Yesterday was a day of firsts.
I made meringue for the first time. It was actually a Pavlova; sweetened egg white baked to crispy marshmallowy goodness.
I canned green beans from our garden.
I made homemade dill/garlic pickles.
I successfully pressure canned and didn't blow up my kitchen.
I hosted our ladies prayer (not a first) too.
They were all shocked that I had done all that in one day. I began to think about why they reacted the way the did.
One reason might be they are all older than I am by at least 15 years.
One reason might be that most people don't can anymore.
One reason might be that most people in the city don't garden anymore.
One reason might be that most women my age are working outside the home.
One reason might be that it was hot and humid here yesterday. And our air is out!
I began to look at myself. I am a very driven individual. I am only competitive with myself, however. I enjoy the old ways, the roads less traveled.
I am a peculiar person. Not for any of the above reasons though. But because God said that His chosen people would be that way.
I'm off to sew a dress for someone else.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Make that 19.
Randy and I have been married for 19 years today. The only reason I know that it is today for sure is that I talked with my brother-in-law yesterday and he had talked to his boys for their birthday.
Most people find the fact that I don't track the date we got married appalling. I don't hound my husband about it either. One year we got to mid-August and looked at each other and said, "We forgot our anniversary!" Life goes on.
Let me tell you why I don't get hung up on dates and "Hallmark" holidays. I know that my husband loves me. I don't need a Sweetest Day Card or him remembering particular dates just to make me happy. I don't count on him or his remembering to make me happy. The fact that he tells me and shows me he loves me almost every day is enough.
Would it be nice to get a card or flowers once in a while? Sure. Sometimes I do but it is because he loves me and thinks of me not because of an outside source.
To me that is love and it can continue til Jesus comes.
Most people find the fact that I don't track the date we got married appalling. I don't hound my husband about it either. One year we got to mid-August and looked at each other and said, "We forgot our anniversary!" Life goes on.
Let me tell you why I don't get hung up on dates and "Hallmark" holidays. I know that my husband loves me. I don't need a Sweetest Day Card or him remembering particular dates just to make me happy. I don't count on him or his remembering to make me happy. The fact that he tells me and shows me he loves me almost every day is enough.
Would it be nice to get a card or flowers once in a while? Sure. Sometimes I do but it is because he loves me and thinks of me not because of an outside source.
To me that is love and it can continue til Jesus comes.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Have you ever felt . . .
like doors were not being opened? We have been struggling lately with broken bones, income loss and looking for new employment.
We must remember that the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord. Sometimes those steps do not make sense in the natural. They are painful, humbling and frustrating. God has been saying wait.
Waiting is a process. Processes take time. Processes can be painful, humbling and frustrating. Especially when things seem to get worse.
One of our pastors spoke yesterday equating the waiting process with the molting process of a bald eagle. He tied it to the biblical references to eagles.
I never knew the extensive process that eagles go through. It is a 90 day period where they shed all feathers and their beaks until they are completely exposed and vulnerable. They eat very little and are in solitude on a sunny rock in a valley of their choice. Other eagles drop food and "speak" to them but cannot go through the process for them.
Is this sounding remotely like a fasting, wilderness experience like Job or Ezekiel?
People and eagles have to make the same choice in this instance.
Do I change or do I die?
I feel that way today.
We must remember that the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord. Sometimes those steps do not make sense in the natural. They are painful, humbling and frustrating. God has been saying wait.
Waiting is a process. Processes take time. Processes can be painful, humbling and frustrating. Especially when things seem to get worse.
One of our pastors spoke yesterday equating the waiting process with the molting process of a bald eagle. He tied it to the biblical references to eagles.
I never knew the extensive process that eagles go through. It is a 90 day period where they shed all feathers and their beaks until they are completely exposed and vulnerable. They eat very little and are in solitude on a sunny rock in a valley of their choice. Other eagles drop food and "speak" to them but cannot go through the process for them.
Is this sounding remotely like a fasting, wilderness experience like Job or Ezekiel?
People and eagles have to make the same choice in this instance.
Do I change or do I die?
I feel that way today.
Younkmans 2008
Our family reunion was on the tails of camp. We drove to my late grandparents home to stay with my mom and my aunt. We attended the reunion and memorial services for the 4 members of our family who passed since last year.
During the business meeting, we decided to go hi tech. One branch of our family has a website for chatting and keeping up with each other. They opened that site up for all the family to enjoy. Can't wait to see how it works. Another collective decision was not to have the reunion in 2009. We will probably have another reunion in several years but not in Bluffton, OH.
It felt funny to be meeting as a family without my grandparents but that's just how life is sometimes. It will be different with time.
During the business meeting, we decided to go hi tech. One branch of our family has a website for chatting and keeping up with each other. They opened that site up for all the family to enjoy. Can't wait to see how it works. Another collective decision was not to have the reunion in 2009. We will probably have another reunion in several years but not in Bluffton, OH.
It felt funny to be meeting as a family without my grandparents but that's just how life is sometimes. It will be different with time.
Church Camp 2008
The kids had a blast during safari week at camp. They rode an elephant. (YES, a live 2.5 ton beast!) They were busy from morning to night and absolutely exhausted. They went to the zoo and had an educational zoomobile come to the camp with a box turtle, an owl, a snake, a toad and a kinkachu.
We also had some pretty rockin' services with the Hoppers and their puppet ministry. One service the kids came to the alter at the beginning and spent most of the service in prayer for the Holy Ghost.
The office was busy too. They have rearranged some of the job duties for the secretary but we were still pushing paper most of the week. Several kids had medical issues and had to be taken offsite for treatment. But all were ok and able to go home safely.
We also had some pretty rockin' services with the Hoppers and their puppet ministry. One service the kids came to the alter at the beginning and spent most of the service in prayer for the Holy Ghost.
The office was busy too. They have rearranged some of the job duties for the secretary but we were still pushing paper most of the week. Several kids had medical issues and had to be taken offsite for treatment. But all were ok and able to go home safely.
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