Misc. Thoughts

During the rain last week, we went to the zoo. Only five or six other people joined us. The animals were active and the zoo was empty, so we were able to sit and observe for as long as we wanted. We literally sat in front of the chimpanzees for 30 minutes undisturbed.

The zoo is currently featuring Baby Layla, a new chimpanzee. We were fascinated watching the interactions of the chimp family.

You might wonder why I am posting a blurry picture. This picture is out of focus because I was trying to take a picture of Layla, but then her daddy jumped at the glass and knocked on it. I was a little startled.

We went back to the zoo this past Monday and the zoo was empty again. We were able to talk to zookeepers and see animals up close. The kids even got to pet a 22-year old gecko.

So FW zoo fans, note that rainy days and Mondays are the best days at the zoo.

In other news, I have been a long-time customer and fan of Just Between Friends, a consignment sale that happens twice a year at the Will Rogers Coliseum. Every six months, my mother-in-law and I take the kids and buy all their clothes for the next season. We each spend about $50 per kid and are able to outfit them for the next six months.

This season, I decided to consign. The jury's still out on whether or not we will have another kid (probably not, but maybe) so I can't sell anything that might be used again. However, I have a ton of stuff that we can do without. My goal was to make $300.

This was my first time selling, so it took me a while to learn all the rules of hanging and tagging. I spent at least 15 hours preparing all my items. Adam tallied them all up and let me know that if I sold every item at full price, I'd only make $138. I made about $60.

I also decided to go all the way and volunteer as well. If you volunteer four hours, you earn an extra 5 percent. While working my four hours, I realized that I was hoping for an extra $6.50. I requested leave and was granted.

So I was extremely disappointed, but am hopeful that now I know how the system works I will make more money in the spring. I will not be volunteering, however.

And in still other news....My kids love balloons. We were at JBF picking up my unsold items on Monday night, when the kids spotted an unclaimed balloon on the floor. They both begged for it, but since there was only one, I said no. I knew they would fight over it. A few minutes later, another balloon floated on the scene. The kids were asking if they could have those balloons, and just as I was saying yes, a little boy went and took them both. All kids love balloons, so I understood. At one point, the little boy dropped one of the balloons, and sweet Paul walked over and handed it back to him. My kids are so compassionate and giving, I get sappy.

But last night we were at Albertson's and I was disappointed. The store was having a celebration and we were meeting Chester Cheetah. The PA system announced a cakewalk in the bakery, so my kids begged and ran to the cakewalk. They were looking for a spot to stand on, but before they could find one, all the places were taken. There was one family that was taking up a square for each parent and child. They pretty much had half the walk covered. So my kids were running in circles, trying to fit in. Several adults smiled at them, but no one was going to let them in that cakewalk. I couldn't believe it. The kids were so disappointed and Claire was about to start crying. It made me upset, because if I was an adult on the cakewalk, I would certainly step aside for a kid to play. If my kids were playing on the cakewalk, I would have had them share a square so everyone could play. It frustrates me when I am always teaching my kids to love others and share and then the world disappoints them. I think we might bake a cake today.

Getting Along at Church

When I was a kid, my behavior at church was the best it was all week. My sister and I might have been fighting in the car en route to church, but we knew once we walked through the doors, we better straighten up. My mom would pinch the underside of our closest arm to get us in line should we waver.
As an adult, Adam and I pride ourselves on attending a church where people act the same in church as they do outside of it. There's not a metamorphosis that happens at the church door like I had growing up. We can go to church on Sunday morning and then later go out to lunch and order a beer. If we run into one of our ministers at the restaurant, we don't have to disguise the beer.
We love our church and all the people in it. Obviously, we are closer to some than others, but we don't have anyone we actively avoid. We are friends with the entire congregation.
That's why it's so confusing to us when others don't share our view. I'm involved in several groups at the church: a prayer group, Sunday school, ladies organizations, book clubs and committees. The last few years, several of these have suffered rifts. There was the prayer group rift over who was serving at a special worship service. There was the Sunday school rift over liberal vs. conservative theology. Last Sunday, there was a rift about the homosexuality issue.
Adam and I believe that everyone has their mind made up about certain issues. I will never debate hot button issues with my friends. I don't discuss homosexuality, the death penalty, or abortion with others. No good ever seems to come out of those conversations.
I do discuss love. I believe we are supposed to love everyone, regardless of their beliefs and doctrines. If you are Muslim, I feel free to call you friend. If you are homosexual, you are my buddy, too.
I believe love fixes everything. If I remember that I love you, I'm less likely to get upset when we disagree. Little comments or issues don't matter. Love does.
So to you, friend I agree with, I offer you love. And to you, friend I disagree with, I also offer you love.