The Adventurous Life of Mine

Reminiscing on Family and Technology.

2012-01-24T12:51:00.000-08:00

The year was 1994. I was about to start college, so my mom deemed it necessary to trade in my faithful Smith-Corona electric typewriter for a computer. So we looked up "computer" in the yellow pages, and drove to a warehouse deep in the heart of L.A. The salesman explained to us the wonders of the mouse, and the scrolling, never-ending page. We loaded the car with our wares, and headed home. Somehow, we got the thing set up, and I started using it to write papers. Then I got married. Mr. M., technological genius that he is, didn't have a computer. He inherited mine, but I needed a new computer now, one with the ability to use this music software that I had had to buy for a different college class at a different college. That was Mr. M's first time becoming intimately familiar with computers. Now he can make a new one with the flick of his wrist. That was our first year of marriage-Mr. M at work, and me at home trying to study while laying on the floor because all of our furniture was covered in plastic while the house was being painted inside and out. That was several computers ago. Our house has been painted and repainted since, and has undergone many a remodeling. But still, here we sit, typing on our computers. Some things never change; other things never stay the same.

Whose Rules are we Playing By?

2012-01-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to live up to my own standards. I have a picture in my mind of the good qualities God wants to see in me. I neglected, though, to see if my ideas of the qualities God wants me to display are the same qualities that He says in Scripture that He wants to see in my life. Was I really working on treating others the way I want to be treated? (Luke 6:31.) Was I doing whatever it took to love God with all my heart, soul and mind? (Matthew 22:37.) Was I requiring myself to act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with my God? Because that's what God requires of me, and what He requires is all that matters. (Micah 6:8.) I need to rid myself, free myself of my own requirements, and just live as God requires me to live-in love and obedience to Him.

Am I in a Horror Movie?

2012-01-19T08:46:00.000-08:00

I was leisurely reading as I sat in the sun streaming in from the window. Mr. M had already left for work, so I was alone in the house. All of a sudden, in the middle of a paragraph, I heard a haunting and beautiful music note. Then I heard another . . . and another. I recognized the melody. It was a favorite Chinese music box that has been in the family for generations. Like the news ticker at the bottom of the TV screen, the thoughts of any and all possibilities ran through my head. A burglar? Ghosts?? A squatter hiding in the house? Aliens?? BIGFOOT???!? My (irrational) fear escalated. As I tiptoed into the room, I was ready for anything. What I saw was this: the music box had tipped over because of the weight of a pillow, and had started playing. I rearranged a few things and righted the music box. It stopped playing. I went back to my (silent) reading.

As Mr. M is out for the day, a few girlfriends of mine are coming for a movie later. I love entertaining, and I'm so glad I'm a girl. One reason is that my friends are happy to sit around and talk, so there is no pressure to be the smooth movie entertainer that is Mr. M. I have no confidence when it comes to technical gadgets, like movie projectors. I always appoint a technical adviser when I host a party so that I don't absorb all the blame. What can I say? I like to share. Even with a blame-sharer, though, it is hard not to sweat bullets when I have all eyes on me, wondering why I don't know how to use my own stuff.

One Bite at a Time.

2012-01-18T10:08:00.000-08:00

As you can see in my sidebar, I have written a post for the Incourage site. (I don't know why they spell it incorrectly.) That is something I did to further pursue my goal of getting more traffic on my blog. I have also posted on Christian Women Online and Women of Faith. These are just small steps, I know, but like my friend said when someone asked him how he planned to tackle a large project, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

What Ever Do I Do?

2012-01-16T10:24:00.000-08:00

To summarize Ecclesiastes 9:10 and 1 Corinthians 10:31, whatever you do (eat, drink, write, raise children, read), do it with all your might and do it to God's glory. How many things can I do with all my might? Not many, and that's why it's so important to consider what's most important in your life, and make prioritizing a priority. Jesus said to Martha that she was doing more than necessary (Luke 10:41,42)and Paul, in a similar vein of thought, told the Corinthian church that all things were permissible for them but not all things were beneficial or constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23.)
Mr. M is a consummate gadget guy - the gadgetiest guy I know. We've found that, without fail, when a gadget has the ability to do several things, it doesn't do any of them well. I think we humans are much the same. When we try and do too much, the quality of the things we do is compromised. When we take on too many projects, ministries, roles, they all suffer. We need focus. We need to prioritize, and pare down our activities, focusing on doing a limited amount of things with all our might, to the glory of God.

A Sunday in L.A.

2012-01-15T15:38:00.000-08:00

It is another gray day here, but there is a great lightness in my heart and soul because of what this day has been, and will be. We had a great introduction to the study on which we are about to embark, a study of Deuteronomy. The time between then and now was filled with a blur of friends and laughter, taquitos, chimichangas, and a little rain. Soon, Mr. M and I will again be driving down to church to enjoy communion, A.K.A. The Lord's Table, where the church gathers to remember Christ and all that He saved us from. I was again struck this morning by just how important the Church is to a believer. My fellow church members keep me accountable in my walk with Christ. These people I see week after week remind me of the joy and privilege I have to daily walk with Christ, and sometimes that reminder is sorely needed. People-mostly college students-ask my advice on subjects ranging from dating to missions, and I get to ask advice of other, more mature Christians. I have the opportunity to see a need and to fill it, and I have the chance to ask others for help where I need it. The church is very give-and-take, a vital institution for anyone who desires to walk with Christ. My favorite thing about the church is that I know it is God's will for me to be there. There is no question about that.

Lemon in Iced Tea, or The Best of Both Worlds

2012-01-13T12:02:00.000-08:00

Thank God for new beginnings! I feel like I've made the fresh, new start I've always been curious about. I've often wondered what it would be like to move and start all over with new friends and a new church, etc. I've pretty much done that, and I didn't have to move out of our comfy little home or leave our friends. I've made some great new friends, and Mr. M and I are on staff with our church's college ministry, which gives us a plethora of new experiences. I am glad that I didn't have to move to add those new elements to my life. I love our home. Mr. M and I have lived here since the day we were married, and every one of our friends has come over for dinner or a movie or a cup of tea, or all three. We love our church and are established there. We are enjoying the life we've always led, now with a fresh, new twist. Like a refreshing slice of lemon in a glass of regular (but still good!) iced tea.

New Desk, Green Desk.

2012-01-12T22:58:00.000-08:00

Mr. M and I just finished assembling my new desk, and there are some pictures on my Flickr site.

In the Throes of Grammar and Goals

2012-01-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

I'm resolved to have resolutions this year. That is my goal: to have a goal. Gretchen Rubin had a goal, and she documented her journey toward reaching it in The Happiness Project. Jeff Deck did the same in The Great Typo Hunt. I am doing it on my blog. But what is my goal? To write on my blog. And how do I go about reaching my goal? By writing on my blog. What will fuel my writing? My reading. I will live observantly, and write about amusing, everyday things. What is the greater good of my goal? I have no idea.

A New THING! and Traffic

2012-01-10T17:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know. I live in L.A. where traffic is ubiquitous. It's all over the streets, and I don't like it-not one bit. However, there is a place where I wish there was more traffic, and that is here on my blog. SO . . . you will now see the faces of some of my favorite writers in my sidebar, and links to their blogs. Hopefully, my blog will soon generate enough traffic to justify the purchase of my new, green desk that awaits me at Ikea.

Passion at a Price

2012-01-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

I just bought a copy of The Great Typo Hunt by Jeff Deck and Benjamin D. Herson. I just walked right into the store and paid full price. What possibly prompted such hasty action on my part? Gretchen Rubin says in her book (which just arrived in my anxiously anticipating mailbox) that you CAN buy happiness. I don't know about that, but it is wise and prudent-and fun!-to spend a few extra bucks here and there-and it feels good when the purchase is planned or otherwise purposeful. I see buying this book for the MSRP as fully justified because it is a tale encompassing four passions of mine: road trips, grammar, humor, and friendship. (Having already read 8 chapters of the book, it has so many other positive qualities. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't like it.) It is interesting, too, to indulge my passion for grammar, and to consider the lack of it one of the most devastating and heartbreaking ills that plagues our society today, and to compare that concern with the abject poverty in Africa, something I'm also reading about. The poverty problem is far too big for me to handle . . . but I can control the grammar usage here on my "little plot of textual earth."

Big Birthday Present for my Blog, or Exposing Myself

2012-01-08T17:22:00.000-08:00

Mr.M and I went to Ikea today and got inspirated, aspirated and exasperated. We need storage solutions. Also, since I am absolutely resolved to invest more time and effort into my blog, I am going to get a new desk-a green one! I'm so excited, but with this new resolve to cultivate "my little plot of textual earth", I am doing my best to get my blog more exposure, but I have run out of ideas, and I need your help. Any advise on getting more readers would be appreciated.

Coffee With a Side of Inspiration. Thanks, Dog!

2012-01-07T15:35:00.000-08:00

I have now ordered Wordsmithy. I met a friend for coffee this morning, and I mentioned my dilemma. My friend said her mother had read the book. I was just about to ask her more when I was distracted by someone with very blond hair, and a completely black outfit. It was Dog the Bounty Hunter. Right after coffee, I went straight to the bookstore and I bought a book. More on that later.

Wordsmithy

2012-01-06T16:13:00.000-08:00

That is the title of a book recommended to me by my friend T. I looked for the book on Amazon, but they don't have any copies for sale. So T suggested I pay full retail price for it elsewhere. I'm not aware of any changes to the law, but I believe that by suggesting I pay a higher price, T is now legally obligated to feed, clothe, and shelter me should I become unable to do so for myself due to a lack of funds. I'm pretty sure that's CA state law. I wouldn't make this stuff up. And now the whole world (or at least the two or three people who read my blog) knows T's legal standing.

