We're alive!:)

Pictures:
1. neighbors tree
2.our tree
3. No that's not a lake. that's the big dip area that fills with water when it rains... that's our duplex neighbors trashcan over there too.
4. After the storms cleared
5, 6, 7. The 2 rainbows that we got to see

We made it through the storm! It was pretty scary though! The sirens went off last night shortly after we got home, and we all rushed downstairs and were down there for quite awhile, there was a tornado on our side of town, and we could hear roaring from where we were cowering. The Lord protected us again. Our only tree out front is now level with the top of the house. And the neighbors lost most of their tree, but thankfully it missed the front windows. When the storms finally rolled on, and we were out and about checking on people we got the chance to see a double rainbow.

Yeah.

So I got a wild notion this morning to cut my hair, so I did.... only somewhere along the way (I know where, but it's embarassing.*L*) I ended up with a section way too short. So I ended up whacking it all off. So it's fairly short now. It had been down past my shoulders, and now it's slightly longer than my chin. It looks pretty okay though.

We watched movies yesterday... we watched Wild Hogs & Premonition. Wild Hogs was pretty good. Premonition wasn't bad. But it wasn't a premonition. And there was some spots that they seemed to leave huge gaps.

Anyway. it's time for Aly & I's reading. (She's been reading for a year, but I like to read chapter books with her.;) )

August 10th & 11th

Yes I know that today is the 11th, but I have taken to writing in a notebook again, and I was going to just copy it over here, and never got a chance.

August 10th, 2007
Reading:
Grace in Thine Eyes: Liz Curtis Higgs
Homeschooling the early years
Beyond Discipline
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Today seems really long, but it's been a good a day. Made the family chicken & homemade noodles, EVEN though it's really hot. (special note on the 11th: they were really good*L*) Upper 90's. Supposed to be hotter tomorrow.
One 15 minute walk/run on the gazelle. Plan on knitting a few rounds on Aly's tank top.


August 11th, 2007
Nothing much has gone on today. I've had an earache, and just felt awful. We've basically done nothing but stay in the house and be cool. Watched Dirty Jobs. That show is so gross. *L* But hilarious.

Clay Balls

Clay Balls

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.

They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw
the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him.

He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of
thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.

We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with each of you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.


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So after reading this, I realized that I hadn't thanked you all for your friendship in awhile. I appreciate you all! Thank you for being my friend even when I am not shining very brightly.

Cripes!

I had computer problems, and haven't had mine since Tuesday, just got it fixed today... I'll catch up with you all soon!