to
creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. </div>
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And that's
my prayer for you today... that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and
the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in
the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a
burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship.
In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or
parent-child or friendship! So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the
burned one will do just fine. Be kinder than necessary because everyone
you meet is fighting some kind of battle. "Life without God is like an
unsharpened pencil - it has no point"</div>
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--Now you
are back to me. What a wonderful
expression of love and kindness! How
about choosing to eat a burned biscuit this week? What will your burned biscuit be? Literally, a food that is less than
desirable? An inconsiderate co-worker? Being taken for granted by your family? If you put your "burned biscuit" in
light of the above perspective, you might discover that it tastes a little like
love.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-78672678133390037732013-01-15T21:08:00.000-06:002013-01-15T21:08:24.682-06:00#10—Kindness Isn't Always Easy or Fun<br />
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<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/11stainedglass--kindnessnoteasy_zps7ef90f8d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/11stainedglass--kindnessnoteasy_zps7ef90f8d.jpg" width="213" /></a><u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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#10— Kindness Isn't
Always Easy or Fun</div>
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Have you
missed me? Sometimes a glitch in life
can throw off the best of plans. I will
try to get caught up on a few expressions of love and kindness in the next few
days, so I can hopefully end the month well.</div>
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This past
Friday, my husband, my 18-year old daughter, and I visited a dear neighbor in
the hospital. Over the past few years as
our neighbor, he has touched my whole family and earned a special place in our
hearts. As we approached the hospital,
we met a mutual friend in the parking lot, and she warned us, "If I did
not know it was supposed to be him in the bed, I would not have recognized
him." This statement is very
similar to one I made to my husband a couple of weeks ago, but I knew his
condition had deteriorated even more rapidly since then.</div>
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Sometimes
expressing love and kindness to someone who really needs—and wants—it can be
difficult. Yet, that's where we were on
Friday. This dear man did not look like
or respond the way we had become accustomed to seeing him. Even so, he was the same worthy man that
deserved to be reminded that he was loved and appreciated. A person's outer appearance or physical
condition does not determine his or her worthiness. We were there for him. We were there to hold his hand and remind him
that he was loved. Despite our
intentions, we realistically knew that we may not receive any indication from
him that he appreciated or understood our presence. However, for one brief moment, he had
complete clarity as he looked at us and clearly expressed words of
thankfulness.</div>
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We left him
after a very short time, because we did not want him to keep working hard to
try to be conscious for us. At the last
minute, we stopped at McDonald's for a drink (and a snack for one of us) before
going home. While there, we received a
message that the hospital had begun preparing him for I.C.U. and had called in his
family. We thanked God that he allowed
us to visit when we did, so we could have, what would mostly likely be, our
last visit with our neighbor.</div>
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Expressing
love and kindness is not always easy or fun, but it is worth doing. Both you and the recipient will be rewarded.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-76024695218093119662013-01-10T23:06:00.003-06:002013-01-10T23:07:37.629-06:00#9—Would You Like a Smile with That?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/09--Would__smilebepaltrusa_zpse6892382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/09--Would__smilebepaltrusa_zpse6892382.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the smallest of businesses<br />
has a <i>real</i> <i>person</i> behind it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#9—Would You Like a Smile with That?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you
ever worked on the employee side of a counter waiting on customers? Maybe it was in a fast food restaurant. Maybe it was as a retail cashier. Maybe it was as a janitor in a busy building
or a receptionist in a office. If so,
did you find days were you felt like you were treated like an object rather
than a person? How often do you do that
to people who serve you in their jobs?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be
honest, it is understandable. We are
busy. We go to the store to get what we
need. We go to a restaurant to get food. We do not go to find an everlasting
friendship with the person who is taking our money. However, that can happen. Then what can you do to express love and
kindness to someone you barely know and may never see again?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How about
one of these:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Smile and look at the cashier/waiter/waitress
in the eye and say, "Hello. How are
you today?" Then actually listen to
the answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Sincerely thank this person for his/her help
and wish him/her to have a good day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. If a snafu happens with your order or you
have to wait longer because of a snafu with the person ahead of you, patiently
wait and calmly respond, "That's o.k.
