The Hurricane

What do you do on this ride? asked a first timer.

You scream really loud and raise your hands in the air, someone joked.

"Nooooo! Hold on! Jyou could diye!"

 

said the sweet Hispanic lady emphatically, as she loaded us in the tube.

Summer lives here

Four days of listening to lapping waves.

  

Many hysterical belly laughs, barely catching my breath while riding the swells.

  

 

Walking long hallways connecting beach and water-park and condo,

  

I enjoy the view from the corridor, but laugh in the face of winter flakes falling.

The seasons do not change the Summer that lives here. 

  

For a short while in February, Summer beach days with friends return.

 

  

Hope

 He yells. Challenges my authority. Whether because he is outgrowing the mother bond and relating more to his dad, or for the lack of discipline, I'm not sure. Is his anger my fault? Have I created this? I find it easy to blame myself.

He seethes. Pouts. Says things that scare me. His words hurt. They pierce my mother heart.

I calm myself. Seek strength from my Father. I hold him down to prevent him from running. From hurting someone or something. He yells more. Sets himself against my most precious beliefs. Challenges the very idea of God.

I wait and listen. He has said these things before. He knows they hurt me. When his anger subsides, so will his denial of God. I hope.

He is ready to listen now. I speak Truth with passion and kindness and pain. I say I cannot make him believe in God. But if he chooses that path, I cannot help him hope anymore. Whether his choice is right or not, the choice is his, but I warn him of the danger of a path without God. Without a loving Father. Without hope.

I remind him of things he knows but has momentarily forgotten. Of love and a plan for forgiveness. Of what faith will get him. His debt of sin has been paid. For moments like these, Christ died. He need not give up. The work of Christ is now within us. He has every reason to hope.

That's the difference between the path he threatens and the path I beg him to choose. Hope. Hope brings purpose. Hope calms anger. Hope speaks peace to fear. Hope gives courage and strength and determination. Hope changes everything.

My words are passionate and tear toned. For him and his soul. His eyes pool as well. His heart is once again soft. He hears with more than his ears and the anger is gone. His faith is restored. And because of Christ, I hope.

I found the above picture here.

The Color of a Pill

I'm cold lately.

Tired too.

My skin is dry.

Winter creeps into my soul.

I'm forgetful.

Is it a season of the heart? Is it sin? Is it a season of motherhood? Or just the season of snow and cold and dark?

It may be those things. But it may be something else too.

I've never used it as an excuse before. I thought it some silly disease easily cured by one little pill. It didn't bother my beloved, either, when we were dating. He made sure to tell me so.  I wasn't worried. It didn't bother me either!

What is this nuisance of a disease, so easily confused with the effects of a season?

Hypothyroidism. Under active thyroid.

I've been taking the little pill since I was ten. And I've been fine. Thankyouverymuch.

Except of course when I carried my babies. My body couldn't keep up and my dosage couldn't either. Was I extra tired than normal pregnant women? Was it harder on me than others? Every month my pill color changed. A higher dose.

Babies came and my dose decreased. Easily normal again.

I recently had my yearly checkup. I can't remember the TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) number, but my pill color changed. I must be getting older. Or something. Yes, I've been tired and cold and crabby, and at times, overwhelmed. I've even had "sluggish thought processing" and forgetfulness. My kids say I have short term memory loss. But my sister would claim I've always had that...(That's a joke, people!)

But I'm a mom. And it's winter. Doesn't that account for my symptoms?

Who knows.

I'll have to wait and see if this pill color helps.

The Faces of Vacation

Three days of laughing at the snowy outdoors, donning swimsuits and defying the elements. One indoor beach. An artificial hurricane. Many slides...a river. The air warmed and even tanned our skin under the glass dome. Twelve families lounged together, kids playing hard. Memories are easily made with these friends. Here are a few of their faces.

 

Is hosted by I Should be Folding Laundry. 

Every week is a new photo challenge and this week's theme was faces.

Not me: Camera purchase

Last week I purchased a new camera. I searched the internet, researched models and found some deals. After a whole morning of reading reviews I found a steal of a deal and clicked order. The price seemed almost too good to be true.

Two days later. A guy calls from the internet site I ordered from and says there may be a problem. I think it is strange to be getting a phone call, but I do not see what is coming. Not me. I am not trusting and naive. Not me!

