An Evening Unexpected

I'm torn between posting pictures of Michael's birthday cake and telling you why my cheeks are tear stained.

I suppose I could leave that line there and make the decision tomorrow.

But then some of you might call my house before 9 to make sure everything is ok and we just can't have that, now can we! Everybody knows Julie is not a morning person. Never has been. Never will be.

So I guess we'll go with the tears and save the pictures for another day. You're more curious about the tears anyway, aren't you?

I told you a few weeks ago, when I was all excited about the Stuff Christians Like site, that I'd never before read a blog from start to finish all in one night. Tonight I finished my second. I don't remember why I picked up the computer in the first place. I had planned to read my book, not blogs tonight. For whatever reason I checked the LPM blog and then Room For Grace to see if there was new content. They are the top two in my favorites list and if I just have a few minutes, I go there first. Tonight, I also checked BooMama, who sent me on my way to a place I didn't expect to be.

Without realizing it, I entered into the story of Angie, whose baby girl died just hours after birth from many medical complications that will never be explained. I was first directed to a post about shattering a vase on purpose and then gluing it back together while you and God have a heart to heart. Curious about what had caused her grief, I started back at the beginning. Once there, I couldn't stop. She tells an honest, compelling story with so much emotion in the words that you can't help but walk the road with her.

So much of her grief ripped open those sacred places I have in my heart for my friend's baby, Jackson, and my own miscarried baby. I remembered the tears and the pain and the anger and lack of answers. I remembered the sorrow and pain and the little things that made me smile when I didn't want to. I remembered being with Molly in Boston on a whale watching boat - how she ran from one side of the boat to the other in an exuberant search for a spout of water, momentarily letting something other than grief occupy her tired self. I remembered how Molly listened while I cried my own sadness to her just a few years later.

And tonight, I voluntarily walked that road again with a lady named Angie in Tennessee. Her baby died just 8 weeks ago. I cried for her. I cried with her. I giggled at some of the things her girls said. I smiled at pictures and ended up feeling like I spent the evening with a friend. How is it that someone can be going through that much pain, and still be writing such encouragement? It's not an easy story to read, or tell for that matter. But it is beautiful. In more ways than we'll likely ever know.

I've finished reading. I've finished my Coke and my popcorn. Michael's already gone to bed. And I... I need to go clean my lenses of the water marks wet eyelashes make. My tear stained cheeks will be clean in just a short while. Hers will take much longer. But tonight I'm thankful for the Psalm that promises

"He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars
And calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power
His understanding has no limit. "

Will I Ever Have Another Uneventful Mother's Day Service?

This past Sunday I was the lay reader for our church service. That means I read the Old Testament scripture after the last song and before the sermon. You might remember that last year I participated in the Mother's Day service at our old church...and had a....a little dress issue.

This year I intentionally picked an outfit that I couldn't mess up. Unfortunately I found other ways to make the Mother's Day service amusing.

Our church reads scriptures based on the calendar year. Somebody, a long time ago, divided up the Bible so that all of it gets read at some point during a three year period. The selections are relevant for the religious calendar year. I think it's called the Lectionary, but I don't know much about liturgical churches, so that might not be right.

At any rate, I didn't read my assigned scripture until we were in the car ON THE WAY to church. Since they didn't have Mother's Day in Bible times, my scripture didn't have anything to do with being a Mom. Instead, it was related to the other celebration of the day - Pentecost.

Pentecost is the day the apostles received the Holy Spirit and spoke in other languages, or tongues. I still think it's ironic that my Presbyterian church focused almost exclusively on Pentecost, but my brother's Pentecostal church only celebrated Mother's Day.

Back in the car. My scripture reading started like this:
So Moses ... gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent.

I immediately had a mental picture of Moses with his long beard and flowing robe, setting his staff down so he could throw an old man over his shoulder and 'place' him exactly two feet away from the last old man he'd placed around the tent. Giggles... but I gathered myself and continued.

Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad,

Eldad? Medad? Are you joking? I have to stand up in front of the church and say Medad? On Mother's Day? And then I just collapsed into uncontrollable giggles. Every time I had to say Eldad and Medad my voice would start shaking and I'd begin to laugh. We thought maybe if I changed the accent syllable, I could hold strong. So we tried ELdad and MEdad. But that prompted me to change the names to Elmom and Memom for some reason. So I tried again, this time attempting ElDAD and MeDAD...but that sounded so Irish that even Daniel was cracking up.

