I'm Done!

I'm done! Finished! Whew! There were times I thought I'd never make it! But here I am this morning saying, "when can I start again?"

My pastor encouraged us (the congregation) to systematically read through the Bible in a year. We'd do it as a group!

Now don't get me wrong, I read every, well, most days. But I had no way of keeping track. Oh, and I've tried these reading plans before. Being a great procrastinator I always start out great, then have times of catching up, just to complete the task sometime after the "due date".

I signed up as soon as the list came out and picked up my check list. I must confess that I "jumped the gun". It was definitely a false start....but I didn't care I just kept going. I knew that if I let the momentum die I wouldn't finish. So every month I race the month to finish early. I figured that if I tried to finish early every month the worst that could happen is that I would finish on time.

It was awesome!

But more awesome than completing the test is the craving I have to read God's word and apply it to my life. It was there before, but then it would fade when other things came in and before long it was a day or two that I was hardly reading anything. This year was different though. I always read a "chunk" of scripture. Enough to keep me thinking and praying during the day.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't remember everything that I read. But then again I don't remember all my meals this past year. All I know (and the scale confirms this! :) ) that I've been well fed this past year: physically and spiritually.

Go ahead! Take the challenge! Get some friends to do it together...and read through the Bible! It'll change your life!

I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4:7)

Decorating for Christmas

I was sitting here this morning thinking about where I would put my nativity set this year. It's been a long year and a long December so far. There are some traditions that are changing around my house and I don't think we like it very much. My kids are almost all grown up now. My youngest is busy with teenage responsibilities so our calendar is full of different concerns compared to when all three were little.

So sitting here this morning in my living room I was contemplating where Mary and Joseph and Jesus would sit this year in my house.
I don't have any decorations up yet. Oh, no! I do have my gifts done (well, almost) so that is a stress relief. It is miserably cold this week so the outside lights will probably not go up for a while either. Between church life and school my hours are full and I am content. I am content to decorate later, when I'm not so tired and not so full of responsibilities.

Until then, I had wanted to put up my nativity though. And this was the "Ah hah" moment this morning. I could put it up on my piano and just rearrange what I have there. What was I thinking?! I always make a special place for the nativity. It is a the central part of Christmas and I want to show that in my decorating...that's when it dawned on me. In all actuality the Good News brought to all men shouldn't be just crammed with all the rest of my "stuff" of my life, but neither should it be compartmentalized.

I do need to rearrange my life for the nativity like I need to rearrange my house to decorate for Christmas...but it shouldn't be for a season. It should be for a life time.

"And they came with great haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had see Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them conerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at thsoe things which were told them by the shepherds." Luke 2:16-18

I love lists....

I love lists! My pastor encouraged the people of my church to read the Bible in a year. I always start out well....then and finish sometime later...sometimes way later....ugh! I love reading the Bible and I am sure that I've read it through many times over the past 20 years, but I just didn't know for sure, so I took the challenge.

Now you have to know one more thing about me. I procrastinate. It is one of my many weaknesses. So one thing that I do to help me overcome this weakness is that I set my goal earlier than the assigned date. Good news! It has totally worked this time. I am right on schedule with my December reading. I only got bogged down in September and October (school had started, my older two kids left for Michigan....etc) but I was able to get back on track in November and now I am almost done.

I feel so good about completing (well, almost, but very soon!) this task.

I have many lists in my life, but there is one list that God is working on my to get rid of....it is the list of wrongs that a person has done against me. The Bible says that if I truly love I will not keep a record of wrongs. Wow.

I find myself doing that over and over again. I think that I have forgiven someone and then they do something that I feel hurt or threatened or angered by and my mind plays all the other "injustices" against me. The Bible says that if I truly love this will stop. It has to stop.

How does it stop though? My dear pastor said it eloquently today. He said, "faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God." He said that for there to be any change I've got to get into God's word daily.

John the apostle wrote, "If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)

Last night I confessed by sin of keeping a record of wrongs against one of my family members to God, then I confessed it to my family member. This is one list that I don't want to keep anymore with anyone.

Today I had an opportunity to use this record of wrongs again...but instead I chose to follow God's words of love and not do it. Instead I thought of an alternative idea to their request and it was beneficial to me, to my family member and to another friend.

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal....love thinks no evil." (I Corinthians 13:1, 5b)

Making Salsa and Getting Back Kisses

I've been sick all weekend. UGH. And not the I can keep doing things sick. And not the stay in bed all day sick. I'm stuck somewhere in the middle. (Better today though...I think) Yesterday was Sunday and I stayed home sick...in bed and laying on the couch almost all day. I've gone through 1 box of tissues and I'm working on the 2nd. Usually I worry about all that I need to do and feel guilty for what I can't do and then outdo myself and my strength. Not this weekend though. I did what I could when I could and I rested the rest of the time with no guilt.

Dave came home with a jar with a note and a treat in it. I just looked at it quickly last night. This morning it was still on the coffee table so I investigated more thoroughly. It was a jar that I gave a friend full of salsa and she returned it with kisses...the chocolate kind. She had enclosed a sweet note of encouragement.

