It's a Jeep Thing

I was sharing with Hubby about my towels on the clothesline post the other day and he wanted to know if I had any pictures of his Jeep on my blog. Sadly, I had to tell him "no." Even sadder, was the look on his face that said, "You put our towels on your blog, but not my Jeep?!?!" I did mention that it wasn't "dirty laundry." But that didn't really appease him nor remove the sad face.

THE JEEP

Now this is not just any old Jeep - we've had it for 13 years. This Jeep has seen a lot of trails, rocks, and rivers during those years. When he first started building it for wheeling, there was a whole group of Jeep guys where he worked. It was pretty impressive to see the line of 8 Jeeps out in the parking lot. We had some great trips in the Colorado mountains and at Moab with that group.

Hopefully this is the year he can get some much-needed work done. On the top of the list is a replacement V8 that Hubby REALLY wants. He does have a 4-liter in the garage with fuel injection (woo hoo!) that he's been thinking about putting in. The Jeep currently has a 4.2-liter that has seen better days. Much better days. I think he's kind of dragging his feet on the 4-liter, though, because he still wants a V8 most of all.

The Jeep also needs some front end work. It's pretty squirrely these days which is a little unnerving.

But it's sure been a blast - summers with the top off, splashing across the Platte River, climbing rocks in Moab. Okay, when we slid backwards down an icy hill once - that wasn't a blast. But otherwise, we've really had some fun and we're looking forward to loads more!

Oh, I suppose I should clarify - I was the one driving when we slid backwards down an icy hill. In my defense, though, I've done a pretty decent job of wheeling (other than that icy hill thing).

I'll have to get some pictures from out on the trail up here sometime. Maybe even some of the other very sweet CJ-8 we had for awhile, too.

This one's for you, Honey!

For Further Thought?

On the radio yesterday, I heard a little clip by Randy Alcorn about being in heaven. He said that because we will never be omniscient, we will never know everything; that we will continually learn from God, even in heaven throughout all eternity. This was something I'd never thought about before. I think a lot of believers have the idea that we'll have complete knowledge in heaven. Am I one of them? Again, it's just not something I've spent much time contemplating.

I'm not saying that I'm on one side or the other. This is just something to file away for further thought, research, etc. - IF God prompts me to do so. Is it vital to my salvation? No. Will it affect my daily life? Probably not. But it was something that made me say, "Hmmmm . . . "

I'm not at all familiar with Randy Alcorn's writings, theology, or anything else. All I can say is that I've seen his name and I know he's an author. So at this point, I'm completely neutral as far as the author of this thought.

If you have any thoughts on this, feel free to comment. Especially if you have scripture that supports your thoughts. Scripture is the only thing that gives credence to anything we may think.

Helping Heather

Today's the day that BooMama is providing the opportunity for us to bless Heather and her family. If you'd like to find out more about Heather's story, click the link in my sidebar. If you'd like to help out, click here. Please be sure to pray for Heather, Mark, and the kids. On Friday, she has an appointment in Orlando (opinion #2) and next Thursday, they fly to the Mayo Clinic (opinion #3). We just have to remember that God's opinion is bigger than all of them. He's in control and He loves her as much as ever.

Happy Mail Day

It's remarkable how happy I can be over silly little things in life. I just experienced "Happy Mail Day!" No bills, no annoying advertisements, or political ads - just Happy Mail. Here's what showed up in my mailbox today:

A newsletter and coupons from Archiver's - yessss!
A coupon flyer for Yankee Candle - sweet!
A new Baker's Catalogue - woo hoo!
A Franklin Covey flyer - awesome!

I know, all of the above are asking for my money one way or another. And honestly I probably won't use most of them. But it's still fun to get mail from companies I like. I really will use the Archiver's coupons as I'm back into scrapping on a somewhat regular basis.

Prior to the arrival of Happy Mail, I did something very nostaligic, environmentally friendly, and just kind of fun. I hung a clothesline out back and hung up our towels to dry - out in the glorious sunshine, gentle breeze, and fresh air of the day. I was even able to find a bag of clothes pins. I'm kind of pathetic when it comes to knot-tying, though, so I'm not sure how well my lines will hold up. In fact, they are already swaying down quite a bit from their original height. But the towels aren't on the ground (yet). Just the thought of nice, fresh, air-dried towels is appealing.

Yes, I'm enjoying the simple, little things of life today. And as Martha would say, "It's a good thing." Or better yet, as God would say (a bit out of context, but don't ruin my fun), "It is very good."

Wishing you a Happy Mail Day!!

Hilarious

I was over at Enjoy the Journey and she had this great post. Check this out for a good laugh!

1. To go www.google.com
2. Click on "maps"
3. Click on "get directions"
4. Put "New York" in the from box and "London" in the to box
5. Scroll down to instruction #24

Hysterical!!! Oh, be sure to note at the top how long this trip will take!!

