So Erin and I are driving to this building on the base in preparation for the 5K I was going to run the next day and WHAM...this cute and fuzzy bunny comes out of nowhere and happens to run into the Pontiac (Notice that in one last attempt to reduce guilt, the bunny hit the car). At this point I feel terrible, but continue on to the building to accomplish the task at hand. On the way back, Erin and I are discussing whether or not I, in fact, killed the cute and fuzzy bunny...
Yep, sure did. Well, not right away anyway. I pull off the road and get out to inspect said bunny. Not good. His (or her) (you can never tell with bunnies) eyeball is covered (gushing) in blood (there were also several deep cuts to the face, but they were too gruesome for Josh to bring himself to mention); at first I think it's dead, but suddenly it twitches, trying to fight the good fight for life. I yell for Erin to come over (she wanted me to stay away from the cute and fuzzy bunny due to airborne diseases...very wise!) (important missing fact...Josh did not heed my warning completely...he held his coat over his face to not breath in diseased bunny...and he ((after a couple reminders)) didn't touch the bunny...but he did get very close.); as she arrived, the bunny gave several valiant efforts to get up, but I had clearly broken several of its bones...crap. So, we left the bunny, assuming the worst... (after several comments by Josh including statements such as 'he's such a little fighter', 'are you sure there isn't a vet that can help him', 'I just want to pet him and tell him it'll be ok', 'I'm so sorry bunny, I didn't see you coming, you were so fast!')
I, of course, am feeling absolutely horrible about what I've just done. So, I pray about it, asking God to forgive me for running over His cute and fuzzy bunny. He did! Woot woot!
On the way to the race the next day, we drove by where I had committed a crime (hit and run, of course)...and the bunny was gone!! What?! Erin thinks someone scraped it off the ground, but I think it pulled through and is now recovering nicely in its bunny hole. At least that is what I tell myself. On a good note, the Pontiac sustained zero body damage...if only I could say that about the cute and fuzzy bunny. =) (There is no way the bunny is recovering nicely.)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
PickL
I don't know if I had mentioned it or not, but this base is fairly conducive to home sickness. Or to get you pumped up for a football game...depending your mood. One of the main roads on this installation is called Nebraska. We drive on it everyday a lot. It's the road to everywhere! Most of the street names are states, but Nebraska isn't hidden in some subdivision, it's right there in the open. We pass Michigan on our way home as well. So if we're talking about football, we drive by Michigan St. and kinda of laugh (maybe they'll be better next year...uhhh maybe not)...then we get to Nebraska and get really excited to watch the next game...unless it's on pay per view then we get excited to refresh ESPN Gamecast. Or stare at the ticker on the bottom of a game actually on TV. Josh and I love football. We have to be careful not to spend our entire Saturday (starting with GameDay at 9am) in the best seats in the stadium. Lets just say we haven't been too careful lately. Usually we will put some soup on the stove, I'll grab some puzzle books or laundry or something, and Josh will try to do some work at the same time (he's not so great at multi-tasking). It's one of our favorite family times. :) Anyhoo, if there isn't a game coming up that we can watch, then both Nebraska and Michigan streets remind us that we are 7ish hours away. Boo. But then we laugh when we pull onto our street because somewhere in the weather the sign changed from Pick Pl, to Pick l. We live on Pickl. Sick. I hate pickles. But hey, it's funny.
We've been trying out new churches lately and I think we've found both a church and a Sunday school and a Bible study (through the base) that we like. We got it handed to us in church on Sunday regarding the apathy among believers. Anywhere actually, but especially in the military, you are admonished not to speak your faith views. Our culture says faith is individual and private, and you believe what you believe, and I'll believe what I believe then we'll be all one big happy family, getting alone and being unified. Knowingly or not, we all as believers have bought into this in some way, shape, or form. Believers are being quiet, the church is in hiding. But- talking about Jesus at work could risk your job! Or- I just don't have the right words- I dont' know what to say. Or how about- it's just not my spiritual gift. Or- the right opportunity hasn't come up yet. Maybe waiting for just the right moment or conversation doesn't cut it with God. I had some believers tell me the other day that they don't pray for their food at restaurants any more because it's too awkward for the waiters. Are you serious? That's 'tolerance' brainwashing at it's finest. That's not even confrontational and we don't want to do it! When's the last time you said something for Jesus, in public, to a non believer...etc. Last week? Last month? I was convicted big time of that. We all know how to steer conversation towards or away from Christ. We can talk in 'safe zones' for a very long time! Here's three of the many verses we talked about Sunday morning:
Isaiah 62: 1
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
I'm not saying be on a street corner with huge signs preaching sermons to passersby, but I am saying that we all have people we are in contact with. Our paths have crossed because of classes, children, churches, gym memberships, etc. And they are people we need to reach...for such a time as this. Don't assume someone else will do it. You don't know who they know.
