I've been tagged - TWICE! - for this fun meme by Sharon and Pam
The rules for this meme are:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) List the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged.
So, here are my six non-important things/habits/quirks:
[1] I don't like mayonaisse or mustard. That means I eat my sandwiches and hamburgers plain - nothing on them besides the meat and cheese, with maybe a tomato. I'm fine with it - and I eat a lot of sandwiches and burgers. But people have told me that's weird.
[2] I shave my legs EVERY day. I don't know, maybe other women do this. I've had a few conversations revolving around this subject and most women say they don't shave everyday.
[3] I love playing computer and video games... what can I say.
[4] I am afraid of heights. I wasn't always this way. I think it started about ten years ago.
[5] I played softball in high school. I then joined a girls softball team when I moved here to Colorado. I enjoyed the game and think I was a fairly good player. Then, out of the blue, I lost my ability to throw a ball. I still don't know how or why it happened. I just couldn't throw the ball with any accuracy. Obviously, I quit playing.
[6] I have a second (or is it my third?) cousin who used to play for the L.A. Dodgers. He was a great player and was a real asset to the Dodgers during his time there. He is now a batting coach for a farm team.
Now, I am tagging:
{1}Lori, {2}Lynne, {3}Diane, {4}Heather, {5}Jamey, {6}Ma Kettle (Jen)
and anyone else who would like to play along.
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link of the day:
http://2008.bloggies.com/
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
a trip to the stock show
Last Friday night, Don and I went to to the National Western Stock Show here in Denver. This is an annual event and we have gone many times - mostly when the kids were young.
For those who don't know what a stock show is [I didn't know before I moved here], it is a two week long public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture. The mission of the show is: "To preserve the western lifestyle by providing a showcase for the agricultural industry through emphasis on education, genetic development, innovative technology and offering the world's largest agricultural marketing opportunities."
It's always interesting to walk around looking at everything from farming and ranching equipment to all the different animals. Or maybe you wouldn't find it interesting. I was wondering about that. I guess not everyone would enjoy that kind of thing.
I thoroughly enjoy myself at the show. I walk around the animal stalls and don't mind the smell or the muck on the ground. I can sit and eat a hot dog and funnel cake while watching a tractor pull or a dog agility competition. And of course, there's always the fun of people watching - one of my favorite pass times.
But my favorite thing about the stock show is the rodeo. I love the bronc riding, the calf roping, the barrel racing, and most of all... the bull riding. It's always a great show.
I did take my camera. Most of the pictures I took at the rodeo didn't turn out. They were blurry because those cowboys and the horses, or calves, or bulls, moved too fast for my shutter. Oh well. Here are the best ones.
***************
link of the day:
http://whitedwarfgame.com/
For those who don't know what a stock show is [I didn't know before I moved here], it is a two week long public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture. The mission of the show is: "To preserve the western lifestyle by providing a showcase for the agricultural industry through emphasis on education, genetic development, innovative technology and offering the world's largest agricultural marketing opportunities."
It's always interesting to walk around looking at everything from farming and ranching equipment to all the different animals. Or maybe you wouldn't find it interesting. I was wondering about that. I guess not everyone would enjoy that kind of thing.
I thoroughly enjoy myself at the show. I walk around the animal stalls and don't mind the smell or the muck on the ground. I can sit and eat a hot dog and funnel cake while watching a tractor pull or a dog agility competition. And of course, there's always the fun of people watching - one of my favorite pass times.
But my favorite thing about the stock show is the rodeo. I love the bronc riding, the calf roping, the barrel racing, and most of all... the bull riding. It's always a great show.
I did take my camera. Most of the pictures I took at the rodeo didn't turn out. They were blurry because those cowboys and the horses, or calves, or bulls, moved too fast for my shutter. Oh well. Here are the best ones.
***************
link of the day:
http://whitedwarfgame.com/
Monday, January 28, 2008
more of HIM
Welcome to More of HIM Monday
I started More of HIM because I found it wonderfully encouraging to read from other blogs how the writer was affected by a certain piece of scripture or how they see God working in their lives. I thought it would be nice to have a place where bloggers could submit a link to such posts in order for others to have the opportunity to also read them.
Whether you are a regular reader of mine or you're visiting for the first time, I would like to invite you to participate. You can do this with one of two (or both) themes; Scripture Speaks and/or HIM in my Life. The graphics for each can be found on my sidebar.
If you use the Scripture Speaks focus, write a post sharing a specific piece of scripture, how you feel God is speaking to you through it, and how you plan to apply it to your life.
Maybe it's not scripture that's speaking directly to you, but you do see God working in your life in some way. Whether it's His quiet whisper into your ear or His two by four hitting you up side the head... whether you're on a spiritual high, or low... share HIM in my Life and you'll find that not only will you be encouraged by your readers, but your words will encourage others as well.
So please join us here each Monday. Even if you don't write a post for More of Him, visit the participants who leave their link on Mr. Linky. Let's support each other in our spiritual journeys.
====================
I'd like to share how I see More of HIM lately working in the life of one of the kids in our youth group. We have a few kids who have either professed that they don't believe in God or that they don't need God in their lives. And even though they are a little rough around the edges, they have allowed us to see their hearts, too.
One boy came to our group over a year ago through a friend. He's had a tough life and has made it clear that he doesn't believe. He would continue to come with his friend and Don and I continued to pray for him. Over the summer he started seeing a girl who is a christian and had been attending another youth group. She has been a good influence on him and slowly we've been able to see his heart soften and his attitude change.
At the end of our meetings, we do "popcorn" prayer time and allow the kids to pray as they wish. A few weeks ago, this boy came up to me after we were all done to ask me a question. It went something like this...
"I don't know about this whole prayer thing, but would it be okay to just make a statement during the prayer time." I asked him to give me an example and he said he wanted to say thank you to his friend there and to say something about Don's job situation. I said I thought that would be just fine - thinking it may be the closest thing to praying for this kid.
So the next week when we had our prayer time, he, indeed, spoke up and said some beautiful things about his friends and that he "hoped" Don's job would get better. He didn't preface it with dear God or Jesus or anything, but in my eyes, it was a prayer. And the next week he did the same thing. It made my heart smile as big as it ever has and brought a tear to my eye.
God is working on this kid and I've seen more and more of HIM each and every week.
====================
I started More of HIM because I found it wonderfully encouraging to read from other blogs how the writer was affected by a certain piece of scripture or how they see God working in their lives. I thought it would be nice to have a place where bloggers could submit a link to such posts in order for others to have the opportunity to also read them.
Whether you are a regular reader of mine or you're visiting for the first time, I would like to invite you to participate. You can do this with one of two (or both) themes; Scripture Speaks and/or HIM in my Life. The graphics for each can be found on my sidebar.
If you use the Scripture Speaks focus, write a post sharing a specific piece of scripture, how you feel God is speaking to you through it, and how you plan to apply it to your life.
Maybe it's not scripture that's speaking directly to you, but you do see God working in your life in some way. Whether it's His quiet whisper into your ear or His two by four hitting you up side the head... whether you're on a spiritual high, or low... share HIM in my Life and you'll find that not only will you be encouraged by your readers, but your words will encourage others as well.So please join us here each Monday. Even if you don't write a post for More of Him, visit the participants who leave their link on Mr. Linky. Let's support each other in our spiritual journeys.
