The Learning Curve: Living Parabolically

So Run

2011-12-19T21:34:00.000-05:00

SO RUN

    Each breath feels like I’m sucking fire into my lungs. My heart seems about to burst from my chest. Every nerve in my body screams with pain. I know those around me are struggling as painfully as I am, but that doesn’t make my struggle any easier. What made me think I was cut out to be a long distance runner?

    Where’s my Dad? He encouraged me to sign up for the team, to follow in the footsteps of my oldest brother, the team captain. Dad’s been involved in my training every step of the way—diet, rest, strengthening. He even brought me here today. And now, in the race of my life, when I need him the most, I can't see him anywhere.

    This seems as if it will never end. My oldest brother has run this race before, and he gave me a map of the course. I’ve done my best to commit it to memory, but now, it’s so hard to recall. It feels like my entire world consists of pain—labored breathing, pounding heart, bleeding feet, throbbing joints, and utter, utter fatigue—as I face another uphill stretch, another valley, another bend in the path where I can’t see what’s ahead.

    I’ve watched my brothers and sisters run this course. Dad was there for every one of their races, moving from point to point, cheering them on, shouting encouragement, calling their name with pride. But here I am on the course alone.

    I round a curve and there, in the distance I can see the finish line. If I can just hang on, I can finish the course. Sobbing with exhaustion, I push myself toward the mark that designates victory. Using my last reserve of strength, I stumble toward the gate.

    There’s my Dad! He’s standing at the finish line, calling my name, smiling, and waving me in. And there, at the end of the race, are my brothers and sisters, shouting, cheering, jumping up and down.

    I stagger across the finish line and fall into my Dad’s arms. He wipes away my tears, and my brother, the team captain, gives me a drink of water.

    Their welcome refreshes me, and as the pain fades, my thoughts clear and my memory springs to life. One after another, images flash through my mind—my Dad! I can see now; he was there with me, moving across my course, every step of the way—every curve, every rocky stretch, every uphill struggle.

    The victory party is in full swing, and as the celebration swirls around me, I hear the sweetest sound of all. It’s my Dad, whispering in my ear.

    “Well done, my child. You finished the course. You never lost faith. Welcome to joy.”

A Rock and a Hard Place

2011-11-21T02:11:00.001-05:00

God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see.
He will make a way for me. (1)

Have you ever been "between a rock and a hard place"? Have you ever been in a situation where you could not find a way out? If you're a follower of Jesus Christ who's in a situation where you can find no way out, that's because you're not supposed to! God wants to do it for you.

When God allows us to face a new problem, an impossible problem, it's because He wants to reveal something new about Himself—something we've never experienced before. (By the way, no problem ever seems impossible, once we've seen God solve it!)

That's why it's important to have landmarks, "stones of remembrance" (Joshua 4:1-7) in a life of faith. Then, when a problem comes, we can look at it and say, "Well, I've never seen God solve this before, but I've seen Him solve that."

After the Great Flood, if Noah ever faced a drought, he probably found it easier to trust. Sure, he'd never faced a lack of rain before, but he knew the One who rules the wind and the rain.

When Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, he probably found some reinforcement for his faith in the fact that, although he'd never seen God give back a dead child to a couple, he had seen God give a child to a 100 year old father and a 90 year old mother. He had never seen God bring a child back to life, but he had seen Him bring a womb back to life. "He had never seen a resurrection, but he had seen a miracle!" (2)

What "impossible situation" are you facing? What landmarks can you recall, that remind you that you are loved and cared for the One who celebrates the impossible? What new thing about Himself does He want to reveal about Himself in your circumstance?

With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way,
He will make a way. (1)

References:
1. God Will Make a Way - Don Moen
2. quoting Dr. Tony Evans - The Urban Alternative

...And Nudge Me When....

2011-11-16T15:58:00.000-05:00

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...a time to be silent and a time to speak.... (Ecclesiastes 3:1&7)

Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone.
As Thou hast sought, so let me seek
Thy wand'ring children, lost and lone. (1)

A close friend is, I believe, very close to stepping into a new (to them) spiritual truth. The kind that will change everything. And therein lies the problem. My friend is scared. SCARED. This truth is so big, once you grasp it, you see things differently—God, people, work, pleasure, life....

And therein lies my problem. I'm beginning to have a small grasp of this truth, and it makes me want to grab people, shake them awake, and drag them to it. Sort of like making kids eat broccoli. It's that important!

But that isn't how God does it. He is patient and kind, and gives us time. He wants me to remember that there is a time to speak and a time to remain silent. I need to strike a balance. While I'm waiting for my friend, I need to follow my dad's advice: "Ask Jesus to come stand beside you, and put His arm around your shoulders and His hand over your mouth."

"Lord, fill my mouth with useful stuff, and nudge me when I've said enough!" (2)

References:
1. Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak - Frances Havergal
2. quoting Joyce Landorf

Where Could I Go?

2011-11-14T21:48:00.000-05:00

Some days, it's tough to even string together one coherent sentence. That seems to be when God sends a song...or three!

Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptations call
Where could I go, but to the Lord

Where could I go where could I go
Seeking a refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to help me in the end
Where could I go, but to the Lord (1)

------------

Tempted and tried, we're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus, all the day long,
While there are others, living around us,
Never molested, though in the wrong.

Farther along, we'll know all about it.
Farther along, we'll understand why.
Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine.
We'll understand it all, by and by. (2)

----------------

Where do I go,
When there's nobody else to turn to?
Who can I talk to,
When nobody wants to listen?
What do I lean on,
When there is no foundation stable?
I go to the Rock,
I know He is able, I go to the Rock.

I go to the Rock of my Salvation.
I go to the Stone that the builders rejected.
I run to the mountain,
And the mountain stands by me.
When all around is sinking sand,
On Christ the solid rock I stand.
When I need a shelter,
When I need a friend,
I go to the Rock. (3)

References:
1. Where Could I Go - J.B. Coats
2. Farther Along - W.B. Stevens
3. I Go to the Rock -Dottie Rambo

The Potter's Hands

2011-11-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I shall announce My words to you.’ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.” (Jeremiah 18:1-4)

Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way.
Thou are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, after thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still. (1)

I am a potter’s wife. As I watch my potter work, I learn about how the Heavenly Potter works on me. There’s a time when the clay lies dormant and unformed, maturing to the stage where the potter can use it in his plan. Then wedging, as the potter pounds, squeezes, and kneads the clay, to work out all the impurities and tiny air pockets that create weak spots in the vessel, or cause it to explode during the firing process--when the heat is on. The potter spins the clay "out of control,” applies pressure, trims off excess, cuts the support out from under the vessel. And that all takes place before the firing, when the potter applies intense heat for an extended time.

There is also the involvement the clay has in the process. It can choose whether or not to cooperate as it is being shaped. Many times, I’ve heard my husband say, “The clay just isn’t cooperating today.” It isn’t all up to the potter.

As human clay, we have a choice. We can cooperate with the Potter, and be clay He can use. Or we can refuse to cooperate in one of two ways. We can be stiff and inflexible--resisting the Potter’s shaping touch as He works His plan for us. Stiff clay breaks off, leaving less for the potter to use.

Or we can ‘wimp out,” and collapse under the touch of the Potter. We decide we can’t handle what He has laid out for us, we choose to quit rather than endure, and we distort ourselves from the Potter’s plan just as thoroughly as if we had stiffened and broken.

There's good news here,“so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.” (Jeremiah 18:4) If we’ve resisted the Potter, stiffened or caved at His touch, we don’t have to feel our usefulness is gone. God the Potter can still shape us, reclaim us, use us. There is never a point in this life when the Heavenly Potter decides He can’t use us. He is the God of the second chance. And the third, and the fourth, and.... He’s just waiting to be asked. Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;  save me and I will be saved,  for you are the one I praise. ( Jeremiah 17:14 )

Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure,
All of my days are held in Your hands,
Crafted into Your perfect plan

You gently call me into Your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life
Through Your eyes

I'm captured by Your holy calling
Set me apart,
I know you're drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord I pray

Take me, mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand (2)

References:
Have Thine Own Way, Lord - Adelaide A. Pollard
The Potter's Hand - Darlene Zschech

God's Love

2011-11-12T04:48:00.000-05:00

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1John 3:1a)

Today, I'm thinking about the love of God. Until I can write something as meaningful as these, they'll have to do. First, here's an older one:

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean,
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Thy glorious rest above (1)

Next, a newer one:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory (2)

Last, this is the one I consider the writer's hymn:

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song (3)

As symbolized by this selection of songs, may you find God's love tried and true, ever new, and supplied 'specially, just for you.

References:
1. O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus - Samuel T. Francis
2. How Deep the Father's Love for Us - Stuart Townend
3. The Love of God - Frederick M. Lehman

The Shepherd Goes On Ahead

2011-11-11T00:35:00.001-05:00

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34)

Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside. (1)

There's always something to worry about. Whatever else may be in short supply, running out of worry-worthy topics is not something you need to worry about. It's wise to give some thought to what could be around the corner, just like it's a good idea to glance at the weather forecast to see if you'll need your umbrella. But for some of us, planning ahead deteriorates to worrying and obsessing. It's the equivalent of hear a forecast of light showers, and heading for the storm shelter. What a waste of energy!

...I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand. (2)

Jesus tells us (Matthew 6) not to worry about our needs for the future. He also tells us why we don't need to worry. (John 10:2-4). "...the shepherd of the sheep...calls his own sheep by name...leads them out [and] he goes on ahead of them...." We don't have to worry about what we'll find when we arrive at tomorrow--we'll find our Savior, waiting there for our arrival, with our needs already lovingly supplied. We just need to recognize His voice, and follow Him when He calls us.

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care...
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. (3)

References:
1. Great is Thy Faithfulness - T.O. Chisholm
2. I Know Who Holds Tomorrow - Ira Stanphill
3. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - attr., Dorothy Thrupp

Boldly, As I Should

2011-11-10T07:22:00.003-05:00

All hail the power of Jesus' name
Let angels prostrate fall
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all (1)

Today, I'm up early, and morning is "gilding my skies." I had a good night's sleep, and I'm sitting at my desk, watching a beautiful sunrise develop as I write. This morning, it's easy to believe in the Lordship of Christ, and His ultimate victory over sin and sickness, death and hell. Today, I'll let the music speak for me.

You are stronger, You are stronger
Sin is broken, You have saved me
It is written, "Christ is risen!"
Jesus, You are Lord of all (2)

This morning, I will speak for my Audience of One, about His faithfulness--with a dozen or so bystanders. My prayer is that I will tell His truth clearly, so that He can use my words to touch hearts.

The kingdoms of this world
Have become
The Kingdom of Our Lord
And of His Christ
And He shall reign forever and ever! (3)

"...and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,...that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." (Ephesians 6:19-20)

References:
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name - Edward Perronet
Stronger - Hillsong
Hallelujah Chorus - G.F. Handel

All In the Family

2011-11-09T09:17:00.000-05:00

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:13-14)

Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me.
Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me.
Little ones like me sat upon His knee.
Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me. (1)

"Well, I'll be! You're Martha's girl...Richard and Betty's oldest... Ralph's boys."

Have you ever noticed what happens at family gatherings? Suddenly, you're not Dr. So-and-so, or Reverend Blank, or Mrs. X, the Teacher of the Year. You're just somebody's kid--a part of the family! You're a small piece of something much bigger.

When one has a heartache, we all shed a tear,
And rejoice in each victory, in this family so dear. (2)

Maybe some people don't enjoy family get-togethers because they don't have the confidence to allow themselves to go back to that "lowest common denominator"--the children we are. It can be scary to have to identify myself in "child terms" rather than who I am or what I do -- not to be "the published writer" or "Professor Smith's wife." Kids don't have accomplishments and titles to hide behind. Their joys, their hurts, their fears are right out there. Kids know that's how you find someone to share those feelings.

Children of the Heavenly Father,
Safely in His bosom gather.
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e'er was given. (3)

In the same way, as children of the Heavenly Father, we need to stop hiding behind our titles, our accomplishments, our awards. We need to let people in, past our Sunday morning smile, our "just fine!" our "gotta run--busy, busy, busy!" We need to be willing just to be Jim whose dad has Alzheimer's, or Gloria who can't find work, or Chris who struggles with impure thoughts. Not only is that the way we will find help and healing for ourselves--we can free others. Our transparency, our willingness to be vulnerable, helps open the door for them to seek wholeness.