One of the main points was that if we keep quiet, not making the most of every opportunity, then God's work will be done through another means. We are not stopping Him, BUT we will face the consequences of disobedience when we stand face to face with God. Just like parenting...we want to be characterized by first time obedience.
Yup, it was good for me to hear that.
We've been trying out new churches lately and I think we've found both a church and a Sunday school and a Bible study (through the base) that we like. We got it handed to us in church on Sunday regarding the apathy among believers. Anywhere actually, but especially in the military, you are admonished not to speak your faith views. Our culture says faith is individual and private, and you believe what you believe, and I'll believe what I believe then we'll be all one big happy family, getting alone and being unified. Knowingly or not, we all as believers have bought into this in some way, shape, or form. Believers are being quiet, the church is in hiding. But- talking about Jesus at work could risk your job! Or- I just don't have the right words- I dont' know what to say. Or how about- it's just not my spiritual gift. Or- the right opportunity hasn't come up yet. Maybe waiting for just the right moment or conversation doesn't cut it with God. I had some believers tell me the other day that they don't pray for their food at restaurants any more because it's too awkward for the waiters. Are you serious? That's 'tolerance' brainwashing at it's finest. That's not even confrontational and we don't want to do it! When's the last time you said something for Jesus, in public, to a non believer...etc. Last week? Last month? I was convicted big time of that. We all know how to steer conversation towards or away from Christ. We can talk in 'safe zones' for a very long time! Here's three of the many verses we talked about Sunday morning:
Isaiah 62: 1
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
I'm not saying be on a street corner with huge signs preaching sermons to passersby, but I am saying that we all have people we are in contact with. Our paths have crossed because of classes, children, churches, gym memberships, etc. And they are people we need to reach...for such a time as this. Don't assume someone else will do it. You don't know who they know.
One of the main points was that if we keep quiet, not making the most of every opportunity, then God's work will be done through another means. We are not stopping Him, BUT we will face the consequences of disobedience when we stand face to face with God. Just like parenting...we want to be characterized by first time obedience.
Yup, it was good for me to hear that.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Mystery Solved.
The last few weeks, I've been quite puzzled. Confused actually, and on a mission to solve the mystery of the horses. Let me explain. I have been seeing these huge horse trailers very regularly. They are the size of semi trailers and have low windows across each side, they look like livestock trailers only you can't see in them. Example:
So they are like the above picture because you can't see inside, but they are much bigger, with cattle truck-like windows--small and oval, only blackened out like the above picture. Actually, the windows look more like an airplane...low and in a line. So yeah. Combine these three pictures and there you go.
These horses, or cattle I suppose, are living in luxury. I would see these trucks during the day and often at night. When it's dark, it's hard to miss because they light up like a Christmas tree...or those Coke semis in the commercials. But here's my problem. You may know I grew up on a farm, and thus have a pretty decent knowledge of all things livestock. My astute attention to all things mysterious immediately brought to my attention three big issues:
#1. Where are all the animals? In my investigation of the base, I had yet to run into the place where people could board their animals. On Leavenworth there were a lot of people who had horses and boarded them on base. It was right up the road from Josh's office, and not hard to find. They had barns and corrals and horse riding trails, not to mention the poop on the roads where horses were allowed.
Which led me to issue
#2. No smells. Now if there's one thing you can recognize without fail after growing up on farm it's livestock smells. You don't mistake sewage, or a skunk, or road kill, for farm animals. My nose was missing some key information. Where in the world?! If these trailers were going by my house very regularly and turning in across the street...how come I never smelled anything?
Now, the reason I couldn't solve this mystery was because of issue
#3. Misinformation. Josh and I were driving an exploratory route of the base the other night and we happened to be following a trailer for a couple of blocks. I thought to myself, I am going to solve this horse mystery right here and now! The semi/trailer turned off into an area that I still don't know what it is...looks like part of a subdivision to me, but I haven't been up there yet, and parked on the side of the road. WHAT?! So I asked Josh, "What are those horse trailers doing parked there". And he said, "That must be where they live." Ok, that makes sense...what? I immediately assumed he meant the drivers. Turns out, Josh really wasn't listening to me and had no idea what I had asked him. He actually doesn't remember it at all. Go figure.
So, now I'm really on the lookout for the stables. They have to be somewhere, one of the drivers lives right up the road (as Josh led me to believe- inadvertently, but still), I was going to find the horses.
Finally yesterday, in my frustration, I pointed out the window at one driving by and asked Josh, "Where in the world are all the horses on this base!??! I can't figure it out!!" "Uhhh Erin, those are called Troop Movers. Soldiers are in there."
Oops. Well, excuse me, they looked like horse trailers. Not to mention that whole companies of soldiers walk past our house everyday, and they have camo-buses all over! Gotta love the bluebirds. Wow. ha ha ha. So, I guess I don't feel so bad about not making that connection, I guess you have to learn something new everyday.
So they are like the above picture because you can't see inside, but they are much bigger, with cattle truck-like windows--small and oval, only blackened out like the above picture. Actually, the windows look more like an airplane...low and in a line. So yeah. Combine these three pictures and there you go.
