How Important is Love?

There is a new song that I’ve been hearing on K-Love that talks about how important love is. At the end of the song, a man quotes 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 from The Message Bible. The more I meditate on these verses, the more I realize how important it is to love. I know that you have probably read them a million times, but I’m going to share them with you so you can marvel with me about absolutely nothing mattering if we don’t love.

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.”

I don’t want to be bankrupt, but yet I know that I do not love nearly enough. That is my prayer, that God would touch my heart that has been bruised and broken and help me to reach out to others in love. And in case you (we) need a refresher about what love looks like:

   Love never gives up.

   Love cares more for others than for self.

   Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

   Love doesn't strut,

   Doesn't have a swelled head,

   Doesn't force itself on others,

   Isn't always "me first,"

   Doesn't fly off the handle,

   Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

   Doesn't revel when others grovel,

   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

   Puts up with anything,

   Trusts God always,

   Always looks for the best,

   Never looks back,

   But keeps going to the end.

I Don't Understand

I have been thinking about something since church yesterday and I have to admit that I really can't quite wrap my head around it.

The members of one of the Cell Groups at my church are reading through Max Lucado's book Outlive Your Life. During this study, they have been challenged to reach out in the community and make a difference.

What they shared with the rest of the church yesterday was that they had become aware that some of the children in our community were hungry and that they may only be eating when they are at school because they don't have food at home. The group is collecting food to bring to families in need and they shared about delivering to one family recently, when many other children came running asking, "Did you bring food for us too?"

This is where it gets fuzzy for me and I might be showing my ignorance or naivety by even asking about this. I just truly do not understand...but I want to.

I know that everyone doesn't have the same as everyone else and there are those who live in poverty. But we do live in the land of plenty, right? We are not talking about a third-world country.

With government agencies issuing food stamps, food banks and other charitable resources and churches all around who have food pantries, WHY are there hungry children???

Don't get me wrong...I am really excited for this group of friends who are listening to God and stepping out in faith to make a change. It has just caused me to ask more questions that I have answers. 

I sure hope I will get some comments. Tell me what you think.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Okay, it's not my plan to blog about the new puppy every day. However, it might take me a few days to get it out of my system, so please indulge me.

See the photo? That is a mirror in our bedroom. 

And yes, it is covered by one of BK's princess dresses. Can you guess why?

Sheldon discovered himself in the mirror today while on BK's bed. Oh my goodness...what a fuss! Ears back, eyes bright, shoulders hunched, barking more than we have heard him bark in the short time we've known him.

Of course it was his own reflection, but he didn't know that. The funny thing is that we have been around other dogs and he did not bark. Only the sight of his own bundle of ferociousness moved him to action.

Interesting. Wonder what would happen if we spent some time in front of a mirror with our game face on. Could make a difference in our perception of ourselves, you think?

Delight of Her Heart

Here is my baby girl (who is not much of a baby at all anymore) on one of the happiest days of her life.

She has begged for a dog for two years now. She wrote letters to Santa and the Easter Bunny (at school) asking for a puppy. She prayed for one at the end of our dinner blessing on more than one occasion. She has collected so many stuffed dogs that sometimes it is hard for her to fit in her bed among all her nighttime friends.

Today we brought home an adopted dog named Sheldon to join our family. I can't think of anything else that would have delighted my sweet girl more than having her own dog to love. And this is a sweet boy who is very easy to love.

We can learn a lot from a child who refuses to give up on her dream.

Happy New Year!

Well, 2010 certainly went out in a bang...at least in my little corner of the world. We had tornado warnings and torrential rain. Fortunately we had no damage...at least none we can see in the dark.

I am excited about 2011. I don't even know why, but I just have a gut feeling that this is going to be a good year.

Blessings to you all as we begin this new year together.

Christmas 2010

We had a great Christmas this year, even if BK was sick with bronchitis (by the way, we all have it now). Our tree was surrounded by an insane amount of gifts.














This was the first year that Anne had a little one in the house for Christmas. We did it up right.












Jeremy, Angela and the grandkids came over for dinner on Christmas Eve. I bought a pre-cooked and sliced beef brisket at Kroger that was so easy and tasty. We also had mashed potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, BBQ meatballs (especially for Austin), dinner rolls and a Butterfinger cake for dessert.













When they opened their gifts, I think the Pillow Pets were the hit of the night. Everyone had a great time.
















I got Jeremy a Grumpy t-shirt. Nuff said.

Thanksgiving - Day 30

Well, today is the last day of the 30 Days of Thanksgiving project. I wasn't able to post every day, but 21 posts in a month is pretty good for me and hopefully I will be encouraged to write more often now.

Today I am thankful for Facebook. I know, it probably sounds nuts to some of you, but it has turned into more than just a "social networking" website for me. It is my connection to friends and family that I don't see often. Even with family members that I do see more often, it is still good to keep up with what is going on in their lives.

Facebook is also a great place to find out about where to find good deals. Last week I did some major online shopping and got most of my info there.

Tonight I saw that someone posted that Rudolph was on television. I didn't know that, so I quickly turned it on so BK could watch the rest of the show. I also posted a photo of BK in her new Christmas gown and a Santa hat, which generated lots of comments.

Since finding myself a single parent, my social activities have diminished greatly. I have to be home to get her to bed early every school night. Taking care of her is my priority. That leaves little time and energy for much else. So in a way, Facebook is my social life too...as pathetic as that may sound. I can keep in touch...feel connected...share a few laughs...and just have fun. And for that I am thankful.

Thanksgiving - Day 28

Today I am thankful for rest.

Sometimes we go and go and go, until we just can't go anymore. It is easy to get overwhelmed during this time of year as we contemplate gifts to buy and filling our calendars with places to go.

