Wonderstruck Challenge Catch Up and Choosing Joy

Now to catch up on Wonderstruck, the challenge.  On Saturday we were to see God in His creation.  The sunrise on Saturday was a great beginning to see the wonder and awe of God in creation.  Saturday was a picture perfect day of creation here on the prairie.  I also saw the creation of God in the creativity of friends and the beauty they bring in word, art and music.  Sunday morning the drive from our home to church was a thick, massive cloud of fog.  Vision was so limited.  The fog made the usual beautiful and almost unrecognizable.  Roy commented that the fog transferred us into thinking we were driving in the country when the reality is, we are surrounded about with a great cloud of witnesses in home after home after home. 

Sunday, the Wonderstruck challenge was to see God in forgiveness.  Forgiving is another name for God.  There isn't any real thing as forgiveness unless it is based on the fact we need a Savior to mediate between sinful people and Holy God.  Margaret's emphasis on the challenge was being willing to forgive ourselves.  We've been talking about this in Bible study because we are in Hebrews and are in the chapters about the High Priesthood.  Another important part of forgiveness is forgiving others.  I think this can only be done if we walk in God's love.  We are willing to say we forgive but in our heart of hearts we will still punish the one who has caused offenses to us.  The opposite of love is not hate but fear, self-centeredness and dare I say it after writing about it last week, apathy.  Forgiving actually releases us from a dark, lonely prison.  Many think if we forgive that we have to be best friends with the one forgiven.  Not so.  It is our spirits set free from bitterness, anger, going victim, jealousy and the like. 

This past weekend was one of our more social weekends.  Friday night was choir camp.  Great fun being together again and the added gift of the evening; friends joining choir.  I didn't go Saturday morning because it would have been too much since on Saturday evening we had a Life Bible study party to attend.  Great fun!  The dessert exchange is so much fun, same premise as a white elephant exchange, two steals and locked on the third.  We brought home delicious cupcakes.  Sunday morning the choir sang two deep but upbeat songs.  We even got to repeat a song at the dismissal.  I went to Roy's class.  They are studying Galatians and chapter 4 tied in hand in hand to Hebrews homework this week.  As we were leaving we ran into David and Emily.  We went out to lunch and had a fun-filled time.  Love that our conversations cover the deepest topics and yet we all are so quick to laugh with each other.  We might have or might have not been a little loud yesterday.  We were off to ourselves at a table in the bar area.  No alcoholic beverages were consumed, it was ice tea and Diet Cokes all around.  We were not drunk as others supposed and David stopped at one table and apologized for our ruckus.  It was an older church set of people and as Roy and I brought up the rear I heard one man say, they were drinking margaritas.  Uh no, joy of the Lord verses unjoyful, legalistic table...I will choose joy every time. 

It is another foggy day in Rancho de Five and it is beautiful but I can say that from the safety of the confines of home, not being out on the road.  Today the Wonderstruck challenge is silence.  Love me some silence.  OK, I'll be quiet now.  No really, starting......now. 

A Not so Usual Afternoon

The later part of our afternoon didn't quite end the way we had planned.  We went to church this morning and afterwards had lunch with David and Emily.  After Roy and I got home, I took a nap and Roy ran some errands.  There are always some kind of "chores" to be done but before we tried to check a few off our list, Roy was going to take a walk around the lake.  Much to my surprise he came in after only being gone fifteen or so minutes and he did not look happy.  He stopped and talked with our neighbor across the street who was madly working in his garage.  The neighbor told him that due to all the land clearing on Greenbusch, rats are migrating looking for new places to make their homes and some of those Bedouin rats had scouted out his garage but a lot of them had taken up residence in a garage down the street.  This garage was filled, almost hoarder like, but it was toys and Christmas decorations and stuff they didn't know what to do with.  We thought these people were moving because we saw a U-Haul in front of their house.  This news prompted Roy to action, he began going through the garage, putting out rat poison, throwing away anything that might be of interest to unwanted boarders.  We are breaking HOA rules and have already placed our trash out in front of our house.  We are willing to be written up. He doesn't think we have had any visitors because he hasn't seen any evidence.  He pulled out all the dead flowers and some alive ones out of a large raised garden in the corner of the backyard.  Think we will have the preventative service from the bug people.  There goes my iPad.  Tonight I have been playing with Buddy keeping her hunting skills up to snuff.  Roy took a couple of things to storage and when he got home I greeted him with the news that two outlets in the kitchen were not working.  He looked at the breaker box and didn't see anything wrong but he wanted to flip this one breaker thinking it would help.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  I cannot tell you how freaked out I would be if we were plunged into darkness with the fact there are gypsy rats out there looking to freeload in garages or attics or gardens!  Ugh!  I'd rather move the toaster and get the whole thing figured out later. 

It is about time for Downton Abbey so I will not be able to cover the Wonderstruck challenge, so I will have to catch up tomorrow.

When things like the above happen, I am always wont to quit or move or give up.  Roy is so assuring that all this comes along with home ownership and this all goes along with living off a green space and a water feature. 

The Road to Wrong Conclusions

Yesterday afternoon was a little bit hectic in the hour or so before I left for choir camp or retreat.  We knew the Home Team guy was coming by our home to do the quarterly bug spray and outdoor inspection.  Love that the spray dispensers are on the outside of the house and the bug spray is dispensed all throughout the walls with the tubes that were installed while our home was being built.  They were also doing the free mouse inspection.  I am all for that.  While they didn't find conclusive evidence that our attic had become a winter retreat for Mickey and the gang, there were a couple places in the insulation that could or could not be mice related.  So, the bug guy and Roy set traps in the attic just to be on the safe side.  Roy thinks it is a racket just to get you to pay for them to put wire mesh in front of weep holes and around vents on the top of the roof but he also thought the mosquito spraying was a racket but we didn't see near the mosquitoes that friends who did not spray experienced.  In the midst of all this the Fed Ex man dropped off a package and I brought it in.  I was in the kitchen and heard the front door open and instinctively I said, "Roy?"  The door shut without any verbal response.  I rounded the corner into the entryway and there were several boxes stacked by the front door and through the glass darkly I saw a silhouette of a man who I believed was the UPS guy.  I was a bit taken back.  Would UPS just walk into your house?  Did I scare him when I called out to Roy?  Did Roy tell him to put the boxes inside?  I felt so violated and contemplated what to do, who to call and did this have any further safety implications.  Roy was in the front yard when I was leaving and I told him about my UPS fears.  He started laughing, he saw the boxes by the front door and put them inside for me.  He was the silhouette that I had seen.  In that small space of time my thoughts had certainly gone down the wrong road of conclusions. 

How many times have I gone down that road, of faulty conclusions?  Too many times to name that's for sure.  How many times have I practiced conversations that never took place?  I fight the DNA in me that could take totally unrelated circumstances and weave them into a flawed assumptions.  Now since the bug man came and talked of mice, every dead leaf on the courtyard, every shadow in the house, any little noise, if Buddy stares too long at one place, gets my attention.  I am focusing on the fear of something and that's not good. 

Sometimes we can do that with words spoken to us or attitudes that we think we've detected that are rooted in fear.  There are times when strong words hurt but the source of the words might not really be directed at us but the words are spoken out of frustration and things we don't even know about from the speaker of the words.  We all can carry a lot of emotional baggage.  Sometimes we might just have carry on problems but there are other times we are willing to pay for all the extra bags to make the trip.  Been there and everything in between.  I know that in one of the most difficult seasons of life, it was all I could do to get up and go to work, I could "turn on" for brief periods a personality and then go right back to dealing with the difficulties of everyday living and trying to make sense of everything that overwhelmed me.  It was a time that I was so depressed and my therapist wanted me to take anti-depression meds to take the edge off of my emotions, but Roy asked me not to start down that road.  During that time I said things that came from depression, tiredness and the lack of joy.  Many forgave me, some said they forgave me but they really didn't and others ignored my lack of joy and a pretty sad and sorry attitude knowing I would get back to normal sometime...hopefully soon.  They loved me along every step of the way. Recovery was a long, difficult battle that left me both scared and yet more empathetic for those whose spirits go so deeply away.  I also know from experience you have to make a more empathic and conscious decision to choose joy.  Paul said in Philippians 4 I have LEARNED to be content in whatever state....

Last night my friend Candy and her husband came to choir.  Diane W had invited and had asked them for a long time to come and give choir a try.  Candy was so funny when I saw her, she had on her jean jacket and she said I wore this tonight in honor of you.  Love it!  Conversations about our go to uniforms with so many friends has been really a lot of fun.  Everyone has a different uniform of choice but the truth is, we all have them. 

On this beautiful sunny day I have been working around the house and I got a big chunk of my Hebrews homework done.  We have Roy's Life Bible Study class party tonight.  For those of you who have not had Sunday School renamed, we are going to a Sunday School party.  Instead of gifts we do a dessert exchange complete with stealing and plotting to come home with your dessert of choice. 

