Tag: Shopping

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 4

· 6 Comments ·

Please refer back to my earlier posts and read what this challenge is about so that the later posts make sense. 🙂

Day 4 Question #4: What is the greatest compliment you’ve ever been paid?

Answer: In the early ’90’s I worked at a museum in Atlanta. The museum director, Lillian and I got along great. One day she asked me to do something extra in order to promote the museum. She told me I had the option to say no and that would be fine too. Lillian asked me if I would make an exhibit using flowers to enter in the Atlanta Flower Show.

Midtown Atlanta, Piedmont Park
Image via Wikipedia

I was taken aback at first since I didn’t consider myself a “pro” at working with flowers. Then I thought about how I had worked with flower arrangements at home so I figured I’d give it a try. The job was to make  an arrangement that resembled the burning of Atlanta during the Civil War. Once I accepted the challenge Lillian stood back and looked at me then she said,” Wow! You’re simply amazing!” I laughed as I asked her,” What do you mean?” The comment caught me by surprise. Then my boss said,” I have never met someone who exudes so much self confidence. It’s almost as if you can do anything that comes your way, because you never let anything or anyone get in your way.” THAT, blew me away because at the time I didn’t think much of myself. I thanked her as we hugged and I went off to plan the exhibit. Words like that stay with a person 🙂

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 1

· 4 Comments ·

I was inspired this morning to start a 30 day Blog Challenge. The questions are from an interesting little book I picked up a while ago at a thrift store. THE MOM & DAD QUESTION, CREATIVE QUESTIONS to HONOR the FAMILY by Bret Nicholaus and Paul Lowrie. I will post one question per day and I will give you an answer that came from times of our discussing this little book at our family‘s dinner table. I look forward to my reader’s responses, so YES by all means leave me YOUR answers in the comments section of this blog. Since The Holidays are coming up, maybe you can pick up your own copy of this book and bring it to your own family’s holiday celebrations 🙂

Question #1:

For each one of your children, where were you and what were you doing when you realized that it was definitely time for your baby to be born?

Answer: Child #1: I was in the hospital where they induced me. Child #2: I was home trying to get some sleep when at midnight,  the contractions were coming at regular intervals. Child #3: I was making lunch for my 2 other kids who were toddlers at the time. Child #4: I was preparing dinner for my whole family and suddenly I had to call my midwife.

 

Julia’s Hands

· Leave a comment ·

Julia’s hands tell a story, 

 all cut up and bruised-

paint a sad picture of painful loss-

no pain, no gain, no glory.

Julia a young teen,

 been working those hands

since her mama died at eighteen.

 She took over a grown up’s work load

when tragedy hit their lowly abode.

Julia sent away to labor in far away lands.

Her hands never wore any rings.

Not once did she ever paint her nails,

 no time  for self adornment;

always outside carrying heavily filled pails.

She  looks at girls her age, in sheer wonderment;

pretty dresses, perfumed locks, perfectly painted nails.

Does Julia cry,”Why me? Why me?” ever?

No, this young girl knows that alas,

her lot in life is for now, certainly not forever.

 

Eva Santiago Copyright 2011

 

 

30 Day Music Challenge: Day 14

· Leave a comment ·

Johnny Cash influenced so many and I think his music will influence future generations to come. My favorite Johnny Cash song is one where he is feature with U2. “The Wanderer“, is a haunting tune and I was thrilled that one of my favorite ’80’s bands teamed up with such a huge icon to produce this amazing song. Cash preached a strong message in a number of his songs, to me this is one of his most powerful “sermons“; for U2 to pair up with him, was sheer brilliance!

Our Troops Need Us

· 2 Comments ·
US Navy 060615-N-5334H-097 A member of Girl Sc...
Image via Wikipedia

Have you ever become weary in doing the right thing? I sure have. The best thing to get out of that rut is to find someone to be kind to whether in word or deed. This war that’s been going on forever it seems, got me to thinking about how I used to send care packages to my brother when he served in the first and second Iraq wars. Well it’s been years since he’s been back and I have not known anyone directly to send care packages to so I haven’t done so.

