“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift wrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously." Matthew 5:38-40 (The Message)
I get so tired of hearing about bullying. It seems like everywhere we turn, we're hearing about it. I am not saying it doesn't exist and it's not serious, I just wish it would stop. (On the other hand, I also get tired of it being an excuse for bad behavior.)
What I am starting to realize is that bullying doesn't go away at a certain age. I see it now even as an adult. The hard part for me is that adults should really know better.
It is so hard to turn the cheek, as we're commanded to do. It never gets easier. I'm a sassy one, I've been told, and it's really difficult for me not to spout off sometimes when I really want to. (Now where does Madolyn get this nasty trait?)
Many times I think...Oh, it would feel so good to make them hurt like I am (or the way they are making someone else hurt). God says, No, do unto others as you would have done unto you.
I wonder...Don't they understand the hurt they are causing? God says, Forgive them and love them anyway.
I ponder...Oh, if only they would get a little taste of what they're dishing out. God says, Sarah, do not repay evil with evil.
I repeat in my mind the old saying...What comes around goes around. And God whispers, My child, do not wish harm upon another.
Many times, I start to write, text something or start punching numbers to make a call...and God reminds me, take a deep breath, think about what you're doing, and turn that chubby cheek of yours.
Unfortunately, bullying exists whether you're 5, 15 or 45 years old. I know it's easier said than done, but I wish we could all just spread God's love and forgiveness instead of tearing down one another.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Merry Christmas!
The humans and "naughty"animals at the Wilhoit Ranch wish you
and your loved ones a very
Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.
(P.S. Make sure to watch Christmas Vacation,
the Elf & the Christmas Story at least once.
It's just not Christmas without Clark, Buddy or Ralphie.)
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
The Mouse Game
My son has a new obsession - trapping. And right now his focus is on something there is plenty of around this time of year - mice. He begged and begged for some mouse traps. I had planned on putting them in his stocking (isn't that what every child wants?), but his dad went ahead and bought two 4-packs for him. Wonderful.
He and his buddies, "Korbin & Gavin" have really gotten into this trapping thing. And they are learning how to skin animals too. Again, wonderful.
The boys were over for a bit on Sunday and went outside to check traps. (Mouse traps, that is.) Lane had placed maybe four of them around, a couple in the shed and a couple in the hunting shack, that morning before church. Lucky boy - he caught a mouse.
Lane came charging in the house and asked for a stapler. "Why do you need a stapler?" "I need to staple the mouse legs to a board while we skin it. It's dead." Um, o-kay.
Later that afternoon, Lane set all 8 traps up in various buildings at our place. What a happy little fella he was yesterday to find that 7 out of 8 traps were victorious. The one lone wolf...we're not sure what happened. The trap is gone. I don't know if that means there is a mouse walking around with a trap attached to it, or there is a raccoon or squirrel with one hanging on. (I was glad to see that neither cat was carrying around a trap - and I haven't seen the rabbit with one either.)
I almost took pictures of the mouse hide, which is attached to a board right next to my door in the garage, but I thought some may not appreciate such a glorious site.
I'm certainly no fan of mice, but I do have a little compassion for them...as long as they're not in my house or camper.
About three weeks ago, Madolyn let Boots in the back patio door. As soon as she let her come in, she yelled "Uh-OH!" I looked over and could see that Boots had a little treasure in her mouth. I told Mad immediately to throw the kitty back outside. She was standing there screaming and flailing her arms and Boots let the mouse go. The mouse headed for the living room. I grabbed a dust pan and broom. (What is it about a dust pan and broom that brings about a sense of security?) Lane ran and grabbed a cowboy boot. I was yelling to catch that mouse, I did NOT want it in my room!
