Articles

Apr 18 2016

Would You Like Twenty Dollars?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 2 Comments

Would You Like Twenty Dollars?

crumpled-20-dollar-note A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked. “Who would like this $20 bill?”

Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you – but first, let me do this.”

He continued to crumble the 20 dollar note up. He then asked. “Who still wants it?” Still the hands went up.

“Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He dropped the $20 on the ground and started grinding it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?”

Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, we have learned a valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by …who we are! Author Unknown

You are special – don’t ever forget it.”

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Reflections

It was wonderful to be away in beautiful California and spend time with family and friends. I was able to sightsee a bit, shop and enjoy the San Diego B san 2 ay.

Seeing familiar places and remembering the moments and places where my mother taught me to dream and laugh. She always saw beauty in everything.

I loved the times we spent at San Diego Bay, having shrimp sandwiches or fish tacos with a blanket on the grass at Shelter Island. We would watch the naval ships come home with grand display after being deployed from home for months at a time.

I loved the smell of the ocean and watching the small fishing, and sail boats glide peacefully by, as we visited and just enjoyed each other’s company. We often shared our thoughts, dreams and hopes, and occasionally funny stories, along with our secret hurts. But most of all we would speak of our blessings.

How I miss her laughter, her warm smile, and beautiful green eyes. I admired her strength and accomplishments against insurmountable 3fe0ab12-a49a-42f4-ac32-cfeacc95092c odds. Mother often said, “With God nothing is impossible.”

How true it is, even on those days when we feel worthless, crumpled, and broken by life’s circumstance God cares.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God

and are called according to his purpose for them.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?

If God is for us, who can ever be against us.

Romans 8:28 & 31

You are special – don’t ever forget it.

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, The newsletter will be back in your mailboxes every Saturday morning again.

If you know anyone who might enjoy it please pass it on.

I loved being away, but my pillow feels wonderful. lol.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs to all.
Lovingly, Karan

Apr 08 2016

Sorry For the Delay – Special Wishes

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 5 Comments

Sorry For the Delay – Special Wishes

I am

sorry this is late, but I wanted to send it regardless, as I love being able to wish you all Happy Easter. After I had arrived in California and ready to send out my newsletter, I realized my hosting server for my website was down.

Thankfully my wonderful son-in-law who is like the tech Obi-wan of the universe was able to straighten things out. He ended up moving my site to a new hosting server. I am so thankful for him, being “blonde” I tend to be computer deficit. Lol

We are now in San Diego, California, this week for my nephew’s wedding on Sunday afternoon and will be home the following week. I will be praying all will be back to normal soon, but what is normal anyway?

Normal is not vacations. You know, when you go on vacations there is always too much shopping, eating and running around. Isn’t it funny how we excitedly leave for holidays hoping to get a good rest and come home so tired we need another holiday to recuperate? Do you ever feel like that?

I am so glad God offer rest and strength no matter where we are at in life. Even our circumstances don’t scare Him, He always has our back.

Mathew 11:28

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Hugs to All

I Said A Prayer For You Today

I said a prayer for you today and know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart although He spoke no word.

I didn’t ask for wealth or fame; I knew you wouldn’t mind.
I asked Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind.

I asked that He’d be near you at the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings and friends to share your way.

I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small.
But it was for His loving care I prayed most of all.

Author unknown

“The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.” Robert Flatt

See you Next week at the usual time, Thank you for sharing your time with me. Do you have to recuperate from vacations too?

Lovingly, Karan

Mar 19 2016

Please Don’t Make Me Adult Today!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Have you had a bad nights’ sleep, woke up in the morning looked in the mirror and thought, “I’m not sure I’ll make it today”. Is your hair standing on end? Are there bags under your eyes…? Thank goodness for bag cream, not to mention the dreaded puffed eyelids? Some mornings, looking in the mirror can almost stop your heart. This happens to me quite often.

Have you fallen off your diet in a major way? Enjoyed an incredible weekend full of carbohydrates, sugar and fat overload, and now feeling guilty, bloated and 10 pounds heavier than when you started. You know, the weekend where you ate everything you could get your hands on just because you couldn’t stand another carrot stick? I have and gave myself a good scolding too. I usually feel so guilty and miserable I promise myself never to do it again. Well, maybe that’s a little hasty, I hear a little Chocolate is good for you!

Perhaps you’ve had a dispute with your husband, friends or even the kids, and you are on your last nerve. Possibly you’re saying, “I need to run away for a while or take a cruise “, or if you’re like me, you just stay in bed and cover your head. I’ve even considered a week at a rest home, wouldn’t that be heavenly. There I could sit on the porch in a rocking chair and sing “Blessed Quietness “and mean it.

Some day’s life does not go the way I expect. I can write lists, make my plans and try to get some sense of order, yet life does not stop because I have had a bad day. Have you ever felt like that?

I am thankful that as each new day comes, I can choose to find something to be thankful for. I am learning how to find joy in the moments. This is a lifelong journey, and a fast learner I am not. Not because life is perfect, but because I have a friend who loves me through the circumstances of life. He is my shelter who blocks the sting and protects me in his perfect will. Nothing touches me that does not go through the cross first.

Although I will always have my share of bad hair days, bags under my eyes, blow my diet and lose my temper. I am safe and secure in the knowledge that God’s love and forgiveness is constant, unconditional and forever. He is my Friend, He is enough.

