LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE.

Remember that old saying? Well I was a liar from the get go. I can remember being late for school one day. I went all the way to school and saw all the kids sitting in the classroom. Being as shy as I was, I didn't want to go in and have everyone stare at me. So I walked home. When I got there, my mom asked me why I was home again. I told her a whopper of a lie. I said "I met a man on the way to school. He told me that I was sooo late that I should go back home. So here I am." Needless to say I was not a very good liar.

By the time I hit grade four, I must have learned to develop my skill of lying a little better. I had a little girl in my class convinced that I was from a very very poor family. I would tell her that I never got anything good to eat. She felt so sorry for me that she would bring stuff from home for me to eat. I had to hone my skill as she began to desire to bring me healthy snacks. I couldn't have that. I wanted goodies and tasty treats. I remember one time she brought me a box of Jello and I hid behind the school building while I ate it. I am sure my mouth must have given me away to everyone who saw me.

I was also beginning to learn that one lie leads to another and soon you could be in big trouble.

She mentioned that she had told her mom and now, her mom wanted to give our family food. Oh No, I would be found out! What to do? I had to come up with a doozy of a lie this time. How could I get out of this situation and still not be found out to be a liar? I had to really dig deep inside of me for a whopper of a lie to cover my you know what.

I got it! My mom was a very proud woman and would be so crushed if she found out that I had told anyone about our situation. I would be in big trouble and mom would be devastated although I didn't know big words like that back then.

I can't remember how it all ended but I know I never got in trouble about it. Maybe that lie did it for me. I don't really know or remember.
I do know though that somewhere along in my life, I changed. Lies became so repulsive to me.

One lie leads to another lie and then you lie to get out of another situation. It grows and grows and before you know it, you are caught up in a web of lies that seem impossible to get out of. You do end up being caught - one way or another.

So, why do people lie? Why bother? What is the reward at the end of the lie? Is it worth it?

Raising my daughters, I was very adamant about honesty in our family. I would tell my girls that if they told the truth, they wouldn't get into trouble, but, if they lied, and I found out, they would be in twice the trouble they originally would have been in. I wanted to make lying the bad guy and not what they had done or didn't do. I think this worked pretty well.

I can remember my youngest daughter had such a conscience. If she lied to me during the day about something, she just couldn't get to sleep at night until she confessed to me. I valued my daughters honesty. If I thought they might be lying about something I would usually look at them and say "Truth" and they usually would give me the truth. It got to the point that if someone else would say they did something and the girls would tell me they didn't, I would believe the girls as TRUTH had been so ingrained into their characters that I had no reason to doubt them.

Maybe that was naive on my part but I think I raised two of the most honest girls you could possible have.

I guess over my life, I carried so much guilt over all my earlier lies, that I just didn't want my daughters to have to go through that. Guilt can be more powerful that any weapon.

So why do people lie? What constitutes a lie? If someone asks you if you like their dress and you really hate it - should you tell them the truth? Where do we draw the line at lying?

I think children usually lie out of fear. Shouldn't we as parents be relieving their fears rather that adding to them.

O.k. I had no fear when I lied about the food. So what drove me to do such a thing. I can only think it must have been jealousy. Jealous that someone else had something that I didn't. So to cover up one sin, I committed another.

Is that one of the reasons people lie? To cover sin? Murderers, rapists, robbers, etc. lie to cover their sins. They don't want to be found out. But what of the person that lies about things that don't seem to matter. I call them the "one uppers". You know the people. Whatever you did or saw, they did it better or saw something better. Why do these people do this? Does it make them feel superior in some way, or are they really afraid that their lives don't seem to measure up.

What are your thoughts on lying? When is it o.k. to lie? How do you teach your children about lying?

TO TATTLE OR NOT TO TATTLE? THAT IS THE QUESTION.

It was a normal walk to school and on my way I saw Tom and Dick playing in the concrete blocks. Never thought much about it till the teacher took "Roll Call" and the boys weren't there. I lifted my hand and mentioned that I saw them playing in the concrete blocks on my way to school.

Next day on my way home from school I met Tom and Dick. One of them held a pocket knife to my throat. That was when I had my first lesson on Tattling. I was told never to tattle on them again or I would be in big trouble.

What did I know of Tattling? I was only in grade two and didn't even know what that mean yet. It was a scarey experience and I don't know if I ever told anyone about it till now.

