Fun Video Friday: Playing With The Camera

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"The poor have a hard life, but being content is as good as an endless feast." Proverbs 15:15

I Ate Shampoo

Yes, that's right. I had a dream last night about eating shampoo. It was blue. I think it was Pert Plus, the old school flavor. I mean, color.

I was so grossed out that I made myself wake up before I did something stupid like washing it down with milk (I'm lactose intolerant).

But it got me thinking about all the strange stuff I used to consume when I was a kid:

The weird weed in my neighbor's yard that we called sauerkraut. My mom freaked out every time she caught us chewing on it. "At least wash it first! There could be cat pee on there!"

Bubble gum. Yes, that's right. I chewed AND swallowed it. Regularly.

Play Doh. But only the red flavor. I mean, color.

My toenails. I'd probably still do it if I were flexible enough.

Boogers. I tease my older sister about her booger collection on the ceiling (we shared the top bunk), but at least she didn't eat them.

Dog bone cookies. I don't think it was a dare, either.

Fish eyes. OK, that wasn't me. That was my best friend's weird brother.

Brown bread.

And there's nothing as refreshing as a big glass of pickle juice.

All that and my mother said I was a picky eater. Pshaw! As if.

Happy Anniversary!

Love ya, hunny bunny!

Our Adventurous Day

Today started out as any normal Wednesday. Parker woke up when the garbage truck arrived, and Dada graciously got out of bed and brought him to the window to watch. A while later, I finally dragged myself out of bed and we went to work with our normal morning routine.

Parker played while I got started on laundry, we went outside to watch Dada leave for work, went back in to eat breakfast, Parker read while I did Bible study and drank my tea, and then we got ready to go to the park.

Upon starting my car and smelling the stale noxious air, I remembered that I still needed to buy a new air conditioning filter. I had no idea where a Kragen or other auto store was, but something told me to take the freeway to get to the "dinosaur" park today instead of side streets. At the exit, lo and behold, there was a Kragen right there. They didn't have my air filter in stock, but directed me to another Kragen up the road that had one. Yes! An unplanned chore done! Well, partly done anyway. Still need to install it.

Then, we finally headed to the our original destination. We had lots of fun exploring the park and playing in the turtle fountains. Parker shared his crackers with some little blackbirds. Actually, there were small blackbirds, and then slightly fatter brownish blackbirds. I immediately thought the bigger browner ones were females and the males were the smaller black ones. Why did I think that? Well, the bigger ones would stand right next to a piece of cracker and make a loud racket until a smaller blackbird would come pick it up and put it in the bigger bird's mouth. At least two pairs of these birds did this. I thought it was a little sweet, but pretty comical, too. Those bossy, demanding females, making the males their slaves! After doing some research online, I confirmed my suspicions. They are Brewer's Blackbirds. The females are the larger, browner, bossy ones.

Speaking of females, this morning I read Ecclesiastes and I'm fairly convinced whomever the author is (many believe it is Solomon, some think it was one of his brothers, but ultimately we don't really know), that he must have been scarred by some women. I laughed out loud at this passage, "... I do know there is one good man in a thousand, but never have I found a good woman." (Ecclesiastes 7:28) We women are blamed for the original sin. We've been bossy from the very beginning. Eve told Adam to eat, and he did. These female birds tell the males to feed them, and they do. I find it more than a little hilarious. I think God does, too. He was the one who created us, after all. "Think of what God has done! If God makes something crooked, can you make it straight?" - Ecclesiastes 7:13

Even children recognize who's really in charge. This past Sunday, after Parker woke up from his nap and I took some chicken out of the freezer to defrost, I suggested we all go to the park for a little bit. I asked Jake what he thought and he said, "Parker's the boss." Parker turned right around and said, "I'm not the boss. Mama's the boss!" He's no fool.

OK, so I went off on a tangent there.

Back to the present day. We got home from the park and I noticed that the two plants on our front entry could use a little watering. Parker loves to help us water the plants so off we went to fill a water jug. Parker helped me water one of the plants and then we went on to the next one. I foolishly let him stay on my left, closest to the stairs. After we were done, he stood back up and lost his footing. I was horrified to see him start to tumble down the stairs. His butt went down first, then he flipped over head first down another step. I shouted, "Oh my God, oh my God, help!" And He did. Parker just stopped tumbling. It was a miracle. He had only fallen down two of the fifteen stairs. I scooped him up and held onto him tightly, probably more scared than he was. I thanked Jesus and after we were back inside and I was able to calm down a little, we said a little prayer together thanking the Lord for keeping Parker from falling any further down the stairs. So far, I haven't found even a single scratch on him, and hopefully there's nothing hurt internally.

