The Roomie Reunion in Ocean's Paradise

It's been three weeks since I returned to OKC from San Diego. I am excited because the dark purple bruise that trailed all the way from my knee to my ankle is almost gone. I also got my new camera in the mail to replace the one that I killed at the same time I obtained my colorful souvenir at the tide pools. Helpful hint: 8 year old cameras do not like to be dashed upon the rocks and then bathed in sea water. In fact, they dislike it so much that they spitefully refuse to ever close, turn off, turn on, or take any more pictures ever again even after leaving them buried in dry rice for several days.

My week in San Diego was in three words: Won-der-ful! I got to see California for the first time, have girl time with my old roomies, meet a roommate's boyfriend (I approve, btw, K-Rug!), fulfill a lifelong dream in going to the San Diego Zoo, visit Canyon Ridge Baptist Church, step into the cold ocean, see a little of LA (not too impressive), take a picture at the Santa Monica Pier where Route 66 ends, hike up Mount Helix, spend a day at Sea World, injure myself at the tide pools at Point Loma, walk on the Coronado Beach (which was just voted the most beautiful beach in America this year), shop in Old Town, have a Room Meeting with my roomies (on Thursday night of course!), taste an In & Out burger, have a bonfire on the beach after dark, and much more.

Truly San Diego was the most beautiful place I have ever been. Coronado Beach and Point Loma were breathtakingly gorgeous. The landscape often reminded me of Texas somehow. Except with more green, palm trees, and mountains. The weather is just about perfect year round. You know how when the weather is nice (it does happen on occasion in OK) you always ask, "Why can't it always be like this?" Move to San Diego; it is.

I loved the culture and how everyone embraced the outdoors. All restaurants have outdoor seating. The apartments don't have (or need) air conditioning. No one cares about parking half a mile away from where you are headed because walking is normal. The malls are more like outlet malls with each shop being covered but the walkways are all outdoor. But yet, the one I visited was still four or five stories high. (And I didn't see any escalators either... Although I think there were elevators.) Oh, and pets are welcome in the mall!

I noticed some other things that were also just kinda cool. Target was two stories tall, in a mall, and had a special section of the escalator for locking in shopping carts to carry them up or down. 7-11's are convenience stores but are NOT attached to a gas station. The CVS pharmacy carried firewood. There are IKEA's and trolleys, although sadly I didn't get to experience either this trip. You can get a ticket for not angling your tires when parking on the street (has to do with the hills and the potential for your e-brake failing). Oh, and if you want to spend the day at the mall, only the first couple of hours get free parking!

The city limit sign said that the population is 1,230,000 people, but rather like OKC, it doesn't feel too much like a huge city. It's spread out and rolling. The architecture often has a Spanish flavor (perhaps another reason it reminded me of Texas...) And the people are culturally diverse, easy-going, laid-back, and friendly. Oh, and according to an article I read, it is in the top 5 big cities with the highest average salaries earned by single women. It's also easy to find good, healthy, fresh foods. In fact, eating healthy and being fit (not over-weight) is probably one of the few things that Californians are downright snobby about.

But even paradise has its downfalls. Housing is expensive. Gas is expensive. To be drowning in debt is normal. Traffic in rush hour is a typical big-city nightmare. Because the weather is so nice, there is a very large homeless population. Churches are hard to find. The whole week even with all of the driving around, exploring, and getting lost I only counted four churches. Of any kind.

I have to say that with all that I saw, did, and experienced the greatest thing was being a part of Kronk & Fannlee again.* It was the second time in three years that all four of us Roomies from my Senior Year were together at one time. (The first was only for a couple of hours two years ago when two of them graduated.) I had forgotten how well we all worked together in spite of how very different we are.

We have managed to stay in fairly close touch, but that was nothing compared to being with them all again. I truly think that one of the biggest blessings that came from my college experience is my friendship with these three girls. The laughter, the encouragement, the tears, the prayers, the testimonies, the fact that we have stayed friends longer than a year (which is something I have yet to accomplish except with a couple of other people), all of this combined together makes me thank the Lord for the day He made us all roommates.

We hope to be the kind of friends who stay friends for life no matter where we all end up and no matter what directions life takes us. We hope to get together like this every few years and having our families be friends. Will that happen? I don't know, but if the last three years are any indication, then I have a pretty good feeling about the future. =)

*(If you need an explanation, read http://pennysworthofthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/05/chronicles-of-kronk-and-fannlee.html)

Songs on a Sunday: Anything That Costs Me Nothing

I heard this song for the first time in church today. The message really struck me because it was David's actual desire. He truly did not want to give God something that was free and easy. Yet it seems to me, that what we all want today is to give God the least that we can possibly get away with and still please Him. What has happened to the desire to please God no matter what the cost?

Anything That Costs Me Nothing

An offering of highest price, a servant whom the Lord can use. 

I will not offering anything that costs me nothing. 

I'll place before Him nothing less than my very best. 

And if I am called to sacrifice, 

It will be worthy of my Christ.

I will not offer anything that costs me nothing.

To serve Him is my goal. How could I withhold? 

Whatever's mine He's given me, it's not my own, but His alone. 

Whatever He requires, that is my desire. 

Whatever He may need from me I'll pay the cost, gain or loss. 

I will not offer anything that costs me nothing. 

I'll place before Him nothing less than my very best. 

And if I'm called to sacrifice, 

It will be worthy of my Christ. 

I will not offer anything that costs me nothing.

And if I am called to sacrifice, 

It will be worthy of my Christ. 

I will not offer anything that costs me nothing.

