Why do Christmas trees never go back into the box as easily as they were originally packed in there? We un-decorated for Christmas yesterday, which I think for most people is not a fun day. Dragging things back up into the attic is a lot harder than getting them down. Jason says at least the Christmas tree comes down easier than it goes up, but what a pain to try to get it to fit in whatever storage container you have!
Everyone has a different theory about when to put away the Christmas decorations. Some do it the day after Christmas, others before the 1st, others immediately after the New Year, and then everyone knows that one house where the decorations don't come down until March - if at all!
Growing up, my mom was huge about getting it down before the New Year began; she always quoted bad luck, but I know she didn't really believe that as she wasn't superstitious. But, I have adopted that mentality, and we've always taken everything down before the New Year begins. One year while we were living in TX, we had been in Nashville for Christmas and came home mid-day on the 31st, went and did something for New Year's Eve, and came home exhausted and ready to crash. We had company coming the following day for our annual New Year's event anyway. (It's an Underhill tradition to make my favorite black eyed pea dip for either a New Year's Eve or Day event - I love it!) I just decided we could take it down on the 2nd or 3rd. We went to bed and slept well, but at around 5 am (company was due at around 9 am for football games), I woke up straight in bed thinking, "What in the world are we doing? We have got to get these Christmas decorations up!" To my husband's alarm, I hustled us out of bed and we got everything down and clean before company got there. We didn't technically make it before the New Year, but 9 am was pretty close! :)
Ever since, I've made sure that we get everything up before the New Year. I'm not superstitious either, but I just like having a fresh, clean house to start the New Year off. I'm ready to put behind me the two months of holidays, crazy schedules, and parties to get down to a fresh new routine. I love facing a brand new year of possibilities, a few resolutions, and the promise of spring coming with an organized, clean house. It just goes along with the New Year for me.
The Bible talks about fresh starts too! Lamentations 3:22-26 says, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will WAIT for him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." God's compassions are new every morning. Each day is a new opportunity to praise him with our lives. Each day is a chance to start over and be all that God has called us to be.
I also like Isaiah 43:18-19, 21 - "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland... (for) the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." WOW! God says, forget about this last year, forget about 2006. Don't dwell on the things that went wrong. I am doing a new thing - I have great plans for 2007! I am making good come out of all the bad (the desert and the wasteland). I formed YOU for my own joy; I made you so that you can tell everyone how great a God I am! This verse was written to the Israelites who went through cycle upon cyle of being oppressed and then restored due to their disobedience and focus on the past.
God wants to do a new thing in our lives. My house is clean in preparation for a New Year, but it will dirty quickly... very quickly I'm afraid! But, God's mercies are new EVERY morning! His compassions fail not. His plans for us are so far-reaching that if we knew them all, we would probably collapse! How exciting!
More on this, reflections of 2006, prayers for 2007, a few resolutions, and PICTURES (finally!!) in the next couple of days.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Well, we had an exciting dinner tonight. Jason's mom had brought over a Honeybaked Ham on New Year's Eve Day that we have thoroughly enjoyed. Jason and I decided you could almost justify the price of it with as many meals as we've gotten out of it; of course we got it for free. I decided I'd be super economical and non-wasteful and make a soup out of the leftover ham bone. I printed off a couple, narrowed it down to two, and to my delight, Jason chose one from Food Network which was a spicy New-Orleans style stew. It was noted as "medium" difficulty on Food Network so I was looking forward to the challenge; Food Network recipes always intimidate me a bit. However, this recipe appeared to be actually very simple. I got the stock going with the ham bone and corn cobs, and the aroma of the ham bone was so delicious. It was finally cold, and just smelling that ham bone today made Jason and I both anticipate the yummy taste of a warm bowl of soup tonight.
The ham bone, corn cobs, and ten cups of water were to simmer an hour and a half. I had to scrape the cobs to release the corn milk which sounded very chef-like to me. I measured out the water precisely as to not mess up the esteemed Food Network recipe. I even made sure I had the temperature on exactly medium-low; I spent a few minutes debating what was actually medium low. Is it halfway between "medium" and "low"? Or is it one or two clicks past medium towards low? Why don't they label that? I went for two clicks beyond medium towards low.
So, as I said, we enjoyed the lovely ham aroma. I was taking down the upstairs Christmas tree, and I was waiting for the time to add the other ingredients to the now simmering stock. I had checked it a couple of times, but I did wonder whether I was to add more water or not. There were no instructions to do so, and I assumed that adding more water would only mess up the consistency of the recipe. If the hallowed chefs at Food Network did not say to add water, then by all means, I was not going to add water.
Suddenly, as I was tying up the branches of the tree, I smelled an unfamiliar aroma. It was not the aroma of the sweet smelling ham, but a different smell was wafting towards my nostrils. I smelled for a moment and then rushed downstairs. The closer I got to the kitchen, the clearer the smell of scorched food became. I rushed in to find the pot nearly on fire. It was smoking ferociously, and I could hear the remnants sizzling in the pot before I even got into the kitchen.
I rushed it outside and doused it with water. After opening windows, and the smell still not dissipating, we did what any other American family would do. We went out to dinner and left the windows open. Salsaritas was good, but it wasn't the savory soup I'd longed for. And, throughout dinner, all I could smell was my hair reeking of scorched food... There's nothing like scorched food to replace that new house smell! Upon returning home, the smell still lingered. Right now, we have every candle we can find and a stick of incense burning. Our bedroom is very romantic!
The lesson I've learned is perhaps Food Network does not belong on the cooking pedestal I have placed them on. A couple of weeks ago, I looked through a Rachel Ray cookbook and was not impressed enough to keep it on my Christmas list. Of course she's on NBC now with Harpo. So, I'll be more wary of Barefoot Contessa and her cohorts. I do love Paula Dean though and want to try her fried chicken recipe...
The other thing I've learned is I want to burn more candles. I used to burn them ALL the time and haven't had time to do so lately I guess. Just got out of the habit. I like it!! :)
Of course this experience can happen to anyone. Our dear Uncle Paul, a fireman no less, once BURNED his kitchen (and had to call the fire department) when something on the stove burned. Needless to say, he still hears about that... :)
The ham bone, corn cobs, and ten cups of water were to simmer an hour and a half. I had to scrape the cobs to release the corn milk which sounded very chef-like to me. I measured out the water precisely as to not mess up the esteemed Food Network recipe. I even made sure I had the temperature on exactly medium-low; I spent a few minutes debating what was actually medium low. Is it halfway between "medium" and "low"? Or is it one or two clicks past medium towards low? Why don't they label that? I went for two clicks beyond medium towards low.
