You Can't Take It With You

I've noticed that it's the little things in life that seem to mean the most.
Have you ever noticed how caught up we all get in looking our best, and acquiring mass amounts of useless crap? I know that when I die I won't be able to take any of the garbage I've acquired to my grave, or beyond, so why is it so important?
Every January 1st most people make a New Year's Resolution, one that usually isn't kept. I am making mine early, and I am going to keep it. I am going to stop worrying about who's wearing what, and what kind of car so & so is driving. I don't care that I don't have the nicest car or the top of the line clothes. I know that I can't afford to drop money left and right on a whim. That is okay with me. I just don't act like it most of the time. I usually throw a mini-temper tantrum (only God is invited to this one) and say "Why does (insert name here) have this & that, and I am working so hard and I have nothing?!"
I need to learn to be a good steward of what God has given me. I need to learn to be thankful for what I do have. I know that God wants to bless me, His word says so. I don't doubt that for a minute. Maybe I am not in my dream job right now. Maybe I did work really hard in the past, but I got too big for my britches. I believe that sometimes God needs us to take a different route to get to our final destination. I believe that sometimes God wants to humble us.
Have you ever heard the saying that the Poor are closer to God? It's true.
I am BROKE right now, and my faith in God has grown exponentially. I am learning to rely on Him all over again. It's not by my strength, but by His. He will take care of me.
So from now on, instead of worrying why I don't have, I am going to start thanking God for what I do have.

Good Word

"But Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence." -Jeremiah 17:7, NLT

He is Still on the Throne

Pastor Barnett always says that no matter what your circumstances, God is still on the throne. He doesn't stop being God & He doesn't stop loving you just because your life isn't perfect.

Having Absolutely Nothing to Do with Politics

A friend recently approached me with a question as to what he should do with the current predicament he found himself to be in with Men's Shoe fashion. Apparently tassels are everywhere to be found. He asked me what I thought. Here is my honest opinion on the shoe industry's illustrious love affair with the tasseled shoe for men (and if they put it on a woman's shoe, I will probably boycott the company forever).
A man under the age of 33 should NOT ever wear a tasseled shoe. I only say NEVER because the only time it is appropriate on a younger man is when they are capable of pulling off the YUPPIE look, a la Don Johnson in Miami Vice, circa 1984. If a man can wear a white suit (which I also don't recommend anyone trying, this is not amateur hour here) or a HOT pink polo shirt (collar always popped) with loafers & no socks (Tammy- I'm thinking Kenny is in this mix somewhere, he can pull off the tassels, but he is like 35)...I'm digressing here- THEN TASSELS ARE ALLOWED. I say older men can pull this off because if they don't have a knowing, loving woman in their life, they don't know any better and we accept it by default.
The second option is if you work in the financial or science industries. I mean, and not to sound like a slam or anything, but you guys are known for being dorks, right? Okay, look at it this way: 1) You are probably intelligent and you have money (or at least know how to manage it well enough to make it look as though you have money)- therefore, most women will over look the shoes (even if they do have the dreaded tassel). AND 2) Most of the men I have known that are bankers, accountants and science geeks usually make me laugh so hard I almost pee my pants (this friend included), so once again, tassels are overlooked.
Point being, any man that will not object to a woman dressing him and wants to spend an hour or so with any said woman in question, all you have to do is say, "I don't know what kind of shoes to get, can you come to the mall with me?" You are making a woman very happy in many ways: 1) You are telling a woman that you want her to spend your money. 2) You are giving a woman permission to go shopping. 3) You are admitting in advance that you will probably screw this up if you do it on your own.
The Navy Blue Dilemma:
NEVER WEAR BLACK WITH NAVY BLUE. I have seen a lot of this lately. I am extremely upset, and somewhat offended. When did this become okay? I never got the memo, and even if Mr. Blackwell himself gave the okay, I am going to veto this decision. Burgundy shoes? Yes. Brown shoes? Okay. Black? Never. (Unless you are a Marine in Dress Blues, then you can do WHATEVER YOU WANT!!) Greg, the fact that you just admitted to me that you are an offender today, as I write this, makes me seriously cringe.
When in doubt, ask a woman. If there isn't one around, go to Banana Republic or Nordstroms and find the nearest gay guy. Oxfords, Greg, Oxfords. They look great with everything.

