I've reached a new low... I found myself sitting here contemplating if I have enough bath towels in my house and remembering my mother saying that a woman could never have too many towels in her home if she has children. I think that is probably one of the most practical tidbits my mother has ever shared with me. I have, at least, 20 bath towels, 10 bath sheet/beach towels, 40 wash clothes, 10 bath pouffs (the things you use with liquid soap), 10 hand towels, and 10 dish towels. I find myself regularly scrambling trying to come up with towels for everyone to use, and find that the hand and kitchen towels are the hardest to keep up with, mostly because everyone thinks these should be pretty and gave me ones with appliqued designs which make the towel impractical to use... but that's another issue.
I decided I need intellectual stimulation on a daily basis because of my pondering the proper towel balance in life... I don't want to spiral into a world where towel quantities are all I have to think about. I need intelligent conversation to keep me happy... and find myself looking forward to reading "Jan hugged the pug." with my daughter just so I have SOMETHING better than a towel tally to occupy my time. I need to get better so I can go back to work!
Hugs & Love
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
My Babies are Home!
If you aren't aware, I've been so sick that the doctor ordered my children away for the past week, they came home last night. I've missed them so much! I'm still quite weak, and struggling to keep up with them, but it is so good to hear their chattering voices, feel their (not so) gentle hugs, and of course cuddling up on the sofa with them while watching a movie or something because I don't have the strength to go to the playground with them (although today is beautiful!)
They are already asking if I'm taking them to church in the morning, and I am hoping and praying that I can! Then in 2 weeks we're doing the hayride with Kairos, and Karl has told me that it's okay to bring them along as long as I don't mind them throwing hay around... what fun is a hayride if we don't include children in a hay war though right? Hope to see you all there!
As for my health, I AM feeling better overall, but like I said, still quite weak. If I'm able to get to church I'm not sure if I'll be singing or if I'll be sitting it out. I'm living moment by moment, and hoping for good news on Monday when I see the doctor again. Please keep in touch!
Hugs & Love
They are already asking if I'm taking them to church in the morning, and I am hoping and praying that I can! Then in 2 weeks we're doing the hayride with Kairos, and Karl has told me that it's okay to bring them along as long as I don't mind them throwing hay around... what fun is a hayride if we don't include children in a hay war though right? Hope to see you all there!
As for my health, I AM feeling better overall, but like I said, still quite weak. If I'm able to get to church I'm not sure if I'll be singing or if I'll be sitting it out. I'm living moment by moment, and hoping for good news on Monday when I see the doctor again. Please keep in touch!
Hugs & Love
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Greetings
Just wanted to let you all know that I'm not going to attempt to blog what I am reading for the next several days to a week because I'm not feeling well. I spent the better part of yesterday in the emergency room because my doctor's office staff is grossly incompetant and wouldn't get me in to be seen so I could save the trip to the ER.
I have some long drawn out word for a non-communicable throat and neck infection that is possibly being caused from being run down and having had mono in the past (once you have mono it never leaves your system... the only times it re-asserts itself is in immuno-suppressed individuals... go figure). Anyway, my throat and neck are swollen, they have me taking prednisone and benedryl to reduce swelling and congestion, etc... both of those make me sleepy, the rain is making my joints and muscles sore, and the regular meds make me a little groggy, so I expect to be zonked on the sofa for most of the weekend and early next week (although I will go to work and church, etc... just not planning to do anything "extra" for a while).
Hope you are all well, please pray for a speedy recovery and the ability to take care of the kids when they return. When this started they called their father for help because I had fallen and was not responding to them. I'm proud of them for calling someone for help, but feel so badly that they were (and possibly still are) worried about mommy dying. I couldn't respond that first evening, but I heard them saying, "Mommy, we're too young for you to die!" My heart near broke. So please pray for them to feel Christ's comfort right now. To be at peace and know that mommy is alright (I plan to call them and talk with them today at some point so they will get to hear my voice).
