On politics. Aren't You Sick of it Too?

This is a subject that's hard to avoid. You know, the one your mother told you was not polite dinner table conversation topics....religion and politics. Yet here we are being nuked by politics on an hourly basis these past few days as we gear up for these caucuses. I can't help myself, I have to go, just as a measure of self protection. I am so weary of the false advertising, half truths, incomplete information, sheer guesswork, idiot factors, automated phonecalls (I've had 10 minute loud conversations to the automated Sarah Huckabee, John McCain, and Mitt) and those push polls that if I never have another political inkling in my bones it will be too soon. On Sunday after church we had a trifold pamphlet stuck in our windshield from the citizens concerned about honesty (or something like that) but minus their names, telling us all about the evil Mike Huckabee. Rudy seems a bit absent up here in Orange City conservative land, and Mitt seems to be shooting from behind the trees so we can't quite see him. Then there's Fred who? Is he really running or was that a joke? No matter. I have made up my mind. Let's get this thing over with so New Hampshire can have at them. Even after we've cast our votes I don't think the camoflage will come off. We won't know what we really have until well after the election and we are embroiled in another war, or letting the illegals dance across the border at will. Nothing like democracy!
Here are the odds I've seen. Just like a Horse Race!
Mike Huckabee 3-2 Hillary Clinton 3/7
Mitt Romney 3-1 Barak Obama 7/2
Rudy Giuliani 10-1 John Edwards 25/2
Fred Thompson 10-1
John McCain 10-1
Ron Paul 25-1
Duncan Hunter 98-1

Resolution Revolution Solution

I'm like everyone else. I make Resolutions that dissolve in a month or so. 'The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak', to say the least. I am looking forward to a new year and this year my intention is spend time in the Bible every single day. I would like to read through it in a year. I have a partner to prod me on. We almost have a plan (we're picking from 4) It's my time that I have trouble with. O how I could use a few extra hours. Oh wait. Maybe I just need to rearrange what I have.

In other resolutions:

I will lose weight. (I have a health club membership I just need the little thing on my shoulder telling me not to eat that stuff)

I will pay more attention

I will take more time with people (people over work, projects, self)

I will take more chances (to do new things)

Post Christmas Trauma

I know you won't notice this, but my computer has slowed waaaaaay down. I am fiddling with a new piece of electronic amazement and my computer seems to be rebelling against the thing. The last device I had took me months to figure out and get comfortable with, so what in the world was I thinking when I thought I'd like to try out the latest greatest snappiest new one? Does 80 GB have anything to do with it? Or it's shiny beautiful BIG LCD screen? Well, of course. Now if I could just figure out how to make it work. The directions are acutally on line. Sheesh.

And in other news, it's actually quiet here tonight. I miss those grandkids and their funny funiness, even their mischief (they broke the cord on my curtains) But my motto is "people over things". I'd rather have them here anytime than perfect curtains. But I must admit, I like watching my own tv programs over Dora or the Backyardigans. That's ok. We have a DVD player now to acomodate them when we need it!

On to our last week of 2007!

Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad

Milad Majid

Feliz Natal

Tchestita Koleda

Velike Vanoce

Glædelig Jul

Vrolijk Kerstfeest

'Ave a bonza Chrissy, Mate

Joyeux Noël

Froehliche Weihnachten

Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova

Mele Kalikimaka

Buon Natale

Sung Tan Jul Chuk Ha

S Rozhdestvom Kristovym

Feliz Navidad

God Jul

And all that to say, In every language, tribe and tongue there is need for the savior born that 1st Christmas. He is the reason we can say "Merry Christmas."

On Picking up Amy (sort of)

I'm up early, as usual. Something about that internal clock that won't let me sleep past 5:30 on a week day. Scary, huh? I'm also on a strange computer and in a strange place. Well, ok, it isn't that strange, I'm actually fairly comfortable here. it's just that every one else in the house is still in bed and I'm trying to be considerate. So working at the computer in the far corner of the house is a quiet, reasonable thing to do for a half an hour or so. (I've noticed that I can quickly kill 3 or 4 hours at the computer without batting an eye! So I actually have to pay attention to my time here) So as I looked at pictures on this computer I found a very nice one of most of the kids. Taken before their children were crawling all over and needing lots of attention. Don't they look refreshed and relaxed? My how quickly things change!! Ha! (But we woudn't have it any other way)

Well, happy Friday everyone. Hope you get lots done in these last few days before Christmas.

