On Thursday-Thanksgiving Day to be exact, my son started warming up some food in the microwave. He came to me and said, "There is a hole in the bottom of the microwave". He said it so calm-like, so nonchalantly that I almost didnt pick up on the importance of what he was trying to tell me-THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE MICROWAVE AND THAT EVERY TIME WE COOKED WE WERE BEING RADIATED!
As the situation became clear to me, I wondered how long the hole has been there. I mean, we live busy lives and something like a hole there could have gone unnoticed for a while.
I counted my toes and was glad to find that I had not grown any new ones, so it probably has not been there for long; but still- RADIATION!
I guess this is where on Thanksgiving we should have given thanks we found it out now rather than when our toenails fell off in a few weeks, but since we were in the midst of the crud/flu of 2010 details have been a bit fuzzy and we probably just went back to sleep a few more hours.
The next day, even though I didnt really feel like it, my husband and I braved the crowds at Sears in search of a microwave. We did at least wait until 5 PM or so-rather than the Black Friday 4 AM crowds.
I had looked around online before we left and determined that the microwave I wanted was a Kenmore based on ratings and reviews. The internet is so handy like that; cutting edge information in seconds right at my fingertips.
If only I had known that just figuring out what I wanted was going to be the easy part; going to the store and dealing with a clueless cashier was a completely different matter. That my friends is a story for later.
The important thing at this moment is that if you are driving by our house and see a microwave by the road, do not pick it up and take it home and use it. Remember, RADIATION is not your friend when it leaks out through a hole in the bottom of your microwave. I'd just keep walking and let that baby sit there for the trash guys to cart off in a few days. You can thank me later. Next time, I promise I'll put something out at the road you can take home if you just forget about this old appliance.
Ahchoo and Amen
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
It is Thanksgiving Morning and I am awake while the rest of my family sleeps. We are all sick with some sort of crud; week two of us having something passing around between us. I am grateful for the fact that we do not have to go anywhere-besides perhaps to CVS or Walmart later to get some vicks salve to put under our nose so we can breath better.
Below is the column I wrote for Thanksgiving. May you and yours be blessed this season as we all give thanks to God.
As my husband, son, daughter and I walked out into the parking lot tonight, they were a couple of steps ahead of me. I watched as each of them laughed and talked about nothing much in particular. It was a moment of being content; of being thankful for these wonderful people that God wove together into a family so many years ago.
These three people have shaped who I am as our lives intertwine daily. My kids are at such an age that I learn as much from them as they have learned from me. My husband gives of himself daily to give his family the best possible life. He is my best friend and the one that I have built a life with all these many years. Our children, now adults, add to that joy.
I do not take the blessings in my life for granted; though there are many. To me, thankfulness is not just saying the words, “thank you”, but more an attitude of gratitude. The word, gratitude, defined as a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation seems to denote a deeper expression of praise more than words can convey.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Psalm 107:8a
To “give thanks” is sacrificial; it is giving away a part of ourselves in appreciation for what has been done for us and those around us. It is an offering of our heart to God as we express our gratitude.
I feel gratitude for the home that we have; however humble it may be. It is a roof over our heads when the cold rain falls. It is walls surrounding our bodies when the blustery winds blow strong. It is a place to lay our head at night when we are tired from a day of work and play. It is a safe place to be when the rest of the world seems to be fighting against us.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
I am thankful for food in our pantry and cabinets; overflowing at times from all the couponing that I have done as I’ve stocked up on staples. Even as times have been lean, my family has always had God’s provision in one way or another for a meal or the creativity to find a meal out of whatever is still there.
You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. Psalm 65: 11
There is appreciation in my heart for the warm water to take a bath and to wash our dishes. I am grateful for just having water at all that runs through pipes and the tap directly where I need it each day. Water to keep us hydrated daily is not taken for granted as we know there are others in this world that do not have access to the creature comforts we have here.
Right now, as I am writing, I can hear the washing machine and dryer run. Neither would be necessary without the blessing of clothes to wear or sheets and blankets to wrap ourselves in that get dirty through daily use. I am grateful for the technology that makes this chore simpler than my grandmother and those before her had it.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 118: 1
This Thanksgiving season, a song of praise to God will rise up from our hearts as we sacrificially give thanks to our Lord Jesus for everything he has done for us. He has seen to all of our needs in His time and way including making a way for us to know Him through his son Jesus Christ.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
So, the other day, I cut my husband's hair as I've mentioned in the past that I do. As I was cleaning the sheers afterwards, a tuft of blondish-red hair fell out of them.
My eyes filled with tears I tried to push back. Again, here was another reminder of the life we lived with this amazing dog.
I picked up the one-inch curl and held it for a moment. It was the first time since his death that I had touched his fur. It was so soft and pretty; left over from the last time I had cut Bayley's fur.
Not ready to let it go, I laid it in the container we keep the hair cut supplies. I probably should dig it out and put it somewhere safe, but for the time being, this was the best I could think of to do.
The reminders are everywhere-constantly reminding us of the joy of raising Bayley from his puppy-hood and the life we experienced because he was here always causing us some sort of mischief.
The loss is still profound; yet we know we are all doing a little better than we were that day in August when he died. One step at a time we move forward better for having shared our lives with a little puppy that wrapped himself around our hearts.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Dear Suntrust,
A few years ago, I picked up this drink cozy at one of your locations inside of Harris Teeter. I have loved having this drink cozy and have used it faithfully, especially in the summertime when condensation seems to be a problem more than any other time.
My drink cozy has seen better days; yet I cannot find another one just like it. I am attached to this drink cozy and have considered if it is even possible for me to restitch it together. It is falling apart one stitch at a time.
I would love another drink cozy just like this one. Could you oblige? I doubt you still have any that have the NASCAR logo on them like this one, but that's OK since the main thing I wish to have is a good replacement for this cozy before this one completely comes apart at the seams.
Thanks for your consideration,
Muddy aka Linda
Monday, November 22, 2010
It is hard to know how to follow the last post on my blog. It's been three months and every time I have come here to consider what I should write, I get distracted by Bayley's picture and go on search for other pictures or videos that I have posted on here of him. He is missed and it seems not a week goes by that we have some memory stirred of what life was like when he was here living with us.
Just last week, I had the roaster up on the counter top in order to cook a turkey. In the past, whenever we'd cook something in there, Bayley would circle around underfoot hoping something would drop into his food dish or mouth. We'd shoo him out of the kitchen and make him watch from afar. It was odd picking the turkey apart without him here.
Life goes on and we have had to continue walking in order to stay in step. Its just nice to remember him here and there as we think about him.
I cannot believe it is the week of Thanksgiving already. I am scheduled to pick up a ham on Tuesday for us to have here on Thursday for the four of us from Honey Baked Ham. It was just a little treat we thought would be nice this year rather than baking our own. It will be nice to just concentrate on cooking the sides rather than the whole meal.
My mother in law has invited us to come Thursday, but with the uncertainty of the kid's schedule's Thursday and Friday (Hannah has to be at work at 3 am Friday morning), and the fact we are all still sick with fever, coughs, stomach upset etc...it seems to make more sense to stay home and make sure we are all well enough to do our jobs. I just hope we are all well enough to enjoy the ham by then.
Recently we subscribed to Netfix streaming and have enjoyed having instant access to so many various titles. We do not have cable, so even cable shows that are several years old are new to us and enjoyable. It's pretty reasonable in price to subscribe and there is the benefit of being able to stream it through our computers or the Wii. Technology amazes me.