Big Lessons in Little Air Conditioners

It's been an interesting few days.  Russ and Jarod are out of town on a Youth Retreat and they took my van.  I've been driving around town in his car and of course, the day before he left, his A/C went out.  I mean out.  Nothing but HOT air!

I had to run errands yesterday and found myself with a short fuse and a grumpy attitude.  I was angry because I had to drive around town with no air conditioning in my car - in July!

Really?

God quickly reminded me of my friends in Haiti.  A/C is a complete luxury - even for the wealthier living there.  Electricity is so expensive and they are lucky if it even comes on part of the day.  The rest of the time, everything is run on batteries and an A/C pulls too much energy for that.  When the batteries die, you go to generator power and diesel is high priced as well.  Of course, the Haitians living in the villages, don't have electricity at all.

When I am in Haiti - the heat doesn't bother me so much.  I will say that I haven't been there during their hottest months but, yes - it's hot.  It's like July/August in Florida all year 'round.  This last time, I purposely wore long sleeved shirts and long pants the entire time, trying to protect myself from mosquitoes and the ChikV.  If the city power comes on at night, I do have A/C in my bedroom at the Guesthouse.  But the rest of the time, I just sweat glisten.

I spent an hour and a half sitting in this traffic in Haiti.  With no A/C - and I didn't get upset.  Because this kind of stuff is considered normal there.  If this happened here - I would have been on my phone - complaining to my closest friends about this nastiness!

So I had to ask myself - why can I spend a whole week without the luxury of A/C in Haiti and have a perfectly fine attitude about it but here in the U.S., I get angry because I have to drive around in a hot car?  We don't even have the dirt and dust here to contend with when the windows are rolled down.  Ok - so I did get behind a livestock truck on the interstate yesterday.  Being on the backside of several cows going down the highway at 65 is not pleasant.  But still - only temporary.  I was coming home to a completely cool and comfortable house.

I have to tell you - I did not like my answer.  What a dose of perspective.

There is something about going to Haiti.  You know it's going to be hard.  It's going to be hot.  That's just the way that it is and there is nothing you can do to change it.  And when you look around at the artisans and their homes.  How little they have and yet how content they are to simply have a sturdy shelter and food.  Being hot is the least of my concerns.  It's hard to be grumpy when people around you are in much worse conditions.


What it really boils down to is choice.  I choose not to complain or be angry.  I choose to accept it for what it is.  That choice is made before I even step foot off the plane and I don't really think about it again.  I go there knowing I will be "sacrificing" for the week and I just deal. 

I guess I can say the same thing about why I get angry here.

It's a choice.


I hate what that means. 

I hate what that looks like.

A mirror is held up and I have this ugly attitude of entitlement staring back at me.  I am inconvenienced.  I have to be hot.  I have to roll the windows down.  I NEVER roll the windows down.  I don't like the noise of other cars. I don't like how loud everything is.  I can't hear the radio.   I have to call the mechanic and take the car in.  I have so many other things to do with my time AND my money!  Who knows how much this will cost!  A/C repairs are NOT what I want to spend my money on.  Did I mention that I am hot?  I am sweaty.  I will not smell very nice when I arrive at my destination.

What a big, entitled, selfish, brat.

Now I am heart broken.

I've always been thankful that I live in America.  But sometimes, I wonder if it is a bigger curse than it is a blessing.  Many no longer understand what it is like to sacrifice - nor or we willing to learn. Everything is right at our fingertips.  We really do have more money than we know what to do with - or at least more "things."  What most people don't realize is that America really is the minority when it comes to the rest of the world and their living conditions.  Living in our culture only makes us crave more and more and more.  We are never content.  Always wanting the next thing.  And we want it NOW.  And when things don't go exactly as we think they should, and we are  inconvenienced - we throw temper tantrums.

What it boils down to is choice.  We can choose to make the most of the situation God has given us - no matter what happens.  Knowing that everything that comes our way passes through His hands first and has a purpose.   If we truly believe that then aren't our complaints really directed at Him?  How sinful and presumptuous is that? 

He sent me to Haiti.  Four times.  Without A/C.  I chose to deal.  I chose to ignore my lack of "comfort" and focus on those around me.