I love how God puts us each in His family with our particular gifts. In my Thursday Ladies Bible study we are studying in Ephesians how we are fit together. I totally agree! My gift was salsa and her gift was chocolate. Both different gifts, both good gifts, both gifts needed at the time they were given.

God used this simple chocolate gift to remind me that I can be myself...in fact He wants me to be myself with my particular gifts in His family and that others will be themselves as well. When we are all using our gifts then we have a variety of gifts to meet the variety of needs. Gifts to heal and bring encouragement, gifts to bring spice and sweetness! And He fits us all together in the His family!

"And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his spirit." Ephesians 2:22

Pictures from our trip to Ketchum

This is the start of the trail right
outside of Sun Valley, ID. We started on the Harriman Trail.
It was a great trail, but hard for me. Dave was awesome as usual. Of course I liked it better on the ride back down.


These are taken on the way down the trail. I was flying! (Well, fast for me! :) ) We then moved on to the Wood River Trail. we started below Ketchum, rode North until the end of the trail, then came back. Dave has a great plan of always riding downhill for most (or at least the 2nd half) of the ride. He is a smart man!
The ride goes parallel with the highway for a while then goes through town.


We stopped for a quick snack along the river. Then we were back on the bikes ready to get back to the car. We actually rode more than we had intended to ride that day, but the weather was great and the biking was wonderful! I am planning another trip when it warms up! Until then....

Getting up early!

So today my alarm went off at 5am. I had stayed up late with Kirsten, just hanging out while Dave was gone at the Men's Retreat. I had changed my alarm...or so I thought. 5am it went off! UGH! I stayed in bed for awhile trying to go back to sleep. No way was my body going to do that!

I have been trying to get up at 5am since the summer. Some weeks I do great, others I fail miserably, but I guess my body is getting used to it, because today I could not go back to sleep.

My friends and I are trying to start a book club at our church. In the summer we read a book called "Shopping for Time" that talked about a 5am club. To get up at 5am to read the Bible, pray, have a cup of coffee (or anything else that you like) and plan for the day. On the days when I do get up early I find that I have already done so much before my real day begins (when everyone else gets up!)

I would not consider myself a morning person. At least I am not one when I first get up, but after being up for 2 hours I am quite myself.

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

Mark 1:35 (New International Version)

A Change of Seasons

The signs are all around me. Closed toed shoes will soon be my fashion accessory of choice for my lovely tanned feet. It is a choice of necessity. I have on occasion worn my lovely sandals on a day that wasn't really made for the enjoyment of such footware and it was as if my toes screamed at me forsakenly, "why do you hate us so to leave us in the cold?"

Sometimes I am like that in my personal life. I know that it is time to go to the next season, but I hold on. Here is my thinking though...I am going to not rush to the next season and give up the rest of what I love about this season. Oh, I know that there are Christmas decorations being sold now, but since it is still a little warm and there are still leaves on the trees (changing colors) I will wear flip flops and other sandals of my choice. When it is cold, really cold, I will cover up my toes (at least while I am outside).

In my personal life, my baby has turned 16. WOW! I love this season that I am almost completely in, but not really. I like how independent my older two are becoming. I like how dependent still is my youngest. I know that this transition will not nor should not last long, but I will choose to enjoy it.

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

Century Training revisited

Bronchitus UGH! I am a big chicken to ride my bike alone. Mostly I think it is because to me riding is a social affair. Dave got bronchitus a couple of weeks ago which means I was stuck either riding my bike alone or riding the stationary bike. I have liked riding outside so I was bummed. And so being the "athlete" I am I just hoped every day that he would feel well enough (aka able to breath) to go outside...and every day ...no way jose.

So here I am revamping my century training. I am going to start up again on Week 5 and I am going to ride inside....even though the weather is still good outside...well I might end up changing my mind at the end of the week. I am going to Cascade for a couple of days and so I might (if I get gutsy enough) take my bike with me to ride a little up there. Maybe I'll blog about it. :)

We'll see.

Mis Hijos and Rumicube

They learned how to play Rumicube at my grandparents house when my granddad was still alive. They were little then. It was a great game for my grandma, Grandma Great, to teach them and play with them. Grandma Great said it was a great game for them to learn numbers and patterns and how to get along with others.

We'd clear the table and get out the tiles. Of course Grandma Great knew all the rules so no fooling her and if you couldn't rearrange them correctly you'd have to put it all back and draw a few as a penalty.

We've played a lot of rummicub games since then. Whenever we go to Grandma Great's house we almost always end up with time for at least one game. Just last summer Grandma Great came out for Bethany's graduation and we played then too.

I love listening to my kids laugh. When we play games we are very competitive! It usually doesn't start that way. We start by just playing a game that one of us wants to play. There is usually one person who doesn't want to play but can be talked into it. Then there is at least one who doesn't care either way. And the one who just wants to all be together so a game is a good idea. Then there is one who is getting the food for the game...which we all end up agreeing should be consumed BEFORE the real competition begins.

