So it's been like forever since I've blogged anything, but I just had to share this somewhere. It's from Little Book of Prayers and even though I don't think I'm too old yet, too many of these could have come from my own pen.
Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will some day be old.
Keep me from getting talkative, and particularly from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to try to straighten out everybody's affairs.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details - give me wings to get to the point.
I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pains. Help me to endure them with patience.
But seal my lips on my own aches and pains - they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a saint - some of them are so hard to live with - but a sour old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all - but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.
- By a Mother Superior who wishes to be anonymous (Isn't that just the kicker? A Mother Superior penning that! Loooove it!)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thankful Fors
This came as a challenge from a friend to write out 20 things I'm thankful for.
1. My kids' giggles. And their belly laughs.
2. Music that reaches my soul and brings about change in my life.
3. That my son's "worst day ever" was because he didn't get his math homework done and actually had to stay in from recess.
4. My front porch rocking chairs.
5. Chocolate covered strawberries (and in a pinch, strawberries and chocolate ice cream).
6. Memories of sitting on my daddy's lap watching football on a black and white TV. And that I get to continue that tradition with my kiddos (except instead of a black and white, we have no Tivo and no HD).
7. Country music.
8. The most amazing friends that have seen me at my worst (like with Jr. High hair and everything!), loved me through my insecurities and fears, and challenged me to get over myself. And they still like me. I really can't believe I have so many kindred spirits.
9. Morning Star Church for the balance they have provided for me in nurturing and ministering to me and challenging me to reach out beyond myself and serve others. I seriously cannot imagine who I would be today if we had not said yes to Morning Star 11 years ago. (Yep. In the fall of '98 we sat in Mike and Dede's living room and said, "We're in!" What an awesome ride it has been and will be!)
10. The privilege of experiencing life enter this world and leave it - the most spiritual moments of my life.
11. Planned Parenthood commercials for Plan B that open up great conversation with my daughter. Who knew? Glad I went there - even with the boys in the car.
12. Generations of a Christian heritage that has shaped who I am and who my children will be.
13. Photography that captures raw beauty and reality.
14. My Jesus. And for the growing awareness that He really is my Jesus.
15. Books, books and more books.
16. My experiences on mission trips because even though it sounds self-serving, they absolutely have shaped my view of the world, God, and myself since 8th grade. And the struggle that I go through processing all that I see. It's worth it. It's even worth it that I have more questions than answers.
17. A fire crackling in the fireplace and the perfect roasted marshmallow. (I'm really really good at them. I'm out for hire. You can pay me with chocolate and graham crackers.)
18. Facebook. How corny is that? But seriously, I have reconnected with friends that are in the pit of hell and reaching out to me. And friends that I never should have lost touch with. Just the other night I chatted for 2 hours with my reconnected best friend. I snorted. I cried. And I am planning a trip to the East Coast to hug her neck.
19. For my husband who puts up with my peppiness, and my crabbiness. No wonder he's so even keel.
20. Our home. I still feel guilty for having it because our old one was "too small." But it's beautiful and homey and warm. And I can keep the people I love comfortable and safe in it. Too many mommas don't have that opportunity.
1. My kids' giggles. And their belly laughs.
2. Music that reaches my soul and brings about change in my life.
3. That my son's "worst day ever" was because he didn't get his math homework done and actually had to stay in from recess.
4. My front porch rocking chairs.
5. Chocolate covered strawberries (and in a pinch, strawberries and chocolate ice cream).
6. Memories of sitting on my daddy's lap watching football on a black and white TV. And that I get to continue that tradition with my kiddos (except instead of a black and white, we have no Tivo and no HD).
7. Country music.
8. The most amazing friends that have seen me at my worst (like with Jr. High hair and everything!), loved me through my insecurities and fears, and challenged me to get over myself. And they still like me. I really can't believe I have so many kindred spirits.
9. Morning Star Church for the balance they have provided for me in nurturing and ministering to me and challenging me to reach out beyond myself and serve others. I seriously cannot imagine who I would be today if we had not said yes to Morning Star 11 years ago. (Yep. In the fall of '98 we sat in Mike and Dede's living room and said, "We're in!" What an awesome ride it has been and will be!)
10. The privilege of experiencing life enter this world and leave it - the most spiritual moments of my life.
11. Planned Parenthood commercials for Plan B that open up great conversation with my daughter. Who knew? Glad I went there - even with the boys in the car.