I understand. Things do not
always happen like they are suppose to."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Call the person helping you by name. Hint:
look at his or her name tag. If
he/she is not wearing a name tag but is someone who has often helped you,
ask. "I see you here all the time,
what's your first name?" Then use
his/her name that day and each time you go to that establishment in the future.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is
simply a matter of remembering that they are not robots or an appendage of a
business. It <i>is</i> remembering that they, too, are people with frustrations,
worries, and hopes. They, too, want the
same respect and treatment that you would like to receive. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, the
next time you go into a business, instead of just expecting someone to make you
feel better about shopping there, plan to make an employee have a better day by
expressing a little kindness. As you are
parting from your "cashier," pretend <i>you </i>are asking, "Would you like a smile with that?" and
then give him or her huge grinning goodbye as you purposely comment, "Have
a wonderful day."</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-90454396505601684482013-01-10T00:03:00.001-06:002013-01-10T22:08:08.533-06:00#8--No Effort<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/08Noeffort-Thanksgiving_zpsee86d65b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/08Noeffort-Thanksgiving_zpsee86d65b.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately, this isn't my doing;<br />
it is part of Thanksgiving fixin's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>26 Expressions of Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#8—No effort</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the favorite gifts I received when I gave birth to most of my children was a meal brought in for my whole family. It was just what I (and my family) needed, and we all loved it. We never knew what we were going to get, but every meal touched my family with a big helping of love and kindness.<br />
<br />
Consequently, one of the things I most often think about giving to other people, especially people going through a difficult time or even just an adjustment, is a meal. However, I am ashamed to say that I rarely follow through with this grand idea. My primary excuse is that I am not that great of a cook, and I do not want to disappoint someone.<br />
<br />
Even so, I have found a simple way to fulfill this plan with no (or only a little extra) effort. That is: just double the meal I am making for my family and deliver the extra to the family on my mind. How easy is that? This is very doable. Now if only I could remember to follow through with it. How about you? Can you touch a family with a warm meal wrapped in love and kindness? Will you actually do it? Tell me about it. Give me some inspiration to do this on a regular basis. Once it becomes a habit, it truly will seemingly be no effort.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-75786243093466777052013-01-08T21:03:00.001-06:002013-01-10T22:08:48.221-06:00#7--Short and Sweet<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/Georgiasblogphotowithcopyright_zps81676b56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/Georgiasblogphotowithcopyright_zps81676b56.jpg" width="320" /></a><u>26 Expressions of Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#7—Short and Sweet</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes we just need to keep it simple. Touch your family and other loved ones by simply telling them--and meaning--I love you. In person is the best way, but you can even surprise them by leaving it written somewhere to find. I did that tonight for my daughter who is too far away tonight to tell it to in person. Want to see it? Look in the comment section of her <a href="http://www.morelikehome.net/2012/12/bring-it-2013-discount.html?showComment=1357699678570#c5086090297644698944" target="_blank">December 31, 2012</a>, blog at <a href="http://www.morelikehome.net/2012/12/bring-it-2013-discount.html?showComment=1357699678570#c5086090297644698944" target="_blank">More Like Home</a>.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-90429817550638623902013-01-07T17:53:00.000-06:002013-01-08T20:49:07.135-06:00#6—Nighttime Niceness<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/06cleanedsidewalk-SB_zps1dc05193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/06cleanedsidewalk-SB_zps1dc05193.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#6—Nighttime Niceness</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not
know about the weather in your area, but just before Christmas we had a nasty
one-day storm come through here, stranding people and touching families all
over the county. Since then we have had
a couple of more snow falls, but nothing to cause us to work up a tizzy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During any
of these times, wouldn't it have been wonderful to walk out to a pre-shoveled
sidewalk in front of the house? What an
expression of love and kindness that kind of surprise would be?! You can bestow that kindness to your neighbor
the next time it snows. Better yet, do
it at night or at a time when you know your neighbor will be gone! This type of kindness does not have to be
rewarded with a face-to-face thank you.
Knowing you eased someone else's burden can be thank you enough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One year we
had a neighbor down the block do this for us.
We finally figured out who did it, but our family was touched by his
expression of kindness even before we
knew who was responsible. If shoveling (or
snow blowing) a sidewalk does not fit into your routine, what other type of
nighttime niceness can you do?</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-82795590193712526142013-01-05T18:56:00.000-06:002013-01-05T18:56:29.820-06:00#5—Politely Address an Irritation Before It Becomes a Problem<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/05AddressIrritation--bluejay_zps14351416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/05AddressIrritation--bluejay_zps14351416.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue because you don't know what to do?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#5— Politely address
an irritation before it becomes a problem</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems
that families are either touched by abrasive, in-your-face talk or quiet,
seething, unspoken resentment. Consider
a balance of these two extremes as a way to express love and kindness in a
family.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most people
want to avoid confrontation. Yet, which of
the following is less confrontational? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Expressing a concern or irritation in its
early stages while you still have self-control of your temper or</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Waiting until you get to the point that you
cannot take it anymore and you cannot stop reciting all your complaints long
enough to listen to the other person (or you get so upset with someone that you
vow never to talk to or do anything with that person again without telling him or
her why you are no longer a friend)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On paper,
the first way should sound like the better choice. In practice, however, too many people choose
the second method, and they do it in the name of "kindness." They think saying "nothing" is more
kind than saying something that might make someone else uncomfortable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Think of it
this way. If you say "nothing"
to others, what are you thinking every time they repeat the "offense"
that they do not realize is offensive?
