Just call me Techno-Impaired...

Thanks to Pat, my cell phone bill may have increased by $30 this month. And it's not because I spent a bunch of minutes talking to Pat on the phone, because, if you follow her daughter, Sara's blog, you would know that Pat, like Sara, doesn't like to talk on the phone. (I won't mention that twice in my life, I have picked up the telephone and filled Pat's ears with tales of woe...and since then, I've learned that she hates to talk on the phone....she's in Michigan, I'm in Pennsylvania and gas ain't cheap...so guess what? In the future, if I need the advice of a friend, she will have to suck it up and endure the dreaded phone conversation.) Anyway....

Today, on Pat's blog, she posted the lyrics to a song by Toby Mac.
Toby Mac? Pat listens to Toby Mac?
wow.

I don't own any of their CDs. Although I am familiar with some of their music, I hadn't yet heard the song that she posted.

When ‘googling’ the lyrics, hoping to find a site with an MP3 file where I could listen to the song, I found this great site where I was going to be able to download the song's ringtone to my cell phone. Cool.

I also found a bazillion other neat ringtones such as the theme songs to some of my favorite childhood TV shows: The Addams Family, The Munsters, Popeye, Little House on the Prairie, (aka Little Shack on the Grassland if you ran in my circle),

Mission Impossible, Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone...(okay, anyone who knew me as a child - Mom, you know who you are - will know that I was PETRIFIED of the Twilight Zone opening where that big eyeball appeared on the screen. But, I digress. Again.)

I had so much fun clicking and listening to all the different ringtones, that it wasn’t until I read the fine print in the ‘terms of service’ agreement that I realized I had just committed Brillo Man and myself to paying an additional $30 a month in fees to be a member of all these ringtone ‘clubs’.
Oy-vey!

It turned out that it was a simple fix. All I had to do was text the word “STOP” to the companies and I could opt out of the agreement. Problem. How do I send a text message? As techno-savvy as I like to believe I am, I had never sent a text message - because they cost a whopping 15 cents each - unless you have ‘the plan’ - which we do not.

The first text message “STOP” went to my Aunt Carolyn - since she is the first person in my phone address book and I had no clue (obviously) what I was doing. Aunt Carolyn will retrieve this message from her phone (probably about three weeks from now, knowing how frequently AC checks her cell phone messages...)...and she is going to wonder what in the heck “STOP” means. I’ll get a call. (Of course, if she would read my blog, she would know and could save herself the trouble.)

After a phone call to the cell phone customer service rep, she ‘walked’ me through the proper way to send a text message and thankfully, I was able to prevent the certain-to-be stroke that Brillo Man would have had had he opened the cell phone bill and discovered it was increased by $30, thereby sparing me much grief and him months of rehab...

I considered telephoning Pat to share all of this with her personally....but....she hates talking on the phone.....

..."What is this babbler trying to say?"...
-Acts 17:18 (taken SO out of context, it isn't even funny...)

Prayer for Healing

I'm joing with all other prayer warriors in praying for Arlene today.

Please join me in speaking God's Word over her life --as Jesus sent His Word and healed them, let's do the same!

There is GREAT power in prayer!!!

But he was wounded for Arlene's transgressions,
he was bruised for her iniquities:
the chastisement of her peace was upon him;
and with his stripes Arlene IS healed. --Isaiah 53:5

ha ha!! groan....

Who said, "Duh suddle cub up to borrow"?

























Little Orphan Annie with a cold!!!

---

A cheerful heart is good medicine.
Proverbs 17:22

The One I Love

When I was praying for a husband, I had a list.

The top three things were:

I want a husband who loves the Lord with all his heart, mind, soul and strength.
I want a husband with the same beliefs as I.
I want a husband with a servant's heart.

On Christmas Day in 2000, I turned on my computer and logged on to a Christian chat room. There were approximately 15 people chatting about everything from what they ate for their holiday dinner to what Aunt Martha bought them for a gift. I was beginning to think it was a big waste of time for me to be there. So, I typed, "Well, since none of you are ready to prophesy that you are my future husband, I'm outta here. Merry Christmas everyone."

Just before I clicked the "sign out" button, someone typed, "Wait, don't go."
My very first thought was, "Who is this bozo?"
He invited me to go into a 'private' room and chat.
I did.
And five hours later, I knew that this was the man that I was going to marry.

He had shared with me that he was a Christian --shared his testimony about the time he received the baptism in the Holy Spirit (aha --someone with my same beliefs). He talked about how he would lie prostrate on the church altar praying for his daughters. He shared his heart --and I knew that he loved the Lord with all of his heart, mind, soul and strength. Then he said that he was on the staff of an Assembly of God church (the denomination in which I was raised.) Hmmm? perhaps a pastor? No --he was the Chief Operations Manager --with a staff of six or seven --in charge of maintenance, setup and upkeep for Wekiva Assembly of God - a church of over 1000 members. He was also in charge of their Christian school. ....there --was my 'servant's heart' that I had on my list.

There were a whole BUNCH of other things on my list --way too numerous to list here. But suffice to say that while we were courting, I checked off EVERY single item on my list. Brillo Man didn't even know about the list --until I had checked everything off --because I didn't want him to "cheat" and tell me (for example) that he loves to go to auctions and yard sales just to win my heart!

