What matters...

On Mother's Day, daughter CJ presented me with a collection of memories for the two of us. She chose three events in her lifetime that I don't think I would have picked as her 'top three'. The events she chose are not as important as the love and the bond that it generated between us. (OK, and the tears too...) It was a four-tissue book for me!

It's caused me to stop and think. What are the significant events in MY life? What are the things that bond me to my friends, my family, my sibs, my husband, my kids? It isn't necessarily the "big" ones (birth, marriage, death, illness) as much as it is the little things. The small gifts. The times of leisure. The games, the jokes, the stories we tell on each other reflect time that is invested, not money spent.

So today I'm going to create memories, not spend money. And I'll try to do that every day.

From our home to yours,
Deb

Broken Things...

For someone I love who is hurting tonight with a broken heart...

You can have my heart,
Though it isn't new.
It's been used and broken
And only comes in blue.
It's been down a long road,
And it got dirty on the way.
If I give it to You will You make it clean
And wash the shame away?

You can have my heart
If You don't mind broken things.
You can have my life if You don't mind these tears!
Well, I heard that You make old things new,
So I give these pieces all to You.
If you want it You can have my heart.

So beyond repair,
Nothing I could do.
I tried to fix it myself,
But it was only worse when I got through.
Then You walked right into my darkness,
And You speak words so sweet,
And You hold me like a child
Till my frozen tears fall at Your feet.

You can have my heart
If You don't mind broken things.
You can have my life if You don't mind these tears!
Well, I heard that You make old things new,
So I give these pieces all to You.
If you want it You can have my heart.

Julie Miller: "He Walks Through Walls"
Hightone Records 1999
BMG Songs Inc/Verdugo Music/Word Music(ASCAP)

Love,
Deb

Latest pic of the fam...

This is the easiest way to do this!!!!



Yes, they are THAT tall...

[left to right] B, K, D, CJ

Deb

New book on my list to buy...

"Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God" by Tony Campolo...

sounds good - the excerpt looks great... Ah, but it's not in the purchasing plans this budget cycle... SOON!!!

:)

from our home to yours...

Deb

Meet the newest Vaughn...

She is as yet un-named. She came to us with the name "Bali" -- we are undecided. She's a shy one, but has a lovely purr and is quite friendly, once the house settles down to a dull roar.

We got her from the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County. She's a Siamese-something mix, and her coloring is called "snowshoe".

"Yes, you may take my picture, but no autographs!"

The senior feline resident, Polgara, is thinking of leaving home. But not until after tuna snack tonight...

Frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrom ourrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr home to yourrrrrrrrrrrrrrs...

Deb

DaCode

I finally read The DaVinci Code to see what all of the fuss is about. My initial impression is that this is the same old heresies packaged with new ribbons. It's a not-so-great novel written with the bias of someone who is angry at God and the Church. Or, if not "angry", at least a bit jaded and skeptical in his beliefs. It reminds me of a Tom Clancy novel with a religious agenda. (For example, thinking "The Code" is true is akin to believing that "The Hunt for Red October" is a true story, when "The Hunt" is a work of FICTION with some historical pieces in it.)

However, I can see why The DaVinci Code is convincing some that it is "true", as they are reading it without enough Bible background or knowlege of Church history. It does not surprise me that the gullible, disenchanted or spiritually isolated would get sucked in by this book.

So why read it?

1. I have no fears about facing heresy dead-on. I can not discuss what I have not considered personally. I may not have all the answers, and actually, I'm pretty lousy at argumentation! But to NOT read it 'because it is bad' is knee-jerky and I really don't like to live my faith like that.


2. It is a chance to do a little review of Church history, polity and the sacredness of Scripture. I don't want to pretend I've got it all memorized! History has NEVER been my strong point. So as a student, I will continue to read and learn.


3. There is never a better time to recommit myself to living like what I believe. That means reviewing what it is that I DO believe!


4. I don't want to stick my head in a holy cocoon and not read books because they are "not Christian". Neither would I insist that every Christian read this book. The author has made plenty of bucks off of it already. (You can borrow my copy if you really want to read it...) At the same time, I sense the need to be spiritually aware and wary of books like this one which masquerade as something they are not. Jesus prayed for us: My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. [John 17:15] I am counting on His protection!
   

Having said ALL THAT...
If I were to rate it I'd give it a 3: it doesn't have a good beat and you can't dance to it...

from our home to yours...

Deb

ACK!!! Late again!!!

It was one of THOSE evenings... I got busy doing research on my next writing assignment and forgot to fix dinner!! And, it's so nice outside that no one cared or noticed, and Ken is away at prayer...

oops...

Well, dinner went into the microwave (thank heavens for my freezer cooking habit!) and we were out the door in 15 minutes. Speed pray and eat, don't talk or read... gotta get out the door to small group with the girls and not be TOO horribly late... not in a panic or mad, just laughing at myself, especially after this observation from one of the girls:

"Mom, whenever you have a new assignment, you just fall into it. It's as though we have to drag you out with ropes when we need something... Hello? Mom? we're hungry!"

Yeah. Sad but true. Which made me stop and evaluate my "need" to get things done in my pre-decided order, which might be great for me, but lousy for everyone else in the household. I hyper-focus on the "thing" that has captivated my interest. As I wrote yesterday, I choose far too often what is "urgent" vs. what is "important".

ouch...

God cares about what is "first" in my life. Activities. Actions. Words. Thoughts. People. I keep forgetting that.

Earlier in the year we studied the Wisdom literature of Solomon. One of our weekly study tasks was to write down verses (Proverbs) that spoke to us personally. I was looking over my list and found this:

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble. [Prov. 4:18-19]


I stumble more when I forget where I need to be, and who and what God asks me to focus on with my time.

I'm learning... again... the lesson of staying tuned in to the Master, not picking and choosing when I will listen to Him.

From our home to yours...
Deb

New neighbors

Even the sparrow finds a home there,
and the swallow builds her nest
and raises her young--
at a place near Your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God!

How happy are those who can live in Your house,
always singing Your praises.
[Psalm 84:3-4]





The Carolina wrens have been busy today. We've watched in amusement as JUST the right sticks have been accepted or rejected by the pair for their nest. This is the first year we've had wrens occupy this house. Usually, it's purple finches or sparrows.

It's a powerful reminder to me of God's creativity, order and purpose...

from our home to yours,

Deb