Today, as we walked into our house after spending the afternoon at a family get together, we noticed something unusual on our shed roof. Any ideas on why the snow fell off the middle and not the ends?? :)
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Can anyone explain this??
Today, as we walked into our house after spending the afternoon at a family get together, we noticed something unusual on our shed roof. Any ideas on why the snow fell off the middle and not the ends?? :)
Little Soldier of the Lord
For Christmas this year, my husband and I gave our almost 3 year old nephew an armor dress up set. More specifically, an Armor of the Lord dress up set!! Check out his cute fierceness!!
Brandishing his Sword of the Spirit!
Big smiles!
He knows how to protect his face with his
helmet of salvation!!
Check out his fierce warrior look!!
Big smiles!
He knows how to protect his face with hishelmet of salvation!!
Check out his fierce warrior look!!
Friday, December 14, 2007
A lesson in trusting the Lord.
There are some days when I really need to be reminded that God is in control. And Thursday was one of them. I had spent the afternoon Christmas shopping with a girl from my youth group in a city about an hour away. I had a work Christmas party that night, so time was short and we were in a rush most of the afternoon to make it back in time for the party.
After I got home and was frantically changing into clothes for the party, I came to a dead stop in the middle of my kitchen when I looked down at my left hand. My engagement ring was missing!! As any normal married/engaged woman would do, I FREAKED OUT. I began running around like a chicken with its head cut off, frantically shaking through the clothes I had just changed out of, digging through the garbage and the bags of items I had come home with, and searching the corners of the floor and under hutches and shelving units. I definitely reached my heart rate for the day....
Because of my work party, I only had about 10 minutes to scour the little bit of my house that I had been in since getting home, so, needless to say, I didn't find anything. And decided I'd be better off going to the work party and then coming home to search more. That way I'd avoid being more upset at the party than I would have to be.
After what seemed like an agonizingly long dinner with my co-workers, I hurried home and began the search again. This time digging out my trusty Mag Lite flashlight and searching in every nook and cranny inside, digging through my purse, sweeping the floor, dumping all of my Christmas gifts out on the floor and shaking out the bags they were in, and practically crawling back and forth along our walkway outside (in 5 degree weather), as well as hunting through my car, car trunk, and the ground all around my car. All to no avail. I then called all four of the business that I had shopped in that afternoon, and gave them my phone number and the information regarding my ring. None of them had seen it or had anything turned in. I found myself in tears, terribly upset, and wanting nothing more than to talk to my Mom.
God knew what He was doing when He gave us mothers....she was able to listen to my dreadful story and sympathize with my raging emotions. And she prayed with me. Prayed that the Lord would be glorified through this somehow, and that He would direct us to the ring at just the right time. And that it would be a testimony of how great our God is and that He is in control of every detail of our mundane lives.
I finally decided to go to bed, after talking with my hubby, and he promised to help me look harder in the morning, when it was light out. Then he left for work (he works the night shift). So I was left to my own racing imagination and anxious ponderings of the outcome of my most precious gift of love. So I turned to the Lord. I begged Him to help us find it somehow, but I also asked Him to help me have a good attitude, regardless of the outcome. Even if *gulp* we never did find my oh-so-special ring that carried a hundred memories and was a public declaration of my husband's love and commitment to me. I also spent time focusing on verses such as:
The following morning I was having a rough time getting ready for work without tearing up at the thought of losing my ring for forever, and yet continually telling myself that it was just a material possession and not that important in light of my eternal destiny. As I was wrestling with myself mentally, Joe came home. He walked through the door saying my name in such a way that I knew something had happened. And indeed it had -- he had found my ring!! It's amazing really. After praying about our situation all night at work, he had come home, taken two steps from his car door, and "just happened" to look down at the ground and saw my ring. Amazing. God is soo incredibly good.
And it gets even better...
My mom had prayed about my situation after getting off the phone with me, and she had specifically asked the Lord to show her through what she read in the Bible that night whether or not I would find my ring, all the while feeling a little silly about asking God to do something so bold. So she opened her Bible, and her reading for that night was on the Shepherd and the Lost Sheep, and how he searched for it until He found it (Luke 15:4-7). Coincidence? I think not....God knew. And He led Joe's eyes just to the right spot to find it. And I am forever grateful to Him!!
And I plan on getting my engagement ring and wedding band sautered togehter as soon as possible....
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
After I got home and was frantically changing into clothes for the party, I came to a dead stop in the middle of my kitchen when I looked down at my left hand. My engagement ring was missing!! As any normal married/engaged woman would do, I FREAKED OUT. I began running around like a chicken with its head cut off, frantically shaking through the clothes I had just changed out of, digging through the garbage and the bags of items I had come home with, and searching the corners of the floor and under hutches and shelving units. I definitely reached my heart rate for the day....
Because of my work party, I only had about 10 minutes to scour the little bit of my house that I had been in since getting home, so, needless to say, I didn't find anything. And decided I'd be better off going to the work party and then coming home to search more. That way I'd avoid being more upset at the party than I would have to be.
After what seemed like an agonizingly long dinner with my co-workers, I hurried home and began the search again. This time digging out my trusty Mag Lite flashlight and searching in every nook and cranny inside, digging through my purse, sweeping the floor, dumping all of my Christmas gifts out on the floor and shaking out the bags they were in, and practically crawling back and forth along our walkway outside (in 5 degree weather), as well as hunting through my car, car trunk, and the ground all around my car. All to no avail. I then called all four of the business that I had shopped in that afternoon, and gave them my phone number and the information regarding my ring. None of them had seen it or had anything turned in. I found myself in tears, terribly upset, and wanting nothing more than to talk to my Mom.
God knew what He was doing when He gave us mothers....she was able to listen to my dreadful story and sympathize with my raging emotions. And she prayed with me. Prayed that the Lord would be glorified through this somehow, and that He would direct us to the ring at just the right time. And that it would be a testimony of how great our God is and that He is in control of every detail of our mundane lives.
