Easter hymns are full of phrases about how we want to sing for joy; or that Jesus rose from the dead so we sing alleluia. Lots of the lines in Easter hymns are about our response to the resurrection.
Some Easter hymns have a different kind of line, a more objective statement. For example, "Let us feast this Easter day on Christ, the bread of heaven. The word of grace has purged away the old and evil leaven." Or "For the sheep the Lamb has bled, sinless in the sinners' stead." Or "My Savior there was laid where our bed must be made when to the realms of light our spirit wings its flight." Or "Love's redeeming work is done, fought the fight, the battle won. Lo, our Sun's eclipse is o'er; lo, He sets in blood no more." Or "Thou, of life the author, death didst undergo."
But it seems like the wonderfully rich lines that so often show up in Lenten hymns and communion hymns (and other sections of the hymnal) are not as abundant in Easter hymns. I don't understand that. Look at what Easter is. Look at all the references to it in the Old Testament and in the epistles. There's plenty of fodder there for allusions and imagery and depth of theology. It is there, mixed in with the alleluias.
I guess that's why those few that are particularly meaty and beautiful and eloquent are so special.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Doctor Visit
Maggie's been coughing for nearly four weeks. A small cough took a turn for the worse when she picked up more germies from somebody at church. She couldn't sing at Easter. She began to improve, but then worsened. Over the last few days, she began to be unable to talk after coughing, felt like there was something stuck in her throat, and finally complained that it was like she wasn't able to breathe when she was done coughing.
At that, they squeezed us in right away. X-rays showed no pneumonia, but there is an unevenness in her lungs, with the right one better than the left. (The left was the one that collapsed after her last open-heart.) So now it's a round of non-cillin antibiotics, oral steroids, and an inhaler. I intend to make my first batch of homemade yogurt to help her get through the antibiotics.
At that, they squeezed us in right away. X-rays showed no pneumonia, but there is an unevenness in her lungs, with the right one better than the left. (The left was the one that collapsed after her last open-heart.) So now it's a round of non-cillin antibiotics, oral steroids, and an inhaler. I intend to make my first batch of homemade yogurt to help her get through the antibiotics.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Husbands, Be Considerate
Our catechism portion for the week includes:
"Husbands, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner ..."
There's something about those two words set next to each other -- "be considerate" -- that makes us think about manners and politeness and opening the car door for your lady, and picking up your dirty socks, and making sure you call when you're going to be late for supper.
But that's not what it means. It means "take into consideration." When you look at some non-NIV translations, that becomes clear. "Think about the fact that she has been called to submit to you, even when you're selfish and boorish and lazy. Take into consideration that she is supposed to respect you when you prove yourself quite worthy of disrespect."
Men should still pick up their dirty socks and call when they're going to be getting home late. But there's so much more to husbands' being "considerate as you live with your wives."
"Husbands, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner ..."
There's something about those two words set next to each other -- "be considerate" -- that makes us think about manners and politeness and opening the car door for your lady, and picking up your dirty socks, and making sure you call when you're going to be late for supper.
But that's not what it means. It means "take into consideration." When you look at some non-NIV translations, that becomes clear. "Think about the fact that she has been called to submit to you, even when you're selfish and boorish and lazy. Take into consideration that she is supposed to respect you when you prove yourself quite worthy of disrespect."
Men should still pick up their dirty socks and call when they're going to be getting home late. But there's so much more to husbands' being "considerate as you live with your wives."
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Ghosts.
What's up with the ghost stories? Several of my co-workers are
interested in ghosts. One went haunted-house hunting. They read books
about ghosts. They watch tv shows about ghost-hunting. The other day
they were talking about the shows, explaining to me what happens on the
shows, and how some really freaky things are found now and then. One of
the gals asked, "Wait. Does this talking about ghosts scare you?
Should we change the subject?"
No. Ghosts don't scare me. I am a baptized child of God. Death and Satan no longer have dominion over me. Besides, dead people are dead, in heaven or in hell; they aren't hanging around here.
What scares me is the fascination that this society has with demons.
Young people today seem to have a sense of "spirituality," knowing that there's more to life than skeptics and materialists can see. But their curiosity is leading them to demons-pretending-to-be-ghosts. The "normalness" of this curiosity is way scarier than ghosts.
No. Ghosts don't scare me. I am a baptized child of God. Death and Satan no longer have dominion over me. Besides, dead people are dead, in heaven or in hell; they aren't hanging around here.