I do remember another time, prior to the above event, where I told the teacher on one of my cousins. He had made fun of me over something and I Tattled on him. I felt so bad for doing it as he got in trouble and no amount of apologizing to him could ease my pain at his discomfort.

We all know we are not to Tattle on others. As Christians, how far do we take that? If we know someone is involved in illegal doings, should we tell on them? Would this be "Loving your neighbour as yourself, or doing unto others as you would have them do unto you"?

Do we only tattle if it is a life threatening situation or involves children. How do we know when we should speak up and not be known as the neighbourhood busy body. Would tattling give a bad name to our witness to Christ?

I am curious as to your opinions on this. I eagerly await your responses.

BIRTH ORDER PREDICTOR - WRONG

John Scanlan had this on his site so I decided to try it out.
They were wrong about me as well. I am the first born child in my family and have 5 little sisters to prove it.
I think John is a much better predictor than this thing is.
So, check it out and see if anyone comes out right.

You Are Likely an Only Child

At your darkest moments, you feel frustrated. At work and school, you do best when you're organizing. When you love someone, you tend to worry about them. In friendship, you are emotional and sympathetic. Your ideal careers are: radio announcer, finance, teaching, ministry, and management. You will leave your mark on the world with organizational leadership, maybe as the author of self-help books.

The Birth Order Predictor

MY REMODELLED NEW ROOM

After 3 ½ months, it is finally finished. Ta Da. Here is my new room. I still have to put pictures up on the walls and clean out one corner but otherwise, it is all done and ready for visitors. Hope you like the before and after pics.







Before











After










Before














After

CATCHING UP

On Dec 21st I arrived at my daughters home to spend a week there during the holiday season. I came home the Tuesday after Christmas with loads and loads of stuff. So much so that her van was full and there was no room for her to bring the baby. Her husband stayed home and babysat.

During the week, I lived on allergy pills and snotted up a river of toilet paper as I was so allergic to her dogs this time.

While I was out there I hit the Goodwill store and went Caaarrrazzzzy ! They were loaded with Christmas stuff and the day after Christmas they had everything marked down to half price. I bought stuff for crafting, some for keeping and some for giving away as gifts next year.

On Christmas eve we went to my sister and brother-in-law’s for their annual Christmas eve get together. I was feeling very lonely and went outside for a cig and cried and cried. See, smoking does come in handy sometimes. Hee Hee. No one knew I had been crying though. I felt so out of place. I never feel a part of the family and this year it seemed to hit me even more. I guess I was missing Val and knowing how he used to like the get togethers.

Christmas dinner at my parents place was really nice. Mom is the greatest cook and she did everything to perfection. Thanks mom. So many people though. I didn’t feel so alone there. I guess I got out my crying the night before.

I was glad to come home and so was my little Boo Boo. He was running all over and even chewed on his bone and hauled out all his animals. I chewed on my bone and dragged out all my purchases. Hee Hee.

IT'S HERE, ITS HERE. Let the bells ring and the banners fly. Yipee, Yahoo!. Its here. Well......some of it is here anyway.

On December 30th, a little after 12, they FINALLY delivered my sectional couch and my end tables and coffee table. I am still waiting for the two sofa tables and two lamps. They were supposed to come in on the 7th but of course they didn’t.
This sectional came in two pieces. Each piece was totally wrapped in cardboard and in a huge heavy plastic bag. None of the legs were attached to the sectional either. In fine print on the sales slip I read "Notice to out of town customers! Due to time restrictions, deliveries made to rural areas do not include set up."

Can you believe it? I had to totally take it all apart myself and set it up. What a mess. I was totally depressed and upset. I still haven’t got the legs on as I cant lift the couches myself. I guess our money out here in the "sticks" isn’t as good as the money in the city, for some reason.

When I finally got it all unpackaged and set up, I was even more depressed. It is so huge. After sitting here for two months with no furniture, I now feel so cluttered. The tables are still in a box and have to be put together. Dont know where I am going to put them yet. There is no room.

I welcomed in the New Year very quietly with a few movies and a prayer. It was strange not being able to pray in the New Year with my husband. It was something we did each year at midnight.

The past week I had a friend over spending some time with me. That was so nice. It helped get me over the blahs of January after Christmas. Now I am into cleaning and cleaning and trying to find places for all my STUFF.

Well that about brings you up to date on what I have been up to. Hope you all have a very Blessed New Year.