Today's Wonderstruck challenge is creation, but I'm just going to have to write about that tomorrow.

Wonderstruck-Time, Hope and Afterwhile

It is a quiet morning here on the prairie.  The sun hasn't peeped over the horizon yet and construction noise on the last few homes being built in our neighborhood hasn't begun.  There is a little bit of down time before getting ready for an appointment later this morning.  I am praying for others that are not facing such a quiet morning today. 

Yesterday's Wonder Challenge was time.  We are to name two things that we won't give time to in exchange for better stewardship of the time we have.  This was a difficult challenge for me not because I don't want to give something up it's because I have given up so much to live in the parameters that need to be with my health.  I have to say no to a lot of fun things or things I really want to do in order not to be overly fatigued.  Granted, I do waste time some days and can justify it but I am going to be more diligent to use my time around home to be a better steward or should that be stewardess?  Oh well, but I want to use my time and materials wisely.  There's a flash back from back in the day report cards. 

Today's challenge is hope. 

Wonder Challenge: Sometimes music brings hope and encouragement into situations that may seem hopeless. What is one song or album that brought you restoration in difficult times? Post, tweet, or pin your favorite song, album, artist, or lyric that inspired you. Make sure to include #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK so we can find you!

These lyrics by Kirk Franklin ministered to me in a season of hopelessness.  In that season I would listen to this song and cry like a baby and those of you who know me well, know that I am not a crier.  The lyrics helped me to see hope.  The song helped me work through my disappointment and sadness.  I can hear this song now and it has become a victory song.  The words are so true and I hope you find hope in the lyrics just as I did and then claim the song as a testimony of victory.

 

"Afterwhile"

[Chorus:]
After a while, after a while
This too shall pass
After a while
Scars will heal, you’ll love again
It won’t hurt you after a while
It won’t hurt after a while

[Verse 1:]
Stuck between if and when
You pray and tried
But still no end
God’s purpose soon you’ll understand
It won’t hurt you after a while
It won’t hurt you after a while

[Chorus]

[Verse 2:]
So when the pain has come to an end
And now your heart is whole again
Help someone who needs to know
That it won’t hurt them after a while
It won’t hurt them after a while
It wont hurt them after a while

Me Apathetic? Really, I Don't Care

I have taken another step down the road toward mediocrity today.  I have gone with the tried and true pedestrian uniform of women who haven't a clue what to wear, dark pants, a shirt and jean jacket.  At least I wore a black and white top to kind of spice things up.  I am not criticizing you if this is your costume of choice.  It is mine many a time but I always think surely there is something more in the closet that might involve color or imagination.  I find myself making this choice when I want to play it safe cause I'm not really sure what to wear or when I am flat out too apathetic to care to wear anything else.  My hairstyle falls into the same category.  I kind of want to go back to shorter hair and longer hair isn't a good look on me, so I'm stuck in the middle.  Hair that falls a little below my ears and is curled under or left to natural wave and curl.  It's the style of women my age when you haven't a clue how you'd like it to look.

So mediocre uniform of the day led me to this next great insight.  The Wonderstruck challenge today is Reflection.  We are to pray and ponder what holds us back from experiencing the wonder of God in our everyday lives.  This morning as I began to pray and honestly I thought this might take all day to know what holds me back, the word came like a lightning bolt...apathy.  Not a total surprise to me at all.  So I sat here in my black jeans, black and white top and jean jacket living out apathy in the real world and getting a great word picture from the Lord...I am apathetically dressed today. 

The road of apathy and mediocrity.  That's where I find myself too often.  Really, the success of light packing for the Israel trip has less to do with organizational skills and more with I didn't care.  Of course now seeing pictures from the trip, I should have cared.  The dictionary defines apathy as the absence or suppression of passion, emotion or excitement, lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting. The reliable jean jacket is usually my choice when I haven't planned my outfit the night before.  Being ADD, choosing an outfit the night before helps me stay focused in the morning. I Characteristically, I find myself often at the other end of the apathy spectrum.  It is what my therapist likes to call my fearless zone.  That was my zone of choice for too long in life and it is a dangerous place to be.  Lots of times I am in the fearless zone here on the blog because I write things that maybe I shouldn't but then I don't care.  Of course you knew I had to say that.  Many times people thank me for being authentic and honest here on the old Monablog and truthfully, I don't know how to be anything else.  On our trip to Israel something funny was said on the bus and Janie said, Peggy and Nancy, don't go there.  Of the three of us, Janie has more filters on her words but she was thinking in the same direction as we were. 

Since these first few paragraphs have been a long and winding road and maybe a bunny trail or two, let's get back to the subject of being and living #wonderstruck. 

"The wonders of God surround you. Prayerfully spend some time reflecting on those things that prevent you from awakening to the wonders of God. Write them down, and then ask God to remove those obstacles that prevent you from experiencing him more. Ask God to make you supernaturally aware of the Spirit’s presence and leading over the upcoming weeks.
Wonder Challenge: What are the challenges preventing you from experiencing God’s wonder? Turn those challenges into a short prayer. And, if you feel comfortable, share it with others who can pray alongside you."  Margaret Feinberg, wonderstruck challenge. 

You see it's not that I want to be apathetic but it can many times become my default setting.  Some people's default setting is making rules for themselves and everyone else and mine is,' Ha, who cares about your silly rules.'  We go to our defaults when we are especially tired or stressed.  My mornings start out well with seeing the wonder of God, especially if I am traveling but as the day wears on and my pain increases, my attitude goes to default, who in the heck cares?  It could be due to what I am trying to fight everyday, not to become one of those people whose view is always through their pain and that is the first place they go to find God and see His wonder is in their pain.  My pain is physical.  My view is sometimes skewed in that I have to look down a lot when I walk because when I had that mini stroke with the heart thing, my sense of balance is off, very off.  So how can I see the wonders of God going on all about me when I am looking at the ground and my feet? 

So, now that I know that apathy keeps me many times from experiencing the wonder that goes on all around me and my prayer is that He will remove that obstacle that keeps me from knowing Him and being in awe in ALL that HE IS.  Benefit with having to watch every step?  My heart shaped rock collection is growing. 

Faith, Irony and Wonderstruck Reflection

On our return home from Israel we came through customs at JFK.  I think all international flights from all over the world land at 5:30 in the morning there because the customs line was long...l.o.n.g!  Long line but we seemed to make some progress.  One of the guys on our trip came over to get us, telling us to leave the line and go to the Quick Connect line for those of us making quick connections to our destinations.  Dena and I kind of stared at him like deer in headlights.  I don't know about Dena, but I was processing this info and almost too afraid to leave our place in line in case this was all a horrible, horrible mistake.  Because the line had doubled behind us and I feared having to start all over again.  I don't know if we left the line in faith or due to the fact that David is urging us to come on.  Of course going to the Quick Connect line was the right decision because an announcement was made to the long line we just left that it was shift change and their line would not be moving for thirty minutes.  Our group was processed and free to go to baggage claim and a very thoughtful gesture by those who were waiting on us, they pulled our luggage so we were able to pick it up and deposit it with the nearby Delta Airline desk.  A side note, so many in line were questioned for several minutes as they processed through with the custom agent.  I was directed to a line where the agent looked like my long lost sister.  She looked at me and asked, "Did you have a nice trip?"  Then she stamped my passport and I was on my way.  I never was so happy to have frizzy, way out of control hair, glasses and extra pounds around the waist, she had compassion on me. 

As we were going through our homework yesterday in leadership meeting, we were having lively, interesting discussion.  The commentary on our lesson gave us historical facts of the duties of the High Priest and the tradition and ritual being observed, animal sacrifice for sins, that had been given by God, was over 1500 years old.  Of course it was difficult for these Jewish Christians to leave that behind and walk into the fulfillment of the law, Jesus.  Some of those believers wanted to go back to what they had known before Christ because it was comfortable and because radical change is difficult sometimes.  We in this post modern age can sometimes be so hard on those early believers.  Sometimes we think, well if it had been me and I had seen the resurrected Christ, I would walk in total obedience but human nature tells us differently.  My goodness if I couldn't leave the long line because it was comfortable and the Quick Connect line was unknown, I might have been one of those in the early church that said, well, let's believe and practice both just in case.  Yea, walking by faith not sight, that has always been so easy for me, Nancy said NEVER!

