This evening on the radio I heard that 7 out of 9 Christians have never shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with anyone.
Not a friend, coworker, neighbor, or family member -- let alone a stranger.
So what holds back the majority of believers from telling others about their Savior? Why are we so quick to talk about our job, our latest vacation, our aches and pains, but so reluctant to talk about the Son of God who came to pay the penalty for our sins so he could present us as acceptable before a perfect and Holy God?
If we truly believe that we have the Good News that brings light and life -- eternal light and eternal life -- how can we withhold that lifesaving news from anyone who is in peril of death and eternal damnation?
I know there have been many times when I had the opportunity to share my faith, but I hesitated and the moment was lost. Other times I can recall feeling either comfortable enough (not feeling comfortable is never an excuse to stay silent about Jesus) or bold enough to give an answer for the confidence and hope that I have in Christ Jesus.
When I consider that staggering statistic, 7 out of 9, I hope that I will be able to be counted as one of the two believers who shared the Gospel with those who needed to hear it, rather than one of the seven who remained silent, for whatever reason.
Hell is real and God is Holy. He cannot tolerate anything less than holiness; even the tiniest bit of sin is detestable in His sight. Only men and women who have been washed clean of sin by the sacrificial blood of Jesus will be able to enter into the eternal presence of the sovereign and righteous God of the Universe.
It's time to speak up and not keep silent -- the life, the eternal soul of millions of people and also quite possibly of someone you know and love is at stake.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
I don't think she gets it
Tonight M and I had "the talk."
No, not that talk. The one about money and credit cards and fiscal responsibility.
Foolishly I thought she knew a lot of this stuff already. I mean, she took Econ in high school -- don't they cover credit and APR and finance charges? I seem to remember that she did a unit where she had to choose a job, figure out how much money she would make, and then budget so she could afford housing, a car payment, food, and other necessities, along with a few treats. She got a B in the class, so I assumed she understood the general concept of earning, spending, saving and most importantly, living within one's means.
WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Sooo wrong.
M's credit card bill is due on the 1st. This month the new balance she owes is over $600. Unfortunately the amount of money in her checking account is just a little more than $300. She also has a second bank account, but that combined balance in checking and savings is less than $50. Clearly she does not have enough money to pay her balance in full.
So, what should she do? What should I do?
M worked over Christmas break and she earned a decent amount of money, some of which is still due her. But basically she spent every penny she earned. She paid cash for some of her purchases and indulgences, but mostly she used her charge card. Now that the bill needs to be paid, her earnings are gone and the opportunity to earn more money is several months away.
I explained what most people have to do when their credit card balance exceeds their ability to pay it in full. She didn't say much, but I think she understood how finance charges would increase the amount of money she owed, even if she never used her card for another purchase. However, I don't think she had a clue how quickly her balance due would grow if she delayed paying it off.
What bothered me the most was M's assumption that her father and I would just pay what she couldn't. She assured me she would eventually pay me back, but I have to admit that I won't be holding my breath over that "promise." Several times this summer she wanted to buy something but she didn't have her wallet with her. She asked me to pay for the item(s) with the promise that she would pay me back. I have never seen any of the money that she owes me, and she has never acknowledged that she still owes me close to $200.
So tonight, against my better judgment, I did agree to pay the more than $300 that M owes this month on her Chase card. I told her that I would keep track of how much money she owed, and I stressed that her father and I would expect her to pay us back when she is working again.
I hope M does pay us back, but more than anything, I hope she learns to reign in her impulse spending and budget her money wisely. Even if the day comes when M has an ample amount of money, it would be nice if she was able to be responsible enough to live within her means.
No, not that talk. The one about money and credit cards and fiscal responsibility.
Foolishly I thought she knew a lot of this stuff already. I mean, she took Econ in high school -- don't they cover credit and APR and finance charges? I seem to remember that she did a unit where she had to choose a job, figure out how much money she would make, and then budget so she could afford housing, a car payment, food, and other necessities, along with a few treats. She got a B in the class, so I assumed she understood the general concept of earning, spending, saving and most importantly, living within one's means.
WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Sooo wrong.
M's credit card bill is due on the 1st. This month the new balance she owes is over $600. Unfortunately the amount of money in her checking account is just a little more than $300. She also has a second bank account, but that combined balance in checking and savings is less than $50. Clearly she does not have enough money to pay her balance in full.
So, what should she do? What should I do?
M worked over Christmas break and she earned a decent amount of money, some of which is still due her. But basically she spent every penny she earned. She paid cash for some of her purchases and indulgences, but mostly she used her charge card. Now that the bill needs to be paid, her earnings are gone and the opportunity to earn more money is several months away.
I explained what most people have to do when their credit card balance exceeds their ability to pay it in full. She didn't say much, but I think she understood how finance charges would increase the amount of money she owed, even if she never used her card for another purchase. However, I don't think she had a clue how quickly her balance due would grow if she delayed paying it off.
What bothered me the most was M's assumption that her father and I would just pay what she couldn't. She assured me she would eventually pay me back, but I have to admit that I won't be holding my breath over that "promise." Several times this summer she wanted to buy something but she didn't have her wallet with her. She asked me to pay for the item(s) with the promise that she would pay me back. I have never seen any of the money that she owes me, and she has never acknowledged that she still owes me close to $200.
So tonight, against my better judgment, I did agree to pay the more than $300 that M owes this month on her Chase card. I told her that I would keep track of how much money she owed, and I stressed that her father and I would expect her to pay us back when she is working again.
I hope M does pay us back, but more than anything, I hope she learns to reign in her impulse spending and budget her money wisely. Even if the day comes when M has an ample amount of money, it would be nice if she was able to be responsible enough to live within her means.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Amazing!
The Australian Open. A classic match-up: the two-time defending champion and world #1, Novak Djokovic vs. the reigning Roland Garros champion and world #2, Rafael Nadal.
I would have liked to have watched this match, but the time difference between my home and Melbourne is 17 hours, and I wasn't able to stay up all night. In light of the events, it's probably a good thing I decided to take a pass because this tennis match lasted 5 sets over the course of 5 hours and 53 minutes, ending at 1:31 a.m. local time.
That's right -- 5:53. Even my husband can run a marathon in less time than that. When all was said and done, Novak and Rafa might have preferred to have run a marathon because they probably would have been finished hours earlier. As it was, they set a record for the longest match ever at Melbourne Park and the longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era. I doubt if there will be many players who will be willing to sign up for the chance to break either of those records.
As luck would have it, I was able to catch the last two sets of the match this evening on an ESPN rebroadcast under their category of Instant Classic. This match certainly earned and deserves that title. It was a classic, a tight, well-fought battle between two very worthy competitors, and up to the very last point, it could have gone either way.
So Congratulations Novak -- three-time Australian Open Champion and overall five-time Grand Slam Champion. Well done!
I would have liked to have watched this match, but the time difference between my home and Melbourne is 17 hours, and I wasn't able to stay up all night. In light of the events, it's probably a good thing I decided to take a pass because this tennis match lasted 5 sets over the course of 5 hours and 53 minutes, ending at 1:31 a.m. local time.
That's right -- 5:53. Even my husband can run a marathon in less time than that. When all was said and done, Novak and Rafa might have preferred to have run a marathon because they probably would have been finished hours earlier. As it was, they set a record for the longest match ever at Melbourne Park and the longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era. I doubt if there will be many players who will be willing to sign up for the chance to break either of those records.
As luck would have it, I was able to catch the last two sets of the match this evening on an ESPN rebroadcast under their category of Instant Classic. This match certainly earned and deserves that title. It was a classic, a tight, well-fought battle between two very worthy competitors, and up to the very last point, it could have gone either way.
So Congratulations Novak -- three-time Australian Open Champion and overall five-time Grand Slam Champion. Well done!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Saturday
The past two Saturdays I have attended an event with women from my small group. Last Saturday was a potluck lunch and today was a baby shower (see yesterday's post). Both were fun, but both also required me to be way more social than usual.
At the shower, the fun activity (the hostesses avoided using the word "game") involved advising the mom-to-be on important decisions. The questions we answered, along with my answers, are as follows:
1. What should E name the baby if it's a girl? Therese, nickname Tessa
2. What should E name the baby if it's a boy? Elijah (I had no idea that her father's name is Elisha!)
3. What should E do during labor to relax? Listen to music she likes.
4. What should the baby be for it's first Halloween? Jelly Belly jelly bean
5. What activity should E do to lose her baby weight? Swim and walk
6. What activity should E and her husband encourage the baby to do as it grows older? Play a musical instrument.
This was actually a fun game and it was interesting to hear other guests' responses, especially the names they chose. I'm pretty sure that E and her husband have already selected a girl and boy name, but they aren't sharing their choices with family and friends. They also have decided to wait until the baby is born to find out if they are welcoming a daughter or a son.
E's older sister is in our small group, so I know her, but it was nice to meet her younger sister and also her mother. I was able to chat with E's mom and she was delightful! She shared with everyone that when she had her first daughter (almost 30 years ago in a former communist country), the women in her family and her church advised her to take her time recuperating after the birth. Mrs. R is an avid cross-stitcher and one woman even told her that cross-stitching would be too strenuous after labor and delivery. This woman actually said that if she continued to cross-stitch, there was a possibility that her breast milk could dry up! I guess washing diapers and all the other baby care and household chores that need to be done, and won't get done if you don't do them (barring the presence of a mother/mother-in-law/fairy godmother), don't have an impact on milk production.
