Tuesday, January 16, 2007

A Carrot, an Egg and a Cup of Coffee

I came across this on a board that I post to:

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Since Amy Tagged me :)

9 lasts:
Last dollar spent: Buying Bibs at Hobby Lobby
Last show you watched: Handy Manny
Last beverage: Water
Last movie you watched: Polar Express
Last phone call: My mom
Last song played: UGH! Something from the Nutcracker CD
Last bubble bath: Allergic to Bubble bath
Last time you cried: Wednesday
Last thing you ate: Cucumber slice

8 have you evers:
Have you ever dated a best friend: yes
Have you ever skinny dipped: yes
Have you ever kissed somebody and regretted it: yes
Have you ever lost someone you loved: yes
Have you ever been dumped: yes
Have you ever been drunk and threw up: yes
Have you ever ran away: no
Have you ever liked someone u thought u couldn’t have then found out they liked you: yes

7 states you've been to:
Ohio, Arizona, West Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Kentucky, FLORIDA


6 things you've done today:

2 shirts, 2 loads of laundry, Dishes, showered

5 of your favorite material things:

My laptop, my camera, my embroidery machine, my DVR, cell phone

4 people you can tell [almost] anything to:
My mom, Kristin, Darren, Leah


3 things that make you smile:

Lindsay-becca, Gabe, Hannah and Fayeth

2 things you want to do before you die:

Cruise transatlantic and go back to Grand Caymen


1 one thing you can't live with out:

My Family

Friday, January 05, 2007

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Started my own business


2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
nope


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
yes


4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes


5. What countries did you visit?
None


6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?


7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
There are too many to list


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being the mom to 4 of the most amazing children in the world.


9. What was your biggest failure?

Not communicating with Carie and almost losing our friendship

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing overly not worthy


11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our new house


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The Children's


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My uncle and aunt's behavior


14. Where did most of your money go?
Our mortgage


15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
Disney 2 times, Nutcracker, Recital, Soccer


16. What song will always remind you of ‘06?

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
* Happier or Sadder?
Happier
* Thinner or Fatter? The same

* Richer or Poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Gone to the zoo (hence get to see Amy L) and swim in our pool


19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Fret over friendships. If they are true friendships they will last.


20. How was Christmas?
Wonderful even with Puking/pooping kids


21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
My mom


22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Stayed in love, however I did fall in love...with our new home.


23. How many one-night stands?
None


24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Unit, NCIS, Grey's, Anything L&O, anything on DHC and TLC

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
DISLIKE VERY STRONGLY YES.... so no one frets...See number #13

26. What was the best book you read?
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks---Thank you for the recommendation Sabs


27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Classical Music


28. What did you want and get?
A new house

29. What did you want and not get?
New furniture


30. What were your favorite films of this year?
I have not gone to the theater this year


31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
32


32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Gabe to have a cure for his issues


33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Stay at Home MOM WEAR....


34. What kept you sane?
Kristin


35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
Cant stand Tom Cruise


36. What political issue stirred you the most?


37. Whom did you miss?
My Grandparents


38. Who was the best new person you met?
I had met a lot of people However Sabs would be close to the top of that list. Even though I have KNOWN her for many years, we just met IRL. (so does she count?)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Communication is the key to healthy relationships, not just marriage but with friends also.


40. Do you have any lost feelings of others?
Lost not really, but feelings for some have changed. I DO NOT miss or have LOST feelings for the people in #13.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Our July Vacation is starting to shape up.

I just need to find a map and figure out how was are going to drive it. So far I believe that we are going to leave around 5pm from our house on Friday and drive to Cleveland, OH. (About 5h 5 minutes) This will give us a good start for the next day. Maybe we will see the Fleabs for brunch.

Saturday we are leaving from Cleveland to drive to Hershey PA. Another 5 hours. We are planning that day/evening to tour Hershey's Chocolate World. Then head out to the Bangor/Easton area and get a hotel for the night. Sunday we will be visiting the Crayola Factory and maybe some people who live in that area. :) Monday we are planning to drive to Middletown, CT for a day stop there and stay over night there. We will then be heading to the Boston/Plymouth area on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday we are unsure of where and what we are doing. It might be a hang at the hotel and let the kids swim day. Friday we will start our 13-15 hour drive home. I am thinking that we will plan to do it in 2 days. We drive to FL in 1 day, but I just an not up to doing that this time.

If there is anywhere else about in that area that you think would be awesome to see (primarily for the kids) please link me and I will take that into consideration. Once I told Darren about the Crayola Factory, he told me that he had never been to hershey, pa and he would LOVE to go there. So those 2 and plymouth are the big ones that he wants to do.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Awesome Story!

http://www.suntimes.com/news/184566,CST-NWS-unskul24.article

Thanks for the link Amy! :)