An ironic circumstance happened Monday.  I was on the way to Target and nearing one of the lakes or water features on Rancho de Five Blvd.  A group of ducks, a group of ducks is called a badelynge, bunch, brace, flock, paddling, raft or team. Also, one might call it a dover of ducks.  If it's a group of ducklings (i.e., they've recently hatched and are being looked after by their mother), it is called a brood,( thank you answers.com.)  Anyway a badelynge of ducks congregated near the side of the street.  One duck flew to the median and I immediately slowed down fearing another duck would leave the comfort of the flock and go with the rebellious, I'm going over to the median duck.  Sure enough a duck took flight toward the median but it didn't clear the truck ahead of me to the left.  The duck hit the truck and was thrown high in the air like it was doing cartwheels.  It landed on the street and since there was a car next to me, I had to pass over the duck.  I am so glad I drive a SUV because I cleared the duck as I drove.  Both the truck driver and I put on our brakes...cause I'm thinking does one stop to help a wounded, but in all probability a dead duck, a duck out of water?  CAn CPR be done on a duck?   I burst into tears, crying for that duck and for the ducks left behind to mourn the loss of such a beautiful and fine quacker.  By the time I got to Target, I had composed myself and as I saw my reflection in the glass of the doors, the irony hit me.  I was wearing my Duck Dynasty t-shirt that I got for Christmas.  On the way home I didn't see the duck...I am sure it was picked up and made someone a fine duck dinner.

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus came yesterday.  This is going to be one of those books that I will deliberately read slowly.  It is not a long book by any means and I made myself put it down last night or I would have read the whole thing.  Two great books to read in a row, Walking and Wonderstruck. 

Day two of the Wonderstruck challenge is reflection.  This is from Margaret Feinberg's website, the link is in yesterdays post. 

The wonders of God surround you. Prayerfully spend some time reflecting on those things that prevent you from awakening to the wonders of God. Write them down, and then ask God to remove those obstacles that prevent you from experiencing him more. Ask God to make you supernaturally aware of the Spirit’s presence and leading over the upcoming weeks.
Wonder Challenge: What are the challenges preventing you from experiencing God’s wonder? Turn those challenges into a short prayer. And, if you feel comfortable, share it with others who can pray alongside you. If you include #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK in your Facebook post, Pinterest pin, Tweet, or Instagram post, we can help encourage you in prayer.
What’s your prayer? Example: God, help me remove busyness from my life. I want to #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK
Tomorrow: TIME
And, if you haven’t ordered your copy of Wonderstruck yet, it’s not too late! Here’s the link: http://mar.cta.gs/04w
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Join us during the 21 Days of Wonder Challenge and awaken to the wonders of God all around. Learn more, here.
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Wonderstruck Challenge

The Lawn of the Month man left me an interesting note on Friday.  No, we didn't blow away the HOA with our beautiful yard and landscaping complete with the required number of plants, shrubs and trees thus winning some kind of yard recognition.  We found LOTM on Angie's list.  He keeps the grass green and is in battle with weeds and the like in our yard.  He had done the applications and left the bill and the note.  If we wanted to defeat the nut grass in our yard, we were to turn off our sprinkler system for a month and let the yard be dry here in the semi winter season in Rancho de Five.  We have turned off our sprinkler system in the hopes of defeating nut grass.  Lord knows I have enough nut grass in my life.  If you are looking for someone to fertilize and de-weed your yard, Lawn of the Month is great.  He mainly works in the Cypress area but comes over to Katy once a week.  When he first started working on our yard he told us this would be a 9 month to a year process for getting rid of the weeds.  There were no quick fixes IF you wanted a healthy yard.  He left a few other directions about our yard that appealed to me not only for hints of a beautiful yard but because there are so many spiritual applications in what he wrote, but this will have to suffice for today.

I am doing the 21 Days of Wonder challenge.  You can find more about it here, http://margaretfeinberg.com/  Today's challenge is Beauty, to see the beauty of God.  We were to take a picture or post about what we see.  This morning was leadership meeting in CBS and it was also brunch day.  I love looking at the 35 or more women who work and serve together.  Our discussions are lively and our prayers earnest.  We always say or end an email with Love you dearly, from the heart.  We are all different ages, different denominations and different personalities yet the unity and love of Christ is evident.  So I saw beauty today just like in

 

Psalm 133

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

¹ How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers (and sisters, sisters added by me) live together in harmony!
² For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
³ Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting.

 

There is also beauty in a cold January overcast day.  Makes sitting by the fireplace cozy, it makes my lap more inviting for Buddy (cat) and it makes my cup of tea even more delightful.  I'm not having high tea, more like medium tea.  I would write low tea but with all the commercials for Low T, that thought takes it in a whole nother direction. 

Roads

One of my favorite roads is the scenic drive from Cleveland, TN to Asheville.  At one point you can chose the longer drive through Maggie Valley or keep on the main highway and go through Waynesville.  Each way has its own merits.  At Thanksgiving Roy and I took the Waynesville route and had a delightful time in downtown Waynesville.  We finally got to the Mast General Store.  There is one in Asheville, but the parking is horrendous in Asheville and we give up and go back to the Inn on the Biltmore Estate and that's not a bad thing to go back to.  The first time I traveled on that road was about ten years ago and is one of my very favorite stories, which has now become so embellished, is when Dena and I decided to take this road as the first leg of our journey to return home.  We stopped at a little store just a short trek from Asheville.  We found Nehi sodas and bought some peanuts for a snack.  We got back on the road and we were listening to a CD that had some great tunes that had the opposite effect on both of us.  The music jazzed me up, I was driving a little faster than I should have been.  Dena, well, the music had a calming and quiet effect upon her.  So, we get behind this slow car, probably a mini van (well it is in my embellished memory) and I wanted to pass it.  Did I mention while driving a little beyond the speed limit in the Smokey Mountains I was also multitasking to the hilt.  I was drinking a Nehi, scanning the CD, eating peanuts...you see the picture.  In the embellished memory I was doing all those things and more, talking on the phone, reaching in the back seat for something...I would say texting or checking social media but those things were just the gleam in some computer nerds eye way back then none the less, I was doing that while I began to pass the dreaded mini van in front of me.  About halfway around this van I begin to wonder if the rather large obstacle coming toward me is a huge truck or is it the train which parallels the road to our right?  From the corner of my eye I can kind of see Dena tensing up over my NASCAR type move, so I decide not to voice my fears that we were headed for a head on collision with a dump truck.  Fortunately, it was the train I saw and there wasn't a chance we would be driving head on into it.  After we had finally arrived at the safety of the Interstate, I confessed my fear on the road to Cleveland to Dena.  Over the years when feeling overwhelmed but feel like we are up for the challenge one of us will say, hey it's like that time on the road, I was changing channels, eating peanuts, drinking a Nehi, talking on the phone, getting something out of the back seat while passing a mini van.

Road stories intrigue me.  I love reading articles about the art of a road trip.  In my heart of hearts I am really a hesitant traveler that is unless it is someplace I really want to go to.  Packing and thinking through a wardrobe sometimes slows me down to inactivity and then with a last minute burst of packing I only hope everything that needs to be packed has been.  Really the most successful packing of recent times was to Israel.  I don't enjoy flying, yes it gets you there faster than by car but all the hurry up and wait wears me out.  It is hard to really converse in an airplane but road trips can make the conversation flow.  Roy and I have had some of our best conversations to and from Biltmore.  Roy says riding in Seqyisha is like traveling in your livingroom. Now in our younger days the conversation wasn't so great...not so much.  Road trips back then meant confined space to argue over things that didn't even really matter.  Remind me to write about my Big Gulp experience in OK with Roy. 

Why am I writing about roads?  Who knows, but the subject matter has intrigued me of late.  Being in the Holy Land and being in all the geographical areas found in the text and maps of the Bible developed my sense of what all these travels meant for all beloved and not so beloved people in the Bible.  So I'm thinking from time to time I just might write about roads on the old Monablog.  Not new subject matter but I can promise there won't be any titles like, joy in the journey, journeys with Jesus, keeping pace with Paul, barnstorming with Barnabas, living large with Lazarus, miles with Mary, more mileage mayhem with Martha or any other cheesy kind of titles. 

At some time in life we have all taken a trip that we do in a countdown until it is over.  It is making a mental list and as each occurrence happens you mentally check off and think only a few more things until we can finally leave.  Happily, I haven't been on one of those trips in a long time.  Since I am always behind in using a devotional, I caught up this morning.  Once again I am using Jesus Calling.  January 12th hits me right where I am thinking of roads and travels and the benefits and side effects of both. 

"Let Me prepare you for the day that stretches out before you.  I know exactly what this day will contain, whereas you have only vague ideas about it.  You would like to see a map showing all the twists and turns of your journey.  You'd feel more prepared if you could somehow visualize what is on the road ahead.  However, there is a better way to be prepared for whatever you will encounter today:Spend quality time with Me.

I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey.  My living Presence is your Companion each step of the way.  Stay in continual communication with Me, whispering My Name whenever you need to redirect your thoughts.  Thus, you can walk through this day with your focus on Me.  My abiding Presence is the best road map available.  Exodus 33:14; John15:4-7.

I would also like to add He is better than Siri on directions and the way. 

