Between the Storms

2011 in Review

2011-12-30T18:25:00.000-06:00

Dear friends,

This has been a wonderful year for JournEzine and we want to thank you for your prayer and your participation.

We just closed our 6th Annual Christmas Story Contest with some wonderful entries. You can view a PDF of the entries HERE. Thanks and congratulations to all of those who entered.

You might have noticed that JournEzine has a new format this year. We now publish daily and send updates from our feedburner (sign up on our main page) or Follow us on Twitter.

JournEzine is rich with diversity with our "Focus on Israel", "World News" and "Going Global" sections in addition to the general publication. We are pleased to announce and welcome Laury Hubrich to our staff this year. Laury heads the "Daily Manna" section of JournEzine where a diverse selection of authors contribute to a daily devotion/reflection/teaching. Please watch our Daily Manna section for Vlogs, video teaching, articles, poetry and more! We are blessed to be able to welcome Laury as our newest editor. Feel free to contact her atJournEzine2@yahoo.com.

Please continue to pray for this ministry as we embark upon 2012. Look for our new section of Testimonies to be launched in January!

Part of our calling at JournEzine is to encourage and edify and also to provide avenue for others to use their God-given gifts. As always, JournEzine welcomes your submissions of original work in the form of art, music, video, articles, stories, poetry and more!

JournEzine wishes each of you a blessed 2012!

God bless,

Jeanice McDade

Managing Editor

This has been a portion of my 2011. A good bit and portion. I can't wait to see how God uses Journezine in 2012!

And in this Corner...

2011-12-23T21:24:00.001-06:00

I shared this devotional on JournEzine today and wanted to make sure I put it here on my blog too. I'm having fun editing the Emagazine but it's lots of work! Anyway, here is my post:

Every year at this time, Santa Claus enters our vocabulary. We warn our children they better be good for goodness sake! I must admit I used that on my kids to get them to eat their vegetables and clean their rooms for as long as I possibly could. Santa had a good run in our house until they were old enough to realize that he just wasn't real and they were being played by a mama that wanted them to mind, is all. Smart kids.

I wonder why we do this? Do you wonder that too? Do we talk to our children about Jesus as much as we do about Santa Claus? Ouch. I'm sorry if that hurt. I mean, honestly. How many times do we sit around together watching movies about Jesus? Okay. Now how many movies and cartoons about Santa have we watched this season already? And the channels will still have them on after Christmas too and we will watch them. We all seem to be suckers for Santa.

Maybe it's his giving spirit and joy he spreads to everyone in the land? -- Ummm... I thought it was Jesus' birth that heralded in that joy, right?

Luke 2:¹⁰Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The baby didn't come bearing physical presents. He didn't come with a sword. He DID come to change the world though, and nothing was ever the same after His birth. He came to live His life on earth as a common man and experience everything just like us. He taught His followers about God and how to walk a faith-filled life and when it was time for Him to go back to Heaven, Jesus died for all of our sins.

Phil. 2:⁸And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.⁹Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name…

Santa didn't do any of those things. Even if he were real, why would we spend so much time exalting a fat old man in a red suit? He's a good guy. He gives us hope in the human race. He makes us smile. He helps us remember to give to others. I know all that but is it really worth confusing our kids? I watched one Christmas movie where the kids were praying to Santa.

I talked with an 18 year old who still believes in Santa. Granted, she's a special needs child but she's a thinker. She told me, "Yes, I'm a Christian and I believe in God and Jesus. Of course I believe in Santa!" You see, I just think somewhere along the way, our kid's theology is getting messed up. Confused. It's clear to us. Santa is fun. I love Christmas movies as much as anyone, probably more. I love trying to figure out how in the world Santa could get to all those houses in one evening. Yes, I admit it. I still ponder that. But let's don't confuse our kids for the sake of our childhood memories and traditions.

The line needs to be drawn. I'm not saying we should outlaw Santa. I'm not a Grinch, after all. Let's just be careful to keep things in perspective. Try to talk about Jesus' birth and the real reason for CHRISTmas much much more than Santa Claus. That's all I'm saying.

I also wrote about this on the Joe blog. It was called, Bad Theology. I hope you will read that also. I shared a website I found that was most appalling.

Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours!

Laury

Flash Mobs

2011-12-05T19:20:00.004-06:00

There is something about a flash mob that makes a person smile, you know? Especially at Christmas time. Someone shared this video on FB. I can't imagine being out shopping and then one person starts to sing and then the person beside you begins and soon, the whole place is filled with song. Can you imagine? I would LOVE to be a part of a mob scene like that.

I wonder if that's how it all started in Bethlehem?

The star. Look at that!

The shepherds and wisemen... all lending their voices to worship the newborn King.

The angels singing. Wow! Unbelievable! The first Christmas flash mob was angelic. Who knew!

Isn't that the way it should be with our faith? One person, let's say you, shares what Christmas really means. Do you realize that many don't know. Honestly. I work with teens that wouldn't have a clue what the true meaning of Christmas is. Think about this: if it were all about Santa Claus, wouldn't it be a big let-down once you were older and found out...you know...that he's not for real? The only reason we celebrate Christmas at all is because Jesus was born. There would be no Christmas without Christ.

Maybe that's why flash mobs are so very cool. People who don't even know the true meaning and Christians alike, all stop. They point. They smile. They tap their feet. They sing along. They hug. In this video, you'll see how the whole atmosphere of the mall changes dramatically because of a shared event with a life-changing message. My life changed when I finally understood the true message of the Christ Child and all that it meant. Love came down from Heaven and nothing was ever the same again!

Free2Be Me...

2011-11-27T18:39:00.000-06:00

My Blog has been getting ignored lately. I've been busy with other blogs. I'm editing at JournEzine, Daily Manna for Jeanice McDade. I gather up devotions from authors or find them from blogs or websites and edit them and place them in the site. It's pretty time-consuming but I love it! It's a good fit for me because when I don't really feel like doing anything else, I can edit or browse the net or look for pictures to go with posts. There is always something for me to do. I like corresponding with our authors too. They are a great bunch of people. I love when I ask people to write for us and they are thrilled to do it too. That's fun.

I hope all of you read JournEzine. There's so much to it that I don't even have time to explore. Also, right now there's a Christmas Story Contest going on. Here's the link if you're interested in submitting. http://www.journezine.com/journezine-sixth-annual-christmas-story-contest-2/

I was looking at my awesome blog tonight because I miss it and because Mari changed my commenting area. I tend to get tired of the way things look but I've had the very same header for a long time now and I'm not tired of it. It's perfect. It's me. Mari's a great blog designer. She helped me figure out exactly what I wanted. I have to tell you, it was kind of painful. It was like a therapy session. Weird, right? I believe God used her to get to me. There is so much more there than meets the eye. More than anyone can know. Anyone that knows me, really knows me, will kind of get my header. And as you read my blog, you will come to understand it too. If you're wanting your blog redesigned, Mari's your woman!

I have so much I'm supposed to be doing, such as book reviews, but what am I doing? I'm writing about things I'm doing and should be doing. This is the last of my Thanksgiving break. It's been wonderful having all our kids home. Now it's time to get back to a routine again. Monday's coming quickly. Way quick. Too quick. And another day will find me Free2Be me in Christ.

Posted on Joe Today

2011-11-26T10:15:00.000-06:00

My thoughts about faith are on Joe Blog today: Bumper Faith Living. I don't know how theologically sound it is, but it is straight from my heart and life. :) I hope you'll follow me over there and share your thoughts too.

Posting today at...

2011-11-22T07:24:00.000-06:00

I posted on the Joe blog today. It must have come from a place of deep fatigue:) I hope you will go and read it. See you there!

Y Here? Y Now?

2011-11-08T11:13:00.001-06:00

My Y post today is something that has been on my mind, probably for most of my life. Y am I here? Y was I born in this time? Y was I born in this place? I also write about it in much more detail over at the Joe blog today. I hope you'll go read it too:)

Have you ever wondered that? For all the complaining we sometimes do (sad to say) there are places who have it so much worse than us, even in our own United States, even. I went on a mission trip to West Virginia a couple of years ago, and there were houses there with dirt floors still. I met people who were poor to the extreme.

Y am I so blessed to be born here in the U.S. in Central Illinois with a fair amount of money to keep me fed and clothed with a roof over my head? Y wasn't I born in Africa? Y wasn't I born a different into a different race?

Y wasn't I born into a different period of time? I could have just as easily been born in the 1800's or maybe during the time Jesus walked on earth. Can you imagine? Y now?

Take some time to enjoy this video by Chris Rice and a young guy named Bobby:) Be sure to check out the other Y posts at Peej's blog and see you next week for the very last letter...Z!

X Marks the Spot!

2011-11-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late for AzZ post this week. Go see Peej's blog for other 'on time' X posts. And now, my post that has been on my heart all week but I've been squishing it down because I had no time or energy to write it.

X marks the spot. Actually, not on a pirate map, though. It marks the place on my heart from all the times it's been touched this week.

I've been missing church lately. When school starts, I get slammed down physically, emotionally, and mentally. Because of that, it's hard for me to get there. With harvest full force the last couple of months, Jim hasn't gone, and with no kids at home, I've been staying in bed asleep. You know, the longer you don't do something, the harder it is to start doing it? It is true. Last Sunday, honestly, I could have gone. I didn't feel quite as bad as normal.

Complacency hit me.

I was pretty safe in my bed. I was secure knowing the extra sleep would help me get through my work week better. I was placing my trust in myself instead of placing it in God. What I needed more than anything was to get my gas tank filled up with the Word at church. I needed to be around Christian friends and family. I needed the hugs and back poundings (even though they make me wince.) I needed that physical contact. I needed corporate worship no matter how I felt. I've gone to church barely able to walk before. I've held onto Jim's arm. I've wilted onto his shoulder. I've sat through worship. I've done what I've had to do. I've been present or maybe not so present. I've been there. Complacency beat me this time.

Anyway, tuggings right at the heart are drawing me back. One tug at a time. One FB writer friend shared some verses from Psalms with me on my wall. It was very timely and she had no idea what was going on. Well, she will now:) A close friend from church who keeps me accountable, texted me last Sunday to check on me. Another close friend asked me out of the blue if I went to church that day. I had to admit, no, I didn't. It made me feel good to know that she reached out of herself and her own hard circumstances to hold me accountable.

One morning, as I was getting ready for school, a FB PM popped up from my pastor. He wanted to encourage me in the Lord. He knows I have health problems and I hadn't been there in a while. That really meant lots because our church is so big.

You see, X marks the spot right to my heart. People reached out to me, each in his/her own way, and drew me in. God used them to draw out the complacency. It was like an antibiotic for my soul. I am so very grateful for them.

So, X marks the spot. God used lots of people, more than I wrote about here, to touch my heart. I'll be sitting in church this week, no matter how I feel. You can count on that. And now I'll be ready to be hit hard by the old trouble-maker himself. I might need some prayer. Yikes! Anyway, X marks the spot.

I'm trying to Nano my way to 50,000 words this month. I can use some prayer for that too. Until next week for the letter....ummm...Y - See ya!

The Pirate Queen

2011-10-27T22:09:00.001-05:00

The Pirate Queen, by Patricia Hickman, is one of the best books I've read in awhile. It's published by Waterbrook Press and I read it on the Nook Color.

This book hits on many topics such as: love, marriage, adultery and forgiveness. It also includes: coming to know Jesus in an intimate way, standing up for those who are unable to, and relationships with family and friends.

This would make an awesome Hallmark movie. I wouldn't be surprised to see it there one of these days. Just watch and see!

The main character in The Pirate Queen, Saphora, had her bags packed, ready to leave her husband, when her husband came home and uttered the words, "I'm dying." All their lives changed at that point - for the better.

The book is about love and forgiveness and is beautifully written. It's real. Not watered down fluff. Awesome, awesome, awesome! I was sad when the book ended.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

What?

2011-10-25T17:42:00.003-05:00

This has been my day. See it? Can you imagine hearing it in a newly freshman-y bass voice? And it goes up at the end. What?

And the - Huh? Even when the kid knows what's going on. It was funny at first and then it got to be a little bit irritating.

Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?

Huh? Huh? Huh?

Huh?

Huh? Huh?

Irritating, isn't it?

Ha ha! Anyway, just thought I'd share a piece of my day with all of you for my A2z. W is the letter. WHAT is my whine:) I just threw HUH in there for good measure. Go to Peej's blog for more SANER W posts. See you next week for X then Y & Z. And yes, I said more saner:) It's just one of them there days.

Say WHAT?

Nose Dive

2011-10-22T09:37:00.000-05:00

I'm posting today at the Joe blog. I've been in a slump but I know it's time to pull up before I crash. I don't want you all having to visit me at a crash site. That wouldn't be good at all.

"Israel, put your hope in the LORD,

for with the LORD is unfailing love

and with him is full redemption."

Hope to be up and flying soon!

JourneZine post today!

2011-10-19T20:47:00.000-05:00

I am posting at JourneZine today.

Hope you will follow me there!

Victory or Vaporization?

2011-10-18T06:39:00.000-05:00

Today is the end of my seven week stint. It remains to be seen how it will play out. Anyone want to write the conclusion for me? I can give you a scenario. I have a cold. I'm run down. The kids are excited about their teacher coming back because it gives them some ray of hope that maybe she doesn't get grouchy like I do. Ha ha! Good luck there, kiddos!

Will this be a day of victory or will the kids vaporize me? Will adults win out or will students prevail? Will see you at the same bat time - same bat channel:)

And you can see other, much better V posts at Peej's blog, but you better hurry in case they are vaporized too! You never know about this day. You just never know!

Under a Week!

2011-10-11T21:20:00.000-05:00

Last week I talked about the Tontos in my life. I certainly depend on them. God put each and every one in my path for just the right time to speak just the right word. He continues to do that. Tonight I had a friend call me. She always lifts me up and speaks into my life. She usually challenges me too. That part isn't always so pleasant. HAHA:) But it is so very needed, you know? That's a true friend.

Sometimes a friend doesn't even have to say a word, just sitting beside you is enough - just like Charlie Brown and Snoopy over there. I love that picture:)

Sometimes God puts us all alone so we have to cling to Him. I experienced that a couple weeks ago as I got in the van to drive to school. It was pea soup. Just horrible. I had no idea it was bad out until I got going. I couldn't call anyone or text. There was NO WAY my hands could let go of that steering wheel. All of my senses had to focus on the road. I was scared. It was just me and God. God and me. When I got onto the main road, I realized just how bad it was. A car went by and I didn't see it until it was right on me. Talk about scared. It was one of those days you just pray and then gun it. Scary. Anyway, some days, God wants it like that. He reminds us that HE is all we need. He is always but He also gives us others. He is so awesome!

