On death and dying.......

I hope this post does not seem morbid. That is certainly not my intention. But it seems I have been confronted by death a lot lately. Earlier this month, our senior pastor's brother died just a few months after contracting melanoma, leaving behind four young children. Then, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been reading the book "Love You, Mean It", which was written by a group of women who lost their husbands at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

Lastly, and most poignant for me, has been following the blog of the wife of my cousin's cousin (Lynette Hoppe), who died this past Sunday from an agressive form of breast cancer. I have been reading her blog for almost a year, and essentially, watching her die through her journal entries. She also left behind a loving husband and two small children. (If you would like to read more about Lynette, her website is www.prayforlynette.org.)

Each of these situations has been different and very sad, in their own way. But one thing in particular has stood out to me: the difference between how those who know the Lord handle dying versus those who "have no hope." These passages are from the book by the 9/11 widows:

"That night I was wearing black, as usual, not because I was following any traditional guidelines for mourning, but because for me, the lights had gone out."
Pattie

"Our husbands were gone, murdered. And in that instant, anything good is lost."
Claudia

"I'd pretty much given up trying to feel better. It was like I was waving the white flag. I'd surrendered. I was in a 'nothing to lose' state of mind."
Julia

All of these feelings are understandable, even normal and expected, but the feeling of hopelessness and finality is so evident and sad.

What a contrast to this entry from Lynette's online journal, made just a few days before she died and right after she had learned that the cancer had spread to her liver and she had only a few weeks to live:

"When I first got news of my pending departure, I was frantic, thinking I needed to do some kind of “ministry,” but I soon realized that there was no value in ministry at this point. What I have done until now is what I have done. What I have become, is what I am. To try to have some kind of dramatically different prayer life is simply an attempt to “win his favor” and would actually be rather artificial. I am allowing myself to simply relax in the love of Jesus, to enjoy him in a new way. To think about joining him soon.

I have so much peace in thinking that there is nothing I can do to win over Christ. All I can do is throw myself into his arms and know that it is only through the work of Christ that I can be saved. I feel that I am ready to die a “painless, blameless, and peaceful death” even as we pray every liturgy. I may have a lot of physical pain, but in spirit I feel no pain, other than the pain of leaving those I love."

I cannot imagine facing death--my own or that of someone I love--without the hope that Christ promises. How do people who do not know the Lord and do not have the promise of eternal life cope with death? God does not expect that we will not be sad or angry or lonely--he was human just as we are. He himself wept when Lazarus died. But, he also does not expect that we will feel hopeless. After all, he allowed the death of his only Son, so that we would have that very hope.

In I Thessalonians 4:13, Paul writes:

And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. (The Message)

The ONLY way we can have hope and peace in death, like Lynette most certainly had and the 9/11 widows sadly did not, is by knowing where our hope lies and knowing WHO is our hope. Each time I look out the back windows of our home (see picture below), I see a graveyard. Really. Our home is just fifty feet from the edge of a local historic cemetery. (Don't be freaked out! At least we have quiet neighbors!) Over the four years that we have lived here, we have seen numerous funerals and watched many people come to visit gravesites that are "decorated" with all manner of flowers, toys, signs, etc; some visit every single day. I always wonder if these living visitors have "hope"? Do they have the assurance that they will see their loved ones again in heaven or do they mourn "as those who have no hope"?


Although I never met Lynette Hoppe, never spoke to her or even wrote her a note, her death has really made me think. And I am almost certain that, with the apostle Paul, Lynette would have quoted the following verse and meant every word.

"For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die." Philippians 1:20

I wonder if, when I'm gone, people will be able to say the same of me??

Jack Bauer for President........

Ok, I admit it. I kicked and screamed against this show for three years. I flat-out refused to get hooked. But Jeff finally convinced me (that and I figured if he was going to share every minute of every show with me anyway, I might as well just watch!) and now I'm addicted too! Jack Bauer is a hero in our house. And we have many friends who love the show too! We even have friends who have a dog named "Bauer"! So.......all you "24" fans out there, enjoy!!


