Random Musings

There's no such thing as perfect people. There's no such thing as a perfect life. So come as you are: Broken and scarred, Lift up your heart and be amazed, and be changed, By a perfect God. ~ Natalie Grant , Perfect People       Having five family units in one household over Thanksgiving brought about some interesting dynamics and interactions. Some still make me laugh. Others left me wondering if I were a parent, what kind of parent would I be?   The last two weeks as I've acted and interacted with people, I've been very aware of the shortcomings of both myself and others. I've had to go back and read I Corinthians 13 once or twice this week (thanks for that recommendation Sara Mincy!) to be reminded of just how radical God's love is (and how we're supposed to be emulating that love to others!).   As long as I live on this earth, I will always fight fears and disbelief. I will also struggle with certain issues. Some personality ...

This weekend I was talking with my 8 year old niece. I don't remember the exact conversation, I just know that my response was "I'm blessed." She tilted her head, looking at me with a skeptical look. "I am. I am truly blessed." She shrugged and gave me a wrueful grin. "In a weird way," was her response. "It may be weirdly blessed, but I'm still blessed." was all I was willing to concede. And there are days (okay, sometimes HOURS and MINUTES) when I have to constantly remind myself of that. So here's my weird blessing list for today: Charleston "Charlie" James Blake, great-nephew #8 (he's actually the 5th nephew, but number 8 in line of the greats) arrived this morning. Both mother and baby are doing well. My friend Jen Beatty was sent home from the hospital and contractions have ceased. All is well. (She's not due until the end of January, and has had some complications in the past.) The kids' ...

Since my older sister and I both live far away from the rest of the family, we rotate which holidays we make the long trek home. For example, last year we did Christmas in AL, so this year it'll be Thanksgiving. So this next week my family will unite and celebrate the following events in the space of three days: Thanksgiving My Mom's 70th birthday (Nov 25) Christmas My parents' 50th anniversary (which is Dec 27) and the Iron Bowl (the Alabama/Auburn game, for my non-Bama readers) One of the many crazy things I'm assembling to take with us: cookie cutters and decorating supplies. the state of Alabama a football helmet The last year we were all together for Thanksgiving and the game, I brought these in (along with an elephant...ROLL TIDE!, a tiger paw, and a star).  As if these weren't enough, my nephew and middle niece decide to create scoreboards, along with their predicted scores for the outcome of the game. This year I'm cheating though, and...

Psalm 103 emphasis and commentary mine Bless the Lord , O my soul , And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord , O my soul, And forget none of His benefits ; Who pardons all your iniquities , Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit , Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion ; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. The Lord (the Almighty, Creator God...all caps!) performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness . He will not always strive with us , Nor will He keep His anger forever.   He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities .   For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far ...

On Wednesday nights our church has been doing a study on the names of God and their meanings in the original Hebrew writings. I've missed a few weeks, but last night was very interesting (not to mention timely!) Adonai - Lord and Master, plural form. Translated as Lord in English. In the Hebrew, this is the word used when referring to deity. Adon - Lord and Master, singular form. Also translated as Lord in English. In the Hebrew, this is the word used when referring to humans. Servanthood and slavery as so taboo and villified in our culture that I don't think we fully grasp the implications of this term people used in prayer to God. It certainly made the texts of Abram, Daniel, and others as they spoke to God take on a slightly different meaning. They had a recognition of their place in God's order that I think we Americans sometimes miss. Last year for Christmas I gave Bobby a PBS DVD series called "Manor House".  Characters in Britain applied for the op...

Dongxi (pronounced dong - she) is the Chinese Mandarin word for "stuff".  I think it's one of my top five favorite Chinese words. Sometimes I think I have entirely WAY too much. As in, I'm prepping for a trip and am thinking I might not ever fit it all in the van. Or I need to clean off the kitchen table and I'm wondering where everything came from. But yet, we're also blessed with it as well. A friend called me this morning. He was excited because his five hour chemo treatment (according to the receptionist) is actually a 2-3 hour treatment (according to the nurse who gives it). So after we got off the phone and I shot up a quick prayer, I immediately started thinking through all the things I would take to a long appointment like that. My ipad, a book, a sketch book, quilting squares a magazine, some water and gum. And the reality is, I'd be doing good if I used one of them. I guess I over-prepare, or overpack my dongxi. Always have. Last night ...

