Not My Finest

I was this.....

My truth today is that I am not quite pleased with myself.  I slipped miserably yesterday and repented for it all night.  There is truly no defense of my actions but there was causation for my words (they were not profane, just angry and wild).  The day started out as usual but ended with a bang!

Usually I try not to get too involved in things that really don’t move me because to me that is a lot of wasted energy but I felt that my small contribution and my calm energy might have kept things under control.  I was working with some highly charged people and I was trying to be the voice of reason; well all of that went out of the window when I was demeaned and disrespected.

In the light of all of the recent events in the world, especially in America, everyone has to be careful of their treatment and respect of one another.  We all have to seek to listen first then be heard, not to put up defenses and attack but to come together to create a common good.  I felt yesterday was an attack!  I was supposed to meet with a group to discuss some concerns and was immediately disrespected and dismissed although the meeting had been scheduled for weeks and I was invited. 

Now what angered me most was not the fact that I was not able to voice my one concern but that the group would not face the parents.  I was not on the defense when I entered the room but promptly became very defensive as the conversation continued.  I left in a huff! Then when I returned to ask a question the very people I was supposed to meet with had been hiding not wanting to face me.  I lost it.  Not my finest hour. 

Definitely not letting my light so shine. 

Certainly not getting an apology.

Surely leaving the wrong impression. 

But at the time I didn’t care.  Later on I regretted it because I feel like this is just what they wanted, something to talk about.  I also felt like the worst was brought out in me.  My goal wasn't to attack but to understand. 



I want to be this...

Although I a thoroughly disgusted with myself for acting like I did, I am reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  Sometimes you just have to stand up for what is right. And that is not always going to be pretty, fun, or easy.

I live in a very diverse population that is becoming more so each year.  We have to learn how to handle conflict in a peaceful and professional manner.  We cannot be afraid to face someone because we have differing opinions or views. We have to become more open to hearing criticism in the light of our actions and adjust our behavior or defend our position.  We have to teach our children that we are not always right nor do we get it right all the time but are a work in progress.  We have to respect each other. 

And with that I am done. 

In the meantime…

Keep Walking in Faith!

MiVida

p.s. I am still awaiting my meeting and I hope that it goes much better than the first. I’ll keep you posted. 

Help Oklahoma

Today's post is dedicated to the people of Oklahoma.

Moore, Oklahoma and surrounding cities were hit with several tornados that ripped through, ravaged the cities, and uprooted lives.

The thing that is most devastating is that the tornados went right through a elementary school.  To date there were 24 people who lost their lives but what has really effected me was the nine children killed during this act of nature.

Like many of you, I watch the news in complete shock.  I looked at the way nature had level buildings, tore up trees and moved cars as though they were matchbox size.  The people of OKC although prepared were not ready for such an act of nature.  

As always American stick together and weather any storm or destruction.  We have an opportunity to extend our hands and help someone else in need.

So I am asking that everyone do something to support the people of OKC.  Contact the American Red Cross for ways that you can help http://www.redcross.org/m/index.jsp.   Or call 313.833.4440.

You can also text Red Cross at 90999 to make a donation.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/20/18381508-how-to-help-oklahoma-tornado-victims?lite
 

I encourage you to keep walking...

MiVida

Are You Kitten Me?

Today I AM going to vent!  When my daughter was young she used to say “are you kitten me?”, so I thought it appropriate to bring it over into today’s discussion and also show you some cute little heels!

I am thoroughly discouraged by my familia.  The jokers living under my roof! The moochers! The money grabbers! The loafers! The crumb-snatchers! Shall I go on…..? 

It kills me to no end that life isn’t getting any easier with young adults living at home.  I would so trade places with MI MidLife Maven, it isn’t funny.  Now I don’t know her complete living situation but having a kid out the door sounds like a little bit of heaven!

Shall we begin...?

My two older children are of the college and full employment ages.  My son, the oldest, “the leader of the slack”, decided to take several years off from school and is now interested in pursuing his college career.  I applaud this effort but I am of the mindset that you definitely can do more than one thing at a time buddy.  Look at me; I’m juggling, sewing, driving, cooking, studying, working, sleeping, and showering all at the same time. 



