This and That

I sometimes wonder how I ever managed to do all that I did when I was a young wife, mother, and teacher.  How in the world did I run a household, care for my children, have time for my husband, work full time as a teacher, run errands, buy groceries, teach summer Bible School and GAs at our church, and for two years work on obtaining my Master's Degree...among many other responsibilities?????  Just thinking about it makes me want to sit down and take a long rest!

I thought surely when we had our empty nest and I retired there would be time to sit back, relax, watch a little TV, and eat Bon-Bons.  Wow!  Was I wrong?  I am still working, although part-time (which sure doesn't always seem like "part" time), still taking care of a household and all that that entails, taking time for my husband, and now looking after grandkids.  But I'm grateful for I'd be miserable with nothing to do and the Bon-Bons would go straight to my….well, they would make me gain unneeded and unwanted weight!  Yes, I've been busy, busy, busy and so yet again have neglected my blog.  So here are just a few things I've been up to lately….

The CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL…

some of my best friends from high school (we call ourselves THE VALLEY GIRLS) and I recently spent a day in Macon, GA enjoying the beautiful cherry trees as well as many beautiful azaleas and historic homes.  We also visited an absolutely gorgeous and awe-inspiring Catholic church plus had our picture made with a camel!  We are a group with many interests…and we always have so much fun together.

SPRINGTIME & GARDENING…

it's been springtime here for awhile, or so it has seemed.  And, of course, with spring comes gardening and yard work.  Hubby and I spent this weekend working on a project that is still a work in progress.

As you can see, we have a ways to go.  We plan to sod some grass between the stepping stones and we're waiting for the sand to settle in between the octagonal stones under the fountain.  We also have another tree in our plans, so I'll have to post "completed" photos later.  I wish I had my grandmother's GREEN THUMB but the best I can do is stick it in the dirt and pray that it grows!  We love our big yard and enjoy sharing it with those who pass by.

The GRANDKIDS…

keeping these two entertained is not always the easiest job that I have.  Recently one of my student teachers shared the idea of EDIBLE DIRT with me and so, of course, I had to try it with the grands.  The recipe:

          vanilla cookies (crumbled)

          chocolate cookies (crumbled)

          miniature marshmallows, M&Ms, a gummy worm

          1 clear cup

Place the marshmallows in bottom of cup; this is the "parent material".

Add the vanilla cookie crumbs; this is the subsoil.  Then add the chocolate crumbs; this is the topsoil.  Arrange the M&Ms on top to represent the organic matter in the soil.  Finally add the gummy worm; this is the decomposer.

We read a MAGIC SCHOOLBUS book to go with our project...and we also went outside and dug up earthworms and other creepy crawlies. 

 But the part they liked best was…eating the "dirt."

So…I realize that life is full and busy no matter which decade you're in.  And I hope it will continue to be that way as I work my way toward new adventures in the years to come.

A THOUGHTFUL MATH LESSON

A few months ago I gave the devotional at our monthly LADIES NIGHT OUT function at church.  I actually got the idea for it from an online devotional website who got it from Rev. Rick Warren, author of THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE.  The ladies seemed to enjoy it and it gave us all some things to think about.    I thought I would share some of it with you…in my own words.  So….let’s have a little MATH LESSON….and there will be a test at the end!

In our lives we encounter 4 types of people:

*people who ADD

*people who SUBTRACT

*people who MULTIPLY

*people who DIVIDE

ADDers are those people who add, or give, to the lives and situations around them.  We all know some ADDers.  They are….

*the friend who sends us a get-well card when we’re sick

*the co-worker who comes in every a.m. greeting everyone with a big smile on their face…and maybe even bringing doughnuts to share

*the friend or family member who bakes us chocolate chip cookies when we’re depressed….or who sits with us and listens to us cry when we are grieving.

People who ADD bring joy to our lives; they pick us up when we’re down.  They may be a friend or family member or maybe even a stranger who lets you up in line at the supermarket because you have just a few things in your hands while they have a whole buggy full.  Aren’t we glad we have ADDers in our lives?  Don’t we wish there were more of them?

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Just as there are people who ADD to the lives and situations around them, unfortunately there are also people who SUBTRACT…they take away from our relationships; they rob us of joy and peace and harmony.  You know who these people are:

*they’re the person in our workplace or in our church or on our committee who always complains the most but works the least

*the weather is always too hot or too cold

*the food is either undercooked or overcooked

*the preacher preached too long or too short

*when we share with them something special that has happened to us, they either have done it bigger and better or they rain on our parade.

People who SUBTRACT always seem to be the happiest when they are making someone else unhappy.  Hopefully you don’t know many people that SUBTRACT from your life…one is more than enough.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

So there are ADDers, SUBTRACTers, and then there are the MULTIPLYers…and I don’t mean someone who has more children!  People who MULTIPLY are very much akin to those people who ADD to our lives.  In fact, they are often one and the same.  MULTIPLYers contribute exponentially to our happiness.  When we are excited or happy about something that happened to us, the MULTIPLYers rejoice with us…they don’t try to pull us down nor do they become jealous because our good fortune didn’t happen to them.  They do everything they can to make those around them happy and harmonious.  They are the peacemakers; they are givers, not takers.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And finally…there are those who DIVIDE.  These are the people who are always taking sides and demand that we take sides too…usually theirs.  They choose to be divisive and work against unity in our families, in our friendships, in our working relationships, sometimes even in our churches.  DIVIDErs want to tear relationships apart, and like SUBTRACTers, they rob us of our joy.

So, there are 4 kinds of people in our lives….

*those who ADD     *those who SUBTRACT    *those who MULTIPLY     *those who DIVIDE

But guess what?  Not only do these people affect our lives BUT…

we affect the lives and situations of those around us in just the same way.

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Remember I said there would be a test?  Here it is; just one simple question…..

WHICH  ARE  YOU?

Now that you’ve had time to roll that thought around in your mind, I do have a challenge for us all…

                            GO forth and ADD &  MULTIPLY!