Traveling Lite!

Traveling Lite!

Last week I heard about a traveler who, between flights at an airport, bought a small package of cookies.  She then sat down in a busy snack woman-reading-newspaper-airport-628x363shop to glance over the newspaper.  As she read her paper, she became aware of a rustling noise. 

Peeking above the newsprint she was shocked to see a well-dressed gentleman sitting across from her, helping himself to her cookies.  Half-angry and half-embarrassed, she reached over and gently slid the package closer to her as she took one out and began to munch on it.

A minute or so passed before she heard more rustling.  The man had gotten another cookie!  By now there was only one cookie left in the package.  Though flabbergasted, she said nothing.  Finally, as if to add insult to injury, the man broke the remaining cookie into two pieces, gulped down his half, and left without even saying “thank you.”  She sat there, dumbfounded.

Some time later when her flight was announced, the woman opened her handbag to get her ticket.  To her shock, there in her purse was her package of cookies.  And somewhere in that same airport was another traveler still trying to figure out how that strange woman could have been so forward and insensitive.  Author unknown

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Reflections:

Traveling to Montana for a women’s event, I never dreamed a friendship would begin.   Two young women with totally opposite personalities collided and became lifelong girlfriends.  

Dee has alway been a no-nonsense, goal setting woman who embraces laughter and life with a bear hug.  She is wise beyond her years with a sensitive heart.  I have seen her notice a complete stranger in need, and stop to help them. 

two-ladiesMy friend has the keen business savvy of Donald Trump (with good hair), and the creative talents of Martha Stewart— a domestic goddess with a warped twist.  She has a style all her own; a possible visual might include Peppy Long-stockings dressed in Ralph Lauren, with the sense of humor and the quirkiness of Carol Burnett— ready to laugh at almost anything (especially herself).  That is my dear friend, Dee.

She is a very physical and thinks she hasn’t had a thorough work out unless she is sweating buckets.  My idea of a good workout is a color coordinated sweat suit, 1-inch gold flip-flops and pearls, fully loaded makeup, hairdo—the works.  (In case I run into someone I might know).

Besides, I never sweat, I mist. Taking a walk with us is truly comic relief.  Dee in practical shoes and clothing, charging ahead, getting the workout over in good time, with as much sweat as possible; while I leisurely stroll along, trying my best not to get all misty, gingerly stepping over rocks, puddles, and other debris. 

Although we have never lived in the same continent, we try to meet occasionally.  I love having a friend to talk to; someone in whom I can confide my deepest secrets (even if she is jogging circles around me so she can keep her heart rate up.)

            But the greatest comfort about my friend, Dee, is the assurance that our friendship is secure. I know she loves me even with all the fluff and glitter, blonde hair and pearls. She allows me to the freedom to be myself, I never have to impress her; she is already on my side, and loves me.

I have often heard it said, “If you have five best friends in a lifetime you are fortunate.”  True friendship is a blessing. ©

The Bible says;

“No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish 

but have eternal life.” John 3:16

The longer I live, I realize that I would not have made it without my friendship with Jesus. I can talk to him, rely on him and trust him.

He is my shelter in the storms, and most of all I know he loves me and wants the best for me. 

Where would I be without him?

 Who is your best friend?

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, have a wonderful week.

Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan

 

Didn’t You See the Stop Lights ?

Didn’t You See the Stop Lights ?
   
For years Shelly’s husband denied that he was an aggressive driver. That changed one day when they were out for a drive with their three-year-old son, Mathew.

Seeing teaching opportunity, mom asked Matthew about traffic lights.

“What does astoplights red light mean? Shelly inquired.     “Stop”.

“Good. How about green?”    “Go”.

“And yellow?”  she continued.

And in his best deep voice impression of Daddy, Mathew bellowed…”Hang on!”

 

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Reflections:  I’m Not Lost!

Have you ever wondered why men and women are so different in taking and giving directions?