The Chronicles of Kronk and Fannlee: The Beginning

Once upon a time in the school year of 2008-2009 in the heartland of a country not so far away, in a land that was unusually windy, stood a city. In the heart of the city there was a special college where children of the King would go to study and prepare themselves for whatever the King might have them to do. At this college there was a Hopeful dorm in which maidens who were the King's daughters came to dwell while they studied. And in this Hopeful dorm there was a room marked by the numbers 705. Little did they know, but four princesses (for after all isn't that what daughters of the King are?) were soon to find themselves embarking on an epic journey of friendship and adventure!

The first Princess to arrive and thus begin her great adventure was Princess Annlee. She was the oldest princess and it was to be her last year in the Hopeful Dorm. When she didn't have her nose stuck in a book, she was often teased about her lack of a prince. The short but feisty Princess Annlee would always look up (way up!) at the other girls and laugh (as she loved to do quite often) in the face of this teasing, boldly declaring that she would wait for a Prince Manly because she did not want to settle for a yucky little boy! 

The next princess to arrive was the youngest of them all and was brand new to the school in the heartland, but she had shown wisdom beyond her years by praying that the King would bless her first year in a special way by giving her just the right roommates, which, as you will see, the King truly did. A lover of random birds, Princess Yonk had enough spirit and spunk that the others often forgot that she was younger than the rest of them. In addition to her spunk, Princess Yonk's beauty and spirit caught the eye of Prince Mit (or Mittens as Princess Annlee liked to call him) the minute he saw her. At first Princess Yonk laughed at his jester-like silliness but in the end she couldn't resist his princely charm and even now is married to him and is living out her happily ever after.

Our third Princess to make the Room 705 her home was the blonde Princess K-Rug who was known to enchant whole crowds of people at a time with the beautiful music she could draw forth from her violin. The King had given His daughter Princess K-Rug not only a special gift of music but also of love and acceptance. Even the hesitant Princess Annlee could not resist the sincerity of her gentle acceptance of each of them in spite of how very, very different they all were.

Our last Princess (and possibly the most important of all) almost missed out on the great adventure and actually came into the story several days after the others. Without Princess FB, it's highly doubtful that their adventures would have ever taken place! Seemingly carried by the unusual wind that seemed to never stop blowing, Princess FB breezed into Room 705 and, just as quickly, breezed into the hearts and lives of the other princesses. Princess FB was so like the wind with which she came, always swirling about the room full of life, chatter, and made-up songs that it earned her the nickname Forest Breeze as one of her many, many nicknames.

It did not take long before the King's answer to Princess Yonk's prayers became obvious and the Room 705 became known as a peaceful, joyful haven in the Hopeful dorm. The other maidens living in Hopeful dorm loved to visit this Room 705 to talk, joke, and even to do Tae Bo. During the year that these four Princesses dwelt together they had many great adventures! Perhaps some day, if you are very lucky, you will be able to hear the tales of "How What Was Almost Wasn't", "Ross and the Shrimp Skirmish", "the Night the Bed-Bugs Did Bite", "The Mystery of the Ghastly Girls: Who Scared Princess Mallory?", or their most recent adventure "The Roomie Reunion in Ocean's Paradise."

As much as Princess Annlee loved to read and laugh, Princess K-Rug loved music, and Princess Yonk loved random birds, Princess FB loved to talk. Each of these zany princess were so very, very different but together they were something very, very special; together they became Kronk and Fannlee, sisters bound together as daughters of the King.

Milestones

Today's post is a celebration of recent milestones in my life.

• I just turned 27 which is pretty cool, because it is a favorite number. 
• I got my first dog as an adult.
• I am about to go on my very first "real" vacation to see some states and an ocean that I have not yet seen before. 
• I have been a college graduate for 3 years this month.
• One month from today I will be celebrating the 2nd anniversary at my job and a full year in my department. 
• My blog actually reached and exceeded 1500 page views.
• This is the 50th post in which I have had the pleasure to practice honing my attempts to harness my thoughts into written form and which you, my beloved readers, have been crazy, goofy, loyal, or curious enough to take the time to read. (I'll let you decide which you are, but please, do share!!)

Now, friends, family, and any other readers who are reading my blog, the time has come to announce the winner of the contest!!! In case you have missed a few posts and have no clue to what I am referring, let me bring you up to speed.

I decided to have a contest to celebrate my 1500th page view right here on Penny's Worth of Thoughts. Each comment here as well as comments and likes on Facebook on posts 46-49 would be entitled to one entry each into a drawing for a $15.00 gift card to Starbucks. (Why Starbucks? Because I felt it would have virtually universal appeal and I would have entered such a contest myself. =)

Rather than actually writing out 32 names (yes, that's how many entries there ended up being) and drawing them from a hat the old-fashioned way, I did what any somewhat "tech-savy" 27 year old would do... I searched online for a free tool for contest drawings. I decided to use RandomPicker, a free service that allowed me to copy and paste my list of names and then generate a winner. (It was so easy to use, that I actually wish I had another contest to start so I could use it again!!) I did practice several times (which it allows for) before finalizing the drawing.

And the winner is.... Drumroll, please.............(Are you actually doing a drumroll? I didn't think so. Come on for real this time!)

Drumroll, please............

Amanda Allmon!!!!

Amanda earned four entries into my contest and one of them paid off! Amanda, please be sure to send me your mailing address through the messages on Facebook and I will get your prize mailed out to you!!

I would also like to say a very special "Thank You" to the following people who took the time to enter the contest by liking or commenting on my posts (in order of initial entry):

Samuel B. with two entries

Kayla B.

Becky P.

Faith B.

Christina B.

Laura S. with two entries

Mandy G.

Anita B. with four entries

Danielle W. with three entries

Rebecca L.

Caro W. with two entries

Kayla S.

Shawn E.

Rachel G. with two entries

Kate D.

Jason E.

Tammy W.

Angel and Coby M.

Mallory S.

P.S. If you are of the suspicious nature or are just jealous to miss out of some free Starbucks, you may examine the results yourself at http://www.randompicker.com/protocol/5723x13024.