Saturday Repose into Sunday Morning Thoughts

I must be getting over jet lag, I got up at 6:00 am.  This past week I've been wide awake at 5:00 am.  The house is quiet.  Roy has gone to Bible study and Buddy has wandered off to this week's hiding place.  On my second cup of coffee and just finished a delicious breakfast of cinnamon toast.  If the weather holds, later today we will cart Christmas decor to storage and then have a late lunch of fajitas.  I love these kinds of Saturdays, with no urgency and nothing we have to do.  Next weekend will look much different than today, so I am taking it all in. 

I pulled out my copy of Going Places With God this morning and looked through it while eating breakfast.  I cannot say enough good about this book.  His travelogue essay at the end of the book is a must read for anyone who has gone, is going or wants to go to Israel.  He puts it all, spiritual, emotional, physical and thinkafal (hey, I was going with an al theme with the words and had to complete the theme) together in such a well written essay.  I don't think I will ever look at the maps in the back of my Bible in the same way.  Truthfully, I don't think I will ever read the Bible in the same way. 

Yesterday I made my appointment for a sixth month check-up and discussion of the next step in this heart journey.  This whole heart thing has been such a roller coaster ride.  Gets better then a new problem crops up, gets better and another new problem presents itself.  The trip was an eye opener because I really thought I had overcome a lot when it comes to fatigue and the like, but it opened my eyes that daily life can be couched in parameters, dictated by Doctors, as only a temporary state.  When pressed my numbers were up and down the chart.  I cannot take care of getting new knees until I get a better running heart.  There's a Sunday School lesson in there somewhere.  I can't do required cardio because of the condition of my right knee.  It's a circle and I am looking forward to the repetitive cycle to cease and move onto a straight path. 

My good shepherd from Bethlehem came Thursday.  Actually, the real good shepherd came almost 2000 years ago so really it is just my olive wood shepherd came.  He is still out in the garage and I need to unwrap him and find a place where I can see him.  Thinking my reading room would be the best place.  I also got a couple of cute olive wood lambs to go out in my lamb collection in the casita bedroom. 

Sunday Morning
****Taking down Christmas and getting it to storage took up the bigger part of the morning.  Our unit is right by a door so unloading in the drizzle wasn't too bad.  We did a pretty good job using our space and still have some left for any miscellaneous things that we might like to put in it.  I'm finished with laundry but have a few things I need to put up before it is all done.  I did unpack the olive wood shepherd and he looks great in the reading room.  Need to rearrange a few things in the room to better utilize space but I'm happy that he makes a fine addition to the room. 

I worked on homework last night before watching SF beat GB.  I also started reading the OT again starting with David and then going back to the 40 years in the wilderness marking each time I see the word wilderness.  This past summer I did something like that with the words path, journey, travel and way.  My take so far, lots and lots of references to the wilderness.  I know that personal and spiritual growth happens in the wilderness and I'm not a wilderness scout, always looking to be there.  In fact, I have spent a lot of time trying not to be in the wilderness.  After the Israel trip I am blown away by the hard, dry and rocky features.  I totally pictured something else. 

We are taking a sabbatical Sunday today, our last for a while.  Both of us are fighting off getting a cold and being with germie people who don't stay home when they are ill is not a good thing.  It isn't because we want to sleep in although I'm awake and Roy is still asleep.  Buddy is with me trying to help me write.  A good result of my trip is that Buddy has found out she can sleep other places beside my arm.  There's a part of me that is a little sad but the longer time of uninterrupted sleep has been rather nice. 

Pilgrimage-The Primacy of St Peter

"At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, beside these same waters at Tabgha—near where the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter sits today—a dumbfounded Peter had fallen at Jesus’ feet after a miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1-8). Now, three years later, another miraculous catch had occurred.

When the disciples reached shore with the catch in tow, they found a charcoal fire already laid, with fish cooking on the “Mensa Christi.” The only other time the Greek term for “charcoal fire” appears in the Bible occurs three chapters earlier, where we read that Peter warmed himself in Caiaphas’s courtyard in Jerusalem—and, out of fear, denied ever knowing Jesus (John 18:18; 21:9). Now, Peter sat in an awkward déjà vu.

After breakfast, Jesus called Peter by the same name as when they had first met and asked. “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” (John 21:15).

One of the reasons I love going to the Holy Land is because I get to see geographical connections that often have spiritual implications. Jesus took Simon Peter back to Tabgha—to the place where their relationship first began, to the place of grace, where a miraculous catch had pulled from Peter a confession: “I am a sinful man!” There Jesus reinstated Peter and reminded him of his purpose. Just because Peter had blown it didn’t mean it was the end of the line. Instead, it was the beginning. Time to start over. Whenever I go to the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter at Tabgha, I remember how important it is to return to the basics. Sometimes it’s helpful to start over and to realize that in spite of our failings, we still have a purpose in life. We should never quit."

This is a quote from Wayne Stiles book, Lands and Lessons of Christ.  I used his book Going Places with God as a devo last summer in preparation for my Holy Land trip and I have just ordered his book Lands and Lessons of Christ.  My favorite place we visited last week was the Church of the Primacy of Peter because the Lord has used John 21 as a milestone marker in my walk with Him.  Every year I pray and ask the Lord for a specific scripture to pray and meditate upon.  In 2001 it was Luke 5:1-8 and in 2002 John 21.  I had no idea at that time that those two passages were even related to one another.  Encountering these passages made an impact on my heart and life.  As Margaret Fineberg says in her book Wonderstruck, "one glimpse of God changes everything."

The bottom line of this story for me is; I wanted to walk away from tennis back in 2001 but I knew in my heart of hearts there was some unfinished work that needed to be done before I could lay tennis down.  In John 21 Jesus has risen from the dead and He is waiting to ascend to the right hand of the Father, but what is He doing in the in-between time?  Making breakfast, frying up some fish and serving warm bread to the boys.  He is meeting with them at the same spot where some of them first encountered Him.  In front of the other disciples Jesus reinstates Peter, forgives him, challenges him and loves him.  He is offering the opportunity for Peter to begin again...New.  So He asked me, while you are waiting can you just fry up some fish?  Can you serve right where you are, even though it is not where you want to be?  As it happened I was able to leave tennis at the right time and began working part time at church.  Part time led to full time and I thought this is what Jesus had in mind all along for me, to be full time staff and serve Him there.  For the first few years I loved going to work.  I never wanted to miss a day but somewhere during those years, the joy and the wonder of serving diminished and working at church became just that, another job only the job carried spiritual implications.  I learned in many ways church work is no different than working at a worldly job.  Only differences; the salary was considerably lower and playing the" spiritual card" to get ones way was rampant.  You start expecting to never have to pay for any conference or trip or get together sponsored by the church.  Many times you didn't go to conferences or programs put on by other areas of ministry at church, because you were sick of being up there all the time and you couldn't attend as a regular participant.  The same people bugged you and they expected you to drop everything to take care of a last minute request, even though you had deadline work to take care of.  Sometime along the line I stopped depending on God's strength and served out of my own weaknesses and insecurities and I noticed too many others had chosen the same way of serving as well. 

John 21 had kind of become a theme for me when it came from transitioning from tennis to church work.  But, it is so much more than that.  Yes, it includes that time, but the eternal truth of starting over and knowing we still have a purpose in life is the recurring refrain.  Jesus reminded Peter on that spot and He used that story to remind me.  Rauof was looking for someone to read the chapter as we gathered at the Primacy of Peter spot there on the Sea of Galilee.  Dena nudged me and said you should volunteer and thus I did.  While reading the chapter out loud to the group, I unexpectedly teared up, momentarily stopping not only to gather myself but to express gratitude to God silently to be there at the spot, reading the passage, and thankful for His work that began back in the day that these verses became alive and life to me.  I could have stayed there much longer than we did.  Being baptized in the Jordan held no appeal to me, the second one took when I was 16 and I hate to mess with it, but if they were offering to be baptized at that spot, I would be the first in line.   

In these past years having retired from church work due to health reasons, I thought John 21 was only for that period of time but standing there last week was a place of grace for me.  Frying up fish and serving when you are waiting for the next transition, is for all times, for all areas of life.  After the last couple of years feeling directionless I am again seeing my purpose and work in the kingdom of God.  I am energized and frying up all the fish I can where ever I can.

The entrance to the grounds of the church states that this is holy ground and then adds no shorts allowed.  Kind of ironic isn't it...Peter stripped down for work, for fishing.  I should have taken off my shoes, holy ground but rocks along the shoreline prevented me from doing that.  I took off my shoes in my heart. 

Just a Few More Thoughts

Today is the first day of getting back into a regular routine.  The days haven't held any pressing appointments or the like, so I have gone through them at my leisure.  I was too jet lagged to go to Tuesday leadership meeting but I came to Bible study today and it was fun being a participant.  Donna did a great job in facilitating our group and Jennifer, teaching director, sat in.  Our group had perfect attendance which is not bad for the first meeting of the new year.  Afterwards Peggy, Kathleen and I went out to lunch.  For friends who have just spent a lot of time together on a trip we weren't in too big of a hurry to leave Lupe's.  Sounds like I made a good decision on not going to Rome. 

