Grace+Suffering=Strong

The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself, restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

Does anybody need this?

I do. 

"After you have suffered a little while. . ." Do you ever wonder how much?

I do.

And the God of all grace. . .will make you strong, firm and steadfast.

I will be.

Amen.

Wouldn't it be fun. . .

to join in on traditions from other cultures? If I could have a Quinceanera, this would be the dress I would get! And that tiara too. This Sweet Potato was posing for her Q photos on the Sabine Street Bridge last night. We were there after bible study hanging out at the Skate Park (I know, you are probably thinking how multicultural I actually am - SWEET!). Since, I am not celebrating my fifteen birthday this year, perhaps I could go ahead and find all those celebrations I missed in my youth and lump them into one big melting pot.

Okay, in lieu of my thirteenth, I could celebrate with a Bat Mitzvah. My dear friend, Rabbi Eve, could no doubt handle that one and we would all spend Saturday morning in Temple where I would get to read from the Torah, have a great lunch and then get all dolled up for a fun party that evening with lots of gifts. 

For my fifteenth, the above mention Q and the DRESS! We would all go to Mass on Saturday morning where the Pope, er, I mean Priest would give a great service and then we'd have a party that evening and I would ask all of you to "sponsor" various items so it could be a really big party and it wouldn't cost any of us very much money. I would still want you to bring gifts.

For my sixteenth,  well come to think of it, I did have a sixteenth birthday party. It was sweet. Moving on ...

For my eighteenth, Socially elite parents (not to say that mine aren't) generally present their daughter at the Debutante Ball. You get an escort, wear a fabulous white dress, curtsey, and go to a really fantastic fancy dinner. You should probably go ahead and bring gifts just in case.

So, this year I will actually be thirty-ten, not so sure about a party but definitely thinking pink dress and gifts.

But Moses said, Those aren't sounds of victory, And those aren't sounds of defeat, I hear sounds of people throwing a party! Exodus 32:18 Msg

New Look

WHy diDn't AnYOne tell me that stinkin' pink was so obnoxiouS?

But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart REJOICES in Your salvation. Psalm 13:5

I wanna be. . .

a real blogger. One who is diligent in posting daily with quips of wisdom and hilarity. Anybody have wisdom for me?

Where's Noah when you need him?

Dove died. 

Prez and VP cried eyes out. 

I gave the big black bin a present. 

The End. 

He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again and this time it did not return to him. Genesis 8:12  Hallelujah!

THiS shOuld WoRK. . .

Do you ever wonder about the Reality TV Crew that must be following you around but neglected to tell you?  

To begin, I ended up spending way more at time at school after dropping off the Vice President (son #2) this morning. Ended up volunteering to decorate for an event (Tomorrow!). Lovely. I am so way overcommitted for the next 5 days that I'll definitely need an extension on the "Only 24 hours in a day" thing. To avoid all the droning details, here are other highlights: (special note - Mr. Wonderful is Out of Town)

-Spent an hour and a half at the ceramics store trying to finish the tray I've been working on for the VP's Pre K class Silent Auction art project. Of course, not thrilled with it's prefired look but praying the "Let's make it pretty Angels" will visit the kiln while firing.

-Started my afternoon cookie baking for Wednesday Night Bible Study. Found a killer chocolate cookie recipe online. Went to put in the chocolate chips and low and behold, I didn't have any. This should work (uh oh!) - there was half a bar of unsweetened chocolate. Chunks are cool! BLeecckkk! The cookie was delish then after tasting the chocolate pieces, you wanted to grab a drink of KoolAid.

-Phone ringing from President (son #1) explaining he has found a deserted dove chick on his walk with friends and can we take care of it? Ummm, let's see, Mercy is one of my spiritual gifts. When someone tells me they are sick, my whole body hurts. HOWEVER, I do not have the SPCA Mercy gift. We have been through at least 3 spring chicks in the last two weeks because they fall out of nest and dog or cat gets them and then brings them into the house. My preference is to open up the big black bin and help them get to heaven quicker. Cruel? No, just busy. Let's move on.

