Is that all?

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus...  1 Thess. 5:18 (NIV)

I just read a little blurb from an article on being thankful and it was from way back in 2006...way back then.  Ha.  Anyway, I just loved the perspective of it and now wish I had saved it.  I will start with a few things this article mentioned (paraphrasing) and then throw in my own thoughts.

What in the world do we have to be thankful for?  How about the fact that we can worship freely in churches whenever we choose without persecution.  Or how about the ease with which we can travel from one coast to another without providing proof of citizenship or identification?  We may have an 9% unemployment rate (I'm just guessing) but that means that 91% are employed and for wages far above many in other countries.  Not to mention a large number of jobs in the United States offer benefits including sick days and vacation days.  Yes, people are paid to be at home sick or on vacation. 

Have you ever thought about the fact that we can go to a grocery store, whole sale club or convenience store/gas station and see more food in one glance than some in other countries will ever see?  I get aggravated when I have to go to Wal-Mart because invariably something about the visit ticks me off.  Today on the way to Wal-Mart to purchase supplies for a lavish Thanksgiving meal, I whispered a prayer of thankfulness for being able to go to a Wal-Mart where I get bent out of shape if the right type of apple is not available.  My visit actually went pretty well until I dropped the large container of yogurt and busted it at the checkout ;) 

What about being able to walk into your house and turn on a light with the flick of a hand, going to the sink and getting almost an unlimited amount of clean water, being able to use the restroom in the comfort of our homes with a simple flush to take it all away to a septic or sewer system that we rarely have to mess with.  My living room carpet has two holes from my precious dog...but thank you, God, that I have living room carpet.  I cannot imagine living in a 'home' with dirt or concrete flooring. 

At the tip of our fingertips is a remote control that gives us anywhere from 50-300 options of television viewing.  Just think, it wasn't too awful long ago that you had to get up and walk to the television to change the channel...and we only had three channels.  Thanks to our DVR, we can even pause live television and record things, which means we can later fast-foward those pesky commercials. 

People go on and on complaining when a cellular telephone drops a call or has no signal.  Just watch Facebook for a while if a cellular telephone company is interrupting service to maintain or upgrade their system.  Major hysteria.  Have we already forgotten that 30 years ago, the only folks with cell phones were the Jetson's...and even those were considered 'make believe'?

I didn't live through this particular time period, but I've heard the stories from the wars...wives, mothers, fathers would sit at home waiting on the postal service to deliver a letter from their beloved soldier, whom they might not have heard from in weeks or months.  They treasured that handwritten letter and stored it away, rereading it over and over.  Now, we can e-mail, Facebook, Skype, text people and they receive the message almost instantaneous.  With Skype, you can actually see another person live as you have a conversation.  That is certainly something to be thankful for!

As I make list after list preparing for tomorrow's Thanksgiving meal at my house, trying to decide how much to make of this or that, wondering if there will be enough for everyone, hoping there are plenty of options for those picky Kannmacher's like me, I think how silly it is that tomorrow I will probably throw away or give my dogs enough leftovers to feed a family for a week in a poverty-stricken country.  Why?  Because I will be so sick of looking at all that food, I won't even want to save it.   I didn't have to go kill a turkey (or have Jay do it;), I went to the frozen food section at Wal-Mart and bought a Butterball, dressed and wrapped for my convenience.  What effort I put into tomorrow's feast is minimal when you think about it.

I haven't even gotten to all the stuff the Lord has done for us.  These things mentioned above are worldly conveniences and pleasure items.  Other than the clean water and a much smaller amount of food, I could live without them...and sometimes wish maybe I did.  We have so much to be thankful for and yet we still find things to complain about.  I am just as guilty as the next person. 

Tomorrow and every day, Lord, help us to be thankful in all circumstances, even the less-than-perfect ones.        Happy Thanksgiving!!

Cousins

A few weeks ago, I was invited to my cousin's 40th birthday bash.  He grew up in a small town just south of Martinsville, and his parents still live there, but he moved to the city long ago.  Thankfully, he does still appreciate his 'country roots.'   Jay was working nights on this particular weekend, so I talked to my other cousin, we'll call her "Danielle" or "D" and we made a date for the party.

