I feel bad for J7. I really do. Not bad enough to go trick-or-treating tonight, tho.
We went to our church's Fun Fall Fest last night, he got to play on the bounce-house obstacle course for almost the entire 2 hours available, with an occasional bounce-house jumping in between, along with four little "carnival" games. He had a blast, was worn out, and crashed before we got home (ya think?? lol).
Tonight my enthusiasm, what little I might could've usually mustered for Halloween, vanished. I could not bring myself to take my little man trick-or-treating. Call me an evil mom, I'm sure I deserve it to an extent. Hubby had hurt his foot earlier last week and was really feeling it today, so it was out for him to take the little guy trick-or-treating. T13 was sick with allergies getting the best of him, and he needs to recover so he can go to school tomorrow.
I don't care for Halloween. Never did. In 2nd grade I was scared witless by a witch who was a leeeeeeeeeeettle too convincing in my young mind, and perhaps I never got over it. Sure, I dressed up and attended a couple of parties, but when I had a say about participating or not, most times I did not. As I got older and could stay out later, I saw costumes that were just horrible. In my opinion, it went beyond wicked to just plain gross and disgusting, and why would I want to be in the thick of it? That's just not me.
As a Christian, I've done my studies about where Halloween came from, the secular and Christian implications of Halloween, traditions collected from other cultures, Pagan celebrations that still go on to this day, etc. It's my opinion that, for the most part, Halloween is a holiday best left alone. There are some interesting and fascinating aspects of Samhain, All Hallow's Eve, Halloween, etc, but they mean little to me personally. It is my conviction that Christians shouldn't have any business with Halloween, but obviously, that opinion is not widely shared, nor should it be unless the Lord convicts the heart the same way.
Still, we got to go to the Fun Fall Fest last night...doesn't that account for SOME-thing? I mean, he made off with more candy than he can handle (he won't see most of it~~he doesn't function if he gets too much sugar in his system, and most of his candies were colored and flavored sugar confections)
Sigh....no, it didn't count. After all, today was a brand new day from yesterday, and today is "THE" day, Halloween Day, and we just didn't make it out trick-or-treating tonight. Not that our neighborhood is particularly trick-or-treater friendly, and our old neighborhood is a bit sparce nowadays.
Earlier in the day I had planned to take him to another local church-based Fall Harvest Festival, but when I woke up from my nap, I felt horrible and just didn't want to move. What a selfish witch I am. Like I said, scariest thing in my poor J7's life right now seems to be his own mother. :( The most I can say to that is, "Boo, Humboogey.
We read a couple of little stories together, and I think he's on the road to forgiving me, but that will only last long enough for his classmates to share their tall tales about the loot they made off with tonight. : { I'll definitely be on the receiving end of the monster mash.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
THE BRITISH ARE COMIN'! THE BRITISH ARE COMIN'!
The British Bulldogs, that is! ;)
I was greeted this morning with my little guy, J7, telling me while I'm still asleep, that there are two dogs in our yard. My first thoughts were NOT, "Oh, how SWEET!" My first groggy thoughts were, "Oh NO!" J7 is really excited and is trying to get me to show the same excitement as he leads me sleepily to the back door. Then I see them....they are not errant guard dogs prevalent in our neighborhood, but two English Bulldogs with unusual markings. They are wet. They are muddy. I can tell they are newly lost. It's obvious they were brothers. They have thick leather collars, but neither one of them have tags. Reluctantly, I let them into the house so that they could dry off and I could give them a bite to eat.
I was greeted this morning with my little guy, J7, telling me while I'm still asleep, that there are two dogs in our yard. My first thoughts were NOT, "Oh, how SWEET!" My first groggy thoughts were, "Oh NO!" J7 is really excited and is trying to get me to show the same excitement as he leads me sleepily to the back door. Then I see them....they are not errant guard dogs prevalent in our neighborhood, but two English Bulldogs with unusual markings. They are wet. They are muddy. I can tell they are newly lost. It's obvious they were brothers. They have thick leather collars, but neither one of them have tags. Reluctantly, I let them into the house so that they could dry off and I could give them a bite to eat.
I was sooooo amazed at how sweet and obedient they were the short time they were here. :) Yeah, they were a bit clumsy, frisky and rambunctious, but when I told them to get down, they immediately got down. They were extremely gentle when hopping up to lean on me, not jumping at all. I was amazed at how gentle they were with J7, because they made a point to stand on their hind legs before attempting to lean on him. They were his height, so they kinda met him face to face. I was proud of my son for not being too startled, but when I told them to get down, they did. They trotted through my kitchen and living room with cartoon-like muddy feet. I got them some leftover cooked meat that I had in the freezer, thawed it out and gave it to them to eat. They each waited patiently to get their portion, which I find unusual.