12. Generations of a Christian heritage that has shaped who I am and who my children will be.
13. Photography that captures raw beauty and reality.
14. My Jesus. And for the growing awareness that He really is my Jesus.
15. Books, books and more books.
16. My experiences on mission trips because even though it sounds self-serving, they absolutely have shaped my view of the world, God, and myself since 8th grade. And the struggle that I go through processing all that I see. It's worth it. It's even worth it that I have more questions than answers.
17. A fire crackling in the fireplace and the perfect roasted marshmallow. (I'm really really good at them. I'm out for hire. You can pay me with chocolate and graham crackers.)
18. Facebook. How corny is that? But seriously, I have reconnected with friends that are in the pit of hell and reaching out to me. And friends that I never should have lost touch with. Just the other night I chatted for 2 hours with my reconnected best friend. I snorted. I cried. And I am planning a trip to the East Coast to hug her neck.
19. For my husband who puts up with my peppiness, and my crabbiness. No wonder he's so even keel.
20. Our home. I still feel guilty for having it because our old one was "too small." But it's beautiful and homey and warm. And I can keep the people I love comfortable and safe in it. Too many mommas don't have that opportunity.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Honduras Bound!
My hope is to be able to update my blog while we're in Honduras with videos and interviews. Um...I kinda need to figure out how to get videos on here, so you get to see my amateur videography efforts. Sorry. It's actually from last year when we asked the kiddos at Morning Star to donate vitamins.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Remembering 9/11
Here's what I wrote in my scrapbook shortly after Sept. 11, 2001
Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, 2001, I turned on the Today Show on NBC to catch the 8a.m. news. At 8:04 they broke to show a plane that had crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. As I watched, a second plane crashed into Tower Two. Immediately the announcers speculated terrorism. This was no accident. These are the details in the order I remember:
*One of the planes was reportedly hijacked.
*Up to 50,000 people work in the two towers.
*Tower Two tumbles to the ground about 45 minutes after the crash.
*Minutes later Tower One collapses.
*People are frantically running; many had jumped from the buildings.
*A plane crashes into one of the wings of the Pentagon.
*Planes were commercial flights with people on them - no numbers yet.
*Took Emilee to preschool at 9:30. I told her lots of people got hurt today when the planes crashed into buildings. She asked, "Why can't God make the planes not crash into the buildings?" I just explained that people make their own choices and when they don't know God or don't listen to Him, they make very bad choices. She immediately replied, "Like Jonah. He didn't listen to God and got thrown 'over-the-board' and a big fish ate him up."
*A fourth hijacked plane crashes in Pennsylvania headed for Camp David.
*Hundreds injured and at NYC hospitals.
*President Bush leaves Florida for Washington, but Air Force One goes to Louisiana where Bush makes a video-taped statement.
*Bush in Nebraska in bunker and conferences with Colin Powell in South America and Condelisa Rise in the White House.
*All four planes confirmed hijacked.
*Hospitals concerned that they're not busy enough - too many presumed dead.
*Osama bin Laden prime suspect.
*People walking miles to get home - all mass transit shut down - tunnels, bridges closed.
*Shoe store owner starts handing out shoes to many who discarded their dress shoes either in the stairs of the Trade Center or on the street.
*As many as 200 firefighters and 68 policemen missing and feared dead.
*First "missing" number at around 1,500. Family members searching for their missing loved ones, holding pictures asking if anyone has seen them.
*Thick ash and debris including papers cover streets, cars, buildings and people up to 3 inches deep.
*White House and Capital Hill officials taken to "secure locations;" some moved more than once.
*I have to do something to feel like I'm protecting my family so I head to the grocery store and stock up for the week.
*I feel absolute insecurity and vulnerability.
*Everywhere people seem to be very solemn - even the stores broadcast the news.
*America is on alert.
*Airlines across the nation are shut down; many stranded in airports until further notice.
*Numbers rise; missing are into the thousands now, but fewer than one hundred are confirmed dead.
*Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Infinite Justice - Bush quickly alerts all military and begins positioning for a strike back.
*On Thursday, Sept. 13, Bush addresses both Houses of Government as well as the world in an historical speech: "those who are responsible and those who harbor them..." "either you are with us or you are against us..." "We will not falter, we will not tire, we will not fail!"
*Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, sits in seat of honor beside First Lady Laura Bush.
*Friday, Sept. 14 a "day of Prayer and Rememberance" honors all the dead and missing and their families.
