Take my quiz!

~laughing~ too funny! I found this goofy quiz thing and made one since I can't sleep for some reason ... thanks Jan for hitting it up! It just was one of those silly things I had so much fun doing ... anyone else up for creating one? I am down for getting quizzed on you guys! Pulllllleasssssssseeeeeeeeeee???? (NO I am not getting paid to solict traffic ~snickers~) I just thought it was fun and I REALLY needed a laugh today!

Ever just felt tired and frustrated?

~laughs~ Nawwww ... not you guys! ~sighs~ I am so tired right now ... my house is a wreck and I feel like all I do is clean up after cats. For someone who is NOT a reknowned housekeeper it stinks to begin with ... but to feel like you are cleaning up constantly after ANIMALS is another. Don't get me wrong ... I love my babies but ... holy enchilada batman ... they make such a mess. I'm not talking about the hair ... I'm talking about the fact that since we only LIVE in this house half the month ... it's THEIR house! Which means when we are gone ... they have full run of the joint ... and the STRANGEST things are treasures to a cat. I have walked around my house tonight picking up hair bows, Christmas bows (BIG FAVORITE), milk tops, bottle caps, assorted pieces of fluff, 47 hundred pre-made cat toys, cellophane wraps, bits of toilet paper and paper towels (yes they shredded an ENTIRE roll this week but that's usual), match sticks, ... pretty much every stupid thing under the sun and THEY have the audacity to sit and watch me and look offended that I am fooling with their supreme organizational masterpiece.

We have Nick in the guest room so there is stuff in boxes lining the hall of my already small house ... we pack and unpack every week so that's a chore in and of itself ... there are laundry baskets everywhere ... there were dirty dishes to tackle from when we left last week ... those STUPID 12 can boxes that soda come in to crush, a million and one pieces of junk mail to wade through after I JUST did that ... floors (only one room in our house is carpeted, all the rest are hardwood floors) to be cleaned that I haven't gotten to yet, a kitchen floor that NEVER looks clean because of course, it's the site of the daily, nay hourly cat fest complete with halftime food soccer and goalie action for entertainment, the fridge needs cleaning out ... AGAIN because of course I bought food we didn't eat and it's gone bad, cabinets to try to fit MORE food into and new drinking glasses with almost NO space ... books to put away with maxed out bookshelves ... strange fluids to clean up on the floors because cats throw up and they like to share that with as many rooms as possible (WHILE doing it ... so that everyone else can see the spectacularness of their show), a leaking toilet that I have to get fixed, NO room in the bathroom and about a jillion things to put away ... and ... I'm overwhelmed.

Add to that ... a new crack in our brand new car's windshield to get replaced, a great deal of personal crises and frustrations with our friends here ... trying to get to see my Mom and Dad sometime in the next century and already overwhelming fall plans ...

I would love to cry but there are no tears. I have been on two -emergency- errands this week to help out friends that live like ... 40 mins away ... and that has been taxing as well as just watching people we love struggle. I feel like Satan is just standing over the pot of our lives and stirring it with his little finger and laughing. Now I know that may sound silly ... it's just this feeling that I have. Nick, Rich and I fasted this weekend and it's like ... voila ... hell hath come for a visit!

I know that all this seems silly and trivial and I sound like a superficial blowhard ... I'm just venting ... I love my babies ... I love my friends ... I am happier than I have been in a while on one hand ... but on the other ... I feel like our lives are just being ... whipped into a frenzy because of our recent stands on spiritual things and frankly ... I'm losing my wind ... AND it's just too early in the -game- for me to be winded. I can think of a thousand things I am doing wrong or not doing enough of ... but in the end ... right now I'm just tired ...

love you guys!

Just a glimpse

So I'm still working on coming to terms with the new hair do thingie ... ~laughs~ Sometimes I'm ok with it and sometimes I'm thinking ... what have I done to myself. I've not come as far as I'd like in the self esteem department and believe me ... not having any hair as a woman is SOMETHING to overcome all by itself.

The strangest thing is ... I hate the feeling and I look at pictures and think ... "who is that woman" but other people CONSTANTLY tell me that I should keep it cut really short. I am thinking to myself ... "what in the world is wrong with you people???" It just doesn't feel like me yet but I have a feeling that by the time it DOES feel like me ... it will have grown out tremendously!

