Articles

Mar 14 2018

LOL ~ Field Trip

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

“LOL”

John angrily looked at the text he had just received from his Mom.  It read: “Professor called to say you failed the course.  LOL.  Mom.

” How could he have failed?! … And all his Mom has to say is that she’s Laughing Out Loud?!  

Fed up, he texted his Mom: “What was up with the LOL?”  his text said.   “I just wanted to send you Lot’s Of Love because I know how disappointed you must be.”  Author unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections: Field Trip

As I enjoyed watching the Olympics the last few weeks, the discipline and commitment that each Olympian strives to achieve are incredible.

Every time I see or hear about the Olympics, I think about my daughter who became intrigued with the swimmers. I would find her in the living room practicing the butterfly stroke with the swimmers on our shag carpet. Every day she came home after school to practice. And at night I would find water on the bathroom floor as she perfected her strokes.

We soon learned that she be going on a kindergarten school trip, the class was going to a swimming pool. The trip was a week away, and she couldn’t swim, no matter how much confidence she had.  We bought a new swimsuit for the occasion, but caution our daughter not to go into the deep end.

We tried to impress on her that swimming around the living room on a shag carpet or a breaststroke in the bathtub does not make her a swimmer.  But, she kept insisting that she knew how to swim, after all, she had practiced!

The day arrived, and Lyle took her to school and again cautioned her not to go into the deep end.  He got a smile, hug, and a wave as she headed for the bus and her friends.

We waited impatiently until the time arrives to pick her up, and Lyle raced down to the school to get her.

As she got into the truck, she was unusually quiet, so Lyle asked her how the day went. And with a surprised look on her face, she said,” I jumped into the deep end of the pool, and I almost drowned?” 

She was so convinced that she knew how to swim. After all, she learned the strokes and practiced with the best.  The only thing she was missing was the water!!!

Although we laugh at remembering this story, I wonder how many times do I think I know what’s best for me too?

Those times when I don’t want to bother God with my problems because he’s is too busy with others. However, when I try to fix them myself, I only make them worse.  I was so sure I knew how to do it.  I used God as my last resort when He should always be my first. Is it pride or stubbornness that keeps me from asking for His help? ©

Psalm 121:2-3 (NLT)

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.

 

Have a Fabulous Week! Hugs
Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me.
 I love you all and am praying. 
HUGS,
Lovingly, Karan
Mar 06 2018

It’s My First Day ~ Oh No It’s Her

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

It’s My First Day!

A blonde was recently hired at an office. Her first task was to go out for coffee.

Eager to do well her first day on the job, she grabbed a large thermos and hurried to a nearby coffee shop.

She held up the thermos and the coffee shop worker quickly came over to take her order.

“Is this big enough to hold six cups of coffee?” the blonde asked.

The coffee shop worker looked at the thermos, hesitated a few seconds, then finally replied, “Yeah. It looks like about six cups to me.”

“Oh good!” the blonde sighed in relief. “I’ll have two regular, two black, and two decafs.” Unknown author

 

 

Reflections: Oh No It’s Her 

Being thankful seems like a hard place to be when life is complicated. Many times I have listened as people share a heavy load they carry and admired how they survive the storms of life with thankful hearts. They press on with a confident determination, always seeing a brighter future and moving forward.

There have been many times in my life when I have been heartbroken, disappointed and saddened by life lessons that are hard to understand. I am often reminded when we live our lives touching others we cannot always know the loads they carry or the loneliness they feel.

My husband Lyle had a doctors’ appointment awhile back, and I also required blood tests at the same clinic. I took a number for the lab as the room was full of patients. After an hour I checked with the lab technician to see if I had missed her call for number 23. With a short snip, she told me to sit down and would let me know when she needed me!

As I walked back to my seat I told my husband the technician was a bag and rude; I prayed she would not do my blood work. I sat there and steamed a little, not nice I know but it felt justified. Lol. Do you feel like that some days?

Finally, my number 23 is called, “Oh no it’s her, Mrs. Grumpy pants.”

I sat down and answered her relevant questions, where I lived, name, age and such. I smiled and tried to be nice, and thanked her for her time and effort. As I left she shocked me with a thank you for being so kind and considerate. She said it had been a rough day.

Boy did I feel guilty! How often do I need reminding, “Assumptions are shaky things to rely on: and situations are not always as they appear?”

I am so thankful that God has given me flashpoints in my life to remind me He is faithful to His love and promises. I may get upset, angry and emotional, but when I stand still and look up I know that God is always with me, and continues to love me. I am thankful every day He still teaches me new lessons about myself and others. Even when I fail He is not finished with me yet! ©

Nothing can separate us from God’s Love, What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31 (NLT)

Yes, I can be thankful, with God I know am never alone.

Thank you for dropping by and sharing your time with me.
Do you ever have doubts about God and his plans?

I would love to hear from you. Have a great week! Hugs to All!
Lovingly, Karan

Feb 26 2018

Did You Call My Luggage Is FAT? ~ I Can Totally Make That

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 3 Comments

 “Did You Call My Luggage Is FAT?”

A woman called and asked, “Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to who?”

I said, “No, why do you ask?” She replied, “Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said FAT, and I’m overweight, is there any connection?”

After putting her on hold for a minute while “I looked into it,” (I was actually laughing)

I came back and explained that the city code for Fresno is FAT and that the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage for her city of arrival. Author unknown

 

 

Don’t Worry, I told you I could fix it!

 

 

Reflections:  I Can Totally Make That!

How many times have you looked at the price of something and said, “I can make that for less” or skimmed an invite and missed all the facts because you assumed you knew what they were saying?

