Innane Babble of the Day...

FOR some reason today, I thought of about 5 different statuses for my Facebook profile. A lot is going through my mind. Maybe I'm feeling creative? Anywho, I thought I may as well blog my innane thoughts and get them out there and out of my head.

WE'VE had quite a lot of snow in the last couple of days. Our family just LOVES a good snowstorm. This is the first major accumulation we've had this year (unlike last year where we started with our first big snow in October and ended up with our last snow toward the end of March - tons and tons of it!). I fired up the snow blower and blew our driveway and sidewalks and a couple of the neighbors'. I really like using that thing. It's so powerful and saves SO much time and effort. Too bad we can't use it on our stairs out front!

A RANDOM consideration: wearing matched socks might be overrated.

KRISTIN has made up two words today so far: #1: She was referring to her left-over fries and chicken strips and saying that when she reheats in the microwave that they are 'gross-ious'. An aptly illustrative word! #2: She was chatting w/Ell and doing a little dance move that she made up during the conversation. Ell asked what she was doing and Kristi replied: 'A bootie-bobble'...(followed by hilarious laughter.) In the ensuing conversation, Bree called it a 'butt-bobble' - Kristin corrected her big sister (more hilarious laughter). Followed by Bree saying, 'Let's use the words 'bootie' and 'butt' as often as possible and Kristin will never stop laughing.'

OUR dryer may be near death. The back of the drum has somehow started to detach from the rest of it and it makes such a racket when it's running. It's what I imagine it might be like in a factory or in the engine of a running steam locomotive. Maytags are not what they used to be for sure. We bought it 6 years ago...apparently we bought a 5 year warranty that ran out last month. =\ The comforting thing is that I know that the Lord knows we need a dryer, so He must have a plan. We sure don't have the money to buy a new one right now.

I'M going to start attending a group called 'Fresh Start' that meets each Tuesday evening to help with working through issues of the heart. We were supposed to start tonight, but the recent snow and high winds have postponed the first meeting until next week. I'm excited to know more of Jesus and to be free from some things that have been weighing me down for sometime.

WE got a Kinnect (for Xbox360) for Christmas. It is a BLAST. We have all enjoyed using it...it's getting us all up off of the couch and up on our feet and moving! There are sports and games and dancing discs...I have very sore muscles from it. Having been very sedentary for the last few years has taken its toll. I'm so thankful for the Kinnect.

My heart is broken tonight by the ugly influence of our world on innocent children. I wonder how deeply our own children are affected. I wonder where we have been lax and our enemy has taken advantage of the cracks in our wall. There's part of me...part of my 'momness' that wants to spare our kids from all harm, all pain, and especially all sin and its effects. I am very well aware of the impossibility and even if it was possible, the detriment of this. I'm seeing as our two oldest are beginning their adulthood that some of the ways I've tried to spare them have actually worked to foster fears and prevented maturity. Ouch.

But I know that everything, EVERYTHING is redeemable. I know that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him (Is. 59.19). I'm pressed tonight to seek God, to get serious. The fresh realization of The War that we are in has scared me - hopefully in a good way. Lord, have mercy.

Just Wondering...

May I respectfully disagree with some of my sweet friends?

I don't get how the current 'secret phrase' being posted on Facebook is supposed to engender breast cancer awareness. The posting of bra colors last year made more sense...although I still believe the business of our undies is between us and our spouses!

And why would we want to post publicly something that might make anyone picture us doing something so private, so special, so sacred? If there's not enough innuendo and temptation out there, let's just add to the cerebral sleaze-soup that's served up everyday here in western society, shall we?

I just don't get it. That's all.

Summer Salsa

Ooh, the delicious vegetable-y goodness! This batch was obviously made with red onion. Please pass the baked Tostitos!

Here's the disclaimer: this is OF COURSE, so much better w/fresh tomatoes. Made it yesterday w/store-bought and it was good....but not fantabulously delicious like usual. This is a simple recipe that I got out of the Omaha World Herald years and years ago...It's really more like a pico de gallo. I tweaked it a bit with the oil and vinegar and sugar to suit my taste. It's not very spicy....but I LOVE hot food, so adjust the 'jalapeno-ness' according to your preference. Hope you like it!

OMAHA WORLD HERALD MEXICAN SALSA

4 small tomatoes, peeled & chopped (I usually don't peel them.)

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

1/4 c. cilantro, chopped

1/3 chopped onion (any kind)

1/4 t. salt

1 1/2 t. oil ( I use canola or sometimes olive oil.)

1 scant t. sugar

1 T. vinegar

Combine all in medium-sized bowl. Serve @ room temp. Makes 1 1/2 c.

And here's a freebie, because it's written on the back of the salsa recipe card:

PACE CHUNKY GUACAMOLE

2 ripe avocados, peeled, seeded, diced

1/2 c. onion, chopped (any kind of onion)

1/4 c. Pace picante sauce

1 t. lemon juice

1/4 t. salt

Combine. Enjoy.

Okay, gotta go to HyVee and get me some avocados to make some Guac for our 4th of July celebration!

Thankful Trumps Crabby

Missing terribly our two travelers today.

