sweet nothings

Un-Grocery Shopping for Christ

2005-09-13T22:32:00.000-04:00

Today I went to serve at a local ministry that is taking in donations of food and misc. items for Katrina victims, organizing them, and packing them for the Red Cross and various local organizations to pass out. Last week I think they helped 3500 families, and today I think it was about 70 (dwindling, which is good, means ppl are getting help).
I didn't know what to expect - but what I found looked nothing like this picture >>>>>>>>>>
It was a warehouse, sorted into areas for example, the baby area (mountains of diapers), the soup area, veggie area, PB & J area, Cereal area, etc.
There were no shelves, we had a couple tables, but mostly it was massive piles on the ground in crates and just stacked cans (not stacked neatly) but mostly thrown on the piles.
It worked well enough I guess, I mean, why spend time organizing when you're throwing it in boxes and getting it right out of your hands again? Also donations were coming in crazy fast.
The reason I call it un-grocery shopping is that the groceries would be unloaded, then we would take grocery carts, fill them up, then 'shop' the aisles, going around and putting the things in the right categories until our carts were empty.
Then when we were ready to fill boxes it was like regular shopping cuz you'd go 'shop' for what you needed for the boxes.
It was great to see everyone bringing so much stuff, it practically had as much as a normal grocery store (well a small one).
It was interesting to see what people thought was a fitting non-perishable food for a dislocated and possibly homeless family, though. Inappropriately so, I mean.
Some of the more interesting donations:
Microwave popcorn (sounds innocent enough but are they going to have a microwave?)
Along that same vein - Bread Machine Mix *haha*
One, individual packet of instant oatmeal. (sure makes you feel valued to get one loose packet)
Diet shake mixes (just add yogurt, strawberries and blend in your blender!)
Half-used packages of cookie mix (like the kind from Sam's club where there's five pouches in the box - but they'd used 3 of the pouches and given us the leftover)
Canned veggies from - oh, probably the early nineties. or maybe eighties (don't worry we tossed 'em).
Baggies of m&ms - yes, opened m&m bags, poured into baggies.
Other expired items, like dried apples, pancake mix and canned beans
Ground Coffee (not instant)
Tiny cans of sardines

Anyway it was just interesting to see. We also had great items, everything we needed (but ran out of jelly) - But it just made me think of food differently - things you can't make or eat b/c you don't have certain appliances (microwave, blender) - how one thing isn't' good without another thing (pasta w/ out pasta sauce) - how many things you would need if you had NOTHING. There were donations of feminine products - now that's wonderful! Who thought of that? You would totally need that. Salt and pepper. Can't have coffee unless its instant. Then you need cream and sugar.
Can't season your stuff b/c you dont' have spices...
It just makes me think of how much I do have - how I like giving back, how I"m so glad they have food, but at the same time, how I wish you could really stock them up, stock their kitchen... It's not practical, really, I know.
I'm going back later this week to help again, do what I can.
But I'm going to be happier to walk in my kitchen (I have a nice kitchen at least) and besides that, see a coffee maker, a microwave, a pantry w/ food, a fridge w/ milk and meat and a freezer with frozen waffles and ice cream.
It seems superflous - I mean, I could get by on rice and beans you know.
But honestly, I'm probably not gonna strip down to that.
Although, I'm going to bring a heck of a lot more Jelly the next time. Today I brought some (plastic) jars. I'm going to have to go to BJ's and get a bunch. We can't have them eating peanut butter sandwiches w/out their jelly!! That's just not right.
Also, it made me think how we should be giving God our best.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

When I think of what I would bring as something fitting a person who needs food, I hope I would - to the best of my financial ability - buy them things that I would want if it were me. Granted, not the superfluous stuff, but even if I'm buying peanut butter - I'm not going to buy a brand I think is yucky. I'm not going to clean out my pantry and give them all the almost expired or expired stuff that we didn't even want to eat.
I think it should be thought of as 'what if Christ were displaced by a hurricane, and needed to feed his family, and had nothing?' What would I buy for him? Would I give him one packet of instant oatmeal? No, I'd get him a big box of Frosted MiniWheats, and Bisquik, and that good spaghetti sauce (in plastic of course) and Oreos, and Albacore Tuna and canned Tropical Fruit! With the categories you've got to work with, get something you would want if you were them.
Anyway, inspite of the few amusing and inappropriate things, most people did just that - gave the good stuff, from their heart I'm sure. It's wonderful to see.

