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OK...so...I can't sleep...once again...
It seems like I've been awake for a very long time, so rather than lay there and ruminate over things that will seem much less important later in the day, I decide to get up and rummage through blog-land to catch up on some posts.
I have read much this morning...about joy, about questioning, about grief, and about more grief. I am left with some thoughts that have been tumbling around in my very little brain for some time now, but that have not been spoken. Very simply (because that's all I can muster right now)...
I love this world. I love the beauty, the friendships, my family, nature...most of the time, I really love being here. And God created all of this goodness for our pleasure, for which I am eternally thankful. But...
Another part of this world is just a crummy place sometimes. Believing in Christ and in his infinite goodness and love for us doesn't set us apart from experiencing it. Very wonderful Christians experience very deep pain. I have read this morning about friends experiencing incredible grief, deep fear, confusion. A friend with cancer, a friend losing a baby, a friend doing the hard work of deciding for faith instead of tossing it all in. That's where we are; that's this world. Jesus knows all of that. He knows what an imperfect place this is. He never said we would be immune from it. Sometimes things go the way we want, sometimes not. This would challenge the best theologian to question, to wonder, to try again to believe.
This world is infused with Satan and his plans. They are not good plans, and will end in destruction of everything and everyone here. Cheery thought, eh?
BUT...the rest of the truth is that as Christians our place here is only temporary. As wonderful as this life can be at times, there is something better ahead.
Jesus came to this world as a baby, ultimately, to rescue us! To give us a way out; to take us away to a place of perfection and limitless joy. Because He loves us.
The rest of the story? As an adult, Jesus allowed himself to be killed to "pay the price" for our imperfections, to "rescue" us from this happy/scary/miserable place. He has offered us a better place if we believe in Him and hang on...even through the hard times. He will take us away from here and won't allow us to be destroyed in Satan's final schemes.
There really is a place called Heaven, and we really can go there. Too good to be true? Almost...and even as I write these words I struggle with my doubt-nature.
Jesus loves us...ALL of us. He loves Mother Teresa, President Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Billy Graham...and US. And we all have the chance to be rescued if we believe in Him and His plan.
There is a much better way to say all of this theologically, but, as I stated earlier my brain just isn't up to it (plus I have to get ready for work). But...as I have written this the words to a very old (from my youth) song keep rumbling around...
This world is not my home, I'm just passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
O Lord you know I have no friend like you
If Heaven's not my home, then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
A bit of a population explosion...
OK...so here's my story...
Long, long ago my parents had two girls...just my sis and me...that's all there is...just us...
Then, somewhere along the way, my sister had two girls...and then I had two girls. That's it...just two girls...for each of us...
Then a couple of years back my oldest daughter delighted the family with the first of a next generation...a GIRL...
Yes...it's true...my family just does girls.
But wait...no...Houston, we have a problem...a few months after the arrival of my little Olivia, one of my sister's daughters presented the family with a new member. But there was something seriously wrong here...something was just not right..."it" was a BOY. A BOY??? What are we going to do with a BOY??? So many new things to learn...like using extreme care when changing the diapers...you just don't have to worry about those things with a girl. Sigh...
However, in spite of all these "obstacles," something very strange happened. Little Noah immediately captured our hearts. His bright smile and red hair has managed to endear him to all of us. Imagine that...
Christmas became a much happier gathering time...the two families plus these two little cherubs...
OK...I guess boys aren't that bad after all...
But...then...without warning...my other daughter - and my sister's other daughter - and my sister's daughter (mommy of Noah) decided to all get pregnant at the same time...and BOOM...suddenly our family has become a small continent all of its own. We have two more boys and another girl...all born within 5 months.
It appears that gender really doesn't matter at all...and that Christmas definitely will never be the same...
Long, long ago my parents had two girls...just my sis and me...that's all there is...just us...
Then, somewhere along the way, my sister had two girls...and then I had two girls. That's it...just two girls...for each of us...
