I love my "Air Flosser"!

Most of you know that I am a hygienist. If you don't, then you do now. I just got this new product from Sonicare. It was created for irregular flossers. Well, I have absolutely fallen in love with it. :o) As I have gotten older, I have places between my teeth that catch food. Floss doesn't clean these areas as well as it used to. The new "Air Flosser" really works to get the food out. I don't know exactly how it works, but I know that it gives a burst of air and water. This little burst really cleans the food from in between my teeth where floss isn't working as well these days. It doesn't use a lot of water so it isn't really messy. The tiny water reservoir only holds about a table spoon of water. The user can also put mouthwash in the reservoir. So, I just wanted to share with you about this new product. This product cost less then $100 at Walmart.

Twenty Years

Who knew we would make it twenty years. May 30th, 1992. It was a rainy day that was full of promise. Okay, not so much! It was rainy. We were getting married. I was sharing my wedding day with my twin sister. We had shared every other important day in our lives, so why not this one too? Daddy walked us down the isle... one on each side... what a special moment! I will never forget my dad in his tux! The only time he ever had one on! He was very handsome! I can only imagine how hard it was for my dad to give his babies away on the same day! He was brave to hand us over to two young men who didn't know anything about being a husband. He told those two young men that once they married us they "could NOT bring us back"! I'm happy to say that those young men never tried to return us! Twenty years... how quickly they have passed, how slowly they have passed. The one thing I can tell you about twenty years of marriage is that it is hard work! I received the following message today. "Thanks you two for sticking together and working through issues unlike so many other people who mentored us as youth. Thank you! Congratulations! Love you both". I guess we never know who is watching us! I am glad I can be a positive influence on the people I come in contact with. I know I don't have it all right, but through the grace of God I can be imperfect with effort. I can never hope for perfection... only when I make it to my home in heaven will I be perfect. Thanks to the "other" three in this picture who have also put out the work to make it to twenty years! May God bless us for another twenty!

Long time coming!

Well, I finally graduated with my master's degree.

I know I haven't written much on here, but I have been super busy working on that degree. I know I made mommy proud (remember I promised her on her death bed that I would get my master's degree). I just hope that she knows I actually did it! I ended up graduating with almost a 3.8. I was disappointed it wasn't a 4.0. But considering I was never a good student I should be proud. I want to start writing on here again, but don't know how that will go. My life is rather dull. :o) I guess that is a good thing.

This is a book review I had to do for graduate school. Enjoy!

Book Review for “The girl’s guide to being a boss (without being a bxxxx)


“The girl’s guide to being a boss (without being a bxxxx) written by Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio is a very informative book loaded with very practical information that can be implemented easily. These phenomenal women wrote this book to empower women to become better leaders than their male counterparts. Women do not have good female role models and continue to make the same mistakes of being overbearing, brassy, or possessive. This book has several stories from female bosses that provide some great role models. Any woman who finds herself promoted to boss would benefit from this book. It also gives some great examples of the pitfalls of being the boss and how to avoid those pitfalls. One example of a pitfall given in the book is the trap of bad behavior.

This book was written out of thought and research. Kim and Caitlin run their own small business and have made some of the same bad behavior choices that make being a female and the boss a potent combination. They give viable information that is sure to assist any woman climbing the cooperate ladder. It gives the good, the bad, and the ugly of becoming the boss. It is very realistic in the expectations placed on the female in the role of boss.

This book covers many aspects of being the boss. It shares the reality of loneliness at the top. This book does not recommend being friends with, drink with, and socialize with your employees. I think this is very sound advice because it can cause employees to become self-conscious about not being the “favorite”. It also gives very practical tips on balancing family and job responsibilities. It discusses how delegation can be key for any successful boss. Delegation is not a dirty word but a way to ensure that employees know their value. It gives the boss opportunities to teach each employee, and to help each employee grow. It also helps the boss to prevent limiting their own professional success by doing everything on their own. One piece of usable advice that was given was to be on time when calling a meeting. It is rude and inconsiderate to make the employees wait when the boss has called a meeting and then doesn’t show up. It is important to be respectful of their time. It is necessary to find the strengths of the team and encourage each person to fulfill their potential. According to the authors of this book it takes more than encouragement to help employees to be successful. It takes training so the smart, hard worker has the skills to do their job effectively.

