Garbage truck days

When I was young, my Dad was a garbage man in downtown Chicago. It was not a glamorous job by any means. Since there was so much traffic headed into the city, my Dad left our home at 4:30 a.m., so he could get an early start. Then he was always back home by 3:30 p.m. and he took a nap. He had other jobs when he was first married and out of the army. But then he got into the garbage business, and eventually owned his own garbage business.

My dad was and always has been a good businessman. He has sooo many stories about being on the garbage truck. When he first began his business, it was with his youngest brother. There were lots of stories about them being together. My uncle had been in the military too. My uncle was a really good shot with a baseball. One time he threw a snowball at a moving train, and it hit into the middle of an O in a word, just like he wanted to. My dad was amazed! Another time they found a bowling ball, and my uncle dribbled it down an alley and into a basketball hoop!🤣 They said it was REALLY loud!

Another time, they had stopped and gotten shakes at a fast food joint. My uncle, who had a beard during the winter, was drinking it at a stoplight. Of course, my Dad let off of the brake pedal (or popped the clutch), and my uncle spilled it all over his beard!

They dealt with a LOT of rats in the trash containers. My dad and his brother found baseball bats and would hit the rats when they came out of the trash after they opened the lid of the container. They have so many stories of stuff they did to control the rat population during their time as garbage men.

After a few years, they were able to buy another garbage truck. They picked up more customers and my uncle had his own route. Even though they had separate routes, they began together each morning and saw each other usually when their routes were done. When they were driving alone, they listened to the radio a lot. They talked to their customers, and bought things from them, like cherries or ice cream. My dad even took a Spanish class so he could learn to speak to some of his customers. My uncle came over to our house once a month and they did their customer billing together. I loved seeing my uncle. He always called me things like "sweetie" and "honey." I miss him.

On school holidays and occasional summer days, my Dad would let us (my brothers or me, one at a time) come and ride with him and "help" for the day on his truck. We liked it. It was nice to spend the day with my Dad. I never helped my uncle on his route, but my older brothers did. There were a few unsavory places that I won't mention, but they were just plain GROSS. Dad knew it was gross and had had several helpers puke at certain stops. He always gave us the option to stay in the truck, and sometimes I did.

He always wore work gloves to protect his hands. When I worked with him, I was probably 7 until age 11. He only had one size of work gloves, which of course was his size. Needless to say, they were very big on my little girl's hands. So most of the day I would keep my hands up so the gloves wouldn't fall off. Several of his customers thought I was so cute and gave me free bags of cherries or free ice cream. My Dad was disappointed because he always had to pay for those things! He paid me $5.00 a day to help him.

When I was about 10, my Dad bought a new garbage truck and had it painted blue. He had his friends paint phrases on it, which we thought were funny. One said "purveyors of used foods and exotic salads." EW! He always had Mack trucks, and I remember the bulldog on the front of his new truck being so shiny! The Mack truck always makes me think of the first "Cars" animated movie when Lightning McQueen's tuck that drives him is a Mack truck (not a Peterbilt!)

We moved away from Chicago when I was almost 12. My Dad sold his garbage business and had another very successful business and jobs. But I'll never forget his stories or the days that I worked with him on the garbage truck.
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Isaiah 64:8
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the
potter; we are all the work of your hand.

John 5:16-18
So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense, Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason, they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 8:42
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.

Fences

When I was growing up in the Chicago suburbs, there were lots of fences. Our neighborhood was a newer development in that area, down the block from my school. Yes, we walked to school, every day. But there were no hills, just lots of wind. Anyway, I digress...

One of my favorite things was our backyard, which did not have fences to other neighbor's yards. We could walk and play in our neighbor's back yard if we wanted to (he was an older man and didn't mind.) I really loved the idea of no fence. We knew where the property lines were. We had bushes separating our yard on one side. In the back, it was open for a few years until an international family moved in. They put up not only a chain-link fence, but a TALL one, with SLATS. We could see nothing in their yard. But the bonus was, since the fence was tall, balls didn't go over it as much. Next to our old man neighbor's yard, there was a fence, with a dog in it. It was a mean dog too. If a ball went over the fence, we did NOT try to get it, unless the dog was indoors. Even then... (flashes of scenes from "The Sandlot" come to mind... jumping and running...)