Okay, let me turn away from spiritual for a bit:) Today isn't T day. It's U and I was having trouble with U. Well, not with U personally. Ummm...U know what I mean. Shut up:) Ugh. Haha. Okay. All I could think about was underwear and I'm certainly NOT going to write about underwear! Not about granny panties or tightie whities! Nope! Not going there!!! See me not going there?

Okay! Now then. Seriously. I will go here. Right now I'm kind of in a bad spot. I'm with some people who have experienced things that I can't even imagine. I feel at a loss how to help. I'm at the end of my rope. I hear that's where God is though. Just waiting to catch me when I fall. I can't say anything more here. If you ask me personally I'll tell you but just suffice it to say - I would really appreciate your prayers!

I have UNDER a week - see? That's where the U comes in. And I'm pretty happy for the UNDER a week business. I will have fulfilled a commitment that God laid on my heart, partially anyway. I'll still be there but not in the same capacity. It will be very freeing to let go of the responsibility.

Soooo...I will continue to trust God and give Him full control. And I will keep breathing. Keep breathing... I might need to be reminded of that if you see me around. Keep breathing...Keep swimming...Maybe even remind me to let go of the rope if you see me hanging for dear life and the ground is like a foot under me:)

Now go on over the Peej's blog to see the other U posts. I betcha no one had the nerve to write about Underwear! I just betcha! See you next week if not before!

Tonto?

2011-10-04T06:37:00.001-05:00

Today is Tuesday which makes a very good day to celebrate the letter T. Go on over to Peej's blog to see more T posts!

Yesterday as I was driving to school, I was praying for a certain friend. She's a fighter of injustices and is very upset right now at how some things are going. I don't know details. She just asked me to pray so that's what I was doing. God knows it all. He doesn't need me to know anything more than I do.

Funny thing is, I described her as the Lone Ranger to God. I prayed that she wouldn't feel that way. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto at his side. This friend has God, of course. The Holy Spirit is constantly filling her, giving her the words to say whenever she speaks - but sometimes we need a Tonto. I'm not sure if she has one but I hope she does.

No one ever remembers Lucy without Ethel or Fred without Barney. We were made to work together. Be a team. Hold each other up. Be accountable. Once in a while, sing the other's praises and then turn the tables and the other do the same. It's not a one-way street.

There wouldn't have been a Lone Ranger without Tonto. Tonto was the right-hand man. Lucy wouldn't have been nearly as funny without Ethel at her side. I'm sure we all would turn off the television sets without the crazy DUO. Can't have one without the other.

There are Tontos in our husbands, wives, friends... God gave us each other for a purpose, to meet needs in different ways, in ways that others can't. Amazing ways. I am so grateful for the many God has put in my life. I wouldn't be able to make it without my Tontos. And in turn, I am a Tonto to many.

Look a moment into your friendships. Do you acknowledge the Tontos there? Do you see maybe you are taking advantage and now it's time to be Tonto yourself? Just for a bit at least? October is Pastor Appreciation month. This is an excellent time to encourage and build up our Lone Rangers/Tontos Pastors. Many times, especially in small churches, they are both rolled up into one - sad to say.

I'm in an awesome church where the leadership all works together as one. There is NO one Lone Ranger but they all take turns being Lone Rangers/Tontos. Since this is my blog, I will take the time to appreciate my pastors at First Christian Church: Greg Taylor, Kent Hickerson, Ernie Harvey, and Adam Brucker -- all great men of God - truly!

AND, thank you, my loyal a2z readers, for encouraging me in this meme journey. Until we meet again -

"Hi Yo Silver, away!"

And a fun song to leave on...

Saving Grace

2011-10-01T21:29:00.000-05:00

I've just finished reading Saving Grace, by Annie Jones. I received the book from Blogging for Books, Waterbrook Multnomah. It's the second in the Prayer Tree series. I didn't read the first so it's a stand-alone book but I did feel I missed out on a bit. As in real life, the characters had lives before this book came into being, so I guess it makes sense that life happened that I didn't need to know about. Yes? But the author does a good job in explaining things that needs explaining as things play out.

As the title suggests, the book revolves, sort of, around saving Grace, an old woman in the town who everyone stays away from and is scared of because of silly gossip. A group of very good women friends bond together through various antics, life moments, and prayers, and make a big difference in this woman, Grace's life. In saving Grace, they tie together their friendships for the long haul.

The book really is good. It took a bit to get into it but once I got each character figured out, I was truly hooked. I highly recommend it. It's a fun read plus it reminds us to not get sucked into gossip but reach out to people and get to know them. They just might surprise you!

You can find this book at Christianbook.com or Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Blogging For Books review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Silliness

2011-09-27T07:26:00.000-05:00

Hey hey hey! It's a2z day. Hop on over to Peej's blog where you'll see lots of S posts. Soooo, S is the letter. My days through the week are filled with silliness.

What can I say? I work with high school kids. Very special high school kids. I can come to school feeling very bad and they make me forget. They make me laugh.

Real belly-laughs.

A cheerful heart is good

medicine,

but a crushed

spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter

and your lips with shouts of joy.

Job 8:21

A happy heart

makes the

face cheerful

Proverbs 15:13

Sooooo, I'm just here to say, I have one of the best jobs around. Yes I do! We have our ups and downs. I have to yell at them at times, yes I do. ergh:( But, for the most part, we have a blast! The funny thing is, their lives aren't perfect. They have disabilities that make life hard yet they keep on.

I have one kid that tells me the scores of the games from the night before. He can tell me who is playing Sunday night football. He will tell me who is in what position in Nascar. Honestly, I don't care, but he does so I try to act interested:)

They are like square pegs trying to fit in round holes. They squeeze and squeeze. They don't quite make it BUT they have fun trying. I'm proud of our high school population. I've never seen them make fun of our kids. But it's a small town and they've all grown up together. They know each other and their strengths and weaknesses. That's kind of a cool thing in a weird creepy kind of way.

It's awesome to enjoy your job, but you know what? I don't consider it a job. It's my ministry and I'm loving it. This is where God has me for now and I will do the very best I can in His Name and for His glory. I hope and pray that when these kids see me, they will see a bit of Jesus reflected through me. That's my prayer.

100 Words

2011-09-25T12:53:00.000-05:00

Jan Ackerson has a very unusual blog. She writes each post in only 100 words. I thought I would try my hand. It's not as easy as it looks. Mine is below but make sure you go take a look at Jan's blog called, One Hundred Words. She's also hosting a writing contest right now too. It's over the 26th so you better hurry to get in on that!

8:00-3:25

I brace myself for the onslaught of noise that will soon regal my senses from the moment the students enter until I can legally send them home. I pick out their individual voices as they come down the hallway, just as a mother knows her own child’s voice on the playground.

My name, along with a poke on my arm, in case I’m suddenly hearing-impaired, starts each of their sentences and my day.

“Mrs. Huuubrich, tttthe Bbbears wwwwoon.”

“Mrs. Hubrich, Dougie thinks he’s the boss of me...”

I hand out hugs, admonishments, and high-fives from 8:00-3:25.

Welcome to my world!

Jewels of Encouragement - Holy holy holy!

2011-09-22T06:27:00.000-05:00

I'm posting at Jewels of Encouragement.

I hope you'll take some time to follow me there.

It's just a click of the button to the left.

See you soon - I hope!

Really Great Unfinisher is Finishing!!!

2011-09-20T06:42:00.001-05:00

R is for Finishing? Well, no. R is for sliding into a REALLY great finish with the a2z meme with Patty over at Ordinary People. Ha! But I have nine weeks left. Rats! But I am managing to keep up in a REALLY busy time in my life right now. I knew I'd pull that out of the hat.

I sent out a plea to Jan Ackerson one day for a good book to read with my class at school. She not only gave me the title, but she sent me the copies too! Awesome woman, she is! The kids R loving and hating it at the same time.

Joey is a boy with MAJOR problems. He has ADHD and his medicine works in the mornings but wears off by the afternoons. He has an interesting home life, to say the least, which doesn't help his situation at all. He loves to entertain his classmates. One day, he learned he could swallow his key then fish it back up his throat.

Now, the author, Jack Gantos, is awesome at describing exactly what is happening and what it looks like. The girls are grossed out and covering their ears and the boys are giggling. Today I offered extra credit to one kid if he comes in with a key covered in spaghetti. He said that would be perfect because he's eating spaghetti tonight at home. SCORE! (He did it! See the picture? Touchdown!)

Anyway, poor Joey, he tries so very hard to be good but he can't quite do it. All of us can relate to this book because in our class, we all try hard to be good. Yes, even me.

You know what I LOVE about Joey Swallowed The Key? It's hard for me to take it out of the kid's hands. They, as in the girls who make me think they are so grossed out by it all, want to know what's next, and that, my blogger friends, is a major accomplishment.

I will quote the famous Joey when he hasn't taken his meds,

"Can I get back
to you on that?"

Sounds like a good ending to me. Keep on reading!

Until next week....
See ya!

P's & Q's

2011-09-13T17:40:00.001-05:00

As you can see, this is a catch-up week for me Everyone else is happily blogging on Q at Patty's blog but I snuck around the corner with p & q together. Shhhh.... Of course, I'm not doing what my post title says - minding my p's and q's, but it's my blog and I suppose I can do what I want to so I will. I'll refrain from sticking out my tongue because that would be over-the-top juvenile. I'll let that critter do it instead cuz that's just how it is right now.

Do you know where the phrase, 'mind your p's & q's' comes from? Good old Wikipedia says this, "comes from early printing presses. Printers placed individual letters on a frame to print a page of text. The letters were reversed, making it easy to mistake lowercase p's and q's in setting the type. A reminder to stay watchful of the details could have come from this time as well."

Our church has started a new Bible reading challenge. There is a new catch phrase - NT 75 - the New Testament in 75 days. Today was the first day. You know what that means, right? It means that I'm totally not behind yet. I'm right on track. Matthew chapters 1-4 read. Marked off my handy yellow chart. Check. Yes!

Well, as I read, of course I was watching out for what could relate to minding your p's & q's. John the Baptist was the official spokesperson for making sure that everyone did just that. He was, "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" (Matthew 3:3 NIV)

John denied himself of all luxuries. He lived in the desert. He ate locusts and wild honey. His clothes were made of camel's hair. That couldn't have been very comfortable, I'm sure. Can you say itchy? I read where camel's hair is coarse and inflexible. I'm thinking that's just how John was too. Pretty inflexible. He knew what he knew and he would stand up for that truth no matter what. In fact, that truth made him lose his head later in his life.

John minded his p's & q's according to what God called him to be but the world didn't like it. He would be killed because he taught something different than what the world was teaching at that time. He was paving the way for Jesus.

As inflexible as John was, Jesus was the opposite. Jesus seemed to break the rules. I'm sure John didn't understand that one bit but he knew enough to not call His Lord on it or maybe he did question Jesus. Maybe it was John that sent his disciples over to ask Jesus the fasting question, you think?

"Then John’s disciples came and asked him, 'How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?'

Jesus answered, 'How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.'" Matthew 9:14-15

Jesus came to shake up the world. He ushered in a new way of looking at things. The Old Testament Law said to stone the adulterer. Jesus said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

Jesus was giving us a new way of living. No longer did we have to follow strict guidelines of what to eat and what not to eat. The p & q's were much easier. Jesus brought us freedom.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

John the Baptist did what he was supposed to do. He paved the way for Jesus. Jesus came and paved the way for us to get to Heaven. Minding our p's & q's is much easier now. Can you imagine what it was like before Jesus came? Wow! I can't even imagine!

Okay. Nine more letters to go! See you next week if not before!

Do Not Lose Heart

2011-09-11T16:57:00.000-05:00

Today my husband and I went to the early service at church. They were honoring firemen, EMTs, policemen, and military of the community. Since Jim is Fire Chief of Beason Fire Department, he wore his dress uniform (even though he didn't really want to- these guys are very modest) and we went to church. One other fireman from his department met us there. It was nice to see them both standing side-by-side.

Anyway, we went to first service. I said that, right? That means that not only was it at 8:15 but that there were quite a few people I didn't know. Really, it was like being a visitor. First service and second are truly different. Not only the people but our styles of worship. I'm not complaining though. I was ministered to and this is what I'm writing about.

The first song we sang, It is Well, with my Soul, I almost couldn't sing it because all was not well with my soul. I had a rough week. Man, those old hymns have hard truths tucked in those verses!

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

The song goes on to say...Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come...

Satan's been buffeting me this week. Trials have been hitting me from all sides but I haven't been doing what this song says. I haven't been saying, "It is well, it is well, with my soul."

I got through the song, but not without noticing a woman behind me, singing nice and loud and off-key. That made me smile. I'm not the only imperfect one in the building. But then, here we go. Ugh. Blessed Assurance.

Perfect submission, (Are you kidding me?) perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

(I certainly wasn't feeling the love this week.)

Perfect submission, (submission? perfect or otherwise.) all is at rest;

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

(us two? me and God? don't think I was walking in step with Him.)

watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

(I was lost, alright- ugh.)

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;

this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

(Honestly, I wonder if anyone in church could sing these words?

Who went around all day praising God? Come on!

Was anyone but me listening to what they were singing?)

And then this song, He Leadeth Me:

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!

O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!

Whate’er I do, where’er I be

Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful foll’wer I would be, (I'm following but I'm not too faithful)

For by His hand He leadeth me.

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,

Nor ever murmur nor repine; (Huh? Never?)

Content, whatever lot I see, (Content?)

Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

Okay, I got the message, already. I remembered that I prayed at the beginning of the week for God to be with me, direct me, guide me each step of the way. He was there. I know He was. It's just that so many battles seem to be in front of me; so many foes in the way. Are those battle lines in the sand or just scuff marks? Am I tired and making more of things than what I should? Something that happens on Friday maybe wouldn't be so upsetting if they happened on Monday? Am I letting pride get in my way? You know all those questions....

Our pastor preached about finding hope when evil happens but I related his sermon to my week, of course. Finding hope in a horrible, mixed-up, rotten week.

2 Corinthians 4

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (8,9)

"All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." (15)

"Therefore, do not lose heart." (16)

I guess that's what hit me the hardest: DO NOT LOSE HEART. Don't give up. Don't throw in the towel. I've thought about it. I have these thoughts of, 'I'm not cut out for this. Someone else wants it, someone else thinks he can do a better job - let him go for it. Let him put in all the long hours of preparation and headache...for what?' But God put me here for, "such a time as this." Esther 4:14. I have to stick it out; finish the race. Most days are awesome. I can't let a few knock me down and keep me there.

It's hard. The enemy wants me to think I'm all alone. Alone is a terrible place to be. In this high-tech world, we depend too much on cell phones to text, no good old phone calls anymore. We depend on FB to keep up with each other. I love the techy world. It's fast and perfect for most things but it's easy to get lost in too at times. When you've been kicked around in the 'real world' and feel at a loss as to what to do, it's so very easy to feel utterly alone and abandoned everywhere. Sometimes I want to hear a real voice. I want to know a friend has taken a few moments out of her day to come find me. Meet me where I happen to be, like hiding under my covers. Scared to come out.

