Last Devotion on Marriage

  Reminds me of an artesian spring.  A place where water just bubbles up to the surface of it's own accord.  May not be as grand and fancy as a tropical waterfall, but still a constant, reliable source of cool refreshment.

Don't be easily fooled by appearances.  A simple baby, raised by a carpenter turned out to be the Savior of the world.  Mama and Daddy used to say, "Still waters run deep."  Not a lot of splash and noise, but plenty of it.  Often with an undercurrent so strong. 

Suppose I'm ramblin'.  But as we look at the Final Devotion on Marriage, I just want to urge everyone to look into your own marriage.  Don't get distracted in comparing yours to another.  Draw the plan in your mind in pencil, so you can easily make adjustments.  Build with  your heart and with an eye towards God's will. 

Six Things.....Mary tagged me!

Okay, so I have been tagged by Mary, at Hunybea's Open Journal to list Six Things about me that are weird and you might not be aware of.  Now I could claim I wasn't weird, but that wouldn't fly very far.  So, now it is just to narrow down my vast list and decide which things I want to let you be privy to. 

 

So, here goes:

 

• I go barefoot all the time at the house.  Unless it is extremely cold.  Then I where my house shoes.  This applies to indoors and outdoors.  And sometimes even to trips to the feed store or to a nearby relatives.
• I can pinch you with my toes....hard!
• I always sneeze in sets of three.
• I have actually thrown pots and pans full of food I just cooked out into the front yard before....although this was years ago.
• I am addicted to peppermints.  The Starlight mint variety.  Especially the ones with 100% real peppermint oil.
• I married a redneck and am happy with my choice.  Humm?  Well, that is weird, but I think ya'll know that already.  Guess I better choose something else.
• I have to be one certain way, with no one touching me to go to sleep.  That is after I have gotten up and down to pee 10 or 12 times.  Now that is an exaggeration.  It's really more like two to four times.  But it feels like ten or twelve when you are tired.

Now who on earth will I tag?

 

frjav at Perspective on Rotations

pharmolo at Northern Trip

lurkynat at Interface

lv2trnscrb at A Corgi in Southern California

tendernoggle at Horseshoe Bend

TheRealSlimEmmy at Emily's Purple Pages 

 

Now ya'll go to your journals and list 6 weird things about yourselves that we might not know yet.  Link back to me, and pick out six more people to do it. (Be sure to let them know you have picked them, in case they are slow getting around to their alerts!)

 

 

 

 

Announcing........

Well, folks, it was little more than a year ago when hurricane Rita blew into town.  Due to the approaching anniversary of the storm, I have posted my entries regarding our riding out Rita and the aftermath in a new journal of their own:  Storm Stories - In the Path of Rita.  The entries are in chronological order and much easier to follow than in this journal.

In a more personal note, Bug got a new quarterhorse on Sunday.  Her Daddy told her only that they were going somewhere together.  She dressed up in her best jeans.  They went to the place where Tahoe (that's her name) was.  He told her to go on and pet her if she wanted.  They let her lead Tahoe around.  Then Pete sat Bug on her back and led them around.  She seemed very gentle.  She's not very tall, and 2 1/2 years old, so hopefully near her full height already.  Then, and only then he told Bug they were bringing her home.  Today, they have given Tahoe her first bathe ever.  She had lived life in a pasture.  And Pete has led Bug on her down the pipeline and back. 

For any who have been following along, the devotions on marriage are all but at an end.  Today, I move on to the 16th Devotion on Marriage.  There is but one more to follow.  Today's focuses more on the role of women to each other, and the role of the church toward women. 

I want to send a big THANK YOU to my friend Sheila, who sent me this beautiful tag.  The way you are looking into the mirror and then out the door, puts me in mind of how what and who we are is reflected to and in the world around us. 

              

Spread the Word

                       

News on the VIVI Awards front!  The 2006 VIVI Award Journal has been established.  Right now all the catogories are listed.  You can go and leave links to some of your favorite reads so others can go and look them over.  There will probably be lots of excellent journals to find there.  You get to meet some new folks and find some new favorites.  Later on, after we've all had a chance to mix and mingle, polling will begin to determine which journals are nominated.  Once that is accomplished we'll all have a chance to vote for our favorite nominies. 

Don't wait till the last minute!  Get in on the ground floor and spread the word about the journals you love and check out the ones you may have never seen.