Are they bad thoughts? Does your
anger grow each time? Do you start
expecting them to figure out what they are doing wrong even though you have not
told them? (such as, "Can't he
figure out by now that I can't stand it when he does that?" "Why does she keep doing that when it
irritates me so?") Are these
expectations fair?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For
example, during this past year, as a result of some volunteer work I do, I had
to intervene or help with the beginnings of problems. One situation involved the behavior of a
little girl. Since she was still in the beginning
stages of learning appropriate behavior and responses to the children around
her and the adult leading fun time, it was much easier to talk briefly with the
mom (and grandma) about what we could do to make her time in the class more
enjoyable for everyone. Letting everyone
understand expectations early was much easier than waiting until she had
established a pattern of verbal and physical misconduct that would be difficult
to change or waiting until she had been a problem so long that her leader had
run out of patience and tolerance with having her in class. In short, a small irritation that was quickly
heading towards a big problem was stopped and re-routed so that everyone
involved could stay on friendly terms and enjoy (rather than dread) seeing each
other.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The key to
early intervention is to approach everyone involved with love and kindness,
showing you care enough to maintain a good relationship. This approach touches both families and
non-family members in a way that makes relationships stronger for the long
haul.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-43528168782682994652013-01-05T16:50:00.002-06:002013-01-05T16:50:40.557-06:00#4—Leave Your Mail Carrier a Treat<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/4MailCarrierTreats_zps7e6e463a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/4MailCarrierTreats_zps7e6e463a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#4— Leave Your Mail
Carrier a Treat</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although
the postman's pledge might be "Neither rain, nor snow nor sleet nor gloom
of night stays these couriers from their appointed rounds," that does not
mean that your very human mail carrier suddenly becomes super human when he or
she dons the official uniform. In other
words, sometimes it is just plain miserable to be out in the weather delivering
mail, so do something very simple to put a smile on your postman.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It can be a
simple Ziplock sandwich bag with a little treat—homemade or store bought—clipped
with a clothes pin to your mailbox.
Maybe you can put a pack of hot chocolate (to be used after rounds) or
flavored tea bags in a decorated bag with tissue paper with a note on the
outside saying it is for your postman.
If you know his or her real name, then put that on it. Neither of these ideas may work in your
situation, but hopefully it will trigger an idea that will work for you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It does not
have to be fancy or cost much. An
unexpected, simple expression of thanks and gratitude can put a positive touch
on an otherwise humdrum day and be received as a true expression of
appreciation and kindness.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-14198099112685399852013-01-03T18:53:00.001-06:002013-01-03T18:53:40.827-06:00#3—Don't Ask for too Many Favors<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/03Notebookpaperdesk_zps3cbf8e8b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/03Notebookpaperdesk_zps3cbf8e8b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#3—Don't Ask for too
Many Favors</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although we
should be more than willing to share with others (as mentioned yesterday), we
should not be anxiously looking for unnecessary handouts. This is not the same as humbly accepting help
that is offered. In fact, one way we can
positively touch other families is to allow them to share with us when they may
feel inspired to do. This is different
than taking on the attitude that we are entitled to receive gifts from others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not
feel I am explaining myself very well.
Let me give you this example. One
year in school my assigned seat for one class was always next to a boy who
never brought paper to class. The first
time he asked to borrow a piece of paper I gladly passed a piece to him. The next day he still didn't have any
paper. He said his mom hadn't been able
to go to the store, so I smiled and gave him another piece. This continued on days the teacher did not
give us worksheets. The next week (or
the week after that) I asked him when his mom was going to the store. He told me she had bought paper, but he had
forgotten it. By this time, I grudgingly
gave him paper. Then a few times, I
refused. I suppose I refused because I
thought I was being taken advantage of.
If his mom could not afford paper, the least he could do was write
smaller (not big and sloppy) and carefully take care of <i>my</i> paper so he could take notes on the back, too. That didn't happen. However, I went back to giving him paper—one sheet
at a time—because when I didn't, he did not take any notes (and no one else
would give him paper). This is not a
very good example either. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let's look
at it this way. I resented his continual
requests because (still being a child and not being able to see the bigger
picture) I felt he was being careless and irresponsible. I was cheerfully willing to help someone in a
"pinch" even if it happened more than once, but I felt like he was
not even trying to do what he needed to do to have.* I do not want to make others feel like my
requests for favors are a continual burden, so as one expression of love and
kindness, my goal is to not ask for too many favors. This way when I do ask for help the other
person is touched by having a chance to reap the satisfaction of sharing with
someone in a pinch and not feel like he or she is being taken advantage of.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> *I continued to give him paper the rest of the school
year because I think somewhere in my conscious I knew his mom probably had not
bought him paper and barely provided him with enough clothes to wear—barely. Telling this story actually makes me feel
selfish, but other stories that come to mind of people lazily taking advantage
of others with their requests are too "fresh" to put into print at
this time, especially when the point I am trying to make is not what others did
but how I want to approach friends with my needs when they arise. </span>Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-51470756346937886112013-01-02T09:49:00.000-06:002013-01-02T09:49:26.147-06:00#2—Joyfully share with your neighbor in a pinch.<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/02Sharingcupsugar_zpsc19000d3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/2013%20-26%20Days%20Love-kindness/02Sharingcupsugar_zpsc19000d3.jpg" width="213" /></a><u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
#2—Joyfully share
with your neighbor in a pinch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You might
consider this a follow-up to yesterday's suggestion. I am sure some of you reading yesterday's entry
considered the possibly negative way your families would be touched if some
stores either reduced their hours or closed on Sundays.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, realize
many stores would make only minor changes if people stopped shopping on
holidays or Sundays. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, consider
the changes in your habits you would automatically make if you knew the stores
where you shop were changing their hours.