We were all scrambling around trying to trap the mouse and get it in the dust pan. I finally got close and it just scurried on over the side of the dust pan and ran behind the couch. I had Madolyn dig an empty hot chocolate container out of the trash can and I ditched the dust pan. The kids tipped the couch back and I waited. The little stinker was hiding under a throw pillow (not sure why it was back there) and we threw Boots in there as Mad lifted the pillow. Boots did nothing. Pitiful.
The mouse headed towards my bedroom. I slammed the door shut, but know full well a mouse can squeeze throw the tiniest of holes. I'm still yelling that we have to get the mouse. It turns and heads back towards the kitchen, and my sweet lad bopped it over the head with his cowboy boot right there on the kitchen floor. That pretty much took care of the situation...and then Madolyn started crying. She was furious that he had killed it. I was a little taken aback, but delighted that there wasn't a mouse free in my house or bedroom.
I grabbed the motionless varmint and tossed it out from whence it came (ha - Jerry Clower reference). Then got the mop to scrub the kitchen floor. (I did thank Lane for killing it on the kitchen floor and not the carpet.)
Lane was pretty pleased with himself and made sure to mock his sister for crying. I tried to explain to him that I was happy he took care of the situation, but it was a little cruel...and he replied, So is a mouse trap or poison. Okay, you got me there. I suppose I'm okay with that because I'm not standing there when death knocks on their door, you know.
He and his buddies, "Korbin & Gavin" have really gotten into this trapping thing. And they are learning how to skin animals too. Again, wonderful.
The boys were over for a bit on Sunday and went outside to check traps. (Mouse traps, that is.) Lane had placed maybe four of them around, a couple in the shed and a couple in the hunting shack, that morning before church. Lucky boy - he caught a mouse.
Lane came charging in the house and asked for a stapler. "Why do you need a stapler?" "I need to staple the mouse legs to a board while we skin it. It's dead." Um, o-kay.
Later that afternoon, Lane set all 8 traps up in various buildings at our place. What a happy little fella he was yesterday to find that 7 out of 8 traps were victorious. The one lone wolf...we're not sure what happened. The trap is gone. I don't know if that means there is a mouse walking around with a trap attached to it, or there is a raccoon or squirrel with one hanging on. (I was glad to see that neither cat was carrying around a trap - and I haven't seen the rabbit with one either.)
I almost took pictures of the mouse hide, which is attached to a board right next to my door in the garage, but I thought some may not appreciate such a glorious site.
I'm certainly no fan of mice, but I do have a little compassion for them...as long as they're not in my house or camper.
About three weeks ago, Madolyn let Boots in the back patio door. As soon as she let her come in, she yelled "Uh-OH!" I looked over and could see that Boots had a little treasure in her mouth. I told Mad immediately to throw the kitty back outside. She was standing there screaming and flailing her arms and Boots let the mouse go. The mouse headed for the living room. I grabbed a dust pan and broom. (What is it about a dust pan and broom that brings about a sense of security?) Lane ran and grabbed a cowboy boot. I was yelling to catch that mouse, I did NOT want it in my room!
We were all scrambling around trying to trap the mouse and get it in the dust pan. I finally got close and it just scurried on over the side of the dust pan and ran behind the couch. I had Madolyn dig an empty hot chocolate container out of the trash can and I ditched the dust pan. The kids tipped the couch back and I waited. The little stinker was hiding under a throw pillow (not sure why it was back there) and we threw Boots in there as Mad lifted the pillow. Boots did nothing. Pitiful.
The mouse headed towards my bedroom. I slammed the door shut, but know full well a mouse can squeeze throw the tiniest of holes. I'm still yelling that we have to get the mouse. It turns and heads back towards the kitchen, and my sweet lad bopped it over the head with his cowboy boot right there on the kitchen floor. That pretty much took care of the situation...and then Madolyn started crying. She was furious that he had killed it. I was a little taken aback, but delighted that there wasn't a mouse free in my house or bedroom.
I grabbed the motionless varmint and tossed it out from whence it came (ha - Jerry Clower reference). Then got the mop to scrub the kitchen floor. (I did thank Lane for killing it on the kitchen floor and not the carpet.)
