the gift. time.

Have you ever gone through your schedule (past) and tried to figure out how much time you wasted? Wasted being defining  as time you spent commuting more than 15 minutes to work, movies(more than one a week), TV, useless internet surfing, texting, sleeping (napping, when the rest of the world is productive, basically not at the usual sleeping time), etc. 

I did, this weekend. I figured out, just at one job that I have had for 6 years and worked about 3100 hours I have spent approximately 775 hours in my car going to and from work. That is a lot of time! An extra 1/4 of the hours I worked I spent in commuting to the job itself. There is a lot I could have done with that time. This is only the wasted time commuting to one job. I have spent many hours watching the Friend's series(all 10 seasons), Reba(four seasons), Mash(one season), Ugly Betty(one season), Gilmore Girls(two seasons), Three's Company(two seasons), Bewitched (one season), plus many, many movies. (All my TV watching is recorded. I do not have cable TV so it can be viewed when I choose). There is no way for me to count all those hours. My guess is that a low estimate is about 3000 hours over the last six years. 

That is almost as many hours I have worked at that one job. 

The next time you turn on the TV, get in your car for the one-hour commute, or what ever you find in your world that promotes wasting time think about your goals and dreams and what that bit of time could do for your and your your families' future and relationships. How can you harness that chunk of time and actually use it for your betterment? Either move closer to work or find a new job closer to home. Get rid of your cable TV, and read more. Turn off your computer when you find yourself on the internet "for something to do". 

*Please note: I do see that there is a need to "waste time" every now and again, a movie night once every two weeks to get away from the stresses of this world,  but it is the regular time wasting that can be corralled and used for the good of all those in your life. Have fun coming up with ways to use your time successfully and find more creative ways to relax.

What are you going to do to spend your time more wisely, from this moment forward?

busy

Busy. Life can get so very busy. Between work, school, kids, pets, extra curricular activities, and the little daily responsibilities the speed that life is happening can get away from us, until we do something about it. What does that end look like?

At this moment I currently am employed at six very different job sites. My goal, by July 2009, is to be down to the top two; I believe this will happen. I really can't wait to be given the gift of time!

Why do we let our worlds fill up to the point of feeling like we can't breathe? Why do we set ourselves up for this kind of schedule? Is it that we are trying to have a good life, a rewarding life, a life that makes an impact on the world around us? How does filling our schedule to the point of exhaustion get us to these goals? It doesn't; it does the complete opposite.

I would love to hear your rants and raves about this topic, as well as any hints on how to slow life down to the point that is can actually be enjoyed (in a relaxed manner).

blessings

Blessed. I believe that each one of us is blessed. It is a blessing just to be in existence. Think about all of the "unfertilized people" that could have been, but you were selected to be here and they weren't. I think that is pretty special. 

As we each go through the various stages of life, infant, child, youth, young adult, adult, senior citizen we have the opportunity to learn stuff and grow from life events. It is more-so after high school that we start trying to find our niche in the society we live in and are part of. Where do we fit? What job should I have? Whom, or should, I marry? Why me? Why not me? What if...? How can I...? Kids? No kids? I don't like my job, what should I do about it, if anything? Where should I live? How do I achieve my goals, dreams, and aspirations? These are only the start of the thousands of life pondering questions people ask themselves, regularly,  as they get older.

I find that at each milestone we pass we have the honour of looking back on a portion or the whole of our life story and celebrate the successes, learn from the mistakes, and start a new chapter or sub-title in our book. I see both successes and learning experiences as blessings, as these help mold us into who we will become; the person we are today.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to look back and see how very blessed I actually am. I have people who love me. I have a job(more than one actually). I have successfully lived on my own for eight years. I just got a raise in pay at work. My dreams and goals seem to be falling into place. I have friends that can make me laugh so hard I cry. I believe that God is taking care of all of us whether we acknowledge Him or not; He is there waiting for us to accept His gift of grace and forgiveness- this lifts a huge burden off one's chest when this gift is accepted. 

Now, I sit in the silence of my bedroom with a smile on my face, a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart, and quietly thank God for all of the blessings that have been granted to me.