You would make sure you got gas Saturday if you were planning on
traveling on Sunday. On Friday or
Saturday, you would make sure you had snacks for the big game on Sunday. It may not be as "convenient," but
it would work, and more people—including some people you know—could watch the big
game with family and friends.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Third, we
have the past that shows us limited shopping on holidays and Sundays can
work. For most of my growing-up years,
the stores and gas stations in my town were closed, except for one small
grocery store which was opened about four hours. My family simply scheduled our shopping and
gas purchases around those hours. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However,
sometimes the unexpected happened or people just forgot to buy something ahead
of time, which brings me to my next point.
Sometimes when we needed something and no grocery store was open, we simply
had to rely on the kindness of others.
Have you ever seen in movie or read in a book that was set in the 1960's
or before where the mom looks down at her youngster and says something like,
"Go next door to Mrs. Leland and borrow a cup of sugar"? Why? The
homemaker did not realize that she was low on sugar while the store was open,
and it was closed when she started baking.
Did Mrs. Leland share? Usually,
yes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of
those neighbors were in the same boat.
They understood the situation.
Consequently, they were all willing to joyfully share with a neighbor in
a pinch. The next time the lender might
be the borrower. Of course, borrowing
also meant borrowing, so after the mom next door went shopping, the youngster
would be sent back to Mrs. Leland with a cup of sugar to replenish her
supply. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That type
of compassion and sharing seems to have evaporated in today's society. What would your reaction be if a neighbor
came over and asked to borrow a cup of sugar.
I think most people would find that peculiar and wonder why the neighbor
didn't just drive to the store to buy more.
Does this make us a little more selfish?
On the surface, I would say, "No," but there seems to be less
of an attitude of sharing than in the past.
I could be totally wrong.
Hopefully, I am.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regardless,
joyfully sharing with your neighbor in a pinch is a good way to express love
and kindness. Not only will that family
be touched in a positive way, but yours will be, too. </div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-67689391163926298462013-01-01T09:34:00.000-06:002013-01-02T09:50:54.869-06:00#1—Refrain from making purchases on holidays (or Sundays).<br />
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<u>26 Expressions of
Love and Kindness Plus 1<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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#1—Refrain from
making purchases </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
on holidays (or Sundays).</div>
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<br /></div>
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This may
surprise you as being an expression of love and kindness, but don't you want a
day off? Don't you want a day you can <i>depend on</i> being with your family or
friends? Of course you do, and so does
everyone else. Your shopping on a
holiday touches many families by keeping some people away from home on that
day.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I am not
advocating passing a law to limit business on holidays or Sundays, but we live
in a capitalist society that is driven by consumers. It is foolish for a wise businessman to pay
for a full staff (or even a partial staff) to work on days when no customers
walk through the doors. After
experiencing losses on a particular day, a store owner will give that day off
for all or most employees. Will that
hurt business? Of course not. My family drinks lots of milk. I will buy milk, just not on New Year's
Day. The store will get my business (and
money) the day before or the next day.
The store's <i>overall</i> income
will not change just because I did not purchase my milk on New Year's Day. Chick-Fil-A and Hobby Lobby are just two
examples of many successful businesses that choose to give every employee
Sundays (and many holidays) off.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Of course,
not everyone can have a holiday off. For
example, hospitals still need to care for their patients, but by not scheduling
elective procedures and tests on holidays, more hospital staff members can
spend holidays with loved ones. In
addition, some people say they would rather work than spend time with friends
or family, but when you shop, you do not get to decide if the employees who
prefer to work are the people who will be serving you. Realistically, many people that make that
type of comment do so as a way to deal with the fact they are working on a day
they believe they should have off.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Consider
Thanksgiving. It was not that long ago
that nearly everyone in the United States could be with family on Thanksgiving,
except for our community caretakers, such as police officers, firemen,
etc. Then the Black Friday opening times
began to creep backwards. Slowly the
times reached back into the night to cause employees of major chains to cut
short their Thanksgiving celebrations in order to get ready for early
shoppers. This year thousands of
employees across the nation did not get Thanksgiving off at all because of
shopping specials Thursday and Friday. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We could
all say, "But I had to! I could not
pass up that deal." I
understand. Yet, consider this. If every consumer across the nation put aside
self-centeredness (and greed) and refused to shop on holidays, do you think
smart business executives would continue to be open? Wouldn't they offer specials on different
days? Who do you think pushed the opening
times back? Consumers! When shoppers started lining up at stores
four hours before they opened, the stores said, "If they want to spend
their money here that badly, let's open the doors and welcome them in!"</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shoppers
influence and direct how businesses operate.
