Top Ten Things To Do While Your Husband Is At Retreat
10.Sit in husband’s recliner and watch an old movie and eat popcorn
9.Go shopping
8.Catch up on your reading
7.Clean the house
6.Spend the day doing absolutely nothing
5.Let the kids stay up late one night (and to bed early the next!)
4.Sleep in the middle of the bed
3.Watch the O.C. (so I‘ve heard, I haven‘t actually seen this!)
2.Have 50-100 teenagers at your house for a party (This should only be attempted by a trained professional)
1.Blog! :-)
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Scrapbook Pages That Should Never Be Made
AKA: Jessica, the 4 year old Beautician
I was in the kitchen assembling and putting potstickers in the oven. It was about 1:00 in the afternoon. Jessica wanted to go to the movies. But, we had to go to gymnastics at 3:30. She was brushing her hair, last I saw her. I finished up in the kitchen and was just about to go looking for her when, Rebekah comes out and announces that Jessica cut her hair. Keep in mind, she cut Rebekah's hair about 3 months ago and it has yet to grow back much. Rebekah still has a spot to the right of center in front that has a big chunk missing out of it. And I had to cut Rebekah's hair short in back to even it out because Jess had taken the scissors to it and whacked off all the curls (after putting detangler on it, of course).
I ran to my bathroom. There was hair all over the floor. Not that much, though. No blood anywhere. Thank God! Jess was hiding. She came out and I took one look at her and burst into tears. I couldn't believe it! She not only cut her bangs in front, to about 1/2 inch long at the shortest part, right in front, but also cut the sides of her hair to about an inch below the bottom of her ears. The back, about three inches across, remained intact. She looked like some kind of hare krishna. Or is it, hairy krishna? Anyway, it obviously needed some serious repair. I told her she looked awful, we couldn't get Christmas pictures done this year, cried, screamed, the whole deal. Go big. I did. I was so upset. I called Scott, I was okay until I started to tell him about it. I think he was more concerned because I was so upset. The night before, he was looking at Jess's beautiful hair and commenting on how pretty it looked, curled under, framing her face. It's all gone.
I took Jess to the beauty salon and, having never been to this salon before, I didn't know the beautician. The woman took one look at Jess and knew why we were there. I asked her if there was any way to do anything in the front that would look decent. She said no, it would just have to grow out. But that I could put a small clip in it or something. Have you ever tried to keep a clip in a very active four year old girl's hair? Not gonna happen. So, sometime next year, she will start to look like herself again. She's happy, she wanted to get the hair out of her eyes. It is nowhere near her eyes now. Not to worry. And she also wanted it short in the back so it would not get tangled. She won.
I shot a whole roll of film on what she did to herself and her sister for the scrapbook. Yes, she cut her sister's hair again. Only in the back, thank goodness, but it still had not grown out from the last time. I guess we will be putting all sharp objects in the safe. Good thing we have a rather large safe...I guess I will need to make a trip to the scrapbook store to buy some scissor stickers and such.
I was in the kitchen assembling and putting potstickers in the oven. It was about 1:00 in the afternoon. Jessica wanted to go to the movies. But, we had to go to gymnastics at 3:30. She was brushing her hair, last I saw her. I finished up in the kitchen and was just about to go looking for her when, Rebekah comes out and announces that Jessica cut her hair. Keep in mind, she cut Rebekah's hair about 3 months ago and it has yet to grow back much. Rebekah still has a spot to the right of center in front that has a big chunk missing out of it. And I had to cut Rebekah's hair short in back to even it out because Jess had taken the scissors to it and whacked off all the curls (after putting detangler on it, of course).
I ran to my bathroom. There was hair all over the floor. Not that much, though. No blood anywhere. Thank God! Jess was hiding. She came out and I took one look at her and burst into tears. I couldn't believe it! She not only cut her bangs in front, to about 1/2 inch long at the shortest part, right in front, but also cut the sides of her hair to about an inch below the bottom of her ears. The back, about three inches across, remained intact. She looked like some kind of hare krishna. Or is it, hairy krishna? Anyway, it obviously needed some serious repair. I told her she looked awful, we couldn't get Christmas pictures done this year, cried, screamed, the whole deal. Go big. I did. I was so upset. I called Scott, I was okay until I started to tell him about it. I think he was more concerned because I was so upset. The night before, he was looking at Jess's beautiful hair and commenting on how pretty it looked, curled under, framing her face. It's all gone.
I took Jess to the beauty salon and, having never been to this salon before, I didn't know the beautician. The woman took one look at Jess and knew why we were there. I asked her if there was any way to do anything in the front that would look decent. She said no, it would just have to grow out. But that I could put a small clip in it or something. Have you ever tried to keep a clip in a very active four year old girl's hair? Not gonna happen. So, sometime next year, she will start to look like herself again. She's happy, she wanted to get the hair out of her eyes. It is nowhere near her eyes now. Not to worry. And she also wanted it short in the back so it would not get tangled. She won.