 A couple of months ago a friend I met in my school days was deployed over seas and it never occurred to me until now to start sending him care packages. I figured he has a family, let them do that for him. That is until I saw a blog today with a photo that really bothered me. It was a young marine standing by an empty wood crate and the caption read: We need more care packages. Please send some! I thought, what if that was me, a lone soldier out there not being able to receive anything from back home? I would seriously hate to be THAT guy. So I made a trip to the store and I put together a care package for my friend.

I am posting a handy list I found of  in demand items our troops deployed over seas  need. Even if you don’t know a soldier, send a care package to a soldier, I hear they love it. It’s a good feeling when you know the little bit that you can contribute will make some one else’s life a little better. ^.^

Due to our Policies and Regulations, we CANNOT ACCEPT these items:

HOME-BAKED FOOD
GLASS BOTTLES or GLASS JARS
AEROSOL CANS or AEROSOL SPRAYS
EXPIRED FOOD
CANNED FOOD
CANDLES, LIGHTERS, MATCHES or LIGHTER FLUID
HOTEL SAMPLES
VHS TAPES or CASSETTE TAPES
CONTRABAND ITEMS (live plants, tobacco, alcohol, knives, nudity, etc.)
HARD-COVER BOOKS & MUSIC CDS*  (*CDs accepted only at our North Carolina Branch)

 

For security and sanitary reasons, please leave all items in their original packages.
When purchasing items, please choose the latest expiration date possible.

Thank you for your cooperation and support!* Items in PURPLE are the MOST NEEDED & REQUESTED *

FOOD (SNACKS) & ENTERTAINMENT ITEMS ARE ALWAYS THE #1 REQUEST!


FOOD, SNACKS AND DRINKS:

  • BEEF JERKY / SLIM JIMS

  • COFFEE (Ground or whole; instant or drip. Ground is preferred)
  • POWDER DRINK MIX (Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light)
  • SUNFLOWER SEEDS & PUMPKIN SEEDS
  • TUNA & CHICKEN SALAD (in foil pouches, or ready-to-eat kits (no cans)
  • PROTEIN POWDER & PROTEIN BARS

  • CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS accepted from OCTOBER through MARCH (it will melt in high temperatures!)

  • Hot Chocolate packets, Herbal teas

  • Hard Pretzels / Cheetos / Fritos / Chex Mix / Wheat Thins / Ritz

  • Gum / Hard Candy (must be individually wrapped in large bags)

  • Granola Bars / Power Bars / Cereal Bars / Cliff Bars

  • Fig Newtons, Oreos, Cheese & Crackers – Small Packs

  • Trail Mix, Dried Fruit, Granola, Fruit Roll-Ups / Fruit By The Foot / Fruit Gummies

  • DRY SOUP: (Ramen Noodles / Cup-O-Soup: just add water)

  • NUTS: Peanuts, Mixed Nuts (salted preferred)

  • MICROWAVE FOOD (Popcorn, Chef-Boy-R-Dee, Mac’n’Cheese…)

  • COOKIES / Girl Scout Cookies (with chocolate: Oct. – Feb. only!)

  • Rice Krispie Treats (Store-bought only)

  • Little Debbies® & Hostess® cake products

  • Oatmeal Packs (Instant: just add water)

  • Cereal (Small, individual boxes)

  • Condiments, Spices; Sugar; Salad Dressing (no glass jars)
  • Caffeinated gum or candy (to stay alert)

TOILETRIES: NO HOTEL SAMPLES!
(Note: Some troops have allergies & need Brand Name toiletries which list all ingredients. The military issues and/or sells toiletries to our troops, however troops often miss their favorite brand of shampoo or soap. Our goal is to send troops reminders of home & items they miss … not free samples.)

