Wow - 3 months without a post. Apparently, I have nothing to share or I've let life get in the way of blogging. Maybe blogging gets in the way of life... Either way, I thought I'd check in.
Fall is the busiest time of the year for Operation Christmas Child teams. Most of my friends know this, but if you didn't then one of us is not sharing enough. Our family has been packing boxes since 1995, and I've been involved year-round since 2007. So blame - or credit - OCC with the fact that I don't blog much from October through the end of each year.
In honor of 2012, I'll do the following Quick Catch-Up list:
October: went to Oregon during Canadian Thanksgiving (yes, it's in Oct) then went on a cruise with a friend (I know this will not surprise any of you). OCC completely took over mid-month.
November: OCC took over. (Jose came to Canada to talk about OCC, he & I flew to DC for 2 days, and I snuck across the border, for a day in Ohio, for US Thanksgiving with the fam). Then OCC took over.
December: Drove out of Canada, headed to Florida, and went on a cruise with Michael (I know, shocking...) Back from the cruise, met Jordan at the airport, grocery shopped, had a progressive dinner with neighbors on Christmas Eve, then had 10 people here for Christmas Day. Phew! Then OCC shopping deals took over.
Oh! OCC letters, from the Follow Your Box campaign, came in. Hatchells have boxes in Mali, Kenya, Columbia, Zimbabwe, and Ecuador! Still waiting on some letters from our Boone processing center... (hint, hint - Randy, Bonnie, Leigh, or anyone else, with influence, reading this.)
January: OCC shopping continues (because, this, my dear friends, is when you can get real deals!). Thus far, I have not cruised this month but am headed to the Dominican Republic to do some research on ministry opportunities. Thanks to Spirit Airlines' $126 flight, I'm good to go.
Travel deals, OCC deals, I do love a good deal.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Quick Thoughts - Life Lessons
1) If I eat enough cookie dough while I'm making cookies, I don't need to eat any actually-baked ones. (Go ahead and give me the 'raw egg' spiel. I just can't help myself...) Also, oven temperatures are never right.
2) The cold weather makes my neck hurt. Why is that? (If you're from Cleveland, Buffalo, Erie, Minneapolis, or Canada, feel free to jump in on this.) And, I've recently discovered that, when wearing a hoodie, putting the hood up against the cold just makes the cold wind tunnel into the hoodie. (Cinching it tight may not happen - it's not a 'good look') Speaking of good looks - how does one keep their nose warm and not look ridiculous?
3) Vinegar is the best laundry softener (and, no, your clothes will not smell like salad). It works, and the price is right.
4) Dogs know things - they really do. Ask any owner. I wish I could hear what they're thinking (but then, again, maybe not).
5) I love politics. It's politicians that I find difficult to like. Still, I'm happy to talk it out and not get offended by another's opinions. After all, anger is a wasted emotion. It also throws off your adrenals (see? you've learned something new!)
6) Free stuff takes a little effort to obtain, but it's worth it. (Okay - not exactly its 'worth') It's FREE, right?
7) Canadians think US citizens are haughty. US people think Canadians are boring. (I'm betting the people who make those statements haven't spent much time getting to know their neighbors... Either that, or we take others' opinions too seriously.)
8) Facebook is not worth the time we spend on it. (Ummm... the stock market agrees.) Real relationship happens face-to-face or heart-to-heart.
9) Contentment comes with age. Education may be wasted on the young, but the benefits of aging are innumerable. (If you're under 30, you'll have to come back to this one in a few decades.)
10) I am blessed far beyond what I deserve or could have imagined. Thank you, my friends, for adding to my life. Good or bad (but mostly good), you have enriched me. I pray I've returned the favor.