I just about have all the Christmas decorations packed up.  This weekend Roy said he would help me rearrange some of the storage bins and then we will take them over to the storage unit. 

It is hard to believe that Jerusalem had snow this week and that storms had washed out some of the very roads we'd been on.  The weather was perfect when we were there.  I have loved having the luxury of time to think about last week.  I didn't go with the thought that I would get a 'word' about specific situations but knew to expect the wonder of God being in the land He made and chose for His people.  I feel like I have a better understanding of the land and how God uses His land even today to fulfill prophecies.  Maybe even coming home with a new appreciation for God's timing.  I'm still contemplating and praying for specific conversations that occurred during that week.  Sometimes we have to get out of our own backyard to gain new vision and perspective.  This year seems to be the year of new beginnings, a new thing, a new walk and a new way to live.  Love the verses to be prayed through that He has given for my year and for the year of close friends.  I've been reading through a book that Roy gave me this summer about the Holy Land.  It isn't a travel guide but it is more like a book that holds your interest much more after the trip. 

Jerusalem is a whirl of activity and so much to see.  Tiberius was a welcomed change of pace.  Loved our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  I could do that several times on a visit.  Many of us commented that we now understand why Jesus would retreat for renewal and for ministry in and around this area. 

Maybe tomorrow I will write about my favorite place on the trip.  Haven't sorted through it all yet. 

Little Moments-Pilgrimage Part 3

It's the little things.  Really, this trip had a lot of big moments and they were awesome but this trip had a lot of little moments that I will think of and cherish in the days ahead.  Since my ADD brain has problems thinking in a clear, concise manner, there will be no particular order or importance of order in this post.  It is writing it down when it comes to mind.  I have already had a million thoughts since that last sentence and then having sip of coffee, none of the million stuck.

John Bolin tells a story of college days touring through Canada on a bus.  I assume it was his CBU choir and they were crossing through the beauty of the Rocky Mountains around Banff and Lake Louise.  He was taking it all in, the immense beauty and majesty of the region, when he turned to look in the back of the bus.  People were sleeping through the best part and he couldn't believe that.  If memory serves, he roused the sleepers encouraging them not to miss the glory and beauty.  I love that song Don't Let Me Miss the Glory that we sing in choir.  So, even as tired as I was some days, I didn't want to sleep on the bus as we motored along the highways in Israel.  We saw camels, sheep, lots and lots of rocks, people, businesses, and the like.  A note to those of you that might travel to Israel in the future; sheep and large rocks look alike from the bus and although I got some great pictures of sheep, I also got some great pictures of rocks thinking I was capturing the pastoral beauty of grazing sheep. 

Enjoy the company of those you travel with.  This is the first group I have traveled with that didn't have one cranky, grouchy person who demanded attention and generally made an a** of themselves.  One night Peggy and I were talking about this when it dawned on me, maybe I was the person that was getting on every one's nerves.  Not because I was cranky, although I know how to do that, but because I slowed down the group.  In my younger, athletic days I certainly didn't have patience with a person like I have become.  Our group genuinely enjoyed one another, laughed together, stood in awe together, and loved celebrating the four birthdays on our trip.  When Raouf or Wanda Jean weren't talking on the mic at the front of the bus, we were all engaged in conversations.  Billy and Janie sat in front of Dena and me.  Roy and I have been friends with them for a long time but over the past 15 or so years, even though we attend the same church, our paths didn't cross very often.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy their company and conversation. Enjoyed spending time with Melinda.  We go way back all the way to Married Young Adults.  At Ceassera by the Sea, David Bolin had just sang the first verse of How Great Thou Art and the acoustics were great.  Peggy quickly assembled Janie and me to accompany her on the second verse of the song and our verse came with choreography by Peggy.  What a blast!  Although I do not want to see a video of it.  Most evenings at the hotel, after dinner, Peggy and Kathleen would drop in our room.  On Thursday night Dena got to be a party to and observe the script writing process with Peggy and me.  In fact, Dena gave us one of the best observations and we used it.  I loved meeting and making new friends.  I also enjoyed getting to know church people better, you know the ones that we only know by name.  Lots of little moments that became a huge unexpected blessing. 

The quiet and peace at the Church of the Beatitudes.  It was one of the only places we were given time to pray or read on our own.  The garden is made with so many niches to feel alone with the Lord.  I chose a spot next to honeysuckle bushes because honeysuckles remind me of a good part of my childhood and also, I was on level ground.  Loved the attendant outside the restrooms there.  She had a little dish and you were to leave money for usage of the facilities.  As I was digging through my wallet to find some money, a man breezed past the attendant.  She began banging on the table to get his attention because he hadn't paid.  Hey, that man doesn't know it (he wasn't in our group) but that visit was on me.  Just paying it forward and it was worth it for the lady to stop banging the table with her fingertips. 

I didn't remember the Dead Sea being so blue and so inviting.  If ya didn't know it was the Dead Sea and jumped right in, you'd have a big surprise. 

While we waited for those who were finishing up their time on Mt Multiplication but I kept wanting to call it Division...the bread and fish.  Jesus multiplied the fish and bread to feed the 5000 but his disciples divided them up into baskets.  Let's just call it the Church of Holy Math.  Anyway, some of the guys in our group began throwing a football with a couple of local boys.  I think Wanda Jean even added in some of her stellar cheer leading moves.  It was a great moment that play transcends language. 

I went to Israel thinking that I would be Diet Coke less.  It was not so, I had several along the way.  Best ones were the DC that came in glass bottles.  It's the little things. 

Pilgrimage Part 2

Last night I downloaded my pictures from Israel. As Roy looked over my shoulder I chattily shared with him where we were in the Holy Land. Funny thing, after a few pictures I had taken there were a whole bunch I hadn't because Dena had taken them. Most of these pictures had come as a result of a journey up and on stairs or steep uphill trails and more and more each day I had to decide whether to try or not. Roy was laughing so hard because in the narration and description I would say, I have no clue what this is about, Dena took this picture. This was actually the first time I had looked through them and realized I sat on the side lines a lot in Israel. I am not complaining because usually something really good happened while I was waiting for everyone to traverse hill and dale to see ruins and rocks. Those times were used wisely in that I could reflect, ponder over and think about all we were seeing and learning. I used the time for prayer and many a time I was just trying to slow my heart rate and breathe deeply to oxygenate my blood.

Bethlehem was hard on me, more specifically the Church of the Nativity. Tiny little steps with no handrail. I took in the irony that the priests were wildly enforcing the no hat rule even for women yet in the corner of the birthplace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was a huge trash bin, handcart, push brooms and dust pans. Hmmm....something a little out of whack here. Loved the Catholic side of the church much better. In 1988 when I was in Israel with the choir, the whole hole in the ground in Bethlehem was a bit of a disappointment for me. This time was no different except the information we were getting from our guide. Totally opened up my understanding. Even though I lagged behind the group in step I could hear Rauof. We were the first group of his to use the Whisper. It is an earpiece so that we can hear him directly and not through a din of noise.

