Join Suzanne Lynn weekday evenings from 7pm – 12am for Positive Hits and the voice of a friend who is Always Safe For The Little Ears!
How Ready Are You For Hurricane Season?
Maybe like me, you just recently moved to Florida and have never encountered seabreezes, tropical storms and hurricanes before either. It’s some of the craziest weather I’ve ever seen before, that’s for sure!
Well, hurricane season is here in full force. As a matter of fact, it’s the first time in history that we’ve had four named storms before July 1st. Whether you’ve newly moved here or just not taken the time to put together an emergecy kit, let’s not put it off any longer.
Since I moved here from the midwest, I’m going to unpack my tornado kit. Maybe you have an earthquake kit you need to dismantle. Let’s get working on those hurricane preparedness kits together.
Here’s what you’ll need to create a basic hurricane survivial kit according to the National Hurricane Center.
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.
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Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
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Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both.
- Flashlight and extra batteries.
- First aid kit.
- Whistle to signal for help.
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape.
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
- Manual can opener for food.
- Local maps.
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger.
And CASH! If power is out, ATM’s and credit card machines will not help. Wouldn’t hurt to pack a deck of cards and some games for the kids either.
Ok, let’s get packing!
And always know that’s it’s our promise to you here at the Z, to give you weather warnings first to help you keep your family safe!
@suzlynn Twitter
Summer Bordom Busters … CHORES!
Funny how fast kids scatter when you mention “chores” to keep them busy this summer. But keeping kids busy can be a win-win situation for both children and parents. Kids can make a little extra spending money and feel like they’re big and helping and you get a little break with the daily household duties.
Many experts agree that around the age of 16, a child can seriously think about getting a job outside of the home for summer. It’s actually good for them to learn to be on time, work carefully and effectively and take instruction from authority.
But what about younger kids? The tough part for me was knowing what’s an age appropriate chore? Here’s some ideas.
2-4 year olds can help care for pets and put away toys.
4-7 year olds are able to water plans and help set the table.
8-10 year olds can vacuum and help load and unload the dishwasher.
11 year olds and older can take out the garbage and mow the lawn.
Here’s a really helpful website for more thoughts on this.
http://www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com/chore_list.htm
Let’s keep in touch. Maybe we could go have coffee while the kids are taking care of the things at home 
Suzanne.Lynn@zradio.org e-mail
@Suzlynn Twitter
Yikes! Where did that monster come from?
I woke up yesterday feeling like the monster in me was just trying to escape my body. I mean every woman understands when I say I woke up craving chocolate and a fight. It was just one of those days, a day I was working very hard to “contain the crazy monster.” And I was doing very well until … the man in the convertible red Mercedes entered my life. The monster appeared!
You see, Jim and I were out for a romantic dinner and a show. I was driving and pulled into a parking lot to look for a place to park. A man in a red convertible was sitting with no blinker on, so I assumed he was waiting for the spot opening. Out of no where another car pulled in and took it from this guy. Everything after that is kind of a blur, but I do remember getting the brunt of this guys anger as he gave me a 20 second mean honk and then shot past me like a lightening bolt. I wasn’t the one who took his spot, but I got the wrath for some reason. Really sir, a 20 second honk at me was necessary?
I was stunned. Jim and I looked at each other speechless for several seconds trying to comprehend what just happened. Then we busted out laughing. But I allowed myself to stew about it over dinner and soon became determined to find that joker. And boy was he gonna get it! I even practiced on Jim as to what I was gonna say and do. Yes, crazy I know.
All of a sudden I didnt’ mind walking around in the rain getting drenched before the show looking for this red Mercedes. I didn’t care what I looked like, I had a mission I needed to fulfill and that was to give him a big piece of my mind!
Well, I never did find the car, or the honking offender, thankfully. But I did learn a lot from that situation.
First, I realized that it’s easy to show Christian love and grace and mercy when it’s smooth sailing. Anybody can do that. But look at what I turned into under that ugly situation! It felt bad. It felt wrong. I was embarrassed and ashamed in front of the person I’ve been with since I was 14 years old. While he was calm and clear minded, he saw me revert back to my selfish, hot headed teenage ways!
Secondly, I learned to be thankful for what I DIDN’T get which was to have met up with him after the incident. In the heat of my anger, heaven only knows what kind of trouble I would have gotten myself into. Once that Jersey girl gets unleashed, well … it never ends good.
Besides, I hear those horizontal prison stripes add an extra 10 pounds on ya.
Let’s keep in touch!
Suzanne.Lynn@zradio.org e-mail
@suzlynn Twitter
Bring it on Montel Williams!
