DAY 40

40 days of gifts have come to an end. Today's gift was a simple envelope that had 40 of 40 on the front and no peeking on the back. So I opened the envelope not expecting to find what I found. Inside the envelope was this note :

WE ARE COMING TO SEE YOU! Hi there! Hey There! We are

coming to see you the week end

of October 6th. Yep will will fly in

late Friday night, hopefully spend

Saturday with you in the 'City' and

have a 'girls' night of laughs, hugs,

games and whatever. Happy Birthday

Now who you may ask who is coming to see me? My two sisters and my mother are coming out to spend the weekend. I did ask my husband to take that Saturday off because well if we go into the 'city' I won't be the one driving, and I am sure my family will be thankful for that!! Not that I drive bad, but I don't know my way around and since my husband goes there quite frequently - seems a logical choice.

It is kind of funny that they are coming out since about a month ago my husbands brother asked me when my mom would be visiting because he would love to see her again. Now his brother only met my mom once and that was when we got married - so I guess she must have left an impression.

Well now I really have to scramble and finish rearranging my furniture and making the place shine - can't have company come into this mess. Although they are family so technically they aren't 'company' - they have to love me regardless, which is a good thing. Hmmmm I guess that is all the updating for now. I pray that you all have a very blessed day, and an even better week!!

Work, Earrings and Happy Cookies

Another week has come and gone, and I figured it was time to give an update on several things going on. Work...well they changed my job and gave my job to the new girl. I have to say she seems to be doing one part of the job pretty good, the other part she still needs work at. How do I like my new job? Answer...I wouldn't know - I haven't started it. Everytime I go to start it an emergency comes up, that relates to my old job and I have to help handle it. the new girl isn't up to speed yet on how to handle situations like that. Now today I am really supposed to start my new job - I will keep you posted and let you know if that actually occurs.

Now for the birthday - my 40th birthday is only days away, and I feel every bit of those 40 years plus a couple more thrown in for good measure. I am down to the last few packages that my sister sent me. If you don't remember my sister sent me a box with 40 gifts in it, and I am to open one a day. Well so far a brief run down on some things that I have gotten...2 votive candle holders, a teddy bear, an outfit, 2 pair of earrings, a key ring, 2 little lulu videos, a baby huey video, a felix the cat DVD, the mystery doily thingy, 2 book marks and a very snuggly wrap - which will probable wear out before winter is here at the rate I am using it. Well that brings you up to date on some of the birthday gifts.

Last weekend was my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary - and it went very well. We all took finger food deserts, cookies, cream puffs, strawberries dipped in chocolate, and then my in-laws has a small buffet catered in. Well I took cookies to the celebration and the lady who was from the catering company asked me if I wanted to bake some cookies for a fund raiser they are doing next weekend. The funds go to the Christian Childrens Retreat, and every year they have a small type of carnival. They have arts and crafts stands set up, ususally an auction, a bake sale obviously - thats what the cookies are for. So during the coming week I need to make cookie dough so I can bake them all off by Friday morning.

On Friday morning I need to run the cookies to a church by my parents house so that they can be platted up. I know I am going to make snicker doodles (yes they are a happy cookie), sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, maybe chocolate chip cookies, and possibly oatmeal cookies (but I haven't decided). So this weekend I need to go grocery shopping so that I have all the ingredients that I need so I don't have to go run out to get everything.

Well I think that brings you up to speed on everything - shoot it brings me up to speed on everything. Well I need to go finish getting ready for work remember it is TGIF (Today God Is First). Have a very safe and blessed weekend. I will talk to you later.

Tired, Exhausted, Just Plain Worn Out!!!

I think that describes just about everyone that I know. I know why I get to that point - I don't spend enough time in God's Word or in prayer like I should. When I don't take the time that I should to sit at Jesus' feet - I take all the anxiety that I should be casting on Him and carry it by myself. I was not built to carry that load and neither were you!

Others I know are tired because of the physical burdens they are carrying. They are sick in body, and it is trying to make them sick in spirit as well. This one is harder to get past because our ailment is always with us - reminding us at every turn that were tired, weak and broken.

Still for others it is stress in their jobs or home life that lay them out. I want you to know there is a savior who will take these burdens for you, but it's up to you to lay them down. Jesus will never force you to go where you don't want to go. So because of this a lot of us walk around - in chains that we can't see - but we can feel.