But somebody has to go first....

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching? (4)

References:
1. Jesus Loves the Little Ones Like Me - Unknown
2. The Family of God - Bill and Gloria Gaither
3. Children of the Heavenly Father - Carolina Sandell-Berg
4. If We are the Body - Casting Crowns

How Many In Your Audience?

2011-11-08T12:45:00.000-05:00

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. (1)

"I want my dad to be proud."
"What would Mom say?"
"What would the pastor think?"
The boss. The neighbors. My kids.

All these concerns have some validity. SOME. The problem comes, though, when my audience gets too big. The question is, "How big is too big?" For the Christ-follower, the answer is simple. (You notice, I said simple--not easy.) If I claim to follow Jesus, then the size of my audience is--ONE. Others may watch. They may comment, applaud, or criticize. But they are bystanders. Their responses may impact me, but they should not dissuade me. Christ is my audience. I sing, I dance, I weep, I laugh, I love, I speak, I live, I die--for Him. (Romans 14:7-8)

I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back,
No turning back. (2)

I know, I know. There's something oxymoronic about writing on an open public blog to advocate an audience of One. My goal is to write what He assigns, to the best of my ability, in a way pleasing to Him, regardless if anyone else ever reads it. Pray for me.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. (3)

...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31b)

References:
1. Be Thou My Vision - attr. to Dallan Forgaill
2. I Have Decided - attr. to S. Sundar Singh
3. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Helen Lemmel

When Mourning Clouds the Skies

2011-11-07T12:12:00.000-05:00

When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries,
"May Jesus Christ be praised!" (1)

Those lines from the old hymn paint a beautiful picture of a peaceful morning, with a golden sunrise. But what about the morning when the skies aren't gilded? The days when you wake up to disease symptoms that are no better--in fact, they're worse. Your teen is still rebelling. Your loved one who passed away is still gone. Your job is still being phased out. What about the days when we identify more with the song performed by the group "Casting Crowns"?

But once again, I say 'Amen'
And it's still raining. (2)

What do we do with Bible verses like 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything, give thanks," or Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for good"? Often, in our rush to claim those promises, we take them out of context. We forget--or never even discover--that Romans 8:29 goes on to talk about God using those "all things" to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus. We miss the reminder that one purpose of our suffering is a training ground where we learn how to comfort those who are suffering around us (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

So, on the days when I can't see "morning gilding the skies" because mourning is clouding my skies, I can still sing. What's in my repertoire? I can start with

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear. (3)

Then, as I experience His comfort, I can reach out to those around me who are hurting, and sing

My deepest prayer, my highest goal,
That I may be like Jesus (4)

And as I learn more and more how to lean on His faithfulness and trust in His love, I can begin to sing

Blessed be the Name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your Name.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious Name.
You give and take away,
You give and take away,
My heart will choose to say,
"Lord, blessed be Your Name." (5)

Today, may praise fill your heart, even if morning doesn't gild your skies.

References:
1. When Morning Gilds the Skies - translator, Edward Caswall
2. Praise You in This Storm - Casting Crowns (Mark Hall)
3. What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Joseph Scriven
4. I Want to Be Like Jesus - Thomas Obediah Chisholm
5. Blessed Be Your Name - Matt Redman

The Bell Tolls

2011-05-03T08:05:00.006-04:00

"What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." —Jesus (Luke 15:4-7)

On the subject of Osama bin Laden's death:

I've found the "party" footage disturbing. While I'm not sure such military action is always avoidable, I fail to see the cause for such wild celebration.

Osama bin Laden's soul is as equally loved by God, and his redemption was as eagerly desired by God, as that of the most devout Christian grandmother, or the sweetest, most innocent newborn.

Even if one believes that capital punishment is acceptable, the taking of a human life is always a moment for solemnity, not boisterous revelry.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

by John Donne

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

The Good Shepherd weeps for the loss of even the most violent, rebellious, wild sheep.

...and the bell tolls...

Is any of you sick...?

2011-05-02T02:59:00.003-04:00

I need to write the beauty of this day, before it fades.

Escorted before the Throne by family--blood and Spirit.

Renouncing and reclaiming.

Large, soul-satisfying servings of the Word, succulent and filling like never before.

Forgiveness, given and received.

Sweet singing and powerful prayer.

And yet. And yet....

Hope...and taunting.

The image of a clenched fist--not of defiance, but of resistance to letting go.

It follows me.

Father, show me what I need to set free, so that I may be free, indeed.

(End of Dramatic Pause)

2011-04-01T09:21:00.004-04:00

...And by the way, we just found out the baby is a...

BOY!!!

Open Mouth, Insert Birds (and Bees)

2011-03-17T03:23:00.011-04:00

I'm going to be a grandma...again! And my four year old granddaughter is excited about being a big sister, again. So the other day, she and I were just hangin' out, chatting and spelling words with Scrabble tiles on the floor, and it went something like this:

GD: Look! I spelled Mom and Dad!
Me: Very nice!
GD: And look, I can spell my name, too!
Me: Very impressive! Would you like to practice the baby names?
GD: Only the girl one, 'cause I really want a sister. So I think that's what I'll just have.
Me: Well, we don't get to choose. Jesus decides, and we find out later.
GD (wide-eyed): Does He TELL us?!
(At that moment, I nearly talked myself into a corner. But then I rescued myself, rather neatly, I think.)
Me: No. Remember the picture we have of the baby in Mommy's tummy? Well, when the baby is bigger, the doctor will take another picture, and we'll be able to see if it's a boy or girl when we see its...(What have I got myself into?! Help!)...its...FACE. (Whew. Dodged a bullet on that one.)

Now, as long as we don't find her staring at the ultrasound picture, trying to figure out how you tell the difference between a boy face and a girl face....

...And by the way, we just found out the baby is a....(to be continued)

The Ideal Bookshelf

2011-03-14T15:57:00.003-04:00

I found an interesting website, "The Ideal Bookshelf," where an artist creates "inner portraiture," a painting of a row of books, chosen by the subject as memorable and influential for them.

That got me thinking.... Although I can't necessarily afford a painting, I can create a "sketch"--a list of some of my most unforgettable books.

Here they are:

The Chronicles of Narnia (esp. The Last Battle) by C.S. Lewis
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The HAB Theory by Allan W. Eckert
The White Plague by Frank Herbert
The Kitchen Madonna by Rumer Godden
Lost Horizon by James Hilton
Walking On Water by Madeleine L'Engle
Writing Essentials by Roy Peter Clark
The Bible
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Canterbury Tales by Chaucer
By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Lord of the Flies by William S. Golding
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (If you send me your email address, I will not publish or sell it, but I will tell you why this book is on the list.)

Short Stories by:

James Thurber
Edgar Allen Poe
O. Henry

What's on your ideal bookshelf? Leave a comment and let me know.

...starts out with an earthquake....

2010-12-30T12:11:00.003-05:00

“We want a story that starts out with an earthquake and works its way up to a climax.” —Samuel Goldwyn

Who says you can't have it all?

Here in Indiana, just in the past couple months, we've had tornadoes, snow storms, freezing rain, gentle, spring-like weather, and...

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

AN EARTHQUAKE!!!!

We live about a mile from a gravel quarry. Normally, they blast around midday, and almost always, they give us advance notice. But at 7:55 this morning, my first, momentary thought was, "Something's gone horribly wrong at the quarry!"

Before I had finished with that idea, I realized that whatever was happening it was lasting too long to be a quarry blast. For a split second, my thoughts turned in another direction as I conidered the possibility of a multi-vehicle pile-up on a near-by highway, complete with tanker trucks full of flammable liquids.

This was different, though. Not the harsh, grating sounds of a man-made explosion, this rumbling, shuddering sensation was almost living--as if a giant or an enormous dragon was stirring and awakening. I could begin to understand the ancient mythologies that said the mountains were gigantic men, curled in sleep, or taught that the continents were supported on the backs of dragons.

Earthquake! I knew in my gut that's what it was; I knew exactly what to do. But a sense of denial--"An earthquake this powerful can't happen here!"--kept me from dashing for the nearest door frame. Well, that, and insane daredevil streak that was enjoying it, and wanted to ride the beast out to the end--until one of us gave up.

And then it was over. I called the sheriff's dispatcher to report...something. I got put on hold, but not before I heard other phones ringing in the background. In a few moments she was back asking if I had any property damage--if not, there was no emergency. And thank you.

Turns out, I had been just 6 miles from the epicenter of what the USGS has officially classified as a 3.8 earthquake.

And so, 2010 goes out, not with a bang, but with more of a...rumble....

...an earthquake....

Proving once again--there is more than corn in Indiana.

"...That the World Should Go On."

2010-12-15T09:26:00.003-05:00

There's a saying, "A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on."

If that's the case, then He expressed His opinion beautifully yesterday, in the person of my grandson! (Even if he does look just like his OTHER grandma!)

新し焼かれたクッキー, свеж-испеченные печенья, fresh-baked cookies

2010-12-06T18:54:00.006-05:00

My apologies for the long amount of time between my comments. Having a blog without entries is like having a cookie jar without cookies. I will do better. Apologies for the bizarre computerized translation, as well!

我的为长的时间的道歉我的备注之间的。没有曲奇饼，有没有项的一个博克是象有饼罐。我更将好执行。为异常的计算机化的转换的道歉，!

我的為長的時間的道歉我的備注之間的。沒有曲奇餅，有沒有項的一個博克是像有餅罐。我更將好執行。為異常的計算機化的轉換的道歉，!

Mijn verontschuldigingen voor de lange hoeveelheid tijd tussen mijn commentaren. Het hebben van een blog zonder ingangen is als het hebben van een koekjestrommel zonder koekjes. Ik zal beter doen. Verontschuldigingen voor de bizarre geautomatiseerde vertaling, eveneens!

Mes excuses pour le long nombre de heures entre mes commentaires. Avoir un blog sans entrées est comme avoir une fiole de biscuit sans biscuits. Je ferai mieux. Excuses pour la traduction automatisée bizarre, aussi bien !

Meine Entschuldigungen für die lange Zeitmenge zwischen meinen Kommentaren. Ein Blog ohne Einträge zu haben ist wie Haben eines Plätzchenglases ohne Plätzchen. Ich tue besser. Entschuldigungen für die seltsame computergesteuerte Übersetzung, auch!

Οι συγγνώμες μου για το μακροχρόνιο χρονικό διάστημα μεταξύ των σχολίων μου. Η κατοχή ενός blog χωρίς καταχωρήσεις είναι όπως την κατοχή ενός βάζου μπισκότων χωρίς μπισκότα. Θα κάνω καλύτερα. Συγγνώμες για την παράξενη αυτοματοποιημένη μετάφραση, επίσης!

Le mie scuse per il lasso di tempo lungo fra le mie osservazioni. Avere un blog senza entrate è come avere un barattolo di biscotto senza biscotti. Farò più meglio. Scuse per la traduzione automatizzata bizzarra, pure!

私の注釈間の長い時間のための私の謝罪。エントリのないブログをである持っていることはクッキーなしにクッキー用の瓶を持っていることのよう。私はよりよくする。風変わりなコンピュータ化された変換のための謝罪、また!

나의 코멘트 사이 긴 소요 시간을 위한 나의 사과. 등록 없는 블로그가 이다 있는 것은 과자 없이 과자 그릇을 비치하고 있는 같이. 나는 잘 할 것이다. 기괴한 전산화된 번역을 위한 사과, 또한!

Minhas desculpas para a quantidade de tempo longa entre meus comentários. Ter um blogue sem entradas é como ter um frasco de bolinho sem bolinhos. Eu farei melhor. Desculpas para a tradução computarizada estranha, também!

Мои извинения для длиннего количества времени между моими комментариями. Иметь блог без входов как иметь опарник печенья без печений. Я сделаю более лучше. Извинения для эксцентричного компьютеризированного перевода, также!

Mis disculpas por la cantidad de tiempo larga entre mis comentarios. Tener un blog sin entradas es como tener un tarro de galletas sin las galletas. Haré mejor. ¡Disculpas por la traducción automatizada extraña, también!

"BLATANT PROMO"

2010-10-22T10:16:00.002-04:00

I'm selling eBooks on Barnes & Noble.com!!

Click on the title of this post, or go to the Barnes & Noble website and search my name. "Touching Base" is a collection of stories in the 10-Minute Coffee Break Book series.

