Christmas Past

1995 - Josh (6) Matt (3) Rachel (3 mo)


1998 - Josh (9) Matt (6) Rachel (3) Alec (1 1/2)



1999 - Josh (10) Matt (7) Rachel (4) Alec (2 1/2)

For Your Bowl Only

Have you heard about it? Seen it? Smelled it?

Is it in your toilet bowl?

Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel.

You've seen the commercial. Using a very simple gadget, you "stamp" the gel onto the inside of the toilet bowl and flush after flush, the fresh scent is released.

Now I'm speaking mostly to you MOB's. That's "mother of boys". You know, our sweet little boys/young men make a bathroom...well, not so fresh.

Today, after stamping each of the three toilets, I went back into each bathroom to collect the trash. Before my discovery of this gel stamp, I would hold my breath as I bent down near the base of the toilet to grab any Q-tips, dental floss and tissue that didn't make it into the trash.

Imagine my surprise when I bent down today and actually enjoyed the fragrant toilet bowl! The pleasant citrus scent was a refreshing change.


Get it, use it and enjoy!

Merry Christmas! Yep, I Said It.

His Hart

Everytime I hear the song by Toby Mac, "I Was Made To Love You", I think of Rhonda Hart. I remember how much she loved that song.

She was formerly and very well known as "Rockin Rhonda" on the rock station WRIF back in the day. I will remember her as the on-fire-for-Jesus radio personality on wmuz. She was 1/2 of the "Jon and Rhonda in the Morning Show". She had such a powerful testimony and was always sharing her love for Christ with people. In both her words and actions.

Sadly, she passed away unexpectedly in June of 2007 at 46 years of age.

Toby Mac's song came on this afternoon and it made me think of her. So I did a search and found this great site that has been set up as a tribute to her.

http://www.rhondahart.com/evangelize.htm

I encourage you to visit that link and read the page that you are brought to. It will bless you. It talks about what she was like and even the morning of her last radio show -- how she was worshipping the Lord during one song in particular....and that the song was about someday being in His presence. Wow.

Here also is the Toby Mac song:

Thank You, Kind Woman

Someone does something nice for you and you do something nice for someone else. Pay it forward.

On several occassions, I have completely enjoyed purchasing someone else's coffee at the drive thru window at Tim Horton's. That someone else being whoever is in the vehicle behind me at the time. Driving off, I would have a smile on my face, knowing that they would be nicely surprised when they found out.

Imagine my complete surprise when I pull up to the drive thru window yesterday morning to pay for my coffee and bagel and the guy informs me that the person before me paid for my order. My order. Someone else. WOW. I was stunned. Thats what I do, never expecting that someone would also do that for me.

As I drove off, with a smile and a tear (literally), all I could think of was how this unknown woman had made my day. That simple gesture meant so much to me.

And I am pretty positive that it probably made her day as well.

That is the effect that it has on both the giver and receiver in random acts of kindness.

It makes me think of the simple things that you and I could do for others, without recognition, that would make such a difference in someone else's day.

Do something nice for someone else today.

Snow Day

Its that time of year again. Looking forward to a snow day.

My kids were due to go back to school today after having all last week off for Thanksgiving.

Now that we have had snow and with any hint of a snow storm, me and the kids start dreaming of a snow day. I'm checking the weather tracker online, walking to the back patio door and flipping on the light to see how much, if any, accumulation and then listening to one of the kids, "Oh man, I hope tomorrow is a snow day." Over and over. Repeat. Like the directions on the bottle of shampoo. Do this and this and then repeat. That is us, hoping for that blessed snow day.

I like snow days too. Snow day = sleeping in for me. I LOVE sleeping in. Plus, not getting up and making sack lunches. That whole rush thing. Don't love it.

And then this morning comes. While still very much half asleep, I get up and turn on the local news, reading all of the school closings at the bottom of the screen. I'm waiting for our area to show up. Rachel is in her robe just out of the shower with her cell phone in her hand. She shows me a text from the neighbor girl. It says, "No school today. Snow Day!" I'm like, cool.

Then Matt comes in my room and pops the big sleep/stay home bubble, "We DO have school."

I double check on the television and indeed, our area doesn't show up on the school closings list.

JUST to make sure, Rachel and I hurry down to the computer to check the school district's website. Okay. Yes. School. Bummer.

Everyone kicks into gear and gets ready.

Matt is very tired and pours himself a cup of coffee, saying he needs it desperately this morning. All four of my kids enjoy a cup of coffee with some flavored creamer...they got that from their Momma. Just not every day.

I'm in the kitchen packing lunches. I hear, "Oh!!!!", like something is wrong. Like, "Oh crap!"

I remember that Matt is sitting at the computer drinking his coffee.

Big bummer. He spilled it ON the keyboard.

Long story short: the keyboard died and I had to go to the store and fork out extra cashola for a new one. And not the cheap kind either. Has to be one that is compatible with our Mac. Of course they only had one to choose from.

Of course.

If only it had been a snow day.