====================
I'd like to share how I see More of HIM lately working in the life of one of the kids in our youth group. We have a few kids who have either professed that they don't believe in God or that they don't need God in their lives. And even though they are a little rough around the edges, they have allowed us to see their hearts, too.
One boy came to our group over a year ago through a friend. He's had a tough life and has made it clear that he doesn't believe. He would continue to come with his friend and Don and I continued to pray for him. Over the summer he started seeing a girl who is a christian and had been attending another youth group. She has been a good influence on him and slowly we've been able to see his heart soften and his attitude change.
At the end of our meetings, we do "popcorn" prayer time and allow the kids to pray as they wish. A few weeks ago, this boy came up to me after we were all done to ask me a question. It went something like this...
"I don't know about this whole prayer thing, but would it be okay to just make a statement during the prayer time." I asked him to give me an example and he said he wanted to say thank you to his friend there and to say something about Don's job situation. I said I thought that would be just fine - thinking it may be the closest thing to praying for this kid.
So the next week when we had our prayer time, he, indeed, spoke up and said some beautiful things about his friends and that he "hoped" Don's job would get better. He didn't preface it with dear God or Jesus or anything, but in my eyes, it was a prayer. And the next week he did the same thing. It made my heart smile as big as it ever has and brought a tear to my eye.
God is working on this kid and I've seen more and more of HIM each and every week.
====================
Friday, January 25, 2008
wedding photos
Yesterday was my 27th wedding anniversary. I thought I'd share a few of my wedding pictures for Show & Tell. Now no one laugh! It's hard to look back 27 years to the fashions, hair styles, and how young we looked back then.
Thank you Kelli, of There is No Place Like Home, for hosting Show & Tell Fridays.
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link of the day:
http://www.bloandgo.com/
 |
 |
| Make a scrapbook - it's easy! |
Thank you Kelli, of There is No Place Like Home, for hosting Show & Tell Fridays.
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link of the day:
http://www.bloandgo.com/
Thursday, January 24, 2008
happy anniversary
Girlfriend Chronicles continues...
Boyfriend picked up girlfriend right on time for their date. It was a special date. Not only were they going out to dinner at a nice restaurant, but they were celebrating the 6th anniversary of that fateful night when they first kissed. Every year, they remembered and celebrated June 23rd.
They made their way down towards the beach, towards the pier. Boyfriend planned this evening out all by himself and escorted girlfriend to a restaurant that they hadn't dined at before. The food was good, atmosphere nice, and the conversation flowed. After dinner they walked around the pier.
They had spent so much of their time down at this pier. It had a few nice restaurants, but it was more about the atmosphere. It was the place to go to be near the ocean and to be part of the buzz that was the pier - fishermen, shoppers, diners, young lovers, beach bums, families, surfers, tourists, and the people watchers all mingling together on old wooden planks held up by barnacle covered, wave beaten columns.
Boyfriend and girlfriend strolled hand in hand, in no hurry to go anywhere. They stopped to watch the local fishermen as they reeled in their catches. They went into a couple of the little shops, just to look around. They checked out the tanks full of crabs as they walked by the countless fish shanteys.
Eventually, boyfriend steered them over to an out-of-the-way spot to gaze out over the inky blue water and the beach beyond. They watched the last few die-hard beach goers play in the breaking waves or gather their belongings as the sun slowly set over the vast ocean. And as girlfriend was enjoying the view, the sounds, and the smells, boyfriend took her by surprise and asked her that all-important question...
"Will you marry me?"
Girlfriend must have said yes because if you fast-forward 27 1/2 years, you'll find boyfriend and girlfriend as happily married husband and wife. It's been a wonderful 27 years! Girlfriend has truly been blessed. Happy Anniversary, dear husband.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's Show & Tell when wedding photos will be shared.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.homeword.com/
Boyfriend picked up girlfriend right on time for their date. It was a special date. Not only were they going out to dinner at a nice restaurant, but they were celebrating the 6th anniversary of that fateful night when they first kissed. Every year, they remembered and celebrated June 23rd.
They made their way down towards the beach, towards the pier. Boyfriend planned this evening out all by himself and escorted girlfriend to a restaurant that they hadn't dined at before. The food was good, atmosphere nice, and the conversation flowed. After dinner they walked around the pier.
They had spent so much of their time down at this pier. It had a few nice restaurants, but it was more about the atmosphere. It was the place to go to be near the ocean and to be part of the buzz that was the pier - fishermen, shoppers, diners, young lovers, beach bums, families, surfers, tourists, and the people watchers all mingling together on old wooden planks held up by barnacle covered, wave beaten columns.
Boyfriend and girlfriend strolled hand in hand, in no hurry to go anywhere. They stopped to watch the local fishermen as they reeled in their catches. They went into a couple of the little shops, just to look around. They checked out the tanks full of crabs as they walked by the countless fish shanteys.
Eventually, boyfriend steered them over to an out-of-the-way spot to gaze out over the inky blue water and the beach beyond. They watched the last few die-hard beach goers play in the breaking waves or gather their belongings as the sun slowly set over the vast ocean. And as girlfriend was enjoying the view, the sounds, and the smells, boyfriend took her by surprise and asked her that all-important question...
"Will you marry me?"
Girlfriend must have said yes because if you fast-forward 27 1/2 years, you'll find boyfriend and girlfriend as happily married husband and wife. It's been a wonderful 27 years! Girlfriend has truly been blessed. Happy Anniversary, dear husband.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's Show & Tell when wedding photos will be shared.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.homeword.com/
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
ouch again
Wordless Wednesday headquarters
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link of the day:
http://holidays.kaboose.com/valentines-day/
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
ouch
Remember this (posted here)...
Well, my puppy liked mine so much, he wanted one...
Sunday we came home from church to find Brody's paw bleeding. We tried all afternoon to get it to stop. We made him lay on a blanket and the bleeding would subside - until he would get up and then it would start again. Don went out to buy some special stuff that helps to stop the bleeding. It worked for a while, but once Brody started walking around, the wound opened right up and the blood started flowing. At about the point where the blood was dripping from his paw, we decided we needed to get him to a vet.
Unfortunately, there's no vet offices open at 7:00 on a Sunday night. So we had to take him to an emergency animal hospital. [cha-ching$$... there goes half of our summer vacation.] They wrapped the red bandage around him as soon as we carried him in because they didn't want him to bleed all over their floor. They determined they needed to stitch him up. We had to leave him there and go back to pick him up, which Jake and I did at 11:00.
They gave us this little plastic bootie for him to wear when he needs to go outside. But he can only go out to take care of business. We're supposed to keep him calm and inactive. When he needs to go out, we have to take him on a leash.
And he's supposed to wear this collar to keep him from trying to get his bandage off.
Of course, he hates the bandage, the bootie, and the collar. And of course, we hate having to keep him in the house when he loves to be out in the snow and having to take him outside when it's below 10 degrees.
And in case you're wondering, we think he cut his paw on the metal landscaping trimming we have in the backyard... the ones that he spent all summer tearing off the rubber protection. When the temperatures rise a little and the snow melts, we'll have to go out and rip out every piece of trimming.