"Nomenplasty" - NOW IT CAN BE TOLD!

2009-12-11T02:04:00.000-05:00

"Nomenplasty" - plastic surgery of a name (a word I invented)

nomen - name, esp.in ancient Rome, the second name

plasty - the process of shaping and forming, often surgically, ie., plastic surgery

OK, here's the big news.... I'm changing my name for publishing purposes. Or more accurately, reshaping my name. Instead of "First, Initial, Last"--still my legal signature--I have started submitting with "First, Great-grandma's Maiden Name, Last" and asking that I be published under that name.

Below are the reason for the change, and for that specific change.

1. There is another writer named Marcia Woodard.
2. "Marcia Woodard" (to me, anyway) always seems kind of flat, de-fizzed.
3. There are no males in my dad's line to carry on any part of the family name.
4. "Marcia Whittum Woodard" acts like a tongue-twister when you try to say it.
5. "Gunnett" was my paternal grandpa's mother's maiden name.
6. I like the sound of the new name—the way it feels coming out of my mouth.

So, my new name (but only in the publishing world) is:

Marcia Gunnett Woodard

Watch for it!

Hey! I have breath!!

2009-11-26T12:27:00.000-05:00

"Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!"

I'm giving thanks to God, because 8 months ago TODAY, I not only
survived open-heart surgery, my heart was repaired so it works
correctly for the first time in...maybe forever (nobody's sure)!
Anyone who knows the Doxology, please sing it today on my behalf
(as well as your own).

For Those Who Must Say Goodbye

2009-11-13T07:58:00.001-05:00

No heart can ever tell the cost of each farewell—
One circle fades, another to be born.
Though sadness dims our eyes, what joy will then arise,
When we meet on that Resurrection Morn.
Our earthly trials and fears, our days of lonely tears
Will vanish in that Home beyond the stars.
And then, as one, how sweet to worship at the feet
Of Christ, who bears our healing in His scars.
We’ll ever sing His praise, who guided all our ways,
And anxious hearts will rest, no more to roam.
So let us watch and pray, as we live ev’ry day,
And each one serve Him ‘til He calls us Home.

© 2009, Marcia Woodard

I Write Because I Must

2009-11-11T01:42:00.003-05:00

Words call me. They lure me back—to the computer keyboard, the book, the legal pad, the Scrabble board, the crossword puzzle.

They disturb my sleep, keeping me up 'til dawn, waking me before first light. They buzz around my head like mosquitoes on a summer night: humming and whining, until I finally swat them and leave their carcasses on paper. Then at last, I can get some rest, until the next crop hatches and begins their annoying, seductive song—keening in my ears as they dance around my head.

Why do I write? I write for my own peace of mind, for my own sanity. I write because I must.

This Just In....

2009-07-20T18:08:00.000-04:00

Hi! Just wanted to let everyone know that I saw my neuro today. MRIs and MRAs show no sign of any episode. No stroke. No TIA. Nothing. It doesn't fit any description of any particular thing, so the assumption is that it was some kind of a fluke, possibly connected with a weird, atypical, painless migraine.

Soooo, I'm off the blood thinner. I'm allowed to drive again. Yay, God!

A Friend Will Lend You A Cup Of Laughter

2009-07-10T22:56:00.003-04:00

Laughter shared by a friend....

1. DON'T SWEAT THE PETTY THINGS AND DON'T PET THE SWEATY THINGS.

2. ONE TEQUILA, TWO TEQUILA, THREE TEQUILA, FLOOR.

3. ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION.

4. IF MAN EVOLVED FROM MONKEYS AND APES, WHY DO WE STILL HAVE MONKEYS AND APES?

5. THE MAIN REASON THAT SANTA IS SO JOLLY IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BAD GIRLS LIVE.

6. I WENT TO A BOOKSTORE AND ASKED THE SALESWOMAN, "WHERE'S THE SELF- HELP SECTION?" SHE SAID IF SHE TOLD ME, IT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE.

7. WHAT IF THERE WERE NO HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS?

8. IF A DEAF CHILD SIGNS SWEAR WORDS, DOES HIS MOTHER WASH HIS HANDS WITH SOAP?

9. IF SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF, IS IT CONSIDERED A HOSTAGE SITUATION?

10. IS THERE ANOTHER WORD FOR SYNONYM?

11. WHERE DO FOREST RANGERS GO TO "GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?"

12. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL EATING AN ENDANGERED PLANT?

13. IF A PARSLEY FARMER IS SUED, CAN THEY GARNISH HIS WAGES?

14. WOULD A FLY WITHOUT WINGS BE CALLED A WALK?

15. WHY DO THEY LOCK PETROL STATION BATHROOMS? ARE THEY AFRAID SOMEONE WILL CLEAN THEM?

16. IF A TURTLE DOESN'T HAVE A SHELL, IS HE HOMELESS OR NAKED?

17. CAN VEGETARIANS EAT ANIMAL CRACKERS?

18. IF THE POLICE ARREST A MIME, DO THEY TELL HIM HE HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT?

19. WHY DO THEY PUT BRAILLE ON THE DRIVE-THROUGH BANK MACHINES?

20. HOW DO THEY GET DEER TO CROSS THE ROAD ONLY AT THOSE YELLOW ROAD SIGNS?

21. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING BEFORE SLICED BREAD?

22. ONE NICE THING ABOUT EGOTISTS: THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.

23. DOES THE LITTLE MERMAID WEAR AN ALGEBRA?

24. DO INFANTS FEEL GUILTY ABOUT INFANCY AS MUCH AS ADULTS DO ABOUT ADULTERY?

25. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CIVIL WAR?

26. IF ONE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER DROWNS, DO THE REST DROWN TOO?

27. IF YOU ATE BOTH PASTA AND ANTIPASTO, WOULD YOU STILL BE HUNGRY?

28. IF YOU TRY TO FAIL, AND SUCCEED, WHICH HAVE YOU DONE?

29. WHOSE CRUEL IDEA WAS IT FOR THE WORD 'LISP' TO HAVE 'S' IN IT?

30. WHY ARE HEMORRHOIDS CALLED "HEMORRHOIDS" INSTEAD OF "ASSTEROIDS"?

31. WHY IS IT CALLED TOURIST SEASON IF WE CAN'T SHOOT AT THEM?

32. WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON SOUR CREAM?

33. CAN AN ATHEIST GET INSURANCE AGAINST ACTS OF GOD?

Diem Interruptus

2009-07-09T20:38:00.003-04:00

Have you ever been busy, going about your life, only to have it interrupted by...well...life? Diem interruptus! (interrupted day)

So there I was, sorting laundry, when I began to develop a visual aura. For those of you who've never had the "pleasure," an aura (for me anyway) is like that annoying little spot you get after someone takes a flash picture of you. An aura, however, can be any size or shape, can take up residence anywhere in your field of vision, and can last as long as it jolly well pleases. Also, my auras have always been translucent. What ever was being blocked by the aura was still visible, although less so.

This aura, though, was different. It developed quickly, and grew. And grew. And grew. To give you an idea....

Me: Lloyd, I’m getting a major aura.

Lloyd: What? (already, the aura has taken over about 50% of my right eye’s vision)

Me: I’ve got a really bad aura. (I realize aura is opaque)

Lloyd: How bad? (by now, the aura has almost completely blocked the vision in my right eye)

Me: I can hardly see anything!

Lloyd: Really? (vision in my right eye is totally gone)

Me: Lloyd! I have no vision in my right eye!

That really is how quickly it happened, in just the small amount of time it took to have that conversation. Ten minutes later, vision began to return. An hour or so after onset, my vision had cleared.

Long story short, I went to ER. Bloodwork (again), EKG (again), CT of head (again). Conclusion: I probably had a TIA or an optic artery spasm--possibly in connection with an atypical migraine--which temporarily created a crucial drop in blood flow to the eye.

Next Thursday, I’m scheduled for an MRI of my brain, which will look at the blood vessels there. The Monday after that, I follow up with my neurologist.

Outcomes:

What exactly happened? They don’t know.

What triggered the episode? They don’t know.

Will it happen again? They don’t know.

Am I allowed to drive? NO.

How long will the driving ban last? Who knows.

So, Dear Reader, before you face your diem interruptus.... Carpe diem! Celebrate the sunset. Memorize your lover’s face, your child’s face, your dog’s face. Study the way a rose’s petals snuggle around each other. Drink it all in.

Because you never know....

Mashed Potatoes, Black Olives, and Brussels Sprouts

2008-11-18T02:27:00.002-05:00

Have you ever noticed there are two kinds of food aversions? With a natural aversion, the person seemingly is born with a dislike for a certain food. An example of this would be my hate/hate relationship with mashed potatoes. I have no memories of a time when I enjoyed mashed potatoes; I can’t stand their taste, their smell, their texture in my mouth. As far as I can tell, I entered life with a disdain for mashed potatoes. 

Glut aversion, on the other hand, is caused by indulging in a surfeit of a particular food and developing a revulsion to that food as a backlash. An instance of glut aversion is my Aunt Jo’s hatred of black olives. At family dinners, she would visibly cringe as we kids piled our plates with olives and started munching even before we passed the serving dish. When I grew up enough to care about adult food preferences, I learned the reason for her repulsion—an olive-eating contest in her childhood, ending in a disgust for olives that she never outgrew. 

One of the election results for me is that I’ve developed an aversion to politicking, with its mudslinging and personal attacks. Where I used to salivate at a charmingly crafted campaign speech, I now eye the latest oratorical offering with the sickly gaze of one being urged to eat a fifth piece of wedding cake. It may be beautiful, but I don’t like it! The same goes for political punditing and election forecasting. I used to devour it all. Now, thanks but no thanks. 

Don’t misunderstand, I’m a responsible citizen. I research platforms and track records. I vote, but it’s the civic equivalent of eating my brussels sprouts: it’s good for me and a good example to others, but it only seems to affect my life in a far-off, slow-grinding way. Afterward, I drive home and return to my regularly scheduled life. Four years. I’m thankful for the breather. Maybe in four years, I’ll learn to like the taste again.

Apology and Explanation

2008-09-15T12:02:00.003-04:00

OK, folks, I want to say "sorry" for my recent scarcity, and offer an explanation for my recent extended (and somewhat continuing) absence. Let me offer some "facts of (my) life."

1. I have a play script that must be done by December 31, 2008.
2. I need to finish a brochure that I signed up for months ago.
3. I need to submit an outline for a resource I proposed weeks ago
4. I have a manuscript that's been ready to be shipped for almost a year.
5. I'm taking a university writing class.
6. I have a new baby grandson!

Sooo....

I'll get here when I can. Please be patient with me.

Dog & Cat Diaries - Nicole C. Slivensky

2008-09-15T01:01:00.000-04:00

The Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing! 
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing! 
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!  
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing! 
12:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing! 
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing! 
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing! 
5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing! 
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing! 
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing! 
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat's Diary - Day 983 of My Captivity 

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. 

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Slimeballs!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage. 

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs. 

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now ...

Monday's Mischief

2008-08-25T10:38:00.003-04:00

The relatives gathered in the waiting room of the hospital where their family member lay gravely ill. After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor finally joined them, looking tired and somber.

"I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news," he said as he surveyed the worried faces. "The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain transplant. It's an experimental treatment, and very risky, but it is their only chance. Insurance will cover the procedure, but you will have to pay for the brain yourselves....'

The family members sat in silence as they absorbed the news. After a great length of time, someone asked, "Well, how much does a brain cost?"

The doctor quickly responded, "$5,000 for a male brain, and $200 for a female brain."

The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked.

Eventually, a man unable to control his curiosity, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask, "Why is the male brain so much more expensive?"

The doctor smiled at the man's childish innocence and explained to the entire group, "It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to mark down the price of the female brains, because they're used."

I'm back!...I think....

2008-08-24T07:06:00.003-04:00

Hi there! After an unscheduled hiatus, I'm back!...I think.... With family home a lot more, I didn't always have time to post during the day. And with all the summertime activities, I didn't always have energy to post at night! But people are back in school now, so that will hopefully free up some more writing time.

I'll start off with a joke today, and another tomorrow, for Monday Mischief. Ready?

