Can't afford the new iPad? You gotta check this out

I just simply can't pass this one up.

I may have a small platform here in my slice of the blogosphere, but shame on me if I don't share this with y'all.

Lemmie know whatcha think.






Anybody up for a gamble?

This is the Day

"This is the Day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24


This is one of the most well-known verses from the Psalms. Have you ever read this verse deliberately in context with the previous two verses?

"The stone which the builders rejected [Jesus] has become the chief cornerstone [on which to build our spiritual foundation]. This was the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the Day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:22-24

The next verse opens with "Save now, I pray, O LORD..." which translated from Hebrew, this becomes "Hosanna!"

The thought of Good Friday can make a Christian very mournful.

"He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!" Phil 2:8


I mourn the fact that my God and Savior had to endure all this because of my sin.

Yes, He did.


But He didn't "have" to as much as He wanted to. He chose to. It was the only way we could be redeemed.

The Hebrews celebrated "this day" as the Day of Deliverance. This is the Day of Deliverance for us, too.

"...He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." John 19:30

This Good Friday represents the most difficult day in the life of our Lord Jesus. But it also represents the day that He stood in my place. This is the Day that the LORD has made...let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you were willing to pay a debt that you did not owe, because I owed a debt I could not pay. For this I will worship You alone forever.

Cake for Supper and Dirt for Dessert

We're friends, right?

And friends share recipes and exchange our impressively creative ideas with each other, right?

This is one of the many, many benefits to blogging: all the paramount ideas we can learn from one another. I got the idea for dinner today from one such blogger, Karen at Surviving Motherhood, and now I have the privilege of sharing it with YOU.

We did something like this several years ago, but I didn't get any pictures of it then.

1. I didn't have a camera.
2. I wasn't blogging yet, so it didn't matter.

But today, I'm getting pictures. Because you wouldn't believe me if I didn't get them.

Menu for the Day:

Breakfast
Vanilla Ice Cream scoops with chocolate syrup
(drop biscuit scoops with warm Nutella poured over the top)

 Breakfast of the Year 2010

Lil'bit enjoying his "hot fudge sundae" breakfast

Lunch
Fish Sticks with mac & cheese
(vanilla wafer cookies covered in peanut butter and "breaded" with crushed corn flakes; mac & cheese was real)

 Fish Sticks that fell from heaven

Brown Eyes was pretty fooled with this one; he had no idea until he bit into it.

Dinner
Chocolate cake with white icing
(meatloaf cake frosted with mashed potatoes, served with real green beans...I can't help myself.)

Lil'bit was the only one so fooled by this one. He kept asking if he could "lick the bowl."

Dinner was really fun...

Lil'bit was "less than impressed" with his "cake"

Mini me enjoying his "cake"

Red Juice Cocktail
(which was really red jell-o in a glass with a straw)

Mini me's thinkin', "How am I supposed to drink THIS?"

Dessert
Flower Pot Dirt Cake
(crushed oreos on top of pudding/coolwhip/cream cheese concoction)

 Complete with Easter lilies

The last time we did this, we made cupcakes the same way as the cake; just make meatloaf in muffin cups, and "frost" with colored mashed potatoes. We also made green beans out of green jolly rancher chews, which was really fun.

Hope you guys had a great April Fool's Day...I know we did.

Have a Happy Resurrection Day!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

FYI:  This post has nothing to do with Mr. Rogers. Except that it was a beautiful day in our neighborhood. So if Mr. Rogers was your draw here, then, feel free to carry on.

When we came home from Texas, one of the things we brought back with us was a picnic table and benches that my grandpa built when I was young.

The story is that he was driving in town one day and spotted a set in the back of someone else's truck. He liked the shape of them, so he came home and explained it to my grandmother: "This is what I want to build!"

The fact that I am visual in my creativity in that I need to "see" something before I can create something (even if it's in my own mind) is a characteristic I got honestly. From Grandma. She couldn't see it from description alone. So he took out some cardboard and drew his pattern for her to see and him to use.

The result is a beautiful picnic table and bench set that is as unique as he was.

When I was little, he used to tell me, "Matchabelli..." (as in, Prince Matchabelli perfume...I told you -- unique)...he'd say, "Matchabelli, you need to drink all that orange juice. It'll make your eyes curly and your hair blue." I'd laugh, and he'd look at me like, "What's so funny?" And then grin that precious smile of his.

Grandpa was the one who would squeeze me so tight that I had to hold my breath. I simply couldn't take any air in my lungs while he hugged me. Grandma would get onto him for hugging me so tight, but he loved me so much he couldn't help it. Those were great hugs.

Grandpa was also the one who, when I was four years old and loving the Love Boat show, promised me that when I was 16 he would take me on the Love Boat. And the summer before my 16th birthday, gave up his dream to take an Alaskan cruise because I had always pictured a tropical one, and took me and Grandma to the Bahamas.