In the meantime ... I just remind myself how short my showers are and how much money I am saving on expensive shampoo and conditioner. ~laughing~ I have never been one to be overly fixated on looks ... maybe because I've never felt like I had anything much to offer in the looks department but boy let me tell you ... vanity takes on a whole new perspective when you are trying real hard not to look like you are batting for the -other team- so to speak. I find myself wearing much more feminine things ... less bulky t'shirts and more makeup and jewlery just so I won't be mistaken for some boy or some well ... *coughs* you know.

It's all been an adventure of sorts and I've been blessed with many affirming friends so I am very thankful! It's been a busy few weeks here at the house but I am hoping that things will settle down soon. We can't keep this all night long every night pace up forever, to be sure! We go back to work on Tuesday and I am sure it's going to be some more adjustments there as we got new boys in during the last week while we've been off.

You guys please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We love you all very much and miss you more than you can imagine. Soon guys ... we have to stop talking and start really planning to get together. I need dates ... I can make the arrangements but you guys need to start giving me real dates that you can get together so we can make this happen! We have access to the mountain home in Black Mountain, right outside of Asheville for mega cheap - $200 a week total with sleeping facilities for 19 and a kitchen to cook all our meals in. It has a huge back screened and glassed in porch with windows that open out the entire length and sides of it. It's a fantastic place with great location and enough solitude to really enjoy yourself. Alternatively ... we can always go the beach route and I can look into getting a place during the fall when the rent is cheaper for a week down there should everyone's schedule permit. Just let me know so I can get to working on it.

There's one in every house!

This is my baby Craver. He was a feral kitten, literally dying the day our boys found him outside the cottage. He was captured (they thought this was a generous thing) because he couldn't outrun our boys due to his pitiful condition. They came bursting into the cottage proudly holding this little ball of fluff that was so encrusted with congestion that his nose was totally sealed over with it and both eyes were nearly glued shut. He could barely breathe and he was terrified.

At the time we already had 5 cats and were NOT in the market for an addition to the family but one look at the poor thing and it was clear ... he was about 24 hours away from being history. So ... of course, we went into emergency vet mode, drug out all of our kitten saving supplies, cleaned the poor thing's face, and started dropper feeding him. He was between 3 and 4 weeks old then. He made it through the first night but it was fairly clear he wasn't going to last without serious meds so it was another HUGE chunk of change down the tubes for unexpected vet bills and viola ... the boy is a fighter! He survived.

And now ... we live in the constant grips of STORM CRAVER. I have never had such a hyper adolescent cat! He will be 1 in the late fall and I am telling you ... he is a destruction machine! ~laughing~ Feral cats are difficult to socialize and maintain if they are more than 6 weeks old when they are handled by humans. If they are even as much as 8 to 10 weeks old it's a good bet they will never be totally socialized at all. We've had good luck with both of our straight out of the wild ferals ... mostly due to the fact that we have so many socialized cats already that do must of the work keeping the little dickens in line! Young Master Craver however is just the epitome of -teenage- boy. He is filled with boundless energy that few of our more older and sedate cats appreciate. He compensates for their lack of zeal by waging intricate and highly technical sneak attacks on the most unsuspecting of them ... relying craftily on his ultra stealth and wiry speed to extract him from the claws of some of our more substantial babies who would happily rip him to bits like an inviting couch cushion if they could only maneuver their bulk with half his speed. He lives to spy the unsuspecting elder just lounging in the sun partaking in a few moments of their normal 20 hours of sleep a day ... and then moves in for the trauma. He lives for chaos and the ensuing grand mal proportion seizure he inspires in his unsuspecting victims seems to be his sustaining addiction. My poor babies.

