November 29, 2008 at 11:53 am (Holidays, Saving Money)
Yesterday was “Black Friday”. That statement alone causes my adrenaline to rush, my blood pressure to elevate, and my checkbook to shrink! I LOVE BLACK FRIDAY! It isn’t so much getting the deals and buying lots of “stuff”. It is just the fun that happens on that day! I find myself singing “Silver Bells” all day long! (My Dad always sang that to me when we were Christmas shopping.)
So yesterday, my older sister and I went out shopping. We weren’t really looking for much, just enjoying the moment! We found a few bargains, but not a lot. After dinner last night, I needed (I say that facetiously) to run out to another Walmart* for just one more item (Prilosec). To make a very long story short (all of my stories are long), I ended up buying 40 30” Minnie and Mickey Mouses (or is that Mices???). I happened to be at the “right place at the right time”. They had to get rid of them before Saturday morning, so they were reducing them further. I offered to buy all 40 for an even lower price! I am so excited!
And now, I have all of my Christmas shopping done! Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas????
1 Comment
November 18, 2008 at 7:47 pm (Family, Love)
It has been 2 ½ months since my Mother passed away. She was 88 years old and the best mother in the world! There are so many ways that I could describe her “bestness”. Mom was a good wife to my Dad. She was an excellent cook. The neighborhood kids thought of her as a second mother. (She typed papers for our teenage neighbor, Nancy, when Nancy couldn’t do it for herself.) Mom was willing to sacrifice for our spiritual growth. She went to Youth Conventions and stayed up till 3 or 4 in the morning to make sure we were all in our rooms. Each summer she spent about 4 – 4 ½ weeks at Living Waters Camp in a 14’ x 16’ cabin with no running water. She allowed each of her children develop in their own individual way. I was the youngest; the one that was “full of energy”. Even though Mom was a self-proclaimed worrier, she never stopped me from climbing trees or walking on top of the monkey bars at Mt. Odin Park. Mom also taught us the value of family. It was important for us to do “family things” such as picnics, ice skating, vacations, and holiday celebrations.
For all those reasons, my Mom could be considered the best. But those reasons are not why I thought she was the best. To me, my Mother, Lois Jane Clayton Kasparek was the best because she loved me. Her love was unconditional. Her love was real. And her love will always remain in my heart.
Today, I am really missing her.
4 Comments
November 6, 2008 at 10:16 am (Uncategorized)
To encourage Americans to vote on Tuesday, a number of businesses were giving items free of charge to those who received a sticker at their polling place that stated, “I VOTED!”. I think that was an honorable and fun way to show patriotism. However, the Election Board of Beaver County (where I reside) decided to not “waste money” on those stickers! Boy, do I feel slighted! My plan was to go from business to business and get as much free coffee and donuts as I could! What a way to ruin my election day!
Did you get your free coffee?
1 Comment
November 3, 2008 at 7:15 pm (God's Provision)
I am weary today. I am not sure if it is the time change, the three funerals last week, the surgery three weeks ago, or the overwhelming amount of paperwork that I have to complete in the next few days. I am just weary! I would like to go to the ocean and just sit and watch the waves crashing on the shore. I would like to have someone take care of my housecleaning for this week. I would like to sit down and eat an apricot danish, a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and a piece of oatmeal cake with real butter and brown sugar topping! (Do you get the idea I eat when I am tired, frustrated, etc.???)
For whatever reason, I am weary. And I really don’t feel like doing much of anything productive. Have you ever been there?
“…The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary…He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:28, 29
My strength comes from the Lord! It doesn’t really matter how I feel. I can trust in God, and HIS strength will be my strength. Yes, today I am weary. But I will put my hope in the Lord. He will renew my strength! Tomorrow, I will soar like an eagle!
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
1 Comment
November 1, 2008 at 6:02 am (Uncategorized)
In my devotions the other day, I read this paragraph written by Arthur T. Pierson. I felt it was worth sharing. It was published in Steams In the Desert, copyright 1950. (Get beyond the King James English.)
“Our Father, who seeks to perfect His saints in holiness, knows the value of refiner’s fire. It is with the most precious metals that the assayer takes the most pains, and subjects them to the hot fire, because such fires melt the metal, and only the molten mass releases its alloy or takes perfectly its new form in the mould. The old refiner never leaves his crucible, but sits down by it, lest there should be one excessive degree of heat to mar the metal. But as soon as he skims from the surface the last of the dross, and sees his own face reflected, he puts out the fire.”
“He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Malachi 3:3
1 Comment
Yesterday was “Black Friday”. That statement alone causes my adrenaline to rush, my blood pressure to elevate, and my checkbook to shrink! I LOVE BLACK FRIDAY! It isn’t so much getting the deals and buying lots of “stuff”. It is just the fun that happens on that day! I find myself singing “Silver Bells” all day long! (My Dad always sang that to me when we were Christmas shopping.) 
