I have been wondering how we came up with the term "Merry" as the adjective we most commonly use for Christmas??!! I know........kind of a lame thing to wonder about...........but , Hey!! It's my crazy brain. So, as lame as I am, I looked it up in my 1828 Noah Webster, huge, hard-back dictionary...........not on an I-Phone, etc.
"MERRY, a {Sax, mirige, myrig; Ar. to be joyful.
1. Gay and noisy; jovial' exhilarated to laughter.
Man is the merriest species of the creation.
2. Causing laughter or mirth; as a merry jest.
3. Brisk; as a merry gale. {This is the primary sense of the word.}
4. Pleasant; agreeable; delightful.
Chaucer....To make merry, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to feast with mirth. Judges IX."
Well, that is something to ponder!! I don't think I have ever thought about that as my "greeting exhortation" to strangers or friends when I say to them "Merry Christmas"!! (which, by the way, I still choose to say to everyone........politically correct or not!) And now all the more since I have a fuller meaning.
Who but Christ Jesus the LORD, can bring that kind of delight to one's soul? And yet, even many who have been transferred, by His grace, from the kingdom of darkness to His marvelous Light, do not allow themselves this kind of indulging in hilarity and feasting with mirth over the birth of the Christ-Child!! Why is that?
As I take down the many nativity scenes in our home today, I will choose to continue my MERRY CHRISTmas!!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Pray about it???
Posting, journaling, writing anything have all been an unusual struggle for me the past five months. Today, I did a lot of going back over my prayer journal and was so surprised to see how brief and ..............well.........I am not even sure how to describe it all. What comes to my mind is distant or unreal. Very unusual for me. I have journaled prayers, thoughts, reactions to God and His Word for almost 45 years, I would guess. And now it is hard??? I can't figure it out.
As you know (if you have read much of my blog over the past year), our family has undergone some changes........major ones!!! So, I know that when there are circumstantial changes sometimes habits change, too. And I guess I am finding out that writing my prayers in a journal was a habit I formed as a very young woman. I am wondering if that young woman has left this "older body"!!?? I would like to think not, but the reality is that something is very different about my quiet times and how they have always been. It is probably a good thing, but I think I miss the old me!!
I am not trying to sound as introspective and almost morose as this is, but wanting to just express my curiosity as to what has happened. Maybe it is because I have been questioned a lot recently about prayer and "why we pray" and "does it really matter" and "isn't God going to do what He is going to do" and the like!! Those questions don't bother me one bit and I really do think I have fairly sound, biblical answers for them. So........it is not that my faith in prayer is shaken as much as my style of practice has changed. I am not sure I am comfortable in my new me.
Maybe I will just pray about it!!
As you know (if you have read much of my blog over the past year), our family has undergone some changes........major ones!!! So, I know that when there are circumstantial changes sometimes habits change, too. And I guess I am finding out that writing my prayers in a journal was a habit I formed as a very young woman. I am wondering if that young woman has left this "older body"!!?? I would like to think not, but the reality is that something is very different about my quiet times and how they have always been. It is probably a good thing, but I think I miss the old me!!
I am not trying to sound as introspective and almost morose as this is, but wanting to just express my curiosity as to what has happened. Maybe it is because I have been questioned a lot recently about prayer and "why we pray" and "does it really matter" and "isn't God going to do what He is going to do" and the like!! Those questions don't bother me one bit and I really do think I have fairly sound, biblical answers for them. So........it is not that my faith in prayer is shaken as much as my style of practice has changed. I am not sure I am comfortable in my new me.
Maybe I will just pray about it!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Christ of Christmas
While bringing down from the attic the bins and boxes of our many years of Christmas memories of our 42 years, I had the thought......"Why? Why do I do this year in and year out for 42 years?" I have had several hours to think about this, as it is an all day affair to get everything switched from "daily" to "Nativity celebration".
And in the process of unpacking and setting up many of my collection of various "Nativity scenes" I had my own answer to my thoughtful question. I do this because "Emmanuel" ...."God with us"!! That is it!!!! Christmas is my one chance to display in a special way that God is with me!! The amazing truth of God becoming a baby boy so that I could be filled with joy!!! Why would I not want to celebrate and display such an astounding reality that has forever changed my life and given to me the hope of life everafter!!