25 Skills Every Man Should Know!

Being in the library on a regular basis means I get to read some interesting stuff once in awhile. Today I found this in Popular Mechanics, of all places. I was delighted by this list. I'm not sure if the "man" in this title refers to the gender, or if it's a generic term. If that's the case I'm in big trouble because I think I can do maybe three of these things. Ron on the other hand is a genius because I think he can do about 23 out of 25. Wow. Anyway. Here's the list. See how you stack up!

1. Patch a radiator hose

2. Protect a computer (not with a gun either. from a virus)

3. Rescue a capsized boater. (ok. This one is just weird)

4. Frame up a wall.

5. Retouch digital photos (easy peesy, japaneesy)

6. Back up a trailer (not in a million years)

7. Build a campfire. (I can do this one! useful, huh)

8. Fix a dead outlet.

9. navigate with compass and map. (I tried this once and the results deserve a whole story)

10. Use a torque wrench

11. Sharpen a knife

12. Fillet a fish

13. manuver a car out of a skid

14. perform CPR

15. Get a car unstuck

16. Back up data

17. Paint a room

18. Mix concrete

19. Clean a bolt action rifle

20. Change the oil and filter in your car

21. Hook up HDTV

22. Bleed brakes (I think this one is dumb too. better change a flat tire than this)

23. Paddle a canoe (another one of my very useful skills. This one belongs on my resume)

24. Fix a bicycle flat ( for your kids of course)

25. Extend your wireless network.

There. We can all see the most important things in life from this list for sure! Your vehicle, your computer and some very weird odds and ends. Go figure!

The greedy Techie inside of me:

Don't you just love technology. Here's my list for Christmas: (that is if I'm being my most materialistic self. You may disregard if you think I should be more spiritual,i.e.less materialistic, about christmas) Oh, and I know, you only have a few days left to find this stuff!

A digital photo frame
An IPOD (brand name. I'm impressed)
A Web Cam
An external hard drive for all my memory consuming photos
An IPhone (shouldn't I be able to get one of these from the telephone guy?)
A laptop computer. (there for a second even the name of this cool thing escaped me)

There see. That wasn't so bad. My list is fairly short for now.

Winter Days

This morning was one of the reasons why I love winter in Iowa. Why the changing seasons and their variations make me able to endure even the coldest of weather. It was a splendid and beautiful Sunday morning. Worship was meaningful and challenging. Our bible study time after was as well. We have been working our way through John Ortberg's Spiritual Transformations. I know that even when I hit 87 (my magic # that I'm going to be playing volleyball until) I will still have the need to grow and live in grace. I am so thankful that God is still at work in me and I can see new things both spiritually and physically every single day.

Haiti

I have a chance to take a trip to Haiti in February. Saying "take a trip" is sort of misnomer because it certainly wouldn't be a vacation. It would be a work trip, a 'how-can-I-help' trip, an experience to see the world that I never have from my isolated vantage. I have been having a struggle with this for lots of reasons-part of which involve having to give up some things in order to go. Part of which involve not being sure I really have anything to offer in the group that's going. I do know most of the people who would go. I also know the people who we would work with and are the mission group we would be heading toward. Hmm. I have sent my kids on countless trips like this. I have thought about doing this since the day I was married and lots of things have been in the way since that day. It's easier to let someone else do this, for sure. Anyway, tell me what you think.

Santa Claus

I played Santa today and I have to tell you, I really enjoyed myself. Ok. So I didn't quite get dressed up in the suit and all, I just mean I took presents and delivered them and surprised and pleased people. It wasn't even a big deal. (and I'm probably ruining any brownie points I get by telling the whole world about this in the first place) I mean your family expects presents. You've gotten them stuff for all of their lives. These people expected nothing and so the little bit that I did was an unexpected treat for them. I tell you, I should be doing unexpected random nice things more often. Even for my family. I wouldn't even need a million dollars. Just some creativity would work.