Once the game gets going the competitive nature comes out...then someone will goof up big time (usually me or Dave) which sends the kids all laughing. One new favorite game is pictophone. David brought it back with him from school. We were all laughing at the end of it that I almost started crying. It was hilarious and this one, no matter how hard we try, is not competitive.

Back to rummicube....We played it again, this time with just the three of us. It was a lot of fun. I missed Grandma Great. I missed David and Bethany. It was still fun. The game reminds me of the good times that we've had and the good times that we are having.

I'll be glad when Christmas break gets here so we can be together again for a little while. BUT I am thankful that we still play games as our family dynamic changes.

Parenting and Volleyball

Saturday we spent the day, all day, in Payette, Idaho at a Volleyball tournament. It was a great day! It was a long day! In the end I had a huge headache. I'm not really sure from what. Yesterday was literally a day of rest for me. Today is a new day and I feel energized again! :)

Kirsten is our youngest. The other two are in college in Michigan right now. They are planning and preparing for their futures. As we journey that part with them we are here for them to be a sounding board, to financially support them as they pursue their education and to remind them to love God, love others and be kind to one another.

Kirsten, though is still at home. Dave and I wanted our parenting to be consistent. Sometimes that is easy...like when they were all in elementary school. But as soon as Jr. High hit for David it was hard to be consistent. But we kept at it. It was really difficult when we first moved to Idaho and Kirsten was in 6th, Bethany in 8th and David in 9th. Talk about differences of ages, maturity, etc. But God is good and He answered our prayer to help us consistently love them and train them towards maturity (which sometimes took the form of discipline).

Back to Volleyball. It seems that the older she gets the more we get to let go and let her stand on her own. At the Volleyball tournament we got to drive her and her team (well, Dave drove the bus!), I got to do the Libero tracking, and Dave got to line judge. Most of all we got to cheer! She was fantastic to watch. She has some power behind her hits!

What I liked most of all was watching how encouraging she was to her teammates. That character will last a lifetime. Volleyball may pass away, but encouragement lasts for a long time!

Pretty soon she will get her license and she won't need us to drive her to practices. But I know that even with the independence she still needs some fans, and I know that we will measure up in that department.

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (New King James Version)

Century Training Week 3

I can't believe it is week three already... Only 12 more (Hopefully) before the big ride. :)

This week we rode a great part of the Greenbelt on Tuesday after I got off of work. We rode past and through the side of the golf course toward Lucky Peak. We went through a new part of the trail that is great. We saw an elk grazing with cows then turned towards Barber Park....rode on and back to the MK Nature center where we had parked. We raced the sun...the park closed at sunset. We got back to the car at 9pm. Good thing the sun sets late still.

What I am learning about myself on these rides is that I can ride faster than I think I can, I can ride further than I think I can, and it just doesn't really hurt that bad (just kidding about that last part).

We'll see how the rest of the week goes with riding. Today I am up at a retreat so I hiked up some hills to work on stregthening my legs without getting on a bike. It's an "off" day today.

A weekend in Ketchum (end of Week 2)

Yeah! I have pictures of riding! Woo hoo! But I am at camp in Cascade right now so the pictures will have to wait! (I'll add them here!)

Dave and I went camping right outside of Ketchum because we found some incredible bike riding (that I can do! :) ) there when we took our Jr. High Road Trip. It was such a great weekend of camping and riding.

We started a little later than we had expected so we got the last available slot and paid double because it was a double spot. Oh well, cheaper than a hotel! We set up the itsy bitsy tent that we had borrowed from Mike and Kelly because the other tents that we own are HUGE which will translate into being really cold at night. We found the perfect place to set up the tent. It was nice and flat except our stakes would not go into it. So we settled for our next perfect spot. Once we got the first stakes set up it was a snap to set up. We then cooked our dinner on the grill of the fire pit. We were way too hungry so I put on the shish-kabobs when the flame was too high...oh well, Dave said he really liked it (the meat was dry on the outside and a little raw....so he redid it for me....I just love this man!)

The next morning we decided to check out the Harriman Trail. The trail is named after Mr. Harriman (no kidding huh?) What we found out at one of the markers was that the Harrimans were the parents of Winston Churchill. I thought that was cool.

The Harriman trail is basically a gravel trail. It goes up to Galena. The Park Ranger suggested that we ride the 13 miles there and get lunch then come back to pack up our stuff and ride the other trail in Ketchum. I didn't even have to think about it....no way! I think it would have been fun except my bottom was still sore (see other post) so there is no way I could make it.

We rode about 2 miles up the trail. On the way up I felt like the biggest looser. I could barely peddle 4mph at a lot of the parts of the trail. At one point as I struggled up the trail this obviously great mountain biker flew by me. Wow, did I feel stupid on the bike at that point. Dave kept encouraging me so we went further than I thought I could go.

Then we turned around! What a difference going downhill makes! I was flying! I hit at least 15 mph for a long time.