Over the past four months, without a doubt, it has been the very Presence of God in my life that has sustained, empowered, encouraged, fulfilled me while going through the worst storm of ours lives thus far. Because God became a Man Whose name was Jesus, the Christ, emptying Himself of the right to be exalted and worshiped as God while walking this earth, and giving His life as the payment for my sins, I, having trusted Him as my LORD and Savior, have gone through this trial of life with His peace, His provisions, His strength, His grace, His Truth, His power to trust and obey.
I have praised the LORD over and over, these past four months,for not taking Monty from me earlier this year with all of his heart events (about which I have posted previously). I am so thankful for our marriage and the way that we compliment one another in times of crisis, balancing perspectives and sharing each other's pain. I know that His grace would have sustained me as a widow, but practically speaking, having Monty here to comfort and support me when I felt a bit overwhelmed and allowing me to do the same for him made the enduring of this trial more bearable.
I can only say that my heart grieves for those who miss the whole point of Christmas. I pray that this year their eyes may be enlighted to the Light of the world in such a way that each one bows the knee to Him as LORD and thus finds the joy of keeping Christ in Christmas.
And in the process of unpacking and setting up many of my collection of various "Nativity scenes" I had my own answer to my thoughtful question. I do this because "Emmanuel" ...."God with us"!! That is it!!!! Christmas is my one chance to display in a special way that God is with me!! The amazing truth of God becoming a baby boy so that I could be filled with joy!!! Why would I not want to celebrate and display such an astounding reality that has forever changed my life and given to me the hope of life everafter!!
Over the past four months, without a doubt, it has been the very Presence of God in my life that has sustained, empowered, encouraged, fulfilled me while going through the worst storm of ours lives thus far. Because God became a Man Whose name was Jesus, the Christ, emptying Himself of the right to be exalted and worshiped as God while walking this earth, and giving His life as the payment for my sins, I, having trusted Him as my LORD and Savior, have gone through this trial of life with His peace, His provisions, His strength, His grace, His Truth, His power to trust and obey.
I have praised the LORD over and over, these past four months,for not taking Monty from me earlier this year with all of his heart events (about which I have posted previously). I am so thankful for our marriage and the way that we compliment one another in times of crisis, balancing perspectives and sharing each other's pain. I know that His grace would have sustained me as a widow, but practically speaking, having Monty here to comfort and support me when I felt a bit overwhelmed and allowing me to do the same for him made the enduring of this trial more bearable.
I can only say that my heart grieves for those who miss the whole point of Christmas. I pray that this year their eyes may be enlighted to the Light of the world in such a way that each one bows the knee to Him as LORD and thus finds the joy of keeping Christ in Christmas.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Seeking Heart
Yesterday I was in a situation that I have described as "awkward, hard" to those who have asked me how it went. I had to be with someone for several hours with whom the LORD restrained my communication. I know this sounds a bit vague, but that is because I am choosing to be. The past several weeks our family has been going through some life adjustments, causing all of us to find ourselves in difficult places. At some point in the future I might share the first drafts I have written (but not posted) as I have gone through this. But, for now, I wanted to share what the LORD taught me yesterday.
It was not until late last night, when everyone was asleep, that I could finally sit down to journal and listen to Him explain to me the "audible thoughts" he was giving to me all day. {If you have walked with the LORD any length of time, you, no doubt, have also had "audible thoughts" from Him.} Throughout the day when this person would make a comment which did not necessarily require a response, but was surely inviting one, I found myself unusually unresponsive. With the spiritual gift of exhortation that the LORD has given to me, it is usual that He would bring to my mind a verse of Scripture or Biblical precept to share with a hurting person or one who has offended.
But, yesterday, when those "audible thoughts" would come to my mind, I would ask the LORD if I should speak them to the person, or were they just for me to know. All day long, He restrained me from speaking them. Over and over I asked Him if I should share what I was thinking. Each time, I just felt led to pray that He would speak to the person and share those same insights in His timing. It was, as I said....."awkward and hard".
Then last night I picked up a book I had not read for several years, that I pulled out about two months ago, called The Seeking Heart by Fenelon, written in the 17th century. I opened up to a page that was what God was wanting to teach me. I will share the excerpts that He used to explain what He was doing in my own life through those awkward hours.
