Chapter 3 Perserverance Miracles

We are getting ready to head out to the football game "Go Riders!" and was catching up on my reading while I wait for the last of the laundry to wash. My favorite quotes:

"The second kind of miracle is the kind where God chooses not to supernaturally remove or resolve a problem. Instead, God gives his ongoing, miraculous strength to us to enable us to perserve through the problem"

" Our minds and bodies are a lot like those jars of clay. We're frail. We break. We crack and fall to pieces. Clay pots don't hold up real well under extramarital affairs, depressions, and bankruptcy. When we manage to keep our lives intact when they should be scattered across the floor in a million pieces, we - and others - realize that something supernatural is holding us together."

"God performs instantaneous miracles by himself. They're amazing. but let's face it, he is God - they should be amazing! Perseverance miracles, on the other hand, depend on God and human beings to happen. "

"One of the reasons I think God performs more perseverance miracles than instanteous miracles is because their impact is longer. They stretch. Perseverance miracles aren't flash-in-the-pan. When someone perseveres in the midst of unspeakable hardship, her presence and joy leaves no one untouched....Being a living miracle has a much more lasting effect."

I use to pray for the instant miracles but I've started praying that God also gives the people in my life that are going through hard times the perseverance type miracles too.

I am thankful for autumn colors, seeing cousins that I haven't seen in ages and ages, sunny days, washing machines and dryers, good friends and kleenex (hey when you have two kids with a cold and runny nose - kleenex is a wonderful thing!!).

Go Riders!

Proverbs 22:1
"Choose a good reputation over great riches, being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold."

One of my readings today and again, it fits perfectly with my day....
At work we have to write an Accountability Agreement - what we will be accountable for the next year. A good method of having a conversation with your manager about what you see yourself accomplishing or maintaining, how you've done over the last year, you have to write a personal statement, what you need from your manager, from your staff, etc. etc. Anyway I had my "conversation" with my manager today and I can tell you that no amount of gold or silver could make me feel as good as I felt when I left his office and how reenergized I feel about my work. Now I'm not saying any of this to brag (at least I hope not) but it's amazing how good you feel about what your doing, your value in an organization when your boss tell's you what my boss said to me today. The one comment that really struck me was when he said he could see how my personal values and how I view people, etc impacting how I do my job and how others view me at work. Makes me realize more that God is working in me, that maybe I am growing some of those "fruits" of the spirit.

Anyway, it's just an overall good feeling day.

Thank you Lord for my work, for the way you work in me, for your love and patience and kindness to me.

Proverbs 20:24
"The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way."

This verse is from my Bible reading today and it's interesting that it goes along with the book we are reading. Trusting God when we don't understand his plan, especially during the hard times. Trusting that he is working "upstream" in our lives to turn our circumstances into good.

Favorite quotes from the book - Chapter 2

"The problem is that God exists outside our five senses. Unless God chooses to reveal himself in some way, we don't see, taste, touch, smell, or hear him. But that doesn't mean there isn't a God. People who see God at work upstream are those who have learned to look at the world counterintuitively. They've learned to trust what the Bible calls "the eyes of the heart Eph 1:18 - a built in spiritual sonar in our souls that tells us there's more than we can see."

"I turst the eyes of my heart. I've learned to trust that part of me that measures beauty and love and passion and truth, al the things that can't be placed under a microscope."

"The more we exercise faith - trusting God with our souls and not our eyes, our hearts and not our hands - and open ourselves up to the possibility that we can't see and understand everything, the more we'll begin to recognize God working upstream in our lives."

Things have been quiet here. Hubby was out of town most of last week but then the girls left for the Winnipeg Youth Rally leaving us at home...alone...by ourselves...no kids. Hee hee I look at my past post where I was bemoaning Sarah being away for the week but this weekend I didn't miss the kids at all. It was nice being able to spend time with the hubby, sitting on the couch together, not driving the kids here and there, just relaxing. We went to a hockey game together, washed dishes together (shocker), rented movies and sat and watch them together. I think this is one of the first times that the hubby had a chance to watch any movie we have rented, completely. It was really nice to reconnect with him....wonder when we can ship the kids off again???

Today Sarah had her tongue "web" clipped so she wouldn't be "tongue tied" anymore. She was a trooper and handled the needle really well. Even I handled it well watching the procedure while I held her hand.

