Remember the Ugly Boat?

  Dear Friends;

    Do you remember the ugly boat Sandy bought in December?  Remember the one he didn't mention until AFTER he bought it.

Not to shabby on the outside, but check out the horrid interior.



     Sandy has been diligently scouring and tinkering with his boat to make it a little more family friendly, as I'm pretty sure that he expects the "family" to actually use the boat this summer.  With all the work he's put in the boat is much improved, but the interior is still terrible.  Sandy has searched Craig's List, Ebay and the local paper for new "used" seats for the boat with no luck. 

   I have observed his behavior with this boat the last few weeks and determined he does, in fact, plan on regularly toting our family around the lake in this contraption.  The problem is, he hates the interior as much as I do.  I threw out the idea of getting some upholstery bids, to see what new upholstery would run.  

    I think he thought I was trying to trick him or something as he was a little skeptical,  but today the upholstery lady came.  She had this amazing stack of upholstery options for our boat.  I was instantly in decorating heaven,  well maybe not that far, but at least decorating vacation.  I thumbed through that puppy and selected new upholstery for our boat in shades of dreamy oyster, and slate gray.  Be still my decorating heart, I already have throw pillows picked out. 

   The nice upholstery lady came back with  a $1,500.00 bid to do the whole boat.  I didn't think this was a bad  deal and our 15th Anniversary is this month so I encouraged Sandy to have the boat reupholstered.  My theory is 15 years $100.00 a year= a $1500.00 gift.  Right? 

      Do you know what that crazy guy did?  He said no! And maybe a little something about it not being responsible.   What?  I never EVER encourage him to spend money on boats and the first time I do he says no.  I think he's messing with me. In fact, I'm pretty darn sure he is, as he "mentioned" the cuddy smelled like urine because they kept their porta potty in it.  Sure...tell the finicky wife, she might have to ride in a boat with urine and deny the upholstery.  I don't think so.........

     I have a sneaking suspicion that he wants me to think the upholstery is really a gift  for me.  Maybe it is, I'm all confused now.

Blessings to you and yours!

Snooty

Snooty.

Not a very nice word.

Hummmp!

Do you know the definition of snooty?

Let me help you out.

The dictionary definition of snooty is:

supercilious: having or showing a haughty condescending manner,  especially to those considered socially inferior. Why, you ask am I telling you this?  Well, over the past month or so I  have been praying God will reveal some of my blind spots.  You know, those areas everyone else is aware of but you.  God in His infinite wisdom, and I believe a bit of humor, has revealed one of mine- snootiness.  In a period of no less than a week, in three different instances I was told I was snooty or prissy.  I know, cruel, right.    The first instance occurred at a basketball game for my oldest daughter.  At the game a friend from church came to sit by me and asked me to point out my oldest daughter.  I did, she laughed and said she had already guessed by looking for the prissiest one.  Hummm....  What do you think she's trying to say?   The second instance occurred  one evening at a restaurant with friends.  A roll from the bread basket dropped out and I did not want to eat because it fell on the restaurant table.  One of my formerly dearest friends remarked, "you're a little snooty."  At the time I was horribly offended, I still may be.  Everyone at the table laughed and agreed with her.  Hummm..      The final instance occurred at home with Sandy and my kids.  I told them the snooty and prissy stories, and they all laughed and agreed.  Rude....Though it maybe possible I am the common denominator.       Weird, I have never thought of myself as snooty or prissy.  I try to be kind and loving to  pretty much everyone. I'm known as the nice one, though I think it may be possible to be snooty and nice at the same time.  Hummm.  Yuck.        I don't want to be snooty, yet I am not sure how not to be. I do like things a certain way;  like properly made beds, a spring salad with cranberries, feta and pecans topped with white balsamic,  forks on the left-side and butter knives and spoons on the right, and ice water in a goblet topped with a slice of lemon.  Now, I don't think any of these things are bad per say, though I do think my attitude regarding the presence of these things maybe.      I have a new goal.  It's to be a little less snooty and a little more humble.  Did you know humble is the antonym of snooty in the Thesaurus.  Ouch.       I think God's doing a little heart surgery on me.  This doesn't mean I am going to stop wearing eyeliner and using hairspray or that I won't like proper etiquette, but it does mean I am going to start studying what God's Word says about humility.  Not only am I going to study God's Word I am going to apply it to my life.   (Note to the "snooty caller"-  This probably does not mean I will start eatting food off restaurant tables, though I may become a little less vocal about it.) (Note to other friends-  Call me out if you observe me acting snooty, don't be rude, just let me know I've been a little less than humble. I'd appreciate it.) Blessings to you and yours! 48.  A random sunny day in the midst of many rainy days. 49.  Kids who still love to chat with their mom. 50.  The sound of a dish washer running and the smell of coffee brewing. 51.  Friends that are equally as demented as me. 52.  New challenges. 53.  The earthy smell of rain. 54.  Rocking my littlest to sleep not one, but two nights in  a row. 55.  Six and a half trash cans heaping full of candy. 56.  A patch of blue among gray clouds. 57.  Flip flops. 58.  Preparation for Easter. 59.  A Savior who loves and chooses me! 

