Mayo

This is going to be an odd blog. I was just sitting here eating a chicken salad sandwich on toasted wheat bread, when I thought I don't really like mayo. Weird, right? I'm eating a sandwich that is a compilation of chicken, grapes, toasted walnuts, and you guessed it mayo. Mayo on its own is slimy. It reminds me of cold chicken grease. Mayo even smells gross, like three day old dirty socks. It usually adds about a bazillion un-necessary calories to a normally delicious sandwich. Why am I eating it then?

Well I thought mayo as a condiment is nasty, but in a salad it is a peacemaker. Salads are usually comprised of many strong flavors and textures. Mayo makes each of those items stand out while giving them boundaries. It makes you notice them in an appreciation of each flavor. Mayo then makes a stand itself letting your remember it's place, too. We can be like mayo. Stand alone and we never have the rough edges worn away. Put us in a salad, we can be an individual, a peacemaker, and a reminder. Be mayo.

Relief is spelled: I-N-T-E-R-N-E-T...

Hello everyone!
I am soo happy to be back in cyberspace! Here in the Midwest we've been experiencing ice storms. They knocked the power, cable and internet out of a bunch of homes around the city. I thought I was gonna go crazy, if I had to come up with one more random thing to do! My house is super clean. I was having trouble finding things to keep Dylan busy. I didn't realized I depended on the internet so often! I kept thinking to myself, "What did I do growing without a computer, internet, cable or any VCR?" I realized most of my time growing up was spent doing homework, reading books, going to church and/or playing outside. One thing is certain I am incredibly relieved to have both the internet and cable back up and running well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The search begins...

There is so much going on right now. I don't even know where to start. Perhaps the beginning is a good place? Lol.

Job Search
My job search is on going. I've gone on one interview for the temp agency. I obviously wasn't hired. The temp agency is not calling me very often if at all. I'm ready to do almost anything beside retail again.

My current job has been picking up in hours due to some rearranging of departments under a new store manager. There are a couple positions coming up with them, but I'm ready to be done there. I've already checked out there, even though I still have to continue working there.

Dylan
He is nine and a half months old now. He is crawling now. He likes to straighten his legs into summer salt position. I think he'll start walking very soon. He loves his bouncy toy. I hoping he won't discover the kitchen cabinets soon. (I can wish, right?) At his last doctor appointment, Dylan was 28.6 inches and 19.8 pounds. He is a healthy kid for sure.

It is for that reason, we've started looking for a new space to live. Andy, Dylan and I went to look at a two bedroom two bathroom apartment on Saturday. It was a beautiful little place. It had a washer, dyer, and dishwasher included in the apartment. It had brand new carpet glue smell. It had vaulted ceilings and big beautiful windows. I could've seen myself in that place, until we realized the rent was going to be the same cost as a house payment. We've started to look. It's been scary, fun and nice. We'll see how it goes!

Had some time off

I haven't written in a week or so. I was running out of new things to say. I spent my writing hiatus reading, cleaning, and officially joining MOPS. The book I was reading was about a mother's legacy. I was struct by the thought, but not enough to write it. That happened Sunday morning with my pastor's sermon. He posed the question: What if for one day Jesus would become you? He'd wear you skin. Jesus would work your job. He'd wear your clothes and pay your bills with the money earned. Your health would stay the same. Your car would still need every repair/maintenance on it. The only difference is that Jesus could make your choices for you.


What to you think would change in your life for that day? What to you think would change after that day? Would your legacy be completely altered? You see our lives are all just history wrapped up in a few breathes. We get to choose everyday who we will be, how we treat others, and how our choices will impact our family. This couldn't be made more clear for me today because of two things: the NBC show Who Do You Think You Are? and the passing of my Great Uncle Tom yesterday.

Belonging to NBC's: Who do you think you are?
About Vanessa Williams' Grandfather
 from the minutes of Shelby County Court, TN.

Who do you think you are is a show about discovering the ancestral roots of well known people. The episode I watched last was researching Vanessa Williams family tree. She, being the first "African" American Miss America, wanted to know if anyone else in her family were pioneers. I'll let you watch the show to get most of her family's stories. I can't shake the one thought from the show. She did find out that "her great-great grandfather was one of the first African Americans ever elected to the Tennessee legislature." It struck me that when this man, born into slavery, passed away his white peers wrote in the court minutes that he hadn't left much earthly wealth. But he was "faithful and true discharging with fidelity every trust faithful to his keeping... he has bequeathed them a legacy more precious than gold, more imperishable then monumental brass, a spotless name." I'll let that speak for itself.

Thomas L. Hemmes
Oct 5, 1945- Feb. 7, 2011

I found out last night my Great Uncle Tom passed away. I never met this man despite a few efforts to connect with my father's paternal side of the family. We've never been close. I can just say not knowing this bit of my personal history has given me a few questions. I had started to do some research on my own a few years ago to fill in what was missing. I found out people make choices. I cannot fault anyone for decisions made before I was born. I think family is important. They are the priority that falls between God and work. There shouldn't be squabbles between family/friends that last more than a week. I'll say it again: Life is history wrapped in a few short breaths. We must forgive.

So what do these thoughts have to do with one another? Well for those of us who have made a choice to live for Christ, we have Jesus living in our skin. He is there not just for one day, but every single day. We have a choices to make. Will we wake up praising the Savior? Will we treat our alarm clocks with kindness? Will we forgive the driver who is driving like frozen molasses? How will you show love to your spouse and children today? Will you be able to be a good steward of your talents, blessings and finances? Will your decisions today be the legacy your peers and family remember you by? Would they be able to say you left this earth with a spotless name? Please remember the bigger picture.