halloween is over, can I still take pictures?

Trick or treating is over and done and we almost missed it, so I didn't get any pictures of the girls in their costumes. I plan to make them get dressed up again tonight just so I can take those pics! By the time I wanted the girls to get ready, September had a killer of a headache and just couldn't go. I talked her into laying down and she was asleep within 2 minutes! When she finally woke up 2 hours (yes 2) later at 7:20 and said she felt fine, I quick hustled them into their costumes and took them to a church for trunk or treating. Then we hit a couple of friends houses and went to Grandma and Grandpa's. We were home by 8:15, I hurried them out of costumes, fed September supper and hurried them into bed by 9:00. That's when I realized I had forgotten to take any pictures.
That's okay, we are going to carve our pumpkins tonight too. I just figured it has been a busy week, and they don't get to enjoy them anyway on Halloween, so we extended the fun one more night. I just about waited too long to buy pumpkins. There was one florist in town that still had an outside decoration that included pumpkins in the display and they let me buy two of those! Whew! someday I will learn not to procrastinate the important stuff, lol.

today

That was fun! I typed the word today, hit a wrong key, and got the message that my post had been published. I would have had you wondering about that one if I had left it.
My 7th grader, Abi is home from school today, not feeling very well. A boy threw-up at Sunday School yesterday, so I am hoping it is not the beginnings of that!
I will be subbing this afternoon and tomorrow morning in the preschool room at school. That should be interesting. When I walked September to school this morning I showed her where the preschool room is so she can find me after school.
She is very excited about her costume and Trunk or Treating and the party at school. She is not so excited about picture retakes tomorrow, and absolutely un-thrilled about her doctor appointment on Thursday. She has a wart on her knee that has been lasered twice, and probably will be a third time. Hopefully, that will be the end of it. We tried freezing and 2 different meds first, which did nothing to it. We are ready to be done with it!
I am off to run errands before I go to school at noon.

Why our country is in trouble

These are quotes from the latest edition of the Reader's Digest, found in a story about the housing market and foreclosures. (emphasis by colored words, mine)

Those with adjustable rate mortgages who want to keep their homes-the majority of the ones being squeezed-will have to make big sacrifices: no new cars or computers, and fewer vacations and meals out (and forget extras like an upgrade to a flat-panel TV).

Home-owners now suffering the consequences of the credit crisis probably took on more than they could handle, should have recognized the risks more clearly, and hardly got the best advice about what they could afford.

We have such an entitlement society that giving up vacations and new cars and eating out are considered sacrifices, something you shouldn't have to do to keep your home! And as for the probablies and should-haves, well, duh! Our society has been so programmed that we are entitled to everything nice and everything now that we have no clue how to live within our means. And yes, I am even pointing fingers back at myself, as I find myself caught in this thinking from time to time. And what are the two biggest culprits in getting America to think this way? TV and the government. We spend hours in front of the idiot box watching programming and commercials where everyone has everything they ever want, and if you can't afford it just get a loan (no consequences ever shown). Then we have the government telling us we have a right to this and that and if we can't afford it or don't want to work for it, why they can set up a program that will provide it for us. Never mind where they get the money from. We really need to sit back and think about our priorities and our choices in life.

And yes, I do feel bad for people who are losing their homes, but at what point do you start to take responsiblity for yourself and the choices you have made? And at what point does our nation get some common sense back?

How long has she been watching me?

October 22, 2007
Sufficient
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: God's Word says, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor. 12:9). Just what does that mean?
It means that when I'm exhausted and think I can't possibly get everything done—His grace is sufficient for me.
When I'm having a hard time with the person who gets under my skin—His grace is sufficient for me.
When I'm tempted to let my frustration loose and speak harsh words—His grace is sufficient for me.
When I've given in to my lust for food for the umpteenth time in a day—His grace is sufficient for me.
When I don't know which direction to go or how to make a decision—His grace is sufficient for me.
What do you need God's grace for? Wayward children? An aching body? Loneliness? Hormones going haywire?
Whatever your story, His grace is sufficient for you. Ask Him for His resources to meet your need and His grace to help you endure.
With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

This transcript is taken from the nationally-syndicateddaily radio program Seeking Him with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

This email was sent by: Revive Our Hearts2727 Niles-Buchanan Road Buchanan, MI, 49107, USA

is silence golden?

