honey bunch

Go down to the green box on the right and pause my music then listen to this!

Friday Feast

I have some stuff to write about, but it is stirring around in my brain trying to find the right words. So once that stuff is satisfied with how it wants to be communicated I will let it come out and see you.

Until then, here's a Friday's Feast. yum yum

Appetizer

Who is the easiest person for you to talk to? Besides God, because He really is the easiest, I guess I don't know. My husband is, when I get his full attention.

Soup

If you could live in any ancient city during the height of the quality of its society and culture, which one would you choose?

This is kind of tough, because most ancient cities were so Pagan. If I leave the religion factor out of it, I would probably choose Athens.

Salad

What is the most exciting event you’ve ever witnessed?

It wasn't exciting in a good way, but it was a certain person I know getting into a fight with some gang members in a mall.

In a good way -- one of the most wonderful things I've ever seen was the birth of a baby.

Main Course

If you were a celebrity, what would you do for a publicity stunt?

Travel everywhere in a horse and carriage.

Dessert

What do you consider the ideal age to have a first child?

twenty-five.

someone thinks i'm nice

I got an award! My friend Megan nominated me for the "Nice Matters" award. I met Megan at a Writers' Conference and she lives in my new town. She's got a book, Searching for Spice, due out in April!

Thank you, Megan!

“This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award.”

So, seven nice bloggers. Hmmm.

My first nominee is my Mom. She's pretty nice. And in her blog she shares her heart for the discarded people of our society. She gives of herself to share the Love of God with old people and mentally ill people; many of whom have no family or friends who take time for them.

I also want to nominate Robin. She is a new blog friend. She has three blogs. They use different avenues to speak of her faith.

SuseADoodle is also a new blog friend. She has several blogs addressing creativity, writing, and faith.

I want to nominate my friend Lauri. She is a real life friend, whom I knew for quite a while before we realized we were mutually interested in writing and blogging. Well, actually, I only recently became interested in those things. Anyway, she blogs about creativity and writing and shares a lot of cool links.

I also met my friend Susan at a writers' conference. She posts on silly stuff, serious stuff, various stuff and she's also nice.

Amy has been my on-line friend for years. She is a wonderful mother who blogs about her joys and struggles.

Jenny has also been an on-line friend for a long time. She blogs on a variety of subjects.

And I'm doing one extra. My friend Bet doesn't blog often enough, but has interesting things to say, when she does.

I really don't read blogs that are written by people who aren't nice. So this was pretty hard!

it's a good thing

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Psalm 34:10

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

the LORD bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Psalm 84:11

How do you define good?

How does God define it?

Is it the same, you think?

going home

The Taliban has agreed to let the Korean hostages go home! Praise God! I am so grateful on their behalf. Yet, somehow while reading the article I felt less than victorious. The Koreans have been such avid missionaries throughout the world. And now they will be blocked on both ends from going into Afghanistan.

Also, the family spokesperson's apology for "causing trouble" breaks my heart. Do not apologize for carrying the message of Christ to the lost. Do not apologize for the trouble. It was the kidnappers who caused the trouble! For crying out loud.

This seems to be a mixed blessing to me. A victory and a defeat for the Kingdom of God. But He has His ways and will work it out.

So, I will thank Him for the imminent release of these beautiful people! And leave the rest to Him.

monday madness

1. Where you live, what kind of weather (or weather-related tragedy) do you fear the most? The most likely event is a lightening strike.



2. What kind of weather do you MOST enjoy? I love weather. I guess I most enjoy snow. But I also love rain and a bright sunny autumn day. Wind is enjoyable as long as I'm not out in it.



3. What kind of weather do you LEAST like to drive in? Anything that impedes visibility. Both heavy snow and heavy rain.



4. What is the scariest weather-related experience you've had in your lifetime? A severe thunderstorm when I was about five. Our house was leaking everywhere and water stood deep in our enclosed porch. The house up the street was struck by lightening and burned.



