Seems the only time that I update my blog these days is when I'm getting ready to leave. This time though, my wonderful husband is going along - as opposed to my Hawaii trip in December!
We're off to Indy tonight to leave VERY early in the morning for Puerto Vallarta for a few days of sun and sand. Caleb, our youngest is very accustomed to going with us wherever we go, however he is NOT going on this particular trip. (We're celebrating our 15th anniversary a little early!) Nathan was different - he couldn't wait for us to leave whether it was just for a date-night, or for a few days, he was always ready for us to go away (this should have been an indication of the future). At any rate, the other night when Caleb was saying his prayers, he said - "God, I thank you for this opportunity that Mom and Dad have to go to Mexico and I'm glad they can go and have a good time. God, it's always been a dream of mine to go to Mexico but I know I can't go this time!" Now, I don't mean to blasphemous (spelling?) or anything like that, but I nearly laughed out loud when he prayed that because he's been giving us all kinds of grief for leaving him.
In fact, one other time when we left him and Nate (we were actually celebrating our 10th anniversary that time) with Sandra and Larry, Caleb (who was 4) wouldn't talk to us on the telephone for the entire time that we were gone which was 4 or 5 days. Nathan would try and try to get him to come to the phone, but we could hear him in the background saying 'No - I don't want to talk to them.' It nearly killed me.
Caleb is staying with Sandra and Larry again; we won't have much phone access (it costs a lot!) so talking to him on the phone won't be an issue, and we're dashing the life-time dreams of our 9-year old son. Ahhhhhhh - bring on the margaritas!!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The Simple and The Unbelievable
I was reading Luke's account of Jesus birth this morning and began to consider some things that previously, I've never really given much attention.
I thought about how the shepherds were lowly people. The shepherds spent most of their time away from people, and they were probably dirty, smelly, disheveled, and not really 'presentable' to anyone - let alone Jesus. But isn't it just like God to allow us to present ourselves to Him even when we're dirty, smelly, disheveled, and not really presentable to anyone - especially Jesus!!
I thought about the shepherds and how they were terrified of the angelic appearance. Their reaction to the angels was pure fear, which is very much the way that we react when God speaks to us or nudges us into an area in which we're unsure. We react with fear - possibly because we're dirty, smelly, disheveled and unpresentable - unworthy! We tend to rationalize what we've heard and attempt to put some type of human perspective on the situation. How sweet it is though, to know that when we obey He will help us to face the unknown. It's precisely what the shepherds did - 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. Luke 2:15' Rather than run from their fear or disregard the message, they decided to go into the unknown and find out what it is that God was telling them to do. And then they praised God and gave him the glory for all that they had heard and seen! It's so simple.
I thought about the Star of Bethlehem. We all know the story of how Mary and Joseph were denied a comfy hotel room upon their arrival in Bethlehem because the place was completely filled. It's hard to believe that the inn keeper could turn away a very young, very pregnant woman rather than help her find a room. Instead, she gave birth to her baby with the cattle - the lowly, dirty, smelly, disheveled animals.
The Star led not only the shepherds to the stable, but others from far away regions. I think about how bright and bold the light must have been to allow them to find a simple stable in a very crowded city. And then I have to wonder - did others see the light? It's hard to believe that anyone could have missed something so bright. Did they seek it out? If they found the 'light' and understood, did they bother to tell anyone else or try to explain it? Or did they ignore the 'light' and go about their busy lives - too busy to notice a very young, very pregnant woman about to give birth to the 'Light of the World'?
Merry Christmas.
I thought about how the shepherds were lowly people. The shepherds spent most of their time away from people, and they were probably dirty, smelly, disheveled, and not really 'presentable' to anyone - let alone Jesus. But isn't it just like God to allow us to present ourselves to Him even when we're dirty, smelly, disheveled, and not really presentable to anyone - especially Jesus!!
I thought about the shepherds and how they were terrified of the angelic appearance. Their reaction to the angels was pure fear, which is very much the way that we react when God speaks to us or nudges us into an area in which we're unsure. We react with fear - possibly because we're dirty, smelly, disheveled and unpresentable - unworthy! We tend to rationalize what we've heard and attempt to put some type of human perspective on the situation. How sweet it is though, to know that when we obey He will help us to face the unknown. It's precisely what the shepherds did - 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. Luke 2:15' Rather than run from their fear or disregard the message, they decided to go into the unknown and find out what it is that God was telling them to do. And then they praised God and gave him the glory for all that they had heard and seen! It's so simple.