When I passed the place that the mountain biker had passed me I thought about my misconceptions of myself and of him. I didn't know when he had started. I didn't know that going downhill made such a difference. I had judged myself against him and found myself wanting. I need to stop doing this.

I do this in my Christian life as well. I see how well someone is doing and think I am just not living my life right. Or I do the other way when I see someone doing poorly and I forget the struggles that God has walked with me through to bring me to where I am now.

We had some lunch, packed up camp and took off to a trail head for the Wood River Trail right at the Southern edge of town. Dave has such great ideas as always trying to start our rides uphill so the ride home is really great (even with a sore bottom).

I rode another 18 miles that day. (On a paved trail) I don't know how I did it, but it was a fantastic ride. I can't wait to go again when my body is more used to bike riding again.

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pature." Psalm 100: 1-3

Ow, that hurts! Week 2

Last night while I was finishing up my bike ride with my husband I realized that I am not truly a bike rider. Oh, now I want to be. I read a bike magazine (I started reading it so I would know what Dave was talking about when he talked about this shock, or brake, or whatever bike term when we went out riding when I first got my bike). I love following the Tour d' France. (Confession: this year I didn't because I had started becoming too much of a fan...and I just didn't have time). I love watching the mountain bike races in the Olympics. I really like riding my bike...at my pace.

I think that is what got me last night...my pace vs. Dave's pace.

It was the end of a quick ride (we got going late due to painting my classroom...oh, and it looks great! -thanks, Dave!) and the sun had already set. It was going down for a long time and we didn't have our lights. ugh! I don't see well as it gets darker (a light would have come in handy). It wasn't completely dark yet, so no problems, Dave would take the lead and I would follow.

At this point of the game I am really saddle sore. What that really means is that my butt hurts! Dave says I should not sit so much. Not sit on the seat? Why do you think it's there...so I kept sitting...and my butt kept hurting. I couldn't wait to get off my bike. I know though that however sore my butt is it is faster to bike than get off and walk it to the car so I keep riding.

My hands have places that have gone numb so I keep readjusting my hands on the handle bars (hint I found in one of the bike magazines). My right baby toe was gone to sleep (it does that) so I readjust on the pedal too.

Overall, I am more than ready to be done with this bike ride!

Dave is now leading since he sees way better in the dark and as it is getting dark. I know that if I follow close to Dave's rear wheel I will receive a few benefits. Benefit #1: I will not loose him. Benefit #2: I can hear him if he tells me something....like about the cat that was in the path. Benefit #3: I can draft him and it will make my ride easier and it could even be a faster ride for the both of us.

This worked for a little bit. Every time I would get in a good drafting position he would go faster. A little faster was OK with me. I wanted to get off that saddle. But he was beginning to go too fast. I gave up. I just couldn't keep the pace and this is where I realized the truth.

I am not a bike rider. I just really want to be.

Dave is a bike rider. He reads a little, but what he does most is get on the bike! He has bike shoes that clip in the pedals. He commits to the ride. He has the gear...and uses it. He can change a flat tire in no time. He fixes little things that go wrong. The big stuff he takes to a local bike store. He can not ride for a while and then get on the bike and ride all over the place. He rides our stationary bike to get ready to bike outside. He is a bike rider.

Now if you asked him, he would say he isn't really. But I know why. It's because he doesn't ride as much as he would really like to ride. He gave it up when our kids were little. He would ride to work and ride around the hills by our house with our dalmatian (named Pongo). But he didn't even ride as much as he used to. He rides with me know. I hold him back. It's not a real ride when I show up. But he did say yesterday that I was his favorite riding buddy! :)

The thing I am reminded of this morning is that when we walk in our life we can have people in our lives that we will mentor/disciple and that we need a mentor/discipler too.

I need Dave because it makes me a stronger rider. He makes me go when I don't want to go and teaches me more and more what it means to be a real rider. He needs to go with a stronger rider for the same reasons.

I need the older women in my life to make me stronger. They remind me to love my husband and love my kids. They remind me about the seasons of life and how to walk in grace during the easy and hard times. I need to be the older woman to the younger ones that God has placed in my life for the same reasons.

23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.Hebrews 10:23-25 (New International Version)

My Dog, the BIG baby of our family

I sat down to update my blog and I was reminded by my dog(that's not him), who was outside, that he wanted to be inside. I had just come in from berry picking (I picked 1/2 cup from my little vine), feeding the birds and checking on my tomatoes (Today I harvested 4 little ones! :) ). He was barking at me and jumping (as Jack Russel Terriers tend to do). He really wanted to be with me. Imagine that. I went inside and put the tomatoes and berries away. I got out my Bible and was just to start writing when his constant whining outside reminded me that he still wanted to be inside with me. I told him he would have more fun outside...but to a dog he had on thing on his mind...be with Beth!

I know from past experience that it is not just me who he likes. He likes all of my family and my neighbors who come by. He longs for company! He is a community kind of dog. On the DISC profile he would be a very, very high I!

Do you know what he is doing now? Lounging on the rug by the backdoor, just waiting. I know that if I got up from the table and got the leash he would be ready for an adventure, but now he is waiting. He stopped whining though. Every so often he will get up and walk around the house, guarding it I suppose.