I finally decided to go to bed, after talking with my hubby, and he promised to help me look harder in the morning, when it was light out. Then he left for work (he works the night shift). So I was left to my own racing imagination and anxious ponderings of the outcome of my most precious gift of love. So I turned to the Lord. I begged Him to help us find it somehow, but I also asked Him to help me have a good attitude, regardless of the outcome. Even if *gulp* we never did find my oh-so-special ring that carried a hundred memories and was a public declaration of my husband's love and commitment to me. I also spent time focusing on verses such as:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."and
Prov. 3:5-6
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."I also had a song running through my head from when I was a kid. The words to it say,
Psalm 118:8
"When I am afraid I will trust in You, I will trust in You, I will trust in You. When I am afraid I will trust in You, in God whose Word I praise."I found great comfort in these, and though it wasn't easy, I commited the fate of my ring to the Lord, and restlessly drifted to sleep.
The following morning I was having a rough time getting ready for work without tearing up at the thought of losing my ring for forever, and yet continually telling myself that it was just a material possession and not that important in light of my eternal destiny. As I was wrestling with myself mentally, Joe came home. He walked through the door saying my name in such a way that I knew something had happened. And indeed it had -- he had found my ring!! It's amazing really. After praying about our situation all night at work, he had come home, taken two steps from his car door, and "just happened" to look down at the ground and saw my ring. Amazing. God is soo incredibly good.
And it gets even better...
My mom had prayed about my situation after getting off the phone with me, and she had specifically asked the Lord to show her through what she read in the Bible that night whether or not I would find my ring, all the while feeling a little silly about asking God to do something so bold. So she opened her Bible, and her reading for that night was on the Shepherd and the Lost Sheep, and how he searched for it until He found it (Luke 15:4-7). Coincidence? I think not....God knew. And He led Joe's eyes just to the right spot to find it. And I am forever grateful to Him!!
And I plan on getting my engagement ring and wedding band sautered togehter as soon as possible....
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
an abnormal week...
I haven't been posting much about what's been going on in our life, mainly because it's been so typical from day to day: get up, work, eat, sleep, etc. Nothing too interesting. But this past week has been spiced up a little bit from the humdrum of normality. Let me share a few of the tidbits with you, starting with a week ago, Sunday...
sunday-tuesday:
I was blessed with the delightful opportunity to spend 2 days with my mom, who came up to visit me. We had a grand time, did loads of shopping, ate at great restaurants, soaked in a hot tub, and talked on just about everything. It was great. I love my mom... :)
tuesday:
My husband, Joe, had been experiencing an upset stomach for about 2 weeks, so he went in to the doctor to have it checked on. It turns out he had an ulcer! Weird. But at least we found out the source of the problem....he was assigned meds and suggestions on a milder diet, so we'll see how well he sticks to that. He's looking forward to an excuse to moan and complain about his ulcer...so watch out! :)
wednesday:
Joe, in retaliation to me leaving him for 2 days, left me for 2 days to go pheasant hunting with his dad and brother-in-law. Not really...they had it planned even before Mom and I had our plans, it just seeemed like retaliation to me. :) They spent two days in crazy winds and cold weather, and came back with only 1 pheasant. Sad for them. But they had a good time and great conversations.
thursday:
We had an unpleasant surprise early in the morning on Thursday. As Joe left for work, he discovered that someone had stolen our cd player, cd player adapter, and our case of 200 cds from our car. Gr. It was quite unusual, especially since our cars sit under a street light in a church parking lot that is way out in the open....it would be difficult to do anything secretively without being noticed. But oh well. Though we are saddened by our loss of some of our favorite tunes, we are glad that the perpetrator ended up with a PILE of Christian cds -- many with a Christ-centered message that will hopefully convict his/her heart and help them to see their need for a Savior. We filed a police report, and they promised to keep an eye on our place...so we'll see what happens.
friday:
Every year, Joe receives a free turkey from his workplace as their Thanksgiving gift to their employees. This year, Joe ended up with TWO turkeys...due to a small mixup. But it actually works out great, because we're helping supply the turkey for our Thanksgiving meal. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, eh?
saturday:
I had the unique and not so pleasant opportunity to confront a difficult bank customer. It involved lies concerning a stolen (or not so stolen) checkbook and the process we needed to go through. I'm a very non-confrontational person, so this was......interesting, to say the least. But the Lord is gracious and gave me strength for the moment and wisdom to know what to say. And for that I am thankful.
sunday/today:
We celebrated Joe's sister's birthday with an AMAZING homecooked meal...though it tasted exACTly like something you'd eat at Olive Garden. Many gold stars go to Joe's mom and all the effort she put into making it taste Olive Gardenesque. Amazing...plus great time with my nephews, niece, and the rest of the family.
Though there were ups and downs this week, I am so thankful that the Lord blesses us with an abundant life - no matter how bland it might seem at the time. A perfect thing to be reminded of as we approach Thanksgiving. And in case I don't get a chance to post again before the holiday...have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone!!
sunday-tuesday:
I was blessed with the delightful opportunity to spend 2 days with my mom, who came up to visit me. We had a grand time, did loads of shopping, ate at great restaurants, soaked in a hot tub, and talked on just about everything. It was great. I love my mom... :)
tuesday:
My husband, Joe, had been experiencing an upset stomach for about 2 weeks, so he went in to the doctor to have it checked on. It turns out he had an ulcer! Weird. But at least we found out the source of the problem....he was assigned meds and suggestions on a milder diet, so we'll see how well he sticks to that. He's looking forward to an excuse to moan and complain about his ulcer...so watch out! :)
wednesday:
Joe, in retaliation to me leaving him for 2 days, left me for 2 days to go pheasant hunting with his dad and brother-in-law. Not really...they had it planned even before Mom and I had our plans, it just seeemed like retaliation to me. :) They spent two days in crazy winds and cold weather, and came back with only 1 pheasant. Sad for them. But they had a good time and great conversations.
