Friday, July 11, 2008

Rain, rain, everywhere...




I am still trying to get used to the weather around here...Living in Arizona for six years, I really grew accustomed to blue skies, blue skies, and more blue skies! I think it rained once a year there, if we were lucky. When we first moved to AZ, Luis, being fond of gardening and such, prayed for rain...only to discover that the local farmers had the growing season down to a science, (using the Colorado River to irrigate), and the least bit of rain would ruin everything! When my Dad came to visit in 2002, he would open the curtain every morning and say, "Wow, another blue sky!" Coming from "gray" Syracuse, it was so odd for him to see sunny days for 3 weeks straight! Consequently, I am trying to get used to the almost daily thunder storms this time of the year. And I have to admit, I don't really like the loud booms like I used to. Josh has become my personal weather man lately. He loves to watch the clouds roll in, and tell me in which direction they are moving. He closely watches the sky as it changes, and swears that it looks green, signalling a tornado, every time it so much as sprinkles! He has checked out several books on weather and storms from the local library, and is mystified by clouds, rain, wind, etc. It's funny how much more attention you pay to something, when you have lived for many years without it.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

The party's over...

Well, the big day came and went...Jonathan is now 3!! I think the highlight of the night was seeing him gasp (literally) with joy at every (and I mean EVERY) present and card that he opened. Someday, when I figure out how to upload my videos, I'll post that piece of the birthday video...it was a hoot! The Parra/Poston clan always have a good time, and tonight was no exception! Next...MB and the big 4-0!! hahaha...love you sissy!
Three today! Cariboo~Great game!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Nascar Fever


Being a northern girl, I had a lot to learn about life in South Carolina. Down here, the tea is SWEET, the terrain is flat, and phrases like "y'all", "might could", and "I reckon", are the norm. Fast-food is anything but fast. Hurricane evacuations consist horrid gas station lines, and bare grocery store shelves. They have humidity that could take your breath away, and gnats that could almost carry you away! The South, however has its share of well known icons…miles of beautiful shoreline, Southern hospitality, and yes, Nascar.

Recently, my boys have developed the “fever”. There is no cure that I have found as of yet. The symptoms are unmistakable. Anything that can be raced in our house will do…laundry baskets, toilet paper rolls, and marbles…even blueberries! (however I don’t recommend this, especially on carpet). The boys have their favorite “number shirts”…Josh-Blue 88, and Jonathan red-48. If the number shirts happen to be in the dirty clothes pile, they will write numbers on paper and beg me to duct tape them to whatever shirt they are wearing. "Because", as they explain, "you have to have a number to race!" In our house, we have a hallway that is the ideal racetrack, so they say. The only problem is, they can’t fit side by side in the hall with their make shift, laundry basket racers. But, as we all know, Nascar, without the crashes, isn’t Nascar! One of our frequent stops when we are out and about in our town is the dollar store that is close to our house. They have the greatest selection of matchbox cars, and the price is right. The boys beam when I let them get a box of “number cars”. The other day, we were looking through the DVDs in the store, and we came across a whole stack of, yes, you guessed it…Nascar DVDs. Well, you would have thought I had told my kids we were off to Disney world. It was the best $1.50 I have spent in a long time! Last night, after prayers, stories, and being tucked in, the boys asked if they could watch their sacred DVD, to which I gave in. They were sitting on the edge of their bed, eyes glued to the screen. Jonathan was explaining to Josh that Jimmy Johnson drove the #48 Lowe's car, not Jeff Gordon. Finally, the two drifted off to sleep…with visions spin outs, pit crews and checkered flags no doubt!

Yesterday, in church, the message was about persevering…and at one point, the gentleman speaking actually worked “Boogedy, boogedy, boogedy!” into his sermon. Yes, I think my boys will fit in just fine down here in the South.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Egg fettish


We are an "egg" family! We love to eat scrambled eggs in the morning. Usually Luis buys the 5 dozen box when he goes to the store, and it lasts us roughly two weeks. That's ALOT of eggs!! Well, my neighbor, across the dirt road, just happens to be my husband's brother. He has, among other animals, a bunch of chickens. So, you'd think, the "egg" family would be in heaven, right?? Wrong. For some reason, I can't eat those eggs. I don't know if it's because I actually see how nasty chicken really are...scratching in the dirt, eating ANYTHING (even cooked chicken-now that's just not right!!)...but for some reason, I have this mental thing going on, that won't allow me to eat the eggs. I have gone so far as to even crack and whip the eggs...but end up throwing them away before they hit the skillet! Luis keeps telling me that he wants to build a chicken coop and have chickens of our own. The children squeal with excitement at the thought of having their very own chickens, just like Uncle David...Three against one...but I am holding my ground. I know that if I give in, I will have to smuggle in eggs from the outside world, if I ever want "normal" eggs again. And I have this sneaky suspicion that the chicken breasts and thighs that I buy would soon become a thing of the past...and the chicken axe and plucking feathers are not something I even want to begin to think about!!!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Two Trees


My husband and I were out in the yard last evening, picking blueberries from our amazingly productive blueberry bush. I was carrying the bucket inside, when I walked past our pretty fig tree...that gives us no fruit. I said to Luis, "This tree is so beautiful, the leaves are so healthy looking and green...but I feel like when Jesus walked past the fig tree with no fruit and cursed it, because it gives us nothing." That was all that was said...but I kept thinking about that tree...I realized it's like many of us. We can look beautiful and perfect on the outside. Only the tiniest of blemishes, which are easily overlooked. Growing by leaps and bounds, but not doing what we were created to do. No fruit. Nothing of lasting value. Nothing of nourishment for anyone else. Nothing.
We have another tree in a different part of our yard. It's a sad little peach tree. I thought the tree was completely dead this past winter, as I broke a branch only to see how very brittle the dead wood really was. Well, I ended up breaking off almost half of the little tree that day...all dead wood. But to my amazement, this past spring, there were flowers on that lop-sided "dead" tree. Then, this summer, we actually picked fruit...not huge peaches, but sweet, juicy delicious little ones. I remember thinking back to how I was ready to have my husband chop that little tree down, to plant something more pleasing to the eye...like the fig tree...but I began to see what a mistake that would have been...I began to see its real value.

I made a decision right then and there. I want to be that peach tree. No, it's not perfect looking, it doesn't stand out as the best of those around it...and it surely would not win any horticultural awards...in fact, most people would probably walk right past it without giving it a second thought. But the fruit is priceless. With a little pruning and breaking away, it produced more than anyone thought imaginable. Fulfilling the appetite of those around it. Doing exactly what it was created to do...bear good fruit.

The fig tree will also remain. Not because it is really anything of worth...other than a constant reminder of "having the appearance of Godliness, but lacking it's power." (2 Timothy 3:5)...something of which, I pray, I am never accused.