God of the Little Things

Isn't it amazing to try to wrap your mind around the truth that God is so big that He made a universe millions of lightyears wide but can carry it in the palm of His hand--yet He cares about the little details in day-to-day life.

For each and every one of us.

Today was my "Little Blessings Day," so I shall call it. The Lord showed me through the little things that He cares and He wants to leave fingerprints of His glory all over my life. Even in those mundane, routine things like driving down the road, eating breakfast, or locating clients.

God is just good like that.

Stop and look around. See where He is leaving fingerprints in your own life. Take note.

Don't ever forget He is the God of the BIG things and the little things.

* Having good productivity today.
* Giving me time to get some paperwork done.
* Showing me moments where patience was being worked in me--and finding that it wasn't so hard when I let His grace work.
* A sweet co-worker picking up my favorite, sweet tea, when she didn't have to.
* Texts from precious friends encouraging me throughout the day.
* A calm assurance that everything was under control.
* Smiles and jokes from nurses who I never thought liked me just to serve as a reminder that relationships are forming.
* Sweet hugs and communication with very important people (my clients).
* A free bottle of water.
* A cool breeze blowing up just as 10 of us awaited the rest of the gang outside in the parking lot.
* Previously stated cool breeze remaining for the rest of the evening, with no rain, providing the perfect set-up for curb-side frozen yogurt with 13 friends!
* Stella begging to sit in my lap. Realizing that she has learned my body language...so words aren't even necessary.
* Safety on the road.
* Very little lapse between clients--no MIAs!
* Good attitudes and wisdom on how to redirect when folks weren't so nice.
* Reminders everywhere of the one true God who loves His creation!

Sigh

* i have graduated.
* i am now officially a speech-language pathologist (a.k.a. speech therapist)
* no, i haven't received my nifty name badge yet.
* stella is still very much alive and well. and she's got a cool bandana.
* i am not perfect. go figure.
* yes, of course i am writing in all lower case letters. why? just so you'd ask that question.
* as a matter of fact, i am sleep-deprived.
* how'd you guess?
* i have the cutest nephew ever.
* graduation gowns really are as hot as they look. it's the closest i've ever been to a sauna.
* chic-fil-a is only open til 10:00 on friday nights. even on graduation friday nights.
* if you wanna throw a surprise party, i'm the easiest target. completely unaware of my friends' plans. i even invited them all to my own party...without knowing it was my party. i've got some pretty clever friends. or maybe i'm just that clueless.
* overnight, my body decided it wanted to have a cold. *sneeze* see, it's official. i'm getting sick.
* i work an hour from my home and i drive through three counties every. single. day.
* gas is expensive (read previous statement).
* aww man, i ran out of black ink and i haven't printed my swallowing evals!
* paperwork is going to destroy me.
* walmart sells everything in every color.
* now my sentences are too random for even me to handle. i think i'm gonna say goodnight.

GOODNIGHT! (What? Caps-Lock missed me.)

Sales Representatives. *shakes head shamefully*

Me: "Hi, I just received an email saying I was going to be getting a monthly charge for a credit-tracking service I accidently signed up for while accessing my credit score. The email said I should call you if I didn't want to continue the trial. Can you help me?"
Woman with a foreign accent (henceforth called WWAFA): "Yes ma'am. I understand. One moment please."
...5 minutes later...
WWAFA: "I need your personal information in order to access your account."
(I give it to her.)
WWAFA: "Ahh, I see. Ma'am, did you know you did not see your credit report?"
Me: "No, I didn't know that because I'm pretty sure I did."
WWAFA: "No, Ma'am. Our logs indicate that you only visited the main home screen, thus only seeing a sample credit report and score."
Me: "Then why was my personal information on it? And why did it match up with everything I read on my free annual report? I'm confused..."
WWAFA: "Ma'am, are you signed into your account? Sign into your account and I will walk you through how to view your real report."
Me: "Okay...I'm here."
WWAFA: "Now, with our free monthly membership service you get exclusive benefits..."
Me: "Yes, I realize that, but I only access my information frequent enough for the membership to be beneficial to me...hey, that's not an example! I really did see my credit score!"
WWAFA: "Ma'am, are you on the main home screen?"
Me: "Yes."
WWAFA: "Well, do you see the 'View my Reports' button at the top? Please click on that."
Me: "Okay...yup, this is the same as what's on my home screen. I have seen all of this."
WWAFA: "Ma'am, you must click and view all of the pages of your report. See, we provide a detailed account of your credit profile and we offer..."
Me: (interrupting) "Ma'am, I understand what your membership offers. I read about it before calling you and realized I had made a mistake and signed up for something way bigger than I needed. I just wanted to see my credit score. I don't want to pay for some fancy doo-dad to track my every transaction when it's already being done for free."
WWAFA: "Just let me walk you through this. Hey--I'll give you the membership for 50% off. How about that?"
Me: "No. Will you please just cancel this membership? Please?"
WWAFA: "Of course, ma'am. I understand. Your membership has been cancelled. You still have access to your profile until the trial expires and if at any point between now and then you should change your mind, give me a call."
Me: "Thank you. Goodbye."