Are you ever in a group of people and keep quiet because you think differently than everyone else? Do you keep quiet because you want them to like you, or because you do not want to offend them? If I am being absolutely honest, 99% of the time, it is because I do not want them to view me as different and have a reason to dislike me. Of course, then I wonder if there are others who share my viewpoint, but have also kept quiet for the same reason.
At what age does it no longer matter what people think? Is that a character trait that I will always have? Or does it come from being teased and left out as a child, and having no idea why they didn't like me?
I find myself doing this even with people I will never see again, or with people who do not matter to me. Then again, I have always tried to avoid conflict (except with my siblings!), so maybe that is what I am doing. But I guess even that goes back to wanting people to like me. One thing brought up in Sunday School this morning was about God asking, "Am I not enough?"
So, how do I change my focus from what others think to "what does God think"?
I do pray that someday I will be able to say, YES, GOD, YOU ARE ENOUGH!

Overheard in my car today

1st and 7th graders are having a conversation about "cuss words".

7th: Don't stick out your middle finger, it stands for something not nice.
1st: Why, what does it mean?
7th: I'm not sure, but it is a bad word. (Mom sighs with relief that 7th is still a little naive.)
1st: Lots of kids at school use bad words, they use the s-word a lot.
7th: You mean (spells out s-h-*-t) ?
1st: Yep, they say shut up all the time! (Mom laughs, glad that 1st is still very naive.)

DUH!

Waiting for the toast to pop up takes forever unless you put bread in the toaster

I am back, off and on

I am back, but postings will probably be sporadic. I have lots of things I am behind on, and on most days nothing very profound to say.
Today I could do a rant on the cost of health insurance and medical care, but it would only be a rant as I have no solutions. And no, Hillarycare is NOT a solution. That would be like cutting off my arm because I broke my finger.
On the other hand, having just gotten back from a doctor appointment, I am very glad we do have good medical care.

Time for a break

Lots going on in the next few weeks, plus I am losing my daughter's laptop and have to finally buy a new computer. So I will probably not be posting until September.

My perfect world, what's yours?

I am here, but my computer only lasts about 1/2 hour a day, so I am rather pressed with all the things I want to do in that time. Let's see, the TV quit working, the computer is almost dead, the washer is dying a slow death, daughter needs a new car. I am almost afraid to ask what's next! So, car for daughter wins by default, and the other things will wait until more money miraculously finds us. Does anyone else dream of a world where money doesn't matter? Course, while I'm dreaming there may as well be no crime, no misbehaving children, self-cleaning houses, magic weight-loss pills. What do you have to add to the list?

I heart my scale!

Or do I? The dumb thing says I lost 5!!! yes, you are reading that right, pounds this week. The only problem is, I wasn't trying and my clothes don't fit any looser. So, when I start my diet tomorrow and get back on my scale next Monday, it will probably take back those 5 I didn't really lose, and I will have no idea if I'm up or down or what? And it is only a few months old, so I can't blame it on the age of the scale.

Take me home from the ballgame...and other random thoughts

Yep, ballgames are over for another year. The team did not do very well as a whole, but our daughter was actually a very good player. ( Something I don't think she would have had the opportunity to show if she'd have stayed on the original team.) And I know she enjoyed it a lot more, which really is the important thing.
So when do you explain the facts of life to your children? We watched a tv show about teens giving up their babies for adoption. I try to keep my kids niave about the world for as long as I can, so my 6yo still thinks babies only come when you are married. So she was very perplexed about how a 15yo could be pregnant. Time to let the real world into her protected life just a little, I guess.
I am looking at all the things I planned to do this summer and realizing that school starts in 4 weeks for my two youngest and the oldest will be back to school in less than 3 weeks. I hate the way summer flies by! So I'd better sit down and make actual plans for those summer plans, or they aren't going to happen.
Our like-a-daughter will be having her baby in August, so I am also trying to find a time when we can head to Kansas to see the new little sweetie. I am sure it will have to be after school starts, so I am trying to find a long weekend that will work to see the baby and my sister's new house. (Do you ever get the longing for something new, too?) Though, at this point in my life I'm not sure I could handle either of those!
So for now I am off to what I do need to handle, laundry and housecleaning....does it ever end?

Trying to keep a house clean is like trying to string beads on a string with no knot in the end.

Cleaning house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk while it is still snowing.

What puts fear in a mother's heart?....

A phone call from her daughter.

"Mom, I had an accident". It is amazing how many thoughts can go through your mind in a split second after hearing those words. Especially when she is supposed to be at work, waitressing. My first thought was, How can you get hurt as a waitress? Of course, by then she has said enough to realize it is a CAR ACCIDENT.


Are you hurt? Where are you? Why aren't you at work? Is the other person hurt? Was it your fault? How bad is the car?


Her question? Do we need to call the police? And I can hear the other gal in the background, "We can just let the insurance company know. Let's just exchange numbers and go and the insurance will pay for it" Make you a little suspicious?


