hellloooooooooooooo monday!

Monday-def: (n) the second day of the week; first day of the working week

You know how this day rolls around after a seemingly too short of a weekend? Mondays have the ability of creating a loom over Sunday evenings, upon accepting their eventual return in the morning. It has been known as "Manic Monday"," Monday Morning Madness", and "Moody Mondays". One can get the "Case of the Mondays" or have "Monday Morning Blues".

For instance, when I typed in "Monday" in teh Google search Box, these are the images that appeared:







(and that was just the beginning!)

What is with Mondays of all days that has caused this sort of reputation?

I would like to have a different outlook on Mondays, and today I am proud to say I do! Maybe it has to do with the fact that I return to work Sunday nights instead and work through the dawn and coming of Monday morning. Or maybe it has to do with something small and wonderful happening to me this morning. You are more than welcome to stay a short while and hear what happened.
It goes something like this.....

8am has rolled around. The boys are fed, diapers changed, and the morning nanny has arrived and my duties as the night nanny have come to an end for the next 15hours. As I am on my way home, I feel the lack of sleep begin to hit me. So I decide to stop by starbucks on my home to get a little overpriced-but-oh-so-delicious-caffeinated-beverage to help me complete my hour-long commute home. I ordered my Mocha Frap lite, pulled around the side of starbucks and waited for the two cars ahead of me to obtain their orders. Soon I'm one car (or Hummer to be precise) away from getting my 'Cup of Joe' and hitting the road again on my way to a wonderful home, husband, and bed! But the Hummer is taking a bit longer to get its order than usual. I start to get impatient (I admit) and rethink my decision to stop by starbucks and spend the extra $$ on a drink I could really bare to be without. After 8 minutes (which feels like 25min in drive-thru time), the Hummer drives away. I pull up to the window, debit card in hand, ready to pay for my drink. But before I could even get my card to the Barista, he hands me my drink and says it's already been paid for!

Me: "What?!"
Barista: " Yeah, the lady ahead of you paid for your drink! We mixed up her order, tried to give it to her free, but she insisted we give you your drink for free."
Me: (delightfully in disbelief) "WOW! THANK you!!"
Barista: "yeah, that's Mrs. Kim. She loves people"

So off I drive, Mocha Frap Lite in my hand, HUGE smile on my face at the kindness and generosity that was just shown to me. Two things stuck with me after that amazing-surprise-morning blessing:

1) Mrs. Kim: She loves people. what a powerful statement the Barista made about that lady. He most likely has only interacted with Mrs. Kim through the window of a Starbucks Drive-Thru or maybe occasionally inside the store, but even through those limited interactions, she has left the mark on them, that she loves people and has a heart for people. That's amazing! I want to be known as "Ruth, she loves people"...and not only that, but even more so: "That's Ruth, she loves the Lord." Simply and deeply I want that to be able to be said of me. It was a good to be reminded of, challenged and encouraged in that. Who would've thought it would have happened at the Starburcks on E. Main St? :)

2) Even though it was Mrs. Kim that got me the Starbucks, I really believe this blessing and gift was from God through Mrs. Kim. Whenever anything like this happens, a seemingly small blessing that completely brightens my day, I know it's God taking an opportunity to show me that He takes GREAT delight in me. This aspect of who He is really blows me away. I mean, the Almighty God and Creator of the universe is big enough to take note in the little things of my life...He is that big to speak to me through the little blessings. It's amazing! I pray that this day, this Monday, God would open your eyes to the little things He is doing in order to show you that He takes great delight in you! Whether it's a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or any day of the week, know that the Lord eagerly awaits to meet you, reveal himself to you and take delight in you. That truth should blow the "Case of the Mondays" right out of the water if you ask me.

Isaiah 30:18
"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him."

Psalm 139:17-18
"How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, I would still be with You."

Have a GREAT MONDAY!!!!!
-Mrs. B

and the Winner is..............

I'm not sure if the readers of this blog remember, but there was a contest held quite a long time ago on this blog. You were suppose to tell me the meaning (or make up your own meaning) of the following "Rutherbs".

1) Don't pout before the horse is drawn
and
2) Like lima beans on a chicken

The one that was the most accurate or creative (it was a very subjective contest) would be named the winner.
*if you are completely lost, read more about it here *

After a week of waiting, and re-posting the contest, I had an entry....the ONLY entry. That lone contestant is now the RUTHERB WINNER and it is none other than

SHELBY BERNARD!!!! (picture below-hope you don't mind Shelby:))

isn't she beautiful!?!

Because of her participation, she has won a scrumptious batch of banana bread that will be mailed to the lovely state of Colorado where she lives. Now for the rest of you, let this be a reminder...you do get prizes when you participate in my contests...I'm not quite sure how many or what will be the next one, but I guarantee you, a prize will be rewarded to the winner of said contest.

Here are Shelby's entries for the "Rutherbs" (good job Shelby!)

"Don't pout before the horse is drawn" means either: Don't get upset until you can see the big picture. (The twins I nannied for used to be annoyed at my drawings until they saw the final product and understood why I made the lines and shapes I did) or
Don't be frustrated and impatient if you're not actually ready to move forward. (You can't get on your horse-drawn carriage until everything is hooked up and ready to go)

2. "Like lima beans on chicken" means: Some things don't really make sense together, but somehow work.

My definitions, for those that are interested:)
1) "Don't Pout before the horse is drawn" means: don't complain, get yourself worked up or worry about something that has yet to happen.
2)"Like lima beans on a chicken" means: it doesn't really make a difference and/or matter. Such as having lima beans on a chicken. It doesn't change the fact that the chicken is a chicken or really affect that chicken....unless he is to be covered in 20 tons of lima beans, then he would be a bit affected...just a bit.

Here is the recipe for the Banana Bread that Shelby won. It's soooo yummmy!
Ingredients:

- 1 and 3/4cp Flour *or whole wheat*
- 1/2tsp Baking Soda
- 1/4tsp Baking Powder
- 3/4tsp Salt
- 1 pkg. of Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix (3oz box)
- 2/3cp Sugar
- 1/2cp Butter *or apple sauce! we use this because it's healthier*
- 2 Eggs
- 2T Milk
- 1-1/3 Ripe Bananas, Mashed
- 1cp Semi-sweet choc. chips

Directions:
1) preheat oven to 350degrees and grease a bread pan.
2) combine all the dry ingredients together until well blended.
3) in a separate bowl, mix together apple sauce, eggs, milk, and mashed bananas.
4) Add in the dry mixture until completed mixed together.
5) Add Chocolate chips, mix.

(mmmmmmm)
6) Pour batter into greased bread pan. Bake for 40 minutes uncovered. Bake for remaining 10-15 *covered* with tin foil, or until golden brown.

This Banana bread has been a hit with my husband, family and friends. I HIGHLY recommend using Whole wheat flower. It gives such a wonderful taste and texture that isn't found in plain white flour. Plus it's healthier for you! Also, including pudding mix in the recipes, gives it an added sweetness and slight hint of vanilla. It's like they say:

"The Proof is in the pudding"


Congrats Shelby for winning the contest! This bread is on it's way to you!


-Signing out,
Mrs. B

*up this week: Funny happening at Panera and we were "parents" for a weekend. stay tuned!!*