Tell me that this isn't the sweetest stinkin' thing you've EVER seen. I want a puppy!!!!!
Wednesday, September 30
Way to Go J-Man!!!
I *really* hope he can keep this up throughout the school year.
Way to go, J! Green is my new favorite color.
Do you hear it?
It's the faint sound of a basketball dribbling and the net swooshing.
That's right fans. On Tuesday, October 6th at 7:30, it all begins.
Say it loud, say it proud...
That's right fans. On Tuesday, October 6th at 7:30, it all begins.
Say it loud, say it proud...
Tuesday, September 29
I am an addict on the edge.
Ugh.
**Edited to add**
I do have fever. It's low, but it's fever. Dang it.
Monday, September 28
GREAT Times!
I survived! I had an awesome time!! Debbie had the coolest shirts done for us. They say: "What Happens at the Retreat Stays at the Retreat." For some of us girls, it's like going to Vegas. We let our hair down and have FUN! And - - things that are revealed on the retreat are not allowed to be disclosed. Ever. It's the rule. And it's a shame because there are some FUNNY stories. I laughed hard. Very, very hard!
I also scrapbooked. I got seventeen 12 x 12 pages done, three 6 x 6 pages and a twenty-four page 8 x 8 album (no pictures in it) to give as a baby gift. All the new mom will have to do is add her pictures. I think she'll love it. So basically, I got way more done than I think I ever have before. As soon as Mr. B reloads Photoshop on the computer, I'll scan the layouts and add them to Flickr.
I saw the movie, "Sex and the City" while I was there. I really liked it. I was told that I didn't have to have seen the series to get it. WRONG! Thanks a lot, Amy! With that said, it inspired me to start watching the series. It should be fun. I had forgotten that I had heard that Gilles (from DWTS) was in the movie. And boy was he in the movie. *swoon* That man is yummalicious.
I need to jet. Laundry to work on, a kitchen to clean and a floor that needs mopping. As fun as it was to escape for a few days, I'm glad to be home with my boys. All three of them. Well, and Moe, too. I love how much they loved seeing me again. It is good to be the princess around here. It is good to be me.
*smooches*
Wednesday, September 23
Help! I've fallen and I can't get up.
Well, I got up. But not without some battle wounds.
Here is my story about falling down whilst on our camping trip last weekend.
We went camping at Hords Creek Lake with some very good friends of ours. Mr. B used to work with Mr. S. Our families became friends with each other. Their kids are older than ours. It does not ever seem to matter. I love how their kids treat ours. Our kids are never a pain to them. They actually seem to enjoy being around our kids. It's a pleasure. And usually pretty funny. Anyway, the kids were off throwing rocks in the lake and catching bugs. The misters had gone into town to put gas in the truck. So, is was just me and Mrs. S hanging out by the campfire, reading. It was quiet and peaceful.
Let me back up a bit. Not too far from our campsite is a group shelter. It has multiple hook-ups for campers and a group dining type room. We were noticing tent after tent pop up at this site. There had to have been at *least* 35 tents and a few trailers. It was insane. As it turns out, they were some sort of martial arts group. They had on their "uniforms" with their varying colored belts. They'd go on these marches and for some reason, it cracked me up. This time, they were marching to the playground and starting doing these "kicks" as they marched. It was too much for me to pass up. I ran inside the camper and grabbed the "good" camera. I put the big lens on and decided to get some shots.
Basically, I was laughing at them. This, my friends, is irony. Me laughing at them. Either irony or karma. It doesn't matter. If just one of them saw what happened to me, I got my just due.
I was scrambling to get back to my lawnchair when my flip flops got tangled up in one of the kid's lawnchairs. The rest happened fast, but in slow motion. Does that make any sense? It takes me forever to fall. I think this happens because I fight the actual fall, as if I will somehow sprout wings and my flapping motion will prevent the fall. I do this movement every time and it has yet to work. It just prolongs the inevitable.
I bit it. Hard. Holding the good camera.
Mrs. S said that as I was going down I said, "I'm faaaaaaaaalllllliiiiinnnnnngggggg!"
I just laid on the ground for a minute. In pain and embarrassed. My face was no more than three inches above the metal ring that housed our campfire. It was hot. I could feel the heat on my cheek. At this same moment, my left hip was being introduced to a rock. I don't think it was the rock that I left half of my left shin on. But a rock nonetheless. I laid there and wimpered for about a minute.
And then - - the laughter started. Mrs. S kept offering to help me up, but I couldn't move. Part of me was scared to and the other part was so busy laughing. I finally got up. I was covered in dirt and debris.
I wanted to re-create how I looked, so I got my little camera and had Mrs. S take a picture of how I landed. This is it:
Notice the pained look on my face? And look at how I sacrificed my body to save the camera. Want to see the martial art dudes I was trying to get a shot of? Here:
I'm telling you right now - - this picture was not worth the bruises on my arm and hip, the scrape across my left shin and dang near falling into the fire.
I'll try to exercise a little better judgment next time. Yeesh.
Here is my story about falling down whilst on our camping trip last weekend.
We went camping at Hords Creek Lake with some very good friends of ours. Mr. B used to work with Mr. S. Our families became friends with each other. Their kids are older than ours. It does not ever seem to matter. I love how their kids treat ours. Our kids are never a pain to them. They actually seem to enjoy being around our kids. It's a pleasure. And usually pretty funny. Anyway, the kids were off throwing rocks in the lake and catching bugs. The misters had gone into town to put gas in the truck. So, is was just me and Mrs. S hanging out by the campfire, reading. It was quiet and peaceful.
Let me back up a bit. Not too far from our campsite is a group shelter. It has multiple hook-ups for campers and a group dining type room. We were noticing tent after tent pop up at this site. There had to have been at *least* 35 tents and a few trailers. It was insane. As it turns out, they were some sort of martial arts group. They had on their "uniforms" with their varying colored belts. They'd go on these marches and for some reason, it cracked me up. This time, they were marching to the playground and starting doing these "kicks" as they marched. It was too much for me to pass up. I ran inside the camper and grabbed the "good" camera. I put the big lens on and decided to get some shots.
Basically, I was laughing at them. This, my friends, is irony. Me laughing at them. Either irony or karma. It doesn't matter. If just one of them saw what happened to me, I got my just due.
