Invisible Mother.....It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.
The Invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being.
I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself.
I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.
'In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.
It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.
As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table. That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself.
I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, You're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.Great Job, MOM!This is beautiful and makes a ton of sense. To all the wonderful mothers out there!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Twila Paris
Twila Paris will be at Ridgecrest Baptist May 10 and 11. The concert is free. I'll attach a link. If it doesnt work try ridgecrestbaptist.org
http://www.ridgecrestbaptist.org/EventDetails.aspx?event_id=66
http://www.ridgecrestbaptist.org/EventDetails.aspx?event_id=66
Prayer request...
My nephew, Derrick Phillips had emergency appendectomy last night up in Baldwin, KS where he is in college. My sister and brother-in-law are up there now with him. Not sure what hospital they took him to as Baldwin is a small community. Just send up your prayers for his speedy recovery.
I just hated the thought of him going through all that and no family around.
I just hated the thought of him going through all that and no family around.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Prayer request
Our office clerical are going through some "not so fun stuff". One of our ladies was called on the carpet last week by management for various things and she gave her 2 weeks notice today. Well, seems like she wants to leave in a "Blaze of Glory" and has sent emails to the state office about certain people and making accusations about others.
I am not involved with any of this thank GOD! But she is targeting those who reprimanded her last week.
Please pray that the tension around here will leave soon. At least we know it will by May 8th her last day.
Just keep our office in your thoughts and prayers!
I am not involved with any of this thank GOD! But she is targeting those who reprimanded her last week.
Please pray that the tension around here will leave soon. At least we know it will by May 8th her last day.
Just keep our office in your thoughts and prayers!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Penny....
This was shared with me today by a friend. I thought I would share!
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story.
Gives you something to think about.Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home.
My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants.
Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd!
What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the pe nny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before!
What was the point of this?'Look at it.' He said.
'Read what it says.'
She read the words ' United States of America ''No, not that; read further.''One cent?' 'No, keep reading.''In God we Trust?'
'Yes!' 'And?''And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it!
God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by?
When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him.
For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold.
I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me.
Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story.
Gives you something to think about.Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home.
My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants.
Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd!
What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the pe nny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before!
What was the point of this?'Look at it.' He said.
'Read what it says.'
She read the words ' United States of America ''No, not that; read further.''One cent?' 'No, keep reading.''In God we Trust?'
'Yes!' 'And?''And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it!
God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by?
When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him.
For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold.
I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me.
Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Spicy Pot Roast:
3 lb. tip roast (I use chuck or arm or whatever is on sale)
1-2 Tb. fresh cracked pepper
2 cloves minced raw garlic (I use more)
3 Tb. balsamic vinegar
1\4 cup soy sauce
2 Tb. worchestire (spelled wrong?) sauce
2 tsp. dry mustard
Rub pepper and garlic onto thawed roast. Put roast into crock pot. Make several shallow slits in top of roast. In a small bowl combine the rest of the ingredients. Pour over roast. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or 4-5 hours on high.
3 lb. tip roast (I use chuck or arm or whatever is on sale)
1-2 Tb. fresh cracked pepper
2 cloves minced raw garlic (I use more)
3 Tb. balsamic vinegar
1\4 cup soy sauce
2 Tb. worchestire (spelled wrong?) sauce
2 tsp. dry mustard
Rub pepper and garlic onto thawed roast. Put roast into crock pot. Make several shallow slits in top of roast. In a small bowl combine the rest of the ingredients. Pour over roast. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or 4-5 hours on high.
Neiman-Marcus Cookies:
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
Cream these together, then add:
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well. Combine the next ingredients together:
2 cups flour
2 1\2 cups oats that have been blended to a fine powder (I didn't get mine that fine)
1\2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1\2 tsp. instant coffee granules
Add this dry mixture to the wet mixture. Then add:
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 oz. Hershey milk chocolate candy bar, grated.
1 1\2 cups chopped pecans
Refrigerate this for one hour. Scoop with your cookie scooper or roll into balls. Place 2" apart on sprayed cookie sheet. Bake 6-8 minutes in a pre heated 375 degree oven. DO NOT OVER BAKE. They will look kind of not done, but they are.
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
Cream these together, then add:
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well. Combine the next ingredients together:
2 cups flour
2 1\2 cups oats that have been blended to a fine powder (I didn't get mine that fine)
1\2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1\2 tsp. instant coffee granules
Add this dry mixture to the wet mixture. Then add:
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 oz. Hershey milk chocolate candy bar, grated.
