Suites, Private Pools, and Harley Joe!

There are many things I think when traveling...some I never blog about. I suppose this is due to the fact that I usually leave my computer at home while on vacation. This week it is an ADVENTURE (not vacation) and blogging will probably maintain my sanity levels while Loverbrains is working long hours.

What things do I think you ask? Well, like how you spend time teaching your kids to pick things up and put them away and how they decide to OBEY and pick up nasty things from parking lots and restrooms. GAG! Or, how they ask embarrassing questions about anatomy in public restrooms that ECHO! Or, how much fun are bathroom blowers (after you get past the stage where they scare the kid to death)! Yeah, DEEP thoughts...deep thoughts!

First time we have ever had a suite...very cozy...very WONDERFUL...sort of privacy.
We even enjoyed a private pool...well, not really...but no one else was using it at the time.
My real thoughts are with Joe...a scary biker dude we met at a busy rest stop. I'm a pretty bold chica...I know this doesn't shock most of you...but especially when I'm securely with my Loverbrains...I talk to just about any poor stranger who will stand still for it. This guy was in full Harley duds...with a sunburned nose and cheeks...and a worn and tired feel about him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Mt. 11:28

Anyhew...we were eating our refrigerator clean-out lunch...meaning I had a loaf of bread, bologna, cheese and blueberries...not fun really. I didn't even have napkins or condiments. We were under a mini shelter...from the blazing sun...on a humid day. It rained on and off the whole trip.

I stepped over and said...,"Hey you're welcome to join us. We don't have anything exciting, just sandwiches...but would you care to join us?" He looked surprised and hesitated and then accepted. He said he'd checked out the vending machine and it was junk (true, true). He didn't want to stick his fingers in the food...so asked if I'd make the sandwiches. *Smile...and he really opened up to us. I learned lots about him...born in Poland, ex-marine, heavy drinker, etc. etc. He sort of wanted to know why we were being nice to him. He said that most people that talked to him were old couples....not young families.

That was our opening to tell him about our personal relationship with Jesus Christ...and how we try to live our lives for His glory...as we think He would live...as HE DIED. Such conversations rarely go as far as I'd like...and Joe didn't say a whole lot. But ya never know what seeds were planted or what seeds we watered, etc. (Mt. 13) I waved to him as we went into the "potties" and he roared off on his HOG. It POURED the rest of the way up past the Chicago split. And I prayed silently for him...that the searching he's doing will lead him to the ONLY WAY, TRUTH and LIFE! (Jn. 14:6)

*Drum Roll...*

Do you see it???
TA DAH! Yes, we are the winners of the Golden Scoop for yet another glorious year!
Yes, here is the ice cream genius...MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP...ala Loverbrains...
Our Sweet Girl really really likes it!!
Yummm...for the recipe...you have to go where I'm MomE & Loving It!

CR: Rich man, poor man...

For anyone who remembers when I called peonies the "poor man's rose"....here is *drum roll...
...the "real deal rose." Actually, it's my family's tea rose. My great grandfather cultivated it (don't ask me how that works please)...and it is bright and gorgeous and the SMELL IS OUT OF THIS WORLD...really...heaven smells like this I'M JUST SURE!
And on other random thoughts...I'm missing my Loverbrains cuz he's doing a major project in another state...and only comes home on weekends...*sigh* and here's the crazy random part...I'm thinking of going with him next week...yeah...with the kids!!

Oh come ON...where's your sense of adventure?? Live in a ritzy hotel for a week, swim in a big pool, go to new parks, sleep next to your Love...

Can we do it?? YES, WE CAN...unless we talk ourselves out of it between now and then!

Lord, I Need You...

Sometimes when life seems gentle and blessings flood my way,
I turn my gaze away from You and soon forget to pray.
But when the sky grows darker and courage turns to fear,
My anxious voice cries upward with words you long to hear.
Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.
O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.
Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.
Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.
Lord, help me to remember I'm weak but You are strong.
I cannot sing apart from You, for Lord You are my song.
Although I'm prone to wander and boast in all I do;
Lord keep my eyes turned upward so I depend on You.
Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.
O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.
Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.
Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.