I was scrambling to get back to my lawnchair when my flip flops got tangled up in one of the kid's lawnchairs. The rest happened fast, but in slow motion. Does that make any sense? It takes me forever to fall. I think this happens because I fight the actual fall, as if I will somehow sprout wings and my flapping motion will prevent the fall. I do this movement every time and it has yet to work. It just prolongs the inevitable.
I bit it. Hard. Holding the good camera.
Mrs. S said that as I was going down I said, "I'm faaaaaaaaalllllliiiiinnnnnngggggg!"
I just laid on the ground for a minute. In pain and embarrassed. My face was no more than three inches above the metal ring that housed our campfire. It was hot. I could feel the heat on my cheek. At this same moment, my left hip was being introduced to a rock. I don't think it was the rock that I left half of my left shin on. But a rock nonetheless. I laid there and wimpered for about a minute.
And then - - the laughter started. Mrs. S kept offering to help me up, but I couldn't move. Part of me was scared to and the other part was so busy laughing. I finally got up. I was covered in dirt and debris.
I wanted to re-create how I looked, so I got my little camera and had Mrs. S take a picture of how I landed. This is it:
Notice the pained look on my face? And look at how I sacrificed my body to save the camera. Want to see the martial art dudes I was trying to get a shot of? Here:
I'm telling you right now - - this picture was not worth the bruises on my arm and hip, the scrape across my left shin and dang near falling into the fire.
I'll try to exercise a little better judgment next time. Yeesh.
Tuesday, September 22
I'm grounding myself.
No more computer for the next 20 hours.
I have NOTHING ready for my retreat and I have to have it all packed and ready to take to my driver tomorrow night. I have NOTHING ready.
I'm off of the computer and I'm about to put some stuff together.
I did have fun playing Mr. B in basketball on Wii Sports Resort. We were doing the three point contest. He was making fun of my style. Whatever scores the points. All I know is that he didn't beat me until I bet him something. Dang it. That's gonna cost me.
Okay. I'm off. I promise to post the falling story tomorrow night after I'm all packed up.
Smooches.
I have NOTHING ready for my retreat and I have to have it all packed and ready to take to my driver tomorrow night. I have NOTHING ready.
I'm off of the computer and I'm about to put some stuff together.
I did have fun playing Mr. B in basketball on Wii Sports Resort. We were doing the three point contest. He was making fun of my style. Whatever scores the points. All I know is that he didn't beat me until I bet him something. Dang it. That's gonna cost me.
Okay. I'm off. I promise to post the falling story tomorrow night after I'm all packed up.
Smooches.
Can you smell that?
It's the chicken I'm stewing to make chicken lasagna tonight. Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm.
Monday, September 21
Something that rocks...
I got the "green light" from Mr. B today to leave a day early for my scrapbook retreat.
*insert happy dance here*
I have to get busy getting my ducks in a row.
Ciao.
*insert happy dance here*
I have to get busy getting my ducks in a row.
Ciao.
He did great!
Cameron could not have done better today. He swallowed that icky Barium as if it was a vanilla milkshake. He even smiled a lot and gave me the thumbs up sign several times. He's so stinkin' cute. The downside - - I saw the reflux myself on the monitor. Ugh. We have to wait for the radiologist's report and we'll see Dr. P after that. I'm not sure what the next step is at this point. Since I am Queen of GERD, I know what foods to avoid in the meantime.
Now - - I am off to do the dishes, mop the floor and then I'm going to get some scrapbook stuff in order. My trip is getting closer!!! Woo hoo!!!!
Now - - I am off to do the dishes, mop the floor and then I'm going to get some scrapbook stuff in order. My trip is getting closer!!! Woo hoo!!!!
Sunday, September 20
B's World
Have you been wondering what's up in B's World? A lot. I'll summarize as best I can.
1. We went camping again this weekend. Mr. B sprung it on me Thursday afternoon. It was too late to get a reservation. We would have to hope for the best as far as camping spots go. I was busy on Thursday. I was picking up a friend's son from school that afternoon, we had none of our traditional camping food and I had Bunco that night. Long story short, it all worked out. We got awesome spots next to our friends. We had a blast over the weekend. More on that to come later.
2. Bunco - - I had the BEST time. I rolled three Buncos. I didn't win a dime, but I had fun not winning. It was great. I'm kind of a maniac when I play Bunco. Good times.
3. Cam did his doctor thing on Thursday. The stressful stuff is at 8:30 in the morning. I am SO not looking forward to that.
4. Oh - - I had to miss opening night of Survivor because of Bunco. Thank goodness the DVR worked properly. I was able to watch the show late Thursday night. Wow. That Russell dude is EVIL. Seriously - - the man is a total sociopath. Skeery. I think we are set up for a great season. I'm playing in a "pool" again this season. (Remember, the $5 thing?) Well, the player whose name was drawn for me is Monica. We'll see...
5. I fell while we were camping. Completely busted my butt. It's funny now. Well, it was funny then. A long story and one that requires it's own entry. Later. I am sore today. And scraped up on one leg. But I am alive. And I have pictures. Just a little nugget to keep you coming back.
6. I am feeling MUCH better about a problem I had. I hate it when my friendships have "road bumps." I *always* assume the worst. The details aren't necessary. Just know that I came home to a much needed e-mail in my inbox. My soul, again, hums a happy tune. I like for the air to be clear. Confusion, be gone. Yay!
7. I also had an e-mail from my editor (that sounds way cool, huh?) asking where my next article was. Doh!!! Mr. B just re-loaded my computer for me. I'm going to have to get him to find the article I typed up a few months ago. It still needs some tweaking. I would like to have a final copy in Mr. Editor's office first thing in the morning.
8. I finished another book. *insert bowing motion* I read Mercy by Jodi Picoult. Meh. I hate books that have VERY vague endings. I didn't care for the whole "Scottish" thing either. I'm taking a break from the sappy/sad stuff. Look what I picked up for my next read. It's over there on the right. Sounds interesting. I've read James Patterson before. But it was sappy stuff. Intriguing. I hope it's good. (Reminder: I'm not a big reader. That's why finishing a book is a big deal to me.)
9. I leave for my retreat this week. I'm *way* pumped about that. Now, if I could just get ready. My pictures should be here on Tuesday. That's cutting it a little close. I have nothing new bought (scrapbook wise) to prepare for the trip. Ugh. I'm not stressing about it. I will get done what I can and just focus on having fun.