I'm rambling, happens when I don't' feel well, sorry!
Hugs & Love
I have some long drawn out word for a non-communicable throat and neck infection that is possibly being caused from being run down and having had mono in the past (once you have mono it never leaves your system... the only times it re-asserts itself is in immuno-suppressed individuals... go figure). Anyway, my throat and neck are swollen, they have me taking prednisone and benedryl to reduce swelling and congestion, etc... both of those make me sleepy, the rain is making my joints and muscles sore, and the regular meds make me a little groggy, so I expect to be zonked on the sofa for most of the weekend and early next week (although I will go to work and church, etc... just not planning to do anything "extra" for a while).
Hope you are all well, please pray for a speedy recovery and the ability to take care of the kids when they return. When this started they called their father for help because I had fallen and was not responding to them. I'm proud of them for calling someone for help, but feel so badly that they were (and possibly still are) worried about mommy dying. I couldn't respond that first evening, but I heard them saying, "Mommy, we're too young for you to die!" My heart near broke. So please pray for them to feel Christ's comfort right now. To be at peace and know that mommy is alright (I plan to call them and talk with them today at some point so they will get to hear my voice).
I'm rambling, happens when I don't' feel well, sorry!
Hugs & Love
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Bible Blog: Romans 15:14-22 - September 11, 2007
How to Behave: Part XIII
Romans 15:14-22
Personally, I've been completely satisfied with who you are and what you are doing. You seem to me to be well-motivated and well-instructed, quite capable of guiding and advising one another. So, my dear friends, don't take my rather bold and blunt language as criticism. It's not criticism. I'm simply underlining how very much I need your help in carrying out this highly focused assignment God gave me, this priestly and gospel work of serving the spiritual needs of the non-Jewish outsiders so they can be presented as an acceptable offering to God, made whole and holy by God's Holy Spirit.
Looking back over what has been accomplished and what I have observed, I must say I am most pleased—in the context of Jesus, I'd even say proud, but only in that context. I have no interest in giving you a chatty account of my adventures, only the wondrously powerful and transformingly present words and deeds of Christ in me that triggered a believing response among the outsiders. In such ways I have trailblazed a preaching of the Message of Jesus all the way from Jerusalem far into northwestern Greece. This has all been pioneer work, bringing the Message only into those places where Jesus was not yet known and worshiped. My text has been, Those who were never told of him— they'll see him! Those who've never heard of him— they'll get the message!
And that's why it has taken me so long to finally get around to coming to you.
Paul knows how to compliment people… if someone told me that they thought I knew what I was doing when it came to any area of my life my confidence would grow. Telling me I’m able to guide someone else would encourage me to go and guide someone. And being told I’m needed in an endeavor straight from God would make me feel incredible! After hearing Paul tell them how to behave towards each other and strangers they were told that these were just reminders of how important it is that they continue in these things because it is helping Paul reach the Gentiles with the message of Christ.
Did you ever stop to think about your role in your community? If you are a teacher you are taking on a role that frees someone else to go reach those who have never heard of Christ. If you are behind the scenes babysitting, doing construction work, vacuuming… you are allowing people to do what they need to do to serve Christ in the way they are called to serve instead of sitting on the sidelines because children were demanding, a floor needed sanding, or there were too many chores to do anything else. It may not seem like much, but whatever it is you do, give it to God and He will use it for His glory.
Hugs & Love
Romans 15:14-22
Personally, I've been completely satisfied with who you are and what you are doing. You seem to me to be well-motivated and well-instructed, quite capable of guiding and advising one another. So, my dear friends, don't take my rather bold and blunt language as criticism. It's not criticism. I'm simply underlining how very much I need your help in carrying out this highly focused assignment God gave me, this priestly and gospel work of serving the spiritual needs of the non-Jewish outsiders so they can be presented as an acceptable offering to God, made whole and holy by God's Holy Spirit.