Bethlehem was tiring but Tuesday just about put me in the tomb, whether it was Lazarus' or the Garden Tomb, it didn't matter. Of course I could get to Laz's because others would be carrying my dead, lifeless body and I wouldn't have to deal with heart rhythms and bad knees. Originally, we were to do the rabbinical tunnels in the evening and I knew I could stay at the hotel but due to scheduling mistakes, we were there bright and early Tuesday morning. Very, very interesting but I made the mistake of wearing my fleece top over my shirt and right off the bat in those long tunnels, I began to get hot. Then the stairs got to me and as Roy pointed out to me on Saturday, I have never fared well underground. He has the stories to tell of our vacation adventures to caverns and the like. So, while I learned a lot, I also depleted a lot of energy that I couldn't afford to lose. We finished up the underground portion of our program and went outside to the Western Wall. To tell you the truth, personally I have never felt good about going up their with the orthodox jews to pray or to mainly watch them. Felt that way in 88 and 2012 wasn't different. I sat back a ways and took in life at the wall from a far and life up close and personal in the square. We made our way to the southern steps, which was the exit from the Temple. Jesus would have used the exit and stood on the steps. I sat where Jesus walked...loved being there and thinking through the magnitude of it all. Soon we were back to our bus to go to the pool of Siloam. I waited after the teaching while the rest went upstairs, now you know why I waited, to get a closer glimpse of the spring or pool or whatever it is now. They also looked at Hezekiah’s tunnel but I had been fortunate in 88 to actually walk in the tunnel from start to finish. The hour I was dreading was close upon us, waiting in line to be on the Temple Mount from 12:30-1:30. While we waiting in the bright, warm sunshine, several bar mitzvahs passed us by. The drum beat enticing; it was like having your own drum line. Honestly, everyone enjoyed and took pictures of the first 3 but lost interest after that. Some shared the bread they had bought from a vendor since none of us had eaten lunch, while we stood in line. Peggy and I found shaded spots as the line snaked slowly toward security. I think I was the next to last one let in. We had all of 5-7 minutes to see everything. I saw the ground. By this time I was really fighting my irregular heartbeat. It would race 90 to nothing and then make a nano second stop which caused my heart rate to plummet. Kathleen was so kind to walk with me and let me hold onto her elbow. Peggy was worried that Kathleen and I would be locked in. When we turned the corner and I saw the number of steps we were going to have to climb I said the 'S" word. Nancy cussed, I Nancy 11:6. That I lived to tell this story while being so close to the Holy of Holies, which was somewhere beneath our feet, God must have had compassion on me. I hurt so bad and was breathing so shallowly, I began to cry. If you know me, I have a HIGH pain tolerance but this; it was too much for me to take. Dena said that is when she knew how badly I felt. Kathleen encouraged me along the way and she said to me, "what is the worst they could do to us? Shoot us?" I responded, "Yes, please." We got yelled at by men with guns as they told us to get out! I assume that's what they were saying. To tell you the truth the loud tone never changes in Aramaic. Saying a passionate love you and a passionate shout down, get off our property you stupid infidel do sound the same.  Not that anyone told me that they loved me in Aramaic on the trip.  It's an assumption.  We were out and found ourselves by St Anne's Church and Stephen's Gate. The owner of the tour company had accompanied us and he went to get his car and take WJ and me back to the hotel. Peggy sat me down on some slick concrete pillar and went to get me a Diet Coke. It was the best thing she could have done. After a wild ride through Jerusalem back to the hotel, WJ said she would call me when it was time to go to the Garden Tomb and I told her if I went, that's where I would die. So I went to the room and fell into bed around 2:45 and I woke up at 7:00, right before everyone returned. Mike, the owner, told me that if I needed a Dr he would take me to one because at a hospital it might be 24 hours before seeing anyone. He also told me to order room service, but rest sounded a whole lot better than hummus at that time. Dena, Peggy, Janie and Kathleen made me laugh and Dena and I ate dinner in our room. Peggy asked me on Wednesday, did you think you were going to die? Yep, I really did. On Wednesday you knew I was feeling a lot better because I didn't want anyone to shoot me, I wanted to live to see Tiberius.

These posts are going to be all over the place and hopefully when I feel like I have told the story, I can wrap it all up in a cohesive thought.

 

Pilgrimage

Home again, home again jiggity jig.  Our group of 25, who began calling ourselves western Bedouins, returned home to Houston Saturday afternoon.  Someone had figured out that we had been awake, with the exception of airplane sleep, which we all know is so restful and peaceful, just about forty eight hours.  Together we had weathered the intensive security at Tel Aviv, the long, confusing marathon of getting through customs, claiming luggage, rechecking luggage (that only requires one to drag their luggage to a counter) and navigate the convoluted instructions from Delta in how to get from Terminal B to Terminal 2.  The 25 had endured the the airline's favorite game of hurry up and wait and being served less than appealing airline food.  We had finished the course, we had kept our faith.  Hey, since I have just returned from the Holy Land, I had to wrap up the paragraph spiritually.  Selah. 

By most accounts, this was a fabulous trip and a few lessons in flexibility of schedule were included free of charge.  There were 44 of us who made the trip. Less you think we lost the others, a group did an extension trip to Rome.  We left on December 27 and once we hit the ground in Israel, we didn't take time to pause, but to make the most of our time because the days are short.  For the record, nights are short too when one has a 6:00 am wake up call to be ready, eat breakfast and do some bus shopping (merchants displaying their wares beside our bus) and be seated having done the buddy check by 7:45. 

Other than the obvious, seeing the Bible land in person, was such a fun, yet insightful trip for me. I was very fortunate to make this trip with close friends and had the immense joy of making new friends.  Dena and I roomed together.  Over the years of our friendship we have traveled together and we travel well together.  Our getting ready routines compliment and the added bonus is we have a lot of fun together.  The fun includes our serious reviews of all the day held.  Loved that Dena took notes because I will be borrowing her notes.  She has the gift of being able to write in a moving bus, I do not.

Once I download and go through pictures from the trip I hope to post a few of highlights.  I did a lot of preparation for this trip, giving thought to it months in advance.  I prepared by reading almost all the Old Testament and Gospels.  I used a devotional titled Going Places With God which uses biblical locations to give a sense of history and then the spiritual application and meaning of the place.  With the trip in mind I tried to prepare a trip attire and although I used a few of the things I bought specifically for the trip, in the end I went with comfortable and I don't care if I am seen in repeat clothes look.  I tried to prepare physically, walking and building up endurance in the months proceeding the trip.  I should have remembered my training for hiking the Olympic Mountains in Washington state, one cannot adequately train for inclines and multiple stairs made for people with short feet in the land of level ground.  You know I was asking the Lord to do this for me,

 Isaiah 40:4
"Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places." 

 

It was rougher on me physically than I had anticipated.  I pushed myself because there wasn't any other option and even in my pushing I severely lacked the stamina and strength of others.  I soon became that animal you see in wild life shows, the one that the lion will attack because it is too weak to stay in the pack.  Thankfully, God sent along compassionate friends who helped me up the stairs, down the stairs, across the rocky paths (lots of those in Israel), encouraged me when I wanted to just sit down and cry, wept with me when I was in such unbelievable pain and rejoiced with me when I conquered a grotto, church, chapel, basilica stairs and made it through. 

There are so many things I want to write about but the day is beckoning and lots of laundry to be done, Hebrews homework and a trip to Target to help me readjust to returning to the states.  So I will leave you with this; after we loaded our luggage onto the bus, we headed out of Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  It was already dusk and full on night by the time we made the 45 minute ride.  We made one stop before getting to our hotel, the Mount of Olives.  We went to one of the famous overlooks into the city of Jerusalem.  The moon was bright and the lights twinkled.  The night was turning cooler but we didn't mind as we took pictures and marveled at the sights before us.  In the distance we could hear the call to prayer by another religion to its followers.  Peaceful, calm...in our pilgrimage eyes.  Of course the next day, even though it was still the sabbath, the city was busy, loud, hectic and chaotic.  Churches, vendors, peddlers, beggars and some of the most aggressive drivers in the world vied for and got our attention.  The pace of the city itself, hurried.  The pace of pilgrimage magnified the chaotic.  So very different from the serene scene of the night before.  The chaos. the bedlam, the disarray and turmoil amplified in the days following the sabbath.  I think I will read and understand Psalm 122:6-7 in a completely different way.  I have always prayed for Jerusalem and the peace for Jerusalem with the mindset of enemies in the surrounding nations that want to do away with it.  Now I understand the peace of Jerusalem must also include the activities and mindset inside the city.

Psalm 122:6-7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁶ Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper.
⁷ O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces.

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  I will be off the blog until after the New Year probably around the 7th or so.  Don't forget to come back then.

Our Christmas was wonderful only it came a day late.  Nancy, Megan and Erin were here today and we all had a blast.  As promised to Megan and Erin, an extensive post on their mother will be forthcoming. 

Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!  It's a quiet, wind blowing, intermittent rain kind of morning out here on the prairie.  Our house guests are at Peggy's, Roy has gone back to bed, Buddy is contemplating her mid morning nap and I am drinking coffee and taking in the silence and quiet.  So welcomed after having so many years of deadlines, appearances and schedules at Christmas.  When the nieces were little, it was a joy getting up early to spend Christmas with them.  Back in the day that meant a huge loss of sleep because we went to the 11:00 Christmas Eve at First Baptist.  Ah, those were the days. 

Last night we went to the Bains for Christmas Eve supper.  Very fun!  All the kiddos were settling in, setting out the Santa cookies and food for the reindeer and then falling asleep so that Santa could come.  We left around 8:30 because it was looking rather dim on me being able to stay awake for the 10:30 Christmas Eve service at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church.  So we looked at Christmas lights as we headed toward a church that I kind of remembered had a 9:30 Christmas Eve service.  A Christmas Miracle!  I had remembered correctly but we only had a few minutes before the service began.  Not to worry, still plenty of seating.  What a welcomed change of pace after years of having to get to a Christmas Eve service 30-45 minutes before it began because of the crowds and lack of parking at First Baptist or at St Martin's.  The youth choir did all the special music and there was even an alumni choir of college students home for Christmas that sang one song.The service was simple and meaningful.  It held both traditional and contemporary elements.  They served communion which is not at all unlike St Martin's but it was different from Episcopal style and very, very different from pass the elements style in the Baptist church.  I came away from that service with a timely word.  I also came away realizing I have become accustomed  to high production values and a timed flow of service events.  At first I thought, oh, this is going to really upset those leading the service and instead of getting agitated, they rolled along until the media got straightened out.   It was a refreshing experience to worship God in a different style and setting and it made me appreciative of the style and flow at our home church. 

Everyone (that would be Roy and Buddy) is up and moving.  So I will draw this to a close.  Have a Merry Christmas! 