Satan knows how to play me, yet when I'm better, I know his tricks and I can outmaneuver him to help others. Why is it, when I'm the one getting kicked around though, I can't see it? I can't help myself? That's why God gave us friends. To come alongside each other and pick us up. Check on each other. Pray. Send text and email prayers. Listen...Wipe away tears...

We need each other and most probably even more as life heats up. Tomorrow is a new day. A new week. A time for me to try to get it right once again, but I know I'll fail more than once. I only hope that I will be able to say that I invited God to be with me every step of the way and that because of that I can sing, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Organization!

2011-09-01T20:41:00.000-05:00

Finally! I've achieved something I've not ever achieved before - a level of organization! For another month I will be substituting for a class at school while the teacher is on maternity leave. I've never been so organized in all my life. I have everything planned for the week and even into the next. It feels great!

I can't say it flows into the rest of my life though. I'm a piler at home. I know where everything is - don't get me wrong. I suppose I'm an organized clutterer. Is there such a thing?

I have a routine down now and it helps so much to have as much done at night as I can. I know what exactly (to the second) what time I need to wake up to get things done. I can even get to school early. That means no speeding to make it just in time. Of course, it is just the end of the second week. The newness hasn't worn off yet. Give me time. Soon I'll be sleeping in as long as possible, I'm sure, and pressing my luck with the speedometer.

I'm having an awesome time with the class but I'll be ready to hand the reigns to the teacher and slip back into the aide position. And that planner picture I found online. It's so not true. From the beginning, well, after I flailed around a bit, I've let God be in control. Things have gone much smoother since I did that. It's not perfect because I'm not perfect and the kids aren't either but we're sharing some laughs and learning lots so I suppose that's what matters.

So you see, O is for ORGANIZATION. If only I could get a handle on things at home. I'm sure my life would go much more smoothly there too, but until then, I will delight in my success at school and thank God for being with me each step of my days and thank all of you for praying for me too.

N for Nook Color!

2011-08-23T20:07:00.000-05:00

N is for Nook Color! My husband came through and got me a Nook for my birthday. So sweet! I think it's because I'm having such a hard time with moving our son to college and adjusting to this empty nest thing. In fact, this is the very first night I made dinner for the two of us. It is so strange. He came in one night and asked if I was going to cook. I looked at him funny. I think he went and made a peanut butter sandwich. No Nik, no dinner. Sorry. I was in mourning. I did make baked chicken and potatoes tonight.

Anyway, I will sing the praises of the Nook color. It is pretty awesome. I have The Help downloaded on it, which Mari and I saw at the movies and it was AWESOME! Everyone should go see it. I also went to my public library and signed up to borrow e-books through them. That is the reason I went with the Nook in the first place. As soon as I was told it's the kind libraries are using, I was sold! Anyone shopping for one need to know this. I'm all into using libraries.

I also have access to Pandora radio and anything on the web, really. The only thing is, it isn't 3G but that's okay. I can also set up my email accounts. For all of us that have faithwriter emails though - that won't work. I'm thinking I need to move them over to gmail soon. Maybe. Maybe not.

I have an excellent Bible App. That's what I really wanted. Tecarta Bible:

Features

The full New International Version (NIV), New International Reader's Version (NIrV), Today's New International Version (TNIV), The Message, or the King James Version (KJV) downloaded to your device, so no Internet connection required!
Great looking text—most handheld Bibles look terrible, but the NIV Bible is formatted to look like your printed bible.
Clickable Zondervan Study Bible cross-references for quickly finding related passages! (on supported translations)
Full-text search.
Easily take notes—keep them on your device or email them to yourself or friends!
Bookmark favorite passages and quickly return to them.
Navigable history of where you've been recently, like in a web browser.

Anyway, I just wanted to quick check in and say - N is for Nook color and it's also for Nik, who I'm missing lots. Especially when I have to go upstairs and feed the turtles :( Go check out other N posts at Patty's blog!

Second day of school done and third one will soon be here. Thank you for the prayers and encouragement. Until O.... or before!

Come Help Me Celebrate...

2011-08-22T06:32:00.000-05:00

Come help me celebrate my birthday by following me over to the Jewels of Encouragement blog! I may not be a spring chicken but I certainly don't have one foot in the grave!

As always, I get quite personal but that is my life as of now. Soppy wet and full of changes. See you at Joe and we'll talk more there!

M is for Moving On...

2011-08-18T22:42:00.001-05:00

I am very late this week. I just got home yesterday from Michigan, which does begin with M too, I know. But this post is my focus now - Moving On. We are moving my son Nik to college tomorrow, to Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. He's planning to go into Criminal Justice.

I know he'll do well. He's a very smart guy. I know he'll make lots of friends plus lots of his friends from Clinton will be there too. That's not the problem either. The problem isn't him...the problem is me.

He's my baby. I had him eighteen years ago. I was thirty years old. Ryan was about ten when Nik was born and Kristen was eight. That's a pretty big age span. By then I had things pretty much figured out. I wasn't so scared. We had more fun.

Nik went everywhere and did everything. He learned to count by keeping score at Ryan's baseball games. He was really good at it too. The older boys played with Nik so he was really sociable and it's been the same to this day. He's my fun kid. Not ever shy. Never. He has a dry sense of humor and he's so very funny.

I got to work at the same school as Nik for these four years. It's been so much fun and now....guess what? No job openings for teacher's aides at SIUE:) Don't think the two hour commute is feasible even if there were. I think Nik might frown on the idea too. He loves me but he would draw the line to me following him to college.

He's ready. His bags are packed. I know because I helped him tonight. He's been ready for a year. I know because I've heard him bemoaning the fact that his senior year took so very long. Yes, he's ready but this Mama Heart isn't. This Mama Heart is breaking in half.

M is for moving on, which is what Nik is supposed to do but it sure does hurt. It hurts bad. But I also know that I'll get used to it soon, too soon. And he'll be home soon, too soon:) Just when we get used to our empty house. :) But for now, my heart breaks and the tears flow. Tomorrow is going to be a killer on this mama and so many other mama's in Edwardsville and all over the country.

I sure do love Nik and Nik loves me. I'm proud of him. So very proud. I'm proud of all three of our kids. So very proud. And now, as the last one leaves me...

ugh...can't type through tears anymore

M is for moving on...and other M posts that posted much earlier than I did at Peej's Ordinary Lives. Sorry for the tears.

Sierra Jensen Series, Volumes 1-4

2011-08-09T23:16:00.001-05:00

This is a special teen book review edition brought to you by Waterbrook/Multnomah publishers. Sierra Jensen, written by Robin Jones Gunn, is wonderful, as well-written teen books often are. I read the E-book version, which included all four books in one.

It seems I came in the middle of the lives of these characters but it didn't matter. I didn't get lost at all. It is a good stand alone series but, if you're interested, you might want to read the Christy Miller series first. It introduces all of these characters. You will fall in love with them, for sure. I did, and I'm a forty-something mom.

The book begins with high school junior age, Sierra on a mission trip. She makes life-long friends with these college-age kids that she works with. She struggles with many insecurities being the youngest. She also is scared to be going back home because while she is gone, her family has relocated. They have moved in with her grandmother. She will be having to make all new friends in a new school. It's all very scary.

This young girl has all the insecurities and joys and sorrows of any young Christian teenager and she messes up and she gets into trouble. It is a fun read. Once you have begun to read the books, you certainly do not want to stop. I highly recommend this series for your teenage girl, ages junior high on up. I enjoyed it. I'm not too proud to admit that!

Go visit Christianbook.com or Amazon.com.

Laury Wept

2011-08-09T01:04:00.000-05:00

For the letter L, it occurred to me that I’ve been talking about all the crying I've been doing. I wonder how full my bottle is that God has stored for me. He’s probably switched over to the super-sized one by now.

“…put thou my tears into thy bottle:

are they not in thy book? (Psalms 56:8 KJV)

This past Sunday as I sat in church during communion with my 18-year-old beside me, I wept. I couldn’t help it. I tried to hide my tears. The communion song started it. ‘We’ll never know how much it cost, to see my Savior on that cross…’

I imagined standing beside Mary looking up at Jesus, my arm around her shoulder, maybe helping her stand as she wailed in anguish. No, we’ll never understand that moment in time. We weren’t there. We didn’t experience it first-hand, and yet we get to reap the reward of Christ’s death on the cross.

When we sat, and the cracker and juice was passed, I kept my eyes opened and twisted and turned that small piece of cracker in my hand and wept. My Jesus suffered for me. For my family. For you.

Last Sunday, Laury wept. I don’t know if Nik noticed. I’m sure he’s probably thankful he’s off to college soon. Thinking of that makes me weep even more. He’s off to make his own way in the world. He won’t have me waking him up for church. I don’t know if he’ll go anywhere. That causes me great heartache.

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35 is shortest verse in the whole Bible and yet the verse that holds the most meaning to me in my life right now. Jesus wept for a friend, Lazarus, who had just died. So much is going on right now in this world. But not only in the world but in our lives and in the lives of our friends and family. It's hard to hold it all in our hearts. It comes out in tears for women. At least it does for me.

I sit at the computer when I read prayer requests and I weep and pray. So many people have cancer and friends who live with chronic pain. There are many requests for family members who aren't walking with the Lord. There are major requests for finances. Oh, and so much of our land in the south is thirsty for water. So many burdens that affect so very many people....

I have to learn to hand it all over to my God who is our burden carrier. He makes our load so much lighter. Maybe that's what you're supposed to do, too. We all know this but we need to be reminded often. If you ever give me a prayer request or casually tell me something that is bothering you, know I'm probably on the other end of the computer weeping because that's what I do right now. I weep. It's how I handle things at this moment in my life.

And if you see me in person, be ready with the tissues. It's how I roll at my nearly 48 years of age. Jesus wept so I can follow in His footsteps.

Go to Patty's blog for more L posts. See you there!

Here's the song that affected me so. Hope you'll take some time to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Posting today at...

2011-08-08T09:42:00.000-05:00

I'm writing about my directionally challenged drive to pick up my friend on Wednesday before we go to the Faithwriter conference on Thursday. Please pop over there to see my funny story and my prayer request.

Tomorrow is A2Z day with the Letter L. I have a post in mind that you will not want to miss! See you then!

K is for Kelp?

2011-08-02T10:20:00.000-05:00

Well now...I've been keeping up with the a2z posts! Amazing! I thought I'd do a run-down. Ready? Awesome, Blessing, Changes, Declaration, Expression, Friend, Gyno, Hands, I as in Me, and Jesus. Doesn't seem like so much listed out. It does show the many directions my mind goes, though, for sure. As I was pondering K, the only thing that kept popping up was kelp of all things. Kelp? Why kelp? So...I thought I would go for it. Why not? Actually, I thought kelp was a fish. Ha! So not.

Kelp is algae that grows in the ocean in underwater forests. So anyway, there you go. That is kelp.

Last night I went with my husband to visit a friend who just had surgery. Actually, he was still in surgery so we met with his family who was waiting, none too patiently. I wouldn't know about that. I'm the one who is always in surgery.

Afterwards, we walked around Best Buy and Walmart and I checked out the Kindles, planting appropriate seeds as we went along. I'm pretty sure my husband got the hint that I want one. He said my birthday is coming up. So maybe... :) The problem is, do I really? What is the draw? I've been reading Ebooks on my computer now. Waterbrook has gone to electronic books for their reviewers. I was irritated at first but now it's kind of fun and different. I'm all into changes. That's just me. Oh, that was my C word, after all. :) and there are lots of books that can be downloaded free from Christianbooks.com and Amazon. FREE! Did you hear that?

Jim and I stood over the counter trying to avoid the glare, to figure out the differences between the two Kindles. There is the Kindle for $114 and then the Kindle for $139. Now I see online that the Nook has one for $114 also. Now come on. How am I supposed to choose? But with Barnes and Noble out of the picture, that makes it kind of scary. I saw cheaper Ereaders but I don't think I would choose one of those.

It's not bad reading these books on my computer, except I can't read, like...in my car when my husband's in the hardware store. I also can't pull it out for a quick peek at the doctor's office. :( No, a Kindle would be much nicer.

I've been finding myself falling asleep at night with the computer on my lap, too, while reading. Falling asleep with a 'book' in your lap, when the 'book' is your computer, is sooo not a good thing!

Okay, so this is what I'm asking. Do you enjoy your Kindle? I've waited long enough so I'm pretty sure they're tried and true and going to be around. What's the differences between the two? I have WiFi at home, so it would be good to get the lower cost one, right? So confused...

Anyway, K is for lots more things than kelp and Kindle, I'm pretty sure. I just couldn't think of anything else. I peeked at other people's posts and they wrote about kitties and kooky and krazy and kickstands. Theirs might be a whole lot more interesting than mine! I would appreciate input, though. I'll only get this one chance, if I get the chance at all. So I have to choose right. I feel like a little kid in a candy store. "Ooooo! Ahhhhhh!" Can you see me on my tippie toes looking over the counter trying to decide what I want?
Yup, that's me!

Until next week...

Fall Apart, Josh Wilson

2011-07-30T22:21:00.001-05:00

I was riding in the car with my daughter Kristen last night, and a song came on the radio, Fall Apart, by Josh Wilson. She said it was her theme song right now. She's pointed out some of my now favorites and she did it again. Wow! How can a punk kid speak to my heart? How is that possible? :) I copied the lyrics below along with the YouTube video. I hope you listen. It is powerful and so true.

Fall Apart

Why in the world did I think I could

Only get to know you when my life was good?

When everything just falls in place

The easiest thing is to give you praise

Now it all seems upside down

'Cause my whole world is caving in

But I feel you now more than I did then

How can I come to the end of me

But somehow still have all I need?

God I want to know you more

Maybe this is how it starts

I find you when I fall apart

Blessed are the ones who understand

They've got nothing to bring but empty hands

Nothing to hide and nothing to prove

Our heartbreak brings us back to you

And it all seems upside down

'Cause my whole world is caving in

But I feel you now more than I did then

How can I come to the end of me

But somehow still have all I need?

God I want to know you more

Maybe this is how it starts

I find you when I fall apart

I don't know how long this will last

I'm praying for the pain to pass

But maybe this is the best thing that has ever happened to me

'Cause my whole world is caving in

But I feel you now more than I did then

How can I come to the end of me

But somehow still have all I need?

God I want to know you more

Maybe this is how it starts

I find you when--

You will find me when--

I fall apart

The Canary List

2011-07-29T16:20:00.001-05:00

This is my first Ebook to read through Waterbrook Multomah. I don't have an E-reader so I used my computer. It wouldn't let me use the Kindle reader for PC. I had to download the Adobe Digital Edition Reader. It was okay, I suppose. I don't like the idea of having two different readers, though, taking up space on my computer. Both are different. If I had to choose, I'd say I like the Kindle for PC better. Ideally, a Kindle or Nook is what is needed for this but I don't have one.