Thanks once again everyone!!!

Makin' Lemonade outta Life

Before I begin, I just wanted to remind everyone that a comment on here as well as comments or likes on Facebook will earn an entry in a drawing for a prize. I have been giving out clues about the prize on Facebook so you may have already guessed, but I am officially announcing the prize... Since the contest began in celebration of having reached 1500 views, the prize will be a $15.00 gift card to Starbucks! This is the LAST post in the contest; the winner will be announced in the next post, my 50th!! (If you missed the others, you may go back, read, and comment in order to earn entries on posts 46, 47, and 48.)

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I hope I am not alone in the desire to live a happy life. (Because if I am then I have greatly misjudged the rest of the world!)

• What is happiness? 
• How do we achieve it? 
• Why is it different for each person? 
• Why am I happy/unhappy? 
• Will I ever be happy again? 
• I really, really wish... 
• I would be happy if.... 
• Life is so good, what is there to be unhappy about?  

I have gone through enough things in my life for each of these questions to have eventually surfaced.

 

Before I get too far into this, let me define happiness so we are all on the same page. According to dictionary.com, Happiness is...

"pleasure, joy, exhilaration, bliss, contentedness, delight, enjoyment, satisfaction. Happiness, bliss, contentment, felicity imply an active or passive state of pleasure or pleasurable satisfaction. Happiness results from the possession or attainment of what one considers good: the happiness of visiting one's family. Bliss is unalloyed happiness or supreme delight: the bliss of perfect companionship. Contentment is a peaceful kind of happiness in which one rests without desires, even though every wish may not have been gratified: contentment in one's surroundings. Felicity is a formal word for happiness of an especially fortunate or intense kind: to wish a young couple felicity in life."

Basically, happiness is based on circumstances; it is derived from how satisfied you are with your day to day life and all the trappings that involves. Since some people are happier than others; they may be more content and satisfied with their situations in life, but it doesn't necessarily mean that their situations are better than everyone else's. They took the lemons life gave them and made the suggested lemonade. So what makes the difference?

Here is my "recipe" for making...

Life Lemonade.

Step 1.  Identify your lemons.
We need to evaluate our lives to find the root causes when we discover we are unhappy. What your I-would-be-happy-ifs...? What specific things are making you unhappy about your situation in life? (If you are having a hard time pinpointing specific causes then you may not have an abundance of lemons in your life's kitchen, but you may have other issues such as the unhappiness that comes when your relationship with the Lord is strained. Or you may have let your lemons sit too long and they may have "gone bad" taking you past unhappiness and into actual depression. In either of those cases these steps might help some, but are by no means a cure-all.) 

Step 2.  Slice open your lemons.
Now that you have figured out the specific things you dislike about your life, it's time to evaluate those things. Cut them into two and examine them. We do this subconsciously all the time, but sometimes we need to take time to purposefully devote thought to them. The evaluation process is meant to determine if you can do anything about those lemons or not.

Perhaps the first thing to ask is this - are your expectations simply set too high? Being disappointed is never easy. If we can change our expectations out of where life is headed, people in our lives, or even ourselves we can find less to be unhappy about.

Charles Morgan (whom I know nothing about other than this quote) said, "The art of living does not consist in preserving and clinging to a particular mode of happiness, but in allowing happiness to change its form without being disappointed by the change; happiness, like a child, must be allowed to grow up.” There will be times that our lives go different directions than we expected. Accepting the changes and moving on can be a huge step toward happiness. Clinging to the past or past expectations of what life has in store can keep you stuck constantly wishing for something else that will never be attained.

Secondly, there are causes or triggers that we cannot change because we simply have no control over them. This would include such things as the death of a loved one, cold and dreary weather, our unchangeable physical characteristics (i.e. height, what we look like, etc.), or our age. There will always be circumstances that we can't control. (But I don't think that means we must be unhappy the majority of the time... more on that in a later step in the recipe.)

Then there are other things. Do they feel out of your control? Now stop and think hard... are they REALLY? Things like jobs, where we live, our weight, being lonely, etc might appear to be out of our control at first glance, especially is you have sunk down into flat out misery. But those are things that CAN be changed. It might take great effort or a great deal of difficulty but given time and effort, they could be different.

When you wish things were different, you want them to change. We can let unhappiness defeat us when we begin to think that we are stuck. Often what can make us the most miserable is the lack of hope that things will be different, that life will stay the same and we will therefore stay unhappy. 

In reality, the "I'm-a-victim-of-my-circumstance" mentality should in and of itself be a red-flag that it's time to make some changes. After all, we have a great deal of say in our circumstances; we just have to take responsibility for them. Realizing that you are not a victim and that you have a say in some of those circumstances can go a long way in giving you the hope that you need to work towards changing your circumstances and being happy.

Step 3. Juice your lemons.
By this, I mean to take action about the things you have identified as lemons in your life and you have decided that you can change. Depending on what you are unhappy about and what steps will be involved, this may be a slow process. At least start by making plans if you can't change it all at once.

Look closely at those lemons. What would it take to deal with them? Is it really impossible or are we sometimes just too lazy or unwilling to "pay the price." There's a cost to everything, whether it be of money, effort, a complete change in lifestyle, or changing where we live. The choice boils down to this... am I going to stay unhappy or am I going to do what needs to be done even if it is difficult, takes a long time, or is costly?

Acknowledge it up front, many things cannot be changed quickly. You might have to work towards a goal for years before you achieve it. But does the amount of time involved make it not worth it? Only if we are settling for the "instant" mindset. Giving up on "instant" can help motivate you to make the changes you felt would take too long.

For example: you might be unhappy about the way you look because you don't have straight teeth and don't like how it looks when you smile. You may have realized that is something you can change, but it won't be overnight. Braces are expensive so you may not be able to rush out and get them tomorrow. But you can make plans for how to set money aside and begin saving. You could also have an orthodontist do their free evaluation exam to see what will be involved both in time and expense. In other words, you can start the process of change!