We could see several doors/ yards down. There were no wood fences, as I remember. Maybe since it was so windy all the time. Maybe since the winters were very cold and the wood just wouldn't take it...? Sometimes there were houses in the way, but I liked looking into other's yards, not in a nosy way, just friendly. Maybe that is what we are missing in today's society. Less fences, more being friends with our neighbors. You know, "Love your neighbor as yourself."(Luke 10:27)

I miss those days. I miss being able to ring the doorbell at my neighbor's house, as a little kid, and the older folks being delighted to see you, a little girl with crazy (probably frizzy) hair. Now I ring the doorbell as an adult and I feel like I need to have a purpose for bothering someone. I like chain link or hog wire (large squares) fences better than wood slats. But sometimes the chain link falls down, like in our backyard here. We took down our rotting split rail fence here and I like it much better. It's open and inviting, I think. No more mowing around a little fence.

I understand the need for privacy, and all that. But isn't that what the house is for? Go inside, close the blinds, turn off the lights and nobody knows you're home (especially if you park in the garage.) I doubt there are very many people sunning or doing chores outside with no clothes on (which you can see over a fence.)

There is something to be said about the good old days. Oh well, they are long gone, and here we are surrounded by fences. Maybe I'll go out and talk to my neighbors soon.

How about you? Do you like fences? Why or why not?


Leviticus 19:18
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Luke 10:27
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Psalm 62: 1-6
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My name story

One of my favorite stories that my mom tells me is the one of how I was born and how my name came to be mine. There is nothing gruesome here, I promise. Nothing embarrassing. Just a nice story, It's ok... keep reading!

My dad is one of 5 boys (one died after birth), and I have two older brothers. (or bothers, as I typed... haha!) My parents figured that they would have all boys. When my mom was pregnant with my oldest brother, she was trying to find a girl name that they liked. There weren't many that they agreed on. My mom worked at a hospital, and she found the name Jill. They both liked that one. Then they had to find a middle name. Again, it was a tough process.

My mom put a basket at the nurse's station, and she asked for middle names to go with Jill. Finally someone put in the middle name Suzanne, and that was the one! They didn't use it with my oldest brother, then the didn't use it with my second brother either.

When I was born, they announced it was a girl. My dad started to cry. My mom asked what he thought, to say something. He said, "I can't... I'm crying!" How sweet is that?!

Reportedly on the way home, my oldest brother who was in kindergarten, sang the ABC's to me.

My parents also told me that when my first girl cousin was born, he didn't believe it when they told him it was a girl. He had to see for himself! He went on to have 3 out of 4 nieces in that one family, and when I was almost 10, my younger sister was born! So my dad, one of 5 boys, ended up having 3 boys and 2 girls of his own.

I thank God often for my family, what a blessing they are to me!

Writing prompt #4: Tell the story of your birth.

Genesis 21:1-3
Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.

Deuteronomy 32:18
You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.

1 Samuel 2:21
And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

A time I got "lucky"...

When I was younger, I didn't get much money. We didn't get allowance, and didn't have any way to work for money. That was ok, my mom would give us coins to spend at the corner store for Bazooka bubble gum. It was 5¢ for a piece, and it had a little comic wrapped around it. We didn't go shopping a lot, except for groceries, so I didn't have a chance to spend much either.

I had two older brothers, and they had paper routes. My oldest brother loved the Hobby store, and they bought lots of rockets and supplies there. My brothers also had model trains, and they made a huge board for it, with little trees, rocks, and even a volcano that worked. It was pretty cool. I was content to ride my bike, play at the park, and play Barbies with my friends. I did like being with my older brothers, but they usually liked to have me run bases for them. They could throw their baseball much faster than I could run between them, so I got winded pretty quickly.

