God
is the LORD,
there is no other.
January
Our January Snow and Ice Pictures
here's another one for you, mama... Kathryn
and me at a party this past Christmas
January 31,
2004 Already the last day of the
first month. What an amazing thing it
is to have time seem to be at an accelerated
pace. Early in motherhood, I thought
the days were so long but the months flew
by---now, the days and months seem to pass
in a blink!
Kathryn's doing much better today---has a
bit of pain in her leg where the tourniquet
was used---that surgery is done in a
"bloodless field." It's fascinating to
see what's
done in the process---but not for the
squeamish---I'll tell ya that!
A lot more to
write about the upcoming: Passion movie.
There's an article circulating that is
credited to Paul Harvey and it's quite a
sensitive review of the movie and the effect
on the viewer--- From what I've heard
of Paul Harvey, I imagine he'd likely agree
with the words.
Today's a bizzy-bizzy day. Many have
already gathered to hear
Dick York share today at Emmanuel
Baptist church. He's quite a gifted
man. I appreciate his years of work
and his wisdom. He has so much to
offer having walked with the LORD as long as
he has. It doesn't even matter to me
that his theological position (calvin vs.
arminius) doesn't fully match what I
personally believe. I understand where
he's coming from and see his position.
We sort of have that going on in this house
all the time, though and it's really okay.
This side of heaven we only see in the glass
darkly---no matter what we think!!
I know my Calvinistic leanings are probably
a bit on the strong side and yet, I totally
understand how my husband (and friends &
family) sees a different (but sometimes
parallel) angle of this theological
position. He's surely
read/studied/debated/and waited on the LORD
la long time and has my undying admiration
and respect.
January 30,
2004 It's a rainy, dreary day here
in the Northwest. Such a blessing to
have wood and a woodstove! Kathryn's doing a
bit better today but is still experiencing
quite a bit of pain and some sickness...
each day of the climb will be easier for
her... but it's still a pretty steep climb.
Our little friend Kinsey's picture depicts
Kathryn as she sees her. ;-) I
smile knowing the LORD's Hand in Kinsey's
life and that because of a major injury,
she's faced a thousand times more in her
early years than people face their whole
life... but, Kinsey sees the Sonshine.
Kathryn, by Kinsey... January 2004
January 29, 2004
Long night, this last. Lots of pain for
Kathryn---no pain to me to stay by and help
her. So thankful to the LORD for His
working through the surgeon who operated on
Kathryn's foot yesterday. Wes & I
talked with him for a bit after the surgery
and he was so encouraged by her words and
attitude. She had told the doctors and
the nurses in surgery that they had changed
her life and that she was so grateful to
them for all they've done for her---that
they had no idea what a blessing they were
to her. So... when they came out to
talk with us, that's what they all said.
The doc was especially touched as he said
sometimes work gets so routine that you
never know how it all works out.
Well---for us, this worked out marvelously
and we know the LORD was answering our
prayers in and through the work of this
doctor's hands.
A precious sister in the LORD
sent a beautiful poem that was waiting for
us when we got home yesterday.
What's so touching is not only that she
would take the time to do this, or that her
walk with the LORD made it possible, but
that it is only through this small work that
she "knows" us and that we'll probably never
meet this side of heaven---and so we owe her
a debt of gratitude. I made a print of
it with a picture of two of Kathryn's x-rays
behind the words and then I decided to frame
it for others to see. I had an old
picture in a matted frame and so thought
that there would be a nice place for it in
the dining room. I stand in awe of God
Who's made all this possible and the words
form the sister in Australia surely reveal
that she knows this too. So... for
Kathryn Grace who knows the Who and Why of
the shape and scars of her beautiful feet...
here is a poem with thanks to and for
Glenys Hicks.
Perhaps
you heard the Colson, Breakpoint commentary.
If not, here's a touching commentary,
At the Foot of the Cross.
Much in the news about the upcoming Passion
of Christ. David Limbaugh's review of
the movie concludes: The moral is that
if you want the popular culture to laud your
work on Christ, make sure it either depicts
Him as a homosexual or as an everyday sinner
with no particular redeeming value
(literally). In our anti-Christian culture,
the blasphemous "The Last Temptation of
Christ" is celebrated, and "The Passion" is
condemned. But if this movie continues to
affect people the way it is now, no amount
of cultural opposition will suppress its
force and its positive impact on lives
everywhere. Mel Gibson is a model of faith
and courage.
(Read his entire review here)
These I've received from newsletters---and
expect to see many more:
The Canada-based TruthMedia team have built
an evangelistic site around the PASSION
film.
http://www.thelife.com/
And they have created SHARE THE LIFE as a
site directed at Christians, encouraging
them to integrate this film into their
evangelism:
http://www.sharethelife.com/
Both these sites are incomplete at
this time of writing, but expect to be fully
operational mid-February, well before the
main film launch.
