A few weeks ago I went through our medicine drawer and threw away all of our medicine. Pills, both over-the-counter and prescription, syrups, headache medicine, even Tony's epi-pen. I threw out Mina's medicines too, except for her allergy pills that her doctor gave us that are really expensive, and her nebulizer that was hard to get and expensive. I didn't feel like my faith could merit me throwing away that important medicine of hers.
Then, a few days ago, she was going through the drawer where we kept it all, and she saw a small paper bag. When she looked in and saw that it was the allergy pills, she picked them up and took them to the trash. A while later, she told me that I forgot to throw them away. How could I argue?! Then a couple days later, she comes to the kitchen with the box that has her nebulizer in it. Cool!
-------------------
Our neighbor, Summer (5), was at out house watching a movie with us. She had dinner already, but we just started ours. We got ready to say a prayer and asked if she wanted to say it with us, which really only involved her holding our hands. She said yes and Tony said the prayer. After we said amen, she did too.
An hour passed and her mom came to get her. She told Summer the usual mom thing, "What do you say?" "Thank you", and proceeded to say thank you for letting her watch the movie, thank you for the popcorn, thank you for the hot chocolate, and then, after she concluded all of her 'thank you's', she said "Amen!"
We laughed while her mom was just like "What?!" I guess she was thinking what a strange child she has. I wonder if there was a conversation later about that at their house.
--------------------
Mina came home with science homework. We knew it would come, and it did. Evolution. Now, realize, I'm ok with them teaching evolution, but they should at least teach both evolution and creation. Not teach evolution as a definate. Especially when, most likely, a good 80% or more of the people in the school believe in God. The God of the bible.
So here is the question she had:
Explain some possible causes of the extinction of the dinosaurs?
She was irritated by this question because she knew it was all about evolution and didn't even give the possibility of creation. And she wasn't alone. A boy in her class said "What about the flood?"
Here was her answer that she wrote down:
"Other than the real reason, the flood, some possible causes of the extinction of the dinosaurs are...."
I'm not even going to mention the "possible reasons" because they don't deserve the space. What matters is that she believes in the flood. She believes in God. And no amount of brainwashing from these "science" books and the teacher is going to matter to her at this point. She decided to tell the truth in spite of what the book said. I think that's amazing. And if her teacher gives her trouble, she can take it up with...God.
Thank You God for helping Mina to be bold.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
response to my friend's post
Here is my friend's post Faith in Love.
I wanted to respond on her blog but I think I have too much to say, so I'll do a response post.
Dear dovecliff,
Faith and love are my favorite spiritual topics. I agree with you so much that I had to write about it myself.
I John 4:7,8 says the one who doesn't love, has not known God.---We say we do love. We think loving our family is enough, or loving a few friends is enough. But it isn't. 1 John 4:11-13 shows that we should love one another, our brothers. And then, going further, like you showed in Matt 5:43-48, we also have to love our enemies, who may or may not be our brothers.
How do we love our brothers and our enemies? I think we have concern for them. It may seen cliche but what would Jesus do? Would he be mean to them? Maybe insult them? Maybe belittle them? Maybe he'd show them how smart he is to prove how stupid they are. No, I don't think he would. Sure, he got angry and hurt that people were buying and selling in the temple and he drove the animals out with a whip, and told the people to take the doves out and not to turn his Father's house into a market. And in doing that, he wasn't doing anything to pride himself or to be mean. There are times when we are allowed, I believe, to get stern with people if they're doing something against God. But never for our own satisfaction. Never thinking "Yep, I told them that they were pathetic....." We do these things out of love for our Father and for those who we speak with, ALWAYS out of the desire to help them. Not to prove anything.
We have to look at our enemies as God's possible children. Not as a lost cause. Treat them with love. Jesus never was unloving to those who were ordering his death or the ones who drove the nails into his skin. If anyone had the right, it was him. If he didn't, who are we to think we have the right to be mean?
What we HAVE to do, is forgive people. Again, Jesus did. He forgave people who did not deserve it. There is no other answer. We MUST forgive our enemies. And of course, we must forgive our brothers, the ones we love. We do not have the right to make them pay for what they put us through. And, if God forgave them, who are we to continue punishing them? No one at all. Forgiveness isn't just saying you forgive a person. It is in your heart. You feel for them, you care about their relationship with Jesus and our Father. You want them to have that too. You don't just want them to have a good life. You want them to have LIFE. If you don't forgive them, like Matt 6:15 says, your Father will not forgive you. How can you get stronger in your faith if you aren't forgiven? Forgive. Forgive and love the person you forgave. Love them by wanting to show them God through Jesus. Be Jesus for them. BE Jesus for them. Perfect love.
Now for fear...sometimes we think we don't have fear. We might believe that nothing will ever scare us. Nothing will break us. Nothing will get through our hardheadedness (hardheartedness). And that's what it is sometimes. We are so prideful, so afraid (fear) of looking foolish, so afraid of being hurt after we let out guard down, that we just don't let it down. And we think that makes us strong. But that is a LIE. That "strength" comes from flesh, not from God. If we aren't getting our strength from God, it will only hurt us. Fear is very bad. We are told to not be anxious over anything. Don't worry about tomorrow. Don't worry about your provisions. God will provide for you. Yet, what do we do? We store up treasures on earth. We have 401K's and stocks. We have storehouses with food, just in case. That is anxiety. Where is our faith that God will provide? Why are we worrying about the future? Why are we putting faith in ourselves, and in what we can do? Why do we put out faith in God NOT providing for us? Are we not more important than the birds and lilies? Don't be anxious. Ever.
Fear keeps us from wonderful, spirit-filled relationships. Again, we are afraid to look stupid. What if we try something, like say we try to have faith that God will heal our broken leg, without having to go to the hospital. So you pray, but you don't want to get up and walk on it. There are two fears. One, that it will hurt, and two that it won't work, then you feel foolish. But conquering that fear makes our faith stronger. Or maybe our fear is that we don't want to open up to people. We're afraid because we have been so terribly hurt before when we trusted people. So we choose not to let that happen again. That IS fear. Like it or not, it is fear. We have to be willing to hurt. I promise that if we let ourselves trust each other, yes, it will hurt, but we will heal quickly and our Father will make us soooo much stronger for it. It will be so much better once we do. We will grow in faith and love and be able then to help other people out of pure Godly love, rather that our fleshly love. It will come from God.
OK, now I was thinking of crazy things while reading your post. I'm sure I'm way off, but it's still a pretty awesome idea.
