You Reap What You Sow

…For a person will reap what he sows… So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people…

Galatians 6:7-10

You reap what you sow. What goes around, comes around. Do good and good will come to you. How many times have we heard these sayings? We heard them from our parents, our teachers, our churches, books, and other influential people throughout our lives.

So, we live our life with this in mind, giving, with the promise that someday we will reap the harvest and benefits. The problem that I have encountered in my life is the waiting. See, all my life, I have tried to sow, tried to give, tried to be kind ... and I have waited for the harvest.

I was at the yearly rally for my jewelry company. It’s held in Fort Worth, Texas, in a big stadium. There on the stage was a minister from Chicago, my city – the place I was born, the roots of my family. With his Chicago matter-of-the-fact way of talking, he told me that no where in those verses does it say when – it just says it will happen. And, to top it off, I’m not supposed to grow weary and stop doing or giving.

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. God promises that someday I will reap the harvest. I need to be patient. How? To do this, I try:

To give thanks for the little things in life, no matter how small. My animal children, a bird chirping, the first seedling that appears, a snowman, a really good movie, and …

To realize that He has a plan that I cannot even venture to understand.

To know that there is something for me to learn in all of this. Maybe I’m to be more involved when it comes to dealings with me. You know – always read the fine print. Maybe it’s to take people as they are without trying to change them. Maybe it’s to stand up for myself when someone is taking advantage of me.

And, even when the creditors are calling, the bills can’t be paid, I am too tired to make another business phone call, a family member is sick, or I own the money pit - to know that He is in charge and He will give me the strength. I might not see it at first, but it will come if I look really hard in small things. I’ll get an order from out of the blue. $20 will appear in the pocket of a pair of jeans. A friend will call to ask how I’m doing or offer to bring over dinner. He’s in those small things!

For those of you who do not know my situation, I will attempt to explain it in one newspaper heading:

"Financial Ruin for Heiress Who Kept Money Pit to Aid Relatives"

Okay, heiress makes it sound like it’s something really big – it’s not. Had to spice it up. In fact, after it’s sold, I didn’t inherit anything, instead I lost money. But because of it, I am in the midst of a financial nightmare.

One favor or plea to you - you can help me make $$ by utilizing the advertisements on my blogs, checking out my eBay items, and emailing me about my home businesses. Maybe you would like to have a show for me or purchase an item or two (beautiful jewelry, helpful kitchen gadgets, and tasty foods). Anything would be greatly appreciated!

Question to you – I am thinking of selling some short stories that I have written from my website. If I did, would you be interested in purchasing one? If so, how much would you be willing to pay? Also, how about a Donations button? Do you think they are tacky? How about if I gave a free sample of my tasty food business with a donation? (I'm thinking about that super model who got out of debt by doing this. If she could do it, why not me? he he) Thanks for your opinion in advance!

Aunt Janet’s Famous Sayings

When you go to heaven, God’s not going to ask you what others did to you. He’s going to ask you what you did for others.

There are consequences to every action. If you do something positive, there will be a positive consequence. If you do something negative, there will be a negative consequence. You may not experience the consequence right away, but you will eventually.

Money Savings Tip

First, I do not advocate credit card use, but with today’s credit ratings, it is almost impossible to build credit without a credit card or two. With that in mind, save for your purchases, and pay for your credit card balances at the end of each month.

If you find yourself having a balance (shame on you and me), never have a credit card maxed out. It is better to have smaller amounts on two credit cards than to have only one credit card that is almost maxed out. This will affect interest rate and your credit score. Google it if you don’t believe me.

Easy Recipe

UT’s Favorite Onion Chip Dip

16 oz. Sour Cream
1 pkg Onion Soup Mix

Mix together until blended well.

Time Savings Tip

If you do not want to receive my blog (save you time from deleting it), please email me. If you would like to subscribe to it (instead of receiving personal emails from me), click on the subscribe button under my profile – top right corner. If you enjoy my blog, please comment, and pass it on to your friends!! I even have an e-mail your friend button under my profile.