Yes, the driver that pulled out in front of our daughter was a 17yr-old, who was drunk before 9pm on a Tuesday night.


You cannot believe how thankful that makes a mother, to know her daughter is a responsible 19 yr old who does not drink and party. She had gotten off work early because it was a slow night and was on her way to the Christian youth hang-out.


Our car is "totalled", though still drivable. If the headlight and blinker still worked we would probably just have her keep driving it, but those can't be replaced without a lot of work to the front end. So hubby has to decide whether to try to fix or replace it.

In the last 18months this car has had two deer accidents, been hit in a parking lot, and now this!

Oh yes, And neither girl was hurt! Thank God for that.

A Woman After God's Own Heart #2

A Heart Abiding In God's Word

Elizabeth George begins this chapter by comparing Christians who do not spend time in the word to a plant with no roots. Just as a plant cannot live and thrive without a healthy root system, a Christian cannot thrive without being deeply rooted in God's Word.

She also says our Christian life should be like an iceberg. What other people see and our outward ministry to others should be only a fraction of our life. The greatest majority of an iceberg is under water, and the greatest majority of our walk should be time with God in His Word and prayer.

Here's how:
1. Develop the habit of drawing near to God. Only through routine, regular exposure to God's Word can you and I draw out the nutrition needed to grow hearts of faith. This is one of the hardest things for me, as I have a difficult time setting routines and good habits in all things. I appreciated this statement from Elizabeth, "I have to be firm with myself and aim for habitual, scheduled time with God whether I feel like it or not, whether it seems like the best use of my time or not." I so often let other, more urgent or seemingly more interesting things crowd out my time with God. We must say 'no' not only to things which are wrong and sinful, but to things pleasant, profitable, and good which would hinder and clog our grand duties and our chief work(C. A. Stoddards).
2. Design a personal time for drawing near to God. Consider when, where, and what aids are needed. Keep in mind: Something is better than nothing. Choose a time that works best for you, change it to fit your schedule if need be, but schedule it in on your calendar. Where is also important. Some women have made themselves a special little nook or desk. I know that I cannot do it on my bed or a soft chair, because I will fall asleep no matter what time of day it is. For me, the kitchen table works best, after my hubby is gone and before the kids are up. The aids include, of course, your Bible, highlighters, pens, notebook, sticky notes. You may also want tissues, a hymnal, praise music, study or devotional book, reference books. As you notice something you need, add it to your stash. You might keep this all in a basket or bag if you can't keep it all gathered in the place you use.
3. Dream of being a woman after God's heart! Motivation is key when it comes to nurturing a heart of devotion, and dreaming helps motivate us. Describe the woman you want to be spiritually in one year. What can you do to help that happen? Read through the Bible in a year, memorize a set number of verses, complete a Bible study, find a woman to mentor you. Dream on--and do it! Now describe the woman you want to be spiritually in ten years. Consider what your life will be like in then, more kids, a new career, a marriage, a grandmother? Whatever comes, you will need God to help you.
You determine some elements of the heart. You decide what you will or will not do, whether you will or will not grow, and the rate at which you will grow. You decide how deep you want your roots to go.

My favorite quote:
I exchange my weariness for His strength, my weakness for His power, my darkness for His light, my problems for His solutions, my burdens for His freedom, my frustrations for His peace, my turmoil for His calm, my hopes for His promises, my afflictions for His balm of comfort, my questions for His answers, my confusion for His knowledge, my doubt for His assurance, my nothingness for His awesomeness, the temporal for the eternal, and the impossible for the possible.
How can I consider letting my time with God slide when I look at it as giving up all of this?!

Anyone have some truth serum?

Seriously, folks, how do you tell when your child is lying to you? When two children have completely different versions of what happened, one (or both) of them has to be lying! But most of the time, I cannot tell. Is it just that I have poor radar, or are my kids such skilled story-tellers? I have caught my 12yo lying in the past, so I tend not to believe her. But I can't be positive that the 6yo isn't lying, either. I hate to discipline them both if one is being truthful.
So tell me, how do y"all handle situations like this?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Yes, today is my birthday. I had a wonderful start to the day with a phone call from a friend who lives too far away. It was so sweet of her to take the time to call me with birthday wishes.
I will let you know more about my day when I post tomorrow.

It's a Parade!

Today we are off to my hometown for the centennial celebration. My kids are excited to be in the parade with Grandpa and their cousins. My sister-in-law and I made t-shirts for them to wear, which didn't turn out too bad, considering it was a last minute thing using iron-on transfers made on the computer. Someday I'll be one of those organized people who has everything planned and prepared well in advance...... OK, everyone has a hopeless dream, right?
Tonight we go to my hubby's class reunion. 30 Years!!!! How can he be so old, when I am still so young?!! (Don't I wish).