Anyway, The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer was different. Very, very different. It wound in the lives of an ordinary school teacher, with a young foster child, and a child psychologist, a couple of hired killers, the Vatican, and a plot that makes you think.

The book kept me engrossed. I never wanted to stop reading yet it was too intense where I had to force myself to stop so I could get to sleep at night. I'd say it was over my head towards the end. I'm not interested in the in's and out's of the Catholic church nor am I interested in learning about demon possession. If you are prone to debates in this area, then you would enjoy the book. It does cast a bad light on the Catholic Church, too, just for a fair warning.

It was interesting and opened my eyes to some things but all in all, I'd say it was pure fiction. It's not a book I would read again for fun. I would be hesitant to recommend it. Maybe a man might have more of an interest. It was well-written and intense. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and felt their pain and hopelessness. With that, I will leave it up to you and would like to know what you think of the book if you give it a go. It's just different than what I normally read.

J is for...

2011-07-26T14:44:00.001-05:00

This is Tuesday, making it A2z day, which today happens 2 b J. Anyone who knows me or who reads my blog posts or who catches me on an off day on FB where I post on my wall, knows I've been battling 'stuff.' I spent some time with my daughter last week. She's awesome but she's completely opposite me. She's guarded to the extreme. No one knows her 'stuff.' She never writes on her FB wall. Her mama tells all. That's me. How can I get advice from others who have been there, done that if they don't know? Ya know?

This week I've been hearing Jesus whisper to me, 'Look to me.' Oh, my J word, by the way, is JESUS, in case I forget to say. We need to look to Jesus always. He's the One with all the answers. When the world starts spinning way too fast - He's the One we need to reach out to get our balance again. When others don't have time to listen, Jesus is always there. Others can't understand our hearts. Bpptt! We can't even understand us all the time. Jesus made us. He knows our quirkiness. How we tick. He loves us anyway. Crazy, I know.

Sometimes I wonder why I battle so much. Why not just run into His arms? Little kids don't puzzle things out. They don't dwell on their hurts. They cuddle into their daddy's arms. They look into the smiling face and grin back. Reach a pudgy finger up and pull a whisker. We all need to learn from watching children. They have the right idea.

I'm going to cuddle in now with Jesus. I suggest you do the same. I wonder how the world would change if we could all do that? I know I won't stay in His lap, though. I'll see things that I think will need MY attention. I'll get in the way and make messes, just like always. And I'll get my feelings hurt, invariably. And I'll have this trail of tears where anyone can find me easy. It's this time of life I'm in. Don't know about others. I am 47, almost 48. What a weird time. I thought teenage years were hard. ergh. Someone, please tell me it gets easier! Lie if you have to:)

Anyway, J is for Jesus! Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life..." John 14:6. and He is. In every area of our lives, He wants to be there. Won't you let Him?

Posting today at...

2011-07-22T10:02:00.001-05:00

I'm posting today at the Joe blog. It's always the 22nd of the month. My birthday day date so it's easy for me to remember:) I hope you push the button above and go read. It's Amphibious Chorus. You'll get a little closer look into our noisy yard in Tabor, IL. Try to stay cool today!

I, as in Me

2011-07-19T11:45:00.002-05:00

Today's post is dedicated to the letter I. Hop on over to Patty Wysong's blog to find more I blog posts - WAIT! not yet. Since you're here, you can read mine first, okay? I've managed to stay on task clear through the letter I. That's amazing if you know me.

ABCDEFGHI - You See... I start projects and sometimes don't finish them. Now you know one thing about me. I get excited about something and then I let the enemy steal my focus or maybe it wasn't a good idea in the first place and it deserved to die. Whatever the reason, I start and don't finish. I will finish this project! Just you wait and see!

I, as in ME (Laury) LOVES lattes. I'm drinking one as I type. Almond Joy, as a matter of fact. I made it myself since there is not one Starbucks around my neck of the woods and it would be quite expensive to support my drinking habit. But I must confess that I used to not like coffee. See that picture with Mari? That's the very first time her and I ever met. That's also the very first time I ever drank a latte and I was sorely grieved that it tasted like....COFFEE! Yuck! She got a big kick out of that observation of mine. You know what happened to my first latte? Mari finished it off and was she ever caffeinated! :) Anyway, I now drink 2 a day:) It's Mari's fault. I drink more than she does now and I think I like the coffee taste better than she does. What's up with that?

I, as in ME (Laury) is also going through something really strange right now. I can't stop crying. I guess it's an age thing. The tears keep flowing for no apparent reason. I have a friend that calls me the 'fountain of love.' Oboy. I cry when reading sad parts of books and the happy parts. Sad movies. I cry because a friend tells me she has to hang up. I cry because...well, just because. Surely the tears will dry up eventually, right?

You've kept track of my every toss and turn

through the sleepless nights,

Each tear entered in your ledger,

each ache written in your book. Psalm 56:8 (The Message)

I, as in ME (Laury) NEED to be NEEDED. I've figured that much out. I like to help people. I'm pretty sure I came by it naturally. My mom is just like that. I've loved volunteering at Special Touch camp this summer. I hope I can work at even more camps next year. It's such a blessing to be with others who truly appreciate the small things you do for them. They hug and kiss on you and have absolutely no boundaries (which is hard to get used to but it's all okay.) I LOVE SPECIAL TOUCH CAMP! It helped me lose myself and minister the way Jesus did. I did walk out of His way many times, I'm sure, but most days, I totally flowed in His Spirit and did what He had me to do and it was AWESOME!

I, as in ME (Laury) get lost in the summer. I work at a high school during the school year and I need the summer to rest up but...I also need a routine, thus the getting lost part. Maybe I need a personal trainer type person to keep me on track. Keep me in the Word, keep me going physically, keep me writing, researching, reaching out... I'm just no good at the personal motivation part. Sad, huh? A personal weakness. You see, I NEED to be NEEDED. If I feel I'm not needed, I seem to wither away. I think that's where the tears are coming from right now.

I, as in ME (Laury) tend to get way too personal on my blog at times. ugh. But writing is where my observations come from. It sure saves lots of money. I think of the people talking to counselors - and i sit at my computer and write my guts out to who knows... ugh. Maybe confidentiality is worth it, eh?

Anyway, I, as in ME (Laury) is having a rough summer. Physically, I'm doing better. Thank you for praying. I so appreciate it. Mentally, it's crazy but I will make it because,

"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Phil 4:13

And I have August to look forward to: seeing Mari August 10th! Picking her up at the airport, hopefully I won't get lost this time:) Spending alone time with her before we both get to see so many other friends at the FW conference: friends we've met before and others we've never met.

I can't wait! God is good! So very good!

Friday Fiction - Yeah, What Then?

2011-07-15T10:44:00.001-05:00

This was a FW entry I wrote months ago before I ever went to Special Touch Camp. I spent lots of time with a mother and son through baseball who I set this story around. She's an awesome mother/caregiver. I've written much about the camp and all that goes on there, but I haven't really thought too much about the parents who take care of their adult children with disabilities. They need many hugs and prayers if you know of any in your church or community. They are truly special people. And please, if any parents have had to put their children in group homes, don't judge them, either. I'm sure it's best for both parents and the children and was a hard fought decision. There are awesome group homes! Anyway, here is my story - Yeah, What Then?

Fifteen-year-old Travis burst into the kitchen holding his art work high in the air. “Mom! Out-standing!”

“Alright!” Sally gave him a high-five then patted him on the back side. Very nice work, Buddy.” She hung it on the refrigerator beside his twin brother’s A+ Geometry test.

Trenton stormed into the room. He bumped into Travis on his way to the fridge then stuck his head in deep and pulled out a soda.

Sally put her hand on his shoulder and he shook it off. “What’s up with you, Trent? Bad day at the office?”

“Ha-ha, Mom.”

Travis stood beside him and pointed. “See my out-standing paper, Brother?”

“I see it,” Trenton growled, “and don’t call me brother.”

Travis grabbed hold of himself and hummed.

“Trent didn’t mean it, did you Trent?” Sally gave him her most piercing glare.

“I have homework.” Travis started to walk away but in a sudden spark of compassion, turned and the twin-ness overwhelmed him. “Good job, Trav.”

Travis lunged at Trenton leaving a major drool trail in his wake and spilling soda on Trenton’s white tshirt.

“Uho, Trav, not such a happy face. Keep that mouth closed, remember?” Sally wiped off the drool.

“Trenton, go on upstairs and we’ll talk later. Be prepared.”

Travis poked Trenton in the arm and echoed his mom’s words, “Yeah, beeee prepared.”

Trenton put his head down and muttered as he walked away, “Shut up, Retard.”

“I heard that,” Sally called up after him.

“Heard dat,” the echo followed him up the stairs.

***

Sally prayerfully made her way up to Trent’s room. “Headphones off, Son. What’s going on with you lately?” Sally moved away a pile of books and settled herself on his bed.

“It’s hard having Travis for a brother, you know?”

“You’ve been brothers your whole life. What’s different now?”

Trenton thought for a second. “I guess me. Mom, I failed a history test and I come home to see a page that Travis scribbled and there’s a big OUTSTANDING on it. Are you kidding me? I spent hours studying for that test and Trav kept bugging me. School’s getting harder and he’s in my way.”

“You know, it’s hard on him, too, being a twin brother to a genius.”

“Ha! I’m no genius.”

“You are to him. You’re the most important person in his world. It could have just as easily been you that had the defective gene.”

“I know. Maybe it shoulda been me. He’s a better person than I am, that’s for sure. He always forgives me when I’ve been a moron. He never yells. He blames himself when I get mad at him.”

Sally poked him. “He is pretty outstanding, huh?”

Trenton laughed, “Seems to be the word for the day.”

Sally curled up beside her son; she wrapped her arms around his waist; and she whispered in his ear. “I think you’re pretty outstanding, too.”

“You have to say that.”

Sally smiled, enjoying the sweetness of the moment.

“Mom, doesn’t it ever make you sad having to take care of Travis? You have to wipe away his drool and wipe his butt after he poops. You have to help him get dressed and wash his hair. What if something happens to you and Dad? What then?”

Tears pooled in Sally’s eyes. “Yeah, what then?”

Trenton burrowed in closer to her.

“Your dad and I talk about that all the time: the why’s, the what if’s, the what then’s. Maybe I’m in denial but I just want to focus on the outstanding’s right now, okay?”

“Sure, Mom, I get it.” The two sat quietly, snuggled in close until Trenton broke the silence. Mom?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m too old to snuggle like this. You know that, right?”

“I know but you’re letting me and I went with it.”

“Know what else, Mom?”

“I’m so tired. I don’t even have the energy to guess right now so why don’t you just tell me.”

“You’re pretty outstanding yourself.”

Sally sat up in bed and fixed her hair. “I am, aren’t I? It’s time for this outstanding Mom to go fix two outstanding boys and one outstanding Dad a super outstanding dinner. How’s that sound?”

“Well, I’d say outstanding, but that would sound super stupid. How about, good, cuz I’m starving!”

“Okay. You, do homework. Dinner at seven. And Trent, please be nice to your brother from now on.”

“You are too funny, Mom. Brothers are never nice but I’ll tone it down some. I promise.”

Head on over to Dancin' in the rain to read more Friday Fiction stories. I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

H is for....

2011-07-12T10:31:00.003-05:00

Last week, because I was so original, I went very unoriginal in my thinking for today. Of course, H is for hands today in my Tuesdays A2Z post. You can find much more unique posts at Patty's blog.

Okay, H is for HANDS! Small, soft little baby hands resting in yours....ahhhh...there is nothing like it. Harumph! Little roving baby hands that tug on your glasses - ouch! Yes! Nothing like it:)

Hands that wrap around your husband's neck - in a hug of course. I guess it could be a good old squeeze of... well, you can fill in the blank with whatever comes to mind. :)

Hands that are also ready to hold onto very best friends hands after not touching in so very long because of distance. Life is so cruel to hold miles between friends. Of course, I'm thankful for miles because an acquaintance from my town lost her very best friend to death so I am oh so thankful it is only miles. Yes, very thankful!

Hands also wrap around a book. Sweet, hard bound books, soon to be replaced by, ugh... dare I even write it? Ebooks. ugh. What will become of bookmarkers, I ask you? How about turned down pages or smudgy chocolate spots? My hands will miss holding books. When books fall, they just do that, fall. What happens when your lovely Ebooks fall? Yikes! They break, right? Yes, my hands love to caress a good book. I won't even ask what will become of libraries...

Hands, are really low maintenance but they do so much for us in our daily lives. They help us brush our teeth, they pull up our socks and tie our shoes. They wave good bye and hello. They can make silly gestures to cause laughter and they can get you into a great deal of trouble if they are so inclined:)

Yes, H is for hands, among many other things, but I thought hands should have their very own day - today. And now I will think about the day my hands will be able to hold many friend's hands in August at our FW Conference when so many of us will be congregated together. And soon, later today, a friend from home is coming to see me with food in hand - those are some good HANDS! And I'm sure I will get a HUG! Oh the JOY!!!! A friend with skin! That is rare indeed!

Hoping you can celebrate your hands today with lots of hugs both given and received and lend a hand to others. They say what goes around comes around but that doesn't always happen. We give because that's what Jesus wants us to do. Remember, this truly comes from the HEART:)

With love and so much more love for you all, my loyal prayer warriors!

To Be Perfectly Honest

2011-07-11T15:03:00.001-05:00

This book, by Phil Callaway, published by Multnomah, is, to be perfectly honest, (haha) very different, unexpectedly funny in a weird captivating way. I must confess, it kept me up many nights until my eyes drooped and I just barely had enough energy to lay the book down and turn off the light.

This author, Phil, was given an assignment, to not lie for a whole year - that's 365 days of no white lies, no stretching the truth, nothing. I would say he didn't live up to the task but he shared very truthfully his very fun and not so much fun days.

You know me, I don't like to give away books so I will point out journal entry days -

Day 69 - I said it goes with my pastor's sermon from the past Sunday. Ah...he said one of his earliest lies he was taught was when he gave his life to God, he would be miserable.

Day 71 - I just wrote funny with a smilie face... let me go look:) Oh, he said he doesn't wear his watch to church unless he's speaking because someone told him it's a distraction, so he's constantly looking at his wife's watch instead.

Day 85 - I wrote.... awwww... you'll just have to read the book to see why. He has a romantic little bone in his body for being married thirty years. Sweet.

Mr. Callaway is very open and honest with his life for these 365 days. He is a true comedian and it shows. I had honest-to-goodness belly laughs when I was supposed to be sleeping. If you are looking for a book that is extraordinarily different; a book that would appeal to both men and women - a book that will make you think about your life and just how much you might lie to save someone's feelings or to get out of doing something you just don't want to do - then I would say THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!

