Hockey!

I've told you about how my husband, Mike, became a St. Louis Cardinals Fan when he was just a child.  Shortly after he chose to follow the Cardinals, he decided to follow all things St. Louis, including their hockey team, The St. Louis Blues.  We still haven't seen them play in St. Louis but we've seen them play a couple of times elsewhere.

Last week the St. Louis Blues were playing the Denver Avalanche.  That is a half day's drive for us but we both had a chance for a few days off.  I attended a hospice class on pain Friday morning and then we headed out.  The weather was crisp and pretty...

I had a poncho in my lap to crochet......

And we had plenty of time for Mike to try to help me better understand hockey.  When I'd been to hockey games before I knew which goal belonged to which team, but that was about it.   I'd sometimes ask Mike, "What just happened?" He'd try to answer but then the action would start and he'd get distracted.  I still had fun, though, as there was lots of "people-watching" to be done.

This time, though, I wanted to have a better understanding.  So, while the miles slipped under our tires, Mike held a hockey class for me.  I learned about power plays, shoot outs and hip checks.  He explained icing and first, second, third and fourth lines.  He taught me the difference between minor and major penalties.  He helped me understand why players just flowed on and off the ice even when no whistle was blown to allow the substitution (I understand basketball and expected more correlations). 

We arrived at the game early and walked around just enjoying watching all the people. Well, I am not so sure Mike enjoyed that but I did.  Mike went with me into the Avalanche Shop so I could purchase a pair of earrings for a friend of mine who is an Avalanche fan.  That was true love for him to be in that shop with me.  They sold no St. Louis Blues paraphernalia there.

The game was really quite entertaining.  They turned down the lights and used spotlights to build up the drama before their team came on the floor, I mean on the ice.  There was a lot of excitement around us.  As the game was played, I was happy to realize that I really did understand it a lot more.  There were a few problems for me.  This is the view I had when the teams were playing on the left end of the rink...

She leaned forward nearly the entire game!  I did not want to lean forward the entire game.  But, I heard enough conversation between her and her young husband to learn that she, too, was struggling to understand the game that her husband loved.  She was working very hard at it, even wore Avalanche clothing.  It was really kind of cute.

The people-watching time was excellent.  At one point Mike leaned over and said, "Do you know what just happened there?"  First of all, the "happening had been to the left so I really could not have seen it all that well.  So, yes, I did know what just happened... the two brunette parents in front of us, sitting with their 3 redheaded kids, had just been joined by a pretty redheaded woman who seemed to be the grandma.  She was very happy to see them all.  The children were well-behaved and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were having a lively conversation with lots of smiles and laughs involved.  Ok, back to hockey...
There were almost some fights.  When a couple of players would get in each other's faces, the crowd instantly chanted, "Fight! Fight!"  It was really rather silly, in my opinion.

During the breaks sometimes they had little kid hockey teams play.  They were so cute!  As Mike said, it must've been the thrill of a lifetime for those children to play there.  One little guy who scored got to be interviewed by the news crew!

Another fun thing was the blimps.  Two blimps occasionally flew overhead during breaks.  They dropped coupons or something.  We didn't get any so I'm not sure what they were dropping but people seemed excited about it.

The St. Louis Blues played well.  It was an exciting game and went into overtime.  In case you don't know, overtime is a sudden death type of deal.  If one team scores it is instantly over.  No one scored.  At that point, they go into a shoot out.  Each team gets 3 players that get a chance, one at a time, to shoot at their goal.  Only the shooter and the goalie are on the ice at that time.  Well, one team made one goal and the other team made no goals during the shoot out.  I don't really want to talk about how it ended all that much.  It's my blog so I can do as I wish and I wish to not mention who won.  So there.

The weather for the trip home was a little more challenging.  I have lots more photos and a story to tell about that but since this post is already too long and Bode wants to help me, I guess I'll pick up tomorrow where I am leaving off today.

Have a great day!

Ii

This picture doesn't really match this post but I liked it!  Can you see Bode peeking out from the top step?

Wow!  We are already up to the letter i !  Is anyone still with me on memorizing these verses? 

This is a familiar verse to many, and one of my very favorites.  Even if you aren 't memorizing the other verses, this one is really worth the effort.  I have called it up from memory to help through some uncertain times in the past.

