Wonder Woman

Since Monday I have made 6 dozen gourmet cookies for my son's baseball team, delivered them to their opening game - 2 & 1/2 hours away - watched the whole game in the cold and wind, took pictures and videos of my son's performance; bought a scanner and set it up; scanned video clips and sent them to my son (I sent important documents out for my husband, too, lest you think I would buy a scanner just to send video clips); ministered to a friend; went to a funeral; re-caulked the upstairs bathroom; worked on a story I am trying to publish; battled with the insurance company; ministered to another friend; cleaned my house; helped my daughter work out her summer and fall class schedule; cooked wholesome dinners for me and my husband (we are dieting so I am cooking fresh spinach, asparagus, carrots and peppers everyday - yummy); and went to an advanced Pilates class. It's only Thursday morning! Before the week is over we are going to another baseball game - 3 hours away - I'm making brownies, (a bit of advice: don't bring boys in a military school gourmet cookies, not one of those boys even chewed a cookie, it was more like gulp and swallow, not one of them mentioned the touch of cinnamon, the cranberries or the hint of maple syrup - hmpf); then we're visiting with friends, going to our son's new church and driving 3 hours to come home. The only thing left for me to do this week is solve a crime : )

Life Is Like Coffee

There is an email circulating about how life is like coffee. It matters not what the coffee is served in, it only matters that it is served. The gist is that we should enjoy the coffee whether it's served in fine china or a paper cup. The analogy is that life is like coffee and should be enjoyed whether it's served in something fancy or something plain. On the surface I agree with this. But, when I dig a little deeper I have some thoughts. First, coffee is not a necessity. Some of you will argue, but coffee provides no nutritional benefits. Hence, it's a luxury. So, if you're going to have coffee, why not have it in the best dang mug you can afford. I'm not saying go out and buy a gold goblet to drink your coffee in, but get something you like. They way I figure it, God made us to enjoy fine things. He has told us that the streets in Heaven are paved with gold and the gates are made of pearls. He promises jeweled crowns. God wants us to enjoy fine things. We had a puppy (bad puppy) who lapped up spilled coffee from the ground (after he knocked it over). He would not have enjoyed that coffee any more if it were in a beautiful cup. But, we are not animals, we are humans, made in the image of God, meant to enjoy fine things like sunsets, seasides, mountain views and coffee served in beautiful mugs. Yes, life is like coffee and we should enjoy it no matter how it's served, I just think it's okay to enjoy it more if it's served in something pretty.

Pilates Class

I joined a Pilates class. It's awesome! There are some serious Pilates students in my class. Did you know you can buy Pilates clothing? Yup, pants, tops and undergarment designed to give you a better Pilates workout. Me, I wear my baggy sweats and a baggy T-shirt. You can also buy other accessories for Pilates, like mats, balls, rings, bands and weights, all designed to give you a better workout. I want a better workout. I want to look like my instructor (though my husband says she looks like a man). So, I went to Target with my daughter's friend to buy a Pilates mat. If truth be told, I just don't want to use the gym's mats because not all Pilate students smell very nice and sometimes they leave their smell on the mats - ewww. By the way, if you are ever looking for a Pilates mat, they are in the last isle you would think of looking in. We picked out a nice purple mat (it was on sale). To celebrate the success of my purchase we stopped and got donuts. Powered sugar ones. Did you ever drop a powdered sugar donut in your car? Powdered sugar gets all over EVERYTHING. So, the next time I went to my Pilates class, I sat next to a serious Pilates student with her fancy Pilates gear on. I sat proud on my purple mat that was sprinkled with powdered sugar, wearing my baggy clothes and thought at least I don't smell like nor look like a man : )

Sheesh

There is a new commercial (maybe it's not new, but I watch so little TV, it's new to me) where a young man gets up to go to the bank and realizes he can now deposit his check by taking a photo of it on his phone and sending it to his bank. In less than 30 seconds the task is done. So, now this guy has some time on his hands. He sits back and relaxes in his chair. On the surface this looks like a great thing, right? I'm thinking I've got to get me one of those new fangled phones (okay, I didn't think that nor do I talk like that). But, here's the thing, is it so bad to have to go to the bank? Is it so great that this guy now has all this time on his hands? Is it good that he had no personal interaction at all? I know I would never remember if I ever really deposited a check or not. I mean, I would likely remember if I got in the car and drove to the bank, however, I probably would not remember a task like hitting a few buttons that took less than 30 seconds. Knowing me, I'd end up trying to deposit the same check a dozen times. Then, I may get arrested for bank fraud, leaving my family and friends to fend for themselves, causing heartache and sorrow for all concerned. How is that a good thing? Get off your duff and go to the bank, sheesh!

Spring Fling

Folks in New Jersey have the best weather in the country! We have the fullness of all four seasons; cold and snowy Winters, wet and blooming Springs, hot and humid Summers, cool and crisp Falls. With each season there is something so delightful. The Winter season brings most folks inside to hearth and home with shortened days and bitter cold nights. The Spring brinks folks outside during the day to sweep away debris of Winter and to plant. The Summer keeps folks outside till late at night because of the cooler temperatures of the evening and the light of the late setting sun. Also, gardening in New Jersey (The Garden State - duh) is a great summer New Jersey pastime. The Fall brings relief of the long hot days and keeps our sights on the red, orange and gold foliage. It's funny to me that so many people feel exactly the same way as I do about the weather in New Jersey, yet all I hear is folks waiting on the next season. It seems everybody is in a rush for the next season to begin. If I hear one more person say, "I can't wait till Spring," I may explode. And, no, that wasn't me outside today whispering, "Grow tulips, grow..."

Abounding!

Philippians 4:11-13 "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

For me, these verses speak to the heart of Christian living. To listen to the world-view today, the goal in life is to be completely satisfied physically, financially and emotionally. To seek and enjoy many riches. To fill our gluttonous selves to the brim and then just a little bit more. Some of you are nodding in agreement thinking, it's the "just a little bit more" that gets us in trouble. But that's not really the truth behind our dissatisfaction. If we know Christ, we are already abundantly rich! When our circumstances stink, Paul tells us that Christ can and will strengthen us. The knowledge of knowing that, even in bad situations, in times of trouble and need, we have the strength of Christ in us to accomplish all things, is the kind of contentment that every worldly thing is empty of. In other words, what the world has to offer is void of soul satisfying joy. But what Christ has to offer is teeming with unspeakable joys. These verses to me are saying a life adapted to the world is lacking (abased), but a life adapted to Christ is rich (abounding).