I shot a whole roll of film on what she did to herself and her sister for the scrapbook. Yes, she cut her sister's hair again. Only in the back, thank goodness, but it still had not grown out from the last time. I guess we will be putting all sharp objects in the safe. Good thing we have a rather large safe...I guess I will need to make a trip to the scrapbook store to buy some scissor stickers and such.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Frustrated
I read something recently that really upset me. I am not the type of person to normally confront anyone, so I usually just let things go. In fact, I tend to clam up and not say anything about anything. This is why I haven't blogged in days. I was just sitting here getting frustrated. It really bothered me, and I am still dealing with this. I get very frustrated when assumptions are passed around like facts. There have been many times when someone will email me something urgent, "you need to send this to everyone you know". I will do a search on the internet to see if it is legit. So far, none of them have been. But if more people did this, we wouldn't have so many bogus emails flying around. It seems "everyone" is making up numbers and information to suit their own purposes. The government does this, too. "35,000 people per year die from the flu." Yeah, right. It isn't true. They pull that number out of their, well, you get the picture. The number is somewhere closer to 700 per year that die from the flu, or complications thereof. Everyone is up in arms over this avian flu. IT HAS NOT MUTATED to humans. There is a possibility that it MAY, but it is slight. So, why all the scare tactics?
Why do we feel we can pull information out of the air, make things up, etc. without getting the facts straight? Without the facts, it is just opinion and assumptions and, like belly buttons, everyone has one. What is the old saying about when you assume? Wouldn't it make more sense to do a little research before you start talking about something? Just a thought.
I guess I just got my frustrations out and let it go.
Why do we feel we can pull information out of the air, make things up, etc. without getting the facts straight? Without the facts, it is just opinion and assumptions and, like belly buttons, everyone has one. What is the old saying about when you assume? Wouldn't it make more sense to do a little research before you start talking about something? Just a thought.
I guess I just got my frustrations out and let it go.
Top Ten
We haven't had any top ten lists lately and I guess Joann is probably going through withdrawals, so:
Top Ten Things I miss from My Childhood
10. No mortgage payment (do I hear an AMEN?)
9. My mom calling school to say we were sick (Yeah...of school) and we would go to the beach
8. Going out to breakfast with my dad before school - at Sambo's
7. Being able to fit in the back seat of a Porsche
6. Being able to sleep till noon.
5. Feathered hair.
4. Sav-On ice cream - a quart sized scoop for 25 cents and no guilt
3. Thinking people in their thirties were so OLD!
2. Three week vacations in the camper.
1. Three months off of school in the summer with nothing to do.
Please feel free to add your own...
Top Ten Things I miss from My Childhood
10. No mortgage payment (do I hear an AMEN?)
9. My mom calling school to say we were sick (Yeah...of school) and we would go to the beach
8. Going out to breakfast with my dad before school - at Sambo's
7. Being able to fit in the back seat of a Porsche
6. Being able to sleep till noon.
5. Feathered hair.
4. Sav-On ice cream - a quart sized scoop for 25 cents and no guilt
3. Thinking people in their thirties were so OLD!
2. Three week vacations in the camper.
1. Three months off of school in the summer with nothing to do.
Please feel free to add your own...
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
We Are ALL Saints...
We Are All Saints
saint [sayntin French names often, saN]
n (plural saints)
1. somebody honored by church after death: somebody who has been particularly holy in life and after death is declared by a Christian church to have a privileged place in heaven and be worthy of veneration
2. somebody in heaven: somebody who is thought to have gone to heaven after death
3. virtuous person: a particularly good or holy person, or one who is kind and patient in dealing with difficult people or situations
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
I can think of only a handful of people I would deem to be saints, so it is nice to know that not I, but the Lord, decides who is a saint. I can, however, come up with quite a few sinners, self included. But it is not my decision to make. The Lord loves all of us. He wants us to come to Him, to worship Him, to love Him and to do things and live our lives in the way that He has planned for us. Is that too much to ask? He basically says, “Come to Me and love Me. I will provide for your needs and I will love you forever. I will not turn my back on you. I will not talk behind your back. You will forever live with Me and I will not leave you. Will you follow me?”
We get so wrapped up in the day-to-day things that we do, that we do not take the time to stop and just listen to God and what He is saying to us. It may not be a booming voice (I think very few people hear the Lord in this way). It may be a subtle feeling, something someone else says to you, an urge to do something that you hadn’t thought about before.