5. Share a "weather picture" with us! This is at the Great Sand Dunes National Monument. If you look at the ground you can see that the wind was blowing something fierce! We were all sand blasted by the time we left. Free dermabrasion!

on my mind again

Today in church we sang this song:

Matt Redman - You Never Let Go Lyrics

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

Your perfect love is casting out fear

And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life

I won’t turn back

I know You are near

And I will fear no evil

For my God is with me

And if my God is with me

Whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go

Through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go

In every high and every low

Oh no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

A glorious light beyond all compare

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

We’ll live to know

You here on the earth

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

And once again my mind went to the missionaries in captivity. Those in Afghanistan and others that I don't even know about. Join me in praying that God would fill their hearts and mouths with praise as He did for Paul and Silas in Acts 16. That they would be bathed in the Grace of God; completely engulfed in His peace. And that every fiber of their being would know that He will never let go.

life is like a bottle of lotion

Or something like that.

If you pour the whole bottle on at once, it just lies there and rubs off on your clothing and doesn't do as much good as it should. But if you put on just the right amount and rub it in thoroughly and let it soak in, well, ahhhh. Then you can apply another dollop and repeat the process.

That is how God does life. He works in just a little bit at a time, when sometimes I would like to just get the bottle empty, get it done and be what it is I need to be.

So He tells me about things. Just whispering sometimes. A niggling feeling. A discomfort. Then He may send a human to say some words about it. Then most often He also puts a book into my hands to really massage the message in.

That's what happened with Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson. This book hit on things that God has been rubbing into my life for years. Bit by bit. Things like what it means to be content. What does love look like? What does it feel like? What does it mean to be like Jesus? Who are we supposed to love and how? And why? Its the kind of book that I will keep around and refer back to. Probably even mark up. It is rich and challenging.

Lisa has a unique voice and it always takes me a chapter or so to get into her flow, but once I do, it's like buttah' baby.

If you feel up to re-thinking some things, or maybe even being affirmed in what you already think, then read this one. You will be greatly entertained the entire time that God is applying the lotion. And meet some wonderful characters along the way. I even like the characters that I didn't like!

Think how soft and smooth we'll be when He's done.

just do it

Lisa Samson has some quotes from Mother Theresa on her blog and one made me think of this song I heard the other day. I imagine Martina had the quote in mind when she wrote the lyrics.

Martina McBride - Anyway

This is lyrics from www.lyrics007.com

You can spend your whole life building

Something from nothin'

One storm can come and blow it all away

Build it anyway

You can chase a dream

That seems so out of reach

And you know it might never come your way

Dream it anyway

God is great

But sometimes life ain't good

And when I pray

It doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway

I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy

It's hard to believe

That tomorrow will be better than today

Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart

For all the right reasons

In a moment they can choose to walk away

Love 'em anyway

God is great

But sometimes life ain't good

And when I pray

It doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway

I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing

A song you believe in

That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang

Sing it anyway

Yea - sing it anyway

I sing

I dream

I love

Anyway

questions i've been contemplating

Why do I cry harder when you hurt me than when I hurt you?
Why do your sins grieve me more than my own?
If you've sinned against me, my heart is broken; shouldn't it be doubly broken by the sin I've committed?
If you sin and hurt me, all that says about me is that I am vulnerable. If I sin and hurt you, what does that say about me? I think being a broken, fleshy person is far more grievous than being a wounded, vulnerable person. Right? My tears are backwards.

one word

My friend who sometimes goes by Accidental Poet tagged me with a goofy meme. Because if I like memes, I'm going to like a goofy one even more!

