"THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD!"

I shared this picture on Facebook yesterday, and everyone liked it so much that I decided to share it with all of you!  I really like the message it sends - that not even a pesky mosquito can ruin or steal our joy!  This mosquito gets more than he expected!

(Photo from:  Stand on the Rock)

SHINE brightly today, Sisters! :)

Laughter

What else could I do but laugh at myself?  It wasn't the first time it had happened, and I'm pretty sure it won't be the last.  My family laughed, too.

Sunday morning, right at the beginning of our worship service, I realized that I had forgotten to put the food in the oven that was to be our lunch for that day.  I had gotten up early that morning, put frozen chicken breasts in a casserole dish, poured barbecue sauce over the top and covered it with foil.  Potatoes were wrapped in foil, as well.  I had planned to put everything in the oven right as we walked out of the door for Bible class, but unfortunately, I forgot.  Usually I remind one of our children to remind me (the one who tends to be the best at remembering...and eating!), but I forgot to do that, too.

When we arrive home after worship on Sunday at noon, usually there is a pleasing aroma as we enter the house.  My son (the same one referred to above) will say, "It smells good, Mom".  This time there was nothing. No pleasing aroma, just two dishes of food waiting to be baked.

The dishes were placed in the fridge and baked the next day.  It made for an easy and quickly-prepared meal, for sure!  For the Sunday meal, we ended up going to eat at a favorite restaurant we haven't been to in a long time....an unexpected treat.

Laughter is good medicine, so it's been said.  If so, I give myself and my family plenty of material for laughter! But, even though I might be embarrassed sometimes, I'm grateful for the laughter in our family.

So, what have you done lately that has caused you to laugh at yourself?

This post is linked to Gratituesday @ Heavenly Homemakers.  To see what others are grateful for, visit Heavenly Homemakers - here.

I Just Couldn't Help It!

Sometimes funny things happen at inopportune times.  Worship is one of those inopportune times when you wouldn't want or expect anything funny to happen, but sometimes it does.  Although very rare, I can think of a few times when something really funny happened during worship and I just could not help it.  I couldn't keep from laughing.

Our third child, Jacob, was about 14 months old.  My husband, Joe, was the guest preacher at a small country church where his dad is actually the minister.  Joe had been holding Jacob on his lap, but in preparation to go up to the pulpit, he handed over Jacob to me.  Unbeknownst to us, Jacob had basically "exploded" in his diaper and "out" of it as well.  The problem was that it was all over my husband's suit pants!  Quickly I reached for some wipes and we did the best we could in the few seconds time we had to clean up the mess. 

Joe went up to preach and I took Jacob to the bathroom to clean him up.  By the time we got back there, he was dirty all the way down to his socks and shoes.  Fortunately, the little outfit was a two piece sailor suit (a hand-me-down from our older son) and not a one piece, so the undershirt was completely clean and dry.  Unfortunately, I never was good about taking a second pair of clothing when I went places - even with the third (and later even with the fourth) child.  I changed Jacob's diaper, wiped him off as best I could, and went back in to the auditorium - in only that little shirt and his diaper.

At the end of each sermon, a song is sung that serves as the time where people can come to the front for any needs - perhaps they've decided to become a Christian, or maybe they need prayers from the church. We commonly call that time the "invitation" song because it's the Lord "inviting" them to come to Him. 

This "invitation" song typically has lyrics that would make one think about their own relationship with God.  Not typically a "funny" time at all. But, this time when the song was sung, I just "lost" it.  I could not control my laughter.  I felt bad, but all I could think of was the "explosion", Joe's pants, and the lyrics of the chorus that were being sung to "Are You Washed in the Blood?"  Here is the specific part where I lost it after each verse:

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?

I just couldn't help it!

My Little Criminal

Yesterday was our school's 100th day of school.  In celebration of this day, the 1st grade class did lots of fun activities.  Our youngest child, Tyler, is in the 1st grade, and apparently the teacher had them write a little story about what they would do if they had a $100 bill.  I didn't see this note until a little while ago when one of our other children brought it to me.  I'm a little worried that we may have a little criminal on our hands!  And, my post yesterday was about "stealing", too - oh, no!

If you can't decipher his note, here's the translation:

If I had a $100 dollar bill I would collect more money and steal all their money.  And Go to Disney World and buy a car.  Get anything that I want I can buy a cake...and give some money to my uncle Ken and put a penney in his ear and give some more money to Zachary and Jacob of course Lauren.  Thank You.

It would be great if Disney World would only cost $100 or a car, wouldn't it?  I need to explain the "Uncle Ken" and "penny in his ear" part.  His Uncle Ken does a trick with a coin and it "appears" that the money is coming out of the ear.  I guess Tyler wants to increase his $100 to even more! 

I like how he is willing to share with his siblings, Zachary, Jacob, and Lauren.  They would appreciate that, I'm sure.  However, I was a little concerned about the "stealing" part so I asked Tyler whose money he was going to steal. He said he didn't know.  I said, "Tyler, you know it's wrong to steal, right?"  He said, "It's just a joke, Mom." 