What scares me is the fascination that this society has with demons.
Young people today seem to have a sense of "spirituality," knowing that there's more to life than skeptics and materialists can see. But their curiosity is leading them to demons-pretending-to-be-ghosts. The "normalness" of this curiosity is way scarier than ghosts.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Luke 24:8
The question was posed tonight: "Why was it the women and not the apostles who first saw the resurrected Lord?"
Several answers --all of them true-- were proffered. One person gave a theological answer. One gave a practical answer about the women's loyalty to do what needed to be done (anointing the body). Another gave a practical answer about the men's hiding in fear, so that meant the women would of course see Him first since they were the only ones out.
But Pastor suggested an answer which I found hilarious in its sheer truthfulness.
Luke tells us that the women "remembered His words." Women do indeed have a tendency to remember what someone said, where he was standing when he said it, what tone of voice he said it in, and what else was going on when he said it. Women remember details and love to talk talk talk, hash it all out, and talk about it some more. Men say, "Huh?"
Several answers --all of them true-- were proffered. One person gave a theological answer. One gave a practical answer about the women's loyalty to do what needed to be done (anointing the body). Another gave a practical answer about the men's hiding in fear, so that meant the women would of course see Him first since they were the only ones out.
But Pastor suggested an answer which I found hilarious in its sheer truthfulness.
Luke tells us that the women "remembered His words." Women do indeed have a tendency to remember what someone said, where he was standing when he said it, what tone of voice he said it in, and what else was going on when he said it. Women remember details and love to talk talk talk, hash it all out, and talk about it some more. Men say, "Huh?"
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Maggie
I met with the psychologist at the public school this week. We've arranged for an evaluation for special-ed services. There will be some assessments. Then the government will put together an Individualized Educational Plan that we can accept, adjust, or reject. We hope to keep homeschooling, but we do need to find out how we can get help for things that we will not be able to provide for Maggie after a certain age. I told the psychologist that what seem to be insurmountable hurdles to us are health insurance and help with her finding a job. She responded that those are easy for them; they do that all the time, and it will work out. So that gives me some hope that we can continue to do what's best for our daughter, and still get past those hurdles.
When I mentioned Maggie's teacher-aiding in the kindergarten classroom at our congregation's school, the psychologist mentioned the high school's early childhood training program and asked if that would be work Maggie would be interested in. Yes, she'd be interested. Yes, she'd be good at it. But because she's immune depressed, she gets sick easily, and she takes a long time to get over it. The psychologist said that a daycare or a school is probably a very poor choice for work then. Hmm.
Maggie's been sick for two weeks now.
Last winter's illness really got to me. I found it to be more worrisome than her open-heart surgeries. (Maybe because it dragged on so much longer?) And it makes me suspicious of what might be coming whenever she starts another cold.
A little cough during Holy Week turned into a bigger cough. She didn't sing at Easter. She's been lazing around, resting. She improved enough that we went ahead and did the oral surgery, which went fabulously. But in the last day or two, she's taken a turn for the worse again.
And then I wonder why I'm fretting over history lessons and Ivanhoe and long division, when sometimes it seems the goal is just to be able to sit up, try to eat a little, and keep breathing. I get used to life when we're acting fairly like "normal people." But then something comes along to remind me that simple stuff is a little trickier, and I ought not be taking the "regular life" for granted.
When I mentioned Maggie's teacher-aiding in the kindergarten classroom at our congregation's school, the psychologist mentioned the high school's early childhood training program and asked if that would be work Maggie would be interested in. Yes, she'd be interested. Yes, she'd be good at it. But because she's immune depressed, she gets sick easily, and she takes a long time to get over it. The psychologist said that a daycare or a school is probably a very poor choice for work then. Hmm.
Maggie's been sick for two weeks now.
Last winter's illness really got to me. I found it to be more worrisome than her open-heart surgeries. (Maybe because it dragged on so much longer?) And it makes me suspicious of what might be coming whenever she starts another cold.
A little cough during Holy Week turned into a bigger cough. She didn't sing at Easter. She's been lazing around, resting. She improved enough that we went ahead and did the oral surgery, which went fabulously. But in the last day or two, she's taken a turn for the worse again.