You quoted 1 Cor 13:2-8. We can do good things but if we aren't doing them out of love, it is pointless. It means nothing. It isn't what we do, it's why we do it. We may even suffer for another person and we think we must love them if we suffered for them. No, it isn't enough. It has to be pure, without pride, without self-glorifying. It can't be selfish.
Then it goes on about what love is and is not. But then, THEN, at the end, people end it with 'Love never fails'. But it doesn't end there. It goes on with 'But if [there be] prophecies, they will become useless; if tongues, they will cease by themselves; if knowledge, it will become useless.'
Why does it say this after talking about love? Love never fails. And then this? I thought maybe it was saying that love will never go away, but at some point prophesying, tongues, and knowledge will go away. And I think that is true. One day, there will be no need for those things. When Jesus comes and makes the Kingdom complete, there will be no need for these things. But there will still be a need for love.
It made me think of it like this though. If you don't have love, eventually you will stop prophesying, you will stop with tongues, and your knowledge will be useless.
Eh, I don't know why it came across that way to me while I was reading your post. It sounded good then.
I have heard of people who speak in tongues and they have a form of godly devotion, but I can see that their love isn't pure. I know people who are knowledgeable in "spiritual" things, but it isn't pure. I don't know about the prophesying.
So, yeah. Those are my thoughts on your post.
I wanted to respond on her blog but I think I have too much to say, so I'll do a response post.
Dear dovecliff,
Faith and love are my favorite spiritual topics. I agree with you so much that I had to write about it myself.
I John 4:7,8 says the one who doesn't love, has not known God.---We say we do love. We think loving our family is enough, or loving a few friends is enough. But it isn't. 1 John 4:11-13 shows that we should love one another, our brothers. And then, going further, like you showed in Matt 5:43-48, we also have to love our enemies, who may or may not be our brothers.
How do we love our brothers and our enemies? I think we have concern for them. It may seen cliche but what would Jesus do? Would he be mean to them? Maybe insult them? Maybe belittle them? Maybe he'd show them how smart he is to prove how stupid they are. No, I don't think he would. Sure, he got angry and hurt that people were buying and selling in the temple and he drove the animals out with a whip, and told the people to take the doves out and not to turn his Father's house into a market. And in doing that, he wasn't doing anything to pride himself or to be mean. There are times when we are allowed, I believe, to get stern with people if they're doing something against God. But never for our own satisfaction. Never thinking "Yep, I told them that they were pathetic....." We do these things out of love for our Father and for those who we speak with, ALWAYS out of the desire to help them. Not to prove anything.
We have to look at our enemies as God's possible children. Not as a lost cause. Treat them with love. Jesus never was unloving to those who were ordering his death or the ones who drove the nails into his skin. If anyone had the right, it was him. If he didn't, who are we to think we have the right to be mean?
What we HAVE to do, is forgive people. Again, Jesus did. He forgave people who did not deserve it. There is no other answer. We MUST forgive our enemies. And of course, we must forgive our brothers, the ones we love. We do not have the right to make them pay for what they put us through. And, if God forgave them, who are we to continue punishing them? No one at all. Forgiveness isn't just saying you forgive a person. It is in your heart. You feel for them, you care about their relationship with Jesus and our Father. You want them to have that too. You don't just want them to have a good life. You want them to have LIFE. If you don't forgive them, like Matt 6:15 says, your Father will not forgive you. How can you get stronger in your faith if you aren't forgiven? Forgive. Forgive and love the person you forgave. Love them by wanting to show them God through Jesus. Be Jesus for them. BE Jesus for them. Perfect love.
Now for fear...sometimes we think we don't have fear. We might believe that nothing will ever scare us. Nothing will break us. Nothing will get through our hardheadedness (hardheartedness). And that's what it is sometimes. We are so prideful, so afraid (fear) of looking foolish, so afraid of being hurt after we let out guard down, that we just don't let it down. And we think that makes us strong. But that is a LIE. That "strength" comes from flesh, not from God. If we aren't getting our strength from God, it will only hurt us. Fear is very bad. We are told to not be anxious over anything. Don't worry about tomorrow. Don't worry about your provisions. God will provide for you. Yet, what do we do? We store up treasures on earth. We have 401K's and stocks. We have storehouses with food, just in case. That is anxiety. Where is our faith that God will provide? Why are we worrying about the future? Why are we putting faith in ourselves, and in what we can do? Why do we put out faith in God NOT providing for us? Are we not more important than the birds and lilies? Don't be anxious. Ever.
Fear keeps us from wonderful, spirit-filled relationships. Again, we are afraid to look stupid. What if we try something, like say we try to have faith that God will heal our broken leg, without having to go to the hospital. So you pray, but you don't want to get up and walk on it. There are two fears. One, that it will hurt, and two that it won't work, then you feel foolish. But conquering that fear makes our faith stronger. Or maybe our fear is that we don't want to open up to people. We're afraid because we have been so terribly hurt before when we trusted people. So we choose not to let that happen again. That IS fear. Like it or not, it is fear. We have to be willing to hurt. I promise that if we let ourselves trust each other, yes, it will hurt, but we will heal quickly and our Father will make us soooo much stronger for it. It will be so much better once we do. We will grow in faith and love and be able then to help other people out of pure Godly love, rather that our fleshly love. It will come from God.
OK, now I was thinking of crazy things while reading your post. I'm sure I'm way off, but it's still a pretty awesome idea.
You quoted 1 Cor 13:2-8. We can do good things but if we aren't doing them out of love, it is pointless. It means nothing. It isn't what we do, it's why we do it. We may even suffer for another person and we think we must love them if we suffered for them. No, it isn't enough. It has to be pure, without pride, without self-glorifying. It can't be selfish.
Then it goes on about what love is and is not. But then, THEN, at the end, people end it with 'Love never fails'. But it doesn't end there. It goes on with 'But if [there be] prophecies, they will become useless; if tongues, they will cease by themselves; if knowledge, it will become useless.'
Why does it say this after talking about love? Love never fails. And then this? I thought maybe it was saying that love will never go away, but at some point prophesying, tongues, and knowledge will go away. And I think that is true. One day, there will be no need for those things. When Jesus comes and makes the Kingdom complete, there will be no need for these things. But there will still be a need for love.
It made me think of it like this though. If you don't have love, eventually you will stop prophesying, you will stop with tongues, and your knowledge will be useless.
Eh, I don't know why it came across that way to me while I was reading your post. It sounded good then.
I have heard of people who speak in tongues and they have a form of godly devotion, but I can see that their love isn't pure. I know people who are knowledgeable in "spiritual" things, but it isn't pure. I don't know about the prophesying.
