In addition to being CEO of Clavier Chanean LLC, I am a senior accounting and reporting specialist for the largest custodial bank on the planet. I process dozens of trades a day. As you can imagine, each trade must have a unique identifier so it can be found in the future for research or verification. The first series of numbers of this identifier suggests the date. Today, December 18, 2009 shows like this: 109352 - which breaks down to 1 - place number; 09 year; 352 day of the year. That's right, this is the 352nd day of the year, and there are 13 days left in 2009. It's time to start thinking about resolutions - if that's your thing. I am gearing up to begin my 40 day fast on January 1, 2010. This has been quite a year for me, but as my mother tells me when I have the audacity to complain, "If God had done for me what He's done for you this year, I wouldn't have time to complain - I'd be too busy giving him praise!" This reminder, as well as scripture (Luke 12: 6-7, Philippians 4:4, Joshua 1:5) sustains me. There is no way that you could have told me on January 1, 2009 that my daughter would be cured of sickle cell anemia. But this summer -after a bone marrow transplant donated from her brother- she is!!!! There is no way I thought I'd be at a job that I look forward to coming to every morning. My boss is great. My co-workers are funny. The company is aware of my daughter's health status, and have been extremely generous with my absences to care for her. I had been looking for another job for SOOOOOOOOO long, and had begun to get discouraged because so many doors were being closed before me. However, Jeremiah 29:11 tells me "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Comfort, reassurance, peace found right in the word. And as I sit here on my lunch hour, let me tell you He will come through. So, I challenge you to forgo your resolutions and focus on what God has in store for you. If your destiny in 2010 is anything like my 2009, God is about to blow your mind! Hold on to your hat!!!!!

The Boston Learning Center's (www.bostonlearningcenter.org) Tweetathon ended at 11pm last night. The last email I saw had us at 75% of our goal of $10,000. I hate to admit it, but I didn't bid. I was going to bid, but I left my wallet in the truck, and when I went to get it, I got busy here at work and said I would do it when I got home, and then my eyes got heavy (maybe I need to read the prior post!!!!)......so suffice to say, I didn't bid on any of the auction items - and there were some good ones!!! What I will do is make a cash donation. The learning center is very dear to me because I know what it can do to motivate and inspire kids to be their best and do their best in school. Another organization that I've had my eye on is Global Partners for Development (http://www.gpfd.org/). Their site says that they are "dedicated to helping the poorest communities of East Africa as they strive to lift themselves permanently out of poverty". Their projects include providing clean water sources to villages, teaching women to become businesswomen by providing them with livestock to raise, milk, breed, and sell, as well as other health and educational endeavors. It really troubles me that 3/4 of this planet is water, but there are people starving to death because their fields are too dry to grow any sort of vegetation. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' When we feed someone who is hungry, we are feeding Jesus. When we visit someone who is sick, we are visiting Jesus. When we come from out of ourselves and do what we can for someone else, we are helping Jesus directly!!! (Matthew 25: 35-40) This is why I sit on the board of the Boston Learning Center, and this is why I will probably begin a monthly contribution to Global Partners for Development. I encourage you to search your soul and find what you are passionate about and see how you can share that passion with Jesus on a regular basis!!!

I have recently realized that procrastination, stalling, and even the snooze button on the alarm clock are tools of the ememy to keep us from realizing the promise that God has laid up for us. When I first realized it, I completely stopped using my snooze button and I was incredibly productive. As the weeks have passed I have begun to use it maybe once or twice a week - but I only hit it once, whereas I used to hit it 4 or 5 times!! 2 things happened in the past week to alert me to God's dealing with me regarding procrastination.
The first thing happened on Tuesday. I had so much work to do. The first 8 business days of the month are our busy time anyway, but this day was absolutely ridiculous!! So I would do some work, surf the net, do some work, eat a sandwich, do some work, talk to my neighbor, etc. When I looked up, my deadline was coming up, and I was no where near ready!! I hustled, and God gave me the mind to prioritize my work and I beat my 12:30 deadline by no more than 2 minutes. WHEW!!!! Talk about wiping the sweat off your brow!!! So, with that down, I continued to mess around and avoid tasks that I knew had to get done, but that I didn't want to do. I try to make it a point to leave work by 4:50 because I have to get Chandler and get Mason. Mason has to be picked up by 6pm, or there is a late fee of $3/minute. I've been late before and that is why I now leave at 10 of 5 instead of 5. One time when I was late, I got the "We're trying to not have to charge people the late fee" scolding. Well, on Tuesday, I was messing around so long, that I didn't leave here until 5:15!!! AND traffic was a mess. Suffice it to say, I was stuck in traffic at 5:45. I found Clarke and sent her to pick him up and I called ahead and let them know that she was on her way and was on the bus a few blocks from the school. Even with all that, I was still charged $21 because Clarke didn't get there until 6:07. I was so sad and mad!!! Sad because clearly, me giving them $21 does not make me a good steward over the money that God has given me, and mad because I told them I was coming!!! I have to work!!! Nevertheless, they got their $21 and the lesson has been learned!!!
The second thing that happened is Clarke was invited to apply to the National Honor Society!!! YAY CLARKE!!!!! She got the applicaion this morning and texted me that she may not get in because of her absences and tardies. She has obviously done well academically, but this senior year she just doesn't want to go to school. I guess we used to call it senioritis. Well now, it is coming back to haunt her. We have a few weeks to turn the application in, which gives us some time to put our own spin on her attendance (or lack thereof). But look at what God had planned for her!! Because she let the enemy get the best of her on a few days, she may be in jeopardy of missing her reward. This so opened up my eyes to how costly dilly-dallying really is!!! Is there something the God has called you to do that you are putting off for one reason or another? Take it from me...whatever it is, get on it yesterday!!!! You certainly don't want to run the risk of losing any good thing that He has in store for you because of your disobedience!!! So, I'm back on the ball. If my mind says to do it, then I'm on it - right now!!!