-Just finished cookies, about to leave for church and my doorbell rings. Sixteen year old neighbor guy (who I haven't spoken to in probably four years) asks if I can take him to his church. WHHHAAAATTT? Seems he's locked himself out of his house and if I can take him to his church his mom will pick him up from there later. Where is church? Only 6 miles away, but alas, 6 miles the opposite direction from where I'm headed and into the muck and mier of 5:30 pm Inner Loop HOUSTON TEXAS traffic. Deep Breath. . ."Yes, I'd love to. . ."

-President walks in with dove (not really a chick, now is it?), CAGE and cover. Where did you . . .? Walking friends just happened to have one and knew we'd need it. Seems the birds name is . . . PECK . . .and Pate. Cute.

-After drop off, sit in traffic less than one mile from church for twenty minutes. Lovely.

-After church, President, VP and I excited to watch GMA Awards that we DVRd while at church. We all love tobymac so fast forwarding it to him was a treat.

-It gets late, boys get rowdy. I'm trying to do a little work. Prez comes to me and tells me VP tells him I said he was mean. HUH? I call to VP. Did you say I said Prez was mean? Yes. I've already fuss at you for something else in the last five minutes, we don't lie, I'm giving you a spanking. (spanking occurring) Between major sobs, VP says (warning: he has elephant memory) but you said brothers ARE mean sometimes. OUCH! Did I say that??? Yes, I distinctly remember saying that about 5 weeks ago! Please forgive me! Now I'm sobbing. Will you forgive me please???? I love you .. .  .. ...and so on and so on.

How was your day?

...as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Colossians 3:12

My Seven Things

So now Michelle's gotten me out of the blogging slump - she tagged me. We are good friends for sure, but unlikely ones in the sense that we only talk at weddings, see each other through blog photos and generally visit through an occasional blog comment - BUT I'd take a bump on the head for her any day!

The Rules:

Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

Tag 7 people. - I don't have that many blogging friends. My generation can't get with Blogging!

Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My Seven Things:

1. I was born in Tokyo. My dad was in the Air Force at Taichikawa Air Force Base. I've threatened my parents for years that I am going to get a tatoo - small black print on the bottom of my foot that says "Made in Japan."

2. I take Funeral Notes. Yep. Writing down the qualities of people who have gone on in hopes that I can achieve some of those great characteristics that people obviously appreciate. Today's funeral notes of the Great GrandChuck include - humble, sweet, gracious, church member, kindest face. Oh yeah, I need me some of those.

3. My latest purchase on itunes was That's How You Know from Enchanted with Amy Adams. I love show tunes and singing to them. I think Dawkin (5 yrs) does too because he gets really excited and sings the Reggae guy's part. The movie was showing on Costco's tvs yesterday and I almost started gliding up and down the aisles like she does - Pate the Great (9 yrs) was really getting embarrassed (that was the best part!). click on the title to watch and hear. . .

4. I love red bell peppers! My favorite is to eat them like an apple and just bite into them. I like them with cottage cheese, eggs, hummus and of course, icing! I've got them growing in my garden - come join me for some in about. . .58 days!

5. I don't like to watch tv unless I'm tired or sick. If I am going to watch it, I better learn something from it - Preaching or Cooking!

6. Someone recently called me an "Over Achiever". I took offense to it (not in front of them) and have now been trying to work through my being offended - is it good or is it bad? I mentioned it to a bestest bud and she agreed. Hmmpffff! Now, I was offended twice! 

7. I like to make lists. Things to do. Things to put away. People to call. House jobs to take care of. Etc. But no one in my household reads, abides or cares about those lists. So I just make them to organize all the thoughts in my head (there really isn't enough paper).

The people I would like to know more about. . . Kellie, Dana, Courtney and YOU!

God loves the pure hearted and well spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship. Proverbs 22:11