I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch the video below. Ray Comfort was interviewed by 60 Minutes – New Zealand. You’ll get an interesting look into the ministry that he founded.
Filed under: Christian | Tagged: 60 Minutes, Christianity, Ray Comfort | 1 Comment »
Today the sky was overcast. We’re in for some severe weather.
Chicky and I slept in, finally crawling out of bed around 8:30. I just love these easy mornings!
I took my time getting ready for the day. Much of the morning was spent on-line, catching up on neglected items. I finally printed the postage needed for my last box of blankets. The box is on its way to Colorado, where the blankets will be donated to the Children’s Hospital in Denver. While I was out, I ran to Target to spend the gift card my sister had sent me.
I don’t know about you, but it’s hard to spend gift cards! It’s almost like you don’t want to use up the gift because you know that once it’s gone, it’s gone.
I looked all over that store…
I’ve been wanting new measuring spoons for the kitchen, but the sets at Target didn’t include a 1/8 tsp, so I walked on by. I meandered through the movie section but couldn’t find one I wanted. Mr. AuburnChick tends to pick up movies here and there, so why bother spending my gift card on something he’ll probably purchase anyhow.
I checked out the magazines, but there were no knitting ones! Golly, don’t these people know they would have a lot more magazine sales if they carried the right titles? Sheesh…
I took a peek at the Nintendo DS games, but since I don’t have the console, it really did no good. I would have loved to get one for my birthday, but money is so tight that not getting one was okay too. Still…the games…Brain Age, Crossword Puzzle…sigh…I’m such a nerd.
I walked through the make-up section and peeked at the organic lines. Somehow, I couldn’t see myself paying $8 for a bar of soap.
The home furnishings department left me less than enthused as well.
I guess I wasn’t in the mood for shopping. I don’t know. I walked out with the soap and kleenex that I paid for using the Mr’s account and kept my gift card safely stashed away in my purse for another time.
When I got home, I couldn’t help but notice all of the weeds in my yard. Even though I had spent some time yesterday pulling weeds, I obviously had a ways to go. I should just plow the whole thing. Most of the green that you see is actually weeds and not grass.
Yet, I did my obligatory work and pulled as many as I could stand. The weather, although not sunny, was breezy and perfect for such a task. All I managed to leave behind were a lot of empty holes.
The rest of my afternoon has been spent on Ravelry. Yeah, time-suck, eh?
Well, I’m actually on a mission…to find another project. I actually have two I want to work on, but I’m waiting for a seller to email one I purchased earlier. I can’t tell what it is because the person I’m making it for might just read my blog. Once I get it, I’m going to use some of my birthday money to get the yarn for it. While I’m out doing that, I’ll purchase yarn for my other project: Frog Prince, by Alan Dart. The pattern is in the March issue of Simply Knitting. It will be a gift for one of Rooster’s teachers, who is collects frog-themed items.
I’ve also almost decided to knit the Shetland Shorty shrug with the bamboo yarn I purchased in Las Vegas last year. The pattern is free and located here, on Knitty.com. I’ve never knit a sweater before, so this could be interesting.
Ugh…I am in such a knitting funk. I think that’s why I’m all over the place with the ideas. I frogged my Duckies sock yesterday after turning the heel the other day. Long story, which I won’t bore you with. Needless to say, I’m not happy with the knitting right now.
Sigh…
At least it’s Spring Break!
Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: Alan Dart, Frog Prince, Knitting, knitty.com, shetland shorty, Simply Knitting | Leave a comment »
I thought Spring Break was about relaxing!!!
Chicky and I slept in but then hit the ground running. After making an appointment with a seamstress, we headed to the tux place to get Guy Friend fitted for his fancy threads. We took the dress with us to get the colors matched up. Then, we ran to the mall to look for the appropriate undergarment for Chicky’s dress.
After much debate, we bought this:
They are gel inserts for the halter part of her dress.
They fit right into the top, so Chicky won’t have to worry about a strap. Yay!
We then made our way to the seamstress’ house. Once again, I was blown away by how pretty Chicky looks with that dress on. After getting the dress pinned, she was ordered to walk down the hall.