"Thank-you, for everything!"

the fans

Hockey fans. Every city is different. Loud. Quiet. Positive. Negative. Supportive. Disconnected. Play-off fans. All season supporters.

No matter what the case I love the Edmonton Oiler's fans. They are positive, supportive, loud, strong, loyal, and willing to drink a city out of its beer (in three months) because everyone was watching the games either from home or at their favorite establishment (one with the game playing and room to sit)! As the visiting team, Edmonton Oiler fans are even louder and more positive than the fans with the home ice advantage; I have experienced this. I love how Oiler's fans tend to lift up their team instead of putting others down to show how great they are.

No matter which team is for you (no matter the sport) I challenge you to support, uplift, and cheer on your team. Great fans know what they have and have self-esteem about why their team is the best, ever. Poor-sport fans need to tell you of the bad things about another team, no matter if it is true or not and don't really cheer their team on; they are too busy trying to put down the other team.

What kind of fan are you? is your team better for your support?

ps... Go OIL!

done.

I have spent most of the day, this does not include the two episodes of Three's Company I watched as a break and lunch hour, cleaning my place up. It is basically done too! Yea!

Have you ever noticed that you have more energy after spending a lot of energy cleaning something up, especially when it is something important to you or you have put off doing for a while. It may be that the end result is worth it, or maybe it is something like the math of energy that goes with doing actual exercise; one usually has more energy after exercising. It has something to do with the chemical release in the body during exercise.

No matter what he case I am proud of the little mountain I faced and climbed today. What about you? Is there something in your day that you are proud of? Your week? Your year, so far? Your life? If you think hard enough I bet there is an answer to all of those questions.

Congratulations!

why?

Why? Why do people do what they do? I have come to understand why people wear what they wear, but I don't understand why some people do what they do.

I believe, that on any given day, people try to look their best; this varies with the day and situations that person are facing. With that being said, depending on their resources (clothing, accessories, income), their state of mind (sickness, drugs, depression, etc.), the weather, their location (country, city),  their natural attributes (hair, loss of hair, height, size, weight, eye sight, etc) social status, social grouping, and more will determine how one will dress for that day. No matter what the variables, I believe that everyone looks the best that they can for that day in time.

What I don't get, and may never understand is why people do what they do. The other day it was raining; there was even a thunderstorm. I was dropping a co-worker off at her house and I looked up and saw this lady with a plastic shopping bag all the way over her head. She was waiting to cross the street. The bag engulfed her whole head, front and back. She was even holding the handles in the front of her face to the point that she could breathe through the small opening near her hand and she could see out of only one of the handle holes to see where she was going. I don't know about how you were raised, but I was told never to put a plastic bag on my face, and especially don't hold there if i did. I understand that it was raining, but newspaper, old magazines, and even umbrella's from the dollar store work just as well, or even better than a plastic bag, which probably has small holes in the bottom, or now the top, of it any ways.

As you go through life don't judge people for what they do; they are doing the best they can with what they got on that day. Rather look into the soul of the person who is unique and smile, and love them for who they are. In God's eyes each one of us are special and deserve respect.

Pop Rocks!

This week I experienced something that reminded me of the childhood candy "Pop Rocks". It was not the food that was familiar this time, but the sensation that goes along with the popping part of the candy. Over the past year I have experienced "pop rocks" in a few forms; I am not keen on all of them.

1) the candy itself. It was muck more fun as a child to put a substance in one's mouth that reacts with the saliva in the mouth and causes the product to actually pop. The entertaining part comes when one tries to speak while this popping sensation is taking place. It is also a sensation that makes my eyes tear. The taste of the candy isn't all that fabulous though. It is the popping that makes this candy worth my time.

2) then there is my favorite, the medical kind. The professionals hand you this cup of "special" pop-rocks, which you are to swallow, without liquid. This tends to be difficult, especially since the special pop rocks absorb all the saliva you got. You got to put it back as fast as you can, at that. Once you are able to get the stuff into your stomach the feeling of bloating sets in, but, here is the kicker of it all, you cannot burp. You must find a way to keep all that pending gas in your stomach till all the tests are complete. This is really hard to do. Every time you open your mouth and talk there is an undertone of popping coming from the depths of your insides, and for which you have no control over, except for the part of keeping your mouth closed in an attempt to keep the burps in you ever expanding gut. Again, the taste is nothing to be desired, but the results are kinda fun! I did have a lot of fun consuming this cup if special pop rocks! I don't recommend it, as they go with medical tests, which is the scary part of the whole thing, but at least the tests are... positive memories.

