Today's post brought to you by:

the words boldness and sincerity.

They've been sticking out to me lately, those two words. They come to mind at random times, they are sometimes all I hear in a conversation. (Those and patience and frustration, but for five entirely different reasons.)

Anyway, there has to be some grand correlation between the two. I'm thinking both are essential for effective ministry.

More to come.

Me and the boys

I'm still not quite sure what to think about what I wrote yesterday. It is true, but...I just don't want it to come across that everything is just peachy keen, not to say that it isn't because it is, I just...ok, I give up trying to figure it out. Something just isn't sitting right with me, probably more of a semantic rather than substantive issue.

Forgive me, my brain has already strayed from the ways of big people talk. I find that I'm having to correct myself and speak in complete sentences with at least some hint of a varied vocabulary.

For the past couple of days my class has consisted of five boys: three going into first grade and two into second. These boys are going to wear me out, but I do love them. One of them told me yesterday that Cocoa Puffs and Reese's Puffs were brothers. This is the same one who is determined that everybody is somebody's cousin. Ok, so that may be...but what he comes up with is beyond me.

My attention span must be shortening as well, I've forgotten what all I wanted to write. Next you know my speling is going to slip.

By this they shall know.

There is this great song that goes: "I love to be in Your presence, with Your people, singing praises." I may have used it before, but it truly is one of my favorite songs mostly because it is absolutely true. My favorite places are in God's presence and with His people.

I love His people. Sure we have our moments, but there is that dynamic when you are among people who are truly seeking God, truly following after Him. It's like that X factor that Keegan talks about.

It is amazing, that we each other. Only His love, grace, wisdom would bring such mixes together. Take the summer intern group here in Chester--there are personalities, characteristics, idiosyncrasies that in any other group would have already led to discussion, conflict, and battle. True for many a group of Christians living and working together. But that we, bound and unified by His very blood, can look past so much and love through all so long as we hold this Truth..it is testimony in itself to His wonder and might. By this they shall know.

All packed up..

and ready to go. That's right. I'm off to Chester for the rest of the summer. Or just about all of it. I come home in August, have a week here, then turn around and move back up to Tech. My oh my.

As always, prayers would be wonderful. Pray for the ministry, the children, our sanity...

I say it's an art.

I have this uncanny ability to make a mess out of just about any situation.

Latest example: I bought a wireless card and router for my laptop, they had some amazing rebates with them. Two of the rebates asked for copies of the UPCs, two asked for the originals. So yesterday I made copies. I even made extra copies so I would still have some on hand in case I ever needed them. Yep, lots of copies. No originals. Left them in the copier at CopyMax. Didn't realize it until I went to bed last night.

Oh yeah, I am that good.

Post 100.

Yep, this is the 100th post on this site (or so my counter tells me) and you would think there would be something special--maybe a "What I've learned thus far" post or something of the like--but, no.

Well, as I said, I've gotten a cell phone. As cool as it is, it is also a bit sad. See, not having a cell phone had been a matter of pride. I was holding out, not giving in to the mass communication frenzy. Oh well, next thing you know, I'll be walking around with one of these.

*shudder*

May it never be.

On the up-side of recent purchases, I found a whole bunch of DVDs for $0.99. I say His Girl Friday, The Inspector General, Road to Bali, and At War with the Army are great ways to start a DVD collection.

Just a phrase or two.

There are some lyrics that I just can't get out of my head.

"I am a soldier, trying to be one"

"And my eyes they look unto You always, and I am captured by Your majesty"

"Given a chance and a rock, see which one breaks a window; and see which one keeps me up all night and into the day."

Ooo Shiny!

Check out my new toy.

Just because it's been a while.

I am, of course, none other than blank verse. I don't know where I'm going, yes, quite right; And when I get there (if I ever do) I might not recognize it. So? Your point? Why should I have a destination set? I'm relatively happy as I am, And wouldn't want to be forever aimed Towards some future path or special goal. It's not to do with laziness, as such. It's just that one the whole I'd rather not Be bothered - so I drift contentedly; An underrated way of life, I find. What Poetry Form Are You?

Well, most of the stuff I've written is blank verse, or free verse, or some combination of the two. Not that it's that good or anything, or that I'll be subjecting you to any of it.

Grate Expectations

All the shopping I've been doing for my apartment has been very exciting. I'm getting all sorts of wonderful things, most of which are for my kitchen. (Well, not "my" kitchen, I will have a roommate.)

The hardest part of it all has been determining what I really need and what can wait. Example: I need a deep-dish pie plate, the 8 quart pot I want can wait. If you really think about it, I could probably get by with much less. I could probably manage with just a microwave, that's all I had last year and I made it through just fine. But I'm a girl. And I like to cook. So there.

The most exciting things I've gotten by far have been my canister set, my food/rice steamer, and my Rubbermaid Fold-Away(tm)grater, which is just totally awesome...I mean, it folds! How cool is that?

I don't really have that much left on my list of things I need. I still need a set of pans, a desk and chair, a dresser, a bookcase, a barstool...Ok, so maybe I need a bit more than I thought, but I've got a while before moving in, so I'm good, really.

Question:

Is there such a thing as a dishonest mistake?

Grin and bear it.

I had a dental appointment this week where they "found" a pit in the side of one of my molars that I've had since as long as I can remember. It's not a cavity, it's just the way my tooth formed. Like I said, it's always been there, but now my dentist has decided to do something about it. They couldn't have fixed any other time, no, they had to wait until scheduling was tight for me (as I'll only be in town another week).

