Matthew finally came home yesterday. We have been missing him since Christmas Eve. It's like magic, and almost like he never existed, except that Lucy the Dog and Nathan the Little Brother look around our house with a glazed, lost look in their eyes.
It happens every time Clinton's sister and her 3 boys come to town and stay with Clinton's folks. They show up, Matthew disappears.
We do occasionally hear his laughter coming from the "secret base" in the back of their house. We sometimes catch a quick glimpse of his clothing streaking through the kitchen towards the family room and garage. And someone must be driving his 4-wheeler around the woods. If we really concentrate we can make out his outline for a nanosecond at mealtimes. But other than that, he is gone, gone, gone.
We do feel truly blessed to have at least one set of grandparents close by, and that they are in good enough health to play with the boys. I keep trying to get my parents to move closer, and I think I MIGHT be making the slightest headway, but alas, they are not here yet. So while we can't seem to have everything in life the way we want it, we make the very best of the blessings we do have. Even if it means we miss our oldest son for a week or so.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Blessings
I am truly blessed. I am writing this to you right now from...my bedroom! How is this possible, you ask, as I have only a desktop in the kitchen? The answer is... I am on the new laptop my darling husband bought me for Christmas/Our Anniversary!
Technologically speaking, writing from my bedroom even with a laptop is quite a feat, mostly because we live in the country and our high speed internet options are very limited. But through the miracle of technology (and the great brain of said darling husband) we have wireless internet IN the house and not just TO the house. It's a long, sordid tale I will not bore you with at this time. Not to mention the fact that just trying to sort out the technical terms would, for me, be quite difficult. So, because of the blessing of God and my wonderful guy (I know, shut up already) it will be much easier for me to follow the muse to wherever it leads.
Now if I can just find the time to go along for the ride...
Technologically speaking, writing from my bedroom even with a laptop is quite a feat, mostly because we live in the country and our high speed internet options are very limited. But through the miracle of technology (and the great brain of said darling husband) we have wireless internet IN the house and not just TO the house. It's a long, sordid tale I will not bore you with at this time. Not to mention the fact that just trying to sort out the technical terms would, for me, be quite difficult. So, because of the blessing of God and my wonderful guy (I know, shut up already) it will be much easier for me to follow the muse to wherever it leads.
Now if I can just find the time to go along for the ride...
Friday, December 12, 2008
Reflections from the mind of a 16 month-old boy
"What are you shouting about? It makes perfect sense to get Mommy's hairbrush and put it in the fireplace!"
"The leftovers will taste much better if I put my feet in the tupperware before she uses it."
"Dish towels belong on the kitchen floor, NOT on the hanger."
"The dog's water bowl, the dishwasher and the toilet are all acceptable places to play."
"It's not a good day unless I get a huge bruise somewhere on my head. Preferably as close to my eyes as possible."
"Throwing stuffed animals over the gate is fun. It is even more fun to watch Mommy put them away so I can do it all again."
"It is perfectly acceptable to put my shoes on to go somewhere, but NOT my coat."
"All buttons, levers, keyboards, drawer pulls, handles, and cords must be touched early and often."
"Individual packages of cookies and crackers taste much better after they've been crunched in my hands and thrown on the floor several times."
"Mommy's arrangement of knick-knacks is sorely lacking in composition and style. I must help her."
"Daddy's neckties look much more artistic in a jumbled pile on the closet floor."
"Toy remotes, keys, telephones, computers, ipods, etc are not near as much fun to play with as the real thing."
"Mommy and Daddy are starving our poor dog. I will be generous and share all of my food with her."
"Today my favorite game is 'Hide One of Daddy's Shoes.'"
"The scheduled nap time, which heretofore has been set in stone, is now negotiable, and may cease to exist in the near future."
"The leftovers will taste much better if I put my feet in the tupperware before she uses it."
"Dish towels belong on the kitchen floor, NOT on the hanger."
"The dog's water bowl, the dishwasher and the toilet are all acceptable places to play."
"It's not a good day unless I get a huge bruise somewhere on my head. Preferably as close to my eyes as possible."
"Throwing stuffed animals over the gate is fun. It is even more fun to watch Mommy put them away so I can do it all again."
"It is perfectly acceptable to put my shoes on to go somewhere, but NOT my coat."
"All buttons, levers, keyboards, drawer pulls, handles, and cords must be touched early and often."
"Individual packages of cookies and crackers taste much better after they've been crunched in my hands and thrown on the floor several times."
"Mommy's arrangement of knick-knacks is sorely lacking in composition and style. I must help her."
"Daddy's neckties look much more artistic in a jumbled pile on the closet floor."
"Toy remotes, keys, telephones, computers, ipods, etc are not near as much fun to play with as the real thing."
"Mommy and Daddy are starving our poor dog. I will be generous and share all of my food with her."
"Today my favorite game is 'Hide One of Daddy's Shoes.'"
