What to Do When the Magic Ends

So, I bought my first electronic toothbrush several weeks back. To be quite honest, I really do like it. But, it concerns me a bit. I think it probably does a better job of brushing my teeth, but it cost about $100 before the mail-in-rebates (that I actually do intend to send off for) but after the 20% coupon for Bed Bath & Beyond. And, the heads, which you're supposed to change every three months or so, are pretty pricey, too. That's all up from the FREE toothbrush I would get from my dentist every 6 months. It's not so much that I mind the "continual improvement" that's so highly valued in our culture. I'm just not sure where it ends. Most likely?... in debt. :(  I do like the way it seems to clean my teeth, though. The vibrating action is somewhat addictive, but it always catches me off-guard when it stops. Suddenly the toothbrush is transformed back into the plain old toothbrush I've used my entire life. It's as if the magic has ended.

Reminds me of a conversation I had recently with a friend. We were debating the importance of married couples maintaining a "date night." I would assume at some point, marriage dulls the initial excitement that couples feel in dating. It's probably easy to look back over the years and wonder where the magic has gone. It's not unlike the church in Ephesus that John mentions in Revelation 2... "You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen!" But then he admonishes them, "Repent and do the things you did at first."

Good reminders for all of us: Turn the toothbrush back on. Chase hard after Christ. Take your wife on a date.

A Night at the Ballet

So I'm going to the ballet in just a few. (Will probably have to finish this post after, in fact.) I have a friend who has a young daughter, Audrey, who has a recital tonight. I'm not completely sure I've been to a ballet recital. But, I figure little girls twirling in tutus has to be pretty entertaining.

On with the show!

My First Garden

We have a garden. I took these pictures several weeks back, so things have changed a bit since then. But, just this week, I picked some green onions and cilantro and made some grape salsa. Yumsters! First garden success. We'll cross our fingers for the rest of the harvest!

Unfortunately, we didn't harvest our broccoli before it flowered.

This would have been good for about, oh... one bite.  ;)

Green onions...

 Potatoes! Mom... there's no more dirt to cover them up with.

What to do, what to do?



Nice li'l patch! This replaced the wild flower garden, which was rumored to
"take care of itself," and the previous turtle abode.

Flower garden that borders the deck...