In addition to the game, we also enjoyed appetizers and desserts -- yummy chocolate-covered strawberries -- as we watched E open up lots of beautiful and thoughtful gifts. It was nice to be part of Baby H's pre-birth festivities. If all goes as planned, he/she will make his/her debut in exactly one month!
At the shower, the fun activity (the hostesses avoided using the word "game") involved advising the mom-to-be on important decisions. The questions we answered, along with my answers, are as follows:
1. What should E name the baby if it's a girl? Therese, nickname Tessa
2. What should E name the baby if it's a boy? Elijah (I had no idea that her father's name is Elisha!)
3. What should E do during labor to relax? Listen to music she likes.
4. What should the baby be for it's first Halloween? Jelly Belly jelly bean
5. What activity should E do to lose her baby weight? Swim and walk
6. What activity should E and her husband encourage the baby to do as it grows older? Play a musical instrument.
This was actually a fun game and it was interesting to hear other guests' responses, especially the names they chose. I'm pretty sure that E and her husband have already selected a girl and boy name, but they aren't sharing their choices with family and friends. They also have decided to wait until the baby is born to find out if they are welcoming a daughter or a son.
E's older sister is in our small group, so I know her, but it was nice to meet her younger sister and also her mother. I was able to chat with E's mom and she was delightful! She shared with everyone that when she had her first daughter (almost 30 years ago in a former communist country), the women in her family and her church advised her to take her time recuperating after the birth. Mrs. R is an avid cross-stitcher and one woman even told her that cross-stitching would be too strenuous after labor and delivery. This woman actually said that if she continued to cross-stitch, there was a possibility that her breast milk could dry up! I guess washing diapers and all the other baby care and household chores that need to be done, and won't get done if you don't do them (barring the presence of a mother/mother-in-law/fairy godmother), don't have an impact on milk production.
In addition to the game, we also enjoyed appetizers and desserts -- yummy chocolate-covered strawberries -- as we watched E open up lots of beautiful and thoughtful gifts. It was nice to be part of Baby H's pre-birth festivities. If all goes as planned, he/she will make his/her debut in exactly one month!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Oh, baby!
I have to go to a baby shower tomorrow. Naturally, tonight at 9:15 I headed out to Target to by the baby gift.
The mom-to-be didn't register at Target, but the nearest Babies 'R Us (where she did register) is close to forty-five minutes from my house. I figured I could surely find something that would be acceptable at my favorite store -- a store that is also ten minutes from my house.
First I looked at infant clothing. I remember being grateful for all the onesies and sleepers I received as gifts when my kids were born . . . in the last century. Things couldn't have changed that much, could they?
Well, apparently they have. I found lots of onesies and lots of sleepers, but what I didn't find were appropriately neutral onesies and sleepers for parents who have elected to wait until their child's birth to find out if baby is a girl or a boy. All of the clothing I looked at was distinctively pink or blue.
What happened to the pastel yellows and greens? I couldn't even find anything in a boring unisex beige. Ideally I would have loved something with bright primary colors that would cheer up even the most colicky infant or sleep-deprived parent. No luck. : /
With clothes out of the question, I looked at blankets and "lovies." Great idea, but same dilemma -- with the exception of one blanket that was mostly white, everything was pink or blue, butterflies and kittens or race cars and lions. Seriously, does everyone know the baby's sex in advance or do people just wait until after the baby is born to decide on nursery decor?
At this point I was beginning to regret my resolve to save gas and mileage by shopping close to home. I wandered up and down the baby aisles, hoping for inspiration, when I spied the toys, rattles, and teethers. Yay! Every baby needs toys!
I found several soft toys that seemed as if they would be fun -- colorful and stimulating. Most of the toys featured different textures and intriguing sounds. I felt like I was picking out a cat toy for Penny! Crinkle, jingle, shake-shake-shake. These were toys that would capture a baby's attention and keep her entertained.
What captured my attention was the fact that every single toy I looked at was Made In China. : (( I really wanted to buy something that was American Made. How hard was that? On this night, at this store . . . impossible. Rats.
To make matters worse, none of the toys were machine washable. I may be old, but my memory isn't totally gone. I remembered my kids' much-loved toys; they were sneezed, coughed, and spit up on with regularity. And on a regular basis, I tossed them in the washing machine and washed the snot, germs, and food away. These 21st century toys bore tags that warned against immersing them in water. That ruled out any sort of sanitizing beyond spot cleaning. Yuck. Additionally I didn't see any assurance that the plastic components on the toys were BPA free. And the more I thought of it, Made In China seemed like it was probably code for "most likely contains lead." Arrrrrgh!
Majorly frustrated and running out of time, I had just about decided to settle for a Fisher-Price monkey with a curly tail and a cute as a button nose that played a song and jungle noises when you pushed it, until it hit me . . . BOOKS! I would give the baby books. What. A. Great. Idea!!!
By now it was half an hour until closing time. I was going to have to choose some books with no dilly-dallying, no agonizing. Fortunately Target has a nice selection of children's books and especially baby/toddler board books. In a few minutes I picked out three board books that I think will please both mom and baby.
Why didn't I think of books first?
The mom-to-be didn't register at Target, but the nearest Babies 'R Us (where she did register) is close to forty-five minutes from my house. I figured I could surely find something that would be acceptable at my favorite store -- a store that is also ten minutes from my house.
First I looked at infant clothing. I remember being grateful for all the onesies and sleepers I received as gifts when my kids were born . . . in the last century. Things couldn't have changed that much, could they?
Well, apparently they have. I found lots of onesies and lots of sleepers, but what I didn't find were appropriately neutral onesies and sleepers for parents who have elected to wait until their child's birth to find out if baby is a girl or a boy. All of the clothing I looked at was distinctively pink or blue.
What happened to the pastel yellows and greens? I couldn't even find anything in a boring unisex beige. Ideally I would have loved something with bright primary colors that would cheer up even the most colicky infant or sleep-deprived parent. No luck. : /
With clothes out of the question, I looked at blankets and "lovies." Great idea, but same dilemma -- with the exception of one blanket that was mostly white, everything was pink or blue, butterflies and kittens or race cars and lions. Seriously, does everyone know the baby's sex in advance or do people just wait until after the baby is born to decide on nursery decor?
At this point I was beginning to regret my resolve to save gas and mileage by shopping close to home. I wandered up and down the baby aisles, hoping for inspiration, when I spied the toys, rattles, and teethers. Yay! Every baby needs toys!
I found several soft toys that seemed as if they would be fun -- colorful and stimulating. Most of the toys featured different textures and intriguing sounds. I felt like I was picking out a cat toy for Penny! Crinkle, jingle, shake-shake-shake. These were toys that would capture a baby's attention and keep her entertained.
What captured my attention was the fact that every single toy I looked at was Made In China. : (( I really wanted to buy something that was American Made. How hard was that? On this night, at this store . . . impossible. Rats.
To make matters worse, none of the toys were machine washable. I may be old, but my memory isn't totally gone. I remembered my kids' much-loved toys; they were sneezed, coughed, and spit up on with regularity. And on a regular basis, I tossed them in the washing machine and washed the snot, germs, and food away. These 21st century toys bore tags that warned against immersing them in water. That ruled out any sort of sanitizing beyond spot cleaning. Yuck. Additionally I didn't see any assurance that the plastic components on the toys were BPA free. And the more I thought of it, Made In China seemed like it was probably code for "most likely contains lead." Arrrrrgh!
Majorly frustrated and running out of time, I had just about decided to settle for a Fisher-Price monkey with a curly tail and a cute as a button nose that played a song and jungle noises when you pushed it, until it hit me . . . BOOKS! I would give the baby books. What. A. Great. Idea!!!
By now it was half an hour until closing time. I was going to have to choose some books with no dilly-dallying, no agonizing. Fortunately Target has a nice selection of children's books and especially baby/toddler board books. In a few minutes I picked out three board books that I think will please both mom and baby.
Why didn't I think of books first?
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thankful Thursday
Tomorrow N interviews at UChicago Medical Center for an internship position. Tonight he's spending the night at K's apartment and in the morning he and K's roommate, B, will head down to Hyde Park. B will go to work and N will interview, gather information, and get a glimpse of what life as a UChicago Med Center intern might be like for him. This is his first interview with a medical center, so it will be a somewhat different experience for him from his previous interviews with VA facilities.
Even though we just saw N a few weeks ago when we took M back to Purdue, it was nice to see him again tonight at dinner with K. G and I drove into the city and we all enjoyed a nice meal at Birchwood Kitchen, just a two block walk from K's apartment. It was good to be able to relax, eat some delicious sandwiches, and listen to N talk about the interview process and the possibilities he and E have for his internship year.
I'm thankful that G and I were able to spend the evening with N (and K too). We love our kids and would love to spend more time with them, so we are grateful for the family time we had tonight! : )
Even though we just saw N a few weeks ago when we took M back to Purdue, it was nice to see him again tonight at dinner with K. G and I drove into the city and we all enjoyed a nice meal at Birchwood Kitchen, just a two block walk from K's apartment. It was good to be able to relax, eat some delicious sandwiches, and listen to N talk about the interview process and the possibilities he and E have for his internship year.
