Doing some internet research and unexpectedly came across this picture of me and Phillip a year before we got married. We were in Israel together for school. It brings back the memories ...
Monday, March 31, 2008
Awe shucks!
Doing some internet research and unexpectedly came across this picture of me and Phillip a year before we got married. We were in Israel together for school. It brings back the memories ...
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Full of it
Full of resolve,
or is it resolution
I know I'm full of something-
my Sunday morn solution?
a list of application
as long as a notebook page
that will stay there in my notebook
as in a spiral bound cage
I'll open it next week
and glancing at what I scrawled
I'll start a new list, a to-do list
of improvements that won't be installed
found this while cleaning out my Bible ... oh the irony.
or is it resolution
I know I'm full of something-
my Sunday morn solution?
a list of application
as long as a notebook page
that will stay there in my notebook
as in a spiral bound cage
I'll open it next week
and glancing at what I scrawled
I'll start a new list, a to-do list
of improvements that won't be installed
found this while cleaning out my Bible ... oh the irony.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Good news / bad news
Good news:
-Phillip is a sinner saved by grace
- He still has two legs
- He is optimistic
- his injury is repairable
- we are eligible for Bush's tax stimulus refund
Bad news:
- he ripped everything he possibly could without damaging the major artery that runs through his leg (which is why he gets to keep the leg)
- some of the tendons were so damaged there is no trace of them left
- he will need extensive surgery
- we live in a two story apartment and all the bedrooms are upstairs
- we can't afford to move
- we switched to a HSA (aka high deductible health savings account) for our health insurance
I'm bummed beyond belief, Phillip is as cheerful as can be. I've watched him wince his way up and down the stairs for the past week and cannot imagine another year of the same. If you want all the gory details ... stay tuned.
-Phillip is a sinner saved by grace
- He still has two legs
- He is optimistic
- his injury is repairable
- we are eligible for Bush's tax stimulus refund
Bad news:
- he ripped everything he possibly could without damaging the major artery that runs through his leg (which is why he gets to keep the leg)
- some of the tendons were so damaged there is no trace of them left
- he will need extensive surgery
- we live in a two story apartment and all the bedrooms are upstairs
- we can't afford to move
- we switched to a HSA (aka high deductible health savings account) for our health insurance
I'm bummed beyond belief, Phillip is as cheerful as can be. I've watched him wince his way up and down the stairs for the past week and cannot imagine another year of the same. If you want all the gory details ... stay tuned.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
belated Palm Sunday
So I was reading up on some hymns that were written for Palm Sunday and I had to giggle. This one was written in 818 and has 78 verses although most hymnals omit the following:
Be Thou, O Lord, the Rider
and we the little ass
That to God's holy city
Together we may pass.
Can you guess what hymn this belongs with?
Be Thou, O Lord, the Rider
and we the little ass
That to God's holy city
Together we may pass.
Can you guess what hymn this belongs with?
Friday, March 21, 2008
Shushan Purim?
Hamatashen anyone?
This evening marks the middle of Purim, the feast and it's details can be found in the book of Esther.
How is Purim celebrated?
There are four mitzvot associated specifically with Purim. They are:
1. Read or hear the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) at night and by day. (it takes about 20 min. to read through by yourself)
2. Give charity to at least two needy people.
3. Send a minimum of two ready-to-eat foods to at least one person.
4. Sit down for a royal feast and drink more alcohol than you normally would
For more info ... and yes, I am a bit of a rebel. All of the blogs I read did such a great job of commemorating Good Friday I thought I'd buck the trend.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Can I get you anything?
Two years ago when my dad had his heart attack, I packed up the kids and went down to Santa Clarita to help out. There was not a question in my mind that that was what needed to be done. My mom didn't tell me that she could manage on her own, I didn't wonder if it was necessary. It's my family, we take care of each other.
On Monday as I looked at my messy house and the 4 semi-helpless people (sorry Phillip, I mean no disrespect) that live in it, I knew that I needed help. Phillip called the church office for me and Viola! a week of meals and offers to help with the kids and/or help around the house.
