you just never know....

This morning as I sat in church, I was struck with a crazy thought:
how many important life changing things are said and people miss out because the people behind them are having a conversation? 

I wondered this as the people behind me started a conversation as soon as the sermon began, and it never stopped, even as we sang the last song. I was stunned at the conversation- having nothing to do with the sermon or church for that matter. I caught most of it- how could I not? They were less than 18 inches behind me and whispering had eluded them in the first five minutes. I considered moving to another seat, but I didn't want to embarrass my husband or cause yet another distraction for the speaker.
This was beyond candy wrapper or baby fussing noise- it was unnecessary conversation and the longer it went on, the more annoyed I became. I have very little patience when someone whips me out of worship without my consent. I thought about turning around and asking them to stop talking. I thought about saying something afterward.

 But mostly the part that bothers me is what I wasn't thinking- about what the speaker was saying. I missed writing down important scriptures. I missed a joke that was funny enough for my husband to snicker. I almost missed praying at the beginning. And I missed valuable time learning about my savior and his expectations for me as a parent, at a time when I am desperate for someone to tell me what to do with these pseudo-adults and teenagers I call my children.

If anyone has a clue how this feels, I am going to apologize right now. I do not like being distracted. I do not like it when grown adult people fall into the trap of conversing with their grown adult children about their cute grandbaby or after worship plans.

I cannot sit on this and be quiet anymore.

 I think it is rude, and I hope I have never done this to anyone, cost them their moment in worship. 

I get aggravated when people bring their kids into the service and let them babble the entire time. DOES ANYONE HEAR ME? I need grown- up- quiet- listen to the sermon time, and your kid needs to be in the nursery or classroom appropriate to his/her age. We have wonderful volunteers at our church in the education department. They work very hard to provide an exceptional experience for your children.

We also only ask for your silence for about 30 minutes, (if the sermon is that long)....I think if you want to have a conversation you can wait until its over. Or go to one of those empty rooms and chat it up.  Be my guest, really. Just please I am begging you. If you belong to a church, and you have something to say to the person next to you, wait until its over, or step into the hall.

Some of us just want to learn about Jesus, and maybe have waited all week long to hear more. We just cannot afford for you to distract us from our worship time- its too short and too important already. Our eternity could hinge on the very words the day you choose to talk.  

Plus did I say it was rude?
I thought so. 

You just never know when your actions will be distracting to someone else. 

Praying for those who miss out due to those who just don't care.

Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Greed.

I love to save money.
I even started a new venture for myself- extreme couponing...(more on that one later)
I love "black friday" sales, shopping with my hubby for that one thing we can save loads of money on , one time a year. It used to be  Barbie doll, or a special video game. One year it was a television for the family, another year it was a microwave for the kitchen. We bought a projector, boots, toys and coats one year.  Once we purchased all of the toys on a list of our friends- for her kids. 
We just don't stray from the craziness of "black friday" shopping. Coffee, breakfast, lunch and exhaustion. Fun with friends, family and strangers. Witnessing the best, and worst of people looking for a good deal.

Lets touch on that worst for a second. Retail stores opening on Thanksgiving day is absurd. It is the epitome of greediness and makes me throw up a little. I mean seriously.
Forgive me for being so blunt, but really? Wasn't the entire point of this holiday to celebrate the thankfulness of this great country we call America? Isn't it supposed to be about sharing a meal, a day, a moment of thankfulness with those we cherish most?  

Not this year. 

This year, almost every single dinner table will have a missing link. There will be a person who works for a greedy, over indulgent company that just can't wait 12 more hours for their "black" to begin. (in case you don't already know, the point in black Friday is the turn around from the years loss for businesses from being in the "red") I am almost certain those people will not be cheerful and happy, serving customers who are pushed into a corner to get "the best deal". After all, if this is when the "best" deals are offered, what choice does it leave the frugal consumer? Isn't that the reason why so many people shop at 4am on "black Friday"? 

Its a trap. 

A retail trap to get your money faster, earlier, easier. Its a nightmare. The one day set aside to celebrate the greatness of being thankful for the many things we have been given by our Father, and there are people who are going to support consumerism and go shopping instead. Family? out the window. Friends? Thrown under the proverbial bus for a few extra hours for fools and their money to be parted. 