Proverbs 18:24

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." -Proverbs 18:24

People have swept into my life like a summer breeze, and swept out just as quickly. In our lives we meet people that are around for a moment, a season, or for a lifetime. No matter what the time period, or reason that they are there...They just are.
How often have we taken for granted those that stand by us, lift us up, encourage us, and basically just put up with our garbage? I know that there are too many times, more than I can count on both hands, and probably feet, that I have done this. So, to all of my great friends, THANK YOU. I would not be who I am, good or bad, without you.

Yuletide Carols Being Sung by a Choir

Have you ever looked at your life and thought about things that you take for granted?
I am sitting here, and I realize that a lot of my friends back home are in the Christmas Play. They are on stage as I write this. That makes me sad. Not for them, for me. The things that I have tried so desperately to get away from, are the things that I missed the most.
I miss getting to the church early and going into the prayer room. I miss setting up my makeup station and screaming that someone has stolen my (insert one, or all of the following): lip brush/concealer brush/ blush brush/ red lipstick, eye liner. Or because someone has set up their stuff in my station. GRRR! Then an adoring fan brings me a Gingerbread latte from Starbucks. Then my fans begin to line up so that I can make them beautiful for their closeups. I laugh and make jokes. I enjoy what I do. It makes me feel good to know that people rely on me. To know that people think I do a good job. It may not be much, but I've always liked making people happy. I don't know when I decided that that was a bad trait to have.
Then, I look down at my watch and realize that the curtain is going up and the choir is singing "Joy to the World" and I have to be on stage in 5 minutes and I am so NOT ready! I go screeching down the hallway, running down flights of stairs, and usually bumping into four to five random cast members. Then a devoted friend helps me change into my costume (remember when we did the 1800's scene? Hoop skirts & bonnets... Fake British accents. Charles Dickens is the picture of Christmas!).
Then I get to go on stage and sing and dance and act cheesy. I have fun. It's my life. I've been running from this for the past few years because I have been running from being someone that everyone wants me to be. I was trying to find out who I was. I knew who I was the whole time.
I miss going with all of the Youth Group kids to Starbucks, or to Dairy Queen, or Rolberto's (for greasy, yummy, Mexican food), or TP-ing at one of the pastor's houses. (I think JP is still ticked about that!) Let's also not forget about late night trips to the Super Walmart!
I miss hanging out with my mom. I miss seeing my friend's kids & hearing them talk about seeing Santa. I want to watch White Christmas with Lynda. I want to laugh at every line of Elf with Missy- because you're a cotton headed ninny muggins! (And play Apples to Apples & WIN!) I want to drink hot chocolate and talk with a friend. Do you know I haven't even watch my Christmas staple movies yet this year? (The original "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," & "Charlie Brown Christmas.")
So, moral of the story...It took me moving FAR away to realize that there is no place like home.

Drip, Drip, Drop Little April Showers

WHY IS IT RAINING SO MUCH?!?!
It's already rained this once this week. It rained all day today. It's supposed to rain tomorrow. Ugh. I didn't know that I moved to Seattle...
Anyway, today was a depressing day, but I am getting over it. There is something about the rain that makes me want to sleep, or watch an old movie, or do both. I slept until 11:30 (don't tell Chris, he might have a heart attack) and then I read, and then I watched the news and then part of a movie. So lets just say that it was a totally meaningless day. But I loved the fact that I didn't have to interact with anyone and I didn't have to be intelligent or happy for anyone.
Patty called me and we were supposed to go to a political happy hour. Since neither of us felt like being 'social' we decided to meet for dinner.
It's nice how complete strangers turn into the most trusted friends. We met at this great Italian place and had some pasta (GASP! Carbs!!) and a bottle of Pinot Grigio (a must). She really encouraged me to keep going and not to give up on DC. She also let me know that it was okay to make mistakes (see earlier posts about stupid southern men) and I will be okay. Its nice to hear someone else say it every now and then. (Sometimes my pep talks that I give to myself are not so convincing.)
So after a day of rain, and the thought of getting up at the crack of dawn to go to work at a department store, I actually have gained a bit more confidence and I know that things are going to be okay. Rain or shine, things are going to be okay.

Psalm 66:19

God is faithful. He answers prayers. He takes care of those that are faithful to Him and His word. I am standing on His promise that says, "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

I am asking for prayer for favor here in DC and for God's hand to guide me in the right direction, that I would cross paths with those that will help me find the job that I am supposed to be in. I also need God's provision financially.

Thanks for standing in prayer with me.

