A Time to Reflect

A time to reflect, make changes and write new goals

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…."—King Solomon, Ecclesiastes 3 vs. 1.

In the midst of all of the holiday hoopla, take some time out of your busy schedule to reflect on this past year, decide what you want to do differently in the new year and set some goals.

1. Take inventory of your life; what are you happy with, what would you like to change, in all areas of your life... physical, emotional,
mental, environmental, relationships, education...

2. Forgive yourself for any mistakes and promise yourself that you will learn from them.

3. Set new goals. Right them down and put them somewhere you will see them each day; your journal, or bulletin board, or on the refrigerator.

4. Make an action-step to do list... what steps can you take to realize your goals.

5. Be careful how you measure success. Make sure it's your success and not someone's standards.

6. Reward yourself for your success, even a simple pat on the back goes a long ways.

Christmas Prayer

Dear Father/Mother God,

Once again we come together to celebrate the birth of one of your beloved Sons. Although it says in the Bible that Jesus was the "only begotten" we know from Jesus' own teachings that we are all your sons and daughters. At this time, and in the New Year to come, we vow to continue moving into the "greater things" that Jesus promised. We are the strings on your violin. We are the holes in your flute. Lord, play beautiful music through us in the unique ways each of us expresses it.

Beloved God, we ask a special blessing for our planet Earth. May each soul be lifted into the awareness of Your Presence. May the leaders of this world realize that there is no separation between one another and between us and You. We ask that your Light pour into the hearts and minds of those making decisions. May their decisions be peaceful. May new, abundant, clean energy be made available to heal the environment. May healthy food and fresh water be made abundantly available to all. May people put aside their political and religious differences and recognize that every Muslim, every Jew, every Christian, every Hindu, is an integral part of You. None are any more or less than your beloved children.

Lord, let our hearts and minds be fixed on You. Let our actions be of the highest possible level. May we live your truths in this world. May our bodies be free of disease, decay, illness, aging and death. May our emotions be freely expressed in healthy beneficial ways. May our minds be filled with peace. May our souls be filled with the knowledge that all is unfolding according to Your Perfect Will. It is so and so it is!

Amen. Kadoish, Kadoish, Kadoish, Adonai, Sebayoth!

Amber

The longer we are away from Amber, the more her paranoia about Jon seems to grow. Or maybe I just notice it more since I have more distance. I only know it SEEMS more pronounced. She can't call us or the boys for "fear" that HE will answer the phone. She won't take my word that "he" won't answer the phone. It's just all too frustrating for me.

Tonight we order pizza. We shouldn't. We can't afford it. But every now and then one must throw caution to the wind and order pizza. Right?

More Differences...

Bethany, my oldest daughter, the child whom people have said is just like me, is so different from me that sometimes it startles me.

First is the way she looks at work. She is supposedly desperate for a job, yet she won’t leave her house for a ICT Open House to get one on the excuse that her father is coming that night and she must clean her house.

Then there is the drinking. Joey, her next door neighbor, is a recovering/fallen alcoholic and she is going out drinking with her and Tamara tonight. I would NEVER take an alcoholic out drinking. Sigh. We have such profound differences, it’s amazing we get along so well.

Politically we are closer now than when I was an ultra-right-wing conservative, yet she will always remain more liberal than I am, I think. Possibly simply because she seems to have always been this way, at least since we left the Baptist church.

My children are so unique. So special. So DIFFERENT. I am constantly amazed by them.

Changes

Jon lost his job at Software Spectrum a week ago. Jeremy is being laid off on Tuesday. Life is insane. I am numb.

Job Changes

I was BLESSED to find a wonderful job with a fabulous, supportive company...Safeco Insurance. I trained for 3 weeks to be able to pass the 4 state licensing examinations. I passed the first two on the first try. I passed the 3rd one on the 2nd try. But it took me three tries to pass the 4th and final exam. Now I am a licensed insurance agent in Washington State and an absentee agent in 44 other states. I work in a call center, where our clients call in to make changes to their policies. Training isn't over until the 17th of September. It is challenging to learn their billing system.

I am thankful for my new job in my hometown where I have dreamed and prayed to be for 19.5 miles. Thank you GOD.

I got the job!!!

I interviewed with Safeco and was hired. Start date is 05/28/2004 with at least 4 months of training. Insurance Industry here I come!!!