1. If Jack Bauer were in a room with Hitler, Stalin, and Nina Meyers, and he had a gun with two bullets, he'd shoot Nina twice.
2. If you wake up in the morning, it's because Jack Bauer spared your life.
3. Upon hearing that he was played by Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Bauer killed Sutherland. Jack Bauer gets played by no man.
4. Jack Bauer's calender goes from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools Jack Bauer.
5. Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.
6. Jack Bauer once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent the next half hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of the keys.
7. If it tastes like chicken, looks like chicken, and feels like chicken, but Jack Bauer says its beef, then it's freakin beef.
8. Let's get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because Jack Bauer does not feel like carrying you.
9. Jack Bauer played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won.
10. 1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Jack Bauer--sounds like a fair fight.
11. Osama bin Laden's recent proposal for a truce is a direct result of him finding out that Jack Bauer is, in fact, still alive..
12. Jack Bauer is the leading cause of death among Middle Eastern men.
13. Jack Bauer doesn't miss. If he didn't hit you, it's because he was shooting at another terrorist twelve miles away.
14. When Jack Bauer was a child, he made his mother finish HIS vegetables.
15. Killing Jack Bauer doesn't make him dead; it just makes him angry.
16. Jack Bauer's favorite color is severe terror alert red.
17. Jack Bauer won the Tour de France on a unicycle to prove to Lance Armstrong it wasn't a big deal.
18. You can lead a horse to water. Jack Bauer can make him drink.
19. When Google can't find something, it asks Jack Bauer for help.
20. When the boogie man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Jack Bauer.
21. Jack Bauer can get McDonald's breakfast after 10:30 a.m.
22. Every mathematical inequality officially ends with "< Jack Bauer".
23. In kindergarten, Jack Bauer killed a terrorist for Show and Tell.
24. Jack Bauer once killed so many terrorists that at one point, the CIA's fifth most wanted fugitive was an 18-year-old teenager in Malaysia who downloaded the movie Dodgeball.
25. Guns don't kill people, Jack Bauer kills people.
26. If you spell "Jack Bauer" in a Scrabble game, you win. Forever.
27. If Jack and MacGyver were locked in a room together, Jack would make a bomb out of MacGyver and get out.
28. Jack Bauer has been to Mars. That's why there's no life there.
29. Jack Bauer literally died for his country and lived to tell about it.
30. People with amnesia remember Jack Bauer.
31. "Jack Bauer" is Arabic for "I'm screwed."
32. Sun Tzu once wrote, "If your enemy is weaker, conquer him. If he is stronger, join him. If he is Jack Bauer, you're dead."
33. Jack Bauer was conceived by torturing the other sperm until they gave up the location of the egg.
34. What color is Jack Bauer's blood? Trick question: Jack Bauer does not bleed.
35. Jack Bauer's family threw him a surprise birthday party when he was a child. Once.
36. Superman's only weakness is Kryptonite. Jack Bauer laughs at Superman for having a weakness.
37. If O.J. ever met Jack Bauer, he'd confess.
38. Jack Bauer once ate an entire bottle of sleeping pills. They made him blink.
39. Jack Bauer does not sleep. The only rest he needs is what he gets when he's knocked out or temporarily killed.
40. Jack Bauer makes onions cry.
41. Jack Bauer knows Victoria's secret.

So many books, so little time........

I've been "tagged" again, and this is one game of tag I am happy to play! I love to read. The library is one of my most favorite places. I only wish I could read more than I do!



A book that changed my life: Babywise by Gary and Anne Ezzo (There is NO better way!)

A book I have read more than once: Double Trouble in Walla Walla by Andrew Clements (a favorite in our house!)

A book I'd take to a deserted island: Bible (preferably the New Living Translation!)

A book that made me laugh: Teen Proofing by John Rosemond

A book that made me cry: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier and Night by Elie Wiesel

A book I wish I had written: DaVinci Code by Dan Brown (I absolutely LOVED this work of fiction!)


A book I wish had never been written: Ivanhoe by Sir Walter "Snooze" (Hands down, THE most boring book on the planet.)

A book I am reading right now: Because I Said So by John Rosemond and Love You, Mean it by a group of 9/11 widows

A book I am planning to read: Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (I'm not copying Becky. This is really on my list!)

I really do keep a running list of books that I want to read, and every year, in January, I resolve to keep a list of all the books I actually do read that year. So, you ask, what books have you read this year, Jen??

Well, maybe next year...........

Some new "do's"

Well, now we can check those before-school-starts haircuts off our list. The boys are handsome and Sydney is beautiful! Also posted a pic of Brooke off to her first day of high school! Enjoy!

It's Recipe Monday!

I almost forgot! I've had several requests to post a recipe on Mondays, and---internationally renowned cook that I am---I certainly don't want to disappoint.

A friend gave me this recipe earlier this summer, and it has gotten rave reviews each time I've taken it somewhere. I hope you all enjoy it---and now those people who have asked for the recipe and have yet to receive it can copy this off the blog! Enjoy!!

Asian Salad

Salad Mixture

2 packages broccoli cole slaw mix (I haven't found this so I just used cole slaw mix and added cut up broccoli.)
2 packages chicken flavor Ramen noodles
4-8 sliced green onions
3.75-ounce bag sunflower seeds
1/4 cup sliced almonds (I skipped these.)

Dressing

1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup vinegar
1 cup sugar
Seasoning packets from Ramen noodles

Put Ramen noodles in ziploc bag and crush. Mix salad, noodles, onion, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl. In separate bowl, whisk dressing ingredients together. Toast almonds in 350-degree for five minutes. Just before serving, pour dressing over salad mixture and add toasted almonds as topping.

Time flies

I get this way every September. School is starting and I'm crying--sad that the summer is over and I didn't play more games, toss more baseballs, or read more books with the kids. Sad that we can't sleep in anymore and that I have to start making lunches again (I hate to make lunches!). And then, of course, there's sadness because I feel guilty that I'm glad school is starting again. I can't win with myself!

But this year is particularly sad. Our "baby" is 14 and going off to high school tomorrow. How did that happen? I remember every minute of the day she was born like it was yesterday. I remember the frustrating days when I thought she would never go to school, and if she actually did get old enough to go, she would be expelled on the first day because of her incessant chatter! I remember bawling as I prayed with our Moms In Touch group, sure that I wouldn't survive sending her to school all day. I remember crying at her kindergarten graduation, knowing that it was all downhill from there. And how I agonized over our move from Michigan, sure that leaving her school and friends there would scar her for life. (Now she says she would never want to go back to Michigan!)

