Pay It Forward

It has been WAY TOO LONG since I have taken time to post anything here. I still check in on my favorite blogs (you can bet that if you've commented here or seen a comment from me I've lurked on your blog for the last few months). I'd say I was sorry for not posting more and for neglecting the blogging world without so much as a "see ya later", but that would not be completely honest. I've been crazy busy finishing my last semester of classes and even though I've done well, other things have taken priority to posting.

My marriage has taken some pretty big hits and I have a difficult time being positive. So rather than pretending to be up beat and joyously looking for God's hand and searching for "His plan" in all this. I've been silent. Who knows maybe I've been away for too long and no one even looks here any more. I can't say I'd blame anyone. C'est La Vie!

So what has brought me back to post, you may ask. The answer to that question is - Lizzy, at http://icecreamdiary.blogspot.com/ She has been the catalyst to my resurrection. Several weeks ago she named me as a recipient of her "pay it forward". A couple of days ago I received her gift in the mail. See the beautiful earrings and necklace? Isn't she just wonderful?

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you my fellow Ice Cream obsesser. I love them!

Since she chose me for this gift I've tried to think of something I could pass on to someone else. I think the general idea is to "Make" something. I used to be pretty creative but those creative juices have not been flowing very well. And I've got a couple of vague ideas. I'll put them to work this week and see if I can make something that I wouldn't be embarrased to pass on. Wish me luck.

P.S. If anyone is still out there after my extended absence, let me know. 'Cause I'll soon have three gifts to pass on.

Prop 8

Today while checking my e-mail I received these wonderful words. I have copied and pasted its content below. I stand on the side of what is right, moral and with that which is in line with the true nature of joy and happiness. To me it is obvious "whose plan" is being followed.


Subj: Prop 8 in California

I thought this needed to be read by everyone.
Prop 8 is the Amendment to protect marriage in California. The Mormons (LDS) were targeted because of their stand as a Church and as members of the LDS Church. The Temples in California were defaced by vulgar sayings painted on the property. Mormon Members trying to go into the Temple, were yelled at with quite allot of vulgarity, their cars hit and threats on their lives. The homes and property of those with a signs of support of Prop. 8 in their yard were vandalized. Emails were sent out by the opponents of Prop. 8 with a list of Mormons who had sent at least $1000.00 to help with the campaign to keep marriage between a man and a woman. The emails requested any dirt that could be found on the donors on this list returned to the opponents so they could use it to smear the reputations of that person. This is indeed a set back to religious freedom in America.
I thank John Schroder for his comments and hope we can all stand beside and support those who stand up against evil, regardless of their religion or skin color.
Dena

You might enjoy this article by John Schroeder who is a well known Evangelical writer and blogger. He writes his feelings in this article (from his Article 6 Blog) on the Mormons, Prop 8.
What A Long Strange Trip It's Been Posted by: John Schroeder at 07:09 am, November 6th 2008

Proposition 8 is now a part of the California constitution! That is probably the best news from an otherwise difficult election for conservatives and Republicans. In very large part, we Evangelicals must thank our Mormon cousins for that fact. They, along with our Catholic brethren, were better organized than us and that provided a base fromwhich we could ALL work together to get this job done. What more, as we have chronicled here, Mormons took the brunt of the abuse, derision, and even threats of physical harm that came with this effort.And like us, they have given thanks to the Almighty that is ultimately in control, even if their understanding of that Almighty is a bit different than ours. I cannot help but wonder how much more thankful we ALL might be today if we had been more willing to embrace these religious cousins a few months ago - but alas, politics is always about governing today and looking forward to the next election.
Said John Mark Reynolds: In the battle for the family, however, traditional Christians have no better friends than the Mormon faithful. It would be wrong if that support were taken for granted. We are intolerant of the false attacks on Mormon faith and family. We stand with our Mormon friends in their right to express their views on the public square. We celebrate the areas,such as family values, where we agree. A heart felt thank you may not win points from other friends who demand one hundred percent agreement from their allies, but it is thedecent and proper thing to do. Thank you to our Mormon friends and allies!Hard to do better than that. The "Ruth Youth" ministry proclaimed yesterday "International Mormon Appreciation Day." Very appropriate, yet still inadequate.In addition to our thanks, Mormons deserve our protection. They have been oppressed in ways during the Prop 8 campaign that this nation has not seen since the 1960's and the civil rights movement. The rhetoric has been deplorable, but moreover. we have seen instances of vandalism, property destruction, and some leaders in the fight currently findthemselves with armed protection because of the threats made against them and their families. Our nation will not and cannot tolerate this sort of behavior - it is incumbent on all of us to stand against it, and the best way to do that is to stand between the Mormons and the forces that would perpetrate such evil.Now I am sure the Mormons can, and probably want, to take care of themselves, but as a Christian, it is my duty to protect the innocent and free the oppressed. To turn a blind eye in this circumstance is not only ungracious, it is simply unChristian.Make all the theological distinctions you want, but in the political arena we are yoked with the Mormons (he said borrowing some religious imagery) and it is darn well time we started acting like it. Absolutely, positively thank the Mormons - but don't stop there. Stand up and be counted against the evil that has been perpetrated towards them in this campaign. As Christians we can do no less.