OK, I'll play......

A little Christmas time questionnaire...

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Egg nog, egg nog lattes, egg nog milkshakes.....yummo!

2.Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Haven't you heard the song," ...Santa Claus is.......dead."

3. Colored lights on house/tree or white?
White and blue lights on tree and this year we did colored on the outside along with some white on shrubs.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No, but did you know that mistletoe is a parasitic plant that attacks trees and can kill them?????

5.When do you put your decorations up?
New Years day.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Candied yams.

7.When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I think we were in 1st or 2nd grade and I remember being so mad because my dad went to great lengths(climbing up on roof and making reindeer prints in snow) to prove tous that Santa was real. He lied to us. I was so mad which is why I refused to tell my children the same lie and boy was Con mad at me for telling the girls the truth about Santa when they were 3 and 4.(the marriage almos ended over that one....)

8. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
sometimes one gift but the rest on Christmas morn.

9. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
I love that each of our ornaments represents a wonderful memory for us. Some are homemade, some are bought but all very precious. We fill out the tree with various hues of blue glass orbs, of course.

10. Snow. Love it or dread it?
Love, Love, Love it!!!!

11. Can you ice skate?
Heck, yeah. some of my favorite menories of our youth group was going ice skating in Walla WAlla.

12. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Pumpkin Pie(ditto)

13. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Who doesn't like receiving gifts, but the real joy for me is giving. I love to watch their reaction and I love showing love to others through giving.

14. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Oh Holy Night

15. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck?
Yum!

16. Do you attend an annual Christmas party?
If our SS has one we will go but Con's work doesn't have one.

17. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's?
Jeans and a sweater Christmas eve but definately flannel jammies in the morn.

18. Do you own a Santa hat.
No, but Lacey has one that she puts on the dog.

19. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?
My family Christamas eve. We do our own thing Christmas morn and then go to Con's folks around lunch time.
Personally I would love to go to the mountains with all of my friends and family and share a huge cabin, go skiing in the afternoon, eat chili and cornbread and drink hot spiced cider and just hang out with all my favorite people.

I'm tagging Ginger and Tricia since they haven't posted in awhile.

Better questions.....

God's little miracles.....

This is what we got up to this morning.
A "reflection" from an ornament on our tree....?????
Isn't that cool?
We're calling it our "miracle of the moment".

all you need is love....

It's 1:00 in the morning and I can't sleep so I'll blog.
An ugly situation happened last evening and I am just trying to grasp what God has in it for me.
I have been struggling with my flesh for 2 hours and I can't resolve it on my own.
Duh....
I really don't know why I even try, afterall, I'm dumber than a fencepost.
I decided to read my bible and try for a "fresh perspective"(should have tried that first).
He showed me lots of verses about valuing true friends and speaking wise words that are like apples of gold to a friend, about how friends sharpen one another just as iron sharpens iron, etc.
But what God really wanted me to know and understand is that if I have faith to move mountains but I have not love..... I am nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, it is not rude nor seeks its own, it is not easily provoked and thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth, it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Love accepts any hardship or rejection, and continues unabated to build up and encourage.
The love described by Paul in this chapter means determining what is best for another person and then doing it.
This is the kind of love that God shows to us.
Thank you, Father, for your gift of love.

your love language....?

So, God has totally been revealing His heart to me and has challenged me to love people the way that He loves them and then to ACT on that love.
"How?" I've been asking.
"Love them through my eyes" He has said to me.
And so I have been seeking to understand what makes people feel loved.
What is their love language and how can I fill their love bank not based on what makes me feel loved but truly understanding what actions I can show that would lead to them feeling loved and valued.
For instance: I feel most loved when people spend time with me and when people do special little things for me, so, my love language is time and gifts.
Lacey's love language is words of encouragment.
Nevada's is affection.
Con's is words of encouragement and affection and time.
So, if I want Lacey to feel loved/valued I shouldn't show her what makes me feel loved but what makes her feel loved so I would tell her how much she means to me
rather than getting her a gift, which is how I feel loved.
Conversely, I feel a little uncomfortable hearing words of affirmation because I would rather spend time with you in order to feel valued by you.
If Nevada needed encouragement I shouldn't tell her how much she means to me but rather I should show her by giving her a hug and expressing my love to her in the way she feels most loved.
God made all of us with unique features and He meets us where we are at, doesn't He?
What a great example He left for us to really meet people where they are and show them the love that He gave us.
With that in mind I thought it would be interesting to take a poll and hear what you feel is your love language.
I'll start:

Lori's love language is time and gifts

What is yours?

