The Welcome Home – Page 79 – The Next Chapter

The breakfast table epiphany

Some of the best experiences or most meaningful moments have happened around our family breakfast table. It’s where we pray, where we eat, where we talk together, where we study the Word together and where we clarify and define what the Word is saying to us — what we should do, how we should live and what the LORD requires of us as believers and as a family. It’s also where we make our plans and share schedules and our stories.

But, for me, in addition to all that, the breakfast table is where I see the past, the present and the future. By seeing the future, I mean, I see the little children in the olders and I see the olders in the little children—-or, at least how I both remember and how I imagine them… how they will be when they reach whatever age is represented.

So, that epiphany I mentioned yesterday? Well, as do most of those sorts of moments occur, this one occurred at the breakfast table and, as I shared, there were three additional chairs at the table — the grandchildren were gathered around the table with our other children. I must say, with four of our own not here day to day, it surely was nice to have the chairs filled at the table. As I looked at the faces of each of the children I was practically dumbstruck that the thought that hit me felt as if it were an original or first-time experience. For, surely, I had thought those thoughts before that time and surely that wasn’t the first time that revelation washed over me. But, in reality, I hadn’t ever really seriously considered or felt more profoundly the thoughts I was having.

I looked into the faces of each of the grandchildren and I realized another facet of this season. I had entered a new training, guiding, exhorting, encouraging, instructing, and nurturing, loving phase. This time the “stakes.” if you will, are greater than ever before. I have a new charge to keep, a new role, a new season, a new purpose in my life: I really am a grandmother. It really does matter—I’m not marginalized at all. And really, that’s how things had begun to feel. I was feeling marginalized.

As my husband read the memory work and each of the children repeated the verses, I listened with great joy as each of the grandchildren recited the verses as well and each were wanting to learn, to recite and to please Papa with their recitations – grandchildren included. As I listened to them talk, I was struck with the non-negotiable, no-compromise charge that I was to love, nurture, train up and walk alongside these children.As I arose from my chair at the table, I determined to leave the room for just a bit, to continue to gather my thoughts and to pray for God’s direction and equipping to do the job at hand. As I looked at the grandchildren I realized that I needed to put forth an excellent effort – not only for themselves and their wellbeing, but because our son and daughter-in-law had entrusted them into our care and I realized the magnitude of the task at hand.

The love, time, energy and effort I had put into my teaching, modeling, encouraging, training and caring for that son was now being transferred, in a sense, to his children. Just as he trusted me to take care of him, to help him, to teach him, to be there for him and to love him – now he was trusting me to do the very same for his own children – those children seated at our breakfast table.

I think up to this point I’ve largely been “baby-sitting” them when they come over. You know, temporary stuff. I think I’ve been tending to them: making them nice things to eat, letting them play with the toys I keep on hand just for them, and also in protecting them from harm and providing a safe place for them to stay while their parents went on a date or to Bible study or work functions, etc. I think I focused on helping out our daughter-in-law instead of assuming the role the LORD has given me as a grandmother. I think I was more caught up in the temporal needs-of-the-moment instead of seeing them as more children the LORD has given.

Our Keeping the grandchildren over here for short or extended times has little to do with the fact that they need “child-care” while their parents are away. It has everything to do with them — they are gifts the LORD has seen fit to allow me/to allow us as parents.

I see that God has carried me into this next season and that it’s a season of great work and of great worth. The gray hair tends to diffuse facts and distort things. You know, a sort of grayed out, marginalized life.
Being the best nurturer, exhorter, care giver, encourager is the very best gift I can give our son – It is, in fact, the next chapter in my “mothering” him. How I live, behave and think of his children directly affect him (and them). Being or doing the best I can demonstrates to that son that whatever I attempted to teach or encourage in him I meant. I meant it enough to do it again – it was worth it enough to me to do it all over again for his children. That when I told him I love him, I meant it and I mean it now by how I care for his children.

I saw each of those children as my next chapter… sort of my personal take on the Titus2 exhortation: “…to love her children.” To love her children enough to love her grandchildren. To love her children enough to not be done with the job… but to put the apron back on and get back to work. Again. For them.

The season in the sun

So, we were sitting at the breakfast table – the three additional chairs added to the coziness (I said, cozy-ness, not craziness) we experienced yesterday morning. After all the honey drizzled oatmeal was served and the glasses and sippy-cups were filled with milk, the clanking of spoons scooping around the sides of the bowls soon sounded like a sixth grade band class. I was looking around the table into the faces of each of the children and I was profoundly struck with the thought that we (my husband and I) were sitting in the midst of the most important work we’d ever experienced.