thursday:
We had an unpleasant surprise early in the morning on Thursday. As Joe left for work, he discovered that someone had stolen our cd player, cd player adapter, and our case of 200 cds from our car. Gr. It was quite unusual, especially since our cars sit under a street light in a church parking lot that is way out in the open....it would be difficult to do anything secretively without being noticed. But oh well. Though we are saddened by our loss of some of our favorite tunes, we are glad that the perpetrator ended up with a PILE of Christian cds -- many with a Christ-centered message that will hopefully convict his/her heart and help them to see their need for a Savior. We filed a police report, and they promised to keep an eye on our place...so we'll see what happens.
friday:
Every year, Joe receives a free turkey from his workplace as their Thanksgiving gift to their employees. This year, Joe ended up with TWO turkeys...due to a small mixup. But it actually works out great, because we're helping supply the turkey for our Thanksgiving meal. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, eh?
saturday:
I had the unique and not so pleasant opportunity to confront a difficult bank customer. It involved lies concerning a stolen (or not so stolen) checkbook and the process we needed to go through. I'm a very non-confrontational person, so this was......interesting, to say the least. But the Lord is gracious and gave me strength for the moment and wisdom to know what to say. And for that I am thankful.
sunday/today:
We celebrated Joe's sister's birthday with an AMAZING homecooked meal...though it tasted exACTly like something you'd eat at Olive Garden. Many gold stars go to Joe's mom and all the effort she put into making it taste Olive Gardenesque. Amazing...plus great time with my nephews, niece, and the rest of the family.
Though there were ups and downs this week, I am so thankful that the Lord blesses us with an abundant life - no matter how bland it might seem at the time. A perfect thing to be reminded of as we approach Thanksgiving. And in case I don't get a chance to post again before the holiday...have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone!!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
"My Song is Love Unknown"
Today, while flipping through a hymnal, I found a song with profoundly touching lyrics and a beautiful haunting melody that I want to share with all of you. (It's #162 in the Hymns of Truth and Praise hymnal -- the red book) Enjoy...
My song is love unknown, my Savior's love to me
Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be
Oh who am I, that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne, salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none the longed-for Christ would know;
But O, my Friend, my Friend indeed, who at my need His life did spend!
Sometimes they strew His way, and His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day Hosannas to their King:
Then "Crucify!" is all their breath, and for His death they thirst and cry.
They rise, and needs will have my dear Lord made a way;
A murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful He to suff'ring goes, that He His foes from thence might free.
Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine;
Never was love, dear King, never was grief like Thine,
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
My hubby makes the world go round...
I have a wonderful husband. I don't mean to brag (or maybe I do) but he's wonderful. Amazing. Super. Splendiferous...ok, you get my point. :)
Why is my husband so terrific, you ask? Well, last night when I came home from work, supper was waiting for me on the table. Still warm. That's a feat in itself in my book! Plus the dishes were already done. Beautiful. AND....(there's more you ask? indeed there is...) I had a gift and a very sweet card waiting for me. In a gift bag. How awesome is that?! The gift was simple and small, but one that I will use regularly, a pair of fun socks -- Christmas socks, so I can wear them during the Christmas season, rather than afterwards!
As for the card, I won't give it to you verbatim, but I will let you in on the general message -- because I thought it was so completely appropriate for us (as anyone who knows us will attest).
The outside showed a squirrel holding an acorn and saying:
"I think I'm a squirrel, because I like you, and you're a big nut"
And then on the inside it said,
"I'm also skittish and prone to indecisiveness"
Isn't that great!! He's the greatest husband. EVER. And I love him so...
Why is my husband so terrific, you ask? Well, last night when I came home from work, supper was waiting for me on the table. Still warm. That's a feat in itself in my book! Plus the dishes were already done. Beautiful. AND....(there's more you ask? indeed there is...) I had a gift and a very sweet card waiting for me. In a gift bag. How awesome is that?! The gift was simple and small, but one that I will use regularly, a pair of fun socks -- Christmas socks, so I can wear them during the Christmas season, rather than afterwards!
As for the card, I won't give it to you verbatim, but I will let you in on the general message -- because I thought it was so completely appropriate for us (as anyone who knows us will attest).
The outside showed a squirrel holding an acorn and saying:
"I think I'm a squirrel, because I like you, and you're a big nut"
And then on the inside it said,
"I'm also skittish and prone to indecisiveness"
Isn't that great!! He's the greatest husband. EVER. And I love him so...
Monday, November 5, 2007
the weather outside is frightful...
Today, I was astonished to look out the window and see flurries of snow! It wasn't enough to stay on the ground, but it solidified my sneaking suspicion that winter is just around the corner. In fact, it's already here! Tomorrow the high is only supposed to be 39 degrees! Yikes!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
oh to read again...
I miss reading. It used to be I could spend hours curled up on the loveseat with a novel in hand, lost in the adventures and romance of a fictional story. Or sometimes I would challenge my thinking by wrestling with some of John Piper's works or re-thinking my role as a wife in a godly marriage. I love to read poetry, fiction, history and classics, and especially enjoyed to discuss the books I read with friends.
In my younger days, I can recall my mom asking me to help set the table at dinner time, only to find me slowly circling the table, book in hand, as I tried to place the silverware in the correct spot without breaking my flow of reading. Or I would attempt to read in the car once it got dark (before I got terribly car sick), holding my book up to catch the light of the headlights behind us until it proved impossible to make out the words. In college I would retreat into the library and curl up on the "sleeping chair" to "read" my homework...though it almost inevitably ended up in a nap.
I love to read. Why is it I never have time to sit down with a book? My hubby is just as busy as I am, and yet he can read through 3-5 books in a month or less!! On top of his daily Bible reading! I am in awe. Maybe I'll pick up some pointers from him. But in the meantime, I'll look forward to Christmas vacation, when I will hopefully find some time to read again...