That’s when we discovered that we had a problem.
Chicky cannot walk in heels. She already had a pair of shoes from another function, but I’d forgotten how hesitant she was…teetering while walking across the gym floor to accept an award. There was simply no way she was going to make it through an entire night with them on…plus a fancy dress.
Another debate ensued. What to do. She wanted to take her shoes off after pictures, but the seamstress reminded her that the dress would be too long as it would be hemmed to fit a higher heel.
So, back to the mall we went…in search of a more comfortable pair of shoes.
We found these:
They are fancy, but flat. The perfect combination.
Back to the seamstress’ house we went, Guy Friend still tagging along. He was extremely patient.
The seamstress re-pinned the dress, confident that we had made the right decision. This time, when Chicky walked across the floor, she did so with more confidence.
Mission accomplished.
We finally made it back home around 2pm…four hours later.
The mail had come, and surprises were waiting for me…
Gifts from my sister
And…
Malabrigo Lace - From one of the West Coast Oddball Knitters
Oh yeah…so very nice to come home to!!
I made dinner, and Chicky offered to do the dishes. Shock of all shocks. She was about halfway done when dinner was ready. I told her I would finish the dishes. Shock of all shocks. LOL
After dinner, she left for a visit to Guy Friend’s house. On her way out, she whispered, “Thanks for finishing the dishes.”
I whispered back, “Thanks for starting them.”
A good day in the AuburnChick home. A good first day of Spring Break.
Filed under: children | Tagged: Malabrigo Lace, prom, shoes, Spring Break | 1 Comment »
Today is my birthday. I’m 39, and no, I’m not holding. I’m proud of each year’s milestone.
This was the view when I walked out of the house:
Not a cloud in the sky…such a difference from the last three days of dark, rainy gloom.
Although it’s a chilly 63 degrees, I couldn’t help but be filled with the joy that is supposed to be a part of “my” day.
Chicky and I went to church. There were quite a few empty seats because of Spring Break. There were people missing from the praise team as well. However, the worship leader was one of my favorites. He did a fantastic job! God was surely in that place as we lifted our voices to Him.
The songs were especially meaningful to me given the rough few days I had last week. Here’s one of the songs we sang:
Aaron Shust – My Savior My God
From the album Anything Worth Saying
I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior
I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
Chorus
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be
Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
Chorus:
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
The sermon that followed was quite powerful. It was taken from 1 Corinthians 20-31 and focused on how God uses the weak to serve Him. My pastor used the example of David and Goliath to illustrate his point. Most people have heard the story, but if you haven’t, I invite you to open a Bible and read about it in 1 Samuel 17. The pastor also told a story about a young man at a college who was moved to repentance…not by an Olympic weight lifter who won the gold medal who was serving the Lord, but by a man, crippled during the Vietnam War and wheelchair-bound, whose face reflected a peace in his knowledge of God.
The weak, not the strong, was used to move the young man to repentance.
I often feel like the weaker person when gathered with others. I lack confidence in social situations and now, with my uncertain employment, am beginning to doubt myself there as well. Even in my weakness, God will use me to glorify Him. There is such joy in that.
One of the most inspiring moments during the sermon came when this gentleman…certainly not a spring chicken…declared that each morning when he gets up, he is excited and curious about how God will use him that day. I wonder…do I wake up with that attitude? To be an instrument of God, one only needs to be clean (Jesus washes away our sins) and available. Perhaps my job loss is making me available to hear God’s voice…His will for my life.
Things to ponder…
Rooster called me after I had gotten home from church. He’s away with the church youth group…on a mission to fix up the facility where they will go for summer camp. The group is going to Atlanta tomorrow (Monday) to play WhirlyBall. Just the fact that he remembered to call me meant the world to me.
I don’t know what I’m doing the rest of the day…taking it easy, working on the sock that hasn’t seen any action since early last week (understandable but still sad).
Another year older. I’d like to think another year wiser, but I’m not so sure. Perhaps just another year as thankful. Thankful for last year’s blessings. Thankful for each new day and the potential to be used by God.
