LightUntoMyFeet: 2007年9月

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9月27日

Train of thought - early morning Thursday

Ok, not skilled enough yet to "embed" a video, but wanted to share this one as it cracked me up SO BAD !! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey24x-5INkU

My kind of humor! (yes, it's clean!!!)

So what am I doing up at 4:56AM? You got me there, I am clueless myself. Not even sure I have words of wisdom to share, but I guess I don't always need them.

Train of thought...(remember that from 10th grade english class?)...The fan in here, which doesn't have a good stand but oscilates anyways, makes a lot of noise as it bangs against the wall...sure, I could have returned it, but I think I threw away the instructions. My son tried to put it together the first time, and he failed, he got it backwards (perhaps what he was tokin' didn't agree with fan management). I did catch it on film..."Colin and Goose Assemble a Fan"

So yesterday I said, since you aren't stoned, would you mind assembling my fan correctly? Which he did. The stand still doesn't match up (no fault of his) but a little gorilla tape has helped settle it a bit.

I just got an email saying "Find your secret crush" -- my crush ain't secret, but I lost him anyways, his name was Lance. If you find him in Virginia Beach, please ask him to call me...

Thursday...nearing the end of my September vacation, and yet what did I do yesterday? I talked to a couple of work colleagues about stuff going on at work. One meant to "save as draft" something until I got back but he accidently sent it out to our region and got spanked for it. I felt badly I wasnt there as a filter for him. It was great info, just not for the masses.

What do I plan on doing today? Well, for one, I plan on cleaning up this hole I live in...11 rooms of ANTIQUE DIRT. Yep. I remember someone telling me, when you buy an antique home, you buy the antique dirt. Can I tell you...dirt, I mean real DIRT, comes into this house from every nook and cranny and space between the wide pine floors. This is NOT "Colonial Homes" magazine. I don't know how those people do it. It's one room at a time, and I pray God allows me to sell this and buy something newer, smaller, and more energy efficient! At one point, when I was married, the hubby was all into restoration...that faded quickly...now I own the house, all 11 forsaken rooms (ok, my computer room is cool, if I could just get the floor stripped, so is my bedroom, the kitchen is modern, too, tyvm!) and I am left with fixing the places where the horsehair plaster has pulled away from the lathe to such an extent I need to buy a sawsall and insert wallboard in large chunks. I still don't know how to fix the ceiling in Cuy's room...it is falling apart over his bed. The previous owners screwed can lids onto the ceiling...homemade plaster buttons...but they aren't holding the buckling plaster anymore. Yup, buckling. This is what I come home to after HOURS of work (I love my job, don't get me wrong) it's just that sometimes I wish I could just STAY at my job so I didn't have to come home to buckling plaster, holes in the wall, and DIRT. Anyone with any suggestions is WELCOME to comment and advise!

Ok so now my mind has jumped to the Pembroke Food Pantry (dont ask how I made that mental connection) and I am so thrilled that my church has decided to be an official drop off spot for the Pantry! When I was first separated, my kids and I availed ourselves of the services of the South Shore Women's Center...it was a hide-away for battered women and children. I never ever needed the food pantry there, but in gratitude for their counseling services, I made sure it was well-stocked. That experience has given me a knowledge of what is needed for the public at large, shall we say. When the Pembroke Food Pantry published a need because they have 175 families in my town alone they support (can you imagine 175 families in an affluent community like mine needing help? How could I have been so blind?) I mentioned something at our women's ministry meeting. Then it was brought up the next day at church by a brother who works in the same building as the Food Pantry! They had approached him to ask our church for help! What an awesome coincidence (or not, with God, there is never a coincidence!) What I know they need are: toiletries, cleaning supplies, diapers larger than size "newborn" , meals like Dinty Moore they can just open/heat/serve..Tuna Helper/Chicken Helper along with cans of tuna and chicken...I guess the best way to look at it is...what do YOU use daily? These people can't just go "buy" it at CVS or Stop-n-Shop like we can.

If anyone so desires, monetary donations may be made to :

Pembroke Food Pantry

P O Box 295

Pembroke, MA 02359

Ok, well, I am done with my train of thought for this morning at least...may all be blessed today!

Lols

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9月25日

Faith over Feelings

Does anyone else out there like "Walk in the Word" with Pastor James MacDonald? I get the weekly devotionals, plus I love his show, and this newsletter came at an interesting time, so I thought I would share it:

If you cannot read the message below, please click here to view this message online.

Faith Over Feelings

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:1,6

If you've been around Walk in the Word a while, you've no doubt heard our favorite definition of faith: Faith is believing the Word of God and acting on it no matter how I feel because God promises a good result. This is critical to the Christian life. Faith discounts how we feel and boldly acts upon the Word of God.

I know a woman who wants more than anything to talk-talk-talk to her unbelieving husband about Christ. She's having a hard time believing that she's not a big part of his decision to come to Christ. She feels she must say something or he will never change. But faith discounts how we feel and boldly acts upon the Word of God. First Peter 3:1 says, "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives." So she obeys the Word and keeps quiet.

