Thermometers

Ever seen one of those movies where the detective finds a clue that no one else would have ever seen? Like the five containers of salt. Who had five containers of salt, they ask and it solves everything. Well, I’ll tell you who has five containers of salt on their shelf, us. Salt goes on sale, we buy enough for the year. It’s brilliant!

What was I going to say? Don’t worry, it will come to me.… Nope, not coming. Alright, new subject!

How many thermometers do you have in your house and yard? One? Two? We have a total of seven. I’m not lying. Honest! Not one of these can agree. It’s 60 out on one, 50 on another. A third says it’s 80 but it’s in the sun so it no longer counts. On the fourth it’s different every time you look. How do we know what the temperature is? We don’t. We just pick whichever suits us at that moment in time.

“Mom, it’s 80 out can we play in the sprinkler?”

“We can’t pick dandelions for syrup, it’s only fifty.” (Yes, we make dandelion syrup. It tastes like honey but is much runnier, It’s really sweet and great on apples.)

“We can wear shorts, it’s 60 out.” Blah, blah, blah… It’s great!

Why is it we have seven thermometers? Because we do and that’s the best answer you’ll get because we honestly don’t know.

This winter we had problems heating the house. Were we low on wood? No. Did we forget to stoke the fire? Okay, sometimes but that’s not the main reason. "Why then?" you demand. I’m getting there. Patience.

We are all experts at jumping up from our seats. Half way through a TV show Mom goes, “Windows!” We jump up and throw them open. Rain or shine, zero below or sixty above, they get opened. Is this a strange game? No. "What is it then?" you yell. I’m not telling you. So be patient.

Everyone moves away from the windows. Well, everyone but me. I remain rooted to “my spot” (which is right in front of a window). Is this punishment? Did I do something wrong? No, don’t be ridiculous! I’m just stubborn and love my special corner seat.

So, why do the thermometers get a shock and we have problems heating the house? Why do we do this strange procedure? Because Mom gets hot flashes. Hot flashes? You ask. Yes. She randomly starts burning and we throw wide the windows. It drops to fifty, we shut them, Mom is perfect, we’re all freezing. Perfectly normal.



P.S. Mom says I forgot two.

Treasures

Somethings we buy to treasure. Somethings we get and then learn to love. Often, the ones that start out ordinary turn out to be extraordinary. It’s those small things that become precious. It’s the large ones that are soon forgotten. It’s a friendship started by a few kind words that will last forever. It is those things we take for granted that we miss. It’s those who encourage you, that help you over the finish line.

It’s God, who gave you all those things and people, that will one day call you home.

Mandy

A Few Problems

Sorry that I haven't posted and the post, Hats, was missing for a bit but Blogger has been down and was doing repairs.

Hopefully I can post again tomorrow with no more problems.

Hats

Poems are awesome, as I have said about beans and hats…wait no hats! Scrap the poems I have to speak up for the best part of our wardrobe. (Sorry poems but I’ll get back to you later. Honest!)

Hats. I love hats. I mean if there is someone who thinks they love hats more just let them compete. I wear all sorts, old fashioned to church, helmets to ride on our dragon fly, baskets to ward off anything that might be thinking of stealing my brain (smile), caps to get rid of the sun in my eyes. I mean hats are more than awesome, they are spectacular, amazing, terrific, grand, cool (and I rarely go as far as to say cool), and just plain wonderful. I figured anybody could find a nice hat to wear. I was WRONG!

My great vision was destroyed by the hat murderers! I mean, I have nothing against the British. They make good, clean (sometimes) TV shows. They have cool accents (see I said cool again). They have really neat old manners. And the people are fine. But they have absolutely no taste in hats! I wear a basket and it’s less dreadful. Anyone who watched the news on the Royal wedding can vouch! My lovely hats, ruined! On most other matter the Brits are ok but your hats need some work.

Hats, otherwise, are still AMAZING! Does it matter some of them are strange, such as buckets? No, don’t be ridiculous! As long as they are colorfully awesome they’re great! Does it matter that they are too big? No, of course not. But before you try to become a hat making person, find out what type of hats or you might not only blow a hole in my bubble but pop it! And that would be dreadful!

God's Path

I’ve spent time telling you what I think, what I do and what I want to do. Have you listened? When you read my blog you smile and laugh. You get to see things my way for a moment. Do you like knowing what I want?