Looking back over what has been accomplished and what I have observed, I must say I am most pleased—in the context of Jesus, I'd even say proud, but only in that context. I have no interest in giving you a chatty account of my adventures, only the wondrously powerful and transformingly present words and deeds of Christ in me that triggered a believing response among the outsiders. In such ways I have trailblazed a preaching of the Message of Jesus all the way from Jerusalem far into northwestern Greece. This has all been pioneer work, bringing the Message only into those places where Jesus was not yet known and worshiped. My text has been, Those who were never told of him— they'll see him! Those who've never heard of him— they'll get the message!
And that's why it has taken me so long to finally get around to coming to you.
Paul knows how to compliment people… if someone told me that they thought I knew what I was doing when it came to any area of my life my confidence would grow. Telling me I’m able to guide someone else would encourage me to go and guide someone. And being told I’m needed in an endeavor straight from God would make me feel incredible! After hearing Paul tell them how to behave towards each other and strangers they were told that these were just reminders of how important it is that they continue in these things because it is helping Paul reach the Gentiles with the message of Christ.
Did you ever stop to think about your role in your community? If you are a teacher you are taking on a role that frees someone else to go reach those who have never heard of Christ. If you are behind the scenes babysitting, doing construction work, vacuuming… you are allowing people to do what they need to do to serve Christ in the way they are called to serve instead of sitting on the sidelines because children were demanding, a floor needed sanding, or there were too many chores to do anything else. It may not seem like much, but whatever it is you do, give it to God and He will use it for His glory.
Hugs & Love
Monday, September 10, 2007
Bible Blog: Romans 15:7-13 - September 10, 2007
How to Behave: Part XII
Romans 15:7-13
7. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.”
10. And in another place it is written, “Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles.”
11. And yet again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth.”
12. And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.”
13. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Okay, once again I’m getting something from this that is probably not so important to anyone else, but God has this gem for me and I plan to treasure it. God is the source of hope. Didn’t we establish that earlier in this “How to Behave” journey? Didn’t I make a big fuss over it then too? Yeah, I know, I did. But for some reason I can only explain as me having a thick skull and not allowing it to become real, I have managed to allow myself to spiral downward once more, staying busy, thinking I’m okay until I’m so far from okay that what I desperately need (God) seems unobtainable despite how simple His love, mercy, and forgiveness are to find.
When I remember to rest in His love and mercy I am full of peace, contented, happy with life and everything around me, yet for some reason at those moments I feel I don’t need to talk with Him every day, one day “off” turns into two, two turns into four, and eventually I find myself doing my next Bible Blog 11 days later because I was “okay”. Let me tell you just how okay I’ve been. I’ve been so okay that I had to have a friend hold me while I cried my eyes out because I was overwhelmed with everything life had been throwing my way. I’ve been so okay that I’ve started to isolate myself from those I love and care about. I’ve been so okay that I’ve been grumpy, irritable, and generally miserable company. And I’ve been so okay that even though my Savior is holding me in His arms constantly, offering the most perfect and intimate relationship anyone has ever known, I found myself feeling alone and unwanted. That’s how okay I am without God. I’m not happy with it… I’m happy with God! When I live in Him and the hope He gives, my life does fill with joy and peace. No, that doesn’t mean that all life’s problems disappear, it just means that I don’t fret over everything and try to control life. I have no control over this life or anyone else living on this planet, why would I try to take control of it?
Tonight I’m giving it all back to God… I don’t want it. He wants me and I want Him and that’s how it should be. I’ve made amends, again… seems like I do that on a daily basis sometimes, and He has once again welcomed me home with open arms. I’m going to go spend some time with my Daddy now… goodnight.
Hugs & Love
Romans 15:7-13
7. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.”