10. I saw a water moccasin on the camping trip. I flippin' lost it. We're talking, "squealing like a girl, throwing her hands in the air, running and heart racing" flip out. Snakes suck.
That's enough for now. Come back later this week to hear about my "I see a hip replacement in my geriatric days" fall down episode. Either you have grace or you don't. I have none.
1. We went camping again this weekend. Mr. B sprung it on me Thursday afternoon. It was too late to get a reservation. We would have to hope for the best as far as camping spots go. I was busy on Thursday. I was picking up a friend's son from school that afternoon, we had none of our traditional camping food and I had Bunco that night. Long story short, it all worked out. We got awesome spots next to our friends. We had a blast over the weekend. More on that to come later.
2. Bunco - - I had the BEST time. I rolled three Buncos. I didn't win a dime, but I had fun not winning. It was great. I'm kind of a maniac when I play Bunco. Good times.
3. Cam did his doctor thing on Thursday. The stressful stuff is at 8:30 in the morning. I am SO not looking forward to that.
4. Oh - - I had to miss opening night of Survivor because of Bunco. Thank goodness the DVR worked properly. I was able to watch the show late Thursday night. Wow. That Russell dude is EVIL. Seriously - - the man is a total sociopath. Skeery. I think we are set up for a great season. I'm playing in a "pool" again this season. (Remember, the $5 thing?) Well, the player whose name was drawn for me is Monica. We'll see...
5. I fell while we were camping. Completely busted my butt. It's funny now. Well, it was funny then. A long story and one that requires it's own entry. Later. I am sore today. And scraped up on one leg. But I am alive. And I have pictures. Just a little nugget to keep you coming back.
6. I am feeling MUCH better about a problem I had. I hate it when my friendships have "road bumps." I *always* assume the worst. The details aren't necessary. Just know that I came home to a much needed e-mail in my inbox. My soul, again, hums a happy tune. I like for the air to be clear. Confusion, be gone. Yay!
7. I also had an e-mail from my editor (that sounds way cool, huh?) asking where my next article was. Doh!!! Mr. B just re-loaded my computer for me. I'm going to have to get him to find the article I typed up a few months ago. It still needs some tweaking. I would like to have a final copy in Mr. Editor's office first thing in the morning.
8. I finished another book. *insert bowing motion* I read Mercy by Jodi Picoult. Meh. I hate books that have VERY vague endings. I didn't care for the whole "Scottish" thing either. I'm taking a break from the sappy/sad stuff. Look what I picked up for my next read. It's over there on the right. Sounds interesting. I've read James Patterson before. But it was sappy stuff. Intriguing. I hope it's good. (Reminder: I'm not a big reader. That's why finishing a book is a big deal to me.)
9. I leave for my retreat this week. I'm *way* pumped about that. Now, if I could just get ready. My pictures should be here on Tuesday. That's cutting it a little close. I have nothing new bought (scrapbook wise) to prepare for the trip. Ugh. I'm not stressing about it. I will get done what I can and just focus on having fun.
10. I saw a water moccasin on the camping trip. I flippin' lost it. We're talking, "squealing like a girl, throwing her hands in the air, running and heart racing" flip out. Snakes suck.
That's enough for now. Come back later this week to hear about my "I see a hip replacement in my geriatric days" fall down episode. Either you have grace or you don't. I have none.
Thursday, September 17
Ughhhhhh.
Cam has all of the symptoms of reflux. Dr. P said that it's unusual for children his age to develop this without having had it as an infant. But - - he also said it's not impossible, either. So, he has to do the Barium swallow test Monday morning. Blech. I know. I've done this before. It's nasty.
We will go from there. In the meantime, since he had a milk allergy as a baby, he has to go back off of milk products for ten days, just to see if that helps any. It could be lactose intollerance. It could also be a combination of the two. Or even a food allergy, So, the weeding out process begins.
I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Good, good friends. Thanks.
We will go from there. In the meantime, since he had a milk allergy as a baby, he has to go back off of milk products for ten days, just to see if that helps any. It could be lactose intollerance. It could also be a combination of the two. Or even a food allergy, So, the weeding out process begins.
I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Good, good friends. Thanks.
Today...
I let Cam stay home from school today. He has a doctor appointment at 11:00. He's been having some problems with what I think is acid reflux. I hope that's all it is. I noticed the past couple of days that he might be having some trouble swallowing, too. Of course, I'm a little concerned. So if you would, please say a prayer for my Cam-Man today.
This has been going on for a while. I can't believe it never occurred to me that he might have this. When I looked up the symptoms of GERD for children, I was like: "Doh!!!" How could I have not figured it out? I freakin' have it.
That's right. Take my Super Mommy cape away. I suck.
This has been going on for a while. I can't believe it never occurred to me that he might have this. When I looked up the symptoms of GERD for children, I was like: "Doh!!!" How could I have not figured it out? I freakin' have it.
That's right. Take my Super Mommy cape away. I suck.
Tuesday, September 15
Completely Inappropriate Pictures Post
I guess it's good to be a boy.
I am unable to do this.
I suppose I could try.
My guess is I would end up with pee pee running down my leg.
That's nasty.
Rant
I'm going to get this off of my chest.
I would NEVER stand by and let someone speak ill of or talk down to a friend of mine. Whether I agreed with said friend or not.
Period.
This political shit *has* affected a very important friendship and I'm not happy about it.
I would NEVER stand by and let someone speak ill of or talk down to a friend of mine. Whether I agreed with said friend or not.
Period.
This political shit *has* affected a very important friendship and I'm not happy about it.
Monday, September 14
Another countdown.
I'm embracing my inner tween. This week, I'm going to buy my ticket to the midnight showing of this. They are on sale already. Time to get started on my Team Jacob shirt.
I'm ready.
I am such the fan that I've actually considered skipping Bunco on Thursday for the premier. Seriously, who schedules Bunco on Thursdays. That's just messed up.
Sunday, September 13
Dang it.
I can't get the new feature to work. Bear with me. I have my personal developer on the case.
Home Sweet Home
The trip was fun. It rained the. whole. time. Which wasn't too bad. It was just limiting. I honestly don't think we saw the sun the whole trip. We did, however, enjoy the cooler temperatures. I have some funny pictures to add. I'll do that later. The weekend was quite chillaxing. Good for the soul. I read. A lot. It was nice not having access to technology. My cell phone didn't even work out there. Good to know. It was actually quite refreshing. I love the modern conveniences of camping. Indoor plumbing, a/c and a full kitchen is a must. I know - - luxury camping. It rocked though.
