Field of Daisies

From Our Hearts to Yours...

Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to the families of Jack Hensley and Eugene Armstrong....

May God have mercy on us all....

[AP Photo courtesy of Yahoo! News]

On Being Hopeful

I've spent a considerable amount of time tonight looking at some of most disturbing images I've seen in a while. It all started with the May 8th edition of WORLD Magazine and reading their report of the "March for Women's Lives" that occurred in Washington, D.C. on April 25th. Hundreds of thousands of people -- mostly women -- turned out to protest our President's recent pro-life measures. Apparently they don't like the idea that Mr. Bush values life -- all life -- and that he is working to protect the unborn.

The most disturbing thing was not the mass-produced "Keep Abortion Legal" signs or even the large turnout. The most troubling aspects of it were the scores of young people that were there, some of which were small children, holding up signs supporting abortion -- some even stooping to vulgarity to make their point. Anarchists were there protesting, as well as gays and lesbians, and the celebrities showed up en masse. Big name starts like Jennifer Aniston, Ashley Judd and Whoopi Goldberg. One photo showed Cybill Shepherd holding a sign that read "Too bad John Ashecroft's mother didn't believe in abortion." (And the Left says the Right uses hate language...?) Of course that photo was never seen in the mainstream media.... Further proof of the overwhelming bias of the mainstream media towards the liberal agenda in this country. [This photo (above) was particularly disturbing....]

Apparently, from the reports I read and the photos I saw, it got pretty ugly at times. Pro-lifers were jeered at, cursed at, and generally railed on. In fact, many of the photos I saw were too crude and vulgar to post here.

For a time tonight I was completely overwhelmed with feelings of despair -- for these women who have been so deceived, for the next generation of women and men who will be tomorrow's leaders and have likewise bought the lie that abortion actually helps women, and for this country in general. But it didn't take long for me to remember the Truth: my hope does not rest in these people or events. (Thankfully!) My hope rests in the God of the Universe; the One Who created this world and everyone in it -- even those tiny individuals who are living and growing in their mother's wombs. The ending of this story has already been written, though some of the most awful chapters have yet to be fulfilled. No matter how desperate the signs of the times may be, my God knows all things and all of creation is subject to Him. And He has promised that Good will triumph over evil in the end. Truth will be revealed for all to see, and the enemies of God will be defeated. And yes, there will come a time when there will be no more abortions to hurt women and to destroy their children.

I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow, and it is in Him I continually put my trust. In the meantime, those of us who belong to Him need to be praying that the enemy will be held back and that Truth will be revealed in the hearts of those who have been deceived and seek to deceive others. (I wonder how many of these listed below have had abortions themselves, and how many have buried the pain of that loss under the banner of protecting women's rights? How many of them have, instead, found solice in the numbers of their peers who have likewise justified their abortions?) And I think we could begin with some of the celebrities that attended this rally....*

Melissa Etheridge Julianne Moore Christina Aguilera Morgan Fairchild Jennifer Aniston Kathy Najimy Frances Fisher Calista Flockhart Joe Pantoliano Bea Arthur Jane Fonda Mary-Louise Parker Ed Asner Bonnie Franklin Kevin Bacon Janeane Garofalo Pink Alec Baldwin Martha Plimpton William Baldwin Indigo Girls Meredith Baxter Annabeth Gish Paul Rudd Shari Belafonte Whoopi Goldberg Susan Sarandon Polly Bergen Kyra Sedgwick Cybill Shepherd Betty Buckley Ed Harris Jessica Capshaw Salma Hayek Fisher Stevens Lynda Carter Marg Helgenberger Gloria Steinem Stockard Channing Julia Stiles Jill Clayburgh Helen Hunt Sharon Stone Glenn Close Cindy Crawford Ashley Judd Sheryl Crow Charlize Theron Carole King Uma Thurman Tyne Daly Swoosie Kurtz Blythe Danner Christine Lahti Stanley Tucci Kristin Davis Kathleen Turner Ossie Davis Ted Turner Dana Delany Laura Dern Amy Madigan Bradley Whitford Natalie Maines Alfre Woodard Fran Drescher Camryn Manheim Kirsten Dunst Frances McDormand Ewan McGregor Hector Elizondo Diancarlo Esposito Demi Moore

Just think, if a few of these influential people could find Truth and healing in Jesus Christ, what impact might that have on our society? Just look what God has done through Mel Gibson....

On Being Sentimental

I stumbled across another of my favorite "ramblings" from a few years ago. Perhaps there is a kindred spirit out there somewhere that can relate...? :-)
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Okay. I confess. I am the world's most sentimental person. It has not yet become a crippling disorder, but it does present its share of problems.

For example, just last week I took my two children to the Cracker Barrel restaurant for lunch. It is one of my favorite places to eat, not only because the food is outstanding, but because it overflows with nostalgia. I love anything that reminds me of simpler times past; of Victorian ladies and simple country living.

But the reason I remember this particular day last week is this: As we waited to be seated, my daughter noticed the cola machine nearby filled with ice cold bottles of grape and orange soda. It was a replica of one of the old time Coke machines, so instantly I became reminiscent. I remembered going to my grandfather's old country store when I was a child. Every visit guaranteed an icy cold Grape Nehi on the house. It's a little thing, but in our world of recyclable aluminum cans and plastic bottles, it doesn't take much to make me misty.

Anyway, my daughter Jenna wanted a grape soda so I grabbed one for her. As we were seated for lunch, I opened the bottle and watched intently as my five year old took her first swig of grape soda from a chilled bottle. From the expression on her face, you would've thought she had just learned to ride a bike without training wheels!

Instantly I thought of a way to remember this precious moment. I would keep the bottle cap. The significance of which is two-fold: first (and obviously) it is a keepsake representing my daughter's first grape soda from a bottle. Second, and not so obvious to those who don't know Jenna, it is a reminder of her long-living passion for the color purple.

The problem this extreme sentimentality creates is this: what does one do with all those reminders? Those keepsakes of sweet moments that only come once? My husband and children and I live in a nice home with what most would consider plenty of square footage. But to the truly sentimental, no square footage is enough! I have boxes and boxes of mementos and keepsakes. In the closets. In the garage. In the attic.

I have spent a considerable amount of time over the years trying to discover what it is that makes me so sentimental. Perhaps it goes back to the fact that I have very little to remind me of my own childhood. My family never 'went without' when I was growing up--not without the important things anyway. Things like food, shelter, clothing, etc. But when it came to toys and games and material possessions, we never had very much. And I suppose, because I was the youngest of four children, my mother was probably much too busy to expend her energy collecting memorabilia and locating a place in our very small home to store it.

I do have a few priceless treasures from my childhood though. A couple of dolls and a child-size apron my grandmother made me; a sock monkey made from a pair of my grandfather’s socks; a scrapbook of art projects from the 4th grade; my flutaphone and my first sewing project: a triangular head-scarf made of pink gingham. There's also a stuffed dog made out of quilt squares that my mother made me for Christmas one year and a really ugly pink stuffed cat with a hard plastic head. Priceless!

Oh, I've got a few more items, but you get the picture.

I suppose that's why I love to go antiquing so much. I love seeing things that remind me of my childhood. One time I spent five dollars for a cigar box that was just like one my grandfather had given me when I was a child. It was just an old box, but the smell of cigars always reminds me of his gentleness and his quiet way. I don't have many memories of Grandpa--he died when I was only nine--but the memories I do have are good ones, and that cigar box always makes me nine again. I don't know what happened to the original... I suppose it got thrown out with other "junk" I outgrew. I just wish I had known then how much I would miss that silly old box.…

For my children, they will have more memorabilia than they will ever know what to do with. But hopefully, along with every crayon colored picture and every note scribbled with backward letters they will be reminded of happy moments from their childhood.

To some I may be a pack rat, but I prefer to call myself hopelessly sentimental--and proud of it! If they ever come up with a 12-step program for those who are obsessively sentimental, don't sign me up. I'm content just the way I am.

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Copyright 2000 Mary Comm

Click here for an interesting timeline of the history of soda pop.

America Bless God!

Everywhere I look these days there are billboards, signs, and bumper stickers calling on God to bless America. While these signs and symbols of our country, our patriotism and our faith are encouraging, we have most certainly gotten it backwards.

For decades some Americans have worked tirelessly to remove God, His 10 Commandments and prayer (in any and every form) from our schools and our society. And we have allowed them to succeed to a great degree. We have stood by while those same Americans redefined tolerance, even attempting to shame us into embracing it as well. However, it’s not merely a tolerance of those who are of a different race or creed or religion from ourselves, but a tolerance of things God Himself has deemed detestable in His sight—such as the right of a mother to end the life of her unborn child, the right of doctors to end the life of their patients, and the right of those in same-sex relationships to obtain equal status with God-ordained male/female relationships under the laws of marriage. (Has anyone really read the true story of Sodom and Gomorrah?)

