Five Days Unplugged

Saturday morning, in the middle of planning our anniversary date, we got a pop-upmessage alerting us to a virus found on our computer. We "x"ed it out, but that was apparently all it took to start the "rogue bogus antivirus" from taking over our computer. Unfortunately, I neglected to do several things, the first of which was to make recovery disks for the computer when we got it a year ago. Secondarily, and more important to me, I put off backing up all of the photos and videos of Julia...for the past year. So, I'll just get out out of the way: "poor me!" There...that feels better. Now, until I can get the photos backed up and the computer fixed, I'm obviously not able to be online other than using this smartphone (and I can assure you that I didn't name the device as such...). I had been talking about "giving up" facebook for the month of November, really meaning the games I played on the site which had begun to take up to much time. I made a list of all the things that I was missing out on by panting virtual crops and digging for imaginary treasures. Tea parties Coloring books Exercise Clean house Crafts, sewing Reading Going to bed at night with my husband...not hours later When I told a few people about it (not many...if I failed, I wanted to fail in front of the least amount of folks possible!), I was mostly laughed at. Darling Hubby actually snorted. DH said, through the laughter, "Yeah, right...that'll *never* happen!" Now, those who know me know this for certain: If you want to get me involved, just say I can't do it. I like a challenge, I hate to lose and there's not much I like more than proving you wrong if you doubt me. So I started to *really* consider it. Said I would only get on via the phone (which is almost like not being on at all!) And I started this blog, because the reason I like facebook is because its almost like a diary for me...and I can share photos. Well, here we are halfway through day five, and I'm looking around thinking, "Wow...look at all I have been missing!" The house is getting clean and organized each day, I've completed several sewing projects and have a few more started. All of the laundry is done. I'm reading a book. I watched a couple movies. Not that I didn't do ask of those things, I just usually ended up glancing at the clock, funding out what time it was and, in panic mode, tried to cram a while life in half the time, not giving anything the attention it needed or deserved. Bad wife. Bad momma. Bad me. So, I'm determined now, even when the computer gets fixed, to budget my time better. I only get one shot at this. I sure don't want to waste it on the virtual version when I can live the real one...unplugged. Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless

You've Got Mail

I'm starting to think God uses email.

Now before you think I'm being sacrilegious, hear me out. Of course, I don't think He has email. But I can't tell you the many times I've been sent (or tweeted) a Bible verse or devotion that spoke right to me. Nor can I tell you how often He has guided someone to speak (ok, type!) a kind word to me, a word of encouragement, when one was desperately needed. I am gaining confidence in sharing my faith because of the people He is placing in my path that are unafraid to share theirs.

When I was a little girl, one of my Bible School teachers once told me that if you just randomly open your Bible, the first verse you see is the one you need. Now, I'm not too sure I believe that; I'm awfully skeptical about, well, just about all of those kind of things. Besides, I almost always end up in Psalms, being that it is in the middle of the book. And so much of Psalms isn't more than words of comfort and caring...no directions, no step-by-step instructions of a perfect life. So that can't possibly be right.

WAIT A MINUTE.

Usually what I'm needing at that point IS a promise of a caring, loving God. Someone who's there for me always, never forsaking me. In fact, it seems to me that no matter where I "get" the verse, it's like I'm "supposed" to read it. In church, passages seem to be ones I need to hear. The Daily Bible Verse that is delivered by email each day tweaks a nerve more often than not; the passages in Our Daily Bread and The Upper Room do the same. Incredibly enough, the website of a UFC fighter (Matt Hughes) held one of the most beautiful verses I never would have found on my own.

1 Timothy 1:15-16: This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone

should

accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to

save

sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had

mercy

on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime

example of his great patience with even the worst

sinners.

Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him

and receive eternal life.

Now, I know it sounds like I'm picturing the world revolving around me, but isn't that a parable, too? Even one lost lamb this Shepard would come and look for, give His life for. So I know He is speaking to me, guiding me, placing people in my life who are helping me on my journey. They're turning up from the most amazing places! Even on the world wide web...

Lemons from Lemonade

So last night before bed, it felt a little chilly. When I checked the thermostat, I found the heater wasn't working. I pulled out a huge pile of extra blankets and called the landlord when we woke up. Thankfully (here's the lemonade part), it's only October and it's chilly but not cold. Still thirsty? More lemonade: since it was cold, I decided to bake a cake since the oven would help warm up the house. Now I have a very happy toddler who got to bake with Momma, a slightly warmer house that smells divine and one of my favorite cakes to eat later!

It comes down to this. I'm learning - note that I did not say I've learned...it's definitely a process I've not perfected yet - that it is SO much easier to say, "Yes, but look at all I HAVE - look at what is GOOD!" than to complain about things that I lack or that fail me. It's not EASY, but it's EASIER. The blessings were never promised to have neon signs on them. Instead, the Bible says to "seek and ye shall find." (Matthew 7:7) LOOK! LOOK AROUND! They're EVERYWHERE!

I ♥ML because why not just immerse myself in it? God designed this life JUST FOR ME! So everything that happens works for good - eventually! I might not see it without looking; I might never see it. But I know that the good is there, the blessings exist, the "Well, at least..." can be found. When my car broke down during rush hour, at least Julia and I could get home safely. When we had to give Wiggles up, it turned out to be a wonderful new life for him (and his Grammie Julia and Pappy Dom, too!). There are loads of mundane little moments everyday that are blessings. Look for them. Find them. Embrace life with faith that every day is a gift from God, every day has meaning. It's all worth something.

And now, a Keep Your House Warm Apple Cake recipe...a reward of sorts for sitting through my preachin'.

CANDEE'S MOST FAVORITEST APPLE CAKE EVER

3 eggs

1 3/4 c. sugar

1 c. oil

2 c. flour

1 c. walnuts (i chop mine fine)

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 c. diced apples

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan (I use PAM and a non-stick pan); preheat oven to 350.

Beat together eggs, sugar and oil.

Looking stern is optional.

Add flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix well.

Licking the beaters is also optional...but highly recommended.

By hand, mix in apples, nuts and vanilla. Put into prepared pan. (This is not a batter that you pour; this mixture is very thick and very sticky and needs to be spread evenly in the pan.)

Bake for 45 minutes. Wonder the entire time if you could like the finished product better than the stuff you licked off the beaters.

TOPPING

(because when you thought it was already Amazing Enough, you were wrong!)

1 small box instant vanilla pudding

2 envelopes Dream Whip

1 3/4 c. cold milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Beat until thick. Chill.

With a straw, poke holes for the topping to ooze into, making it good and moist.

Spread topping over cooled cake. In the event there is any left, keep refrigerated.

I dare you to eat just one piece... ♥ML!