Last Sunday the sermon was good - teacher related how if he has a recorded Steeler's game and he happens to hear how they did before he watches it, whether or not he watches is totally dependent on how they did. If they lost, he has no interest in seeing the game. If they won, he's excited about it, and even if they're down he knows the outcome and it totally changes the viewing experience. And that's like our lives. An expected end. I can see how it would change my total attitude if I could hold on to it. Thought worth relating. Need to dig up verses to ground it.
Then today beautiful testimony of a man who was healed of entrenched avascular necrosis (sp?) that he'd been struggling with for years. Totally healed. Legs perfect. Hikes all over the world now.
Then a girl from Bible study is there with her husband, and he makes a decision to follow Christ!
HALLELUJAH! Our God is alive!
And it's good to be with His people and be able to see it.
--------------------------------------------
Wrote that last night.
Today is horrible. How have I ever held it together? I keep thinking of the foolish woman in Proverbs who pulls down her house with her own hands.
Was thinking, but not saying to Him, that He's not enough (here I am a mess and He's not protecting the kids from me [them being around an angry nag], and I can't stay away from sin), shocking myself with the blasphemy of the thought. But the reality is here today, staring me in the face. Then when I wanted to tell Him, I thought, it's true, He's not making ME enough. for them. They need Him and the sooner they know it, the better.
Yesterday sang, my hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness. That would be good.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Work and Grace
So, this week I have been thinking about:
Works Last Sunday, the week anniversary of our pediculosis treatment commencing, involved saturating everyone's hair, letting them sit for ten minutes, rinsing them out, combing them out, stripping bed linens and blankets, replacing them, and washing mountains of laundry. It was less work than the previous week when we also had to bag all pillows, stuffed animals, baseball hats, and buy new pillows. But we had had Mom and Dad then who were eager to run around like headless chickens. Now, it was just me because Dave had to take James to baseball.
And then, Monday, I received a phone call from the high school saying Abby needed to be picked up because she had too many nits. Officially, we are a nit-free district, and the elementary school was very strict about not allowing Andy back, but the high school had said since we were treating, Abby could stay... the previous week. Not this week. The middle school kindly(?)/crazily(?)/ignorantly(?) ignored James and Jack, for which I felt guiltily relieved.
So, I took Abby to Urgent Care and asked for the antibiotic that they had prescribed for Jack and Andy that helps break their life cycle. And the doctor was very nice, relating his own personal fight with the parasites when his kids both had them.
And then we headed home to wash her head again and spend an hour and twenty minutes combing it. It was sufficient to let her into school the next day.
And then, I realized James also still had nits.
And Jack's head was itchy. Andy who had had them the longest seemed miraculously free and said his school nurse had re-checked him and declared him clean.
So, I smeared tar shampoo over everyone else's head for fifteen minutes and combed them out and began the daily ritual of stripping beds, washing sheets and blankets, soaking brushes and combs (although honestly I think I only managed that once). And got some other medicine for James from the pediatrician who wouldn't prescribe the antibiotic. And decided to comb every other day.
And with at least six loads of laundry a day and stripping and making beds, dinners became frozen stuff, leftovers, and pizza (to the great delight of the kids--sigh). And I struggled not to wallow in pity and contemplated all this work that may or may not have any effect... and thought that this is like all our works to please God, the guess work and double guessing, the guilt at seeing new nits, the new resolves to do better, but lice is so insidious that expunging it is near impossible.
And then I thought of the lot of so many women the world over for whom laundry or the physical labor of domestic life is their life, and it is good to share their lot for even a bit.
And then I wondered about all those people who must live forever with lice because they can't afford the medicines, the time, the strict cleaning to simply live comfortably. And I'm not sure that I could figure anything out of all those thoughts...
But then,
Grace I have been sleeping terribly since August, waking up every night around 3:00 or 3:30, sometimes earlier, for hours. It was fine in the summer when I could sleep until 8:00 or 8:30, but then school started and I became a wreck by the end of the first week. Until I remembered Tylenol PM. So, I took that every weeknight and then experimented with Claritin and more natural approaches on the weekend. But Tylenol PM was the only thing that really worked, although I disliked the hangoverish feeling in the morning. So, lately I had been trying Midnight, a more natural sleep aid, and although I didn't sleep as well, I felt better the next day, but struggled to stay awake until 9:30 or 10:00.