I need to be like my dog when it comes to the time and desire to spend with God in prayer and reading/studying/meditating on His Word in the Bible. Here's what I read today. It is in the Psalms.

Psalm 19:7-14 "the law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statues of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than god, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the tomb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his error? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep you servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. They will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

REST....is it a necessary part of the training?

Yesterday was my day of rest as part of the "plan". I didn't want to rest. I wanted to get on my bike and make my sore muscles behave and not be so sore. But instead I went on a great morning walk with my wonderful husband. I was sore all day yesterday. It wore off as the day went on, but by the end of the day I was glad that I hadn't gotten on the bike.

This morning when I woke up almost completely recovered from my soreness. We woke up too late to ride before Dave went to work so we went on another walk. I'm suppose to ride today according to the "plan" so later when it is way too hot to be outside I'm going to ride my stationary bike and watch another part of Pride and Prejudice on my computer.

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)

I am so thankful for the rest that God gives.

Riding a Century? Are you nuts? Week 1

Last year around this time I got a book that was really how to ride a century in 100 days...or something like that. Being a planner I really liked how organized the book was and I really liked the chart. So I started the plan...did really good for about a month. Until my riding buddy, Dave, got sick. Now, I am a chicken to ride alone. I really don't like it. I rode to work and back for about a month (that was mostly alone...but not that far). Anyways...with no motivation and no riding buddy I gave it up. I thought that I could just ride on my stationary bike...but that is pretty boring so I just didn't ride much this past year.

What's a century though? Well, it is when you ride a bike for 100 miles....well there's some other milage also that counts...but, since I am a novice in this whole arena...let's just say I really want to ride the 100 miles. I know that there is no way that I could just get on my bike and ride tomorrow, so the plan in the book made a lot of sense to me.

Back to today...well, Saturday night actually. I thought that this week would be a great week to start the 100 days again. The way my week looks will work with what the plan requires for the 1st week. Ride Monday easy 30 min, rest Tuesday, ride Wednesday easy 30 min, Thurs-Friday rest, Saturday ride 1 hour moderate, Sunday rest. EASY right?

I don't know about you, but I tend to procrastinate. So since I woke up way earlier than normal on Sunday morning I started....well, I rode 30 min on my stationary bike! Then I talked Dave and David Jr. into riding on Monday (Dave's day off) on the green belt. After about 1 mile David Jr.'s bike got a flat..but I had an extra tire in one of my saddle bags (not my hips, the bags on my bike). So we got that fixed and rode another 4.5 miles into the heart of Boise. We had a great lunch at Prontos (a great pizza place) and rode back to the car. In total we rode 11 miles! ( a little more than the 30 minutes of easy riding)

Today I am sore! It's ok though. I am so glad to have started once again on my journey to ride a century. I just hope I can get up tomorrow to bike before Dave goes to work. It is way too hot to ride later in the day. I'll have to plan for it though. :)

Trying to ride the century reminds me of when Paul writes to the church in Romans...

I want to prepare to ride the century, but I put it off to another day; I don't want to be a couch potato...and yet that is sometimes what I am....woe is me.

"For I know that in me(that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present iwth me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will tod, I do not do; but the evil I willnot to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me...O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:18-20,24-25a)

I am thankful to God that in He has conquered sin and that through His power I can live a right life and I can flee sin. Praise the Lord for His everlasting goodness to give us a powerful savior!

Lost?

Have you ever been lost but didn't know it? I remember when I was a little girl I was in the toy section of a store. I was looking at the stuffed toys and found a teddy bear. I felt completely safe until I looked up and didn't see my mom or dad around. Then I felt lost.

There have been many times that I thought I was just fine, then I look around and there is no one near that I thought should be there. One time while I was Christmas shopping with Dave I was in the camping section checking out what to get my nephews. I was in a full on conversation with Dave and when I paused for his response I heard silence. I knew that someone was just behind me so I quickly turned around to see a man that I didn't know right where Dave had been. This time I didn't feel lost, but I did feel a little out of place and quite foolish talking to a complete stranger.

Sometimes I wander around my life not knowing that I am lost. I think that I am going the right direction, but then when I really take a look around I find that I am not where I want to be.

That is why church fellowship and getting involved in smaller church groups is important to me. It is in this community that I find out when I am lost and how to go the right direction.

Today in Sunday School we talked about loving our husbands. (I'm in a all women's Sunday School class for the summer. It is great!) It was great hearing the older women (those married over 30 years) talk about practical ways to loving husbands.

Some things that they shared (I've done most of these...it was such an encouragement to keep doing it!) are: putting him as a priority, really communicating (some times that means that I just need to be quiet and listen), pampering him, asking him how I can be a better friend to him, hanging out with him, and spending time with him.

Titus 2:3-5 "Likewise teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one can malign the word of God."

Obedience is under rated

This summer has been a summer of simple obedience.