"The scheduled nap time, which heretofore has been set in stone, is now negotiable, and may cease to exist in the near future."
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Rings-n-things
Okay, I admit it. At church a couple of Sundays ago, when my eyes were supposed to be closed in holy prayer, mine were open. Not only that, but I wasn't concentrating the slightest bit on what I was supposedly praying about. I was, in fact, staring at my hands. More specifically, I was contemplating the rings on my fingers. I know, I'm a helpless sinner. :)
I was feeling slightly flamboyant that morning and had decided to wear some of my older, sparkly jewelry to church. Way back when I was in high school and rhinestones were "in" I had received a cocktail ring. It's about 3/4" x3/4", silver with 13 small rhinestones set in a flower pattern. It is just this side of gaudy, perfect for an evening dress. I thought it would be fun to wear it to church, you know, where you're not supposed to be gaudy or flamboyant in any way.
So I had my nearly-gaudy cocktail ring on my right hand and my small, delicate wedding ring on my left. The difference in the two rings, to me, was stunning. At first look, the cocktail ring is more flashy, more sparkly, just, well, more. The wedding ring is lovely but it's hardly noticeable against the other. Yet when you really examine them, you see the quantity of the one versus the quality of the other. While the cocktail ring has by far the greater number of stones, the wedding ring has one particular stone of a far superior grade. They are not even the same type of stone -- one is cut glass and the other is cut diamond. A simple reminder to me that sparkle and flash aren't always superior features--in jewelry, in people and in life.
So I did manage to be reminded of something good while I was supposed to be doing, um, something else good. But maybe next time I'll try to close my eyes and pay attention.
I was feeling slightly flamboyant that morning and had decided to wear some of my older, sparkly jewelry to church. Way back when I was in high school and rhinestones were "in" I had received a cocktail ring. It's about 3/4" x3/4", silver with 13 small rhinestones set in a flower pattern. It is just this side of gaudy, perfect for an evening dress. I thought it would be fun to wear it to church, you know, where you're not supposed to be gaudy or flamboyant in any way.
So I had my nearly-gaudy cocktail ring on my right hand and my small, delicate wedding ring on my left. The difference in the two rings, to me, was stunning. At first look, the cocktail ring is more flashy, more sparkly, just, well, more. The wedding ring is lovely but it's hardly noticeable against the other. Yet when you really examine them, you see the quantity of the one versus the quality of the other. While the cocktail ring has by far the greater number of stones, the wedding ring has one particular stone of a far superior grade. They are not even the same type of stone -- one is cut glass and the other is cut diamond. A simple reminder to me that sparkle and flash aren't always superior features--in jewelry, in people and in life.
So I did manage to be reminded of something good while I was supposed to be doing, um, something else good. But maybe next time I'll try to close my eyes and pay attention.
Straight lines
I was driving on the interstate recently, listening to my iPod and lamenting the cloudy day it was. In the midst of my lament I began to see some of the clouds ahead breaking apart. It wasn't a dramatic, Hollywood thing where angels sing and streams of descending light beams bathe the earth with a heavenly glow. It was simply a few clouds letting in a few Jacob's Ladders. For some reason this reminded me of something I had heard years ago, that there are no straight lines in Nature.
Even the straightest-looking natural elements bend with the wind or have a slight curve somewhere. Beams of light are the only exception to that rule.
My nature, my human nature, has no straight lines, either. No matter how hard I try to straighten myself out I can't do it.
If I want my human nature to be straight, I need to follow The Light. If I want the best plan, the most direct and most reliable path, I need to follow the straight line of light rather than the bending curves of my very human nature.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5&6 NIV
Even the straightest-looking natural elements bend with the wind or have a slight curve somewhere. Beams of light are the only exception to that rule.
My nature, my human nature, has no straight lines, either. No matter how hard I try to straighten myself out I can't do it.
If I want my human nature to be straight, I need to follow The Light. If I want the best plan, the most direct and most reliable path, I need to follow the straight line of light rather than the bending curves of my very human nature.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5&6 NIV
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday's Thankful List
1. The gorgeous blue of the fall sky. It is a crisp, clear day here in Southern Illinois and while the gorgeously colored leaves are, for the most part, no longer on the trees the blue sky remains. I've heard this sky called "Octember" Blue and I agree. This specific blue color is only seen for a few weeks a year, and it is now. I'm not much of a blue person (I'm more a red girl), but this is by far my favorite blue. :) Thanks, God, for allowing me to see it today of all days.
2. The reminder from the book of Daniel that the way to meet the impossible task is to 1. pray fervently, 2. ask your faithful friends to pray fervently as well, and 3. wait on God's answer.
