And The Winner Is...

"new Cover Girl nail polish outlasts any heat wave" just because I think I laughed the most on that one. Dan gets the consolation prize - his comment actually nearly made me CALL HIM. Now the real kicker is... Is "Dan" the Dan I know and have in my phone?? Cause, otherwise, THAT Dan would have been in for one heck of a surprise if I called at that time, insisted on talking to him then asking what he wanted. And a note to THAT Dan, could you PLEASE put your phone on jajah so I can talk to you for free like I do with your wife?!?! Thank you very much! :) Oh, by the way, Mira, your prize is a great big hug from me, so you might want to come to the states to get it ;)

Ok, so, what was REALLY going on...

Dearest dramatic daughter of mine yelled from Engine 77, "MMMOOOOOMMMMMYYYYYYYYY! I DON'T HAVE MY FLIP PHHHOOOOOOOOOOONNNE!" I rolled my eyes at her. Mind you, I was ten feet away from her and most of the action was dying down, but still...

Our oh-so-observant chief saw the little exchange and heard yelling, but was clearly unable to understand WHAT daughter dearest said because he - with concern I might add - asked what she needed. I turned to him and prepared to raise my voice above the din of 100 firefighters doing their jobs, hoses still spraying full force, and flames putting out that "roaring" sound. Putting my thumb and finger out and raising my hand to my face to help him understand (in case he couldn't hear) I told him that she just wanted her cell phone and I was NOT about to walk all the way back to our truck to retrieve said phone for her. Her big brother thought this would be a great photo opportunity. *Note to self: thank the boy later.*

"She has a cell phone?!?!" I know that they think we are very odd for playing "double jeopardy" and homeschooling our kids (they consider it that because we pay the taxes AND do the work) and other such mildly crunchy things, but a giving our child a cell phone would put it over the edge. Reassuring him that I would not give a six year old girl a cell phone, I let him in on the fact that it was a broken phone and she just PLAYS with it. Somehow, though, I think he may still be under the impression that I am odder than originaly thought....

Go Ahead, Give This Picture a Name

Or just tell me what you think I was doing.... BE NICE! I'll tell you what was going on tomorrow, AFTER you name it. :) Don't make me regret this!!
And, James, this is for you.... does this work for "uniform"?

What We Do For Fun

This is what we do on a warm sunny Saturday morning.



















We burn barns.















And we let our kids tag along to watch.












But by the time lunchtime rolls around and Farmer Joe up the road wants us to burn junk for him, too, the kids have had enough and are ready to go play with Papa. They go play and we stick it out and go to the second burn, get sunburned to boot, cause for this one we are just sitting around in normal people clothes and it is close to 80 degrees. But it is fun.... At least the first time around, when we are actually doing our job and keeping other things from burning to the ground in the process.

What do YOU do for fun??

Burning Huts

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to
store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

The Moral of This Story:

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

Have you had a burning hut recently? If so, start thanking God, even if you haven't seen the rescue ship yet. It's coming. Here is our burning hut story:

In January, right before we headed to Indiana, J applied for a job at Alstom. About a week and a half after we returned home, he got THE PHONE CALL, and he started work the following Monday. He liked it, liked the people, liked his boss, made friends, all that good stuff. Occasionally people would come up to me and ask if I was worried about Alstom's reputation to hire hundreds of workers, then a few months later start laying off hundreds. I always stated that I knew God had placed him there and if God saw fit to move him, then He was opening something else up. Well, those words and that faith were put to the test.

Friday - the first day the motorcycle went out - J called me at 3:45 and said, "Can you get in the truck and come get me?"

My heart stopped momentarily, I felt slightly queasy. Imaging the bike on it's side on the road or stolen, I asked, "What happened?!?"

"They let me go."

I was SILENT. My heart DEFINITELY stopped for a few beats and now I thought for sure I was going to throw up. I asked him to repeat himself, hoping for the punch line this time.

"They let me go. I need you to bring the truck so I can take my toolbox home."

Not having much else to say, I told him I would be right there. I prayed all the way down. The above hut story had arrived in my mailbox EIGHT DAYS prior to this. We watched Facing the Giants the night before and I suddenly found myself praying a similar prayer that the wife on the movie had prayed. "God, if You leave us destitute, if we never get ahead, I will still praise you. I will still love you." (Granted, hers was more along the lines of KIDS, but I have that area covered as much as I would like to cover it.) I praised and thanked - in a slightly shaky and quiet voice. I asked for peace. I told Him I trusted Him and knew He was in control. I asked Him to please give J peace and comfort and whatever else he may need. I had no idea how he was taking it or what had even happened yet.

