KungFuChicken’s Weblog

Since my husband and I have been married we’ve had a total of eleven cars over ten years (eleven if you count dating).  Three of those cars we were fortunate enough to be able to give to friends; one to a stay-at-home mom with no vehicle of her own, one to a family of four with no vehicle at all, and one to a newlywed couple that needed to upgrade from a 2 seater to a 4 seater.  I loved being able to bless other families in need. 

Of those eleven cars I think the most we had at one time was five - granted not all five were running at the time.  Now we’re down to one running vehicle and one that we just like to tow around the country because it looks pretty sitting in our driveway.  Ahem.  We’re a one vehicle family.  I used to wonder how families could survive with only one car.  Now I know.  You make sacrifices.  You stay home.  You plan your days, your routes.  You coordinate your schedules.  It’s been an adjustment but we’ve made do.

There are several used car lots on the main drag.  They have some great deals on cars and it’s so tempting to just swing by to take a look.  So tempting to get a loan.  So tempting to have the freedom that a second car would afford.  That freedom would come with a monthly ball and chain though.  We’ve managed this far - we’ll keep on managing.

Today I was watching my friends’ preschooler while they both went to doctor’s appointments.  When they came back to pick up their son they told us that wanted to bless us with a second vehicle.  It’s nothing fancy, nothing pretty but it runs and we can have it on Tuesday.  Wow.  It’s so humbling to be on this side of generousity.

I am continuously reminded that God provides.  Just now I am making the connection - this past Wednesday night I was teaching the kids Philippians 4:19 - that God provides all our needs according to His glory.  Wow. 
I am humbled. 
I am greatful. 
I am blessed.

I heard the most insane story today.  After thinking about it for a bit it actually made me kind of mad.  It’s one thing to pay for your own stupid mistakes but to pay (literally pay) for another’s mistakes??

Continue reading ‘Here’s your sign.’

We’re having macaroni and cheese.  As I was standing at the stove, stirring the noodles, I had flashbacks to high school.  One of my best friends in high school was Sara Madderom.  (Sidenote:  She’s one of those friends that I’ve lost touch with over the years and I wish I hadn’t let it happen.)  She only lived a couple of blocks away.  I had known Sara since elementary school but since she went to a private school and I went to a public one I didn’t know her very well and we didn’t hang out too much.  Then, in high school, I started working in children’s ministry and she started too.  Fast forward two years and we both transferred to the same private school.

All of these memories of her came flooding back as I finished up making the mac ‘n’ cheese.  There was a summer in there somewhere that she and I spent every Saturday making mac ‘n’ cheese together.  We’d make up a box or two and then sit outside and do logic puzzles together.  Or we’d go swimming.  Or we’d find some other activity to laze away our Saturday afternoon.

It’s funny how our memories can be tied to something as simple as noodles and cheese.

I desperately need to update the tunes on my MP3 player.  Confession time: I don’t own an iPod.  I think I’m just about the only person left that doesn’t own one.  I have a generic player that works just fine.  Or it would if I could just find the cable the connects it to the computer.  I’ve been listening to the same music over and over.  I like the music but at this point I’m a little worried about OD-ing on it. 

Currently it’s loaded with lots of Audio Adrenaline, the WoW orange CD, and a little bit of Norah Jones.  I don’t listen to much music with iTunes - mostly podcasts of sermons from Pat @ Genesis and Andy Stanley @ North Point.  When I am listening to music on my computer it’s Pandora.com and I listen to my Audio Adrenaline station.  To my defense - they don’t play all AA - just music with a similar style.  My MySpace profile has had an array of music; everything from David Greco to Elijah B. to Jonah33 to (most recently) Off Kilter. 

My point is I NEED NEW MUSIC!  So what’s in your pod?

Some of you out there know my hubby.  If he had to pick one food to eat for the rest of his life what would he pick?  Ok, after the salad… then what?  Yes.  Sandwiches.  When we’re loaded up on fixins his sandwiches resemble a Dagwood special. 

