Arizona's Right To Discriminate Bill

Unless you've been living under a rock you've heard about a new bill here in Arizona, SB 1062, or as it's called the Right To Discriminate Bill. Let me give you a little background; I believe one of the springboards, among other things, was a floral company that is being sued for refusing to do the flowers for a lesbian wedding, citing religious beliefs. Now this isn't the first controversial bill passed here in the great state of Arizona, SB 1070 on Illegal Immigration was first, you can read my take on that one here.  As you know I am a Christian, so I thought I'd share my take on this, with all my wit & wisdom, (which you know I have a lot of both!) :) and how I believe all Christians & all Americans should feel & respond to this bill.

First of all let me start with a NEWS FLASH here for all Arizona Christian Business Owners: EVERY single customer you do business with, wait for it . . . is a Sinner! Shocking I know! But no matter how perfect you might think you are, take another look my friend. And these are the Very people you were put here to reach & to love! If you run a Business, then do business! (or don't!)

The scary thing about this bill is that if you really wanted to you could find a "religious" reason to not do business with anyone! The KKK is a religion to some people. Is it okay for them to discriminate against people not of their race? Many religions believe women are not equal to men, is it then okay for them to discriminate against women to "keep them in their place?" Whether that means not paying female employees the same as male, or even physical harm? I should hope not. This is a very dangerous path we are treading.

It brings to mind a singer from back in the 80's (you know I heart the 80's!). Steve Taylor was kind of a new wave Christian artist, to who's sarcastic style I could relate to. (In our house we call it Starcasm!) :)  In his song Guilty By Association he made fun of people who "will only drink milk from a Christian cow!" And another song, that just this past Sunday we sang in our Church by a group called For King And Country that so beautifully says, "Let my Life be the Proof, the Proof of Your Love. Let my Love look like You and what You're made of."

We, as Christ's Followers, are put on this earth to be His hands extended. To show His love to a hurting world. Mother Theresa once said "Find someone no one else loves & Love Them." Love is not just what God does, it's who God is! God is Love! And He loves us unconditionally. Not because we follow rules, or act or don't act in certain ways. We don't have to become something we're not to earn or gain Christ's love. In fact the Bible in Romans 5:6-8 tells us: ⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. You see, there is nothing we could do that would make Christ love us more! And there is nothing we could do to make Him love us any less. We should remember that when dealing with others. After all Christ died for them too! So what part of Love Thy Neighbor As You Love Yourself do we not understand?

Shirley Temple Black

 I'm so sad to hear of the death of Shirley Temple Black. I've always loved her & her Movies! I was always told I looked like her. (It was the curly hair, I'm sure) And then when my own daughters were little, strangers stopped them all the time to ask my girls if they knew who Shirley Temple was, because they looked just like her. These are My daughters we're talking about here, so of course they knew who she was! Click here for proof! :)

She was 85 years old when she passed away. She sang & danced into the hearts of all who saw her, becoming America's Sweetheart, one of the first real "Child Stars!" Becoming a multi millionaire by the time she was 12, continuing to do some acting as a teenager. She retired at the age of 22, going on to become a wife & mother. Surviving Breast Cancer as well.

As an adult she pursued a career in Politics. Becoming the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, and a United States Ambassador to Ghana & Czechoslovakia! She was also the first woman to be Chief of Protocol in the State Department. Talk about Girl Power! I sure wish child stars of today realized that there's more to life than fame, like Shirley Temple did! 

I've always loved Shirley Temple and all her movies. I have a few of them on VHS, which means I can't watch them anymore, having just a DVD player. (I know first world problems, right?!) :) But my all time Favorite Movie of hers is The Little Princess! There is no doubt she made the world a better place by being in it! She will be missed by Generations past, present & future. 

An Attitude Of Gratitude!

I have been out of a job for over a month now, & have been job hunting relentlessly. I've gone on a LOT of job interviews. Their are so many people out of work. The waiting is so hard. It's easy (especially for a worrier like me!) to get down & depressed. But as you know my word for 2014 is Hope! And as part of my Year Of Hope I'm choosing to look on the Bright Side. So for the Month of February I've decided to concentrate on what I do have instead of what I don't.

I'm making a list! Everyday of this Month I will write down something I am Grateful for. Because no matter how bad things get, there is Always, Always something to be Grateful for! And after all, February is the month for Love & Gratitude, right?! Some of you may keep a Gratitude Journal & do this regularly. If you don't you could start a list with me, or use a Monthly Calendar & write in everyday 1 thing you are Thankful for. It's early enough in the Month, you could easily catch up.

I think this is a great way to help me keep my mind in the right place! Staying Positive, instead of going negative. Which is sometimes the easiest way to go. Gratitude turns what we have into enough! And I'm starting the Month & my Gratitude list with each of my Family members. And I think as I ad their name to my list each day, I'll make each of them a list where I'll write down all the things I'm grateful for about each of them and give it to them on Valentines Day! 

Won't you join me in cultivating an Attitude Of Gratitude?! And start your own list of 28 things you are Grateful for in the month of February!

Superbowl Thoughts!

Now when it comes to the Superbowl, if my teams aren't competing that year, I always go for the team that either hasn't been to the Superbowl before or has won it less times. And this year that team was Seattle Seahawks. And Bonus for me, Seattle itself is one of my most favorite cities! So I chose to root for them! 

