PLANNING THE PARTY
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Posted:May 16, 2008 3:23 am
Last Updated:May 16, 2008 2:57 pm 1253 Views
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Oh, boy!
My last is turning 20 in a week and a half. I'd like to throw a big bash for her but I can't keep up with how fast her taste changes any more.
Used to be...she liked blues and purples. Don't get her anything brightly colored.
She informed me the other day that she's into yellow now.
That was after I had brought home some dress material for a sundress for her---with purple in it. But she was hesitant to tell me, because she didn't want to hurt my feelings after I'd brought her the material. Gotta admit that was sweet.
But nearly all of her tastes have done a U-turn just like the purple/yellow thing. Except for two things: she still doesn't like babies, and enjoys playing video games. Knowing that doesn't help a whole lot with planning a 20-year-old's party, though.
I heard her say she still likes paint ball.Hmmm...
But for her party?
I don't know!
I think I'll just go with loud music and lots of food at my place, then send everyone off to get worn out shooting each other at paintball.
At least it'll be a birthday she'll remember for awhile.
Now---how to cut the hip-high grass in the back yard...Maybe a really hungry goat? 
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A MOTHER WHO HATES MOTHER'S DAY
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Posted:May 14, 2008 1:52 am
Last Updated:May 14, 2008 6:11 pm 1255 Views
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Well, thank goodness THAT'S over.
I'm one of those strange mothers who isn't crazy about Mother's Day.
Ha! Not crazy about it?
I hate it!
You see, I'm just not good at failing.
Hmmm....Maybe I should start over...
Once upon a time, I was incredibly happy. I had three beautiful . I felt like three was the perfect number. I understood why people so often put three legs on stools. Everything seemed to balance.
I had one who was happy-go-lucky, and mischievous.I had him in church school for two years. The third day, he set off a super-stink bomb in the handicap bathroom.
I had one who was a deep thinker, and loved others. When he would pray, he would often ask God how His day had been before asking for anything.
I had a who was energetic and innocent. Her friend, "John, the ghost" would show up every where. Like in the car, she would worry that the boys were squishing John the ghost. My younger would look around, wondering what he should do. My older would begin bouncing up and down saying, "Oh, is this where John the ghost is sitting?" knowing it would drive his sister crazy.
And I loved it all.
Then my younger was killed in a car accident.
My older went to jail.
My was . By someone we knew.
My died because I tried to please my mother.
I tried to get to her house to rest because she disapproved of me taking naps. I didn't make it.
So I feel I killed my . My mother hated me because the who died was her favorite grandchild.
I have been told over and over by my surviving that I am a great Mom.
My has been out of jail for years, and has given me two beautiful grandchildren.
My attends the Art Institute downtown.
But I still feel like a failure as a mother. I've been to therapy.
I just can't shake the feeling that if I had only done something differently.....
So----I HATE mother's day.
Not to mention the creepy feeling I get when I hear my discussing where to take me on Mother's Day....it reminds me of the conversations I've heard among families about which should take Mom in, since she doesn't want to live in a nursing home.("Well, I can't have her living with me, I have three ." Well, she can't live with me, she doesn't get along with Joe", etc.) I've already told my that when I get too old to live by myself, just find a nice, light nursing home that allows gardening plots and musical instruments, and toss me in. When the time comes, I'll insist they take my cats, too, of course....I'm not hard to please
And after Mother's Day this year, I explained to my that I don't need a dinner out or anything like that. I'd much rather have something like a plant for my garden or a card, or something they have made, like a drawing or note. That way, when I'm sure I'm unlovable and a horrible mother, I can look at what they gave me for Mother's Day and think, "Hmm, maybe I'm not so bad after all, if someone so sweet can love me this much..." She said she'll remember that, and next year I'll have drawings hanging all over my walls.
Sounds good to me.
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BACK FROM THE WOMEN'S RETREAT
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Posted:May 4, 2008 8:35 pm
Last Updated:May 5, 2008 12:32 am 1493 Views
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Well, I'm back from the women's retreat.
I thought I would die.
When we got within a couple miles of Seaside, where the convention center is, I became quieter and quieter, until the woman driving the car asked what was going on.