Our First Official Boy/Girl Party in Our Home

I woke up this morning to the sound of an early tweet that most people use for receiving a text message.  Roy had already left for Bible study and he usually calls if there is a problem.  It chirped again and I got to thinking maybe it is a text emergency from family or friends.  On this particular morning it was more difficult than usual to get out of bed and walk.  I can't even describe how I moved as shuffling.  Several months ago in an attempt not to look at Facebook first thing before getting out of bed, I moved my phone and charger to the kitchen.  So I made the long painful journey only to find the text was from a friend of Roy's at Bible study.  Roy doesn't know his cell phone number and he assured the friend that it was ok to text me so very early in the morning so that Roy would have his phone number.  Roy's friend was very apologetic and I responded back..."that Roy."  You see I really couldn't complain too much because just the night before Roy and I had our first boy/girl party at our house.  Yes, way overdue.  Roy did so much to help, no let me put it another way, he did the majority of the work because I don't have the stamina like I used to have.  Roy also reminded me that I had been giving a lot of emotional energy to the party beginning several days before we had it.  He had not expended that kind of energy. 

To tell you the truth I still feel hung over this afternoon, nay, early evening.  Now I don't know how or where I know this information about hang overs....maybe from the movies.  It wasn't until after 11:00 am that I really could move and not walk like Frankenstein.  But I would do it all over again because last night was a lot of fun.  Roy and I decided on a eclectic menu, tamales from Good Old Boys, chicken pot pie and shepherds pie from Kay Teas Room, chips and queso from El Rancho rounded out with my salad and a fruit salad.  For dessert we had cherry strudel and a Scottish fruit cake (it's not the usual fruitcake) from Kay's Tea Room, coconut cake, fudge made by Peggy and all the fixins for s'mores.  It was just right outside, not too cold and not to warm to enjoy the outdoor fireplace and the fire pit table.  There was even a bit of singing but not an all sing.  It must have been meant to be because everyone I invited didn't have any other holiday plans.  So very thankful to have such great friends, and I'm not just talking about friends in our home last night but we are so blessed with friends that we truly love and appreciate.  And maybe the sentiment is mutual. 

Today, I have kind of been working on getting things ready for my trip to Israel.  I pretty much know what I am taking.  Packing light but it has been good to do consultations with Dena to see if we are packing with the same mindset.  We are going to look like twinners.  We both have the same brand and color of carry on luggage and we both are taking our red all weather coats. 

It was bound to happen but I saw my first rodent on the prairie.  As I casually looked out the backyard window at all the doves and  I saw something scurrying along the fence and then the doves got all worked up and were trying to scare the thing in the yard.  Now this is a miracle, I didn't scream but calmly alerted Roy to the situation.  He went outside to investigate.  He thinks it was just passing through looking for some food but to be on the safe side he went and got some rat poison.  He went to his newly discovered hardware store which has now replaced Tractor Supply as his version of the Nord.  They told him how to put the poison out so the birds wouldn't eat it.  Roy got that set up this afternoon.   Yesterday afternoon we emptied all the bird feeders just to be preventative.  The feeders are no way located where I saw the thing. 

We have been kind of amused with descriptions around here on the prairie.  As you know we live off a water feature, not a lake, or a pond or a bayou or a detention pond or a ditch...a water feature. One of the newer subdivisions on 1463 advertises water front property.  Water front property would be the man made water feature created where there probably once was real water front property, rice fields.  I once went to a church where the pastor referred to the new sidewalks being put in on the property as artificial terra firma.  Hmmm....Rancho de Five has many nature trails throughout the community.  They made something usable and beautiful out of areas where no building can be placed.  Other communities advertise their nature trails but we call them the trails to nowhere because they are located between the property fences and the street and only one trail leads somewhere and this is to the Shell station.

I better get back to packing.  The next few days will be a little hectic and while I am remembering things I need to take I am putting them in the bags.

Knew is New

Yesterday was a monumental day out here in prairie land.  I did two new things.  Every other Wednesday I have to find a way to keep busy while the maid is here.  Sometimes I schedule appointments or have lunch with friends.  Other times I go into Houston, OK the Nord, and do some shopping.  Every once in a while there are various errands or places that I have wanted to go to out here.  Yesterday, I had a few things to take care of but not enough to keep me out of Chris' hair the whole time.  Dropped off a Happy Birthmas gift to Peggy.  It's really her birthday gift so she can wear it before the Holiday Bowl but also included was Christmas candy and a Christmas card.  The Christmas card was a nativity scene made out of iced cookies.  Then the adventure of Bed, Bath and Beyond.  It wasn't as bad as I had anticipated.  It seems that when I bought sheets and blankets last year for the new beds in our home I totally forgot to include the trundle bed.  Since I didn't want Peggy's family member who has drawn the lucky lot of sleeping on the trundle bed to freeze I decided to get some bedding and I had three 20% off coupons, so totally score for me.  Now what to do?  Late lunch.  Off to BWC for grilled cheese and tomato soup.  I read and finished up a letter to a friend.  OK, time ticking down, so I stopped at La Centerra and looked around a bit and that's when it came to me, I should go across the street to the library and get a card.  I cannot tell you the last time I have been in a library, a public library.  To tell you the truth I didn't even know if they still issued cards because it could be an app or something totally digital to use.  Seems like they were still using card catalogs the last time I checked out a book.  So, I walked in, tentatively, reading all the signs for directions.  Since I didn't want to look like Mrs. 1979 was the last time I checked out a book, I prefaced my questions with my vast technical knowledge.  "Yes, do I need to download an app to be able to check out books?"  The guy just looked at me like, are you nuts?  So we went old school all up in here and I filled out a paper application, showed my ID and once he scanned a few things and input the info, he handed me a card.  Not much change from back in the day except it usually took several weeks to receive your official card by mail or pick up, yesterday, instant card.  I don't even know why I got a library card.  The pressure is too much to read a book in two weeks.  My usual pattern is to buy books, let them sit around for a while and then read them.  I guess I got the card so I would be official, you know in case they have an ID check or getting carded.  Although libraries today don't ever live up to the libraries in movies.  There are other things that aren't quite the way that Hollywood shows it to be, but that is a whole nother subject.  Movie libraries are dark tables, chairs and shelving, little study lamps on the table...no it is light, bright and blond toned furniture and shelves in real life.  New to the scene, at least for me since I haven't darkened the door of a library since...that 1979 visit in attempt to be budget minded and not buy books and maybe that should read I hadn't lightened the door since modern libraries seem to be planned and extrospectivly furnished with light/bright in mind.  Oh, I didn't complete my thought or run on sentence, new to the scene...comfortable club chairs by floor to ceiling windows over looking a water feature.  Simply beautiful.  Oh and did you notice me getting usage out of one of the new thesauruses I bought?  One thing that hasn't changed on the library scene, the quiet.  So welcomed!  While it was noisier downstairs in the children's section, silence ruled the second floor.  It was me, some high school students and studious adults sitting around and being all library like.  There is something to sitting in a room filled with books.  Harper Lee's home (To Kill a Mockingbird) is said to be filled with books on shelves all throughout the house.  That would include entrance, hallways, kitchen and bathrooms.  Wow, that would be awesome to see, to experience.   

The second new thing I did yesterday doesn't seem as news worthy as the library but here it goes, I finally went to the new Kroger on 1093 and Spring Green.  Since I've been in grocery stores almost weekly my whole married life, no keen observations or new stuff to report.  I am very happy to see this Kroger has a HUGE prepared food section and a section of fit and healthy meals.  That makes dinner a whole lot easier and wise.  Roy went with me and since he has been there one time, he was as lost as I was.  We did have fun finding stuff.  Did I mention that the Play Grocery store is closing all its locations except one.  I didn't think they would miss me that much but apparently they must have lost money once we moved onto prairie living. 

New, it has been on my mind this week.  On Tuesday I watched some Joyce Meyer funniest stories on You Tube and it was divided into four fifteen minute segments.  I would watch one when I needed a break and the whole time I thought, I am wasting time doing this...I am so glad I took the time because in the fourth segment, not even a major point, Joyce threw in a little part of a verse in Isaiah, behold He is doing a new thing and she went on not missing a beat.  I have probably read and heard that verse hundreds of times and although I thought it was nice, it never caught me attention until Tuesday.  So with these new Wednesday experiences and the fact I was rather wordy with the library, I'm going to hold off on saying anything more about new right now. 

The doves have come back since missing a week of birdseed while we went to Biltmore.  While ago, I heard a bird crash into the window and I felt sure it was dead.  I have orders from Peggy that if any doves die, this is what it sounds like when a dove dies, I mean cries, to call her.  She'll come get it and rustle up a fine bird dinner for she and Bill.  I'm afraid to ask her what she wants me to do if I ever hit a deer. 

