Death, Life And A Little Bit Of Mediocrity

It has been a bad week to be famous.
A bad month (two), really.
There have been so many celebrities who have passed away recently:

Wayman Tisdale, 44. NBA star, and University of Oklahoma player before that. I hear he was an excellent musician.

Wayne Allwine, 62. The voice of Mickey Mouse for (very close to) my entire lifetime. His wife has been the voice of Minnie Mouse, too.

Millvina Dean, 97. The last survivor of the Titanic, she was just a baby in April 1912.

David Carradine, 72.

Ed McMahon, 86.

Farrah Fawcett, 62.

Michael Jackson, 50.

Gale Storm, 87. (I had to look her up, I am too young.)

Billy Mays, 50.

We joke that things come in threes. This is three sets of three. And this is not the definitive list, there have been other celebrity deaths since May. I am not going to make any pithy jokes today. The world has lost a lot of great talents recently. My childhood has taken a pretty hard hit.

On a more personal note, I found out this weekend that my Uncle has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. They caught it early, and it is a very treatable kind of cancer. He lives near and is familiar with M.D. Anderson, and my Aunt is a nurse. My mind keeps going back to Esther in the Bible... "for such a time as this". I know that God has prepared them for this trial. I would appreciate prayer on behalf of my family.

I hosted a baby shower on Saturday. My friend Ferret came with her family to be showered with gifts... from Kansas. And we had a friend drive up from Dallas. Yes, if you do the math... she drove 4 hours each way to spend only 2 hours with us! We have dedicated friends. The new house is not clean, but things are strategically stacked. I have several weeks to get ready for the housewarming that the wonderful ladies at church are going to give us.

I have noticed that I complain a lot. I am sorry for that. Of what use is complaining? I am blessed. I have a roof over my head, I don't owe money each month to a landlord anymore. I have two cars, two cats, two bedrooms. I have food in the kitchen, and energy to cook it. I have a full sized washer and dryer. I have so much to be happy about, yet I allow myself to be convinced that I am not worthy, or appreciative. Satan sneaks in and lies to me, and I allow those lies to take over my attitude. That is such a sorry existence. I need to be reminded (as often as the Jews in the Bible, it seems) that God is always here, and that He continually provides me with everything I could want and more.

Thank someone today!

The Universe Has A Warped Sense Of Humor!

The car I got from Enterprise (paid for by the other guy's insurance) is a newer version of the car that hit me! Yes, I was assigned a 2009 Nissan Altima. The car that hit me was a 1995 model. This is a black car. I would never own a black car, not on purpose. Not in Oklahoma. The temperatures this week are supposed to be over 90 all week. With the 60% humidity and more, the temperatures are way too hot to have such a big dark car.

It is a smooth ride, turns soft like butter! Lots of fun cubbies to explore, way too many cup holders, and useless gauges to distract my attention while driving. I like knowing that there is a cruise control. But the first time I pushed the button to turn it on, I accidentally honked the horn. In fact, I honked three times before I realized that I was the one honking. I spent probably 10 minutes just adjusting the car to me, and making sure I could reach what I needed to reach. Can't damage the car right in front of the rental office, you know?

Zipper got stretched only, and is back home as of late last night. Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. The next appointment in about 6 months will be the rod replacement surgery, provided she does not break them before that. She was showing Daddy the ropes this time, since he has not been there for a stretch before. Apparently, she was angelic for Daddy. He got to see the rare happy side of a girl on the edge. I have not heard how much she grew with being straightened out. Now we just need to get some more fat on her bones to cushion her.

I have been trying to trim our budget recently. Our house related expenses went up a little when we bought this house. So I am trying to cut back on brand name things. I went to Aldi. This grocery store has good prices on food that is not name brand. I decided to try their milk, since it was so much cheaper than others. Big mistake. This stuff tasted like colored water. I used to get 2% milk that tasted better. Mystic, who usually loves drinking milk after my cereal is gone, turned her nose up at it. That sealed the decision. I have decided to not skimp on milk. I am going back to Braum's. I found a store that has the 1/2 gallon for $0.20 less than the store near DH's work. For as little milk as I use, I can pay a little more for the good stuff.

I am off to clean again. Since I know your prayers work... please pray that I don't get bogged down by the work it will take to get my new home looking the way I want it. I can't imagine how to decorate anything, because I can't see past the junk I have in the way. If I can move my pride and junk out of the way, my home can be a more open place to share the hospitality I have in my heart. I know this goal is not so lofty that it can't be met. I know I can finally have a clean home, with God's help and yours. Thanks!

Be blessed today!

Ask, Seek, And Knock. Simple Instructions.

God is so big. Massive. My realization of this fills me with awe. Saying "awesome" doesn't really share the immensity of the relationship, or the epiphany. God could be concerned with governments, planets, galaxies... or birds, fleas and grass.... but He chooses to be concerned over me. Chooses to give me more than I could ever really know I needed.

I keep coming back to the Scripture. One idea in particular stands out recently. A theme, of sorts. The words of Jesus. The way he conversed with the apostles and the people. The words he said. I can imagine him shaking his head at us... like a frustrated parent. What were you thinking? Don't you know? I have told you over and over.

It shows in the way he started different explanations. "Have you not read the Scripture?" And it is in the way he instructed by reminding. "You do not have because you do not ask!"

For Christmas in 2007, I asked for a new car. I was frustrated with the Buick and didn't want it to die on me again in some remote place. I put the request in my Elfster account that we had for our family gift exchange. I added that if I didn't ask, I would never receive. Not that I was asking the family to provide, but that I wanted the request known.

Before Christmas 2008, I had the new car.

For Christmas in 2008, I decided to ask for the grandest thing I could think of. I know that I do not have a NEED for any THING, but I have many desires. God says he longs to give us the desires of our hearts. So I went bold. I asked for a new house.

Yesterday, we received the pre-approval letter to take to our contract meeting. We have been approved to make a loan to get a home. We have chosen the home, and are working to purchase it from the owners. This "For Sale By Owner" is a friend of ours, and they never even had to put a sign up at the house.

Before Christmas 2009, if all goes well, we will have the new house I asked for.

What have I missed out on by not asking for it?

Go talk to God. He wants to give us good things.

Safe, Sassy and Silly

I feel like I apologize every time I post. I have not been blogging enough, and I wonder if people even notice, because the hints to write have not come as often as I expected. I do keep up with many of my blogger buddies on Facebook. While it isn't the same, it is more instant, and easier for me.

I have to say for the benefit of my panicked friends, there were tornadoes here in OKC on Tuesday afternoon. My house didn't even get so much as ONE hailstone. Which is good. I could see the storm, to my west, and moving to the north. I have a friend in radio who recorded the storm from his back porch on a cell phone video. It was spectacular. (God is so big!) We are fine, and all our church family and friends are fine. I don't even know anyone who got wind damage or debris thrown at their house.

Thank you to all the friends who checked on me via phone and Facebook. We are not harmed by the tornado, and I value your good thoughts, prayers and well wishes. You are so very important to me. I don't get to say it often, but I should do so more.

