For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalms 107:9 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 (NLT)
Yesterday, our high school/college youth group participated in the International One Meal One Day campaign. It is sponsored by the Compassion organization and it is to help feed the hungry. The rules were to skip one meal on just one day and donate that money to Compassion for their efforts against hunger.
About three weeks ago, my friend I call Beth did a lesson on the subject matter and asked the kids if they wanted to participate. They did. Cool. One of our senior high school girls took charge. She created posters and organized an event in the gymnasium of the school during their lunch hour. They would gather there, collect the donations, have a short devotion and pray about those suffering from hunger. I think all but one or two youth from our high school youth group participated in the gathering. Those that are in another school and college participated on their own and the leaders did also. (I think the kids have gathered nearly $70 so far!)
Wow, it was way harder than I thought, which I know sounds absolutely ridiculous. I am the type of person that eats a little bit all day, which is not to say that you will never see me eat a bunch at once because I'm fully capable of that as well. I eat toast and hot chocolate for breakfast every morning around 6:45 and then about 10:00 I eat an apple or two, sometimes with peanut butter. I usually eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or lunch meat with a cheese stick for lunch and then an afternoon snack. Although Jay had encouraged me to eat the apple as a snack and then truly skip my lunch, I felt as if it was cheating...because I eat here and there all day and not necessarily one organized lunch meal.
Thankfully, I had my 32 oz Diet Pepsi and a busy docket that got me through the morning. Lunch came and I went grocery shopping at Walmart (which is not a good idea when you're hungry) and went for a walk for the rest of the lunch hour. That filled my hour. Throughout the morning I had sent up many prayers for strength, that I would draw my strength from God and not food, etc. And although I should not be surprised, after the prayer, I wouldn't think about it for a while. I wish today that I had asked God to help me quit thinking about it because I became obsessed with the fact that I could not eat anything...but I realize that maybe that was the point of it all.
I would walk in my office with my stomach growling and think, oh, I'll just grab a few slices of my apple or some crackers, I would then remind myself that I couldn't and that I can make it though this because children and adults live like this daily...I am simply skipping ONE STINKIN' MEAL. There are people who are lucky if they get a cup of rice once a day. It made me sick to my stomach thinking of how selfish I was being...how fortunate I am...how I can pretend to understand hunger but will never ever 'get' it...how I'm spoiled beyond their wildest dreams. I can walk to the cabinet or fridge any time I want and get anything out of there I want...without a single thought of worrying about what I or my family would eat tomorrow. If I want ice cream, I will hop in my car and drive 15 miles to get it. I tried to explain it to my own kids but they don't even almost get it. What can I say? It is unimaginable.
So last night we gathered at my house before revival (the youth group) and ate chili, potato soup, hot dogs, sandwiches, pumpkin bars, chocolate chip cookie bars, brownies, pickles, cheese, crackers. We had Pepsi, Mountain Dew, water and Tea. There were leftovers, lots of leftovers. We could have fed several more. We could have even ate less and been just fine. I was sick to my stomach having eaten so much after being so hungry. Again, I felt guilty. I still have no clue what it is REALLY like. I'm not sure I'll ever truly be able to grasp real hunger.
I know that people fast all the time for religious-based reasons and I think that is great. That is a powerful testimony to God. I am not saying I will never try fasting again...maybe God is telling me I need to do it more often, not just because of starving people across the world, but maybe for my own good...to remind me that I have to let God fill my needs and not a bunch of food.
By 3:00 yesterday, my stomach had quit growling, I wasn't shaking anymore and my headache wasn't too bad. I actually did okay then until about 4:30 when I started baking brownies...then I broke down and ate my apple. I'm proud of the youth who participated, I'm glad I participated, but it certainly was a little harder than I thought it would be...newsflash...I survived :)
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
How 'bout a TV Dinner?
Way back when I was much younger, my mom developed severe back pain and ended up having a pretty serious surgery (for that time). I can remember her having to crawl to the bathroom. It was debilitating for her. I think it was something with the disks in her back. I was young enough that the details didn't really matter at the time, my mom was miserable and couldn't get out of bed without extreme discomfort, and I knew she needed some sort of help. No other explanation was needed.
My mom was going to need surgery...which left the Quackdaddy in charge. Suddenly the Quack, who pretty much stuck with the man-of-the-house-role, became Mr. Mom. The Quackdaddy's number one meal has always been pancakes. And while I do love my pancakes anytime of day and often, I don't think I'd like them everyday...and I didn't back then either. I remember thinking that my brother and I were going to be stuck with pancakes for supper every night for the two weeks or so that mom was recovering. Little did I know, my dad had something else in mind.
