Thursday, August 31, 2006
Quotable
Marriage is like a fine wine- too much of it can make a man woozy- er, I mean, the longer it ages the better it gets.
Yeah, that’s what I meant to say.
Yeah, that’s what I meant to say.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Thank You, Thank You- Again
I’m thankful for the feel of the sun on my toes, the sound of a waterfall, the butterfly kicks of my baby, having a dad that lives nearby, having a pastor that lives nearby, peppermint patties, my washing machine and Little Caesar's five dollar pizzas.
Monday, August 28, 2006
My Grandma Gardner
On Saturday I went to a funeral. The funeral was in honor of Mary Virginia Gardner. A lovely woman, I knew her simply as Grandma Gardner. The thing about Grandma Gardner that I will most remember and most miss is her smile. She had a smile that would light up a rainy day and when that smile was pointed at you then you felt like the sun had come out just for you. Even when she lived in a nursing home and her memory was starting to deteriorate still that smile never wavered and whenever we’d go visit her she always met us with her sunshine.
It wasn’t just a happy chance that Grandma had such joy. No, the reason for her smile was her faith in Jesus. He’s the One who gave her that smile to use to bless others. And so I’m convinced that when I see her again in our real Home she’ll be wearing that same smile only it will be even bigger and brighter than it ever was here.
Yes, it hurt to say goodbye to Grandma Gardner, but Death’s sting cannot compare to the joy of life and smiles everlasting. We, her family, will cry now, but pretty soon the same Person that wiped away Grandma’s tears will wipe away our tears, too. And that thought makes me smile.
It wasn’t just a happy chance that Grandma had such joy. No, the reason for her smile was her faith in Jesus. He’s the One who gave her that smile to use to bless others. And so I’m convinced that when I see her again in our real Home she’ll be wearing that same smile only it will be even bigger and brighter than it ever was here.
Yes, it hurt to say goodbye to Grandma Gardner, but Death’s sting cannot compare to the joy of life and smiles everlasting. We, her family, will cry now, but pretty soon the same Person that wiped away Grandma’s tears will wipe away our tears, too. And that thought makes me smile.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
A Song
Winter Song
It’s not snowing outside
The grass isn’t green
The sky is bitter
And the cold is grey
Chorus:
Hope fades when winter lasts for years
Spring comes too late
The barren ground cries out for life
But the call fades on the wind
Sometimes I light a fire
Just to warm my hands
But fires need fuel
And I’ve run out again
And it’s so cold out here
Chorus:
Hope fades when winter lasts for years
Spring comes too late
The barren ground cries out for life
But my call fades on the wind
And yet there are some days
When the sun breaks through again
And the trees all turn to diamonds
It’s still cold out
But the beauty takes my breath away
And hope breaths on the wind
Chorus:
Hope fades when winter lasts for years
Spring comes too late
The barren ground cries out for life
And hope breathes on the wind
Yes, hope breathes on the wind
And it’s still cold out here
It’s not snowing outside
The grass isn’t green
The sky is bitter
And the cold is grey
Chorus:
Hope fades when winter lasts for years
Spring comes too late
The barren ground cries out for life
But the call fades on the wind
Sometimes I light a fire
Just to warm my hands
But fires need fuel
And I’ve run out again
And it’s so cold out here
Chorus:
Hope fades when winter lasts for years
Spring comes too late
The barren ground cries out for life
But my call fades on the wind
And yet there are some days
When the sun breaks through again
And the trees all turn to diamonds
It’s still cold out
But the beauty takes my breath away
And hope breaths on the wind
Chorus:
Hope fades when winter lasts for years
Spring comes too late
The barren ground cries out for life
And hope breathes on the wind
Yes, hope breathes on the wind
And it’s still cold out here
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Short, Sweet and Over
I’m back! I enjoyed my little blogfast even though it was only a little over a week long. It was nice to have some time to think about my cyber life without worrying about trying to post something interesting. I realize I’ve gone longer periods of time without posting something before, but it felt different being intentional.
I chose today as my comeback day for a very important reason. Check out the post below and you’ll see why.
Happy Birthday, Handsome!
Today is my dear husband's 26th birthday! What better way to honor him than to write a blog post about him for millions to read? Okay, so maybe there are just three of you reading this. Hey, I can still brag about my man to three people.
I first met Joshua at our church and then got to know him better on his college campus at a Bible study that my dad was leading. The first thing that attracted me to Joshua was his obvious gentlemanlike nature. (Oh, and he was really cute!) As we started courting I got to see that besides being sweet and gentle he was also a young man in love with his God and I knew that he was a man that would be an excellent husband and strong spiritual leader.
Over four years later I know that I was right. Sure, he has some habits that drive me bonkers, but he remains a firm, loving, kind and gentle leader. I can say without a doubt in my mind that I am closer to my God and more faithful to Him because of how my husband has led me. And I see Joshua leading our children the same way.
And besides all this, Joshua mows the lawn, fixes things around the house, changes diapers, puts the toilet seat down and buys me chocolate when I need it. Have I got the perfect man or what?