Two months later, in February, he flew up from Florida to Pennsylvania to meet me. He stayed a week. He met my Mom. Just before he was to fly back home, we went to a state park nearby (McConnell's Mill State Park). It was an unusually warm day in February - in the mid 60s. After hiking a while, we stopped to rest on some boulders. Brillo Man pointed out that behind us, carved in the rock, was a cross. Just then, a breeze blew some seeds from a nearby tree. One landed on his shoulder - it was in the shape of a dove. (I'm not kidding). At that point, he turned, got down on one knee, pulled a beautiful ring from his pocket and asked me to be his wife.

Tomorrow is our sixth anniversary. I love him more today than I did six years ago. And can't wait to grow old with him --as the best is yet to come.

Happy Anniversary Honey.
I love you!
With all that's within me....



...a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
-Ecclesiates 4:12

Almost 50

Yesterday was my birthday.

I am officially "almost 50". For those of you who don't know what "almost 50" means, it's 47. My age is something I easily remember because as Grandma P. always reminded me - she was born in 1910 and I was born 50 years later in 1960 and since we both were born in a year ending in ten, our birthdays alway's "matched" the calendar. For example --it's 2007, therefore, I'm 47. Next year, I'll be 48 in 2008 --and....in the year Olivia is scheduled to graduate from high school - the class of 2020...I will be 60! (Brillo Man and I will be wearing T-shirts to her commencement which read, "We are NOT the Grandparents.")

When I turned "almost 40" (37 for those of you not paying attention), I remember being very depressed that I was getting old and would very soon be 40. ha. What was I thinking?!

Anyway...I had a wonderful day. Olivia had been staying with my mother for the past two days, so that we would have a quiet environment for the banking inspector when he came to audit Brillo Man's business. (You remember that he is a mortgage broker...) Because Olivia wasn't here to crawl into bed with us yesterday morning, we were able to sleep in a little later and just chill.

We got up, ate breakfast and headed out the door to find some bargains at several of the yard sales in the area. There was also a household auction en route to Grandma's house where we bid on and WON a 32 inch wide screen HDTV! I've always wanted one - but didn't want to spend the money. Besides, the 19" TV that we have works perfectly. This, however, was a bargain we simply couldn't resist. Happy Birthday to me!

After retrieving Olivia from Mom's, we stopped at our favorite Amish greenhouse and bought a whole bunch of flowers which will probably sit for weeks before we eventually get them planted in the ground. The flowers are GORGEOUS and inexpensive compared to everywhere else. Again, we couldn't pass them up. And, we found another yard sale having an "everything-you-can-fit-in-a-bag-for-a-buck" sale. My favorite way to collect more junk that I really don't need but somehow feel that I can't live without.

In the evening, Brillo Man went and picked up a cake and some good friends arrived to share cake and ice cream with us. Lots of laughter and lots of fun!

Life is good at "almost 50".

Now please excuse me while I go watch my new TV!

This is the day which the LORD hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it. --Psalm 118:24

ADDENDUM: I just opened up yesterday's mail and received
an invitation to join the AARP! WHAT is up with that?!?!

Childhood Memories

Inspired by Pat's childhood memories, here are a few of my own:

Girl Scouts –camping - camping - camping! Some of my BEST childhood times. A lot of them spent with my Mom - who was my troop leader.

Riding my banana seat bike (to faraway places without asking permission)(oops).

Playing games in the yard with Bobbi Jo.

Seeing how high I could bounce a super ball on the sidewalk.

Summer-long Monopoly games on the porch at Seltzer’s.

Playing with my Barbie dolls.

Sunday School in the “annex”.

Family holiday dinners at Grandma C’s—eating homemade ravioli until you could ravioli me right out the door!

Roller skating –both on the sidewalk and in the rink. My skates were handed down from my Mom and they had cool wooden wheels. I could go much faster than the kids with rubber wheeled skates—at least until one cracked and broke, sending ball bearing scattering all over the rink floor...and me...kersplat!

Marathon games of Canasta with Mom, Dad and Grandma P.

Good times with the church youth group.

CA (Christ Ambassador) conventions every Easter weekend in Harrisburg.

Missionettes –and all the fun times with the girls. With the one exception of swinging on the vine and falling into the ravine....but that’s another blog....

Marathon games of Scrabble with Grandma P. (she usually won –she used words that I had never heard of –like “fez”. What in the world was a fez? Of course, now I know....and use that word all the time when I’m winning against Brillo Man.)

Going to Grandma P’s and always having a batch of brownies waiting for me in the rectangle plastic tupperware-like container on top of the metal cabinet.

Eating Grandma C’s fabulous pies. She made THE BEST pies.

Listening to Dad’s endless tinkling of spoon upon glass as he stirred his bottomless glass of summertime iced tea!

Sitting in the dining room in front of the mirror letting Mom brush my hair with the brushes from the “brush” drawer. I wonder what she’s got in that drawer these days?

Lying in bed listening to the thunderstorms on summer nights.

Saturday nights watching Lawrence Welk with Mom, Dad, Rob and a big bowl of popcorn. (I wanted to BE Ralna!)

Enjoying the rare occasion when Dad would sit down and play and sing –he ALWAYS played Malagueña and The Lord’s Prayer.