Filed under: Christian | Tagged: Aaron Shust, Christianity, church, My Savior My God | 4 Comments »
Saturday was a busy day in the AuburnChick household…so busy that we didn’t let a series of downpours stop us from what we needed to accomplish.
Chicky and I slept in, a rare thing, and got up raring to go. We were on a mission…
To find a prom dress.
These are words that can strike fear in the heart of any teen’s mom.
Chicky invited a friend to tag along. This is one of the twins who came to visit her every day after her knee surgery. A good friend.
We visited Dillards first. Chicky approached the dresses hesitantly. She’s a soccer player, used to wearing shorts and knee-high socks. Dressing up is not her thing.
After a few “no’s” to dresses we pointed out, we finally told her she was trying on dresses, even if she didn’t think she would like them. The point was to start narrowing down the styles and colors she preferred.
Thank goodness her friend was there with us. It’s been a long time since I looked at fancy dresses, and some of those straps were like puzzle pieces…fitting around her shoulders in unique ways.
Chicky tried on quite a few dresses, but nothing really grabbed her interest. We did figure out that blue and silver are good colors for her. Guy Friend, who will be her date, prefers purple…for selfish reasons. It’s his favorite color. It didn’t look the best on her, though.
After leaving Dillards, we visited the only other “real” gown store in town…the one that “all” the girls go to. Chicky’s good friend was there working, which was nice because she knows Chicky’s tastes.
This store was a dream to shop in…every dress covered by a clear bag to protect it. Gowns were organized by price, size, and color. For an organized person like me, this was awesome! I cannot stand rifling through clothes to find the right size. Ugh.
Chicky tried on a few more dresses…and then she found THE one. It surprised her because she fought trying it on…not being very interested in it while it was on the hanger.
Boy, did she change her mind.
Although the dress is a bit too big at the top, and it’s also a bit too long, we could tell that this dress was perfect for her.
We looked for a price tag…the dreaded part of the entire trip…and sighed. Even with the $100 discount tag, it was way beyond what we could afford.
We walked out, resigned.
We took Chicky’s friend home. She offered to let her borrow a dress, but Chicky’s heart wasn’t into it any more.
An idea came to my mind in that moment.
Grandparents!
I suggested that Chicky call them and ask if they could help her out.
You could see her mind turning. Hmmm…
Before she called, she told me she was concerned about seeming greedy. Now, Chicky may be rude and unappreciative of what we do for her, but she never, ever asks her grandparents for things. She understands the value of money.
I walked into another room to give her privacy, and she made the call. The grandparents answered her call for help with the generosity they have always showered on members of our family.
Chicky came into the room with a huge smile on her face. She was ready to go back to the store.
We went back, as fast as the speed limit and weather would allow…Chicky was nervous the entire way. “What if someone else bought the dress while we were gone,” she asked.
“Then that wasn’t the dress God intended you to have,” I told her.
The dress was still there though, and it went home with us after I gulped and payed. A check is on the way from the grandparents, so I’m not overly concerned. But still…
As Chicky and I walked out of the store, she whispered to me, “This must be what it feels like to be rich.”
I had to laugh.
Oh gosh…you probably want to see pictures of this dress, don’t you? Ok…here they are…
The front
A close-up of the top
The back
Close-up of the back
I know that the top looks a bit revealing, but after it’s altered, it will hug her slender body…a body that doesn’t boast cleavage, thank goodness.
I’m so thrilled that we had a wonderful day of shopping…no fighting (amazing, eh?)…just a regular day out with my daughter.
Filed under: children | Tagged: dress, prom, shopping, teenagers | 1 Comment »
The dark sky I awoke to this morning matched my emotional state.
As I showered, I did so with a heavy heart…knowing that this would be my last “official” day working in the office. I tried to keep myself composed as I carefully dressed, putting on one of the school shirts that Ms. D had recently given me. The kids and I read devotions, and I teared up as I thanked God for the job He had given me.
When I got to school, Ms. D asked how I was doing.