I'm thankful for a loving huband who after 17 years of marraige still puts up with me and loves me, meaningful conversations with my girls, a God I can trust when I don't understand why things are happening (not always the easiest thing to do), calm days, a good pot roast, and I job that I still enjoy going to every day.

Second Guessing God Chapter 1

Two of my favorite quotes from the bookthis week:

"Picture a large rock in the middle of a barren field. Sitting there by itself, it is ordinary, overlooked, and without much use. But in the hands of a master sculptor, it can become a masterpiece. Your life is a lot like that rock."

a masterpiece - I could become a masterpiece? He's got a lot of work to do with me but the thought that He can change me... wait - let me rephrase that - is changing me takes my breath away... of course a little obedience on my side might help the process..

"I believe God takes even our bad decisions and works to help us overcome their negative consequences."

Making good out of bad - now that's my God!!!

On the physical side of life - not much happening. Been raining for 4 days, Murray's been out of town all week, the kids haven't driven me crazy, and I've survived working full time this week. Wednesday night I opted to sit in on M/Bob's class and I really enjoyed it. Talked about the gospels and then compared the beginning of all 4, the differences. Very interesting.

So what am I thankful for this week? Friends to go out for coffee with, my childrens hugs and kisses, rain (without a flooded basement), husband that came home safe and sound, a night with no scheduled activities, laughter, good books and the love of God.

Trees....going, going, gone....

***Warning: If you are a tree lover do not read further*****

Well, I have wanted my 2 pines chopped down for several summers now. My hubby surprised me earlier this summer by chopping off about 20feet of the lower branches off the 2 pines. And today he finished off the job. 2 trees I wanted down, we ended up with 2 1/2 trees down. Unfortunately the other tree in the yard got damaged (i.e. the trees kept falling into it - but better than the neighbours fence or house!).

Here is Murray starting the job, 2 trees still up:



Here is the tree down with the tree I didn't want down. When it fell on the tree, I was thinking well I wanted to prune the tree anyway and now we will definetely be pruning! I was quite nervous watching this whole event. I kept imaging it falling into the neighbours yard and damaging their propery, or Murray somehow getting caught by the tree and hurting himself. He was able to get down from the ladder and to a safe place before the first one fell. The second one, he got to rope and was able to yank it in the right direction.



Stumps now:



It is amazing at how open our backyard feels now. I am thankful that I still have a husband in one piece, with no broken back/neck/arm/leg, or chopped off arm/leg. I am thankful that I have a brother in law that would come over and spend the day helping his brother chop these trees down. I am thankful for a wide open backyard that I have no excuse now, not to sit in and enjoy. I am thankful my dog gets along with my brother in law's dog, since they had to spend the day together. We would kick them into the house when the trees were coming down. They both sat at the side door crying to be let out.

Here are the two hard working men chilling after a good days work. Thank you Lord for them.

Amazing what a haircut can do...

Okay so I had a lousy crabby morning - my nerves were even twinging. Went out to meet with a company about printing a document up fancy smancy for us, stopped to get a Booster Juice (those always make me feel better) and came back to find everyone at work standing in the Nutana Curling club parking lot (our meeting place when there is a fire alarm). I pull into the parking lot, roll up to one of the staff, roll down the window and comment - "So I leave for 15 minutes and you burn the building down hey?" LOL Turns out it was a false alarm.

This afternoon I went for a cut and color and now I'm feeling better. Girls got their hair cut too, Kristie's got her's shorter and she almost has bangs - Sarah just a trim.

Tonight (Murray is out of town - just got home a bit ago) I'm constantly getting the "mom"... "Mom"...."Mom" I finally told Kristie I'd never make it as a single parent being the only one that gets called for help and answers! Then 2 seconds later Sarah calls "Mom..." I couldn't help but burst out laughing - I mean really want else can you do???

Oh and the other thing that made me laugh - I was checking blog sites and reading Monica's. Roy is doing the bike thing for MS and is raising funds. Turns out the ladies he works with convinced him that if they raise a certain amount of money, he'll wax his legs. I burst out laughing when I read that. I'm going over and donating money cause I just have to see that!

Melancholy....

Yep I haven't posted lately I noticed, don't really feel like emailing people, just want to go to bed and pull the covers over my head but I can't sleep .... I'm tired but still up... people are annoying the .... out of me. What is wrong with me????