I can picture it vividly, going downstairs to the upright freezer, opening that heavy door and seeing a stack of the bright red rectangular boxes, probably about 20 of them, stacked side-by-side, just waiting to be baked in the oven. The Quack had fixed all mealtime woes, he had purchased a great supply of Banquet TV dinners for us to choose from. (He loves to buy in large quantities.)
My favorite TV dinner was always Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and corn...and until a couple years ago, I still ate them as a treat every now and then. I know that after my mom's recovery, my brother and I didn't think they were such a treat. Now days, they're about a dollar a piece and you don't have to bake them in the oven, you can pop in the microwave for a few minutes. Heaven only knows what the meat really is. Oh, man, is it weird that my mouth is watering for a TV dinner?
My mom was going to need surgery...which left the Quackdaddy in charge. Suddenly the Quack, who pretty much stuck with the man-of-the-house-role, became Mr. Mom. The Quackdaddy's number one meal has always been pancakes. And while I do love my pancakes anytime of day and often, I don't think I'd like them everyday...and I didn't back then either. I remember thinking that my brother and I were going to be stuck with pancakes for supper every night for the two weeks or so that mom was recovering. Little did I know, my dad had something else in mind.
I can picture it vividly, going downstairs to the upright freezer, opening that heavy door and seeing a stack of the bright red rectangular boxes, probably about 20 of them, stacked side-by-side, just waiting to be baked in the oven. The Quack had fixed all mealtime woes, he had purchased a great supply of Banquet TV dinners for us to choose from. (He loves to buy in large quantities.)
My favorite TV dinner was always Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and corn...and until a couple years ago, I still ate them as a treat every now and then. I know that after my mom's recovery, my brother and I didn't think they were such a treat. Now days, they're about a dollar a piece and you don't have to bake them in the oven, you can pop in the microwave for a few minutes. Heaven only knows what the meat really is. Oh, man, is it weird that my mouth is watering for a TV dinner?
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Operation Christmas Child
Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. Deuteronomy 15:10 (NLT)
Our church joins the Samaritan's Purse each year in their Operation Christmas Child drive. We have done so for years and I know this event is growing bigger and bigger all the time. Usually, I wait until the last possible second and scramble around to find boxes and buy stuff in a rush to fill it and get them turned in on time to make delivery. A couple years I had to drive my boxes down separately to the drop-off center because I missed our church's deadline...not this year.
I am all over it. Ha. I saved two shoeboxes a month ago and started buying a couple things here and there about the same time. The two boxes our family is doing are loaded, packed and ready to go out. This year we decided to see if our high school/college youth group would like to participate. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at their excitement. After explaining the project, we had one boy and one girl take charge of a box for each and were nailing down who was bringing what. They were all over it! It was funny that a lot of the kids thought deodorant was a must!
Jay's cousin and wife are missionaries over in Africa and my mother-in-law saw pictures he had posted where shoeboxes from Operation Christmas Child were being handed out and there weren't enough for all the kids to receive one. Does that not break your heart? Ugh. It makes me want to fill as many boxes as I can find!! This time, as I bought items for the box, I tried to get things that had more than one. For instance, headbands in a group of five, two matchbox cars, a bag of marbles, etc. I'm hopeful that if the child receiving my box knows of someone who didn't receive one, maybe they will share.
My kids are also participating in putting a couple boxes together with their youth groups and Sunday School Classes. Lane wanted to buy Matchbox cars for his box and deodorant and Madolyn wanted hair accessories and a hairbrush. I don't think they grasp the reality of it all, but I suppose every little bit they hear and see helps. It is hard for me to believe that people really do live without things I don't think twice about. I can't imagine a child who is excited about a toothbrush and toothpaste, can you?
Wednesday night our youth group will gather at my house for supper and bring their shoebox items. We plan on taking a picture of the group and writing a note to enclose, packing up our boxes and praying over each box and for the child that receives it. I'm excited and curious to see what items the teens bring.
If you would like more information, go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ and find a drop-off center near you. Look around on the website at some of the stories and they will inspire you to head out right now and get a shoebox going. They will also give you ideas for what to pack! The shipping cost per box is $7 and there are three age ranges they recommend for boys and girls. You can print the labels from your computer. I see if you do a box online, you can track the box and where it goes. How exciting!! If you have a chance and feel lead, get out and pack up a shoebox...
Our church joins the Samaritan's Purse each year in their Operation Christmas Child drive. We have done so for years and I know this event is growing bigger and bigger all the time. Usually, I wait until the last possible second and scramble around to find boxes and buy stuff in a rush to fill it and get them turned in on time to make delivery. A couple years I had to drive my boxes down separately to the drop-off center because I missed our church's deadline...not this year.
