Do you ever have times in your lives that you have more questions than answers? That you feel that whatever intelligence you have is just not enough? That whatever strength you have is not strong enough for the tasks at hand? That your wisdom is so lacking in the areas bombarding you and the relationships that are wilting before your eyes that you cry constantly on the inside? Oh, you have faith...but it seems at times so rote and such a routine that you begin to wonder if even that is really there?
Do you ever cry while watching all the disasters that are happening EVERYWHERE and feel that your prayers are like whispers in the gale winds? Do you ever look at loved ones that are aging and wonder what happened to the time or how you will survive watching them slow and gradually stop being the persons you always had known? Have you ever considered the stresses the young ones endure that were not even thought of when you were their age? Do you ever just wish that God would put you in "time out" just so you could catch your breath for awhile?
Have you ever felt sadness that was so deep for another persons pain and wonder if our creator feels that way about us? Have you ever felt a happiness so encompassing that you thought you would explode into song or laughter? Have you ever held a newborn and were amazed at their freshness and total dependence? Have you ever thought about the idea of a God that promised us that freshness every single day of our lives? And that your total dependence on Him is a complement to his Godhood?
Have you ever thought about a God that would take on all the questions you have and never condemn or make light of them? Have you ever considered that Jesus endured all the questions posed to Him and that He possibly wondered at the wisdom God allowed him to have at just the right time? Or that He ever wondered if He had the strength to complete the tasks He had to finish? Was His "It is finished" a scream of total abandonment, or a whisper of total faith? Do you ever think about what He was willing to do because you were born the way you were born? That you really are no surprise to Him at all? That your faith can be smaller than a grain of sand and continue to sustain you through anything the world throws your way?
Do you ever consider wrinkles as beauty marks? Or a child as an opportunity to stay young at heart? Or that the life tapestry of God is not finished yet, but is being constantly worked on so that one day it will be finished? That one day we will get our 'time out', when the trumpet announces the revealing of Jesus, face to face, and more wonder-filled than we can ever imagine? That the young and old of our lives will become like Him and never, ever have to endure again all the pain and doubt that Satan has thrown in their faces? That relationships will be mended and bodies healed? And that until that time comes, we have the promise of our creator that we are totally and completely loved with all the scars and faults and weakness? And that He uses everyone of those scars, faults, and weaknesses to shine His glory on a world that is aching for a 'time out'?
Do you ever look at a sunset and have it take your breath away because it is so beautiful? Hmmm, wonder if it is God letting us know it is alright?
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Thursday, May 08, 2008
And he said, "Take up thy shoe and walk!"
After 5 weeks, Pete is back in a regular shoe and walking! He still has to rest quite often but we will take that! Now, maybe I will get coffee in bed again....
(My family tries to keep me well caffeinated, can you tell?)
(My family tries to keep me well caffeinated, can you tell?)
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
In Love Again
Ok...for those of you holding your breath...I am back with Starbucks.
I tried a Latte yesterday after explaining to the barista that I would get sick if she put regular milk in my drink. I used the word 'sick' at least 6 times while she was making it. And *tah dah* it was perfect! I still don't trust ol' Bucky totally, and probably never will again, but that doesn't mean we can't get along.
And my family sighs a big sigh of relief...mainly because I get really grumpy without my caffeine fix...but that doesn't mean I am an addict. I just choose to be happy...with Starbucks.
I tried a Latte yesterday after explaining to the barista that I would get sick if she put regular milk in my drink. I used the word 'sick' at least 6 times while she was making it. And *tah dah* it was perfect! I still don't trust ol' Bucky totally, and probably never will again, but that doesn't mean we can't get along.
And my family sighs a big sigh of relief...mainly because I get really grumpy without my caffeine fix...but that doesn't mean I am an addict. I just choose to be happy...with Starbucks.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The love affair is over!
The love affair is over. And it was a very painful ending.
Yesterday afternoon I was on my way to do some shopping, then up to visit Kaleb and Kristi in the hospital. Kaleb had told me he would like a 'Webkins' snake (for those of you who have question marks over their heads right now, a Webkin is just a Beany Baby that a kid can go online and 'make up' a whole life for the creature. Enough with the imagination in your own head, it has to be on the World Wide Web before it is official now!) Anyway, I called several different stores in town looking for a Tiger Snake (Kristi found the correct name for it and passed it on). Mardell's carries Webkins and when I asked for a snake I think the whole Adam and Eve thing in the garden was taking place in the poor clerks mind...she said 'I have tree frogs and kitties and puppies but NO snakes. We don't carry them.' I'm sure she added a mental 'Silly!' to her statement.
