Justice Prevails

Three and one half hours at traffic court was very interesting. Dan, Chase and I walked up to the municipal court where half a dozen young men with twisted ball caps waited outside. We went 20 minutes early only to find ourselves at the end of a very long twisty line. It was like going to Six Flags-waiting in line, apprehensive about what's coming up next, watching the faces of those leaving to see if they were happy or going to throw up.

Chase and I decided to rest at home for awhile and join Dan back in line later. But, a message was waiting for us to come back. The line seemed to be moving quickly, and he couldn't take his cell phone in with him. (Neither can you wear shorts, tube tops, or pants below your buttocks-which qualifications Dan had already passed.)

The deceptively quick line ended in a courtroom that held 70-80 "guests". There were a lot of DWI's, driving without a license, and failures to pay. One woman insisted she didn't pass the school bus, but paid the fine so she wouldn't have to pay court costs or get an attorney.

There were several attornies. Young with slicked back hair. Of the "guests" and attornies, I preferred the guests. Most pleaded guilty. One poor guy that refused to plead anything was laughed at by all the others.

Part way through, someone decided this was a good time to bring in some people from jail to appear before court. I guess they have a more important schedule than the young families that had their children with them.

Finally, it got so late that there was a break. Most everyone went to their cars to use their cell phones or smoke.

After the break, someone who works every day for a school district, came forward for his citation of passing a school bus, while he was at work. The judge thought something was fishy, and dismissed his case. A little later a woman who couldn't find the street where she had supposedly illegally passed a school bus had her case dismissed, and the judge asked the bailiff to find the file of the woman that had plead guilty earlier. Something was wrong.

Finally, Dan was called, and very "Night Courtish" the judge asked Dan where he really was when he illegally passed the school bus. "Austin, TX., " Dan said, and showed the plane ticket, the hotel and meal receipt from that day. Case dismissed. The court took copies and attached them to his file, along with the stacks of all the bus incidents. Someone's got some splainin' to do!

The few people left in the court were very pleased with the turn of events. And so were we.

Answered Prayers

Several months ago I was talking with God about my 24+ year old furniture. We were going to be hosting "The Truth Project", and the sofa and love seat were back breaking. So I laid out my desire for new furniture, and just a few minute later, Dan was at my side telling me that he was getting some unexpected money.

To say that the source of the money was a sad affair is an understatement. It made for many sleepless nights, chest pains, tears (on my part), and a wrestling with forgiveness.

Then the economy happened.

Listening to all the doomsayers, I thought we should hold on to our so called windfall and look for God to provide furniture some other way.

For instance, in the way we received our kitchen table and chairs-gift! The swimming pool-gift! One of our cars-insurance for the totaled car from a horrible hailstorm (gift!)

But nothing happened, and we proceeded with our Friday night get togethers. Sorry if we broke your back.

Nine days ago, I was telling the women at TLC about my dilemma. I so distinctly heard God telling me (in my heart and head), "I provided for that furniture months ago. Trust me for the future, not that." So, as soon as Dan was home for the weekend, we went shopping.

We didn't see anything that day, but I was peaceful that God had a plan, and we would find the right stuff at the right time. Same way it happened with our home.

The next day we ran out to look at some chairs I had seen, and Dan called to me from across the store, "Honey, I found them."

I can not begin to tell you all the ways that God gave us "immeasurably more that all (we) ask or imagine." (Ephesians 3:20)

It's Always Something

Exhaustion, bright red cheeks, swollen eyes, sore throat and a cough were the souvenirs Chase brought home from church camp.

He did grow closer to God. Yeah! But he was home sick and physically sick, and that put a damper on things.

He really had me worried about dehydration when he first got home. You know you're a mom when you are happy to hear your son peeing at 2:30 a.m. (12 hours after he arrived home!)

Rehydrated and a little sleep under his belt didn't improve him as much as I had hoped. He wasn't eating or moving, two things he does in usual great quantity.

A trip to the doctor revealed a sinus infection. One dose of antibiotic, then seven hours later an allergic reaction. He had a rash and that uncontrollable, "I gotta itch, or I'm gonna die".

Benadryl, bed, and a call to the doctor. Chase started his new antibiotic an hour ago.