“Fine,” I said, with all sincerity. Until I saw something beside my computer monitor:
I won’t share what she wrote in the card, but the feelings expressed in it mirrored what I wrote about her in yesterday’s post.
That’s when I lost it.
She did too.
We stood up and hugged.
And then we got to work. And boy, did we work!
This was our second day in a row of severe storms, and we were under a tornado watch/warning for a good portion of the day. It was also the last school day before Spring Break. The combination was deadly. We were slammed with phone calls and visitors…all wanting to check out students. At times, the line backed up to the door.
True wildness.
A blessing in disguise.
I did what I had done from Day 1 and worked my behind off, never letting on that it was my last day.
Ms. D and I had a few chuckles as we expressed the “Attendance Attitude” at the lame excuses and flat-out lies we were bombarded with.
Some of the ones that stood out:
Bored
Weather (One dad, quite attitude-y in his own right, claimed that the county had issued a “excused” absence for students due to the weather. Not quite…we chose not to argue, but gave him “The Look.” His girls were not excused in the computer, and we got the last laugh.)
One from yesterday…Emotionally Distressed (um…who was the child excusing…him or us? Try “laid off.”)
We were able to get away, individually, for a short time to inhale a bit of food. During my time, I sat in another friend’s office and told her about my situation. She already knew…word had traveled fast. She told me that everyone in the office was extremely sad to see me go. That made me feel good but sad too. I want to share the daily routine with these amazing people.
The afternoon rush was much like the morning, and we finally had a few moments of peace around 2pm.
That’s when I broke out the Reese’s Cups I had purchased yesterday. I told Ms. D that it was time for our moment. We opened the package and toasted (i.e. “clinked” our cups together much as you do with wine glasses) our time together. I followed suit with the receptionist and gave the last cup to the 9th grade guidance counselor, who looked like she needed something besides chocolate. She has a rough job that I have witnessed first-hand during the last few weeks.
Before I knew it, the final bell rang, and it was time to go. I looked at Ms. D, and she had tears in her eyes.
Sigh…
What a hard day…on everyone.
And then the after-school frenzy began with kids needing bus passes and miscellaneous other things…stuff that’s taken care of after I leave. I looked at Ms. D and said, “And life goes on.”
And so it does.
Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: jobs, school, work | 4 Comments »
The day started off in a festive way…
Cake…
Yes, those are Reese's Cups...a God-inspired cake since the gal who made it for me had no idea that I LOVE Reese's Cups. In fact, my favorite thing to get at Dairy Queen is a Reese's Cup Blizzard
A present…
Hand-made by the bookkeeper...there's even a dolphin, the school mascot...on it!
A card and a round of singing…
My birthday is a few days away, but tomorrow is Friday, and then we’ll be on Spring Break, so the celebrating started early…a fun surprise for me. Even the principal joined in on the fun.
I was so touched…telling the small group how thankful I have been at the way they have made me feel like a part of the family.
Then, it was back to work. What a busy day too! We were under a tornado watch most of the day, which meant that a good percentage of the student body felt the need to check out and go home. Not the safest thing given the bad weather. The high school is a hurricane shelter and one of the safest buildings in the city.
I had a run-in with a parent who changed her story – right in front of my face – about why she had checked out her daughter.
Grrr…
About 30 minutes before the day was over, I received a message that I was to report to the principal’s office.
My stomach suddenly knotted up. I wondered if I had done something wrong…maybe got too impatient with a caller during the crazy time earlier.
When I walked in, she said, “I have good news, and I have bad news.”
Then, I just knew.
She continued…”Happy early-birthday…that’s the good news.”
I waited.
“The bad news is that after tomorrow, we can’t keep you on board.”
She went on to explain that it was, in no way, a reflection of my work but a result of budget issues. Once again, the school is cutting back, and, to save other jobs, my position was being done away with. They’ll be using existing personnel to fill in the gaps during the day.
I sometimes wonder what others do in this situation. It’s one that’s happening multiple times around the world each day.
My reaction was the same as the last time I got laid off.
I was calm and level-headed.
