Encouragement Boost

Welcome to my first Encouragement Boost!

I want my blog to not only be a place where I post my random thoughts, but a place of encouragement. Granted, I dont always have days that are filled purely with sunshine and flowers, but that's life. So you may catch a less than encouraging post here-and-there, but for the most part I try to post things that have blessed me, uplifted me or encouraged me.

So in the future, expect blog posts titled this. Life is full of ups and downs, but this particular series of posts are focusing on either the 'ups' or things that give us something to smile at when we are in the 'downs'.

Encouragement Boost- March 27:

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-- the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him for He live with you and will be in you."
John 14:16-17

Red Envelope Day

Friends,

On March 31st, 2009: get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or party supply stores.

On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20500

On the back, write the following message:

"This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world. Responsibility begins with conception."

It may seem that those who believe abortion is wrong are in a minority. It may seem like we have no voice & it's shameful to even bring it up. Let us show our President & the world that the voices of those of us who do not believe abortion is acceptable are not silent & must be heard.

Barack Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, uttering the now infamous line, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. {applause.} That's the first thing that I'd do."

An empty red envelope will send a message to President Obama that there is moral outrage over this issue (the Freedom of Choice Act, which will undo every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. (parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.)).

It will be quiet, but clear.

Mail the envelope on March 31st, 2009Then forward this event to every one of your friends who you think would send one too.

Please visit their website: www.RedEnvelopeDay.com

Ten Saint Patty's Ago

If you were at Logan Airport 10 years ago tonight, you'd see an energetic grandmother holding a four-year-old boy's hand trailing luggage behind her. You'd see a mother walking with an eight year-old girl and a six-year-old boy, all carrying travel bags filled with summer clothes.

We, my brothers, grandmother and mom, were boarding a plane bound for the tropical island of Puerto Rico. The first time we'd been out of the 48 consecutive states. We traded the bitter cold of New England for palm trees and an 85-degree breeze!

I always approach Saint Patrick's day with somewhat of a solemn feeling. A good feeling really because I'm flooded with memories of that trip, but it's just a yearly reminder that time is not passing, but flying by. I remember that trip in such detail. I could almost account for every minute-- every adventure, every fresh coconut we ate, all the hot bread in the morning, the fresh mangoes we picked from the patio of my Great-Great Aunt, the crazy car rides on congested roads, the mountains, the magnificent sound of the Coqui in the evenings, the endless family we met, the houses. It was an incredible trip. I dont think there has been one that matches it.

Minutes turn into hours, hours turn into days and days into years. Embrace today! :)

Grandma Maria, Me (8), Johnny (6)

Johnny watching a coconut being cleaned!

Stevie (4 yrs) holding a chick!

Spring, Spring! Where Art Thou?

I cant believe it's halfway thru March already! I'm greatly looking forward to spring... But, as the calender proved to me today when I looked at, it is on it's speedy way.
Unfortunately here in the state of Maine, it doesn't arrive as soon as other states.

Right now, Floridians are possibly coming out of hiding, breaking out the swimsuits and hitting the beach.

People in Tennessee and Kentucky are watching the temperature rise and grass will turn green and early flowers and leaves are emerging from their winter sleep in a couple short weeks.

But Maine? No... we've got a full out month or month and a half until we see green lovelies popping out on branches and bushes. That month can dump on us Mainers a nice, heavy 15 inches of snow too.

But spring will arrive and I find solace in that. The dullness of winter does a number on one's attitude and mental state of mind.

I heard a bird today! I walked out and got the mail and a familiar but long-lost sound reached my ears. A bird sang to me. It made my heart so happy.

Home School Humor

THIS MADE ME LAUGH.

Home schoolers would find this very humorous!

Lessons From The Back of the House

I've learned many things while working in the restaurant field. And I'm not even working in a REAL, full-blown restaurant. It's a cafe that has a full kitchen and serves hot food. But it can get very hectic and stressful when things are busy and every worker is just trying to have everything run smoothly and be polite and helpful to the customers.

Things I've learned that will change the way I dine out:

1.) Try to verify my order a couple times if possible with the waiter/waitress taking the order.

2.) BE PATIENT.

3.) Be friendly to the server. They are dealing with a lot. If you have worked in a restaurant at all, you know that things can get ugly in the back of the house (restaurant term for kitchen). I've no idea what could have just been hurled at them right before they came to our table.... either verbally or physically. :-P lol. We (servers) are very often caught in the middle.

4.) If the food is a little behind, dont shoot the messenger. Most likely, it truly isn't the server... it's the kitchen because if we come around lunch time or dinner, they are bogged down with orders.

And if I see the server running around, they are obviously very busy and who knows! this may be their first or second day.

5.) IF AN ORDER COMES OUT WRONG and I've been waiting a while, TAKE A DEEP BREATH. Just breathe. I promise, we're not gonna die and if I work kindly with them, they will do their best to improvise or change the mistake.

Now if someone works in a restaurant, I've got a whole separate list of things I've learned. That's another can of worms... Looking at things on the flip side!

Mightily Used Misfits

When God calls you to do something whether large or small, do you feel incapable? Do feel like, in the middle of your journey when things get unsteady and hard, He may just have chosen the wrong person? Do you want to curl up in a corner and cry? Do you feel weak? Maybe even unworthy?

I've been reading a very good book lately and the author of this book quotes something Rick Warren has said which I found beyond encouraging:

"Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahad was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan women had several failed marriages, Zachaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health and Timothy was timid. That's quite a group of misfits, but God used each of them in His service. He will use you too."

Funny to look at it that way, huh? I've never really seen it in that light. I've known different people from the bible to be... well, human, but just seeing it at a glance like that encourages me!

Dont look at your inabilities and dwell in insecurities. Look at the Almighty God. See this call as the opportunity to watch Him work in you and through you.

If you are feeling discouraged in doing what you believe God has called you to do, take heart! there's hope.