Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The look and feel of Christmas from a retail perspective

There's something about working in retail during the holidays that gives you an extra boost of holiday 'spirit'. Maybe it's the constant reminder with the toy purchases, all of the baking supplies that whiz by my scanner, or the fancy seasonal drinks like the Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks. Consumerism at it's finest reminds me most of Christmas these days. Sure the dangling snowflakes and the Merry Christmas signs are a nice reminder of Christmas but it's the shopping, spending, and holiday buzz that really stick out to me. Joy's poem from Poel is suddenly coming back to me. Greedy, rushed shoppers with their eye on the prize: materialistic idols.

Yesterday a grandmother and her extremely crabby little grandson came through my line. He kept grabbing things out of her hands and throwing a serious fit when he wouldn't get his way. All his grandma kept saying to him was "Santa is watching you!" I couldn't help but laugh and recall how many times I, in my secular childhood, was told that very same thing. Santa, pssh. And to use santa as a form of punishment? Craziness. We should be acknowledging that God is watching our every move and not just when we're misbehaving.

Christmas isn't all bad from a retail perspective. You see glimpses of true believers scattered throughout the store. The ones who buy cards mentioning Christ. The few who will say "have a blessed day" which always puts a smile on my face. The children who truly appreciate their parents and thank them for the purchase they just made, being it so close to Christmas. The eleven or so year old boy who went through my line and just started chatting me up about his older brother that he is so proud of for being in the service. How he is going to make him a Christmas card this year and send him candy for Christmas. There are still believers out there. Still people who see Christmas as more than a day of receiving gifts but a day of celebrating Jesus, family, and friends.

Oh, Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 16, 2009

John, Denise's exercise ball and laughter


Last Sunday, before Jake became insanely ill, John and I were having a little fun at the Kreighbaum's with Denise's exercise ball. I don't know who had more fun between the two of us but a good time was had by all.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

The Life



It's 7:52pm Saturday evening. I'm watching Cops and barely holding my eyes open.

True story.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Employed.
























I'm employed for the first time in six months! I worked four hours and ten minutes tonight and it felt so good to have that change of pace, to actually work. Watching the "orientation videos" were a bit boring, and certain moments were extremely comical, but I smiled the whole thing through. I alternate between Starbucks and cashier every-other-shift, which again will be a nice change of pace. Avoiding the mundane is what I'm all about (ask Phil about that.)
I feel such a huge sense of worth again. I've felt like a worthy woman all my life but being unemployed and not contributing financially to my family made me feel terrible.
Hooray for employment!

Monday, November 9, 2009

A devotional worthy of sharing

It's Okay to Ask for Directions

Your life does not come with an instruction manual or a road map; however, your life with Christ does. All the dead-end streets that confuse and sidetrack so many in life are clearly indicated on God's road map, His word. More important, He charts out the highway to purity and destiny. Rebels who diligently study the map rarely get lost.

But God has given you even more than a map; He's give you a GPS! Before Jesus left planet Earth, He said He would send you His Spirit to remind you of His words and keep you oriented in your journey. He knew that you would regularly need His direction, but sometimes forget to pick up the map. So the Spirit becomes an internal positioning system to point the way to purity and warn you of obstructions.

I'm asking for Your directions this day, God. I trust Your wisdom to chart my course and lead me into a pure and unhindered destiny.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

F Y I

I love my church family. I don't even like the term "church family." You're just an extension of my natural family. Actually I feel closer to more of you than most my biological family.
At any rate, what I'm trying to say is I love you all.

I thank God we're in each others' lives.