Thursday, June 25, 2009

Why Can't I be at Least as Smart as Sheep?

I have a Bible with wide margins and I always write a lot right in the book as I'm studying. As I came to Psalm 23 today, I read my notes there from over a year ago. The Psalm says "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." This means, that, in the same way a shepherd provides for the sheep's needs, God gives me everything I need. Beside the passage I wrote: "I know that God is my provider, but with [one child's] $7000 dental bills, and Brenna needing $36.000 for El Salvador (not from us, but still a concern for me at that time), and Jim's lack of work in the worst economic times ever, I feel pressing financial needs. I know God is faithful and has seen us through before. Please help me in my unbelief that God can rescue us even out of this." I wrote this when the sub-prime mortgage crisis hit last year, and huge insurance companies and banks were failing. It was a scary time, and still is in some ways. No one knew what would happen, and everyone predicted doom. I look back a year later. The dental bills are paid. Brenna had more than enough money for El Salvador, and was able to give some to a team member. She will be home next week after an amazing year. Jim has work, which is truly miraculous in these times. Now I have new financial pressures: the wedding, the termites, Molly's tuition, future retirement, and more. I know I will always have more bills than money, but God is the good shepherd and he has promised to give me what I need.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A Tale of too Much Vinegar


This is one of the first summers that I have spent in the USA and I'm loving the free time I have. I have read a lot, walked, cleaned off my desk, and I am working through my long list of errands. Tonight I thought I would look for a fun recipe to cook. At the Cooking Light website I clicked on "Our Best Pork Tenderloin Recipe." I do so much stir fry and pasta that I just needed a switch, and I don't cook a lot of pork, so it sounded great. I had to laugh out loud when I saw the recipe, because I have 9 small bottles of vinegar and 1 gallon size bottle of white vinegar. I have Rice Vinegar, Red Wine Vinegar (three different brands), White Wine Vinegar,Balsamic Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar and Raspberry Vinegar. This recipe calls for Sherry Vinegar. Of course it does. It would be too easy to use ingredients I already have on hand. Perhaps I'll just go eat some chocolate and drink another cup of tea and forget the whole thing! I hope you are enjoying summer, too.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Spelling is Important

I'm teaching summer school this year instead of helping people in some land where they don't speak English like I usually get to do. But so far I'm loving the summer. I still have to get up early and pack a lunch, but I'm done at noon. Then I can laze around reading books and napping without feeling guilty. I worked today! I deserve to eat ice cream and read blogs! I enjoy my teenage students, too. Most of them are new to my school, and I'm enjoying get to know these (mostly) incredible kids. They want to finish a summer class so they can have a free period in their schedule for orchestra, a language, student government or some other noble cause. They make me laugh. Today a student turned in an essay about a trip to Hawaii. She wrote "I was so disappointed because I didn't get laid at the airport the way they always do in the movies or on TV." I explained to her the importance of spelling and how I think she meant "They didn't put a lei around my neck..." At least I hope that's what she meant!