"Whatever you do for the least of these you do as unto me."

World on Fire

2005-09-09T15:22:00.000-04:00

Streaming music videos from mvstream.com

Watch this video please!

Mmm.. Donuts.

2005-09-08T16:57:00.000-04:00

He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart.

I just like this quote by C.S. Lewis. I'm pretty sure he's making a point about love/lust in his book The Four Loves - but it's possible that he was just having a day where he just felt fat! You know those days when you feel like you're gaining pounds just looking at those donuts?

Actually, he probably never ate donuts... British breakfasts actually are very hearty, and heart-clogging things.

Fried Eggs, Bacon, Baked Beans, Kippers (sausage) and tomatoes... Sorry but I'll take my latte and coffee cake!

Going on Vacation

2005-09-07T13:14:00.000-04:00

We're going to NY!

How do i get a link section on the side?

2005-09-07T00:55:00.000-04:00

Can anyone post and tell me how i can get a link section on my blog? Linking to other blogs and users? I can't figure that out.

Thanks

Historical Musings

2005-09-07T00:50:00.000-04:00

I made a quiz today after our rantings about a theological quiz (check out the rantings)

Mine will ask you to choose from several statements about a topic, just pick the one you agree with out of the available choices! And at the end it will tell you which person you sympathize with on their worldview. Take my quiz!!

It's just for fun, but does include some good quotes! My favorite of which is:

He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart.

Hmm. Something to think about! :)

Happy Labor Day!

2005-09-05T23:33:00.000-04:00

Today we got to spend some time w/ our nephews! Here's some
pics of us w/ Ethan, who's 5 mos. old this weekend. He's super cute. Definitely feeding our baby fever even tho last night when we babysat he probably cried/screamed for about 45 mins! Poor little guy, he is teething and had gas, we really tried everything. He eventually calmed down. It was really cute b/c Eli tried to offer help, such as his passy, his boof (little bear), and suggested we sing "Jesus Loves Me." When that didn't work, he proceeded to entertain him instead, by sitting on his self-inflatable whoopee cushion over and over!! As if Ethan needed any more reminding of why he was in pain! :)
When Rob told Eli "I think he might have gas.."
Eli said, "Well I hope not!"
Isn't that cute?
Anyway, they're both super cute and definitely a handful but we're hoping for some of our own in the not so far away future!

Last day of our third year of marriage!!

2005-08-30T23:07:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it's been three years that we've been married! It went by so fast. I'm so thankful that our relationship is even stronger and better than it was last year, and the year before that. Sometimes you wonder what it is that makes peoples relationships work, and why God brought them together, and I realize now that it is something only two people can ever know - the ones married to each other. It's so hard to explain what makes him so great, or why he likes me so much, no one else gets it!

And that's what's great about it!

Our top ten favorite love songs!! (well i didn't ask him really but i know he agrees).

10. Because I told you so - jonatha brooke
9. One and Only - Teitur
8. How Sweet it is - James Taylor
7. Flowers in the Window - Travis (this is a brand new addition to the list, reminds us of our UK trip)
6. Words said in the dark - pierce pettis
5. The Scientist - Coldplay (also a relatively new addition)
4. All my life - David wilcox
3. Songs of Songs - piece pettis
2. When you say nothing at all - Alison Krauss
1. True Companion - marc cohn (putting this first b/c Rob sang it to me at our wedding)

and some other good ones - Georgia Moon - Better Half - Affectionate Girl - Broken Road

or check out my itunes imix of these songs!

card

2005-07-20T20:52:00.000-04:00

Purchase my custom designed card here:
http://www.zazzle.com/contributors/products/product/product.asp?cid=238465785450890515&general%5Frecs%5Fper%5Fpage=9&caching=on&product%5Fid=137890077174687123&index=1

the ooze

2004-11-10T13:37:00.000-05:00

i just found a great site called theooze.com - it's about the emerging and postmodern church, ideas which i have been thinking about over the past year but haven't truly articulated. this is helping. it's wonderful to know there are others thinking about their faith in a way that is separate from the modern church. check it out.