FYI Update

             

What a crazy week it has been!  Well, not exactly crazy...and not exactly busy...and not exactly bad;  but I still feel like I have been stuck in neutral and spinning my wheels.

I have ideas spinning.  Ideas for humorous entries.  Ideas to hopefully inspire or encourage.  But frankly, I haven't the brain power to do either today. 

So this is more of an information entry.  Spreading the word and sharing what I know.  (Which, frankly, ain't all that much.)

First an update on us.  This little band of rednecks.  I'll do it in age order.

I am working part-time three days a week still.  I enjoy it.  Like getting out.  Nice people there and a pleasant atmosphere.  But I am so far behind on appointments, taking care of special issues for the family, housework, etc. etc., that I feel like I'll never catch up. 

Pete is still Pete.  Been busy clearing out brush around the edge of the property with a backhoe.  Building and setting new kitchen cabinets for my sister.  Last weekend he and Bubba went to Cruise~n Silsbee and had a blast together.  People from all over bring their "rides" they are proud of.  Show off, compete.  Trucks, cars, motorcycles.  It's the only weekend it is legal in Silsbee to smoke down tires and expeditionary accelerate.

Bubba is a Senior in High School this year.  He spends half of every day in Auto Shop.  Though he is still intoxicated with "systems" for cars and trucks, he recently discovered an oldie, but goodie pastime:  CB Radio.  There was an old one in a Bronco and he hooked it up and got it working.  Is planning on buying a new one today.  Thinks he and his Daddy will have a blast with them this fall in the hunting club.

And then there is Bug.  She's proud to be a "big" second grader this year.  Starting off well.  We are having trouble getting her to bed on time at night.  (9:00pm)  She doesn't get home until 4:20 each evening.  Then there is the necessity of snack time.  And she has chores.  She waters all the animals on the hill:  Three horses, three hogs, one miniature goat, 5 Boston Terriers, a Kerr dog, a Basset hound, one kitten and 50 or so head of chickens.  Then she has to feed her animals:  which are one dog, the goat, the kitten and the chickens.  There is usually about 30 minutes of homework, that she drags out to take an hour or more.  And the often dreaded bath time, that uses up another 30 minutes.  Somewhere in there, she has to eat supper.  So, it's a race when it comes to Bug every night.  But I have to say, she almost always still awakens cheerful, sweet and cuddly.

I also have a little J-land family news I wish to share.  Get the word out!

Another Barbara is still alive, kicking and doing well!  She promises to stick around if we give her just a little encouragement.  So, if you remember her go and welcome her back.  And if you haven't met her...here's your chance.  I'm Not Just a Farmer's Wife.

And here's one Carlene brought to my attention:  Help Wanted.  It's a journal with a theme.  You can ask questions or provide answers there.  I volunteered my services as redneck advisor.  :o)

I know I hope very much to see everyone at the September J-land Chat this Sunday.  You can get the link to the Journals Cafe, the time and a link to a Time Zone Clock all over at Northern Trip.  (Sorry, AOL Members only.) 

I have advanced to the 15 Devotion on Marriage.  Probably should have this one made into wallpaper for the house!  As I look around, I must confess I have not even been attempting to live this one out in my day to day life as of late.  As of a long time.  If you want to know what I should be doin' that I haven't been a doin' then you'll just have to go read the devotion.   

I think that's all for now.  Of course, knowing me, I'll think of something just as soon as I click "Save".  ;o)  I hear a dryer buzzer calling my name.     

 

Remembering

                               

"All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win the world is for enough good men to do nothing." - Edmond Burke 1729-1797

 

Many, many "good men" did all they could, all they knew, more than we could imagine on Sept. 11th.  Many were rescued by heroic, ordinary actions.  (I say it that way, because as we view their actions as heroic, most of them would probably say they were just doing what anyone would have.)  Many, many more perished despite all that was done. 

 

I am not calling for any to live in fear.  Fear paralyzes.  But I am calling for all to remember that 9/11 was not a one day attack.  It was an act in a war.  The war still rages.  And there are still good men out there watching, guarding, fighting, protecting in the hopes there will be no more casualties on these shores again.

 

So, pause, reflect, remember and pray for those who perished on 9/11.  Then pause, reflect, remember, support and pray for those who are still in harm's way, in hopes that we may never be.