Tonight I sat in the dark living room, looking at the Christmas tree lights. What a peaceful time to rest and enjoy the quiet.

As the hustle and bustle of the season threatens to sweep us away, let's remember how important it is to make some time for rest. Our bodies require it and our souls crave it.

Thanksgiving - Day 27

Today I am thankful for internet shopping.

After many years of fighting the crowds, I now do most of my holiday shopping online. I don't just shop for gifts, but other items including clothes, toiletries and over-the-counter medicine.

I replied to a Facebook friend's request for online shopping tips a few weeks ago, so I decided to post them here as well.

First, go to www.retailmenot.com to look for a coupon for the store you want to shop. When you find what you want to buy and are ready to checkout, there will be a place to enter a coupon code and it will deduct it from your total.

Next, go to Ebates and sign up here. Then when you get ready to shop, go to Ebates first and look at their list of stores, click on where you want to shop and you will automatically receive a rebate check for a certain % of what you spend.

Be sure to check out customer reviews. I have avoided some items because of bad reviews. Amazon.com is pretty good at having customer reviews, so I look there even if I end up buying on another website.

Amazon.com offers free shipping on many items if you spend at least $25.00. Sometimes I will pick out what I want and put it in my cart, but just wait until I have $25 of stuff so I can get free shipping. Coupon codes don't work there, but sometimes their prices are lower, so it's worth it.

There are also Facebook groups you can join that tell about great deals. If you are on Facebook, do a search for http://www.dealfindingchik.blogspot.com/ and go to their page to "like" it (click the like button). Then when they post deals, you will see their posts on your live feed.

Go to websites like www.Walgreens.com and www.CVS.com to sign up for their emails and then you will get info on their online sales and coupons. I just recently ordered four Pillow Pets from there. I got exactly which ones I wanted, had a coupon code to get $10 off a $50 order, they offer free shipping with a $25 purchase and I will get 4% cash back through Ebates...that's a deal!

I didn't venture out yesterday for Black Friday deals, but I was shopping the deals online. Cyber Monday promises even more online deals.

In this economy, when it helps more than ever to save where we can, I am very thankful for shopping that I can do in my pajamas.

Thanksgiving - Day 25

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Instead of a list of things that I'm thankful for today, I want to focus on the One to whom I am thankful. Without the love of God, my life would be empty, regardless of the "things" I may have.

I am thankful that God loves us all enough to send his Son Jesus to live and die and live again so that we can be adopted into His family. I am thankful for His forgiveness and mercy. I am thankful that He knows my name and how many hairs are on my head. He knows what I will do and say before I do and say it...and He loves me anyway.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.

Oh how I am thankful.

Thanksgiving - Day 23

Today I am thankful for the wisdom of my years.

One of my friends mentioned that it would be great to be 30 again. I agreed, but added that it would only be great if I could know then, what I know now. I have learned things after living fifty years that you just can't read in a book. Wisdom is a gift of a long life. After all, we have to have some compensation for wrinkles, right?

Thanksgiving - Day 21

Today I am thankful for my friends through the mail. I have had pen pals on and off since I was a young teenager. My first two were from Japan and Korea. Most of them have been from various parts of the U.S. This summer I decided to take up this "hobby" again and now I have four people that I write.

I think that writing honest to goodness letters is almost a lost art, especially with the instantaneous communication of email and Facebook, combined with the rising cost of postage. But there is something special about a letter. It is hard to describe the feeling I get when I open the mailbox and see a letter with my name on it. I consider it a gift that I hold dear.

Over the years I have gotten to know many wonderful and interesting people, who enrich my life. Hopefully I add some joy to their lives too.

Thanksgiving - Day 19

Today I am thankful for good health care.

BK is sick again. It seems that this time of year she always has trouble with upper respiratory junk. I am so thankful that we are able to have her seen by her pediatrician and get the medicine that she needs.

When we lost our health insurance earlier this year, I wasn't sure what we were going to do. I did some research and found out that BK was eligible for CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), which is a state program that provides health coverage for uninsured children. This has been such a blessing for us. She was able to continue going to her pediatrician and it pays for her medicine. It covers her dental care too.

I am still without health care, although I have found some alternatives. A free after-hours clinic has opened in the town where I used to live. It is staffed by local doctors who volunteer to see people who are working, but just cannot afford health insurance. I have also joined Christian Healthcare Ministries. This is a group of Christians who share each others hospital costs. There is a monthly payment, but it is much less than traditional insurance. I like the idea of us all sharing - kind of like the Early Church.

Thanksgiving - Day 16

Today I am thankful that I don't have to be perfect.

If you are following my blog, you will notice that I have already missed two days of this 30 Days of Thankfulness blog project. It's not that I was not thankful on those days, but rather that I just forgot. Once upon a time that would have bugged me immensely. But now I am much quicker to cut myself some slack, take a deep breath and move on.

Maybe that's just one advantage of getting older...or perhaps it is a gift of freedom from the bondage of perfectionism. Either way, I'm thankful that I can mess up and it doesn't have to mess up my whole day.

Thanksgiving - Day 14

Today I am thankful for my daughter-in-law Angela on her 30th birthday.

Angela is married to my son Jeremy and they have four sons. Each of these boys is so special in his own way and I love them dearly. But I know that raising four boys is a LOT of work, at least if you raise them right, which she is doing. Angela is a stay-at-home mom and she keeps her household running.

Like so many mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships, ours has take a while to grow into friendship, but I am so glad that it has.

So here's to you, Angela on your special day. I tip my hat to you and say "Well done!"

I'm thankful to have you in my life.