  • BABY WIPES (travel size)

  • HAND SANITIZER (travel size)

  • Body Wash, Liquid Soap, Facial Cleanser

  • Shampoo /Conditioner (travel size)
  • Hair Gel (for female troops to pull hair back)

  • Combs / Brushes / Bobby Pins (in original packaging, please)

  • Deodorant (travel size)
  • Razors (disposable or “Intuition” or “Mach 3” types)
  • Shaving Cream in Tubes / Shaving Soap (No CANS of Shaving Cream, please!)

  • Lip balm / Chap Stick / Carmex / Blistex

  • Baby Powder & Foot Powder (travel size)

  • Tissues (individual packs; travel size only)
  • Hand & Body Lotion / Moisturizer (travel size)

  • Sunblock, SPF 45, Zinc, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Gel

  • Bug Spray / DEET / Skin-So-Soft

  • Mouthwash (travel size)

  • Toothpaste & Toothbrushes & Dental Floss

  • Breath Mints / Breath Strips

  • Lozenges / Cough Drops
  • Loufa Sponges / Buff Puffs / Washcloths

  • Nail files / Emery Boards / Nail Clippers

  • Feminine Hygiene Products
  • Cotton Swabs (i.e. Q-tips) – also used to clean guns!

  • Cotton Balls

  • Band-aids, Gauze Pads, First Aid Kits / Ace bandages, Icy Hot or Bengay cream

  • Moleskin
  • Shoe Insole Cushions (gel kind is best)
  • Tylenol, Motrin, Advil or Aspirin Packets
  • Eye Drops (i.e. Visine)
  • Nasal Spray
  • Vitamins (multi-vitamins are always needed!)

ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS:

  • BATTERIES: (AA, AAA, C & 9 Volt are the most requested)

  • DVD Movies (new or used – recent releases only, please!)

  • Xbox Games, PSP, PS2 & PS3 Games (new or used)
  • iTunes® Gift Cards
  • 35 mm disposable cameras
  • Computer Flash Drives & Thumb Drives
  • Portable CD players / head phones
  • Electronic handheld games

  • Small homemade gifts – reminders & comforts of “home”

  • Small photographs or posters of scenery for their tents & walls

  • Pens & mechanical pencils, small note pads

  • Stationery & Envelopes; blank cards to send home

  • Double-sided tape, small crafts kits, scrap-booking items

  • Day planners / Calendars / Small, Pocket Calendars

  • Game Books: (Crossword Puzzles / Word Search Books / Math Puzzle books / MAD LIBS / Logic Problems / Sudoku)
  • Yo-Yo’s, Dominoes, Playing Cards (new), Poker Chips & Mats, Dice
  • Board games (UNO, Othello, Checkers – travel size is great, too!)
  • Dart Boards (regular or magnetic – any size)

  • Nerf Footballs / Whiffle bats, balls & Mitts / Sports equipment

  • Frisbees / Hackey sacks

  • Music CDs, Magazines & Books (Accepted ONLY at our NORTH CAROLINA BRANCH)

OTHER:

  • LINENS: Pillow cases, twin sheets, towels (green & tan)
  • T-SHIRTS: Cotton green & tan under shirts – new (Sizes: M, L & XL)
     [Note: The DOD banned “Under-Armor” shirts due to its material being potentially flammable & bad reactions to open wounds.]
  • LAUNDRY DETERGENT & FABRIC SOFTENER SHEETS: (Click HERE for types)
  • FLASHLIGHTS – SMALL(battery operated. Surefire Brand preferred)

  • AIR FRESHENERS (standalone-not plug-in. Car types are also good)

  • SOCKS: Black, Olive Green & White (cotton or wool)
  • PHONE CARDS – Pre-Paid (Click HERE for Where to Buy and What Types of Phone Cards to Buy from Third-Party Vendors)
  • Gift Cards to send home to loved ones (for Restaurants, Supermarkets)