So, yeah. Those are my thoughts on your post.
teeth and a request
I can honestly call myself a procrastinator. I will wait until I have no dishes before I would wash any. I will have nothing but a can of coconut milk in the cabinet before I go shopping. I will stay awake until my head is about to fall off before I sleep. And I will let me teeth go until the pain is so bad that I'm crying.
I have fillings that went bad a few years back and probably new cavities as well. I really don't mind going to the dentist. I mean, yeah, I hate going and getting shots. I hate the gooey stuff they put on your teeth to clean them. I hate the whiring noise. And the numb mouth up to my ear that lasts all day. But I would still be willing to go. Along with procrastinating, I also find it hard to get money to go. I know it would cost at least $800. And when we save money, it's usually for a reason. Sometimes for stupid reasons, like going to Disney World. Or for responsible reasons like paying taxes or to fix our sewer.
I can ignore the pain of the cavities by avoiding cold or sweet things that could stick to my teeth, like chocolate candy or caramel. And the pain can be excrutiating. It would usually last for a minute, slowly fading.
I have been working on making my faith alive. You know, walk the walk, not just talk the talk. What's the point in knowing God CAN help you, if you don't believe that He WILL help you? Is your faith that He will heal you or is it that He won't? If you think He won't, then your faith is what fails you, not God.
So, the other day we went to rent a movie and there were people selling Girl Scout cookies. We very rarely get them. I haven't had them in probably 4 years or more. I know Tony likes Thin Mints, as do we all, and I wanted Caramel Delites. We got one of each.
Now, I had just been complaining to Tony about how my teeth hurt so bad when I eat chocolate or caramel and that I have prayed about it. So I will be eating something and not even think about it and start eating on the right side of my mouth, where it hurts. And then I feel that familiar pain coming on. And I say to God "Now why is it that I pray for you to fix my teeth and yet I still have pain? I wasn't avoiding eating on that side of my mouth, Father. Sometimes I avoid it, but I'm trying to have faith and I ate on that side, so shouldn't it not have hurt?" And I continue to pray, first for the pain to go away, then for more faith.
After we bought the cookies, we went home with our movie and watched it. I opened the Caramel Delites and had one. This time, though, I remembered that my teeth normally hurt on the one side and I made it a point to chew on that side that it hurts on. I figure if I'm really going to put faith in God, then I need to act on that faith. I had to believe that I was healed and that since I'm healed, it will NOT hurt for me to eat sweet stuff. And so I ate it. And it didn't hurt. Later I had another. No pian. The next day, the same thing. I thank God.
God can give and He can take. As long as my faith is pure, I believe my teeth will remain well. If I begin doubting again, it will come back.
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And now a request.
My mom has been trying to renew her loan for months now. Well, she's been trying to figure out which portion is hers, and which is mine. That has proven impossible. Finally she got the paperwork filled out and they took them in today. I'm thinking, thank goodness, because I want to quit paying nearly $200 extra a month on this ARM loan that has expired. So we're paying all this extra interest. Then she drops the bomb. She talked with the loan person about my situation with the loan and he said it should be no problem for us to get a loan and that my mom should email me the information tonight and tomorrow I can just run it up there and get it processed with hers. Then she also tells me that it would be a 5 year ARM. I tell her that I don't want to get an ARM, because I see how much of a hassle it has been, and if the economy begins to collapse, I don't want my house to get taken from me. And it will happen whether we have a regular loan or an ARM loan, really. I don't want a loan at all. Then she says "well, if you want a fixed rate loan, it will take two months to process it. " She says that as if I care. She has burdened me with her loan that she has put off refinancing. Because of it, it has cost me thousands of dollars in interest. And now she wants me to screw up my loan by getting an ARM loan , just so she can get her loan processed now, instead of in two months.
So I called Tony and he is seeing about loans from someone. And I'm praying for a solution. Whether it be our own loan, my parents keeping us on theirs, or even $30,000 to fall from the sky.
I'm asking you to please pray that God will help us with this and help us to have faith and patience. Not fear and anxiety. Fear and anxiety are anti-God. They come from satan, not God. I don't want or need that. Also, I find that when I stop worrying, miracles happen.
Thank you.
I have fillings that went bad a few years back and probably new cavities as well. I really don't mind going to the dentist. I mean, yeah, I hate going and getting shots. I hate the gooey stuff they put on your teeth to clean them. I hate the whiring noise. And the numb mouth up to my ear that lasts all day. But I would still be willing to go. Along with procrastinating, I also find it hard to get money to go. I know it would cost at least $800. And when we save money, it's usually for a reason. Sometimes for stupid reasons, like going to Disney World. Or for responsible reasons like paying taxes or to fix our sewer.
I can ignore the pain of the cavities by avoiding cold or sweet things that could stick to my teeth, like chocolate candy or caramel. And the pain can be excrutiating. It would usually last for a minute, slowly fading.
I have been working on making my faith alive. You know, walk the walk, not just talk the talk. What's the point in knowing God CAN help you, if you don't believe that He WILL help you? Is your faith that He will heal you or is it that He won't? If you think He won't, then your faith is what fails you, not God.
So, the other day we went to rent a movie and there were people selling Girl Scout cookies. We very rarely get them. I haven't had them in probably 4 years or more. I know Tony likes Thin Mints, as do we all, and I wanted Caramel Delites. We got one of each.
Now, I had just been complaining to Tony about how my teeth hurt so bad when I eat chocolate or caramel and that I have prayed about it. So I will be eating something and not even think about it and start eating on the right side of my mouth, where it hurts. And then I feel that familiar pain coming on. And I say to God "Now why is it that I pray for you to fix my teeth and yet I still have pain? I wasn't avoiding eating on that side of my mouth, Father. Sometimes I avoid it, but I'm trying to have faith and I ate on that side, so shouldn't it not have hurt?" And I continue to pray, first for the pain to go away, then for more faith.
After we bought the cookies, we went home with our movie and watched it. I opened the Caramel Delites and had one. This time, though, I remembered that my teeth normally hurt on the one side and I made it a point to chew on that side that it hurts on. I figure if I'm really going to put faith in God, then I need to act on that faith. I had to believe that I was healed and that since I'm healed, it will NOT hurt for me to eat sweet stuff. And so I ate it. And it didn't hurt. Later I had another. No pian. The next day, the same thing. I thank God.
God can give and He can take. As long as my faith is pure, I believe my teeth will remain well. If I begin doubting again, it will come back.
-----------------------------
And now a request.