I am all over it. Ha. I saved two shoeboxes a month ago and started buying a couple things here and there about the same time. The two boxes our family is doing are loaded, packed and ready to go out. This year we decided to see if our high school/college youth group would like to participate. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at their excitement. After explaining the project, we had one boy and one girl take charge of a box for each and were nailing down who was bringing what. They were all over it! It was funny that a lot of the kids thought deodorant was a must!
Jay's cousin and wife are missionaries over in Africa and my mother-in-law saw pictures he had posted where shoeboxes from Operation Christmas Child were being handed out and there weren't enough for all the kids to receive one. Does that not break your heart? Ugh. It makes me want to fill as many boxes as I can find!! This time, as I bought items for the box, I tried to get things that had more than one. For instance, headbands in a group of five, two matchbox cars, a bag of marbles, etc. I'm hopeful that if the child receiving my box knows of someone who didn't receive one, maybe they will share.
My kids are also participating in putting a couple boxes together with their youth groups and Sunday School Classes. Lane wanted to buy Matchbox cars for his box and deodorant and Madolyn wanted hair accessories and a hairbrush. I don't think they grasp the reality of it all, but I suppose every little bit they hear and see helps. It is hard for me to believe that people really do live without things I don't think twice about. I can't imagine a child who is excited about a toothbrush and toothpaste, can you?
Wednesday night our youth group will gather at my house for supper and bring their shoebox items. We plan on taking a picture of the group and writing a note to enclose, packing up our boxes and praying over each box and for the child that receives it. I'm excited and curious to see what items the teens bring.
If you would like more information, go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ and find a drop-off center near you. Look around on the website at some of the stories and they will inspire you to head out right now and get a shoebox going. They will also give you ideas for what to pack! The shipping cost per box is $7 and there are three age ranges they recommend for boys and girls. You can print the labels from your computer. I see if you do a box online, you can track the box and where it goes. How exciting!! If you have a chance and feel lead, get out and pack up a shoebox...
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sarah, get your gun!
I would say I was about 14 when I started shotgun hunting with my dad. The Quackdaddy loves to hunt anything that is legal, deer, quail, pheasant, dove, goose, ducks, rabbits, and I was ready to hunt with him. I remember when I took the Hunter's Safety Course I had to leave a sleepover at a girlfriend's house to go and that I went with two boys. I can tell you that the muzzleloading portion was the most boring thing I had ever had to sit through. It was awful. I can't tell you anything I learned that day...except that I had NO interest in muzzleloading. I passed the test and I earned my patch. I was now legal to hunt. Sarah, get your gun!
Back in the day, it was a really big deal (and still is) to go deer hunting during shotgun season. Our school, until recently, had a "Deer Day" literally...we were out of school for deer hunting because so many kids took the day off anyway. Now, I believe you can have an excused absence if your parents request it and you verify proof of deer hunting.
It was so exciting getting ready for opening day of the shotgun season, which is always the Friday before Thanksgiving week. We would set out all our stuff the night before so it would be ready in the morning and we'd wake up super early, like 4:00 a.m., and head out into the woods...where I would almost immediately lay down and fall asleep. So early on in my hunting career, that is exactly what I did, even though I was with dad, he just let me. I figure he knew good and well I was going to regardless of what he said and I knew that he would keep an eye out for the big one.
We would often start out solo and then by mid-morning or early afternoon, we would assemble the troops and drive the woods. Driving the woods means you sit shooters at certain points at the edge of a woods and then the walkers traipse through the woods "driving" the deer to the shooters. I know it sounds ridiculously dangerous, and now that my kids are getting to be that age, I think there is NO WAY I want them driving deer until they're 30 years old, but that is what we did and it was so FUN.
I forgot to mention that I was the only girl in our group...always...It was me and the guys and their dads. Once Jay and I started dating, and I converted him from a city boy (ha, I always say that), he went along with us and became obsessed with hunting too. I enjoyed hunting and the excitement it stirred and it was great exercise if I was a walker. I looked forward to it every year. I often found myself stuck with the photography portion of the hunt, you know, capturing everyone else and their great bucks.
After a couple years of hunting with no success on my part, they would place me in the perfect, no-fail position to shoot a deer. I didn't even care if it was a doe or a buck, I just wanted a shot. Ha, a shot. I got shots, no doubt. I can remember a few instances when I would get a shot, shoot my three shells, I would reload and keep shooting. Someone would eventually find me, assuming I had hit something, and I would have to tell them I missed. "How did you have enough time to reload?" "I don't know, I just did." I suppose one could say I was a little trigger-happy. I saw a deer and I blasted at them...I never hit them, but boy, did I shoot.