A Woman After God's Own Heart

I have begun reading this book by Elizabeth George after hearing it recommended by a few people.

A Heart Devoted to God:

I think all Christian women want a heart devoted to God, but what I like about this book is the HOW sections. Here are the author's thoughts on how to have a heart like this.

*Commit yourself to actively choose God and His ways in your decisions, words, thoughts, and responses. Before we move or react we need to stop and pray, "God, what would You have me do or think or say?" This obviously takes conscious effort and practice.

*Pay close attention to what is good, better, and best. Strive to make the best choices. She uses the example of driving alone, listening to a popular radio station. She made a good choice and changed to a classical station, then a better choice to listen to Christian CD's, then a better choice to listen to sermons, then to the best choice for her--using the time to memorize scripture.

*Commit yourself to God daily. Lay everything on God's altar, your life, your body, your health, your husband, your child(ren), your home, your possessions, etc. Make this an audible, daily prayer.

*Cultivate a "hot" heart. Revelation 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Am I lukewarm, indifferent to God? I must admit that quite often I am, as evidenced by the priorities in my life. But I do not want to be so! I want to be passionate about God, so that it is obvious to others and myself.

My favorite quote from this chapter is from Carole Mayhall: I do not want to be robbed of even one of God's riches by not taking time to let Him invade my life. By not listening to what He is telling me. By allowing the routine, pressing matters of my minutes to bankrupt me of time for the most exciting, fulfilling relationship in life.

Ahh, to be SIX!

It is so sad that we adults grow up to be sensible and calm. We were at the Omaha zoo Sunday, and had a 6yo girl so excited by everything she saw. (Yes, she has been to zoos before, if you count any in the Dakotas as true zoos.?) She oohed and aahed and thanked us for taking her so many times that my sister was beginning to feel sorry for this poor little girl who most obviously is never taken out of her own house. Her favorite exhibits were the desert and the tunnel in the aquarium (which I have to admit impressed me the most). Since we only have a big, clunky 35mm camera, we opted not to carry it around the zoo, which was a big mistake. I would have loved to capture her excitement on film. (I really, really, really want a digital camera!)

Am I Back?

After using my daughter's laptop briefly over the last couple of weeks, I have discovered that if I baby my computer it will work, at least for a while each day! And since I am really wanting to pay the bills I already owe, before spending money on something else--I will continue to baby this baby as long as she will last. (Hmmm, is it a girl?) So, I will resume bloggin', but if I drop off the face of the earth, you know what happened.

CRASH!

Yep, my old computer finally died. It tried to be nice to me and told me to back up all my files immediately because it was going kaput, but it was already too late! So, while I cluelessly search for a new 'puter my darling daughter is letting me use her laptop. Boy, is this hard getting used too. Definately can't teach this old dog new tricks! So if anyone has advice for me on what to get or what not to get in a new computer, please share!
Oh, and just in case you need the reminder, back up anything you don't want to lose!

I probably won't post again until we have the new computer.

We HAVE to go.....because I want to

My 6yo discovered the carnival is in town, and made the above pronouncement. She then informed me that we go every year, so we have to go again this year.
I am just wondering if I can use that line on my hubby. "We have to go to Hawaii, because I want to!" Somehow, I don't think I'll be as succesful as she is.

We are off to the first teeball game in a little while. The shirt, of course, did not shrink, so we will be hiking it up with a scrunchy and tucking it under. My oldest daughter has been helping with the team, and she got called to work this morning, so I may be out there replacing her. I only hope I don't send a kid to third when they should be running to first! I was going to take the camera, but I guess that will have to wait until the next game.

All I did was put on my shoes

How do you convince yourself you are not getting old when your body keeps saying otherwise?! Yesterday I sat down on the couch, put on my socks and shoes, and when I stood up my hip hurt so bad I could hardly move. What is up with that?! I was perfectly fine when I sat down! By the end of the day, it was better, but this morning I am very sore again, and can hardly make it up the stairs. Isn't this something that I should expect when I am 80, not in my 40's? Any one have a wheelchair for sale, cheap? At this rate I will need it soon!