It is humbling to accept help from others, but when we accept help from the church, aren't we in a tiny way recognizing our need for Christ. Yes, in some circumstances we can try to manage on our own and continue on in our own strength but why? Christ promised us a Helper and we only grow stronger when we rely on His strength.
Sometimes I feel bad that we don't go to church in the community that we live in. It seems as if we have few opportunities to reach out to people that are in need and quite often our offers of help are refused. I just don't get it. As the body of Christ we are told that we have to work together and that we need one another. Maybe you don't need me to watch your kids but maybe I need to be needed and by accepting my help you are actually helping and blessing me. It is better to give than to receive and it draws the whole church closer when people minister to others. I was reading in "Psychology Today" (last year, during one stolen hour to myself in the public library) that the people you love the most are the people that you do things for, not because you love them the most in the first place, but because you were able to show love to them first. Now if that doesn't have any parallels in the Gospel I don't know what does!
So to summarize:
1) we have a great church that has been of great help to us, both in the past and right now,
2) in order to function as a body, we need to need each other!
3) We need to recognize our need for a Savior, we are more helpless than we are willing to admit and the Good News doesn't end with salvation, that is simply where it starts.
Oh, and sorry for the sermon, my horse has grown quite high lately if you know what I mean ...
On Monday as I looked at my messy house and the 4 semi-helpless people (sorry Phillip, I mean no disrespect) that live in it, I knew that I needed help. Phillip called the church office for me and Viola! a week of meals and offers to help with the kids and/or help around the house.
It is humbling to accept help from others, but when we accept help from the church, aren't we in a tiny way recognizing our need for Christ. Yes, in some circumstances we can try to manage on our own and continue on in our own strength but why? Christ promised us a Helper and we only grow stronger when we rely on His strength.
Sometimes I feel bad that we don't go to church in the community that we live in. It seems as if we have few opportunities to reach out to people that are in need and quite often our offers of help are refused. I just don't get it. As the body of Christ we are told that we have to work together and that we need one another. Maybe you don't need me to watch your kids but maybe I need to be needed and by accepting my help you are actually helping and blessing me. It is better to give than to receive and it draws the whole church closer when people minister to others. I was reading in "Psychology Today" (last year, during one stolen hour to myself in the public library) that the people you love the most are the people that you do things for, not because you love them the most in the first place, but because you were able to show love to them first. Now if that doesn't have any parallels in the Gospel I don't know what does!
So to summarize:
1) we have a great church that has been of great help to us, both in the past and right now,
2) in order to function as a body, we need to need each other!
3) We need to recognize our need for a Savior, we are more helpless than we are willing to admit and the Good News doesn't end with salvation, that is simply where it starts.
Oh, and sorry for the sermon, my horse has grown quite high lately if you know what I mean ...
back to work
So Phillip made it back to work today, apparently he was missed on the volleyball court. They have one at his work and regularly play during their lunch (don't look to closely at the bad composite). He also earned himself a new nickname: "The Kiterunner" (btw Phillip's company worked on the movie and I can't wait to see it, just as soon as I finish the book).
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Update
Phillip, who will hereafter be refured to as "the patient" started to get a bit antsy today so we took him on an "outing". After going and picking up a rental wheelchair we decided to take a short walk to the park. It was fun! he said it was great to be out in the sun after a day and a half in bed.
The down side? Unfortunatly, we live on a hill, unfortunately, my eyes don't register cracks in the sidewalk very well, unfortunatly The Patient was very sore and slightly whiplashed by the time we made it home (at one point an old man who was bent nearly in two had to help us heave Phillip up over an extra large chasm in the public walkway.)
Poor guy! This is turning out to be more difficult than I thought it would be. The Patient fully expects to put in an entire day of work tomorrow ... we'll see if he makes it past noon. We haven't been able to set up an MRI appointment yet but that will tell us if he tore his ACL or LCL. The ACL would require surgery, the LCL would require physical therapy, please pray that it is LCL!!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Bummer
"... and there's a guy at work with the coolest walker. It's way easier to use than crutches and it has a cool seat built in it so you can sit and rest when you need to. When you're at the store, can you see if they have any like that?"