There was this one time that they had me in the perfect, no-fail position for the perfect shot at a deer, and the deer came running and I started firing and they all just kept running past, heading south. (Sometimes I could swear that someone was rigging my gun.) The guys had gotten wise, so they put someone just a few yards away to snag at my leftovers...which means everything that passed by. And one of the fellas shot a deer that I had missed...I never heard the end of that one. I'm sure my dad got tired of buying deer slugs as I kept shooting away at whatever came within a reasonable distance. It wasn't long before I was the joke of our group, which I could handle, but someone was always razzing me about missing so many shots, how did I always have time to reload, how could I possibly miss THAT shot, etc.
After Jay and I were married, we lived in a trailer a few miles from where I grew up. One evening there was a real nice buck standing in our yard when I got home. I remember thinking there is NO way I could miss this shot and that is an awesome buck...but safety first, as the Quack has always drilled in my head, I had to run into the trailer to get my orange safety vest and orange hat. Well, you can guess that by the time I was covered in blaze orange and had my shotgun loaded and ready to fire, ten minutes had passed and the buck had fled the scene. Man, was I bummed. My second mistake...telling my husband about this...who then told all of our friends...I have never lived that one down.
One Thanksgiving, my uncle, the Quackdaddy, my cousin, Jay and I went out rabbit hunting. I was determined to kill something. And I did...a warm, fuzzy, soft, sweet rabbit...which the Quack made me carry in my hunting vest...I was sick. I had helped gut several deer, but this was too much. I never went rabbit hunting again. After I had my kiddos, I gave up hunting. I figure when they start going, I'll get my license and join the family. It would be nice if at some point in this lifetime I could actually shoot and kill a deer so I could redeem myself, the rabbit just didn't cut it. Perhaps I should target practice first, huh?
Back in the day, it was a really big deal (and still is) to go deer hunting during shotgun season. Our school, until recently, had a "Deer Day" literally...we were out of school for deer hunting because so many kids took the day off anyway. Now, I believe you can have an excused absence if your parents request it and you verify proof of deer hunting.
It was so exciting getting ready for opening day of the shotgun season, which is always the Friday before Thanksgiving week. We would set out all our stuff the night before so it would be ready in the morning and we'd wake up super early, like 4:00 a.m., and head out into the woods...where I would almost immediately lay down and fall asleep. So early on in my hunting career, that is exactly what I did, even though I was with dad, he just let me. I figure he knew good and well I was going to regardless of what he said and I knew that he would keep an eye out for the big one.
We would often start out solo and then by mid-morning or early afternoon, we would assemble the troops and drive the woods. Driving the woods means you sit shooters at certain points at the edge of a woods and then the walkers traipse through the woods "driving" the deer to the shooters. I know it sounds ridiculously dangerous, and now that my kids are getting to be that age, I think there is NO WAY I want them driving deer until they're 30 years old, but that is what we did and it was so FUN.
I forgot to mention that I was the only girl in our group...always...It was me and the guys and their dads. Once Jay and I started dating, and I converted him from a city boy (ha, I always say that), he went along with us and became obsessed with hunting too. I enjoyed hunting and the excitement it stirred and it was great exercise if I was a walker. I looked forward to it every year. I often found myself stuck with the photography portion of the hunt, you know, capturing everyone else and their great bucks.
After a couple years of hunting with no success on my part, they would place me in the perfect, no-fail position to shoot a deer. I didn't even care if it was a doe or a buck, I just wanted a shot. Ha, a shot. I got shots, no doubt. I can remember a few instances when I would get a shot, shoot my three shells, I would reload and keep shooting. Someone would eventually find me, assuming I had hit something, and I would have to tell them I missed. "How did you have enough time to reload?" "I don't know, I just did." I suppose one could say I was a little trigger-happy. I saw a deer and I blasted at them...I never hit them, but boy, did I shoot.
There was this one time that they had me in the perfect, no-fail position for the perfect shot at a deer, and the deer came running and I started firing and they all just kept running past, heading south. (Sometimes I could swear that someone was rigging my gun.) The guys had gotten wise, so they put someone just a few yards away to snag at my leftovers...which means everything that passed by. And one of the fellas shot a deer that I had missed...I never heard the end of that one. I'm sure my dad got tired of buying deer slugs as I kept shooting away at whatever came within a reasonable distance. It wasn't long before I was the joke of our group, which I could handle, but someone was always razzing me about missing so many shots, how did I always have time to reload, how could I possibly miss THAT shot, etc.
After Jay and I were married, we lived in a trailer a few miles from where I grew up. One evening there was a real nice buck standing in our yard when I got home. I remember thinking there is NO way I could miss this shot and that is an awesome buck...but safety first, as the Quack has always drilled in my head, I had to run into the trailer to get my orange safety vest and orange hat. Well, you can guess that by the time I was covered in blaze orange and had my shotgun loaded and ready to fire, ten minutes had passed and the buck had fled the scene. Man, was I bummed. My second mistake...telling my husband about this...who then told all of our friends...I have never lived that one down.
