Priceless

we've all seen the commercial, ring $6000, plane trip $1250, Mr. Suki-Dad, Dad-Keiko, Brian-Mrs. Suki blah blah blah

well, here's my version

1 new job-priceless
no office drama-priceless
no migrains, back pain, loss of sleep-priceless

so, I guess the best things in life are free.

Yes ladies and gents, it's been a B-E-A-utiful couple of weeks. And to top it off, I get President's day off too.

I have wondered in moments of weakness if I did the right thing by leaving my last position. I would say a recovered life is proof enough. Life really is too short to stay stuck. What's stopping you from moving forward? Change it if you can, it's worth the risk.

peace

happy birthday hubbie!

It's just another day
in just another year
in just another cold february month
but today seems a little brighter
my step seems a little lighter
cause today i celebrate the one I love.

Happy Birthday Hubbie!!!

Here's to many, many more....

a weekend of jazz

this is going to be one cool weekend. the Legendary Dave Brubeck is in Oklahoma City and performing with Canterbury. more accurately, we're performing with him. my mom pulled out her playboy album from the 60's with Brubeck on it and i hope to get it autographed for her. there is such buzz about being on the same stage with this 86 year old legend. one of the highlights in my singing career. he's being honored as a jazz legend in New York at the Kennedy Center in early March.

To be alive and a legend, wonder what that feels like. to have had such impact in one area of anything that you will leave a mark on it forever. wow...

so i'm stepping on the stage and singing with this man who focused his talent and changed jazz forever....

peace.

almost home...

it's been a great trip (with the exception of one day of stomach flu for hubbie). It is interesting to me that such a modpodge family from so many different homes actually have so much in common. i think we'll make the effort to come back more. we like it here and i think jim finally has a sense of belonging with his family that he has not had since he was a child. thank You GOD!!! i love it when God's plan comes together.
peace.

A week in the mountains with crazy people

ok, maybe not certified crazy people, but close enough!! they are Crawfords after all! we're half way through our visit and it's been interesting, fun, sad, entertaining and thought provoking.

On one hand we have a nuclear family. Dad, Mom, 3 sons, wives & grandchildren.
On the other hand we have Dad, 10 marriages, 5 wives, 9 children, wives, ex-wives, girlfriends, and grandchildren.

and yet these 2 hands belong to the same man.

I sit in amazement of people in glass houses. Rock throwing seems to be a favorite past-time even knowing the consequence. Scripture says judge not lest you be judged. forgive me as I have forgiven others. with the same measure i give out i will be given to. honor your father and mother.

I battle with thoughts of anger, sadness, disgust, disbelief and gratefulness. I'm angry this man has caused so much pain for so many. Sad that he will die without ever understanding the full weight of his actions, attitudes and words. Disgusted by the bigotry and judgementalism that is so ingrained in his every pore. Disbelief that he truly knows the God that I know, or could all this be true? Grateful that in spite of all of this or because of it, Christ died for us both. Christ made the same sacrifice for us both, He paved the way to heaven for us both, He loves us both so much He made a way for us to know His loving, miraculous Father.

I have stopped praying Lord help me and have started praying Lord use me.

peaceful in idaho

annie johnson flint once said...

God has not promised skies always blue,
flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
joy without sorrow,
peace without pain.

But God has promised strength for the day,
rest for the labor,
light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
help from above,
unfailing sympathy,
undying love.

God has proven himself over and over, i don't know why i even give it a thought. yesterday, my last day, was a peaceful day. for many of you, you know how big a miracle that was. Thank you God!! I left well because God paved the way in peace.

AND THEN....

as i was leaving my sister called. my aunt ann in missouri stepped out of her car at the funeral home where she was helping my cousin plan her father-in-law's funeral, had a massive heart attack and died before she hit the pavement. my aunt and uncle have been pastors all of their married life. they've been married since they were 18. they've raised 4 children, have 11 grandchildren and a current congregation of around 50. she will be missed by many, mourned by many.

but the good news is she loved the Lord and has served him faithfully for 50+ years. She has lived in a body that has had major health issues for decades. and she is Free at Last, free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last.

pray for those left behind, there will be a chasm in their lives for quite a time to come.

and remember But God has promised strength for the day.

peace.

last day...

so this is it. last day. seems odd that after 4 years it's just that simple. you walk away. i read something yesterday that said people born on my birthday invest themselves in their occupation because they consider their lives a mission and what they do, their mission field. i see this now more than ever. it's never just about the job for me. every job i've had in the past 10 years i've had because of a sense of investing in something bigger. whether that be the actual job or the people around me or the people it served, i wanted there to be more to it than a job and a paycheck.

i guess that would explain why i have such mixed feelings. i'm excited about the new job potential for learning and growing and i'm sad that i'm leaving an organization i've invested 18 years of my life in. i will still sing, but it will be different not participating in the growth and development of Canterbury.

so here's to my last day. i hope i can go out in a blaze of glory!!! just kidding, i'm just hoping i don't boohoo like a big baby! a peaceful exit would be a blessing to me. a peaceful ending would be phenomenal, after all, i'm only moving upstairs!!

peace.