A Very Cheesy Party

2012-01-06T11:35:00.000-08:00

It all started last year. Some good friends planned an all-night New Year's Eve bash. They bought cheese for the guests; lots of cheese. The party came and went. It was now 2012, and still there was the cheese. So the same friends, in an act of brilliance, threw another party, a grilled cheese party to get rid of all the excess cheese. It worked! We ate all the cheese, and now my friends have leftover bread from the cheese party. Oh, but the sandwiches were amazing! Grilled paninis on sourdough with any cheese you chose, plus hummus and/or red pepper sauce. Great post-party party.

Can a Leopard Change His Spots?

2012-01-04T14:30:00.000-08:00

After reading a book about a man crossing the Sahara and describing life in the villages of Africa, I am now reading the autobiography of a woman who moved to an African village with her family, to start a hospital. A Family Living Under the Sahara Sun is the name of the book. If you were to see me on the street and ask, "What's new?", I would surely mention whatever book I was reading at the time. My reading directs my thoughts. Since I write about whatever is on my mind, my writing can most likely be traced back to my reading.
At the raging New Year's Eve party I went to, I took a break from dancing for a few minutes to think about the African women who veil their faces and scurry to hide from any man who comes in sight. I thought how oppressive that would feel to me. But from their perspective, I'm sure they would consider me oppressed, going to a party where there were men and being expected to talk and socialize with them.
That is just one example of how my blog reflects my thoughts, and my thoughts reflect my reading.

I saw an ad yesterday about a non-profit organization that teaches young ladies to express themselves by writing. I thought I'd like to do that, but then I had second thoughts. I wouldn't know where to begin. I don't know that writing can be taught. It seems like trying to teach a non-writer to write would be like trying to teach an outgoing, gregarious, life-of-the-party type person to be shy. To me, writing is like a freckled face; either you have it, or you don't.

The Cycles of the M House

2012-01-03T12:11:00.000-08:00

I have been reading Sahara Unveiled. In it, William Langewiesche writes about the cycles of the desert. One good rain year will be followed by three bad ones, and that pattern may continue indefinitely. So, too, with our modest home. It is now a mess due to a project involving computers and movies. Our living room has power tools lying around, and cables strewn about. I know, though, that it will get better. (Hopefully in time for my blog's big birthday blowout party.) Then, peace will reign throughout the land-the land in our living room, that is. The peace and orderliness will last a while, and then another project will come. And so it goes.

Happy Birthday to My Blog.

2012-01-01T15:20:00.000-08:00

As of Jan.7, 2012, The Adventurous Life of Mine will be exactly 6 years old. I have written about love, loss, life, laughter, and alliteration. I am resolved to revitalize my blog this year, and to do something big - or just do a lot of small things and write about them. I will write about the party I am throwing for my blog. I've invited 12 friends for dinner and a movie. This will take place while Mr. M is attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It was during the CES show 6 years ago that I was so lost here at home and I accidentally started a blog. Obviously, my blog has now become an international phenomena, the Kim Kardashian of cyber-space, if you will.

In lieu of monetary gifts, The Adventurous Life of Mine would welcome your comments.

New Year, New Look, Never a New Name.

2011-12-28T22:15:00.000-08:00

I read the foreword to The Happiness Project while Mr. M was in an Apple store, and the author was writing about pursuing your passion and investing in it. My passion (one of them) is writing. So I mixed things up a bit with the colors of my blog. The name of the blog, though, will never change. The reasons are threefold: First, I am getting older and I don't want to forget the name of my blog. Second, my readers are getting older and I don't want them to forget the name of my blog. The third and strongest reason is that one of my smartest friends knew right away that the blog name was inspired by The Wind in the Willows. I am not very sentimental, but it gives me a warm feeling knowing that my friend knows me so well. So The Adventurous Life of Mine is a tribute to my good friend, TDF.

What I learned About Parenting From my Humongous, Overgrown Cactus

2011-12-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

I am currently in the midst of a giant cactus pruning project. The cactus is huge, and the project is huge. And dangerous. And rewarding. After a bit of work today, I took some time to enjoy the fruit of my labors, and I thought to myself that my unruly and prickly cactus is not unlike an unruly and rebellious teenager. My cactus is my pride and joy, the first thing I show off to anyone who comes to visit. My cactus is also a source of puzzlement at times, and I don't know how to go about doing what needs to be done. I knew my cactus needed pruning, but I had to step back from him and get a few perspectives before proceeding any further. It took patience. After I had decided on how to best deal with the problem, and after I had put on all of my protective gear, my cactus still poked and pricked me all over. It hurt, and I had no choice but to put up with the pain if I wanted results. So I did. I am not done pruning the beast, the beast that I love with all my heart, but I suspect I will thoroughly enjoy my more tamed cactus.

A Night in The Suburbs

2011-12-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

I took Rufus for a walk during the day. He walked, and pooped, and rolled . . . the usual. I came home and read. First, about agoraphobia. Then about original sin. And then I read my controversial political autobiography (not written by me.) Then I smelled something horrible and nauseating. I got a flashlight and looked under the sofa for a dead rat. I looked under the footstool. Then, I decided to watch a show about a man crossing the Sahara desert. Then, I called Mr. M and told him I needed his nose. He has an incredibly super sensitive sniffer, so I told him I needed his opinion on the nefarious odor. I was sitting at the counter when he came home, so that he could sit in my vacated reading seat and smell whatever there was to smell. He sniffed a little, and then asked the obvious-"Was Rufus laying by you while you were smelling this stench?" "Yes", I said, "but I didn't think it possible for such a foul odor to be invisible." Indeed, I had looked earlier for a pile of that unmentionable dog odor-producing element. I half expected to see a brown pile on Rufus' back. I don't know what I was thinking. I only know what I was smelling. Mr. M sniffed Rufus. "Aha! I've discovered the source of the odor." Rufus had rolled in vomit, proving the proverb that "a dog returns to his own vomit." (The vomit wasn't his, though. Just to be clear.) So, then, as Mr. M made a lovely experimental pasta dish, I gave Rufus a bath . . . shower, if you want to know the facts. Now our dog smelled fresh, and we enjoyed a lovely meal. I helped clean as much as I could, and then when it became clear there was only room for one in the kitchen, I went to the dining area to do some exercising while Mr. M scrubbed some pots. Then we watched a movie.

Political Motivation for Prayer

2011-12-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul urges Timothy and his congregation to pray for kings and all those in authority so that we may live "peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness and holiness." Repeatedly in the Gospels Jesus tells His disciples to watch and pray. He is referring to world and national events.
Not being very politically involved, I have had little motivation in the past to pray for our nation's leaders and law-makers. However, reading The Vanishing Conscience by John MacArthur, along with the political autobiography I'm reading, has changed all that. There is far too little common sense in our law books, and that needs to change.

Love and Hate, From the Beginning of Time

2011-12-17T10:53:00.000-08:00

It is a gray day today, ominously overcast. Yet I am excited to greet this day; excited because a Christian couple from church will be wed today. I like all weddings, but I love Christian weddings. That is because Christians acknowledge a marriage to be a holy institution, a sacred bond between a man and a woman directly ordained and promoted by God Himself for our good and His glory, a union meant to last for the whole of our lives.
I've been reading a lot about God and His people in Loving The Church by John Crotts. I highly recommend it. I've also been reading a book by a controversial political figure. Why is she so controversial? Because she is . . . Da,da,DA . . . a Christian. People hate Christians. Being a Christian and being hated for my beliefs makes me really love and cling to The Church. When people hate you, it's nice to know you're not alone. The world hated Jesus first. (John 15:18.)

Unfair?

2011-12-06T15:19:00.000-08:00

I have heard many times people complaining that this or that was an unfair thing for God to do. I am not without compassion for people who feel that way, or are living in dire circumstances; however, only one thing in unfair. It is unfair that God lets us live even one day. It is unfair that He hasn't destroyed this nation. His mercy on us is unfair. We don't deserve it. Our nation is overrun with sin and yet God in His mercy lets us carry on life. Our response should be one of bewildered gratefulness and repentance from our sin. We also need to call others to repentance, and especially to protect our brothers and sisters in the church from being lured away from God's truth by the deceitfulness of sin.

Dramatic Daily Decisions

2011-11-29T10:52:00.000-08:00

I was again browsing Amazon for books, and I found many books promising ways to make a dramatic change in your life for the sake of a closer walk with Christ. I had one of these books in my cart, but then I took a short moment of reflection and I decided to just pray and read the Bible to determine the most God-honoring course of action for every decision I must make on a daily basis. The decisions in themselves may seem too small to be taken seriously, but one Biblical decision leads to another, and soon you can have a life's worth of Biblically based decisions that honor God. Books are by no means bad or without benefit, they are just not always necessary; and as an added bonus, I have more coffee money!

Accidental No-Fault (of mine) Ornament-Breaking

2011-11-22T17:02:00.000-08:00

I went with a group of friends the other night to the apartment of a friend of ours, to give her apartment that special Christmas ambiance. (We put up the tree.) Whilst we were in the midst of decorating the tree, my friend was making me laugh. An ornament broke. (Sorry, C.) I guess it was my fault; I threw it. But I honestly did not expect that it would break. You know, though, I wouldn't have thrown it in the first place if my friend hadn't been making me laugh so hard. I don't want to blame the thing on her, but I do.

Getting Older and Confused Can be Embarrassing . . . and Hilarious.