I hope you will go buy it! I recommend it HIGHLY!

Her Safari

2011-07-08T15:57:00.002-05:00

A very good friend, Lisa Mikitarian, has published her very first book, Her Safari. She has just released a promotional video and I wanted to share it with my readers. I can't wait to receive copy so I can do a review for her, meanwhile, I will promote all I can because that's what I do - toot for others until my time has come:)

Mari Thelander is also finishing up her novel, Wellspring, and preparing it to pitch to agents as well as Joanne Sher, Patty Wysong, and Dee Yoder. So many are rising up in the ranks, fulling their dreams. I am still battling aliens in my body that seek to keep me down physically and emotionally. One day it will be my turn but until then - here is my battle plan - help my friends in any way that I can even though we are so many miles apart.

And here it is, Her Safari promotional video with the very graceful and lovely, Lisa Mikitarian:)

Taming the Beast Within!

2011-07-05T13:37:00.002-05:00

This week's letter is G and G is for Gyno! My Gyno, which I visited today, is a good guy. His name is Don Sielaff. He's had to see a most unreasonable me on numerous occasions as of late. Luckily for him, on a visit a couple weeks ago, he was stooped over with a horrible migraine. That may have just saved him from my wrath:) I'm not kidding, honestly!

He has been given the assignment of taming the beast within me or shooting it dead - whatever it takes! Today he went over everything that could go wrong during the procedures.

He said to me, "Of course you know all this because you signed the form."

I just nodded my head and smiled. Yup. I read every word. Honestly, if we read and took to heart all that was on those forms, none of us would ever have a surgery or take any medicines - it would be way too scary!

I then walked down the hallway and turned the wrong way (of course) and the nurse had to point me in the right direction. Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital has a brand new building and it's very nice.

I got 2 pokes, the first missed my vein (of course) but the second made it. That's very good for me, though. Now I have a hospital band to wear until my procedure on Thursday. We have to be at the hospital at 6:30 AM. That makes it really nice since there is no drinking or eating after midnight and our drive is only twenty minutes:)

Well now you know - G is for GYNO in Laury's world as of late! GO visit more A2Z meme's. I can safely say that no one else wrote about gyno for G. I would appreciate prayers for these procedures. I'm having a laproscopy done, hystercope, & d&c so I am getting a good work over.

I wrote a story for the FW challenge based on hormonal craziness if you would like to read it. It is called, Perry's Got it Wrong. Just click the title and it will take you right there. I wrote it about 2 AM the morning it was due because I couldn't go to sleep. I'm living and breathing hormonal craziness. Praying this doctor can help me:)

Happy July, everyone!!!!

Friend of God

2011-06-28T08:00:00.050-05:00

The day this post comes up, I will be six hours away from home at the Wisconsin Special Touch Get Away. I'm sure I'll be tired but getting to know the group of women who are in my care and coming to care for them lots if not loving them a ton already. At the Illinois Get Away, at every chapel service we sang, FRIEND of God. It lingers in my mind even now so of course, for the letter F, I had to let you listen to it, too.

All of us became FRIENDS FAST at Special Touch camp in Illinois and I"m sure here in WI because God is our FRIEND and we are His. He gave us these FANTASTIC weeks to learn and grow and just have a great time in Him. Because of that, it makes us happy. While I'm at camp, you can sing along to this song and pray for us. That would be very much be appreciated. I might be in chapel praising God while you're reading this or eating. Maybe I'll be with one of the guests tubing down the river. Maybe:) Could be I'll be in the craft room or if it's late enough, I'll be sound asleep.

Press the refrigerator magnet link at the top to read what F words others have written. It's amazing how unique they are every single week!

See you -- when I get home:)
Laury

Posting today at...

2011-06-22T09:54:00.001-05:00

Expressions

2011-06-21T16:14:00.002-05:00

Well, it took many hours to come up with an E word this week. Not sure why. I have F done to come up by itself while I'm at camp next week, but E, that was a different story. There are lots of E posts that you can find over at Ordinary Lives just waiting to be read but while you're here - let me share E with you - EXPRESSIONS.

We all use EXPRESSIONS in our lives. "Well, that just takes the cake!" or one that's really been overused lately, "Man up!" How about this one: "What's the damage?" That's what my husband's going to ask me when he gets home from work. I had a doctor's appointment in town and then had time to kill before a hair appointment. ugh...Nuff said:)

Anyway...there are other kinds of EXPRESSIONS - the kind you learned in Math class. I know, it's summertime and we really shouldn't be subjected to that word - Math. **shivers** Just sayin' - Math EXPRESSIONS like 1 + 3 is 4. That's not too hard, right? Okay, I'll move on. See. This is me moving on. Changing paragraphs and EVERYTHING!

There are also EXPRESSIONS of love and friendship. That's what I really wanted to talk about. Jim gave me flowers when we were dating and even now, sometimes. Occasionally;)

My husband's way he EXPRESSES his love for me is mowing the yard, putting up the dishes, or changing oil in the vehicles... It's important to understand EACH other's love languages for sure in marriage:)

At camp a couple week's ago, a guest showed me her EXPRESSION of friendship in sign language. I love that picture! I miss Gloria lots, by the way:(

With another friend, she writes an EMAIL a night to me to show her EXPRESSION of friendship and love and I write one back to her in the morning. We usually share what happened in our day and what will happen the next day. We will share our hopes and dreams... or secrets that no one else will ever ever hear.

So you see, EXPRESSIONS are very important. Oh, I forgot! There are other expressions.

Silly ones.

Sad ones.

Happy and

mad ones.

Let's go out

with a bang!

Declaration!

2011-06-17T19:08:00.001-05:00

D. It's taken me all week to come up with a D word for some reason. The others have already gotten their letter posts up, I'm sure. You should go look and read theirs:) Here it is Friday and I'm plugging away making a DECLARATION. Well, first of all, D is for DEPRESSION. I've fallen into that lately, majorly. Lots going on in my 40+ body plus the stormy springtime weather we've been having has been making headaches worse... blah blah blah... Anyway, I don't want to talk about DEPRESSION other than to say that it is real - it is nasty and it can bring a person down fast and furious. It's really hard to come back up for air, too.

Today, in the midst of the same struggles and tears... blah blah blah... I determined to start in the New Testament and read it chronologically this time. In this way, I can't get caught up in reading just to be reading. I have to follow a path. A chapter here and some verses in another book... I like reading the Gospels in that way. I'm stumped now, though. I can't continue until I make this DECLARATION, which is quite handy since it is D week.

Here it is, from John 1:5,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."

I know, there isn't a D word in there:) It's the DECLARATION, remember?

Jesus, is God, the expression of God. He is. The Great I Am. I AM. He is. - Jesus is who John is writing about. Jesus became flesh and lived on earth like us. Because of the Great I AM, we are. Because God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit - the Three in One, we are.

Because of Jesus, because I have DECLARED my faith in Him, I am. So why do I fall into depression so often? I don't understand that?

He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

He is the Light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5)

I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)

He is the resurrection and the life (Acts 11:25-26)

My DECLARATION? I believe in Jesus. He is my Savior. He is who I put my faith in. If I am asked to make a choice, my life or to deny His Name, I have to choose Jesus. That's my DECLARATION.

He is who He says He is. I hope you have made the same DECLARATION in your life. If not, if you're just a random reader that has found my blog, I hope and pray that you will seek someone out that will tell you more about who Jesus is or you can always leave a comment for me on my blog or privately to me at my email address: lauryhubrich@faithwriters.net.

I know many dates have been determined that Jesus would come back and obviously, since we're all still here, they've been wrong. The thing is, we don't know when He will come back. The Bible says that even Jesus doesn't know. But we need to be ready whenever it is. Now is the time. The time is now.

Looking up...waiting...hopeful that the

time is soon...

Laury

The Girl in the Gatehouse - Book Review

2011-06-16T17:28:00.001-05:00

The Girl in the Gatehouse. Julie Klassen. 2011. [January 2011]. Bethany House. 400 pages.

I actually got to sit and read a book for pure enjoyment since school has been out! The Girl in the Gatehouse has been waiting for me and I for it. It was worth it!

If you are drawn to Jane Austin type books, this one is for you, but I, for one, am not - but still, I very much enjoyed it. I became engrossed in the character of Mariah Aubrey and her companion, Susan Dixon and the many characters that intercepted into their lives.

There were many plots and mysteries that slowly were revealed and knotted and untied throughout the book. It was fun to try to figure things out and it was fun to be wrong time and time again.

I liked the innocent romances, unlike the books that fall into our hands today. So nicely written, this book is a book within a book within a book, within a book.... you will figure this out as you read yourself.

I go and read bits and pieces of other people's reviews and they reveal too much of the books, if you ask me. I say, give you a hint and let you go read. I mean it - go get the book. Right now! It's just a click away on Amazon or Christianbooks.com. I highly recommend it. There are very good Christian analogies and values hidden along the way. Great summer reading out on the beach or hiding in your bedroom on a warm, lazy summer day. Of course, that's not where I'm writing this currently. Of course not!

Bethany House continually puts out wonderful books and I'm thankful to be able to get hold of this one. Are you still here? Go! Shoo! Go. Buy. the book! The Girl in the Gatehouse.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers' book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Chocolate Diaries

2011-06-11T14:25:00.002-05:00

I chose The Chocolate Diaries from Waterbrook Press to review because...well...it should be quite obvious -- chocolate is in its title. The book did not disappoint my obvious craving for the sweet treat. In fact, as I write this review, I'm taste-testing a recipe my vbgf gave me for a Nutella Slimfast Espresso Frappe. Yumm... Needless to say - I'm on a caffeinated, chocolate high.

Anyway, this book is written by Karen Scalf Linamen and she shares "Secrets for a Sweeter Journey on the Rocky Road of Life." Everyone can certainly relate to this.

Each chapter is fairly short and towards the middle has a section for a question/answer from someone she has asked that follows along with what the chapter is about. At the end of each chapter, the author has a - Food for Thought, where she asks questions directed to the reader. The very best part of each chapter is her chocolate recipes she's received from readers. I can't wait to try some of them!

One quote in the book that stands out in my mind is this, "To live an extraordinary life, you have to let someone else do the ordinary." (pg. 99) Many times we, as mothers, wives, friends... become the support staff so others can follow their dreams. There comes a time when it's OUR turn to spread our wings and fly and others can support us in our endeavors. True, yes?

If you are looking for a really involved Bible Beth Moore-like study, then this isn't the book for you. If you are looking for something fun and quick, maybe to do together with a friend, then this is perfect! Karen shares her life story with us and it isn't wrapped up in a pretty bow, so if you like perfect Christian lives show-cased in books - then again, this book is NOT for you. If you do like real Christians who aren't afraid to show themselves and their real crazy lives, then just maybe you will enjoy this book.

There now. I am going to finish my caffeinated, chocolate goodness. I will see you at Amazon in the checkout line!

Labels

2011-06-10T06:55:00.002-05:00

I have posted over at Jewels of Encouragement. Push the button and it will send you right over there. TADA!

Next week I'll be writing more about my camp experience but this post is a lead in to that. Please follow me over, okay? This is a special, fill-in post. Usually I write for Joe on the 22nd of each month only. See you there!

C is for Changes!

2011-06-07T13:45:00.004-05:00

This is really a once-a-week meme but I'm catching up so you get a 2-fer this first week of June. Push the picture to the left to read what others have written about the letter C.

C is for CHANGE and the CHANGE is in me! When I first went to CAMP, I was just a little bit intimidated. I've never been around so many who had so many physical disabilities. You know what else? These people don't sit around and talk about it, you know how we do when we get together:

"My back aches bad today. The weather must be going to change." "My head feels like it's going to explode!" (That would be me:) "The old bursitis is bothering me again..." You know how it goes.

We've all been there. Done that. It's just funny that I never once heard anything of the kind coming from this camp at Lake Williamson. I suppose if you live with your disability day in and day out, you want to leave it at home as much as possible. Many of our illnesses are invisible. As you look at the pictures I have on FB, you can see many of theirs aren't. They are very visible.

And I have just come full circle to what I wanted to write about. CHANGES! The guests I met are not 'stupid.' They are not 'dumb.' They are not less than adequate. Any term that anyone might want to use to describe them in a negative way may as well not do it in my hearing because they would be WRONG! Even me describing them as a group is so wrong because they are individuals just like you and I. They all are so different. Different tastes. Different ideas. Different abilities and weaknesses. Just like you and me.

You see the man in the red? I may not be able to remember his name but he made a major impact on my life. Every time he came into the craft room he prayed for me. Once he made sure I was saved and knew the Lord, he found out other ways he could pray. He is a prayer warrior. He may be bound to his wheel chair but he takes full advantage of that bondage. I'm sure he studies his Bible for hours and prays.

We don't have to talk loud in their faces or talk V-E-R-Y-S-L-O-W-Y like we tend to think we have to do. Some have different means of COMMUNICATION, for sure but they still COMMUNICATE. Many times it is us 'able-bodies' that are the ones that are unable to COMMUNICATE. The ones at camp have no trouble at all talking with one another. My goal is to learn sign language so I can talk at least at a grade school level:) by next year's camp.

I saw computer type programs like CAMI has to the left. She was able to 'talk' with it, and quite adeptly. Something may be wrong with their vocal chords but nothing is wrong with their minds. The guests at camp have something to say. They have words from God. God speaks to them like He speaks to us. Sometimes more so, maybe because they sit still and listen much better than we do.

When I walked into camp, I thought, 'I hope I can reach out and be a blessing to these guests this week.' I wasn't even a day into the camp when my thinking totally CHANGED and I realized that the guests were blessing me abundantly and even more than I could even have imagined.

One night we had a talent show. It was a BLAST! Oh, I should have used that last night for B. The woman in the picture, with her caregiver, Nikki, is Michelle. Michelle wrote a devotional type message for that evening. It short but it took a long time for her to deliver it. It was hard for us to understand what she was saying but that didn't stop God from touching us all. The whole place was quiet and listening. Tears were running down my CHEEKS. I think it was from her sheer determination. I'm sure I would have given up and given it to someone else to read, but no, she kept on. I asked Michelle for a copy. I hope she doesn't mind if I share with you all. Here is Michelle's message. It's something we all need to hear:

"Be a witness for God! How many of you would go be a witness for God? Do you think it's easy? The answer is it's not always easy to show God in your daily lives to other people. What I am saying is, yeah some people might turn and walk away when you start talking about your your faith in God; however if you just show them by your daily walk throughout your life that you are a Christian you might be able to shock or amaze people that they might stop and ask, "Hey, how did you come to know God?" And then you go from there, but be careful on how you say it or you might shun them away. I was 7 years old when I asked Christ in my heart in Pekin, however, it is very difficult for me to keep the faith. In conclusion, I would like you to consider this option. Would you like to be a witness for God and share your testimony or would you like to keep on doing about your own life without God?"

