Lately I have been thinking about what I will do when my children turn 18 or thereabouts. The reason I am thinking of this is 1. I am a planner, 2. I have always looked ahead (way ahead obviously), 3. Women are revealing their struggles to me with their own 18yrs old, 4. My son is over 14 so it is coming up. Mostly the struggle and anxiety occurs when the child does not go down the right path. But I wonder, is it the path we as parents want them to go down, or do we consider that there might be another path that of course, God knows. When the kid is failing a class, is it always bad? When she is moody and doesn't want to talk or is always out, does it rub us the wrong way? When he drifts from God and church, what is God doing (or to our thinking, not doing)? Is God not answering our prayers or are we just missing the answer? Can we trust Him? This is our kid! Or is he really ours? Can we love, trust and rest in God in all this? Can we love the kid through the rough spots? These are questions I ask myself and other women that our coming to me. We wish God would shout down the answer, but He is. He whispers, "I am enough". A current song on the radio lately thrills me every time I hear it. It's main phrase is:
"Your grace is enough for me". I just wonder, do I really believe that? Do you?
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Monday, December 03, 2007
Lots of things b/c I haven't written in a long time
I may ramble but need to get these things out:
I finished my last difficult, annoying class on Nov 10th and pulled off an A for which I am grateful because it was very challenging to me and took a lot of my time, energy and effort. I almost quit, but I will readjust some things when my next class starts in January (work less, less classes,etc)
My husband gave me our Christmas gift early-he bought the new Nikon digital camera with those 2 nice lenses on it. It is so much better than our old Kodak. So we are clicking away.
My house is all decked out-It is really beautiful this year!It has the most decorations I have ever had. I really enjoy Christmas. One of our Pastors this week in church reminded us not to lose sight of our need for the Savior-our horrible, ugly sin and our turning away from our Maker. Isaiah 9 and 11 have brought me to tears thinking about how my great God made Himself nothing (think about it-He started out as a little fertilized egg just like the rest of us) to save us from our filth and ugliness. How could I be proud after that when He is so humble? I could I be so aloof when He is so approachable? How could I want anything else when He is everything? So I celebrate Christmas with a great bang because of Jesus and His worthiness to be celebrated and enjoyed!
So we missed Thanksgiving in NYC-disappointing. My brother had to go to sea early. But we will go another time. We had our good friends over and ate a lot!
I just finished the book by Thomas Brooks, a puritan, written in 1652 (although it might as well been written today for its practicality) called: Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices. It was excellent. Here are some snippets but I would encourage you to read it:
Devices against the great and honorable of the earth:
Satan works them to make it their business to seek themselves, to seek how to greaten themselves, to raise themselves, to enrich themselves, to secure themselves.
Remedy 1:Self-seeking is a sin that will put men upon a world of sins, upon sins not only against the law of God, the rules of the gospel, but that are against the very laws of nature, that are so much darkened by the fall of man.
Remedy 2:Self-seeking makes a person become a servant to the creature. Self-seeking will make a man say anything, do anything and be anything to please the lusts of others, and to get advantages upon others.
Remedy 3:Dwell upon those dreadful curses and woes that are from heaven denounced against self-seekers.
Remedy 4: Self-seekers are self-losers and self-destroyers. He that is too much for himself, fails to be good to others.
Remedy 5:Dwell upon the famous examples of those worthy saints that have denied themselves and preferred the public good before their own particular advantage. (Moses, Daniel, Christ)
Remedy 6: Self is a great hinderance to divine things. Self-seeking blinds the soul so it cannot see the beauty of Christ nor an excellency in holiness. It distempers the palate so that it cannot taste the sweetness of the Word of God, the ways of God, nor in the society of the people of God. It hardens the heart against all the entreaties of Christ. There is not a greater hindrance to all the duties of piety than self-seeking.
Another remedy for disunity of the saints is:
To be much in self-judging.Were Christian hearts more taken up in judging themselves than condemning others, they would not be so apt to judge and censure others, and to carry it sourly and bitterly towards others that differ from them.
Labor to be clothed with humility. Humility fits for the highest services and yet will not neglect the lowest services. Humility will make a man bless him that curses him and pray for those that persecute him. Humility will make a man quiet and content in the meanest conditions...preserve him from envy. Did Christians more abound in humility, they would be less bitter, froward and sour... and more gentle, meek, and sweet in their spirits and practices. Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of a man's self. Were Christians more humble, there would be less fire and more love among them than there is now.
This convicted me. What about you? This brings me to something my husband expressed recently. He basically thanked me for aruing with him! He was glad I was struggling to keep our marriage strong, but I thought it was quite humble of him. How often he takes my sharp tongue and is just silent or even blesses me instead. How much I have to learn from Jesus' example of humility, from Dave, and from others in my life. Here's a new year's resolution for us all: try to either be silent or answer kindly, gently, quietly when someone is sharp or even nasty to you. Whew! That will take not only all year but the rest of our lives.
I finished my last difficult, annoying class on Nov 10th and pulled off an A for which I am grateful because it was very challenging to me and took a lot of my time, energy and effort. I almost quit, but I will readjust some things when my next class starts in January (work less, less classes,etc)
My husband gave me our Christmas gift early-he bought the new Nikon digital camera with those 2 nice lenses on it. It is so much better than our old Kodak. So we are clicking away.
My house is all decked out-It is really beautiful this year!It has the most decorations I have ever had. I really enjoy Christmas. One of our Pastors this week in church reminded us not to lose sight of our need for the Savior-our horrible, ugly sin and our turning away from our Maker. Isaiah 9 and 11 have brought me to tears thinking about how my great God made Himself nothing (think about it-He started out as a little fertilized egg just like the rest of us) to save us from our filth and ugliness. How could I be proud after that when He is so humble? I could I be so aloof when He is so approachable? How could I want anything else when He is everything? So I celebrate Christmas with a great bang because of Jesus and His worthiness to be celebrated and enjoyed!
So we missed Thanksgiving in NYC-disappointing. My brother had to go to sea early. But we will go another time. We had our good friends over and ate a lot!
I just finished the book by Thomas Brooks, a puritan, written in 1652 (although it might as well been written today for its practicality) called: Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices. It was excellent. Here are some snippets but I would encourage you to read it:
Devices against the great and honorable of the earth:
Satan works them to make it their business to seek themselves, to seek how to greaten themselves, to raise themselves, to enrich themselves, to secure themselves.
Remedy 1:Self-seeking is a sin that will put men upon a world of sins, upon sins not only against the law of God, the rules of the gospel, but that are against the very laws of nature, that are so much darkened by the fall of man.
Remedy 2:Self-seeking makes a person become a servant to the creature. Self-seeking will make a man say anything, do anything and be anything to please the lusts of others, and to get advantages upon others.
Remedy 3:Dwell upon those dreadful curses and woes that are from heaven denounced against self-seekers.
Remedy 4: Self-seekers are self-losers and self-destroyers. He that is too much for himself, fails to be good to others.
Remedy 5:Dwell upon the famous examples of those worthy saints that have denied themselves and preferred the public good before their own particular advantage. (Moses, Daniel, Christ)
Remedy 6: Self is a great hinderance to divine things. Self-seeking blinds the soul so it cannot see the beauty of Christ nor an excellency in holiness. It distempers the palate so that it cannot taste the sweetness of the Word of God, the ways of God, nor in the society of the people of God. It hardens the heart against all the entreaties of Christ. There is not a greater hindrance to all the duties of piety than self-seeking.
Another remedy for disunity of the saints is:
To be much in self-judging.Were Christian hearts more taken up in judging themselves than condemning others, they would not be so apt to judge and censure others, and to carry it sourly and bitterly towards others that differ from them.
Labor to be clothed with humility. Humility fits for the highest services and yet will not neglect the lowest services. Humility will make a man bless him that curses him and pray for those that persecute him. Humility will make a man quiet and content in the meanest conditions...preserve him from envy. Did Christians more abound in humility, they would be less bitter, froward and sour... and more gentle, meek, and sweet in their spirits and practices. Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of a man's self. Were Christians more humble, there would be less fire and more love among them than there is now.
This convicted me. What about you? This brings me to something my husband expressed recently. He basically thanked me for aruing with him! He was glad I was struggling to keep our marriage strong, but I thought it was quite humble of him. How often he takes my sharp tongue and is just silent or even blesses me instead. How much I have to learn from Jesus' example of humility, from Dave, and from others in my life. Here's a new year's resolution for us all: try to either be silent or answer kindly, gently, quietly when someone is sharp or even nasty to you. Whew! That will take not only all year but the rest of our lives.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Being a Good Host/other happenings
You may recall from some recent postings here that I was talking about the Reaching Out book and mentioning that people are guests and we need to create a free safe space for them in our lives and homes. Now we talk about how to become a good host:
"Once we become poor, we can be a good host." If you are poor you don't own anything so everything is for everyone else and you have nothing to lose. It is hard for them to hurt you when you don't cling to anything and you are willing to give all. Remember in Matthew "Blessed are the poor in spirit"-they are the humble.
"Poverty is the inner disposition that allows us to take away our defenses and convert our enemies into friends. We only perceive the stranger as an enemy as long as we have something to defend." It is hard to think we don't own all this stuff and even the people around us, but the truth is, we don't. God says all the silver and gold are mine! Everything is God's, including the people and children in our lives.
"Turning the other cheek means showing our enemies that they can only be our enemies while supposing that we are anxiously clinging to our private property, whatever it is: our knowledge, our good name, our land, our money or the many objects we have collected around us. But who will be our robber when everything he wants to steal from us becomes our gift to him?...Who wants to sneak in our back door when our front door is wide open?"
"Poverty of the mind as a spiritual attitude is a growing willingness to recognize the incomprehensibility of the mystery of life. ...a learned ignorance...an education not to master God but to be mastered by God."
"Have less to say and much more to listen to....people whose 'not-knowing' makes them free to listen to the voice of God in the words of the peo0ple, in the events of the day and in the books containing the life experience of men and women from other places and other times....with great attention...the continual refusal to identify God with any concept, theory, document or event, thus preventing man or woman from becoming a fanatic sectarian or enthusiast, while allowing for an ongoing growth in gentleness and receptivity."
"God...cannot be defined by any specific feeling or emotion....avoid adapting God to our small concepts...and our small feelings...poverty of the heart creates community since it is not in self sufficiendy but in a creative interdependedncy that the mystery of life unfolds itself to us."
"Training for service...not a training to become rich but to become voluntarily poor; not to fill ourselves but to empty ourselves, not to conquer God but to surrender to his saving power. ..hard to accept in our world which tells us about the importance of power and influence....we should like Paul, boast in our weakness."
Stay tuned in future for Henri Nouwen's thought on prayer.
___________________________________________________________________
New Ariannaism: We were hiking yesterday in the Shenandoah's/Appalachian trail (yes we were all off and all free and actually had an entire family day!!!!!!!!) when we passed by some growths on a tree. Elizabeth thought they look like ice cream. She asked what they were. I replied that I thought they were fungus. I also said they were kind of funky. So Arianna says, "Well they are funkus!"
___________________________________________________________________
Haggai talks about the people dwelling in nice houses while the Lord's house just sat in ruins, unfinished. The point: Do we care about our own stuff and kingdom or God's? How much time am I spending on my cares, worries, and stuff instead of God and His "stuff"? Then I remember, oh yeah, God, and give him "blemished sacrifices", easy things for me to do so I can "get Him off my back" so to speak. So I harvest but God blows it away, I drink but am thirsty. God wants my (and your) attention. He comes up with some interesting and difficult ways to get it. In Haggai I thought it was interesting that they were having a drought and their land was only producing half of what it should. Sound like our area? Hope you are convicted. I was! Read Haggai-only 2 jam packed chapters.
__________________________________________________________________
School is almost half way over. I have settled in and am doing well. It is a lot to think about and learn and I wonder how God is going to use me and all this learning.