Now, we weren't the only two in the car, and we had some Christian rock CD's going in the player, so it's not as if there was a sudden silence. Maybe just the sight of me clamming up when other women are getting more and more excited....
I tried to explain that I was just a little tense, and don't pay any attention...
But, of course, they wanted to know WHY I was tense, when the tension started, and to reassure me, so it got worse.
By Friday evening, after the first sessions, I was a total wreck.
And women would try to get me to talk it out. I tried to tell them to not worry, it was just my emotions misbehaving, and I got a lesson about emotions.
They do MEAN well.
Then something happened.
One of the women in the worship team read a verse. Hebrews 12:2. I know it well. It's one of my favorites. "keeping your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of your faith."
Saturday morning, I went back over Hebrews 11. I feel that one doesn't get the full punch of Hebrews 12 without Hebrews 11.
I read it aloud to myself. By FAITH....by FAITH......by FAITH......and those people all died not receiving the completion of the promises.....then Hebrews 12---Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw aside.....
And again, those chapters put things into perspective for me.
I stopped focusing on ME.
I looked to Jesus, and how I could help His people.
And by the grace of God, I had several women tell me I blessed them this week-end.
Oddly, enough, my non-Christian was extremely interested in how I changed my way of looking at things, and people being helped. He was---dare I say---blessed?
Praise God.
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SCARED OF WOMEN ? ? Nah.....
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Posted:May 2, 2008 12:21 pm
Last Updated:May 4, 2008 8:15 pm 1341 Views
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Okay, I'm off to the women's retreat.
I'm really nervous because women are always wanting to talk.
If you're with guys, and one asks, "How're you doin'?" and you answer, "Same ol' same ol'", the guy will grunt, nod and stuff a hamburger in his mouth. If you're with women and they ask you how you're doing, and you say, "Same ol' same ol'," they're likely to say, "Are you all right? Do you need me to pray with you? Do you need counselling?" And you both end up in tears.
Arrgg.
I just hope there's a piano near by. Or at least a conga.
Women are cool, but I was a daddy's girl, and hung out with guys when I was growing up.
This thing of all week-end with nothing but women has me scared silly.
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LAST MINUTE PRAYER
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Posted:Apr 29, 2008 5:24 pm
Last Updated:Apr 29, 2008 5:53 pm 1313 Views
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An atheist was walking in the woods.
He was looking around, thinking how beautiful everything was, when suddenly, the bushes behind him began to shake.
The atheist turned just in time to see a bear lunge out from between some trees and come racing toward him. The bear caught the man and was raising one paw to kill him.
The atheist, without thinking, cried, "Oh my God!"
Time froze.
The forest was silent.
The bear was still.
A voice came from the sky:
"You have denied my existence, even saying that creation was simply due to an accident. Why should I save you now?"
The atheist said, "It would be hypocritical of me to become a Christian at this late date, but could you make the BEAR a Christian?"
God said, "Let it be so."
Time unfroze.
The forest sounds began again.
The bear bowed his head and said,"God, for this food which we are about to receive, we thank you."
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TLC AND GRACE
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Posted:Apr 28, 2008 8:32 pm
Last Updated:Apr 29, 2008 5:02 pm 1597 Views
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Some plants came in the mail today. I ordered them a couple months ago. To tell you the truth, I had forgotten about them.
I'm sure glad I ordered them, though.
Early tomatoes, old-fashioned tomatoes, and lots of hot peppers! Yum!
These plants don't look like much right now, but in a couple months---whoa, look out! We are gonna have fun!
Like us, when we first start learning how to be like Christ. Or even now, as we find new ways to develop so we're more pleasing to God, we're always a baby plant somewhere in our life. A little plant that, all it needs is some TLC, and
BOOM!---it will burst into beautiful growth. All we need is a little TLC and grace.....
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AHHH.....THIS IS THE LIFE.......
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Posted:Apr 28, 2008 2:20 am
Last Updated:Apr 28, 2008 4:35 pm 1320 Views
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Wow, life goes in waves, doesn't it?
For awhile, I didn't have time to eat or sleep, I was so busy. Then I thought I would go cuckoo if I didn't find something to do, and now I'm busy again.....thank you Jesus.
I can't stand NOT having anything to do.