See why it's taking me so long to process my week of camp? It's truly been life-Changing! and you want to know a secret? It's almost a done-deal that I'm going again to the Wisconsin Get Away at the end of June. I'm super-excited about that! If it happens, I'll have more to follow. For now, I'm still trying to digest all that God has for me to CHEW on.

I loved getting to know every one of the guests at CAMP I came into CONTACT with. My only regret is that the week ended. More about CAMP will come. Please email or leave me a comment if you're interested in Special Touch camp. They always need volunteers. Okay, done for now. Until next time...

C is for Changes... Camp...Chew...Cheeks...Cami...Communicate!!!

Past Alphabet Posts:

Awesome & Blessing

A2Z Meme - A & B

2011-06-06T14:08:00.002-05:00

I'm a little bit late in joining the a 2 z 4 u & me meme but as I was writing this post about camp and every time I talk about it, the words 'AMAZING' and AWESOME' come to mind so why not jump in? So here I am. Better late than never, yes?

A - AWESOME

& AMAZING

If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm just a few days back from a very special touch from God - from the Special Touch Illinois Get Away. It was AMAZING. AWESOME! You see? There I go again!

I really didn't know what to expect. I was just the craft lady. I wasn't going to be one-on-one with any of the guests. Wasn't supposed to be but anyone that knows me knows if there's a need, I will see it and will jump in where needed. One woman, Sandy, was ti-red. Really tir-ed. By the time I figured that out, I had already bonded with one of her guests that she was caregiver for so it worked out perfectly. Sandy got a bit of a rest and I got to spend some time with someone who became a very good friend to me. Anyway, God had other plans for me besides the 'Craft lady.' I'm not so crafty anyway. On the 'C' day, I'll share our crafts with you. That was pretty awesomely amazing, too, of course:)

B - BLESSING!

Being at camp was such a major BLESSING! I got to meet amazing (ugh, sorry but I can't help it.) people and they touched my life in ways that I will never ever forget. God blessed me and touched me and rearranged my thinking so now I'm almost word-less.

I've never worked so hard in my life, I don't think. From the time I woke up to the time I went to bed, I was going and going and going. I'm pretty sure God put an Energizer Battery in me just for this week of camp:) I'm so grateful. Oops, wrong letter. I was so blessed and honored to be able to volunteer with all of these guests from Illinois and even some from Wisconsin. Most of the other volunteers have been doing this for years and many go from camp to camp even, at their own expense. It's very catchy. You see the smiles on the two faces up above and below? I rarely saw anyone not smiling. Blessed beyond belief! We all were!

Every one of the guests have their own storms that they live every single day health-wise but I rarely heard any complaints. I was truly humbled. On Thursday we got soaked on the way to the dining hall for breakfast. I was determined not to complain. If that's all that happened to me, I was doing good! Guess what? I dried! The guests still depended on their wheelchairs or machines to help them communicate...

The people I met this past week are amazing and I am blessed to have intercepted with them and I can't wait for next year's camp! I'm sure I'll be writing more - I held back to keep it at A & B:) Tomorrow is C day, I guess. You will C how camp has CHANGED my way of thinking and I hope it will change yours, too:) Oh, I said I would talk about crafts, too. Oboy. So much to talk about.

James 1:12, "Blessed is the man (woman) who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

The End...

2011-05-24T19:51:00.003-05:00

I made it to the end of the school year 2011. It's been a couple of years since I've completed a WHOLE year so this is a major accomplishment. One person that's helped me attempt to keep my sanity is my lunch buddy. That's her to the right, no - that's the left: Kim Holmes. She's been great to talk to and listen to - well, maybe listen to mostly because she's an awesome talker and I'm a pretty good listener so we're a good combination.

Also, we had a Science teacher defect from the Jr. High, Diana Holl. She was right next to my room and she was life-saver, too, even though she attempted to fill my head with DNA and RNA and photosynthesis... you get the picture. I think, if I were to be graded, I just may have gotten an A:) Maybe an A-. It was fun to work with her and reteach what she taught over and over and over.... to a bazillion students. Well, five, six? :)

I had a favorite study hall: 7/8. We worked super hard every day, contrary to ummm... never mind:) I'm really going to miss that group of kids. That's the crazy bunch minus one (that's them to the right. See? I really do know my right's and left's) The girls would group around my desk and I would multi-task to help them with their homework. That's my desk that they're around in the picture, actually. If you can picture four girls hovering around me vying for my attention - then you can imagine my Mondays through Fridays.

Tomorrow starts finals. Ahhhhh.... I am sooo glad the year is about over. That's what's so great about my job. I get to work with really super teens and then I get to be away from them for a whole glorious summer and I'm always ready to see them again when summer's over. I'm very thankful for the kids I work with and I pray that God will keep them safe this summer until we come back together again next school year. That's my prayer. Please God, help them make good choices and keep them safe.

Posting today at...

2011-05-22T09:47:00.001-05:00

Posting today at Joe... about time going waaaay too fast. oy...

When You're up Against a Struggle...

2011-05-20T16:09:00.002-05:00

The storms of life have hit me again. It wasn't totally unexpected but I was trying not to live with that fear. So here I am, trying not to feel defeated... abandoned...lost... lonely...lied to. Easter Sunday, our choir sang this song and it came to me again when I sat down just now: Praise the Lord, by the Imperials, one of my favorites when I was a teenager.

I can fight God or I can praise Him. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to praise just yet but the little bits of the wall are coming down. Here are the lyrics. They resonate in my spirit right now and maybe they will in yours, too.

When you're up against a struggle

That shatters all your dreams

And your hope's been cruelly crushed

By Satan's manifested scheme

And you feel the urge within you

To submit to earthly fears

Don't let the faith your standing in

Seem to disappear

CHORUS:

Praise the Lord

He can work through those who praise Him

Praise the Lord

For our God inhabits praise

Praise the Lord

For the chains that seem to bind you

Serve only to remind you

That they drop powerless behind you

When you praise Him

Now Satan is a liar

And he wants to make us think

That we are paupers

When he knows himself

We're children of the King

So lift up the mighty shield of faith

For the battle must be won

We know that Jesus Christ is risen

So the works already done

link to the lyrics

I'll be ready for the fight again, sometime...maybe, but right now, I hope others will pray for me. I'm tired of the fight. Too tired... Maybe God's telling me to just praise Him right now. Maybe? Here's a start: Thank You, God for...ummm... well, just Thank You, God.

Okay...now I have some praises: Friends who are praying and telling me:) and after I posted this blog in faith and obedience, my FB suddenly started working. That's just wild. It hasn't been letting me post comments on statuses or write PM messages. If that isn't a God-thing, I don't know what is.

Thank You God for these things. And thank You for my laptop and internet that connects me to my praying friends. And Thank You for my husband who has a birthday today. Chinks are falling down little by little but the problem is still there. Majorly still there. and I want to cry. am crying but I will praise the Lord through the tears.

Answer to Prayer!

2011-05-16T21:01:00.000-05:00

Thank you for praying for Katalina. Go to Lisa's blog to see an answer to all of our prayers!

Urgent Prayer Request

2011-05-15T15:55:00.000-05:00

Please Help!

My friend, and fellow FW, Lisa Mikitarian, has posted a page on Facebook to help find her 21 year old daughter, Katalina. Please take a minute to read her post here, and then follow the link to Facebook and LIKE her page so we can help spread the word about Katalina. I can't imagine what they are going through. Thank you for anything you can do to help Katalina come home, especially if you will pray. The following is Lisa's post:

Our daughter, Katalina, has been missing since Monday, May 9, 2011. She was in a program in Richmond, Virginia. She broke their rules, and when it was discovered was dropped off at the Richmond Greyhound Station with $1.58 in her pocket and a voucher for a bus ticket to Charlottesville, VA--the station closest to home. She had no cell phone. It was 7:30 at night.

The program counselor left a message on our phone at about 7 to call her. We didn't get home from work/meetings until after 8:30 PM. By the time we were able to send someone to the station for us (we live 3+ hours away), Katalina was gone. We were unsure for several days whether she had even boarded the bus to C'ville or not, as she was emotional and unsure she even wanted to come home.

On Thursday surveillance tapes showed she had boarded the bus--which meant she intended to come home--but because the program hadn't made contact with us, there was no one there to meet her.

Did she meet someone on the bus? What did she think when she got off and didn't see her parents waiting for her? Where is she? Is she safe? How could they drop our daughter off at a bus station at night with no money and send her to a place where she knows no one?

These are the questions that plague us.

The Charlottesville Police Department is doing everything it can to find her.

Any help you can provide through prayer or the sharing of this page would be truly appreciated.

If you see her, please tell her that her family loves her, is worried and just wants to know she is all right. Please tell her to call home.

Thank you very much,
Sam and Lisa Mikitarian
540 335-5765

Katalina has short brown hair and brown eyes. She's 5'5" tall and weighs 135 lbs. She wears glasses. She was last seen wearing jeans, a brown blouse and flats.

Link to Facebook page FINDING KATALINA

May 14, 1983

2011-05-14T07:36:00.002-05:00

Today is our anniversary. On May 14, 1983, Jim and I were married. We've lived in Tabor (Waynesville, Illinois) all of those twenty-eight years. Tabor, for anyone that doesn't know, consists of a grain elevator, feed mill, two houses, and... that's it:) It really doesn't even show up as Tabor on GPS, by the way.

We've had three kids. Ryan now lives in Pingree Grove, Illinois where he is a Navy Recruiter. Kristen lives in Vandalia, Illinois where she works in group homes standing up for those who can't stand up for themselves. I pity the ones who try to cross her! Nik has just turned eighteen and will be graduating soon and going off to college.

Sooo...very soon we will be empty-nester's. That will be a new thing for us but I think we will catch on very quickly and enjoy it.

In our twenty-eight years, it hasn't been easy. We've had births, deaths, joys, sadness, weeping, and laughter, but we are in our marriage for the long haul. Together we will make it through whatever life throws at us. We also share an anniversary with our good friends Kent and Laurie Retzer:) So that is very fun and unusual!

To Jim, who I truly love and always will - forever and ever and who will NEVER EVER read this blog post just because he doesn't - :) Happy Anniversary...

Jan Dial Posting today at...

2011-05-01T07:46:00.001-05:00

Please press the button above and it will whisk you on over to the Jewels of Encouragement Blog where Jan Dial is guest posting! You won't want to miss it, trust me:) She's sharing what's she's learned from people in her life living in the 'Golden Years.' Happy Lord's Day! Looks like another day of sunshine and maybe with NO wind!

Tornado Alley - Thanks, Jan!

2011-04-22T16:49:00.001-05:00

Wow…we really are between storms, aren’t we? The last two weeks have brought a series of severe storms through Central Illinois, otherwise known as 'Tornado Alley.' My first experience in the 'alley' was at the ripe age of ten.…May 15, 1968. Mother and Sister made a quick grocery run to the Clinton IGA while I was engrossed in my favorite episode of “I Love Lucy“. The grocery run was anything but quick….in fact it seemed like an eternity. While I was glued to Lucy and Ethel, the TV shut off with a snap. I could hear the wind beginning to howl and I ran to the living room to investigate. As I peered out the front window, a sea of green and black rolling clouds boiled in the distance. The thick, heavy atmosphere was saturated with pea green pigment, and pouring rain quickly turned to pounding hail. The roaring wind bent the trees sideways and hard as tried, I couldn’t get the back door open to run to the neighbors for protection. Terrified and alone, I ran back to the front window crying hysterically as twin tornadoes blew by to ravage Wapella, and floodwaters were unleashed by a broken levy.

Life is filled with roaring winds, hail, and rising floodwaters. What storm is brewing on your horizon? Or are you so engrossed in real life drama that you don’t even notice….until it’s raging out of control?? Are you terrified at times and feeling all alone?

Matthew 8:26 “….why are you so afraid? Then He got up

and rebuked the wind and the waves, and it was completely calm”.

The Lord rescued me in 1968 and I was literally carried to higher ground. God is still rescuing me today and He continues to carry me to higher ground.

Is it any wonder that I abhor the “Wizard of Oz?

*******

Jan Dial most graciously accepted my call to write for my most neglected blog.
Thanks, Jan:)

Jan hails from her little school house in the country north of Decatur, IL. She is in love with her husband Roger to whom she has been married for nearly thirty years. Roger and Jan are the parents of thirty-one year old Mindy, who is studying nursing, twenty-four-year-old old Alex, an explosive specialist in Afghanistan, and fifteen-year-old Ben, a freshmen at Decatur Christian School. (Note 3 children born in 3 different decades...was she nuts or what???) Jan works as a Grief Counselor for the Decatur Memorial Hospital Hospice Program in Decatur. She is passionate about Jesus, Roger, family, singing with her ‘Soul Sisters’ and coffee!!!! She also loves photography, floral design, flower/vegetable gardening, and water sports. Jan loves to swim with her seven year old twins Isaiah and Tierney and three year old Keagan. She is excited to take the plunge into blogging. Anyone care to take a dip??

Post at JOE on Colossians 3:12-14

2011-04-20T05:59:00.002-05:00

Click on the button to the left to follow me

to our group Jewels of Encouragement blog

where I ponder Colossians 3:12-14.

I'll be there quick! Just as soon as I check out my closet

to find something to wear!! Hope to see you there!

The Miracle of Mercy Land

2011-04-19T20:20:00.001-05:00

The Miracle of Mercy Land a novel, written by River Jordan, and published by Waterbrook Press, is a spectacular read and very much out-of-the-box for me; an extraordinary ride down the unfamiliar. A tale woven around very believable characters that I grew to love in a very short amount of time.

The book is written in the eyes of three of the main characters: Mercy Land, the Doc, and John Quincy. A book of sorts landed in Doc's office. This book had the power to change the past. In the wrong hands, it would change the course of history. In the right hands, who knows what good could be done?

The present and past of these three people get mixed up and collide and intercept until sometimes it's hard to know what's up. This book is hard to explain. It's a book made to be read and enjoyed and maybe even read again.

I highly recommend The Miracle of Mercy Land, if nothing else, because it's so very original. A must-read for sure!

Spring Training

2011-04-11T11:15:00.003-05:00

I still can't get over feeling so incredibly good! I never want to get used to this feeling because I don't want to take it for granted - not ever! Yesterday in church we sang a song, Forever Reign. When we got to the chorus I realized it's a perfect song to put on my Ipod for the times I run/jog:

Oh, I'll run into Your arms
I'll run into Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
And nothing compares
To Your embrace
Light of the world

Forever Reign

Perfect, yes? This morning as I was praying on the way to work, I thought about this song again. Our time on earth is like spring training. I feel like I've been given my health back so that I'll be ready to run into Jesus' arms when He comes back to take us to Heaven with Him.