"Once we become poor, we can be a good host." If you are poor you don't own anything so everything is for everyone else and you have nothing to lose. It is hard for them to hurt you when you don't cling to anything and you are willing to give all. Remember in Matthew "Blessed are the poor in spirit"-they are the humble.
"Poverty is the inner disposition that allows us to take away our defenses and convert our enemies into friends. We only perceive the stranger as an enemy as long as we have something to defend." It is hard to think we don't own all this stuff and even the people around us, but the truth is, we don't. God says all the silver and gold are mine! Everything is God's, including the people and children in our lives.
"Turning the other cheek means showing our enemies that they can only be our enemies while supposing that we are anxiously clinging to our private property, whatever it is: our knowledge, our good name, our land, our money or the many objects we have collected around us. But who will be our robber when everything he wants to steal from us becomes our gift to him?...Who wants to sneak in our back door when our front door is wide open?"
"Poverty of the mind as a spiritual attitude is a growing willingness to recognize the incomprehensibility of the mystery of life. ...a learned ignorance...an education not to master God but to be mastered by God."
"Have less to say and much more to listen to....people whose 'not-knowing' makes them free to listen to the voice of God in the words of the peo0ple, in the events of the day and in the books containing the life experience of men and women from other places and other times....with great attention...the continual refusal to identify God with any concept, theory, document or event, thus preventing man or woman from becoming a fanatic sectarian or enthusiast, while allowing for an ongoing growth in gentleness and receptivity."
"God...cannot be defined by any specific feeling or emotion....avoid adapting God to our small concepts...and our small feelings...poverty of the heart creates community since it is not in self sufficiendy but in a creative interdependedncy that the mystery of life unfolds itself to us."
"Training for service...not a training to become rich but to become voluntarily poor; not to fill ourselves but to empty ourselves, not to conquer God but to surrender to his saving power. ..hard to accept in our world which tells us about the importance of power and influence....we should like Paul, boast in our weakness."
Stay tuned in future for Henri Nouwen's thought on prayer.
___________________________________________________________________
New Ariannaism: We were hiking yesterday in the Shenandoah's/Appalachian trail (yes we were all off and all free and actually had an entire family day!!!!!!!!) when we passed by some growths on a tree. Elizabeth thought they look like ice cream. She asked what they were. I replied that I thought they were fungus. I also said they were kind of funky. So Arianna says, "Well they are funkus!"
___________________________________________________________________
Haggai talks about the people dwelling in nice houses while the Lord's house just sat in ruins, unfinished. The point: Do we care about our own stuff and kingdom or God's? How much time am I spending on my cares, worries, and stuff instead of God and His "stuff"? Then I remember, oh yeah, God, and give him "blemished sacrifices", easy things for me to do so I can "get Him off my back" so to speak. So I harvest but God blows it away, I drink but am thirsty. God wants my (and your) attention. He comes up with some interesting and difficult ways to get it. In Haggai I thought it was interesting that they were having a drought and their land was only producing half of what it should. Sound like our area? Hope you are convicted. I was! Read Haggai-only 2 jam packed chapters.
__________________________________________________________________
School is almost half way over. I have settled in and am doing well. It is a lot to think about and learn and I wonder how God is going to use me and all this learning.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
God takes joy in me?!
I was finishing up Zephaniah and read in ch 3 verses 15 and 17 the concept that God exults with shouts of joy over me! (in this case Israel). This, I admit, is hard for me to grasp. I can grasp taking joy in God because He is so wonderful, but most of the time, I feel like I let people and God down. I am disappointing. I sin against them. I am selfish. Yet He looks on me with joy and renews my heart. I have been struggling with school (what else is new?) and God reminded me that He surrounds me, takes joy in me, and renews my heart. When someone believes in you and takes joy in you, doesn't it make your steps a little lighter, your face smile, and your heart flutter? Sounds like first love. I want to stay in love with God. After all, He promises to stay in love with me!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Parents and children
From Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen:
Regarding parents and children:
"children are not properties to own and rule over, but gifts to cherish and care for. Our children are our most important guests, who enter into our home, ask for careful attention, stay for a while and then leave to follow their own way. Children are stragngers whom we have to get to know.They have their own style, their own rhythm and their own capacities for good and evil."
"What parents can offer is a home, a place that is receptive but also has the safe boundarries within which their children can develop and discover what is helpful and what is harmful....can ask questions without fear and can experiment with life without experiencing rejection."
"many parents suffer from deep guilt feelings toward their children, thinking that they are responsible for everything their sons or daughters do. but again...children are not properties that we can control...they are guests... gifts from God"
"The temptation is... to cling to our children, to use them for our own unfulfilled needs and to hold on to them, suggesting in many direct and indirect ways that they owe us so much."
"A good host (in this case, parent) is not only able to receive his guests with honor and offfer them all the care they need but also to let them go when their time to leave has come."
This part really hit home for me as I tend to fall into the temptations to own my children and that I am totally responsible for them and only need to control them more. It scares me to think that one of my children might go astray, but that is where trusting God comes in. And therein lies a lot of my problems-often, I really don't trust God!
Regarding parents and children:
"children are not properties to own and rule over, but gifts to cherish and care for. Our children are our most important guests, who enter into our home, ask for careful attention, stay for a while and then leave to follow their own way. Children are stragngers whom we have to get to know.They have their own style, their own rhythm and their own capacities for good and evil."
"What parents can offer is a home, a place that is receptive but also has the safe boundarries within which their children can develop and discover what is helpful and what is harmful....can ask questions without fear and can experiment with life without experiencing rejection."
"many parents suffer from deep guilt feelings toward their children, thinking that they are responsible for everything their sons or daughters do. but again...children are not properties that we can control...they are guests... gifts from God"
"The temptation is... to cling to our children, to use them for our own unfulfilled needs and to hold on to them, suggesting in many direct and indirect ways that they owe us so much."
"A good host (in this case, parent) is not only able to receive his guests with honor and offfer them all the care they need but also to let them go when their time to leave has come."
This part really hit home for me as I tend to fall into the temptations to own my children and that I am totally responsible for them and only need to control them more. It scares me to think that one of my children might go astray, but that is where trusting God comes in. And therein lies a lot of my problems-often, I really don't trust God!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Silence before God
I dislike the beginning of a new class. I just started my new course on Monday of this week and they hit you with all your assignments and what you should learn. 8 discussion boards with responses, 2 tests, 2 journal article summaries, ethics code analysis paper, research paper, tons of reading "and a partridge in a pear tree"! I just keep telling myself that God wants me to do this and will enable me to do it. The break was good and bad at the same time-good for the rest but bad because I got out of my groove. I am praying to get back in the groove.
I have been reading Zephaniah lately. I have been convicted about a couple of verses:
Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Lord God. For the day of the Lord is near, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests" I have been convicted about practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer, bible study and meditation, and solitude. I need to practice more silence and waiting before the Lord. He knows what He is doing and I often do not! So why do I plan and talk so much? The day of the Lord refers to Jesus' return which for us will be glorious. So I will wait, be silent, and trust God.
Zephaniah 1:12 (The day of the Lord) It will come about at that time that I (God) will search Jerusalem with lamps and I will punish men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts,"the Lord will not do good or evil". vs 13 Moreover, their wealth will become plunder and their houses desolate, yes they will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards, but not drink their wine..."
Amos 6:1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion (America), to those who feel secure in the mountains of Samaria..."
I question myself, am I stagnant in spirit? Am I so concerned about the creation and not the Creator? Am I preoccupying myself with the temporal things here on earth? Am I so proud that I think I am making things come to pass and that God is not do anything but just sitting somewhere up there looking on? May I always look to God and never be at ease and secure with the things and people here on earth.
I have been reading Zephaniah lately. I have been convicted about a couple of verses:
Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Lord God. For the day of the Lord is near, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests" I have been convicted about practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer, bible study and meditation, and solitude. I need to practice more silence and waiting before the Lord. He knows what He is doing and I often do not! So why do I plan and talk so much? The day of the Lord refers to Jesus' return which for us will be glorious. So I will wait, be silent, and trust God.
Zephaniah 1:12 (The day of the Lord) It will come about at that time that I (God) will search Jerusalem with lamps and I will punish men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts,"the Lord will not do good or evil". vs 13 Moreover, their wealth will become plunder and their houses desolate, yes they will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards, but not drink their wine..."
Amos 6:1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion (America), to those who feel secure in the mountains of Samaria..."
I question myself, am I stagnant in spirit? Am I so concerned about the creation and not the Creator? Am I preoccupying myself with the temporal things here on earth? Am I so proud that I think I am making things come to pass and that God is not do anything but just sitting somewhere up there looking on? May I always look to God and never be at ease and secure with the things and people here on earth.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Ah the Fall-my favorite season
School and activities are in full swing but I don't seem to be a lunatic this year. Maybe it is because I have such good friends to carpool with, or maybe because Dave and I made sure we streamlined what the kids were going to do and actually thought and prayed about each one, or maybe I have finally gotten a grip and decided to be peaceful in the midst of this crazy area with my crazy schedule. Anyway, I am pleased that I have not been hyperventilating lately.
The newest Arianna item: raw onions on ice cream-that's right. We were at my company picnic at Pratt and there was free ice cream so Arianna grabbed a cone. There was also free hamburgers with all the fixings. I happened to look across the table and saw the onions on her ice cream like sprinkles. All of us almost threw up, but she "liked it". She likes raw onions and ice cream so why not put them together? Logical.
David has amazed me lately. For those of you who think he is quiet, you need to be a fly on the wall at our home lately. He is mister outgoing and funny guy. I am glad he is so happy and that he is doing well and enjoying High school and marching band. He has lots of goals too, which I am amazed. The other day we were watching home movies of him as a 2 yrs old. What a cutey. Hard to believe he is the same little boy now.
It is so nice and cool. I love it. I have so much more energy and I don't sweat so much (I bet you are all glad about that).
Time to make hot soup!
The newest Arianna item: raw onions on ice cream-that's right. We were at my company picnic at Pratt and there was free ice cream so Arianna grabbed a cone. There was also free hamburgers with all the fixings. I happened to look across the table and saw the onions on her ice cream like sprinkles. All of us almost threw up, but she "liked it". She likes raw onions and ice cream so why not put them together? Logical.
David has amazed me lately. For those of you who think he is quiet, you need to be a fly on the wall at our home lately. He is mister outgoing and funny guy. I am glad he is so happy and that he is doing well and enjoying High school and marching band. He has lots of goals too, which I am amazed. The other day we were watching home movies of him as a 2 yrs old. What a cutey. Hard to believe he is the same little boy now.
It is so nice and cool. I love it. I have so much more energy and I don't sweat so much (I bet you are all glad about that).
Time to make hot soup!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
School starts
School has officially started as of Tuesday. All seem to be adjusting well. I am glad we are back to a routine and that they are learning again.
We did enjoy our last weekend though. I got out of work early Friday and took the kids to the mall, Cheeseburger in Paradise (which was surprisingly good, Dave met us there) and then to Funland for unlimited rides and attractions. We went go carting, frog leaping, bumper boating, and mini golfing (where Keilan only beat Nancy by 3 points!) We were there from 8-11:30pm which is a good deal for unlimited. ($20) This happens every Friday nightat Funland.
Saturday we had some good friends over-2 Brazilian sisters and families. There were 7 adults and 10 kids here! Keilan speaks portugese so they were chatting away.
Sunday was church, church picnic (at which I was glad to chat with new people (to me) and older friends. Then went to another friend's house for the last time in the pool.
Monday we "Ihop"ed (my favorite breakfast restaurant) then went to Great Falls, it was hot, the kids were crabby, but it was still beautiful. The houses on the way are really something-mansions, almost castles. I pray that those people use their houses for good in hospitality and service but fear that many probably do not. Even as a large family and with 4 kids, we don't get invited to people's homes much. Many women don't want their house messed up. We finished out at Carlos O'kellys (yuk-only went b/c we had 3 coupons-next time we will give them away).