Believe me the tears were flowing freely down my cheeks and I was burning calories in belly laughs.

And the scripture continues...
²⁸And a young man ran and told Moses, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, of Moses from his youth');" onmouseout="return nd();">^* said, ‘My lord Moses, stop them!’

So even if I got through the Eldad and Medad the first time, I'd have to say their names again, because as they received the Spirit of God, they began to prophesy. And then Joshua, son of Nun(? None? What?) comes running in and says 'My lord Moses, stop them...." Now I know lord meant leader in this context, but I couldn't seem to read it with the right inflection so that it didn't sound more like "Good Grief Moses!" or "Holy Mackerel Moses!" or "Golly gee Batman, stop them!"

By the time we arrived at church, I had no makeup left on my eyes or cheeks because it was smeared all over the tissue I used to dry my tears. Michael decided he'd have to find the secret bathroom during this part of the service, because if we made eye contact while I was reading, it would be all over.

Before the service started, I attempted to glean a pronunciation of Eldad and Medad from Pastor Brint, who didn't think my antics were nearly as funny as I did. That settled me down some. Michael was, fortunately, stuck at the keyboard behind me as I read. I got through the placement of the elders without a hitch, but as soon as I saw Eldad and Medad on the page, I felt that awful giggle threatening to escape. I dared not look up from the page. With all the concentration I could muster I said, "One named Eldad and the other named Medad" without incident. I could feel the adrenaline begin to ooze through my body as my eyes scanned the second reference to those names. I knew the slightest hiccup would send me over and I'd never recover. Tears begging to fill my eyes, I read as confidently as I could. With Eldad and Medad #2 over and just 'my lord' to go, a smile made it's way to my face. I was going down fast. As quickly as I could I read "And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp." followed by "This is the Word of the Lord."

Even as the congregation responded with "Thanks be to God", I was ridding myself of the microphone and trying to stop the shaking in my shoulders. I know I was wearing the silliest grin and that it was probably interpreted as "Look at me! I did a good job!" And in a way, I suppose it was that grin. Because I have no idea how I read Eldad and Medad in front of all those people and didn't crack up laughing in the mic.

Really, now. Eldad? Medad? She couldn't have named them John and Bill?

The Blessings of an Old Friend (c. 1995)

About a year ago I got this brilliant idea to have a marching band members reunion. Our graduating class did not have a ten year reunion....not that I would have gone anyway... but I got to wondering about my friends from band. I ran the idea past Alison, the only friend I've stayed in touch with, and she seemed to think it might be fun. But she lives in Florida so I was on my own.

(Senior Night-1994)

It took me about eight months to actually get up the nerve to start randomly tracking people down. I started on Facebook, where it was relatively easy to just ask someone to be "my friend". Those contacts were fun and everyone seemed genuinely interested in a get-together of some kind. In February I started seriously trying to find all the members of the band from the year I graduated.

I googled a few names and found some email addresses. Then came the hard part. Writing the letter. Every draft sounded so....cheesy. Finally I just gave up and hit send.

I've located more than half of our class, plus several from the year before and the one after. As I began to reconnect with these friends, I was thrilled with their successes and their families. I was also saddened by their struggles and difficulties. I think somehow in my eternal optimism, I forgot that life would be happening for them too. Of course, I also imagine that everyone still looks exactly like they did on graduation day...and we all know that ain't true!

One friend, it turns out, lives about 5 miles up the road. When I realized he lives so close and yet I haven't seen him for 13 years, I suggested to Michael that we invite him over for dinner. Michael quickly agreed and I sent the email invitation. We found an evening that worked and Gene came over this past Tuesday.

Now I'd be lying if I didn't say I was nervous. I can be irrational at times and I worried about every detail. I worried about the menu. I worried about making conversation. I worried about whether or not my kids would behave. I worried that Michael would ask what I was like in high school. I worried that Gene would tell him. I worried about it all. I wanted so much for the evening to be a fun night of catching up, reminiscing, and good food.

Brenna met Gene at his car when he pulled in. Michael welcomed him into the house and I scrambled from the heat of the kitchen to say hello. The guy who walked into our dining room barely resembled the eighteen year old friend who, along with a few others, stood in my driveway talking till nearly midnight on the night before I left for college. I think I thought he'd either look just like I remembered or be fat and bald.

He was neither.

I was totally unprepared for what happened next. After introductions, he handed me a bottle of wine he'd brought as a gift. No one has ever brought us a bottle of wine. We don't actually have wine glasses or even a cork screw. I nearly burst into a fit of nervous giggles.