My mom has been trying to renew her loan for months now. Well, she's been trying to figure out which portion is hers, and which is mine. That has proven impossible. Finally she got the paperwork filled out and they took them in today. I'm thinking, thank goodness, because I want to quit paying nearly $200 extra a month on this ARM loan that has expired. So we're paying all this extra interest. Then she drops the bomb. She talked with the loan person about my situation with the loan and he said it should be no problem for us to get a loan and that my mom should email me the information tonight and tomorrow I can just run it up there and get it processed with hers. Then she also tells me that it would be a 5 year ARM. I tell her that I don't want to get an ARM, because I see how much of a hassle it has been, and if the economy begins to collapse, I don't want my house to get taken from me. And it will happen whether we have a regular loan or an ARM loan, really. I don't want a loan at all. Then she says "well, if you want a fixed rate loan, it will take two months to process it. " She says that as if I care. She has burdened me with her loan that she has put off refinancing. Because of it, it has cost me thousands of dollars in interest. And now she wants me to screw up my loan by getting an ARM loan , just so she can get her loan processed now, instead of in two months.
So I called Tony and he is seeing about loans from someone. And I'm praying for a solution. Whether it be our own loan, my parents keeping us on theirs, or even $30,000 to fall from the sky.
I'm asking you to please pray that God will help us with this and help us to have faith and patience. Not fear and anxiety. Fear and anxiety are anti-God. They come from satan, not God. I don't want or need that. Also, I find that when I stop worrying, miracles happen.
Thank you.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
antidepressants and other "chemicals"
There's a discussion board that I look at occasionally, even though it never fails to let me down. Some of these people choose to believe in medicine instead of in Jesus and our Father. Here's a gem: "Whatever keeps you alive is better than being dead." And another: "Anyone who has been touched by suicide understands how difficult it can be....If a pill can get you through that level of depression, a pill it should be."
Where is their faith in God? When you try to tell people like this that they can be healed, they deny it. They DENY Jesus. It drives me mad. People could be cured by Jesus, instead of relying on man and on drugs, which I believe are a pretty bad thing. I think drugs are an addiction and reliance that the devil gives us, so that we will not rely on God. They become so needed, such an addiction, that if we were to go off of them, we could possibly die. Yeah, only if you believe that, which is fear, instead of believing in God, which is love. There is no fear in love.
It is this simple. Ask God to cure you. Ask Him to relieve you of the curse and to deliver you from the spirits, from the sickness and then practice your faith. Do that by believing that he has helaed you. If you are healed, you will stop taking any medication that is supposed to "help" with those problems. You don't take medicine when you aren't sick. So stop taking the drugs. Next, and I am a firm believer that this is the most important thing to do with your faith....if you doubt even a little, just stop right there, tell God that you're sorry and ask Him to help you and strengthen you. Every time you doubt, do that. When someone that knows that you had whatever illness asks you about it, tell them, without fear, even if you have to say a prayer and ask for courage, that you aren't sick because you've been healed. NEVER deny it. If you have a moment of weakness, pray about it and keep going. I'm also a firm believer in this...God can take away a sickness. BUT if you aren't careful, your faith, if it isn't in God, but is in the medicine and sickness because maybe you start to get scared that it'll come back or someone steers you back to doubt, can bring the sickness back. Whatever your faith is, will happen. If you believe that God won't take it away, he won't. If you believe that pills will "help" you, they will, by enslaving you to dependancy on them. And then you aren't depending on God. You aren't allowing Jesus to heal you.
Where is their faith in God? When you try to tell people like this that they can be healed, they deny it. They DENY Jesus. It drives me mad. People could be cured by Jesus, instead of relying on man and on drugs, which I believe are a pretty bad thing. I think drugs are an addiction and reliance that the devil gives us, so that we will not rely on God. They become so needed, such an addiction, that if we were to go off of them, we could possibly die. Yeah, only if you believe that, which is fear, instead of believing in God, which is love. There is no fear in love.
It is this simple. Ask God to cure you. Ask Him to relieve you of the curse and to deliver you from the spirits, from the sickness and then practice your faith. Do that by believing that he has helaed you. If you are healed, you will stop taking any medication that is supposed to "help" with those problems. You don't take medicine when you aren't sick. So stop taking the drugs. Next, and I am a firm believer that this is the most important thing to do with your faith....if you doubt even a little, just stop right there, tell God that you're sorry and ask Him to help you and strengthen you. Every time you doubt, do that. When someone that knows that you had whatever illness asks you about it, tell them, without fear, even if you have to say a prayer and ask for courage, that you aren't sick because you've been healed. NEVER deny it. If you have a moment of weakness, pray about it and keep going. I'm also a firm believer in this...God can take away a sickness. BUT if you aren't careful, your faith, if it isn't in God, but is in the medicine and sickness because maybe you start to get scared that it'll come back or someone steers you back to doubt, can bring the sickness back. Whatever your faith is, will happen. If you believe that God won't take it away, he won't. If you believe that pills will "help" you, they will, by enslaving you to dependancy on them. And then you aren't depending on God. You aren't allowing Jesus to heal you.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Jerika's wedding....more blessings
We had a good weekend in Kentucky. Too short though. Gil and LeAnn came here and looked at our house. I rode with Gil. LeAnn and Jacque rode with Tony and Mina. We did the same coming back, except we stopped in Fairview to eat and they went home from there. Gil and I had a conversation about God changing a baby's DNA. Haha. It was a good one.
The wedding was outside at a lake/park place, kind of. It was simple and small. The talk was great. There was one part where Tony said something and I was just like YES. LeAnn must have thought the same thing, because she looked back at me and smiled. I nodded and smiled. I recorded a little on my camera. They came over the next day. They took us to a creek about half an hour away. It was so great. Gil, LeAnn, Jeremy, and Tony got baptised. Erika and I took pictures. It was simple and perfect. We drove back and had lunch (my grandma's shrimp), and the adults played a game, except me because I'm so bad at coming up with things off the top of my head. At 10:00 that night, after they left, we had dinner (LeAnn's mostaccioli) and then I think we got in the hot tub at some point. Before dinner maybe. We also had the bread and wine with lunch, while Jeremy and Erika were there. We got up very early the next day to get going.
-------------------------
In news about our sewer..it ended up being $3,280. Our friends (from God) gave us that first chunk. So we paid the guy twice. Altogether we've paid $1800. We were planning on paying $400 next week because we need to start saving for the second half of our taxes, due the beginning of November. Tony got a call today from him. He asked if we had any more money for him this week. Well, we just paid him last week, so it would still be one more week yet. Tony told him we would try to get him another $900 next week. Also keep in mind that he hasn't cashed the $900 check we gave him last week. What gives? So Tony is telling me about paying him this big amount, and I'm thinking why on earth did he tell the guy we'd give him that much. We can't do that. Then he told me that the guy said that if we can give him another $900 next week, he'll call it even. So we would save almost $600. Blessing number one.