CCCI US have rebranded their WHO IS JESUS
site as 'PASSION OF CHRIST':
http://www.passionofchrist.com/
And CCC's Evangelism Toolbox has created a
specific PASSION-related site where you can
find (or add), specific resources for
churches to mesh with this very significant
film.
http://www.thepassiontoolbox.org/
For details of ordering tickets, getting the
film to your local cinema, and obtaining
promotional materials from the film's
makers, plus links, news, reviews, and
comments:
http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/newsletter065.htm
You can tell a friend by email (or text
message) about the availability of movie
clips of the film:
http://www.buzzplant.com/passion/
January 28, 2004 Well... today's
the day for Kathryn's 4th & final (we pray!)
foot surgery. We stayed up so late
last night... don't know if it was from
excitement or just to have a good time of
talking, a last little snack and coffee.
No matter, it was worth it and we're now
preparing for her appointment. As
always, she's doing great and is very calm.
The surgeons who will be working on her foot
today are the same she's had the previous
three times and are such fine men. I'm
so thankful for the LORD's direction of the
selection of this doctor and his associate!
They're really gracious and so attentive to
her needs and comfort. Easy for me to
say.
I have
some links
on our medical page
that show different foot
surgeries. O, ...perhaps not with your
morning coffee, though... okay?
There's a site---with books
and the whole deal--- that seems to
validate the type of "diet" way I've been
eating
over the last several months. Last summer,
when I decided to let go of
butter-sugar-flour foods and mocha lattés,
I began to lose weight. It was as
thought the LORD put His finger on that area
of my life and I knew that
these foods had a grip on me and I had to
get out from under my obsession with
BSF foods. I know He guided
my thoughts and was my Help as I walked away
from foods I love and helped me to replace
them with better choices for me. I am
learning moderation. I haven't really done
the Atkins or Zone diets---but perhaps a
combination of them. My mom suggested
the site so I've been taking a look at
the
Glycemic Index. I think if
you're having a hard time getting your arms
around the Atkins plan, then maybe the
glycemic index is for you. It's
possibly an easier way of dealing with "what
in the world do you eat" questions.
This, from their site:
|
• Use
breakfast cereals based on oats,
barley and bran |
• Use
"grainy" breads made with whole
seeds |
• Reduce the
amount of potatoes you eat |
• Enjoy all
types of fruit and vegetables
(except potatoes) |
• Eat plenty
of salad vegetables with
vinaigrette dressing
|
This is sort of how I've
been eating for the last couple of months.
A little oatmeal occasionally, Flax Seed
bread, NO potatoes, NO rice, smaller
portions of beans, 1/4 banana, 1/2 servings
of fruit at a time, Tortilla chips only if
they have salsa on them---THAT totally curbs
the snacking---you get too full too snack on
them! See... it's really, really easy
to cut down/out carbs. I like this
Glycemic Index approach. I'm going
to be reading more about it---perhaps I like
if because it allows a bit more flexibility
with carbs! Ahhhh precious carbs.
Moderation, moderation, moderation, dear.
What do you bet that the cereal suggestion
of oats, bran or barley based cereals means
about a 1/3 cup serving?
January 27, 2004 Here's
an interesting
Census Bureau report---it's even a bit
encouraging... regarding families.
There's also a mixed bag of stats on
Fathers that was interesting to read.
We know the Word has a message to Fathers...
that the heart of the fathers would turn to
the children and the heart of the children
to their fathers. This, from Malachi
4.6. What an awesome
responsibility fathers have,
yet
few seem to realize it!
We completed our
Titus2.3-5 study this morning in
our Titus2 fellowship. It's been a
long, sort of drawn out study---one I pray
has been a blessing to the ladies, but I
thought it necessary to examine each word in
context and focused on each as a topic for
each study. What comes of it, I pray,
will be wives whose lives exemplify and not
blaspheme the Word of God.
Interestingly, I read an article a little
bit ago about something I just shared this
morning and that is the benefit/imperative
of early learning and application of
specific Bible truths. This article is the
second part of an article "The
Bible on Responsibility." It looks to be
the last for that site.
January 26, 2004 Kathryn's
getting ready for another surgery.
She's begun the surgical prep work of
scrubbing and scrubbing. She
getting her thoughts and trust in such a
place as to accept the path and walk in it.
This is the last one in this series of four
surgeries to correct her feet, so she's
aware of the trail ahead. It's been
nearly a year since we first met her doctor
and what a blessing he's been to her and to
us. I marvel at the goodness of God,
His mercy and timing in the surgeries and
how well they've gone. Kathryn's been
so gracious---I know more and more all the
time why the LORD impressed me to name her
Kathryn Grace---for God's grace, God's
infinite grace is evident and made manifest
in and through her life. I've always
seen a glimpse of this but more so in trials
and suffering---things that would hinder
most, rather propel her to goodness with a
gracious response to humiliation! I
see the High King of Heaven, the love of
God---His wondrous grace in her.
