Fugitives
9:15PM Both dogs in the house for the night. Never happened before.
12:35AM I go to bed praying Daisy sleeps through the night and doesn't chew anything valuable.
5:30 AM I am awakened to the unmistakable thump thump thump thump...of a Daisy tail on hardwood floor. Get up and take both dogs outside where the three of us sit in the back yard looking at one another. My sincere hope that a bathroom break might take place was dashed.
5:40AM Back in the house and back to bed, Daisy joined us-another first.
6:15ish Erik up and getting ready for work. Daisy and I stretched out on the bed. Erik encourages me to get up and get gone.
6:30AM Erik to work.
6:31 AM Erik called and informed us animal control was already pulling into the neighbor's driveway. We had our escape plan all planned out.
6:35 AM All three girls and me dressed, 2 dogs on a leash ready to flee the scene. Our plan was to take Daisy to the vet for her spaying and shots and then not be home during animal control hours until the heat was off. Fugitives.
6:36 AM Animal control and the neighbor pulling into our driveway. Our plan was foiled.
6:37 AM Inner debate about whether to hide and pretend we aren't home or face the music. After silent prayer, opened the door and stepped out to greet them. Officer was very nice, very doubtful that Daisy has rabies and asked us to quarantine her in our home for 10 days and then someone will come out and visually inspect her. Then it will be over. We are fortunate that there have been no cases of rabies in our state for many many years.
I consider this our miracle and I am very happy. The next 10 days will be very hard, but it beats the alternative.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Good News/Bad News
The good news is that going to church tonight, surrounded by good friends, participating in studying the word and being distracted a bit by good things finally stopped my tearfest.
The bad news is I came home and began the tearfest again. The really bad news is the reason for the tearfest. I am telling you this and coveting your sincere prayers NO MATTER WHEN YOU READ IT!! God is NOT constrained by time like we are.
You may remember a certain beautiful black lab that we rescued on a deserted country road. You may recall that I was frustrated to bring another pet into our fold. Of course, then you will recall that Daisy charmed her way right into the hearts of this entire family-even the cats. We have several neighbors who love her so much they call us to thank us for "sharing" and want to help with her animal care expenses. She is very lovable. Toby's wife. We are crazy about her.
Today, while playing with an elderly neighbor (with very thin elderly skin), she bit him instead of his paper she was playing with. (He was playing with her with his paper-I know that sounds odd!) She broke the skin and there was bleeding. He is OK but very worried about rabies-completely understandable. This man did not know us or that she was our dog. He did the only thing he could think of which was to *GASP* call animal control and report the bite. THEN he asked around to some neighbors to find out whose dog she was and if she had her rabies shot. Now here is the REALLY BAD part, she hasn't gotten it yet. We were planning to take her for that and getting her fixed next week.
Now, the wheels are in motion for animal control to come and pick her up tomorrow. I am devastated. If you do a google search of rabies testing of dogs, you will understand why I am crying buckets. Through tears and ungraceful crying I tried to explain to him what it entails. He doesn't want any of this to happen and he very much wants to withdraw his complaint. He also firmly believes I am wrong and that animal control will just come out, look at her, declare her fine and go on back to headquarters. HOWEVER, animal control is not known for being warm and fuzzy. It is basically dog law enforcement and a very big deal.
We may lose our baby and I need your prayers desperately.
The good news is that going to church tonight, surrounded by good friends, participating in studying the word and being distracted a bit by good things finally stopped my tearfest.
The bad news is I came home and began the tearfest again. The really bad news is the reason for the tearfest. I am telling you this and coveting your sincere prayers NO MATTER WHEN YOU READ IT!! God is NOT constrained by time like we are.
You may remember a certain beautiful black lab that we rescued on a deserted country road. You may recall that I was frustrated to bring another pet into our fold. Of course, then you will recall that Daisy charmed her way right into the hearts of this entire family-even the cats. We have several neighbors who love her so much they call us to thank us for "sharing" and want to help with her animal care expenses. She is very lovable. Toby's wife. We are crazy about her.
Today, while playing with an elderly neighbor (with very thin elderly skin), she bit him instead of his paper she was playing with. (He was playing with her with his paper-I know that sounds odd!) She broke the skin and there was bleeding. He is OK but very worried about rabies-completely understandable. This man did not know us or that she was our dog. He did the only thing he could think of which was to *GASP* call animal control and report the bite. THEN he asked around to some neighbors to find out whose dog she was and if she had her rabies shot. Now here is the REALLY BAD part, she hasn't gotten it yet. We were planning to take her for that and getting her fixed next week.