What about what God wants? Have you spent time reading His blog? So, now you are saying: This is beginning to sound like I’m being preached to. Do you honestly think I can preach to you? I’m thirteen, will be fourteen in a few weeks. I don’t know that much, I am still in school, and right now I don’t even know where God is leading me. Do you really think I can?

Moses said that God couldn’t use him. He wasn’t good enough, he could talk like others, he wasn’t the right guy. Did God use him?

We don’t pick if God uses us. God created the universe. Do you think He can’t use someone like you, like me? I am nothing special and I would be nothing at all if God didn’t see fit to save me. I could travel the world and without God I wouldn’t get through to anyone. What if I don’t want to travel the world and tell people but God does? Well, I have a feeling I won’t win the argument.

We are God’s people and He loves us. He loves us and will care for us no matter what road He sends us down.

So, am I preaching to you? No. I’m just telling you what I think and what Go gave me the talent to think. That is what you are here to listen to, isn’t it? The talent, the stories, the articles God gave me the power to create, for Him.

No matter where we are, He will use us. No matter how we resist, if He wants us as His, we will come. No matter what the talent, it’s a gift from God. No matter how badly broken a heart, God can fix it. No matter what the loss, no matter how small the person, God is God, and He will show us what to do, where ever we are.

There is one more thing I need to tell you. We have roads of our own that we like best. We have plans that we want to fulfill. But God’s road is the road where we will be the happiest. Even if it’s hard to let go of our own. We must see that. God is leading us the right way, don’t turn off.

Mandy

Mother's Day Events

So what did you all do for Mother’s Day? (No, honestly, I’m asking. Leave a comment. I like them!) Probably the normal, easy thing, right? Sit back, relax, watch TV. Maybe go out to a nice restraint. Whatever your mother wants.

Now I have a confession, I am writing this before 9:00am Mother’s Day. So, I don’t know what we’re going to do.

Do you know what my mom wants to do? Nope, you’re wrong. She doesn’t want to watch TV or go to town. She wants to put up a gazebo our neighbor gave us. All of you who know my mom are smiling and nodded. All of you who don’t have your mouths hanging open, are shaking your heads and thinking she’s crazy. No, she isn’t crazy but she is an over-achiever. One of the best over-achievers I know, I might add.

Will we be able to talk Mom out of this? There is a twenty percent chance. This is Mother’s Day. Do we do everything our mother’s say on this holiday? Probably but we will do our best to convince her that she needs to rest (and therefore give us a break, not that we need one). Will this work? In the next paragraph I’ll tell you but really that won’t be written (because I’ve still got to do it) until tomorrow. So, Mandy signing out. Until you scroll down, that is.

Here I am, just as I promised. One paragraph and one day later. That’s the nice thing about stories, you don’t have to wonder what happens because it will tell you immediately.

Did we put the gazebo up? No, we didn’t. Did we expertly sweet talk mother out of it? No, of course not. Who do you think we are? I don’t think anyone can talk my mother out of anything (except God). So, you ask, what did happen?

She forgot.

Am I saying she has a bad memory? No. I wouldn’t do such a thing. My mom has a brilliant memory but she had more pressing things on her mind. What more pressing things? Hold on ten seconds and I’ll tell you. Our neighbor’s dog. You go, huh? I know, it sounds strange but we were watching the dog and Mom takes this type of thing very seriously. So, she forgot all about the gazebo. For now. Tomorrow or the next day we’ll probably end up doing it but for now, we’ve escaped.

For My Mom

I know, you're all going,"Three none-laugh-out-loud type articles in a row?" But you'll simply have to deal with this one because it's Mother's Day and this is a very serious matter! Honest!

Mother's Day comes once every year, in case you have forgotten, and it is the day where we tell our moms how important they are, just in case you forgot the point. So here I am, writting this for my mom.

You taught me to smile, to laugh, to write. You taught me what is truely important and what just seems to be. You showed me God's love and discipline. You taught me to show love to those who need it and not to hold grudges long. You taught me and I can only hope that I learned to be just like you.

On any other day of the year this might make you cry but today you're just expecting it. This is the day were every mom is waiting for all this poetry, this tribute, this sudden show of love. After today we will go back to our jobs and lives but today we're saying, We love you.

It's not only because it's the thing to do. It's not just because there is a holiday and it would be wrong to dismiss it. This holiday was made for this purpose by people who knew how important you are.

So today, even though you are expecting it, I'm saying it from the bottom of my heart, I love you to the farthest star and back! And God does too.

Mandy

P.S. Today is your day off, people can deal with my bad grammer. (Right, mates?)