Encouraging Quote

from Hudson Taylor, missionary to China, 1865

“The believer does not need to wait until he sees the reason of God’s afflictive dealings with him ere he is satisfied; he knows that all things work together for good to them that love God; that all dealings are those of a loving Father, who only permits that which for the time being is grievous in order to accomplish results that cannot be achieved in any less painful way. The wise and trustful child of God rejoices in tribulation…our Heavenly Father delights to trust a trustworthy child with a trial in which he can bring glory to God, and through which he will receive permanent enlargement of heart and blessings for himself and others.”

Please continue to pray for little Hudson Taylor. I mentioned him awhile back. He's one year old and battling cancer. Please join with us in praying for his healing.

Ten Terrific Months

Today is our 10th monthiversary! Ten months of learning and stretching and growing in new ways and ten months of the sweetest relationship I've ever known. I'm so thankful for my precious husband. R. is truly a gift from the Lord and I couldn't be more blessed to have him as my own!!

Last night as we talked just after we arrived home from work, I realized that I've been carrying some concerns inside for awhile. I've been concerned about getting stuck in this job and not getting the opportunity to pursue my dreams and education. I didn't even realize I was holding this inside, but talking to R. and getting it out brought a much needed relief. And of course crying always helps too! We prayed together and I feel so much better than yesterday's grumps! God does have good things for us and it will come just in time! I lose sight of that sometimes......

Grumpy

Grumpy is an apt description of how I'm feeling right now. My patience with people is thin and I just feel off today. Not sure why, really, except maybe monthly hormones. Grrrrrrr......... Alas, perhaps it's just Monday after a nice weekend that ended too soon. Sigh.

Various Laws of Nature....for laughs

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee.

Law of the Repair Person: When you take a malfunctioning product for repair, it will not duplicate the problem for the repair person. This is related to the Law of the Result.

Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll or bounce to the least accessible location.

Law of Probability: The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of the Telephone: If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.

Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.

Variation Law: If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

Law of the Bath: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

Law of Close Encounters: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you with whom you don't want to be seen.

Law of the Result: When you try to demonstrate to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

Law of the Squeak: Products only make inappropriate noises when you don’t want them to. Related, but not limited to the Law of the Repair Person.

Law of Biomechanics: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

First Law of Events: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

Second Law of Events: At an event, the people seated furthest from the aisle will more frequently need to get up for food, drinks and bathroom breaks.

Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

Murphy's Law of Lockers: If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

Law of Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor are directly correlated to the value, newness and difficulty in cleaning the carpet.

Law of Spills: The messiness of the material spilled is inversely proportional to the value and difficulty in cleaning the surface on which it lands.

Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are.

Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

Brown's Law: If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

Oliver's Law: A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Wilson's Law: As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

Law of the Sexes: There are two ways to handle an argument with a woman. Neither of them work.

Quick to Listen

Have you noticed that it seems like people don't listen very well? Part of my job in HR is to administer clerical testing for our clerical positions. It's always amazing to me when I can say something and the very next second they ask the question about what I have just told them; sometimes using the exact wording I used to explain it to them. What's the deal? Did I just not explain it clearly, or were they just not paying any attention? I wonder if I do this; ask a question immediately following the answer? Hmmmmmm..... Maybe that why Scripture tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I wonder if it's a spiritual issue?............. Hmmmmmm....I don't know.

The Last of the Bar Projects

This was definitely the biggest project yet!! I forgot to take pictures before I took off the cupboard doors, but you get the idea of what it looked like before. Then R. helped me put in shelves inside for the DVD player and all that so it looks like a legitimate TV cabinet. No more stacking on top of the television!! Yay! I'm pretty proud of our work!!!

After

What?!? You've never heard of a balloon glow?

The 6th Annual Balloon Glow

Saturday night R. and I went to a balloon glow. Never heard of it? I hadn't either, but it was great fun!! The event was free. We watched them inflate the balloons and then they had a music presentation in which they lit the balloons in time with the music. It's really quite amazing all the muscle and sweat that goes into inflating one of those things! I was impressed!!