There once was a major league pitcher named Mel Famey who played relief for his team. On this particular day, near the end of the game, the starting pitcher was still doing so well that Mel decided he wasn't going to be needed. He had smuggled a 6-pack into the dugout, so he started to drink the beers, one right after another. Well, right after Mel had polished off the 6-pack, the starting pitcher threw out his shoulder. The manager called on Mel to go out and finish the game. Mel was so loaded that he could barely see straight, let alone throw straight, and walked the other team to victory. As the winning team headed to the showers they went by Mel's team's dugout and saw the pile of beer cans that Mel had left. "Look...", said one of the winning players....

"...that's the beer that made Mel Famey walk us!"

Monday's Mischief

2008-07-14T01:25:00.000-04:00

The Difference Between Men and Women

The way women operate....

The way men operate....

Friday's Five

2008-07-11T01:22:00.000-04:00

Five "Interesting" Things I've Eaten

snapping turtle
mako shark
prickly pear cactus
earthworm
octopus

Monday's Mischief

2008-07-07T01:54:00.001-04:00

Busy Little Lizzy

Busy Little Lizzy
Is usually all in a tizzy
Caring for big, handsome Chris
And sweet little Baby Mack.

Busy Little Lizzy
Can make herself totally dizzy
Making sure nothing's amiss,
And hurrying" there" and back.

Busy Little Lizzy
Wonders, "Who is she or who is he?"
Teaches Mack how to be a big sis,
Plans on getting her figure back.

Busy Little Lizzy
Soon a teacher all bubbly and fizzy
Wants to give all the children a kiss
Replacing the love they lack.

We Have A Winner!

2008-07-05T19:52:00.001-04:00

And the winner, by random drawing, is..................

Liz Wright!

Congratulations, Liz! Your personal poem will appear as all or part ot next week's Monday Mischief. Your poem will come complete with copyrights and bragging rights!

Friday's Five

2008-07-04T01:57:00.000-04:00

Five Things That Say "July 4th" to Me

fireworks
grillin' all day
having lots of friends over
running through the sprinkler
hot and humid, with a chance of a pop-up thunderstorm

Even though my list is fairly superficial, I am thankful to live in a country that has as many freedoms and opportunities as we do!

Monday's Mischief

2008-06-30T01:45:00.000-04:00

When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors.

What is greater than God,
More evil than the devil,
The poor have it,
The rich need it,
And if you eat it, you'll die?

I really want people to guess! I'm going to moderate comments on this one, until Friday. That way, one person doesn't guess it right away and end the fun. Or, the first person doesn't have to guess "blind" while later "guessers" have the advantage of knowing some of the things it isn't.

During the week, I'll post the name of anyone who guesses correctly.

There will be a winner, and there will be a prize!

The grand prize will be an original poem written about the winner, and posted on my blog. In the event of more than one correct answer, the winner will be chosen by a random drawing. (The "draw-er" will most likely be my toddler granddaughter.)

Ready?

GO!

Friday's Five

2008-06-27T01:42:00.001-04:00

Five of My Favorite Ice Cream Flavors

butter pecan
Mackinac Island fudge
Cherry Garcia
mint chocolate chip
pumpkin

Bonus: I can't put it on the list because, technically, it isn't ice cream...peppermint frozen custard from Payne's!

What ice cream flavor(s) do you like?

Wednesday's Word

2008-06-26T23:01:00.001-04:00

Bucket or Funnel?

Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8b

Some people are "funnel people" and some are "bucket people". What does that mean? I'm glad you asked! Allow me to explain....

Funnels are conduits. Things pass through funnels on their way to someplace else. Funnels are into resourcing. Funnels are generous.

Buckets are containers. The things you put into a bucket, the bucket keeps. Buckets are into accumulating. Buckets are selfish.

Buckets see themselves as the owners of whatever ends up in their keeping. Funnels realize that they are just stewards of the things that are poured into them.

Are you starting to wonder, "Is she talking about tools, or people?" It looks like we've followed that parabolic arc, again. There we were, standing over there, talking about tools--innocent and boring. Suddenly, we're over here, talking about stewardship and greed--a little uncomfortable.

So let's talk about funnels and buckets. A funnel person sees what they have as a resource to be shared. They're on the lookout for someone who needs what they've been given. A bucket person wants to know what's in it for them. They want more, bigger, better, faster, newer.

The problem with being a bucket? God has called us to be funnels. Sometimes, it's hard. My Inner Bucket tries to hold something back, to keep "just a little bit" of what He's intended for me to pass on to others. But there's reassuring news in the same passages that call us to funnelhood. In the same breath that He tells us to give it away, Jesus promises our needs will be met, and then some!

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:29, 31

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matt 6:1-4

So let's answer the call to funnelship! Let's cast aside our bucketish tendencies and choose "the easy way" to learn the habit of giving. Let's voluntarily choose the funnel lifestyle and not wait until circumstances force us to learn what the difference is between a bucket and a funnel....

...A funnel is just a bucket with the bottom knocked out of it.

Monday's Mischief

2008-06-23T01:04:00.000-04:00

The Not-So-Dumb Blonde

A lawyer and a blonde woman are sitting next to each other on a long flight.

The lawyer asks if she would like to play a fun game.

The blonde is tired and just wants to take a nap, so she politely declines and tries to catch a few winks.

The lawyer persists, that the game is a lot of fun.

"I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me only $5; you ask me one, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500."

This catches the blonde's attention; and, to keep him quiet, she agrees to play the game.

The lawyer asks the first question.

"What's the distance from the earth to the moon?"

The blonde doesn't say a word, reaches in to her purse, pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the lawyer

Now, it's the blonde's turn. She asks the lawyer, "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?"

The lawyer uses his laptop, searches all references.

He uses the Airphone; he searches the Net and even the Library of Congress.

He sends e-mails to all the smart friends he knows, all to no avail.

After one hour of searching he finally gives up.

He wakes up the blonde and hands her $500.

The blonde takes the $500 and goes back to sleep.

The lawyer is going nuts not knowing the answer.

He wakes her up and asks, "Well, so what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?"

The blonde reaches into her purse, hands the lawyer $5 and goes back to sleep.

Friday's Five Things

2008-06-20T01:30:00.000-04:00

Five Species of Birds Seen in My Yard

robin
mourning dove
cardinal
oriole
turkey vulture

Wednesday's Word

2008-06-18T13:28:00.000-04:00

From the Beginning....

"You see it's all clear,
You were meant to be here...
From the beginning."
--Emerson, Lake, and Palmer

I’m a big fan of the butterfly effect theory, also known as “sensitive dependence on initial conditions.” Part of the chaos theory, it says that a small variation at the beginning of a dynamical system can cause a large variation at its end. As an illustration, it says that the flutter of a butterfly’s wings can cause minor atmospheric changes that ultimately result in altering the path of a tornado, increasing or decreasing its speed, or preventing it altogether.

Hollywood likes to play with the idea of the butterfly effect. It’s A Wonderful Life, Sliding Doors, all three Back to the Future movies, and The Butterfly Effect each explore the difference made by small, seemingly insignificant decisions. It’s A Wonderful Life goes so far as to have snow falling in the world with George Bailey and a snowless Christmas in the world without him. It’s a fun “what if” to play with.

But isn’t it true that each of us is creating our own little (or maybe not so little) butterfly effect? What if we are not only making a difference, but have been placed by God precisely where we are to make that alteration. There are verses in the Bible that seem to say so:

Mordecai, calling on his niece, Esther, queen of Persia, to save her people from destruction, said, “...who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 - NKJV)

In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul says, ”...we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 - NIV)

We can’t know all the differences we bring about with our little, everyday choices. Smiling over the fence at the neighbor. Letting the other driver go first at a 4-way stop. Helping a child understand a concept in language or science. Unlikely as it seems, those little “flutters,” the little unconscious decisions we make, could change the course of history—or greater still, the course of eternity. That’s why it’s so crucial to have our decision-making process guided by God, moment by moment.

...those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires...the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; ...You...are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. (Romans 8:5b, 6b, & 9a - NIV)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20 -NIV

"...it's all clear, you were meant to be here...."

Monday's Mischief

2008-06-16T01:58:00.000-04:00

A Few Words for Lexophiles* to Think About

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.  
A will is a dead giveaway.  
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.  
A backward poet writes inverse.  
In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.  
A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.  
If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.  
With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.  
Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you a flat miner.
When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.  
The guy who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.  
A bomb exploding on a kitchen floor in France resulted in linoleum blown apart.  
You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.  
Local Area Network in Australia : The LAN down under.  
He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.  
A calendar's days are numbered.  
A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.  
A boiled egg is hard to beat.  
He has a photographic memory which he has never developed.  
A plateau is a high form of flattery.  
A short fortuneteller who escaped from prison is a small medium at large.
Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.  
When you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.  
If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.  
When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.  
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.  
Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.  
Acupuncture is a jab well done.

*lexophile = one who loves words

Only A Dad

2008-06-15T01:40:00.001-04:00

Only a Dad with a tired face
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game,
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a Dad, with a brood of four
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and scorns of life
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a Dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd,
Toiling, striving, from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way;
Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a Dad, but he gives his all
To soothe the way of his children small
Doing with courage stern and grim
The deeds that his father did for him,
This is the line that for him I pen,
Only Dad, but the best of men.

—Edgar A. Guest

Friday's Five Things

2008-06-13T01:19:00.000-04:00

Five Movies That (Still) Make Me Laugh

Funny Farm
For Richer or Poorer
Junior
Over the Hedge
A Night at the Opera

Monday's Mischief

2008-06-09T01:34:00.000-04:00

The Joys of Being a Girl

1. We got off the Titanic first.

2. We can scare male bosses with the mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.

3. Taxis stop for us.

4. We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.

5. No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival the Speedo.

6. We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.

7. If we forget to shave, no one has to know.

8. We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her rear end.

9. We have the ability to dress ourselves.

10. If we marry someone 20 years younger, we are aware that we will look like an idiot.

11. We will never regret piercing our ears.

12. There are times when chocolate really can solve all our problems.

13. We can make comments about how silly men are in their presence because they aren't listening anyway.

Friday's Five Things

2008-06-06T01:38:00.001-04:00

Five Songs That Refer To Writing

"The Love of God"
"Just Breathe (2 AM)"
"Hafta Say 'I Love You' In a Song"
"You're So Vain"
"Be Thou My Vision" (for me, anyway, it's about writing)

Are there any songs about your job?

Wednesday's Word

2008-06-04T01:15:00.001-04:00

"...As We...."

Matthew 6:9-13

Key verse:
...forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
Matthew 6:12 (NLT)

I realized a hard truth the other day. Everytime I pray the Lord's Prayer, I've technically made an agreement with God...

"...and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us...."

"As" could have one of two meanings here: "while we forgive" or "in the same way that we forgive"

Either way, when I apply it to my life, all I have to say is "Ouch!"

But exactly how do I forgive?

Forgiveness isn't just "wave the magic wand" and the transgressor is forgiven. Forgiveness means giving up your right for revenge and letting God be God, even in this circumstance. Forgiveness does not mean "no consequences"—the transgressor will reap from the sin he sowed. Anyone who's been a believer very long at all knows that God can deal with a sinner better than we ever can!

Also, "I forgive" does not mean "I blindly trust". The transgessor needs to do whatever it takes to try to prove to you that you can begin to trust him again. Depending on how serious the breach of trust, he may need some accountability with a godly, more mature Christian.

Forgiveness is hard, and it's an ongoing process, like dieting.

Here's what I mean.... If you're on a diet, there are certain things you've decided it wouldn't be good for you to eat. It would be great if you could swear off those foods, never crave them again, and instantly the weight would fall off! Unfortunately, that's not how it works. Your human nature is drawn to those "bad foods" and you cave. You eat a big bowl of ice cream.

Does that mean you immediately gain back every pound you've lost? Does it mean that dieting doesn't work for you and you'll never lose the weight? Of course not! It means a glitch that exists in the mind of every human tripped you up. You get up, dust yourself off, and recommit to losing weight!

Now here's how I see that it's the same.... If you've decided to forgive someone, you've decided that there are ceertain thoughts and feelings it wouldn't be good for you to have toward that person. It would be great if you could swear off those thoughts, never have them again, and instantly the relationship would be restored! Unfortunately, that's not how it works. Your human nature is drawn to those unforgiving thoughts, and you cave. You throw yourself a pity party and rehearse the whole scenario again in your mind.

