Most Obvious Sign in the World Award

House showings, Nubby fingers, Jazz music, and Bread galore

I am currently sitting in Panera trying to get some work done. Since I am an avid people watcher I am distracted and decided that since I was getting zero work done I might as well update my neglected blog.

Why am I in Panera at 2:52 in the afternoon? Because we have a showing and I can't be sitting at home now can I? It is actually a second showing with these people on our house. The couple first saw it on Monday. That was the first time I cleaned the house down to the bones of my nubby fingers. Then yesterday they called and asked for the cost of our utilities - always a good sign- then today a second showing. I cleaned out closets, baseboards, shined, glossed, moaned, dusted, washed, sorted, scraped until my fingers were numb. I then walked into each room and prayed over it- yes I did and left the house with glee.

The girls get off of school at 2- so they are in booth two at Panera. I am feeling like the yuppie-wanna-be work mother. Emma just came over and said that we need to do this everyday. She then asked when they would cut her off of the refills. I said that they were free but to switch over to water after her second sprite. She rolled her eyes at me and pronounced to Seanna- house rules apply Seanna.

Emma has been on a roll lately. She told me that my Mom was going to use her sewing machine after she expired (retired), and that she spent a lot of time at Nana's house cleaning the allergies (algae) out of fish tank. They are both glad to be home.

Work wise I have been working on the re-entry program for MK Ministries and trying to outline School of Missions. As I prayed today I thanked the Lord for allowing me to work at a job that I am passionate about. Don't get me started on our MKs- you may glaze over quickly in the conversation- I don't stop. :)

So today my frivolous blog is going to be about house showings.

I remember one time while my parents and I were in TN. They wanted to look at a home on the lake. We with a realtor- but the people stayed in the house the whole time. The lady had made cookies and was trying to feed them to us room to room. The man was giving the history of all of the furniture in their home. It was like we wanted to bolt out just so we did not explode from consuming 250,000 calories in five minutes.

Another time I was looking at houses in Cabot, Ar and the house that we were looking at was being used as an office. The people had set up in the living room and the bedrooms. They were there as well and followed us (while smoking) from room to room. I told the realtor that I was ready to leave. They followed us out of the house to our cars asking why we were leaving so soon.

The final horror story takes place at a home in Mayflower Ar. My parents were interested in it as it was right on the lake. My Dad was in Asia and my Mom did not want to see it alone. I flew over to AR to meet her. The neighborhood was riddled with every stereotypical red-neck image you can imagine. On the way to the house I saw a man in his overalls peeing on the side of a shed. He had no shirt on and it was about 40 degrees outside. The house was okay on the outside but was HORRIBLE on the inside. We were met by a dead floral arrangement in the hallway that was housed in green slimy water. The kitchen was filled with dirty dishes and food that had been left for days was on the counter tops. That was the better part of the house. Needless to say that was another quick no.

I have told John before that I would love to go to other peoples houses and just see how they live. After you are on the house hunting side of things you quickly take that statement back.

Our hearts - Our spirits are the temple of the Holy Ghost- he is housed within us. What does your spiritual house look like to HIM? How would you feel if someone just popped in for a visit? Are their cobwebs of past hurts that are cluttering our walls? Is there bitterness that is corroding your fixtures? Have you tended to the judgemental smears that appear on your walls?

I prayed today as I cleaned that HE would wash me and cleanse me. That I would be the best Cylinda that I could be. That I would be ready to spring into action when he needed me. That I would be sensitive to his voice, his beckoning, his calling in my life. That I would not neglect the call of intercession that was placed on my life. That I would be bold enough to press beyond my own insecurities and share a word of encouragement to those in need. That I would be acceptable in His eyes.

I think so many times we neglect the pantry of our souls. We give and exhort and encourage and yet we turn around to look for more and there is nothing there. How is your pantry today? Is it bare? Do you need to re-stock it with the Word and Prayer? On the opposite end are you a fatted cow and sitting on an overstocked pantry while others around you are hurting?

Whatever the condition of your spiritual house today- let him reign and be master.

As for me- I've gotta run a Russian lady with four small children need me to really eavesdrop on their conversation, and a couple of guys in business suits need investigating as well. Happy Wednesday. Love your guts.