So, as I said, we enjoyed the lovely ham aroma. I was taking down the upstairs Christmas tree, and I was waiting for the time to add the other ingredients to the now simmering stock. I had checked it a couple of times, but I did wonder whether I was to add more water or not. There were no instructions to do so, and I assumed that adding more water would only mess up the consistency of the recipe. If the hallowed chefs at Food Network did not say to add water, then by all means, I was not going to add water.
Suddenly, as I was tying up the branches of the tree, I smelled an unfamiliar aroma. It was not the aroma of the sweet smelling ham, but a different smell was wafting towards my nostrils. I smelled for a moment and then rushed downstairs. The closer I got to the kitchen, the clearer the smell of scorched food became. I rushed in to find the pot nearly on fire. It was smoking ferociously, and I could hear the remnants sizzling in the pot before I even got into the kitchen.
I rushed it outside and doused it with water. After opening windows, and the smell still not dissipating, we did what any other American family would do. We went out to dinner and left the windows open. Salsaritas was good, but it wasn't the savory soup I'd longed for. And, throughout dinner, all I could smell was my hair reeking of scorched food... There's nothing like scorched food to replace that new house smell! Upon returning home, the smell still lingered. Right now, we have every candle we can find and a stick of incense burning. Our bedroom is very romantic!
The lesson I've learned is perhaps Food Network does not belong on the cooking pedestal I have placed them on. A couple of weeks ago, I looked through a Rachel Ray cookbook and was not impressed enough to keep it on my Christmas list. Of course she's on NBC now with Harpo. So, I'll be more wary of Barefoot Contessa and her cohorts. I do love Paula Dean though and want to try her fried chicken recipe...
The other thing I've learned is I want to burn more candles. I used to burn them ALL the time and haven't had time to do so lately I guess. Just got out of the habit. I like it!! :)
Of course this experience can happen to anyone. Our dear Uncle Paul, a fireman no less, once BURNED his kitchen (and had to call the fire department) when something on the stove burned. Needless to say, he still hears about that... :)
Friday, December 22, 2006
We have a contract on the TX house! Didn't take long once it was priced right! The realtor was leaving to go out of town so we didn't get into the details, but we do have a buyer. My only regret is that we didn't do this long ago. But, as Jason and I have talked, if we had done it a couple of years ago and our credit had been damaged, we never would have been able to buy this house. So, I guess it all works out. Thank you for all that have prayed! Continue praying that this will finish up and close as planned!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
PRAISE GOD!!! All the time of course, but specifically in this time...
Jason just emailed and said that we are approved for the short sale... not only that, but the agreement we have with the mortgage company is that we owe NOTHING for the house - no part of the remaining balance. Our realtor told Jason that only one in fifty people applying for a short sale get one in which they don't have to repay any of the difference. She said the letter we wrote to the mortgage company was what made the difference. We just explained all that we have gone through with the renters, hanging on to it and paying double mortgage payments for more than a year, the extensive financial hardship on our family from this house, and me going back to work because of that. Looking back on all of that just makes me sick thinking of all we have gone through, the many tears I've cried (and still cry) from working this year, the deep ache in my heart as I leave my two babies every single morning, and the strain my working has put on our marriage and our ministry.
BUT, I heard a Word on the Way yesterday that pointed out that FAITH is not giving up even when the worst is at its worst. Faith is constantly believing that God is God, and He has the PERFECT solution to any problem. He quoted the verse about faith producing perseverance. I have NEVER understood that verse better than I did yesterday when it all struck me. And that's before I heard the news today! James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Through ALL trials! Amen!
Here's my prayer and hopefully the reason for all of this - we won't know until we get to heaven for sure. BUT, my prayer is that someone is impacted by our story. When I wrote that letter to the mortgage company, I prayed and prayed and prayed. I basically wrote out a testimony of our faith on that letter. I tried to demonstrate how we had tried to handle this in a way reflective of our faith. I talked about our struggle with the renters, the financial destruction this has caused our family, and my going back to work to try and cover that. But, I also said that we had total faith in God that He would take care of us! I just have prayed over and over that whoever read our letter would be a person whose heart God would pierce for us. I pray that someone who reads that might get a glimpse of what kind of hope a real, breathing, loving God can offer. I still pray that!
Thinking about all of those things is hard to think about looking back. It is still VERY hard to leave my babies in the mornings. It's hard for Jason and I to maintain just sanity and balance in our marriage - both of us working is really hard! We've sacrificed a lot this year. But, isn't God so good? If someone could be impacted through this, then it would all be worth it! And, irony of all ironies, while we were cramped in that apartment this summer, our house that we are living in now was being built just a mile away from us! God is good!
On the practical side, pray for our house to sell! We feel we are so close to the finish. Jason is of course hopelessly optimistic and is pulling for us to be finished with it going into 2007. While I certainly hope this is the case, I'd be happy for sometime soon. Our realtor did say that she has 12-13 people to look at it this week! That's double the amount of people we've had look at it in 9 months - well, 2 years for that matter!
Our $163,000 house is now appraised for $132,000 (which I think is actually a little high). The mortgage company is asking for at least $108,000 which gives us some room for realtor's fees. Just pray that it sells within this price range and that it will sell quickly. Pray for our realtor Mendy as well!
Thanks to all of you who have been prayer warriors and supporters with us through this. We love you so much and are so thankful for your precious aromas of prayers lifted up unto our Lord. Thank you!
Jason just emailed and said that we are approved for the short sale... not only that, but the agreement we have with the mortgage company is that we owe NOTHING for the house - no part of the remaining balance. Our realtor told Jason that only one in fifty people applying for a short sale get one in which they don't have to repay any of the difference. She said the letter we wrote to the mortgage company was what made the difference. We just explained all that we have gone through with the renters, hanging on to it and paying double mortgage payments for more than a year, the extensive financial hardship on our family from this house, and me going back to work because of that. Looking back on all of that just makes me sick thinking of all we have gone through, the many tears I've cried (and still cry) from working this year, the deep ache in my heart as I leave my two babies every single morning, and the strain my working has put on our marriage and our ministry.
