Pretty As A Picture

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Looking Up...

   So I've been reading a lot of articles about women who have lost their jobs after so many years and about the struggles they are going through to find work again - and to just survive in the meantime.  I think I have learned a couple of things.  First: I am definitely not alone in this predicament.  Being a woman over 50 and looking for work is a very daunting experience and there are many, many of us in the same boat.  Second: I am more fortunate than a lot of those women.  I have a husband who has a job and is still bringing in a paycheck.  We still have our home and car(s).  We are still able to pay our bills (mostly).  And we can still buy groceries. 

 

   I read a story about a woman who was an executive with her company for 30 years and she was asked to prepare a list of ways that the company could "tighten their belts".  Next thing she knew, she was handed her pink slip.  Then there was the woman who just bought a 4 bedroom home on which she & her hubby were going to do major renovations.  Then, suddenly,  she had no income.  So now they live in this big house that needs lots of repairs that they can't afford and they can't sell.  Or the mother who put her son in college, then lost her job.  She refuses to let her situation impact her son's life, so she swears she'll scrub toilets, if necessary, to keep him in school.

   I actually began to feel fortunate after reading these stories.  Sure, I know there are always people out there less fortunate than ourselves.  But for a short while there, I admit that I was beginning to feel a bit depressed about my situation - no job, no interviews, no prospects.  But there are definitely a lot of worse things that could happen!  So I am beginning to have a more positive attitude once again.  

   I have been praying for my own job situation for a long time.  But now I am praying for all those other people out there who are in this same situation - or worse - that I am in.  I have known  for a long time that it is always better to look at others and pray for them rather than to look at yourself all the time.  But I am afraid that I sort of "forgot" to do that for a while. Now that God has put me back on the right track once again, I think things are looking up!  I know I am!

Still Waiting...on Him

   Well, I have been out of work since January of '08.  At first I was on State Disability since I had to have both of my knees replaced.  I thought I'd be off work for 3 to 4 months.  But complications set in and it stretched into 9 months of disability.  My employer was unable to keep my position open for that long - so I had no job to go back to.  In this economy, there are just SO MANY people out of work and there are just not enough open positions to go around.  I am trying to be patient and to "wait upon the Lord" but it is getting a little tougher every month.  Sending out resumés almost every day and still no job offers.  I know He has something in mind for me.  I just hope I find out what that something is pretty soon.  So I am not only praying for a job offer, but I am also praying for patience.  That's usually a bit of a problem for me.  You know..."I want PATIENCE and I want it NOW."  But I am learning to take it all to Him. It's all in His timing.

Everyone Has One...

Here's a little something I picked up years ago that I thought was worth passing along...

  "It costs nothing but it gives so much. It enriches all those who receive it, without making poorer those who give it.  It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.  None is so rich or so mighty that he can get along without it.  And none is so poor or weakened that he cannot become enriched by it.  It brings happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business...and it is the countersign of friendship.  It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is Nature's best antidote for trouble.  Yet, it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something of no value until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you one of theirs - so give them one of yours...as none needs it so much as he who has no more to give."

  What is it?  Why, it's a SMILE, of course!  Give one to someone today!  :o)  

She Is Free

    I attended the funeral of a dear friend last week.  Linda put up a valiant fight against cancer and survived well beyond the time the doctors expected.  She was so strong in her faith.  She was an encouragement to any and all who knew her, but especially to those who also suffered from the ravages of cancer, or any other illness for that matter.  I remember in '07 when I spoke to her of my concerns about my upcoming surgeries to replace my knees.  I had been going through so much pain - but it all seemed so very insignificant compared to what SHE was going through.  But Linda saw everyone's pain and concerns as more than her own and always had words of Hope and Encouragement no matter how badly she was feeling.  She was amazing that way!  

  A "Letter of Farewell" was given out to those who attended Linda's service.  In part, it said, "But most of all, remember that I have gone to sleep believing in my Lord our God...that when the coming of Jesus Christ takes place, I will be able to be among you all once again, to finally meet our God and be at His side forever and ever."  

 

                          Goodbye, good friend, until we meet again.

A Couple of Quotes

   I seem to be going through sort of a "dry" spell here lately and I haven't been able to think of what I want to write in my blog. Or I think of something in the middle of the night, but by morning I can't remember what "brilliant" thoughts I had during the night. Rather frustrating, but not catastrophic. Today I read a couple of things in a magazine that I liked and thought I'd pass them along here. I hope that doesn't make me a plagiarist. Well, I will give credit to the authors, so as to be safe.

   All of these quotes come from an article entitled, "What is on your NOT-TO-DO list for 2009?" The first quote is from Casey Abate who said, "I won't let myself be consumed by things I cannot control. I've realized that 99% of my stress has come from impending "disasters" that never happened." Right on, Casey. I'm with you! The next is along the same train of thought. It comes from Donna Robison, who says, "Worry. As my mom has told me, worry is like rocking in a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere." That's a great mental picture that can serve as a reminder. And one more, just for fun. Lisa Delestienne expressed my sentiments exactly when she said, "I shall not succumb to peer pressure to dye my hair. I am not going gray. I am just gaining natural highlights!"

   I think these women are my kind of people!

There is a Plan.....

   Isn't it wonderful that we don't have to have all the "answers" ourselves?  We can still learn from those around us.  I continue to learn from sources that sometimes surprise me.  I tend to be a real worrier at times.  I know in my heart that worrying is unnecessary.  But sometimes I have to be reminded of that fact.  By reading my daughter's blog, along with the comment her friend left, I was reminded again that worrying is WRONG.  God is always there to take care of our needs, be they physical, financial or whatever.  We just have to put our hand in His and let Him lead us.  He has a plan for us and will NEVER mislead us.  Even my granddaughter's blog (http://kan-mi-be.blogspot.com) shows that she is resting in God's plan for her life.  I am so proud of her, so blessed that ALL my children and grandchildren know the Lord.  That is certainly one thing that I do NOT worry about.  Praise the Lord!