One summer when I was ten, my brothers got an opportunity to deliver a bunch of papers to apartment houses. I think the papers were mostly classified ads, but if we delivered a bunch of them, we got paid for it. They got me to help them, and gave me a little bit of the money. (Which I probably spent on gum or candy at the corner store!)

We were walking outside the apartments, between the apartment houses with my mom's friend Lynn. We walked across this one driveway, and there was some cash lying on the ground. I picked it up and fingered through it, it was ELEVEN dollars, that was a lot of money back in 1983. ;-D I gave it to my mom's friend, and she said she would see if she could find out who it belonged to, and return it. Well, after several days, nobody claimed the money. So Lynn gave the money to me!

I felt so lucky! I had not been alone when I found the money, but just happened to be the one who found the money! I don't remember what I spent the money to buy, I may have put it into my savings account. My parents placed an importance on saving money, so I bet that's what happened with all or most of the cash.

I told my kids and nieces and nephews, it pays to look down! ;-D You never know when you will find some money lying on the ground, even if it is only a penny. You save your pennies, someday you'll be rich!

What about you? Have you ever found money? Share about it in the comments!

This post is linked up with Mama Kat's writer's workshop. 

#5. Share a childhood story about a time you got lucky.

Matthew 17:27
“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Luke 15:8-9
[ The Parable of the Lost Coin ] “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’

My favorite teachers

As a student over many years of my life, I remember many moments in the classroom, with all different teachers. I can remember being praised for my good penmanship in 3rd grade, learning to mix colors in kindergarten, learning about the state of Delaware in 5th grade, and much more. I remember laughing in classes, and being frustrated at times too.

While I remember many of the great teachers that I had, a few of them stand out in my mind.

1. Mrs. VS (4th grade)- I remember enjoying 4th grade. I don't remember anything particular now, but I remember that my younger sister was born while I was in 4th grade, and my teacher was pregnant toward the end of the year. I remember the teacher's smile and how she listened to us. I remember she made each one of us feel special, even though we were different. I remember where my classroom was in the building, and where my desk was. It was a fun year.

2. Mrs. W- I had this teacher for a few years, as she was in my junior high for the first few years and moved to the high school when I was there. I remember diagramming sentences in her English class, and enjoying writing that year. In high school, she was our super-cool drama teacher and directed us in many plays. I never had a huge role or did anything too wonderful, but I had lots of fun in her classes. I enjoyed reading plays. One time I even had a short one-act play where I got to play a teenage boy! I remember pulling my hair up in a hat, and a friend told me that I looked like my older brother! I remember working with our director/ teacher on costumes, selling tickets, gathering props and more. I remember during my senior year, my parents separated for a time. It was very hard on me, being the oldest child at home. It was just weird having my parents be apart. I held things together a little bit at home, but at school I vented a lot to my friends and teachers. Well, my amazing drama teacher heard my unfortunate news, and wrote me an encouraging note, which I treasured at the time. When I travelled with my drama club to New York City during the summer after graduation, it was this teacher who was our chaperone with her husband. I have many wonderful memories of that trip, which I still enjoy remembering. We got to see "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway! How awesome is that?!

3. Ms. P (college)- During many years, I struggled in math. In high school, I took as little math as I could, including omitting Algebra II, which I regretted later. I had to take Basic Algebra and Intermediate Algebra for a year before I could take College Algebra. I began College Algebra with a teacher that was a little challenging for me. My friend Angie had a great teacher, and encouraged me to switch classes to be with her. I did, and I never regretted it! Her teacher was Ms. P, who became one of my favorite teachers. I passed College Algebra, and went on to take Probability and Statistics with, you guessed it, Ms. P! One day in class, she was working on the board, and I was totally lost. I must have had a confused look on my face, because the teacher stopped, looked at me, and said, "Jill, where did I lose you?" I was mildly shocked, as I had not said anything! I explained what I didn't understand, and she went back in front of the whole class to explain the problem again! I never forgot that moment, and the time that she took with me in her office explaining homework problems. She really cared for students.