BUT, I heard a Word on the Way yesterday that pointed out that FAITH is not giving up even when the worst is at its worst. Faith is constantly believing that God is God, and He has the PERFECT solution to any problem. He quoted the verse about faith producing perseverance. I have NEVER understood that verse better than I did yesterday when it all struck me. And that's before I heard the news today! James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Through ALL trials! Amen!
Here's my prayer and hopefully the reason for all of this - we won't know until we get to heaven for sure. BUT, my prayer is that someone is impacted by our story. When I wrote that letter to the mortgage company, I prayed and prayed and prayed. I basically wrote out a testimony of our faith on that letter. I tried to demonstrate how we had tried to handle this in a way reflective of our faith. I talked about our struggle with the renters, the financial destruction this has caused our family, and my going back to work to try and cover that. But, I also said that we had total faith in God that He would take care of us! I just have prayed over and over that whoever read our letter would be a person whose heart God would pierce for us. I pray that someone who reads that might get a glimpse of what kind of hope a real, breathing, loving God can offer. I still pray that!
Thinking about all of those things is hard to think about looking back. It is still VERY hard to leave my babies in the mornings. It's hard for Jason and I to maintain just sanity and balance in our marriage - both of us working is really hard! We've sacrificed a lot this year. But, isn't God so good? If someone could be impacted through this, then it would all be worth it! And, irony of all ironies, while we were cramped in that apartment this summer, our house that we are living in now was being built just a mile away from us! God is good!
On the practical side, pray for our house to sell! We feel we are so close to the finish. Jason is of course hopelessly optimistic and is pulling for us to be finished with it going into 2007. While I certainly hope this is the case, I'd be happy for sometime soon. Our realtor did say that she has 12-13 people to look at it this week! That's double the amount of people we've had look at it in 9 months - well, 2 years for that matter!
Our $163,000 house is now appraised for $132,000 (which I think is actually a little high). The mortgage company is asking for at least $108,000 which gives us some room for realtor's fees. Just pray that it sells within this price range and that it will sell quickly. Pray for our realtor Mendy as well!
Thanks to all of you who have been prayer warriors and supporters with us through this. We love you so much and are so thankful for your precious aromas of prayers lifted up unto our Lord. Thank you!
Monday, December 18, 2006
It was so warm today that when I took the kids out for recess, I actually wanted to lay out. Not in a bathing suit necessarily. It wasn't hot, but the sun actually was tanning my face I think. Had I been out longer than 10 minutes, I think I could have gotten a little color today... reminds me of TX!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
My quiet times have certainly changed over the last few months with going back to work. I used to cherish the times the kids went down for naps for obvious reasons, but I would mainly use that time to stretch out and just have me and God time. It was quiet, middle of the day, and it was such a fabulous recharge. Since my fourth graders don't take naps, ha ha!, I've had to be creative in finding time.
I think this is a subject many people struggle with. So often our lives are filled up with an insane amount of activities and responsibilities, and it's hard to get a schedule down. Hey, that's just life. Most people I talk to really love having a quiet time and want the time. It's not that they are neglecting their relationship with God, it's just hard to make the time. I think a lot of people, epecially moms, feel like a quiet time is "Me" time and feel guilty taking it. A quiet time is like anything else, if you want to do it and it's important to you, you just have to make yourself carve out the time. Easier said than done, eh?
SO MANY people feel so guilty when they miss a quiet time or even a couple of weeks of quiet times that they just give up. Many of us look at quiet times with a diet mentality. Well, I'm on a diet, I've been doing good, I can see improvements, OH! I blew it tonight at that party (or the whole month of December)... Oh well, I just can't do this, it's too hard to lose weight. Ever feel like that about something? Add feeling like God is mad at you or you're not eligible for the holiest of holies club at church and people treat quiet times the same way.
God is not up in heaven keeping a tally sheet of our quiet times. It's not a sin to miss one, and it's not something we should feel guilty about. HOWEVER (did you sense that coming), a quiet time is something we should strive to do. It's like any command in the Bible, take tithing for instance. God is not going to strike us with lightning for not tithing, but when we do tithe, we have an even closer fellowship with God. That closer fellowship is a blessing in and of itself. Quiet times are not so much for God, although he does crave fellowship with us. But, they are for ourselves because we benefit the most from having a quiet time with God and basking in his love and presence for a specific time each day.
The other thing people get hung up on is time of day. A quiet time is not "holier" in the morning. There are benefits to starting your day off in the right mentality and right frame of mind, but talking to God at night and analyzing your day's actions and words can be just as beneficial. I've talked to many people that once they missed their quiet time in the morning just decided they'd missed it and would try it again the next morning. That successful morning sometimes never comes - Satan is good at that! The best key I found when I was struggling with starting a regular quiet time was committing that I would NOT go to bed until I had my quiet time. If I had it in the morning, great; if at lunch, great; but if I hadn't finished it by that evening, I would not go to bed until I had completed it. Some people say they are too tired to do it at night. I agree that sometimes this is true. But, I've overcome this by praying through those times and just deciding to at least read something. Sometimes I'll just read a few verses and pray through those before I go to bed. God will give you that extra bit of energy if you pray for it. This strategy has worked for me through several periods in my life. Anytime that I am struggling with getting them done, I try to start this process and am usually able to get back on track.
So, what qualifies as a quiet time? I've had many different phases in my life.
I've had phases where my quiet times consisted of 15-30 minutes of reading a devotional book, journaling, and praying at various times of the day. My favorite book was a devotional entitled "Women of the Bible" where I just studied a different woman each week. There were lots of insights God taught me. I "happened" to study Hannah as I was struggling with not being able to get pregnant and God taught me to be satisfied with what I have when I have it. Most recently, I've really enjoyed "Voices of the Faithful". God has really used that with me this year. I received it as a birthday present last year and started it in January. The devotionals lined up almost perfectly with my struggles that I went through at the beginning of the year. My jaw would almost drop open at what I was reading.
I've had great times in my life where I've taken the kids' whole nap time to just sit and do a big long study for an hour or two at a time and then do a more inspirational quiet time at night - two a day! Earlier this year I was doing Disciple's Prayer Life (just at my own pace) and then reading through the Bible at night with journaling.
And, then there have been other times where I have to take what I can get when I can get it. Both times that the kids were small babies and my physical NEED was to take a nap during any small moment, I would have to just read a verse here and there to meditate on or when I had a few minutes to think (clearly or not), I would meditate and pray on whatever the sermon had been about that week. Sometimes my quiet time was as I was nursing or rocking one of them to sleep just singing praise songs to God and praying through the words I was singing. Just a moment here and there where I was completely yielded to God. Could I live on that forever? No, but it was better than nothing at the time.