Now, the wheels are in motion for animal control to come and pick her up tomorrow. I am devastated. If you do a google search of rabies testing of dogs, you will understand why I am crying buckets. Through tears and ungraceful crying I tried to explain to him what it entails. He doesn't want any of this to happen and he very much wants to withdraw his complaint. He also firmly believes I am wrong and that animal control will just come out, look at her, declare her fine and go on back to headquarters. HOWEVER, animal control is not known for being warm and fuzzy. It is basically dog law enforcement and a very big deal.
We may lose our baby and I need your prayers desperately.
More Angst
Don't you just love it when I am in a good mood?? Lately, I am very frustrated-as if yesterday's post didn't clue you in. I feel like such a failure in the social world. On one hand I make friends very easily, on the other hand, I often do things to drive those new friends away without even knowing it. Thankfully, through it all, my BEST friend is my husband. He has tolerated the mood swings, tongue lashings, and overall goofiness. He also still loves me, usually agrees with me (even though I open cans of worms he would NEVER open!), and gets me-even the worst parts of me. He sympathizes with me when it is obvious I AM being mistreated and also when it is obvious I AM MAKING MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLEHILLS. In return for this I try really hard to be nice to him. To lovingly do things for him and understand him to the very best of my ability. I think that may be the secret to the success of any long term relationship-loving one another even when they make your blood boil. Loving one another despite HUGE differences in personality and being thankful to God above that those differences allow you to help one another grow if you let it. Last night I read him this upcoming verse and we both nodded at how easy church SHOULD be. Why isn't it? Because of all the people. We are so flawed. We want to be right, but I think even deeper than that-we want to be liked. The people who feel liked tend to fare a little little better than those of us who don't feel liked or appreciated.
Anyway, I am very blessed this quarter at church to be studying Acts with one of our churches most gifted teachers (in my opinion). I say that because he is blunt, opinionated, VERY knowledgeable, but also open minded. Eager to get a different insight than his own. That is rare. Most people just cling to their own insight and don't enjoy hearing other people's take on things because they have already figured it all out. The seek to "bring people around to their way of thinking" not consider a new way of looking at something. ( I definitely fall into that bringing people around opinion even though I don't want to!!)
So tonight, even though I am totally in a state of spiritual depression about too many things to mention, I will go and study the first two chapters of Acts. I have been reading them and can't wait to get another perspective that will be so far from my own, I will have to delve deeper. My favorite verse:
Acts 2: 46-7
46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
This verse just crystallizes what church should be for me. What was required of the people? GLAD AND SINCERE HEARTS, GRANTING FAVOR TO EVERYONE AROUND THEM. God did the rest. All they had to do was love the Lord with all of their hearts and love one another with gladness and sincerity. A VERY TALL ORDER, but the rewards were that their number was added to daily.
Don't you just love it when I am in a good mood?? Lately, I am very frustrated-as if yesterday's post didn't clue you in. I feel like such a failure in the social world. On one hand I make friends very easily, on the other hand, I often do things to drive those new friends away without even knowing it. Thankfully, through it all, my BEST friend is my husband. He has tolerated the mood swings, tongue lashings, and overall goofiness. He also still loves me, usually agrees with me (even though I open cans of worms he would NEVER open!), and gets me-even the worst parts of me. He sympathizes with me when it is obvious I AM being mistreated and also when it is obvious I AM MAKING MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLEHILLS. In return for this I try really hard to be nice to him. To lovingly do things for him and understand him to the very best of my ability. I think that may be the secret to the success of any long term relationship-loving one another even when they make your blood boil. Loving one another despite HUGE differences in personality and being thankful to God above that those differences allow you to help one another grow if you let it. Last night I read him this upcoming verse and we both nodded at how easy church SHOULD be. Why isn't it? Because of all the people. We are so flawed. We want to be right, but I think even deeper than that-we want to be liked. The people who feel liked tend to fare a little little better than those of us who don't feel liked or appreciated.
Anyway, I am very blessed this quarter at church to be studying Acts with one of our churches most gifted teachers (in my opinion). I say that because he is blunt, opinionated, VERY knowledgeable, but also open minded. Eager to get a different insight than his own. That is rare. Most people just cling to their own insight and don't enjoy hearing other people's take on things because they have already figured it all out. The seek to "bring people around to their way of thinking" not consider a new way of looking at something. ( I definitely fall into that bringing people around opinion even though I don't want to!!)
