A woman, renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk ’s office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

“What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “Do you have a job or are you just a ….?”

“Of course I have a job,” snapped the woman.

“I’m a Mom .”

“We don’t list ‘ Mom ‘ as an occupation, ‘Housewife’ covers it,? said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, “Official Interrogator” or “Town Registrar.”

“What is your occupation?” she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know?the words simply popped out. “I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

“Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “just what you do in your field?”

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn’t) In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I’m working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.”

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants — ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than “just another Mom .”

Motherhood!

What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title on the door?

Does this make grandmothers “Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations”
And great grandmothers “Executive Senior Research Associates?” I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts “Associate Research Assistants.”

Please send this to another Mom ,
Grandmother,
Aunt,
And other friends you know.

May your troubles be less, may your blessing be more,

And nothing but happiness to come through your door!

ENCOURAGEMENT
A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might…

So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might!

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: (He will do it every time)!

‘You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn’t moved.’ Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

Satan said, ‘Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough.’ That’s what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of Prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

‘Lord,’ he said, ‘I have labored long and hard in Your Service, putting all my strength to do that which You have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?’

The Lord responded compassionately, ‘My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done.

Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed..

But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard.

Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be Obedient and to push and to exercise your Faith and trust in My Wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock.’

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He Wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.

By all means, exercise the Faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God Who moves the Mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong……………………..Just P.U.S.H.

When the job gets you down…………………………….Just P.U.S.H.

When people don’t do as you think they should………….Just P.U.S.H.

When your money is ‘gone’ and the bills are due………..Just P.U.S.H.

When people just don’t understand you …………………Just P.U.S.H.

When it’s flooding all around you………………………….Just P.U.S.H.
P = Pray

U = Until

S = Something

H = Happens

Pass this on to all your loved ones and friends who may need it; they may get it just in time. ‘Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.’

Friends are like quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly. May God Bless You.

Just Hold ON!!! P.U.S.H! You P.U.S.H. & I’ll P.U.L.L. (Pray Until the Lord Listens! But He always Listens & is concerned with our problems!)

“Any formerly pro-life Democrat who casts a ‘Yes’ vote for this Senate health care bill tonight will be forever remembered as being among the deciding votes which facilitated the largest expansion of abortion services since Roe v. Wade.”

“Mr. Stupak and his Democrat followers have now clarified that you cannot be pro-life and be a Democrat. If abortion was truly their biggest issue, they wouldn’t willfully align themselves with the Party of Death.”

“This vote will expose the myth of the ‘pro-life Democrat.’ With this single vote, the Democratic Party will divide our nation into the Party of Death and the Party of Life, and future elections will never be the same.”

This leads me to believe two things:
1. Beth played with dolls waay too much as a girl.
2. Beth has waay too much time home alone with the kids and is waaaay bored.

We love her anyway

More details as available. Remember this contest will be like the last one … there will be several events. Everybody needs to pick some that suits them. It is open to girls and guys.

The idea is not to beat everyone in the competition. The idea is to beat yourself by the biggest margin.

For example I weigh 175 lbs … one goal I might pick is to lose 10 pounds. If I lose 5 I get .5 points. If I gain I lose points accordingly.

If I pick a three mile jog …. I take my time at the beginning … then at the end I find out how much better or worse that I did.

If I choose sit ups … same rule

I think Ner is gonna pick iron skillet jungling .. same rules .. measure at the start and the end.

Gr@ym@n might have the toughest time because he will be somewhere where they have events hard to duplicate here … like nuking a village .. or minigun field stripping contest.

We shall see.

More details as this thing unfolds. Many of you may remember out last challenge. It was fun and we all improved. I understand the entry fee (payable at the conclusion) will go into a pot and the most improved wins.

Beth is a very nurturing Momma. They are so peaceful together.

It has been a really good trip.