Lately, my quiet times have been either something inspiring in a song or a verse read as I listen to christian radio on the way to school. I've prayed a lot more in the car than I have in past years. That's been a neat thing. In the past, my quiet times have been more reading and learning and listening and not as much me talking necessarily. Now, I am praying more where I'm talking, and I feel my intercessory prayer has grown more. My input has been less though. I was getting the Word on the Way devotionals at school for a while, but those just randomly stopped coming recently. It's hard to get that input at times!
Just the other day, I was flipping through stations on the way to work and heard just a brief 10 seconds or so of a random radio station. It was one I haven't heard before and it faded out not to be found again before I could listen to the rest of what the guy was saying. He was talking about how years ago, using welfare was really looked down upon. He lived with his grandparents and needed glasses. Someone had suggested they go to get free glasses, but his grandparents refused. They saved and scraped together the money to buy the glasses eventually. He talked about how people in those days, not even very long ago, really depended on God to get them the things they need. Their prayer life and faith was a lot stronger because there was no instant gratification. I told Jason that I guess if one of the kids needed glasses and we couldn't afford them that we would certainly accept free ones or just put it on credit to pay it off a little at a time, and we wouldn't think a think about it. In a sense, I think someone providing them for free would seem like God's provision to me. But, I really prayed that day about relying on God more. Our society is so instant gratification focused! That's interesting to compare our faith with those that are older and lived during the late 1800s and early 1900s. It gives new meaning to the mention of God in our pledge and on our money because that's what this country was founded upon. Just an interesting way that God touched my heart...
Now that I've gotten into the routine of school, quiet times are getting a little easier. I'm hoping to get more regular at the start of the new school year. For a while, I just honestly wasn't doing them at all. I really missed that fellowship though. I'm hoping over winter break to get some long periods of time where I can really dive in to study God's word. Oh, I crave it!!!
Anybody else have creative ideas to offer?? Good devotional books to recommend?
I think this is a subject many people struggle with. So often our lives are filled up with an insane amount of activities and responsibilities, and it's hard to get a schedule down. Hey, that's just life. Most people I talk to really love having a quiet time and want the time. It's not that they are neglecting their relationship with God, it's just hard to make the time. I think a lot of people, epecially moms, feel like a quiet time is "Me" time and feel guilty taking it. A quiet time is like anything else, if you want to do it and it's important to you, you just have to make yourself carve out the time. Easier said than done, eh?
SO MANY people feel so guilty when they miss a quiet time or even a couple of weeks of quiet times that they just give up. Many of us look at quiet times with a diet mentality. Well, I'm on a diet, I've been doing good, I can see improvements, OH! I blew it tonight at that party (or the whole month of December)... Oh well, I just can't do this, it's too hard to lose weight. Ever feel like that about something? Add feeling like God is mad at you or you're not eligible for the holiest of holies club at church and people treat quiet times the same way.
God is not up in heaven keeping a tally sheet of our quiet times. It's not a sin to miss one, and it's not something we should feel guilty about. HOWEVER (did you sense that coming), a quiet time is something we should strive to do. It's like any command in the Bible, take tithing for instance. God is not going to strike us with lightning for not tithing, but when we do tithe, we have an even closer fellowship with God. That closer fellowship is a blessing in and of itself. Quiet times are not so much for God, although he does crave fellowship with us. But, they are for ourselves because we benefit the most from having a quiet time with God and basking in his love and presence for a specific time each day.
The other thing people get hung up on is time of day. A quiet time is not "holier" in the morning. There are benefits to starting your day off in the right mentality and right frame of mind, but talking to God at night and analyzing your day's actions and words can be just as beneficial. I've talked to many people that once they missed their quiet time in the morning just decided they'd missed it and would try it again the next morning. That successful morning sometimes never comes - Satan is good at that! The best key I found when I was struggling with starting a regular quiet time was committing that I would NOT go to bed until I had my quiet time. If I had it in the morning, great; if at lunch, great; but if I hadn't finished it by that evening, I would not go to bed until I had completed it. Some people say they are too tired to do it at night. I agree that sometimes this is true. But, I've overcome this by praying through those times and just deciding to at least read something. Sometimes I'll just read a few verses and pray through those before I go to bed. God will give you that extra bit of energy if you pray for it. This strategy has worked for me through several periods in my life. Anytime that I am struggling with getting them done, I try to start this process and am usually able to get back on track.
So, what qualifies as a quiet time? I've had many different phases in my life.
I've had phases where my quiet times consisted of 15-30 minutes of reading a devotional book, journaling, and praying at various times of the day. My favorite book was a devotional entitled "Women of the Bible" where I just studied a different woman each week. There were lots of insights God taught me. I "happened" to study Hannah as I was struggling with not being able to get pregnant and God taught me to be satisfied with what I have when I have it. Most recently, I've really enjoyed "Voices of the Faithful". God has really used that with me this year. I received it as a birthday present last year and started it in January. The devotionals lined up almost perfectly with my struggles that I went through at the beginning of the year. My jaw would almost drop open at what I was reading.
I've had great times in my life where I've taken the kids' whole nap time to just sit and do a big long study for an hour or two at a time and then do a more inspirational quiet time at night - two a day! Earlier this year I was doing Disciple's Prayer Life (just at my own pace) and then reading through the Bible at night with journaling.
And, then there have been other times where I have to take what I can get when I can get it. Both times that the kids were small babies and my physical NEED was to take a nap during any small moment, I would have to just read a verse here and there to meditate on or when I had a few minutes to think (clearly or not), I would meditate and pray on whatever the sermon had been about that week. Sometimes my quiet time was as I was nursing or rocking one of them to sleep just singing praise songs to God and praying through the words I was singing. Just a moment here and there where I was completely yielded to God. Could I live on that forever? No, but it was better than nothing at the time.
Lately, my quiet times have been either something inspiring in a song or a verse read as I listen to christian radio on the way to school. I've prayed a lot more in the car than I have in past years. That's been a neat thing. In the past, my quiet times have been more reading and learning and listening and not as much me talking necessarily. Now, I am praying more where I'm talking, and I feel my intercessory prayer has grown more. My input has been less though. I was getting the Word on the Way devotionals at school for a while, but those just randomly stopped coming recently. It's hard to get that input at times!