It is interesting to me that while I don't remember exactly what my teachers instructed me, I remember how they cared about me individually and about my progress. I remember feeling encouraged, cared for and special in their classrooms. I hope to be a teacher like that each day in my home classroom, and when I teach other children.


Proverbs 6:23
For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life...

Proverbs 7:2
Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

Luke 4:15
He (Jesus) was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

Luke 4:32
They were amazed at his (Jesus') teaching, because his words had authority.

Scared

When you're a kid, you get scared at silly things, right? Well, having shows on TV like "Scooby Doo" and "Casper the Friendly Ghost" didn't help! What child born in the 80's didn't watch or at least see those two shows? I know my older brothers and I watched Scooby Doo often. It's funny to me that my kids watch the same show now, and I laugh when they talk about "if it weren't for those meddling kids..." It's basically the same plot in every show!

So I knew about ghosts. Halloween was filled with ghosts-- think kids dressed in white sheets-- which were so creepy to me. My older brothers liked to scare me and probably said things like "Ooo-ooo!" I don't remember exactly, but I wouldn't be surprised. My parents even liked to jump out and scare each other in the dark.

I was the firstborn girl in my house and was quite privileged to have my *own room* for 10 years. I was the envy of my two older brothers because they had to share their bedroom! I remember my Mom having me clean my room, and I stuffed everything in the closet and under the bed. Which worked until she opened the bulging closet... I wonder how she knew... she probably walked by and saw me doing it! (Now that I am a mother, I know these things, also I can hear them...)

I had a "big" full-sized bed in my olive green room. I had olive green furniture, purchased from my uncle's juvenile furniture store. I had a large corner desk (read: hard to move), a six-drawer dresser, matching headboard and shelf unit which I had pieces of even after we were married. They had white laminate tops.

So I would lay in my bed at night, in my room alone. I had a high window. Sometimes the moon would shine just right, and illuminate my closet on the other wall. It was just enough light so that the white clothes had an eerie glow. I did not like this. I just KNEW there was a white ghost in there, just waiting to come out and scare little me!

My main remedy for this, when calling mom and dad didn't help, was to close the closet doors. I mean, then the ghosts couldn't get out. I think I knew they were clothes, but who could be sure?! Closing the doors was the only remedy.

When my oldest daughter was younger, Monsters, Inc. came out and we saw it on video. Cute movie, except of course for the one time that the monster SCARES the girl! Ruined the whole movie for us. Nightmares for months. Ugh. Thanks, Pixar for that fun. But monsters do live in closets...

Even now, I have a *thing* now about my closet doors being closed at night. And my children's closet doors are always closed too. They can't even get scared about ghosts in their closets. But then, my middle daughter says the curtains have creepy shapes...

My closet doors are closed every night, mostly out of habit. My hubby teases me, but I can't leave them open unless it's maybe an inch. I know there are no ghosts, but it just looks nicer that way... (wink, wink)

Matthew 14:26

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 

(He must have been illuminated like a light!)

Luke 24:39
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Jesus)


Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

A "bucket list" of sorts...

While going through some old papers recently, I found this old paper that I wrote before my hubby and I were married of things I wanted to do with him. I still want to do some of these, and thought it would be fun to share!

Here is a photo of the list:

I love to see the my old handwriting and the torn piece of notebook paper. I probably wrote it while studying in college one time. 

The date is 8/14/95

"Places to go with Joshua"

Yosemite (we did that on our honeymoon)

Europe- Greece, Germany, Holland, Israel/ Jerusalem, etc.,

Hawaii

Mexico

Eureka, California

Seattle (visited in 11/95)

Mt. Sneffels/ Yankee Boy

Grand Canyon (done)

Lake Powell

Chicago (5/97)

Lake City (8/98)

Cape Cod

Florida (11/97)

Things to see:

Nutcracker (done)

Barbershop concert

Fiddler on the Roof (seen movie)

"Jesus Christ Superstar"- live?