My Bro is getting married. This is a little odd. I never even asked what he thought of me saying yes when DH proposed. I was so excited, I didn't think about the family opinions. I don't really know much about Future SIL. I know that she is nice, and pretty, and has Bro's heart. She thinks about Mom and Bro, and not just herself. (The past is behind us...) I have decided that she is good for Bro. In the past, with other girlfriends, I have wondered if Bro was settling. This time, I see that he has THE one. I can't argue with that. I am blessed that he found someone that I can be friends with. I would hate to hurt him by feuding with his wife. I don't see that being a problem here. And we are blessed.

Bro has been happy to plan the wedding according to Future SIL's wishes. I don't even know where the actual ceremony is going to be held. The wedding (and our vacation around it) will be held in Las Vegas, NV. We just got our tax refund in the direct deposit today... so the trip will be nice. We won't be gambling the money away, but we won't be forced to eat $1 hot dogs from the corner stand all week, either. We might even get to take in a show, thanks to this windfall.

Now I am going to have two sisters in law. SIL 1 and 2? Like Thing 1 and Thing 2 in Dr. Seuss books. This makes me laugh. I will have to think of a way to note the difference here on Blogger, so that you can know which SIL I speak of when I randomly mention life events.

DH and I are making a concerted effort to buy a home. We have picked the home, and chosen the Realtor who will guide and help us on the way. I need your prayers on the matter... I am scared. It is a good nervous fear, not the bad "I shouldn't be doing this" fear. I just don't want the fear to cripple me. We are committing to a Mortgage, when the economy and loan process are in the toilet. If one can afford it, now is the time to buy, while the rates are low and sellers are desperate to get out of their overpriced homes. This one is not overpriced, in fact the seller wants to let it go for around $15,000 less than the estimated value of the home. I will post more as we progress.

One last thing....Funny Friday.

Quotes from my Wednesday night Women's Class:
1. What good is having faith if you do not use it?
2. God is gonna be up; there is no sense to me losing sleep over my problems. I am going to bed.
3. Are there any prayer requests? "I have a plethora." (First thought in my head: Do you KNOW what a Plethora is??? We have a lot of fun in Wednesday night class!)

Have a great Valentine's Day!

The Sound Of Silence Has A Loud Echo

I wanted to blog. I needed to blog. I got to thinking of how much I have not blogged lately. I sat at the laptop, thinking of all the things I should be doing (oh, the list is long and there is a lot of work on it), and of the election results. The poem in the previous post just rather jumped out of me. It has been a long time since I wrote much poetry. I have always enjoyed writing, and I have some poetry that I would like to share here. (Buried in a box in my spare room, and pretty close to lost right now.) I can say that writing has saved my life on at least two occasions. Unfortunately, that is literal, and not figurative.

I think every girl probably thinks about suicide, especially in Jr. High, when it is fashionable to make a feeble attempt. I came to the conclusion that everyone hated me, and I was worth nothing. I believe God nudged me to call a friend, and talk it out, and she nudged me to write it all down. Those were some powerful poems, and I may never share them with anyone. I don't quite "get" them anymore. I read one a few weeks ago, and was struck by how morbid it sounded, and how I left it there. I never really resolved the poem, even though it had helped me to resolve my feelings. No wonder the people who read it (all 2 of them) thought I was still in the gloom.

I will have you all know (please, no desperate calls) that I am fine. I am not in a funk, even though the election didn't make me happy. I have some family issues that are causing minor stress, but God is here, and I am going to make it.

Speaking of family... my Grams is in the hospital right now with a bad case of pneumonia. I have been hearing from the Aunts for two years or more that the next big bad cold she got might be the end of her. If it becomes necessary to gather the family, Mom would have to come from NM to KS, and travel would be slow and quite inconvenient. I don't know what to ask for, other than your good thoughts and prayers. I don't know the path for Grams' health. All I know is that God is in control of it all, and I want HIM to be the one to make the tough choices, and I need HIM to hold my hand through it all.

I need more sunshine. Winter is hard for me, I get stuck in the Seasonal Affect blues, and it is hard to snap out of them. Even when I am not out IN the sunshine, having it through the window is good.

OK, for those of you who have been in my house at any time in the past four years.... I mopped the kitchen. Yes, you read me right, I mopped! I am cleaning for the jewelry party I am having on Friday night... and I decided that the house needed to be clean. People would notice if I didn't clean a little deeper, so I got a new mop and got out the Pine Sol Lemon, and I mopped. Once I find the floor underneath all the boxes in the dining room, I plan to mop that too. Have I said recently how much I hate housework? And that I have never really had a clean house to maintain? Yeah, I am trying to change that this week.

I am such a procrastinator. This week has been all about moving stuff from view, and cleaning the dust bunnies that have hidden underneath it for far too long. I should have done this almost 2 years ago, when I first quit my job to stay home. Ah, well. At least I will have something nice to show for it. A party! With friends! And they may not be scared to come back to my home!

Enough procrastinating now, too. I am going to take some of this junk to Goodwill, and move the rest of it around, and clean more of the floor.

Have a sparkly day!

Personal Foul On The Offense, Five Yard Penalty, Repeat The Down!

Fall has begun dropping her leaves, and DH leaves me on Friday evenings for his Football radio show. My hopes of a Friday night date are crushed for 12 weeks every fall. This year, he got a raise for this part-time fun gig, and he even gets a week off so that we can go to a wedding. This is year number 11. Yes, he has been doing this since before we got engaged. So, I should probably not complain, as I knew this was coming.

I have a little wooden sign that says "we interrupt this marriage for Football Season!", and it is kinda true. Not only do I have to ignore the fantasy leagues, I have to find things to do on my own once a week. (Yeah, that is so hard, let me tell you. Lots of reading goes on in these 12 weeks.) I remember the guys that were doing this in the beginning announced our engagement the weekend after it happened, and our wedding the next year. The whole state knew we were attached. The on-air talent has changed, and the method of recording reports from guys who were at the games has gone computerized, but the fun is still there. I no longer go with DH (I did go with him the first 2 or 3 years), because this is his thing, and I really belive that he needs a few things that are his alone.

Tonight, I was planning to sit at home and write a post, not unlike this one. Then I got an invitation to be with friends this evening, and I jumped at the chance. I drove to meet them at a restaurant that had been recommended to them, and it was in between our homes.

I don't usually write about my dining experiences. They usually aren't terribly exciting, or excitingly terrible. Tonight, however, was a new low.

I bet my wonderful friends would have paid for me if I hadn't taken it upon myself to tell the waitress we were dutch. I didn't get an argument from them, but I didn't want to assume anything. We all ordered our drinks. When she came back, we ordered our food, and my friends ordered an appetizer to share for the table. The appetizer came. Before our drinks. That, I think, was the highlight of our evening. The appetizer was chips and queso and salsa. The salsa was a thick tomato, with cumin in it. It was hot enough to be interesting, but not painful. Jody called it a spaghetti sauce with cumin; I suppose he wasn't impressed. The cheese was good. The chips were fresh, though quite a few of them were soft and greasy.

The food, once it showed up, was all lukewarm to cold. That was good for Belle, who is two, and needed her screaming hot chicken tenders cooled, but it was kinda queasy for the rest of us. We had to ask three times to get the five extra napkins we got. (notice we had a two year old at the table) Jody sent his food back, because he rightfully expected hot brisket and ribs. I had a burger that was insulated by green chiles, two cheeses and a slightly toasted bun. It was a little more pink than I prefer, but I wasn't going to be trouble for the situation. I try to be congenial, but sometimes the patience is tested.