I'm thankful that G and I were able to spend the evening with N (and K too). We love our kids and would love to spend more time with them, so we are grateful for the family time we had tonight! : )
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Ready to be finished
There are some advantages to growing older. At least that's what older people have told me and I believe them. I want to believe them.
One milestone I am actually looking forward to is the end of my reproductive lifespan. Unfortunately at age 53 and a half, I am still looking forward to the end of that no longer necessary physical function. I would like to think that I am really, really close, but my optimism and patience are wearing thin.
I know lots of women who kissed Kotex good-bye when they were much younger than I am now -- some a bit prematurely due to issues that necessitated surgery, but others just because it was their time. Admittedly genetics has a lot to do with how young or old a woman is when she experiences the transition from perimenopause to full-blown menopause. I'm pretty sure my mom wasn't still messing around with tampons and sanitary pads at my age. I'll have to try to remember to ask her.
As for me, I'm more than ready to be finished. : /
One milestone I am actually looking forward to is the end of my reproductive lifespan. Unfortunately at age 53 and a half, I am still looking forward to the end of that no longer necessary physical function. I would like to think that I am really, really close, but my optimism and patience are wearing thin.
I know lots of women who kissed Kotex good-bye when they were much younger than I am now -- some a bit prematurely due to issues that necessitated surgery, but others just because it was their time. Admittedly genetics has a lot to do with how young or old a woman is when she experiences the transition from perimenopause to full-blown menopause. I'm pretty sure my mom wasn't still messing around with tampons and sanitary pads at my age. I'll have to try to remember to ask her.
As for me, I'm more than ready to be finished. : /
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
G'day mate!
When greeting someone, most people say "Hi" or "Hello."
But "G'day mate" is what M will be saying in a few months. She found out today that she was accepted to Purdue's Sydney Internship Program and in May she will leave for seven weeks of study, an internship in occupational therapy, and fun in the Land Down Under! What a lucky girl!
When I was in high school, I was a foreign exchange student the summer between junior and senior year. Before I knew where AFS would send me, I dreamed that I went to Spain. But I really hoped that I would be chosen to go to Australia. In the end I went to Italy and it was great. Still, a little part of me would really have liked to have traveled to the land of kangaroos and koala bears.
Now M has that incredible opportunity. She will be the first person in our large, extended family to see the Sydney Opera House and the graceful Sydney Harbour Bridge. Who knows what adventures she will experience while she also gains practical therapy skills and insight into a different culture!
But "G'day mate" is what M will be saying in a few months. She found out today that she was accepted to Purdue's Sydney Internship Program and in May she will leave for seven weeks of study, an internship in occupational therapy, and fun in the Land Down Under! What a lucky girl!
When I was in high school, I was a foreign exchange student the summer between junior and senior year. Before I knew where AFS would send me, I dreamed that I went to Spain. But I really hoped that I would be chosen to go to Australia. In the end I went to Italy and it was great. Still, a little part of me would really have liked to have traveled to the land of kangaroos and koala bears.
Now M has that incredible opportunity. She will be the first person in our large, extended family to see the Sydney Opera House and the graceful Sydney Harbour Bridge. Who knows what adventures she will experience while she also gains practical therapy skills and insight into a different culture!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Happy New Year!
Wait, didn't we do this already this year?
Yes, but today is Chinese New Year.
So Happy 4710 (or 4709 or 4649 depending on which scholar you follow). What's not under dispute is this is the Year of the Dragon.
Unlike boring New Year for most of the rest of us, Chinese New Year celebrations last for fifteen days(!) and each day has special significance. The first day is set apart to honor one's elders and everyone visits the oldest members of their extended families. Some Chinese workers travel great distances to find employment, but everyone journeys home for Chinese New Year and family is an important part of the holiday.
Tonight for dinner I had a Lean Cuisine dinner -- potsticker dumplings with rice, vegetables, and spicy sauce. I didn't realize that I was eating a food that is considered good luck and typically eaten during the New Year festivities. The shape of the dumplings resembles ancient gold ingots, thus they symbolize wealth. I'm not above hoping for a little bit of unexpected wealth. : )
Other "lucky" foods I didn't have for dinner are: spring rolls (good fortune), noodles (long life), stir-fried lettuce (good fortune), whole fish (prosperity), oranges (wealth and unity), red-cooked chicken (happiness and good fortune), tea eggs (fertility -- definitely don't need that), lion's head meatballs (power and strength), and barbecued duck (fidelity).
I suppose I could try to eat some of the other foods in the remaining fourteen days . . . just not those tea eggs.
On the first day of Chinese New Year it is considered bad luck to clean house. Whew, thank goodness I didn't clean today. Just to be on the safe side, maybe I should stop cleaning (hahaha) until the celebration is finished. That's probably a good idea, especially since I foolishly ate some leftover lasagna for lunch. I probably brought "bad luck" on myself because the lasagna had Italian sausage in it; Buddhists and many others don't eat meat on the first day of the new year. : /
Yes, but today is Chinese New Year.
So Happy 4710 (or 4709 or 4649 depending on which scholar you follow). What's not under dispute is this is the Year of the Dragon.
Unlike boring New Year for most of the rest of us, Chinese New Year celebrations last for fifteen days(!) and each day has special significance. The first day is set apart to honor one's elders and everyone visits the oldest members of their extended families. Some Chinese workers travel great distances to find employment, but everyone journeys home for Chinese New Year and family is an important part of the holiday.
Tonight for dinner I had a Lean Cuisine dinner -- potsticker dumplings with rice, vegetables, and spicy sauce. I didn't realize that I was eating a food that is considered good luck and typically eaten during the New Year festivities. The shape of the dumplings resembles ancient gold ingots, thus they symbolize wealth. I'm not above hoping for a little bit of unexpected wealth. : )
Other "lucky" foods I didn't have for dinner are: spring rolls (good fortune), noodles (long life), stir-fried lettuce (good fortune), whole fish (prosperity), oranges (wealth and unity), red-cooked chicken (happiness and good fortune), tea eggs (fertility -- definitely don't need that), lion's head meatballs (power and strength), and barbecued duck (fidelity).
I suppose I could try to eat some of the other foods in the remaining fourteen days . . . just not those tea eggs.
On the first day of Chinese New Year it is considered bad luck to clean house. Whew, thank goodness I didn't clean today. Just to be on the safe side, maybe I should stop cleaning (hahaha) until the celebration is finished. That's probably a good idea, especially since I foolishly ate some leftover lasagna for lunch. I probably brought "bad luck" on myself because the lasagna had Italian sausage in it; Buddhists and many others don't eat meat on the first day of the new year. : /
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sleep
That's about all I did today.
I woke up in time to go to internet church. I even managed to stay engaged throughout the seventy minute service. Sadly, that is not something that happens often -- a drawback to worshiping via the internet. : /
When G came home from bricks and mortar church, we ate lunch and watched the news coverage of Joe Paterno's death. Then I realized I had a nagging headache. So rather than medicate myself, I decided to take a nap.
And I slept. And slept. And slept. My mom called and woke me up. After our conversation, I went to the bathroom and then climbed back in bed and slept some more. I was obviously very tired. When I finally left my bed for good, I had missed the AFC Championship game and the NFC Championship game was more than half over. NBD.
Thankfully my headache is gone, but I wish my extended nap had also vanquished the cold that I feel gaining strength in the back of my throat. I guess I can't expect a nap to cure all of my ills.
I woke up in time to go to internet church. I even managed to stay engaged throughout the seventy minute service. Sadly, that is not something that happens often -- a drawback to worshiping via the internet. : /
When G came home from bricks and mortar church, we ate lunch and watched the news coverage of Joe Paterno's death. Then I realized I had a nagging headache. So rather than medicate myself, I decided to take a nap.
And I slept. And slept. And slept. My mom called and woke me up. After our conversation, I went to the bathroom and then climbed back in bed and slept some more. I was obviously very tired. When I finally left my bed for good, I had missed the AFC Championship game and the NFC Championship game was more than half over. NBD.
Thankfully my headache is gone, but I wish my extended nap had also vanquished the cold that I feel gaining strength in the back of my throat. I guess I can't expect a nap to cure all of my ills.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
A nice Saturday afternoon and a good reminder
My small group got together for lunch this afternoon at our younger leader's apartment. We had a potluck luncheon, so we all brought something to share. I made lasagna. It was yummy. : )
It was nice to see everyone outside of the Wednesday evening Bible study. Once our study time is over, it's after 8:00 and most women need to get home to their families. That doesn't leave much of an opportunity to linger over conversation. Today we had time to get to know each other better.
At the end of the party one of the women, K, shared with me and the leader that her husband was pressuring her to stop home-schooling their son and return to work. She has a law degree, so she would probably be able to bring in a significant income. K said that they are more than able to live comfortably off her husband's salary, but her husband wants more. More money for more possessions and, even though she didn't say it, he probably believes, more security.
Listening to K talk about the struggle she has wanting to work through this issue with her husband, I couldn't help but remember and mentally compare when G pressured me to quit working so we would be able to have more family time. I resisted, partly because I liked my job, partly because a significant chunk of my identity was linked to my job, partly because I can be pretty stubborn, and partly because I liked being able to put my paycheck into my savings account every two weeks.