But then I had to think what to do...was it rude to set it on the counter? Should I try to figure out how to get it open and serve it with dinner? In the mason jar glasses I'd set out? How totally unclassy! My face burned up in at least fifteen shades of red as I panicked inwardly. I doubt my makeup hid a thing.

When I'd gathered my wits, I graciously thanked him, set the bottle on the counter and filled our glasses with sweet tea. But still I worried. I did not want to appear rude. But really, how was I going to get it open?

Conversation flowed well through dinner. Brenna was very well behaved and Daniel used his spoon....mostly....and also his hands. The rest of the evening was fun. We looked at pictures, caught up on other friends, and had a fun time. When he left, we sent him home with chicken leftovers, extra cake and a picture Brenna had drawn.

First thing Wednesday morning, I called my friend Molly. In my mind, she seemed the best person to ask since she reads Southern Lady magazine and her Dad once ran for Senate. I needed someone who could answer my social question!

Molly called me back laughing. She says she's no Miss Manners, but she assures me that it was ok not to open the wine. I feared I had committed a huge faux pas. Thankfully, I didn't. Maybe it's time we bought a set of glasses and a corkscrew. Every time I see the bottle sitting on the counter, though, I'm reminded of the gracious and thoughtful spirit with which it was given.

Old friends. Good wine. Mason jar glasses. Black Cherry Forest Cake. A Wii. And laughter.

Here's to old friends and new memories....

(Baccalaureate - 1995)

In Honor of March 6, 1999

The New Mr. and Mrs.

I don't have a lot of my wedding pictures on the computer so it was slim pickins for this post. Our wedding photography was done on film. (gasp!) I scanned a few in for my grandparents 50th anniversary slide show, but the rest are in an album. The picture above shows us leaving the church for the reception. We got the idea the day before that it would be fun to ride to the reception in my grandparents brand new RV. It really was fun and a great memory.


Below is a picture of my cousins at the wedding. They are all graduated from high school now...some in college and some out working.
They're gonna love me for posting this!

This last one was taken before the wedding started. Me with my family. In between smiling for this shot I was hollering at anyone who would listen to quit letting people come down the hall and watch. I really didn't want to be seen before I walked down the aisle. It's pretty hard to believe we are celebrating NINE years already. It went so fast. It's been so much fun though and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Has It Been Ten Years?

February 7, 1998.

Ten years ago today Michael asked me to marry him. Ten years! It's hard to believe so much time has passed. In just a few weeks we'll celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary. The time has gone so fast, yet it feels like we've been together always.

In 1998, February 7 was a Saturday. Michael was in his first year of teaching music and I was still in college. My parents didn't allow me to have my car at school so Michael would drive down to see me just about every other weekend. On this particular weekend he arrived on Friday evening. He spent the night with our friends Chris and Brian, where I'm told he spilled the beans about his plans for the next day and showed off the ring.



On Saturday, we went for a walk around the campus. One of the quirky things we enjoyed doing together was answering get-to-know-you-better type questions. We would often include them in our letters or give answers on the phone. Someone lent us a whole book of questions to ask before you get married and we thoroughly enjoyed talking our way through it. Because of this, I didn't suspect a thing when he handed me a letter with a list of questions for us answer as we walked.

We circled the whole campus before we finished the questions. I suggested we head back to my dorm, but Michael wanted to walk up to the education building. (It has since been demolished. You can click on the picture for more details.) It was a little chilly and I think he had to insist. We finished the questions just as we got to the steps. Michael said he had another note for me, and I remember being a little confused. He handed me a folded piece of paper with the following written on it:

I have another question I have to ask you. Will you continue to love me, no matter what--in good times and in bad, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health for the rest of our lives until death do us part? I guess what I'm trying to say in a nutshell is....


When I looked up from reading, he was down on one knee with an open jewelry box in his hand. He finished the dot, dot, dot with "Will you marry me?" The rest of the day is pretty much a blur. I know I said yes and we returned to campus to make some phone calls. Many of my friends had already heard, but they were excited for us just the same.

I was so happy that day. I knew our engagement would be a difficult time that would test us tremendously, but I also knew that the marriage would be worth every bit of the struggle. And I was so right. When I said yes that day, we entered into a commitment that takes us through the good and the bad. Sometimes the bad is overwhelming. Sometimes the good is deafening. Always the commitment is solid.

To help us celebrate today, why don't you and your husband/wife spend some time answering some of the questions below. It'll be fun and who knows...you might learn something new!