  • Small toys (Beanie babies) & school supplies for Iraqi & Afghan children

  • Patriotic knick-knacks, USA flags, flags from your state, bandanas, baseball hats, football jerseys, banners to tack on their walls or tents.
  • Black or Green duct tape, small tool kits, dust masks, carpentry tools, Fly swatters, fly paper, mosquito netting, bug repellent in plastic pump bottles only           (NO AEROSOL CANS, PLEASE!)
  • Paint brushes, adhesive wall hooks, sponges
  • Gun cleaning supplies (lube) such as Militec-1 & CLP
  • Generic sunglasses (Ballistic, black only. No “mirror” types)
  • Alarm Clocks (Small in size; wind-up or battery-operated)
  • Small, portable heaters & fans (110 voltage okay)
  • Fleece Blankets (Yes, it gets very cold in the winter over there!!)
  • Disposable Hand warmers and Foot warmers (in the wintertime)
  • Winter Hats (Yes, it snows in the winter over there! Hand knitted hats in black, tan or green are always welcome!)
  • Water Bottles, Travel Mugs & Thermoses with Lids, (for Coffee, Tea & Soup)
  • Coffee Makers & Filters (110 voltage okay)
  • Coffee Bean Grinders – small (electric or battery-operated)
  • Microwave Ovens (55 pounds max; 110 voltage okay)
  • Hot Pots – Small
  • Elixir & Water Purification Tablets for Camelbaks
  • Combat Application Tourniquets (black only)
  • Religious booklets, small bibles, inspirational readings
  • Holiday and Seasonal Decorations – see our PROGRAMS PAGE for details

  • K-9 items:
    Dog treats, toys, shampoo, flea collars, etc.
    (Note: CLICK HERE to see our restrictions and guidelines if you wish to donate items to the dogs. Thank you.)

  • CARDS & LETTERS: The troops love to hear from all of us and Mail brightens their days!  These are the MOST IMPORTANTitems we can send the troops & we can never have too many, so please keep writing! consider making a patriotic banner or poster to send inside one of our care packages!Note: Our troops do not need stamps as they’re in war zones & may send mail home to their loved ones at no charge, but our branches can always use stamps to send correspondence

It’s The Little Things

· Leave a comment ·

There have been some very bright spots during the past few days and I can’t let another day go by without a shout out!

Definition of  a BRIGHT SPOT: Any random act or word of kindness that is done or said to you or you do or say to someone else to brighten up their day.

– My sister Heidi texted me at mid night telling me she was weeping as she prayed for me.

– My daughter posting on Facebook that she loves me in several different languages: Te Amo, J’ Taime, I Love you, Ik hou van je, Ich liebe dich, אני אוהב אותך, Ti amo, Amo te, Eu te amo, Я люблю тебя, 🙂 There are hundreds of ways but it all means the same ♥ 🙂 –Esther

– My ten year old daughter giving me weekly mani-pedis and she is quite good at it too.

-A few weeks ago,  I received 3 red roses and my feet were anointed with a fragrant oil.

I’m not going to go on about what I do for others because I know that God sees what I do and He rewards what I do openly because I do it in secret. GO! Find someone to be good to today and see your day brighten up instantly.

J.O.W.K. (journal of an over worked kid)

· Leave a comment ·

August  5, 2005

Dear Diary,

 I’m starting this journal as a way to speak out for some of my peers who can’t speak for themselves. As a kid I see a lot of  my friends and class mates stuck doing things that they don’t want to do. Take for example my bf James; he has to play baseball because his dad was a ball champ all through his high school years and into college. The only reason he didn’t make it to the majors ( and he will tell EVERYBODY he meets about how close he came) was because he screwed up his shoulder pitching those 98 mph fast balls.

James’s dad Ron is a trip! He makes James get up at 4am and jog with him every morning and that’s during baseball season when it’s not baseball, James has to pick up another sport to keep him in the game ( that’s what Ron says anyways). James also has go to the gym everyday regardless of whether he’s playing sports or not.

James and I have stayed up late at night and texting back and forth about how much he hates all the sports he has to do. My dream is to be a fashion illustrator and as we text, I’m always sketching my ideas. James has even said that he envies me for the fact that I’m not being pushed to be the next great anything in my family. He says I’m lucky to have parents who let me be a kid and dream my own dream. I don’t know about any of that; what I do know is that I don’t envy Jame’s overly busy life style. More to come because I have to speak for a lot of kids I know at school who have to deal with this everyday of their lives.