I miss my girls....

Five days down Three to go

Wow I miss those girls

I don't miss:
Doing their hair
Cleaning up after them
Reminding them to make their beds
Listening to the whining of "Do we have to do homework?"

I do miss:
Their hugs
Their laughter
Their silly humor
Their kisses
Their EVERYTHING

Come home already. I know they are having a great time. They were in St. Louis for Easter then drove last night to Little Rock. They called super early to report they were going fishing. Emma did not think that she could deal with the worms.

Update on Emma's Love life:

Most of you know that Emma has been married to Larry the cucumber from Veggie Tales for the past several years. After he died in a horrible restaurant tragedy (they were short on cucumbers for salads) so she met Shawn. Shawn is from Mexico but lives in the US. She and Shawn have the twins Sam and Sophie (that is why she picked out a little darker skin color for her Birthday Bitty twins). Eric and Emily and Elizabeth were Larry's kids but did not take on the bright green hue of their father (thankfully). Mom said that she is talking to Shawn several times a day on her "cell" phone.

She also has Violet who was doing poorly in school. We found out the reason she was doing so poorly is that she needs glasses. I ordered a cute purple pair for her from American Girl and they came at Emma's birthday. She now is doing great at school. The other day Violet got in trouble for being mean to Eric and Emily and Emma took away Violet's glasses as her punishment. I told her that you can't take away her glasses she needs them to see. John who had been listening to our conversation looked at me and said- you do realize that Violet is a doll right and you all are having conversations about this. I said yes- but Emma is learning real parenting skills and she needs to know that she can't do that if her real kids have glasses.

Emma walked away disgusted and said they are real Mama- I guess you are not a serious Grandmother.

I rest my case :) Her real- make- believe family and love life are doing great. As for Seanna give her a book, a computer, or the Wii and she is set :)

Solution

I think the Somali pirates that are taking over the ships need to stop- listen to their Veggie Tale CD again and re-group

Remember:

We are the pirates
that DON"T DO ANYTHING
WE JUST STAY HOME
and SIT AROUND
if you ask us
TO do anything
We'll Just tell you
WE DON'T do ANYTHING

Now settle down, get back to singing and sitting in those big arm chairs...it might make for happier seas out there.

Just a thought.

Top 10 worst things I have eaten.......

1. Flan- I hate the texture in your mouth- UGH

2. Goat Head Soup- my bowl contained the roof of the mouth- I pushed it away ate the dumplings and veggies til the Pastor ate it out of my bowl. (Victory)

3. Pickled quail eggs. We had them on deputation- I thought it was a boiled egg- surprise. The Pastor pickled them himself. What a treat.

4. Goat Water- this is an island treat saved for special occasions only. Served in cups the froth resembles hot cocoa- don't let it fool you- it is the innards of the goat boiled in a soup. (really horrible cold when a layer of fat forms on the top edges of your cup)

5. Mary's Meatloaf. I worked with a lady named Mary that made meatloaf for a work dinner. She spelled her name "Mary" with ketchup on top. Her secret ingredients to her "great" meatloaf? Mayo and Relish. Not delish at all.

6. Chicken Hand Soup. This is the claws of the chicken put into a soup. Steve and I used to take them out and try to find the right cord that would pull them open and close. That is when Mom used to swat at us and tell us not to play with our food.

7. Black Boiled Bananas. I am all for plantains, mofongo, and tostones. I am not for black boiled bananas that are stored in jars. I will not go further as I will not make it through the rest of the blog.

8. Ox Tail Soup. Again with the soups. I don't like the gristle that is caught between your teeth. I am not a huge fan of boiled okra as it makes it slimy. I do like fungi though- and salt fish. Of course not now as I am deadly allergic to all seafood and freshwater fish.

9. Monkey fist soup. Okay this is one thing that was served to me that I could not eat any of it. Just to see the tiny little hands floating in the soup. I could not make myself do this. It was also right after we had to give back our pet monkey Armstrong and send him to Nevis. Just the sight of anything monkey set me off crying. The hostess kindly removed my bowl and that night I just had titi bread and cheese for dinner.