Does that mean the relationship is immediately back where it was the day you were sinned against? Does it mean that forgiveness doesn't work for you and you'll never be able to forgive them? Of course not! It means a glitch that exists in the mind of every human tripped you up. You get up, dust yourself off, and recommit to forgiving!

When the time comes that you're ready to try forgiveness, something that can help is to learn and quote Bible verses when you're tempted to be unforgiving. I would suggest you memorize these two, for starters:

Ephesians 4:32 (New Living Translation)
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (New American Standard Bible)
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

OK, now who do you need to forgive?

Monday's Mischief

2008-06-02T01:31:00.000-04:00

MY PIGGY BANK

(AFTER I BOUGHT GAS)

Friday's Five Things

2008-05-30T01:23:00.000-04:00

Five Comments That May Indicate You're Dealing With A Strong-willed Child

Oh yeah? Who's gonna make me?
I'll do it, but I won't like it!
I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside!
You can spank me, but you won't make me cry.
It's not fair! Why do you get to be the boss?

Monday's Mischief

2008-05-26T01:53:00.001-04:00

Best Things You Can Say If Caught Sleeping At Your Desk At Work

"They told me at the blood bank this might happen."
"This is just a 15 minute power-nap as recommended in that time management course you sent me to."
"Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-Out. You probably got here just in time."
"I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm."
"I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."
"I was doing Yoga exercises to relieve work-related stress."
"The coffee machine is broken..."
"Someone must've put decaf in the wrong pot..."
"...in Jesus' name. Amen."

Friday's Five Things

2008-05-23T07:45:00.000-04:00

Five Signs of a Really Good Friend

You can pick up right where you left off, no matter how long it's been.
You can call each other any time of the day or night, if you need to.
You can do all the publicly embarrassing things around each other—sneeze, scratch, belch, cry.
You can tell each other the hard truths.
You can still love, despite knowing each other's flaws.

Wednesday's Word

2008-05-21T21:41:00.004-04:00

Rain, Rain....

He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.
Isaiah 30:23

So, this week I'm having a dry spell. (aka "Writer's Block") Rather than fret (I'm growing to love that word)....ahem....Rather than fret and get more tense and more stuck, I'm just going to share a couple verses and a short prayer.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret....
Psalm 37:7

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:45

Father, Thank You for Your promises to "send the rain". As we wait for You to end the dry spells we all will face, help us to be patient and not to fret. Amen.

Monday's Mischief

2008-05-19T12:05:00.002-04:00

How To Give A Cat A Pill

Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw t-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
Ring fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.
Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
Arrange for ASPCA to collect cat and ring local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How To Give a Dog a Pill

Wrap it in bacon.

Friday's Five Things

2008-05-16T07:34:00.000-04:00

A Toddler's Five Favorite Words

1. No! (about everything)
2. Mine! (about the same everything)
3. Dada! (Mama went through 9 months of pregnancy and 36 hours of labor, but nooooooo, it's "Dada!")
4. Cookie? (usually when Grandpa's around, and usually right before dinner)
5. Up! (always when you're tired, your back hurts, and your hands are full and/or gunked up)

Wednesday's Word

2008-05-14T12:41:00.004-04:00

The Gift, or the Giver?

James 1:2-5, 12, 16-17

Key verse:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow...."

But what if the blessings don't flow?

A month ago, I was prayed for in a healing prayer service. No big hoopla, just kneeling quietly in church while hushed voices of friends and pastors prayed for me. For two days after that, I had no Parkinson's symptoms! Zero! Nada! Not even the stupid little ones! I know some might say it was psychosomatic, but I had a Parkinson's-related skin condition totally vanish in about 6 hours! My neurologist cut my meds by 2/3!

Over the past few weeks, though, my symptoms have gradually returned. It's like being diagnosed all over again. I've wept and prayed. I've asked God, "Why?" The only answer I've had is a quiet question that repeats in my heart: "Which do you desire more...the gift or the Giver?" So I started looking at desiring the Giver, more than the gifts He gives. And I found that there are gifts He promises to give us—no matter what—if we choose Him!

In Luke 11:11-13, He promises the Holy Spirit.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

In Ephesians 1:3, 6-10, the things promised are:

glorious grace
redemption
forgiveness
riches of grace
wisdom
understanding
knowledge of the mystery of His will

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. . . to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

And according to James 1:2-5, 12, 16-17, we are promised:

perseverance
maturity
completion
wisdom
a crown of life

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Ev'ry blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise,
And when the darkness closes in, Lord,
Still I will say,
"Blessed be the name of the Lord,
"'Blessed be Your name!"

I choose the Giver.

Habakkuk 3:2, 17-19
LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

One Word X 35

2008-05-09T09:03:00.002-04:00

I got this as an email from my friend, Chris, and since I'm "in a mood," I've decided to blog it instead of emailing it! If you decide to do it, please leave me a comment so I can check out your answers.

YOU CAN ONLY TYPE ONE WORD !!! Not as easy as you might think! Copy, change the answers to suit you and post it on your blog. You just might find it hard to only use one word answers.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? Lloyd
3. Your hair? wavy
4. Your mother? Ruth
5. Your father? Corwin
6. Your favorite thing? conversation
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your favorite drink? Jazz
9. Your dream/goal? bestseller
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your hobby? shopping
12. Your fear? disability
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? traveling
14. Where were you last night? Walmart
15. What you're not? bored
16. Muffins? berry
17. One of your wish list items? cure
18. Where you grew up? Indiana
19. The last thing you did? phoned
20. What are you wearing? dress
21. Your TV? widescreen
22. Your pets? none
23. Your computer? laptop
24. Your life? interesting
25. Your mood? excited
26. Missing someone? Dad
27. Your car? Chevy
28. Something you're not wearing? watch
29. Favorite store? thrift
30. Your summer? short
31. Like someone? many
32. Your favorite color? pinks
33. When is the last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? Tuesday
35. Who will post this? Keetha?

Friday's Five Things

2008-05-09T08:10:00.001-04:00

Five Short Stories I Can't Forget

1. "The Country of the Blind" - H.G. Wells
2. "The Lottery" - Shirley Jackson
3. "I Sing the Body Electric" - Ray Bradbury
4. "The Last Leaf" - O Henry
5. "How Much Land Does A Man Need?" - Leo Tolstoy

Bonus: For all-out creepiness, "The Metamorphosis" - Franz Kafka

What short story sticks in your memory?

FYI ("Four" Your Information)

2008-05-08T10:59:00.001-04:00

Just to prove to Deven that someone does read her blog, I'm temporarily changing my name to Christiane Amanpour and responding to her tag. Deven, I hope you appreciate the time I took from my busy news-gathering schedule to do this!

Four Jobs I've Held
1. Student Librarian (work study job in college)
2. Cafeteria Dishroom Peon (also work study) That job brought out my inner Lady Macbeth. "All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this hand."
3. Accounts Payable Clerk (for a CB radio distributor)
4. Barista (Tree of Life)

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over
1. Somewhere In Time
2. Minority Report
3. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
4. Stranger Than Fiction

Four Places I've Lived
1. Marion, IN (two different times)
2. Huntington, IN (still the longest stay in one town)
3. Des Plaines, IL (waiting for my knight in shining armor)
4. Vladimir, Russia (for a total of only eight weeks, but I felt so at home!)

Four TV Shows I Like to Watch
1. The History Detectives
2. Keeping Up Appearances
3. Antiques Roadshow
4. Secrets of the Dead
(I know...all PBS shows.... I'm a nerd!)

Four Favorite Foods
1. melted cheese
2. barbequed chicken
3. taco salad
4. dried papaya

Four Places I'd Like to Be
1. London
2. Caribbean cruise
3. Russia
4. Wherever my DH is!

Four People I Tag
1. Beth B.
2. Cindy K.
3. Liz W.
4. ANON

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog....

Wednesday's Word

2008-05-07T23:38:00.001-04:00

Stronger Than Fiction

Psalm 90:5-6, 10, 12

Key verse:
Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 (NLT)

I recently watched the movie, "Stranger Than Fiction". Interesting premise. The main character, Harold, begins hearing a voice-over narrating his life as it happens. He finds it puzzling, annoying, disconcerting. But then, the narrator begins discussing Harold's impending death! This starts him on a frantic quest to find out who is telling the story of his life and convince them that he shouldn't die.

As Harold carries out his search, he gets to know a literature professor who believes him about the narrator. He also believes that Harold can do nothing to prevent his own death. When Harold is mourning the approaching end of life, the prof tells him, "Make the most of the time you have! It's your life, Harold! Make it the one you've always wanted!"

As I sat pondering the movie, I realized the absurdity of my thoughts. Why? Allow me to quote what I heard in my head:

"That would be so strange, to know you were going to die, but not know when or where or how...."

Wait a minute! That's happening to all of us! Harold is Everyman! We all know we're going to die, and although some of us may think otherwise, none of us truly knows when, where, or how. So, am I going to do like Harold does, and try to make deals with the Narrator, to buy more time? Or will I make my life the one I've alway wanted, the one that pleases God and blesses others? Granted, I don't want to lose sight of eternity, but I choose to make the most of my moments here. I want to keep it all in balance, so my achievements are more than just the words I leave on paper. I want my life to be "stronger than fiction."

There remains for us only the very narrow way, often extremely difficult to find, of living every day as though it were our last, and yet living in faith and responsibility as though there were to be a great future. —Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Friday's Five Things

2008-05-02T08:38:00.001-04:00

Five Simple Pleasures

1. eating warm, homemade pudding
2. swinging high on a playground swing
3. holding a sleeping newborn who's all snuggled up to me
4. smelling peonies, or lilacs, or roses, or lilies of the valley
5. curling up in a comfy chair with a fluffy blanket, a warm drink and a good book

Bonus:
playing with webdings
(Can you figure out what this says? Clue: If you have a blogger account, the answer is right at your fingertips!)

OK, survey! Please leave a comment and tell me... In the "Bonus" do you see words or symbols?

Wednesday's Word

2008-04-30T19:44:00.004-04:00

Wednesday's Five Things has been moved, and will become Friday's Five Things, in order to make room for Wednesday's Word.

On to Completion....

Philippians 1:3-8

Key Verse:
...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Have you ever had to push a car up a driveway? Most driveways are on a slight incline, which makes pushing the car from street to garage...umm...”interesting.” You push and push, straining every muscle fiber to move it a few inches, then someone needs a rest, or a chance to reposition their hands on the fender or the trunk lid. And as soon as there’s a pause in the momentum, what’s the natural development? The car begins attempting to roll back down! How much easier would it be if you could just drive it up the slope?

In the same way, we sometimes find ourselves involved in the process of taking something to the “next level.” It may be spiritual maturation, physical healing, ministry growth. Whatever it is, we’re certain it’s of God—it’s His idea! But somewhere along the way, we forget whose plan we’re working on and start feeling like we have to “push” God’s agenda for Him. That’s when we start feeling stress, frustration, and burnout. We snap at people, lose sleep over the project, and generally make ourselves miserable—not to mention irritating everyone around us!

What we too easily forget is that we don’t have to push what God has already set in motion. Like a car with the engine running, God’s plans have an internal power—His power! All He asks is that we do our little part and leave the progress to Him.

Trust in the LORD and do good;
  dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
 
Delight yourself in the LORD
  and He will give you the desires of your heart.
 
Commit your way to the LORD;
  trust in Him and He will do this:

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
  the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:3-6

Bragging about what?!

2008-04-26T17:26:00.008-04:00

OK, I took the blogging addiction test on Keetha's blog.... I'm not adding the widget, so if you want to take it, you'll hafta go here:

Keetha's Blog

I will tell you my results, though. I'm 81% addicted! A close second! And she tells me I don't blog enough! Apparently what I lack in quantity, I make up in commitment. So there! Ha!

Not Me

2008-04-24T19:27:00.006-04:00

About 11:30am today, our power went out. Like a dutiful little consumer, I called the utility company and reported it. Before too long, a truck from the power company arrived at the intersection. It sat there for about an hour while the workers...worked. Then it left.