Don't be afraid to get creative or think outside the box. Sometimes a lemon can be dealt with in a different way than you have been insisting to yourself (and/or the Lord) that it needs to be fixed.

I have personal example of this for you. I was feeling lonely due to some circumstances that had left me entirely without my close circle of friends that I had enjoyed for the past year. I was thinking that the only way to solve my loneliness was through other friendships. But I realized that companionship does not always have to come in human form. I had missed having a pet ever since I left for college and I came to the point in February that I realized I could finally see the way to make a pet happen. After the necessary research, I found the only thing "in my way" was an expensive pet deposit. It was worth it to me to pay the price necessary to have a pet and companion like I wanted, turning an unpleasant circumstance of my life to a pleasant one.

Bonus Cooking Tip: While it may be tempting to try to attempt to deal with a whole bunch of lemons at one time, trying to chop up and juice too many lemons at once is a bad idea; it could actually be harmful (chopped up fingers, anyone?), leave you frustrated, and just plain create a big mess for you to clean up.

Step 4. Add in some water and sugar.
Lemonade would be too sour if we didn't add water and sugar. Life too can be sour if we leave out some things. Your walk with the Lord could be compared to the water. It actually makes up the largest part of lemonade. It's the least expensive ingredient, taking only a little time and effort. Daily time in the Bible and praying, as well as maintaining constant communication moment by moment will comprise the largest portion of your happiness. You might add memorizing or posting verses in your home and work area. Make prayer lists. Just work at staying close to God! Only He can give you the grace to be happy in spite of the things you truly cannot change; only He can teach you contentment (refer to the definition at the top). Stay close to Him. Distance only makes the lemon juice in your life more potent and bitter.

If walking with the Lord is the water, then unselfishness is the sugar. Becoming too selfish and self-centered is a sure-fire way to make anyone unhappy. We find a great deal of sweetness in life as we find ways to serve others. Turn off the TV and DO things! This could be serving in your local church, volunteering in your community, taking the time and effort to try to cheer someone else up, cooking or baking for someone else, and the list could go on and on. Just as sugar is a very important ingredient in sweetening up lemonade, doing things for others is very important in sweetening life lemonade.

Step 5. Enjoy!
So when you are annoyed, frustrated, or unhappy with something in or about your life, ask yourself this "What am I going to do about it?" Don't settle for living a sour-faced life; take the lemons life throws you, make yourself some sweet lemonade, and enjoy your life as God intended!

Wishin' It Were April Fool's

Since my guest blogger was not quite ready anyway,
I want to dedicate this post to 

My Moopsie and Poopsie.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 appeared to be just another normal, every-day average Wednesday all the way up to 11:00 pm. You know the kind... a slower, easy-going workday followed by heading to church to either sit in the services or work with toddlers in the nursery. After church, its time to eat or just relax and watch some Psych with my sister before heading to bed to get rest for Thursday. That's a normal Wednesday.

But that seemingly normal Wednesday became anything but normal when my dad called me at 11:00 pm. He never calls that late, so I figured something was wrong. Polly's grandparents are older and I was bracing myself for bad news about them. Instead, he told me that Moopsie and Poopsie, Polly's parents had both been killed in a car accident just a few hours earlier. If there ever was a time you want to hear the words "April Fool's" or somehow find out that it was all a huge mistake, it's a time like that.

I believe that the first time I met them was right about this time when I was 16, around 11 years ago. My dad was dating Polly and they came down to our part of Texas for Easter. From the very first time we met them, they took us in as if we had always been theirs. They easily and quickly became family.

When you have a blended family, it doesn't always happen very easily. To some you are merely their daughter's step-kids, but they made us their grandkids, pure and simple. We may not have been born their grandkids, but they made it clear we were the grandkids of their hearts. From Dad and Polly's wedding, birthdays, our high school and college graduations, Zach being born, Christmases in Texas and Albuquerque, and the family vacation in Arkansas they became a part of the very fabric of our lives that family forms.

Holidays were usually the main times we got to spend time with them. I will never forget that my favorite Christmas since I graduated and became an adult was the Christmas I flew home to Texas from Nashville and went on to Albuquerque. It had been too long since I had a true family Christmas and it was exactly what I needed that year.

Moopsie was one of the most caring, encouraging people I have ever met. She loved snowmen trinkets and taking care of everyone she loved. She was a great gift-giver. I enjoyed talking with Moopsie about food and cooking. After she got onto Facebook, we would email back and forth. One of my most precious memories of her was her response to a post I put on Facebook. I was feeling frustrated by the lack of sensitivity of people who asked "Why don't you have a boyfriend?" as if I could have decided I wanted one and merely snap my fingers and have boys lining up. She encouraged me to be patient, told me that I was special, and that she had no doubt that God planned to bring me someone special. She said that the wait was worth it. Considering her long, happy marriage of over 40 years, she knew what she was talking about and it encouraged me.

Poopsie was more quiet and harder to read; I wasn't always sure what he was thinking. He had dryer and almost British sense of humor and was probably one of the smartest men I have ever met, the kind you don't want to play Trivial Pursuit with because he knew everything. He liked Dilbert, Star Trek, and loved music. One of my favorite memories of him was when he gave me a hug and said quietly, "You know you are one of MY girls now, right?" Both of my granddads had already passed on so he was my last remaining Granddad; his quiet acceptance meant the world to me.

If I have been reminded of anything in the past couple of weeks it is this -

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." ~James 4:14

We only have a short time to live. We cannot put off things that are important for tomorrow, because it may never come. Share the Gospel with people you meet. Tell your loved ones that you love them. Spend time with family. Laugh with friends. Make the call or write the email that you have "been meaning to get around to..."