3) the last kind of pop rocks, that I have experienced, was on the outside of my face. That is no typing error; the outside of my face was the last place I have experienced a sensation such as this candy I speak of. I was going up a chair lift at a ski hill; it was raining, hailing and snowing. all of which were being pelted at my chin, as I decided against a scarf that evening due to the huge amounts of rain. The pieces of down pour were making contact with my wet, dripping, face. I was being pelted at the same rate that  the popping sensation of pop rocks in the two afore mentioned pop rocks experiences. But this sensation was not subject only to the chair lift. It got to be more intense when skiing down the slush filled ski slope. I do not recommend this form of pop rocks; this one hurts. On that note, I do recommend skiing though. It is great exercise and s much fun!

No matter if you know what I speak of or are looking to experience all three, pop rocks has made it's way into my life, and now yours, and that's about all I have to say about that, for today.

Cheers.

Not tonight...

Hey! I have this really great thought to share, but it is going to have to wait, as I have found another.

I recently (as I type) have realized how much I really dislike split keyboards. It is just societies way of showing those of us who are what I like to call "creative typers" how bad we really are at "the propper way" of typing. I am not going to even fix the mistakes I make in tjis entry; which by the way is really hard to do; it is against my perefctionist side. I blame them, the mistakes, on th keyboard, and those people whoi thought this would be a good idea... who ever you are, take that!!

Grrrrr.....

me and my long neck

Have you ever had someone, or even yourself, notice that one part of your body is a little, let's say, awkward? I had one part of me pointed out by a doctor that makes me smile and I thought I'd share it with the world!

* I need to set this up with letting you know that just before the following event happened the doctor started by saying, "You look like a smart young lady" and then ended that spiel with me feeling quite insulted and feeling that he had set me up to throw me down. His statements were clear; I was not as smart as he thought; my opinions were wrong. So I already was not all that impressed with this doctor's people skills*

I went to the doctor for various things, one being the fact that I couldn't bend my neck without great pain; I couldn't bend it as far as I should be able to, or anywhere near that point for that matter. He poked at the area for about thirty seconds. I asked what he thought. He gave me the following answer...

"Your neck is too long. People with long necks get neck strain."

My neck is too long...?! What crazy diagnosis is that?!  What, all of a sudden, you know after twenty-nine years, my neck decides it can't hold my head up any  longer? Right! That is totally it! I don't know why I didn't think of it myself and save about thirty minutes of my life, which I could have spent deliberating what to do with my long neck. Honestly! Needless to say I will not return to this doctor, with my long neck. :)

So with that note, me and my long neck are out of here... I would love to hear the odd-ball comments people have made to you!

Cheers.

pointed finger

Have you ever had a day where your flaws had been pointed out to you? You know, the "aha" day when you realize what you have been doing, for a while, is wrong. When something is said that makes you realize that what you have done in the past was not right and that something needs to change, immediately? I bet you can remember right now a day where this has happened to you too.

I love it though, how our conscience works like that. I love it how there is the whisper in the wind, a still small voice, that helps us through our personal and moral growth; the gut feeling that teaches you a lesson.

Today was one of those "pointed finger" "rotting gut" "teaching moment" days for me. What I did was done in innocence, but still it was not right. The best part of it is when I ask for forgiveness I am forgiven and the sin is forgotten, sent to the bottom of the deepest part of the sea! Never to be brought up again!

I am someone who learns lessons easily. I find this is especially true when my conscious plays a part in the teaching point. I know now that I will not make those mistakes again, and that I am a better professional for it! 

Do you learn from those moments, or do you let them pass you by without learning from them? 

*Just a thought for today*

today's overload

Why do we have to be so busy now days? So many of us have more than one job, or too many hours in a week for the rest of our responsibilities. Most of us have more than one form of technology that we tend to multiple times throughout the day. Sometimes we even find it hard to find time for our hobbies and time to relax.