2004-11-09T01:41:00.000-05:00

Elrond, you like your birthday hat, too!! Happy 2 years!

2004-11-09T01:40:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday Lorien, you know you love your birthday hat!

english or british?

2004-11-09T01:25:00.000-05:00

it seems a lot of good contemporary books are by british authors. so in reading them, and in honor of bridget jones' diary coming out here are some british words that i don't understand. anyone want to help me out?

jumper: ok i think this is maybe a sweater? it seems guys and girls wear this. i picture a big one piece saggy dress, over a t-shirt, but i'm positive that is not what it means.

marquee: for a marquee, it seems to be something important for weddings, which seem to take place at home a lot in these novels (is that normal?) i picture a huge gaudy sign w/ the bride and grooms' name on them, maybe in like carnations or something? in reality i bet it is a tent, maybe for the reception?

CV: Now i think this is a resume. But what does C V stand for?

I'll add more as i think of them. I wonder if i could buy a book w/ vocabulary differences for english/british english?

Also, i'd like to find a way to incorporate the words 'keen' and 'brilliant' into my everyday language without people staring me down. Not gonna happen is it...

We are planning an England vacation for next spring, maybe May? London hotels are expensive. Neither of us have been there before so it will be an adventure. I don't like to be gone away from home for too long, the longest i've done on a vacation was about 8 days. But i think we'll have to make it around 12-14 days to take advantage of the lost sleep/adjusting plus seeing London plus castles and countryside plus a couple touristy destinations (yay stonehenge!) and that could end up taking a while. I just don't know how many days i can go eating out, and leaving our cats here!

Maybe I can learn some more 'slang' before we go.

Ok, so British books (or do you say English? or UK? there's so many names) that i like are:
About a Boy
High Fidelity
Shopaholic series
Can you keep a secret (same author)
Bridget Jones' novels
Babyville
Curious incident of the Dog in the nighttime

I like how i'm reading these kinds of novels and one day i thought i'd major in lit. oh well, that is out, plus these are fun.

2004-11-08T17:22:00.000-05:00

Eliora, Night Elf Druid, traveling to Darkshore to hunt wild beasts.

Caffeine

2004-11-08T17:08:00.000-05:00

"In another study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, it was discovered that of 104 women trying to conceive, those drinking more than one cup of coffee per day were 50% less likely to become pregnant at any stage of their menstrual cycle than women who consumed less caffeine. After drinking 1 cup or more of coffee per day for 1 year, women in the study were found to be 5 times less likely to become pregnant. The statistics are shocking, and the message is clear. Caffeine, in high doses, can be toxic."

Caffeine is interesting. Because most of us drink it without thinking (okay well younger people). I have recently started thinking about not drinking it, so on to caffeine free coke, sprite, decaf tea and coffee (i can't tell a taste difference). But i do like chocolate - a lot - so that's just gonna have to be OK. Then i read this quote and now i really am not going to drink it. Why don't they serve caffeine free coke at restaurants? only diet coke and regular. Well we are going on a water-binge anyway. Last week, Monday through Friday, had only water! I think one cup of coffee actually. Oh well no ones perfect. This weekend i had one glorious coke. But now it's back to water for the week.

So, i'm wondering if you could just have this caffeinated birth control? Like, you drink 3 cups of coffee a day and you're set. I mean, it is sort of a drug. A free drug. Could it have worse side effects than regular birth control? Not possible. Well, possible, but unlikely.

hmm...

2004-09-21T19:08:00.000-04:00

will anyone ever find and read this? we shall see!