Then, Wednesday night, I was a bit hungry after dinner, so I had a cup of hot chocolate. And I slept! I woke up briefly but went back to sleep. So, I tried it Thursday and slept! Like the kiss of God in the midst of the discouragement and struggle.
Not sure what it all means, just the contrast in my week.--Rachel
Works Last Sunday, the week anniversary of our pediculosis treatment commencing, involved saturating everyone's hair, letting them sit for ten minutes, rinsing them out, combing them out, stripping bed linens and blankets, replacing them, and washing mountains of laundry. It was less work than the previous week when we also had to bag all pillows, stuffed animals, baseball hats, and buy new pillows. But we had had Mom and Dad then who were eager to run around like headless chickens. Now, it was just me because Dave had to take James to baseball.
And then, Monday, I received a phone call from the high school saying Abby needed to be picked up because she had too many nits. Officially, we are a nit-free district, and the elementary school was very strict about not allowing Andy back, but the high school had said since we were treating, Abby could stay... the previous week. Not this week. The middle school kindly(?)/crazily(?)/ignorantly(?) ignored James and Jack, for which I felt guiltily relieved.
So, I took Abby to Urgent Care and asked for the antibiotic that they had prescribed for Jack and Andy that helps break their life cycle. And the doctor was very nice, relating his own personal fight with the parasites when his kids both had them.
And then we headed home to wash her head again and spend an hour and twenty minutes combing it. It was sufficient to let her into school the next day.
And then, I realized James also still had nits.
And Jack's head was itchy. Andy who had had them the longest seemed miraculously free and said his school nurse had re-checked him and declared him clean.
So, I smeared tar shampoo over everyone else's head for fifteen minutes and combed them out and began the daily ritual of stripping beds, washing sheets and blankets, soaking brushes and combs (although honestly I think I only managed that once). And got some other medicine for James from the pediatrician who wouldn't prescribe the antibiotic. And decided to comb every other day.
And with at least six loads of laundry a day and stripping and making beds, dinners became frozen stuff, leftovers, and pizza (to the great delight of the kids--sigh). And I struggled not to wallow in pity and contemplated all this work that may or may not have any effect... and thought that this is like all our works to please God, the guess work and double guessing, the guilt at seeing new nits, the new resolves to do better, but lice is so insidious that expunging it is near impossible.
And then I thought of the lot of so many women the world over for whom laundry or the physical labor of domestic life is their life, and it is good to share their lot for even a bit.
And then I wondered about all those people who must live forever with lice because they can't afford the medicines, the time, the strict cleaning to simply live comfortably. And I'm not sure that I could figure anything out of all those thoughts...
But then,
Grace I have been sleeping terribly since August, waking up every night around 3:00 or 3:30, sometimes earlier, for hours. It was fine in the summer when I could sleep until 8:00 or 8:30, but then school started and I became a wreck by the end of the first week. Until I remembered Tylenol PM. So, I took that every weeknight and then experimented with Claritin and more natural approaches on the weekend. But Tylenol PM was the only thing that really worked, although I disliked the hangoverish feeling in the morning. So, lately I had been trying Midnight, a more natural sleep aid, and although I didn't sleep as well, I felt better the next day, but struggled to stay awake until 9:30 or 10:00.
Then, Wednesday night, I was a bit hungry after dinner, so I had a cup of hot chocolate. And I slept! I woke up briefly but went back to sleep. So, I tried it Thursday and slept! Like the kiss of God in the midst of the discouragement and struggle.
Not sure what it all means, just the contrast in my week.--Rachel
Sunday, October 21, 2012
an assortment of 5 unrelated thoughts.
1. So. . . I've started a blog. Yes, Lucia, a *different* blog! (Thank you so much Lucia for being the one person in the world who actually read and commented on my attempts at food-blogging.) The food blog just wasn't working out.
So, I have a new one.
I think I'm going to start out by only giving the address to a few limited people. . .just enough to keep me accountable for writing frequent posts, but not so much that everyone in the world can read my thoughts. . . yet.