Just the other day, I was flipping through stations on the way to work and heard just a brief 10 seconds or so of a random radio station. It was one I haven't heard before and it faded out not to be found again before I could listen to the rest of what the guy was saying. He was talking about how years ago, using welfare was really looked down upon. He lived with his grandparents and needed glasses. Someone had suggested they go to get free glasses, but his grandparents refused. They saved and scraped together the money to buy the glasses eventually. He talked about how people in those days, not even very long ago, really depended on God to get them the things they need. Their prayer life and faith was a lot stronger because there was no instant gratification. I told Jason that I guess if one of the kids needed glasses and we couldn't afford them that we would certainly accept free ones or just put it on credit to pay it off a little at a time, and we wouldn't think a think about it. In a sense, I think someone providing them for free would seem like God's provision to me. But, I really prayed that day about relying on God more. Our society is so instant gratification focused! That's interesting to compare our faith with those that are older and lived during the late 1800s and early 1900s. It gives new meaning to the mention of God in our pledge and on our money because that's what this country was founded upon. Just an interesting way that God touched my heart...
Now that I've gotten into the routine of school, quiet times are getting a little easier. I'm hoping to get more regular at the start of the new school year. For a while, I just honestly wasn't doing them at all. I really missed that fellowship though. I'm hoping over winter break to get some long periods of time where I can really dive in to study God's word. Oh, I crave it!!!
Anybody else have creative ideas to offer?? Good devotional books to recommend?
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Icky things Part 2
So, I find out that our fourth grade class is getting.... crabs, frogs, and millipedes!!! Yep, we had to build the habitats ourselves which wasn't so bad. Then the animals came. They were shipped from a company and came in big boxes packed with lots of the little foam peanuts. Then, the frogs and crabs were in bags with water and the millipedes in little trays.
I was icked out at the thought of having to get those little frogs out. They are more like fish in that they swim in a big tank and are small frogs - African Dwarf Frogs to be exact. I wasn't sure how to get them out, so I went over and watched the Science teacher expert get hers out. They were jumping all over the place! They hopped right out of the nets onto the floor!! I always hated as a kid when our fish jumped out of the tank. My dad would just pick them up with his bare hands and plop them back into the tank, as did Belinda to the frogs. I was really a little stressed about it. She offered to come do my class but I decided I needed to do mine on my own.
The kids were divided into five groups. Each group was supposed to get three each of frogs, millipedes, and crabs. I then had a tank of the "extras". "Extras" means that when an animal dies from one of their groups, it got replaced with one of mine. Therefore, I had to maintain my own tank instead of getting kids to do it.
The first few made me nervous, but the anxiety was heightened by the fact that I had to do it with my kids in the room. I gave them an assignment, but they were watching me and the frogs of course. There were a couple of dead ones which grossed me out, and I felt bad for them. But, without much ceremony, into the trash can they went. Luckily, there were no incidents, and they all got into their new little habitats safely. I was really proud of myself! They were really pretty cute once I wasn't having to TOUCH them. They just eat fish food and swim around.
Then to the millipedes. There's just no getting around these squirmy little things. I had the kids that wanted to pick them up and put them into their tanks. Someone wanted to in each group. I had a kid do mine. YUCK! They eat leftover apples, lettuce, etc.
The crabs were another story. They came in two bags, males and females. The males were all big ones (1-3") and came snapping and active and ready to go. I got them divided out, but they were tricky as well. They are very fast little guys. Then, I went to open the female bag. The water in that bag was filthy. Something was wrong because several of them were dead. I had to throw several of them out and the kids only had two each. They eat very stinky food. GROSS!
Well, over the past couple of weeks, the kids have really enjoyed them. They have done pretty well in caring for them. One day, all of the frog tanks were filthy. The kids were just feeding them too much and the water got very dirty. Someone had to clean them out. Short of having Jason come up and do it, I would have to. And I did! It was at that moment that I realized God was helping me grow.
At the end of the project, we adopted the animals out. Of course, not a lot of parents wanted those animals in their houses. Our class actually had the most frogs live. I adopted out several, and then we had three left over. One class had only one frog that lived the entire time! I did choose to give away the millipedes - they were still too gross for me. I did end up picking them up to get them to the other teacher adopting them, but I did wear gloves... :) I now have three frogs that I am taking home to the kids, and I have several crabs that I'm going to keep in the classroom. They are pretty cool!
I like when I realize that God is even concerned about growing me in the small areas as well. It's not a hugely important thing, but I became able to enjoy a few more of God's creations. Most importantly for myself, I overcame a part of a fear. I still can't squash a big crunchy bug, but the creepy crawlies don't bother me quite as much as I used to. It was a big confidence thing for me! Wonder what fears I'll conquer next....
So, I find out that our fourth grade class is getting.... crabs, frogs, and millipedes!!! Yep, we had to build the habitats ourselves which wasn't so bad. Then the animals came. They were shipped from a company and came in big boxes packed with lots of the little foam peanuts. Then, the frogs and crabs were in bags with water and the millipedes in little trays.
I was icked out at the thought of having to get those little frogs out. They are more like fish in that they swim in a big tank and are small frogs - African Dwarf Frogs to be exact. I wasn't sure how to get them out, so I went over and watched the Science teacher expert get hers out. They were jumping all over the place! They hopped right out of the nets onto the floor!! I always hated as a kid when our fish jumped out of the tank. My dad would just pick them up with his bare hands and plop them back into the tank, as did Belinda to the frogs. I was really a little stressed about it. She offered to come do my class but I decided I needed to do mine on my own.
The kids were divided into five groups. Each group was supposed to get three each of frogs, millipedes, and crabs. I then had a tank of the "extras". "Extras" means that when an animal dies from one of their groups, it got replaced with one of mine. Therefore, I had to maintain my own tank instead of getting kids to do it.
The first few made me nervous, but the anxiety was heightened by the fact that I had to do it with my kids in the room. I gave them an assignment, but they were watching me and the frogs of course. There were a couple of dead ones which grossed me out, and I felt bad for them. But, without much ceremony, into the trash can they went. Luckily, there were no incidents, and they all got into their new little habitats safely. I was really proud of myself! They were really pretty cute once I wasn't having to TOUCH them. They just eat fish food and swim around.
Then to the millipedes. There's just no getting around these squirmy little things. I had the kids that wanted to pick them up and put them into their tanks. Someone wanted to in each group. I had a kid do mine. YUCK! They eat leftover apples, lettuce, etc.
