Now You See It, Now You Don't

H/T to the Magnolia House, who shared this link with me. I just had to share it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb8rSmsBRZ4

Can you imagine? You leave for Christmas holidays and your house, which you have lovingly rehabbed yourself, simply disappears. Pull up to your curb and....no house. Nothing. It wasn't burned down, torn up by a tornado, or blown up by a gas leak. It's just---gone. Surreal.

Reincarnation...

...is not an accurate theological concept for our souls. Christians know that "... man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." (Hebrews 9:27). Who we are is not recycled again and again in this universe.

But reincarnation is a concept that can be applied to what we own!





Your organic yard and kitchen waste can be reincarnated as compost. Your old towels and socks can be reincarnated as cleaning rags. Your used paper can be reincarnated as scratch paper or stapled together to become note paper. Or it can be shredded and used as pet bedding or mulch. Even items like aerosol cans and old plastic bottles can find new life through recycling programs.
In fact, most of the items that are in or around your home can be re-used or recycled in some way.

We are called to be good stewards of that which we have been entrusted. When we learn to be creative with what we have, our actions will have a net positive impact our personal lives, our community, and our natural environment. Our thriftiness and resourcefulness will give us a means to better serve others, and a way to express our gratitude for all that our God has given us.

So remember, reincarnation is not for your eternal spirit---but it is for your stuff! Yes!

Friends and the Hand of God

Yesterday was a difficult day. Work devolved into a negative situation, I was involved in a minor accident in the parking lot at the end of the day (not my fault and fortunately no person or vehicle was damaged), and by the time I got home I was beginning to feel distinctly unwell.

While I was at work a casual friend stopped by my house and delivered a late Christmas present. She brought me a holiday bag filled with goodies: chocolates and cookies, a card and some homemade Russian tea. This gift was a totally unexpected one that came many days after Christmas, but was right on time for me. It was like a bit of sunshine breaking through a cloudy day, illuminating something hopeful and kind.

Sometimes that's all it takes. A little slice of kindness from a friend is like the hand of God reaching down and taking your hand.

I am indeed ill, though feeling a bit better today, and who knows what Monday will bring when I go to work, but that's okay. May God bless my friend as much as she blessed me.

My Car Wears a Blanket

Well, actually, it's wearing an old tablecloth, a red checked one to be exact. Why? To keep the frost off of the front windshield. The fabric is spread over the windshield and held in place by a couple pieces of tape at the top of the glass and by the windshield wipers at the bottom. It may look goofy, but on shivery cold mornings all I have to do is pull it off and voila! a clear view for my driving safety. It sure beats scraping, scraping, scraping...

So Wadda Ya Think?

Dead birds....

http://www.youtube.com/user/AssociatedPress#p/u/4/w8GfTTOUJMQ

and dead fish....

http://gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2011/01/100000-dead-fish-in-arkansas-found-near-were-5000-blackbirds-dropped-dead/

all in the same area.

Hmmmm....

New Year's Resolution---Busted

My New Year's resolution for this blog is to post something every day. It's only January 2nd and I'm already busted!

So, to make up for my lack of a post on January 1st, here is a blessing for 2011~

May you know the sweetness of laughter,
And the quiet company of old friends,
May the sun shine on your doorstep
After the rainstorm ends,
May God bless you and keep you forever
Through valleys of dark and of light,
May joy wake you every morning,
May peace guard your heart every night~

Happy New Year!

1st Anniversary

Happy 1st Anniversary Jordan and Emily!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4dtodbhNys