I know that Sept 1st is creeping up on me and maybe that is why. A year since mom passed away. In some ways the year has gone by quickly, in other ways it feels like so long ago. The memories of that day are still very close to the surface but my memories of mom as mom seem so far away. I would really prefer the memories of mom as my mom be close to the surface and not the other way around!! But we don't always get what we want (at least that is what I tell my kids all the time).

On Sunday I drove out with dad to Davidson to see the plague/marker (don't really know what you call them) for mom's grave site. It was really nice. My sister and bro in law also joined us. We decided to go into town and see if my Uncle Harold was around. Turned out his son and wife were visiting, so even though Uncle Harold was out at the farm, we got to visit Aunt Joyce, Wes and Evelyn. Hadn't met Evelyn before and it's been AGES since I've seen Wes. Very nice couple and it was nice connecting with them.

Tonight we were over at Dad's to see the marker/plague for my sister, Diana's grave site. Not as fancy and dad was disappointed in it and worrying if it was too big, etc. He is taking it to Edmonton this week to have them install it - 45 years later but better late than never I told dad. I always thought they never did one back then was because they couldn't afford it, turns out they just never got around to it. Go figure on that...

sigh....

Okay, enough wallowing in sadness. Tomorrow I get my hair colored again and that, if nothing else, should brighten my day :-)

Back from Camping...

Well for me it was a successful camping trip, even with rain, a mattress that kept deflating, and my non-stop headache. I got to catch up on some of my reading PLUS my youngest not only finished a book she has been trying to finish forever but read another entire book! My favorite moment of the camping trip was stopping to talk to Kristie in the car and having Sarah in the back seat ask us to quit talking because she can't read when we are talking and she is trying to read! The weather was so so - some hot days (we only went to the beach once), one canoe outing but we had lots of fun on it, some rain which meant we spent the next day drying out everything, worry that the van was broke (we had an interesting and loud noise erupted from it during the night but thankful it was nothing serious and we got home okay). took the dog for lots of walks so I got some exercise in along with my reading and a camp fire every night. Funny story is out canoeing and there is this person on a seadoo just tearing up the water, going around and around all alone. I was thinking how boring it must be to be out on it by yourself. As we got closer we realized it wasn't some young man goofying around but a grey haired elderly lady, who stopped and asked if we wanted some waves - of course the kids said yes and she gave us waves before she headed back in.

Books read:
The Da Vinci Code - Heather (completed Sunday night at 10:00 by flashlight in front of the camp fire because Kristie wanted me to hurry up and finish it so we could talk about it).
It's Not About Me by Max Lucado - Heather (good read and will most likely read it again)
Keeping Quiet - Sarah
Vampire Beach Bloodlust - Sarah
Can You Keep a Secret - Kristie, Heather (who burst out laughing on several occasions)
I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince - Kristie
The Preachers Daughter - Heather
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey - Kristie (finished on the way home)
Books attempted but gave up on:
Wuthering Heights - Kristie and Heather (we both thought it was too weird)
The Secret of the Stonehouse - Sarah (2 attempts at reading it both times said she didn't like it)
Books started but not finished:
Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado - Heather ( got to about chapter 6 - very interesting book)
Unstoppable Force - Daring to Become the Church God Had in Mind - Heather (into the last 1/4 of the book, another interesting though provoking book)

"The local church is to be God's expression of his radical commitment to change. God is about changing history, or perhaps better said, about making history. His ultimate goal for the church is not to follow cultural change, like a water skier behind a boat, but to be the dynamic, catalytic community that brings change in a world that is so desperately needs the God of change.

We must never forget that we serve the changeless God of change. God is not statisfied with the status quo. He is not trying to keep up with culture. His greatest ambition is not for the church to become a great imitator of generational trends. He is the God of creativity, the God of imagination, and the God that chose - through his Son - to ignite a revolution. " Unstoppable Force

Love is Patient, Love is Kind...

Still haven't left for camping due to my stupid head cold. Kids are getting antsy but we figure cold or no cold we are leaving first thing tomorrow morning. My sister Twyla left on Thursday - the day of the terrorist threat but luckily her husband had called and given her the low down so she knew what to expect at the airport and packed her luggage accordingly. I was reading the "memo" they were handing out to all passengers and it talked about checking footware and thought "I'd hate to be the person that has that job". They did check her sandals though - as she is going through she had to take off her sandals and walk through without them. Still haven't heard if Holly has arrived home safe and sound. Loved to hear that before we leave but if not I'll call when we get back.