I had been shopping earlier that day and had found the cutest boots but the store didn't have my size.  I had them call another store in Robinson and they did...so I put a hold on these cute boots and our first stop on the way to the party was Maurices.  Of course, Maurices is a great little store and we had to look around for a bit...and then we heard the chime on the door, lo and behold, a friend walked in.  We knew right away what she was doing...she was on her way to the same birthday party because her husband and our cousin were cousins...only on the other side of the family.  (Does that make sense?)She too was picking up something for the party...jeans.  It was hilarious.  I traded shoes and she traded pants right there in the store. 

Just a few of the cousins.

The party was at a place called the Bella Vista (you know, I'm not actually sure of the name), but it was a cute little place in downtown Palestine and we had the whole place to ourselves.  D's sister, "Michelle" and her husband, "Pete" also made the trip down to the party.  We even got a group photo with the birthday boy.  Yes, he's the bald guy.  After all, he is 40;)

We had so much fun teasing our cousin about proposing to his girlfriend.  He was probably ready to kill every one of us for it too.  There was a moment when "Darin" bent down next to his girlfriend to ask her about getting the birthday cake ready, and I hollered out, "He's down on a knee, I think he's proposing!"  He gave me quite a look and rolled with it.  Thankfully, this bunch has a great sense of humor.  We would love for his girlfriend to become a part of the family and will probably continue to nag him about it.

I think he must have gotten this sound system and DJ equipment for his birthday.   He was playing all kinds of good 'oldies' on his new toy.  We told him that DJ equipment could come in handy at a wedding reception, HIS wedding reception.   We left the party before the dancing began, but from the photo album, I think they had a great time.

It was good to see him and spend time with a couple cousins.  Of course, we must get together more often and try to get the rest of the bunch to come too.  It's so hard when we're all different directions with all kinds of stuff going on.  D and I always say we need to get our dads together and record them telling stories...because they know how to tell stories.  It's always a great time when they start in.

D and I spent lots of time together growing up because we were the same age, same class, neighbors and part of the same family.  We don't see each other quite as much these days because we're both busy with work and our families, but when we get together...it's as if nothing has changed.

By the time I got home, my face and mouth were tired.  We laughed and laughed and told stories (that part runs in our genes).  We nearly hit a deer in her new car on the way home and even that had us crying with laughter.  We shared dentistry nightmares and talked about how much alike we were when it comes to our dental anxiety.  We talked about work and how crazy it was that some things with our jobs were sooo similar. 

If you didn't know it, you'd think we were related or something...

A little gray

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.   Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

The other day while driving I was thinking (uh-oh) and my mind got going.  The subject matter:  Rules.  And these were the words that kept running through my head:   Black. White.  And lots of gray. 

We've all heard it said many times that something is either black or white, there is no middle ground or gray area, so-to-speak.  I've decided that that is definitely not always the case.  And man, am I thankful for that.  Is the bible black and white?  My opinion is that God and Jesus saw a lot of gray.  If everything were clearly black and white, where would two of my most precious friends fit in?  Grace and Mercy.

When I started exploring this a little, my first thought was that the Old Testament was black and white and the New Testament is where the gray started popping up...you know after Jesus came and died for us, but then I remembered the story of Jonah and decided maybe not.

I love the story of Jonah and the whale.  It has to be among the top-ten favorite bible stories for children.  It is incredible, which I think is what makes it so interesting.  In this story, Jonah is told by God to go to Nineveh and preach repentance.  Nineveh was a wicked place and Jonah knew this.  He ignored the command from God, hopped on a ship and set sail.  And because God commands all of creation, a huge storm came and threatened the ship that Jonah was on.  Eventually Jonah was blamed for the storm by the crew and thrown overboard.  God sent a large fish or a whale to save Jonah from drowning at sea, and that whale swallowed Jonah.  After three days in the belly of the whale, Jonah was literally puked out by the whale onto dry land...all at the hands of God.  To me, this is a perfect example of God's mercy. 