I used to “test” God. I would be worrying about something, thinking about something, trying to figure out the best way to go about it and I would pick up the Bible, close my eyes, open it up and stick my finger on the page. Open your eyes and read what is there. Amazingly enough, very often this would result in my reading a passage that fit the circumstance. I am not suggesting that anyone do this, but at the time I was not walking the walk and I think it was God’s way of showing me He was still looking out for me.
I hope and pray that someday I can be the person the Lord wants me to be. I don’t have a clean house. My children don’t always look perfect, my husband is stressed out, we don’t have money to spare, but in this house, we praise God and ask for His blessing on our lives. My husband has been on this amazing journey, although he doesn’t realize how far he has come. He still sees all his faults and where he has been. I pray that God will show him that he doesn’t need to know everything and that it’s okay not to be perfect. After all, he is not in seminary for himself, but for Jesus Christ!
I pray that all of us saints will realize that God is not expecting us to be perfect. After all, we cannot be so without Him. That we do not have to strive to be perfect, but just to be ourselves, to be open to how God wants to use us. To be available to Him, to be used by Him. It’s okay if we get angry or frustrated sometimes. But we need to submit to Christ, to allow Him to mold us and shape us the way HE wants us to be. And although we will go through trials, we need to ask HIM to walk through them with us, to be by our side. For we cannot do it alone. I had a teacher in high school who told us to pray for trials. I understand about needing to rely on the Lord during trials, about trials helping us to become more submissive to the Lord, etc. but I told this teacher he was whacked in the head. We get enough trials in our lives without asking for more! (This was a few years after my brother died and I was a teenager in 10th grade! I had enough trials!)
I thank the Lord that He provides for us, cares what happens to us and that He protects us. I don’t feel as though I am a saint, but I pray that, with God’ help I will become one. That others will see Christ through me and that I will become a virtuous person. This can only happen with God’s help.
saint [sayntin French names often, saN]
n (plural saints)
1. somebody honored by church after death: somebody who has been particularly holy in life and after death is declared by a Christian church to have a privileged place in heaven and be worthy of veneration
2. somebody in heaven: somebody who is thought to have gone to heaven after death
3. virtuous person: a particularly good or holy person, or one who is kind and patient in dealing with difficult people or situations
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
I can think of only a handful of people I would deem to be saints, so it is nice to know that not I, but the Lord, decides who is a saint. I can, however, come up with quite a few sinners, self included. But it is not my decision to make. The Lord loves all of us. He wants us to come to Him, to worship Him, to love Him and to do things and live our lives in the way that He has planned for us. Is that too much to ask? He basically says, “Come to Me and love Me. I will provide for your needs and I will love you forever. I will not turn my back on you. I will not talk behind your back. You will forever live with Me and I will not leave you. Will you follow me?”
We get so wrapped up in the day-to-day things that we do, that we do not take the time to stop and just listen to God and what He is saying to us. It may not be a booming voice (I think very few people hear the Lord in this way). It may be a subtle feeling, something someone else says to you, an urge to do something that you hadn’t thought about before.
I used to “test” God. I would be worrying about something, thinking about something, trying to figure out the best way to go about it and I would pick up the Bible, close my eyes, open it up and stick my finger on the page. Open your eyes and read what is there. Amazingly enough, very often this would result in my reading a passage that fit the circumstance. I am not suggesting that anyone do this, but at the time I was not walking the walk and I think it was God’s way of showing me He was still looking out for me.
I hope and pray that someday I can be the person the Lord wants me to be. I don’t have a clean house. My children don’t always look perfect, my husband is stressed out, we don’t have money to spare, but in this house, we praise God and ask for His blessing on our lives. My husband has been on this amazing journey, although he doesn’t realize how far he has come. He still sees all his faults and where he has been. I pray that God will show him that he doesn’t need to know everything and that it’s okay not to be perfect. After all, he is not in seminary for himself, but for Jesus Christ!
I pray that all of us saints will realize that God is not expecting us to be perfect. After all, we cannot be so without Him. That we do not have to strive to be perfect, but just to be ourselves, to be open to how God wants to use us. To be available to Him, to be used by Him. It’s okay if we get angry or frustrated sometimes. But we need to submit to Christ, to allow Him to mold us and shape us the way HE wants us to be. And although we will go through trials, we need to ask HIM to walk through them with us, to be by our side. For we cannot do it alone. I had a teacher in high school who told us to pray for trials. I understand about needing to rely on the Lord during trials, about trials helping us to become more submissive to the Lord, etc. but I told this teacher he was whacked in the head. We get enough trials in our lives without asking for more! (This was a few years after my brother died and I was a teenager in 10th grade! I had enough trials!)