One-Word Responses Meme

1 Where is your cell phone? purse
2 Relationship? married
3 Your hair? multi-dimensional
4 Work? what?
5 Your sister? talks
6 Your favorite things? kids
7 Your dream last night? irretrievable
8 Your favorite drink? chai
9 Your dream car? Jag
10 The room you're in? living
11 Your shoes? upstairs
12 Your fears? multiple
13 What do you want to be in 10 years? wiser
14 Who did you hang out with this weekend? friend
15 What are you not good at? self-discipline
16 Muffins? nah
17 Wish-list item? piano
18 Where you grew up? hometown
19 The last thing you did?sit
20 What are you wearing? clothing
21 What are you not wearing? socks
22 Your pet? dead
23 Your computer? laptop
24 Your life? transition
25 Your mood? content
26 Missing? everyone
27 What are you thinking about? questions
28 Your car? black
29 Your kitchen? efficient
30 Your summer? flew
31 Your favorite color? green
32 Last time you laughed? yesterday
33 Last time you cried? yesterday
34 School? LU
35 Love? difficult
36 Tag? Bet.

a prayer and a miracle

Pray for Thomas and Christina Maier. She was kidnapped yesterday in Afghanistan. Another of our sisters there doing work for the Lord. She is five months pregnant, I believe. Friends and co-workers of theirs are sponsored by the church we attended today. Their names are Kelly and Rebecka Green. Pray for them, too, as I'm sure they are more than upset by this situation.

You know, when I typed in Kidnapped Missionaries, there were way too many results that popped up. I wish this were an isolated incident, but it is happening far too often. Maybe we would be more stunned if it happened less. But to those individuals, think of the emotion involved.

On the flip side, today I sat near a miracle in church. Three years ago, the Bible Study group I was leading was honored to pray for a woman who was seventy years old and literally on her death bed. She had stage 5 lung cancer and was given weeks to live.

She sat in the pew in front of me today. Healthy as can be. It was a privilege to meet her.

Let's never loose sight of the ability of our awesome God to do mighty things! He is as powerful today as ever. The world is grim, but God is on his throne and He is good!

you're my brother, you're my sister

I have an ability to distance myself from things. I don't think it's a good thing.

Unless something hits close to home, it doesn't really affect me. Maybe I read too much, so I put these things into the realm of the unreal. I don't know.

But I know that I want my heart to be more sensitive to the plight of others. Including these Koreans who are captive in Afghanistan. They aren't strangers. They are our brothers and sisters. They are fellow Believers who went to a foreign country to offer hope and healing.

I have been on a mission trip, too. I was smiling and excited just as they are in the photo. I can relate to that part of it.

I have been touched by the reality of their situation. I have been moved to pray for them diligently. I am praying for them to know the incomprehensible peace of God. I am praying for them to be bold and shine brightly for Christ even in this situation. I am praying that their captors will see a glimpse of the hope and joy and love that the One True God gives.

I am also praying for their release and freedom. Two have been released to freedom to go home, and two have been Released to Freedom in their true Home.

I know God is sovereign over even this. He will do the only right and good thing for each of those men and women. So I concentrate my prayers on their well-being in the mean time. Their peace and joy.

These terrorists specialize in... well, terror. And so I am praying that they will fail. That the peace of God will overwhelm any fear that the enemy tries to inflict.

saturday

My friend Megan did this meme on her blog. She didn't tag anyone, but I am tagging myself. I like memes. I like doing them and I like reading them.

So, here are Ten Things You Will Never Hear Me Say:

1. Please, may I pull the weeds in your yard, too?

2. This ninety-degree weather is killing me, can I borrow a sweater?

3. Close the door, you're letting the yellow jackets out.

4. It's morning! Yippee!

5. I'm so glad they got rid of that ugly horse farm. The mall is so much prettier.

6. No thank you, I don't eat carbs.

7. I'm going to wear short shorts every day this summer!

8. Cats are dumb.

9. I think I'll take the interstate just for the fun of it.

10. Why would I want to read about some imaginary person's imaginary life?

rainy day stuff

Here is a link where you can fill in a few blanks to make your own beautiful poem!

SusaDoodle had the link on one of her blogs. You should check them out. She has a variety of creative blogs about, well, creativity, and faith and writing and so, you should click on her profile and look at her blogs.

Anyway, here's my beautiful poem:

Emerald tree caring

Magenta skies over lake again

daughter arrives, dance about

looking bright and gorgeous

the only sad part--that tree

caring near silence

where blue bird awaits
now Emerald trees fade

into Magenta beginnings

then blue bird once more
by Kay

on writing

Here is an excellent article by Kurt Vonnegut on Writing With Style.

