All the Money in the World

I left the theater a little sad and depressed after viewing the movie, "All the Money In The World." I'm old enough to vaguely remember the kidnapping of J. Paul Getty's grandson. It horrified me to think a grandfather would allow his purportedly favorite grandson's ear to be cut off rather than part with a tiny portion of his fortune. I would give my life for any one of my grandchildren, but then I don't have a fortune with which to part. Was J. Paul Getty really that greedy?

By the definition of greed--An inordinate or insatiable longing for unneeded excess, especially for excess wealth, status, power, or food--I suppose he was greedy. He had billions of dollars by today's calculations. Billions of which he never shared with any charity.

In contrast is the story of the poor widow :in the book of Luke:

21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, ² and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. ³ So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; ⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,^[a] but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

The poverty stricken widow gave what little she had to help others. It amazes me that she could imagine anyone needing money more than she did. Her confidence that God would provide allowed her to give everything she had away.

I believe J Paul Getty suffered from a spirit of poverty which kept him oppressed. He tied his self-worth to his money. His billions did not give him the value he desired. His father told him he would never amount to anything and would ruin the company. He married and divorced five times. His philosophy seems to have been, "It's mine! All mine!" He had to hang on to his money because without it he was nothing.  Money did not bring him happiness or contentment. Poor, poor man.

I'm not to the point of giving everything I have away. God hasn't called me to do that, but I do strive to be more like the widow than the richest man in the world. Just something I was thinking about....

God's Waterboy-Jay Gardner

By the age of 15 Jay had moved 15 times to seven states with two of those years in Puerto Rico. All the moves made him the new kid in school and a target for bullies. Gifted with strong arms, Jay learned to defend himself. He also learned to drink and smoke a joint with teenagers at the tender age of seven.

 He had aspirations to become a football player but an injury in high school crushed his dreams. He joined the Navy and went on to become the Light Heavyweight Champion in the West PAC. He enjoyed success, celebrity, and acclaim along with partying, drinking and drugs.  As it turned out his handlers belonged to the Yakuza, a criminal gang in Japan. 

Married with two beautiful children, Jay returned to Georgia where he won two Golden Gloves and a Georgia Tough Man competition. Sadly, the Tough Man couldn't beat the drugs and alcohol. A spiritual hurricane of an ugly divorce, drug addiction, and a crime spree led him to a prison sentence of 20 years with no parole.  BUT God....
 Jay observed the necklace of another inmate and asked where he got the beads to make it.  He was shocked to find the beads were made of scraps of paper, glued and then varnished. In his prison cell Jay contemplated this wonder. God spoke to his heart to draw the parallel of the pages of his life having been ripped and torn and how God could take Jay's life pages and create something beautiful...A hope, peace and strength in life's journey.
From that revelation in prison came Jay's B.A.R.S. (Beads and Reflections and/or Breaking Attitude/Addiction Reviving Souls). These beads are given with this Mission Statement:

Share buckets of hope,

peace and strength with 

a thirsty and hurting world.

We can't change the 

world, but one act of

 kindness can change

 someone's world.

Today, be kind and share

B.A.R.S. with someone.

My bracelet is going to a loved one who going to be deployed to a war zone for four months along with my prayers for protection, hope, peace and strength in the journey.

If you want to know more about this ministry or ask Jay to speak to your group or church, you can reach him at Jaygardnergwb@gmail.com.

FIVE DAY CRUISE--ONE CHECKED BAG!

FIVE DAY CRUISE--ONE CHECKED BAG!!

The difficulty with packing for a five day cruise is the necessity to change clothes at least twice a day. This particular business trip requires a little more thought than simply throwing a couple of shorts and a  bathing suit into a bag.

I start with a chart and outline each day and time of individual activities. I pencil in potential outfits for each event. I review my color palette and narrow it down to one or two choices. Attached is a copy of the chart I use to organize my thoughts. 

