Way to Go, Hersheypark!

There are two super cool perks that make me glad I'm a season pass holder this year at Hersheypark.

1. Special preferred parking for pass holders that is as close as you can get to the front gates unless you are an employee.

2. The new water park area called The Boardwalk.

If you're looking for me this summer you can pretty much count on us being at the Boardwalk in Hersheypark. It is fabulous! The Husband and I took the kids yesterday and we decided it felt like we were on vacation! And, I like vacation, so any place that tricks me into thinking I'm on one for a few blissful hours is a really good thing!

There are pools for all ages and water slides (we didn't even try the slides, yet). My kids really liked the wave pool, where I sat in a lounge chair and sunburned myself while sipping an 89 cent souvenir refill cup of Diet Pepsi (blah, not my most favorite, HP, please get Diet Coke again!!). We also spent time in this giant "pool" that has fountains and dumps huge buckets of water on you, it looks like something from the game "Mousetrap".

The added bonus is that the area is so huge, all lines for the other rides are cut in half or less. It was over 90 degrees out and we waited at Canyon River Rapids for 20 minutes. I have never stood in that line on a hot day and waited less than 45-60 minutes.

I would suggest getting there early to grab a lounge chair, at least to put your stuff on. There are lockers available (but, I'm too cheap to get one). And, obviously, I'm much more vigilant watching my kids swim here because it did get crowded. Yesterday, it was obnoxious kids on middle school/high school field trips. You know what I'm talking about...the ones you don't want your kids to stand next to in line or they'll get an earful of things you really don't want to have to explain to them for another 5-10 years!

We were definitely one "Hersheypark Happy" family yesterday!

And, Hersheypark definitely hit a home run on this expansion!

He is Good. All the Time.

Talk about a timely message. This is how my devotion started out today...

Lord, God, help me to not allow the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things to come in and choke Your Word, making it unfruitful in my life (Mark 4:19).

I am frustrated that I took my eyes of Jesus and spent too much time pondering my circumstances yesterday. Sometimes, I wonder how I'll ever break free of getting caught up in the material things in life. I've often thought about missionaries who sell everything they own to go into missions and it amazes me. Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised that when God puts a call on someone's life, they obey it. Which brings me back to our situation...God has put a call on our lives and right now it is to stay here and be content. Perhaps I should just cheerfully obey. I believe someone eventually will buy our house and Jay will get a different job, but even if it all falls through, He's still a good God.

If physical things were allowed to satisfy us, our hearts would become proud. (Deut. 8:12)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an attitude that needs to be confessed and prayed away!

I Hate the Mood That I'm In

I'm in a "funk" and the worse part is that I don't want to be. I'm sitting here thinking of all the blessings in my life and how awesome God is, but I still feel blah. I can't even blame it on PMS and that is making it feel even worse.

We had our tenth showing today and the only offer we've gotten so far was pathetic. I'm not kidding. Even their agent said it was ridiculous and didn't bother putting it in writing. The Husband is still working the same job; although, it seems he still has an opportunity with a company that interviewed him a month ago. We're just sitting here. Waiting.

It just seems like NOTHING IS HAPPENING. I barely have the motivation to do schoolwork with my unmotivated children. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah......

I can't believe I am even going to post this for the world to see how pathetic I am.....

I'll go make dinner now. That I can do.

Not Giving Up or Giving In

I've been thinking about persecution the last few days. Someone sent me a very hurtful email, calling me ignorant and self centered because I send her and my other family members updates and prayer requests. She is an atheist married to a Catholic. It was probably the nastiest communication I have had with anyone since high school days. I shook for a good ten minutes after I read it, just shocked. I quickly wrote a defensive email back, but ended up deleting most of it. I made a choice to tell this person what she did was hurtful, but I still cared for her. She emailed a second time, again calling me ignorant and telling me I make her sick. I won't get into all the details, but she is an over the top animal activist and thinks I mutilated my cat's paws by having her declawed and after the whole Dog episode, she thinks people like us should not have any animals. It was really ugly. She mocked God and my faith in Jesus, telling me to stop praying and start thinking logically.

