Sonic Ice

Sonic ice makes everything taste better.

I made a pitcher of pink lemonade. When I say "made" I mean that I took a can of frozen concentrate and mixed it with water. (I buy the Target brand because it's 84 cents and the Minute Maid is over a dollar.) Sometimes, I get an extremely sour one and it tastes bitter.

This is one of those bitter ones. I drank it last night with the regular ice that the freezer makes and the only reason I kept drinking it was because I was tired of water. (I'll save the story of why I no longer drink caffeine for another day)

So, today, I used some of the Sonic ice from the freezer. I don't often buy ice from Sonic anymore--it's a luxury because of how expensive it is now (yes, I consider more than 3 dollars for a bag of ice a luxury). But, a few weeks ago, our ice maker couldn't keep up with the amount we were using and I forgot to pick up a bag from the store, so I was lazy and parked at Sonic where they brought it out to me.

Anyway, I filled my cup with Sonic ice and added the pink lemonade. While I still taste a tinge of the bitterness, it's nowhere near as bad as it was last night or even an hour ago with regular ice.

It's funny how seemingly simple things can soften our bitterness.

Sometimes there just aren't words...

Caroline, this morning: "Mom, my hair looks like...looks like...looks like...a really bad thing!
Sometimes there just aren't words to describe a bad hair day

Thanks, Joe!

So, I went to Walmart tonight, looking for a yellow shirt, a backpack and a hat. Random, I know. Anyway, I went through the self-check out (only got the hat--which ended up not fitting Brian--and a book for myself) and pushed the button for $20 cash back. I grabbed my receipt and bag, said goodnight to Joe, the cashier at the stand and left. As I was in Target (decided I didn't need the yellow shirt, but was still looking for a backpack, I realized I never grabbed my cash. So, I left Target and drove back over to Walmart, not sure if it was still there, but it was worth a try. I grabbed my receipt and walked in the door and Joe immediately recognized me and went to his till and pulled out a $20 bill. Thanks for looking out for a stranger, Joe!

Nana Barbara and Cassie

Cassie is Nana Barbara's newest pet. Let me give you a bit of history...

Nana Barbara is Brian's aunt. Since she is our cousin's "Nana," my girls have dubbed her "Nana Barbara." She's one of those people who is just pure in heart. You know the type--people and animals are just drawn to her sincere kindness.

Barbara's house is known by many in the city. It's the house where unwanted animals just appear. She tends to have a few dogs and cats at any given time. She once sat on the ground by the side of the road for over an hour, waiting for an injured dog to let her help.

I'm not sure how Cassie came to live at Barbara's, but she has been there for over a year. Cassie was abused by her previous owner. I don't think there are any physical signs of it, but it is obvious to all who try to get close to her.

Cassie is petrified of people. She literally shakes when anyone comes near. She follows Barbara's every step, and is most content when sitting next to her on the sofa--that's the only place I've been able to get close enough to pet her. Even then, she was shaking so much, that I felt bad for trying to show her affection.

Cassie has 100 acres to run and enjoy. But she doesn't. There are 3 houses on the farm filled with people who adore animals, but she won't allow herself to enjoy that love. Nobody has abused her for over a year, and yet, she still trembles at any noise.

In contrast, Baxter is another dog at the farm. He arrived during Christmas a few years ago and is well-loved. He takes full advantage of the farm and all it has to offer. He has no fear of people and jumps up into strangers' laps. Being around him, makes me want to laugh.

Do you see where I'm going with this? While I know Cassie must have had a horrible past, those circumstances are no longer her reality. Because she is too scared to allow herself to accept the love that is given to her--with no strings attached--she sits on a sofa, in a house, rather than running around the farm with the other animals.

I think many of us can relate to Cassie. We have a Father who loves us tremendously, but we can't bask in that love because we are so scared of our past. So, rather than enjoy the full scope of what He has given us, we sit, paralyzed and shaking on a sofa.

So my daily choice is, do I live today as Cassie or Baxter?