That's all the list says... I still want to see the remaining places with him, and maybe again with our kids! Disneyland is also on the list sometime in the future... we've never been there together!

What about you? Are there places that you want to see on a "bucket list"?

1 Chronicles 17:17
And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, LordGod, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.

Psalm 37:37
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and afuture.

"Toss-back" Tuesday: Mom and Caleb

Found these pictures of Caleb and I when he was about a year old... such a sweet boy. Enjoy my "toss-back" pics for today!

1 Samuel 3:6

Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

Proverbs 3:21

My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;

John 14:13

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Toss-back Tuesday: Daddy & Rebekah

This is one of my favorite pictures of my hubby and our first daughter Rebekah, when she was about 11 months old. She had just gotten a bath and was getting ready for bed. They both look so sweet and so young! Those were the days... :-D

Enjoy the picture!


Isaiah 62:11
The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’”

Acts 2:17
“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Hebrews 12:8
If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

1 Peter 3:6
like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Getting old...

You know you're getting old because...

I've been feeling old the last few months. I've tried to deny that I am the big 4-0, but it is true. There are days that I feel may age, and these are a few indicators...

1. My oldest daughter began high school this fall. (?!)

2. I have aches and pains in my hips and back for no real reason.

3. I take lots of vitamins and several prescription medicines. (And I have one of those daily cases too...)

4. I'm getting more and more forgetful... What year was Mallory born? I told the clerk wrong at the pharmacy last week!

5. I liked music in junior high that is now called, "Classic Rock."  Which I think is wrong, by the way!

6. I have a niece that's married with three kids... Which means I am a Great Aunt! (My great aunts were old!!)

7. I have way too many gray hairs on my head...but I don't really wanna color them. I like the moistness and curl of my hair and don't want to dry them out!

8. I'm getting weird things like skin tags on my neck...?

9. I feel really rotten the next day if I don't get at least 7+ hours of sleep at night.

10. I have only one living grandparent left and he is nearing 100! Which makes me feel not so old at the same time! I really hope my Grandpa makes it to his 100th birthday, that will be a big party!

Writing prompt #5: You know you're getting old because...

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Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Toss-back Tuesday: Summer as a kid

I recently saw a writing prompt about what summer was like when you were a kid. I didn't get pictures from my parents house until just this weekend, so I am finally getting around to writing about my summers.

Summers lasted forever, with lots of time to forget everything we learned in school. We had long days of playing outside, when my hair turned blonde and my skin turned brown. I don't remember putting on sunscreen until I was maybe 10, and that was when we went to the pool. When I was in preschool, my parents had an above-ground pool in our backyard. I don't remember much about it, except my green bikini, since I was only five years old when we moved from that home. But I do love this picture showing my tiny behind and two of my church friends. My oldest brother is in the pool smiling at the camera.

Such cute hinies...

Another memory that I have of other summers "way back when" is of my family going to a cottage in Michigan (I think). We usually went there with friends from church, or longtime friends (with kids) of my parents, and family. I love the carefree attitude we had while we were there, with spending lots of time in the lake. I remember there was a hot metal slide there and one time I was afraid I would be stung by a dragonfly. (Just the name is scary, right?!) I like my plain blue swimsuit that I had, and since I had no permanent front teeth, I couldn't have been more than six years old.

 I am still in contact with the girl in the middle on Facebook. Not sure if she reads my blog or if she'd like to see this picture... but I think it is a cute one of me (on the right).

 The evenings would get cool and we kids would put on our footie pajamas. I like seeing me in my pink ones (which look too big) and my friends from church (the same ones in the pool picture above). We're so cute, and very late-70's in our styles. What great memories I have of summers... now they are not as fun... what did my mom do to keep us all entertained?

What about you? What were summers like when you were a child? I'd love to hear about it!


Psalm 74:17
It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.


Luke 18:16
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.


