lingering touch

There are people who hold a small warm place in my heart and some of them are people I don't even know. All of them are there, in a small warm place, because of some small act of kindness.

My dad's aunt gave my sister and I each a really cool, quilted leather bag with fringe on it in 1970-something. I still have mine. It's still cool. I can't remember what she looked like, but I will never forget her.

My dad's uncle Max and his wife Wilma have a warm place in my heart. I only remember being around them three times, although I'm sure it was more. The first time I was quite young and she had made haystacks with chow mien noodles and either chocolate and butterscotch. I remember thinking they were very weird, not so good candy, but the were candy, so I ate them. I don't know if those haystacks are what got them the small warm place or if it was something else. But there they are.

A man my mom took us to visit when I was about five or so, (I think he was one of her favorite teachers), taught me how to play Dominoes.

One day when I worked at McDonalds a customer ripped me up because the coffee pot wasn't working right. It was all I could do to not run away sobbing. The next man in line was very kind and said something reassuring and supportive. I don't remember the words, or his face, but I remember him.

When I was in Kindergarten the First grade teacher winked at me one day at recess. She later became one of my favorite teachers, but she would have a small warm place anyway, just because of that wink.

The man across the street let me be there when he cut up a coconut. He sang the Lime and the Coconut song while he did it. It was one of the most fascinating things I'd ever seen. (I was younger than six)

Another man across another street offered me some wisdom and comfort over the fact that I didn't have a saddle for my pony and I desperately wanted one. He said, "Indians (it was ok to say that in those days) were the best riders there ever were and they always rode bareback."

Fleeting, seemingly insignificant moments. Yet they have remained with me.

Let us live our lives so that our brief encounters leave tender fingerprints that last.

politics

Jen has a couple of great posts on her blog that got me thinking about all this. Go look at her posts, too.

You will not see me post on politics very often. I can't stand politics. But it is the way our government runs and this side of the Millennium, we are just going to have to put up with flawed government.

Personally, I believe Jesus wasn't concerned with politics. He lived in a land that was under occupation by an invading army. The Romans were heartless to their subjects. But in spite of the people's expectations, Jesus never addressed the political system, other than telling them to "give to Caesar what is Caesar's." So, it makes me wonder how involved his people should be in these things. Certainly not to the exclusion of His Kingdom's concerns.

On the other hand, people argue, politics is the avenue to change and we, as Christians must be deeply involved, influencing our culture through our vote. (I did go to Jerry Falwell's school after all) I personally believe our influence should be on a different level, but that's for another time.

Now, about current politics:

I am a Huckabee fan, but it looks like he's out of the running, barring a miracle. Well, I guess fan isn't the right word. I'm not a fan of any politician, but he is the one I dislike the least.

Honestly I think about politics as little as possible. But because people that I know and respect have differing opinions, it has caused me to step back and look at politics in a new way.

I used to think "Republican all the way - it's the Christian thing to do."But now I know some godly people who think that dying in Iraq or Darfur is dying just the same as dying in the womb. That dying because you have no health insurance is still dying.

Pro-life is my main issue and always will be. And while I've always been aware of how the abortion climate spreads to infanticide, euthanasia, child abuse, etc, I am now seeing that pro-life extends even beyond that to some of the issues that the Democrats are more likely to address.

And that's only one issue. What about illegal immigrants? What about war? What about the Patriot Act? Our freedom vs our safety? It's such a complex world.