I thank the Lord that He provides for us, cares what happens to us and that He protects us. I don’t feel as though I am a saint, but I pray that, with God’ help I will become one. That others will see Christ through me and that I will become a virtuous person. This can only happen with God’s help.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Out of the mouths of babes
Two days ago, Rebekah says to me, "Why do we have Jesus in our heart?" I said, "Because we ask Him to be there. Do you want to ask Him to be there?" "Yes!" So, she prayed that Jesus would come into her heart and then Jessica explained that Jesus is inside of us and outside of us at the same time. Why is it so confusing for supposedly smart adults and the children get it so easily. Jessica didn't question that Christ is inside of us and all around us at the same time. She just accepts it as the way it is. Rebekah wanted Jesus to be in her heart. She asks why about everything now. But once it was explained to her, it she accepted it. My children are such a blessing to me and I have to remind myself to let the little things, like changing clothes twice because they were playing in the mud, not make me crazy. They are beautiful in the sight of the Lord and they are beautiful children. Their minds are open to discovery and they are so innocent and wonderful. Thank God for the children!
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Nobody
I'm just a little nobody,
I said to myself one day,
Nobody cares what I do,
Or if I work or play.
If I were not here,
Would someone care?
Or would they just go on,
Not noticing me
or wondering that I'm now gone?
"I care about you, my dear one,"
the Lord said to me one day,
"You will always be in my will,
if you will simply pray.
Ask Me for strength,
Ask Me for hope,
In all you do and say,
And I will love you forever,
Dear child, if in your heart I stay."
"Do not cry, my child,
I care about you now.
I loved you before you knew Me.
You didn't even know how.
Your life is Mine to handle,
Your troubles are mine alone,
You are special in the eyes of God,
To Me you are well-known."
"To pay for all your sins,
I sent my Precious Son.
Who else would do that?
I can think of not a one.
You are precious to me,
More precious than silver or gold.
I love you more than anything,
And, with Me, you will never grow old."
"So, ask Me to be with you
and in your heart to stay.
And pray for angels to protect you,
Each and every day.
Love me always, and never fear,
You are a child of God.
I will always be near."
I said to myself one day,
Nobody cares what I do,
Or if I work or play.
If I were not here,
Would someone care?
Or would they just go on,
Not noticing me
or wondering that I'm now gone?
"I care about you, my dear one,"
the Lord said to me one day,
"You will always be in my will,
if you will simply pray.
Ask Me for strength,
Ask Me for hope,
In all you do and say,
And I will love you forever,
Dear child, if in your heart I stay."
"Do not cry, my child,
I care about you now.
I loved you before you knew Me.
You didn't even know how.
Your life is Mine to handle,
Your troubles are mine alone,
You are special in the eyes of God,
To Me you are well-known."
"To pay for all your sins,
I sent my Precious Son.
Who else would do that?
I can think of not a one.
You are precious to me,
More precious than silver or gold.
I love you more than anything,
And, with Me, you will never grow old."
"So, ask Me to be with you
and in your heart to stay.
And pray for angels to protect you,
Each and every day.
Love me always, and never fear,
You are a child of God.
I will always be near."
Oh, how He takes care of me!
Yesterday, I was driving down Sierra Highway and the driver in front of me slammed on her brakes because an ambulance, lights flashing, was waiting to turn left into traffic in front of us. Well, what she failed to realize was that the rest of the cars, going about 55 miles an hour, did not see the ambulance OR her. I slammed on my brakes and just before I ran into her rear end, I checked the side view mirror and veered around her, while the car that had been behind me, tires screeching, smoke flying came probably within inches of her bumper. Right where my car would have been. Thank you God, for helping me to act calmly and allow just enough room for me to squeeze over into the other lane.
I was reminded of the time I saw my angel. I was driving on the 5 North where it merges with the 405 at Roxford. Going 65 mph, I notice all the cars in front of me swerving out of the lane I am in. Then, right in front of me, a car is stopped with its emergency lights flashing. Middle lane, nowhere to go. I slammed on my brakes. I felt the impact. My head jolted forward. But instead of seeing twisted metal, broken glass, etc., I saw my angel, standing between my car and the stopped car. He was HUGE! Dressed all in white. And, at the time, even though I was not in the right place with God, I knew He was protecting me and keeping me safe.
Today, my dad came over and we were going to do some errands. We stalled longer than we should have at home before leaving, getting shoes on the girls, talking, etc. Well, we made a list of all we were going to do today and first on the list was going to the bank. When we got there, we saw two Sheriff's cars parked there, one in the driveway, one parked on the street. I said, "Well, maybe it is their payday!"
We all piled out of the car and walked to the door and the lady at the ATM said the bank was closed. Hmm, there is another branch nearby, so we climbed back in the car. As we were pulling out, a newsvan pulled up and a guy with a newscamera got out and started getting ready to start filming. An undercover police vehicle also pulled up and parked in front. I rolled down my window and asked the news guy what happened. He said the bank had just been robbed.