Song by Ron Hamilton (sorry I couldn't find the recording to share.)

WFW: Read the whole thing...

I find that, as a Mom, I'm guilty of knowing and repeating portions of scripture but not reading the whole thing. I'm not taking anything out of context per se...just not remembering what the whole thing says.

Recently, this portion of scripture has been brought to my attention. I say, "Be kind to one another" about forty two billion times a day! What I was needed to hear was the tenderhearted and forgiving AS CHRIST forgave YOU parts.

Funny, so close...yet so far away. So, write down verses that you "spout off" and see what's written around them. You might just find that it's what you've been looking for all along.

For more WFW go to...Susan's where she is FOREVER HIS.

Tube Tuesday: Whatever You're Doing...

It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
All I can do is surrender

(Chorus)
Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Re-evaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow Your will
or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...

(Chorus)

Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to to release all my held back tears

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life, something heavenly

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life, something heavenly
Something heavenly

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out

by Sanctus Real

Perspective...

Isaiah 40:12, "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?"

Psalm 33:6-9, "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."
Job 38:4-7, "“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?"
More zoo day pictures at MomE & Loving It...

Peace of Mind...

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8


"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22

Deep Dark Thoughts: Satan's Meeting...

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church." "We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth." "We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their savior." "Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ." "This is what I want you to do", said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!" "How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children." "As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice." "Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive." "To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical
music constantly." "This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers." "Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day." "Invade their driving moments with billboards." "Flood their mail boxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products , services and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives." "Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night." "Give them headaches too!" "If they don't give their
husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere." "That will
fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas." "Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive." "Have them return from their recreation exhausted." "Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation." "Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead." "Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spi ritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus." "Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause." "It will work!" "It will work!"

It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get more busy and more rushed, going here and there. Having little time for their God or their families. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme?

You be the judge! Does "busy" mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?

Word FILLED Wednesday: Cup Overflowing...

A few days ago I shared about the beautiful mother daughter tea at our church. It has led me to do a lot of thinking about how much praising I'm doing...about how thankful I really am. Sadly, the results of this little inner study were quick and profound....My cup is rather lacking in praise and thanksgiving...definitely not at the OVERFLOWING level.

So, how to change that...Read my Bible seemed to be one of the first obvious answers. Just in creating the graphic for WFW I took a good look at Psalm 23. If you haven't lately...it's short...take a look. It's a declaration of love for MY Shepherd. He restores my soul...in Him I have NO WANT...He gives me quiet rest...He leads me and comforts me even through the darkest valleys of life. WOW! And that's just scratching the surface ya'll!

So, in the effort to develop a cup more sloshy will praises to my WONDERFUL Savior...I'm going to start keeping a gratitude journal. I know this is not a new idea. I'm not even sure where first I heard of it. I found these two little journals at Half Priced Books on my last date night with Loverbrains...and decided they are perfect to fill with Gratitude! If any of you would care to join me...please do. Praise HIM!

For more WFW go to...Our lovely Meme's hostess...Amydeanne's 160 Acre Woods...now fresher and full of imagination!

Tube Tuesday: Christian Wrap...Rap?

My Cup Runneth Over...

This last weekend, I was in charge of our annual Mother Daughter Tea. Yes, being the first time I'd been asked to do anything like this at our church, I decided to change the typical time from a Sat. afternoon to a Fri. evening...and change it from a luncheon or banquet to an elegant tea. I could be all, "pride cometh before a fall" because of all the changes I made...but actually the majority of the ladies were flexible and seemed to enjoy the final result.
I could be all "phew, I'm glad it's over" but that would be misleading...cuz I'm glad I did it...and I had a great time that night even with some childcare hiccups. God really worked out every detail.