Lane was pretty pleased with himself and made sure to mock his sister for crying. I tried to explain to him that I was happy he took care of the situation, but it was a little cruel...and he replied, So is a mouse trap or poison. Okay, you got me there. I suppose I'm okay with that because I'm not standing there when death knocks on their door, you know.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Inside out
For years, I believed that being healthy was about how much I weighed. I had never really had trouble with weight until I had Madolyn. After a child comes along, everything in your selfish world comes crashing down and mom and dad's needs take a back seat to baby. It happens and it is not the end of the world for most people.
But it seems that the struggle to lose weight just never ends. I did well on Weight Watchers a few years ago. It is a great program if you are willing to stick with it, but I wasn't really happy with all the 'diet' food I was ingesting. The past few years, I've kind of had an overhaul on my perspective of good health. As I'm creeping up on 40, I'm figuring out that the numbers on the scale do not determine my health.
When God created the earth, he gave Adam and Eve everything they needed to survive. Food and water. It was freely available, without having to search it out or work for it. Before they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, there weren't even weeds in the garden. Can you imagine a garden without weeds?! That first sin messed everything up. We now have weeds, painful childbirth and are inclined to wear clothes (okay, maybe that was a good thing) among other things.
Following Adam and Eve's lead, Man came along and decided that the fruit, nuts, plants and meat of the earth wasn't tasty enough and they started adding things to make it yummy and more enticing. Plain water was boring and tasteless, so they had to doctor that as well. And here we are...in a world full of unhealthy, over-processed, artificially-flavored, sugar-rich food. And we are a sickly bunch... overweight, tired, suffering from pain, weakness and other unexplained symptoms.
In my humble opinion, it all ties in to what we put in our bodies.
I'm not a poster child for clean eating or healthy living by any means, but I'm slowly trying to become a step-poster child for it. I would have to say I began a few years back when I kicked the Diet Pepsi addiction to the curb...only to replace it with something not much better, Crystal Lite with Caffeine (and the nasty artificial sweetener). I weaned myself off of several Crystal Lite drinks a day to one first thing in the morning and felt pretty good about it.
I tried hard to like coffee...and I just couldn't. I drank it for a few weeks off and on at work, straight, trying to force myself into that addiction. Why? I don't know except that I wanted another drink option. I was sick of water. That was a few months ago.
Now, I'm loving my water. Weird, I know. I've pushed my artificial sweeteners almost entirely off this mountain. I still enjoy a Diet Pepsi at Monical's with pizza or at a Mexican restaurant (where I know the pop is so good), but that is it.
I never thought it was possible that I would drink water, almost exclusively. Not for me at least. I'm working on getting healthy inside and out. Sure, I'm hoping the scale numbers fall a tad, but that isn't my number one goal anymore.
During this process, I recently stumbled onto Plexus. I will be sharing about my Plexus journey over the next few weeks.
But it seems that the struggle to lose weight just never ends. I did well on Weight Watchers a few years ago. It is a great program if you are willing to stick with it, but I wasn't really happy with all the 'diet' food I was ingesting. The past few years, I've kind of had an overhaul on my perspective of good health. As I'm creeping up on 40, I'm figuring out that the numbers on the scale do not determine my health.
When God created the earth, he gave Adam and Eve everything they needed to survive. Food and water. It was freely available, without having to search it out or work for it. Before they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, there weren't even weeds in the garden. Can you imagine a garden without weeds?! That first sin messed everything up. We now have weeds, painful childbirth and are inclined to wear clothes (okay, maybe that was a good thing) among other things.
Following Adam and Eve's lead, Man came along and decided that the fruit, nuts, plants and meat of the earth wasn't tasty enough and they started adding things to make it yummy and more enticing. Plain water was boring and tasteless, so they had to doctor that as well. And here we are...in a world full of unhealthy, over-processed, artificially-flavored, sugar-rich food. And we are a sickly bunch... overweight, tired, suffering from pain, weakness and other unexplained symptoms.
