:: Sisters' Weblog: It Bloggles the Mind! ::

Sue's blogchalk:
United States, Tennessee, Humboldt, English, Susan, Female, 36-40, Christianity, Bible Study, church, music, trumpet, CD's.

Katie's blogchalk:
United States, Tennessee, Humboldt, English, Katie, Female, 30-35, Christianity, Bible Study, church, mom with two kids, full-time student.

[::..Button..::]
[::..Interview..::]
Sue at Diary-X
[::..Hits..::]
[::..Blog Archive..::]
Archive
[::..Search Site..::]
Pico Search
[::..Guestmap..::]
Sign Here
[::..Favorite Blogs..::]
Avoiding Evil
Holly the Blog
IreneQ
Meremadness
[::..Recommended..::]
Google
WayFM
Northbrook
[::..Music..::]
Crimson Light
[::..God Blogging..::]
Blogs4God
Exodus
Joy
[::..Blogrolling Etc..::]
Blogroll Me!
[::..Blog Stuff..::]
Ageless Project
Blizg
Blog Universe
Blogarama
Blogger
Bloginality
BlogMatrix
Blogshares
Blogwise
Daypop
Diarist
Geoblog
GeoUrl
Get Linked
Globe of Blogs
Haloscan
Pepys Project
Top Blogs
Wanderlust
[::..Links to Us..::]
@ Blogs4God
@ Blogrolling

:: Saturday, December 21, 2002 ::

I Am a Good Employee

I am a good employee. I am not trying to brag, well...maybe a little. (Pray about my pride problem). Anyway, I am a good employee because I work very hard. I am self-motivated and want everything to be done perfect. I work well with others, and for others. I enjoy my work. I am always trying to find better ways to do things. I take pride in what I do.

Problem: It can never be perfect like I want it to be. Not everyone has a work ethic like me, so it drives me crazy that it can never get done as fast or as efficiently as I could do it. Nobody manages time as well as I do, no one prioritizes as efficiently either. I have learned this truth in my years as a supervisor so I have mellowed a bit, but it can still be frustrating. It's also frustrating that you can't fire people just because they aren't up to par, that you must document any and every little thing in order to get rid of them. I hate that...heck, after a few weeks on the job it is apparent that they aren't the right person for the job...what's the 90 day probation period for if you can't just say "Hey, I'm sorry, I just don't think it is working out. You are a nice person, I wish you well, but this job just isn't for you."

I also hate micro-management. This Christmas season has me wondering who is in charge? If I was hired to manage a store, why am I not allowed to run it? Corporate expects miracles this season because they increase the workload, then cut the hours. It's tough. I've really struggled as of late. I have actually left work with work still left to be done! I hate that! My desk is in disarray! I hate that! I keep looking forward to the re-organization period after the holidays, but with hours being cut so drastically, I don't see how I will ever be able to get my store into shape. I want it clean! I want it organized! I want it run efficiently, always providing top notch customer service! I want my hard work to show for something!

I am a good employee. I feel very used right now. I have given my all to my job, well, not all because God does come first and some other things rank before the job, but let's just say that when I am at work, I work like I'm working for the Lord! I don't expect the CEO to call me and say "hey, you are doing a great job! Here's a raise and a bonus to boot!", but I do want corporate to realize that they may possibly be demanding a bit too much from the field right now.

That's my rant for today. I love what I do for a living. I really do. I am energetic at work and love this time of year...all the business...it's like a high. But, it's also very draining. I am tired.


:: Susan 12/21/2002 10:00:04 PM ** ** [+] ::
...

So I am waiting...

Well, I have Wells Fargo working on a loan for me. I also went to First South Credit Union where I have a car loan from working on a loan for me. Then there is Union Planters Bank. I looked into a credit line, but I'm not sure that's for me. The minimum is $5000 and I don't need that much to fix my water problem. If I paid it off before 3 years was up it would cost me a fee of $250. I think I'd rather get a loan and pay it off when my income tax comes in. No, that's not true...I'd rather by a new computer with my income tax! But, I will do the responsible thing! Sometimes it's such a drag being responsible!