Seasons of Life

Every season of the year has its own rewards. At one point I identified fall as my favorite, while acknowledging the benefits of all the others! Really! How could one pick any one season as the best anyway? Who was to know that I would come to the point where I would see clearly that my own life is a passing through seasons. Each one holding its own color and vibrancy, and its own unique life-from my youth to this time i'm in now, I need to live in the season, rather than fight it or mourn the loss of the season just past. It's true there are many things that I won't ever get to do again: I probably won't water ski again; I might not get to ride a horse, or climb any more trees. The active sports like baseball and volleyball seem to be done too. But, Hey! This lovely season that I'm in now seems to have multitudes of blessings: holding grandchildren, playing catch, watching them explore the new world around them. And my own 'going' hasn't seemed to dim these past few years. I'm able to travel and camp and bike and walk and work at a job that I love; cook, entertain, make new friends and connect with old ones, boss a husband about.... It's like a beautiful autumn with its riot of colors and penchant for perfect blue skies and crisp days. My favorite season of all.

I do worry at times about what the future holds, don't we all at some point? but as my mother in law used to say, "but I know who holds the future".

"Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you.Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!"

Dedication

I grew up knowing it was pretty rude to take pictures during a church service. Especially praying, or some other serious observance. This weekend was our grandson's Dedication service and I rudely took pictures. I hope that doesn't take away from the sincerity of my heart as I watched his parents commit to raising this boy to come to know Jesus as the Lord and Savior of his life. There is nothing better he could possibly do with his life, and nothing more important for his parents to teach him. We were so pleased to be able to be a part of this service and to add our commitment to teaching him and leading him to the Lord! (in ways that only grandma and grandpa can do!) We have been so amazed at God's faithfulness in his life in his few short months we really look forward to seeing how God will be at work in him!

Being a Parent

Did I really parent 3 whole children? I seem to have memory loss about the stress, and the madness that being a parent entails. The patience. Did I really ever have any of that? I couldn't have. How did my kids grow up to be normal adults? (Or maybe they're not really) How is it that the craziness that's involved in keeping kids out of mischief, electrical sockets, falling down stairs, climbing on high unstable things, eating unhealthily, becoming polite was something that we actually were able to achieve? oh wait...maybe we didn't really. But what I see my adult kids doing now with my grandkids I am in total amazement of. They have so much patience, and seem to be so sane when the kids are running out of control. I don't think i could be as patient and calm and loving as they are. I am in awe that theY parent their children with so much affection. They are so good with them. I must say, I am so very pleased to hand control of said grandkids over to their incredible parents. Amazing job guys!

Stories my father told me

Absolutely none. Is it a "guy" thing that they don't remember their childhoods, or any past about them? But I don't recall ever hearing any stories that my father told about his growing up years. None whatsoever. I don't know what kind of teen ager he was. If he was the light of his mother's eye or a pain in her neck. I regret not really knowing my father. Perhaps I just didn't listen, and my brothers or sister heard the stories that i missed. But here's what I do know:

He missed his high school graduation because he entered the navy at the end of WW2

He had a gang of highschool friends that were lifelong . This group had class reunions every single year! Even I knew his H.S. buddies.

He loved practical jokes, bowling, fishing, dancing, cards, his wife and his kids. (not necessarily in that order.)

He would have been 80 this past summer. He was gone too soon. We missed a lot.

Stories my mother told me

My mother was working with the men long before it was fashionable. Driving the tractors, working in the fields (even I had to do that. I had to scramble for excuses. There were a few. ) Every hand was important! So she worked at a part time job in town AND some of the farming back in those 50's and 60's when most women were worrying about teas, and fashion and chatting across the back fence. But women's lib hadn't happened and I think she got taken advantage of more than once! Like the time she was hauling the grain into town and had to wait in a long line to get her truck unloaded. By the time she got back to the place she'd been hauling from all the guys were gone!! (read everyone but her) They'd left for lunch. Without her. Seems no one thought a mere grain hauling, truck driving woman might need to eat to. Well, she could probably fix it herself.... Still, I would have thought chivalry wouldn't have been quite dead yet.