He sent me down Blanding Blvd yesterday.  Without A/C.  I chose to only see me.  I chose to focus on my comfort and ignore everything else around me.

I pray that He will continue to break my heart.  That He will empty it of "me" so that He can shine through more and more. That I will really see others around me everywhere I go - not just in Haiti.  That He will always increase and I decrease.  I pray that I will always be teachable.  Willing to look in the mirror and see the ugly thoughts, opinions and attitudes that need broken down and built back up by Him.

I am so thankful for big lessons in little air conditioners.  And for His constant grace and mercy on my life when I fail.

Until next time........

"You Are Now Free to Roam the Planet"

We woke up on Friday morning to this lovely sight -

Very thankful to see our entire mailbox and road again. 

God had provided for us while we were stranded on our island.  We had enough food, we never lost electricity and we all got along well with each other.  I think everyone was ready for the down time.

Isn't God good?  Sometimes it takes epic weather to slow us down and give us the rest that we need.  I spent a lot of time just chillin' out and catching up on the little things.  And no matter how late I slept in, you could always find me napping at some point during the day on my couch.

When we realized we were free to roam the planet again on Friday, we got dressed and took off.  We went to lunch, ran a few errands and went to the movies.

We have LOVED all of the Pixar movies and we definitely wanted to see this one.

Brave was very different than any of the other Pixar movies, and for the first time, a magical element was added - which was a bit disappointing.  But over all, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

 It is a great story of a mother and daughter learning to not only accept but embrace the differences in each other.  The Scotland setting was beautifully done.

We also visited the pet store while we were out.  Seems we had just enough food for our fish.  We used the last of it on Thursday.  These are the same fish that our children won at the Clay County Fair back in April.  We purchased a small tank for them, not knowing how long or IF they would survive.  Having not only survived but thrived for the last 3 months, we decided to purchase them a larger home.

They were not real sure at first and spent a lot of time at the bottom.  We were concerned that we can killed them but they are much better now and enjoying the extra room.

Russ spent Saturday cleaning up the front yard - we had dead fish and lots of trash that had floated our way.  Things didn't smell real pleasant but I think we are finally getting back to normal - if there is such a thing around here.

This week, we will celebrate July 4th and Emily is coming in town!  Her whole clan is coming in for the week to visit and I'm a bit giddy!  Not sure how much time we will have as she has many people vying for her time - but I'll take anything I can get.

Thank you all for your prayers while we were surrounded by water.  God is good and His provision and protection for us was exactly what we needed - as always. 

Until next time.....

And it is Still Rising

Evacuations, road closures, bridges collapsing.  Our city has been turned upside down because of Tropical Storm Debby.  She has dumped record amounts of rain and everyone in Jacksonville is being affected somehow.

We are thankful for the down time - being stuck here in our house for days - but oh how I wish we could send some of our water to the people in Colorado who are loosing their homes to fires.  Such extremes across our country.

Whenever people come to visit us for the first time, they always ask us why we are up so high.  Not many houses in Florida are up on a hill.  As you can see, I park my van backwards so that when I open my door to get out - it stays open.  That's how steep we are.

 Well, THIS is why.......

Although, in our 6 years of living in this house, this is the highest the water has ever been.

Just about to our vehicles.

Here's a timeline with our mailbox:

Monday at 3:00

 

Monday at  6:00

Tuesday 10:00 am

Tuesday 7:00 pm

Tuesday 10:40 pm

This morning (Wednesday) 8:30 am

And here's one final view from around the corner from our house:

This is just one street over.  We are thankful for our hill.

The rain has stopped and Debby has moved off shore and is headed away.  Black Creek (what eventually feeds our cul-de-sac) has not yet crested, so we anticipate the water rising a little more.  Russ obviously cannot get out for church tonight and we will have to see what happens for Sunday.  Hopefully we will begin to dry out soon.

Until then we will continue to watch movies, play games and enjoy the fish jumping in our pond out front...... and out back....... and.......

 

The Water is Rising

We woke up this morning surrounded.  You didn't know we lived in a castle on a hill and are surrounded by a mote, did you?  I'm sure there are snakes and other evil critters in our mote.  We are highly fortified!  No one can get in or out.  I'm sure we cannot order pizza.