One of the best chapters in the book is about the evaluation process. If the boss is regularly checking in on the employees then nothing in the evaluation should come as a surprise to the employee. Day to day contact with their work will help the boss to give feedback through out the year so if they do have an area of concern it won’t surprise them. As much as reviews are dreaded they are necessary and recommended to do reviews four times a year. Only one of the four evaluations would be for a raise. The other three are to assist in the coaching process of mentoring your employees. It also gives plenty of opportunity to bring up concerns so if the employee is in jeopardy of being fired then there is no surprise. It gives them a fair opportunity and time frame to correct any shortcomings they are experiencing. The book even gives a sample review. This could be very helpful to a boss who is running a small business and needs a review process. While discussing the review process the five most common evaluation mistakes were incorporated. This information is so valuable to the new boss who may be doing the very first evaluations of their career. The other part of being the boss that I am sure is hated is the discipline of employees to include firing an employee. The book outlines what a drag this part of the job is but also how necessary this part of the job is. It is so thorough that it even gives some legal advice to consider along the way to firing an employee.

I enjoyed reading this book because it is well written in easy language. I think the authors provided the information they intended to provide. This book gave very practical information about taking care of oneself ‘s own needs first. If the boss isn’t healthy, rested, and cared for, then they cannot possibly care for the needs of their employees. The other practical information was about communication. Communication is the key! Set goals and then communicate them to the employees. It was noted that even with good communication an employee must be paid a worthy salary. If another employer offers a significant amount of money and half as much communication and employee is likely to take it. The ten practical steps to communicating your appreciation is very sensible information that will help to gain trust and good will from your employees. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and this information can help the boss to inexpensively show appreciation.

I would recommend this book to any woman who is focused on becoming the boss. It gives practical information on how to be a great boss but not and emotional boss. While at the same time, it gives a realistic view of expectations when a woman becomes the boss. I liked the examples it gave throughout the book to head off any of the issues that may arise. I am sure they were not able to cover all the scenarios in a little over 200 pages, but they did cover several that one may see in the time they are the boss. It is an easy read while it continues to hold your attention.

Fun for the Fall!

Well, I know I haven't been here for awhile. I am taking three graduate school courses this semester. I am super duper busy. Life is good. Miss mommy and daddy, but thankful for each new day I am blessed with.

We have had some changes in the house. We have two young ladies living with us. They are in Master's Commission and we are their home openers. We must be crazy!

Hope you have a great fall!

That time of the year!

Here we are! That time of the year!

Two years ago I spent my spring break with my dad and mom. Daddy died within 5 weeks. Last year I spent a few days of my break with mommy and she died 2 weeks later..... well it is spring break again. The good news.... no parent is left to die. The bad news..... no parent is left to die.

As I go thru the mundane parts of life I continue to feel the pain of not having my parents. I applied for my passport today and had to report my parents names and birth dates. My brain wouldn't even work... I couldn't even call to find them out. I had to try to figure it out and I couldn't even do simple math! It is amazing how our brains stop working at moments like that! I hope I got the dates right and I hope if I got them wrong it won't keep me from receiving my passport! I still miss mommy and daddy. I hope my brain will start working eventually!

Now, you may be asking why I need a passport. Well, Elisabeth and I are going on a mission trip this summer. We will spend 12 days in Venezuela! We are excited! We are preparing to send out support letters. We need prayer and financial support! Please pray for us. If you want to make a donation they should be sent to our church. We go to Raleigh First Assembly of God. Just put Venezuela in the memo with our names. They are tax deductible. Some of you will get letters in the mail... lucky you! :o)

Seriously, please pray. We need Jesus to go with us, and before us! Blessings!