3. My new nephew, Finnegan Michael Gunther, born today. We now have 9 boys on my side and 5 on Clinton's. Maybe we'll have granddaughters... :)
4. All of the blessings and birthday wishes I've received.
5. My health and the health of my family.
6. My cousin, Susan, who inspired me to start this list.
Okay, so that's 6 and I'm only committed to posting 5. Get over it. ;)
Tomorrow we're off to see my family for Thanksgiving (unfortunately not baby Finn) so I'm finished with this list, for now. I do reserve the right to resume boring you to death with my blessings at some random time in the future. And I challenge you to remember, this Thanksgiving, where it is that "every good and perfect gift" comes from. I pray that you will grow in gratitude to Him as I have done over these past days. The Creator of the Universe Is My Best Friend. I pray He becomes yours as well. Blessings on you, my darling friends. :)
2. The reminder from the book of Daniel that the way to meet the impossible task is to 1. pray fervently, 2. ask your faithful friends to pray fervently as well, and 3. wait on God's answer.
3. My new nephew, Finnegan Michael Gunther, born today. We now have 9 boys on my side and 5 on Clinton's. Maybe we'll have granddaughters... :)
4. All of the blessings and birthday wishes I've received.
5. My health and the health of my family.
6. My cousin, Susan, who inspired me to start this list.
Okay, so that's 6 and I'm only committed to posting 5. Get over it. ;)
Tomorrow we're off to see my family for Thanksgiving (unfortunately not baby Finn) so I'm finished with this list, for now. I do reserve the right to resume boring you to death with my blessings at some random time in the future. And I challenge you to remember, this Thanksgiving, where it is that "every good and perfect gift" comes from. I pray that you will grow in gratitude to Him as I have done over these past days. The Creator of the Universe Is My Best Friend. I pray He becomes yours as well. Blessings on you, my darling friends. :)
Monday, November 24, 2008
What I'm Thankful For on Monday
1. The sound of Clinton playing his guitar.
2. Got some Christmas shopping done today. Still have a looooooong way to go...
3. Internet shopping! When you live in a rural area and have to drive an hour and a half in any direction to shop... how did I ever do this before? And a shout out for free shipping!
4. The dual-control electric blanket we use as a mattress pad. This is without a doubt one of the top 3 presents I've ever received, and Clinton got it for me for my birthday years and years ago. Now, he is not allowed to buy me anything for a present that has a cord unless I specifically ask for it, but this was a stroke of genius on his part. AND he stripped the bed, put it on and remade the bed so well that I never noticed. I never knew he was capable of making a bed. :)
5. Hot showers with good water pressure. On the eighth day God created the shower (that's the gospel according to Clinton). :)
2. Got some Christmas shopping done today. Still have a looooooong way to go...
3. Internet shopping! When you live in a rural area and have to drive an hour and a half in any direction to shop... how did I ever do this before? And a shout out for free shipping!
4. The dual-control electric blanket we use as a mattress pad. This is without a doubt one of the top 3 presents I've ever received, and Clinton got it for me for my birthday years and years ago. Now, he is not allowed to buy me anything for a present that has a cord unless I specifically ask for it, but this was a stroke of genius on his part. AND he stripped the bed, put it on and remade the bed so well that I never noticed. I never knew he was capable of making a bed. :)
5. Hot showers with good water pressure. On the eighth day God created the shower (that's the gospel according to Clinton). :)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday's Thankful List
1. Facebook. I'm amazed that so many people I'd managed to lose track of in 30+ years have resurfaced in the few months that I've been on the site. I had thought it was only for "young people", but since 40 is supposedly the new 20 I guess I can qualify...okay, so I'm in a bit of denial about my age... Facebook means never having to say, "Gee, I wonder what happened to so&so?"
2. The nursery at church. I would never get anything out of the services (nor would those around me) if not for a wonderful place to place my wonderful son!
3. Clinton, Matthew, Nathan, my parents, my In-laws, our brother and sisters and their families, and of course friends too numerous to mention (and too dangerous for me to risk leaving anyone out by naming each individually). I truly am one of the most blessed women on the face of the Earth for having them in my life. :)
4. Gloves and thin layering tee shirts that do so well to keep me warm. :)
5. My sister is still pregnant ( 36 weeks is over 4 weeks longer than she's ever gone) and will have her baby Tuesday if not before!
2. The nursery at church. I would never get anything out of the services (nor would those around me) if not for a wonderful place to place my wonderful son!
3. Clinton, Matthew, Nathan, my parents, my In-laws, our brother and sisters and their families, and of course friends too numerous to mention (and too dangerous for me to risk leaving anyone out by naming each individually). I truly am one of the most blessed women on the face of the Earth for having them in my life. :)
4. Gloves and thin layering tee shirts that do so well to keep me warm. :)
5. My sister is still pregnant ( 36 weeks is over 4 weeks longer than she's ever gone) and will have her baby Tuesday if not before!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Saturday's Thankful List
1. Matthew thinks my cajun baked chicken is "decent."
2. I got a little time to read today.
3. I MIGHT have some Facebook applications figured out. Maybe. We'll see if it's all still there tomorrow...
4. I got the house "a lick and a promise" clean before Thanksgiving.
5. I'm going to go have a cup of hot chocolate before I bathe Nathan. My current favorite: Land O Lakes Cocoa Classics Supreme. I have to buy it by the packet, but it is yummmmmmmy!