WHOHOOO! Yes. That was me. My underarm and chest are officially scab-covered, meaning I can leave the house! :) On my errand list for today: Food Lion bank dry cleaners Agri-Supply Target then rush home and tackle housework and projects before starting supper so we can head to the funeral home later tonight. And one really cool crazy thing? I can see orange leaves from the window by the front door. Yes, it is time for Thanksgiving!

Next week we leave for Gatlinburg to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Iron Bowl, and my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. I'm not even sure how to begin packing for all of this. Here's what I do have: food items for a turkey craft puzzles anniversary gift for my parents and a growing list of food items to take with us/purchase when we get there Holidays, here we come!

We went to the State Fair last month, and this wedding cake just made me laugh. This is one of those things that I love but would make my mother shake her head and say, "Now, Monica..." I love that God created us all with different viewpoints. :) I can't find the close-up photo I took of the bride & groom, but they're to the right of the cake. Love the bananas, the monkeys playing patty-cake up front and the traditional see, speak, hear no evil monkeys. It's just a hoot!

 I didn't have time to grab my good camera as the sun was starting to set and I knew it get it quick or don't get it at all.  First time I've noticed the colors in the pond.

I was a bit frantic before the election started trying to get life lined up and organized as I knew things weren't going to slow down anytime soon. Or so I thought. Last week during Early Voting I developed a sore under my arm. I thought it was from pulling ballots all day at the ballot table, so I put cream on it that night, and shrugged it off. Then I woke up during the night with the most horrible burning and itching imaginable. The next morning I had quite a bad rash. We thought it was an allergic reaction to something, and so the rest of the week I smothered it with antiobiotic ointment and anti-itch medicine and dealt with it. When I had twinges of pain, I thought it was just sore muscles. Monday evening my arm was slightly swollen and very red in the lymph node area, and I knew that meant an infection. So Wednesday when the elections were over and it hadn't cleared up, I called the dr to make an appointment. I fully expected to get a steroid cream and be told it wa...

After getting Bobby out the door this morning, I went back to bed and slept and slept and slept. If I didn't have an appointment soon, I think I could easily sleep the day and night away. But I did want to quickly post some things I'm thankful for: 1) the election is over. 2) As a poll worker, I was VERY excited about the turnout and attitude at the polls on election day. Despite the huge turnout for early voting, election day was still very busy. 3) All but one of my precincts had a great day. 4) No "get to x precicnt immediately and if you can't diffuse the situation with an irate voter we're sending the police" phone calls this time. 5) Laughter. 6) Poll workers who don't get angry or pouty when you correct them, and who are correctly following procedures on follow up visits. 7) Sleep. 8) I'm not much of a fashion fan, but I've always appreciated how Michelle Obama dresses her girls in appropriate attire. I don't know whether or...

Saturday evening at 5:45pm there was whooping and shouting and cheering and clapping at Wake Tech's Main Campus. What? You didn't hear us? It was the sound of relief and rejoicing as poll workers closed the door behind the last voter and took a few minutes to pause and laugh before starting the task of take-down and clean-up. There were many jokes of "we deserve a t-shirt that reads 'I survived the2012 Election' and I was very pleasantly surprised to look up at 6pm (I was on my knees pulling wrapped, unopened ballot packages from the cabinet) to find almost ALL of my fellow poll workers pitching in and helping the ballot table workers clean-up. And I think it's safe to say that TEAM was an accurate description for our site's pollworkers. For eleven days straight, strangers (or slight acquaintances) of different political parties and walks of life worked diligently to process the voters and ensure the process operated both accurately and quickly. It wasn...