:: Susan 12/20/2002 02:32:19 PM ** ** [+] ::
...

My Room is Underwater

It's not completely underwater, that's kind of a hyperbole. There is however about a half inch of water left. At one point there may have been about 2 inches of the wet stuff. Katie spent yet another day pulling water up out of the room and putting it back outside where it belongs. I hate that I haven't gotten the problem fixed yet. I did get an estimate: $1600 which would include putting gutters on the house, adjusting the car port, digging and sealing around the outside walls and sealing the foundation. I still need to replace the carpet. Homeownership...it's great. Water problems are not!

Today I am looking into a line of credit to help me with paying for the repairs. God will provide. I was really trying hard to live debt free, it's just very difficult when I can't seem to ever get ahead. Right when I have things all paid up I get a medical problem. As soon as my medical bills were paid, time to waterproof.

Oh well, at least I have a way in which to get money enough to pay for it. That's more than most. God keeps blessing.

:: Susan 12/20/2002 08:29:54 AM ** ** [+] ::
...

Things got better as I practiced...I decided to go with:

I like my second "woo" \o/ button though. It's simple and cute. Forget my first experiment though. (Gotta start somewhere!)

:: Susan 12/19/2002 08:20:05 PM ** ** [+] ::
...

Buttons

Like my buttons...I've been having fun playing around with my button maker!

:: Susan 12/19/2002 08:15:55 PM ** ** [+] ::
...

A Loan??? For CHRISTmas?

Is it unethical? Is it sacreligious? Is it unwise???? These are the things I asked myself when debating whether or not to attempt to take out a loan for Christmas. This loan would be one that I could pay back within a month after Christmas. I didn't see any harm in it at all. I never got the opportunity to see if I would even qualify because God provided otherwise as you have probably read in Sue's blog earlier. I called the bank and only talked to an answering machine. I called Dad, and he said I'd have to talk with Mom and she wasn't there. Then Sue called and said she would take one out and so goes the rest of the story.......

I don't believe it would have been unethical or unwise to take out the loan as long as I paid it off quickly. But I am a bit disturbed that I have gotten myself entangled in the worldly traditions of Christmas and I am part of the problem as to why Christ is left out of Christmas by so many. I have got to get my priorities in order. Anyhow, God tried to tell me that He would provide. I just didn't trust Him. And He lovingly taught me a lesson. And He was ever so loving how He taught me.

Anyhow, I don't think it is unethical or sacreligious to take out a loan for Christmas as long as it is reasonable and do-able. However, I do think it is unwise to trust in self instead of God. He is the Provider.

I am so thankful to Sue for giving the gift of self-sacrifice to me and my kids the past few years. Although I have been able to provide a portion of gifts for the kids, she has really contributed alot in making Christmas special. She is God's provision for my family in this time of need in our lives. She is the gift that keeps on giving. I can only pray that someday I can do for anybody (even and especially Sue) what she has done by caring for us....beyond financial giving.

:: Katie 12/19/2002 10:05:09 AM ** ** [+] ::
...

The Santa Game

Sometimes I just wish I had told my kids right from the start....Maybe I could have done that and saved myself years of frustration from trying to make a 'good Christmas' happen for my kids each year. I used to think a good Christmas was lots of presents brought by a jolly old fat man in a red suit. Now, I think a good Christmas would be one where Christ is celebrated by NOT exchanging gifts but by doing good deeds instead. But, try to explain that to a 10 and 12 year old and expect them to understand.