But between catching up on the yard work, starting the vegie garden, practicing for second Saturday, going to my 's recital with the bell choir, practicing with worship team, and going to the women's retreat.....and that's just this coming week......
Plus I wanted a new overnight bag for the retreat, something funky. I looked online, but the bags were just too boring, so I'm making one. It's red leopardskin-color, with charms hanging here and there. I might put some fur on it, I haven't decided yet.
And I'll probably want some new earrings, so I'll be making some of those, too.
I love being busy again.
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EMILY AND SATAN
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Posted:Apr 25, 2008 10:21 pm
Last Updated:Apr 28, 2024 6:23 am 1264 Views
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We're still training the we got for my .
"Emily" is very sweet, and if you play "fetch-the-squeaky-toy" with her, she will adore you.
She has one little, teeny quirk that---gradually---we're getting rid of.....
Sometimes, when people turn to leave our house after having stayed and visited for awhile, Emily will shoot like lightning toward the person. She will then bite---no, it's not big enough for a bite....NIP----the departing visitor on the extreme upper part of the back of their leg.
Or on their rear end.
After that, Emily turns and heads toward her kennel at a speed that can only be described as "lightning-fast".
You can't even tell she has done anything, except that our friend will suddenly let out a high-pitched sound that would get them into the Metropolitan Opera, then turn around, with eyes bulging like boiled eggs. And our friends are doing all of that while they are jumping into the air. When you think about it, we really have very talented friends....I should try to get them into the Cirque du Soleil or something....
But isn't that what satan does? He waits until we let our guard down, then he gets us when and where we least expect. That's why the Bible says to always be ready. Satan goes around seeking whom he may devour.
Granted, Emily is far from devouring people.
Although, I've told my that is going to give someone a heart attack...she likes to hide behind the grape arbor and scare people as they walk in front of the house. Especially old women---I suppose because they jump nice and high.
But satan isn't satisfied with just startling us.
He wants it all. So we need to be dressed in the armor of God, ready to beat satan down.
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WHAT IT MEANS TO ME
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Posted:Apr 24, 2008 10:43 pm
Last Updated:Apr 25, 2008 3:34 am 1256 Views
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They had looked at him like he was crazy when he had asked for Popeye's chicken and Krispy Kreme donuts.
"THAT'S what you want? No steak? No lobster? Popeye's and donuts?!"
But he'd never been much of a person for steak, and that meal had suited him just fine.
The door opened.
"It's time".
He stood up and began to walk toward the door. Suddenly, his legs turned to water beneath him. He would have hit the floor if one of them hadn't caught him on the way down.
Straightening up, he forced himself to concentrate: right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot...
Down the hall they went. Out of the corners of his eyes, he saw faces peering out at him as he passed---some resigned, some frightened, some jeering. He thought he saw one or two praying.
They made him lay on a table and began to cuff his wrists. "Just in case you thrash around. We don't want anybody getting hurt", one of them told him.
A wry smile almost reached his mouth.
"They really ought to train their people how to smile," he thought, wincing as they pulled the straps tight.
The person with the needle came close. "Don't worry. You'll just go to sleep."
"But I want to stay awake!" he thought as a person began wrapping a tourniquet around his arm.
He looked at the ceiling again.
"They should get someone in here to get those spider webs out of the corners."
Funny what a person thinks about at those times.
He heard a strange squeaking, and looking over, saw that an I.V. was being wheeled closer. "My own little nibble of eternity," he mused, with that sense of humor which his mother had always considered a bit strange.
Just as the attendant was about to insert the needle, there was a loud report, like a gunshot.
Everyone in the room jumped, turning toward the door.
It had been thrown open and had banged against the wall behind it. In the doorway was a man leaning against the doorpost, breathing heavily, as if he had been running. He had papers in his hands. He wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve and panted, "Wait! Someone has just come in and confessed to the crime for which this man is about to die! This man isn't guilty!"
That's how I feel about my justication in Christ.
Of course, I'm not a man....
But I was on death row, and Christ died for me.
Some people describe justification as "just-as-if-I'd-never-sinned".
I don't see it that way.
I was a criminal on death row. Christ took my place.
When we use the "justify" on our computers, what does it do? It moves our text over and aligns it,
putting things right.
That is what Christ did for me.
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