1. What political figure, alive or dead, would you most like to meet?
2. How do you eat an Oreo?
3. When was one time in your life that you felt all alone?
4. What do you treasure most about our relationship?
5. What part of a banana split best represents you?
6. In what ways are you like your mom? your dad?
7. On what magazine are you most likely to end up on the cover?
8. Name one place you would like to visit before you die.
9. Besides me, who is your closest friend?
10. How many keys are on your key ring and what are they for?

Dave The Paki and Friends

One of the amusing things to me in the book Blue Like Jazz is the nicknames Miller gives his friends. Tony the Beat Poet. Mark the Cussing Pastor. Julie the Canadian. Andrew the Protester.

Last night while I was trying to fall asleep I started coming up with nicknames for my friends. I found it much easier to name the guys than the girls. I've taken Michael's caution not to offend anyone and completely ignored it so let me introduce you to a few of my friends. (no pics because I haven't had them sign a waiver releasing me from all responsibility relating to their appearance on my blog.)

Dave the Paki - He's the easiest to name because he's from Pakistan. I think his wife or Belinda might've started calling him this first.

Vince the Musical Bug Killer - He's a talented musician, but also owns an extermination business

Belinda the Party Girl - (especially after the stories I heard from the other night! ... Oh I'm just teasing Belinda!) Seriously, though, the name fits because you know the evening will be fun if Belinda's coming. She (and her husband, Robb) keep us all laughing.

Chris the Hippie - I can just hear him saying "WHAT?" But I heard he was brewing his own beer and I think he talked about biodegradable fuel one time. If he dressed the part, which he doesn't, he could sit on a street corner with his guitar and totally be convincing! (Oh I'm so gonna hear it for this one!)

Scott the Secret Agent - Scott works in D.C. somewhere near the Witness Protection Program. Since none of us really understand exactly what it is that he does, we just pretend he works for the CIA as a secret agent.

Christine the Cucumber - From the phrase cool as a cucumber. I've heard she locked her keys in the car with the kids and still didn't panic. She has a daughter with lots of allergies, but she handles it like it's no big deal....even though I know it is. Always calm and cool - even when all 12 small group families descend on her house for a party.

If I sat here long enough I'm sure I could think up names for everybody else too...Suzanne of Gymboree, Molly the Republican, Carey the Artist, Eric the Hunter, Karol.....

But I really do have other things to do today.

(Updated to add this picture from our Christmas party. Pay no attention to the two geezers in the front row. )c (pretend there's a circle around that c) Karol 2007

And The Lists Go On

I found something fun today. Actually I didn't find it. Daniel did. Because of my latest living room rearrangement, he has access to our bookshelf. He discovered this new 'no-no' yesterday. I don't think the furniture will stay like this for much longer.

Today he brought me a blue journal with suns and stars all over it. It looked familiar, but I couldn't remember exactly why. Then I opened the cover and memories flooded out. The title page reads

"Michael and Julie's Book of Cool Phrases And Other Assorted Stuff".

Around six months after we started dating, we decided to keep a journal of the things we wanted to remember. We made lists of funny things we said or did. Places we went. Movies we saw. All kinds of things really. There aren't many details so it takes both of us to remember what all the entries refer to. For example, "the puzzle" refers to one we put together that ended up missing three pieces. And "too much snow" refers to the crazy amounts of snowfall we got during our first winter break from school. We weren't able to see each other for about two weeks...which was torture in those days. Oh, alright. It would be torture now too. : )

We have funny quotes listed, like the time Michael said "Put that in your pope and smike it!" instead of "Put that in your pipe and smoke it!" Or the time he said, "You don't know where that counter's been!" (I do not remember what that referred to, but it's still a strange statement.) We have tons of memories like getting apple fritters from the bakery, going to the Alan Jackson concert, karaoke in the student center, dressing up for Halloween, and eating tuna macaroni and cheese.

Then the book skips ahead to two months after our wedding. This list includes the fire alarm that went off on our wedding night, the little girl we babysat on occasion, the donut cake my father-in-law made for us, and all the strange things that went wrong on our honeymoon.

Again it jumps two years and this time the entries seem to center around our new house and all our friends. Speaking of which, they will no doubt remember the trip to Baltimore, where we all walked around for two hours in the rain looking for a place to eat dinner - finally settling on a Fuddruckers near where our walk began. The restaurant was decked out for Christmas. In August. It was a strange place.