In my humble opinion, it all ties in to what we put in our bodies.
I'm not a poster child for clean eating or healthy living by any means, but I'm slowly trying to become a step-poster child for it. I would have to say I began a few years back when I kicked the Diet Pepsi addiction to the curb...only to replace it with something not much better, Crystal Lite with Caffeine (and the nasty artificial sweetener). I weaned myself off of several Crystal Lite drinks a day to one first thing in the morning and felt pretty good about it.
I tried hard to like coffee...and I just couldn't. I drank it for a few weeks off and on at work, straight, trying to force myself into that addiction. Why? I don't know except that I wanted another drink option. I was sick of water. That was a few months ago.
Now, I'm loving my water. Weird, I know. I've pushed my artificial sweeteners almost entirely off this mountain. I still enjoy a Diet Pepsi at Monical's with pizza or at a Mexican restaurant (where I know the pop is so good), but that is it.
I never thought it was possible that I would drink water, almost exclusively. Not for me at least. I'm working on getting healthy inside and out. Sure, I'm hoping the scale numbers fall a tad, but that isn't my number one goal anymore.
During this process, I recently stumbled onto Plexus. I will be sharing about my Plexus journey over the next few weeks.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Sheep and Butterflies
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)
I love yarn. It's a sickness really. The Yarn Studio in Casey is my Happy Place. Just walking in the door makes me feel better. It's weird, I know. How can one be so drawn to yarn? I have no idea, but I am. I love to pick them up and feel them. I love to imagine how they would look as a hat or mittens or a sock (that I would never finish). And that reminds me, sock yarn is sooooo eye-catching. I see the sock yarn table and it's all I can do to walk away empty-handed.
What brought me to this post - I was opening up an e-mail from some Knitting blog or shop or something I've signed up for telling me I could have a free trial subscription to a magazine and the cover this month was a big burly sheep. Ugh, why would you put a big burly sheep on the cover of a magazine that isn't about the farm? I started cracking up because then it hit me. Duh, I love that sheep. THAT ugly sheep is how I get to enjoy beautiful yarn!
Lane has been studying metamorphosis and I was helping him with his homework the other night. Imagine a caterpillar. They're not necessarily ugly, but I don't normally look at a caterpillar and think, wow, that is a beautiful caterpillar. When the caterpillar is full grown and stops eating, it becomes a pupa. There is absolutely nothing cute or pretty about the pupa. This pupa stage in the process can last a few weeks, a month or even longer. It may look like nothing happens during this stage, but major things are going on inside. And then suddenly, a beautiful butterfly appears.
It made me think of how God uses all of us for something. The good, the bad and even the ugly. The Christian band Gungor has a song called, "Beautiful Things" and part of the chorus is 'You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us.'
So often we put too much stock in how someone or something appears on the outside. We like to see pretty, we love to touch soft, nice things...but sometimes even something ugly has the potential to transform into something absolutely beautiful and eye-catching. A transformation or metamorphosis has to occur within us to become that something beautiful. A heart for Jesus - is something beautiful no matter what the outward appearance.
"Beauty is skin deep, but ugliness goes clear to the bone." Ouch. How true that can be. There is a lot of ugliness in this world. It is our job as Christians to let our light shine that beauty He created within us onto the ugliness of this world.
There are times I can be as ugly as a big ole burly sheep, inside and out...but I know that he is still using me for good. I just need a little tune-up on the inside every now and then.
Or maybe I should've been a sheep, created to produce endless skeins of soft, gorgeous yarn. Sing with me now, I just want to be a Sheep, Baa, Baa...