Thinking about that made tears flow. I clearly saw myself run into Jesus' arms and He caught me and twirled me around like a Daddy does and then He hugged me tight and he said, "Well done, Daughter!"

Can you imagine? I can't wait! I know many non-Christians are talking about the end of the world coming in 2012. My son and I were talking about that yesterday on our alone time together. He understands that we don't know when it will be that Jesus will come. It says that in the Bible. Anyway, we have nothing to fear. Our home is in Heaven. We're just visitors on earth. I can't wait to see what Jesus has prepared for us!

Meanwhile, let's all get into spring training mode so we'll be prepared to run into Jesus' arms.

Ephesians 4:1-3 "In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands." (The Message)

Start/Stay/Finish!

2011-04-05T23:06:00.001-05:00

My poor blog. How I've missed it. I've been busy. Up to spring break I was going strong on B90X and then came the most awesome spring break ever:)

My friend, Mari, came from the West Coast. We had the most glorious, awesome spring break EVER! God blessed us monetarily which helped us to be able to enjoy things we never would have been able to do.

He also blessed us by allowing me to feel so very good! This is the best I've been since Mari has known me. It's an incredible thing for me to experience and I'm living life to the fullest, let me tell you!
And now I'm back to school. I was ready. There's only seven Mondays left until summer vacation. Amazing.

With spring break behind me, it's time to get back into gear. B90x'ers at my church are finished and I'm tagging along behind. It's all good. I started strong and I will finish strong. It's been an amazing, incredible experience. If you've never read the Bible in 90 days, give or take a few;) I would highly recommend it. It is life-changing. It's revved me up to WANT to read my Bible again. I was getting stagnate about the whole Bible reading thing. Being forced to read through so fast made me want to slow down to study and ponder certain things. I can't wait to finish so I can do just that.

I'm finding that as I'm growing older and entering middle age that I'm becoming very unfocused so...I need to gain my focus to finish my goal.

I need to start again where I ended, 2 Corinthians...
I will stay focused...
and I will finish strong...

"You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping..." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)

Will you pray for me that I will finish strong? I'm so very close! Below I've left you with a YouTube video of a man who finished the race. Truly an awe-inspiring story. I hope it inspires you to finish your own race.

Friendships...

2011-03-22T06:01:00.001-05:00

Please follow me over to the Joe blog today. I've posted about my many friendships and how they've blessed my life in amazing ways.

I hope to see you there!

I Promise You...

Keep Breathing

2011-03-18T06:38:00.001-05:00

It's been some crazy weeks, let me tell you! Well, wish I could. This is Friday and I hope to have time to work on a blog post this weekend. God's speaking to me lots through my B90x Bible reading. We only have 14 days left. I read in Luke last night.

I'm going to leave a song with you today for this awesome Friday. Kerrie Roberts was in concert at our church Wednesday. I didn't get to go. The past two weeks fell in on me. I've been running around busy busy and my body finally said - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! You have to remember, I went from like 10 miles an hour maybe to 100:) That's a major change and I'm loving it but I also have to let it rest:) Anyway, this song is, Keep Breathing, and is very appropriate for now and it's awesome and I keep listening over and over and bought it on I Tunes last night even. I hope you enjoy and it ministers to you.

Happy Friday!

I Will be True to the Promise I Have Made

2011-03-14T06:33:00.001-05:00

Here it is Monday morning and God is still in control. He didn't get knocked off while we slept or anything. Isn't it good to know that HE is one constant in our lives? I woke up humming this Steven Curtis Chapman song. Where that popped up, I don't know, but it's perfect for today and this time in our history. I hope you take time and listen. If you didn't read my last post, I hope you'll do that, too. The present might look pretty bleak right now with what's going on in the world and here on the home front but God is still here. He's promised to always be with us.

Lord, please be with the people of Japan. What horrible devastation we see on television. We can't even imagine. You've promised to be with them. Help the masses come to know You. Show Your mighty hand in miracles. We stay glued to the television and we can pray. That's all many of us can do. Please act on our prayers. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Okay, I'll let Steven talk now. Happy Monday, everyone.

God's Rule Prevails!

2011-03-13T16:18:00.004-05:00

Some days are like living in a Norman Rockwell painting; others... ummm...aren't. Friday we woke up to a normal everyday until we turned on the news: Japan earthquake and then the tsunami.

No matter what the circumstances, no matter what it LOOKS like, God is STILL in control. Even though it looks like nature has had it's way, God is there. Even though decisions are made and it seems to be no way out, God knows and has much better plans.

"Though the cherry trees don't blossom

and the strawberries don't ripen,

Though the apples are worm-eaten

and the wheat fields stunted,

Though the sheep pens are sheepless

   and the cattle barns empty,
I'm singing joyful praise to God.
   I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God's Rule to prevail,
   I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
   I feel like I'm king of the mountain!

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (The Message)

We don't live in a painting. Life is full of problems. Full of tornadoes, volcanoes, bankruptcies, thieves, child abuse... Don't get me wrong. It has good moments, too. The only thing is, when we're going through the bad, the good tends to get forgotten.

This is our reminder. When reading in B90X, the little book of Habakkuk captured my attention with these verses. Even though life might be falling down around us- God is still in control. He is still worthy to be praised! We can still sing praises to Him! When we do, God lifts us up and out of the bad and He sets us at His feet. There, we gain strength and we are able to face all we have to face when realty sneaks in again. The sky is still black as can be but there is still joy in the Lord. He NEVER changes. "I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. I didn't exactly do cartwheels this weekend but I did play tennis:)

God's rule prevails! Remember that. Counting on God's rule to prevail, we can take heart and gain strength! I'm counting on that today in a friend's life. When one of our brothers or sister's in Christ hurt, don't we all hurt?

Do any of you need prayer? Now is the time to step up and do exactly that. Satan has reared his ugly head in too many ways to count. Now is the time to fight back. We can pray here on this blog or you can email me privately at lauryhubrich@faithwriters.net Let's remind Satan that he did NOT win, will NOT win, will NEVER win:)

"For God hath not given us

the spirit of fear;

but of power, and of love,

and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:7 (King James)

How to Live Life

2011-03-10T07:29:00.002-06:00

How can we stand up before God, according to Micah 6:8

"How can I stand up before God

and show proper respect to the high God? (6:6)

"It's quite simple:

Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,

be compassionate and loyal in your love,

And don't take yourself too seriously--

take God seriously." (Micah 6:8 - The Message)

Enjoy your Thursday and ask God how

He will use you today for His glory!

Posting today at...

2011-03-01T05:00:00.004-06:00

Please come and visit at our JOE blog. I have an important

message I learned from Jeremiah I'm sharing. I'm waiting, latte in hand:)
Laury, Between the Storms

It is What it is

2011-02-27T19:55:00.001-06:00

So...Monday is Rare Disease Day. Some new readers may not know that I have a little known disease called Intracranial Hypertension.

This is taken right from my friend Kerry who has this disease in a major way, "Intracranial Hypertension (IH) is the general term for the neurological disorders in which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure within the skull is too high. Imagine, if you will, your skull filling up with CSF and "squishing" your brain...that's what IH does. As it squishes your brain (and the brain does not like to be squished) it does nasty things in response."

IH causes debilitating headaches for me (Laury) and extreme dizziness. It took years to get a diagnosis. FINALLY, after a very long time and 2 shunts, I have one that is working amazingly well along with a combination of medications. It's placed in my foramen magnum (that hole in the picture is where the spine comes up into your head - my shunt is in there somehow.) I have tubes that run from there down my neck and around into my pleural cavity (lungs) where the excess spinal fluid drains. Now you know way more than you ever wanted to, right?

There are lots of diseases out there that we don't know about; not until you happen to run across one in your body or the body of your child or spouse. It's hard finding a doctor to even know what's wrong and then finding a doctor to help you, preferably one that is close.

Okay...now I want to spread some good news. I've been waiting out of fear but now's the time. I've been feeling really really good! I went back to the pain clinic to get help about three weeks ago. I left there when they couldn't do anything for me six years ago. That was when the headaches took over like crazy. Dr. Vallajo has me on some medicines that are working wonders and he gave me cortisone in my back last week.

I'm up and around now! My house is getting cleaner and more organized. I'm feeling better about myself. I'm laughing more. Enjoying life. It's great! I'm living again. And now that I am living again, I can see how much I wasn't.

We are in Jeremiah right now in our B90X and I am loving it. The words there are speaking to me in major ways. Jeremiah has a hard job. He has to tell the Israelites that they are in for it by God because they have disobeyed way too long. They aren't liking the message and I left poor Jeremiah locked in prison tonight. The good news is that after 70 years, God has promised to come back for them. The punishment will be over. In Jeremiah 31:13 from The Message it says,

"I'll convert their weeping into laughter, lavishing comfort, invading their grief with joy."

That's what I feel like has happened to me. I've left a dark place and now I've been lavished with laughter and joy. Okay, so a reality check. I do have a chronic disease. Things could change, but I am walking in faith. I am enjoying what I have right now.

Each step I take, I want it to glorify my God - whether it be through the storms, between the storms, or after. Just like I told a young friend this week, "It is what it is." And God IS. And that makes me SMILE. I've been smiling lots lately.

And in 25 days, my very best friend who knows me inside and out but loves me anyway, will be here, and we will be able to run around like teenagers and have loads of fun. God is so very good.

"God will create a thing new in this land:

A transformed woman will embrace the transforming God!"

Jeremiah 31:22 (The Message)

When You're Between a Rock and a Hard Place

2011-02-23T20:09:00.001-06:00

God's Message:

"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.

I've called you by name. You're mine.

When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.

When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.

When you're between a rock and a hard place,

it won't be a dead end --

Because I am God, your personal God,

The Holy of Israel, your Savior.

I paid a huge price for you:

all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!

That's how much you mean to me!

That's how much I love you!

I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,

trade the creation just for you.

So don't be afraid: I'm with you."

Isaiah 43:2-5

The Message

Dominoes Anyone?

2011-02-22T00:02:00.002-06:00

Today is day 51 of B90X. I'm cruising right through Isaiah. We are over half way through the Bible already! That's a pretty big accomplishment for 90 days! I'm already thinking how I want to read it when I'm finished. Let me tell you, it will be much slower so I can take my time to study some things. I'm thoroughly enjoying this, though. I'm thinking I'd like to start the new year this way every January.

Any one want to come play with me today? I have the day off. If so, follow me over to our brand new group blog, Jewels of Encouragement. I'll be setting up the dominoes. Come on over, not only today but every day!

Each day of the week we will have a different Christian woman posting an encouraging message for all of us in each walk of life that we are in for "such a time as this." I know almost all of the women and they are pretty fantastic, let me tell you! I'm excited to be a part of this group. Don't be shy. We love to hear how an article has touched you. Or maybe you have a question you'd like to ask. We'd even accept criticism:) Really truly. Okay. Enough talk. Let's go play!

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes!

2011-02-19T13:03:00.001-06:00

Sistersicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn, published by Multnomah, is one of the BEST fun books I've read in a long time. It may be the whole timing of the read, too. In less than five weeks now, my best friend is coming to visit in Central Illinois from Washington state.

The book begins with a middle-aged empty-nester, Summer, from Midwest United States, who receives some disturbing news from her doctor. Instead of facing it head-on, she decides to run to her best friend, Noelle, in the Netherlands. They found each other as pen pals in grade school and kept up their relationship all their lives. They wrote letters and later as technology improved, they emailed but have never once seen each other in person.

I laughed so much as I read this because the characters kept switching between my best friend and myself. The silly situations they got themselves into reminded me of the crazy things we went and go through, too. Some not so funny at the time but now we can laugh about them.

Even though Summer was in denial about her health situation, God followed her to Noelle's house and spoke to her through each experience. Summer learned many things about herself as she lived a week of her life with her friend. Noelle 'gently persuaded' Summer to milk a cow. This is what Summer learned from the experience.

"This is pretty amazing," I said a few moments later. My voice was more soothing than it had been earlier. "I feel very organic. I need to have a piece of straw hanging out the side of my mouth."

Noelle smiled. "I wish I had my camera. You're a little Dutch barn maid."

"I don't think I'll need a picture to remember that I did this."

"It's pretty cool doing things you wouldn't normally do, isn't it?" (pg. 114)

I don't want to ruin the book for you so I won't mention rental bikes that fall into the canal or 2 women who sail in a wooden shoe. I sure wouldn't want to say anything about pesky sea gulls, either. Awesome book. Perfect for middle-aged women who have friends who are in another city, another state, or maybe even across an ocean. We all crave friendship; maybe even more as we grow older.

If you want some big smiles and some giggles, please read this book. I must warn you, there might be some tears that come along with it, too. Where two good friends come together, tears inevitably follow: tears of healing and joy. Thank you Robin Jones Gunn for a book written just for me, for just a time as this!

I'm Starving!

2011-02-18T17:50:00.002-06:00

On my last blog post, Desiray posted a comment that I replied to and decided, "Hmmm...that will make an awesome post." So...here it is. Thank you, Desiray, for pulling more out of me about waiting on God. I don't know this woman. She's just a fellow Christian blogger who found me and who has been encouraging me ever since, along with Grandma Becky (and I appreciate them both.) Anyway, waiting on God...

I've become quite the expert soup maker this winter. I can't take credit for that, though. Actually, my good friend, Becky Glenn, gave me an awesome taco soup recipe. It's easy and extremely good. Here it is. Hopefully she doesn't mind that I'm sharing it with all of you.

Taco Soup

1 # browned hamburger
1 small onion chopped (or onion flakes)
1 bag frozen corn (16 oz) (or 1 can)
1 can diced tomatoes with chilies (10 oz undrained)
1 can plain diced tomatoes (14 oz undrained)
1 can chili beans with sauce (15 oz undrained)
1 can tomato soup

Mix all together and cook in crock pot (high 2 hours) or oven or simmer on the stove.
Serve with:
Tortilla chips
Shredded cheese of your choice
Sour Cream

The problem with this soup: I have to wait for it to simmer. I suppose I better share my dirty little secret with you. Most usually, I don't wait. I'll scoop some up and put it in a bowl and heat it in the microwave. The problem with that, it doesn't blend in all the different flavors like it does when it takes it's time in the crock pot.

If I would just wait for it...I would eat the most delectable bowl of soup ever. I am overly impatient. You know, talking about soup reminds me of Esau. He came in famished after his work day and begged Jacob for a bowl of his red stew he had simmering on the back burner. I'm sure Jacob would have given him some for free at dinner time but Esau was so dramatic about the whole - I'M STARVING and GONNA DIE - thing that Jacob played along. Jacob traded his twin brother a bowl of soup for his birthright.

All because Esau was impatient, he lost out on all the rights that came along with being the oldest. All because he was too impatient to wait for dinner, he let something slip past him that was much more valuable than a bowl of soup. How sad is that?