In the clear black/white version of this story, Jonah should have drowned in the sea, or when swallowed by the large fish or whale, he could've been digested as usual.  Jonah did wrong.  No question.  God ordered him to go to Nineveh and he did not.  Jonah should've been punished by God for ignoring his command.  But instead God showed Jonah mercy.  Jonah was saved and maybe taught a little lesson through that mercy.  (I see some gray.)

On into the New Testament, the story of the woman at the well is another great example of gray.  The woman at the well lived a not-so-perfect-life and everyone knew it.  Here she was drawing from the well at the time of day where she was least likely to encounter others, which was her goal, to steer clear of judgments and stares...and who is sitting there?  The one and only Jesus.   In the black and white version of this story, maybe Jesus would've condemned the woman for all of her promiscuity and sin, he could have given her lectures on all the commandments she had broken, how she had dishonored her husband(s), etc.  I suppose he could've taken her into town, gathered a crowd and made a spectacle of her in public.

Thankfully, there's that gray area again.  Jesus let her know that he knew the things she had done, but he didn't judge her, he accepted her as is.  He wasn't embarrassed to be seen talking to her, this low member of society.  He shared with her how she could take a drink of living water that would fill her completely so she would never thirst again...instead of using men and other things to fill the void in her life.  He extended grace and mercy to her when she did not deserve it.

I've decided I'm not a black and white person, that I'm a little more gray-ish.  There are certain rules and boundaries that shouldn't be broken or extended.  I believe in discipline and consequences.  If rules are broken, if boundaries are pushed, there needs to be a consequence for that.  But I also believe that there are times when situations need to be looked at individually.  There are times when evaluating the circumstances, finding out the facts as best you can before jumping to a conclusion and slamming down the gavel are warranted.

I don't think there is always a clear-cut answer or response to everything.  I know there are those who think that bending the rules and letting things go every now and then serves no purpose.  I guess my opinion is that sometimes rules have to be modified a bit...not all the time, just here and there.  It may seem wrong to someone else who may not know exactly what is going on or the idea behind it, it may seem unfair to another who was dealt a different hand, it may seem that someone is playing favorites, and it also may totally blow up in the face of the person giving the break. 

When I was looking through scripture, I found the one above and had to laugh.   How many times have you cracked down on someone for saying or doing something they weren't supposed to and then later you were busted for the same thing?! Oh my goodness, that happens to me all the time.  It's the worst with my kids. I will call them out on something and sure enough I will do that something (wonder where they get it) and think almost immediately, Oh, man, I hope they don't remember that I got mad at them for this very same thing...oops, too late.  

There are many days I thank God for the gray.  "Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy."  Remember that the next time you're in this type of situation....you just may be the one in need of that mercy later. 

Precious pool parts

It's November and we're finally getting ready to close the pool for the winter.  We made a HUGE mistake last year by not following our usual steps in getting it closed and it was very difficult getting the water right this spring.  We vowed to not let that happen again.

Our problem is finding the time to get the chemicals we need and then finding a couple days in a row where the pump can run, pool can be swept, chemicals added, pump running a little longer, adding more chemicals and then finally closing.  Last weekend I took in a water sample and bought the required chemicals needed to get the water where it needed to be to finish the process.

Jay was planning on vacuuming one last time this week and then adding the chemicals.  This morning, Lane looked out the patio doors and said, "Uh-oh.  Is Hank supposed to be chewing on that?"  I proceeded to the door very curious about what the Precious could've found...I was racking my brain trying to remember what I could've left outside and within reach.

And there it was...the piece that is vital to the functioning of the pool vacuum.  The piece that connects the hose to the skimmer.  You cannot run the vacuum without it because it creates the suction necessary to suck the gunk up.  It now lies on my deck in about 300 little pieces.