I was, for a moment, practically breathless as I considered what was before me. So, in one of those rare moments where I’m profoundly struck with a thought that I know is pivotal or life-changing, I again looked into the faces of the children around the table – this time, not the number of children but, rather, their relationship to me. So, I had an epiphany of sorts, when I realized that I am in the probably the most important role of my life or season of my life right now.

And here, I thought it was all about the season in the sun. O, don’t get me wrong, the season in the sun was the most life changing, most challenging and stretching season of my life and it was in that season that I most often saw the miraculous, gracious hand of the LORD and it was in that season that I experienced blessing far greater than I could have ever asked or possibly imagined. I stumbled into the season in the sun and thought it would go on forever. I didn’t know a thing about the passing of seasons and the winds of change (I believe I had that cool, youthful, know-it-all syndrome). The season in the sun was – and I’ll be quite frank here: all about me; it was all about what was going on with me, all about what was happening to me, my baby, my pregnancy, my doctor then my midwife, my due-dates, my toddlers, my diaper bags, my nursing schedule, etc., etc., etc.

The season in the sun is the softest and hardest, the most rewarding and most disappointing and, certainly the most awe-inspiring season that I know of. The season in the sun is totally where it’s at: it’s the season of the childbearing years, it’s the season of great blessing.

Well, so I was sitting at the table and there was that epiphany. It was sort of like that time a couple of summers ago where I was sitting on the back step of a friend’s patio and there were several sisters sitting our on the lawn – chairs in sort of a circle. The conversations were over babies and pregnancies for that’s what each were in the midst of — they were all both literally and figuratively sitting there in the season in the sun. Now, my sitting on the porch step had nothing to do with a choice to not sit in the circle, for I literally wanted to sit in the direct sunlight, and I did eventually pull up a lawn chair and joined them there in the circle on the lawn. However, had I not been sitting there on the step I would have missed a sort of signal or realization of the threshold of my entrance into the next season I would begin experiencing.

As that afternoon sun slowly slipped behind the tall trees, it was as if I realized that day that the sun was slowly setting on the season in the sun and I would no longer search out the best baby-sling, the best nursing bra, the best diaper-cover, the best stroller, the best iron supplement, the best car seat or the best support-hose. I realized that day that I wasn’t a part of the relevant conversation… for the first time, I noticed that all my contributions to the conversation were in the past-tense. And I still sort of have a catch in my throat when I look back on that day… for it’s one of those days that’s etched in my memory, never to be forgotten.

When I was in the season in the sun, though older women continually warned me, I didn’t realize how swiftly it was passing; I thought the days would never end. But, ironically, though the days were long, the weeks flew by. And now, looking back, I see that the years flew by while I was in the other room changing diapers. A couple of decades flew by while I was desperately trying to hold it all together – making sure that no one doubted I could handle it. Now… I wish for one more day… sort of vowing to not try and have it all together, not worry about what others would think, say or do… but for one more day of the season in the sun… one more positive test, one more pregnancy, one more birth, one more baby to nurse………………O, but that epiphany? I’ll write about it tomorrow.

Motherhood… Don’t just get through it (continued)

The sobering fact of the “just get through it” advice many women hear and heed is that in the end it’s just a lie. And in the end, they know it. Today’s message may well be a downer. Take heart… there’s a method to this seeming madness…
I know a lot of the time I’m sort of, as it were, singing to the choir. But I also know that, though I’m singing to the choir, I’m sometimes singing notes that are a bit “off” or a bit flat or aren’t in harmony with all the rest of the choir. I’m not aiming to be simply be harmonious, rather, I’m aiming to sing clear and true—that’s my aim—no matter what, that’s my aim. Most women who read this blog are “sisters” or kindred or like-hearted. But then, occasionally I will receive a note from one who’s not or from sisters who are in a lull or a low spot. I get in low spots, too, and so, I suppose that’s why I write the way I do—nothing’s worth writing out unless it’s worth living out and if I didn’t, can’t or don’t live it out… then I don’t write it or share about it, either.

So, what about “getting through” motherhood?