I didn't realize it at the time, but I definitely viewed the money I earned as a security blanket. For awhile my paychecks helped to pay off a car loan, but once the loan was satisfied, the savings account balance continued to grow until it reached a fairly impressive total. Occasionally G would want to use some of "my" money to cover an unexpected expense, and I am embarrassed to admit that I was less than agreeable. He had never withheld any of the money that he earned from me -- who was I to think that the money I earned was mine and mine alone?
But the bigger issue, the spiritual issue, was that I was clinging to this money. Not just withholding it from G, but also withholding it from the Lord. Even though I knew that the money ultimately belonged to God -- after all, He was the one who had enabled me to earn it -- I still foolishly looked at it as mine. And worse still, I put more value on the security that the money represented to me than I did in the unshakable security that God has given me in Christ Jesus. The Lord has promised to faithfully and abundantly provide for my every need; I could never depend on a finite amount of money to do the same.
I wish I could say that that revelation cleared up my misplaced trust, but I continue to struggle with looking to earthly, temporal means to provide the security that only the Lord offers. But at least my eyes were opened and God helped and continues to help me to see my sin in not trusting Him fully. I hope that He will do the same for K's husband.
It was nice to see everyone outside of the Wednesday evening Bible study. Once our study time is over, it's after 8:00 and most women need to get home to their families. That doesn't leave much of an opportunity to linger over conversation. Today we had time to get to know each other better.
At the end of the party one of the women, K, shared with me and the leader that her husband was pressuring her to stop home-schooling their son and return to work. She has a law degree, so she would probably be able to bring in a significant income. K said that they are more than able to live comfortably off her husband's salary, but her husband wants more. More money for more possessions and, even though she didn't say it, he probably believes, more security.
Listening to K talk about the struggle she has wanting to work through this issue with her husband, I couldn't help but remember and mentally compare when G pressured me to quit working so we would be able to have more family time. I resisted, partly because I liked my job, partly because a significant chunk of my identity was linked to my job, partly because I can be pretty stubborn, and partly because I liked being able to put my paycheck into my savings account every two weeks.
I didn't realize it at the time, but I definitely viewed the money I earned as a security blanket. For awhile my paychecks helped to pay off a car loan, but once the loan was satisfied, the savings account balance continued to grow until it reached a fairly impressive total. Occasionally G would want to use some of "my" money to cover an unexpected expense, and I am embarrassed to admit that I was less than agreeable. He had never withheld any of the money that he earned from me -- who was I to think that the money I earned was mine and mine alone?
But the bigger issue, the spiritual issue, was that I was clinging to this money. Not just withholding it from G, but also withholding it from the Lord. Even though I knew that the money ultimately belonged to God -- after all, He was the one who had enabled me to earn it -- I still foolishly looked at it as mine. And worse still, I put more value on the security that the money represented to me than I did in the unshakable security that God has given me in Christ Jesus. The Lord has promised to faithfully and abundantly provide for my every need; I could never depend on a finite amount of money to do the same.
I wish I could say that that revelation cleared up my misplaced trust, but I continue to struggle with looking to earthly, temporal means to provide the security that only the Lord offers. But at least my eyes were opened and God helped and continues to help me to see my sin in not trusting Him fully. I hope that He will do the same for K's husband.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Are they all blind?!!!?
I love to watch the original Say Yes to the Dress on Friday nights. In spite of all the fingernails on the blackboard Southern accents, I also like Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta.
On both shows, most of the brides choose beautiful dresses, but some of them . . . well let's just say it's hard to imagine just who would ever wear those gowns, let alone wear them in a church. See-through midriff, plunging neckline, so many spangles, sequins, and glittery crystals that it looks like the notions department of a JoAnn's store exploded on the bodice of the dress -- and that's all on one gown. Yikes!
Ugly design is a different issue than an appalling lack of taste, but both situations routinely surface. Unfortunately sometimes they occur in the same gown. One older bride (who really should have known better) chose a dress that looked like an insane riff on a shepherdess dress. The bodice had a plunging sweetheart neckline that barely contained her extremely ample chest. The icing on this tacky, tacky wreck of a dress was the pair of oversize bows, one for each b**b. Why a forty-ish mother of several children would look in the mirror and declare that the gown was "perfect" and "exactly what I want" is beyond me. She also said it was "understated" and "elegant." OMG.
When she walked out of the fitting room, I couldn't understand why her entourage didn't stand en masse and scream, "Oh honey, NO!" They must have all bought their taste at the same bargain basement discount store because her friends and family agreed with her whack assessment and even went so far as to say the she "deserved" this dress. Honey, if I were you, I'd look for fashion advice from someone else. These people are doing you no favors because their opinion of what you "deserve" qualifies as punishment in at least 37 states.
Tonight's "WTH is she thinking" episode also involved an elaborate dress. This gown had a lacy, see-through bodice with LOTS of bling. The dress itself wasn't that bad -- the shape was flattering and even the see-through detail wasn't as obnoxious as some that I've seen. But there was one design element that made me think that the bride and everyone in her group must have been legally blind.
The minute the bride walked out to the runway in the dress, I screamed, "She has pearl nipples!" I. Am. Not. Kidding. On the bodice of the dress, right where her nipples would be, there were two very large clusters of pearls with two even bigger pearls positioned dead center. And these pearly pasties really looked like nipples because they didn't lay flat on the bodice. No, they stuck right out, just like bare nipples under a thin tee shirt on a cold day.
I couldn't believe that no one -- not the bride, her dad, future MIL, friends, or the bridal salon stylists noticed the x-rated feature of this gown. Everyone thought it was gorgeous and exclaimed how much her deceased mother would have loved all of the glitz and bling.
Yeah, but would she have liked the pearly nipples?
On both shows, most of the brides choose beautiful dresses, but some of them . . . well let's just say it's hard to imagine just who would ever wear those gowns, let alone wear them in a church. See-through midriff, plunging neckline, so many spangles, sequins, and glittery crystals that it looks like the notions department of a JoAnn's store exploded on the bodice of the dress -- and that's all on one gown. Yikes!
Ugly design is a different issue than an appalling lack of taste, but both situations routinely surface. Unfortunately sometimes they occur in the same gown. One older bride (who really should have known better) chose a dress that looked like an insane riff on a shepherdess dress. The bodice had a plunging sweetheart neckline that barely contained her extremely ample chest. The icing on this tacky, tacky wreck of a dress was the pair of oversize bows, one for each b**b. Why a forty-ish mother of several children would look in the mirror and declare that the gown was "perfect" and "exactly what I want" is beyond me. She also said it was "understated" and "elegant." OMG.
When she walked out of the fitting room, I couldn't understand why her entourage didn't stand en masse and scream, "Oh honey, NO!" They must have all bought their taste at the same bargain basement discount store because her friends and family agreed with her whack assessment and even went so far as to say the she "deserved" this dress. Honey, if I were you, I'd look for fashion advice from someone else. These people are doing you no favors because their opinion of what you "deserve" qualifies as punishment in at least 37 states.
Tonight's "WTH is she thinking" episode also involved an elaborate dress. This gown had a lacy, see-through bodice with LOTS of bling. The dress itself wasn't that bad -- the shape was flattering and even the see-through detail wasn't as obnoxious as some that I've seen. But there was one design element that made me think that the bride and everyone in her group must have been legally blind.
The minute the bride walked out to the runway in the dress, I screamed, "She has pearl nipples!" I. Am. Not. Kidding. On the bodice of the dress, right where her nipples would be, there were two very large clusters of pearls with two even bigger pearls positioned dead center. And these pearly pasties really looked like nipples because they didn't lay flat on the bodice. No, they stuck right out, just like bare nipples under a thin tee shirt on a cold day.
I couldn't believe that no one -- not the bride, her dad, future MIL, friends, or the bridal salon stylists noticed the x-rated feature of this gown. Everyone thought it was gorgeous and exclaimed how much her deceased mother would have loved all of the glitz and bling.
Yeah, but would she have liked the pearly nipples?
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thankful Thursday
The weather was a little dicey today. Good thing E and N hit the road early on their journey to Salisbury, NC. They left West Lafayette at 5:30, so they were somewhere in Eastern Ohio by the time INDOT shut down I-65. The roads were slick and snowy and there had been numerous accidents. Definitely not good. : /
Roughly eleven hours after they said goodbye to Penny and set off, they reached their destination.
Tomorrow N will interview with the VA facility in Salisbury. This afternoon he and E drove to the VA, so he knows the way and getting there on time in the morning should be stress-free. By shortly after noon, N should be done and he and E will be able to explore Salisbury at their leisure. I hope they find a really nice place for dinner and drinks.
I am thankful that E and N's drive to Salisbury was uneventful. There are so many things that could happen during a road trip -- from relatively minor things such as a flat tire, to horrendously big things like a major accident. I am also thankful that the weather wasn't a factor and I pray that their return trip on Saturday will be equally uneventful and snow and ice-free.
Roughly eleven hours after they said goodbye to Penny and set off, they reached their destination.
Tomorrow N will interview with the VA facility in Salisbury. This afternoon he and E drove to the VA, so he knows the way and getting there on time in the morning should be stress-free. By shortly after noon, N should be done and he and E will be able to explore Salisbury at their leisure. I hope they find a really nice place for dinner and drinks.