And then I wonder why I'm fretting over history lessons and Ivanhoe and long division, when sometimes it seems the goal is just to be able to sit up, try to eat a little, and keep breathing. I get used to life when we're acting fairly like "normal people." But then something comes along to remind me that simple stuff is a little trickier, and I ought not be taking the "regular life" for granted.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
God Is Faithful
The God of peace Himself will sanctify you wholly
and keep your spirit, soul, and body sound and blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He who called you is faithful, and He will do it.
This verse from the rite of private confession (taken from 1 Thessalonians 5) always struck me that God would be true to His promise. And He will! But it's not just that. It's also that He is the one who IS faithful, who believes rightly, who is blameless. He is faithful to keep His word, but He is also the faithful man in every way. His sanctity, His faithfulness, is given to us and becomes our own, so that we too are blameless.
and keep your spirit, soul, and body sound and blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He who called you is faithful, and He will do it.
This verse from the rite of private confession (taken from 1 Thessalonians 5) always struck me that God would be true to His promise. And He will! But it's not just that. It's also that He is the one who IS faithful, who believes rightly, who is blameless. He is faithful to keep His word, but He is also the faithful man in every way. His sanctity, His faithfulness, is given to us and becomes our own, so that we too are blameless.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Chocolate Pudding
After oral surgery, a person needs soft foods. Soft foods include pudding. Chocolate pudding. I don't often care to make chocolate pudding; it always seems to have a graininess to it. But the kid who had her teeth ripped out of her head ordered up chocolate pudding instead of vanilla or banana.
Instead of following the recipe (starting with the vanilla pudding recipe, and adding cocoa powder and increasing the sugar) I just threw in a 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips before I started cooking the pudding. It was so good! Oh my goodness. I've never had better chocolate pudding in my life.
Instead of following the recipe (starting with the vanilla pudding recipe, and adding cocoa powder and increasing the sugar) I just threw in a 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips before I started cooking the pudding. It was so good! Oh my goodness. I've never had better chocolate pudding in my life.
Not the Slave, But the Son
The Lord told Abraham, "[Eliezer] shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir" (Genesis 15:4).
Sunday's [1-year] epistle was "This is He who came by water and blood -- Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood" (1 John 5), and a week ago John swore that blood and water came out when the soldier pierced Jesus' side (John 19). The Church is created from the water and blood which come from Jesus' side.
In Abraham, we see some truths about Jesus. The one who came from Jesus' own body shall be His heir.
Sunday's [1-year] epistle was "This is He who came by water and blood -- Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood" (1 John 5), and a week ago John swore that blood and water came out when the soldier pierced Jesus' side (John 19). The Church is created from the water and blood which come from Jesus' side.
In Abraham, we see some truths about Jesus. The one who came from Jesus' own body shall be His heir.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Waiting for God's Promises
So Pastor's talking this morning about how long Sarah and Abraham waited for that baby. Twenty-five years. Along the way, they had options for God. But those weren't what God had promised. They had to wait.
Then Rebekah, their daughter-in-law, had to wait. So Abraham didn't see his grandson until 85 years after God told him he would be the father of a great nation.
And then Rachel didn't conceive very quickly either.
What I'd never noticed before was Leah's side of the family. In the line of promise, Judah's daughter-in-law Tamar was waiting around for a good long time before she conceived too.
The angel told Joseph to name the baby JESUS "for He shall save His people from their sins."
Then Rebekah, their daughter-in-law, had to wait. So Abraham didn't see his grandson until 85 years after God told him he would be the father of a great nation.
And then Rachel didn't conceive very quickly either.
What I'd never noticed before was Leah's side of the family. In the line of promise, Judah's daughter-in-law Tamar was waiting around for a good long time before she conceived too.
The angel told Joseph to name the baby JESUS "for He shall save His people from their sins."
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Masks of God
Larvae?
Really? That's the word?
"Vocation" seems to be a popular topic among Lutherans in the last decade. We often hear about how people are "masks of God" to one another, so that they are the hands and voice that serves the neighbor, that we are how God takes care of people. So I'm reading something in Luther, and I notice the translation larvae was in the footnote. Sure enough, when I hunt up the Latin, "masks" or "specters" or "ghosts" is the English for larvae.
For those of us who teach science to children (or even who were taught science once-upon-a-time), that word has an interesting double meaning. The "larvae of God" to one another. Huh.
Really? That's the word?
