My Eulogy...

As mentioned, yesterday I went a funeral. It was the funeral of a 80 year old lady, mother to friends of ours.

I sat there listening to this lady's life and couldn't help but think of my life.  What would people say of me, when my time comes to lay in a casket?  How would I want my eulogy to be?

Is my life today one that I am proud of?  Do I love those around me enough?  Do my children, husband, family and friends know that my life is as good as it is because they have a place in it?

I want it to be said that I loved my God.  Do I live my live in such a way that it is obvious others know God is my best friend?  I don't know.  I need to work on that.  My love for God should be something that is shining thorugh me.  It isn't a secret.

I want it to be said that I loved my boys.   If I died today, will they say that I was the best mom I could be?  Probably not.  I need to work on that.  I need to learn to stop the worries of cooking and cleaning.  I need to learn to just be with them.  I am pretty good at that, I think, but I know I can be better.  Yesterday was a great example of this... Cooking with Jordan was delightful.  Messy? Yes.  Yet memorable... and fun.

I want it to be said that I loved my husband with a passion.  This isn't hard.  I do love him with all my heart.  He is the best thing that  has happened to me, so loving him isn't hard.  I need to work on the nagging.  Yet, I do this because I love him! lol

WIll it be said that I was the best daughter and sister?

Will it be said I was a good friend?  I hope so.  I do love my friends.  I love being with them.  I love them as they make my world a happier place.

I am sure I won't be known for my domenstic skills.  I am sure I won't be remembered for my love for cooking or cleaning.  I probably won't be remembered for my knitting!    Maybe I will be remembered for my love for shopping!  Maybe I will be remembered for loving to have a party. 

(Funny story, when we were first married, I thought  I would make Sanj a pair of boxers for Valentines.  I was so excited.  I had a great Home Ec teacher and knew that basics.  I was so pleased with my efforts.  Until Sanj tried it on.  One of his legs couldn't even make it in the one side! lol This is where the thought really counted!!! )

As I wonder about my eulogy, (not in a morbid way), I hope that the life I am living is one that is pleasing to God.  I have things that I need to work on. It is something that I plan to make a conscious effect. 

Have you ever thought of what kind of legacy you will leave behind?

Jesus LOVES me!

Today I went to a funeral... I will write more about this later but they read 1Corinthians 13.  Like you, I have heard it so many times and had to memorize it.  


For some reason, today I got it.  It is a guide to loving.  I am sorry if I am stating the obvious... but I realized that if  we followed it.. we would have happier marriages, friendships and relationships in general.


If I have everything, but do not know how to love, I am nothing.  Have you heard a gong or the clash of cymbals?


If I give money to the beggar lady, feed the poor, have faith as big as mountain yet do not have love, what is the point?


Love IS patient.
Love IS kind.
Love DOES NOT envy.
Love DOES NOT boast.
Love IS NOT proud.
Love IS NOT rude.
Love IS NOT self-seeking.
Love IS NOT easy to anger.  (Hum).
Love forgives.
Love seeks truth.
Love protects.
Love always trusts.
Love always hope.  It does not give up.
Faith, hope and love... the greatest is LOVE.

I wish I could say this all comes so easy to me.  I wish I was kind all the time.  I wish I was patient all the time.  I wish I was not easy to anger.  I wish forgiving everyone was so easy. I wish I did not lose faith.  

I am so glad that God is so patient with me.  I am so glad that God believes in me even when I don't believe in myself.  I am so glad that God is so forgiving.  I am so glad that God loves me!  You know, GOD... King of kings, Lord of lords, Saviour, HE LOVES ME!!!

I love that!  Oh, by the way, HE loves you too!  I'd like to think that He loves me a little more... lol but there I go being all about me.

Caution!

It is getting hard to get up in the mornings.  The boys seem to have a hard time settling at night as the sun still shines and the weather  beckons them to stay outside longer.  I had to encourage them that we are in the home stretch.  About 7 and half weeks left till the school year is over.  We can do it, yes, we can!

I am in the office today, though I was suppose to be in JK with Josh.  You know what they say, when it rains, it pours.  Despite having 3 office staff that are there to cover each other, all three had family stuff that left me needing to go in and cover.  I don't mind, but I did miss going into JK. 

Today on the radio, I heard that a mom was backing out  of her drive way and hit her little 2 year old.  Can you imagine?  How horrid.  My friend was backing up at the high school yesterday and paused as a bunch of high schoolers walked by.  She proceeded to back up and felt herself hit something or rather, someone.  One of the kids had bent down to do whatever and was out of sight.  Please be careful ... backing up.  Please!  Did you know it is the second most common cause of death at home?


Another helpful tip, if you have a newer vehicle that comes with the camera that comes on when you reverse, don't trust it 100%!