He was a great man.

So, back to the picnic table.

Grandma didn't have room for it anymore, so she asked if we wanted it.

Um, that would be a yes.

Today was so much the perfect blue-sky-crisp-breeze-birds-singing-in-the-trees kind of day that we took a break from school to have lunch on Grandpa's picnic table.

Thank you, Lord, for a special Grandpa, warm memories, some awesome boys, and an uber-gorgeous day.

Flashback Friday

Linda at Mocha with Linda has started a meme called Flashback Friday! Here's her prompt for this week:

What was Easter like when you were little? For example, did you receive a basket with toys and candy? Was the Easter Bunny part of your family's celebration? Did your family integrate both secular and spiritual aspects of the day? Did you dye Easter eggs. . . .and did your family eat them afterwards? Did you usually get a new outfit? (Post a picture if you have one!) Does any Easter stand out particularly? You might also share how your Easter today is similar or different to your childhood?

Easter when I was little was really more secular than anything. I never made the connection between what I saw as Easter and the Resurrection of Christ until I was much older.

But most of my early Easters were spent at my Granny's house in the beautiful hill country of Texas. My favorite memories of all those Easters are encompassed in one thing: bluebonnets.

I used to take a basket out in the meadow and pick as many bluebonnets as I could fit in it. Now, if you pull over on the side of the road and try to do that, you'll get heckled and honked at by drivers on the highway. Rumor has it you can even get arrested for it! (at least that's what they say *wink*) 

Bottom Line: You're flat not supposed to pick bluebonnets on the Texas highway; you're taking away from everybody else's enjoyment of them when you do that.

But if you're on private land, now that's a diff'rnt story. And my Granny's land had more bluebonnets than dirt during the spring time, so propagating them wasn't really an issue.

So I would pick me a big basket full and take them back to Granny's house and make designs on the back porch with them. I would lay them out in the shape of Easter baskets, bunny rabbits, eggs (decorated with other wildflowers like buttercups and indian blankets):

Then the Easter bunny would come and fill the "baskets" I had made for all the family...each person got their own basket. My basket always included these staples: hollow chocolate bunny, a ceramic Easter "knick-knack," and a stuffed animal. I adored stuffed animals.

My other favorite memories include many walks down that old country road wearing my new Easter dress (Grandma was always so faithful to get me a new dress for Easter). I truly enjoyed the birds singing and the bright sun warming my face as I walked down Granny's driveway, which had to be a half mile long.

What a beautiful place she had.

As for now, we don't really buy into all the bunny hype for Easter. I think it rather takes away from the point of the celebration. I usually wake the boys for church by saying, "Happy Resurrection Day!" For which I always get a sleepy smile.

We don't do Easter baskets anymore, since we don't have bluebonnets here, but we usually do dye eggs a day or so before and then have an egg hunt in the yard. I don't usually buy the hollow bunnies, but last year I did find some chocolate crosses, which I was thrilled to see and buy for my boys. And we may not give many material gifts to each other, but we gift the gift of ourselves to each other.

After church, we usually spend the rest of the day cooking brisket, beans, and potato salad, some kind of yummy dessert (like banana pudding), and drinking sweet tea. And after the egg hunt is done, we find all the "Resurrection Eggs" out of our baskets, and go through them one at a time retelling the story of Jesus' death on the Cross and Resurrection on that blessed Easter morning.

Just special family time to celebrate a special family Holy-day.

What about you? Do you have any special Easter memories? What do you do for Easter to stay focused on the true meaning? Be sure and check out Linda's and others' answers at Mocha with Linda!

Where In Sam Hill is...Sam Hill?

So I got this to-the-point comment from a great blogging buddy the other day. Basically, she just wanted to know where in the “sam hill” I’ve been lately.

So now I’m inspired to share.

Right now it’s 3:30 am, {as in morning} and I’m in the family truck headed to Texas. Our quad cab is stuffed to the door jams with favorite pillows, cuddly teddy bears, overflowing food bags filled with junk food we don’t ordinarily eat (and a few pieces of fruit thrown in for “balance”). We have no less than five large travel coffee mugs (for only two adults, mind you)… and it’s all surrounded by windows full of obscurity…except for the reflective white lines that disappear into it.

We’re somewhere in Alabama right now, and I have to tell you, since there is nobody else awake in this state besides the few of us on the road, it feels more like we’re running on an oversized asphalt treadmill rather than actually going anywhere.

Now don’t get me wrong, Alabama is a beautiful state…with all its rolling green hills and tall, thick evergreens. It’s just that I can’t see any of that right now. All I can see is pitch black all around, and a relatively short portion of road illuminated before us. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of another’s presence on the journey, but all I see are headlights. Or taillights. I can’t see who’s in the vehicle, where they’re going, or what they’re doing to stay awake. All I know is they are either ahead of me to some degree, or maybe coming up behind me, or just plain going in the opposite direction.