I thought about the Star of Bethlehem. We all know the story of how Mary and Joseph were denied a comfy hotel room upon their arrival in Bethlehem because the place was completely filled. It's hard to believe that the inn keeper could turn away a very young, very pregnant woman rather than help her find a room. Instead, she gave birth to her baby with the cattle - the lowly, dirty, smelly, disheveled animals.
The Star led not only the shepherds to the stable, but others from far away regions. I think about how bright and bold the light must have been to allow them to find a simple stable in a very crowded city. And then I have to wonder - did others see the light? It's hard to believe that anyone could have missed something so bright. Did they seek it out? If they found the 'light' and understood, did they bother to tell anyone else or try to explain it? Or did they ignore the 'light' and go about their busy lives - too busy to notice a very young, very pregnant woman about to give birth to the 'Light of the World'?
Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
What's Up...........??? Surf's Up!!!
I've been told that I need to update my blog, and since it's been SO long since I've updated it there probably won't be anyone check it to see if anything's different. At any rate, I'm just here to let you know that I won't be updating it until I return from vacation.
Where am I going, you ask?
I'll be doing the Hula next week.......... I'll be sure to update it when I return!! Have a great week - see ya soon!
Where am I going, you ask?
I'll be doing the Hula next week.......... I'll be sure to update it when I return!! Have a great week - see ya soon!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Maple Nut Goodies (I'm a Time Traveler)
Is it just me or does anyone else love these as much as I do? I'm transported back to my Great-Grandmother's house when I eat these (or chocolate stars, or chocolate covered raisins, or butterscotch disks ...... or a whole host of other goodies!)
I bought a bag yesterday and just finished it today - all by myself. UGH. (I'm back in the present now - 40-something and not able to eat all of that stuff without gaining a few pounds!)
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Hurricane David and .... Do they name Tornadoes?
While he waited on one or the other of his parents to show up, Caleb looked through a book and showed the H&H staff a picture of some tornado damage. He told them that 'Mom is a tornado and Dad is a hurricane, and this is what my house will look like when they get finished with me tonight!' I've never been described as a tornado, so I'm not real sure what to think about that, but I can say that we didn't have quite the 'weather alerts' at our house on Friday as was anticipated!
We left H&H to go to soccer practice, and strict instructions were given to go straight to the field and start practicing (because we were late and I was NOT very happy at this point) - no stunts, no showing off, nothing silly - just GO PRACTICE. Shortly after we got there, 2 other kids had to be pulled apart and removed from the soccer field by one of the coaches - kicking and screaming after a real knock-down, kickin' fight. And yet another teammate had a meltdown for some other reason.
They went on to kick butt at the tournament on Saturday morning - two games - back to back! Go Arsenal...... (Hmmmmmm ..... something about that name!) And then the rest of the weekend passed by really quiet and calm! Ahhhhhhhh (And Caleb survived the 'weekend weather' quite nicely!)
Monday, September 17, 2007
Humble Pie - Again - or was it just plain Crow??? !!
I have issues…….. do any of you recognize that in me?? It’s true – I really do have issues.
David was out of town this past weekend, and Caleb had a friend spend the night Friday night. This little guy has never spent the night away from home before (that’s another story) and in order to keep them busy, I checked out PPV and there was absolutely NOTHING worth watching – at least not that I wanted to pay $4 to rent. Knowing that the friend loved dinosaurs as much as Caleb, I decided to rent Jurassic Park and Madagascar…… opposite ends of the spectrum in the movie world, but I digress. When I went to pay for the movies that I had selected I was informed that I had a $12 late fee. I haven’t even been to this store in years because David usually gets the movies in Paris on his way home from work– which is why I was there in the first place since David was out of town. I said, “What?” And she said, ‘You have a $12 late fee due.” I asked again, to be sure I had heard correctly and was assured that there was in fact a $12 late fee due. I told her that I hadn’t rented movies there in years, and so she checked the records and informed me that the $12 late fee was from 2004 for 3 movies that had been left 2 days late in the drop box. It was at this point (since I had already decided that I was NOT paying a late fee for something that Nathan had probably rented because I’m just NOT that nice), that I told her “Fine, if I can’t rent these movies I understand. But I can assure you that I am NOT paying a fine that is 3 years old.” She said, “Well, OK that’ll be $4, and they’re due on Saturday by 4:00 p.m.”. I paid and left – quite happy with my self. (My prayers for humility don’t seem to be working at this point – or maybe they are!)