Nothing is safe from my maniac boy ... he equal opportunity attacks wall hangings, boxes, dirty clothes, claw posts, my chair, the blinds ... you name it. Cats are suposed to sleep around 20 hours a day but I am thinking he has a secret stash of caffiene that he's mainlining these days. Add to that ... our second youngest, Nala (we believe his sister from another litter) is in heat and now ... he's discovered sex drive. We can't get her fixed when she is in a heat cycle so that's added a whole new element to the mix ... ~laughing~

I guess this was just the long way of saying ... I can't get any sleep ... Storm Craver is in full effect and there is no place I can hide. I put Nala in the room with me to protect her virtue and she squals like no tommorrow cause she NEEDS! I put Craver in the room with me to leave Nala unmolested and everything that can even be remotely mistaken for a toy is fodder for his limitless energy and if he can find nothing else ... he plants himself on my legs and chases his tail ... for HOURS. I am so tired ... ~pitiful whine inserted here~ ....

oh ... did I mention we cheered the sun up again this morning after a night of devastating spades ... experimental mojitos and melonballs, serious amounts of pizza, cheesecake, dr. pepper, and *coughs* Marlboros. Yes ... I started smoking at the end of last summer ... *sighs* ... we can discuss my quitting another day. Right now ... I feel the little hairs standing up on the back of my neck and I have this sinking feeling that something is about to jump on me ...

Woot Sox!

~laughing~ Ok ... Dan got it right ... it's music that is traditionally tied to the RedSox. Last night while RJ was too sick to move, we watched Fever Pitch on HBO. In short it's about a RedSox obsessed man who has to decide what is really important in life. It's a really cute movie but I think RJ and I enjoyed it most because our very close friends here in T'ville, Dan and Molly are die hard Rox Sox fans.

Okay, okay ... they aren't as die hard as the guy in the movie but they are very loyal. And I confess ... I just haven't -gotten- it until last night. They speak about the Red Sox and seeing a home game in Fenway Park -- Molly still has that Boston accent when she says it so it's Paak with no r. I just always nod and listen politely but I think ... while I wasn't looking ... that they've infected me! ~laughing~

Of course I've always been a huge football fan and fondly recall all of our outtings to see the Mountaineers play all over the place (remember West Virginia anyone???) but I confess, I've NEVER been to a major league or even a college baseball game. No home town minor league games. Zero ... zip ... zilch. But ... I am feeling this longing growing in my heart to see a game in Fenway Park of the Red Sox. It's kinda funny really but I found myself watching the movie and thinking about the way Dan and Molly's faces light up when they talk about Fenway Park and Boston and the Red Sox and I just ... want to go now. It's an historical experience and I've already found myself looking at silly Fenway Park trivia online so that I'd be prepared if we ever get to go.

It seems that we need to make a decision to at least go next year because it's not for certain how much longer the originial Fenway Park will be used before they knuckle under and build a new venue for them. Of course ... Dan and Molly can discuss this at great length - I've seen them ~grins~ ... but I definitely want to go to get the whole flavor of that great American pasttime. It appears to be WAY more than a baseball game and much of a life experience!

We may have a chance to go up to Boston in the fall and I am excited about that. I've never been and it's always been a city that really interests me. Of course ... in the fall there won't be any games for the Sox but ... it would be a great time with Dan and Molly to show us around, I am sure.

So enjoy the ode to the Sox music a little longer ... til I find my next source of inspiration!

bright blessings ya'll!

And ... I'm Back!

It's been a heck of a week here ... lots going on ... and finally ... midori is finished WOOT! On friday RJ and I went to have the rest of my tat done which took about 6 hours and then headed up to the mountians to spend a couple of days with 3 other couples we work with. The pic on the left is from friday ... Shane really gets into his work! ~laughing~

It was cool to get to spend time talking to him ... he has been regularly going to church and he loved the bible we got him. It's neat to see what the Lord is doing in his life!

We had a great time in the moutians ... aside from the pain of my tat. We got lots of strange looks from people in Black Mountain with our strange, unconventional hair but it was cool to have some fellowship with our co-workers. We don't get much of a chance to hang out together so it was great to get to let our hair down.

We are reaching the countdown phase to our trip to Myrtle Beach for the missions trip over July 4th. Hopefully that will go well. I am sure I"ll have more to share later today ... just trying to get my bearings right now.

Bright blessings ya'll!

A rainy day at the beach ...

is better than ANY day at work, according to my brother Paul. ~laughs~

We've had some rain and some sun on day one here at Atlantic Beach so I guess I really can't complain! It's a glorious late afternoon outside right now and I'm just chillin with my Daddy and Mama. I just got finished showing Mama every's blogs and she loved getting to see the pictures of everyone.

