Tru's Special 7th Birthday

What a wonderful weekend we had!!! Kelli and the girls arrived Thursday afternoon, Tabbi and the boys came over Thursday evening, and Jon came from Muscatine later Thursday night. We spent Friday together celebrating Tru's 7TH BIRTHDAY!!!! The kids had a great time playing together, and we took them to the pool for a couple of hours. Tabbi and the boys went home Friday evening. Much of the weekend was taken up with phone calls, emails, and lots of discussion because Jon and Kelli got an offer on their house Thursday!!!! There was a counter offer and an agreement made. YAY!!!! Then just to top it off they turned around and bought a house in Muscatine on Saturday!! DOUBLE YAY!!!!! We're praying for smooth sale processes and are SO happy for them!!!! And for us!!!! As of now Kelli and the girls are safely back at home and getting ready for a move! AND Jon got a lot of work done around here...the west wall of the garage is drywalled and taped. Tonight he primered the bathroom and he's basically like Superman! All that said, I'll get back to where I started...."HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRU!!!"

Timely Pursuit

Time is such a precious commodity
in my daily life. When I plan out
what I need to accomplish in a day,
there never seems to be enough.
Yet I find myself frittering away what
seems to be vast amounts of it anyway.
And it seems that the things I care
about the most get sacrificed in the
face of either the urgent, the routine,
or the completely useless pursuits
that I practice. I must choose differently.


All your life is a choice. There is not a detail, no matter how insignificant it may seem that is not affected by the choices you make. Your investment of time, energy, or awareness regarding some facet of your life will determine your course, so you must choose well.

The time you spend with Me always bears fruit even when you don't see the direct results yourself. Your prayers for your family, friends, church, community, and world are investments that cannot be measured. It is good to sit alone and quietly turn your heart to Me in fellowship and petition and to hear My voice speak to you through My word. The advantage of quiet is there are fewer distractions. In your daily life there is so much noise. However, I am no less present in the busiest parts of your day. You forget that I am with you, and a part of you can come to Me in the midst of all other activities. While I would want you to continue in active pursuit of Me, I would not have you make an idol of your devotion or spiritual habits.

Because so much clamors for your attention, you have to be very deliberate to turn your mind and heart to Me. Mastering this ability is less a feat accomplished by your power and more an active work of My Holy Spirit within you. Instead of a battle it is a relinquishment. You must surrender your ideas, plans, agendas, and focus. You are not the center of your world. Your family is not the center of your world. Your work is not the center of your world. Your health is not the center of your world. Your leisure is not the center of your world. That place is reserved for Me. I purchased it with My blood and you have already given up ownership. So stop coming back and trying to force your way into a place that doesn't belong to you anymore. I know what I'm doing. I will do all things well.

Abandon the trivial and mindless things that steal your time and energy. Turn it off. Walk away. Flee if need be. Let your mind be filled with living thoughts, thoughts that are worthy of My participation. It is necessary for your mind to focus on your task, but still possible for you to be aware of My presence at any time. I am the life force behind all that you undertake, and as I fill you with My Spirit that life flows over through all that you set your hand to do.

Pursue Me above all else, but don't think only in terms of time spent and forms practiced. Think in terms of dependence, humility, surrender, trust, obedience, virtue, hope, patience, kindness, honor, love, joy, and peace. I will fill all the days and times of your life with value, purpose, strength, and vision.

Psalm 90:12; Psalm 46:10; Matthew 6:6-8; Matthew 6:25; Philippians 4:4-9;

Psalm 90:17; John 4:14

Bad News

It's been over a week since the earthquake in Japan. Yesterday we started air strikes in Libya. This week our friend Pat received bad news about her health. Yesterday a young man in line school fell from the top of a 35' pole and died. He left behind an expecting wife and two children. So much bad news. The sermon we heard this morning was about God's providence. That was good timing because I needed to be reminded that God is in control. He really is. In spite of our failures and weaknesses He holds and directs our lives, and He's not caught off guard by anything that happens.

Sidewalk Prophets--You Love Me Anyway

I heard this song for the first time today, and it really hit me. Hope you like it!

I'm thinking about taking down my website and just posting anything new on here. Any input?? It's not expensive to keep the website, but it's not free either. I hesitate because I will lose the rights to www.fringesofhisways.com Just like that being mine; but if it's inactive, it's inactive. I know I can do whatever I want, I'm just looking for suggestions.