God's blessed us with four
beautiful daughters---I do not mean
beautiful as the world defines beautiful,
but beautiful on the inside where beauty
never fades, where beauty deepens and
increases with age, experience, and through
the work of the Holy Spirit. I'm
increasingly sensitive to the gifting of the
LORD in these daughters (and in the sons, as
well---but that's another blog!) and the tremendous and humbling
responsibility that is ours in the training
of daughters and perhaps in presenting each
one one day to the men that will be their
husbands---the ones to whom they'll be
joined. I'm grateful for the
opportunities of their lives. I read a
story this evening about a little "ballerina"
whose parents only saw her to age eight.
It was gripping to this mama with two
daughters a bit older than eight and two
under eight.
Tiny Dancer is the story. Get out
your hankie---it'll grip your heart.
How 'bout this
story... would you invite a stranger
into the service if he didn't look right,
smell right, fit right in? If he were
sitting on the wall around the churchyard,
would you sit down and
talk with him?
It's going to be an
interesting year if the "news of the day"
radio broadcasts continue as they have been.
Some years ago, story had it that Ronald Reagan
said to Nancy (at a cemetery,
looking at a headstone inscribed: Here lies
an Honest Man and a Politician): "Look,
Nancy, here's one with two men in the same
grave!" Ahhhh. So now... all the
rhetoric and mud-slinging... I wonder how
many are honest politicians? Perhaps
an oxymoron.
Thinking of attending an
Alpha Course? Think again.
There are some conflicts with the Word you
need to be aware of before you'd consider
attending---The
Alpha Course is another of the many
dangerous teachings to mislead the Church
today.
January 25, 2004
Many Blessings to you, this LORD's Day~
Today I
want to share with you a blessing...
it's in the form of an audio-video
presentation:
The LORD
is my Shepherd.
January 24, 2004 We're
in a bit of a mess around here---new sorting
and cleaning, preparing to the weekend,
baking and washing... no time for
bloggin---but
Valentine's Day is coming so I wanted to get
working on that page. I'll add to
it, hopefully, in the next couple of days.
Many blessings!
January 23, 2004
Ooops, I just typed in "3" again! It's
a bit hard to remember we are well into the
month of January and I am still typing
2000-three instead of 2004---maybe you are
doing that, too.
We praise the LORD that
Mother is home from the hospital.
Seems she has a condition with the
acid-reflux that is quite painful and since
it's not been long since a stent/angioplasty,
there was some concern that a problem had
arisen and needed to be addressed.
Thankfully the docs were able to help her
and she was released. Oh---the brevity
of life----and the long, long days in
between.
After another sweet time of
fellowship with other believers, we are more
and more grateful for the body of Christ and
for His provision. Each week, it seems
there are more things we discover about the
Word---passages that we individually study
are shared and new understanding is gained.
I'm grateful for the opportunities our
children have to visit with others because
of that deep need for socializing---all of
us have it, I suppose, but young people
especially are needing good friendships and
enjoyable times.
Joyce was writing to me about
her new washer/dryer and I am sure impressed
with her testimony of the efficiency of the
machines---and the time and water she saves!
She was sharing that the capacity is twice
the size of her other washer, so that means
her laundry will be done twice as fast in
half the time! She writes:
"A well working
tool makes for a well working mother!"
Amazing, isn't
it!?! So--- front loaders
are on my mind as I type away, waiting for a
load to finish so I can get another one
going. So grateful for these maidens
here in the kitchen. Maiden Washer, Maiden
Dryer and Maiden Dishwasher are all hard at
work!
more later...
January 22, 2004
My mother in law was taken to the hospital
this morning... how sad we are that she
lives in Indiana---no longer lives close to
us and therefore, we must rely on phone
calls or email, which is how we received the
news this morning. We pray for her and
earlier, we prayed that she'd quickly
recover and still be able to come out for an
already planned visit in two weeks.
Wes just called and had an update... so
we'll see how things pan out. She's a
remarkable woman whose life has been such a
blessing.
Here's a new site, One Man One Woman
Coalition for Marriage supporting the
preservation of marriage---looks like it's
ecumenical, but good resources and links,
nonetheless. No doubt there'll be
attempted sabotage like what's happened to
other preservation of marriage/family/home
sites. We pray God will bless America,
and more: that America will bless God.
You know... there's a
continued sickening occurrence of disregard
for life... it's not coincidental that it's
in the news at the same time as marriage
issues are in the news---all of these things
are inextricably linked: faith, abstinence,
marriage, childbearing, Truth and life
vs. cults, the occult and new age religions,
promiscuity, immorality, abortion, deception
and death. The article at Real Clear
Politics sure shows another ugly side of the
humanistic view of life. Infant
mortality is on the rise---not because of
more abortions, although there are---now,
added to the staggering annual numbers of
abortions, there are more and more infants
being killed at birth. As sick
as it is, the mothers of these infants could
have had abortions moments before the births
and not be charged with homicide---it would
be perfectly legal to do so in our country.
