checking it twice

For awhile now, I've had a mental list of things I'd like to do before I die. Not that I'm planning to do that any time soon. These aren't things that really matter, just fun things that I'd like to do. My friend Andrea recently posted on things she'd like to do someday, and it inspired me to write some of mine down. I picked nine because, well, everyone does ten.

go wilderness backpacking
visit Italy
learn how to throw pottery
publish a children's book
play a cello (and do it well)
dye my hair red
write good music
learn how to swing dance
invent something useful

And there it is, in black & white. I probably missed one or two of my favorites.

toothpicks are not our friends

Thanks, everyone, for praying for my family! After 3 days in the hospital, mom is home, and she can see some improvement! Hurray! Dad's sinus infection is still raging, but he's not as swollen so that has to be good.

Mom got a chance to plant some seeds at the hospital, pray for Pam (a fellow patient) that God will work in her heart and draw her to himself. She let mom pray with her before she left. Also pray for Pam (a nurse). My parents know her from way back. Mom was able to talk to her for quite awhile and said she seemed like she wanted to just keep talking. Pray that God will use mom's presence and testimony to remind her of what she is missing by being out of fellowship with God. I'm so encouraged by mom's testimony at the hospital and her acceptance of a stinky situation, knowing there is always a Reason for things that happen.

Nevertheless, walk a wide path around toothpicks.

today, I see God in joint compound

God is BIG. we are little. Again and again, this truth is driven through my thick skull. My very thick skull.

This week, God provided 5 full and 2 partial 5-gallon pails of joint compound for us for free. Someone at church has just finished a basement remodel and their contractor made a "mistake" in his estimation of how much they would need. This guy from church asked if we thought we could use it.

Can we use it. We have an entire house to drywall! Praise God for contractors' errors, and church family generosity. We are blessed indeed.

infections

Hey, everyone who knows my sweet parents! Mom is having to spend the night in the hospital due to an infection in her foot. She stepped on a toothpick whilst walking stocking footed through her classroom last Thursday, and has already had an IV of antibiotics (Saturday) and more antibiotics to take orally, but it's just not getting better. My poor mommy.

Also, Dad has a massive sinus infection that you can visibly see swelling up the side of his face. Poor man, he's miserably ill and his wife is incapacitated.

Will you guys pray for my parents, please?

before the throne

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
King of glory and of grace,

One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

words Charitie Lees Bancroft Smith

it's just plain fun to say

Word of the Day for Thursday April 13, 2006

salmagundi \sal-muh-GUHN-dee\, noun:1. A salad plate usually consisting of chopped meat, anchovies, eggs, and onions, served with oil and vinegar.2. Any mixture or assortment; a medley; a potpourri; a miscellany.

"miscellany" is a good one too. Thanks to my brother nate for calling to my attention the Word of the Day website.

but i feel like asking

I was talking to a customer the other day about an issue that needs to be resolved, yet I can do nothing about except wait for all parties to do their jobs. After I thanked him for his patience, he said, "there's no use for me to get angry. It doesn't help the problem get solved and it [makes you mad] so you don't want to talk to me." This coming from a man who is in all probability an unbeliever. What a rebuke!

Just this week I found myself upset because our van is having major issues--a burned out transmission started it all, but in the process, the mechanic found about 4 other issues that need to be fixed and we are probably going to end up spending as much for repairs as we did to buy the van in the first place. Honestly, frustration is building. House repairs may quite possibly be at a standstill until more resources become available due to this unexpected expense. Timeline for move-in? unknown.

There is a war going on in my heart. Questions about provisions, about what our needs really are, about why, about how, about when. And then, Scripture floods my mind, and the war is on.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (matt 7:11)

Since when do I get to know why God is doing what He is doing? It really doesn't matter if I know why or when or how. God loves me, and I know that He will always do what is best. God who cannot lie promises to meet my needs. He has proven time and again what a faithful provider He is.

I have forgotten
-the greatest gift of all, salvation! All "needs" pale in comparisson to this one, met by God's grace

-friends and family to encourage me spiritually

-medical bills, paid in full (two hospital visits with no insurance)

-the time mom & I prayed for new upstairs carpet without telling anyone else and God provided us with FREE carpet! (and why was I shocked)

-the FREE cars we got growing up (at least 2, I lost count)

-thanksgiving baskets

-checks in the mail, or slipped to us at church when "no one" knew we needed money

-graduating with no college debt

-a place to live for two years plus, virtually rent-free

-free furniture, over and over

-wonderful jobs for both of us, health insurance
and MORE provisions, too numerous to count.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. (ps 69:11)

the name game

We who are both named with two of the more popular names of our day know how it is to be known by your first name and last initial, or to hear your name shouted out and turn around only to find 5 or 6 others in the room turning also.

It's not like we hate our names. Michael said it about right yesterday: "I like my name a lot, I just wish it wasn't popular"

And so, we thought we were being really original when we came up with our top picks. Turns out our favorite girl name is #6 in the top ten most popular names, and I'm not sure I can do that to our child. Neither one of us want anything crazy; we just want something not on the top 10 list. SO we're back to square one. Or we just have a cool middle name picked out. Or we'll say forget the top ten list, use the name we picked, and deal with the same whining I put out when there was constantly more than one Jenny around.

Either way, we're still working on choosing a suitable moniker for the next member of our family, should that member be female. Thankfully, our boy choices survived unscathed. Now for the boy middle name...

confessions of a slacker

I'm horrible at remembering birthdays (as you may know from experience). I've tried to use a calendar with color-coded ink; a special card organizer from Hallmark with little post-its to remind me; I've even written all the birthday cards for each month out, addressed and stamped them with "mail me October 13" notes on each one.

But still, I forget.

I only have one brother. I grew up with him my whole life. He's always had the same birthday. And he's quite the brother. I forgot to call him on his birthday.

Sorry Nate. I really do love you, and your card and present really are on their way.

Thanks goes out to my mom, who emailed these sweet little reminders of how fun it is to be a big sister!