The crabs were another story. They came in two bags, males and females. The males were all big ones (1-3") and came snapping and active and ready to go. I got them divided out, but they were tricky as well. They are very fast little guys. Then, I went to open the female bag. The water in that bag was filthy. Something was wrong because several of them were dead. I had to throw several of them out and the kids only had two each. They eat very stinky food. GROSS!
Well, over the past couple of weeks, the kids have really enjoyed them. They have done pretty well in caring for them. One day, all of the frog tanks were filthy. The kids were just feeding them too much and the water got very dirty. Someone had to clean them out. Short of having Jason come up and do it, I would have to. And I did! It was at that moment that I realized God was helping me grow.
At the end of the project, we adopted the animals out. Of course, not a lot of parents wanted those animals in their houses. Our class actually had the most frogs live. I adopted out several, and then we had three left over. One class had only one frog that lived the entire time! I did choose to give away the millipedes - they were still too gross for me. I did end up picking them up to get them to the other teacher adopting them, but I did wear gloves... :) I now have three frogs that I am taking home to the kids, and I have several crabs that I'm going to keep in the classroom. They are pretty cool!
I like when I realize that God is even concerned about growing me in the small areas as well. It's not a hugely important thing, but I became able to enjoy a few more of God's creations. Most importantly for myself, I overcame a part of a fear. I still can't squash a big crunchy bug, but the creepy crawlies don't bother me quite as much as I used to. It was a big confidence thing for me! Wonder what fears I'll conquer next....
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Icky Things, Part One
I tell you, this is just the year that God is teaching me to be stretched in big ways and small ways. These past couple of weeks, I've been stretched in a small way within my classroom. (Okay, there is a LOT of stretching daily here at school; today I am focusing on one.) Those of you who know me well can attest that this is REALLY stretching for me - in a non-spiritual, non life-threatening sort of way. I have to set up the post about what God has taught me with a background post:
I hate icky things - bugs, mice, bugs, worms, bugs, etc. When we lived in our TX ghetto house, we had mice, waterbugs (basically giganormous cockroaches), and geckos (those cute little lizards are not so cute when they are in your bathtub at 6 am! We also had albino geckos which were really freaky). It was so gross! We would call the landlord to let her know and she would just say, that's how it is in TX. And, it was true in a sense as many of our friends had them. And, most of our friends were living in cheap housing because we were all going through seminary; cheap housing brings all kinds of critters I guess.
Anyway, Jason has had the honor of sending these blessed creations on to wherever dead animals go. I have often joked that I could not have remained single for that reason alone - disposing of unwanted creatures. I told Jason that's his divorce-free insurance - only joking!! He would bravely trap the mice (one night three ran out and we were going ballistic trying to catch them all), flush the geckos, and squash the waterbugs. I was helplessly fearful when it came to these feats.
I am especially grossed out by the squashing of a bug. It really isn't fear of the bug in and of itself. I know a giant cockroach is not going to bite me or something. It's the fear of going to step on it and it running up my leg or jumping on me. It's largely the dread of the crunch of the exoskeleton and the squishing of the guts all over the floor/my shoe... ICH! I cannot get over that aspect. I honestly just shivered thinking about it. And, there is always a little thought that runs through my head as to whether God would have us kill cockroaches. Aren't they his creations as well? Shouldn't we just release them? But, that's just a very small thought.
So, as you may or may not be wondering, there were many times when I would come across an animal friend when I was home by myself. Thankfully I never encountered a mouse or gecko on my own, but I often came across bugs. Incapable of squashing them myself but not wanting them roaming around in the house, I came up with a failproof solution. I "cupped" the bugs. This process simply involved putting a cup over the bug until Jason could come home and dispose of it. Sometimes it would be dead by the time he got home due to lack of oxygen. This system worked pretty well although Jason always found it amusing to come home and find an upside down cup in the middle of the floor. And, I always used the same cup as to not mix up drinking cups and bug cups. Washing them with bleach just somehow couldn't kill the ickiness in my mind.
One morning as I was getting ready, a HUGE waterbug/cockroach came crawling across the bathroom floor. I was absolutely terrified as it was the largest bug I had ever seen outside of a zoo or some other animal display. It was longer than my fingers. I was almost in a panic. But, having a system in place for these situations kept me calm, and I rushed to get my bug cup. However, I came back to "cup" the bug only to find that the bug was LONGER than the cup!!! Oh my goodness, what in the world was I going to do??? I raced to my kitchen to find something long enough to capture this monstrosity! The only thing I could find was a glass loaf pan - heavy enough that the bug couldn't throw it off or crawl under it and long enough to cover it. I raced back to the freak of nature and "cupped" (or should I say "loafed"?) it. Whew!
I continued to get ready keeping as far away as possible. I watched it with the same morbid interest that we watch the remainder of a car wreck. I just couldn't look away; I was horrified! After a few minutes though, something strange begin to happen. The glass loaf pan began to fog up. The bug was SO big that his breath fogged up an entire loaf pan!! I was absolutely freaked out!
Needless to say, Jason took care of this big bug. He still wouldn't let us break the lease and move out; we didn't have children at the time or I surely would have pulled that card. That is until we got broken into by the gang members next door, but that is a whole other story - they even stole our roast beef!
So, my bug warrior has always taken care of me; I'm so thankful for him. We haven't experienced infestations of anything lately - just small things here and there, but I am still insanely squeamish of all creepy-crawlies... We've even had fish tanks over the years that I like to enjoy, but can't stand picking out the dead ones, cleaning the tank, or anything of that nature. You can imagine that we don't keep fish that long.
So, imagine my surprise and horror when I discovered that the fourth grade class I was teaching would be getting animals to study! Animals that I would have to care for, feed, clean cages, etc for a period of several weeks... more on that tomorrow!
I tell you, this is just the year that God is teaching me to be stretched in big ways and small ways. These past couple of weeks, I've been stretched in a small way within my classroom. (Okay, there is a LOT of stretching daily here at school; today I am focusing on one.) Those of you who know me well can attest that this is REALLY stretching for me - in a non-spiritual, non life-threatening sort of way. I have to set up the post about what God has taught me with a background post:
I hate icky things - bugs, mice, bugs, worms, bugs, etc. When we lived in our TX ghetto house, we had mice, waterbugs (basically giganormous cockroaches), and geckos (those cute little lizards are not so cute when they are in your bathtub at 6 am! We also had albino geckos which were really freaky). It was so gross! We would call the landlord to let her know and she would just say, that's how it is in TX. And, it was true in a sense as many of our friends had them. And, most of our friends were living in cheap housing because we were all going through seminary; cheap housing brings all kinds of critters I guess.
