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OK, so today I spoke to DH in Singapore, where he was about to plop into bed after a full day of sight-seeing, anf to my Mom, who was readying herself for bed in South Africa. I am in the USA and am only halfway through Sunday. Bizarre how we can reach across time and stay in touch with those we love and hold dear. We are only now, with the advent of technological wizardry, seeing what a small world we live in- a reminder that in God's economy our world has been small but certainly not insignificant....He made us and chose to have a relationship with us. If we really had a concept of Who He is and how present He is, existing outside of time and space, wouldn't we all fall prostrate in adoration? |
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Oops- just fixed a typo in my title- you were almost being treated to "Life at out house"- bad grammar and an even worse topic... DH left on a business trip this morning and will be away overseas for TWO WEEKS!!!! Not a fun prospect but a necessary evil. Although, upon reflection, if I don't stop making plans that will fill every waking hour, I will be exhausted for a whole other set of reasons upon his return! I miss him when he travels, which is thankfully not too often. I know that we settle into our routine and that the Lord provides for all of our needs but I do confess to having a little anxiety- for his safety, my sanity...the usual stuff. It feels good to own that thought and to capture it with His promises- to cast my anxiety on Him- because He cares for me!!! WHat a great reminder. SO often I live in that place where I don't actively trust the Lord. I know in my heart and head that He is looking out for me but I am not taking those steps of faith in all things- like strength for a school day or tackling a problem with his strength and wisdom...I sometimes think if I were the Lord, I would laugh at me- my fickle heart and even more fickle emotions....earlier this week I felt such contentment in my place in life. Not that everything was perfect but that I was thankful for the place He has me- today I war within as my friend is able to have a lunch with someone other than me because her kids are in school all day and the other friend has yet to be blessed with children. Anyone else ever feel that way? Will try and get back here soon. Good therapy. Muffins await depanning..not sure if that's a word but you know what I mean! |
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I ran an errand to the grocery store. The cart in front of me was quite full, giving me time to peruse my surroundings...I couldn't help but wonder at the tabloids- front page photos of celebrity cellulite...all my life I've wanted people all over America to see my adipose deposits that adhere to parts of my body like the part I sit on and my thighs...serves them right for wearing skimpy swimwear. |
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Happy New Year! I realized that it is 2-007...hence the title. Not that James Bond is a role model I would aspire to emulate- not too much about the character that speaks of wholesome goodness, now is there- I guess the technologically inventive gadgetry and well kept look are about all that stand in his favour....but I digress. I don't typically make resolutions for a new year but here are a couple of things I have been working on and will continue to work on as the calender turns to a brand new page-
I am greatful to the Lord for the lessons He has taught me in 2006 and the relatonships that have challenged and grown me. Especially the one with my Dad. He may visit this year- I dare say there will be postings about that should it happen! I'm rambling and I need to get to the grocery store- we were out of town until yesterday and when I went to the store I had 20 minutes till closing- you will be proud of how much I loaded up in that short time! May 2007 be a year to learn and love and grow. May we be forever changed. May we know more intimately the Lover of our souls when this year comes to an end and joins the part of us we call history!
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The phone rings- it's our Church bookstore calling to notify me that the Bible I ordered is in- only, I didn't order a Bible- at least I don't think I ordered a Bible...I'm pretty sure haven't stepped foot in the bookstore for a number of months, let alone to place an order...as if it isn't fun enough keeping track of my thinking- now the nice people at Church are MESSING WITH MY BRAIN!!!!!! |
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No, I am not an enlisted person and I am not writing from Iraq or Afghanistan...but the solace of my home- the battle I refer to is the spiritual one- the one that rages in my mind and soul- the doubts that assail me, the discontent I allow to grow, the self-reliance that sneaks past my radar undetected....my actions- erupting at my children for a childish error- quickly back pedalling to cover for myself with a legitimate reason- realizing by the Holy Spirit's illumination that the real reason for erupting had nothing to do with their disobedience- not at the root, anyway! In short, I realized that a lot of what goes on in my head all day, is a battle that I would rather ignore. I also am aware that God has given me every tool that I might need to tend to the skirmishes within before they reach terrorist proportions( please understand that I don't use these terms in disrespect to those who fight daily for their lives in the flesh and blood war) That's my illumination for the moment. tiem to get back into the battle! |
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DD7 has strep throat- we think. They wanted to swab her throat but I respectfully declined- the doc did get a good enough look at her throat and combined with her symptoms, didn't need much convincing. Besides which- the treatment would not differ whether the diagnosis was confirmed or not. Yesterday she was literally a bump on the couch- didn't eat, didn't talk. Two doses of medicine and Bob's your uncle...she is upstairs and I hear laughing! Praise the Lord for giving man the brain power to discover such wondrous inventions and help heal our bodies in such a swift fashion! Yesterday was a non day- I did get a little laundry done but was walking in a fog from a bad night's sleep being up with the sore-throated feverish one. Today is a new day! I would love to do some planning for school and get the house in some semblance of order. That's the idea anyway. Will see how that all transpires. Oh and did I mention trying a new cookie recipe? And then there's always the knitting I have started to enjoy....better get going! |
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Did I mention that I purchased a glue gun? Watch out Martha, gere I come. If it doesn't move, glue it down! I have been attempting to make some christmas decorations- now I have to figure out how to hang said decorations- I don't think my husband will be too thrilled if I use the glue gun to attach decorations to the bannister etc....
