high places

I haven't been to Wednesday night Life Group in a while. I had forgotten how totally awesome it is. Life Group is such an appropriate name for it!

Pastor Paul called us "graced ones" last night. What an incredible fact. I love it when something true like that sinks in and I know beyond a doubt that it is a reality in my life. I love it when God speaks to me that way. Often times I have to ponder it and pray about it and it takes a while to sink in. That's okay as long as it eventually sinks in. But I am blown away when God does what only He can do. We have learned about grace and it is a life-changing experience when you get it. I realize it's true whether we understand it or not, but to change our lives I think we need a revelation from God. I am thankful He desires to do that for us.

While praying Pastor Paul said these words "engulfed by you," meaning God, of course. That immediately gave me something huge to think about. I haven't gotten it, but I desire it. Now I am terrified of the water and can't swim a stroke, but I immediately envisioned a great wave sweeping me away. I wasn't afraid! Now I used to be afraid to totally surrender my life to God; I was afraid He would send me to Africa. (You can laugh, but I'm being honest.)

I started reading "Hinds Feet on High Places" again last week. I realized I have grown so much since the last time I read that book. I can relate to Much Afraid in the first chapter because I have lived that way. It's a horrible place to live. Knowing the Great Shepherd brings so much joy and peace and freedom in our lives. I think that's why being swept away by the wave in my mind didn't frighten me. Now I haven't gotten it yet; it's one of those things to ponder over. But the possibilities are so exciting! And I'm not afraid, at least not today.

That's another thing grace has done for me. I can live in today and not worry about tomorrow.

God is so incredible!

glue guns and cats

I am thoroughly convinced that every woman needs a glue gun. I have spent the last hour or so using mine to repair some things. They are totally awesome! The only drawback is the time I mistakenly stuck my finger in the hot glue. Let me tell you so you won't need to test it yourself, IT IS HOT!

In years past we have even used it to stick trim on our car, the Green Slime. It was the ugliest car, but absolutely the best car we have ever owned. We drove it for years and finally sold it in a garage sale. I am not kidding.

We name our cars. Donald had a huge black and white pickup truck which I named Moby Dick. His jeep now is the White Knight, my van is Big Red. I'll bet you can even guess what colors they are! Somehow we never came up with a name for the kids' car and it is just called "The Camry."

"The Camry" seems to fit it perfectly though. Our vehicles always have cat footprints on them as our cats love to lay on them, especially in the winter when the hoods are warm. If you come to our house your car will be inspected and laid on also. I have to show you this picture of Hannah's cat, Arnold. It just about sums up his life.

Photography credits belong to Hannah.

calling it quits

The melting snow is causing their hillside cave to collapse so 21 of the original 35 people have called it quits. I wonder if they thought they would be safe underground? Cult members told emergency officials that they had had a divine vision overnight that instructed them to leave.

What a convenient time for a revelation!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23893293/?GT1=43001

swirls

So many thoughts swirling in my mind. Waiting on God to help me make sense of them. Not quite sure what they all mean. Incompleteness. Patience; not one of my best qualities. Like Paul I can say and really believe.......

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phillippians 1:6)

captivated

I think I'm in love! I haven't felt this way since the first time I saw Steve Nash play for the Dallas Mavericks. He was so little and so cute I couldn't help myself. A few days later I found out "Little Stevie" was taller than my 6 foot 1 inch husband! Now for the record, the love of my life is my husband Donald, and always will be. He understands, or at least I'm pretty sure he does.

I absolutely love my new washer! I have used it a total of four times since yesterday afternoon. That would equal 7-8 loads in my old one. It's amazing the way it works. In fact, I just stood there yesterday afternoon and watched it wash clothes. Donald came in from work and found me doing that very thing. I have been as happy as a kid in a candy store.

That thought brought back memories of when I was a little girl. We lived in a very small town, but at that time we had our own grocery store. I can remember when there were two! My mom would let me have candy when we went. I remember walking up and down the glass case, trying to decide what I wanted most. If I had fifteen cents to spend I thought I was rich. You could get a whole candy bar for five cents. There was so much penny candy to choose from. Some of the penny candy even had five pieces inside the package. They were small squares, but so yummy and chewy. The chocolate were my favorite! After many trips back and forth in front of the case, I would tell Miss Vivian or Miss Ruby what I wanted. Then my mom would pay for it when she paid for her groceries.

I can remember going to the other store also. Their candy was not in a glass case but in easy reach of a young child's hands. I guess since I usually got candy when we went I didn't think anything about choosing a piece. When we got to the car my mom asked what I had in my hand. I showed her the candy and she made me march right back inside and give it back. I can honestly say I have never shoplifted since! I guess I was always certain I would get caught. I thank my mom for teaching me that valuable lesson at a young age.

What does that have to do with this? Probably nothing, but I feel young again!

laundry and dishes

I met Donald at lunch and we bought this washing machine. We have been looking and researching and praying and finally took the plunge. My old washer is 14 years old now and I figure we have done 15,489 loads of laundry; that is a very conservative estimate. I'm sure if our old machine could talk it would tell you it did many more loads than that! I'm excited because it's much larger than our old one and is supposed to save on water and electricity. Hopefully it will do those things and we'll be able to see a difference in our bills. On top of that we saved over $400 on it by buying a "damaged" one which means it had a few dents and dings in the sides. That's not an issue for me since they won't show anyway. Just don't ask to see them when you visit though or I'll act like I don't know what you are talking about. My kids are always telling me I need to just not tell about some of the flaws I tell about. Well, these flaws are definitely worth saving $400 and telling you about!

The only downside is I'll have a black washer and a white dryer that obviously don't match. We don't need to replace our dryer. It is newer and last week when I had them checked out it was working perfectly. In the future we will try to replace it (another chance for my kids to tell you it really won't happen until it absolutely has to be replaced). Anyway I have half of what I've wanted for a long time now. I'm happy. They will deliver it tomorrow and haul our old machine off......for free. Now that's a deal!

Ben is grilling his yummy burgers out tonight. They are so GOOD! I need to clean the kitchen again. As soon as I finished cleaning it this morning Hannah came in to eat breakfast. I no more than get it cleaned until someone eats and the dishes start collecting again. Another benefit of having a large family with different schedules! I wouldn't take anything for my husband, my kids, and my life. Life is good.

the wonderful cross

I woke up today with these words going through my head.....

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross

Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross

All who gather here by grace draw near and bless

Your name

They are from "The Wonderful Cross" by Chris Tomlin. Sometimes on Easter I have to stop and make myself think about what it means. Not so this year. I started having thoughts in my heart that I didn't at first connect with Easter, but oh, they fit so perfectly. I wish I could keep these thoughts swirling around in my mind for a long time! I belong to a living God who loves me and wants me to live!

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did ever such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross

Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross

All who gather here by grace draw near and bless

Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all