Now Parker is napping and I'm thinking that although he really wanted to help me install the air filter in my car later, that maybe we've had enough adventures for one day, thank you very much. I think I'm gonna pull rank and make Dada do it.
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For some laughs, here are some more UNinspiring (and yes, way out-of-context) quotes from Ecclesiastes:

"Nothing makes sense!" - Ecclesiastes 1:2

"All of life is far more boring than words could ever say." Ecclesiastes 1:8

"The more you know, the more you hurt; the more you understand, the more you suffer." Ecclesiastes 1:18

"Wise or foolish, we all die and are soon forgotten." - Ecclesiastes 2:16

"Don't be surprised if the poor of your country are abused, and injustice takes the place of justice." - Ecclesiastes 5:8

"... There is no end to books, and too much study will wear you out." - Ecclesiastes 12:12

I truly believe that books of the Bible should be read as a whole to fully grasp the context. It's easy to misconstrue single verses and manipulate them to read how you want. I just showed you how I did it! Maybe it'll hearten you to read Ecclesiastes, though. ;) Happy Wednesday!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful we got to spend time with my family in lovely (cough)sulfur water(cough) Hanford, CA.

I'm thankful we got to witness Lily Bean's first steps!

I'm thankful we also got to witness the murder of her birthday cake... see it here!

I'm thankful my sisters worked things out. I'm the mediator 'cause I'm the middle sister. ;)

I'm thankful Parker did an awesome job with such a long drive - both ways!

I'm thankful God kept us safe on the road. Lots of crazy drivers out there (yes, I'm one of them).

And I'm very thankful for Tension Tamer tea. It actually works, thank goodness! This morning I was feeling it in my neck and back and I couldn't shake it off. It made for a very rough morning. I had to pray silently several times to help avoid huge blow-ups with Parker. I notice that Thursdays are often our most difficult days for some reason (so it's probably a good thing that Thursdays are my thankful reflection days, helps me get my head and heart back in the right place)... anyway, I saw this tea at the grocery store and thought it was worth a shot. Maybe it's psychosomatic, but I could feel the muscles in my neck relax after just a few minutes of drinking the tea. It worked better than taking an Ibuprofen! I couldn't even turn my neck to the left this morning without pain, and now, nearly four hours after drinking the tea, I can still move it freely. The tea tastes kinda funky, though. Next time it's getting blasted with honey!
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"I am the Lord your God. I am holding your hand, so don't be afraid. I am here to help you." Isaiah 41:13

Fun Video Friday: Playing Dada's Bass Guitar

Watch Parker sing a made-up song while playing bass, and then call himself, "silly Parker." As if he really had to clarify that...




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Sorry, Lord, I Blew It Again

About a month ago, Parker and I were on our way out somewhere and before we left we walked to the community mailboxes in our complex to drop off some outgoing mail and pick up the mail from the day before. Along the way, I noticed a woman on a crutch, carrying some binders with her one free hand. Alongside her walked a little girl around Parker's age. I was carrying a few bags myself and trying to keep Parker from running away from me, but even now, I feel bad about not putting down my things and asking her if I could help. My burden could have been put down, but hers couldn't.

Nearly every day I think of her and how I failed to do the right thing.

This morning, I prayed specifically and asked God to give me the opportunity to help someone today and honor Him.

Later this morning, Parker and I were sitting and eating a snack outside our local library when a man in a wheelchair stopped nearby the library doors. I moved to get up and offer to help him with the very heavy (and non ADA compliant) doors, but hesitated. There was a rack of 10 cent books right where he stopped and it appeared as though he might be looking at them. I was afraid of looking like an idiot if he didn't even need help. I decided to wait and see if he would roll towards the doors and then I would get up and offer to help. He didn't move. About a minute later, a man walked up and started entering the doors and the man in the wheelchair asked if he would hold the door for him. He hadn't been looking at the books. He had been waiting patiently for someone to come by and help him. I had been less than 20 feet from him. I could have helped him. But I let fear of embarrassment take over. What's the worst that could have happened? He would have said, "no thanks?"

Lord, please forgive me. You answered my prayer, and I failed to fulfill it.
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"Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, 'When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?' The king will answer, 'Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.'" - Matthew 25:37-40

"My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? If you know someone who doesn't have any clothes or food, you shouldn't just say, 'I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.' What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!" - James 2:14-17

Conversations With P-Man: Days of the Week

This morning I was in the kitchen making some tea and I could hear Parker in the living room reciting the days of the week. Well, some of them anyway....

Parker: "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, da day, Sat-UR-day!"

Mama: "Where'd you pick that up? Do you know what days of the week are?"

Parker: "Yes!"

Mama: "What day is today?"

Parker: "Monday!" Big grin.

Mama (surprised): "It IS Monday! How did you know that? Hmm.... what day was yesterday?"

Parker: "Monday!"

Mama: "What day is tomorrow?"

Parker: "Monday."

Mama: "Yeah, that's what I figured."