With everything going on now days (Internet, email, TV, video games, Iphones, cell phones, digital photography, and so much more) I believe that we need to find time, everyday to just stop and turn it all off; to not be on the computer, watching TV, or listening to music. Just to be left to one's own thoughts. This will be hard to do at first, but the more you try this the longer you will be able to go in silence.

It is in the silence that we are able to think clearly, to pull our situations into reality, to relax.

Did you take time for yourself today?

The Semi-truck Driver

Tonight a friend of mine called me in a complete panic: screaming into the phone. She had just been, basically, run off the road by a semi-truck with a trailer. She was very scared and angry at the driver and his extreme lack of driving skills. He had come into her lane while she was half-way up his truck. She used the shoulder of the road to get around the truck, barely. She was a bit shaken to say the least.

I need to interject here that I adore some of the truck drivers on the roads, as one is my dad and one is my brother. I love them dearly and know that they are very good drivers. But at the same time I have met (with my car) some of the drivers who should not have a license; in my opinion. They do not seem to care who is any where near their truck, no matter the distance. They tend to drive how they wish, because they can get away with it because of their size and weight, and they know how to drive their vehicles; they are professional drivers by trade.

One summer I was driving from Sherwood Park, AB to Hope, BC to start my summer job. I was still a relatively new driver, only had my license for about two years, and I got to drive through Banff National Park *Side line* If you get the chance to go there do, it is amazing! One of Gods' natural wonders that is there for us to explore*. Within the National Parks (you go through many between Calgary and Kelowna) the majority of the highway is a two-lane road. Growing up with a truck-driver as my dad I have learned how to understand why Semi-trucks will do some of the things they do, and this is how. We got to this one passing lane, I was in the right lane, and a semi was coming up behind me in the passing lane, in the left lane. I had just passed the "passing lane ends in 200m" sign and wanted to move over; I put on my turn signal, but the truck was not slowing down. He was speeding up in-fact. I was running out of room and did not want to end up as the next bug on the front of that truck's moose bumper. At this point I should share a bit more about the roads. They have itty-bitty shoulders for one to drive on in case of emergency, and the roads were not all planned well for the conditions that the mountain passes experience. They built long bridges- which ice up often- with corners at the bottom of long steep hills. They put the ends of passing lanes on the tip of corners; that is where I found myself as this Semi passed me, at the very end of my lane on a corner with no shoulder. Awsome! 

I am a very safe and courteous driver; my dad was next to me reading a magazine and did not realize the situation till I forcefully jammed on the breaks and came to a sliding, due to the lose gravel under my tires, stop on the edge of the highway looking over a small cliff. I was not impressed to say the least. I took a deep breath, shoulder checked, signaled again, and got back on the road. I explained what had just happened to dad and he took the side of the truck driver who basically ran me, and him, off of a mountain highway. This was his reasoning (meaning dad may have done the same thing): the driver knows the road well- he drives it very often. He knows when the big hills are coming and when to drop a gear, or five, to slow down. This trucker knew he needed speed to get up the next hill (which I was now currently climbing) with as much ease as possible, for his load. I still wasn't impressed with the events that had taken place. I understood why it happened, but I still thought it was, "so not cool". The rest of the trip went well and we enjoyed traveling together through the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

So what did I learn? To know what is happening around you, even though you are only responsible for your vehicle, know who is going to hinder your chances of arriving safely to your destination. Learn how to read the traffic around you, and then adjust to it appropriately. When you see that someone may cut into the lane you are in, hold back for a few more seconds, because most likely that driver will come over. When you see a semi-truck has its blinkers on give it space; this may mean speed up, slow down, honk your horn to tell him you are there, flash your lights at him to tell him of your presence, and or be ready to make emergency maneuvers as needed; know where you can go to avoid a situation AT ALL TIMES!

That is my little tid-bit of wisdom. Drive safe. Drive defensively, vs reactively. Get to where you are going alive; you are worth more to the world that way!

Cheers.

The Man

This morning at church I saw one of my friends show a child the picture of Jesus off of the bulletin. She was not sure that the child knew who the photo was of, and this got me thinking about when I was a kid.