What is it they say? When you have children, the days are long and the years are short. How true. Brooke is a beautiful and talented young lady. We are so proud of her. We are so blessed and excited to see her going off to a wonderful christian high school that she loves where she has great friends and great teachers.

But I'm still wondering where the time went???

"Mawage--it's what brings us together."

All you "Princess Bride" fans will recognize today's title. That movie is a favorite in our house! I got this from a friend and thought it was too funny NOT to post. Enjoy!!


HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
Camille, age 10

No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
Freddie, age 6

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don't want any more kids.
Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

When they're rich.
Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
Kelvin, age 8

HOW DO YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
Ricky, age 10

Happy Birthday Sydney!!

It's hard to believe, but eleven years ago today, Sydney Paige was born. Today, we celebrated her birthday with her friend, Courtney, and Grammy and Grandpop. A good time was had by all!

Happy Birthday Sydney! We love you!

Eight is Enough??????

Have you heard the latest??? Poor Pluto has been demoted--and I'm not talking about the Disney dog. The "heavenly body" is no longer considered a planet.

Check out the full story at www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,210275,00.html

Do the powers-that-be realize the ramifications of this decision?? Now everything I learned about the planets in school is null and void. Remember the cheesy song they taught us "My very educated mother just served us nine pizza pies." How else would we remember the planets in order--Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Errr--forget Pluto now, I guess.

So now we have to come up with an entirely new song: "My very educated mother just served us nougat." or maybe "My very educated mother just served us nectarines." Nope, it's just not the same. Poor Pluto.

One last fling!

Yesterday we traveled north to "Club Knorr" for the day and had a great time swimming, eating, playing, and laughing. School starts next week and it was fun to have our "last fling" for the summer. Enjoy the pictures!

Sydney and Addison enjoying the water.

Payton fooling around on the diving board! Love those ribs!

Sawyer spent the entire day jumping off the diving board!

Brooke in perfect "diving" form.

Foot-bawl

I enjoy football. I always have. Really, if you know my family, I didn't have a choice. I probably enjoy it because I understand it, thanks to my dad's patience in answering MANY questions and explaining it to me, and I enjoy watching a game, especially with good friends and good snacks! Heck, when Jeff and I were first married and very poor with no cable, Monday night football was the highlight of our week! However, I have come to the conclusion that the emphasis on football, not just during the season but all year long, is, in a word, ridiculous.

One of Jeff's favorite channels is the NFL Network. Now, really, the football "season"--and I'm talking about actual games that count for the record--lasts from early September through mid-January. Sounds like a pretty good gig to me. These sportscasters work for four and a half months, with the next five and a half months off. Right???? OH NO!!! Once the regular season is over, there is endless coverage of the SuperBowl, the NFL draft (yawn!), and then, of course, all the negotiating and trading draft picks, etc., and then training camps and preseason games. Oh, and toss in a few head coach hirings and firings (which, incidentally, never makes any sense to me. I mean if he was bad enough to get fired from one team, why in the world would a change in geography suddenly make him a good coach??), and you've got year-round NFL. What more could you ask for??

This year, of course, the off-season has been even more exciting because of Brett Favre's indecision about his retirement. Will he or won't he? Grown men are holding their breath waiting for him to decide! And, don't forget Ben Roethlisberger (affectionately called "Worthlessberger" in our house) and the motorcycle helmet debacle. They are STILL talking about how that accident, months ago, will affect his play this fall! Good grief!! If you ask me, any guy who is dumb enough to ride a motorcycle without a helmet probably didn't have much in his head worth protecting in the first place!

And then there's always the excitement of the NFL "ne'er-do-wells", who manage to beat up their girlfriends, kill their chauffeurs, or impregnate four different women and skip out on child support. I think they could have an entire reality show entitled "America's Most Wanted NFL Stars"! Oh, and what's up with all the female sideline reporters? I thought football was "guy time" when they could scratch where it itched and burp to their hearts' content. Now I wonder if they all aren't watching for the sexy sideline gals with the pearly white teeth and perfect skin.

A few mornings ago as Jeff and I were preparing for the day, I listened briefly to the chatter on the TV--it was the NFL Network, of course. Do you realize from how many directions those "analysts" can analyze a sprained ankle or a torn hamstring or a pulled groin, for heaven's sake. I mean, I have to wonder how these guys truly feel about having all their body parts "analyzed" on television?? Is a pulled groin really THAT interesting to the rest of the world??

All this leaves me wondering: how did football fans survive before 24/7 sports coverage, instant replay, and illegal end zone celebrations? Surely the daily sports page and evening news weren't enough to satisfy the endless hunger for all-things football? Now there is so much other junk out there, you can hardly just enjoy the game any more. What's next?? In-depth analysis of the new officials' uniforms?? Oh right, they already did that.........

God is good!!

For some of you this will be a repeat. For that, I apologize, but we wanted to share our good news with all those of you who read the blog too!

For a while now, Jeff and I have realized that I need to find a more reliable source of income than substitute teaching. While I LOVE the subbing and being with the kids, the inconsistency of it simply doesn't work with our finances. We have been praying for a while that God would provide the perfect job for me and our family.