I am thankful that E and N's drive to Salisbury was uneventful. There are so many things that could happen during a road trip -- from relatively minor things such as a flat tire, to horrendously big things like a major accident. I am also thankful that the weather wasn't a factor and I pray that their return trip on Saturday will be equally uneventful and snow and ice-free.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
First things first
I think this is a great motto to live by.* Too bad I don't practice what I blog. : /
Bible study started up again last week. I have had the past five days to begin the study, but I waited until this evening, the night before Bible Study Wednesday, to even open up my new lesson notebook.
Why do I do that? Why do I put off beginning the study? At the very least, I could read the scripture passage so that I would be able to meditate on it until I actually make myself sit down to tackle the questions and applications. But I rarely manage that feat.
Last week the author of the study (and one of the large group teachers) strongly encouraged us to approach the study one day at a time. Each lesson is broken down into five segments, so following that plan would mean that I wouldn't find myself scrambling to start and finish the lesson the night before, or, even worse, the same day of WBS. One day at a time would probably also ensure that I would be able to get more out of the study because I would be able to go more in depth.
I've vowed to embrace the five day approach previously . . . and failed. And the very first week of this semester, I failed again. But week 2 is a new week. So we shall see.
I think the real issue is not that I do the lesson in one sitting rather than spreading it out over multiple days -- no, the real issue is that I fail to put first things first. I fail to make the Word of God and study of the Word of God a priority in my life. There are so many things I put first -- foolish, worthless, inconsequential things -- when in my heart, I know what needs to come first.
*An English major should say "by which to live" rather than "to live by" but that sounds so stuffy, albeit grammatically correct.
Bible study started up again last week. I have had the past five days to begin the study, but I waited until this evening, the night before Bible Study Wednesday, to even open up my new lesson notebook.
Why do I do that? Why do I put off beginning the study? At the very least, I could read the scripture passage so that I would be able to meditate on it until I actually make myself sit down to tackle the questions and applications. But I rarely manage that feat.
Last week the author of the study (and one of the large group teachers) strongly encouraged us to approach the study one day at a time. Each lesson is broken down into five segments, so following that plan would mean that I wouldn't find myself scrambling to start and finish the lesson the night before, or, even worse, the same day of WBS. One day at a time would probably also ensure that I would be able to get more out of the study because I would be able to go more in depth.
I've vowed to embrace the five day approach previously . . . and failed. And the very first week of this semester, I failed again. But week 2 is a new week. So we shall see.
I think the real issue is not that I do the lesson in one sitting rather than spreading it out over multiple days -- no, the real issue is that I fail to put first things first. I fail to make the Word of God and study of the Word of God a priority in my life. There are so many things I put first -- foolish, worthless, inconsequential things -- when in my heart, I know what needs to come first.
*An English major should say "by which to live" rather than "to live by" but that sounds so stuffy, albeit grammatically correct.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Not feeling it
Mid-January -- time for the first slam of the year. The Australian Open.
Normally I would be all over it. But this year . . . meh. I'm just not feeling it. I'm not sure what the difference is between this year and last year, but I am only mildly interested.
Maybe it's a little bit of hangover from the college football bowl season and the NFL playoffs so far. It seems when I cheer for a team, that is the kiss of death. My allegiance pretty much guarantees that "my" team will go home with their collective tail between their legs.
I don't have a hard-core favorite tennis player, male or female, but there are definitely ones that I like better than others. And there are also ones that I really don't like at all. I hate it when I watch a match and one of the "ugh" players wins. It sort of ruins my day.
Having made that statement, I think it's fairly obvious that I am way too invested in the outcome of certain sporting events. Consequently, cutting back in the amount of time I invest in watching tennis or football or college basketball on television is probably a wise idea.
Normally I would be all over it. But this year . . . meh. I'm just not feeling it. I'm not sure what the difference is between this year and last year, but I am only mildly interested.
Maybe it's a little bit of hangover from the college football bowl season and the NFL playoffs so far. It seems when I cheer for a team, that is the kiss of death. My allegiance pretty much guarantees that "my" team will go home with their collective tail between their legs.
I don't have a hard-core favorite tennis player, male or female, but there are definitely ones that I like better than others. And there are also ones that I really don't like at all. I hate it when I watch a match and one of the "ugh" players wins. It sort of ruins my day.
Having made that statement, I think it's fairly obvious that I am way too invested in the outcome of certain sporting events. Consequently, cutting back in the amount of time I invest in watching tennis or football or college basketball on television is probably a wise idea.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Hibernation, pt. 2
Yeah, it's still winter. Ugh.
G is in Florida. Lucky him.
The past few days have been unbearably cold and windy, but tomorrow is supposed to be a bit warmer. I never left the house today. If I hadn't had to go to my in-laws yesterday, I wouldn't have left the house then either.
Before he went to Florida, G kindly told me that I didn't have to take the trash cans down to the street for garbage day tomorrow. Thank you G! Dragging the cans to the curb would have been the only thing that would have made me even open up the front door, let alone actually dress and go outside.
I am definitely not the kind of person who looks forward to winter for all of the outdoor sports that it affords. In fact I think I could easily and happily spend most of the winter without ever leaving the confines of my semi-warm home. Part of me wishes I enjoyed snow shoeing or skiing or other frosty outdoor activities, but I guess I'm more of a Snuggie and hot chocolate girl.
G is in Florida. Lucky him.
The past few days have been unbearably cold and windy, but tomorrow is supposed to be a bit warmer. I never left the house today. If I hadn't had to go to my in-laws yesterday, I wouldn't have left the house then either.
Before he went to Florida, G kindly told me that I didn't have to take the trash cans down to the street for garbage day tomorrow. Thank you G! Dragging the cans to the curb would have been the only thing that would have made me even open up the front door, let alone actually dress and go outside.
I am definitely not the kind of person who looks forward to winter for all of the outdoor sports that it affords. In fact I think I could easily and happily spend most of the winter without ever leaving the confines of my semi-warm home. Part of me wishes I enjoyed snow shoeing or skiing or other frosty outdoor activities, but I guess I'm more of a Snuggie and hot chocolate girl.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
You can choose your friends . . .
but you can't choose your family. That adage is an oldie but a goodie.
It's also wrong. If you're married, you presumably chose your spouse. And in choosing your spouse (unless he is a bona fide orphan) you were also choosing his family. I suppose some families might be a deal breaker, but most of us figure that we can either put up with (good luck) or even change (yeah, right) the quirkier aspects of our spouse's family.
This evening I spent over five hours with my husband's family at a belated Christmas gathering in a Chicago suburb. My husband spent the evening at a corporate get together at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The only other member of my immediate family who was able to come with me to "Hawaiian Christmas" was K. I am so glad that she was there to provide moral support when I needed it, ie. was tempted to throw up my hands or pull out my hair.
My in-laws are so different than my family. I knew that going in to my marriage, but for some reason I really didn't think it would be a problem.
Was I wrong! There were a few warning signals during our 11 month engagement, but I dismissed them as isolated anomalies. Looking back, those warning signals should have been as loud as Robot in Lost in Space admonishing his young charge, "Danger, Will Robinson!"
It's also wrong. If you're married, you presumably chose your spouse. And in choosing your spouse (unless he is a bona fide orphan) you were also choosing his family. I suppose some families might be a deal breaker, but most of us figure that we can either put up with (good luck) or even change (yeah, right) the quirkier aspects of our spouse's family.
This evening I spent over five hours with my husband's family at a belated Christmas gathering in a Chicago suburb. My husband spent the evening at a corporate get together at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The only other member of my immediate family who was able to come with me to "Hawaiian Christmas" was K. I am so glad that she was there to provide moral support when I needed it, ie. was tempted to throw up my hands or pull out my hair.
My in-laws are so different than my family. I knew that going in to my marriage, but for some reason I really didn't think it would be a problem.
Was I wrong! There were a few warning signals during our 11 month engagement, but I dismissed them as isolated anomalies. Looking back, those warning signals should have been as loud as Robot in Lost in Space admonishing his young charge, "Danger, Will Robinson!"
Friday, January 13, 2012
Friday the 13th
I'm glad I'm not superstitious . . . at least not very much.
Friday the thirteenths have never really bothered me. N proposed to E on a Friday the thirteenth -- 10/13/06. They contemplated getting married on Friday the thirteenth -- 7/13/07 -- but decided to wait one more day and go with the more traditional Saturday afternoon wedding.
My brother dated a woman whose birthday was August 13, 1959, but that year the thirteenth of August was on a Thursday, not a Friday. Still, every now and then her birthday falls on a Friday.
I suppose I believe any day can be lucky or unlucky. It doesn't really matter what the date is or what day of the week it happens to be. I think it's interesting that there isn't a corresponding "lucky" day, like Tuesday the 21st or Saturday the 7th. What's up with that omission?
Some people I know refuse to use the words luck, lucky, fortune, or fortunate. They say that using those words denies the sovereignty of God. I have to agree, but I still use the words. I tend to opt for fortunate more often than any lucky; I guess I think it sounds better, less capricious (although they all boil down to a definition that involves the element of chance rather than an intentional choice or direction).