Oh, good!  I guess he's not trying to be a criminal after all! (ha ha)

The Stolen Tote

Every Christmas I have to purchase a few new totes for my Christmas stuff.  Sometimes it's because I've found things on sale that I'll use next year and sometimes it's gifts - ornaments, decorations, etc. - received during the current year.  This year I purchase two huge lime green totes.  I was going to use one of the new totes for my own Christmas stuff and the other new tote for the Christmas decor from my small business (a rental booth within a large), Serendipity, so that I could use it again next year.

I'm embarrassed to say, but I didn't get all of the Christmas out of the house and garage until Sunday afternoon.  I usually have it down and put in the shed by the end of the first week in January, but things kept interferring and I just couldn't get it done this year.  But, Sunday afternoon we finally had time to work on the Christmas stuff.  While my husband and our children were taking all of the totes out to our shed, I was working on my "Serendipity" tote and getting it packed.  I asked one of the boys to bring me the lime green lid that went to the tote, but he never did.  I kept working on things in the house and the rest of my family worked in the garage and shed.  I reminded my daughter that we have bought two lime green totes and that we were careful to get two lids and made sure the sizes were right (I had made that mistake before and gotten the wrong thing!).  I knew there were supposed to be two totes and I was thinking that they had taken one to the shed, but that I was working on the other one in the house.  She said, "Mom, we already took two lime green totes to the shed."  My husband and boys agreed.

At that moment it dawned on me that I had mistakenly gotten three totes!  The extra one must have been stuck to one of the other ones! The kids realized this, too, and said, "Mom!  You stole that tote!!!"  I assured them that I would go to the store and pay for the tote and explain that it was an accident, but then I realized that I didn't have a lid for this extra tote.  I replied to my family, "I wish I had stolen the lid! The kids were shocked that I would say such a thing!  Not that I would ever steal anything on purpose, but now I had a big problem.  The lime green tote was a special tote that was only sold after Christmas and here it was - the 24th of January.  I was sure they wouldn't have any more of those lids, but planned on checking to see to be sure.  I also planned on paying for the tote.

Well, today I finally went to Altus (about 30 minutes away) and to the store where I bought the tote.  Just as I suspected, there were no totes like the lime green one.  In fact, the store doesn't even stock that brand of tote on the shelves, except during special times of the year.  I didn't have time to talk to customer service today, but will soon.  I'm thinking I'll just return the tote and explain to them the problem.  I don't want to keep it because it's no good without the lid and I don't want to go pay for something that I can't use.  I'm pretty sure they will understand.

I have to say that this is the first (and probably last) time I've ever wished that I had stolen something!  If I had stolen the lid, I could have gone and paid for the whole thing and the problem would have been solved.  Now I'll have to get another tote or maybe even two to take the place of this one that it HUGE.  I'll have to unpack all of my things and replace them into another tote.

Oh, well, it makes for a funny story!

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21

What funny story would you like to share?

Sad News

I received this via email from my Dad. I wanted to share it with you.

SAD NEWS

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs.. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as one who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

If this made you smile for even a brief second, please rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else that may be having a crumby day and kneads a lift.

Have a great day! :)

Double Chins and Gray Hairs

I've always had a double chin, but lately it's seemed worse.  Don't know if it's the 30 pounds I need to lose or just the skin in that area loosening up due to age, but I don't like it!  It's annoying!

I know I'm not the only one that's ever been annoyed by a double chin (hope not, anyway!).  I'll never forget a patient we had when I worked for an ophthalmologist.  Dr. K told the man to put his chin up in the slit lamp chin holder.  The man replied, "Which one?"  We all three laughed about that and I've never forgotten it.  I appreciated his sense of humor about his "annoyance".

I've tried doing exercises myself from time to time, though not consistently.  However,  I recently saw a new product being advertised on one of those "as seen on TV" commercials advertising a chin exerciser.  It's a gadget that goes under your chin and you push up the end of it, making it press against your chin to exercise it.  Maybe that would work????

I've often thought about when I was younger and showed steers in 4-H.  I had a calf that had a big, baggy neck/chin and we got him a kind of sling thing that went around his neck.  It was lined with wool or fleece and was supposed to get hot and sweat off the excess chin/neck, I guess.  Hey!  Maybe that would make a good "as seen on TV" product!!

Another annoyance to me are gray hairs.  It's not that I mind being gray....it's the process of getting there.  I don't like the gray hairs because they won't lay down!  They stick up and are wirey!  Actually, right now my hair is highlighted, so that covers the gray up pretty much - for 6 weeks, anyway.

Although God cares for me and wants me to take good care of my body, I know He cares more about my heart.  He knows how many hairs are on my head (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7),  but he doesn't care if they're gray or not.  (In fact in Proverbs 16:31 it says gray hair is a "crown of splendor"!)  He loves me, one chin or a double chin.  And I'm so thankful that He does!

Now, excuse me while I go order that chin gadget.  But wait!  There's more!  There's a special buy one get one free offer if I call right now.   I'll send you the extra one if you're interested :).