2. I got a little time to read today.
3. I MIGHT have some Facebook applications figured out. Maybe. We'll see if it's all still there tomorrow...
4. I got the house "a lick and a promise" clean before Thanksgiving.
5. I'm going to go have a cup of hot chocolate before I bathe Nathan. My current favorite: Land O Lakes Cocoa Classics Supreme. I have to buy it by the packet, but it is yummmmmmmy!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday's Thankful List
1. Got to hear a wonderful author, Mark Atteberry, speak and got to pick his brain a bit. God is so good to me!
2. And so is my husband! He agreed to go with me to hear Mark even though he is needing to work on his music really badly. (Okay, grammarians, is really badly correct English?)
3. I got to have lunch with my hubs at one of my favorite restaurants today.
4. I'm thankful for our house. It's not big, it's not grand, but it's a nice size for us, I love the layout and it's a perfect location for us.
5. The Daily Audio Bible podcast, which allows me to listen to the Bible in a year while I'm on the treadmill or doing mundane daily tasks. Life-changing stuff, people! :)
2. And so is my husband! He agreed to go with me to hear Mark even though he is needing to work on his music really badly. (Okay, grammarians, is really badly correct English?)
3. I got to have lunch with my hubs at one of my favorite restaurants today.
4. I'm thankful for our house. It's not big, it's not grand, but it's a nice size for us, I love the layout and it's a perfect location for us.
5. The Daily Audio Bible podcast, which allows me to listen to the Bible in a year while I'm on the treadmill or doing mundane daily tasks. Life-changing stuff, people! :)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thankful list for Thurs, Nov 20
Sorry I didn't get this up last night. Clinton installed new security software, which took FOREVER, but we seem to be fine now, although I'm having to completely rearrange my favorites list, which is now called bookmarks... I can't find anything. :)
1. A husband who is technologically savvy. I learn (and then promptly forget) new things about the computer nearly daily thanks to him.
2. COFFEE! Make it as strong as you like, add what you like, or just drink it black and save the calories but still perk up. Oh, now I get it -- perk up. Percolator, perk...takes me a minute. God bless whoever came up with this truly efficient delivery system for my favorite legal addicitive stimulant. :)
3. Naptime. It can be amazing what you can get done in a couple of hours...or not.1. A husband who is technologically savvy. I learn (and then promptly forget) new things about the computer nearly daily thanks to him.
2. COFFEE! Make it as strong as you like, add what you like, or just drink it black and save the calories but still perk up. Oh, now I get it -- perk up. Percolator, perk...takes me a minute. God bless whoever came up with this truly efficient delivery system for my favorite legal addicitive stimulant. :)
4. Baby feet, their toes in particular. I could just eat them up!
5. Matthew is learning, through his allowance, about managing money. He saved and saved and bought himself a Nerf dart gun that he's wanted for a long time. Proud of you, Matt! :)
5. Matthew is learning, through his allowance, about managing money. He saved and saved and bought himself a Nerf dart gun that he's wanted for a long time. Proud of you, Matt! :)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday, Nov 19 -- 5 things for which I'm grateful
1. For the wonderful people who cook Thanksgiving dinner at church year after year. It was so delicious and I'm sooooo full!
2. That I got some Christmas gifts ordered today.
3. That I'm getting better at saying, "No."
4. For my wonderful friends and family.
5. For this blog and the opportunity to expose,er,dispose,er,compose my thoughts and share them with both of you. :)
2. That I got some Christmas gifts ordered today.
3. That I'm getting better at saying, "No."
4. For my wonderful friends and family.
5. For this blog and the opportunity to expose,er,dispose,er,compose my thoughts and share them with both of you. :)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tuesday, Nov 18 -- 5 good things about today
Here is the list as promised:
1. I had lunch with my darling friend, Pat. Nathan was charming and sat in the high chair the ENTIRE time which is nearly unheard of, so we got to talk the whole time and I got to eat my whole meal hot which is also nearly unheard of.
2. I'm feeling pretty good about the progress of my contributions to our church's "Christmas program." Can't call it a play, not exactly a musical, kind of a spectacle, definitely an event...
3. I was not ridiculously late for anything.
4. We had gorgeous sunshine.
5. This day is nearly over!
1. I had lunch with my darling friend, Pat. Nathan was charming and sat in the high chair the ENTIRE time which is nearly unheard of, so we got to talk the whole time and I got to eat my whole meal hot which is also nearly unheard of.
2. I'm feeling pretty good about the progress of my contributions to our church's "Christmas program." Can't call it a play, not exactly a musical, kind of a spectacle, definitely an event...
3. I was not ridiculously late for anything.
4. We had gorgeous sunshine.
5. This day is nearly over!
Thankful for these 5 things, today...