2011-11-14T23:17:00.000-08:00

My Friend and I went to Chipotle tonight. We usually go to Qdoba, which is EXACTLY the same as Chipotle, except what is called a Burrito Bowl at Chipotle is called a Burrito, Naked style, at Qdoba. We were in a pretty serious conversation when it was our turn to order. I was flustered when the guy asked me what I wanted. I said, "Burrito Bowl", and then, in my confusion, just to clarify, I added, "Naked!" It was then that I looked on the menu and found that "burrito bowl" would have been sufficient. After that, I was completely dazed. I had just yelled out, "Naked!" for no reason. I wondered if the guy taking my order thought I was just some funny lady who yells out, "Naked!" every once in a while.

Name-Dropping: Famous Friends

2011-11-10T15:49:00.000-08:00

I'm currently reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling, who, as you may remember from my previous post, would have been my BFF in high school except for a few extenuating circumstances (and the fact that "BFF" wasn't a thing when I was a high-schooler.) Today, I came across this quote: "I respond very well to people being overly familiar with me a little too soon." Whew! What a relief! "Why?", you ask? Well, because I left a note on her blog, theconcernsofmindykaling.com today. Yes, I know that was weird, but I since I have a computer and access to the innermost thoughts and feelings of the girl who would undoubtedly have been my best friend in high school if the planets were more aligned, I figured, "What the heck?" I know, I know. I probably overthought that. What's done is done. I don't know a lot about TV celebrity stuff, but based on what I've seen on Bravo, Mindy herself will probably never see my witty little note, but there's always a chance. And, seeing my note may make her jump over to my blog and see how charming and funny I am, and I will soon be a famous spokesperson or author.
My fantasy friends also includes Lisa Whelchel of Facts of Life fame. Now, she is not entirely fantasy to me. She actually came into my work once, and I swooned at this high-school peer who had shown me the ropes along with her friends, Jo, Tooty, and Natalie, all wisely counseled by Mrs. Garrett (who I saw in person once at a religious retreat center. Seriously. I live in L.A. We see famous people.) Lisa wrote a great book that I read and now refer back to all the time. It's called Friendship For Grown-Ups.
One famous friend and author that I actually know-because we went to high school together for, like, three months-is Wendy Hagen, author of Totally Desperate Mom. The book is hilarious and moving, and Wendy also has a great blog. I can't recall the name of it right now (try totallydesperatemom), but it is GREAT. Trust me.
While I wait to be discovered, along with everyone else in L.A., I will just be an unfamous friend, the funny lady who takes her dog for a drive when she doesn't feel like going for a walk.

My Best Friend

2011-11-05T22:36:00.000-07:00

I love my friends; I really do. But going away for the weekend, and unplugging my world was great. I sat in the motel room reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson, and thinking about the girl who would have been my best friend in high school, Mindy Kaling. The only reason that Mindy wasn't my best friend in high school was because I didn't know her. (Still don't and probably never will.) Also, we didn't go to the same high school, and she's a lot younger than I. Mindy Kaling is a writer for The Office, and she plays Kelly Kapoor. (Another reason we're not best friends, I don't know how to spell her character's last name.) But under favorable circumstances, I know we would've been best friends. I know this because I am reading her HILARIOUS biography, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns.) I think I'll unplug myself again, and take a vacation from the computer, so don't be alarmed if I neglect to write again soon.

Things People Say to my Dog

2011-10-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

The rhetorical question: Who's a good boy? Who's the cutest puppy in the world?
My dog's silent response: I know, it's me.

The flirtatious comment: I like your little sweater. Where did you get it?
Rufus says, "First of all, I think it's a little feminine, and second, I got it at either J.Crew or Petco. I'm not sure."

The awkward compliment: You're so cute I could just eat you up.
Rufus: Or you could just pet me like a normal person.

Lastly, the person who wants to make dog noises at my dog: Grrrr, Woof. Woof. Arf, grrr, bow-wow.
Rufus says, "Now you're just talking jibberish. That didn't even make sense. You just said,'Burglar sandwich very much no walk please.'"

Inspired by storyteller, Doogie Horner, featured in Spirit magazine, Oct., 2011

Reunification Anxiety

2011-10-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard of separation anxiety . . . well, I'm not at all anxious about being separated from our sports car; it's reuniting with it that causes me some anxiety. Mr. M and I drove merrily across the desert Friday, caravanning with a group of similar sports car enthusiasts. We all arrived at our chosen hotel, rested a little, enlarged our posse of sports car enthusiasts, and had a beautiful and tasty outdoor dinner under the stars. We then met again first thing in the morning for a day trip. We all got on the freeway, but our car wasn't doing so well; so we had to get off the freeway. A number of friends followed us to offer their help. I sat in the shade and read the newspaper while 7 guys bent over the engine and theorized as to where the problem lay. In the end, our friends went on without us, and we were left waiting for a tow truck to haul us to the mechanic. We were towed, but the mechanics were stumped, and the sports car expert won't be in until next week. So we got a rental, with the idea of driving home and then driving back at some point to pick up our car. Given time to think (and internet access), we found that it would be cheaper and easier to return the car and fly home. We talked with our posse about our problem, and we were offered a ride home. So here we are--at home. Our car, though, is not. We don't know when it will be ready, what it needs, or how we are going to get it back. We do know that it is a huge blessing to have helpful friends, though.

Thoughts on Jobs

2011-10-18T15:12:00.000-07:00

Mr. M and I watched a show honoring Steve Jobs last night. I don't know that I own any of his products, but I am affected by them on a daily basis. Thanks to Mr. M's iPhone, we found out what all the police were doing on the road when we went to see the vet. His iPhone lets us walk around San Francisco and read what other people have to say about the restaurant we're standing in front of. I think, though, that it was Steve Jobs' idea of making the computer personal, and having one in your home, that has been most influential in my life. My computer-whatever brand it is and whatever server it uses-is my hobby, and my creative outlet. It lets me share my ideas and photos with the public. I believe I've reached my technical plateau, and my lack of "iGear" is supremely evident, but I can and do appreciate the technology I have.

Theistic Evolution

2011-10-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

I tried to believe this in high school. I wanted something different, something shocking, to believe in. This belief was completely obliterated one Sunday evening when my pastor was preaching on the literal six-day creation, and he said some people didn't believe that part of the Bible--at least not literally. The simple question he posed to the congregation completely changed my beliefs and my perspective on Scripture. He rhetorically asked us that if we don't believe what God says in the beginning of Genesis, then at what point do we start believing the Bible. Do we choose to believe the Ten Commandments but not he creation account? Illogical and inconsistent. It's all or none. If the creation account isn't literally true then it stands to reason that God didn't literally raise Jesus from the dead, the bedrock belief of Christianity and a belief necessary for salvation. (Romans 10:9,10.)

My Sister's Keeper

2011-10-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

I have been ill and confined to the couch for a week. Yesterday, I watched My Sister's Keeper, the story of a cancer patient and her family. There were a lot of hospital scenes that reminded me of the time I have spent in hospitals with friends. In short order, my mom died, followed closely by two good friends. At the end of the movie, after the sister who had cancer has died, the other sister concludes that she sees no big picture, no grand purpose in her sister's life and/or death, and she is left simply with a feeling of much gratefulness for the sister she had, and the privilege she had of knowing her. That's how I feel about my friends. That's how I feel about my mom, too, only more so since she had so much influence on my spiritual (and daily) life, and I thank God He chose her to be my mom.

Incapable of Embarrassment

2011-09-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

Mr. M wants to put fake grass in our front yard. In order to get approval from the homeowners' assosciation, he will do his best to convince the board that it is the right, environmentally responsible thing to do . . . which it is(I think.) However, true as that may be, Mr. M's real motivation for getting fake grass is that he is tired of the water from the sprinklers getting on his car and leaving spots. So we will get the fake grass. This means I will have to vacuum the yard. Embarrassing for almost anyone. Me? I don't know. A good and long time friend of mine who knows me well said that she "doesn't buy it for a minute" that I will be embarrassed. According to her, I will be laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation too much to be embarrassed. She did, though, offer to come over for moral support when the time for this ridiculous task comes.

In a related story, I asked a friend many years ago if she would give me $5 to come into work wearing a Halloween costume in August. She said no, and when I asked her why, she said it was because she knew I'd do it anyway. She was right. Being known by your friends is definitely rewarding, just not always fiscally responsible.

Free Wedding Planning Services

2011-09-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

Since I have done such a stellar job planning my surprise party (inviting 30 guests to a restaurant who's biggest table seats 8), I thought I could be of use to you in planning your big day! My services would come with a few requirements from you, mainly that you be OK if it turns out to be an absolute fiasco. Be a good sport, and just keep telling yourself, "It could've been worse." If I were at all concerned with plans or details, I would be getting really nervous about now, but being who I am, I am looking forward to a hilarious time that will not soon be forgotten. And in that same spirit, I could also make your wedding VERY memorable. Just keep me in mind.

This is my newest idea for a small start-up business venture. What do you think?

My Soul's Delight

2011-09-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

It's all about Christ. Christianity IS Christ. Many people want to equate Christianity with controversy over one particular issue or idea or thing, but in truth, Christianity is all about your relationship with Jesus Christ. No controversy can save a soul; that is what Christ does-He saves souls. If you desire godliness, follow Paul's advice to Timothy-"Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." (2 Tim. 2:16.) Paul also says, in verse 14, that quarreling is of no value and only ruins those who listen.

Making a Statement is Over Rated

2011-09-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

The title of this post may incur the wrath of teenagers everywhere. Making a statement is all the rage. All the cool kids do it. What is making a statement? Saying a sentence? I'm not all that impressed. Good for you, being able to say something. Sometimes, though, I don't want to say anything. I don't want my morning cuppa joe to make a statement-I just want a dumb cup of coffee! I don't like the prevailing thought that we all have to make a statement all the time. I just don't want the pressure of having to think through the ramifications of even the most mundane choice I make. And that's my statement for today.