Packing and Pondering

 

A beautiful day on the prairie. A home day on the prairie. I like these kinds of days. I am trying to figure out what to pack for the Israel trip. The temperatures have been consistently in the 50-60 degree area during the day and in the 40s at night. I know I am going with the layered look but I am trying to take the bare minimum and that is clearly a challenge for me...I am a mood clothes wearer. Since deciding to go on the trip many months ago, I've been buying things that would travel well but I am coming to the conclusion that I am mainly going to wear Nike and Addidas pants so that I can wear a knee brace for the climbing and rough terrain walking. Only taking a couple of pairs of jeans and going to rotate fleece/sweater like tops over long sleeve t shirts. Not only have I considered clothing but bought a small Bible for the trip in the summer. I've been using it expressly for this time. I have read, prayed, studied, and devo- ed with this trip in mind. In a little over a week we will be on the plane or should I say planes. Sprint does not carry a data plan for overseas travel that is even remotely affordable so...I will be silent for about 10 days unless my roomie lets me use her phone because AT&T has a data plan that is reasonable. As I think of things to pack believe me I am putting them in my stack. These days a thought comes and it doesn't come back as quickly so I pounce on the opportunity.

Roy and I picked up the trundle bed mattress last night and then grabbed some dinner. There is a serious design flaw with our day bed from Pottery Barn. Anyway, once our company leaves we can decide if we will try to put it under the bed or store it someplace else.

I just looked at what Facebook thinks are the highlights of 2012 for me. Looks like friends and Biltmore dominate the timeline. Those aren't bad highlights at all. Roy and I consider ourselves so blessed with such good friends. The other day while I was getting things ready to take to the storage unit I saw a black and white composition book. I knew exactly what it was and deemed it important enough to stop and take a look. My mom had done Grandma Remembers books for the girls. When she did those she also hand wrote one for me. It was fun looking through everything and she had included photographs in it as well. Something caught my attention and this is something I hadn't noticed before. My mom was writing out what she had learned from her mother and father. She said kindness for my grandfather; she thought he was the kindest and gentlest person she had ever known. From my grandmother, her mother, she had learned the importance of friendship. My grandmother taught her to be intentional and thoughtful with her friends. My mom went further in her remembrances saying that she learned from her family integrity and truthfulness was one of the most important character traits to have. Wow, what a legacy. When I was a child spending summers with my grandmother, she and her neighbor across the way, Ruthie Blackburn, talked at least twice with each other every day. In the morning and in the evening before bed. Although Ruthie's voice scared the bejabbers out of me, my grandmother assured me that Ruthie was one of the nicest and kindest people and Ruthie was her good friend. I know I have written this before but one thing I remember, they were both nearly deaf. My grandmother wore a hearing aid and had a volume control for her phone but Ruthie refused to get a hearing aid. She had lost a leg as a child, I believe in a roller skating accident but the story told me by my father is, she lost her leg when she disobeyed her father. Guess I was willing to lose a leg if need be. She told my grandmother, I already have a fake leg, don't need a fake ear. When I was younger I remember my mother being a lot more social than she was later in life. She had such good friends but I think maybe my mother was dealing with dementia and Alzheimer's long before we recognized it. She who was light hearted and fun became a tad negative and complainy about her friends. I think that came about after her two best friends had passed away. Maybe she dealt with their deaths in comparison to her other friends and no one held a candle to Mary Jo and Billie.

I have always believed that I have been blessed with some of the best friends anyone could ever ask for. I am fortunate to have lifetime friends, (not the gym, one would have to be going there to make friends) friends I have known for a long time, friends that have recently become a part of my journey and me with them, friends that I have learned so much from and unfortunately friends that have come and gone because maybe their purpose in my life was; don't become or make their mistakes. You know life lesson friends. I am sure I have played that role in other's lives. I don't really like to think about that.

This tweet has made me ponder;

Margaret Feinberg‏@mafeinberg

We need a place where we pray for a replenished wonder of friendship and wait for God to answer in unexpected ways

If you are reading this and a little discouraged that you're not making good friends or you feel like your encounters of late have been "life lesson" friends...fair weather friends, let me encourage you to keep planting those friendship seeds. Don't give up because those seeds of friendship will reap a harvest. During this Christmas season I am asking God to give me a replenished wonder of friendship. Friendship is a truly wondrous thing. So on this trip to the Holy Land; I'm expectant for God to answer in unexpected ways. On this trip there are friends I have known for years, two best friends, newly discovered and loved friends, those who I know by name and those I haven; met...we'll become friends.

Just remember to pack baggies and I'd better get some snacks ready too. I am not a fan of hummus so I'd better be prepared with cheese crackers and Pria bars.

Just a Thought

You can feel the edginess in the air today.  We have all cried and prayed.  Our hearts extended to the families affected by the horrible rampage on Friday morning.  In the midst of what will prove to be a difficult week ahead we hold fast to hope, not the hope of wishing things will get better with time but the hope that is in the solid rock.  People more eloquent than I have stated their feelings and thoughts by Twitter, blog, Facebook or actually famous enough to get air time.  As I have been out and about in the normal routine of prairie living I've really stopped to look at kids 5, 6, and 7 years old to get a grasp of something my mind quite won't get around of how little, how young, how innocent most children are in the formidable stage of life, in first grade.  They are on the cusp of still wanting to believe in Santa Claus, the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny, yet already finding on the field of sports or in the classroom that the good and talented children are treated differently than the rest of the pack. Mostly it is an exciting age because homework is being introduced in baby steps and that folders brought home to mom and dad hold a lot of promise.  They aren't wearied by the enormity of grades, class standings, extra credit and the importance of getting into the college of their choice. 

It is almost like we didn't want to talk of the obvious.  Not that Friday didn't happen but that we are immersed in the deep sadness in the loss of these young children.  We learned about the heroes who stopped the rampage and saved lives. "No greater love than a man or this case women who lay down their life for their friends."

Worked Hard For No Money

It's official, I'm a nerd.  That shouldn't be too much of a surprise that someone as cool as I seem to be would declare themselves a nerd.  Oh contrair Pierre.  After a busy weekend I have finally found the time to open the boxes from Amazon.  The contents....?  Two different type of thesauruses.  I cannot tell you how very happy, happy, happy this makes me. 

Roy and I are recovering from one hectic weekend.  The past week was extremely busy and full of activities and a little bit of stress.  Friday night we were supposed to go to a Christmas caroling party but I had to make the last minute decision that we couldn't go.  I was weary and starting to get a sore throat with a little bit of a cough.  This may sound like the crud that is going around but for me it is a sure sign that I have overdone it and my heart and body are giving me the warning signs.  I went to bed early and watched the coverage of the horrendous day in Newtown, CT.  Crying and praying for those families.  It is too much to comprehend. 

Saturday we decided to attack a few to do list items.  So we went by the storage place and got a small unit.  With that done, we headed over to buy a trundle mattress.  We can pick it up Monday or Tuesday.  That afternoon we went over to the Katy Christmas festival and stopped in at a little hardware store.  We needed nails and we also got some extra keys made.  They had the little stakes to outline your yard in lights.  Everyone else has been sold out.  We came home and measured the yard.  Don't you know that was a lot of fun with Mr. Exacto and Mrs. Ballpark figure.  Roy came in the house and immediately hit Excel to get the correct calculations of how many feet of light bulbs we needed.  I came in and hit my head against the wall because I couldn't believe that Roy would Excel and I hate Excel.  I should have put the above paragraph in the form of a word problem and show my work in getting it figured out.  Because...today, Roy wanted to remeasure the dimensions and add the flower bed into the equation.  I asked that it be duly noted in the official record that I had suggested the very same thing yesterday and Roy pooh poohed me.  Ha!  When Roy finally finished his mathnasium he declared we needed 100 feet.  I asked how much that would cost, he said over $100.00 and I said let's punt the lights until next year.  That is until I was straightening up the mud area in the laundry room and saw some white lights that I had bought deeply discounted at the end of summer and asked if we could use those.  So we are back in business and may attempt light placement after all. 

We also loaded up Sequisha with boxes and took them over to the storage unit.  Totally favor of the Lord that we got one next to an outside door and it was the top unit in the stack.  We get a little more space height wise.  Roy still has good knees so he got everything arranged and once Christmas is over and the decorations are ready to be stored, we'll go back do that and see if there is any extra room for anything else.  It is not a case of having too many material things, it is a case of being a collector of memories and too old for our attic steps. 

We picked up some Good Ol' Boys boiled shrimp and sides for dinner last night.  Delicious! 

Waking up to rain this morning was rather welcomed but driving to church was a tad hazardous.  We got on the EZ Tag lane so we wouldn't have to deal with a lot of the other drivers.  By the time we got into church, my back and feet were soaked.  So the person who is rarely cold was rather chilled all morning.  We went to Le Peep for lunch.  Coffee for me is early or late, not in the afternoon, but I decided to have some just to warm up. 

Well nerd girl is going to go read her thesaurus and hit the hay early.  Have a busy day ahead.