A funny little story... OK, it wasn't really funny but what my husband confidence is what made it funny.  A few years ago, Sanj bought a Denali.  I have often mentioned that this piece of metal is his one true love.  He loves his truck!  He brought it home with such confidence  in its abilities.


Our last house had a circular drive.  The middle part was a grassy, mossy area with trees.  It was winter.  We had company.  Sanj had come home after our company had come.  They had parked in his spot.  (Remember my many blogs that talk about my sweetie and how he is a creature of habit)?  Feeling powerful in his 4 wheel machine, he parked the truck in the middle, where there was a lot of snow.  He was sure that the beast could drive right out of there.


The next morning, at an obscene hour, I heard this noise outside the window.  It wasn't minutes after 5 a.m.  I could hear this loud racket.  Revving... more revving and then silence.  As I dragged myself out of bed, I seen Sanj throwing his gloves down and he is MAD!!!  I was scared.  What happened in the night?  Did someone break in and damage the vehicles?


This part is only funny because of my husband's deep love his hunk of metal and his confidence in its abilities.  Apparently, he had decided to move the truck, no doubt bothered that it was not in its usual spot.  As he tried to get out of his spot, he was in snow much deeper than he realized.  Thus the revving.  Again... trusting the machine, he was watching the camera that was to guide his view of the rear.  Before he knew it, he heard a crunch!  He hit a tree.  The camera was covered by snow.  Oops!  $3000 lesson that gadgets are only that.  


We can all laugh at this now simply because the only thing that was hurt was the truck and my hubby's pride.  


How horrid it would be to hurt someone we love.


Caution and then more caution...
Use caution and then some.

 

Cooking 101

I am so weary!!!  I have been cooking with my 6th grader.  It is part of his homework and it is also part of my TO DO list with the boys.  I want each of them to be able to cook a meal... that they can rotate making on a Sunday evening.  I really want them to be great cooks and know their way around the kitchen... as well as they laundry room and understand the in and out of cleaning.  I am not asking to much am I?

Cooking is great.  It is fun and I was impressed with Jordan's ability the dice a onion.  Who needs a Slap Chop when one has a Jordan?  We made a meal together for friends of ours who lost their mom/grandma.  It is a recipe that we have never had but figured it to be family friendly and healthy.  Add some bread and a salad and we have a dinner.  We doubled the recipe to make one for his principal. lol

Here's what we made... 

CHICKEN, BROCCOLI AND GARLIC PASTA CASSEROLE

Printed from COOKS.COM

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3 oz. cooked penne (we used whole wheat)
Salt and pepper
3 c. steamed, chopped broccoli
2 1/2 tbsp. butter
1 c. chopped onion
2 cloves chopped garlic
3 tbsp. flour
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 1/2 c. chicken broth
1 1/2 c. whole milk
1 bay leaf
3/4 lb. chicken breast tenders (strips)
Pinch nutmeg
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
1/2 c. cottage cheese
3 tbsp. Parmesan cheese

In large bowl put cooked pasta and broccoli. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a sauce pan, heat the butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook for about 3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and flour; cook for 1 minute. Stir in thyme and then slowly whisk in the broth and milk. Add bay leaf, bring to boil, reduce heat and cook gently for 10 minutes. Add chicken and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until chicken is barely cooked through. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. Add to the bowl with the pasta and broccoli along with parsley and stir until mixed. Put casserole into oiled 11 1/2 x 8 inch baking dish. Dot with cottage cheese and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for about 20 minutes until heated through and the top is lightly browned.

We made three different casseroles.  One was for Sanj that we improvised.  My feet hurt and my kitchen is a mess.  Cleaning up is part of the work, isn't.

Tyler is doing laundry and Sammy is on dishes.  You would think I shouldn't  be this tired!   Don't forget that I still have Josh!  We were watching the news that was talking about a take down that their uncle was a part of.  I guess Josh was holding his pee till the very last minute.  Well as I was trying to help him with his pants... I see this look and then see his pants getting wet.  This child....  $%^&#&!!!   He says to me, "When you are mad at me, you don't talk to me very nice."  Hum... I'll work on that ... 

All In A Day...

Highlights of my day:


The boys had a PD day... no school.  Though Josh doesn't seem to understand the meaning of sleeping in, it was delightful to lounge in bed for a bit.  It was so nice to not have to rush off.  Josh had a birthday party.  He was so annoyed that Jordan was invited too!   Jordan was invited to keep his friend, the older brother, company).  Josh was so upset!!!  Yet, he came home absolutely delighted that Jordan had played with him and was the best big brother ever!