And the snow they promised us- IT IS HERE! And you will be pleased to know that along with all of the rest of the schooling world, we have taken a snow day!!! I got my exercise- and then some- shovelling the driveway! The snow put pay to both DH and my plans for the day. Ah well. Now I need to decide whether to go out and brave the frozen tundra or whether to stay here and play/ finish decorating. I would like to take a nap, now that I blog about it...from my snowy home to yours.... |
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And I am actually excited about that.....my sinuses could stand to take a break from the constant allergen presence and a good looonngggg cold spell will hopefully do that until the spring! I grew up in South Africa and contrary to what you might think of Africa, I remeber winters that were cold- mostly because it rained for 3 weeks without end, there was snow on the mountains and WE DID NOT HAVE CENTRAL AIR!!!! I remeber many a night dressing to rival the Michelin man so that I would be warm enough all night- and snuggling in under MANY layers of blankets and quilts! My first winter here gave me a new appreciation for the word "cold". The wind that is so icy, it feels like it is separating bone from marrow and leaving a draft on its way out....but yes, I will relish the arrival of air from Canada and the Rockies! All about perspective I guess!
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We live in the Midwest. We live in a quiet suburban neighbourhood. A neighbour down the street is obviously competing for a category in the holiday light/ display competition. I couldn't think why else someone would do what they have done to their house and yard...there are wooden reindeer on the parkway grass and this morning, they were tipped over!!!!! I suspect mischief is afoot. We have had unseasonably mild weather in both the precipitation and changing pressure system departments....at least it will be easy to give directions to friends travelling to us at night.."Veer right when the blinding light threatens to overcome you" |
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I have had all the best intentions in the world of getting here and posting something, ANYTHING but then don't get to doing it. I have a confession- when it seems that nobody reads, I am less likely to post. Selfish? Self-serving? Forgive me bloggers. I am not far from a lab rat in my need for reinforcement for my behaviour....
Whew, now that that load is off my shoulders...God is so good. What a segway...I have noticed a theme in His leading of late- I don't know if I will be able to do it justice, but I will give it a try- He is revealing to me more and more of Who He is- which words do not begin to do justice to- and that I belong to Him. He is so beyond my comprehension in His majesty and power and yet He chooses to dwell with me- wants me to know Him, wants me to walk in faith and obedience to Him...and especially in my struggles, He wants me to trust that His heart is good and that He has our best in mind! That is something that has hit me like a ton of bricks. So often, I focus in on my circumstances and my perspectives and actions are skewed and reactionary. I need to look always to Him, for everything! He has all the resources I need. Thanks for listening. Please don't be shy to leave a comment. It is good to know that there are people out there whose lives are connected to mine in this way. Until next time. |
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Have you ever seen something and thought it looked like something else? I was driving, it was dark. A lady crossed the street in a hurry holding what looked like a dog leash out in front of her. Only, there was no dog.... |
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Hey- my kids would be proud....! I wondered if I could trade in this body for one, oh, I don't know, maybe a couple of pounds lighter and one THAT WOULD TOLERATE ANTIBIOTICS!!!! Nothing overly serious here, other than some itchy hives due to the antibiotic I started taking for the sinus infection that had me down and out...I could take an antihistamine, but that would render me barely awake and less than functional...so I figure unless the side effects become unbearable- you know, difficulty breathing, frantic itchiness...I would pass. Off to clean the kitchen table of the piles of school stuff that has thereon accumulated...Yours restrainedly... |
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OK, so perhaps that is rather melodramatic...what can I say? every so often a girl has to be so. DD6 is sick again. She had pneumonia a few weeks ago and now has tonsillitis, potentially strep. throat. And this morning she complains of her chest hurting and is sounding like she might have a cough....FLASHBACKS!!!! DH and I were to be attending a marriage conference at church last night and today- instead, I went last night and he just left for today's session. the beaty in that is that we have committed to then talking about it and processing what we have learned. Even frustrating circumstances can work for good!