Some of you have given your lives and situations over to Jesus - let me tell on the day you did that the Angels in heaven rejoiced with you!!! However, you are at the place right now - where you feel beaten down, let down and alone. Now more than ever you need to be in God's house, with God's people, and in His word. We were not meant to stand alone - we are a body - that means I don't function well without you!!! Take some time to sit at His feet today. Cast your cares on Him - tell Him what frustrates you. He is tender, caring and gentle. Trust me when I say He will scoop you up into his arms, and hold you while you cry. Then when you are done - He will wipe your tears away. Let Him be the Father He was always meant to be.

Now there are those of you who will read this who have never given your hearts to Jesus. Some think there is plenty of time. No one is guaranteed of a tomorrow - if September 11th taught us anything its that your day can start out normal and then in a blink of eye end. You may not have another chance - today may be it - don't waste the opportunity. Still others of you feel - you are good enough, you give to the poor, support saving the environment - anyone you know would say you are a good person. In spite of your goodness - it isn't good enough to make it past a Holy God. God gave His Son for a reason - because He couldn't look on sin - not any of it. Now if I were to give you a gift and you look at it and say I don't need it. How do you think I would feel? Multiply that by a million times and it still won't touch how God feels when you reject His free gift thinking you are good enough.

Take time to ask Jesus into your heart. Tell Him that you accept the sacrifice He made on the cross, that you believe He died for your sins - and for mine. That you believe He died so you don't have too. Tell Him that you want Him to forgive your sins and come into your heart. That is as simple and as basic as it gets. No eloquent words needed - no Pastor required. Just a quiet conversation between you and the One who created you, and loves you more than you will ever know.

Well this isn't even remotely what I planned on writing today. I pray that each of you is blessed today!!

PERSONAL BOYCOTT OF WAL-MART

Good Morning I wanted you to know that we ( my husband and myself) will no longer be shopping at Wal-mart stores. We have written Wal-mart to let them know how we feel and now we are writing you. Why you may ask are we boycotting Wal-mart considering that is one store we love to shop at? Well lately we have found some things they are doing just doesn't strike us as right.

We have decided that we will not support them, because we feel that by doing so we would be supporting their policies. I know that some of you will disagree with our decision and figure that we have gone off the deep end. I also know that our personal boycott will not affect their bottom line, but it will affect ours. Our bottom line is this - if you stand by quietly and support businesses that you believe are doing wrong -even if it doesn't seem TOO wrong, then by your actions you are agreeing with their policies.

The policies that we have trouble with are these: they are carrying 'Plan B' medication, they are supporting the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and they are forcing suppliers to place RFID tags on all products shipped to their stores .

Plan B medication is a pill that you can take within 3 days after having sex to assure that no pregnancy occurs. Abortion rights groups claim that this is not an abortion it just prevents the need for one. They argue that many women who are date raped may not report it - thus they won't get the medical attention they need. So with Plan B - they could insure that they won't have an unwanted pregnancy.

Granted - I know most stores will now carry this 'medication' because it has now been made available to women 18 years old and older over the counter, no prescription needed. My husband and I do consider this an abortion medicine. It means that a viable pregnancy will not take place. We also feel it gives people a reason to be sexually active before they should. With this and condoms, they will feel they have no worries.

Wal-mart had said they will not carry the medication, but because of outside pressure they have begun carrying it. Legislators are now working to make it available over the counter to minors also. The question that you need to ask yourself is do you want your 15 or 16 year old daughter getting this medication without your knowledge because she either had sex and the condom broke, she had unprotected sex or she was raped and doesn't want you to know ?

Also we are concerned with their partnering with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Wal-mart said they want to support diversity. In 2003 they re-wrote their nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation. Right now they are working to give 'domestic partnerships' health benefits. Wal-mart will now be sponsoring two of the NGLCC's annual conventions. It is expected that Wal-mart will 'encourage' their core suppliers Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and Gillette to support Gay & Lesbian businesses.

We truly believe that this is openly promoting biblical sin. God said in His word that homosexuality is a sin . He didn't say we could reconsider this if homosexuality becomes politically correct. We have nothing against Gays & Lesbians - in fact I believe we are commanded to pray for them, love them, and show them God's grace. But it does not say anywhere that we are to condone their actions - LOVE THE SINNER AND HATE THE SIN.

I know that this has become an accepted practice in the corporate world, but I believe part of the reason it has is because Christians have remained silent on the issue. We didn't want to seem harsh or mean - speaking the truth in love is sometimes harsh, and often times seen as mean, but it doesn't change the truth - the world needs to hear it - even if it makes us feel uncomfortable.