The principal offered to write me a letter of recommendation. I thanked her and took the opportunity to give her a synopsis of my recent graduation and teacher certification. I told her how much I love the school and the students. I also asked that she consider me for any positions that might open up. As I did this, I conceded that while I realize I don’t have the experience of other teachers, I have a strong desire to teach.
I walked out of the office with a heavy heart. I could tell that the principal’s assistant was sympathetic. She made a beeline for the receptionist’s desk and told her to give me priority when looking for subs. You see, I’m reentering the sub pool. It made me feel good to hear her words and affirmed what the principal had told me…my hard work had not gone unnoticed nor appreciated.
As I walked back to my desk, my co-worker, Ms. D, gave me a quizzical look. I quietly told her what had transpired, and she immediately looked forlorn. We’re a team and friends. We bonded the first day I sat in my chair.
The next thirty minutes were sad. We both worked quietly…lost in our own thoughts.
“It’s so unfair for you,” she said.
I told her that I’m no better than the other people this is happening to. I went on to explain that the one thing that keeps me strong is that God has a plan. I admitted that I don’t like this part of it.
Sigh…
I did a good job with keeping my feelings inside…until I got home.
I called my friend, Rabbit, and unloaded my feelings on her. That’s when I lost control and shed a few tears.
I’m just so sad. I’ve been thinking about what I’m sad about, and it’s not about the loss of pay as, ironically, I’ll now be able to collect my unemployment check. Go figure, eh?
No. What I’m sad about is that I won’t be a part of the craziness that surrounds the office each day. I love being a part of that close-knit group. I thrive on the frenetic activity.
Sure, I’ve complained, but that’s only because people often don’t think. Especially parents. Go figure.
However, when you’re around teenagers for very long, you can’t help but become infected with their energy…good and bad. It spurns you on in a way that other personal interactions do not.
After I got off the phone with Rabbit, I called my sister. She’s such a woman of God. She’s going through her own thing right now, so we’ve talked on the phone quite a bit lately. She offered her love, prayers, and support in the way that sisters do.
Once I had vented, I had to get out of the house. After running to the bank, I stopped by the grocery store. A little indulgence was in order:
Caffeine, wine, spinach and artichoke dip, bagel crisps to accompany the dip, and chocolate.
My Newest, Favorite Wine That Doesn't Cost an Arm and a Leg
Ok…so I’m PMS’ing too…on top of everything else. What more can I say.
Ok…so now I need to find positives in this situation.
This job has been such a blessing in so many ways. I’ve demonstrated my work ethic, working while under the weather for the last week and half, working with practically no voice, and learning the computer system in about two days. I’m on the administrators’ radars. I’ve gotten to know the students better and feel like I’ll be a better sub and teacher because I understand how things are handled administratively. I also had one-on-one time with the principal…an opportunity I might now have had if I wasn’t being let go.
One of the most priceless blessings has been the opportunity to work with Ms. D. She is amazing. She’s a hard worker, always giving 1,000% to go out of her way to help students and staff. She doesn’t waste a minute but always looks for things to do. She’s organized and methodical. Her interpersonal skills are more than admirable. She empathizes and encourages, but she’s tough where she needs to be. I’ve grown to love her in the few weeks I’ve worked beside her. I will definitely go out of my way to seek her out and say hello when I’m at the school.
So, the pity party continues…for one more evening, anyway.
I did manage to cook a good dinner. Now, it’s me-time. I’m having a glass of wine and watching American Idol.
I think I’ll save the soda and chocolate for tomorrow…probably share the Reese’s Cups with Ms. D. We’ll toast to a wonderful month together and to a forever friendship.
Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: jobs, recession, substitute teaching | 2 Comments »
I’m feeling down right now.
I have not received my unemployment checks for the last few weeks, and I could never get through to a live person when I tried calling for assistance. Although I kept claiming my weeks, the money still wasn’t coming in.
Today, I finally got to talk to somebody.
It seems that I’m earning $26 too much per week.
Can you believe it?
No note, no email to explain this.
Ultimately, no money.
What this tells me is that I’m supposed to be working less to get the assistance I need…that little bit to help keep me from going under each month.