Life without coffee????

I've given up foods for lent in the past (even stuff I really like, i.e. chocolate, pop, french fries) I've dieted and been on a I-will-not-eat-that because I'm trying to lose weight sort of thing, but I've never had to give up something for my health. UGH. Worse. It's caffeine. Someone told me there was still decaffinated coffee out there, not to worry. I really think i could go without caffinated pop, but I really really think I'm going to have trouble giving up that pick me upper that I have first thing in the morning. I decided not to tell Ron because I would probably hear no end of it from him, just in case I decide to ignore the suggestion. For now, of course, I have to finish the caffinated coffee I have in my cupboard (only 1 more day left) and then I have to decide. It's supposed to help eliminate the problem I'm having with cysts in my breasts (and these pesky ultra sounds, doctor visits I keep having. They're expensive, insurance or not!) But I have to tell you, there's more reasons to drink coffee than just the flavor! I love the energy it gives me. I really love the energy it gives me. So, I have to make up my mind. I'm thinking I could switch over gradually and maybe I won't notice. What do you think?

Christmas pictures

This year I put together a video log of our 2007 year. For those of you who know us and would enjoy seeing some of the "best" of our year check out this site at Picasa. I had so much fun putting this together and I am glad to share it with you. I will eventually put it up on the side! Thanks for going along with us, for your prayers, your support and your encouragement. We love all of you so much and have learned and grown from every single one of you!

Survival tips

Ok I've noticed that the holiday busy i ness has started and I'm going to offer some suggestions to help you all stay stress free:

• Have your husband do it (gift wrap, run errands, clean, whatever you can talk him into!)


• De-emphasize the food and drink stuff - it helps if you eat a bit before you get to that party.


• Don't forget to exercise. Can you believe we need 3 hours planned out for the week, at least.


• Don't watch so much TV. Turning it off would be good. Remember the writers' strike has really limited our choices anyway.


• Don't forget to donate to charity (extra food, toys etc.)

Hopefully by mid December I will still remember this stuff. Oh wait, I'm making a note and pinning it up where I can see it, that should help. I want to enjoy December.

What the Wind blows in

I am in a cold spot when I sit at my desk. It's probably a good thing. I have to get up and go out into the library once in awhile! Imagine. But today, I noticed the worst cold was blowing in from outside still attached to all the people as they walked in! There was the college student who came in with a thin winter coat on. He'd ridden his Bike into the north wind from school 6-8 blocks away! Yikes. Against the wind. He said his tears were even frozen! My co worker sat at her desk with her ear muffs on for quite awhile before she headed home. She was getting them prepared I guess. There were red, runny noses. Red faces, wind blown hair, and every person complained about the wind. Every person was bundled up against the wind with hats, heavy coats, gloves and scarves. Just like the story of the sun vs. the north wind I think I could love winter if it weren't for that darn wind! But undoubtedly I will be longing for that summer sun until I see it again!

Happy Birthday Phinehas Cooper

Phinehas celebrated his 1st birthday with a party on Saturday. A party that we were really looking forward to, but missed entirely because of a nasty bug...the flu. Yuck. All I can say is may you not get this one! It hung on through part of Sunday but by then the partying was over. No pictures of the happy birthday boy...Oh wait! I took a bunch on Thursday. Good thing. And his real birthday isn't til this Wednesday, so we won't have missed it by too much anyway. It's hard to believe how much he's changed and grown until you look at his pictures. He doesn't look like the same kid! Ha! And the gains he's made...I heard his first word when he stayed with us a few weeks ago: cheese. That's so funny, because those two boys are such cheese lovers. Of course, he's very precocious. I'm not the only one who thinks so, though I haven't heard that term being used by anyone outside the family. Oh well, they don't know him like we do!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Besides having the typical 7,000 calorie meal for our Thanksgiving dinner we also had an amazingly blessed day! There were 13 of us (counting the babies) and then two dogs around the table in our very small dining room. We were crowded but it didn't keep us from the turkey, ham, mashed potates, cranberry salad, corn casserole, pumpkin cheesecake, pecan pie, heath bar pie and bundt cake! All day long. We shared stories of the year, the guys went trap shooting, and the gals went to see the movie "Enchanted" (the guys would have hated it!) But for me the best part was still the sharing of the "Question Game". The time when we share the answers to questions as varied as "What's your favorite color" to "Your favorite bible verse". This year we added in shared prayer requests because we firmly believe that God is at work--in us and through us and He has a plan to use us. When we come together again next year we'll have to list all the answers that God has poured out over the year in ways that are totally unexpected! For all that I am unbelievably thankful.