I wanted Hubby to see them, but he was at work, and he would not be getting off until late afternoon. :( In the meantime, I know that some person, or some family, will desperately be looking for these fine chaps. I know I would be if they were mine. They were well cared for; lovable, docile, and obedient. Time, love, and family developed these dogs, and they need to be returned to their owners as fast as humanly possible.
I called our city's animal services. I told them on the phone that these were special dogs that belong to some one, or some family, who is sure to miss them. These are NOT your typical "strays." We are NOT in any position to keep them under any circumstances, sweethearts they are or no.
They came, and I was so touched by how trusting these particular dogs were. They let the dog catcher walk right up to each of them, let him put the leash on them, and each let him pick them up and into the truck. Bless his heart, one of them was a little more bewildered than his brother; he lay on the ground and was hesitant about letting him pick him up, but he still was not aggressive by any means. The other dog was more excited, with an expression of, "Oh wow! We're goin' for a ride!!"
I pray that those special dogs have found their special people by now. I pray they were chipped and their owners could be found. I pray that they can resume their family togetherness with Kibbles n Bits and Fish n Chips. :)
Monday, August 23, 2010
More Random Thoughts
That other post was so long, and yet my brain is still racing....
Today was the first day of school for the boys. J7 was excited. He made some new friends, and he liked his teacher. :) T12 is more apprehensive, unfortunately. I mean, 7th grade is a big deal. He's finally feeling it. He was stunned to see his Texas history book, lol. I just smiled as he looked at me so incredulously when he told me how thick that sucker is. Yes, T12, I remember taking Texas history. Also, that wasn't the ONLY hunk of book I had to carry around, almost every single day, to school AND back! Who needed weight-lifting class when I carried a backpack w/ a history book??
There are also "new" discipline issues that blow his mind, such as punishing the whole class over one or two disobedient students. This is one of those things I thought nothing about b/c I experienced that when I was in junior high. Thing is, we had a couple of absolute jerks (keeping this as G as possible, lol) who made classtime disruptive, and the entire class paid for their misdeeds. Growing up, I became aware of this use of discipline in the military...which sometimes has an amazing ability to straighten out the trouble-makers...I ain't talkin' 'bout the disciplinary action itself, I'm talkin' 'bout the resulting PEER discipline, if you know what I mean! I do remember that, like the military setting, after a couple of rounds of class discipline, the trouble makers didn't think it was quite so cool to upset the rest of the group, and there became no need for punishing the entire class for misdeeds of a couple of others.
Little prayer = little power
More prayer = more power
Much prayer = much power
Today was the first day of school for the boys. J7 was excited. He made some new friends, and he liked his teacher. :) T12 is more apprehensive, unfortunately. I mean, 7th grade is a big deal. He's finally feeling it. He was stunned to see his Texas history book, lol. I just smiled as he looked at me so incredulously when he told me how thick that sucker is. Yes, T12, I remember taking Texas history. Also, that wasn't the ONLY hunk of book I had to carry around, almost every single day, to school AND back! Who needed weight-lifting class when I carried a backpack w/ a history book??
There are also "new" discipline issues that blow his mind, such as punishing the whole class over one or two disobedient students. This is one of those things I thought nothing about b/c I experienced that when I was in junior high. Thing is, we had a couple of absolute jerks (keeping this as G as possible, lol) who made classtime disruptive, and the entire class paid for their misdeeds. Growing up, I became aware of this use of discipline in the military...which sometimes has an amazing ability to straighten out the trouble-makers...I ain't talkin' 'bout the disciplinary action itself, I'm talkin' 'bout the resulting PEER discipline, if you know what I mean! I do remember that, like the military setting, after a couple of rounds of class discipline, the trouble makers didn't think it was quite so cool to upset the rest of the group, and there became no need for punishing the entire class for misdeeds of a couple of others.
Little prayer = little power
More prayer = more power
Much prayer = much power
There are a few things I've tried to teach my boys. Life's lessons, if you will:
Say what you mean, mean what you say. (side note~~J7 used to say it this way when he was a toddler: "Mean say! Mean say!!" It brings a smile to Hubby's and my face when we heard it. :) )
Don't tell secrets, and don't tell lies.
If someone is talking badly TO you about someone else, they'll talk badly ABOUT you to someone else, too.
Words have a nasty way of coming back to haunt you. An apology is not always enough.
Think on these things before you speak:
T~~Is what I'm thinking something thoughtful? or is it careless?
H~~Is what I'm thinking about something healing? or is it harmful?
I~~Is what I'm thinking about inspirational? or is it destructive?
N~~Is what I'm thinking about necessary? or is it hurtful?
K~~Is what I'm thinking about kind? or will it cause someone pain?
I don't claim to be the perfect mom. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" mom. What I do know, however, is that I love my boys like I love no one else.
I don't claim to be the perfect wife. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" wife. What I do know, however, is that I love my husband like I love no one else.
I don't claim to be the perfect daughter. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" daughter. What I do know, however, is that I love my parents like I love no one else.
I don't claim to be a perfect friend. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" friend. What I do know, however, is that I love my friends like I love no one else.
