So, if you read my previous post, you'll see that I had some time to think today. I took my book by Tony Jones, The New Christians, with me so I could read while I waited at the Dr's office. (Glad I did, because I did a lot of waiting!)
I became a Christian about 6 years ago (I say "about," because, silly me - I didn't take not of the date!). I can say, with every cell of my being, that the moment I asked Jesus into my life, everything changed. I truly understood the new wine into new wine skins parable from the bible. I felt a real, physical lifting of burdens from my shoulders. It was a spiritual, emotional, and physical event that I recall as if it was yesterday.
From that point forward, till about 6 months ago, I walked around, very oblivious to a lot of things. I saw all things through rose-colored glasses. I made many monumental mistakes, but I also grew so much. (at times, you might have said, like a weed!) I attend an evangelical, non-denominational church with very strong community roots, whose members became my family and nurtured me as I grew (and continue to).
About six months ago, my rose colored glasses lost their tint, and I began to see things through the brightness of reality. My innocence was lost, so to speak! : ) I began to understand why people were put off by "the church" (***please do not read this as the church I attend, but as the church in general***). I started to do a lot of reading and researching, praying and thinking, conversing and observing. I am learning about issues of politics, social justice, environmentalism, missional, emerging, emergent, post modernism, progressive, and so on. I feel like a newborn in this rich, beautiful, respectful, conversational, loving movement, so I don't know that I can find the words to accurately portray the way I feel about it, but I do know that this is where I need to be heading, where I need to be.
I am learning that the church needs not be a structure, it needs to be a community, a life lived in the pursuit of loving God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and bringing glory to Him in all that we do, say, think, and feel. And very importantly, loving our neighbors - wholly, openly, without judgement. This is so much easier to say than do, although we must do all we can to live intentionally.
I pray that I can apply all that I am learning to effectively live my life and pursue my Jesus.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Gratituesday July 8, 2008
Gratituesday Greetings!!!
I had a Dr's appointment this morning in a neighboring town, so between driving and waiting, I had a nice chance to think and reflect. While my thoughts didn't exactly gravitate to the things that I am thankful for, I did have a chance to regroup, which makes me more able to go there.
Today, I am thankful for the rain. It has been a very long spell of drought. We have had rain every day for the last week to 10 days. I pray that we get a good, soaking rain at least once a week for the rest of the summer.
I am thankful that my children are cheerfully doing their chores, which takes a lot of pressure off of me, and we all get along better when we work together.
I am thankful that I have an abundance of fruit and vegetables to eat and that we have food in our freezer.
I am thankful for my friends and family that I share my life with, and that share their life with me.
I am thankful for the times that my DH spends with the kids - playing games, basketball, golf, or just plain old famly movie night. I am also grateful for when I get them back from Dad all nice and refreshed. : )
As always, the list could go on and on.....but I have more stuff to blog about and I need to get to that! Peace!
I had a Dr's appointment this morning in a neighboring town, so between driving and waiting, I had a nice chance to think and reflect. While my thoughts didn't exactly gravitate to the things that I am thankful for, I did have a chance to regroup, which makes me more able to go there.
Today, I am thankful for the rain. It has been a very long spell of drought. We have had rain every day for the last week to 10 days. I pray that we get a good, soaking rain at least once a week for the rest of the summer.
I am thankful that my children are cheerfully doing their chores, which takes a lot of pressure off of me, and we all get along better when we work together.
I am thankful that I have an abundance of fruit and vegetables to eat and that we have food in our freezer.
I am thankful for my friends and family that I share my life with, and that share their life with me.
I am thankful for the times that my DH spends with the kids - playing games, basketball, golf, or just plain old famly movie night. I am also grateful for when I get them back from Dad all nice and refreshed. : )
As always, the list could go on and on.....but I have more stuff to blog about and I need to get to that! Peace!
Getting to know my neighbors
A very unusual thing happened to our family yesterday, which ended up with us making new friends in our extended neighborhood.
To give a bit of background, we have been having a little rat terrier come visit us for a few months. About once a week, he'd come spend a day or two to visit, then leave. This week, though, he had been around for several days. {The children call any small stray dog, Bobo, but for some reason, he responded to that! } So, Bobo has been making himself very comfortable, but at night, stood by the door with his puppy dog eyes, trying to make us let him in (no dice), and our dogs barked off and on all night, just because he was there. Since previously, he would go home after a day or so, and didn't this time, I called the animal shelter number yesterday morning that was on his tag, and gave his code number, and within 15 minutes, I was on the phone with his owner. Well, his owner's grandma. Turns out, his owner moved and left the dog with Grandparents, who live about 3/4ths of a mile from us. His real name is Spots. BUT his owner's granddaughter is named Melanie, and the Grandma calls him Bobo. Coincidence, no?
My DH and DS took Bobo Spots home in the evening. About an hour later, an old man came knocking on our door, so very grateful. He started talking about his garden, how it is over-abundant and that we could come get as much veggies as we want out of it, and he kept talking. So as he was leaving, he handed me his card....wait a minute! That wasn't the name of the person with whom I spoke in the morning! It turns out that he had lost two black pugs, and someone from my street returned them, at the same time my DH was returning Bobo! We figured out who it was, and DH took the man to them. He said we could come get some veggies, anyways!
