Saturday I decided that I should go outside and help Shannon with some of the yard work that needed to be done.
So, I went into our bedroom to get my shoes and socks, only to find all of this cuteness going on.
Who could think about yard work at a time like this?.........
Once I was able to tear myself away from all of that cuteness, I made my way outside to get the lawnmower started, only to find myself distracted again.
I'm sorry, where was I?.....Oh, yes, the lawnmower.
Yes, it runs as bad as it looks.
You may or may not be wondering, with two teenage boys in the house, why would I need to cut the grass.......I have complained about wondered that myself, but there is a perfectly ridiculous reasonable explanation.
Matthew has severe allergy and sinus problems; so much so that he can get a sinus infection just taking out the trash. And Daniel is more than willing to cut the grass, but he tends to miss most of the yard a few spots.
So, sometimes it simply looks better is just easier if Shannon and I do it.
After cranking the lawnmower, I got a lot of the yard covered pretty quickly, until I saw this creepy, disgusting little thing staring at me (shudder).
And then I saw its creepy, disgusting little back (shudder again).
Is it just me, or does this creepy, disgusting little thing look like he is making an obscene finger gesture at me?........
Once I was finally able to focus......
I did a pretty nice job on the yard, if I do say so myself.
I will admit though, it was definitely difficult with all of these distractions.
Yesterday, Shannon had to have a colonoscopy procedure done. And since I don't get out of the house ever very much, I found the hospital to be quite entertaining.
I think it is amusing how medical professionals have to talk to all adults as if they are six years old and it is their first day of "big school."
Don't get me wrong, Shannon's nurse was very nice, it's just that a few of the things that she said to him made me laugh out loud to myself.
To me the funniest things were what she said when she handed him his gown and this pair of slipper socks.
For the gown she said, "Now put this gown on OPEN IN THE BACK." (Do you think she thought Shannon would be confused which side of his body they would be doing the colonoscopy procedure on?)
After making sure he was completely clear on all of the gown instructions, she handed him the slipper socks and said, "Now put these socks on and make sure the rubber grips are ON THE BOTTOM." (I realize that someone, somewhere, sometime ago must have done this sock procedure the wrong way, but it is still funny to me. Shannon is forty-two, not four.)
Another "funny" thing to me that was in all the bathrooms and in Shannon's hospital room was this sign.
Every time I saw one of these signs, it made me feel like I was six years old again.....It is sad to think that we live in the greatest country in the world, yet most Americans apparently still don't know to wash their hands after using the bathroom without being reminded.
They did not ask my opinion, but I think it would be more effective if they used a sign that was a little more threatening.....This sign (in the above picture) looks like something that you would hang in a baby's room; it does not look like it would grab the attention of the thousands of non-hand washing Americans out there.
I think something like this sign would be more effective.
I'm just saying is all.
Once they took Shannon back to do the colonoscopy procedure, I decided to go get a Diet Coke out of the Coke machine down the hall.
I haven't bought a Diet Coke from a machine in a while. I was shocked when I realized that one dollar was not even enough money to purchase one Diet Coke any more. So, I had to search through my wallet to find a quarter. As I went to put my dollar and quarter into the machine, I saw something new (to me anyway)......
I could not believe that Coke machines now accept credit cards. As I was taking this picture a man walked up and looked at me and said, "Well, I've never seen a person take a picture of a Coke machine before.".......Like I said earlier, I don't get out much.
Shannon's results all came back great! No problems. Thank You, God!
I'm not positive, but I don't think he was in the mood for picture taking.
After leaving the hospital, we went straight to Chick-fil-a to get some lunch. He was starving! (He told me about fifteen times that he had not eaten anything for fifty-one hours.....in case you were wondering.)
When we got home, Shannon stumbled upon a new little lizard friend.
Apparently this little lizard was camera shy, because he hid in this hole after Shannon took the first picture of him.
Hopefully, this new little lizard friend of Shannon's will not end up in my bathroom toilet(shudder).
This week in my devotional I learned about a woman named Herodias.
I feel like I should start off by saying, this has probably been the most difficult post I have done so far of the different women of the Bible that I have been learning about. Herodias is not a likable lady at all. The main thing about her that I learned for myself is that I hope and pray that I am absolutely nothing like her. That being said, God tells her story for a reason, so there is obviously something valuable to learn from her life. So let me share with you now a glimpse of what the Bible has to say about Herodias.
Mark 6:14-29 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Others said, "He is Elijah." And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago." But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!" For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered. At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter." The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Like I said, not likable at all......
As I was reading about Herodias the main things that spoke to me were her family and her legacy.
Herodias was the granddaughter of Herod the Great (not to be confused with her husband King Herod). Herod the Great (her grandfather) is the same Herod that wanted to kill the baby Jesus.
Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
You always hear the phrase, "The apple never falls far from the tree." That is definitely true of this family.
I realized while reading this story, exactly how much of an impact my life has on my own children, and that my life will ultimately impact my grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. That thought is overwhelming to me.