More quotes from Reaching Out-we finished the part for now on Solitude (I bet you all are thrilled)
This part is on reaching out to others: from hostility to hospitality.
Creating space for strangers
"Our society seems to be increasingly full of fearful, defensive, aggressive people anxiously clinging to their property and inclined to look at their surrounding world with suspicion, always expecting an enemy to suddenly appear, intrude and do harm. But still-that is our vocation: to convert...the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhod can be formed and fully experienced."
"Hospitality, therefore, means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy...not to change people but to offer them a space where change can take place...not to bring them over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines...not to lead our neighbors into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment...not an educated intimidation with good books...but the liberation of fearful hearts so that words can find roots and bear ample fruit....The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free; free to sing their own songs, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations...Hospitality is not a subtle invitation to adopt the lifestyle of the host, but the gift of a chance for the guest to find his own."
"Empty space tends to create fear. As long as our minds, hearts and hands are occupied we can avoid confronting the painful questions, to which we never gave mujch attention and which we do not want to surface. "Being busy" has become a status symbol, and most people keep encouraging each other to keep their body and mind in constant motion....Occupation and not empty space is what most of us are looking for. When we are not occupied we become resless...even fearful. Being busy, active and on the move has nearly become part of our constitution...We have become a very preoccupied people, afraid of unnamable emptiness and silent solitude."
To convert hostility to hospitality requires the creation of the friendly empty space where we can reach out to our fellow human beings and invite them to a new relationship."
Next: Showing hospitality to our own children?! Stay tuned.
We did enjoy our last weekend though. I got out of work early Friday and took the kids to the mall, Cheeseburger in Paradise (which was surprisingly good, Dave met us there) and then to Funland for unlimited rides and attractions. We went go carting, frog leaping, bumper boating, and mini golfing (where Keilan only beat Nancy by 3 points!) We were there from 8-11:30pm which is a good deal for unlimited. ($20) This happens every Friday nightat Funland.
Saturday we had some good friends over-2 Brazilian sisters and families. There were 7 adults and 10 kids here! Keilan speaks portugese so they were chatting away.
Sunday was church, church picnic (at which I was glad to chat with new people (to me) and older friends. Then went to another friend's house for the last time in the pool.
Monday we "Ihop"ed (my favorite breakfast restaurant) then went to Great Falls, it was hot, the kids were crabby, but it was still beautiful. The houses on the way are really something-mansions, almost castles. I pray that those people use their houses for good in hospitality and service but fear that many probably do not. Even as a large family and with 4 kids, we don't get invited to people's homes much. Many women don't want their house messed up. We finished out at Carlos O'kellys (yuk-only went b/c we had 3 coupons-next time we will give them away).
More quotes from Reaching Out-we finished the part for now on Solitude (I bet you all are thrilled)
This part is on reaching out to others: from hostility to hospitality.
Creating space for strangers
"Our society seems to be increasingly full of fearful, defensive, aggressive people anxiously clinging to their property and inclined to look at their surrounding world with suspicion, always expecting an enemy to suddenly appear, intrude and do harm. But still-that is our vocation: to convert...the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhod can be formed and fully experienced."
"Hospitality, therefore, means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy...not to change people but to offer them a space where change can take place...not to bring them over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines...not to lead our neighbors into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment...not an educated intimidation with good books...but the liberation of fearful hearts so that words can find roots and bear ample fruit....The paradox of hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves as created free; free to sing their own songs, speak their own languages, dance their own dances; free also to leave and follow their own vocations...Hospitality is not a subtle invitation to adopt the lifestyle of the host, but the gift of a chance for the guest to find his own."
"Empty space tends to create fear. As long as our minds, hearts and hands are occupied we can avoid confronting the painful questions, to which we never gave mujch attention and which we do not want to surface. "Being busy" has become a status symbol, and most people keep encouraging each other to keep their body and mind in constant motion....Occupation and not empty space is what most of us are looking for. When we are not occupied we become resless...even fearful. Being busy, active and on the move has nearly become part of our constitution...We have become a very preoccupied people, afraid of unnamable emptiness and silent solitude."
To convert hostility to hospitality requires the creation of the friendly empty space where we can reach out to our fellow human beings and invite them to a new relationship."
Next: Showing hospitality to our own children?! Stay tuned.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
couple more ariannaisms
ice cream to has cream
sleeping beauty to sleeping Judy (Dave's doing)
mutual edification to nutual edification
sleeping beauty to sleeping Judy (Dave's doing)
mutual edification to nutual edification
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Grades and Ariannaisms
I have 2 A's so far. God is not only giving me wisdom and ability to do this master's, but then confirming it with A's. I was excited. My professor also gave me what courses to take this whole next year. I am enjoying the break right now and have started reading my next course's books.
Some words Arianna has changed:
Caterpillar to Calipitter
Playground to Prayground
Bathing suit to Babing suit
Hospital to hostitable
We biked from Fall Hill Avenue canal path area down to Fredericksburg, Sophia street. Arianna is doing pretty well. They had discovery days there, celebrating 400 yrs of VA settlement. John Smith's boat, an actual exploring boat that was being manned by 12 young people covering 6 states waterways, Indian reenactments, Soldier displays, etc. It was cute. Some family time-Yay!
Some words Arianna has changed:
Caterpillar to Calipitter
Playground to Prayground
Bathing suit to Babing suit
Hospital to hostitable
We biked from Fall Hill Avenue canal path area down to Fredericksburg, Sophia street. Arianna is doing pretty well. They had discovery days there, celebrating 400 yrs of VA settlement. John Smith's boat, an actual exploring boat that was being manned by 12 young people covering 6 states waterways, Indian reenactments, Soldier displays, etc. It was cute. Some family time-Yay!
Monday, August 13, 2007
More quotes and school is over for now
I am done with 6 credits as of Sunday! I have a break now until September 17th which is much needed. He hasn't graded my last test, but I did well and enjoyed the rest of the assignments. I have the books for my next class and boy are they looloos! I will start reading them early.
Dave and I were married 17yrs on Saturday, August 11th. I got us both nice watches.
Here are more quotes from Reaching Out:
Solitude of the heart is what counts, and is "one of the human capacities that can exist, be maintained and developed in the center of a big city, in the middle of a large crowd and in the context of a very active and productive life....A man or woman who has developed this solitude of heart is no longer pulled apart by the most divergent stimuli of the surrounding world but is able to perceive and understand this world from a quiet inner center."
"with a solitude of the heart, we can listen with attention to the words and the world of others, but when we are driven by loneliness, we tend to select just those remards and events that bring immediate satisfaction to our own craving needs."
"be patient to all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves..." Yikes, this is not me yet!
"It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers."
"Without the solitude of heart, our relationships with others easily become needy and greedy, sticky and clinging, dependent and sentimental, exploitative and parasitic, because without the solitude of heart we cannot experience the others as different from ourselves, but only as people who can be used for the fulfillment of our own, often hidden, needs."
When we are with others we should say as a friend in the book said to the author, "I simply want to celebrate some time with you."
I hope you are as convicted as I am after reading these or perhaps you have attained this solitude. How wonderful if you have.
Last week I was in NYC touring and visiting my brother. Our last morning there, there was a great rain and storms and water flooded the subway. A tornado also touched down in Brooklyn which is very odd. (I think it was because I was there). Anyway, all those people who could not get in the subway or buses, were walking on the streets/sidewalks. What a mass of people! It was very hot to top it off. I felt closed in. I thought it was busy in the Washington DC area-Ha! It would take me a while to feel peaceful in the midst of that, but God is not asking me to move there, but only to be content and peaceful right where I am. This is my challenge to myself and you wherever you are.
Dave and I were married 17yrs on Saturday, August 11th. I got us both nice watches.
Here are more quotes from Reaching Out:
Solitude of the heart is what counts, and is "one of the human capacities that can exist, be maintained and developed in the center of a big city, in the middle of a large crowd and in the context of a very active and productive life....A man or woman who has developed this solitude of heart is no longer pulled apart by the most divergent stimuli of the surrounding world but is able to perceive and understand this world from a quiet inner center."
"with a solitude of the heart, we can listen with attention to the words and the world of others, but when we are driven by loneliness, we tend to select just those remards and events that bring immediate satisfaction to our own craving needs."
"be patient to all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves..." Yikes, this is not me yet!
"It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers."
"Without the solitude of heart, our relationships with others easily become needy and greedy, sticky and clinging, dependent and sentimental, exploitative and parasitic, because without the solitude of heart we cannot experience the others as different from ourselves, but only as people who can be used for the fulfillment of our own, often hidden, needs."
When we are with others we should say as a friend in the book said to the author, "I simply want to celebrate some time with you."
I hope you are as convicted as I am after reading these or perhaps you have attained this solitude. How wonderful if you have.
Last week I was in NYC touring and visiting my brother. Our last morning there, there was a great rain and storms and water flooded the subway. A tornado also touched down in Brooklyn which is very odd. (I think it was because I was there). Anyway, all those people who could not get in the subway or buses, were walking on the streets/sidewalks. What a mass of people! It was very hot to top it off. I felt closed in. I thought it was busy in the Washington DC area-Ha! It would take me a while to feel peaceful in the midst of that, but God is not asking me to move there, but only to be content and peaceful right where I am. This is my challenge to myself and you wherever you are.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Some Quotes
I promised some quotes from these books I am reading because I am getting so much out of them:
Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen:
He speaks about the spiritual life and what he calls its 3 poles that we vacillate between:
1. Loneliness and solitude
2. Hostility and hospitality
3. Illusions and prayer
These quotes are from the first part:
"When we have no project to finish, no friend to visit, no book to read, no television to watch or no record to play, and when we are left all alone by ourselves we are brought so close to the revelation of our basic human aloneness and are so afraid of experiencing an all-pervasive sense of loneliness that we will do anything to get busy again and continue the game which makes us believe that everything is fine after all."
"By running away from our loneliness and by trying to distract ourselves with people and special experiences, we do not realistically deal with our human predicament. We are in danger of becoming unhappy people suffering from many unsatisfied cravings and tortured by desires and expectations that never can be fulfilled." because
"No friend or lover, no husband or wife, no community or commune will be able to put to rest our deepest cravings for unity and wholeness...Friendship and love cannot develop in the form of an anxious clinging to each other."
"To live a spiritual life we must first find the courage to enter into the desert of our loneliness and to change it by gentle and persistent efforts into a garden of solitude...Do not run, but be quiet and silent. Listen attentively to your own struggle."
Stay tuned for more on solitude or read the book!
Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen:
He speaks about the spiritual life and what he calls its 3 poles that we vacillate between:
1. Loneliness and solitude
2. Hostility and hospitality
3. Illusions and prayer
These quotes are from the first part:
"When we have no project to finish, no friend to visit, no book to read, no television to watch or no record to play, and when we are left all alone by ourselves we are brought so close to the revelation of our basic human aloneness and are so afraid of experiencing an all-pervasive sense of loneliness that we will do anything to get busy again and continue the game which makes us believe that everything is fine after all."
"By running away from our loneliness and by trying to distract ourselves with people and special experiences, we do not realistically deal with our human predicament. We are in danger of becoming unhappy people suffering from many unsatisfied cravings and tortured by desires and expectations that never can be fulfilled." because
"No friend or lover, no husband or wife, no community or commune will be able to put to rest our deepest cravings for unity and wholeness...Friendship and love cannot develop in the form of an anxious clinging to each other."
"To live a spiritual life we must first find the courage to enter into the desert of our loneliness and to change it by gentle and persistent efforts into a garden of solitude...Do not run, but be quiet and silent. Listen attentively to your own struggle."
Stay tuned for more on solitude or read the book!