There's one more set of memories and they begin in 2004. Brenna was 2 and the list includes as much as I could remember from the previous three years. My new car, becoming a stay at home mom, Dr. Phil, Brenna's sign language, Trading Spaces, small group baby boom, apple picking, and so much more. 3 pages worth.

Sometimes it does us good to take that walk down memory lane. I told Michael tonight, "I like our life." We have much to be thankful for. I think tomorrow I'll work on the next entry in the book.

Decorating For Christmas

Since I haven't done anything more significant than fold laundry and change Mr. poopy-butt (a nickname he's earned fair and square so don't pity him!) for the last two days, I don't have a lot to write about.

However, we decorated our tree earlier this week. (yeah us!) I usually enjoy decorating for Christmas, but I read a humbug blog post about lugging everything out for 5 weeks and then putting it all away again and it kinda zapped my fun. Even so, I pushed my way through, determining to carefully choose which decorations I really wanted to display this year. Over the past few years I've whittled our Christmas decorations down to two regular, plastic boxes and a large blue bin (for the outside stuff). Brenna also has a box of things that belong to her. Four boxes altogether. But I chose carefully from that collection and I think we did pretty well.

I'm not going to post pictures yet, because I want to participate in the Christmas Tour of Homes hosted by BooMama in December.

Since I was picky this year, a lot went back upstairs to the storage area. Many ornaments just didn't make the cut. Then this morning I read this post by Rachel Anne called Hanging With The Ornaments (Home Sanctuary) and it cracked me up that she wrote a post to her Christmas ornaments. If you have a minute, click on the link and read it. I think it'll make you smile too.

Black Friday Dinner

We went out to eat tonight. Early reservations - 5:30. Great company - my brother and his girlfriend. Expensive restaurant - and a coupon. : )

We came home fat and happy. ; )

You think I'm kidding. I'm not. Fat and happy is not an exaggeration.

We went to Texas de Brazil. It's a Brazilian steakhouse. Michael and I went with our team to one when we were in Brazil in 2000. We were a little overwhelmed there because we didn't know what we were eating, but ever since the Brazilian restaurants began opening here, we've been wanting to try it again. Stephen had a coupon for half off the meal and set up reservations for tonight. (This is one of those restaurants where we must have a coupon or we can't afford it. 50% off the meal meant they took $42 off our bill.)

Let me explain how the restaurant works. Everyone pays the same price for the meal which includes a salad bar and all the meat you can eat. Drinks, desserts, and a few other items are a la carte. The salad bar is more upscale and gives you the opportunity to try some things in small quantities that you might not normally choose. When you are ready for the meat, you turn a small red card on your table over to green. Then they begin bringing you meat on huge skewers and you tell them whether you want any or not. They cut it right to your plate. We had pork, all kinds of steak, chicken, lamb, sausage, and ribs. We ate till we were stuffed. And then we ordered dessert. Chocolate mousse cake. Yum!

We had planned to take the kids as well. At their ages, they would have both been free. But I'm so glad we didn't have to. Michael's mom and her husband came over to stay with the kids while we were gone. From what I heard they had a blast! When we came home, Daniel and Mary Ann were playing the piano. Brenna and Jim were under the dining room table, which was covered in blankets, pretending they were zoo animals, I think. We appreciate so much their willingness to come romp with the kids so we can go out occasionally. Everyone should be so blessed with parents who are willing to invest in the health of their marriage. (with boundaries, of course, let's not get carried away.) But you know what I mean.

Anyway, if you haven't gone out with your spouse in a while. Make a date and go. Enjoy a meal at a favorite restaurant or just go walk around the mall together. Being kid-free lets you relax a little and enjoy the time on a different level.

Deleting A Blog - More Complicated Than You Think

To my readers who also have blogs:

If you ever decide to delete your blog, please research the process carefully and act with deliberate caution. The blogger delete button doesn't actually delete the blog like you think it does. Unfortunately, I'm speaking from the Lesson-Learned-The-Hard-Way camp.

Until August I had a blog for the women's ministries of my old church. I used it to communicate with the women who were in the Bible study I was leading. In August, when we finished the study, I went to my Blogger dashboard and hit the Delete This Blog button. The option to do anything with that blog disappeared from my dashboard and I assumed it was gone. I typed in the URL a couple of times since then, just to make sure, and sure enough an error 404 would show up indicating the blog was no longer in use.