Thanks for listening as usual… –Carla

Book Covers

· 1 Comment ·

You can never tell what a person is going through or what they’ve been through in their past just by casual observation. This Sunday I heard a lady talking about how her 16 year old daughter Autumn  was almost killed when a horse stepped on her when she was a toddler. Before I heard her story I had not paid much attention to this woman. Now that I know the painful trial she and her family endured, I want to know more about this person. I made my way to her and we exchanged pleasantries. Then I told her how I almost lost one of my kids when she was 7 weeks old. She looked at me with the same amazement I had when I first heard her story. This broke the ice and now I’m compelled to know this woman more.

Last month I heard another shocking story. I was sitting close to a man who looks just like the actor Morgan Freeman; I had to take a closer look to see if it really was. By the way, I am a huge fan of said actor. I kept running into this same man and I would imagine that he must have a grand life because the peace that surrounds him, gave me the impression that perhaps he wakes up everyday and sings,” Zippididoodah  Zippideeay, my oh my oh what a wonderful day!” Then I heard the most amazing story about this man.

He was handed a mic and he began to share his personal tragedy. He said his name was Willie; he had lost 3 children in a house fire and soon after he lost 2 more children in a second house fire. My lower jaw fell wide open and I felt it touch the floor below. I leaned forward as my heart began to weep for this man’s great loss. He also shared his faith and said that it was God that had brough him through the whole crisis. Before I left that day I made sure I went to him and I gave Willie a big hug; then something amazing happened, we found comfort in our hug because unbeknownst to Willie , I shared in his pain since I too have experienced the heart ache that comes from losing your whole family.

We are all books. We all wear different covers; some are dazzling and colorful. When I chose my own book cover for my book AS CLEAR AS CLAIRE GETS, I wanted it to be eye catching and inviting. My story is not an easy read and knowing that, I had to design  a colorful, fun, cover that would draw people in; once they’re in they’re  hooked. Other  book covers  are mild and peaceful betraying the tragedy that lies between the pages of the book.

Whatever you’ve been through, the cover doesn’t matter one bit. We all start out with a blank book and it’s up to us to fill in the pages. My book starts out with one tragedy after the next, but I’m going to make sure at the end of my life, on the last page, you’re going to read that I became an over comer and a conqueror through my faith in God. Some people’s books start and end in tragedy; don’t let that be you.  Choose instead to use your pain to help others. Then there are other books that start out in victory only to end terribly; what could have possibly happened?

Next time you meet someone new, pretend you’re in a library or a book store even, and be prepared to handle them with as much care and attention that you would give that book you’re considering as your your next great read. It is true: One cannot read a book by its cover; neither can one pass judgment on anyone just by merely glancing at their book cover.

I looked into your eyes,
I felt your pain.
I looked into my heart,
my pain is yours- we’re both the same.

Matthew 7:1-2

“Don’t judge so that you won’t be judged. For the way you judge others is how you will be judged-the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure to you.”

TFCL (talk from the clothes line)

· Leave a comment ·

Ok God, please remind me to start doing laundry earlier in the day so I won’t be out here at 3pm when it’s the most scorching . The beads of perspiration forming on my upper lip and forehead remind me of the sound sizzling bacon makes on a live griddle.

Thanks for sending Raquel out here to pitch in. She said, “Mama I love the wet clothes on me ’cause it’s so hot.” Lightbulb! What a great idea. The help didn’t last long though; she couldn’t take the heat trying to bake her all of 4’5 frame so I sent her along.

Where were we God…AH yes, I know hell exists because  I live in a hot, arid climate and I imagine this has to be hell on earth! One big difference between this and the furnace that burns eternally: There is cold water, an occasional light breeze and shade! That’s what I imagine, it’s not like I want to find out! 🙂

Before I hang this last pair of socks, I just want you to know God, how glad I am that you are my friend.Chao for now ( as I make a fast dash for the shade of my porch where my ice cold water awaits.