In my younger days, I can recall my mom asking me to help set the table at dinner time, only to find me slowly circling the table, book in hand, as I tried to place the silverware in the correct spot without breaking my flow of reading. Or I would attempt to read in the car once it got dark (before I got terribly car sick), holding my book up to catch the light of the headlights behind us until it proved impossible to make out the words. In college I would retreat into the library and curl up on the "sleeping chair" to "read" my homework...though it almost inevitably ended up in a nap.
I love to read. Why is it I never have time to sit down with a book? My hubby is just as busy as I am, and yet he can read through 3-5 books in a month or less!! On top of his daily Bible reading! I am in awe. Maybe I'll pick up some pointers from him. But in the meantime, I'll look forward to Christmas vacation, when I will hopefully find some time to read again...
Life has just been far too hectic for me as of late. I never seem to find the time to blog...and when I do have the time, I sit in front of the computer screen like a zombie, my brain devoid of all thought or creativity. Hm.
Part of what has been keeping me busy has been planning for and preparing for the wedding of a dear friend of mine this coming weekend -- she's actually marrying my husband's cousin, so she actually gets to be grafted into the family! It's terribly exciting... :) There has been much to do to get ready, as I am in the wedding party and have been scurrying about making sure my dress gets made correctly. Today we had an almost final fitting, and it should be completely done by tomorrow! Praise the Lord! :)
Other exciting, and not so exciting, news has been the loss of one of my piano students of 2 years. It was sad to tell her goodbye, and yet I trust that the Lord has bigger plans in mind, and I've actually already heard of another person who might be replacing her! Plus I'm going to try to start picking up some more piano students anyway....just to make my life even more complicated. :)
Part of what has been keeping me busy has been planning for and preparing for the wedding of a dear friend of mine this coming weekend -- she's actually marrying my husband's cousin, so she actually gets to be grafted into the family! It's terribly exciting... :) There has been much to do to get ready, as I am in the wedding party and have been scurrying about making sure my dress gets made correctly. Today we had an almost final fitting, and it should be completely done by tomorrow! Praise the Lord! :)
Other exciting, and not so exciting, news has been the loss of one of my piano students of 2 years. It was sad to tell her goodbye, and yet I trust that the Lord has bigger plans in mind, and I've actually already heard of another person who might be replacing her! Plus I'm going to try to start picking up some more piano students anyway....just to make my life even more complicated. :)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Picturesque Autumn
Last weekend we had glorious weather -- mid 70s - mid 80s -- and Joe and I took advantage of the beautiful blue skies by having Joe's sister, Melissa, snap some shots of us for our Christmas cards. I tried to load some on Facebook, but they came out with a strange tint that I didn't care for, so I thought I'd share them here and give y'all a sneak preview of some of our favorites...enjoy! :)
This was at an apartment building in Nelson, it used to be a middle school. Isn't the ivy along the brick walls amazing??
This is at a spot called Buena Vista, but we all call it the Alma Bluff. It looks out over the Mississippi valley, isn't it beautiful? :)
Yay for swinging! :)
Kissy kissy! :)
Melissa wanted to catch a shot of us jumping together, but we never managed to get in the air at the same time! This is the best shot, and I think it captures both of our personalities well. :)
I love how it looks like Joe's telling me a secret! ;)
The aerial view :)Thursday, October 4, 2007
forgiveness
Today was a day where I just had to laugh. Or yell.... Isn't it amazing how people can refuse to forgive and move on? They think that they are pursuing a higher ideal of "making the world a better place", when really it's their own stubbornness that keeps it from being that way. *sigh* I'm so glad I have a Savior who forgives me. Unconditionally. I find great peace in that thought. Regardless of the number of times I do something stupid, belittle a friend, or act out in anger, He is always right there beside me. As the Bible says:
"...He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Colossians 2:13b-14)Amazing...and speaking of amazing, this video is incredible! I know I'm stealing the idea from my brother's post, but it's too moving to pass up. I was in tears the first time I saw it. Watch and be blessed...
Thursday, September 27, 2007
me and my bed
For the past week, I've been robbed of my bed due to a prolonged painting project. It began with "we should paint our bedroom and the stairway during my week of vacation"....which morphed into needing to re-plaster our entire stairway and then also sheetrock the ceiling of our bedroom. Fun times. In my head, I planned on being done painting by Tuesday, meaning I would only be separated from my bed for a mere 4-5 days....not an entire week. Needless to say, I'm ready to reunite with my oh-so-comfy mattress tonight! ...Finally. And I'll have a grand new view to enjoy with our lovely "Berlin" colored walls (that's muted green -- kind of sagish -- for those of you who are wondering...).
Sunday, September 23, 2007
a new niece!!
I must say that the best way to start out a vacation is with the arrival of a new, precious little niece only hours after getting off of work. That's right, I'm an aunt again, but now I have a niece!! And she's absolutely adorable....someday when I get pictures I'll post them. :) I am so blessed....and it was a GREAT way to start out my vacation. :)
Friday, September 21, 2007
ahh...vacation...
Earlier this week I woke up to my hubby standing in the doorway saying, "Liz...??" I glanced at the clock and to my chagrin it said 7:32 am. I'm supposed to be at work at 7:45 am. And it's a 7 minute drive. And I hadn't showered for 2 days. Wonderful combo...and so I called work and told them I'd be late, then raced through my morning routine and managed to make it into the bank just as it was turning 8 o'clock. Apparently I work best under pressure. Good thing today was my last day of work for 9 days!
Yes, you read that right, I'm taking off 9 days from work -- a week long vacation (paid, mind you) so I can accomplish some things around our house -- like FINALLY painting our bedroom and stairway! It was so refreshing to walk out the door of the bank and know that I don't have to go back in to Monday's craziness after the weekend! I get a whole week off -- and I get paid for it!! I've never had a paid vacation before...but I know I'm going to like it. Especially not having to be anywhere before 8 am. :) Sweet sleep, here I come...
