Toxic People

      Have you ever known someone in your life who is toxic?  I mean, maybe it is a co-worker, a neighbor, a creepy service provider, or maybe a family member. 

      A toxic person is someone who is unhealthy for you to be around either because of their over- dependency on you, abusiveness, emotional lack of well-being, mind games, mental illness, possessiveness, jealousy, nosiness, sneakiness, stalker-like behavior or maybe just a heavy -duty lack of appropriate boundaries.  Have you ever had someone like that in your life?

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Tax Breaks

      I was watching good morning america today and heard some news that baffled logical thinking to me.  It was about what has been, for years, considered “normal tax breaks”. 

      Donating to charities if you were over age 70 was tax deductible.  It sounds like this year after December 31 that those donation to charities can no longer be deductible. 

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Extreme Weather

       This December has been the most extreme weather we have had in quite some time.  Between rain, sleet, snow, slush and thaw…it has been quite a slide show.

       Today the sun is shinning and green grass is showing in little peek-a-boo spots.  For the last week…we have had blizzards twice and freezing rain…and a variety of other weather patterns.  But, i must admit…seeing the sun showing it sunny face is a definate mood lifter.

        My son asked if it was Spring today.  Sadly, no it is not…but…still…it is a nice thought.

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Happy Birthday

       Happy Birthday Jesus!  Happy Birthday to you the reader if it is your birthday also.  I have a cousin who was born on Christmas day.  How special it must be to share your birthday with Jesus; to have the whole world celebrating on your big day.

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Over the River and Through the woods

       I am excited because the grandchildren are coming today.  It is Christmas Eve; and that is when our family celebrates Christmas.  My granddaughter is two and a half.  She is at a fun age for Christmas fun.  My grandson is 16 months. (Gotta charge up the cameras:)) It will be fun to watch him open his presents also.

      The best part is just having family time.  But, aha…so much to do before they get here.  Mother nature dumped a blizzard on us last night and so…the (long) driveway must be shoveled and the deck and the sidewalk.  I have more baking to do.  But the joy of the evening is ahead.

      My younger children (i have 3 adult children as well) are 8, 15, 16 are excited as well.  It will be a lean Christmas here though.  But, that doesn’t matter.  We are together.  We are healthy.  So, we are blessed and thankful.  Happy Birthday Jesus! 

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Holiday Traditions

       I was talking with my adult daughter today about tradtions.  Now that she and her husband have two small children under the age of three; they are looking to create some family traditions.

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Writers who make money

        Being new to the idea of writing as a career; i am looking for ways to earn money while i grow as a writer.  I have been trying to open myself up to others who have blazed the trails of earning a living from their writing.   I don’t want to spend years collecting rejection letters.

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Home for Christmas

      Great news today, the man and his three children who were missing in the northern part of California were found.  They went out on their annual trip to find a Christmas tree when they encountered extremely bad weather.

       I am sure as they are checked out physically and stabilized that their story will prove to be nothing less than inspiring.  The best news is that they will be home in time for Christmas for their loved ones to celebrate with.  I feared that it would end badly.  

       While they were missing, the mother of the children said that her ex-husband was her best friend.  That is refreshing to hear ex-spouses speak not only respectfully of each other; but, also with great care.  Another Christmas miracle if you ask me that they are all found!

         It is nice to hear something on the news that has a happy ending for a change.  Thank you God!

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Teen Pregnancy

      The news spoke of an increase in teen pregnancies just the other day.  It is a sad fact of life that with all of the educational tools that this country has, that the problem of teen pregnancies continues.

      It is hard raising children in today’s world.  It is even harder to do it when you are a young (often single) parent yourself.  Education is the key to earning higher pay when you enter the workforce.  The drop out rate among young women who find themselves pregnant is staggering.  The emotional, spiritual, and financial toll is hard to overlook.

       Today, all over the news is the headline that Jaime Lynn Spears is pregnant.  She is all of 16.  She met the father of her unborn child in church.  It underscores that even with sex education, religious training, strong family bonds as well as the availability of multiple birth control methods; teen pregnancy still happens.

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Sisterhood

       Tonight, i went to a secret sister get-together.  It was very nice.  About 6 weeks ago…a group of ladies from our group of WOW (women of worship) exchanged names to pray for; and, surprise each other with small gifts or cards.  The big reveal was this evening.

       The really special part of this evening was that the ages ranged from like 13 years of age to the upper 70’s.  It was sweet.  My secret sister made me cry when she thanked me for her gift.  It was a vase full of a dozen roses…i knew that she liked roses.

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