Beware the Timeshare Salesman's Lair

I'm sure all of you have wondered what ever happened to our "bargain Branson trip." (All three of you.)

A couple of weeks ago, we loaded up the Lunchbox (as Chad affectionately refers to my Expedition) and headed for Branson. We went to a show the first night - Chinese Acrobats. These people were incredible! There were Asians in tights flying everywhere! -- catching each other on their feet, swinging one another by their teeth and contorting their bodies in ways that should be illegal in this country. It was fascinating. Tate was perhaps the most impressed that those boys "actually agreed to wear the outfits." (I had to agree.)

Our timeshare presentation was the next morning and that was when we were scheduled to get all our free stuff to make this trip worthwhile. 90 minutes, no more no less - that was the promise. We participated in Buck Fry's monologue and fact finding hoopla then toured the "you-gotta-get-a-piece-of-this" facility. It was nice, sure - but not for us. We've been through enough of these gigs to know the best thing to do is play along until exactly 1 minute past your time committment. We probably let it go too long this time...I interrupted Mr. Fry to recap the situation for him in case his watch had stopped. "This isn't going to happen for us today. We're out of time." The next step was predictable...send in the big guns. "We're not buyers today," we explained to man #2. Enter man #3. "NO" (condensed version for man #3). Whew, end of game. Give us our free loot, Silver Dollar City is waiting.

We left with about $450 worth of gift certificates we used over the next 2 days. On the way out, as a last ditch "make you feel stupid" attempt, man #2 says to Chad, "I just don't know how you're going to provide great memories and vacation with your family in the future without something like this." We didn't say what we were thinking...Yeah, we dont' know either. I guess we'll have to rely on timeshare companies to fund them for us... (so far they've funded a couple of fun ones!)

If you're tough enough to say NO and mean it, 90 minutes of your time is a good trade for a bargain weekend.

Pickin' and Grinnin'

Saturday morning we went to pick blackberries out near Sorgum Mill. I've never done this before but upon hearing about it, my "Mom-ometer" registered the potential for a learning experience very high. So I dragged my short guys on the adventure with me. It really was a lot of fun (and very hot sprinkled with a healthy amount of bugs.) We learned quickly which ones to pick and which ones to leave on the vine.

"Kid Two, how do we know this is a blackberry bush?" I asked him. "We just do, Mom. It has blackberries on it. Whudderya blind?" he responds. "You're right," I confirmed. "We know the tree by its fruit."

We began a good long talk about how Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. The world will only know us by our fruit. Kid One rattled off the Fruits of the Spirit and we all agreed self-control is perhaps the toughest when you're young. (okay, when you're older too!) As we picked the berries we thanked Jesus for such beautiful, great tasting fruit. We thanked him for being our Vine -- and pruning us, watering us and nourishing us while we are connected to him. And we also saw what happens to the berries who are no longer on the vine. (They were all squished on the ground or dried up...)

What a terrific 20 minutes of bringing scripture to life!
John 15:5 -- "I am the vine. You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing."

Rain, Part 2

Praise the Lord! The rain has stopped. Now, sweet Jesus, about this humidity...

Friends, may we learn to be satisfied with whatever comes our way - no matter what!