Yes, you read that right, I'm taking off 9 days from work -- a week long vacation (paid, mind you) so I can accomplish some things around our house -- like FINALLY painting our bedroom and stairway! It was so refreshing to walk out the door of the bank and know that I don't have to go back in to Monday's craziness after the weekend! I get a whole week off -- and I get paid for it!! I've never had a paid vacation before...but I know I'm going to like it. Especially not having to be anywhere before 8 am. :) Sweet sleep, here I come...
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
finances & felines
Although my last post concerned the banking world, I'm going to bring it up again in this post, just because we have added a new member to our staff. He's a black and white, 2-week old kitten. Here's how he joined our ranks:
A week ago, my boss, Big D, surprised us all by entering work with a scrawny, teeny-tiny, rodent-looking kitten - with its umbilical cord still attached. He had found it just outside his shed, a few blocks away from the bank, on a blistering hot August morning...on the concrete. Ouch. And so we did what any office of four women would do -- we nursed it back to health.
It started with a call to the vet and a side trip to pick up a kitty bottle and some kitty formula. I had never heard of kitty formula, but apparently they need it. :) We designated E to take care of him overnight, as she already had 4 cats (what's another when you already have that many?!), and she also had a heating pad and the tender heart to fuss over it throughout the night.
Sure enough, the kittycat joined us at work the next day in an ice cream bucket with a soft and cuddly blanket to snuggle in. The day was spent waiting on customers, but more importantly maintaining a 2-4 hour feeding schedule -- during which everything stopped. If you were a customer, you were lucky you got waited on.
At this point, I mentioned that the kitty really should have some kind of a name...some suggested "Lucky", but that reminded me too much of 101 Dalmations. Then I had an "aha!" moment - I suggested "Moses", since he was "found in the bulrushes of King D's shed", and the name stuck. So today, when it was mentioned that he was possibly a she, my heart sunk. I've grown fond of the name Moses -- in fact, probably one quarter of our bank's customers have now been introduced to Moses and frequently ask how he's doing and ask to hold him or feed him. And they've all had the story of his name explained to them, so to change it now would be traumatic - if not for little Moses, at least for me! So we'll see what happens....but back to the story...
Moses has survived well. He's grown a bit and his eyes are now open -- piercing blue-gray eyes in a tuft of black fur. He's so cute. And I don't even like cats! Although I must admit that it's been entertaining to watch the way E dotes over him....she fusses and fusses, coaxes him to poop (as he was a little constipated at first), rubs his face and belly, feeds him, whispers to him, and is often blessed in return as he piddles down her blouse. Aren't little ones great? :)
So far, Moses has been kept a secret from the other branches of the bank....who knows what would happen if THE BOSS ever found out about it. We'd all be fired for sure, if not for violating the appearance of professionalism, then at least for all the times Moses has piddled on the carpet or stolen sweet E's time in feeding him. Because of this, we probably won't buy him a cute little sweater, nor promote him as our mascot. But as long as we can get away with keeping him in our little ice cream bucket as a secret attraction for our customers, we will.
To be continued....
Correction: Big D was not the one who actually brought Moses into work...it was E...my bad! I guess I wasn't actually there - I was on my lunch break, so forgive me for my ignorance...
A week ago, my boss, Big D, surprised us all by entering work with a scrawny, teeny-tiny, rodent-looking kitten - with its umbilical cord still attached. He had found it just outside his shed, a few blocks away from the bank, on a blistering hot August morning...on the concrete. Ouch. And so we did what any office of four women would do -- we nursed it back to health.
It started with a call to the vet and a side trip to pick up a kitty bottle and some kitty formula. I had never heard of kitty formula, but apparently they need it. :) We designated E to take care of him overnight, as she already had 4 cats (what's another when you already have that many?!), and she also had a heating pad and the tender heart to fuss over it throughout the night.
Sure enough, the kittycat joined us at work the next day in an ice cream bucket with a soft and cuddly blanket to snuggle in. The day was spent waiting on customers, but more importantly maintaining a 2-4 hour feeding schedule -- during which everything stopped. If you were a customer, you were lucky you got waited on.
At this point, I mentioned that the kitty really should have some kind of a name...some suggested "Lucky", but that reminded me too much of 101 Dalmations. Then I had an "aha!" moment - I suggested "Moses", since he was "found in the bulrushes of King D's shed", and the name stuck. So today, when it was mentioned that he was possibly a she, my heart sunk. I've grown fond of the name Moses -- in fact, probably one quarter of our bank's customers have now been introduced to Moses and frequently ask how he's doing and ask to hold him or feed him. And they've all had the story of his name explained to them, so to change it now would be traumatic - if not for little Moses, at least for me! So we'll see what happens....but back to the story...
Moses has survived well. He's grown a bit and his eyes are now open -- piercing blue-gray eyes in a tuft of black fur. He's so cute. And I don't even like cats! Although I must admit that it's been entertaining to watch the way E dotes over him....she fusses and fusses, coaxes him to poop (as he was a little constipated at first), rubs his face and belly, feeds him, whispers to him, and is often blessed in return as he piddles down her blouse. Aren't little ones great? :)
So far, Moses has been kept a secret from the other branches of the bank....who knows what would happen if THE BOSS ever found out about it. We'd all be fired for sure, if not for violating the appearance of professionalism, then at least for all the times Moses has piddled on the carpet or stolen sweet E's time in feeding him. Because of this, we probably won't buy him a cute little sweater, nor promote him as our mascot. But as long as we can get away with keeping him in our little ice cream bucket as a secret attraction for our customers, we will.
To be continued....
Correction: Big D was not the one who actually brought Moses into work...it was E...my bad! I guess I wasn't actually there - I was on my lunch break, so forgive me for my ignorance...
Thursday, August 30, 2007
What I've learned from working at the bank...
(Disclaimer: Note that these comments are all in fun, and a large part are inside jokes, so don't take them too seriously...)