"Vocation" seems to be a popular topic among Lutherans in the last decade. We often hear about how people are "masks of God" to one another, so that they are the hands and voice that serves the neighbor, that we are how God takes care of people. So I'm reading something in Luther, and I notice the translation larvae was in the footnote. Sure enough, when I hunt up the Latin, "masks" or "specters" or "ghosts" is the English for larvae.
For those of us who teach science to children (or even who were taught science once-upon-a-time), that word has an interesting double meaning. The "larvae of God" to one another. Huh.
"All About Me"
This alphabet meme was going around a while back.
Age: 51
Bed Size: Queen
Chore You Dislike: keeping homeschool records
Dogs: nope -- cats instead
Essential Start of Your Day: psalms
Favorite Color: for clothes, probably a deep red
Gold or Silver: definitely gold
Height: too tall, but shrinking already
Instruments You Play: a little piano; even less guitar and recorder
Job Title: the real job = home-maker and teacher; the job-for-$ is bank teller
Kids: six by birth, two by marriage, and two grandkids
Live: in Wisconsin for nearly half my life
Mom's Name: Doris
Nicknames: not usually -- but sometimes Suze (from Mom) and Susannah (from Steve)
Overnight Hospital Stays: tonsillectomy which I should have refused
Pet Peeve(s): spelling and grammar mistakes on labels and signs -- how are kids supposed to learn what's correct when they see mistakes plastered on bread labels and McDonald's signs?
Quote From a Movie: So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: "I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!"
Right- or Left-Handed: left
Siblings: one brother, one sister, three sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law
Time You Wake Up: usually around 6:30, but I'd prefer it was 8:00
Underwear: every day
Veggie You Dislike: I used to dislike kale, until Rachel introduced me to kale chips.
What Makes You Run Late: underestimating the time to do that One Last Thing
X-Rays You Have Had: dental
Yummy Food You Make: nearly all of it -- I am a good cook
Zoo Animal You Like Best: I could've spent hours watching the colony of small monkeys that used to be at the Madison zoo.
Age: 51
Bed Size: Queen
Chore You Dislike: keeping homeschool records
Dogs: nope -- cats instead
Essential Start of Your Day: psalms
Favorite Color: for clothes, probably a deep red
Gold or Silver: definitely gold
Height: too tall, but shrinking already
Instruments You Play: a little piano; even less guitar and recorder
Job Title: the real job = home-maker and teacher; the job-for-$ is bank teller
Kids: six by birth, two by marriage, and two grandkids
Live: in Wisconsin for nearly half my life
Mom's Name: Doris
Nicknames: not usually -- but sometimes Suze (from Mom) and Susannah (from Steve)
Overnight Hospital Stays: tonsillectomy which I should have refused
Pet Peeve(s): spelling and grammar mistakes on labels and signs -- how are kids supposed to learn what's correct when they see mistakes plastered on bread labels and McDonald's signs?
Quote From a Movie: So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: "I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!"
Right- or Left-Handed: left
Siblings: one brother, one sister, three sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law
Time You Wake Up: usually around 6:30, but I'd prefer it was 8:00
Underwear: every day
Veggie You Dislike: I used to dislike kale, until Rachel introduced me to kale chips.
What Makes You Run Late: underestimating the time to do that One Last Thing
X-Rays You Have Had: dental
Yummy Food You Make: nearly all of it -- I am a good cook
Zoo Animal You Like Best: I could've spent hours watching the colony of small monkeys that used to be at the Madison zoo.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Ann Romney and Michelle Obama
So the first lady had to work outside the home because the Obamas couldn't afford the luxury of having her be a stay-at-home mom.
And Mrs Romney stayed home and raised five kids, having to cut expenses in the early years, just like normal people.
So one family feels the need to increase income. The other family decides to stick with the income they have and make sure they live within their means. Does this tell us anything about how they'll handle the nation's budget?
And Mrs Romney stayed home and raised five kids, having to cut expenses in the early years, just like normal people.
So one family feels the need to increase income. The other family decides to stick with the income they have and make sure they live within their means. Does this tell us anything about how they'll handle the nation's budget?
INRI
So at the beginning of Holy Week we hear the epistle to the Philippians. Because of His humbling Himself to the death of the cross, God highly exalted Him, so that "at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
And then on Good Friday we sing, "Christ the rock of our salvation, His the name of which we boast ..."
And what inscription sits atop the cross? Pilate wrote --and refused to wussify it-- "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." That cross, that name, that dead body -- His the name of which we boast.
