YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TEXAS IN AUGUST WHEN.

Well I'm usually pretty glad to be in Croatia and not in Texas in August but this year is an exception. It's as hot here in Croatia as it is in Texas and that's ridiculous! You know the problem? Very few places have A/C and our churches for sure don't have A/C. 

Tonight in church our pastor's little girl walked up to me and asked me, "do you know the difference between the back of my neck and hell (actually the word is Pakao in Croatian and it's not used as a curse word)?" I said, "Nah, what's the difference?" She smiled and said, "about 2 degrees." HA, she's a hoot!

Anyhow, here's an ode to Summer in Texas and in my case Croatia. 

1. The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground

2. The trees are whistling for the dogs

3. The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance

4. Hot water now comes out of both taps

5. You can make sun tea instantly

6. You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron

7. The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly

8. You discover that in August it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car

9. You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window

10. You actually burn your hand opening the car door

11. You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m

12. Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, 'What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death

13. You realize that asphalt has a liquid state

14. The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper

15. Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs

16. The cows are giving evaporated milk

Ah, what a place to call home.. .
God Bless The Lone Star State of Texas................

College? Wordless Wednesday

Ummm (scratching head)

Seen this perplexing little sign at the Chase Bank drive through. Hmmm, are they even allowed to drive? I believe in equal rights and all but this is ridiculous!

another 14 miles and a story

Okay so today Traci and I headed out at 6:30 to ride not knowing how extremely fatigued our legs were from yesterday. If we had been smart we would have just taken the short 5 mile ride but NOOOOO, we opted for the long ride with one little change. We wouldn't take an extra leg of the route but we would shorten the route but about 3 or 4 miles. When we got to the turning point we decided to go for it and so we took off. 

The extra stretch is down a long corn lined country road and back to where we trun to go home. 

At the end of the road I stopped to wait for Traci before we turned around to head back. On the side of the road there was an old farmer selling potatoes. So I'm sitting there trying to recover from the ride so far and the man gets out to chat. Our convo. goes like this:

HIM: where you coming from?


ME: from pribislavec through Belica, Mala Subota

HIM: you need to ride that at least 5 times. (that would be 70 miles)

ME: no, I think once is plenty

HIM: you girls sure like those cakes huh? Ate a few too many?

ME: huh? (in shock) uh, yea 

HIM: you're fine just like you are (as if that would make up for the cake remark)

I translated and Traci and I broke out into a delirious laugh. 

Anyhow, we made the 14 miles. I'm pretty proud of that. Tomorrow, I think 5 miles is plenty.

Wiener Woman

click on the photo for a better look at the insanity

Okay so the other day we took a small shopping trip to Austria and I found this enticing advert decorating the window of a gas station. The woman pictured, Sarah Wiener, appears to be out of her mind for this wiener burger. Okay a sandwich made from wieners, okay is it just me or is that just wrong?? And it boasts of being NEU AND BIO, is that like bio-hazardous? Check out the enthusiasm on her face, for a wiener burger at that. Anyhow, I thought it was funny in a warped sorta way.

Sole Reader!

Okay so if you haven't been over to Kristi's yet to see the Sole Reader, you've missed out. I'm sure she won't mind me sharing it with you here, she's a hoot! Kristi is one of my favorite bloggers, if you don't know her, run over there and check her out!

Christmas Bean

I don't usually watch Mr. Bean but I found this on a Christmas site this morning and couldn't resist.

Are you kidding me???

Okay so I found this review while looking for a watch for Cody's 17th birthday. After reading the very first review for this watch I knew I had to share it.

the review:
I bought this watch to keep up with time and this is a very good watch. The stopwatch chronograph works really good. the battery hasn't had to be replaced yet. The band clasp on it is something that i was familiar with when i first bought the watch.
I highly recommend this watch.

a little about the reviewer

Recommends this product? Yes
Age: 18 - 24
Gender: Male
Has owned product for: 2 - 3 months
Uses product: Every day



oh yea and I'm sad to say but this bright chap is a fellow Texan.

Friendship of the least likely!

I videoed this the other morning, way too funny.
BTW, is that the sweetest doggie ever???

An Ode to Pam!

Okay so you know we live in Europe and most items that we were accustomed to in America we have learned to live without. Most, I said, not all. There are certain items that are irreplaceable, there are not substitutes for them. Pam non-stick cooking spray happens to be one of them. Actually I buy the Wal-mart brand butter flavor and it works just fine. Anyhow, a friend of mine who came to visit back in the Spring brought me a few cans and we ran dry back about a month ago so we have been in dire straits for some time and trying anything we can to fill the empty place Pam has left in our lives.

Anyhow, the other night out buying some groceries; I'm looking at the new maraschino cherries that have never been available until now as Johnny comes almost in a run from the other isle. Guess what he's holding.....okay, I'll tell you. Johnny is holding a can of Pam cooking spray. You have got to be kidding, I had to look twice before I believed it. Talk about a miracle, no way, could Pam have really moved to Croatia too???

So we head around the corner to start filling our basket, knowing that most new things in Croatia don't stay long so you better stock up while you can. Anyhow, as we start to fill our basket I noticed the price. EEEK!!! 83 kuna and 99 lipa! Okay I know that means nothing to you but 83 kuna is about $16 at the current exchange rate. Can you believe it, maybe you don't, but a can of Pam cooking spray in Croatia is $16!!!

Notice that the boxes are still full, that's because we put back all out glorious Pam. She's way too high maintenance for us.

It's kinda ironic, Pam is so close yet so far away. So if you have a Pam in your life; enjoy her, cherish her and praise the Lord everytime you buy her for less than 2 bucks!!!

What really happened.

What brought down the plane in the Hudson River ?