Until today. Apparently a bot picked up my blog before I deleted it, and kept the last page in it's cache. Once I deleted it from my dashboard, some (insert whatever mean names you want here) person took the cached site and replaced it with some pretty disgusting and awful stuff. They put my banner back up and are using my post titles, along with 'posted by Julie' - but it's just revolting.

The church discovered the mess through a link on their women's ministry page that hadn't been taken down. They notified me, but guess what?! I can't do anything about it because I no longer have access on my dashboard. Nice, huh? I've contacted Blogger help and will be waiting for their assistance on this.

So I've become a little obsessed with researching this all evening and here's what I found out. If you're done blogging and you want to delete it - Don't. Instead go in and delete all your posts. Leave one post that says something like 'This blog is on vacation' or whatever you want. Then just leave it alone. That way, the blog is still yours and they can't do what they did to mine. At least that's how I understand what I read.

The site that I found most helpful was www.bloggerstatusforreal.blogspot.com. But it was THIS post where I began to understand what had happened, and what I maybe should have done. If I'd known better. (sigh) But really....I never would've guessed or imagined this scenario!

The Inheritance of Character

Another little something to chew on. This one for parents.

I've been working through The Patriarchs by Beth Moore on my own for quite some time now. I don't have access to the videos so I'm just doing the Bible study portion. It's really quite good and I've enjoyed the in-depth study of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yesterday I read Genesis Chapter 26. I discovered that Isaac did some of the exact same things his father Abraham did. More specifically, he lied to a king saying that his wife was his sister. Exact same lie. Didn't work for Abraham. Didn't work for Isaac.

Let me quote a little something from Beth. "..., we have little choice regarding the physical characteristics we inherit. Those of us who want badly enough to be free in Christ and filled by His Spirit can - through the mighty power of God - decide which emotional and spiritual characteristics we are willing to maintain as an inheritance. One reason we want to be careful and deliberate about what we agree to inherit is that we too will pass on multiple characteristics and much character. Or lack of it."

It takes a little time, and effort, to think about what kinds of characteristics you inherited from your parents. I ended up making a list. Some are wonderfully good ones, and these you'll want to pass down to your children as well. Some are not. And these we must work hard to leave behind. No sense using the same lie twice. Honesty is clearly the better road.

Even if you devoted a full life to plucking out the bad, you'd still fall short and pass along something unfortunate to your children. The goal is not perfect parenting. Embrace the good things your parents left to you. Leave behind the bad. In time you'll see the blessings of that reflected in the lives of your children. Maybe, just maybe, they'll have a little less bad to leave behind when they someday examine their character inheritance.

Simplicity And Stewardship

Here's a little something I've been mulling over lately:

How do I balance simplicity with stewardship? Let me explain. A while back we read a book in Bible study called Celebration of Disciplines. It was written by Richard Foster and I remember that it was a very life-challenging book. The discipline I most remember is the one of simplicity. The more 'stuff' we own the more complicated our lives become. We acquire things, thinking they will make our lives easier or less stressful, but in reality they eat up time and resources. I find myself in this particular cycle with all things computer and camera related. We bought a nice video camera but we don't have the right computer tools to get our videos to DVD format. We have a good camera, but I haven't read the manual yet to learn all the settings. We have a relatively new computer, but it takes a lot of time to load video or pictures and sort them into folders, label them, upload to Kodak or Facebook, and decide what I want to have printed. Digital photography is awesome, but it does come as a bit of a time zapper. Each new 'toy' carries a theme of simplifying something, but it really doesn't.

A car takes more upkeep and care than a bike. An RV more than a car. A big house takes more effort to clean than a small one. Two houses are harder to keep in line than one. Not to mention the tax complications. More stuff means a more complicated life. There's something to be said for simplicity.

However, I also know that when God blesses us financially we need to be wise with our money. I'm just not sure what God's idea of financial stewardship looks like exactly...other than not being frivolous.


My specific struggle with all of this comes as we begin the closing procedures on an investment property. Certainly not an act of simplicity! It has and will require much from us. We will need to find a renter, learn how to manage a property, discern the right time to sell, and of course, it definitely complicates the taxes. On the other hand, it is a sound investment. Assuming we do find a renter, we will make money and have invested wisely. All investments require risk and this is no exception.

Simplicity and Stewardship. I'm looking for a way to intertwine the two, not leaning too heavily on either, but rather blending them into our Christian lives. How's that for something to think on?

