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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Cheddar, Elephants, The Golf Channel and Almond Butter

This weekend at the lake, I have learned a few interesting facts, and I thought I should share some with you so that you can sound really smart one day.

Has anyone ever wondered what the difference between mild, sharp, and extra-sharp cheddar cheese is? Well, I have too and I learned the answer. Mild cheddar has aged less than 5 months, sharp is from 6-12 months, and extra sharp cheddar is over a year and sometimes up to 5 years. That sounds slightly disgusting, but hey, it tastes good.

Elephants are the only animals physically unable to jump because they weigh too much. I'm not a huge fan of elephants anyways, so that doesn't bother me. I don't really like any large animals, like cows or bigger.

My aunt who was at the beach with a friend of a friend who is high up in Comcast who told her that the Golf Channel is the most-watched channel on cable tv. Everyone thought the man who thought up the idea of making a channel for golf was crazy, but he ended up doing very well.

Speaking of golf, my uncle told me that Phil Mickelson makes twice as much money as Brad Pitt. And I didn't even know who Phil Mickelson was.

And that leads me to think of Rosson (he plays golf too). I am hoping that he will someday make twice as much money as Phil Mickelson so that one day I will really come watch him play golf, as he will really be able to bribe me. I would be very supportive then.

And lastly, I have something that you should try. It's really good. It's almond butter.

You know, like peanut butter, but with almonds instead of peanuts. And it's really good. Almonds are so good for us, and although they are high in calories, they have very good fat in them and many other beneficial things in them. Actually, many of the cultures around the world who on average live the longest have diets that consist of many, many nuts. Almond butter is found at most grocery stores I would say, or you can make your own by blending at high speed some almonds with a pinch of salt and maybe a small amount of oil, depending on how you're feeling that day. To make it extra good, add some honey or even dark chocolate.

Friday, June 19, 2009

How to put gas in a boat

I got a new comments box this morning and I want to see if I like it better, so I just had to post! You can comment from your facebok or twitter profile too now. And let me know if it doesn't work.

We're at the lake this weekend. It's my family, my Rapuano cousins, and my grandparents. My McGregor cousins are here too, as well as Granddaddy and a few of my Marsh cousins. We're staying at my cousins' houses who live on the lake, but they're not here. My aunt Kitty came over this afternoon and offered to take us on a ride on her boat. She was up for the day with her kids, without her husband.

She decided that for Father's Day she would put gas in the boat so her husband didn't have to worry about it. We went with her to get the gas, and she didn't tell us that she'd never gotten gas in her boat before. She sent me up to pay for it with her card and when I got up there, I heard over the intercom thing, Kitty said, "The gas came out all over me and it's going into the water. What is wrong with it?" So the man I was talking to at the register, slightly panicked, says back, "Don't move! I'll be there in a second."

He sprints out down to the dock to find that she is putting gas into where the water goes, like the place water goes for the sink and bathroom in the boat. She was drenched in gas. There was gas in her water thing. And she had to pay for the gas that she put in the water.

Plus, to make it worse, it is very easy to tell which one is gas and which one isn't. One plug says 'GAS GAS GAS' all around it, and the other says 'WATER' across it.

The man there came back up to where I was trying to pay after he got her settled and the gas going into the right place. He said, "I wonder how she normally gets gas in her boat?" I told him that I think her husband normally does it. That explained it.

So we got back onto the boat reeking of gas and headed home, hoping not to hit any docks or banks (last time, Lars was on the tube and Kitty accidently ran the tube onto the bank) and to just make it home safely. I did get scared a few times, but I knew that she was doing a better job than me.

If it were up to me to get us home, I'd be going about 9 mph at the most, thinking I was probably about to flip and possibly crying when I had to go over the wakes of other boats. I'm not a big fan of driving boats. But I do adore riding when my dad is driving.

Anyways, Kitty's husband, Jack got in town tonight and Dad said that he saw him busy getting the gas out of the water thing. Happy Father's Day to him.



One last thing, I am getting a free bloggy signature from April Showers that I am so excited about, so you should head over there before the weekend is over if you want to get one!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

My Special Talent

I've been thinking about talents. I mean, most people have talents.

My sisters are athletic. They can play soccer, volleyball, and they are semi-good at most sports. But, every time I try to play something, I get smacked in the head with a ball, I fall flat on my face, or I just get completely made fun of because I'm so uncoordinated.

I have a few cousins who can sing, some who can paint, a couple who can play the guitar, and a select few can dance. But, the talent didn't spread evenly throughout the family.