I just wasted 25 minutes of my life.

Let's Talk Politics

I don't talk political affairs, especially current ones, if you know anything about me at all. Every time I look or read something about it, I just get more and more leery of our government and less enthused about living the rest of my life here. That's why I don't talk about it. Terrible, I know.

I've always been proud to be an American, but the older I've gotten, the less proud I've been of the monkeys our people continue to put into office to make decisions for us. The less proud I've been of the people putting them into office, too. I mean, really, what are we thinking, America?!

I tend to handle conflict and obstacles like an ostrich handles fear of predators--I tend to duck my head in a hole and hope I'm not hurt too badly by what's going on around me. So whenever I read something I don't like about another ridiculous "plan" for our nation, another disastrous bill signed into law, or whatever the case, I close my eyes and hum a happy tune, trying to forget the words I just absorbed.

Of course I know that's a silly way to handle things--one that never really takes care of the problem--but it's just how I do it. You see, these issues are so much bigger than me that I feel overwhelmed at just thinking of the implications they'll have, let alone how I could help change them.

Government is going way too far, though. They seem to be screaming, "Force the people who have worked hard to succeed in this world spoonfeed their own hard-earned wealth into those who are not willing to TRY to do better for themselves." Government also seems to be shouting out, "Who cares about our old, sick people. They are better off dead and forgotten. Focus all our energy and money on the young, strong generations!" It is true that many poor folks are not brought up with a means of success without a lot of hard work, but let me tell you--it's possible. I'M DOING IT. So can any one else if they get up off their lazy behinds, stop taking handouts from a government so far in debt we are literally owned by other countries, and DO SOMETHING. Our welfare programs have enabled the lazy for too long. It was set up to do good, to encourage and strengthen people falling through the cracks. Instead, it has weakened them. It's given them no reason to want anything better for themselves.

Oh, and as for our elderly population who government wants to rob of the funding they've worked their tails off for--well, I wish those dumbconfounded government "officials" would remember they wouldn't be here without them. Our elderly are our parents, grandparents, great grandparents. They are the ones who taught us, raised us, cared for us when we were weak and dependent yonugsters. They didn't dump us in the streets and rob us of our needs. They cared for us. Now it's our turn to step up and repay them the debt we owe--our love, respect, care, and financial support.

I may regret this post soon for writing so soon after a flare of emotion from reading one more snippet of stupidity our government has bought into, but right now I don't really care. I just feel like ranting.

And now I shall share!

Incite Rehabilitation Services. That's who I'm going to work for after graduation.
It's the same company I've been interning with all summer.
And I'm more than excited about starting!

So, random news/thoughts from my head for today:
1. My mamaw won temporary custody of my nephew yesterday. Long story, but one I've been expecting since my sister's pregnancy. God has that sweet little boy in His master plan; I just know it!
2. Kumquat. It's a fruit, you know. Kinda like an orange. At least, that's what my friend said. A client, my supervisor, and I had an entire conversation about this strange thing--only to agree that we had all heard of it before but none of us had the slightest idea what it was.
3. I graduate in one week, two days!
4. I have five clocks in this house and they all have different times on them. They were synchronized at one point in time. Can't they all just get along?!
5. Nemo man had a heart attack trying to save the world from the Yogurt monster, so Oscar Wilde jumped in and saved the day. Moral of the story: Never underestimate the abilities of famous authors. Only Chuck Norris can overcome Oscar Wilde.
6. If you are clueless as to the meaning (or importance) of #5, then you should have been at CYC with us last night.