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Monday, December 22, 2008

Blessings in the Kitchen Sink?

Last night I washed out the few pots and utensils that I used to prepare our filet mignon dinner, complete with baked potatoes and the fixins', and apple sauce. It wasn't a difficult meal to make and it didn't really take many utensils to make it. That's why I was so dumbfounded by the fact that the kitchen sink backed up and refused to go down.

I was sure if I called my husband it to fiddle with it a bit it would go down and we could resume our evening plans of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, popcorn sprinklied with Dove chocolate dusting powder, and a Christmas movie by the fire.

You can imagine how annoyed I was when two hours later, my husband determined that the problem was far further than just the sink. He didn't have the proper tools to work on it so we couldn't fix it and our night was pretty much shot.

This morning didn't prove to be any better. When we got up, we discovered that the shower in the master bedroom was clogged as well (obviously related to the kitchen sink) putting it out of commission. We spent the morning before going to work surveying the pipes in the basement and assessing whether or not the other bathroom was a problem. What we thought was an isolated problem was becoming something bigger.

On my way to work, I sulked a bit. I was annoyed that this had to happen now. After all, this simply didn't fit into my agenda. I have grocery shopping to do, gifts to wrap, chocolate chips to bake. I don't want to play with pipes and I don't want my husband to have to either!

Then during lunch time I dropped off gifts for the family I adopted through an agency geared toward those who are victimes of domestic violence. The place I had to drop them off at was at a beautiful restored home in our area filled with people whose lives have been broken. There were moms walking around feeding their infants while they waited for counseling and other help. It saddens me to think that these people are enduring such pain and anguish. And what about the babies? Were they abused too or where they subjected to such hostility while still in there mother's womb?

It hardly makes my "kitchen" sink problem seem significant at all. I am just thankful that we have family and friends who are decent to each other and do not inflict such torture on each other. I am happy to have a warm roof over my head with two bathrooms and a kitchen sink to have to worry about.

Compared to those families that I met today, I already have all the Christmas presents that I could ever need.

If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, visit the following websites:Helpguide.org; Domestic Violence E-Book; and National Domestic Violence Helpline.

Blessings.
Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"

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Monday, December 8, 2008

Win a laptop sleeve, an iPhone and more!

There's an excellent giveaway going on on the Kirsty - Chicks Who Click blog. Help them promote it and you'll be entered to win a laptop sleeve, an iPhone, and even a two-day ticket to the Chicks Who Click conference for all you bloggers out there.

Check out their blog for more information: Chicks Who Click.

Good luck!
Wishing you Blessings from Above,
Denise

Christmas present ideas


This isn't exactly the inspiring message I usually like to post on my blog, but hey, it's my blog so I am posting it anyway!

I've written a series of articles for AssociatedContent that suggests gifts to get various types of people in your life. Check them out when you have time. You never know, you must just find a little something on my list.

Christmas Presents for Recreational Vehicle (RV) Lovers
Christmas Gifts for Writers
Christmas Gifts for Stay-at-Home Moms
Christmas Gifts for Animal Lovers

I've also made a few other holiday suggestions on how to wrap Christmas presents:
Unique Ways to Wrap Presents for Your Man

Unique Way to Wrap Presents for Your Woman

And a few other things....
Spruce Up Your Cubicle for the Holidays
Buy Christmas Presents While Helping Charity

Enjoy! Feel free to let me know if you have any helpful Christmas related articles that you'd like to share.

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Don't Forget the Reason for the Season


It's mind boggling how just last week at this time I was making preparations for Thanksgiving dinner (when went very well by the way!) and now I am fully focused on Christmas. My house is decorated top to bottom except for the tree. We're still working on that. I've got a list of the things I need to shop for and am all set for Christmas cookie exchance next week. I even have a full itinerary of Christmas-related events that I will doing with my family - New York City here we come!

I am determined though, as the Christmas season rolls on, to remember what is all about - the birth of Jesus - and to not get caught up in all the hoopla. If the scrap booked Christmas cards don't come out perfect, oh well. If someone doesn't like what I am wearing or what I plan to do on Christmas day, I am not addressing it. That's their problem. And as far as shopping goes, I am going to cut back a bit, order what I can online and only go out shopping as part of a social outing. I pledge not to go crazy over materialism. Maybe it's just my age (I am 34 now!) but I totally get it! This isn't important people!

We have so much as it is I can hardly believe that there are crowds of people at Wal-Mart trampeling perfectly kind employees. It's sick. When is all this going to stop? At times I am ashamed to be a human being. And I almost feel like I can't call those at the Wal-mart humans for doing what they did. My heart really goes out to the man's family.

Let's turn our eyes to the reason why we are doing this is the first place. It's because Jesus was born and we should spend the season being thankful for him and all he has done for us. Remember that when you get yourself into a frenzy at the mall. You know the saying, "What Would Jesus Do?" He wouldn't get caught up in this materialism craze I can tell you that. Let's not either!

Wishing you "Blessings from Above,"

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