Not too long after, a truck from the phone company arrived at the corner. What follows is a synopsis of the goings-on down at the corner:

phone company truck and power company truck
 phone company leaves
 2 power company trucks
 2 power company trucks and a “supervisor” truck
 3 power company trucks and a “supervisor” truck 
3 power company trucks and 2 “supervisor” trucks 
1 “supervisor” truck leaves
 the other “supervisor” truck leaves
 4 power company trucks
 3 power company trucks
 2 power company trucks 
it appears they are going to replace a utility pole
 (I am called away to the phone--when I return....) 
4 power company trucks 
they are replacing the pole 
5 power company trucks
 4 power company trucks the pole is going up
 power company trucks begin to leave
 (I leave for an appointment) 
(power is restored while I’m gone)

As I’ve worked in my office today, I’ve kept an eye on the progress being made at the intersection. With all the excitement at the intersection, all the training and manpower involved, all the hours invested, and effort put forth, watching it happen has made me feel like a kid again, and I just want to say....

WHATEVER IT IS—

I DIDN’T DO IT!!!!

Wednesday's Five Things

2008-04-23T08:48:00.000-04:00

Five Signs of Spring Seen From My Office Window

1. Robins (and other little birds) hopping around the yard.
(We won't talk about the turkey vulture!)
2. Daffodils blooming.
3. Farmers in the fields.
4. Trees sprouting tiny leaves.
5. A convertible with the top down.

What have you seen that says "spring!" to you?

Happy IVGLDSW Day!

2008-04-22T11:44:00.003-04:00

Today is International Very Good Looking, Darn Smart Woman's Day, so please inform the people who you think fit the description.

And remember these words to live by:

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body. Rather, the plan should be to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, glass of wine/cup of coffee/whatever in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO! What a ride!"

Have a wonderful day....

P.S. I checked.... IVGLDSW Day can be any day you choose!

I'm a Mover and a Shaker!

2008-04-18T21:26:00.003-04:00

Sometimes in the morning, if I've kicked off the covers (or had them stolen!) and gotten cold, I've been known to get really bad tremors. This morning, even though I didn't feel cold, I woke up shaking really hard. I was shaking so hard, the bed was shaking! In fact, I must have reached a new stage, because I was shaking the whole house!

Wait a minute!!! I'm only 5'3", 105 lbs.! Shake the whole house? There's no way!

"It must be an earthquake," I mumbled to Lloyd. I breathed a sigh of relief, turned over, hit the snooze, and went back to sleep for a few more minutes.

I was relieved that it was an earthquake?! I'm not sure what that says about me, but it definitely makes me go, "Hmmm...."

Wednesday's Five Things

2008-04-16T00:12:00.000-04:00

Five Awesome Romantic Rock Songs

1. I Will - The Beatles
2. From the Beginning - Emerson, Lake and Palmer
3. Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
4. Color My World - Chicago
5. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face -Roberta Flack

Got a great one I haven't mentioned? Tell me!

That's What Friends Are For....

2008-04-14T21:11:00.003-04:00

So now that I'm a lab rat, the researchers have asked me to recruit my own control subjects. You know...the rats that don't get any experimental drugs and don't contract the disease?

In the past, researchers have been able to identify culprit genes in the DNA of hereditary PD patients. What this study is about is comparing non-familial (non-inherited) PD DNA to non-PD DNA, to see if there's a common denominator among the non-fam PDs that is not shared by the non-PDs

What I'm supposed to do is try to find up to 4 people within 5-10 years of my age, female, who live nearby and don't have neurological problems. Then they will do the same things I do--family medical history, interview, neurological eval, and blood draw. Well, right out of the box, I've got my four! Enthusiastic, adventurous ladies, with as much curiousity as a boxful of kittens. And now they/we have decided to all go together for our research appointments. ROAD TRIP!! Woo hoo!!

Who are these modern Amelia Earharts, you ask? These intrepid explorers, expanding the frontiers of medical science, with only occasional stops at the fashion mall to resupply? Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the "Rat Pack" - M.G., T.B., G.O., and N.C.! Think you know? Ask them!

Now, don't you wish your friends were a bunch of rats?!

Wednesday's Five Things

2008-04-09T17:31:00.002-04:00

Five Things That Make Me Smile
(in no particular order)

1. Family get-togethers
2. Climbing trees
3. Snuggling in the moonlight
4. An excuse to dress up
5. Lively, wide-ranging conversations

I'm a Lab Rat!

2008-04-03T22:35:00.000-04:00

I've been asked to be part of a gene study. They're wanting to map the genes of PD patients who don't have it in their family history. They want to look for a common denominator. It includes physiological testing (balance, etc.), an interview, and a blood draw. The researcher is a colleague of my neuro. And I'm enough of an information junkie that the whole idea's got me psyched! Just wanted to let you know....

“Pray, and let God worry....” (link)

2008-04-03T19:37:00.008-04:00

In this instance, I'm talking about a very sick little girl, Chrissy. She and her family need all the prayer they can get. You can learn more by visiting her website:
www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrissybriles
Even if she won't know you, leave an encouraging comment, to show her and her family how widespread the caring reaches!

Wednesday's Five Things

2008-04-02T07:46:00.000-04:00

I saw this idea on another blog, and it looked like fun. (Plus you know I'll be posting every Wednesday.) Here's this weeks list:

Five Foods I've Been Craving

1. Sun Chips - Original
2. trail mix
3. smoked salmon
4. beef jerky
5. chocolate pudding

Tune in again next Wednesday, for the next "Five Things"!

A New Addition for a New Addition

2008-03-21T18:22:00.002-04:00

If you look carefully, you'll find a new widget on my blog. It's a countdown ticker! And if you look very carefully, I think you'll be able to figure out what I'm counting down....

It's a baby! Nate and Tiff are going to be parents, and I'm going to be a grandma again! She's due in mid-September. I can hardly bear to wait. I want to know this little person--quiet or loud? reader or athlete? fair or dark? boy or girl?

I love meeting new people! Five months, three weeks, and four days!

What's the common factor?

2008-03-01T15:52:00.003-05:00

There were several "items of note" this week:

1. Larry Norman died on Sunday.
2. I started making notes for the sequel to the play I wrote, which was successfully performed on 2/22/08.
3. I contacted an organization that has been planning to distribute a brochure, and offered a business proposal to do the writing.
4. My husband officially reached the -30 pound mark in his effort to lose a total of 60 pounds. He's half way!
5. Friday, 2/29, was Leap Day.
6. I made a marriage proposal.

Now...what do all these "news items" have in common? How about some clues?

1. Larry Norman was a Christian rock musician. Early on, in the late 60s and into the 70s, he was THE Christian rock musician. He did things in music and ministry that nobody else seemed to have the guts to do. He's credited with the beginning of the Christian contemporary/Christian rock genre. Musically and spiritually, he influenced the people who influenced the people who are the "names" in the genre, today.

2. The night of the play, after the show, my friend, Tamara, made the comment that she wanted to have a part in the sequel, as Nora's mother. I glibly told her what her name was going to be, and moved on. The next day, I found myself making notes about plot and characters. Now, with a year until a possible performance, and about 10 months before the script would need to be done, not only am I excited about writing a sequel, there seems to be a growing number of people who are eager to support it, act in it, see it performed.

3. The organization in question has been saying for several months that they were going to develop a booklet/brochure to distribute to the public. As far as I've seen, "it ain't happenin', folks"! Not to fault them—their staff have been very busy. So I contacted them and more or less said, "You haven't got this done yet. You've got a big event coming where you need it ready. Here's my fee—let me know if I'm hired."

4. He's been planning to do this for quite a while, but it just wasn't going anywhere. After the first of the year, I saw a new determination. He started working out and drink lots of water, he cut portion size and fat content, and the pounds started coming off! I'm very proud of him! Thirty pounds! That's like losing a small child, or three cats! Hmmm.... He'd like the idea of three cats being gone!

5. Yesterday was a "make-up day" for the calendar, to correct for the fact that it takes the Earth 365 days and a few hours to travel once around the sun. It only happens every four years, so people who a born or married on 2/29 only have their special day once every four years, technically.

6. Traditionally, Leap Day has been a day for women to take the initiative in a relationship, ie., propose marriage. Since my husband did it last time (28 years ago) I thought it was about time for me to take a turn! Plus, it was another way to tell him I love him, and you can't say that enough!

So..... There are the six "big events" in my week. What unifying concept do you see? Leave me a note.

To be continued....

(Clue: There are sayings about the common factor that refer to hay, iron, and a phrase in Latin.)

...the common factor

2008-03-01T15:50:00.000-05:00

1. Larry saw a need that wasn't being met. In spite of the opposition and criticism, he found an intersection between his talent and God's plan. In the process, he changed the face of Christian music for generations and the lives of thousands for eternity.

2. When I started the play, it was something I'd never tried before. It was bigger than any writing project I'd ever tackled. After the fact, I'm glad I took the risk. I'm ready to go for it again! Maybe it's the starting point in a Butterfly Effect.

3. With regard to my Butterfly Effect speculations, maybe this is the first shft in the "weather". I'm not sure I would've pitched for the job a month ago. But, now, I know I can do it. They know I can do it! Will they recognize the opportunity on their doorstep?

4. He could have looked at 60 pounds as an unobtainable goal, but instead he decided it was time to start, and now he's winning the benefits of his efforts.

5. Any Leap Baby or Leap Couple who wanted to celebrate their day on the day had a 24-hour window, now they'll have to wait until 2012. Let's hope the celebration was "party-ful" enough to last them four years!

6. This one's easy! You should make sure the people you love know that you do, every chance you get!

The common factor? In every instance, someone didn't wait around for a risk analysis—they went for it!

THE SAYINGS....

"Strike while the iron's hot."
"Make hay while the sun shines."
"Carpe diem! (Seize the day!)"

How's that go again?

2008-02-04T12:38:00.000-05:00

I love the funny things kids end up with when they try to say "grownup things"—You know, big words they can't pronounce that we use to talk about big ideas they can't understand. Anyway, a radio station here in town has local school kids sign up to say the Pledge of Allegiance every weekday morning. The common recitation glitches I hear in that segment got me thinking, "What's the worst possible screwed-up mess a kid could make of the Pledge, using real words?" Here's what I came up with:

I pudge our reasons
Two-door flag
Of the ninety snakes of America
And two-door public
For Richard Sands
One ace in Underdog
In the fizzle bowl
Miss Wiberdy
Adjust us
For all

Scrambling the Pledge was pretty fun! Care to join me? If you come up with something that makes you laugh, please share!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go visit my granddaughter and try using little words to help her understand some big ideas.... Like love.

Santa in the Off-Season

2008-01-11T10:09:00.000-05:00

We all know that during the off-season, Santa is busy making the toys he'll need to deliver the following Christmas.

[Hey! A rabbit trail! Not only is Santa omniscient (He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake...), he's also prescient! How else would he know how many of which toys he should be making?]

Anyway...back to the main road.... Sure, Santa spends his summers making toys for good little girls and boys, but who can make toys 24/7?! So what does Santa do on his days off? He shops at Wal~Mart! "Pshaw!" you say? I was there, I tell you! I saw it with my own two eyes!

OK, here's what happened.... I was in Wal~Mart the other day, buying a few groceries, checking out the clearance racks, "same old-same old", when I heard it. Two identical little voices said in stereo, "Mommy, look!" Since my name is Mommy, I instinctively looked.

There, in the cereal aisle, was a cart laden with two matching preschool boys. Eyes wide open, mouths agape, index fingers clearly pointing. As I turned to follow the aim of the little pointers, I heard their voices again—"Mommy, look! It's Santa Claus!"

At the same moment, my gaze arrived at the fingers' target. Pushing his cart past the corn flakes was an older looking man—jeans and red plaid flannel shirt, gray stocking cap on his head, full white beard hiding his chin, and what could be termed the appropriate body type. He smiled sheepishly, as if this wasn't the first time he'd heard it. The mom shushed her boys with some vague comment and all the players in the scene moved on.

Intrigued, I followed "Santa" through the store, waiting to see if it happened again. A couple aisles over, I saw my friend, Judy. We made the usual chit-chat, but I was bursting to tell someone what I'd just witnessed.

"Judy, I just saw the cutest thing! Two little guys thought he," I flicked my eyes toward the Man in Red, "was Santa!"

We giggled together, and just as she started to say, "Oh, how funny," her little boy piped up, "Look, Mommy! There's Santa!" Judy and I grinned at each other and went our separate ways. I continued to follow the Man in Red as he finished his shopping and went through the checkout. I can tell you that "Santa" likes Red Baron pizza and Classic Coke, but there's also somebody at the North Pole who eats stir-fry and drinks Gatorade!