So close......

The girls had their first basketball game last night and guess what?
They went into OVERTIME!!!!!!
WOW!!!!
They did really well and should be very proud of themselves, unfortunately the score ended up 16-17, but they fought really hard for it.
Good job, girls.

On a side note:

I am not really sure we accomplished our goal of being Christ-like because there was some aggressive behavior that resulted in falls where the girl didn't help her opponent up or apologize to her, and our new coach doesn't really understand the church rules about giving the girls equal playing time for the first 3 quarters, uhhhhh.....but, this is a learning experience for all of us and I pray that God's will be done.

I covet your prayers, my sisters, for wisdom in how to work peaceably with the new coach and also that this will be a ministry effort for the players because we have so many new girls that attend different churches in our area that are on the team.
I pray that we will be different from the other teams and that the difference is Jesus living and loving through them.

Get up at 5:00 to participate in all the hub-bub of "Black Friday".
Check.
Wait in line with impatient, grumpy people who OBVIOUSLY have NOT had their first cup o joe.
Check.
Get irritated with husband who is not easily separated from his wallet and uses such foul words like; budget and...."did you get paid yet?".
Check.
Witness a crazy woman screaming at a sales-person for not having the item which was pictured in the ad.
Check.
Wait in line out in the cold to buy an electronic toy because it was the deal of a lifetime only to find out there are only 5 of them and we are approximately #63 in line.
Check.
Stop by "one last place" to see if we can score a "new deal" only to find out it went off sale last Tuesday and buy it anyway.
Check.
Get 90% of shopping done in one fell swoop with husband(who completes me) and get home before children even know we are gone.
Check.
Drink coffee with vanilla cinnamon creamer and eat left over pumpkin pie for breakfast with the girls who have no idea what you've endured for the sake of finding the perfect gift for them.....
Priceless.

happy wednesday.....

What are you taking to Thanksgiving dinner?
We will be going to the in-laws at 12:00 and I was told to bring(not jello)mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes and pies(not apple).
Yeah.
Then at 4:00 we will be introduced to gluttony when we try to eat again at my dear sister's house where my entire family will be(approximately 48).
We are very excited to see everyone together because that simply doesn't happen but a couple of times a year.
Yesterday my nephew, Jeff, and his boys, AJ and Cameron stopped by for a visit and it was so great to see them. They live in the Seattle area and we just don't see them very often sadly.
My other nephew, Dax, and his family have moved here from New Mexico to look for work and so my brother, Chuck, has 9 people living under his roof!!!!! and they will be there as well.
Also, a little bird told me that we will have a surprise visitor from Minneapolis!!!!!
Don't try to get me to tell you cuz I won't!!!!!
(call me later)
Anyhoo, today is a baking day with my girls.
Lacey will make her killer pie crusts.
Nevada will mash the taters like nobody can!!!!!
I love Thanksgiving because it reminds me to be thankful of all that we have.
To all my blogggy friends I wish for you to have a very wonderful Thanksgiving and know that I am so thankful for you!!!!!!

for Jill.....

I am feeling shallow so here is my best imitation of Facebook.....

Lori is.....thankful for the 1% spandex in her Levi's after eating a HUGE meal at church.

;0)

dark days.....

See how I am?
On the one hand I can go on and on about a subject which inspires me to babble and rant and rave until I am positively spent and left panting.
Then....nothing.
How is it that I can have so much to say one day and feel completely irrelevant the next??
I fear that my flair for the dramatic pours over into my ability to maintain a status-quo.
I am either "all fired up" or I feel obtuse.
I am either hot or cold.
Is there something wrong with me????
Maybe I am bi-polar, you know, high..then low.
???????????????????
Here are some song lyrics from Ginny Owens:

"What's wrong? What's right? Absolute confusion.
What's black? What's white? Everything looks hazy.
Such scenarios bring me to only one conclusion-
Maybe we've all gone crazy.
Oh, it's so clearly cloudy in the land of the grey."