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on Earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven." -Matthew 18:19

Apathy, Party of 200, Your Table is Ready

Well, I was shocked when I logged onto to the Arizona Young Republican website (www.arizonayr.com) today to read the "Victory" note that was posted, along with a dashing photo of our President. I love that so many people take so much pride in doing so little. It would have been more proper to say, "Thank you Danielle, Amanda, Gabi, Val, Jess..." (I know I have left out a few names, but unfortunately, not many.) I hate to sound bitter or hateful, but here I go anyway.
Since when does being a part of an organization, by name and a membership due ONLY, entitle you to the fruits of others labor? I can name on one, MAYBE two hands the people who were faithfully out working at the grassroots level to see our President re-elected, from the YR's group. It's amazing how NOT EVEN OUR CHAIRMAN went to phone banks, and actually MADE CALLS. I mean, it's one thing for you to go and do the work and occasionally chit chat, as Danielle, Jessica, Gabi & I did, but it is QUITE ANOTHER to show up & not do a damn thing. I understand that people are busy. I understand that we all have lives. Let's take a little pride in our country though. This effort was not an effort to elevate ourselves in the eyes of others, but to elevate our President in the eyes of his constituents, fellow citizens and neighbors.
In two years we have to make damn sure that we get Napolitano out of office. Will the YR's turn out in FULL FORCE then, or will it be another pathetic attempt to look as though we are working, but really not doing much of anything? What would have happened if George W. Bush was not re-elected? How many people would have then said, "What could I have done differently, or more so to change the outcome?"
We should never have to ask ourselves this question under any circumstances. The answer should always be, "I HONESTLY did everything I could."
One hour a week makes more of a difference than no hours ever.

Hurry Up & Wait

Well, here I am in our Nation's Capitol. I wonder why though. I mean I am sitting in my apartment not doing anything but praying that my phone will ring or that someone will send me an email saying, "We want to hire you. You start tomorrow."
Alas, this has not happened. So I hurried out here so I could sit and wait. So here I am...Waiting, and waiting some more, and still waiting. I get to start pounding the pavement tomorrow. (Joy of joys).
Tonight I am going to the Bush-Cheney HQ in VA to volunteer (everything comes full circle, doesn't it?) and hopefully there I will make some new contacts that can help me in my quest to reach the top.
So as I keep waiting, I will keep you all updated on my search.

Climbing Forward Makes it Hard to Look Back

On to the next phase of my life! I'm moving to D.C. in two days. I cannot believe it!!
When I was younger I had something that my dear friend Katie would refer to as "Divine Ignorance," referring to the phrase, "Ignorence is Bliss." I was perfectly content to never go anywhere, meet anyone or do anything with my life. Obviously that all has changed.
I am stepping out in complete faith, believing that God will grant me CRAZY FAVOR and I will land a great job when arrive, since I have exactly $200 to my name, and I owe a LOT more than that in bills for this coming month. It's weird because I believe that anything is possible and I am hoping and trusting for the best. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, we trust in the name of the Lord our God."-Psalm 20:6-8.
God has always been faithful, and He has brought me too far for me to give up now.
Pastor Barnett spoke this morning about being a quitter, a camper or a climber. I have always been a camper. Content to stay in one place once I reach a plateau, never wanting or longing to move forward, being complacent in what God has given me. I have decided that God has called me to be a climber. To reach higher. To go farther. How can I glorify God when I am not consistently trusting in Him and aiming to do His great will in my life? The Bible says clearly that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those that earnestly seek Him." -Hebrews 11:5-7
I have chosen to earnestly seek God and God's will for my life.
Years ago I believed that I was called to be a wife and a mother. That was it. And while those are huge undertakings I do not believe that I would be happy if I had followed that path, unless I kept my divine ignorance and went with the "what you don't know won't hurt you" theory. After all, If you don't know there is grass on the other side, how can it be greener?
Anyway, I've rambled on incoherently for long enough. I am going, and hopefully you will read of great things to come in my life on this site. I will keep you all updated.
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." -Hebrews 11:1

