No…I have not lost my mind. I’m just ready to try something new. I’m so frustrated with my weight and my complete inability to lose the 40-50 extra pounds I’m carrying around. I’ve tried exercise – a lot of exercise. I’ve worked on portion control. I’ve been to doctors and I’m getting treatment for hypothyroidism. All with no lasting effect.
I don’t normally sing in the shower, but yesterday morning, I was feeling particularly inspired. I had the house to myself, so there was no one to embarrass or tease me about my song choices. Plus, the shower has really nice acoustics. So, I opened the glass door, stepped into the warm water and began to sing. I had barely vocalized five notes when I was joined by a chorus of mews and trills from my youngest cat, Pixel. She sat outside the shower door, nose in the air, blinking at me and calling at the top of her voice. I have never heard her do that before, but then I don’t sing in the shower often, as I said. We crooned together for a good five minutes, a “Kat and Cat Duet” if you will. (more…)
Wow…it has been a long time since I posted. I’ve been thinking about the reasons for this, and I’ve come up with several thoughts. First of all, life has been really, REALLY crazy around here. Many changes – far too many to process even in the weeks that I’ve been away from my blog. Second, my brain has been too full to concentrate on putting words and phrases into coherent sentences. Third, what little spare time I’ve had for things like this has been spent with my family – you’ll understand why in a few paragraphs. Fourth, I’m just lazy. Didn’t have the energy. And I could go on….
So this morning, I’ve set aside several hours to myself and this is one of the things I’ve chosen to do with “my time.” Even as I’m writing, there are other things trying to creep in and steal these moments. But I’m determined to put something down in writing to honor all that has transpired in recent weeks. (more…)
Last week, I was running late. It was raining – AGAIN – and the resulting crush of inattentive drivers on the freeways meant that it took me an-hour-and-a-half to get to church. It was a Bible study morning, too, so there was a lot to do as soon as I could get there to do it. I arrived and hit the ground running, loading up a cart with all of the supplies I needed and wheeling it down to the room so I could begin setting up. I was also teaching the lesson that morning, so I was mulling over my outline, my illustrations, my Bible verses as I scurried around. And then….
I love to swim. Now that my training for the 2010 triathlon season has begun, I’ve had cause and motivation to brave those first few cold minutes in the pool in favor of swimming some laps. There’s something about being enclosed in the water, isolated even from the other swimmers for the most part, that is soothing to me. With the rhythm of my kick, my arms, and my breathing, my brain begins to get into rhythm, too. And I think about all sorts of things.
During my last swimming workout, I was thinking about penguins. Don’t ask me why these things happen – they just do. And I began to consider that I have a few things in common with them. Penguins on land are awkward and slow, waddling along with short stubby legs over a round belly. It’s comical really. That’s certainly how I feel when I’m running. I’m apparently not built in such a way that running comes naturally or gracefully to me. Neither a penguin nor I will ever break a land-speed record – we are far more likely to break our noses tripping over ourselves. (more…)
Thank goodness! I am finally home after The Grand East Coast Tour that we made for the holidays. We saw everyone in our immediate family this year – mom, dad, sisters, cousins. It’s always great to see family, but ten days away from my own bed makes me cranky. I am glad to be back!
I’m always a little anxious when I visit my family. Most of them do not believe in God the same way that I do. Note that I did not say that they don’t believe in God at all. But they are far more liberal in their understanding than I am. I believe in a personal relationship with Jesus my Savior, in the Holy Spirit who guides me day by day, and that He has a purpose and plan for my life. That personal relationship is missing where much of my family is concerned. At times, they have viewed me as a fundamentalist freak (terminology mine). At times they have been very vocal about their concerns about my “radical” faith. At times, we have argued and feelings on both sides have been hurt. And my mother has put her foot down on the issue – don’t talk about religion with her youngest daughter (me). (more…)
It occurred to me recently, through the benefit of some insightful teaching by others, that the first person in Paradise with Jesus was very likely the most unlikely of characters. A convicted criminal without a good deed to his name. Not a priest or even a good man, but a thief.
As Jesus hung on the cross, the gospel of Luke records a conversation between the Savior and the two thieves who hung nearby.”One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ’since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (more…)
There are times when I feel all kinds of crazy things. Times when I wonder if God is really real. Times when I can’t imagine that He sees or cares about me at all, even if He is there. Times when I’m sure if He does see me, He’s awfully disappointed in what He sees. But I’m not in one of those times right now.
No….I’m as sure as I’ve ever been that God is so here, that He’s real, and that He cares. (more…)
Wow…this summer has been a crazy, crazy time! Here we are in August, it’s almost over, and I’m not at all sure how the days were spent. They’re a kind of blur in my mind, all melding together and overlapping and getting jumbled up. But, there are a few themes that seem to stand out…let’s see if I can make some sense of them. (more…)
Grace…..it’s something I don’t understand. I know all the definitions. “Grace is getting a gift you don’t deserve and not getting the punishment you do deserve.” “Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” “Grace is Jesus dying on a cross when we were still shaking our fists at God.” “Grace is beauty and mercy all rolled up in one.” I have the intellectual understanding.