Monday Money Matters

Okay - so the money won't be in the bank until tomorrow. Old Me would've been BALLISTIC at this point! Slightly Improved Me (courtesy of Jesus Christ) figures God knew this would happen, I've got money in the bank to cover anything that could come through today (thanks, Mom!), and it isn't worth getting all stressed out. In the grand scheme of life, this is pretty inconsequential. Instead, I can spend my time and energy on taking care of the house, praying, being in God's word, etc. Definitely a much better use. Easier on the family too.

Enjoy the Chris Tomlin video (I am) and have a blessed day!

Monday Morning

It's one of those Mondays - you know, the kind where you feel like everything is out of sync. Much to do and probably not enough time to do it all. It's payday, but the money isn't in the bank . . . yet. I have to check the bank site every so often to see if the deposit is there. Hubby checked at work and they said it should be there any time. So my patience is being tested a bit.

I made my list this morning during quiet time and while reading Proverbs, came across a couple of my favorite verses regarding the plans of my day:

"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

In addition, verse 3 says, "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established."

Only by committing my list to God, as well as my day, will there be any calm, rational, peaceful thoughts and direction. He knows what needs to happen today. He knows how my day will go. All I can do is my best in planning, seek His heart, and listen for his voice.

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it.' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21

May I remember these verses and remember to stop and listen for the Lord's direction before I make a move.

Amazing Grace

Every time that Barb at A Chelsea Morning has this up on her blog, I just watch it over and over again. I love this song and I especially love how Chris Tomlin sings it. So now I can hear it and watch it all I want. So can you, if you want.

Music Video Codes By Music Jesus.com

No, I haven't yet seen the movie, but I'd really like to. One of these days.

Blessings to you.

For Heather

The new link on my sidebar is for a sweet sister in Christ, Heather, who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. She's a wife, mom of three, homeschooler, and she's already been through quite a lot with her youngest daughter. Now she's facing an even bigger trial. If you're interested in reading Heather's story, you can go here. You can also read about her daughter, Emma Grace, on the left sidebar below Heather's picture. While there may not be a lot of people who read my blog, I still wanted to add this link and do my part to get the word out. If God leads you to help - prayer, encouragement, giving - then the information is available. For me, it's one small thing I can do to reach out to a sister in the Body of Christ.

In the meantime, I pray that you would enjoy this day that the Lord has given you, that you would take a few moments and thank Him for the blessings in your life, that you would spend just a little time taking in what seems to be ordinary, and realizing what a gift our lives truly are.

Exploding Eggs

As is our annual tradition, I dutifully hardboiled some eggs for my boys to color for Easter. Only hubby eats them in our house, and since it isn't likely (or a good idea) that he'll eat all 28 eggs (plus 4 more from MIL), I graciously share them with my previous neighbor and my parents. So we played post-Easter bunny, delivering festively colored eggs this afternoon.

My Dad called a few minutes ago and the conversation went something like this:

Dad: "Why did you give me exploding eggs?"

Me: "I didn't know that I did. What happened?"

Dad: "Well, I thought I'd have some hardboiled eggs for dinner (Mom's out shopping with my sister), so I peeled some, put them on a plate and warmed them in the microwave. I put the plate on the counter, stuck my fork into one and BLAM! It exploded -- sending egg everywhere -- on me, on the counter, on the dishes . . . "

Me: "Oh my gosh!!"

Dad: "I guess some sort of pressure built up inside. Thought you might want to know so you don't have any exploding eggs."

Ironically, hubby was just peeling some eggs to make egg salad . . . but his will be refrigerated. No warmed, exploding eggs for him, thank you very much!

Being Two (and a half)

While at my sister's last week, my two and a half year old neice wanted to "dance to music." My sister continued to tell her that the other kids were watching something on tv. She wasn't buying it. After all, she's 2 1/2 and the queen of her universe to the best of her knowledge. So she kept repeating her demand "I wanna dance to music!"

Her dear mom kindly pulled out the IPod and then went to look for a full-sized set of headphones (ear buds are too big for her petite little ears).While Mom was gone, I asked if she would smile for a picture. She wasn't having any of it - she still didn't understand that dancing music was soon to arrive. Instead of cute, smiling pictures, I got some terribly adorable pouty pictures. You gotta love it! She was oh, so precious in her little braids and rolled-up flower pants!

And how about this one? She's so unhappy!

















But then . . . Hooray! Hooray! Mom saves the day! My neice got her dancing music and her groove going! Too cute! She danced around the kitchen for a good minute or two, stopped, and announced, "I'm done."

And that was that. 'Cause that's what you do when you're two.

