Leaving a Legacy

Last week, a family in my church sufferred a horrible tragedy.  I really can’t even begin to fathom what they have felt over the past week-and-a-half, but I sure have thought a lot about them.  As a result of that event, God used Dave, our paster, to bring us a message that really affected many lives in our church.  I was unable to be at church on Sunday, but Dave’s (God’s) message was so profound that I have heard about it all week, and what I have heard has really caused me to do some soul-searching and introspection.  What legacy am I leaving?  What will people remember about me when I have gone to meet my maker?

I am currently reading a book on time management that Jonathan suggested I read (he obviously thinks that I have issues there–and he’s probably right.)  The book talks about writing out a personal constitution (mine is in the works) that is a picture of what the perfect you would look like.  When you get to the end of your life, who is the ideal person that you want to be?  It’s the same concept as Dave’s message.  Once you  have decided what your core values are, you plan your day around those activities that reflect those core values and everything else is low priority.  It’s a wonderful tactic for daily planning and decision making.

I’m still trying to figure out what I think the perfect me looks like, what I want my legacy to be.  It’s tough to wrap my brain around, and just when I think I’ve got it figured out, I add something, or change something.  I can’t possibly put it into one sentence, one paragraph even. I know that I want people to know that I truly care about and sincerely love other people.  Despite my best efforts, I have failed miserably at that lately.  I have let situations in my personal life totally dictate how I treat people.  That’s definitley not what I want as part of my legacy. “She used her own pain as a reason to treat people like crap.”  This has weighed on me heavily over the past few days. 

At small group Bible study last night, we discussed this topic of legacy.  It was a deep discussion, and something I had never before given much thought.  It really gives me a totally new outlook on how I want to live my life.  To my small group, I love you guys!!  Thanks so much for being a part of my life and allowing me to be a part of yours.  You all are gifts from God!

Get the Facts

Friends, I am not one who typically sends email forwards or makes bold political statements.  Honestly, if I receive an email about Barack Obama’s national origin, I delete it before reading it, and I don’t care how much money has been spent on Sarah Palin’s campaign wardrobe.  What I care about, what we should all care about, is what these candidates will actually do, how they will influence the legislation of our wonderful nation, what kinds of international relationships they will foster, and how their policies will affect our economy.  Unfortunately, that information is hard to decipher after it is stretched and spun by the media.

I am not writing this post in order to influence you to vote for a certain candidate (although I know who I will vote for and feel confident in my reasons for my voting decision), I just want to encourage you TO vote.  I believe that this election will be most likely the most important of my lifetime.  Please don’t make an uninformed decision.  Do some research, get some real facts, and use some intellect in your voting decision.  Also, please don’t vote based on empty promises that have no backup.  Eloquence is a gift, and politicians certainly use it to influence voters, but eloquent speakers can often talk a lot, yet say very little.  Do your research, then GO VOTE PEOPLE!! November 4, 2008!!

Pics from the Beach Trip

The past week has been a whirlwind and I haven’t had much blogging time lately, or maybe I should say I haven’t had much blogging energy.  However, as promised, I wanted to post some of the pictures from my beach trip.  I was so tired when I first blogged about the trip that I don’t think I accurately portrayed my feelings about it.  The truth is, it was much-needed quality time with Olivia.  She’s the one person (aside from Jesus) who’s gonna always love me (even when she’s 13 and thinks I know absolutely NOTHING), yet sometimes I don’t treat her like that.  I never want her to think that my work, or my friends, or the laundry were more important than her.  I’ve just never figured out how to balance it all properly.  That’s something that I spend a lot of energy worrying about, energy that I should spend reading to her or letting her read to me.    Anyway, pictures. . .

 

Isn’t she beautiful?  Here is a picture from dinner at Lulu’s.  Fortunately, the Burns family was vacationing in Gulf Shores the same weekend.  We were able to meet up with them for dinner.  I think Livvie was really glad to have another kid to play with.

And just a couple more elements necessary to complete a beach trip:

Seashells

Sandcastle

I forgot my camera the night that Kevin, Stacy, and I indulged in Royal Red shrimp.  They were delicious! 