Take me out to the ball game

Life at our house is pretty much about ball this month. Middle daughter is playing softball and has been pitching and playing first base mostly. They played a boys team last night and almost won the second game. The first game they lost by only a few points. I should explain that our youth softball is set-up so they play two 1 hour games each night they play. Usually they play one night a week, but this week she played last night and will play again tonight. Dad worked with her on pitching over the weekend, so she is getting better. Even struck out several boys last night! Yay Abi!
And our youngest has started tee ball practice and has her first game Friday morning. She is really having fun and is always asking someone to go outside and practice with her. She informed me yesterday that she can play both tee ball and softball (because her sister has pitched the softball to her and she hit it!). I look forward to her game on Friday, it is so fun and funny to watch these little kids play. It will really look funny because the shirts they got are HUGE! September put hers on and it hangs well below her knees. I will try to shrink it today, but of course that is when things don't shrink. I suppose we will have to find a scrunchy to hike it up with.
Our oldest is bummed cuz she can't play this year (first time in 11 or 12 years). She is too old for the youth league she has always played in and is working most nights when the ladies softball usually plays.
As for me, other than watching the games and taxiing the kids back and forth, I also get to go outside and help them practice. Which is always good for laughs at our house, as Mom has no athletic abilities at all. So if you need a good laugh, let me know, and I'll call you next time I am helping the girls practice.

Can you tell I don't know how this works?

I have so much to learn about setting up my blog and making it look like I want it to. So many of you have such cool (does that date me?) elements on your blogs. So forgive me when mine maybe doesn't look so nice as I try out new things. Hopefully, I will catch on fast.

Prayer Request for a soldier

If you have a list of soldiers you pray for, please add our friend Jordan to it. He is a wonderful, Christian, young man the same age as our 19 year-old daughter. He just arrived in Afghanistan and begins his duties there this week. Please pray especially for his safety, but also that he will find Christian friends for support and that God will comfort him as he adjusts to being so far away from his family. It is a privilege for us to know a young man with morals and convictions, who loves God and is willing to serve his country.

What an outrage! What a contrast!

Two items I read today:

From Yahoo News: Vandals burned dozens of small American flags that decorated veterans' graves for Memorial Day and replaced many of them with hand-drawn swastikas. Members of the American Legion on this island off Washington's northwest coast replaced the burned flags with new ones Sunday afternoon. The vandals struck again on Memorial Day after a guard left at dawn, the San Juan County sheriff's office said. This time, the vandals left 33 of the hand-drawn swastikas.

From WSJ.com Opinion Journal from an article by Peter Collier: One of Mr. Thorsness's most vivid memories from seven years of imprisonment (Hanoi Hilton, Vietnam War) involved a fellow prisoner named Mike Christian, who one day found a grimy piece of cloth during a visit to the nasty concrete tank where the POWs were occasionally allowed a quick sponge bath. Christian picked up the scrap of fabric and hid it.
Back in his cell he convinced prisoners to give him precious crumbs of soap so he could clean the cloth. He stole a small piece of roof tile which he laboriously ground into a powder, mixed with a bit of water and used to make horizontal stripes. He used one of the blue pills of unknown provenance the prisoners were given for all ailments to color a square in the upper left of the cloth. With a needle made of bamboo wood and thread unraveled from the cell's one blanket, Christian stitched little stars onto the blue field.
"It took Mike a couple weeks to finish, working at night under his mosquito net so the guards couldn't see him," Mr. Thorsness told me. "Early one morning, he got up before the guards were active and held up the little flag, waving it as if in a breeze. We turned to him and saw it coming to attention and automatically saluted, some of us with tears running down our cheeks. Of course, the Vietnamese found it during a strip search, took Mike to the torture cell and beat him unmercifully. Sometime after midnight they pushed him into our cell, so bad that even his voice was gone. But when he recovered in a couple weeks, he immediately started looking for another piece of cloth."

A blog you need to read

I just came across a very interesting blog, Truth Observed, that will challenge the way you see the world. Dr. Del Tackett works for Focus on the Family on their Truth Project. Please check this out.
www.deltackett.com

Homeschooling and socialization

In case it pertains to my thoughts, I have one child who went entirely to public schools, one who was homeschooled through third grade, and one who was homeschooled this year for Kindergarten (and we are now deciding whether to continue or send her to public school).

With the experiences my daughter has had with a bully at school, and now another blogging friend has had the problem with her son in Kind, it brings up one of my pet peeves: people who think homeschooling isn't good because the kids lack socialization. What are homeschooled kids really missing out on? Learning how to be able to learn when other children don't care and are disruptive day in and day out? Learning to wait because the teacher has to take time with those kids and with the ones who don't understand the lesson? Learning what it is like to have hurt feelings or physcial cuts and bruises from kids who are just plain mean to them? Learning that the popular kids are not necessarily popular because of good character traits? Learning about things you would never want your child to know at that age because other kids are talking about it on the playground? (The first day my daughter came home from 4th grade at public school after having been homeschooled previous years, she had a question for me. "Mom, what's a wh*re?) They do not learn to interact with adults in everyday situations, or kids that are different ages than themselves. As someone who myself was teased in grade school (for reasons I have never figured out) I know how it hurts and how it can affect you the rest of your life.