If a man gives directions, it goes like this; Go three miles, turn left, go seven miles, turn right, then go a quarter of a mile and you will see it on your right, you can’t miss it!  Now I am blonde and a creative thinker is there a three-mile sign, how will I know?  With these directions I could end up in someone’s cow pasture, never to be seen again.

I drive by landmarks, go to Target, turn left, go down to the Burger King, and turn right.  Drive to Sears, and turn into parking lot, the place is right next to the shoe store that is having a huge sale, 70% off.  You can’t miss it. (Now that is my kind of directions)

Thankfully, we decided to get a GPS for the car, saves Lyle and I a lot of time, him from driving all over the country trying to find an address, and me from getting lost.  However, in my creative moments, I have been known, to second guess the GPS system, and go a different way because it didn’t look right to me.  Only to get lost, have the satellite locate and get me back on track.

It gives me great security and peace in my life to know that I am never off of God’s GPS system.  He always knows where I am, and even if I wander off, he has his eye on me.  The bible says:

Psalm 139: 1-3

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

His loving care sustains, guides, and protects me; I just need to follow his directions. ©

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, I would love to hear from you.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan

 

Blonde Logic: The Perfect Diet

 Blonde Logic: The Perfect Diet

A blonde woman goes to her doctor about her weight, so her doctor puts her on a diet. 
“I want you to eat vegetables and grains for two days, then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for two weeks.  

The next time I see you, you will have lost at least 5 pounds.scale 3


“When the blonde returned, she shocked the doctor by losing nearly 

20 pounds.

“Why that’s amazing!” the doctor said, “Did you follow my
instructions?”

The blonde nodded.  “I’ll tell you, though, I thought I was going 
to drop dead that the third day.”

“From hunger, you mean?”  “No, from skipping.”

 

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Reflections:

I love beautiful flowers and have long admired people who have a creative eye for designing them.  I use to read garden books and how-to books trying to learn the proper care of plants and how to growing then. My mother could make anything grow. However, the growing and gardening gene missed me somehow.  I either loved my flowering plants too much with water, fertilizer, and conversation or dried them out with not enough. I find it hard to keep anything alive except cactus! 

Because of my lack of talent in the floral department, when we built our home, I decided to have plants and evergreens around the house that grow annually. They looked wonderful but not much color or contrast.  So one spring I went to “Michaels” a craft and hobby superstore to buy some beautiful tall silk flowers in pink and reds.  My conditions were extra tall stems, large flowers and to look real. I was so excited about this bright idea; I couldn’t wait to get home.  Arranging them in the evergreen bushes and flower pots, I felt satisfied with my creativity.

When people drove by they would comment on my beautiful flowers, I was glad they noticed but hoped they wouldn’t get too close and learn my secret to success!

As summer turned to fall, my flowers still were in full bloom. However one evening we had an early winter storm which blew in with heavy sleet, and the wind.  The storm lasted for two days.    It was so cold outside I had forgotten about my flowers.  After the storm was over I  check on my flowers, and they were still standing tall and blooming beautifully; it’s a miracle! My secret had been exposed.

I have learned there are over 230,000 to 270,000 species of flowering plants, and each one is uniquely beautiful and extraordinary in its own way. I think God looks at each one of us as a beautiful flower too, designed perfect, and precious to be loved by him. Each one is important.

Luke 12:28 New Living Translation

And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

He loves and accepts us just the way we are, no conditions!

Do you know how special you are to Him? ©

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, I would love to hear from you. 

Have a great week, HUGS

Lovingly, Karan

What Is On Your Grocery List?

 

What is on your Grocery List?

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed woman with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was ill and unable to work, they had seven children, and they needed food.

weighingJohn Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and asked that she leave his store. Picturing the family needs, she said: ‘Please, sir, I will bring you the money just as soon as I can.” John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer-man that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocer-man said in a reluctant voice, “Do you have a grocery list?” Louise replied, “Yes sir!” O.K.,” he said, “Put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.”

Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it.

She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed. The eyes of the grocer-man and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The grocer-man, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, “I can’t believe it.”

The customer smiled, and the grocer-man started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer-man stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said: Dear Lord, you know my needs, and I am leaving this in your hands.”

