I wonder what it means when my 2 year old skewers the army men on the stick meant for marshmallows....
and then quietly talks in a scream... " oh no...... not the fire....." as he pretends to put them in the fireplace........
I am hoping this is all just an active imagination, and not a sign of sadistic things to come....
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Update on Jan 13th's post
So, I figured that I should update on the friend that was sick with the same tumors as Dad.
His has started to re-grow.
It was my fear when I first heard that he had fallen. As of right now he is in the hospital, and on steriods to help with the swelling. That has brought a bit of his speech back, but really we don't know what will happen next.
Please pray with me for this family, that God will grant them strength, in the days ahead. They are likely to become more and more difficult.
~julie
His has started to re-grow.
It was my fear when I first heard that he had fallen. As of right now he is in the hospital, and on steriods to help with the swelling. That has brought a bit of his speech back, but really we don't know what will happen next.
Please pray with me for this family, that God will grant them strength, in the days ahead. They are likely to become more and more difficult.
~julie
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
the RipStik
Yesterday, Hunter was trying to ride his RipStik. For those of you who have no clue what it is.....It is this small wheeled death contraption that looks like this:
It is like a skateboard, but the middle section moves, and the wheels are not fixed, they are on casters, so they wiggle, and the top wiggles.... and you sort of ride it like a surf board...... like I said, it is a wheeled contraption of death. Hunter's looks like the red one, but we have one that is like the top blue one too. Anyway..... he comes in from outside all upset that he can't ride it. Convinced that he will NEVER be able to turn on it, and if he cant turn, then how can he POSSIBLY ever learn to ride it right..... If you know Hunter, you can hear the drama in his voice.... the almost whine..... sure that then next moment he will just flop in a heap of sighs to the floor.
He is incredibly dramatic.
I looked at him and told him sure you will be able to ride it. You know why? because you will keep trying and trying and practicing until you figure it out. You didn't learn to walk in one day, and you didn't learn to read in one day. The RipStik is going to take practice too.
He looked at me with a look in his eye that said he wasn't quite convinced that anything I had just said was indeed true or worthy of remembering.... but he went back outside to practice anyway.
Later that afternoon he came RUNNING into the house, EXTREMELY excited. "MOMMY! MOMMY! guess WHAT???? I can turn on my RipStik!!!!" I smile at him and tell him, see I knew you could do it!
Then as he walks out of the kitchen, he softly says, " and you know why I could do it mommy? cuz you encouraged me that one time". And he walked away, to go and play some more.
You never know how what you do or say in a day will affect someone. Make sure your words are ones that leave a good impression.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Why do we hide?
Why do we put on such a front with other people? I am specifically speaking to ladies right now, even more specifically church ladies....You know who you are. You can spot a fake person at 20 paces.... they make you angry, because they are so plastic, pretending to be perfect and together.......... yet, you play the same game, and you hate yourself for it.
Ever been to a Ladies Fellowship event? Everyone walks around with their name tag, and cup of coffee, tea or juice, smiling politely at everyone. You hear laughter, you see hugs.... but the laughter is from a safe subject, the hugs are hello hugs..... Can you tell me, when, if ever, you saw someone cry? We sit at the same tables, with the same friends, and smile and nod at each other..... and inside we are broken and hurting and terrified that someone will see.
Why is it that we think we have to show everyone how together we are? When we play this game, are we really letting the church fulfill what God intended for it to be? I submit to you that we are not. If we don't know each others needs, how can we bear each others burdens? Do we hold things in out of pride or fear? Are you just sure that all these "together" women you see, have never had a problem, either temporal, or spiritual in their whole lives..... they have got this Christian thing figured out!.... hmmm.....
In any given church, in any given women's fellowship gathering, you will find women of all walks of life, in every season of life.
Who are these women?