Had we been on time and not running around trying to get ready, had we not made our list of things to do, had it not taken a few minutes to clear the junk off my passenger seat, had it not been for the GRACE OF GOD, we would most likely have been there at the time all of this was happening. God is protecting me. God is protecting my children. Thank you, Lord, for all that you do for us. For loving us and protecting us, even when we don't realize what You are doing at the time. Thank you for keeping us safe.
As it turns out, the bank robbers GOT THERE at 12:45. We got to the bank at 1:05. It was only minutes after they left that we got there. Thank you God, for your protection.
About 9 years ago, a guy broke into my apartment while I was sleeping. He didn't harm me physically, but he was not there to steal. According to the Santa Clarita Sheriff, "This kind of thing doesn't happen in Santa Clarita." It did. Six months later, he was sentenced to 28 years for sexual crimes he committed against another woman in the complex. Well, even though I wasn't right with God at the time, He protected me. From a crazed lunatic who Satan was using for his purposes. My life is in God's hands. He will protect me from evil and harm.
Several months ago, I began having nightmares. I would see demons outside my bedroom window. They were looking in through the window, and they were ugly!!! Really scary. Scott and I started praying, Father Jim prayed for me. After that I envisioned a canopy, if you will, over our entire property, with angels sitting on the tops of the fence posts watching the property and I saw the demon being pulled away from the window up into the sky above the canopy. The demon couldn't reach me because of God's covering over me and my house. Thank you God! They are real, they are present. But with God's protection, they cannot harm us.
I thank the Lord that in some subtle and some not so subtle ways, He lets me know that He is watching over me and my life.
I was reminded of the time I saw my angel. I was driving on the 5 North where it merges with the 405 at Roxford. Going 65 mph, I notice all the cars in front of me swerving out of the lane I am in. Then, right in front of me, a car is stopped with its emergency lights flashing. Middle lane, nowhere to go. I slammed on my brakes. I felt the impact. My head jolted forward. But instead of seeing twisted metal, broken glass, etc., I saw my angel, standing between my car and the stopped car. He was HUGE! Dressed all in white. And, at the time, even though I was not in the right place with God, I knew He was protecting me and keeping me safe.
Today, my dad came over and we were going to do some errands. We stalled longer than we should have at home before leaving, getting shoes on the girls, talking, etc. Well, we made a list of all we were going to do today and first on the list was going to the bank. When we got there, we saw two Sheriff's cars parked there, one in the driveway, one parked on the street. I said, "Well, maybe it is their payday!"
We all piled out of the car and walked to the door and the lady at the ATM said the bank was closed. Hmm, there is another branch nearby, so we climbed back in the car. As we were pulling out, a newsvan pulled up and a guy with a newscamera got out and started getting ready to start filming. An undercover police vehicle also pulled up and parked in front. I rolled down my window and asked the news guy what happened. He said the bank had just been robbed.
Had we been on time and not running around trying to get ready, had we not made our list of things to do, had it not taken a few minutes to clear the junk off my passenger seat, had it not been for the GRACE OF GOD, we would most likely have been there at the time all of this was happening. God is protecting me. God is protecting my children. Thank you, Lord, for all that you do for us. For loving us and protecting us, even when we don't realize what You are doing at the time. Thank you for keeping us safe.
As it turns out, the bank robbers GOT THERE at 12:45. We got to the bank at 1:05. It was only minutes after they left that we got there. Thank you God, for your protection.
About 9 years ago, a guy broke into my apartment while I was sleeping. He didn't harm me physically, but he was not there to steal. According to the Santa Clarita Sheriff, "This kind of thing doesn't happen in Santa Clarita." It did. Six months later, he was sentenced to 28 years for sexual crimes he committed against another woman in the complex. Well, even though I wasn't right with God at the time, He protected me. From a crazed lunatic who Satan was using for his purposes. My life is in God's hands. He will protect me from evil and harm.
Several months ago, I began having nightmares. I would see demons outside my bedroom window. They were looking in through the window, and they were ugly!!! Really scary. Scott and I started praying, Father Jim prayed for me. After that I envisioned a canopy, if you will, over our entire property, with angels sitting on the tops of the fence posts watching the property and I saw the demon being pulled away from the window up into the sky above the canopy. The demon couldn't reach me because of God's covering over me and my house. Thank you God! They are real, they are present. But with God's protection, they cannot harm us.
I thank the Lord that in some subtle and some not so subtle ways, He lets me know that He is watching over me and my life.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
I'm a little slow
Okay, I am figuring this thing out. Now, I just have to figure out how to add a picture.
It has been pouring down rain for the past several hours. It has finally stopped. Or at least slowed down. My back yard is a lake. My children are sleeping. My house is warm and dry inside. My God loves me. Life is good. Which brings us to, yat ta da da!