2. I talked to my mom today. She said they are doing an application for a new loan and if it works, we can go back down to $300 a month or so, instead of nearly $500. And it isn't even in our name. I would not run out on them, but if there were some kind of economic fall, and their house got taken, I would be happy to still have mine. For a while at least.
3. Things at Tony's work are changing. It looks like a blessing now, but even if something were to happen with it, it will be a blessing in the end.
4. I called the electric company and we're getting an $85 rebate.
5. I called MacMall and we are getting two rebates I think. At least around $120.
Blessings everywhere. And I consider the first one a miracle.
--------------------------
I am learning patience and faith.
--------------------------
At work, we have this Blood Born Pathogens test we have to take about how to deal with a person who has a cut or needs mouth-to-mouth. We have to take precautions, like gloves, or a special tool to put on the mouth so we don't get spit in our mouth from the person. That way, if by some very rare chance the person has HIV or Hepititus, we will have less of a chance of getting it. One of the questions last year was like "If a person needs mouth-to-mouth and you can't find the (tool to pretect you from unlikely disease) then you should not give mouth-to-mouth". And it was true. They honestly expect me to let the person die just so that I don't get a disease that the person probably doesn't have. Rediculous. I was talking to Jeri about it. She said to me "I just think that if I did mouth-to-mouth without the precautionary tool, God would protect me". And I said "AMEN. I feel exactly the same way. I love you." That's faith.
--------------------------
I didn't used to believe like that. I had a form of Godly devotion but proved false to its power. I didn't believe that God did that kind of stuff. You know, miracles. He does. Sometimes to prove to a person that he does them. Sometimes just because he knows that's what we need. Sometimes because he needs us to have that. Who knows. But he does it. And I thank Him. Praise God, my Father.
The wedding was outside at a lake/park place, kind of. It was simple and small. The talk was great. There was one part where Tony said something and I was just like YES. LeAnn must have thought the same thing, because she looked back at me and smiled. I nodded and smiled. I recorded a little on my camera. They came over the next day. They took us to a creek about half an hour away. It was so great. Gil, LeAnn, Jeremy, and Tony got baptised. Erika and I took pictures. It was simple and perfect. We drove back and had lunch (my grandma's shrimp), and the adults played a game, except me because I'm so bad at coming up with things off the top of my head. At 10:00 that night, after they left, we had dinner (LeAnn's mostaccioli) and then I think we got in the hot tub at some point. Before dinner maybe. We also had the bread and wine with lunch, while Jeremy and Erika were there. We got up very early the next day to get going.
-------------------------
In news about our sewer..it ended up being $3,280. Our friends (from God) gave us that first chunk. So we paid the guy twice. Altogether we've paid $1800. We were planning on paying $400 next week because we need to start saving for the second half of our taxes, due the beginning of November. Tony got a call today from him. He asked if we had any more money for him this week. Well, we just paid him last week, so it would still be one more week yet. Tony told him we would try to get him another $900 next week. Also keep in mind that he hasn't cashed the $900 check we gave him last week. What gives? So Tony is telling me about paying him this big amount, and I'm thinking why on earth did he tell the guy we'd give him that much. We can't do that. Then he told me that the guy said that if we can give him another $900 next week, he'll call it even. So we would save almost $600. Blessing number one.
2. I talked to my mom today. She said they are doing an application for a new loan and if it works, we can go back down to $300 a month or so, instead of nearly $500. And it isn't even in our name. I would not run out on them, but if there were some kind of economic fall, and their house got taken, I would be happy to still have mine. For a while at least.
3. Things at Tony's work are changing. It looks like a blessing now, but even if something were to happen with it, it will be a blessing in the end.
4. I called the electric company and we're getting an $85 rebate.
5. I called MacMall and we are getting two rebates I think. At least around $120.
Blessings everywhere. And I consider the first one a miracle.
--------------------------
I am learning patience and faith.
--------------------------
At work, we have this Blood Born Pathogens test we have to take about how to deal with a person who has a cut or needs mouth-to-mouth. We have to take precautions, like gloves, or a special tool to put on the mouth so we don't get spit in our mouth from the person. That way, if by some very rare chance the person has HIV or Hepititus, we will have less of a chance of getting it. One of the questions last year was like "If a person needs mouth-to-mouth and you can't find the (tool to pretect you from unlikely disease) then you should not give mouth-to-mouth". And it was true. They honestly expect me to let the person die just so that I don't get a disease that the person probably doesn't have. Rediculous. I was talking to Jeri about it. She said to me "I just think that if I did mouth-to-mouth without the precautionary tool, God would protect me". And I said "AMEN. I feel exactly the same way. I love you." That's faith.
--------------------------
I didn't used to believe like that. I had a form of Godly devotion but proved false to its power. I didn't believe that God did that kind of stuff. You know, miracles. He does. Sometimes to prove to a person that he does them. Sometimes just because he knows that's what we need. Sometimes because he needs us to have that. Who knows. But he does it. And I thank Him. Praise God, my Father.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Les Mis; answered prayer/miracles
A couple of Thursdays ago we went to see Les Mis with Amanda and Carrie. Amanda was about to go to New Mexico for nine months for schooling. So we met up with her two days before she left to see this. When we were going to the Fox to see some plays, we saw a few really great shows. I thought I would love Phantom, but it wasn't so great. I didn't think I'd like Hairspray or Les Mis. But it turned out they are so good, though complete opposites. Hairspray is flashy, funny, and so much fun. Les Mis is dark, sad, and intense. Hairspray has loose morals and lacks God. Les Mis is all about how everyone thinks they are pleasing God and about redemption. When we saw that it was playing at the outdoor theatre, even though it was hot, we decided to see it. Of course it wasn't as good as the first time. Since that one was indoors, the sound was stronger. But there was a lot I missed the first time because I didn't know what it was about. This time I knew what to look for. It was emotional. "To love another person is to see the face of God". I'm glad we got to see it with them. Of course Mina came too. We went to their apartment first to have homemade pizza. It was good. Then we drove us all to the show. So now Amanda is gone and probably lonely. I don't want her to be lonely.
----------------------------------------
Now for answered prayers and miracles.