10.Bologna and Butter sandwich. Yep- totally grossed me out.


What is the WORST thing you have eaten?

GET UP!!

One of my all time favorite Bible Stories is found in II Kings 7. It is the story of the Lepers that are starving.

3 Now there were four men with leprosy [d] at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, "Why stay here until we die? 4 If we say, 'We'll go into the city'-the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let's go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.

They have finally come to the conclusion....Why sit here till we die.

They took the chance and did something radical - they finally came to the conclusion- look if we sit here we are going to die anyway- LET'S GET UP!!

How many times has the LORD called us to do something and we

Sit and talk ourselves out of it
Tell ourselves that it was just a crazy idea
No one will be behind it
Is it really a God thing?
Should I really do this?

We are so worried about what will happen we don't realize that we are going to die spiritually if we don't do what he has called us to do anyway.

So what if you are laughed at
Judged
Ridiculed
Misunderstood
Criticized
Ostracized

Don't you want to take a chance?
Don't you want to get out of the Boat?
Don't you want to see the great things that he has promised you come to pass?
DO WHAT YOU can do and HE will do the rest!


Look what happened in this story- as SOON AS THEY TOOK ACTION GOD MOVED.
Faith is Active....GET UP!

Do what he has called you to do
Set your mind to be everything that he has called you to be.
Don't settle. The callings and the gifting that you need to accomplish this thing already lie within you- waiting for the right moment to spring up!

Flip Flops, Raw Chicken, and Balls of Noodles- Oh My!

Saturday April 4th was Emma's Birthday. It has always been our tradition that the girls can get their favorite meal for their Birthday or go to the restaurant of their choice. Emma took it to the next level this year by adding a request for a specific cake. First she wanted a "purse" cake like her cousin Megan. Then she wanted an "Olivia" the pig cake that she found on line. Then she wanted a flip flop cake that she found on Bettycrocker.com. So I told her that I would make the flip flop cake and we were not going to CHANGE OUR MINDS AGAIN.

Then came the dinner part. She at first wanted Logans, then Olive Garden, then Outback, then Logans, then Red Robin, then Olive Garden. Finally she said I want you to cook at home. She wanted me to make fettuccine Alfredo that a friend of ours Shannon makes- and the breaded heavenly chicken that goes with it. Now let me preface this by saying this is now the day before her birthday. I told her that I would email Shannon for the recipe and that we would go from there.

Shannon sent me the recipe so we went very late to get all of the ingredients. She was beyond excited. I baked the cake on Friday Night and we cut it out and frosted it on Saturday. Part one of meal complete without too much hassle we now had a cake. I still wish I would have gone back to the store for the third time that day and gotten some graham crackers and crushed them to look like the flip flops were in sand but whatever- it is done~







Now onto the meal. John's family was coming over for dinner so I knew I had to make this new recipe for guest as well- no pressure right? Wrong.

I bought the par-boiled noodles. The ones that are in the cooler section, I put three containers of those in to boil in a huge pot. Just having that pot on the stove made me feel Italian. I considered cooking the rest of the meal with a great accent but after the horror started I scrapped that idea.

I started the Alfredo sauce. The first batch turned out perfect- but turned out to not be enough. I now knew that the time of the chicken was approaching. The chicken had to be dipped in a wet mixture and then dry and then be cooked in a pan with little oil. I have never fried anything in oil- and I thought if a little is good -a lot must be better. (Note to self- this is not always true) So I had my oil in the frying pan at 350. It was too hot. The chicken was too big and was burning on the outside and raw on the inside. I had four pieces in already. I then began looking for the the smaller flatter pieces. By this time my hands were so full full of egg, bread crumbs and Parmesan I really should have deep fried them and called it a meal.

By this time the noodles are done and boiling out of the pan (three containers is a lot). I call John in to strain the noodles for me-as I am still burning raw chicken and need another set of hands. He couldn't find the larger strainer and started (I am not kidding now okay) pulling out noodles with one spoon and pouring them to another spoon and then putting them in another pot. I was like what are you doing? He said straining noodles. I was so frustrated I was like please leave the kitchen now.