Daddy is getting more and more quiet with each time that I see him. He seems to be in good spirits but is so confused alot of the time ... that really stinks. I wish there were something that I could do for him but right now ... all I can do is love on him and shed my tears in private. It's so insane ... watching someone just slip away.

I haven't had a chance to really gather my thoughts together for any real meaningful post ... yeah yeah ... I know ... what a shocker. BUT I have to say that Cubby's series on Egypt has had my in tears so badly that I've yet to finish a post. Every sentence is like a sledge hammer to me ... and I know that I have to sit down and face it ... and really examine what the Lord is showing to me ... but have you ever just had those times when things hurt so bad when you look them full in the face that you'd RATHER see through a glass darkly? If so ... welcome to my world!

I love you guys ... I love the presence of you in my life ... even know after all this time ... I realize ... there is no time or distance in the true meaning of the word friend ... and FAMILY.

Konnichiwa

As I sit here with blood and plasma trickling down my leg, I have to confess that I am not quite sure why I thought I needed another tattoo. She's halfway finished but it's such an intricate piece Shane couldn't do it all in one day so now I have to wait three weeks before I can go back and go through this ALL over again. I really wanted to get it done in one sitting but it just wasn't in the cards for last night. When it gets totally completed I'll post a pic up here of her and freak everyone out! ~laughing~

It was interesting being in Shane's shop with him yesturday. He's a very interesting guy ... and has always been great to RJ and I but you get the feeling he is sort of dangerous too. Anyways ... as we talked last night before and while he was working I learned so much about him. He told me about his relationship with the Lord and why he only let's religion touch him but so much. He had a very difficult childhood with an extreme amount of abuse from his mother. She married a man that ended up saving Shane from so much stuff and even starting going to church with Shane. Six months after they starting going to church, he was killed in a trucking accident. Shane was only 11 years old but it was the only joy and hope he had had and he hasn't ever been able to understand how God could take away his stepfather when Shane needed him so badly ... and leave Shane, a little boy, defenseless and alone.

As he told me the story I just starting crying. It was such a stark reminder sometimes of how hard it is to understand when we see young kids go through so much stuff. There aren't always easy answers to "defend" God in situations like that. Sure when you aren't faced with a person in pain, asking the question ... we can spout off all sorts of apologetics or philosophy or doctrine but in the face of a hurting person who is now an angry, hurting adult ... those flip explanations sort of ring hollow to me. Jesus was such a simple man in all of his complexity. Last night ... I didn't know what Jesus would do if He had been there sitting visibly in the chair beside me. I just didn't know. So I did the only thing I could think of to do and that was listen ... and cry some ... and tell him that I was so sorry that he had had such a difficult life but in spite of that, I saw some really fantastic things in him.

I didn't give him the big "come to Jesus" spiel ... I didn't press for some "decision" ... Shane told me that he prays every single night but that he doesn't want a shove it down your throat religion ... I just tried to be a friend. As I lay on the table getting my tattoo another friend of his came in who is a Christian as well ... and they talked about a number of their friends who are ... and I realized that God has him surrounded so to speak. He is knocking on his door. I just can't help but wonder if I squandered the opportunity yesturday to impart something significant ... I just for the life of me couldn't think of anything to say that wouldn't seem so flip after hearing his story.

Anyways ... everytime he changed gloves and started working on my girl he'd say "Konnichiwa" and we'd all crack up. In my defense I was delirious from the pain ... and all I can think this morning as I look down at the seran wrap covered ooze is ... Konnichiwa which means good day in Japanese. I hope your day is blessed beyond measure!

meh ...

Well ... still no rest for the weary. We didn't get off of work yesturday and I don't know at this point when we will. Definitely on the 8th of May but I was really hoping for a few days off this week.

I am tired. This morning I'm discouraged and kinda down. I'm having a hard time this morning and I hate it. I don't have any great spiritual words or anything very profound to say ... I'm just ... trying to ride out the waves and hold on!

Just rambling ...

So it looks like we might actually get some time off tommorrow ... I am trying not to get too excited because we don't know the particulars yet but ... I'm hopeful ... especially since the cats are in a full blown insurrection at the house ... they have taken over completely and I'm pretty sure they are about to demand a password before they let us back in!

