Goodwill, Cheer.... and Comparisons

Christmas is the one holiday that most of the world agrees on if for no other reason than tradition. Some can claim that we have Christmas because our culture has always celebrated Christmas. Gifts are given. Family and friends get together to celebrate. Like it or not, every Christmas is different. Yeah- there will always be traditions, but each year as everyone gets older, the dynamics to the tradition changes. Babies come and grow. Family members graduate to heaven. Etc.

One thing in our house that hasn't changed has been the good food. I suppose one could claim that I am conditioned to believing the food is good because I grew up with it. But I'm pretty sure that isn't the case. My mom, Grandma, and Aunt make some pretty great food. I'll admit that I didn't always appreciate all the food at one time or another, but now that I'm old enough to do all the cooking for my household, I appreciate how good their food tastes. They even give me the recipes, but mine never tastes the same.

There is one bad thing about Christmas though and that is, that Jack appreciates how good their cooking is too. I can't tell you how often I've heard "Mmm... this is so good. How come yours never taste like this?" or "maybe you could get that recipe from your aunt for that really good casserole" or "can you get that recipe for soda bread from my mom." I suppose I should take great offense at that, but the fact is that I am inferior to my relatives. Every woman hates being compared. In fact, every woman has a story about who they get compared to. Oh to be that woman that everyone gets compared to! As a hint, guys, that's really where a woman's pride and ego come in to play.

Guys' egos predictably are affected by everything, but a woman's ego has the most potential to be damaged when being compared. Here are a few thoughts that may have crossed your mind once or twice in the past week: So maybe I notoriously avoid sewing, but has anyone ever thought to blame it on the fact that I don't own a sewing machine? Or maybe my cooking doesn't taste like Mom's (or Mum's), but has it come into play that I've only been cooking full-time for a small fraction of my life and they've been cooking for decades?!? Or maybe our house doesn't look like Aunt Martha's, but it's probably because our budget is not quite as generous.

Ah the Christmas season filled with goodwill and cheer.... and abounding comparisons. Good news- that's why New Year's comes after Christmas. Yeah we might compare at Christmas, but we all get to resolve to be better next year.

Wishing you and yours the fewest comparisons and the greatest success on resolutions ever in the coming year! Happy 2012!

My Favorite Things

Marketers may or may not call me part of the "Late Majority" in the adoption cycle. However, if Oprah has a list, I can have a list. These are things that I was introduced to (or especially enriched my life) and have enjoyed this year.

Real Simple is a fabulous read.

A discounted Coach wristlet will be easy on your wallet and last you a long time.

A Sleep Number bed will allow any couple to agree on bed firmness. Happy marriage.

"This will change your life"

Need I say more?

Enjoy all your favorite shows for one low monthly price!

Fox's Chocolatey Chunk Biscuits are the best, but you can only get them in England.

Fabulous substitute for the Iphone.

Dunkin Donuts Hot Chocolate

Finish Quantumatic definitely speeds up the dishes process.











Image Credits:

Real Simple magazine image found:https://subscription.realsimple.com/storefront/subscribe-to-real-simple/site/sm-2for1hol1111.html?tcmid=2for1globaltout_dnr&link=1006468

Coach wristlet image found: http://www1.macys.com/coach/catalog/index.ognc?CategoryID=25313&PageID=108722651785107

Sleep Number bed image found: http://www.sleepnumber.com/eng/categories/sleep-number-beds

Panera Parfait image supplied by me.

Chipotle burrito image found:http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/Default.aspx?type=default

Netflix image found: https://www.netflix.com/

Fox's Biscuits image found:http://www.greatbritishfood.de/Biscuits/Fox-s/Foxs-Chunkie-Extremely-Chocolatey-Cookies.htm?shop=allbritish_e&SessionId=&a=article&ProdNr=FOXCHEX&t=25&c=117&p=117

Evo Image found: http://www.htc.com/us/products/evo-sprint

Dunkin Donuts Hot Chocolate Image Found:http://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/menu/hotbeverages.html

Finish Quantumatic: image found: http://www.finishdishwashing.com/finish-quantumatic-product-info.php

Beauty from our Ashes

"He makes beauty from our ashes and a hope that's everlasting."

Grief is a heavy burden yet so much beauty can come out of it. In such times, so much compassion and love comes pouring out of hearts that God has gifted with mercy. It's beautiful how the body of Christ works together.

A lot of reassurance in life comes from knowing that all things happen for a reason. Tonight, I met a courageous, strong young lady with the gift of mercy. Somehow in conversation it came about that Dad just died. Using her gift of mercy, she began to unfold her life story to me.

At age 24, Marissa is the sole supporter of her father who has emphysema, her younger sister who has one remaining kidney that is failing, her sister's fiance, and her sister's 15 month old baby. A few years ago, Marissa's mom passed away unexpectedly from heart failure leaving Marissa alone to provide and care for her family. In despair, Marissa thought nothing could ever fill the void her mom had left. It was impossible. Then Marissa met Jesus and He changed her life.

Marissa is the only one who is helping pay to keep her family afloat and she's raising a 15 month old nephew at the same time. But she has found unimaginable strength from Jesus. She works to help pay medical bills while her family receives little help from Medicare and Medicaid. In fact, no doctors will take her sister's case because she only has Medicaid to offer. Doesn't that make you lose a little faith in humanity? But this heart of mercy has no self-pity for herself or her situation. She reaches out to others who have a familiar pain and embraces them with compassionate arms.