Then 15 minutes later, another old man knocks on our door! This was the real owner of Bobo. He was on his way home from work and didn't realize that we already returned him. He was telling of how Bobo's companion Chihuahua ran away and never came back and that he was very lonely. He just stayed with us because of our kids and pet menagerie. He recognized a place where animals were welcome! DH told the old man that Bobo could come over any time, and now that we know where he lives, we'll just bring him home in the evening.
How's that for getting to know your neighbors?
To give a bit of background, we have been having a little rat terrier come visit us for a few months. About once a week, he'd come spend a day or two to visit, then leave. This week, though, he had been around for several days. {The children call any small stray dog, Bobo, but for some reason, he responded to that! } So, Bobo has been making himself very comfortable, but at night, stood by the door with his puppy dog eyes, trying to make us let him in (no dice), and our dogs barked off and on all night, just because he was there. Since previously, he would go home after a day or so, and didn't this time, I called the animal shelter number yesterday morning that was on his tag, and gave his code number, and within 15 minutes, I was on the phone with his owner. Well, his owner's grandma. Turns out, his owner moved and left the dog with Grandparents, who live about 3/4ths of a mile from us. His real name is Spots. BUT his owner's granddaughter is named Melanie, and the Grandma calls him Bobo. Coincidence, no?
My DH and DS took Bobo Spots home in the evening. About an hour later, an old man came knocking on our door, so very grateful. He started talking about his garden, how it is over-abundant and that we could come get as much veggies as we want out of it, and he kept talking. So as he was leaving, he handed me his card....wait a minute! That wasn't the name of the person with whom I spoke in the morning! It turns out that he had lost two black pugs, and someone from my street returned them, at the same time my DH was returning Bobo! We figured out who it was, and DH took the man to them. He said we could come get some veggies, anyways!
Then 15 minutes later, another old man knocks on our door! This was the real owner of Bobo. He was on his way home from work and didn't realize that we already returned him. He was telling of how Bobo's companion Chihuahua ran away and never came back and that he was very lonely. He just stayed with us because of our kids and pet menagerie. He recognized a place where animals were welcome! DH told the old man that Bobo could come over any time, and now that we know where he lives, we'll just bring him home in the evening.
How's that for getting to know your neighbors?
Monday, July 7, 2008
There's something to be said....
...about this rainy weather. My children are willingly, happily, and dedicatedly doing their chores! I don't know if it's the weather, or maybe they're simply growing up! They have done things like wash windows, clean bathroom counters and sink, sweep, mop, unload dishwasher and re-load it, help with dinner....and they have been working on their room! YIKES! This may not sound like anything special to some of you, but to us, this is monumental! I am so proud of them.
When you have a chance....
Check out this link...it's the lowdown on plastic bags.
http://www.poconorecord.com:80/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20080506/multimedia02/80505016/-1/photos0102
http://www.poconorecord.com:80/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20080506/multimedia02/80505016/-1/photos0102
Meal Plan Monday
Meal Plan Monday
July 6 - 12, 08
Sunday - Watermelon and snacky foods
Monday - Roast Beef taco salad and tacos
Tuesday - Grilled chicken, corn and black bean salad
couscous with lime and cilantro
Wednesday - Sloppy Joes, chips, and pickles
Thursday - Cheeseburger pizza with salad
Friday - Meatloaf, red potatoes, and veggies
Saturday - outing - niece's quincenera
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Meal Plan Monday and Gratituesday
So here is the link for the meal plan Monday - thank you, Misty! While visiting the site, I was redirected to another that has a link-around (don't know what else to call it!) called Gratituesday, where we link back and blog about what we are grateful for. So here is mine...
Today, I am grateful for the following:
1. my children and I are starting to get into the groove of summer vacation. That means we are getting along better!
2. my oldest is making "nevilled eggs" and it is so sweet that she is making lunch for herself and her bro and sis.
3. my life as a home-maker
4. my loving husband, who works rally hard at everything he does so that I can be an at home mom.
5. my beautiful friends, but local and online, who are all so different, so precious. They make my life so full.
6. the security and freedom and love that I have as a follower of Christ.
7. the forecast of a chance of rain all week (praying for 100% chance!)
8. kisses and hugs from my babies
9. our pets
there are so many more....it's hard to keep up!
Regarding meal plan Monday, I see that others post their breakfast, lunch and dinner plans, and I have always just done our meal plan for dinner - since it's the big meal of the day. I will definitely work on planning breakfast and lunch, as well, from now on.
Today, I am grateful for the following:
1. my children and I are starting to get into the groove of summer vacation. That means we are getting along better!
2. my oldest is making "nevilled eggs" and it is so sweet that she is making lunch for herself and her bro and sis.
3. my life as a home-maker
4. my loving husband, who works rally hard at everything he does so that I can be an at home mom.
5. my beautiful friends, but local and online, who are all so different, so precious. They make my life so full.
6. the security and freedom and love that I have as a follower of Christ.
7. the forecast of a chance of rain all week (praying for 100% chance!)
8. kisses and hugs from my babies
9. our pets
there are so many more....it's hard to keep up!
Regarding meal plan Monday, I see that others post their breakfast, lunch and dinner plans, and I have always just done our meal plan for dinner - since it's the big meal of the day. I will definitely work on planning breakfast and lunch, as well, from now on.
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