Monday, March 31, 2008
Random Weirdness for Monday
One thing that makes me strangely excited is when I find a pistachio out of its shell, just sitting there among the others. It's like I've found a rare, hidden gem! Weird, right? That also means there is a shell in there with no nut and when I find those, I feel ripped off. I told a friend just last week that it's crossed my mind when I get a new bag to sort through them and make sure I have no more empty shells than random nuts. And she looked at me as if I am nuts. Of course I don't have time but I just wonder if I have more empty shells because it sure seems that way.
Anyway, the point of this is that life is like that sometimes. There are those seasons when the hard things are all around you, closing in and just when you can't take anymore, there is an gem waiting in the midst for you. I know I've experienced that a lot lately. It might seem like the empty shells are all there is, but then, out of the blue, there it is. It could be a card, a random phone call, a lunch date, whatever. It's just a fantastic discovery. Likewise, there are those we come across who are empty -- nothing to offer and begging to be filled. You can no more fill them than you can reinsert a whole pistachio that somehow fell out. Only God can fill their cavernous hole but you can encourage them along their way.
Just as with my bag of pistachios where I know there are hidden free-range-nuts, life has those hidden free-range-nuts. And when we find them? Let's praise God for putting a gem in our path!
Friday, March 28, 2008
A Waste of Time
Our dishwasher broke -- again. We didn't actually get it fixed last time. The repair guy came out but didn't really know anything about our brand. So he made a call to the manufacturer and discovered it was the latch. But while he was there it started working again. Of course it did because he's the repair guy. So, he told us it wouldn't hurt anything to just keep using it until it died; however, there was one small glitch. It beeps annoyingly while it is sensing how dirty the dishes are. Okay, it bugs me, but I can live with it and when I can't, I start it when I leave the house and come home to clean, shiny dishes. The best part of this whole thing? He didn't charge us for the service call. Woo hoo!
This week it started doing the same thing (working sometimes, not others, stopping in the middle) so we decided to just have it fixed. Steve called the guy and set up an appointment for Thursday at 3:30. Keep in mind that he already knows what is wrong. Very important. Steve left work early to meet him at the house. I get home, fully expecting him to still be there but to my surprise, he wasn't. "Ah, he's late", I thought as I drove up. Last time he was 2 hours late. No, he had been there and no, it was not fixed.
"Why?" I asked.
Steve replied, "Because he didn't have the part. He has to order it."
I protested. "But he already knew what was wrong. Why did he come out if he didn't have the part? What did he do?"
Steve said, "He took the door off and pushed some buttons. He'll be back early next week to fix it. In the meantime, we can use it if it'll start."
Oh. Okay. No, that's not weird at all. He wasted his time, his gas, and Steve's time all the while knowing what was wrong. Maybe he thought it repaired its own latch and there was something else wrong. Yeah, that must be it. At least he didn't charge us for the house call.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Final Vacation Update
So as not to bore you with every single detail of every day, a recap of other things is as follows: we went to Grand Central Station, the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square (tons of times), Rockefeller Plaza, FAO Schwarz, Madame Tussaud's, the Empire State Building, NYPD Museum, Ground Zero, Wall Street, The Body Museum and of course Central Park & Zoo.
My favorites of those were Grand Central Station, Central Park and the NYPD Museum. I loved Grand Central Station because it was so contradictory. The street level portions were amazing with the marble, grand halls and wide spaces all while the underworld of subway life was beneath our feet. It was truly 2 completely opposite worlds co-existing. Very bizarre. I found myself standing in the middle of the grand hall envisioning the day it opened in all its splendor. I could see the ladies in the big, bustling skirts and the gentlemen being gentlemen. And around me was anything BUT that! It was marvelous.
I also loved our carriage ride through Central Park. I realize it's ultimately tourist-y but obviously that doesn't mean much to me. It was so weird to be in the middle of a quiet oasis and see the big tall buildings looming overhead. Because it was late winter or super early spring, the trees had no leaves. I kind of wish we could have seen that as I'm sure it would have made the experience completely different. For a few brief hours we did not hear the hustle and bustle of the city. I also learned you can drive through the park - who knew?
Finally, I was profoundly impacted by the "Remembering 9/11" exhibit at the NYPD Museum. Tears stung my eyes as I watched videos I had see before but after having gone to Ground Zero, it was just different than seeing them from thousands of miles away. I fear many have already forgotten what happened that day. For a brief time afterward we stuck together as a nation but those sacrifices were forgotten too soon.
Amazing how easily and readily everyone prayed and talked about God but it is once again taboo. Why does God put up with us?
Carriage Ride pics:
Erica on the giant piano:
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Sweetest Thing
And she sent me flowers. The card said my family and I were in her thoughts and prayers this weekend. It was the sweetest thing and all I could do is cry. She is adorable and a bright spot to my workday.
God sent me many reasons to praise him this weekend, despite my sorrow. He put people in my path who loved on me, encouraged me, and just understood.
What a great God we have the privilege of serving.