We are women who have suffered in bad marriages, maybe even resulting in divorce. We are women who are experiencing the empty nest, and loneliness. We are women who have buried our loving spouse. We are women who are childless, and aching to be a mother. We are women who have buried a child. We are women who have houses overflowing with children, and we can barely keep up! We are women who have children with special needs. We are women nursing ill or dying parents. We are women who are over scheduled, and under rested. We are women who are angry. We are women who struggle with disciplining our children as God would have us to. We are women who face cancer. We are women who have a debilitating or life threatening disease. We are single mothers, terrified of raising our children alone, and without a father figure. We are women who hate our jobs. We are women who have so much debt we don't know how we will pay it all off. We are young women who need advice and guidance, but spurn it from our parents. We are women who have been abused. We are women who have struggled with addiction. We are women who have been to jail. Hopefully we can all say, we are women who have been forgiven.
I hope you found yourself in that list. I know I am in there several times.
I know my hope and my prayer is that we as women in our churches, reach out to other women. When you ask how someone is... be ready and willing to get a real answer. If you are asked that question, QUIT SAYING YOU ARE FINE!!!!!!!!! chances are, your NOT! be humble, and transparent, and ask for prayer, share what you are struggling with. Maybe you are quiet, because you don't know what to say... you don't feel you know your Bible well enough to use it to encourage someone. IF that is the case, then at least pray with that woman, right then. Go home and look some stuff up....tell her you will get back to her on what God says. The internet is an incredible resource, there are books with verses in them on every subject you could think of....( I have 2... The Bible Promises Book and God's Promises for Mothers ) Use that concordance that came in the back of your Bible.....Maybe, by reaching out to someone, you will begin to "know your Bible" better.
Remember, God doesn't tell us to keep all we learn to ourselves. We are supposed to be discipling and encouraging one another. Why? because we learn the most when we share and teach the truths we have learned. Sometimes it is important to just know that someone else had/has the same struggle, and you are not alone.
Pray and ask God whom you can minister to. Pray and ask Him to reveal to you, someone in need of ministering. Be willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around you.
Ever been to a Ladies Fellowship event? Everyone walks around with their name tag, and cup of coffee, tea or juice, smiling politely at everyone. You hear laughter, you see hugs.... but the laughter is from a safe subject, the hugs are hello hugs..... Can you tell me, when, if ever, you saw someone cry? We sit at the same tables, with the same friends, and smile and nod at each other..... and inside we are broken and hurting and terrified that someone will see.
Why is it that we think we have to show everyone how together we are? When we play this game, are we really letting the church fulfill what God intended for it to be? I submit to you that we are not. If we don't know each others needs, how can we bear each others burdens? Do we hold things in out of pride or fear? Are you just sure that all these "together" women you see, have never had a problem, either temporal, or spiritual in their whole lives..... they have got this Christian thing figured out!.... hmmm.....
In any given church, in any given women's fellowship gathering, you will find women of all walks of life, in every season of life.
Who are these women?
We are women who have suffered in bad marriages, maybe even resulting in divorce. We are women who are experiencing the empty nest, and loneliness. We are women who have buried our loving spouse. We are women who are childless, and aching to be a mother. We are women who have buried a child. We are women who have houses overflowing with children, and we can barely keep up! We are women who have children with special needs. We are women nursing ill or dying parents. We are women who are over scheduled, and under rested. We are women who are angry. We are women who struggle with disciplining our children as God would have us to. We are women who face cancer. We are women who have a debilitating or life threatening disease. We are single mothers, terrified of raising our children alone, and without a father figure. We are women who hate our jobs. We are women who have so much debt we don't know how we will pay it all off. We are young women who need advice and guidance, but spurn it from our parents. We are women who have been abused. We are women who have struggled with addiction. We are women who have been to jail. Hopefully we can all say, we are women who have been forgiven.
I hope you found yourself in that list. I know I am in there several times.
