Tuesday, November 22, 2011

FYI: Keeping your drain from clogging with everyday use

I think we've all learned not to put grease down our drains ... boy I hope everyone has!  However, my parents recently had to have the plumber come out because their kitchen sink was clogged.  Come to find out it was grease, but they are really careful about not putting it down their drain (after Mom having the habit years ago! *lol* )  The plumber said handwashing your dishes can cause a build up of grease over time, if you are letting your sink drain AFTER the water cools and AFTER the soap suds have begun to dissolve.

The solution: Use HOT water to wash your dishes with Dawn dishsoap (plenty of suds) and drain the sink before it gets cold or the suds start to break down.   And doesn't hurt to put a teakettle of HOT water down your sink once a week.

FYI: How to get my very stubborn dog to take his meds.

My mini dachshund, Turbo, was really being stubborn about taking his meds after having surgery to pin his broken leg. He could smell them over everything!  I tried cheese, peanut butter, sausage and eggs (his fave!) and yes even tried the side of the mouth thing and putting it in the back of his mouth.  None worked and he started growling at me after a day of trying all of this (and yes, he will bite!)

What worked:  Pork steak!  I cut three smallish pieces put a slit in each one and pushed one of each of his pills in.  Fed him off my plate and he never even blinked or chewed.  Not good I know, but when you're desperate to get meds down them ... you do what you have to do.   Now I can actually wrap each pill in a piece of roast beef from the deli and he gulps it right down. :) 

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Finding Joy in Life

This was the message Tar gave today. It was wonderful! And makes so much sense. Wanted to share for those of you that are not lucky enough to attend our church.

Philippians 4:4-9

Finding joy in life is...

I. A matter of choices:
a. Choose to Rejoice:
Joy is a choice
Joy is found in the Lord

Joy is not based on circumstances, it is a matter of choice.

Joy is not a denial that bad things happen in life.

Two Reasons You Don't Have Joy in Your Life:
i. The Lord is not in your life
ii. Jesus is only your personal Savior, not the Lord of your life.

B. Choose to be Gentle:
Gentleness imitates Christ.
Gentleness is a Fruit of The Spirit.

J -Jesus
O -Others
Y -You

C. Choose not to worry:
Don't waste time focusing on external reasons to worry; finances, sickness ...
Don't be consumed by issues.

Joy and Worry cannot co-exist.

If you feel you have financial issues that make you worry, take a good look at yourself and you will probably find that you are living beyond your means and need to cut back. It's something you can fix instead of worrying about it.

Are you a complainer? Look at yourself and see what you can fix that you complain about. Do you complain about being sick? Are you taking care of yourself? You have no reason to complain if you yourself can keep it from happening.

External issues become internal issues.

Sometimes when you are tired, you simply need to rest.

Stop trying to "fix" things yourself, you are suppose to call on God.

Do you fill your life with too many activities that keep yo from spending time with God and learning His Word?
Those activities are YOUR choice.

Consider these statistics (from Douglas J. Rumford "Scared to Life")
60% of our fears are unfounded20% of our fears are in the past10% of our fears are petty and amount to nothing5% of our fears are real, but we cannot fix them5% of our fears are real, and we can fix them

D. Choose to pray
Why worry, when you can pray?
Prayers are answered and Prayer DOES work!

E. Choose to be thankful!Think you don't have anything to be thankful for?

Consider this:
Over 1 million people won't survive this week due to health issues.
20 million people will experience real fear from battles, starvation and lonelieness from imprisonment because of wars arond the world.
3 billion people can't attend church without fear of harrassment, torture, jail or death

If you have food, clothing, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.

Choose to rejoice
Choose to be gentle
Choose not to worry
Choose to pray
Choose to be thankful

Choose a Life with Jesus at the center and your joy will be abundant.

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Does she sound familiar?

Does she sound familiar?

She has a huge heart and would bend over backwards to help someone.
She's loyal to the ones that mean something to her.
She smiles like she's never been hurt, but it happens more often than we realize.
She's fragile, it takes very little to hurt her; she takes everything to heart.
She's cautious and rarely lets people close to her.
She's more critical of herself than anyone else.

She'd rather look to the future than worry about the past.
She doesn't expect to be noticed, listened to or loved, although she deserves to be. 
She's not what you would expect but you will benefit the most by having her in your life.