Shoppers can use that same influence to express love and kindness to
employees (who are often paid minimum wage) by refraining from making purchases
on holidays and Sundays. Those employees
will still get in their much-needed hours to work, but they can work on the
other days, which will then be much busier.
As a result, their families can happily be touched by the breadwinners <i>always</i> <i>knowing</i> they can spend time with their families on holidays and at
least one particular day each week.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-68242879136022698792012-12-28T01:00:00.000-06:002013-01-02T09:51:16.975-06:00Love Overcomes Depravity<br />
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Humans are
depraved creatures. I have known this,
but fortunately I live in an environment that often allows me to ignore this
fact. However, the day after Christmas I
watched <i>Les Misérables</i>. No denying the depravity—and the hopelessness—of
mankind after watching that movie.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Hopelessness. Despair.
These two emotions flood the screen for this appropriately darkened and
usually dimly lit movie. Unfortunately,
for too many people in this world, the visual created on the screen is a
reality, not a special effect. Although
I do not believe the extremely harsh physical condition of the characters in
the movie exist in modern United States, Canada, or England, I believe they do
exist in less fortunate areas. However,
the depravity of the mind and behavior of the characters exist everywhere—envy,
hatred, cruelty, theft, deceit, fraud, extortion, and destruction of character
and pride—to name a few. Each of these
sins is coated with hopelessness and despair.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yet, cracks
in the hard veneer of depravation can happen.
The main character Jean Valjean
has every earthly reason to be a ruthless, scheming malefactor the rest of his
life. However, the unconditional
kindness and respect of the elderly Bishop Myriel of Digne began to make a
crack in Valjean's hard exterior.
Valjean repays his kindness by stealing from the bishop. When given a chance by a patrolman to condemn
the thief, the monsieur shows love to the ex-convict and hands over more silver
as a gift from God to start a new life.
The veneer shatters. He spends
the rest of his life seeking to do good for others and showing compassion.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Fantine,
abandoned by her husband, works in a factory to support her daughter, who is
virtually a slave for ruthless tavern owners in a nearby town. When she is wrongly fired from her job, she
becomes a victim of abuse and trafficking.
All pride is gone, but she endures for the sake of her child. When she is rescued, she does not ask for
food or comforts or even for revenge against those who wronged her. She desires someone to care for her daughter. Despite her ill treatment, love radiates from
her heart, not hate nor the depravity of her condition.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Although
more examples of love motivating characters exist, the lack of hate does not
always produce positive results. Revenge,
hatred, and disgust empower Officer Javert's efforts to make the whole life of
Valjean miserable and virtually unbearable.
However, when Valjean rescues Javert from impending death, the officer
becomes lost and confused. He attempts
to hunt down his savior but finds himself unable to shoot him when the
opportunity arises. Rather than graciously
accepting the gift of unconditional love and finding a way to be compassionate
as well, Javert believes his life is no longer valuable if cannot cruelly
hate. Ironically, the veneer of his
depravity cracks, but he chooses to dispose of his life before the hardness can
completely fall away for fear that his viciousness may be healed. Love trumps depravity, but the beneficiary
cannot reap the benefits if he refuses to accept the gift of love.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The real
world around us today is full of people with no hope. People who live in despair that appear to
have no way out. Some have a flicker of
hope buried deep, like Fantine, and others are so far into despair that they
seem to be a lost cause, like Valjean.
Yet, love can reach them. Love
can make their lives meaningful again.
God has given his children the responsibility of sharing his
unconditional love with all, just like Bishop Myriel of Digne. We are not to first judge who is
"worthy" of such love or who will accept it (unlike Javert). We are to love, because love overcomes
depravity. What have you done this week
to show love to someone in despair or to someone who may not seem to
"deserve" it? </div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-20311812975084661612012-12-27T17:17:00.000-06:002013-01-02T09:51:55.916-06:0026 Expressions of Love & Kindness Plus 1<br />
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In conjunction
with the 26 Acts of Kindness trend honoring the memory of those slain at Sandy
Hook Elementary School, I am going to dedicate my blog to <b><u>26 Expressions of Love and Kindness Plus 1</u></b> beginning January
1, 2013. What a perfect way to start a
new year!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of
making personal New Year's Resolutions you may or may not keep, let's look at
practical ideas that we can do to put a damper on the insanity and depravity in
our world (see my blog on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28 for more comments). I hope YOU will join me with your ideas. </div>
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<br /></div>
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If you have
a blog and will like to participate, put a link to your blog in the comment
section below. Maybe before this
officially begins I will figure out how to make it possible for you to add an
icon to link to your first page of the series.