Psalm 27:13-14 (The Message)

I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness

in the exuberant earth.

Stay with God! (Wait for God!)

Take heart. Don't quit. (Wait for it...don't quit!)

I'll say it again:

Stay with God. (Wait for God!)

You know...when we try to speed things up, we are attempting to stop what God has set in motion for us. We can't see the big picture. Sometimes, every little piece has to fall into place before we see answers to prayers. God sees it all. He knows it all. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Why don't we just wait for Him?

I hate the thought of sitting in my rocking chair in the nursing home thinking of all that my impatience cost me during my younger years. Oh, can you imagine? To finally have life figured out by 85, 90 years old and not be able to change a thing?

Here is my 90 year-old self from the future telling my 47 year-old self from right now - "Wait for God. Don't try to make things happen. It never worked out when you did that. It didn't work at 20. Not at 30 or 40. It didn't work at 50 or 60, either. Girlie, it didn't at 80 even. Stay with God and wait for Him."

I just cracked myself up. My old self never talked to my middle aged self before. Wow. I guess it's been a long week. :) I don't want to be like Esau. I want to walk triumphantly into the Promised Land with my inheritance firmly in place and I will gladly wait for it, whatever it is at the moment. Come walk with me, won't you?

Wait for it...

2011-02-12T12:39:00.001-06:00

Wait for it.....

Wait for it....

wait for it.......

We don't like to wait for things, do we? We have fast food that isn't fast enough for us. We count down the days to Christmas. Right now I'm counting down until spring break when my best friend gets to come see me for a whole week from Washington. I have a countdown of how many days until the 90 day Bible reading challenge is done - ummm...49 days left - Wow!

I don't like waiting for things and then I find myself wishing whole weeks away so the time goes by faster. The more I wish away, the more days I'm whittling away towards old age. Oboy. Time needs to go by a bit slower, not faster. Hmmmm.... But, it seems to go by plenty fast when the long-awaited event comes along, doesn't it?

David talks about waiting in Psalm 37:34, The Message:

"Wait passionately for God, don't leave the path..."

Passionately means 'ruled by intense feeling or strong emotion.' David lived his life passionately. Everything he did, good or bad, was passionate. Do we wait like David says to wait?

"I waited and waited and waited for God.

At last He looked; finally He listened.

He lifted me out of the ditch,

pulled me from deep mud.

He stood me up on a solid rock

to make sure I wouldn't slip.

He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,

a praise-song to our God.

More and more people are seeing this:

they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God."

(Psalm 39:1-4 The Message)

Wait passionately and with abandon. Sounds like an exciting life to live, when we seek to live a life like King David. He didn't have an easy life, either. He was the youngest of a boatload of brothers. He was a shepherd and did all he could to watch over those sheep. He killed the giant, Goliath, when all of King Saul's army was too frightened. He played his harp to soothe Saul's soul and had to play dodge ball when Saul got mad and threw things at him.

His own son attempted to take over his kingdom. He had an affair with another man's wife and then had that man killed in battle to try to cover his sin. David was completely human yet through it all, he learned and he matured and was a man after God's own heart.

So, I want to try to learn to wait passionately and abandon myself to God. I hope I learn lots from David as I peruse through the book of Psalm.

Radical

2011-02-03T13:57:00.001-06:00

"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, and I will forgive their sin

and will heal their land."

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

This verse is found in day 32 of B90X, the Word of the Lord to King Solomon at the time the King was dedicating the temple. We know from Biblical history, that the Israelites constantly turned away from their Lord. Then, good to His Word, God would bring them under oppression; the people would then again cry out to God; and God would bring relief to them once again. It was a constant cycle.

It sounds so simple. All they had to do was seek after God. Humble themselves. Pray. Seek God's face. Turn away from wicked ways. So simple. Yet we can't condemn the Israelites because we do the same thing. Sometimes we get so complacent in our lives that we let things slip. The hard times that fall on us serve to bring us back to God so we should be thankful.

I chose a book to review from WaterBrook Multnomah, Radical. Several groups from my church are reading the book right now, so it was a good time to go for it.

This book by David Platt, calls for us to live radically; to live the way Jesus lived. I have to admit, after reading just the first chapter, when I sat in church that following Sunday, I felt extreme guilt. When so many others around the world worship the Lord in secret, on hard chairs, or no chairs at all; I still complain about it being too hot or the lights are too bright, or music too loud.

David calls for a radical change in our lives. He asks that we take a year and do these things: pray for the world; read through the Bible; sacrifice money for a specific purpose; spend time in another place serving God; and commit your life to working in your community.

He says this, "I believe-no, I know--that if you stick to these challenges for a whole year, you will find yourself coming alive like never before. You will know the incomparable thrill of being a part of what God is up to where you live and around the world. You will be ready to shed forever the unworthy parts of the American dream and hold on to the beautiful and lasting dream that God has designed for you." (pg. 186)

If you are happy with your life; happy living in a state of complacency, then I recommend you not read this book. It is a good read, yet honestly, if all you read this year is the Bible, and you really really read it, and ask God to speak to you as you do, then you can write your own book; live your own exceptional life in Christ.

Praying we all can live a 2 Chronicles 7:14 life starting today.

Stamp out the Lies, #5

2011-01-30T16:48:00.001-06:00

Teenagers can't

teach us anything.

What a lie from the enemy!

I met a young man, Dakota. He discovered me from my blog, actually, and I popped onto his. He is: a fellow blogger; a Christian who loves God with all his heart; a memorizer of God's Word; a writer of amazing blog entries far beyond his 17 years; a teen who has taught me some things since reading his blog, "A Look at Life from a Deerstand." I asked him if I could use part of his post from January 20th then wished I had asked for the whole thing:) Instead, I hope you hop over onto his blog from the link above.

This is from Dakota:

"No book in history has ever compared to the Word of God. It has been hated and loved; burned and cherished; neglected and trusted; criticized and yet never undefended. Many countries have banned Its use entirely, while others have built their very foundation upon Its words. Amazingly enough, what makes God’s Word unique is not the fact that It has proven so controversial, but that It has proven Itself accurate time and time again

Scientists once falsely believed that air had no weight, even though God had told us otherwise thousands of years earlier
"He established the force of the wind and measured out the waters" (Job 28:25).

At a time when it was largely accepted that the Earth rested upon the back of a large animal or giant, the Bible spoke of its suspension in space.
"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; He suspends the earth over nothing."(Job 26:7).

Long before the discovery of atoms, the invisible “building blocks” of Creation, God had revealed "universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

During an age when Science claimed the earth to be flat, Christopher Columbus sailed west through faith in the Scriptures:
"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth..." (Isaiah 40:22)

I've never once noticed any of those verses before. It's amazing how alive the Bible is and still speaks to us today like it did when it was first written. Thanks, Dakota!

Another teen from the high school where I work is currently writing a post especially for me. I can't wait to be able to share that with you. I love throwing satan's lies back in his face, especially lies exposed by teens.

Let's learn from our teens. Get in the Word. Read it. Let God speak to you through it, and then share it however and whenever you can. Once you've heard the truth, it's hard to keep quiet!

Stamp out the Lies, 2011, #4

2011-01-23T16:40:00.001-06:00

Satan's at it again. He doesn't even have to shout. A whisper is all that's needed. "It's just a book. No big deal. It was written long ago; it doesn't pertain to now. There's so much other good stuff out there. Look! You can even read books about the book."

I've gone through periods where the Bible is the last thing I pick up to read. I don't know why. No reason, I suppose. Other times, I'm reading and I explode in growth and knowledge and I can't imagine not reading it. Fickle. I am so fickle. Maybe that's you, too. We are fickle people, for sure.

There are places around the world where it's illegal to read the Bible; where it's hard to get a copy. It's pathetic to think about the many different versions sitting on our shelves, dusty and unread.

I'm about finished reading, Radical, by David Platt. Soon I'll review it but for now, let me share with you what he has to say about Bible reading.

"...we hold the matchless Word of God in our hands, and it demands a superior position in our lives... Do we realize the battle that is waging around us? There is a true God over this world who wants all people to bow at the feet of a loving Savior, and there is a false god in this world who wants all people to burn in hell. The battle is intense, and it cannot be fought with little thoughts in a daily devotional..." (p. 191)

Did you notice that? --There is a false god who wants all people to burn in hell? ummm...that would be satan, the enemy.

This is what God desires for the Bible to do for us:

"God has chosen by his matchless grace to give us revelation of himself in his Word. It is the only Book that he has promised to bless by his Spirit to transform you and me into the image of Jesus Christ. It is the only Book that he has promised to use to bring our hearts, our minds, and our lives in alignment with him." (p. 192)

God wraps Himself around us as we read or listen, like I've been doing lately, to the Word. He reveals Himself to us. He shows us what we need to do and He also shows us the wrong way to do things from the very human men and women that is written about in the Book.

This is Day 21 of the B90X. 69 more days to go. Surely by that time, reading God's Word will be a habit I will not want to break. Already, I crave my time with God. I marvel at what I read or listen to. I can't help but share it with people around me. My last story I wrote was about Esau. His life captured me and I researched and I couldn't let it go until a story finally came out of it.

It says in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Don't give in to satan's lie - that the Bible is an old thing; that it should be thrown out like last year's electronic gadgets. That is certainly NOT the case. So whether you take that Bible off your shelf and blow the dust off; or you read online from places like Biblegateway.com; or you go to your local library and find the Bible on tape or CD; or you find dramatized versions online; or download it onto your electronic book; or all of the above, JUST DO IT! Let God capture your heart and speak to you. Let Him love and/or admonish you through His Words. I promise, you will never be the same again.

Stamp out the Lies, 2011, #3

2011-01-20T18:10:00.001-06:00

In a Junior English class we're studying about the slave trading all the way through their travels to America. As the teacher was giving an overview of what we would be talking about, the African Americans religion was on the list. She said that even though they were treated so badly, they held onto their beliefs.

I wanted to stand up and say, "Well duh!" I can't imagine going through hard times without God in my life. The enemy enjoys lying to us and saying that God doesn't care what we go through. What a lie! God is with us every step of the way, even when we turn our backs on Him for a bit. He's always there.

A couple of months ago I asked a few friends to write a testimony about their life with chronic pain, whether it's physical or emotional. A dear friend Sunny, from Texas, responded to my call and I want to share with you what she wrote.

I Will Worship Through the Pain

By Sunny Shell, January 2011

“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.”
~Psalm 9:1-2

I have more specialists than there are colors in the rainbow. I’ve complained about this in the past, but as I recount all God’s goodness to me, my heart is lifted towards heavenly things and I see my situation in a new light. Having so many specialists, must just mean I’m extra special (silly grin).

There’s no name for my condition. There’s no cure for anything I have, no assurance as to whether I will get better, worse or if the current treatments will stabilize me. Presently, my darling husband gives me 1,000 mcg of B12 in my arm every 2 weeks. I take 50,000 units of Vitamin D every 2 weeks as well as 2,000 units/day (this is after discovering 50,000 wasn’t enough). I take 400 units of Vitamin E for my fatty liver and 5 mg of Crestor along with 200 mg of CO Q10 daily for my high cholesterol. Recently, I’ve been tested for a rare muscle disease and am awaiting results. It’s never ending. Most days I’m hurting and am completely wiped out by ordinary activities.

All this, and I’m only 41 years young, thin and work out regularly...as best as I can. So what’s a gal to do? Well, I could wallow in self-pity, whine and complain. Check. Check. Check. Been there, done that! Now what?
Now, I turn my eyes, heart, mind and everything I have, towards Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).
“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust -- there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though He cause grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love; for He does not willingly afflict men.”
~Jeremiah 3:25-33
It is good for me to sit quietly, endure this trial, and wait for His deliverance. I’m so comforted in knowing that God doesn’t rejoice in my affliction, but He rejoices that the flames of my afflictions burn away all the useless chaff in my life that doesn’t resemble my awesome Savior, Christ Jesus my Lord (John 9:3).

I am a wife, mother, friend, writer, a chronically ill person, and so many other things. While all these things play a huge role in my life, they do not define who I am. Since the day of my salvation, I am forever defined by my relationship with Jesus Christ. How I choose to live daily, demonstrates the measure of my love and gratitude towards God for the greatest Gift ever known -- Jesus Christ. Therefore I choose to worship Him while I wait. Even in my darkest and most painful moments, I choose to remember that my illness does not define me. It does not make me who I am, unless I choose to let it.

My joy is not set in the hope that one day I may be healed, but my joy instead, is firmly established in knowing Christ and being known by Him.

"Christ is our best friend and ere long will be our only friend. I pray God with all my heart that I may be weary of everything else but converse and communion with Him"
~ John Owen, 17th century Puritan and lover of Jesus Christ

Thank you for sharing, Sunny. The enemy wants to knock us down when the going gets tough but the Bible says that when we are weak, He's all the more strong in our lives - and that is a fact. We can praise Him through any and all storms.

Stamp out the Lies #1
Stamp out the Lies #2

Between the Storms

2011 in Review

And in this Corner...

Flash Mobs

Free2Be Me...

Posted on Joe Today

Posting today at...

Y Here? Y Now?

X Marks the Spot!

The Pirate Queen

What?

Nose Dive

JourneZine post today!

Victory or Vaporization?

Under a Week!

Tonto?

Saving Grace

Silliness

100 Words

Jewels of Encouragement - Holy holy holy!

Really Great Unfinisher is Finishing!!!

P's & Q's

Do Not Lose Heart

Organization!

N for Nook Color!

Features

Come Help Me Celebrate...

M is for Moving On...

Sierra Jensen Series, Volumes 1-4

Laury Wept

Posting today at...

K is for Kelp?

Fall Apart, Josh Wilson

The Canary List

J is for...

Posting today at...

I, as in Me

Friday Fiction - Yeah, What Then?

H is for....

To Be Perfectly Honest

Her Safari

Taming the Beast Within!

Friend of God

Posting today at...

Expressions

Declaration!

The Girl in the Gatehouse - Book Review

The Chocolate Diaries

Labels

C is for Changes!

A2Z Meme - *A* & *B*

The End...

Posting today at...

When You're up Against a Struggle...

Answer to Prayer!

Urgent Prayer Request

Please Help!

May 14, 1983

Jan Dial Posting today at...

Tornado Alley - Thanks, Jan!

Post at JOE on Colossians 3:12-14

The Miracle of Mercy Land

Spring Training

Start/Stay/Finish!

Friendships...

Keep Breathing

I Will be True to the Promise I Have Made

God's Rule Prevails!

How to Live Life

Posting today at...

It is What it is

When You're Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Dominoes Anyone?

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes!

I'm Starving!

Wait for it...

Radical

Stamp out the Lies, #5

Stamp out the Lies, 2011, #4

Stamp out the Lies, 2011, #3

A2Z Meme - A & B