Anyway, Jason has had the honor of sending these blessed creations on to wherever dead animals go. I have often joked that I could not have remained single for that reason alone - disposing of unwanted creatures. I told Jason that's his divorce-free insurance - only joking!! He would bravely trap the mice (one night three ran out and we were going ballistic trying to catch them all), flush the geckos, and squash the waterbugs. I was helplessly fearful when it came to these feats.
I am especially grossed out by the squashing of a bug. It really isn't fear of the bug in and of itself. I know a giant cockroach is not going to bite me or something. It's the fear of going to step on it and it running up my leg or jumping on me. It's largely the dread of the crunch of the exoskeleton and the squishing of the guts all over the floor/my shoe... ICH! I cannot get over that aspect. I honestly just shivered thinking about it. And, there is always a little thought that runs through my head as to whether God would have us kill cockroaches. Aren't they his creations as well? Shouldn't we just release them? But, that's just a very small thought.
So, as you may or may not be wondering, there were many times when I would come across an animal friend when I was home by myself. Thankfully I never encountered a mouse or gecko on my own, but I often came across bugs. Incapable of squashing them myself but not wanting them roaming around in the house, I came up with a failproof solution. I "cupped" the bugs. This process simply involved putting a cup over the bug until Jason could come home and dispose of it. Sometimes it would be dead by the time he got home due to lack of oxygen. This system worked pretty well although Jason always found it amusing to come home and find an upside down cup in the middle of the floor. And, I always used the same cup as to not mix up drinking cups and bug cups. Washing them with bleach just somehow couldn't kill the ickiness in my mind.
One morning as I was getting ready, a HUGE waterbug/cockroach came crawling across the bathroom floor. I was absolutely terrified as it was the largest bug I had ever seen outside of a zoo or some other animal display. It was longer than my fingers. I was almost in a panic. But, having a system in place for these situations kept me calm, and I rushed to get my bug cup. However, I came back to "cup" the bug only to find that the bug was LONGER than the cup!!! Oh my goodness, what in the world was I going to do??? I raced to my kitchen to find something long enough to capture this monstrosity! The only thing I could find was a glass loaf pan - heavy enough that the bug couldn't throw it off or crawl under it and long enough to cover it. I raced back to the freak of nature and "cupped" (or should I say "loafed"?) it. Whew!
I continued to get ready keeping as far away as possible. I watched it with the same morbid interest that we watch the remainder of a car wreck. I just couldn't look away; I was horrified! After a few minutes though, something strange begin to happen. The glass loaf pan began to fog up. The bug was SO big that his breath fogged up an entire loaf pan!! I was absolutely freaked out!
Needless to say, Jason took care of this big bug. He still wouldn't let us break the lease and move out; we didn't have children at the time or I surely would have pulled that card. That is until we got broken into by the gang members next door, but that is a whole other story - they even stole our roast beef!
So, my bug warrior has always taken care of me; I'm so thankful for him. We haven't experienced infestations of anything lately - just small things here and there, but I am still insanely squeamish of all creepy-crawlies... We've even had fish tanks over the years that I like to enjoy, but can't stand picking out the dead ones, cleaning the tank, or anything of that nature. You can imagine that we don't keep fish that long.
So, imagine my surprise and horror when I discovered that the fourth grade class I was teaching would be getting animals to study! Animals that I would have to care for, feed, clean cages, etc for a period of several weeks... more on that tomorrow!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Well, I made a California Roll today - nope, not a new recipe, not a dance move, and not a type of cigar. It's a traffic violation... yep, I rolled through a stop sign. I saw the cop turn around with his lights on and being the responsible citizen I am, I pulled over so that he could pass me and get those bad guys. And then he pulled over with me!!! I was like what the heck??? He said I ran the stop sign. I believed him, but it was a total shock to me. Luckily, I couldn't find my registration for a while and never did find my insurance card because this gave us time to shoot the breeze. He asked what I did, I said a teacher, he said he thought I was a teacher - just his intuition he said... okay. But anyway, he ended up I think getting tired of waiting for me to find my insurance, gave me the benefit of the doubt and let me off with a warning. This is in spite of my still IL driver's license as well which I told him we had just bought a new house - less than 30 days ago. He said that you now have TEN days to get your license changed. Seems to me that you'd have better things to do within ten days of moving here than to go wait four hours at the driver's license station... see my earlier post from 12/2... But, I got off with a warning. He was a very nice and respectful cop - not just because he let me off. He was really nice.
But, as I was driving home, I noticed I rolled through a stop sign! I caught myself afterwards and perhaps I do this more than I think. The cop acknowledged even he has done it, and it's an easy way to mess up. I told him I had made a mental stop, just not an actual car stop. He laughed and said, "Exactly." But, I am going to try and be more cautious of this!! :)
BTW... the cop called it a California Roll (I didn't ask why, just chuckled like I got the joke). Just wanted to clarify that wasn't a term I made up!! :)
But, as I was driving home, I noticed I rolled through a stop sign! I caught myself afterwards and perhaps I do this more than I think. The cop acknowledged even he has done it, and it's an easy way to mess up. I told him I had made a mental stop, just not an actual car stop. He laughed and said, "Exactly." But, I am going to try and be more cautious of this!! :)
BTW... the cop called it a California Roll (I didn't ask why, just chuckled like I got the joke). Just wanted to clarify that wasn't a term I made up!! :)
Monday, December 04, 2006
Immigration...
Okay, this is a huge issue for our country right now. Here's my two cents. No, I don't like that there are people here illegally. I certainly don't like my tax dollars going towards that. I enjoy talk radio some, and that's about all you'll hear in the afternoons on 99.7 is ranting about the Mexicans that don't speak English. I totally get the political problems and financial and even legal problems they pose. And, I do think ENGLISH should be our national language... BUT... I also have somewhat of a soft heart for a couple of reasons.