Home at Last

After traveling on business last week, I was home for a short 24 hours before setting sail again for a beach trip that I promised my baby girl months ago.  We rented a small condo in Gulf Shores, and relaxed on the beach for a couple of days.  It was very nice, but I’m SO glad to be home.  This vacation was more about Livvie, so it was a good bit of work for me entertaining her all day.  Our condo was well-equipped and beautifully decorated, but it was on the third floor of a building with no elavator.  Between, my 80 year old grandmother, my 7 year old daughter, and myself, I was the only one able to carry the luggage up and down three flights of stairs.  WHEW!!  That was a lot of work.  I will post pictures at a later date; I am just too tired right now.

If you are following my Premier business through this blog, I promise I’m not OOB!!  I will get back in the swing of things this week hopefully.  If you would like to receive the new Holiday Collection Catalogue, simply shoot me an email to msjewelrylady@gmail.com.  Also, don’t forget about the latest hostess promotion from Premier. . .

08giveaway_flyerjpeg

The Windy City is Rainy Too!

It’s been a gloomy day here in Chicago.  My colleages and I played hookie from the conference this afternoon and got out to see the sights.  We went to Navy Pier and shopped around, then walked Michigan Avenue in the rain.  The highlights of today have definitely involved food!  For lunch, we had gyros at this little hole in the wall called Shorty’s Sandwiches.  It was a very small joint with the kitchen taking up most of the building.  There were four or five small tables, a counter down the length of the building opposite the kitchen with some stools, and a restroom.  It was a VERY high class place with the restroom being labeled “4U2P”!!  Hahahaha!!!!!!  After walking off lunch during our shopping excursions, we decided on pizza for dinner at a restaurant by the name of Giordano’s.  BEST pizza I’ve ever had!!!!  You can’t find pizza like that in the south.  I am trying to convince Dave (who is a Chicago native) to open a pizza joint in Alabama.  So far, he’s not convinced.  Here’s a picture from Navy Pier:

Me at Navy Pier with Chicago in the background.

A Week in the Windy City

I am traveling this week on business.  I am in Chicago at a conference given by the company whose product we use as a purchasing, maintenance, and raw material inventory system at work.  There’s a reception going on downstairs, but I am in my hotel room getting some much needed internet therapy.  With no laundry to do, dishes to wash, toilets to clean, or children to care for, I have a good bit of time to do some planning for my Premier business.

I need to schedule home shows for the last two weeks in October, so I am offering the new Proposal ring on page 3 of the catalogue as a hostess gift.  I will post a picture when I get home on Thursday.  But, if you are reading this and think you might be interested, email me at msjewelrylady@gmail.com.

Thank God for Stretch Blue Jeans

I have this one pair of stretch blue jeans that always fits.  It doesn’t matter if I gain a few pounds, lose a few pounds, or eat a big meal, they are always comfortable.  If I weigh 140 pounds or 160 pounds or anywhere in between I can count on this one pair of jeans.  Those are my lower and upper control limits, if you will, and I have been outside of both extremes in the past few years.

Some friends are like that pair of stretch blue jeans.  They are a constant.  They are a friend everyday whether you’re happy or sad, healthy or sick.  When you’re having a normal day, a wonderful day (under 140), or a terrible day (over 160) these friends always treat you the same.  And the opposite is true.  You are consistently a friend to these people, no matter their mood.  Because true friends are ALWAYS friends, you don’t get to choose which days you want to be friendly.

Sadly, I’ve learned, there are “friends”, that don’t have any stretch.  They are like that pair of skinny jeans that you keep hanging in the closet in hopes that one day they will fit again.  They’re not doing any good to anyone hanging there in that closet.  At some point, you have to come to the realization that it is time to let them go.  Don’t worry about that one day that they might fit again (or that one day that person might decide they are your friend again.)  There are more jeans to buy, and more friendships to make.   Spend your money on stretch blue jeans and your energy on true friendships.  Those are the ones to truly value.

Thank God for good friends and stretch blue jeans.