If you have a link to a site that tells me how to do that, please post
it in my comment section below, too. If
I do not get the icon links figured out, I will copy links to your blogs at the
bottom of my entry on January 1.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have
a blog and are going to participate (including putting a link to your blog on
my page), I ask one thing from you.
Please put a link on your blog referring back to my January 1 entry on
each day that you participate. </div>
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<br /></div>
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One more
thing: the <b><u>26 Expressions of Love and Kindness Plus 1</u></b> will start on
January 1, skip all the Sundays, and end on January 31, which is a total of 27
days or 26 days + 1 day. I just want to
tell you this ahead of time, so you do not think I simply forgot to write on
Sundays.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I am
looking forward to this. Now let's all
put our thinking caps on!</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-86921983808097288292012-12-27T12:17:00.002-06:002012-12-27T12:17:46.285-06:00Love Conquers Insanity<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/018Police_at_Sandy_Hook_zpsa9285b11.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/018Police_at_Sandy_Hook_zpsa9285b11.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting" target="_blank">Wikipedia "Sandy Hook Elem. School Shooting"</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Insanity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>Essentially
it has been three weeks since the heart-stopping rampage at Sandy Hook
Elementary School. Quiet comments heard
everywhere included the words, "This is insane." There is no good reason to motivate someone
to do this. There is no justification for
it. There is no peace—only pain. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Surrounding
the time of this insanity, joy and hope filled the streets decorated for
Christmas. Perhaps the contrast darkened
the situation at Sandy Hook a little bit more, but probably not—that event cloaked
itself enough in black mourning clothes.
So, did the opposite happen? Did the
tragedy darken <i>your</i> Christmas?</div>
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<br /></div>
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I was
blessed this year with having all my children, children-in-law, and grandchild
with me for the Christmas season as well as having a refreshing time with much
of my extended family. Even so, thoughts
of these other mothers* came to mind.
They had to stare at Christmas presents under a brightly decorated tree
that would never be opened by the child whose name danced across its
label. With tear stained cheeks, they
strained to hear stirrings of little feet trying to sneak out of bed Christmas
Eve. They prayed both for the morning to
come quickly so the lonely misery of Christmas Eve would end and for the
morning to never come so they would not have to endure a giggle-free Christmas
morning. I pray that I never have to
live through their misery, whether it is at Christmas time or any other time of
the year.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Unfortunately,
although I cannot say, "I know what you are going through," too many
other mothers can. Ask the mothers in
Rwanda or Croatia in recent years. Ask
the mothers, especially the Jewish mothers, in Nazi Germany. Ask the mothers in Israel living at the birth
of our A.D. calendar. </div>
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<br /></div>
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At the time
of this latter event, King Herod of Judea learned from distinguished visitors
to his land that they were seeking the <i>King
of the Jews</i>, who, by all signs, had recently been born. Horrified, the reigning king shortly after sent
out a decree to kill all male children two years old and younger living in or
near Bethlehem in an attempt to make sure he eliminated the promised one. (Luke
2:1-16) Insanity. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Warned
ahead of time, Joseph had lovingly taken young Jesus and Jesus' mother Mary to
Egypt to escape whatever fury King Herod may choose to release. What about the others? The countless others who were ripped from
their mothers' arms and mercilessly slaughtered in front of their
families. Insanity. I cannot imagine the horror that must have
filled the streets, especially for those—and I assume this to be the majority—that
had no idea that a new "king" had been born. I doubt the soldiers supplied any type of
reason why the king had ordered this murdering rampage. Confused, these mothers figuratively had
their hearts ripped from their chests.
They would understand the pain of the mothers in Newtown, Connecticut.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
question left is, "Does God understand?" Where is He in all this? Despite my inability to truly know the
answers to these questions, I do know where he was. He was </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
lying in a manger after his birth. He was hunted by King Herod and was
on-the-run with Joseph and Mary. As a
human adult, he was flogged and beaten until he was nearly lifeless. Then he was nailed to a cross where this
sinless being willingly and lovingly died.
He understands what it is like to be attacked although he was innocent
of wrong doing.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You might
be saying, "Wait, a minute. Aren't
you talking about Jesus?" Yes, I
am. Jesus is not only the Son of God but
also God in the flesh. There is one god
who manifests himself (or shows himself or functions) as three: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit. Although Jesus is God, he is not
the totality of God, otherwise everything else would have fallen apart if God
had allowed his total being to be trapped in one place at one time. Thus, Jesus is the Son (part) of God. While the Son walked as a human, the Father (and
Holy Spirit) was over everything and everyone.
(I am not a theologian, but this is the best way I can explain it.)</div>
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<br /></div>
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The point
is: God is here with us. He even physically walked among us for a time. He does understand. Yet, there are many things I cannot
comprehend. I do not understand why he
did not stop the mad man that killed the children in Sandy Hook or one that
killed the children in Israel at the time of Jesus' birth. I also do not understand why he willingly put
on the restrictive confines of a human body.