So I called five other places that were more uhhh...carnal. None had them. Finally I chose a store in Utica Square as a last resort. I figured if it came from Utica Square it had to be pricey...but it was for a grandson. Maybe the budget could handle it. They had the Tiger Snake! AND (cue heavenly music) IT WAS ON SALE! I asked them to save me one, although they insisted they had, like, 50 snakes...and rushed to capture the slippery thing before it got away.
I was so impressed with the stores' Webkins that I bought 4 more for other grandkids...and for those of you who are figuring in their heads how many grandkids get one...2 of them will get something else because they aren't allowed on the computer yet...yeah, I do try to keep things equal.
I was feeling great about the sale price and the amount of gifts I had just bought and went to Starbucks to get Kris a Skinny Vanilla Latte and me a Skinny Mocha Latte. Decided it was a celebration so I would get the largest cups (Venti's). I ordered Kristi's with no problem, then when it came to mine I requested Soy milk instead of regular milk. (As most of my friends and all of my family knows, I am EXTREMELY lactose intolerant.) The lady said she couldn't do that. I asked why and she said that she couldn't make a Skinny (sugar free) Mocha with Soy. I said, 'So, you make it with sugar free mocha and skim milk normally, right?' She answered yes. 'So could you just trade the skim milk out with soy milk?' I really had my nice voice on too. She sorta looked shocked and said, 'Oh! Yes, that can be done!'
After paying for the latte's I stood in the waiting area while they made it and overheard the person making the latte's ask why there was an '8' on the instructions...the lady that took my order replied 'It's not an 8 it is an 'S'' Good for her! The barrista (I think that is what they call the person who makes the coffee drinks although mine was a guy so maybe it is barrister. But they also call an extra large drink 'venti' so who knows?) shrugged and made the drinks and I proceeded on my way with 2 lattes and a Tiger Snake.
Stopped by and got Kaleb a frosty and fries and finally made it to the hospital with all the stuff.
To make a long story short, let's just say I got the 'Best Mema Ever' award from Kaleb and had a great time drinking my latte with Kristi and playing Webkins and Spiderman with Kaleb. After a couple of hours I had to get home to take care of Pete (who had foot surgery and is limited on the amount of walking he can do).
While I was fixing dinner for Pete, my stomach decided it really didn't want any...and promptly doubled me over with pain. Oh it was a very familiar pain. One I associate with chocolate shakes and ice cream and milk! 'Starbucks! Starbucks! What did I ever do to you but broaden your Lattes! and pay you lots of money?!?!' I had been poisoned with milk!
After about 3 1/2 hours of extreme discomfort, I mentioned my theory of the milk laced latte to Pete, whom I had waited on hand and foot (pun intended) for the last 3 weeks. He replied with a cocky grin, ' That's why I only drink Pure Coffee. No additives or fancy names.' It is true. He only orders plain coffee. But he made it sound like he was going 'green' and saving the polar ice caps by drinking the 'pure' stuff and that I was silly enough to fall for the selfish fancy stuff and cause global warming. I would have inflicted pain on him if I could have moved.
The whole incident had 'passed' by bedtime and I was able to sleep off the rest of the effects of lactose intolerance. But I am scarred for life. Just the thought of a latte makes my stomach react with violence. So, Starbucks, it is over. No more fancy lattes with mocha, vanilla or caramel. No more talls, grandes or ventis. No more 'without whip' iced anything. You have broken my heart and wounded my intestines. I will from now on go and save the polar ice caps and have only Pure Coffee with my cocky husband. *sniff*
Yesterday afternoon I was on my way to do some shopping, then up to visit Kaleb and Kristi in the hospital. Kaleb had told me he would like a 'Webkins' snake (for those of you who have question marks over their heads right now, a Webkin is just a Beany Baby that a kid can go online and 'make up' a whole life for the creature. Enough with the imagination in your own head, it has to be on the World Wide Web before it is official now!) Anyway, I called several different stores in town looking for a Tiger Snake (Kristi found the correct name for it and passed it on). Mardell's carries Webkins and when I asked for a snake I think the whole Adam and Eve thing in the garden was taking place in the poor clerks mind...she said 'I have tree frogs and kitties and puppies but NO snakes. We don't carry them.' I'm sure she added a mental 'Silly!' to her statement.
So I called five other places that were more uhhh...carnal. None had them. Finally I chose a store in Utica Square as a last resort. I figured if it came from Utica Square it had to be pricey...but it was for a grandson. Maybe the budget could handle it. They had the Tiger Snake! AND (cue heavenly music) IT WAS ON SALE! I asked them to save me one, although they insisted they had, like, 50 snakes...and rushed to capture the slippery thing before it got away.