 

You and the American GI


 You and The American G.I...........
 Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 
minutes.
 He stays up for days on end.
 _________________________
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
 He goes days or weeks without running water.
 __________________________
You complain of a "headache," and call in sick.
 He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
 __________________________
 You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up
 with your friends.
 He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
 __________________________
 You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
 He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
 __________________________
 You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
 He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
 __________________________
 You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
 He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
 __________________________
 You complain about how hot it is.
 He wears his heavy gear in 100+ heat, not daring to take off his helmet 
to
 wipe his brow.
 __________________________
 You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order
 wrong.
 He doesn't get to eat today.
 __________________________
 Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
 He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are 
clean.
 __________________________
 You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
 He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
 __________________________
 You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
 He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.
 __________________________
 You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
 He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
 __________________________
 You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
 He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
 __________________________
 You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
 He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll
 ever meet
 __________________________
 You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
 He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and 
remembers
why he is fighting.
 __________________________
 You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
 He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
 __________________________
 You see only what the media wants you to see.
 He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
 __________________________
 You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
 He does exactly what he is told.
 __________________________
 You stay at home and watch TV.
 He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.
 __________________________
 You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
 He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken 
by
 gunfire.
 __________________________
 You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place
 because of men like him.
 If only there were more men like him!
 ____________________________

 Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
 Jesus Christ and the American G. I.
 One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

 

Yep, I'm in Trouble!

 

I have often joked that when Bubba was born my IQ was lowered by 25% and when Bug was born it went down another 25%.  I know I have issues.  My brain freezes, loses files, has frequent errors.  But if there were ever any doubt as to the way my mind is going, it was confirmed on Wednesday morning.

 

We slept as late as possible.  Bubba rushed out to catch the bus.  I planned to drop Bug by her school on the way to work.  We were hurrying around trying to get finished and out the door in time.  Bug was worried she'd be tardy.  As we went out the door, Pete reminded me I needed to check the oil in my car.  I told Bug to go ahead and get in the car, opened my door and lay my purse inside.  Pulled a Kleenex to wipe the oil stick on.  Noticed my windshield had a nasty film of dust on it that was now wet from morning dew.  Switched on the wipers to get rid of this.  Ooops!  Need to crank the car first.  So I turned the key, popped the hood latch and ran around to the front of the car.

 

I lifted the hood and pulled out the oilstick.  Geez, louise!!  There was oil almost up to the top of the stick!  How odd??!  So, I wipe the stick, put it back in, pull it out and there it is again!!?  How on earth did my car get to be so overfilled with oil?!!  Surely something is not functioning correctly.  I reinsert the stick one more time, and as I reach over to pull it out it slowly dawns on me.........the car is running.....can't check oil with the motor running!!!!

 

Yeah, something wasn't functioning correctly...........MY BRAIN!!!  LOL

 

So, you see....there is no telling what I will do, or when I will do it.  I have put Bubba on alert that I want him to watch over me when I go completely senile.  Until then let's have a good laugh and enjoy the trip!  ;o)  Reminds me of an entry I did a year ago about Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

 

Speaking of entries, I went through the 14th Devotion on Marriage this morning.  If you care to join me, be forewarned it contains some rather nasty words....like submit and yield.  It's definitely not for the faint of heart.

 

I seem to be the only one in J-land who continued to receive alerts during the crisis, so I am way behind on visits.  I'll see ya'll around and about.

 

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

Ever Question Your Worth?

Looking through some old email, I stumbled upon this.  A friend of mine named Jenny sent it to me several months back.  To me, this verse goes so well with the graphic of Christ and His Bride, the Church.

While praying one day a woman asked "Who Are You, Lord?" He answered "I Am"

"But, who is I Am" she said. And he replied.... "I am Love, I am Peace, I am Grace, I am Joy. I am the Way, The Truth, and the Light....

I am the Comforter, I am Strength, I am Safety, I am Shelter, I am Power, I am the Creator, I am the Beginning and the End, I am the Most High"

The girl with tears in her eyes looked toward heaven and said "Now I understand. But Lord, who am I?"

Then God tenderly wiped the tears from her eyes and whispered "You Are Mine"

 

My prayer is that everyone who passes this way would know that they ARE His.

I invite you to come along with me to the 13th Devotion on Marriage as we consider the Bible's definition of love.