Enjoying watching my youngest brother and sister climb the pussy willow tree which was planted in honor of my younger sister’s birth.

Watching Timmy B. kill ants in his driveway. His methods were as bizarre as he.

Sitting on the porch on summer nights with family and friends and watching our world.

Stopping at Shirley G’s for coffee and laughs.

Running NON-STOP for four blocks down the hill from my elementary school on my way home for lunch. Then eating a fabulous lunch prepared by Mom and begging a dime to stop at “Tom’s”, the corner store, on the way back to school in the afternoon. In those days, a dime bought a LOT more than it does today. I could buy a Reeses Cup and five pieces of penny candy or a whole 12 oz bottle of Coke, or an ice cream sandwich or TWO popsicles!

Wednesday and Sunday evenings after church, gathered at a restaurant with all my church youth group friends, eating and carrying on and having a grand time!


When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
--I Corinthians 13:11

Browsing

Sun
Originally uploaded by tearoom.

I was browsing the recent flickr photos and found this one.
Loved it!
Wanted to share!

Check out the beautiful photos by this photographer! (Click on the photo to be directed to her website.)

The Sock Monster

Today Olivia's preschool class took a field trip to the elementary school to tour the school and see the kindergarten classrooms. When I dropped her off this morning, the kids were SO excited! All anxious to go see their new school.

They all received laminated name tags with frogs on them. Except Olivia. Mrs. Hawthorne somehow overlooked Olivia's name on the list. Fortunately, Miss Lydia was able to make her a nametag with the same frog (only slightly bigger and not laminated) and saved the day because Olivia was about ready to commence pouting.

She donned her newly created nametag and I gave her a hug and walked out the door ---just as I do every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. But this morning, as I walked past that big yellow school bus in the parking lot, I found myself reduced to tears. And it's not even the REAL thing! It's just the 'dry run'.

Time for a distraction. Ah...a 'yard sale' sign... When I picked Olivia up, sitting in her carseat was a purple CareBear that I found at the sale. Today is Friday and Friday is "surprise day". I always have some little thing waiting for her when preschool is over. She was thrilled to see the purple bear and bubbled with enthusiasm as she told me all about her trip to her soon-to-be kindergarten classroom.

We came home and told Brillo Man that Olivia was SO EXCITED when she saw the school bus, knowing she was going to ride the bus to the school. I'm sure he noticed the lump in my throat because he looked at me and said, "On Olivia's first day of school in the fall, I'm going to be no where near the end of the driveway because YOU are going to be a basket case." He's right. I will be.

Last evening I attended a "Getting Ready for Kindergarten" seminar at the school. It was more about getting the parents ready to 'let go' more than anything else - giving us suggestions as to how to make that 'transition' easier for both children and parents. No amount of tips or suggestions is going to make that transition easier for me.

Today, Olivia appeared as "The Sock Monster" --sorting through the basket of clean laundry which I had not yet folded, scattering it all over the floor as she created her 'costume'.

And after her bath tonight, I held her wrapped in her towel, as I often do, and sang "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight." Then we sing it a "silly" way...substituting other words for 'heart' and 'straight'. ...maybe knees and zebras.... trust Him with your knees and He'll fill your path with zebras. She giggles and giggles. And then we sing it the right way again. One day, she'll be too big for me to hold her and sing her songs.

My problem is that I don't want my Sock Monster to grow up. I want to hold her on my lap forever after her bath and sing in her ear. I want every Friday to always be "Surprise Day" But, growing up she is... and it's happening - right in front of my eyes - way too fast.

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?"
--Isaiah 49:15a

A day in my life....

when I didn't know whether to laugh or cry....


...as from behind my computer chair I hear,
"ROAR!!! I AM THE PEANUT BUTTER MONSTER!!! ROAR!!"






I chose to laugh....

"God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."
--Genesis 21:16

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day was wonderful!

Olivia made me a beautiful flower pot filled with candy. She also presented me with an Elmo balloon which she immediately stated should really be hers since she likes Elmo so much. Of course, she got the balloon --and the big lollipop in the center of the flower pot flower!

Brillo Man gave me a gift bag full of some of my favorite goodies and a coupon to redeem for a hanging basket of flowers. (He thought I might like to pick out my own posies.)

I was told it was "my" day and we could do whatever I wanted to do. I chose geocaching, one of my favorite ways to pass the time. After finding a few 'treasures', we went to dinner at a crowded, but worth the wait, restaurant.

The best thing was celebrating God's greatest gift to me --being a Mom to the most precious little munchkin on the planet.

I trust all you Moms had a grand day of your own. How did you celebrate?

Her children arise and call her blessed...
--Proverbs 31:28a

My 15 Minutes of Fame

So --I listen to the messages on my phone yesterday and hear one from a copy editor at Guideposts Magazine. Check this out --she read my post on Manzanar and wants to feature it in the "Continued" section in an upcoming issue.

I'm thinking that this could be my 15 minutes of fame.

I shared this with Brillo Man --excitedly saying that I couldn't believe that a copy editor from Guideposts actually called me and wants to use something that I've written in their magazine (which by the way, is the ONLY magazine that I read cover to cover every month).