I love yarn. It's a sickness really. The Yarn Studio in Casey is my Happy Place. Just walking in the door makes me feel better. It's weird, I know. How can one be so drawn to yarn? I have no idea, but I am. I love to pick them up and feel them. I love to imagine how they would look as a hat or mittens or a sock (that I would never finish). And that reminds me, sock yarn is sooooo eye-catching. I see the sock yarn table and it's all I can do to walk away empty-handed.
What brought me to this post - I was opening up an e-mail from some Knitting blog or shop or something I've signed up for telling me I could have a free trial subscription to a magazine and the cover this month was a big burly sheep. Ugh, why would you put a big burly sheep on the cover of a magazine that isn't about the farm? I started cracking up because then it hit me. Duh, I love that sheep. THAT ugly sheep is how I get to enjoy beautiful yarn!
Lane has been studying metamorphosis and I was helping him with his homework the other night. Imagine a caterpillar. They're not necessarily ugly, but I don't normally look at a caterpillar and think, wow, that is a beautiful caterpillar. When the caterpillar is full grown and stops eating, it becomes a pupa. There is absolutely nothing cute or pretty about the pupa. This pupa stage in the process can last a few weeks, a month or even longer. It may look like nothing happens during this stage, but major things are going on inside. And then suddenly, a beautiful butterfly appears.
It made me think of how God uses all of us for something. The good, the bad and even the ugly. The Christian band Gungor has a song called, "Beautiful Things" and part of the chorus is 'You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us.'
So often we put too much stock in how someone or something appears on the outside. We like to see pretty, we love to touch soft, nice things...but sometimes even something ugly has the potential to transform into something absolutely beautiful and eye-catching. A transformation or metamorphosis has to occur within us to become that something beautiful. A heart for Jesus - is something beautiful no matter what the outward appearance.
"Beauty is skin deep, but ugliness goes clear to the bone." Ouch. How true that can be. There is a lot of ugliness in this world. It is our job as Christians to let our light shine that beauty He created within us onto the ugliness of this world.
There are times I can be as ugly as a big ole burly sheep, inside and out...but I know that he is still using me for good. I just need a little tune-up on the inside every now and then.
Or maybe I should've been a sheep, created to produce endless skeins of soft, gorgeous yarn. Sing with me now, I just want to be a Sheep, Baa, Baa...
Thursday, December 4, 2014
One lonely sole
In August I took a sock-knitting class. It was great. I jumped right in and finished my sock. It even looks pretty good...don't ya think?
And here is a picture of the second sock to the set...and it is
I was super stoked about knitting socks because everyone needs socks and lots of them...but here is my problem, one single sock takes forever. The yarn is teeny tiny and you use a small needle, which makes you knit and knit and knit for what seems like eternity, only to have half of a sock. I got bored. And still have only one single sock.
I do this a
Don't even get me started on my first blanket. That thing is taking an eternity. (It's a work in progress.) I have, however, finished my first pair of mittens and they were super easy and quick. (That's what I like.) I look forward to starting another pair, but I really must finish something else first...maybe.
I'm still obsessed with the knitting but have to pace myself a little for the sake of my hands, wrists and arms. I have tried to halt yarn purchases the last few months because, if you walk into my office right now (oh, wait, you can't) you would see that I have PLENTY of yarn.
Current problem is that sweet Moxie Mo, the beautiful bloodhound puppy, really, really likes my knitting too. She has ruined two different circular needs so far and will stop at nothing to get a ball of yarn...repeatedly...no matter where I put it. She is worse than the cats when it comes to the yarn!
But she is so sweet and lovable. I'll let it go...and buy another needle...and maybe some more yarn.
The upside to this - there are these brand new needles at the Yarn Studio called Rockets that are awesome. I know what you're thinking, how can a knitting needle be awesome? (I thought the same thing when "Diane" showed them to me.) Just trust me on this one. Maybe I should start leaving my other needles out for Moxie to happen upon.
I will finish that other sock. Some day it will happen. It would be silly to leave that one lonely sole.
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