That was then, this is now....

so reading back over my last post i was looking forward to a smooth 2 weeks, great ending to a great job, lasting relationships with coworkers and bosses...

that's been pretty much been shot all to HELL!!!

i'm such a pollyanna. i believe good happens. you really can be happy and for the most part, you can treat anyone with respect and get what you need to, done.

well, after the last 2 weeks, i'm a little more jaded, a little more bruised and a lot more committed to this being the best thing I have done in a long time!!

So here we go. 2 more days. i think i can, i think i can...

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phillipians 4:13

He's giving extra to me these days and I'm still gr8ful!!

peace.

Baby, it's cold outside....

So we shut the office down early due to the early onslaught of first winter storm of 2007. Sleet abounds and is slowly covering our streets and cars and anything standing still with a wonderful coating of ice pellets. The world is quiet right now and we're warm in our house on easy street.
I'm at peace too. God provided the perfect opportunity to speak with my boss and her boss, face to face, alone. I was able to turn in my two weeks notice with no drama, no anger, no loss of blood. It was an answer to many prayers. I anticipate a good exit and a positive continuing relationship with all involved. It is a huge blessing to me and I am grateful.
peace.

I've gone and done it

i got a myspace. i don't dress any differently, or say "like" every 3rd word, but i have gone over to the youthier culture and pimped out a myspace for myself. so if you want to see the other side, check it out at www.myspace.com/glyniscrawford. there's some pics and a funny video. i even have friends. but my blogger's heart will always be here, so don't expect a lot in the myspace world. i'm just happy i figured out how to add some color!!! my secret, i have a 20 year old tutor!
peace

so i was thinking...

what creates a sense of entitlement in people? i've met many people, of all ages, that believe the world they live in should just be the way they want it and their expectation of the world is do it just that way. i don't get this. my life experience has shown me that if i want something a certain way, i'm probably going to have to work to get it there. this is my expectation and my experience.

i think i would love to live one day where everything was exactly the way i wanted it to be without any effort from me. but then again, why spoil contentment with one day?

i love my life and i wouldn't trade it. good and bad, easy and hard, God has shaped me and changed me and blessed me. i see His presence in my life every day, even though that's the last thing (without Jesus) that i'm entitled to.

peace.

What's in a New Year?

well, the truth is, none of us know. when i look back at 2006, there are so many things now past, that i did not see coming. my father is in oklahoma and in many ways, totally dependent on our care. we are empty nesters. i knew the day would come,but it did come too quickly.
good things are coming in 2007. mom is retiring and thank you God, financially stable and healthy. there will be a marriage soon and a new baby to celebrate. maybe even more than one. my generation of cousins are all married now with this last one. in the same year i will see 24 years of marriage, she will see her first. and the circle continues...
so seize the day, hold tighly to love and to those you love. release the hard things you have held to long. I'm declaring a year of jubilee!! Join me in the celebration of all life holds and praise God for his presence that brings joy, hope, love, peace, forgiveness and healing.
Happy New Year, World! God loves you!

Although it's been said....

Merry Christmas! Yes I said Merry CHRISTmas!! No happy holidays here...hmmmm...well you know what I mean!

As I reflect on the year past it is once again overwhelming and humbling to see the hand of God so very present over our lives. From little things to very big things, He has walked each step of the way with us and I am grateful.

So I will celebrate His birthday with all that is in me. His birthday, and yet I receive all the gifts. Who would want to turn down an offer like that?

So, I'm offering this simple phrase, to kids from 1 to 92. Although it's been said many times, many ways...Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to you.

peace.

C. S. Lewis says...

"I do not doubt that God wants the best for me. My only concern is how painful that 'best' will prove to be."

In recent days, I am holding on to this thought. Romans 12:12 says "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer."