With the exception of only a few children, the greatest majority of homeschooled kids I know are bright, normal kids who get along well with others and know how to carry on a conversation and interact with people regardless of their age.

So while there are pros and cons to both homeschooling and public schools, please DO NOT tell me that socialization is missing for homeschooled children!

The ants go marching

Does anybody else have a breed of invincible ants invading their house?! Little tiny red ones that do not seem to care for any poison that I have tried. I really hate to spray bug killer in the house, but am beginning to think I may have to give that a try. Anybody have any other ideas for me?
Although, maybe I should just start collecting them and make an ant farm for my 6yo. She has been enjoying watching them; she even got out the magnifying glass. A homeschool mom always sees an opportunity for a science lesson!

Let the games begin!

The first softball game was tonight. I can already tell that we absolutely made the right choice by changing teams. She had fun and even got to try pitching a couple of innings without being badgered when she didn't do so well. We played an older team, so had no chance of winning, but did manage to score one run!

Dawn Needs

I saw this on another blog and thought it looked like fun. Google your first name and the word needs and write down the first ten comments. I did not click on any of the links, and there were a couple that I would never repeat. Here is what I got:

Dawn needs a tripod. (actually I already have one.)

Dawn needs a headcount before Thursday.

Dawn needs to get over herself. (never been accused of that before!)

Dawn needs to be on TV Land. (ok, it was really Tony Orlando and Dawn, but I couldn't resist!)

Dawn needs to seriously reconsider the amount of clothing she wears to the snow. (I don't go to the snow, it comes to me.)

Dawn needs to develop more speed endurance. (any kind of endurance would be nice!)

Dawn needs a plan. (enough said)

Dawn needs the participation of every jurisdiction in targeted metropolitan areas. (huh?)

Dawn needs $40 million to complete, but will cost $10 million to kill. (you didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?)

Dawn needs a friend. (Don't we all? But seriously, I always need one more.)

Hide and Seek

I have been thinking about this since we discussed it in my Sunday School class. As Christians, we should be praying for, and helping each other. But, how can you do that when you have no idea what struggles others are facing? Everybody sits in church on Sunday with their mask firmly in place--"Everything is wonderful in my life and I am so happy to be here to learn about God in a nice, generic way". When actually almost everyone there is fighting a battle against Satan in some way. But we can't admit that because we may be judged. Not sincerely prayed for, but judged. I realize there are many people there who would actually have a genuine concern and love for the one who is struggling. But there are enough of the others there to prevent us from speaking out. The prayer requests are all for healing, or safety, or government, which is all certainly worthy of prayer. But we are not praying for each other! Why can't I request prayer for my struggle to eliminate the sins that entangle me, or the man behind me request prayer for his alcohol addiction, or the teenager who is being pressured by a boyfriend and our culture. We only find that kind of sharing of needs in small groups where the members have become confident that they can trust the others.
It is not just the church I attend now that I am talking about. I'm sure it is this way in just about every church you could find. And I know how devastating the judging and rumors can be. I've been in a church that was torn apart by that. And after being wounded it makes it even harder to share the problems you face.
Do I have a solution? No. I just wonder what impact Christians and the church would have on each other and the world if we truly shared and prayed with each other and left the gossip and judging at the door.
And, no, I am not brave enough to share my struggles.

UPDATE: This was in my e-mail this morning.
"It was so hard for me to learn to let my guard down. It was like I had this shell. I acted nice and polite, but people didn't know the real me."
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: I think that one of the reasons so many people live with chronic loneliness is that they're not willing to die. Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." Of course, He was talking about His own death and resurrection. But in these words, I think we can also learn something about our relationships.
If we're constantly trying to protect our pride, we're going to be lonely. When we hold tight to the hard, outer shell called self, no one can get close. But the true path to intimacy is humility. It means dying to our own reputation, our own rights, and our own ways of doing things.
Being willing to humble yourself will transform your relationships with others.
With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Quick check-in

I have something I want to post about, but since it is almost midnight I also want to get to bed. Just wanted to say that I am still here, though rather the worse for the wear. I spent the last couple of days tearing the carpet out of our main floor (everything but the kitchen). Hubby is super swamped at work and not available to help, so I cut it into controllable pieces and carted it out to the curb for our town's Clean-up Day. Now the work of refinishing the wood floors! I am hoping I can get them sanded down without ruining them. Lots of work ahead of me, but I can already tell I will enjoy having wood floors.