I don't claim to be a perfect person. I'm just not. I don't even really consider myself a "good" person. What I do know, however, is that my Lord loves me like no one else does. For THAT, I am eternally grateful. : )
God's love for me enables me to love the people around me in ways I'm too personally ignorant to know and show. It's God's love in me that enables me to treat others the way I'd like to be treated. God's love toward me enables me to forgive myself when I falter~~He sees me for me in the times I see myself as an unworthy failure. God's love lifts me out of myself and kicks my hind end to be with someone else in far more real dire straights than I imagined myself to be. His instructions are not grievous, tho they may feel grievous~~feelings don't matter here, the heart is deceived when it relies solely on emotional feelings. He chastens me because I am His daughter, and He loves me. I have become a much better person because of His love. I've still got a loooooooooooong way to go, but I'm excited about what my future holds for me as He shapes me into His appropriate vessel.
I am looking forward to my church's focus for next year. :) I have attended this church for nearly 3 years now, and every church focus we've studied has been a great blessing to me and those around me. :) We are currently studying Extreme Love; the extreme Love that Jesus showered us with, how to understand that love more deeply; and most importantly, how to express it toward others. It's been an awesome experience. :)
So much to do...so little time to do it. I guess it's a good thing all of us have the same amount of time, but there are times I'm sure we'd like just a liiiiiiiiittle bit more? "Please, Sir...I want some more." : } I'm sure there is even more that I can say because there is more that I think, but I think I'll wrap this up for now. It's been a loooooooong day today.
Monday, August 16, 2010
RANDOM THOUGHTS
There are just so many thoughts running through my head, none of them particularly coherent, just there. Some of them results from emotions, some experiences, some dreams, something someone said, something I've read, some from lack of sleep, some just simply exist.
School starts for the boys 8/23, just a week away from my start of writing this post. I'm saying the word "just" a lot. No telling where this is gonna go. Anyway, the boys are kind of excited, kind of dreading it. Me? I don't know. Sometimes I'm ready for the daily school grind, other days I'm not.
This has been a HOT summer. Too HOT. I realize we've not had "THE" hottest summer ever by any means, but this summer is HOT. I really can't wait for the cold snap of 97 to kick in. What day are we on....16? 17? 18 days straight of OVER 100-degree days??? I'm not interested in being reminded of the oven of 1986. I'm well aware that was the hottest Texas summer in all my Texas existence.
I'm so proud to call myself an American. I thank God, my family and my friends who served in the Armed Forces to protect the freedoms I enjoy here in America. I can't take those brave souls for granted. Maybe that comes from being a military (Army) daughter.
John Hagee has said: "You must USE your freedom to DEFEND your freedom or your LOSE your freedom." Awful lot of truth to this. :( It's a sobering thought to realize that our freedoms are NOT "free"~~sacrifices have been made, people have died, livelihoods have been lost for our very sacred privilege that doesn't exist in any other country.
Freedom OF religion does not mean freedom FROM religion. Right now, evangelical Christians are under fire. Unfortunately, so are radical Islamists (radical Muslims). Whether they want to be or not, Jews are back on the forefront as we have a terrorist prime minster who wants to wipe the Jews and Americans off the map. Unfortunately, Jews are no strangers to wars against other nations, that's been the majority of their existence. However, just as amazingly, the Jews are a peculiar and special people in God's eye, and it would behoove us (Americans) to take note and not abandon her in her hour of need. Not necessarily that manpower will save them, because GOD is sufficient to save them~~AND HE WILL SAVE THEM, but if we are so stupid as to turn our back on Israel (which I pray would be MANY generations later, but fear that's not at all the case), then our fate will fare absolutely no better than any other nation. If we do not defend Israel, God will not see fit to defend us. Many Christians recognize this...all eyes are on Israel.
I am NOT a "homophobe" because I believe the Bible when it says homosexuality is an abomination. I do NOT wish evil or harm to anyone who is struggling or content with homosexuality. Far from it. Some of my friends are gay. I see homosexuality as sin. So is lying. So is murder. So is stealing. So is gluttony. So is witchcraft. So is anything else that God calls sin. However, I don't believe these sins DEFINE the whole person. We ALL have some kind of sin in our lives, if we are ugly and technical about judging ourselves. Christians after God's own heart are FORGIVEN sinners. I believe Jesus truly meets us where we are when we call to Him. Sinners who are deepest in sin enjoy the greatest sense of forgiveness, and I've found they are usually the easiest to forgive others.