I was able to spend a week in Mexico serving with Bethany. We got to go on the same team. It was so good to be with her for a week since she has been gone.

Bethany teaches me about obedience and being able to change her attitude to obey with joy and not bitterness.

I started out the week writing in my journal the following, "I don't know why I am on this trip this year. I don't have a specific role to play. There are enough people here who can do all that I can do and most of them can do it better than me. Lord please teach me why I am here. I guess for right now I will be content knowing that I am here out of simple obedience."

Dave wanted me to go. It is as simple as that. He says that he is better when I am around. (I know that I am definitely better when I am around him!) Since I love Dave and I love God I went on the trip just because Dave wanted me to go. I am glad that I did.

Each teaching session in the morning or the evening taught about simple obedience.

God calls us to be obedient peoople. That is how we show that we love Him.

I agree with Paul when he wrote these words to Timothy, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." 1 Timothy 1:12

Thistles, dandelions, and clover, oh my!

"Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." --Jesus Matthew 13:7-8

We moved to Idaho 5 years ago. While we were in California we were trying to buy a house next to our church in Idaho from a man in Texas. We had seen the house in the Spring and now it was summer. He accepted our bid before we left for Idaho and so we were homeless for our first 3 weeks here in Idaho. Well, not really homeless. Our new friends at church graciously let us stay with them.

Sometime the water had been turned off and not turned back on. The beautiful lawn that we had seen in the Spring now was dry and full of weeds. The most noticible one was the thistle. It was most noticible because it was the tallest and it hurt!

I don't know how many thistles that I have pulled. Dave is allergic to them and they don't bother me too much. I have pretty much gotten rid of most of them from coming back in most of my flower beds, but the lawn is another story. Just yesterday I spent another day pulling thistles from the lawn before it was mowed. Once mowed the thistles still hurt your bare feet. We've tried poison....it just made yellow splotches on the lawn and they still came back. Really they need to be completely pulled out with the entire root. We've mowed, poisoned and yanked them out. I do have a large patch of lawn that is thistle free! Removing thistles takes a lot of determination and stubborness. To be honest I haven't been too consistent on all of that. But since they are such a pain, literally, I keep working on it.

Thistles remind me of stuff in my life that cause me pain. Sometimes I deal with it when it is little and so the pain is little. But when I let it grow, getting rid of it causes a lot of pain.

We had dandylions in California. I remember having so much fun blowing the seeds and watching them fly. Now when I see them I think of all the plants I'll end up pulling up so I try to quickly get rid of the plant before it even flowers. I worked hard in CA to get my lawn dandylion free. I was very determined and quick at pulling these weeds out of my lawn. Here though, since I have been really concentrating on the thistles I have unfortunatly slipped into a bad habit of just letting the dandylions stay. They don't look too bad and they don't hurt when you step on them.

Dandylions remind me of the stuff in my life that I know I should get rid of, but it doesn't really hurt me too much. It just doesn't look as nice. They are my bad habits. They don't really hurt anyone. But they do hurt me.

Last year I noticed some clover growing in my lawn. It was a rather new addtion to my list of lawn foes. I pulled up some of it...but again, because of the thistle and growing dandylion population I kind of put it on hold and didn't deal with it too much. Clover looks kind of cool. But it is choking out my lawn. I discovered this yesterday when I noticed that it sent shoots along the soil, at the base of the grass. Mowing didn't really take care of anything, but most of the flowers.

Clover reminds me of the hinderances of my life that way my life down and entangle me. It's stuff that I choose to get involved in that chokes out the really important things.

"The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."--Jesus Matthew 13:22-23

I want to make sure that I read God's word and allow it to work in my life. I want to be teachable and humble. I want to work through conflict to work towards love. (1 Corinthians 13)I want to deal with the bad habits in my life and make new habits. (1 John 1:9) I want to not have my life choked up with things that hinder my main goals. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

The Good Shepherd

"The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice..."I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me""—Jesus John 10: 2-5, 14

A shepherd takes care of his sheep. He leads them to good places for nourashment and besides still water to drink from. He guards them, protects them. He always has their best interest in mind. Sometimes that means making sheep do what they do not want to do.

When a shepherd shears the sheep he has to get under all the wool to the flesh to make sure he does not cut the sheep in the process. A good shepherd will really know his sheep.

Jesus promises me that he is a good shepherd.

King David wrote in Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." --Jesus Matthew 6:25-34

I am so glad that I have a shepherd who is interested in me...

but not just me, those around me as well!

TRUST...

....is not a matter of me or my faith, it's a matter of what or who I trust in.

On a coin it says, "In God We Trust."