So tonight, even though I am totally in a state of spiritual depression about too many things to mention, I will go and study the first two chapters of Acts. I have been reading them and can't wait to get another perspective that will be so far from my own, I will have to delve deeper. My favorite verse:
Acts 2: 46-7
46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
This verse just crystallizes what church should be for me. What was required of the people? GLAD AND SINCERE HEARTS, GRANTING FAVOR TO EVERYONE AROUND THEM. God did the rest. All they had to do was love the Lord with all of their hearts and love one another with gladness and sincerity. A VERY TALL ORDER, but the rewards were that their number was added to daily.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Angst
Last night, I served as a sounding board for a friend who is having a really hard time with some circumstances in her life. I tried to listen and be encouraging. My encouragement was to go straight to the source of the problem-in this case, the person-and she plans to do so. This is always my advice. I'll listen all you want, but at the heart of the matter, only working it out with the source of your frustration will ease the problem. Even if you think the person is an inconsiderate sloth that is completely unreasonable-that is still the only path you have to deal with the other person. Prayer helps, but even God has laid out very clearly for us that when our brother offends us we are to first GO TO THE BROTHER. Today, another friend called me and we talked about an almost identical problem. My answer was the same-go to your brother. You must work it out with your brother.
Matthew 18:15
" 15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."
Seldom is that the case though. We first want to do a little something I call "rallying the troops". We want to go to a friend and say: "Hey, I'm having this problem with Janice. How about you? Do you ever have that problem with Janice? You do? So it isn't just me? How do you deal with her? Great idea. I'm going to pray for her and from now on, that is how I will deal with her too. Thanks for listening, I'm not even mad at Janice anymore. I'll just dismiss this incident now that I know, bless her heart, THAT IS JUST THE WAY SHE IS."
At first glance, one might say there is nothing wrong with that approach, but let's look a little deeper. Having a problem with Janice might be a little bit your fault to, but in this scenario, that isn't revealed at all. It is pretty much impossible for something to only be the fault of one person. As I tell my children all the time-it takes two to tango. In this case, one to annoy, one to be annoyed. We often assume the annoyer is at fault, but perhaps being the annoyee takes just as much fault.
Perhaps the biggest glaring errors in "rallying the troops" is twofold: NUMBER ONE-Janice was NEVER consulted. She has offended a brother and is not even aware. How selfish. How can Janice grow in maturity when someone is not even willing to go to her and discuss the offense? Who decided she wasn't worth the effort? Does God say that anyone is not worth confronting in their sin? Eventually all the "troops" will treat Janice with the same disregard and she will feel isolated. Sure she is "loved and prayed for", but is that really what God calls us to do? Perhaps by going to a brother when we feel sinned against is commanded because God knows it will change BOTH people for the better. Offering and receiving grace are two of the biggest gifts a person can bestow(receiving grace can humble you in a way nothing else will). NUMBER TWO- The "troops" have just put themselves on a higher spiritual plane. They look across at one another, but down at Janice. To quote the church lady, "They feel just a little bit superior." A good self image is one thing, esteeming yourself (or someone else) higher than another is just sinful. Don't get me wrong, we all have people we click with, we can enjoy their company without thinking they are superior to other people. We may have favorites, but God sure doesn't.
I am very frustrated because I am just feeling just a little bit too much like the Janice in my examples these days. I know I have offended people and continue to do so. In big ways and in small ways. Some people have come to me and we have talked and our relationships have grown strong- tested. However, other people have been offended and just remain distant. Aloof. It comes across in their lack of communication. Have you ever known you screwed up, you just weren't sure which mistake it was that did it? Have you ever offended someone to the extent that they dislike you so much you can feel it oozing from their pores when you say hello? That is how I feel. I know I am a blunt person that very few people understand. I can totally relate, I talk to God daily about why he made me the way he made me. It drives ME crazy, I can't even imagine the havok it wreaks on those around me. However, HE DID CREATE ME THIS WAY and he does have a reason and a purpose for my life. I am who HE says I am-GOOD ENOUGH only when covered in the blood, just like you. I am a struggling and sometimes failing Christian doing the very best I know how. I belong to Him and that makes me good enough and worth the "trouble", even if some of the "troops" don't think so.
I'm thinking about confronting them. What do you think? Really, you feel the same way? I know, that is just how they are. I'll be praying.
Last night, I served as a sounding board for a friend who is having a really hard time with some circumstances in her life. I tried to listen and be encouraging. My encouragement was to go straight to the source of the problem-in this case, the person-and she plans to do so. This is always my advice. I'll listen all you want, but at the heart of the matter, only working it out with the source of your frustration will ease the problem. Even if you think the person is an inconsiderate sloth that is completely unreasonable-that is still the only path you have to deal with the other person. Prayer helps, but even God has laid out very clearly for us that when our brother offends us we are to first GO TO THE BROTHER. Today, another friend called me and we talked about an almost identical problem. My answer was the same-go to your brother. You must work it out with your brother.