SO, while I really want to plead my case and share my side of the story in a 10 page documentary, I'm just going to ask the Lord to examine my heart. Perhaps what the enemy is intending to hurt me with is something God will use to help me grow. Most of the time when I speak to people about the Lord or ask to pray for them they are receptive. You give me a person who talks bad about my Jesus and I want to roll up my sleeves and start throwing some punches. This situation is really stretching me to "love the unlovable" and not allow a root of hopelessness to start growing in my heart towards this person, and atheists, in general. The Lord is also trying to teach me that I don't always have to try and prove my point (that's a tough one, ask The Husband)! Be still and know that He is God.....

Again, I find myself at the place where it's not about me. I am so thankful God doesn't give up when it still takes me a little while to figure this out!

Just in Case You Thought it was Over....

The Dog is back again!

She got into a fight last night over her blanket with one of the other dogs and their vet said she is fighting to be “top dog”. She is scratched up a little from the fight, but otherwise doing very well. We really need wisdom for how to go about this. After talking and praying and getting about 5 hours of sleep (if you can call it that), we decided to enroll her in more obedience training and try to make the best of it.

So far today, she has been very calm and obedient, even letting #1 walk her at the playground on her leash and laying down under a tree with her (this never happened before, the kids have never felt safe walking her outside the yard).

I felt so bad for the people that had her, they really wanted it to work out, but she is too young and headstrong to get along with the other dogs. It seems as if she has spent the last 2 weeks learning how to be a "grown up" dog and now we can enjoy her new and improved doggie attitude adjustment. I'm praying that it lasts.

The Greatest Show on Earth

This circus really lives up to it's name. The star of the show, Bello, whom I had never heard of before today was what tied this already amazing show all together. It was worth every penny; although I was not about to shell out $12 for cotton candy that came in a doofy clown hat that would have found its way into next year's yard sale box.

This was the first "real" circus my kids have ever been to and they were thrilled. I could've watched just their expressions all night and left a happy mom! Their only comparison was the cheesy circus that performed at our local town's park in the middle of a thunderstorm a few summers ago. The trapeze guy was also the guy selling snow cones and the poor juggler was having a very "off" night. It did make for a memory that can solicit a good chuckle!

We had a great time last night. I was a little distracted by the lack of crowd enthusiasm. I just wanted to get up and shout "Come on people! This is amazing stuff!". We all joke that Central PA is a little on the reserved side, but it actually bugs me. So, if anyone involved with Ringling Brothers reads this, I would like to apologize on behalf of our region and let you know that YOU ROCKED!

Thank You, Husband and Brave People!

It's pretty much a given that I tear up at the National Anthem, anything relating to our armed forces, the United States in general, and Extreme Makeover, Home Addition.

I have always and will continue to be grateful for the men and women who serve our country. What an amazing thing to literally offer your LIFE as a sacrifice for other's safety and freedom. One of these heroes is The Husband. He served for four years in the Marine Corps during the Gulf War and most days does not remind me of a veteran with his cell phone and MP3 player. The first thought that enters my mind when you say "veteran" is the cute little guys with the caps that march in the parades while their wives cook up chicken potpie at the VFW Friday night dinners. But, let me tell you how I know The Husband served his country.....

1. He will not sit, talk or otherwise be distracted for anything remotely patriotic...Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, God Bless America, voting, etc....

2. He is very respectful of authority and honors people whether they are above him, below him or equal to him in authority.

3. He is a problem solver and a team player. I know this is starting to sound like a resume, but let me tell you, even I cannot understand the bond that is formed when these people serve together with blood, sweat and tears for little pay and recognition for the enormity of what they do.

4. His ducks are in a row. Don't mess with his ducks. Only God can do that.

So, as I toot his horn and others like him, I'm all about Memorial Day Weekend, the official kick off to summer, but in between scarfing down the hot dogs, I plan to thank a few veterans, as well as the Lord, for the freedom I enjoy today.

And, that last sentence had entirely too many commas in it! Sorry. I'm a grammar teacher's worst nightmare, ain't i?

Getting Ready to Move!

#3 has taken the initiative to start packing us up! Hopefully, the novelty won't wear off!

We still don't have an offer on our house, but we're believing in things that aren't as though they are! Did I say that right?