The above is a conversation I never thought I'd be a part of until Phillip grew older, but the truth is, he is very breakable. Yesterday Phillip, Zak and a friend went out to Pismo to go kite surfing. Phillilp, being a quick learner, was able to catch a lot of speed and do a really cool jump before he landed on a pile of driftwood. When he called me on the way to the E.R. I had no idea how bad it was. The conversation when like this.
Phillip: "Hey sweetie, how are you"
Me: "Oh, I'm a little tired"
Phillip: "How are the kids"
Me: "They just woke up and I'm fixing them a snack, How are you?"
Phillip: "I'm on my way to the E.R."
I'll let you fill in the rest. As it turns out Phillip + kitesurfing = torn ACL and intense pain. The poor guy can't even get out of bed. Last night when he tried to get up to go brush his teeth he was trembling with pain by the time I managed to get him back in bed. I'm not letting him go to work for a few days. So if you think about it, pray for us, and if you have a pair of crutches I could borrow, give me a call!
The above is a conversation I never thought I'd be a part of until Phillip grew older, but the truth is, he is very breakable. Yesterday Phillip, Zak and a friend went out to Pismo to go kite surfing. Phillilp, being a quick learner, was able to catch a lot of speed and do a really cool jump before he landed on a pile of driftwood. When he called me on the way to the E.R. I had no idea how bad it was. The conversation when like this.
Phillip: "Hey sweetie, how are you"
Me: "Oh, I'm a little tired"
Phillip: "How are the kids"
Me: "They just woke up and I'm fixing them a snack, How are you?"
Phillip: "I'm on my way to the E.R."
I'll let you fill in the rest. As it turns out Phillip + kitesurfing = torn ACL and intense pain. The poor guy can't even get out of bed. Last night when he tried to get up to go brush his teeth he was trembling with pain by the time I managed to get him back in bed. I'm not letting him go to work for a few days. So if you think about it, pray for us, and if you have a pair of crutches I could borrow, give me a call!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Grease monkey
o.k. there are things that every woman should know how to with her car. The list includes:
- changing the oil
- changing the cabin air filters
- checking the tire pressure
- replacing headlamps and turn indicator light bulbs
- changing a tire
- topping off coolant
- jump starting a battery
- changing windshield wiper blades
The only problem with this is that every time you go into an auto parts store they talk to you as if you are 5 and don't know what you are talking about.
Growing up, my dad was always fixing our cars and even though he only let me hold the work lamp I've always been interested in how to maintain my car. In high school I was good friends with a guy that taught me how to change the oil and rotate the tires. He also helped me replace a seat belt and cheat my smog test in my 78 ford ranger --- I LOVED that truck!! Later on in life I had a Datsun wagoneer named Ruby. She was a great car but had electrical problems that meant you got a slight shock exiting the vehicle and the ignition switch burnt out every 6 months. This lead to a quick lesson in hot wiring.
Just picture if you can an 8month pregnant woman who stalls her car on a hill in rush hour traffic, has to get out, open the hood, lean in and poke a screwdriver into the engine to complete the circuit - all while wearing a attention-getting kelly green dress!. It was one of my proudest moments, especially since I was in a very well-to-do part of town (Stevenson Ranch) and all the angry SUVs were singing the same disproving song. I have never had more people tell me I was number one!
All this to say when my power window switch broke yesterday - with the window down, I would not accept the idea that I had to wait 3 days to fix it (with the window down in a neighbor hood where there have been regular break-ins). It took me 2 hours on the Internet to track down the part and order it and less than 5 minutes to take the switch apart, locate where the mechanism had failed and find a solution. I wasn't sure it would work but as I plugged the switch in and poked at it with a wooden skewer I was delighted to a.) not get electrocuted (the car had to be running to roll the window up) and b.) hear the rewarding hum of the driver's side window slowly make it's way to the full upright and lock position. Hooray! now if only I could get the dishwasher to work properly ...
- changing the oil
- changing the cabin air filters
- checking the tire pressure
- replacing headlamps and turn indicator light bulbs
- changing a tire
- topping off coolant
- jump starting a battery
- changing windshield wiper blades
The only problem with this is that every time you go into an auto parts store they talk to you as if you are 5 and don't know what you are talking about.