So I will think about my other post and see if I have it ready in the morning.

More from the saga of girls

My daughter signed up to play softball, and wouldn't you know it she was put on the team with the girl who has been giving her so much trouble at school. Long story short, but she was originally supposed to be on a different team, so she was pretty upset when she found out the change. She said she would rather not play than be on the same team. So, as a parent we end up doing things we say we do not like people doing. Yes, I complained and got her moved to a different team. I always hate causing problems for those who volunteer their time and energy, but sometimes your kid comes first.
I was told she was moved to another team, though I haven't heard from that coach, yet and we have heard from others on the team that the first practice is Friday. I may have to call the coach tomorrow and see what is going on.

CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS!

We need to contact our Senators and Representatives in Washington, to tell them not to vote for the Hate Crimes Law. The vote in the House of Representatives could be as soon as tomorrow (Wednesday), but will most likely be sometime this week. It is called the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act and is HR 1592. In the Senate it is S.1105. If passed this bill will give special protection to homsexuals, and can even be used against a pastor preaching that homosexuality is wrong.
We MUST let those who represent us know that we want this bill stopped!

For more information and an excellent column on this, visit Chuck Colsons website at www.breakpoint.org.

Focus on the Family also has information at www.citizenlink.com.

Please Call!

I hate girls!

No, I don't actually hate girls, and my 3 girls I love more than I can say. What I hate is the way girls treat each other from about 3rd grade through jr. hi, and some even into high school. Why can't they just all get along and be friends and forget all the DRAMA! It is so hard to have to comfort a girl who is feeling left out and friendless. But it also makes Mom so proud when she tells me she has chosen not to be with certain girls because of the way they talk and behave, even though she feels like they are the only friends she has. Sometimes choosing what is right is so painful, though always worth it in the long run. Even though Mom went through it, too, there is just no fix to it. Something that simply has to be lived through.
So, now I start praying for friends that are true friends and true Christians. Sadly, like any age, just because they are in church every Sunday does not mean they know God.
And I will continue to pray for the unhappy girl who sees the need to prove she is better than my daughter by making fun of her. Have to cover up that jealousy somehow I guess. Knowing the family she is from, she really does need prayers! A family that appears perfectly fine to any one with a casual acquaintance, but a family that desperately needs God and most likely doesn't even know it.

How much do you worry?

I have always been an overprotective Mom, and actually rather proud of it when I see kids running all over town unsupervised. But I do realize that kids also need some level of independence. So when my 12yo asked to go for a bike ride after school I thought nothing of it, except to remind her to wear her helmet. The longer she was gone, the more I wondered what she was doing, and by the time she had been gone 2 hours, I was angry. There was no way she was riding that long, so I knew she had to have stopped at somebody's house or a park. But by age 12 I expect that she would not stay long or would let me know where she was. Then, of course, in the back of your mind are all the horror stories of kids being kidnapped, simply disappearing and never being seen again. Then the debate starts, do I wait for her to come home on her own, or go looking for her? She most certainly is at a friend's house, but what if.....?
I finally decided, I was only getting madder as time went by and did go searching, driving by all the places I thought she could be. When I found her, she was genuinely surprised that there was any kind of problem! So I guess Mom failed in being specific about exactly what is expected from the child.
Times are so different from my growing up in a tiny town where everyone knew each other and the kids just went wherever and whenever they wanted. It is hard to know how much freedom to give your children, and harder still to leave them in God's hands and not worry about them.

Monday Happenings

Well, today was not a usual day for us. Our office manager (read as she does everything office related) is gone for the week, so I was called on to type a letter at the office. Now, I am perfectly capable of typing a business letter and have done so many times before, but never on that computer in the program she has there. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is when the computer seems to have a mind of its own!? I only needed to get one indentation out to move a sentence over and no matter what I did that program would not let it happen! I finally ended up totally retyping the letter in the word processing program I was used to. (Which I would have done to begin with, but hubby had already started it.) And how many more typing mistakes do you make when your husband is sitting beside you saying he needs to get this faxed and get out to the job site! If I go back to work next fall, it definately will not be as a secretary!

The worst part of the day was when September and I arrived at the office. She jumped out of the Suburban ahead of me, and as I got out I heard her calmly say "ouch". As I turned to look why, she began screaming. Yes, her finger was shut in the car door! We thank God that it was not in the hinge, and only got pinched between the door and frame. No permanent damage, but it did pinch it good and tear up some skin. She will certainly be sore for a few days.