Reading a book by Max Lucado - " A Love Worth Giving". Using 1 Corinth 13 to describe what love is and what our love should be. What I have learned this week is that when I'm sick my love is neither patient or kind - especially when the kids are talking about wanting to go camping but not doing anything to prepare to go camping. Especially when I am finally sleeping and the phone rings and rings and rings and rings and no one picks it up, so I do to discover it my family calling to ask me a question about lifejackets.... and now I have a headache AGAIN.....

Anyway packing the book for the trip. Still reading The Da Vinci Book - not really my kind of book to read and with all the talk about it I'm still struggling to read it. Kristie keeps telling me it gets better and more of a "page turner" as you go along. Here's hoping it does. I have my stack of books picked out for the camping trip so here's hoping I get to read them all.

A day of stressors and blessings...

Well it's been a stressful day for me. Started by having to get up at 5:00 to help Sarah deliver her friends papers - only took us 1/2 hour and I went back to bed afterwards. Sarah was so concerned about getting up on time that she kept waking up during the night. When she says she is going to do something for a friend she wants to make sure she does it right. I am thankful that I have a daugther that is willing to do stuff to help out her friends and follows through. A blessing.

Then Kristie's dentist appointment. I am very thankful for our dentist and her staff, I can not imagine any other dentist we have dealt with in the past that would have accomodated us as well as this one did and have so much patience. After drugs, our dentist praying for her, talking to her about how she knows Kristie wants to do this and that she knows Kristie has the strength to over come her fears, spending 1/2 hour in the dentist's personal office so Kristie could cry in private and me finally telling her that she is having this done because she knows she wants to, Murray helping her back to the chair, we held her hand and she consented and got the needles. In fact, we all agreed to have all 4 pulled out since she had come this far and Kristie again pulled that inner strength I know she has and had three more needles. I am really proud of her - she was so scared and frightened and wanted to run, and she could have choosen to say no - we told her she had that choice - but she perservered and went through with it. She was even laughing at the end as we carried her to the car (yes her dad carried her to the car). She also wrote the dental staff a note thanking them before we left, which I thought was so sweet of her. The Lord certainly blessed me with amazing kids!

My other stressful note today was my sister leaving. I managed to only breakdown in tears when I gave her a goodbye hug at my house and kept it together at dad's when she finally drove away. I love that sister of mine and of course as a bigger sister I worry about her. But I must continue to remind myself that she is in God's hands and he is quite capable of looking after her - way better than I can. Her love for the Lord and for other people was a great example for me this past month. My sisters are my other blessing today. We had another picture taken of us four - still looking for the perfect picture for us all to have. Gail bought these really nice "sister" frames for us all and now is trying to get the best of the pics for us to have to put in the frames. On Saturday we also brought Carol (our sister in law) into the picture so Gail plans on sending her the picture of the 5 of us. What a sweet sister I have. Anyway here is a picture of today of the four of us....

PS - the full picture shows that we are all barefoot except Gail LOL - another hot day here.

Thank you Lord for family, for the support of family, for the love of family and the love you have for us all.

Family wedding is over....

First off I almost kissed a priest on Saturday - I didn't have to carry that book! My prayers were answered! It was a really nice wedding, the bride was beautiful, the priest was quite the funny man - joking about the shoes the wedding party was wearing, asking the parents/grandparents how long they had been married, etc. All in all a very nice service and my reading went well and was over right at the start so I could enjoy the rest of the wedding. Got to visit with family before and after. We took some sister and family shots though my camera picture's didn't turn out very well. Hoping my sibling's pictures were better. Here's a shot of the 4 sisters....

Holidays are already off to an interesting start!

I was officially on holidays as of 12:30pm Thursday morning. Started off good as I went for lunch with my sister.

Today has been interesting to say the least. Didn't sleep in as much as I wanted to - up at 8:30; went shoe shopping with my daughter and was unsuccessful (we're blaming it on my dad, we got his wide feet); picked up my sister Twyla at the airport in the afternoon and hung out with her all afternoon and evening which was great; my beautiful daughter arrived home from camp much to my delight and happiness; and we had a huge thunder, lightening and massive rainfall in the evening as I'm driving my sister back across town to dad's. I don't normally like driving at night and this just made it worse. But the most interesting was the dress rehearsal for my nephews wedding. Last night the bride called asking if I would do a reading. Sure I said. Go to the rehearsal to find out when and what. I'm the only reader that was able to attend so I got nominated to do the first reading. Turns out it's a catholic wedding - which I don't have a problem with except the first reader gets to carry the Book of Scripture to the front and place it on the podium. I'm like, okay I can do that. Then she hands me the book and explains I have to carry it in front of my face but above my eyes, down the aisle (slowly) and I'm the first one in the processional. Let me just say that this is not a light book, it's bloody heavy!!! And I have to walk down the bloody aisle!! FIRST!!! Slowly!!! Tomorrow will involve me trying on my outfit to see if it looks funny when I'm carrying the book and making sure I won't be showing off any tummy parts!!

