A SAD TRAGEDY

 During the greeting time in church today, I was introduced to a young woman who was crying. She told me about a dear Floridian friend who's 12 year old son was hit and killed by a drunk driver this past week. I hate this story. It's frightening to know how many people are actually out there driving while under the influence... This particular driver, much like other similar cases, was not even aware that he had struck two pedestrians. He ran them down and continued to his home 3 blocks away. So horrible!!! Five years ago my nephew (also 12) was killed while riding his bike in the middle of the day. Things seem so unfair sometimes.

Why does one ask a grieving person if the deceased was a believer? 

TRICKED INTO CLEANING MY OWN ATTIC...

He's a tricky one, that Mitch! Gotta love him!!! Let me explain...
 
He just recently moved to NYC and needed somewhere to leave his car and a few boxes until he was able to make a few things happen.

After a lot of thought and maybe a little bit of encouragement from people such as myself, Mitch decided to sell his car (an awesome Ford Focus, black, 2001, medium mileage, standard stick-shift, excellent condition, $6900--if anyone is interested). So anyway, it's happily parked in front of our house where it has a great chance of selling quickly, but before parking it there with signs in the window there were a few more boxes and items needing to be moved out of the car and into a spot in our storage room. Ok! So our storage room is kind of... crowded! (You can read my blog on myspace about it; the day I single-handedly took on the enormous task of cleaning and organizing the storage room. That blog is called "I Found Your Tools" and Terry says its just "a little harsh"--hahaha).

Anyway, between my girls complaining that they still didn't have "any" shorts or summer clothes (because they were still in a box properly placed somewhere in the attic above the storage room) and Mitch coming to me with a very concerned look and tone stating that "this was NOT going to work. There really isn't any room to store these boxes." My hand was forced. Aaaahhh devil!!! OK!!! OKAY!!! I'll go up and do a little re-organizing!!! OK!!!

I approached the attic thinking I was simply going to retrieve the summer clothes, move a few other things around and then Mitch could put his things up there. But nooooooo... as I looked around and considered the fact that these boxes have been sitting here sealed up for three years (and some possibly sealed for 15)... I began to consider that I did actually want to go through them for the yard sale next month... I mean, how bad could it be? Really, Karen! Think about it!!! NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO FRIKKIN DO IT ANYWAY!!!

HOLY SMOKES!!! This is scary. Why am I doing this job AGAIN???? Waaaaaaaahhhh!!!!

Mitch, with his telepathic powers tapped into my thoughts and decided to convince me that "after only ONE HOUR we could have this thing mastered!" He was just itching to organize something. HAH!

So, I worked at it... and Mitch so wonderfully helped and labored and sweat profusely, pushing me right along. It certainly helps to have another person working with you on these kinds of projects. But man... oh man... it was hotter than hades up there!!!

DANG! We thought we were gonna die!

After a lunch break, I did NOT want to go back up. But I forced myself and prevailed in victory--glory to God, Hallelujah! It was a job well done (mostly done)... and Mitch, I thank thee.

P.S. Terry did a fine job grilling and entertaining for the evening. I also Terry, thank thee! You're the man! 

IT'S YARD SALE TIME!

OK someone needs to help me STOP!!!

It started in the attic and I've managed to continue to clean out and organize the entire house, my car AND my computer. I am exhausted but I keep finding something else that needs to be done. Yesterday, early in the morning... as I tried ever so hard to sleep just a wee bit longer... I thought of all the ways I could storm through the bookshelves of my house. (I've been called a book hoard by my husband before).

When I did finally arise from my bed, I began to have second thoughts as to whether I really wanted to take on this project (or continue the project which began in the attic on Sunday). Hmmmm... well I dove in. Does anyone realize what happens to East Coast dust that is left to sit upon items for months? Nevermind. This was an intense job, for sure. Like my husband says, we tend to utilize every inch of space around here. I say, "Every frikkin square inch." The books are not only tightly shelved from end to end with not an inch to spare, but then more books and other various objects float right into place on top of the nicely shelved books, so there becomes the horizontally shelved AND vertically shelved books (and various items). This takes place in every book shelf, every countertop and every dresser all through out the house. AGHHGHGHHHHHHH!!! There are many times I would love for someone to just shoot me and get it over with. The dreaded accumulation of STUFF!!!

Let it be known--I LOVE TO DEJUNK!!! Well, once I get going on it I love it. (I do hate being the only one willing to take on the task). But Mitch got me started and now I can't stop. It's been three years since I've done a serious dejunking. So with a yard sale approaching it gives a sense of motivation.

I produced six medium size boxes of books to sell. I couldn't even believe it. I was never able to let go of all those beloved books. We were so involved in ministry that I felt I must hold onto them being that I could always refer to them or learn more about all THAT! But now that we have reach a completely new season in our lives and we are free to live and minister in new ways that are not necessarily within the context of the local church, I am free to let go of my books. Weird huh?! It came so easily. I wanted to shed as much as possible. It wasn't an angry thing, or a resentment about my experiences in church leadership. It was more about being relieved that I am finally comfortable with the changes God has brought into my life. I'm comfortable in my own skin and I don't need some kind of church ministry in order to feel valuable in this life.

Anyway, I think I have enough on my plate with the six kids (plus) and all the dusting that must continue to be done.

HAMMIN' IT UP

The Hochstedlers

Here's a picture of the whole family (left to right bottom--me, Luke, Terry, Nate; middle--Elizabeth, Caleigh *slightly above, Anika and Jennah). Mitch took this picture. He's an amazing photographer I have to say!!! I just wanted to post a few of these family pics.

Ahhh yes indeed! The love we share... even Noah is astonished!

Terry with his girlies... he turns 40 tomorrow btw! WOW!!! I guess I'm right behind him. It doesn't feel like it though.

My little boys... who aren't so little anymore...

OH IT'S FUNNY AND YOU KNOW IT!

In the Spring of 2003, Vintage21 had a four week series on Jesus Christ, taking a deep look at what He said and did. It was difficult at times to get past our preconceived notions that had been developed by staunch, starched Sunday School classes of old. This is a satirical look at what some people think Jesus is like. Thank goodness He's not.