So the service wasn't that great. The food wasn't great. The whole experience was mediocre. Good friends, good company. All in all, it was a fun trip, and a learning experience. We won't be eating at that location (2nd Street in Edmond) of Steve's Rib again anytime soon. Next time Jody wants BBQ, I am going to insist on Swadley's. Or Earl's Rib Palace.

When I came home, I thought it was a cat that was at the end of my driveway. It was kinda silvery, and it cringed, and ran back up toward the house. Then, I saw it's tail. It was an opossum in my driveway. Poor thing must have thought I was chasing it with my car. It ran all the way up the driveway, and through one of the gates to get into our backyard (or maybe the neighbor's yard, as the gates are side by side). No wonder the dogs in the area go bonkers at random times. There are squirrels, rabbits, and now opossums in my yard, and a fence to keep the dogs out.

I have been busy this week with loafing around. In this case, it would have been better if that meant I was making bread. Nope. Just sitting here, trying not to get sick (drank too much milk this week), and doing as little real work as I can get away with. I have joined Facebook, but I like Blogger better so far. But, hey, I can keep up superficially with so many more people now. I have tracked down a few people from my high school, and I have discovered a few shorter degrees of separation among my friends.

Please pray for my mom. Her doctors are not telling her all she needs to know about her kidney issues. She is pretty irritated with them right now. She will start on dialysis at the beginning of October, and is on a list to get a machine of some sort. I don't know much about it yet, but I am going to learn as much as I can, and hopefully share information she hasn't been given yet.

I wish sometimes that I could win the lottery like Earl on TV... I would pay for Mom and Dad to move wherever she needed to be, most likely closer to me. I would make sure that Dad could retire comfortably, and they could finish traveling to all the states... Mom still has to see Florida and Alaska. And I would bring a lawsuit to end all lawsuits against the doctors who are helping her suffer by not sharing what she needs to know about her condition. I know in my head that it wouldn't help, but in my heart I know that getting them put out of business might actually save lives. I want my Mom out of the small town that doesn't know what to do with her. I want her in a place where I can be the bully she needs on her side...I just want to be close to my family. This living a long day's drive away is really bothering me right now.

Jody's wife Lisa told me she was a Nervous Nancy, and she wasn't going to sleep well tonight, worrying over her family in the path of Hurricane Ike. I have family in his path as well, and I understand her totally. She was a sweetie and walked me to my car (as any good mother/Nervous Nancy would do) after our dinner. I think we were all ready to go home after our unsatisfying meal.

Home is a nice place to be. Even if the animals are trying to take over.

Can I Bore You Some More?

Word of the Post
Today's word is: caliginous
/ca*lidge"i*nous/ adjective
Misty, dark, dim, obscure.
London is often portrayed as claiginous. The murky fog dims the lights, and gives the city at night an ominous glow.
I was under the impression that it meant "made of tin", because of the line in The Wizard of Oz. The Wizard calls the Tin Man a "clinking, clanking, clattering collection of caliginous junk". Made of tin would actually be "ferruginous", but that wouldn't alliterate with clinking and clattering, now, would it? The idea being communicated (supposedly above everyone's head) is that the Tin Man is rusted and heartless. I imagine a batch of tin cans tied to the back of a car at a wedding. Empty, noisy, old, rusted and utterly without beauty. The Wizard is attempting to insult the Tin Man, and show his great intelligence.
At this link I found an interesting discussion of this thought, spawned by his own ponderances of irony. Here I found another, more directly related to the script of the movie. This person delves into the plot twist that the "Oz is not that brilliant after all."
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I have a matter of very great concern. I don't want to give names, or too many details, for the sake of privacy. Please pray for my friend. She had a tubal pregnancy that was ended today. I am praying, and knowing that many of you will do the same for her. I praise God for His family of believers to help in this time of pain.

Ferret and Zipper are in town for Zipper's oral surgery on Wednesday. They are working in the back of her throat to close a little hole, so that she can keep air separated between her mouth and her nose. It will help her be able to make more consonant sounds when she speaks. This could be very interesting in the long run. Zipper-Speak is very vowel oriented, and very hard to understand, even sometimes for her mom. I have to be looking at her, to see what she is trying to do with her mouth to really get what she says. Today at lunch, she told us she needed a "map". She meant "nap". Close. Still, she hit that P with perfect clarity, and that is new in the past few months to me.

We took the Buick in to the Honda dealership last night, and got all our personal stuff out of it. It is a 2002 model, but it had a book for a 2003. Whatever. At least it had a book. I have never been so very happy to be rid of a car. The relief is so sweet. When we thought about buying a car before this, we were in the finance office of the Hyundai dealer before the dread nearly made me puke. This time, I never got the growling pit feeling in my tummy, I never got the "get me out of here, NOW" voice in my head. It was almost painless. I say almost, only because I now have to PAY the price we agreed upon. A little more friendly conversation got us a better interest rate, yet again. This is a total of 13 points better than the loan we got on the Buick in 2003. We have paid off two cars, early, since then, and have very little other debt. It is good to know that the hard work we have done was not useless.

Now, we have to figure out what sort of coverage we wish to carry on our cars, and get the insurance set up. If you live in Oklahoma, and have need of an insurance quote, I have the guy for you.

There is much to do this week, and not nearly enough time to get it all done. I hope I don't lose my mind!

Raise your glass to mindless existence! I shall enjoy mine filled with a little water, on the rocks.

What Next? I Shouldn't Have Asked That.

I have two or three bits of posts saved on my now defunct laptop. Along with all the pictures from our vacation. I don't know if I can rescue any of it. Which means that some of the pictures on here are the only records I currently have of my vacation. Joy.

Apparently, 9 months ago when we got our laptop, it came with a pirate copy (or more likely a Volume License copy) of Windows XP. I don't know if the original got stolen from somewhere, if Windows noticed there were 20 machines using the same key code, or what... but yesterday and without warning, I can't even look on my own desktop, because Windows XP is non-functioning. I can't log on to the internet, I can't log into my user functions... the laptop is suddenly one very expensive paper weight. The last laptop had a hard drive crash that was basically irreplaceable. This one will likely be wiped when we install the new "Genuine" Windows XP copy we just had to buy online.

I haven't gotten over the grieving, and now I can't even blog about it the way I wanted to! Frustration. Lots and lots of frustration. We do still have the desktop computer in the office, so I am still blessed with access to the internet. The internet is such a blessing. I have so many friends now that I would not have known otherwise.

So... Do me a favor, please? Pray. Pray that I do NOT get angry and yell mean things to the phone help. They don't get paid enough to really handle that, and it isn't their fault the system stinks. (I have been on the receiving end of that, it is no fun. I know enough to ask for a supervisor, who can get me to the manager, who can get me Bill Gates himself if I have to...but the receptionist or the call center helper in Asia doesn't care that my laptop became a rock with no warning.) Also, pray that the money we spent this evening doesn't end up being down the tubes because of not being able to USE the fix we paid for.

There is purpose to everything, even if I don't see it right now. And I don't see it right now.

