Get Over Black Friday.

Black Friday...I am not here to address the issues of Black Friday. I know the bad mix of corporate greed and consumerism has created chaotic mess right after the day of being peaceful and thankful. What I am here to address is the "I am better than you" attitude of everyone on both sides of the issue. I am talking about the people who think it is OK to go wild over a cheap electronics and clothes. And don't you think you non-shoppers are so innocent. I see your smug faces of somehow you are more righteous and better because you didn't shop on Black Friday.

Its like watching the elections again. Where best friends suddenly become enemies , because of opposing sides. Yet! As soon as the holiday shopping mess is over they are best buds again.

Shoppers, there is nothing wrong with a great deal. Absolutely nothing wrong with saving money. I don't care how many times people scream, "You're making people work a holiday!".  Somebody somewhere always works the holidays. That is not a big deal. The big deal is that you become so unruly, you're willing to become a rabid wrestling gorilla for a ten dollar scarf and 30% off toys.It is your heart attitude of wanting to get the best and the most, even if it hurts someone. Don't hurt people over a cheap Blue-Ray player.

Now for those at home "spending time with the family." How is it you are spending time with family when you sitting your high horse thinking you are so good because you're not out shopping? I think your ego has over shadowed the family time. If the celebrating of holidays is about bashing people and trying to prove you're right, then that is not really celebrating the holidays. Bashing people on facebook is not going to change people. It will only makes them mad.Which if you think about it, might be small a reason why people go out to be rabid wrestling gorillas over a sale.

I mean did it ever cross your mind that some people really don't make enough money to afford certain things, eccept when the price drops on  Black Friday? So if some parents are crazy enough to wait out in the cold for hours to get the chance to buy a singing Elmo for their child, that is their business. Get off your high horse, enjoy the music and sip your cocoa.  Stop trying to find something to complain about and just enjoy the holidays!

Now that I have said that, people just be human and nice to each other. People who dare the Black FRiday shopping, please be patient and civil while out shopping. There is no need to be mean and rude. To those staying home, be glad you are home and warm enjoying your t.v. you could afford and good food. No need to complain.

Merry Christmas (YES! I said Merry Christmas before December! Get over it!)

Toodles

Christmas Treasures

I have always loved making things for Christmas. Big bows on gifts, bright ribbons around boxes. Glistening ornaments on the trees and twinkling lights, it is all beautiful!

As I get older I notice certain things become special to me. From traditions to trinkets. Every year my mom and my siblings all bundle up and go pick out and cut a fresh tree. One goofy thing we always do is try to find a Charlie Brown Christmas tree and convince mom to get it. But she has a thing for large towering tree. She convinced she not, because every year she vows to get a smaller shorter tree, but she never does. :P (Love ya mom.)
 And doing cheesy Christmas Santa Pictiures. Do you guys like my beard and red suit? LOL

This is something I made about a year ago. It is my snowman pin I made with gears, wire and beads. It has that romantic industrial feel to it. I love this pin and always wear on my coat or sweater long after Christmas is over. I feel like this is something that will be with me well into my older years. Maybe one day my grandkids will ask wear I got it and how long I had it whenever I bring it out around the holiday time. :)

I think one things modern culture has done to much is commercialize everything. Everyone would admit that and no one can deny that they never fell for the commercialized Christmas scheme at least once. Maybe it was the feel of having to spend more money, or put on bigger party, or do a bigger light display to keep up witht the Jones. This year I plan on making more tradtions. Some will fails and other will stay, but like the pin and the tree I hope to collect more littler precious things, rather than  flashy grand things. Start with a batch of home made cookies or simple putting up a tree instead of a whole lit up house.Whatever floats your boat.