DATE/ACTIVITY	DAYWEAR	EVENING WEAR
03/06/17-Monday DL 1420 Depart 9:05 Arrive Ft. Lauderdale 10:55 Check-in at hospitality desk on Deck 6 Open from 1:00-4:30 pm Welcome Reception 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Pyramid Lounge Dinner 8:30 King Lear-Deck 5, Table 651	Blk/Gold Sweater Black Jacket Black Jeans Blk Sketchers	Black. Jumpsuit Gold Sweater Gold Sandals
03/07/17- Tuesday Cruising	Denim Capris Navy tank Blue floral kimono Blue Sketchers	Black slacks Royal Blue Cold- Shoulder Sweater Black sandals
03/08/17-Wednesday Labadee, Haiti Arrive 7:30 a.m. Jet Ski's 9:45 a.m. Depart 3:30 p.m.	Bathing Suit Cover Up Water Shoes	Black slacks Turquoise Blouse Black sandals
03/09/17-Thursday Falmouth, Jamaica Arrive 8:30 a.m. Hike to Waterfalls and Beach Picnic Depart 4:30 p.m.	Bathing Suit Cover Up Water Shoes	Black slacks Black/Silver Top Black Sandals
03/10/17 -Friday Cruising 6:00-10:00 pm Farewell Dinner Giovanni's Table Restaurant	Denim Capris Turquoise T-shirt Blue Sketchers	Blue Tropical Jumpsuit Gold sandals
03/11/17 -Saturday Ft. Lauderdale Arrive 7:00 a.m. Flight DL 2026, Depart 12:57 pm Arrive Atlanta 2:53 pm	Black Jeans Royal Blue Tank Blk Floral Kimono Black Sketchers

I place my chart in my carry on. It's an easy reference for events and times. You never want to be late or show up at the wrong venue on a business trip.

My evening attire is black with accessories in  bright colors. My daytime wear is denim with a variety of tops. 

If you're a person who hangs out by the pool, all you need are bathing suits and cover-ups for daytime. Sun damage and cellulite keep me in capris!

Shoes can really trip you up. I love them and I like different ones for each outfit but on a cruise the most important thing is comfort. The ships are large and you walk everywhere. I leave the high heels at home. You can pack a ton of flip-flops in very little space, i.e. the outside pockets of your suitcase. Having had many and varied foot surgeries, I enjoy my Sketchers GOGA Plus. They are cushioned with arch support.  I wear the navy with denim and the black with casual slacks. One pair of black flip-flops serve as my casual bed slippers. Dressy black sandals go with evening wear. That's only four pairs of shoes plus my water shoes which I pack in a plastic bag in case they are wet on the return trip. The shoes that can't go in the outside pocket of your suitcase should be placed at the bottom of your suitcase (toward the wheels). Heavy items at the bottom keeps a top heavy suitcase from falling over.

On this trip I took one pair of denim capris and one pair of black pants. I wore the capris during the daytime with various tops. The black slacks paired with dressy tops and sandals for the evening. I packed yoga leggings and tops to double as workout and comfort wear. I like to change pajamas every couple of nights so I packed two sets. For a five day trip I pack 10 pairs of underwear. I roll everything and place it in packing cubes.

I used four cubes. Two small ones for underwear and bras,
bathsuits, cover-ups and yoga wear in the largest one, medium for
socks, evening shape-wear and miscellaneous items which might get lost.
These lay flat in the suitcase and transfer nicely into drawers in the cabin
without unpacking. Packing up again is equally easy

A five day cruise has one formal night. A seven to ten day cruise has two formal nights. If you want to avoid packing formal wear all together plan to eat at the buffet or one of the specialty restaurants in the evening. There's always room service. You cannot get into the main dining room at night in shorts, so plan on khakis and a collared shirt or top. Hanging clothes and formal wear fold on top of the packing cubes.

For short plane trips like this one I carry my Genius Pack Flight Bag, no purse or carry on. I bought mine at Sam Moon in Dallas, but I've given you a link to order one. I found it on Amazon too, but nothing beats Sam Moon's $40 price tag. 

While on the ship you don't need a purse, just a lanyard to keep your Seapass Card handy. It serves as your room key and credit card. The only cash you need is for tips. I stick lip gloss and my phone in my pocket.

A small backpack is nice for shore excursions. We use it to carry towels, bathing suits and a water bottle for a trip to the beach. I the same bag for shopping expeditions.

