Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Couldn't resist...

PLEASE understand.  I am NOT a birther, I think that President Obama IS a US citizen and therefore a legitimate president.  I think that he deserves the respect due his office.  However I do enjoy the humor of the letter a friend posted on her facebook account.

Dear President Obama,
I am writing today with a somewhat unusual request. First and foremost, I will be asking that you return the United States to its August 20th, 1959 borders so that Hawaii is no longer a state and you are no longer a citizen.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
 
I think that while this is truly ludicrous, if serious, I think it is equally as ludicrous to expect Isreal to return to it's pre-1967 borders.  While Hawaii is a nice state, it would not drastically affect our national security to give it back.  Returning to pre 1967 borders would drastically affect Isreal's security!!!

Friday, May 27, 2011

A day off--or maybe not

Wal-mart trip complete.  Plants were crazy expensive, so I bought seeds.  I'm going to make my flower boxes out front work this year and I'm planting vegetables in there also.  I saw a sign for plants at a little house and stopped, I was able to buy healthier plants for about 1/2 the price!!!  Garden weeded (REALLY hate dandelions and hope my neighbor mows soon to cut down the ones all over his yard so they don't end up in mine!!!) and planted--We have tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, squash, lettuce, radishes, cantaloupe and cucumbers planted.  Will be interesting to see what actually comes up!!!  :)  It is a great feeling to have accomplished so much today.  I only have a couple more food prep things for the trip and then need to pack.  I must say it has been fun, the kids were helpful most of the day.  Think I may go to bed early!!!

A day off!

Today I get a day off!!  We have been pretty productive--we did the grocery shopping, fixed 2 loaves of banana bread, 2 pans of granola bars, tuna pasta salad, potato salad and jello.  We also got the house cleaned and the piano tuned.  We are currently taking a break, will go to Wal-mart to get our garden plant and the rest of the stuff I need for camping.  Out to the garden this afternoon.  :)

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Think On These Things Thursday


Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Frustration
Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I seem to be frustrated with circustances out of my control frequently--whether it is work, home, or just people.  I often find myself wishing I had more time, wishing those around me were a bit more....well perfect.  :)  This often leads to a frustration. 

When I get frustrated, I need to realize that I am taking on the difficulties of life instead of leaving them with the Lord.  He has promised us rest in Matthew 11:28-30 if we will come to Him--not once, but twice!!!  We have to come to Him, though and give our burdens to Him!  Also, praying for the person or situation is a great way to give your burden to the Lord and helps to decrease frustrations with others.  I also often ask God to help me to remember to give the burden back to Him if I take it back from Him!!!  We can also ask Him for wisdom or to change our hearts or another's heart.  I also need to remember that the world is in His hands, not mine, so it is not my responsibility to solve the world's problems!  (Thankfully!!!)  Really, none of us would want the responsibility of the world in our hands so why do we walk around with the weight of the world's problem weighing us down?  Pretty silly when you think about it.  Kind of like the child struggling with the bag of potatoes who insists on carrying it, even when a parent offers and ultimately ends us falling or dropping the potatoes!

I also need to remember that frustration is really a sin because I am not leaving things to the Lord.  I also tend to be short tempered and complain when I am frustrated.  Also, it is not worth the guilt to be short tempered!

Remeber, if we have given our burdens to Him your burden will be light, not heavy. Heavy means you have not given them to Him because His burden is light!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Israel





Psalm 122:6-9
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.   Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.  For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.  Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

Isreal is in the news again.  Having visited Israel, I have seen first hand the foolishness returning to pre-1967 borders would be.  We visited a kibbutz in Galilee and one of the ladies told us about how they had to farm with armor plated tractors because the Syrians were constantly shooting at them and we walked through a bomb shelter and passed many more on the kibbutz, they frequently had to use them also.  We really cannot imagine what this kind of life would be.  They were simply going about their everyday business, but being shot at!  You see, the Golan Heights are large hills and the Israelis were living in the valley, at a huge tactical disadvantage.  Can you imagine with the advanced weaponry available now, they type of damage they would be able to inflict?

It seems that most people forget that Israel was attacked without provocation and in my opinion, won the land they now claim more than fairly.  They thing that was so sad to me when we were visiting is that many Israelis would willingly give the land back for peace.  They are tired of living in a state of unrest/war.  They are tired of seeing their sons and daughters serve in the military.  Everyone, male and female serve in the Israeli army when they turn 18.  They are tired of never being able to let their guard down.  There are metal detectors for you to go through in many public places, including the mall.

The big problem, though is that really only one side wants peace.  The terrorists really don't want peace and because they are terrorists, who do you negotiate with????????  The only thing that will "bring peace" in the terrorist eyes is the annihilation of Israel.  No land swaps will bring peace because that will mean Israel still exists.   Gaza is a prime example of the "peace" Israel will get for any land they give up.  They will simply have an enemy closer to their door.  An enemy I might add that is willing to blow up school buses and innocent people!!!!