It is a ridiculous notion to think that this concept is ok. I work a retail job, in a seasonal sense. I know how hard it is to schedule around the request offs of each employee, and to manage such a busy season. Between the demands of a retail store and the demands of a family, did one of these companies even consider the effects on an individual and their family? Did one of these companies even think for a moment of the hard work these people do on a daily basis, sometimes in not so great conditions, for the profit of the company? Juggling a retail schedule is no piece of cake. And asking your family to have Thanksgiving dinner without you is ridiculous.

Tradition is a big deal in a lot of families. In our family, the tradition of Thanksgiving comes before the tradition of scrambling to save some money on "black Friday".  Not only on the calendar, but as a choice. 

I refuse to work on this very important holiday. I made it known to my boss and she didn't ask me to, even though our store opens at 8pm Thanksgiving Day. I just do not believe at the end of the "holiday season" that the stores will see a huge increase over one day of shopping. Their best shot at an increase is to have a good relationship with their consumers, and by being family friendly and understanding the importance of both.


If you are working on Thanksgiving, I am sorry. You will not see me there, I promise. If it were up to me, we would all be doing our "Thanksgiving thing", whatever that means to each of us as individuals and families. And this does not mean working for corporate America or otherwise.

Praying for those missing out on Thanksgiving Day.

Today is .....

Tuesday. Today is Tuesday, right? Im having a bit of trouble concentrating on my work because I am thinking about a lot of things. Like my get-out of debt plan. Which isn't going nearly as fast as I like. And like the Jon and Kate misery. Im so disappointed in this entire situation. I mean, really. First I see people slamming them for the decisions they have made to do the show, then I see the blame starting..Jon had an affair, Kates a b*&%#.....to him. References to his 'bodyparts" being in her control, references to her being not very nice and him being a pushover.

COME ON PEOPLE!
Korea has a MISSLE aimed at HAWAII!!
IRAN is in yet another conflict that we are policing!
Kids in our nation have no food for dinner tonight!
There are JOBLESS parents going through circumstances that are OUT OF THEIR CONTROL!
I am sorry about Jon and Kate. I hate to see any marraige fail. But if they do not even want to try, then why should I be worried about it? It strikes me as so funny that those of us who will never have the opportunity to create a show about our family have the nerve to judge them at all! Not one of you can say you wouldnt have made some of the same decisions they did, when they were jobless with 6 new borns and a set of twins.....They did what they thought was the right thing to do in providing for their children.
Im not going to say Kate is perfect, and laid back(she is controlling, but she knows!) And if Jon had an affair, thats between him and God at this point. ( we will never know the truth, we arent him) I just see a lot of people getting high and mighty over something that deosnt impact them! Is anyone worried that in the entire show, not once was God mentioned? Not even the church they belong to or the faith they have/dnt have? Seems to me that in making the decisions to support their large family, and do the right thing by thier kids, they got lost- so now everyone gets to judge them and flog them for it? I think Im just irritated that yes they "put themselves out there" but even celebrities have the right to privacy. Maybe if we all butt out they will be able to focus more on their family, and each other. Maybe not. But dont they at least get the chance?

Ok so my ranting is over for now- about that.....Ive been out of the blogsphere for a few- had a lot to do. gOT THE KITCHEN PAINTED.. WAHOOO! So excited to get that done...cant tell you! I love freshly painted walls and the new clean look of it all...nice very nice.....

I miss being bale to comment- and I had a blog comment about firefox? Ill be making that switch this week- thanks to whomever mentioned it- cant believe i didnt think of it before!
I miss Ali- I need to go see her...and I need to get back to work...THanks for letting me rant!
John isnt home this week so I needed someone to yell at over this...LOL

Glad to be back!
Have a great week.
Ill have something awesome for tomorrows WFMW...I promise...:)

just so everyone knows- Im not a horrible yelling person. Im just frustrated over a lot of things and im hoping to vent on here without hurting nayones feelings or upsetting you. I treasure each opinion you all have, and even if I dont agree, I want to hear from you all!

*****addendum to previous post*****

As an additional thought- I hate Kates hair. I think its ridiculous..looks like one of the kids cut it with play doh scissors. But its her hair- if she wants to look ridiculous, then ok. Personally I think she needs to get back to basics, as a lot of women do, Im not giving fashion advice, Im just sayin- who looks like that with 8 kids? Only on television. :)