When The Words Won't Come

Well it looks as though I've taken an unintentional blog vacation. Usually the words race from my head to the screen. But not so as of late. I haven't even been forcing blog post starts out of my mind as I drift off to sleep. The words just aren't coming. Seems I'm in a more pensive state. Not sad. Just not full of exciting things to tell the world. : )

So since the words won't come and I don't have any pictures to post, this little explanation will just have to do. Maybe tomorrow will be different.

Books, Mufflers, TV shows and More News on Nothing

I've finished two of the books on my Fall Reading List. Both fiction of course, because that's the easy stuff to read. The 5th in the Beverly Lewis series I was reading finally came in at the library on Friday. The kids and I picked it up after lunch and I was done Saturday night at 11. I'm telling you, I can't help it. When I'm reading a good book, I can't stop. And it helps that I read pretty fast too.

I also finished the Francine Rivers book about Bathsheba. (I've forgotten the title already.) It, too, was really good. Francine Rivers is one of my most favorite authors. She has a series of books, however, that tell the stories of 5 women of the Bible and another that tells the stories of 5 men. A Bible study is included with each book and it can be used in a group or individually. All 10 books are very well written. My struggle with the books comes in keeping straight what is actual Bible truth and what is the story line that she has created for the book. I love the books, but that bothers me.

Also, it looks like I won't be doing the Lisa Welchel book club, nor reading the book on Bad Women of the Bible. My friend Suzanne decided she had too many things on her plate this fall and since I was just doing it because she asked, I backed out too. : 0 So instead of that book, I'm going to read whichever John Piper book I get at the store tonight.


On to other news now.

My car sounds like a motorcycle. I was actually beginning to feel a little embarrassed to place my foot on the accelerator because of the noise it created. I mentioned to Michael last Tuesday that I thought there might be a hole in my muffler. He didn't see anything so I asked my dad. I didn't even get to finish my question before he confirmed my guess. He said he could tell a week and a half ago when I drove out of their driveway that I had a hole in my muffler. (I guess he was waiting for me to figure it out myself??) Anyway, we took the car in last night and they are fixing the problem today.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition had it's season premier last night. We are so hooked on that show! And also The Office. We've been Netflix-ing all the DVDs for The Office, trying to catch up with the show before the new season started last Thursday. We didn't quite make it, but I think we are only about 4-6 shows behind now. Last night we watched two more episodes/deleted scenes/commentary etc. and laughed until my cheeks ached and I couldn't take it anymore.

And since this post is now officially boring and full of nothingness, I'll add that I worked an open house at Rockett's on Saturday. They are opening another building - 5 floors of condos above a floor of retail. I greeted folks on the fourth floor with copies of the floor plans and directions for their tour. The elevator broke down about an hour into the open house and folks had to use the stairs. Needless to the say, by the time they got to me they weren't in the best of moods. Still, it was fun and I LOVE every opportunity I get to work down there. It's an awesome project. (If you're curious, click on the link above.)

A Grandfather's Pain

This post might bring tears to your eyes, as it did mine. Still, I felt some compulsion to share it with you. It is titled What I Said at My Granddaughter's Funeral by John Piper.

I felt his sorrow as I read it, but it also pulled on a sadness that rests deep within my heart. In that very special place I keep the memories of my miscarriage and the memories of my friend Molly's son Jackson, who died of SIDS at 5 months.

The lyrics below were ones I clung to, and still do, when I struggle through times like those. Sometimes I must choose to say "blessed by Your name."


Blessed Be Your Name
(by Matt Redman)

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Our First Sunday at the New Church

I could hardly wait to get back to my computer so I could tell you guys that everything was wonderful today. The people were so friendly and helpful, too. We got there early so Michael could check the set up, instruments, music, sound, etc. Together we dropped Daniel in the nursery, while someone volunteered to walk Brenna to her class. She didn't appear shy or nervous in the slightest. Then Michael and I went to Sunday School. A real adult Sunday School class designed for people our age! It was so much fun. Kinda like our small group, but bigger and in the morning.

The new contemporary service went extremely well. There were about 150 people packed into the church rec. room. It was tight and a bit hot, but awesome. Brenna joined us for the first half. After the first song ended, she called out "Nice singing, Dad!" I think my face turned pretty red as I leaned down to "shhhhh!", and the people in front of us turned around to grin!

We are surely in the right place at the right time. This church is so much more than I expected or imagined. We are definitely experiencing God's blessing! Overflowing with abundance!