I do not understand why he did not beam death rays from his eyes to vaporize
the Roman soldiers who beat him with whips designed to tear and mutilate flesh
or to zap the Jews (and Gentiles) who mocked him along his death march when
everything he did was for them. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not
understand how he can love the sinful, hateful, and insane creatures called
human beings, but he does. Love drove him
to design a plan of salvation in place before the first sin was committed in
the Garden of Eden and before the first murder took place a few years
later. At the right time, love compelled
him to humble himself and take on the form of a man. Love convinced him to
submit to a crucifixion (despite his unearthly potential to resist it) even
when the human part of him was feeling abandoned. Love sang the victory song of his
resurrection (and of his conquering of sin and death). I do not understand why he loves us, but he
does.</div>
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<br /></div>
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However,
the plan begun in ages past has not yet been completed. We stand confused and lost because we cannot
see the culmination of his design.
Fortunately, we do not need to see the end; we just have to trust the
Designer. Evidence of our trust can be
found in our following his example:
loving despite the hatred and insanity around us. On the cross, Jesus cried out with love and
forgiveness, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are
doing." (Luke 23:34) In Nazi occupied areas, the insanity of
Hitler was thwarted by the compassion of many who preserved hidden Jews. The words of hope that radiate from the
incident at Sandy Hook are rooted in acts of love and compassion. Love conquers insanity. What have you done today to throw love into
the face of insanity?</div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*I realize this tragedy affects more than mothers—fathers,
grandparents, siblings—but being who I am, I am writing from a mother's perspective.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-39743205482810302272012-12-15T22:34:00.000-06:002012-12-15T22:34:01.001-06:00Who isn't touched?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/Sbycreekback_zpsf07b1741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/Sbycreekback_zpsf07b1741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Who isn't touched by the absurdity of yesterday's shooting? Today I think the words of Max Lucado are better here than mine. You can find this on <a href="http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=bed511e434184985961d50fcb&id=223827d6b6" target="_blank">Max Lucado's website</a> and on his Facebook page.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>A Christmas Prayer</b></h2>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
Dear Jesus,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
It’s a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
Hopefully,</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana;">
Your Children</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-90199991143020253982012-12-08T15:55:00.000-06:002012-12-08T15:55:42.895-06:00The Winner Is . . . But You Can Be a Winner, Too The winner of this cute little purse is Lobela with her post on December 5. I have contacted her by email and will be sending out her prize this week. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To find my winner this time, I used Random.org. This was much easier than my old way of cutting up little pieces of paper for each entry and randomly drawing a name. I only learned about this simple, helpful tool this week. I have so much to learn about blogging!</div>
<div>
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<b>HOWEVER, you can still get a little something for yourself.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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If you want to get a cute number like this (or something different), go to www.hyenacart.com/TwiceIsNice. <b style="font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;">But</b> in celebration of Give-A-Gift, the creative talent behind Twice Is Nice will give you a 15% discount if you enter the code <b>JOLLY12</b> at the checkout. It's that easy! Merry Christmas!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/Give%20Aways/IMG_3788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/Give%20Aways/IMG_3788.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
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By the way, shouldn't we be saying Merry Christmas everywhere we go and writing it on everything we write everyday in December? </div>
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Merry Christmas. :-)</div>
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Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-12340217301635899832012-12-07T22:25:00.002-06:002012-12-07T22:25:46.386-06:00Returns Already?<br />
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Nearly
every family has been touched by the Day-After-Christmas gift return; however,
do you start returning presents <i>before</i>
Christmas. I have. In fact I have nearly every year for the past
few years. Why? </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/PB240006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/PB240006.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I check off my shopping gift<br />list, I number my receipts and match<br />the receipts to the gifts on my list.<br />This one is waiting to be numbered.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Sometimes I
get carried away and neglect to total the amounts I am spending per person as I
am shopping. Since I have started using
my Christmas Club account, I mistakenly think I will have no problem purchasing
the presents. Then reality reminds me
that there limits for each person.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sometimes the
furry of the Black Friday Sales confuses my thinking, "If I don't get it
now, I won't be able to get it at all."
So, it lands in my cart. Then it
goes into my car. Sometimes the extra
item makes it home; other times it's returned to the store after I am done
shopping and before I go home.</div>
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Sometimes
the item has made it home and may even be wrapped. Then the person who "had to have
it" suddenly wants something else even more for Christmas. Now, this situation is not a guaranteed
return. Usually the gift receiver has to
graciously accept the first item without a complaint since that was what was on
the wish list at the time purchases were made.
(I was thinking of my children as I typed that last sentence.) However, sometimes I am willing to make an
exception. For example, if I have a
child that has no definite desires but is pressured to put something on the
wish list so I can go shopping and then that same child later knows exactly
what she wants, then I would probably return the first purchase if possible and
give her what she really wants instead.</div>
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Tonight I
did a different type of return <i>and</i>
repurchase. Last month I had earned a
gift card at a store and planned to use it to help purchase presents, <i>but </i>I kept forgetting to pull it out
until after I had already paid for the items.