The Drawers Won't Open
I promised Cindy I would post this so this is for you. Sorry it took so long and left you in suspense:
I was in Walmart a couple of weeks ago with all 4 kids (oh the joys of summer!). In the center of the main aisle where all the "we hope you buy all this stuff so we put it in the center aisle"is, were some plastic drawers. I stopped, of course because that is the point, and thought out loud that maybe these drawers would help our mess in the basement office-organizing. Then I tried to open the drawers-they wouldn't budge. So I said, "What is the point of these? The drawers don't even open!" So Jonny wisely says, "Mom (in his head-you dolt), they are taped shut! You would have to remove the tape." To which all four were almost on the floor laughing and now, almost every time they see me they say, "What's wrong with these drawers, they won't open" So mom the dolt will never live this down now. But it is good wholesome family laughter and keeps me humble.
Hope you get a laugh out of this too.
I was in Walmart a couple of weeks ago with all 4 kids (oh the joys of summer!). In the center of the main aisle where all the "we hope you buy all this stuff so we put it in the center aisle"is, were some plastic drawers. I stopped, of course because that is the point, and thought out loud that maybe these drawers would help our mess in the basement office-organizing. Then I tried to open the drawers-they wouldn't budge. So I said, "What is the point of these? The drawers don't even open!" So Jonny wisely says, "Mom (in his head-you dolt), they are taped shut! You would have to remove the tape." To which all four were almost on the floor laughing and now, almost every time they see me they say, "What's wrong with these drawers, they won't open" So mom the dolt will never live this down now. But it is good wholesome family laughter and keeps me humble.
Hope you get a laugh out of this too.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Books and Pray without Ceasing
Some books to recommend to you:
Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (can't believe I haven't read this before)
I will quote from these in near future as I have time.
I have been convicted to pray more so pray I pray more!
Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (can't believe I haven't read this before)
I will quote from these in near future as I have time.
I have been convicted to pray more so pray I pray more!
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
School and a walk in the woods
I finished my first course earning my first 3 credits toward my master's degree. I am currently in the middle of my second course. After this summer, I will only have 54 credits to go!
Tuesday we went to Locust Shade Park which is a bit north of Stafford on route 1. If you haven't been there, it is very pretty. Lots of paths in the woods, a creek, a pond, cute ducks, etc. Anyway, of course Arianna had "to go". She picks the most inoportune times to do this. Of course, there is no port-a-potty in site and no bathroom. She's jumping up and down. Off to a semi remote place in the woods. At least she had a skirt on (fancy that-her favorite article of clothing). "Squat" I say, and "don't get it on your shoes". She manages to go on the leaves and steps over them saying "ewww, gross". Wiping with a leaf was gross too. We walk back to our group and she says, "Wow, that was my first pee in the woods!" Yeah well, don't get too excited about that achievement. My friend says now she will want to go in the woods every chance she gets. As we walk back, of course a few yards away around the bend is a port a potty!
Tuesday we went to Locust Shade Park which is a bit north of Stafford on route 1. If you haven't been there, it is very pretty. Lots of paths in the woods, a creek, a pond, cute ducks, etc. Anyway, of course Arianna had "to go". She picks the most inoportune times to do this. Of course, there is no port-a-potty in site and no bathroom. She's jumping up and down. Off to a semi remote place in the woods. At least she had a skirt on (fancy that-her favorite article of clothing). "Squat" I say, and "don't get it on your shoes". She manages to go on the leaves and steps over them saying "ewww, gross". Wiping with a leaf was gross too. We walk back to our group and she says, "Wow, that was my first pee in the woods!" Yeah well, don't get too excited about that achievement. My friend says now she will want to go in the woods every chance she gets. As we walk back, of course a few yards away around the bend is a port a potty!
Friday, June 22, 2007
A possible loss
This past week on Tuesday, I was expecting Dave to come home between 6-7pm , his usual time. I was busy with kids, cooking dinner, had other kids over, etc. I kept thinking that any minute he was going to come in the door. Well, 8pm rolled around and the kids even asked where he was, then I got scared. Perhaps he left me because I have been such a shrew lately. I wouldn't blame him. That was out of character for him though. Then I thought that perhaps he was in an accident and he couldn't call me. But surely someone would call me? I didn't know who to call. I called his cell phone and work phone and only got answering machines. I was almost in tears. For that hour or so I really thought I had lost him. Finally at 9pm he called and said he was on his way home, that he had had a dinner meeting with work which he had told me about the night before and he said I had okayed it. This is probably true, but I had totally blacked out the conversation. Now some of you are thinking, "boy, Alzheimer's is starting early for her", but I realized the next day that perhaps God purposefully erased the conversation with Dave to help me realize what I have in Dave and to be more grateful and appreciative for not only what he does, but for who he is and what a hole he would leave in my life and many, many others if he were gone. So I am humbled and thrilled to pieces that I have such a man still. I hope God will let me grow old with him.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Finishing Well
I was able to go to Ohio on Memorial Day weekend to visit with Dave's family. It was very nice and a good break. While I was there , I asked my sister-in-law how her parents were doing. She said not very well and that they were both going down hill. I've known people that I feel have ended their life uphill. Now I don't mean physically because we all go downhill that way and die. I mean mentally, emotionall, and especially spiritually. My other friend says that is too vague a goal and that those people were always uphill. That is true to a extent but I want to grow and strengthen my good qualities that I already have then, and decrease the negative ones. (Control my reaction to stress, for example, most or all of the time). I want to finish the race God gave me to run well. I know He can keep changing me for the better and can perfect His work in me and I want that to be obvious until the end. So I continue on the road uphill. May you tackle the hill in your life.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Good memories and feelings
The other day I was at the gym listening to my Ipod, and the song by Mark Schulz came on:When you come home. He really does know how to get you crying. Anyway, the chorus is:
When you come home, no matter how far, open the door and into my arms, that's where you are loved, that's where you belong,I will be here, when you come home. So I got to thinking about my mom first and how I would be sad from something that happened at school, and I would come home and cry and sit in her lap and tell her all about it. As I got older, I didn't sit in her lap but she always came in my room and sat on my bed and would listen and then try to talk to me.Then I got to thinking of my dad, and how he always called me "mush" and told me how pretty I was and that I was going to make some man pretty happy someday. And I could just sit next to him and snuggle and not say anything and be totally comfortable. Then more people that have died came flooding into my mind, and all the good memories I have of them. Several of them have died this past year, and while it makes me sad, then I got a vision of heaven and what it must be like to die and have all those people waiting for you after you worship and love on Jesus first. I thanked God for the good memories and the peace and happiness they brought and for the anticipation to go to heaven. Of course, I'm on the elliptical and blubbering-good thing I had a towel so I could pretend to wipe off the "sweat".
That brings me to my good feelings for Dave-I have been struggling with my life and then trying now to do school (almost done with 2 weeks by the way), and he is being so helpful. Right now he is cooking us up something. I couldn't charge my Ipod the other night, so he comes right into the gym and brings it to me charged before leaving for work-a small thing you say, but so meaningful to me. He really is something and yet I can get so irritated at him! I always tell him I can't believe how much he puts up with me. But I am grateful, and I hope I do make him happy as my father predicted. He certainly gives me great joy while I have to be here on earth. So the Karen Carpenter song came on: Why do birds suddenly appear every time, you are near, just like me, they want to be, close to you...Corny song you say, but listen to it some time and the words. They work for me. Still blubbering....
When you come home, no matter how far, open the door and into my arms, that's where you are loved, that's where you belong,I will be here, when you come home. So I got to thinking about my mom first and how I would be sad from something that happened at school, and I would come home and cry and sit in her lap and tell her all about it. As I got older, I didn't sit in her lap but she always came in my room and sat on my bed and would listen and then try to talk to me.Then I got to thinking of my dad, and how he always called me "mush" and told me how pretty I was and that I was going to make some man pretty happy someday. And I could just sit next to him and snuggle and not say anything and be totally comfortable. Then more people that have died came flooding into my mind, and all the good memories I have of them. Several of them have died this past year, and while it makes me sad, then I got a vision of heaven and what it must be like to die and have all those people waiting for you after you worship and love on Jesus first. I thanked God for the good memories and the peace and happiness they brought and for the anticipation to go to heaven. Of course, I'm on the elliptical and blubbering-good thing I had a towel so I could pretend to wipe off the "sweat".
That brings me to my good feelings for Dave-I have been struggling with my life and then trying now to do school (almost done with 2 weeks by the way), and he is being so helpful. Right now he is cooking us up something. I couldn't charge my Ipod the other night, so he comes right into the gym and brings it to me charged before leaving for work-a small thing you say, but so meaningful to me. He really is something and yet I can get so irritated at him! I always tell him I can't believe how much he puts up with me. But I am grateful, and I hope I do make him happy as my father predicted. He certainly gives me great joy while I have to be here on earth. So the Karen Carpenter song came on: Why do birds suddenly appear every time, you are near, just like me, they want to be, close to you...Corny song you say, but listen to it some time and the words. They work for me. Still blubbering....
Sunday, May 06, 2007
More thoughts on Iceland
I have more pictures of Iceland and Honduras if you ever want to see them I was going to try to scrapbook them but that isn't happening anytime soon.
We were able to attend Bible study the first night we were there on Good Friday. Several people were there. Justin led it but the people talked. I was able to mention a few words of encouragement. I also met several Icelanders that night. Diana said she would take us to the Golden Circle, which is a circular route, tour of the church, geyser, water fall and something else we missed. She did take us there God bless her, on Tuesday pretty much all day. Needless to say, we made dinner for her. She is a young graduate from their secondary school and goes to an active christian youth group and is going to a christian leadership school soon in Australia. She was very kind to take us on that tour.
We also attended Bible study the following Friday with a few other people we hadn't met yet. One was from China, one from the Philippines but the rest were Icelanders. We met an interesting young man who was really an entrepeneur. He was an actor in commercial and small films, director, producer, singer,etc. I found him fascinating. He rented a bar one night so he could gather a bunch of people together and encourage them in the Lord. There was no alcohol there that night. He had music and dancing and lots of talking and believe me he knows lots of people! We did not go to this party but would have liked to. He tries to do interesting things to attract people to Christ. He also is tall and very thin and eats like a machine. He cleaned out all my leftovers! He took us around Friday night after eating at 1030pm out on the town so we could see what Icelanders do every Friday and Saturday night until about 4am-they cruise the town, walk all over, visit all the open bars, drink, dance, yell and who knows what else. Partying is all important. Yet they are empty.
I went to a small Bible study on Wednesday night-we met in this woman's home which was so tiny yet she had about 8 cats! Justin ended up in an allergic reaction after that. She had one son. She apparently had experienced a lot of sufferring whether of her own accord or just because. She was encouraged by us.
When we were there so was a group of 5 from Point of Grace church in FA. They went out to cafes and pools and tried to strike up conversations too.
Monday we went shopping in town at the stores-very expensive. They are known for their wool products and scarfs. Arianna and I got scarves. Also, pretty hair accessories, purses, boys got hoodies. We handed out tracks in town on Sunday afternoon. We went to a small indoor pool on Saturday. Went to a larger one on Monday and another day-both times walking there over 45minutes-once in the whipping rain and wind. We went to the Pearl 2x, to another pool called the Blue lagoon right before our return on April 15th. This pool was also hot but had a lot of minerals and silica in it. It was blue-hence the name and had a bunch of white mud that we pasted all over ourselves. Supposed to be good for the skin, but we had a terrible time getting it out of our hair for days afterwards. Before all the pools, one had to shower or get fined. Women just walk around naked in these showers and locker rooms and I hear the men do too. This was difficult for us and my girls eyes almost popped out of their heads.
Cindy and I did a lot of cooking for everyone, cleaning the apartment, watching kids,etc. So in that way we ministered.
