Curiosity Killed The Cat!

Sometimes I am just amazed, flabbergasted, totally shocked at what you can find on the internet. Just when I thought the world was as evil and as wicked as it can become, somebody finds a new way to make it worse or to bring out the worse in mankind. I know we all have struggles because God's Word tells me that "all have sinned and come short of God." Not one, not just a few but all, Christians included. Apparently the net has reached the depth of Soddom and Gomorrah and that saddens me. It also makes me fearful. I have always used the net as a tool....sometimes for research, sometimes for fun, sometimes, well....sometimes life hands us things and we handle them in bad ways. But I was really shocked the day I heard percentages of net usage were 98% pornography, and the other 2% were for research, entertainment, and such. Now I have known this for quite some time, but today, the shock of all shocks, free sex website. Sign up to find whoever you want, whenever, whatever, and all for free. I feel stupid, dirty, and like I need to go get a shower now after checking it out to see....surely they wouldn't, couldn't.. THEY DID! This is going to make it so much harder for spouses who their husbands or wives weren't exactly faithful. It's going to tempt those who have these issues. It's NOT GOOD! God help us. More than ever we need you, Lord Jesus, to save us most especially from ourselves. I labeled this in the Bathroom topics because, well, I wish there was a big toilet to flush all these kinds of sites, news, info....down the big cesspool.

As they say, curiosity killed the cat. I am too curious for my own good. Kind of an 'Where Angels Fear to Tread' type of an attitude. Star Trek fans would put it, "keep your friends close, your enemies closer." Give you an inside edge so to speak...or maybe so the enemy would have you think....So not wanting to be totally negative, I want to leave you with this story which I have read before but most recently have read again. I can't remember names and places, but the gist of it goes....

A man was working in a bank. To teach them how to recognize counterfeit money, they did not give them counterfeit money to look at, touch, feel, handle. They gave them REAL money. They looked at it, studied it, touched it, felt it...They found most of the time they could recognize the fake money when it came through. The reason why was because they had handled the real thing so much of the time, they knew instinctly when the fake stuff was given to them. There was just something about it and they trusted that 'gut feeling' which most of the time led them to a right conclusion.

I am going to go read my Bible now for it is truth. It is real and it will give me that edge that when fake or counterfeit is being handed to me, I will recognize it.

Yes, It's Another One!

My husband's grandmother, now passed on, was a wonderful example of a Christian. She was always giving, joyful and seemingly never unnerved by anything. She was all of 4'8” at the most. Her personality much larger than her size. As they say, dynamite comes in small packages. She loved passionately and what she didn't like, well, she let you know about that too, but always with style and grace. In the years I knew her, I only saw her get angry once. I used to ask her how she controlled her temper, and she always said, “Me? I've a horrible temper. I used to be a redhead you know.” Then she would chuckle and wink at me. She got me to start reading my Bible on a through the year plan by getting me angry at her one time. I think she planned that, but whatever, it was one of the best things I've ever started doing. But, the most amazing thing was, most of the time you didn't see her get angry, but you did know that she was disappointed and you had something to do with it. Can we say conviction? And, the funny thing was that it was something with you and not her. She had it right. She was never prideful or 'lording' it over you; always, always she was humble.

Grandma taught us lots of things: How to share freely, give of what we have whether it was time, money, or talents. She taught us little secrets that helped make lump less gravy. She had a wealth of knowledge. In the short time that I had the privilege of knowing her, she made me realize that I wanted to age like her. The females in my family don't tend to age too well as my husband loves to tell. I will admit it. So far, they tend to become angry and bitter. I hope that I can bypass that and become like Grandma, my husband's grandmother.

Where does the bathroom come in? Well...you have to know Grandma. Grandma had more energy than all of us combined. She loved to come and visit, spoil her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to play games. She also cooked and cleaned. You could not get her to sit down and be still. She had more energy than anyone I have ever met. One time she came and wanted to help me in my garden. I told her I was happy to have someone helping me weed my garden. It was a job I hated. She taught me to love it. But, after about an hour, I was ready to drop. I kept looking at Grandma figuring, okay, she'll get tired and want to stop any minute now. Should I mention she was 90 years old at this time? So, we're weeding and right at about an hour I have to beg her, “Grandma, can we stop now, pleeeeeze?”