Moving Stinks

     Does anyone actually like to help people move?  If you do, you're weird.  I like people and even moving, but not, so much, moving people.  It's stinking exhausting.  Do remember, I don't particularly care to sweat, wear ugly shoes, lift heavy things or to break nails. 

I'm more of a stop and smell the flowers sort of girl.

    Yet today, I had a blast moving a good friend and her enormous collection of crap, oh I mean stuff.  The group we moved with was amazing!  I'm quit certain we have the best community pastor in the church- he rallies quite the team.  (I should of brought my camera).

Another bonus was watching that hot stud of mine lift heavy furniture.

He can jump super straight too.  He's multi-talented.



On a funny note, I have to share a hilarious (at least to me) story from moving: 

Note:  This story might possibly be slightly embellished, maybe, maybe not.  In addition,

this story does have the potential to offend, so read at your own risk.

A great team of people loaded the U-Haul and various other

vehicles full of home goods.  Once the vehicles were piping full, we

decided to leave a team of people at the current home, and

another team of peoplewould unload the gear at the new house. 

Before I headed to the new house, I gave some instructions to Jane.

I asked her to pack a cedar closet in the basement while we were gone.

I  then went on my merry little way to unload items at the new house.

Things went swimmingly until, on the way back, I realized I

forgot to let Jane know there was an urn containing
"Bob"(my friends first husband) in the closet.  Ha! 

Poor girl handled it fantastic. She found the urn,

opened it and realized it was quit possibly human ashes.  

She was quite the trooper, she packed Bob up and loaded him in the U-Haul.

 I, on the other hand, panicked a bit, raced back to the main

house, and informed her Bob was in the closet.  

She remained very composed and said, "I suspected that I found

human ashes."  I cracked up.  I know, I radiate with maturity and compassion.

  I bet that is the strangest thing she ever found while helping someone move.

(*Names have been changed to protect the innocent, and I asked permission to share this story.)

Now lets evaluate my leadership during this event.

1.  Divided into teams to conquer a task.  Win.

2.  It wasn't my idea to divide in teams. Win.  (I work with smart people)

3.  The team left at the main house was quite small,

a team of one, to be exact.  Oops!

4. Forgot to let the "team" know there was human remains in the closet.  (Fail)

5.  Cracked up at the poor woman, who was left alone in the giant house

and found an unexpected surprise that I forgot to tell her about.  (Win, humors good)

Blessings to you and yours!

 

   

Seeking

   For over a year now I have been reading through my Bible.  I have not been faithful to read the Word everyday.   I have even skipped weeks of reading God’s Word, yet He is so faithful to me.  He calls me and draws me, when I become complacent.  He loves me with an everlasting love.

   A few weeks ago I decided to get back on track, and start spending time in the Word again.  I read Hosea chapters 9 & 10, and this verse popped off the page:

“Sow with a view to righteousness,

Reap in accordance with kindness;

Break up your fallow ground,

For it is time to seek the Lord

Until He comes to rain righteousness.”

           Hosea 10:12 NASB

   I felt God’s Word penetrate straight into my heart.  I was compelled to read the passage again and again.

“Sow with a view to righteousness,”

Via

“Reap in accordance with kindness;”

“Break up your fallow (unproductive) ground,”

Via

“For it is time to seek the Lord”

“Until He comes to rain righteousness.”

   Today as I opened God’s Word again, my eyes were drawn to the highlighted passage, including verse 13.

“You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,

You have eaten the fruit of lies.

Because you have trusted in your way.

In your numerous warriors.”

   These verses resonate within me.  God has called me to so much more.  He wants me to, “sow with a view to righteousness,” He does not want me to sow arbitrarily or wickedly. He wants me to sow with a view of eternity and His righteousness.  Everyday and every moment I need to ask:  What am I sowing and to what end am I sowing too?  Do I have a view of righteousness, or are my glasses covered in muck?

