Posted in Family Life

... and wishing I had more of it! But we're home and trying to get back into the swing of things.

BTW, I won the quarter bet! Too fun.

Let's see ... we went to Seattle -- yes, again. This time Dan was with us, as was the rain, which while appreciated after the heat in our neck of the woods, still interfered with our fun. We were rained out at Woodland Park Zoo, and then again on a hike on Steven's Pass. It ruined our camera, or so we thought; we ended up buying a newer, better one at Costco before finding the old one was just too damp. But we do have good pictures of the zoo, the aquarium, the space needle, the science center, and other generally fun things we did.

We've also been to the regional fair in Waterville (very tiny county seat near us) where Dan judged another baking department and I chased children around (mine, my nieces, and some other little munchkin they made friends with there). We visited the uncle with cancer; the chemo is doing its job, but he's looking incredibly old all of a sudden. We met up with an old friend from college and his wife and two little boys at Sun Lakes, where they were camping with her family. We had a work day at the church, where my darling and I are in charge of creating our website. We had a church-in-the-park and picnic. We picked up our poor little truck from the mechanic. I made a stab at cleaning the office, or orifice (as my darling calls it). Hubby made dog biscuits for our client. And then we dropped the busy vacation schedule for the busy normal schedule. Never a dull moment.

The main thing that's been on my heart lately though, is the question of whether I'm actually where I need to be spiritually. Not that I feel like I'm backsliding or purposely sinning, but rather that I don't feel as much as I used to. I had the great privilege tonight of visiting a very special friend by the name of Eva, who was once a missionary to the Alaskan Eskimo tribes and who currently -- even in her 80s -- teaches GED courses at the county jail. Wonderful Christian lady who just exudes the love of Jesus.

I asked her this question: in our Christian walk, is it normal to feel a quiet comfortableness and yet still be passionate about Christ? I put it in terms of that stage of marriage that we're all warned about, where the passion dies off and you become familiar, comfortable even, but still love that person without the overwhelming emotion. Seeing as she never married, I wondered if I stated it wrong, but she is always so gracious.

She described it as one of the phases of life, and yes, of our walk with Him. Sometimes we need comfort, sometimes overwhelming joy, sometimes a dose of humility, but none of those take away from His love for us, or our love for Him. I think I get it. I grew up in a denomination that involved emotion -- not a bad thing in itself, but I can see now where they've gone way too overboard with it. I guess I tend to think I should be emotional about my God. I'm learning more these days anyway to control my emotions, and maybe this is just another area that I need to examine.

That was just one part of a wonderful conversation with this true saint of the Kingdom. I need to see that woman more often; I'm thinking it won't be too long before she leaves this world for His, and I just want to soak up all she can pour into me.

That's it on my thoughts for the night.