Ok Montel, I’m gonna trust you on this one! You had me as a captive audience with your “juicing” infomercial Sunday (yesterday) afternoon. You made a compelling case for juicing what appears to be just about anything in your magical machine.
But in truth buddy, you don’t have a whole lot of programming competition on Sundays, so I was an easy target. Plus you had the advantage of me weighing myself earlier that morning. so you caught me at a weak, vulnerable moment.
So with the fact that my friend just recently started juicing, plus my husband said he would be on board with me to do it, we boldly ordered the juicer online last night for $200. Yea, $200! I could get like 800 McDonalds chicken nuggets for $200!
Anyway, I do have high hopes of having a healthy weight loss story. But I also recall having had one of those high hope moments when we bought the cross trainer and ended up returning it 15 minutes before the store closed on the 30th day in exchange for a big screen TV.
I DO believe that those little children actually did enjoy drinking that thick green spinach shake. But I also believe in aliens from other planets, so this could turn out bad. Plus the fact that I’ve already wondered how long you would have to “juice” a Big Mac makes me question my commitment to this before the machine even arrives.
Let’s just say that I will keep the box and receipt tucked away in a closet “just incase” which is exactly what happened with the Turbo cooker and Wok we bought on TV with intentions of getting healthy.
Let’s keep in touch!
Suzanne.Lynn@zradio.org e-mail
@suzlynn Twitter
My Mom Weighs 40 Pounds!
Yea, that’s one of my favorite lines Matt had to fill in for the Mothers Day gift he mde for me
in Kindergarten. I suppose if he weighed 35 pounds, well, 40 is a considerable increase right?
The truth is as Mom’s we cherish those homemade gifts and proudly wear that button or fruitloop
necklace out in public. I think I’ve saved them all (or eaten them).
Anyway, as Mothers Day approaches I wanted to share the rest of the “blanks” that Matt filled in on this special gift.
And by the way, the above picture is a pretty accurate drawing of what I probably looked like in the morning to a 5 year old.
MY SECIAL MOM
My mom is the most wonderful mom in the whole world.
She’s as pretty as a PINK BOW.
She weighs 40 pounds and she’s NICE.
My Mom is 30 years old.
Her hair is BROWN and LONG.
My Mom’s favorite food is SALAD.
When she has free time she likes to MAKE US BREAKFAST.
When she was in Kindergarten, she never ever GOT INTO A FIGHT.
I think Mom looks funny when she GOES ONTO THE COMPUTER.
She makes me laugh when she IS IN BED AND SNORES.
I wish Mom would GO TO THE PARK with me everyday.
I wouldn’t trade my Mom for a DOLLAR because SHE’S NICE.
Let’s keep in touch!
Suzanne.Lynn@zradio.org e-mail
@suzlynn Twitter
HELP! I Can’t Seem To Mind My Own Business!
Just ask my husband, he’ll be oh so quick to say that’s a VERY true statement! Or ask my friends. Or extended family, and any random person now that I think about it. And, I guess if I’m being totally truthful, they could be right. But I don’t know for certain.
See, I don’t think of it really as me “not minding my own business”, but rather “being chosen to be put in that exact situation to try and fix”. Doesn’t that just roll off your tongue?
But I’ll let you be the judge. This is a perfect example of what I’m talking about.
So, I’m in line at Subway and there’s a woman sitting at a table alone, on the cell phone, crying and speaking very loudly about the horrible day she’s having. No one had to exactly strain to hear the conversation about how her boss said she’s dumb and worthless. The sub shop also heard about a very crude customer she had to deal with and how she is really at a breaking point and just can’t take it anymore!
The entire time I was in line I felt a tug to go over and sit and just talk to her like a friend would, but I kept fighting it. And even though my husband was close to 60 miles away, I could hear him clearly telling me to mind my business! And anybody with any sense would take that advice. Who knows what approaching her could lead to.
So as I sat in my car the voice inside was no longer whispering to go back in and talk to her, but the voice was SHOUTING LIKE REALLY LOUD!!! So as I sat in the car arguing with God, it occured to me, that the very worse thing that could happen was that she would reject me. Rejection? Hmmmm … ok I can deal with that. Then all I have to say is that I’m sorry I butted in and I hope her day gets better. I don’t see rejection as a big huge problem.
So I went back in and sat down in an empty chair at her table and just started chatting. It doesn’t really matter what the conversation held, that was the easy part. What matters is that this lady had a chance to talk out some of her frustations and hopefully knows she is valuable enough for some stranger to take a chance on trying to comfort, that’s all.
One time when I was moving about 1500 miles from family I saw a potholder and it said “There are no strangers, only friends we haven’t met yet.” I’m just making it my goal to meet all those strangers in my lifetime I suppose.
Let’s keep in touch!