Top Ten Reasons to Be Happy Today
10. The Internet is up and running so we can all blog.
9. Friends who blog, so you have something to read.
8. Rain puddles.
7. Mud.
6. Happy, healthy children.
5. Hot Chocolate with whipped cream AND little marshmallows.
4. The holiday season has begun.
3. Holiday season=pumpkin pie
2. We have another top ten list!
1. We have an awesome God!
This top ten thing is addicting.
It has been pouring down rain for the past several hours. It has finally stopped. Or at least slowed down. My back yard is a lake. My children are sleeping. My house is warm and dry inside. My God loves me. Life is good. Which brings us to, yat ta da da!
Top Ten Reasons to Be Happy Today
10. The Internet is up and running so we can all blog.
9. Friends who blog, so you have something to read.
8. Rain puddles.
7. Mud.
6. Happy, healthy children.
5. Hot Chocolate with whipped cream AND little marshmallows.
4. The holiday season has begun.
3. Holiday season=pumpkin pie
2. We have another top ten list!
1. We have an awesome God!
This top ten thing is addicting.
Insignificant me...but not to Him!
Insignificant me...but not to Him!
I have been sitting here for about an hour and a half reading blogs. This is what I get to do at 4:30 in the morning. I love that when you read people's blogs, you get to find out what is in their head, what makes them tick. And I love the people at our church! There are some truly amazing people. Those who, with Christ's help are battling all types of adversity, frustration, and just, in some cases, a lousy job, difficult children (or sisters!), or whatever. What you will find as you read about the day to day in other's lives, is that we are all going through things. Some good, some bad. With God's help, we will all get through.
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the people in my church, through their writings. Wit and wisdom, if you will.
Julie, you are cynical and funny. And oh, how I envy your ability to keep things clean.
Cody, amazing. My prayers are with you. You are truly being used by God in amazing ways.
Alena, you are precious in the eyes of the Lord.
Nomi, keep up the good work. You have artistic talent. You will find it.
Jess, umm, don't stress out your mother. She's going to have a hard time with this whole driving thing. All mothers do.
Carsten. Uh, hmmm. What goes on in that brain of yours, Jimmy Neutron? Your mind must be like, going, all the time. Amazing. Cool.
Steve. Funny. You are a great storyteller. You could write a book. Confessions of an ex-4sqr.
Peg, enjoy California. Some of the people who love you most reside here. (Present company included)
Fr. Rich, I love your stories.
Joann, the mother of all Joanns. Could we have asked for a better Priest's wife? I think not! And those lists...look what you have started!
Hey, look, I just made another list. And it has ten names on it! I'm in for the long haul. Thanks for welcoming me.
I have been sitting here for about an hour and a half reading blogs. This is what I get to do at 4:30 in the morning. I love that when you read people's blogs, you get to find out what is in their head, what makes them tick. And I love the people at our church! There are some truly amazing people. Those who, with Christ's help are battling all types of adversity, frustration, and just, in some cases, a lousy job, difficult children (or sisters!), or whatever. What you will find as you read about the day to day in other's lives, is that we are all going through things. Some good, some bad. With God's help, we will all get through.
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the people in my church, through their writings. Wit and wisdom, if you will.
Julie, you are cynical and funny. And oh, how I envy your ability to keep things clean.
Cody, amazing. My prayers are with you. You are truly being used by God in amazing ways.
Alena, you are precious in the eyes of the Lord.
Nomi, keep up the good work. You have artistic talent. You will find it.
Jess, umm, don't stress out your mother. She's going to have a hard time with this whole driving thing. All mothers do.
Carsten. Uh, hmmm. What goes on in that brain of yours, Jimmy Neutron? Your mind must be like, going, all the time. Amazing. Cool.
Steve. Funny. You are a great storyteller. You could write a book. Confessions of an ex-4sqr.
Peg, enjoy California. Some of the people who love you most reside here. (Present company included)
Fr. Rich, I love your stories.
Joann, the mother of all Joanns. Could we have asked for a better Priest's wife? I think not! And those lists...look what you have started!
Hey, look, I just made another list. And it has ten names on it! I'm in for the long haul. Thanks for welcoming me.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Insignificant me...but not to Him!
Insignificant me...but not to Him!
Top Ten Reasons to Start A Blog
10. Everyone else is doing it.
9. Someone to listen to me rant.
8. I don’t have to pay a shrink.
7. I can see if people really care about what I have to say.
6. There has to be some representation from the James family.
(When I told Scott he should start a blog, he said, “ I have nothing to say!” )
5. I can feel like I have adult communications during the day.
4. I can pretend I am doing something really important at the computer and the kids don’t know the difference.
3. Something to do at 2am.
2. I feel like I am really communicating.
1. I can try to come up with a better recipe for bacon grease.
Top Ten Reasons to Start A Blog
10. Everyone else is doing it.
9. Someone to listen to me rant.
8. I don’t have to pay a shrink.
7. I can see if people really care about what I have to say.
6. There has to be some representation from the James family.
(When I told Scott he should start a blog, he said, “ I have nothing to say!” )
5. I can feel like I have adult communications during the day.
4. I can pretend I am doing something really important at the computer and the kids don’t know the difference.
3. Something to do at 2am.
2. I feel like I am really communicating.
1. I can try to come up with a better recipe for bacon grease.
So, what is that on the floor?