I don't understand why certain Muslims are wanting to build a mosque so close to ground zero. I am beyond irritated at Speaker Pelosi for wanting to "investigate" and find out WHO IS FUNDING those of us who DON'T want the mosque there. What???? IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH "FREEDOM OF RELIGION" or even about TOLERANCE BUT ABOUT honoring the sensitivity of Americans who have lost loved ones from the terrorist attack on 9/11/2001. Just because you "can" do something doesn't mean you "should." Paul tells us that all things are LAWFUL (unto him--now us) but not everything is EXPEDIENT. Sometimes it'd be better if we didn't participate in what is otherwise "legal." Today, it seems that the envelop is constantly being pushed. There is little respect for common courtesty anymore. Instead of it coming naturally, or being understood, people need to be reminded about why something may or may not be "acceptable" or "respected."
Most of those of us who oppose the mosque being built so close to ground zero DO NOT OPPOSE a mosque built at all, we just farther away, a respectful distance, from the site of ground zero. That is all. What is so difficult about understanding this??? lol, saw a line I think is apropos: "I'm not trying to argue with you, I'm just trying to explain why I'm right!"
I understand why some of my Pagan friends seriously mock Exodus 22:18, "Thou shalt not suffer (allow) a witch to live." The OT was taken literally and physically and actually killed anyone deemed a witch or otherwise involved in witchcraft. However, upon reading 1 Samuel 15:23, "For rebellion is as the SIN of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry", we get the sense that God does not intend so much for us to literally KILL the body of those who participate in witchcraft, but for Christians to PRAY for the spirit of witchcraft to be removed from that person's life. From Galatians 5:19-21, the works of the flesh are sin against the Spirit of God and manifests itself in adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelling, and such like...none who participate in these shall inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus forgave a thief on the cross. Jesus forgave a woman caught in adultery. Jesus forgave Saul, who murdered Christians. Jesus cast out demons, allowing the person to live and fulfill his mission in them. Some of my friends have been delivered from the powers of witchcraft and are now enjoying the fruits of the Spirit in their lives.
It's time to study American history. What we have learned in school has been quite distorted~~and what's being taught in schools today is even MORE distorted! I'm almost glad that I flunked AH. Well, I didn't flunk it, but I only got enough out of it to regurgitate it back onto some nationalized test. Schools don't have time nor the means to dig into history as we should. As Glenn Beck said on one of his programs, GET TO THE SOURCE of whatever quote you're trying to learn~~get the CONTEXT of what is going on back in those days. Develop an understanding of the time, the people, and the land of the people.
I canNOT sing Come Thou Fount. It is one of THE most beautiful of all hymns to my soul, but at the same time, I cannot bear to hear it. I develop a SERIOUS case of Niagra Falls syndrome whenever I hear that hymn. The verse that opens the floodgates is: "Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood." To me, that makes His atonement for me extremely personal and at the core of my heart/spirit.
School starts for the boys 8/23, just a week away from my start of writing this post. I'm saying the word "just" a lot. No telling where this is gonna go. Anyway, the boys are kind of excited, kind of dreading it. Me? I don't know. Sometimes I'm ready for the daily school grind, other days I'm not.
This has been a HOT summer. Too HOT. I realize we've not had "THE" hottest summer ever by any means, but this summer is HOT. I really can't wait for the cold snap of 97 to kick in. What day are we on....16? 17? 18 days straight of OVER 100-degree days??? I'm not interested in being reminded of the oven of 1986. I'm well aware that was the hottest Texas summer in all my Texas existence.
I'm so proud to call myself an American. I thank God, my family and my friends who served in the Armed Forces to protect the freedoms I enjoy here in America. I can't take those brave souls for granted. Maybe that comes from being a military (Army) daughter.
John Hagee has said: "You must USE your freedom to DEFEND your freedom or your LOSE your freedom." Awful lot of truth to this. :( It's a sobering thought to realize that our freedoms are NOT "free"~~sacrifices have been made, people have died, livelihoods have been lost for our very sacred privilege that doesn't exist in any other country.
Freedom OF religion does not mean freedom FROM religion. Right now, evangelical Christians are under fire. Unfortunately, so are radical Islamists (radical Muslims). Whether they want to be or not, Jews are back on the forefront as we have a terrorist prime minster who wants to wipe the Jews and Americans off the map. Unfortunately, Jews are no strangers to wars against other nations, that's been the majority of their existence. However, just as amazingly, the Jews are a peculiar and special people in God's eye, and it would behoove us (Americans) to take note and not abandon her in her hour of need. Not necessarily that manpower will save them, because GOD is sufficient to save them~~AND HE WILL SAVE THEM, but if we are so stupid as to turn our back on Israel (which I pray would be MANY generations later, but fear that's not at all the case), then our fate will fare absolutely no better than any other nation. If we do not defend Israel, God will not see fit to defend us. Many Christians recognize this...all eyes are on Israel.
I am NOT a "homophobe" because I believe the Bible when it says homosexuality is an abomination. I do NOT wish evil or harm to anyone who is struggling or content with homosexuality. Far from it. Some of my friends are gay. I see homosexuality as sin. So is lying. So is murder. So is stealing. So is gluttony. So is witchcraft. So is anything else that God calls sin. However, I don't believe these sins DEFINE the whole person. We ALL have some kind of sin in our lives, if we are ugly and technical about judging ourselves. Christians after God's own heart are FORGIVEN sinners. I believe Jesus truly meets us where we are when we call to Him. Sinners who are deepest in sin enjoy the greatest sense of forgiveness, and I've found they are usually the easiest to forgive others.
