Alert and Oriented (x4)

I asked a good friend today if he felt like our focus was wavering. He responded that we seem to be so busy doing good that we have lost sight, depth and grasp of our First Love. Take a moment now. Breathe in. Remember the God of the Universe came down in the form of a little baby some two thousand years ago. For you. For me. For all of us lost and wandering sinners. And He’s coming back again. Soon. Merry Christmas!

I have a winter in my soul right now. But it's not the kind of winter that is bleak and desolate.  It's the kind where, although I feel cold and hear only silence, there's a hint of expectation.  A time of looking forward to what may happen next.  A time of waiting.  And watching.  It may not all be good.  It's never ALL good, but inside my head I murmur over and over, "GOD is sovereign.  God IS sovereign.  God is SOVEREIGN."  And I am desperate to hear from Him.

...the end of an era?  Lidna over at 2nd Cup is taard! Coming up with a dozen thought provoking prompts when you are a ministry assistant, wife, mom to three (one of whom just recently announced her engagement… congratulations Katie !...) is a lot to ask of one person. She's tapering off.  So the dozen is now just a couple. Answer these on your own blog and then linky up over at 2nd Cup …. 1. What scares you the most A) Physically Swimming in deep water that doesn’t have concrete surrounding it and chlorine in it. But perversely, I love playing in the ocean and on the beach. I have come to terms with it and can even jump off cliffs into lakes now, but it always makes me feel all squeemy inside. But at least I don’t have to resort to Jack Daniels when I do it... B) Emotionally Outliving one of my children. I watched my aunt go through it twice, and that scares the pants off me. I don’t even like to think about it. Why does it scare you, and how do you cope...

On Friday, the day before I was forced to remember that it was celebrated my 49th birthday, our oldest son left our home to begin to make one of his own. It’s been a bittersweet time. I love that he is happy and well and still only about eight miles away. But I hate that he’s not right across the hall and always ready to share a breakfast burrito or a white pizza or a game of Talisman (latest new addiction—yes, I am a total nerd/geek and yes, I know the game has been out for almost 30 years.  It's new to me, ok?) at the drop of a hat. My little boy will be 20 years old in just a couple of months. He’s traveled and seen more of the country than I have. He’s responsible, can back up a big truck and park it like nobody’s business, and is a spiritual giant in my eyes. I saw him at church Sunday (didn’t see him all day Saturday. On my birthday. I know, RIGHT?) and got all welly and hugged his neck until I think I embarrassed him. I am officially one of those mothers now. Tyler m...

This has been kind of a tough season. There are days when I feel like I'm going down for the count, but somehow, God sends somebody or something along to lift my head and my heart.  Lucy broke her knee. She was in a cast (actually about 4 casts) from the beginning of August until the end of September. Not just in a cast, but the poor little thing was confined to her crate for at least 6 of those 9 weeks.  They wanted to do surgery on her. The projected cost was $2000. I’m sorry, but we now have a little dog that hops around on three legs most of the time. It’s cute in a pitiful sort of way. I can live with a three-legged dog. But $2000. Just. Not. Happening. As it is, we’re into it for about $600. $600 that we can ill afford right now. She’s happy and doesn’t know that she’s differently-abled. It hasn’t slowed her down one little millisecond, and she isn’t in pain. If we hadn’t already re-named her about five times, I’d call her Tripod. Then, right before the ...

Lidna, over at 2nd Cup , just celebrated her birthday and asked lots of people to contribute prompts for the Random Dozen meme.  She chose one of mine!  I'm so flattered!  So...here's my take on the doz....won't you play along, too? 1. From "Men Are Dumb ....": If you had a theme song that played whenever you walked into a room full of people, what would it be? My second son says “BOOM” by P.O.D. should play whenever I walk in to a room. Strangely disturbing. He says it was his “first band” outside of what his parents liked and Veggie Tales. How that makes it MY theme song, I’m not quite sure….In case you can’t decipher them, part of the lyrics say, “BOOM! Here comes the BOOM! How you like me now I say…” Never try to complete a blog post with the help of two 17-year-olds. At least he didn’t say Elton John “The B**ch is Back.” Sigh... 2. From Pam of "Alert And Oriented x 4": Which of your shoes are your absolute favorite, and which are of ...