Over the past week, God has seen fit to provide THE perfect job for our family, and, as of September 5th, I will once again be a working woman! A little background: last Tuesday, I submitted my resume in response to an ad placed on www.craigslist.com. I have sent my resume to several places in the past and never heard a thing, so I really didn't expect anything to happen, but thought it was worth a try anyway. (There's that faith of mine shining through!) Friday afternoon I got a call from a gentleman asking if we could meet on Monday morning for an interview. I was excited and nervous and anxious and nervous and then even more nervous! I haven't been on a job interview in sixteen years!


But God is good! I met Steve at a coffee shop in Reisterstown yesterday morning. (Right after I locked my keys, phone, purse, papers, computer, etc, in my van! Thankfully, he was very understanding and allowed me to use his cell phone to call Jeff to come and rescue me! What a way to begin!) Anyway, as I walked into the shop and approached his table, I saw that he was reading his Bible! He is a devoted christian with a heart for God!!! As we talked, he shared his testimony with me, and it was evident that he loves the Lord and sees his business as a ministry.

It soon became apparent to me that God was working! Steve owns a very successful real estate/house flipping business and wants me to work 3-4 hours a day, 4-5 days a week. Some things will be done at his office, which is just six miles from the kids' school, but other things may be done remotely from our home. I will mostly be doing administrator/assistant tasks, including some bookkeeping, website upkeep, scheduling, event planning, etc. And, most exciting to me, Steve has written one book and is working on another, which I will assist him in writing/editing!! How cool is God??? Best of all, I will still have afternoons free to sub or volunteer at the school, and I will be able to sub all day on occasion and go on field trips, etc. Lastly, Steve was willing to give me paid vacation time plus paid time off for the kids' christmas and easter breaks!!!!! (This was something I was very concerned about so this was a huge blessing!)

I have tears in my eyes as I write this, knowing that only God could do this for us and feeling sadness that I doubted His goodness to our family. We have been so blessed with our church, our family, and each of you. Now God has chosen to bless us "exceedingly, above all that we could ask or think".

I covet your prayers as we all adjust to some changes in our home. Thankfully, things won't be that much different. My biggest request is for MY peace of mind and that I can learn quickly and get up to speed and be comfortable with the job. (Thankfully, I'm fairly easy going and don't get stressed out easily! HA HA HA HA)

My heart is at home with my kids (even though they are all in school now--how did THAT happen?), and part of me is sad that this is necessary, but I know God's grace is good and He will provide all that we need--monetarily and in every other way.

God is good!

You say potato, I say po-tah-to

Not much going on at the VeStrands today. Mom and daddy are on their way to our house from South Carolina, and so I've been cooking and preparing for their arrival.

I know my whole family would agree that my mom's potato salad is, hands down, the BEST in the known world. And as I was preparing it today, I realized that I've been awfully selfish to keep it to myself. So I've decided to put my selfishness aside and share this amazing recipe with all of you. It's probably nothing earth-shattering, but it is one of my favorite foods and is always a hit with others!


Mom's Potato Salad

4 cups potatoes, diced
1 tspn. mustard
dash pepper
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tspn. salt
1 cup celery, diced

Dice, cook, and cool potatoes. (If you use red skin potatoes, there's no need to peel them!) In separate bowl, mix mayo and mustard then add salt and pepper. Stir in celery and eggs. Add potatoes and stir to coat well.

I hope your family enjoys this as much as the Lenhart clan has for many years and will for many years to come!

Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: Fwd:

******Soapbox warning**** Ok, consider yourself warned. I'm stepping up onto my soapbox, and I hope I don't offend anyone with this post. I guess I should apologize in advance, just in case. I apologize.

Well, now that that's out of the way, I have a confession to make: I HATE "forwarded" e-mails. I hate them with the white, hot intensity of ten thousand suns. You know the kind: once you've scrolled down through ten different peoples' entire address books, there are pictures of cherubic children or puppies or smiling bunnies with text that pleads with you to continue sending this letter around the world or someone will die, or miss God's blessings, or some other unimaginable horror will happen to you and everyone else who was unfortunate enough to receive said e-mail.

Then there are the ones that loudly proclaim "You are ashamed of Jesus if you delete this e-mail." Hello??? I highly doubt Paul had e-mail in mind when he wrote about never being ashamed of the gospel of Christ. And don't forget the ones asking for money. If we all give a dollar to a mythical sick child, his or her mythical disease will be miraculously healed. Although these are preferable to the ones that actually make your computer "sick" by giving you the latest internet virus when you open them. And, admit it, haven't we all secretly e-mailed Bill Gates, who is just out looking for ways to get rid of his billions and will gladly dash off a large check to an anonymous pastor's wife in rural Maryland! Yeah right!!

And, to date, I have lost hundreds of friends because I have failed to forward a certain sappy e-mail to twenty people, which of course means that I have also failed to get them back, which of course means I'm worthless and so are all my friendships. How will I survive?

I confess, if you have forwarded an e-mail such as this to me and you have felt very "unblessed" lately, it's my fault. Yep, I'll take the blame. I failed to forward, and the world as we know it will be coming to an end. I hope you can find it in your hearts to love me anyway.

Now, forward this to ten people and ..................just kidding!

The jobs you love to hate.......

Warning: If you aren't a Lenhart this post won't make much sense to you. But I figured that since only a few people who aren't (or weren't) Lenharts actually read this, I would go ahead anyway!