You’ll hear that advice from time to time from (probably well meaning) women who, for whatever reason, just “got through” motherhood, or, rather, just “got through” that period of time her children lived in her home. Usually bitter women… women who missed it… women who now live regrettable lives because they just “got through it.”
Imagine applying that advice to the experiences you might have —say, to the greatest movie, greatest musical, greatest vacation, greatest book, greatest moment of your life: “…just get through it.” Would you possibly take that advice were someone to tell you, “I know you’re reading the greatest book you’ve ever picked up, so, here’s my thought for you: just get through it.” Or, when you’re buying tickets for a play, imagine hearing, “I know you’re going in to watch that play – just get through it; it’ll be over soon.”

No, that would be absurd – and you know it. So, isn’t it ironic and pitiful that many woman are advised, regarding motherhood, just get through it.

Ah… right about now Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi… is playing in my thoughts: Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…

And you know what? Motherhood’s a lot like that. If you don’t get it, don’t know it, don’t enjoy it, don’t live it, don’t love it, don’t work at it, don’t invest in it, don’t treasure it, and don’t pass it on… then one day you’ll wake up and your life will be paved — what could have been paradise on earth for you will simply be equivalent to a paved parking lot—nothing there, no sweet memories, no sweet sounds, no delicious aromas, no paintings on your fridge, no pictures in the frame of your life, no love notes in your margins, no laughter in your halls and no dandelion bouquets on your kitchen windowsill. Nope—what could have been sweet for you will be bitter. And your tears will not be sweet for the memories of former days, instead, they will be bitter tears for what was lost and can never be recovered.

Motherhood’s something you do – it doesn’t just happen…
it’s something you get to – not something you get through.

If motherhood’s something you just get through… the next generation will have nothing to build on for there will be no foundation. I don’t say the next generation will have nothing to model—O, the next generation will have something to model, alright—and it will be more of the same regrettable living–another rung in the spiral of the decline of motherhood.

There’s a very, very strong reason for the narrative of Titus 2 and strong reason why I continue, through the years, to bring it up again and again… women have been educated to live and to believe lies… to live and believe contrary to the Word of God and so, recovery must begin or restoration must begin and must be perpetuated and propagated that the Word of God be not blasphemed. For, truly, today in the church, the Word of God is being blasphemed—and, I believe one of the main places it’s being blasphemed is in the “christian” home. I seek to live, write, and pray and encourage in such a manner that, the LORD being my life, my strength and guide, so far as it depends on me: this will not be so.

Please, sisters… don’t just get through it… get to it!

more later…

Another sweet letter

from Kathryn…

Now the calendar page has been changed and the date of her return trip home is in view – for this I do praise the LORD. I’ve so missed our girl –so missed her company, her sweet ways, her unbridled enthusiasm and zest for life, her spontaneity and sense of humour… O, and her piano music. I miss smelling her perfume, I miss her laundry, her coffee, the sound of her keys and the sight of her purse on the counter. I miss hearing her teach piano lessons and I miss hearing her read to the children. I miss seeing her jacket on the hook and her stacks of library books. I miss riding in her car and I miss going to Starbuck$. I miss hearing the whirlwind of plans and I miss hearing people call on the phone to talk to her. I miss all those things and more.

With all those things I miss and wish for… I do recognize that I won’t get text messages that say things like:

“Wow, you should see the bat that’s in our room!”
Or, “Cool! How was your day?”
Or, “As i was texting you, junior, my permanent side kick asked me if he could telephone a mzungo?!”
Or, “What? O okay, so you’ll call me around 10pm your time?”
Or, “Wow, I am in a thunderstorm and getting soaked!”
Or, “Thank you. One of the babies has malaria and I couldn’t stand to leave her at the orphanage, so I brought her back to our cottage to spend the night.”

I look forward to the day of her return. As with all other things I’ve wished for, it will be here faster than I could have imagined—though today it seems like forever.

So, today I am dreaming of our Sbx coffee date…

Motherhood isn’t something to just “get through”

When I first started blogging, I just wrote about stuff that was going on around me, sites I’d come across in my world-wide-web travels – cool stuff and helpful stuff… in addition, I wrote about what I thought of what was going on in “the church” today and the daily news stuff. And, for the most part, I suppose I still do all that… but with less pics and links (and that’s bcz of the limitations of this “WordPress” format). Anyway… I think For May’s blogs, I’ll just pick a theme to concentrate on… hmm… bling! The month of May… Motherhood!