Friday the 13th? It's all TGIF to me. : )
Friday the thirteenths have never really bothered me. N proposed to E on a Friday the thirteenth -- 10/13/06. They contemplated getting married on Friday the thirteenth -- 7/13/07 -- but decided to wait one more day and go with the more traditional Saturday afternoon wedding.
My brother dated a woman whose birthday was August 13, 1959, but that year the thirteenth of August was on a Thursday, not a Friday. Still, every now and then her birthday falls on a Friday.
I suppose I believe any day can be lucky or unlucky. It doesn't really matter what the date is or what day of the week it happens to be. I think it's interesting that there isn't a corresponding "lucky" day, like Tuesday the 21st or Saturday the 7th. What's up with that omission?
Some people I know refuse to use the words luck, lucky, fortune, or fortunate. They say that using those words denies the sovereignty of God. I have to agree, but I still use the words. I tend to opt for fortunate more often than any lucky; I guess I think it sounds better, less capricious (although they all boil down to a definition that involves the element of chance rather than an intentional choice or direction).
Friday the 13th? It's all TGIF to me. : )
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
How hard can it be?
Bible study started back up again tonight. It was really nice to see everyone again and catch up on what's been happening over the holidays.
Originally my small group had planned to have a Christmas get-together after the study ended, but it proved too hard to find a date that worked for the majority of the group. Tonight we decided to have a post-Christmas luncheon, and one of the leaders offered to host everyone at her apartment. She said that she would provide lunch and all we would need to do was show up.
It was a very generous offer on T's part, but everyone agreed that it would be fun (and most fair) to have a potluck. The other leader said that lasagna sounded good and I told her that I would be happy to make a pan of lasagna. With a shocked expression on her face she said, "You actually make that?"
Why yes. Yes I do.
Seriously, how hard is it to make lasagna? Every box of lasagna noodles has a recipe printed on it. Even without a recipe it's a fairly simple layering process. The hardest part used to be cooking the noodles and then getting them into the casserole dish without burning your fingers, having them stick to one another in a gluey clump, and/or ripping them as you tried to separate them from the gluey clump. : / The advent of no boil noodles changed all of that and now lasagna is super simple . . . especially if you use jarred pasta sauce.
Years ago, I had a party for the ladies I worked with at Marshall Field's. I made lasagna and everyone else brought side dishes and dessert. It was a fun and relaxing evening away from the store and most importantly, my lasagna was a hit. I was pretty proud of myself when a woman from Loss Prevention, an Italian-American woman with an Italian-American husband complimented me on my lasagna. She said it was excellent and she wanted to know how I made the sauce.
You should have seen her face when I told her I opened up two jars of Prego. OMG. You would have thought I had confessed to serving a tray of Encore frozen lasagna. I half expected her to dump her plate in the trash. I don't know whether she was more appalled that I had the audacity to use store-bought, jarred pasta sauce or that her Italian taste buds had let her down so badly that she actually thought Prego tasted good. Another woman of Italian heritage also had complimented me and then was equally shocked to learn that the sauce wasn't homemade.
So to Prego, all I have to say is "Grazie*." : )
* This is humorous if you know that in Italian, grazie means "thank" you and prego means "you're welcome."
Originally my small group had planned to have a Christmas get-together after the study ended, but it proved too hard to find a date that worked for the majority of the group. Tonight we decided to have a post-Christmas luncheon, and one of the leaders offered to host everyone at her apartment. She said that she would provide lunch and all we would need to do was show up.
It was a very generous offer on T's part, but everyone agreed that it would be fun (and most fair) to have a potluck. The other leader said that lasagna sounded good and I told her that I would be happy to make a pan of lasagna. With a shocked expression on her face she said, "You actually make that?"
Why yes. Yes I do.
Seriously, how hard is it to make lasagna? Every box of lasagna noodles has a recipe printed on it. Even without a recipe it's a fairly simple layering process. The hardest part used to be cooking the noodles and then getting them into the casserole dish without burning your fingers, having them stick to one another in a gluey clump, and/or ripping them as you tried to separate them from the gluey clump. : / The advent of no boil noodles changed all of that and now lasagna is super simple . . . especially if you use jarred pasta sauce.
Years ago, I had a party for the ladies I worked with at Marshall Field's. I made lasagna and everyone else brought side dishes and dessert. It was a fun and relaxing evening away from the store and most importantly, my lasagna was a hit. I was pretty proud of myself when a woman from Loss Prevention, an Italian-American woman with an Italian-American husband complimented me on my lasagna. She said it was excellent and she wanted to know how I made the sauce.
You should have seen her face when I told her I opened up two jars of Prego. OMG. You would have thought I had confessed to serving a tray of Encore frozen lasagna. I half expected her to dump her plate in the trash. I don't know whether she was more appalled that I had the audacity to use store-bought, jarred pasta sauce or that her Italian taste buds had let her down so badly that she actually thought Prego tasted good. Another woman of Italian heritage also had complimented me and then was equally shocked to learn that the sauce wasn't homemade.
So to Prego, all I have to say is "Grazie*." : )
* This is humorous if you know that in Italian, grazie means "thank" you and prego means "you're welcome."
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The calm before the storm
We've been lucky, but our luck is about to run out. Tomorrow will be the last nice day and then . . . BAM! Winter is coming to Chicago with a mean attitude and a boatload of snow. : /
Okay, three to six inches isn't a boatload of snow, but it's a lot of snow considering we really haven't had any at all this winter. If I had my way, the upper Midwest would pretend that winter was just a huge game of Hearts and we would go nil.
Not going to happen.
I do understand that no snow or very little snow is an economic nightmare for snowplow drivers, ski resort owners and their employees, winter apparel and sports equipment retailers, and others who make their living off of cold temps and lots of the white stuff. Heck, even enterprising neighborhood kids lose out when Mrs. Hornsby or Old Man Jensen don't need someone to shovel their driveway and sidewalk.
Even so, I would be happiest without snow and I am dreading it's arrival on Thursday.
This evening I went to the laundromat to wash all of the clothes G will need for his trip to Orlando. He doesn't leave until Saturday, but with the storm coming, I didn't want to end up trudging around in the snow to get the laundry done.
After the laundromat, I went to Target. G asked a few things for his trip, so I decided since I was already out and it wasn't snowing yet, I might as well pick up what he needed. While I was there, I bought another box of Constant Comment decaf tea bags. I had just purchased a box of twenty tea bags a few days ago, but you just never know how bad the snow might be. I would hate to run out of tea and not be able to get to Target to buy more.
Both the laundromat and Target were pleasantly quiet. Apparently no one else is feeling the same sense of urgency to get things done, to stock up on necessities before the first major snowfall of the season.
I have a few more things I need to get out and do tomorrow. I'm pretty sure the stores will be a bit more crowded then and people will be filling their shopping carts with bread (bought that tonight), eggs (I have plenty), milk (buying it tomorrow when it goes on sale), and toilet paper (bought it last Saturday). Someone once said that, based on people's pre-storm purchases, heavy snows apparently bring on a strong craving for French toast. I would imagine that plenty of people also fill up their shopping carts with cases of beer.
I can always hope that the forecasters are wrong and this storm will bypass us, but sooner or later, winter and snow will arrive. If Thursday is the day, at least I'll be prepared.
Okay, three to six inches isn't a boatload of snow, but it's a lot of snow considering we really haven't had any at all this winter. If I had my way, the upper Midwest would pretend that winter was just a huge game of Hearts and we would go nil.
Not going to happen.
I do understand that no snow or very little snow is an economic nightmare for snowplow drivers, ski resort owners and their employees, winter apparel and sports equipment retailers, and others who make their living off of cold temps and lots of the white stuff. Heck, even enterprising neighborhood kids lose out when Mrs. Hornsby or Old Man Jensen don't need someone to shovel their driveway and sidewalk.
Even so, I would be happiest without snow and I am dreading it's arrival on Thursday.
This evening I went to the laundromat to wash all of the clothes G will need for his trip to Orlando. He doesn't leave until Saturday, but with the storm coming, I didn't want to end up trudging around in the snow to get the laundry done.
After the laundromat, I went to Target. G asked a few things for his trip, so I decided since I was already out and it wasn't snowing yet, I might as well pick up what he needed. While I was there, I bought another box of Constant Comment decaf tea bags. I had just purchased a box of twenty tea bags a few days ago, but you just never know how bad the snow might be. I would hate to run out of tea and not be able to get to Target to buy more.
Both the laundromat and Target were pleasantly quiet. Apparently no one else is feeling the same sense of urgency to get things done, to stock up on necessities before the first major snowfall of the season.
I have a few more things I need to get out and do tomorrow. I'm pretty sure the stores will be a bit more crowded then and people will be filling their shopping carts with bread (bought that tonight), eggs (I have plenty), milk (buying it tomorrow when it goes on sale), and toilet paper (bought it last Saturday). Someone once said that, based on people's pre-storm purchases, heavy snows apparently bring on a strong craving for French toast. I would imagine that plenty of people also fill up their shopping carts with cases of beer.
I can always hope that the forecasters are wrong and this storm will bypass us, but sooner or later, winter and snow will arrive. If Thursday is the day, at least I'll be prepared.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Hibernation
It's that time again.
Winter.
Yuck. I don't like winter, although so far, this winter has been incredibly mild. Tomorrow the high is forecast to be 55, which will be close to record warmth for January 10th.