Spring Reading Thing - Crossroads Review

Well, I've been actively reading, but haven't gotten very far with the reviews. Might have something to do with the computer being gone for a week and a half. Never fear, the first one is here!

Crossroads by Nancy Moser
From the back cover:

“’I’m the last Weaver standing, and I will not go down without a
fight!’

“Madeline Weaver is putting everything on the line. Her hometown is dying, and she will stop at nothing to save it. Using her fortune to buy up the town’s land, she holds a national contest to give away the property, piece by piece. As modern-day pioneers apply for a place in Madeline’s hyper-controlled world, she chooses only those who spark her interest and seem suited to her own designs.

“There’s an egotistical banker from Manhattan, a Jewish retired couple from Phoenix, a hometown boy turned cop, and a family from Arkansas running away from grief. In spite of Madeline’s best efforts, the lives of these new residents quickly weave together in ways completely out of her control.

“Now faced with long-buried secrets, Madeline finds herself at the ultimate crossroads, where she must make the most difficult decision of her life . . . “

Nancy Moser has a gift for interesting story lines (I’ve also read The Invitation and The Quest; reviews to follow). I really enjoyed following the individual lives of the characters as they converge in small town Kansas to start their lives over. I think it’s human nature to expect a clean slate when moving to a new place and beginning anew. But we often forget that we are the same people with the same habits, baggage, and hang ups, even in a new place. But with God at the center and with a change in circumstances, the characters learn about what is truly important in their lives. With the various personalities in Crossroads, I think most people could find a little of themselves in one or more of the characters. I definitely enjoyed this book.

p.s. – Nancy Moser also includes a list of Scriptures quoted in the back of the book, along with the subject that verse relates to. This is a handy reference point that she employs in other novels as well.

Easter Sunday

I don't anticipate being online tomorrow, so I shall wish everyone a Happy Resurrection Day this evening. Hubby and the boys are participating in the annual "Watching of The Ten Commandments" tonight. I'm catching bits & pieces as I scurry around preparing my portions of the Easter dinner, clean up the kitchen, and fold sheets. I have nothing profound to say on the eve of the most important event in history. I am, however, eternally grateful for the resurrection. Without it, I would be forever separated from my loving God and Savior.

"Then He said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you while I was till with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.' And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them,' Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.'"

Many blessings to you.

It's a Matter of Choice

Around 11-12 years ago, while I was working in corporate America, I attended a class at work called CASE Training. I believe it stood for something like Cate & Steve's Excellent Training. The name was humorous, the class invaluable. I came away from that class with just ONE thing. But it's one of those things that sticks with you forever, comes back when you think you've forgotten it, and you attempt to pass onto your children.

In everything, we have a choice.

They talked about the way our society has become so victim-minded. How even the way we speak puts us in a victim mode. "She makes me so mad!" Really, now? How does she MAKE me mad? I might choose to be mad because of something she said or did, but truly, she doesn't render that type of control over my life. In a nutshell, that was the part that stuck with me. People don't "make" us anything. We choose to respond - to people, words, attitudes, and circumstances.

This is the lesson I am trying SO hard to teach my younger son. He's one of those people who sees so much through the lens of "it's because so-and-so did whatever." It's hardly ever his fault. Fortunately, he has a teacher who's much greater than his mother. This Teacher is perfect and holy and loves my dear son even more than I do (which is hard to imagine for me).

The funny thing is that God has this habit of using my kids to refine me. Oftentimes, as I'm lecturing one of the boys (it's true - I do lecture them, or so they say), it's as if God is repeating my words behind me and directly AT me. It knocks me right off my high and mighty soapbox.

I have recently been experiencing this wonderful phenomenon whereby God uses the sins of my children to remind me that there is still work to be done in my life. I have a choice - I can choose to believe God and trust Him wholly or I can wander off in my own folly. Considering that He's totally reliable, trustworthy, and faithful (among countless other things), the best thing for me is to choose to trust Him. Dabbling with my own ways and will is never right, never brings me joy, and most of all, will never please Him.

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorties, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

Monday

Well I keep saying I am back online and my reviews will be up . . . but I think I'm overly optimistic. While I have my computer back, it's definitely having issues. There are a few things I need to take care of.

• Back to school today
• Call our tech again
• Call our ISP (issues there too)
• Shop for a new printer
• Get ink for the photo printer
• Download photos from camera
• Pay bills
• Finish laundry
• Write book reviews

I'm sure there's more, but they escape me at the moment. I would really like to have my computer working properly and a new printer/scanner/copier. That would help tremendously in accomplishing some of the other items. I'm also planning to head to the Denver Museum this week for the Benjamin Franklin exhibit.

On a happy note, hubby & I have a mini-date night with the boys going to Bible study!

A blessed Monday to everyone out there in Bloggityville!