Since I am having increasing problems getting to my blog here (most times I can't get here at all), I am trying another site.  I have imported your blog addresses to the new site and will be back to visit often, but please come visit me here.

Be thankful ~

Karen

I just made the most delicious dinner.  For those of you who love pasta, this is the bomb!  And very easy and very fast.

Pasta Pomodoro

Cook a 16 oz. box of pasta (mostaccioli or penne - I used mini penne), drain and keep warm.

Combine in a large skillet:

 3 Tbsp. olive oil

2 tsp chopped garlic

2 tsp dried basil (or 1/2 C chopped fresh, if you have it)

1 C. chicken broth

1 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes

Simmer 2 minutes, then thicken with a Tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1/4 C. water.  Salt and pepper to taste.

 (I also had 3 thin slices of prosciutto that needed a home, so I diced them and threw them in)

Put pasta in a pasta bowl and pour sauce over top.  Serve with parmesan cheese. 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 

Be thankful ~

Karen

Today we went out to Mike and Leah's university and spent the afternoon lying on blankets on the quad.  The weather was the lovliest ever, we had a great spot under a tree, the boys threw a baseball, we listened to Mike play the guitar and the girls sing, had a picnic.  It couldn't have been more wonderful.  All the trees around the quad had orange and maroon ribbons tied around them in honor/remembrance of those at Tech.  Some of the kids are wearing T-shirts that say, "141 miles was never so close", since they are that far from Tech.  Leah doesn't seem to have been affected by it very much, but Mike seems sort of down, very reserved, and quiet.  He didn't say much about it, but he did tell us that he has changed his routine.  He doesn't go into his classes until the professor is there and ready to start lecturing, and he leaves right away.  He doesn't spend any extra time on campus, other than for class and meals.  This week coming up is their last week of classes, then they have finals, and I think he's really ready to come home and have some normalcy.  Before we left we all prayed for our kids and their friends that were there with us, and for those at Tech.  I can't imagine how hard it will be for those kids to walk into a classroom tomorrow.  Please do pray for them.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Today I'm celebrating my awesome children.  Not only are they good looking and smart, they're kind and happy and just plain wonderful people to be with.  And I'm not biased either. Here's Elijah (13), Mike (22), Leah (18), and Abbie (17) in front.  And yes, that's a 7 foot couch Mike has his arms spread out on.  Can you tell he's REALLY tall??

Be thankful ~

Karen

A few months ago, people started telling Ben they thought he was underpaid.  Some said grossly.  Now he likes his job, but doesn't really like the 60 mile commute to DC, so he decided to put some resumes out and see what happened.  He got a few calls, had a few interviews, and things dragged on.  One company said they wanted him, but needed time to make a place for him.  So we waited.  Then about a week ago he went to a nearby job fair, handed a guy his resume, and the next day they called him for an interview.  He went in, spent four hours with them, and they offered him a position that very day!  With a very substantial raise!  And it's only 35 miles from home!  This is surely exceeding abundantly more than we could ask or think, and I feel overblessed.   God is so good! 

Be thankful ~

Karen

This morning I am very thankful my kids are not at Tech, though I know this tragedy could happen anywhere.  I am struggling with the thought that those other parents were, just like Ben and I, trusting God to keep their children safe.  How do we answer that?  Our family prays literally EVERY DAY for the safety of Leah and Mike, but I guess it just comes down to trusting God to do what is right and best, whether we understand or agree or not.  In situations like this, that's the hardest thing I can imagine.  I can't comprehend that it was right or best for those students and professors to lose their lives, but I'm not God, and I KNOW that's best.  Please pray for their families - their pain must be unimaginable.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Today my daughter, Leah, told me about a conversation she had with my son, Mike, yesterday at college.  Mike has the opportunity to interview for an incredible internship which he would just about give his right arm to have.  So he was telling her about it, and ended by saying, "So pray that I get it."  Then he stopped.  Then he changed it to, "No, don't pray I get it.  I'm so sick of praying for what I want.  Pray that if God wants me to have it, that I'll get it."

Now that just makes me want to shout.  There comes a point in every young person's life when he (or she) begins to understand just what it means to trust God.  To really, truly want His will.  It is such a thrill to see it happen.  There's just nothing like it.  It's almost as good as getting saved all over again!  I'm praising the Lord today that Mike is there.

Be thankful ~

Karen

In Genesis 4, Cain kills his brother Abel because of jealousy.  Then in vs 9 when God confronts him about it, he gives the smart-aleck reply, "Am I my brother's keeper?"  That's an interesting question, and we'll come back to it.

Last night after church when everyone was standing around chatting, there was a teen girl not far from me talking to a group of boys, wearing not much more than would be seen at the public pool. Skirt too short, plus a slit, shirt with spaghetti straps, and cut low enough that we could all see the roundness and cleavage of her bust.  She was smiling and laughing, bouncing around so her breasts would be sure and catch their attention.  No wonder she was surrounded by boys.  Those boys went home last night and sinned because of her.  Even if they tried to fight the temptation, they finally gave in and, at the very least, lusted after her in their hearts.  I wondered where her mother was when she went shopping, and where her daddy was when she walked out the door dressed like that.  Parenting doesn't stop when our children are old enough to drive.  In many ways, it BEGINS then.  The issues become much bigger than 'don't eat another cookie before supper'.  Here's what God says about lust:

"Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."  (Matt 5:28)  In the next verse, God tells a man what to do if it happens.  "And if they right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:  for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."