I have moments when the "land of the grey" sounds....peaceful....free from decisions, obligations, turmoil.....integrity.
Sometimes I loiter there for days and weeks before I realize that I have believed the lie the enemy has served up for me; the lie that was complacency.
That is my struggle.
But, I believe that God created in me, in fact in all of us, a desire to be either hot or cold, not lukewarm or complacent because he knows that the enemy dwells in that place known as the "land of the grey".
What is the opposite of love?
It is apathy.
Most would say it was hate, but, I would argue that hate can be changed to love in a "New York" minute whereas apathy is devoid of emotion, it is a hard-heartedness.
God is showing me that when I feel obtuse, it is because I am not seeking Him and not seeking to stay connected to the Vine, therefore I shrivel up and become dry and weary and suceptible to attacks from the enemy.
And, so I need to stay connected to the Vine for he is my source of strength. He is my inspiration, my muse.
I am nothing without Him.
Thank you Father for your love, your salvation, your grace, your forgiveness.
Thank you to my sisters who inspire me to stay connected to the Vine.

Get it????

I was going to dress up as a communist for halloween but Obama stole my costume....

my election reverie....

OK, so Kim had some great insights into the whole political picture considering she is living out of the country and I think that it is great to keep informed.
And it got me to thinkin"....
Kim had some great verses on this matter and one in particular jumped out out at me:

I Timothy 1:1-2-"First of all then I urge that entreaties and prayers, petition and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."

Let's consider the historical background of this passage of scripture:

Nero was the Roman emperor at the time and history has shown his cruelty and his barbarism toward his fellow man especially after Rome burned and he blamed the Christians for that, which only served to make him more cruel and barbaric.
The Christians to whom Paul was speaking were seeking a "quiet and tranquil life" so that they could live godly lives marked with dignity.
They were under attack!!!
They had to meet in secret for fear of reprisal from the Romans who hated them because of their beliefs.
They were not free to worship God openly for fear of reprisal from the Romans who hated them for their beliefs.
They were isolated from secular society and all that comes with that for fear of reprisal from the Romans who hated them.......
Let's just say what it was; the world around them hated God and His Son, Jesus.
Are you sensing a theme here?
Not to the extreme, but, does it feel familiar to anybody???
This country hates God.
This country doesn't acknowledge Jesus.
This country has a strong disdain for evangelical christians.
CHRISTIANS ARE UNDER ATTACK IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THEIR BELIEFS!!!!!!
We, too, seek to live quiet and tranquil lives where we can practice godliness and dignity and yet, we live in a society that calls us "dangerous" and "radical" and "narrow-minded" where we cannot intergrate our places of work and education with any outward expression of faith in God for fear of reprisal from the "Romans who hates us for our beliefs".
Paul was speaking to his brothers and sisters in Christ words of encouragement because they lived in fear of the government that hated God. He urged them to pray for their king as well as all men in authority over them so that they could live tranquil and quiet lives.
And yet, did that generation ever experience those things that they sought???
No.
Peace and tranquility and living for God without fear of reprisal did not happen for several hundred years until God placed a new emperor on the throne, Constantine, who declared Christianity legal.
Just like that generation Paul was speaking to, we should fear a government and a "king" who hates God and devalues the people whom he supposedly serves.
We, too, cannot hope to live lives filled with peace and tranquility until God places men who love Him and serve him on thrones.
Does that mean we have no hope?
Of course not!
We are called to be thankful for all men and in all things.
We are called to have joy in our circumstances.
We are called to know that God is sovereign and to serve Him and Him alone, for He is worthy of praise.
We are called to pray.

"The fervent prayers of the saints availeth much."

I urge you , my brethern and sistren(hehe), to think soberly and sincerely whom you would see put in power over the people.
It IS a weighty issue not to be taken lightly or with the complacenct attitude that says; "well, anyway, it doesn't matter who's in office" or "God places kings on thrones" and leave it at that.
Yes, God is sovereign but sometimes when we have turned from God and we begin whining about what we think we need, He says," you want it, you got it".
Look at the Israelites when they wanted a king even though God gave them judges to preside over them.
God said, "You want a king?"
Yes, the people cried.
So, He gave them Saul.
Yeah, that didn't work out so well.
Was that God's best for His people?
UHHMMMM....NO!
But, it was what they asked for.
Please, please, please...we must be careful what we ask for.
We all have a voice and we all have a responsibility to be informed about whom we deem worthy to be placed in positions of authority over us.

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Homecoming.....