"Just like the shapes on my grandmother's rug,
You can't see the pattern when you're too close up.
From my point of view we are all far too human to see...
It's part of the mystery."
~~~ Song called Part of the Mystery by Dana Key (as in Degarmo and Key, if you are interested, but this was from his solo album called By Divine Design)

Also, this week I received some more bad news. I have another friend named Kim, who also died in a car accident, also on Friday last week, and also left a lot of family and friends behind. Kim McDaniel, a friend who lived in Farmington, New Mexico, was going with her family to Albuquerque to join a cruise trip to celebrate her daughter's High School Graduation. The family was in their SUV when they hit icy conditions, lost control of the car, crossed three lanes of traffic, and got hit by an oncoming vehicle. Kim died in their vehicle, and two people died in the other vehicle. So instead of going on a cruise, Jade is healing from her own wounds from the accident, and mourning the loss of her mom. I am crying just typing it here.

I can't fathom the depths of God's love, and I know that He holds both Kim McDaniel and Kim Whitlow in His hands... but I don't know how much more sorrow I can handle. I am weary.

On a brighter note (since we all seem to need one), my Dad has been by to read the blog, and said that he liked my writing. He told Mom that I am very detailed. That was a wonderful thing to hear. I told Mom that it is a fine balance between having enough detail to be interesting, and keeping enough anonymity to be safe. That "way with words" that MammaMia complemented me on came at the hefty cost of a college education I didn't even finish. As previously posted, however, I have finally paid it off. And then I bought another dictionary to read. I have thought about reading the Thesaurus next. Next year, after I finish the 888 Challenge this year.

Please tell your family you love them today. Give them a big hug, and make today count. We may not get a tomorrow.

Memorial Day Thanks And Thoughts

Memory is a newly hurt part of my anatomy today. The old wounds and new are blending to become a scar that I will boast as making me stronger, if only because it didn't kill me.

I am taking a pause today to remember many who are no longer with me, and those who have served and who are currently serving for Old Glory. Some of their actions have been small, but the effects have been ripples on the lake, impacting many areas of my life in small and large ways.

I pray that God blesses those who have served our Country in the past. I pray that God stands beside those serving our Country today. I ask compassion on the families of those of us left to mourn death. I pray that you have some measure of peace today.

IN MEMORY OF:

Phillip Thomas Sanders
Ervin Chee
Gary and Kim Whitlow
Charles and Violet Clarke
Bob Yarbrough
Jimmy Elijah Chaffin
Dean Garrison
Russ Lewis
Jim Moore
John Clark
Adam Langford


HONORING VETERANS:

Franklin Clarke
Roger Gaddie
D. C. "Mac" Macdonald
D. "Grumpy Old Veteran" Rich


HONORING SOLDIERS CURRENTLY SERVING:

Jonathan Hannan

Please do not think that this is a definitive list. If I have forgotten you or your loved ones, please excuse my lack of memory. This is the list that came to mind today.
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May your BBQ not burn, may your corn not pop (unless you wish it to!) and may your watermelon seeds spit the farthest!

My Heart Breaks Today

There are times when news is just not real. It takes a while for tragic news to sink in. I got the phone call, and I still don't comprehend it. It can't be. It just isn't right. And yet, here we are.

I made a friend online barely a year ago. I met her in person on my recent vacation to Colorado. She was delightfully fun to talk to, and had so much love in her heart for others. She had a deep desire to be a woman of God, a wife of nobility (like the Proverbs 31 wife), and a true friend.

Her husband was quiet (at least during dinner), and so much like my own DH. A great love for the Lord was stored up in his heart. He was great with children (this is a crop of a picture I took of him holding one of MammaMia's girls), and cared deeply for his wife.

This afternoon, I learned that Suezque and her Hubby had perished in a tornado on Friday night, while driving to Kansas to visit family members for the Memorial Day Weekend. The car was picked up by the tornado, and thrown several hundred feet off the road. There is a video as well as the news story here. Please pray for both families.

I am grateful that Jayme and Sally thought to call me. They had noticed that Suezque and I had become good friends, and a daily part of each other's lives. She was a bright spot on my blog, and in my life. I have to trust in God, that He will keep her close to His heart, until we meet again.

While this is a profound sorrow for those of us who will miss them terribly, there is joy to know that they are now with the Lord.

Stimulating Happy Dance

Word of the Post
Today's word is: vulpine
/vul"pine/ adjective
Of or pertaining to a fox; foxy, crafty, cunning, artful; resembling a fox.
When running, she exhibits the vulpine agility necessary to evade the hunters.
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First of all, Happy Mother's Day!

To all the women in the world (like ME) who are not mothers... your place is equally honorable. Women are made to fill a void in the world. God put us here to complete and complement humanity. We bring beauty into a drab environment, and laughter and love into the home. We help others to raise their children, and we continually learn from our own mothers, sisters and friends who are mothers. We are created by the Grandest Artist, and we are Masterpieces. Do not let the world tell you that you are not worthy if you are not a mother. You are a Daughter of the King of Kings, and He knows your true Beauty.
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If it's not one thing, it's another. I have a few things I would like your help pleading to God.
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Zipper managed to break a rod in her back last week. She told Ferret that she had a "pokey" hurt in her back. They are getting her rod replaced on this Monday afternoon. They were going to stretch her in late June anyway, so this just moves up the job. Please keep the kiddo in your prayers. She did well with getting her tonsils out a month ago. She is such a brave little thing.
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I have heard no update on Pop since the last one I posted here. I would guess that he already has his pacemaker/defibrillator installed (makes him sound like a car or a computer, doesn't it?), and I hope he does NOT get the feeling of getting kicked in the chest by a mule when it works.
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My friend Lisa (the second one... Version 2.0...the impostor?) has a family friend that recently passed away. She is dealing with her own family issues surrounding this loss, and I want her to have strength and compassion. I don't want to test her patience, I just want the funeral and other family events to go smoothly, without any "episodes". It is never easy being the peacemaker in a family.

Her hubby, Jody, is a good friend of ours too, and it looks like he will have to start all over on his Doctorate...again. Yes, he has had to do this once before, and this adds yet another year to to his finishing goal. I am hoping that he just lets it go for the summer, because he is leading a group of O.C. students to Europe. I don't want this setback to cloud his travel fun.
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On a note of Praise, I have a friend from Texas who is going to go to work in a foreign country, with a group from "Let's Start Talking"... and he just got his full financial need funded last week. This group goes to other countries, and teaches people to read and use English by reading the Bible with them. It is an outreach for God, as well as for literacy education.
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Is it appropriate to say that God blessed us with money, when it is a refund from the thieving government? I would guess the answer is YES, because thieving governments are not in the habit of sharing refunds.

Another note of Praise: We got our Stimulus Package refund on Friday. The first thing we did was pay a bill. I had one final bill from my days at O.C. It was down to exactly $600. It is now paid in full. Yay! I am free of my financial burden to Oklahoma Christian. (If I get a call from them tomorrow asking for money, they are going to get hysterical laughter, but no money.) I am one step closer to total debt freedom! We still have about 10 to 15 years of payments on DH's loans, but we are ahead on those.