Until Another Day

Toodles :)

Loved no Matter who or what

My blog takes a little more serious post today.These are just some of my thoughts and something that is placed on my heart from time too time. Having grown up with a sister who has Aspergers, a mild form a autism, I watched her struggle with the concept of Jesus Christ. Now being adults, I see how Christ has worked in her life and see her strive after God the best way she can. I know God has wonderful plans for her. She is in college right now working towards her BS. She is pretty amazing. I know we were blessed to have a wonderful mother who always kept our sister involved with us. She took extra time and patients with sissy and help guide sissy to the Godly Christian woman she is now. She was always in church with us.
Sadly, I also watched people treat my sister like she was less important,because of her mental disability. Not just by the world, but mainly from people who went to church. She took it with such grace, but I could see it beat at her heart and soul as people ignored her. Christians pretending she couldn't understand. And worse was when they talked down to her. Never giving her a chance to share her heart or soul with them.

Sadly though I don't see very many people with mental disabilities in church. The last time I did,was little sweet old lady's son. He didn't talk much but he would hold his hymnal and bow his head in prayer. After his mother died, I didn't see him again at church.  Like most people who have mental trouble they are sort of hidden away.  Its like church is so concerned to save people, to bring them to know God, but if someone has a mental disability, kind side step them and pretend they are not there.
Back in April I went to Christian B&B that was ran by an organization that help people with autism or other mental troubles, learn working skills. They were so sweet. I was served breakfast by two lovely gentlemen, who were so bright, but had several mental set backs. Very blunt about what they asked. One kept asking if I liked my juice after I was done drinking it. And each time I said, "Yep! You did a great job."
This B&B, called Village of the Blue Rose, had such atmosphere! The owners loved working with these young men. Autistic or not they were included in prayer. They were talked too like they were human beings. They weren't shelved away as less important.
I have been to many churches and I by far no expert, but I have seen deaf ministries. I have seen motivational speaker who were born with out legs and arms move an audiences. I hardly see anything to do with people who would have a harder time grasping  the concept of Christ because of mental problems.

Did not Jesus die on the cross for everyone? Does He not love all His creation? Why is there more passion put into saving people who are "normal" than the ones who are not?

I just wanted to say, don't forget them. They are loved by Christ, as anyone else. They are people, they are human, and because of fallen world they have more troubles. The worst thing to do is pretend they are less important.

God Bless and until another day

Toodles

Happy Holiday Ho-hum

Its seems to me that Holidays is something everyone dreads anymore. It wasn't even 24 hours after Halloween was over that a Christmas tree was up in Walmart. We all knew the Christmas lights were hiding the back corners of Target and craft stores already had Holiday crafty things available months in advanced; however, when the Christmas trees come out and music changes, we get depressed. Stores everywhere are starting to offer there special collections on sale or Holiday themed products, we begin to bite our nails.Thanksgiving is less than a month away which means Christmas is only 2 months away (take away a few days)!!! I can see everyone hiding in their cars sipping their StarBucks Peppermint latte's staring evilly at the mall.

No one seems to be happy about it  anymore. Sure stores is trying to expand their wallets and make everything commerical, but we don't have to follow them. And so what if the holiday season starts earlier, I say take advantage of the time! That means less time spent shopping and wrapping last minute and more time to focus on what really matters.

Instead of dreading and pretending you have nothing to fear, really make yourself fearless. If you dread cooking during the time of cheer, then make batches of cookies early and freeze them. Better yet, buy a tub of cookie dough and make them when you need them. You also don't have to make a turkey this year, just make a plan to pack up the car and so somewhere else. Sometimes spending the gas and time is worth it than spending the money and time at home.

And if you are one of those people who want to DIY everything from the cards to the wrapping paper to the each tree ornament, then start now! Pinterest is just waiting for you!!!
You don't have to hate everyone and be grumpy as you down another Pumpkin Spice latte. You can enjoy your latte and cozy scarves and go ahead and blast out to Jingle Bells!

If you already have been doing this since August then good for you!!!  Noone has the right burst your cheerful bubble or down play your excitement for the Holiday season. You are just ahead of the game and great planner.

I think if we just stop looking at the glass half full or half empty we can accept the bad and turn it into something positive and that everyone can enjoy.

Anyways until another day!

Toodles