Inspired by Pinterest, I put together an outfit with Seattle colors that day! :) My team never wins, but this year they did! In a blow out game! (I think I found a new tradition, I'm gonna wear the colors for the team I want to win every year!) Who knew the Lucky Charm was hanging in my closet?! :) 

We had a fun little make shift Superbowl Party! (One of the pluses of having a lot of kids is it's always a party when we're all together!) We had John & I, our 4 kids & our son's Girlfriend. I made my Bar B Q cups, we had chips & salsa & a Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake. Yummy & Easy! Two of my favorite things! :) 

But of course, the real reasons I watch the Superbowl is the Half Time Show & the Commercials! :) And this year's Half Time Show was Awesome! Bruno Mars is an amazing performer! And there were some really good commercials this year! Here are some that were my Favorites . . . . .

My 5 Favorite Superbowl Ads of 2014: 

I'm a sucker for Nostalgia! 

And I loved seeing the "Reunions" of some of my favorite old shows! 

1. Greek Yogurt with the Full House guys! 

(You know you love Uncle Jesse too!)

2. Seinfeld & George! 

(To be honest I don't even remember what the Ad was for.)

3. Radio Shack "The 80's called!"

(You know I Heart the 80's!)

And I just Love Ads that pull at your heart strings!

If they make me cry It's just as great as making me laugh! 

4. The Soldier coming home to a surprise Parade!

(If you didn't cry in this one, you just didn't see it!)

And my most favorite Ad of all was:

5. Coke America Is Beautiful!

(Yes it is, and this Ad shows us why!)

I hope you enjoyed the big game, surrounded by Friends & Family you love. And tell me, what were your favorite Superbowl Ads this year? And FYI next years Superbowl is right here in Arizona! Yay! 

2014 Bookshelf Challenge

 

The other day I had a stack of Books beside me, trying to decide which Book to read next. One of my most Favorite things to do! :) When my son asked me if I'd heard about the Bookshelf Challenge. I said No, what's that? And he told me that at the beginning of the year, you clear off a Bookshelf, and as you read Books throughout the year, you put them on your emptied shelf, and at the end of the year you can look back & see all you've read this year!

I thought What A Great Idea! I'd love to be able to look back at the end of the year & see what all I've read that year! To sort of relive your year in Books! I'm game! So, lets do it! What do you say?!

I, for one read all year long! I almost always have a Book with me, and can read just about anywhere! For those of you who read on a Kindle or hand held device, maybe there's a virtual shelf you can create to list the Books you read this year! Or if you're on Good Reads, you can create a Bookshelf on there! Check mine out here. And Friend me while you're there! :) We can get Ideas for what to read next from each other's Bookshelves!

I'm on my 3rd Book so far this year! There will be times in the year, that you'll go through Books quickly & other times it will seem like you have no time to read at all. And both are okay! I'll check back through out the year to see how we're all doing, and what our 2014 Bookshelf looks like!

So, who's in? The Challenge is on! Lets read together! And make 2014 a Great year! 

Give Me Five: Life Lessons We Could Learn From Dennis Rodman!

Okay, yes, Dennis Rodman is all over the news right now. And well, I have more time on my hands right now since I'm not working, so why not turn him into a Blog Post?! So I've come up with 5 Life Lessons we all could learn from him! Yeah, you heard me, we can actually learn a thing or two from this character, so hold on to your hats, here we go . . . 

Life Lessons we could all learn from Dennis Rodman: 

1. It's Okay Not To Look Like Everyone Else! 

 Always be yourself! 

2. If At First You Don't FAIL, Try, Try, Again!

Now for most people it's the opposite, 

"If at first you don't succeed" but he did it backwards!

His succes came first . . .

and since then it's been failure

 

 after failure!

3. Never Be Afraid To Try Something New! 

Life, after all, should be an Adventure!

Why not? Take the shot! 

4. Keep Your Friends Close & Your Enemies Closer! 

Okay, so maybe he isn't the best example of Friendship

Nuf said! 

5. Always Think Before Your Speak! 

 If you want to actually be heard & taken seriously: 

Think first about what you want to say

and then use diction to actually say it! :) 

Okay, so there you have it! 5 Life Lessons we can learn from Dennis Rodman! Numbers 1 & 3 I actually like! :) Your Welcome!

My Word For 2014

Have you ever thought of picking a Theme Word for the new year? 

A word you'd like to live by throughout that year. 

I have! 

I remember giving my son "Find a Date in 2008!" ;) 

But this year I don't have a catchy slogan, 

just 1 word: 

 

Hope has always been one of my favorite words! 

When I was pregnant with Twin girls 16 years ago
who were due in mid October

I wrote in my Journal that if they were due closer to Christmas

I would name them Hope & Holly!

When 2013 ended with me loosing my job & my families Health Insurance

as a tried & true Worrier 

my first instinct is to crawl into bed & cry! 

And just stay there!

But you always have a Choice!

You can look at all the negative & dwell on that

or you can try to see the positive in things! 

I always try to be positive, but sometimes it's much harder than it seems. 

I've always said: When life hands you Lemons, 

throw them at someone!" :) 

Just kidding!

but the point is you can always find something positive in every situation! 

So, going in to 2014

I'm choosing to have Hope!

Hope that I'll find a better job for me soon! 

Hope that my family will be Healthy & Happy!

Hope!

I love the above picture, 

I put it as my Twitter Cover Photo at the beginning of the year! 

This year, I'm choosing to live on Hope Street! :) 

Because when you have Hope you have everything!

So what do you need in your life this year? 

What would your word for 2014 be?