A couple of days ago, my funk-Sohl-brotha told my Sohl-mate about a drink he'd found by AriZona, called Arnold Palmer. It's mix of lemonade and tea, and is made with either green tea or iced tea. The iced form comes in a black can; the green, in a green can (I know, you can barely contain your amazement, right?).
It's important to note that my Sohl-mate takes his brother's recommendations to heart. So when my Sohl-bro said he really enjoyed this drink, my Sohl-mate was intent on finding this. A co-worker at his moon-lit job seconded the product's recommendation, and the hunt began. After working his 2nd job, he stopped by a few convenience stores to check for the beverage. He came home empty handed.
The next day I volunteered to check the SUPERmarket down the street, and was still unable to find the product. On the back of another tea product I did, however, find the number for the company. I excitedly called the number and was greeted warmly - by the voice recording telling me that since the company is privately owned, and small, they work from 9am to 4pm and would be happy to help during normal business hours.
Dejected, I left the store and decided I'd I try a gas station - no luck. Next I tried Walgreen's, which had at least seven different flavors of AriZona teas; none of which were the one I was looking for. I tried another convenience store, a CVS, and Family Dollar, but to no avail.
In this age of the immediate information, I was sure the Internet would give me the results I'd prayed for. Finding the ingredient list, though, wasn't what I'd had in mind. Frustrated, but hopeful I emailed the company last night, requesting information on the locations I could find this unicorn-esque drink. The product is distributed through wholesalers, I read, and this meant that I'd need to call the distributors directly. Armed with the phone number, I felt a renewed sense of hope: maybe I'd complete this task yet.
The man at the distributor's office took my name and number, telling me he couldn't find anyone to answer my question. About twenty minutes later, a supervisor called me, thinking I was a store looking to carry the product. He said that the best places to look for the drink are small Mom 'n Pop stores, but that he didn't have any names or locations to suggest.
And so my quest for Arnold continues.
But, if I can't find a Mom 'n Pop who carries it, I did track down an Internet retailer or two who will ship me some, just in case. ;)
Friday, July 20, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
My corner of Heaven...
My grandpa, Dean Henry Nerdig, passed away July 8th after living 6 months without his beloved bride of 62 years. I wanted to share a few sweet stories about dealing with his passing.
I called Granpda the Friday he decided to move from the hospital to Hospice. We started our conversation as usual, with him asking what was going on here, how the kids were, how David was, and lastly, how I was. Finally getting to ask him how he was, he simply said, "Well kid, this is it." I asked if he was ready, and he said he was. He asked if I was ready, and I sadly told him that I didn't think I'd ever really be ready for him to go, but that if it was what he wanted then, yes, I was ready. He quieted me, saying that I'd always been loyal, a good granddaughter. He said we'd been honest with each other and that we both knew how the other felt. And, while he was right, I could feel my heart screaming at my head, "TELL HIM AGAIN! Say it now. There's still time." That desperation of sharing my real emotions with him well up as strongly today, and from what I'm told, I expect they always will. I know that I could have told him I loved him until the end of my time, and it still wouldn't have been enough.
Later, after hanging up the phone with him, not knowing how many more times I'd have to tell him how much I love him, tears streaming down my face, my sweet Sohl son asked what was wrong. I said I was sad, and he asked why. "Grandpa Dean's going to heaven soon." "Don't be sad, Mom. He gets to be with Jesus. Mom, how will Grandpa Dean get there? Will he drive there?"
"No, you can't drive there, Sweetheart."
"Will he fly in an airplane?"
"No, you can't fly there in an airplane."
"Why Mom?"
"'Cause that's not how it works, Peanut."
"I know Mom! Grandpa Dean will open his arms and fly the whole way there."
A friend of mine would call this a God wink. Whatever it's called, it was the comfort I needed at just that moment. I pulled that sweet boy into my lap and cuddled him until his little 3 and 1/2-year-old self demanded I stop "stucking" him.