I’m totally disheartened and frustrated. It’s not in my nature to take the easy road.
Sigh…
Think I’ll go have a pity party for a while.
Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: recession, unemployment | 3 Comments »
This is my favorite time of year. I don’t know where you live, but in Florida, Spring is simply amazing. It’s not too hot and not too cold.
Ahhhh…
I totally understand the term “Spring Cleaning.”
I think that the fresh breezes brings with them the desire to sweep away the clutter from Winter.
This afternoon, Rooster and I ran back to the grocery store and then headed home for an afternoon of chores. I pulled my dry clothes off of the line so he could hang his newely washed ones. While Rooster was busy, I decided to wash Pele and Aubie. A guy drove past, his dog riding shotgun, and he offered to let me bathe the dog.
Um, no thank you.
Next, I washed my car. I had made an interesting discovery yesterday. On a whim, I threw baking soda on the windshield and sprayed it with the Method cleaner you can buy at Target. Then, I sprinkled more baking soda on the wet windshield. I took a wet cloth, climbed a ladder (I have an SUV, and I’m short), and simply wiped away the dried bug guts that covered the glass.
Easy, peasie.
However, what I failed to realize was that I left a lot of baking soda on the front of the car. Hence, the need to wash the entire thing.
That done, I went inside, opened the windows, folded my clean clothes, and straightened up a bit, enjoying the fresh breezes blowing through.
Rooster swept the house.
Spring brings with it so much hope that you can’t help but be infected with a sense of joy. Fresh starts…inside the house, inside the heart.
I don’t know…I’m melancholy, I guess. Maybe it’s the affect of the crud I’ve been suffering with the last week and a half.
Regardless, my heart sings to God, who saw fit to make the seasons.
Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: cleaning, Pets, Spring | Leave a comment »
Whew! Mondays are crazy, but this one…well…wow!
Fortunately, work was easy…no teeny-boppers skipping leaving school to attend concerts on the beach. I actually had quite a few parents give me honest reasons (albeit unexcused) for their children’s absences. Kudos!
As soon as I left work, Rooster and I ran to the boarding facility to pick up Molly. We chose to board her last weekend rather than have my friend deal with keeping the dogs separated. Molly was very happy to see us, although she changed her mind when I pulled out the hose to give her a bath.
She’s has spent most of the evening sacked out on the couch…
After picking up Molly, I ran to the grocery store. I must say that I have been spoiled. Soccer Chick does most of our shopping. She loves food, so the opportunity to actually pick out what she’s eating is a task she enjoys. Because she babysits three afternoons a week, I decided to save time and do it myself.
Ugh. I am so out of the habit. I spent half of my trip on the phone with her, returning items from my cart to the shelf and putting the correct brands back in. It seems that she and Rooster, who often accompanies her, have developed their own preferences.
When I got home, Rooster put the groceries away, unknowingly freezing the ground beef that I was going to use for spaghetti tonight, while I hung clothes on the line and vacuumed the car from the ride with Molly.
Then I cooked dinner, keeping one eye on Rooster who is, at the moment, still trying to finish an English project that was due today.
Soccer Chick walked in after spending an afternoon with cranky kids (and having to correct a underpayment on the part of the parents…good for her for speaking up!), and she was mature enough to begin washing the pile of dishes she didn’t have time to do last week.
As she was finishing up, Guy Friend stopped by with a little surprise…
Upon seeing me, he split the bunch into two sections…one for me and one for Chicky. He saw the flowers growing beside the road and made a side-trip to personally deliver them to my house on the way to soccer practice.
Such a thoughtful gesture that led me to give him a hug. A real sweetie. No wonder Chicky likes him.
With the day almost over, I’m finally getting to sit down and put my feet up, Dancing With the Stars playing on the TV.
I have a small treat, though…
A glass of White Zinfandel. The same color as the yarn I bought a couple of months ago. Ahhh…so smooth.
A busy, productive day.
Sigh…
Contentment…
Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: dogs, Pets, teens, white zifandel, wine | 1 Comment »
AuburnChick's Adventures 