What Will My Attitude Say About Me?

I have struggled the last couple of weeks to keep a good attitude. It seems that there are days that I am surrounded by negativity. It is hard when you are so busy that the only time you have to stop, reflect and make changes is when you should be sleeping.

Here you are surrounded by the negativity of friends, family, coworkers and of course your own. Sometimes it seems like negativity is an ocean and you are in it without any type of flotation device. By the end of this last week I had already been sinking for a few days. It was too the point where you start to panic because you have run out of air in your lungs, but you can't take a breath. I was panicking and allowing my emotions to dictate my actions.

On Thursday, one of the ladies from church asked me to read a poem when she was speaking that night. Her topic was about attitude. I had read the poem shortly before she stood up to speak. However, when she gave me the nod to read my poem I struggled to keep the emotion from my voice. I was convicted.

The poem spoke of having the right attitude not just in word, but in action as well. The main point by the end of the poem is at the end of the day will I hold my head high or hang it in shame as a result of my words and actions. I cannot honestly say that I can do this. I will typically admit when I am wrong and apologize, but how many apologies are allowed before it's just words?

I know as I continue to grow in to the role that God has placed before me (whatever it may be) that I will need to more readily guard my heart, mind and tongue. So today, I picked up a book I have owned for several years and have even started reading a couple of times. The Front Row by Gwyn Oakes.

The very first chapter, Sis. Oakes tells us what she is going to talk about. However, can you guess what the majority of her book will probably deal with? It is very apparent that it will deal with attitude. It would have to since being a leader requires us to be servants. A servant does their work and does not show their attitude. A good servant does their work with a thankful heart and willing spirit. I want to share with you a writing that Gwyn shares in her book from a German philosopher.

I have come to the frightening conclusion

That I am the decisive element.

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

I possess tremendous power to make life

miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture

Or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response that decides

Whether a crisis will be exalted or de-escalated,

And a person humanized or dehumanized.

If we treat people as they are, we make them worse.

If we treat people as they ought to be,

We help them become what they are 

capable of becoming.

~ Goethe

Dear Lord I need to keep this close to my heart and remember that I am required to treat others as what they can be and not as what they are. I have had many people influence my life in a positive way. Where would I be if they had treated me as I deserved?

Feminism: A Conservative Look

I have two questions for you. What would you tell me if I asked you explain to me what feminism is? Would you give the same response I feel all over in my body when I hear the word? I have this tenseness in my body that comes over me and I immediately to think of women who hate men and would do anything to rid the world of the hated man species.

This semester I needed to take a class that would fulfill the Interdisciplinary portion of my required credits. Since I am taking my classes on line I had two options. American Indian Studies or Women Studies. My first reaction was that I would take the American Indian Studies class because I could at least swallow most of the things discussed in forums and our required readings. However, there was something that was calling to me from the Women's Studies. As I get older, I understand that in order to truly be able to refute what someone believes I need to understand where they are coming from. So I signed up for this class.

The first assignment was an overview of exactly my first question. The perception that feminism has. Of course, feminism much like religion, has received somewhat of a bad rap because of those who would take something further than necessary. If it hadn't been for women to stand up I would live in a completely different society. I would never be able to voice my opinion in a public forum, I wouldn't be able to excel to a higher education, own my own property or vote for who I want to see in office.

These are rights that seem like they are rights that have been allowed to women for a long time. It only makes sense right? But if you take a look back in just the one hundred years of our history really we have only just begun to earn these privileges. Privileges that are now available to us because of matriarchs of feminism that forged a path to equality for all of us.

Are there some "feminist" who are out there who overshadow the good that has been done? Absolutely! Otherwise, we wouldn't forget about the good that feminism has done for us. It's always concerning to a conservative to think of themselves as a feminist. Some of the biggest debates that feminism is currently involved directly conflict with what a conservative such as myself believes. For instance, I believe marriage is for one man and one woman. I also believe that abortion is killing a life regardless of what stage of pregnancy a woman is in. These are two major issues that the feminist movement lobby and fight for. At this time it is the week for local and state elections. These two issues are highlighted in ads, commercials and debates.

However, after reading quite a bit of the literature I do believe there is good that feminism has done for women as a whole. I also believe that there is still a place for feminism for today's society. After all, I believe that the true purpose of feminism is to promote equality.

So, my second question to you is what wouldn't you have today if it hadn't been for feminism?

Date Night

We received tickets to preview a new movie before it was released. This time it was Nightcrawler. I am a huge fan of the main star Jake Gyllenhaal. Any movie we have seen him in he does well, though I feel he has been typecast in to the more intense serious roles.

The movie seemed to be really long. There were points when I felt I was losing interest, but then it would come back around again. Thinking about it now, it must have been a little longer than usual since the movie started right at seven and we did not get home until about 9:30.