Motherhood

I recently talked with a young woman who was lamenting her lot in life as sort of the worker-washer-cooker-driver-word repeater-shopper-picker-upper woman. Now, she didn’t call herself that, she just said one unfortunate phrase that lots of other tired worker-washer-cooker-driver-word repeater-shopper-picker-upper women say to their ~~sloppy~~ ~~childish~~ ~~ungrateful~~ children: “I’m not the maid around here.” (To which some innocent, pitiful child once said: “Well, then, who is?!)

It’s been a long time since I said those very regrettable words: “I’m not the maid around here.” And that’s likely when I thought or felt I was merely the family’s worker-washer-cooker-driver-word repeater-shopper-picker-upper woman. That was early on when I actually was the nurser-changer-worker-washer-cooker-driver-word repeater-shopper-picker-upper woman in our family. That was at a time when I didn’t grasp the high calling of motherhood and didn’t value the tremendous gift and opportunity afforded to the blessed nurser-changer-worker-washer-cooker-driver-word repeater-shopper-picker-upper women of the world.So, to that tired (and now visionary) woman I said, Motherhood isn’t something to just get through! And though she felt “put upon” for all that she needed to do, she really wasn’t just a maid. As a play on words, I told her… you’re not THE maid – you’ve GOT IT made: You’re the MOTHER! *Y*O*U* are everything *y*o*u* ever wanted. You get that? *YOU* are everything you ever wanted to be! You are what you were created to be and you are doing what you were created to do!

Now, at this point she said, No. No way. I just want to get through this! I am NOT everything I ever wanted to be. I said, sure you are… You wanted to love and be loved. You wanted to set things up your way. You wanted to drive all over. You wanted to create. You wanted to have things set up and you wanted to tell others how to do things. You wanted to be young… you wanted to talk… you wanted to make a difference, be important, leave your mark—you wanted to be someone! Well, you are someone! You’re a mother!

I went on to tell her one more thing. Be a good one. Be the best nurser-changer-worker-washer-cooker-driver-word repeater-shopper-picker-upper mother you can be. Be today what you hope your children will fondly remember. You only get one season to be the nurser-changer-worker-washer-cooker-driver-word repeater-shopper-picker-upper — and it may seem like a loooong season but whatever you do, whatever you say, whatever it takes: make the season count.

Pray……..

bcz not everyone is going to bed in comfort tonight. Not everyone has a safe place to call home. Not everyone has had a meal today. Not everyone has a pair of shoes, a suit of clothes, a source of shelter and comfort. Not everyone has a drink of water. Not everyone will shut off the lights in the dry, secure and comfortable home… where they pull up the blankets, fluff up the pillow and lie down to rest in peace with a full stomach and and soft music to lull them to sleep.

Pray for the widows, of the three martyred in Turkey, pray for the Christians there — and surely, pray for the persecutors of Christians… they need Jesus.

VOM News and Prayer Update: May 1, 2007

“There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”(I Corinthians 12:5-7)

NIGERIA
Christians Fear New Muslim President Will Erode Religious Liberty – Compass Direct News
Christians worry persecution in mostly Islamic northern Nigeria will increase following the election of Musa Yar’ Adua, a Muslim, as president. Church leaders are concerned Yar’ Adua will aggravate existing problems for Christians in the region. “The election of Yar’ Adua will aggravate the problems of Christians in northern Nigeria. Our fear is that under a Muslim president, religious liberty will be eroded,” Rev. Polit told Compass. “As governor of Katsina state in northern Nigeria, Yar’Aduna imposed Shariah (Islamic) law and presided over a system of deliberate denial of land for building churches, as well as government agencies that arbitrarily closed some churches,” Compass reported. Pray God encourages Christians to continue standing for him in the midst of persecution and uncertainty. Psalm 32:7, Psalms 91:14

CHINA
Chinese and American Christian Leaders in Xinjiang – China Aid Association
On April 19, 2007, more than 30 house-church leaders and four American Christians were arrested in Xinjiang province. China Aid Association (CAA) reports the four Americans are still in an undisclosed hotel for questioning and the PSB confiscated their luggage. Eight Chinese pastors received criminal detention papers for 30 days detention and were accused of being “suspects involved in evil cult activities.” Eye witnesses told CAA that at least two of the arrested were seen with bleeding noses and bruises on their faces because of torture during interrogations. Pray for the pastors in prison and for their families. Ask God to protect them as they face pending charges. II Timothy 4: 16-18

