Economic Experiment on Wealth Distribution!

I received this in my e-mail today and thought I would pass it along:

Here is a creative approach to redistribution of wealth as offered in a local newspaper...

Today on my way to lunch, I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.

Once in the restaurant, my server had on an "Obama 08" tie. Again I laughed as he had given away his political preference -- just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the "Obama Redistribution of Wealth" concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $5 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more.

The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment, I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn, even though the actual recipient deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

Organized Pantry!

Well today was a day for organizing my pantry. I knew that I needed to get rid of some stuff and organize Daniel's gluten-free food as well. Rebekah came over today and helped me. It always makes it more fun when you can work together with someone. Rebekah is a real no-nonsense practical person and that is good. She told me even before she came, "Mom, if you aren't willing to get rid of anything, it isn't going to help." So true! So, here is a picture of the finished product. I forgot to take a "before" picture, but we didn't feel like putting everything back just to get a picture! I realize that it may not look organized to the average person, but you should have seen it before!



All of us enjoyed Eliana too. She is such a sweet baby! She is my grandbaby, you know, and I feel blessed to live close and be able to see her when I can. At one point, the kids had her in a box and were pushing her around the house. She looked like she was having a good time.

Goin' Green!

Gotcha on THAT title! Daniel spotted this little green beauty in the grass while jumping on the trampoline in the backyard. I probably took about 50 pictures before I found the right lighting, distance, etc. to get some close, clear pictures of this caterpillar. I have no idea what its name is, but it sure was fascinating to watch! God has made some interesting creatures. Mere, I know your boys will appreciate these pictures.

Here he is on our driveway:



Here he is headed up the first step by our side door:



I think I can, I think I can, I think I can! Almost there!



I think this last one is so cute! In this picture, he is hanging on to the edge of the step and looking down. He looks like he wants to get down, but doesn't know how!

Sunday Musings!

LORD JESUS,
Give me a deeper repentance,
a horror of sin,
a dread of its approach;
Help me chastely to flee it,
and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be thine alone.

Give me a deeper trust,
that I may lose myself to find myself in thee,
the ground of my rest,
the spring of my being.

Give me a deeper knowledge of thyself
as saviour, master, lord, and king.

Give me deeper power in private prayer,
more sweetness in thy Word,
more steadfast grip on its truth.

Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action,
and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.

Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly husbandman,
that my being may be a tilled field,
the roots of grace spreading far and wide,
until thou alone art seen in me,
thy beauty golden like summer harvest,the fruitfulness as autumn plenty.

I have no master but thee,
no law but thy will,
no delight but thyself,
wealth but that thou givest,
no good but that thou blessest,
no peace but that thou bestowest.

I am nothing but that thou makest me,
I have nothing but that I receive from thee,
I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.

Quarry me deep, dear Lord,
and then fill me to overflowing with living water.

taken from The Valley of Vision

Visit with Friends!

Well, I'm going to post some pictures of our visit last week with our friends, Doug and Susan, and their children: Ariel, Caleb, Melody, Tarin, Luke and Noah. They came into town for a Bible conference with John Piper on Saturday night and Sunday morning. So we had a late lunch on Saturday together and then fellowshipped over lunch on Sunday afternoon before they left to go home. Of course, there is always drama when you have a lot of children, so I don't want to leave that out. Some of the kids at our house had been sick and it was Abby's turn to have a croupy cough and a sore throat. I called Susan on Friday night and told her about it and she said , "No problem." As long as the kids weren't throwing up, she wasn't going to worry about it. On Saturday morning, Abby is coughing so much that I decide to take her to the docotr that morning and her appointment is at 11 a.m. Well, on the way home she throws up in the truck. So, I called Susan and told her that the unthinkable has happened. But they decided to come anyway and I'm am soooo happy. Susan said that Caleb said he could get sick and get better or he could get sick and die, and then he would be even better off. Jim thought that was a pretty good attitude! (Just so you know Susan, no one else has thrown up, so I think she just had an upset tummy!)



We enjoyed our time together and they got introduced to Daniel's gluten-free pizza that he made by himself so he could enjoy pizza that day too.









The younger kids played out in the woods for part of the time. Little Noah was so cute. He came inside and said all of the kids left him and went into the woods. We told him he could get his shoes on and go in the woods, but he said, "I don't WANT to go into the woods," and he looked like he was going to cry! Hannah had a nice time with Ariel. We moved away from the Angleton area about 9 years ago, so it was a time of getting reacquainted for Hannah and Ariel, along with Mark and Paul and Caleb.

Caleb, Melody and Tarin spent Saturday night with us after the conference. I really enjoyed hearing about the conference and just sitting around discussing Biblical topics with the older kids. What a treat!

Susan and I have been good friends for over 14 years. She is truly the definition of a good friend, one that encourages to love and good works. I'm so thankful for her friendship and I hope my children find a friend like her, just closer proximity!



Here are the all the boys/men in a group picture!



Here are all the girls/women in a group picture!



Here is one final picture of Hannah and Ariel. We moved away from the Angleton area about 9 years ago, so Hannah doesn't remember a whole lot about Ariel. Plus, they have never known each other as adults. But she commented on how nice and personable she was and how much she enjoyed getting reacquainted.

Abby the hairdresser!

A little toy poodle from across the street came and spent the day with us on Tuesday. We weren't sure who it belonged to but I had a pretty good idea. She had a cute poodle hair cut, and was wearing a pink sweater with white polka dots. I found out that the owner was gone and couldn't leave the dog in the house. I guess she was lonely, so she came and stayed with us for the day. Well, Abby was having a great time playing and spending time with the dog until Tom came in and said Abby was cutting the dog's hair. Apparently, Abby has not let go of her fascination with scissors. So, here is this cute little poodle with tufts of hair missing off the top of her head. Jim called on the phone and we were having a good laugh about what she did and Abby overheard me talking and she says, "What, am I funny when I'm bad?"

Here is the incriminating evidence!

Elisabeth learning how to play the piano?

An older woman from church has been working with Elisabeth and helping her learn how to play the piano. Well anyway, sometimes at night I go to bed early only to get up and make sure all the little ones are getting into bed. So, this evening is not any different. I come out of my room, turn the corner and what do I see? Elisabeth has the front panel taken off the piano and she is peering into the body of the piano while she is playing, watching the keys hit against the strings! Mind you, this is an 8 year old! I will have to ask Mrs. Collier is she has been teaching Elisabeth how to play the piano or take it apart! That would have been a good picture if I had thought to take it.