I love watching them open their presents on Christmas morning. I am so blessed to live in a prosperous country and have the opportunity to swap gifts with my kids during this time. I do try to keep their focus on the babe. I only wish I had done things a bit differently in the beginning. I wish I had told them from the start that Jesus is real and santa is a tradition. I remember the magic of Christmas when I had that expectation of Santa and the reindeer. I remember the magic that was lost when I learned that Santa is a legend. It's a fun story and a fun thing to do with kids. But, now that I'm older and wiser, I have learned that if I was never led to believe in Santa and the reindeer, then there wouldn't have been any magic to lose. Christmas would have always been special because of Jesus. That is real and I never have to worry about any lost magic. His magic is still alive and real but it isn't magic at all. It is miraculous! (Did I spell that right?)

Now, I'm stuck with a situation. My 10 year old STILL believes that a real santa comes and gives her presents on Christmas (at least that is the impresssion she gives me). But, she is beginning to have doubts. Last year, she asked me flat out to tell her if Santa existed or had I been lying to her all these years.

I still haven't answered her. I didn't want her to lose the magical feeling that comes with believing that Santa exists and I certainly didn't want to compile it with feelings of betrayal and resentment because she thinks I lied to her all these years. I didn't consider it a lie....I thought I was doing something good.....more like a game.......for fun. I never expected her to feel this way. I never did. I learned the truth but I still kept playing the game with my parents because of the fun in it. I still do! They know that I am aware of the truth and I know that they know but we pretend that we believe sometimes....just for fun. I never expected my daughter to feel cheated or lied to. I never did. I'm glad I had the experience. It was fun! My son still plays the game. I know he knows the reality but we still play around. He took it like I did.......like I expected both of my children to do. But, one of them has taught me a lesson. I really wish I had never started the game. Now, it's time for the game to end and it may end with a broken heart or two (because if Tiffany's heart breaks, mine will as well). What to do??

I have to be honest with my children. I'm not going to disappoint Tiffany a week before Christmas. I'll play the game for one more week. But this is the last time. I never thought my children would resent playing the Santa game. I never saw it as lying. I just saw it as fun. I saw it as a tradition... a way of adding to a creative imagination. Although I will tell Tiffany this, I will still feel like I just lied to her. I thought that she had realized that it was just a game. Maybe she did. Maybe she is just playing along.....waiting for me to confess the truth......wondering if I ever will. Maybe she is wondering how much longer I am going to lie to her. What a dilemma.

I don't think parents are evil for doing the Santa thing, but hopefully, somebody will read this and see the possible consequences. I tried to make an excuse for the lie about Santa and then there's a tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny........

I never thought I'd say this but, these things are all distractions from focusing on Christ...things that I have caused my children to have faith in. I never ever saw it as harmful. Now, I see it as a lie is a lie is a lie. I meant well by it. I may try to dress it up with things like tradition and legends, ways to grow the imagination, and fun games to play, but it's just a lie. Now I have the consequences. Nothing pleasant about that. I have to come clean for my kids, for myself, and most of all for my Savior.

I don't criticize anyone for having this type of fun with their kid. I know that some may think I am going way overboard with this. I once thought like that too. Now I face consequences. I do ask that anybody who reads this and hasn't had children yet.......think seriously about this impacted my child and how it could impact yours. Pray about it and make a decision based on answered prayer, not what I said, not based on the incident with my daughter, but just base it on the answer God gives to you.

To God be the glory forever and ever and ever........

:: Katie 12/19/2002 09:36:55 AM ** ** [+] ::
...

Where's the Christ in ...

Yesterday Katie called me at work. She had decided to take out a loan in order to pay for Christmas for her kids. This whole idea upset me. I didn't think that a loan was wise stewardship of money for Christmas. I was waiting on a check that I get each December from a death benefit IRA/Retirement fund that my aunt established for me before her death. It hadn't come yet and we are getting down to the wire.

Part of my Christmas gift to Katie has been to help her buy for her kids each year.