This weekend was Homecoming...finally!
It all came together beautifully and the kids looked stunning.
It was so cute when Colton saw Nevada he had these big ol' wide eyes and all that he could manage to say was," Wow."
Not to be outdone, Nevada replied, "You look schnazzy, too."
Please enjoy the pictures....








After dinner with their amazing friends, Dominique, Chrystal, Brandon,and Nathan, Colton and Nevada went to the Homecoming celebration and then everyone + 2 more met up at our house afterwards for nighttime airsoft games, snacks, Guitar Hero, jammin', and great fellowship.
It was so fun to see the bonds that these kids genuinely have for one another and how much fun they have together.
I cannot thank everyone enough for allowing this night to happen so that these young 'uns could have this very special night together along with their very special friends.
I feel very blessed to watch over these young people who are growing up into these amazing people who love the Lord and who are seeking His best.
Now I'm getting verklempt.(sniff, sniff)

Kissing Sanity goodbye....

So, yeah, I think I'm getting over my Texas DR/JH hangover and possibly moving toward some rational thoughts.
Here goes......

I have had some great insights into the whole boy/girl thing that has seriously pervaded our entire household.
For instance, what does the whole "courting vs. dating thing" look like?, I've been asked, and honestly, we don't have a model for it so we are sort of muddling through it and asking questions with every step taken.
We have talked to the parents of the "boy" and they seem to have the same attitude towards this and we seem to be on the same page if things "progress" like we HOPE they won't, but we want to be ready(is that possible???).
UUUHHHHMMMM, I have had numerous conversations with other friends who are walking down this path and, let's just say, we're all wingin' it!!!
We'er wingin' it together.
Seriously, we don't know anybody who did the dating thing right, but we all seem to want to teach our kids a better way, that is, God's way.
And that feels right.
I've read, "I kissed dating goodbye" and my girls have read it and I think we should read it again.
It just feels right to embrace the idea of courtship and begin showing our kids what it can look like and then letting it happen, naturally, of course.
I think I would rather it happen now, while they are under our roof than when they are out and on their own so that we can be part of the process and available to them????
It's funny because a year ago I was saying that boys are NOT going to be part of our family and my girls are NOT doing the dating/even courtship thing until they are out of school!!!!!
And then it happened.
Boy.
Boy happened.
I had to get over it.
Getting over it.



Pray for me.....fervently....

in Beaumont......

Hi everybody,

We are in Beaumont TX in a kitchen that serves about 7-8000 meals a day.
It has been a great experience so far...very busy, hard work but wellllll worth it.
We have been blessed with wonderful people to work with and it is not too hot!!!!
the church here has quite aset up and we are VERY pampered here like I've never been pampered.
They do our laundry and we have AC(PTL!, we have a shower unit with hot water and we are done about 3:00 everyday.
We are working with people from TX, MT, NJ, NY, really all over.
It's awesome!!!!
Please pray for my friend Jeremie from Americorps youth as he is being pursued by the Lord like crazy and he is asking alot of questions and we are just ministering to him.
I totally feel your prayers, thank you, really everything has just gone so well.
I miss ya'll madly.
I'll get on when I can(there is always quite a line!!!) and keep you up to date.

;0)

?????????????

OK, I think we are finally leaving today??? or tomorrow????
We will be serving in Beaumont, TX in a "mega-kitchen" that puts out 80,000 meals a day!!!!!!
Beaumont is about 20 miles from Galveston so it is right in the middle of the devastation. Con told me that JIB shut down 250 stores in that area because of the storm.
Please pray for me that I will be a blessing to all those around me and pray that God gives me the strength to do His work for His glory.
Thank you.
See you in 2 weeks.

;0)

my Mary moments....

I was reading in Hebrews yesterday when I came across a passage that really spoke to me.
It is found in Hebrews 3:12-13:

"Beware, brethern, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

In my commentary it talked about how UNBELIEF is a grave sin because it leads us away from God.
How many times do we see brothers and sister in Christ struggling with unbelief and we go about our own business and refuse to treat them in the biblical manner that God has shown us.
"..but exhort one another daily, while it is call Today.....
My friends I believe we are missing the boat when we miss an opportunity to speak Truth in Love to those around us who are struggling with unbelief because the bible says it is a grave sin and we need to treat it as such.
I was also reading my notes from the sermon and I always write down the scripture references and then study them later.
So in my notes I had written 2 Cor. 11 and I went on to read the whole passage.
I came to verses 22-28 and they stopped me in my tracks, so to speak.
Paul was speaking, of course, and relaying how much suffering he had endured for Christ; He spoke about how the Jews had scourged him 5 times, he was caned, stoned, thrice shipwrecked and left in the water for an entire day, he was robbed, threatened, he was often weary and hungry, he often went without sleep, he was cold, and imprisoned.
But it was verse 28 that slayed me: "beside the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches."
I looked up concern in the dictionary: "a. marked interest or regard usu. arising through a personal tie or relationship. b. an uneasy state of blended interest, uncertainty, and apprehension."
I had to ask myself; do I feel genuine concern for our church and if so, is it more because I feel personally connected to the people there and therefore have a concern for their well-being?
Or, is it concern that is based in uncertainty and apprehension because I can identify specific problems in our church and I feel a definate frustration that we are NOT relevant in our communities and therefore we are possibly not an effective church.
I am still processing it all and I am really seeking God's face in this.
On the one hand I see the example that Paul displayed and I am ruined, I mean, look what he endured and yet, look where his heart was. On the other hand, I DO feel great CONCERN for our church and my greatest desire is to see how God continually renews us and shows us His vision for our church.
I want to be a servant for the Lord who endures "suffering" with a smile and I want to sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leading. I pray that God will give me a heart of genuine concern for His church especially when we encounter "grave sin" in our midst.
Aren't you glad that we have a heavenly Father who never gives up on us???
I sure am....

uuuhhh....

You know that sound that a balloon makes when you let the air out?????
That is precisely the sound that is going on in my head becasue we just got the word that we are on "stand down" until further notice.
Gosh, and I was so packed and everything....
Oh well......it's all good.

update....

Hi everyone!
I'm still here at least until tomorrow and I'm packed and ready to go!!!!
Sounds like we'll be serving in San Antonio at a shelter there for evacuees from all over.
It was funny to me that I got a email from Gary Floyd this am suggesting to the teams that we be properly hydrated BEFORE we go on this trip and it was one of those "HOLY DUH" moments for me.
In all the hustle and bustle of planning and packing have I been quenching my thirst by spending time at the feet of Jesus where He will sustain me and he will carry me through the next 2 weeks?????
I've had some "Martha moments" and now it is time for some "Mary moments".
"Father, forgive me for trying to do it all in my own strength. Thank you for never giving up on this silly servant and thank you for what you have done in my life and what you will do."

BYE BYE....

Just a quick note:

I found out yesterday that a Disaster team of 30 was needed to go down to Texas to help in relief efforts.
As of today there is only about 16 who are going from the state.
We are leaving tomorrow for a 14 day stint on a feeding station.
As you know, God has been refining me by asking me to give my very best to Him in all things, including the mundane things of life.
And so, I have risen to the challenge this last week and guess what?
I am totally prepared to go!!!
I had a two day notice to go on a 14 day trip and I had most things taken care of around the house that made it possible for me to even consider this trip.
Did anyone notice the sign at church???
It said something like giving our best to the Lord!!!!!!
It is amazing How God prepared me for such a time as this.
Please pray that we impact that community in a positive manner. Please pray that I can connect with lost and hurting people and point them to Jesus.
I love you and will miss you greatly.

p.s. I'm a little nervous about the length of the trip. please pray that God will fill me up in such a way that I won't be terribly homesick on day 11, 12, 13 AND 14.

Here's an article about Carol and her illness featured in Seattle:

http://www.komonews.com/news/28125714.html

The family over here is having a fund raiser yard sale the 19th and 20th and they are asking for donations of baked goods and yard sale items.
If you are interested in helping or have items for the sale, let me know and I can pick them up.
Please continue to pray for Carol sight to be restored and also she is terrified to go home where she will be totally dependent on a nurse.
Thanks girls.