2) The cold weather makes my neck hurt. Why is that? (If you're from Cleveland, Buffalo, Erie, Minneapolis, or Canada, feel free to jump in on this.) And, I've recently discovered that, when wearing a hoodie, putting the hood up against the cold just makes the cold wind tunnel into the hoodie. (Cinching it tight may not happen - it's not a 'good look') Speaking of good looks - how does one keep their nose warm and not look ridiculous?
3) Vinegar is the best laundry softener (and, no, your clothes will not smell like salad). It works, and the price is right.
4) Dogs know things - they really do. Ask any owner. I wish I could hear what they're thinking (but then, again, maybe not).
5) I love politics. It's politicians that I find difficult to like. Still, I'm happy to talk it out and not get offended by another's opinions. After all, anger is a wasted emotion. It also throws off your adrenals (see? you've learned something new!)
6) Free stuff takes a little effort to obtain, but it's worth it. (Okay - not exactly its 'worth') It's FREE, right?
7) Canadians think US citizens are haughty. US people think Canadians are boring. (I'm betting the people who make those statements haven't spent much time getting to know their neighbors... Either that, or we take others' opinions too seriously.)
8) Facebook is not worth the time we spend on it. (Ummm... the stock market agrees.) Real relationship happens face-to-face or heart-to-heart.
9) Contentment comes with age. Education may be wasted on the young, but the benefits of aging are innumerable. (If you're under 30, you'll have to come back to this one in a few decades.)
10) I am blessed far beyond what I deserve or could have imagined. Thank you, my friends, for adding to my life. Good or bad (but mostly good), you have enriched me. I pray I've returned the favor.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Falling, falling...
Yes, it's fall - or autumn - and, no, it's not freezing in Canada (yet). I know y'all enjoy giving me a difficult time about living in the "frozen north", but I'd like to point out that it's been warmer here than in Virginia for 27 of the last 30+ days. No one ever taunted me about being cold in Virginia...
To that end, I'll also say:
1) We live south of the United States. (think that one over)
2) We drive north to cross the US/Canadian border.
3) We live south of 15 states in the U.S.
4) We live in the "southernmost part of Canada".
5) We live south of where we used to live in Oregon, and, yes, they make wine here.
Are you surprised? Read on for a few fun facts...
A) The border between Canada and the US is the longest unprotected border in the world (5,525 miles!).
B) Superman and basketball originated in Canada. Add to that fish sticks, instant mashed potatoes, and the zipper as well as the television, walkie-talkies, and the telephone (yep - the Bell family lived in Canada when they tested that 1st call). Oh - and the cardiac pacemaker!
C) Canada is the world's 2nd largest country (behind Russia).
D) Hockey is beloved, but lacrosse is the country's official sport.
I know... I love trivia, but all this makes me think about how much we "assume" we know.
And y'all need to quit saying, "It's almost like it's another country". It IS a foreign country!
Truthfully, it's a great option for our "international" assignment.
P.S. - I have not tried poutine and have no intention of doing so ;-)
To that end, I'll also say:
1) We live south of the United States. (think that one over)
2) We drive north to cross the US/Canadian border.
3) We live south of 15 states in the U.S.
4) We live in the "southernmost part of Canada".
5) We live south of where we used to live in Oregon, and, yes, they make wine here.
Are you surprised? Read on for a few fun facts...
A) The border between Canada and the US is the longest unprotected border in the world (5,525 miles!).
B) Superman and basketball originated in Canada. Add to that fish sticks, instant mashed potatoes, and the zipper as well as the television, walkie-talkies, and the telephone (yep - the Bell family lived in Canada when they tested that 1st call). Oh - and the cardiac pacemaker!
C) Canada is the world's 2nd largest country (behind Russia).
D) Hockey is beloved, but lacrosse is the country's official sport.
I know... I love trivia, but all this makes me think about how much we "assume" we know.
And y'all need to quit saying, "It's almost like it's another country". It IS a foreign country!
Truthfully, it's a great option for our "international" assignment.
P.S. - I have not tried poutine and have no intention of doing so ;-)
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