And where are all my nieces and nephews? I miss your comments, and I miss you!!

Thanks for reading my blog! God Bless!

Aunt Janet
(Suffering from Empty Nest Aunt Syndrome)

Unconditional Love

"Dogs give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."

Gildna Radner

When you are sad or happy, mad or joyful, having a bad hair day or totally right day, your dog will always love you. They are always happy to see you! A dog will be there for you when the rest of the world has seemed to move to another planet. They are loyal, loving, and faithful.

I have been blessed with 5 dogs in my lifetime, 5 dogs that I could call my own. Each one filled my life with love. There was Lance, or Sir Lancelot of Peanuts, because my dad would only call him Peanuts since he was the runt of his litter. He was the one that first taught me about unconditional love. When my heart was broken, or I was celebrating a new love, he was there. Even though he was a smaller schnoodle, he stood up to the world, strutting his stuff, and loving me with his whole wagging being.

Then there was Allie, my princess and Lance's surprise "I can so be a father" daughter. Half Lhasa Apso and half Schnoodle, she was spunky and full of life, running here and there, but always stopping for a kiss. She stayed longer than her time so my heart wouldn't hurt any worse than it was already hurting, because of...

Sheba, my lady. She was my protector. Half German Shepherd and half Husky, she watched over her domain with passion, and played with as much passion. She loved children that grew up with her, and all stray animals that came into her domain. Her uncle was known to come and take her for rides, and I swear she would jump the fence and run just so she could get a ride on the way home. She died when I wasn't ready. Allie, old and weak, hung on for a couple of months to help ease my pain.

Then came Puppy - an angel sent straight from heaven! She's the peacemaker, the protector, the nursemaid. She breaks up fights, protects the weaker animals in the family, and is a wonderful nursemaid when someone is sick. In the months before Allie died, Puppy would put her nose under Allie's belly and help her stand up. This is why I believe that she is an angel sent to me!

After Sheba and Allie, I thought my heart would never heal. See, every time I asked God for a baby, He sent me another animal to mother. And now, two were gone in such a short time. I did not know His plans. Maggie was on her way! Maggie is my free spirit! Figured out how to get out of her crate within the first month! Smart, never leaves me alone, needs constant attention, loves to get into trouble, but loves to learn. She keeps 12 year old Puppy on her toes and young at heart!!

If we could only show others this kind of love - what a different world this would be!

Money Saving Tip

Never, ever leave a dog alone with a simmering crockpot. No matter how good the dog is OR how many times you have left them alone with the crockpot before, he or she will someday end up being the worst dog in the world (even worse than Marley).

Our Maggie ate our whole Christmas ham while we were seeing "Marley and Me" on Christmas Day. She took it right out the crockpot, unplugged it, and shared it with her dog mom and 3 brother cats. At least, she had the Christmas spirit.

We came home to a big mess (she got sick), no ham, a burnt nose, and Maggie with a stomach that was twice as big as usual, moaning "I ate too much!" She was so pathetic looking that we didn't have the heart to get mad at her. Come on, we just saw "Marley and Me", and Maggie won the Worst Dog competition hands down!

Food is expensive, and people food isn't good for dogs. So, to save money, make sure that the dog never is left unintended with a crockpot.

Money Making Tip

Blogs! I make money on the advertising you see in my blog. Some advertises pay me if you click on their site, some if you sign up, and some if you buy something. One cool site is Smilebox - you can try it before you buy it! It's a fun site, and has really cool scrapbook pages!

Also, you really do make money with SnapDollars and InBox Dollars. It might not be a whole lot, or it may take a while, but it does work. Try them!

Other Money Making Tips

Home-based businesses - I have three. I sell jewelry (my passion), cooking utensils, and tasty foods. If you would like to hear about any of these, email me. I'd be happy to send you a catalog or direct you to my websites. If you work them, they make money, especially the jewelry. Women love jewelry!!! New catalogs are coming out soon!