And, he was able to provide fodder for my 100th post!

Found Money

Haven't you heard those storied about "unclaimed money" that the government is holding for you?

Have your thoughts been that it's a scam, or that there would be no money that you didn't know about, or you've lived in the same spot for so long anyone could have found you?

Me, too.

Then I found the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. I started with the states my husband has lived in. Nothing for him, but over $300 for a nephew.

I finally started looking in my current state, under my current name, and my state is holding $29 for me! I can't begin to describe how excited I am.

Then I found over $50 for my son and more than that for my brother.

I have no idea what the $29 is from. They have listed my last known address as my current one. Someone didn't go to much trouble to find me.

I'm mailing in my claim form tomorrow, and I'll let you know when I get the money.

In the meantime, try it yourself. It only takes a few minutes. You don't need to register for anything.

What have you got to find?

Produce Co-op

For $21, I received 2 bunches broccoli, 3 large white onions, 1 pineapple, 1 lb. strawberries, 3 kiwis, 2 bunches bananas, 1 carton grape tomatoes, 1 cantaloupe, 3 avocados, 1 large head romaine, 2 bunches green onions, 1 pint blueberries. 2 ginormous carrots, 5 lemons, and 5 ear of corn.

Produce co-op is every other week, and I never know what I'm going to get. Last week we had oven Parmesan sweet potatoes, eggplant Parmesan, and guacamole dip (Which I discovered Jeff had never tried. "It's green." But he liked it.).

I've always used yellow or red onions. What is the difference in white onions?

We've already eaten some of the strawberries and blueberries. It's definitely guacamole time again. Yum!

Happy Father's Day, Dan

Once a kind hearted man fell in love with a woman with two children ages 4 & 2. He married that woman and loved those children. Horsey back rides, wrestling matches, jokes, movies, baseball, treehouses, bunkbed building all done with the boys.

He brought two more children in the world and continued video taping, raquetball, driving lessons, golf, attending band concerts, and choir concerts, football games, hockey matches. He always planned his schedule around their events and tried to bring home something special when he had to be out of town.

He drove cars into the dust, resoled his boots for over a decade, repaired creatively anything that could be so that money could be spent on camps and books and lessons and things for the kids because "that is an investment".

Today, on his day, he helped with dishes, served ice cream, gave one of the kids a head start on the lawn mowing because he is a servant leader that loves his family with all his heart.

We could never give him enough honor. Thank you, God, for Dan.

All Because of Jesus

To watch a video of Chase at Camp edge in a special black light number,click on VBS Power Team performing All because of Jesus. Chase is the one in the back with the tall flag on the right/right center.

He would arrive early (8:00 A.M.), rehearse, then help with leading the kids (750) in worship. The kids loved it! Then he would rush off to be an assistant crew leader, back for closing worship for the preschoolers, back to the crew, then ending the day in worship at 3:00.

He was in bed by 9:00 p.m. every night without complaint. How great that he was given the chance to serve the Lord at such a young age! I'm so proud of him.

I asked him if any of the kids had accepted Jesus as their Savior, and he said that about half of his first through third graders had! Chase said that it made him so happy that he got all bubbly inside! Me, too.

Keeping the Last Half of July Open

My son Brad is going to be a father! I still can't really wrap my brain around it. Brad and Stefanie were a couple for a long time, and there was a lot of preparation around the wedding. I was ready for them to be married.

And honestly, they will both be great parents. Stefanie is a teacher, aunt, and very loving. Brad had a few weeks at the part of Camp Kanakuk that is for the disadvantaged children. Can't remember the name. He commanded the respect of those kids, but I know he had a soft heart for them, too.

But I still can't wrap my brain around it. Maybe if more of my friends were grandparents already? Or if they lived closer.

It will all be a mute point in a few weeks. Baby Abigail will be here soon, stealing all of our hearts.

Oh happy day.

Contemplating Confidences

People have all kinds of problems. Some seem more severe, or more urgent, or more difficult than others. I can't really compare them with one another. But I keep trying.

Remember the old analogy of putting your troubles in a bag and laying them at the foot of the cross. (For some reason my imagery is of throwing them over a fence.) The important question is would you pick up some other random bag. No way.