Today is a momentous day in the VeStrand household-----our very own VeStrand Job Chart was born! Now, just a little background for those of you non-Lenharts: when I was in my early teens, mom and dad came to the ridiculous conclusion that their amazing offspring needed more to do. So, one night while we were sleeping innocently upstairs, mom and dad took a piece of yellow legal pad paper (what else??) and the Lenhart Job Chart was born. Oh the moaning and groaning that ensued! How dare they torture us this way? How could we possibly accomplish ALL that work and still fit in playing "Johnny and Colony", doing our Children's Bible Hour bible studies, and listening to Gaither records? Not to mention, watching grass grow on the always-bustling Firetower Road??? We would surely die! Alas, mom and dad stuck to their guns (no big surprise there), and somehow we all survived vacuuming, dusting, and bathroom cleaning. And, with the exception of one of us, who shall remain nameless, we continue to vacuum, dust, and clean bathrooms to this day.

Now life has come full circle, and Jeff and I have the same delusions that my parents once had: our amazing offspring need more to do. So today we had a sit-down, and the VeStrand Job Chart was born. Ours includes some different tasks, like retrieving the recycle bins and "superbrooming" the kitchen each night, and ours will be printed with the help of our computer, but the intent is the same.

Tonight around the dinner table, we broke it to the kids: they enjoy the privileges of living in our lovely home so now it's time to share some of the responsibilities. Oh the moaning and groaning that ensued! However, after they realized their chances of survival were high, and after telling Payton that his "pay" was three hots (meals), a cot (bed), and a pot (toilet), they actually seemed excited to start. I'm realistic enough to realize those feelings won't last past Monday at lunch, but hey, life's rough!

We can only hope that, in the end, we will have given our children a sense of responsibility, some knowledge on how a house really runs, and, of course, the necessary fodder for countless family jokes and hours of laughter in the years to come!

Good, clean family fun!

Friday is Jeff's day off. We had some free time this afternoon (not sure how THAT happened!) so we decided to watch a DVD together. We belong to blockbuster.com, and we've had a Mark Lowry video sitting in our entertainment center for about three weeks now and haven't managed to find the time to watch it. We were hoping to enjoy it with the kids but, of course, as soon as we announced it was a christian comedian and would include no car chases, animals blowing each other up with Acme products, or talking sponges, they mysteriously found other things to do.

So Jeff and I settled in on the couch and started the DVD. Within minutes we were laughing hysterically and, lo and behold, the children began to trickle in. Slowly but surely they came, and soon we were all laughing hysterically at Mark and his antics with Bill Gaither over the years. The kids didn't even get all the jokes but they laughed right along with us and stayed until the end! Sawyer even declined to play with the neighbor so he could watch. And, as I type, Payton is singing one of Mark's spoof songs at the top of his lungs!! (Mark's spoofs of christian contemporary songs are hilarious!)

It was refreshing to laugh together as a family and not have to fast forward through any questionable commercials, censor any bad language, or explain any crude story lines! I highly recommend Mark Lowry. He was a hit in our house! Now, I'm off to half.com to purchase some of those DVDs for myself!

Happy Birthday .... for "free"!!

As I've mentioned before, we have five summer birthdays in our house. We also have a "daddy takes me out wherever I want to eat on my birthday" tradition, so some of these will come in handy! Hope you can enjoy some of them too!

One disclaimer: If you look carefully, the term "free" is used very loosely. Oh, and the sarcastic comments are, of course, mine!

Businesses that offer FREE items on your birthday.
(All deals are at the discretion of the specific location. So it would be wise to call ahead, just to make sure.)