The page was entitled “Dealing With Offenses”. The parts that really spoke to me were these:
You really need the Spirit of God to give you strength in your trials. His Spirit will hold back the overpowering nature of your natural strength……. God always attacks your weak side. When God aims to kill your old self nature, He touches the tenderest spot—the spot full of life!! This is why He gives you the kinds of trials that He does.
Allow yourself to be humbled. If you are silent and peaceful when humiliating things happen to you, you will grow in grace. I realize that you will be tempted to defend yourself for a thousand different reasons. But it is far better to be humbly silent. Humility that can still talk needs to be carefully watched. You will comfort yourself too much when you speak out.
Don’t be upset when things are said about you. Let the world talk; just seek to do the will of God …..Silent peace and sweet fellowship with God will repay you for every evil word spoken against you. People will come and go—let them do as they please. See only God. He is the One that afflicts or comforts you through people and circumstances. He does this for your benefit.
By the end of my time with LORD late into the night, I knew that I wanted that "Seeking Heart" that waited upon Him. This morning in my quiet time I came across a great verse in Isa 30:18....The LORD waits to be gracious to you, and He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who wait for Him. A note I had written beside it said... wait for = look, long, love, live for!!
It was not until late last night, when everyone was asleep, that I could finally sit down to journal and listen to Him explain to me the "audible thoughts" he was giving to me all day. {If you have walked with the LORD any length of time, you, no doubt, have also had "audible thoughts" from Him.} Throughout the day when this person would make a comment which did not necessarily require a response, but was surely inviting one, I found myself unusually unresponsive. With the spiritual gift of exhortation that the LORD has given to me, it is usual that He would bring to my mind a verse of Scripture or Biblical precept to share with a hurting person or one who has offended.
But, yesterday, when those "audible thoughts" would come to my mind, I would ask the LORD if I should speak them to the person, or were they just for me to know. All day long, He restrained me from speaking them. Over and over I asked Him if I should share what I was thinking. Each time, I just felt led to pray that He would speak to the person and share those same insights in His timing. It was, as I said....."awkward and hard".
Then last night I picked up a book I had not read for several years, that I pulled out about two months ago, called The Seeking Heart by Fenelon, written in the 17th century. I opened up to a page that was what God was wanting to teach me. I will share the excerpts that He used to explain what He was doing in my own life through those awkward hours.
The page was entitled “Dealing With Offenses”. The parts that really spoke to me were these:
You really need the Spirit of God to give you strength in your trials. His Spirit will hold back the overpowering nature of your natural strength……. God always attacks your weak side. When God aims to kill your old self nature, He touches the tenderest spot—the spot full of life!! This is why He gives you the kinds of trials that He does.
Allow yourself to be humbled. If you are silent and peaceful when humiliating things happen to you, you will grow in grace. I realize that you will be tempted to defend yourself for a thousand different reasons. But it is far better to be humbly silent. Humility that can still talk needs to be carefully watched. You will comfort yourself too much when you speak out.
Don’t be upset when things are said about you. Let the world talk; just seek to do the will of God …..Silent peace and sweet fellowship with God will repay you for every evil word spoken against you. People will come and go—let them do as they please. See only God. He is the One that afflicts or comforts you through people and circumstances. He does this for your benefit.
By the end of my time with LORD late into the night, I knew that I wanted that "Seeking Heart" that waited upon Him. This morning in my quiet time I came across a great verse in Isa 30:18....The LORD waits to be gracious to you, and He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who wait for Him. A note I had written beside it said... wait for = look, long, love, live for!!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Cycles of Life
This post definitely is going to be one of my more difficult writings. I am having a hard time sorting out my racing thoughts, editing what to write and what not to write. Even knowing how to start has been difficult for me because of the many contrasting thoughts. I think I am just going to take the plunge and then maybe save drafts before publishing..........we'll see.
As you can see there has been over a month gap in my postings. That is because of various circumstances that have crashed into my life. I am not really sure that the seemingly important things, at the time, in July are now worthy of blog space. So I guess I have decided to eliminate all of those swirling thoughts and go to Aug 6, when I met with a surgeon who confirmed that I needed to have my gall bladder removed from the premises of my body. When I tried to tell him my dilemma... that I was planning to be gone Aug 15-23 to Jackson Hole, WY, and was wondering whether it needed to be done before, or could it wait????.....he offered to go into his office and look into his crystal ball to see if I would experience a sudden burst of pain while in the air and need emergency surgery.......!!!! To that I replied that was exactly what I was paying him the big bucks to do (I have $2500 deductible insurance which I will more than reach in the cost of all of this)!! So after the chuckles died down, I asked him what he was doing on Friday, Aug 8th!!! I suddenly felt compelled that I was to do this immediately. It was not an audible voice from the LORD, but I knew He was leading me to do this right away.