I called the man who handles my portfolio and he told me he would see what he could do to speed up the process, but I didn't feel very hopeful that I'd have the extra $$ before Christmas. I told this to Katie and she was determined moreso to try for that loan. I was upset and said "WHERE'S THE CHRIST IN A LOAN FOR CHRISTMAS?" I said it with a raised voice with some frustration and anger in the tone. I just feel like it's not wise stewardship of money. Regardless, she didn't want her kids to go without Christmas. In her blog yesterday Katie was wondering why Christ isn't revered in Christmas anymore...I was thinking that she was becoming the subject of her blog now!

Then I thought about that blog of hers and about my attitude with her on the phone. I had to call her back to apologize and I said "I'm sorry, there was no Christ in my attitude!"

Katie couldn't get a loan. I can however, so I thought what's the harm, a couple hundred dollars today and I can pay it back next week when the check I'm waiting on comes in. I called the bank and had loan approval in 5 minutes!

Today I went to get the loan check. On the way home I got distracted and forgot to stop by the bank to deposit it into my account. We came home and in the front door was the original death benefit check I was waiting for! It had arrived today!

I was very pleased to have not stopped to deposit the loan check at the bank. Thankfully I was also able to retract the loan!

As usual it all worked out. Katie said " should have just waited on God" and I agreed. Today we thank Him for taking care of us once again even though we tried to jump ahead. He even thwarted the attempt! God ran interference! It would have been a different blog if I had managed to deposit the loan check!


:: Susan 12/18/2002 07:19:13 PM ** ** [+] ::
...

Hmmmmmmmm, I found some possible answers to my Christmas tree questions and other Christmas Mysteries.

:: Susan 12/17/2002 04:52:47 PM ** ** [+] ::
...

Christmas Tree

What does a pine tree have to do with Christ?

Ummmmmmm...I can understand the gift thing better than the tree thing. It really makes no sense to chop down a tree to put in your house for a couple of weeks. Wonder why we do that?

Then again, I'm wondering about all those Jewish celebrations I read about in the OT. What all went on during the "Year of Jubilee"?...I wonder if they had some interesting practices like chopping down trees, or hanging decorations, or....or....oh yeah, they sacrificed animals. I sure am glad we don't deal with that anymore! Messy! I think cleaning up after Christmas dinner is bad!?!

:: Susan 12/17/2002 04:44:10 PM ** ** [+] ::
...

Something to Ponder........

What about Christians encouraging non-believers by accepting gifts and going to Christmas parties put together by those who don't believe? Would it be such a bad thing to lovingly decline because of the Reason for the season? So many tell us not to try to convert them. This would not be converting, or trying to convert. It would be taking a stand for the One we love. And who knows.....it could send a message to the unbeliever who may willingly choose to celebrate Christ just because you took a stand for Him.

"You are my witnesses declares the Lord." Is 43:10.

:: Katie 12/17/2002 01:05:28 PM ** ** [+] ::
...

To Celebrate or not to Celebrate.....

Yesterday my daughter came home from school telling me that she needed to have a gift bought for the gift exchange at her class Christmas party. Each year I struggle with the fact that so many people who are unbelievers, celebrate a Christian holiday. All year long I hear about how we can't pray and we can't talk about religion in school, leave God out of this and that because we are 'forcing' our beliefs on somebody who chooses not to believe. We are told that the Christmas tree should not be displayed here or there. In fact, this year, it has been said that somebody wanted to call the Christmas tree a holiday tree because it might be offensive to those who are not Christians! HELLO??????????????? What's wrong with this picture??????

A Christmas tree is called a Christmas tree because it is a tree decorated for the celebration of the holiday we call CHRISTMAS!!! It's not a Thanksgiving tree, or a fourth of July tree, or a New Years Day tree. So, why should it be called a holiday tree? It's a CHRISTMAS tree!!!

Why is Christmas called Christmas???? Christ....mas????

