oh, we had such lovely days of warm weather and sunshine - right in the middle of february! - and it was wonderful. and now the snow is back. this is what february is supposed to be like. i know it. but i can't help but be disappointed. ugh. i just can't wait for spring. when the grass is green and the flowers bloom. when we'll be getting ready for the arrival of carrie's twin girls!!
i may hate the snow, but i know it's just for a little while longer. and i can still wear my flip flops most days anyway. :)
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Psalm 73
God, You are truly good to Israel; to those whose hearts are pure. But I almost gave up my faith; I came close to stumbling. I wanted what selfish people had, especially when I saw their prosperity.
They don't have the pressures I have, they have strong healthy bodies. They don't let ethics bother them, nor do they have everyday problems. They show off their selfish pride, they will not stop at violence to get their way. They lust for everything, there is no satisfying their evil desires. They scoff at everyone else, they willingly use violence to get their way. They claim to be bigger than Heaven, they think everything on earth belongs to them. They have deceived people to believe everything they say.
They say, "God doesn't know everything, The Most High doesn't know what I do." Lord, these are arrogant people who have a life of ease, because of their money.
But, Lord, was I wrong to stay pure; when I denied myself the pleasures of evil? I have had trouble all day long, every morning I face a different trial. If I have the attitude of the wicked, I would have betrayed Your children. I try to figure out why the wicked prosper, but I only become more confused.
Then I come into Your presence in the sanctuary, and I understand their future destiny. Now I realize they are on a slippery path, they are heading toward eternal destruction. They will die and instantly be punished, and will be consumed by terror. One day, Lord, You will arise, to punish their sinful desires.
Lord, I acknowledge how bitter I had become, my whole outlook was poisoned by hatred. I was reacting like a dumb animal, I didn't know what I was doing. Nevertheless, I will still follow You; You have always held me with Your right hand. You have guided me with Your counsel, and one day You will receive me into glory.
I don't have anyone in Heaven but You, I desire nothing on earth but You. My flesh will get weak and my heart will fail, but You are the strength of my life. Those who will not follow You will perish, because You will destroy those who reject You. But it is good for me to be near You, I have made You my shelter; I will tell everyone of Your works.
They don't have the pressures I have, they have strong healthy bodies. They don't let ethics bother them, nor do they have everyday problems. They show off their selfish pride, they will not stop at violence to get their way. They lust for everything, there is no satisfying their evil desires. They scoff at everyone else, they willingly use violence to get their way. They claim to be bigger than Heaven, they think everything on earth belongs to them. They have deceived people to believe everything they say.
They say, "God doesn't know everything, The Most High doesn't know what I do." Lord, these are arrogant people who have a life of ease, because of their money.
But, Lord, was I wrong to stay pure; when I denied myself the pleasures of evil? I have had trouble all day long, every morning I face a different trial. If I have the attitude of the wicked, I would have betrayed Your children. I try to figure out why the wicked prosper, but I only become more confused.
Then I come into Your presence in the sanctuary, and I understand their future destiny. Now I realize they are on a slippery path, they are heading toward eternal destruction. They will die and instantly be punished, and will be consumed by terror. One day, Lord, You will arise, to punish their sinful desires.
Lord, I acknowledge how bitter I had become, my whole outlook was poisoned by hatred. I was reacting like a dumb animal, I didn't know what I was doing. Nevertheless, I will still follow You; You have always held me with Your right hand. You have guided me with Your counsel, and one day You will receive me into glory.
I don't have anyone in Heaven but You, I desire nothing on earth but You. My flesh will get weak and my heart will fail, but You are the strength of my life. Those who will not follow You will perish, because You will destroy those who reject You. But it is good for me to be near You, I have made You my shelter; I will tell everyone of Your works.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
ridiculous display of wealth
on my way to participate in a community service project cleaning up an area park recently, i ran into my neighbor who showed me her new range rover (while also mentioning that she's no longer working - her husband has a very good job). and she laughed, saying, "i know, it's a ridiculous display of wealth..." and i just wasn't sure how to respond.
i've thought about that comment a million times since we ran into each other. i'm jealous. not of the car (oddly enough, i covet vans these days) but of her freedom with time and expenses, her completed home and so many other little things i wish i had and don't. and i hate that jealousy. when did i become like this?!
anyway, eventually i come back to the fact that my treasure isn't here in this life, but in the life after this. my treasure is in heaven. and, until then, here's a look at my earthly "ridiculous display of wealth"
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
latest events
rachel went to her first halloween party this past saturday and actually did really well wearing her costume all night (she's a skunk! our lil' stinker...). we were so proud of her!
the next day, she went to a first birthday party and it was probably the most time she's spent actually interacting with other kids her age (we do go to story time at the library, but that's only 20 minutes every tuesday and its very structured). it was such fun to watch and she had a lot of fun. of course, it is also very confusing, as she continues to be kicked out of the church nursery... yes, the abbott number (012) is up on the screen every week now (signaling that we need to come and get her)... geez.
so, this kid with a mouth full of teeth (we're at 8 now... crazy!) is already starting to cause trouble. she only looks perfectly sweet... but i love her to pieces anyway. :)
the next day, she went to a first birthday party and it was probably the most time she's spent actually interacting with other kids her age (we do go to story time at the library, but that's only 20 minutes every tuesday and its very structured). it was such fun to watch and she had a lot of fun. of course, it is also very confusing, as she continues to be kicked out of the church nursery... yes, the abbott number (012) is up on the screen every week now (signaling that we need to come and get her)... geez.
so, this kid with a mouth full of teeth (we're at 8 now... crazy!) is already starting to cause trouble. she only looks perfectly sweet... but i love her to pieces anyway. :)
Thursday, October 21, 2010
soapbox
yesterday, someone asked me why i didn't wear purple in support of the "4 pittsburgh kids who killed themselves because they were gay"... i didn't know where to start.
first of all, the internet news story was about kids in OHIO and there were 4 kids but only 2 were gay. another suicide victim was foreign and the 4th handicapped. ALL were BULLIED.