King David put it this way, "Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Psalm 20:6-8 (New International Version)

The Miriam-Webster dictionary has this, "1trust
Pronunciation: \ˈtrəst\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse traust trust; akin to Old English trēowe faithful — more at true
Date: 13th century
1 a: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something b: one in which confidence is placed2 a: dependence on something future or contingent : hope b: reliance on future payment for property (as merchandise) delivered : credit 3 a: a property interest held by one person for the benefit of another b: a combination of firms or corporations formed by a legal agreement ; especially : one that reduces or threatens to reduce competition4archaic : trustworthiness5 a (1): a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship (2): something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another b: responsible charge or office c: care, custody — in trust : in the care or possession of a trustee"

I'm talking about #1. assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

1way2God.net states God's character as, "God is independent, unchangeable, eternal and omnipresent. He exists as a spiritual being, having no form or dimensions, and is omniscient (all-knowing), wise, truthful, faithful, good, loving, merciful, graceful, patient, holy, at peace, righteous and just, jealous for His own honour, wrathful towards sin, perfect in every way, beautiful beyond comprehension, and is glorified through the revelation of Himself."

John says in 1 John that God is love. God is love and He loves me (John 3:16 "For God so loved the world (that's me!) that He gave His only begotten Son (that's Jesus) that whoever believes in Him might not perish, but have eternal life (that's why Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave)". Powerful stuff for me that's for sure!

Since God is love and He loves me I can trust in Him. He is completely trustworthy.

Now I know that it is easy to trust when all is well. Might I also suggest that it is easy to trust when all is not well when you have history, when you know the character of the one in whom you trust.

All this to say....my transmission is blown. It will not work any longer. UGH! My God is able to do more than I could ever imagine. My God loves me more than I will ever really know. My God is trustworthy even when my transmission blows (not just in the car, but blows a huge hole in my budget).

Some trust in chariots (like a certain Honda Pilot) and some in horses, but I will trust in the name of the Lord!

Home, Sweet Home

Home is where the heart is....so they say....well, whoever "they" are. But isn't that a little true? I can feel at home just about anywhere and I can be "home" but not feel at home.

I just got back from a long family vacation. We went from the bottom of California to the top of Oregon. We mostly stayed at the beach.

I feel at home at the beach. I like the sand. I like the sun (well, this year the lack of sun :) ). I like the rythmn of the waves. I like the ocean. I like the vastness of the ocean. I like it's depth. I like the amount of sand. I like watching the dolphins, the sand crabs, the pelicans and the seal gulls. I like finding shells and cool rocks. I like the beach. I feel at home at the beach.

It soothes my soul, the beach. I get lost in the rythmn and the lack of time. The beach is refreshing to me. Like salt water heals a wound, the beach heals my tiredness. It is a place where I can rest and laugh and think.

I've been home almost 24 hours. It is actually 23 hours and some minutes, but who is counting. I had a long day today. I took my Kirsten to a leadership retreat at 8, took care of some business for church at 9, then met up with a Bible study/prayer group a little after 9, drank coffee with some great friends who are moving tomorrow morning (don't know when I'll see them again),at 10 got back to church and finished some camp stuff, 11 ish found out the transmission is shot and a new one is on it's way (ugh), 12 ish finally got over to counselor training across town for the rest of the day. Now I'm home.

As I walked up the driveway I told my Bethany that it felt like we were coming home to a new home. The week before we left we had planted a lot of flowers for her graduation party. All my other flowers were also just coming up that week. Tonight it looked like a jungle of plants. A friend had graciously mowed the lawn while we were gone or that would look like a jungle also. But I am home again.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." -King David

Psalm 23:2-3 (New International Version)

It's Sunday, but Monday's a'comin'

I love Sundays! I like that I get to sleep a little bit more on most Sundays. I like that my morning doesn't seemed rushed. I like that Sunday still has a plan for the day (unlike most Saturdays). I like going to church. I like seeing my friends there. I like singing praise songs and hymns. I like learning when there is no test.

Sunday is a day of rest for my inner being, for my soul. Even if it is a full Sunday with lunch appointments and special meetings where my body feels no rest, my soul feels rested and refreshed.

Sunday is a balm for my wounds from the previous week. You know, the stuff that just happens along the week: the misunderstanding at work; the quick, sharp words said in tiredness to a family member, or by a family member; the guy you cut off yelling or that you cut someone off and they (or you) yelled; the waiting at the post office, in line at the grocery store, at Redbox, at the airport, you know, the waiting; the death of someone near or the death of a friendship; getting up late and playing catch up all day; the headaches and the backaches of life.

Sunday is a time for my mind and soul to find places of quietness to camp out for a while.

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." Genesis 2:2-4 (New International Version)

"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." Mark 6:30-32 (New International Version)

I think that God has that in mind for me every Sunday, to come with him to a quiet place and get some rest. Although I usually do not get physical rest I still feel rested and ready for Monday!

Math in my life

Today is the day that I finish revising my last Algebra 2 test of the school year. I am re-writing an older version. My hope is that it will be better and better understood than any other test I have written this year or in my past years of teaching. I think my students are ready for the test. In fact I know that after my conversations with most of them. After seeing the work that I have seen that if they study and practice more tonight they will be very ready to pass the test tomorrow. Not just pass the test, but do exceptionally well.



We are studying the topic of conics. Now the name itself sounds mysterious and perhaps confusing, but really it is stuff that we see all around us. It is taking a cone and cutting it up and seeing a pattern.

