This is GREAT~!

I saw this video on my super wonderful gal pal's blog, An Open Book. Julie finds the craziest stuff to blog about. Most days I don't have much to say that can be placed here in a small space, but Julie is a non-stop, never-ending source of thought, life, and laughter.

This morning I was catching up on her blog and found this hialrious video!!! I actually laughed aloud. You simply must watch it. It will only take a second, I promise.

I don't know if this will work, as I have never tried to place a video on my blog before. But this is worth the effort. I hope it works.

To watch the video, click this link.

This is GREAT~!

http://thoughtsofboltbabe.blogspot.com/2007/12/this-is-great.html

Who'd have thunk?

The busy-ness of the season has taken hold of my family, just like yours. There are so many things going on in our lives, I sometimes don't know what day it is or what time of day it is. tee hee! In the midst of all this, I decided to take a few days to surf the net and catch up on some blog reading. I found this quiz and thought it quite fun.

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Take some time to do something fun for yourself right now. Take this little quiz...it only takes a few moments, really. Enjoy!

These are my Merry Christmas thoughts.

Who'd have thunk?

http://thoughtsofboltbabe.blogspot.com/2007/12/whod-have-thunk.html

A Book Review: The Christmas Box

Firstly, let me say WoWuh! I can't believe how my life has changed. I used to be able to come here and blog so frequently and over the last few months, I just haven't had the time. Maybe into January I will be able to dedicate more time here. As the primaries start rolling around, I will have so much to say...well I already do, but not enough time to say it. LOL! At any rate, I am still participating in Fall into Reading 2007 over at Callapidder Days. I have a few book reviews to add, but only time to post one today. So, without further ado....

The Christmas Box Collection, by Richard Paul Evans

A Review

This is a collection of three works by Richard Paul Evans that are centered around some amazing life experiences he and his wife have had the opportunity to be a part of. The opening story ("The Christmas Box") is the story of how he and his wife met Mary Anne and her influence on their lives. She offered Richard the ability to see and cherish life in a way he (and we all can) overlook. Touching and poignant, this is the story that had me wanting to read on.

The next story is that of the "Timepiece." As I begin this read, I wasn't certain I would be able to get into the plot. Yet, I found midway that I was unable to put the story to rest. I was internally urged to get to the ending. After having read the entire book, this was my least favorite of the the three stories, but that in no way implies that this story is not worth your time. This is the story of the love affair of Mary Anne. It is not to be missed or overlooked as it adds to the intensity of the setting of the third story, "The Letter."

"The Letter" is by far my favorite in this book. I was riveted. I cried, I laughed, I was angered, I was in awe, I clenched my teeth. I wanted to be a better person. This is unlike any story I have read before, because it is not a fairy tale by any stretch. I really do not want to say much about the storyline, but I will say Mary Anne was one amazing and strong woman!

Overall Rating: ****

These are my thoughts.

A Book Review: The Christmas Box

http://thoughtsofboltbabe.blogspot.com/2007/12/book-review-christmas-box.html

The Christmas Season is here...or is it?

I have never shopped on Black Friday, because I have some health issues. However, I also have a tradition of switching my home from autumn to winter on that Friday and Saturday. This year as I watched the news on Thanksgiving Day night, I was astounded at how many stores were open for shopping and how many people were standing in line already to be the first in the door of certain stores in order to be eligible for the door buster sales on Black Friday.

There was a shot of a looooong table that had been set up; complete with a Thanksgiving Day feast. Everyone in line participated. How wonderful. This intrigued me, because I realized that all of these people were not celebrating Thanksgiving at all. They were more concerned with saving money for Christmas. So when did presents override the birth of Jesus?

We have a gaggle of fraggles at our house. We do have Santa, which means presents. But the emphasis in our family is on the birth of Christ. Now, I am not suggesting that each family should observe the holiday as we do. Not at all, actually. However, without Jesus' birth, there would not be a holiday season. Most people would acknowledge this fact. Christians, do as well. They profess He is the Reason for the Season. Right? Then what is the obsession with stuff? Not just any stuff mind you, but big ticket items.

A man that was interviewed came to get in line for a few of the door buster items at 2 am on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. That means that he went to bed on Tuesday night got up and made it to the store to get in line before the sun even thought of sending out its rays on Wednesday. When asked why he does this he replied that he will be saving approximately $2400! Now that is a HUGE savings. OR is it?

No doubt $2400 is a LOT of money. What was he purchasing, I am not certain. The store in which he was waiting for the Black Friday sale was a techie store, so I assume he is purchasing some big ticket gadgets. The question that flew into my brain as I listened to him was, is missing 3 days of family time worth $2400? For him , the answer is yes. For me, no.

There is nothing that is for sale that can rival time with my family. I am frugal, and anyone who has visited Journey to Simplicity knows that I have pitfalls as well as focus. Yet, when is money saved, a true savings? There is more to the simple life than saving paper printed with green ink. We make certain that we carefully purchase items for our children, so as not to have those wonderful toys find themselves broken or collecting dust 3 days after Christmas is over. The hubby and I do not exchange gifts as a rule. Although rules are made to be broken. If I find something I know he will enjoy, I would give him a gift. We do not feel obligated or guilt if one is gifted and has nothing to give in return. Gifting for Christmas between us doesn't happen often, so is not an issue. Over the years we have scaled down immensely with the littletons. As they get older they cherish the few things they do get more and the we emphasize the greatest gift of all. The more I watch the world obsess over stuff, the more I dislike the secular and commercial part of the holiday. What would retailers do if the country as a whole campaigned against Christmas displays prior to Black Friday?