At the thirtieth anniversary of Roe v. Wade,
there is so much to be done. The
following article informs us of the tragedy
that is no doubt taking place all over
America---the world.
Real Clear Politics.
It's time to start planning
for Valentine's Day. Now... I don't
know the particulars about the origins of
this day, so when we celebrate Valentine's
Day... we celebrate love, joy, family and
friendship. We like to decorate with
hearts, candles and flowers and heart shaped
foods... cookies & biscuits, and we like to
share sweet memories and because Valentine's
day comes just a bit after our anniversary,
it's just sort of an extension of our
anniversary celebration---always a time of
remembering special memories and commitments
we've made to one another.
Don't
forget!
Valentine's Day is for sending love notes...
I am making a page for Valentine's Day ideas...
I'll let you know when it's up!
January 21, 2004
Bloggin' early for Wednesday---things are
stacking up, already! Only heard a bit
of the President's
State of the Union address last night.
I applaud him for his comments in the latter
portion of his address concerning the
sanctity of marriage and our obligation to
defend it. Interesting comments
regarding support of faith-based
organizations and opportunities for such to
receive financial backing and non
discrimination of such. It'll be
interesting to see how all that pans...
At one point he stated that we have some "unfinished
business on the issue of taxes..." Uh,
yes---I guess that's on not a few people's
minds. Good address, Mr. President.
Had to be.
Speaking of taxes---Costco has a coupon item
that Wes just went to pick up last night.
Turbo Tax---with the sale price, in-store
and mail-in rebates it was something like
$14. or $15. So... now, that
means all he needs in order to complete our
taxes is for me to go to the Social Security
office and update my information---never
mind that this has suddenly come up after 26
years of marriage---suddenly their records
don't reflect my name change.
Omygoodness. Okay---so I'll head over
there one of these days. I think I'll
enjoy that trip as much as I enjoyed heading
into that root canal last Tuesday. I
do not like the SS admin office any more
than the Dept of Licensing. I just
about typed motor vehicles---California,
dontcha know. Even after 25 years
here... We still call it the DMV---DOL
sounds sort of odd to me---when any of us go
in, we're certainly not on the dole---and
those who don't pass the tests certainly
don't feel as though anything charitable has
happened to them---so, DOL---it's maybe a
dumb title. Stick with me, it's the
DMV.
I just remembered some of my
New Year's goals. It dawns on me... if
I can't remember when I last drank a glass
of water, then it's been too long.
That, and finishing my meds
We sold our old van!
No, I'm not kidding. The man who
bought it had rolled his van a couple of
weeks ago in the ice and freezing rainstorm.
So... he already has a good engine but a van in bad
shape and our van's engine was in bad shape
but the van was in not terribly awful
shape---for a van that's 28 years old!
Well, actually, not that bad until two nights ago when
someone broke out the passenger window to
steal the CD player. It never *seemed*
that old till last week, then it seemed...
older. So glad the thirty year olds I
know look so much better/younger than that
van. So anyway... the man took the van and
was happy---happy with the nice upholstery,
dual exhaust, dual gas tanks and new
tires---uh, and the plastic over the door.
Oh, c'mon---no, we didn't pay him to take
it! The LORD has answered our
prayer---completely and exactly.
January 20, 2004
What a beautiful Northwest day we have here
today! Clear and chilly. The olders have
been working through their schoolwork and
the youngers have been watching one of the
phonics videos. I'm particularly happy
with this program, The
Hooked on Phonics
[site is slow loading]
videos and cards. I please with the
format and the clarity. It's a good
partner to the
100 Easy Lessons book and
ABeka language
arts books. There are some minor
pronunciation differences and occasionally a
different term is used for blends or
digraphs or whatever, but all in all, the
combination is a good one. There are
some children in our family who seem to do
better with the worksheet method and some
not so well, it depends on their
personality---so I always recommend waiting
a bit for boys and discovering their
particular need/style and then plunging in
with them, concentrating on attention,
obedience, understanding and recognition.
Over and over I see that knowledge without
wisdom is foolishness or vain.
Proverbs
15.14 "The heart of him that hath
understanding seeketh knowledge: but the
mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness."
That's another topic for another day. I need to update
our
homeschooling sections as I'm sure there
are many dead links as well as other info that
needs updating. I don't know when I'll
get to all that, I do know that today's not
the day. In a moment we're off to the
Library. We just received one of our
daily calls that someone here has "holds" in
at the
Library. It used to just be the
'olders' who needed frequent trips to the
Library---but now, even the younger ones
need a trip or two each week! So...
off we'll go in the new-to-us "Limo" to the
Library!
DOMA's in the news!