The question for us is, "Will I do what God has asked me to do and trust Him to do the part that only He can do?" That's a faith issue. We must choose to obey God even when we don't feel like obeying. Do you ever have those situations when you could talk yourself out of obeying in eight different ways? But unless we want to be like roller-coaster Christians for the rest of our lives, we have to learn to obey even when the emotions aren't there.

Emotions are wonderful things. In their rightful place, they bring color and fulfillment to our lives. As our servants, emotions can do much good, but when they become our "master" and start dictating our actions, we are headed for disaster. Think of your life as a train. Emotions make a lousy engine but a great caboose. Learning this truth has been a real point of victory for me. When I'm frustrated or anxious, I can choose to have faith no matter how I feel. If I feel like indulging myself, avoiding a problem, or nursing a personal slight, I must choose to ignore how I feel and cultivate faith instead. I must "believe the Word of God and act upon it no matter how I feel." Why would I deny what comes most naturally to me? Because I choose to believe God instead.

WALKINTHEWORD.COM

Praise His Holy Name today

I had written a whole long blog earlier that got wiped out, and it was menial now that I realize what day it is.

My life, my very existence seems menial compared to those who 1. Gave their lives unwittingly 2. Those who gave knowing the sacrifice 3. The families left behind 4. For those whom the horror of the day will not cease...

I remember a colleague saying she'd heard they'd had maps of many public schoools. I couldn't function except through God. I praise Him still for the delightful little puppy he brought into our lives...Libby...she now belongs to my ex, but her very existence represents life continuing on.

Praise God for He is Good, His love endures forever.

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9月8日

The Wonder of a New Computer

Hi all --

When Windows Live came along and all our blogs froze up, it was then I realized my 2001 dinosaur needed to be replaced. But then G told me last September that there was going to be a new version of Windows called Vista coming out. Ok so I would wait for that. Then my computer seemed to crash, so I gave it to my friend, Kim, who was sure she could resurrect it...but I had given up, resigned to replace my computer. I took the computer room apart, started stripping the floors (wide pine from 1855), and used my daughter's computer. Needless to say, my surfing came to almost a halt.

Some things happen for a reason. Kim DID fix my computer, she said the only thing wrong with it was all the dog/cat fur stuck inside. But I still didn't set my computer room back up. I continued to steal time from my daughter's. She is a blessing, never fussed, never ONCE complained to me. I tried to be considerate. She is devoted to Japanese Anime and watches it on her computer. I tried so hard not to interrupt her viewing. But it's tough. Her computer is old, it was her grampa's -- he gave it to her when he replaced his for the latest and greatest.

This whole thing kept me off line, and I believe it was a good thing. A very good thing.

However, I was "inspired" (details later perhaps) to purchase a new computer. I bought it last weekend, my oldest set it up for me this weekend, got my printer hooked up, got a new webcam (my old one didnt work with Vista -no worries - this new webcam does more for me and is designed to work with Windows Live).

I LOVE MY NEW COMPUTER !! It's an HP, core 2, and I got a flatscreen 19" monitor. And despite what others say, I am determined to embrace Windows Vista. I believe Microsoft does their best not to turn out junk, and there are seasons when things change, and the old doesn't work with the new. This has happened with Vista, it will happen again when they turn out Windows Prism or whatever they call the new one in 7 years. (Would someone suggest that name? I like it) It works fabulously with Windows Live and I haven't enjoyed reading blogs like this since I started! A wonderful new world has opened up for me.

Ok, so, to catch everyone up...I have not had that yard sale, but am still actively purging. One thing I purged is Teddy, my dog. Now don't get all crazy on me, Oh HOW could you give up your DOG??? Let me tell you first and foremost, something that is hard for me to admit...I can do the most difficult things at work with ease and laughter, but when I walk into my door at night, I am overwhelmed, to the point of wanting to just make a beeline for my bed and hide. As a single mom with a 14-yr-old and 20-yr-old at home, and my 11-yr-old as an every-other-weekender, working full time (8:30-6:30 M-F), the last thing I want to do is another "project" on my 1855 farmhouse. It is a dream for many, and was for me 13 years ago, but now I am alone doing it, and it has lost its magic. I am ready to downsize and go for new(er). However, here's the catch-22 of it, I have to do all those projects in order to sell.

So, each evening as I walked in the door, I was greeted by two OUT OF CONTROL bullmastiffs. Oh, I loved them, don't get me wrong. But have you ever had TWO BULLMASTIFFS jump on you at the same time? Granted, they were delighted to see me, and granted, I should have taught them long before not to jump, however, that was the way of things. Having had several long talks with my pastor and his wife (I recommend this for everyone), it became apparent that Teddy, the instigator, the one who liked to paw at small children in a dangerous way (what, mummy? I am just playing!), had to go in a humane way. Well, the ARL down the street closed, so that wouldn't work. Then there was someone who could possibly train him to be a police dog, but oh, dang, he took some of the dogs when the ARL closed so he was full...then there was the woman at work who wanted a dog for exercise, but the dog already living at her house didn't take kindly to canine competition. I thought it was hopeless...