If you happen to be reading this and you happen to be the type of person who talks with God on a regular, or even a not-so-regular basis, I’d appreciate if you could say a prayer or three for me. There’s pretty much a ton of stuff going on in my life right now and while I am feeling so loved and cared for, I am also overwhelmed.  Kind of like as hard as I pull, nothing is moving the way it's supposed to. Like the mule in the photo up there, I just need to set my feet upon the rock again.... Psalm 40:12 Thanks! Love ya! More than my luggage!

I say that because Lidna over at 2nd Cup has her Random Dozen meme up and thinks shes' at post one million or so, but I couldn't figure out how to write 1,000,000 in Roman numerals, SO.... nth Power it will be.  There is Power in the Dozen!  Post your own, link up over at Lid's and play along! 1. Do you do garage sales? If so, tell me about one great find. If not, tell me why not. I do sale now…and have, but not as frequently as I have in the past. I bought a really pretty brass chandelier at one for $4 about 20 years ago…that chandelier still hangs over my dining table. Ted says he’ll pay me NOT to have them anymore. They are a pain to host, I must agree. Because I work for a poor church, every time I pass one with a vacuum cleaner that works, I buy it. 2. Name the last thing you fixed. Probably a vacuum. (see # 1) 3. Name your A) Favorite item of makeup OR B) Favorite tool A) Mary Kay Highlighting pen. Aka Miracle Worker. 4. Which room in your home need...

We were gone a mere 36 hours...it should've been much longer.... Three of my bestest girlfriends and I just got back from Pagosa Springs. We have, among us 10 children, ranging in age from 19 months to 21 years. School is back in session. Fall is a little crisp snap in the air. We laughed, cried, soaked, relaxed ate...and can't wait to do it again next year! Cost of spa/hotel, split 4 ways: $60 Gas for the Prius $20 Nutella and Ritz $7 Memories for a lifetime? PRICELESS! Cast of Characters: Laura;  the baby of the group.  I've been married longer than she's been alive.  She just finished her advanced degree as an architect and is well on her way to becoming licensed.  Passionate about her baby, her man (who happen to be two of my favorite people), and Jesus.  Literal and artistic.  Dreamy and sassy. Robin:  Take charge.  Owner of her own small business.  Loves her Jesus.  Mom to three.  Unintimidatable.  (I...

Lidna over at 2nd Cup has her Labor Day edition of the Random Dozen posted. Play along and link up, won’t you? 1 Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you. I make an absolutely amazing grilled cheese . Don’t let the mundane name fool you. It will change your life. You’re welcome. 2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie? Hard question! I think possibly conversation will inspire me to pray, and song will inspire me to worship, a book to write a blog and a movie (depending on the movie) to sleep…I am terrible. Ted says I am like the little baby dolls...once my head tips past a certain angle, my eyes slam shut. I have yet to see The Matrix in one sitting…I always fall asleep about the time the Oracle lights up her cigarette…. 3. What is your favorite board game? I LOVE games! Catchphrase, Apples to Apples, Phase 10...although none of them require “boards,” I think this is what Lidna meant. I also like cribbage, just bought Fa...

Usually, if I participate in the Random Dozen, I try to get it up EARLY.  That didn't happen this week.  Lidna over at 2nd Cup's meme is up and ready to linky. 1.What is your favorite Mexican dish? Chile rellenos. Green chile chicken enchiladas. Or Christmas (red + green chile) or….hey, I live in NM…I can’t choose. 2. When you were a kid, did you get started on your homework right away after school, or did you procrastinate? Right away, usually. 3. What is your favorite store for home furnishings? An antique store? Mor? 4. When you were young, did you like school lunches? Yes…worked in the cafeteria and got free lunch. Pizza Fridays….mmmmmmmmm 5. Is religion a crutch? Organized religion can be. I have a relationship with God. It’s not a crutch. It is my entire life and reason for being.  I think that organized religion can become a rote practice in which one doesn't have to think, but they just kind of put themselves on autopilot and go thr...