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link of the day:
http://www.m-w.com/info/07words.htm
Monday, January 21, 2008
more of HIM
Welcome to More of HIM Monday
I started More of HIM because I found it wonderfully encouraging to read from other blogs how the writer was affected by a certain piece of scripture or how they see God working in their lives. I thought it would be nice to have a place where bloggers could submit a link to such posts in order for others to have the opportunity to also read them.
Whether you are a regular reader of mine or you're visiting for the first time, I would like to invite you to participate. You can do this with one of two (or both) themes; Scripture Speaks and/or HIM in my Life. The graphics for each can be found on my sidebar.
If you use the Scripture Speaks focus, write a post sharing a specific piece of scripture, how you feel God is speaking to you through it, and how you plan to apply it to your life.
Maybe it's not scripture that's speaking directly to you, but you do see God working in your life in some way. Whether it's His quiet whisper into your ear or His two by four hitting you up side the head... whether you're on a spiritual high, or low... share HIM in my Life and you'll find that not only will you be encouraged by your readers, but your words will encourage others as well.
So please join us here each Monday. Even if you don't write a post for More of Him, visit the participants who leave their link on Mr. Linky. Let's support each other in our spiritual journeys.
=====================
I do feel HIM in my Life and feel Him speaking to me, but this time through a different book than the Bible. I just got done reading The Shack. It's a marvelous little book that will forever change how I view God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as well as their purpose and place in my life.
I grew up as a kid raised in a Christian family who learned all the Bible stories, the do's and the don't's, and the practices that go along with being a Christian. I rebelled when I was a teenager and turned my back on the church and my faith, only to turn back to it when my daughter was born. Since then, I've served in my church while my faith and maturity has grown.
Even though I'm of the belief that there's always something more I can learn and that I want to be teachable, I was caught a little off guard reading this book. I feel like I learned more about the nature of God, His love for me and all of His children, and what He does and does not expect from me.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, whether you're a Christian or not. I think God can use a book like this to speak to any of us. I hope you allow him to do so for you.
You can read more of my thoughts on this book on Stories Told.
======================
I started More of HIM because I found it wonderfully encouraging to read from other blogs how the writer was affected by a certain piece of scripture or how they see God working in their lives. I thought it would be nice to have a place where bloggers could submit a link to such posts in order for others to have the opportunity to also read them.
Whether you are a regular reader of mine or you're visiting for the first time, I would like to invite you to participate. You can do this with one of two (or both) themes; Scripture Speaks and/or HIM in my Life. The graphics for each can be found on my sidebar.
If you use the Scripture Speaks focus, write a post sharing a specific piece of scripture, how you feel God is speaking to you through it, and how you plan to apply it to your life.Maybe it's not scripture that's speaking directly to you, but you do see God working in your life in some way. Whether it's His quiet whisper into your ear or His two by four hitting you up side the head... whether you're on a spiritual high, or low... share HIM in my Life and you'll find that not only will you be encouraged by your readers, but your words will encourage others as well.So please join us here each Monday. Even if you don't write a post for More of Him, visit the participants who leave their link on Mr. Linky. Let's support each other in our spiritual journeys.
=====================
I do feel HIM in my Life and feel Him speaking to me, but this time through a different book than the Bible. I just got done reading The Shack. It's a marvelous little book that will forever change how I view God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as well as their purpose and place in my life.
I grew up as a kid raised in a Christian family who learned all the Bible stories, the do's and the don't's, and the practices that go along with being a Christian. I rebelled when I was a teenager and turned my back on the church and my faith, only to turn back to it when my daughter was born. Since then, I've served in my church while my faith and maturity has grown.
Even though I'm of the belief that there's always something more I can learn and that I want to be teachable, I was caught a little off guard reading this book. I feel like I learned more about the nature of God, His love for me and all of His children, and what He does and does not expect from me.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, whether you're a Christian or not. I think God can use a book like this to speak to any of us. I hope you allow him to do so for you.
You can read more of my thoughts on this book on Stories Told.
======================
Saturday, January 19, 2008
stories told
I've been working all day on a new sister blog; Stories Told. It's one that I will use to keep track of the books I read and the movies I see. I've been wanting to do this for a while. I finally got around to it.
One of myresolutions goals for 2008 is to read more books. I love reading, but haven't given it much of a priority for the last year. I found myself still buying books that I wanted to read, but not taking the time needed to read them. My bookcase was overflowing with unread books. So I cleaned it out; donated books that I figured I would never read and kept the ones I wanted to read. Now my bookcase has a new purpose - to hold the books that I'm planning on reading this year.
After I finish a book, I'll write a post about it. I'll try not to give any spoilers but write what the book is about and if I would recommend it.
I also thought it would be fun to keep track of the movies I watch. I see a lot of movies and by the end of the year, I can't remember what I've seen throughout the year. Not only will I be able to keep a catalog of them all, but how I felt about each one.
For the most part, this new blog is for me to personally catalog the books and movies. I'm opening it up to be public because, who knows, maybe someone would be interested. You can also find a link to it on my sidebar under 'I am currently reading...' I hope you take a minute or two to check it out.
One of my
After I finish a book, I'll write a post about it. I'll try not to give any spoilers but write what the book is about and if I would recommend it.
I also thought it would be fun to keep track of the movies I watch. I see a lot of movies and by the end of the year, I can't remember what I've seen throughout the year. Not only will I be able to keep a catalog of them all, but how I felt about each one.
For the most part, this new blog is for me to personally catalog the books and movies. I'm opening it up to be public because, who knows, maybe someone would be interested. You can also find a link to it on my sidebar under 'I am currently reading...' I hope you take a minute or two to check it out.
Friday, January 18, 2008
it matters
When you interact with children,
you must always keep in mind
that everything you do and say
has an enormous impact on their lives.
If you treat children
with love and respect,
it will be easier for them
to love and respect themselves and others.
If you treat children
with freedom and honesty,
it will be easier for them
to develop confidence in their
abilities to make decisions.
If you treat children
with intelligence and sensitivity,
it will be easier for them
to understand the world.
If you treat children
with happiness, kindness and gentleness,
it will be easier for them
to develop into adults capable
of enjoying all the beautiful things
in life. (Susan Polis Schutz)
I read this once in a book. I copied it and tucked it away. I just came across it and as I read it, I found it just as profound as the first time I read it.
I first read this before I started doing youth work. As I read it today, I was struck with the reality of how so many parents who don't live this way. There are many reasons why this happens, but in my opinion, it boils down to one or both parents being so involved in their own personal stuff that they lose sight of what a parent's role is in raising their child(ren). They may even have good intentions, but if they're not putting the child first - over their own agendas - then the child is left to their own devices to find the love, respect, et al. And I have seen first hand the spiraling effects of a child looking for their basic needs outside the family unit. It breaks my heart.
So I post this today as a reminder to all of us (you don't even have to be a parent) of what is important when raising and interacting with young people. Let's face it, there are times we all can be oblivious to how our words and actions might be affecting the ones we love.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.iskip.com/
you must always keep in mind
that everything you do and say
has an enormous impact on their lives.