I don't understand why certain Muslims are wanting to build a mosque so close to ground zero. I am beyond irritated at Speaker Pelosi for wanting to "investigate" and find out WHO IS FUNDING those of us who DON'T want the mosque there. What???? IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH "FREEDOM OF RELIGION" or even about TOLERANCE BUT ABOUT honoring the sensitivity of Americans who have lost loved ones from the terrorist attack on 9/11/2001. Just because you "can" do something doesn't mean you "should." Paul tells us that all things are LAWFUL (unto him--now us) but not everything is EXPEDIENT. Sometimes it'd be better if we didn't participate in what is otherwise "legal." Today, it seems that the envelop is constantly being pushed. There is little respect for common courtesty anymore. Instead of it coming naturally, or being understood, people need to be reminded about why something may or may not be "acceptable" or "respected."
Most of those of us who oppose the mosque being built so close to ground zero DO NOT OPPOSE a mosque built at all, we just farther away, a respectful distance, from the site of ground zero. That is all. What is so difficult about understanding this??? lol, saw a line I think is apropos: "I'm not trying to argue with you, I'm just trying to explain why I'm right!"
I understand why some of my Pagan friends seriously mock Exodus 22:18, "Thou shalt not suffer (allow) a witch to live." The OT was taken literally and physically and actually killed anyone deemed a witch or otherwise involved in witchcraft. However, upon reading 1 Samuel 15:23, "For rebellion is as the SIN of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry", we get the sense that God does not intend so much for us to literally KILL the body of those who participate in witchcraft, but for Christians to PRAY for the spirit of witchcraft to be removed from that person's life. From Galatians 5:19-21, the works of the flesh are sin against the Spirit of God and manifests itself in adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelling, and such like...none who participate in these shall inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus forgave a thief on the cross. Jesus forgave a woman caught in adultery. Jesus forgave Saul, who murdered Christians. Jesus cast out demons, allowing the person to live and fulfill his mission in them. Some of my friends have been delivered from the powers of witchcraft and are now enjoying the fruits of the Spirit in their lives.
It's time to study American history. What we have learned in school has been quite distorted~~and what's being taught in schools today is even MORE distorted! I'm almost glad that I flunked AH. Well, I didn't flunk it, but I only got enough out of it to regurgitate it back onto some nationalized test. Schools don't have time nor the means to dig into history as we should. As Glenn Beck said on one of his programs, GET TO THE SOURCE of whatever quote you're trying to learn~~get the CONTEXT of what is going on back in those days. Develop an understanding of the time, the people, and the land of the people.
I canNOT sing Come Thou Fount. It is one of THE most beautiful of all hymns to my soul, but at the same time, I cannot bear to hear it. I develop a SERIOUS case of Niagra Falls syndrome whenever I hear that hymn. The verse that opens the floodgates is: "Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood." To me, that makes His atonement for me extremely personal and at the core of my heart/spirit.
I have sooooo much cleaning to do!! ((speaking of sin/spirit of uncleanness! lol)) Cleanliness has been put on the back burner this summer. I'm looking around my house and find it's TOO MUCH chaos!! It happens sometimes! ;) My boys will be in school soon, and I've made myself quite a list. Wonder how long it'll take me to get it done...I'll be done much sooner when I get off this blog! :}
This post has taken me a full week to write. It's been a busy week last week, and I'm MAKING time to see its end.
Speaking of making time for something, the Lord provoked me last night via my 7yo son. My J7 got my attention last night. He actually asked me if I could read the Bible in an hour. Oh, my!! Bless his heart! :O I had to honestly tell him that I've not even accomplished reading it in a YEAR, much less in an HOUR!! I asked him if he wanted to try to read the Bible in a year, and his response was a very enthusiastic NOD and yes. Wow. I will get him a 16-month calendar (need to refresh mine, too) and we will post on the calendar when we read together. For all my spiritual fumbling around with my boys, I must be doing SOMETHING right! :}
Saw a bumper sticker on a Hummer last week that said: "Yes, this is my truck. No, I won't help you move." Maybe he gets that a lot? ;)
A black kitty has adopted us. She's been with us for a couple of weeks now. She is extremely affectionate. She can sit on laps for hours if we let her! She makes for great difficulty in typing on computers, tho. ;) She seems really attached to every one but T12, he's too nervous around her.
Let's see, first wave of forms are filled out, lunches are packed, clothes are laid out. Gas is in the truck (you'd be amazed at how important that is, even when the school is only a few feet away!), and here I sit at 1 o'clock in the morning typing away like a fool. :} Six hours will pass waaaaaay too quickly!!