And just look at what we have done to the institution of marriage! What God ordained as a lifelong commitment, we have made into a mockery, hopping from one marriage to another, even undermining the sanctity of marriage by embracing “extramarital affairs” and insisting that sex outside of marriage is as acceptable as breathing.

Have we even noticed all the nice, socially acceptable words we have acquired for what God calls sin? …Abortion, euthanasia, sexual orientation, extramarital affairs, promiscuity… Likewise—to our shame—the term “sin” has been rejected by our society. Yet in our arrogance, when the going gets tough, Who do we call on to bless us?

Our public school system has taken it upon itself to teach the theory of evolution as fact, even scoffing at anyone who dares to believe in Creationism. It has so re-written the history books as to have successfully erased the faith of our founding fathers — a faith in the God of the Holy Bible. As though that is not enough, we as a society have decided that the God of our forefathers was too narrowly defined. So we have taken it upon ourselves to redefine “God,” watering down the One True God, making Him small and accessible and comfortable. We have, in our “brilliance,” determined that “God” should be whoever we want Him to be—or worse yet, that we ourselves are gods. So what we have truly done is to turn our focus from the Creator to the created—worshiping trees and forests and ourselves, or some namby-pamby all-illusive “higher power” that is neither just, nor righteous, nor vengeful….

Someone told me Paul Harvey was the first to say that we, as Americans, have gotten it backwards, and I couldn’t agree with him more. We should not be calling on God to bless us! How can He bless a country that has so blatantly turned its back on Him? No, instead, we need to turn our hearts back to Him—the One True God—and seek to bless Him. As we do that, we won’t even have to ask Him to bless us…. For He joyfully blesses those who seek Him and fear Him. But God said it best in His own words:

…if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles. 7:14 (NIV)

So as the birthday of this great country approaches, I pray that we will once and for all set the record straight. I pray that we who are called by God’s name will stop whining and pleading for Him to bless us, and begin to do that which blesses Him. Shout it from the mountaintops! Put it on your car bumper. Hang it from the sign in front of your business or in your shop window. Post it on your front lawn. From every corner of this country, from sea to shining sea, let the sound of freedom ring – and let the voices of God’s people join in harmony calling for America to Bless God!

[Psssst…. Pass it on….]

Other Resources: AmericaBlessGod.com ;
America Bless God - Evangelism Store

[Please pardon my rant....] ;-)

A Tribute to My Dad...

Since today is Fathers Day, I would like to talk a little about my own father. My dad and I have not always had the best relationship. In fact, for many years I didn't like my dad very much. But in all honesty, that is one of the areas of my life in which God has really done a lot of work. I would even go so far as to say the change (in me -- not him) has been miraculous!

Because God has changed me, I can now say with all sincerity that I love my dad with all my heart. But even more significant, I like him and I respect him. Where once all I could see were his shortcomings, now I see so much more. And I see how he has made a positive difference in my life in so many ways.

For example, my dad has always been a hard worker. He always gave 110% to his job, but not because it was a career he loved. He gave his all because that's the only way he knew how to do it. His strong work ethic is one of those things I respect so much about him, and I am truly grateful that he passed that on to me merely by modeling it.

My dad is a do-it-yourself kind of guy. Whenever anything shuts down, stops up, or quits working the way it's supposed to, he will try to repair it himself before calling a professional. And most of the time he is quite successful.

My dad has an enduring, positive outlook on life --which is truly one of the most fascinating things about him. He has been hit with some of the most horrendous difficulties of anyone I know, but you'd never know it to talk to him. He's almost always got a smile on his face and a story to tell. He's not a complainer, like so many of us these days. When he is faced with a challenge, he meets it head-on. Never waivering. Never faltering. Never throwing up his hands in despair. I don't remember ever seeing him despair, though he has certainly had plenty of opportunities to do so.

The old saying about "water running off a duck's back" was made for my dad. That's the way he handles life. He takes things in stride. Whatever "life" hands him, he makes the best out of it, then moves on.

My dad is also an affable people person. He loves to socialize. At 75 he has many friends. He is active at his church and is a volunteer with the Disaster Relief Group of Oklahoma. He still takes care of the house and the vehicles, plants a huge vegetable garden every summer, and keeps his five acres of land beautifully groomed. In his spare time he builds things out of barn wood, using his own designs, of course.

But probably the best thing about my dad is his faith in God. One of my favorite memories of my dad happened just a few years ago. Following a mild heart attack we learned, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, that he needed a triple bypass. As he was waiting to be wheeled into surgery, I asked him if he was scared. His answer was confident and sincere. He told me, "No," that he knew his life was in God's hands. His faith at that frightening and uncertain moment put my heart at ease. But that's just my dad... Never one to talk openly about his faith, or to force his faith on anyone else, he has just always worn it as comfortably as those plaid cotton shirts he wears around the house every day. That's the kind of faith he's always lived. That's the kind of faith I grew up with.

So yeah, my dad is a pretty great guy. I regret that I missed all the great things about him for so many years, but I'm all the more thankful now for the love and appreciation I have for him. I hope I have many more years of enjoying him in this lifetime.

So Happy Fathers Day, Daddy... I love you....

Happy Fathers Day (?)

Dads have it pretty rough these days. I mean, look at how different things are for them now as opposed to, say, a hundred years ago....

A hundred years ago, a man proposed and got married in someone's living room or the tiny church in town with a few family members and his closest friends. Now, when a man proposes, he gets hit with a full-fledged wedding that would rival any three-ring circus, complete with a wedding coordinator, a videographer, a caterer, an entertainer, and 500 guests -- most of whom he's never met.

A hundred years ago, when his wife delivered the babies, the expectant father paced back and forth on the front porch, waiting for the doctor to bring him the happy news of the blessed event. These days he not only gets to watch every gruesome detail, he gets to videotape it so it can be viewed over and over again, and he can even cut the cord if he wants to. (The effects of which have actually helped with that six-week waiting period after the baby is born before resuming "intimate relations.")

A hundred years ago, men "worked" and their wives took care of the kids and the cooking and the cleaning.... A woman would never dream of asking her husband to change a diaper or get up in the middle of the night to feed the baby. Now, he's considered a barbarian if he doesn't automatically change the diapers -- even the poopie ones -- or volunteer for a nighttime feeding once in a while.

Husbands these days not only know how to work the dishwasher, they can load it and put the clean dishes away. And most of them can actually do the laundry as well.

A hundred years ago, the most sophisticated baby devices were -- oh, wait, there weren't any baby "devices." They didn't have monitors for the baby's room, baby carriers that morphed into carseats, strollers named after Cadillacs (and with almost as many features!), Diaper Genies, or diaper bags with fifteen compartments.

A father living a hundred years ago, would get up early in the morning and sit down to a hot breakfast before going off to work. He would put in his 8 or 10 hours at the job, then come home to another hot meal, read the newspaper, and spend some time throwing the ball around with his sons while his wife washed the dishes and located his slippers. Now, he gets up when he feels like it. He may or may not go in to the office, or he may just work at home on his computer. If he eats breakfast, he prepares it himself, usually a Pop Tart or cold leftover pizza from the night before. He works a few hours, goes to lunch with a friend, and arrives back home in time to drive the kids to karate before taking the family out to eat--again. Hot, home-cooked meals are a rarity, as is playing ball outside with the kids. They would rather play mind-numbing video games or watch mindless television. He drifts back to his computer the first chance he gets to check on his business, tucks the kids in bed a couple of hours later, then collapses in the big chair where he spends a couple of hours with his wife whose worn-out feet always need a nighttime rub.

Yes, much has changed in the last 100 years.... Husbands and fathers have had to learn to do a lot of things they would rather not even know about. They have seen things that make the movie "Alien" hard to watch. And amazingly they probably get a lot less respect than their predecessors.

But just for the record, I want the father of my children to know that on this Fathers Day, after 15 years of marriage, after the births of our two children, too many illnesses to count, major surgery, etc., I happen to think you're a pretty good husband and dad. Of course, all that was the easy stuff.... Next come the teenage years, college tuition, middle and old-age maladies, our daughter's wedding, counseling fees, grandchildren and all the new and improved baby devices, ....

On Turning 40

...And yet another article...dusted off just for you. (Although the dust wasn't nearly as thick on this one!) ;-)

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When I was 38 years old, if anyone asked I told them I was 38. The following year as my birthday came and went, I went from being 38 to "almost 40." For some reason, this entire year has been the year of "almost 40." Thirty-nine has completely vanished from my vocabulary.

I've heard all my life that "life begins at 40," so I've actually been looking forward to 40 -- until recently when my 42-year-old friend told me life actually begins at 50. Instantly I cried "Foul!" How unfair to move the bar when I was so close!

"Almost 40" hasn't been so bad. So I've got a few more wiry gray hairs. So my metabolism has slowed drastically. So I've developed a few more lines and wrinkles in my face. What's the big deal? Aren't we only as old as we feel?