Growing up, my dad was always fixing our cars and even though he only let me hold the work lamp I've always been interested in how to maintain my car. In high school I was good friends with a guy that taught me how to change the oil and rotate the tires. He also helped me replace a seat belt and cheat my smog test in my 78 ford ranger --- I LOVED that truck!! Later on in life I had a Datsun wagoneer named Ruby. She was a great car but had electrical problems that meant you got a slight shock exiting the vehicle and the ignition switch burnt out every 6 months. This lead to a quick lesson in hot wiring.
Just picture if you can an 8month pregnant woman who stalls her car on a hill in rush hour traffic, has to get out, open the hood, lean in and poke a screwdriver into the engine to complete the circuit - all while wearing a attention-getting kelly green dress!. It was one of my proudest moments, especially since I was in a very well-to-do part of town (Stevenson Ranch) and all the angry SUVs were singing the same disproving song. I have never had more people tell me I was number one!
All this to say when my power window switch broke yesterday - with the window down, I would not accept the idea that I had to wait 3 days to fix it (with the window down in a neighbor hood where there have been regular break-ins). It took me 2 hours on the Internet to track down the part and order it and less than 5 minutes to take the switch apart, locate where the mechanism had failed and find a solution. I wasn't sure it would work but as I plugged the switch in and poked at it with a wooden skewer I was delighted to a.) not get electrocuted (the car had to be running to roll the window up) and b.) hear the rewarding hum of the driver's side window slowly make it's way to the full upright and lock position. Hooray! now if only I could get the dishwasher to work properly ...
Playground missionary
What is the worth of a human soul?
Is it worth an hour in the cold being bold,
telling the untold that their broad, easy road leads to fool's gold?
What is the value of your time
if you're spending each and every dime
on grasping and reaching and straining for stuff
when outside your neighbor isn't worth enough to pray for
or walk next door to tell her more about the One she's just waiting for.
You were worth it to God, are they worth it to you
to drop that extra long list of "To Do"
to stay at the park until dark to exchange a question mark for a new heart?
The question isn't "What can I impart?", it's much more basic -
"Lord, please show me how to start".
Is it worth an hour in the cold being bold,
telling the untold that their broad, easy road leads to fool's gold?
What is the value of your time
if you're spending each and every dime
on grasping and reaching and straining for stuff
when outside your neighbor isn't worth enough to pray for
or walk next door to tell her more about the One she's just waiting for.
You were worth it to God, are they worth it to you
to drop that extra long list of "To Do"
to stay at the park until dark to exchange a question mark for a new heart?
The question isn't "What can I impart?", it's much more basic -
"Lord, please show me how to start".
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Where's a good soapbox when you need one?
I just love Chumash park! It's so conducive to long conversations, the kids pretty much ran around screaming for 2 hours last Wednesday while I passionately preached the gospel to my friend. The great thing about it was that since the kids were screaming I had to raise my voice a bit which meant that the 5 other moms around us got to listen in ( and I knew that they were by the looks they were giving me). This friend of mine has so many questions, deep, philosophical, cosmological ect (she's a prof at a local college) I was challenged and delighted to delve into some of those questions that I wonder about in my head but never get to hash out in a conversation. I know she was amazed to hear that I have questions and doubts at times, and I was amazed that she would ask so many questions about the consequences of rejecting Christianity. (I'm also glad that Eliot's Cubbies verse this week was "I will never leave you or forsake you." because I needed the help!)
Praise the Lord that every time I ask for an opportunity to share my faith he answers my prayers!! Praise the Lord that when I ask for his help for what to say or do in a situation, - he gives me the words and the direction! Praise the Lord that when he encourages me to do something as an act of obedience, His Holy Spirit helps me do it. (Yeah, I started this post a week ago and haven't gotten around to editing and publishing it until today)
Praise the Lord that every time I ask for an opportunity to share my faith he answers my prayers!! Praise the Lord that when I ask for his help for what to say or do in a situation, - he gives me the words and the direction! Praise the Lord that when he encourages me to do something as an act of obedience, His Holy Spirit helps me do it. (Yeah, I started this post a week ago and haven't gotten around to editing and publishing it until today)
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