First, there's a lady I know who has tons of family that are all incredibly close and dependant on eachother. She has a husband, two grown daughters, and a 9 year old son. She got cancer at least two years ago. She went through tons of chemo. It just kept coming back. Finally, she had one last option, faith not being it, to try. She went to Pennsylvania, I believe, to a clinic. They do a vicious treatment that can kill a person. It just drains you, so that you really are about dead. She came back home and wouldn't get results until months later. She didn't really want them in case it didn't work. This way, she could go on pretending to be ok. She finally got the results and the cancer is gone. Now, it has been gone before and came back, but I don't think that will happen. I know that I've prayed for it to go away and stay away. I'm sure there are other people who have done the same. I told my sister I think that's a miracle, but she didn't know if she wanted to give God the credit or give the credit to modern medicine. All good gifts come from God.
Second, we have had some serious sewer problems. Over the last few years, our toilet has gotten sluggish at flushing. We prayed about it and it made the flushing better, but one day I went down to do laundry and I saw the big bucket that the air water goes into was full. I went to open the hole to pour it out and instead water came up. Eventually it went down and I closed the hole. I started my laundry. Mina was taking a bath. I was upstairs and I heard a loud sound like water bursting up something. Mina yelled for me and I couldn't get in the bathroom because she locked it so I told her to get out of the tub. When she opened the door, it wasn't the tub at all, but the toilet bowl was empty. I went downstairs and there was mildly soapy water all over the floor from the washer. When the washer went to empty again, I heard more water splashing. The sewer was so blocked, that the water busted off the lid on the side of our main pipe in the basement and the water was coming out of it. So we couldn't flush the toilet or shower or wash dishes or do laundry. Even washing our hands and brushing out teeth was difficult. We had a guy try to auger it but it would only go 15 feet. Last time they came, they said it would cost $1700. So I was getting really worried. We only have some money in savings and it's going down because of lots of stuff. A very good friend of ours was praying for us and wanted to know what to do. God told her to look in her receipts book from a cleaning job. She found out that she didn't get paid for a length of time, but didn't realize it because of being sidetracked. She called to verify and they told her she was right. They are giving her a check for $900. She talked it over with her husband and they are giving it to us to help pay for our sewer. Of course, I have thanked them, but I know that if it was us with the money and them with the problem, and I prayed about it, I would know that that money was no longer mine. It was from God and for us. I am amazed at that. I think it's the most obvious miracle we've had. Of course, there have been others. Tony doesn't have asthma anymore and he has eaten peanuts in food accidently, twice, and hasn't gotten sick at all. In the past, he had a cookie with some peanut butter in it, and it made him so sick he had to go to the hospital. At the very least, it will make his throat itchy, then make his skin blotchy, then close up his lungs, then kill him. Soon after, he ate something at a chinese restaurant that had peanuts and he went to the hospital again. Now, when he accidently eats peanut stuff, he might get an itchy throat. That's it. Nothing else. Unbelievers can say that he is just getting over the allergy. All good gifts come from God. Anyhow, I told my sisters and parents about the money and though they did think it was really nice of our friends to give us money, they didn't seem to be that impressed with the God part. I told a lady at work who tries very hard to believe and has more faith than my family does, and she thought it was pretty amazing. I agree with her.
Third, yesterday the sewer people came and were able to get the hardest part done, right in between the house and our neighbors driveway. The driveway is rock and it had cement rectangular stones, that go down in the ground to edge their driveway. When they dug out down to the pipes, the "dirt" ended up being sand and it was not cooperating. It kept falling back down, and making more of the ground collapse, even when one of the guys was in the hole. When they got finished with that part for the day, the main guy told me that the cement blocks all fell into the hole. He hoped that our neighbors wouldn't notice or be mad. And if all else failed we could get the city to tell them that it had to be done and there isn't a @#% thing they can do about it. I didn't want to do that. I kind of lightly prayed about it and told Tony. I keep being anxious for it to be done, and finally they start work on it only for another problem to stress me out. So I worried for a minute then tried not to. A few minutes later, the neighbor came home. I rushed out there to talk to him and he was just like "It's no problem". Then he said he wants to pour a cement driveway anyway and that he hates rock. And not to worry about it. I was elated. It was absolutely the most perfect outcome. I expected him to be mad, because if it had been my decent driveway, I wouldn't want it to have been touched. He shouldn't have to pay for our problems. But he didn't mind at all. I was just giddy. All good things come from God.
And fourth, yesterday was my first day back to work. I needed to have this Friday and next Monday off for a wedding in Kentucky. So I had to already ask for both of my personal days off, only four days into the school year. I was worried because it's so early in the year, and I'm working a new job and a new person is taking my old job, and because we have a new principal who might want to make an example of me. So I prayed about it ONE time and left it alone. Sometimes, out of habit of negative thinking, a doubt would come in my head. And very quickly I would say no, don't think that way. It will be fine. I WILL be going on this trip. I never prayed about it again though. So I went to work and thought about asking if the principal approved it yet. Then I thought if he hadn't, then it would make him irritated that I'd asked. Then I forgot about it until the end of the day when I was filling out my time. Then I asked my boss if she had heard anything about it. She said yeah, it was approved. She'd gotten a paper saying it was. She said it as if I should've known already. Faith works. There are times, I believe, when you'll ask for something and will not get it because it isn't ok or the right time. But I knew that this had to be ok. I was certain it would be ok. And yet, when she told me, I felt even more happy like it was settled. All good gifts come from God.
A little thing that happened was that I had to go shopping for a skirt and shirt for this wedding. I HATE shopping. I went and kind of got overwhelmed at first. But I quickly found two shirt that looked pretty good, which is all I can hope for. I still needed a skirt. I went to another store and found a skirt at the last minute and another shirt. I was so happy. Quick and painless. I didn't even get to the point of feeling dizzy. It wasn't the most important thing, but I still have to praise God.
We leave Friday afternoon for Kentucky. Our friends are coming to our house around noon. We're coming back Monday. Right now we're trying to clean everything. With the sewer problems, it has slowed us down a lot. So I have a day and a half left to clean like mad. I work best under pressure. This house should be spotless.
----------------------------------------
Now for answered prayers and miracles.
First, there's a lady I know who has tons of family that are all incredibly close and dependant on eachother. She has a husband, two grown daughters, and a 9 year old son. She got cancer at least two years ago. She went through tons of chemo. It just kept coming back. Finally, she had one last option, faith not being it, to try. She went to Pennsylvania, I believe, to a clinic. They do a vicious treatment that can kill a person. It just drains you, so that you really are about dead. She came back home and wouldn't get results until months later. She didn't really want them in case it didn't work. This way, she could go on pretending to be ok. She finally got the results and the cancer is gone. Now, it has been gone before and came back, but I don't think that will happen. I know that I've prayed for it to go away and stay away. I'm sure there are other people who have done the same. I told my sister I think that's a miracle, but she didn't know if she wanted to give God the credit or give the credit to modern medicine. All good gifts come from God.