If you have read this post, I am pretty confident that none of our germs are trasferable over the net. But you might want to Lysol your keyboard and wash your hands...just in case!
P.S. My foot is 95 % normal- a residual stiff soreness persists but other than that, it is doing OK! |
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It's October 12th and it's SNOWING!!!!!!! Our family is jubilant on many levels:
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If you have been following the weather at all- or have simply stepped outside your house....it is just a hair above zero in the metro Chicago area and I saw teeny tiny flurries while waiting for the cars ahead of me in the church parking lot tonight to move...for those of you who live down south and are somewhat perplexed at the term flurry...it's what I call snow before it needs shovelling!
Enter the grate-sitters...thanks to the Lord's provision, we have a house equipped with central air. When we turn the furnace on, the girls instinctively move to and sit on the grate for the heating ducts. Amd so begins the winter ritual of "she's hogging all the air" and " I can't see the TV"....I'm off to bed in my warm flannel pajammies....sweet dreams! |
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I am exhausted! I thought that rather than sit on the couch and eat snack food staring endlessly into space- or at the baseball that DH is intent on watching...I would blog my day's activities and remember why it is that I am so tired....
I am planning to do some of the kids laundry still and make dinner. Other than that- and paying a few bills online, I think this mama is a-done! Literally. Tomorrow, I plan to honour the Sabbath and attend worship and rest! Really rest!
The washer is done- duty calls!
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I have pondered this section of road since moving to this area- there is a major thoroughfare that connects us to the highway- 2 lanes of traffic in each road, posted speed limit 45 mph- did you get the "posted" part. (Same road that I have gotton my one and only speeding ticket on, going 62 mph-late for lunch with a girlfriend-but I digress...) So this is a fairly main road and though not broad and established, a shoulder is present. As are these 2 "Emergency stopping" points- one on each side. SO for a many miles as this road stretches, you had better reserve your "running out of gas" or "failure of engine to run car" or "flat tire" emergencies for these exact spots...at least you should have. There now seems to be barriers in place, obliterating these once "Emergency stopping" points, or challenging motorists to shred their tires and damage their bodywork in order to pull over safely on the highway... |
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I am biding time waiting for a friend to call me back and thought I would respond to a one of those e-mails that I received from 3 friends and my Mama with questions that you answer and then send to a couple of your closest friends to see if you can shock them with your witty answers and enlighten them as to who you are...Now, I had gone to the trouble of 1) cutting and pasting a friend's Q's and A's 2) cleaning it up so that the little arrow do-dad's were removed and was in the process of 3) answering the questions (all the time keeping my witty responses in the back of my mind for timely delivery to the world at large) AND, AND a little window appears announcing the demise of my wit- something about a problem that was detected and that Windows would need to shut this show down, without so much as a "by your leave" and with NO RECOURSE FOR SAVING ALL THAT WORK!!!!!
Such is life.
The DD6 has pneumonia and DH is battling some chest issues requiring antibiotics too. Should be a fun weekend. Poor DD-5 on Sunday will probably have her birthday plans somewhat altered by all the germitude. Pray that the cooties remain contained as DH leaves for a 5 day business trip on Monday....
Best I sign off before all this is lost to a little pop-up window. |
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I cannot believe that I go so long between blog entries....ai-ya-yai! Right out of the gate, I will apologize for misspellings and poor grammar- DD6 developed a rather nasty cough and fever that had me awake unitl about 2 this morning and up at 7- I think. After this entry, I will get ready to take her in to the Doctor's office- the yucky cough has me concerned. I also wanted to report- and dare I say it here in cyberspace?- that I am feeling a huge sense of fulfillment of late with where the Lord has placed me. I will give all glory and honour to His name for this reality. There are times when I have paranoid psycho moments, perceive the grass as greener, second guess myself because of my need to have other people approve of me...but there are definitely times when there is a deep peace in my soul and a joy from knowing that even the most mundane of daily chore can bring satisfaction when performed to the glory of the One who gave Himself for me and continues to give of Himself each day! I need to run- should probably douse my hair and try and beat it into a semblance of submission. We are after all, going out in PUBLIC! Until next time- which will hopefully be sooner than later! |