This is a sad post. My heart is heavy. I just read about two toddlers whose bodies were recovered from their mother’s car that was submerged in a river.   Poor babies….they never had a chance. The circumstances surrounding the deaths are suspicious. Although the article meagerly attempts to be unbiased, it’s obvious that the mom has been all but convicted, at least in the reporter’s mind. At the end of the article, we are reminded of Susan Smith, who in 1994 was convicted in the deaths of her own two children in a similarly chilling incident, also in South Carolina. I’m not saying that in this latest incident the mother is guilty of anything. But I’m so sad. We live in the information age. Horrid and sickening news is pounded at us until we risk becoming calloused. I can’t help but wonder…IF this mom did this intentionally, would she have thought up that little idea all by herself, or did she glean the idea from the Nancy Grace-est type reporting that sen...

Lidna over at 2nd Cup ( http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/  )has come off of hiatus for the Random Dozen, a fun meme where you answer 12 seemingly random questions.  Join in, won't you?  - Sorry, unable to add links in the text, so they are in parenthesis.... 1. When was the last time you laughed until you cried? At my nieces wedding watching my extended family attempt to dance. We gots us some MOVES! 2. If you found $10 today, what would you do with it? Spend it on school fees at registration this week, probably.  Or a new bridge for my new electric violin... 3. Do you volunteer anywhere? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…..( I work at a church and have four kids…what do you think?) 4. What is your favorite summertime veggie or fruit, and how do you eat it? Strawberries. No, raspberries. No, wait..blueberries…OK…BERRIES! Yes! In a boat, with a goat, in a house, with a mouse, here there, everywhere…well, you get the idea. 5. Is your ...

August of 2010 is a mere four days old, and it's already been a doozy. There's been heartbreak surrounding me.  Mine and the hearts of those I love.  I prayed for ruin.  I prayed for God to ruin me.  To ruin them.  Control freak that I am, I didn't want it to happen this way.  Ruin.  Already, through it all, I am seeing growth and strength.  New shoots of hope.  I choose to believe in You, God.  I believe that You have me (and them) in the palm of Your hand.  I believe that we need our brokenness and that You will see us through and heal us.  I believe that You will turn ashes into beauty. Help my unbelief.  If grace is an ocean, we are all sinking, like the song says.  And like Dory says, just keep swimming. Monday evening, (note here:  day 2) I got a text that the restaurant next door to our church was on fire.  Hopped in the biggerredtruck and there I found (and I promise I am NOT exaggerat...

The one WAYYyyyyyyyyyy up in the top of that tree?  The man-boy I've been missing so much for the past weeks.... Will be getting on about 3 of these Tomorrow. And in just about 15 hours I get to wrap my arms around him again.  I may just let go long enough to let Breanah hug first....but then he's mine. Rumor has it he looks a little like this now Not so much like this, which is what he looked like when he stepped onto that first plane: I don't think I'll care.  I just want to smell his head.  He's still one of my babies, you know..... By this time tomorrow we'll be replete with momma's homemade chicken fried steak, mashed potatos and gravy, green beans and Sister Shubert's rolls....unless he wants something else for supper.  Cuz tomorrow it's all about him.

I just got back from spending a week with 44 of the most incredible students and leaders on the planet. And then after making a shameless plea on facebook, got an invitation to the best Independence Day bbq with some friends, old and new.  We had an great time, and among other things too plentiful, delicious and fattening to mention, partook of this: (and yes, that is a brand, spanking new pedicure peeking out at the bottom, thank you very much.). I am a very blessed woman.