Jessica's question. I look down to find this white stuff, a little wet, shiny, like little tiny...too hard to describe. I pick it up and then look about 5 inches away at another little clump. Then, a few inches away, some more. What in the world? OH! It's that stuff that diapers turn into when they are soaked and there's a hole in it somewhere and this stuff that looks like it is not of this world ends up all over the place. My second child is two and a half. Up until last Christmas I didn't use disposables except when we were out of the house. So, I am still not that familiar with what they do. Well, apparently this is what they do. "*!@#*! diapers! Rebekah, where's the hole in your diaper? Jess, is this ALL the way down the hall and around the corner, or just here, in this room?" Welcome to my life.
We were reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears recently. I said to Jessica, "Wow, it wasn't very nice of Goldilocks to just walk in to someone's house when she didn't know them, was it?" Her response, without even skipping a beat, "She must have thought it was a model."
Today is my sister's birthday. 39. Wow, that used to seem so OLD! Okay, it still does. But, I am 36 and I guess I am getting old, too. But she will always be three years older...
It is raining outside. For anyone who has lived in the desert, the weather is very different here than where I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. We get these amazing electrical storms and from my dining room window, I can see the entire north end of the Antelope Valley. It is really beautiful to sit and watch the bolts of lightning lighting up the sky, one after the other. And the thunder, especially when it is right overhead. My God is an awesome God!
It is 3:30 in the morning. Why am I up? Couldn't sleep. I seem to do this every other night. One night I wake up in the middle of the night, the next night I sleep until Jess comes in, kisses me awake and says, "Mommy! Get up! I'm SOOOOOOO hungry!" So, I go out, turn on Noggin for her, pour some frosted flakes and milk in a bowl and groggily wander back off to bed. Which is when Rebekah comes meandering in, grinning from ear to ear, looking like she did something wrong. So, okay, I will catch up on sleep the next night.
We were reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears recently. I said to Jessica, "Wow, it wasn't very nice of Goldilocks to just walk in to someone's house when she didn't know them, was it?" Her response, without even skipping a beat, "She must have thought it was a model."
Today is my sister's birthday. 39. Wow, that used to seem so OLD! Okay, it still does. But, I am 36 and I guess I am getting old, too. But she will always be three years older...
It is raining outside. For anyone who has lived in the desert, the weather is very different here than where I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. We get these amazing electrical storms and from my dining room window, I can see the entire north end of the Antelope Valley. It is really beautiful to sit and watch the bolts of lightning lighting up the sky, one after the other. And the thunder, especially when it is right overhead. My God is an awesome God!
It is 3:30 in the morning. Why am I up? Couldn't sleep. I seem to do this every other night. One night I wake up in the middle of the night, the next night I sleep until Jess comes in, kisses me awake and says, "Mommy! Get up! I'm SOOOOOOO hungry!" So, I go out, turn on Noggin for her, pour some frosted flakes and milk in a bowl and groggily wander back off to bed. Which is when Rebekah comes meandering in, grinning from ear to ear, looking like she did something wrong. So, okay, I will catch up on sleep the next night.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Three hours of research...
I just spent three hours doing research for a friend who is getting divorced. I am so glad I am happily married and will never have to deal with that! This poor woman has been cheated on by her husband and then her attorney has totally neglected her for the past 15 months. Ridiculous!
I mentioned to someone that this thing is up and going, so now I guess I had better start writing. Problem was, I couldn't remember how to get here, or what I called it! So, now I guess I am part of the population that sits down at the computer and gets to write whatever comes into my head. And I don't care if anyone else likes it or reads it or not. At least I don't have my name as my website!
Friday night I got to spend time with the ladies from our church and we had a bridal shower for Mae. But the whole time I was thinking about Peg's testimony. It reminds me of the old saying that if you and all the other people you know threw your problems into a big pile so that you could pick easier problems, you would end up taking yours back because they are familiar and you already know how to handle them. Isn't it nice that we don't have to handle them ourselves, we can just give them to God and let Him sort them out. I need to remember that when I am stressing out over something. Give It To The Lord.
I mentioned to someone that this thing is up and going, so now I guess I had better start writing. Problem was, I couldn't remember how to get here, or what I called it! So, now I guess I am part of the population that sits down at the computer and gets to write whatever comes into my head. And I don't care if anyone else likes it or reads it or not. At least I don't have my name as my website!