Jeremiah 29:11 …I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Thank you to everyone who has been worrying about Bode.  He's being well medicated and seems to have reduced pain.  The vet called to talk about it.  He feels we should wait a few months before doing surgery.  Bode still has some growth plate showing on x-ray which means he has just a bit of growth left.  It's best to wait until he's done growing so for now we will be treating only his pain.  I think it will be ok but I'll be glad when it is all done.

In the meantime, he's pretty comfortable... and still goofy.

Isn't Blogging an Odd Thing to Do?

Do you remember when you first heard about blogging?  I think my friend, Pam, showed me my first blog.  It was written by an oncology nurse, just as Pam & I, and reading the blog was kind of like reading our own thoughts.  You can take a peek at that blog here if you'd like.  I still check in on that blog from time to time but I have to limit myself.  I said it was like reading our own thoughts as nurses, and it is, but it focuses on the heavy thoughts most of the time.  I needed some balance.

When our daughter, Maria, started blogging I didn't get it.  Why would she want to write about her day for the whole world to read?  Weren't diaries supposed to be locked and hidden under your bed or something?  When I read it, though, I got it.  Her blog, Little Things are Big, was just the balance I needed.  Her blog is well titled as she tries to focus on the moments of life that meld together to make a life precious and worthwhile.  I was hooked!  She has a real writing talent and a lovely outlook on life.

Pam eventually started her own blog as well.  Since she moved away, it is fun for me to follow her and see what is going on in North Dakota.  She has a sense of humor that I "get" and I usually end up smiling when I read her blog.  Check her's out here.

I am not sure why I decided to start a blog.  When I first started, I did not tell anyone.  It was less scary to think about strangers happening upon it than to think of "my people" reading it.  Finally, I told Maria.  She was very supportive so I decided to let me secret out of the bag. 

I was home recovering from my year-long bout of clostridium Difficile when I started writing.  I had lots of time on my hands.  I used some of that time to read blogs written by others.  I had no idea so many people wrote blogs!  It was easy to find blogs to read.  I'd just click on the name of someone who commented on Maria's blog and from there I could read that person's blog.  Then, I'd click on the name of someone who'd commented on that blog and I'd be led to yet another person's blog.  It isn't hard at all.

Along the way I have found that some blogs are more interesting to me than others.  Some bring me down and so I don't tend to go back to them much.  I made a choice to follow only blogs that somehow give me strength or make me laugh or open my mind.  There are enough influences in life that lead us down the path of self-pity, anger or despair.  I don't need more of that.

Since going back to work I do not check in with my favorite blogs as often as before but I still enjoy taking time to sit down and catch up.  I find myself wondering what Victoria has cooked up or how Emily and her family are doing.  I can check in on my son-in-law at We Dug Trenches, which isn't really a blog but he has some great photography there and I wanted to include it.  I cried when Janine and her family had to endure the death of her son but I rejoice as she speaks of healing.  Through Janine I met her sister, Niqui.  These sisters live in South Africa and I am not likely to meet either of them in this life, but they have come to be people that I hold up in prayer.  Another blog I check in on is Affectionknit, written by another Lutheran pastor's wife.  She and her family will be leaving their parish in North Dakota to move closer to family.  I know just the pain/joy she is experiencing over this decision!  Other blogs I follow include Hearth and Home and The Inspired Housewife.  I love to check in with Be Still and Know, written by an American doctor/mother/Christian.  She and her family moved to Uganda this year!

There are more blogs that I love as well.  I'm running out of time so I can't list them all but if you are interested, their recent posts show up on my blog page.  Just click!  You can also click on the names of people who have commented on this blog and just click on their names.  A profile will pop up and if they have a blog it will be listed.  Click on that and you'll find their blog....easy!

I have found that writing a blog has really made me pay attention to my own life more.  That may sound odd but it is true.  I also carry a camera more often and I've noticed that I really see beauty around me more easily when I am carrying the camera.  I'm terrible at putting photos in albumns and won't even try to scrapbook, but documenting our days on the blog comes easily.  I don't know why but it works for me.

When you have your own blog you can also look at your stats.  I was stunned to learn that I had readers from all over the world.  Think of it!  If we are reading blogs of people in different countries, perhaps it will make us all see more of what we have in common as humans and realize we are all in this life together.   Maybe we will learn to be more kind to one another. 


Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

A Chilly December Morning in Wyoming

In case you are wondering what it looks like in Wyoming this morning...

 I like to always look my best.  That is why I was out clearing a path off the deck still wearing the old leopard print flannel pajama bottoms, the pink t-shirt I slept in and the yellow sweater I wore to church last night to top off the look.  Laugh if you must but now I am relaxing in my recliner and drinking my hot chocolate.  I don't have to be anywhere for hours and I am content.