Joshua, thank you for loving me and for taming this shrew. It’s because of you that I know what a Godly man looks like.
Happy Birthday, Dearest.
I first met Joshua at our church and then got to know him better on his college campus at a Bible study that my dad was leading. The first thing that attracted me to Joshua was his obvious gentlemanlike nature. (Oh, and he was really cute!) As we started courting I got to see that besides being sweet and gentle he was also a young man in love with his God and I knew that he was a man that would be an excellent husband and strong spiritual leader.
Over four years later I know that I was right. Sure, he has some habits that drive me bonkers, but he remains a firm, loving, kind and gentle leader. I can say without a doubt in my mind that I am closer to my God and more faithful to Him because of how my husband has led me. And I see Joshua leading our children the same way.
And besides all this, Joshua mows the lawn, fixes things around the house, changes diapers, puts the toilet seat down and buys me chocolate when I need it. Have I got the perfect man or what?
Joshua, thank you for loving me and for taming this shrew. It’s because of you that I know what a Godly man looks like.
Happy Birthday, Dearest.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Why I Wear This Fabric- Reason #1
I’m not usually one to care what the going fashions are and actually, most of the time I think what is popular looks a tad on the silly side. But this summer I was pleased to see the long, romantic skirts hitting the streets and enjoying a moment of fame. “Yes!” I thought, “Now I won’t totally stand out for a change!” You see, on an average day you will find me wearing a long, sweeping skirt. Whether I’m scheduled to do laundry, scrub floors or even play tennis, I’ll be wearing that skirt. To some people this is not a new thought, but I know that there are many out there who may be boggled as to why I would choose to wear a skirt when could be wearing jeans or shorts. Here is just one reason for this oddity:
In our culture there is an obvious feminist movement underway. Women are trying to prove that they can do anything a man does and that there isn’t a difference between the sexes- everyone is equal. Well, that just isn’t the case.
“For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.” 1 Corinthians 11: 8-9
“And I do not permit a woman to... have authority over a man. ... For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” 1 Timothy 2 12a -13
“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel...” 1 Peter 3:7
In our increasingly androgynous society, there is a great lack of men and women who are willing to differentiate between the sexes. And yet, didn’t our God do just that? He created us to be different.
My husband and I are ever trying to understand the differences between us and how we, as Christians, should be demonstrating these differences. One obvious way is how we dress. Before all the hullabaloo of feminism started, this culture had a certain dress code: men wore pants and women wore skirts. Even today, despite the effects of the she-woman movement, no man in his right mind would wear a skirt out in public. In our culture a skirt remains a symbol of femininity.
And now we return to my long skirt. One reason I wear this skirt is to display to the world that I am a woman and I’m proud of it. I am not attempting to be a man- that would be unnatural and unbiblical- I am content being what God made me. Someone could argue that our culture has changed and now pants are fully acceptable for women to wear and still look feminine. But you have to ask the question: How did it become acceptable? Did a group of women decide that wearing pants would better enable them to submit to their own husbands and be a helper to him? I think not. Wasn’t it rather yet another step in the progression of a “woman’s rights”? Isn’t a woman wearing pants a symbol that she is equal to a man? “Look, she’s even wearing the same clothes as he is!”
Clothes reflect who the wearer is. A soldier in the army wears camouflage, a doctor wears a white lab coat, a nurse wears scrubs and even a fast food worker wears a uniform. Their uniforms remind them of who they are and it displays their identity for all to see.
It is important to note that there are situations, events and cultures in which the right and even more feminine thing to do would be to not wear a skirt. Different cultures have different ways of expressing masculinity and femininity. We are not responding to those situations and cultures. We are responding to our culture, the time in which we are living, and the situation we are living in. God made men and women to be different, with different roles and duties. To act like we are the same would be in direct rebellion against God’s will. And yet, isn’t that what a woman is doing when she dresses like a man?
“A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy 22:5
In our culture there is an obvious feminist movement underway. Women are trying to prove that they can do anything a man does and that there isn’t a difference between the sexes- everyone is equal. Well, that just isn’t the case.
“For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.” 1 Corinthians 11: 8-9
“And I do not permit a woman to... have authority over a man. ... For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” 1 Timothy 2 12a -13
“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel...” 1 Peter 3:7
In our increasingly androgynous society, there is a great lack of men and women who are willing to differentiate between the sexes. And yet, didn’t our God do just that? He created us to be different.
My husband and I are ever trying to understand the differences between us and how we, as Christians, should be demonstrating these differences. One obvious way is how we dress. Before all the hullabaloo of feminism started, this culture had a certain dress code: men wore pants and women wore skirts. Even today, despite the effects of the she-woman movement, no man in his right mind would wear a skirt out in public. In our culture a skirt remains a symbol of femininity.
