Pig Roast!!

I am counting down the days and I can't wait! Our family has a pig roast every October at my sister's in Missouri. It started 20 years ago, took a break for several years, and started back up about 9 or 10. We all look forward to it so much. A weekend out in the country with the only thing to focus on is family, fun, and of course tons of food. Usually too much food.
This has become a respite for many of us. It's a time we reconnect. With all of my siblings now having grandkids, the holidays have become harder to gather at Mom's. There are 42 of us now. It seems that no matter how much time spans between the cousins seeing each other, they have a connection. I hope that never changes. As time passes, and Mom (we all) get older, I don't want to lose those connections. 

Remind Me

I reminded a friend of a verse yesterday. Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite for many reasons. It is a continual reminder that I am not a finished product. Until the day I am called home to glory, God has a plan. Another reason this verse is so dear is that it has carried me throught dark moments. After I lost a second baby to miscarriage it was a reminder. When I questioned why God would allow this to happen not once but twice to someone who had always been a "good girl," it was a reminder that God had a plan.
I typed the beginning of that verse for a friend who lost a baby to miscarriage the day after she told everyone she was finally expecting. She and her husband have a son who is four but want to give more to another life. How I know that feeling.
This evening I visited a favorite website that has a daily message. This was the topic scripture. More importanly it went on to point out the next two verse."Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (v.12-13)
I am struggling with trying to stay on the right path. I feel like a flake so much of the time. I continually question if I am doing the right thing. And oh how I am quick to point out other's short comings.
Remind me again Lord that I need to seek your face and approval; not of those around me. Remind me that I need to serve others first because that is my first calling. Remind me to listen to your still small voice for that is when you speak the loudest. Remind me that you know the plans you have for me, declares the Lord, plans to give me a hope and a future.

In session

School is back in session for the kiddos. I don't know who I get more frustrated with, the students or the adults. We mess with their lives and then feel like we have the right to deem them a lost cause when they won't do as their are told. Or when they won't even try to make themselves better. Who will stand in the gap to advocate for them?
Who is standing in the gap for me? I screw up. Boy do I screw up. And yet Christ is always waiting patiently, standing in the gap, ready to lead if I will follow. Who will be Jesus to the kids who don't know?

Well...the road is paved with good intentions

Who would have thought keeping a blog going for 10 weeks would have been a challenge. I even started two or three as word docs on vacation and haven't finished them to post. Here's one more at least:

I love reading the opinion line in The Eagle. It provides an element of comedy in my life. Some are thoughtful and insightful with a hint of sarcasm, but just as many are pure stupid. I especially like it when the copy editor of the page arranges writings from opposite political sides one right after the other. Or the ones who are replying to a comment from the day before. Today's seem to be completely politically filled. For those who don't read here is a sample:

"Thank God for conservatives. They are the only reason this country has a viable chance.

* * *

"What would Jesus do" about taxes? He would pray to God that this country is wise enough to remove tea party Republicans from office. In 2012, He also would cast His mighty vote and rid our country of this misery known as House Speaker John Boehner and that nut-job Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

* * *

The Republicans in Congress want a government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich.

* * *

Maybe we should vote all "Republicans" and "Democrats" out of office and just elect Americans."

* * *

Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2011/08/12/1970771/opinion-line-aug-12.html#ixzz1UsFq9vRP 

 

Then when you look for additional comments from readers it is more interesting because it seems to be the same people alot of the time. Don't get me wrong, I love that we have this technology where any and all can express their opinion in an instant, but people should really think first.

 

There is one comment about a failing grade being 70% in their school career "back in my day." I don't know when this existed, but really? And if this person did their homework and understood AYP, such a stupid comment wouldn't have been made.

 

I think I just joined the rant of the Opinion Line. OH NO!!

Reading the newspaper

Last night as I was finishing loading up our van (at 10 pm) for our vacation, I realized that I hadn’t written on my blog…again. This shouldn’t be this hard to keep up with, but I haven’t read my book. Then duh, it hit me. I have been reading the newspaper every morning. We have been at my mom’s a lot this week because we are redoing our bathroom. We only have one. Enough said, sorry.

Wednesday the front page article was about the drought and how it is affecting parts of our state. An interview with a Don Distler, a biologist that lives along the Ninescah River, explained how he can walk along the bank in the evenings and not get bit by mosquitoes. That in itself is an oddity. There are pools where the fish and other wildlife are living but there isn’t free flowing water. Records are very close to being set.

As we drove across Kansas today, the drought is even more apparent. Many of the farm ponds are drastically low. Creeks are very green but no running water. It will be interesting to see how the rest of this crazy summer turns out.

July already??