We have talked about different things to do with the remaining $600. We had wanted to get a new TV stand, a couple of shelves to match, a coffee table, and some low shelves to store shoes and DVDs. I had also wanted to save some of it. However, we have two cars to give minor repairs to (likely with major labor charges), so I don't know how much will really happen in our household decorating. This bill being gone frees up $100 per month to save or whatever, so that is going to stimulate the economy a bit. My economy. Ha!

Time to lock up the house for the night. I hope everyone had a good day. Enjoy Life!

Free Friday

Thursday afternoon update on Pop:
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Change of plans! We got a call from Pop about 8:15am today that they were flying him to Albuquerque to have the pacemaker/defibrillator put in. Mom hurried up the hospital and then found out that she will be flying with him to Albuquerque. So Ellyn (my sister) and I to are flying around trying to get everything packed, animals and watering looked after by neighbors and etc for--we're not sure how many days. Those of you who know me know that spontaneous isn't exactly my middle name but there's not much else to do in this case! :)

As far as this pacemaker/defibrillator, I read the pamphlet on it last night about 1:30am and IF I remember right, I think they call it an ICD, which I just looked up and it is short for Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator. Basically the pacemaker regulates his heart rate. If the device senses that his heart gets out of rhythm, the defibrillator immediately shocks his heart back into rhythm. According to the pamphlet, some patients never need the defibrillator. Patients who do however report that some never feel the shock, some notice some sensation and others say it feels like being kicked in the chest by a mule. Hopefully Pop doesn't have the mule experience if he ever needs it, but it does sound like the best choice for him and should keep his heart from doing the dangerous ventricular fibrillation it was doing yesterday.

As of yet, we don't know when exactly they will be doing the procedure. Pop's doctor last night was saying that usually the first day they evaluate him and then do the procedure the next day. We're hoping then that they do the procedure tomorrow (Friday) because otherwise it will be Monday before they do it. I'd hate for Pop to have to sit in the hospital waiting for 3 or more days before they do the procedure, but I if that's the case there's nothing we can do about it.

I just spoke with Mom a few minutes ago and she said they would be flying them both to the Heart Hospital of NM (NM Heart Institute) around noon (MST) which is just about any minute now. For those of you that are out of state, Albuquerque is about 200 miles south of Farmington/Aztec. The Heart Hospital is off of I-25 near the downtown area, so it's basically in the (pardon the pun) heart of Albuquerque.

So I will try to keep you updated if I have internet access to do so. Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers!

Love,
Laura
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I think this means the prayers worked, and Pop won't have to have bypass surgery, since they are afraid for his chances of survival. But, he is still having surgery, so please keep him at the top of your list this weekend.

For another bit of danger averted, we had a small tornado fly-by on Wednesday. There were at least two confirmed touch-downs within five miles of our house. I had the cats in their travel boxes, all useless electricity turned off and unplugged, and the laptop with me in the bedroom near a huge heavy blanket, a battery-operated radio and a flashlight. We just had wind, which can sometimes be more damaging, and rain. Lots of rain. The circulation was visible from my front porch, moving due north. The whole storm was only an EF Zero. There were gusts recorded at one of the Television Stations around 120 mph, but most of the storm was moving near 55 mph. The Meteorologist was amazed, and said on the air that he didn't believe the measurement. But, the storm broke a tree in their yard near their building. Their own staff were hiding in the central bathroom.

For all that worry and preparation, nothing happened. I am thankful, don't mistake my meaning, but... I am a little disappointed. Not that I wanted our house to get hit. I just wanted to SEE it! I have missed so many storms that had awesome clouds, visible circulations, and moving funnels. I just wanted to see one! Up close, but not dangerously close. I suppose it is a craving for something dangerous. My sense of adventure was piqued, and I can't help but feel that cowering was the right thing to do, but I also feel I missed a great chase. How twisted does that sound? (I hadn't thought of it as a pun, until I read it again. Ha!)

DH was at work preparing to leave for the day when the sirens went off. He and others decided to stay at work, and save the computers, while not driving home in the storm. The line of the storm was bearing down on us at 5:00 pm, and was well past us, and weakening, by 5:30 pm.

I still have a few thoughts to type for the final installment (maybe two) of the Vacation story. I am doing laundry today, and building a paper budget, so it will still be a day or two before those get out there. I am truly sorry, because I don't want the people who were visited at the end of our trip to think that they are any less important than the people we saw first. Too bad, because the longer I wait, the less detail I get saved.

Happy Weekend!

Update on "Pop" - Please Keep Praying!

This is the email I got from my friend about her dad late last night (I actually saw it today). I said I would update you, so I am just sharing most of the email.

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Hi Everyone,

Mom finally got to talk to the cardiologist this morning, as well as Pop's regular doctor. The cardiologist explained the details of the angiogram to them. He told them that he was going to send Pop's case to a cardiologist in Albuquerque for a second opinion. He did mention however that this doctor in Albuquerque was aggressive, meaning that he will probably say it's possible to do a bypass on Pop but without necessarily taking his health and such into account. In the meantime I believe it has been decided that they will give Pop's heart about 6 weeks to recuperate and then a decision will be made about surgery.

We were hoping that he would be able to go home tomorrow but the doctor ordered some sort of cardio-therapy to hopefully strengthen his heart some. Now, what this therapy involves we don't know yet. So if the doctor has his way, Pop will stay in the hospital another day or so. If Mom has HER way, he's coming home tomorrow night. {Edit from Chelf: This means Wednesday night} Should be interesting to see who wins this one. ;)

Again, Pop (for now anyway) is at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington.

So that's the latest as far as I know. Pop looked good tonight, was in his usual good humor and said he felt OK. Please keep up the thoughts and prayers on his (and the family's) behalf! We're not out of the woods necessarily, but the news is a bit better today I think than yesterday.

Love,

Laura

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I have been busy the past few days, so I have accidentally (rather, purposefully) suspended the Vacation Chronicles. I hope to get back to it soon; the final installment is currently in the works. I believe that the joy of the journey is less important than the immediate, real needs of my friends. I am hopeful that many of you will agree, and join me in prayer.

Sitting At The Big Table May Not Be All That Fun

Word of the Post
Today's word is: pray
/pray/ verb
To beg, ask, entreat; earnest request; a religious act of petition from a deity.
2 Corinthians 5:20b (KJV) ~ "...we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

Prithee seems to be an olde English contraction of "pray thee", meaning "I ask of you". Prithee, does this maketh sense to thou?
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I am not precisely sure when it happened.

Today my mother called me to ask my opinion.

Mom spoke to me as a friend, an equal. She consulted me for an honest opinion. I gave it to her. We weighed each point with cons and pros. I think we were being drawn to the same conclusion.

She had called both of her sisters, and asked them as well. Aunt S. is the older sister, experienced in raising more children, and having grandchildren, and a thoughtful consultant. Aunt M. is the younger sister, the nurse, and a quite good sounding board herself.

I am not certain when I became one of the trusted few.

Somewhere between my impetuous teenaged youth and my stubborn foolish current age, my puny, proud little heart befriended my mother's. It feels good. It feels great. It is sad at the same time.

The question, you see, is a dangerous one with future consequences. Mom recently had both her pinkie toes amputated. She is healing well on the left foot, but the right foot is not following the dance quite right. The doctor gave her options on taking yet another toe from the right foot, all the way to removing all the toes on the right foot. {Edit: She will be losing all four of the remaining toes on her right foot.} This would be an effort to keep her foot. He didn't even really give her an opinion as to what he wished to do for her, but is leaving the decision up to her.