The choices that I make today have a lasting effect. My triumphs as well as my mistakes will all affect my children and their future children.
Numbers 14:18 The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.
Herodias let her hatred for the John the Baptist rule her heart, which in turn ruled her decisions.....With the murderous example of her grandfather, King Herod, though, she probably thought it was the best way to handle the situation. She probably thought it was her right.
I realize though, that Herodias could have made a different choice. She could have chosen to follow a path other than her grandfather's. I know that I have made many mistakes as a parent, and I am sure that I will make many more. But I pray that my children will learn from my mistakes. If I own up to my mistakes and apologize to my children when I have done wrong, they can learn that it is important to take responsibility for their own actions.
We will all make mistakes, but it is how we handle those mistakes that will make the difference.
Herodias not only acted like her grandfather, she brought her daughter along for the ride. A new generation of evil. She used her daughter Salome to get what she wanted. It obviously did not concern her at all that her daughter would be asking for a man to have his head literally chopped off and served up on a platter. To her it was no different than asking for a new purse or a new pair of shoes.
I pray that I never encourage my children to make the same mistakes I've made. Let alone take them to a whole different level.
As I'm writing this, I realize, my words are so clumsy. It is just so difficult for me to wrap my brain around Herodias and her actions. I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination; it's just that the thought of asking one of my children to request the head of my enemy is unfathomable to me. So to those of you reading this, I apologize for my inability to say anything encouraging in this post. This has just been a tough one for me.
Like I said earlier, the words that stood out to me in my thoughts upon reading about Herodias were family and legacy.
I looked up the meanings of both of these words in the dictionary.
family: two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place
legacy: something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past
Families are made up of people sharing the same goals and values, handing them down to the next generation..........
What goals and values are you sharing with your family? What will be your family's legacy?
Here is a movie portrayal of Herod, Herodias, and Salome as she dances for the king. This clip shows you an extremely dysfunctional family that left a legacy of pride, selfishness, and murder.
Lord, I pray that my children and their children's children will know that Shannon and I loved and served only You; I long for that to be our family's legacy.
Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Well, today, I am going to show you how to make the ultimate cheese dip....Once you take this dip to your next church potluck or family gathering.......you will be the most poopular person at the party. (Just kidding!)
So join me in my kitchen, and I'll show you how to make the magic happen in yours.
Here's all you will need to help you pop out at parties.
The first step in making this cheesy goodness is to cut the cheese. (Just ignore me; I live with three boys. Sorry.)
You only need one pound of cheese for this recipe.
Now cut the cheese (again, just ignore me) into cubes. Like so.
Now get out a small saucepan and a can opener. (See how rustic we are; that's right, you can't plug that can opener in. It's a manual one....you know, so I can cook while the power is out!)
Now dump pour the rotel into your saucepan.
The next thing you will need to do is to add one-fourth teaspoon of black pepper. Like this.
Now throw in one teaspoon of garlic powder. Trust me; it will be goooooood!
The last spice you will add is ground cumin. Just toss in one teaspoon of that as well. (This is the secret ingredient; but don't tell anybody.)
Grab a spoon, and stir it all together. Like so.
Place your saucepan on the stove and bring the rotel and spices to a boil. Let them boil for about two minutes. Then remove from heat. (Thanks!)
Now you are ready to dump the cheese that you just cut (sorry) into the blender. Like so.
Then dump pour the rotel and spices right over the cheese. (Be careful though; it's hot!)
It should look something like this.
Now for the most important step of this entire recipe.....Make sure the lid to your blender is on good and tight!
Put your blender on the High speed and blend. (Note to self: Next time remember to clean the blender before showing it to tens of people on the internet.)
When it is all blended together and looks something like this picture, it is ready!
Now it is time to dump pour it all into your serving bowl. Like this. Mmmmmmmmm!
If you stick your finger in it accidentally get some on your finger, feel free to lick it off......I won't tell anybody!
Now for the "official" taste test. Grab a chip and dip it.
Mmmmmmmmmmm!
If you still have some left after the taste test is finished.......quickly leave the house and head to the party.....(Trust me on this; if you don't leave quickly, the cheese dip could possibly disappear before you are able to get out of the house. This has often never happened to me, of course, but I've heard stories.)
When you arrive at the "party" carrying a bowl of this cheese dip and a bag of chips.......
All eyes will be on you, and you will start to hear Pink's voice singing in your ears.
Then you'll dance with your cheese dip and chips all the way across the room.
That's right!
Like this........
♫ I'm coming up so you better get this party started I'm coming up so you better get this party started
(get this party started)
Making my connection as I enter the room everybody is chillin' as I set up the groove Pumpin up the volume with this brand new beat everybody's dancin' and they're dancin' for me I'm the operator you can call anytime I'll be your connection to the party line
I'm coming up so you better get this party started I'm coming up so you better get this party started I'm coming up so you better get this party started I'm coming up so you better get this party started ♫
Okay, well maybe I'm exaggerating a lot a little bit, but trust me, if you take this cheese dip to the next social gathering that you are invited to........you'll get invited back!