I have a feeling it's just because this time I had a new hygenist, who turned out to be one of the best I've ever had. She wasn't the first new person to ever work on my teeth. From moving and insurance changes, I have had so many dentists in my life I can't even number them. There have been at least 4 since I've lived in Virginia (and three of them are all at the same office). It's not the dentist that bothers me though, it's the hygenists. They cause the most damage. They're the ones that are in charge of the actual polishing. I hate that thing; the polisher thing that they put that toothgrit on. Give me the drill any day, that I don't mind, but the polisher...ugh.

I know, it's weird. But this comes from the same person who doesn't mind needles but hates getting prepped for the shot.

In other recent events, I've been copying down all of my favorite recipes and ran across a few of Grandma's "specialties." You gotta love a recipe that calls for a whole jar of Cheese Whiz.

Ok, I'm rather proud of this one.

Chinese Restaurant Menu: "Williamsburg's Famouse All-You-Can-Eat Buffet"

My mom: You would think the printers would have caught that.

Me: Maybe their Engrish isn't too great either.

Well, that's one thing done.

I got my hair cut today. I only took off seven inches, so it's still not what most people would consider short, but it's enough of a change for me. My hair had gotten long enough that it was past my waistline, long enough that my hairdresser had to have me stand so she could reach to cut, long enough that I could say it was only seven inches.

But this isn't about hair (or haircuts), it's that I actually did something. I have been pretty non-productive since I've been home which, in a way, is wonderful. But I have done more these past three days--since my mom has been home--than I've done the entire month I've been here. I can't get away with being lazy, which is good.

I've noticed that I have the bad habit of taking on too many things at once. Actually, I don't take on multiple things at the same time...I start one thing and then, before I finish, I start another, and another, and another....so nothing ever really gets done (kind of like this sentence). Take books for example, right now I am reading four different books. (I have a feeling that the number is actually higher but there are some books that I haven't touched in such a long time that I've forgotten I was reading them.) Crafts too: I've got two scarves, a sampler, and a set of lamps that I'm working on. I have lists and lists of lists of things that are "in progress" so when I manage to finish something it's a pleasant surprise.

I have started change things. I set three of the four books aside to concentrate on one (Sinclair Lewis' Babbitt). I'm working on one scarf. I'm getting myself to focus on one thing at a time. I have a problem with finishing things, but I'm working on it.

Una mezcla:

Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
--Jeremiah 15:16


He who will not command his thoughts will soon lose command of his actions.
--Woodrow Wilson


"You need a Sugar-Daddy to keep you in the life to which you are accustomed."
--My dad

To kill a rat...

No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the world.

The other recent drama at my house (outside of my brother's marriage) has been our rat, Solu. Ok, technically she is my mom's rat...but still...She had this tumor on her stomach for a couple of months and this past week it reached the point where it doubled her size. The best thing for it is to put her (and my mom) out of her misery so it's been a lot like Throw Mama from the Train around here. My mom even tried to give her an overdose of codene (we just happened to have some lying around) but she wouldn't down any more than would give her a buzz. Somebody suggested sticking her in the freezer, but the idea was dismissed because it would take to long and was downright cold.

It's a sad, sad thing when you get to the point where you are hoping to find a pet dead...

My dad took care of things yesterday.

This is the second time we've wished for one of our pets to die (the other was a hamster that was a good 5 or 6 years old). I think there is something wrong with my family.

Casualties of War

It seems that my brother's wife has had some sort of a breakdown. They've been married for just over a year now and much of that time has been spent apart. Him being in Iraq has pushed her just a little too far. From what he tells us, she has told her father that she is moving to Richmond (from Louisiana) to go to school, that his whole life is a lie--he isn't really a pilot and he really isn't in Iraq and has been having an affair.

So now we are worried about her because she needs counseling. My brother is having to go through another crumbling marriage...the difference being now he knows that God is the only one who can hold the pieces together.

Anyway, my brother isn't scheduled to be back until July or October and chances are he can't get emergency leave for this. Needless to say, they can use all the prayer they can get.

Today's Quote

Edgar Hewett writing on archaeological finds in his book Ancient Andean Life:

Fragments of pottery, basketry, fabrics, wearing apparel, bits of modeling, faded touches of color, record the age-long striving after perfection. Shattered temples, shrines, sanctuaries, holy places, reveal the yearning of the human spirit to find, to unite with, the Divine. By way of ritual, rhythm, song, and symbol, man approaches the deific presence.

And from the beverage world...

So I've mentioned before that I like Cheerwine. I must have a thing for weird beverages because my favorite brand has to be Jones Soda. They have some really awesome flavors, and the best cream soda I've ever had...

One of the cool things about the brand is they use random pictures on their labels. And they have fun sayings under the cap. This weekend's Green Apple soda came with this advice:

Get excited over nothing.

Indeed I shall.

...

I think today was the first time I've ever had a problem with something my pastor has said in service.

I actually agree with what he said: that most people who claim to be anti-war are really just anti-Bush; that we are called to pray for our leaders whether we agree with them or not. I share the same opinion as he does on the war, the president, our armed forces...I'm proudly patriotic. I just feel he could have found a more appropriate forum for expression than from behind the pulpit.

Call me crazy, but when I go to church it's to hear the Word, not a patriotic pep talk.