What does a family look like?

What does a family look like?

I often wonder this…mostly because I have a minuscule family. By minuscule, I mean my mom, my brother and I. If you add the word extended to this term, as in extended family, I have a sister-in-law and a niece. That is it.

I tried to look up the word family on both dictionary.com as well as Merriam-Webster.com, only to become more confused than I already am. There are about 10 definitions on each of these sites…not to mention more under such sub-categories as nuclear (family), cartoon (family), (family) tree, (family) values and on and on and on.

So, I thought I would try to make my own definition and put into words what I believe makes a family. I believe we are all one big common family and anyone who is close to us or wishes to become close to us are considered family.

Best example is my best friend Crystal’s family…where my family is minuscule, theirs is enormous…must be 100+ close relatives on each side (or so it seems). Growing up, they embraced me as one of their own and treated me as such. Today, I still consider all of her family my own.

Then there’s my church family. These are the ones that I participate in church with and serve alongside and try my best to be of service and an encouragement to. These are too numerous to name, but you all know who you are. We pray together, we worship together and we serve HIS kids together. We are doing life together.

To me, family is more a set of characteristics than an actual listing of family lineage. There are many different things we can add to this list, but here are the main characteristics that I would have to say that my entire family (this includes my nuclear family, my best friend’s family and my church family) shares:

* Family celebrates with you & celebrates one another (without malice or jealousy).

* Family is your “soft place to land”…they are the ones who will comfort you and when ready, will be the ones to pick you back up & help you dust yourself off and move on. (In other words: they have your back!).

* Family accepts you as you are…I will say this again, because it’s so huge…FAMILY ACCEPTS YOU AS YOU ARE!!!

* Family loves you unconditionally…even when it is almost impossible for you to love yourself.

* Family always wants what’s best for you…trust this (and because you trust this, you can always count on the advice or constructive criticism they give you).

These are just a few thoughts that have been swimming around my head, I am sure you have some of your own. Please leave a comment and share them!

-Gina

Thank you for being a friend...

Thank you for being a friend,
Travel down the road and back again,
Your heart is true,
You're a pal and a confidant...

I just read that Bea Arthur passed away this morning. So sad...what an amazing talent she was!

I grew up watching The Golden Girls and still try to catch it in reruns when I can. I defy anyone to tell me they never watched it. (I know, she played in Maude first, but frankly, that was before my time!)

Rest in peace, Bea Arthur!

-Gina

P.S. - Did I get that song stuck in your head? It's stuck in mine now!

Words to live by...

Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)
I know what it is to be in need and know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

This passage holds special meaning for me. For those of you who don't know, I lost my job at the end of March. I am one of millions who have lost their job, but am not struggling with it as much as I anticipated.

A few months ago, while in a book study, I saw this passage with new eyes. For some reason, I felt compelled to copy it onto my white board at work and place it within my eye line. Since I was a kid, I had Philippians 4:13 committed to memory. But with new eyes...a verse I had heard many times before struck me(verse 12). The whiteboard with this and other quotes and scripture hung in my eye line until that very last day @ work.

You know what, I LOVE this passage...it reminds me that no matter what, I will be OK.

I KNOW there was a reason that God put this in front of me each day...as if He was preparing me for what was to come.

People have asked me how I am doing, and I am not lying when I say I am doing well. Yes, things are tight...but I really am OK, because emotionally and mentally I am good. He has provided me with some wonderful learning opportunities, amazing friends and family (including those I serve alongside, whom I have to come to view as my family). Plus, I have learned a lot about myself through this process.

I really think that I have taken more time to stop and smell the roses in the past few weeks than I had in a couple of years. I don't take things for granted anymore. I am focusing more on the journey than the task at hand (in everything). Through this, I have learned that the real beauty is in the journey itself.

A funny thing happened to me yesterday...I ran into someone I had only met a couple of times before and he asked me why I was always so cheerful...I told him that there is no reason for me not to be. That is truly how I feel!

Things are tough all around us, but we must be careful to realize that God is trying to show us something...and sometimes we have to just let go and let God. And remember...when God nudges you (with scripture, circumstance or another person) DO NOT ignore Him!

-Gina

Green Bags

In honor of Earth Day this week, I have decided to discuss the use of "green bags". No matter which store you purchase them at, we are all familiar with green bags. They have become a huge part of our daily lives.

I myself, have 4...my mom has many more. (Let me just say that when I forget to take mine in the store, I feel guilty...and my mom lectures me about saving the earth once I get home and she sees the dreaded plastic bags). Now, my mom is not a vegetarian, vegan or environmental lobbyist, but she believes in conserving where we can. Actually, she is a lot more vigilant than I am when it comes to recycling and other related issues. I am very proud of her...she even got the vocational school where she substitute teaches to institute a recycling program in each of their rooms and laboratories.

All of this preamble is of course leading somewhere...we had a discussion tonight over dinner regarding something that recently happened to her...and let me just say, it has happened to me a few times as well. At the checkout register, she handed the bagger her green bags to use. When she looked over, she noticed that the bagger was placing each of the purchased items in plastic bags AND THEN into the green bags. Now obviously, this defeats the entire purpose! She then asked him to remove everything and begin again, this time using ONLY her green bags.