Me, well I can entertain people by singing and dancing because they think it's so funny. I painted a picture and someone asked if my little 3-year-old cousin painted it. And well, I am not musically talented with any instrument. The only C I got during my entire elementary/middle/high school experience was in BAND. I hated band and could not whatsoever play that flute.

So, I was talking with my family about what talents I could have since all of the good ones are taken. My sisters told me I'm good at talking. Okay, yeah, but who isn't? From now on, when someone asks me my strengths, am I supposed to say talking? (And that's it.)

The problem with my talking is that I thrive on awkward moments. So, even if I'm good at talking, I can make people feel so awkward. But I think it's so funny.

Maybe my true life talent is making people feel awkward. Good. Good. My parents would be proud of me.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I went to Ikea in Orlando. Ikea + not spending money = impossible

I saw some super deals plus I will have a double bed next year and I have never had to furnish a double bed bedroom before--I have had a twin and a king so far, no double, so this means I have to/get to buy all new bedding.

I didn't think about sharing this with you but I figured I probably should since Beal did on her blog. So, this is what I found so far....


Above is the main pillow I'm working with because I just loved it.



And this is actually yellow and white and looks completely different on my bed and I think it's much cuter in person.



And then this pillow goes with it too and it's much larger in real life than the picture, ya know?

I have a double bed at home but I haven't always lived in this room, so I didn't choose the bedding here and I really disliked it, so I put my new bedding on it and I'm already loving it, although it clashes with the slightly tacky bright green walls of my bedroom. That's okay though because it's so soft and much better anyways. Have you ever seen my bedroom at home?


It's very bright and so not me. But, that's what happens when you go to college and your mom moves you around while you're gone.

My room is packed to the max at the moment and I don't have a closet either. But that's okay--I'm making do just fine for the time being.


So anyways, I have to keep working on my room a little but I'm not buying much more because you know, I don't really have a job anymore. Actually, I really don't have a job anymore. Not sure if you know, but I'm not working for Granddaddy anymore. I bought this stuff when I still had a job, so now it's back to the ole' spend no money plan. Oh how I love that plan.



Sunday, June 14, 2009

I'm more like ants than I ever realized

It is 4:19 AM as I begin this post. That means it's 4 in the morning for those of you who get your AM and PM mixed up... I know you're out there. But, my computer says the AM/PM thing by the time, so that's how I know for sure I'm not wrong about this.

Anyhow, I must tell you, the reason I am awake is because my bedroom does not have air conditioning and I woke up feeling like it was about 108 degrees in here. I tried to go back to sleep--this was at about 3:15 when I originally woke up--but obviously, it didn't really work out for me. I went and got some water, my mom woke up, so I talked to her for a while, and then came back to bed and still didn't sleep, so about an hour later, I'm writing a blog post in my sweltering hot room. But that's okay because blogging helps everything, doesn't it? And plus, I know that God has me awake blogging for a reason, right?

As I have laid in bed, I started thinking about lots of things. I have had a crazy week/end to say the least. I have experienced many mixed emotions and I really don't know how I feel about my life as a whole. One day, it seemed to all be going very well as planned and the next it seemed to be falling apart.

I have dealt with my rollercoaster life this year in many ways. And I have seen that only one way works. I can't handle my problems. I can't handle my life. I can't handle anything, well without the help of my Creator, the all powerful One.

So, I'm learning (yes, still learning) that I can't question God as to why He lets really weird things happen in my life. I can't question why it all happens at once, why I can't sleep, why my problems seem to have no solution, or why I always seem to hurt my right little toe by hitting it on a certain chair as I walk past and it just makes me so mad.

God knows why, and I have no right to question his reasons because He is sovereign. He is so huge. He knows so much more than I do about myself, my life, the world, and other people surrounding me. For me to even think I deserve to know even a tad bit of the why's in my life would be arrogant of me. That would mean that I think I am so much smarter that I am bcause the Lord is huge and I cannot even grasp a fourth of his character and being--I can't understand what eternity is, what Holiness is like, or what perfect love truly is--so there is no way that I have a right to understand or that I should even be able understand why God is letting certain things happen in my life, and I certainly have no right to question Him.

This is comforting because I can know that He does have it under control when I feel it is spinning out of control.

It is comforting to remember that through tough situations the Lord is molding us, and that is what we can cling to during those times. Everything He does is for mine and your good, for those of us who love Him. Trials develop our character and our understanding of others, and increase our humility. And the Lord knows that I need stronger character, understanding and humility.

He must want us to have these things for a future endeavor that He understands and that we have no idea about. That is why I say that we can't understand even one-fourth of Him--because He knows the future. How comforting that is! The One who knows the future is making my plans.