Some of us automatically do all things with style. Some of us need help.

Thanks to Lisa Samson for the link!

thursday thirteen

Since I have one new reader that I know of, and maybe some that I don't know of, I will tell you thirteen things that you may or may not want to know about me.

1. I live in Colorado. Was born here.
2. I'm writing a novel; slowly and painfully.
3. I went to college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA
4. I am an RN, but haven't worked as one for over ten years.
5. I have been married thirteen years.
6. I have two children, one of each model.
7. I have been a Christian since I was nine years old.
8. I enjoy teaching or leading a Bible Study.
9. I (we) recently moved, so we are very unsettled.
10.My favorite colors are green and red, but not necessarily together, unless it's December.
11.My favorite kind of food is Indian. Or Moroccan. Or Greek.
12.Most of the time, I don't eat any sugar.
13.I like playing some video games.

random stuff

The kids started school today -- in a brand new school -- in our brand new town.

I'm more nervous than they are, I think.

They got to ride the bus to school for the first time, too.

Did any of you get the Vista update that makes your computer dumber than a post?

argh. stupid stupid computer.

For those of you who don't know. Rain in Colorado is always ice cold. It could be 104 degrees, but when it rains it is ice water. Always. Got caught in some yesterday. But the puddles were warm from the hot pavement.

I was surprised when we lived in Kansas City to find that the rain was warm. Gross.

Those Hummy Birds are always chasing bigger birds around. Cheeky. I wonder what they'd do if they caught one?

In honor of the beginning of the school year:

“How did it get so late so soon?

Its night before its afternoon.

December is here before its June.

My goodness how the time has flewn.

How did it get so late so soon?”

Dr. Seuss

those were the days

Take a trip down memory lane. Or more likely, a trip to a time before you remember. Check out penny postcards from your home town and other favorite places.

did i already tell you this?

Had to share this:

I'm not telling why I find that so funny.

i'm not even a writer

I don't like writing. I never have. I have writer friends who keep journals, just so they can write. I don't. I don't like to write.


The problem is -- there's this story in my head that won't leave me alone. Can't I just tell someone about it and let them write it?


And it isn't lonely. There are other stories in there. So when I get this story written, those others are going to want to come out, too.



At least I'm saying "When" now instead of "if". That's some progress anyway.

Sigh.

patience patience

Yesterday I picked up a copy of Angela Hunt's latest, Doesn't She Look Natural. Apparently it's hot off the presses!

I'm at chapter fourteen and it's a great book.

But here's what I want to share:

I've already learned something. "Practice Patience".

People always say, "Don't pray for patience!" Like that's just asking God to torture you. I've always thought that a bit of a goofy statement.

First of all, God always does what's best. If I really need patience, I should ask and trust Him to teach it to me the only way I'll learn it.

Secondly, if I really need patience, chances are, God's going to teach it to me whether I ask Him to or not.

But here's the thing I always thought about. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. It is supposed to be in our lives already if we are filled with the Spirit. So why would we even need to ask for it?

As a character in the book says, we just have to practice it!

So, God may allow us to be in situations where we can practice our patience. We may need a lot of practice!

This also made me think about the other fruit of the Spirit. Particularly love as that is something God is talking to me about a lot lately. I have been praying for God's love in my life. Waiting for a big effervescent feeling to take over. But truth is, love is action not bubbly goo. So, I simply need to practice it.

This is very eye opening! It's sorta just in passing in the book, but thanks, Angie for including it!

doing my duty

I'm reading a book set in the Middle Ages in England. The monks at the Priory have become rather hedonistic. A minor miracle has occurred and now the courtyard is thronged with the crippled and infirm.
One of the monks says, ""We never had to bother with pilgrims and penitents before,' he lamented. 'Hexham's long been off the pilgrim trail, you know. And no one ever wanted Mass said, save on Sunday. We canons had the peace and solitude to dispatch our duties.'"