Of course that can be even scarier than "40." Some mornings when I crawl out of bed my back is aching, my feet are throbbing, and every muscle is stiff. On mornings like that I feel closer to 80 than almost 40. Two things happen at that point. First, I instantly feel compassion for those who really are 80. And second, a wave of panic comes over me as I think, If this is how I feel at almost forty, how bad will I feel at almost 80?

Life is full of challenges. Even at almost 40 my children are just elementary age. One would think that having young children in the house would keep one young. Sometimes that's the case, but often I find their boundless energy is flaunted in the face of my lack of energy. I can't help but wonder how it will be to be in my 50's when they pass through their teen years... It is this very thought that has served to heighten my prayer life!

My husband reassures me often that even though I'm almost 40 I don't look it. He is always asking people how old they think I am. That has been a beautiful affirmation to me with the exception of the time he asked his grandmother how old she thought I was. Her answer was, "I don't know... 50-something?" Oh well, can't blame him for trying.

In truth, being almost 40 isn't that bad. As I take stock of my life I realize I am blessed beyond what I ever could have asked or imagined. I have a loving husband, two adorable children, wonderful siblings, and my precious parents are still with me. My life is full of warmth, love, and promise. Hey, if life is this good at almost 40, just think how great it will be when life really begins at 50!

A Little About Me... (Part II)

Here's a continuation of yesterday's ramblings...from a couple of years ago.

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I love going to movies--even if the movie isn't very good....

I love laughing with friends and talking about the goodness of our God. I love encouraging others with the encouragement I've gained through my walk with my Savior.

I love riding horses with Jenna, listening as she talks incessantly to our guide about anything that comes into her head.

I love working word searches with Zach and talking about the things closest to his heart.

I love talking with Joel in the dark before we drift off to sleep on those rare occasions when he goes to bed with me....

I love writing letters and sending cards to people--the old-fashioned way--through the U.S. mail.

I love music and movies that stir my soul or lift my spirits or challenge me.

I love the color purple. Every shade reminds me of my sweet little girl.

I love Zachary's dimples. His smile still melts my heart and makes me grateful to my God.

I love things that smell good: potpourri, candles, perfume, air freshners, flowers, fresh-baked homemade bread, banana bread still warm in the oven.

I love lace. It is feminine and sophisticated, delicate and dainty, nostalgic and beautiful and pure....

I love photographs that capture special moments or reveal hidden thoughts or inspire reflection or meditation or awe.

I love photo albums and scrapbooks that record the happy moments of our lives.

I love the sights and sounds and smells of Christmas.

I love sweet hugs and kisses from little people with messy faces and sticky hands.

I love our fluffy, fat kitty cat that nuzzles me when he's hungry, and plops down on my favorite rug with all fours in the air when he wants his tummy scratched. I love our fetching, moaning, leg-warming kitty cat that sleeps next to my pillow at night and walks through the house, meowing sorrowfully with her woobie in her mouth until she finds someone to whom she can deliver it...

I love foot rubs and back scratches.

I love when Jenna "fixes" my hair--as only a six-year-old can....

I love tea parties and giving gifts to people I love.

I love old hats and white gloves and hard-sided suitcases without wheels.

I love clocks and wine corks and bookmarks and quilts, old and new.

I love fancy ink pens and pretty stationery. I love blank journals that I can fill up with my thoughts and prayers, and on whose pages I can work out the tougher issues of my life. I can always find a true Friend there, one that hangs on my every word and understands the deepest longings of my heart....

I love to learn new things and to question old rituals, habits and beliefs.

I love caramel apples in the fall, frosted sugar cookies at Christmas, and powdered sugar doughnettes with chocolate milk from the carton early in the morning--especially on road trips! I love my mom's homemade bread at Christmas, and her special "hand-me-down" cinnamon rolls anytime!

I love fishing when the fish are biting. I love breakfast on camping trips--the smell of bacon sizzling on a kerosene stove, eating scrambled eggs and buttered camp toast smothered with jelly, and drinking hot coffee made the old-fashioned way.... I love the sound of dishes being washed in a RubberMaid tub after breakfast... Something about that familiar rumble and clunk makes me happy....

I love the sound of a tent zipper unzipping and zipping again in the early morning hours. It too is a happy sound to me.

I love my tiny little mama with her soft, wrinkled skin and pale blue eyes beneath graying blondish-brownish hair. I love her smile, her quiet manner, her gentle laughter, and that ornery twinkle she gets in her eyes on rare occasions when she's feeling playful. She's never loud or haughty or rude. She always thinks of others before herself.

I love that my dad takes so much of life in stride. I love that he knows Who holds his future and his present and that he trusts Him so completely. I love the way he lets things roll off him like water off a duck's back so much of the time. I love the fearless way he faced his bypass surgery a couple of years ago... His faith put my heart at ease....

I love talking on the phone with my sister for hours, sharing my life with her, listening as she shares hers with me. I love that we are able to encourage, challenge and support one another through the difficult and trying times of our lives. I love that she prays for me. I love that I am close enough to her to know how to pray for her. I love that she is one of my very closest friends.

I love that Zach and Jenna love their aunts and uncles and grandparents so much. I love that they are so special to them and vice versa.

I love that my brother is the type of man that people speak well of and think highly of.

I love that beauty makes me cry.

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Yes, I'm horribly flawed, desperately sinful...and hopelessly romantic. Sure, I have my problems and my quirks and my perfectionistic tendencies. As much as I adore my children I sometimes yell at them. Sometimes I can be critical and unforgiving toward my husband. And even at the age of 40 I recognize there's still a hurt little girl inside me that needs to be loved and accepted and protected--a little girl that still loves teddy bears and paper dolls. But when all is said and done, I am a special, loving, compassionate, sensitive, sentimental person. And I like who I am!

And it is to Him I owe all my praise, all my adoration, all my gratitude--all the days of my life.... Whether my life continues for one more minute or 60 more years, my hope is that I will spend that time in service and praise and honor to Him....

A Little About Me... (Part 1)

A couple of years ago I sat down with my laptop and asked myself a few questions, like, "Who am I?" and "What's important to me?" Following is the result of that introspection. It's a bit lengthy, but perhaps there is some value in it...?

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I call butterflies "flutterbies." (They have nothing to do with "butter"; they "flutter by"....) I like to drink orange juice from a fancy crystal wine glass. I like Belgian waffles for breakfast, topped with fresh bananas and strawberries (and syrup, of course!) served on pretty dishes with a cloth napkin. I enjoy coffee in the morning and sometimes at night with something sweet.

I love springtime, but fall is my favorite. I love crisp autumn mornings when I can see the steam rising off my cup of coffee--when I need that cup of coffee as much to warm my hands as to get me going. When the leaves are still clinging to the trees in clumps of yellow and orange and red. I love walking through brown, crispy leaves strewn about everywhere; leaves that make their own unique melody orchestrated by a playful breeze or a pair of children making the most of a noisy opportunity.

I'd rather be cold than hot.

I love Colorado! Cooler temperatures without humidity! (I hate humidity.) Huge, rocky, tree-covered, snow-capped mountains... A sky so blue it looks like a touched-up photograph. Waterfalls cascading down the mountains, spilling over rocks, gurgling and laughing and creating rapids when they reach more level ground. God's fingerprints everywhere.... I love the way it causes me to be in awe of Him--appreciating the beauty He created there--while at the same time causing me to fear Him a little bit more....

I love jacket weather... Snuggly warm sweaters, thick socks, and boots of all kinds... I love wrapping up in a quilt on the patio or front porch, breathing in the cool air that signals the end of a long hot summer. It creates an excitement in me the same way it did when I was a child... Anticipation of autumn...!

I love getting up before sunrise early in autumn and watching the wispy, thin clouds of morning change from dark purple to blue to orange to pink before plumping up and turning white against a pale sky.... I love sunsets, as the sun sinks low in the sky and the pastel-colored clouds of early morning return to tuck in the sun at bedtime after a long and productive day.

I love when it begins to snow; those huge silent snowflakes that float effortlessly down from who-knows-where. If I listen closely enough, I can hear the faintest sound of the flakes landing safely on the trees and bushes. So quiet. So peaceful. There's no wind, just a gentle breeze at most, helping those snowflakes along their way. There is something holy, something awe-inspiring in that.

I love fresh fallen snow that hasn't been trampled upon. A fluffy white blanket that snuggles up close to the earth and anything that will stay still on a cold, wintry day; snow that sparkles magically in the winter sunshine without melting away, promising hours of fun for anyone who will don their hats and coats and boots and mittens, accepting the invitation to come and play.

I love watching my children play in the snow--building a snowman, throwing snowballs, or sledding down long, steep hills, shrieking and giggling the whole way. I love sledding down those hills with them--shrieking and giggling the whole way!

I love making steaming hot cocoa with marshmallows melting on top, to defrost the red, runny noses of those who have been playing out in the snow.

I love thunderstorms. They remind me of the awesome power of our God as the lightning reaches out its hand and snaps its brilliant bony fingers against a black night. And the booming, rumbling, tumbling thunder reminds me that God's voice is not to be ignored, but heeded.

