The tough days.....

I have figured out one way to get through THE TOUGH DAYS, whatever they might be.

God blessed us with some wonderful authors of 

timeless literature. 

 I didn't appreciate that so much when I was a teenager. 

 But now that I'm OLDER and maybe WISER?

 I LOVE LITERATURE!!!!!! 

Even the melancholy poems

 that seem dark 

but are really about life

 can lift my mood. 

 I might start keeping some copies of my favorites so I can pull them out in

 THE TOUGH MOMENTS........

Problem though--almost all that I read become my favorites.........

Of course, 

The Psalms, Proverbs, and Songs on Solomon can speak to anyone's soul and do 

WONDERS of WONDERS 

with God's wisdom. 

 I can go from feeling completely drained, 

with nothing left, 

and then come across words of fluidity

 that bring my neurons back to life

 and 

ALL is well again.

Couldn't resist......

Rory has two little friends;
    They love to be with her.
And Everywhere that Rory goes;
    The dogs are sure to go.
They followed to her favorite place;
    Which was against HER rules.
It made the cat get out her claws,
     to see these dogs by her.
But then she claimed her favorite spot,
     and made them bow to her.
And Rory rules these little friends
    as all good cats will do!





 

What If.............Would You?

What if---
     I colored my hair a totally different color?
Would you---
     Judge me and think less of me?
              Judge me and think I'm not following God's plan because that's not the color He made my hair?

What if---
     I had a small tattoo of a small cat/flower/other small cute object put on my ankle or shoulder?
Would you---
    Judge me and think less of me?
              Judge me and think I'm not following God's plan because tattoo's are "Bad"?

What if---
      I got my nose/cheek/lip/tongue pierced with a very small, discreet diamond?
Would you---
       Judge me and think less of me?
                 Judge me and think I'm not following God's plan because "Body piercings" are "Bad"?

What if---
       I did all of those things Before I became a Christian?
Would you--
       Judge me but "excuse" those issues because they were done in my unsaved days.

What if---
        I did all those things while being a Christian but didn't believe any of those things were wrong?
Would you---
        Judge me and tell me where I am wrong in my beliefs and you are right in your beliefs?


I'm not saying that any of these things are right or wrong.  And I'm not saying that I would ever or never chose to do any of them. I've just experienced so many Christians that judge "the book by it's cover" and find it extremely sad that we can't reach out to each other in Christ's love and let the "differences" just be "differences"---not judgements,  
 
             

The blessings of good-byes?

I've had to say a lot of good-byes.  We lived in Virginia for almost 18 years.  Leaving there was about the hardest thing I ever had to do.  I think I cried all the way to Wisconsin.  My heart still aches for my dear friends in Virginia.  We then made dear friends in Wisconsin only to move after 3 years.  More good-byes.  Living on a campus, we were physically close to many families, thus, more friendships only to surely lead to more good-byes.  It's a 3 year Seminary.  Everyone knows it's temporary.  Yet, we still bond with people we know we are going to have to leave.  Dear people I work with move or change careers, again, good-byes.  Sometimes, I think that maybe I shouldn't open my heart/emotions up so I won't have to say good-bye anymore.  But then I will miss the wonderful blessings of new friends that will come into my life.  I always seem to find room in my heart for another friend that can lead to a possible good-bye.  I just hope that the future will bring friends that can still in my day-to-day life so I don't have to do anymore good-byes.  I won't mention the dear family that is moving to the Atlanta area sometime this summer.  I'm going to live in ignorance until that actually happens.  I'd like to be done with good-byes for a LONG time.

sewing again!

I"m sewing again!  Well, sort of, anyhow....I'm fixing things at least!!!  I was finally able to put up my sewing machine after not having a place to use it since we lived in Virginia.  I didn't realize how much I missed that machine.  I bought it as a teenager in the mid 1980's.  It was the most expensive one I could afford and it had most of the "bells and whistles" of its time.  I cleaned and oiled the dickens out it and it/she works great!  Every time I sit down to sew something, I think of my baptismal sponsor Sonia.  I spent many summers at her house learning to sew.  In that process, she taught me about being a strong Christian lady.  She went to be with the Lord quite a few years ago now but she will always be in my heart and I know I'll see her again!  Until then, I'm going to continue to enjoy a skill that she blessed me with.  Thank you, Sonia!