I never want to be called
a "one-note-Sally" or however that saying
goes... where the daily mantra is the
same---like a broken record; and I pray to not be as brass or a
clanging gong or tinkling cymbal.
But you know, everybody's got a note they sing... perhaps
many notes, but for me one note that needs
to be sung the loudest, highest, deepest and
longest, is the note pertaining to the
sanctity of marriage.
I don't generally harp against those who hold a
different view, and neither do I spend any time
considering the views of those who don't
hold marriage in high esteem, for any thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God is to be
cast down.
"Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to
the obedience of Christ." --2
Corinthians 10.5
Proverbs
14.34 says: "Righteousness exalteth a
nation: but sin is a reproach to any
people."
So what's the big deal
about marriage and why am I so determined in
the promotion of healthy marriage and
dogmatic over its preservation and
restoration?
Marriage is a picture of Christ and the
church---just as a bridegroom gives himself
for his bride, protecting, covering and
providing for her, so also Christ our LORD
gave Himself for the church... that it
should be holy and without blemish. In
the same way, we women so ought to behave
that the Word of God be not blasphemed.
This one's for you, Katherine ~ God Bless
you.
January 19,
2004 I'm overwhelmed by the events
of the last few days, humbled at the mercy
of God, His providing a van for our family,
and for the opportunities we've had to share
His provision and protection. We
share, not because of anything we think of
ourselves and surely not of boasting because
none of all of this is our doing, but
because all of what's transpired is of the LORD
---no man has power to do what's been
done. Ps. 118.23-25, 27 This is
the LORD's doing, it
is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day
which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice
and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee,
send now prosperity. God is the LORD...
We called on the Name of the LORD
and He heard our cry. We trusted in
the Name of our LORD
and we were delivered. We seek first
the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and
He has provided what has been needed.
Not a moment too soon and not a split-second
too late. O, had we not stood still
and waited on the LORD...
One of the
thrills we had today was *heat* as we rode
along in the van which is also *dry* inside
with doors that shut securely. We
enjoyed conversation---able to hear and
speak at a very comfortable volume.
But the heat... that was pretty neat!
We figure that it's probably been about
twelve years since we had a van with a
heater because the one we had before this
one also didn't have a functioning heater.
It's been very normal to wear lap blankets
in the van. We've been able to
continually add to our amazing collection of
van related or road related miracles... you
can only get stories and miracles like these
from "faith powered" vehicles which still
run for no apparent reason. I'll never
forget the fact that the LORD's
a-l-w-a-y-s gotten us where we needed
to go, ALWAYS.
Over the years
I have received numerous beautiful letters
from people in many places in the world, and
I suppose, this side of heaven, I'll never
meet the people who've written letters of
encouragement, requests, permission to post
articles, etc. I imagine I'll never
know the outcomes of trials and tribulations
sisters and brothers have faced and I'll
likely never know if what I shared was
encouraging or helpful---but I do know this,
I'm forever grateful to the LORD
for the ways He's working, the way His hand
is guiding our path and for the
opportunities He's orchestrated for me to
minister by way of this site and through
articles or letters. It's a great
treasure to receive a letter from one I've
corresponded with in the past . I'm
most grateful for the joys and trials in our
life that have become material for messages.
It's not the simple, the pleasant or the
mundane that draws or shapes the heart or
forms our character---we delight in the
mountaintops, but we grow in the valleys.
We rest in the meadows and bask in the
sunshine, but we mature and our faith is
shaped, deepened and strengthened in the
storms and when the days are darkest.
Truly God is the LORD.
January 18, 2004
January 18 and 25 are Sundays set aside to
commemorate the Sanctity of Human
Life. May God hear our prayers and
heal our land.
January 17, 2004
As this month marches on, I'm feeling
profoundly aware that in just a "few weeks"
I'll be amazed that we're already down to
the end of the year and I'll once again
marvel at the speed of passing time. A
little newborn already looks older, Spring
and Summer merchandise is on store shelves
and Election Day is just around the
corner---time marches---no, races on!
We continue to marvel at the Hand of
God---His merciful kindness, His unfailing
love, His provision and care. Since
returning home from our 'vacation,'
I've been simply in awe over all the ways
the LORD cared for, provided and protected
us. As we were leaving town, having
just received a gift that would add to what
would be needed for my visit to the dentist,
we prayed and asked the LORD for His
provision and protection throughout our
trip---I was quickly reminded of those
[answered] requests as we were coming home,
two cylinders not firing, top speed on
inclines was maybe 25 mph and so with much
popping and knocking we made the arduous
trip home; the I5 southbound lanes from the
border to our home seem quite narrow to me.
I had many lessons reaffirmed to me: wait on
the LORD, lean not on our own understanding,
in all our ways acknowledge Him, submit to
my husband, be careful or fearful for
nothing, in everything give thanks... and so
many more things!
Now, I said above: submit to my husband.