We discussed for a long time the facts of the matter. Her heart is not happy to have another surgery, but the doctor is certainly going to do a surgery on Wednesday, January 16. {Edit: The surgery will take place on Wednesday, January 23, because they needed her to be off the blood thinners for longer than two days.} He will remove at least one toe, or all four remaining toes, as far as she tells him to go. They speculate that removing only one toe will prolong the process, and she will be required to have other surgeries later. If all the toes are removed, her foot will have skin left to cover and close the wound. She will not just have a hole on her foot where her toes used to be, like she apparently does now. (I imagine this to end up looking like a tree stump, somewhat. When you cut a branch off, and paint it, it grows a little ridge of bark around the edges, and the middle just stays flat. I think this image keeps me from totally breaking down, so don't correct me, OK?) I have not seen her toes since before the first surgery, and I doubt I shall see any of her for most of this year. Pointing out my lack of medical background, I told her my opinion was that, to prevent further issues down the road, she should probably have all her toes removed.

My heart breaks each time I think about it. We were so calm. She wanted someone to just tell her what to do. Said it several times. She knows perfectly well all the logic that must go into this decision. The magnitude of it weighs her down. I don't know if she just wanted to be relieved of the pressure, or if she really has no idea what is best. I believe it is a combination of the two.

I ask tonight for your prayers. I can guide my mother all I want, but the final decision is up to her, to dad, and to the doctor. I can tell her what to do. (She ASKED me, after all. That was a first!) But I can't be there to hold her hand, or tell her that it will all be fine. I don't know that.

And I don't know what to do... other than pray. And fidget, continually, from a distance.

Ice, Ice, Baby

Ice storm, Ice refreezing, Baby came.

Our friend had her son on Wednesday, by C. His name (the one they have not quibbled over) is Alexander. He was 9 pounds even, and 21 3/4 inches tall. For Teh Club, email me if you don't know which friend I speak of.

I am on borrowed time with computers. Our home has been without power since Monday at 6:00 pm. Be not expecting a post anytime soon. I don't know when we will have power again. I have hot water, but nothing else in the way of creature comforts.

Pray for me, that I don't kill the OG&E dudes who are "working" to get our power back. Pray that we don't run out the welcome at our gracious friends' house. Pray that I don't lose my mind in the suitcases.

Just pray. After all the car trouble, this is just one more test. I don't remember praying for patience....

Boil That Trouble, Cauldron Bubble

Word of the Post
Today's word is: forgive
/for*give"/ verb
To cease to feel resentment toward; to give up claim to retribution upon. The person or the action can be the object of this verb; commonly one is the direct object, while the second is the indirect object, i.e. "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." - words of Jesus, Matthew 5:12.
To stop blaming; to absolve from payment. This does not imply that the action was not wrong, but that the feelings of the wronged can be put aside for the betterment of the wrongdoer.
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Forgive me, I have not posted in a long while. This life gets crazy at times. I have been dealing with travel, helping my friends, and depression. I don't know what causes my depression, but I know that I have it. I have never been diagnosed, because I have no insurance, and do not feel comfortable talking to a doctor that may not be a Christian. I know to some of you, that makes no sense. To me, it is everything. I want to talk out my problems, but I don't want a heathen to listen to the issues that effect my Christianity, because I don't think they can understand the background music. I don't want to talk to a Christian counselor (there are some fine options at my congregation), because I am afraid that I may end up as an example in a public lesson. Either way, I sit here without help, and don't know exactly where to turn.

So, in an effort to get myself out of the funk I have allowed myself to fall into.... I pour myself into work. Around the house, I have done dishes and laundry enough to make my hands raw. For my friends, I have traveled to St. Louis, picked up kids from school and laughed. I have not tried writing, which is usually my first course of action. I have gone through the motions of having a normal life, and hated most of it. Today, I felt I must write. If not for you, then simply for me. In an effort to stir up conversation, and maybe to get myself to think more critically, I want to start a new topic.

I have many strong opinions on this subject, and you may not agree with me at all, but I have to state them, as it is my right to do. I have been prayerfully considering my statements, and I ask that you prayerfully consider your answers. I do not mean to cause division, and I am trying to maintain my own humility toward the subject. My first resource is the Bible. I want to make sure to keep the integrity of the Word, and allowing my opinions to form from there and not from my own pride or humanity.

Many times over the past few months, I have thought on the subject of sexuality. Primarily the sinfulness and public acceptance of the homosexual community. Their public push for equality mirrors that of many minority groups in America. They all want so much equality that they become the standard, not the aberration.

What if the tendency is a born trait? I have a hard time believing that God would create a trait, and then tell us it is a sin. Leviticus 18:22 calls this act "detestable" or "an abomination" depending on the translation you look at. Leviticus 20:13 says that both parties in such an act should be put to death, and the guilt of their blood is on their own heads. Death is the God-decreed punishment for such sin. Why would any god, especially a Creator God, make something that He calls sinful and plans to destroy?

Romans 1:27 - "and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error." (*NOTE: Politically Incorrect thought warning: I don't care that my opinion is not PC. I don't try to be PC. Politics can kiss my left toe. I would rather be a Jesus Freak.) Seems that AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a punishment, a disease brought on by the sin of sexual misconduct. Probably not a new way to die, simply the new term for an age-old illness. I am not saying that everyone with AIDS is a sinner in this manner. There are many ways to Acquire this Deficiency. Children of drug users can get it, having done absolutely nothing wrong. Maybe it got its start in the depravity of sin?

I won't argue if the tendency to be attracted to the same sex is a born trait. I will say that, like any other sexual choice, it is the action and the lifestyle that are sin. I do believe that a person can change. I believe that sexual conduct is a choice. A person who has lived a gay lifestyle can repent, and abstain, as any heterosexual person can abstain. If the tendency is born, then it is a result of human error, not of creation.

I truly do not wish to know what goes on behind the door to anyone else's bedroom. It is none of my business. It is not my place to know, nor to judge. However, if it is brought to my attention (as in, "Hi, I'm gay!") I can feel the need to comment. God has already pronounced judgment on this sin. For me to call a sin by its name and to inform the sinner of the verdict is not a judging. I share only the judgment that is God's word. Sexual conduct in this manner is sin.

The spark on the kindling for this discussion for me this week was a movie ("What Makes a Family", made for TV, 2001) about a woman who had lost her partner (death), and was suing the maternal grandparents for custody of the child (the partner had a sperm-donated baby) she had helped to raise but she had no blood tie to. According to the movie, Florida was at that time the only state with laws still on the books preventing same-sex couples to adopt. Rosie O'Donnell (not my favorite political spokesperson) tried to adopt, in New York, a child from Florida, and was denied because of their laws.

I am not heartless. I want kids to have stable, safe, loving homes to live in. There are way more kids in this world who are unwanted by their birth parents, than there are foster and adoptive homes to care for them. There have been many studies to show (and used in these Florida court cases) that same-sex couples are not any more likely to raise gay children. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. The problem I see is that they are promoting "tolerance" for something that God does not tolerate. The children raised in these homes may not feel that they are personally supposed to be gay, but they are raised with the idea that being gay is OK. That it is "normal". That it is simply a persecuted minority, or a misunderstood cult.