Stones of rememberance

It occurs to me, as I get ready for this holiday, that there must be a way of remembering All the ways God has been at work in the lives of my kids and grandkids. So, When we play our "question game" at the dinner table this year, I will be sure to write down the answers! I think this year we will plan to covenant together to pray for each other and for God's specific answers to prayer. The huge answer that we saw when Jeremiah arrived has spurred me to believe we should be praying more and more as we see the evil in the world around us growing. So, after the "What are you most thankful for"? question I will give out assignments for the next time we meet. Pray. Amy, I will include you too, so you have to send me your "Thankful for" answer in an email and you have to give me at least one specific thing that we can all be praying for over the course of the next year. THINK BIG!

Then, like the Israelites we will be able to put out "those stones of rememberance" so we will not be so forgetful as to all the amazing things God has done for us as a family!

“What do these stones mean?” then you shall let your children know, "Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground." For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.'” Joshua 4:19-24

Cat's in the cradle

I want to be just like you, dad...I want to be just like you.

monuments and gravestones

I've been thinking:

Monument:

a lasting evidence, reminder, or example of someone or something notable or great (2): a distinguished person b: a memorial stone or a building erected in remembrance of a person or event. An identifying mark : evidence; also : portent, sign. 5. a carved statue : effigy6: a boundary or position marker (as a stone)7: national monument 8: a written tribute.

There's monument Valley, Monument Colorado, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Monument, Jeffererson Monument et. al., And this monument to the unsung soldiers of the wars before VietNam who were from a small village in northern Illinois. Who pays attention? Who remembers? The monument has stood there for beyond 70 years...

and then there's the gravestone: a shaped stone laid over or erected near a grave and usually bearing an inscription to identify and preserve the memory of the deceased ment

The grave stone marks the passage of our lives. Usually 2 dates. Birth. Death. And that a recent invention. For the vast majority of humankind, there is no marking or monument to life and death.

I realize recently that i have frantically been building monuments: the chest full of geneolgy. I don't want my family to forget. The pictures. I want them to see the scope of our history in living color. Every family get together. Every blogging post.... I have been blessed by God and I want to bless my family and those around me...

The Blessing

Let it be said of us while we walked among the living

Let it be said of us by the ones we leave behind

Let it be said of us that we lived to be a blessing for life

Verse 2

And let it be said of us that we gave to reach the dying

Let it be said of us by the fruit we leave behind

Let it be said of us that our legacy is blessing for life

Chorus

This day, You set life, You set death right before us

This day, every blessing and curse is a choice now

And we will choose to be a blessing for life

Verse 3

Let it be said of us that our hearts belong to Jesus

Let it be said of us that we spoke the words of life

Let is be said of us that our heritage is blessing for life

'Cause blessings and curses are choices

Will we build up, tear down?

The moment of truth is now

For your kingdom, for our children

For the sake of every nation

For your kingdom, for our children

For the sake of every nation

We will choose to be a blessing for life

Copyright 2005 New Spring (a div of Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing d/b/a GreatWorshipSongs.com) / John Waller Publishing (ASCAP). Administered by BMG Music Publishing, non-commercial licensing admin by Music Services) / Real Lifer Publishing. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The Roads Converging

Sat and had coffee this morning with a friend. We chatted about lots of things: a trip next spring, or maybe in the summer... the Bible study we're working on... and that old country house that both of us used to have! Ha! I find it delightful to have a friend who had to set mouse traps in the fall just the same as I. (ugh. smelly, dirty creatures) Who lived down a gravel road on a long lane and burned with wood in the winter! We talked about making our kids help us with the wood cutting, hauling, stacking, storing process and we did things much the same even 20 years before we knew each other. They kept chickens and pigs...runt pigs even. So did we. [In fact we had 2 runt pigs we named Frank and Francis. Fed them goat's milk and corn mash. When we finally ate them, the kids would ponder "I wonder if this is Frank or Francis?" no vegetarians there! ] We both had kids who needed to drink goat's milk because they were sensitive to cow's milk. We were about 2 counties away from each other and our paths crossed first at a Mike Warnke concert in Cherokee sometime in the early 80's, Though there were gadzillions of people at the concert ,as I recall. No matter. Here we iron sharpening iron.