Until one day I was at a friend's desk, she said, "How are your pooches doing?" (we share a doggie devotion) and I said, "Oh they are fine, although I still haven't found a good home for Teddy"

"What? You are looking for a good home for Teddy!?!?" she cries.

I explained. She said her friend, K, was looking for boxer to rescue, but was on the waiting list so long she wanted to give up. She told me they called K the "Dog Whisperer" because of her way with the most difficult of dogs. My friend was getting goose bumps. She called K and together they came over to meet Teddy. It was love at first sight (picture a big field...Teddy at one end, K at the other, both running towards each other and colliding in happy doggy kisses and scratches). K then took him for a week and refused to give him back (ok, I confess, I didn't ask for him back). They are a wonderful pair. They were meant for each other. He was only mine for a while, but for K, he is hers for a lifetime. He is a special doggie, she is a special owner. They both feel blessed, and man, so do I !!!

Now I just have Goose, the bigger of the two, the black one (in the pics) and he is just a lazy bum !! I wake him up when I come home, he is usually lazing in the dining room or the kitchen. He sleeps in his crate at night (without being asked -- he knows if I go to his cookie jar that it's bed time). The funny thing about Goosie is he is supposed to look fierce -- well, lemme tell you, a 110-lb barrel chested bullmastiff with a green squeaky toy in his mouth is anything but fierce. He is SUCH a GOOD BOY!! I throw him in the car with me a lot now and he loves any and all attention he gets. He's fantastic.

The stress level has come down when I walk in the door of my house. Well, to a degree. I am still overwhelmed but am willing to take it a bit at a time.

So, other good things in my life? I have lost weight (still have plenty to go) and have joined Koko -- Lols, you joined what??? Check it out www.kokofitclub.com. It rocks! I feel like a homie there already. I am so comfortable going, they know me, they talk to me, I can freely ask questions, and I don't feel like a gym idiot. It is the only fit club of its kind -- the koko machines are all around, but a club built around it is unique. Again, I am LOVIN it, it's a real blessing for me, and I am grateful to God that He felt it good to plant one two miles from my house (near Country Curtains, anyone else a CC fan??).

I took a haiatus from singing on the Praise Team for a while, but recently felt a real calling to re-join. However, there were already 4 people on the team, that's the max for the Praise Team, so I thought, God you must be wrong (HA HA HA HA HA HA HA). He continued to use what He could to ensure I got the message, and I did, but again, there were 4 people already. Then...someone mysteriously quit. I kid you not. She just mysteriously dropped -- off the team and out of the church. Well, that whole time when I found out, I was vacationing with the Praise Team Leader, and I did NOT mention I wanted back on. I thought it sounded terrible "Well, now that M has dropped, I want back on" EWWWW! It was SO wrong! So I waited, and I finally sent Kim an email which she shared with Pastor, and we all met together, and he felt that it was good timing (Praise God, You weren't wrong! LOL) I am joyfully back on the Praise Team and singing a solo a capella tomorrow. I also have a few other songs to do as specials as well in the future. God made it clear that I was to use my talent for song as my ministry. How more grateful to Him can I be? I am so amazingly blessed! My dearest church sisters are the other 3 on the team, what a blessing to draw near to them and sing!! (I love you Kim, LL Kool K, and K!)

Went to SoulFest in Guilford, NH again this year, and stayed at Kim's rented apartment on Weirs Beach again -- she was gracious enough to ask if Roey wanted to spend the entire week up there with them, which she did, and I joined that Friday. The ski lift wasn't operating when we were there so I couldn't re-enact my ski lift expedition of last year, but I tell you, I was so anxious to get on it again! To have conquered that gave me such a sense of accomplishment, it has opened the door for so much else in my life! My trip to NJ, WV, PA & CT with my Cuy, another trip to Bangor, and a probable trip to VA Beach at the end of this month. I have no qualms about hopping in the car (I love my Xterra) and going anywhere now. Again, thanks to Kim!! Next year I am hoping to get the whole week off and rent an apt there at Weirs Beach and just chill out with my friends in Christ! Can you imagine anything more awesome?

Ok well, I am allowing Roey to go back on Gaia...as of today...there are parental controls that may be enforced and I plan to enforce them, at the same time allowing her to be a trustworthy young lady. I believe she is.

Work is fabulous -- I love what I do and look forward to every day I go to work. God has truly blessed me and I believe, has allowed me to bless others through work. It's amazing how many Christians work in the VZ world of DSL. Oh, sorry, we are now known as HSI - High Speed Internet. Shhhhh, don't tell anyone I said "dsl" -- thanks!

All righty, for those of you with the fortitude (or enough coffee in you) to have read my entire life story to here, I commend you, thank you, it is a priviledge to share with you, and may God bless you, right where you are, may you feel His touch, right where you need it (whether you realized it or not!) and may God create a roadway in the wilderness for your feet to tread safely.

Love to you all,

LOLS

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