I am not happy about it, but I have family members who have differing opinions and lifestyles than I do. We have had long discussions about this. We all still get along fine. We have a mutual respect. We all understand that Public Displays of Affection are gross, no matter who is doing it. We do not spend the night in each other's homes. We still invite them over for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And I pray all the time that their souls will be saved by a change of heart that may never come. It is hard to change a person who 1. does not want to change, and 2. has been with his partner longer than my own parents have been married (more than 38 years).

God calls homosexuality reprehensible. To raise a child in the opinion that it is OK is wrong. To have a strong opinion based on God's laws does not make me "intolerant".

To ignore God is an exercise in futility.

Let the games begin!

Strawberry Divinity

Troubles come in threes.

Mom is doing well, better than expected. Her heart doctor said she could go home Monday, her foot doctor said no until Tuesday around noon. They had done an MRI on her feet, to get more information about what was wrong, and they still had to get those results. I have not talked to her again today to make sure she really did go home, but I am sure she is fine. Her sisters are planning a trip to see her, so I don't have to be the one that must go home. That helps my conscience.

The second trouble was for my friend Cathy. Her dad passed away this morning, from a heart attack (the irony is not lost on me) that he suffered Sunday night. Her mother is going to have a hard time dealing, I think. The funeral will be on Thursday. I ask for prayers for Cathy and her whole family.

The third trouble is that today my car started acting up. On the way home, the low water light came on, and then my temperature gauge went way up. Roadrunner was with me. I took her home and then drove the car to the shop. I will find out tomorrow morning what was wrong. Water pump? Burst hose? Leak in radiator? Whatever it is, I hope it is not expensive. I can say, however, that this is the second time I have had interesting things happen at home when I was planning (hoping) to be out on the road going to New Mexico. I could have had the car die on the open road in the middle of nowhere, or had to have dad help me fix the car in order to get home again. I have had both of those happen before, so I am sure God is watching out for me.

Thanks for all your prayers.

Divine Raspberries

Sometimes, words escape me. (Don't act so shocked!) Sometimes, they overwhelm me. Tonight, words are not enough.

Just this morning in Bible class, we were asked if we ever felt like God spit on us. I know this sounds funny to many of you. It sounded funny to me. We talked about Jesus spitting in the dirt to make mud to heal blindness, not once but twice. "Jesus was a spitter." The thought was bad, but the ensuing conversation made us all gag. The sermon this morning asked a similar question, and I had to emulate (I was quiet!) the snort from forming a good spit. (Bible school teacher and his wife and DH and myself were all quite impressed with my humor and timing.) I seriously could not stop myself. I needed that laugh.

Do you ever feel like you get spat upon when expecting a different kind of healing? I feel a small bit like that this weekend.

I recently asked for prayers for my father, and now I need them for my mother. Mom had a mild heart attack on Friday. She will be in the hospital until after some tests on Monday. She is diabetic, and has sores on her feet from walking too much at work. The doctor was contemplating how to save her feet without amputating a pinkie toe, but those thoughts had to be put on hold when she went to the Emergency Room for her heart.

Asking for prayers for someone else is easy. I forget to ask them for myself. I am stressed again. I really don't like fidgeting from such a long distance. My friend said this morning that "hovering is so much better". She's right. She speaks volumes of wisdom from experience.

Living so far away from my family is a hard decision I made many years ago. My parents' health was much better back then. I have a hard time when friends, and even my husband, get to see their families so often. It starkly reminds me of my humanity, and the 100% mortality rate we share. I know it is the way of nature to bury our parents, but I don't want to have to do that just yet. I guess you could call it selfishness, or maybe it is more laziness or poverty. I just don't have the emotional wellbeing to watch my parents fail. They have worked so hard all these years, to make a good life for me and my brother, and to support themselves in their golden age. Sickness has ruined so much of that.

I think I have said too much. I did not say that I was at a loss for words tonight. Words are not enough, because my heart is crying out to God, and my mind has no idea of what words fit that. I am glad that I have the Holy Spirit to be my thesaurus for prayer.

The rain is falling. It smells wonderful. Wet, noisy, clean, cool and refreshing. I have an intense desire to go out barefoot and jump in a puddle. My yard is certainly a swamp by now, I should go dance and sing in the rain. Where is my umbrella? I need to have it to do the dance properly, right?

Is this Jesus' spit in the healing mud?

Fragrant Oil and Healing Prayer

Word of the Post
Today's word is: anfractuosity
/an*frac'tu*os"i*ty/ noun
The state of being anfractuous (yeah, like that helps), or full of windings and turnings; i.e. spires on a horn, or roads near cliffs.
Like a road full of hairpin turns, the mystery was full of anfractuosities.
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Enough about my mood....

I have been doing a lot of reading in the past few days. I love to study. The Bible, Dictionary, Encyclopedia, the Harry Potter series, whatever book I can get my hands on. I love to have discussions with people who read the same things, and actually think about what they have read. Ideas get stuck in my brain, and I have to express them, generally in writing. Usually, I make notes in a binder, and either tear up the paper (the angry writings) or keep it forever, to clutter up my house and make me wonder what I was thinking.

Today's ramblings were inspired by Niki's miracle story. Go check out her Journey blog (there is a link on the left side of my front page). She expressed sadness that the people who raised her (religious family) told her that the miracles died out with the Apostles. I was brought up with this notion as well. Now, I think the reasons for those early miracles are no longer valid. The Apostles were given the power (I believe THAT power was given to the Apostles, and only the people they laid hands on to pass it on. That bit of power DID die with the Apostles) because they were spreading the Gospel to a world that could not read the Bible for themselves. The miracles were performed in public, to glorify the God who was offering salvation to the masses. I think that the frequency of the miracles is no longer necessary, either. Any miracle can be done at any time, with the approval of God, but we no longer need to have public forums with multiple miracles in order to share Jesus.

Now, having said all those classic ideas, I agree with Niki that I (we humans) have no right to limit God's power. I do not want to express hubris by telling others that miracles are not possible anymore. God's power has not changed. The God who created the "laws" of physics can just as easily rewrite DNA, clear leprosy, remove tumors and allergies, and relieve physical distress. The fact that I do not have the faith enough to bother to ask Him to do it is not a limit on God's power, but on me.

I have said for years that the churches I grew up in didn’t seem to believe that the elders could pray and lay on hands, and that they could really bring about healing by these things. What a sad loss to the faithful! The church has missed out on a great power. In all my years in the churches of Christ, over 5 states I have lived in, through 8 congregations I have been an active part in... I have never seen, or even heard of, an elder in the church going to visit the sick, anointing the person, touching them and praying over them. The elders go visit, and pray, and sometimes touch. But the anointing is overlooked.

James 5:14-15 (New American Standard Bible translation) ~ "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."