If you treat children
with love and respect,
it will be easier for them
to love and respect themselves and others.
If you treat children
with freedom and honesty,
it will be easier for them
to develop confidence in their
abilities to make decisions.
If you treat children
with intelligence and sensitivity,
it will be easier for them
to understand the world.
If you treat children
with happiness, kindness and gentleness,
it will be easier for them
to develop into adults capable
of enjoying all the beautiful things
in life. (Susan Polis Schutz)
I read this once in a book. I copied it and tucked it away. I just came across it and as I read it, I found it just as profound as the first time I read it.
I first read this before I started doing youth work. As I read it today, I was struck with the reality of how so many parents who don't live this way. There are many reasons why this happens, but in my opinion, it boils down to one or both parents being so involved in their own personal stuff that they lose sight of what a parent's role is in raising their child(ren). They may even have good intentions, but if they're not putting the child first - over their own agendas - then the child is left to their own devices to find the love, respect, et al. And I have seen first hand the spiraling effects of a child looking for their basic needs outside the family unit. It breaks my heart.
So I post this today as a reminder to all of us (you don't even have to be a parent) of what is important when raising and interacting with young people. Let's face it, there are times we all can be oblivious to how our words and actions might be affecting the ones we love.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.iskip.com/
Thursday, January 17, 2008
daily dose
Sharon, of Quiet Reflections, honored me with this award the other day. Thank you Sharon. Your words and your visits mean a lot to me.The award was originated by Xandra from Heart of Service, and here are her words for this award: "...it's for blogs that I must read every day without fail . . . They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog."
Now I guess I need to pass this award on in the spirit it was given. This is always so hard for me (passing on awards) and since I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis, it's even harder. Please forgive me for not being able to list each and every blog I visit. If I leave you comments, consider yourself loved.
Short Stop, Momma Roar, Just Mom, Not Before 7, Mejojac's Memos, Sunshine, The Gremlin Wrangler, and Mi Casa Es Su Casa.
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link of the day:
http://www.colourmefamily.com/index.php
(thanks Kailani)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
big apple
Don't forget to visit Wordless Wednesday headquarters.
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link of the day:
http://users.telenet.be/leukelinks/flash/elmo.swf
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link of the day:
http://users.telenet.be/leukelinks/flash/elmo.swf
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
one more comment...
Last week I wrote a post about Hillary Clinton and her emotional response to a question posed to her (link to post) and I thanked everyone for sharing their personal opinions on the issue. I received an email from my dad asking me if it was okay for him to leave a comment with his two cents, not knowing if I was welcoming a male opinion.
After telling him I would love to hear his opinion and his comments are always welcomed on my blog, he said he would gather his thoughts and leave a comment. He sent me an e-mail, with an attached document, a couple of days later saying he thought that what he wrote was too long to be a comment. I can see why he thought this but I was so touched with what he wrote, I asked him if I could publish it as a stand-alone post. He finally agreed to my request and here's what he wrote:
...So I'll attach what I wrote to this for you alone to ponder. Bear in mind that my comments, as they stand alone probably would indicate my support for her politically. But nothing could be further from the truth. I believe we must respect even our adversaries, but given a choice in voting for her, my thoughts go along those of what Mammy T said in your Rays...
Wow, where do I weigh in on all this? Trying to go along with the excellent responses that you’ve gotten from your fellow bloggers isn’t the answer as they’re all good comments yet somewhat disagreeing. I can only offer my opinion, that I doubt that Hillary’s emotion break was staged. Tears come to all of us when we get emotional and particularly when we’re tired.
Men are usually criticized for not showing the emotion any more than they do. Maybe it’s the macho image that they feel they must maintain. And I would imagine that Hillary has tried her best to parallel that macho image with the men. But she is human, and to let out a little emotion at the time she did, I think is understandable.
And casting her tears (such as they were) aside, she really came up with some great, touching words about our country, and who is going to be ready to run it? I would love to know just how she felt about releasing her emotions that way. If we knew the truth of that, we might be better able to evaluate whether she staged those tears or not.
But I can only relate to my own circumstances and history when I’ve let down during emotionally stressful times. Tears have flown from my being many times during my years of living: when I lost a cat during my childhood, I cried; when I had to leave your mother at a most critical time of her pregnancy with Steve and flew off to Morocco during the Cuban Crisis, I cried; when I had to leave Steve over night in the Vandenberg AFB hospital after he fell off the slide there in Lompoc and broke his arm, I cried; when I left you all (family) at the Long Beach airport as I separated and flew off to Vietnam for a year, I cried; when I lost your mom to a divorce and was further impacted by not being able to keep you girls with me when we moved to Colorado, I cried; and when my mom and dad passed away and I saw them for the last time in their caskets, I cried.
And as I get older the tears flow from emotional times even more. Anything patriotic, anyone that I see in church committing their life to Christ, any compassionate act by one human upon another, etc. will bring tears to my eyes, a lump to my throat, and an inability to speak when I only wish that I could. And it’s getting worse with age.
So why do we criticize a politician, a woman at that, for something that God has inbred into us. I don’t think we control those things. It just comes out. Someday, when we’re on the other shore, in our heavenly bodies, we won’t have to worry about emotions. But as for this life, we must accept them, and to criticize anyone for displaying them is wrong. Did she stage hers? I doubt it. She was only being human, and I can relate to that.
Thanks Dad.
***************
link of the day:
http://tanusha.livejournal.com/785637.html
After telling him I would love to hear his opinion and his comments are always welcomed on my blog, he said he would gather his thoughts and leave a comment. He sent me an e-mail, with an attached document, a couple of days later saying he thought that what he wrote was too long to be a comment. I can see why he thought this but I was so touched with what he wrote, I asked him if I could publish it as a stand-alone post. He finally agreed to my request and here's what he wrote:
...So I'll attach what I wrote to this for you alone to ponder. Bear in mind that my comments, as they stand alone probably would indicate my support for her politically. But nothing could be further from the truth. I believe we must respect even our adversaries, but given a choice in voting for her, my thoughts go along those of what Mammy T said in your Rays...
Wow, where do I weigh in on all this? Trying to go along with the excellent responses that you’ve gotten from your fellow bloggers isn’t the answer as they’re all good comments yet somewhat disagreeing. I can only offer my opinion, that I doubt that Hillary’s emotion break was staged. Tears come to all of us when we get emotional and particularly when we’re tired.
Men are usually criticized for not showing the emotion any more than they do. Maybe it’s the macho image that they feel they must maintain. And I would imagine that Hillary has tried her best to parallel that macho image with the men. But she is human, and to let out a little emotion at the time she did, I think is understandable.
And casting her tears (such as they were) aside, she really came up with some great, touching words about our country, and who is going to be ready to run it? I would love to know just how she felt about releasing her emotions that way. If we knew the truth of that, we might be better able to evaluate whether she staged those tears or not.