I love rainy days. I love the sound of driving rain against the windowpane, or the softer, subtler pitter-patter of a slow, soaking rain. Rainy days affect me in a special way... I can sympathize with creation on those days... There have been many days in my own life when my tears have spilled over in torrents of hurt and anger and pain, and other days when they have fallen quietly in deep, lingering sorrow....

I love antiques. Rusty, worn, frayed treasures of the past... Hand-painted Bavarian plates, rose-covered teapots, delicate china tea cups and saucers, dainty hankies and high-top lace-up boots worn by those brave women of the Victorian era... They were women of tradition and style even in the face of daunting adversities--like childbirth without anesthetics, and steamy summers in corsets and layers of clothes without air conditioning! Living in a time when women were second-class citizens without a voice or a vote, without rights of their own apart from their husbands'; when simple diseases stole the lives of their children and cruel wars stole the lives of their men... A time when children and respect were natural bedfellows. When a boy's greatest hero was his father, and a girl's closest friend her mother.

I love things that remind me how far we have come and in such a short time. Things that were commonplace in my parents' lives when they were children, but that are obsolete, even archaic now. Things that represent a simpler time... Simpler, but so much harder in so many ways.... When a man made his own tools and butchered his own livestock. When a woman baked fresh bread every day and canned fresh vegetables from her own garden. When dusty jars of home-canned peaches and green beans lined the rough-hewn hand-made shelves in the cool, damp cavern beneath the house--the primitive basement dug out of the ground by the same calloused hands that folded in reverence to Almighty God at the dinner table to say "grace."

I love musty-smelling books with yellowed pages and ornate bindings. Books whose pages have been dog-eared and written on by those interested or entertained or inspired by their words and thoughts and revelations. I love opening an old book and seeing someone's name written in flawless cursive inside the front cover. I love wondering about that person, what they were like, when they lived, if they're living still...and how that particular book affected their life....

I love romantic things.

I love hardwood floors and floral wallpaper; stripes and plaids and flowers that coordinate and compliment one another. I love lots of windows and natural light, wood shutters and canopy beds that you have to climb up to get into.... I love wrap-around porches decorated with wooden rockers and trellises and railings covered with climbing roses or sweet-smelling honeysuckle. I love swinging in our porch swing.

I love to write. I love to read a good book. I love the Bible. It is my source for strength and courage, and a viable connection with my Father in heaven. I love singing praises to God. I love worshiping Him both alone and with others. I love those times when I tangibly sense His presence....

I love the sweet giggles of my children. I love snuggle times with Jenna in the morning in her bed, and with Zach in the big chair or in his bed at night. I love connecting with them. I love watching from a distance when Joel is being "exceptional" with the kids... When he is connecting with them in a loving way....

I love staying in bed-and-breakfasts. I love traveling and experiencing new places.

I love when the house is quiet and everyone is asleep--or out for a few hours....

----------------------------

There is more to this story, but you'll have to come back tomorrow to read it!

A Moment of Silence...

In honor of and respect for our 40th President, Ronald Wilson Reagan and his family, this blog will observe a day of silence.

May you rest in peace, Mr. Reagan. I look forward to meeting you one day.

[photo: AP via Yahoo!News]

More on President Reagan's Last Moments

"At the last moment, when his breathing told us this was it, he opened his eyes and looked straight at my mother."

"Eyes that hadn't opened for days did, and they weren't chalky or vague. They were clear and blue and full of love. If a death can be lovely, his was," Davis wrote.

Apparently, from all reports, the Reagan's enjoyed a sweet and tender love affair characterized by enduring devotion over the span of their 52 year marriage.

Love stories like theirs are far too rare today....

Patty Davis quote from Yahoo!News; Photo of Reagan's burial site from Reuters

A Little About Daisies

Betcha couldn't tell that daisies are one of my favorite flowers.... They're such friendly flowers, don'tcha think? ;-)

Here are some fun facts about the Marguerite Daisy:

"With the sweetness of a child, the creamy white petals of the Marguerite daisy gaze upward toward the heavens as if to remind us of the innocence of our youth. The name of the Marguerite daisy may have been born from the Greek word for the pearl (margaretes) hue of its bloom, or for Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, who used daisies on her personal banner. In arrangements, it lasts up to 7 days."

Image at top from AcclaimImages
Lower image from NM Essences

History Worth Repeating

As long as we're on the subject of Ronald Reagan and abortion...(?)...oh well, we might as well have been... ;-) Take a look at one of the former President's finest moments. With his usual eloquence and clearly stated common sense reasoning Mr. Reagan makes the normally complex issue of abortion quite simple, while revealing the potential this practice has upon our future. This speech is both moving and troubling, especially in light of the way things have continued on the downward spiral in this country since this speech was originally given in 1983.

Many of us missed the significance of this speech the first time around. Perhaps we won't miss it this time.

A Sad Day in America and Around the World

Ronald Reagan, the cheerful crusader who devoted his presidency to winning the Cold War, trying to scale back government and making people believe it was "morning again in America,'' died Saturday, June 5, 2004, after a long twilight struggle with Alzheimer's disease. (As reported by Associated Press via Yahoo!News, June 5, 2004)

When Mr. Reagan took office in 1981, I was not really a fan. But during his second term this descendant of lifelong Democrats began to rally behind this gentle, highly charismatic, proudly patriotic, profoundly faith-filled man. At first I think I listened to his speeches looking for flaws and holes in his theories and philosophy, but before I realized it he had won me over. And I was not alone. After two terms in office, and even in light of slanderous allegations of misconduct, Ronald Reagan left the office of the President of the United States of America as the most popular President of modern times.

He was indeed an incredible man, an inspiring speaker, and a courageous leader, and he will be missed.

Many heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Reagan and the Reagan family.

This Guy Needs Our Prayers...

I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must be to be George W. Bush right now. But one thing I know for certain: we need to keep him in our prayers.

Father God, I lift Your servant to You, asking that Your plans and purposes in and through him would be accomplished. I pray You will give him godly wisdom in every situation; that You will guard his heart and mind in Christ Jesus; and that You will protect him (as well as his family, and his Cabinet) from the schemes and attacks of the enemy whatever form or method he may use, and that no weapon formed against him or against our country would prosper. Above all I pray that You would be glorified through President Bush and through America, and that the hearts of Americans would be turned back to You. Lord, send revival to our land! In Jesus' Name, and for His sake...Amen.

Photo: Associated Press

Sometimes I Just Really Love Garfield!

From Yahoo!News.com

New Poll Results!

I ran across the results from a new political poll yesterday, showing a marked favoritism for Bush over Kerry. (I don't like to get "too" political, but I thought this poll was very interesting....) Take a look at this link under yesterday's date. Perhaps you will find it interesting as well. :-)

Note: (This poll seems to carry as much authenticity as many in the mainstream media these days....)

Clipart from: Coolclips.com

Remember Our Soldiers

Memorial Day is not just a great day to kick off the summer, nor is it just a paid day off work for many people. Memorial Day is the day our country has set aside to remember those who have served in our military -- those who have been wounded, and those who have given their lives that freedom may prevail. Let us never forget their faithfulness nor their great sacrifice.

America's Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans

American Revolution (1775–1783)
Total servicemembers 217,000
Battle deaths 4,435
Nonmortal woundings 6,188

War of 1812 (1812–1815)
Total servicemembers 286,730
Battle deaths 2,260
Nonmortal woundings 4,505

Indian Wars (approx. 1817–1898)
Total servicemembers 106,0001
Battle deaths 1,0001

Mexican War (1846–1848)
Total servicemembers 78,718
Battle deaths 1,733
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 11,550
Nonmortal woundings 4,152

Civil War (1861–1865)
Total servicemembers (Union) 2,213,363
Battle deaths (Union) 140,414
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Union) 224,097
Nonmortal woundings (Union) 281,881
Total servicemembers (Conf.) 1,050,000
Battle deaths (Conf.) 74,524
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Conf.) 59,2972
Nonmortal woundings (Conf.) unknown

Spanish-American War (1898–1902)
Total servicemembers 306,760
Battle deaths 385
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 2,061
Nonmortal woundings 1,662

World War I (1917–1918)
Total servicemembers 4,734,991
Battle deaths 53,402
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 63,114
Nonmortal woundings 204,002
Living veterans fewer than 500

World War II (1940–1945)
Total servicemembers 16,112,566
Battle deaths 291,557
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 113,842
Nonmortal woundings 671,846
Living veterans 4,762,0001

Korean War (1950–1953)
Total servicemembers 5,720,000
Serving in-theater 1,789,000
Battle deaths 33,741
Other deaths in service (theater) 2,827
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 17,730
Nonmortal woundings 103,284
Living veterans 3,734,0001

Vietnam War (1964–1975)
Total servicemembers 8,744,000
Serving in-theater 3,403,000
Battle deaths 47,410
Other deaths in service (theater) 10,789
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 32,000
Nonmortal woundings 153,303
Living veterans 8,295,0001

Gulf War (1990–1991)
Total servicemembers 2,183,000
Serving in-theater 665,476
Battle deaths 147
Other deaths in service (theater) 382
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 1,565
Nonmortal woundings 467
Living veterans 1,852,0001

America's Wars Total
Military service during war 42,348,460
Battle deaths 651,008
Other deaths in service (theater) 13,998
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 525,256
Nonmortal woundings 1,431,290
Living war veterans 17,578,5003
Living veterans 25,038,459

1. Veterans Administration estimate as of Sept. 30, 2002.
2. Estimated figure. Does not include 26,000–31,000 who died in Union prisons.
3. Approximately 1,065,000 veterans had service in multiple conflicts. They are counted under each

Above stats found at http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004615.html

-------------------------

U.S. Casualties of the Iraqi War*
Deaths (to date): 800+
Wounded (to date): 4,600

*According to the Washington Post

Support for Our Men (and Women) in Uniform

Here's a great site to check out.... It's called Books for Soldiers. In their own words:

"Books For Soldiers is a soldier support site that ships books, DVDs and supplies to deployed soliders and soldiers in VA hospitals...."