One Thanksgiving, my uncle, the Quackdaddy, my cousin, Jay and I went out rabbit hunting. I was determined to kill something. And I did...a warm, fuzzy, soft, sweet rabbit...which the Quack made me carry in my hunting vest...I was sick. I had helped gut several deer, but this was too much. I never went rabbit hunting again. After I had my kiddos, I gave up hunting. I figure when they start going, I'll get my license and join the family. It would be nice if at some point in this lifetime I could actually shoot and kill a deer so I could redeem myself, the rabbit just didn't cut it. Perhaps I should target practice first, huh?
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Books and music and stuff
Right now I'm reading a hilarious e-book on my Nook and it's called "Imaginary Jesus." I wasn't too sure about it when I downloaded the book, but figured it was free, so why not. Then my coworker friend I call "Kathy" told me she was reading it and could not put it down, it was so funny. Hmm, okay, I'll give it a try. I am over halfway through it and it has been funny, interesting, thought-provoking, and oddly enough, true in many ways. It's all about how we come up with our own images of Jesus to fit our lifestyle and choices we make. For example, there is a TV Evangelist Jesus, an Eight-Ball Jesus (funny, he only answers as an eight-ball would), Free Will Jesus, Can't-See-The-Future-Because-It's-Unknowable-Jesus, Peacenik Jesus, King James Jesus, and the list goes on and on. If you happen to see this book, pick it up. It isn't too long and it's a hoot.
This past weekend I joined some friends and my mom (I guess she could be a friend too, huh?) and we went to see The Afters, Sanctus Real and Casting Crowns in Peoria. Yeah, I know that's a long haul, but CC doesn't come too close to us and they're worth traveling the distance for. I have seen them now three times and don't plan on skipping the next time they're near either!
Casting Crowns new CD is called "Come to the Well" and it has the song "Courageous" on it from the movie that is out right now. The first few songs on the CD are just amazing, but I'm one of those people who buys lots of CD's and listens to them non-stop over and over. This one is a good one. Mark Hall, lead singer and youth pastor, has written a book called "The Well" which is out right now too. During intermission, myself and two others went to a little pow-wow with Mark Hall, the drummer and other youth workers. We were given little goodie bags and it included a sampling of the new book. I read it and immediately ordered the full-length version. I'm hoping it arrives in the next day or two...then I'll tell you how good it was! It is all about the woman at the well...which you may have figured out by the title, ha.
Funny thing, we were trying desperately to locate a restaurant to eat at before the concert and the Riverfront in Peoria is not exactly a busy action-packed locale apparently. It was like ghost town USA or something. After we had parked and were walking down this completely empty riverfront sidewalk, my mom said, "Did we miss the rapture?" It was funny...and it was weird, desolate. I did spot a Hooters across the way, but for some reason, we decided to pass...ha. We see a couple restaurants nearby that are open and go in one.
Now, picture our local restaurants where you have to wait 60 minutes on a Saturday night to get a seat. Remember the line of people and crowds gathered near the entrance...Okay, we go into the first place and ask for a table for nine or split us up. We were told our wait would be 55-60 minutes. We were dumbfound as there was NO ONE gathered around anywhere near the entrance inside or out. Where in the world were all the people?
Restaurant choice number two was apparently having a pirate-costume party, but we decided to give it a shot anyway. It was a bar and grill. Again, no waiting, no one waiting, not one single person. Got it? Zip. We were told we would have to wait 20 minutes. We don't mind being split up, we need to hurry. It will still be 20 minutes. WOW. It was a Saturday night, but again there is NO ONE standing around waiting to get in. We decided to stay. About ten minutes into our patient wait, we were told we could go sit in the bar area...Okay, cool, we were all over it.
We made it to the concert in time and had great seats. It was an awesome evening of powerful testimony and praise. We had a safe trip home. The evening was a success. I ordered the Afters CD when I ordered "The Well" so I'm super excited about that coming in the mail soon. Let me know if anyone out there reads "Imaginary Jesus" I would love to hear what you thought about it.
This past weekend I joined some friends and my mom (I guess she could be a friend too, huh?) and we went to see The Afters, Sanctus Real and Casting Crowns in Peoria. Yeah, I know that's a long haul, but CC doesn't come too close to us and they're worth traveling the distance for. I have seen them now three times and don't plan on skipping the next time they're near either!