So, it all happened two days later...........At 8:30 a.m.,I entered the out patient surgery center for my first experience of any medical treatment with an anesthesia since I had my tonsils removed when I was 6!! I had not been in a hospital since my last baby was born 33 years ago! And I didn't even have an IV with her then!! And, by 5:00 p.m., I was walking into my house, minus one small body organ. I lay down on the bed and the phone rang!!!
That call led me into the darkest trial of our family's lives thus far. I say that because on my radar screen were only "real life" possibilities: the loss of a parent.....cancer for a family member, or causing the death of a best friend......death of a child.....death of my husband....car wrecks......loss of a grandchild.....financial reversal!! The "normal" tragedies of life, not desirable, but certainly understandable!!! That shock of that phone call had never entered my mind before. It was so upsetting that I called the doctor-on-call for my surgeon, weeping, and asking him if I could fly tonight after just coming home from surgery. I had a daughter who needed me and I wanted to get on a plane then.
Monty said absolutely not... and the next thing I knew, our daughter and her four children had round trip tickets from Denver to OKC, arriving at 11:30 p.m. Saturday (the next night)!!! Within that following 24 hour period of time we had found out that her husband had been living a lie for their whole 11 years of marriage and was not the person he pretended to be. NOT ONE OF US WHO KNEW HIM HAD A CLUE!!!! That, my friends, was never on my "Life's Difficulties" radar screen!!!
If you have read my previous blogs about Monty's heart attacks, you remember that I believe you learn in the light what you will need to live in the dark!! This was pitch black to all of us. I heard my daughter and her children wailing with me on the phone, with such horror and grief and sorrow that it was almost unbearable. I was hurting so deeply for them that I was not even aware of the pain from my surgery just 27 hours before. These grandchildren went from "we are going to go see Mimi and Poppi for a few days" to "we are moving to OK today, pack everything" in a matter of a couple of hours!!
He was a fire-fighter!! You expected that a call could happen someday that he was killed in rescuing someone else from danger, trying to save them from a fire, a burning car, etc. But none of us expected that he would be the cause of such destruction to his own family, and the many concentric circles touched by this precious family.
The questions began.....But, what about that "coming to Jesus" that was so genuine??? What is she to do....what school do we put her children in....should she divorce.....should she separate.....what about this......that.....how did we miss it???.....why??? Watching her gut-wrenching vomiting over and over, not able to sleep, can't eat, crying!!!
And, remember, we are supposed to fly to Jackson Hole for a vacation Aug 15-23!!! How could we possibly leave her and the children?? LORD, You knew this was going to happen!! Are we supposed to cancel........or were You planning for us to have that as a time to get away and pray and get prepared for walking this valley of the shadow of death with our daughter and grandchildren, who are now living with us for the next several months, at least!!?? Show us what we are to do, I prayed. And, I was finding myself coming to the realization that, yes, it was laparoscopic surgery....but it still was surgery!! He did cut into me and take out an organ that had been playing well for the past 61 years!!! For some reason, I thought it was going to be no big deal, which to me meant, I would be normal right away!! Remember, I had not had anything wrong with me ever before!!! I am a little slow!
I must rush in to say here that our three other children and their spouses have been amazingly helpful, prayerful, compassionate, sacrificial in caring for her and her children, making phone calls that had to happen, taking her places she had to go, but dreaded, getting them ready for their new school, getting clothes, loving and serving in every possible way. Not only that........but my friends have brought in food for almost two weeks now!!
So, we did come here to Jackson Hole, one week ago today. God has graced us once again in a needy time in our lives with loving, prayerful friends who are willing to bear another one of our burdens with us. (One year ago today, my mother died while we were up here with them.) We fly from here to Denver tomorrow where I will stay overnight with our other daughter and her family and then drive the van loaded with other needed things from their house, especially Jack, their beloved Rat Terrier, back home in OKC to do life in this new cycle.
I covet your prayers for healing and restoration from the devastating destruction one's choices have done to a precious, unsuspecting family.