Isn't it beautiful how God orchestrates people to come in to our lives to help us while we help them? Isn't humbling how our problems can seem so small compared to other stories? But yet in it all we don't see a superhuman who withstands all weakness, but we see a God who is rich in mercy, loving toward His children, and who works for our good and His glory.

I love the picture my pastor painted for us this evening of how Jesus came into a world of mess. He was born to an unmarried couple in a cave filled with unsanitary animals and greeted by the lowest of low class people, the shepherds. He lived a life seeking out the outcasts and untouchables. He walked toward the ones everyone was walking away from. That's the beauty of the gospel and the Christmas story. Perfection chose to step into a mess to heal, love, and save.

Every Moment Counts

There really aren't words for losing a family member. Devastation seems like an understatement when someone is with you one day and gone the next. It's painfully unreal to permanently say goodbye to someone you expect to have more years with. But I suppose one of the great tragedies of life is to assume that you have more time. Time is short. You know that. It's easy to grasp when it happens to someone else. But when your head is spinning and you're sucking air in like you just ran a marathon at a dead sprint because of the shock, it's all too real. The shock paralyzes your body, sends your mind racing so you can't sleep, and every time you remotely feel hungry you think of your family member's favorite food and lose the sensation instantly. I wish I were being dramatic.

Burying an immediate family member is probably the hardest things anyone will ever do. You don't want to say goodbye. Ever. I lost my dad. My buddy. My friend. My biggest cheerleader. My sympathizer. My easiest, most impressed audience. My protector. My instructor. The one who forced me to go to bed at night and be in by a certain hour. The one who checked my homework every night looking for errors and then got up early to help me correct it. The one who provided for all my needs and wants, who took interest in even my smallest hobbies. The one who taught me to drive, punt a soccer ball, and enjoy tortilla chips and salsa. The one who would sing along at concerts and whistle the piccolo part to the patriotic song every July 4th. The one who never met a stranger and knew the Chevy's manager by name. The one who always had an easy smile and quick, contagious laugh.

People used to say I was the girl version of my father especially as a baby. I was. I looked like him and certainly acted like him, even though I have my mom's temperament. I got into enough mischief to stress any parent out, just like him. (Who doesn't panic when they lose their child at the zoo?) But we both enjoyed telling those crazy stories to others.

If you'll learn anything from just reading this, take note and follow the good example of my dad:

1. Always tell your family you love them and you're proud of them and mean it. If they weren't there with you in your last moment, or vice versa, it'll be something to treasure.
2. Try to keep your life in order so if you died tomorrow it'd be easy to take care of things.
3. Know that your sacrifice will not go unnoticed by your kids. Make the effort to be at every game significant or insignificant. They might hate the occasional critiques but they'll always treasure that you took the time to be there. Thanks, Dad.
4. Love with everything in you. Your family is your greatest treasure and legacy. Give them all you've got.

Dad, we had some rough times that we conquered and we had some good times that we loved, but my life will never be the same without you! So glad that Jesus has you. So honored to be a daughter of my dad.

Photo by Wes Craft Photography

Insights Into the GateKeeper's Job

Do receptionists intimidate you? Well, they probably should. The receptionist is the gatekeeper who will allow your mission to happen or not. Do you want to speak to HR about a job posting you saw online? You probably have to go through the receptionist. If you want to speak to the person in charge of purchasing office equipment, you will need to be put through by the receptionist or if you're lucky, the receptionist will give you their name. Chances are slim though.

See the world of receptionist-ing involves a game that salesmen play. The goal of doing cold sales calls is to sound like you know the person personally that you are calling. Some receptionists are instructed not to screen calls and that's the salesman's greatest joy. Although if you are calling the main line and not the person's direct extension, it's obvious you don't know who you are calling very well or you're just lazy. So make your case convincing within the first 10 seconds of speaking or you might be asked to "leave a message." Most receptionists will ask who you are calling for, why you are calling, and what company you are from. The answers to these questions are the key to the gate.

Here are 5 things to know:

1. The receptionist is way smarter than you give the person credit for. Technology is so advanced these days. The phones most likely have caller ID and the receptionist will know who you are and where you are from (based on your area code) before they answer, so don't bother with calling multiple times and changing your name.

2. The biggest clue that you are a salesman is that you don't ever leave a message and you'll "call back." Sadly enough- every time you "call back" that same person will be busy because the receptionist is on to you.

3. If you ask for a "Jonathan Smith" and the person you are referring to actually goes by Johnny, Nathan, or Smithy, the chances are good that you probably will not get through. So if you're calling from a doctor's office with important information- it's a good idea to identify yourself right off.

3A. This is especially true if ever calling for the CEO of the company. Even if you know the CEO's name, you will probably never talk to him/ her by calling the front desk. If the CEO wants to talk to you, he will have given you his direct line or left instructions with the receptionist to put you through.

3B. If you try to get smart by calling yourself Dr. Jones calling for the CEO, you will be asked what medical institution you are from. You are not necessarily obligated to tell the truth, but if you stutter before giving your medical institution's name- it's obvious you're making it up. Then, of course, if you lie... there are consequences.

4. If you call the receptionist, pitch your sale, and they say "No thank you," you probably will never win them over by cussing them out and asking how you're supposed to make a living if no one buys from you. Perhaps sales was the only job available, but if possible get in to a job where people come to you for your product... like McDonalds, Starbucks, or Apple.

5. If you call the front desk and take longer than 3 or 4 seconds to start talking after they answer, you will get hung up on. Be ready to speak when someone answers and you won't get hung up on.

Perhaps you aren't sales, but if you do some of these things you may get mislabeled as a sales person so be careful!

So there you have it. There are some ways to get past the receptionist!

Hope you have a lovely day!