Almost Alone With My Thoughts on Advertizing

2011-09-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

I am stuck in my office, dogsitting Rufus while the cable guy is here. We thought the cable guy was done, so we let Rufus back inside, but then the cable guy came back!! Rufus went flying across the room, teeth bared, ready to attack . . . or just sniff. Anyway, the cable guy was scared, so Rufus and I are now stuck in my office. Just as well, since I've had some blog-worthy thoughts today. For reasons out of my control, I found myself watching a daytime talk show, and I'd say it was maybe a half a step above an infomercial. The advertisers have caught on to us, those of us who watch TV and skip the commercials. These advertisers are creative wonders, in a way. The show I watched today had such obvious and obnoxious product placement, that I may as well have been reading a catalogue of advertisements. If I watched that show regularly, I think I would also hang pictures on my wall of the black and white model families. I say if you're going to buy into consumerism, do it all the way!

Funny Ladies

2011-09-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

Ah, books. Oh, to be back in the presence of my friends, and to be making new friends. I count on the authors of my books to make me funny and interesting. If the saying is true, and books really are friends, then Jane Lynch is my newest friend. She (actually, the book she wrote) just came in the mail today. I will revisit an old friend, Ellen DeGeneres, in Oct. I've already bought and read two books by her, and she will have a new one out in time for my birthday. (Coincidental, since the receipt from the second book of hers has my date of birth on it, apparently a gift to myself--or just my way of celebrating Henry Winkler's birthday.) I will meet a new friend in November (Nov.1, according to Amazon), Mindy Kaling, who plays Kelly Kapur on The Office. The title of her book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, alone makes me laugh. I ask myself that every lonely Friday night that I have-those when Mr. M. is busy playing his box, or to be technical, cajon.

Having Future Plans and Hope

2011-09-14T12:55:00.000-07:00

In light of bridesmaids' expenses, I have been watching my spending. The first thing to go was Starbucks. I also started a rigorous (depending on how you define it) walking program in preparation for my friend's big day. I found after a few weeks that I had more energy, and a generally heightened sense of well being, accompanied by a lack of malaise. I rashly attributed this happy happenstance to the avoidance of caffeine. However, upon further reflection, I have come to believe with all my heart that it is the decrease in my spending habits that has contributed so much to my happiness. There is the savings at Starbucks, which is not insignificant. There is also the quite substantial savings I have made by adding to my reading collection (autobiographies of comedians and other funny people on TV) by buying used on Amazon as opposed to paying full retail. It's not (just) that I'm a cheapskate or penny pincher; each time I save, I remember the reason that I am saving, and that is so that I can fully participate in my friend's great day.

My Life Without Books.

2011-09-12T10:02:00.000-07:00

I believe the Bible is sufficient for all life and Godliness. I also believe reading other books is interesting, and adds spice to your conversations. Reading is invaluable to stimulate my own thinking, and also for broadening my horizon, contributing greatly to interpersonal relationships. The Apostle Paul was familiar with some of the great poets and philosophers of his day. (Acts 17:28.) It cannot be denied, I think, that there is great benefit in reading literature of all kinds.

The Written Word Leads to Spoken Words

2011-09-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

I have been fasting this summer . . . from books. It's been nice. I've had more space in my head and time on my hands to pray and to think. However, I am on pins and needles waiting for my inaugural book from Amazon-the one book worthy of breaking my fast. It is a book about being a bridesmaid, which is what I am (or is it what I WILL BE?) At a party yesterday, I was drawn to a book on the bookshelf about wedding etiquette when I realized to my great dismay how rude it would be to ignore all the other guests and immerse myself in this book. I would liken the feeling to someone who's trying to quit smoking seeing a carton of the finest cigarettes on the shelf and having to do everything to keep himself from grabbing one. But I was good. I restrained myself, and talked to some people (who were all lovely and interesting.) I still wanted to read-even just FEEL-the book, though. So, when no one was conversing with me, I slipped to the shelf, stealthily grabbed the book, and took it back to my seat. I hadn't read more than a few words when someone asked me what I was reading, which I gladly showed them, and then I went on to explain why I was interested in that book, which led to more conversation. The book was now no more than a mere weight on my lap. Soon, my friend left to get food, and I read a few more words, and the owner of the book sat next to me, and we started talking about why she owned the book, which led to talking about her job, which led to talking about her childhood and family and conversion to Christ. My new friend let me take her book home with me, and it has been a splendid diversion as I eagerly await the arrival of my own book.

A Time for Rejoicing

2011-09-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Sunday is commonly known by Christians as the Lord's day since it is the day set apart to worship and praise God and to rejoice in His salvation. As usual, Mr. M. and I, along with thousands of others, did that very thing. We had a 2nd reason to rejoice, and that is because of the upcoming vows our friends will soon make to each other and to God, to love each other deeply and sacrificially, illustrating the way Christ loves His church deeply and sacrificially.

Child Sacrifice

2011-08-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

Sacrifices of children and young virgins was a widespread practice among pagans. There were many gods, and those gods often changed with the times. The pagan world of today has its own god, post modernism, and whether people realize it or not, worshipers of this god are still sacrificing their children to please this deified ideal. Telling children, even in subtle ways, that there is no absolute truth, no right and wrong, equates sacrificing their souls and minds to the god of this age. Truth IS, and it must not be compromised . . . not for any one or any thing.

Life, It's complicated.

2011-08-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

That familiar social networking site allows us to be "complicated" in our relationships. I would also like to add that my health is complicated, as is my job description since it constantly changes. My interests are also complicated. I don't know of much that isn't complicated. The Bible is most certainly complicated to me, but faith isn't, just believing in Jesus even when I don't always understand everything He says. Faith is believing the invisible, believing complicated things that God has said, so having faith isn't complicated.

A Bumsper Sticker of an Idea

2011-08-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

Mr. M and I were recently on a road trip when it occurred to me that there is no website that will match you up with your soul mate according to your respective bumper stickers (or lack thereof.) I have my own personal and philosophical reasons for having NO bumper stickers (not even a Jesus fish-I'm strongly opposed), so I think a person's innermost values and character could be determined by their thoughts on bumper stickers. That's why I think lasting love might be founded on bumper sticker opinions.

Bridesmaid

2011-08-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be a bridesmaid, and I'm so, so honored! I've never been asked to be a bridesmaid before. (I have been asked to be a stand-in for a missing bridesmaid about my size at a friend's wedding, but I've never been asked to be a bridesmaid.) I feel really honored.

Our Exciting Day

2011-08-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

It was just another lazy summer day. Rufus was having his early morning nap, and I was waiting for my headache to subside. After some thought, I decided it would be best for me to go through the McDonald's drive-thru for an iced mocha. Rufus asked to go also, as it would be nice just to get out. So, we got in the car and headed out. I got my mocha, and we found a square inch of shade to park in while I indulged my want of caffeine. We then drove around town a little (to work off the afternoon treat), keeping an eye out for a shady park where Rufus could stretch his legs, smell some new smells, and leave some new marks. We took our time, and our patience was rewarded with something better than we expected-a dedicated, enclosed dog park. Rufus was freed from his leash, able to roam foot loose and fancy free. We were both so pleasantly surprised that we felt compelled to share our good fortune with you.
May this day hold a sweet surprise for you.

New Month, New Post

2011-08-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

I feel like I should write an update for no other reason than that I can. As you may well be aware, it is a new month now (August.) I went to the beach yesterday. I don't go to the beach as often as I'd like, so when my friend called me yesterday morning to invite me to the beach, I dropped everything, threw some things in a bag (7 books, and a bottle of sunscreen, as an afterthought), and we headed toward Mexico. I brought my Bible, and Familyhood by Paul Reiser, and I also threw in Letters From a Nut by Ted L.Nancy, which I read aloud, but had to take several laughing breaks in between sentences. It was a lovely day, and I look forward to similar days in the future.

Give Me Your Poor, Your Needy . . .

2011-07-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

Apparently, I run a cactus refuge. Twice since I have spoken of my cactus garden, friends have come to me with their struggling cacti, hoping that my care or my yard will give new life to their withering foliage. Maybe their logic is that their plants will have the confidence to thrive knowing they are in a welcoming environment, surrounded by others of their own species. Live on, you desert plants!

In Praise of Not Knowing Everything.

2011-07-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

In our daily lives and interactions, Mr. M and I have been noticing more and more men choosing to shave their heads. This trend makes us wonder if this is how the tradition of women shaving their armpits began. First, it was only for a few rebels, and then more and more people started doing it, and now it is almost required of a woman that she shave her armpits. Will it eventually become the norm for all grown men to shave their heads and remain bare headed for the rest of their mortal lives? I know these thoughts are hard to wrap your heads around, but I think you will find a full exploration of this subject fruitful. You could always just look on Google to find the origins of where hair should and shouldn't be depending on your sex, but what's the fun in that? I'd rather use my imagination, and just keep the question in the back of my mind.

A Different Hat

2011-07-22T20:56:00.001-07:00

I have taken on the temporary position of being the Public Relations person for my friend's move tomorrow. So I have nothing to do now but wait as offers come pouring in via the computer. At different times in the past two years, I have been a babysitter, patient advocate, chauffeur,canine medicine administrator, amateur academic, and property manager. I know that mothers are all of these things all of the time, but for not being a mother, I am pretty impressed with my skill set, if I do say so myself . . . and I do!

