Monthly Archives: November 2008

Thanksgiving and Undeserved Grace

28 Friday Nov 2008

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So like every good American I am thinking of all the things for which I give thanks this week. Family, food and shelter (which I have a special thanks for given Randy’s work situation) but mostly Grace, undeserved. God chooses to show me grace everyday by not giving me what I deserve, but His desire for my life. One thing I am telling myself is that God’s best is much better than anything I can come up with. I know that, but then I start trying to figure things out instead of just resting in God. I’m not good at resting. I need a plan, I need to know what the next step is, or maybe even the next 10 steps. God is teaching me to rest right now. I know that and I still can’t do it. We have bills we can’t pay. We have Christmas presents to buy. I have a Mission Trip to pay for!

In Psalm 46 it says “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,” and then later in verse 10 “Be still and know that I am God” It’s a trust thing I know. I’m just a really slow learner. Then every time I think I get it, I forget and start over.

Thank you God for Grace undeserved.

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26 Wednesday Nov 2008

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So after my sojourn in 7th grade, I brought the germs home to prove it and I’ve been sick for days. Crummy way to start my “I can’t believe I’ve got so much to do Thanksgiving/Christmas/South Africa trip panic” So the kids, wonderful children that they are agreed to help me get the house cleaned for company. I think they were just feeling sorry for me because I look really bad and sound worse. That’s okay, I’ll take what I can get:)

My brother and his family are coming in town today! I haven’t seen him in a year, and his family in two. I can’t wait! Another reason the kids are so willing to help me out, I think they plan on disappearing with the cousins for the next four days and hope my good feelings about them helping lasts long enough that I won’t notice they are gone.

Seventh Grade?

20 Thursday Nov 2008

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Anyone have a burning desire to go back to seventh grade? For me not so much! That wasn’t exactly my favorite time of life. But this week I’m back in middle school, kinda sorta. (I took a substitute position, for four days at Em’s school, her choir teacher had a baby unexpectedly on Monday and her long term sub wasn’t quite ready.) It’s kind of an interesting view, remembering my own experiences and watching students today. It’s been so long since I was in a middle school classroom on a regular basis, but some things never change! The desire to be different, just like my friends. The need to put down in order to feel “built up”. The isolation you see evident in some kids eyes right in the middle of a group.
It was also great to see the kindness offered by some students to others. Just scooting over and making room for a special needs student who couldn’t find a place to sit. The huge pile of coats in the lunchroom for the Project Warmth coat drive. The 45 shoeboxes put together by the schools FCA group! A table in the lunchroom of 8th grade girls who are all part of a student led accountability group. Just like in the world of adults there are the bright beacons of Christ’s likeness in the midst of all the other stuff. Even if I leave at the end of the day completely exhausted (which I do!) I still leave more encouraged than dejected! It’s a great feeling to see young adults leading Christ centered and called lives.

New Places

17 Monday Nov 2008

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Funny, Obviously I’ve “been away” for a while. I got so worried about what to say I didn’t say anything and I think that’s the anti blog thought. So new leaf same concept.

I’ve got a new place to point my feet toward. I am heading to South Africa in a few weeks. I’m going with a group on a mission trip to the city of Johannesburg. Yikes! Big step for my little feet, or my little faith whichever fits. I’ve still got money to raise and things to do to get ready. It really doesn’t seem possible that I’m going. It feels like its someone else I’m talking about! But it’s an adventure in faith for me.
To add a little excitement to those preparations we have decided to put our house on the market. I think that idea is actually worthy of a whole lot of comments on it’s own. Bad time to do it market wise, time of year is bad, but when God says do, we do. So today I am busy painting, cleaning and re-arranging, hoping I get called in to work to escape all I have to do and leave it in my dear and darling husbands lap, and hoping I don’t get called in to work in order to actually try to bring order to our chaos!
Anybody want a house?