I attended a professional conference last week in St. Louis and was reminded why I don’t like to rent cars from the big chains; you just never know what you are going to get . . .
I was also reminded why I love DH soooo much. . .he let me ride the motorcycle half way while he took the “sunshine mobile.”
Normally to celebrate Cafe Thursday, I include a fun recipe. Today, however, I can barely think of food so I thought I would use today as a caution to all my friends and family who do read this blog sometimes. And just what is my tip today? Don’t order the seafood!
I used to think that if you went to an overpriced joint that specialized in seafood you should be able to order anything off the menu and not worry. . .right? Oh boy, am I a fool or what? (DBs, that is rhetorical. . please don’t answer.) After eating at a very nice, expensive chain restaurant the other night, both DH and I came down with a very yucky, yet mild case of food poisoning. My advice from now on is to. . well. . what can you order these days? And from where?
I just heard on the news, while in bed with food poisoning actually, that a popular food chain in my area is recalling ground beef because it has issues. It seems that tomatoes and spinach and peppers are all a bit risky now days, and of course seafood is among the worst offenders. So I ask, what can we eat? Even my vegan daughter is not safe if she orders a spinich salad. Between the dangers of eating anything with high froctose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils and the fear of food poisoning in meat and veggies, what are we left with? What can we eat with confidence that it will nourish us instead of kill us? Do we all have to become farmers and raise our own stuff? And if we did, would it matter? Good Grief what have we done?!
(picture here Charlie Brown with his arms raised in frustration)
I am not really giving any answers here, I am more asking the question. . .what do you do? I myself am now leaning toward believing that there is not much we can do but make the best decisions we can and trust God for the rest. . .
This past Saturday was darn close to a perfect day for me. It started by being a Saturday, which means I got to sleep in till 8 am, and on this particular Saturday, I awoke to a hotel rooom, where DH and I had spent the previous evening after attending a wedding. We lounged around for a bit then hit the streets to find a cozy river front cafe where we enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee and made some plans for the coming month. Plans shored up, we were then off on the motorcycles to visit an Uncle of DH’s to sit and catch up on a beautiful deck surrounded by family. After lots of stories and catching up, we headed south to pickup our children and hold some baby nephews for a while. We did cuddle for just a bit and were then back on the road to visit my family, again on the motorcycles. Here we are, after a great day of visiting and riding:
I think the perfect ending to our day was the bonfire (and toasted marshmallows) that gave us that “camping” feeling without having to share a bed with bugs and such. Does it get better than this?
As the summer progresses, my dear family and I are taking lots and lots of road trips on our motorcycles. One night last week we decided to go check out the Chicago Bears training camp down in Bourbonnais, IL. Here are some pictures that we got while we were there. . .Go Bears!!
And one of the practice we watched for a minute. . .
As my family and I prepare to watch the beginning of the olympics next week, I am reminded over and over again that the freedoms we enjoy in this country are not shared by all the world. In my small day to day life I often forget that I live in an amazing country, where I can say and do what I want. I can read the books I want to read and most importantly, I can worship the way I want. Other countries are not so fortunate, China is a country where people do not enjoy the freedoms we do.
I read a book a few years back that touched me, with a picture on it that touched me even more. The book was Safely Home by Randy Alcorn, and the beautiful picture is by Ron DiCianni and it depicts a martyr being welcomed home to Heaven. It is stunning and every time I see it I cry. If you know nothing of the struggle of the Chinese people for freedom, please check it out. Their government would have us believe that all is well in China and that people there live much like we do, but that is simply not the case. Here are a few websites with more information:
This is a difficult issue, and it is hard to know what to do. I have decided that I will start by praying for those whe are persecuted in China. If you are interested in joining me, I encourage you to visit The Voice of the Martyrs site and learn about ways to do this and ways to remember. As the whole world turns it attention to China, I encourage you to get involved, learn something new, and help those less fortunate than we are in America.
I sure have had writers block lately. I haven’t known quite what to post on, and with new hobbies at home and new projects at work, there isn’t much time to develop anything that interesting. I have been working on something though that I hope to start tomorrow. . .but I better wait and see if I get my ducks in a row before I announce anything.