My cousin and fellow blogger, Susan, has decided that she's taking these days before Thanksgiving and coming up with 5 things each day for which she is thankful. We have Matthew do this each night before he goes to bed (after he prays) and it has really seemed to help his attitude. On days that he's down on himself we also have him say 5 good things about Matthew. We are hoping he will thank us for that one day...
It is only 11am my time and I'm very far behind after spending 45 minutes on the phone with my mother this morning, so after I have most of the day under my belt I will post my 5 good things. And I'm going to accept her challenge, at least until November 25. I will explain why another time. Better go and "tear out a strip" as the say in Southern Illinois. Have a Terrific Tuesday!
It is only 11am my time and I'm very far behind after spending 45 minutes on the phone with my mother this morning, so after I have most of the day under my belt I will post my 5 good things. And I'm going to accept her challenge, at least until November 25. I will explain why another time. Better go and "tear out a strip" as the say in Southern Illinois. Have a Terrific Tuesday!
Friday, November 14, 2008
A good hair day is not a good thing
It's official. No one is going to see me today. Of course, the only place I'll probably be going is Walmart, but nonetheless, I will see no one there that I know. How can that be, you ask, as I live in a town of a mere 5,000 people, and everyone knows everyone, and I've lived here long enough to know (or at least know OF) nearly everyone, and it's payday so everyone will be at Walmart sooner or later?
The plain and simple answer is: I am having a great hair day. No trouble with the flat iron this morning, no hairs sticking up in embarrasing places, even the humidity has left my 'coif unaffected. A good hair day is Murphy's Law's way of telling me not to expect any socializing with anyone over the age of 10 today. So, I guess I'll just have to hope to see you on Saturday...
The plain and simple answer is: I am having a great hair day. No trouble with the flat iron this morning, no hairs sticking up in embarrasing places, even the humidity has left my 'coif unaffected. A good hair day is Murphy's Law's way of telling me not to expect any socializing with anyone over the age of 10 today. So, I guess I'll just have to hope to see you on Saturday...
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Quotes for the day after, in no particular order
**The Bible is the chief moral cause of all that is good, and the best book for regulating the concerns of men...The man, therefore, who weakens or destroys the divine authority of that book may be accessory to all the public disorders which society is doomed to suffer. -- Peter Marshal, 1902-1949
**A comprehended God is no God at all. -- Gerhard Tersteegen
**God is not morally neutral. -- Francis Shaeffer
**Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
**"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future." Jeremiah 29:11
**Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
**The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time. -- Abraham Lincoln
**We trust, not because God exists, but because this God exists. -- CS Lewis
**Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just. -- Thomas Jefferson
**If men will not be governed by the Ten Commandments they shall be governed by the ten thousand commandments. -- GK Chesterton
**It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible reading people. -- Horace Greeley
**I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. -- Alexis de Tocqueville, 1805-1859
**There is no trick being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you. -- Will Rogers
**A comprehended God is no God at all. -- Gerhard Tersteegen
**God is not morally neutral. -- Francis Shaeffer
**Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
**"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future." Jeremiah 29:11
**Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
**The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time. -- Abraham Lincoln
**We trust, not because God exists, but because this God exists. -- CS Lewis
**Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just. -- Thomas Jefferson
**If men will not be governed by the Ten Commandments they shall be governed by the ten thousand commandments. -- GK Chesterton
**It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible reading people. -- Horace Greeley
**I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. -- Alexis de Tocqueville, 1805-1859
**There is no trick being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you. -- Will Rogers
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Addition to The List
I have an addition to my list of questions to ask God when I get to Heaven. #434 is, "Okay, Viruses. Please explain."
I know my God is in no way sadistic, but sometimes the mere existence of cold and flu bugs make me wonder. This is one of those times. Really, what purpose can they possibly serve other than to maim humanity and cause life as we know it to come to a complete stand-still? Maybe they're tools of Satan.
In early October Nathan got a cold. We only go to church and Walmart, so he had to get it at one of those two places. I think. When we go to Walmart I always wipe down the shopping cart and when we get home I wash my hands profusely... Anyway, he shared his cold with me. While his cold got better, mine became a sinus infection. Now he has yet another cold, and yes, he has again shared his virus with his mother. I'm thinking I should buy some stock in the company that makes the Z-pack.
Perhaps these tools of the devil serve purposes we as yet cannot see and may never see. Maybe they help keep nastier viruses and germs in check. Maybe they are designed to help you appreciate your senses of taste and smell. Really, I don't know, but I do plan to ask. On the bright side, I have lost 2 lbs. so maybe they're not ENTIRELY evil. When I hear from God I'll let you know.
I know my God is in no way sadistic, but sometimes the mere existence of cold and flu bugs make me wonder. This is one of those times. Really, what purpose can they possibly serve other than to maim humanity and cause life as we know it to come to a complete stand-still? Maybe they're tools of Satan.