Sometimes I wonder what God thinks about are American tradition of stuff giving. Does he wonder why we don't get that a gift isn't a true gift unless it is given in the appropriate spirit instead of out of obligation? Does He shake His head at our lust for the stuff in life or the fact that we are so drawn to the marketing of the retailers? I wonder.

These are my thoughts.

The Christmas Season is here...or is it?

http://thoughtsofboltbabe.blogspot.com/2007/11/christmas-season-is-hereor-is-it.html

A Christian Sales Rep

Recently I attended a home party of a type that I had not previously ever ventured to. As a norm, I do not do home parties; I don't go and I don't host. However, I accepted an invitation to this party because the I wanted to get to know the woman hosting it better. SO, I go to the party and have an excellent time. Well, that was until the sales woman kept trying to push me into a becoming a rep. I told her no at the show a few times. She asked me to take home some info and a video. I should have refused, but I took it. This was on a Friday.

I spoke with the hubby. After prayer and dsicussion we had decided that my gut instinct was right. Accepting a position such as this would detract from our family and living by God's principles. The next morning bright and early the woman called my house to see if I had watched the movie yet. It hadn't even been 24 hrs! I did not call her back over the weekend. However, I did call on MOnday and left her a detailed message pertaining to our lack of interest in her company, yet an appreciation for her taking time to share the news. I specified that I would return the info to the woman who had hosted the party. Done. Or so I thought.

Last night she called here around 9pm. We chatted for about 45 minutes or so about the company, why I didn't want to sell her product, why this wouldn't fit in with our family, our living by God's hierarchy of priorities, and being a submissive wife. Nothing I said deterred her from finding another angle. She even tried to say I was interested in having a party at my home. I kept saying no in the kindest way possible. This woman just would not take no for an answer. I did my best to remain kind and got off the phone.

I told the hubby about the call and that if I had been slightly interested, she would have squashed that interest by her lack respect for our decision. She even had the nerve to tell me that she was glad to hear that I had prayed about the issue because when we pray we are looking for more information. What? Hello? Was she listening to me in the slightest. To top it all off, she has a sickly sweet voice and a more than superficial persona. Another complete turn off. I admitted to the hubby that if she ever calls here again, I will need to be blunt and perhaps unkind. I may even need to say a thank you for the call and hang up on her. I really hate to go that route, but what other choice do I have with someone who is so disrespectful and pushy?

What I want to know is, when does a christian sales rep cross the line of the principles set up in the word? When a fellow christian says no, does the rep continue to push forward and not accept that their no means no? Should the rep disregard the customers wishes and desires for life? Does twisiting God's priorities for living lead others astray?

No more home parties for me ever!!!

A Christian Sales Rep

http://thoughtsofboltbabe.blogspot.com/2007/11/christian-sales-rep.html

Conflict

We all have conflict in our lives. We may not have conflict all the time, but it is part of our lives at least from time to time. (Luke 17) Often times we look at these things merely as causing a disturbance. Yet, each and everything that God puts before us is an opportunity for growth. Thus, it is how we react to conflict that creates part of our definition.

For some reason, when we have conflict with those who are not close to our hearts, the conflict may seem unimportant. If you have a run in with a clerk, it will end with that occurrence. You may take time to replay the conflict with a friend or spouse, but it is over. However, does not hold true for those whom we may find ourselves in conflict with when they are family or close friends. Working through a disagreement with your spouse will always be more difficult to work through. The closer a person is to your heart, the more difficult conflict is.

We need to keep our minds focused on the Lord. Conflict is put into our lives for our own betterment. Each conflict is an opportunity for us to utilize all we have captured from the Word and placed in our hearts to affect transformation. The only portion of conflict that you can control is your actions and words. Those who are also involved in a given conflict are equally responsible for themselves. Be careful not to take their responsibilities on your shoulders, as this will cause another set of issues tagged with the conflict that do not belong to you.

When we give our lives over to God, it is imperative that we allow Him to us His guidelines for living in all situations, but even more so during conflict.

Every conflict will not yield you closer to God, merely by being a participant. However, you can make each one a positive simply by analyzing it afterward and recognizing those portions on which you can improve. After each occurrence you will begin to see shift (fruit). How fabulous is that?!

What I find to be the most intriguing, most frustrating, yet best training ground is the family. As I have watched friends grow, I have seen the change in how they handle conflict within their own family units and am amazed at the abundance of fruit. This always causes me to reflect about whether they recognize their own transformation. As a direct result of this, I have found that the best testimony is a life lived well; not a perfect life, but one lived in a constant forward motion to draw closer to God by allowing it to be transformed and bare fruit. Simply Amazing!

These are my thoughts.

Conflict

http://thoughtsofboltbabe.blogspot.com/2007/11/conflict.html