With a free Concert

Big Daddy Weave

And Glow They Did

...and we had a wonderful time!

To walk humbly

Humility has never been one of my strong points. In fact I'd say it's one of my biggest struggles. I like to be right and I don't appreciate being questioned or challenged. Needless to say, I've realized that even when someone is in the wrong in how they treat me, I'm still called to respond with humility because this is what the Lord requires and what honors Him. Dang! This is hard to swallow sometimes! Especially when I'm treated improperly or belittled! And yet, if this will bring pleasure to the Lord, that makes me want to try and to let Him change my heart. And I know I can trust Him to be faithful. Oh, but it's hard!!! My usual reaction is to get defensive and fight back, but the Lord is the one who defends me so I don't need to worry about myself. But I do. Hmmmmm.....Come Lord Jesus, please change this heart of mine.

With a thankful heart

I wrote earlier about God being true to His Word and His promise that if we seek Him first 'all these things will be added unto you'. We have felt that over the last few days in such a tangible way. First we recognized the change in our marriage. The fighting and arguing about silly things ceased and we found ourselves serving each other willingly without keeping a tally of our service and comparing with each other. Secondly we found ourselves inundated with invitations to be with others, in contrast to our previous feeling of isolation. On Sunday we went to Highland Baptist Church and the sermon spoke to us where we are. We went forward for prayer and were approached by a man we didn't know and invited to the small group he leads...they're studying the will of God and how to know His leading. Oh, and on a side note my car is running again. It was just a battery and Robert was able to change it himself. We're seeing God add unto us as week seek Him. But even more important, we're desiring the Lord and intimacy with Him in a way that we haven't for a long time. A passion to know Him deeply again.

Burning......

"My mountains" are on fire! Sniff, sniff. It's beautiful and sad all at the same time. Please do pray for rain in St. Ignatius so the fire will get put out!

True to His Word

R. and I had a blessed time visiting his family over the long weekend and we came home with new perspective. We've struggled to know what the Lord has for us and wondered why He seemed so silent In taking time away and talking and praying about it the answer was clear. We've been neglecting the Lord and focusing our attention everywhere except on Him. He has not been our first, second, or even third priority. We've been giving Him the leftovers. How could we expect to hear His voice when we haven't been listening or paying attention? We have renewed our evening devotions together and have been deliberate about personal time with the Lord and already see a change in our life. R. is more encouraged and we are meshing together and desiring to bless each other, instead of seeking for our own blessing.

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." True to His Word, God has been adding to us as we seek Him first. I'm so thankful that even when I am faithless, He remains faithful.

Resting in His grace........

Brief Revival

Last night we used the jumper cables on Lucy, hoping that would be the end of her coma-like state. She fired to life and seemed to be running okay until I put the car in reverse...back to sleep. So we jumped her again and this time R. told me to take right off and head for the video store and he would be right behind me. So I left...only then remembering that my cell phone was charging in the living room.

I head for the store all the while looking for R. in my rear-view mirror; nope not there. I'm wondering what happened to him, feeling a little anxious about the fact that he's not there, I'm without a cell phone, and every time I roll up the window or turn on the radio, the headlights dim. Oh boy. Fifteen minutes later I pull into the video store parking lot; still no R. I drive around a few minutes and then decide to head home since I'm afraid to turn off the car.

I head on home and when I get to the highway, I switch on my brights. The car jerks like that was way too much energy extended, so I quickly turn it back to normal hoping I'll make it home 'cause it's dark and there's nothing but farm houses along this road. Wonderful. Still don't know where R. is. Thankfully I make it home, park the car, turn it off, made it. I try the key just to see if it will start again...deep coma-state. Yikes!

R. finally shows up. He went to the wrong video store. Oops! I guess that's what happens when one breaks routine! But, I made it home and he made it home. An unexpected little adventure to break up the week...phew!

Tomorrow we're off to R's parents until Wedesday. Happy Labor Day to all! Hope you don't have to labor!!! We'll be taking it easy!