In early October Nathan got a cold. We only go to church and Walmart, so he had to get it at one of those two places. I think. When we go to Walmart I always wipe down the shopping cart and when we get home I wash my hands profusely... Anyway, he shared his cold with me. While his cold got better, mine became a sinus infection. Now he has yet another cold, and yes, he has again shared his virus with his mother. I'm thinking I should buy some stock in the company that makes the Z-pack.
Perhaps these tools of the devil serve purposes we as yet cannot see and may never see. Maybe they help keep nastier viruses and germs in check. Maybe they are designed to help you appreciate your senses of taste and smell. Really, I don't know, but I do plan to ask. On the bright side, I have lost 2 lbs. so maybe they're not ENTIRELY evil. When I hear from God I'll let you know.
Friday, October 10, 2008
I never should have gotten up...
I should have known better than to allow the annoying beeping to get me out of bed Friday morning. It was 4:30am when Clinton and I began hearing a beep. It was only once every three minutes, and we couldn't decide whether or not it was worth worrying about. Finally at 4:50 we decided we were getting annoyed and better figure out what was going on. It wasn't the smoke detectors, CO2 alarm, house alarm system, it was...my cell phone. At 11:41pm someone whose number I don't recognize called and I missed it. We'll never know what happened there, but by this time it was 5am. I decided I was too wound up to try getting back to sleep, so Clinton joined me in watching the tail end of a movie I'd started watching 3 weeks ago.
Fast forward to lunchtime. I needed to go to town to deliver some frozen pretzels I had been storing (don't ask), so I volunteered to run to the bank for Clinton so he could go farm. This particular bank is a 25 minute drive from the house, and it would be a good idea to be there before 2:00. I packed up Nathan and 3 huge boxes of pretzels and prepared to deliver them to the freezer in Carrie's garage. First of all, I couldn't figure out how to get into Carrie's garage (don't ask). I called Carrie and we were good to go. I parked on the street and carried the boxes to the back of her property, down some stairs, around the usual stuff people have in their garages, and located the freezer. After rearranging the freezer I realized I could only get 2 boxes in. By now it was almost 1:30. What was I going to do about the third box of pretzels, and in the next five minutes? I had a brilliant idea. I called Stephanie. She is part of the same organization as Carrie and I, AND she has a restaurant closeby. Phone call to Stephanie. She could take the other box! But I couldn't find the backdoor to the restaurant among the 6 other backdoors. Finally she steped out of the one back door I could swear it couldn't be. I finally got rid of the partially-thawed pretzels and I was on my way to the bank. I would make it right before 2:00! Yeah!
Clinton has assured me I could make these transactions through the drive up. I believed him. Unfortunately the teller let me know I had to go inside to complete one of the transactions, but she did take care of the other one for me. I parked across the street, gathered my to-this-point-well-behaved 14 month old, and we went into the bank. We finished our business and left. On the way home Nathan became not-so-well-behaved, and I got behind a slow moving armored car. For nearly the entire way home. Nathan finally gave up and fell asleep. This did not bode well for him taking a nap later in the afternoon, which meant he would be very cranky this evening.
When I got home, there was a stray dog in the yard. Lucy was barking profusely and the cats were nowhere to be found. The stray followed my car into the garage and I shooed it out the walk-in door. This poor bird dog was very, very thin, and I felt sorry for it. Although not sorry enough to feed it or keep it. I brought Lucy into the house with much difficulty. I placed Nathan on the floor with his toy four-wheeler and dialed the humane society. No answer. Not even an answering machine. I tried again later. And again. And again. On the 5th try I got an answer. Unfortunately the guy who does the "collecting" was working his other job today. He MIGHT get finished in time to come out, he might not. Lucy wanted to go out and do who-knows-what to this dog, my cats were traumatized, no one could come into our out of the house without being snuggled to death by this dog, and it's a 3 day weekend.
By now it was time for Matthew to be home from school. While I was waiting at the door to let him in, I saw a wasp. And another wasp. And two more. I watched them for a minute. I could tell that these, and several of their friends, probably are building a nest in the ceiling of the porch. At this point it is only 4pm. I'm wondering what the evening holds.
I guess it could always be worse, right? At least no one is sick, dying or on their way to the ER. The house is neither on fire nor being flooded. No tornadoes are baring down on us. I just need to go back to bed and stay there until tomorrow, before anything else happens...
Nothing terrible, just many minor annoyances that build up, and up, and up. Have you ever had a day like that?