These horses, or cattle I suppose, are living in luxury. I would see these trucks during the day and often at night. When it's dark, it's hard to miss because they light up like a Christmas tree...or those Coke semis in the commercials. But here's my problem. You may know I grew up on a farm, and thus have a pretty decent knowledge of all things livestock. My astute attention to all things mysterious immediately brought to my attention three big issues:
#1. Where are all the animals? In my investigation of the base, I had yet to run into the place where people could board their animals. On Leavenworth there were a lot of people who had horses and boarded them on base. It was right up the road from Josh's office, and not hard to find. They had barns and corrals and horse riding trails, not to mention the poop on the roads where horses were allowed.
Which led me to issue
#2. No smells. Now if there's one thing you can recognize without fail after growing up on farm it's livestock smells. You don't mistake sewage, or a skunk, or road kill, for farm animals. My nose was missing some key information. Where in the world?! If these trailers were going by my house very regularly and turning in across the street...how come I never smelled anything?
Now, the reason I couldn't solve this mystery was because of issue
#3. Misinformation. Josh and I were driving an exploratory route of the base the other night and we happened to be following a trailer for a couple of blocks. I thought to myself, I am going to solve this horse mystery right here and now! The semi/trailer turned off into an area that I still don't know what it is...looks like part of a subdivision to me, but I haven't been up there yet, and parked on the side of the road. WHAT?! So I asked Josh, "What are those horse trailers doing parked there". And he said, "That must be where they live." Ok, that makes sense...what? I immediately assumed he meant the drivers. Turns out, Josh really wasn't listening to me and had no idea what I had asked him. He actually doesn't remember it at all. Go figure.
So, now I'm really on the lookout for the stables. They have to be somewhere, one of the drivers lives right up the road (as Josh led me to believe- inadvertently, but still), I was going to find the horses.
Finally yesterday, in my frustration, I pointed out the window at one driving by and asked Josh, "Where in the world are all the horses on this base!??! I can't figure it out!!" "Uhhh Erin, those are called Troop Movers. Soldiers are in there."
Oops. Well, excuse me, they looked like horse trailers. Not to mention that whole companies of soldiers walk past our house everyday, and they have camo-buses all over! Gotta love the bluebirds. Wow. ha ha ha. So, I guess I don't feel so bad about not making that connection, I guess you have to learn something new everyday.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Trick or Treat!
Josh and I had a very entertaining Halloween. We played two games of Scrabble and handed out candy to some very amazing visitors. Here's who came by:
By age:
0-3
A Sheep
Giraffe
a White/Green, Fuzzy boy (head to toe covered in fleece.)
and a very hungry Pumpkin
4-7
Dorothy (Josh thought she was Cinderella...but the red sparkly shoes and blue checkered dress with an apron clearly says Dorothy.)
Wonder Woman
Lizard (totally a Dinosaur but Josh says lizard. That poor boy would probably cry if he knew- he could probably tell us the exact dinosaur he was)
three Fairy's (one of which Josh said was really Cinderella, and the other one he thought was supposed to be a butterfly)
Spiderman
Superman
the Real Cinderella
8 on Up:
Venom
a Knight of the Round Table
a Jedi
Court Jester
two Soldiers
an Unknown--yeah we had no idea
Tina Turner??! Or maybe Beyonce?
a Dead Tony Hawk...we had to ask.
a Witch
the Dark Knight ((Batman))
Our favorite was the Hungry Pumpkin and the Lizard. We had a great time talking to the kids about their costumes and handing out not nearly enough candy. However, the Pumpkin could have taken much more. Oh, and I'm still undefeated in Scrabble. However, the last game was fairly close, keeps me on my toes!
By age:
0-3
A Sheep
Giraffe
a White/Green, Fuzzy boy (head to toe covered in fleece.)
and a very hungry Pumpkin
4-7
Dorothy (Josh thought she was Cinderella...but the red sparkly shoes and blue checkered dress with an apron clearly says Dorothy.)
Wonder Woman
Lizard (totally a Dinosaur but Josh says lizard. That poor boy would probably cry if he knew- he could probably tell us the exact dinosaur he was)
three Fairy's (one of which Josh said was really Cinderella, and the other one he thought was supposed to be a butterfly)
Spiderman
Superman
the Real Cinderella
8 on Up:
Venom
a Knight of the Round Table
a Jedi
Court Jester
two Soldiers
an Unknown--yeah we had no idea
Tina Turner??! Or maybe Beyonce?
a Dead Tony Hawk...we had to ask.
a Witch
the Dark Knight ((Batman))
Our favorite was the Hungry Pumpkin and the Lizard. We had a great time talking to the kids about their costumes and handing out not nearly enough candy. However, the Pumpkin could have taken much more. Oh, and I'm still undefeated in Scrabble. However, the last game was fairly close, keeps me on my toes!
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