Fashion Tips

Working at Walmart, I see so many people who apparently don't know how to dress, that I felt it would only be right for me to give a few tips.

1) Pajamas are for sleeping in, not for going shopping in.

2) But, if you're going to wear pajamas to Walmart, at least make sure the top and bottom match somewhat.

3) Just because you can squeeze yourself into it, doesn't mean it fits.

4) If you're going to wear white pants, don't wear black panties.

5) Wearing a bold, printed bra under a tight, white tank top tends to make you look like a slut.

6) Wearing an off-white shirt with very faded jeans makes the shirt look old and dingy.

7) Swim trunks are for swimming in, not for going shopping in.

8) But, if you're going to wear swim trunks to Walmart, do NOT wear suspenders with them!

9) If your large, flabby belly is hanging out below your shirt, don't get upset if I throw up.

10) Buy a mirror, hang it in a prominent place in your house, and look in it before you go outside.

Photographs and Memories

Real Christianity

Disclaimer: This post is not directed toward anyone more than to myself. If you see yourself, or someone else in these words, it was not intentional.

Lately, I’ve been considering how the world views Christians. There are lots of people who claim to be Christians, (many who even go to church every Sunday, perhaps sing in the choir or teach a Sunday school class or work in some other ministry of the church) who give non-Christians an excuse to have nothing to do with God or church. At church, they are all smiles and amens, but at home or work their actions belie their words.

I know that I have been guilty of that myself. I’ve always been quick to let people know that I am a Christian and a faithful church-goer, but my life hasn’t always lived up to my speech. Having grown up in church, the right words roll so easily off my tongue. At church, I’ve heard literally hundreds of people get up and testify about what God has done for them, and it is so easy to parrot those words.

I’ve made sure that the people I work with know that I’m a Christian, but have I shown them by my actions or only by my attestation? I know I tend to be too critical of people: co-workers, managers, customers, etc. I’ve been trying lately to do better with that. So many people who come in the store are unlovely, unlovable, and sometimes downright disgusting. It’s not so easy to show Christian love to those people. I’ve become aware that perhaps God put me in my position to be a light, an example of His love. I’ve been consciously trying to be kind and show compassion, especially when it’s the hardest to do, because perhaps, I will be the only person all day, or all week, to show them kindness. Verse 22 in the book of Jude comes to mind often, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” That’s what I want to do…make a difference!

On another note, how many times are even the words spoken in church hollow? How many times have you heard the same person get up and say the exact same thing every time they speak, with such familiarity that it sounds like a broken record, with no discernable emotion or sincerity. I am so very grateful that God saved me! I certainly didn’t deserve it, and neither did anyone else. So, how can anyone get up and say, “I’m thankful for my salvation,” in the same tone of voice that they would say, “The sun is shining today”? Are we thinking about what we’re saying, or are we just reciting what we’ve always heard and think everyone expects to hear? Is God working in our lives? If He is, how can we be so monotonous in talking about it? And, how can we say we love God and go on living as if He is somewhere far off in space and unconcerned about how we represent Him?

God Answers Prayers!

Sam has always enjoyed going to church and learning about the Bible. Even when he was very young, his Sunday School teacher would come and tell me how he would get so involved in the lesson that he practically taught it himself. Last year, Sam got up in front of the church and said that God had called him to preach, and he was very active in the youth group. Then, for the past several months, he has suddenly not been interested in church, especially youth group. At first, I thought it was just because he was still fatigued from his bout with mono, from which he still hasn't fully recovered. I came to realize, though, that there was an obstacle keeping him from church. I told Sam to pray about it, and I also prayed that God would either remove the obstacle or reconcile Sam's heart to the situation. Tonight, God removed the obstacle, and Sam is happier than I've seen him in a long time. He has missed the youth group and even become depressed over the situation, and now he has a renewed vigor and a great big smile on his face. As concerned as I was about him, being his mom, I know God was even more concerned, and He took care of the problem without our having to do anything other than pray. Thank You, God, for loving my son even more than I do!

Observations From My Kitchen

1) If a messy kitchen is a happy kitchen, my kitchen must be delirious.

2) A husband (or son) is someone who takes out the trash and gives the impression he just cleaned the whole kitchen.

3) Countless people have eaten in this kitchen...and gone on to lead normal lives.


I can't take credit for this. It was on today's page of the daily calendar in the Money Center. I thought it was cute and wanted to share it.

#1 is not really true in my house. My kitchen is actually quite clean (at the moment, anyway).
#2 is in fact a reality when referring to my beloved Sam.
#3 is also true.

My Favorite Memories

Some of my favorite memories are:

1) All-day shopping sprees with Mom, even though I've never been much of a shopper. Just getting to spend the day with her made it special.

2) The many times Daddy and I "fished" in Rocky Creek without ever catching anything. Again, just getting to spend time with him made it special.

3) My 18th birthday present - going to San Antonio to see the Celtics play the Spurs. The only disappointment was that Larry Bird was out with an injury and wasn't even there.

4) Tagging along (with my Aunt Kitty) on Mom and Dad's 2nd honeymoon. It was an EPIC trip!

5) Camping in a tent in Colorado for a week with Sam in 2002. He was sick and running a fever all week, but he still says it was our best vacation ever.

6) Angel, the best dog that ever lived. RIP

7) My Grandma's 80th birthday party.

8) Spending all my allowance and then looking at my brother with just the right amount of "puppy dog eyes" so that he would share his with me. (He was the BEST big brother, just sayin.)

9) Staying in a tent at Anastasia State Park, near St. Augustine, FL. We had a blast, even though it rained the whole time we were there.

10) Being the only one in the family who could get the campfire started ... when I was only 10 years old.

11) Getting to see the beautiful Cola de Caballo (Horse Tail) Waterfalls near Monterrey, Mexico.

12) Riding the Alpine Slide in New Hampshire.

13) The trip Kiki and I took to New York City.

14) The trip Sam and I took to New York City.

15) November 18, 1995.

16) My trip to Wasilla, Alaska, in the summer of 1996.

17) Patti and Nic's visit to see us in Texas Christmas 2002.

18) My college graduation present from Mom and Dad -- a two-week road trip with a friend. I got to visit friends in several states, including PA, CT, NH, KY. It was awesome!

19) My 1991 Pontiac Firebird.

20) Watching a chicken cross the road.



So many, many more, some of which I can't seem to put into words.

Happy Birthday, Mom!