Sunrise/Sunset

Swiftly fly the days.... I have two great pictures: The sunrise has been beautiful these past couple of days, I got several pictures two days in a row. I just love this first picture with the Christmas decorations! And the picture is taken facing south to boot! The sunset picture is much more subdued but it sandwiches my day!

"Lift up your heads, o gates! and be lifted up, o ancient doors, that the king of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? the Lord, strong and mighty. The Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads o gates! And lift them up o ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!" Who but the King of Glory could paint the skies in such a way!

Exhaustion

You haven't seen any new posts from me because we had the grandkids over the weekend. Believe me, they leave 0 time for anything like writing a blog! I have to say, I don't know how parents do it! That is, run after little ones all day long, without falling into a heap and crying out "I give up! I give up!" It must have something to do with my age. I sure don't remember being this exhausted at the end of two days! These boys were a delight, and pretty good, considering they were on their own with their grandparents, away from mom and dad.

Isaiah, when asked what he was thinking about after he'd gone to bed, responded by saying "I'm thinking about what we're going to have for breakfast!"

Phinehas made himself perfectly clear when asked if he wanted to eat, too. He was just like a little bird, opening his mouth for the spoon every time!

Isaiah had the chance to sit in the city snowplows for a minute or two. He didn't think that was such a good idea, so we took him back home. Once there he said, "Grandpa, I think I've changed my mind, I'd like to see those ducks, now" (Believe it or not, it took us several tries to understand that ducks, were really trucks)

Phinehas patiently built with blocks. Isaiah knocked them down quite eagerly.

They both loved the slides at the park. The train at the library. apples. and bathtime.

It was a good weekend, but I think distance from it will make it even better. Then I'll know I can do this again!

On Birthdays

Today is Isaiah's birthday (the "prophet" as his parents call him when they don't want him to know who they are speaking about) He's a whole 3 today. I only got to talk to him on the phone, but he and his brother will be spending the weekend with us. Ron wondered what store I had robbed for all the presents I have for him. (there are only 4) It's been weeks since I've seen the boys so they will have to get used to the camera again. We'll do a whole photo shoot, I think!! I confess I'm a bit nervous, and can only hope the weather will be mild so we can go play in the park! No DVD player at our house so we will have to rely on our creativity! Do I remember coloring? Or Ooblek? These boys are high energy, I know. At least I've stocked the refigerator...chocolate milk, cheese, ice cream, pudding, yogurt, all of Isaiah's favorites! (at least they were the last time they were here) They'll get to go to church with us, and help grandpa as he works on his little project in the basement.

I am so blessed by these boys, though. I am amazed at how incredible I feel about being a grandparent. "Grandchildren are the crown of the (semi) aged...." and "behold children are a heritage from the Lord...blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them." While they bless me, I would put out my hands and bless them and pray this ferverent prayer that "they serve the Lord God with a whole heart and trust in Him from their youth onward. Their heritage is secure in Him alone."

Preparing for the Feast

I am counting down the days until Thanksgiving. We will be having a gigantic family party over here! Everyone but Amy will be here. And where in the world will I put everyone? And our basement project is definitely NOT done. The floor will never be finished even though I've whined and wheedled and complained. Every night is filled with meetings and excuses for him not to go down and work at it. Guess I'll just have to close the door and make it off limits to everyone. (like that would work) When did we start this project? It was just going to be paint. ARGH!