Civility is Not a Sign of Weakness

The title line for my blog posting today was taken from President Kennedy's inaugural address in 1961. If you have never read it, it is beautiful. (http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres56.html)
Today was a day of reverence for myself. I awoke to a dreary day with clouds and drizzle. There were no birds chirping or squirrels playing outside. I thought to myself, this is the perfect day to go visit the National Cemetery. It is hard to go to a place as reverent and beautiful as Arlington when the sun is shining brightly and the birds are singing. You want to go on a day when you feel as though you could cry anyway, so why not make it a cry for a good reason. I went to cry and remember those who have died for my freedoms.
When I arrived however, I was quite shocked to hear all of the people around me yelling and talking and laughing as if they were in an amusement park. The sight is so magnificent and devout, I could never bring myself to go there with another person, because I feel that remembering those whose lives were given for our freedom is something we should do in solitude. I was disgusted to hear how many people acted as though these soldiers lives were nothing to be thankful for. Then again, I am the kind of person that always has, and always will think that it is better to err on the side of respect (I even found myself shooshing people at President Kennedy's tomb).
It may be out of turn for me to say it, but are these the people who might have been the "human shields" months ago at the beginning of the Iraqi war? The people who did not have respect for the lives of the Iraqi's and thought nothing of our soldiers? If you cannot respect a fallen life, why would you enter the grounds in the first place?
It is painful for me to think that the memory of those that were so brave, and so unfortunate is trodden on daily by those that go to ANC, just for the sake of going, not because they want to thank the soldiers or remember that our Freedoms are precious. To some people Arlington will never be more than a tourist site.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/

Changing Leaves, Changing Lives

Here I am in our Nation's Capitol. Well, not really. I am sitting in an apartment in Rosslyn, VA. But same diff. I am a hop, skip & a jump from D.C. (literally about 2 metro rides away, or 10 minutes).
Okay, so anyway, like I was saying before all of the technicalities- I'm here in Washington, D.C. and it is so beautiful! I love it here. All around me the leaves on the trees are changing colors and there are squirrels frolicking in the brightly colored red & orange piles. It is so different from what I am used to. This place is so picturesque. Almost like a Thomas Kincaid painting or something.
I have met a lot of really great people while I have been here and I am enjoying my time so much. Thinking about moving here is scary, but at the same time very exiting. It is a chance for me to prove to everyone, but mostly myself that I am capable of being more than a secretary or a housekeeper.
I remember back to when I was younger, and even just a couple of years ago, all I wanted to do was get married and have kids. That was because I didn't think I could do anything else. Not that I am implying that marriage and family are small feats or insignificant in anyway, I just didn't have drive or ambition for anything else. I was merely going to settle for the least, what I could get by with in life without trying.
Here I stand today. I am young, intelligent, and ambitious. The only problem with that statement is that so is everyone else in this town. I have had to prove my whole life that I could do things that everyone else said was impossible, showing the nay-sayers that little people can do big things. So here I am, waiting for someone, anyone to give me a chance to be more than an assistant. Begging for an opportunity. Hoping that someone will see in me a spark or something different. I know that I don't have a higher education, so I will have to work harder than others that have a degree (or five), but I don't mind working hard, I've done it all of my life & I will do it until the day that I die.
I will be traveling home next week for Thanksgiving and hopefully by then I will have an update as to what is to come for me. Until then, I will keep pounding the pavement, so to speak (and boy do my feet hurt!) and annoying people until they give me a chance.

A few quotes on ambition to leave you with...

"If you have a great ambition, take as big a step possible in the direction of fulfilling it. The step may only be a tiny one, but trust that it may be the largest one possible for now." -Mildred McAfee

"A person who aims at nothing is sure to hit it." -Unknown

"The men who succeed are an efficient few. They are the few that have ambition and will power to develop themselves." -Herbert N. Casson

"Great ambition is the passion of great character." -Napoleon Bonaparte

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." -Thomas Carlyle

"To those of you that earned honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you, too, can be President of the United States." -President George W. Bush

(that last one was my favorite, I afterall was a C student!)

Moving Ahead and Leaving the Past Behind

Four months ago I started this blog and I HATED Las Vegas. I didn't think I would make it through my time here. I felt like I was in a prison.
Now that I am sitting in my office, clearing off my files from computer and emptying filing cabinets and I can't believe that I am leaving. I have built relationships and come to love my life here.
I am sitting here thinking about the first time I stepped foot into this office. I am thinking about the internal changes that have taken place in my life. I think that this AMAZING opportunity has changed me for the better. It has taught me that I am stronger than I thought. I am able to do so much more than I ever could have dreamed. I learned what I want out of life, and what I expect from myself. No longer do I have slight dreams, I have God-sized aspirations, knowing that only with Him can I accomplish anything.
I am excited for the next phase in my life. I am excited that you all will be coming along for the ride, so to speak...
Many thanks for your love and support.