During the next week, Grandpa slowly faded away. I felt I was running out of time, but too out of ways to say goodbye to him. Though I talked with him each day, I felt I had to make the most of the two mintues I had of his time, and wasting them continually saying a tearful goodbye wasn't worth the emotional strain it caused both of us. I called a friend who lost her father a little over a year ago. She said that at the end of her father's time on earth, she started to tell him specifically why she loved him. Taking her advice the next time I called Grandpa, I told him that I admired his devotion to family, the strength of his marriage to Grandma, and wanted to have a life that reflected his.
Had I known, had I realized when Grandma died what a relief it would be to share with her my specific reasons for love, what I'd really miss... and then my mind stops in response to her sharp reprimand in my head. She says to me that I couldn't know then. She knew, and knows now, what I feel.
And now that I've seen them in a vision together, reunited, smiling with glorious happiness, my tears of sadness for my loss are mixed with tears of joy for their celebration in Heaven. Someday I'll join them. And if Heaven works the way I hope it does, there'll be the softest red shag carpet, wood paneling, fresh-picked strawberries, the scent of feed store, double lollies, and two comfortable blue chairs so they can visit in my little corner of Heaven.
I called Granpda the Friday he decided to move from the hospital to Hospice. We started our conversation as usual, with him asking what was going on here, how the kids were, how David was, and lastly, how I was. Finally getting to ask him how he was, he simply said, "Well kid, this is it." I asked if he was ready, and he said he was. He asked if I was ready, and I sadly told him that I didn't think I'd ever really be ready for him to go, but that if it was what he wanted then, yes, I was ready. He quieted me, saying that I'd always been loyal, a good granddaughter. He said we'd been honest with each other and that we both knew how the other felt. And, while he was right, I could feel my heart screaming at my head, "TELL HIM AGAIN! Say it now. There's still time." That desperation of sharing my real emotions with him well up as strongly today, and from what I'm told, I expect they always will. I know that I could have told him I loved him until the end of my time, and it still wouldn't have been enough.
Later, after hanging up the phone with him, not knowing how many more times I'd have to tell him how much I love him, tears streaming down my face, my sweet Sohl son asked what was wrong. I said I was sad, and he asked why. "Grandpa Dean's going to heaven soon." "Don't be sad, Mom. He gets to be with Jesus. Mom, how will Grandpa Dean get there? Will he drive there?"
"No, you can't drive there, Sweetheart."
"Will he fly in an airplane?"
"No, you can't fly there in an airplane."
"Why Mom?"
"'Cause that's not how it works, Peanut."
"I know Mom! Grandpa Dean will open his arms and fly the whole way there."
A friend of mine would call this a God wink. Whatever it's called, it was the comfort I needed at just that moment. I pulled that sweet boy into my lap and cuddled him until his little 3 and 1/2-year-old self demanded I stop "stucking" him.
During the next week, Grandpa slowly faded away. I felt I was running out of time, but too out of ways to say goodbye to him. Though I talked with him each day, I felt I had to make the most of the two mintues I had of his time, and wasting them continually saying a tearful goodbye wasn't worth the emotional strain it caused both of us. I called a friend who lost her father a little over a year ago. She said that at the end of her father's time on earth, she started to tell him specifically why she loved him. Taking her advice the next time I called Grandpa, I told him that I admired his devotion to family, the strength of his marriage to Grandma, and wanted to have a life that reflected his.
Had I known, had I realized when Grandma died what a relief it would be to share with her my specific reasons for love, what I'd really miss... and then my mind stops in response to her sharp reprimand in my head. She says to me that I couldn't know then. She knew, and knows now, what I feel.
And now that I've seen them in a vision together, reunited, smiling with glorious happiness, my tears of sadness for my loss are mixed with tears of joy for their celebration in Heaven. Someday I'll join them. And if Heaven works the way I hope it does, there'll be the softest red shag carpet, wood paneling, fresh-picked strawberries, the scent of feed store, double lollies, and two comfortable blue chairs so they can visit in my little corner of Heaven.
Ropes Course
I'm shamelessly plugging our upcoming JANES event. If you're not familiar with JANES, it's the Women's Ministry of Bay Area Fellowship. Since the church's website is undergoing some renovation by our talented multi-media staff, we're praying for our own link on the church page during the updates.
We're so excited about this course, and I plan to post lots of pictures once we get back! If you have questions or want to attend let me know!!