I Should be a Grandmother

2011-07-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

I was out back, blissfully enjoying my deserty, Tuscon-themed cactus garden in a vain attempt to escape life's day-to-day stresses and pressures (concerns, worries, and everything else that plagues the modern human person.) I was sitting comfortably on the couch, in the shade, with a cool desert breeze cooling my bare feet as it washed over me. I was reading a mystery book, and thoroughly enjoying the afternoon. Then came the techno. And not just any techno. Whoever was controlling the volume of this techno kept playing with the knobs. Loud and obnoxious, then soft and obnoxious. The pattern kept going. So I was reminded in this way that I don't live in the middle of nowhere, no matter what anyone says.

And if you're looking for me, I'll be on the FRONT patio, enjoying the cool desert breeze and my mystery.

Parole Officer

2011-07-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

Of all the hats I've worn, this may be the most unexpected. My only and best furry friend, Rufus, has arthritis. No more jumping on the couch for Rufus. The tough thing is, Mr. M and I have let Rufus enjoy full house privileges since he first came to stay; so he is not used to hearing "no". What this means practically is that we have to make some sort of physical barricade to prevent his furniture-jumping tendencies. So if you were to come to our house, you would notice that our footstool is laying on its side, leaning against the couch in a bold attempt to keep a little dog from getting any lofty ideas. You'd see this pattern repeated with several other cushions. We may be investing in a doggy bed soon.

Some Thoughts On Abortion.

2011-07-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

I am pro-life. That doesn't exactly mean that I reject the idea that a woman has the right to choose; I would just add to the statement, a woman has the right to choose not to have sex if she doesn't want to have a baby. I resent the implication that a woman can't control her sexual desires, equating humans to animals. I suppose I would be OK with abortion if I were OK with evolution . . . but I'm not. I believe in the Biblical account of a 7-day creation. I believe that God created each of us, and gave us all the ability to make informed and intelligent choices. We all have the choice to obey God, or to obey our own desires. When we choose to neglect God and obey our own desires, there are always consequences. No one would be put into the position of having to choose to murder their child or let it live if they first chose to deny their immediate fleshly desires.
Ironically, those in the pro-choice camp are not, in reality, pro-choice at all. Their arguments insinuate that women have no choice at all when it comes to sex. That is entirely false, with the exception of rape.
In today's lingo, I am pro-life. More accurately, though, I am pro-choice. I am all for making the right choice.

Friendship, One Aspect

2011-07-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

Friendship is, as you can probably see from my blog, is very important to me; always has been. Since my infancy, my mom has always shown me the importance of friends as she brought me along whenever she went to visit friends. Therefore, I am always interested in the dynamics of friendships. Since homosexuality is now considered cool and normal by so many, I am all the more thankful that I've done a good bit of reading on, and thinking about, friendships. Pastor John Piper said that the best way to minister to those struggling with homosexuality is to model healthy, same sex, friendships.

A thought I've had is that a true friend of the same sex will care about me enough to do nothing to jeopardize my marriage. A true friend will value what I value (my marriage) and respect the boundaries I have set for myself. (More accurately, the boundaries God has set for me.) If anyone tries to entice me to overstep those boundaries, or to bring discord into my home in any way, I know that person is no friend.

Perfect Summer Fiction,Updated

2011-07-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

Dog On It is the book I am currently enjoying. It is a fast and light read. The book is narrated by a dog, Chet. Chet and his owner, Bernie, run a private investigation company specializing in missing persons. Three days into the book, and I'm on page 146. (Part of those three days consisted of a 5-hour flight, but still . . . the book is a real page turner. Highly readable, a book description I never really understood, because what else do you do with a book? I suppose it would make a good step stool, too, but I would suggest reading it.) The author is Stephen Quinn, I think. You obviously have a computer, so you can double check if you wish.

Happy 4th of June. July.

I recently bought the 2nd book in the Chet and Bernie detective series by Spencer Quinn. The title is Thereby Hangs a Tail. The trip to the bookstore was, as usual, inspirational. There was a book about a father and daughter and books. This brought to my mind a cherished family tradition, the passing on of books. Many books that I have read have gone to my dad once I was finished, and then to my sister once my dad is done with it. Sometimes my dad is the originator of this trickle-down effect, and sometimes it is my sister.

Three Words I've Never Heard

2011-07-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

I like to read, and I read a lot. I also listen to news once in a while. I often hear about legalizing things-gay marriage, abortion, etc., and I hear about trying to make those things illegal. But one thing I never hear is illegalize. Seems to me that that particular word should be made legal, or legalized.
I think we've all heard of disgruntled employees. I've never heard of a gruntled employee. Is no one happy with their job?!?
I have often been discombobulated. I have also been combobulated, but I've never heard of anyone else being combobulated. I don't know if we are a discombobulated society who never can combobulate ourselves? I guess I may never know.

Seeing Past Your Nose

2011-06-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

This was a special weekend. I saw a lot of people who had a profound influence on the early years of my Christian walk, an influence that continues today. Along with the grateful backward glance, there was also a forward glance considering the obligation I have to the next generation of Christians. All Christians need encouragement, but young Christians also need the guidance of more mature and experienced Christians. I have an obligation to share the lessons I've learned from experience.
If we can imagine Christianity as a wheel rolling through time, every generation of Christians is a spoke in that giant wheel. Many generations have gone before us, pulling us along as they progress, and we must pull along the spoke behind us, spurring them on to maturity, and encouraging them to do the same for the spoke behind them. To quote President Bush (out of context), "Let's roll!"

Activity Awareness Month

2011-06-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

I've named the 2nd half of June and all of July Activity Awareness Month. My plan is to DO less, while being more aware and appreciative of the things I do DO. (I guess some people call that living in the moment.) I'm going to read fewer books, but let the ones I do read really challenge my thoughts and leave an impact on my soul. I'll watch less TV, but let the TV I do watch provoke insightful thoughts. It is my opinion that the majority of us suffer from sensory overload, collecting all sorts of facts, but not taking the time to process them or find out how, or if, our facts can benefit us. What are your facts doing for you? Are you allowing time for your soul to be refreshed?

Friends, Love, and Parking Lots

2011-06-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Some of my friends are coming over tonight. That makes me feel so loved and cared for. To the friends who couldn't come, I don't mean to make them feel guilty, and to the friends who plan to come but may have to cancel at the last minute, I don't want to make them feel guilty either, but if no one shows, I will be crying in my Tom Yung Guy (Thai) soup. Friends coming over is such a special event to me, a way to show you care. There are a lot of ways to show care and concern for your friends. I was reflecting this morning on ways I show my love to my friends, and the ways my friends have shown love to me. One important way others show love to me is to take an interest in those things that interest me, i.e. my blog. So I thank you so, so much for reading this, and I do hope I make you feel as appreciated as you do me.

Pink Unicorns and Pastrami

2011-06-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

I have had a mild case of writers' block for the past week, and I have had complaints from faithful readers (actually only one) about my woefully underdated blog. So I asked for a subject that I would then happily write about. My friend asked me to write about pink unicorns. From my vast stores of useless knowledge, I did recall an article that said that unicorns are particularly fond of pastrami--especially the pink ones. (It's all the pastrami that makes them pink.)

The thing about taking suggestions is that you end up doing something (or writing about something) that you don't really want to. The thing about doing something you don't want to do and aren't used to doing is that you are stretched and challenged, and you learn something about yourself. I didn't know I would be able to write even a sentence about pink unicorns, and here I was able to write three. My point is this: don't limit yourself. Try something new. You might surprise you.

Greed.

2011-05-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

We like to have it all. We like to have secrets. We like to surprise people. We don't like the boring or the mundane-even if it's good. We like a little bad in our lives. We are greedy. We want to keep up appearances, and go to church and spend time with our church friends, but we like to dabble in a little badness on the side, where no one can see us. Brothers, this should not be. The Bible says that we must choose. Thrice we are told that we can only choose one way-God's, or our own. Joshua is famous for telling the Israelites to "choose this day whom you will serve"; either the old, powerless gods of your forefathers or God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. (Josh. 24:15). Jesus tells us at the end of Matthew 6 that it is impossible to serve two masters-either we will love one and hate the other, or hate one and love the other. Paul writes to the church in Galatia that our natural desires and the desires of the Spirit that God has put within us are in conflict with one another. Our old man and our redeemed and renewed new man are in a constant and daily war. We cannot please both. In everything, we must choose whether to please our God, or to please our selves.

All or Nothing

2011-05-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

I have told you in previous posts that I believe in some crazy-sounding supernatural stuff . . . stuff like God existing before time and before earth, and then creating both with a word, a man being swallowed whole by a big fish and living inside the fish's belly to be vomited up on the shore, a man, a God-man, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. This God-man, in His lifetime, was able to walk on water. Some time later, He died and rose from the dead after 3 days.
It is popular now to believe some of these things, or to believe all of them only to a certain extent, or to believe in a kind of hybrid miracle, like theistic evolution, or the parting of the Red Sea caused by some odd but scientifically explainable meteorological event, but that requires little, if any, faith. When Diane Sawyer asked Mel Gibson if he believed that every word of the Bible is true, he replied with an enthusiastic and unequivocal yes. "Either you believe all of it or none of it." True 'dat!

Jesus' Model of Prayer

2011-05-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

It is called The Lord's Prayer, but really it should be every Christian's prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13

"Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

The beginning of the prayer tells us who God is and why He deserves our praise. He is our provider, and gives us all we need to live each day. He grants us forgiveness, and He also expects us to forgive others. He delivers us from sin and Satan.

Later that evening . . .