Matthew 18:15
" 15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."
Seldom is that the case though. We first want to do a little something I call "rallying the troops". We want to go to a friend and say: "Hey, I'm having this problem with Janice. How about you? Do you ever have that problem with Janice? You do? So it isn't just me? How do you deal with her? Great idea. I'm going to pray for her and from now on, that is how I will deal with her too. Thanks for listening, I'm not even mad at Janice anymore. I'll just dismiss this incident now that I know, bless her heart, THAT IS JUST THE WAY SHE IS."
At first glance, one might say there is nothing wrong with that approach, but let's look a little deeper. Having a problem with Janice might be a little bit your fault to, but in this scenario, that isn't revealed at all. It is pretty much impossible for something to only be the fault of one person. As I tell my children all the time-it takes two to tango. In this case, one to annoy, one to be annoyed. We often assume the annoyer is at fault, but perhaps being the annoyee takes just as much fault.
Perhaps the biggest glaring errors in "rallying the troops" is twofold: NUMBER ONE-Janice was NEVER consulted. She has offended a brother and is not even aware. How selfish. How can Janice grow in maturity when someone is not even willing to go to her and discuss the offense? Who decided she wasn't worth the effort? Does God say that anyone is not worth confronting in their sin? Eventually all the "troops" will treat Janice with the same disregard and she will feel isolated. Sure she is "loved and prayed for", but is that really what God calls us to do? Perhaps by going to a brother when we feel sinned against is commanded because God knows it will change BOTH people for the better. Offering and receiving grace are two of the biggest gifts a person can bestow(receiving grace can humble you in a way nothing else will). NUMBER TWO- The "troops" have just put themselves on a higher spiritual plane. They look across at one another, but down at Janice. To quote the church lady, "They feel just a little bit superior." A good self image is one thing, esteeming yourself (or someone else) higher than another is just sinful. Don't get me wrong, we all have people we click with, we can enjoy their company without thinking they are superior to other people. We may have favorites, but God sure doesn't.
I am very frustrated because I am just feeling just a little bit too much like the Janice in my examples these days. I know I have offended people and continue to do so. In big ways and in small ways. Some people have come to me and we have talked and our relationships have grown strong- tested. However, other people have been offended and just remain distant. Aloof. It comes across in their lack of communication. Have you ever known you screwed up, you just weren't sure which mistake it was that did it? Have you ever offended someone to the extent that they dislike you so much you can feel it oozing from their pores when you say hello? That is how I feel. I know I am a blunt person that very few people understand. I can totally relate, I talk to God daily about why he made me the way he made me. It drives ME crazy, I can't even imagine the havok it wreaks on those around me. However, HE DID CREATE ME THIS WAY and he does have a reason and a purpose for my life. I am who HE says I am-GOOD ENOUGH only when covered in the blood, just like you. I am a struggling and sometimes failing Christian doing the very best I know how. I belong to Him and that makes me good enough and worth the "trouble", even if some of the "troops" don't think so.
I'm thinking about confronting them. What do you think? Really, you feel the same way? I know, that is just how they are. I'll be praying.
Quitting
Once upon a time in my life, I worked at McDonald's. It was a job I dearly loved. I liked all my co-wrkers and we had a lot of fun while working very hard together. I was trained in all positions in a very short amount of time and some days I would open, go home to take a nap and then come back and close. There were managers that I loved working with and I almost always made over time-plus they worked around my college schedule-no easy feat.
It seemed like I had been there forever because I worked so often. In reality though, it had only been 4 months. I was a good hard worker. There was another girl that only worked once in a blue moon, did a lousy job and could only do one job and was not even remotely competent at that. We made the same pay. It made my blood boil. I approached my store manager and told her I wanted a raise. She said I would definitely get one-in two months at my 6 month evaluation. I needed to make more money without working so many hours so in my mind, it was not acceptable. Another manager gave me a long lecture about how it was easier to quit than to stay and work things out. Her advice caused me to do alot of soul searching and reflecting. It was such good advice that I still reflect on it often when faced with times I want to quit and walk away. However, in this case, I quit and went to Captain D's where they paid me $1 an hour more and gave me 40 hours. I think I made the right move. Sometimes, quitting is the right thing to do.
Too many people don't quit for all the wrong reasons. Sometimes people do quit for all the wrong reasons. Sorting out those reasons is the hardest part of life.
This has been deep thoughts by janjanmom.
Once upon a time in my life, I worked at McDonald's. It was a job I dearly loved. I liked all my co-wrkers and we had a lot of fun while working very hard together. I was trained in all positions in a very short amount of time and some days I would open, go home to take a nap and then come back and close. There were managers that I loved working with and I almost always made over time-plus they worked around my college schedule-no easy feat.