I then shared that if they would mention my blog in their magazine, that I would feel added pressure to write more entertaining and eloquent and profound things because possibly countless millions would be directed to my blog for inspiration and direction. Friends and family who currently don't read my blog (and you know who you are Aunt Carolyn) would be reading regularly, hoping to glean some wisdom. Long lost friends who haven't been in touch, would call and say, "Hey, I saw your picture and blurb in Guideposts and starting reading your blog and now my life is changed forever."

I asked him what he thought.

He said, "you referred to me as 'Brillo Man' in that post."

I said, "so, what's your point?"

---

Comment left on my earlier blog post from the editor at Guideposts:
(note --Sara, this is not plagiarism because I've assigned due credit.)

Dear Deb,

My name is Jane Doe (name has been changed to protect the innocent). I'm an editor for Guideposts magazine and would love to talk to you about having your article of An Education from Guideposts in our magazine. Since I don't have your contact info, please contact me at 555.555.5555.
Best, Jane

Pretty Cool huh?

This is sorta like... I'm almost gonna be famous because my photo will be in Guideposts Magazine. Similar to being on the cover of the Rolling Stone or something. (ahem)

note: Sara, "on the cover of the Rolling Stone" is not plagiarism --even though it's in some song lyric written and performed by someone I can't remember...because I'm giving due credit.

HOWEVER...I will admit that the above cartoon is copyrighted and used without
permission. So sue me.

---

He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised. --Deuteronomy 26:19

A few of my favorite things....

Inspired by kaymac, here are a few of my favorite things...

Watching the Great Blue Heron fish on our pond every morning.

Listening to Olivia's laughter.

Seeing Brillo Man come in from a few hours of riding the John Deere --all muddy and tired --knowing he's been outside doing one of HIS favorite things --DIGGING ANOTHER HOLE!

Playing Scrabble against the computer and winning!

Doing Crossword puzzles.

Talking on the phone to faraway friends.

Singing praise songs to my Lord!

Watching the kingfisher swoop down from his perch and grab a meal from the pond.

Listening to the doves coo.

Watching American Idol (did I say that? --it's true --I'm hooked.)

The smell of freshly cut grass (of which I haven't experienced yet this year because the mower needs new blades).

Changing from 'real' clothes into pj bottoms and a comfy, old T-shirt.

The flowers and new leaves of spring!

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. --Song of Solomon 2:12

An Education From Guideposts

This morning I read an article in the current issue of Guideposts Magazine. It was with shock and disbelief that I read a story about a young Japanese girl and her family who were ordered to leave her farm and everything they knew to be held prisoners in a government internment camp. A camp with surroundings so different from the lush strawberry farm they were forced to leave behind. This 'herding' of Japanese Americans came shortly following the bombing of Pearl Harbor during WWII.

What was so shocking to me is that throughout all my years of education, I NEVER ONCE heard of these camps (numbering approximately ten) which were used to hold these people prisoner for over three years. In my reading, I learned that President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act in 1988 which in part, hoped to make restitution to Japanese Americans whose rights were violated during that time.

Mentioning this to Brillo Man, he shared with me that he had once visited the Manzanar War Relocation Center in California. My online search of this center revealed that today, ironically, is the date of an annual pilgrimage which Japanese Americans make to remember and honor those who spent time in these internment camps.

So today's blog is about honoring all those who suffered needless shame and loss of their homes and land and all their possessions --only to be detained for what I consider no good reason.

My prayer is that we all treat one another, irregardless of race or ethnicity, with dignity and respect. Let's all vow to live by The Golden Rule....Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Miss Jan

Here's what it's all about...

....Saturday evening, Miss Jan telephoned us saying that she received Olivia's lovely drawing of the cats and flowers and yes, she would really enjoy attending church with us...could she please have a ride?

Olivia was SO excited! She jumped up and down over and over again saying, "I can't believe Miss Jan is coming to church with us!"

After church, we took Miss Jan out to lunch and then drove her back home. Before we parted, she gave me a huge hug and said, "You are a Godsend."

God is good.
All the time.

Did I say something about a seque?....

So...Olivia and I were running errands this afternoon. We had to stop at two different banks and the post office to take care of personal business and business busines....At the second bank stop, I opened the van door and you know how sometimes the door doesn't open all the way --but then does open all the way and the last few inches you have no control over because of the way the door is made --it just is out of your control? (Am I making any sense to anyone out there?) Anyway...I opened the door --and then it jolted open another few inches and managed to bang into the new SUV parked next to me --- arrgh! Oh MAN! Of course, it took a little chip out of the paint on the brand new SUV. Now what to do? It was a small chip - less than the size of a pea, greater than the size of a Sharpie Marker point, about the size of your average ladybug. As I examined the ladybug sized speck of paint loss, I said to myself, "Self, just keep going on --into the bank --deposit the company check --get back in the van and drive away. The ladybug speck SUV driver will be none the wiser." But of course --I couldn't do that. I had to stop and write a note and put it under the ladybug speck SUV's windshield wiper saying that the door got away from me and took a small chunk of paint with it.... First I had to find a scrap of paper --then I had to find a pen --then I had to corrale Olivia who was, at this point, jumping up and down and spinning like a ballerina in the middle of the sidestreet. All of that took time. Time that I could've been in the bank, depositing the company check so we could move on to stop number two - the post office.