But I can only relate to my own circumstances and history when I’ve let down during emotionally stressful times. Tears have flown from my being many times during my years of living: when I lost a cat during my childhood, I cried; when I had to leave your mother at a most critical time of her pregnancy with Steve and flew off to Morocco during the Cuban Crisis, I cried; when I had to leave Steve over night in the Vandenberg AFB hospital after he fell off the slide there in Lompoc and broke his arm, I cried; when I left you all (family) at the Long Beach airport as I separated and flew off to Vietnam for a year, I cried; when I lost your mom to a divorce and was further impacted by not being able to keep you girls with me when we moved to Colorado, I cried; and when my mom and dad passed away and I saw them for the last time in their caskets, I cried.
And as I get older the tears flow from emotional times even more. Anything patriotic, anyone that I see in church committing their life to Christ, any compassionate act by one human upon another, etc. will bring tears to my eyes, a lump to my throat, and an inability to speak when I only wish that I could. And it’s getting worse with age.
So why do we criticize a politician, a woman at that, for something that God has inbred into us. I don’t think we control those things. It just comes out. Someday, when we’re on the other shore, in our heavenly bodies, we won’t have to worry about emotions. But as for this life, we must accept them, and to criticize anyone for displaying them is wrong. Did she stage hers? I doubt it. She was only being human, and I can relate to that.
Thanks Dad.
***************
link of the day:
http://tanusha.livejournal.com/785637.html
Monday, January 14, 2008
more of HIM
Welcome to More of HIM Monday
I started More of HIM because I found it wonderfully encouraging to read from other blogs how the writer was affected by a certain piece of scripture or how they see God working in their lives. I thought it would be nice to have a place where bloggers could submit a link to such posts in order for others to have the opportunity to also read them.
Whether you are a regular reader of mine or you're visiting for the first time, I would like to invite you to participate. You can do this with one of two (or both) themes; Scripture Speaks and/or HIM in my Life. The graphics for each can be found on my sidebar.
If you use the Scripture Speaks focus, write a post sharing a specific piece of scripture, how you feel God is speaking to you through it, and how you plan to apply it to your life.
Maybe it's not scripture that's speaking directly to you, but you do see God working in your life in some way. Whether it's His quiet whisper into your ear or His two by four hitting you up side the head... whether you're on a spiritual high, or low... share HIM in my Life and you'll find that not only will you be encouraged by your readers, but your words will encourage others as well.
So please join us here each Monday. Even if you don't write a post for More of Him, visit the participants who leave their link on Mr. Linky. Let's support each other in our spiritual journeys.
=================
Scripture Speaks to me...
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.
Psalm 39:4 NLT
I am part of a Moms In Touch prayer group. When we met last week, I shared with the group that I was looking for a piece of scripture that I can call my "2008 verse." That started a conversation where others shared verses that meant a lot to them.
The above verse was mentioned by a friend and she shared that she uses it as a reminder to live each and every day as if it's her last. At first, I thought that was kinda corny, or cliche'. But I've thought about that verse every day since.
How would I live my life if I knew this day would be my last? What would be important and what wouldn't? How would I treat people - my family? friends? total strangers? Are there relationships that should be mended? Are there things I've wanted to do but continue to put off?
I don't think I'll be using this as my "2008 verse," but it has had an impact on me and I hope it continues to do so. What I also find interesting is that not only did God use this piece of scripture to say something to me, but He used a friend to deliver it to me.
I started More of HIM because I found it wonderfully encouraging to read from other blogs how the writer was affected by a certain piece of scripture or how they see God working in their lives. I thought it would be nice to have a place where bloggers could submit a link to such posts in order for others to have the opportunity to also read them.
Whether you are a regular reader of mine or you're visiting for the first time, I would like to invite you to participate. You can do this with one of two (or both) themes; Scripture Speaks and/or HIM in my Life. The graphics for each can be found on my sidebar.
If you use the Scripture Speaks focus, write a post sharing a specific piece of scripture, how you feel God is speaking to you through it, and how you plan to apply it to your life.
Maybe it's not scripture that's speaking directly to you, but you do see God working in your life in some way. Whether it's His quiet whisper into your ear or His two by four hitting you up side the head... whether you're on a spiritual high, or low... share HIM in my Life and you'll find that not only will you be encouraged by your readers, but your words will encourage others as well.
So please join us here each Monday. Even if you don't write a post for More of Him, visit the participants who leave their link on Mr. Linky. Let's support each other in our spiritual journeys.
=================
Scripture Speaks to me...
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.
Psalm 39:4 NLT
I am part of a Moms In Touch prayer group. When we met last week, I shared with the group that I was looking for a piece of scripture that I can call my "2008 verse." That started a conversation where others shared verses that meant a lot to them.
The above verse was mentioned by a friend and she shared that she uses it as a reminder to live each and every day as if it's her last. At first, I thought that was kinda corny, or cliche'. But I've thought about that verse every day since.
How would I live my life if I knew this day would be my last? What would be important and what wouldn't? How would I treat people - my family? friends? total strangers? Are there relationships that should be mended? Are there things I've wanted to do but continue to put off?
I don't think I'll be using this as my "2008 verse," but it has had an impact on me and I hope it continues to do so. What I also find interesting is that not only did God use this piece of scripture to say something to me, but He used a friend to deliver it to me.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
the invisible mom
A friend sent this to me in an e-mail. It asked that the receiver pass it on to other invisible moms. So that's what I'm doing.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible; "The Invisible Mom."
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, and she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.
I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Great Job, MOM!
***************
link of the day:
http://www.madglibs.com/
(thanks mammyt)
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible; "The Invisible Mom."
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, and she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.
I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Great Job, MOM!
***************
link of the day:
http://www.madglibs.com/
(thanks mammyt)
Friday, January 11, 2008
this, that, and the other thing
Thank you to everyone who commented on my previous post about Hillary Clinton. It was nice to read everyone's opinion and I appreciated them all.
I've been thinking, for a while now, of posting occasionally about hot topics that are being talked about. Probably not much on politics. I'm not a very political person and I know politics, more than any other subject, is very personal and can spark heated debates - which wouldn't be my intention. I just think it's interesting to hear people's opinions on different issues. We'll see. But thanks again to everyone who participated in the discussion.
Speaking of future posts, I'm trying to decide if I want to continue the More of Him Mondays. Please let me know if you have strong feelings either way.
I saw the movie P.S. I Love You today. I really liked it. A lot more than I thought I would. It's just one more case where the previews make a movie look one way and not necessarily the way it really is. It's a lot more serious and thought provoking than I thought it would be. It even made me tear up a couple of times. I would recommend it.
And lastly, Don was in a car accident last night on his way home from work. He's okay and thankfully, no one was hurt. On the freeway, in stop and go traffic, he was hit from behind and then pushed into the car in front of him. The impact in front of him barely left a scratch on the other car but did quite a bit of scrunching to Don's jeep. The impact from behind did some damage to the back of the jeep but so much to the other car that it had to be towed away. We're just thankful that no one was hurt.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.r2d2translator.com/
I've been thinking, for a while now, of posting occasionally about hot topics that are being talked about. Probably not much on politics. I'm not a very political person and I know politics, more than any other subject, is very personal and can spark heated debates - which wouldn't be my intention. I just think it's interesting to hear people's opinions on different issues. We'll see. But thanks again to everyone who participated in the discussion.
Speaking of future posts, I'm trying to decide if I want to continue the More of Him Mondays. Please let me know if you have strong feelings either way.