When in doubt, "Lizzie did it"
When blamed, always claim, "It's not my fault"
No deviating!!
Don't pick out a wedgie in front of the security cameras
When Jacki (my co-worker) asks you to look at her -- DON'T. It inevitably involves broccoli in the teeth or a chap stick tube stuck up her nose. :)
Dark chocolate is the answer to all of life's problems.
When drinking that afternoon soda, always smack your lips and sigh "Ahhh!" loudly
Large amounts of money can always be split in half ;)
Don't yell at someone when they're in the soundproof room...THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU...
Never answer the phone by stating your address. ;)
Never plan on a pen being available when you need it.
The best way to avoid "grazing" at the "grazing table", is to get rid of the evidence by eating it. :)
Putting on lotion is a sure-fire way to cause customers to come in.
Never go to the bathroom in the guest bathroom if someone is in the employee bathroom. You're likely to get the feeling of a bidet.
Bank Teller's eat healthy: Diet Coke with vitamins & minerals, and dark chocolate with antioxidants. :)
"Initials" is pronounced: "Hinitials"
It's not right until it's "Zack-a-lack-ally" right.
We're "Jest Kitting" :)
...we just want a chance!
You can't see the customer's when you're craning your neck to see what's out the window...
When at the drive-thru, always plan on being shushed
"Wanna count?" "Sure....1...2...3..."
When feeling stressed, throw your head back and laugh deeply with no abandon -- similar to how the Cowardly Lion on the Wizard of Oz laughed.
Chanting "Baby Jesus lost & found" will always seem to help you find what is lost....if you look hard enough! ;)
When you leave the money in your trunk, you cannot be relied upon...
There's always a tip for the teller!
...and last but not least....you don't have to be crazy to work at the bank, but it sure does help! ;)
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Dancing with Jesus
Sweep me off my feet, Jesus,
I just want to dance with You.
To be held in Your embrace -
I never want this night to end
Spin me through the crowds, Beloved,
Our dance steps quick but true.
You lead, I'll follow, 'tis our way,
I love to dance with You.
And when I trip
Or miss a step
And make a fool before all,
You offer grace
And give me faith
To dance all my life long
I try to hide amidst the crowds
Blushing and ashamed.
Two left feet, I miss a beat
I'm scared to dance again
But your offered invitation
Surpasses limitation,
Grace glides my feet across the dance floor.
And shining admiration,
Eyes filled with adoration
Fix upon my Beloved and my Savior
Sweep me off my feet, Jesus,
I long to dance with You again...
I just want to dance with You.
To be held in Your embrace -
I never want this night to end
Spin me through the crowds, Beloved,
Our dance steps quick but true.
You lead, I'll follow, 'tis our way,
I love to dance with You.
And when I trip
Or miss a step
And make a fool before all,
You offer grace
And give me faith
To dance all my life long
I try to hide amidst the crowds
Blushing and ashamed.
Two left feet, I miss a beat
I'm scared to dance again
But your offered invitation
Surpasses limitation,
Grace glides my feet across the dance floor.
And shining admiration,
Eyes filled with adoration
Fix upon my Beloved and my Savior
Sweep me off my feet, Jesus,
I long to dance with You again...
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Man who knew He was going to die...
There's this amazing quote in a recent movie called "Stranger Than Fiction". Will Ferrell stars in it, and though I generally hate all of Will Ferrell's movies, this one has a wonderful story that I would highly recommend seeing.
At the end of the movie, one of the main characters is discussing the grappling decision she faces, as the fate of another character lies in her hands:
"...this is a book about a man who doesn't know he's going to die. But if a man does know he's going to die, and dies anyway...and dies willingly, knowing he could stop it...then...isn't that the type of man you want to keep alive?"
The whole idea of this quote floors me. I think of Jesus, and how He knew He was going to die...and He knew how He was going to die -- as the character in this particular movie did -- and yet Christ chose to follow God's ultimate plan of salvation by giving up His own life so that we might have life abundantly in Him. :) Isn't that great?!! And though we don't "keep" Jesus alive in the literal sense, we do "keep" Him alive daily by relying on Him and proclaiming the good news of His Gospel to those around us. Our chief aim and deepest desire ought to be to make this Man known to the world, that they might see that He is alive and yearning for a relationship with each one of us.
Jesus is the Son of Man and Son of God who is alive and worthy of all our thoughts, dreams and actions. Praise be to the God Most High!!
At the end of the movie, one of the main characters is discussing the grappling decision she faces, as the fate of another character lies in her hands:
"...this is a book about a man who doesn't know he's going to die. But if a man does know he's going to die, and dies anyway...and dies willingly, knowing he could stop it...then...isn't that the type of man you want to keep alive?"
The whole idea of this quote floors me. I think of Jesus, and how He knew He was going to die...and He knew how He was going to die -- as the character in this particular movie did -- and yet Christ chose to follow God's ultimate plan of salvation by giving up His own life so that we might have life abundantly in Him. :) Isn't that great?!! And though we don't "keep" Jesus alive in the literal sense, we do "keep" Him alive daily by relying on Him and proclaiming the good news of His Gospel to those around us. Our chief aim and deepest desire ought to be to make this Man known to the world, that they might see that He is alive and yearning for a relationship with each one of us.
Jesus is the Son of Man and Son of God who is alive and worthy of all our thoughts, dreams and actions. Praise be to the God Most High!!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
a ghetto laundromat visit...
Because my husband was going to be out of town for most of the day, I decided I was going to be super productive at home. :) Laundry was included in this productivity. Recently our washer decided to spring a leak - but only when it's filling with water -- which means that doing a load of laundry is somewhat possible if you're prepared with towels and willing to clean up after yourself. :) Today I was not willing to do that -- plus I had to wash various comforters and blankets that would have been too large for our washer anyway. So I headed for the local laundromat.