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

The Case of the Mysterious Crutch

It is really windy where we live.  No, I don't mean breezy.  I mean REALLY windy.  Some days it blows and it blows and it blows with a dreadful monotany, only to be interrupted by gusts of 50-90 mph.   A few weeks ago, while driving the 15 minute route to Cordy's house (Yes, Maria and Eric live there too but she refers to it as "Cordy's House" so now I do as well.) I came upon a semi that had been blown over.  Unfortunately that is not that uncommon here.

When Beth Moore was here she was telling the audience of her shock when she arrived at our airport and got off the little plane.  She demonstrated with her body how hard it was to just stand up!  She then commented that she was terrified it would blow the bleach right off her hair!

Well, after one of those really windy weeks I found this in our front yard.

We often have odd things blow up into our yard but this was surprising indeed!  I couldn't quite come up with an explanation for this.  If it blew into our yard, was there a limping person also blown off course?  Had someone left this in their yard and it blew down to ours?  I was puzzled.

But then it was suggested to me

"Maybe someone was healed!"

I'm going with that explanation!

 

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Bode's Trip to the Vet - AGAIN!

Yesterday I took Bode to the vet.  It was a pleasant visit in that the vet is a friend and I look forward to visiting with him.  It was an unpleasant visit as I was pretty sure I knew what the vet was going to tell me.

Last week I started noticing that Bode was having trouble with his back left leg.  He was limping or lifting it up when he went up and down the stairs.  At first I figured he'd just been playing too rough with Bumblebee, our basset hound grandog.  They had been having great times together so that seemed like a reasonable explanation.  When it didn't go away, though, I examined him a bit more closely.  I went online and did some reading and got a sinking feeling.  So, off we went.

After an initial exam Dr. Scott said he'd need to do some x-rays and as it turned out, he needed to sedate Bode in order to make that happen.  I went out to the waiting area.  When I'd first come in there was a little boy, about age 5, in the waiting area with two women.  They were both out of sight but the little boy was there with 2 couples.  He was kind of getting rowdy and the adults weren't really doing much about it.  I was concerned because he kept getting in the face of their large dog, who seemed to be agitated himself.  Finally, one of the adults told me they didn't know the boy but when the two women went back to be with their pet as it was euthanized, they'd asked these strangers to watch the boy.

So, I got a National Geographic and called the boy over to look at pictures of animals.  I gently reprimanded him when he threw a magazine to the floor, pointing out that it wasn't his magazine and he needed to treat it carefully.  After that, he snuggled up beside me and was friendly and well-behaved.  The women were gone for about 1/2 hr.  While I was happy to help, I was stunned that anyone would leave a little boy with strangers like that!

Anyway, back to Bode.

When Dr. Scott came to get me he asked if I wanted to see the x-rays.  I knew that was a bad sign as no one offers to show you boring x-rays.  As it turned out, my internet diagnosis was correct.  Bode has hip dysplasia.  It was worse than I thought.  His left hip is almost totally out of the socket and his right hip is only a little less bad. 

So, we have some choices to make.  There are 2 different surgical options or we can just treat his pain.  I expect it will be surgery as he's not even a year old.  There is still time to prevent the arthritis that would surely be his future.  Nothing has to happen too quickly.  We were given some good pain meds for now and the doctor will be getting back to us with recommendations and prices.  I'm sure you'll be hearing more about this from me!

In the meantime, enjoy these photos of Bode sleeping off the sedation.  He's pretty, isn't he?  One of the vet techs told me he was the prettiest dog she'd ever seen!  Well, that's something.

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Monday Inspirations

Happy Monday!

I'm still speed-crocheting and it is still fun.  I really wish everyone could crochet as it is a cheap form of therapy.  I find it very calming.

I completed 2 ponchos and 3 hats this week-end so I'm making progress on the list of things I to which I committed.  These are things people have ordered for gifts for their friends and family.  I love doing it and my work schedule at Hospice is light this week so hopefully I will be able to get everyone's items to them in plenty of time.

I did take some time out to enjoy family last night.  Maria and Eric brought Cordelia and Bumblebee over for pizza night.  After pizza we enjoyed a game of Farkle.  Do any of you play Farkle?  It's quick and easy to learn but involves enough strategy to make it fun.We  made sure Cordy was having a good time as well.  She'd sit on Grandpa's lap for awhile, shaking dice for him.  She'd sit on my lap for a chair ride.  Our chairs are the kind on rollers so we'd push off from the table to roll across the floor toward the stove, then push off from the stove and roll back toward the table.  I also brought out plastic containers from my cupboard for her to stack and sort.  Yes, all this activity did make it trickier to play the game.  I lost and that must be the reason.