ALFY'S PIZZA - free mini pizza
ALL-AMERICAN CAFÉ - free dessert
APPLEBEES - free dessert
AUSTIN GRILL - free meal (must register first)
BAKERS SQUARE - free pie
BANDIDO'S - free entrée
BANJARA INDIAN CUISINE - free meal
BASKIN ROBBINS - free ice cream treat (best deal on the list!!)
BEACHES RESTAURANT - free meal
BENIHANA'S JAPANESE RESTAURANT - free dinner with three other paying guests
BENNIGANS - free dessert and song
BILL KNAPP'S - adults receive a percentage discount equal to their age plus a free cake (w/purchase of a meal) during their birthday week
BJ's - free pazookie (whatever THAT is!)
BLACK BRISKEE - free meal
BOB EVANS - free kids' meal for kids twelve and under
BOB'S BIG BOY - free sundae
BOSTON MARKET - free birthday meal coupon for kids twelve and under
BUFFALO WILD WINGS (BW3) - free dozen hot wings
BURGER KING - free kids' meal to all Kids' Club members
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN - free kids' meal during their birthday month (must register first)
CAPTAIN DIZZY'S CAR WASH - free car wash
CARROWS - free cake
CATTLEMEN'S - free dessert and cowboy hat
CHARLIE BROWN'S RESTAURANTS - free meal for "Handshake Club" members
CHARLIE'S SEAFOOD - free meal
CHEVY'S - free dessert and sombrero
CHILI'S - free song (so I have to pay for this the other 364 days of the year??)
CHIPS 'N GIGGLES - free meal
CLAIM JUMPER - free dessert
COLDSTONE CREAMERY - free Creations
CRAZY BUFFET - free meal
DENNY'S - free meal for kids ten and under (the only ones who can actually enjoy the food at Denny's!)
DESPARADOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT - free meal
DOCKSIDE RESTAURANT - free meal
DUKE'S CHOWDER HOUSE - buy one, get one coupons (I assume this is meals, but you never know??)
EINSTEIN'S - free meal
EL CHICOS - free dessert
ERNIE'S STEAKHOUSE - free meal
FAMOUS DAVE'S BARBEQUE - free meal (must register first)
FIRESTONE SUBS - e-mail coupon for free sub after signing up
FUDDRUCKERS - free sundae
FUNNY BONE COMEDY CLUB - free cake with minimum party of five and two drink minimum (so do all five have to have two drinks each??)
GOLDEN CORRAL - free meal for Birthday Club members (not just kids!) during month of birthday (we affectionately call this the "Golden Trough" in our house, but the kids LOVE it! Belly up!)
GRILLFISH - free meal
HANA JAPAN - free meal
HARD ROCK CAFÉ - free dessert
HOMETOWN BUFFET - free birthday cake
HOOTERS - free song + tee shirt (no comment!)
HOSS'S STEAK HOUSE AND RESTAURANT - free cake and song
HOULIHAN'S - coupon for a free entree next visit, up to one week after birthday (they aren't dumb!)
IHOP- free sundae
JOE'S CRAB SHACK - free cake
JT WHEATFIELDS - free meal coupon in phone book (I assume that's their local phone book.)
KING BUFFET - free meal
LADONNA - free meal
LOMBARDI'S IN BALLARD - free meal when purchasing one during birthday month (must register first)
LOTUS - free meal
LUTHER'S BBQ - various free items for Great Rewards members
MACARONI GRILL - free dessert and song
MAGGIANOS - $10 off purchase of $20 (must register)
MARIE CALLENDER'S - free dessert
MAX AND ERMA'S - free $5 dessert
MEMPHIS BBQ - coupon for a free rack of ribs and strawberry shortcake (must register first)
MEXICAN VILLAGE - free meal
MOONIES DINER - free meal (is this that mythical place where the "sun don't shine"?)
MUCKLESHOOT CASINO - free sushi dinner (like who would ever PAY for sushi?)
NEWICK'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS - free entrée
NITTY GRITTY - free drink and souvenir glass
OKAYAMA RESTAURANT - free meal
OLD SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE - free meal
OLIVE GARDEN - free cake
ONAMI - free dinner with three additional paying patrons
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE- free dessert and song
PANCAKE HOUSE - free entrée
PAPPA'S RESTAURANTS (PAPPADEAUX, PAPPASITO'S, ETC) - free dessert
PARADISO'S - free meal
PERKIN'S - free stack of pancakes
PF CHANG'S - free cake or cheesecake
PONCHO'S - free meal, dessert, and picture (picture of who? Poncho??)
PROVINO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT - free $10.99 meal and ice cream dessert
REAL SEAFOOD COMPANY - free meal and dessert (as opposed to that "Fake" place a few streets over??)
RED LOBSTER - free slice of cake and song
RED ROBIN - free hamburger
RICE & COMPANY - free meal for Robinson Rewards Club members
ROCK BOTTOM - free appetizer for Mug Club members
ROUND TABLE - free personal pizza
SCALINI'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT - up to 10.95 off pasta specialties
SHEPARD'S BUFFET - free dinner buffet with three other paying patrons
SMOKEY BONES - free meal
STEAK AND ALE - free mini chocolate cake
STEAK-N-SHAKE - free dinner for Birthday Club members
TACO BELL - free combo meal of your choice
TGI FRIDAY'S - free birthday dessert
THE 99 - free meal
THE BARNSIDER'S/DEPOT RESTAURANTS - half-price meal plus cake and song
THE LOFT - free meal
THE PALM - three-pound lobster (must register first)
THE PARADISO - free entrée plus sombrero and song
The PASTA HOUSE - free dessert
THE VINE TAVERN - free meal
TODAI SEAFOOD BUFFET - free meal
TONY ROMA'S - free dessert (must register first)
UP THE CREEK - free meal and dessert (bring your own paddle or you'll be "up the creek without......")
VACCARO'S ITALIAN PASTRY SHOP - free dessert and drink
WENDY'S - free kids' meal for Kids' Club members
Z' TEJAS - $15 coupon for use during birthday month
ZIO'S - free dessert

ARIZONA SNOW BOWL - free skiing/riding, if open (just a small detail!?!?!?!)
BEAR MOUNTAIN OR SNOW SUMMIT - free skiing/riding
BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN - free skiing/riding
COTTONWOOD GOLF COURSE - free round of golf
DAVE AND BUSTERS - $5 game card credit
FOOD PAVILION GROCERY STORE - free movie rental
HALLMARK - 20 percent off one item
HARKINS - free movie
HOLLYWOOD VIDEO - free video rental
SAFEWAY GROCERY STORE - free movie rental
SCRUB-A-DUB - free car wash

Thanks to one of my favorite blogs, wantnot.net/, for this list!

Life is like a laundry chute???

When we moved into our home four years ago, our kids were delighted to see that we had a laundry chute. We have little doors in our upstairs hallway and kitchen that lead directly to the hamper in the laundry room. It works great! In fact, I would hate to be without a laundry chute. I've been spoiled. I don't ever have to hassle the kids to put their dirty clothes in their proper place. In fact, often when I've told them to clean their rooms, I seem to find LOTS of (clean) clothes that end up down the laundry chute! I guess it's easier to toss them down the chute than to shove them hastily in their drawers! And you'd be surprised how many Lego pieces, Playmobil pirates, and Happy Meal toys have been rescued from the laundry chute or, if I was in a laundry frenzy, actually made it through the wash and dry cycles looking not that much worse for the wear!