Made me think-- when I am trying to serve, when I am caring for my family, how many times am I frustrated at the intrusion of the actual PEOPLE I'm supposed to be serving? It can so easily become about what we are doing rather than for whom we are doing it.

I think I especially fall into this in my role as mother. Fixing dinner, washing clothes, don't bother me now.

The quote is from Murder on Good Friday by Sara Conway

someday i'll teach them the words

"From scarlet to powdered gold,

to blazing yellow,

to the rare ashen emerald,

to the orange and black velvet of your shimmering corselet,

out to the tip that like an amber thorn begins you,

small, superlative being,

you are a miracle,and you blaze"
From "Ode to the Hummingbird"
Pablo Neruda

Just about constantly, no matter where I am,

as long as there is a window, I can hear the hummers humming.

speaking of worth

Two posts ago, I was speaking of worth.

Well, speaking of it... Where DO you get yours?

We went to a diner style burger place yesterday and they have a deal where if you eat a One Pound Burger, you get your photo taken and put up on a board. How cool is that?

Apparently, real cool, to some people. There is one guy who has eaten that thing fourteen times. Another who aims to do it twenty times. Wow. Those guys have value now.

I guess the same is true for people wanting to break world records. Not that there's anything wrong with these things, but why do they do it?

Why do we write books, sing solos, teach a Bible Study, lead a ministry?

Why do people live in houses fifteen times bigger than what they need? When they're never even home?

What makes me valuable? How do I know I am worth something? Why do I have a right to take up space and breath air?

Our worth, of course, should be found in Christ. We are worthy because He makes us so.

When you have the time, go to this site and listen to the sermon for April 29th. It is excellent.

cool thing

Click on my Shelfari button to the left there. Then, please, be my friend.
Make your own shelf, too. It's free and it's fun.
Thanks to Angie Hunt for this!

why do i care?

When I was a kid/teen, I didn't go along with the crowd very much. In fact I usually went against prevailing opinions. The Broncos are the team of choice around here, and when I was in Jr High they played the Super Bowl against the Cowboys. Well, I chose to cheer for the Cowboys. Just to be different.

I still tend to avoid trends and bandwagons. I shudder at over-used sayings.

The weird thing is that I have always been such a people-pleaser. Doesn't make sense. I want them to like me. Care way too much about what people think, but deliberately go against the grain.

Lately, I have been more tempted to go along with the crowd that I used to be. I'm referring to the post on speeding. When faced with that same stretch of road again, I decided to just go with the flow of traffic, rather than worry about what the speed limit is. But immediately I felt convicted about that. To decide to do the wrong thing just because everyone else is doing it? Isn't that exactly what we are trying to teach our kids Not To Do? What is wrong with me?

Well, what's wrong is: I care way too much about what people think of me. Absolute, total strangers. It upsets me no end to know that people are judging me, disliking me, because I am slowing down traffic.

Why do I care what strangers think of me?

It's not just strangers, of course. I care what you think, too. I'm a doggone puppy. " Love me love me love me. Tell me I did good. Tell me tell me tell me. Approve approve approve!"

blech.

God has been really working on me about this. But it isn't easy, for sure.

I know that I need to treat people with compassion and kindness. But the motive should not be to earn their approval!

I'm trying to learn to not care what people think. I would love to loose all those inhibitions. I believe I would still be kind and everything, but the motive would be right and I wouldn't have all the anxiety about whether or not I am acceptable.

Ok, so this is way personal, and I've thrown it right out there all over my blog. But I know that I am not the only person who deals with this. I believe it is one of the devil's favorite tactics to keep us locked up.

Because the question is-- Where do I get my worth? If everyone in the world despised me, would that mean I had no value?

Another question is -- If I care more about what people think than what God thinks, who am I serving?

So, I don't care whether you like me or not. Whether or not you approve of me.

Ok, well, actually, I do care. But I'm trying to learn to not care more than I should.

she never said my name

"Romper, bomper, stomper, boo.

Tell me, tell me, tell me do.

Magic mirror, tell me today.

Did all my friends have fun at play?"

I see Suzy and Betty and William and Lauri.