Don't Like America? Move to France...

Well, I was watching the news tonight & I heard the remark that there are American's that can't stand President Bush so much that they would leave for Canada. Well, personally, if that's your feeling, please go.
I was NOT a fan of Bill Clinton, and I have my issues with many politicians, but I believe that if we as an American people elect these leaders, we must live with them. I also believe that we live in the greatest country in the world. The country that allows you to openly hate others without oppression. In fact, those of us that are on the Right are more oppressed, even though we are the majority, more than the left wing minority.
If you hate freedom, and you want to leave, no one is stopping you.

FOUR MORE YEARS!!

Okay, so it's finally over and after all is said & done, W is STILL the President.
I put blood, sweat & tears into this campaign, and it is finally over. I have to say that it is some what anti-climactic. I mean, after everything it is all over.
I want to say thank you to every person who gave up and sacrificed something to make sure our President was re-elected. I am so overwhelmed by the amount of people that took time off of work to come out and walk precincts and make phone calls to constituents. The grassroots efforts were amazing, and we could not have won this state, or any state without the volunteers. Especially the ones who came in early in the morning and stayed late into the night. The women who never saw their husbands, and the children that stayed in the lobby and put together yard signs while their parents made calls. The husbands giving up their hot meals and clean socks so their wives could come down to help do data entry & schedule poll watchers, or anything else we may have asked for. It brings tears to my eyes when I think of how many sacrificed and that they were so ready and willing to do so, never even blinking an eye when we asked them to do some of the most ridiculous and most tedious tasks possible.
I cannot say it enough, THANK YOU. There are no words that can express the way that I feel about the people that I met during my time here in Nevada. You all were a GREAT help to me, and to our President. Take care and keep in touch.
Val

Can't We All Just Get Along?

With only three days left to go in the campaign you would think that Republicans would be united. ESPECIALLY those working towards the same cause. Unfortunately I have seen more chaos within our party in these past few weeks than I have in my whole life.
Everyone is out for their own career and their own self gratification. I have never encountered so many people that think that they are God's gift to the Earth, the Republican Party or to the President himself. (It also amazes me that so many people think that if they call ME I will directly talk to President Bush about what Mrs. Jones or Mr. Smith think we should be doing differently within the campaign. Yeah, sure, I'll get right on that, as soon as Karl Rove & Ken Mehlman leave the oval office I will go ahead & march myself in there & get that policy changed!)
Anyway, I said all of that to say, its time for Republicans & Democrats for Bush to stand up & unite. We are all working towards the same prize. Another four years. A sure way to get Kerry in the White House (Ugh, those words in the same sentence make me sick), is to continue down this road of selfishness, caring only that we look good, instead of making the President look GREAT.
Remember, 3 days left. Vote your conscience. Vote the Issues. Vote for W.

Five Days to Victory...

Okay, so here's where the campaign stands as of right now. (A Re-Cap for those of you living under a ROCK!)
There are 10 Target (Battleground) states in the election this year. Each state is chosen for many different reasons. One way is how many electoral votes the states have (http://www.fec.gov/pages/ecworks.htm) , another is the percentage of votes that went to Al Gore or George W. Bush in the 2000 election.
A Quick Breakdown for You (www.RealClearPolitics.com):
Bush 48/ Kerry 46/ Nader 1 (I still am shocked and amazed that Nader can get a whole 1% of the vote).
The Electoral Vote as of now stands at 232 Bush to 207 Kerry (HECK YES!). With 10 Battleground states, and the BIG ones leaning towards Bush, I see a light at the end of the tunnel...The angels are singing "HALLELUJAH!"
I leave you with these parting words. In 2000, Bush lost the state of New Mexico by 187 votes. EVERY VOTE COUNTS.

::MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT ON NOVEMBER 2nd::

VICTORY!

"VICTORY at all costs, VICTORY in spite of terror, VICTORY however long and hard the road may be; For without VICTORY there is no survival." -Winston Churchill

Just another 12 days.
AMAZING...I cannot wait to sleep.

Love you all. Be good & remember to Vote for George W. Bush!!

I Am SO Tired!

Sorry to any and all of you who have been reading this and waiting for something new. Unfortunately, I have been so busy & so tired that I haven't been able to write anything new, and I have had nothing exciting happen lately. My other problem is that it hurts to use my brain, so doing any creative writing is a bit difficult.
Feel free to skim through my past thoughts, and when this is all over (or maybe sooner) I will have something new posted.