So I not only have Thanksgiving meal to plan for but breakfast, supper and the whole weekend! What fun! The boys will no doubt take their guns and head out (some of the girls might even go) and we'll have to figure out how to get the tree up without going in to the basement to get it and all the ornaments. I'll need birthday presents to pass out to the 3 birthday people. I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions for games they play during the holidays. We might have to break down and get a DVD player so we can pass some time that way!

Struggling with grief

I have always struggled with knowing what are the right words to say to someone who has faced a loss. Saying you're sorry doesn't seem adequate enough when someone you love has died, or faces some horrible situation. Even saying "I'm praying" can seem trite or insincere. So how do you love people who are hurting? What do you say to people in pain? Worse, what if they don't want to hear any platitudes at all. Then what? When my father died suddenly and unexpectedly the only help through the grief was the support and surrounding arms of people who loved us. Of all the words in all the sympathy cards those that told of personal things about my dad, and what kind of man he was, were the most helpful. Nothing eased the shock. Nothing tempered the pain. But the kindness of the community and their overwhelming love carried us through. At all costs I would rather avoid difficult situations because I don't think I'm up to the 'carrying power' that it takes. But at some time or another, every single one of us needs to be carried through. We need each other and the kindness and love and encouragement we can give to one another.

Hair Cut

I went in for my monthly hair cut during a free moment yesterday. I always feel better, light headed as it were, after. Don't know if I look any better but that's beside the point! I have had the same hair cut for probably 20 years or so. It's getting a bit late for changes now! (I tried a change once and the results were a bit disastrous, not to mention hideous for more than a month. Not going there again) As I'm sitting in the chair it struck me how easy this was. Come. Sit. Let someone else do the work. Go away happy (hopefully) I wish it worked that way with losing weight. Go. Sit. Cut off a pound on my thighs. The back end. The hips. Go away and wear that size 12 pants again. Man. That would be wonderful. Then I could go out and eat what I wanted and once a month I could just get it chopped off and start from where I was at the beginning. Or spiritually. That would even be better. Go. Sit. Get self cut away from the heart. Sin would fall away and Voila! New self shine through. A once a month shine would work nicely. (maybe make that daily) Whoa, I sense a whole long blog coming here as I think about how sin and forgiveness works. How the Holy spirit works in a heart, and how important to be sensitive to His voice in the heart...."By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you"(2Tim 1:14).

Super Novas, Comets and Stars

"The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out spech and night to night reveals knowledge... in them he has set a tent for the sun" Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?..Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? can you establish their rule on the earth?"

Scripture is filled with references to stargazing! It is one thing that I really enjoy!I could stand with my head tilted back looking at the stars for quite awhile. Nothing really compares to a summer night in the north woods and the incredible, massive overhead display of stars. I'm sure I've talked about this before, that early morning walk when stars are shining so gloriously they can hardly be ignored. Venus is still out every morning and Orion, Sirius have been so easy to view, too. The moon was full mid month and still is hanging out in the mornings. It's like God watching us through the holes in heaven! And, if you go out tonight, you can see a comet: Comet Holmes. Look in the NE sky near the Pleiades . It will be a bit bigger than Jupiter is in the morning sky (nothing too extraordinary except for the fact that it's a comet!!)

A long way in a short amount of Time!

I have been working in libraries for 15 years now. And believe it or not, I've been here long enough to know how they "used to do it" before computers. When I started internet and computer use was just glimmer. It's amazing how much they have invaded in such a short amount of time! When I started library work we had a real 'card' card catalog. Every time we put a book in at least 3 cards were put in the catalog. (same when we took a book out) We had an 'accession' book that listed every single book in the collection, date purchased, from whom, amt paid and where it was. We had books dating back to the turn of the century. Wow did I love looking at those old books! If we wanted to do an interlibrary loan we had to make a phone call to the regional library after we checked 'books in print'. Shortly after that they got disks that we could use in our one computer that would tell us what was available in other libraries. The speed and ease that computers have given us is pretty astounding. It's hard to even think of how it was done before they were around. Not to mention how much we rely on them to answer reference questions. What am I talking about? People don't ask reference questions anymore. They go to their own computers and 'google' it. Back then.... we hunted in books like the New York Public library reference book, or the World Almanac, or telephone directories for questions like "Where's the closest place to get a cow inseminated?" or "What was Nigeria's gross national income last year?" My favorite was "I need to read a book by an American Author written in the 19th century". So when I gave her Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, the student came back the next day and told me her teacher said Alcott wasn't American. ARGH! But, I digress. I knew from the first day that working in a library was going to be the best job I ever had. But it was going to be Waaaaay more than just checking out books. 15 years isn't really that long in a job, but it's sure seen huge changes. I can't wait to see what the next 15 hold!