Why would we need to be patient in affliction if we aren't afflicted? I think we're being encouraged to not be concerned about how painful God's best will be but to just be aware that God's best is sometimes painful.

But He also tells us in Hebrews 12:23-25 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the day approaching."

So let's hang on together. Being joyful and patient and faithful! God is at work on our behalf and He loves us!!

peace

inner pieces?

i've discovered something recently. it's really not brain surgery, but it was a paradigm shift for me. anger and frustration disturbed my inner pieces which in turn leaves me no inner peace. i know, it should be obvious. the Bible has been telling me this my whole life. bumper stickers have touted it for years. but it takes the inner knowing all for myself to really, truly let it sink in.

you see, i work in a frustrating place with insecure people and it has been taking quite a toll on me. i lived in a constant state of wound up and i'm not really a wound up kind of gal. it finally occurred to me that i could unwind. i didn't have to fix it, control it, excuse it, accept it or like it. i could be calm, gracious, firm and at peace regardless. AND i've decided i like it when my inner pieces are at peace. it works for me. i'm better here.

so i'll "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer." romans 12:12. and my inner pieces will rest in peace.

peace to your inner pieces too!

arts and awards

i was privileged to attend the Governor's Arts Awards today in our lovely State Capitol building (you know, the one with the DOME) anyway, the President of our Board was nominated for the Earl Sneed Award. he's earned it many times over, so it was nice to see him appreciated in a public, official ceremony. But it did make me wonder, how many unsung heros are there out there? think about it, how many people do you know that deserve a medal or a round of applause but will probably never receive it in this lifetime.

I know some people that will be bazillionaires in heaven, but will not be applauded on earth. I know it will be worth the wait. I'm also glad that sometimes, the good guys get a medal.

peace.

Thankful and still gr8ful

well turkey day has come and gone. lots of food, family and some new friends. I hope you enjoyed your holiday, we did. i was also reminded of how thankful i really am and how blessed.

i am thankful that i am not judged in a court of justice but of grace. i am thankful that i don't get what i deserve. i am thankful that God loves me as i am, where i am, who i am. i am thankful that i am surrounded by people who love me even when i am sometimes, (hard to believe i know), unloveable.

i am gr8ful for this life i have been entrusted with. it has not always been easy, but journeys worth taking are worth the effort. climbing a mountain is not easy, but oh the view at the top.

so my verse for today is romans 12:12 "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer".

peace.

I'm Melting, mmmmeeelllttttiinnnnngggggg

If she had uttered these words, i would have understood the previous days with her. But other than being yelled at, having my head bit off and generally demoralized, She just ranted and huffed and puffed and blew my house down. So it cements in me a recent decision. I'm brushing off the resume and sending it out. Stick a fork in me, I'm done. I will still sing, I hope. But I'm done.

I'm a little sad, a little mad, a little excited and a little scared. We'll figure out which emotion wins.

So for now, i'm on vacation for a week and singing Ding Dong the witch is dead, la la la, the witch is dead. Even though she isn't and i really don't want her to be, at least i have a week away from Oz.

So if you are the praying kind, i'd appreciate the support. God alone knows how this will all work out. and I'm leaving it with him.

peace and happy turkey day

blitzed number 2

so I've spent the last 2 days on media blitzs. you take lots of pr info, make lots of appointments with papers, radio and tv people and you run in with a group of people and tell them as much as you can in a short amount of time. We had a blast and no alcohol was involved. we also got some great responses from the media. They Like Us, They Really Like US!!!

So we can all do our jobs a little better with people who now know us a little better. Seems like a good deal all around!

peace!

Different shades of Blitzed!

So Saturday night we went to two Halloween parties, both costume of course! Jim was Mr. Clean and I was his favorite mop. The visual was amazing!!

Anyway...the first party was family centered, lots of goodies and cute costumes. A homemade haunted house with varying degrees of scary depending on who was coming through next. Very fun, very clean, very all american pumpkiny kind of Halloween party.

The second party we attended was for hubbie's company. The theme of the evening was slightly different. I think it was Vodka. There was vodka punch, vodka cocktails, bloody marys, vodka jello shots and something called sewer water with baby ruths floating in it. The crowd was well soaked in vodka by the time we arrived and very entertaining. Being the light weight I am, I enjoyed the festivities immensely because the drunker they get the more entertaining it became.

Karaoke is an absolute scream when toasted people are doing it. For that matter, walking became more and more interesting. I had a great time watching and I hope they remember the party.

So that's the blitz experience number one. Blitz experience number two, later today...come back for more.

peace!!