I'd like to write a combination of 'normal blog posts' as well as some fictional snippets. Hopefully the switching from fiction to non-fiction will not be too weird. We'll see how it goes.
Anyway, so since this is what I've done today with my afternoon, I'm going to share with you guys in the interest of feeling semi-productive.
Here is the address: http://www.thisbeautifuldeath.com .
2. In other news, there's not much new going on with us. We are actually going to see Carolyn&Mike, and Thomas and Charlotte this evening! (Carolyn and Mike are apparently briefly in Greensboro, visiting). So, I should go get ready for that and go stop at the store and get some fun contribution to bring.
3. is this blog too cumbersome? Should we just go back to email? The main thing is that I love hearing all your thoughts, so whatever is the easiest way to make that happen, let's do it!
4. Teared up during 'How Great Thou Art' this morning. The lyrics are a reminder both of His great sacrifice as well as our final hope which is not of this world.
'And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing; Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. . .
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!" '
5. Love you all. Look forward to seeing you sometime between Dec 24 and Jan 1. I need to talk to Pete about exactly when we plan to travel.
Rebecca
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Thanks and a small prod
I
can't articulate it properly right now (it's past my bedtime, I'm
only up because I just picked up the Hunger Games and had to finish
it today - what a ride) but I'm so thankful for the kinds of
conversations we have. My normal circles are either not Christian, or
not particularly intellectual or both. I'm no longer intellectual,
but I like listening to you all talk :). So I hope people keep
posting.
Rebecca, just read Hinds Feet finally and it was so great. Thanks so much. Now feel the need to give it to everyone I know :). Also reading Secret to a Happy Christian Life by Hannah Whitall Smith and finding it hard to get and depressing.
Happy news - a church we had been going to awhile ago just planted a 'campus' 2 miles from our house. They have a ladies BIble study that I can go to and a Wednesday night service that most of us can attend. Super Great!
Listening to David Crowder Band 'Give Us Rest' - very good stuff.
Love to you all,
Rebecca, just read Hinds Feet finally and it was so great. Thanks so much. Now feel the need to give it to everyone I know :). Also reading Secret to a Happy Christian Life by Hannah Whitall Smith and finding it hard to get and depressing.
Happy news - a church we had been going to awhile ago just planted a 'campus' 2 miles from our house. They have a ladies BIble study that I can go to and a Wednesday night service that most of us can attend. Super Great!
Listening to David Crowder Band 'Give Us Rest' - very good stuff.
Love to you all,
lis
Pediculosis and Introversion
So, Mom and Dad came up last Saturday to watch the kids while I tagged along with Dave to his Society of Actuaries conference in National Harbor right outside DC. I had been a bit stressed the week before trying to get everything sufficiently ready for them to take over.
And then, Abby came downstairs right before we needed to leave for church on Sunday and asked, "Is this what a lice looks like?" (I know, I know, louse is the singular, but this was prior to my children's familiarity with all the terminology associated with this lovely affliction.)
"Oh, no! It probably is. Mom, can you look at Andy's hair?" Because Andy had been scratching his head for a couple of weeks and then gradually his siblings had begun complaining about itchiness, but my untrained eye was unable to detect any living organisms feasting upon them. However, once we all hovered over Andy, employing Dad's pocket knife magnifying glass and another magnifying glass I dug up, we were able to see the little crawling bodies.
And so, church was out for most of us--Dad and Mom lugged Abby off to teach her fourth grade class. And I shuffled Andy and Jack off to the nearest Urgent Care. Needless to say, we had an eventful day, shampooing everyone and sitting about for 10 minutes while the shampoo did its magic, washing out the shampoo, fine tooth combing, washing bedding, stuffing pillows into trash bags. It's very handy to have an extra set of adults along for all this excitement. We managed to get a little shampooing assembly line started. And Jack and Andy sat like little apes, picking nits out of each other's hair. A proud, proud moment.
But the best thing was that I got to leave all the stress in Mom and Dad's capable hands while I jaunted off to National Harbor for three nights of complete indulgence (but no beautiful sisters to provide scintillating conversation). Actually, I didn't leave quite so jauntily, and I felt bad when the school nurse said Andy wasn't sufficiently nit-free to return to school on Monday. But Mom and Dad handled it all more competently than I would have and olive oiled their hair and found this awesome louse comb that they gleefully related to me about all the carcasses they removed.