TURKEY
UPDATE – Turkish church requests prayer after three Christians martyred in Malatya – VOM Sources
The Protestant Church in Smyrna is requesting Christians to pray for the families of the three believers killed on April 18, 2007, in Malatya, Turkey. According to a press release, the church urged Christians to pray that someday the perpetrators of the gruesome murders would receive Christ and for God to use the testimonies of the martyred brothers to draw others in the knowledge of Him. II Corinthians 1:3-7

INDIA
Christians Arrested and Beaten – VOM Sources

ORISSA – On April 17, four pastors were arrested by local police in the Cuttack district after Hindu extremists saw them distributing Christian literature and accused them of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity. The pastors were released on bail the following day.
TAMIL NADU – On April 22, two pastors were beaten and jailed after more than 20 members of a Hindu extremist group disrupted a prayer meeting. The extremists surrounded the house where the Christians were meeting and verbally abused the pastors. When the police arrived the pastors were ordered to accompany them to the police station. On the way, the extremists attacked again, beating the pastors and four believers who accompanied them. The extremists accused the pastors of forced conversions and are being held in the central prison. Pray for God to speedily heal those who were injured and that Christians in India will trust Him in the midst of great persecution.

Psalm 103:1-3, Psalm 5: 11-12

Pray… Jesus *is* the only answer.

my new friend…

So I had my second night’s rest with my new inflexible friend: night-guard. Now, this little night-guard is a clear piece of plastic that is exactly fitted to my upper teeth. This little piece of plastic is to be faithfully worn at night to prevent bruxism (see Wiki’s) or teeth-grinding.

Now, I didn’t know that I had this problem… but as with most things in life, if you go in to see a doctor for any reason, you can almost assuredly come out with more problems than what you originally went into that doc’s office for. And if you have mouth pain, and /or facial or jaw pain, headaches and lots of dental problems, chances are: you clench or grind your teeth. And if you haven’t seen a dentist in awhile, well… take a tip: Go! So, I guess, I grind or clench my teeth and that’s the reason for all the other goodies I have in my mouth – O, along with my trusty little inflexible friend. Now, this little night guard is so insignificant that if I am not careful, it could easily be assimilated into the toy bin and would be lost forever – that, or it could easily be mistaken for dry chewed gum – well, lots of dry chewed gum shaped into a “U” sitting on the counter.I was standing in the kitchen this morning… heating water for my cup of morning tea and I was looking at the stove, inflexible friend in my mouth, and I marveled that my little friend cost more than my stove. It cost more than my mixer and its attachments. It cost more than my computer monitor, more than the Bosch, more than an iPod, and more than three full tanks of gas for the van and… perhaps about what a Seiko watch might cost.

So I decided that the best thing I could do (in addition to ALWAYS keeping the little friend in its case when I’m not wearing it!) is to gently guide one of the children into the dental biz. Now, I know some people think it’s best to allow a child to grow and fulfill the natural gifts and abilities, but I have suddenly become an advocate for steering a child into a particular area or field of study – sort of nurturing an interest.

Now, I am sort of tongue in cheek about all these comments — bcz I don’t really want to push our children into a particular area of study or vocation unless that’s what the LORD is doing and has created them to do. I know He creates each one with special talents and abilities and with nurturing, care and training, they will most assuredly glorify Him in whatever they do as they are led by Him. So… my comment that our sons could be dental techs… well, that’s just one of many things that would be beneficial – but nothing outside the will of the LORD would be worth a moment’s effort, comfort or anything else. I pray they, each one, will be led of the LORD to do whatever He’s created them to do… and not be tempted by the pretty lures of the world… lures for things that would draw them away from serving the Living Lord.

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
psalm 84.10

and to think this all started with the Ford Motor company…

So, I was reading mails that came through this afternoon…. more help for dysfunctions, more pharmaceuticals and diet aids and of course, today’s hurry-make-your-voice-vote-opinion-yada-yada-yada known! Hurry… the country’s going to hellinahandbasket if you don’t do something fast. A mouse click and your voice could save this nation.

So, today’s AFA report was in regard to Ford Motor Co’s support of the pflag national convention—sort of a pflag victory bcz in December, Ford Co had begun to respond to pressure from so-called, pro-family groups’ intended boycott of Ford products. But now, as could have been predicted, The Ford Co retracted the appeasement to family groups and will support the pflag group.