The best part of the day was a phone call from Miranda, she got an A on her ethics paper, and was able to get all the classes she wanted except one. And she is pretty sure she will get into that, she just has to go get permission from the professor. It is so hard to believe she will be finished with her first year of college in less than 3 weeks!

My youngest, the shopper

She is showing off her current missing tooth!

My Little Shopper

Today, my 6yo got to spend her hard-earned money on a watch. She has been saving for awhile and someone told her she could get one for $7 at WallyWorld. So as we look over the huge selection of seven-dollar watches, she spots one that is not only a watch, but has makeup and a mirror, plus a ring full of lip gloss with it! (Kinda like finding your dream house all decorated and furnished and ready to move in!) Then she notices this watch is on clearance for 3 dollars. She knits her brows together and says "I don't want to be a cheapskate, but if I get this one I will still have money left. But, I don't know if I should be a cheapskate." At this point I decided it was time to explain the word bargain to her! So she has been happily showing her big purchase to everyone she can, and has put on makeup at least a dozen times.

Quick check in

Just to let you know I am still here! Thanks to the ladies who have left comments and visited my blog! I will be back later to post some actual thoughts.

Wednesday

I am feeling much better, not perfect, but at least feel able to function today. Instead of PE today, we went to a park and just let the kids play. They enjoyed it, and it was nice to visit with the other Moms. Hannah asked S to come and play afterwards and A had flute lessons after school, so I actually got about a half-hour to myself. Ahhh, rare occurence!
So, with feeling better and actually being able to sleep, I will again challenge myself to get up early tomorrow morning. We will see if I can actually do it this time.

The way things go

My plan this week was to start getting up early so I would be able to get more done before I start school with S. So I have been having terrible headaches and sinus pain that makes it impossible to sleep well at night. Which means I am too tired to get up early, and also too tired to want to do much during the day. I did go to the chiropractor today, so hopefully that will take away my headaches. I chose the chiropractor instead of the doctor, because I don't think I have sinus infection. I haven't been stuffy or even had sniffles, so I am assuming that the pain must be linked to my neck.

I think S will actually get to have soccer today, and outdoors even! That will certainly make her happy. She has spent most of the day outside rollerskating, as Mom just didn't feel up to doing school this morning. When she comes back in, we will do spelling and math. The rest can wait til another day, I think.

M called and is still very stuffed up and coughing alot, but she is feeling a little better. I know there is really nothing I can do, but still would like to be able to physically give her a hug and comfort.

Hubby was supposed to head to Pierre for a workshop this evening, but called a little bit ago to tell me he isn't going. It is just too busy at work for him to get away right now. He is hoping they will do the workshop again in the fall. So, at least I don't have to pack for him. I will go use the heating pad for awhile instead.

Actually, Hubby just called and I need to run to Sioux Falls for him, so I guess that is how my afternoon will be spent.

more scary news

I just heard about the shootings at Virginia Tech. God be with those families! Stories like this leave me feeling numb, and now having a daughter in college myself it seems to hit even closer to home. I want to be able to protect my children and control what happens in their lives. It is very hard to leave it in God's hands. M is sick this week, and it is hard just not to be there to physically comfort her. Thank you, God for phones and computers so we are able to keep in touch with her easily. And thank you for your most powerful weapon you have given me as a mother--prayer.

Using my time

Okay, here I am, up way to late again! I need to have more discipline in my life and I plan to begin tomorrow by actually getting up when my alarm goes off at 5:30. Yes, I typed that correctly. The only way I can do all that I want to do before the girls are up is to arise early. That means this is my last (can I really do it?) late night. So the habit I work on this week, in addition to my eating habits, is getting up at the same time every morning.

Today's funny

I don't know how to do links yet, but thought this was too funny not to comment on.
YAHOO has a story on dinosaurs evolving into............chickens! Now what takes more faith, believing God designed and created the world, or that things just happened to start evolving, and in the process of getting better a dinosaur became a chicken!?
And along the same line, why are scientists concerned about the mutant frogs with 5 legs? Wouldn't they consider that a frog evolving?

Spring!

Finally the sun is shining and it is warm and inviting outside. The snow is almost melted, even the pile that S thought would be fun to put in the middle of the sidewalk. I let her, since I knew it would melt soon. She and I will go for a walk a little later this afternoon. Time for me to get back into the habit of walking everyday. Perhaps I can melt something besides snow, like pounds. They did creep up this winter and I had too many to begin with!

Trying it on for size

Seeing what I like and what it is like to blog, It will probably take me awhile to get everything set up. And sorry I don't know how to do pictures yet, no digital camera.