I'm looking forward to the day when I can buy QUALITY clothes for myself for greater QUANTITY of money. Tried to do a little shopping today and it just didn't work out for me. Grrrr.
On this note, I believe I will simply say a prayer for the Lord's favor to prepare friends for our students, stamina for the teachers, and a continuous hot coffee for the parents to enjoy sans children! Maybe it won't hide in the microwave so often tomorrow. :)
Blessings to all of you,
Estelle
Sunday, July 11, 2010
The Metamorphysis of My Son
I can't get over the change that has come over my older son, T12. In another month or so, I'll be calling him T13. Not only has he grown taller over this summer, but he is really in the process into developing into quite a young man. I must say that while the process was difficult at times, so far I'm liking the results of that change.
I've always said that each stage in a child's life brings a new blessing, a new discovery, a new accomplishment, etc. It's not that past stages did not have their moments; FAR from it! The joys of watching my babies while they're babies was just as intense as watching T12 develop into a young man.
I've told T12 many times that while I was never a male, and never will be, I HAVE been a child, I HAVE been a teen, I HAVE been the older sibling, and I've got some idea about what goes through a tween's mind. He didn't believe me, until I called him on some attitude he was giving me as his mom. I reminded him that he has not experienced anything "new" that another teenager hasn't already experienced at one point or another. I've also told him that even if *I've* not been the one who has experienced certain things about growing up, his Daddy has. (oops, I suppose he'd get upset if I called his Dad "Daddy" on here...oh well, one of the prerogatives of being a mom, right? ;) He flip-flops between calling his father Dad and Daddy anyway, so there.... lol)
We've had some trials, we've had some heated discussions, and I'm very certain there will be more and deeper ones to come. As I said at the beginning of this, as a parent, I'm not fond of the process of getting him to this point, but I'm quite pleased with the results so far. Obviously, as human nature, there are some personality issues I'd like to see changed, but what I can't do, I know that if it's important to God, He can change him even more.
Right now, he's as tall as me (which isn't saying too awful much, seeings how I'm only 5'5" tall, lol). He is now wearing glasses which, I must say, gives him a very distinguished look, if I do say so myself! Hopefully he'll be wearing braces soon. He's been more attentive to cleaning up his act overall. He's making some better choices in what he gives attention to. He's slowly putting away his childish things, speaking more like maturely. He's thinking more seriously about what he'd like to explore for when that "grown up" moment arrives. I'm thankful he's developing initiative, becoming more attentive to reading his Bible and trying to apply the Word more. He's getting better about caring about other people, and he even has a kind word to say about his little brother, J7...in the middle of his bickerings with him.
The transformation is a fascinating scene to behold. I thank the Lord that I can see it with my own eyes. I pray that I can endure through the entire process and see good fruits of that process over time.
I've always said that each stage in a child's life brings a new blessing, a new discovery, a new accomplishment, etc. It's not that past stages did not have their moments; FAR from it! The joys of watching my babies while they're babies was just as intense as watching T12 develop into a young man.
I've told T12 many times that while I was never a male, and never will be, I HAVE been a child, I HAVE been a teen, I HAVE been the older sibling, and I've got some idea about what goes through a tween's mind. He didn't believe me, until I called him on some attitude he was giving me as his mom. I reminded him that he has not experienced anything "new" that another teenager hasn't already experienced at one point or another. I've also told him that even if *I've* not been the one who has experienced certain things about growing up, his Daddy has. (oops, I suppose he'd get upset if I called his Dad "Daddy" on here...oh well, one of the prerogatives of being a mom, right? ;) He flip-flops between calling his father Dad and Daddy anyway, so there.... lol)
We've had some trials, we've had some heated discussions, and I'm very certain there will be more and deeper ones to come. As I said at the beginning of this, as a parent, I'm not fond of the process of getting him to this point, but I'm quite pleased with the results so far. Obviously, as human nature, there are some personality issues I'd like to see changed, but what I can't do, I know that if it's important to God, He can change him even more.
Right now, he's as tall as me (which isn't saying too awful much, seeings how I'm only 5'5" tall, lol). He is now wearing glasses which, I must say, gives him a very distinguished look, if I do say so myself! Hopefully he'll be wearing braces soon. He's been more attentive to cleaning up his act overall. He's making some better choices in what he gives attention to. He's slowly putting away his childish things, speaking more like maturely. He's thinking more seriously about what he'd like to explore for when that "grown up" moment arrives. I'm thankful he's developing initiative, becoming more attentive to reading his Bible and trying to apply the Word more. He's getting better about caring about other people, and he even has a kind word to say about his little brother, J7...in the middle of his bickerings with him.
The transformation is a fascinating scene to behold. I thank the Lord that I can see it with my own eyes. I pray that I can endure through the entire process and see good fruits of that process over time.