I did not go to church much, just when family came around, but I knew that Jesus was a big part of what went on at church. I knew "Jesus Love Me", "Jesus loves the little children" (also known as Jesus loves little Jody!), and "Zacheous was a wee little man". As you can see I totally understood the whole religion thing early on! Or not. I'll tell you why. For the longest time, like years, I could not figure out how there were pictures of Jesus in churches- or any where for that matter. No, really. He was God and (in my head then) no one had ever seen God, so if Jesus is God how can we have any pictures of him at all.

I slowly got a better grip on the whole thing as I started to actually attend church in grade seven. I then came to understand that Jesus is the Human form of God and actually walked the earth with normal people like you and me. that is how there are pictorial concepts of him. But I still love how children try so hard to understand what we think they understand, but can't, as the concepts are too abstract for their mind development at that time. I guess that is why we only teach the basics to the kids. It makes sense.

What ideas or comments have children (or yourself as a child) said to you, or done, that shows their effort at understanding the world around them? Tell me about it!

Your Turn...

Randomly I am going to ask for your participation in my blog, as many of you out there have not been commenting on the posts, so I do not know you are out there contemplating the thought I had that day. This is one way for me to know I am not wasting my time, and also to read about what is going on in your mind on that day in history.

So here is the low-down.

1. you get to choose the topic.

2. it cannot be inappropriate; children may read this.

3. there can be no cursing or swearing

4. just have fun with it!

now... GO!

the poles: not North or South

"My name is Jody, and I use ski poles when I ski." Ahhh, now that that is off my chest let's continue with the thought. Today while skiing a new friend of  mine mentioned how it was the first time she had ever used ski poles while skiing. This may seem weird, but as a beginning skier the teachers start you out not using poles; it's a "cool points" thing, or something, you know, "I don't use poles, nana nanana." or it could be a newby balance thing; whichever! She hasn't quite figured out what to do with them yet.

But I have!

I remember, back in the day, even after I could ski rather well, I would still opt for not using the gear which is placed in each of my hands. But now that I am, well, let's tell the truth, an amazing skier I know why skiers carry poles. Advanced skiers use poles as their security blanket, in a matter of speaking. As you become more confident, you tend to risk your life a bit more. This can cause for some rather hair raising, heart pounding, hand shaking long after the maneuver, kind of experience(s). This is where the poles come into play. The more you realize that if something does not change right now that that large pine tree is going to end up right between your eyes the more you rely on your poles to bring you though the situation, on your feet, preferably. You do not depend on the poles for planting and turning at this point. Oh, no, at this point they are for you to hold on as tight as you can so that you, hopefully, can keep it together long enough, not to die. Every time you get out of your comfort zone there are two thoughts that go through your head, when your poles are doing their very best work for you, "I am going to die" and "that is really going to hurt... a lot", and in that order!

So next time you are on the mountain don't judge those who do not carry ski poles... pass them screaming your loudest war cry, as they are most likely snow boarders and that is just plain fun!

 

Play hard! Ski! (with poles!)

The wait...

It is over there, just taunting me. It wants my attention, but I cannot give into the pressure. I can't let it win. It wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be fair. It is no where near ready yet, but it must be; time has passed since it all got going. There is 23 minutes left. Can't touch it, but I so want to sneak one peek; just one. What will it hurt? Honestly? No one that I know. What if it wrecks everything I have worked so hard to accomplish? I want to, no, need to be successful at this this time. I will win! I will persevere! I will not let it win. 

I will not open the lid before the instructions say so. I can do this! I have 20 minutes to go now. When will this torture be over? WHEN! Every time I look at the pot I think, "I better check it so it doesn't burn to the bottom (again)". I don't though. Don't look over, Jody. Stay strong! Why does stuff that is good for you have to teach you lessons, and usually take so long to complete? Grrrr!