This is but one of many ways to support our men and women in uniform. I was told recently by a reliable source that our service men and women are sustained by the strength of those at home... In my opinion, that's the least we can do. And may we never take their sacrifices for granted.

Socrates

I have always had at least one cat for as long as I can remember. Cats are wonderful creatures--if not a little uppity and independent (plusses in some people's category). So I never thought I would be a 'dog lover.' I always gave people who were nuts about their dogs a little bit of an eye-roll. Like, "Puhleez, it's a dog!" But I admit it: Socrates has made me a dog lover. He stole my heart from the first moment I laid eyes on him, and he's continued to wrap me ever tighter around his little paw every day since.

So go ahead. Roll your eyes! I don't care! I love my dog...! He's a great dog, and as cute as cute can be. See!?!

P.S. Our home is cat-free...We are strictly dog people now!

A Tribute to My Mom...

As another Mother's Day approaches, I can't help but think about what a great mom I have. There is so much to say about her, it's hard to know where to begin.....

My mom has always been there for me. When I was growing up, she was the kind of mom that believed her place was in the home, cooking, cleaning the house, washing and ironing our clothes--all that less-than-glamorous stuff that many women of my generation pay to have done. And back in those early days, we didn't have a clothes dryer, so she would hang load after load out on the clothesline in the backyard. Winter, spring, summer, and fall, hot or cold, she would beat a path out to the clothesline to make sure her family had clean clothes to wear.

My mom was more than a housewife though. She helped me study for tests; she helped me with projects I needed to do for school; and every day when I came home from school, there she was, ever faithful to her family.

Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. We had everything we needed; we never went without the necessities of life. But there was at least one time when my mom sacrificed something she needed--like a new dress for church--because I needed something for school. I have never forgotten that. But that's just the kind of person my mom is.

My mom is never hateful or rude, harsh or uncaring. In fact, I've hardly ever heard a negative word from her regarding other people. On the contrary, she is generous, kind, loving, thoughtful, dependable, hard-working--all those things you want your mom to be. But more than that, she is a mom who prays for her children--and for all those close to her heart. She has been a woman of great faith for at least as long as I've known her. She was always faithful to serve at church (serving in the nursery for over 30 years), to help someone in need, or to give of whatever she had to others. In those ways she has lived out her faith on a daily basis as a model of Christ to me and the rest of our family.

There were a few years in my 20's that I strayed from the Lord, but I know without a doubt that my mother prayed for me--probably every day. She probably still does! I love that about her. She may not have a Ph.D in anything, but she knows where to take the cares of this world. She knows Who holds life and death and everything else in the palm of His hands, and she trusts Him with it all.

Again, what a great model for me to have in this life....

So, for Mother's Day I have to say that I am highly blessed and favored by the Lord to have been given such a sweet mom. I am grateful beyond words for the gift He's given me in my mom. And I am grateful to her for all the ways she has loved me, all the times she has prayed for me, and for all the days I've been privileged to call her my mom.

Torporific

Isn't the English language fascinating? My husband says I'm a wordsmith... I dunno. Maybe I am.

Whatever the case, I'm feeling torporific this morning. After a busy week of 40th birthday stuff, *surprise* stuff for a couple of friends, teacher appreciation week at my kids' school, along with all the usual commitments, activities, and responsibilities, I'm feeling a bit sluggish and lethargic, bordering on (but not quite) apathetic. I'm sure it will pass in due time. I think I'll just go lie down until that happens.... ;-)

torpor*
SYLLABICATION: tor·por
PRONUNCIATION: tôrpr
NOUN: 1. A state of mental or physical inactivity or insensibility.
2. Lethargy; apathy. See synonyms at lethargy.
3. The dormant, inactive state of a hibernating or estivating animal.
ETYMOLOGY: Latin, from torpre, to be stiff. See ster-1 in Appendix I.
OTHER FORMS: torpo·rific (-p-rfk) —ADJECTIVE

*The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

The Slippery Slope...

My dear sweet husband, Joel, turned 40 today! He has officially climbed the 'hill' and has one foot poised on the slippery slope.

A friend of mine told me, as I turned 40, to "Come on in! The water's fine!" What she didn't tell me was how life has a way of changing after 40. (I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't reached it yet....)

Of course, others swear that 50 is the new 40; apparently 'the hill' has moved--or so they'd like us to believe. Whatever the case, I am happy that my husband has joined me in the decade of the forties now, and we can slide happily down the slippery slope toward 50 together!

I hope you know how much you are loved....

(Oh yeah, and Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!) ;-)

Change of Command

Last Friday my husband and I attended a friend's change of command ceremony at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City. It was quite an experience for us civilians. Our friend, Colonel Marty Edmonds, has been transferred to a position closer to the 'action' in the Middle East, and as such, relinquished his command here in Oklahoma.

The ceremony stirred a mix of emotions in us: patriotism for the greatest country in the world; added respect for our friend in seeing the great respect he receives from his superiors, his peers, and his unit; and a sense of awe at his willingness to serve our country at such high person risk to himself and high cost to his family. (He is set to be stationed overseas for a year.)

To Col. Edmonds and his dear wife, Sandy, I offer my most sincere gratitude for your sacrifice of service and my commitment to stand in the gap through prayer for you and your family during this time of separation. May God watch over you and keep you until you are reunited once again.

No Greater Love...

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Regardless of our individual personal positions on U.S. involvement in Iraq, let us not forget to honor those who have willingly laid down their lives in service to our country. They -- and their families -- have paid the highest price possible.

It is out of their love for our country and for the freedom for which our country stands that they have been done this. For that, I simply say, "Thank you...." from a grateful heart.

[Photo from Reuters]

A Tribute to My Aunt Pat

I have some of the most fabulous aunts a girl could ever want. They are sweet, kind, courageous, and hysterically funny. I have watched them throughout my life as they have dealt with marital issues, divorce, raising their children, sibling squabbles, grandchildren, illnesses, injuries, and death. Each one of them is amazing in her own way.

I have learned from them as I sat silently by, watching them sometimes from up close, sometimes from a distance. My Aunt Gearline (pronounced 'jurleen'), for example, had three small children when she went through a painful divorce. But being from such strong stock, she rolled up her sleeves and went to work providing and caring for her children, raising them the best way she knew how. Not only that, but she has always been there for the rest of the family--her siblings and parents--as well, visiting them in the hospital, helping, caring for whoever was in need. I've never heard the slightest complaint pass her lips. She is generous almost to a fault, kind, and loving, as well as fiercely determined. There is never a loss of light in her eyes or a lack of laughter in the room when she is around.

I have learned about resilience and determination from watching Gearline.

My Aunt Peggy is another one who seems to have been cut from the Rock of Gibraltar, although she also possesses a sweetness of spirit and gracefulness, always with that easy, humorous disposition. A few months ago when her husband suffered a stroke, Peggy handled it like a champ, doing whatever needed to be done, and doing it all with a sense of humor and gratitude for even the smallest kindness she received. She, like the others, never seems to stray toward bitterness or loss of faith in God when trials come knocking.

I have learned about grace under pressure from observing Peggy.

Aunt Francis is another one who has always been kind and cheerful, with a twinkle in her eye that always makes one wonder what she's been up to. The oldest of the 'kids', she has always been, of course, very responsible, but she too has had a seamless quick wit and an easy way of laughing at the foibles of life.

I have learned about strength from knowing Francis.

Aunt Betty, or Jean as she's known by many in the family, is the one with whom I am the least familiar. She has her own quick wit and has at times displayed a strong faith in God--as have they all. While her life has likewise been difficult, she has never seemed to weather those trials with the same 'casual ease' the others often portray. But like Gearline, she has overcome those hardships, rising above them with courage and grit.

I have learned about fortitude from watching Betty.

