A Beautiful Mosiac

I have been drawn to mosaics for the last couple of years. I even tried to make one with broken plates, but didn't get past breaking the plates. I think you really need fine china to make it. I also broke some glasses that I found at Goodwill. It was fun to break it, but the picture of the mosaic in my mind was so beautiful that the bag of broken glass was more of a sign of failure.

Yesterday I was thinking again about a mosaic. What I pictured was God giving us beautiful gifts of glass. Different colors. These gifts are my plans and dreams. Many times the plans and dreams I have had have been broken by myself or others or just life. I end up with a bag of broken glass. I can either hold on to my bag of glass, which leads to bitterness, or I can give it back to God.

Romans 8 says "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

God takes all my broken glass and He is making something beautiful of my life. I don't see it all yet, but in faith I know it is true.

Travels

We flew out of LAX yesterday to fly to Delhi. I had planned to have my last Dr. Pepper in the airport while we waited for our flight. Unfortunately, there was no Dr. Pepper in the International section of LAX. I was very disappointed. I drank a Coke, but did not enjoy it. Plus, the sandwiches were SO EXPENSIVE that I couldn't bring myself to buy one. So I only had peanuts for lunch.

I think LAX is the most unfriendly airport for international travel. First of all, you have to pay for the luggage carts. It was $4.00 for each cart and we needed two. I have never been at an international airport that charged for the carts. Maybe I need to just go to more airports.

After arriving in Delhi we chose the slowest line for immigrations. The guy working the counter helped 5 people when the one next to us helped 20. By the time we made it through, two full airplanes of people had gone through all the other lines. We were some of the last ones through. But we still waited for our bags.

On the way to our friends' home, by taxi at 3AM, Micah commented about the smelly Delhi air. He said, "Smell the air. This is the air I was made to breathe." We are all happy to be back here, but Micah is for sure the most.

Texting while Driving

I really hate the fact that my sis in-law texts while she drives. I don't know what will get her to stop that isn't a tragedy. Today, while she was driving over here, she kept texting her mom. Her mom kept texting back. Finally I said, "So she must be texting while she is driving." Her mom would like to think that she is only doing it at red-lights, but we know that is not the case. So her mom said, "So maybe I should quit texting her so she won't reply." Yes, good idea.

When my sis in-law arrived she wanted to show us the cute picture on her phone that she took of her baby. He was sleeping in the car on the way here and she thought he looked really cute so she took his picture. Then she says, "I almost got in a wreck taking these." Yep, she was taking a photo of him while she was driving.

I think she needs to get a ticket. She doesn't have the money to pay for it. I know it sounds mean of me to wish that upon her, but I think if she felt it in her wallet, maybe she would think twice. And it may save her life.

Daredevil

I did something that I have never done before. For most people it wouldn't be a big deal. But for me, I have lived 39 years without ever feeling the need or desire to do this. It has been a fear of mine. I have a fear of water. I HATE, I said HATE, going under water. So this accomplishment involved my fear of water. I jumped off a diving-board into the deep end of a pool!

I can swim a bit. Enough not to drown right away anyway. But I don't swim with my head under the water. I can't breath under water. When I was little I took swimming lessons, that turned into torture sessions. Trying to float on my back and trusting the adult to not let go. Very bad lessons on trust. I think I remember a boy holding me under water when I was young. Maybe it is from that experience that I have chosen to hate going under water.

So on Friday I decided to conquer my fear. I got a new swimsuit for the occasion. I had Steve come out to be the lifeguard and Micah was there to be a witness to the event. I first dipped in the water to get use to the temperature, then I walked to the diving board. I stood on the end and prepared to take the plunge. But I couldn't. My fear was too strong. So I had to take baby-steps. I thought maybe I could just jump in from the edge of the pool, but even that was too risky for me. So I got in the deep end on the little ledge and just stepped off and went under the water. Too me it is not fun, at all. But I did it. I went under water. Then came the edge of the pool jump. I finally decided that I should jump with the inner-tube around me. I made it. And I didn't even go under water. But it gave me the feeling of jumping in. So then I was able to jump without the tube. I didn't die. Finally, I moved up to the diving board. I jumped! I went under! And I came back up!

I know it is a really simple thing for most people. Even Micah thought it was comical to watch. Especially me jumping with the tube around me. I don't ever need to do it again, but at least I know I can. I would much rather jump out of an airplane than to jump into a pool.

Day 4

Today I did day 4 of the P90X killer workout. It was an hour and a half of yoga. I did pretty good actually. Probably all that yoga I do in India. But it still burned and made me moan.

So when I weighed myself at the beginning of the workout (5 days ago) I weighed a certain amount. Today when I went to the doctor and they weighed me, I weighed a certain amount which was 2 pounds more than what I thought I was before. But of course it was a different scale. So who is right? And why haven't I lost a ton of weight on these torturous 4 days of exercising? I know, it is all the muscle I am making.

I love the P90X so far. I just hope I can continue it without flaking out or dying. I can't wait to see the after shots.

Cat Bath

Right now, my sis in-law is giving her cat a bath. Kona is a large yellow tabby. She has him in the pool and is cleaning him up. Surprisingly, he isn't too upset. Well, he seems to be done. He is trying to bite her and he is crying. All done. Who gives a cat a bath in the pool? Steve's family is just as weird as any other family.

B@rger K@ng

Yesterday we were on the road for 5 hours and had to eat lunch. So we ended up at a choice to either eat McD@nald's or B@rger K@ing. We chose B@urger K@ng. I wish we didn't. I had a W@pper and was so sorry I did. The rest of the day my mouth tasted like the chemicals that they try to burn it with. I wish I could have barfed it out. I vow never to eat there again this year.