We went to church in the evening on Easter Sunday also-it was a new church started in a school called SALT. An appropriate name since it is one of the only truly salty churches spiritually. It was in Icelandic but we had an interpreter. What a hard language that is. We met very nice people there who were encouraged by our presence. The pastor and wife invited us for dinner which we went to on thurday night. What a delicious meal and what fascinating people. They had been missionaries in Africa for 12 years and had to return for the wife's health. But now they are trying to awaken Iceland to the Lord. So they have been much encouraged by our presence there this year. I was very encouraged by them in learning to discern how I will know if the Lord wants us to do more with missions. I am excited we were able to do Honduras and Iceland this year to start. She fed 11 of us, her 4 grown children and 3 of their spouses. Lots of people but what a welcoming home.
Thanks to all of you who are interested in us to pray and support our missions this year. We would be glad to share more in the future with you about these trips and others God may lead us to.
We were able to attend Bible study the first night we were there on Good Friday. Several people were there. Justin led it but the people talked. I was able to mention a few words of encouragement. I also met several Icelanders that night. Diana said she would take us to the Golden Circle, which is a circular route, tour of the church, geyser, water fall and something else we missed. She did take us there God bless her, on Tuesday pretty much all day. Needless to say, we made dinner for her. She is a young graduate from their secondary school and goes to an active christian youth group and is going to a christian leadership school soon in Australia. She was very kind to take us on that tour.
We also attended Bible study the following Friday with a few other people we hadn't met yet. One was from China, one from the Philippines but the rest were Icelanders. We met an interesting young man who was really an entrepeneur. He was an actor in commercial and small films, director, producer, singer,etc. I found him fascinating. He rented a bar one night so he could gather a bunch of people together and encourage them in the Lord. There was no alcohol there that night. He had music and dancing and lots of talking and believe me he knows lots of people! We did not go to this party but would have liked to. He tries to do interesting things to attract people to Christ. He also is tall and very thin and eats like a machine. He cleaned out all my leftovers! He took us around Friday night after eating at 1030pm out on the town so we could see what Icelanders do every Friday and Saturday night until about 4am-they cruise the town, walk all over, visit all the open bars, drink, dance, yell and who knows what else. Partying is all important. Yet they are empty.
I went to a small Bible study on Wednesday night-we met in this woman's home which was so tiny yet she had about 8 cats! Justin ended up in an allergic reaction after that. She had one son. She apparently had experienced a lot of sufferring whether of her own accord or just because. She was encouraged by us.
When we were there so was a group of 5 from Point of Grace church in FA. They went out to cafes and pools and tried to strike up conversations too.
Monday we went shopping in town at the stores-very expensive. They are known for their wool products and scarfs. Arianna and I got scarves. Also, pretty hair accessories, purses, boys got hoodies. We handed out tracks in town on Sunday afternoon. We went to a small indoor pool on Saturday. Went to a larger one on Monday and another day-both times walking there over 45minutes-once in the whipping rain and wind. We went to the Pearl 2x, to another pool called the Blue lagoon right before our return on April 15th. This pool was also hot but had a lot of minerals and silica in it. It was blue-hence the name and had a bunch of white mud that we pasted all over ourselves. Supposed to be good for the skin, but we had a terrible time getting it out of our hair for days afterwards. Before all the pools, one had to shower or get fined. Women just walk around naked in these showers and locker rooms and I hear the men do too. This was difficult for us and my girls eyes almost popped out of their heads.
Cindy and I did a lot of cooking for everyone, cleaning the apartment, watching kids,etc. So in that way we ministered.
We went to church in the evening on Easter Sunday also-it was a new church started in a school called SALT. An appropriate name since it is one of the only truly salty churches spiritually. It was in Icelandic but we had an interpreter. What a hard language that is. We met very nice people there who were encouraged by our presence. The pastor and wife invited us for dinner which we went to on thurday night. What a delicious meal and what fascinating people. They had been missionaries in Africa for 12 years and had to return for the wife's health. But now they are trying to awaken Iceland to the Lord. So they have been much encouraged by our presence there this year. I was very encouraged by them in learning to discern how I will know if the Lord wants us to do more with missions. I am excited we were able to do Honduras and Iceland this year to start. She fed 11 of us, her 4 grown children and 3 of their spouses. Lots of people but what a welcoming home.
Thanks to all of you who are interested in us to pray and support our missions this year. We would be glad to share more in the future with you about these trips and others God may lead us to.
More Iceland Pictures
This is our son David and Justin Grack, the 19 yr old from our church that was there helping Colby,Pastor Bill and whoever else came to Iceland. In this picture they are on top of the thermodynamic storage building called "the Pearl" b/c of its dome shaped top. There is always wind in Iceland (and I thought South Dakota was bad). On this day the wind was actually holding us up as in this picture or knocking us down as it did Arianna. It made it always cold there-new meaning to the term "wind chill factor". It is murder for contact lens wearers like me.
We were very surprised at all the grafitti in Iceland-especially in the main city where we stayed. This is just one sample of it. The Icelanders pride themselves on their conservation of energy due to their heating all their homes and buildings with hydrothermic heat, but they did not recycle, there was garbage everywhere and then the grafitti!
This is by the Atlantic Ocean on the sculpture called "The Sun Voyager". Here are the kids. There were six kids together for a week. They did pretty well with the food, long walks in the rain and wind, and being cooped up in the apartment sometimes for hours.Here is one of the few pictures of Dave and I. I have never worn a hat so much in all my life! I was glad I had my warm coat, hat, and gloves.
Iceland Project
The main city in Iceland with over 100,000 people is Reyjkavik. This is where we stayed and where the University is.This is a picture of the state Lutheran church. We actually went to the English service there on Easter. Even on Easter there was hardly anyone there. The state church does not have really any effect on the people there-it is just a tradition-get baptized as a baby, get confirmed there, and then go maybe on Christmas and Easter. That is why we went to Iceland-to help the few real, passionate christians in Iceland to start a revival and plant real, active churches. This church is in the center of the city so it helped us get our bearings often. Its bells rang every quarter of an hour. We were able to go to the top of it and see for miles around us and the bells rang while we were up there much to the enjoyment of the kids. The service we went to was more of a cutural concert to be enjoyed-the organ and the woman who sang were just beautiful, but as far as encouraging my relationship to God, it fell flat.
This is another church out in the country outside the city. It is built near ruins of a church and political center from the 1200's.This is a geyser-Iceland is on top of very hot water hence where they get all their hydrothermic energy and hot water from. We stood very close to it and watched it
bubble until finally it shot up in the air as seen in this picture. I found them fasinating. If you touched the water even after it was on the ground it would burn you. We watched it go up several times and it surprised us every time. We are so impressed with how amazing God is in His creations of these natural phenomena.This is the waterfall we had the privilege of going to. It was also spectacular but we did have to
watch the children like hawks as there was no fence or barrier between them and the falls. We saw a beautiful rainbow in them. There was a story about a woman who was protesting the damming of this river and she jumped off these falls in protest. Bill was filming us and asked us if any of us would like to volunteer and be like her. We of course could not hear him over the roar of the falls so we all waved at him. But we are back safe and sound in America.
Here we with the whole family and with Colby, Haley, and Darcy (in stroller) Annie was taking the picture. We were able to see the Garmans
our youth pastor, for only a few
hours. Here was our itinerary:
We were picked up in the church van at 3pm from our home by Pastor Bill and drove up to Baltimore airport. Waited there a while and finally flew out on Icelandaire at 7pm. We did not get to Iceland until April 6th, Friday morning-flight took 5.5hrs and then the time difference was 4 hours. I was so tired that I slept from 12-4 so didn't see the Garmans very long. It took me a couple of days to not feel so tired. This didn't happen as bad on the way home.The plane was also very cramped on the way there.
our youth pastor, for only a few
hours. Here was our itinerary:
We were picked up in the church van at 3pm from our home by Pastor Bill and drove up to Baltimore airport. Waited there a while and finally flew out on Icelandaire at 7pm. We did not get to Iceland until April 6th, Friday morning-flight took 5.5hrs and then the time difference was 4 hours. I was so tired that I slept from 12-4 so didn't see the Garmans very long. It took me a couple of days to not feel so tired. This didn't happen as bad on the way home.The plane was also very cramped on the way there.
The value of mothers
Last week, Reuters reported that a stay at home mom would earn $138,095 as an annual wage. Paul Spears, a professor at the Torrey Honors Institue at Biola University, wrote about this last week. I encourage you to read this post in its entirety to gain a deeper understanding of everything moms do.
Quoting Paul,
Nancy, I don't understand everything you do but I know you do so much with passion, love and excellence. You are a great mother to our family and we appreciate and love you for all you do.
Quoting Paul,
I look at all that women do, and I am overwhelmed. I am not foolish enough to think that I can properly undertake all that they do, and do it with the same skill and grace. I look at the number of 138,095, and as I think of it that seems like a gross underestimation of what they truly deserve, but as this Mothers Day comes along (May 13) we need to remember the types of sacrifices our wives and mothers made for us. We need to realize how easy it is to undervalue all that they do. We need to take the time to express to them just how much we appreciate all that they take on daily. No, $138,095 cannot properly express all of the love, time, concerns and prayers our wives and mothers give to us daily.
Nancy, I don't understand everything you do but I know you do so much with passion, love and excellence. You are a great mother to our family and we appreciate and love you for all you do.
Excellent Reading
This past fall, I had the chance to attend a 3 day seminar at Biola University with Colby Garman. The course was taught by J.P. Moreland regarding the culture we live in, world views and a discussion on what he called the Kingdom Triangle. J.P. Moreland is publishing a new book called Kingdom Triangle and it should be excellent reading.
J.P. Moreland and other professors at Biola write a great blog called Scriptorium Daily. I highly recommend it for excellent thought provoking discussions on world views, politics and how to think biblically in the upcoming election and a host of other things that cause one to think.
J.P. Moreland and other professors at Biola write a great blog called Scriptorium Daily. I highly recommend it for excellent thought provoking discussions on world views, politics and how to think biblically in the upcoming election and a host of other things that cause one to think.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
School
I have started school-I almost quit before I started -this is very difficult for me. But now I have started, so here goes. If I quit now, I would lose money and feel like a failure, so that is motivating me. I hope to get in the swing and some kind of groove soon. I had a 250 word "paper" to do this week and post on the discussion board with references and over 100 pages to read (one being an article where I had to read almost every sentence twice to get it-definetely not fluff reading). Then I suppose I should try to get ahead and start next week's assignments and the research paper that is due at the end of the 8 weeks-now almost down to seven. This is hard for me-not to get freaked out by all this and not having the book. I am trying to take a deep breath and pray. I am so weak still in this area though.
My son David just ran the 400meter in his first track meet today-fun to watch him and my other friends' kids.
Elizabeth did her focus project today-after they lost her original display board (or someone took it), and she redid the display. God bless her and her calm attitude. They said she did well.
My son David just ran the 400meter in his first track meet today-fun to watch him and my other friends' kids.
Elizabeth did her focus project today-after they lost her original display board (or someone took it), and she redid the display. God bless her and her calm attitude. They said she did well.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
It's been a month!
I started school so I am going to have to write quick and more frequently.
My son, David, is now taller than me! This seemed to happen in a matter of a couple of weeks! I think he has finally started his growth spurt. His voice is also changing. So he is already over 5ft 3 inches at age 13. We will see. He runs track now in addition to school, saxophone, and soccer. The other day he told me they ran 4.5miles, did 205 crunches, and some sprints at track and then he went to soccer practice for 1 1/2 hrs! Needless to say, he is eating like a machine!
My son, David, is now taller than me! This seemed to happen in a matter of a couple of weeks! I think he has finally started his growth spurt. His voice is also changing. So he is already over 5ft 3 inches at age 13. We will see. He runs track now in addition to school, saxophone, and soccer. The other day he told me they ran 4.5miles, did 205 crunches, and some sprints at track and then he went to soccer practice for 1 1/2 hrs! Needless to say, he is eating like a machine!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Baptism
I can't believe I forgot this! My daughter, Arianna, was baptized in front of the whole congregation at Stafford Baptist Church on Sunday, April 1st. We are so excited. We all feel she knew exactly what she was doing and told me that she told lots of kids at recess in school yesterday. So our whole household has been baptized now giving new meaning to the scripture, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". I pray that the kids always stay close to and serve the Lord their whole lives.
