Tough times

Have you ever heard the saying "Things happen for a reason?" Have you thought about that quote?

Life is about making choices, learning from mistakes and raising your children to do the same. "Things happen for a reason." You lose your job, times are tough, the economy is bad, we're in the middle of a war, the senate is arguing over who to fill a dead senator's seat and it feels like the world is trying to rip itself apart from the inside. Times are tough, but what do tough times like this teach us?

If you're anything like me, you don't have much moolah. I've had to find a way to keep my son occupied for a while without spending a ton of money so, we bought a 3 subject notebook from the dollar store. We took him on an awesome "Treasure Hunt" in which he got to use his imagination and learn skills as well. This week is the color red. Saturday he went out in the yard with his camera and took pictures of things with the color red. We made a collage of the pictures and glued it to the first page. The rest of the week is something he found. Like his table is red. He drew a picture of his table and then learned how to spell the word 'table.' Very fun for the kids, inexpensive and a way for David to learn to spell new words. What did the lack of money teach me? How to be resourceful.

You turn on the television, and the first news story, it never fails, is an attack in the Middle East. Our men are serving their country and I for one am proud to be in a family with a big military background. Does that mean I want to be in this war? No, I'm ready for my family and friends to be here at home where they are loved and needed. I had a classmate pass recently in the war and that hit me pretty hard because we're still pretty young. He had his life ahead of him, a gorgeous wife, great friends....parents shouldn't outlive their kids, but his did. What has the war taught me? Never to take things for granted. Don't go to bed mad because tomorrow may never come.

Feuds in the government are also happening. I think it's awful to hear the Democrats fighting with the Republicans. Mud-slinging as it's called really repulses me and I don't like the idea that my government is ran by people who honestly seem to have nothing better to do than to call the other out on a lie they were caught in. A certain senator just passed and all I'm hearing is arguments over who's taking his seat. What have I learned from government squabbles? I learned this my very first election. People are going to talk bad about the other person, it's human nature, you have to look past the words and see the actions. Because actions speak louder than words.

The Earth is telling us something, the problem is are we listening? The past 2 weeks, I have counted at least 5 major earthquakes higher than 6.0 on the Richter Scale.

October 24, Indonesia 7.3

October 24, Banda Sea 6.9

October 16, Sunda Straight, Indonesia 6.1

October 8, Santa Cruz Islands 6.2

October 8, Vanuatu 6.8

October 8, Santa Cruz Islands 6.8

We have got to start listening to what our planet is telling us. There are more and more natural disasters happening. Look at the number of hurricanes reaching Category 5, earthquakes, volcano's erupting, tornadoes, these things are naturally occurring, but in the magnitude? We need to go green, help save the planet. What has this taught me? First of all how to be prepared and use common sense. We have a hurricane survival kit however, if there's one over a cat 3, we're evacuating, exercising our common sense. Second, it has taught me how to conserve. We need rain, we have to conserve water. We need to use less power, we went to CFL's and turn lights off when not at home, unplug appliances etc.

All of these things taught me a lesson, a lesson in which I hope to pass on to David and any future kids we're not planning at the moment. This all reminds me of a Biblical saying "If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it." To me this means many many things. First, trust in our Lord because he is with us. These things happening now will test us, but we will get through it. Secondly, it reminds me I'm not alone. Whether God is with me or not, I have family and friends, I am not alone. Thirdly, it says I will be tested, that's part of life, but how I react to the test determines me as a person. And lastly, it tells me that things will get bad, but the rainbow is on the other side. I will come out just fine.

So in my opinion, things do happen for a reason. Sometimes, it's hard to see the reason and we just want to be angry and lash out. But before you do, remember each lesson in life is there to teach you something. If only how to better yourself, it is there to teach you something. Follow the lesson, you never know what the result will be.

I hope you have enjoyed my thoughts for the day.