I really do try to stay on top of all the laundry. However, there have been times when the kids will yell "mom, a ball of clothes/towels/sheets (take your pick) is stuck in the laundry chute." I quickly clarify that they're not actually stuck--they're just resting on the top of the pile that's climbing steadily to the laundry chute opening.

Yesterday, as I was working on that ever-multiplying pile, I realized that lately I'm feeling a bit like the dirty pair of socks at the very bottom of the laundry pile. Life is crazy right now--and it stinks, just like those socks! The kids have had it with the pool and all the summer fun; they are bored out of their minds and driving me out of mine. All the fall activities are beginning soon and so we are trying to get football cleats and baseball helmets and of course, that required memory stick. We have one more birthday before school starts and then there are the obligatory haircuts, sleepovers, and doctor's appointments that have to be accomplished. And, most importantly, I am teaching a class at our church this fall and I am very busy working on that, in between the pool, the doctor's appointments and the "refereeing". Today, Jeff actually came home with a song for me to learn so I can sing it in church in two weeks and I, dutiful pastor's wife that I am, quickly replied "Sure, my sweet, I'm not doing anything else these days!"

These days our life seems a bit like the laundry chute: all too easy to add things (good and bad) and then let them "pile up" while I gasp for breath at the bottom of the pile. I think I need a vacation from summer "vacation". But I guess I better make sure everyone has clean underwear first.

Relinquishing Control......

Not much new going on at our house today. And since I whined a lot in my last post, I thought I should be a bit more "spiritual" in this post. After all, I am a pastor's wife!

Another astonishing admission: I enjoy having control. I am a perfectionist and having control means that things get done my way, in my time. Since I can't control other peoples' inept lack of perfectionism (!), the least I can do is take control and make sure that everything is done "right".

Seriously though, I have been thinking a lot the past few days about how little control I truly have over my children. I can do everything I *think* is right. Teach them all the right Bible verses and stories, protect them from harmful music and movies, even make sure they always eat free-range chicken (gotta watch those hormones!) and never, ever eat anything containing Red Dye #40 (at which I've already failed miserably. Remember those fruit snacks that our dentist loves?) But, in the end, my kids have their own free wills and all I can do is pray that all that we've tried to teach them will stick somehow, somewhere and that, in the end, they will choose Christ (and organic foods!)

Thankfully, I know that God loves my kids more than I could ever begin to and His plan, even though it will include mistakes of their own making along the way, is truly best. We have a book that I have referred to many times in the past ten years or so since I got it. It's called "Praying the Bible for Your Children" by David and Heather Kopp, and I highly recommend it. In light of my musings the past couple days, this particular prayer is very meaningful.

Heavenly Father,

How great and mysterious are your ways! You ask us to trust you with that which we love most. How did Moses' mother do it? How did she let her baby go (Exodus 2:2-3), knowing so many things could go wrong?

The dangers my children face today are very different, Lord, and yet just as real. Drugs, strangers, accidents, gangs--even babysitters and friends!

Thank you that even when my children are out of my sight, they are never out of Your sight. Please watch over them in all they do and through every encounter they have with the world.

Thank you that I can surrender my children and place them in the dangerous "river" of life, knowing that You will be watching over them, not from far off but from very nearby.

Amen

Maybe, just maybe, one of the best gifts I can give my kids is realizing that they are KIDS and they aren't and never will be perfect. Once again, it's all about me relinquishing control and trusting God--with everything--but most importantly my most precious possessions.

The most important meal of the day????

Ok, I admit it. I hate breakfast. I have never liked breakfast. Why, you ask?? Let me count the ways: I HATE milk and I strongly dislike cereal. I have four children who clamor for their own sugar-laden breakfasts every morning, and I don't have a personal chef who makes me delectable breakfasts like the one you see below (in which case I'm certain that my attitude about breakfast would be different). And, finally, I hate that every cereal that is supposed to be "good for you" tastes like it was recently retrieved from the forest floor.

Combine all that with the fact that my breakfasts as a child consisted mostly of Rice Krispies, plain Cheerios, or, heaven help me, Puffed Rice, all served with half-powdered/half real milk (I love you mom!), and you can see why I've never been a fan. In fact, those who know me well, know that my ideal breakfast consists of a can of Coke and a brownie or some other calorie-laden chocolate delight. Who cares about the food pyramid? I say pyramid shmeeramid!!

As always, however, I have learned that father knows best. All those fattening breakfasts have caught up with me, daddy! And as my age increases and my metabolism decreases, I have become convinced that, sad but true, a healthy breakfast really is important.

And so the experimenting has begun. I've tried Slim-fast bars (too expensive). I've tried eggs (too slow). I've tried various cereals (too soggy), and I've even tried some awful oatmeal bar thing that was supposed to be the answer to all my breakfast prayers (too dry). Out of all this, I have learned only one thing: I STILL hate breakfast.

But, in an effort to be healthier, I have resolved to endure a bowl of Total Raisin Bran (with low-fat milk, of course) starting tomorrow morning. I will try to avoid "frosting" it with sugar. I will try to remember all those TV commercials that promise I only need "one bowl of Total" to get my full dose of vitamins for the day. I will try to forget the Country Maid cream-filled doughnuts and chocolate vanilla cream pop-tarts that I could be enjoying.