Monday, April 02, 2007
New things in April
This is going to be quite a month!
First of all, We are going to Iceland on our first mission trip as a family from April 5-15th. We are leaving in 3 days! Just now got the suitcases out. We will go from 70-80 degrees back down to 40-50's. Oh well-extended winter.
Then my son David is starting track-every day until 5pm then soccer, homework, practicing of saxaphone, etc.
I finally managed to get registered, am accepted, and have paid for my first 2 classes toward my master's degree which I start on April 30th. They did cheapen my price per credit significantly b/c of Dave's past hx in the military. What a praise that is.
Only 10 weeks of school left and then 3 kids graduate-Arianna from kindergarten, Elizabeth from 5th grade to middle school, David from 8th grade to High school. Should be fun.
I am back to eating good food, with limits. The 2 weeks of just meat,nuts, cheese and vegies was too difficult for me. Felt tired and weak. Backslid over the weekend but am back on track today.
We did go to an awesome restaurant in Richmond on Saturday (explaining some of the backsliding) and to a very modern ballet which was to say the least interesting. It was nice to be out so long without kids with Dave.
First of all, We are going to Iceland on our first mission trip as a family from April 5-15th. We are leaving in 3 days! Just now got the suitcases out. We will go from 70-80 degrees back down to 40-50's. Oh well-extended winter.
Then my son David is starting track-every day until 5pm then soccer, homework, practicing of saxaphone, etc.
I finally managed to get registered, am accepted, and have paid for my first 2 classes toward my master's degree which I start on April 30th. They did cheapen my price per credit significantly b/c of Dave's past hx in the military. What a praise that is.
Only 10 weeks of school left and then 3 kids graduate-Arianna from kindergarten, Elizabeth from 5th grade to middle school, David from 8th grade to High school. Should be fun.
I am back to eating good food, with limits. The 2 weeks of just meat,nuts, cheese and vegies was too difficult for me. Felt tired and weak. Backslid over the weekend but am back on track today.
We did go to an awesome restaurant in Richmond on Saturday (explaining some of the backsliding) and to a very modern ballet which was to say the least interesting. It was nice to be out so long without kids with Dave.
Friday, March 23, 2007
My husband
My husband is wonderful-today is just a tribute to him:
With thee conversing, I forget all time,
All seasons, and their change, all please alike.
Neither breath of morn, when she ascends
With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun
On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower,
Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers;
Nor grateful evening mild; nor silent night,
With this her solemn bird; nor walk by moon,
Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet.
With thee conversing, I forget all time,
All seasons, and their change, all please alike.
Neither breath of morn, when she ascends
With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun
On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower,
Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers;
Nor grateful evening mild; nor silent night,
With this her solemn bird; nor walk by moon,
Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Kids
Today I went to Arianna's school to talk about nursing. She is in kindergarten. It was fun and of course instead of asking questions, they wanted to tell me stories of when they went to the doctor. One girl said she got a big needle stuck right in her forehead-not sure what that meant. Not sure I wanted to know. One little boy was a diabetic and had an insulin pump. At first I felt sorry for him but he does well everyone says and doesn't let it affect him. What a great way to be.
I stayed for the 4-5th grade chorus concert. 2 of my friends' kids were in it and they couldn't be there so I was glad I went. Besides, I love music anyway. They sang songs I haven't heard in a while like Michael Jackson's ABC, Lean on Me, Swing Low, Ain't No Mountain High Enough. I knew every one of them. I am getting old,but it was nice to reminesce.
I am on Day 4 of the little to no carb South Beach diet. I do not have a headache-yay! I have lost 2 lbs already and feel good so far today. Stomach is definetely flatter. I hope I am on my way to kicking the carb addiction but I know I will have to watch it my whole life.
I stayed for the 4-5th grade chorus concert. 2 of my friends' kids were in it and they couldn't be there so I was glad I went. Besides, I love music anyway. They sang songs I haven't heard in a while like Michael Jackson's ABC, Lean on Me, Swing Low, Ain't No Mountain High Enough. I knew every one of them. I am getting old,but it was nice to reminesce.
I am on Day 4 of the little to no carb South Beach diet. I do not have a headache-yay! I have lost 2 lbs already and feel good so far today. Stomach is definetely flatter. I hope I am on my way to kicking the carb addiction but I know I will have to watch it my whole life.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Friendship and the church
Our pastor yesterday asked us what was the purpose of the church. There were various answers, mine being one of them, which I thought were correct. But then he said,"The purpose of the church is to exemplify Christ-afterall, we are called christians and are using His Name"
This really struck me. I can't believe I never heard of that or thought of it before. It is so simple, and all the other purposes we gave flow from that-evangelizing, fellowshipping, learning the word, worshipping,etc. Now I know my purpose much better.
I have just finished the book The Lost Virtue of Happiness by JP Moreland and Klaus Issler.
It was very good. I paricularly like the session on prayer: Pray what they call the Jesus' prayer "Lord have mercy on me" many times a day to keep your focus on Jesus, pray other memorized scripture throughout the day, and take 7-10x/day where you go off for 2-3minutes on your knees and pray. This would really get me going. Now to remember to do it and have the discipline to do it.
Also, his desccription of what closest friendships can look like:
(For extra challenge, find where all these are in the Bible)
Accept one another
Admonish one another
Do what leads to peace and building up of one another
Carry each other's burdens
Have equal concern for each other
Confess your sins to each other
Be devoted to one another
Encourage one another
Bear with one another
Forgive one another
Greet one another with affection
Don't grumble against each other
Honor one another
Offer hospitality to one another
Clothe yourself with humility toward one another
Be kind and compassionate with one another
Do not lie to each other
Be patient and forbearing with one another
Live in peace with one another
Pray for each other
Live in harmony and be of the same mind toward one another
Serve one another in love
Do not slander one another
Speak to one another in psalms, humns, spiritual songs
Speak truth to one another
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds
Submit to one another
Teach one another
Wait for one another
This is quite a list and quite a challenge but I want to be this kind of friend. It takes time with each other though and I am finding that most people do not make the time. They are too busy. It is too bad b/c then they will say they have no friends and are not even close to their husbands. Are we taking the time and effort?
I am in the midst of carb withdrawal! It is not too bad so far but it hasn't even been 24hrs.
This really struck me. I can't believe I never heard of that or thought of it before. It is so simple, and all the other purposes we gave flow from that-evangelizing, fellowshipping, learning the word, worshipping,etc. Now I know my purpose much better.
I have just finished the book The Lost Virtue of Happiness by JP Moreland and Klaus Issler.
It was very good. I paricularly like the session on prayer: Pray what they call the Jesus' prayer "Lord have mercy on me" many times a day to keep your focus on Jesus, pray other memorized scripture throughout the day, and take 7-10x/day where you go off for 2-3minutes on your knees and pray. This would really get me going. Now to remember to do it and have the discipline to do it.
Also, his desccription of what closest friendships can look like:
(For extra challenge, find where all these are in the Bible)
Accept one another
Admonish one another
Do what leads to peace and building up of one another
Carry each other's burdens
Have equal concern for each other
Confess your sins to each other
Be devoted to one another
Encourage one another
Bear with one another
Forgive one another
Greet one another with affection
Don't grumble against each other
Honor one another
Offer hospitality to one another
Clothe yourself with humility toward one another
Be kind and compassionate with one another
Do not lie to each other
Be patient and forbearing with one another
Live in peace with one another
Pray for each other
Live in harmony and be of the same mind toward one another
Serve one another in love
Do not slander one another
Speak to one another in psalms, humns, spiritual songs
Speak truth to one another
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds
Submit to one another
Teach one another
Wait for one another
This is quite a list and quite a challenge but I want to be this kind of friend. It takes time with each other though and I am finding that most people do not make the time. They are too busy. It is too bad b/c then they will say they have no friends and are not even close to their husbands. Are we taking the time and effort?
I am in the midst of carb withdrawal! It is not too bad so far but it hasn't even been 24hrs.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Truly a welcome site
Boy were we glad to see this sign. We were exhausted but in a good way-we had served and loved and glorified God. What a privilege to live in this country of ours. I feel so unworthy after living with the people in Honduras for only a week.
I learned to pray more, have more compassion for others and not to judge-just love and point others to Jesus.
I have 1,000 pictures of this trip if you ever want to see more.
Now in just a little over 2 weeks we go to a very different culture and people-to Iceland. Please pray for us as we seek to exemplify Jesus and glorify God there. Our whole family is going on this one and thanks to many of my friends and family who made both trips possible-the Lord will bless you for your generosity.
I learned to pray more, have more compassion for others and not to judge-just love and point others to Jesus.
I have 1,000 pictures of this trip if you ever want to see more.
Now in just a little over 2 weeks we go to a very different culture and people-to Iceland. Please pray for us as we seek to exemplify Jesus and glorify God there. Our whole family is going on this one and thanks to many of my friends and family who made both trips possible-the Lord will bless you for your generosity.
On the way to the next town
We went on foot to a couple of the towns on the island unless they were too far and then we crammed over 20 people in a pickup truck-once with chickens too.
The medical team
Well here we are-the "doctors, nurses, pharmacists, aides" all wrapped up in one. The Honduran lady is a nurse in the clinic in Guanaja, the island that we stayed in. She is a neat lady and really knows and cares for the people there and still works although I think she is at least in her 60's! No retiring for her. We went to 5 towns on the island throughout the week. Honduras trip pictures finally
For those of you who don't know this, I went on my first mission trip on November 23rd (Thanksgiving Day) until December 3rd. We went to a small island in the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras. We met a group there who were with Alternative Missions. You could probably google them and find out what they are about. It took us forever to get there (long layovers in the airports, 4 planes, one boat) but here in this 1st picture is what the island of Guanaja is like:very wet and we were in rainy season, poor sewage, dogs everywhere ( I am not a stray dog fan )and horses roaming. No one picked up after them if you get my drift.Unfortunately, I got sick for over 24hrs but after that I was able to minister medically as you see in this picture. It was a bit scary and very different from my nursing in the states as I had to play "doctor" by assessing patients, figuring out what was wrong with them, and treating them with appropriate medicine (providing we had it) all in spanish or with a translator (here I have Sylvia translating, God bless her) in 90-100degrees! Hence the hair was always up! I was so glad it was long enough. We did medical clinics for 5 full days and I mean full-100's of people-mostly women and children for free. I really wished I knew more spanish but that comes so slowly for me. I really enjoyed the missionaries down there-2 men and 2 women - and admired their dedication and selflessness. I also enjoyed getting to know these people-helping them, treating them, praying with them, talking with them, we even washed some of their feet. I do not enjoy roughing it (dislike camping) but I roughed it here b/c of its higher purpose and I made it through!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Physical weather and a stormy life
It has been 80+ degrees the last 2 days here and yet this weekend it might snow?! So unpredictable.
But then, we are very unpredictable.
I got another call from Jonny's teacher today. It seems when I talked to him I forgot to mention the substitute and specials' teachers. He is taking advantage of those times. The teacher said he has spring fever. I said it is going to be a looooooong spring! She said he is not doing his best work and he can do better. Aparently he is just flying through assignments to get them over with and go play. Then she said something interesting: don't we all do that when we get the chance? That got me thinking-how many times do I rush through something and not do my best just to get through it and do what I really want to do? What kind of example is that for my children? Am I fooling them, or rather, am I fooling God? I am not even really fooling myself-just settling for second best. So I had a good cry with the teacher and we are moving on with hope (and lots of prayer for Jonny and for me).
I will let you know how the storm plays out-outside and inside of Jonny and me!
But then, we are very unpredictable.