1 John 3:2
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Toss-back Tuesday: A Moment in Time

Toss-back Tuesday: A Moment in Time

This is one of those moments in time that is frozen in my brain permanently. I decided one year (2007) that I wanted to get pictures of just the kids and me for Joshua's birthday. I made an appointment, found clothes that matched in his favorite color, and off we went. On the way there, I hit a median with my front tire and got a flat. We slowly drove to my sister-in-law's home around the corner. We borrowed her van and off we went to the appointment at JC Penney.

After we got the pictures taken and chosen, we went back to the sister-in-law's house. I called my husband and he changed the tire. He also asked why we were dressed alike. I said, "It's a surprise" and therefore ruined it! He knew then about the pictures, but didn't let on. He liked the pictures and was happy with them. 

Of course, at the time, I didn't know we were going to be blessed with another baby girl. Maybe I should do them again? I don't know, I like these pictures a lot. And besides, his favorite color now is yellow, and I look terrible in yellow! So maybe not...

I love seeing Rebekah's long curly hair, I love her bow on her head too. I love the two big kids holding hands. I love the head one where we are all lying down together closely. I love remembering the moment! Have you ever done pictures with just one parent in them? They can be nice!


Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Psalm 20:4
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

1 Thessalonians 2:6-8
We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

Toss-back Tuesday: Favorite family photo

Do any of you have a funny family photo that makes you laugh when you see it? I have a good one that has a story behind it. 

When I was 12, we moved from Illinois to Colorado. We became part of a church, and there were several church members that had hosted foreign exchange students in recent years. We became interested, filled out an application, had an interview and were signed up as a host family! We were soon matched with a girl from Germany who came to live in our home. 

We had a great time with "Tina" and she became like an older sister to me for 10-11 months. She learned lots of English and we enjoyed teaching her some slang. While she was in our home, we decided to have a family photo taken. 

We went to Kmart when they were running a special for photos. There was a really long line. When we came to the front of the line, we learned that the photographer could not move her camera and was not set up for large families. We had waited so long that we decided to go ahead and get a picture anyway. This is what we ended up with...

It just makes me smile... My little sister on the left looks tired and on the verge of unhappy. My little brother looks like he is sticking his head in the group uncomfortably. My dad also looks uncomfortable and kinda unhappy too. This picture was in my wallet for years and shows some wear because it was so well-loved. I like how my head is bigger since I am closest to the camera. Haha!

If you have a funny family photo, I'd love to see it!

Ephesians 3:14-16
 For this reason I kneel before the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

1 Timothy 3:4
He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.

1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

"Toss-back" Tuesday

"Toss-Back" Tuesday

Since I already have something that I do on Thursdays (and I can't do "throw-back Thursdays), I thought occasionally this summer that I would post an old picture. Mama Kat's has a writing prompt this week about what you were like as a child, and would your youngest child be friends with you?

Here it is:

This is me (on the right) and my neighbor friend Becky. I love this picture for two reasons: because I don't have many pictures of this friend that I had before we moved when I was 5. She had two sisters, and we wrote letters for a few years, but eventually lost touch. The other reason that I love this picture is for the outfits we are wearing-- polka dots and crazy stripes-- totally 1978! (I may have been 4 1/2 in this picture, not exactly sure...)

Yes, I think my youngest daughter would have been friends with me. She likes hats and Avengers-- things that were not too popular for girls then. But she will play with dolls and cars-- which I think is what we are playing with in this picture. We both like/ liked playing outside, riding bikes and playing with our older brothers.


Writing prompt #5: When you were your youngest child's age, what were you like? Would you have been friends with your child? Why or why not?

How about you? What were you like as a child?

Luke 2:51-52
 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

1 Thessalonians 2:6-8
We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

Stand up straight! {like your mother told you!}

Stand up straight!  {like your mother told you!}

Do you have troubles with your posture? I know I do, and I wrote about my back pain here. I was not taught to stand up straight as a child and was a pro at slouching. As a result, I struggle with posture problems and back pain to this day. I know I feel and look better, have less tension in my back and shoulders and my spine feels longer. In short, good posture makes me feel good. (I am just not conscious of it!)

image found here

When I went to physical therapy during junior high, my therapist taught me several things to do for best posture. Here they are:

-Put your shoulders back. Do not arch your back, but just place your shoulders over your back so you're not hunched over. I am guilty of this quite often.