On another subject...

How many of you are scrapbookers?  I'm not.  However, I greatly admire those who are.  I know at least 3 of my friends who scrapbook... Nicole, Kate and Donna.  Are you guys working on anything special for Christmas?  Kate has a site of her own that I think you should check out.   This photo is direct from her site.  (I hope that is ok with you, Kate.)  She's also a budding photographer.  Check out her blog, Transformed Creativity, here.

She does some amazing things with scrapbooking and if any of you are scrapbookers or wanna-be-scrapbookers this would be a good resource.  Kate can hook you up with some cool stuff.   

This morning I saw another interesting idea.  It was a type of scrapbooking maybe even I could do.  I got it from another blog, The Blue Moss Girls.  This photo is direct from their site.  Check it out!  I don't know these people but I hope they don't mind free advertising.  It just seemed like a fun idea and there are other fun ideas on their site.  They also have an Etsy shop and you can link to it from their blog.

So, there you have it... inspiration!

Have a great Monday!

Hh

Whether you are memorizing the ABC's of Bible Memorization or just checking in to see what the verse is for today, I think you will like this one.  The thought of walking humbly with God is fascinating, isn't it?  We live in a world where the word humble is not often lifted up as a valued attribute.  I find this verse comforting and peaceful.

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?


Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Just Doing the Week-End Thing

Yesterday afternoon I enjoyed some lovely snuggle-nap time with Cordelia.  This is the photo I sent to her parents via phone while they were on their date.  She was fast asleep in my arms and I was loving it.  Bode kind of broke the mood by throwing up 5 times, but other than that it was lovely.



This morning I spent a couple of hours at Curves.  The manager had asked me to come in to set up some of our Wyoming Rose stuff.  They were just open 2 1/2 hours but we had some pretty good sales so I was quite happy.

Now I am home.  I am cozy in my recliner about to do some more speed-crocheting.  No deep thoughts from me today.

I don't think Saturdays were ever meant for deep thoughts anyway. 

How's your week-end going?

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Bonus Day!

The truth is, I was just hoping to survive this week.  I've been plowing ahead through many busy days in a row with my job, church events and craft fair days.  It has all been good, but I was already tired when this week started.  Here's a breakdown of the last few days. 

Monday:  I worked from 7:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. before going to a meeting at church.  I got home about 9:30 p.m., ate a little supper and was just getting ready for bed when Bode had diarrhea on the new carpet.   After scrubbing that up, I crashed.  Bode was sick again a few times in the night but Mike took care of it so I could rest.  I love Mike. 

Tuesday:  I worked 7:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.  I can't remember what I did that evening but I remember that Mike told me he missed me.  He was also tired, having been up in the night with Bode.  Did I mention that I love Mike?

Wednesday morning I made pies for Thanksgiving and did some errands.  After that, Sam and I picked up Maria and Cordy and met Mike at the mall for our weekly lunch at the food court.  I then came home and took a nap as Wednesday night I was scheduled to work my first night shift in years.  I worked 7:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday:  After getting home from work just before 8:00 a.m. I ate a little breakfast, plopped some frozen rolls out to thaw and went to bed.  Although I never did very well with sleeping during the day, I had a new plan.  I took a Benadryl and put on a pair of those eye coverings for sleeping.  What are they called?  Anyway, I put in a CD of sleepytime music to cover up day noises, set my alarm for 2:00 p.m. and fell immediately to sleep.  My alarm went off and I jumped up to see my clock said 5:00 p.m.!  I panicked, as we were to go to Maria and Eric's at 3:00!  Well, it was actually only 10:30.  Lesson learned, don't set your clock and alarm when you are too tired to see straight.  I went back to sleep until almost 1:00, waking with plenty of time to bake the rolls. 

After all that, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at Maria and Eric's.  Cordelia was in top form.  She greeted us and said "Happy Thanksgibbing" many times.

I was so grateful to Maria for taking on the responsibility of the family dinner. 

We usually go to my Mom's a few hours away but with my work schedule that wasn't feasible.  Although I was missing my Mom and all the family that we usually saw for Thanksgiving, I felt grateful to have this time with Sam, Mike, Maria, Eric and Cordelia.  I really missed Ben and Sara but was I was happy knowing they were with Sara's family for Thanksgiving. 