To all my Friends!

Season's Greetings!


To All My Democrat Family and Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country, nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.


To My Republican Family and Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

57 States?

So are the delegates from those extra states GOP or the other major party?

YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TEXAS IN AUGUST WHEN.

1. The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground

2. The trees are whistling for the dogs

3. The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance

4. Hot water now comes out of both taps

5. You can make sun tea instantly

6. You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron

7. The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly

8. You discover that in August it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car

9. You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window

10. You actually burn your hand opening the car door

11. You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m

12. Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, 'What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death

13. You realize that asphalt has a liquid state

14. The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper

15. Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs

16. The cows are giving evaporated milk

Ah, what a place to call home.. .
God Bless The Lone Star State of Texas................

I ♥ hoops&yoyo

Okay so I have always had a major love for hoops&yoyo ever since I saw



them first on Hallmark. They are the cuties, funniest and wittiest little critters around. Don't ask me what they are because I really don't know but they are so cool.

Anyhoo, today after my sweetie sent me an e-card I found hoops&yoyo.com



I love it, so many fun, cool things and even downloads! They have downloadable animations and even ring tones. Very cool! Oh yea and they have an officail UK addy too, Enjoy!!

Prophecy!!

Okay, I couldn't even help myself, this is prophecy in the making!
Enjoy the laugh!

Little Projects

Well it seems like maybe I'm getting things straitened up around here. Wow, what a bummer to loose all my links and things. I know we're in cyberspace and the stuff doesn't actually exist but still.

While in the states I found this great book at the Half Priced Book Store, love the place! It shows how to use all the features of your machine and which foot is which. So I did some studying and figured out a lot. The only thing I didn't get while in the states was the ruffle foot, maybe I'll have a friend bring it. Anyhow after looking through this book I became motivated to try out some of the lesser used feet and so on. It was really fun.
Hannah and I decided to make her a little pouch, for no particular reason, it was fun and I'm so glad she's learning to sew. My goal for her isn't that she becomes a scholar or professor somewhere, I want her to be a good Godly wife that loves her husband and can keep and take care of her family. So sewing fits in there somewhere along with cooking and cleaning and etc.


Anyhoo, back to the pouch, here it is, Hannah's creation with some help from Mom. It really has no purpose but it was fun to make.

Here's Hannah with her little pouch, is she proud or what? Oh yea she that pink hoodie, yea we're Longhorn fans! Hook 'em Horns!!


Anyhow we managed to make one more little zipper bag for her curlers we made a few weeks ago. She really is very spoiled being the only girl and all. :0)

Oh yea and the inside of the bag, which was a bit difficult since I have never made a lined bag before. It didn't turn out too bad considering and since she and I are the only ones who will see it, it'll do!

Lastly and for a reason, we decided to make her a little cover for her tissues in her purse. Okay I know this is no big deal and all but you have to hear this. In the states the tissues come out of the little plastic wrapper from a slit in the middle, right? Well what I forgot to do was check out how our tissues are here and guess what, they are not the same. No kidding, they come out from the end and they aren't even folded right so we could cut a slit. So we have a cute little cover with nothing to go in it. Oh well it was practice anyways. :0) Just thought you would get a laugh out of that.

Sve je Uredu

All is well in Croatia. We're getting settled in and I think we're even over the culture shock. Who would have though after 8 years, go figure!

We have started school back, much to the dismay of the children. I think we needed the order so we weren't just floating around. We weren't actually organized enough to start back, but a day of school is a day of school.

Yesterday was Soul-winning and it went well Johnny said the national man Alan is really getting excited about it. He doesn't talk yet but soon. That's what's needed, for the nationals to see the need.

I took this picture of the sun set the othernight, at least the clouds and I thought I would share it with ya, lovely huh? Everynight the sky has looked like that, I love it!

Today Johnny is gone to Rijeka to pick up some furniture with Bro. Rajko, the national Pastor and on the way he's gonna look at a few mini vans for us. Before we took furlough the church was in major need of a van for a route and we were eventually gonna have to sell our van so I said good-bye to my mini van. Well we're back and since we're actually almost carless, we are using a car that the buyer of our old mini van traded us, it's like a 1980 something and is barely going. Only the back windows work and one of the back doors is rusted through and you can't open it or it'll come off the hinges, anyhoo, Johnny is looking at a Kia Carnival today, do thay have those in the US? and hopefully soon we'll have a new vehicle well new to us. Whewww, was that a mouthfull or what???

This is so funny, Josh our 12 year old refuses to use the word define. When he looks words up he uses the word (and I say word loosly) definitionize, yea his own word and he loves it.

Oh yea I saparated my links in the side bar, now the Missionary Wives are in their own section. You gals have your own section, how cool is that!!!

Before I go I thought I would highlight my friend Michelles blog she's really sweet and mom to 5 girls, and Jessica's blog, she's a preachers wife with 6 kids, she's gotta have some insight!



Okay I thought this was so funny. Please if you are not homeschooling, I mean no offense, it is funny though isn't it??


Have a great weekend and Lord's day!

Wordless Wednesday

A 15 year old boys interpretation!

So my son Cody was telling me this morning that women shouldn't drive. Huh? Show me! So he gets out his Bible and shows me why women shouldn't drive.

Acts 27:15-20

15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

So Cody showed me his interpretation of vs. 15-20.

What do you think???

Added later**

Sis. Randall left this really cute interpretation:

II Kings 21:13b,

"...and I will wipe Jerusalem, AS A MAN WIPETH A DISH, WIPING IT, AND TURNING IT UPSIDE DOWN."

Her good question was: Why are we washing dishes?

***If you have any fun interpretations please let me know and I'll add 'em.