By all means, plan for the future, but don't forget that it's not guaranteed.

And that too is no "April Fool's."

I am Me and So is He

With St. Patrick's Day this weekend I could not help but mention it in this post! At first glance a post about identity theft and St. Patrick's day may not appear to fit together. But, in a loose sense "St. Patrick" has been quite the victim of identity theft himself!

You see, he was actually a missionary with Baptistic doctrines who stirred up great revival in Ireland and Great Britain. From what I have read, he was actually rather unpopular with and at times persecuted by the Roman Catholic church (who in the last 150 years have claimed him as one of their own and made him a "Saint") because he preached baptism by immersion only after salvation (i.e. no infant baptism) and other Baptist doctrines in direct opposition to Catholic doctrine. He never claimed to be Catholic at all and his own writings bear witness to his holding Baptistic beliefs.

For him to have been claimed as a Catholic "Saint" and have a holiday named after him that is mainly celebrated by heavy drinking, wearing of green, and a superstitious regard of "lucky" shamrocks (he actually used the three-leaf clover to teach the doctrine of the Trinity), his identity has truly been stolen and remade into something that he himself would not recognize.

And now, I shall disembark my hobby horse and move on to the main part of the post...

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Do you remember those commercials that showed a couple years back? The ones with a creepy man's voice coming out of a little old lady's mouth as she/he discussed the recent fraudulent purchases made on her debit card after her identity was stolen?

Well, identity theft has become an increasingly popular crime. Working in the financial industry I have learned quite a bit about identity theft, methods of prevention, results of/hassle created by it, etc. Though technically a bookkeeper, more than half of my daily job involves working to prevent identity theft and fraud, attempting to catch it early on, and in working with customers to clean up the financial mess created by fraudulent purchases. With the practical experience I have gained, my co-workers jokingly call me the "Fraud Specialist."

Believe me, one little fraudulent purchase on your account can cause hours and hours of work and a major headache for you. With full-blown identity theft, it can take YEARS to repair the damage to your credit. Believe me, you want to do everything possible to avoid going down that path!

That being said here are 15 simple tips that I believe every adult should be aware of and practice consistently.
 

15 Tips for Identity Theft Prevention:

Prevention is the Key

1.       Do not carry your Social Security card, birth certificate, or passport in your wallet or purse except when necessary. Remove them as soon as you get home if you find it necessary to carry them for something specific. Also, limit the number of debit/credit cards you carry, leaving extras in a safe place at home. This practice minimizes the amount of information a thief can steal.

2.       It is also helpful to photocopy all of the documents in your wallet in case of theft. That way, if your wallet is ever stolen, you can quickly retrieve numbers. A list of all your credit cards and debit cards should also be kept in a secure place at home. Be sure to include the numbers you need to call to report a theft; this way, you can quickly call issuers if a credit or debit card is stolen.

3.       You should cancel any inactive credit accounts and limit your total number of credit cards. This will make it easier to keep tabs on all credit activity. Destroy all checks, debit cards, and credit cards upon closing an account to prevent thieves from obtaining the account numbers and running up bills fraudulently.

4.       You should minimize the exposure of your credit and social security numbers. Never put them on checks and never give your social security numbers or account numbers out over the phone, even if you made the call. Identity thieves often place fake calls in an attempt to gather personal information.

5.       Never leave a purse or wallet unattended at work, restaurants, health fitness clubs, parties, shopping carts, or EVEN church. Never leave your purse or wallet in open view in your car, even if your car is locked.

6.       Treat your cell phones, iPads, laptops, etc.  like cash, especially if you have access to your bank accounts on them. Use password protection! Thieves can steal your electronic devices and hack into your online banking, Paypal account, or other financial services/accounts and use them to make fraudulent purchases.

7.       Memorize your personal identification numbers (PINs) so you do not have to write them down.  DO NOT EVER write your PIN on the back of your card or anywhere else in your wallet or purse. Don’t share them with ANYONE, even family members. Never use your SS, DOB, or address as your PIN number, as these are too easy for a thief to guess.

8.       At the ATM, always be aware of your surroundings to make sure no one is watching you input your PIN. Watch for card skimmers; they not only capture your card number, but also your pin which can make proving fraud much more difficult. Try to use familiar machines so you will notice if anything about the machine looks unusual.

9.       Never simply toss credit card receipts in a trashcan, whether in public or at home. Always keep them in a secure place and shred them before tossing out.  Also be sure to shred all junk mail or bills, especially pre-approved credit card approvals, before tossing them out. Shredding will prevent identity thieves from finding confidential information in the trash; identity thieves oftentimes dig through trash to find personal information. These dumpster divers can then use these offers to order credit cards in your name and mail them to their address.

10.   You should always have secure (as in locked) mailboxes, both at work and at home, in order to reduce the likelihood of theft. It is better to have your bank send new checks or debit cards to the bank to be picked up rather than your home address to prevent thieves from snatching them from the mail.

11.   If you do not receive your billing information promptly, notify any companies involved. You should analyze your monthly statements, utility bills, and any subscription bills for any unauthorized changes. Be sure to Balance Your Check Book!

12.   Always request a free yearly credit score from TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. All three are required to give you a free copy once per year, IF you request it. It is recommended that you make a schedule and check one every 4 months to minimize the amount of time in between checks. Each time, be sure to analyze the reports closely for any suspicious or unauthorized activity.

13.   Internet banking can help with security, but only if proper security measures are followed. Install a firewall along with anti-virus and anti-spyware software on all computers. It is essential that all three are kept up-to-date. Also make sure your computer is set to automatically download the latest patches and fixes to help with operating systems security holes (they all have some).  Remember, no Firewall is hacker-proof so still be very cautious with what information you share over a public wi-fi network.