J Renee ~ Adena at Zappos.com

He seems to think that he should just ease into school and out of working because working and going to school is going to be a lot.  No joke pumpkin.  My moochers know I don’t tolerate any laziness...so he better not be surprised when his new living quarters are in the garage. Yes dear, You CAN work and go to school, AND to top it off you don’t have the added pressure of mortgage, bills, and people to feed.  ARE you kitten me?

My middle girl, “the responsible one”, has recently gone b-a-n-a-n-a-s (not the good bananas, Rachel Zoe says, but the crazy koo-koo bananas that makes you fear for the future of the world).  Last year she got a nice used car with less than 40,000 miles on it.  The deal was to drive it back and forth to work and school.  Well you know how well that went over, school became driving to friends house, driving people to Africa, going to the Moon, etc., all with no maintenance or oil changes, the engine went bye-bye. UGH! So now here we are with a car note, insurance payment, and no vehicle to drive.  Now she says that when she gets her next car, cuz she just knows she’s getting one, she’ll know to get regular oil changes….Are YOU kitten me?  That was basically the only conversation we were having the whole time you had your car…Get your oil changed.  Instead of good morning, I asked how the car was.  Now she’ll remember after one perfectly good vehicle has been immobilized.  Again, I say!….ARE YOU kitten me?

Haven’t had enough yet?     Shall I continue…?

Then we get to the youngest, “the chocolate, cheerleading mouse”(CCM),” the current taker of the largest share of the wallet”, this one had lost ALL her hurkies!  For 4 score and twenty years, we haven’t had living room furniture, mainly because I was waiting on people to start moving out of the house.  I figured I would start working on the living room as the house grew empty…but no, they keep going and coming, like ants at a picnic.  So I waited and I waited until I just couldn’t take it anymore and I brought some furniture for the living room.  So one day recently as the story goes, the CCM used the couch as part of her cheer stunts!  She has run up and down the couch and has leaped off of it!  What….Wait….ARE YOU KITTEN ME?!!!!  Her explanation was it was quick and she was just so excited and…“the couch was right there.” So an edict has gone forth, no one but my company on  the couch for the next 10 years.

Last but not least, we move on to our sweet little Chanel…the fur ball of our lives.  I was adamantly against getting a pet, since I knew that it would be my new responsibility.  But the CCM talked her dad into getting her one and I fell in love!  Chanel was doing so well then kaplowie….off the wagon.  I come in one day and find that Ms. Chanel has been tinkling on my new rug. A light bulb goes off….that’s where she’s been peeing.  ARE YOU KITTEN ME little doggie?!!!!

What in the world has my house come to? 

So this week, the slacker, Chiquita gone bananas, the Choc-cheerleading mouse, and the cute little dog better get it together.  I am putting on my heels and I am getting the house in order! And I’m not KITTEN!

I'm Walking in Faith, I encourage you to do the same!

MiVida

 

It Looks Like Goliath to me

Psalms 37:5 ~ Commit they way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and shall bring it to pass.

Hello All,

Many of us can recall the story of David and Goliath. David, the young inexperienced shepherd boy, had to fight against a mighty warrior of the enemy, Goliath. In the course of the story, David tells Saul about his triumphs over a lion and a bear. David was bold enough to declare that he would also triumph over Goliath in the same manner. This is such a great testimony of Faith (even if David wasn't wearing heels). (1 Samuel 17)

I had to tap into my faith reserve this week as we draw closer to the 2010 Mother's Day Banquet. My faith level had begun to sink well below the allotted range and I had that negative talk going on.

I was talking with a very good friend and she was explaining to me some things she would like to accomplish in the next few months. In my normal, excited way, I encouraged her that it would be easy for her to accomplish it. I gave her several examples of what she could do, how she could do it and who she could call to get it done. My friend says to me, "Well you do this all the time, so yeah it sounds easy to you." Why in the world did she say that?

Out of the abundance of my heart, my mouth began to speak. I began to run down all of the fears and trepidation that I often have in the midst of my planning. I gushed about what I wanted to see and how I wanted the plan to go. I let her know that within me there was much reservation. However, I did try to continue to interject my faith talk as I had pushed down, as much as I could, the unbelief that always tries to surface as I embark upon a new event, venture or idea. But sometimes it still lingers because I am not trusting as I should (or could). How quickly I forgot that I did triumph over a lion and a bear. But I admit that each new venture looks like "Goliath" to me.