Then there is my Aunt Pat.... The youngest of the girls in the family, Pat is the one I have always related to best. Being the youngest in my family of origin as well, I felt I understood her better than some, and she me. Pat also had an extremely painful life... Endless bouts of depression and emotional distress, anxiety, and health problems that always threatened to overtake her. The chronic illness and disability of her husband for most of their married life likewise added to her stress. But she loved her husband dearly; would do anything in the world for him. And even with all she had to deal with within her own household, she was always there for her mother (as well as anyone else in need), calling, visiting, making meals, doing whatever she could to help ease the suffering of others.

One of the things I love most about Pat besides her sweet, kind, generous heart, is her wonderful laugh. She has the best laugh of anyone I know. It is one of those contagious laughs, and one that always brings tears to your eyes and leaves your sides sore the next day. She's one of those people that when she laughs, she laughs all over. And what a sense of humor! She has always come up with the funniest things...! One of my all-time favorites occurred when I was probably a young teenager. Pat always battled her weight, and one time she mentioned that God had made a mistake putting breasts in the front because they just got in the way. She always thought He should've put them in the back instead....

Pat's thoughtfulness has always been an outstanding quality as well. My niece recently had her first child, and though Pat was dealing with the ravaging affects of a brain tumor (among various other health-related issues), she commissioned her daughter-in-law to make a baby blanket for this newest member of our family. I know she did the same for many others in the family as well.

Pat often got into trouble with other members of the family.... I don' t know all the details, but what I do know is that it was Pat that threw a birthday feast for my mother a few years ago. Neither Pat nor her husband were able to get around very well, but there they were with their rolling desk chairs, scooting around the kitchen like seasoned dancers in a beautiful, quirky ballet, laughing and talking, eager to serve their guests. And try as we might, they wouldn't allow us to help them with even the smallest detail. I don't remember what we ate that day, but I will never forget how tirelessly they worked or how excited they were to do something special for my mom on her birthday.

Even with all the difficulties within her relationships with her siblings, Pat always stood by her convictions. Right or wrong, she knew who she was and remained true to what she knew to be true in her own life. We all have painful things from our past, and Pat was never one to sweep those things under the rug or pretend they never happened. Sure, she ruffled feathers more than a few times. She offended others in the family. She hurt feelings and went to battle over things that might've been better left alone. But the one thing I keep coming back to is that I believe she was desperately seeking peace and healing and restoration where those issues were concerned. While some may have thought she was merely a pot-stirrer, I believe all she really wanted was to be heard, to have her feelings validated, and to heal. While her methods may have been sorely lacking in wisdom and grace, I believe her motives were always genuine and pure.

I have learned so many things from knowing Pat...! Thoughtfulness, persistence, bravery, loving kindness, fortitude, generosity, resilience, the ability to laugh at one's self--and the list could go on.

Last week, Pat underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor the size of a tennis ball. While we were all hopeful this surgery would give Pat back her life, what we didn't know was of the aneurysm that lay lurking in her brain. The surgery was in itself successful. Ninety percent of the tumor was removed. But the aneurysm burst, taking our dear sweet wonderful Pat from us.

Probably the best thing about this situation is knowing that for probably the first time in her life, Pat is totally free of pain and is experiencing joy she's never known before. Right now she is probably frolicking effortlessly and happily around her new mansion in heaven. Or perhaps she's sitting at our Savior's feet. Knowing Pat, she's giving Him a very humorous critique of human anatomy and offering some suggestions for improving His original design...! (No doubt He's wiping tears from His eyes and holding His sides....)

One thing is certain: there is a wonderfully contagious new laugh echoing through the halls of heaven today.

My Aunts! [l-r standing: Peggy, Pat, Francis, Velma (my mom);
l-r seated: Gearline and Betty]

Happy Birthday, Socrates!

Today, our sweet little Yorkie, Socrates, turned two years old! He has been a wonderful addition to our family ever since we adopted him on June 30, 2002. Although he was supposed to only grow to 5-1/2 pounds, Socrates now weighs in at over 10 pounds, making him our "mammoth" Yorkie... But we wouldn't have it any other way. He is the perfect size for our family.

Some fun facts about Socrates:

Happy Birthday to Me....

Yes, today is my birthday! And it started out great with breakfast in bed--hot coffee, my favorite cereal, and my mother's homemade cinnamon rolls...yum! Then I spent the next hour or so working on my current Bible study -- Experiencing God. (It's an awesome study!) Afterward, I showered, we ran some errands, then picked up burgers from Johnnie's and went to a park here in town for a picnic. (Socrates had a blast!)

After Joel and the kids played foxtail for a while, we came back home, and I was showered with gifts--among which were two personalized, original pieces of artwork by two of my very favorite people: Zach and Jenna. Then Socrates and I took a short afternoon nap...pure heaven!

The kids have karate this evening, so we'll take them to class then go out for a nice 'birthday' dinner after that.

So far it's been a great day, and there are still several hours left in it with which to celebrate.... :-)

The Passion--Suffering--of the Christ

Suffering is right! I saw the movie last night and could barely take it. I thought I would weep through the whole thing, but I think I was in such shock at the brutality of it (and that He endured it for me, because of my sin...) that I was beyond tears except for a couple of scenes... The first was during the scourging of Christ when the shards at the end of the scourge dug deep into His flesh, leaving huge gashes as the whip was pulled away. (It was the only time I noticed an audible gasp throughout the audience....) The second was as Jesus, beaten beyond recognition, made His way through the streets of Jerusalem toward Golgotha. During one of His many falls under the weight of the cross, His mother watched from nearby remembering a time when as a small child this same Jesus had fallen down. In the flashback she ran to her Son, calling His name; then as she reached Him, she held Him in her arms and said, "I'm here...I'm here..." as she rocked Him in her arms. Then returning her attention to the present, she ran to her now grown Son in like manner, calling His name. Upon reaching Him, she fell to the ground near Him and spoke the same words through tears, "I'm here...I'm here..." It was truly too much to take in.... (Again, the thought kept going through my mind, He did it all for me....)

As the movie ended and the lights came up, for whatever reason, that's when the tears began to flow... I had an almost uncontrollable urge to sob openly, but managed to maintain a degree of composure. As we walked through the mall toward our car, I couldn't help but notice that everything seemed surreal. It's difficult to explain, but something changed in me as a result of watching this movie. The way I looked at the world had changed--probably, because for the first time I began to understand more clearly just what He had done for me....

Joel and I talked about the movie all the way home, analyzing different aspects of it. Biblically speaking, it seemed to be fairly accurate. Some artistic license was taken, as is to be expected, but not overly so. We both agreed that while the physical suffering was clearly beyond words, the one element that was glaringly absent was that of His spiritual suffering after He was arrested. We got a glimpse of intense spiritual agony as He prayed in the garden, but at the pinnacle of His sacrifice, when the weight of all of mankind's sin was laid upon Him, the spiritual aspect was not there. Not that it could've been adequately portrayed, but some representation was needed, I think. Overall, however, it was a well-done cinematic feat--not the usual low-budget "Christian" pablum we're used to. (No offense intended.)

Beyond that it's difficult to find the words to communicate the scope of this movie. There truly are no words to do it justice. I have to say, however, that it was in no way anti-Semitic. Jesus clearly proclaimed at least twice (that I noticed) that this was how it had to be--first when He told Pilate that the only reason he had any authority in the situation was because it was given to him by God; and second, when, in a flashback to His recent Passover dinner with the disciples, He told them they were His friends, quoting the powerful words from Scripture: "Greater love has no man than to lay down His life for His friends..." He told them all that He was laying down His life for them. No, no one 'took' Jesus' life from Him. He gave it freely. Had He not given over His life of His own accord, no one could've taken it from Him. This was indeed how it had to be: the spotless Lamb of God was slain as a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world--including me.

Did the chief priests, scribes, and Judas bear some responsibility for the part they played in the crucifixion of Christ? Yes, most certainly so. But were all Jews everywhere to blame? No. These Jewish leaders and Judas did indeed commit a heinous crime against our Lord, but their sin is on their heads alone. Toward the end, as the earthquake ripped through the temple where those same leaders were gathered, I actually felt pity for them. I don't know if they ever realized that they had actually had their long-awaited Messiah murdered. I doubt it, considering how things have played-out since. But one day they will know for certain what they did, and yes, they will have to give account for their actions. For that, I do pity them greatly.

Is this a movie that everyone should see? No! But it is an incredible depiction of the sacrifice and suffering of Christ. Much caution is warranted when considering taking children to this movie. It is brutally violent and extremely bloody--fully earning its "R" rating. Likewise, it could be a wonderful evangelical tool for those who have not yet counted the cost of their sin.

As for me, yes, I do believe it changed me. I haven't been able to debrief myself fully, yet, but I know that the impact was great.

And no, I will never forget that this is what He did for me.

If I Had My Life To Live Over

A dear friend sent this to me today in honor of Women's History Month. I thought it worthy of repeating here....