It happened again this afternoon.
However, tonight I went back to the store and returned one of the gifts
I had purchased only hours earlier.
While standing there, I re-purchased the very same item and <i>used</i> my gift card to pay for it. Wah-lah!
No more forgetting to use my card!
I may be little over-excited about using my gift card, but you would
understand if you knew how frustrated I was about continually forgetting to redeem
my card.</div>
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Even though
this last instance was not technically a before-Christmas return, I have had my
share of them. How about you? Has your family already been touched by a
before-Christmas return this year? </div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-70843786262906300552012-12-04T00:30:00.000-06:002012-12-04T16:10:23.858-06:00Another Give-Away-Day Chance<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/Give%20Aways/Georgiabag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/Give%20Aways/Georgiabag.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't you just see that on you?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hope you signed up for my darling purse and matching accessory yesterday; if not, you still have time! In yesterday's blog, I also gave a link to <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/" target="_blank">Sew, Mama, Sew</a>, which has triggered all this fun, but some of the good items can be lost in the large list. <br />
Fear not. Here is a direct link to my daughter's blog <a href="http://www.morelikehome.net/" target="_blank">More Like Home</a> where she is also participating in the Give-Away-Day event. However, she has TWO prizes she is giving away: a <a href="http://www.morelikehome.net/2012/12/giveaway-day-corduroy-tote.html" target="_blank">corduroy tote</a> and a <a href="http://www.morelikehome.net/2012/12/give-away-day-i-am-cute-dresses.html" target="_blank">pattern book</a>. If you have not found her blog, take a look. It is much different--and more engaging than mine. Have fun. Then check out the website where she and her twin have more quality, handmade items, art, and jewelry for sale at <a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/twiceisnice/" target="_blank">HyenaCart--Twice is Nice</a>.Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-82281057612422523662012-12-03T01:00:00.000-06:002012-12-08T14:58:33.601-06:00Give-Away-Day December 3, 2012!<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/Give%20Aways/IMG_3788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/Give%20Aways/IMG_3788.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/miscimages/giveawayday2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/miscimages/giveawayday2012.jpg" /></a> Now is the time for giving and receiving. This week I get the pleasure of giving, and you might get the pleasure of receiving as I participate in the <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/" target="_blank">Give-Away-Day</a> Dec. 3, 2012, which is sponsored by Sew, Mama, Sew. </div>
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What can you get if you win this drawing? --this darling handbag and matching accessory pouch that one of my daughter's made. This perky floral print is 9 ½ inches long, about 6 inches tall, and almost 3 inches deep. To get your chance at winning this snazzy little number, do the following:</div>
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1. Read any of blogs posted before December 3.</div>
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2. Come back to this page: give the date and title of the blog you read.</div>
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3. Make a comment about that blog.</div>
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That's it. And guess what? You can enter the drawing up to 3 times, but each entry has to be about a different blog. Be sure to include your email address with each entry or check back on Dec. 9 to see if you won and then leave your email address. The contest ENDS at midnight on December 7. The winner will be announced here by Dec. 9.</div>
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Sorry, I will only ship to addresses in the contiguous United States. The good news is that I will pay shipping to a qualified winner.</div>
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Do you like this bag and want to see what else is available? Then check out the online store of my twin daughters at <a href="http://hyenacart.com/TwiceIsNice">hyenacart.com/TwiceIsNice</a>. </div>
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I cannot wait to hear from you. Check out the <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/" target="_blank">other offers</a> as well. I hope you come back to visit (or follow!) even after this fun give-away.</div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5178670891041013953.post-33539441899058117062012-12-02T00:04:00.001-06:002012-12-02T00:04:55.382-06:00Welcome to December 1, 2012<br />
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<a href="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/014christmastreepianorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/gbigmomma/Blog%20photos/014christmastreepianorm.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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"It's
beginning to look a lot like Christmas."
Has the Christmas spirit touched your family yet? My husband and children have put up multiple,
decorated trees, and lights. It is
beautiful. Then I got a surprise last
night. </div>
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<br /></div>
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My married
daughter, her husband, and little boy made a surprise visit to our house last
night. Well, it was a surprise to half
of us. She called to make sure we would
be home before making the three- to four-hour trip. My husband and half the kids were home. They all conspired to keep it a secret, and amazingly,
they succeeded. It was a wonderful
surprise. Then my other adult twin's
boyfriend was able to join us as well.
Having all my kids and their families (or special people) is
wonderful. I know it will not be able to
happen as much as I would like, but it is wonderful.</div>
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How has
this time of the year touched your family so far?</div>
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**If you were following my 30-Day Farm Theme Series, it
might appear to you that I just entered my last three days today. Well, it does not just appear to be true; it
is true. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
Gaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05987644682813469036noreply@blogger.com0