If anyone reads this before 4:30 Saturday - please keep me in your prayers that I will not trip going down the aisle. Thank you......

God's majestic power!

Well Sarah has left for camp, hubby driving her up, sister downstairs doing her cross stitch and oldest daughter out for the lunch - all this is leaving my house strangely quiet and empty. I don't like it LOL Considering all the days I complain about the noise in my house - especially when Sarah has her friends over - I don't like the quiet. She has only been gone 20 minutes and I already miss her. I'm such a wuss. But she is my light on cloudy days, my joy every day - she brings the most laughter to this house and has the best hugs. I'll miss her playing with my ear, giving me her mischevious grin, telling me her dreams - oh bother Heather - it's only a week for crying out loud!!! Yep I'm a wuss when it comes to my children - how on earth am I going to let go of them when they move out???? I think it's that control thing of mine - after all I'm the ONLY one who can look after them and keep them safe right?? Wrong dear Heather wrong. At camp I know all the people working there and trust them all and yet I sit here worrying about her.... just like I sit and worry about my sister.

But watching the storm last night and hearing how Stan is doing I am coming around to letting go and trusting God can do all. He can look after my loved ones when I can't. The storm with all it's thunder, lightening and hail - something so enormous, powerful and potential deadly was yet so beautiful to watch. God can put beauty in the dark stuff. Stan holding on to life by a single strand has been held so gently by God, and the beauty of seeing the faith of the family/friends rallying around him and the impact it must be having on the medical staff ministering to him would be a sight to behold.

So I can let God look after my sister. I know He will be with her and her family. Thank you Lord for your power, for your tender love, for your strength.

Feeling tired:

Feeling tired these last few days and not wanting to do much or do much with people. Hubby went away for a couple of days to Regina (took Kristie with him) and I got the bed to myself! Had a really good sleep both nights but it didn't seem to impact my lethargic feeling. I think I know what is bothering me these days - I work best at helping people by problem solving and in this particular case I can't do that. So I think I'm feeling a little depressed about this, just need to let go and place it in God's hand... hard for me to do but something I need to do.

But with all that - I still was able to have the family over for a bbq tonight to celebrate my dad's birthday. Went really well, ate outside - forgot how much I like sitting outside, enjoying a good burger and visiting. Only problem was our pesky non invited intruders - the dreaded wasps!! Hate them, hate them, hate them....uncle killed 5 while we were eating and still more came. We figure there must a nest nearby.

Tomorrow we send the youngest off to camp for a week, my sister is sending her son there too so we will be without children (okay I'll still have one but she basically looks after herself *g*) for the week. My other sister is suppose to be in the week also, so it will be great to visit with her also. Get the four sisters together for a photo shoot - Gail wants to get a picture of us four and then have t-shirts made with the picture on it!

I'm thankful for an older daughter that goes to the Taste of Saskatchewan and brings me back a deep fried mars bar, a younger daughter's hugs, sunshine, beautiful flowers and a soft bed. Even my dog I'm thankful for and the laughter he brings to people as he runs around the yard pushing the basketball that is bigger than him. Here's a pic of him chillaxing (my oldest daughters expression). Somedays I wish I could be him LOL

Thoughts for Sunday:

Went to the pool with the family on Monday afternoon as it was hot and the kids needed to get out of the house! I took a couple of books with me to read as I wasn't in the mood to hang out in the pool and was in the mood to read. I tend to take 2 or 3 books with me incase I get bored reading one I can switch to another - which tends to be the norm for me. This time though I started with a book called "Revolution in World Missions" and couldn't put in down except to ponder on what I had just read. It's a fasinating book which I would recommend to all. Really makes you think about missions and third world countries and our role. Three things that made me think the most:

1. Native missionaires - the writer is an advocate for native missionaires oppose to missionaires from the west going to the east. It makes a lot of sense as people tend to listen to someone who is like them (looks, culture), lives like them, understands them and their present belief systems and culture. They would have more of an impact because they would stay there for longer terms to help mature the new believers. It reminds me that Jesus was the first "native missionary". He came to earth as one of us, looking like us, lived our lives, toiled along beside us with all it's hardships, frustrations, and temptations; growing up in the culture and worked with people where they were to show them God's love and lead them to God.