I just relaxed and enjoyed being a guest...

Maria had gone all out.  We enjoyed a beautiful meal, all vegan.  I ate so much I felt a little bit miserable for awhile but it was worth it. 

After that, I enjoyed time with Cordelia up in her room while Maria cleaned up and the guys watched some football. 

Eventually Cordy had everyone up in her room, most of us taking turns in the playhouse with her.  It was wonderful!  Later, the guys went out to watch more football while we girls came to our house to watch Netflix and let the dogs play. 

So today, I am still in my jammies just relaxing for awhile.  It feels like a bonus day with only good things planned.  I am NOT going shopping!  Black Friday scares me.  Instead, I will be crocheting.  Technically it is work as I am fulfilling Christmas orders for Wyoming Rose Boutique, but it feels like fun.  Right now I am working on a mother-daughter set of matching ponchos and hats.

Cordy will be here for lunch and snuggle time.  We'll watch the Wonder Pets, rock and likely have a snuggle nap.  Mike and I may go to a movie later.  See what I mean?  It's bonus day!

Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving!

Are you thinking about the things for which you are thankful today?  Holidays are sometimes a bit stressful and packed with busyness but for a moment, anyway, I want to think about all that I have.

I am grateful for so very much in this life.  I have a warm home, plenty of food and so many possessions that my every need is met.  I am truly thankful for these things but as I pondered thoughts of gratitude I was certain of that which I am most grateful...  love.

Never in my life have I felt unloved.  Never.  I wish everyone could say that.  I am not saying that everyone loves me, only that there has never been a moment when I didn't have someone who did love me.  I do not remember a time when I did not feel the love of God.  I have always had family that loved me.  Over the years I have been blessed with the warmth of true friendship, people who have cared for me during times of need and rejoiced with me through times of elation. 

So, I give thanks.  Thank-you to God for EVERYTHING and thank you to the people in my life who bring me such joy.  I am blessed.

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Hospice Musings

I think I am getting more wise just by working at hospice.  Ok, that may not be true but I do think it helps to build a more realistic perception of life.  The truth is, we are all terminal.  That shouldn't be bad news, though. 

I think of our lives as being on a timeline.  On the left end of the timeline is a little teeny dot that represents our lives from conception to death.  To the right of that dot, as far as you can see, is our life in eternity.  That means that the time we are separated from our loved ones is such a tiny speck, it is almost no time at all.

For the patients who are not believers of eternal life, I understand how death could be a frightening prospect.  For Christians, though, it should be thought of as a a time when we get to open the best present ever.  We're human, though, and the unknown can be scary.  I understand that. 

I've already received a lot of comments from people who are very curious about how I can work daily with people who are dying.  I will tell you that it is an honor and a pleasure to do this work!  I feel very grateful for this opportunity and wish everyone had this chance. 

Working with the patients is not the hardest part of the job.  The part that is hard is working with the families.  They are the ones for whom I have the most sympathy.  Their pain is what I don't know how to treat.  Their tears are the hardest to see.

I try to remember to wear a cross to work every shift.  The reason I do this is so that the person who is dying, or their family and friends, will know that I am a Christian.  If they want to talk about Jesus, I want them to know that I will make time to listen.   Perhaps that is the most important part of my job...listening.


Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Happy Anniversary King James!

I have something really cool to show you!  We recently received a really unusual gift.  It was given to us for Pastor Appreciation Month.  That's funny, huh?  I sometimes get gifts during Pastor Appreciation Month and I am not a pastor.  Mike never ever gets gifts fiation Month.  Anyway...

It is the 500th anniversary of the King James Translation of the Bible.  Did you know that?  I did not know it until my friend, Celia, told me.  She'd found a remake of the translation as it was in 1611!

Here's a peek inside.   Some of the words are a bit tricky but it sure looks pretty.

Thanks for letting me share.

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Craft Fair in My Rear View Mirror

Whew!  The craft fair this past week-end was a  LOT of work and I think both Maria and I were pretty worn out.  It was fun, though.  We got to see a lot of people we knew and we also met some we didn't know before.

As for sales, it was not quite what we'd dreamed but it was ok.  We sold quite a few things. 

This little hat, made by Maria, went to a little baby girl with a TON of black hair.  It looked so cute!

