Just A Mom?

JUST A MOM?

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a .....?'
'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom..'
'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' Said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.' 'What is your occupation?' she probed.
What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out.
'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. 'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest, 'just what you do in your field?'
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.' There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3... Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'
Motherhood!
What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.
Does this make grandmothers 'Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations' And great grandmothers 'Executive Senior Research Associates?'
I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts 'Associate Research Assistants.'

Recieved in an email - Author Unknown

Sacrifice

Oh my what a big topic this is. So much to say and not enough words to describe how I feel! Not enough to repay the debt I owe to You Lord Jesus! Thank you for paying my debt, for atoning my sins and giving me a way to be cleansed and made whole again. I thank you so much for this wonderful day that You have given me and for allowing me the freedom to chose the direction of my life. I choose to follow Christ and have Him Lord of my life. I submit control of all as His control and thank Him for all He gives me. I have so much more to say and am terribly sorry for starting this with only 2 minutes until choir practice but I needed to get some words off my chest. I have so much more to write about. I hope to bring about more articles from work as well as from my heart.

Much Love!

“Green” Decorated Eggs

Decorating eggs is fun. Below are some simple steps to become an egg artist for Easter or anytime. Follow the national trend to “go green” when decorating eggs with your children, grandchildren or just for yourself!

After hard cooking eggs, dye them and return them to the refrigerator within 2 hours and eat within a week. Discard any egg that has been used as decoration or left out after an egg hunt for more than two hours.

If eggs are to be eaten, use a food-safe coloring. As with all foods, persons dyeing the eggs should wash their hands before handling the eggs. “Go Green” and use foods found in your kitchen to dye the eggs. The fresher the egg, the more difficult it is to peel after hard cooking, so use eggs closer to their use by date.

The American Egg Board recommends the following recipe to make naturally “green” dyed eggs: Toss your choice of a handful – or two or three – of one of the materials below into a saucepan. (Use your own judgment about quantity. This is an art – not a science!) To make pinkish red eggs use fresh beets, cranberries, radishes or frozen raspberries. Yellow onion skins will dye eggs orange. To obtain delicate yellow, use orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed or ground cumin; ground turmeric produces yellow. Spinach leaves produce a pale green, while Yellow Delicious apple peels make a green-gold. Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves will dye the egg blue.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Office. Used with permission by Cheryl Maxwell, Hot Springs County, Arkansas