I'm glad that I got to choose the theme...I picked "My Cup Runneth Over." Seriously, because I thought I could come up with some neat centerpieces...but really God had a plan to use it in my heart. Of course, He's like that!
We had gorgeous teapots and teacups and saucers at each place. We had only cakes and scones with only tea and water (milk and cookies for the little girls)...and it was lovely. Funny after the fact...We'd had quite a bit of trouble finding a speaker. Then we found out, the day before the tea, that our delightful speaker was on a gluten free diet. Um, yeah...she couldn't eat ANYTHING we were preparing...not even some of the teas. So, God provided and some ladies (mostly our Pastor's wife) stepped up and found a gluten free cake and a sugar free cake. Phew! After being on a Celiac diet for three years you'd think I'd have thought of such things. Like I said before, God worked out all the details.

I'm glad she came...and shared, among other things about our cups running over...that we need to plan to praise God. She suggested selecting a pretty tea cup and putting references regarding praise on strips of paper. Then, on days we feel our cups are FULL...we need to write that little moment down and look up the verse on the other side. Then put it back in the cup...and on days where we aren't so full of praise...pull out the reasons to be full of praise.

I'll be honest...I need something this SIMPLE. With Darren gone on business and the kids being sick and having a major event to pull off...it was a sloshy week for my little life cup!!! I do have moments my cup is full of PRAISE...but to my great shame I have many more days where my cup SLOPS over...and it's well...slop! Grumbling, complaining, etc.

I made this little bookmark as a favor at each place setting. Feel free to copy and print it out too! So, are you full of ABUNDANT LIFE in CHRIST??


And yes, I'm messing around with my new MacBook features...and learning how to use iPhoto...so that's why my pictures look funny! Neat though, huh??

CR: Anticipation & Sweet Savors...

As I type this, it is like having "smello-blogging"...because I can smell the heady perfume of my favorite flower, the peony. I call it the poor man's rose...cuz the smell is just as glorious and the structure is like a rose with a bad hair day.
I check on these beauties in their tight ball buds for weeks. I sing "Anticipation..." and wait and wait for them to burst open.
Then, the payoff...tons and tons (well, dozens and dozens anyway) of deep pink, ruffled blossoms. Such intense smells makes me think of....

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God."

Deep Thoughts...

This is the original poem, I think. I've boldly the thoughts that glared out at me.

"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please.
Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep,
but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk
or a snooze in the sunshine.
I don’t want enough of God to make me love a black man
or pick beets with a migrant.
I want ecstasy, not transformation.
I want warmth of the womb, not a new birth.
I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack.
I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please."

— Wilbur Rees

This is the rewrite...that I find equally, if not MORE, convicting.

“I would like to buy about three dollars worth of gospel, please. Not too much– just enough to make me happy, but not so much that I get addicted. I don’t want so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust. I certainly don’t want so much that I start to love my enemies, cherish self-denial, and contemplate missionary service in some alien culture. I want ecstasy, not repentance; I want transcendence, not transformation. I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broad-minded people, but I myself don’t want to love those from different races– especially if they smell. I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected or my giving too greatly enlarged. I would like about three dollars worth of gospel, please.”

–D.A. Carson, Basics For Believers: An Exposition of Philippians

Oh, how I desire to follow Jesus in FULL. I want ALL of Jesus, not just $3 dollars worth. Are you sold out?

Word FILLED Wednesday: Target Shooting...

I heard a story I found hilarious the other day...actually it was at the last day of my favorite Bible study. Well, it was funny at first...until I got the point. Ouch!

We were told the story of this guy who was driving through the country and came to this old barn. He stopped because he saw a whole bunch of targets painted on the back...and even more amazing...each had an arrow directly in the bulls-eye. He went out into the field to talk to the farmer. He said, "Gee, you must be quite a good shot...I noticed your target shooting on the barn." The farmer said, "Oh that!? Yeah, that was my son's doing. Ya see, he shot all those arrows at the barn and then went and painted the targets around them like that!"