When Cordelia was there one of us walked around with her quite a bit, while the other stayed at our booth.  Cordy was looking pretty cute in one of the ponchos and people were stopping to comment on her cuteness.  One such time an older couple was trying to talk to her, telling her what a pretty girl she was, but thankfully couldn't hear her comment.  She kept saying, "I tooted.  I tooted."  I decided it was time to move on!

Maria and I agreed that we liked it when people came to look at our creations and made nice comments even when they didn't make a purchase.  Quite a few crocheters from other booths came to look over our things and several asked where we found all our patterns.  I think they were surprised to know that we almost never follow patterns.  We both kind of like to create more free-style.  Luckily I am better at freestyle crochet than I am at freestyle cooking!

It was fun to people-watch at the craft fair.  Do you like to do that?  We saw some interesting people but I think the winner had to be the man who strolled by both days, wearing shiny dresses and some kind of dangly headband on his nearly bald head.  I have to say it wasn't my favorite look but he was memorable.

I will be busy working at hospice these three days before Thanksgiving.  How about you?  Are you busy getting ready for Thanksgiving?  Are you having company or are you someone's guest? 

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Gg

Is anyone still working on the ABC's of Bible Memorization with me?  We're ready for G now...

1 John 4:16b God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Craft Fair!

We are Craft Fairing today....

Yay for Bitter Cherry Spray!

Our dining room has sliding glass doors.  For months now they have looked like this...

The window has been bare with no window coverings.  That is because the canine member of this family ATE the previous vertical blinds.  If you remember, he ended up with a partial obstruction, resulting in a big vet bill.  Here's a reminder of how pretty he made those old blinds... every single one of them!


Recently, however, I decided to give it another go.  I chose the cheapest blinds possible as I didn't really have high hopes of success.  Then, I found this...

Have any of you used this stuff?  I am SOOOOO happy to have found it!  I put up the new blinds and sprayed them and then I waited.  I didn't have to wait long for Bode to come take a taste.  He most definitely was NOT  impressed.  I sprayed it on the throw rug, the garbage can, the couches, the recliners, the stone around the fireplace (yes, he tries to chew that as well), the end tables... you get the picture.  It has helped a lot! 

I did find a drawback today, though.  Cordelia was at our house and Maria gave her a cookie.  She took a little taste and wouldn't eat any more of it.  Maria then took a bite and discovered that it tasted like Bitter Cherry Spray.  Cordy's sweet little hands had been playing with the vertical blinds just before she took the cookie.  Oops. 

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

True Love or Idolatry?

I heard an interesting comment on KLOVE yesterday.  To be honest, I tuned in at what seemed to be the last few sentences of a thought-provoking conversation.  They were discussing how we (humans) try to find something or someone to idolize.  I totally agree with that.  That isn't new.  Biblically the Israelites were constantly being pulled away from following the idols of other nations as well as creating their own.

When some people think of worshipping idols I know they think of a gold or marble statue.  Most people I know wouldn't think of idolizing a man-made statue.  However, I was taught that anything we let become more important to us than God could be considered our idol.  That could include money, cars, houses, sports or really anything.  The discussion on KLOVE was something different yet.  They were talking about idolizing a person. 

Although I missed most of the discussion, I did find the letter that started their discussion posted on their site.  It was from Scotty Smith, Pastor for Preaching, Christ Community Church, " ...it’s idolatrous to give anybody the power to make us through their affirmation, or destroy us by their rejection."  Wow!  My first thought was that a lot of old love songs have it all wrong!  The attitude of I'll-just-die-if-you-don't-love-me or I-can't-live-without-you is wrong from many different angles but I'd never thought of it as idolatry.  What do you think?

The more I thought about it the more I agreed.  To allow anyone, even your most beloved people, to have that kind of power over you really is a form of idolatry as it totally gets in the way of you fulfilling your calling as a Child of God.   When pondering this I first thought of teenagers and the drama of love in their lives.  If a teenager believes their happiness is dependent on the acceptance of another, that is taking God to a lower level.  That is idolatry.

I thought this out even further.  I think most of us who are happily married, at some point, wonder how we could possibly be happy if our spouse were to die.   I've seen people wrap their grief around themselves and hold onto it for years, allowing that grief to keep them from living as a confident Child of God.  Is that a form of idolatry?  I had never thought of it that way but I kind of think maybe it is.

However you think of it or look at it, anything that comes before God in your life is likely idolatry, even if it is a person.  We are called to love others.  We are made to have sustaining relationships but none of them should ever be more important to us than our relationship with God.  That's what I think.

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.