This has happened to me countless times and I have actually spoken to someone in customer service at my neighborhood grocery store about this. She mentioned to me, that most of the employees in the bagging area are teenagers and they just don't know any better and she would use it as a training piece. Please understand that I meant no malice or ill-will towards the bagger, but really...the whole reason we pay for bags and bring them is to help our planet. I would encourage each of you to have the same conversation with your store if/when this happens to you. (Sidenote: when it happened to me and I had them remove everything from the plastic bags, I made sure they understood I didn't want them to discard the perfectly good bags...they should reuse them...if not that would also defeat the purpose of me having them take everything out of them).

Later in conversation, we wondered why everyone is not using green bags, since it is such a cost-effective & easy thing we can do to help save our planet. My solution: charge a nominal fee for use of disposable bags. (Have you ever been to Ikea? They charge for bags...I found this out the hard way one day!) In case you need another reason other than saving our planet, here's one: think of the savings that our grocery stores would have if they didn't have to provide bags & recycling services for the bags...now imagine what would happen if they saved that $$ and passed along the savings to you & me!

Anyhow, that is just the way I see it! What are your thoughts?

-Gina

Technology & 90210

I have been catching reruns of the original 90210 lately. Something struck me as very odd the other day, thought I would share it with you all...

Like many, I am a product of the 90210 generation. It is what Wednesday nights were all about as I was growing up. So...these spoiled kids living in the most exclusive zip code in the nation, they drive Corvettes and BMW Convertibles. They buy designer clothes. They eat out (@ the Peach Pit mostly!) almost every night. And...wait for it....they use pay phones!

I know that at that time, cell phones weren't as common as they were today, but not one of them had one! I just find that so funny, because as someone who is from that generation...today, I can't live without mine! We have definitely come a long way!

Lastly, even though they didn't have cell phones, I don't see any beepers, laptops and only the occasional desktop in these early episodes. This was in the early 90's...so again, I say...WOW we have definitely come a long way!

-Gina

Wishing

I recently read a book whose plot line had each of the main characters composing a list of 20 wishes. It got me to thinking...when was the last time I made an actual wish (not including the wish we make when we blow out our birthday candles...which come to think of it, I haven't really made a wish the last couple of times I blew out my candles)? Why is making a wish related mostly to young children? Who told us that as adults, we are too mature to make wishes?

Anyhow, this book followed the process of each of the women in the story making her list of wishes. They met and discussed the progress they had made on each one of them. Funny thing is, in the story, each friend or acquaintance these women mentioned it to was as intrigued by the idea as I am. Most started lists of their own.

This made me decide that I want to make my own list of 20 wishes. Using the book as a loose guideline, I shouldn't worry if I can't come up with all 20 at one time...it may take several months to compose an entire list. This is something that I must put a lot of thought into. Also, according to the book...at least one of them should be of a whimsical nature.

So, my decision has now been made (and like I did in my first post, I am putting it out there...because I believe that once you put something out there for all the world to see, you are obligated to work towards it). I will be making a list of 20 wishes for myself. I am hoping that other than having fun trying to work towards these new goals, I will in turn learn more about myself. I am anticipating enjoying the journey as much as actually completing a wish.

Does anyone want to join me on this journey? (Leave me a comment and let me know!)

-Gina

P.S. If anyone is wanting to check out the book that inspired this journey, it is a fiction novel by Debbie Macomber aptly entitled "20 wishes".

Cardboard Testimonies = AMAZING!

A friend of mine sent this to me the other day. It is the one of the most powerful things I have ever seen! I love seeing how God can use even the worst situations for His glory!

Enjoy (and you may want to have a tissue or 2 handy)!

-Gina

P.S. - What would your cardboard testimony be? (Leave the answer in the comments section)

Welcome to the Randomness

Welcome to my blog!

1st things first...why in the world would I create a blog? Because I like to talk and be passionate about things. What better place to speak about some random thing or issue than on a blog, right?

Now, the next thing...will anyone care to read my ramblings? I sure hope so. If not, there's just something about journaling for all the world to see (or choose not to see) and putting it out there that appeals to me!

Why pretty, witty and wise? Well, because as women I believe we all strive to be these three things in one way or another!

Lastly, I have a resolution of sorts to make. As a young girl, I used to love the idea of journaling and/or having a diary. The problem I most came across was the commitment level. I would write in it every day (some times a few times a day) for the first week or so and then forget all about it! I have many, many, many beautiful journals lying around that have such heartfelt words on them for about 20 pages and then nothing. All this is leading up to my resolution....I want to keep up with this blog. I want to post at least a few times a week and not give up on it after a few mere weeks. There, I said it...and I feel that once you put something out there for all to see, you are obligated to continue.

What I can promise...I can promise a very random journey through the recesses of my mind. You will (hopefully) find posts on my feelings, rants, some encouraging factoids I come across in my reading or through the internet. I am a woman of faith, so there will be some postings on that as well!

So, here's to the journey!

-Gina