Happy Halloween!

A woman was asked by a coworker, 'What is it like to
be a Christian?'

The coworker replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin.'

God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and
washes all the dirt off of you.

Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky
stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.

Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His
light inside of you to shine for all the world to
see.'

Lessons I've Learned

There was frost on the ground this morning. That means it's time to get out the socks. Wouldn't you know it, my big toe went right through the end of the sock. I looked down at my protruding toe and thought, when am I going to find the time to mend this sock? And then I flashed to Grandma Jean, sitting at the kitchen counter, darning socks and stockings and listening to Paul Harvey.

Grandma Jean always darned her socks and stockings inside out, with a light bulb pushed up inside, stretching out the toe area where she was mending. She said that way, the mending didn't change the shape or the size of the toe. The sock remained comfortable.

I couldn't help but think of some of the other lessons I learned from Grandma.

**Freshly shredded sweet onion is the key to any good cheese ball or bologna salad

**A bag of Constant Comment in your iced tea makes it taste better

**If there is a gap in the wallpaper seam and the wall shows through, you can color it in with a crayon. A 64 box of crayola is sure to contain a perfect match.

**Dipping your fingertips in milk and wetting the top crust of a pie will make it brown better....of course, you MUST sprinkle sugar on top of the milk.

**Steel wool tucked around the pipes under the sink keep the mice from getting in.

**When you make scrambled eggs, always add 1/2 shell of milk for every egg. It makes your eggs fluffier.

**Always flour your hamburger patties before frying.

**Use Miracle Grow when you're planting

**If you turn your head away while you throw a whole stick of butter into a kettle of potato soup, the extra calories don't count (I think she made this one up!)

**Iron your clothes out of the dryer...not when you get them out to wear. It saves time. I haven't mastered this one yet.

**A match book and a candle in the bathroom can be a lifesaver.

I'm curious...what lessons did you learn from Grandma?

God is Great

Every day, I get a devotional sent to my e-mail. Today, the devotional was this:

“Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7 AMP).

We asked that Grandma Jean not feel pain. God answered. We asked that Grandma not be alone. He answered. We asked that Grandma not suffer long. He answered.

God IS good...ALL the time.

One of my favorite Grandma Jean memories

So, about 10 years ago, my family took Grandma Jean to a little movie we thought she would enjoy...Titanic. She had seen the previews, knew many things about the plot and was very interested in seeing the film.

We went St. Valentine's day week-end. Me, mom, dad, Ben, Serena and Grandma Jean arrived early, got tubs of popcorn and vats of soda and chose seats mid-way up the stadium style theater, smack dab in the middle of the row. We anxiously waited while other patrons filed in. By the time the movie started, the theater was packed.

Now, if you've never seen the movie, there are some important plot lines you need to know. The movie is about a boat...that sinks. The plot follows two young lovers on the boat. Jack is a starving artist and Rose is a wealthy socialite. They have a forbidden romance that at one point involves Jack drawing Rose in, shall I say, less than modest attire. Actually, no attire at all. The movie is also really long.

So, about two hours into the movie, Grandma Jean announces in a normal speaking voice, "If he's going to draw her naked, he better hurry up. That boat's going to sink." We all slid down into our seats as the row ahead of us turned around to see who was disrupting the movie.

Later as the ship was sinking, the string quartet decided to stay on deck and play music instead of abandoning the ship. Apparently, when the real Titanic sank, the string quartet actually did this. They played hymns to calm the passengers.

Well, when they started playing in the movie, Grandma recognized the hymn right away and began to sing along. For the rest of my life, I'll never forget my Grandma sitting in a dark, crowded theater, singing "Nearer My God to Thee" in full voice for everyone to hear:

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
E'en though it be a cross,
That raiseth me
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

There let the way appear,
Steps unto heaven
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given
Angels to beckon me,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise
So by my woes to be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

Or if on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee!

How things ended with Staples.

Grandma asked me today about the "boyfriend." I didn't have the heart to go into detail, so I told her that he was fine -- which I know he is. Not exactly a lie, right? More of an omission of truth.

The real story is that Staples and I aren't going to be seeing each other any more, unless it is in a public forum. We had several great dates and enjoyed each others company very much. He's a really great guy.

Since we met online, we were open about the situation. We both knew that there was no reason to be "exclusive" for any reason. Fine. It doesn't seem to make much sense to meet someone and decide that day to be exclusive.

As our conversations progressed, I learned that Staples had been going out with one girl on and off for a few months. As he told me about her, it came to light that she was on vacation in Michigan the week we met, and he was, well, a little lonely and a little confused about exactly where their relationship stood.

One night, he was at my house. We had made dinner and were watching TV when she called. He was very tense after the call, so I just had to lay it out for him:

Me: Have you ever considered, that you are just a monogamy kind of guy? You weren't meant to "play the field?"
S: But my marriage dissolved after 4 years. What if I try and this fails too?
Me: Yeah. You might try and it might last for only 50 years.
S: But I don't want to hurt you.
Me: (giggle) Like I'm going to be that smitten for any guy after a week? Sweetie, you're a great guy, but you ain't all that. (OK, that was in my head...here's what I actually said:) I'm not that fragile. I will be ok. But what's important here is to figure out what you want. If you want to try with her, great. If you don't, stop leading her on. If you don't know what you want...maybe you should take some time for yourself and figure that out.
S: I don't know.
Me: Of course you don't...you're a man. (OK -- that was in my head again. What I actually said was:) Why don't you go home and start thinking about it.

And he did.

This week he contacted me to let me know that they were going to try the monogamy thing for a while. He then thanked me profusely. I told him he owed me one...and so did she.

There is an upside all of this though. Yes, I did lose out on a possible relationship, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.

1) I met a really great guy, was totally myself and didn't scare him away.
2) I got a man to make somewhat of a commitment, not to me of course but still, a commitment was made.
3) He committed to a woman...not a man. At least I didn't turn this one gay. he he.