I was so impressed with the stores' Webkins that I bought 4 more for other grandkids...and for those of you who are figuring in their heads how many grandkids get one...2 of them will get something else because they aren't allowed on the computer yet...yeah, I do try to keep things equal.
I was feeling great about the sale price and the amount of gifts I had just bought and went to Starbucks to get Kris a Skinny Vanilla Latte and me a Skinny Mocha Latte. Decided it was a celebration so I would get the largest cups (Venti's). I ordered Kristi's with no problem, then when it came to mine I requested Soy milk instead of regular milk. (As most of my friends and all of my family knows, I am EXTREMELY lactose intolerant.) The lady said she couldn't do that. I asked why and she said that she couldn't make a Skinny (sugar free) Mocha with Soy. I said, 'So, you make it with sugar free mocha and skim milk normally, right?' She answered yes. 'So could you just trade the skim milk out with soy milk?' I really had my nice voice on too. She sorta looked shocked and said, 'Oh! Yes, that can be done!'
After paying for the latte's I stood in the waiting area while they made it and overheard the person making the latte's ask why there was an '8' on the instructions...the lady that took my order replied 'It's not an 8 it is an 'S'' Good for her! The barrista (I think that is what they call the person who makes the coffee drinks although mine was a guy so maybe it is barrister. But they also call an extra large drink 'venti' so who knows?) shrugged and made the drinks and I proceeded on my way with 2 lattes and a Tiger Snake.
Stopped by and got Kaleb a frosty and fries and finally made it to the hospital with all the stuff.
To make a long story short, let's just say I got the 'Best Mema Ever' award from Kaleb and had a great time drinking my latte with Kristi and playing Webkins and Spiderman with Kaleb. After a couple of hours I had to get home to take care of Pete (who had foot surgery and is limited on the amount of walking he can do).
While I was fixing dinner for Pete, my stomach decided it really didn't want any...and promptly doubled me over with pain. Oh it was a very familiar pain. One I associate with chocolate shakes and ice cream and milk! 'Starbucks! Starbucks! What did I ever do to you but broaden your Lattes! and pay you lots of money?!?!' I had been poisoned with milk!
After about 3 1/2 hours of extreme discomfort, I mentioned my theory of the milk laced latte to Pete, whom I had waited on hand and foot (pun intended) for the last 3 weeks. He replied with a cocky grin, ' That's why I only drink Pure Coffee. No additives or fancy names.' It is true. He only orders plain coffee. But he made it sound like he was going 'green' and saving the polar ice caps by drinking the 'pure' stuff and that I was silly enough to fall for the selfish fancy stuff and cause global warming. I would have inflicted pain on him if I could have moved.
The whole incident had 'passed' by bedtime and I was able to sleep off the rest of the effects of lactose intolerance. But I am scarred for life. Just the thought of a latte makes my stomach react with violence. So, Starbucks, it is over. No more fancy lattes with mocha, vanilla or caramel. No more talls, grandes or ventis. No more 'without whip' iced anything. You have broken my heart and wounded my intestines. I will from now on go and save the polar ice caps and have only Pure Coffee with my cocky husband. *sniff*
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Ya gotta do whatever it takes to survive
Told you guys that Kaleb was a genius! Or maybe I didn't...but he sure has creative ways to make the time pass. And it never hurts to have a crime fighter on your side.
Check out Kristi's blog for updates.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Team Kaleb
It's that time of year again.
The time of year that I remember why I bug my friends and family to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) for Team Kaleb. You see, Kaleb seems to be in the hospital more this time of year and it reminds me how important all the people and drugs are to his (not-so-little-anymore) body-just to keep the CF from doing more damage. I would like to ask you all now to take the time to click on the link to the CFF, find out more information on the Foundation, and if you feel moved to donate, please go to Kaleb's site and donate for Team Kaleb.
For updates on Kaleb while he is in the hospital, Kristi has her blog up and running.
Here are some of the pictures of my 'sweet' grandson, complete with no front teeth!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Family
I am exhausted and on top of the world! This weekend consisted of 3 parties...Friday with our worship team and techies, Sunday afternoon with my family (including my nephew, his wife and new baby), and Sunday evening with our small group. There was food galore! Laughter a plenty! and lots of grace and mercy with that many people in one place! Let's just say that God has blessed me more than I deserve or ever expected with the love of family...both church family and blood family. I am full in more than one way: stuffed with good food, stuffed with great fellowship, and overflowing with love for each and every one. Thank you to all...and blessed be our God, for without Him this would never have been possible. And thanks to Wes for bringing up our song/prayer on Friday that combines all my 'families': "Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above."
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