When we finally arrived at the post office. Standing out front was a woman who had just offered to watch another gentleman's dog as he went inside. Olivia was, of course, drawn to the dog - a cute little white poodle --or maybe it was a bichon frisce (or however you spell that breed). Anyway --she noticed the dog. The woman asked her if she would like to pet the dog. No way. Olivia was going to look --but no touching. We have a big springer/lab mix as part of our family. His name is Chauncy. But forget about getting near any other dog. She is petrified.

So --we went into the post office and got in line. Olivia proceeded to tell me that she thinks she needs a smaller dog so she can learn how to take care of smaller dogs because she already knows how to take care of bigger dogs. In the middle of our conversation, the woman who had been watching the gentleman's dog came inside and stood next to us in line.

She looked at Olivia and said, "What do need to learn how to do?"
Olivia looked at me - her eyes questioning whether or not she should speak to this stranger. I gave her the okay to talk and she shared with this woman that she needed to have a small dog at her house.
The woman said, "Have you ever thought about a cat?"
"Oh No - Chauncy doesn't like cats."
"Oh...I really like cats. By the way, my name is Jan, what's your name?"
"Olivia."
"It's so nice to meet you Olivia." - as she extended her hand for Olivia to shake.

She then proceeded to share with Olivia that she had three grandchildren who lived out of town and it would be so nice if she had someone close by, like Olivia, to be her adopted grandchild.

At this point, I asked her about her family and we spoke a few moments. Then, ever so easily, I said, "Jan, do you attend church anywhere?"
"Ah..no, I haven't been attending."
"Well, Olivia and I would love to have to you join us this Sunday at our church if you would like to come."

By this time, it was her turn at the counter. She walked up to the counter and started to write an address on a card --which I assumed was something she was mailing. She then turned and handed me the card --which had her name, address and phone number and with tears running down her cheeks said to me, "Why don't you send me something about your church." ----and then she asked for a hug.

I gave her a hug, Olivia shook her hand and ran excitedly out of the post office.
"Mommy! Let's send her an email!"
"Well, Olivia, I don't know that she has a computer --but we can mail her a letter."
"Yeah, and I'll draw her a picture of some cats. Maybe she'll come to church with us Mom!"

....going out in tomorrow's mail will be a lovely picture of some cats and some flowers drawn by Olivia, along with a note to Miss Jan --inviting her to church on Sunday morning, Of course, we'll pick her up if she needs a ride.

And all I have to say is thanks for the ladybug speck of paint loss on the SUV --for had I not taken the time to write that note --we never would've met Miss Jan today at the post office.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD...
-Psalm 37:23

The Perfect Segue

This evening at Praise Team practice, we sang "Amazing Grace". That hymn always gets to me ---especially when I get to verse five..."When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun." I mean, can our meager minds even grasp the concept of FOREVER?!

Years ago in Girl Scouts, I used to play this song on the guitar:

The Land of Oden

In the land of Oden,
there stands a mountain,
Ten thousand miles, in the air

From edge to edge
This mountain measures,
Ten thousand miles square

Once every million years
A little bird comes winging
Sharpens its beak
and quickly disappears

And when this mountain
has worn away
that in eternity will be
But one single day.

In the land of Oden,
There stands a mountain
Ten thousand miles in the air
In the air
In the air.

I don't know about you --but that thought just boggles my brain. Once every million years a bird comes and sharpens it's beak on a mountain that's ten thousand miles square and when the mountain FINALLY wears away---it will be as if only ONE day has passed in eternity.

FOREVER. It's a long time.
A long time to be rejoicing with Jesus.
An even longet time if one is separated from Him.

Earlier today, we had a computer repair guy come to the house to replace the mother board on a company computer which was still under warranty. This computer guy was here quite a while. He sat in the living room and worked while Olivia commenced entertaining him. She drew him a picture, offered him some applesauce and the use of her very own calculator "just so he could finish his taxes". It was even okay with her if he took it home and used it, just as long as he promised to bring it back the next time. Then she started singing. She loves to sing --and will sing for anyone who will listen and even those who won't.

She broke out into a song which is on our friend, Dawna's CD ---

"Jesus...Oh-oooo---Jesus...
Do you know Him today?
Please don't turn Him away...
Oh --Ohhhhh Jesus....My Je-ee-ee--sus...
without Him how lost I would be..."

I sat there and prayed while she was singing --for the computer guy. Of course, not knowing if he was a Christian or not. Assuming he was not ---as he never commented on any of the dozen or so Christian songs she chose as part of today's concert....

Then this evening, at Praise Team practice...as we sang Amazing Grace and I shared with my fellow praise team members about how mind boggled I always am when I try to wrap my mind around the concept of ETERNITY....and how it's going also be an eternity for those who don't know the Lord ---spending it apart from Him....and I immediately was convicted for NOT speaking up and saying something to the computer guy after Olivia sang. The perfect seque. And I missed it.

My prayer is that I will be more diligent in remembering eternity....and sharing God's saving grace ---with EVERYONE. It's my job as a Christian. Why do I not jump at every chance? This chance today passed me by. I didn't even recognize it --other than to pray. Perhaps that's all the Lord wanted me to do --perhaps Olivia's song was all the Lord wanted our computer guy to hear.