It seemed like I had been there forever because I worked so often. In reality though, it had only been 4 months. I was a good hard worker. There was another girl that only worked once in a blue moon, did a lousy job and could only do one job and was not even remotely competent at that. We made the same pay. It made my blood boil. I approached my store manager and told her I wanted a raise. She said I would definitely get one-in two months at my 6 month evaluation. I needed to make more money without working so many hours so in my mind, it was not acceptable. Another manager gave me a long lecture about how it was easier to quit than to stay and work things out. Her advice caused me to do alot of soul searching and reflecting. It was such good advice that I still reflect on it often when faced with times I want to quit and walk away. However, in this case, I quit and went to Captain D's where they paid me $1 an hour more and gave me 40 hours. I think I made the right move. Sometimes, quitting is the right thing to do.
Too many people don't quit for all the wrong reasons. Sometimes people do quit for all the wrong reasons. Sorting out those reasons is the hardest part of life.
This has been deep thoughts by janjanmom.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Ahhh, Innocence-I LOVE YOU!
Today, when hubby got home for work, I made a humongo sandwich that I cut up and we all ate on the way to a far off place to look at old boats. We had to leave early to make it by dark. I love this particular drive because we often see so many different kinds of wildlife. We have seen hawks, eagles, owls, ducks, geese, lots and lots of deer, squirrels(of course), the much beloved possum, and once-A BEAVER crossed the road in front of us. All of the other animals are pretty commonly spied, but the beaver was a once-in-a-lifetime.
Puritans in the group, stop reading NOW!!
READ NO MORE...the following is PG-13. Suggestive language.
Now, if you have a gutter type of sense of humor like darling hubby and myself-you're already chuckling. Maybe, like me, the scene from Naked Gun 2 1/2 crosses the big screen of your mind. The scene where Priscilla Presley(in a dress) is on the ladder handing stuff out of the attic down to Leslie Neilson(who is looking up) and you hear:
"Nice beaver."
"Thanks, I just had it stuffed."
With that said, one of my children said innocently from the backseat, "Hey Mom, maybe you'll get to see a beaver!" This makes Hubby snicker which makes me laugh and we are both trying not to laugh which just makes it funnier. "What? What is so funny? Why is that so funny? I don't get it, does Dad see beavers all the time at work or something?" More laughter.
Gosh, I hope not.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
More Hours Please
I could use about 3 more hours in a day please. I have so many cool ideas and projects for this year that we keep running out of time. We are supposed to have a 6 hour day and I try to keep instruction (do not picture me talking or instructing for that long!! It is more along the lines of read alouds and doing work that sometimes requires teacher assistance) time to about 4-4 1/2 hours. That gives us time for supplemental projects, experiments, movies, etc. However, we keep going over and I refuse to school longer than 6 hours a day although on historical movie night, we are off the charts over that. I suppose the answer is just being more diligent in keeping to a "schedule" but I enjoy the looseness of our day-it is structured but not rigid. However, if I don't get more rigid we are going to be lucky to finish school before bedtime.
Yesterday we got caught up on all we were supposed to and so today is going very well. We have begun our election unit study and will spend the afternoon being artsy with our supplemental activities. Nothing seals in a lesson like a good cut and paste project-at least for my crew.
Organizing tip of the day:
I've been doing this so long, I can't remember how I got the idea. I think I wanted a Rolodex-but I made do with this until I could get one. Then I liked it and never got a Rolodex.
For years I tried to keep an address book. It never worked out. When I would finally get it done, several of my friends would move and I would become frustrated with the book and all the crossed out names. So I would buy a new one and start over. The same thing would happen again because all of my friends were young and not yet finished with college, much less established. So I put everyone's info on an index card and then bought an index card organizer with the alphabet tabs. It work great. Everyone doesn't go in there-few people from church are in there because I have a church directory in my directory file. Few people from my homeschool group are in there because I have a homeschool directory as well. People who go in there are people I call alot, invite to birthday parties, send encouraging cards to, Christmas card recipients, etc. This has been so handy because as people divorce, move away, even die (not too many of those but more than I like)- I can just pull that card out and make a new one. It is the best way to keep track of names, addresses, phone # and cell phones. I also keep important emails on there because we lost the desire to keep a good e-address book a few computer changes/email addresses changes ago. The best feature is that if someone writes their name and info on a piece of paper and I can actually make it home with the paper-I can just drop it in there under the right letter and make a card later. Foolproof for people like me who have to be very diligent to remain organized.
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