Getting Ready to Conquer the World Around Me

It's been a busy day for me. I woke up, took a shower, got dressed and then went to the Library to print out my information packets from my place of employment. Getting prepared for my new job is a big job.

Then, I went to Walmart and bought socks, t-shirts, long-sleeved shirt with a collar, and a few other things I might need. Then, I went to the mall because I was looking for some new sweat pants and walmart did not have what I was looking for. I ended up going to JC Penny to get a hair cut.

I was looking for shoes, also. Still couldn't find the sweats I was looking for...

Went to Nelson's and got a pair that cost me over $100. Sigh...

Then went to Academy for my sweats. Does NO ONE make cotton sweats anymore? I don't like the ones I had to get.

Then, I went to my mom's to show her my new haircut. She liked it.

Then, on the way home, I saw my friends Fred and Gary walking on the side of the road. I stopped and gave them a ride to where they were going, then back to their apartment.

Then, I came home and went through my information packets and filled out the paperwork.

I'm done. I'm resting now.

Still anxious about tomorrow, though.

Whom shall I fear?

Today was a big day for me. I got notified that the job I was seeking came through.

I will be a correctional officer at a prison. I start training next week.

Look. Learn. This is what God can do!

10 years ago I was homeless.

6 years ago I was living with an abusive drug addict who took everything I made. I couldn't even wash clothes.

5 years ago I married Jesus.

I was broke, had no car, was behind on rent. had no clothes, had a part time minimum wage job, had no food....

God gave me a better job, helped me get a car, sent angels with food, clothes, and anything else I needed.

And today I have just acquired one of the highest paying jobs in the area, with outstanding benefits! I want for nothing!

God is so GOOD!

I've received a lot of support from my friends during all of this; though, not without a lot of warnings:

"Be careful"
"It's a rough place"
"Are you sure you want to work around degenerates like that?"
"It's dangerous"
"You could get killed, or worse."
"The pay is so high because of the (stuff) you have to deal with"

Yes. I've heard it all. And, I believe every bit of it is true. However, that doesn't deter me.

God would not have given me the job unless there was something there He wanted me to experience. Good, or bad, whatever doesn't kill me will make me stronger in my walk with the Lord, and as a light in this world. It might cost me my life, but I've already given my life to Him.

Someone in there needs me. My employers, the inmates, my co-workers, the lady who works in the kitchen, or the office...It doesn't matter who. SOMEONE is the reason I am going there. Maybe more than one person. Maybe all of them.

As long as God is with me and clears the way before me, I have to go.

It might be a week. It might be a few months. It might be a couple of years. I hope I retire from there...but even if I don't, I have to go.

Tonight I celebrated with my friends by going to eat at Golden Corral. WHAT A CELEBRATION! I made sure to give my testimony to the server.

Isaiah Chapter 43

Paying it forward...

Good morning, World!

Today, I am helping my friends move into their new home.

It is an exciting day!

One they have waited on for a long time!

I am so proud for them!

I feel so blessed. I just watched my friend's faces when they walked into their new apartment for the first time. The Apartment manager even helped them out by giving them dishes, blankets and an extra bed to sleep on (because there are two of them) and a couch and love seat and coffee table and kitchen table.

I cannot imagine the happiness they feel inside. I see it on their faces, and that is worth it all!

No more sleeping in a wet and moldy tent at a homeless camp. Now they will be warm and comfortable. They are already making plans for the future.

I'm so happy for them I could just bust.

I remember what it was like for me, when I was once where they are. God sent me help...I'm just paying it forward. And, I think I have two great friends for life. I thank God for that experience. It's the reason I felt so blessed today.

Employment and The Cloud

Hello, World.

I had a dream last night. A really weird dream.

In the waking world, I know enough on the computer to push a button and make something work. But, my knowledge of HOW it works, or why it works like that is lost. I have a website, and I know some basic HTML, but get me into CSS and whatnot, I have no idea what you are talking about...even though I know I use some of it without knowing how, when, or what it entails.

I guess you can say that God takes over my fingers on the keyboard sometimes.

Last night, I dreamed that everything I did ended up in "The Cloud."