Like circles,or ellipses when you take a circle and bend it

(like tipping a glass of water),

parabolas are just the path that a ball takes when you toss it to someone else

or try to make a basket,

and hyperbolas are like the shadow

of light that comes from a lamp shade.

Enough math talk.

You know a lot of the time I feel like I think my students might be feeling right now or right before they walk into my room before the test. I am anxious over the new expectations for my life. Even though I've prepared and "studied". I've practiced and discussed what I need to do and how to do it. I still feel like I am not ready to see if I am ready to use my new skill.

But I need to remember that I should be happy about the time of testing. It usually does not last long (my Algebra 2 test will only last about 50 minutes). It is there to help me be stronger. It is there as a measuring point as to how I am doing at this point along the path. It is just an assesment. I am not doomed if I don't pass. I just know how I am doing. Of course I always want to pass the test. I like how James put it in his letter that is recorded in the Bible.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4 (New International Version)

I am glad when the "testing of my faith" is done for a season. I know that I need to prepare for the next test, but I am confident that God will help me with that one as well.

I know that I want to be shown mature, complete and not lacking anything. Speaking of not lacking anything...I better get back to that test or I will be lacking it for class tomorrow.

just talking to my Father

Prayer is just talking with God.

In Genesis after God had created the world and mankind God would come to earth in the cool of the day and walk and talk with his creation: Adam and Eve. That would have been so cool.

Today, I called Bethany twice. Just to talk and just to give her some updates on what was happening when she got back into town. Good news all of it. The second time I called she asked me to pray for her for some stuff that she was carrying to God already.

What a priveledge it is to talk with God about stuff that my kids are talking to God about. I know that it sounds confusing, but I am amazed at the fact that I can be praying with Bethany (I'm in Idaho and she's in Michigan) to God who is in Heaven and He knows it all...all of what is on my heart, all that is on her heart and all of the situations.

Prayer is a way for me to empty my heart to God. It is a place of confession and restoration. It is a place where I can lay my burdens down and I can wait and be still. It is a place of transperancy with my creator. I am most content when I spend time with God in prayer and in reading His Scripture, the Bible.

Today was a long day. I have many long days until I see Bethany in May. Until then I will keep praying with her and for her. I know that God is listening. He is alive and well and very concerned about mankind.

Philippians 4:5-7 (New International Version)
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

"...since Easters...."

The first Easter that I remember was in 1971 (?). I wasn't 5 yet. I wore my new dress with matching socks, really cute shoes, white gloves and a HAT to church. I remember a little girl with a sailor dress wasn't too nice to me. I didn't like church.

The next Easter I remember was in 1976. It was 4th grade and pantsuits were COOL! I got a fantastic polyester green one and my sister had a matching blue one. Of course we had cool shoes and ditched the idea of a hat and gloves. At this church I found out that I wasn't really wearing the Easter dress code at the time. I didn't know about that though. I thought that God would really like my new outfit. I liked God and I went to church to learn more about Him.

In 1984, right before Easter, I met my husband in a field in Mexicali, Mexico. I was a junior in high school. No, he's not from Mexico and yes that is a whole other story for another blog. The week before Easter I had worked with the poor in Mexico. When I came home on Good Friday my mom was so cool about taking me to the mall to get a new Easter dress. This was one constant tradition at our house. At the mall I just remember seeing all the abundance and reflected on the poverty that I had just seen across the border. We went to lunch and talked. I think that I just wore something that I had in my closet that year to church and thought that God would be happy with me just as I was. Serving Him in Mexico and worshipping Him at church on Easter.

In 1985 Dave invited me to my first ever sun-rise service. Have you ever been to a sunrise service? It's really early to a challenged morning person. Greg Laurie spoke that morning and told the Easter story. I don't remember much of the rest of the day except a lot of family time with Dave's family and mine.

Fast forward to 2009. Easter over the past years has been different. I spent the Easter of 1989 married to my wonderful husband, Dave. Then came the kids. David Jr. was born 2 days after Easter 1990 (no wonder I was so cranky and emotional when my Easter feast didn't work out the way I had invisioned it). With Bethany coming along in 1991 and Kirsten in 1993 Easter each year changed as the kids grew. Some years we were back in Mexico the week before Easter helping the poor. Some years we had sun and some years we even had snow (in California and in Idaho!). This year we are celebrating with friends in Idaho and our oldest two are celebrating with their friends in Michigan.

I've learned a lot about church and God since that first Easter memory. I've learned that God loves it when I go to church no matter what I am wearing. He loves it when I go to church even when it isn't Easter. I've learned that most people at church are nice and that we all can be not so nice once in a while. In fact that's why God sent His son, Jesus, to the earth from heaven. It is because of our inadequacies and failures, our meanness and selfishness that we needed someone to save us. It is because of God's penalty of death for any sin (not measuring up to God's standard) that Jesus died. It is because of God's grace, mercy, power over death, and hope He promises that Jesus came back to life.

"For God so loved the world, that He sent His Son, that whosoever believes in Him, would not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him all might be saved." John 3:16-17