I'm barely even phased anymore by Hank's shenanigans.  But here we are ready to finally get that project wrapped up and now we'll have to seek out a new pool part.  Jay worked last night and had crashed before the mess was discovered so I haven't even broken the news to him yet.  I'm sure he'll notice when he goes out to work on the pool and can't find that piece.

Funny thing, Lane wasn't concerned at all about the pool part.  Lying just to the left of the pool part pieces was the top to a sprayer, the sprayers we used to cool the pigs this summer in the heat.  Lane was all about that sprayer and being glad he had another one.  Hmm, I'm okay with that one right now, I don't think we'll need those to cool the pigs anytime soon.

You know you always hear people talk about how expensive a pool is, how much the chemicals and parts cost, what a pain it is to keep the pool in working order, buying the pool floats year after year, all the time spent on maintaining the pool...it's not the pool that is our problem, no, our problem is the Precious.

Something special

 

There's something special in dealing with the after-effects of the one thing that everyone everywhere has in common.  It is a must-have for all human beings wherever you are.  (It might not be a bad idea for some animals either.)   No, we don't like to talk about it (well, some do), and yes, it is not a pleasant topic.  But it is very necessary and can certainly be a very strong factor in your attitude and comfort level...I'm talking about going to the restroom.

There I said it.  I said it as nicely as I could have.  I didn't use the nursing home or hospital lingo because Jay just cannot handle those two little letters...you know, the letter between the A and the C and the letter between the L and the N.  No one likes to hear it.   But we ALL do it.  And sometimes it leaves an unpleasant aroma which no one likes to admit, but that part is mostly out of our control.  Sort of.

Let me introduce you to the secret formula for a stinky-free restroom experience:  Poo-Pourri.  Poo-Pourri is this magic little spray that can take care of the nastiness you may leave behind upon exiting the little girl's room.  Our fun little local store uptown, Accents, sells it at a reasonable price (and it is well worth any price, as far as I'm concerned).

For those of you who work in an office or share a restroom with others on a regular basis, this is a must-have.  It's also wonderful to have at home, whether it's in the master bathroom or the common bathroom.   I was just at Accents over the weekend and notice they now sell a sleek, slim container of the Poo-Pourri.  It is thin enough you could slip it in your pocket or purse and take it everywhere you go. 

Although it should be sprayed into the toilet prior to use, it works well as an after-thought too.  Their motto is "Spritz the bowl before you go and no one else will ever know."  However, I've often thought that once you spray that sweet fragrant smell everyone familiar with it will know what just occurred...but again, who are we kidding?  It's natural.

So if you're looking for a fun stocking-stuffer this year or something to get that unmarried guy in your family, go pick up a bottle of Poo-Pourri.  It will grab you, hook, line and sinker... (ha!)

My Conspiracy Theory

I have come to the conclusion that there is a conspiracy out there and it's big.  Its name is Pinterest, and beware, it will take hold of you before you even realize it.  Your friends will mention it in conversation and tell you that you absolutely must join because they have the neatest ideas, the best recipes, the cutest little crafts.  You will wait for your invite.  You will receive your invite and then...it's too late.

I've decided that Pinterest was developed by the craft stores to boost their sales and create excitement among the industry.  I can picture the thought process:  How can we more effectively lure women (especially those with a lot of vision, a good imagination and not much skill) into our stores with cash in hand and ready to buy whatever it takes to complete the perfect project?  Oh, yes, we'll create this website where people can post all sorts of crafts, do-it-yourself-projects, home decorating ideas, etc.; women and overwhelmed mothers will be sucked into it and spend countless hours in search of the perfect project, the project that will make their home "welcoming," the project that is so awesome no one will believe that they could've made it (all the while acting as if it was no big deal), the project that will solve all organizational problems within your unorganized house, the project that cost next-to-nothing (if you have all fifteen items on hand).

I am a sucker.   A few weeks ago, in preparation of our church bazaar, I spent a tad over $100 on craft supplies, most of which are not something I can reuse or continue using...all because I looked around for an hour-and-a-half on Pinterest  in the DIY and Crafts category.   Had I not been lured and tempted into believing that I was crafty and creative, I would not have went to the craft store and blown that money.  It is entirely Pinterest's fault. 