When asked about his identity, the Man in Red claimed that his name was "Lloyd", and that he was (get this!) a schoolteacher! But as you know, all the Big Shots have an alter ego—just look at Clark Kent and Peter Parker. Come to think of it, a teacher's calendar might work pretty well for Santa! He'd have summers off to spend in the workshop, and a two week break at Christmas to take care of last minute details before delivery.

I wonder if, now that he's been identified, he'll have to move on, like the Witness Protection Program? If he does, maybe come spring he should consider trimming his beard down to a goatee. Then, he could think about trying a more plausible secret identity—like...say...
Colonel Sanders?

Another parody....

2008-01-10T21:53:00.000-05:00

Status Quo
(to the tune of "Let It Snow")

Oh the relatives think it’s frightful
The way we act so spiteful
But since we refuse to grow
Status quo! Status quo! Status quo!

It seems there is just no stopping
This marital bellyflopping
Our behavior is really low
Status quo! Status quo! Status quo!

Each determined that we are right
Ev’ry contact turns into a storm
If we’re going to stop this fight
We’ll have to use chloroform

Well, we’ve heard there are folks a-sighing
And forever "goo-goo eye"-ing
What it's like we will never know
Status quo! Status quo! Status quo!

Caramel Corn!

2008-01-05T22:09:00.000-05:00

I promised everybody at the Blog Party that I'd share the recipe for the Caramel Corn that almost was—

1/4 cup pancake syrup
1 stick butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
dash of salt

Cook in microwave-safe container on High for TWO minutes (glass is best). Stir. Cook on High for approximately 4 minutes—until mixture has boiled for 2 minutes.

Add 1/2 teaspoom baking soda. Stir until foamy.

Immediately, pour over 4 quarts (16 cups) of popped popcorn in a paper grocery bag. Close bag and shake vigorously. Pour onto waxed paper or cookie sheet to cool. Guard vigilantly!

Choco-mania!

2008-01-05T21:14:00.000-05:00

Some of my blogging buddies were hearing stories last night of my granddaughter's recent discovery of chocolate. Here's a little photo-documentary....

When Grandpa gives you chocolate, he doesn't skimp!

Chocolate is messy...

...REALLY messy...

...but it sure can make you smile!

2008-01-02T00:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Anniversary, Dad!

It’s been a whole year since you stepped across Heaven’s threshold. Does it seem to you like it’s been that long? Is it as if only an instant has passed, or does it feel like you’ve always been there?

Sometimes for me, it’s as if you’ve been gone a long, long time. Then there are the days when it feels as if it was only a moment ago that your pastor called, and as gently as he could, shared the news that broke my heart and forever altered my life’s landscape.

What’s Heaven like, Dad? I know you’re having a great time “hangin’ out” with Jesus. You and He always seemed like such good friends. What about all the other stuff we imagined? What’s it like not to have hay fever or need glasses? Was I right, and you finally like coconut? Or is it like you thought, and there is no coconut in Heaven?

Have you had a chance to meet any of the “big names” yet? Who did you talk to first? As much as you read the epistles, I bet you picked Paul, huh? ‘Course, you really liked the psalms, too, so maybe your first choice was David?

We’re all “pluggin’ along” here, living for Jesus and trying to make you proud. I’ve spent some time looking back at your life, seeing and hearing the life-changing difference you made for so many people in your quiet, unobtrusive way. You’ve given me a lot to think about, Dad, and set a high standard to reach for. But you always were encouraging me to “work up to my potential”!

Well, I can’t talk too long. My job here isn’t done. Mom’s doing OK. You’d be proud of her. Yeah, I know that’s nothing new--you always were! You’d be pleased, too, at how we all look out for her, and how we always say “I love you,” whenever we say “goodbye”--to her and to each other. Tell all my grandparents “Hi!” and give them my love. I don’t know yet when I’ll be arriving, but I promise I’ll be coming to see you all.

Until that day, know that I love you and I’m proud to be recognized as...

Your Daughter,

Marcia

Whimper Wonderland

2007-12-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

(to the tune of "Winter Wonderland")

North wind howls, hear it whistling,
Sets your neck hairs a’bristling
Hey, we’ll be all right!
We’re caught for the night
Stuck here in our winter wonderland.

Snowflakes fell while we slumbered
Our provisions are numbered
I wonder how long
We’ll all get along
Stuck here in our winter wonderland.

Someone got sent out to check the gas can
And found out the level’s really down.
We stared at each other and said, “Oh, man!
“We should’ve pick up more last time in town!”

I would like to inquire,
“Could we please start a fire?
“I’m cold! I’m afraid!
“Relief’s been delayed--
“(We’re) stuck here in our winter wonderland.”

Went back out again to check the gas can.
Spilled the last eight ounces on the ground.
We’ll just have to come with a new plan
To stay warm when the power lines are down.

Fam’ly life--so fulfilling!
So far there’s been no killing....
I guess we just stay
‘Til sometime next May
Stuck here in our winter wonderland.

© 2007

(Sorry, folks! It was stuck in my head—I had to let it out!)

Passing Loaves and Fishes

2007-12-03T09:08:00.000-05:00

In a recent online conversation with my friend, Robin, she said something so beautiful, so meaningful to me, that I was in tears as I read it. Then, I printed it out and shared it with some friends at church. Then, they wanted to get copies, or have me post it here! So...I contacted Robin and asked her permission. Her only request is that I/we credit her, so that when she uses her own words in the future she won't appear to be plagiarizing me. In fact, here's part of her response:

"The most important thing is hearts are fed. And my heart was not the only heart God intended to feed with those words. So break up those loaves and fishes and pass them around, girlfriend!"

So, without further ado, here's what Robin had to say:

...Emmanuel means God with us. Even in our kitchen when we are arguing—God with us...During the "O, Holy Night" while the "stars were brightly shining," Mary was lying there on straw, bathed in blood, sweat, and tears—laboring...When we are in painful labor, when we are sweating and bleeding and crying, and all we can think about is our pain and "just keep breathing"...it's in that moment of personal agony that the Glory of God is being birthed in our life. But we miss it. We don't see it until later...Sweating out the boundaries...and trying to see past our own heartache, to behave in a Christlike, appropriate manner...It's in those crucible moments that the glory of God is appearing in our lives.
© 12/2/2007, Robin ________

If anyone would like to respond to Robin, I'd be happy to forward your comments.

"Double" Post

2007-11-10T16:45:00.000-05:00

A week ago, I met "Mike". Nice guy. However.... "Mike" leads a double life! When I first met him, it was in his "normal life" role—an employee of a Christian organization. We were at a conference together, and had a couple conversations over the two days. He never led me to believe that he had secrets.

That Saturday night, at a party, I discovered that on the weekends.... "Mike".... is a.... ROCKER *shocked gasp*! He was playing guitar with the band at the party!

Oh, wait! I was at the party! Guess that means that I have a double life, too. *sheepish eye-roll*

I think most people keep secrets. Some have deep, dark secrets like a hidden attraction to a married coworker. Other people have sily, embarrassing little secrets. Maybe they eat the filling from Oreos and throw the cookie away. I'm not convinced all facets of a double life are wrong. Sure, some, like an affair, need to see the light of day. But others, like a wedding night, or the birth of a child, or a parent's dying words are too special, too precious, too sacred to share indiscriminately with the world. Sometimes, complete honesty is the epitome of bravery. Other times, it's just shameless indiscretion. We need to discern when it's more prudent to tell, and when it's better to keep silent.

As a counterpoint, we need to use discretion when we happen across information about someone else's "double life." We need to be accepting of other, "outside the box" choices, provided they don't violate biblical guidelines. Not only that, we should be asking for God's guidance to tell or not to tell what we know, and we need to exercise restraint. If we decide that it's needful or acceptable to tell, we have to do it in a way that nurtures the truth, instead of leaving truth suffocated by deception and innuendo.

Speaking of nurturing the truth, that reminds me! About "Mike".... (see the first comment for this post)

The Language of Love

2007-09-29T17:33:00.000-04:00

Are you still wondering what Language Department's purpose was in making you take a foreign language? Well, if you took high school Spanish—here's a short video on how to win the heart of your true love, even with your limited vocabulary!

Useful Spanish

Somewhere Under the Rainbow

2007-09-27T22:31:00.000-04:00

On New Year's Eve last year, just two days before the wreck that took my dad, God gave me a double rainbow. It was there a long time—I'd say at least half an hour. Coming on New Year's Eve like it did, it seemed significant...like a promise for the new year. So I took pictures.

Then, just the other day, on Dad's birthday, God gave me another double rainbow! Once again, it stayed for more than half an hour. And coming as it did on Dad's birthday, after losing him so suddenly, it seemed significant again. So once again, I took pictures.

And yesterday, I suddenly remembered a conversation that I had with Dad as a teen, when spring was late in arriving, and I suggested maybe we wouldn't have a spring that year. Dad had pointed out that we can always count on the seasons because that's part of the promise of the rainbow! (Genesis 8:22, 9:8-9, 11-13) Seeing the rainbow on his birthday was just a neat little reminder from both of my dads that life will go on!

Genesis 8
22 "As long as the earth endures,
       seedtime and harvest,
       cold and heat,
       summer and winter,
       day and night
       will never cease."

Genesis 9
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you.
12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant....”

After the storm of sorrow, after the flood of tears, after the days of lonely isolation when the Land of Hope is nowhere in sight—after it all—comes the rainbow. Quietly, gently, catching us by surprise—it soars above the horizon. The rainbow—God's promise that the seasons will arrive again this year. His promise that life will go on.

Chatty Baby

2007-09-20T12:36:00.000-04:00

I had the coolest thing happen last night!

For the past month or so, I've been telling my family that my 10 month old granddaughter is starting to talk. They all humored me as a biased grandma. Yesterday when I was watching her, she kept pointing at the phone and saying "call", so we called my husband. When her dad got home, I told him about it. He listened, and that was that. End of story. Or so we thought....

Last night, I was doing stuff around the house when the phone rang. It was my son, calling for my granddaughter! It seems her parents were talking about the story I'd told him. When her dad said the word "call", she started saying "Call! Call!" and pointing at the phone! They got her out of her highchair and she crawled straight to the phone, still saying, "Call! Call!" He asked her if she wanted to call Grandma, and she said, "Call...Gumma!"

So they called me and put her on the phone. I said, "Hi! It's Grandma!" She said, "Gumma?" I said "Hi!" She said "Hi!" I said "I love you" and she laughed. After a couple minutes of that, my son got on the phone and said, "What did you say to her? We knew what she was saying!"

So today, I'm one proud and happy (and vindicated) grandma! *contented sigh*

The Boy and the Truck

2007-09-18T00:18:00.000-04:00

I was in a conversation recently about dealing with hard things. One of the participants commented that, for him, it was hard to see/feel the difference between giving up on a hurtful circumstance or giving it over to God. This is what I came up with in response:

The little boy is sooo tired. His little legs have walked so far. And to make matters worse, his truck—his favorite truck—is broken! He can't push it or pull it, it won't go on its own, so he has to carry it. He's carried it all this way, and he's still not home. The truck is sooo heavy. At times, it seems bigger than he is, and he knows that it's the big reason why he's so tired.

Beside the little boy walks the Father. He sees his son is tired, he knows why, and he truly cares. Does he take the truck from the little boy? No. That is a choice the little boy must freely make.

Now the little boy has stopped. He sets the truck down in the dirt, sighs, wipes a tear, and begins to walk away. He can't carry it anymore. The Father waits and watches. The boy walks a few steps and stops, turning back. He can't give up on his precious truck! Torn, he looks back and forth, from his Father to the truck to his Father.

"Daddy, what do I do?" he wails. "My truck is broken and I'm so tired! I can't carry it!"

The Father reaches out his hand.

"Give it to me, son. Let me carry it."

The little boy stands, frozen, indecisive. What should he do? Give up on the truck and leave it in the dirt? Or give it over to his Father and let him carry it? Either way, the little boy won't have his truck anymore. Give it up, or give it over? He stands there, thinking. Which should he choose? Will it really make any difference....?

Where's Barney?

2007-07-24T16:57:00.000-04:00

Today I'm sharing a (gasp) forward I received. Normally, I detest the way forwards clog my inbox and my work schedule, as well as the way they broadcast my email address to everyone. This one, however, is a special one—cute, funny, and profound. (But don't take this as a request for more forwards!)