14.   You should not click on links in emails from financial institutions, even if they appear to be legitimate - these emails could be from identity thieves trying to obtain, or "phish" for, confidential information. Instead, go to your browser and type in the domain name of the institution (e.g. www.bankofyourchoice.com or www.paypal.com) and then login to your account.

15.   Make all passwords to financial accounts, computers, wireless connections, emails, etc. complicated enough to discourage hackers. They should always be at LEAST 8 characters long, include both letters and numbers, and include both upper and lower case letters. Memorize them. If you must write them down, do NOT store them at the computer. Areas around the computer (under keyboard, sticky notes, unlocked drawers, etc ) are the first place where thieves will look for those passwords.

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Today's post is #47 and the second post in the contest leading up to post 50! Don't forget to comment here, on Facebook, or "like" on Facebook to receive one entry per blog posts #46-59. (If you missed #46, go back and read it and comment to receive an entry into the drawing.) Another hint about the prize... Since it was in celebration of reaching 1500 page views the prize will be worth $15 "bucks."

Anything... Except that....

Just a note before I begin... This is post #46 of 50! Since the winner of the 1500th viewer contest did not reveal themselves, I will change the contest slightly. Everyone who comments here, comments on Facebook, or "likes" the post on Facebook from this post through the 49th post will receive an entry into a random drawing. (Yes, you receive one entry per comment or "like" per Blogpost #46 through #49.) The winner will be announced in the 50th post. Oh, and just a hint about the prize... It's a little card with the words "Star" on it... OK, now that that is out of the way...

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The other night at church the HBBC choir sang "My Answer is Yes." As I was listening, something in the words struck me differently than they ever had before, even though I have heard the song many, many times.

The chorus says, "I'll be anything You want me to be - my answer is 'Yes'." In essence the choir was telling God, I will be anything, do anything that You want. Whatever you ask of me, I will tell you "Yes." I have sung along with those words myself fully and sincerely believing them to be true.

Yet this time it hit me. "Do I really mean that?" I wondered. "Am I really willing to say "Yes" wholeheartedly and unreservedly NO MATTER WHAT God asks?" This actually brought several different scenarios to mind.

What if...? #1
Especially with the SWBC Missions Conference going on this week, surrendering to God to be a missionary might come easily to mind. For some people the thought of giving God a blank check with their life brings terror-filled thoughts of trudging through a jungle with 12 children in tow, ducking vines and snakes, slipping and sliding in the mud caused by a torrential downpour, and then arriving in your destination only to be greeted by half-naked, spear-carrying natives with disgruntled looks on their faces who speak a language you don't understand.

You might be afraid that saying "Yes" to God would mean that you would be going to bed each night in fear of your life, enduring great persecution, or wondering when you would have electricity or running water that you didn't have to boil first. That you would constantly worry about your child getting sick and dying from some strange, exotic disease. That you would become a widow at an early age because your husband died a martyr and left you with those 12 kids to care for on your own.

Honestly, I can see the cause for concern and I acknowledge that it could be possible for each of those things to happen. But I grew up hoping to be a missionary and while I do not at all desire for those hardships or trials, I kind of figured they potentially went with the territory when I told God "anything."

What if...? #2
This second scenario is the one that God has been working in my heart about lately. It's a totally different set of things that "anything" could involve. What if "anything" means working a (so-called) "secular" job, not just for now, but for the rest of my life. I might end up facing the struggles of staying single rather than the struggles of staying married. It could mean rather than being a harried mom of 12 that I never become a mom. At all.

Anything might mean that instead of working with wild jungle natives whose language I don't speak, I could be drilling memory verses into the minds of wild four year old girls (whose language I still may not understand). My worries may be less about the availability of electricity and clean water and more about paying the electric and water bills on time.

God has been showing me that just because I have a "good" desire doesn't mean that He is obligated to fulfill it the way I want. Just because the desire I have might even be "spiritual" doesn't make it His plan for me. He might even tell me "No" about something that I think would be good.

*Gasp* Are you reading this in horror and disbelief because it goes against today's popular name it-claim it teaching? Are you fearlessly pulling out Ps. 37:4 as if it were your genie-in-a-bottle guarantee to always get your own way, especially if the plan you have is good or spiritual? Well, just remember that God says His ways are different than ours. Remember that David greatly desired to build the Temple for God but God limited him to preparing for it. Paul also earnestly desired to continue spreading the Gospel in one direction, but God told him "No" and sent him to Macedonia instead.

Maybe none of the things I mentioned are relevant to you. The things that I fear or the life's path that I would rather not take will be different, just as my dreams and hopes are different. But we each have things that we hope, desire, or even expect to happen in our lives. When we come to the place where God asks us for total surrender, we each have things that come to mind we fear He will ask us to give up or we fear He will actually ask us to do.

Keeping those things in mind, those fears that just popped in your head, those miniature idols that you are clasping close to your heart, would you still say "Anything You ask of me, my answer is 'Yes'?" Could you say it sincerely? Would I? Are we really willing to write God a blank check with our lives knowing that we are signing our lives away to whatever He chooses?

Or do we say "anything" while in our hearts we really mean "anything but that"?

45 and Counting...

To all my readers who may have fleetingly wondered why they have not seen anything new from me in a while, I am happy to report that I am still alive and doing quite well. I have been thinking a lot about what a neglectful writer I have been lately, which is to say...

1. I have not died or fallen off the face of the Earth.
2. I have not forgotten about my blog.
3. I have not given up writing.
4. I have not merely gone brain-dead and had no viable ideas. (In other words, I have had thoughts worthy of being written about cross through my mind these last couple of weeks. I just haven't written them.) 
5. I have been a little lazy. (Just being honest. I could've made time to write...)
6. I have been plotting, scheming, and making plans about upcoming posts.
7. I am very aware that this post will be my 45th post which means that my 50th post is coming up.
8. I am also aware that I shall soon hit 1500 in the total number of page views to my blog.