The story line is different than the typical movie we see coming out lately. The end was definitely different and weird, but it fit the rest of the movie. It was interesting to see the main character evolve throughout the movie. I would say the best part in the movie is when the main character is running away from having filmed a crime scene he is yelling at his "employee" about how he needs to focus on improving himself and taking initiative. There were several parts throughout the movie when the main character would talk to his "employee" and I thought this man has been a manager sometime in his life. He really sold his position.

I would not say that I was completely pleased with Renee Russo's part in the movie. I couldn't tell if she was playing the part well or just a bad actress. I almost feel Nichole Kidman would have been a better fit for that role. Bill Paxton I was surprised to see really only had a small part in the movie.

Overall, I was pleased with the movie. Probably not something I would have gone to the theaters to pay to see, but would have definitely rented it at some point. Again, a big thank you to Marcus Theaters for the opportunity to come in, watch a free movie and be given some quality time with my husband.

Dinner & A Movie

Last week I received an email from Marcus Theater  Movie Rewards offering me two tickets to watch John Wick. It's free right? So why not? My husband agreed, we picked up the tickets and waited for the time. So quit the chit chat and say if it's a good movie or not right?

First, I will say we went out for dinner. We almost did not make it to the movie after. I was not feeling well after eating. My husband drove around a little bit with the window down and things got better. Once there, we stood in line for awhile. I was pretty impressed with the line of people that were already there waiting. The irritating part of all of this was listening to people (including my husband) complain how they were not allowing a cell phones in the theater. Really people? It tells you this right in the email. I strive to understand why you would HAVE to have your cell phone in a movie theater anyway. Sit back and relax. You are at the theater watching a movie for free. Ok, rant over!

On with the movie review. I thought it was pretty good. Without completely spoiling it, I will say that there is a scene near the start of the movie that made me heart sick. However, the rest of the movie was action packed with a little bit of humor mixed in with it. Keanu Reeves did a great job playing this part. My husband did not like it as much, but was not able to articulate why he did not like it. It is okay, I will donate a thumb to give two thumbs up from our family.

#JohnWick

Baking & A Lost Kitty

Today was an interesting day. I was finally able to persuade the very cute cat who has been visiting our yard to join me on the deck. He is actually a very friendly and socialized cat. He loves sleeping in the old barrel we converted in to a flower pot. He was definitely very hungry and then slept a lot. He seems pretty comfortable with us and has not so subtly tried to make his way in to our house. We are conflicted. At this point, we do not have funds to support yet another animal in our house, but he really is a cutie and a talker!

I will call him Optimus

During this time of working with the dogs to keep them from going through windows and doors (we all know of course that the cat would then probably beat the dogs up) I also made a yummy dessert I found on Facebook a couple of weeks ago. Believe me this was as good as it looked. The only part of the recipe I did differently was spraying the pan instead of placing foil in it. I will break down the pro's and con's of the recipe.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars.

Pro's

It requires three packages of cream cheese.

It really was a quick recipe.

Con's

Both the crust and crumble required mixing sticks of butter in by hand. Necessary to ensure a complete mix up of both, it is too much work for me.

Here is the recipe courtesy of the Desserts & Sweets group page on Facebook.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars - Desserts and Sweets Group!

Ingredients:

Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

Cheesecake Filling:
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
3 large eggs
1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apples:
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

Drizzle:
1/2 cup caramel topping for drizzling after baked

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar
Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly Press evenly into a 9x13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth
Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla
Stir to combine
Pour over warm crust.
In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg
Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.

For the streusel topping: 

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients 

Use clean hands to thoroughly combine the butter into the mixture.
Sprinkle Streusel topping over apples 
Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until filling is set 
Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool 
Serve cold and enjoy!

Makeover Dog Bed Day

Yesterday as I was cleaning the bedroom and picking up I picked up one of the dog beds in frustration. Our dogs have this terrible habit of biting little holes in to their dog beds. Then the stuffing either falls out through use of the bed or is pulled out by naughty dogs. So I had decided that while my husband was at work I was going to start throwing out dog beds. One at a time so it wouldn't be noted right away. The trick was how to replace it without impacting the budget. Dog beds are expensive. I didn't have an idea of how to replace it, but I was determined to start getting rid of some of these beds that leave a disaster all over our bedroom floor.
So, the first dog bed victim was located and brought downstairs. As I was walking through the front room my eyes rested on this tie blanket kit that I had found stashed away a few days ago. My brain did an instant click and I stopped. My dog bed needed a new cover. I had this kit just sitting there begging me to use it. It was decided! Today would be dog bed makeover day.
I did a little clean up around the house then started on the dog bed makeover. It took a little less than an hour to get things completed, then boom...

A quick fix, not as expensive as a new dog bed, no more mess. It is a win win! Ben seems to appreciate it the most, but he is the dog that seems to sleep on the floor the most.
#dogbedmakeoverday