9/16/11

Turn That Down, Please

When I go to the movies I always stay through all the credits. I'm not sure why, I just do.

On 9/11/11 we had the TV on all day.  We were heartbroken all over again,  and I listened to the reading of all the names. Watching George, Laura, Barrack, and Michelle console family members, moved me to tears.

I've come to the conclusion some of us spend so much of our time despising those created in the image of God.

Later on in the day, as some of the footage started to repeat, I googled the fall TV schedule.  Fox has a show premiering called "I Hate My Teen-age Daughter." No kidding. It's premise is; two best friends who were outcasts in HS, trying to raise  teen-age daughters which they've parented straight down the path to the mean girls who tormented them in high school. Seriously?

I've come to the conclusion that, this then, is the reason why radicals fly planes into our buildings.

And yet I found myself sitting before Survivor premier Wednesday night.  What will I watch, when will I watch, with whom will I watch? No worries, this is not one of those "I never watch TV posts."
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." ~ The Queen

I've come to the conclusion when  someone  claims, "I don't smoke and I don't chew and I don't go with girls that do," they probably read too many blogs, shop too much, eat too much, exercise too much, stay at the office too long, and care waaaay too much about a host of other things.

I've come to the conclusion that how we spend our time is how we spend our lives.

But I am seriously going to curtail/schedule my watching.   Along with Survivor will come Parenthood, The Amazing Race, and any Redwings games I can find.  And I already jumped on the Tiger bandwagon, so ya got your play-offs and such.

I've come to the conclusion I need to turn down the volume on scads of things in my life and tune into the music of my life station. It's commercial free.

It's not that I can't hear when someone is trying to talk above the noise... there's just so much confusion and I didn't buy a ticket to the cacophony.    So I'll DVR a few things and tune in towards the end of the games, but I'm desperate for Him and the Symphony plays every evening in my living room with a view to the sunset ... I just need to be in my seat.

Yesterday 9.15.11 turned up cold and rainy. I found Sara from "Choose Joy"  and I've practically read her entire blog and you should too.

I've come to the conclusion that His Grace is greater than our sins.

This is from Sara's blog.

9/13/11

When A Tree Falls In Michigan

When a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Not the debate I want to post about here today.  I want to talk about the Holy Trinity. Stay with me now.

In case some reader's aren't aware of my situation, I (we) moved down to Indiana to help my parents keep the family farmhouse in the family. But we still have our house in Michigan.

We're not at the Michigan house much. Hardly at all. So basically we don't live there. There are no inhabitants of that house. Is our spirit there? No, not unless we're there. (some may argue this).
Is there laughter, discussions, arguments, or conversations that go on while we're gone? No.

I went there for the month of August, and off and on the whole family came and went. We played games, we took pictures, we met up with old friends, we babysat grandchildren.   We enjoyed an all inclusive family dinner. We resided there for the month of August.

Some of the family even came up and staked out a campsite nearby. That was fun.  We set up a little spot 2 miles down the road with Christmas lights, charcoal, the baby bouncer seat, firewood, and boogie boards.  We ate out there, we sat around the campfire, we talked, we laughed, we played games.  We scratched mosquito bites. We lived out there for a couple of days. We inhabited the campsite.

I'm positive we're not fooling anyone when we're not there.  Even though the timers are set, anyone, friend or foe, can figure out if we're home.  Our presence there makes all the difference.  When there is no answer to; "Anybody home?"  I'm pretty sure my friend doesn't stop by and fix herself a pot of coffee or have happy hour on my porch by herself (she may argue this).

Did I drive out to the campgrounds, after the fact?  Did I pull my lawn chair up around the fire circle at their empty lot and hope for a rendezvous like the week before? No. No one was there. Lot 88 at Hoffmaster, and the house in Michigan are nothing if someone isn't there. They are lumber and nature shells.

It's kinda like that with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He has to move in to affect you. When we all arrive at 5435 the place gets pretty crowded. We spill out onto the screened in porch, and to the back yard picnic table and fire pit. When the Holy Spirit lives moves in He changes you for the better.  He fills, overflows, comforts, and guides. When He's at home in your soul,  people will know! The lights are on.

Matthew 18:20-22 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 


Galatians 5:22 says, "The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. 


May you be blessed today and see the mighty power of God in big and small ways.



Up next: "And now, Autumn."  and I'm already formatting my End Of The Year Video Production.  The songs and photographs play on a loop in my brain, because I'm the Mom, that's why.

9/1/11

Happy New Year!




Even though I haven't had a kid in school or college since 2005, September 1st still feels like New Year's Day to me.  Here's my 1st ever blog post from 9.1.03

In a mom's world, New Year's Day should be Sept 1st. Back to school, back to schedules, back to some sort of sane routine. This is all fine and good when you're dropping them off 1/2 mile down the road at the local elementary school. It has taken me so long to realize a life dream of mine (writing) I am dropping them in far off places like Paris and Chicago. Welcome to my world, pour yourself a cup of coffee, green tea, metamuciel, whatever you're drinking these days, and make fun of, enjoy, forward, or delete the musings of life with an everyday mom. 


Next up:    If A Tree Falls In Michigan ...  post.


Dear Hollywood,
When you make good movies I will go to them.