He loves us more than we can imagine, and He doesn't like to see us suffering. But He can also see the big picture. And in that big picture, these things that seem so big in my life now will look like tiny little ants.


Have you ever watched ants? They carry those pieces of food that are huge to them. The food can be like twice the size of them or maybe bigger (I'm not really an ant expert), and it looks so difficult to carry, and it probably is. I could easily pick up the (to me, tiny) piece of food for the ant and put it at its home so that it never had to leave it's dirt recliner in its living log, but that would not be beneficial for the ant if I did that for him for its entire life. He would have nothing to do and would probably soon die because of being out of shape. Ants thrive on their structured lives and plans, and when I come and take out the hard work and challenges in their lives, they would quickly die because if there is no reason for them to get out to get their food, they will quickly be out of shape and will die from obesity or from being weak against a predator, or even against another ant who wants the same food I have given it and my little ant can no longer defend its food.

"You lazy fool, look at an ant.
Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two."
Proverbs 6:6
(The Message)

My point being: God could easily give us what we want, when we want. To Him, that is nothing; that is easy. But, oh how we would be missing out on so much, on growing and thriving. And when we look back we'd wish that we could have grown back then so we could benefit from it later. Through the big picture God sees what we need, and trials are not a punishment--they are something that we need to experience to become the person that He wants us to become.

(I know this ant illustration was so random, but it just suddenly came to me so I went with it.)

Next time I see those ants covering the mailbox or trailing down the kitchen counter, I think I'm going to be a little less annoyed with them and feel a little bit more sympathy because now that I realize it, I'm a lot more like those ants that I ever realized.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Lots has happened

Nashville last weekend was so much fun. We went by the lake first to Aunt ML's house there. The weather was lovely and the trip was a success.

Granddaddy had so much fun. The entire time I was wishing I had my camera or a video thing because he was standing up on the boat the entire time with his Tennessee hat on backwards, one black and one tan sock, and yelling "Woo Wee" every few minutes.

Alli looked beautiful at her wedding. And we had fun!


The food was excellent.

The best part was that I got to drive Nanny's van, Sierra the Sienna, which was rockin'. She drives ever so nicely. You step on the pedal and she will MOVE. She also whips around curves and into parking spots with ease.



We left Nashville and headed to Florida. We had to switch out cars at home on the way so we couldn't drive Sierra the whole way down. But we had fun. We saw this crazy woman on the way down at a gas station.


Once we got to Florida, we opened the car windows and let our hair down. Mars' hair actually went out.


And then came Florida. The long days of gorgeous lake skies, hammering my fingers while fixing up the house, and attempting to nap with stinging sun burns.
I am being so sweet picturewise to Mars in this post.

The door that makes me want to scream every time I go through it because the rain made it bigger and it never wants to open.

Madre and Tatia figuring out how the moon is out during the light and why exactly it is shaped the way it is.


And lastly, my favorite, the lake views. Below is the view from the front porch that I sit on non-stop.


What a beautiful creation I have had the chance to experience this week. God is perfect in His timing and allowing me to see this right now.

I have been blessed this week with the landscapes, as well as with these books that I've read. I read one this week about Joni Eareckson Tada, who is the woman who was in a diving accident when she was 17 and paralyzed from the neck down. She had such terrible circumstances one would think, yet she finds joy in living. She can say that even through the bad times, God has had a perfect plan for her life. She rejoices in His plans each day, and she writes about this in her book. I would definitely recommend it.

I also read this book and just finished it. It's by Tracie Peterson, titled A Lady of High Regard. It was not quite as insightful, but nonetheless a great read. I couldn't put it down for the past two days while reading it.

Hope you all are having a great week. I will be heading back home soon so hopefully can post more when I have internet connection more often and will surely have some more Granddaddy stories.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

I would definitely fall asleep at the wheel.

Mars, Lars, Hay and I drove down to the Florida house Sunday to meet my parents and spend the week. I, of course, drove because Mars is the only other one who can drive and she never wants to.

This was our conversation on the way down:

Me: Mars, I'm getting so tired. (Everyone in the car is half-asleep)
Mars: Yeah, I'm so tired too.
Me: Well. Why don't you sleep for a little while so that you can drive in a little while?
Mars: I can't sleep in the car, sorry.
Me: Well, how about you drive right now?
Mars: Oh, well I would but I will definitely fall asleep at the wheel.
Me: MARS you just said you can't fall asleep in the car.
Mars: Yeah, well... I just can't drive.

I kept driving sleepily for a while after that until I finally stopped and got some ice cream at DQ and that helped everyone stay awake.

Sometimes I think she's really on Mars half of the time.