Finally the timer went off! I still can't open it up, as I just need to re-set the timer and start making the rest of the meal. Okay, so the instructions say 10 more minutes. I am going to only put 8, that way it should be done and I should be able to save it from the trip directly to the garbage can, instead it will take the scenic route. Go check the timer. It must be time. It's not, but it is getting close! Yea! There it is, the timer has gone off. Open it! Open it! Now stir it... Shoot! stuck to the bottom; it is not black and crusty though, so good job, Jodes! "Thanx!" *Self- High-five!*

Rice, it tests how strong your will is. Can you persevere, or will you give in to the pressure of doing what you have been told you cannot do. It is like when your friend says, "don't look now, but that guy behind you is the one I told you about from High school where he took his pants off to get his name on a trophy of a woman's leg * AKA Miss Grey Mug!*" You know the first think you are going to do is look! So why do they force you to not touch the lid to that pot of rice for 50 minutes? That is a long time! I conquered the rice tonight. I just hope I can next time!

Happy cooking!

Bananas... not safe for your health

While eating my banana this morning I thought about the time a friend told me how dangerous the banana business is. I had never thought that bananas could hurt you; well, they don't, directly.

Her friend had started a new job at a grocery store in middle BC somewhere. He was asked to unload the banana truck, so he went out to do just that. Another staff stopped him before he opened the doors of the banana truck and he wouldn't let him open the doors till he was wearing protective gear to cover his whole body. What is the big deal; they are bananas, not man-eating polar bears or something. None- the-less he went and put on the gear, and good thing too! As he opened the doors to the refrigerator truck Tarantellas jumped on him, from the door of the truck.  These are the real, south american, poisonous spiders, JUMPIG on his body. The spiders are in the banana bunches when the truck is packed, and then retreat to the door as it is the warmest spot in the truck.

So next time you want a banana, think about the spiders that once crawled all over it! Enjoy! lol...

S-N-O-W!!!

Snow. There is nothing like it. White. Cold. It falls from the sky. There are no two same designs. You can play in it. You can play with it. You can eat it, too. It can save you. It can kill you. Nope, nothing like it.

It is something I truly get excited about... every time it comes down (even if I have to drive in it)! Do you have something in your life that brings you back to the excitement you felt at age eight just before opening the first Christmas gift of the year (which you had not peeked into previously to this event)! Your heart beats faster. Your eyes widen with anticipation (How much snow do we get this time?! Is there going to be a snow day where I can go make a snow-woman?!).

If you don't know what brings you to this state, I hope one day you find what it is for you, as there is no feeling like it! Well maybe one... ;) (ask me the answer- don't assume! )

shoes.

Before I begin, I would like everyone of you to know that I do not consider myself a "shoe connoisseur", at all. I am the girl who finds one great pair, and wears them till they die, then, painstakingly, try to find the next really great pair that I will wear to the very end... and so the cycle of my shoes go. I do own quite a few pairs of shoes, ironically, but this is because I have a hard time throwing out the old pairs that I replaced, as well as I have shoes for specific purposes (hiking, running, work, beach, and so on).

Now for today I would like to throw up the idea that everyone, men and women, need to have one "fun" pair of shoes! You know the ones that have a great colour that make a statement; the ones that have dinosaurs on them and some how come with a musical action and a soundtrack to the voices in the shoe; the ones that make your whole body relax and melt due to the sensation that your feet experience. My favorite ones are the ones I call "happy shoes"; these are the pair of shoes that when your day is hard, or the weather could be better, that you put on and no matter what happens while your feet reside in those shoes nothing can or will go wrong.

With that said, please don't use this thought as permission to go find and purchase your first, or fifteenth, pair of "happy shoes". Most people, women mainly, don't need another pair of shoes... just because. But if you do make this a mission of yours, don't rush into it. It is like buying a new stuffed animal (Muk Muk!); you need to find the perfect companion to suit the situation at hand.

Good Luck! Let me know how your search goes!

*Mine are white/ maroon Adidas dress shoes. It is for the comfort, and the change from the other pairs I have- which tend to be all the same colours... (they match everything that way! this way i don't need to have so many pairs. practical.)

The Lesson of Patience

Why is that all the people who seem to not be able to drive are always in front of me. It is a very regular occurrence. There is this one Highway near my place where this law of slow people is almost a pre-requisite for using the Highway. Seriously.

The speed limit is 80km/hr or about 50miles/hr. That is great; it's a nice speed to get through town on, no? It is. When people go the speed limit, that is. On most roads there is a problem with speeding; going to fast. Not this one. It is the opposite. 