But even though the weather has been uncharacteristically balmy, I still feel an almost primal urge to hole up in my house, drink cup after cup of hot tea, and sleep for hours on end. Last night I didn't sleep very well, but even so, I managed to sleep off and on for ten hours. I probably could have rolled over and slept for another hour or so but I needed to use the bathroom and I couldn't quite justify climbing back into bed once I'd drug myself out. : /
Saturday G leaves for a week in Orlando. If it weren't for a family event at his mom's on Saturday and Bible study on Wednesday, I would probably go the entire week without ever leaving my house. As long as I have an adequate supply of Constant Comment decaf tea, I could avoid the great outdoors for quite some time. : )
Winter.
Yuck. I don't like winter, although so far, this winter has been incredibly mild. Tomorrow the high is forecast to be 55, which will be close to record warmth for January 10th.
But even though the weather has been uncharacteristically balmy, I still feel an almost primal urge to hole up in my house, drink cup after cup of hot tea, and sleep for hours on end. Last night I didn't sleep very well, but even so, I managed to sleep off and on for ten hours. I probably could have rolled over and slept for another hour or so but I needed to use the bathroom and I couldn't quite justify climbing back into bed once I'd drug myself out. : /
Saturday G leaves for a week in Orlando. If it weren't for a family event at his mom's on Saturday and Bible study on Wednesday, I would probably go the entire week without ever leaving my house. As long as I have an adequate supply of Constant Comment decaf tea, I could avoid the great outdoors for quite some time. : )
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Once again, an unpopular opinion
I've already confessed that I'm tired of hearing all about Gabrielle Giffords. It's probably horrible beyond all belief that I'm bringing that confession up again, especially since today is the one-year anniversary of the shooting that killed six people in addition to injuring Giffords and twelve others.
Even though what I'm about to reveal doesn't involve death, a politician, or patriotism, my opinion will no doubt be equally divisive as my feelings on the Giffords incident.
I don't like Tim Tebow.
Did anyone hear a loud clap of thunder? I don't feel the hair on my arms standing on end, so there must not be a vengeful bolt of lightning heading earthward with my name on it. Phew.
All joking aside, I feel like I'm risking the wrath of God and Christians everywhere by admitting that Tebow does nothing for me. I like the Denver Broncos, but with Tebow under center, I hope they lose every game.
I wish I could explain why Tebow rubs me the wrong way. I know some people think he should keep his faith to himself, but I'm all for Christians being open about their faith. Maybe my feelings are rooted in my religious background that tends to shy away from physically overt displays of piety like Tebow's kneeling. There were no lifted hands or loud amens in the First Christian Church of my childhood and the cynic in me still wonders about the genuineness of such expressions. Maybe I detect a bit of smugness mixed in with his humble demeanor? I don't know.
I do think the attitudes of believers concerning Tebow are what bother me the most. It's as if they feel that because Tebow has widely professed his belief in Jesus, he's entitled to win every game even though there are surely other believers playing for the opposing teams. It seems that a lot of these Tebow acolytes think their hero shouldn't have to face disappointment or defeat like every person, Christian or not. But believers know that's not the case. Scripture tells us that trials will come, persecution also. Tebow isn't exempt from any of the things that befall the rest of us.
All three of my kids competed in sports. For the most part they were very successful, but sometimes they lost. Sometimes they even lost because their opponent cheated. Those losses were especially hard to take. It's easy to be a good witness for Christ when things are going well, when you're winning. But it says a lot more about your faith in Jesus and your commitment to follow Him when things aren't going your way, when people aren't playing by the rules or the situation is unfair. I've always told my kids that people would be able to tell way more about them -- their faith and their character -- by the way they responded to disappointment and defeat than by the way they reacted to victory.
I haven't ever personally witnessed or read about an occasion when Tebow was anything other than humble in victory and gracious in defeat. So, I guess I have to take ownership of my opinion and admit that in this case, a twist on the old break-up line fits best -- it's not Tebow, it's me.
Even though what I'm about to reveal doesn't involve death, a politician, or patriotism, my opinion will no doubt be equally divisive as my feelings on the Giffords incident.
I don't like Tim Tebow.
Did anyone hear a loud clap of thunder? I don't feel the hair on my arms standing on end, so there must not be a vengeful bolt of lightning heading earthward with my name on it. Phew.
All joking aside, I feel like I'm risking the wrath of God and Christians everywhere by admitting that Tebow does nothing for me. I like the Denver Broncos, but with Tebow under center, I hope they lose every game.
I wish I could explain why Tebow rubs me the wrong way. I know some people think he should keep his faith to himself, but I'm all for Christians being open about their faith. Maybe my feelings are rooted in my religious background that tends to shy away from physically overt displays of piety like Tebow's kneeling. There were no lifted hands or loud amens in the First Christian Church of my childhood and the cynic in me still wonders about the genuineness of such expressions. Maybe I detect a bit of smugness mixed in with his humble demeanor? I don't know.
I do think the attitudes of believers concerning Tebow are what bother me the most. It's as if they feel that because Tebow has widely professed his belief in Jesus, he's entitled to win every game even though there are surely other believers playing for the opposing teams. It seems that a lot of these Tebow acolytes think their hero shouldn't have to face disappointment or defeat like every person, Christian or not. But believers know that's not the case. Scripture tells us that trials will come, persecution also. Tebow isn't exempt from any of the things that befall the rest of us.
All three of my kids competed in sports. For the most part they were very successful, but sometimes they lost. Sometimes they even lost because their opponent cheated. Those losses were especially hard to take. It's easy to be a good witness for Christ when things are going well, when you're winning. But it says a lot more about your faith in Jesus and your commitment to follow Him when things aren't going your way, when people aren't playing by the rules or the situation is unfair. I've always told my kids that people would be able to tell way more about them -- their faith and their character -- by the way they responded to disappointment and defeat than by the way they reacted to victory.
I haven't ever personally witnessed or read about an occasion when Tebow was anything other than humble in victory and gracious in defeat. So, I guess I have to take ownership of my opinion and admit that in this case, a twist on the old break-up line fits best -- it's not Tebow, it's me.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
I see the moon and the moon sees me
At 11:08 this evening, M texted me, "Look at the moon outside."
Okay, I'll go outside because it would be difficult to look at the moon inside -- at this point I'm envisioning the scene from Despicable Me where the shrunken moon begins to grow big again while it's still inside the spaceship, or was it an airplane? Inside would work in that instance.
Anyway, I went outside to look at the moon, and it was beautiful. It definitely looked full to my untrained eye, but upon checking the online full moon calendar for 2012 (who knew?), I discovered that the actual full moon will occur Tuesday morning around 1:30 CST.
Even though this moon wasn't full, it was incredibly big and bright and there was a distinct lunar halo. More internet searching explained that even though the sky surrounding the moon appears to be extremely clear, the halo is indicative of the presence of high, thin cirrus clouds, containing millions of ice crystals, drifting 20,00 feet or more overhead. When the ice crystals are aligned exactly right, our eye sees the halo that the sparkle of the crystals creates.
What makes all of this even more amazing is that no two people will see the lunar halo in exactly the same way. Even two people who are standing side by side will experience their own unique perspective of the halo. So even though M and I both looked at the moon at almost the same time, she from Indiana and me from Illinois, her view of the lunar halo was subtly different from mine.
And to think that all along I assumed that, aside from differences in time zone, when we looked at the moon, we all saw the same thing.
Okay, I'll go outside because it would be difficult to look at the moon inside -- at this point I'm envisioning the scene from Despicable Me where the shrunken moon begins to grow big again while it's still inside the spaceship, or was it an airplane? Inside would work in that instance.
Anyway, I went outside to look at the moon, and it was beautiful. It definitely looked full to my untrained eye, but upon checking the online full moon calendar for 2012 (who knew?), I discovered that the actual full moon will occur Tuesday morning around 1:30 CST.
Even though this moon wasn't full, it was incredibly big and bright and there was a distinct lunar halo. More internet searching explained that even though the sky surrounding the moon appears to be extremely clear, the halo is indicative of the presence of high, thin cirrus clouds, containing millions of ice crystals, drifting 20,00 feet or more overhead. When the ice crystals are aligned exactly right, our eye sees the halo that the sparkle of the crystals creates.
What makes all of this even more amazing is that no two people will see the lunar halo in exactly the same way. Even two people who are standing side by side will experience their own unique perspective of the halo. So even though M and I both looked at the moon at almost the same time, she from Indiana and me from Illinois, her view of the lunar halo was subtly different from mine.
And to think that all along I assumed that, aside from differences in time zone, when we looked at the moon, we all saw the same thing.
Friday, January 6, 2012
No laughing matter
I've gently poked fun at this woman before, but it really isn't a laughing matter any more.
My mom called me today on her way home from Aunt D's house. Over the past year Aunt D has become more and more confused. It's pretty clear that she is suffering from some sort of dementia and it's becoming clearer that she no longer is able to live independently. Ideally Aunt D would have adult children to help her navigate selling her house and moving into a care facility, but her only son died more than 40 years ago when he was still in college. Her husband died almost nine years ago, so she is on her own, with only extended family to help.