Recently I asked my friends, "What have I gotten myself into?", while I am dragging them along for the ride. Their support, words of encouragement, love and help has made me stronger in my resolve to kick "Goliath's" butt. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am taking my eyes off my plan and asking the Lord for His will to be done. And by golly is He doing it. The phone is ringing, ringing, ringing. (Yay!!!!)

This year is truly turning into a Walk of Faith because I am letting go and letting GOD and it is good to know that I have some Faith Walkers along side of me. "Goliath", we declare that you are going down in Jesus' name. Ladies, we are lifting up a banner of Faith over everything we put our hands to do. We are victorious in Jesus' name. There is no fear in Christ Jesus because perfect love casts out all fear.

Stay tuned to our exciting new developments and join us by supporting the Mother's Day Banquet at Pi, by sending us a donation to keep working the work or by attending our 2010 FaithWithHeels launch party slated for Fall of 2010. With your help we can infuse "Faith" into those who need it the most. Help Us, Help Others.

In the meantime....Keep Walking,


MiVida

Dreaming

Last week I had a dream about my mom, Patricia. The dream was really clear and I believe that there was a message that the Lord is trying to convey to me. Patricia is my biological mother Carol's sister. Patricia adopted me and raised me after my mother was killed over 33 years ago. Although I talk with her often, I haven't seen her in about 3 years as she lives in New Mexico. (If anyone wants to buy the girls and I plane tickets, Yes we accept.) So here is my dream:

I was in the ladies room at the house of some other family members and I was in the process of getting dressed. The other family members had some clothes that they had laid out for me and I was about to put them on. Then the door opened and my mother came in with a bag full of beautiful clothes for me. In the dream I was really surprised to see her and we began to talk. I asked her about the clothes and she said I brought you some clothes to wear and she began to show me the things she had chosen for me. As I began to protest, because I already had some clothes and she insisted that I wear the clothes she brought. Now in the dream I was thinking, I am too old for her to pick out my clothing. So I kept asking why she brought me all this stuff. Then finally she said, "I don't want you wearing those clothes that they are trying to put on you." And I woke up.

All that day I tried to figure out what this dream meant for me. What was she trying to say? What was God trying to convey? I called my mother, who as I was calling her, she said she was just thinking about me. She wanted to talk with me and will be coming to MI soon. Yay!!!!!

This dream is still so vivid in my mind. I prayed several times for my mom and also for those who were in my dream. But I couldn't put it together. I am not an interpreter of dreams but when I have one that sticks with me, I know that the Lord is trying to say something to me. The last time I had a dream that was so real, within days the Lord prepared me and revealed to me what was taking place. I often tell people that the reason that the Lord speaks to me in dreams is because I won't be quite and still long enough to hear Him speak, so He waits until I am knocked out to talk.

Anywho, back to my dream. As I continued to rehearse this dream, I believe that my mother represented the source of provision for me and that as the source, she had everything I needed. She has brought a multitude of clothing for me, chosen for me, but I was too eager to just wear what someone else had for me. I was ready to put on things that didn't belong to me, that didn't fit me and wasn't really chosen for me. In the dream I was willing to take whatever, but I my mother had other plans for me. Actually I had no idea what I was getting, I was just satisfied with it. And when something better came along, I tried to deny it. In reality, I see that the Lord only has the best for me and I cannot settle for less than best. He gives me a glimpse of my future and I cannot stop short of what He has planned for me.

Sometimes the trials are difficult to overcome but I make it through and sometimes I overcome easily because I have so great faith. The Lord has shown me that in any given situation, He is right with me and that He is protecting and keeping me. He is building character and integrity in me. He is given me knowledge and wisdom, things I have asked for and He is providing for all of my needs.

Ladies, I believe that the Lord has so many great things for us but we must willing to receive them because are assured that He is giving His best to us. We cannot be reluctant to accept some things that we know are of/from the Lord. We know that He is looking out for our best interest and teaching us how to use the gifts that are within us. We know that He is the source of everything and no good thing will He withhold from them that "Walk" uprightly.

As I take some time to meditate on His word and ponder His goodness, I choose to receive everything that He provides and I am grateful to have a God that loves me so much.

Keep Walking,

MiVida

Shoes by L.A.M.B. Feisty