Who Knows?

Random Survey (from April's site)

• If I were a doll, the accessories packaged with me would be: Bible, microphone, picture of my family, jeans, a sweater, barefeet, cowboy hat and a laptop!
  

  I have an irrational fear of: dentists!!
  

  What type of food do you eat at your grandparents house? When I spent summers at my grandparents house, we always has seafood since they lived at the beach!  When I would visit my Nanny, it was always something Italian...I miss them all (they are jammin' with Jesus now!) 
  

  What would you do if you were stranded on an island with the person you hate most? Pray... A LOT!
  

  I find the thought of childbirth: exciting, a little scary...totally worth it!!
  

  Next door to my house is:  a lady who REALLY needs Jesus!
  

  My preferred style of jeans are:  not too low where your butt crack hangs out but not too high where you look like a granny
  

  Do you know how to cook:  yes (people even pay me to cook for them!) but I like to bake even more though!
  

  I am annoyed with:  people who are never satisfied with all the blessings God has given to them.
  

  What is the worst way you were dumped?  in a text message
  

  What child-related smell do you most hate? my son's toots! LOL!!
  

  What sea creature scares you? sting rays, sharks
  

  What color hair do most of the people around you have? brown
  

  What object have you broken most recently? my heart
  

  What was the last thing to make you cry? some things that my best friend, TJ, is walking through right now
  

  What are the stems on wine glasses for? I guess to look pretty...
  

  My favorite shoes are: my pink fuzzy "princess" slippers
  

  Can you use chopsticks?  are you kidding?...maybe I should, then maybe I couldn't eat so much!
  

  Do you prefer beaches or forests? the forest
  

  Who knows a secret or two about you? My son and very close people around me and of course God
  

  Have you ever burned yourself? Yes
  

  Who is/are your hero[s]? Jesus & my son
  

  Where is your sister right now?  driving our mom crazy
  

  Do you believe in things that last forever? ABSOLUTELY! The love that last forever in Jesus Christ!!!  then we get ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven!
  
  Are you married? thankfully not any more
  

  Does anyone regularly tell you they love you?  Yuppers...I am so blessed...my son, my boyfriend and my best friends
  

  What is confusing to you? some people...
  

  Do you have any bad habits? not reading my Bible or exercising regularly!
  

  Have you ever wanted to be a teacher? yes, I taught school for a living for many years while living in TX, and I have taught the kids at church for the past 19 years too!
  

  What is one thing you've learned about life? That God is faithful...He will never leave You...You'll get through no matter how hard it is to breathe at the moment...God has amazing plans for our lives and works all things together for our good... (my life verse...Jer. 29:11-14 )

  Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? thankfully no (I am claustrophobic!)
  

  What does your dad call you? Daddy always called me "Pete"...we all have a couple of theories why, but they didn't pan out...and he took the secret as to why to his grave (ugh!)
  

  What are you looking forward to? Heaven...and while I am here, to continue to be in His Will doing His Work and raising Richard to do the same! 

  
  

The Cracked Pot

From one cracked pot to another...{{hugs}} Kipper

The Cracked Pot

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole that she carried across her neck. 

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. 

At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. 

For a full two years, this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. 

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. 
However, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. 

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.

'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' 

The old woman smiled and said; "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path,

but not on the other pots side? " 

'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.'  

'For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. 

Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house and to bless others.' 

Each of us has our own unique flaw.  But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. 

You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. 

SO, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path! 

Long time...;)

Hey everyone!  Long time...I know...I have been around on the 'puter...just job searching like a crazy woman!  Who knew it would be SO time consuming?!  It's like a full time job just looking for one!  My project ended at the end of September, so I have been out of work since then...the first time in my entire life!  It feels really strange (and very scary for a single mom!)  God has blessed me with some unemployment income and my church/friends have blessed me immensely....so that's where I have been!  I've been humbled (not fun) but have been home for Richard (lots of fun) but truly praying for what God has in store for me! 

I have gotten great news today, however...my church has asked me to be on the church council to oversee local missions!  I have to tell you how humbled I am about this...and how I want to jump up and down for joy, as well!  You see, I left my last church because of the "prejudice" against divorced people that was written in their bylaws and practiced in the congregation.  The cliff notes version...since I was divorced (even though my ex-spouse abused me, committed adultery and abandoned us) I was not "allowed" (and actually was prevented) from serving/ministering in any capacity in my church family.  I could not even make a meal for someone (you know, death in the family, illness, new baby...that sort of thing)!  (And as a side note, if I wanted to remarry, I could not do so in my own church by my own pastor.)  Now, this is a MAINSTREAM denomination we are talking about here, not an independent type!  I was appalled!  For years, I have been prevented from walking in the ministries that God has given to me because of man's rules...and just because my ex made the life choices that HE made...I didn't make them!  Therefore, needless to say, the request from my new church to lead the local missions is an even bigger deal to me!  I guess I may not be able to find the right words right now...but safe to say...I am a VERY happy camper!  I have been praying for 2008 to be much better than 2007 in every way...and God has really answered my prayer with this!

Now...I am just waiting for His job in His time...;)

Love & Peace to all,

Kipper

All About Me?

Everybody else is doing it!   I've been enjoying reading about everyone else who has posted this blog, so here's mine:

If you haven't posted about yourself yet, copy and paste to your blog and fill in your own answers! :) Kipper's Answers: A) Four Jobs I've had in my life: 1.) Teacher (Pre-K through High School) 2.) Administrator 3.) Church planter 4.) Waitress B) Four Movies I Would Watch Over and Over : 1.) The Ultimate Gift  2.) The Notebook 3.) Pretty Woman  4.) It's a Wonderful Life   C) Four Places I have lived: 1.) Born in Upstate NY (0-5yrs) 2.) Harford County, MD (5 yrs - until married) 3.) All over Texas (while married) 4.) Harford County, MD (since divorce 3 years ago) D) Four TV Shows I watch: 1.) Law & Order 2.) JAG 3.) Army Wives 4.) Reba (she's my "hero"! lol) E) Four Places I have been on vacation: 1.) Lake Raystown, Pennsylvania 2.) Lake Anna, Virginia 3.) Disney World, FL 4.) San Antonio, TX F) Four People Who call Me Regularly: 1.) Mom 2.) best friends 3.) church family 4.) son G) Four of my favorite foods: 1.) seafood 2.) Mexican and Italian food groups 3.) my made from scratch Southern cooking 4.) pizza H) Four places I would rather be right now: 1.) With Jesus 2.) Disney World 3.) anywhere on vacation 4.) ? I) Four friends that I think will respond: 1.) Kathie 2.) Kim 3.) ? 4.) ? J.) Things I am looking forward to this year: 1.) a new job 2.) weathering my son in his pre-teen stuff without losing what might be left of my mind 3.) time to hang out and enjoy my friends 4.) finishing painting, etc. my old farmhouse Now copy and paste into your blog area, changing the answers to reflect your responses. Leave a comment to let us know you have responded.

Five Life Lessons

Five Life Lessons About the Way We Treat People.

First Important Lesson – The Cleaning Lady

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely, " said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people.  All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached.   It read:

God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole.

Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.  
"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

" Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.  When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table.  There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies.  You see, he couldn't  have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

Fourth Important Lesson - The Obstacle in Our Path

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway.  Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.  Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.  Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables.  Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road.  After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.  The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease.  Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.  The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her."  As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice,

"Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood...give his life, in order to save her.

Use your choices in life wisely…
"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been
hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching."

NOW more than ever - Peace...Pass It On