Today I went over to visit them and work on some finances and I walked into a house blanketed with the lovely view of shredded papertowels that I had thoughtlessly left out over the weekend. Of course they also found some more pictures to chew on ... what IS it about cats and chewing on pictures? They also have unplugged all sorts of stuff from the back of our home computer and I tell you, I can't figure out WHERE in the world they are finding all of my old socks to pull out and drag around the house. Fortunately, Nicolai hasn't really gotten good and mad yet because the water tank/dish was still upright and normally he goes ahead and expresses his considerable displeasure by toppling that over onto the big food bowl, thereby obstructing everyone's eating schedule and ensuring they are all extra grumpy and giving me really annoyed looks when I go home! They miss us and we miss them so I am glad to have the prospect of going home for a few days. YAH!!!

Today Rich took his first jujitsu class and it was really neat ... of course I went and warmed a seat! (Hey, I'm doing my part here!) It was a cool place and his sensei seems like a really neat guy. He definitely seems to be strong in his faith and I really hope that turns out to be true. As much as I hate to say it ... I so don't want to meet another impressive younger man who seems to be all about the Lord but it turns out to be just words. I have had it with that ... surely there are Godly Pastors and men who are younger than 50 years old! ~soft laugh! What I mean to say is ... Juan was a man's man ... in every sense of the word and he really inspired the young men in our church ... but then ... well ... anyways ... I am hopeful but I realize that no one is perfect. He is a professing Christian and he wasn't ashamed to speak about it with Rich and I right away so I am trying to remember Johnny's statement from yesturday about taking people where they are at ... and not being too critical. I guess I just don't want another -leader- to burn us in some way.

Anyways ... the class was great and as I said, his sensei seemed cool. He asked me if I was going to join them and I was like ... "are you nuts!???" but He told Rich ... "We'll get her out here with us eventually!" ... I have to think ... THAT will be a MIRACLE! They were rolling around on the floor ... grappling and huffing and puffing and doing all this stuff and I'm thinking ... there's no way I could do that mess! ~laughing! At this point I'm just glad Rich is so happy and I am happy to be a cheerleader for now!

I am scheduled to get my new tatoo in about 10 days ... on the 3rd ... so if anyone is going to try to talk me out of it ... now's the time! I am getting a Japanese woman on my right thigh to go with my mermaid which is on my left. Yeah yeah ... not ya'll's thing ... I know ... but I'm excited about it. Well ... not the pain part ... BUT ... I am excited about the tat.

I think I'm going to get to see J & H when I go down to the beach in a few weeks to see my parents. Rich is flying up to see his mom and dad and I am not made for flight sooooo I'm going to the beach with my parents. My mom needs a lot more help with my daddy now that his alzheimer's is really kicking so I think she is really happy that I'm coming down. It gets stressful around them some now ... they are so much older and set in their ways ... it gets hard to have to always make sure we do things a certain way with them but ... in the end ... I am thankful for this time with my daddy so ... we just work hard not to stay up too late or do too much stuff that makes them nervous ... (like the computer -- go figure ~shrugs~). It's not easy seeing my daddy now ... it always makes me sad ... but I am glad too that I have a chance to love on him and sit and hang out with him ... which I didn't get much chance to do in times past.

Blah ... I'm just rambling tonight. Maybe because Rich is sitting here rubbing my back and it feels so good ... I just keep typing nonesense so he won't stop! ~grins~ I'll close for now ... we have a busy day tommorrow with team meetings and general staff in the morning soooo ... I reckon I need extra beauty sleep!

Love you guys!

Ugh!

Today has been a day of warfare ... of struggle ... of hope ... and dispair for me.

Last night I got another letter from one of the troops we are supporting overseas. Another 19 year old Marine who seems to be a Christian. His letter was short but I was moved to tears. He noted that he thinks that God is the only thing getting him through this right now. He asked for our prayers that he would be sustained and for prayers for others trying to navigate being in Iraq with many personal issues and conflicts taking place at home.

I decided after reading his letter to have a time of prayer this morning ... and to open it up to anyone else on campus (staff) who wanted to come. I called each cottage and issued a very casual invitation. I figured that at least putting it out there would hold Rich and I accountable for keeping the prayer time we had agreed upon.

