Life As I Know It
By Nicole Daughhetee

Lottery tickets: I don’t buy them on a regular basis, but only because I know that statistically speaking I have a greater chance of being hit by lightning than I do winning the lottery. When there are ginormous jackpots, I might try my luck, figuring I really have nothing to lose but a dollar.

On those occasions, I find myself bargaining with God, even though I know He isn’t a wheeler-dealer. Given the opportunity for great creative license, my mind can certainly construct an elaborate “what I would do if I won the lottery” fantasy. I know I am not alone in this regard.

I would like to think that if I were to ever win the lottery and become a millionaire that I would remain grounded. This is always part of my prayerful pitch to God: not only will I remain level-headed, but I would be a most philanthropic person because, even with what little I have to offer financially, I already am.
My plan for the winning lottery money is quite simple actually, perhaps even bordering on methodically boring: Ten percent of my winnings would go directly to God for all of the blessings in my life. I adamantly believe in tithing and giving back to God what He has so generously given to me.

All about Ben
By Ben Robinson

I know I’m unemployed, so getting sleep should not be a a problem.

It’s tough to be late for a job I don’t have.

But lately I have been giving my nephew Kevin a ride to work. That’s no problem. I don’t mind, because I’m hoping I can somehow convince my car that I’m going to my job, not Kevin’s, just so it doesn’t get discouraged like I do.

And when I pick Kevin up, he usually has five or six places he needs to stop on the way home, which never are actually on the way home. But I drive him around anyhow, because it’s not like I have any other place I need to go.

Between Kevin’s work schedule and the time we waste after his working hours, I’m not getting as much sleep as I had been. Kevin’s 20 years younger than I am, so he doesn’t require as much sleep.