My least favorite subject is school was always math. So...what am I doing all day? Math. And I mean all day. Things are much more time-consuming with billing the feed at work now. Plus there is an extra project that's landed on my desk that may be the end of me yet. Way too many numbers.

Senior Discount

It's great to be 55!!! I went to Hy-Vee yesterday and got 15% senior discount on my entire purchase (every Wednesday). Then today I was at Pamida and asked the checker if they didn't have a certain day that they gave a senior discount. She said, "Yes, on Thursday. But it's every other Thursday, and today is it." Another 15% off!!! YAY!!!
Plus I learned how to buff my nails...they're so shiny!!! It's the little things.....
Today Kelli and the girls went to Muscatine and were very excited to see Jon and spend a few days with him. It was good to see them even though for a very short time.

Thought for the day

It will be a week tomorrow since the 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Japan followed by the tsunami. Now they're dealing with nuclear reactors in jeopardy. It's so horrible to see the devastation and the complete loss they are facing. It's so hard to understand how these things are in God's plan. And yet, He is in control no matter how it seems. We pray that God's love and mercy will be poured out on the Japanese people and they will be won to the Lord.

Productivity

It's been a productive weekend. Friday night I went to Tre and Tru's school carnival to hang out with them while they played the games and had fun. Saturday we were home most of the day working around here. Jon got the entryway all painted and the lights up and working in the entry and outside. Today he and Brad finished taping the ceiling of the garage, and I baked cookies and did laundry. We've ordered flooring for the entryway, and Bruce will (?) be coming tomorrow to start on the bathroom. I'm covering most of the living room with sheets to hopefully avoid some of the mess.

I'm really excited to see Kelli and the girls come through here later in the week. It's been too long since we've seen them!!!!

Saturday I had way more pain than I have had in a while, but, thankfully, today was better. I'm never sure why it can be so different sometimes, but I'm beginning to think that being on my feed for longer periods of time without a break is a factor. I'm hoping standing doesn't become the kind of issue it was before my last surgery. Also, I had MUCH more stress at work this week which may have unleashed its effects on Saturday. I hope this week is better, but I'm not sure why it would be.

We got a couple of pics from Megan on our phones this weekend, and Oz is loving standing up with help. He's sleeping without his sleep sack and exploring every corner of his crib while sleeping. Plus he's getting up on his knees and scooting himself forward...just hasn't figured out how to use his arms to navigate. It won't be long till he's crawling everywhere!!

Thought for the day

It was a "productive" weekend, and that felt good but I'm very grateful that God doesn't value me according to what I produce. He cares about my heart; He cares about my relationship with Him. He doesn't want my efforts or my productivity...He wants me. He wants you.

Psalm 77

Our entryway is textured and will soon be painted. Bruce will come back on Monday to start on the bathroom. Feels SO good to see some progress. I have a big change at work...our biggest account was bought out by another company. Working with them requires a lot more data entry than it did before. I can feel it in my back and neck tonight...just stressful. The most relaxing part of my day was a trip to the dentist...yikes!

Thought for the day

When in trouble we can begin to think "Just my luck. The High God goes out of business just the moment I need Him." But that is just our grief speaking. We have to make a choice at that time. We must once again go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; ponder what He's accomplished, and give a long, loving look at His acts. He IS good. And He's done amazing things for each of us, many of which we aren't even aware of. But take time to remember what you know of Him and trust that He loves you and is fully aware of your need.
Psalm 77

Babysitting

Our contractor came Friday and the plan is to start our bathroom remodel around Thursday. Lots of stuff to clear out by then. On Saturday we went to Megan and Greg's and got to babysit with Oz for the evening. We hung out there today till around 5:00. Jon did some electrical work, and we enjoyed some quality Grandpa and Grandma time! Will download some pics and post later this week (I hope :))
We're both finally feeling mostly better and just in time. Lots of work to do this week!
In other good news....Kelli had another open house today and it was the most well-attended one yet. The people are coming out of their winter hibernation and starting to look at houses again! YAY!!!
Hope you all have a great week!!!

Sinuses

We can now see our garage doors! That's the only change on the outside, but there is progress inside. The entryway is drywalled and still being mudded. We've also started dismantling the bathroom, and Bruce will be back to do that job when we're ready. Now both Jon and I are on antibiotics for sinus infection. Feeling worse today, but hoping that means that tomorrow will be better. Oz, Greg, and Megan are taking antibiotics, too, so it's everywhere! I'm tired...hope to sleep well tonight.

Thought for the day

"When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out." Matthew 6:3-4 The Message