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Janet Perez Eckles's Blog (141)

Help for the blind...

That phrase can be interpreted in lots of ways: help with tools to navigate, help for restoring sight, help with support, help with grants, scholarships—the list is way long. Of course, those of us who are blind need help in various ways in different stages and from varied sources.



But the best help anyone has given me after I lost my sight came from two friends who took me into a Christian church. In the midst of sobs that expressed my misery, I blinked my tears away to see God for… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on August 6, 2008 at 7:55am — No Comments

Is there protection against California's earthquakes?

The earth did quake a few days ago. Although I was in my home in Florida, I heard its impact as it shook. I happened to be interpreting for a client and her patient located in a city in California. The conversation was calm and polite. Then their voices choked, then paused, gasps filled the air. And then the word “earthquake” echoed through the phone line.



How quickly, how abruptly their focus was redirected, the emotions shifted and tone changed—from friendly to… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on August 2, 2008 at 8:30am — No Comments

How to find the right woman...and at the right time.

I just got back from a delightful trip to Dallas, where hearts are big and folks are reeeeal friendly.



Among the highlights, I heard a story told by a dear friend. It touched me so much I thought I’d share it with you.



Years back, he happened to be driving on a road, late at night, out in the country--no lights, no sign of life, no nothing. In the midst of total darkness, he heard that familiar beep. The beep that indicated his cell phone just went out of rang. That… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on July 30, 2008 at 12:00pm — No Comments

How to Win When Hopping in a Cash Cab

What a crazy idea…get unsuspecting folks in a cab and shock them with a surprise chance to win money.



My mom was watching this program, enjoying it to the max. And I wonder what the thrill is. Is it the surprise element? The fact they took a simple, ordinary activity of taking a cab and turned it into an exciting adventure? Or is it simply the potential to gain cash that stirs excitement?



I'd love to ride in a cab, answer questions the correct way, and relish with the… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on July 25, 2008 at 8:14am — No Comments

Learning to Shoot a Gun

Learning to Shoot a Gun



I was shocked when a sweet friend shared that she had at one time been a guard at a women’s prison. The job was rough, the demands stringent, and the circumstances often mirrored a nightmare. But armed with her gun, a sense of security must have eased her tension.



Her instructions were to shoot, no reservations, no hesitation…just fire should she see any inmate display even a slight attempt to escape.



She learned how, she was trained, she… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on July 22, 2008 at 7:35pm — No Comments

Tips to Visit Disney

Did you know there are books written to provide such information? I can see the need, the hunger to know the secrets, and the tips for a better experience coveted by visitors who yearn to get a close-up glance at Mickey Mouse.



This thought is fresh in my mind as two friends and I visited EPCOT this past week. Goodness those lines! When I learned a 70-minute wait was on the horizon, thoughts immediately raced through my head—the myriad of tasks I could accomplish during those same… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on July 19, 2008 at 11:17am — No Comments

I want to write a book...

Have you ever had that in the back of your mind? I did...never thought I could, never thought I would . But when the Lord is in charge all kinds of doors open.



I'm watching those doors swing wide open and one of them just took place at the International Christian Retail Show---where authors have the opportunity to meet with editors. Gulp. The hope is to garner interest for your writing.



That's where I've been the last few days, but I plan to be back with my blogging… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on July 16, 2008 at 6:35am — No Comments

Spanish cuisine, delicious and spicy.

That’s what characterizes our dishes from Bolivia. But one trait that I shake my head about is the way it’s served.



Contrary to American style, each person is served a full plate. The Hostess scoop a portion of each item on a plate and carries it to the table, placing it before each guest.



This past Friday, my Dad’s brothers arrived from Bolivia for a short visit. And as part of the cultural tradition, my mom insists in serving everyone Bolivian style.



“Let them… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on July 10, 2008 at 5:00am — No Comments

"I'm feeling sad."

I got a call from a friend. That’s all she said. What is the natural question when someone tells you that? You want to know why. So I asked, but she said she didn’t know.



Did you ever feel that way? You just experienced a great event in your life, or enjoyed a great thing…and when it’s over, sadness with gloom invade your heart.



But God knows. He sees our moods, our disappointments, and our hum drum routine. So He gave us the answer: each day has a new dawn of… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on July 7, 2008 at 2:58pm — No Comments

Celebrating with Gratitude

Today I once again stand in awe at the privilege of living in independence, saluting the flag, becoming citizens, pledging allegiance to the United States of America—all gifts we still treasure. We received them when my family and I became naturalized citizens of the United States, the most powerful country in the world.



But its power, prosperity and prestige came with a price. A cost that spills to the family of courageous soldiers, their sacrifice and yes, that of their loved… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on July 5, 2008 at 7:38am — No Comments

I'm looking for a good friend.

