Be careful what you vote for...

While walking down the street one day a corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. "Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you." "No problem, just let me in," says the Senator. "Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity." "Really?, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator. "I'm sorry, but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven...???

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. "Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell." So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell... Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders. "I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil smiles at him and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning, Today, you voted.." 

Vote wisely on November 2, 2010


peace.


(I don't know who wrote this, but I couldn't have put it any better.)


I found this Sample Ballot for Oklahoma Voters. Go prepared, it's a long one.

CARMEX news, reviews & contest

Nov. 1, 2010 update***and the winner is.....JACKIE!!!*** congratulations and your goodie bag is on the way!

So as I said in my previous post, Carmex sent me an awesome goodie bag full of great products. Some new, some old and loved. They asked me to use them and tell you about them. As an official member of the Carmex Blog Squad I have followed my orders and here are my reviews. And yes, I used all the products (willingly by the way) and I've never been so soft and moisturized!!

This is my new, favorite lotion!! When the temps turn cool, my skin is dry. My hands especially. This Healing Lotion has a light, pleasant scent. It is truly non-greasy and once I've used up what Carmex sent to me, I will be buying this product. I even use it at work. A little goes a long way, too. You really must try it!

Okay, like the lady in the nail salon said the other day "Honey, you have dry skin berry bad on you feet, need callous remove?" And the answer was yes...however, since then, I have been using the Healing Cream on my heels and feet. Honey, my feet feel awesome! It is heavier than the Healing Lotion, still non-greasy and still pleasantly scented. I put it on before bed, cover with socks and my heels are healed! Love this one, too. 

I think Carmex has done a great job with both of these products. I was expecting heavier feels from them both and was very, pleasantly surprised. Plus the packaging just looks happy and I like happy.

AND NOW....

If you would like to win one of the lovely gift bags I showed here, an over $50 value, then here's all you need to do:

You may enter once for each category, up to two entries per person.

1. Leave a comment on this blog post and you must leave your email address so I can contact you.

2. Follow @glynis_crawford on twitter and Tweet this, but only once. 

"Carmex gift bag and soft skin FTW! #carmexgoodness follow @glynis_crawford and RT"

I'll see it, I promise. RT's count for the RT'er. (is that even a word ?)  :-)

Contest starts October 25 and ends November 1st. 

Winner will be notified by email or DM when chosen by random drawing. 

Good luck!

These products are available at Walgreens, Walgreens.com and drugstore.com. 

peace.

Can Cars go through Menopause?

I was having a conversation with my sister yesterday and I swear her car's in menopause.

It's not a very old car, less than 10 years. In our family that's still "relatively new". She calls it her baby rhino, but I think baby is growing old.

Here's why:

It has hot flashes, it's heart (engine) races, it leaks fluids and sometimes you can't turn the steering wheel cause it 'stove up!

Sounds like menopause to me!!

But my sister loves her car, she communes with it, understands it, takes care of it. I think she feels that the care she gives her car will somehow return to her good things. Maybe she's right.

Goodness knows when I get there, I hope to be cared for as well as the baby rhino.

peace.

Good Stuff

OK, I'm kind of excited about this opportunity. Carmex, you know, the little yellow lidded goodness for lip salvation in the winter, has asked me to review some of their products.

They sent me this awesome gift bag, full of skin friendly things, and I'm going to use it for a couple of weeks and let you know what I think.

I can already tell you, I LOVE the healing lotion. Nice scent, non-greasy feel, not heavy but make my hands feel wonderful. I even use it at work because of the non-greasy.

AND THEN....

They are also going to let me give away one identical bag to some lucky commenter, tweeter, or facebook friend!! Oh yeah!! The drawing will be totally random, you can only enter once, but I wish you all the best of luck! (Don't enter yet, I'll let you know when.)

So, I'll let you know what I think about the products and then you can let me know if you want to share in the goodness!

Soft skin and presents, doesn't get much better than that!

peace.

the wedding

The day was beautiful, as was the bride. Joy surrounded us all. I wish them every happiness and I'm blessed to call him son.

God still answers prayer.

peace.

on being girlie...

I'm not very good at it. Being girlie I mean. I tend to be too practical with money and time and it takes both.

I don't wear makeup, just a little mascara or you wouldn't see I have eyes. I don't get my hair done regularly, even though my daughter is a stylist. I don't like to shop for clothes, I have just enough shoes, and I rarely wear jewelry other than my wedding ring. I won't spend the time to mani/pedi every two weeks. Although the occasional one is a treat.

But, I do enjoy being a woman. I feel stronger than I ever have. I'm settled in myself. My faith grows all the time and my relationship with my creator God too.

I have a wonderful husband who takes care of me. Spoils me. Loves me. Walks with me, in front of me, behind me or beside me depending on the occasion and how he can best keep me safe. He's aware of me. He likes me. He makes me laugh. I feel safe with him.