Aside from the fact that it totally annoys me when people (this person, in particular) get super passionate about something without getting all of the facts and then spread their false information, it is particularly disturbing to me that the real issue - that kids were bullied so much they chose to take their own lives - was overshadowed by an attempt to "support someone's decision to be gay." i'm sorry, i don't see why that's the most important issue here.
what about the other circumstances that seem to attract bullying?? like being super smart, having bad acne, being poor, being handicapped, having the wrong parents or address or name, or even being too "loose" or too "prudish"?!?!? why was there not a campaign to support kids who are bullied for any reason?? (not sure what color one wears for that, but something could have been figured out.)
it was just disappointing. my heart breaks for kids who feel so out of place they want to end their lives. and my heart breaks for those they leave behind when they take their lives. i find it heartbreaking that ANY kid would feel that much pressure and attack from his/her peers, not just a select few with specific circumstances.
first of all, the internet news story was about kids in OHIO and there were 4 kids but only 2 were gay. another suicide victim was foreign and the 4th handicapped. ALL were BULLIED.
Aside from the fact that it totally annoys me when people (this person, in particular) get super passionate about something without getting all of the facts and then spread their false information, it is particularly disturbing to me that the real issue - that kids were bullied so much they chose to take their own lives - was overshadowed by an attempt to "support someone's decision to be gay." i'm sorry, i don't see why that's the most important issue here.
what about the other circumstances that seem to attract bullying?? like being super smart, having bad acne, being poor, being handicapped, having the wrong parents or address or name, or even being too "loose" or too "prudish"?!?!? why was there not a campaign to support kids who are bullied for any reason?? (not sure what color one wears for that, but something could have been figured out.)
it was just disappointing. my heart breaks for kids who feel so out of place they want to end their lives. and my heart breaks for those they leave behind when they take their lives. i find it heartbreaking that ANY kid would feel that much pressure and attack from his/her peers, not just a select few with specific circumstances.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
holly is sick
maybe it's too hard to see these pictures, but they are of holly and rachel. best friends, if you ask rach. holly... not so much. but holly is simply the best with rachel. she tolerates pokes, pulls and general attacks from the baby and never once snaps or even scares rachel off. what a blessing our dogs are for all of us!
but now, holly is sick. we don't know yet if it is just "old age" or if it's something more serious (vet thinks maybe a brain tumor) but either option makes us sad. holly is 12 (georia is 11) and they are big dogs, so it wouldn't be unusual for them to live only 12-14 years. but still, it's heartbreaking.
over the weekend, holly started walking around "like a drunk sailor" and then last night she fell down the stairs (i was home alone with rachel and couldn't get to her in time to stop the fall and i felt terrible). its so sad to see our lively, strong, happy dog struggling the way she is now.
so, now we wait to see if this "clears up" a bit in the next few weeks - if so, then we're just dealing with an aging dog. if not, we try to make her as comfortable as possible. this morning, ed hand-fed her chicken and rice (georgie only gets regular dog food... she's not sick). he said he felt like his dad as he prepared the food and fed her (ed's folks take such wonderful care of their beloved dogs). not a bad example to follow... :)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
holding tight
it's no secret that i've been struggling a lot lately and feeling sorry for myself. i wish my life were different. and yet, today we'll go to the funeral for a 10 year old boy who died of cancer and this puts everything into perspective.
jake's brother is a classmate of evan's. his uncle is a former neighbor of ours. and his family goes to our church. we've been praying for healing for jake for a while now and God's answer was to give him eternal healing and take him home.
its heartbreaking. and faith-shaking too. ed & i were both angry when we heard the news that jake had passed. what kind of God allows the death of a sweet, beloved boy? we don't know why God allowed it but we know that we can still trust the Lord. after all, our life is testimony to the fact that God can allow bad things but He is still here. and He won't desert us. i don't know what He has planned for jake's family, but i pray for peace and comfort for them. and i pray for God's glory to be seen in this story.
and in the meantime, i hold rachel a little longer and a little tighter. i try to loosen up with the boys' school stuff and remember to enjoy them while we have them at home. and i thank God that despite all the stuff we've dealt with lately, we are healthy. what a blessing.
jake's brother is a classmate of evan's. his uncle is a former neighbor of ours. and his family goes to our church. we've been praying for healing for jake for a while now and God's answer was to give him eternal healing and take him home.
its heartbreaking. and faith-shaking too. ed & i were both angry when we heard the news that jake had passed. what kind of God allows the death of a sweet, beloved boy? we don't know why God allowed it but we know that we can still trust the Lord. after all, our life is testimony to the fact that God can allow bad things but He is still here. and He won't desert us. i don't know what He has planned for jake's family, but i pray for peace and comfort for them. and i pray for God's glory to be seen in this story.
and in the meantime, i hold rachel a little longer and a little tighter. i try to loosen up with the boys' school stuff and remember to enjoy them while we have them at home. and i thank God that despite all the stuff we've dealt with lately, we are healthy. what a blessing.
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