Few people set off with the quest to “look” for a good friend. Relationships, friendships seem to happen all on their own. But friends have a myriad of facets—they come and go, leave an imprint in your heart, make a difference, spill a bit of joy, give you a bit of insight, or some even disappoint you. All kinds of friends, all kinds of effects they leave etched in our lives.



Yesterday, I had a delightful conversation with a good friend, Patti; our memories took us back to our… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on June 30, 2008 at 7:17pm — No Comments

The Best Car Cleaner

Do you know of any? Wish we did. Sunday morning we walked out of the house into a warm sunny day, birds chirping, and a soft breeze blowing. Suddenly, as we reached the driveway, hubby paused and with a calm, cautious, and calculated pitch said, “That’s interesting.”



In the thirty two years I’ve known him, when that tone slips from his lips, there’s something wrong.



Unable to see for obvious reasons, curiosity pricked at me. So my eager questions blurted faster than the… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on June 25, 2008 at 5:17pm — No Comments

Need a little help with time management?

I do…sometimes I feel instead of me managing time, time manages me, leaving me more ragged than Raggedy Ann.



But then other people are so the opposite. Let me tell you about my friend, Kimberly. This past week she got her house spic ‘n span for a ministry meeting, stopped by the grocery store for ingredients to prepare goodies for us guests, drove 20 minutes to pick me up, ran upstairs to grab one of the throw pillows from my guest room (which she’s helping me re-decorate—another one… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on June 23, 2008 at 4:51pm — No Comments

"How to rob a bank..."

Do you think bank robbers read books with such titles? Maybe they have a web site like robbers.com. Or they might have a Yahoo group to share tips and discuss failures or successes in their devious activity. Who knows?



But I do know one of them fulfilled his plan one morning early this week. My cousin began her morning in the usual way. She got ready, put on her make-up, grabbed a cup of coffee, and gave her daughter fresh fruit and a bowl of cereal. She then proceeded to navigate… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on June 19, 2008 at 7:07pm — No Comments

A little jealous of Tim Russert.

We’ve all heard the praises of this illustrious man, admired for his keen ability to draw insights from politicians and to bring out issues that most wondered about. He was an exemplary family man and a leader in demonstrating compassion toward those who knew him.



But a comment made about him makes me sigh with a hint of jealousy. Someone said that he gave a new meaning and purpose for Sunday mornings as he had an “insatiable hunger to know the truth.”



Wow! I’d like to be… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on June 17, 2008 at 6:49pm — No Comments

I'm sick and tired of the pain.

Have you ever cried out those words? A friend suffers with kidney stones and has mumbled how sick and tired he is of the pain. It persists and returns more often than he’d like.



And when the pain is unbearable, he heads to the emergency room. After filling out a myriad of papers, answering the endless, repetitive questions about his health history and insurance coverage comes the question: On a scale of 0 to 10, what number is your pain?



Aren’t you glad God never asks that… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on June 13, 2008 at 3:08pm — No Comments

How to get rid of snakes.

I have a brother who is intelligent, sweet as can be, and fun-loving. But yesterday I learned yet another trait that spurs added admiration.



While visiting a country home of a friend, a slithering snake visited the back porch. The friend took a shovel to scoop it and toss it into the woods. But my brother, with his bare hand, and with a swift move, grabbed the wiggling snake by the neck, lifted it and hurled it as far as he could into the woods.



Wow! Should we have that… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on June 9, 2008 at 5:46pm — No Comments

"I'm an atheist..."

“I’m an atheist,” declared a close friend at a recent event that hubby and I attended in our hometown. He had just shared a situation which might potentially leave him unemployed.



“God has a plan for you,” I said.



He responded quickly that He did not believe in God, and added that man had created God, rather than God creating man.



I listened as he explained while blurting series of dates which he twisted to support his perception. And of course, the idea of… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on June 2, 2008 at 7:45pm — No Comments

Timely help for foreclosure...of our soul.

Have you ever felt your whole world is beginning foreclosure proceedings? All options exhausted, doors closed, emotional account is reaching bankruptcy, calls from collections ring torment in your nights, and worry flogs your days?



Phew! Some of us have been there - in the prison surrounded by bars of anguish and helplessness.



Here’s the question: Is God Almighty - powerful, loving, and all-knowing - aware of me, little old me trapped in the prison of gloom?



Do… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on May 30, 2008 at 2:34pm — No Comments

Sweeter and more delicious than chocolate...

Sweeter and more delicious than chocolate…



I have friends who are a little nutty, some who are just a hoot, some creative, others loving, some generous, and others who are a walking image of Christ…and this weekend in Dallas, I just happened to be with two who possess all said attributes.



I attended a speaking engagement outside of Dallas. After I spoke, my dear friends picked me up and graciously invited me to their home for the evening.



There we were, chatting… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on May 28, 2008 at 7:08am — No Comments

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