So, the break was super relaxing, if a little boring and exhausting because I occupied myself with exercising and then walking around the tiny town the hotel was in. (By contrast, my poor parents lived a high speed, exhausting few days.) But the reason I really started writing this was because I decided to attend one of the luncheon's at the conference and got to listen to Susan Cain, the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts. She was a fascinating speaker! And I got home to find that my requested copy of the book was ready at the library. So, I've started digging in.
And that got me to wondering if I really am an introvert. In some ways, I definitely am--I can handle lots of alone time, I generally only think of what I want to say after the time to say it is long gone, I prefer small groups to large ones. But on the other hand, I like the stimulus of conversing with people, and in my isolated world, I feel much happier on days that I interact with people. Plus, I tend to feel energized by parties rather than exhausted, like my husband who needs to come home and have quiet time.
So, I took the Myers Briggs test again, and yep, they think I'm an introvert (a moderate introvert with a 44% preference to introversion). Actually, I was an INFP, which is what I've always been. Although, you might be right, Rebecca, about my P quality, since I'm only an 11% preference there. Maybe it's just a fact that the older you get, the more set in your ways you become. So, maybe you all should take it, and see what you are now!
And then, Abby came downstairs right before we needed to leave for church on Sunday and asked, "Is this what a lice looks like?" (I know, I know, louse is the singular, but this was prior to my children's familiarity with all the terminology associated with this lovely affliction.)
"Oh, no! It probably is. Mom, can you look at Andy's hair?" Because Andy had been scratching his head for a couple of weeks and then gradually his siblings had begun complaining about itchiness, but my untrained eye was unable to detect any living organisms feasting upon them. However, once we all hovered over Andy, employing Dad's pocket knife magnifying glass and another magnifying glass I dug up, we were able to see the little crawling bodies.
And so, church was out for most of us--Dad and Mom lugged Abby off to teach her fourth grade class. And I shuffled Andy and Jack off to the nearest Urgent Care. Needless to say, we had an eventful day, shampooing everyone and sitting about for 10 minutes while the shampoo did its magic, washing out the shampoo, fine tooth combing, washing bedding, stuffing pillows into trash bags. It's very handy to have an extra set of adults along for all this excitement. We managed to get a little shampooing assembly line started. And Jack and Andy sat like little apes, picking nits out of each other's hair. A proud, proud moment.
But the best thing was that I got to leave all the stress in Mom and Dad's capable hands while I jaunted off to National Harbor for three nights of complete indulgence (but no beautiful sisters to provide scintillating conversation). Actually, I didn't leave quite so jauntily, and I felt bad when the school nurse said Andy wasn't sufficiently nit-free to return to school on Monday. But Mom and Dad handled it all more competently than I would have and olive oiled their hair and found this awesome louse comb that they gleefully related to me about all the carcasses they removed.
So, the break was super relaxing, if a little boring and exhausting because I occupied myself with exercising and then walking around the tiny town the hotel was in. (By contrast, my poor parents lived a high speed, exhausting few days.) But the reason I really started writing this was because I decided to attend one of the luncheon's at the conference and got to listen to Susan Cain, the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts. She was a fascinating speaker! And I got home to find that my requested copy of the book was ready at the library. So, I've started digging in.
And that got me to wondering if I really am an introvert. In some ways, I definitely am--I can handle lots of alone time, I generally only think of what I want to say after the time to say it is long gone, I prefer small groups to large ones. But on the other hand, I like the stimulus of conversing with people, and in my isolated world, I feel much happier on days that I interact with people. Plus, I tend to feel energized by parties rather than exhausted, like my husband who needs to come home and have quiet time.
So, I took the Myers Briggs test again, and yep, they think I'm an introvert (a moderate introvert with a 44% preference to introversion). Actually, I was an INFP, which is what I've always been. Although, you might be right, Rebecca, about my P quality, since I'm only an 11% preference there. Maybe it's just a fact that the older you get, the more set in your ways you become. So, maybe you all should take it, and see what you are now!
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