Or perhaps not.

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:19,20

What Stays in Our Brains

My friend Pat recently ended a blog post asking if anyone remembered the words to the Schoolhouse Rock song, Conjunction Junction What's Your Function?

That got me started --reciting all the poetry, prose and politcal stuff that I was required to memorize in the 5th and 6th grades.

In fifth grade, one of my three teachers (each taught different subjects and we switched rooms throughout the day --broke up the monontony for all involved) was Mrs. Stewart. Mrs. Stewart was one I considered your typical spinster - ready to retire any minute - teacher. Very brusque. Very strict. Very cut and dry. Very politically minded. Watergate was the current event of the year that I was in grade five and Mrs. Stewart encouraged us daily to "watch the news! This is history in the making!!" I didn't watch the news. I was more interested in riding my bike to Faith Country Chapel and back (probably a ten mile round trip?) unbeknownest to my parents who couldn't believe it when I told them that Bobbi Jo and I had ridden clear out to FCC. Anyway...I digress.

Mrs. Stewart had a long list of things that we were required to memorize in order to pass fifth grade. Here is the abridged list:

The Gettysburg Address
The Preamble to the Constitution
All 50 states and their capitals
All the US Presidents and Vice Presidents
The helping verbs
Prepositions
The Blue and the Gray by Francis Miles Finch
Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadworth Longfellow

There were many more --the above are just the highlights. I can recite all of the above -to this day - with the exception of the presidents and the state capitals. There are some that I miss.

In sixth grade, Miss Gilchrist also required us to memorize things. Here are just a couple of the dozens of things that I memorized in order to pass sixth grade:

The Children's Hour by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Come Little Leaves by George Cooper
September by Helen Hunt Jackson

To this day, on the first of September, I nauseate anyone who will listen as I begin reciting the poem by Helen Hunt Jackson --and I keep reciting it --OVER and OVER again --each and every day --many times a day --until October 1st, when I put the poem to rest in my brain until the next year when I see that yellow golden rod and corn turning brown which always puts me in the "poetry zone". I've actually had friends over the years who have taken the long way home to avoid driving past the corn fields because they don't want to hear me repeat one more line of that poem.

I intend to teach Olivia the poem so that long after I have gone to my heavenly home, she may carry on the tradition of nauseating all those around her.

What did you have to memorize in school?

Illustration Friday Theme: Green

The Mantis
copyright Deborah Erskine
Gouache on 140lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper


Blog buddies have seen this before--but it fit the theme
for this week's Illustration Friday:
GREEN

Snacks

Today's post is all about snacks.

(simply because I have nothing to write about again and just glanced to my right and noticed a box which I now use to hold some of my artist pens which says, "SNACKS, 12 Chocolate Chip Muffins")

At this moment, I'm wishing that there were muffins in that box - instead of 28 different colors of Sharpie pens and various other artist implements.

If there were muffins in that box, I'd be eating one right now. And it wouldn't be a 'snack', it would be my breakfast (since I haven't eaten yet today).

So --my questions for you are:

1) What is your favorite snack?
2) What is your favorite breakfast food?
3) Do you ever eat "snacks" for breakfast?
4) What is the capital of Belgium?

(I threw that last one in there just for fun --because in case you didn't notice --it has nothing to do with snacks and everything to do with green vegetables, which is what we all should be eating instead of muffins.)

By the way...if you come to my house and request a chocolate chip mini muffin, it will be served just like the one above --on my good china. pfffttt. right. Hey, we've got Dora Dixie Plates...they're cute and disposable. No dishes.

Fried Eggs? ...no...fried brain....

I have been trying to think of something to post that would be worth reading.

I'm sorry to say that I can't come up with anything. My brain is fried. Since taking on the added responsibility of processing loans for Brillo Man (the mortgage broker), I find that I have very little time to myself to do the extra things I like to do --like blogging! And then, when I am able to steal away a few moments --which is rare --my brain is so fried from all that left-brain activity that I just can't think.

So --I'm left with nothing interesting to post.

The good news is our snow is almost all melted. (What was with the four inches of snow we got this past weekend? There were times when it was 'white-out' conditions. Definitely colder and more snow than we had at Christmas. And it was Easter. Figure that out.

No wearing of the Easter outfits in church on Sunday. Olivia's white sleeveless dress with an overlay of colorful butterflies just wasn't going to cut it --even with the white sweater that Grandma purchased to go with.

Anyway...that's all I have to say.

Nothing interesting.

I told you.

Get over it.

The Story of Easter

As I was sitting at the computer doing some work for my husband's business, I overheard Olivia playing and talking to her imaginary friend Dorothy in the living room.

"Dorothy, I wonder if this was the cross that they nailed Jesus on....and I think this must have been the stone that they used on the tomb."

I looked in to see her picking up and holding some things that I have sitting on a shelf.

"I'm glad they don't have to nail me to a cross. Jesus did it all for me."

...I sat here with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, so blessed that our four year old understands what Jesus did ---just for her. Just for each one of us.

May God bless this Easter season to each of us impressing on our hearts the amazing Passion of Jesus Christ. May this be the most real Easter season of our lives and the starting point to greater blessings and service for the God we love.