The main purpose of this post is actually to let you know some of my up-coming plans! I will give you a glimpse into my plans, my tentative plans, mind you. There shall be no suing of the writer if plans change with no prior notice!

45th post - That would be THIS ONE!
46th post - Anything!! Except That...
47th post - I'm Me and So Is He
48th post - Guest post (if it works out in timing)
49th post - Making Lemonade out of Life
50th post - The Balloon's About to POP!


I am very excited about the upcoming posts and hopefully you are too! So here it goes... The "countdown" to 50 posts and 1500 visits begins!!!

P.S. Bonus challenge!! If you are the 1500th page viewer, leave me a comment and I will send you a special prize. What is it??? Guess you will just have to be the lucky 1500th page viewer and leave me a comment to find out... =D

P.P.S. I have placed the page views counter at top of the right side column. It is visible from the main page or each individual post. So, no excuses! You should be able to tell if you are the winner of the contest or not. ;-)

Songs on a Sunday - Day by Day

Day by Day

by Lina Sandell

As is true with so many of the hymns that deeply touch our hearts, Day by Day was written after personal tragedy touched the life of the author, Lina Sandell of Sweden. Her fragile health throughout most of her childhood led to her being especially close to her father. She often spent all day with him in his study rather than playing with children her own age. When she was the same age as me, only 26, she took a trip with her beloved father. As they were sailing, due to an unexpected lurch, her father fell overboard and drowned while she watched helplessly from the boat.

Lina had already written a few songs before this tragedy, but overtime, she became known as the Swedish Fanny Crosby due to the outpouring of her heart into about 650 songs. She was especially known for writing songs that spoke of having simple, childlike faith and trust in her loving Lord and Heavenly Father. Day by Day was translated into English by Andrew Scroog sometime in the early 1900's.

Day by Day

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find, to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best—

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,

He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

We All Need Somebody to...

Go ahead... Finish the song. "We all need somebody to leeeeean on." God made us to be social creatures. It's not good for us to be alone; we need friends. (If you don't believe me for some reason, try moving to a place where you know no one and see how long it takes you to get lonely.)

Most of us have family and typically we know that they care. Ideally, we have good relationships with our family. But we don't usually live with them past school and often they do not live close enough to be heavily involved in our lives every day.

So other than family... who cares about us? Who shares our struggles and burdens? Who do we tell our frustrations to? Who laughs with us at the funny things that happen? Who cries with us or just holds us close when when our hearts break? Who spends time with us, shares interests, depends on us, makes us feel included, accepted, needed? Who shares our triumphs and rejoices in our victories? Our friends.

We tend to develop groups of friends that we like to spend time with, people that we can do things with and who accept us. But even within a group, we usually have individual friends that we are closer to. Maybe we click with them better or share more interests or have more similar senses of humor. These people become your closer friends and they are the ones with the biggest influence on your life

Some close friends come and go like the seasons. They are a part of your life for a time, but as time passes and life changes, you gradually drift apart and go different ways. Others may not have the time to dedicate to keep up a close friendship. Some prove to be unworthy of your trust and may cause you great pain. But then there's that rare jewel, that special unique bond that doesn't come along every day.

Some friends are the Jonathan to your David. They are the once-in-a-lifetime friend. They seems to be cut of the same cloth; they share your soul. You find that you are "two peas in a pod," joined at the hip, "twin brother from different mothers." They redefine what "best friend" means to you. You could be very, very different, but they just "get" you. They touch you so deeply that you are never the same after knowing them. Once that kind of friendship is lost, it leaves you feeling as though a part of yourself is missing, gone forever.

I have experienced lonely times when I felt alone, desperately needing a friend and feeling like I had no one to "lean" on. And I have had good times where I had an accepting group of friends that felt as close as family. I have had friends that helped me, others that hurt me, and some that did both. Through it all, there is something that I have found... they are worth it! There is something special, priceless even, about having friends. Having friends is a blessing and a gift from God! Don't take them for granted!

There is so much that could be said on the matter of friendship. Since I find time and space inadequate, I want to share some thoughts and quotes of others that have spoken volumes to me. Like little gold nuggets, they contain great wealth in a small, condensed form.


About their vast influence:

• "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." ~ Proverbs 27:17
• "You’ll be with me like a hand print on my heart, now whatever way our stories end I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend." ~ Wicked, the musical 
• "Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But because I knew you I have been changed for good." ~ Wicked, the musical  
• "We call that person who has lost his father, an orphan; and a widower that man who has lost his wife. But that man who has known the immense unhappiness of losing a friend, by what name do we call him? Here every language is silent and holds its peace in impotence." ~ Joseph Roux

About the kind of friends to have:

• "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." ~ Proverbs 26:7
• "Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm & constant." ~ Socrates 
• "There are only two types of friends – those who encourage you to see how God can use you and those who simply use you for themselves." ~ Pastor Gaddis 
• "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:" ~ Proverbs 22:24
• "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation." ~ George Washington
  

About what makes a good friend:

• "Friends are like walls... Sometimes you lean on them, and sometimes it is just enough to know they are there." ~ Unknown
• "A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad." ~ Arnold H. Glasgow
• "The real test of friendship is: can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple?" ~ Eugene Kennedy
• "A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails." ~ Donna Roberts
• "Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer." ~ Unknown
• "A friend accepts us as we are yet helps us to be what we should." ~ Author Unknown
• "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." ~ Proverbs 17:17
• "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." ~ Proverbs 18:24
• "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." ~ Proverbs 27:9 
• "It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
• "A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same." ~ Elbert Hubbard
• "You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job." ~ Laurence J. Peter

About how to lose friends:

• "He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him." ~ Proverbs 27:14
• "A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends." ~ Proverbs 16:28
• "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." ~ Proverbs 17:9
• "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." ~ Psalms 41:9
  

So... Now What?

