RICH, RICHER, RICHEST...

Much of the time when a large number of people are asked about their goals...the popular answer seems to be 'successful in business' or 'make a lot of money'.  All depends on who you're asking, right? 

Once upon a time a thousand dollars was a fortune...thousands was jacked up to millions...now millions are jacked up to billions and trillions (governmentally speaking).  Wanna' be a Bill Gates or a Warren Buffett.  Oh boy...everyone in the world would give their eye teeth or...would they?  Would you?  Would I? 

Here's something for you to think on:

 

Lord, Make Me Rich'

I prayed this prayer. Lord, make me rich.

Oh, it wasn't totally selfish. I wanted to be able to give my family nice things.

We got bids on a sprinkler system for our lawn many years ago. Too expensive.

God's answer: drag a water hose around the yard.

We got a dog, and another, and another (in succession as each died).

I have become the designated dog walker. Can't afford to hire a pet sitter to do it for me.

Lawn mowing service? Can't afford it.

So, I mow it, enlisting my three sons to help.

House needs painting. Can't afford to hire it done.

So, we are doing it ourselves (all family members).

My wife needed new brakes on her car.

I got filthy with brake dust (that stuff is like printer toner).

So, what about the prayer. God said no, right?

Yes, but...

I have discovered the joy of caring for a yard with my own hands.
Mowing, watering, sweating over it, pulling weeds, is great relaxation therapy, and gets me closer to nature and closer to God. And encouraging my boys to help teaches them the same joy.

Walking the dog gets me exercise and I have lots of talks with God while we walk.

I also talk to my dog. She's a good listener.

Painting, I have discovered, is something I love to do.

And fixing cars gives me a TON of satisfaction, and I always learn something new.

So, if God told me "no", why do I feel so rich?

That, friend, is just how God operates. I don't understand it. I just stand in amazement at HIM.

Father, thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.

...by Jeff Beall 28 June, 2011

M and I will celebrate 59 years of marriage on the 8th of July.  We had zip money then...but we were rich in love...we became richer with four wonderful sons...a little richer with four daughter-in-laws and ten grandchildren...more about this richness in the next post.

From my heart...

POWER STEERING...

Tell you what...I need GPS in my feet.  Talk about clumsy?  Aah, that's me w/a capital C.  For instance, yesterday we walked through our back gate and what d'ya know?  Somehow (don't ask 'cause I don't know) got my feet tangled in the gate and fell sideways into our rock house wall...oops!  Didn't fall down mind you...and didn't scratch or hurt me in any way.  Didn't even dent the house...wow!  I am a klutz. 

In China, my feet liked M's feet so much they reached over to visit and I fell into a stone wall...not so fortunate this time; I broke my collarbone...ouch.

I try my best to walk carefully; I really do.  My co-ordination skills are a fiasco; my feet ignore my brain...top to bottom is a great distance for me.  Deciding how to direct my body is a challenge; but here's the flip-side. 

M and I have hiked and camped all over the Gunnison National Forest in Colorado.  I didn't trip, stumble or fall...now how can that be?  I even walked what I'd call a 'tightrope' path which could've ended my wonderful life...wow!  Probably I am so fleet footed there because I love the mountains...I'm eager to get there and drag my feet upon leaving...aah, fresh and breezy life...love it.

Dr. Seuss wrote, "You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.  You're on your own.  And you know what you know.  You are the guy who'll decide where to go".

Oh yes...I can tell my GPS where to go but I make mistakes...don't always like to follow directions.  Fortunately Father has my back and is my power steering.  When I fail to include Him, I can't steer well.  At times, my spiritual self is like my clumsy feet; it gets totally misplaced and trips me up or down (ha, speaking for my feet...they even fall up stairs).

Another Dr. Seuss quote, "You're off to Great Places!  Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting.  So...get on your way!"  Okay, what's the main point?  My mountain is now...my get-ups a'goin'...my feet are locked into the GPS and God's steering....way to go!

From my heart...

KNOCKING DOWN DOORS...

Michael and I live in what many have dubbed "Little Alamo"...others call it "Little Fort".  It's definitely different...constructed of red rocks/stones, petrified wood and fossils.  Unique?  Yes.  And so loved.  Okay, it's small...a tad over 900 sq. ft.  but it has many rooms...and guess what?  It has only one inside door and for those who visit...that is the bathroom door!   Whew, huh? 