I got another call from Jonny's teacher today. It seems when I talked to him I forgot to mention the substitute and specials' teachers. He is taking advantage of those times. The teacher said he has spring fever. I said it is going to be a looooooong spring! She said he is not doing his best work and he can do better. Aparently he is just flying through assignments to get them over with and go play. Then she said something interesting: don't we all do that when we get the chance? That got me thinking-how many times do I rush through something and not do my best just to get through it and do what I really want to do? What kind of example is that for my children? Am I fooling them, or rather, am I fooling God? I am not even really fooling myself-just settling for second best. So I had a good cry with the teacher and we are moving on with hope (and lots of prayer for Jonny and for me).
I will let you know how the storm plays out-outside and inside of Jonny and me!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Accepted!
I am officially accepted to Liberty University's graduate program. I am trying to register for my first 2 classes tonight which run from April 30-August 13th. I have 7 yrs to complete 60 credits and 1,000 hours of internship. Here goes. I may even get it cheaper since Dave was in the military! That would be an unexpected nice miracle. Thank You God. I am also praying they accept my 3 prerequisites. That would be a blessing also.
I am taking ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) on-line this year. Oh the wonders of computers! I may also take another course in Richmond. I have become quite the student. Now to try to juggle that along with all my other roles and responsibilities.
Went to the middle school today to do my first 4 yr high school plan for my son David. It was exciting and about 10minutes! He seems to know what he wants though.
More funnies from Arianna: She was asking when everyone was born. Of course everyone in our family was born in the 1900's with the kids being born in the 1990's except her. She was born in 2000. This made her mad and jealous, so the following questions/statements occurred: "Why couldn't you have me in 1990's? I was trying to push out! I remember feeling you eat-the food went down to your belly and that is where I was and I felt it." We all had a good laugh.
Jonny struggled in school a bit again this week-I got a call and a note sent home. I kept him in today and talked to him again gently but firmly. We figured he only had 6 hrs a day to really focus and not talk in school and the rest of his day was either free or much freer where he could talk. I told him to just use those 6 hours-to glorify God, honor his teacher and parents by being quiet, listening, focusing. He wrote me an e-mail saying " I am sorry for not telling the chruth". You gotta love this kid even when he drives you crazy. I told him I always love him!
I am going to look into the South Beach diet/lifestyle again. Reserved a bunch of books from the library. I must do something about these carbs, too much food and junk! I've got the exercise down.
I am taking ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) on-line this year. Oh the wonders of computers! I may also take another course in Richmond. I have become quite the student. Now to try to juggle that along with all my other roles and responsibilities.
Went to the middle school today to do my first 4 yr high school plan for my son David. It was exciting and about 10minutes! He seems to know what he wants though.
More funnies from Arianna: She was asking when everyone was born. Of course everyone in our family was born in the 1900's with the kids being born in the 1990's except her. She was born in 2000. This made her mad and jealous, so the following questions/statements occurred: "Why couldn't you have me in 1990's? I was trying to push out! I remember feeling you eat-the food went down to your belly and that is where I was and I felt it." We all had a good laugh.
Jonny struggled in school a bit again this week-I got a call and a note sent home. I kept him in today and talked to him again gently but firmly. We figured he only had 6 hrs a day to really focus and not talk in school and the rest of his day was either free or much freer where he could talk. I told him to just use those 6 hours-to glorify God, honor his teacher and parents by being quiet, listening, focusing. He wrote me an e-mail saying " I am sorry for not telling the chruth". You gotta love this kid even when he drives you crazy. I told him I always love him!
I am going to look into the South Beach diet/lifestyle again. Reserved a bunch of books from the library. I must do something about these carbs, too much food and junk! I've got the exercise down.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Planet Wisdom
We just finished this weekend at Planet Wisdom-a youth conference held at Hylton Memorial Chapel. It was excellent-Friday night from 7-10:30pm and Saturday from 9am-5:30pm. There was great music and worship, The Skit guys-who did hilarious but also thought provoking skits, messages by 2 speakers, give aways, multi media. What does God really want from me? was the theme. To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. We explored what all that means. I came away from the prayer skit with the reminder to not worry and fret so much but rather spend more time with God instead. Another thought from one of the talks was to not just de-clutter your house , but de-clutter your relationships. We can't be good friends with too many people. I have been at the other end of others who try to have so many friends (I being one of them) and I don't feel close to them at all b/c we hardly ever spend any time together. I am not in his/her life and they are not in mine. So I will focus on just a few as Jesus did and let God give me oportunities for others to serve them and/or open up new friendships. I was tired though and we lost an hour of sleep on Saturday night so went to bed early.
My brother flew to Scotland today for his new job -I am happy for him. That was truly an answer to prayer how that all worked out.
Our friends flew out to Iceland this week also. Hard to believe we are going in less than a month.
I got a bunch of pictures from my mission trip to Honduras but I must wait for Dave to post them on this blog as I am clueless.
My brother flew to Scotland today for his new job -I am happy for him. That was truly an answer to prayer how that all worked out.
Our friends flew out to Iceland this week also. Hard to believe we are going in less than a month.
I got a bunch of pictures from my mission trip to Honduras but I must wait for Dave to post them on this blog as I am clueless.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
languages
I am trying to learn sign language and re-learn spanish (had done that for 4 yrs in high school but have forgotten a lot of it). I find sign language so much easier-it is so expressive. My daughter Elizabeth is learning sign language and Jonny and David are learning spanish. So that all helps.I tell you, if you know another language, teach it to your kids early! It is much harder when you are old like me.
Song
I'm back already-this is addictive.
I was listening to a Chris Rice song this am (I love his music):Dream in brilliant colors.
It speaks of heaven and what it may be like. Anyway, the chorus is:
I get so clumsy,
I get so foolish,
I get so stupid,
then I feel so useless,
but You say that You love me,
and You just want to hold me,
You want to be near me...
Then it talked about the wedding feast. Oh how I can't wait to go to that and it is not b/c of the food or "dancing". I want to see Jesus, and go up to Him at that table and kneel down at His feet and wash them with my feet and hair. But then I got to thinking, I could do that now! When I go to Him instead of carbs, spending money, other people and all their opinions. May I lay them all at His feet in an act of washing His feet and humbly giving up!
I was listening to a Chris Rice song this am (I love his music):Dream in brilliant colors.
It speaks of heaven and what it may be like. Anyway, the chorus is:
I get so clumsy,
I get so foolish,
I get so stupid,
then I feel so useless,
but You say that You love me,
and You just want to hold me,
You want to be near me...
Then it talked about the wedding feast. Oh how I can't wait to go to that and it is not b/c of the food or "dancing". I want to see Jesus, and go up to Him at that table and kneel down at His feet and wash them with my feet and hair. But then I got to thinking, I could do that now! When I go to Him instead of carbs, spending money, other people and all their opinions. May I lay them all at His feet in an act of washing His feet and humbly giving up!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
musings
My friend has been coming to the gym at the same time as me in the morning for the last few weeks. She hasn't been there this week. I miss her. But she will move this summer. It makes me realize how much I miss all the people in my life that have moved out of it at least physically. It is sad but a part of life. I hope it will not be so in heaven. There are so many people I wish I could be with on a regular basis but just can't. Anyway, I hope she is there tomorrow and that I can keep up with her when she moves to California!
Found a poem by Abraham Cowley in my Great Poems book:
Today is Ours
Fill the bowl with rosy wine,
Around our temples roses twine;
And let us cheerfully awhile
Like the wine and roses smile.
Crowned with roses we contemn
Gyges' wealthy diadem.
Today is ours. What do we fear!
Today is ours. We have it here!
Let's treat it kindly, that it may
Wish, at least, with us to stay.
Banish busyness, banish sorrow!
To God belongs tomorrow.
How often I wish the day away and just try to get through it and the week! That is why I am enjoying some reading and doing this blog-to seize the day. To not let a day go by without talking to God a lot! To not waste my day thinking about tomorrow-plan a little yes, but that is it. NO WORRYING! Easier said than done with me.
The snow was a dud today at least here in Stafford-just flurries. School was in session!
I have a problem (well I have many but here is one). I LOVE CARBS! This does not help the weight. This does not help the belly fat. This does not help the tiredness, the afternoon slump. I put back in all the calories I burn and more so in the gym. Must get control over these carbs. They are everywhere! I think they give me comfort, they fill me up, send me into a bit of a trance I guess so I don't have to think about things that are sad and stressful in my life. I must redirect. I must work through my stresses , sadness and fears. I must go to the One Who understands. Carbs cetainly don't!
An old friend of our family is a builder/contractor/construction. He gave us good ideas for our siding. It is nice to have wise and knowledgeable friends.
Found a poem by Abraham Cowley in my Great Poems book:
Today is Ours
Fill the bowl with rosy wine,
Around our temples roses twine;
And let us cheerfully awhile
Like the wine and roses smile.
Crowned with roses we contemn
Gyges' wealthy diadem.
Today is ours. What do we fear!
Today is ours. We have it here!
Let's treat it kindly, that it may
Wish, at least, with us to stay.
Banish busyness, banish sorrow!
To God belongs tomorrow.
How often I wish the day away and just try to get through it and the week! That is why I am enjoying some reading and doing this blog-to seize the day. To not let a day go by without talking to God a lot! To not waste my day thinking about tomorrow-plan a little yes, but that is it. NO WORRYING! Easier said than done with me.
The snow was a dud today at least here in Stafford-just flurries. School was in session!
I have a problem (well I have many but here is one). I LOVE CARBS! This does not help the weight. This does not help the belly fat. This does not help the tiredness, the afternoon slump. I put back in all the calories I burn and more so in the gym. Must get control over these carbs. They are everywhere! I think they give me comfort, they fill me up, send me into a bit of a trance I guess so I don't have to think about things that are sad and stressful in my life. I must redirect. I must work through my stresses , sadness and fears. I must go to the One Who understands. Carbs cetainly don't!
An old friend of our family is a builder/contractor/construction. He gave us good ideas for our siding. It is nice to have wise and knowledgeable friends.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Keeping up a house
I come home from errands yesterday around 3:45pm to see the nice neighbor boy picking up something in our front yard. I looked up over the garage and the vent cover and 1/2 our siding in that section was off or hanging off. So he was picking up pieces of my houses! Dave usually repairs this-happened before but not to such an extent-but this time the pieces are broken. So off to Lowes we go in hopes of matching the siding and initiating yet another project for Dave!
God bless him that he is so handy and willing to do all this. I will make him wait until the wind is not 40-50 miles/hr before he goes up on the roof and a ladder. (This wind is what ripped the siding off in the first place-at least the roof is still on so far!)
It is back to cold here-20-30 degrees with a wind chill of low teens. Too much wind for me! I am glad I go to the gym.
Dave and I come home the Saturday night to find a note at the top of the stairs-"the toylit is clog" from our dear Arianna. At least she told us!
I am amused at how my brother's blog shows pictures of Arianna and me side by side and how much he thinks we look alike. I am glad one of the children look so much like me. David II looks just like his father. Elizabeth and Jonny are mixes. It is good and bad that Arianna also is a lot like me in personality/spirit. We have our pluses but being strung out/ freaked out often is not one of them! I must do a lot of praying with her!
Supposed to snow here again tonight into the AM-only an inch but school will be closed again I am sure. Kids home-oh joy beyond all measure!
God bless him that he is so handy and willing to do all this. I will make him wait until the wind is not 40-50 miles/hr before he goes up on the roof and a ladder. (This wind is what ripped the siding off in the first place-at least the roof is still on so far!)
It is back to cold here-20-30 degrees with a wind chill of low teens. Too much wind for me! I am glad I go to the gym.
Dave and I come home the Saturday night to find a note at the top of the stairs-"the toylit is clog" from our dear Arianna. At least she told us!
I am amused at how my brother's blog shows pictures of Arianna and me side by side and how much he thinks we look alike. I am glad one of the children look so much like me. David II looks just like his father. Elizabeth and Jonny are mixes. It is good and bad that Arianna also is a lot like me in personality/spirit. We have our pluses but being strung out/ freaked out often is not one of them! I must do a lot of praying with her!