I've heard of The Cloud. Never understood it. Didn't really know what it was. Wasn't aware that Google Drive (where I store a lot of my work in Word and Excel) was part of The Cloud.

My dream basically gave me the idea that a lot of my advertising campaigns could be done via the Cloud. Everything ended up in The Cloud was the message I was getting.

So, this morning, after I woke up and stirred around a bit and finallly got settled...I went on Bing and did some research into "What is the Cloud".

I was amazed at what I found out. And, the ideas it gave me...and the conspiracy theories.

Wow.

Last night, one of my friends had a great idea. If I fail to get this job, or it doesn't work out for me, I could always go to the Social Security Administration and fill out the paperwork to become his caretaker.

That wouldn't be a bad idea.

It isn't like he isn't eligible for one.

Hmmm.

Something for me to stew over...

I firmly believe that God puts people in our lives for a reason. These two stepped in mine at just the right time, on more than one occasion. Either for me, or for them.

Whatever, I am trusting God's plan.

Have a blessed day.

Bleak Horizon

Hello, World!

I just went and picked up my last paycheck at Denny's, came home and attempted to do some push ups and sit ups. Seem more out of breath today than usual...

I was going to go to Flower Acres to get some more produce...but I have decided to hold off. I have enough food for awhile -- and I may be moving soon. I don't know what is going to happen in the next month or so. So, I don't need to bring in anymore than I need to.

We recently changed owners at the apartments where I live. Now they want us to pay a "convenience fee" of $17 just to pay our rent online, and won't accept it otherwise. They also want us to pay our own electricity. All of my neighbors are moving away. I've counted 7 apartments emptied out just in the past few days. It's got me worried. PLUS, I am told that starting in June, I will have to pay 1/26th of the water bill. Not happy about that, either.

Yep, I can see that I probably won't be here very much longer, no matter what happens. But, first, I have to know what I have to work with.

I haven't heard anything yet about my job application. I won't know anything about it until Monday. May is secured, I think.

And, I've lost another 5 lbs.

Have a blessed day!

Leaning on Me...

Hello, World.

I finally carried out my trash today. I have a small leak or something coming from the bottom of my refrigerator, and my towels are wet. My neighbors are all moving away...

I am trying to help my friends to get an apartment here, but the apartment manager acts like she doesn't care about them, just their money. They have enough, but they won't have it if they don't get an apartment right now. They have to live until the next check.

So, I took them to my old apartment complex yesterday to see if they could get in. It looks more promising (and a whole lot cheaper).

In the meantime, I told them they were welcome to use my shower and do their laundry if they need it here.

Life sucks sometimes. I am thankful for what God has given me.

Have a blessed day!

Did you have a good Easter? I did!

Did you have a great Easter? I did. I have some homeless friends that came over for a visit, and I took them with me to my mom's camp site, where the family was gathering for a fish fry and Easter Egg hunt for the kiddos. It was exciting. 

​Mom offered to give $5.00 to the child who found the most eggs. That's Mom. She's always trying to make things exciting for the family. 

My friends really enjoyed themselves. 

Afterward, we came back to my place and watched almost all of the first season of Game of Thrones on my computer.  They don't have access to a TV or Computer in the tent where they live, so it was a treat for all of us: They got to relax and do something they don't normally get to do, and I had company to enjoy Easter with. 

I invited them to Church with me on Wednesday night. I hope they come. 

If That Mountain Don't Move

I recently quit my job at the restaurant where I worked. Last Friday, as a matter of fact. I decided to take a week off before starting to look for a job, since I have 2 months worth of bill money in the bank. I have until the 1st of June before I have to come up with rent again.

I enjoyed my week off. Then, on the following Monday, I decided to start at the top: the highest paying job I could find, with the best benefits.

The job is tentative. I have to wait on my background check and employment history check. That's the only thing I'm really worried about is my employment history. I have worked a lot of places in my life, and I cannot possibly remember all of them off the top of my head. But I did the best that I could do. She seemed less worried about it than I am.

I took my pre employment test and passed. I was surprised about that because the math part was pretty hard, but she said she was surprised that I didn't even use the scratch paper.