I then pour the noodles into a small strainer and focus back on the burned raw chicken. My frying pan now starts going in and out. It has a short in it. I was like John you are going to have to go to KFC and get chicken they are going to be here any minute now. I then take matters more fully into my hands by yelling at the girls that the next birthday we are all going out (quite loudly). My panic level was now at a 10. I still had about 10 pieces of chicken to ruin before they got there.

John says - what do I get at KFC? I am like John- they serve CHICKEN. How many pieces of chicken? Do you want sides? What do you need? I quickly yelled- you are an engineer- figure it out. (I think my fruit of the spirit had fled the building at that point). I could hear Seanna snickering in the background. I quickly melted into tears as I heard the car approach. The in-laws had arrived.

I put the burned chicken and some of the raw chicken down the disposal. I then dried my eyes with the egg-battered filled dish towel and greeted my guest. They stood at the kitchen bar staring at my while I tried to now concentrate on the Alfredo sauce. The chicken had it's proper burial and I was on to bigger and better things.

Since I was in a hurry- I heated the butter- but did not pour in my half and half slowly (point to know) and then added too much cheese (another good point to know). The noodles now embarrassed were sitting naked and cold waiting for sauce to warm them. I finally had enough Alfredo sauce and poured the concoction onto the fettuccine. A little Parmesan goes a long way. The sauce started to thicken. I really could have pulled out pasta balls and hit the ceiling at this point.

John quickly steals the show as he arrives with the chicken. I had already made corn and green beans and garlic bread. John bought biscuits, mac and cheese, coleslaw and chicken.

We prayed for the meal and I then excused myself to run to the bathroom. I tried to remain calm as I looked down to see my teal shirt covered in white splotches from the sauce. I looked like a bag of flour- and I didn't even use flour in any of my ingredients. I dried my eyes again and prayed for the night to end.

The dinner was complete. The KFC meal was inhaled. My pasta, garlic bread, corn, and green beans sat dejectedly on the side, ignored and forgotten.

Emma opened up her gifts. She got new Bitty twins- Sam and Sophie and lots of new outfits for them. That night as I tucked her in bed. She looked at me- sat up and gave me a huge hug and said thanks for the best Birthday ever Mom. Your fettuccine Alfredo rocked. Maybe you can quit MK Ministries and start making flip flop cakes- everybody liked that. I hugged her back and told her thanks.

Firm resolve number 497- don't let an 8 year old talk you into new recipes. Greater love hath no Mom than to lay down her pride for a toothless grin. I love you Emma!

Postcards

I am not a collector-

BUT-

I do collect postcards. I recently found the third book of the trilogy of the Griffin and Sabine books. It is a book that contains postcards that are written back and forth between two people. One page has the front of the postcard and the next page has the back. It is in their handwriting. I love the book. I found it at a re-sale shop and it was only $3.00

What is it about human nature that the thrill of reading other peoples mail is so infectious? That it is impossible to put a miss-placed letter down? I remember after hurricane Hugo hit St. Croix a friend and I found an abandoned home without windows and doors. It looked like the owner had fled the island and left little behind. I walked room to room absorbed by the the erriness of the devastation when I happened upon a little box. This box was wet and weathered and filled with postcards. I sat on the hard concrete and read every last one of them. I did not stop. I did not know the people that wrote them, any of the people that they were sent to- but I hard to read them. The box lead me to lives of people that I would never meet.

I have postcards from past loves
I have postcards from my Grandma- that is no longer here
I have funny postcards
I have black and white groovy postcards
I have hand drawn postcards
I have ugly 1970's hotel postcards
I have antique postcards
I have postcards from all over the world
Postcards that have been picked up at random shops
From friends and family that know I collect them

I think the reason I like them so much is that they are quick, easy, colorful and from the heart. You get your point across but don't have to be too wordy. It is the fact that you are thinking of the person right?

Jesus words to us are like postcards. They are snippits of wisdom. Some days instead of reading my "daily" Bible Reading- I read my postcard reading from God. I open up the Gospels and look only for things in red. I read it like it is a postcard directly from HIM to ME-

Here goes- I am just opening up to do it for you- ready?

