How Long Will We Last?

We are lovin’, lovin’ lovin’ Phoenix.
Yes, we’ve heard from just about everyone that we are not going to like the heat….
To which we happily reply that we “paid to vacation here in July a few years back”…
And then I got to thinkin’…
If it’s so horrible [to some] why in the world do 4.2 million people live here?
Right?
 Well today it hit over 100 degrees, {103 to be exact} 
 and we decided to take a
a picture of the temp according to our car as we were driving today.
And soooo we have this little family challenge going on…..
How long can we last without turning on the AC in the house? 
So far, we are doing great and hanging tight! 
No one has complained at all.  
We’re just loving living here and thinking that maybe the heat doesn’t bother
 us at all cause we’re all just still thawing out from living in the Rocky Mountains!
And just in case anyone thinks that we will give in and turn on the AC anytime soon….
I will share this little known fact:
Many years ago when we were pastoring in Virginia and the temps 
were hovering at 100 degrees, our oldest son Tyler said to me,
“Mom do you realize you are the only woman in the entire state of 
Virginia who refuses to run your air conditioning?  
I laughed, “Well I like hearing the outside sounds, love the fresh air, and hate giving the utility company one more dollar than necessary….so I hate turning the air on.”
Of course, whenever I had to drive to get something in town, I would not even be at the car and I would hear the windows slamming shut with everyone yelling, “Mom’s gone, Mom’s gone, turn on the AC”….
They insist I used to make homemade chicken soup on the hottest days and they would have sweat dripping down their temples while trying to eat it….
I somehow just can’t seem to remember being that cruel….
But I am debating making soup for dinner after church tomorrow….
J/K

55 thoughts on “How Long Will We Last?

  1. One word…MENOPAUSE

    I have my own personal summer several times a day. I live in Florida…sometimes I think this is a cruel joke when I hear this…it's a dry heat and you have the humidity! LOL!!! I have frizzy hair, and sweat dripping from place I didn't think possible!!! But I WILL be content (can you tell I'm secretly struggling 🙂 But I have to say tonight was exceptionally beautiful. Thank you Jesus!

    1. Teresa! I can't believe you mentioned your hot flashes…the other day I started laughing while I was having one..meno is over for me, but they still linger when I am under stress..anyway, I wanted to peel my skin off and I was dripping…I can totally relate…thanks for the laugh tonight!

  2. Another family like ours! I procrastinate turning our AC on also! We are in Georgia and I so love the summer and the heat and the humidity! Our AC broke awhile back and we went 3 years before replacing it. We finally caved because the humidity in the summer starts to do a little damage to the house! So I will keep it set around 78ish now so that the humidity is sucked out 🙂 We aren't quite up to the 90+ yet but I can't wait! Bring on the summer.

  3. HA! I am the same way. We live in older house with no a/c but it has a window unit we can put in use if we want. I don't like it because of the electric bill so we don't even bother to put it in the window in the summer. We just throw open the windows in the evening and close them up when its cool in the house in the morning. Then we keep the house shut up as much as possible till it starts getting just as hot inside as it is outside and then we open them all up and start the process over again. 🙂 You are not alone!

  4. the desert dweller's meme – but it's a dry heat. 100 in the desert is like 80 in the midwest. What you are more likely to discover is that you always have to keep a towel in your car and put it over the steering wheel whenever you leave the car parked somewhere, because otherwise your hands will blister when you touch the wheel.

    1. Ohhhh, I've lived in the desert and I've lived in the humidity….I will take the dry heat ANY day! And, use a sun shade in your car's front window. It'll cut the heat inside the car by about 10 degrees. 🙂

  5. We drank hot cocoa constantly in the summer in Haiti because it would help us feel more comfortable in the heat. I can't explain it but it always worked!

  6. I too am trying not to turn on the a/c here in ga. Every time I think I won't last another day, the Lord sends some rain and cooler weather! Praise God!!!

  7. We are still holding out… I just know that once I push that 'on' button, there might be no turning back. However, tomorrow's supposed to be the hottest day yet, so we will see (thankfully it's supposed to drop back into the 80°'s this week! Whew).