Some Things You Just Can't Share!

I just sat down to write a blog post, not really knowing what I was going to write about tonight.  Then my daughter came in to tell me good night.  She sat down close by and said, "Mom, I've got a situation.  Every night after I brush my teeth, I put my toothbrush up in the cabinet in a certain container by my contact stuff.  But, every morning when I go to brush my teeth, it's in the drawer and I don't know why." 

At this point I was thinking, "Who would move her toothbrush?" But then Lauren continued,  "Well, just now I went to brush my teeth and it was wet!"  All of the sudden, I knew what was happening.  One of her brothers was "sharing" her toothbrush!  They are all three asleep, but we're pretty sure Jacob is the one who is using the toothbrush.  Why?  Because he's the one who never can find his toothbrush.  He's the one who never remembers to pack a toothbrush on a trip.  And, (unfortunately) he's the one the dentist recently said needs to brush better!

Lauren wrote Jacob a note to leave in the bathroom for Jacob to see in the morning (she's already convicted him!).  It was a nice note...much nicer than I would have been if I found out someone was sharing my toothbrush (YUCK!)

We talked about this situation and agreed:  There are just some things you can't share.  A toothbrush is at the top of our list!  Now, Jacob MAY have a rebutal.  He may use the scripture: "Share with God's people who are in need." Romans 12:13.  But, although he is, indeed, one of God's people and he may be "needy" in the sense that he "needs" a toothbrush, I'm pretty sure that would be taking that scripture completely out of context....don't you??

There's another thing we can't share.  While we can share our faith and tell others about God, and about Jesus, and what Jesus has done in our lives, we can't share our salvation.  My salvation won't save my husband.  My salvation won't save any of my children.  My salvation (a gift from God through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus) is mine alone. We each are accountable for ourselves as to our relationship with God.  "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." Romans 14:12

My husband is in Nashville, TN, on a business trip, so I just called him and told him this story.  He responded, "Well, on the bright side - at least he's brushing!"  Very true!

Blue Skies and Rainbows

Tomorrow is the first day of spring and there is a slight chance of rain for tomorrow, as well as for several days next week. We need the rain desperately around here! I know it isn't most people's attitude, but I like storms. Now, I don't mean tornadoes, but just thunderstorms and rainstorms. I especially like it when a storm comes during the day and then the sun comes out. Why? Because God gave us a beautiful gift many, many years ago as a promise that He would never flood the whole Earth again. He gave us the rainbow! We can see the rainbow in the blue sky as the sun shines after a rain storm.

I took this rainbow picture last summer after an afternoon rainstorm, but I have a story to tell you about a rainbow my children and I saw a few years ago. We had gone to Altus, which is about 30 minutes away from our town, on a Sunday afternoon. We were headed back to Tipton and would have just enough time to change clothes before evening worship services began. I saw a rainbow in the sky and pointed it out to the kiddos. They all commented about how bright and beautiful it was! I happened to remember that we had a disposable camera in the car, so we pulled over to take a picture. Every direction I tried to take the picture from had high-line wires and poles in the way, so we pulled down a dirt road. Even though it had rained a little bit, I never thought about the road being muddy because it had been so dry for so long. That was a mistake!

As we started along the dirt road, our minivan began swerving! I tried to keep it straight and eventually did get it stopped. I put the van in reverse and attempted to back up to get back to the highway and out of the mud. Unfortunately, the van began swerving again and the back end slid into the ditch! We were STUCK! Well, a few of my children - no ALL of my children- panicked! I quickly tried to calm them down and asked them what we should do to help the situation. They knew immediately that I meant we should pray. So we prayed to God and asked for His help, His strength, and His care as we worked through this problem.

After the prayer I called my husband. He is always so good when I call in this type of situation. I suppose he has to be because I find myself in situations such as this quite often :). It makes for a good teaching tool for my boys. (Ex. "Boys remember that when your wife some day calls and does something like this, don't get mad, just go help her. Your dad is always calm and never gets upset with me." I'm sure my future daughters-in-law will appreciate this training!!)

My husband arrived shortly and tried to figure out a way to pull us out of the ditch. He tried to hook a rope around the tire, but because of the slick mud, the van was unsteady. We were afraid it would slip and hurt him, so we decided it would take more manpower. We eventually all trekked across the mud and into his pickup and headed for town. We were a little late to worship services after stopping by the house to change our muddy shoes!

After services, one of the men of the congregation (a farmer) offered to go the next morning to pull the van out of the mud. He took his tractor and delivered my van - UNHARMED, but extremely dirty and mud-packed! I was so glad it was not damaged and that he was able to get it out!

Now, back to the rainbow. While waiting on my husband to come to our rescue, I did get out and take a picture of the rainbow. It was still beautiful, despite the trouble it took to get the picture! Of course, now when there is a rainstorm in the day time, my husband always calls to remind me NOT to go down any country roads to get the perfect picture! Which is why in this picture, there is a big high line wire going straight across the middle!

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13

Thank you, God, for blue skies and rainbows and for your promise.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.