I don't even have to have the randomness or secrecy. I wouldn't change my "baggage" for anyone else's. I hope that doesn't mean that I've become comfortable with my weaknesses. I think it means that I've accepted where God has me and trust that He knows what is best for me.

Today.

Missing Intern (Read both Ways)

How cool I thought it must be to have an intern for the church youth group living with you for the summer. But my friends told me they never (rarely) saw their intern.

But, when it's your own son? Surely, (don't call me Shirley) he'll bring all the high school kids over for some fun in the pool or at the pool table. I was certain we could tempt him with a bonfire in the wooded area behind our house.

There's still several weeks left, but for now I can say...

We have an intern for the church youth group staying with us for the summer, and we never (rarely) see him.

TLC and Promises to Myself

TLC (Tuesday Ladies at Calvary) had our kick off tonight. It was so pretty and inspirational. Five different women spoke about God's faithfulness in their "season" of life. They were fantastic.

That means it was a year ago that I was the speaker at our inaugural event. Since that day I have been planning to put a short snippet from it on You Tube.

Wish I was better at the to-do list. Or I guess I mean got-done list.

The plan is now in print, so look for it this weekend.

Two Days Shy of Six Months

The pressure has been here all along. I've just finally caved into it. It's time to be blogging again. However. today I fight the pressure of a fabulous first post back by writing a very mundane first post back.

This post is all about routine. Specifically, my morning routine. Although it varies slightly, it typically includes the following elements.

• Breakfast of oatmeal and an apple. Boring, but I got at least one healthy meal in that day.
  
• Bible reading, journaling, prayer. Best part of the day. And Bible Study, if I'm doing one. I am currently starting "Live a Praying Life". Very good.
  
• Checking my email. Not too good at returning said email.
  
• Three games on Brainbashers. Nonograms (love the big weekend puzzle), Bridges (only the largest), Filimino (I don't really like it, but it's not complicated).
  
• Online jigsaw puzzle.

And now, writing in my blog. Although I might save this for evening when I plan on checking Facebook.

If you haven't fallen asleep yet, thank you for encouraging me to come back.

Happy Birthday, Mamer!

My mother married at 17, right out of high school, and promptly became pregnant. It was me! Her age, many of the circumstances in her life, and that daughter were all challenges to which she rose valiantly. I wish I could be with her on her birthday, but she knows how much I love her.

In her relatively short life, she's suffered through divorce, widowhood, abandonment, but also reared two great children☺, started her life over again many times, and is now happily married, retired, and refurbishing her bathroom. Can't wait to see it.

Happy Birthday, Mom.

Influences

Any piece of rope or string was an exciting chance for my oldest son Brad to create a "trap" à la the movie Home Alone.

I wish I had taken a picture of one of his many contraptions. This movie also influenced my second son Jeff to repeat some of the less desirable phrases. (Which led to it being put away for a while)

I knew I was greatly influenced by the book Little Women, as have been many girls. But I realized it even more when I attended Little Women the Musical the other night. My friend won tickets and invited me along. It was very enjoyable with a few, but not too many, liberties taken from the original story.

I read the book when I was around 12 or 14, and I wanted to be Jo. I wanted to be a writer, I still do. I wanted to be original and not confined to the mores of the times. Still do. I wanted my family to stay close forever and love me as much as I treasured them. I still want that. I didn't want some things to change, yet longed to be bold and adventurous. That's still me. I have never been as bold as Jo, however.

She was such a great character. A good influence, I think.

If I think about it long enough, I'm sure I can come up some good influences from that movie the boys loved. Building traps, dodging criminals, thinking on your feet, cherishing your family...

Oh yeah, that's a good one.♥

Shhh! Don't Tell, and if You're Rachel Don't Look

Rachel's my only offspring that actually reads this blog, so I'm pretty safe in telling about a cool Christmas gift idea I heard about yesterday.

Take a box (perhaps a computer paper box) and glue a mirrored tile to the inside bottom. Wrap and gift tag it to Jesus. On Christmas morning ponder whose birthday we are celebrating and what gift would be acceptable/appropriate for Jesus. What could we possibly give Him?

