Try, Try Again!

Today was laundry day after our weekend away. We had a lot of dirty clothes - well, I wouldn't have thought it was a lot back in Canada, but it takes a lot longer here so it seems like more. So, Gerald was helping me today since we were trying to do school at the same time. We just got them on the line and they were beginning to dry when it started to rain. We ran out and took them off the line just to realize that it was just a little sprinkle. By then I had them all sorted out on the beds and couches to dry. So, I took the ones that were still really wet and hung them back up on the line.

This afternoon I made brownies. Caleb and Olivia wanted to help me. Our first try ended up on the floor. A good lesson about holding on to the bowl while we are stirring. Thankfully we only had the flour and sugar in it and not much fell on the floor. We got them finished and in the oven. I went to take them out at the proper time. I opened the door - grabbed the pan - and as I was taking it out spilled it all over the rack, bottom of oven and floor. What a huge mess! Apparently, while the pan fits into the oven, the end of the rack that tilts up caused the brownies to all run to one end. One end was very done and the end that had most of the brownies was still runny. So we cleaned up and started again. This time they looked and smelled delicious. Time to make the frosting. Well, something didn't turn out with the frosting either. The frosting soaked into the brownies which are now a soggy gooey mess. Gerald and the kids think they taste delicious, but really, it is a mess.

Life is kind of like that isn't it. It doesn't always go as we would like or as we plan. Gerald is reading a book called Don't Waste your Life by John Piper. He read me this line the other night. "The Christian life is a painful life. Not joyless. But not painless either." For me it has been a day of trying to get things done and ending up doing them several times. Not painful, but seemingly endless attempts of the same thing. Kind of frustrating sometimes. And then I think about how many times I seem to have to learn the same Spiritual lesson. And my Jesus is trying to teach me over and over - the same thing. Endlessly and yet patiently prodding me on forever forward.

On the other hand I had a great time of meeting with my Spanish helper today. Last week I was so frustrated afterward. Today I could see some progress and was encouraged. (poco a poco)

Maybe I'll try apple pie tomorrow. We were given a wooden crate full of apples. Hopefully the first attempt will be successful.

Moving forward,

Sandy