Ropes Course 2007
Date: Saturday, July 28th
Time: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Meeting Place: Bay Area Fellowship @ 8:30 a.m. or Hobby Lobby in Calallen @ 9:00 a.m.
Cost: $25
Food: Eat a good breakfast and bring a snack. Don't forget sunscreen and water.
Please join us, and if you're too far away to be there in person, pray for a safe and well attended event that will help kickoff our renewed JANES.
We're so excited about this course, and I plan to post lots of pictures once we get back! If you have questions or want to attend let me know!!
Ropes Course 2007
Date: Saturday, July 28th
Time: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Meeting Place: Bay Area Fellowship @ 8:30 a.m. or Hobby Lobby in Calallen @ 9:00 a.m.
Cost: $25
Food: Eat a good breakfast and bring a snack. Don't forget sunscreen and water.
Please join us, and if you're too far away to be there in person, pray for a safe and well attended event that will help kickoff our renewed JANES.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
A service heart...
After the verse I posted the other day, I've been dwelling on the idea that I'm not doing enough to serve others, to love others. I think I've found my way.
Today I came across http://www.anysoldier.com/. I was completely hooked.
Now, to be fair, they also have the anysailor.com, anymarine.com, anyairman.com, etc., domains; however, anysoldier.com is the original, and comes with a sad but moving story.
But to be brief, here's how it works. This non-profit site lists the contact information for different service members who volunteer to represent units or groups of service members. The individual posts a "wish list," and the site users here in the States (or around the world, really) can preview the information and send packages to these individuals. So where does the "any soldier" part come into play? Items sent are for any soldier in that area. For example, I selected a sailor, and this particular group requested the green SOFFEE t-shirts in XL, beef jerky, and a few other things. Simple, everyday things that they just can't access there for one reason or another.
Most of what these individuals are looking for is letters. Just addressed to "Dear Sailor," or "Dear Soldier," or "Dear Airman." What a simple, easy thing to do! The site even gives ideas on what to write about, making it even easier to get started.
I plan to research the whole site over the next week, just to be sure I understand the process. For understandable reasons, there are many rules and regulations to sending packages to our service members. (Just mailing a package in the US scares the tar out of me, so I'm even more anxious about sending something out of the country!) Nevertheless, I plan to have a package mailed to "Any Sailor" by the end of the month. Wanna join me?
PS -- The soliders addresses are APO/FPOs, so they're not just releasing information. All the DOD regulations apply to this cause, and the site is run by parents of a Iraqi Freedom veteran.
Today I came across http://www.anysoldier.com/. I was completely hooked.
Now, to be fair, they also have the anysailor.com, anymarine.com, anyairman.com, etc., domains; however, anysoldier.com is the original, and comes with a sad but moving story.
But to be brief, here's how it works. This non-profit site lists the contact information for different service members who volunteer to represent units or groups of service members. The individual posts a "wish list," and the site users here in the States (or around the world, really) can preview the information and send packages to these individuals. So where does the "any soldier" part come into play? Items sent are for any soldier in that area. For example, I selected a sailor, and this particular group requested the green SOFFEE t-shirts in XL, beef jerky, and a few other things. Simple, everyday things that they just can't access there for one reason or another.
Most of what these individuals are looking for is letters. Just addressed to "Dear Sailor," or "Dear Soldier," or "Dear Airman." What a simple, easy thing to do! The site even gives ideas on what to write about, making it even easier to get started.
I plan to research the whole site over the next week, just to be sure I understand the process. For understandable reasons, there are many rules and regulations to sending packages to our service members. (Just mailing a package in the US scares the tar out of me, so I'm even more anxious about sending something out of the country!) Nevertheless, I plan to have a package mailed to "Any Sailor" by the end of the month. Wanna join me?
PS -- The soliders addresses are APO/FPOs, so they're not just releasing information. All the DOD regulations apply to this cause, and the site is run by parents of a Iraqi Freedom veteran.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
A great read...
I have a list of blogs I read, all for a variety of reasons. Today I stumbled across this entry from Beth Moore, who discusses seven questions she posed to men about their marriages. Please check it out here!
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