Then a couple of years back my oldest daughter delighted the family with the first of a next generation...a GIRL...
Yes...it's true...my family just does girls.
But wait...no...Houston, we have a problem...a few months after the arrival of my little Olivia, one of my sister's daughters presented the family with a new member. But there was something seriously wrong here...something was just not right..."it" was a BOY. A BOY??? What are we going to do with a BOY??? So many new things to learn...like using extreme care when changing the diapers...you just don't have to worry about those things with a girl. Sigh...
However, in spite of all these "obstacles," something very strange happened. Little Noah immediately captured our hearts. His bright smile and red hair has managed to endear him to all of us. Imagine that...
Christmas became a much happier gathering time...the two families plus these two little cherubs...
OK...I guess boys aren't that bad after all...
But...then...without warning...my other daughter - and my sister's other daughter - and my sister's daughter (mommy of Noah) decided to all get pregnant at the same time...and BOOM...suddenly our family has become a small continent all of its own. We have two more boys and another girl...all born within 5 months.
It appears that gender really doesn't matter at all...and that Christmas definitely will never be the same...
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
TAGGED!
I've been tagged by Kathy (she seems to think I have been blog-silent too long) so here are 8 random things about me but first...1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts. 2. Each player starts with eight random facts/stories about themselves. 3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. 4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. 5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
OK...here goes...
1) I used to live in a real, live (or dead) desert. It's true...my Daddy was the pastor of a very small Friends church in Holtville, California. It's down by the Mexico border in the Imperial Valley. I was in preschool at the time, but I remember how hot it was...and I remember finding a dead rattlesnake in the dirt road next to our house one day.
2) My older sister fed me mud one time. Back in the day...when we were living in the afore-mentioned desert...my Momma used to buy boxes of ice cream bars and popcicles so we wouldn't perish from the heat. Back behind our little parsonage, one day my sister found a discarded box that ice cream "Drumsticks" had come in. There was the bottom portion of the cone plus a few scattered chopped nuts in the bottom of the box. I'm sure she thought she was extremely clever when she filled the cone tip with mud and sprinkled the remainder of the nuts on top and then proceeded to pretend to take a big bite. "Try it...it's REALLY good..." were the words that led to my demise.
3) Regarding spiders and snakes...I absolutely detest spiders. I mean, they are one thing that can make me jump around shrieking and acting really girly. However, snakes are another story. I don't mind them at all...and I owe it all to my Uncle Glen, who used to work at OMSI and actually was the guy who created many of the cool "push the button" exhibits back in the day. Anyway, as a little kid I can remember going to work with him and carrying a snake around. Uncle Glen was also my cool uncle who had a huge snake living in his house...
4) When I was in college the choir I was a part of went on a tour in Europe. Now, that would be a cool enough fact in itself...we traveled to England, France, Germany...all in 16 days...but there is a specific story that stands out as a "unique" fact about me. One day, while sightseeing in London, I was suddenly taken ill. I'm talking VERY ill...so ill that I couldn't keep walking. I found a couple of steps outside of a shop and sat down in an attempt to compose myself enough to do something constructive about my dilemma. Next thing I knew, a "Bobbie" (London cop) came sauntering over to me and in his best British accent asked me, "are you drunk???" Come to find out, I was sitting on the steps leading up to a pub. Now...I could continue the story and tell you about how I finally went into the pub and inquired as to where the bathroom was...and how I went up a flight of steps and found a bathroom...but the story is so incredibly disgusting I will end my tale here.
5) Many people who know me now probably don't know that I graduated from college with a degree in Music Education. Have I ever taught music professionally? No...but the college degree does look incredibly impressive on my resume'.
6) I am absolutely fanatical about garage sales and thrift shops. When the spring/summer seasons arrive, I delight myself in busy Saturday mornings driving all over town in an attempt to find the perfect "treasure." It's not like I need anything else in my humble abode (ask my hubby; he'll tell you), but I have found some pretty amazing things over the years.