2011-05-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it was the iced tea at dinner, or the chocolate In-n-Out shake mixed with coffee, or the hot chocolate spiked with coffee from breakfast, but my mind is racing and I fear that my thoughts will wake me up in the night if I don't let them escape my brain. First, I have been thinking about the subject of my previous entry, and of the great friends who commented on it. Then, I thought back on camp, and how Mr. M. and I spent a good while talking to one of the students who had gotten baptized, and to her parents who drove 6 hours to witness this important moment in her life. I thought about a young girl who was baptized last year at camp, and how excited Mr. M was. He would make an excellent father. He is a wonderful husband to me, and his love for these kids makes me so proud. I am also proud of him and thankful that he printed out a picture of my dear friend Jen, whose words grace my previous post, for me. And now as I will soon lay on my pillow, it will be with thoughts of God running through my mind. Specifically, the thought that He loves me and cares for me like my dad (only more), yet He is eternal and as strong and powerful today as He was when He parted the Red Sea so long ago. Sweet dreams.

Camp

2011-05-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

Mr. M and I went to a woodsy mountain retreat with 200 college kids this weekend. I had been looking forward to the weekend for months. However, this previous week was a bad one for me healthwise, and made me nervous even to the point of reconsidering going. I didn't want to get sick-have tremors-in front of the kids. I guess I wanted to hide my humanity. I went anyway, I felt fine and I had a blast. I remembered my friend who, even in her last year of life when she was in almost constant pain from cancer, did not hesitate to spend time with others, even surrounding herself with her beloved college kids, and she never put on an act or pretended that it didn't hurt. She embraced her humanity and her weakness, proving that God's power is truly evident in our weakness. I will be forever grateful to have known Jen and to have seen her live in complete and courageous trust in God. These are some of her words:

Friends have been telling me how brave I have been these last twenty months. True it is that the past has had daily afflictions-the symptons of that curse we have all been dealt...but the idea of a personal valiancy makes me pause and consider those symptoms. I have not felt brave. The wasting away of my earthly home, the destruction of my outer nature, the tent constructed of chest and arms and ivory skin and brown hair is progressively being dismantled. While I haven't lost heart, it more than occasionally seemed misplaced or hiding. The Apostle Paul reminds me of the objective inner reality that "I am of good courage" and not only that, but "I am always of good courage." (2 Corinthians 5:1-10) How does the impossibility of courage become not just possible but guaranteed?

God is Himself preparing me for a change of address. I am moving out of this dirty and deteriorating temporary shelter that is me into a heavenly and lasting home, never to be relocated. This new home designed by God "eternal in the heavens" will never need a remodel. A raw look in the mirror and the insufficiency causes a sigh of shame: scars of imperfection, a pale color caused by weakness, a chair beside me to relieve the burden of standing. I still haven't removed the old calendar taped to the mirror. July reflects that last chemotherapy appointment. I should probably take down that reminder of painful moments gone by, yet the human capacity to count-down to painful days not yet marked will still be there. Taking another glance at my reflection, I know that it will be difficult to say goodbye to the eyes staring back at me. I want to live. I really do want to have this scarred body for just awhile longer. As Paul says, "not that I would be unclothed" I want God to "further clothe" me so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

So what do I do? Regardless of how many Januarys I will have to purchase new calendars it is my aim to please the Lord and I think I am biblical in saying it is courage that pleases. I am learning that I can bring delight to the heart of God by believeing something that is really hard to believe...so hard to believe because nothing here can prove it to me and there is little discoverable evidence available to convince myself of it. Such belief is so crazy, I might venture to say it requires faith? I am to live believing the claim of Philippians 1:21 that "to live is Christ and to die is gain...to depart and be with Christ...that is far better!" To take hold of that and to trust such truth is what produces the courage that pleases God. My life here is Christ and when I die, then my real life is even more Christ. I suppose that is why Paul could say, "with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death."

I've been in many worship services with music that extols the better-ness of being with Jesus. I always sing with some hesitancy. Pleasant moments talking with mom and dad...silly moments of laughter with my twin sister...peaceful moments resting in my husband's arms...will it really be better? I can't know for sure. Well, I can know by faith, but not with a knowledge gained by sight.

When my husband and I moved to the desert, time necessitated that he secure a home for us without me first ever stepping inside. Being rather selective, it took a small degree of trust on my part to believe that he was moving me to a dwelling capable of safety and beauty. He did a pretty good job. The cupboards aren't ideal and the fixtures were a bit brassy but despite these features I am content with our home. Home is where he is. Our Lord knows our deepest hope and what will ignite great joy in our soul and newly glorified body. He is moving me into that house where every expectation will be far surpassed and the ugly features replaced with divine designs. I will be home. Home because that is where He is and by faith I know it will be far better.

Something You Wouldn't Want to Lose.

2011-05-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

This was the topic for our daily journal entries for English class one day. As a clever (if I do say so myself), and somewhat smart$@! 9th grader, I thought my answer was pretty good. I wrote that I wouldn't want to lose my future. "I want to be successful in life, and even if I'm not, I want the opportunity to try." We turned in our journals, and the teacher drew a big question mark next to this entry. My response was to write over the question mark, "Duh! If you can't understand this, than maybe you shouldn't be an English teacher." I think I would've really liked my younger self if I met her today.

Just so you know, I grew up in a pretty liberal house, with pretty lenient parents. It is just now dawning on me that not all kids grew up thinking like me or talking like me. Especially the talking part.

Adventures In The Recycle Bin

2011-05-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about TV this morning. I was thinking about how I would never watch TV during the day until we got TiVo. The commercials on daytime television are just way too depressing, as they all imply that the only people who ever watch TV during daytime hours are uneducated, jobless ne'er-do-wells. I was deep in thought when I went out to get the mail. We got an advertisement from the local grocery store, and a piece of important mail. As it is trash and recycle pick up today, our trash and recycle cans were out. Having the recycle-bound advertisement in my hand, I figured I'd save myself a trip and just put it directly into the big recycle bin. So I did. But then, I looked down at my hand, and there was the advertisement. I had accidentally put the important mail in the recycle bin and kept the ad, and the recyclables had already been collected, so the important document was at the very bottom of a very tall and very empty can. Ugh! I went to the can and tipped it over, and tried to reach the letter. I couldn't. I had to crawl inside the plastic can and retrieve the mail. Good thing my neighbor had just driven up in her Mercedes. That completed the picture. And it all happened because of TV. No good can come from TV.

Notable Family Presents

2011-05-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

My family is not so good at giving gifts; but we are funny about it. Some of the best presents I got from my dad. We share the same sense of humor, and we see silliness where others see sentimentality. On my 8th birthday, he got me a 10-pound dumbbell. No, that wasn't a type-o. He got me one dumbbell. ONE. For one Christmas, he secured a can of tuna inside of a roll using a rubber band, and that was my gift. The year I worked at McDonald's, he got me a Big Mac and left it wrapped (in nice Christmas wrapping paper) under the tree. For my wedding, he found an old, burnt, and splintering hammer by the side of the road and gave that to me. He may have thought that was a good joke, but that hammer has come in handy more than I could tell you.

The Truth No One Wants to Believe

2011-05-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

We are just finishing up the Gospel of Mark at my church. Jesus is near the end of His life on earth. He's been arrested by the Roman Guard and taken to Pilate. Pilate sees that He has done nothing deserving of any punishment, let alone death. But Pilate was afraid of the crowd and wanted to appease them. The crowd wanted to see Jesus crucified. Pilate asked the crowd why, why they wanted to crucify Jesus. The only answer they gave was, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" They were confused and riled up, and offered no good reason for their desire to see Jesus crucified.
I think this is very similar to our society today. It seems that no one wants to know God, the only true God, who hates sin. We live in a society that loves tolerance. God is not tolerant. It's not OK with Him that you're living with your boyfriend. It's not OK that you stay up late to look at porn. It's not even OK with Him that you stole that candy bar when you were a kid. Most people want to be autonomous. They want to do whatever they like and not be held accountable for it. So who would want to serve a God who has authority over every one and every thing? People who want to know and serve the true and living God. Even when that means giving up your autonomy.

Cinco de Mayo Safety.

2011-05-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

I barely stopped in time. But I did. I came close to hitting the car in front of me. But I didn't. The driver of the car didn't go when the light turned green. Instead, she got out of her car and walked toward the rear to see if I'd hit her. I hadn't, and I knew it. I had no doubt. Since I knew exactly what I hadn't done, I sat calmly in my car while she satisfied her mind with the knowledge that all was fine. Her suspicions were proven wrong. There is a metaphor, an allegory, a spiritual lesson here. I just know it. I suspect it has to do with grace. While the woman was looking at the non-existent damage, I sat smugly in my car, happy in knowing I had caused no harm. Did I have the right to congratulate myself? No. Clearly, I should have stopped sooner. I shouldn't have given the driver any cause for alarm or a suspicion of foul play on my part. To what, then, do I attribute that unoffensive episode, if not to my good driving? To grace. I attribute it to grace. Now for the allegorical meaning: I was confronted earlier this week by someone who denies the deity of Christ, and His bodily resurrection. I know better. Is that because of my superior intelligence? No. It is because of God's kind grace that I know the truth.

Micro-Physio-Biology

2011-05-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

These college kids, they have their own language. It is entirely up to me to interpret what they're saying, and pretend I know what they're talking about. I asked one of the students her major. She said, "micro-physio-biology." Hmmm. OK, micro is small. Physio has something to do with science, anatomy, and organs. Biology is the study of life. So, putting all that together, I conclude that this girl studies the organs of small life forms. I keep my interpretation to myself and smile and nod and wish more people would have one-word majors like English or math.

Missionary Mindset

2011-05-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

For the past few years, I have been reading about friendship, and asking myself what qualities I look for in a friend. This has been an informative, but at times frustrating, exercise. Lately, though, I've been reading the memoirs of missionary wives, and in their sincere desire for a friend, the only quality they really care about is someone who speaks English. Having similar theology is a bonus, as is being in the same season of life (single, married, motherhood), but that is secondary to simply speaking English. Maybe when we have so many choices, we set our sights too high.