So dawn comes and I'm of course so exhausted that I can barely get out of bed. I am tired and RJ gets up to get the kids off to school even though I had planned on it. I finally got up about 8 am because we had to take our van to have the tires rotated and the oil changed. I got the van dropped off and RJ came to pick me up to come home and put away groceries. (Wed. is grocery delivery day every week.) ... I was so exhausted all I wanted to do was go back to sleep.

We set our time of prayer for the 11am to noon hour and about 10 mins to 11 am I was dying my stomach hurt so badly. I could barely stand up ... but we pushed ahead. At 11am we put on the worship tape we had decided on and starting praying. A few moments later one other couple (a young couple who are new to campus) came. We don't know them very well but it really -felt- like they were supposed to be there. No one else came and I was kind of glad. I made the invitation very informal and with no pressure because I felt like God would draw who He wished to come.

We prayed and worshipped together for the whole hour and it was great. Boy did time fly and my stomach didn't hurt at all and I don't feel the least bit sleepy. It has been longer than I can recall since I've been able to spend an hour in prayer and worship. Just an hour. As we were praying I realized that I don't even know where my bible is. I haven't gotten a new bible since RJ and I got married and it's been so long since I've opened one I don't even know where mine is. If I have needed one I've used a student bible or RJ's.

So after prayer, I talked to RJ and decided to go and get a new bible. The first Christian bookstore I went to is closing and had NO bibles in stock any longer. I came home and looked for other Christian bookstores. The closest I could find initially was over an hour away. I couldn't find a single bookstore in High Point so I ended up deciding to go to another little town where the parent store to the one that is closing here, is located. I got directions online after calling the bookstore and getting no help direction wise from them. I took off with my directions from online only to follow them to the letter and find myself on a country deadend road. I called RJ completely frustrated to re-mapquest the directions and to call the store again but only ended up totally confused and more frustrated. I finally just hung up and set off to back track and try to find it based on the scant information I had pieced together.

I finally found the bookstore and it was much nicer than I had expected. I looked and looked at the selection of bibles ... I wanted a navy blue one like I had in college ... I loved that bible so much. Of course I couldn't find one that I liked that was blue with silver pages so ... I ended up getting a burgandy and black one that was pretty neat. The engraver arrived just in time to put my name on it so that was pretty cool.

So I have a new bible and we spent an hour in prayer and worship this morning. All good stuff but none without some resistence so to speak. I am strongly at war right now within myself and I hate it. I want to hate those things that war within me more ... I want to dispise them ... I am not there yet but I am trying ... step by step by step ...

I wish this were all easier ... but it's not ... nothing about this fight is easy for me right now ...

too early

It's so too early to be this tired. It's too early in a fight that I don't want to face ... too early in accepting the hurt ... the consequences that come from my sin ... I am a coward. I want to run away. I am just so tired.

The Wages of Sin is death. How well I know that. In so many ways I feel like my heart is black and dying ... from the price of my sin. I am lazy. I don't want to go through this. Hasn't ten years been long enough in the desert? Now how long will I have to trudge through this desert ... trying to make my way ... trying to find Him again? Ok ... perhaps I've been camped out living in the desert for 10 years ... now I'm on the move ... but hot is hot ... and alone is alone and hurt and desolation are hurt and desolation ... and shame ... it's the same whether the location is permanent or changing from day to day.

It's just too soon to be this tired ... that's almost all I can really think right now.

taken for granted

As I look over my few posts here and read J & H's responses ... I find myself crying every time. With gratitude and with shame -- equal parts. Shame that I haven't been nearly the friend that they have deserved and gratitude that somehow, some way ... they still find love in their hearts for me. I know that I need them ... not a life sucking need ... but a challenge need ... I need them because they love me enough to shoot straight with me ... I need them because in spite of all the mistakes I believe we were all God ordained to be in each other's lives.

I need them because they believe in God in me ... even when no one else in the world has a clue that HE might even be in me at all.

I have enough regrets to equal a hundred millstones I think ... and they all feel like they are tied around my neck ... but I know ... I can't give up now ... no matter what ...