I loved the Sunday morning message!
Tory was talking about how we must look at our weaknesses more instead of our strengths because through our weaknesses God is glorified!!!!
I am sensing a theme in my life: God is showing me my weaknesses and He wants me to change them so that he can bless others through me.
Here's an example:
I love to do yard work.
I could do yardwork all day long all week long and twice on Sundays(JK!).
Seriously, I love communing with nature and dirt and ...stuff and it is some really sweet time of worship for me.
Housework, on the other hand...not so much.
I am a survival housecleaner: I clean when someone's comin' over.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a pig cuz I like things neat and tidy but don't do the white glove thing cuz it will be brown.
All this to say: I don't invite people to my house spontaneously because I would be embarrassed that it was dirty and so, we miss out on fellowshipping with friends and neighbors.
Not good.
Here's another example:
I am not so good at follow through, in fact, you could say I'm a bit flaky.
Because I love to fly by the seat of my pants and I actually thrive on that frenetic energy, it is difficult to make plans in advance and actually see them through because by the time it gets there, I want to do something else, or I just plain don't want to do it anymore.
That is weakness...not good because I want to be a good example for my daughters and I should "do all things as unto the Lord".. that is to give my best at all times.
The problem with this flakiness is when you are a part of a, let's say a body of believers, that people will overlook you and look at someone who is good at following through and maybe this person is overwhelmed with life and what am I doing to bless that person and ease their load?????
I should find my reputation above reproach so that I can more effectively be a servant to my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Anyway, that is what God is talking to me about and sunday morning was such an affirmation of that.
Thank you friends for loving me AND my warts and thank you for challenging me to give my best in all things not just in the fun or easy things.
God is good...all the time.

;0)

Happy Birthday Vada!

Here are before pics of Vada's room.....






and the after pics......

a fresh start....

We started school today and it went really great for a first day.
We are all organized and prepared for the year ahead.
I have most of my ducks in-a-row except for submitting my SLP which totally daunts me, but, after talking to Jill I realize I have it REALLY easy so I will just do it and not worry about it.
Lacey started her new math program which is Consumer Math instead of the Incredibly-cruel-torment-anguish and pain that algebra 2 would have brought into this house.
Anyway, after 3 years of her crying,"what does math have to do with life?" I decided to find math that was relevant to life.
It's similar to consumer economics, in that it teaches how to budget a household, house to buy a car, how to use credit cards responsibly, how to buy a house; how it is NOT like consumer ec is she will Not have a "husband" or a " pregnancy" to deal with.
I thank the Lord for the small things.
Nevada was happy this year to have new books that were not hand-me-downs from Lace.
Again, I thank the Lord for the small things.
Have an awesome week everyone and remember...the Republican National Convention started tonight so the next time I see you we'll have something to talk about.
(right, like we need to have a topic to have something to talk about-ha!)

here she goes....

I know the answer to this question but I have to ask:

Has anyone been watching the Democratic convention?????

Anyhoo, of course, we have.
First of all, I am not getting on my soapbox to make a political speech or anything, I simply want to say that this next election is critical to the US in that the world is watching and waiting for the outcome and they are poised to react.
Please, please, please understand and embrace the right that we have and do not take it lightly, for other countries, you could die just to try and cast your vote.
It is a priveledge and we should be thankful for those that fought and suffered to give us this very right
Enough about that.
As I was watching the DNC yesterday and listening to various speeches and watching the crowd as they waved their banners and spoke of their loyalty to certain candidates I was struck by the great crevasse which separated the two entities; the delegates vs. their candidate(s).
If you're listening, you'll hear what each side wants and "ne'er the two shall meet".
This election(forget what I said about no speeches) is more about making history than it is about making a change for the better.
Let's face it, the people that want Hilary elected want her because she'll be the first WOMAN president. I mean, they can't want her for her politics because her politics are crazy-along-the-lines-of-communism, PLEASE!!!!!
The people who want Obama elected want him becasue he'll be the first African-American president. Surely they can't want him for HIS politics because...he doesn't have any!!!! He's a first term senator that only shows up to vote half the time and when he does he has shown himself to be the MOST liberal senator on the hill. When he is asked about the hard issues that people care about he starts his dodge and dance routine that leads to him not answering at all!!!!
What do the pundits say about him?
They talk about how pretty he is.
Do you see what I mean???
The candidates are making these not-so-lovely speeches to those who only care about their own agenda and frankly, it doesn't matter to the delegates what comes out of the candidates mouth because their minds are made up, have been made up for a long time.
Seriously, this country has become a country full of stupid sheep who will follow anyone who will "tickle their ears" and who will throw them some "breadcrumbs" that are easy to swallow, in fact, that are too good to be true because they are far too expensive, and who puts those leaders there?????
WE DO!!!!!!!!
What does Dr. Phil say?
"We teach people how to treat us."
And we have taught our leaders to have their own agendas that have nothing to do with helping people or bettering our country and we have taught them that there is no accountablity for their actions, we'll just blame the one before us, and them, after awile we'll just forget and start the process all over again.
That's insanity people!
I would have loved to have been part of the grass roots movement that started with our first government 230 years ago just to see what difference one voice could make.
Now, it seems the crevasse cannot be bridged, that it is too large a task.
What difference can I make??
I'm sure I would've received a sound lashing from one of our founding fathers, perhaps Thomas Jefferson himself, if he'd heard someone say that in his time.
Who would've imagined that 200 or so years later that some poitical junkie would be spouting this stuff from her forum called a blog that hopefully will inform and inspire those who drop by, for that is my intention, simply to inform and shed light on this important issue.
Thanks for listening, my friends,. I know that I am passionate about politics and probably quite alone in that, and that's OK.
I love you anyway.
)HEHEHE)