From Genesis to Revelation-Total Faith

2011-04-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

Many think it is crazy, silly, and naive to believe in a God who created everything out of nothing. Some believe in the big bang theory. I would ask them, "Who made the bang?" That particular theory makes no sense to me. As crazy, silly, and naive it may sound, I believe God existed before time began, and that He created our galaxy, this earth, and all living things, like Genesis says. And since I believe what Genesis says about creation, it only makes sense to believe every word of the Bible, all the way to the last words of Revelation.

Whose Idea Was it to Surrender Your Footwear Upon Entering a Certain Type of Home?

2011-04-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

Mr. M and I, in working with the college students, are often asked (or at least made aware of the expectation of us) to take off our shoes in some homes and apartments. Now, it is not just students who ask (or expect) us to surrender our footwear; there are also alumni. All of our bare-footed hosts have two things in common-they are Asian (or they are so often surrounded by all things Asian that they have forgotten that they themselves are not actually Asian), and they are smart. So I'm wondering if there's an unwritten rule among smart people-regardless of race-that shoes are not to be worn indoors.

I was taught in jr. high to put a question mark after a statement that begins with, "I wonder." However, I was taught earlier in my educational career to put a period at the end of any statement, no matter how it begins-so that's what I stick with. It seems the logical choice to me. Telling you what I wonder about is merely stating a fact, so I don't see that it deserves a fancy punctuation mark any more than if I tell you, "My favorite color is purple." I feel perfectly at peace with my punctuational choices, although I do still feel the need to explain. I hope you'll appreciate my sincerity?

Missionary Zeal

2011-04-17T18:29:00.000-07:00

Reading about Ann Judson's missionary career in Burma has got me thinking about mission, telling others about the amazing love of Jesus. Ann had her mission field in Burma. She would tell of Jesus' love to the women and children of the land. The college students we work with have their mission field-other college students, immortal souls that need to know about Jesus. I have my own mission field, neighbors and family who need to know what Jesus did to save their souls. Every one, regardless of where they live, has a mission field. Where's yours?

Choosing My Friends . . . Then Putting Them on The Bookshelf

2011-04-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

I am in a biography/autobiography stage. No offense to my actual friends, but I've been enjoying quiet afternoons in the sun with Ann Judson (one of the first missionaries to Burma), and I am looking forward to sunny afternoons poolside with Tina Fey, and come Fall, I'll be spending time with Mindy Kaling, (Kelly Kapoor from The Office.) Of course, I am never happier when two of my favorite things-friends and reading-collide, like yesterday at church when I bought a book by a woman I've had lengthy conversations with, or the buying of Totally Desperate Mom by my high school buddy and childhood actress, Wendy Hagen.

The Real Life of an American Teenager

2011-04-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

As an unpopular schoolgirl, I was summoned one day at recess to a table where all the popular girls were gathered. I was invited to sit, while they just stared at me and waited for me to say something. Even as a young girl, I knew no good could come of this. These girls were not my friends. So I just sat in silence and stared back at them. Eventually, as I gave them nothing to laugh at, they got bored with me and sent me away. I won. My natural, inborn cynicism and skepticism had served me well.

I later learned that the game was that whatever I said at the table was what I would say after my first romantic encounter. Oh, how sorry I feel for teenagers-especially the unpopular, uncool kids who are too smart for the popular and cool kids' stupid games!

RUFUS TAKEN HOSTAGE BY MILITANT PET GROOMERS.

2011-04-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

I took Rufus in to get his teeth whitened and his nails manicured today. The grooming process was much shorter than anticipated. I saw Rufus in the waiting area, but I couldn't take him home. The place didn't take credit cards, and I didn't have on me the kind of cash they wanted. We were at an impasse. I had to leave Rufus there, as collateral, and go to the bank for cash. The closest bank was on a windy hill, where the wind blew my hat right off my head. Cash in hand, I went back to claim my dog. He was released to me, and we met a good friend of mine and her dog at Starbucks, where we spent the afternoon relaxing and chatting after a nice walk on the bike trails. It was a day, a very good day, a very adventurous day.

It's a Nice Day to go to the Beach.

2011-03-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

I am back in sunny SoCal now, and I can truly say of today that it's a nice day to go to the beach . . . . BUT, with the hassle of that, and the price of gas, I'll just grab myself an iced mocha and sit in the back yard. While relaxing, I'll start on my summer reading list, which includes a book by Larry King about the art of talking to anyone, a biography of Ann Judson, a book about friendship, and the autobiography of Sarah Silverman.

California Dreamin'

2011-03-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

I am currently in a state that is not California. It is a state "for lovers"(of the indoors.) Never once in the probably 30 weeks we've spent here in our 15 years have I thought, "This would be a nice day to go to the beach." The sun rarely comes out here, and when it does, it doesn't do much. Now don't get me wrong; I don't actually go to the beach that often-I just like to go outside and think to myself, "This sure would be a nice day to go to the beach." On those days when I can say that, I can just walk to an outdoor cafe and sit with the warm sun on my back. Those are my kind of days. Rufus likes them, too. We are both CA natives, and whereas we, or at least I, worship the creator, we both enjoy His creation immensely.

Friends as Mirrors

2011-03-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

The other night, I was sitting at an outdoor cafe with some friends, and one of my friends had her feet up resting on the firepit while she balanced on the back two legs of the chair. I told her how scared it made me feel to see her balancing like that. It scared me because I would be scared and uncomfortable in that precarious balancing act. She pointed out, very wisely, that I project my own balance issues on to others. What I had thought of as a maternal instinct, "Put your feet back on those pedals! They're there for a reason!", or the instincts of a teacher, (my grandma was a teacher, my mom was a teacher, and I have been a teacher at various times in my life), "Stop squirming and sit on your bottom!", was really the result of putting myself in others' shoes and feeling scared for them when they didn't see the obvious (to me) danger, stupidity, and foolishness of their actions. I have been driven to distraction-almost to tears-at the sight of a friend standing on a cliff to get a picture. (You know who you are.)

Making Mom Laugh

2011-03-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

I just watched the 1966 film, "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming!" I love it because my mom loved it, and it made her laugh. I can practically hear her laughing when I watch it. As much as I love music (especially from the 80s), I don't know that I have ever heard anything so beautiful as my mom's laugh. Now that she's gone, I take great comfort in the fact that I made her life-both with me and at me-many times. One particular time was when I was in kindergarten and I was telling my mom what my teacher looked like. I said she looked like she was wearing three inflated innertubes around her middle. In a manner befitting the vocabulary of a kindergartener, I said that my teacher looked like she had one innertube for her chest, and two innertubes below that to hold her superfluous girth. I'm glad to have made my mom laugh. I'm glad she gave me her sense of humor.

Little Old Mrs. M

2011-03-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

After a hearty discussion with a group of friends at a coffee shop, we all headed across town to an outdoor mall where we continued eating and then went shopping for dessert. My dessert came in the form of a stationery store, selling all their wares for 30% off. I spent the equivalent of a full tank of gas. I will continue my seemingly futile attempts at the lost art of the hand written note. Friends who take the time to put pen to paper for me are few and far between, but they hold a special place in my heart . . . and in my home. I save all my personal mail, so if I ever do anything spectacular enough to have a book written about me, my friends' letters will be included, so they will be forever acknowledged as having a key role in my success (or my failure, but if I'm going to dream, it might as well be a good dream!)

Christian Cannibalism

2011-03-06T07:40:00.000-08:00

I go to a large and well-known church. Many people who've gone there, or even just heard of the church, think they know all about all of the members. People think we're all exactly the same, with the same ideas, opinions and beliefs. This is not true. Christians expect to have enemies on the outside, but the real threat to Christianity comes from the inside. We are not allowing Christians to differ in any way. There is plenty of room for differences amongst God's people. I am in no way endorsing ecumenism; I believe Jesus Christ is the only way to know God and to be saved from our sin, and I believe the Scriptures are the primary way to know Christ and grow in faith. It seems to me that we the Church would do well to heed the advice of Paul to the Galatian church, and stop "biting and devouring one another." We are destroying ourselves from the inside. Galatians 5:15.

Writing

2011-03-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

I just watched the most recent episode of Parenthood, the one where Sarah (Lauren Graham) writes a story and lets a friend read it. It almost made me cry, remembering the exhilaration and excitement I feel whenever I write something. For me, there is nothing like writing. I can talk openly and honestly with someone until I'm blue in the face, but still, spoken words will never make me feel as vulnerable as written words. It has always been like this for me. I remember in college going to dinner with some older girls I admired like crazy, and they were so kind to me, but it wasn't until one of the girls turned over her paper place mat and wrote me a note-right there at the table-that I felt entirely at ease. So why would I want to make my most vulnerable and soul-baring thoughts public? I have no idea. Maybe Lauren Graham is reading. I doubt it, but who knows? Maybe I just want to inspire my friends to think and to write. Maybe it is the eternal desire of every living human to be known. All I know is that I love to write.

Friendship

2011-03-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

I've been immersing myself in books about friendship, and thinking long and hard about the friendships I value most, and I've concluded that nothing compares with time. Those friends who knew me before I was married, and the friends who I met shortly after marrying, when I was first establishing myself as Mrs.M, the wife of Mr. M, those are the dearest friends to me. That is not to say that I haven't made cherished and wonderful friends more recently, but my tried and true, seen me at my worst, friends will always be in my heart.

