How I Made $3

Last Saturday was a busy day. The boys and I went into town to run some errands and on the way, Josh asked me if he could ride his bike when we got home. I reminded him that his tire was flat, but assured him that we would stop at Target to get a tire pump so we could pump it up. So, before heading home we did just that. After several minutes in the bike gear aisle, I chose an electric air pump. (Who needs all the work of a hand pump anyway?) We also got training wheels for Adam's two wheeler so that he could ride, too.

We went to the grocery store and post office and headed home. Before I could even get out of the car, Josh had the garage door open and was waiting for me to get the pump ready. As soon as I got the milk put away, I went outside and opened the package of our new pump. I was surprised to find that it ran from the cigarette lighter in a car, not a regular outlet. (Lesson #186 on reading labels.) I've never in my life plugged anything into a car cigarette lighter, and when I plugged in the pump and turned on the switch nothing happened. (Who knew that the car had to be on?) The look of disappointment on Josh's face was unbearable, so we loaded 3 bikes (their two-wheelers and Adam's tricycle just in case the training wheels didn't work) into the back of the van and headed north to the gas station in the closest "town." We drove around the building with no air station in sight, when at last there it was. The boys were so happy. And so was I. If I went through all this and they still didn't get to ride their bikes I don't know what I would have done.

I was through about 3 of the 7 tires I had to fill when a lady parked two spots away from me and started walking toward me. She asked, "Are you good at that?" I smiled and answered, "I can get air in the tires." She said, "My front tire is low and I usually get more air out than in. My daughter usually does it for me, but I think my tire is really low. Could you check it for me?" Of course I obliged and stopped what I was doing and headed toward her car. The air hose was tangled and I had to get it untangled so that it would reach her car. The hose was dirty, so I was too by the time I was finished. We used her guage to check her tire and it was so low that it didn't even register. She said it needed to have 30 lbs. of air, so we aired it up and checked it until it got there. She kept thanking me over and over and saying how glad she was that I was there. Then she said something that didn't strike me as significant until later. She said, "You are such a Godsend." She also offered to give me something for helping her, but I refused. As I finished airing up the bike tires, though, she came over and gave me $3 to "buy a treat for the boys."

It wasn't until I was driving home that I began to think about what had happened that afternoon. Maybe I really was a Godsend. Maybe He sent me to that place at that time to help that woman. All the circumstances of the day had led me there. One little change and I wouldn't have been there to help her air up a tire that I have since found out was dangerously low to drive on. I pray daily for God to use me and I think that Saturday was one of those wonderful times when I realized just how He chose to do so. So as I drove home, I got tears in my eyes and said a prayer thanking Him for the opportunity to serve and asking him to care for the lady in the car.

So I returned home with full bike tires, $3, and dirty hands. But that day, and I hope everyday, they were my Father's hands.

Green Thumb and Halo

Today for show and tell in kindergarten we had:

1 Polly Pocket
1 Barbie Horse
1 stuffed puppy named butterfly
2 Batman dolls...I mean action figures
1 Roboreptile
1 pink make-up purse

And...

1 "Gardening" Angel "to watch over me and keep me safe." :)

Trivia

Question (in chapel this morning): When Esau was born, was his hair silver or red?

Answer (from a 4 year old): Green!

(Just in time for St. Patrick's Day!) :)

The Awakening

For my American Literature class I have been reading stories from the late 1800's and the early 1900's. Crane, London, Okison, Gilman, Garland, Freeman, Jewett. Boy, can these guys (and gals) write. The language is beautiful and amazing and brilliant. The stories are captivating and emotional. I have begun to feel like I have been deprived in my 35 years that I have never read some of these author's works. (I did read Call of The Wild by Jack London, but I was too young to appreciate it.)

This week we read Kate Chopin's The Awakening. I was once again struck by the wonderful writing. I had never read this story before, and couldn't put it down. Never have I enjoyed homework so much. In this story, Edna, a wife and mother, begins to "awaken" to her more independent and sensual side. I could see the slow progression from her little flirtations to all out rebellion. Her situation was common in those days. She had a socially acceptable marriage, two sons, (who were taken care of by a nanny), a big house, and spent summers at the coast. But, without understanding why, she felt unhappy. Her unhappiness confused her and she tried to make it go away. No matter what she did, though (painting, music, gambling, moving), she still wasn't who she wanted to be. Her husband certainly didn't understand her. (Depression in women was so misunderstood back then.) When she finally realized what would make her happy, it didn't come to be. The story didn't have a happy ending, but it was written so amazingly well that I didn't mind.