Second, we have had some serious sewer problems. Over the last few years, our toilet has gotten sluggish at flushing. We prayed about it and it made the flushing better, but one day I went down to do laundry and I saw the big bucket that the air water goes into was full. I went to open the hole to pour it out and instead water came up. Eventually it went down and I closed the hole. I started my laundry. Mina was taking a bath. I was upstairs and I heard a loud sound like water bursting up something. Mina yelled for me and I couldn't get in the bathroom because she locked it so I told her to get out of the tub. When she opened the door, it wasn't the tub at all, but the toilet bowl was empty. I went downstairs and there was mildly soapy water all over the floor from the washer. When the washer went to empty again, I heard more water splashing. The sewer was so blocked, that the water busted off the lid on the side of our main pipe in the basement and the water was coming out of it. So we couldn't flush the toilet or shower or wash dishes or do laundry. Even washing our hands and brushing out teeth was difficult. We had a guy try to auger it but it would only go 15 feet. Last time they came, they said it would cost $1700. So I was getting really worried. We only have some money in savings and it's going down because of lots of stuff. A very good friend of ours was praying for us and wanted to know what to do. God told her to look in her receipts book from a cleaning job. She found out that she didn't get paid for a length of time, but didn't realize it because of being sidetracked. She called to verify and they told her she was right. They are giving her a check for $900. She talked it over with her husband and they are giving it to us to help pay for our sewer. Of course, I have thanked them, but I know that if it was us with the money and them with the problem, and I prayed about it, I would know that that money was no longer mine. It was from God and for us. I am amazed at that. I think it's the most obvious miracle we've had. Of course, there have been others. Tony doesn't have asthma anymore and he has eaten peanuts in food accidently, twice, and hasn't gotten sick at all. In the past, he had a cookie with some peanut butter in it, and it made him so sick he had to go to the hospital. At the very least, it will make his throat itchy, then make his skin blotchy, then close up his lungs, then kill him. Soon after, he ate something at a chinese restaurant that had peanuts and he went to the hospital again. Now, when he accidently eats peanut stuff, he might get an itchy throat. That's it. Nothing else. Unbelievers can say that he is just getting over the allergy. All good gifts come from God. Anyhow, I told my sisters and parents about the money and though they did think it was really nice of our friends to give us money, they didn't seem to be that impressed with the God part. I told a lady at work who tries very hard to believe and has more faith than my family does, and she thought it was pretty amazing. I agree with her.
Third, yesterday the sewer people came and were able to get the hardest part done, right in between the house and our neighbors driveway. The driveway is rock and it had cement rectangular stones, that go down in the ground to edge their driveway. When they dug out down to the pipes, the "dirt" ended up being sand and it was not cooperating. It kept falling back down, and making more of the ground collapse, even when one of the guys was in the hole. When they got finished with that part for the day, the main guy told me that the cement blocks all fell into the hole. He hoped that our neighbors wouldn't notice or be mad. And if all else failed we could get the city to tell them that it had to be done and there isn't a @#% thing they can do about it. I didn't want to do that. I kind of lightly prayed about it and told Tony. I keep being anxious for it to be done, and finally they start work on it only for another problem to stress me out. So I worried for a minute then tried not to. A few minutes later, the neighbor came home. I rushed out there to talk to him and he was just like "It's no problem". Then he said he wants to pour a cement driveway anyway and that he hates rock. And not to worry about it. I was elated. It was absolutely the most perfect outcome. I expected him to be mad, because if it had been my decent driveway, I wouldn't want it to have been touched. He shouldn't have to pay for our problems. But he didn't mind at all. I was just giddy. All good things come from God.
And fourth, yesterday was my first day back to work. I needed to have this Friday and next Monday off for a wedding in Kentucky. So I had to already ask for both of my personal days off, only four days into the school year. I was worried because it's so early in the year, and I'm working a new job and a new person is taking my old job, and because we have a new principal who might want to make an example of me. So I prayed about it ONE time and left it alone. Sometimes, out of habit of negative thinking, a doubt would come in my head. And very quickly I would say no, don't think that way. It will be fine. I WILL be going on this trip. I never prayed about it again though. So I went to work and thought about asking if the principal approved it yet. Then I thought if he hadn't, then it would make him irritated that I'd asked. Then I forgot about it until the end of the day when I was filling out my time. Then I asked my boss if she had heard anything about it. She said yeah, it was approved. She'd gotten a paper saying it was. She said it as if I should've known already. Faith works. There are times, I believe, when you'll ask for something and will not get it because it isn't ok or the right time. But I knew that this had to be ok. I was certain it would be ok. And yet, when she told me, I felt even more happy like it was settled. All good gifts come from God.
A little thing that happened was that I had to go shopping for a skirt and shirt for this wedding. I HATE shopping. I went and kind of got overwhelmed at first. But I quickly found two shirt that looked pretty good, which is all I can hope for. I still needed a skirt. I went to another store and found a skirt at the last minute and another shirt. I was so happy. Quick and painless. I didn't even get to the point of feeling dizzy. It wasn't the most important thing, but I still have to praise God.
We leave Friday afternoon for Kentucky. Our friends are coming to our house around noon. We're coming back Monday. Right now we're trying to clean everything. With the sewer problems, it has slowed us down a lot. So I have a day and a half left to clean like mad. I work best under pressure. This house should be spotless.
Monday, August 13, 2007
house church things
Last Sunday we went to a Randy and Mary's house. Tony had met them once or twice. I never had but he spoke highly of them, and had been emailing Mary a little. One of the times when Tony met with them, he also met Alvin and Margaret, We had then to our home over a month ago, with their youngest child, Eleanor. They we really easy to get along with and they also brought a simple salad, but it was made with lots of vegetables, lettuce being a minor ingredient. It was really good.
At Randy and Mary's house there was also another couple, Chuck and Jackie. They're nice and are fairly involved with their church, but they want to move to Texas. She is noticing that the church, even though they have given the church plenty of money, that the church isn't there for them in return. And I'm sure that's true. Alvin talked about his job situation. We picked them up because their car wouldn't start. Chuck and Jackie offered to take Alvin's family home, which was really nice because Mina had to sit on my lap, without a seatbelt so that we could all fit, this while driving on 170. We talked about how we should be, as house church people.