I saw the movie P.S. I Love You today. I really liked it. A lot more than I thought I would. It's just one more case where the previews make a movie look one way and not necessarily the way it really is. It's a lot more serious and thought provoking than I thought it would be. It even made me tear up a couple of times. I would recommend it.
And lastly, Don was in a car accident last night on his way home from work. He's okay and thankfully, no one was hurt. On the freeway, in stop and go traffic, he was hit from behind and then pushed into the car in front of him. The impact in front of him barely left a scratch on the other car but did quite a bit of scrunching to Don's jeep. The impact from behind did some damage to the back of the jeep but so much to the other car that it had to be towed away. We're just thankful that no one was hurt.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.r2d2translator.com/
Thursday, January 10, 2008
i can't decide how i feel
Today is a rare day. I'm doing two things that I don't usually do in my posts. One, embedding a YouTube video (I usually just leave a link) and two, talk politics. But today I'm doing both.
You may have already seen what's on the video. It's been all over the news and is currently a hot topic. The day before the New Hampshire primary, Hillary got emotional as she spoke with voters about how hard it is to balance a busy campaign life and her passion for the country's future.
I'm writing about this because I honestly don't know how I feel about it. We've had a few discussions here in my home on the subject. And there's been a lot of talk online where both sides of the issue have been very vocal about their feelings. A lot of people think it was staged. I DO NOT think it was staged.
It does show her as being vulnerable. But maybe that's a good thing. I like seeing her show some of her heart and not just her brain. I think her answer (shown on the video) shows passion and compassion. I just don't know if it also gave the impression of weakness. No one wants any signs of weakness in a president. I haven't decided who I'm voting for and this just makes it a little harder for me.
I'd love to hear what you think. But, please... don't get up on your soapbox or use this as a venue to promote your candidate of choice (I will delete comments if necessary). I'm just curious of how other women are feeling about this issue.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen5/f52-times-square.html
(thanks Tee)
You may have already seen what's on the video. It's been all over the news and is currently a hot topic. The day before the New Hampshire primary, Hillary got emotional as she spoke with voters about how hard it is to balance a busy campaign life and her passion for the country's future.
I'm writing about this because I honestly don't know how I feel about it. We've had a few discussions here in my home on the subject. And there's been a lot of talk online where both sides of the issue have been very vocal about their feelings. A lot of people think it was staged. I DO NOT think it was staged.
It does show her as being vulnerable. But maybe that's a good thing. I like seeing her show some of her heart and not just her brain. I think her answer (shown on the video) shows passion and compassion. I just don't know if it also gave the impression of weakness. No one wants any signs of weakness in a president. I haven't decided who I'm voting for and this just makes it a little harder for me.
I'd love to hear what you think. But, please... don't get up on your soapbox or use this as a venue to promote your candidate of choice (I will delete comments if necessary). I'm just curious of how other women are feeling about this issue.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen5/f52-times-square.html
(thanks Tee)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
rocky mountain high
These pictures were taken of Jake by one of his skiing buddies last week when they went up to Vail. When I mentioned that the views were breath taking, I was told the pictures don't do them justice. I believe him. Therefor, I thought they were perfect for a Wordless Wednesday.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaRDmY5nMgM
***************
link of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaRDmY5nMgM
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
10 best memories
I haven't done a 10 for Tuesday lately so I headed on over there to see what today's prompt was. It's the 10 best memories of 2007. I think I can come up with 10. Let's see...During Danielle's spring break in April, she and I spent three days in a cabin up in Estes Park. We had a great time. I love the mountains and I enjoy spending time with Danielle. We did a little shopping and visited the famous Stanley Hotel (where The Shining was filmed). It was a perfect little get-away.
In the beginning of June, the whole family plus Jake's girlfriend, Hollee, traveled to California. We enjoyed being near the beach, sight-seeing, seeing family, my nephew's graduation, and even a trip to Disneyland.
I was able to attend our church's women's retreat in August. It was a great weekend because it was up in the mountains (Grand Lake) and it was time spent with God and a bunch of lovely women.
One of Jake's cross country meets was at a park next to Columbine High School. Visiting the newly dedicated Columbine memorial had a great impact on me and one I won't soon forget.
I always enjoy going to Jake's band's performances. And with booking, their show improves from the previous one. One of the best shows they've had, in my opinion, was at a local venue by the name of The Gothic. It was exciting to see them up on that stage because a lot of big names have also played there. They were one of the opening acts and they were awesome. They even caught the eye of a local promoter and are now working with her.
I'd have to say one of the best memories was Rocktober. That would be the Colorado Rockies winning so many games to get them into the wild card playoffs, sweeping the division series and the league championship series. It was an exciting time for Rockies fans, which I am, and all that lived in the Denver area.
It was bittersweet to watch Jake run his last season of cross country. He's ran all four of his high school years. It was great that his team qualified for state and to watch him run in that meet for the second year.
It's always a pleasure and thrill to take a trip over to Hawaii. So Don's and my trip in November was no exception. We had a great time and visited sites we had not seen in previous trips.
Our second night in Hawaii, we were evacuated from our hotel due to an electrical fire in the kitchen. Needless to say, it was a scary time and a memory that will stay with me forever.
And that brings us to the end of the year and another special memory is having my sister and her family come to visit and spend Christmas with us. It was so fun having my little niece and nephew here and spending time with my sister was priceless.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.motionbox.com/
Sunday, January 6, 2008
we've made it official
Don and I announced today, to the leaders of our church, that we are stepping down as youth directors, effective June 1st. It's actually a little more than that. We are resigning from youth ministry all together. We don't want anyone to think that we're dissatisfied at our current church and would be looking to do ministry elsewhere. We are ending our days as official youth workers.
There are several reasons we have made this decision and now. The timing seems right. We have been thinking and praying about this since September and we feel at peace about our decision.
We still have a heart for teens. We still love hanging out with them. We still are willing to walk along side a teen in his or her own personal journey or being there for them in a time of need. We are truly going to miss being a part of a ministry that gives us the opportunity to be a part of a teen's life.
And as much as we are going to miss so much of what doing youth ministry means to us, we are excited to think that God has something new in store for us and that He will reveal that to us when He's ready and He knows we're ready.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/premier/
There are several reasons we have made this decision and now. The timing seems right. We have been thinking and praying about this since September and we feel at peace about our decision.
We still have a heart for teens. We still love hanging out with them. We still are willing to walk along side a teen in his or her own personal journey or being there for them in a time of need. We are truly going to miss being a part of a ministry that gives us the opportunity to be a part of a teen's life.
And as much as we are going to miss so much of what doing youth ministry means to us, we are excited to think that God has something new in store for us and that He will reveal that to us when He's ready and He knows we're ready.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/premier/
Friday, January 4, 2008
bracelets galore
Kelli hosts Show & Tell Friday each and every Friday. If you have anything to share, you're invited to join in the fun.Before my birthday, back in October, I didn't usually wear a bracelet. I have a couple of nice ones and a couple more cheap ones and I'd ocassionally wear one, but not on a regular basis. But then I received a very nice bracelet as a birthday gift from one of my good friends. I love it and have worn it just about every day since.
Now I have even more bracelets to choose from each day. And I love each one of them.