Reading writing of this caliber is a little intimidating for someone who someday wants to write a book. But at the same time, it gives me something to strive for. (Especially knowing that Kate Chopin did all of her writing in the afternoons while her 6, yes 6, children napped or played around her writing table!) All of these classics have definitely made me hungry to read more. I can't wait to read what's next!

5 More Things

Here are 5 more things to be happy about today.
(I love this calendar!!)

*singing in the shower
*exploring a foreign city
*rereading Pride and Prejudice
*chips and dip
*an empty seat next to you on the plane

35

Today I turn 35. Not so long ago, I couldn’t imagine being 35. I don’t feel 35. I don’t really feel any age, I just feel like me. 35 is good, though. I like being my age. I would not want to be a teenager again for sure and the twenty somethings were kind of weird; I wasn’t really sure where I fit in. But now I feel comfortable. Old enough to know better (most of the time) and young enough to be young. So here I am, closer to 40 than to 30 and halfway to 70. I have learned a few things in my short time on earth. Here are 35 of them.

*Sunny days make me feel better than gray days.
*A child’s laughter is the best sound on earth.
*Good meals are best shared with good friends.
*God’s timing is perfect.
*Change little boys’ diapers as fast as possible.
*Father (and Mother) really do know best.
*It’s fun being married to my childhood sweetheart.
*Always order the combination plate (and be prepared to share).
*God did not give me a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.
*Wear pajamas as much as possible.
*Summer vacation is best spent on the beach.
*A clean house makes me feel good.
*Prayer is my most powerful tool.
*There’s nothing better than a good nap.
*Sisterhood gets better with age.
*Marriage to a godly husband is a great gift.
*Bugs aren’t scary at all in the hands of a five year old.
*Music soothes the savage beast and the grumpy child.
*Going to the movies alone is good.
*Teaching children (especially my own) is very rewarding.
*Grace is amazing.
*Sister-friends are the best friends.
*Chasing butterflies is good exercise for body and soul.
*Sometimes I need help.
*Motherhood is wonderfully scary.
*Health is underrated.
*The Lord truly works in mysterious ways.
*Ice water is my favorite drink.
*Laughter really is the best medicine.
*The book is always better than the movie.
*Eating cold watermelon on a hot summer day is the best.
*Family is why we are here.
*God’s ways are best.
*God’s ways are best.
*God’s ways are best.

5 More Things

Here are 5 more things to be happy about (edited by me).

--a whiff of spring (I'm soo ready for more than just a whiff!)

--crab cakes with tarter sauce (Yum!)

--the crisp feel of new money (Preferably 100s. They do make those, don't they?)

--a puppy rolling on its back (As long as it belongs to someone else.)

--the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (It's warm there, right!?!?)

Have a happy day!

Thursday Morning

I have been sick for a week. Stomach flu. The worst. But this morning I woke up feeling almost normal. I even smiled when I woke up and realized that I was feeling better. So I got up, got myself and the boys ready for school and went out to start the car. In the last few days we have gotten about 14 inches of new snow, including about 3 that I had to clear from the car this morning. After one little complaint to myself about winter, I did what I had to do. So I got everyone and everything loaded into the van and started to pull out of our long driveway. About halfway to the road, we stopped. (Did I mention the 14 inches of snow?)

Reverse. Spin. Forward. Spin. Reverse. Spin. Forward. Spin. Get out to check. See nothing that should keep me from moving. Reverse. Spin. Forward. Spin. Tromp up the driveway to get the shovel. Shovel around the tires. Reverse. Spin. Forward. Spin. 20 minutes later, call my "knight in shining whatever" to rescue me.

I just knew that he would get home, get in the van and pull right out. Then I would know that it was a girl thing. But fortunately...I mean unfortunately, it took him over half an hour to get us out. He had to jack up the van and put a board under the tire spinning on ice under all that snow. I'm not exactly sure how it happened that I got so stuck, but since the little rollover I had last spring, I am of the mind that everything happens for a reason. Maybe we were meant to be on the road a little later than usual today. Or maybe I was meant to have 20 extra minutes to clean the kitchen. Either way, I'm thankful that I made it to school, AND the dishes are done. And I'm especially thankful for my knight who didn't complain once, but actually smiled while he dug snow from under my van!