Friday, July 2, 2010
America's Birthday, 2010
In a couple more days, it will be America's birthday. I love birthdays! : D There is much to celebrate. But there is much to remember, too. Some of it is good, some of it is not so good. It seems today's Americans are wanting to remember only the excitement of winning our freedom from Great Brittain, and not the toil and sacrifice it took our founding fathers to make it so.
I will not be attending my own church's 4th of July service this Sunday, but I've gotten a little preview of what our celebration will be like. Like many of our pastor's services, this will be a time of introspection as well as celebration.
I feel like God has given me a little note about our personal responsibility that we each have in preserving our freedoms in this nation. I've said many times since President Barak Obama was elected that America as we know it is in danger of being no more. Patrick Henry was a man who saw the true dangers that our new land was facing under Brittish rule. I find it unnerving that we are in danger of running full circle back into the hands of the very people we fought against 234 years ago. China carries the greatest of our current national debt, England carries some of our debt, too. "The borrower is slave to the lender." ... "The rich ruleth over the poor." This is NOT a position we need to be in, not at all. We have become the tail, and not the head. How have we so desperately fallen??
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance." Psalm 33:12
America has tossed out God and become its own lord. We had become a rich nation who has lost its wisdom in the Lord, and as a nation we are becoming a fool.
If we are not careful, we will become a nation which battles itself, and a nation against itself cannot stand.
Our main and current warfare is not with any given person or people, but with a political ideology. In an effort to protect our nation, we have allowed our leaders to create legislation (elements of high places) which oppose the standards given by our founding fathers through the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution of the United States of America. We are allowing legislation to pass which weaken us as a whole. We have a responsibility to hold our government accountable, and we are not doing it. It is not too late. We have the greatest means of communication today that was not available centuries ago...write your government officials and make them aware of where you stand. Let us remember with sober minds the sacrifices our founding fathers made to make us an independent nation and be willing to do what we can to rebuild and preserve it.
A pep rally of fireworks and patriotic hymns should encourage us in the spirit. Let us take a moment and sing, Happy Birthday, America!
I will not be attending my own church's 4th of July service this Sunday, but I've gotten a little preview of what our celebration will be like. Like many of our pastor's services, this will be a time of introspection as well as celebration.
I feel like God has given me a little note about our personal responsibility that we each have in preserving our freedoms in this nation. I've said many times since President Barak Obama was elected that America as we know it is in danger of being no more. Patrick Henry was a man who saw the true dangers that our new land was facing under Brittish rule. I find it unnerving that we are in danger of running full circle back into the hands of the very people we fought against 234 years ago. China carries the greatest of our current national debt, England carries some of our debt, too. "The borrower is slave to the lender." ... "The rich ruleth over the poor." This is NOT a position we need to be in, not at all. We have become the tail, and not the head. How have we so desperately fallen??
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance." Psalm 33:12
America has tossed out God and become its own lord. We had become a rich nation who has lost its wisdom in the Lord, and as a nation we are becoming a fool.
If we are not careful, we will become a nation which battles itself, and a nation against itself cannot stand.
Our main and current warfare is not with any given person or people, but with a political ideology. In an effort to protect our nation, we have allowed our leaders to create legislation (elements of high places) which oppose the standards given by our founding fathers through the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution of the United States of America. We are allowing legislation to pass which weaken us as a whole. We have a responsibility to hold our government accountable, and we are not doing it. It is not too late. We have the greatest means of communication today that was not available centuries ago...write your government officials and make them aware of where you stand. Let us remember with sober minds the sacrifices our founding fathers made to make us an independent nation and be willing to do what we can to rebuild and preserve it.
A pep rally of fireworks and patriotic hymns should encourage us in the spirit. Let us take a moment and sing, Happy Birthday, America!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
MISSING: Fascination for TWILIGHT. Can't find it Anywhere
I know, I know. This is right up there w/ being the only person on this planet who hasn't seen the TITANIC, right? It's okay by me~~doesn't bother me a bit. : }
ANYway...back to my musing....
WHAT is the fascination with the TWILIGHT series?? Even some of my devout Christian friends are into this series, having read the books and seen the movies. My husband, who is not a Christian, is as mystified about this phenomenon as I am (not so much about the overall fascination, but CHRISTIAN fascination). I personally find this disturbing and disheartening. This series is based on vampires, werewolves and other unearthly creatures, and their interaction w/ human beings. These are supposedly "moral" supernatural vampire creatures~~an upscale, more hip and modern, "beautiful" vampire tale that is far more appealing than the vampire movies of Boris Carloff's day. The vampire movies of Carloff's day made it EASY to be disenchanted w/ vampires b/c they LOOKED evil. Even Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE and sequel demonstrated the clinical, shocking, and mostly apathetic "life" of vampires. As disengaged as that "life" is, Hollywood still managed to make that life enticing...the reporter learned absolutely NOTHING from his subject's interview.