As you can see there has been over a month gap in my postings. That is because of various circumstances that have crashed into my life. I am not really sure that the seemingly important things, at the time, in July are now worthy of blog space. So I guess I have decided to eliminate all of those swirling thoughts and go to Aug 6, when I met with a surgeon who confirmed that I needed to have my gall bladder removed from the premises of my body. When I tried to tell him my dilemma... that I was planning to be gone Aug 15-23 to Jackson Hole, WY, and was wondering whether it needed to be done before, or could it wait????.....he offered to go into his office and look into his crystal ball to see if I would experience a sudden burst of pain while in the air and need emergency surgery.......!!!! To that I replied that was exactly what I was paying him the big bucks to do (I have $2500 deductible insurance which I will more than reach in the cost of all of this)!! So after the chuckles died down, I asked him what he was doing on Friday, Aug 8th!!! I suddenly felt compelled that I was to do this immediately. It was not an audible voice from the LORD, but I knew He was leading me to do this right away.
So, it all happened two days later...........At 8:30 a.m.,I entered the out patient surgery center for my first experience of any medical treatment with an anesthesia since I had my tonsils removed when I was 6!! I had not been in a hospital since my last baby was born 33 years ago! And I didn't even have an IV with her then!! And, by 5:00 p.m., I was walking into my house, minus one small body organ. I lay down on the bed and the phone rang!!!
That call led me into the darkest trial of our family's lives thus far. I say that because on my radar screen were only "real life" possibilities: the loss of a parent.....cancer for a family member, or causing the death of a best friend......death of a child.....death of my husband....car wrecks......loss of a grandchild.....financial reversal!! The "normal" tragedies of life, not desirable, but certainly understandable!!! That shock of that phone call had never entered my mind before. It was so upsetting that I called the doctor-on-call for my surgeon, weeping, and asking him if I could fly tonight after just coming home from surgery. I had a daughter who needed me and I wanted to get on a plane then.
Monty said absolutely not... and the next thing I knew, our daughter and her four children had round trip tickets from Denver to OKC, arriving at 11:30 p.m. Saturday (the next night)!!! Within that following 24 hour period of time we had found out that her husband had been living a lie for their whole 11 years of marriage and was not the person he pretended to be. NOT ONE OF US WHO KNEW HIM HAD A CLUE!!!! That, my friends, was never on my "Life's Difficulties" radar screen!!!
If you have read my previous blogs about Monty's heart attacks, you remember that I believe you learn in the light what you will need to live in the dark!! This was pitch black to all of us. I heard my daughter and her children wailing with me on the phone, with such horror and grief and sorrow that it was almost unbearable. I was hurting so deeply for them that I was not even aware of the pain from my surgery just 27 hours before. These grandchildren went from "we are going to go see Mimi and Poppi for a few days" to "we are moving to OK today, pack everything" in a matter of a couple of hours!!
He was a fire-fighter!! You expected that a call could happen someday that he was killed in rescuing someone else from danger, trying to save them from a fire, a burning car, etc. But none of us expected that he would be the cause of such destruction to his own family, and the many concentric circles touched by this precious family.
The questions began.....But, what about that "coming to Jesus" that was so genuine??? What is she to do....what school do we put her children in....should she divorce.....should she separate.....what about this......that.....how did we miss it???.....why??? Watching her gut-wrenching vomiting over and over, not able to sleep, can't eat, crying!!!
And, remember, we are supposed to fly to Jackson Hole for a vacation Aug 15-23!!! How could we possibly leave her and the children?? LORD, You knew this was going to happen!! Are we supposed to cancel........or were You planning for us to have that as a time to get away and pray and get prepared for walking this valley of the shadow of death with our daughter and grandchildren, who are now living with us for the next several months, at least!!?? Show us what we are to do, I prayed. And, I was finding myself coming to the realization that, yes, it was laparoscopic surgery....but it still was surgery!! He did cut into me and take out an organ that had been playing well for the past 61 years!!! For some reason, I thought it was going to be no big deal, which to me meant, I would be normal right away!! Remember, I had not had anything wrong with me ever before!!! I am a little slow!
I must rush in to say here that our three other children and their spouses have been amazingly helpful, prayerful, compassionate, sacrificial in caring for her and her children, making phone calls that had to happen, taking her places she had to go, but dreaded, getting them ready for their new school, getting clothes, loving and serving in every possible way. Not only that........but my friends have brought in food for almost two weeks now!!
