A little vacation of sorts

I just got back from our Sunday night training class at church and Pastor Brandon asked us to fast and pray for some things going on at our church and for breakthrough. I don't know anyone who likes to fast and I'm no exception, so when he said that, my heart sank a little. I know it's a powerful thing and almost always produces amazing results, but it's just not a lot of fun. And you know what is fun? Eating, that's what.

When someone mentions fasting, or when I feel prompted by the Holy Spirit to do it, I always assume I won't be eating for a time. And when Brandon mentioned it tonight it was no different. I started mentally preparing myself for a week without food. That means that I immediately wondered what I had at my house that I could tear into and stuff myself with before Monday started. By the time I got home, though, I realized that this particular fast wasn't going to involve food. You'd think I would be a relieved. But actually it's worse because it involves my computer. More specifically, the turning off of my computer for a week. One whole week. [I haven't decided if I'm calling a week 5 days or 7, we'll see.]

I realized the other day that the first thing I do in the morning is check my e-mail and my blog list. I wouldn't feel so bad if I left the house everyday to go to work at an office where I could do things like that on my lunch break. But since I'm at my house all day long, and there's no, you know, time clock or anything, I get to where whenever I have a free moment, I'm on here. And no matter how free a moment is, it almost always turns into 30 or 60 or..you get the idea.

So, I will not be seeing any of you, by way of blogs, for the next week. I guess this post is my way of eating my last meal before the fast. And you'd better believe I've already checked every blog I've ever looked at and stuffed myself full of words and pictures that I hope will last through the week. I feel like I'm saying farewell for much longer, but I'm just dramatic that way. I'm going to get a lot done around here, refocus and most important pray. And my church isn't the only thing that needs it right now. There's a lot going on in this country and around the world that could use some extra prayer coverage.

Until next week, peace out. [I can't believe I just typed that]

Hollister

As some of you may know, a year or so ago I accidentally wandered into Hollister at the one and only mall in town. I don't know what I was thinking and I can't imagine the look I had on my face when I walked in, but I made an about face before my eyes even had a chance to adjust to the cave like interior. I realized immediately that I didn't belong there and I had to get out.

Well, I've wondered about that place ever since and when I went to the mall today to pick up a Webkinz for my daughter's birthday, I purposed in my heart to give it another try and see what all the commotion was about...and I heard a rumor that they have their own line of fragrance pumped into the mall's air conditioning system so people will be drawn to their store. Hmmm. Sounds very mysterious.

This time, I walked in like I owned the place. I didn't want to look like a mom. I made a sharp turn to the right, right after the living room set up and didn't notice until later that I actually entered the correct side, the "Betty" side. Score one for the mom! It was still very dark. I think it would be helpful to hand out headlamps at the entrance. Wouldn't that be so cool? I mean, rad. Excuse me, sweeeet. That's it, sweet.

Also, the music was turned up way too loud for me to do the kind of concentrating I need to do to shop for clothes. I do my best shopping with big fluorescent lights and a touch of Barry Manilow in the background. Go ahead, call me old. And I'm pretty sure the song that was playing when I walked in was talking about sex. Not that they didn't have songs like that when I was young. I just don't appreciate them like I did back then.

As soon as I got in to the main part of the cave, I mean store, this perky little sales girl said in a high pitched squeal, "Hi! How you doin?" With a "deer in the headlights" look, I said, "Fine. I don't need anything. I'm just looking."

I walked briskly past her and entered the part of the store where the fragrances and cash registers are and apparently where everyone just hangs out. I mean it. There were young kids everywhere just standing around talking. Just when I decided I was going to try to make it to the back wall of the store, touch it, and then run out, I saw the teenage son of a friend of mine. "Hi Nick!" I said nervously as I gave him a side hug. He said, "Hey." and then I felt the need to say, "I'm just looking around." He gave me an "Okay." And not just any "okay," it was the kind of "okay" you say when what you really meant was, "I don't remember asking, but, okay."

After that I decided I couldn't take it anymore. I took a quick peek into the back part of the store, felt a bunch of teen aged eyes boring into me for trespassing on their sacred ground, circled a rack of polo shirts and headed for the exit. Whoa, that was pretty rough.

I have to admit, though, that place smelled fantastic!

The Truth

Here's the serious, not funny, truth about the well we just had dug. I really believe that the Lord was trying to show us something about his faithfulness and his provision throughout this whole experience. We thought about calling someone several times in the last year to dig a well, especially in the heat of the summer when I was dragging 80 feet of garden hose all over the dang place to do my watering, but we never did it because we just didn't want to spend the money on it. Then, this guy shows up out of nowhere and won't take no for an answer. We try in three different places and hit nothing. Then, after Elliott finds a spot, and I go inside the house to pray and proclaim that there IS water in that spot, we hit not only a well, but an incredible well with lots of water. Then a couple of days later, we get some good news from Nashville about one of Elliott's songs. It's no coincidence, people. God is GOOD!!!

Here's a deep subject

Last Friday, after picking the kids up from school, this is what I found in my driveway.


I was most concerned with this little piece of equipment, which happened to be running at full steam when I drove up.


As soon as I got out of the car, a hispanic man came up to me and we had a conversation that went something like this...

Me: Hi. Is there something I can help you with?
Strange man (aka Raul)(pronounced Rahooool): Yes. I don't know if you remember me, but about a year ago, Dobie tells me you want a well dug and I come out and witch and I find a good spot. Then I have to leave and now, I'm back.
Me: Oh, I see. Does my husband know you're here?
Raul: Well, I talk to Dobie and he say he would try to reach you but for me to go ahead and get started.
Me: I think I'm going to call my husband right now, okay?
Raul: Okay. I'd love to talk to him. I tell my girls I was gonna dig a well for the guy who wrote that song, I Love Her First and last time I was here, I didn't get to meet him.
Me: I'll give him a call, hold on.

For the next few minutes Elliott and Raul talked on the phone. Elliott telling the guy it really wasn't in our budget to drill a well right now and Raul saying "Iss okay. We work it out later. I go ahead and dig well and find water, okay?" Well, what could he say? They already had their equipment in our yard, it was running and they were apparently okay with a payment plan. He went for it!

Not long after that conversation, the aforementioned Dobie, showed up. He wanted to do a little witching himself. In addition to being the finance guy for our school district, he apparently has a keen interest in wells.



So my husband finally arrived and took over the operation. And not a moment too soon because I had stuff to do, like take more pictures, keep my children off the heavy equipment and put some clothes on April.

Another spot. More discussion. No water.



In this one spot, Raul showed Elliott that all he was getting was a little damp sand. No water.


Then Elliott decided to take the rods and do a little witching himself.


Here he is demonstrating his newly found skillz.



And here's what happened after they moved to that area.



Raul was really cute when we hit water. I loved his smile. He said it was a 15 - 20 gal/min well. "Thass a pretty good well!" he said.

They spent the rest of the day and half of the next doing whatever it is they do to finish the job. It was dark and I was getting eaten by mosquitoes so I called it a night. I was surprised, the next day to find this


instead of this.


John said he wanted the first taste of the water so Elliott took the kids out and lowered a bottle into the well so he could see how deep it was and get a sample of the water.




Sorry about that. Isn't that a beautiful sight? My twin is gone! I would show you the actual incision but it looks kind of frankensteiny and I don't want anyone to faint dead away.

John got a little distracted with something else, probably killing something, so he did not get to be the official water tester. Around here, if you snooze, you lose. We did pour it through a coffee filter to get all the unidentified floaties out of it.


Hmmm. Really full-bodied with just a hint of PVC.

It might not be fittin' for us to drink yet, but the garden's gonna love it!