First of all, we lived in TX for four years. Two of those years I taught in an EXTREMELY low income school where many of my students were probably illegals or whose families were. They'd be gone to Mexico for a month during Christmas break. Most of their parents did not speak English at all, and we had to have translators for conferences. I really love the Hispanic culture. The parents are actually respectful of the role of the teacher and just want the best for their kids - unlike MANY American parents! They are a quiet, appreciative group. And great food....! I will say when we lived in the ghetto house and they had big parties every Saturday night it was a tad annoying, but I loved their culture. And, I loved those kids. They came from so little and worked very hard for everything they got. Most parents worked 2-3 jobs doing whatever they could to make ends meet. I just really respect them.
The other is what I've noticed recently. Being in an unfinished subdivision, there are about three houses right around us still under construction. Most of the men are Hispanics. I've noticed two things about them. 1) They are VERY hard workers... one day I watched them RUNNING huge bricko (?) blocks up and down hills, tossing them to the next person and building with them very quickly, nonstop for HOURS. They are hard, hard workers. And 2) We have put out several things in the trash (some Christmas decorations last week and a boxspring and mattress set today), and within minutes they were picked up by the workers.
I think that "Mexicans" are not really ruining our country. We are ruining our country. Most of us have become very lazy; honest work is no longer considered to be honorable. Americans want to be in charge and telling someone else to do the grunt work. Whole books are written about how to delgate! We've become afraid of hard work, and the Hispanics are simply grabbing the jobs that we refuse to take.
Also, we are spoiled. Who would be satisfied with a used mattress from someone's trash? (And being my sanitary germo-phobe self, I would be the first in line to say I'd rather sleep on the floor than someone else's old mattress!) Many Hispanics have recently come from poverty. Some of my kids in TX had houses in America with dirt floors! Like in DFW! And it was far better than their houses in Mexico. Mexico has deplorable living conditions which makes them so much more appreciative for anything they have, used or not! We, as a country, have to have the newest and best. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but it's gotten to the point of being spoiled in many instances.
America is deteriorating not because of who is coming in, but what we are allowing to happen as a society. We are becoming weaker because we are not sticking to the same beliefs and ethics that this country was built upon. Too many people are hating the Hispanics for taking advantages of opportunities. I know there is work to be done, and I do think something has to be done to make our borders stronger. But, who can blame them?
Okay, this is a huge issue for our country right now. Here's my two cents. No, I don't like that there are people here illegally. I certainly don't like my tax dollars going towards that. I enjoy talk radio some, and that's about all you'll hear in the afternoons on 99.7 is ranting about the Mexicans that don't speak English. I totally get the political problems and financial and even legal problems they pose. And, I do think ENGLISH should be our national language... BUT... I also have somewhat of a soft heart for a couple of reasons.
First of all, we lived in TX for four years. Two of those years I taught in an EXTREMELY low income school where many of my students were probably illegals or whose families were. They'd be gone to Mexico for a month during Christmas break. Most of their parents did not speak English at all, and we had to have translators for conferences. I really love the Hispanic culture. The parents are actually respectful of the role of the teacher and just want the best for their kids - unlike MANY American parents! They are a quiet, appreciative group. And great food....! I will say when we lived in the ghetto house and they had big parties every Saturday night it was a tad annoying, but I loved their culture. And, I loved those kids. They came from so little and worked very hard for everything they got. Most parents worked 2-3 jobs doing whatever they could to make ends meet. I just really respect them.
The other is what I've noticed recently. Being in an unfinished subdivision, there are about three houses right around us still under construction. Most of the men are Hispanics. I've noticed two things about them. 1) They are VERY hard workers... one day I watched them RUNNING huge bricko (?) blocks up and down hills, tossing them to the next person and building with them very quickly, nonstop for HOURS. They are hard, hard workers. And 2) We have put out several things in the trash (some Christmas decorations last week and a boxspring and mattress set today), and within minutes they were picked up by the workers.
I think that "Mexicans" are not really ruining our country. We are ruining our country. Most of us have become very lazy; honest work is no longer considered to be honorable. Americans want to be in charge and telling someone else to do the grunt work. Whole books are written about how to delgate! We've become afraid of hard work, and the Hispanics are simply grabbing the jobs that we refuse to take.
Also, we are spoiled. Who would be satisfied with a used mattress from someone's trash? (And being my sanitary germo-phobe self, I would be the first in line to say I'd rather sleep on the floor than someone else's old mattress!) Many Hispanics have recently come from poverty. Some of my kids in TX had houses in America with dirt floors! Like in DFW! And it was far better than their houses in Mexico. Mexico has deplorable living conditions which makes them so much more appreciative for anything they have, used or not! We, as a country, have to have the newest and best. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but it's gotten to the point of being spoiled in many instances.
America is deteriorating not because of who is coming in, but what we are allowing to happen as a society. We are becoming weaker because we are not sticking to the same beliefs and ethics that this country was built upon. Too many people are hating the Hispanics for taking advantages of opportunities. I know there is work to be done, and I do think something has to be done to make our borders stronger. But, who can blame them?
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Have you ever come in to put on your contacts in the morning only to find that one of your contacts is not in the case? You look around and find it in some random place on the sink or the vanity... you think you got it on your finger and into the case, but you didn't. It's all wrinkled and dry... For years this has happened to me, and I've always tossed them in the trash. If this is you, I come bringing good news and joyful tidings..... :)
You can stick the contact back in the solution, leave it for the day and TA DA!!! it's as good as new! This has happened TWICE in the last couple of weeks with me - to the same contact! Each time I just stick it in solution, and it's as good as new! It's a whole new world! :)
You can stick the contact back in the solution, leave it for the day and TA DA!!! it's as good as new! This has happened TWICE in the last couple of weeks with me - to the same contact! Each time I just stick it in solution, and it's as good as new! It's a whole new world! :)
Saturday, December 02, 2006
I heard that they are now passing a law that older drivers (and older is defined as someone over 55!!) will now have to attend a two day (six hour total) driving course whenever they get a ticket to try and curb older people on the road that shouldn't be due to lowered mental capabilities. First, isn't 55 a little young for that???? Second, discrimination! Regular drivers have to go to a two hour class. This is in Nashville BTW. This was being debated on 99.7. Someone brought up that people should have to retest once they reach a certain age. I agree! I think maybe starting at age 60, people should have to retest every five years and/or whenever they get a ticket or a violation of some sorts. But, here is the reason why I think that will NEVER happen. I went to go get my new TN driver's license a few months back and there was a FOUR hour wait!!! And, I hear it's ALWAYS like that!! So, who has time for that? Much less adding required retestings for everyone over the age of 55?? It will never happen (my opinion)! Instead, they make everyone go to classes. I think this is a lame law....
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