And now we return to my long skirt. One reason I wear this skirt is to display to the world that I am a woman and I’m proud of it. I am not attempting to be a man- that would be unnatural and unbiblical- I am content being what God made me. Someone could argue that our culture has changed and now pants are fully acceptable for women to wear and still look feminine. But you have to ask the question: How did it become acceptable? Did a group of women decide that wearing pants would better enable them to submit to their own husbands and be a helper to him? I think not. Wasn’t it rather yet another step in the progression of a “woman’s rights”? Isn’t a woman wearing pants a symbol that she is equal to a man? “Look, she’s even wearing the same clothes as he is!”
Clothes reflect who the wearer is. A soldier in the army wears camouflage, a doctor wears a white lab coat, a nurse wears scrubs and even a fast food worker wears a uniform. Their uniforms remind them of who they are and it displays their identity for all to see.
It is important to note that there are situations, events and cultures in which the right and even more feminine thing to do would be to not wear a skirt. Different cultures have different ways of expressing masculinity and femininity. We are not responding to those situations and cultures. We are responding to our culture, the time in which we are living, and the situation we are living in. God made men and women to be different, with different roles and duties. To act like we are the same would be in direct rebellion against God’s will. And yet, isn’t that what a woman is doing when she dresses like a man?
“A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy 22:5
Rhinos
We when to the Erie Zoo on Saturday and believe me, we had a tough time figuring out who had a better time- the kids or the parents. The animals seemed really active that day and some of the highlights of our trip were the two polar bears swimming, a herd of kangaroos hopping and these two rhinoceroses. I don't think I've ever seen a rhino actually move before. They were always lounging in the sun whenever I'd see them. I was amazed at how giant and powerful these creatures are.
They seem so dinosaur-like. Aren't those horns something? It seems incredible that those legs can carry that body. Wow.
They seem so dinosaur-like. Aren't those horns something? It seems incredible that those legs can carry that body. Wow.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Friday, August 04, 2006
A Quote
As I’m reading through the Lord of the Rings again I am realizing that much of the story that follows Frodo and Sam's journey isn't really about Frodo and the Ring at all, but about Sam, the clumsy, but loyal servant.
This is one of my favorite moments in The Two Towers:
"Then suddenly straight over the rim of their sheltering bank, a man fell, crashing through the slender trees, nearly on top of them...
It was Sam’s first view of a battle of Men against Men, and he did not like it much. He was glad he could not see the dead face. He wondered what the man’s name was and where he came from; and if he was really evil of heart, or what lies or threats had led him on the long march from his home; and if he would not really rather have stayed there in peace- all in a flash of thought which was quickly driven from his mind."
This is one of my favorite moments in The Two Towers:
"Then suddenly straight over the rim of their sheltering bank, a man fell, crashing through the slender trees, nearly on top of them...
It was Sam’s first view of a battle of Men against Men, and he did not like it much. He was glad he could not see the dead face. He wondered what the man’s name was and where he came from; and if he was really evil of heart, or what lies or threats had led him on the long march from his home; and if he would not really rather have stayed there in peace- all in a flash of thought which was quickly driven from his mind."
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
The Silence of God
This is my favorite Andrew Peterson song. Not many Christian songwriters talk about those times when you feel hopeless and God sounds so quiet. Appropriately, though, the song that comes right after this one on the CD is "After the Last Tear Falls." That is a song about the hope we have. I'll post those lyrics sometime, but for now...
The Silence of God
It's enough to drive a man crazy; it'll break a man's faith
It's enough to make him wonder if he's ever been sane
When he's bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rod
And the heaven's only answer is the silence of God
It'll shake a man's timbers when he loses his heart
When he has to remember what broke him apart
This yoke may be easy, but this burden is not
When the crying fields are frozen by the silence of God
And if a man has got to listen to the voices of the mob
Who are reeling in the throes of all the happiness they've got
When they tell you all their troubles have been nailed up to that cross
Then what about the times when even followers get lost?
'Cause we all get lost sometimes...
There's a statue of Jesus on a monastery knoll
In the hills of Kentucky, all quiet and cold
And He's kneeling in the garden, as silent as a Stone
All His friends are sleeping and He's weeping all alone
And the man of all sorrows, He never forgot
What sorrow is carried by the hearts that He bought
So when the questions dissolve into the silence of God
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
In the holy, lonesome echo of the silence of God
The Silence of God
It's enough to drive a man crazy; it'll break a man's faith
It's enough to make him wonder if he's ever been sane
When he's bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rod
And the heaven's only answer is the silence of God
It'll shake a man's timbers when he loses his heart
When he has to remember what broke him apart
This yoke may be easy, but this burden is not
When the crying fields are frozen by the silence of God
And if a man has got to listen to the voices of the mob
Who are reeling in the throes of all the happiness they've got
When they tell you all their troubles have been nailed up to that cross
Then what about the times when even followers get lost?
'Cause we all get lost sometimes...
There's a statue of Jesus on a monastery knoll
In the hills of Kentucky, all quiet and cold
And He's kneeling in the garden, as silent as a Stone
All His friends are sleeping and He's weeping all alone
And the man of all sorrows, He never forgot
What sorrow is carried by the hearts that He bought
So when the questions dissolve into the silence of God
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
In the holy, lonesome echo of the silence of God
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)