Scary Lady

We recieved a resume and cover letter from a lady this week to become a sales lady. I will not reveal the total ugliness of her resume. However, just a few notes from her cover letter---along with my editorial comments. No, not even my most vivd crazy imagination could make up this mess she presented as "professional".
She begins by telling us her name. Then, "I am the proud mother of two adult children as well as the awestruck grandmother of 2 year old miracle, Aurora. My mostly Siamese, part calico cat Angeliqua, lets me share her home in Lynnwood. There we prefer reading and listening to easy jazz to watching TV."

She also states she was the church board president. Then these great words: "Monthly I facilitate the book club at my local public library as well as assist friends with self actualization workshops."

For the sake of your stomach's ability to digest horrible stuff, I will skip to the following: "I have a BA in English, a Master's in Library & Information Studies from the accredited University of Oklahoma and a Washington State teaching certificate."

I have been a ____, _____, ____, and___. "In all of these positions I have had to ask questions and listen to customers to obtain information which had to be processed in some way and communicated back clearly to help them achieve their goals of a home, a trip, the right book or a successful book fair."

My observations: 1. The cat reads? bifocals or contact lenses? 2. If cat prefers easy jazz, does she get the hard jazz? 3. How ugly is a Siamese/calico cat in reality? If you had that unique of a "mutt" cat, would you really brag or hide it with a paper sack? 4. Am glad you have your family, but you cannot bring them to work. 5. Did both her and the cat also run the church board meetings? 6. Do I dare ask? what is self actualization workshops? Is that where you spend alot of time saying/acting/finding me me me me???

And about the English degree. I would recommend she go back and take the unaccredited version of the University of Oklahoma. Make Oklahoma proud. Lastly, what kind of sentence is this last one I quoted--simply 49 words to say absolutely nothing. Someone needs to help her achieve her goals.

After all this ranting, still, God loves her. I am thankful this love will be exhibited some other office--who needs a cat with an affinity for jazz capable of helping others find theirselves and meet their goals. Poor cat!!!

neck

Officially, yes, I am having problems with my neck. Officially, yes I have begun to get the L & I claim reopened. No, this ain't going away. Just remember, I WILL be getting a new body one day soon.

Taylor family

This picture is from May 05. Now, four months later, the girls have grown and changed alot. Their mom no longer wears the graduation gown (duh). And I am still called grandpa Marlin. While Justice has mastered the phrase, grandma Becky, Jackie still calls her grandma Marlin.

Just over a year ago, we met Dick and Amanda who had 2 little blonde haired girls. I had bent down to look eye to eye with both little girls on the sidewalk approaching church. After I said good morning, Jackie reached over and gave me a big hug. That melted my heart--and fast. After church, Becky met them, and the friendship begun. Becky and I easily found their friendship as one valued and enjoyed. With Dick being in the Navy, he was often gone on training exercises. Shortly after Dick left on a training mission, Sierra was born (Nov 1).

Dick and Amanda are a fabulous couple. Dick has an intense desire to be a father to his kids and provide for his family. He is unselfish and shares his knowledge and skills (cooking, computer, mechanical) with his friends. Amanda is an incredibly strong lady--drove herself to the hospital for Sierra's birth, and then drove herself home less than 24 hours later. Together, they make a neat couple who share a deep committment to each other and their kids. How I wish more families had parents equally committed to their children.

Life has a funny way of giving more than we could ever give. These three girls have worked their way into our hearts and lifes to the point where we are unbashedly attached to them. My joy is watching for their vehicle to drive up on Sunday morning to church and go out and help unload the Tahoe. I get greeted with "hi grandpa Marlin" loudly from Jackie and Justice and the smiles of Sierra. One of my biggest privileges was to get to carry Sierra into church her on first Sunday there. (yes, I was the proud substitute grandpa that day!) Jackie and Justice have a keen set of eyes for grandma Becky after church, and can spot her from across the foyer. They run full speed to her and give her a big hug. I love watching her face glow as they run to her.

One time Justice told me (extremely sad face) that I was not her real grandpa. I agreed, and then asked if it were ok for me to be a pretend grandpa. The explosion of a smile onto her face gave the positive answer. Jackie likes to press her face against my cheek while we are singing in church. It has encouraged me to try to sing more.

Soon--all too soon, Amanda and family are moving to Illinois. Dick's orders for service have reassigned him. When he returns from the war zone, he will be here for a couple of days, and then journey to reunite with them. This is a great move for their family and we are excited for them. They will be near their real grandpa (Amanda's dad). For us, there will be a hole in our hearts as they leave. We have been privileged to share "family" with them. They have opened their lives to us and blessed us with both acceptance and friendship. We are better people because of them. Our home will always be open to them, no invitation necessary. Somehow, we will stay in touch with them as they build their home and family together. We also committ to pray for them, that the committment Dick and Amanda made when they dedicated their kids to the Lord at church expands and grows.

Somehow I wish there were adequate means to say thank you to Dick and Amanda for sharing their family with us. We have been blessed far more than we dreamed of. They have allowed us to treat their children just like we treat our own grandchildren--and that is good for all of us. As the end of October comes and they fly away, there will be big holes in our hearts. Still, they go with our prayers and blessings.

Several have stated that Becky and I will need to "adopt" another family and love them the same as the Taylor kids. We have talked and considered that idea many times. Our prayer will be that God sends another family into our lives like he did Dick, Amanda, Justice, Jackie, and Sierra. It is a change in the philosophy of our home and our ministry that we like and will pursue. It will be called the Taylor project, in honor of 3 beautiful little girls.

Dick, Amanda, Justice, Jackie, and Sierra, thank you, we love you and appreciate you greatly. Come October, go, with God's richest blessings in your lives!