So, we did come here to Jackson Hole, one week ago today. God has graced us once again in a needy time in our lives with loving, prayerful friends who are willing to bear another one of our burdens with us. (One year ago today, my mother died while we were up here with them.) We fly from here to Denver tomorrow where I will stay overnight with our other daughter and her family and then drive the van loaded with other needed things from their house, especially Jack, their beloved Rat Terrier, back home in OKC to do life in this new cycle.
I covet your prayers for healing and restoration from the devastating destruction one's choices have done to a precious, unsuspecting family.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
To Exercise or Not To...that is the question???!!!
Do you wonder sometimes if that exercise push is all that it is cracked up to be? I do, now that I am in my sixth decade and things don't move as easily as they used to. And I used to move things a lot when I was younger. I guess I am suspicious of it all now since I am beginning to have things other people have who have never worked out. Not that I felt like I was going to beat all odds and not have physical difficulties at some point in life....but I guess I am just surprised that it is upon me this "young".
I really know I shouldn't complain, as I have been very blessed with excellent health all of these years. And when I went in for an ultrasound this morning on my gall bladder, the technician reminded me of that when she asked me about the last time I was hospitalized. I said it was 33 years ago when my fourth child was born. She was shocked and said that I was definitely the exception. It's just that I am not in the same shape I used to be in and don't have the where-with-all to get it back again.
Walking and doing 450 crunches with my ab bar 3-4 times a week, just doesn't seem to cut it anymore. So, I wonder, do I stay in the battle of buffeting my body, as Paul talks about and listen to his counsel in 1 Tim that bodily exercise profits very little. I thought I was obeying the Word, but I think I have been deceived by those Paul warns us to avoid in Col 2:20-22 "You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the evil powers of this world. SO why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, 'Don't handle, don't ea, don't touch.' Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them."
But verse 23 says...."These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it come to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires."
Well, there it is! I just answered my own questions. I don't exercise to get rid of my evil thoughts and desires...........but I do need to exercise for the purpose of strong devotion, humility and severe bodily discipline. Okay.........so now that I have worked that one out in my mind and heart, I guess I will get on my walking shoes and go for it........and get back into the routine of buffeting my body!!
I really know I shouldn't complain, as I have been very blessed with excellent health all of these years. And when I went in for an ultrasound this morning on my gall bladder, the technician reminded me of that when she asked me about the last time I was hospitalized. I said it was 33 years ago when my fourth child was born. She was shocked and said that I was definitely the exception. It's just that I am not in the same shape I used to be in and don't have the where-with-all to get it back again.
Walking and doing 450 crunches with my ab bar 3-4 times a week, just doesn't seem to cut it anymore. So, I wonder, do I stay in the battle of buffeting my body, as Paul talks about and listen to his counsel in 1 Tim that bodily exercise profits very little. I thought I was obeying the Word, but I think I have been deceived by those Paul warns us to avoid in Col 2:20-22 "You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the evil powers of this world. SO why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, 'Don't handle, don't ea, don't touch.' Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them."
But verse 23 says...."These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it come to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires."
Well, there it is! I just answered my own questions. I don't exercise to get rid of my evil thoughts and desires...........but I do need to exercise for the purpose of strong devotion, humility and severe bodily discipline. Okay.........so now that I have worked that one out in my mind and heart, I guess I will get on my walking shoes and go for it........and get back into the routine of buffeting my body!!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Mimi in Real Life
It seems that "posting time" has taken a back seat for me.........by back seat, I mean in a 15-passenger van!! There could be many reasons for my lack of creativity in expressing what has been transpiring in my tiny world, not the least of which is time management. I manage what little time there is left for me lately with trying to finish a book that has captured my interest more than my desire to post on my blog.
We (Monty and I, known here as Poppi and Mimi) are in Lakewood, CO with four of our grandchildren while their parents are on a much needed vacation in GA with friends on their annual trip to the Chattahoochee River.
Ryan,8(girl), Micah,6 1/2(boy), Addie, 5 next month(girl), and Presley, 3 1/2(girl) are managing my time more this week than I am. It has been a reminder of how much Mamas and Daddys need prayer for the awesome task that is at hand. Shaping the lives of children, which is what goes on in a home whether it is intentional or unintentional, is full time and has tremendous implications. Only God can give the wisdom, strength, endurance, joy and peace that is needed to do this job well.