Then I got there and saw my beloved hubby. Who was fine. And I got angry at the injustice of it all. WHY would they fire him?!? Seriously, I met his boss the DAY BEFORE! He's well liked at work, does plenty of overtime, what happened!?!? J hopped in the truck to maneuver it to the bay doors to get his tool box loaded, and in those 60 seconds we were in the truck together I was able to get the initial reason he was given: "They fired me for my heaters." This is probably more so where the anger at injustice hit. HEATERS?!?! He told me that the first three heaters he installed had to be re-done and that his boss did tell him that was relatively normal. He was learning. After that every heater he installed was perfect. So, I got a little confused. After loading the toolbox, J got back in the truck and drove to his perfectly safe, unscratched motorcycle. While driving over he was able to fill me in a little more. While signing his "discharge" papers, he asked what the REAL reason was that he was being fired. Heaters really didn't add up to him, either. His immediate boss said that J must have said something wrong to someone because it was an order that came from higher up. I talked with his mom (who works in HR down there) and she told us that they told her they were firing him because he was disrespectful to one of his bosses. His mom came to his defense and told them the only way he would show "disrespect" to a boss was if that particular boss was mistreating people. Ah.... we see the light. There was an instance with a BOSS where said BOSS came into the cab and began screaming at a worker and using every swear word in the book at a very rapid pace and personally demeaning this person. At least in Union shops, bosses are not allowed to do that. The worker quit (his bad) and J proceeded to report the actions of said boss to HR. Apparently that is a big no-no. Digging farther, we heard he was fired because he was to "negative" and then because "he had to much fun at work." I'm getting confused. Not one answer was ever the same. *sigh*

On the ten minute drive home, I was still working on processing it all and being quite shaken and.... ticked. "God, you GAVE him this job! You placed him here!! What is going on?!?!" So, I'll admit, I did the ticked off, not trusting, not praising, just flipping thing for fifteen minutes. Then I pulled in the driveway, J and I went in the house, sat down and began to talk. J's calm and peace over the entire thing helped me immensely and I was able to take that deep breath and truly say, "God, I do trust you." In my conversation with him mom, she told me that she also had that initial shock and "where are You?!" type feelings, but then felt so reassured that God was in control of this and had moved him out for a very specific reason. I started remembering the hut story and had an absolute peace. All weekend, even when the "normal" thoughts of "what will we do?!" began to creep in, I still had an overwhelming peace about it. Monday morning rolled around and he was hired by a friend of his to be his "hirer and firer" and general manager. Tuesday he started with a $4/hour pay raise. How cool is that? He is traveling to the city again, but... I just put the bike on the road. :) I know God is in control and that He has a plan. I know that over the next few months we will be seeing things unfold in our area that will make all of this even that much more clear. He is a big God, He is faithful, and He has a sense of humor. :) I don't think J will get fired for having "too much fun" over here.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who arehe called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestine to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestine, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:28-31

It's Time

The snow is gone. Hopefully for more than just today.
See this guy I'm with?
























He just put this on the road in celebration of Spring.



















And seeing him on it (Ree put's it best) "makes my hiney tingle."



















And I really really like riding on it, too. I just don't drive it. Mine is WAY smaller and in peices in the garage while we rebuild the motor. For the record, I didn't do it. We bought it that way on purpose. Maybe when a certain someone comes home, we can go riding??

I always wondered what I was...

You Are a Pinky

You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird. A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone. You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are. You get along well with: The Ring Finger Stay away from: The Thumb

What Finger Are You?

*I'm not so sure about the "fiercely independent" part.... I'd agree with "a little independent", but that is just my thought on me.

OR.....

You Are the Thumb

You're unique and flexible. And you defy any category. Mentally strong and agile, you do things your own way. And you do them well. You are a natural leader... but also truly a loner. You inspire many but connect with few. You get along well with: The Middle Finger Stay away from: The Pinky

What Finger Are You?

*How messed up is that??? One answer was different, and I did them both because both answers were right.... I thought I got along with myself ok. I didn't think I didn't like me.... I feel confused right now....

He's Still Risen

A week has gone by since Easter, and we still have reason to rejoice! :) For us, should every day be like Easter (I don't mean the candy part... The Easter Bunny ONLY comes once a year and I'm not messing with that!) I am so thankful that we have a Redeemer, Friend, Advocate, Comforter, Healer, Father, Risen Savior!

So, from my house, to yours, we are sending Easter blessings. :)