Wny is that?

Why is it that even though I love and adore my husband of 23+ years, I'm excited that he's going off to volunteer at a Bible Camp for a week?

Why is it that even though I don't "want" to be separated from my youngest for a week, I"m excited that he is going off to Bible Camp for a week?

Why is it that when two out of my three favorite "guys" that God has blessed me with will both be gone for a week, at the same time, I'm excited?

Why can I get soooo much accomplished when they aren't around?

Why will I enjoy their time away and yet miss them terribly and be waiting for the day they return?

Too many "Whys" with no clear answers,....oh-well, let the accomplishments begin!

pets?

I will not blog about pets,
                   I will not blog about pets,
    I will not blog about pets,

ooops, I just did......................

Speaking of happy...

I've always been a "cat person".  I have also enjoyed dogs.  Almost 3 years without pets was too long.  I forgot how much joy I get from pets.  God has given us all different personalities/likes/dislikes.  I know some people aren't "pet" people.  I know God made them that way but I still "don't get it".  They bring me soooo much joy, wouldn't everybody get that same joy?  I know pets aren't people/children  and if I could save and take care of all the children in the world that need it , I would.  I would also rescue every cat and dog that was neglected and provide a home.  The thing is--I'm just one person.    My heart breaks for all the innocents in the world.  If I put much thought in it, I would be miserable.  So, for the time being, until I feel lead by God to focus on something else---I'm going to THOROUGHLY enjoy our 2 dogs and 1 cat and relish in those blessings!

random life

So, it has been awhile since I've been able to put any of my thoughts down.  Life was pretty crazy for a couple of months.  After we moved we had to get as unpacked an organized as possible for what I called "The Big Weekend".  On Saturday May 19th,  Terry graduated from the Seminary with his Masters of Divinity--Great Job Hubby!!!!  The 19th was also my birthday but I was trying to forget about that.  Thanks to some lovely ladies at our open house, they didn't let me forget  :-).  On Sunday, May 20th, Zackery was confirmed in our church AND it was his 15th birthday.  We had another small get together at our house after that and I made sure EVERYONE knew it was Zackery's birthday!!  AND in the evening, Zackery had his AWANA yearly awards ceremony----all I could say by the end of the evening was OI VAY!!!  Time for Bed!  With all that happening less than two months after we moved in, we were VERY busy trying to get things at least "presentable".  Since "The Big Weekend", I've been trying to really get going on the yard.  I am going to tear up a lot of the current flower beds/weed/rock gardens and start over.  It's going to take me awhile--like I won't get it completely done for a couple of summers but that's fine.  As long as I keep making progress, I'm happy!

A House vs. A Home

So, it's been awhile since I have blogged.  This "being homeless" thing put a crimp in a lot of plans and perspectives.  I now understand, to a stronger degree, the difference between having a place to live and having a home.  Our two months of living with relatives was a great learning experience.  I can't thank Dave and Cindy enough for providing us with their basement.  The odd thing is, I felt more "at home" there than I ever did living on a campus.  A campus is not a home.  Although I am grateful that we could live on campus while we needed to, it made me realize how relationships make the difference with a home.  Our time with Dave and Cindy provided us with the opportunity to strengthen those relationships.  We experienced wonderful family meals together.  We were able to connect with their children and forge some strong and permanent bonds.  For that, I will be forever thankful.  I actually miss being with them everyday.  Now that we are in our own house, I realize something that we've been missing since we left Wisconsin almost 3 years ago----a place to call home.  This house is our home.  We have our pets.  We have each other.  It may not be a big house or what we were initially looking for but that doesn't matter anymore.  It's my family, including our pets, that make it our home.  God brought us through this experience in order to realize this, and for that , I am thankful.