Casting Crowns new CD is called "Come to the Well" and it has the song "Courageous" on it from the movie that is out right now. The first few songs on the CD are just amazing, but I'm one of those people who buys lots of CD's and listens to them non-stop over and over. This one is a good one. Mark Hall, lead singer and youth pastor, has written a book called "The Well" which is out right now too. During intermission, myself and two others went to a little pow-wow with Mark Hall, the drummer and other youth workers. We were given little goodie bags and it included a sampling of the new book. I read it and immediately ordered the full-length version. I'm hoping it arrives in the next day or two...then I'll tell you how good it was! It is all about the woman at the well...which you may have figured out by the title, ha.
Funny thing, we were trying desperately to locate a restaurant to eat at before the concert and the Riverfront in Peoria is not exactly a busy action-packed locale apparently. It was like ghost town USA or something. After we had parked and were walking down this completely empty riverfront sidewalk, my mom said, "Did we miss the rapture?" It was funny...and it was weird, desolate. I did spot a Hooters across the way, but for some reason, we decided to pass...ha. We see a couple restaurants nearby that are open and go in one.
Now, picture our local restaurants where you have to wait 60 minutes on a Saturday night to get a seat. Remember the line of people and crowds gathered near the entrance...Okay, we go into the first place and ask for a table for nine or split us up. We were told our wait would be 55-60 minutes. We were dumbfound as there was NO ONE gathered around anywhere near the entrance inside or out. Where in the world were all the people?
Restaurant choice number two was apparently having a pirate-costume party, but we decided to give it a shot anyway. It was a bar and grill. Again, no waiting, no one waiting, not one single person. Got it? Zip. We were told we would have to wait 20 minutes. We don't mind being split up, we need to hurry. It will still be 20 minutes. WOW. It was a Saturday night, but again there is NO ONE standing around waiting to get in. We decided to stay. About ten minutes into our patient wait, we were told we could go sit in the bar area...Okay, cool, we were all over it.
We made it to the concert in time and had great seats. It was an awesome evening of powerful testimony and praise. We had a safe trip home. The evening was a success. I ordered the Afters CD when I ordered "The Well" so I'm super excited about that coming in the mail soon. Let me know if anyone out there reads "Imaginary Jesus" I would love to hear what you thought about it.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Bazaar
I know, I know, you're saying, "Sarah's posts are always bizarre, what can she be writing about now?" By the time you read this, our church's annual bazaar will be underway. Every year, the first Friday of November, we have a bazaar at the Community Center in town. We serve lunch and supper, veggie or chili soup, ham or chicken salad sandwich, veggies, pie and a drink for $6. Everything is home-made, of course. We also have home-made crafts and food items for sale as well. It is something that we started doing many, many years ago and has been another one of our church family's long-standing traditions.
I have the day off, as I usually try to do, to stay and help out. Technically, it is one Sunday School Class's project, but it takes all of us to make it happen. We will open at 9:00 and go until 6:30 or until we run out of soup. It is a great time to come, eat and fellowship with others. During the downtime, all the volunteers just sit around and talk, laugh and reminisce. When my children were younger, they were there wreaking havoc on everyone and everything...sliding across the slick wood floors in and out of customers. Destroying displays and begging me or their grandmothers to buy one of everything. Seems like my bill at the end of the day is always pretty steep. It's hard to sit there and not piece and pick all day long!!
We usually have lots of persimmon pulp for sale, yummy breads, rolls, noodles, cookies, pies, jellies, relish, cakes and candy for sale. Several in our church are very talented at sewing and crafts, that would not include me. I always like to see what one lady sews, usually aprons, purses, vests, etc. Another in our church makes very creative greeting cards using fabric pieces that she cuts out and glues to card stock. I load up on those!!
Madolyn and Lane made a blanket to sell...(actually at this moment, it is not done, but by golly, it better be done by Friday at 9:00 a.m.!!) They made two earlier in the week that weren't for sale...waiting until the last minute to make the one to sell. They also begged me to get a couple other crafts to make for the bazaar and those aren't completed either. Who do they get that procrastination from?
Last night I was up late making laundry soap from scratch to sell. Of course, it didn't gel like it says it should...I will sell it anyway. My first batch didn't gel either and I have been using it for two months. No complaints from the customers (my family) or anyone around me so it must not be too bad. Tonight after everyone has gone to bed, I will be making some cookies and/or bread to take to sell. I used to make frozen mini-meals but last year they didn't sell too well, so I decided not to this time. My grandma usually bought them and since she's at the nursing home, she's not at home cooking.
Speaking of which, my grandma always comes and says "Show me what you or your mom brought." And then she buys it. It is hilarious the stuff she has purchased over the years when I know she has absolutely no purpose or desire for it, but because mom or myself made it, she wanted it. In fact, one year Madolyn made hair pins. She glued little flowers and bugs on bobby pins. My grandma bought some, of course, and wore them around the house when she knew Madolyn was coming over. Too funny.