BTSWTH(back to school...what the heck)

Everyone around me is positively twitterpated!!!
Is that the right word????
I might mean "atwitter".
I don't think that's a real word but what I mean is everyone is buzzing about school starting and well, so am I.
It is a real priveledge to school my children at home.
I love knowing that they are receiving a Bible-based education that teaches Truth about a loving Creator who has a special plan for them.
I love having the support that I have in other like-minded parents who choose to teach their children at home.
Has anyone noticed that the days are getting slightly shorter and the evening are slightly cooler????
Fall is comin' which is my favorite time of year.
For me, the start of school is synonymous with Fall coming and with that comes the winds of change.
Change of schedule, change of wardrobe, change of haircolor, change of skintone.
It's impossible to be complacent this time of year which is what happens to me after a long summer and so I'm always ready for something new.
So girls, enjoy the next couple of weeks as we all get into a new routine. I pray it all goes smoothly for us as well as our children.

Church Chat

Gosh, it's good to catch up with everyone in the blog-world.
I have to admit, though, while I was posting yesterday I was mindful of those who visit this space that are not part of my sidebar contacts and I really struggled with how much to say and how personal to get.
I talked to Tricia about it and she challenged me to get back to why I blog and like Jill suggested to reevaluate our goals in blogging.
So, with that in mind I decided to filter just a little but still followed my heart.
When I started this blog initially it was to motivate me to write because I have started to write 2 books and I needed the practice.
Now, however, it feels more like a ministry, a sharing of ideas and a time for reflection and deep-felt concerns that I can safely air and know that I have a community of women who share my thoughts and hold me to a standard, who lift me up in prayer when I need it.
Thank you fellow bloggers for your inspiration and your thought provoking words.
I was talking to Dana this morning about what "church" looks like and we talked about how it doesn't have to be on Sunday morning, that "church" is simply worshipping the Lord, singing praises to His name, bringing our burdens to Him, and fellowshipping with fellow believers.
Guess what bloggers?
This is Church!