Meditations on Psalm 1

2011-02-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

I know I've sung (written) the praises of this psalm many times before, but just this week I have gained a new appreciation of it. I have seen concretely how true it is that those who love and live by God's law are protected from so much foolishness that would be easily avoided by heeding the advice of God given in Proverbs and in other books of the Bible. How much more pleasant would our lives be if we took to heart the many admonitions in Proverbs to think carefully before we speak? Meditating on God's law has saved me a lot of heartache, and kept me from making foolish and hasty decisions based solely on fluctuating emotions. Thank God for His written guidance!

Money Matters

2011-02-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

I don't know if my money motto, "It all evens out in the end" (accompanied by a shrug) is too simplistic, but it seems to hold true. Yesterday, I returned some books to Amazon (because I had been impulsive and spent too much money without looking at cheaper ways to buy the same books), and then I took my friend to lunch, spending about the same amount as I had saved by returning the books. Trader Joe's was right on the way home from the restaurant, and I had had a hankering for chocolate covered blueberries for a while. So I went in and bought a box. I got in the car and thought it was a nice day for Starbucks. I reasoned with myself, though, that a drink from Starbucks would cost about the same as the box of blueberries, and if I went home and had some o.j., my finances for the day would be Even Steven. So I had my orange juice, and enjoyed the feeling of not feeling guilty for any impulse buys.

Conflict Resolution, OR Relationships Are Hard, And We All Do Dumb Things.

2011-02-12T22:58:00.000-08:00

I've known many couples in my life, and the lack of good conflict resolution skills of one young couple comes frequently to mind. The couple got in an argument one morning before work. While Mr. ________ was taking his hot morning shower in preparation for the day, Mrs.________ went through the house and let the hot water run from every faucet.

They now have a water heater that provides an endless supply of hot water.

. . . and then we played Jenga.

2011-02-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

The other night, I was helping my friend move into an apartment. All the doors looked the same. We disassembled a large desk in her old apt. and moved it into the new one. Someone was cooking some delicious-smelling curry. We kept working, though. We were soon moving smaller items, such as loaves of bread. I ventured out by myself for the first time, into this maze of identical apartment doors. I walked a certain distance with my loaf of bread, and opened the apt. door. To my great embarrassment, it wasn't my friend's apt. It was the source of the delicious smelling curry. The (very friendly) Indian family had just finished their dinner, and graciously invited me in for leftovers. So I graciously accepted with joy in my heart and my tummy, and I partook of the curry over rice as they were having dessert. They all waited at the table while I ended the meal with a dessert of home made rice pudding with nutmeg and dates, and then we played Jenga.

BLOOD

2011-02-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

I saw my neurologist last week. We've known for years that my ataxia is caused by a mutated gene in my genetic code, or DNA. DNA is made of RNA. (DNA is the double helix you learned about, and probably diagrammed, in high school.) My mutated RNA (#32, to be exact) is overgrown and splits apart. The problem is that when the splitting occurs, toxins are released in my blood. The more splitting, the more toxins. So, the prestigious medical research university here in CA has 2 vials of my blood, complete with DNA and RNA, as does a research lab at a Florida university. Exciting things are happening!

It All Started With a Shout of, "Chicken Juice!"

2011-01-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

At the behest of a friend of mine, I will recount as best as I can the events of the night of Monday the 24th of January. Mr. M and I were talking about our rat problem when a sudden knock was heard on the door. "There's one of them now!", I said jokingly, as if a rat was at the door. (Everyone knows that no rat has the decency to knock. They all just barge right in unannounced, which just added a sense of ridiculousness to my joke.) Mr. M opened the door, and two teenagerish voices pleaded with him to let them come in and show us their super-duper vacuum. Mr. M asked me loudly if I had any use for a free stain removing vacuum service. I yelled back, "Yeah, there's that chicken juice stain on the carpet!" That was that. They'd be back in 15 minutes to give us their product demo and remove our chicken juice stain. That was at 8:30. So, whatever my expectations were, what we ended up with was this: a nice guy (too nice to be a salesman for long) vacuumed and shampooed our entire carpet. He moved furniture, the whole she-bang. Mr. M. and I watched, yawning and giggling, recalling the vacuum cleaner salesman scene from "I Love Lucy" and the Tupperware sales calls from "Napoleon Dynamite". We were literally cleaned into a corner as the salesman and all his equipment took up any dry floorspace in our house. When all was said and done, it was 11 PM. The chicken juice stain was history. To my complete and utter shock, the smooth-tongued boss didn't put us on a major guilt trip for not buying the thing. They washed our carpets for free, and left. AWESOME! (I think the boss man was as tired as we were.)

In a somewhat related story, two rats were trapped and killed in our attic, directly above the computer room. The offense this caused to my olfactory senses made it easy for me to spend less time here on my computer. I can write again today because the exterminators came this morning to remove the olfactorily offensive (smelly) carcasses.

Life Off-Screen, or, In Praise of Single-Tasking

2011-01-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

I went for a walk with Rufus today, and a driver almost didn't see us. She was putting on her make up. This made me think, multi-tasking is almost always dangerous and/or rude. How many times have you been earnestly talking to someone, only to realize that they're fully absorbed in a virtual conversation with someone who isn't even there?? RUDE.

There is much to be said for single-tasking: doing one thing, and doing it well. For your consideration: Are you aware of your surroundings? Do you hear the birds singing, or notice the beautiful cloud formation? Have you ever come close to walking into a moving vehicle because your attention is fully focused on a palm-sized distraction devise? Do you look people in the eyes when they talk to you? Do you remember what you've read, or does it just get lost in your brain with all the useless information you've acquired?

I'm reading The Winter of Our Disconnect by Susan Maushart. She and her three teenagers went screen-free for months. I try and occasionally do it for a week or two at a time. It is easier for me, since I don't have any "smart" devices, or "i-" anything.

Star Wars Prayer

2011-01-17T12:59:00.000-08:00

Today, Mr. M and I will host a group of 13 year old boys for a Star Wars screening and pizza party. It is a birthday party, and we were asked to host because of our movie projector and big screen. This is yet another way God allows me to be a vicarious mother, and to have some small impact on the future of His church. It was over 10 years ago that the young sons of a friend of ours also chose to have their birthday party here. We watched The Hunt for Red October. Our little house, and our little lives, along with our love, are great ministry tools, tools for which we praise God. In reading Hannah's prayer of thanks, I was struck that there is no mention of Samuel-just praises to God for His power and might. Hannah definitely looked past the gift to the Giver.

I'm off to bolt our furniture to the floor now, and wrap caution tape around Rufus.

Answers to Prayer

2011-01-12T15:40:00.000-08:00

I've always been told about Hannah. My mom loved the story of Hannah. (2 Sam. 1,2.) That is because my mom was married almost 20 years before she had me. She'd wanted a baby from day one, it just never happened . . . well, not "never", but not for a very long time. Now I read the story of Hannah and see the greatness and creativity of God. I want, more and more as the days go by, to have a hand in the future. That will not come by way of a child . . . not one of MINE, anyway. But God in His kindness allows me to touch the younger generations, partly through extended family, partly through my friends' kids, and mostly through being on staff at our church's college ministry. It's been such a joy. Life becomes so fast-paced with young adults. Everything can change in an instant . . . first she likes him, and then she likes someone else, and then she gets a new job . . . life is like an ever-rolling river for these kids-it's never stationary for long. I think it is making me feel younger, and that is a good thing.

The Church Dynamic and the Dynamic Church

2011-01-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

I've been reading and studying, thinking, pondering, musing and meditating on the church a lot lately. This has led me to a great appreciation of being lovingly adopted into such an institution, a people called out of the worldly realm to be led and loved by God. I've also thought about the responsibilities I have (which are also privileges) that come with that blessed adoption into God's family. Specifically, I've been reminded, and I've lived the fact, that when one of us suffers, we all suffer. (1 Cor. 12:26) Something about suffering: suffering causes us to grow in Godly character. (James 1:2) Suffering teaches us about God and His Son. We are called to teach what we've learned to others in the church, so that they, too, will be built up, growing in the knowledge of the Son of God. (Eph. 4:12,13) That means sharing our sufferings. When we share our sufferings, we help our brothers and sisters to weep with us (Ro. 12:18) and pray for us (James 5:13,14), to come alongside us and help us to carry our burdens (Gal. 6:2), and to show us kindness and compassion. (Eph. 4:32) In short, sharing our burdens, struggles and sins with brothers and sisters helps us all to grow closer in unity, and allows our brothers and sisters to show us the love of Christ. Only when we speak the truth can other members of the Body speak truth to us and minister to us. As Christians, we love the truth, and want and need to hear it. The truth benefits the entire body, and we are robbing ourselves of kindness and compassion, and robbing the church of an opportunity to pray for us and help us when we refuse to share honestly our struggles. No Cristian was meant to live in isolation, and we are fooling ourselves if we think we can be self-sufficient.

Twanging In The New Year

2011-01-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

I've done cool things. I've hung out with cool people. In fact, I hang out with cool people pretty regularly. Tonight, though, I did something decidedly uncool. Uncool, but so fun! Mr. M and I went to a local pizza parlor-the kind with long tables and benches and peanuts on the floor. We met a few friends for dinner and a live bluegrass band. Four older gentlemen were on the dirty stage: a fiddle, a guitar, an upright bass, and a banjo. We were all laughs and smiles. It reminded me of all the hokey and cheesy and old-fashioned kind of fun I had growing up in a small church. I loved that hokey fun then, and I love it now. I don't care if my friends are cool or uncool, and I don't care if our entertainment is cool or uncool, I just like having a good time with people I love. I've heard it said that what you do on the first day of a new year sets the tone for the whole year. If that is true, this will be a good year.