*Bush participates at the National Cathedral singing hymns, praying, and speaking; he has tears in his eyes.
*Days go by and presumed dead at WTC, Pentagon and on planes soars to about 5,000.
*Football, baseball, golf scheduled events are cancelled.
*Many give blood as a way to do something. I gave on Wed., Sept. 12 at the St. Charles County Community College. I arrived at 10:20a.m. and was #537.
*Airlines begin again by the weekend, but limited flights.
*America strikes back on Sunday, Sept. 23 as US and British planes bombed key Taliban terroist training camps after wiping out their air power (airports, military targets, etc.)
*Most Arab countries protest; feel it's "harsh."
*Bin Laden has videotaped message with more threats but obviously recorded before strikes.
*America is confident.
Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, 2001, I turned on the Today Show on NBC to catch the 8a.m. news. At 8:04 they broke to show a plane that had crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. As I watched, a second plane crashed into Tower Two. Immediately the announcers speculated terrorism. This was no accident. These are the details in the order I remember:
*One of the planes was reportedly hijacked.
*Up to 50,000 people work in the two towers.
*Tower Two tumbles to the ground about 45 minutes after the crash.
*Minutes later Tower One collapses.
*People are frantically running; many had jumped from the buildings.
*A plane crashes into one of the wings of the Pentagon.
*Planes were commercial flights with people on them - no numbers yet.
*Took Emilee to preschool at 9:30. I told her lots of people got hurt today when the planes crashed into buildings. She asked, "Why can't God make the planes not crash into the buildings?" I just explained that people make their own choices and when they don't know God or don't listen to Him, they make very bad choices. She immediately replied, "Like Jonah. He didn't listen to God and got thrown 'over-the-board' and a big fish ate him up."
*A fourth hijacked plane crashes in Pennsylvania headed for Camp David.
*Hundreds injured and at NYC hospitals.
*President Bush leaves Florida for Washington, but Air Force One goes to Louisiana where Bush makes a video-taped statement.
*Bush in Nebraska in bunker and conferences with Colin Powell in South America and Condelisa Rise in the White House.
*All four planes confirmed hijacked.
*Hospitals concerned that they're not busy enough - too many presumed dead.
*Osama bin Laden prime suspect.
*People walking miles to get home - all mass transit shut down - tunnels, bridges closed.
*Shoe store owner starts handing out shoes to many who discarded their dress shoes either in the stairs of the Trade Center or on the street.
*As many as 200 firefighters and 68 policemen missing and feared dead.
*First "missing" number at around 1,500. Family members searching for their missing loved ones, holding pictures asking if anyone has seen them.
*Thick ash and debris including papers cover streets, cars, buildings and people up to 3 inches deep.
*White House and Capital Hill officials taken to "secure locations;" some moved more than once.
*I have to do something to feel like I'm protecting my family so I head to the grocery store and stock up for the week.
*I feel absolute insecurity and vulnerability.
*Everywhere people seem to be very solemn - even the stores broadcast the news.
*America is on alert.
*Airlines across the nation are shut down; many stranded in airports until further notice.
*Numbers rise; missing are into the thousands now, but fewer than one hundred are confirmed dead.
*Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Infinite Justice - Bush quickly alerts all military and begins positioning for a strike back.
*On Thursday, Sept. 13, Bush addresses both Houses of Government as well as the world in an historical speech: "those who are responsible and those who harbor them..." "either you are with us or you are against us..." "We will not falter, we will not tire, we will not fail!"
*Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, sits in seat of honor beside First Lady Laura Bush.
*Friday, Sept. 14 a "day of Prayer and Rememberance" honors all the dead and missing and their families.
*Bush participates at the National Cathedral singing hymns, praying, and speaking; he has tears in his eyes.
*Days go by and presumed dead at WTC, Pentagon and on planes soars to about 5,000.
*Football, baseball, golf scheduled events are cancelled.
*Many give blood as a way to do something. I gave on Wed., Sept. 12 at the St. Charles County Community College. I arrived at 10:20a.m. and was #537.
*Airlines begin again by the weekend, but limited flights.
*America strikes back on Sunday, Sept. 23 as US and British planes bombed key Taliban terroist training camps after wiping out their air power (airports, military targets, etc.)
*Most Arab countries protest; feel it's "harsh."
*Bin Laden has videotaped message with more threats but obviously recorded before strikes.
*America is confident.
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