When I was doing this same job in a full-time capacity many moons ago, I remember thinking (to myself.....I didn't dare say it out loud) that Jesus didn't really know what it was like to be a Mama......you know, tempted in all points like we are!!! But, in His still small voice that I had come to know so well, He reminded me of the 12 "children" He trained, not the least of which was rebellious Judas Iscariot, and the sons of thunder who wrangled about who was the best and should be seated in the best place!!! And those were adults, acting like children!! That had to be really hard!! At least these children are acting their ages.
It really has been a good week for us, aside from the two hottest days of the year without AC in the house!!! SO, we spent the afternoon today in a mall to kill the hottest part of another hot day inside with air-condtioning. Some would say that is demented, taking four children to walk around a mall for three hours, but they don't know us!!! There it was!! Our salvation..... a booth that wanted to take their photo for the bargain price of $20 for an 11x14. They had us when they said they had old-fashioned costumes the children could wear with all of the hats, parasols, caps and bats, necklaces, etc.. You mean they can play "dress-up" and kill some more time in AC? You bet we will spend the $20! Who wouldn't?? (That was a much better deal than the silly Merry-Go-Round there for $8 for a three minute dizzy-maker-ride!!)
Going through the dresses for the girls and the shirts, vests and caps for Micah, and adding all of the accessories made it all worthwhile. And thanks to technology, we were able to see that there was not one good shot of them!!! So we got our money back....sad for them....glad for us!! (Ty and Kaylyn would never have put that 11x14 up in their home, not even in the laundry room in the basement!!!)And we killed enough time to allow us now to head to the "dining in facilities" (also know as the Food Court)for expert mall culinary cuisine!!!
So, now for those of you who have endured this stab at "bringing you into my world", just let me know if you need any other suggestions for perfect grandparenting!!
We (Monty and I, known here as Poppi and Mimi) are in Lakewood, CO with four of our grandchildren while their parents are on a much needed vacation in GA with friends on their annual trip to the Chattahoochee River.
Ryan,8(girl), Micah,6 1/2(boy), Addie, 5 next month(girl), and Presley, 3 1/2(girl) are managing my time more this week than I am. It has been a reminder of how much Mamas and Daddys need prayer for the awesome task that is at hand. Shaping the lives of children, which is what goes on in a home whether it is intentional or unintentional, is full time and has tremendous implications. Only God can give the wisdom, strength, endurance, joy and peace that is needed to do this job well.
When I was doing this same job in a full-time capacity many moons ago, I remember thinking (to myself.....I didn't dare say it out loud) that Jesus didn't really know what it was like to be a Mama......you know, tempted in all points like we are!!! But, in His still small voice that I had come to know so well, He reminded me of the 12 "children" He trained, not the least of which was rebellious Judas Iscariot, and the sons of thunder who wrangled about who was the best and should be seated in the best place!!! And those were adults, acting like children!! That had to be really hard!! At least these children are acting their ages.
It really has been a good week for us, aside from the two hottest days of the year without AC in the house!!! SO, we spent the afternoon today in a mall to kill the hottest part of another hot day inside with air-condtioning. Some would say that is demented, taking four children to walk around a mall for three hours, but they don't know us!!! There it was!! Our salvation..... a booth that wanted to take their photo for the bargain price of $20 for an 11x14. They had us when they said they had old-fashioned costumes the children could wear with all of the hats, parasols, caps and bats, necklaces, etc.. You mean they can play "dress-up" and kill some more time in AC? You bet we will spend the $20! Who wouldn't?? (That was a much better deal than the silly Merry-Go-Round there for $8 for a three minute dizzy-maker-ride!!)
Going through the dresses for the girls and the shirts, vests and caps for Micah, and adding all of the accessories made it all worthwhile. And thanks to technology, we were able to see that there was not one good shot of them!!! So we got our money back....sad for them....glad for us!! (Ty and Kaylyn would never have put that 11x14 up in their home, not even in the laundry room in the basement!!!)And we killed enough time to allow us now to head to the "dining in facilities" (also know as the Food Court)for expert mall culinary cuisine!!!
So, now for those of you who have endured this stab at "bringing you into my world", just let me know if you need any other suggestions for perfect grandparenting!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)