I take my comfort in knowing that it is God who establishes kings and brings them down. Whoever comes to power, it will be by God's hand.

a few of my favorite things

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ~ God's Word ~ My son ~ Snow ~ My sister ~ UK stuff ~ Wind blowing through pine trees ~ My daughter ~ Laughing until it hurts ~ Crying until it hurts ~ Red ~ Indian food ~ Fireplaces ~ Reading ~ Drawing ~ Horses ~ Hubby ~ The top of Cottonwood pass ~ Color ~ Lilacs ~ Kissing ~ My parents ~ Autumn ~ Dancing, (at home alone) ~ Magpies ~ A good pratfall ~ Discussing God's Word ~ My friends ~ Fog ~ Nostalgia ~ Thanksgiving ~ Foxes ~ History ~ Farmlands ~ Getting real mail ~ Sheep ~ Church ~ Visiting with women over a cup of tea, or lunch, or chocolate, or whatever ~ Christmas ~ A babbling brook ~ Accents ~ Slipping into clean sheets after a bath ~ My hometown ~ Rain ~ Owls ~ Teasing, (or being a smarty pants, whichever) ~ Kitty cats ~ Mountains ~ Fishing ~ Homemade ice cream ~ Music ~ My dog ~ Elephants ~ Coloring ~ Pineapple upside-down cake ~ Bracelets ~ Peaches ~ Doves ~ Summer evenings ~ The sky ~ Tests and quizzes ~ Comments on my blog

dst rant

Can anyone give me the reasoning behind Daylight Savings Time? Maybe it wouldn't irritate me so much if I could understand a logical reason for it.

And why oh why do they keep moving it up earlier in the year?

If the sun comes up at six and goes down at eight, that's 14 hours of daylight. If the sun comes up at seven and goes down at nine, that's 14 hours of daylight. How in the world does it make any difference? Maybe, (just maybe mind you) I'm dense or something, but I honestly don't get it. People have tried to explain, but their explanations don't make any sense either.

I tell you I dislike it intensely and admit to a really bad stinky attitude about it. When hubby told me that it starts this Sunday, I threw a regular little hissy and declared that I just wasn't going to do it! I could send my kids to school an hour late every day... that would show 'em... Whoever 'em are. And I could be an hour late to my meetings and Bible Study.

It's just unfair to dictate loss of sleep like that. And getting up in the dark is so much harder.

Ok, enough whining. At least publicly...

What do you think? Are you one of those who actually likes it? And please, someone, give me some intelligent rationale!!

Click here to read last years milder rant.

sheep

Since this month is Passover and Easter and Spring, my mind naturally went to sheep.

I love sheep. God loves sheep. They are symbolic of we, His people and also of Him, the Lamb of God. Any time I see sheep I find myself quoting some of the following scriptures to them. I love it when I get to be near some sheep. They are goofy. Completely helpless on their own. Not the brightest, they tend to get themselves in trouble when left to their own devices. But they, in many parts of the world, are very valuable. Just like us.

"But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the desert" Psalm 78:52

"Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise." Psalm 79:13

"Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3

"I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands." Psalm 119:176

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6

"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." Isaiah 53:7

"For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them as a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. " Ezekiel 34:11, 12

"I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD." Ezekiel 34:15

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20, 21

weather report

Is the first day of March all that counts toward the "In like a lamb" thing? Because it was totally lambish yesterday. In the 60's, no wind, gorgeous, gorgeous day. But today is definitely lionish.
This is the Colorado I love. Flip flops one day, snow boots the next!

saturday stuff

It looks like March is coming in like a lamb here. What about your neck of the woods?

My wonderful friend Mel has given me a very sweet award! Thank you SO much! Love you.

If you don't regularly visit her blog, you should go look at this fun clip. It's a hoot!

Maybe it's not PC, but I would like to give this award to Julie, Jen, Mom, and Queen. Yes, they are my family, but that's how I know how wonderful they are! I would also like to give it to Robbie because her blog, like herself, never fails to make me smile.

Pray for our friend Will and his wife Karen, please. This morning he is flying to North Carolina to take a new job as a teacher. It is his first teaching job as well as being in a new part of the country for them. He will be there for several months alone while Karen finalizes things here. I know they would appreciate your prayers.

I know that Mel and her family would, too as they are packing up to move to Florida in a week. She has five kids, you know. Moving isn't easy in any circumstance!

Have a wonderful weekend and a Beautiful March!