This comes from a friend of mine, who got it from an apparently unknown source.  I don't claim credit for writing it, but I love the message. After facing the blue screen of death this week, I totally appreciate the humor.... Jesus and Satan were having an ongoing argument about who managed to get the most out of his computer. This had been going on for days and God was tired of hearing all of the bickering. God said, "Cool it. I am going to set up a test that will run two hours and I will judge who does the better job." So down they sat at the keyboards and typed away. They did spreadsheets, They wrote reports.... They sent faxes. They sent out e-mail. They sent out e-mail with attachments. They downloaded. They did some genealogy reports. They made cards. They did every known job. But just a few minutes before the two hours were up lightening flashed across the sky. The thunder rolled and the rains came down hard. And of course the electrici...

I am a sucker. There is one born every minute. Point in case: This is the newest member of my household. We THINK her name is Jouet (French for 'toy'). We aren't positive about that yet. But it seems to fit. To illustrate just how tiny she is right now, I direct you to this photo:   My apologies for the quality of the photo..it's from my cell phone, but yes, she is INSIDE Caleb's sweatpants pocket.  She probably weighs about 1.5 lbs now.  She may get up to 6 or 7 lbs and 10" tall.  She is called a Phantom...which means while she is a toy poodle, she has the markings of a Doberman Pinscher.  I don't like poodles.  But who couldn't love a face like that?  Yes, I caved.  Yes, I am potty training another dog.  Ted's sister raises them and she is going to France next weekend to visit her daughter, who is an absolutely amazing young woman, a coluratura soprano.  Even if you don't like opera, I think you will hear about her....

When did this little person become this little elf.... Who grew into this incredible young man? Tanner celebrated his 14th birthday over the weekend.  I can't believe it's been 14 years.... Don't blink.

It’s Wednesday, and you know that that means? Lidna continues with the Random Dozen over at 2nd Cup . Play along and then link up. This week’s theme is ONE. If you can, be sure to visit others and leave at least ONE nice word. (Because Linda is one of the few people who read my blog I resisted the temptation to insert “One” from A Chorus Line since her appreciation for musical theater is, shall we say, NOT developed. 1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch? Quesedillas….with or without chicken. And I ALWAYS have tortillas on hand. 2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.) I won’t leave without having to come back inside for something I’ve forgotten, at least once, does that count? 3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting? The beach, specifically Hawaii. 4. Share one factoid of your family's history. I am a 16th cousin to Robert E. Lee. 5. Complete this sentence...

Stand True   Ministries is all about Christ-centered pro-life.  Each summer six to eight young adults from ages 16 through 28 or so pile in a big van and travel around the country setting up booths at music festivals, speaking at churches, participating in prayer vigils and sharing the love and hope of Christ with a lost and dying world.  The people on this trip subsist mainly on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and prayers.  And I'm asking you to consider helping them. My son, Tyler , has been accepted to go along on this summer's trip.  He'll leave early June and come back in mid-July.  He's excited and totally on fire for this.  Tyler believes there are no unwanted babies.  Each and every soul created by the Master of the Universe was created with a special purpose in mind.  Please keep Tyler, Stand True and all the team in your prayers.  I am so incredibly proud of this amazing young man, and can scarcely believe that God bless...

Whew! Could that title possibly be any longer? This post marks number 150 and to commemorate that fancy number, I would like to have a giveaway. I don't even know what kind of a giveaway...but a giveaway nonetheless. So, I guess leave a comment here and I will use one of those fancy random integer generators and will figure out something really cool to give away. I guess if I were to post more than say...once a month I wouldn't have so much to post about. LOST has just 2 episodes left. I think I may be bereft on my Tuesday evenings. I have so loved watching this show and trying to figure it out. But tonight's episode...whew! No thoughts/no theories/no spoilers. But who is up for having a LOST party on the 23rd? I can skinny out of a grad party early for that! Prom: Amy was invited to a local Christian radio station's alternative masquerade prom. We have a rule in our household that before one of our children is allowed to 'date' anyone, the boy must ask th...