On waters rushing and life changing

Driving, ever driving
Slowly now, detour ahead.
Water rushing, ever flowing,
never stopping.

Life-giving,
life-changing,
life-taking.

Watching, waiting, anticipating.
This could be it, the time, the one.

Flowers drowning, grass floating
sheep running to high ground.

One more step, and I’m home –
car floating now, flying downstream.

Life changing, sandbags everywhere,
mud and mire coating my life, my home,
my everything.

Floating, driving, watching, waiting –
slowly now, detours ahead.

– copyright, Andrea Cummings, 2008.

Discrimination is alive and well…

For those of you who are conscious of skyrocketing food prices, I’m embarassed to admit that a suburb near me has turned down an Aldi being built in their community. Their argument? Well….read the article for yourself. I’m all for cities being self governing, but this is ridiculous. What ruffles my feathers even more is that these same folks who said no to Aldi are saying that Trader Jo’s is what they want. Hello…they’re owned by the same company. Talk about being completely blinded to branding and brand marketing. If you decide to comment on the original article, be nice. I encourage you to read the comments though; they’re pretty funny on one level, and really honest on another.

It can be found at http://www.brookfieldnow.com/story/index.aspx?id=757914

This is yet another reason I’m massively glad I don’t live in the mentioned community. I like living elsewhere just fine, thankyouverymuch.

Spring and groceries

Rising food costs seem to be on everyone’s minds lately, it seems. Even my best friend, who swears that Walmart is in fact, the devil on Earth, has taken to shopping at Sam’s Club and Walmart because she’s feeling the pinch, and can no longer afford to live solely on principle. 😉 I went grocery shopping this past weekend, and all told, I spent little compared to my mother – only $35. But this is keeping in mind that my freezer is FULL, my pantry is stocked, and I’m pretty well set should a nuclear winter occur.

All brevity aside, I realize that I am out of two things – bottled water, and coffee. Sure, bottled water isn’t the most frugal purchase I can make – it is downright expensive and somewhat wasteful, if you ask me. But our water here is a cross between well water and, well, I don’t know what. Water straight out of the tap tastes terrible, even with an iron curtain and water softener. I have a Pur water pitcher for at home, but the Mister likes his bottled water for work. He says that he is pretty certain his place of employment uses neither a water softener nor an iron curtain. YUCK! And knowing my frugal nature, he tells me he’d rather bring a bottle or two from home every day than buy one in the machine. (So you were paying attention when I was ranting and raving about how g-danged expensive buying a bag of chips and a soda once a week can be!! Amazing!) I guess I’ll have to hit up CVS or Aldi for bottled water – I haven’t really looked at the ads this week, but I know SOMEONE has H2O on sale for around 2.88 a case.

The other thing we’re getting close to being out of is coffee. Now, I know that in the laws of frugality, drinking coffee every day is a huge no-no. I know ladies and gentlemen out there who reserve it only for special occasions. I respect that. However, I can’t, don’t, and won’t. 😉 I NEED my morning java fix – having a 9 1/2 month old at home makes me rather dependent on it. Sure, I only have one cup a day, maybe 2 if I’m fancying a cup at night and have some decaf in the house, but I NEED that coffee. My mother in law works for Oscar Mayer/Kraft, so I do get a wicked discount on Starbucks coffee if I want it (around $5 a bag….), but I really have come to prefer Boca Java coffee over any other in the past year. They’ve got some really nifty flavors, and some wonderful roasts.

What brings me back, again and again, is their service. Call their customer service – go ahead! Ask them questions about their coffee, what they suggest, how to brew, and you’ll be on the phone with one of the NICEST people you’ll ever talk to. Honest. I cannot get over how nice every single person at Boca Java is – I’ve talked to more than my fair share, and they’re all so helpful, kind, and polite. What is the icing on our proverbial, coffee flavored cake is this…..your coffee beans are roasted to order. They’re FRESH! Not stale and who-knows-how-long-this-has-been-on-the-shelf fresh….they roast your beans, and ship them. It is ridiculous how good their coffee is. Honest. And finally, having a family member who is getting deployed come October to go fight, it makes me feel kind of warm and fuzzy that not only do they run a program called “Coffee for the Troops” (Have you ever had coffee from a mess hall – GROSS!) that ships coffee, tea, coffee makers, grinders and more, they also have a “Brew of Bravery”, which is wicked good. And both go to support the troops – you may not agree with war, but you have to support your men and women in the armed forces.

Seriously, there are few things in the world I pay full price for – makeup is one of them, and coffee is the other. You get the quality you pay for.

Go ahead, give Boca Java a try…they’re awesome!

Just a Mom?

One of the girls over at Babycenter.com on the Dealing With the Inlaws board posted this a few days back. I have to admit, being a stay at home mom isn’t always the glamorous, fun time I thought it would be when my husband and I decided that I’d stay home to take care of Munchie. After working for 10+ years, it has been nothing short of a difficult adjustment. I enjoy being home and taking care of Munch and the house while I finish out my Masters’ degree more than anything, but a long, cold winter in Wisconsin doesn’t make keeping our spirits up easy – if anything, we’re so cabin feverish, it isn’t funny! Thank goodness that the weather broke, and it hit 45 degrees today! As a disclaimer, I certainly don’t find my happiness in wordly success or titles, but knowing that someone else out there feels the way I do, and my husband does, about motherhood just warms my heart! On with the post….