I took some time off from reading about the Cavanaughs and their journey through Ireland. This was more out of accident than planning. I spent the last week working at a fireworks tent with a close friend, my hubby, and others. This close friend had brought "Lucky Man" by Michael J. Fox along, so I picked it up and started to read, and I have had a hard time putting it down. Well written and grafted together, I have been pleasantly surprised by this autobiography. Michael tells the story of his rise and almost fall of fame, success, accepting Parkinson's Disease, along with his shortcomings as a husband and father.  He is honest and open in his writing and shares memories with minute details. Reading his work makes it surprising to realize that he dropped out of high school (with his parents approval) and didn't receive a GED until 1994 at the age of 32. He does not write like a low educated person and there is no credit given to someone that helped him write. When you read this book he tells of a bright young man who was completely creative and didn't fit into the mold of traditional learning.
There are so many situations in this book that I was oblivious to about this actor. Maybe they were out there in the late eighties and early nineties but I didn't pay attention to tabloid gossip about stars. He shares his struggle with alcohol and feeling miserable despite all that he had acquired. I would encourage anyone to grab this book and enjoy the tale.

The Irish countryside

Tims and Cynthia are enjoying their stay at the fishing lodge. Despite Cynthia's sprained ankle and confinement, she is enjoying time in their room painting and reading a diary they found by a Dr. O'Donnell. This doctor lived in the area as a boy and much later returned with his wife after being trained and practiced in the States. The diary is from the 1860's and is very fascinating to both Cynthia and Tim and every spare moment they are reading.
Tim was invited to a Bridge game by the doctor who took care of Cynthia. He hated the game but felt obliged to attend. It was held at the fine home, Cartharmore that was built by Dr. O'Donnell. The inside was immense and beautiful but the upper floors were no longer livable and the basement (the old surgery room) was off limits.
The home was now owned by a hateful drunken old women who was the mother of the caretaker of the fishing lodge. She spoke to her son only when absolutely necessary because she despised him choosing his love over her. She was very rude to Tim even though he was a guest. But he had been warned of her demeanor.

Slow going

I'm really having trouble getting into this book. I think partly because I can't find the time to really enjoy reading. I only seem to think, "Oh crap! I haven't read yet!" Anyway, enough of my whining.

Tim finished his day with Liam traveling around the countryside and listening to stories of the Irish people. For Tim, this was not unusual. As a Reverend in the Episcopal Church, he was accustomed to people telling their live adventures. He found that it help him make a better connection. Liam spoke of his father, a lover of books, his stepdaughter Bella, a traditional Irish fiddle player, and his dear wife Anna of whom he was "mad for."
When they arrived back at the inn, Tim found his Cynthia still in their room. She had been sketching, something she loved to do and was quite good at it. Cynthia was an author of a children book series and she did much of her own illustrations. She had also found a large journal in a small library that had been kept by a local doctor in the mid 1800's. Both a lover of books, she read to him the history of the land come to life. They then snuggled for a nap to recover from jet lag.
That evening they enjoyed fresh fish caught by some men who were also guests at the Inn. They visited with them and a small group of ladies who had been friends for decades and loved to travel together.  It was a grand time with the innkeepers and their daughter as hosts. Serving figs and homemade ice cream with lemon verbana sauce or rhubard tart for dessert, everyone raved about the fine food.
Tim and Cynthia decided to call it a night. She arrived at the room first. Tim had turned around to go back downstairs for something. Her heard her scream, not once but twice! There was an intruder in their room and he had fled out the window. Tim ran back to the room, Liam following not far behind then quickly calling the authorities. Finally ending the day at about one in the morning, the house finally fell asleep.

Finally!

I finally made time to read for me. Took me long enough. It's harder than I thought it would be to make the time.
"In the Company of Others" by Jan Karon is a continuation of the Mitford Series that she wrote a few years back. How I have missed Father Tim Kavanaugh and his wife Cynthia. It's funny how I was drawn into these novels. My mom read them and passed them to her sisters. I had heard others talk about them. And finally I read them and was hooked.
This new installment is focused solely on Father Tim and his wife as the main characters. They are still somewhat newlyweds as married only a short eight years in the prime of their lives. He has recently turned 70(or is it 71?) and she has turned 64. Celebrating her birthday by taking a trip to Ireland where his ancestors are from, they have planned this long awaited journey several times but until now something has always hindered the trip. Even this time it has been fraught with long waits, flight delays, bad weather, and now a torrential rain while traveling a one lane road driven by a grouchy, begrudging chauffeur. Through Father Tim's eyes these events only conform why he hates to travel. Thank goodness for his wife who always looks for the brighter side!
Now if I can just get back to reading.....

Summertime

So........ I haven't read a devotion in awhile. I'm not sure why because they always make me think. Either about others who I should be praying for or myself and how I should step up. This morning I was at lysaterkeurst.com and read 4 or 5. Maybe a little to much to chew on. Today's is titled "don't despise the small." An odd title at first glance but definitely something to savor. I want big things to happen now. I want a new vehicle, a new home, my education finished, and I want the recognition. I want someone to toot my horn. But wait. God already has. He created me fearfully and wonderfully. Why must I continue to reach for more? He has given me so much. I need to be thankful for this moment. Right now. Today. He knows why I must wait. And in some cases I do too.