Tonight, at supper, we had parmesan crusted baked chicken, rice and beans and a platter of raw veggies.  I am nagging the boys to eat their 5 veggies.  Then, they all looked at me as if I had lost my head as I berated Josh for eating too many veggies!  He actually got in trouble for eating too many veggies! Crazy boy!  Yet his system of not impressed with his love for all things orange, green and red!  Who gets their kid in trouble for eating to healthy?  Wish that was my problem!!!


As I was getting Josh ready for bed, I called him a "Dude.  He looked offended.  "Hey, don't call me a pimple on a donkey's butt."  Huh?  Apparently Tyler told him that was the meaning of dude.


Sanj and the boys have been jamming together every evening.  This Friday they are going to be playing for Vespers, the Friday night program for Sanj's alumni.  They sound so beautiful together.  I am sure God is just smiling down.  A little heaven on earth.


We did a little shopping today too, for underwear and shoes for some of the boys.  Zachary's foot keeps turning inward, pigeon toe, I think is what they call it.  I am going to have to get it looked at, though the information on-line seems to say there isn't much one can do.  We shall see.  As Zach took his shoes off to try the new shoes, he was barefoot.  Not sure why, but he didn't bother with socks.  Wow... his shoes were so disgusting!  The smell!!!  It really should have been illegal!


While we were killing time to pick up Sammy from school, I took the boys to a nearby park.  Tyler had to pee.  I told him to find a bush.  Next thing I knew, as I looked up, there was my Tyler peeing in the middle of the park!!!  Hello!  Boys will be boys.  Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough with my camera!


My day... in no particular order.  I love my boys.  I love my husband.  I love a day off!

Oh Husband, Where Are You???

Yesterday, after church, I asked Sanj to run to the store to pick up some construction paper that Sammy needed for a project. I was going to take all the boys home and begin lunch. After the boys and I had eaten lunch, I looked at the time. 1:30 p.m. I wasn't really worried, as I figured that since Sanj was alone, he may have run into Home Depot or did an errand and probably saw someone and lost track of the time.

At 2:30 p.m. as I was laying down with Josh... I started to worry. I could see that Tyler and Zachary were getting anxious too. It had been 2 hours later. Sanj hates shopping so I could not imagine him wandering the stores. I begin to have visions of him in a car accident. I wondered what the first step would be to find him? I gave him 15 more minutes before I was going to call my brother-in-law... the cop. I know he would help me. Yet, knowing that everything was likely OK, I didn't want to overact.

Just as I was getting ready to call Raj, I heard Sanj's car pulling in. I was so mad. He didn't have his cell phone with him. I could hear Tyler and Zachary scolding him. He makes his way upstairs, sheepishly.

Have you ever been so mad and relieved all at the same time? Phew! I wouldn't have to sell the house or find an audiologist or look for caskets or understand or insurance policies. Yet, I still wanted to hurt him bad!

He had gone to the music store, it was closed. Then he went to the men's store and got carried away chatting with the guy and buying a suit. Hum... He better look darn fine in that suit!!!

It is one of my biggest peeves about my husband. I hate that he never has his cell when he should or it isn't charged or on!!! Grrr...

I also hate that he never worries about me. When I am off at night to a meeting or the movies, all the lights are off and he is sound and snoring! What if I was in an accident? He wouldn't even know till he woke up at 5 a.m. Maybe I should stay out one night and not come home and let him actually have that moment of panic and wonder what life is going to be like as a single dad.

Hum... I like that idea. Movie anyone? lol

How Great Is Our God

Today at church, I was moved by the trails of those that I care about are going through. This song by Chris Tomlin was sung. I was overwhelmed by the deep faith that I saw in those whose trials where so huge in comparison to mine. Behind my sat a lady, fighting breast cancer. Soon she will be going in to start her chemotherpy. Her children sat beside her, singing this song. Then I saw another friend, crying, having lost loved ones this week. As I sat in church, my friends were by the bedside of their mom, waiting for her to take her last breath.

As I sat there, thinking of my burdens, they seems so small in comparison. I so often think of the story of Job. I am not sure I would have had that kind of faith. I get so frustrated and mad. I admired those around me that have that kind of faith. I used to have. I am working at growing my mustard seed of faith. Church today, I heard a sermon, yet it was one that was totally different than the one the preacher was giving.

I am grateful for all the blessing in my life. I am so grateful. Those blessings include my beautiful family, who inspire me everyday to be the best that I can be. Those blessings included a cup that overflows with friends near and far, who I love so much. Those blessings include my community, church and school. I could keep going but I know you understand that God is so good.

When the valleys come my way... again... I really hope and I can sing this song, hands held high and KNOW that God is so GREAT and Worthy of Praise.... even when I am in the valley!

Dear Jesus,
Today, I pray for my friends, You know, those that are in those dark valleys... please Lord, give them courage, strength and hope. May they feel Your love surrounding them. How I love you. Thank you for being the God that is SO GREAT!
Amen