So - - Survivor starts this week. Nothing could make me happier right now. I need my weekly Jeff Probst fix. Ahhhhh. Personally, I don't think they show enough of him, his blue shirt and those dimples I could just swim in. Mr. Mark Burnett - - we want more JP. I love fall television. *smile*
Back to the grind tomorrow. We are just now getting settled in with a routine. I'd like to think it's working. Justin is doing great at school and Cameron seems to be doing well, too. They are happy, so Mom is happy.
Time to get the littles in bed. See you tomorrow.
(Notice my new feature below? Tell me what you think of my entries. I'm giving it a test-drive for now.)
So - - Survivor starts this week. Nothing could make me happier right now. I need my weekly Jeff Probst fix. Ahhhhh. Personally, I don't think they show enough of him, his blue shirt and those dimples I could just swim in. Mr. Mark Burnett - - we want more JP. I love fall television. *smile*
Back to the grind tomorrow. We are just now getting settled in with a routine. I'd like to think it's working. Justin is doing great at school and Cameron seems to be doing well, too. They are happy, so Mom is happy.
Time to get the littles in bed. See you tomorrow.
(Notice my new feature below? Tell me what you think of my entries. I'm giving it a test-drive for now.)
Friday, September 11
Getting away.
The camper is loaded.
And all I want is to get the heck out of dodge. I don't want to talk to anyone, I don't want to read e-mails, I don't want to see the news and I don't want to read things online that make my blood boil.
I just want to run away.
The line drawn in the sand is slowly blowing away. And that kills me.
I just want out of here and be incommunicado for a few days. What can that possibly hurt?
Then two weeks from today, I go on my scrapbook retreat.
Running away isn't the answer. But regaining clarity of mind is necessary. I hope to come home refreshed and chilled.
See you guys next week.
And all I want is to get the heck out of dodge. I don't want to talk to anyone, I don't want to read e-mails, I don't want to see the news and I don't want to read things online that make my blood boil.
I just want to run away.
The line drawn in the sand is slowly blowing away. And that kills me.
I just want out of here and be incommunicado for a few days. What can that possibly hurt?
Then two weeks from today, I go on my scrapbook retreat.
Running away isn't the answer. But regaining clarity of mind is necessary. I hope to come home refreshed and chilled.
See you guys next week.
Thursday, September 10
Playing Around
This is my first attempt at making my own blog header. I'm working my way around PhotoShop. I doubt this will be the final one I'll use. I am definitely a bit more confident now. I have to tweak sizes and stuff. Maybe even add a flourish here and there. I like using the stretch template, so this works better for me. I will just change up my header every now and then instead of using the various blogger templates. I'm going to try to change up fonts and stuff, too. I'll get there. Thanks for your patience.
King
Help, help. I'm being repressed.
I heard this clip being played on Sirius Patriot this morning. Cracked me up.
I heard this clip being played on Sirius Patriot this morning. Cracked me up.
Wednesday, September 9
Time and Place
There is a time and a place for everything.
In the middle of the hall at the preschool (church) is not the place to publicly bash your son and daughter-in-law. I don't know if her descriptions were accurate or not. It doesn't matter. Her verbal assault on them was incredibly unfair. And the fact that I was far enough away that I shouldn't have heard the entire conversation bothers me even more.
I don't know the specifics of the family situation. I have some vague knowledge. What little knowledge I have tells me that this mother-in-law was being hateful and nobody is good enough for her sweet little granddaughter.
I could be wrong. I have been before.
I think it just struck an all too familiar chord with me. It sucks to feel like you don't measure up. But to hear it out loud? That would really suck. I felt sorry for the daughter-in-law. Really, really sorry. I can't even imagine how much this would bother her if she knew.
In the middle of the hall at the preschool (church) is not the place to publicly bash your son and daughter-in-law. I don't know if her descriptions were accurate or not. It doesn't matter. Her verbal assault on them was incredibly unfair. And the fact that I was far enough away that I shouldn't have heard the entire conversation bothers me even more.
I don't know the specifics of the family situation. I have some vague knowledge. What little knowledge I have tells me that this mother-in-law was being hateful and nobody is good enough for her sweet little granddaughter.
I could be wrong. I have been before.
I think it just struck an all too familiar chord with me. It sucks to feel like you don't measure up. But to hear it out loud? That would really suck. I felt sorry for the daughter-in-law. Really, really sorry. I can't even imagine how much this would bother her if she knew.
Tuesday, September 8
Premium Me Award
I got an award. So, so cool!
The rules are that I must post 7 things about myself and then award 7 more peeps.
Completely random things. Here goes:
1. I watch iCarly. And I love it. I feel like I most relate to Sam. Sarcastic but fun. I have a tiny crush on Carly's brother, Spencer. He's hilarious and such a dork. I love the silliness.
2. I hate my birthday. Not for aging purposes. But because it's the day before Valentine's Day. I LOVE celebrating my birthday. I love being special. I love the attention. But I hate, hate, hate that it's one day before Lover's Day. It sort of steals my thunder.
3. People in costumes freak me out. More like disguises. I hate them. It really wigs me out. I'm very uncomfortable when around them. It sort of makes Halloween a tough holiday for me. The irony is, it's my son's birthday. So, I'm going to have to learn to deal. Don't even get me started on clowns. *shudder*
4. I have a few celebrity crushes. I love Jeff Probst from Survivor, Matt Damon in the Bourne and Oceans movies and Sean Hannity from Fox News. *drool*
5. I try my hardest to be a good Christian, but the bad girl just comes out and the bottom line is - - I am a sinner. I love God more than words can ever convey. And I hate it that my actions don't always reflect what I feel in my heart. I'm really struggling with church attendance right now. It's so easy to get out of the routine. I've been really, really bad and I want to go back. I've just been lazy. And I don't like that. I crave the worship and Word.
6. I am a scrapbooker. I love it. It's my addiction. I collect supplies and I love the memories that are evoked by putting together a page. Scrapbooking introduced me to some of the best friends I've ever had in my entire life. I love that. I'm going on my fall retreat in two and a half weeks. I. Can't. Wait.
7. I am married to my best friend. He is my hero. He is so good to me. And he is good to our boys. We have the two most beautiful boys in the world. I love being the princess of the household. I always thought I'd have girls. So this boy thing is kind of crazy. But I'll take it. Any day. I love all three of my boys. God is so good. I am beyond blessed.