Originally, I had planned on going into another town to use their facilities, but on my way out of town, I saw that there was a laundromat just down the street from where we live. "Aha!" I thought to myself, "It would be much easier to do the laundry here, a block from home, then 3 miles away. Then if it takes longer than expected, I can go home and be productive while I wait." And so I pulled into the parking lot and hauled my baskets of laundry in.
Now, I know that laundromats are not usually meant to be comfortable or particularly clean and enjoyable, but this one had to be the worst I'd ever seen. The front door and windows were coated - literally - with gnats, mosquitoes and spiders. This was encouraging. So I gulped down my concerns and flung the door open - trying to avoid touching any of the bugs as much as I could. The place was completely deserted - aside from the bee which occasionally visited my piles of laundry, and the multiple spiders, gnats, and ants that hid in various crevices and corners. "Joy..." I thought grimly, but I knew what I had to do, and these economy sized washers and dryers were my only hope! So I dove in - at least I had the place to myself. I used 4 washers and 3 dryers to finish all my laundry, and boy was it hot in there!! No AC -- which I think should be a must for laundromats, especially when you end up sitting on the counter, watching the dryer spin (so much for my goal of productivity... :) )
All in all, it ended up not being quite as awful as I thought - except that 2 different dryers ate about $2.25 worth of my quarters. At least most of the machines worked - though the setting left MUCH to be desired.
There was a comment box on one end of the room, but I thought it might not have enough room for all of the comments I might have suggested. So 3 1/2 hours later (due to delays in some of the errands I was running) I finished. Though it was nice to get all the laundry done at once -- I don't think I want to visit a laundromat again for a very long time... :)
Originally, I had planned on going into another town to use their facilities, but on my way out of town, I saw that there was a laundromat just down the street from where we live. "Aha!" I thought to myself, "It would be much easier to do the laundry here, a block from home, then 3 miles away. Then if it takes longer than expected, I can go home and be productive while I wait." And so I pulled into the parking lot and hauled my baskets of laundry in.
Now, I know that laundromats are not usually meant to be comfortable or particularly clean and enjoyable, but this one had to be the worst I'd ever seen. The front door and windows were coated - literally - with gnats, mosquitoes and spiders. This was encouraging. So I gulped down my concerns and flung the door open - trying to avoid touching any of the bugs as much as I could. The place was completely deserted - aside from the bee which occasionally visited my piles of laundry, and the multiple spiders, gnats, and ants that hid in various crevices and corners. "Joy..." I thought grimly, but I knew what I had to do, and these economy sized washers and dryers were my only hope! So I dove in - at least I had the place to myself. I used 4 washers and 3 dryers to finish all my laundry, and boy was it hot in there!! No AC -- which I think should be a must for laundromats, especially when you end up sitting on the counter, watching the dryer spin (so much for my goal of productivity... :) )
All in all, it ended up not being quite as awful as I thought - except that 2 different dryers ate about $2.25 worth of my quarters. At least most of the machines worked - though the setting left MUCH to be desired.
There was a comment box on one end of the room, but I thought it might not have enough room for all of the comments I might have suggested. So 3 1/2 hours later (due to delays in some of the errands I was running) I finished. Though it was nice to get all the laundry done at once -- I don't think I want to visit a laundromat again for a very long time... :)
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
A "Smart Card"...and a blind heart...
Today I ventured out in a new area of sharing my faith: the "smart card", used by Way of the Master Ministries. I knew that my mom and Sarah had used them before, so I thought I'd give it a shot with my co-workers at work. This is how it went three separate times...
Take 1:
Contact: E - my very Catholic, but tenderhearted older co-worker. She understands so much of the truth of the Gospel, she just hasn't internalized it yet.
Situation: As E was getting ready to leave for her lunch break I snatched my smart card from my purse and asked if I could show it to her. She read it and held her thumbs on the center as it instructed her to do. When nothing happened, she laughed, asking if it was another one of my jokes. I encouraged her to flip it over and she did so, read the back, and then commented that she wanted to show it to her son (who has been demonstrating some wayward tendencies as of late). So far so good. No harm done -- no real gain in spiritual conversations, but that's alright. A seed was planted.
Take 2:
Contact: My Boss (also a strong Catholic)
Situation: My Boss and I were talking about various and sundry things, and I thought to myself: "Now's my chance to try out the smart card with him!" And so I did. I handed him the card and asked him if he would try it out for me, he said sure and proceeded to follow the instructions on the front of the card. When the square did not turn green, he smiled at me and I told him to flip it over and read the back. As he's reading, he's smiling, and then suddenly he comments:
"That's not true."
Me: "What's not true?"
Boss: "It's not true that if you hate someone, it's like committing murder in your heart."
Me: *flabbergasted silence*
Boss: "And it's not true that if you look at someone with lust that it's the same thing as committing adultery."
Me: *pause* "What? *pause* "How do you know that?"
Boss: "It's just not true."
Me: "But Jesus said that himself -- it's in the Bible. I can show you right where it is..." (for any curious to know it can be found in Matthew 5:21-29)
Boss: *gets up, not commenting on my last statement and procedes to change the subject to something about how Jesus' name has been proven to work powerfully even among natives in foreign lands who know nothing about God*
Me: *talks a little bit about the power in Jesus' name and then* "Hey, now, seriously, why do you believe that it's not true that if you hate someone it's the same as murdering and that lusting equals committing adultery in your heart?"
Boss: "It just can't be true."
Me: "Why?"
Boss: "You can't tell me that if I see some babydoll dressed up in a bikini on the beach and I react, that that's the same thing as committing adultery."
Me: "But that's what Jesus said Himself..."
Boss: "It just doesn't make sense."
Me: "So are you saying that you don't believe that you are doing wrong until you actually take action and DO something?"
Boss: "Well...yea."
Me: "So are you saying that you believe you're inherently good on the inside? That you aren't considered a 'bad person' until you've actually done something bad?"
Boss: "Yea...well....no."
Me: "So are you saying that you don't think your thoughts matter?"