I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love yous".. more "I'm sorrys".. but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.......look at it and really see it.. live it.. and never give it back.

How much better would our lives be if we wouldn't forget to stop and smell the roses each day!?! How much less would we regret at the end of the day if we would take time to tell a loved one how much we love them, do something nice for ourselves, and stop to give God thanks for all of it...?

Ah, the simplicity of life and the joy available to us all....

Happy Groundhog Day!

Just wanted to wish all y'all out there a very Happy Groundhog Day! We, here at our house, had a slam-bang celebration tonight due to my husband's keen interest of the holiday.

We read about the history of Groundhog Day; we played some Groundhog Day games (word search and maze); put together a groundhog puzzle; discovered some trivia about Punxsatawney Phil (the 'official' groundhog), and played a couple of rounds of Payday. It was 'eye-rolling' great fun according to our 12-year-old.... (Well, we old fogies enjoyed it anyway!)

So once again to all you Groundhog Day die-hards:

Where I've Been...

I got this idea from my husband's blog.... Looked cool, so I did it for myself. Just a little fun stuff to divert attention from the heavier stuff of life....

Click here to generate a map of the states of our great country that you've visited.

Groundhog Day?

I've never been one to put much stock in Groundhog Day. Six more weeks of winter? or early spring? P'shaw! Anyway, last night, the 'holiday' came up in conversation with my husband, and I asked him when it is... He was flabbergasted that I didn't know. I told him nobody knows when Groundhog Day is. Nobody cares. He didn't believe me, so he spent the next 20 minutes or so doing a random survey on the phone to find out just what percentage of people cared enough to know. Out of the ten or so phone calls he made, not one knew when the 'big day' is! I had to laugh. Ha!

Anyway, I proceeded to do a search on Google for things related to Groundhog Day, and actually found some pretty interesting stuff. (My favorite site had some really fun games! I ended up playing the memory game for half an hour or so! Addictive stuff!)

For those who don't know, Groundhog Day always falls on February 2nd. Believe me, this year we're gonna have to celebrate it! ;-)

Oh, and if you haven't seen the movie, what better day to do so than February 2nd? It's a very fun movie!

Just For Fun

I just entered my first poetry contest. I've always loved to write, but never really focused on poetry. I wrote this one for my folks 'cause I needed a little something to slip in between photos of my two kids for Christmas. (I couldn't find a frame with only two photo slots.) You can view my poem at Poetry.com. (Just put my name in the "Search for a poet" boxes.) Anyway, wish me luck!

Black-eyed Peas and Ham

In the more southern states we have a tradition of eating black-eyed peas and ham on New Year's Day. I did a little research into the origin of this tradition, and this is what I found:

One possible origin of "eating Black-eyed peas on New Years day started during the Civil War. The Northern soldiers raided the South's food supplies one New Year's Eve night and took all the food except for the dried black-eyed peas and the salted pork. On New Years day, all that the southern soldiers had to eat were the peas and pork to keep them alive, so it is concidered good luck to eat black-eyed peas on New Years because of this event. "

I don't know the validity of this explanation, but it certainly makes sense to me.

So for those of you who choose to partake...Bon appetite!

Auld Lang Syne

I've always wondered what this song meant (though I had an idea) so I decided to find out a little more about this New Year's Eve tradition. What I found was really quite fascinating! But not more fascinating than the fact that most everyone sings it on New Year's Eve without knowing what they're saying or where it came from!

Ah yes, "traditions"... Aren't they grand!?!

Manigong Bagong Taon!

On this, the eve of 2004, allow me to wish everyone a very

Great Truths About Life - Part III

And now for the final installment of great truths:

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) One of life's mysteries is how a two-pound box of candy can make a person gain five pounds.
6) God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind I will live forever.
7) It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
8) Time may be a great healer, but it's also a lousy beautician.
9) The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends.
10) Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.

Plus a bonus, just because it's Christmas!

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

PS: To learn about the TRUE meaning of Christmas click here.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Great Truths About Life - Part II

Here's part two of the great truths of life:

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
2) There is always a lot to be thankful for, if you take the time to look. For example, I'm sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge . . . mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing helps. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

Countdown to Christmas - 2 Days

Being Prepared--Not Scared

With the raising of the terror alert to "HIGH" today, I was curious about what to do "if..." As always, I believe the threat to be real, but improbable, so 'panic over terrorist threat' is on my list down around 'possibility of earthquake' and 'tornado in December'. Even so, I took the time to read through Homeland Security's web site on preparing for an attack. I don't know that I'll go to the trouble to gather all the materials they suggested, but it is a good idea to at least be familiar with the different scenarios and what immediate precautions to take in the event of an attack. The web site even offers a PDF file in case you want to print out the information. It's not a bad idea to have a copy on hand.

It never hurts to be prepared, but we don't have to live in fear. In fact, the Word of God offers solid assurances for us regarding fear:

And don't forget:

Another Christmas Classic

A Charlie Brown Christmas has got to go down in history as one of the all-time greatest half-hours in Christmas lore. Where else can you find so many precocious children, the dog of everyone's dreams, classical music, and honest searching for the "true" meaning of Christmas, all bathed in the innocence of that wonderful bygone era? And where else can you find such honesty about the more difficult aspects of Christmas: loneliness, rejection, depression, materialism...? It's all there, wrapped in the sweetest package to ever grace television!

Yes, there's something for everyone in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Snappy lines perfectly performed by cherubic children; drama; romance; music; tension; and a resolution that warms the heart. Who can resist it? Certainly not this Peanuts fan.

And with that said, there's only one thing left to say...

I'm Back!

I have been "away" for a few months, working on another blog, but that project is finished now, so here I am again--ready and willing to share with you my daily (or whenever I can manage it) musings.

For starters, how's about a little Christmas cheer?

Nothing takes me back to my childhood like an hour spent with Rudolph and his friends: Santa, Hermey, Yukon Cornelius, the Abominable Snowman, and all the other misfits. If you haven't recently watched this classic from more innocent days gone by, put on your flannel pajamas, grab a mug of hot cocoa, don some really fluffy socks, and curl up with a cozy quilt for an evening of pure enjoyment. This is great stuff!

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Just wanted to say, "Happy Fall Y'all!"

Fall isn't quite here, but the stifling heat of summer is certainly past, and I for one am so thankful! Fall is probably my favorite time of the year, so you'll just have to bear with me. As long as there's a chill in the morning air, as long as the leaves are turning and falling, as long as winter holds back its blustery cold wind I'm just gonna be annoyingly cheerful!

(Deal with it!)

[This photo is from one of my favorite places on earth: Eureka Springs, Arkansas.]

Speaking of Adventure...

We were launched on a new adventure today -- GeoCaching! It's one of those New Millenium type of adventures, the kind one can only do with the technology of today.

It all started when I finally sat down with my most recent issue of Better Homes and Gardens this morning. In an article about finding fun ways to exercise with your family I stumbled across the adventure. I'd never heard of GeoCaching before and the premise intrigued me. I went to my computer, logged onto the Internet, and read all about it.

Basically, it's a type of "treasure hunt" where you go to the GeoCaching site, put in your zip code, and read through a list of caches in your area. Each cache comes with the coordinates to be input in a GPS system, which is used to locate the "treasure"--i.e. container filled with worthless trinkets and toys along with a visitor's log. (Those who find the caches are to write in the log then they are invited to take a trinket and leave a trinket, thus the contents of the caches are continually changing.) Who thinks up this stuff?

After discovering there were many caches in our area I printed out a few information sheets and showed them to my husband, who immediately got excited. Then we told our son about it and he was really excited!

So Joel did the research on GPS systems and we were off and running!

Since we had to go into OKC to get a GPS system we decided to check out the caches in an area near Best Buy. We took four cache information sheets with us, all level 1 to 1-1/2 (the easiest levels), thinking we would figure out how it's done before jumping to a more difficult level.

After three hours of searching in near 100 degree heat we had found only one cache--but what a victory that was!

The lessons we learned today were:

Catching Up!

I can't believe it's Friday evening already! Where did this week go? I intended all week to catch up on my blog, but to no avail. Either I didn't have the time or the brain cells to put two words together...or both.

Besides trying to catch up around the house, I had friends with which to catch up. (It's so nice to have friends!) :-) My dear friend, Peggy, was one of the first people I got caught up with this week. She is in the midst of a battle against cancer. Though she's suffering terribly with the effects of the radiation treatment, she continues to smile and laugh and pray for others... I think she's my newest hero.

Another friend--an old friend--Pam, is going through her own battles: her health, finances, the health of her children, and the health of both her parents. When it rains, it pours. On some people it's The Mighty Flood revisited. Even with all the pain and uncertainty, we laughed together about some of the absurdities of life--like waxing your own eyebrows. ("Don't do it!!!" she stated emphatically.)

I spoke with another friend, a new friend, last night. The sound of her voice immediately made me smile. (I love those kinds of friends, don't you?!)