However, I believe Satan has deftly honed his craft in making the unearthly seem more appealing and somehow attainable, if only through entertainment. Remember that Satan's other name is Lucifer, as he was an angel of light. He was a beautiful creature. Since his fall from God's grace, Satan's obsession is to tempt mankind away from fellowship with God. He carefully chooses our greatest weaknesses to maximize the results. Since HARRY POTTER, TWILIGHT has become the hottest supernatural epic to hit the book sales, memorabilia, and the screens. The deception is that, while the series may be appealing to our physical senses, I believe it's still inherently evil because it becomes an idol, interrupting and shutting down our fellowship with God.
The Bible is explicit about the spiritual existence of angels and demons and other supernatural creatures. The Bible tells of many known and unknown human encounters with these beings. Matter of fact, Paul warns us in Hebrews 13:1-2 to "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." At the same time, we are to try every spirit, whether they be of God. If they are not, we are to abstain from them. There is repeated warnings in the Bible to remain from witchcraft and familiar spirits; not "familiar" as in a close friend, but "familiar" as in a demon or evil spirit who answers its master's call. For the most part, there is a separation between our physical world and the spirit world, with God creating the definitive line between them. Why does God lift prophets up "in the Spirit" and show them fantastic images and fantastic dreams? They serve His divine purpose, whatever it may be. Satan, through Hollywood, devises TWILIGHT as a distraction away from God's divine purpose in your life, not only as an idol but as an attractive evil, a lure into sensual darkness. Cinematic creatures are human developed to have a mind of their own, but when that season of sensual darkness ceases, those caught up in that darkness run the risk of having to obey that prince of darkness, separated from God's comfort and pleasure of life.
Perhaps it sounds silly, like the ramblings of a Christian fundie lunatic who needs to get a grip on real life. Fine, so be it. Scoff as you will. As Job basically told his friends, "Listen to what I have to say, then mock me if you must." I believe TWILIGHT has no business entering into the lives of professing Christians who are born again in the Spirit.
MISSING: Fascination with TWILIGHT. Can't find it anywhere. I don't want to find it now.
ANYway...back to my musing....
WHAT is the fascination with the TWILIGHT series?? Even some of my devout Christian friends are into this series, having read the books and seen the movies. My husband, who is not a Christian, is as mystified about this phenomenon as I am (not so much about the overall fascination, but CHRISTIAN fascination). I personally find this disturbing and disheartening. This series is based on vampires, werewolves and other unearthly creatures, and their interaction w/ human beings. These are supposedly "moral" supernatural vampire creatures~~an upscale, more hip and modern, "beautiful" vampire tale that is far more appealing than the vampire movies of Boris Carloff's day. The vampire movies of Carloff's day made it EASY to be disenchanted w/ vampires b/c they LOOKED evil. Even Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE and sequel demonstrated the clinical, shocking, and mostly apathetic "life" of vampires. As disengaged as that "life" is, Hollywood still managed to make that life enticing...the reporter learned absolutely NOTHING from his subject's interview.
However, I believe Satan has deftly honed his craft in making the unearthly seem more appealing and somehow attainable, if only through entertainment. Remember that Satan's other name is Lucifer, as he was an angel of light. He was a beautiful creature. Since his fall from God's grace, Satan's obsession is to tempt mankind away from fellowship with God. He carefully chooses our greatest weaknesses to maximize the results. Since HARRY POTTER, TWILIGHT has become the hottest supernatural epic to hit the book sales, memorabilia, and the screens. The deception is that, while the series may be appealing to our physical senses, I believe it's still inherently evil because it becomes an idol, interrupting and shutting down our fellowship with God.
The Bible is explicit about the spiritual existence of angels and demons and other supernatural creatures. The Bible tells of many known and unknown human encounters with these beings. Matter of fact, Paul warns us in Hebrews 13:1-2 to "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." At the same time, we are to try every spirit, whether they be of God. If they are not, we are to abstain from them. There is repeated warnings in the Bible to remain from witchcraft and familiar spirits; not "familiar" as in a close friend, but "familiar" as in a demon or evil spirit who answers its master's call. For the most part, there is a separation between our physical world and the spirit world, with God creating the definitive line between them. Why does God lift prophets up "in the Spirit" and show them fantastic images and fantastic dreams? They serve His divine purpose, whatever it may be. Satan, through Hollywood, devises TWILIGHT as a distraction away from God's divine purpose in your life, not only as an idol but as an attractive evil, a lure into sensual darkness. Cinematic creatures are human developed to have a mind of their own, but when that season of sensual darkness ceases, those caught up in that darkness run the risk of having to obey that prince of darkness, separated from God's comfort and pleasure of life.
Perhaps it sounds silly, like the ramblings of a Christian fundie lunatic who needs to get a grip on real life. Fine, so be it. Scoff as you will. As Job basically told his friends, "Listen to what I have to say, then mock me if you must." I believe TWILIGHT has no business entering into the lives of professing Christians who are born again in the Spirit.
MISSING: Fascination with TWILIGHT. Can't find it anywhere. I don't want to find it now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)