This weekend was rough ... things are just so tender for me with my Mom and Dad I can't really even write about them. I need to find some new comfort/inspirational music. I've been away from listening to most Christian music for so long I don't even know who to look for. I need to tap some sources I think.

I got some plants last night for the cottage and planted them this morning after my only boy went to school. Lavender and some other decorative plants for the kitchen (if the lavender will thrive there), tulip bulbs in a big wooden barrel for the courtyard, and a wandering jew plant for the staff office. I also got another bamboo bunch to go with my new dish garden and my big teacup planter in the dinning room. Hopefully they won't die.

I also got my workspace set up in the extra bedroom to paint. I am very happy about this. I need to find a desk that I can set up at home and tackle our second bedroom to weed out the junk and make it a peaceful workspace. I may never really have any talent for this sumi-e painting but ... I want to try. I need to try.

I need to fill out some paperwork this morning for requisitions for our flower beds and for painting supplies for our rocking chairs. Hopefully we can revive them a bit and spruce up the cottage some more.

We are getting a new admission this afternoon and another new admission tommorrow so it should be a busy week coming up, with new kids to teach the ropes to! I am not so thrilled to have another 9 yeard old in the cottage because they are generally pretty difficult, however, with our low numbers, I can hardly complain *L*. At least we don't have 8 or 9 kids right now!!!!!!

I need to remember to get the book over to Marisa today too. I don't know what I will say ... breast cancer. Everything I try to think of saying seems so ... trite and frivolous. I will hopefully think of something.

I read Helen's blog and I find myself wondering ... what IS it that God has given birth to through Helen ... she is too vague! I shall have to rebuke her! Ho YES!

Just ... WOW

Timing is such an interesting thing ... it's so easy to write off as random or chance that which is honestly very God ordained! Reading about J and Hbombs situation ... I find myself again humbled. What a tremendous job and responsibility being a parent is. What a glorious thing when a child has Christian parents.

Yes I know our goal is that our children won't sin ... but in this world ... filled with fallen man and a very sinful condition ... just as it's important to hope and pray and teach so that they won't sin or fall ... I think it's JUST as important to teach them how to cover from falling ... how to shake off the sin that so easily besets us. We have to equip today's young people not only with the guide and compass for right decisions, but the model of how to recover from wrong decisions. I have so much respect for J & H's approach to their situation. It was brave, unflinching, and it was instructive. They gave their son something very very imporant ... they gave Him godly instruction and modeled Godly sorrow and repentence WITH him.

Rich and I are going to be leaving work for a few days to head to Raleigh. Mama called last night and just kept saying, "Can you come this weekend" ... soo we decided to appeal to work to be allowed to leave for a few days. We will be leaving this afternoon and returning Sunday afternoon. I am really thankful that we are being given the time to go. I feel like Mama really needs us.

This time I am determined to pack the camera and not hide from it either! *L*. I am taking my sumi-e painting in hopes that Mama and I can work on some together. I think she might end up getting into it! She is such an amazing artist anyways. At the least, it will be something for her and I to do together! Daddy didn't recognize my voice when I called yesturday.

Hoddie, as for the Group link to the Potter's hands ... look over on the left side of my page here under links ... there is a link already set up for it ... click the link, then request to join please! Both you and J ... I'll call you tonight or tommorrow!

Going a Little Overboard

So, there are days when things get a little crazy right? I had that kind of day the other day ... and as a result, a giant package was delivered to my door this morning. The package was from Barnes & Noble. Inside:

A Step from Heaven
Black Lotus
Chinese Mirror
Comfort Women
Customs and Etiquette of Korea
For Matrimonial Purposes
Fox Girl
Geisha
Inheritance
Lucky Gourd Shop
Memory Keeper's Daughter
My Name is Red
Snakes and Earrings
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
The Concubine's Tattoo
The Kite Runner
The Laws of Evening
The Living Reed
The Samurai's Wife


I am expecting another package tommorrow with three more books. So ... any guesses as to what I'll be doing in the next few weeks? Honestly ... I can't wait. We are stuck at work until the 27th of March to cover for our void in teammates so this will be a great time to dive in to some serious reading. Most of the books are about Asia which really interests me. I'll write up some reviews when I'm done!

The next three books that are coming are Japanese Poetry books. Talk about some incredible stuff! WOW!!!