1 1\2 cups chopped pecans
Refrigerate this for one hour. Scoop with your cookie scooper or roll into balls. Place 2" apart on sprayed cookie sheet. Bake 6-8 minutes in a pre heated 375 degree oven. DO NOT OVER BAKE. They will look kind of not done, but they are.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Chicken Salad
This chicken salad makes a delicious luncheon salad served on lettuce leaves with sliced avocado, or fill sandwich rolls with the mixture. I actually doubled this recipe the other night for bible study. It takes a while to dice everything but it is good!
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups diced chicken
1/3 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 cup seedless green grapes, sliced
3 green onions, with some green, thinly sliced
1 rib celery, thinly sliced
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey, or to taste
Salad greens, optional
Shredded raddiccio, optional
Sliced avocado, optional
PREPARATION:
Combine the diced chicken with 1/3 cup mayonnaise, sour cream, sliced grapes, sliced green onions, sliced celery, walnuts, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Stir in the honey and more mayonnaise, if needed.
Serve the chicken salad mixture on salad greens and raddiccio and garnish with sliced avocado. For sandwiches, line sandwich rolls with lettuce leaves and fill with chicken salad.Serves 4 to 6.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups diced chicken
1/3 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 cup seedless green grapes, sliced
3 green onions, with some green, thinly sliced
1 rib celery, thinly sliced
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey, or to taste
Salad greens, optional
Shredded raddiccio, optional
Sliced avocado, optional
PREPARATION:
Combine the diced chicken with 1/3 cup mayonnaise, sour cream, sliced grapes, sliced green onions, sliced celery, walnuts, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Stir in the honey and more mayonnaise, if needed.
Serve the chicken salad mixture on salad greens and raddiccio and garnish with sliced avocado. For sandwiches, line sandwich rolls with lettuce leaves and fill with chicken salad.Serves 4 to 6.
GOD's WIFE???
An eye witness account from New York City , on a cold day in December, some years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the young boy and said, 'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!''I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,'was the boy's reply.The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel.By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing apair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes.She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him.. She patted him on the head and said, 'No doubt, you will be more comfortable now.'
As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up intoher face, with tears in his eyes, asked her.'Are you God's wife?'
As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up intoher face, with tears in his eyes, asked her.'Are you God's wife?'
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Slide Show from Home School Family!
Kim shared this awesome slideshow/movie made by a home school family. It is awesome!
http://www.footstepsofmessiah.com/Movie1.swf
http://www.footstepsofmessiah.com/Movie1.swf
Discussion regarding Oprah
We had a discussion about Oprah at last bible study and I hadn't seen the video of what was being spoken of. One of the ladies here at work found it and sent it to me.
It is astonishing what that woman believes to be true about Jesus Christ and religion in general.
I am attaching the link to the video if anyone wants to view it.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/oprah-exposed.htm
If it won't open up you might have to type this url in to get it to come up.
It is astonishing what that woman believes to be true about Jesus Christ and religion in general.
I am attaching the link to the video if anyone wants to view it.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/oprah-exposed.htm
If it won't open up you might have to type this url in to get it to come up.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Apple Dumpling Recipe
Hey ladies, here is the recipe for the apple dumplings Lesa made for us Monday night - THANKS LESA!
I just pour Mt. Dew until it reaches about halfway up the rolls, it doesn't take the whole can.
If anyone has any other recipe's they want to share please post them for the rest of us.
Thanks,
Rhonda
Apple Dumplings
2 rolls crescent rolls
2 sour apples
2 sticks real butter
1 can Mt. Dew
1 cup sugar
2 Tsp cinnamon
Undue rolls, peel and slice apples. Roll an apple into each crescent roll, and roll up. Place in pan. Melt butter and sugar, mix in cinnamon. Pour mixture over apples. Pour Mt. Dew around edges of pan. Bake at 350 degrees till rolls are brown (approx 35 min).
2 rolls crescent rolls
2 sour apples
2 sticks real butter
1 can Mt. Dew
1 cup sugar
2 Tsp cinnamon
Undue rolls, peel and slice apples. Roll an apple into each crescent roll, and roll up. Place in pan. Melt butter and sugar, mix in cinnamon. Pour mixture over apples. Pour Mt. Dew around edges of pan. Bake at 350 degrees till rolls are brown (approx 35 min).
I just pour Mt. Dew until it reaches about halfway up the rolls, it doesn't take the whole can.
If anyone has any other recipe's they want to share please post them for the rest of us.
Thanks,
Rhonda
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