Tomorrow -- one final vacation post!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Reflections
I'll end today with a verse we used in an announcement slide this morning. It sums up what this day of celebration is all about. But before I do that, I will list a verse that Steve used in his sermon this morning and it is particularly fitting for me today as I've mourned my dad so much this, his birthday weekend. And this, the holiday 2 years ago that found us preparing for his funeral. Oh, what a sunrise service he must have been a part of today!
"Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, o death, is your victory? Where, o death, is your sting?.....Thanks be to God, he gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57 (NIV)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
Friday, March 21, 2008
Dad's Day
"Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?" ~ Genesis 41:38
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
A Day of Firsts
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Another Brother Birthday
Picture note: I don't really remember sharing birthday celebrations but obviously that year we did. Craig must have been a baby as he is missing from the photo.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Fun Street Vendor Food
We tried authentic New York Cheesecake which we've had in other places but you have to partake while in the namesake, right? In Little Italy we found a local place that had really good pizza and again, not so expensive comparitively. While it was delicious, Steve and I decided we like Chicago pizza better. The last couple days we found a small cafe to have breakfast and it was unbelievably good and less expensive than others - holding true to our theory of less is best.
Erica was Nuts4Nuts...okay, we all were...
Erica & Steve waiting in line for the hot dogs...
Erica and I were quite pleased with our purchase!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Lady Liberty
As the boat approached Liberty Island I was overcome with gratitude that I get to live in America. I easily imagined what the thousands of immigrants who approached the statue must have felt. After weeks or months on the high seas, she represented countless opportunitites and freedoms they had never experienced before. Many of these people were reunited with family members who had come previously. There was hope. And I felt every emotion.
After taking our jaunt inside to the base of the feet, we made our way down and walked the perimeter. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. I stood there staring, singing patriotic songs. Not only am I free as an American but I am free in Christ. I stilled myself while worshipping my Savior who has given me much. I called this my "freedom moment". Erica said I looked weird but I don't mind so much -- I'll never see those people again but will encounter God tons. So, she and Steve used their freedom moment to walk away from me. It's all good!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Birthday
Perhaps you laugh at that, or maybe furrow your brow in disgust but if you were honest with yourself, you'd like the same thing on your birthday.
Four ladies in the office decorated my cubicle, or should I say they made a huge mess of it? Balloons all over the floor (what there is of it), confetti on the desk, shelves, and even on the floor. Streamers running across the doorway, and a huge vase of purple, red, and white flowers. The smell in my cubicle is fantastic as a result. I don't mind the big mess, though, because it made me feel special.
Isn't that what we all want? To feel special? Wanted? Loved? Appreciated? Sure it is. But as I was looking around today at all the confetti that says "celebrate", I decided that every day is a day to celebrate. Every day is a gift from God. Every day we have a purpose. Every day we are special to God and that is worthy of celebration.
And when my final birthday comes and goes, I will enter eternity where I will celebrate Christ...forever. So, for now, I've decided to keep up a few of those "celebrate" confetti words as a reminder.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24I know my mom rejoiced on this, my birthday. And I never cease to remind her of that.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Blog Entry Follow Up
A couple weeks ago I posted a blog about my big mouth. Well, the following small group Phil managed to zing me...and a good one it was.
As I mentioned, it was their turn to bring dinner (which, by the way, was delicious) and because I don't have an enormous electric grill, Sara brought hers. Of course it goes without saying we don't need a gi-normous one because there are only two of us! Anyway, everyone else had left and the 4 of us stood in the kitchen.
Sara asked Phil, "Can you get me the box from their bedroom so I can carry this stuff?"
Phil replied, "Sure, where is it?"
Now, we've all done that a million times--asked a question we already had the answer to--but it's funny to me every time, particularly if I'm an observer. So, Sara and I laughed hysterically while Steve and Phil looked at us as if we're crazy. We are, but that's not the point.
I explained how we viewed the conversation because it was obvious they had missed it. As Phil turned to go to the bedroom, he said "I guess it was too difficult for a 7-year-old to understand".
Ouch! Got me!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
But I Don't Want a Bagel!
On our first morning, we went to Dunkin' Donuts for a breakfast sandwich and as we waited for them to be cooked a gentleman came in and ordered "just the sausage, egg, and cheese please". Apparently a low carb dieter. The guy who was helping him, let's call him guy #1 had a pretty thick accent. He said "bagel or croissant?" The orderer said "Neither, just the sausage, egg, and cheese."
LCD: But I don't want it.
Guy #2: You have to choose one.
LCD: I don't want either but okay, a bagel. (He looked over at us clearly confused).
Guy #1: What kind of bagel you want?
LCD: It doesn't matter.
Guy #1: Plain or whole wheat?
LCD: I don't care. Plain. His voice trailed off with....I'm not going to eat it anyway.
At this we busted out laughing and the LCD stared at us in disbelief that he couldn't get it without a bagel. Steve said "I guess it's not allowed. This isn't Burger King - you can't have it your way!" LCD then commented something about trying to save them a bagel while he shook his dismayed head.
Um, who's on third? Welcome to breakfast in New York.