Whole body cast into hell??  That's pretty severe, isn't it?  But that's what God thinks of a man lusting after a woman.  And to think that SHE is the cause of his lust.  Girls, in case you didn't know, you don't have to be undressed for a man to lust after you.  You just have to show a few curves.  Smile kinda sexy-like and stand with a nice curve in your back, sort of accentuating your butt.  It doesn't take much.  So it stands to reason that you can help him NOT to lust, by being careful what you put on your body.  Sure, there will be guys who lust no matter what you're wearing, but you must do your part in order to be blameless.  Don't paint your clothes on, then act like you didn't know it would be a problem.  No girl wears clothes that are skin tight because it's comfortable; she wears them that way to attract boys.  Some of you will argue, "It's my body; I can wear what I want."  But, no.  It's not your body.  "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  (I Cor. 6:19-20)  God bought your body, soul, and spirit when He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die in YOUR place, to pay the price of YOUR sin.  It's not YOUR body.  It's God's.

So the question becomes, what do I put on GOD'S body?  Go stand in front of your closet and ask that question.  Take out your favorite shirt and ask, "Does God want this on HIS body?"  "Can I bring glory to the Saviour of my soul while I'm wearing this?"  I bet your wardrobe will change.

Back to the original question.   You have the power to make it thousands of times easier for your brothers in Christ to keep thier minds pure.  Yes, you are your brother's keeper.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Another conversation from the pre-school - this time from a K-5 class:

Boy (to girl):  When you grow up, you should marry Joey.

Girl: No, I think I'll marry Billy.  You should marry Katie.

Boy: No, I'm going to marry Jillian.

Girl: What if she doesn't want to?

Boy: Well, I'm the boy, so she has to do what I say.

Methinks there's some confusion here.

We have finally had a little rain this morning, so maybe the pollen won't be so bad today.  I'm hoping!

Be thankful ~

Karen

My daughter, Abbie, works in a preschool with 3 and 4 year olds.  One day the teacher was talking about money, and told the kids that whenever you find a penny, it's a blessing from God because every penny says, "In God We Trust" on it.  A few days later the following conversation took place:

      little girl: Mrs. R, I found this penny for you!  (puts penny in Mrs. R's hand)

     Mrs. R: Oh, thank you sweetie!  Where did you find it?

     little girl:  In the potty!

Um, thanks, I think.  Now let's all go wash our hands.

Be thankful ~

Karen

The pollen is really bothering us this year.  I have never been bothered by it before, but this year my eyes are burning and itching, and I'm sneezing.  Abbie has never had allergies before either, but lately she gets a lot of headaches, especially when reading.  She got new glasses last fall, so it's not that.  We're going to get some Claritin today and see if it helps either of us.  Hope you're not in misery!  And for your reading pleasure, I've included last year's. . .

Ode to Pollen

Oh, lovely, yellow, dusty stuff

Which makes me sneeze and sniff and snuff

And turns my eyes a watery red

And makes me want to stay in bed

I love the spring but mostly wait

For all my symptoms to abate

The tissue box is running low

Oh, won't you hurry up and go?

Be thankful ~

Karen

Last night in church several of the kids' friends sat with us.  Their parents always like this, because we sit on the second row, right in the middle.  The only reason we don't sit on the front row is that the ushers sit there before they take the offering.  We've always sat on the front row - it makes the kids behave when they know all 600 members are watching them.  Anyway, one boy started coughing.  And coughing.  And sniffing and coughing.  I sat there thinking, "Great.  My kids are going to be sick AGAIN."  So I dug around in my purse for a cough drop and passed it down to him.  He looked at me thankfully, unwrapped it and popped it in his mouth.  I watched.  In seconds he got a look of confusion which quickly changed to horror, and began looking around for something to spit it out into, to no avail.  And I wasn't going to offer him a tissue.  See, it was a strawberry Hall's, which tastes like solidified brake fluid.  But he did stop coughing. 

Be thankful ~

Karen

Last night our church started a few days of "revival" services with an evangelist we've never heard before.  The man is probably in his 60's, has pastored several large churches including the campus church at a well-known Bible college in Florida, and was preaching out of Joshua.  He was talking about discouragement, which all Christians face eventually, he says.  I could almost agree with everything he said until he said this, "You parents of young people - teenagers - don't you feel discouraged all the time?  Well, maybe once in a while you don't."  I sat in stunned silence.  I couldn't believe he said it, and tried to make myself believe I had just misunderstood him.  But no, that's really what he said.  And I wanted to jump up and shout, "NO!  I'm NOT discouraged!  Raising children to the teen years and beyond is the MOST ENCOURAGING THING I'VE EVER DONE!!!"  I wonder how his comment made all the teens in the auditorium feel.  I wonder about his children, and why they are such a discouragement to him.  Know this, that your children don't have to be discouraging, that they can lift you up and encourage you every day, and that you have the power to make them whatever you want them to be, but START TODAY.  Start by becoming what you want your children to be.  They WILL imitate you.  Don't put it off until tomorrow.  Tomorrow they will BE teenagers and then it will be too late.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Did you hear that South Carolina is poised to pass a law requiring women seeking an abortion to view ultrasound images of their "fetuses?"  Other states make the images available, but SC will be the first state to require women to view them before undergoing the "procedure."  I may have to move there.

In other news,  Abbie has recently become pretty sensitive to beef from all sources.  It started out with getting sick if she ate a fast-food hamburger.  Then it extended to the beef in any of Taco Bell's offerings, and now even fresh beef I cook at home is bothering her.  I don't really know what to think of this.  Any ideas?  I've never heard of this happening to someone who has eaten beef for years with no problems.

And finally, we are really enjoying this summer-like weather, but know it won't last.  I'm going to try to plant some spinach tomorrow, then the rains will come and we'll be back to watching our roof leak.  *sigh*

Be thankful ~

Karen