Galatians 6: God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And then on Good Friday we sing, "Christ the rock of our salvation, His the name of which we boast ..."
And what inscription sits atop the cross? Pilate wrote --and refused to wussify it-- "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." That cross, that name, that dead body -- His the name of which we boast.
Galatians 6: God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A Non-Christian Easter Celebration
How do non-Christians celebrate Easter?
I know how non-Christians celebrate Christmas. It's pretty much the same sort of things our family does, minus the church services. But our Easter celebration is almost exclusively the church services. Okay, we eat ham for dinner, but we do that on non-Easter days too. And depending on the ages and availability of children/grandchildren, we either hide some M&M's in plastic eggs, or just break open the bag of M&M's. Eating M&M's isn't normal for us; that's something unusually celebratory. But c'mon, ham and M&M's surely isn't much of a celebration for normal people.
When I was at work during Holy Week, I listened to people wish each other "happy Easter!" And this week, I've heard people talk about their Easter celebration. I don't know what that means, though. As I've listened, I gather it's got something to do with families getting together and candy. Some people who don't usually go to church might go to church for Easter. But many don't, and yet they still "celebrate Easter."
I suppose Christians in other parts of the world are befuddled by American celebrations of secular Christmas. But I am befuddled by what's involved in an American celebration of secular Easter. Anybody have some clues? Have you noticed what neighbors, co-workers, or non-Christian family members do to celebrate Easter?
I know how non-Christians celebrate Christmas. It's pretty much the same sort of things our family does, minus the church services. But our Easter celebration is almost exclusively the church services. Okay, we eat ham for dinner, but we do that on non-Easter days too. And depending on the ages and availability of children/grandchildren, we either hide some M&M's in plastic eggs, or just break open the bag of M&M's. Eating M&M's isn't normal for us; that's something unusually celebratory. But c'mon, ham and M&M's surely isn't much of a celebration for normal people.
When I was at work during Holy Week, I listened to people wish each other "happy Easter!" And this week, I've heard people talk about their Easter celebration. I don't know what that means, though. As I've listened, I gather it's got something to do with families getting together and candy. Some people who don't usually go to church might go to church for Easter. But many don't, and yet they still "celebrate Easter."
I suppose Christians in other parts of the world are befuddled by American celebrations of secular Christmas. But I am befuddled by what's involved in an American celebration of secular Easter. Anybody have some clues? Have you noticed what neighbors, co-workers, or non-Christian family members do to celebrate Easter?
Plowing Ahead Blindly
It's one of those days where the failures seem insurmountable, and I wonder why I even try instead of just lying on the couch, watching movies, drinking.
Usually life passes and I'm content enough to keep plowing ahead. Just do the laundry, put the food on the table, keep the cluttered pigsty from becoming too dirty or too cluttered, go to work, squeeze in some school for Maggie. No thinking. Just doing. And no stopping.
But today. For some reason, today I'm thinking of all the other things that need doing. How will I ever manage any garden work? What about real cleaning, like shampooing the carpet or fixing the drywall on that one spot in the ceiling? I want to play piano. I want to watch movies. I want to go for a walk. I want to lie in the sun and read some books. There are a couple of projects for church that I'm itching to do (one that needs to be finished in four weeks). And somehow, this kind of mood always makes me unhappy with the shabbiness of my rugs and my old-fashioned storage spaces and the ugly paint in the bathroom and the cobwebs draped across undone projects tucked in the corners of the basement.
Today I spent a couple of hours with Maggie, trying to put together a gift for someone, and it turns out that it won't work and we're back to square one. We still need to find a gift, and those hours were for naught. I need to go to a meeting with Gary tonight, and I need to put on my non-introvert facade. I need to do a grocery run for soft foods, so that Little Miss Swollen Cheeks will have ice cream and sherbet for her sore jaws tomorrow. Because of an overbooked calendar (a calendar that is so empty of events that many of y'all would covet it) for these few weeks I have three days at home to do all the regular work that I usually struggle to accomplish in eight days.
Plus, right now there are thinking things to do. I have to be prepared for a meeting with the school psychologist on Monday, as we have asked the school for an evaluation for special education services (anticipating the need for transition services and some sort of government-provided health insurance for Maggie someday). Also, Gary has applied for a different position at his company, which would be a significant change from what he does now. These and other matters require thought, deliberation, planning, and research. And you can't just squeeze that in around the edges as you plow ahead blindly. And yet, if you stop (!) and think and give something serious consideration, all that other daily stuff isn't being accomplished.