Fast forward to lunchtime. I needed to go to town to deliver some frozen pretzels I had been storing (don't ask), so I volunteered to run to the bank for Clinton so he could go farm. This particular bank is a 25 minute drive from the house, and it would be a good idea to be there before 2:00. I packed up Nathan and 3 huge boxes of pretzels and prepared to deliver them to the freezer in Carrie's garage. First of all, I couldn't figure out how to get into Carrie's garage (don't ask). I called Carrie and we were good to go. I parked on the street and carried the boxes to the back of her property, down some stairs, around the usual stuff people have in their garages, and located the freezer. After rearranging the freezer I realized I could only get 2 boxes in. By now it was almost 1:30. What was I going to do about the third box of pretzels, and in the next five minutes? I had a brilliant idea. I called Stephanie. She is part of the same organization as Carrie and I, AND she has a restaurant closeby. Phone call to Stephanie. She could take the other box! But I couldn't find the backdoor to the restaurant among the 6 other backdoors. Finally she steped out of the one back door I could swear it couldn't be. I finally got rid of the partially-thawed pretzels and I was on my way to the bank. I would make it right before 2:00! Yeah!
Clinton has assured me I could make these transactions through the drive up. I believed him. Unfortunately the teller let me know I had to go inside to complete one of the transactions, but she did take care of the other one for me. I parked across the street, gathered my to-this-point-well-behaved 14 month old, and we went into the bank. We finished our business and left. On the way home Nathan became not-so-well-behaved, and I got behind a slow moving armored car. For nearly the entire way home. Nathan finally gave up and fell asleep. This did not bode well for him taking a nap later in the afternoon, which meant he would be very cranky this evening.
When I got home, there was a stray dog in the yard. Lucy was barking profusely and the cats were nowhere to be found. The stray followed my car into the garage and I shooed it out the walk-in door. This poor bird dog was very, very thin, and I felt sorry for it. Although not sorry enough to feed it or keep it. I brought Lucy into the house with much difficulty. I placed Nathan on the floor with his toy four-wheeler and dialed the humane society. No answer. Not even an answering machine. I tried again later. And again. And again. On the 5th try I got an answer. Unfortunately the guy who does the "collecting" was working his other job today. He MIGHT get finished in time to come out, he might not. Lucy wanted to go out and do who-knows-what to this dog, my cats were traumatized, no one could come into our out of the house without being snuggled to death by this dog, and it's a 3 day weekend.
By now it was time for Matthew to be home from school. While I was waiting at the door to let him in, I saw a wasp. And another wasp. And two more. I watched them for a minute. I could tell that these, and several of their friends, probably are building a nest in the ceiling of the porch. At this point it is only 4pm. I'm wondering what the evening holds.
I guess it could always be worse, right? At least no one is sick, dying or on their way to the ER. The house is neither on fire nor being flooded. No tornadoes are baring down on us. I just need to go back to bed and stay there until tomorrow, before anything else happens...
Nothing terrible, just many minor annoyances that build up, and up, and up. Have you ever had a day like that?
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
What do you do when it rains?
It's raining today. Not a storm, just a medium rain with a couple of thunder claps on occasion. Our dog, Lucy, is scared of storms, and as such is following me around so much that I'm thinking of changing her name to "Shoelaces." Bad enough to trip over toys, Tupperware, snack foods and all the rest that Nathan drags out, but Lucy is by far the largest road hazard we have right now. It's getting old and I'm starting to get aggravated. I keep telling her, "It's okay. It's not a storm, just some rain. I'm here, I'll protect you. We are fine." And yet she looks up at me with those sweet brown eyes saying, "Protect me, Mom, it's bad out there." If only I spoke Dog... No matter what I do to reassure her, she's still afraid, and will be until the rain stops.
I am so much like Lucy. God tells me, "I'ts okay. It's not a storm. I'm here with you, I'll protect you. I have it all under control, so trust me, okay?" And even though He speaks Debbie and I understand His words, too often I find myself cowering in the corner. Like Lucy, I believe that what I see and hear is more real than the reassurance of the one who loves me. I need to "get real," and remember that He has my circumstances under control. My vision and information are limited, while His vision and information are infinite. I must no longer fear the storms. I must move out in faith and dance in the rain.
I am so much like Lucy. God tells me, "I'ts okay. It's not a storm. I'm here with you, I'll protect you. I have it all under control, so trust me, okay?" And even though He speaks Debbie and I understand His words, too often I find myself cowering in the corner. Like Lucy, I believe that what I see and hear is more real than the reassurance of the one who loves me. I need to "get real," and remember that He has my circumstances under control. My vision and information are limited, while His vision and information are infinite. I must no longer fear the storms. I must move out in faith and dance in the rain.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Dogwood Branches
Among the many trees on our property is an old, rather decrepit-looking dogwood. It has grown up in a grouping with some other plants and bushes, and due to the loss of several limbs, is quite lopsided. In fact, one limb is hanging down but got tangled up in lower branches before it completely broke off. Somehow the limb manages to have a couple of leaves on the side that is still connected to the tree. We've talked for a couple of years about removing the entire planting but it's been low on the priority list.
The remnants of Hurricane Ike came through Southern Illinois last weekend. Plenty of limbs were down throughout the yard, including one decent-sized limb off the old dogwood. What surprised me is that the limb on the ground wasn't the limb that had been hanging for so long. The limb that blew off in the wind had been higher up in the tree, leaning out on its own. I realized that while the partially-broken branch was not nearly as healthy as the other one, it was still connected to the tree because it was being held by lower branches.
