One second... One minute... One decision...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Have you ever wondered what "would be" if there was one twist of difference at any moment of your life?  Running late to work, stopping quick at the gas station, taking the phone call before you start-off on your next errand, or even the moment of conception...  one-millisecond can be the difference between life and death, rags to riches, a tragic accident or no accident at all.  

Where does this universe fit in?  Am I really just busting my ass in some ant farm on an alien's desk?  Why?  Why am I here?  Why do I have the people in my life that I do?

I wonder about if I had conceived at any other time, I wouldn't have the EXACT children I do.  Wow...  too deep for my mind.  ~shudder~  My children are amazing and my heart aches thinking about it. 


Relax...  Don't worry so much!  Life happens with or without you.  Believe that everything happens for a reason, good or bad.  Have faith you are where you're meant to be, and if you feel you aren't, then you have the power to change it.  Believe!  Thoughts become words; words become actions; actions become destiny.  


"For I know the plans I have for you..."    Yep.  He does.  And He won't fail me.  I just have to Believe.

Can't we all just get along? Well, let me fix it.

I've often heard there are the "have and the have-nots" or as I like to say,  "the want and the want-nots."  Unfortunately, it all comes down to $$$.  Yep.  The root of all evil, since the beginning of time I'm sure.  I grew up in a middle income family, probably closer to "lower" middle-income, and I was taught to go to work everyday to have what is needed.  I always had food to eat, clothes on my back, and of course shoes on my feet.  I didn't notice I was any less than anybody else, until I became a working adult.  Boy, do I miss the days of childhood bliss.

Going to Governor Mark Dayton, hopefully very soon, is the welfare reform bill.  Finally.  I am not one to sit back and hope lawmakers do what I believe should be done.  I CONTACT THEM!  Be it via e-mail or telephone, I voice my opinion.  How else will my concerns be heard?  I'm nobody to them except a vote during an election or a checkbook during tax time.  

 I would like the "have-nots" if they had a low paying job and I could help them along a bit.  I would like the "have-nots" if they had to get up and go to work everyday, like the rest of us, instead of sitting around smoking cancer-sticks and making more babies for me to financially take care of.   Oh, and did you know that they can use their "state welfare card" to buy tobacco, lottery tickets, and travel out-of-state?!  I wouldn't mind paying for the out-of-state travel if they weren't allowed back IN our state.  Yep.  A one-way ticket into another state's coffer.

And so (maybe ironically) today marks the 50th Anniversary of JFK's first inaugural speech.  Here's an excerpt:

So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.                                - John F. Kennedy

 My above "venting" probably does not apply to the "best  speech ever given," but I BELIEVE if we all participate in government by contacting representatives, from the local level on up to the president of the United States, to express ideas to fix the country and remove the  "SUCKER!" sign from the middle-class, we can find some common ground to unite the country once again.

And I failed to mention...  ENGLISH should be the official language.  Pay for your own damn interpreter if you choose not to learn it.

Amen.  End of story.

A New Year.... A New Me?

2011... Wow.  As a "chit'lin" I never thought I would live to be ~hh-hmm~ 40-something.  Let alone live in the days of the 2000s!  I imagined there would be floating cars by now like in the Jetsons cartoon.  But as I grew and time flew the numbers attached to age and time are irrelevant to me, except if I have a dentist appointment.  It's just a number, isn't it?!  Well, I believe it IS just a number.  In no way shape or form do I feel over 40, and the gang of "family" I hang with feels the same as I.  Sometimes we may behave like children (like New Years Eve) but life is for enjoyment and living to the fullest, I Believe...  So, here's to celebrating another year of being alive and loving the life I've been given to live, and loving the people in my life whether near or far, new or constant.  Life and relationships feel like a second job *at times* but I BELIEVE it's all worth it.