Punk part 2

Back to my story.....
Yesterday afternooon I decided that I was not going to church because....who knows why, I just didn't have it me to go and I was thinking I could get some stuff done around home so I sent the girls off to church without me.
I talked to Jill after they left and we had a great time of catching up and sharing what was on our hearts. It was just what I needed. We talked and laughed about how sometimes church felt like such an obligation to serve and how sometimes it sucks the life out of us.
We laughed because sometime we ask why it can't EVER be about us and why it's ALWAYS about someone else, for me the line from SNL, "when do I get my stuff?", totally aplied.
Then my cell rang and it was Ginger and she was sweetly asking if we would reach out to a mutual friend at church that night and I said, "of course" except that I wasn't going to church so, therein, was the rub.
I called Jill back and told her what Ginger said and we laughed over the irony of it all, I mean, here we were, whining, and then we hear that our sister is hurting and I distinctly heard the Lord say," You're right, Lori, it's not about you, It's about ME."
Jill graciously offered to pick me up for dinner and we went on our merry way.
I sat with Dorothy and her girls and a gal that I hadn't met before.
Her name was Rhonda and she has 4 beautiful kids; Chevona, Patreesha, Ionna, and Julius.
We began to share with her and fellowship with her and I was thinking that this was why I was supposed to come. Here was Rhonda, new to the church, didn't know a soul and here she was at my table. So I did what God has gifted me to do: I befriended her and then she began to slowly unravel to the point that she began to have a full-on "panic attack" of some sort.
I put her in a room and told the kids to hang out and grabbed Dorothy and together we sat with Rhonda and talked/prayed her through the moments in her life that led her to our fellowship.
It was incredible.
She is a believer who has been running from the Lord for 15 years and who has given the enemy many footholds in her life.
We listened while she cried, wailed, lamented, cried some more, and finally, she was spent and allowed us to pray fiercely over her.
We sensed the enemy and at first she wouldn't let us touch her, which was the enemy I know because of how she physically recoiled and in my Spirit I heard, "I know you, Jesus, Don't touch me."
We called the enemy by name(side note: this whole paragraph disappeared again, I just called on the Lord for protection from the enemy in this place. Apparently he doesn't like me calling it by name) and then called on the healing power of Jesus Christ Our Lord to protect Rhonda from the lies of the enemy. We asked God to remove her tormentors and to to instill in her the peace of God. It was incredible!!!!!
She was a different lady at the end of it. She was exhausted but, at peace. Before the prayer-battle she kept saying, "get out of my head" with these wild eyes.
Afterwards, her eyes were clear, her head was clear, she was at peace and completely exhausted.
OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD! HE REIGNS IN HEAVEN ABOVE WITH WISDOM POWER AND LOVE!!!!
Isn't it awesome to know that God will go to extraordinary lengths to pursue us and to heal us.
Thank you, Father for your strength and your love, for your faithfulness.
Update: Rhonda just called me and said that she is at peace and is happy and without fear for the first time in a a long time and her kids are happy and she was singing praises to the Lord and she knows that God will take care of her. She told me that she got up and read her bible and was just singing to the Lord!!!!
Hallelujah!!!!!
The lesson for me: Show up and God will do the rest.

Punk part 1

Satan is a punk!
Uhhh......
I've been working ona post for nearly an hour and I was just getting to the good stuff about rebuking enemy and calling on the authority of Jesus Christ to heal my sister Rhonda and all of a sudden my post "disappeared."
Nice try.
You're a punk and you always have been and you don't scare me. I serve a risen Lord and He loves me and He hates you and someday soon He's taking me along with all the believers to be with Him in heaven and there is nothing you can do about it, punk!
I don't think your accomodations are going to be to your satisfaction, but your stay....will be eternal.
Enjoy, punk.

gone gone gone she been gone so long.....

So....I've been on an extended "blog-cation" and now.....I'm back!!!!!
What did I do on my "blog-cation" with all that extra time on my hands???
Well, I could've written a book or gone on a real vacation or completely reorganized my kitchen and pantry or I could've landscaped the entire yard and scoured yard sales all summer to find the perfect yard art to complement the new design, however......
I did none of those things because it was one crazy busy summer that flew by so fast that my head is swimming.
I did have a wonderful girlie-getaway to Portland with Kimberly and it was fabulous, just what I needed.
My garden is fruitful, the bounty plentiful, the salsa flowing.
Now it is time to get my ducks in a row and get ready for school....yikes, is that here already??????
Uhhhhhh.....
Anyhoo.....I need to check in with my blog-sistas so.....

my week.....

My week:

.....??????.....one word.....quiet..
Here's another.....nice.

Seriously, with the girls gone and Con home for a couple of days I feel as if I've had a vision into the future: life with just me and him(that would be my wonderful husband, Con) and I gotta tell ya, it was nice.
I kept the house clean, the dishes got done, cooking was a BREEZE!!!!
I had only me to think about and only me to get motivated.
Nice.
I finished some projects that had been sitting for months and months(my "knitted" purse that I'll be sporting next time you see me).
You know what felt the best though, was just knowing that the girls were doing work for the Lord and it felt good to me to wonder about them spiritually; how was God using them this week and were they being lights in a dark world?, things like that, not just worrying for the sake of worrying, ya know what I mean? I wasn't worried about them, I was just wondering about them.
There's a difference.
It felt as if we let them go a little bit, and guess what? it didn't hurt a bit.
Life after kids: huh...???
I'm getting a little glimpse of it.
I'll be gone next week, then they will be gone to camp, them we'll be home for a week, then the girls go off with their grandparents for 10 days, then I'm having a girlie trip with Kimberly for 3 days.
Humpfff.....??????
It's all good.