JUST A MOM?

A woman, renewing her driver’s license at the Motor Registration office,
was asked by the counter clerk to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

‘What I mean is,’ explained the counter clerk,
‘do you have a job or are you just a ..?’

‘Of course I have a job,’ snapped the woman.

‘I’m a Mom.’

‘We don’t list ‘Mom’ as an occupation,

‘housewife’ covers it,’
Said the clerk emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Medicare office.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
‘Official Interrogator’ or ‘Town Registrar.’

‘What is your occupation?’ she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
‘I’m a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations.’

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

‘Might I ask,’ said the clerk with new interest,
‘just what you do in your field?’

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
‘I have a continuing program of research,
(what mother doesn’t)
In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I’m working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are
more of a satisfaction rather than just money.’

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she
completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants — ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than ‘just another Mum.’ Motherhood!

What a glorious career!
Especially when there’s a title on the door.

🙂 While I may not have 4 daughters, I understand how this mom feels about her family – she feels PROUD and grateful for them! As I do too…..

Autumn leaves and cool night air

Autumn is officially here in Wisconsin….my tomato plants are starting to die. I’m hoping I can eek out a few more weeks (and a few more tomatoes!) from there. I’ll have to find a place for my indoor herb garden though; there’s no way I can part with fresh basil and thyme now!The air at night is cool; cool enough to sleep with the windows open and not be uncomfortable at all. During the day, it has only been in the low 70s, with no humidity; which is a blessing, as far as I’m concerned!

I do love fall though! School starts back up, the leaves begin to change colors, the holiday season fast approaches. This time of year always brings me back to “You’ve Got Mail” when Joe Fox says of the weather, “It makes me want to buy school supplies. If I knew your name and address, I’d send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.” Perhaps his thoughts are fueled by the sense of beginning again; I never felt like New Year was a new beginning. In January in Wisconsin, there’s snow, its colder than cold, and there’s no new life ANYWHERE. Not that I’m complaining about the snow; I still know how to make a mean snow angel, and will gladly do so anywhere, including on my Step Mother in Law’s yard (of course, that always illicits a few raised eyebrows, but at least I’m making the most of the season!:) )

Today was a day of productivity for me… I got my kitchen cleaned up, vaccuumed the entire apartment (no small feat considering I moved a ton of furniture!), went through the scary magazine bin (it was overflowing…frightening), made my own laundry detergent, thanks to a recipe Amy over at Contemplations Amid Chaos found a while back. I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised at how nicely it cleans our laundry. And hopefully, hubby’s skin won’t flare up as badly this winter now (yes, we deal with psoriasis in our house too!) minus all those nastly chelating agents and perfumes. I’m saying a prayer and crossing my fingers. I do need to mention though, I had to use a little more than she recommended on her website. Amy states that you should only need 1 tablespoon for light loads, 2 for heavier soiled loads. I noticed that the clothes didn’t get quite as clean with 2 tablespoons (we have hard water here, and even with a water softener, well, its still hard.), so I actually upped what I was using to 6 tablespoons, then 5, and now am very happy with 4 tablespoons. I found one of those cough syrup cuppy things, and its a perfect little measuring cup! I ended up using Fels Naptha, mainly because I know and trust its name. And, it was the biggest bar out of the three laundry bars I found for the best money: Kirks Castile, Ivory, and Fels Naptha. I bought two bars, which was roughly 4 cups total, grated. I then added 2 cups borax and 2 cups washing soda, and put it all in a cute little plastic tubby I found at the dollar store. No more heavily scented laundry for me!

 Well…that’s about it for tonight. Cleaning really has brought to mind a bible verse I found in a journal I wrote in college…4 years ago now! Of course, in those days, I was great at finding the obscure books that no one ever talks about in the bible, and dissected them like crazy. However, then, as a new Christian, the following verses really shaped how I thought for a season. I found myself thinking today how easily we can forget such simple wisdom:

Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”  – Haggai 1:5-6.

Crystal over at Biblical Womanhood  blogged on this today, in a roundabout way. I think reading her blog really impressed upon me what the Lord has been asking me for a while…”Are you doing this for Me, or for yourself?” As I re-evaluated certain thoughts, deeds, and actions, I had to say, “No, Lord. I haven’t been doing “x” for you.” Living for Christ, and Christ alone is something I am continually convicted of, and it is always so liberating when the shackles of the world are thrown off when you give up something for the Lord.  O Lord, that I may have clean hands and a pure heart yet!