     Do I “reap in accordance to kindness”, or do I plow over others in search on my own desires and needs?  Do I care more about myself than I do God or my fellow man?  In verse 12 the word kindness comes from the Hebrew word hesed, meaning loyalty.  This word actually refers to “right conduct towards one’s fellowman or loyalty to the Lord, or both. (source) 

   Am I willing to breakup my fallow, unproductive ground and seek the Lord, or do I want to stay status quo and “eat the fruit of lies”?  Am I willing to be active and seek the Lord, or do I want to be spoon fed forever?  Am I willing to work for righteousness and sacrifice comfort for eternity?  It is time to seek the Lord!

   Verse 12 tells us; “Until He comes to reign righteousness on you.”  My job is to sow with a view towards righteousness, and reap with loyalty towards Him.  I need to get in the game and break up the unproductive parts of my life and seek Him whole-heartedly, for it is TIME to seek the Lord.  Then He will reign righteousness on me. 

   It time to think like a farmer.  What happens after the soil is tilled, fertilized, and the seed is sowed?  Nothing without water. It’s not until the rain and the water come that the seed sprouts and the plant grows and produces an abundant crop for harvest.  I want to seek the Lord, I want to be productive, and I want to produce good fruit that only comes from the Father.

“It is time to see the Lord.”

Blessings to you and yours!

All That and a Bag of Chips

I'm spoiled, yes, I never thought it would happen, but it did.

Sandy has fantastically spoiled/enabled me into blissful happiness.

You see, he takes care of all the "Man" duties.  You know what I'm talking about:

1.  Changes the oil.

2.  Fills my car with gas.

3.  Mows the lawn (most of the time),

4.  Weed whacks.

5.  Fixes stopped up toilets- (seriously, I don't even have to plunge).

He pretty much rocks.

Typically, I loved this spoiled life style and apparently, according to one of my besties,

can be a bit, how shall we say it, snooty.

 (I'm still offended Shelly).

Honestly, I just try to avoid activities that may induce injury, broken nails, require ugly shoes,  and

basically are unpleasant.

 (Stop thinking I'm shallow, it's practical, people, practical.)

Anyhoo, I've been assigned new projects at work lately.

 Projects  that require the use of a U-Haul, muscles, and ugly shoes.

Hummm....I see the possibility of a broken nail in my future.

Today, I "manned up" and conquered a feat so amazing that I'm still basking in the glory.

I opened a U-Haul all by myself.

 Don't judge me.

This was a "small step for man kind" sort of moment.

I realized I can open a U-Haul and even pull out the gate.

 (Okay, so the Worship Arts guy gave me a hand with the gate.)

At this point you may be wondering, "why am I reading this drivel".

 But that's all good with me cuz' I got me some muscles. 

In addition, I also found out something new about myself. 

 I actually like trying new things. 

Hummm...Weed whacking- here I come.

Blessings to you and yours!

Over the Meadow and Through the Woods

Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go.

My grandma lives in this little ghetto town, sorry grandma, you know it's true.

But she and my Grandpa Marv found this beautiful piece of property at the edge

of town.

I love visiting their home.  I feel like they live in a magical land.

Beautiful views of a creek running along the bottom of a hillside. 

In the spring, orchard tree's in bloom.

It's lovely.

Just don't forget your taser when you visit, ya know, in case you want to go to town.

Grandma's is magical when you're little.  The littlest even found some petrified wood.

I love visiting family, and I can't wait to go to my mom's later this month!

Christian is going to try and score a ride in Grandpa's helicopter.  Fun!

Plus he's a homeschooler this year, so it'll count as homeschooling.

Blessings to you and yours!

The Strange Man and His Little Dogs

Are you confused yet?

Let me explain.  I spent this weekend visiting family, at my Grandma's.

   On this particular visit, I learned my uncle (whom I did not get a picture with)  reads my blog.  This particular uncle has two very loved spoiled dogs.  (I believe it's quite possible he loves his dogs more than most of his family.)  Well, as fate would have it, the week prior to visiting I blogged my Top 10 Dislikes, and number eight read a little something like this:

"8.  Animals in general. 

 Social tip:  You may love your pets, there's a good chance your company doesn't."

      I do believe he was a "little" offended.  He even printed my list and added a social tip of his own; 

 "Social Tip:  You may like your kids, but there's a good chance your host doesn't." 

     Ha!  He's a sassy fellow!  The thing is I agree with him, there are, in fact, children I don't particularly like.  Ha!  Though my children are lovely, little darlings, and cute too boot.

And his poor dog looks a little something like this:

Source



This post is all for you Uncle Gary! 

P.S.  You make fantastic chocolate covered strawberries!

Blessings to you and yours!