Now I don't know how it has been for you, but in Bible college I always heard, practically every chapel, that "life and responsibility and ministry will be thrust upon you before you know it. You will look back to your college days and wish that you had as much free time as you did then, because life will be so much busier. And it will happen fast! Faster than you think!" For many of my classmates, that may very well have been true, but not for me.

For me after getting settled into a new job, new city, new life after college actually meant I slowed down. A LOT.  Even now almost three years after graduation, I work full-time, work a couple days a week at a second job, serve in several ministries at church, and still somehow wind up with more free time than I ever had in college. This unexpected slower pace brought it's own challenges.

The biggest unexpected challenge that I faced then and still face now is the question, "So now what?" Until graduation from college there had always been a very obvious goal that I was headed towards - graduation. Once everything calmed down after that, the move was made, the new job started, etc., the great calm settled in.

For the first time in my life, the future spread out before me entirely unmapped. I found myself in the middle of a calm sea with no land in sight, no specific goal to head towards, just smooth, still water barely even lapping against the sides of the boat. The bright blue sky above was cloudless except for the fluffy white clouds that formed the words, "Now what?" The words hung there in the horizon as I looked around at the still water and felt like I was going nowhere.

There are simply going to be times in our lives when things get calm. And it usually occurs right after a major victory, a great trial, or immediately following the accomplishment of a major goal in life (like graduation from college, settling into a new city and/or job). After the struggles that come with fighting for a victory, surviving trials, or in the wake of accomplishment, the calm can seem ... well... boring. While the calm can certainly be a relief especially at first, over time it can also become tame, routine, mundane, blah.

What's the next step? What happens now? What goal am I headed for now? What does the future hold? Is this IT? Is this all life is? Is this life going to be my life forever? These are some of the many questions that calm can produce.

I still remember a message from the first week of my senior year of college. I don't remember who was preaching, but what they said stuck with me. The Bible says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Whenever the future looks unclear, uncertain, or dark and clouded with mystery, God promises to light our way if we follow His Word. But it doesn't say that it's a searchlight flooding our future five miles down the road with light and clarity. It says "lamp." Like a flashlight that we shine at our feet, it gives just enough light to see the next step down the road. We will never see further until we take the one step that we can see. After that, the next step will come into the light and we can take that one step.

This begs the question, when life is calm and there don't seem to be any major steps to take, what steps are we to take from day to day? This is what has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks. I have heard many times that if you do God's known will day by day, He will reveal His unknown will in His time. (Kinda like the flashlight...) So more specifically, I have been thinking about what I know to be His will for me right now, day by day.

These are things that I know He desires out of my life right now.

• That I spend time daily with Him reading His Word and praying.
• That I "forsake not the assembly" by attending and serving in the ministries of my church.
• That I spread the Gospel, both to strangers I meet along my way and those who I see everyday.
• That I work to earn the money to provide for my needs, doing my best to glorify Him in the process by having a good testimony with my coworkers, employers, and creditors (those to whom I pay my bills).
• That I be a good steward of money, time, and other resources by tithing, giving to missions, being sure that necessary work is done before relaxing (i.e. not being lazy), having productive hobbies, and being a blessing with the things I have whenever possible.
• That I be a good steward of the body He has given me by eating the right amounts of healthy foods, exercising, getting the proper amount of sleep, etc.
• That I continue to prepare for the future by continuously learning and reading books and articles that will be helpful, encouraging, informative, etc.
• That I fellowship with people who will help sharpen me and encourage my growth in the Lord.
• That I focus on pleasing Him, not my own personal pleasure.
• That I remain thankful and praise Him, not taking for granted the virtually countless blessings He has given me.
• That my speech be "alway with grace" saying holy, encouraging, edifying words rather than gossip, malice, or criticism. 
• That I would be patient and loving toward those who frustrate me and/or in times of frustration, no matter if they "deserve" it.
• That I both memorize and meditate on His Word throughout my day.

To be honest, that list is really, really convicting to me. And though I am very sure that it is still incomplete, it already gives me plenty to work on.

I am learning to patiently tackle the "right now's" one day at a time, 

leaving the "now what's" to Him, 

having faith that He will show me the steps I need to take in His time.

I am a C...

I don't know who wrote this poem, but a friend shared it on Facebook and I fell in love with it. I have seen similar ones before, but this one seems to really, truly capture how I personally feel about being a Christian.

I am a Christian

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."

I'm whispering, "I was lost;

Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

 I'm confessing that I stumble 

And need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I am not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak

And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

 I'm not bragging of success.

I am admitting I have failed

And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect.

My flaws are far too visible

But God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

 I'm not holier than thou.

I am just a simple sinner

Who received God's grace somehow!

This poem also made me think about how I present my Christianity to others. Am I actively showing the people I meet that these things are what a Christian is? Can they see in my life that though I still have hurts I run to Christ? That I don't think I am self-righteous but humbly seek to serve the One that made me righteous? That I am strong only when I rely on His strength? 

I think far too often Christians present the "outside world" with a smug, self-righteous, strong-in-my-own-strength warped version of Christianity that leaves them as disgusted as God Himself must be with such a hypocritical mindset. Could such a picture ever be appealing? Could it ever draw men in need to Him? Remember, Christians proclaim to be like Him. What others see in us will be what they naturally assume He is too.

Since Christianity is about all being like Christ such pride and arrogance as such a mindset displays have no place in His character and should have no place in ours either. Jesus was sincere, caring, humble, and down-to-Earth. He loathed the bindings of religious tradition because He recognized that they placed unnecessary burdens on people and served as roadblocks to God. 

The last thing that I EVER want to be is a roadblock keeping someone else from God.