Enjoy!
-------------------------
A four-year-old was at the pediatrician's office for a check up. As the doctor looked in his ears with an otoscope, he tried to break the ice with a silly question, "Do you think I'll find Big Bird in here?"

The little guy just stared at the doctor, as only a preschooler can.

Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down his throat. Still not ready to give up, he asked, "Do you think I'll find Cookie Monster down there?"

Again, nothing but the unblinking stare.

Then the doctor put a stethoscope to the little boy's chest. As he listened to his heartbeat, he made one last attempt. "Do you think I'll hear Barney in there?"

"Noooo!", the little boy replied, clearly amazed at the doctor's ignorance. "JESUS is in my heart! Barney's on my underwear."

Seeing Things

2007-07-16T16:13:00.000-04:00

The other day, I had a couple incidents of "seeing things"! Now, before you think I'm having a reaction to my meds and get all freaked out, let me explain.

First, I had a glimpse of a dream. What do I mean? Let me explain. That morning, I was "stuck" in one general area, with several hours on my hands. So, I did what I typically do.... I headed for the nearest "word source"—in this case a bookstore.

I love bookstores (and libraries)! The hush, the scent of paper and ink, the feeling that here is knowledge and insight for the finding - much like panning for gold. In this case, it was a university bookstore, so I had the added benefit of enjoying paper and ink in its as-yet-unpreserved state—the tempting assortment of blank papers and complementary pens and markers!

I wandered around, reading greeting cards, glancing at textbooks, checking how many pockets there were in the various notebooks and binders. I went on to the area reserved for general books, looking at the different categories—fiction, devotional, marriage and family. Suddenly, there it was! The section that stopped me in my tracks and made my heart skip a beat! "Local Authors"! "LOCAL AUTHORS"!

I'm sure my eyes glazed over as I fantasized about my book on that shelf. Would it be the devotional, the picture book, or the children's chapter book? (none of which are ready to send to a publisher) That was my first "episode."

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Then, in the afternoon, I was in my second floor office—you know, the one with all the windows looking out into the trees—when the second "episode" happened. My daughter came in to say something to me, but instead stared out the window and said, "Woah! Look at that bird!" At first, I didn't see anything, which probably made her feel like she was hallucinating!

Then I spotted it! In the fork of a tree, maybe 20 feet from the house, sat a turkey vulture! Across the yard, on the roof of the storage barn, sat another! We gasped and started yelling for my husband, running through the house, calling his name. We found him, but the birds were gone by the time we told him what we'd seen, and he thought we were joking! It took five minutes, or more, of insisting, describing, finding pictures on the internet, before we could convince him!

Why do I lump together these two incidents of "seeing things"? In both of the events, the "vision" had both a real and an unreal quality. "Seeing" my book on the Local Authors display could be considered something that could very easily be real. But, unless I do the hard work necessary to make it happen, it will remain merely a figment of my imagination. The second sighting was verifiable reality, but with an unreal, hallucinatory quality. It would take hard work on the part of my daughter and me to create belief in our hearers that birds of such "Jurassic Park" immenseness (and ugliness!) were actually in an ordinary Midwestern backyard!

There has to be a "parabolical" lesson here (see post on 9/9/05). Something about the hard work necessary to make the as-yet-unreal into reality, or to inspire others to believe in the true-but-implausible. I'm not sure exactly what the lesson is, though, or how to put it into words, so I'll just leave you with this quote:

“Vision without action is Hallucination.” —Don Clifton

Life Changing

2007-06-15T17:50:00.001-04:00

I just got back today from a children's church camp. Whewww! As always, camp is very tiring.... Late nights will do that, but so will pouring your heart and soul into the life of others!

True to form, I went as a "tie-dye lady". Not true to form, I did almost zero tie-dying!
* Monday, I helped rescue a damsel in distress.
* Tuesday, I took care of a sick counselor.
* Wednesday, I had to be gone from camp for the day.
* Thursday, I paid the price for saying some fateful words to the camp director—"Wouldn't it be fun if....!" I suggested a "fun idea" for a camp afterglow and got put in charge of it! Oh, and took care of another sick counselor.
* Thursday night, I did some impromptu counseling. My friend, Marilyn, "set me up" with a camper who was having some interpersonal issues. She sorta figured the camper in question needed a "mom" to talk to.
Maybe I should have gone as a "camp mama"!

The highlight of the week, for me anyway, happened Wednesday night—and I wasn't even there! As I mentioned, I had to be gone from camp on Wednesday, which meant I didn't get back until the campers were heading off to their cabins for the night. The next morning on the way to breakfast, one of the campers (we'll call him "Buddy") smiled and waved at me. That wouldn't have been too unusual, except Buddy and I had had a confrontation and he tended to eye me warily, or avoid me altogether.

A while later, as I was eating breakfast with some other staff, I noticed that Buddy kept kind of hanging around. I looked closer at him—he looked DIFFERENT! I was sure I knew why! A few minutes later, my suspicions were confirmed. Buddy looked around at us, smiled, and said, "Last night I put Jesus in my heart!" I KNEW IT!!!!

I said, "I thought so, Buddy! When I first saw you this morning, I could see it in your eyes. You look different!"

Anyway....

Pray for "Buddy". I don't know a lot about his life away from camp, but I don't think it's easy. He went home today, to...whatever. He's been a "midweek kid", coming to kid's club at church, but I don't think on Sundays. He and I have an agreement, though. He's planning to come Sunday morning with the grownup friends who bring him on Wednesday. Between Sunday School and church, we're meeting at a certain place in the hall and I'm introducing him to the youth pastor. (Buddy's going into 6th grade and qualifies for the youth group.) I think Pastor Mike is someone that Buddy can really identify with.

Pray that:
* the "church kids" will accept and welcome him
* the joy of the Lord will sustain him as he transitions back home
* he will be rested and motivated enough to get up on Sunday morning
* there will be a connection between Buddy and Pastor Mike
* Buddy will grow in "wisdom, and stature, and favor with God and man"

Camp Mama (aka "Church Mama") signing off!

For those of "My Generation"....

2007-05-11T05:37:00.000-04:00

A friend sent me

this link:

If not taking yourself too seriously is good for your health, these must be some "seriously healthy" people!

"Home" again....

2007-05-09T17:15:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm "home"! After soooo many months here, G.R. almost does feel like home! Once again, I'm at the library. The modern oasis! (At least for a word nerd like me!) Tomorrow, I pick up my baby sis and her babies at the airport and we're off to the Great North!

Tonight, I'm going to try to touch base with a couple friends I made during my "sojourn" here! Wish me luck in tracking them down!

My Name Isn't Willie, But...

2007-05-09T14:49:00.000-04:00

...I'm "on the road again"! I was home for two weeks, taking a much-needed break. Now I'm heading back to Mom's, with a stop in G.R. to pick up my sister and nieces. Abby's been saying, "Gramma home! Abby see?" for weeks now!

I've discovered, in all my wanderings, a new favorite rest stop. The local public library! I'm in one right now! They're clean, quiet, friendly, safe, and usually have internet access! This one has wireless, so I'm sitting in a comfy chair with my laptop on top of my lap!

However, I think I've been here long enough! Time to hit the road again! Next stop...another library?

Making Memories

2007-04-05T23:24:00.000-04:00

I never realized until recently how much we count on making memories with the people we care about. Quite often lately, especially when I was at my parents' house, I have found myself planning things I'm going to do with my dad. I make a mental list of topics to discuss with him, or funny stories to tell him. I'm realizing that this is something I've done for years, but never noticed myself doing when I "had an outlet."

I didn't experience this when any of my grandparents died, and I think I've figured out why. (Which, by the way, Dad would probably have found a fascinating topic!)

Here's my theory:

My grandparents were all in the process of "old-age deterioration". We all knew it was only a matter of time for all of them, and without realizing it, began to "power down" the part of our brains that plans memory-making with the other person. Dad, on the other hand, was still going strong. At 71, he wasn't even on any of the standard "old people meds"! (cholesterol, blood pressure, arthritis, etc.) I didn't have time to break myself of the memory-planning habit. So, I've got a list of questions to ask Dad—about the house, about caring for Mom, about where an object is, or why it is where it is! And I've got a whole volume of topics for us to discuss "when he gets back"!

Now, I know that death is the permanent end to life on this earth. It's just that the sudden halt of the opportunity to talk with my dad has made the whole experience kind of surreal. The bad thing about it is that I have ongoing reminders of what I've lost. The good thing about it is the fact that I have a real sense of Dad being "just there"—of Heaven being a real place, just out of sight and out of reach, just beyond an invisible wall.

This whole experience is one I would have talked about with my dad.... And I know one day I will! Of course, by then we'll both know the event from the other side of the equation. So, for now I'll just say what I always said when we talked on the phone. "Bye, Dad! Love you! Talk to you later!"

gardensong - reprise in a minor key

2007-03-19T20:07:00.000-04:00

I stand in the garden, nibbling one of the freshly picked snow peas. Watching the last of the evening sun as it slants over the roof of the house and gilds the walnut tree in the back yard. A petunia-scented breeze ruffles my hair. What a relief after the day's heat. I curl my toes in the sandy soil, dry and crisp on the surface but still damp from the morning’s rain underneath. A quarter mile away, the neighbor’s dog is barking. The wind sighs through the pines. Behind me, I hear the faint rustle of my mother picking the beans. In my memory, I see the beloved forms of Grandma and Great-grandma, as they were then, stooping over the same garden’s rows. I consider the very real possibility that someday my grandchildren will stand where I do now, drinking in another August evening. A rush of thankfulness and contentment squeezes at my throat.

-------------------------------------------

Above is the post that started this blog on August 8, 2005, more than a year and a half ago. I'm very thankful I considered the moment valuable enough to chronicle. So much has changed since then! Now, the garden lies fallow—not just because of winter. There may be no garden this year, for the first time in decades. Mom is still recovering in the hospital from a car wreck that took my dad. I don't know if she'll have the strength (or the heart) to plant this year without him.

But the garden must go on. It has to continue for the sake of my other life-shifting change. The vague shadow I imagined when I daydreamed that "someday my grandchildren will stand where I do now" has become a reality. A little girl named Audrey graces our lives. Her mommy and daddy already are planning to teach her to love gardens and their treasures.

Soon, I'll be back at the homestead. I'll stand and stare at the sleeping garden. In my memory, I'll see the beloved forms of Grandma, Great-grandma, and Dad, stooping over the rows. By their side, I'll imagine a blue-eyed little girl, her tiny hands busily searching for the ripening crop. Seasoned with the salty tang of tears, another rush of thankfulness will squeeze my throat. The heritage of the garden will live.

A Blast From the Past

2007-03-06T10:36:00.000-05:00

Last night, I suddenly remembered this classic poem that my dad used to read to me when I was a kid. The memory brought a flood of tears. Dad wasn't real demonstrative when I was growing up, (He got better!) but there was never any doubt what he was saying when he read this to me.

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The Children's Hour
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower, 
Comes a pause in the day's occupations, 
That is known as the Children's Hour. 

 I hear in the chamber above me 
The patter of little feet, 
The sound of a door that is opened, 
And voices soft and sweet. 
 
From my study I see in the lamplight, 
Descending the broad hall stair, 
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra, 
And Edith with golden hair. 
 
A whisper, and then a silence: 
Yet I know by their merry eyes 
They are plotting and planning together 
To take me by surprise. 
 
A sudden rush from the stairway, 
A sudden raid from the hall! 
By three doors left unguarded 
They enter my castle wall! 
 
They climb up into my turret 
O'er the arms and back of my chair; 
If I try to escape, they surround me; 
They seem to be everywhere. 
 
They almost devour me with kisses, 
Their arms about me entwine, 
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen 
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine! 
 
Do you think, o blue-eyed banditti, 
Because you have scaled the wall, 
Such an old mustache as I am 
Is not a match for you all! 
 
I have you fast in my fortress, 
And will not let you depart, 
But put you down into the dungeon 
In the round-tower of my heart. 
 
And there will I keep you forever, 
Yes, forever and a day, 
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin, 
And moulder in dust away! 
--------------------------------

I love you too, Daddy!

Hiatus

2007-01-18T15:02:00.000-05:00

It's getting to be too much to keep several pages going right now. If you're just here to see whatever, I'll see ya when I get back.

If you're here for news about my mom, please 1) go to www.carepages.com, 2) register, and 3) ask to see RuthReport.

Thanks for your understanding!

Marcia