  8. I am feeling like such a wimp reading this!! I would absolutely melt!!! My sister recently moved to Phoenix (I'm still jealous of her having the chance to bump into you on the street and tell you how wonderful you are!!) and loves it. I guess I need to come visit and see for myself 🙂

    1. Diane – you are not alone! 🙂 I can NOT take the heat – and my husband is far more hot natured than I am. We've only been in the 80's with a couple of 90 degree days so far, and our A/C's been on for a few weeks already. 🙂

  9. I dislike the air conditioning. If it is bloody hot, I will succumb, but I prefer the fresh air and smell of the outdoors. My poor husband is an electrician and works in the heat all day long…he has little tolerance for it. Because of this, I have run it more than I like. But I usually turn in off in the morning, open the windows and enjoy until about an hour before he gets home when I cool it off for him…that is love, I suppose! 🙂

  10. Amen to the heat with no A/C! People around here turn on their A/Cs as soon as it gets a little warm. I think…I've waited all winter for some sunshine and heat, and I am not turning on the A/C until I have to…which is usually when hubby comes home from work! I just love hearing the birds singing, the frogs croaking, and the children playing!

  11. I love hearing the sounds outside. Even the cars! I pretend they are the waves rolling onto the sandy beach in Florida- especially since we didn't get to go this year and who knows about next year?
    BUT- I have many allergies so I desperately need that A/C!

    I open my window when it's not allergy season… yep the winter, early spring and late fall!

    You may have to make a visit up to MN for some cooler weather!

  12. I also do not like to use the A/C and we live where humidity and dew points are not fun..not like the south, but enough for me to long for dry heat like when we lived in Montana! I love fresh air and to hear the birds too. In the winter I sometimes open a window or step out on the porch to get fresh air and the sounds…even though the birds are just not here in abundance in winter. 103 might have me flipping the switch though~!!

  13. I gave birth in Virginia in over 100 degree heat with no air, I was raised in PA. with no air, I lived in Prescott for 8 years with no air (and it can heat up there too), BUT, if the Lord provides me the money to pay my electric bill, I'm turning on the air! Hee hee! I heard the laughter from outside all winter (I'm in Phx). And so the air is ON! (set at 79 though) Now, if I had a pool it would be different, but sadly that is a no go.

    1. Years ago when I first moved out here (30+) we had an evaporative cooler. I loved that thing! They don't use them at all anymore, not in the new houses. Of course the mats and rusting were a yearly issue, but the doors stayed open all summer and cool air just kept blowing. My furniture was in a lot better shape with the humidity it put out. It didn't work during monsoon season, which if we ever get a REAL monsoon season again you will see why. Weeks of terrible humidity like the south, but we left the doors open to enjoy the storms and rain. A huge storm every afternoon in the good monsoons. When Phx was a little town, with a lot less cement and a lot more storms it was great. The storms were amazing!

  14. We are finally getting warmer temps. in Oregon. Yesterday it was 70 and right now it's close to that. Almost 80, predicted, today. Hubby mentioned he may have to start complaining about the heat. HA! It's been cool and wet for the most part during the week then weekends are nice. So am not complaining much. We do use a/c some but we have a heat pump so it's not expensive. We used to live in NM and if you didn't use the swamp coolers, u would be miserable. But it was worse when the summer rain storms came and it was humid the next day and it would be useless to use the cooler then almost. Thanks for sharing your story. I know, I'd make chili and we'd have it on a warm day…gotta eat, right? HA! God bless!

  15. I would melt! Actually, I tend to ache more with heat over 90 (with high humidity, I am in Michigan) or extreme cold so during the summer I have it turned to about 78 or 79 degrees. Somedays I have to have it cooler because I teach piano at home and my students roast, those days I wear a hoodie during the lesson. I would not survive Phoenix. Thankfully, some do! My friend, Andrea thrives in the heat.

    Heather

  16. It is 81 here today. It's beautiful. I'm not complaining about the heat. I just don't want it to get any warmer.

    I lived in Dallas for four long years. Love the people. The heat just about did me in. More power to you!