The grocer-man gave her the groceries that he had gathered and placed on the scales and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to John as he said, “It was worth every penny of it.” It was some time later that John Longhouse discovered the scales were broken. Therefore only God knows how much a prayer weighs. Author unknown

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Reflections:

Trying to be thankful is hard when we are hurting? Does God see our sorrows and pain? Can I rely on His promises that He knows and cares about my life and the circumstances that affect me?

These are the questions I have asked myself at different seasons in my life when difficult times come.

Do you ever have those doubts? When your heart does not follow your head knowledge and all our learning and conventional wisdom. When we sing hymns like, “Standing on the Promises”, yet feel like we have had our knees cut out from under us and do not have the strength to stand?

Many times I have listened as people share a heavy burden they carry, and I have admired how they survive the storms of life with a thankful heart with a smile. They press on with a positive determination, always seeing a brighter future and just keep moving forward.

There have been many times in my life when I have been heartbroken, disappointed, and depressed by devastating life lessons that are hard to understand. And wondering where is the relief?

During those times I am so thankful that I can remember God is always and continues to be faithful to his promises. I may get upset, angry, emotional and grumble momentarily, but when I stand still long enough and look up, I know that God is always with me, and taking care of the situation.

God may delay our questions, but he will never disappoint our trust. He is in control. Can I daily put my hand in his and allow him to lead me safely along life’s pathway? I think it is a daily choice to trust him for each step.It is a choice.

1 John 5:14 (ERV)

We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say.

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Life is tough, but God is tougher, and He is powerful and big enough to take care of all your needs!©

Thank you, Lord!

Do you ever doubt?

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan

Looking for A Job?

house Looking for A Job?

A blonde, wanting to earn some money, decided to hire herself out as a handyman-type and started canvassing a wealthy neighborhood. She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had any jobs for her to do. “Well, you can paint my porch.

How much do you charge?” The blonde said “How about 50 dollars? “The man agreed and told her that the paint and other materials that she might need were in the garage.

The man’s wife, inside the house, heard the conversation and said to her husband, “does she realize that the porch goes all around the house?” The man replied, “She should, she was standing on it.”

A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money. “You’ve finished already?” he asked.awesome-car-ferrari-girl-Favim.com-1918433

” georgiaYes,” the blonde answered, “and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats.” Impressed, the man reached into his pocket for the 50 dollars. “And by the way,” the blonde added, “it’s not a porch, it’s a Ferrari.”

 

 

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Reflections

Have you ever had days when your mouth engages before your brain does? I will admit I do. I was thinking back when I had stopped at fast food restaurant with my teenagers, and a young man was taking my order. He had trouble remembering my order and getting it put into the computer. In my mind, I was sure he was a few French fries short of the order.

linesThe line was getting longer and the people behind me we were getting restless with this never-ending comedy of errors. I was on my last nerve. I was almost ready to tell the kid what an idiot I thought he was; I definitely thought it.

Looking up at me from his register with a big smile of recognition on his face, he said, “I like your necklace, I have one too.” In shock, I remembered I had my “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do) dog tag on, and he pulled his out too. I stood with my mouth open as he related to me that his youth group at church were all wearing “WWJD” tags to remind them to be kind and loving to others. He also told me how excited he was about getting his new job.

As I left, with my order I weakly smiled and thanked my young server, and felt guilty about my bad attitude. I thanked God for keeping me from saying what I was thinking. I am sure I would not have pleased Him at all. Have you ever felt like God has just slapped you across the face with a rebuke so strong and hard that you will never forget that moment or how you felt?

I remembered the day I bought that necklace, it reminded me to watch my words and actions to honor the God I love. I haven’t worn that necklace in a while, I need to find it, put it back on and remind myself God cares how I represent Him, and I should too.

We live in a world where people need desperately see God’s love. If we were the only Bible people read, I wonder what their opinion of Him would be.©

Thank you, dear friends for sharing your time with me today,

Wishing you a wonderful weekend with your friends and family.

Hugs to all!

Lovingly, Karan