This was our front yard about 24 hours ago

My beautiful lily even had blooms

No so much this morning.  Sad little plant.

It travels all the way down our street

View of our house from the neighbors (Thanks Jeff for the pic!)

As you can see - the water is a long way from getting in - but we are stranded.

We were glad the guy across the street finally moved his van!

The ants are trying very hard not to drown - lots of little islands in the water like this.

Our back yard

Fortunately when we realized the water was rising yesterday, I went to the store so we are all stocked up for a few days.  We are chillin' out - having a movie day - staying in our PJ's.  Over all - we really cannot complain.  We welcome the down time.

Not sure how much higher it will go - Black Creek is not supposed to crest until later today.  Until then, we will stay inside and enjoy our lake front property - for now.

Until next time....

VBS and TS Debby

So last week was VBS at Hickory Grove.  We had a wonderful week!  We averaged about 75 children per night with over 50 adults and youth helping.  We stayed incredibly busy but I think the best part was working with and getting to know everyone from the church better.

Jarod is now old enough to help instead of being in a class.  We were very proud of his participation.  He arrived early every day to help in the kitchen.

These wonderful people cooked dinner for us each and every night.  Because our VBS started each evening at 6:15, they made sure we all had a great meal.  It was so nice for those people getting off of work and having to rush to the church.  Jarod also helped deliver meals to some of our shut-ins and members with medical issues.  We have a great kitchen crew - they are always doing a variety of different food ministries.

He also helped keep the records for a guessing contest we were having all week.  Each night, the children had the opportunity to guess how many candies, cookies, etc were in specific containers.  At the end of the week, we announced the winners.

Helping the kids guess

Announcing the winners

A VERY happy winner!  LOL!

Russ had a great time as well

Singing songs.....

Talking to the kids.....

There was even a special visit by Marcus the Philippian Jailer.  He told the kids all about the time he had Paul and Silas in his prison and how God caused an earthquake to set them free.

Having dinner with Anne

Anne had a wonderful week too!

She loves craft time

Prissy was a regular guest this week.

Our registration ladies doing some AP shopping during their down time.  I randomly sold over $400 just by letting them dig through stuff at the table.  Crazy!!!!  

I cannot keep the above medallion necklaces in stock.  I received 17 on Tuesday and sold all but 1 in three days.

The kids brought in cereal boxes all week and offering collected is going specifically toward shipping the cereal boxes to Haiti.

We collected $598.00!!!!!

Which is a good thing because I have lots more boxes ready to go!

Over all it was an AWESOME week!  Once again God continues to confirm our call to Hickory Grove.  We are in love with the people and the ministry they are involved in.  It's such a great fit for our entire family.  God is so good.

So now that Scout Camp, Dance Recital and VBS are over with, we can really begin our summer vacation.  The kids and I slept late today although we woke up to Tropical Storm Debby over us.  God's timing is perfect because whenever one of these storms comes around, we are stranded for a few days.

This was our cul-de-sac at 1:00 this afternoon

And this was our cul-de-sac at 6:00 this evening.

Whenever the creek by our house floods, it backs up into our neighborhood.  The creek is continuing to rise and is expected to crest around 2 pm tomorrow.

This has happened once before:

Tropical Storm Fay - 2008 

I've been documenting it this time so we can compare and see how high the water gets.  Our house is on a hill so we stay high and dry but because of the dip at the end of our driveway, we don't feel safe trying to take our cars through it.

 

So - we stay put until the water clears up.  Like I said, it's always God's perfect timing for us.  He forces us to stay put for a while, regroup and chill out.  The weather man is saying that this storm could dump up to 25 inches in some areas around Jacksonville - he's using the phrase "Epic amounts of rain."  We'll see what happens.

Until next time.......

January in Florida!

Okay - so it's in the 80's today and the neighbor kids got out their Slip N Slide. The kids begged and I relented......Really the only thing stopping me from saying yes is that it is January!!!! I just can't wrap my brain around it. But - they are having a blast!

This is what childhood memories are made of......

And then there is Russell...... This is his contribution to our madness! I guess it starts at the top! Anne and I were working on her room last week and he came in to see how we were doing.

Just fine until a certain little person was distracted by the craziness!

I love my family!!!!!!