Dialectic praxis and yet another reason to stay the course and homeschool the children.
Earlier I wrote about school phobia or the perception of the NEA that those who oppose government school education are schoolphobic (my botched word) or somehow have “school phobia.” This sort of dialect is part and partner with other phobia labels… homophobic, notably. There’s a quote on the (unlinked on purpose) pflag site that says: “You can’t hate someone whose story you know.”

So, I’ve been mulling that over and over… “you can’t hate someone whose story you know.” (emphasis mine) That’s dialectic praxis. If I tell you that over and over, you will eventually accept and believe it and you will support me (and my story). And you’re going to meet someone who is just like me and they will defend me too and you will have to support them, too.

Never mind the *truth* and never mind that it’s not the person you love or hate, it is the moral behaviour that is either right or wrong – moral or sinful. But they won’t tell you that.

It goes more like this:
I am going to tell you my story and therefore, you cannot hate me… bcz you know my story. You only hate me bcz you don’t know my story [not because you know the Truth] … for if you knew my story, you ~~wouldn’t~~ couldn’t hate me. So, I will start telling this to your first grader and then your fourth grader and your eighth grader and your eleventh grader and all the while I will remind them [because they’ve heard my story and therefore cannot hate me] that there are no moral absolutes – only narrow minded, fundamental evangelicals will tell you that and so I will tell you that they are wrong for being narrow minded and phobic about my story. Remember, you like me because you know my story.

When the moral absolutes of the Bible are not taught, reinforced and lived out, then children are left to the whims of an immoral society to define their social and spiritual norms. And, when the church cannot decide whether to not be of the world but in it or whether to be of the world but not in it, children are left to the changing winds of society to define for them right and wrong -or- that there are no rights and no wrongs… (except moral absolutes).

These days we’re hanging around in Romans, chapter one. We’ve read it each day this week. And so I am (along with the grievous news of the day) mulling over:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:”
Romans 1.16-24

The Word of God is powerful and wonderful and meets us right where we’re at!

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4.12

another day’s slice

What am I thinking about these days? Finding time. Finding time to write, to plan out some writing and some talks, to paint (not paint, paint… paint rooms in this house… no, I am not that creative), to work on some intense school drills with a few of the children, to iron the soon-to-be-a-mountain of shirts and dresses, to pull weeds around the raspberry bushes and about a gazillion more things.

Instead, today I spent quite a bit of time reclining… but first, I loved the long drive to Canada, marvelous conversations with Wes and the blessing to see all the beautiful trees, the evergreens and the spring leaves, and then, the beauty of the cherry blossoms fluttering everywhere as trucks and cars passed through tree lined streets.

So the reclining… I was receiving the kindest undivided attention and personal service. I was given such a pampering I don’t know why I ~~detest~~ resist such luxury! I was handed some special dark glasses so that I could rest, even headphones so that I could listen to soft music. A special pillow was placed under my neck and for a few minutes I enjoyed the pleasant conversation – well, that is, until my end of the conversation started to sound like the conversation of an inebriated person and then I began to drool and so decided that those pleasantries were finished – at least on my end of the conversation.

It seemed like hours… and it was – and then the pampering and relaxing time had come to an abrupt end. The rubber dam was removed, the block was removed, my cool glasses and headphones had to be set back and I had to somehow assume an upright position and not then walk like the aforementioned inebriated person. I thanked the doc for ~~the Ativan~~ another great visit, and I told him I see him when ~~he gets back from the 3 month cruise~~ I need to come back for a check-up or to have my new night-guard replaced… which the doc told me would need to happen. Hmmmm.

I think Wes was glad we won’t be going up there for such fun times again very soon. This has been a bit of a long haul… but I needed, in all, to have 18 teeth either filled, re-filled or crowned. It’s sort of a small kitchen remodel… in my mouth.

So next time I feel the need to have the kitchen remodeled (which is probably about every ~~30 minutes~~ few days), I think I’ll just go open my mouth and look in the mirror and thank Wes and thank the LORD for the blessing of much needed dental work. I’m still thinking of the kitchen, though.
It did cross my mind that for all this, I really ought to have had some of those procedures done that make me look like a college student… you know: hello…. my name is Sheeeeenah, let me look into your sunglasses while I smile and say helloooooooooo to you with my artificially straight, bright-white teeeeeth.

