November Election

We went to a friend's house last night to listen to Jason Sager who is running for Congress in Florida's 5th Congressional district which includes most of Citrus County. He is running as a Republican against the incumbent, Ginny Brown-Waite. All I can say is wow! He is very well-educated about the Constitution and the limits on the federal government in the Constitution. If only we could get a bunch of men and women like him elected!

What You Will Get

Don't know what it's going to take for me to be consistent in blogging! This is supposed to be a family record. If I don't actually blog, then no record. I think the situation we're in right now makes it rather depressing to blog, so I don't make the effort. But I need to blog every day, just a little blurb about what we did that day if nothing else. There, I have admonished myself! :)

Went to Baskin Robbins last night for 31-cent scoop night. Fun!

I've been reading through Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest this year for probably the 4th time. I take the verse he uses and read the scripture portion it's found in to get the context. Then I read his comments.

April 28th was an entry entitled "What You Will Get". It convicted me on many fronts. Here's a part of it:

So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go. But there is something greater that can never go--the life that "is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).

That statement really blew me away because I have been on both ends of it. I never realized it when I was the one "exhibiting" my blessings "for others to see. But I have noticed it since Greg was laid off when others say things that seem innocuous, thanking God that they're not in the same situation. When you're on my end of it, it seems like others have been blessed by God because they've deserved it, and I wonder what we've done that we don't deserve God's blessings. It brought to my mind a time when we were in a small group at church. I don't even remember what study we were doing or anything. But we were in the process of building this house, and I made some stupid comment about God blessing us with this house because we'd always been faithful tithers. A dear friend called me to task on that with the comment that others who've also faithfully tithed haven't received the same type of blessing. This happened YEARS ago, but God brought it to my mind.

Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things in life? Are you prepared to surrender totally and let go?

I feel like the man you said to Jesus, "I do believe. Help my unbelief!" Except for me it's: I do surrender. Help my unsurrender! That doesn't make as much sense, but you get the picture. Lord, help me never again to boast about my blessings or even desire blessings from you, but to want only you, all of you.

Easter Sunday

We had to be at church slightly early on Easter Sunday since the choir was singing in both services. When we got home, the kids' Easter baskets had mysteriously appeared on the kitchen tables.


There was a lot of candy, of course. The kids do a good job of rationing it out a few pieces a day and making it last.


I got a fabulous deal on these dresses from Land's End, so I put those in the girls' baskets.


We haven't been at a church where anyone dressed up for several years, so I took this opportunity to take a picture of the girls.


I also can't remember the last time I cooked dinner on Easter (if ever). For years we went to a friend's house for dinner and an Easter Egg Hunt. His little boy isn't so little anymore, so they haven't had this event in a couple of years. Last year we went out to eat, but that wasn't in the budget this year. So...

we had ham...


and roasted vegetables, sweet potato casserole, rolls, and...

cheesecake.


This cheesecake looks good, but I didn't like it. It's a "light" cheesecake with no crust and a carton of ricotta in place of one of the blocks of cream cheese. It just wasn't creamy enough. I am a cheesecake experts and make many different kinds, so if I don't like one...

I'm thankful to Greg for doing most of the actual cooking that day. Although I plan the menus, write the shopping lists, do a lot of the prep work, etc., I have a pinched sciatic nerve and I can't spend a lot of time on my feet before I'm in agony. After singing in two services that day, I'd reached my limit. He's happy to help as long as he's not making the decisions of what to eat, etc. :)


We spent a lovely, relaxing afternoon and evening after the meal.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Gran's 80th Birthday

Greg's mom, Gran, celebrated her 80th birthday on April 3, 2010. We had a small family celebration at our house with her children, grandchildren, and her sister and brother-in-law.

Carys tells Gran happy birthday!


Jeff smoked chicken, Kay made macaroni and cheese, and I made a bean dish and rolls. The meal was fabulous.

Here are the Meahl men in line for food (from L to R: Gerren, Jeff - Greg's brother, Greg, Landon, and AJ - Jeff's son)


My sister-in-law is a very talented cake decorator (she made our wedding cake), but she doesn't do it much anymore. She made a small cake for Gran's birthday.


AJ was trying to take a nap on the porch, but Carys wouldn't let him.


So, he gave up and played water table with her.


The boys were playing computer again, of course.


Rebekah tried to show the boys how to shoot their airsoft guns correctly. However, she doesn't really like shooting "fake" guns. She was a silver medalist two years in a row in the Junior Olympics in 2 different events (and I can't remember exactly what they were - sports pistol and something else).


We almost forgot to take a family picture. In fact, Aunt Peggy and Uncle Kline had already left. However, we remembered at the last minute.