If I'm flying internationally I always pack a small carry-on with what I consider to be essentials: medicine, jewelry, cosmetics, toothbrush and toothpaste, and a change of clothes, especially underwear. You never know when your luggage will take a side trip.

When visiting my daughter in Budapest I usually have a 10 hour flight with a 12 hour layover in London. It's nice to be able to wash up, brush your teeth and change your undies.

Here is a sample of a chart I sent my granddaughters to follow when we took them to Washington, DC. They were 8 and 10 years old at the time. I didn't get specific about their clothing choices. I gave them guidelines and room to fill in the blanks. One used it. The other didn't. It's all about what works for you. 

WASHINGTON D.C. TRIP	DAYTIME APPAREL	NIGHTTIME APPAREL
Thursday, August 28, 2014AA Flight Depart 7:40 a.m. Arrive Washington D. C. 11:30 a.m. Check-in JR Marriott Washington & Lincoln Memorials	Jeans  or Shorts Comfortable Walking Shoes	Bathing suit and cover-up Flip-flops Nightgown
Friday, August 29, 2014 American History Museum	T-shirt Jeans  or Shorts Comfortable Walking Shoes
Saturday, August 30, 2014 Washington Zoo Air and Space Museum	Jeans  or Shorts Comfortable Walking Shoes	Dinner in Alexandria Casual dress or pants
Sunday, August 31, 2014 Ford Theater Spy Museum	Jeans  or Shorts Comfortable Walking Shoes	Home to GiGi’s

Toothbrush/toothpaste                                      Blister bandaids

Hair Brush/rubber bands and clips                  Sunscreen/sunglasses/hat

5 pairs underwear                                             5 pairs of socks

2 sets of night clothes                                       Light jacket or sweater

Books/games/snacks                                        Water bottle (must be empty at the airport)

The temperature will be in the 80’s in the daytime. In the 60’s at night. Currently an 80% chance of rain onSaturday. You may wear anything appropriate for school--dress, jeans or shorts. We will be walking everywhere. Make sure your shoes are comfortable. Flip flops for the hotel so your feet and shoes can air out a little.

I don’t know that we’ll have time to swim, but pack your swimsuit anyway.

We might eat on the wharf in Alexandria on Saturday night. We will be taking the metro and walking to our destination, so don’t get prissy. I’ll try not to.

I’ll bring a small backpack for first aid kit, snacks and umbrella. Don’t pack more than you can carry.

Holler at me if you have any questions. Safe travels, my friend!

Be a Blessing. Receive a Blessing!

I have had some beautiful blessings in the past few weeks. These blessings revived my spirits and caused me to feel hopeful about the world. They didn't come as a tangible gift or a compliment. No, each of these blessings came from serving another.

If you want to help someone you don't have to look any further than your local discount store. I don't mean people in need of money or fashion advice, just people trying to get through life. In the past two weeks I've found opportunities to assist in unexpected ways. In both instances the persons needing aid were elderly (that means older than me) women with scooter issues.

One lady rode her scooter into the bathroom and couldn't back it out. Every time she tried to back out of the bathroom she hit the front wall, reversed, hit the back wall, went forward and hit the wall again. For 10 minutes she bounced off the walls. I finally talked her into getting off the scooter and leaning on me while a young woman pushed the scooter out of the bathroom. As she leaned heavily on me and the wall, I realized she could not hold herself up for long. Perhaps she had suffered a stroke in the past, I don't know. We got her back on her scooter and on her way.

The next week, another lady. She struggled in the clothing racks with a scooter which would start and stop, but not when she wanted it to. Alerted by the backup beeping and frustrated sighs, I approached her and asked if she needed help. She explained her frustration and I offered to get another one for her.The shock on her face surprised me. "Oh, I couldn't asked you to do that," she said. There wasn't another working scooter at the front of the store, so I found one in the parking lot and rode it back in. The snail's pace of the scooter reminded me of how helpless I felt when I had to use one. After trading out the scooters, I walked away. "You have been such a blessing," she said. My heart soared.

What if we made it our goal each day to bless someone?  It doesn't have to be done on a grand scale. Be aware of the people around you, especially in public. Smile, open a door, let someone go in front of you at a checkout line. Enjoy the shock and surprise of your fellow human.