-Stand with your knees bent a little. If you are too stiff in the legs you will have leg pain and could potentially pass out.

-Tuck in your bottom. Sticking out your rump can lead to the sway back look, and is not posturally correct.

-Puff out your chest and breasts and open your rib cage. This helps you breathe easier too!

-Tuck in your chin, try not to stick it out. This will ease neck pain in those muscles too.

-Keep your weight on the balls of your feet. Resting on your heels can cause you to slouch.

-Ideally you'd have a line connecting your ear, shoulder, hip, back of your knee and ankle. You could try this technique using a string and a weight. (Read more here.)

-While sitting, try not to hunch over your desk or computer. Choosing a good chair at the right height helps too.


*Remember the feeling you have of standing up correctly, and practice it against a wall or in a mirror. It really does make a difference!

Good posture can help you remain limber and maintain your balance (my Wii helps me there!). Your posture tells others about the way you are and your level of self confidence. There are several exercises that you can do to help with your posture, such as chin tuck, chin drop. Other exercises that may help can be found here. Training your core muscles will help your posture too.

I look forward to seeing all of my readers with perfect posture from now on! :-D


Leviticus 19:32

“‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.

Psalm 20:8

They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Luke 21:28

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Acts 26:15-16

 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’  “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 

I wish I had spoken up....

In my college days, I was an R.A. (Resident Assistant) in the dorms for three years. Most of the time I enjoyed the job. In my first year as an R.A., (when my future hubby was my Resident Director!) I lived on the second floor. Late one weekend night, I was off-duty and sleeping in my room just down the hall from the stairwell door.

I was not sleeping hard, as was often the case in the dorms. They were always loud until after 2:00 a.m. on the weekends. Since I was an R.A., I slept with one ear open most of the time. It was quite tiring. At times I was a counselor, at times a discipline enforcement officer, other times a friend laughing with the girls on my floor. I was always good with names, and I knew many of the residents that lived in my dorms.

This particular night, I believe it was spring. I don't remember what I had done that evening, but I do remember this incident. I had gone to the bathroom, and all looked quiet. A few minutes later, I heard a crash near the stairwell. I didn't get up because I figured someone had fallen on the stairs, probably carrying something. I heard some laughter and exclamations from some guys. 

I didn't sleep, feeling like I needed to check outside my room. I opened my door, while in my pajamas, and looked into the hallway. Much to my dismay, there was the exit sign about the door to the stairwell, hanging off the ceiling, broken. AAH!?!! Sigh. If I had gotten up when I heard the noise, and spoken up then, I might have caught the people who broke the sign. I called my R.D. Joshua at the time and we later had it repaired. Oh well...

It's not a good memory, but I learned a lesson that night. If you hear something odd, go check on it. It has served me well as a mother to my children. I check on them often in the night if I hear crying or whimpering. My hubby will check too, if he hears the kids. God has His own ways of preparing us for what lies ahead, using our experiences in the past to form who we are today. 

Was there a time you wished you had spoken up or done something differently? What did you learn from it?

3.) Describe a time when you wish you had spoken up.

Proverbs 31:9
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Luke 6:45
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Acts 25:18-19
When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.

Pain in the... back

When I was in middle school, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, which is the S-curvature of the back. I did lots of physical therapy then, and had to relearn how to sleep (not on my front.) A few years later, I was diagnosed with kyphosis, which is the hump in the upper back. I wish so badly that I could go back to my growing years and learn to sit up straight. I wish I could have learned to stand up well, and have good posture. I deal with back pain each and every day.

When I was in college, getting less sleep than I probably should have, and studying a lot, I began to have pain in my shoulders. I was given a few exercises, and they did help some. I learned then that exercise and good sleep helps my pains be lessened.

