Life

Today I was fortunate enough to simply be in contact (although, indirectly much of the time) with someone who gave birth to their first child, a baby girl.
I wonder what it is about birth that excites me so much, to the point of tears....I can't imagine what I'll be like if my sisters have babies. I'll be beside myself I know it. This girl was not a stranger, but we are not closest of friends and best buds either yet I found myself anxious and detesting the suspense and then when news of the delivery finally hit, I could hardly think of anything else but the parents and their new daughter...it's so hard to truly grasp the miracle in life, and I believe that's part of what gets me every time. The fact that this little girl was growing inside of this young lady....bit by bit...so carefully knitted together....functioning...perfectly...and not just functioning perfectly the very minute she was born....she didn't just burst through the birth canal and then take the form of a tiny human but from the minute she was conceived her cells were multiplying and organs were developing.....her heart beating so much sooner than so many people out there will want to admit to. When I saw her sweet face...just in a picture, I could not contain myself. Beautiful little honey. The way she looked in that photo was the way she looked just a few hours ago before she entered into this new world. Amazing.
I will have to retract what I said. It's not just the birth of a baby that is so exciting. It's new life. And new life doesn't just happen in the mother's womb.
Congratulations to the wonderful mother and father.

Conviction and Hope

Currently I am hacking my way through this book that was loaned to me by a friend. Upon her handing it to me she engaged in a quick disclaimer: "You'll either love this or hate it". I used the term "hacking" because I feel that is the most appropriate way to describe my experience in reading it so far....it's just like "hacking" my way through a jungle. 1) There is SO much to process
2) I have to pick which path to take in my thoughts and "hack" (there it is again....and I like to imagine myself with a machete...because everyone knows that's what you use to get through a jungle...because everyone surely watches Man vs. Wild) through the parts I disagree with and the ones I agree with.

This is my first time to read a book where I'm learning how to accept some of what the author is saying as her opinion on things, disagree not out of pride but only because I see it as just that...an opinion, and THEN still be able to take "apples of gold" from the text as well because there are many of those. I find the whole thing a little bitter sweet. I'm used to saying HEY I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT and then putting it down because why bother continuing to read.....well the same reason I bother continuing a heated discussion with my husband until we reach a resolution....because much can still be learned. We will not always agree with EVERYTHING a fellow follower comes up with when they form their own opinion on how certain matters should be handled in relationships based upon scripture but then expounded upon....however, every time one of those opinions is directly aligned with the standard set for us through the Bible I have found myself agreeing whole heartedly.
The conviction has always been followed up with by hope.

Another day

I do find it truly astounding how many times I can run into the footboard of our bed. We've only had this in place for maybe a couple of weeks. Thanks to a thoughtful friend it was given to us...along with the head board....I felt so grown up ...and still do walking into my room and seeing a head board on our bed. A real live grown up I would think to myself...until I started running into the footboard every day, and multiple times in one day. I found hope in the assumption that after a few days I'd be used to it and naturally widen my turns around the bed on my way out of the room but that doesn't seem to be the case. After the most recent incident that literally brought me to the floor in shock as my whole leg went numb I had the thought that I may never get to a point where I don't run into it. However I like it so much I can't seem to decide what's worth more.....my legs or the foot board. My most recent bruise count resulting from these collisions totaled just under ten....with one massive discolored soft spot that marks the area that takes repetitive beatings....even now as I stood up to double check my math I bumped my head on the shelf that houses this very computer.....so I will count that bruise as well since it was acquired while talking of the others..indirectly the footboard is still responsible.
There, a nice even ten.
When in life did I start placing such value on things like foot boards and head boards? When in life did I turn into someone who would actually pause to decide if the foot board should remain in place even when it causes so much pain?
Pride. Hard headedness. Stupidity. Laziness. ....any of these could be the culprit, with laziness being the most unlikely.
Either way the footboard is still there for the time being. It's going to take a lot more than paralysis to get me to give in to this fight.

Pride goes before a fall

This of course is the case for me on a regular basis and just when I'm proud of myself for not being proud...I fall.

Mission

It's easy to start something and not finish due to discouragement, lack of will, desire, motivation, due to sudden complications, busy-ness . . . and when it comes to doing things in Christ's name, many times these road blocks are of satan - an attack- how easy we make his job for him when we quit.

Finally

I suppose this should take a new direction now that I'm back on here. There are matters more pressing, than dental expenses, cracker box promises, and what ever other topics I typically choose to cover. Those topics were very important, don't get me wrong and should never be taken lightly, however, the time has come for a change. Not the kind of change our president wanted....not those kinds of changes, but something better . . . but first I must do some changing and although I have an idea of what kind of change I'm aiming for, I know it will come out better than I have ever imagined. I love being cryptic. It makes me feel like a spy.

As much of Him as I choose.....