Now I'm tagging the following seven people: Mom, Susan, Kim, Yoda, Miss Q, The Fox and Kristina. This is a great honor being bestowed upon you. If you don't do it, your left boob will fall off. Heh. I kid, I kid. *giggle* Do it if you can. No curse. Today, I shall be a good witch and use my powers for good instead of evil.
The rules are that I must post 7 things about myself and then award 7 more peeps.
Completely random things. Here goes:
1. I watch iCarly. And I love it. I feel like I most relate to Sam. Sarcastic but fun. I have a tiny crush on Carly's brother, Spencer. He's hilarious and such a dork. I love the silliness.
2. I hate my birthday. Not for aging purposes. But because it's the day before Valentine's Day. I LOVE celebrating my birthday. I love being special. I love the attention. But I hate, hate, hate that it's one day before Lover's Day. It sort of steals my thunder.
3. People in costumes freak me out. More like disguises. I hate them. It really wigs me out. I'm very uncomfortable when around them. It sort of makes Halloween a tough holiday for me. The irony is, it's my son's birthday. So, I'm going to have to learn to deal. Don't even get me started on clowns. *shudder*
4. I have a few celebrity crushes. I love Jeff Probst from Survivor, Matt Damon in the Bourne and Oceans movies and Sean Hannity from Fox News. *drool*
5. I try my hardest to be a good Christian, but the bad girl just comes out and the bottom line is - - I am a sinner. I love God more than words can ever convey. And I hate it that my actions don't always reflect what I feel in my heart. I'm really struggling with church attendance right now. It's so easy to get out of the routine. I've been really, really bad and I want to go back. I've just been lazy. And I don't like that. I crave the worship and Word.
6. I am a scrapbooker. I love it. It's my addiction. I collect supplies and I love the memories that are evoked by putting together a page. Scrapbooking introduced me to some of the best friends I've ever had in my entire life. I love that. I'm going on my fall retreat in two and a half weeks. I. Can't. Wait.
7. I am married to my best friend. He is my hero. He is so good to me. And he is good to our boys. We have the two most beautiful boys in the world. I love being the princess of the household. I always thought I'd have girls. So this boy thing is kind of crazy. But I'll take it. Any day. I love all three of my boys. God is so good. I am beyond blessed.
Now I'm tagging the following seven people: Mom, Susan, Kim, Yoda, Miss Q, The Fox and Kristina. This is a great honor being bestowed upon you. If you don't do it, your left boob will fall off. Heh. I kid, I kid. *giggle* Do it if you can. No curse. Today, I shall be a good witch and use my powers for good instead of evil.
Can't Sleep-itis
That's what I have this morning. I've had it off and on all night. Here's why: I went to bed Sunday night with a "touch" of a migraine. Not full blown yet. But noticeable. I took my two little pills that normally fix it and hoped for the best. No dice. At 2:00 a.m., I was writhing in pain. It was horrible, I tossed and I turned. Nothing strong enough here to fix it. I wasn't going to waste the meds we had. So I grabbed an ice pack and suffered through it. At 7:45, I woke Mr. B up. He knew I needed to go to the doc, but nobody was open for the holiday. So, at 8:30 that morning, I drove myself to the E.R. We didn't want to take the kids there. I can only imagine the germs and what not. And with all of the hoopla over H1N1, I wasn't chancing it.
I went to Community instead of Shannon. It was closer. When I walked in, I thought the bright fluorescent lights were going to do me in. Luckily I was triaged fast and put into a room where they turned the lights off. It was freezing in there. I saw the doc in what seemed like record timing in my experience. He wanted to try a different "cocktail" of drugs before hitting the narcotics. It helped, a lot. But it didn't make it go away. I would just start to relax and a loud sound would jolt me. Boom, the pounding would recommence. When the nurse came back in, I told her. They gave me a third shot, this time it was Stadol. In five minutes, I was a much happier person.
I texted Mr. B. He and the littles came to get me (at nearly 11:00 a.m.) I got home, ate a quick bite of lunch (thanks to the no nausea thing anymore) and then crashed. I slept from noon until 4:00. I was back in bed at 10:30 and couldn't sleep, so I read my book. Finally out around midnight and up now. I'm hoping I fall back into my usual pattern tonight. I would imagine that I am going to be one very tired chica around 9:00 tonight.
Anyone still with me. It occurs to me that one might find this post incredibly boring.
On top of all of this, the Little-Little starts preschool today. He's not real jazzed about it. I'm sure he'll like it once he's there. I just wanted to send an alert out to all of my local peeps. That sound you'll hear at 8:50 is my tires spinning and rocks being thrown in the air as I peel out of the church parking lot and drive straight to Starbucks where I will get my first official Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. Woot! The caffeine should help sustain me and life will be good.
I pick the Little-Little up at noon and the Big-Little up at 2:40. I have now entered the chauffeur season of my life. And you know what? I love every second of it.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and are ready to grab this week by the horns. Go get 'em tigers.
I went to Community instead of Shannon. It was closer. When I walked in, I thought the bright fluorescent lights were going to do me in. Luckily I was triaged fast and put into a room where they turned the lights off. It was freezing in there. I saw the doc in what seemed like record timing in my experience. He wanted to try a different "cocktail" of drugs before hitting the narcotics. It helped, a lot. But it didn't make it go away. I would just start to relax and a loud sound would jolt me. Boom, the pounding would recommence. When the nurse came back in, I told her. They gave me a third shot, this time it was Stadol. In five minutes, I was a much happier person.
I texted Mr. B. He and the littles came to get me (at nearly 11:00 a.m.) I got home, ate a quick bite of lunch (thanks to the no nausea thing anymore) and then crashed. I slept from noon until 4:00. I was back in bed at 10:30 and couldn't sleep, so I read my book. Finally out around midnight and up now. I'm hoping I fall back into my usual pattern tonight. I would imagine that I am going to be one very tired chica around 9:00 tonight.
Anyone still with me. It occurs to me that one might find this post incredibly boring.
On top of all of this, the Little-Little starts preschool today. He's not real jazzed about it. I'm sure he'll like it once he's there. I just wanted to send an alert out to all of my local peeps. That sound you'll hear at 8:50 is my tires spinning and rocks being thrown in the air as I peel out of the church parking lot and drive straight to Starbucks where I will get my first official Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. Woot! The caffeine should help sustain me and life will be good.