The Anti-Halloween Day!

I am thinking that there must be an easy way for me to join in the candy hunt tonight. (that's right, tonight is trick or treat night here in OC-tomorrow night is church night and we couldn't possibly do it then!!) The easiest way would be for me to go up to the store and by a bag of candy, but that smacks of over indulgence. My kids would probably be aghast that I am even considering this. What has come over me. I am so anti-halloween everyone should ordinalrily fle in the other direction, but lets face it....I need a good peanut butter cup! The library is serving up treats.... my neighbors have promised them if I can come up with a good trick....

Back to my roots

I do live in Iowa after all. My first 20 years here was all about farming. I couldn't have gotten any closer to farming without actually being one if I'd tried. But these last 15 years of living in town have reallly taken me away from those roots. I'd forgotten how beautiful the harvest is. How frantic, (frentic) and crazy it really is. So today we did the Sunday afternoon drive to check it out. (those days are almost a thing of the past, gas prices being what they are!!) So here's what we saw:

Fall Plantings

Tonight was the night. I planted my tulip bulbs. In the dark. The rows won't be straight. They might not even be deep enough. (then there'll be no tulips next spring)That's because it's hard to see in the dark soil in the dark night. I didn't mean to let it get so late, but once i got started there was no turning back. And how can I even think of being in Orange City without tulips? Well, I suppose I could have waited until tomorrow, but this way we'll see what kind of random-ness we'll have in the garden in the spring. I will at least be conforming. (That's what my kids were worried about when we moved here in the first place. Somehow we might, ARGH, become to dutchified!)

Who cooks for you?

What's your favorite "I-don't-have-time-to-cook, but-I'm-hungry-right-now" meal? Mine is "Let-Ron-do-the-cooking". That's a guaranteed eggs of some sort meal. Tonight was one of those nights. Come to think of it, I have one of those nights at least once a week. He does a fair omlet, so I figure I should let him keep in practice. What do you think? In warmer weather, he grills. And best of all is camping. He cooks 3 meals a day, and might even clean up. No wonder I love camping!

Ordinary days

Without kids pictures to post, or clever sayings from them I feel like my days have slipped into sameness. Buster is my kid and I seem to be the only one who thinks he's cute, so I try not to make too many comments in that direction. I hate to live vicariously-i.e. talking about what my kids are doing as if that's really my life, when it's not. But that leaves a day like today. Ordinary. But then, I think that is what life really is. It's not those spectacular, fireworks and orchestra music kinds of days that make up most of life anyway. It's those ordinary ones, that start with a walk and a prayer in the darkness and starlight. That celebrate the answers to prayer that come 'today' in amazing ways. That slog through the routines of work and co-workers and customers. That mean cooking and cleaning and sitting and talking, the sleeping and the dreaming. So my day was like that. My tomorrow probably will be too. But I'll be back.

Dream Home Pt. 3

So after living in our country home for about a year, we began the remodelling. This, folks, was where I learned everything I need to know in life about tools....from sheetrocking screws to skill saws, to crescent wrenches, I could hand every single one of them to my he-man carpenter before he even knew what he wanted. (think surgical nurse to surgeon) Point to a tool and I know its name. We painted, wall papered, ripped off walls and ceilings, insulated, re wired, plummed, shingled, installed, built, and added on. After 20 years of that, and of hearing "Oh, should only take a week or so to do that" (multiply by at least 3) or "I can do that...fix that...put that in" my local carpenter was ready to build his own house. And his full grown family was elected to help. So we left a house that was completely remodelled, replummed, wired, with new kitchen, bath, windows and went off on a tangent that we mistakenly thought was better. Let me tell you, building a house is better left to someone else. You come in when it's all said and done.