Christmas is a religious holiday celebrated by Christ...ians who are believers in ..........Christ! Imagine that! So, we set this time aside to celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

It's so sad to see how we can so easily get away from what we are doing and why. I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to shopping and stressing. You should see how horribly I am still stressing over a very bad haircut I recieved just before the big Christmas party! (Christians, pray for me!) But even more, it saddens me that non-believers criticize this holiday and how it is celebrated. Non-believers choose NOT to follow Christ. It is non-believers who against everything and anything that brings glory to God. It is non-believers who condone the murdering of babies, it is non-believers who try to keep God out of schools. It is non-believers who try to silence those who proclaim Christ as their Savior and Lord. It is non-believers who banned prayer from schools. Yet, how many non-believers have Christmas trees? How many have Christmas dinners and swap gifts at Christmas time? How many people display manger scenes in their yard at Christmas while they take His name in vain on a regular basis?

What really got me started on this is the fact that my daughter shared with me that a child in her class, who believes that Christmas should not be celebrated, and does not celebrate it, who tries to convince my child that it is wrong to celebrate Christmas.........is participating in the gift exchange for the Christmas party that she is going to participate in! Why? Because it's fun? Is this the reason that the non-believers in the world practice the tradition of Christmas? Is it because Santa Claus is so much fun? Is it because they love to get presents and have parties? Is it because of the lights and decorated "holiday" trees?

I remember before I was saved. I knew the baby Jesus was born and that's why Christmas is celebrated. But I didn't care about that. I just wanted lots of presents. I wanted that fellowship with my family (which excluded God). Yep, it's a time to eat, drink, and be merry! I remember my work Christmas parties........getting 'merry' at the bar and watching others do the same.........then bragging about it!!!!!!

I don't hold this against those who don't believe. I hold it against those of us who do. Why not send Christmas cards to those who we know are lost....and ask them...... Do you celebrate Jesus at Christmas? If not, then what ARE you celebrating? Make them think!

Christmas is a time to celebrate our Gift from God. We should celebrate it to bring glory to Him. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have a tree, or stop swapping gifts, I'm saying that we should do it in remembrance of Him. For those who don't believe, and choose not to accept Christ for Who He Is [Son of God, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel (which means God With Us), Savior of the World!] then maybe you should invent your own holiday and celebrate it the way you want. Have a holiday tree. Celebrate the fact that we have separation of church and state. If you want to worship Santa Claus and not Christ it is your freedom to do so. Celebrate pro -choice, and prayerless school systems. But declare your own day to celebrate and stop trying to change the way that Christians do.

Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus' birth. Christmas is a time to rejoice because of the Reason. Christians should rejoice freely and openly! Proclaim the good news of the Babe who was born to die for our redemption! Okay so maybe He wasn't born on December 25th....but, He was born and it is worth celebrating.......all year round especially at Christmas.

Non-believers who choose to celebrate xmas should celebrate xmas in their own time and in their own way. Don't try to change what Christians do. It's not Christmas if Christ isn't glorified in it. It's just a celebration of...whatever. And for all believers.. pray for the unbelievers ........ that they will soon be able to join us as we............ CELEBRATE! It's CHRISTmas!

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

"That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."

:: Katie 12/17/2002 12:02:37 PM ** ** [+] ::
...

It is Finished

We did it! Katie and I read "Amen"...the last word in the Book! Bible, cover to cover...read it! It's an amazing adventure!

:: Susan 12/16/2002 11:11:30 AM ** ** [+] ::
...

I'm tired

I'm tired from all my hours at work. I miss church too. I haven't been to church in three weeks! I love my job, but I hate that the Christmas holidays keeps those of us in retail away from church. I want to be president. I would declare Sundays as family day. Nothing would be open, only gas stations and maybe pharmacies. Even during the holidays. If there are no retail stores open, no one would need to shop, therefore people would stay home and spend time with their families. It's what America needs. More family time. Time together. Time to bond. Bonding...it does a family (or in my case a framily) good.

:: Susan 12/16/2002 08:14:59 AM ** ** [+] ::
...

[::..Voting..::]

Rate Me on BlogHop.com!
help?