NOTE TO SELF – Do NOT return these movies late. On Sunday morning when I was getting ready for church, I realized the stupid movies were late. I really thought about leaving them with $4 in the drop box, but decided I’d just take them inside, pay the late fee and vow to NEVER rent movies there again – because of course, it’s all their fault. Sara was with me and as I got out of the car, she said “You’d better hope it’s not the same person working!” And I secretly agreed! When I got inside, it was someone different working, and I was encouraged. I walked up to the counter and said, “These are late. How much do I owe you?” I was thoroughly expecting to pay ALL of my fees, when she very politely said, “Tell you what, I’ll only charge you for one movie since it was a very busy weekend for everyone!”
OMG - I ate Humble Pie AGAIN this weekend. It’s getting REALLY old. You'd think I'd begin to develop a taste for it....... Or wait - maybe I am - maybe that's why I keep eating it... Hmmm?
David was out of town this past weekend, and Caleb had a friend spend the night Friday night. This little guy has never spent the night away from home before (that’s another story) and in order to keep them busy, I checked out PPV and there was absolutely NOTHING worth watching – at least not that I wanted to pay $4 to rent. Knowing that the friend loved dinosaurs as much as Caleb, I decided to rent Jurassic Park and Madagascar…… opposite ends of the spectrum in the movie world, but I digress. When I went to pay for the movies that I had selected I was informed that I had a $12 late fee. I haven’t even been to this store in years because David usually gets the movies in Paris on his way home from work– which is why I was there in the first place since David was out of town. I said, “What?” And she said, ‘You have a $12 late fee due.” I asked again, to be sure I had heard correctly and was assured that there was in fact a $12 late fee due. I told her that I hadn’t rented movies there in years, and so she checked the records and informed me that the $12 late fee was from 2004 for 3 movies that had been left 2 days late in the drop box. It was at this point (since I had already decided that I was NOT paying a late fee for something that Nathan had probably rented because I’m just NOT that nice), that I told her “Fine, if I can’t rent these movies I understand. But I can assure you that I am NOT paying a fine that is 3 years old.” She said, “Well, OK that’ll be $4, and they’re due on Saturday by 4:00 p.m.”. I paid and left – quite happy with my self. (My prayers for humility don’t seem to be working at this point – or maybe they are!)
NOTE TO SELF – Do NOT return these movies late. On Sunday morning when I was getting ready for church, I realized the stupid movies were late. I really thought about leaving them with $4 in the drop box, but decided I’d just take them inside, pay the late fee and vow to NEVER rent movies there again – because of course, it’s all their fault. Sara was with me and as I got out of the car, she said “You’d better hope it’s not the same person working!” And I secretly agreed! When I got inside, it was someone different working, and I was encouraged. I walked up to the counter and said, “These are late. How much do I owe you?” I was thoroughly expecting to pay ALL of my fees, when she very politely said, “Tell you what, I’ll only charge you for one movie since it was a very busy weekend for everyone!”
OMG - I ate Humble Pie AGAIN this weekend. It’s getting REALLY old. You'd think I'd begin to develop a taste for it....... Or wait - maybe I am - maybe that's why I keep eating it... Hmmm?
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The Recipe...... for Humble Pie
I have to explain my blog from yesterday - and while I won't explain everything because I don't want you to think any worse of me than you may already, I will say that I have issues. Of course, many of you may already know that - and I will willingly and freely admit that to anyone! There are times when I get the 'Paula-filter' on my eyes, and fail to see others as Jesus would see them. I've been having some issues lately and had myself a little fit Sunday afternoon. David said something to me that I interpreted to mean - can't you just see this through Jesus' eyes?? (Thanks Dear Husband!! : ) I love that man!) And then Monday morning, I got up to read the study that I've been doing and one of the scripture references was John 15:16 but I also included verse 17!! And it says, 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
And so if God could choose me, in my most unloveable state of being (which is pretty often!), who am I to judge or consider someone else even the least bit critically. God chose each and everyone of us for a very specific purpose, and my purpose is no greater than anyone elses. In fact, without those other people, (all of us working together) God's purpose or design might not come to fruition and someone might miss a blessing. How dare I be so self-assured.
And then I read the next scripture - 17This is my command: Love each other. So, we love each other, just like God loves us. And I am very humbled, and give thanks to God for showing me the recipe.... to humble pie!
And so if God could choose me, in my most unloveable state of being (which is pretty often!), who am I to judge or consider someone else even the least bit critically. God chose each and everyone of us for a very specific purpose, and my purpose is no greater than anyone elses. In fact, without those other people, (all of us working together) God's purpose or design might not come to fruition and someone might miss a blessing. How dare I be so self-assured.
And then I read the next scripture - 17This is my command: Love each other. So, we love each other, just like God loves us. And I am very humbled, and give thanks to God for showing me the recipe.... to humble pie!
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