As it is, one would not notice all the goodies I have received. But I know… and I am thankful. Tonight I try out my new toy… a night-guard… a plastic “appliance” that has been molded to fit my teeth (and save all this dental work) so that I don’t grind them down (any more).

Got a great letter from Kathryn in Jinja, Uganda … you can read some of her letters here! She’s really doing well… and for that, we are so grateful to the Lord God. What a blessing she is.

About that “Thinking Blogger…”

I thought I would get to this earlier… but, alas, I did not. So tonight while Samuel was playing soccer and a few of the children went to cheer, a couple of left-behind’s were here finishing up their schoolwork… ooops!

I scurried around attempting to regain a bit of order here at home. Then some time here on the computer. O, for more minutes in the hours.

thinking blogger

For the “thinking blogger award” I’m to list five blogs that I regularly visit that make me think…

In an attempt to be concise about the five sites that are especially meaningful or thought provoking, I find that it appears I am excluding great sites. Sort of that conundrum one faces when naming meaningful friends or something—one does so at the risk of exclusion. It’s another of those unintended consequences of life. And so… I’ve decided that I’ll call the list *some* of the sites that really have me thinking and are, by no means, not the only five that do so.

First though, I want to say “thank you” to the three who’ve blessed me with their kind words, encouragement and inspiration to press on, to continue to share things the LORD is showing me and to continue to look for interesting articles, messages and links to share that will be… well, things to think about. So, to Keri Mae http://homeschoolblogger.com/AHappyHome I thank you and appreciate you, the life you’re living, the testimony of your home and family and for loving motherhood. To Cat at http://www.xanga.com/MrsCatherine I thank you and want you to know how grateful I am to you and to your husband for the challenge you have taken on to publish Making It Home magazine and for giving me the opportunity to be a columnist for you there. Thank you for the testimony of a life dedicated to the Lord and for striving for excellence. And to Kay, http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KayinMaine, I thank you for your encouragement as a younger mother who is seeking to obey, follow and trust in the LORD for your family, to bravely train them up at home and to be joyful in your high calling. Thank you all… and may the LORD bless you abundantly as you walk with Him and as other see your radiance and give Him glory.

So… thinking, thinking, thinking…

v So here’s one: http://www.carlalynne.blogspot.com/
I’m fairly certain that this blog has me thinking and thinking and thinking… how in the world could I begin to implement even a fraction of the things Carla talks about and, what’s more, could I ever make the sacrifices she makes to achieve the goals she and her husband have for their family and future? Well, if nothing ever comes of working to be more self-sufficient as far as sustainable homesteading goes, I’ll know one thing’s for sure: I love reading about it and seeing it through Carla’s eyes.

v Okay, here’s another:
And I’m gonna guess you’ll say this is a no-brainer. Of course this blog’s got me thinking and thinking and thinking – lots of the time and especially about what I need to be doing with our children, I might add. But it’s not just that and it’s not just that she’s another mother of many or that she’s not one of the “younger” bloggers… it’s more than that. So the blog? MommyLife. Yeah, yeah, but then, you knew that. Glad Barbara doesn’t critique grammar and writing style. At least not here. 😉

v How about another:
This one I love bcz I could write these things… I don’t mean I could write them as well, but many of the things she writes about, I could write, too. Her children are a bit younger and many things are really not all that similar to my life and home… but, somehow I relate. So, Melodee’s blog: http://shrinkingmom.clubmom.com/ is a favourite—I read from time to time… it’s as fun to read as it is convicting. Well, convicting, bcz you know me and my umpteenth-and-one diet. Which, by the way I still need to… ahem, but I digress.

v And then there is this one…
—far and away the least light-hearted and uplifting but probably the one I find really has me thinking – and praying not only for the specific topic being addressed, but also for “the church” in general! I have long appreciated the work and careful research of Slice of Laodicea which is now Christian Research Network. I also follow links from there and read some of those blogs fairly regularly. Those are the days I likely read up on what’s going on in the purpose driven world. (I know, that’s a registered couple of words) and those are the days I likely make a quick zip through Michelle Malkin’s blog, too.

v And then finally, but certainly not lastly, I sure like Coffee and a muffin. No… I really do. And with that coffee ~~and a~~ ~~muffin~~, I like Coffee and a Muffin – Kim’s site that has me thinking about homey stuff, good-for-you foods, family stuff and, well… it’s inspirational, too.

For more great reads… see the dear to me blogs in the left column and the etcetera stuff, too. However, even these are not the only marvels…