Please pray for the peace of Israel and for wisdom for our leaders!!!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Gardening

I admit I am a fair weather gardener.  I don't enjoy gardening in the cold or rain, so I just got out and started weeding tonight.  Unfortunately, the weeds appear to adore poor weather and got quite the head start.  I must say, though that they still aren't any match for my pitch fork.  Another discovery was that my garden gloves have seen better days!!  I decided to be a grown up and wear them, only to discover that my fingers were poking through the ends and my nails were caked with dirt!!!  The good news is they came clean--almost.  Hope nobody notices at our Leadership conference tomorrow for work.

Speaking of gardens, we were driving and I saw some purple tulips that I admit I was envious of.  Look what I found in my yard.



 I had COMPLETELY forgotten that I had planted tulips that I got on sale last year!!!  I hadn't been to that part of my yard lately to see them!  It was like Christmas.  I was so excited.  The kids thought I was rather silly for forgetting I had planted them. I'm kind of glad I did, it made the surprise so much fun!!!

HMMMM... I wonder if envying the corvette down the street would work the same....

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Rummage Saling

So, I've been a little date challenged this month and I gave our kid watcher the day off yesterday, thinking it was next week when I am taking to day off.  Mike and I halved the day, he went to work in the morning, and I in the afternoon.  This gave the kids and I a chance to go to a friend's rummage sale.  I found several kitchen items, including tupperware canisters and a couple of Christmas gifts. 

Today, the kids and I hit the jackpot!!!  We went to a Friends of Animals (not sure why but I always giggle at that name and kind of makes me want to open a Butcher shop across the street named Enemies of Animals...) rummage sale.  We got for $5--Me--2 pair of brand new shoes and two sweaters, Z--Spill the Beans, shirt and a movie, E--Nancy Drew Book and a pair of shoes, K--shirt and Junior Apples to Apples.  Not bad for $5!!!!!!!!!!!!!  --As E just reminded me, we did throw in an extra quarter--it was really on $4.75.  :)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Think on These Things Thursday

Philippians 4:8



Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Salt
Matthew 5:13--Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

We often take salt for granted.  It's cheap and always available.  We really don't think about how useful it is.  We use it all the time without realizing how important it is.  It helps to flavor foods and we really don't think about what food would taste like without it.  We also don't often think about how many foods it is protecting from spoiling.  It is also important in baking.  In the north, it helps to thaw ice!!!

Christians are also the salt of the earth.  Yet we don't realize how important we are in preserving/keeping the world as a decent place to live.  Can you imagine what the world would be like without a Christian presence.  We may not realize the difference we make when around others.   If we have a good testimony, just our presence can help to keep the bad joke from being told, the expletive from flying, etc.  Maybe we help to thaw an ice cold heart!  We can also make the world a better place by the example we lead and the kindness we show to others.  We need to make sure we are salt whereever we are!  If the salt loses it's savor, it is good for nothing!!!


Saturday, May 7, 2011

Old Stomping Grounds

The kids and I traveled back to IL yesterday. I have to admit that 72 and sunny yesterday was quite blissful. We stopped at a rest area in northern IL and took some time to soak up some rays. Today I did some shopping and really enjoyed getting back into the van and the van was hot!!! I realize I would get tired of this but it was nice for today. Tonight we drove through the country and past where I grew up. It was fun but also a little sad to see all the changes and "missing" houses or houses/barns that are in disrepair. I know that everything changes, but just miss the "comfort" of old memories matching the present.

We went to dinner at DiCarlos which is a wonderful pizza place. Best pizza ever! We started going there when I was a little girl and the owner's little girl would come eat pizza with us. The owner remembered us also. Too bad my sis couldn't be here!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

First Flowers of Spring

Z and K brought these in for me today.  Aren't they fun and adorable!!!

Mom Moment

Soooooo.  I took Z, T, and K to get their hair cut.  After we get there, I realize that Z has a huge hole in the front of his pants, he turns around and I realize he has a HUGE "L" shaped rip in the seat of his pants showing off his scooby undies!!!  THEN I look down and see that he has mismatched socks and lavendar crocks on!  HOW did he get out of the house without me noticing????????????  I'm quite sure that before I became a mom, I never would have been very understanding of someone who told me this could happen.  I admit that even as a mom I don't understand how this happens!!!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Osama's Death

I'm still not quite sure how I feel about his death.  I realize that it is a huge political and military victory and that I am grateful for.  I am also glad our military personnel won't be endangering their lives looking for him any more.  I am also extremely grateful that this seems to have been handled very intelligently by our officials.  I would love to be able to agree with a rather naive journalist who stated that this ends the war on terror.  I suppose the war on terror will need a new "face."  However, I don't really think the war on terror will ever end this side of Heaven.  My hubby thinks this is a huge psychological victory, I feel that it will only incite more anger and retaliation against the US. 

There is also a part of me that really can't be happy about anyone's death, particularly someone so obviously deceived throughout his life and someone so godless.  I can't imagine what it must have been for him to wake up in Hell.  How surprised he must have been after living his whole life thinking he was earning his way to the Seventh Heaven. 

Even sadder is the thought of how many more young Muslims will be manipulated into joining radical groups due to his death. 

I guess after putting this in writing, I really just feel sadness for all those who have been deceived by any religion.  I am relieved that this man hunt has been put to rest and people will not be risking their lives searching for him.  Just wish this really ended the war on terror and that no more lives on either side would be lost.