My DD and DS are out of town this week on their first mission trip with the church youth group. I had hoped to post some pictures here for my most loyal readers (hi Mom and Dad), but I can’t quite get the pictures off the youth group site like I had hoped. Anyway, kids are several states away and DH and I find ourselves with some VERY blessed alone time this week, which has lead to many nice motorcyle rides. The past couple of nights our rides have lead to dinner. Monday at Joe’s Crab Shack and last night to Rock Bottom Brewery, both establishments are fantastic places to enjoy with a loved one by the way. Beer and a bucket of crab legs. . .can the week possibly get any better than that?
So DD and I (and a couple of days DS too) spent last week volunteering as “Crew Guides” for the Vacation Bible School program at our church. For the most part it was a lot of singing, listening to Bible stories and doing cute crafts. We also had a community focus this year, and we got to see our Mayor and even got to meet one of our town’s firefighters, which was a huge hit with the kids.
It was during our Question and Answer time with our local firefighter that I was reminded of how hilarious kids can be. The Question and Answer went something like this:
Church Boy: What do you do when you get to a house and you break down the door and go in and see all the people with their shirts nailed to the ceiling?
Firefighter: Ahhhh, what do you mean? I have never seen that.
Church Boy: Well, you know, in a fire the best air is up high, so the family would be there.
Firefighter: NO, the best air is down near the floor, in a fire, crawl on the floor and do not stand up.
Church Boy: (long pause) Snakes are lucky.
Folks, you can’t pay for that kind of humor! I don’t know if this story translates well via blog, but let me tell you that the retelling of this story has caused hours of laughter for DD, DS and I. If you haven’t volunteered with kids lately, it may just do you some good.
I am going to quit taking myself too seriously, instead I am going to be silly and embarass my children and learn to really live.
I am going to quit looking over my shoulder to see who may be watching me and instead live my life and make my decisions based on what I think.
I am going to quit always looking forward to tomorrow to better, more fun, more perfect, and instead marvel at the glory of today.
I am going to quit eating like there is no tomorrow and dieting like I need to loose 50 pounds. I am going to eat in moderation and exercise to make up the difference.
I am going to quit going home to sit on my sofa and watch the fascinating lives of those people on TV who will never be like me or have a life like mine. I am going to start spending more time with people I know and care about.
I am going to quit putting God last and wondering why He always feels so far away. I am going to start putting Him first again and then marvel at the relationship that develops.
Today is Monday, and I am gonna quit writing and get out and live!
I did something last night that I have never done before, as a reward to myself for two weeks without a cigarette. I got a message! I haven’t done this before because to be honest it has always seemed sort of extravagent to me, but I have been saving a first time special price coupon for a couple of months just waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it.
I went to a place called Message Envy, and they still have the coupon available for first time visitors. They have many locations in many states, so have a look to see if there is one by you. A word of warning, they will try to sell you on their monthly membership when you are done, but that wasn’t a bit deal and a polite not today was enough. Regular price is $78 for an hour, but with the first time coupon this is a treat you should try if you can.
From the soft music, to the dim lighting, everything you need to relax is provided, and everything is done to your comfort level. Beverages are offered, soft meditation type music plays over the speakers in the building, the therapist talks softly if at all and the bed and blankets are warm and inviting. I was worried that the 50 minutes would go by slowly, but it was over before I knew it and I felt relaxed and comfortable. Unfortunately, it helped me sleep so deeply that I overslept this morning for the first time in years, but it was worth it!
While a monthly membership may be much too extravagant, I can certainly see myself asking my family for this nice perk once a year on birthdays or something. . .or saving up just a bit myself for the chance to go once a year!
I was a smoker. I smoked on and off for about 12 years, and have decided that I will no longer be a smoker. I have cowered in shame in my garage and hid from my friends at church and even my family members because I was ashamed of my habit. Wisdom has finally come and I have decided that I will no longer live that life.
I do not stand in any kind of judgement of others, but for me, I must quit and move on with my life in a much more healthy pursuit. I want to be healthy. I want to be around for my kids as much as it is in my power to do so, so I am quitting.
It has only been 6 days and about 18 hours since my last cigarette, so I really do have a long way to go, but I will do it. I ran into withdrawl symptoms yesterday that I did not anticipate because I have been weening myself for months, but that will not deter me either (although. . .the past 48 hours has been the worst by far).
If you are a regular here, or a family member, keep me in your thoughts and prayers for the next few days if you can. It is challenging. . .but I will do it. . in God’s power I will not smoke again.