Seriously, I laughed and giggled for quite a bit about this...but the application is what hurts. We are created to do the good works HE'S prepared for us to do. It shocked me to think how often I don't ask for blessing until after the fact. You can't shoot the arrows in life or ministry and then draw the target afterward. The point was that only when Christians follow Jesus' leading do they have eternal results in ministry.

So, are you seeing the eternal value in your life and work? Do you see the Lord's activity at work in you...cuz you're doing what He's prepared??

For more WFW go to...Lori's where it's all you have to give.

Tube Tuesday: The Invisible Woman...

Happy Mother's Day!

Caffeinated Randomness: Allergy Sickly Style...

Well, this ought to be good, eh...I mean my randomness is always better on medication and with a head full of fluff. *Hey, I heard that snickering...thinking my heads always full of fluff...BE NICE!*

My first random thought came to me in my sick introverted state. Yes, my sick state is my only quiet and introverted state...hahaha! Anyhew, I was thinking how people say that you should learn to get along with those difficult personality types...cuz they'll keep popping up in your life. Well, there are few supposed difficult people that I've gotten really close to in the last few years. I should say that I initially judged them as prickly, eccentric, pushy, domineering, etc. etc. It's definitely been a growing experience and not always pleasant...but they are some loyal friends in the long run. Sort of figured out that I AM ONE! HA! What I didn't anticipate was that other people (nicer people) would shy away as friends due to my new difficult acquaintances. Huh...who knew? This is probably, in a large way, why I detest Facebook and the whole social turmoil it brings me. Best *sign off* I ever did...FREEDOM!

Next, for some random reason I decide to do projects when I'm sick. Last time I had a cold I made the kids all new playdoh. I must not think clearly or can disillusion myself just enough to get things under way. Around naptime today I found myself busily (and quite happily, I might add) sewing two matching shirred dresses for me and my sweet baby girl. We'll be matchy on Mother's Day and for our Mother/Daughter tea.

Random truth, I was all ready to sew one pattern when our washing machine broke a few months ago. I was interrupted multiple times and messed up multiple times and then decided it wasn't going to happen this year. And then somewhere in my allergic introverted thoughts I realized she wouldn't want to match clothes with me for many more years. And then I was at JoAnn's buying fabric...sigh...Well, they're cute...and I have nothing else done today.

Last, I'm growing sweet tomato plants (and peppers and herbs) and totally STRESSING over ever change of weather and storm threat. We're promised major thunderstorms this evening with possible hail. BUT the winds are high...so HOW do I cover them?? I tied garbage bags to the racks...thinking it'll create a barrier to the hail. Maybe. Then tomorrow night we're supposed get a light frost...so I'll need to cover them but I'm actually going on a date with Loverbrains...and I don't think I should ask the babysitter to cover plants...do you? HAHAHA!

Last random HAPPY thought...I'm getting a NICE new vacuum tomorrow. Loverbrains promised. Our cheapo bagless mold heap has crossed me for the LAST TIME! No, that's not where we're going on our date. He's taking me to dinner. Any suggestions for a romantic (not break the bank) yummy place?

Well, I hope you got a chuckle out of my sick time, rarely introverted randomness! Have a great weekend ya'll!

WFW: Muddled Allergy Thoughts...

I am experiencing the joys (NOT) of allergy season. I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest and shoving cotton balls up my nose and into my brain!

I loved this picture...and longed (alas, *sigh*) for the days of convalescence...where your dear aya took care of you while you rested in a garden. Your children would also have a nanny to care for them...etc. etc. BUT...that isn't my life...and there are things to be cleaned, groceries to be bought and obligations to be met.

I am aware that this Psalm is somewhat about health issues resulting from sin issues. Sometimes that is the case...probably more often than we'd like to think. As I pondered my selection, through my hazy fog, I decided that regardless sickness is a good time to reflect on your life and issues in your heart. I am always more introspective and in tune with God when He makes it VERY apparent that I am a weakling...and He is ALL POWERFUL!

I'd appreciate your prayers! More WFW here with PennyRaine.

Tube Tuesday: A Mother's Love...