  17. Oooh, my family couldn't last for an hour! But my mom and I both have eczema and the heat is HORRIBLE for our skin. We both hate the hot months, and love the cold ones. But We have a good excuse for not turning ours off, LOL!

  18. It gets hot and humid here over summer (although not like the south)…but I always say it's only for a few brief weeks…and I love the windows and doors open and being able to hear the kids playing outside. I tell the kids we'll give in and get a/c about the time they all move out. 🙂

    1. Didn't your hubby speak to mine and say you guys were heading this way in July perhaps? Or am I mixed up? Would love to meet you in person – so excited you will get to meet my Emmy and my hubby soon!

  19. Haha, I am not a fan of the heat, somehow I don't think I'd last long, hehe 🙂 hoping to order some backpacks soon! My grandma wants to send one as well, I can't wait! 😀

  20. Amen! I'm a native Texas and stay cold till we hit 90! Love the heat, love my birds and frogs songs and the rustling of the dry leaves when the wind blows through! Bonus.. I've saved a couple of grand to go towards our adoptions by leaving the air and lights off! Woo Hoo!

  21. LOL! Well, both my parents live there, and I know they don't always run the air. My mom's house stays surprisingly comfortable even when it's super hot. Maybe they build'em differently there…hopefully you will be able to last and stand the heat. I, for one, do not visit my parents in the summer anymore. I tried it once, and vowed I would never do it again! lol

  22. So glad I am not alone in this. We wait as long as possible to turn ours on. We love being outside and with kids they are in and out so much who wants to be yelling…….! shut the door the ac is on.! Haha. So we have not yet turned it on and I am in Florida. I think we could go most of the summer without, but the humidity does weird stuff to houses here. Years ago I lived near the beach with no ac or heat. One year we even had all the fires and that was a challenge. Some nights we would have to escape to the car and drive around for some fresh air. I always wanted to move to Colorado, but now you are making me think I might like Arizona.

    1. Colorado is beautiful, but shoveling snow, slipping on ice and wearing all the winter gear lost it's fun sometime back when we lived in Buffalo {over 20 years ago}….we would rather shovel sunshine and heat any day! I vote Arizona for you!

  23. Oye…that Arizona heat can be brutal! My family lives out there and I spent every summer in Safford and Bisbee 🙂 I have to admit…I'm a big sissy baby and don't like being hot so my utility company likes me 🙂 The heat makes me a grumpy mommy. So proud of you for being able to stick it out…you will be resonating in my head when I'm tempted to turn the ac on!!! I will try to toughen up 🙂

  24. I shared your post with my husband and we laughed at how different God makes people. We are the exact oppostite of you guys! We're in Michigan and we keep our heat off as long as possible and when we turn it on it is still very cool! Usually around 58 in the middle of winter! Unfortunately, what we save in heat we usually spend on air! Our family is getting our backpacks ready to send your way. I spoke at our church yesterday about International Voice of the Orphan and Orphan Wares and our people were moved! My husband, Fritz, is the pastor and he usually gives the message, but he had a funeral yesterday afternoon, so it was perfect timing for me to speak about this and the Spirit had been moving me, so it was time! We will be sending snack bags the beginning of next week. Our kids at church are going to bag up what everyone brings in on Sunday! They are very excited! I would love to go on a mission trip with your ministry this winter. My oldest son Colton says he's in too, and after speaking yesterday at church one of Colt's friends called me this morning and wants to go. I looked at the application again, which I've done several times and we'll start working on passports and immunizations. We have never been on a mission trip and this will be a first time for our church. It was so exciting to be able to take what I've learned from your blog and teach it to our congregation. The love that Christ has for the orphan and our response to that is going to be passed on and on. Thank you so much!

    Love ya!
    Jodi

  25. I have been to Arizona once, in June I think, and I didn't think it was that bad, I remember the temperature being high but with the dry air it didn't feel too bad, here in Arkansas on the other hand, and I would guess you knew this in Virginia but the hot humidity just about makes me feel like I am going to suffocate if I don't have some air conditioning. The ceiling fans just don't seem to be enough. I just came in from outside and our car read 101, I don't know how I am going to make it this summer if on May 6 we are already at 101. Mercy!

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