Some are even pulled over on the side of the road, resting.

We have guidelines to follow that show us the way, signs posted to alert us to what is up ahead, and the capacity to decide if we’ll stay on the road, obeying the directions, or suffer the consequences of veering off road.

I’m struck with the parallels of life here: Limited view. Sometimes, a WAY limited view. The necessity of following the written directions established by the Authority…or face impending danger if they are ignored one too many times. Occasional glances into the journey of others; and the stillness, perhaps even brokenness of a few along the way.

Sometimes it feels like I’m running like a dog, but not actually going anywhere. Tonight is reminding me that it’s all about perspective. When I’m 75, am I really going to feel like I didn’t go anywhere? I don’t think so. Because by then, I’ll be able to do something I just can’t do now: see the journey as a whole.

Right now, I can only see a few feet in front of me. All the time. That’s why it feels like there’s no progress. But those white lines were painted on my road before the foundation of the world. That’s something one can trust.

Lord, help me keep my eyes and my heart focused on what You have given me to do with this life You have redeemed.

I guess this is one of those “life is like…” posts. But you know what? As long as the journey takes me to the closest Whataburger once in a while, I’m just going to enjoy the ride.

Random Dozen - Olympic Style

1. If you could compete in one Olympic event (not necessarily winter sports) what would it be?

As long as ability doesn't necessarily need to play in the equation, and in light of the fact that this happens to be the sport I watched today, I could see me loving the women's snowboarding. I mean, that is if I was that young, athletically trained competitor that saw snow more than 10 times in her whole life.

2. Do remember a specific Olympic moment from the past?

I remember Dorothy Hamill winning the gold in 1976 in figure skating. Well, actually the only reason I really remember it is because mine was one of those moms who flocked to the barber shops to get her only 4-year old kid a matching haircut.

3. Have you ever known anyone who competed in the Olympics?

Yes! In the women's ministry, WOVEN, of which I am a part, we had a guest speaker at our very first conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Her name was Kim Macklin, and she was a competitive swimmer on the 1984 Olympic swim team. Her story was awesome, because she spoke of our identity in Christ as women and as believers. Her point to drive home was that even having your picture on the front of a Wheaties box can't give you the identity our hearts long for. It was a touching story.

4. If everyday activities were Olympic-worthy, which activity would you have a gold medal in?

I would have to say...couponing! I saved over $112 two weeks ago!

5. Do you know anything about your ethnic heritage?

Yeah, this IS random...I just know that my mom's maternal side came from Sicily, and her paternal from Germany. I think all of my dad's family came from a part of Czechoslovakia that used to be known as Bohemia. Well, I think it's still referred to as Bohemia within the Czech Republic...or...

Well, you asked if I knew ANYTHING. That was SOMEthing.

6. Do you enjoy sleeping late?

I enjoy it while I'm in my warm flannel sheets and the house is a cool 65 degrees. But then I don't enjoy after I get up and I feel like my day is already half over before I start the coffee. I'd rather be up early...as long as I'm not up too late at night. Like now.

7. Have you ever performed CPR on anyone? Do you know how? (Yes, that's two, I know. Whatevs.)

I have never performed CPR because I don't know how to. That's also something I don't think I've ever had to admit "out loud." I don't like it.

8. Name one country you'd like to visit and explain why.

Are you kidding? Just ONE? I would have to say Israel. God has given me a love for His people, and I want to go there and get to know them some day.

9. Have you ever fixed up a couple romantically?

I called and asked my now-husband to meet me half-way between our towns (which was still a two-hour drive!) for our first date. That counts, right?

10. What is the last book you read?

The last one I actually finished: The Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.
The last one I actually picked up to read: Way too many to list here.

11. Do you enjoy sleeping late? NO, YOU write the question! How's that for random??

Lidna, I hope you're reading this, because I have the most extreme respect for you right now. I don't know how you've come up with all these questions for us...I can't think of ONE that you haven't already asked!


12. What is your favorite meal at your favorite restaurant?

If you've read any recent posts lately (like in the last several months) you already know that we are currently engaged in the Dave Ramsey program. We don't eat out much these days, so I almost can't remember!

But the last thing I ate out was pretty stinkin' good, so I'll put that. And before you think you're going to call the Dave Ramsey Police on me, DH got money for his birthday, so he took me on a date. How cool is that?

So we went to this Cuban-Style Mexican restaurant named La Parrilla, and I had a killer fish taco plate. It was REALLY good. New fave.

And it looked just like that, too.

Now, grab ya a second cup, and head on over to Lidna's to see what everyone else is saying. Go ahead...it's fun!