Remembering

I'm ready for it to warm up. It's 29 degrees now, but the windchill makes it feel like 19. On the upside it is supposed to get up to 33 today. But I don't consider 33 warm. There is a 60% chance of rain, therefore we could get some ice. All this cold makes me remember another time.

Several years ago we had a major ice storm after Christmas. Hardly anyone had electricity since the lines were down. Our house had two bedrooms and a bath added onto the back before we bought it. Now they did an excellent job and you can't tell it's an add on. They buried our lines though and the transformer on our pole stayed intact so our house had electricity. It became sort of a haven for some of our church family. We had heat and warm water for showers. We also had tons of food since the electricity was off long enough for every one's food to spoil. They brought it to our house and we had a very full refrigerator/freezer. One morning I woke up to the smell of frying bacon! Our pastor was cooking breakfast. Now I don't do breakfast unless it is at night for dinner. So that was quite a treat for me. One night we grilled steaks. I loved it; it was wonderful having people I love live with us for a few days. The kids had a blast as their friends were here also.

We still talk about it at times. So if it gets too bad and we are blessed with electricity "y'all" come on over. And yes, Pastor Paul, breakfast would be nice again please. I'll also be sure I have some extra pillows for Connie and Eddie!

don't categorize

I just read an article that makes me so sad. You can read it here if you'd like.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22813570/?GT1=10755

Basically a church is going to protest Heath Ledger's memorial service because he played a gay character in a movie. This is the same ones that protested at funerals of American soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq. I think these people are using all their energies in the wrong direction. Now I believe that homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible. But so are a LOT of other things. It is wrong to categorize sin. It seems many people put this one on the top of their list. When the people were wanting to stone a woman caught in adultery Jesus simply told them that whoever hadn't sinned could cast the first stone. Needless to say the woman lived. Jesus forgave her and her life was changed. Why can't Christians show some of Jesus' love to people instead of criticizing and condemning?

Addendum (sounds fancier than p.s. doesn't it??)
I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts.
John Locke

Noses Know

Hannah and Bright................how in the world does she get pictures like this (photo by Hannah)

New Beginning

I'm so glad God's mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23.....
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (NIV)

We spent most of the day and night yesterday getting caught up in Algebra. Now we are only one day behind. I hate being behind. The part time jobs and being out of town took a toll on our classes. Now we are playing catch up. I spent most of the day trying not to be stressed. I didn't even go to Celebrate Recovery last night. There wasn't a Dallas Mavericks basketball game on, so I imagine my excuse was accepted!

Some things I have learned to let roll off me and not worry about. With other things I'm not very successful. I love the days when I can tell myself we've worked hard and it's okay to rest. Yesterday was not one of those days. I pushed and pushed the kids and even got frustrated quite a few times. But today is a new day. After our orthodontist appointment we'll start over.

New every morning......hallejuah!

y=mx+b

I have a blogging friend who asked an interesting question the other day. This is her question.....
Do you think blogs should only show the good days or times or do you think it is ok to be open and real about "some" things?

I started my blog during a very "up" time in my walk with the Lord. I had lots of positive thoughts and entries. Things seem to go in a cycle in my life and then I started struggling and walking through some hard things. I don't share everything on my blog, but I decided I was going to be real and share some of my struggles also. I don't know as there is a right or wrong answer to her question. People are so different.

Today has been a struggle. In Algebra we are given the slope and a point on a line and are having to find the y-intercept. Honestly, I could care less. However it is important in our schooling. So after struggling through the explanation in the textbook (a very technical explantion of why the example worked) and having no success we finally pulled out the tape from Friday's lesson. Bless our teacher's heart. She very plainly puts it in a one, two, three simple step explanation and suddenly there is much less stress in my life. I never thought my life would involve so much algebra!

I started thinking about Isaiah 26:3. I love the way The Message puts it........
People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit.

Do you suppose God is considering algebra in this scripture??

decisions

I'm cold. I need to go to the store for milk and a few other items. I've been thinking about it for over an hour now and here I still sit in my warm robe covered with my warm throw. I'm glad I don't live up north. I'm sorry if that offends anyone, but I would never make it. It's only 35 degrees now, but the wind chill factor makes it feel like 24. That's way too cold for this Texas girl.

I know God gave us the seasons and there are legitimate reasons why we need cold weather. I would just like to get through it and continue on into spring. Now that sounds like I'm wishing my life away and I'm really not. I'm just trying to convince myself that I'm not cold and it won't feel like 24 degrees when I finally go out. Maybe I'll wait until this afternoon; it's supposed to get up to 43 later today. Of course there's a 50 percent chance of rain later. Guess I'll have to weigh my options and decide............after I get dressed that is.

all is right with my world

Our kids are home; we sure missed them. I was so happy to see them that I pulled out pots and pans and started cooking for them since they were tired and hungry. Welcome home!