Thank you, Lord. It takes so little effort to give and receive a blessing.

Giving Tuesday!

Did your Thanksgiving feast include more leftovers than you could possibly eat? Ours did! My son-in-law baked a 20-pound turkey for the four of us. Obviously more than we could eat, but we had a plan. A plan to give.

We tried to serve at a homeless shelter and other charitable organizations but they were fully staffed with volunteers, so we did our own thing. We used our "plan overs" to make individual bag lunches for the homeless. The homeless are not worthless. We tried to make a meal that would be a tiny feast for each one. 

Everyone pitched in and the dog waited patiently
to clean up any dropped tidbits.

My Sweetheart carved up the beautiful bird.

Son made turkey sandwiches on hearty sunflower bread.

I made GigiSnaps!

Bagged 'em up!

Son-in-law washed and dried the apples!

Set up our assembly line of 30 bags.
With our sandwich, apple and cookies,
we included a bag of chips, mayo and mustard
 packets, a holiday napkin, and a handwritten note!
Oh, and a Wet Wipe!

Put them in totes for easy distribution.

Found a park with willing recipients.

In five minutes or less all those lunches disappeared.

We learned from our new friends that they eat well on the holidays and most weekends. However, food is scarce on the weekdays. Don't wait for a holiday. Do your own thing whenever it works for you. Teach your children to give back. It brought us so much joy. The only sad thing was that we didn't do more. 

Happy holidays!

Life in the Bubble

In March we moved to a lovely community in Peachtree City, Georgia.The town encircles a nature preserve which offers frequent views of deer, squirrels, box turtles,and an occasional raccoon. Almost a hundred miles of cart paths wind through the forest, around lakes and golf courses. A relaxing evening for us consists of a cart ride to dinner and a stop along the lake to watch the sun go down.Peace envelopes us.

The teenagers nicknamed Peachtree City as "The Bubble." Their logic being, "There's nothing to do here." That makes me smile. Yes, there is a strong police presence. You will get a speeding ticket for going more than 40 mph.I am very grateful for that.Independent businesses thrive because box stores are limited.No movie theater exists within the city limits, but there is community involvement like I have not seen in decades.

On Halloween night our neighbors set up chairs and tables at the end of their driveways to dole out generous amounts of confectionery delights.Families decorated their carts and delivered scores of children to enjoy "drive-thru" trick-or-treating.Attracted by the brilliant orange lights outlining our cart, neighbors dropped by to introduce themselves. I might never have met them. Downside--I can no longer leave the house without make-up because I now know my neighbors.

Life in the Peachtree City Bubble does not protect me from political and social drama.The most distressing conflicts are those within the Christian world. The Enemy loves to watch us tear each other apart.If we do not extend mercy and grace to each other what can unbelievers expect from us? Not much.

My life in the Bubble must include God. Faith makes things possible, not easy. My trust is in Him. What does me expect from me?

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
Except to be just, and to love[and to diligently practice]
kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown
sense of importance or self-righteousness]? Micah 6:8 (AMP)

That's pretty simple. Would you join me in praying for an extra measure of grace to let go of "any overblown sense of importance." If we let go of that, I believe it will release us from the anxiety and fear of judgment by others as we no longer judge them.

How to Avoid a Zombie Apocalypse!!!

A friend of mine said based on what she saw in the news and posted on social media a zombie apocalypse is imminent!! The news is full of the worst of mankind: bombings; riots; and, intolerance of every kind. Then there is the election! I can't EVEN!We don't need zombies to finish off civilization. We are doing a pretty good job all by ourselves.

The only way to avoid a Zombie Apocalypse and beat evil is cover each other in love.A random act of kindness is a seed of love. Just a small thing, planted one at a time.

One of my favorite things to do is to pay for the food of the car behind me in a drive-through. It brings me so much joy and excitement, I've been known to drive off without my food.