Frankly there is no room for doors so, being a loving husband, Michael removed the doors and hung curtains for me (hey, couldn't have the world seeing my messy closets). 

M surprised me one day when he said, "Standing in one certain place, without moving, you can see into every room in our house"...now that's something.  Two bedrooms, a bath, hallway, dining room, living room, kitchen and last but not least...our combo utility, office and bistro.  Every inch is utilized and enjoyed...now that the obstacles have been removed.  Obstacles tend to hamstring us...don't you find that to be true?

"When you take a step of faith, obstacles are removed and doors are opened. Do not stand there wondering if you made the right choice, but keep on moving as your destiny lies ahead"...Dayon Anteko Pitter.

Sometimes obstacles overpower me and faith is hard to come by...talk about Noah, Abraham/Sarah, all the many faithful in The Book...I wonder...am I like that?  Should be...but it's those nagging doubts about the choices...such doubts!

After M's second retirement we were sort of lost as to what our future held.  We wanted and prayed to 'be used'.  Word of caution...pray carefully...very carefully.  Father had big surprises up His sleeves...whoa.  I was rather like Sarah and thought it was a joke...at first.  But jokes don't make you sob your heart out for days...moving to China?  You're kidding God....ha, ha, ha???  Oops...wiped that smile off my smug face 'cause He wasn't laughing...not even a little bit.

Next came one of my many 'wow' moments; I had no idea I was capable of what it took...but I did it...we did it together.  God, Michael and a very serious Vasca.  No idea of where in China we were going; just told them to use us wherever...needn't worry...'they' weren't the ones in charge...HE was and what a number He did on/with us!  You know lots about that, right?   
"When a door closes...look for an open window...but it may take a while to feel the breeze"...unknown.

At times, Michael and I have faced closed doors (some slammed in our faces) but we found & continue finding open windows.  Believe you me, God opens windows whenever & wherever He pleases...no need for doors with Him around.  And oh my, such  a 'fresh and breezy' life.

From my heart...



GET ALONG ~ GET ALONG...

Theodore Roosevelt said, "The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people." 

I 'spose moving all my life should have been a giant plus in how to get along in life.  It would have helped if I hadn't been totally shy...I didn't like meeting people.  But, having 'a Michael' in my life changed all that.  Something about him must have rubbed off on me...imagine that.  I think he had 'the formula for success'.  He's always been dedicated to whatever he was/is involved in...100%. 

However...and this is a biggie...we are total opposites in most traits.  He's neat; I'm messy.  He plans ahead; I wait 'til the last minute.  Here's the other side...we're never late...we get things done...and we know how to get along w/people...people of all kinds!

I love Jim Henson and his Muppet's...talk about lovable things! He died young but left a mark on society. He said, "My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here"...Kermit, Miss Piggy, Sesame Street...I think he did, don't you?

That's my hope...I've been working on it for several years now. It probably began when we moved to Greece (my first flight overseas)...and we lived on the floor about our Greek landlords (Kyriakos and Yolande). Moving on to Germany...we shared a four story home with Herr and Frau Weggermann.

M has worked w/Koreans, Japanese, Turks, Greeks, Dutch, Germans, Vietnamese and Ethiopians. I worked in one room w/three men...a Pakistani, an Indian, a German, plus a militant woman from D.C. and two other American women...aah, variety. 

As the world turned M & I got along...with people. The biggest test came when we packed up/stored everything, left family & friends and moved to China where we lived in the middle of millions of Chinese.

We got along swimmingly, even though we didn't read, write or speak Chinese. Our smiles & nods spoke volumes and they loved us...as we loved them. Why else would we have eaten such delicacies as dog, monkey, camel, jellyfish and only God knows what else?  Ignorance is bliss...you betcha'.

Our four sons missed out on the Chinese food tasting...that came after they were on their own; however, some of the other moves honed their people skills. M and I are greatly pleased with their abilities (from their earliest years) to 'get along' with people of all ages, babies to the oldest of us.

Here's a last quote for this post...from Beverly De Angelis. "No matter what age you are, or what your circumstances might be, you are special and you still have something unique to offer.  Your life, because of who you are, has meaning."

There you have it...I am special, I am unique, so are you...and it doesn't matter that Michael is older than dirt and I am dirt. We mean something; we have something to offer and those somethings are about representing God and getting along with people.
Time to pony up; how's your 'get along'?  I'm gallopin' right along...Hi-Ho Vasca!

From my heart...