Anyway I'm trusting God in this, and just to show that I'm trusting God, I decided to go and eat at Golden Palace. I know I shouldn't have spent the money on this, until I know something, but I trust God that no matter what He's going to take care of me.

I will know something by April 10.

Nothing is written in stone yet.

I prayed before I went and I prayed after.

The rest, I figure, is up to Him.

The job will be demanding. It will require 6 weeks at a training academy, where I will run, do push-ups, sit-ups, and -- I'm sure -- a number of other physical as well as mental exercises.

I am almost 50 years old. I never figured I'd be going to "boot camp" at my age. And, I cannot imagine running a mile in 5 minutes. But, God put this mountain before me. He is either trying to teach me something, or to prove Himself. Either way, I am called to climb it.

This morning I woke up at 7:30 a.m.

For breakfast, I cooked me some fish and fried tators. It was a good breakfast. Then, I watched Matthew Hagee's sermon about God's belief in me. God will not give me a mountain that He does not empower me to climb, he said.

Powerful. I needed that.

After walking yesterday, my ankle felt like it was going to break every time I stood and put pressure on my toes. So, I stretched them all last night, and put as much pressure as I could stand on them until I could not stand the pain any more.

A good FB friend reminded me that that which does not kill me is given to me to make me stronger. So, I tortured myself.

This morning, I stood on my tip toes with no pain. But, it is raining outside. I cannot go for my planned walk today.

Instead, I got down on the floor and attempted push-ups.

Yes, I attempted them. I worked and worked at it until I was able to at least push myself up...on my toes, not my knees. The lowering myself was the challenge. I still haven't got that down yet...but I am determined to keep working at it until I do. Just not right now...I'm tired. My ankle has started to hurt again. More stretching and torture tonight...and possibly some more push-ups later today.

I tried sit-ups. That was even more challenging. I have not been able to do it without raising my legs to bring myself up yet. Still working on that too.

But, God does not put a mountain in front of me that He does not empower me to climb. God is my strength, and I refuse to quit without using all of the strength I have available, and then some if I am able. It's what God expects of me.

He'll let me know if I need to surrender. But, for now, I am called to fight.

Taking a break now. My website and GPTs are calling.

In reponse to 11-year-old Naomi Wadler's speech today in Washington:

In reponse to 11-year-old Naomi Wadler's speech today in Washington:

I represent all of those millions who were saved by guns. Not hundreds, MILLIONS.

Millions that you never hear about on the mainstream media. Millions who can sit and eat with their families and build memories. Millions who own a gun today.

I represent all of those church members who were saved by Stephen Willeford, the Texas Hero who used an AR-15 to shoot the gunman who murdered people in a church and planned to go to the church down the road.

We canNOT take guns out of the hands of innocent, law-abiding people. We canNOT criminalize those who wish to protect their families.

Those children who marched on Washington today may one day wish their neighbor had a gun.

I represent those people in Germany who gave up their lives because they didn't have a gun to defend themselves with -- because they believe they were giving up their rights for the good of society.

We do not have a gun problem. We have a heart problem. We have a sin problem. And, giving up our guns is not going to solve that.

Cain killed Abel with a Rock.

Creative Solutions

I just think people have lost their creativity. My ex said that AOL was created to keep people dumb...I didn't understand what he meant until now. Facebook is the new "AOL" (so to speak).

People don't have to create because it's already done for them. All they have to do is post, and then get used to Facebook telling them what they can post and what they can't.

I've seen LOTS of people get into facebook jail, only to come out and keep posting instead of getting mad and saying, "You know what? I don't HAVE to be here." Then go and create their own site where their friends can visit and people with similiar interests can enjoy it.

Google isn't the only search engine, but people have forgotten how to look for anything else. It's time to encourage creativity again.

People would rather gripe about how they are being treated by a site than rebel and go and create their own site, or organization, or network, or search engine, or newspaper...

If it seems that a person with certain political viewpoints don't have a choice in what they watch, or read, or the products they use, it's because they refuse to create something better to be an alternative. Why create, when they can use someone else's -- and fight to be able to every step of the way.

It just doesn't make sense.