If I change my mind about purchasing an item, I return it to the shelf or give it to a clerk. I return my shopping cart to the bin and sometimes, stray carts as well. When shopping I place fallen clothing to the hanger. No one knows about this small deed, but I get a rush knowing I made some clerk's day a little easier. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Peter said: "I make the Master proud of me by being a good citizen. I respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, I might cure the ignorance of the fools who think I'm a danger to society. I exercise my freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. I treat everyone I meet with dignity. I love my spiritual family, revere God, and respect the government. 1 Peter 2:13-17 (The Message)

Leave me a message here or on Facebook and let me know if you found a way to be randomly kind. I promise it will bring you joy.

Here are some other suggestions which I found at www.daretobeanangel.com:

	Compliment a stranger sincerely
	Write a thank you note to someone
	Look around you that can be fixed up, picked up, or attended ie, put shopping carts up, pick up some trash laying around, pick up something that has fallen over
	Give a lottery ticket to a stranger
	Send handmade cards or a letter to someone you care for
	Write a note to management or someone who has treated you nice while doing their job (waiter, clerk, sales person...ect.)
	when you go somewhere to get or do something, ask someone around you if you can pick up, drop off or do something for them while you do
	Cut coupons out and leave them at the grocer register for others
	Cut an article out of the newspaper that would interest a friend and mail it to them.
	Put together a writing kit with stationery, envelopes and stamps, pen and give to hospital/nursing home
	Put a comment on someone's webpage that you really like...... let them know you enjoy it
	Send a card to someone in the military overseas
	Start a conversation up with a co-worker that you don't know
	Leave something cheery or nice for all your co-workers (in spring bag of seeds, fun post-its, fun office supplies
	Put change in a row of vending machines
	Visit a nursing home. Spend time visiting with someone who doesn't get visitors
	Put something you no longer need on Craig's list free spot for your area
	Leave something for someone at an area where it most might be used, (book in reading area, umbrella near door on rainy day)
	Leave a book you have already finished somewhere for someone else to read.
	Drop off a toy or game at a hospital
	Drop off a toy or game at a homeless shelter.
	At post office leave some extra stamps at the stamp machine.
	Send a picture you have taken which includes a friend and send it to them with a note remembering when it was taken
	Buy a phone card and give to a homeless shelter for them to give to someone.
	Open the phone book, pick a name, and send them something (movie tickets, thank you card, you are appreciated card, book, etc.) anonymously.
	Take flowers to a hospital ward and give them to someone who hasn't had any visitors.
	Take some cake, chocolates, flowers etc. to the neighbors, or a senior citizen nearby
	Send someone a small gift anonymously
	Donate one hour of your time if you offer a service for a living, or one product, or one seminar, or one class, or just one of whatever it is that you do as a gift to someone else.
	Invite someone who is alone over for dinner.
	Share a comic strip or something funny with someone else.
	Leave a chocolate for a co-worker.
	write a note, send a e-greeting "just to say hello" to someone who might need a pick me up
	Visit hospitals with smiles, treats and friendly conversation for patients.
	Send a thank you to the employees at a hospital, or anywhere else that a cheerful thank might add a smile
	Put a quarter in a parking meter that has expired
	Write a thank-you note to a person from your past who has made a difference in your life.
	Drop off a plant, flowers or apple pie at a public service organization or your neighbors house.
	Send someone an animated greeting card on the internet.
	Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, praising the employee.
	Drop off teddy bear to police department to give to traumatized children
	Drop a few coins in an area where children play, where they can easily find them.
	Copy a favorite recipe and give it to someone
	Buy a copy of your favorite book and donate it to your local library or hospital
	Write letters of appreciation to groups who are helping the community, the environment, etc.
	Send a card to a friend or relative you haven't seen for some time. Include a photo of yourself and/or your family.
	Make a point of introducing yourself to someone you see all of the time but never say hello to.
	Send an anonymous scratch card, lottery or theater ticket to someone you know - or a gift voucher, a funny card, a chocolate bar, or whatever you feel they would enjoy
	If you know someone who is having a hard time financially, pop a $5, $10 or $20 note in an envelope, disguise your writing or type the envelope, and post it to them.
	Offer to baby sit
	Donate clothes to Salvation Army.
	Put change in a charity change bottle
	Bring cookies or some snack to work for office
	Drop off cookies at a random establishment

I challenge you to conquer the darkness of this world by spreading the light of love.