I think that the practice of anointing has fallen out of popularity. I see this New Testament verse as a direction. It is the responsibility of the elders to do, but also the responsibility of the church members to call the elders. In Niki's story, there is no mention of anointing, but only prayer. God is powerful, and I believe that the hearts of the petitioners were pure in their request to God. I see that anointing is not the only component, but it is the one that I know the least about, so I decided to research it.

When the Bible talks about anointing a King, or things in the Temple, there is an Holy Oil mixture. There is a recipe in the book of Exodus. It speaks of fine spices and the measure of olive oil. The Holy Oil is supposed to be very fine, the work of a Perfumer. This is not to be any run-of-the-mill oil. Like tithes, it is to be made of the finest ingredients, the best of what we have. However, there is a warning. Exodus 30:33 ~ "Whoever shall mix any like it, or whoever puts any of it on a layman, shall be cut off from his people." So this is not the oil intended for anointing a sick person.

Most of the "oil" references in the Bible, that I have found anyway, are speaking of Olive oil. It seems that Olive is a good "carrier" oil, that works well with other scents, and does not overpower the spices used with it. Almond oil tends to have its own (while usually sweet) aroma, and the mixtures would smell differently. There are many spices, fruits and essences that are mentioned in the Bible. Cinnamon, Myrrh, Frankincense, Henna, Rose, Lily, Apple, Grape, Fig, Pomegranate, Milk, Honey, Cedar, Cypress, Dates, Balsam, Fruit Tree Blossoms, Herbs, and "mountains of spices".

I had trouble finding any example of anointing oil recipes, other than the Holy one. It seems that the oil itself is good. I need to research the customs of the Jews, hoping that they have a "common man" oil recipe. I have seen bottles of "anointing oil" that are used by others, in places like Mardel and Cokesbury (local Christian supply stores).

I have not completed the research I wish to do on this subject. Please do not think that I have made any definite findings. I don't want anyone who reads Niki's story to be critical. Her son is healed. God did it, and God gets all the glory for it. Humans asked for it, with fervent prayer. In her post, she quotes a Scripture in reference to one healing Jesus performed.

Mark 9:24b ~ "I do believe; help my unbelief."

I am ending this open post with part of my response to Niki's story.

"We are bound by the limitations of our finite thoughts, and I think God laughs. He wants us to break out of the limitations and jump like crazy into trusting only Him. I must confess, I was skeptical when I started reading. Now, I am convinced, and convicted. God also used you to help our unbelief!

Praise be to God alone!"

"Television Rots Your Brains!" or "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"

Word of the Post
Today's word is: dramaturgy
/dram"a*tur'gy/ noun
The art of writing and producing plays; the art of dramatic composition and representation.
Sometimes people will call me a Drama Queen; I prefer to be noted for my skill in dramaturgy.
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Thank you all, great and small, for praying for my father. Please continue to do so. I want this to be an isolated, treatable incident. I know that my parents will not be around forever, and I know that they are about 10 years older than many of my friends' parents. It is still so hard to watch a parent be sick, and know that I can do nothing. I am so far away, and so (sigh while I contemplate my words) very helpless when it comes to medical issues. The greatness of God amazes me. He created stars bigger than our whole solar system, and yet He cares about me and my dad.

I suppose one could say that this got out of hand, but I don't think so. My father was sick, I called in the troops. Simple. I don't feel comfortable calling them off just yet. Dad is doing fine. His arteries are not up to snuff, I guess, but the incident was not nearly as bad as I pictured it. I really did not relish the idea of a flying trip home. When I said 13 hours, I meant 15 by myself (more frequent stops to stay awake), all of it spent fidgeting over the parents I could not get to any faster. Let me retrace my panic for you, and elaborate on the truth of the situation.

Dad went about his Wednesday last week as any normal person would. He went to work, he went to lead singing at a funeral for a woman from church, he ate lunch at home and changed back into the work clothes. He drove to and from the funeral, and out from work to make a couple of deliveries. When he got back, he was a little bit disoriented. He decided to call mom. Instead of calling her cell phone, he called her school's office. When they finally tracked her down, she called him back at his work. He, still feeling a little disoriented, couldn't finish the conversation, and handed the phone to a coworker. This was an obvious signal to the coworker. Due to the symptoms she could see, she called my brother (who works in a business right next door), and it was decided that he should go to the emergency room.

My brother drove dad to the emergency room. They parked the van, and took dad in, and got him signed in, complete with insurance card. Someone got mom from her work, and she met brother and dad at the ER. They ran tests, and asked him a lot of questions, and monitored him for two or three hours. The ER Physician guessed that the problem was something called T.I.A.

Transient Ischemic Attack is the official name for what is known as a "warning stroke" or a "mini stroke". I had to look this up just now, because my parents can't pronounce it. It is a precursor to an actual stroke, which usually happens within a year, if not treated. They are attacks that happen suddenly, and quickly. The average one lasts about a minute, and they can last up to five minutes. Dad's major symptom was sudden confusion, disorientation. He did not have slurred speech, and had performed all his normal tasks perfectly before this. The T.I.A.'s have a marked difference from a stroke, in that they do not cause permanent brain damage. They told dad that it is like a spasm in an artery that feeds blood to the brain. The site I found described it as a temporary clot clogging an artery. Not the kind of clot that gangs up on you and moves up to kill you, just a little gathering of the brotherhood, to test you. Dad still has only vague dream-like memories of the day, but has suffered no long-term memory loss. From this, I gather that his T.I.A. probably lasted longer than a minute. There are so many things that could be worse. I am thankful that this is the only lasting effect.

Dad does not remember about six hours of his day. He knows he went to the funeral, led singing, and was even complimented on his job. Blank. He knows there was a pan moved in the kitchen (must have made lunch), and dress clothes on the bed where he left them (next to the little memorial folder to give to mom, who couldn't go to the funeral), and that he went back to work. Blank. He knows from my brother that they gave the insurance card to a man at the desk when they entered the ER, but he didn't recognize the same man, who told him he looked better, as he left. Memory is a tricky and mysterious thing. I don't know what, if any, purpose there is to the loss of memory. Mom has done a lot to encourage dad. He may never remember, and that is OK, because the day wasn't that memorable to begin with. He could have forgotten family, friends, job, or who he is. This reality is way better.

Dad went to the family Physician on Monday this week, and he ran more tests, and has scheduled dad for a Doppler Ultrasound. DH and I were joking around with some church friends tonight after our mid-week service. We said that he would be covered in a lead blanket that was green, to match the green-screened floor. I said that I wanted to see his brain map on TV, complete with weather man: "And there is a storm moving up this artery, we expect a small shower of memories falling out of the right ear... and tomorrow, the drugs kick in! Watch out everyone, he's getting well!" It is good to laugh about the serious things, with good friends. It goes a long way to keeping me sane. The family Physician said that the ER Physician made an accurate guess, and everything he found seemed to confirm the first opinion's diagnosis.

Dad spent Thursday and Friday at home, bored to tears. I am sure he was wanting to do some reloading for his guns, and afraid that if he did he would blow himself up by forgetfulness. I hear he watched a lot of TV, which will "rot your brains!", but what did he have to lose, really? ;-) He tells me, every time I call, that he feels great. I guess the two days of rest really did work for him.

Short answer, dad is going to be on medication like mom is. That is fine with me. This way, I know he is around, and I know that he did not hurt himself or anyone else when it hit. The drugs that will help him will thin his blood, and prevent such clots from forming, and therefore prevent them from moving around and clogging his arteries. I can deal with this. I have the answer I was looking for.

I still say dad just wanted another day off of work. Ha!