Life and Lemonade. Who's got the spoon?

It hot, muggy, (at least to me) downright miserable around here lately. What better way to cool off, than a nice cold glass of lemonade. Heck, whats the saying.. "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!"

Got more lemons than I care to have at the moment. Its about time for some mixing...

Who's got the spoon?

Yes Virginia there is a ... (what?!?) Lawn mower fairy?

Driving home today, into the driveway, a bit weary from some long nights, the lawn in the front yard just looks odd to me. I stare at it. Shrug my shoulders thinking that with the drought (at least before this weekends storms) the lawn went dormant. But no! I notice it has got recent mower marks, and there is grass on the driveway. Thinking I've finally lost it, I walk out to the back yard. I'll be darned if its not the same thing. I start counting on my fingers the number of days since the lawn mower died. Try to factor in the heat then rain to approximate grass growth.

No explanation.

There must be a lawn mower fairy that cut my lawn. May God Bless that kind soul. (although, now I am embarrassed since I usually only "pickup" after the dog when I mow the lawn, so the back yard was a bit of a mine field. (sheepish look and shoulder shrug) sorry... :)

Good Job Buddy! You did it!

With our recent car purchase, I am still in the haggling/bargaining mood. With the Lawn mower and the washing machine both crapping out the day after we bought the car, we felt $$ strained. Especially with airfare to Africa spiking into the $3000-$5000 range. I already researched and picked out our replacement washer, did some preliminary haggling down to $800 from $1160 retail (and that's before I really hit the block stores hard for their best pricing!) J asked me to at least attempt to fix the washing machine. So to oblige her, I did. Low and behold. Looky looky.. a broken motor coupling. Saving $800 on a new washing machine, good. $20 on a new part, Better. The satisfaction of fixing a major appliance yourself. Priceless!!


To be fair though. After searching for awhile, I did find exceptional help and photos on how to fix a motor coupling. So I can't take that much credit.

Peace

All Good Things Must Come to an End

I have never been shy about quoting how others should give up their possessions and follow Christ, or pointing out to people how their possessions are getting in the way of their relationship with Christ and have always been keen to demonstrate how I live without a lot of excess, no jewelry, no air conditioning, wearing shoes and clothes until they practically unravel off me. In the last few months, I have been slapped in the face with the complete and utter error of my ways, of course I don't care if I have fancy jewelry or clothes, 'cause dugh! I don't really care about those things while some people do. I consider diamonds not only a complete and utter waste of money, but also, a means to fuel some of the deadliest conflicts in Africa, the same way the minerals such as coltan in our cell phones and Wii's have resulted in the murder of over 5 million people in the DRC and 200,000 rapes. I would like nothing better than to sell my jewelry and do something positive in Africa if not for a reluctant hubby. While jewelry, electronics and shoes are other's crosses, who was I to talk about giving something up when I was totally OBSESSED with my Mini Cooper. Yes, there it was, all wrapped up in a pretty bow with my name on it. TO J, WITH LOVE GOD. It is easy to give up something up we really don't care about, but it pretty much BITEs the big one to give up something that we do. Once I recognized that, it was hard to look at the Mini the same way again. This weekend I traded in the Mini Cooper for a Toyota Sienna, a practical family car some might say in an impractical world, which I guess makes me officially a soccer mom, and a very thankful one at that to have 3 beautiful little blessing that will be riding comfortably in back.

Every long journey begins with 14 miles..

OK so I already started the Destination Kinshasa. But that was really nickel and dime time of mileage adding up. I am starting to get into more substantial mileage. Like the first 14miler of the season last weekend, and the upcoming 15miler on Saturday. It will still likely take a couple of years to finish Destination Kinshasa, but I'm on my way.

Tails from the Backseat (part II)

This exchange was between E1 and E2. Now every parents struggles with teaching sharing. Its a tough less to learn. I'd love to take credit for this one, but I think you just had to be there to understand that full humor of the situation.

Background: At daycare the kids can grab a small treat or snack on the way out. usually saltine crackers, or individual goldfish packets. Keep in mind, both E1 an E2 have their own bags of goldfish.

E1: E2. Do you want one of my goldfish.
E2: Yeah.
E1: You're welcome
E2: tank you (yes "tank" since E2 doesn't really say "thank" yet)
E2: E1 you want fish?
E1: Sure. Thank you
E2: welcome.
E1: E2. Do you want another goldfish.
E2: Yes peas
E1: Here you go
E2: Tank you
E1: You're welcome.
..
..

This went on for close to five minutes. the sharing back an forth. Do you want two?
Yes peas. Tank You. Welcome. it had me in stitches. If only they could do that when is comes to who gets to place with the cars or the transformers. At least it was progress right!!!

Tails from the Backseat (part I)

A bit of time has passed, but its still pretty funny. As the family was heading north to go camping last week, we stopped at Sonic to get the kids some chow for the road. Some time later, pretty much out of the blue, E1 exclaims...

E1: Mama. I ate the mustard (on his cheeseburger). I like it.
Mama: Really?
E1: Yeah. Its really tasty. I like it.

Now anyone with toddlers know how picky they can be with certain things, especially
those that might look strange (like Mustard). God Bless that little man. His comments
totally cracked up Mama and me...

Today's Reading of the day... (daily double)

Some days you get a reading that just hits home. Today, on the Feast of the birth of St. John the Baptizer.. it was such a day.

Reading of the day...

Isaiah 49:4
Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.

And for the Daily Double.. the next verse

Isaiah 49:5
For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength!

Peace (and Strength) to you all today

Crash and Rebound

There has been a lot going on in the last few weeks as you can probably tell from the posts that are there and the lack of posts that aren't there. Through it all, I feel like I am getting to a point where my cup is full...all the time... and that any added stress to that cup flows out and over like a raging river of negative emotions screaming in the direction of the offender.

I am not sure of even the word I would use to describe it, but just plain rude and judgemental probably bests describes some of the thoughts that I have had. I am working on coming to an understanding:

1. Not everyone is called to help orphans in the DRC. God calls people to service based upon the cross He feels they can handle not on a worst case basis. To serve others doesn't necessarily mean everyone is served in the order of their needs either. At the end of the day, it is the service to others that God asks of us. You don't get more "points" for one over the other. And you very well may lose "points" for being judgmental of others service (note to self)

2. People just want to be helpful. It is best just to thank them for thinking of you than to ponder how on earth they arrived at a point that is so.....uniquely creative???

3. People are set in their ways. If that is the way it has always been done, they have always been doing it that way for a reason that is important to them. Trying to change that routine will probably upset the apple cart. Decide how important making that change is to you. As Dr. Phil says, if it is only a 5 out of 10, but you feel the importance of the matter to them is a 9 out of 10, it is probably best to back off and change your routine instead of asking them to change theirs.

Deja Vu... Love thy enemy?

It was just yesterday that a certain bible passage came to mind as a part of a conversation that I was having. I'm not one to quote scripture from the air as if there fruit hanging from a tree. But I do tend to remember the gist of the reading, enough to convey my point.

Oddly enough, as I read today's reading, there is it, in the Gospel of Matthew.

Reading of the Day...

Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You have heard that it was said,

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies

and pray for those who persecute you,

that you may be children of your heavenly Father,

for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,

and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?

Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers only,

what is unusual about that?

Do not the pagans do the same?

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Peace