Haven't slept well for three consecutive nights (night 1: worry & prayer for Nicaragua team. night 2: tummy & chimichanga disagreement. night 3: 2 am shower for itching skin.)

Headache.

Lack of motivation to do the 47.34 tasks slated for the day which include: 5 loads of laundry, water plants, wash wall to ready for painting, go for a walk, do 5 lessons in my Bible study which are due tomorrow which I should have spread out through the whole week, painting Kristin's vanity.

My bed is calling out to me: "Napping is good! Napping would solve many of your ills!"

This is one of those mornings where I am tempted to look on the dark side....be a 'glass half-empty' girl.

I am reminded that being thankful is my one way ticket out of this land of lethargy and irritability. AND I am reminded that taking time to allow Jesus to show me His love is NEVER a bad thing. He reminds me that I am WAY too hard on myself and agreement w/Him is humilty and obedience.

YOU are my ANSWER, Lord!...not accomplishing more, sleeping more, feeling physically better. It REALLY IS all about You!!!

Disappointment

(Do you like the homage to Star Wars? I readily admit it....we are a family of Trekkies and Star Wars Geeks.)

A dear friend sent this to me today:

"I think God is disappointed with me." What's wrong with that statement; why does it bother me?

It's so interesting that this would be brought up today because Dave and I were just discussing last night whether it is appropriate to tell your child that you are disappointed in him/her. We concluded that there are probably better words to use w/kids...words that do not bring shame.
Regarding the Lord, isn't His being disappointed w/us impossible? I mean to be disappointed implies that there was a certain expectation. If God knows what we are going to do anyway, how could He be disappointed? (Apologies to all you 'Moral Gov't' officionados.)
I know that Love hopes all things and that He always hopes we will make the best choices, but He knows us. We are weak. We have limitations and strongholds and difficulties and temptations. Rather than saying He is disappointed with us, I believe it would be more accurate to say that we are disappointed with ourselves. (Which, I believe, is a form of pride.) If He is Who He says He is, then EVERYTHING is redeemable and those of us who have screwed up our lives the most (HELLO, THIS MEANS EVERYONE!) have the opportunity for the most redemption. Reminds me of Isaiah 63:3b & 4

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

If there was nothing ruined, we would not see our need for Him. Having 'places long devastated' in our family background and in our own lives is not unusual...quite the opposite. The Bible is FULL of people who made poor choices or bore the brunt of the rotten choices of others. Some of them allowed God to make them 'a planting of the Lord'...to redeem their rotten, sinful choices and to become 'the display of His splendor'. Without redemption, there's no display. Without our weaknesses, His strength cannot be shown.
We have it all backwards: we try to be strong, we try to show that we are handling things well. We hide our weakness, even from ourselves. How silly to not live in reality, to not call a spade a spade and glady give ourselves over to the Only One who can save us from our silly, selfish selves.

2 Cor. 12:9,10 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Yes, at the very best, I've had poor judgement. At the least, I've been an evil, self-centered, selfish pig of a person and chosen to please me and me alone. I admit it. I fall short. I need help. And I will always need help. My realizing this of late has been a GLORIOUS freedom.
There was a time when I would have beat myself up because I should be 'further down the road'....that I should have made better use of all the teaching and help I've been so freely given. BUT I AM NOT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
And I have to ask myself: have I given Jesus my heart? Is my intent to allow Him to direct me daily? If so, then where I am is HIS doing...I am in this place for His purposes. (AND if I am not yet His, not allowing His voice to show me the path every day, one choice, one prayer can put me on that path.)
Okay, stepping down from the soapbox...

Summer Longing...

Bree and me, studying & enjoying!

The hanging jars.

A big jar with a big candle!

It's like a vacation spot at home...

I'm excited to say that I do believe that for this year, our winter is past. We have a few daffodils and some tulips that bravely poked out of the ground immediately after the three and a half foot drifts that have covered them since December 24th FINALLY melted a couple of weeks ago! HOORAY!

Kristin (our 8y/o) and I watched the weather channel for a few moments together last week and rejoiced together as we saw 70 degree temperatures in the forecast. She and I both love the hot weather. I won't call 70 'hot', but its' a start. (I grew up in Southern California and LOVE the warmth.)

We are blessed with a lovely covered deck off our kitchen and living room...In the warmer weather David and I sit out there and chat and drink coffee in the am. Sometimes our kiddos join us and it's the best of times. We need to eat meals out there more often this year, I think.

We've hung some gauzy fabric curtains out on the deck that serve no real purpose except to make it feel more "homey". Dave's built us some Adirondak chairs that I LOVE. They are sooooo comfortable. If we're out there after dark, we have 15 or 20 jars of different shapes and sizes in which we place white candles. We hang some (by beaded wires that we've looped around the jar's opening) around the eaves. And we place some on the deck around us. We have two hammocks hanging out there too. Some times I take my guitar out there and make a bit of music.

During the day as we go about our business, our deck calls to us...'Come out and rest!' It's the perfect spot for a quiet moment. We love to have people over to hang out and visit out there. If you are in the neighborhood, come on over and experience the ambiance of the Reno's back deck! I'm longing for a bit of it myself. Won't be long and it will be warm enough...