When hurricanes come through my life, I pray that I remember these branches. If I'm trying to stick it out on my own, no matter how spiritually healthy I may be, I'm at great risk of being blown off the tree by the storm. On the other hand, while I may be a broken branch with few leaves to show, if I am held up by fellow branches, I will be much more likely to weather the storm and remain attached to the tree. Thank you, my darling friends and family, for being my branches.
The remnants of Hurricane Ike came through Southern Illinois last weekend. Plenty of limbs were down throughout the yard, including one decent-sized limb off the old dogwood. What surprised me is that the limb on the ground wasn't the limb that had been hanging for so long. The limb that blew off in the wind had been higher up in the tree, leaning out on its own. I realized that while the partially-broken branch was not nearly as healthy as the other one, it was still connected to the tree because it was being held by lower branches.
When hurricanes come through my life, I pray that I remember these branches. If I'm trying to stick it out on my own, no matter how spiritually healthy I may be, I'm at great risk of being blown off the tree by the storm. On the other hand, while I may be a broken branch with few leaves to show, if I am held up by fellow branches, I will be much more likely to weather the storm and remain attached to the tree. Thank you, my darling friends and family, for being my branches.
Friday, September 19, 2008
And We're Off!
Hi Everyone!
You can thank Kay Hall for my being here. In early August I saw my darling friend at the annual ACMI retreat. We talked about what we were reading and writing and she piped up, "You know, you should blog." I must admit, my first thought was, "Yeah, right, whatever." And I blew it off. But alas, a small seed was planted, and despite my best efforts to smother it out of existence, it grew. Of course, I came up with many reasons why I couldn't, shouldn't and wouldn't blog. First of all, I'm a self-confessed techno-idiot. If it wasn't for my darling husband, Clinton, I wouldn't be able to forward email. I can barely turn the computer ON. I have a full schematic and 2 type-written pages on how to use our tv/stereo/satellite/dvd-vcr thing. Secondly, well, what IS a blog, anyway? Where do you buy them? Do they hurt when you try them on? Then I realized I was confusing them with clogs... But, I digress... Thirdly, what could I POSSIBLY have to SAY that anyone would find even remotely interesting? As some of you well know, I don't have a lot to say, but you have to listen a long time to find that out. (I didn't come up with that phrase, but it sure fits me.) And even more to the point, I don't have time to blog! But this little seed kept growing, and I realized that this was, in fact, a God thing. For a long time I've had all these little writing ideas but no place to put them. And without a place to put them, they go unwritten. And if they're not written, I forget about them. The worst part of that is that I lose the lesson. I love to learn and I love to share what I've learned. And, well, if you want to learn along with me, then join me here when you get a chance. And if you don't, that's fine, too. So here we go, on a little journey into my head (fairly empty) and my heart (fairly full). I hope it's not too scary! (For me, I mean, not for you. Although it could be scary for you. If it is I apologize...) But, I digress... I'll try to polish up the blog, add a picture or two (when Clinton has a chance to show me how to work the camera), and fill you in on what I am learning from what God is doing in my Everyday.
You can thank Kay Hall for my being here. In early August I saw my darling friend at the annual ACMI retreat. We talked about what we were reading and writing and she piped up, "You know, you should blog." I must admit, my first thought was, "Yeah, right, whatever." And I blew it off. But alas, a small seed was planted, and despite my best efforts to smother it out of existence, it grew. Of course, I came up with many reasons why I couldn't, shouldn't and wouldn't blog. First of all, I'm a self-confessed techno-idiot. If it wasn't for my darling husband, Clinton, I wouldn't be able to forward email. I can barely turn the computer ON. I have a full schematic and 2 type-written pages on how to use our tv/stereo/satellite/dvd-vcr thing. Secondly, well, what IS a blog, anyway? Where do you buy them? Do they hurt when you try them on? Then I realized I was confusing them with clogs... But, I digress... Thirdly, what could I POSSIBLY have to SAY that anyone would find even remotely interesting? As some of you well know, I don't have a lot to say, but you have to listen a long time to find that out. (I didn't come up with that phrase, but it sure fits me.) And even more to the point, I don't have time to blog! But this little seed kept growing, and I realized that this was, in fact, a God thing. For a long time I've had all these little writing ideas but no place to put them. And without a place to put them, they go unwritten. And if they're not written, I forget about them. The worst part of that is that I lose the lesson. I love to learn and I love to share what I've learned. And, well, if you want to learn along with me, then join me here when you get a chance. And if you don't, that's fine, too. So here we go, on a little journey into my head (fairly empty) and my heart (fairly full). I hope it's not too scary! (For me, I mean, not for you. Although it could be scary for you. If it is I apologize...) But, I digress... I'll try to polish up the blog, add a picture or two (when Clinton has a chance to show me how to work the camera), and fill you in on what I am learning from what God is doing in my Everyday.
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