Fighting

I wonder if I will continue to fight the same demons until the day I go to heaven? Will I ever stop hearing them speak to me? Will my reality ever be brightly lit with truth?

Scholarship!

I was chosen to receive a thousand dollar scholarship! I am so humbled, thrilled, and thankful! God always supplies. Since I am paying cash and taking it slow, every penny helps! I never thought I would receive a scholarship and I guarantee some of my grade school, junior high school and high school teachers didn't either! Mommy would be proud!

Wednesday would have been mommy and daddy's wedding anniversary! They are spending it with Jesus! There is peace in that knowledge.

Joel's sister is still very ill and running amuck! Please, continue to pray for his family.

Blessings!

Where are you going?

Ever feel like you are spinning your wheels? Lately, I have felt very much like that. During the "snowed" in time, I have diligently worked on my homework. It is still not done. I don't mean to sound like a complainer! It is just a lot of work. The book is not that great either. I am using google for terms not found in the book. That helps, provided it is the correct term. I have a test coming up and I really want to do well. I have decided I want to get at least a B in the class. I know I should have a higher goal, but I am being realistic! I, naturally, would be tickled to have the A, but......

Joel's sister is very sick. She is not physically sick, but mentally ill. Those words are hard to write. It is so sad to see the young lady with so much potential be non-functional. I try to understand but most of all pray for her. It is difficult when she continues to put herself in bad situations. Joel's parents are broken over the situation. Please pray for them also.

I hope I get where I am going... and I hope you get where you are going! Blessings bloggy friends! :o)

nuff said....

Snow Day!

We had a great snow day! We have 6 inches of snow outside. I have worked on homework a good part of the day. I didn't even do any laundry: I always do laundry on Saturday! I even baked some homemade oatmeal raisin cookies and homemade mac and cheese! I have never made oatmeal cookies before and they turned out really good. Of course, there were some without raisins for the man who won't eat them with raisins. :o) I love him anyway!

We moved my desk into the corner of my bedroom. Why you ask? Well, the dining room was too noisy and it was annoying to keep asking everyone to be quiet. I found I was able to concentrate better in my quiet bedroom. Only problem... now everyone comes to my room and makes noise! LOL! Oh well, I am just thankful that I am loved! As for my class, I am still struggling along. Hopefully now that I have a more quite place to work I will "get" it! Getting that 4.0 has really caused me to pressure myself to get it again. Oh, be praying, I applied for a scholarship! I sure could use the money to pay towards my classes! I know God will provide no matter what!

God is good and I am thankful! The snow is beautiful! Hope your day was blessed!

Self Portrait!

My class this semester is harder than I anticipated! :o)

Trapped!

It has been a very busy week. I have worked 60 hours this week! WHEW! I feel like I could have easily worked another 60 and still not be done! I have been feeling a little trapped! Much like this cat!

Glad to be at the weekend! Now, I just need to get some homework done! Hope this weekend takes it slow and easy! :o)

I liked this one.... and it is right up my alley with my dental background.

I haven't been writing much lately. Not for fun anyway. I have had a break from school and work. I have done nothing very useful with myself. I did unpack two boxes from the garage. Mom would be glad. I still have plenty more.

I got a 4.0 in my first semester of graduate school. Nothing like setting a high standard. I have never, ever gotten a 4.0 in my life. I will only take one class this next semester. Since we are paying cash, we can't afford for me to take more than one. It is okay though. Spring will be busy.

It has been a long year. Some good things and some not so good things, but as I look back I see God's blessing on me and my family. God has been merciful.

I haven't made any resolutions for the year. Although I don't remember making any last year (maybe I should look back at my blog), I did some big things. I lost 20 pounds and have managed to keep almost all of them off! I started graduate school and carried a 4.0. Those are two biggies.

The one life changing event that occurred was my mother's death. It has been very life changing. I am still navigating the loss of both of my parents.... I think in spite of all of that I am doing well. I am still on my journey to heaven.

