I hope everyone has a super duper thankful thanksgiving blessed with love and family overflowing.
My husband’s sitting next to me right now being a dork. I’m so thankful for him. If it weren’t for his dorkiness we’d be minus many laughs in our house.
And now I’m out of here because I’m in no mood to blog. I’m not in a bad mood I would just rather go play games on facebook.
Over and out.
The theme that’s been laid on my heart this week is basically this: One reason people are in our lives is to teach us how to love.
It spoke to me loudly as a sweet caller on the Dr. Laura show, a mom of a 5 year old who passed away in the last year, was expressing her grief and her anger at God and the world. Dr. Laura isn’t a Christian but in many cases, though seemingly harsh sometimes, gives really good advice. I’ve heard some people get a verbal tongue lashing only to cry tears of joy and and thank her toward the end of the call because they finally get it.
Dr. Laura pointed out that our bodies are mortal and they fail us and that’s not God’s fault. Her little girl in her short life taught her mom how to love deeper and less selfish. She told her to take that love and go do good things with it. That’s what her daughter would want her to do. (A very short summary–it was a moving call.)
I tearfully listened saddened for the mom but inspired and nodding in agreement. My children have taught me so much about love and have brought me out of my selfish self…BUT as I listened I marveled at how far I have to go.
Kids will do that. When we have our first baby–wow–does our world change. In a matter of a few pushes and a few hours of intense pain our lives are no longer about us. Instead we’ll give up our food, clothing, and vanity, to make sure our babies are taking care of–and gladly.
But as I listened I hoped that everyone listening would apply this. People don’t have to have kids or a spouse to learn how to love. Single people have siblings, parents, coworkers, nieces and nephews and friends–whoever may be in their circle of influence. Loving takes action or more correctly IS action and the recipient can be anyone God puts in your path. It takes listening, paying attention, going out of our comfort zone, and sacrificing of our comfy lives. (Don’t just preach it Kelli–get with it!)
I was convicted in a very good way. I didn’t feel overwhelming guilt (though I have plenty of reason to feel that) rather I felt like I had a new mission. Oh I have so long to go but my new mission is to follow through on my good intentions as I pray for wisdom on how to better love everyone God’s put in my life. This isn’t my strength. I’m such a recluse. I’m not the most outgoing. And I don’t naturally interpret others’ needs and meet them. I’m not a natural servant. But sometimes I wonder if I’m that way because it’s easy? Comfortable. Ugh. But I want to love others. For God’s glory and for their joy and yes, even my own joy. To be an example to my kids and to learn to be more like Jesus.
Thank you Father for the people you’ve put in my life.
My hubby came home and what a reunion it was. We were so excited to have him back and go HOME. It was funny because as I drove into our town — a town that I’ve never really wanted as “my town” — I felt a warm and fuzzy feeling coming over me that. That “I’m home” feeling. It was the same thing as I drove up to my house — a house that I don’t particualarly over, one that needs work and irrititates me. But it is HOME.
This place is growing on us.
I used to hold tightly onto 2 towns. My home town and my town after I “growed” up and moved away. My college town. But after us moving here, others moving away, and other moving around all the time letting go of towns is easier and inevitable. I hold this town lightly. I don’t know how long we’ll be here but I’ll enjoy it while it lasts. I no longer want to move anywhere specifically. Home is where God’s placed us at the moment. Ultimately my home is Heaven.
I’ve found if I hold too tightly to some place it gets taken away. And for good reason. I’m glad God’s taught me how to hold on to things lightly and adapt and adjust and to embrace the new. It lends to more peace and happiness.
But for now we’re here and I like it.
Today’s Wednesday right? It’s hard to keep track. I thought Monday was Tuesday and Tuesday was Wednesday. But now I got it. Today’s Wednesday.
This week I have spent each evening reading until midnight. Then my kids wake up in the morning and ask if they can go to grandma’s house. I say sure and make sure you shut the door behind you. Then I pull the blankets up to my neck and head back to dreamland.
Then when I do manage to lift my carcas off the mattress I walk the 50 ft. to my parents kitchen and pour myself a cup of coffee already made. I take a seat in the easy chair and watch Spongebob. Then about noon I decide I should shower …so I do. Then I help my mom clean for a bit. Then we all play Life or Uno. Then somewhere in there we have lunch and dinner and watch more SpongeBob.
