The Ripple Effect

I am kind of a believer in the Ripple Effect. 
How one decision, choice or path, effects the next one and the next one and the next. One good decision can effect others in ways you cant imagine. One bad decision does the same, and it goes on and on and on. 
I also believe that God uses what was meant to be bad for good as well. God Trumps the ripple effect. 
Looking back on my life, I can see how many decisions that I made have created a trail to where I am now. (this blog illustrates that well IMO)
For instance, my choices to stay up late, every night, really effect how I function the next day. This is a bad habit that I really, REALLY need to break. 
I stay up late, I dont get enough sleep, Im slower and grumpier in the morning, which leads to less time to do things that need to get done and a path is carved out. 
I KNOW I need to change this about myself...but I really like staying up late. Ive been this way for as long as Ive been allowed to make my own bedtime. 
When will I change? I dont know. 
BUT, God uses this bad habit for his good from time to time. 
Thursday, I stayed up late to watch the World Series. 
Friday morning, Im tired, I got to get to church ASAP. I get there as soon as I planned to be. The copier-man I was supposed to meet is late because of a Ripple Effect in his life. I dont get as much done as I want because 1)Im chit-chatting with others while I wait. 2)Copier-man meeting takes some time, but he fixes what needs fixin'.
Now it is several hours later and Em has had enough. 
On a normal Friday I would put Em down for a nap at church, but Im over tired too from staying up late. So I tell myself that I will finish this later. 
I work from home the rest of the day and decide that I will make my copies on Saturday. 
Saturday. The Halloween Nor'Easter has arrived...(this is from another Ripple Effect, global warming, butterflies in Africa, etc etc) I get to church to try to get all my copies done before the wedding scheduled for that afternoon. 
I get all my copies done, AND Im able to assist here and there while I wait for copies. 
I pack up my copies and get ready for some sortin' (Im feeling country today), and the power goes out! At church! Where there is a wedding and reception in a couple of hours! So, I help gather flashlights and batteries. 
The big industrial flash lights dont work because they arent charged...due to some other ripple effect. 
I gather as many candles as I can. And the church has A LOT. I run home and get more candles and flashlights. (This leaves my family in the dark later...OOPS)
We set up the candles and light them up and despite this power outage, everything is still beautiful. 
I offer to help as much as possible. I am then assigned the job of directing guests after they arrive after the ceremony starts. I wasnt planning on being at a wedding, Im wearing holy jeans, Teal rainboots, and am looking pretty grubby in my ponytail, with no make-up. 
I call my Bestie and ask her to bring me clothes ASAP! Since she is the best bestie, she brings me a fabulous outfit right down to the stylish pointy toe boots. (Her best friend duty creates a ripple in her day, but Ill let her blog about that some day ;) 
Another friend/co-worker/secret blog reader brings more candles and some Snickers since Im running on coffee. 
The ceremony starts and ends, the reception beings, its getting darker outside as the day goes on, we help serve cake and what not, now its time to clean up...in the dark...with no lights...in the dark. 
Its REALLY hard to clean in the dark! Have you ever tried it? Try it? Its hard, trust me. This takes FOR-EH-VER (say that like squints from The Sandlot).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0H6R7xRytk

My Husband calls to remind me, "Hey you took all our lights", So I drive back home, still snowing, trees hanging out on power lines and broken stop lights. 
    BTW, fun Tiff fact #22 (there are a lot of fun facts about me), I hate the winter. HATE IT! And now Im driving back and forth, back and forth in a weird-freaky Halloweeny Wedding snow storm. I Get back to church and it is pitch black inside now. Everyone is gone except for the lovely janitorial staff and they help with as much as they can. I shove everything in the kitchen and leave an apologetic note. 
Im really REALLY sweatin' how the messy kitchen is going to go over the next day and I get about 3 hours of sleep, on an already sleep deprived person because I DONT GO TO BED EARLY! WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF! 
So all this to say...Go to bed early so you dont procrastinate and have to help others.
OOOoooooooor, I could say that the Lord knew I was going to procrastinate and that he used my procrastination for good so that I can serve and help others in their time of need and help their special day go a little more smoother. I am choosing the latter. 
So last night, what did I do? I went to bed even later than usual....sigh. I'm so tired. I may never change. 


There is still some residual wedding day, Halloweeny Nor'Easter things that need to be taken care of (bloody toes from awesome pointy shoes, a lot of stuff that still needs to put away, follow up paperwork, the list goes on). The Ripple is still moving and in effect. Stay tuned! 
(  (  ()  )  )   those are ripples