Suzanne.Lynn@zradio.org e-mail
@suzlynn Twitter
And The Bible Came To Life!
I had the amazing opportunity to go to Israel three years ago and it really brought the bible to life for me!
I wanted to share a few of the special moments I captured in pictures on this Good Friday Eve.
This is the picture of the The Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew what He would face the following day when He went to pray the night before He died.
The word Gethsemane means, literally, “oil press.” Jesus was under severe pressure in the Garden of Gethsemane, while he struggled in prayer – releasing his burden to the Father’s will: “if possible, let this cup pass… yet not my will, but Thine be done.”
Jesus was laid in a tomb near Golgotha which means the place of the skull. You can see why it’s called that.
The bible also doesn’t say where Golgotha was located. But it does give three specific clues:
Clue 1. John 19:41-42 says that Jesus’ body was carried only a short distance before it was placed in the tomb. This indicates that the site was probably near a cemetery.
Clue 2. Hebrews 13:12 says that the site was “outside the city gate”, but unfortunately doesn’t say which gate.
Clue 3. Matthew 27:39 indicates that the location was near a road which carried a lot of foot traffic.
And finally, THE TOMB IS EMPTY.
The Resurrection Of Christ was foretold by Jesus himself
Matthew 20:18-19 ESV
(18) “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death
(19) and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
He Is Risen! Happy Easter!
Seriously? A Birthday Party Waiver?
Ok, I’m on board with signing waivers in the beginning of a school year with playground accidents and field trips. I get that … but BIRTHDAY PARTIES? Seems it’s the newest thing! Sometimes the waiver comes right in the invitation.
I guess I could swallow the idea of signing a holds harmless waiver if it’s a pool party or the kids will be jumping in one of those inflated bouncy things, but for just a normal regular “old fashion pin the tale on the donkey birthday party?” Well, don’t be surprised if you arrive at a party and are asked on the spot to sign a waiver releasing the party family from all responsibility of any injuries your child may get under their care.
I guess the question is how far do we take this? It seems like we’ve lost a little common sense about everybody just doing the right thing. I can almost see a comic with one kid handing another a waiver saying, “sorry I can’t play on your swing set until my lawyer looks this over.”
e-mail: Suzanne.Lynn@zradio.org
twitter: @suzlynn
You awake at 3am too?
Could be that creditor that’s been calling you every day for the last month or worrying about that promotion you’re up for. It could be a million things that keep you up at night. I’ve found that almost never is it material things, but relationships that are the biggest sleep thieves for me.
Last night my eyes popped open at 3:01 am. I wasn’t fretting about the fact gas prices rose for the 19th straight day or if the house we have an eye on will all work out. Nope, I was just missing my sons big time. Matt is 21 and Joe is 23 and they both live up in Minnesota.
I remember as a little girl my Mom would say that she knew it was time for my Daddy to come home from a business trip when she could no longer vividly picture his face in her mind. Since I haven’t seen my oldest son since Christmas, that’s pretty much where I’m at.
My sister one time said “Eh, money comes and money goes, but it’s relationships that really matter.” So true! So let’s forget that iPad3 for now. I would much rather pay that money for an airline ticket that gets me one big hug from Joe and Matt!
Goodbye Brown House
Today we closed on our house in South Dakota. It’s been a bitter sweet day. We have 18 wonderful years of memories raising our two son’s in that brown house.
I suppose you’re wondering what’s up with all the “brown house” talk when the picture is clearly a light neutral color. You see, for the first 16 year the house was brown. It wasn’t until we got the “call from God” to start preparing for a move in the next few years. So we gave it a good face-lift inside and out. But the new improved version isn’t what I will remember.
I suppose it’s a little like seeing someone you love struggle with illness. You’ll most likely chose to remember their bright smiling face and good times of being on the go, loving life.
When the kids were young and filling the house with laughter and parties and guitar from Joe’s room and rap music from Matt’s, it was a brown house.
At the time the papers were being signed today I took a mental stroll around each room remembering something special that I will keep with me forever.
Just a fraction of the memories include the red bunkbeds the kids would jump off of, the practical jokes with the neighbors, the football parties in the den, the wrestling in the living room, the dropped chocolate silk pie on a certain someones feet in the kitchen and those quiet nights watching the storms on the porch. I’ve got them all right here (tapping my heart).
But it is time to move forward. I don’t want to live life looking in the rear-view mirror. And God has given us a new season of life we could have never planned as good for ourselves and that’s exciting.
So goodbye you wonderful ole brown house on Elm Street. You have a special young family to make new memories with, and I’ve got our memories locked up in my heart safe forever.
Let’s keep in touch!
E-Mail: Suzanne.Lynn@zradio.org
Twitter: @suzlynn