Friday night I got to spend time with the ladies from our church and we had a bridal shower for Mae. But the whole time I was thinking about Peg's testimony. It reminds me of the old saying that if you and all the other people you know threw your problems into a big pile so that you could pick easier problems, you would end up taking yours back because they are familiar and you already know how to handle them. Isn't it nice that we don't have to handle them ourselves, we can just give them to God and let Him sort them out. I need to remember that when I am stressing out over something. Give It To The Lord.
Friday, August 26, 2005
The Reason I'm Here
Not, actually, the reason I am here, but why this blog is here. I was going to post a comment to a comment by Fr. Rich on Cody's blog and I ended up with this when I signed up to post. Okay, moving on.
Fr. Rich's comment:
Questions: Why is the devil screwing with a little insignificant parish that's next to nowhere? And why tormenting certain individuals in that parish?
Answer: We ain't insignificant! and the devil attacks those who are a threat. Can you believe we are a threat to the devil.
Well, my comment to that, and it won't have the same impact it would have when I pressed the button to comment 10 minutes ago, is that God allows these things to happen to us, I believe, to draw us closer to Him, so that we will lean on Him, so that we will WANT to rely on His MIGHTY POWER, instead of trying to handle it ourselves. We can't do it alone, but we don't realize that until we try. And try. And try. And finally we give up and say, Okay, God, can you handle this for me and God says, I was just waiting for you to ask. And He makes it all better.
WHY do I believe this? Well, I have been struggling with pictures that pop into my head at the MOST inopportune times. Fr. Jim prayed over me several times for this. What I was trying to do, though, was force my mind to think on something else. I have found myself focusing many times on Christ on the cross, picturing all the details in my mind, the nails in his hands, the thorns in his head, the blood and sweat, the suffering He endured...for me. It helped...but only to a degree....because what I needed to do, and I realized all of a sudden one day, is to let GOD focus my mind on something else. He was allowing this to happen so that I would ask for HIS help instead of trying to do it myself.
Rebekah, at two years old, has this incredible innocence. When she accidentally injures Jessica or me, she will kiss the spot and ask, "Better?" When I kiss her boo-boo she says, "Better!" Well, isn't that what God wants to do? Love us and make it better? Why do we not allow Him to do that? BEFORE we struggle with it, whatever "it" may be?
So, even if we scrape up the side of the car, even if the dog chews on the patio cover, even if the cereal and the milk, bowl, spoon and all get knocked onto the chair and the floor by a two year old, it's okay, because God allows these trials to occur so that we will give it to Him and He will give us peace in return. Let's not let Satan get the better of us. You are right, Cody, Christ should be seen through us...if we are doing it right.
God WILL Bless You! If you let Him!
Fr. Rich's comment:
Questions: Why is the devil screwing with a little insignificant parish that's next to nowhere? And why tormenting certain individuals in that parish?
Answer: We ain't insignificant! and the devil attacks those who are a threat. Can you believe we are a threat to the devil.
Well, my comment to that, and it won't have the same impact it would have when I pressed the button to comment 10 minutes ago, is that God allows these things to happen to us, I believe, to draw us closer to Him, so that we will lean on Him, so that we will WANT to rely on His MIGHTY POWER, instead of trying to handle it ourselves. We can't do it alone, but we don't realize that until we try. And try. And try. And finally we give up and say, Okay, God, can you handle this for me and God says, I was just waiting for you to ask. And He makes it all better.
WHY do I believe this? Well, I have been struggling with pictures that pop into my head at the MOST inopportune times. Fr. Jim prayed over me several times for this. What I was trying to do, though, was force my mind to think on something else. I have found myself focusing many times on Christ on the cross, picturing all the details in my mind, the nails in his hands, the thorns in his head, the blood and sweat, the suffering He endured...for me. It helped...but only to a degree....because what I needed to do, and I realized all of a sudden one day, is to let GOD focus my mind on something else. He was allowing this to happen so that I would ask for HIS help instead of trying to do it myself.
Rebekah, at two years old, has this incredible innocence. When she accidentally injures Jessica or me, she will kiss the spot and ask, "Better?" When I kiss her boo-boo she says, "Better!" Well, isn't that what God wants to do? Love us and make it better? Why do we not allow Him to do that? BEFORE we struggle with it, whatever "it" may be?
So, even if we scrape up the side of the car, even if the dog chews on the patio cover, even if the cereal and the milk, bowl, spoon and all get knocked onto the chair and the floor by a two year old, it's okay, because God allows these trials to occur so that we will give it to Him and He will give us peace in return. Let's not let Satan get the better of us. You are right, Cody, Christ should be seen through us...if we are doing it right.
God WILL Bless You! If you let Him!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