I pick the Little-Little up at noon and the Big-Little up at 2:40. I have now entered the chauffeur season of my life. And you know what? I love every second of it.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and are ready to grab this week by the horns. Go get 'em tigers.
Sunday, September 6
Politics and Friendships
Do you find it difficult to maintain friendships with people who are completely and totally opposite from you politically? I have friends, both in real life and on message boards/Facebook who are *completely* different than me politically. Polar opposites.
What have I learned about them? I've learned that, for the most part, other than our views about politics, we are all much the same. We are moms, wives, friends, daughters and sisters. We each have passionate views about varying subjects in our lives. And for a reason.
I love that, in spite of our differences, we maintain our relationships. We embrace the differences and allow them to make us stronger. There are imaginary lines that we try not to cross. We are respectful of each other's opinion, even if we vehemently disagree. It's not always easy - - but it's the right thing to do.
I don't pretend to be right all of the time. I know that my party has its weaknesses. Okay, it kind of pained me to admit that. A little.
With that said, I hate what's going on in our country right now. I love that as Americans, we have the right to disagree. We have the right to demonstrate our displeasure with the government. We have the right to celebrate change and progress.
To my liberal, tree-hugging, hippie, commie, progressive friends: I *heart* each of you. Thank you for adding diversity to my life. I love how you each challenge me to think for myself. I hope, on some level, that I do the same for you.
What have I learned about them? I've learned that, for the most part, other than our views about politics, we are all much the same. We are moms, wives, friends, daughters and sisters. We each have passionate views about varying subjects in our lives. And for a reason.
I love that, in spite of our differences, we maintain our relationships. We embrace the differences and allow them to make us stronger. There are imaginary lines that we try not to cross. We are respectful of each other's opinion, even if we vehemently disagree. It's not always easy - - but it's the right thing to do.
I don't pretend to be right all of the time. I know that my party has its weaknesses. Okay, it kind of pained me to admit that. A little.
With that said, I hate what's going on in our country right now. I love that as Americans, we have the right to disagree. We have the right to demonstrate our displeasure with the government. We have the right to celebrate change and progress.
To my liberal, tree-hugging, hippie, commie, progressive friends: I *heart* each of you. Thank you for adding diversity to my life. I love how you each challenge me to think for myself. I hope, on some level, that I do the same for you.
Thursday, September 3
B's movie review
Nights in Rodanthe - - *insert a Doug Heffernan raspberry fart here*
That's all I have to say about that.
That's all I have to say about that.
Posted before...
...but I don't care. I'll post this once a week if necessary. It just fit my mood today.
Wednesday, September 2
Ode to Me
Personally - - I think I rock. But that could just be me.
How could anyone not like me? What could be wrong with them? There has to be something wrong with them.
Heh.
I do rock.
How could anyone not like me? What could be wrong with them? There has to be something wrong with them.
Heh.
I do rock.
Today
I am about to sort through some old baby/toddler clothes. I'm allowing myself to keep one tub, which will include blankets, bibs, etc. The rest I'm giving to a friend.
I will probably shed a tear or two. While I love having my littles all potty trained and quite a bit more self-sufficient, I'd give anything to see one of them toodle around the house in a onesie today. I'd even change a diaper and snuggle during a bottle feed.
*sigh*
No more. No more. No more. No more.
I will probably shed a tear or two. While I love having my littles all potty trained and quite a bit more self-sufficient, I'd give anything to see one of them toodle around the house in a onesie today. I'd even change a diaper and snuggle during a bottle feed.
*sigh*
No more. No more. No more. No more.
Tuesday, September 1
Love your Frenemies
A friend of mine sent this to me a few days ago and I thought I'd share. (I hope you don't mind, T. Let me know and I'll take this down.) T is an AWESOME writer. I love reading her stuff. She has such a way with the written word. Her article really touched my heart when I needed it and I hope it touches yours as well. It's long - - but *so* worth it.
**This is an unpublished article. So far. Please don't copy it or forward it via e-mail. I don't want the original author to not receive credit for her work and she is working on getting this published. And you know how forwards go with e-mails. They spiral out of control. Thanks for your help with this.**
But when I grew up, I discovered that enemies could disguise themselves as co-workers, family members, even as best friends.
In my 30’s, I got divorced - and in the process, I suddenly had an unwelcome slew of enemies. A whole host of in-laws I once shared stories with, shared meals with, shared my life with, no longer spoke to me. Sides had been taken, lines firmly drawn. Friendships I had nurtured for over a decade vanished as quickly as the ink had dried on my divorce papers. Some of these former “friends” even gossiped about me, told lies to hometown friends. And I was left stunned.
**This is an unpublished article. So far. Please don't copy it or forward it via e-mail. I don't want the original author to not receive credit for her work and she is working on getting this published. And you know how forwards go with e-mails. They spiral out of control. Thanks for your help with this.**
When Friendships Become Battleships:
Dealing with a Friend’s Sudden Betrayal
“Love your enemies.”
When I memorized that verse as a little girl, I pictured big, ugly ogres. Goliaths standing tall in empty fields. To me, enemies were the scary guys in fairy tales and Bible stories.
When I memorized that verse as a little girl, I pictured big, ugly ogres. Goliaths standing tall in empty fields. To me, enemies were the scary guys in fairy tales and Bible stories.
But when I grew up, I discovered that enemies could disguise themselves as co-workers, family members, even as best friends.
In my 30’s, I got divorced - and in the process, I suddenly had an unwelcome slew of enemies. A whole host of in-laws I once shared stories with, shared meals with, shared my life with, no longer spoke to me. Sides had been taken, lines firmly drawn. Friendships I had nurtured for over a decade vanished as quickly as the ink had dried on my divorce papers. Some of these former “friends” even gossiped about me, told lies to hometown friends. And I was left stunned.
“Love your enemies.”
Then, a couple of years ago, I discovered that a family member had been spreading rumors behind my back. Ironically, she was someone in whom I had confided during the darkest days of my divorce. I had no idea that all those confidences would soon be twisted around, used against me to make me look pathetic and weak. Her betrayals shot deep, in tender places inside me that hurt still, to this day.
Even worse, she spread her resentment to a handful of other close family members, poisoning them against me, too. From one day to the next, I looked around, and my circle of true friends had shrunk to nearly nothing. People who used to be on my side were now on the other side, and I was left reeling.