Today, after church, our youth guy and his very-soon-to-be bride asked us out to lunch.  They wanted to introduce us to Macado’s.  Did you hear that?  You should’ve heard a glorious “Aaaaaaaaaah” and possibly some harp music.  Let’s try again.  Macado’s.  (btw it’s Mack-ah-Dew’s)  Their menu is 95% sandwiches.  It folds out four times and it’s double sided.  There are easily 25 sandwiches on the menu.  And that doesn’t include the make-your-own option.  I finally had to stop looking and just pick one.  My hubby, on the other hand, had to read through everything a couple of times and then came the hard part…. picking just one. 

The food was great and so were the prices!  Taking a family of five out to eat can be pricey - especially when the kids’ meals can be $5 (or more) a pop.  The most expensive kids’ meal was $3.15 all the way down to $1.49 for a PBJ sandwich.  We made sure to note that Tuesday’s is kids’ night.  Hmmm, the hubby is off this Tuesday too…

I’m sorry to report that Macado’s (Aaaaaaaaah) are only located in VA, NC and WV.  I guess y’all will just have to come out and visit!

Today is a testament to God’s healing and grace.  Less than three years ago my niece was diagnosed with subcutaneous panniculitus t-cell lymphoma.  All the odds were against her.  It’s a rare cancer - less than 50 cases in the United States.  Most documented cases were elderly people and most of them died.  The doctors decided on an aggresive treatment plan and she began chemo and then radiation.  It’s been more than a year since her last treatment and the check-ups, every three months, have continued to declare her cancer free.

She’s working hard to move past that time in her life.  She studies hard in school to catch up on the semesters she lost while sick.  After moving past her fear of hospitals she’s once again working toward a medical degree.  She spent a lot of time working with the Lymphoma Society of Phoenix - writing articles for their newsletter and talking with other, young women going through the battle with lymphoma.  She’s lost friends and had to struggle with the grief. 

Today it’s hard not to think of that battle in her life.  Especially when, at that time, we didn’t know if today would ever come for her.  Today is her 21st birthday!  It’s a time to celebrate, not only this traditional milestone, but her life! 

Happy Birthday Chicken!!  I love you!!
 (sisters; Nikki, Alicia)

My biggest fear as a parent is to have my children hurt or to have them taken from me.  We set up precautions from the moment we know of their life.  We eat healthy, take prenatals, avoid all the no-no’s.  Then they’re born and we remember to put them on their back to sleep and to tuck up all dangling cords.  When they discover their mobility we lock cabinets, block stairways and plug up outlets.  We teach them to put on their seatbelt, to avoid ’stranger danger’, to wear a helmet.  They get regular check-ups and immunizations, medicine when they’re ill. 

But what do you do when there’s something you can’t fix?  Something out of your control?  Something that might not even allow you to hold your child for very long?

That story starts here.

Tonight was one of those really fun nights at church.  We had 10 kids ranging from K to 5th grade - which can be a challenge to keep such a wide age range engaged.  I introduced two new songs to them tonight and both of them were huge hits.  It was fun seeing the kids get into the music and dance around and make up their own motions.  

We did some new games too.  In one of the games they were partnered up - one behind the other.  The front person couldn’t use their arms and the person in back was blindfolded and had to be the “arms”.  They fed their partner a Ho-ho and a bottle of Kool-Aid.  There were some good faces and plenty of messes.  Too bad I didn’t have my camera.

It was a fun, high-energy night and I survived!

The Boy:  I get to dig a hole!!!

Chickie:  So?  Going to the store with Dad is better than digging a hole.

The Boy:  Huh-uh!!

Chickie:  What can you do with a hole?

The Boy:  Sit in it.

Is it because they grow over night?  They grow in the middle of your lawn?  You invite one and the whole extended family moves in?

With all the rain we’ve had our lawn had turned into a serious green shag.  My hubby fired up the mower and began the familiar back and forth pattern.   Despite the many potholes and severe slant to our backyard the lawn looked beautiful.  It beckoned us to come turn cartwheels, walk barefoot and bask in the sunshine.

Today the yard is speckled with yellow and white dandelions.  I knew they would come back as we haven’t done the weed’n'feed yet but I didn’t expect them back so soon.  I really don’t mind the bright yellow flowers.  They bring back memories of childhood.  Do you remember rubbing them on your chin to see if you liked butter?  As a child I even loved the white seeded heads that you could make a wish and blow - scattering seeds to the neighbor’s yards as they cursed you. 

By the way, I don’t advise attempting to blow on one while facing into the wind.