Seriously?!

Says Yankee relief pitcher Sean Henn after giving up the game-winning hit in the 10th inning of their loss to the Angels last night:

"I'm just trying to throw strikes, and I'm not a guy that's going to put it exactly where I want it."

Well, that sounds like a problem, right? I mean, isn't that part of the job description? If I came to work one day after messing something up on my instrument that cost us a job and said "I'm not a guy that's going to know what I'm looking for", wouldn't I get canned faster than you could say Chicken of the Sea?

I can't imagine someone like Greg Maddux saying something like that.

Miss Manners

For all the moans and groans she's induced lately, it's been real refreshing that M has been saying 'yes' instead of 'yeah' and is quite fond of saying 'thank you'.

The Daddy Drudgery

The part I hate about being a dad is when I get home, after the initial embrace to welcome me.

Since M is a terrible two, many nights the first thing she hears from me is "don't do this. don't do that." That galls me. It's not that I want her to like me, which I do, but I don't want her to associate Daddy coming with her being disciplined. But it needs to be done because C is either cooking dinner or having S hanging off her or both. And when S is by herself, she's never really by herself, because M is all up in her grill. So I have to tell her no, give Sadie some space.

But I have to remember that this is just a phase and it will pass in time. It's just no fun coming home and having to put her in time out or other punishment when I just want to snuggle with my beautiful girls.

Tithing

A buddy of mine asked me today what I think about tithing.

There are two traditional points of view:
1. Tithe from the gross
2. Tithe from the net

Which is the right view? Both are, unless you get legalistic (read: self-righteous) about it. My feeling is that it is in the realm of the whole meat sacrificed to idols thing. Whatever you decide, let it be a conviction between you and the Lord, and don't hold it over anybody's head if they're doing differently than you. Let me emphasize that I am not touting a relativistic point of view, which tells us that there is really no universal truth, that what's true for you may not be true for me.

I think that it's a test of faith. If you have typically tithed from the net, or you're just starting to tithe, a change to gross can put a strain on an already tight budget. You may think that you might not make ends meet if you start tithing or go from net to gross. But this is where God comes in. Remember that He gave it to you to begin with. He tells us not to worry about clothing and shelter, because Solomon was not dressed in the splendor of the flowers, and we're so much more valuable to Him than those things. There have been numerous examples from friends and family that trusted Him to provide and He did so in unfathomable ways.

You may think about all that money that you're losing. Yes, tithing will be a significant portion of your budget. Sure, you won't be able to do or have as many fun things. You might not have any discretionary funds at the end of the month. But the thing to focus on is that you're not losing any money. You're just investing in eternity rather than only your lifetime. If you have been given more, more is required of you. This means the money God's given you. What better investment strategy allows you to affect peoples' lives now and in the future? You can't go wrong by giving back to God.

Dude, That's Some Sweet Tea

I feel like I'm on a Celine Dion album, because it's all coming back to me now. Bits and pieces from the family reunion keep popping into my head.

I believe it was Wednesday that everybody came over to The Hub for lunch. I asked Aunt Mary if she wanted me to make some sweet tea for her. She asked me how I made it and I told her stepwise how to make it and she said "That isn't how you make Southern tea![sic]" I explained to her there are many variations on Southern tea since Texas, Georgia, Florida, etc are all considered Southern.

I made a gallon of tea and it is gone within 10-15 minutes. Several people asked who'd made the tea. If you know me, then you know I wasn't exactly sheepish about admitting it was I who had made "the tea". After it was gone, it was my duty, nay, my privilege, to make another 1.5 gallons for the thirsty lot. I even got the seal of approval from Aunt Mary herself.

So, I have a special price for you today. For a limited time offer, "the tea" recipe is on sale for 100% off. $Free.99 (Note: Those aren't original. My stepbrother Will learned me.)

Bring 2 cups-ish of water to a boil.
Turn off heat/gas.
Place 4 family-size or 8 regular-size tea bags in water.
Let sit approximately 5 minutes.
Add ice and water to your gallon jug.
Ring the bags out.
Pour the tea into your jug.
Rinse the tea pot with water to get any residual tea and pour into jug.
Here's the important part: Add 1 & 1/4 cups sugar and mix.
Add enough water to fill the gallon.

So, if you've been mired in not-so-sweet or too-sweet tea, here you go. And as the Backyardigans might admit, you'll have the perfect cup of tea. So lift your pinky, pip-pip cheerio.

Enjoy "the tea." And if you're asked how you made it, feel free to disseminate to your charges. The world deserves to have the best sweet tea it can.

Doh!

So, since we became a one-car family, I've driven myself to work only a handful of times, including today.

After a very busy, productive day at work, my brain was fried.

That was obvious when, as a coworker was driving me home, we passed the parking lot and I noticed a familiar car. It was silver and it looked like...hey, that's my car! Yep, I had asked for a ride even though I'd driven myself.

Thankfully I was able to stop him in time and I didn't get home and have C wondering where the car was. Phew! That would've been awkward.

This Post Brought To You By The Letters IRS

God is very unabashed in the ways He provides for us.

A couple of months ago after getting our return back, Uncle Sam sent us a letter telling us that he didn't think he gave us enough money back, instructing us to fill out an Earned Income Credit form and wait 8 weeks.

Well, I had forgotten all about this until we got our mail on Saturday with another check from the IRS!

And of course our minds race to what we can get with this money:
a larger, more cushiony area rug for the play room so kids don't leave with broken teeth or cracked skulls
a better desk unit to reduce clutter
etc.

But what does God want us to do? There are many good things we could do with that money. There are a few better things. But there is only one best thing. And that's the hard part. In our adult life, most of our decisions are between good and evil, because we understand those things. Now it's a struggle between good, better and best.

Thanks Uncle Sam. And thanks be to Jehovah Jireh, who provides in many creative ways.

The Little Things

I know it's a common saying, but it really is the little things that make a difference.

Like coming home to M running full-force into me with all her love.

Finding several books on my side of the bed.

Seeing M's cute pink rainboots strewn about the floor.

M waking me up from my fake slumber with sweet kisses.

S responding to peekaboo with her great smiles and giggle.

Being awake while listening to C sound asleep.