O, how much I would have missed had I not
totally rested in trust that God was indeed
guiding my husband, that I would submit to
him in trust and faith, and that He would
watch over and provide for us. My
husband's driving thought was that the LORD
had provided for this time, had taken us
through many difficulties and that he just
wanted to get home---make it home was the
only goal. Because the van was running
so rough and Wes was having to really push
it to get us home, our gas gauge was heading
to and then touching "E" ---- "E" --- "E" -- "E" -
rapidly! So with much chugging and
sputtering we were nearing our home... in
fact, when our home was nearly in view, we ran
out of gas. If that were the end of
the story, the jubilant and awe-inspired
shouts to the LORD may not have
spontaneously erupted from all of us---
totally and completely astonished at the
work of the LORD... as if gently pushed
home, we continued on and then coasted along to our home, through
no traffic [which *NEVER* happens that time
of day], down our lane and as the
power-steering was gone, Wes turned into our
driveway, with all his might, cranking the
wheel first to the right and then to the
left as the van stopped just near the place
we always park it. We screamed with
joy---God is the LORD---there is no other.
As I said, O, how much I
would have missed---had I not totally rested
in trust that God was indeed guiding my
husband, had I not rested in the fact that my husband is my head and that
I submit to him in trust and
faith---in obedience to the Word and though
the Holy Spirit. So, because of
knowing that I know that I know these
things: I would wait. You
see, at the border, when the van which had
been running a little rough but nothing like
what was ahead, we drove by a used car lot
and took a good look at some "fleet vans"
they had for sale. There were several
available and one in particular was *near*
(but not *at*) our price range. O, and
it was Dodge... I never thought much of them---in
fact, I prefer Chevy's and this was not a Chevy.
The van we've been driving is not a Chevy
but it's been the right van for the time.
So while we made our way back home, in the
theater of my mind occasionally I would let
play out what would have happened had we
just gone ahead and bought the van...
we would have missed the great blessing the
LORD had in store for our family and our
faith in Him. My husband had a very
specific budget and the price the dealer had
quoted him was a few hundred dollars higher
than Wes's budget. Had he gone ahead
and agreed to buy it and make payments, he
would have missed the better plan of the
LORD. He would have compromised his
position on going into debt for a vehicle.
I marvel...
**We would have missed the
significance of an anonymous gift in the
mail---that was sent the day before we got
home.
**We would have compromised an agreement to
not make hasty decisions or purchases.
**We would have missed recounting the
provisions and blessings of the two days
previous... how I was able to see the
dentist, to have a root canal, to see the
timing of the LORD and the locations we
needed to go.
**We also would have missed the great joy of
this day when after getting up very
early to drive up to Bellingham to first
take another look and then to offer to buy
the van... Wes drove into the
driveway---greeted by his jubilant
family---in the van he bought on the right
day, at the right time, in the right way,
for the right price!
O, how much we would miss were we to choose
our own way!
Breakfast at
Harrison Hotsprings in BC
Yay Walmart. Thinking of the mama's!
Look what we bought---Thanks
to family and a generous gift!
See---we made it home and are
sooooo smiling!
With everything else coming from thrift
stores or hand-me-downs,
one thing everyone loves here is a great
unders shopping spree!
Yes---the shopping cart was FULL of unders
and, yes,
I did receive a lot of looks and comments.
And yes, I do praise the LORD.
January 15, 2004
We're back home... much to share, much for
which to be thankful and give praise to the
LORD and more pics to post. But at
this hour---much sleep is needed and there's
very little time before daybreak!
Suffice it to say... Canada/BC was
absolutely beautiful, the LORD was [is] so
merciful and we'll never forget His
blessings and benefits.
On a totally different
note---Don't know why this is intriguing, and it
has nothing to do with anything, but I sure
think this is a
kewl house. That's, uh,
cool---the way my boys type it.
January 13, 2004
Too bizzy for bloggin... will put up another
blog in a few days! God bless you. |
January 10, 2004 We
continue to be amazed at the weather
patterns---thankful for the break in the
storm that allowed for a bit of clean-up in
our yard. Our friend Mary wrote of
their power outage [and post 36 hour
return!] and war-zone appearance of their
yard---I echo those sentiments, as ours
surely looked like some wild storm swept
through! I was sad to see such a large
branch of the willow tree broken. Wes
will need to go up with a chain saw and
finish that off. It's such an enormous
old tree that the loss will not necessarily
be noticed---but I'll notice. Just
like I notice when something's been moved or
misplaced in our home... it's just a funny
thing about mothers.
Need to find out about the
content of a particular movie? We
sometimes take a look at
Screen It when we're questioning a movie
and the rating attached to it. I must
give a disclaimer---this is obviously not a
"Christian" site and the categories are
graphically described in the movies
reviewed/listed. A particular 'war'
movie had a rating higher than what we would
allow for viewing---but after reading the
description, we understood the rational for
the rating. War is not polite and
killing/death/battle is not neat and
clean---there are no kinder, gentler wars.