2. A comment about why the West is so blessed and the East (3rd world countries are not blessed with wealth, etc). He said it was because the West is a "christian" socieity and therefore blessed by God, whereas the east is still worshipping idols, other god's etc and therefore not blessed by God. But to be aware that as the west turns more and more from God - we may not be as blessed.

3. About the economics of India - kinda goes along with #2. They worship cows and rats and allow them to wander freely and are not allowed to kill them. Therefore these very same cows and rats are eating the food supply and causing the food supply to be contaminated leaving less and less for man to eat. I had never thought of that before...interesting observation.

Anyway, I'm now unto "It's not About Me, It's All about Him" by Max Lucado - into chapter 3 and so far very interesting - started reading it to my oldest child as she was driving us to church this morning. Just read the chapter that talks about it's all about glorifying God - started to sound like God was pretty selfcentred but Max made a good point - like a life boat pilot/captain - you want that person to be loudest and everyone to point to him, so others out in the sea can find him and the boat, and know they will find safety with him and his boat.

Otherthan that life has been chugging along. The weather here is hot hot hot and we are all hiding out in the basement watching movies.

Last thought for this post - I just turned my keyboard upside down and shook it to discover we are eating way too much at the computer.... ew!

Good Weekend:

Garage sale Friday night - made $20 and got rid of a bunch of books!!! Visited with good friends!!! Garage sale to continue next Thursday.

Soccer game Saturday morning - Sarah's team lost in over time by a fluck goal, up to that point it was 1:1 - but a great game. Almost finished reading my book - that's how much the tension watching was - I have to read or I get too riled up and excited.

Finished reading Lineage of Grace, Divine (couldn't stop reading it) and Artemis Fowl.

Sunday - lunch with friends and my "little" sister who came home with us for the afternoon. Evening - good conversation with my real little sister and watching a movie.

All in all - excellent weekend!

Thank you Lord for it all!

A week of ups and downs:

Been a long week for me with some stressors but some good stuff too. I think I will ignore the stressors because when I talk about them I get all stressed again and I think I've finally found that "serenity" place and acceptance that God is in control and I just need to let go.

So what were the up's?

Well, my youngest daughters soccer team made it to the finals Yippee! Of course it means getting up early Saturday morning to get her to the game but it will be worth it. Hard game for them and the parents on Wednesday night - it felt like the temperature was 300 degrees and us parents were sitting facing the sun. I dressed with the least amount of clothes that still kept me respectable and acceptable by my daughters standards (as I didn't want to embarrass her *g*) but I still felt like I was melting away. I felt so bad for the girls wearing their hot jerseys and wool socks with shin pads. There's us parents yelling at them to run after the ball and I'm sure all they wanted to do was lay down on the cool grass...but they perservered and won the game. Sarah did some awesome goalie saves - I was so proud of her and one of the other parents commented on what a good goalie she was. She has been such a great kid this week. I just love her smile....I smile just thinking of it. I cannot imagine my life without her - how boring it would be. She made an angel food cake all on her own one day - first baking attempt and it was good!! I need to go and buy some more cake mixes for her *g* I was reading someone else's blog who just had a baby girl and she was commenting on the joys and experiences of it and soaking it all up. I feel the same with my girls - they are growing up so fast but each stage is so interesting. God has certainly blessed me with 2 great kids.

My sister went out of town for a few days but came "home" on Wednesday, so it's nice to have her and her son back again. I'm thankful for the time I get to spend with her and Caleb.She is a fun to hang around with and her son is such a goof - love it. She makes me smile - yesterday when I came home from work and was dealing with my frustration and anger, she looked across the kitchen table at me and politely says "So, have you talked to God about your anger issues today?" I replied very primly "Yes I have and we are still working on them." LOL

Going to work at a friends garage sale tonight and tomorrow, my friend invited me to bring my stuff over - I am really hoping I come home with a lot less stuff than I take over. I just glanced out the window though and it's not looking good, weather wise - hmmm.....hope it doesn't rain on us - I really want to get rid of my junk! But the one joy of glancing out the window is seeing the rabbit run across the yard (I'm at work on my break - we have a wild rabbit living in our "Serenity Garden" area).