Feel free to hold me accountable. E-mail me or call me regularly and ask how I'm doing. Hey, maybe this is God calling me to start a breakfast support group---Breakfast-Haters Anonymous? Nah--aren't fattening doughnuts a requirement at those meetings??

A GREAT read!!!

Sadly, I am not a librarian (always my dream job!) nor am I a book reviewer, but I do love to read. These days I don't have near enough time to read, but I am so glad that I made time this weekend to read the book "Teen-Proofing" by parenting expert, John Rosemond.

Since we are smack dab in the middle of that "scary" stage of parenting known as "adolescence", I figured it would behoove me to gain as much expertise and insight as I could before I truly needed it. Although Rosemond is not a christian as far as I know, he does write from a biblical perspective and often quotes scripture and uses biblical examples in his writing. His commonsense, no-bull approach to parenting is refreshing and eye-opening. In fact, we plan to put some of his wisdom to the test on our own teenager this very weekend!

From the book jacket: "The author demonstrates how Mom and Dad can avoid the pitfalls of becoming dictatorial "Control Freaks", skirt the potholes of turning into permissive "Wimps", and enjoy the freedom and rewards of parenting in a controlled (but not controlling) and relaxed manner."

So, if you have teenagers now--or ever anticipate having them--and if you can tear yourself away from the newest James Patterson best seller or can wait to crack open Nora Ephron's latest book (bleck!), this is a must read! I'll let you know (or I imagine you will see for yourselves) in about fifteen years if the VeStrands were successful at "Teen-Proofing". This time, the "proof", as they say, will be in the parenting.

"No trash for you!"

You've probably heard of the "Soup Nazi" who terrrorized Jerry, Elaine, and the gang with his proclamations of "No soup for you!". Well, I have recently earned the notorious moniker of "Recycle Nazi" in our home, hence the title of this post.

Until about three months ago, recycling wasn't an issue for me. I had too many other things to do. I wasn't about to rinse out ketchup bottles (we use a lot of ketchup!), peel labels off pickle jars, or crush every empty fruit snack box. (Yes, our consumption of fruit snacks keeps our dentist very happy.)

So, I'm not exactly sure what changed my mind. Recycling isn't "required" by our town so that wasn't it. (I wasn't about to pay to recycle. In fact, I think they should PAY me. But that's another story!) My family certainly wasn't pressuring me (keep reading). So, after careful consideration, I have determined that my decision to recycle was mostly to suppress the guilt brought on by other "recycle nazis" in our church home group. (Thanks girls!) Either way, the catalyst doesn't really matter; the fact that we are now recycling in mammoth proportions is what is truly important.

Each week, our two plastic tubs are overflowing with jars, bottles, newspapers, milk containers, and, yes, even completely rinsed ketchup bottles and flattened fruit snack boxes by the hundreds. We have also noticed an amazing decrease in the amount of trash that we have.

So far the only downside to our recycling efforts has been the reaction of our family, immediate and extended! The kids aren't nearly as excited about recycling as mom is. Audible groans can be heard when I repeatedly remind them to rinse out yogurt containers and pudding cups. Payton's jaw hit the floor recently when I dismantled a pair of broken swimming goggles so that we could recycle the plastic eyepieces. A few ladies at church giggled politely when I retrieved some plastic planters from the garbage can at day camp so I could bring them home and put them in our recycle tubs. My sister laughed out loud when she found out that I actually bring my pop cans and water bottles home from the pool each day so we can recycle them. And I'm pretty sure I had a case of the hives when we visited my sister in Michigan earlier this summer and we couldn't recycle anything. Each time I threw away something that was recycleable, I said "Aaargh we could recycle this at home!" The rolled eyes and exclamations of "Mu---ther" let you know that the kids weren't nearly as upset as their mom!

So I probably deserve the title. I don't know. I'm certainly no "environmentalist whacko" but I like to think that we are making a small difference and being good stewards of the earth God gave us. However, I will admit that I am eagerly anticipating the "new earth" God promises in Revelation 22. Somehow, I don't think we will have to worry about recycling then!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!

Since it was such a beautiful night, we decided to be brave and walk to the local ice cream stand. I'm sure we were quite a spectacle--two very tired moms and seven rambunctious children, who certainly didn't NEED any more sugar! But we had fun and the ice cream was yummy too!




A rare quiet moment during our walk.

It really IS cool at the pool!

Our weather has been beautiful today--high 70's and sunny. Not the greatest pool weather, but we loaded 'em all up and dragged them there anyway. Enjoy these pics of the kids relaxing poolside!


Garrett and Sawyer warming up after a swim.


Sydney and Taylor take a break from poolside reading.


The bathing beauties--or is it beasts??

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Today is Jeff's __nd birthday. (He's a little sensitive about his age so I will respect his wishes and not tell you exactly how old he is.) He's actually away at a worship conference having a great time so we did our celebrating earlier this week. Happy Birthday Jeff and daddy! We love you!

It's raining, it's BORING!

Well, our plans were thwarted by rain today. We obviously couldn't go to the pool so we went to see "Barnyard" with all of our "animals". The kids LOVED the movie; the moms say "udderly" stupid! But, it got us out of the house for a while!