And even a new "acquaintance" called me last night.... Her trials are the kind where you just almost don't know what to say or do--except reassure her that you're there for her whatever she needs...and lift her and her situation to the Throne of Grace as often as possible. (That is the best thing!)

I received an email from another new friend/acquaintance this week, a dear sister in the Lord who is also battling cancer. Her emails are always so uplifting and positive, the kind that make you feel like you've captured a glimpse of the Savior.... I always walk away from her emails feeling like I've been touched by Him in a fresh way.

After thinking about all these people, the busy-ness of this week was less physical than emotional. While my body has mostly recovered from surgery, my energy level is still waning, so it doesn't take much to tire me--something I hope will soon be a thing of the past.

I did spend a considerable amount of time this week preparing for the upcoming school term. While I enjoy the planning and organizing, it alone managed to use up much of my time and energy.

The more physical tasks like laundry and cleaning house are now within reach, yet I find I am in no hurry to resume the responsibility for them. (It helps a great deal that I have two wonderful "assistants" who are quite capable and available to help out, if not excited to do so....!)

Nothing too exciting here.... Just more of the usual. I guess the best part of this week has been those times of seeing God in the little things--like the endless giggles of my 8 yr.old daughter and her girlfriend; the snuggle time with my son in the "big chair"; the roadrunner that took a short-cut through our yard one morning; our little "mammoth" Yorkie that bounds around the yard chasing the birds that shamelessly taunt him on a regular basis; and the list of friends, new and old, who remind me that God answers the prayers of His people. There have been so many "little" things this week... I like to think of them as holy moments--those subtly radiant glimpses of God's grace in the ordinary things of life that warm the soul and draw the heart a little closer to His.

When the mundane is marked with moments like that every day, who needs excitement!

"...this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved,
for the joy of the LORD is your strength." --Nehemiah 8:10

Loving God More

The days are ticking off, and my recovery from surgery continues to go well. Summer has begun heating up. Even the mornings are miserably hot and humid. The kids are constantly wanting to go swimming or do something fun--which is still a stretch for me at this point. (Although I'm hoping next week I will feel more like taking them to do things.)

The best part of this six-week period--which I'm almost halfway through!--is that I have plenty of time to spend in the Word, one of my favorite pasttimes! I've finished the Psalms, and have begun working through the Proverbs. (I've been trying to read a chapter of Proverbs a day with the kids... Incredibly rich stuff!) And this morning I also took a jaunt through the first few chapters of Job and skimmed through the Chronicles and part of 1 Kings.

The themes that continue to catch my eye and reverberate in my spirit are those concerning the "fear of the Lord", the greatness of God (both His infinite power and His infallible character), His total rights over every area of my life, and the innumerable reasons we have to praise Him. Every moment I spend in His Word makes me love Him more!

I am learning too, that every breath I take should be spent on Him: praising Him, honoring Him, giving Him the glory for the blessings in my life, thanking Him for loving me--even enough to discipline and test me!--, beseeching Him on behalf of my own weaknesses and on behalf of the overwhelming needs of others, and loving Him in every way I can imagine. There is no event in my life or the lives of others that escapes His notice or happens by chance. He is the God of the universe and of every individual--whether they realize it or not! And He has a plan and a purpose for each of us. It is in staying connected with Him, drawing close to Him, that I am able to endure the hardships and the blessings He assigns to my life and the lives of those around me.

The hard part is staying focused on these truths in the dailyness of life, in the mundane, the drudgery, the distractions, the unexpected irritations or inconveniences, etc. Although I have tried and tried and tried some more to keep my focus "there" I have never succeeded. Although my intentions were good, I believe I may have been somewhat misguided . It is not in my keeping my focus where it belongs, but in loving Him more with every day that passes that will make the difference in my life.

Beth Moore says something about this in her book "Feathers From My Nest". She speaks of repeatedly asking God to increase her love for Him. Such a simple prayer, but one that He will never refuse! As she has prayed this prayer over the years, He has fervently acquiesced! It is because He has increased her love for Him that she has been able to live her life in increasing devotion to Him.

Ah, the simple solutions of life! To simply trust God. To simply obey Him. To simply pray for Him to increase my love for Him.... Simple? Yes. But easy? Not always! Hence the distractions and drudgery and unexpected irritations of life. The key, however, I believe, is in remembering too that God is all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful. He knows my every thought before I think it. He knows the desires of my heart. So because He knows it is my desire to love Him more, because it is one of His greatest desires, He is certain to encourage my prayer life in that direction!

So, that's where I am today.... Trusting Him, depending on Him to meet me at the point of my weakness to strengthen me to love Him more.... May it be increasingly so!

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD...' Jeremiah 29:11-14a

Surgery - Latest Update

Tomorrow is the two-week anniversary of my surgery, and I must say I am pleased with how I'm doing. The pain is almost entirely gone--I've been off the pain medication for a few days now--and except for a major lack of energy, I feel great. I imagine I will only feel better with each day that passes.

I feel like I've been out of the loop of "things" for a lot longer than two weeks. I'm feeling a bit disconnected from "business as usual." But I suppose that's to be expected too.

I did have a long visit from my friend, Robin, today, which was just what I needed after being home alone all day. And my friend Peggy has been good to check on me every day, even though she's going through a pretty rough time herself right now. Tomorrow is my first day to officially be back behind the wheel of the car so I'm meeting my friend Deborah and her kids at CiCi's for lunch. I'm really looking forward to that!

The house is starting to get that neglected look, and I'm certain there's some laundry that needs to be done, but amazingly I'm content to just let it ride for the time being. I have 4-6 more weeks of no housework to enjoy, so I'm hoping my "let it ride" attitude will persevere, not giving way to the compulsive "gotta get it done right now" that is usual for me.

The nice thing about all this is that I have all the time I want to read and study my Bible. I have almost made it all the way through the Psalms--my favorite book in the Bible--and my new Bible is starting to get that "lived in" look that I love so much when it comes to the Word. :-)

So I guess I'd have to say things are going well here at Comm Central, even in the wake of major surgery and a slow recovery process.

Did I say God is good all the time? Even if I did, I just can't say it too much. ;-)

Stress

It seems the more I try to de-stress my life, the more stressful it gets. The more I try to de-clutter, the more cluttered things become. Today, I feel like the fish swimming upstream. It *feels* as though the current is against me and I'm losing ground instead of gaining it.

The truth is, however, that I am blessed! I have a family and friends who love me. I have a home that is pleasant to come home to--even with the clutter! I have a church family to worship and grow with, and a dog who loves his "lucy." (Inside joke.) Actually he loves me and lucy. :-) And best of all, I have a God who is always there for me, watching over me, hemming me in behind and before (with His love and protection), and making my path straight before me. All the events of my life are sifted through His loving hands for my highest good and His perfect will.

If anything is a destressor, that is it. I don't have to stress over the bedroom that's still not finished, or the plethora of items that didn't work for the remodeling project that must be returned, or the school books that need to be sorted through, or the new curricula that I need to familiarize myself with, or the laundry that's piled high.... All things will be taken care of in time according to His plan, and I can rest in that.

I can also rest in the knowledge that I blessed a friend today just by being available to her. Even though I didn't accomplish all I wanted to today, I accomplished that, and I wouldn't trade having all that other stuff taken care of if it meant I couldn't be there for my friend.

So yeah, things are still in chaos a little bit here, but that's okay. In the big picture, I am resting in the loving hands of my Father in heaven, and there's no better place to be....

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
~Psalm 139:7-10

My Day

It's the end of another busy/crazy day! We hit the ground running today, tidying up the school room, filing papers, putting together our "exhibit" for the school party, and even rehearsing the kids' "presentations" for tomorrow. Then we grabbed a quick bite of lunch and I was out the door to meet a friend for a glass of tea and catching up.

I was on my way home when I learned that Joel was having server problems--a recurring thing in our world--so he was off to the office at dinner-time. Meanwhile, I did some more straightening, attempting to get the house back to some semblence of order after the painting was completed--or mostly completed, that is. (So much to do, so little time!)

Joel finally called and said he could meet us for dinner, so we met at the Rib Crib where we had a few minutes to catch our breath. Then he took the kids home while I ventured to Target--one of my favorite places on earth!--to do the grocery shopping for the party tomorrow.

It was almost 9 p.m. by the time I got back home, and time to send the kids off to bed. There were still groceries to put away, towels to fold, curtains to dry, and our bedroom is still in chaos.

But you know what? Life is pretty darn good! I was walking out of Target tonight; the sun was setting, the air was cool and calm; the clouds were beautiful; and I realized--really realized--for the first time in a long time, that I've got it pretty good! So many of my friends are going through really difficult times, and it occurred to me that God has brought me out of some difficult times lately, and has placed me in a time of "rest." Not rest from life, that's for sure! But rest from the heat of the flames, so-to-speak.

So even though I had an incredibly busy week, with some very minor disappointments, my life is good and I am grateful. :-)

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24