So yesterday afternoon when visiting with my grandma I reminded her that this Friday was our church's bazaar. She got a look on her face and said, "Oh yes, and you will serve vegetable soup and sandwiches..." and she had that gleam in her eye. I asked her what she thought about me breaking her out of the home for a few hours for lunch and to visit...boy, did she light up. So we've made a date...and as long as she doesn't try to get out of it because of rain (which will muss her hairdo), we're on. She will love it.
I've been a tad swamped this week which is why I skipped yesterday's post...this weekend I have a youth thing in a neighboring town too so I'm not sure how much you'll read from me for a couple days...You'll survive, though, won't you? Don't give up on me yet. Tomorrow I'll be feeling a little 'bazaar.' Why don't you come join us!!
I have the day off, as I usually try to do, to stay and help out. Technically, it is one Sunday School Class's project, but it takes all of us to make it happen. We will open at 9:00 and go until 6:30 or until we run out of soup. It is a great time to come, eat and fellowship with others. During the downtime, all the volunteers just sit around and talk, laugh and reminisce. When my children were younger, they were there wreaking havoc on everyone and everything...sliding across the slick wood floors in and out of customers. Destroying displays and begging me or their grandmothers to buy one of everything. Seems like my bill at the end of the day is always pretty steep. It's hard to sit there and not piece and pick all day long!!
We usually have lots of persimmon pulp for sale, yummy breads, rolls, noodles, cookies, pies, jellies, relish, cakes and candy for sale. Several in our church are very talented at sewing and crafts, that would not include me. I always like to see what one lady sews, usually aprons, purses, vests, etc. Another in our church makes very creative greeting cards using fabric pieces that she cuts out and glues to card stock. I load up on those!!
Madolyn and Lane made a blanket to sell...(actually at this moment, it is not done, but by golly, it better be done by Friday at 9:00 a.m.!!) They made two earlier in the week that weren't for sale...waiting until the last minute to make the one to sell. They also begged me to get a couple other crafts to make for the bazaar and those aren't completed either. Who do they get that procrastination from?
Last night I was up late making laundry soap from scratch to sell. Of course, it didn't gel like it says it should...I will sell it anyway. My first batch didn't gel either and I have been using it for two months. No complaints from the customers (my family) or anyone around me so it must not be too bad. Tonight after everyone has gone to bed, I will be making some cookies and/or bread to take to sell. I used to make frozen mini-meals but last year they didn't sell too well, so I decided not to this time. My grandma usually bought them and since she's at the nursing home, she's not at home cooking.
Speaking of which, my grandma always comes and says "Show me what you or your mom brought." And then she buys it. It is hilarious the stuff she has purchased over the years when I know she has absolutely no purpose or desire for it, but because mom or myself made it, she wanted it. In fact, one year Madolyn made hair pins. She glued little flowers and bugs on bobby pins. My grandma bought some, of course, and wore them around the house when she knew Madolyn was coming over. Too funny.
So yesterday afternoon when visiting with my grandma I reminded her that this Friday was our church's bazaar. She got a look on her face and said, "Oh yes, and you will serve vegetable soup and sandwiches..." and she had that gleam in her eye. I asked her what she thought about me breaking her out of the home for a few hours for lunch and to visit...boy, did she light up. So we've made a date...and as long as she doesn't try to get out of it because of rain (which will muss her hairdo), we're on. She will love it.
I've been a tad swamped this week which is why I skipped yesterday's post...this weekend I have a youth thing in a neighboring town too so I'm not sure how much you'll read from me for a couple days...You'll survive, though, won't you? Don't give up on me yet. Tomorrow I'll be feeling a little 'bazaar.' Why don't you come join us!!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
My $1 dream cream
This is for my friend and cousin I call Danielle. She knows already what this is about by reading the title and is laughing. I'll probably get a text from her as soon as she gets done reading it too. Here's to you, D.
I have always had terrible skin. My mom had terrible skin growing up too. My brother had not-so-great skin too, but for a guy, it's not as big of a deal. My mom took me to the dermatologist in high school and we tried various things. Her big push was that I ate too much chocolate, grease and drank too much pop. I'm not sure if that is the gospel, but I recently caught myself telling my daughter the same thing. Shame on me.
I had terrible acne all through high school and into my adult years. It was on my face, neck, arms, back and chest. Now, let me clarify, I say it was terrible, I'm sure there were others who had it worse, but to me, it was terrible. When the question would come up if you could change anything about you, what would it be? My answer was always my skin. I was always told some day that oily skin would come in handy...it would mean less wrinkles. We'll see.