I feel whiny.
Well, the living room was cleaned. And next week we go back to having chapel every morning. Now maybe I should see if I can find the bedroom under the piles of papers and herds of dust bunnies.
Usually life passes and I'm content enough to keep plowing ahead. Just do the laundry, put the food on the table, keep the cluttered pigsty from becoming too dirty or too cluttered, go to work, squeeze in some school for Maggie. No thinking. Just doing. And no stopping.
But today. For some reason, today I'm thinking of all the other things that need doing. How will I ever manage any garden work? What about real cleaning, like shampooing the carpet or fixing the drywall on that one spot in the ceiling? I want to play piano. I want to watch movies. I want to go for a walk. I want to lie in the sun and read some books. There are a couple of projects for church that I'm itching to do (one that needs to be finished in four weeks). And somehow, this kind of mood always makes me unhappy with the shabbiness of my rugs and my old-fashioned storage spaces and the ugly paint in the bathroom and the cobwebs draped across undone projects tucked in the corners of the basement.
Today I spent a couple of hours with Maggie, trying to put together a gift for someone, and it turns out that it won't work and we're back to square one. We still need to find a gift, and those hours were for naught. I need to go to a meeting with Gary tonight, and I need to put on my non-introvert facade. I need to do a grocery run for soft foods, so that Little Miss Swollen Cheeks will have ice cream and sherbet for her sore jaws tomorrow. Because of an overbooked calendar (a calendar that is so empty of events that many of y'all would covet it) for these few weeks I have three days at home to do all the regular work that I usually struggle to accomplish in eight days.
Plus, right now there are thinking things to do. I have to be prepared for a meeting with the school psychologist on Monday, as we have asked the school for an evaluation for special education services (anticipating the need for transition services and some sort of government-provided health insurance for Maggie someday). Also, Gary has applied for a different position at his company, which would be a significant change from what he does now. These and other matters require thought, deliberation, planning, and research. And you can't just squeeze that in around the edges as you plow ahead blindly. And yet, if you stop (!) and think and give something serious consideration, all that other daily stuff isn't being accomplished.
I feel whiny.
Well, the living room was cleaned. And next week we go back to having chapel every morning. Now maybe I should see if I can find the bedroom under the piles of papers and herds of dust bunnies.
Exceptionally Good Deals Online
When the kids want to buy something online, and find a super-dooper el-cheapo deal, I've always been a little uneasy. I couldn't say why. Even though it's unlikely, I've wondered if maybe it was stolen merchandise. Then there's also the mantra, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
I learned recently that sometimes a disreputable company will post unbelievable prices. After all, the customers think, why pay $30 for something when you can buy it for $4? Yes, that's a real price. And yes, you'll get your merchandise. But the company might also implant malware that will log your key-strokes, so that they can obtain your passwords to various accounts as well as financial information. If they get past your firewalls and other protection, that cheap stuff is going to cost a lot more in the long run.
Sometimes it's worth it to pay more.
I learned recently that sometimes a disreputable company will post unbelievable prices. After all, the customers think, why pay $30 for something when you can buy it for $4? Yes, that's a real price. And yes, you'll get your merchandise. But the company might also implant malware that will log your key-strokes, so that they can obtain your passwords to various accounts as well as financial information. If they get past your firewalls and other protection, that cheap stuff is going to cost a lot more in the long run.
Sometimes it's worth it to pay more.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
A Christmas List from About 10 Years Ago
I found this tucked into a book today --
Andrew: hamster toys and a chess game
Philip: a passport and a glasses repair kit
Paul: art desk and a hat
Rachel: CuddlDuds and specialty soaps
Katie: photography class and CuddlDuds
Gary: loofah, Limbaugh Letter, black pants, outdoor fire pit
Maggie: Ken doll and a toy stroller
Susan: jojoba shampoo from Geneva Inn and potholders
Andrew: hamster toys and a chess game
Philip: a passport and a glasses repair kit
Paul: art desk and a hat
Rachel: CuddlDuds and specialty soaps
Katie: photography class and CuddlDuds
Gary: loofah, Limbaugh Letter, black pants, outdoor fire pit
Maggie: Ken doll and a toy stroller
Susan: jojoba shampoo from Geneva Inn and potholders
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