My husband had a letter from
a friend---I'd forgotten about his
website---Judicial
Forum. Then, he's got a
weblog you can read and lots of other
stuff on the site. There are so many
things going on in the news---so much, so
bizarre that we can't comprehend it---we
can't fathom the depravity that's become so
common.
So what do
you think of all the
news about saddam? I wonder what
it'll take to make him talk---rather, to
make him say what officials are wanting him
to say. Then, an interesting twist to
the civil unions in Vermont---and like
everything else, it all comes out in the
wash:
"The homosexual lifestyle is about sexual
adventure," said Tony Perkins, president of
the Family Research Council. "I'm beginning
to see that they're not interested in
obtaining marriage for the purpose of
monogamy and long-term commitment." This,
from
family.org/cforum yesterday.
Glaringly obvious, is the enemy's continued
age old attempt to thwart marriage and
attack God in the assault of His creation.
Then, further in the news---'Seems
Howard Dean's arrogance is matched only
by his spiritual/biblical ignorance.
This candidate, it would seem, would only
add fuel to the fire of our national moral
decline---and the temperature's rising.
Ahh... even so, come Lord Jesus.
January 9, 2004
The clouds giving way to blue sky and
sunrays this morning is hardly
representative of a week of ice, snow and
freezing rain! The only indication of
the past week's storm is the mess of limbs
and branches of various sizes all over our
yard. Over the years, I've been amazed
by the sudden or instant changes in weather
in the Pacific Northwest! I'm
continually impressed by the changing of
seasons---I'm told it compares nothing to
that of the Northeast, nonetheless, for this
southern California girl who knew few types
of weather of weather and two seasons: hot
and sunny or warm and sunny.
Occasionally, there'd be a few scattered
storms here and there. So... that
explains my amazement at icicles, snow,
freezing rain or rain, more rain, and a lot
more rain. It seems that during one
particularly wet Spring, I'd wake up and
before looking out the window, I'd ask Wes,
"Is is raining?" He'd reply day after
day, "Yes..." Day after day... rain.
Oh, were those days depressing to me.
I'm more and more attempting to appreciate
all the water---preferring to see the
Spiritual significance to water and equating
it with the washing of the Word.
"...even
as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it; That he might
sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word, That
he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing; but that
it should be holy and without
blemish." Ephesians 5.25b-5.27
In the
news today I was amazed to read the
headlines... Of course, the ongoing coverage
of the ice and snow's resulting problems of
downed power lines, trees and continued
power outages. But more
astonishing, no, sickening really, is the
headline that Lake Stevens gets a
casino---which the GM of the casino hopes
will "be an asset to the community."
That's just what this county needs: another
gambling asset. bleck! Just what we need,
another venue for people to advance deeper
into addictions, more opportunities for
lying, cheating and abandoning families and
for the state to reach deeper into empty
pockets---The manager delights in what he
believes is an "untapped resource" on this
side of the county; I guess this "untapped
resource" is ideal for his biz and for the
state: additional tax revenue. No
doubt, greedy gambling's ravenous and
insatiable sister: pornnoonographyy, will
move in next door.
It didn't
make front page, but my parents have decided
to come home... ;-) I'm guessing they got
tired of the SunnySunShine in southern
California and wanted to console us here by
leaving it behind and coming home to the wet
and wild weather of Washington. That,
or they are just going to stop in, say
hello, check their mail, water their plants
and head back!
|
For this
child we've prayed... and
praise the LORD with Sean
and Lisa at this miraculous
gift!
Even in this, the LORD
is demonstrating His
gracious love wherewith He
loves us, this gift of
Life---not only in this
life, but in Salvation
through His atoning blood.
O, again, all God's ways are
good. |
|
January 8, 2004 The
snow and ice slowed our housekeeping
progress somewhat. I think we'll have
to concentrate on the cleaning and sorting
some more next week. I have also just
restarted my trek to losing more weight...
well actually, lose the 4 pounds I gained
over the holidays and then the rest of the
weight I'd planned on losing. It's a
really tough battle as I need to incorporate
more exercise and more WATER (I know, ma,
you've been talking to me about water my
whole life!). I like to read the tips
and ideas from
ediets --- these are Zone, Atkins,
or
low carb type diets.
So, then, that's the main
deal here. That, and schooling---it's
during the months October-November and
January through July that we do most of our
schooling, though we do some schooling
projects year-round. We've found that
trying to keep to a rigid school schedule
during the rest of the year is complicated
by many breaks and interruptions! So,
over the years, we've come to this schedule
and like the flexibility.
The snow remains, but it's
not nearly so cold today as it's been over
the last week! The pictures
in the paper today show some incredible
results of the storm and the freezing rain.
Family news from Focus on the Family and
Citizen Link provide updates and news
that affects our nation's families.