From us to you -- Happy Easter!

His Hand Reaching

As most of you are aware, from time to time, I live with some very annoying symptoms of this disease that I have --Multiple Sclerosis. For the past week, one of several things I have been dealing with is the entire right side of my face twitching --constantly. It DRIVES me NUTS!! I can even "hear" the twitch in my ear --constant thump-thumping--akin to the sound that my fingers are making on the keyboard as I type this blog....

I had asked my Sunday School class on Sunday morning to please pray for me because I am on the Praise Team and couldn't envision myself leading worship when I was being continually distracted by THE TWITCH! A friend reminded me that they had prayed for me two Sundays prior and THE TWITCH went away during worship! YEAH! (...Only to return shortly thereafter, but I was able to worship without any distractions.) This time, the TWITCH did not go away during worship. Halfway through the worship service, as I was about to scream (on the inside), I just said to myself, "God, what is up with THE TWITCH?" --and closed my eyes resolving to NOT allow THE TWITCH to interfere with the remainder of worship. At that moment, Jim, our worship leader broke into an acapella chorus...

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
There's just something about that Name.
Master, Savior, Jesus,
Like the fragrance after the rain.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Let all Heaven and earth proclaim.
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
but there's something about that Name..."
As we sang the second time through, I lifted my hands toward Heaven in worship --and felt the Lord clasp my hand! I had to open my eyes to be sure that I couldn't actually see Him --because the sensation was so real. The Lord was holding my hand....wow....then a warmth came over me and I was completely lost in worship...because THE TWITCH was GONE! The Lord took it away! I just began to rejoice! God is so awesome!

Now...today...as I'm about to go to Praise Team practice...THE TWITCH has returned...Guess what? --I'm saying that the devil is a liar --God has healed me from THE TWITCH and I refuse to allow the enemy to try to annoy me with it any longer!

I'll keep you posted....believing that THE TWITCH will NOT interfere with my worship this evening....

Illustration Friday - Theme: Hide

Gouache on 140lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper

A Little Humor For Mom

My mother has informed me that she always reads my blog before she goes to bed at night because it either makes her laugh, or else it's something very inspirational that inspires her. Since it's been a while since I've posted a blog entry, I thought that I'd take a moment to share the events of my day --this is just for you Mom --I hope you smile!

For reasons upon which I won't elaborate, Brillo Man has been working out of his office in our home all week. He has been frantically trying to 'lock in' mortgage rates for several of his clients all day. The interest rates have dropped a bit, and in order to get better rates, he's got to 'lock' them in with his lenders so that in the event that the rates rise again next week, his clients will still have the opportunity to take advantage of the lower rate.

Locking the rates requires that he fax a lock form to the lender. Brillo Man has just 'installed' a new fax machine which he brought home from the office. (because we couldn't get the one which was here to work). Since he's asked me to help him process a few loans, he hands the job over to me. Not a problem. I've got access to this fancy schmancy state-of-the-art laser fax machine. It faxes, copies, scans and even does the dishes too. I'll simply have to punch the phone number into the fax machine and press the 'start' button. Problem. The fax machine dials the number, but we repeatedly receive a transmission error which states that the transmission didn't go through.

I poured over the user's guide for the fax machine --reading it practically cover to cover --twice. All 160+ pages. Nowhere can I find a hint as to what is happening. We can't receive faxes either. Eventually, I determined that the ring pattern assigned to our fax line isn't compatible with the new fax machine. So...I get on the telephone with our phone company and ask them if they can please change the 'distinctive' ring from 'ring ring' to 'ring rrrriiiiinnnnggg ring'. They readily agreed, however, to be in compliance with the FCC and tariffs and the rules set by members of the Society for Making Our Lives Miserable, the representative informs me that we will have to add an additional fax number to our line. It's impossible to change the distinctive ring for the first number. (?!) Okay. Add the second number --for an additional $4.75 cents per month.

Great. It's fixed now. Commence faxing. ....still....not working....mmmmm? Next, I pick up the phone and call the tech. support line for the fax machine. The rep. assures me that I have all the settings correct. She attempts to send a fax. Nothing. At this point, I'm convinced that the phone company has somehow screwed something up and the distinctive rings are off --or something. We grab the cell phone and dial the numbers and listen for the ring tone...'ring rrrriiiiinnnnggg ring'. Okay--it's one short, one long, one short. Check the fax machine. Yep, it's set up correctly. Still --nothing would fax.

Oh, wait. Brillo Man glances down and sees that the phone line isn't connected to the fax machine. Kind of hard to send a signal through a line if it's not plugged in. But, ah...what relief! We've solved the problem! not. Still the machine would not send a fax.

At this point, Brillo Man is getting nervous - knowing that his time limit for locking the rates on his clients' loans is quickly ticking away on the clock. By this time, it's nearly 5 pm. The rate lock requests MUST be received by the lender before the close of the business day. (btw, he WISHES he had that much hair on his head...)