OK....2 sites are up now - Clavier Chanean - www.clavierchanean.com/index2.html and Prove Me Now Herewith - www.provemenowherewith.com/index2.html. As you can imagine, I am very excited about the swift progress that is taking place!! Check out the sites - I'm still soliciting honest feedback.
The most amazing thing happened to me on Tuesday evening. First, a little background.....As I was looking at the selections on www.christianbook.com, I had the idea to create a desk calender around women of the bible. I found a book on the site that I thought would be a great reference book for this project, and I wrote it down....somewhere. A few weeks ago at my job, we pulled names for Secret Santa. I've only been working here for 3 months, so, needless to say, I got someone that I had never even spoken to before. I went out Tuesday to begin looking for her gifts (yeah....we gave 2 $5 gifts, and a bigger gift for $25). I had gotten one of her gifts from one store, and had gone to Marshall's browse their aisles. I did find a $5 gift and could have left at that point, but I started wandering around to see what else they had. I was looking at some stationery and cookbooks and I looked up and wouldn't you know - the book that I wanted to work on the calendar was staring me in the face!!!! I KID YOU NOT!!! Now anyone who has ever been to Marshall's knows how random their selections is - especially when it comes to books and housewares. For the rest of the night and into the next day, I kept wondering what path that book took to get to me. Who picked it up last and put it right there so that I would see it??? My mother has a habit of saying it is frightening how God works, and I have to tell you - it is!!! I could feel Him looking down at me as I slowly reached for this book in disbelief. Romans 8: 28 tells us "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Again, proof positive that I am answering His calling, and doing what He would have me to do. So I bought my book and have begun my research. Please continue to pray for me as I undertake these many endeavors, and be on the lookout for a calendar from Clavier Chanean!!!!

I have to make a concerted effort to post more regularly!!! There is so much going on!!! The initial Clavier Chanean site is up - http://www.clavierchanean.com/index2.html. There are already some changes in the works, not the least of which is a link to this blog directly on the site. I've personally sent it to a few of my friends, and they all love it. It is a good site, but I have to wonder if they love me more than the site. I'll explain:
I was trying to reach a vendor once but I had misplaced her phone number, so I went to the company website and called the number. I got a fax tone, which is fine - business has to go on in your absence. However, when I emailed her and told her that I got a fax tone at her number, she told me that she didn't have a fax. I tried the number again, and same deal. Finally, I found her phone number and discovered that two of the numbers on her site had been transposed and I was calling the wrong number all the time. She couldn't believe it and was too willing to accommodate me since I had been trying to reach her for days. But what struck me was she told me she had several people look at the site for her before it went live, and no one picked out that critical mistake.
I've been talking about Clavier Chanean for almost 2 years now while working, designing, and researching in the background. I have to wonder if my friends are just so excited about its fruition that they can't or won't see any flaws. They are so supportive and I love them all, but in this particular instance, I cannot trust them!!! So, I'll reach out to a less invested crowd. I"m looking for honest feedback on the site so far. The first round of revisions include again, a link to this blog, my contact information at the bottom of the page, and mentions of the other companies under the Clavier Chanean umbrella - namely Garment of Praise, and Prove Me Now Herewith. If you have a chance, please click on the site and give me your feedback. I'm looking for honest feedback that will improve the site itself, as well as its impact on viewers. I will not let it go live until it is just right. It's purpose is to exalt a perfect God, and He deserves nothing less!!!

I AM SO ASHAMED!!!!! It's been over a week since I've come to Blogger, and I apologize. However....I have not been completely out of touch. I've become slightly addicted to Twitter and Facebook. I'm meeting with David Ginsburg tonight to learn how to incorporate the blog onto Facebook. I love modern technology!!! Great news!!!! Gee Gee sent me the link to the Clavier Chanean website, and it is spectacular!!!!! I suggested a few tweaks, and I'm sending it around to a few more discriminating eyes, and then we'll launch it!!!! This is so exciting, but as you can imagine a little scary. But, I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5 NIV)!!! I've come to realize that the things that hold us back - fear, procrastination, the snooze button - are all tricks of the devil to keep us from what God has in store for us. I'm sure the best Christian in Satan's eyes is a lazy Christian : not motivated to do what he has been called to d0, not interested in learning what God has in store for him around the bend, to comfortable with the trappings of this world to strive towards the Master's promises. Dear God, now that I have heard you call over my life, let me never become the lazy Christian, and let me run with passion with the assignment you have given me. Thank God, Amen!!!! Be blessed, and be about something!!!!