Some Peace and Quiet

Peace and quiet is such a rare thing in our culture. I remember when my daughters were younger I use to reassure myself with the thought that as they got older and were
able to do more on their own that there would be less for me to do. WOW! I was so wrong. It seems that I just get busier every year.
This school year has been a big adjustment for us as we have taken on more extra curricular
activities. I use to make the kids take turns at after school activities...but it seems like everyone has a talent to exercise or a desire to fulfill. I have to be so very prayerful about what we take on in our schedule...God gives everyone the same 24 hours a day and I want to do a good job at managing the time He has given to us. What a huge responsibility that is! It is not getting any easier to discern between the good and the best for my family. There is SO MUCH GOOD stuff in which to be involved...but I have to find the best. I have to pray for God's constant wisdom.

I was bless with a wonderfully peaceful, quiet weekend. It was unlike any weekend I have experienced since I got married 16 years ago. My husband sent me off spontaneously to accompany a friend of ours on her trip to West Texas to see her sister. It was so last minute
that I didn't even have time to think of the 20 reasons that I probably should have stayed home...but I'm so glad that I went. It was the quietest days that I've had in a very, very long time. It was beautiful.
There are several memorable moments that stand out in my mind. The first is the 20 minutes that we spent sitting in the bleachers well before ANYONE got to the soccer fields. It was sunny and very windy...I had nothing to do and nothing to think about and I was just so grateful to be alive in the sun and the wind. It was the most relaxed I've felt in forever!

Sunday morning I went to church with my young friends. It was great to be around college aged believers...to know that there is a young generation out there that loves God enough to meet with Him and His people, not because their parents are making them, but because they are drawn to Him. It was refreshing and a real encouragement.

Finally, though it sound absurd, I relished the 5 hours we spent waiting in the airport for our flight home. I spent the hours visiting, perusing through a magazine, and people watching.

I am grateful to my very spontaneous husband for suggesting that I go and for picking up the slack on the home front. I am pleased to report that I returned to a spotless house...as good as I do (on the days I really try). I am grateful for a beautiful weekend of rest!

Family Tree

At the prompting of our oldest daughter we have started to research our family ancestry. I 'm not quite sure what motivated her interest in the subject, but she did let me know that she has great hopes of, "finding out if we are related to some pirates or Pharaohs!"...I haven't ever heard of any Swedish pirates of Pharaohs? Who knows though...our search is on!

The girls were sooooo excited last night when Buddy dug up that we are distantly related to Elvis!!! He's not a pirate or a Pharaoh...but my eldest seemed satisfied with the discovery.

So...have any of you every researched your ancestry and are you related to anyone famous?

Mom's overture

That's right!

No Fruity Pebbles

It is late. I find that if I stay up past 10 I feel that hunger pain and need to eat again. Of course by this time of night I have cleaned up the kitchen and am not up to cooking another "meal" so...out comes the cereal. Well, much to my disappointment "someone" or a small clan of "someones" has eaten the last of the Fruity Pebbles.
Peering into the pantry in search of a satisfying mid-night snack, I saw the college students'
favorite friend...Ramen Noodles. I never did eat them when I was in college. By the time I got to go to college I had lived in Mexico for 5 yrs. and I was married. What does this mean you ask? Well...beans and scrambled eggs are the favorite food fare for the impoverished of Mexico. We ate beans and eggs when we were poor missionaries and when we were poor college students. Besides, Buddy won't touch Ramen, or boxed mac and cheese. He is spoiled to "real food".
So I sit here now eating my ramen noodles and waiting for my husband to finish his sermon for tomorrow. This is my way of showing support! Staying awake with him...I think it has something to do with his love language... Bud's love language= mutual suffering. Actually I think it was a part of our vows..." in sickness and in health, while he stays up all night writing his sermons, if he wakes you up to hear his worship set after you have laid down for bed... til death do you part?" I vaguely remember saying yes ( It is on video somewhere. He is thinner and I am have no crows feet or smile lines), so here I sit still awake at 2:31 am...with NO FRUITY PEBBLES TO BOOT!
I'd do it all over again if I had the chance. I love you Buddy!

I Didn't Play Fair!

Sorry guys. I got on to my husband several weeks ago when he was "tagged" and complained about complying with the game. Then I was tagged and ignored it completely..."hypocrite!".
Didn't you hate it when you played tagged when you were little and you tagged someone but they just kept running...so frustrating to play with people that have no regards for the rules of the game! So, I apologize.

Here is my list of 7 things about me:
*I grew up in N. CA.
*I was raised by actively Christian parents.
*I swam competitively for 10 years.
*An unfulfilled desire of mine is to sing in a musical...like Oklahoma, Sound of Music, or My Fair Lady. I absolutely LOVE musicals!
*My favorite subject in school IS history. I have not quit being a student. I homeschool my kids and I go on learning right along side of them!
* I lived in a New Age commune for a year after I graduated. ( My parents spent that year on their knees for me!)
* I want to spend my retirement years as a gypsy/missionary, traveling to wherever the Spirit blows me and sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ.

I won't tag anyone else because everyone I know has already been tagged.

Thank you, thank you!

I appreciate the response yesterday in my moment of crying out to the friends that God has placed in my everyday life. It is good to know that there is someone with "skin-on" that is concerned about me.



Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

I am unable to fully express my gratefulness to my High Priest and Savior for His great labor of love on my behalf...I know that you understand what I mean here. There is one area I struggle. (Well actually, there are so many areas where I struggle, but...) In regards to this passage in Hebrews I struggle with the fact that, though He sympathizes with my temptations, He cannot understand what is is to fail. ( THANK YOU LORD FOR THAT!!!!) I know that this is why we have been placed in each others lives. You are a miserable, stinky sinners just like me. So when I ask for you to pray for me or you console me, I know that you know what it is like to realize you just plain stink without Christ. So with all that said, thanks for praying and lifting me up before the only One that can keep me from falling and forgive me when I do. God help us all!

Hebrews 2:18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Prayer

Hey friends ...I haven't had much time to blog lately and I apologize for being out of the loop. I am just making a short post to ask that you please pray for me. I am going through a rough spot right now and could really benefit from you intersession. I know I'll get through this but this morning has been especially difficult for me and I ask that you specifically ask for peace of mind for me. Thank you!