This week we went back. Jackie wasn't there because she went to Tennessee for a wedding. Alvin brought his other children, Addison and Mya. They were really cute. The kids took a while to warm up, but eventually were talking quietly together. They took turns playing Mina's DS. Alvin and Margaret ended up getting a minivan that would've cost them $900 but they got it for free. The air doesn't work and they're in need of some kind of gasket that will cost $1700, but I believe that either it will be fixed for them, or this car is temporary and when it dies, another will be there for them. Alvin is trying to find work, but is having a hard time. I think he wants a job where he can get paid for his ministry. He feels like he won't have enough time to work a normal job and still have time to give his all to helping people. We also had our first communion with them. Margaret brought Mogen David wine, which was really sweet and good, and I think maybe Chuck brought bread. Maybe not. We had dinner with that. It was a nice time.
Next week we're going to Greg and Kathryn's. Not their house. Kathleen is getting baptized, which is awesome. I think we're going to a hotel to do it. Travis and Roberta came into town from Texas. Their hotel might have a pool.
Saturday, we went to Miriam and Allan's wedding. It was very simple. They had a big wedding party. They both wore sandals. Roberta played the guitar and sang before the wedding and while they walked up and back down the aisle, and after the wedding while everyone cleared out. The reception was normal except that we got to eat right when we got there. It was like a cafeteria line. I've only been to receptions where the bridal party, then the family, then everyone else goes to eat. I found out that Miriam has three Japanese siblings. I think two brothers and one sister. The oldest brother was cool, with japanese anime hair and a skinny torso. I almost did the dollar dance with Allan but then it felt embarrassing. Mina met a boy, maybe named Josiah. He's 10, lives in Wisconsin, goes to a christian school, and Mina says he's cute. Also, there were these great origami decorations on the tables. Little birds and some balls kind of shaped like the Epcot ball. It was typical though. Macarena, Cha Cha Slide, the Chicken Dance. I'm guessing we left around 4:30.
It was my family's convention this weekend. Leah asked me if it felt weird knowing that they're at the convention and I'm not. I said it can a little, but I don't always know when they're assemblies are. And since my weekend just feels like any other weekend, I don't notice too much. But for them, the convention is an event. Me not being there has to be weird. This year is the first convention I have ever missed. In 28 years. THAT is weird. Leah said she misses me most when she doesn't see me at the assemblies, because it's smaller, like 700 people, and we used to sit a few rows in front of them. Mina would sit with them for the second half sometimes. It makes me sad that it has to be this way. And yet I feel good about my decision. It's bittersweet.
In less than two weeks we're going to Jeremy and Erika's wedding. Tony is officiating. Gil is Jeremy's best man. We're staying in cabin. We'll leave Friday, around noon, and come back Monday, late afternoon. It's a 6 hour drive. Gil and LeAnn are coming here, maybe to our house. We'll have to take two cars, but we'll probably trade people so we can have more fun. I haven't talked to Gil in at least 2 weeks. I've been trying to stay off of Skype because it's distracting. I did talk to LeAnn, just about the trip plans. I'm excited about it now that I've got my clothes shopping done.
At Randy and Mary's house there was also another couple, Chuck and Jackie. They're nice and are fairly involved with their church, but they want to move to Texas. She is noticing that the church, even though they have given the church plenty of money, that the church isn't there for them in return. And I'm sure that's true. Alvin talked about his job situation. We picked them up because their car wouldn't start. Chuck and Jackie offered to take Alvin's family home, which was really nice because Mina had to sit on my lap, without a seatbelt so that we could all fit, this while driving on 170. We talked about how we should be, as house church people.
This week we went back. Jackie wasn't there because she went to Tennessee for a wedding. Alvin brought his other children, Addison and Mya. They were really cute. The kids took a while to warm up, but eventually were talking quietly together. They took turns playing Mina's DS. Alvin and Margaret ended up getting a minivan that would've cost them $900 but they got it for free. The air doesn't work and they're in need of some kind of gasket that will cost $1700, but I believe that either it will be fixed for them, or this car is temporary and when it dies, another will be there for them. Alvin is trying to find work, but is having a hard time. I think he wants a job where he can get paid for his ministry. He feels like he won't have enough time to work a normal job and still have time to give his all to helping people. We also had our first communion with them. Margaret brought Mogen David wine, which was really sweet and good, and I think maybe Chuck brought bread. Maybe not. We had dinner with that. It was a nice time.
Next week we're going to Greg and Kathryn's. Not their house. Kathleen is getting baptized, which is awesome. I think we're going to a hotel to do it. Travis and Roberta came into town from Texas. Their hotel might have a pool.
Saturday, we went to Miriam and Allan's wedding. It was very simple. They had a big wedding party. They both wore sandals. Roberta played the guitar and sang before the wedding and while they walked up and back down the aisle, and after the wedding while everyone cleared out. The reception was normal except that we got to eat right when we got there. It was like a cafeteria line. I've only been to receptions where the bridal party, then the family, then everyone else goes to eat. I found out that Miriam has three Japanese siblings. I think two brothers and one sister. The oldest brother was cool, with japanese anime hair and a skinny torso. I almost did the dollar dance with Allan but then it felt embarrassing. Mina met a boy, maybe named Josiah. He's 10, lives in Wisconsin, goes to a christian school, and Mina says he's cute. Also, there were these great origami decorations on the tables. Little birds and some balls kind of shaped like the Epcot ball. It was typical though. Macarena, Cha Cha Slide, the Chicken Dance. I'm guessing we left around 4:30.
It was my family's convention this weekend. Leah asked me if it felt weird knowing that they're at the convention and I'm not. I said it can a little, but I don't always know when they're assemblies are. And since my weekend just feels like any other weekend, I don't notice too much. But for them, the convention is an event. Me not being there has to be weird. This year is the first convention I have ever missed. In 28 years. THAT is weird. Leah said she misses me most when she doesn't see me at the assemblies, because it's smaller, like 700 people, and we used to sit a few rows in front of them. Mina would sit with them for the second half sometimes. It makes me sad that it has to be this way. And yet I feel good about my decision. It's bittersweet.
In less than two weeks we're going to Jeremy and Erika's wedding. Tony is officiating. Gil is Jeremy's best man. We're staying in cabin. We'll leave Friday, around noon, and come back Monday, late afternoon. It's a 6 hour drive. Gil and LeAnn are coming here, maybe to our house. We'll have to take two cars, but we'll probably trade people so we can have more fun. I haven't talked to Gil in at least 2 weeks. I've been trying to stay off of Skype because it's distracting. I did talk to LeAnn, just about the trip plans. I'm excited about it now that I've got my clothes shopping done.
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