One thing I am doing this year is a life journal. I am going to try to read my bible more. Thanks Sondie for the journals for my family! :o)

I did start a journal on January first last year... I have made it the entire year... I wrote in it everyday! I was proud of myself. I will journal again this next year. I have my journal ready to go.

I kept a log of the books I read last year. I read 30 books. Not great, but considering I took 4 months off for graduate school and didn't list the three books I read during those months, not too bad. I haven't looked at it closely to see how many non-fiction versus fiction I read, but I would like to read more this year.... not sure if that will happen, but I will continue my book log.

For a girl with no resolutions... I just came up with a few!

1. Read the Bible more.
2. Continue to journal.
3. Continue my book log.
4. At least keep my weight off and maybe take a few more off... may be impossible, but the doctor likes my weight right now!

I hope you all had a blessed year and l look forward to blogging in the next year! I may do more blogging... who knows! We will see how time, work and graduate school goes!

Blessings!

Elisabeth's Mémoire

Title: At My Maw Maw’s Funeral
First off, you probably think I’m crazy saying a name like Maw Maw, but that’s what I called my grandma. I woke up not knowing what was going to happen in this day, but knowing it was going to be sad. I got dressed in my short black dress and my red high heels. That was what my Paw Paw had requested for his funeral so we also wore them for my Maw Maw’s funeral. The reason they were red is because red stands for love. Once I got to the Hafer funeral home for my Grandmas Funeral, I was introduced to a bunch of old people. Seeing old people made me sob because I was missing my Grandma so much. By the time the actual funeral started, I remembered the year before, when I was at the same exact funeral home. The reason I was there the year before was because my Paw Paw died. I remembered when I was sitting next to my Maw Maw sobbing and she said, “Everything was going to be okay, he’s in a better place now.” I thought there was no way, “Everything was going to be okay”. I knew my Maw Maw was dying, I could tell by the way she slowly moved around and acted. The thing is, the last time I saw her, was at my house with my relatives, but I didn’t expect it to be the last. At my Maw Maw’s funeral I sat next to my uncle, I liked sitting next to him, but his hugs just weren’t as good as my Maw Maw’s big pillow-like hugs. Five different emotions swept through me at the same time, I was sad that this had to happen. At the same time, I was sort of angry at God for letting this happen. A few songs were played, one of them was called, “Go Rest High on that Mountain.” After the funeral I knew there would be a lot of crying from my family especially from my mom, because it was her mom that had died and the year before her dad had died too. I thought that what was happening to my mom now, would someday happen to me. This made me aware to spend every day as if it’s your last.

This was a project for Elisabeth at school. It made me realize this last year has changed all of us!

Thanksgiving

Funny

Thought this was a good picture since Thanksgiving is on the way!

The storms of Life

When I looked at this picture I thought about the storms of life. Sometimes we see them coming. Sometimes we don't! What I do know is that even if they take us by surprise they NEVER take God by surprise. It also made me think of the after effects of the storm. After the storm has passed, the air always smells so clean and the surroundings so clean. Just like in life, after the storm passes life is full of hope.

I hope these thoughts encourage you as you read them. If you are in a "storm" of life, stay with the battle! Hold on... our God knows, is not surprised and will show you the rainbow at the end.

The other day while I was driving to work, I got to see a small bit of a rainbow in the dark gray sky. It was like God was say, " Hang on! See the promise of hope!" So, Hang on and Don't lose HOPE!

Happy Birthday Old Sow1025

Today is mommy's 70th birthday! Our first one without her! Gosh, I miss her! She is better off.

I saw a lady sitting in a wheel chair yesterday. It made me think of Old Sow. She would not have wanted to live like that and we were headed there. I helped the lady get her umbrella up to block her from the sun.

I am thankful that mommy is no longer suffering! She isn't lonely! She is with the Lord, resting in his arms!

Thank God!

Picture of the week... just because I like it!

I hope you have had a blessed week! :o)