10. And in another place it is written, “Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles.”
11. And yet again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth.”
12. And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.”
13. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Okay, once again I’m getting something from this that is probably not so important to anyone else, but God has this gem for me and I plan to treasure it. God is the source of hope. Didn’t we establish that earlier in this “How to Behave” journey? Didn’t I make a big fuss over it then too? Yeah, I know, I did. But for some reason I can only explain as me having a thick skull and not allowing it to become real, I have managed to allow myself to spiral downward once more, staying busy, thinking I’m okay until I’m so far from okay that what I desperately need (God) seems unobtainable despite how simple His love, mercy, and forgiveness are to find.
When I remember to rest in His love and mercy I am full of peace, contented, happy with life and everything around me, yet for some reason at those moments I feel I don’t need to talk with Him every day, one day “off” turns into two, two turns into four, and eventually I find myself doing my next Bible Blog 11 days later because I was “okay”. Let me tell you just how okay I’ve been. I’ve been so okay that I had to have a friend hold me while I cried my eyes out because I was overwhelmed with everything life had been throwing my way. I’ve been so okay that I’ve started to isolate myself from those I love and care about. I’ve been so okay that I’ve been grumpy, irritable, and generally miserable company. And I’ve been so okay that even though my Savior is holding me in His arms constantly, offering the most perfect and intimate relationship anyone has ever known, I found myself feeling alone and unwanted. That’s how okay I am without God. I’m not happy with it… I’m happy with God! When I live in Him and the hope He gives, my life does fill with joy and peace. No, that doesn’t mean that all life’s problems disappear, it just means that I don’t fret over everything and try to control life. I have no control over this life or anyone else living on this planet, why would I try to take control of it?
Tonight I’m giving it all back to God… I don’t want it. He wants me and I want Him and that’s how it should be. I’ve made amends, again… seems like I do that on a daily basis sometimes, and He has once again welcomed me home with open arms. I’m going to go spend some time with my Daddy now… goodnight.
Hugs & Love
Monday, September 3, 2007
Happy Anniversary!
Okay, so it's a few days late, but no one else is noticing this milestone in my life so I have to notice it myself!
On September 1, 2005, my life was drastically changed. I had gastric bypass surgery. I went into the hospital weighing 365 lbs and today I weigh 175-180 lbs (not sure if I really regained that last 5 or if it's just from the medications yet). Approximately 20-30 of those pounds are from extra skin on my body, and now that I've hit the 2 year mark, I am "clear" to explore skin removal possibilities. I know that there will be tremendous health benefits if I have the skin removed, but there is also the psychological benefit to think about. I don't like looking in a mirror after a shower and seeing traces of who I used to be...
That reminds me of my other huge transformation, becoming a Christian in April 2006. I died with Christ, and He lives in me... but I'm still holding on to remnants of my past. Physically, I want to shed anything that reminds me of my unhealthy past, so why spiritually am I clinging to old behaviors and patterns that are ultimately destructive to my well being and growth as a child of God? Inside & outside, physically & spiritually, I am a different person than I was 2 years ago. I think it's time I shed the skin from my past and moved forward into a completely free and new life.
Hugs & Love
On September 1, 2005, my life was drastically changed. I had gastric bypass surgery. I went into the hospital weighing 365 lbs and today I weigh 175-180 lbs (not sure if I really regained that last 5 or if it's just from the medications yet). Approximately 20-30 of those pounds are from extra skin on my body, and now that I've hit the 2 year mark, I am "clear" to explore skin removal possibilities. I know that there will be tremendous health benefits if I have the skin removed, but there is also the psychological benefit to think about. I don't like looking in a mirror after a shower and seeing traces of who I used to be...
That reminds me of my other huge transformation, becoming a Christian in April 2006. I died with Christ, and He lives in me... but I'm still holding on to remnants of my past. Physically, I want to shed anything that reminds me of my unhealthy past, so why spiritually am I clinging to old behaviors and patterns that are ultimately destructive to my well being and growth as a child of God? Inside & outside, physically & spiritually, I am a different person than I was 2 years ago. I think it's time I shed the skin from my past and moved forward into a completely free and new life.
Hugs & Love
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