I see Lupe and Leslie and Megan and all you boys and girls out there.

1800's remedies - just in case

Musquito Bites: (that's how they spelled it, not me)

Salt wetted into a paste, with a little vinegar and rubbed on bite will stop the itch.

(Ok, this really might be worth knowing)

To Stop Blood:

For a prick with a pin, or a slight cut, nothing stops bleeding better than old cobwebs compressed into a lump and applied to a wound.

(Here I was wasting money on band aids)

In Case You're Struck By Lightening:

"For a couple of hours shower in cold water. In case there is still no sign of life, add a cupful of salt and continue for another hour."

-19th century Swiss remedy

(I'll try this next time)

Tooth Powder:

Take pulverized chalk, and twice as much charcoal; make very fine and add castile soap suds and spirits of camphor to make a thick paste.

(mmm. Mothball breath)

Drawn Sinews (is that a pulled ligament?)

An ointment made from the common ground-worms which boys dig to bait fishes, rubbed on with the hand, is said to be excellent when the sinews are drawn up by any disease or accident.

(ok, even the author is taking someones word for it)

I won't even share the one that suggests treating chapped lips with ear wax.

These came from a cookbook called Log Cabin Cooking by Barbara Swell. She has some great little books filled with old recipes and many helpful hints from days of yore.

possibilities

I am considering attending a conference at which Michael Card will be doing the music.

So, if I go, maybe I could tell him that his music inspired my story.

Then, maybe he would be really thrilled.

Maybe he would tell everyone he ever talked to about my book.

Then I guess I would definitly have to finish it, wouldn't I?

two questions

1. Have you seen the Apple vending machines? I don't mean the kind you get fruit out of. I mean the kind you get IPODS out of. Weird.

2. Ladies, where do you keep your purse while at home? I used to keep mine by the door, but now I tend to used all the doors so I don't know where to keep it.

think about it

“Abundance is not so much something to acquire, but something to tune into.”

Anonymous

mother worry

Our new town is different from our old town in so many ways. But I am only going to talk about one right now.

I have never seen so many fashion conscious little bitty girls in my life. At the mall I saw a little girl, no more than seven, begging her mom to let her go into Banana Republic. What?

At seven I didn't even care if I wore clothes, definitely didn't care where they came from.

My nearly twelve year old girl doesn't care either. She has a few opinions. Mostly, what color they are and are the loose enough. She prefers her clothing actually touch her body in a few places as possible.

The kids in her old school didn't really care.

Here, every store I go into I see these very young girls discussing clothes as if they are twenty year old fashionistas.

Don't we expend enough angst the entire rest of our lives wondering whether we look ok, whether we fit in, whether people approve of us? Why start at seven, eight, nine?

So, the other part is, my girl will be starting this new school. Will she be surrounded by stylish babes who will be judging her because they can tell her clothes came off a clearance rack somewhere other than the Gap or whatever is hip these days? She seems to be oblivious to all of that and may not even know unless someone says something directly to her. But still...

I want so much for her to be accepted and liked for who she is. But I guess she's entering that phase where it is very difficult to be accepted for just being yourself. 6th grade + is all about judging and being judged, from what I've seen.

I guess I just do my part, turn her over to God and hold on to my hat!

speaking of movies

We recently watched two really good movies. Both of them are true stories about people who invested their lives in the lives of others.

The first one is Freedom Writers. I particularly liked how this movie shows the power of a story. Whether fiction or non-fiction, a story can take you out of yourself. It opens the world up to you and gives you new perspective.

The other movie was Pride. This movie demonstrates both kinds of pride. The negative, empty, boastful kind that tears people down and the positive kind that builds people up.

The main theme is the way one person can influence another or even a group to positive change. Very powerful. Of course, said influence doesn't happen over night and it isn't easy. And the people being changed sometimes don't want to be changed.

Do you have any experience in this? Have you been able to impact someones life by investing in them? Or have you seen it happen first hand? Maybe you are the one who was changed because of another person's willingness to step into your world and give you a needed boost?