I know my hope and my prayer is that we as women in our churches, reach out to other women. When you ask how someone is... be ready and willing to get a real answer. If you are asked that question, QUIT SAYING YOU ARE FINE!!!!!!!!! chances are, your NOT! be humble, and transparent, and ask for prayer, share what you are struggling with. Maybe you are quiet, because you don't know what to say... you don't feel you know your Bible well enough to use it to encourage someone. IF that is the case, then at least pray with that woman, right then. Go home and look some stuff up....tell her you will get back to her on what God says. The internet is an incredible resource, there are books with verses in them on every subject you could think of....( I have 2... The Bible Promises Book and God's Promises for Mothers ) Use that concordance that came in the back of your Bible.....Maybe, by reaching out to someone, you will begin to "know your Bible" better.
Remember, God doesn't tell us to keep all we learn to ourselves. We are supposed to be discipling and encouraging one another. Why? because we learn the most when we share and teach the truths we have learned. Sometimes it is important to just know that someone else had/has the same struggle, and you are not alone.
Pray and ask God whom you can minister to. Pray and ask Him to reveal to you, someone in need of ministering. Be willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around you.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
When it all seems overwhelming
Ever have those days when things just don't go right?
When everything seems extra hard?
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in the drought, and strenthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose water do not fail.~~~ Isaiah 58:11
He can't guide you if you never talk with Him or spend time with Him, remember to go to the Living Water.... and let Him restore, strengthen, and encourage you.
I just really liked that, and wanted to share.
When everything seems extra hard?
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in the drought, and strenthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose water do not fail.~~~ Isaiah 58:11
He can't guide you if you never talk with Him or spend time with Him, remember to go to the Living Water.... and let Him restore, strengthen, and encourage you.
I just really liked that, and wanted to share.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Today when I opened my email... there was an urgent update for a family friend. He was diagnosed last year with the same type of Brain Tumors that my dad had. He is 44. He had fallen twice in the last two days.... he was rushed to the hospital. My emotions were very raw. Much more so than I thought they would be. I was sure that the changes in his consciousness and moods were signs of new growth of his tumor, and that quickly this cancer would claim another life. All the feelings of fear and helplessness came flooding back.... and unlike when I was there for my family.... this time I wasn't able to "suck it up" as well. Later today they sent an update that he is ok... the falls were from his seizure medication being out of balance....
In the midst of the crying jag I had in the shower over this all..... I was gently reminded that God is in control..... Romans 8:28 "and we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose"
I just needed to be reminded that God is working through things even when I see them as "bad". That His purposes are not my purposes. I know the family are believers, and I pray that this friend has asked the Lord for forgiveness too.
In the midst of the crying jag I had in the shower over this all..... I was gently reminded that God is in control..... Romans 8:28 "and we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose"
I just needed to be reminded that God is working through things even when I see them as "bad". That His purposes are not my purposes. I know the family are believers, and I pray that this friend has asked the Lord for forgiveness too.
Monday, January 11, 2010
first one of the new year
Well the first official blog of the new year. probably would have done this sooner, but I was teetering on the edge of death for a few days last week.
I came home from church a week ago and had a sore throat. I decided to lay down for a nap, and woke up worse than when I laid down. My tonsils were huge, swallowing was a feat of shear determination, and I had not only white spots on those puppies, but there was one big BLACK one.... not sure what it was I had... but I a quite glad that it decided to leave!
Well I don't have much more of anything to say... except tonight is going to be a fun little date night with the hot Seabee that lives in my house. Maybe I will have something profound to say in the morning :)
I came home from church a week ago and had a sore throat. I decided to lay down for a nap, and woke up worse than when I laid down. My tonsils were huge, swallowing was a feat of shear determination, and I had not only white spots on those puppies, but there was one big BLACK one.... not sure what it was I had... but I a quite glad that it decided to leave!
Well I don't have much more of anything to say... except tonight is going to be a fun little date night with the hot Seabee that lives in my house. Maybe I will have something profound to say in the morning :)
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