These articles prompt us to pray all the
more for our nation, our officials and the
families---especially
marriages and for those who don't know
Jesus as their LORD and Saviour.
remembering dad today...
June 5, 1927 - January 7, 2000 |
January 7, 2004
Icy today! Icy-cold and icy roads, icy
trees and icy power lines! We've been
inside listening to ice falling from the
branches and icicles falling from the
gutters---quite an eerie sound as the trees
sway in the wind, the icy braches cracking
with some limbs falling. The willow
tree looks like a gigantic icicle mop and
all the walnut trees are like ice
sculptures. After sliding around a bit
the other night, I'm not driving
anywhere---and pray I don't need to!
It's raining now... not freezing rain like
last night, but a light sprinkle. It's
30 out and the ice is thawing a little bit
and the forecast is rain and warmer weather
(38-40).
January 6, 2004
I finally got out 'year in pictures' done!
Wes is going to put these pages on a CD for
me to have. I don't 'scrap-book' and I
don't keep a detailed day to day journal, so
the year in pictures is a way for us and for
our children to see the year and keep the
memories fresh! Oh, this snow
and cold weather is amazing! I thought
it might prevent our granddaughter from
having surgery today---but, alas, our
daughter-in-law braved the elements to take
her to Children's in Seattle where she's
undergoing surgery to remove a growth above
her eye. We've been remembering her
and the surgeon in prayer! Our
grandson is here... it's a blessing to be
able to help them and to spend unhurried
time with him!
The weather prevented Wes
from working today---he's thankful as he has
an avalanche of office work to
complete---year-end and day to day stuff
really adds up!
I just received a
Karla Dornacher
CD in the mail... it's a screensaver for
this computer! I love the books she writes
and her illustrations are so beautiful to
me! I'm looking forward to having this
on the screen when we're not using the
'puter!
It's too cold to type! ---more later!
January 4, 2004
From John MacArthur's, Truth for Today: "Do
you know you cannot serve God unless you are
separated? In the Scripture, that word
refers to being set apart for a specific
task or purpose." This, taken from 1 Peter
1.16. We're to be holy because God is
holy. We are His workmanship, we're
His 'ambassadors' here, we're His peculiar
treasure. Today as we worship, we
trust Him for fresh bread, for the sincere
milk of the Word that we might be yielded,
more fully equipped, ready for His service
as He leads us. I pray the LORD will
direct our paths this year... a specific
task or purpose...
One
of the blessings of our trip to Chehalis on
New Year's Eve was the special hospital
visit we were able to make to see our
friends, Mr. & Mrs. Pais, where Mrs. Pais
had just had surgery a few hours earlier.
Mrs. Pais---our Amelia's namesake, was
diagnosed with Leukemia 18 years ago and
this surgery was to remove her thyroid and
some lymph glands. We prayed together
and sang to her. What a blessing it
was. Mrs. Pais has a remarkable testimony of
walking hand in hand with the LORD.
amelia holding mrs. pais's hand January 3, 2004
A very cold and snowy 3rd day of the year!
We're trying to stay warm but it seems an endless battle
to keep the back door shut! We've enjoyed these
days with family and friends---celebrating the birth of
our LORD and reviewing all the
ways of the LORD in the last year.
Amazing workings, blessings and provision! Another
year of walking with the Saviour, another year of His
merciful kindness!
Quick Notes:
We rejoice with our friends
over the birth of their new little daughter!
Little Lydia Grace made her long awaited
entrance into the world at 12:25 early New
Year's morning! Over the last two
weeks, when the phone would ring, we thought
we would receive the 'announcement' call.
And I'm sure the days were so long as
the wait lingered on.
As the LORD
brought a new little life into the world,
another friend is experiencing the loss of
her baby and sadly faces the process of
passing this little one the LORD's
called home early. We grieve with her,
her husband and children and do pray to see
the Hand of the LORD
and wait on His planning and His purposes in
all of these things. He is only good
and His ways are only good---it's hard to
see this in trials sometimes---but were we
to see all things as of His Hand, these are
all the things we'd choose---we trust with
our friends that God's ways are good and His
paths are peace. This time of year
often seems to come with a unique sadness of
its own.
A group of stores in town
liquidating their inventory---ads in the
local paper and signs all over for the
Design Warehouse sales. Accidents
all over the place as snow and ice make for
treacherous driving conditions! I'm
thinking my parents are probably not going
to come home from California...
!
Well...
I need to get
bizzy-bizzy-bizzy---------those New Year's
resolutions are tarnishing as I type----my
coffee's cold!
January 2, 2004 Making progress setting up new pages, revising old...
more later.
Happy New Year!
We're filled with joy and anticipation as we look
ahead to the new year!
drink more
water
stomach muscles
clean one thing a day
learn one new thing every day
memorize a verse a day
drink coffee while it's hot (the coffee)
New Year's resolutions you can hold on to. |