Guilty!  A few weeks ago a young lady from our town gave an open invitation on Facebook to join a homemade card exchange. I thought it would be fun, so I said, “I’m in”.  However, I missed one important word, “Exchange”.  I somehow thought we were going to have a class and learn how to make cards.  I had only made one card in my whole life when I was in England and it wasn’t my best artistic endeavor.

After I agreed to participate in creating a card, our hostess sent instructions as follows: Create 36 cards to include-  6 wedding cards, 6 baby or sympathy cards and 24 birthday cards with directions to hand them to her at the end of the month. 

I finally confessed my predicament to my daughter and considered backing out of the card exchange. But my daughter gave me a pep-talk and encouraged me to press on, besides she had some scrapbooking supplies that I could use.  So I thought “how hard can it be?” I’ll take a day and whip them all together, however the first day I only made one.  And I must say it was not beautiful.

After another week and a half, I had a grand total of 23 cards. I didn’t know how to work the stamps without getting ink all over me. So I made my Best Wishes, Thinking of you and Congratulations on the computer and printed them out to put on the cards.  I was feeling pretty good about my creativity.

Then on Facebook, some of the other creative ladies posted some of their beautiful creations, and I was really discouraged.  My beauties looked like kindergarten through 5th-grade specials. But I persevered.

As I finished my 36 cards and turned them in, I decided I need to slow down and read ALL the words before making decisions stop jumping to conclusions

I wonder how God feels when I take off in all directions without checking what His plans are for me each day. Am I so self-sufficient that I don’t need his daily help? Do I make my plans and expect God to approve them? 

In Jeremiah 29:11, God gives me a hope-filled future, even with all my mistakes and blunders.©

 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

To realize God’s plans for me are far greater and more astonishing than anything I could even imagine for myself is humbling. He truly is my safe and secure place, and best of all I know he loves me.

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me. Do you ever have days where you have made silly mistakes?
Live, Love, and Sparkle today!
HUGS,
Lovingly, Karan
Feb 11 2018

I Think I Missed A Letter ~ I Love Chocolate!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

“I Think I Missed A Letter”

An Illinois man left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick email.

Unfortunately, when typing her address, he missed one letter, and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher’s wife whose husband had passed away only the day before.

When the grieving widow checked her email, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a dead faint.

At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:

Dearest Wife Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow. P.S. Sure is hot down here. Author unknown

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections:  I Love Chocolate!

I love Valentine’s Day, especially the chocolate, I think Chocolate makes everything better, don’t you? Have you ever noticed when you are feeling a little off, depressed, or just plain grumpy, chocolate helps immediately. Even if I’m feeling fat, Chocolate helps. Lol, What is that?

I remembered many years ago; I tried to wean myself of a secret chocolate habit. Attempting to be firm I would self-talk listing all the pros and cons of learning to control my sweet tooth. However once in a while, I would secretly make a whole recipe of fudge just for me, eating the entire batch out of the pot. It would never get to the pan and have time to set.

My husband would drive me crazy; he could have one piece of chocolate at a time and save the rest for weeks. While I would eat mine at one setting, and want some of his to share too.

Now after all these years he often brings us home some chocolate bars in a bag of groceries, and we both sit down and enjoy them. No guilt, no worries, just pure enjoyment of a special moment together.

When Forest Gump said,” Life is like a box of chocolates, and we never know what you’re going to get. No truer words were said.

We hit times of crises, and circumstances we don’t understand, that seems to be the world we live in these days. But through these time, we can stand firm knowing that we have a God, who loves, cares and protects us from the storms we face. I read this quote the other day that puts everything in perspective for me it says:

“We can endure life’s wrongs because we know that God will make all things right.”

What a relief, He is in Control!

We Win!

Lovingly, Karan

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day Wednesday. Hugs to all

Jan 22 2018

The Fast Lane ~ Flu Season? Not Me I Got My Shot!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

 

 

The Fast Lane 

The Sunday teacher described how Lot’s wife looked Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Suddenly Jimmy interrupted.

“My mom looked back once while she was driving,” he announced triumphantly,

and she turned into a telephone pole!” Author unknown

 

 

 

 

Reflections:  Flu Season? Not Me I Got My Shot!

Every year about September, we start hearing about getting the flu shot which always includes a promise to keep us safe from that particular year’s seasonal virus. I am faithful each year to get my shot because of an Auto-immune disease that I struggle with.  Now Lyle, who never gets the flu shot, thinks it’s a waste of time, besides he never gets sick.

However, after receiving the shot something went wrong.   You guessed it, two days after Christmas I got the flu which lasted about three weeks.  My family decided I would get well sooner if I would try their flu and cold zapping home remedy.  At that point, I was willing to try anything, well almost. 

A cup of hot water, one teaspoon of chopped garlic, one teaspoon of honey and one-quarter cup of lemon juice.  Two cups a day, morning and evening weren’t too awful, and it did seem to help some.  After a few weeks of feeling incarcerated in my home, I was so excited to go to the grocery store and see people. Yeah!  Of course, I was hoping no one would detect the cloud of garlic following me up and down the aisles.

Today I still smell like a garlic bulb, but I think I’m going to make it. Lol

I am still amazed how fast my joy flew out the window.  I moped around the house sniffling and sneezing with my hair uncombed and it even hurt to blink my eyes. My Joy went from 85 to zero in no time at all.  I am embarrassed to even think about it!  Instead of resting on God’s promises I became self-absorbed.                 

Can I choose to be joyful in all circumstances even if I don’t feel like it? Life is a matter of choices and God’s compassion never fails. I  know I will never walk alone.

It helps me remember when I look back and see the journey God has taken me on.  All I see are His promises of faithfulness, love, and grace, what more could I ask for?

 

 Always be joyful.~ 1 Thess. 5:16

Has the flu come your way yet? How is your joy today? 

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me.
 I love you all and am praying. 
HUGS,
Lovingly, Karan