adventure with Bill

Last summer my refrigerator died....I had resuscitated it twice  before, with my vacuum cleaner performing CPR magic as it sucked out all the dust and dog hair in the filter......but, alas this time it was DEAD!!!!
We went to an appliance store five minutes before closing..we decided to meet there as he was bringing a van to haul our new fridge and I needed to be somewhere after. Well, Bill pulled into the parking lot and the van he was driving died. Not in a parking spot, but in front of the store...
We went in and looked around, but the store was closing, so he decided he would come by first thing in the morning to fix the van (the girl's hated that van. it.was creepy with it's curtain to block off views of tools). Bill thought he would come first thing in the morning...but first he had to open his shop. By the time he had picked me up I was really getting an uneasy feeling.
The President was coming to town and had a huge motorcade going right by the store we were going to. When we got to the store his van was still there so Bill hopped in and got it started and pulled into a parking spot. When we walked in all these store employees came up to Bill and were asking about the van. Bill explained what had happened and the employees started showing Bill a white van across the parking lot. In the van were some secret service guys who earlier had been combing through Bill's van...it was pretty suspicious looking I must agree!
They were all laughing about it, and were daring Bill to run up to the van, but we were on our mission... so we proceeded to hunt for our new refrigerator...after awhile, I realized we were being followed. That was a little unnerving!
Well, we found our fridge and were about to leave to go to a warehouse to pick it up...when the salespeople told Bill he should wait, as the Presidential motorcade was about to pass....AND the secret service van still had us under surveillance! Bill just responded, "I need to get back to work"...I thought "I'm sure glad we drove separately"!!!!
The good news in this story is that the warehouse was in the opposite direction as the motorcade...so we got out of there with no further incident! WHEW!!! That man made my heart beat faster....just NOT for the right romantic reason this time!!
When we got home with the fridge it was a whole new adventure with Bill having to remove the whole door and doorframe to get it in!
The good news is that it is now in and fits beautifully!!!!
Life sure is an adventure...even in the simple things!   John 10:10 says That" God has given us life and that more abundantly."...

BUSY!!!!!

Recently, I woke up with one word ingrained on my mind. It was BUSY!!!! Like that....like it was really meant for me to take heed of.....I would have ...but I was too busy to that day!
I turned on the television to one of my favorite shows...Joyce Meyers "enjoying everyday life". As I was making my bed she caught my attention ,because she was wearing a huge pin that simply said "BUSY". I knew that I needed to hear what she said, so I tried to watch, but kept getting distracted with all the "stuff" I needed to accomplish so......I kind of half watched....
The next morning I turned on Joyce's program again and guess what????!!!!! It was the exact SAME program..(that doesn't happen)!!! Well, by then I knew I needed to listen, so I even recorded it!! WOW!! She hit the nail on the head, and used the acronym for busy...Being Under Satan's Yoke...
I was getting so busy in my life I wasn't taking the time for what's REAL.....That is REALationships!!!
I was getting so focused on what needed to be done, that I was ignoring what was important! Family, Friends, Hospitality,Being Still.........
The old song from a veggie tales video popped into my mind..(from when my children were very young)...Starts out "Busy, Busy ...dreadfully busy...you've no idea what I need to do...busy, busy dreadfully busy ...much much too busy for you!!!! It went on but those were the words echoing in my brain!!! OUCH! That was convicting! I was focused on programs, cleaning, meals, bible studies...all good things....but not God's best!!
I remembered a quote from Jill Briscoe...She said.."slow me down, Lord, I'm moving too fast...help me see people as they're moving past".
I have rewatched that show of Joyce's a couple of times since so it goes into my heart! I need to be reminded to take the time...look into people's eyes...smile make the call...still need to hand write some letters, but I am determined to focus on the REAL and not the BUSY!!! How about you?????
Romans 12:9-10
'''''''''''''''''''' Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other".
I know we all wear many hats and live life in the fast lane......God wants you to know He knew what He was doing when He made twenty four hours in a day and He really does want us to use the time He has gifted us with to be a blessing in someone's life!!!!!!!!

Wait for it!!!!!

Last summer I felt brave for a day.... I asked my daughter Sarah if she would go to Wirth park with me while she nannied her two charges and I babysat my two grandbabies. Piece of cake, right???? Well, we arrived at the same time as Sarah and the children were delightful for about five minutes! It was a very hot day and after we played in the water,and went down the little slides...Luke decided he wanted to try the BIG slide. I told him NO!!!  The lifeguards were not there to cool the slide down with water and I remembered Elisabeth my daughter, getting burned on it when she was little.
I distracted Luke and directed him to the sandbox with Sarah's little boys Jonah and Noah...I put Katharine in the stroller with a bottle, turned mine and sarah's chairs to face the sandbox and was about to settle down when.......I was watching the children all playing happily and I couldn't spot Luke!!!
Terror....dread!!!1 Sarah ran to the big slide he had wanted so badly to go down...nothing! We scanned the splash pad...NOTHING!!! I told Sarah to stay there and I ran to the big pool....I was panicking as I searched, when...I looked toward the diving boards and I noticed alot of people in line...... and in the middle was this tiny guy in a red spiderman suit! It was Luke!! I didn't want to scare him, but I ran toward the high dive...he was next in line!!! ARGH!!!!!!
Anyway, I grabbed him and talked to him and he was wonderful the rest of the day!!!!!
Luke didn't want to wait....as I don't want to..but God desires us to not only learn to wait..but wait well!!!! He promises that those who wait on the Lord WILL renew their strength...God tells us to wait and wait expectantly!!!!(psalm27)
I was reminded of how my husband Bill told me we were going on a little get-a-way...he told me to be ready by 10:00 a.m. on Wed. I WAS!!! And I waited and waited  and WAITED!!!!!!! It was a good thing I couldn't find a place to stay....because I waited two days for that man!!!!!! YES...we finally did get away and miraculously found a beautiful place to stay (that opened up minutes before I   called).
Luke did not want to wait.....but I'm sure God was smiling as he saw the faith of that child as he confidently stood in line for the high dive...(oh, did I say he is two years old)??????
Lord, help us to learn to wait on you and wait well!!!!!