Friday, May 14, 2010

trade-offs


Every place on earth has its trade-offs.
We have them here, too.

We may not have carpeting, or a vacuum cleaner...
but we do have some pretty cool brooms


We may have no microwave...
but we have a gas oven that works even during power outages

We may have no fresh berries...
but we have lots of fabulous fresh pineapple and mango year round


We may have no dishwasher...
but that just means I don't have to buy dishwasher detergent

We may have no public library...
but we do have 2 school ones, and we can even use them barefoot!


We may have no seasons...
but we do have a predictable 5:30 sunrise year-round

We may have no residential mail delivery...
but we do have food vendors who pass by the apartment selling snacks til 10:30pm


(sweet corn vendors)

We may have no master bathroom...
but we do have kids who don't leave toothpaste in the sink

We may have no Leopold's ice cream...
but McDonald's delivers only slightly melted hot fudge sundaes


We may have no hot water taps...
but our electricity bill is lower

We may have no garbage disposal...
but we do have neighbor kids who are happy to earn a peso for taking out the trash


We may have no radio alarm clock...
but we have aspiring musical roosters next-door

We may have no clothes-dryer...
but we do have a real washing machine

We may not have Jr. Mints...
but we DO have SMARTIES (all my Canadian friends, take note!)
when you eat your Smarties do you eat the red ones last?

I (Barbara) may not have the ability to drive...
that's what I get for never having learned to drive a stick-shift...i just can't fathom learning it around here; not the way this city drives!
but public transportation in the form of jeepneys, trikes and taxis is easy to find


We may not have you, our friends and family nearby...
but we have the luxury of sharing our lives with you through our blog

Thanks for taking time to visit!

8 comments:

thechurchcook said...

My heart yearns for you all! It encourages me greatly to see you counting your blessings and things you DO have. Great lesson learned today. I love you!

The Girls said...

I love your positive, sweet spirit! You started my day off thinking of the things we DO have instead of the things that we don't. And I agree with you...though we don't have you here with us physically, I am SOOOOO thankful that we can vicariously share your life through your blog. It makes me feel like we're still part of what you're doing. Have a wonderful day, sweet friend!

us5 said...

did i mention that your comments make me happy? thanks for the encouragement, friends! we ALL have so very much to be thankful for, don't we?

Rosalie said...

This is great. A thankful heart changes perspective on everything!

The Boys and Me said...

Wow, great post of thankfulness. My mom used to sing a song to us as children, "Count your blessings, count them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done." I love each one of your blessings.

us5 said...

O Lord that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.
~William Shakespeare

Carl G. said...

Thanks for the ways your gratitude is evident in the ways you are growing to love like God does! I'm grateful for you!

us5 said...

this is EXACTLY what our family needs, Carl...to begin to learn to love in the way Jesus modeled for us. we see our lack of love, and our selfishness so very blatantly. oh for grace to love Him, and His church more...