The deal of a lifetime...

Yesterday we took a detour home and stopped at Lehman's, a store in Ohio specializing in necessities for life lived off-grid. Wood stoves, non-electric appliances, Amish tools, Oil lamps, etc. Upon venturing up to the clearance level we discovered this:

The James Hand Washer for all your off-grid clothes washing needs. This washer is usually $450.00. But we got this washer for (drumroll please...) a mere $50!!!!!!!!!! To those of you who have no desire whatsoever to live off grid, this is not very exciting. But it was like it had just been waiting for us! I've searched ebay, classifieds all over for someone selling a used one of these and alas, here was a used one (but hardly used from what we can tell) fully intact at the store way marked down. Wooo Hooo!!!!

So anyways...I do not know if in the future the Lord will give us this desire we have to live out in the boonies (or the not so booniesh boonies) but if that never happens we can at least wash clothes the "green" way! But just the way it worked out, it's like the Lord was saving that one washer just for us. I used it this morning and it's as good as it says!

And by the way...Happy late Thanksgiving! Hope the turkey was good and everyone is rested.

Hard to Believe

I just finished reading a ton of reviews for John MacArthur's book "Hard to Believe" at Amazon.com. It's very interesting - people get VERY defensive when it comes to JM's writing - it was either 2 stars or 5 stars - hated it or loved it. I'm thinking about getting this book for some family members for Christmas, so I just wanted to check it out.
It amazes me that people can read John MacArthur (and some people claimed to have read all his books) and think he is advocating works salvation. If he was advocating that why in the world is he teamed up with RC Sproul? No one contends more for the Gospel according to Romans than RC. No one contends more for the Gospel according to Jesus than John MacArthur! And they are the same Gospel!
Well, anyways, I don't need to rehash the arguement. But it just amazes me - John exposits scripture in all of his books and encourages people to search it out like the Bereans to see if it is true to Scripture.
I spent 4 years in a "no lordship" / "easy believism" university. Trust me, I came out more confused than ever. It is thanks to men like John MacArthur and my pastor, who diligently study and preach the truth that I know what I believe and can be sure that I will stand before the throne of God clothed in the righteousness of Christ because my own merrit could do nothing but dam me to hell. Harsh, I know. But that is reality, that is truth.
I think of the Puritans - would anyone dare to accuse them of being romanists? Yet they emphasized works VERY strongly. They also searched the scriptures and produced remarkable sermons, letters and prayers that showed above all else they were devoted to their Christ.

Ok, I'm done ranting for now.

Story of my life...(at least my hair)

This is NOT what my hair looks like.

This is what I WANTED my hair to look like.

I knew better than to go to the cheapie salon...but I did it anyways. I went, I saved 9 measly bucks and now I reap the consequences. I now have the same hair style I had in 6th grade. It was all the rage then, but is regrettably not the style desired at the moment.

So upon running from the cheapie joint, nearly in tears, little E says "Mommy, are you going to cry?" I say, "maybe." "It's ok Mommy, Grandma D can fix it when she comes for Christmas. Don't be mad at your hair." She makes me laugh at myself.
I ponder my next move, do I head over to my regular girl and shell out the $20 to have her chop it all off and make me look great. Or do I go home, blow dry it and see if I can live with it for another month or two?
I went home. It's not as dreadful as it looked in the salon, unstyled but I have a picture of me in 6th grade, fushia turtleneck sweater dress and all, with the same style. Minus the pink sweater dress I'm looking about the same.

So anyways...I just had to get it out of my system. I feel like Jo on little women - I've cut off my "one beauty" and alas, life seems temporarily most dreadful.