Boss: ".....no....." *gets up and walks away, ignoring the subject*
This was a little more discouraging, but I suppose the fact that he was uncomfortable meant that God's Truth was convicting him a little bit...
Take 3:
Contact: S - my other co-worker who is generally closed to spiritual conversations
Situation:
After overhearing my conversation with my boss, she asks to see what I had given him. I hand her the Smart Card and she proceeds to try it out, holding her thumbs in the center. After 15 seconds she holds it up and says:
"There's green in there! Flecks of green!"
Me: "No there's NOT! It has to be ALL green. It is NOT green!" *laughs*
End of conversation.
Overall, I'd say the experience wasn't too bad, though I was shaking in my boots at various times. I just pray that the Lord continues to use me in my work place as a testimony of Jesus Christ and the Life He alone can give.
Take 1:
Contact: E - my very Catholic, but tenderhearted older co-worker. She understands so much of the truth of the Gospel, she just hasn't internalized it yet.
Situation: As E was getting ready to leave for her lunch break I snatched my smart card from my purse and asked if I could show it to her. She read it and held her thumbs on the center as it instructed her to do. When nothing happened, she laughed, asking if it was another one of my jokes. I encouraged her to flip it over and she did so, read the back, and then commented that she wanted to show it to her son (who has been demonstrating some wayward tendencies as of late). So far so good. No harm done -- no real gain in spiritual conversations, but that's alright. A seed was planted.
Take 2:
Contact: My Boss (also a strong Catholic)
Situation: My Boss and I were talking about various and sundry things, and I thought to myself: "Now's my chance to try out the smart card with him!" And so I did. I handed him the card and asked him if he would try it out for me, he said sure and proceeded to follow the instructions on the front of the card. When the square did not turn green, he smiled at me and I told him to flip it over and read the back. As he's reading, he's smiling, and then suddenly he comments:
"That's not true."
Me: "What's not true?"
Boss: "It's not true that if you hate someone, it's like committing murder in your heart."
Me: *flabbergasted silence*
Boss: "And it's not true that if you look at someone with lust that it's the same thing as committing adultery."
Me: *pause* "What? *pause* "How do you know that?"
Boss: "It's just not true."
Me: "But Jesus said that himself -- it's in the Bible. I can show you right where it is..." (for any curious to know it can be found in Matthew 5:21-29)
Boss: *gets up, not commenting on my last statement and procedes to change the subject to something about how Jesus' name has been proven to work powerfully even among natives in foreign lands who know nothing about God*
Me: *talks a little bit about the power in Jesus' name and then* "Hey, now, seriously, why do you believe that it's not true that if you hate someone it's the same as murdering and that lusting equals committing adultery in your heart?"
Boss: "It just can't be true."
Me: "Why?"
Boss: "You can't tell me that if I see some babydoll dressed up in a bikini on the beach and I react, that that's the same thing as committing adultery."
Me: "But that's what Jesus said Himself..."
Boss: "It just doesn't make sense."
Me: "So are you saying that you don't believe that you are doing wrong until you actually take action and DO something?"
Boss: "Well...yea."
Me: "So are you saying that you believe you're inherently good on the inside? That you aren't considered a 'bad person' until you've actually done something bad?"
Boss: "Yea...well....no."
Me: "So are you saying that you don't think your thoughts matter?"
Boss: ".....no....." *gets up and walks away, ignoring the subject*
This was a little more discouraging, but I suppose the fact that he was uncomfortable meant that God's Truth was convicting him a little bit...
Take 3:
Contact: S - my other co-worker who is generally closed to spiritual conversations
Situation:
After overhearing my conversation with my boss, she asks to see what I had given him. I hand her the Smart Card and she proceeds to try it out, holding her thumbs in the center. After 15 seconds she holds it up and says:
"There's green in there! Flecks of green!"
Me: "No there's NOT! It has to be ALL green. It is NOT green!" *laughs*
End of conversation.
Overall, I'd say the experience wasn't too bad, though I was shaking in my boots at various times. I just pray that the Lord continues to use me in my work place as a testimony of Jesus Christ and the Life He alone can give.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
My husband (J) has started a new adventure lately on a website called: www.ancestry.com Through its resources, he has succeeded in tracing back his family history on his mom's side all the way back to the 1500's! It's amazing! He is determined to get back just as far on his dad's side, and has been spending his every moment on the computer searching.
I have attempted to trace back my family history, but I keep getting stuck. I suppose it's because I don't know when everyone's birthdate is/was, or where they were born. Oh well. I guess I'll just have to make do with what J has researched for me. Maybe I should give him the task of searching out all of the details on my family! ;)
I have attempted to trace back my family history, but I keep getting stuck. I suppose it's because I don't know when everyone's birthdate is/was, or where they were born. Oh well. I guess I'll just have to make do with what J has researched for me. Maybe I should give him the task of searching out all of the details on my family! ;)
Sunday, August 5, 2007
An awkward beginning...
My hubby and I FINALLY had internet installed in our home about 2 weeks ago (Hallelujah!), and since then I've been desperately trying to catch up with everyone's lives in cyberspace. Amazing how things can change in two years...most of my friends or relatives (even my parents!!) have a blog now, and I've found it to be quite entertaining and a great way to keep in touch with family and friends without exerting much effort - haha :)
Anywho, I've decided to embark on this adventure of "blogging" that everyone seems to be so savvy in lately. Please excuse my naivety on how to upload pictures and video and anything else that requires much more computer knowledge than, well, how to turn it on. :) I'll just do what I can do.
But as for now...I'm off to bed -- it's too late to think of anything terrribly interesting to write...
Anywho, I've decided to embark on this adventure of "blogging" that everyone seems to be so savvy in lately. Please excuse my naivety on how to upload pictures and video and anything else that requires much more computer knowledge than, well, how to turn it on. :) I'll just do what I can do.
But as for now...I'm off to bed -- it's too late to think of anything terrribly interesting to write...
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