Then after all is said and done we make chocolate chip cookies. And eat about 2-3 jumbo size cookies with cold milk. My parents and I watch their shows they normally watch while the kids watch more cartoons. Then around 10 the kids and I head out to the trailer. I tuck them in and I begin to read.
Then repeat.
I’m currently writing this post from my parent’s house where I have spent the last 2 nights. My husband left 2 days ago for a week long elk hunting trip and I’m using the time to visit with family (read: I’m too scared to stay at home by myself.) My parents have a nice and big 5th wheel that the kids and I and our dog have been using. It’s a nice refuge when I get tired of listening to NASCAR car. No, not watching NASCAR (not my thing) but listening because my dad, bless his heart, is hard of hearing and well since they have a small house it doesn’t matter where you are–you’re listening to NASCAR. And lucky us there was a race yesterday and there’s one today.
So yes we’re here at my parents house and guess what? My kids have no school all week so we’ll be here all week. My poor parents. So the Whisfam is having a vacation of sorts. Jake’s hunting who knows where and we’re escaping reality.
Running Update Funny: My parents have a treadmill. I hop on and begin to run. My goal distance today was a meager 1.2 miles. I know, that’s tiny, but I’m easing back into since my 3 week chicken pox break so that my leg injuries will stay away and so far so good.
I begin to run and it’s really difficult. I’m thinking well it’s been 2 days since I’ve run, I ate a few too many cookies last night, I’m feeling kind of heavy…so I just say, you know, it’s going to be one of those runs. I can’t seem to run as fast as normal and my posture isn’t straight. I keep leaning forward but I can’t help it. Wow, I think to myself, I’m a pig. Looooser.
Hmmm. It feels like there’s sort of an incline but I didn’t turn up the incline. I think it’s just one of those cheap home treadmills and so it must be weird.
I’m sweating and panting. I keep going slower but determine not to stop running. But I plug away and finish out my 1.2 miles. I slow down and walk and catch my breath. I decide to walk on incline to finish out my workout. I press ‘up’ on incline and it goes right to level 4. What? Well it went to 4 because it had been on 3.5 incline the entire workout!!
Finally it all made sense and I just laughed. No wonder it was so freaking hard. Ha! Then I was pleasantly surprised and re-energized that I had just run my entire 1.2 miles up hill. Cool. So I decreased the incline to ZERO and increased the speed to my normal running speed and finished out the last 5 minutes with a nice simple run.
The wait is killing me.
It’s becoming increasingly clear who our next president will be. Not a huge surprise considering all the hubbub lately. But still, I held out hope.
Oh well. If Mr. BHO becomes our next president I can’t wait to see how he does. Maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised. I doubt I will be with the abortion issue but I can pray.
Anyway … until next time.
I’ve been forgetting about my blog lately. Too busy playing word games on Facebook. So not much is new. We came to the conclusion the kids DID in fact catch the pox from me. We don’t have a doctor’s diagnosis but we Googled it and that’s just as good nowadays isn’t it? Ha!
But really their itchy red bumps were a little too coincidental to me to not be chicken pox. I did google it and found out that kids who’ve been vaccinated show a much milder case, with the bumps looking like bug bites rather the the fluid filled vesicles that covered my body.
They were over it in a few days. And now on with life.
So, I’m so not in the writing mood lately. I hate that! Oh well I should get over it. Actually because of my mood lately I’ve wrote two posts and not published them. I have a post in my head but again not publishable.
So let’s talk politics shall we? Ha! Who really wants to? Gosh all I can say is that I’m frustrated because while we live in a country that allows me to vote, I’ve never felt more powerless. Although there are many, many issues to consider this election I’m most passionate about the abortion issue. And in just a couple days there could be man running our country who’s buddy buddy with Planned Parenthood. A man who just can’t wait to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. A man who thinks babies are punishment. A man who can’t figure out when life begins or when that life deserves rights. I shall not go on. My blood boils too hot.
I know McCain supports stem cell research which seems like a conflict of interest, which is really. But he’s my only choice, pretty much. And he is pro life when it comes to abortion. At least I know if he’s President that it’s a step in the direction I want to go.
If BHO is elected in a few days, I know and have peace that God’s in control. God loves the millions of aborted babies more than I ever will. I know He’s in control and I will have peace in Him. God will want me to walk in the way I know is right despite the direction of half the free world. And I will.