Supposed to snow here again tonight into the AM-only an inch but school will be closed again I am sure. Kids home-oh joy beyond all measure!
Monday, March 05, 2007
David II has finished all his testing for Governor's school. He says they were all easy. We will see. He has an interview on March 13th and then we wait to see if he gets in- sometime in April they will let us know. He is now excited about this-I here him talking about it to his friends and Grandma and Grandpa Fauth. So even though we pushed him to do it, I think he is happy we did. It is hard to know when to push your kids and when to let them be. This time I think, we got it right (makes up a little for the many wrongs).
I was in church yesterday and we sang this great song. One of the verses really struck me: Brokenness, Brokenness is what I long for, Brokenness is what I need, Brokenness ,Brokenness is what You want for me. I cried b/c I am often so proud! Felt mighty convicted. So I prayed for brokenness and now I better watch out. But I would rather have Jesus and be close to Him than anything this world has to give.
Went to the Quantico Marine Museum on Saturday. It was very large and very interesting. We didn't even get through half of it. We will go again. What struck me most was the pictures of the Marines coming home. It is a blessing when they come home. So I would recommend you go there if you are in the area. It is free with donations accepted.
I was in church yesterday and we sang this great song. One of the verses really struck me: Brokenness, Brokenness is what I long for, Brokenness is what I need, Brokenness ,Brokenness is what You want for me. I cried b/c I am often so proud! Felt mighty convicted. So I prayed for brokenness and now I better watch out. But I would rather have Jesus and be close to Him than anything this world has to give.
Went to the Quantico Marine Museum on Saturday. It was very large and very interesting. We didn't even get through half of it. We will go again. What struck me most was the pictures of the Marines coming home. It is a blessing when they come home. So I would recommend you go there if you are in the area. It is free with donations accepted.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Wow 2x in one day but I didn't like my first one-felt like it was a Christmas card. Sorry.
2 good movies that I have seen this past week that have helped me in my grief and life issues:
Hanging Up with Meg Ryan (I am like Meg Ryan's character)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Could identify some with all the girls)
Try them out-get tissues. You would understand me more if you watch the first one and pay attention to Evie-Meg Ryan's character. Good quote:" Here's a toast to your bravery and your grief".
Ok I'm done.
Nancy
2 good movies that I have seen this past week that have helped me in my grief and life issues:
Hanging Up with Meg Ryan (I am like Meg Ryan's character)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Could identify some with all the girls)
Try them out-get tissues. You would understand me more if you watch the first one and pay attention to Evie-Meg Ryan's character. Good quote:" Here's a toast to your bravery and your grief".
Ok I'm done.
Nancy
The kids and me
I (Nancy) decided since I love to journal, I should just do some of it on this blog and that way I wouldn't have to repeat myself to everyone- I could just direct them to this.
I am going to start small today. I am still in a quandry about starting this Master's degree in counseling. It seems that I must complete the entire degree and 4,000 hrs of practicum or internship, if you will, within 7 yrs. I must also decide if I want to be a Licensed Professional Counselor (48credit hours and more individual counseling) or a Marriage and Family Therapist (60 credit hours and more couples and families including children/teens which scare me). I am leaning toward the LPC license and am going to try to complete the degree in 3 yrs so I have 4 years to do all those hours. This scares me too. I am married, have a home, 4 children and a job. Who am I kidding yet I feel like I want to do this and that God has prompted me. I think I will just start with the first class on April 30th and see. It lasts for 8 weeks. One at a time. Meanwhile my first child goes to college in 4 yrs so I want to be able to keep working as a nurse and hopefully be done paying for my college courses just in time to start paying for his!
Speaking of David II, we went to his High School orientation last week! My first "baby" is going to high school next year! He is applying for governor's school also. It is a good experience for him even if he doesn't get in. He wants to be in the concert and marching bands. He also wants to keep playing soccer-hopefully for the school team if he makes it. He is a busy man. He gets bigger every day-eats a lot and keeps going up sizes in clothes and shoes (almost size 11men's in them!).Elizabeth thought his shoes were her dad's the other day.
Elizabeth, now her brain and creativity I cannot keep up with. She goes to middle school next year but when we were at high school orientation , she wanted to skip middle school and go right to high school! She probably could too if everyone would let her! But alas she needs the middle school experience. She still in the gifted program and still getting straight A's. She is currently doing Odyssey of the Mind-an extra curricula program using intelligence and creativity. She still does gymnastics and Dave was impressed with her balance beam routine last night. We are glad she does gymnastics b/c she normally doesn't like to go outside, but rather read, scrapbook, draw,etc-not like Jonny.
Now, Jonny, he is still an extremely active kid. So full of energy and noise. So much noise that his voice is shot already-has nodules on his vocal chords. We take him to speech but I still hear him yelling outside , not breathing right, not drinking water,etc. But he is 9-he doesn't care. He is enjoying basketball and plays football in the neighborhood. His hair was quite long for a while but we cut a bunch off last week. He looks better, he was just too small for all that hair.
Another active kid is Arianna. She is also a performer and the "baby" and she knows it. She is "cute" and knows that too. I keep cringing every time anyone says she is cute b/c then it just reinforces it. She still is very girly and does ballet. She's at the top of her class in kindergarten and reads remarkably well. She is the one most like me, God help her! Very stressed and emotional so I have been trying to calm down and be a better example for her. We try to pray when we get freaked out.
Me-This fall was a lot-that is the only way to describe it for me. Aside from the falls usual madness-school starts up, all the birthdays in our family and Dave's family, holidays, and activities start up, other items happened to add to the craziness:
In October I had to move my mom to another assisted living as the one she was in was about to abruptly close. This was no easy task b/c my mom was not independent and had uncontrolled diabetes (not for lack of trying) so 1 assisted living actually rejected her! This was so upsetting to me but finally we got her in one that was able to care for her within a good price range but farther away. So we moved October 25th-Arianna's birthday. And we made the trek to visit her each week-1/2hr away.
In November I did a lot with my church's woman's retreat. Lots of meetings previously both for organizing it and for music. I spoke and sang but was sick so didn't sing very well. I enjoyed speaking-hadn't done so with women in a long time. But then we were criticized by 2 women so that was upsetting.
I went on my first mission trip to Guanaja, Honduras November 23rd-Dec 3. It was definetely 3rd world. While a great experience, it was stressful and 1/2 of us (including me of course) got sick.
On New Year's weekend I went downhill skiing for the first time at age 40! ( Oh yeah I turned 40 Jan 10th right after that-also an annoying event). This was very stressful for me but with the help of Dave I actually did it and would go again. I was proud of myself but also exhausted after that (We went with the youth so I stayed with 3 teen girls so not much sleep either).
On Jan 4th I got a call at 0615 that my mother had died. I was a bit shocked as a week or so before she had been fine. So getting through that -funeral/burial Jan 6-7, bills, money, death certificates,etc-was really a lot for me. So I got my stress illnesses as I call them-insomnia, headaches, stomach pain, anxiety and depression. My health coach after telling her my fall-winter told me to go to couseling! So I am trying but not easy to get a couselor. But that will be good for me if I ever become one! It is also sad though that we are so sad and messed up that we need so many couselors and medicines. But I am one of them so I understand but America is very sad. We have lost our focus somehow. I for one aim to not lose it! And help others find theirs.
So much for me starting small. But I will try to do this more often so I don't write so much and take so much time!
I am going to start small today. I am still in a quandry about starting this Master's degree in counseling. It seems that I must complete the entire degree and 4,000 hrs of practicum or internship, if you will, within 7 yrs. I must also decide if I want to be a Licensed Professional Counselor (48credit hours and more individual counseling) or a Marriage and Family Therapist (60 credit hours and more couples and families including children/teens which scare me). I am leaning toward the LPC license and am going to try to complete the degree in 3 yrs so I have 4 years to do all those hours. This scares me too. I am married, have a home, 4 children and a job. Who am I kidding yet I feel like I want to do this and that God has prompted me. I think I will just start with the first class on April 30th and see. It lasts for 8 weeks. One at a time. Meanwhile my first child goes to college in 4 yrs so I want to be able to keep working as a nurse and hopefully be done paying for my college courses just in time to start paying for his!
Speaking of David II, we went to his High School orientation last week! My first "baby" is going to high school next year! He is applying for governor's school also. It is a good experience for him even if he doesn't get in. He wants to be in the concert and marching bands. He also wants to keep playing soccer-hopefully for the school team if he makes it. He is a busy man. He gets bigger every day-eats a lot and keeps going up sizes in clothes and shoes (almost size 11men's in them!).Elizabeth thought his shoes were her dad's the other day.
Elizabeth, now her brain and creativity I cannot keep up with. She goes to middle school next year but when we were at high school orientation , she wanted to skip middle school and go right to high school! She probably could too if everyone would let her! But alas she needs the middle school experience. She still in the gifted program and still getting straight A's. She is currently doing Odyssey of the Mind-an extra curricula program using intelligence and creativity. She still does gymnastics and Dave was impressed with her balance beam routine last night. We are glad she does gymnastics b/c she normally doesn't like to go outside, but rather read, scrapbook, draw,etc-not like Jonny.
Now, Jonny, he is still an extremely active kid. So full of energy and noise. So much noise that his voice is shot already-has nodules on his vocal chords. We take him to speech but I still hear him yelling outside , not breathing right, not drinking water,etc. But he is 9-he doesn't care. He is enjoying basketball and plays football in the neighborhood. His hair was quite long for a while but we cut a bunch off last week. He looks better, he was just too small for all that hair.
Another active kid is Arianna. She is also a performer and the "baby" and she knows it. She is "cute" and knows that too. I keep cringing every time anyone says she is cute b/c then it just reinforces it. She still is very girly and does ballet. She's at the top of her class in kindergarten and reads remarkably well. She is the one most like me, God help her! Very stressed and emotional so I have been trying to calm down and be a better example for her. We try to pray when we get freaked out.
Me-This fall was a lot-that is the only way to describe it for me. Aside from the falls usual madness-school starts up, all the birthdays in our family and Dave's family, holidays, and activities start up, other items happened to add to the craziness:
In October I had to move my mom to another assisted living as the one she was in was about to abruptly close. This was no easy task b/c my mom was not independent and had uncontrolled diabetes (not for lack of trying) so 1 assisted living actually rejected her! This was so upsetting to me but finally we got her in one that was able to care for her within a good price range but farther away. So we moved October 25th-Arianna's birthday. And we made the trek to visit her each week-1/2hr away.
In November I did a lot with my church's woman's retreat. Lots of meetings previously both for organizing it and for music. I spoke and sang but was sick so didn't sing very well. I enjoyed speaking-hadn't done so with women in a long time. But then we were criticized by 2 women so that was upsetting.
I went on my first mission trip to Guanaja, Honduras November 23rd-Dec 3. It was definetely 3rd world. While a great experience, it was stressful and 1/2 of us (including me of course) got sick.
On New Year's weekend I went downhill skiing for the first time at age 40! ( Oh yeah I turned 40 Jan 10th right after that-also an annoying event). This was very stressful for me but with the help of Dave I actually did it and would go again. I was proud of myself but also exhausted after that (We went with the youth so I stayed with 3 teen girls so not much sleep either).
On Jan 4th I got a call at 0615 that my mother had died. I was a bit shocked as a week or so before she had been fine. So getting through that -funeral/burial Jan 6-7, bills, money, death certificates,etc-was really a lot for me. So I got my stress illnesses as I call them-insomnia, headaches, stomach pain, anxiety and depression. My health coach after telling her my fall-winter told me to go to couseling! So I am trying but not easy to get a couselor. But that will be good for me if I ever become one! It is also sad though that we are so sad and messed up that we need so many couselors and medicines. But I am one of them so I understand but America is very sad. We have lost our focus somehow. I for one aim to not lose it! And help others find theirs.
So much for me starting small. But I will try to do this more often so I don't write so much and take so much time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)