I have found that there are three, two unofficial, speed limits for this road. 

1. 80km; the actual posted speed limit. This is posted often along the length of this Highway.

2. 100km; on the off day, usually later at night, the drivers tend to read the same 80km sign to say 100. 

3. 60km; it is not 75 or 70, not even 65. When people go under the posted limit on this Highway(the word highway is in its name) they go way under. at this speed the driver is doing 20km/hr under the limit. Twenty!

I do not know what is special about this special number, 60, but it does not fail that if the driver is going less than the posted limit they are doing 60-63 km/hr. It doesn't even matter how many times I flash my high-beams at them, just before the speed limit sign to draw their attention to the sign-age on the side of the road. I have literally been behind drivers doing 60 and we have passed the speed limit sign... three (3) times, and nothing. Every time we pass another sign I get a bit of hope that they may realize the discrepancy that has arisen. No such luck.

That is where the teaching of patience comes in. It seems that, without fail, when I am driving to or home from church that I seem to place myself in line behind one of the 60km/hr drivers. Each week I try driving the same Highway thinking this week will be different; it can't happen to me every week. Can it? It rarely comes to pass that the driver(s) ahead of me do the speed limit on Sabbath. They too, without knowing it, are resting their cars from doing all they could do. That is thoughtful! Each time I get into this same situation I pray for patience, as I don't get it. Why is it so hard to do the speed limit?

If you know why this phenomena happens please enlighten us. If you have a theory, please share. 

In the mean time, till this issue of speed, or lack of, can be fixed, please have patience with the driver ahead of you. It is not worth risking your life over (driving recklessly) to get around this driver who is teaching you this lesson, of patience.

Friends

Have you ever realized how lucky you are to have, at least, one really good friend? You know, the one who can get you to the point of almost peeing your pants because you are laughing so hard; the one who knows, from an email, that something is wrong; the one who you look forward to spending time with- as much as you can.

I have been blessed with a few of these kinds of friends throughout my life. I am who I am today (Really fabulous! Funny! Cute! Funny!), partially, because of those friends. I want to challenge you to go out and find that person, or people, who just makes you a better person, who challenges you to be who you truly are, who you let a fart out around and feel like you aren't being judged. Your life will only be better for it. I mean you get to strengthen relationships you have, or meet a lot of really interesting people in the process. The end result is so worth it!

These people who become your best friends are the people who you will always remember. The moments you have will be looked upon for years and just by telling the stories it will make you cry, with laughter, all over again. Those moments are priceless. Don't miss out on them just because something is on TV. Call. Write. Meet. Share. Laugh. Cry. Love.

Remember to tell your loved ones what they mean to you. Life wouldn't be the same without them!

*Remember to smile... it makes people wonder what you are up to! *

Cheers!

Test, test...

I was looking over my brand new blog site and realizing that with a title like, "for today", I really should post a new thought each day, for that day. So this is a test, as I am still very green in the ways of blogging, and what not.

3... 2... 1... Heeerrreee wwweeeeee ggggooooooooooooOOOOO! (so exciting!)

Why is it that so many God-fearing Christians don't follow all of the 10 Commandments? Most follow nine, but say they follow ten but still not keep the sabbath day, on the day it is to be celebrated. I know that a lot of it has to do with the teachings of the ministers/ pastors, but why do people not search out the truth for themselves? God challenges us to seek his face. With that process comes knowledge, and with that comes conviction to follow His will for one's life (to follow ALL ten commandments). 

I truly hope that people will read this and do some research on what it looks like to keep all of the commandments; it is the fourth commandment that separates God's people from the ones following Satan.

May god bless your search for his Truth, not the truth that the world sells us.

Cheers

(sorry it wasn't a lighter topic :P)

The First

This is the first blog Jody has ever written, or posted. She is not sure what she thinks about it, or why she is referring to herself in third person. She will stop that, now.

I have determined that in today's society, and with the levels of technology, it is an important skill/ hobby to have; this blogging thing.

I see this blog a space to present my random weekly, or more often, randomness that goes through my head, depending on the day will depend on what is posted.

I hope you all enjoy it and come back regularly to find out what is like to be in the head of Jody!

See you soon!