This one was made and sent to me by Christine of From Dates to Diapers and Beyond right before Christmas. I won it in her Fall Y'all Bloggy Giveaway. It's beautiful Christine. Thank you very much.
This one was in my stocking, given to me by Don. I tried to get close enough so you could read what it says. It says Life is a journey, not a destination - a saying I truly believe in and use a lot. I love it. Thanks Dear.
Danielle got interested in beading a year or so ago and enjoys making bracelets. She made some from friends and one for her cousin. When I saw this design, I told her how much I liked it and she then made me one. You did a great job, Dani. thank you.
And here are two strands from a total of five. These are the bracelets my sister and I picked out for the both of us. Each strand is unique and yet they all look very similar. We both have two and we wear them as a reminder of each other and to be praying for each other. I'm trying to wear these every day but on my other arm, along with my watch. I love the look of these bracelets and what they stand for. Thanks Karen.
If you'd like to see what other people are sharing today, head on over to Kelli's place.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2007/12/blog_advice
Thursday, January 3, 2008
the bell
This is how we know what love is: He gave His life for us. (1 John 3:16)
THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor. 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation (Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant. (Phil. 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom. 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor. 1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good. (Rom. 8:28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3:12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15:1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3:16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2:10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3) I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker(1 Cor 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1).I am God's workmanship(Eph 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected(Phil. 1:5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven(Col 1:14).I have been adopted as God's child(Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
who you are?
***************
link of the day:
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
the first day of 2008
Happy New Year everyone!
This has been one lazy day around my house. How about yours? So lazy, I had intended to write this post this morning, while I was watching the Rose parade. Here it is after dinner and not only have I not logged into Bl*gger all day, but I haven't done much else either :]
I really didn't have much to say today, but I did want to give you the following links. If you enjoy good photography, you will enjoy these "best" photos of the year.
This is Reuter's site where they have posted pictures of the year 2007. Reuters is a news agency and most of their photos are incredible and thought provoking.
Then there's National Geographic's top ten photos of 2007. There's some interesting stories with these.
Speaking of photos, I came across an interesting site that publishes interesting photos. It's MangoFalls and what they do is post photographs from film found in old, abandoned cameras. They have no idea who took the photo(s) or why. Most of them are really old which is what makes them so interesting. Fashion, cars, homes, and people have changed a lot in the last few decades.
Hope you enjoy all these sites as much as I did.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juOQhTuzDQ0
This has been one lazy day around my house. How about yours? So lazy, I had intended to write this post this morning, while I was watching the Rose parade. Here it is after dinner and not only have I not logged into Bl*gger all day, but I haven't done much else either :]
I really didn't have much to say today, but I did want to give you the following links. If you enjoy good photography, you will enjoy these "best" photos of the year.
This is Reuter's site where they have posted pictures of the year 2007. Reuters is a news agency and most of their photos are incredible and thought provoking.
Then there's National Geographic's top ten photos of 2007. There's some interesting stories with these.
Speaking of photos, I came across an interesting site that publishes interesting photos. It's MangoFalls and what they do is post photographs from film found in old, abandoned cameras. They have no idea who took the photo(s) or why. Most of them are really old which is what makes them so interesting. Fashion, cars, homes, and people have changed a lot in the last few decades.
Hope you enjoy all these sites as much as I did.
***************
link of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juOQhTuzDQ0
angels & demons, chapter 94
This is from chapter 94 from Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. It is a speech made by a priest in charge at the Vatican. He is addressing the enemy, which is a group who believes solely in science to the degree that they want to destroy religion, specifically Catholicism.
"You have won the war.
The wheels have been in motion for a long time. Your victory has been inevitable. Never before has it been as obvious as it is at this moment. Science is the God.
Medicine, electronic communications, space travel, genetic manipulation... these are the miracles about which we now tell our children. These are the miracles we herald as proof that science will bring us the answers. The ancient stories of immaculate conceptions, burning bushes, and parting seas are no longer relevant. God has become obsolete. Science has won the battle. We concede.
But science's victory has cost every one of us. And it has cost us deeply.
Science may have alleviated the miseries of disease and drudgery and provided an array of gadgetry for our entertainment and convenience, but it has left us in a world without wonder. Our sunsets have been reduced to wavelengths and frequencies. The complexities of the universe have been shredded into mathematical equations. Even our self-worth as human beings has been destroyed. Science proclaims that Planet Earth and its inhabitants are a meaningless speck in the grand scheme. A cosmic accident.
Even the technology that promises to unite us, divides us. Each of us is now electronically connected to the globe, and yet we feel utterly alone. We are bombarded with violence, division, fracture, and betrayal. Skepticism has become a virtue. Cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought. Is it any wonder that humans now feel more depressed and defeated than they have at any point in human history? Does science hold anything sacred? Science looks for answers by probing our unborn fetuses. Science even presumes to rearrange our own DNA. It shatters God's world into small and smaller pieces in quest of meaning... and all it finds is more questions.
The ancient war between science and religion is over. You have won. But you have not won fairly. You have not won by providing answers. You have won by so radically reorienting our society that the truths we once saw as signposts now seem inapplicable. Religion cannot keep up. Scientific growth is exponential. It feed on itself like a virus. Every new breakthrough opens doors for new breakthroughs. Mankind took thousands of years to progress from the wheel to the car. Yet only decades from the car into space. Now we measure scientific progress in weeks. We are spinning out of control.
The rift between us grows deeper and deeper, and as religion is left behind, people find themselves in a spiritual void. We cry out for meaning. And believe me, we do cry out. We see UFOs, engage in channeling, spirit contact, out-of-body experiences, mindquests -- all these eccentric ideas have a scientific veneer, but they are unashamedly irrational. They are the desperate cry of the modern soul, lonely and tormented, crippled by its own enlightenment and its inability to accept meaning in anything removed from technology.
Science, you say, will save us. Science, I say, has destroyed us. Since the days of Galileo, the church has tried to slow the relentless march of science, sometimes with misguided means, but always with benevolent intention. Even so, the temptations are too great for man to resist. I warn you, look around yourselves. The promises of science have not been kept. Promises of efficiency and simplicity have bred nothing but pollution and chaos. We aer a fractured and frantic species... moving down a path of destruction.
Who is this God science? Who is the God who offers his people power but no moral framework to tell you how to use that power? What kind of God gives a child fire but does not warn the child of its dangers? The language of science comes with no signposts about good and bad. Science textbooks tell us how to create a nuclear reaction, and yet they contain no chapter asking us if it is a good or a bad idea.
To science, I say this. The church is tired. WE are exhausted from trying to be your signposts. Our resources are drying up from our campaign to be the voice of balance as you plow blindly on in your quest for smaller chips and larger profits. We ask not why you will not govern yourselves, but how can you? Your world moves so fast that if you stop even for an instant to consider the implications of your actions, someone more efficient will whip past you in a blur. So you move on.
You proliferate weapons of mass destruction, but it is the Pope who travels the world beseeching leaders to use restraint. You clone living creatures, but it is the church reminding us to consider the moral implications of our actions. You encourage people to interact on phones, video screens, and computers, but it is the church who opens its doors and reminds us to commune in person as we were meant to do. You even murder unborn babies in the name of research that will save lives. Again, it is the church who points out the fallacy of this reasoning.