I called the tech. support people again. This time, the rep. asked if the fax machine phone line was plugged directly into the wall jack. ummm...yes. Then we realized that there was an 'extension' on the line --meaning it wasn't one continuous line to the jack, but two, connected together by an adapter. Thinking that the rep. was nuts, nevertheless, we agreed to get one looonnnngggg phone line and connect the fax directly to the jack (which was in another room). The only length of line that we had which was long enough to reach from the fax machine into the other room wasn't working. No dial tone. Bad line. So now what? Plan B. Go to the store and buy more line.... nah....we're convinced that the rep. is mistaken or perhaps we're misunderstanding her or she's misunderstanding us because we do get a dial tone when we plug a phone into the line with the connector adapter attached --therefore, we know that the line is functioning.

We call the tech. support people once AGAIN. This time, the guy on the other end walks us through some of the settings. No problem --all is set correctly. He attempts to send a fax. nothing. Then he asks us if we're sure that the phone line is plugged into the fax machine. Of course we're sure --we had found it on the floor earlier and plugged it in. He kept asking, "are you sure it's plugged into the "line" connection?".....wait...there's MORE THAN ONE place to connect a phone line? Sure enough --on the back of the machine --in a different spot altogether, are two more spots for connections. One of them clearly labeled "Line". Duh. Move the phone cord from the Cat5 connection spot to the "Line" connection and voila...the fax machine now works. Did we ever feel like idiots.

At this point, it's way past the 5 pm deadline to lock the rates, so our only hope is to pray that the rates stay stable until Monday or Brillo Man is going to have some 'splainin' to do to his clients. Or else he will have to "eat" the difference.

Relieved that we have solved the problem....I said to Brillo Man....too bad 'we' didn't think to look at the diagram which illustrates the set-up process. Directions? Who reads directions? Not Brillo Man.

If any of you lacks wisdom,
he should ask God, who gives generously to all
without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
-James 1:5

Shoo?

Today's blog entry:

Go back and read the comments associated with this post. Pay particular attention to the comments by Mr. Goldenrod Surprise (a.k.a. Brillo Man).

Then picture me - ROLLING MY EYES!

Holy Like You - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

A is for Alligator

It has occurred to me that I haven’t shared this story with my blog buddies...and I know how much you all enjoy a good story.....

When Brillo Man and I were dating (long distance - he in Florida and I in Pennsylvania), he used to take long walks through all the swamps and woodlands of Florida while talking to me on his cell phone. One particular evening, he was talking to me and walking when all of a sudden he spied an animal nearby in the underbrush. In an attempt to scare it away, he let out this horrific, primal scream: "Hiya! To his dismay, the loud, primal scream did nothing to scare the creature away –but rather encouraged it to ATTACK! The creature CHARGED at him through the underbrush – at which point, Brillo Man screamed louder and ran. I kept asking him, "Are you okay? Are you alright? What's going on?" I was feeling totally helpless being thousands of miles away - fearing he was being attacked by some kind of swamp creature! Finally, after he got quite a distance away and was able to catch his breath he said, "I was trying to scare away an animal I saw in the underbrush and it charged me - I think it was an alligator!" Realizing that he was obviously startled by this charging wild animal and wanting to bring some lightheartedness to the situation, I playfully said, "Oh...it was probably just an armadillo”.

“No – It was an alligator.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure it was an alligator.”
“Well, you better get out of that area if there are alligators there.”

About fifteen minutes later into the conversation, Brillo Man said, “I have to tell you something.”
“What?”
“It wasn’t an alligator.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No”
“Well, what was it?”
“It was an armadillo.”

Aha!!!...The ATTACK OF THE KILLER ARMADILLO!!! Needless to say --he has NEVER lived it down! He gets armadillos for every holiday, birthday, anniversary, etc. We have them all over the house – armadillo refrigerator magnets, armadillo key chains, ceramic armadillos, cast iron armadillos --you name it – he’s got it – armadillo Christmas Tree ornaments, armadillo belt buckles, armadillo banks, canned road kill armadillo…

We have a custom made road sign posted on our driveway which reads “ARMADILLO AVE.” For one anniversary, I presented him with a painting I had done just for him which now adorns our bedroom --you guessed it --an armadillo!



Here’s the really sad thing….this past Christmas, I FORGOT to wrap up an armadillo. (I have a stash of them hidden away – just in case I ever need an armadillo gift….) It’s time for me to go raid my stash…

(By the way....I have armadillo notecards for sale if anyone is interested...the proceeds from all sales will go to support AA....Amadillos Anonymous...of which Brillo Man is the founder and CEO. "Hello, my name is Brillo Man and I was attacked by an armadillo..." After all, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem!)

Three Things I Learned Today

1.) Don’t paint the walls the day after you have given yourself a manicure. It’s a good thing I don’t spend the money for professional manicures because this one would have been money down the drain! I thought about leaving them this way and calling it “ART”….



2.) Don’t clean the paint roller by painting a “smiley guy” on the floor and then tell your daughter that soon he will be covered up by the new carpet…..4-year olds don’t take too kindly to this type of news. It was a tragic time ---many tears and sadness at the thought of losing her new friend…at least somebody is still smiling…



3.) NEVER pound the lid of the gallon of color "A" with a hammer when there is paint in the rim. Especially if you’re too close to the wall which is covered in color “B”….. (Note the photo doesn’t show the splashes ---I had to get them wiped off immediately before they dried and turned my wall into the beginnings of a Jackson Pollack painting…although his works have been known to sell for $140 million….)



I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw... -Proverbs 24:32