1. God is a spirit and those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
2. Remember Lot's wife (okay that is not helping me today)
3. Fear not therefore' ye are of more value than many sparrows (see isn't that great?)
4. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
5. Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. (Hallelujah)


Now you are starting to like postcards aren't you?

Things I am secretly afraid of....

1. The curtain opening - I am in a play- and I don't know one line. I dream this constantly.

2. Not graduating from high school- even though I did graduate several years ago. I also dream this constantly and it makes no sense. I was an A/B student.

3. Having bad smelling towels and guest use them and put me in their "do not return" book.

4. That I will forget all of the great details of my life.

5. Three ring binders. I have been attacked people.

6. When rugs get stuck in vacuums. I panic as I vacuum rugs.

7. That everyone will expect me to entertain them at dinner, parties, or outings. Cause they usually do. I am not that witty people.

8. Forgetting the words to songs while singing solos at church- it has happened before and I had to make up an entire verse. The music leader asked for it again- and I had to make up another whole verse.

9. That my girls will never visit St. Croix- when that is still my "home" in my heart of hearts.

10. Eating food a new restaurants. I have severe allergies to fish and it is in all kinds of sauces. I also have this scene that plays over and over in my head that John will shove the epipen in my leg and it won't deploy.

11. That I will be eaten by a Venus Flytrap. My brother had one when I was little and I saw it eat bugs. I realize I am not a bug- but can still see huge Venus Flytraps ready to inhale me.

12. Piers, walkways, stairs with slatted boards. I realize that I can't fall between the cracks- but my brain does not. I still remember crawling over the dock in St. Croix at the age of 6 while my 10 year old brother was laughing his head off. I still have heart spasms if I have to do it.

Okay I have no idea why I felt to get these silly things off my chest today. But there you have it- 12 silly things I am secretly afraid of...............


and YOU?

Wow!

What's in your hand?

So this past Saturday John and I took the girls to PetSmart. The girls do not have a pet- but actively beg for one. When we arrived we looked at the cats- which Emma and I are allergic to, the fish, the dogs, the lizards, the frogs snakes etc. If you have ever been in PetSmart you will know that they encourage you to shop with your pet. There are kittens, cats, puppies, dogs, and even goldfish shopping. Did I type goldfish? Yes I did.

For the first time in my life I saw a little boy and his pet goldfish shopping in PetSmart. He had him in a snack-sized baggie and was showing him things in the store. He was saying- Here are the kitties do you see them? People need to adopt them. He then pointed out puppies and dogs etc to the fish. He was holding him highly as he walked from aisle to aisle.

I got in my car and laughed for a good five minutes over this. I have never seen this before. Then it hit me. I can see the conversation he had with his parents- he might have wanted a cat, a dog, a ferret- and all he could have was a goldfish. He was going to make the best out of the situation. He decided that if he was going to be a goldfish owner he was going to be the best goldfish owner there was. I wonder if he will be the first person to patent the goldfish collar?

In studying for a class I am teaching tonight- this was a pivotal illustration. What do you have in your hand?

Moses had a rod
The widow had sticks to make her last cake
Simon, Peter and Andrew had Nets
Paul and Silas had shackles
Joseph had the vapor of his dreams

Yet the Lord used all that they had in their hands to bring victory, life, and wholeness to their situations.

What do you have?

Do you have leadership skills to be used for the kingdom?
Can you bake a cake for others- do you have the gift of hospitality?
Do you have the gift of outreach
Are you in bondage right now? Take praise and worship and break free
And lastly you might be grasping on to unfulfilled dreams

The Lord will use all of it for HIS GLORY.

HE is the one that gave you these dreams, these visions. You don't have to plan out how it is going to come to pass- just know that HIS word will not return void unto HIM.

So today- how is your goldfish? Have you taken it out? Are you going to use what is in your hand?

What you are called to is the highest calling for YOUR LIFE
Don't compare what you are called to - with others calling
HE has a great work in store for you!

New Blogger Alert-

Welcome Jere Richardson Riddick to the land of blogging-

She is a great MK, Mother, Speaker, and blogger-

You will enjoy her blogs!

Love you girl!