And all the while, you proclaim the church is ignorant. But who is more ignorant? The man who cannot define lightning, or the man who does not respect its awesome power? This church is reaching out to you. Reaching out to everyone. And yet the more we reach, the more you push us away. Show me proof there is a God, you say. I say use your telescopes to look to the heavens, and tell me how there could not be a God! You ask what does God look like. i say, where did that question come from? The answers are one and the same. Do you not see God in your science? How can you miss Him! You proclaim that even the slightest change in the force of gravity or the weight of an atom would have rendered our universe a lifeless mist rather than our magnificent sea of heavenly bodies, and yet you fail to see God's hand in this? Is it really so much easier to believe that we simply chose the right card from a deck of billions? Have we become so spiritually bankrupt that we would rather believe in mathematical impossibility than in a power greater than us?
Whether or not you believe in God, you must believe this. When we as a species abandon our trust in the power greater than us, we abandon our sense of accountability. Faith... all faiths... are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable. With faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do... looking beyond the ritual of these walls... they would see a modern miracle... a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control.
Are we obsolete? Are these men dinosaurs? Am I? Does the world really need a voice for the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the unborn child? Do we really need souls like these who, though imperfect, spend their lives imploring each of us to read the signposts of morality and not lose our way?
Tonight we are are perched on a precipice. None of us can afford to be apathetic. Whether you see this evil as Satan, corruption, or immorality... the dark force is alive and growing every day. Do not ignore it. The force, though mighty, is not invincible. Goodness can prevail. Listen to your hearts. Listen to God. Together we can step back from this abyss."
========
This was written as part of my review of Angels & Demons.
Please leave any comments on that post. Thank you.
"You have won the war.
The wheels have been in motion for a long time. Your victory has been inevitable. Never before has it been as obvious as it is at this moment. Science is the God.
Medicine, electronic communications, space travel, genetic manipulation... these are the miracles about which we now tell our children. These are the miracles we herald as proof that science will bring us the answers. The ancient stories of immaculate conceptions, burning bushes, and parting seas are no longer relevant. God has become obsolete. Science has won the battle. We concede.
But science's victory has cost every one of us. And it has cost us deeply.
Science may have alleviated the miseries of disease and drudgery and provided an array of gadgetry for our entertainment and convenience, but it has left us in a world without wonder. Our sunsets have been reduced to wavelengths and frequencies. The complexities of the universe have been shredded into mathematical equations. Even our self-worth as human beings has been destroyed. Science proclaims that Planet Earth and its inhabitants are a meaningless speck in the grand scheme. A cosmic accident.
Even the technology that promises to unite us, divides us. Each of us is now electronically connected to the globe, and yet we feel utterly alone. We are bombarded with violence, division, fracture, and betrayal. Skepticism has become a virtue. Cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought. Is it any wonder that humans now feel more depressed and defeated than they have at any point in human history? Does science hold anything sacred? Science looks for answers by probing our unborn fetuses. Science even presumes to rearrange our own DNA. It shatters God's world into small and smaller pieces in quest of meaning... and all it finds is more questions.
The ancient war between science and religion is over. You have won. But you have not won fairly. You have not won by providing answers. You have won by so radically reorienting our society that the truths we once saw as signposts now seem inapplicable. Religion cannot keep up. Scientific growth is exponential. It feed on itself like a virus. Every new breakthrough opens doors for new breakthroughs. Mankind took thousands of years to progress from the wheel to the car. Yet only decades from the car into space. Now we measure scientific progress in weeks. We are spinning out of control.
The rift between us grows deeper and deeper, and as religion is left behind, people find themselves in a spiritual void. We cry out for meaning. And believe me, we do cry out. We see UFOs, engage in channeling, spirit contact, out-of-body experiences, mindquests -- all these eccentric ideas have a scientific veneer, but they are unashamedly irrational. They are the desperate cry of the modern soul, lonely and tormented, crippled by its own enlightenment and its inability to accept meaning in anything removed from technology.
Science, you say, will save us. Science, I say, has destroyed us. Since the days of Galileo, the church has tried to slow the relentless march of science, sometimes with misguided means, but always with benevolent intention. Even so, the temptations are too great for man to resist. I warn you, look around yourselves. The promises of science have not been kept. Promises of efficiency and simplicity have bred nothing but pollution and chaos. We aer a fractured and frantic species... moving down a path of destruction.
Who is this God science? Who is the God who offers his people power but no moral framework to tell you how to use that power? What kind of God gives a child fire but does not warn the child of its dangers? The language of science comes with no signposts about good and bad. Science textbooks tell us how to create a nuclear reaction, and yet they contain no chapter asking us if it is a good or a bad idea.
To science, I say this. The church is tired. WE are exhausted from trying to be your signposts. Our resources are drying up from our campaign to be the voice of balance as you plow blindly on in your quest for smaller chips and larger profits. We ask not why you will not govern yourselves, but how can you? Your world moves so fast that if you stop even for an instant to consider the implications of your actions, someone more efficient will whip past you in a blur. So you move on.
You proliferate weapons of mass destruction, but it is the Pope who travels the world beseeching leaders to use restraint. You clone living creatures, but it is the church reminding us to consider the moral implications of our actions. You encourage people to interact on phones, video screens, and computers, but it is the church who opens its doors and reminds us to commune in person as we were meant to do. You even murder unborn babies in the name of research that will save lives. Again, it is the church who points out the fallacy of this reasoning.
And all the while, you proclaim the church is ignorant. But who is more ignorant? The man who cannot define lightning, or the man who does not respect its awesome power? This church is reaching out to you. Reaching out to everyone. And yet the more we reach, the more you push us away. Show me proof there is a God, you say. I say use your telescopes to look to the heavens, and tell me how there could not be a God! You ask what does God look like. i say, where did that question come from? The answers are one and the same. Do you not see God in your science? How can you miss Him! You proclaim that even the slightest change in the force of gravity or the weight of an atom would have rendered our universe a lifeless mist rather than our magnificent sea of heavenly bodies, and yet you fail to see God's hand in this? Is it really so much easier to believe that we simply chose the right card from a deck of billions? Have we become so spiritually bankrupt that we would rather believe in mathematical impossibility than in a power greater than us?
Whether or not you believe in God, you must believe this. When we as a species abandon our trust in the power greater than us, we abandon our sense of accountability. Faith... all faiths... are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable. With faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do... looking beyond the ritual of these walls... they would see a modern miracle... a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control.
Are we obsolete? Are these men dinosaurs? Am I? Does the world really need a voice for the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the unborn child? Do we really need souls like these who, though imperfect, spend their lives imploring each of us to read the signposts of morality and not lose our way?
Tonight we are are perched on a precipice. None of us can afford to be apathetic. Whether you see this evil as Satan, corruption, or immorality... the dark force is alive and growing every day. Do not ignore it. The force, though mighty, is not invincible. Goodness can prevail. Listen to your hearts. Listen to God. Together we can step back from this abyss."
========
This was written as part of my review of Angels & Demons.
Please leave any comments on that post. Thank you.
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