Even worse, she spread her resentment to a handful of other close family members, poisoning them against me, too. From one day to the next, I looked around, and my circle of true friends had shrunk to nearly nothing. People who used to be on my side were now on the other side, and I was left reeling.
“Love your enemies.”
What do you do when friends - people you love, people you trust - turn on you, suddenly become your enemy? “Frenemies” is a modern term, though King David could’ve easily coined it himself. He knew exactly what it felt like, enduring the sting of betrayal from a close friend:
If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it. If a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is YOU, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. (Psalm 55:12-14).
The shock and horror David felt in those verses was something I’d come to know all too well. But throughout those painful times, I also learned five very powerful truths:
If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it. If a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is YOU, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. (Psalm 55:12-14).
The shock and horror David felt in those verses was something I’d come to know all too well. But throughout those painful times, I also learned five very powerful truths:
1) It’s always best to take the higher ground.
As tempting as it is to lash out and defend yourself against people who’ve harmed you, just pause. Breathe. Stop yourself from doing something you‘ll regret. Consider the consequences. Most of all, realize that if you cross the same line your new enemies crossed, you become just like them.
Believe me, in my case, I had enough ammunition to throw my frenemies’ words back in their own faces. I had every right to spit out angry emails that exposed their blatant hypocrisy in stark detail - or even to let others in our family know of their cruel actions toward me.
But I didn’t. And even though it would’ve brought me momentary satisfaction, I knew the long-term effects could be devastating. I’m happy I held back, took the higher ground. I’ve never regretted it.
As tempting as it is to lash out and defend yourself against people who’ve harmed you, just pause. Breathe. Stop yourself from doing something you‘ll regret. Consider the consequences. Most of all, realize that if you cross the same line your new enemies crossed, you become just like them.
Believe me, in my case, I had enough ammunition to throw my frenemies’ words back in their own faces. I had every right to spit out angry emails that exposed their blatant hypocrisy in stark detail - or even to let others in our family know of their cruel actions toward me.
But I didn’t. And even though it would’ve brought me momentary satisfaction, I knew the long-term effects could be devastating. I’m happy I held back, took the higher ground. I’ve never regretted it.
2) Nobody’s opinion matters in this life except God‘s.
My frenemies’ hurtful words and cruel gossip nearly crushed me and kept me from being productive. There was a short time when I even started to believe that their mean-spirited words held some merit. I started to see myself through their eyes - their lack of respect for me, their contempt - and I started to crumble. If other people really feel that way about me, doesn’t that mean they‘re right? I asked myself.
But God stepped in, just in time, lifted me up off my knees, and reminded me - I died for you. I gave you life, gave you purpose. You are MINE. See yourself through My eyes. No one else’s.
When I listened to Him, something in me changed. The darkness was lifted, and all I could see was light. I was loved, by my Creator. And that was all that mattered.
My frenemies’ hurtful words and cruel gossip nearly crushed me and kept me from being productive. There was a short time when I even started to believe that their mean-spirited words held some merit. I started to see myself through their eyes - their lack of respect for me, their contempt - and I started to crumble. If other people really feel that way about me, doesn’t that mean they‘re right? I asked myself.
But God stepped in, just in time, lifted me up off my knees, and reminded me - I died for you. I gave you life, gave you purpose. You are MINE. See yourself through My eyes. No one else’s.
When I listened to Him, something in me changed. The darkness was lifted, and all I could see was light. I was loved, by my Creator. And that was all that mattered.
3) Be honored by this spiritual test.
See this difficult time as an opportunity to apply spiritual truths - to put into practice all those verses you‘d always memorized but never fully utilized.
Forgiveness. Love. Mercy. Grace. Those are awesome, weighty words when you watch them play out in your own life. They’re not just sentiments on a page anymore. They’re absolutely real.
See this difficult time as an opportunity to apply spiritual truths - to put into practice all those verses you‘d always memorized but never fully utilized.
Forgiveness. Love. Mercy. Grace. Those are awesome, weighty words when you watch them play out in your own life. They’re not just sentiments on a page anymore. They’re absolutely real.
4) Let the Lord fight your battles for you.
One of the things that stung so badly about my situation was that I felt alone. All the insults and backstabbing of my frenemies were done quietly, secretly, behind closed doors. They came off looking like saints to everyone else in my family - nobody knew the depths of their cruelty (that‘s true, still to this day). And that bothered me.
Why should they get away scott free? I wondered. Why should they get to throw a powerful grenade of words at me while they walk away, free of any injury, free of responsibility or accountability? It’s not fair.
But then, I remembered David again. Often, he had enemies who wanted to kill him. In his youth, he lived a fugitive’s life, hiding out, running from them day after day. Alone and afraid, he pondered and fretted and cried out to the Lord, and came to these conclusions:
“He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but THE LORD was my support. HE is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies” (Psalm 18:17-18; 47-48).
“My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you” (Psalm 25: 15, 19-20).
David realized he alone couldn’t handle his enemies - but God could. I learned from these verses that it’s not my job to be anyone’s judge and jury. God would handle these people who had become my enemies. Their choices, their accountability, lay with Him. Not with me. And I found that extremely comforting.
One of the things that stung so badly about my situation was that I felt alone. All the insults and backstabbing of my frenemies were done quietly, secretly, behind closed doors. They came off looking like saints to everyone else in my family - nobody knew the depths of their cruelty (that‘s true, still to this day). And that bothered me.
Why should they get away scott free? I wondered. Why should they get to throw a powerful grenade of words at me while they walk away, free of any injury, free of responsibility or accountability? It’s not fair.
But then, I remembered David again. Often, he had enemies who wanted to kill him. In his youth, he lived a fugitive’s life, hiding out, running from them day after day. Alone and afraid, he pondered and fretted and cried out to the Lord, and came to these conclusions:
“He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but THE LORD was my support. HE is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies” (Psalm 18:17-18; 47-48).
“My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you” (Psalm 25: 15, 19-20).
David realized he alone couldn’t handle his enemies - but God could. I learned from these verses that it’s not my job to be anyone’s judge and jury. God would handle these people who had become my enemies. Their choices, their accountability, lay with Him. Not with me. And I found that extremely comforting.
5) We are COMMANDED to forgive and love our enemies.