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

Lovingly, Karan

Thank you for dropping by and sharing your time with me.

What gives you hope when you have a bad day? I would love to hear What You do.

Have a great week! HUGS

Mar 12 2016

“Have I got A Tip For You”

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

“Have I got A Tip For You”

I have been watching our utility bill go up and down for this last year. In August, a young gentleman came to town advertising for a new utility company. They wanted to consolidate our gas and electric bills into one instead of two separate bills.

We could save money and lock in a new rate much lower than before if we signed up for them. Lyle and I looked over the contract and felt it looked better than the variable rates we had been experiencing.

However in the fall and over the winter, we kept seeing the bill increasing, instead of going down as promised. I phoned the utility company to inquire about my bill, and the consultant was polite and understanding. Saying she was sorry, and next month’s bill would be better, she promised. She even gave me a 10.00 credit. LOL

Well, the next month arrived, and it was much worse than the previous month, so I found the contract and realized the company headquarters was in Texas. I started thinking maybe they were charging us in American dollars instead of Canadian. You see, right now in Canada, our dollar is worth seventy-one cents to one American dollar.

I called the company again to see if the exchange rate was the problem, they assured it was not. As I visited with the representative, she inquired if I received their company’s brochure on how to get budget saving tips for our home. I hadn’t received the brochure, so she gave me a few tips on how I might conserve energy.

First she said I need to unplug my refrigerator, stove, and oven every night. She did every night, and it helped her conserve energy.

At that point, I had visions of my husband and myself dragging all our appliances out and unplugging then each night. Then plugging them in every morning and pushing them back in place. I don’t know about you but, I had never heard this tip before, sounds like a high-energy project for sure. She then suggested I put everything on an extension cord so it would be easier.

I told her I had never heard of that money saving tip before. She said she does it every night; it is what we do in the Philippines. What??LOL

Have you ever had a day like this?

Reflections:

Have you ever felt like you might want to scream or burst out laughing when you are on the phone trying to get information or fix a problem? I must admit sometimes I get impatient when I can’t get things straighten out quickly. I often wonder if God gets impatient with me, and ever feels like screaming at all my mistakes. I’m sure He has been frustrated many times when I go the wrong directions too.

I am so thankful that I have those flash points in my life to remember God always continues to be faithful to his promises of love, forgiveness, and grace. I may get upset, angry, emotional and worry momentarily, but when I stand still and look up, I know that God is always with me, and continues to love me.

God may delay our answering our requests, but he will never disappoint our trust. I know I am never alone He cares and walks beside me.

What a joy and privilege to have such dear friends to walk with us on our journey.

Thank you for sharing your time with me today.

I love you, Hugs

Karan

Mar 05 2016

Did I Miss My Ride?

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

Did I Miss My Ride?

For our anniversary, my husband and I decided to travel outside Canada. We spent months getting our passports in order and making sure we had all the right documentation. My husband, Lyle, is Canadian, but I am a U.S. citizen with landed immigrant status, which allows me to live, work (and pay taxes) in Canada.

When my new American passport arrived with a picture reminiscent of Phyllis Diller, Lyle drove me to the Canadian consulate to have it stamped.

“I’ll pick you up in forty-five minutes,” he said, as he dropped me off across the street from the consulate, “I’ll drive by, and you can jump in.”

Finding the right department at the embassy and getting my passport stamped took most of my forty-five minutes.

I rushed outside, crossed the street, and spotted our gold Lincoln coming my way. I began waving frantically, but he just passed by. Fortunately, as he neared the light, it turned red.

Sprinting across the four-lane street in my three-inch heels, I prayed the light would not change as I made the final charge. I jerked open the car door and breathlessly jumped in. Fumbling for my seat belt, I looked up into the horrified face of the driver who was not my husband. By now, the light had changed to green, and we just sat there. “Am I being carjacked?” He asked.

I let go of my seat belt, said my apologies, and assured him it was a mistake. I was not a carjacker! I jumped out just in time to see my husband drive up. He had seen the whole escapade and was driving like a wild man in case he had to rescue me.

“What on earth are you doing? Don’t you know what our car looks like?” He said. All I could do was laugh. My knight in shining armor came rushing in to save me, and the poor man in the other car will most likely never drive his car again without having the doors locked. ©

Reflections:

Isn’t it funny how we can get the wrong impressions about people or circumstances and assume we know all the facts? And harsh conditions and crises events are not usually what we would share on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. I confess I have been guilty of making assumptions myself and embarrassed to find out how wrong I have been.

How many times have I put on a mask hiding from others what is happening in my life? You know that little survival kit, full of special occasion masks we use to get us through the hard stuff.

When I walk out of the house, hear the screen door slam behind me, I can often pretend to be someone else for a time. Trying to become whatever other people wanted me to be. And never allowing others to see my own fear and insecurity.

I placed all my emphasis on outward appearance, material wealth and personal importance. I had a perfect mask and wanted people to think I had a perfect life too. I would just wear a smile!

I was afraid if they saw the real me, they wouldn’t accept me. I am so thankful there is a God who Loves me and likes me just the way he made me. He sees “The good the bad and the ugly” and loves me anyway. Thank goodness.

What a precious and wonderful gift that He has given me. The gift of grace. I don’t have to pretend that life is perfect, and afraid of what others think of me, I am free to be Me! ©

Do you feel like hiding behind masks too? Why do we feel we need to smile when life is tough?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Hugs to each of you.