7) My latest adventure is my attempt to add a bit of additional income to our household. I am an official Avon representative. Um...I must be careful that my "additional income" doesn't get eaten up in Avon products...sigh...(by the way, let me know if you want to see a book!).
8) I LOVE to color. Yes, you heard me right. And...I must proudly admit that I have raised two beautiful, wonderful daughters who also share my love. We find those "grown-up" coloring books at stores; you know, the ones with intricate geometric designs or pictures. I believe at times it is a form of therapy...just relax and let the colorful creative juices flow...
OK...that's it. End of story. Watch out...I just might tag YOU...
OK...here goes...
1) I used to live in a real, live (or dead) desert. It's true...my Daddy was the pastor of a very small Friends church in Holtville, California. It's down by the Mexico border in the Imperial Valley. I was in preschool at the time, but I remember how hot it was...and I remember finding a dead rattlesnake in the dirt road next to our house one day.
2) My older sister fed me mud one time. Back in the day...when we were living in the afore-mentioned desert...my Momma used to buy boxes of ice cream bars and popcicles so we wouldn't perish from the heat. Back behind our little parsonage, one day my sister found a discarded box that ice cream "Drumsticks" had come in. There was the bottom portion of the cone plus a few scattered chopped nuts in the bottom of the box. I'm sure she thought she was extremely clever when she filled the cone tip with mud and sprinkled the remainder of the nuts on top and then proceeded to pretend to take a big bite. "Try it...it's REALLY good..." were the words that led to my demise.
3) Regarding spiders and snakes...I absolutely detest spiders. I mean, they are one thing that can make me jump around shrieking and acting really girly. However, snakes are another story. I don't mind them at all...and I owe it all to my Uncle Glen, who used to work at OMSI and actually was the guy who created many of the cool "push the button" exhibits back in the day. Anyway, as a little kid I can remember going to work with him and carrying a snake around. Uncle Glen was also my cool uncle who had a huge snake living in his house...
4) When I was in college the choir I was a part of went on a tour in Europe. Now, that would be a cool enough fact in itself...we traveled to England, France, Germany...all in 16 days...but there is a specific story that stands out as a "unique" fact about me. One day, while sightseeing in London, I was suddenly taken ill. I'm talking VERY ill...so ill that I couldn't keep walking. I found a couple of steps outside of a shop and sat down in an attempt to compose myself enough to do something constructive about my dilemma. Next thing I knew, a "Bobbie" (London cop) came sauntering over to me and in his best British accent asked me, "are you drunk???" Come to find out, I was sitting on the steps leading up to a pub. Now...I could continue the story and tell you about how I finally went into the pub and inquired as to where the bathroom was...and how I went up a flight of steps and found a bathroom...but the story is so incredibly disgusting I will end my tale here.
5) Many people who know me now probably don't know that I graduated from college with a degree in Music Education. Have I ever taught music professionally? No...but the college degree does look incredibly impressive on my resume'.
6) I am absolutely fanatical about garage sales and thrift shops. When the spring/summer seasons arrive, I delight myself in busy Saturday mornings driving all over town in an attempt to find the perfect "treasure." It's not like I need anything else in my humble abode (ask my hubby; he'll tell you), but I have found some pretty amazing things over the years.
7) My latest adventure is my attempt to add a bit of additional income to our household. I am an official Avon representative. Um...I must be careful that my "additional income" doesn't get eaten up in Avon products...sigh...(by the way, let me know if you want to see a book!).
8) I LOVE to color. Yes, you heard me right. And...I must proudly admit that I have raised two beautiful, wonderful daughters who also share my love. We find those "grown-up" coloring books at stores; you know, the ones with intricate geometric designs or pictures. I believe at times it is a form of therapy...just relax and let the colorful creative juices flow...
OK...that's it. End of story. Watch out...I just might tag YOU...
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