Well, Thank you Lord for rain storms that my daughter and husband get to marvel at together, thank you for family members who cheer you up with just the right words, thank you for great books to read and thank you for being a God that is so worthy of worshipping and praising. Thanks for helping me deal with my stressors - for your strength and peace.

Finished reading Lineage of Grace, 3/4 through Divine, 1/2 through Artemis Fowl.

Oldest child is home!!!!!

A friend was mentioning those moments you have when you just can't help smiling and I'm having one tonight. Kristie has been away at teen camp all week and I've missed her. Not as desparetely as I have in the past though I think that was because my sister and her son are in town and keeping me distracted. But all the same I was thrilled when she came home. The part though that is making me smile as I type this, is when Sarah comes home and I tell her that her sister is back. Right away it's "Where is she" and I can hear Kristie in the background calling for Sarah. Sarah runs in there (Kristie is laying in my bed watching tv after a nice long hot shower - which she needed) jumps into bed and they are hugging and rolling in bed :-) Then Sarah drags Kristie to her room to show off her new quilt and all, which her sister admired. Back to my room to visit and watch tv together. I feel so blessed to have these two girls that like each other and care about each other. Thank you Lord!

It's been a good week with my sister and nephew here. Worked mornings all week except Friday (which I worked all day). Seemed to be something to do every afternoon to keep us busy. Went to the dentist on Tuesday with Sarah (new dentist for us both) and found out that we are both "tongue tied" - never knew this. And as the dentist says to me (she is a friend) "I've never known you to having problems talking!" LOL Anyhoo Sarah is off to see a specialist incase this may interfer with braces, me - I've been this way for ... lets just say alot of years.... and it's never been a problem - so I'm not going to worry about it.

Read Ephesians this afternoon and discovered that I really really really like this book. My reading plan said to read only chapter 1 to 3 today but I read the whole thing - couldn't stop. In fact it might even beat Psalms in my preference now....

I am thankful for this hot weather - with burnt nose and all, I'm thankful for the variety of color and beauty that God created in this world, I am thankful for the dragonflies that are eating those pesky mosquitos, I am thankful for friends that hold you when you cry about your mother, I am thankful for my daughters who constantly bring joy to my life, I am thankful for the opportunity to get to know my nephew better and to share with him the fun of catching a crayfish (and thankful that when I told him he could not bring it into my house he was okay with that).

Currently reading: A Lineage of Grace (on the last story in the book - about Mary), Artemis Fowl
Currently listening to: Mercy Me and the lastest Casting Crown cd, and I still enjoy Kelly Clarkson
Favorite TV shows: Anything reality show (yes I'm afraid I do) - latest Big Brother 7 All Stars

Trying something new - I quiz I took....

"Mischief is your middle name but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh." Do you think I'm a snapdragaon because my favorite cooking utensil was a telephone????

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

Ecc 3:11 "He has planted eternity in the human heart..."

Before I go into that verse, I just want to say that I am enjoying having my sister and her son stay with us. Having a young boy in the house is quite different for us, all that energy is not what we are use to. He reminds me of my younger daughter with his imagination. It paid to forget to take stuff to the garage sale - I still had some dress up stuff for him to play with.


Caleb reminded me of the time Sarah and her friend dressed up as a creature from outer space - with body paint (all over) and did a newscast for us...

The other day he reminded me of the beauty of God's work by drawing me to a dragonfly he had discovered in our hedge...

Okay back to the verse ... I thought that was an interesting statement, exactly what did it mean? How is eternity planted in our hearts? Here is how the cheat note explains it:

"God has "planted eternity in the human heart." This means that we can never be completely satisfied with earthly pleasures and pursuits. Because we are created in God's image. (1) We have a spiritual thirst (2) we have eternal value, and (3) nothing but the eternal God can truly satisfy us. God has built in us a restless yearning for the kind of perfect world that can only be found in his perfect rule. He as given us a glimpse of the perfection of his creation. But it is only a glimpse; we cannot see into the future or comprehend everything. So we must trust God now and do his work on earth."

Makes sense - I especially liked (2) we have eternal value - not just value in this life - through our job, family, friendship but eternal value which is way more...