One at a time, open the gift and look inside to see You, Me, Us! That's what Jesus wants.

What a great reminder.

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh Or How We Get Away with Giving only Three Gifts

Beginning last year, our new tradition is to give each of the "kids" three presents, each corresponding to gifts of the Magi.

For instance, the gift of Gold was highly valued in that poor economic time. This gift probably helped finance this young couple. We try to wrap in gold paper or tie with gold ribbon a present that is highly valued by the giftee. It's the "big" present (or most expensive).

Frankincense was used for incense, a way of meeting with God. Wrapped in silver then, is a gift that helps our children in their meeting with God. A new Bible, devotional, or Christian C.D. fits along these lines.

Myrrh was used to anoint the body and is still used as a fragrance in many items. Lotions, fuzzy socks, pajama pants or anything else used in comfort for their precious bodies are wrapped in deep reds.

We like to talk about the significance of the gifts given to Jesus and how the gifts we give reflect the same. This article explains the idea more fully.

Let The Joy Begin

I went to sleep after a huge crying jag, woke up to puffy eyes and started again this morning. I told my dh that I don't want to be sad. He wanted to know what he could do, but I said I just needed to make the decision. Then I read this post. So simple, but so true. Count your blessings.

I got to spend time with all my children (and new daughter-in-love), my mom and her husband, my only brother and his wonderful wife, two of my nieces and one nephew, and laugh a lot. My mother-in-law was able to return home a couple of days ago (heart surgery). Dan has relented and is allowing Sassy in the house. God has answered some very specific prayer requests. Everyone is healthy! Kiersten invited Rachel and me to do some Christmas baking. Did I mention that my sister-in-law Julie is a treasure?

I still have a lot of growing to do. It's pretty painful, but God is merciful and loving, patient and kind. He gives me a lot of grace and so do a ton of other people. I'm still becoming all the things I wish to be, but it's two steps forward, one step back. Sometimes it feels harder than that. But He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it.

Knowing that, how can I be sad?

Crying Binge

Life got really crazy at the end of September. So that's partly my excuse for not blogging for two months. The other reason is I was too busy crying.

It was like a binge. A sudden urge would come over me to cry. I would cry over anything and everything I could get my mind on. I would cry in secret, but the urge became so overpowering, I didn't care who was watching. I had no self control.

The aftermath took its toll. A frightened husband and children. Kleenexes were hoarded. Contacts were probably ruined. Excedrin stock went up, while everything else plummeted.

The purging was a giant list of excuses and reasons. Some were intolerable. Like the two weeks I blamed the watching of the movie "Hitler, the Rise of Evil". None of it made the binging stop.

Then...

Two days of blogging. Two days of Bible reading. Two days of on the knees praying. Two days of watching my daughter find immense joy in the midst of intense suffering.

It may be safe for the Kleenexes to come out of hiding.

Party Meatballs

I've promised this recipe to several people, so I thought someone else might like it, too.

3 lb. ground beef
1 c. milk
2 c. oatmeal
2 eggs
minced onion
1/2 T. garlic
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt

Mix ground beef mixture well and form into small balls. Put onto a sheetcake pan. Bake at 350° while you make the sauce.

SAUCE

1 1/2 c. ketchup
1 c. water
2 c. brown sugar
1 T. liquid smoke
1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Heat in saucepan and bring to a boil. Drain grease off of the meatballs, and pour the sauce over the meatballs. Total baking time will be 45 min. to 1 hour.

Make a Cornucopia that's Good Enough to Eat!

As promised, here are the directions to make the awesome Thanksgiving Cornucopia I make every year. First take a long piece of aluminum foil.

Wrap it around itself into a long cone shape, and stuff with loose balls of aluminum foil to help retain the shape. Twist the end.

Using three cans of refrigerated breadsticks (that come in the the cannisters like biscuits), wrap around the foil form, reserving three. Braid the three remaining and put at the "mouth" of the cornucopia. Brush with a mixture of egg white and water, and bake in oven till browned.

Let it cool, then pull out the aluminum foil.

Stuff and surround with assorted. colorful fruits and vegetables.

Enjoy the oohs and aahs!