My mom lives an hour and a half away from Aunt D, but she talks with her on the phone and visits about every other week. Her trip today was precipitated by a phone call from one of Aunt D's friends who felt that my mother needed to make a well-being check. Apparently someone had sent Aunt D an invitation to an 83rd birthday and Aunt D claimed she didn't know the woman who was celebrating her birthday or the woman's daughter who sent the invitation and is hosting the party. Instead of saying "oh well" and tossing the invitation in the trash, Aunt D was all worked up about someone who "couldn't be bothered to sign her name" to the xeroxed birthday invite. My mom tried to tell her that if she didn't know (remember) either of these women, it was no big deal, but Aunt D was concerned that these women wouldn't know that she wasn't coming to the party.
A few weeks ago my parents went to Aunt D's because she called and told them that the lights in her house weren't working. She turned them on but nothing happened, even when she changed the light bulbs. When my parents arrived, they realized that her lights weren't working because she was trying to use the furnace thermostat to turn them off and on. : /
I know what a strain this situation is for my mom and dad. They genuinely care for Aunt D, but when she isn't lucid, it is very hard to reason with her. Additionally my parents aren't youthful 50 year-olds; they are fairly active senior citizens (73 and 75 years old next month), so all of these 3 hour round trips are beginning to take their toll on them.
I have worried about the possibility of dementia as I age. I've even talked about it with my oldest child. She assures me that it's normal to not remember where you've left your keys. What's not normal is when you can't remember what you use your keys for.
Sadly Aunt D is at that point. I pray that God will give my parents the wisdom and strength to help Aunt D through this season of life.
My mom called me today on her way home from Aunt D's house. Over the past year Aunt D has become more and more confused. It's pretty clear that she is suffering from some sort of dementia and it's becoming clearer that she no longer is able to live independently. Ideally Aunt D would have adult children to help her navigate selling her house and moving into a care facility, but her only son died more than 40 years ago when he was still in college. Her husband died almost nine years ago, so she is on her own, with only extended family to help.
My mom lives an hour and a half away from Aunt D, but she talks with her on the phone and visits about every other week. Her trip today was precipitated by a phone call from one of Aunt D's friends who felt that my mother needed to make a well-being check. Apparently someone had sent Aunt D an invitation to an 83rd birthday and Aunt D claimed she didn't know the woman who was celebrating her birthday or the woman's daughter who sent the invitation and is hosting the party. Instead of saying "oh well" and tossing the invitation in the trash, Aunt D was all worked up about someone who "couldn't be bothered to sign her name" to the xeroxed birthday invite. My mom tried to tell her that if she didn't know (remember) either of these women, it was no big deal, but Aunt D was concerned that these women wouldn't know that she wasn't coming to the party.
A few weeks ago my parents went to Aunt D's because she called and told them that the lights in her house weren't working. She turned them on but nothing happened, even when she changed the light bulbs. When my parents arrived, they realized that her lights weren't working because she was trying to use the furnace thermostat to turn them off and on. : /
I know what a strain this situation is for my mom and dad. They genuinely care for Aunt D, but when she isn't lucid, it is very hard to reason with her. Additionally my parents aren't youthful 50 year-olds; they are fairly active senior citizens (73 and 75 years old next month), so all of these 3 hour round trips are beginning to take their toll on them.
I have worried about the possibility of dementia as I age. I've even talked about it with my oldest child. She assures me that it's normal to not remember where you've left your keys. What's not normal is when you can't remember what you use your keys for.
Sadly Aunt D is at that point. I pray that God will give my parents the wisdom and strength to help Aunt D through this season of life.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Thankful Thursday
In two days we'll take M back to school for the start of spring semester.
Where did the past three weeks go? It seems like yesterday that I was getting ready to drive to West Lafayette to pick her up, and now it's time to take her back. Even though our time together was short, there still are lots of reasons to give thanks.
I'm thankful:
M had her best semester ever at Purdue!
M was able to work at JoAnn's while she was home for Christmas.
M was able to see Dr. Zubair to talk about some of the gastro issues she's still been experiencing.
M seemed content to spend time with family instead of wanting to constantly be with friends.
for the most part, our home life was drama-free.
I'm happy that, when we back down the driveway Saturday morning, I will genuinely wish that we could have had another week with M rather than wishing her semester had started a week sooner. Our time together was a lot of fun, and for that, I'm truly thankful.
Where did the past three weeks go? It seems like yesterday that I was getting ready to drive to West Lafayette to pick her up, and now it's time to take her back. Even though our time together was short, there still are lots of reasons to give thanks.
I'm thankful:
M had her best semester ever at Purdue!
M was able to work at JoAnn's while she was home for Christmas.
M was able to see Dr. Zubair to talk about some of the gastro issues she's still been experiencing.
M seemed content to spend time with family instead of wanting to constantly be with friends.
for the most part, our home life was drama-free.
I'm happy that, when we back down the driveway Saturday morning, I will genuinely wish that we could have had another week with M rather than wishing her semester had started a week sooner. Our time together was a lot of fun, and for that, I'm truly thankful.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Karma's a b*tch
Just a few years ago I was feeling a little judgmental of a friend. This woman's son was dating a girl that she didn't like. Actually, it wasn't so much that she didn't like the girl -- it was more that she didn't think that this girl was right for her son. It didn't matter that her son really liked his girlfriend, my friend didn't like her.
I can remember feeling that my friend was being way too hard on this girl, especially with the extremely critical and mean-spirited comments that she made about her lack of fashion sense and refusal to wear cosmetics. Although she would never admit it, I think it really bothered her that this young woman was very much the academic equal of her son, and perhaps was even more intelligent than him.
I can remember feeling that my friend was being way too hard on this girl, especially with the extremely critical and mean-spirited comments that she made about her lack of fashion sense and refusal to wear cosmetics. Although she would never admit it, I think it really bothered her that this young woman was very much the academic equal of her son, and perhaps was even more intelligent than him.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Winter
Winter is not my favorite season. In fact, it is my least favorite season. Not even close to third place -- dead last fourth place.
This winter, December spoiled me. There was really no measurable snow and the temps were relatively mild. Only a few days were genuinely cold.
In a word? It was heaven.
Then 2011 came to a close and 2012 rushed in with a blast of frigid, arctic, Canadian air. Darn you Canadians! Keep your lung-crushing, ice-tinged air to yourself!
Tomorrow brings the start of a mini warm up. Maybe if the sun shines, I might be persuaded to take a break from my hibernation.
This winter, December spoiled me. There was really no measurable snow and the temps were relatively mild. Only a few days were genuinely cold.
In a word? It was heaven.
Then 2011 came to a close and 2012 rushed in with a blast of frigid, arctic, Canadian air. Darn you Canadians! Keep your lung-crushing, ice-tinged air to yourself!
Tomorrow brings the start of a mini warm up. Maybe if the sun shines, I might be persuaded to take a break from my hibernation.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Something's gotta change
Two days into 2012, something's gotta change . . . and I think it's gonna have to be me because no one else seems to be willing to meet me halfway.
It's time to change my attitude, my approach, my priorities. I don't like change, but in this instance, if I don't change, I don't think I will be able to survive.
Bad language update: I didn't swear at all today! That was quite an accomplishment since there were five football games on today and only one of "my" teams won. : (
It's time to change my attitude, my approach, my priorities. I don't like change, but in this instance, if I don't change, I don't think I will be able to survive.
Bad language update: I didn't swear at all today! That was quite an accomplishment since there were five football games on today and only one of "my" teams won. : (
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2012 -- 1 day down, 365 to go
So today went fairly well . . . until it didn't.
One day into the new year and I'm already looking forward to 2013. I almost cried when I realized that this is a leap year. I don't know if I can take an extra day.
I'm probably being a little bit overly dramatic, but not by much. This afternoon I read a blog post where the author was so excited to see what God has in store for her this year. I know this woman, so I do believe that she is genuinely eager for what lies ahead. Unfortunately I can't (at this point) share her enthusiasm.
I remember January of 2010. I was excited for the new year and I was definitely excited about going to Disney World in the middle of the month with G. The day we flew back home, the world that I knew and loved fell apart and 2010 went on to be the Worst.Year.Ever. Even the challenges of 2011 pale in comparison to the horrors of 2010.
Maybe it's a good sign (not that I believe in signs) that 2012 hasn't started off all that great. At least there will be room for improvement.
On a positive note, I only swore twice today. That might be a record. And I only swore once after the day went south, so I had a small degree of self-control in a crappy situation. That is worthy of at least half a gold star.
One day into the new year and I'm already looking forward to 2013. I almost cried when I realized that this is a leap year. I don't know if I can take an extra day.
I'm probably being a little bit overly dramatic, but not by much. This afternoon I read a blog post where the author was so excited to see what God has in store for her this year. I know this woman, so I do believe that she is genuinely eager for what lies ahead. Unfortunately I can't (at this point) share her enthusiasm.
I remember January of 2010. I was excited for the new year and I was definitely excited about going to Disney World in the middle of the month with G. The day we flew back home, the world that I knew and loved fell apart and 2010 went on to be the Worst.Year.Ever. Even the challenges of 2011 pale in comparison to the horrors of 2010.
Maybe it's a good sign (not that I believe in signs) that 2012 hasn't started off all that great. At least there will be room for improvement.
On a positive note, I only swore twice today. That might be a record. And I only swore once after the day went south, so I had a small degree of self-control in a crappy situation. That is worthy of at least half a gold star.
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