Yep, this is the hard one. The one I’ve struggled with the most. How do you love someone who practically hates you? Who steps on you and seems to enjoy watching you squirm, even when you‘ve done nothing to deserve it? My epiphany came, though, when I re-read Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant. Jesus tells of a servant who owed his master an enormous sum of money. When the servant begged for mercy, his master forgave ALL his debt and showed him undeserved mercy.
But what did that servant do, that very night, when he ran into a friend who owed him a miniscule amount of money? He threw the man in prison, showed no mercy whatsoever!
Then the master called the servant in. ’You wicked servant,’ he said, ’I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ (Matt. 18:32-33).
When I read that passage, I was absolutely humbled. If Jesus Himself could cancel out my wicked debt with his life, forgive ALL my sins and show such mercy when I didn‘t deserve it - how could I then turn around and hold onto a grudge, be unforgiving or unmerciful toward my own flesh and blood?
Jesus makes another brilliant argument in Matthew 5:44-47, when he says: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
It’s easy to love those who love us back. Even non-believers are capable of that kind of love. But Jesus commands His children to go further - to love people who hate us, who spit on us, who tell lies about us. Sure, it’s hard. It feels impossible. But we must forgive. We must love.
I’ll be honest - those times when I’m too human, too stubborn, too hurt to forgive, that’s when I pray this prayer: “Lord, I want to forgive them. I’m commanded to, and I want to obey you. But it’s too hard right now. I don’t feel capable. So, please forgive them THROUGH me.” And, you know, when I open myself up to the idea of forgiveness, I can feel the Lord softening my heart. It works.
“Love your enemies.“
The meaning of that verse has changed drastically for me over the years. My little-girl self always pictured enemies as scary men in battle guard. Evil people, “somewhere out there,” that I’d never come into contact with.
But growing up, I discovered that enemies can be found in unexpected places. In co-workers who sabotage your chances for a promotion or gossip behind your back. In fellow church members you thought were friends, but whose resentment suddenly shows itself one day. Most painfully, they can be found in your own backyard, when a trusted family member betrays you with little or no remorse.
Struggling to love and forgive these people, in spite of how deeply they’ve hurt me, is a painful lesson that, even now, I don’t know that I’ve fully grasped. But the truths I’ve learned about myself, and about God’s unfailing grace and forgiveness toward ME, have ultimately been worth the pain.
Yep, this is the hard one. The one I’ve struggled with the most. How do you love someone who practically hates you? Who steps on you and seems to enjoy watching you squirm, even when you‘ve done nothing to deserve it? My epiphany came, though, when I re-read Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant. Jesus tells of a servant who owed his master an enormous sum of money. When the servant begged for mercy, his master forgave ALL his debt and showed him undeserved mercy.
But what did that servant do, that very night, when he ran into a friend who owed him a miniscule amount of money? He threw the man in prison, showed no mercy whatsoever!
Then the master called the servant in. ’You wicked servant,’ he said, ’I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ (Matt. 18:32-33).
When I read that passage, I was absolutely humbled. If Jesus Himself could cancel out my wicked debt with his life, forgive ALL my sins and show such mercy when I didn‘t deserve it - how could I then turn around and hold onto a grudge, be unforgiving or unmerciful toward my own flesh and blood?
Jesus makes another brilliant argument in Matthew 5:44-47, when he says: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
It’s easy to love those who love us back. Even non-believers are capable of that kind of love. But Jesus commands His children to go further - to love people who hate us, who spit on us, who tell lies about us. Sure, it’s hard. It feels impossible. But we must forgive. We must love.
I’ll be honest - those times when I’m too human, too stubborn, too hurt to forgive, that’s when I pray this prayer: “Lord, I want to forgive them. I’m commanded to, and I want to obey you. But it’s too hard right now. I don’t feel capable. So, please forgive them THROUGH me.” And, you know, when I open myself up to the idea of forgiveness, I can feel the Lord softening my heart. It works.
“Love your enemies.“
The meaning of that verse has changed drastically for me over the years. My little-girl self always pictured enemies as scary men in battle guard. Evil people, “somewhere out there,” that I’d never come into contact with.
But growing up, I discovered that enemies can be found in unexpected places. In co-workers who sabotage your chances for a promotion or gossip behind your back. In fellow church members you thought were friends, but whose resentment suddenly shows itself one day. Most painfully, they can be found in your own backyard, when a trusted family member betrays you with little or no remorse.
Struggling to love and forgive these people, in spite of how deeply they’ve hurt me, is a painful lesson that, even now, I don’t know that I’ve fully grasped. But the truths I’ve learned about myself, and about God’s unfailing grace and forgiveness toward ME, have ultimately been worth the pain.
----------------------------------------
Sidebar:
So, HOW do I love my enemies? What steps can I take?
Sidebar:
So, HOW do I love my enemies? What steps can I take?
* PRAY - Work your enemies purposefully into your daily list of prayers. Realize they might be hurting, too. Pray for their well-being, their relationship to the Lord, their hidden hurts and deep despairs. Matthew 5:44 commands us to: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
* REACH OUT - Even little gestures can pave the way for a possible reconciliation. Forward your “frenemy” an email you know they’d find interesting. Send a card on their birthday. Be warm and friendly if you happen to run into them. Be the bigger person here. Even if you were not the initiator of the rift, YOU are the one commanded to try and heal it. Matthew 5:23-24 says: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, LEAVE your gift there…first go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
* REMEMBER THAT YOU’RE A SINNER, TOO - In the Lord’s eyes, we’re ALL guilty of sin. No one is “better” than the other. It’s easier to forgive someone when you look to your own flaws and remember that you’re guilty of hurting people too - of saying the wrong thing, of having jealous thoughts, of talking behind people’s backs. None of us is perfect. In Luke 6:41, Jesus reminds us of this: “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
* GO EASY ON YOURSELF - Realize that there are days you’ll slip back into old patterns of unforgiveness - you might feel too weak, too tired and hurt to love and forgive. Don’t let that weakness keep you from trying. But also don’t let it bring you down on yourself. You’re only human. Try again tomorrow.
* LET GO AND MOVE ON - Ultimately, you’ll have to choose to let go of an unhealthy relationship if reconciliation isn’t possible. If you’ve done everything you can, you‘ve obeyed the commands to pray, love, and forgive - then you’ve done your part. Let go, give the relationship (or lack of) to God. The Lord has other, better things in store for you. Praise Him for that and move on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)