I had never been one for using moisturizer on my face because I felt like I had enough moisture/oil on my face to grease a cake pan. The last thing I wanted to do was add anything to my skin that might possibly add more shine. I had plenty. For whatever reason, I was finally convinced one day (probably from watching Oprah or something) that I really needed to start using some sort of moisturizer on my face for the future of my skin. And being the cheapskate I often am, I went to the local dollar store and picked up some $1 anti-wrinkle moisturizing cream. It was smooth, didn't smell too bad and I started using it religiously.
Suddenly, or so I thought, my face had completely transformed. My skin was near perfect (for me, that is). I didn't have any nasty pimples popping up like I had before, my face had a glow and it wasn't from an over-abundance of grease and oil either. That cream was amazing and I had to tell everyone about it, especially my friend/cousin Danielle. Since we are from some of the same stock, we have similar issues. I couldn't wait to share this amazing $1 dream cream with her.
So I told Danielle and I told my girlfriends. Of course, I'm not sure any of them went out and bought any, but they went along with it and confirmed that my face did, in fact, look better. It's one of those things that unless it's your issue, you don't really notice sometimes, but I knew that my skin was clearing up and improving and it HAD to be this cream. I went and bought two or three extra containers of it just in case they would happen to sell out or discontinue carrying it. Something this amazing wouldn't stay secret for long and I was not going back, if you know what I mean. My skin was awesome!
I cannot recall what made me put two and two together, and I wish I did, but eventually I discovered that my new and improved blemish-free skin had nothing to do with the $1 dream cream I was coating it with each and every day and night...it had everything to do with something in my birth control pills.
So the other night when we were dressing up for Trunk or Treat, Madolyn and her friend were going as old ladies with their hair in curlers, etc, and Madolyn wanted some kind of mask or face cream. She dug around in the bathroom cabinet and pulled out the $1 dream cream...it made me laugh. I told her she could have the whole jar for herself. I couldn't believe I still had one. I'm embarrassed to say I had several in stock just in case. It was good while it lasted...
I have always had terrible skin. My mom had terrible skin growing up too. My brother had not-so-great skin too, but for a guy, it's not as big of a deal. My mom took me to the dermatologist in high school and we tried various things. Her big push was that I ate too much chocolate, grease and drank too much pop. I'm not sure if that is the gospel, but I recently caught myself telling my daughter the same thing. Shame on me.
I had terrible acne all through high school and into my adult years. It was on my face, neck, arms, back and chest. Now, let me clarify, I say it was terrible, I'm sure there were others who had it worse, but to me, it was terrible. When the question would come up if you could change anything about you, what would it be? My answer was always my skin. I was always told some day that oily skin would come in handy...it would mean less wrinkles. We'll see.
I had never been one for using moisturizer on my face because I felt like I had enough moisture/oil on my face to grease a cake pan. The last thing I wanted to do was add anything to my skin that might possibly add more shine. I had plenty. For whatever reason, I was finally convinced one day (probably from watching Oprah or something) that I really needed to start using some sort of moisturizer on my face for the future of my skin. And being the cheapskate I often am, I went to the local dollar store and picked up some $1 anti-wrinkle moisturizing cream. It was smooth, didn't smell too bad and I started using it religiously.
Suddenly, or so I thought, my face had completely transformed. My skin was near perfect (for me, that is). I didn't have any nasty pimples popping up like I had before, my face had a glow and it wasn't from an over-abundance of grease and oil either. That cream was amazing and I had to tell everyone about it, especially my friend/cousin Danielle. Since we are from some of the same stock, we have similar issues. I couldn't wait to share this amazing $1 dream cream with her.
So I told Danielle and I told my girlfriends. Of course, I'm not sure any of them went out and bought any, but they went along with it and confirmed that my face did, in fact, look better. It's one of those things that unless it's your issue, you don't really notice sometimes, but I knew that my skin was clearing up and improving and it HAD to be this cream. I went and bought two or three extra containers of it just in case they would happen to sell out or discontinue carrying it. Something this amazing wouldn't stay secret for long and I was not going back, if you know what I mean. My skin was awesome!
I cannot recall what made me put two and two together, and I wish I did, but eventually I discovered that my new and improved blemish-free skin had nothing to do with the $1 dream cream I was coating it with each and every day and night...it had everything to do with something in my birth control pills.
So the other night when we were dressing up for Trunk or Treat, Madolyn and her friend were going as old ladies with their hair in curlers, etc, and Madolyn wanted some kind of mask or face cream. She dug around in the bathroom cabinet and pulled out the $1 dream cream...it made me laugh. I told her she could have the whole jar for herself. I couldn't believe I still had one. I'm embarrassed to say I had several in stock just in case. It was good while it lasted...
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