The man says they may not have the camera in stock. He asks what I know of the camera. He attempts to upsell me. But I am not about to buy his pitch. Not me. I begin to see his scheme. He claims the battery with the camera I ordered is no good and that I need to spend $150.00 more on a longer lasting battery. I state that I am not interested but he will not give up. Neither will I. Not me.

I state honestly that I need to do some research. I agree to call him back to update my order. I quickly scan the internet for information on Canon batteries and find he is charging twice the price for the upgrade battery. I am not about to fall for that. Not. me.

I call the seller. I refuse the upgrades. He in turn claims the camera is on back-order for 18 days. I cancel my order. He says he hopes he can help me in the future. I don't doubt that. But I won't be helped. Not me.

I begin to research sellers. I probably should have done this earlier. But I didn't. Not me. I'd never had troubles ordering online, so I am not as careful as is prudent. I find the seller I dealt with has a reputation that proceeds him. Phone calls, pressured up-sells and delayed shipping. I am so glad I canceled my order when I did.

Meanwhile, I order a lens from a more reputable company. A salesman calls me from this company too. He tries to sell me an upgraded filter kit and warranty. I am not spooked by my previous experience and following research. Not me. I refuse to be fooled again. Not me. Not gonna happen. I decide to cancel that order and buy a used lens from a friend.

I order my camera for $80.00 more than the too good to be true price from a  reputable company my family has ordered from in the past. I am not about to take a chance. Not me. There are times when you get what you pay for. And I will not succumb to my mistaken belief that the cheapest price is always the best deal. Not. me.

For more denials, head on over and visit Jennifer. This post has been shared on her site with others participating in:

Easy as Pie

Easy Pot Pie

1 c diced turkey, chicken or leftover beef roast

1 c peas

1 c chopped carrots
(I always keep a bag of mixed peas and carrots in the freezer for this recipe)

1 c diced potatoes (or frozen hash browns)

1 can cream of chicken soup (Cream of mushroom if using beef)

1/4 c milk

generous sprinkle of pepper

generous sprinkle of onion powder

1 homemade pie crust, unbaked

(Of course, I realize, this pie is not really easy unless you use a store-bought crust,
but I prefer the taste of my homemade crust. :)

Crust recipe:
2c flour
1 t salt
2/3 c Crisco shortening, cut in
add 5-6 T cold water a little at a time

Bake 1 hour at 350 F

I'm not really a recipe girl, but wrote this out for you who like to follow directions. I take that back. I love directions. (I have put together every piece of furniture in our house that required assembly.) But I love flexibility too! I throw in whatever I happen to have (within reason, of course). For example, when I make a pot roast with carrots and potatoes in the crock pot and have a few leftovers, those get chopped up and made into pot pie. You could add beans, but I prefer not. Also, leftover gravy can be stirred in with the soup. 

Yum!

Colors, boogies, and boy

You Capture this week is about colors. I didn't have to look very far to find some. My living room floor has been covered in primary colors all week. Drat those legos. Thankfully, I haven't stepped on one yet, or they would all go in the trash. You know what I'm talking about. Nothing hurts like the dickens more than tripping on a pile of these plastic blocks.

Anyway, I also found these lovely pictures of Mitchell sporting color on himself. What, you say? You don't see any color? You've got to look a little closer to see it. Here's a hint. His nose. Guess what that is? UmmmHmmm. He has nearly daily bloody noses in the winter and hasn't yet learned to look in the mirror after one. Nice. I need to introduce him to those Boogie Wipes I received at Cupcake '10.

Next Up. A boy who is tired of having his picture taken, but not tired of playing with his sister's Stawberry Shortcake stamps from her McDonald's Happy Meal. Thus the color on his fingers.

Without further ado, this ends the rather pathetic, interior design lacking, tour of color in my house.


To see more interesting pictures of color visit I Should Be Folding Laundry. Drat, now I just remembered what I'm supposed to be doing right now.

My prayer this morning

Blissful Quiet

We went to the library today. This is my reward: a few moments of peace.

Maybe my dreams of blissfully quiet afternoons spent reading will soon come true.

One can hope.

Been playing with my camera. Top one, lighting not so good. Bottom: getting better. :)