Pinterest creates this world where even a simpleton like myself believes that she can do anything.  It sucks me into this mindset that I can make all things cute, cool, unique and desirable with things found around my home...or in a junkyard...if I have the right supplies.  So yes, I go out and buy the supplies, race home, work on said project, get completely frustrated and give up. 

Yes, I have seen several really cute ideas on the site that I would like to try to recreate, many useful tips and ideas, wonderful, scrumptious-looking desserts and recipes...I am overcome with the I-can-do-anything mentality...and that's about where most of it ends for me.  It's like a female fantasy land. 

I haven't been on Pinterest much since I had my bazaar-craft-spree and I'm not saying I'm protesting it forever.  But from now on, before I go bonkers with new Pinterest ideas, I will try harder to maintain a little self control and stick to reality.   I wasn't Martha Stewart yesterday and I won't be her tomorrow...no matter how many hours I spend on Pinterest.

Bazaar crafts

It is that time of year again, our annual church bazaar is tomorrow at the community center in Martinsville from 9-6:00 or 6:30.  We will be serving vegetable or chili with ham salad, chicken salad or peanut butter sandwiches and pie all day (noon and evening meals).  There will be food, crafts and all kinds of goodies for sale as well. 

So in preparation for the annual bazaar, the bazaar that I know comes annually, that is once a year, every year, at the same time each year.  Sort of like Christmas, in the sense that you know that it's coming every year at the same time each year...yet all of a sudden everyone is panicking because it's that time.  Yeah, that's pretty much how it goes down at my house with the bazaar.  I handle Christmas much better...sort of.

Anyway, last week, one week before the big show, I decided I better get my fanny in gear and start building something really cool and crafty for the bazaar.  I have tried many things over the years.  I have made freezer meals, baked cookies and candies, put together gift bags, laundry soap, crafts, the family pushed through gallons of persimmon pulp, etc. 

This year I turned to Pinterest for help.  Good grief.  Last week was the first time I've really actually "been on" Pinterest and looked at things.  Holy cow, there are millions of wonderful ideas on there.  Everything is so Martha-Stewart-like too.  And I was overcome with this "I can do anything because it's on Pinterest and they can do it" feeling.  I made lists and checked them twice.  I went to Hobby Lobby on Saturday and spent a ridiculous amount of money on craft supplies (thankfully, all Christmas was 30% off).  Came home excited and about to burst because I was going to make such super cool things...

And right off the bat realized I had miscounted this one collage-type frame I needed for a project...discovered that the easy-do-it-yourself-initial-letter-wrapped-in-greenery-with-a-bow wasn't so easy...found that the stickers I had bought to make these really cute ornaments...would NOT come off the sticky paper.  (I mean they will NOT come off.)  And boy, they were so cute that I bought three sheets of them...which means I have three sheets of worthless stickers, one of which I can't take back because I have mangled letters trying to tear them off.

Moving on to the next project because how can you possibly screw it up?  It's simple, you buy a foam cone, ornaments and beads.  You hot glue the ornaments to the foam cone and fill in the gaps and holes with the beads ta-da, a beautiful centerpiece like the one here.  Hmm, mine didn't turn out that way.

I worked on it for about an hour and gave up.  Took it to church with all the trimmings and made an announcement inviting someone to try to make something of it.  My mom volunteered and decided it was a lost cause as well.  Right now I have a pretty beat-up foam cone, with a toothpick holding on the tip (because of a slight mishap) and holes and glue everywhere.  It now sits in the original Hobby Lobby bag waiting for the trash.  I may be able to salvage some of the ornaments so that all is not a total loss.  Stupid Pinterest.

I did manage to create some masterpieces so all was not a total loss.  They will be for sale tomorrow at the annual bazaar.  Here are some sneak previews...

Organizer.  With dry-erase marker, list appointments, meals, practices, etc, for the week

A true necessity

Make notes with dry-erase marker.  Wipe with kleenex.