Reading list

Until I figure out how to add the header “Reading List”, I’ll post all NON school reading items here. Right now, I just started Life Management for Busy Women: Living Out God’s Plan With Passion and Purpose.   I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes! I’ve read books by Elizabeth George in the past, and while I’d definitely say that there are certain things that work for her that just wouldn’t work for the DH and I, God uses her in great ways, so I’m interested to hear what she’s got to say. 🙂

Also, if you’re looking for a good book or sewing pattern for that last summer project, head on over to Crystal’s blog at Biblcal Womanhood Online…she’s got a whole collection of gems in her store!

Bunches of Tomatoes and crickets

So I decided today at work that enough was enough, it was time I canned something again! Well…seventy dollars later, I’d already had enough. I never realized how heavy 8 pounds  of tomatoes is.  Good thing my desire for some HOME MADE salsa outweighed my laziness.  I ended up making apple butter and roasted red pepper spread for things like bruschetta. Aaron really enjoys fruity spreads, whereas I definitely love the savory spreads. I’ve found www.homecanning.com an indespensible resource!I bought a canner right before Aaron and I got married this spring, and while I’ve NEVER EVER canned before (come to think of it, no one in my family has. Hmm.), I certainly enjoy it, provided I’m organized. Tonight was not one of those nights. Aaron walked into our kitchen from “manland” (the 2nd bedroom’s affectionate nickname…from me. Its obviously his room.), and just turned around and started to walk out. He ended up getting recruited to mash the apples while I tried to find the sink.

 Needless to say, I finally finished everything up at 9 pm, started the dishwasher, mopped the floor with my “modified” clorox ready mop, disinfected all of the counters, and put my jammies on. Now I’m just waiting for a load of laundry to finish, I’m pretty certain the DH is asleep on the couch. I’ve got 7 half pints and 2 full pints of apple butter, and 5 half pints of the roasted red pepper spread. My mom, I’m fairly certain, thinks I’m crazy for canning. Her attitude is “Science has come along way…what’s wrong with the Pace Salsa?” Well….nothing, actually. I love certain store bought foods…velveeta with spicy salsa mixed in and tortilla chips…nummy! But if you have the time, its a lot more fun to make a homemade salsa and homemade chips. Same goes for dinner…I LOVE Kraft Macaroni and Cheese…but I know that it is not something I can eat every day for dinner anymore (yes, I did my time in undergrad and no, I don’t want to go back, thankyouverymuch!).

All the “craziness” aside, knowing how to can, even one or two recipes, is a great skill to have. I’ve hauled a few jars of pepper jelly out, tossed it over some cream cheese (Sometimes homemade, sometimes not…), put this on a pretty platter, and headed off to a last minute party. I’ve also given canned foods as gifts. Those that don’t can really love to receive yummy foods they might otherwise spend 5-7 bucks on at the farmers’ market! (Sorry farmers!) Tomorrow afternoon, as soon as I get home, I am making salsa! I’ve never actually canned the stuff, I’ve always made the kind that, well, gets eaten right away. We’ll see how that goes, and if I can figure out pictures, I’ll even post those!

As I’ve been typing, I’ve been listening to the crickets and frogs serenading us. Growing up in a relatively busy suburb, you never really LISTEN to the crickets. Yeah, you hear them, but you don’t associate the noise. Once I moved out to the country, the first night I laid in bed saying to myself, “Whatever is that noise!?” I finally figured out that it was crickets. I still remember calling my dad from college…”Dad! Guess what!? You can hear CRICKETS out here in Whitewater!” I remember him chuckling over it, teasing me for months about it. Now that my folks live out in the country too, my dad is amazed at all of the wildlife you see…especially the ducks that hang out in their yard. Most of the time, they look like very realistic lawn ornaments. 😉

Well…off to check the blog roll for the night, I’ve got a recipe for homemade laundry detergent I need to find! 🙂

I lead a small life….

Watching tv tonight with the hubby proved interesting. My most favorite move EVER, You’ve Got Mail is on. It is almost at the end, but I have it on DVD, so now I HAVE to watch it, right?

 Meg Ryan’s character, Kathleen, says at one point in the movie; ” Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, valuable, but small. . And sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven’t been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn’t it be the other way around? I don’t really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void.”

 While I know there isn’t just a ‘dear void,’ but a real, living God out there, I often wonder why where I am at is where exactly I’m at. While that may not make sense to some, I often wonder why the Lord puts me where I’m at.

 I’ve been debating secondary issues of our Christian faith lately. Sallie over at agracioushome.com has been good enouigh to really post a wonderful train of thoughts on many of the “issues” that women in the church often face. While I can’t even begin to pretend to be wise, learned, or otherwise, I can only profess that I know what my faith in Christ will save me, and nothing else. No works, no good deeds, nothing but the love of Christ.

Well, I have nothing entirely compelling to say but, I’ve been on my feet since 6 am waitressing and otherwise. I think it is time for a glass of wine and a good book on the couch with “You’ve Got Mail.” 😉

Hello world!

Hello to all who enter here! While I will not claim to be an expert in much of anything, I do hope that I will be able to entertain, enlighten, and spread the Love and Faith I know through Christ to all those who read this blog. Welcome, and read on…

Please be patient as I build my site; I’m new to blogging, and I may need time to get things up.