So I'm thinking that girlie isn't all frills and fluff. Maybe it's just that place where you are the best you.

I like that place.

peace.

Keep your eye on the prize

I've been telling myself that a lot lately. The details of everyday life can sure bog me down sometimes.

In the last month, I've had my first car wreck, I had to say goodbye to my dog, and now, the saris my daughter had ordered for her bridesmaids will not be here in time for the wedding. So nine days before the wedding, we're off to David's Bridal to see if we can avoid a nude wedding.

I'm talking her off the ledge (not literally, she's a very strong woman) all the while feeling like the blind leading the blind. I want her day to be so special and I hate when my kids are disappointed.

I know God feels this too. And my prize is not life or death, not eternal in nature. Thank you God for perspective.


Phillipians 4:7-14
 
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  ¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.


But here's the prize for this occasion, she is marrying a wonderful man whom she loves with everything she is. Saris or no saris.

And I am so happy for her. I've been praying for him her whole life.

So David's Bridal, watch out. We've got dresses to buy!


peace.

I live on Easy St.

Yes, literally. It's my address.

My husband claims I bought the house because of the address. He's not too far off. I loved the house, neighborhood, area of town but the address did seal the deal. It cracks me up really.

I really love telling people my address. Think about it. How often do you have to tell someone your address? When I tell them, 9 times out of 10 I get a smile back and a comment. Pretty cool huh?

That's not to say that living on Easy St. doesn't have its trials, it does. But this pollyanna is a sucker for a smile.

Think I'll hang around for a long time.

peace.

quick update on Suki

It is cancer, it is malignant and aggressive. We are enjoying the rest of our week with her and Saturday we will say goodbye.

I think when your heart breaks, it leaks out of your eyes.

peace.

Full Plate

I'm sitting here today with a great case of  "I can't want to" so I thought I'd share. 


There has been a flurry of activity lately, all good. Wedding is less than 3 weeks away, details are falling place, I can't complain. Well, I could but I choose not to...


Anyway, I'm also changing the way I eat. Trying to lose some weight, align my body with my actual needs and pay attention to myself. Something I'm not very good at.


In the midst of all that, I have my first car wreck, Jim is traveling a great deal and I found out yesterday that our dog, Suki, may have cancer.


She's a great dog, we have enjoyed her greatly, but if it is cancer we will not go to extraordinary means to sustain her. We can't afford to do this nor do we want to put her through that. But it's just no fun at all. It weighs heavy on my brain and heart. We should know today or tomorrow what the full diagnosis is and where we go from here.


So my plate is full. I'm done. I don't want or need anything else at this point. Although, a little prayer for dessert would be fine. :-)


So I'm singing this today-

His eye is on the Sparrow (and the akita) 

why should I feel discouraged

and why should the shadows come

why should my heart feel lonely

and long for heaven and home

when Jesus is my portion

a constant friend is He

His eye is on the sparrow

and I know He watches over me

His eye is on the sparrow

and I know He watches over me

I sing because I'm happy

I sing because I'm free

His eye is on the sparrow

and I know He watches me

He watches me

His eye is on the sparrow

and I know He watches 

I know He watches, 

I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy

I sing because I'm free

His eye is on the the sparrow

and I know He watches me

His eye is on the sparrow

and I know he watches me

peace.

Favorite Things

As I type this, I hear the song playing in my head with Julie Andrews singing....

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens 
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens 
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things..."

LOVE this movie. The story of a family. 

What is your family's story? Have you thought of writing it down so that the generations to come will know. I think I'm going to do this and I'm going to include pictures and recipes and silly things. Because for anyone that knows me, you know silliness must be included! 

A gathering of a few of my favorite things. 

I'll even share some of it here. Maybe not ALL the pics, 5th grade was especially traumatic. :-)

peace.

No child should every worry

I've been watching a dear friend go through the process of becoming a foster parent. The endless paperwork, interviews, home studies and waiting...waiting...waiting...!

All in the hopes of caring for a child.

Well, after a YEAR, she has not one, but two children. A boy almost 2 and his sister, almost 5. There have been huge adjustments, great joys, big surprises. The thing that has just baffled me is the lack of direction and support that the very system who made her try so hard to become a foster parent, DOESN'T offer her once she has the children. But the great news is, she isn't dependent on them.

God has had a plan all along and it's beautiful to see him building a family.

James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

peace.

Manifesto

{image source}

peace.

The Sands of Time

Some days I want out of the loop. I love being involved, busy, surrounded by people but sometimes the loop of inclusion feels like the movie TWISTER.

There has been a lot going on lately. Wedding, showers, car wreck, AC blower issues, etc... Today there is a soft rain falling (although I hear there is a Tropical Storm coming) and I just want a pillow and a blanket.

Ever have those times?

I was reminded today that there is only so much sand in the hourglass and I must decide who gets it. I'm am forever grateful that God has a plan. If I'm quiet, He's speaking and I can hear Him. If I watch, He's guiding and I can see Him.


Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised. Hebrews 10:23

peace.

just a reminder...

Even in the darkest storms, God is there.

Psalm 46

 1 God is our refuge and strength,

       an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,

he burns the shields with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

peace.

Yesterday was another first. After over 30 years of driving, I had my first accident. 4 cars worth. Everyone is fine and only 2 of the 4 cars had to be towed. Mine was one of them.

I am grateful for no injuries, insurance and the prayers of friends.

Anyone have a car I can borrow? :-)

peace.

Thanksgiving

So the subject of Thanksgiving came up yesterday. What the plans were, where we would be, who would be there....

Made me reflect on how it used to be. My extended family was not close by in childhood. We always lived away from everyone so holidays were about the only time we really got to see them. And it was always an extended occasion. We would travel to the grandparents, join up with the aunts, uncles and cousins and we would visit. Hang out. Do stuff. Then, Thanksgiving Day would arrive and we'd cook and eat. Well, they would cook and then we'd eat, I was still a kid after all. I had no real appreciation for the effort that was involved in feeding that monstrous crowd!

And then we'd hang out a couple more days and then journey back home.

It seems Thanksgiving has somehow gotten sandwiched between our busy days, our Christmas planning and it just doesn't get the focus it once had. We spend one day, or even one part of a day, being thankful, eating, visiting and then we're off! It's Christmas time, the music on the radio changes, the stores change, the news is full of shopper news, and so are the papers!

Just for the record, I don't shop the Friday after Thanksgiving. I know that surprises you. :-)

So this year, I want to do something different. I want to slow down, be thankful, hang with friends and family. I'm open to suggestions, invitations, whatever...

What do you want Thanksgiving to look like this year?

peace.

Virgin Territory

This has been a week of firsts. 


I went back to school clothes shopping for a couple of little BOYS! I'd never done that before. Are dinosaurs in? Does everything have to do with sports of some kind? Is it important to match? 


I would hate to think the clothes I purchased are the reason for some little kid (whom I never met BTW) getting beat up on the playground or jumped into a gang at the age of 5. So I tried to stay very neutral, no big logos, no big artwork...OK, there's the one with the cool dinosaur and camo shorts but other than that....and hey, does sleeveless make you a dork? I also had to buy boy drawers and socks. Sorry boys, but tighty whities is all I could muster. 


The other thing this week brings is my daughter's first wedding shower. MY DAUGHTER's first wedding shower. I'm so happy for her, but somewhere inside I'm still 20 something and this just can't be possible. Maybe that's just the way life goes. 


My body grows older, but my mind aged to the point that it was done. Maturity, wisdom, grace...all these good and beautiful gifts of age continue to grow, but my self-perception, the way I think, well....not so much. 


I kind of like it. I kind of like the feeling of youth in my head and yet the wisdom of getting older also residing there. I don't sweat the small stuff anymore, I definitely like that. Well, ok, except for this. But that's different.


I guess that is the beauty of age. The recognition that it happens, the ability to live beyond it. Pretty cool.


"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD."
Psalm 25:4-7


peace.

Shopping

I don't know if I've ever confessed this here, but shopping stresses me out. Well, not exactly all shopping. Specifically, clothes shopping for myself.

I hate it.

It is a guaranteed moment of heart-pounding discomfort accompanied by the very obvious sweating. Very obvious, why you ask?

Well, I was gifted with the ability to only sweat from the neck up. That's right. Red face, dripping brow, soaked hair. It's lovely. Oh, but dry armpits. No stink. Great.

So picture the moment. Arms full of potential clothes, sales person in hot pursuit, asking too many questions. Awkward, sweating, red woman. Got it? Yeah, that's me. It's also the reason I do 90% of my personal shopping online.

But here's the deal. My daughter is getting married and I need a dress. I've looked online and loved several things. But this is not my usual fare and I'm going to have to go try it on. Which means I'm going to have to go shopping. My friend Barb has offered to go with me. I'm going to take her up on it. She has no idea what's she's in for. (well, she does now cause I'm pretty sure she reads my blog. So I'll just say "Sorry Barb, but you volunteered!" now and get it over with)

So if you happen to be in the store when I'm shopping, pay no attention to the red, wet-headed woman behind the curtain. She'll be fine once she's out of the store. I promise.

peace.

vintage is another word for my childhood

Or at least it seems that way some days. I love this blog from Kelly, a friend of mine who is uber-creative and has fabulous, eclectic taste.

Anyway, back to vintage...she asked the other day what the first poster I ever owned was...and it got me to thinking. I didn't really decorate as a kid, no money, no parental interest, so yeah. But as a budding teen, I discovered Tiger Beat and baby, it was on!!

So I confessed to her and now to you THIS was the first poster I ever owned.

He's done himself no favors in adulthood, but he was dreamy and cute in his teen years. (by the way, it's Leif Garrett) The poster is now labeled vintage, as I guess, am I.  :::sigh:::

peace.