I do not enjoy my back pain, needless to say. I feel like I am constantly stretching. I do get exercise in the winter by using our wii. I feel better when I can get some stress out by walking. I know I have lazy tendencies, and I know I tend to be sedentary. I love to sit and read a good book or play a word game! I try to sit up, I really do. But old habits die hard. I try to have good posture. It always cracks me up when the wii tells me that I have good posture. It can't see me in reality!

I'm not writing this to complain, just to share. My pain comes and goes, it's not always in the same place for too long. I'll have a spot on my low back hurt for a few days, then the kink works out and it feels fine. When my shoulders or back hurt too bad, I take ibuprofen and use the heating pad or ice. Those measures usually seem to help over a few days. I know that if it were in the same place for too long, I'd need to contact my doctor and have my back looked at for real problems. I'm thankful that my hubby gives a great back rub too!

My dad has had back surgery and so has one of my brothers. I wonder if someday I'll have surgery too. I hope to avoid it as long as I can. My dad suffers from kyphosis and so did his mother. I know I'm in good company in my family, as there are others who understand what I am going through!

I wonder if this is the "thorn in my flesh" that the Lord has given me to bring me closer to Him. Paul discusses this in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 12. I too have pleaded that this pain would be taken away from me. I consider it a weakness so that in God I can be strong. I am still coming to the point where I am delighting in my back pain. God isn't finished with me yet. I am still being molded into His image...

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

⁷ To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

So if you have a child beginning puberty, please for my sake encourage them to stand up straight, and not slouch in their chairs. Help them to have good posture, and maybe avoid some back pain that I deal with.

Time-Warp Wednesday: Valentine...

This Time-Warp Wednesday features a photo of my sweet Rebekah in 2005, when she creatively made me a Valentine message on the kitchen table!

I love her smile!

1 John 4:7-12

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us,we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Time-Warp Wednesday: Superboy!

I was looking through some old photos, and found this great picture of Caleb wearing a Superman shirt, just like the phase that Bethany is in right now. I just had to share it with you-- my boy is getting so big!  What a cutie!

Enjoy the pic!

Caleb- age 2 1/2

2 Corinthians 12:11

I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

Hebrews 1:4

So he (Jesus) became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

3 John 1:4

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Music Monday: "Walking on Sunshine"

Recently I was asked which song makes me happy, and I said, "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves. As far as I know, it was one hit for this band.  But if I am down, this song will get me up and sometimes dancing. It is a fun song. if you haven't heard it before, I hope you'll enjoy it! (And I need to hear it today, since I am sick and it is quite cloudy/ rainy outside!)

Katrina And The Waves
Walking On Sunshine lyrics

I used to think maybe you loved me, now baby I'm sure
And I just can't wait till the day when you knock on my door
Now everytime I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down
Cause I just can't wait till you write me you're comin' around

Now I'm walking on sunshine whoa
I'm walking on sunshine whoa
I'm walking on sunshine whoa
And don't it feel good
All right now
And don't it feel good
Oh yeah

I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it's true
And I don't wanna spend my whole life just a waitin' for you
Now I don't want you back for the weekend, not back for a day (no no no)
I said baby I just want you back and I want you to stay

I'm walking on sunshine (whoa)
I'm walking on sunshine (whoa)
I'm walking on sunshine (whoa)
And don't it feel good
All right now
And don't it feel good
All right now

Walkin' On Sunshine Walkin' On Sunshine
I feel alive, I feel a love
I feel a love that's really real
I feel alive, I feel a love
I feel a love that's really real
I'm on sunshine baby (whoa, oh yeah)
I'm on sunshine baby (whoa)

I'm walking on sunshine (whoa)
I'm walking on sunshine (whoa)
I'm walking on sunshine (whoa)
And don't it feel good
(All Right Now)
And don't it feel good
(I say it, I say it, I say it again, now)
And don't it feel good
(All Right Now)
And don't it feel good...

You can listen to this song on YouTube here.

Job 8:16
They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;

Isaiah 18:4
This is what the Lord says to me: “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Psalm 113:3

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.