So back to the bathroom, Grandma had heart problems, hence my concern over her weeding and doing too much around the house. She had a stent placement. I was the only one, at the time, who could stay with her while she recuperated from the surgery. Her first day home from the hospital she wanted to get a shower. I told her okay, but I was staying right outside the door and if she needed me to call me. I did too. But after I hear her get out of the shower, I hear huffing and puffing and the shower doors rattling. I am like, oh my, she's having problems and is too proud to call me. That's Grandma. I knock on the door and ask, “Grandma, are you okay? “Yes dear, I'm fine.” is the reply. Okay, so I sit down and hear more huffing and puffing. “Grandma, what are you doing?” No answer. “Grandma?” No answer. “Grandma! Grandma, You'd better not be wiping down those doors.” Yes folks, the first, full day home from the hospital and she is in there rubbing down those shower doors. AGGGGHHHHH!!! We had a talk about that and despite my telling her it was not necessary, every day you could hear her rubbing down those doors. That's Grandma!

Grandma loved to tell us stories of what her life was like growing up. How as a young teenager she had to cook the family meals. The story of her first job and her having to walk home at night. A friend found out and gave her the means of protecting herself with a small hand pistol. One night, she tells the story of being followed by some young hooligans in a car. They pulled up beside her walking on the sidewalk and she proceeds to pull the pistol out and tells them she'll blow their heads off if they don't leave her alone. She laughed to tell the story, but she says, “in all actuality I was shaking like a leaf.” That's Grandma. Or the story when we were helping to go through things, after she had passed on, and we found, not one mind you, but two serrated butcher knives in the side pocket of her luggage. “What was Grandma doing with these?” We all laughed and was amazed airport security or somebody hadn't flagged her down. Someone else was like, “You don't mess with Grandma.” We pondered that one for days.

Grandma, thank you for sharing your wonderful wisdom with us - your love of life, friends and most of all, your love for the Lord. Your life was such a wonderful testimony of His divine love for us.

It Happened Again!!!

Wow, time has flown. It is amazing to see how you think it has only been a few days and then it turns to weeks. Kind of like the time I thought I had called my Mom, and found out it was almost a month ago. ACCCKKK!!!!

Yes folks, I had another one of those wonderful bathroom moments. This time, I happened to be in the shower. I thoroughly enjoy my showers. I push the limit on staying in there. It is shameful, because I do know that it is important to conserve water and all of that stuff. But this time, it didn't take me long to get out of the shower. I was enjoying the flow of the water running through my hair, and just basically the warmth of the water. Did I mention that I really love my showers? So any how, I had just finished washing my hair and rinsing it. It is quite a task as I have really thick hair, so I must rinse it alot to make sure all the suds are out of it, conditioner, etc. I turned and something caught my eye on the floor of the shower. The water is running. Life is happy and then I realize...

There is a Black Widow spider scrambling for its life on the floor of my shower, with me, while I am taking my shower. AAAAGGGHHHHHAAAAGGGHHHHAAAGGGHHH!!!!!! Okay, so what do I do? Do I just forego the shower? Um, no, I needed my shower. Nothing is going to deprive me of my shower. I rapidly decide to finish the job in extra quick time all the while keeping an eye on my enemy, ummm, excuse me, friend who is still trying to hang onto life in this world. Did I happen to mention that I have a bad back? Yep, every now and then I move the right way, or is that the wrong way, and out it goes. The last time all I did was sit down in a chair. Ask my children, they'll tell you. That little episode put me in bed for two days and three heavy pain pills later. Oh, sorry, that's another story in itself. Okay, so back to the spider...I proceed to check my towel for another one, just in case there is a partner in crime. I step out of the shower, all the while twisting and kinking to keep my eyes on this spider which is still scrambling around. After I am dressed, I find that - Gee, my back is aching. Wonder why? I am sad to say that the spider did not make it; okay, I am not really sorry. I don't much care for spiders. Not after I was bit by one and had a lump the size of a half-dollar.

Which reminds me that I did have another bathroom moment and there was a spider on my towel. It reminded me why I should never move to Arizona, New Mexico or one of those states that has critters like scorpions running around. I would be bitten for sure....

Life has somewhat returned to normal here. I am happy to say my children are behaving like my children again. A few months ago, as a neighbor of mine would say, "Aliens have kidnapped my child." I could totally relate. Aliens had kidnapped my children because they sure weren't behaving like my children. After a few revisions, explaining that life is not going to continue in this way, things are going well lately. My daughter had this idea of doing school her way. I told her I had no logical reason why she could not do as she had planned except that I didn't know of anyone else who had done such. Well, the first goal planned went well. She was happy. I was convinced she was ruining her life. Be quiet, be patient. The Lord spoke to me, my husband reassured me. It will be all right. Um yea, right...she is ruining her chance at choice later on, this is not good. Be patient, be quiet. Well, the next planned goal came. The very first day all did not go as planned. She came out very humble and quiet and said, "Mom, would you pleeeezzzeee help me?" You know I could have really gotten nasty with her, but I didn't. I quietly explained that all I ever wanted for her was the best; that I would be more than happy to help her. But in helping her, she had to listen to me. That I really wasn't out to run her life. I want her to be independent. To be the person God has called her to be, and to not throw those gifts away.