Now for RFID tags - Wal-mart states that the reason they are requiring RFID tags on their products is because it will help them track shipments and make sure that their shelves are always stocked. This sounds very good and very reasonable I am sure. But something that you may not have known, one reason we have UPC codes on everything now is because Wal-mart wanted it on their products to help with inventory. Now they want Radio Frequency ID tags on everything. How long do you think it will be before everything will have to have this kind of tag. Many companies are quickly following suit including the one I am currently working for.

Also this technology is the same technology currently being used in the new smart chips that they want to put into people. Each of these tags has GPS capability so that you can be tracked. I know it sounds like something out of 1984 (a book about big brother for those who don't know). These chips are currently being used in a variety of ways. A business man had it implanted so that in case he got kidnapped he could easily be found. Pets get chipped when they are young in case they run away or get lost they can be located. People that frequent Club Med had them put in so they don't have to carry a wallet, they just have their hand or arm scanned and everything is paid for.

Hospitals are now wanting to chip EVERYONE that comes through the ER so that they can keep better track of the people, to cut down on errors. In fact Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NJ is running a trial program using the chips and wants my husband to participate - he has said NO. A family volunteered to have the chip because they could keep their medical records on these chips and if their kids were ever taken - with the GPS capability they could be found in a matter of hours. I know parents are thinking that is a great thing especially with the child predators we have now. But don't forget for every good intentioned purpose - this technology has a great capability to be used for evil.

This idea is sweeping the country so quickly that one state actually passed legislation making it illegal to implant a chip in a person without their consent. Right now there is a smart card alliance that is pushing for the use of RFID technology in most areas of life. In a few months credit cards and ATM cards will be using RFID technology - they will have a chip will all your information put on it.

A couple of college students figured out a way to hack into this information. If they sit within about 15 feet of an ATM where an RFID chip is used they can collect the information that is encrypted and within 45 minutes they broke the encryption and had all the information stored on the card.

That is why we feel it is so necessary to take a stand now - while there is still time. We can no longer be the silent majority and continue to see God's blessing on this country. Thanks for taking the time to read this, have a blessed weekend.

Ernesto was a bust, at least here in North Jersey. We only ended up getting less than 1/2 an inch of rain, which is fine because we had over 5 inches of rain last couple of weeks in August. It looks like the Labor Day weekend might turn out nicer than they first predicted, but its the weather - when are they ever right?

As for leaving early yesterday from work - I left 5 minutes early. It does bother me sometimes when they figure I am less important than everyone else. I am doing a full time job, and they told me I can't leave because no one can do the job that I do. I am supposed to train someone to do my job, but they are either busy or I am, so it hasen't happened yet.

Day 17 - gift 17....it was another pair of salt and pepper shakers. This pair was a boy and girl - precious moments, they were so very cute. They will get placed in my collection.

Well I wanted to update you on the storm and the birthday gift. Have a wonderful weekend!!!

God is good and greatly to be praised!!! The Lord sent us a blessing - a big blessing!!! He arranged for a big bill of ours to be almost completely paid off. I can't praise Him enough for His mercy and grace. Although things aren't perfect - God is showing that He is moving in all our circumstances.

Right now we are preparing for Tropical Depression Ernesto to hit. They are calling for 3 to 10 inches of rain, so everyone is leaving work early to go home and prepare - everyone, but me. Seems that since I am a temp - they want me to stay and cover the phones - no problem. I know that seems weird, but that is how it works here. Their hourly employees can't run errands because they might get in an accident, but they don't mind if a temp goes, because they won't be liable for the accident - strange. That is just the way they treat you here - either you deal with it or leave.

I was warned when I first started working here that this is the biggest group of work-aholics ever assembled, and I found that to be true. Part of my job is working with the Mentoring program, and most of the candidates said their biggest obstacle is learning how to balance work and home. It is not unusual for people to work 60 to 80 hours a week. They really do neglect their families, but they expect them to understand because they are 'working'. When work begins to replace your family - you really need to sit down and check your priorities. Like I said earlier - HR really isn't a department I should be in.

Now onto the birthday present for today it was a set of salt and pepper shakers. They were different from other ones that I own - so I will add them to my collection. Tomorrow I open the one gift that my sister was worried about - and it is the one she is most excited about..hmmm I wonder what that could be. Well I need to start closing up things here - just in case I can leave early - you never know.

Have a wonderful and a blessed Labor Day weekend if I don't talk to you before then. Also I just want to thank you for all the hard work each of you do every day. This country is blessed because of you - Thanks!!!