______________________

Just for fun, here's a list of 10 things I really liked about our new church:

1. Michael and I get to go to Sunday School. Together.

2. When I picked up Daniel they said he was the best baby they'd ever had. (How can a mom not love that? : )

3. The service is only one hour.

4. So many people came up to me just to say how much they enjoyed Michael's singing. And how good his voice is.

5. We had orange juice before Sunday School.

6. All three of the pastors are extremely friendly and easy to talk to. In fact, the senior pastor stopped in the hallway, just to ask Brenna about her Sunday School class.

7. I could definitely invite my friends and family to this church. And I probably will.

8. They have a covered drop-off area at the door for when it rains or snows.

9. There are lots of families.

10. We laughed during the sermon. More than once.

A First Time Visitor

When was the last time you were new to a church?

Before tonight, it was 4 years ago, but that doesn't really count because the church was small and there wasn't much to learn. And before that it was college. But that doesn't really count either because the churches there expected the college kids and were prepared for them. I'm talking about walking in as a genuine visitor. Never been there before. No one is there to meet you or show you around. You're just a face nobody recognizes.

That was us tonight. We were the visitors. And it was tough. Michael has a new job at a new church and he'll be holding practice on Wednesday nights. Since they have a family dinner time and a short program, we decided to make Wednesday evenings a family church night. Starting tonight. (His first service will be this coming Sunday.)

Let me just say that walking into a medium to large church as a new person and trying to navigate all their customs is not easy. Which room do we go to? Can we pay with a check or do we need to bring cash? (We brought cash just in case.) When we walked into the fellowship hall, a whole new set of questions arose. Does it matter where we sit? Is there an opening prayer? Do we wait for someone to say something? Where exactly do we go to get our food? Where can I find a highchair? Will anyone talk to us? (They did.) What do we do with our dishes when we're done? Where is the program held? Where do my kids go?

We obviously survived the evening. A few well placed signs or a hostess could've made us a lot more comfortable, but we did manage the evening okay. Brenna, on the other hand, didn't. She was so nervous about the new church and she was trying so hard that she just didn't have anything left to handle her emotions. She cried three different times. Over things that normally wouldn't have bothered her one bit. She was over-enthusiastic during the program and drew attention to herself by saying a string of nonsense words rather loudly. The bottom line is she was nervous. Some of her behavior was quite uncharacteristic, but she still says she had fun. Because of the way things were done tonight, she didn't really have a chance to meet any other kids her age. I'm hoping that will change on Sunday. We did take a peek in her Sunday School room so she'll know where to go.

It looks like we have a lot to learn as new Presbyterians. There are all kinds of new words I've been seeing in the emails from the pastor that I don't know. There are particular names for parts of the service. There are certain types of songs and certain types of prayers and they go in particular places during the service. People have titles that I've never heard of. As we walked through the building tonight, I saw rooms with names that I don't understand. (Including a 'parlor' outside of the sanctuary?) Even the women's ministry has different words. I think they're called 'Circles'. I think by the time I learn it all I should be able to publish a Newcomers Guide to the Presbyterian Church. : )

By the way, I'm working a post that will explain how we got to this new church. It's an all-summer-long story, so it's taking me a while to put it all together. I'm sure I'll post it soon, though.

Hope for a return to normal blogging

My working woman days are coming to a close. I have one more four hour time slot left. I'm actually kind of sad about it. I have really enjoyed these last few weeks, though not enough to do it forever. : ) I missed being at home with my kids too. I feel pretty disconnected from the family since I've been leaving every morning about 9:30 and coming home about 6. Some days Michael had a commitment in the evening and we literally traded off the kids. I came in and he left. We wouldn't last long on a schedule like that. But it worked for a few weeks. And I had a great time being a temp.

Hopefully by Monday I'll be back to normal blogging. Right now I've got a pile of house stuff to catch up on....You know guys cannot multi-task..... ; )

Beth and Me

I just KNEW there was a reason I love Beth Moore so much!

At the age of 18, Beth sensed God calling her to work for Him. Although she couldn’t imagine what that would mean, she made it her goal to say yes to whatever He asked. Beth graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a degree in political science. She would later receive an honorary doctorate in humanities from Howard Payne University. She married Keith in 1978 and soon after the Lord added Amanda and Melissa to the family. As a young wife and mother, Beth served the Lord by speaking at luncheons and retreats, working at Mother’s Day Out, and teaching Christian aerobics.

From lproof.org

A Poli. Sci. Major....JUST LIKE ME!! There IS hope for me yet!

Heat Map

Yeah, click on the picture to make it larger....we're under one of those 98s, expecting a heat index of 105! And tomorrow? Worse.