So to make this all short, I have learned in this season of experimenting that truly God does lead us concerning our 'own' family, not others' families. What works for you did not work for me. We tried it the way others do school, we were lost and confused. We are now back to our plan and schedule and life is at peace. We're all happy. I am sorry for the wasted times where I doubted what God had told me, questioned my own ability only to lose ground and we are just getting back to where we were before we took this detour. May you have the strength to walk the path God has called you and your family to travel.

Restrooms and life

I believe the circumstances and events in one's life helps to make that person. No wonder I am such a neurotic mess. Remember I mentioned that I happened to be in the restroom when I experienced my first earthquake. Well, I always seem to be in the restroom when something dramatic happens. I was visiting my friend and had to use the restroom. While in the restroom, the UPS guy came to her house to drop off a package. She had this horrible small hill in her driveway which you had to come down to get to her house. Being that we live in an area of snow and ice...yep, you guessed it. The poor UPS guy parked his truck on the hill, proceeded to the front door and when answered was told his truck was sliding down the driveway, right into the house. Thump, kah-boom, crash.....all the while I am in the restroom. I don't think I'll ever feel right using the restroom without wondering what else is going to happen. My friend got a new garage door and some remodeling of her house. Whew boy! I am really beginning to think one day that dream, ummmm, nightmare is going to happen. You know, the Jackie Chan one...

More stories....I have even more stories involving restrooms. But then I think, dignity, where's your dignity? Acccckkk!!!!! Talking about the restroom with all the world to see that is so not me. Besides some of these stories are really not mine to tell but are part of a family's time during hard times. Like facing a loved one who has cancer and basically, the person is not their self. Is it fair to share those items? I remember I wrote a short story telling of such because at the time I found it quite baffling that we could be crying and the next minute, laughing. It truly was, as Dickens would say, the best of times and the worst of times.

So do I tell about Dad and his pot. Will Mom ever speak to me again if I do so? Nah, I think I'll just reminisce with my family on this one.

Speaking of which, what of people who do good deeds. I have experienced the goodness of people and always wondered how I could let those people know that they really helped someone in a hard place. I was on my way home, to where I was born, from my home where I now live. I had been given the call, if you want Dad to see his grandson, you need to come now. So I was traveling with a three-year-old and a six-month-old who weighed so much he couldn't sit up by himself. The airline was not good. But, while trying to get to my connecting flight, this gentleman took time out from his trip to help me get to my gate. He took the bags while I held my daughter's hand and toted my son. I stepped on the edge of my son's baby blanket, slipped and fell flat on my back. He was so very kind as to help me up. I made the plane with a few minutes to spare, just a few. I don't think I would have done so on my own. I also think I was probably in a full blown panic attack without knowing it. But I thank God for those people who do good deeds because there have been some in my life and they are truly angels doing God's work. My daughter still has the spotted, stuffed puppydog that one lady gave her, helping her during a hard time on a flight.

So Who Comes Back To Post On The Same Day!

Until I decide what colors I really like, you'll probably see my entries changing colors a lot.

I came back to say, what a crummy day! My two children and I go to the effort of getting ready for co-op, yes, we are home-schoolers, and after getting dressed, snack made and ready to go, we go to the car only to find the windshield wipers are not working. What is so bad about that right, except that it is wintertime and today, we have been having lots of rain. Hmmmm, do I drive looking out a windshield that resembles looking through a fishbowl? I don't think so...

So here we sit, and here I decide to work some more at this blogging stuff. I have so many stories, so many memories....but I'm off to search and see what is acceptable and what is not. Do I post this story? If I post this story, so and so is not going to talk to me anymore. What a dilemma?

All my fears and paranoia....like the fact that I am a transplanted Floridian now living in the Pacific Northwest. I can handle hurricanes and tornadoes, but how do you handle firestorms and earthquakes. ACCCKKK!!!! Then of course my paranoia comes true, such as the first earthquake I experience living here in the beautiful Northwest, I am in the bathroom. Yes folks, the bathroom, using the bathroom and all I can envision is that scene in the Jackie Chan movie where the lady was using the restroom and the side of the building came off for the whole world to see. Talk about trauma. I don't think I slept good for two weeks after that experience.

I hope to be able to talk about all aspects of life here: marriage, children, faith, philosphy, and maybe even politics. But please, let's be nice and respectful to each other 'cause there sure is a lot of meaness in the world already.