Various teams of Good Shepherdians are out mucking out peoples houses this afternoon. Actually, they’ve been at it all day. It seemed bad to me to lollygag around so we’ve done a fair bit of school (even though generally Monday we don’t do Anything) and I’ve spent a while ineffectually moving piles of laundry around. Outside the bright sun is, a la PG Wodehouse, ominously and meanly cheerful while so many suffer. Yesterday! though, we suspended all the human and... Read more
9. Bitter Water His thoughts said, As I journey, sometimes the water is bitter. His Father said, Let My loving Spirit lead thee forth into the land of righteousness. Do not ask Him whether He will lead thee to Marah or to Elim. Do not ask for the Elims of life. If thou must pass through Marah, fear not, for He will show thee a Tree, which, when thou shalt cast it into the waters, shall make the bitter waters... Read more
One It looks like over 20,000 have been evacuated as a result of the flood. The pictures are just amazing. Two Pray for people who have lost everything again after loosing everything a mere five years ago. Pray for people’s pets and chickens. In usual American fashion, I spent my midnight hours worrying about the animals, which is fine, but so western. Three I do really need to go face my own basement today. It looks like I have piles... Read more
And now the river is rising and rising. Two families came about 1am to spend the night in the church, having been told to evacuate to higher ground. I didn’t even hear Matt get up to let them in. Two days of school have wiped me out. (Rolling on the floor laughing hysterically.) Anyway, we have to dry out our own basement, and I need to step up my pace because my big enormous five year old turns out to... Read more
To celebrate the first day of school, we’re all sleeping past 7. And then we’re going to eat bacon and toast and fried eggs and put on fancy new school clothes. Well, Elphine is, because, would you believe it, when she discovered she could wear anything she wanted for this whole year of school, she made a beeline for the uniform department and picked out a blue scooter, a white blouse with a rounded collar (what are those called) and... Read more
Matthew 18 is one of those scripture references that Christians can easily toss at each other to reference something most all of us believe with our minds, but don’t necessarily rightly and truly practice with our hearts and actions—like Ephesians 5 or Exodus 20 or the whole book of Proverbs. In fact,even though we’re only going to look at verses 15 to 17, Matthew 18 holds some of the most difficult images, parables and pictures of what life really and... Read more
One So I thought I would be really selfless and hold the baby all night to keep her from crying since I’m not feeding her at 3 am any more and she’s really mad about it and Matt really Needed to sleep because of having to teach Bible study this morning (right now as I’m writing this in fact). So I held her all night but she cried all night anyway and so I got up at 4am and started... Read more
Marigold’s new favorite thing is to remove her diaper. Trying to put off potty training for another week but it really is time. Lots and lots of cool TV that we don’t have at home. One trip to the Fabulous Fountain. Matt’ dad went on a trip for a couple of days and his dog, Bob, missed him very very very much. Some of the many presents I received for my birthday. A beautiful looking blackberry pie, which, unfortunately, was... Read more
but now we’re not just sitting we’re running around doing stuff because we only have a week left. Today we’re going to the Toy Barn. I mean, that’s not what it’s called but it should be.“Why are you going to the Toy Barn?” Matt asked me last night. “Why do the children need toys?”“I don’t know,” I said, “their grandmother promised to take them.”“What will they do with more toys?” he asked.“I don’t know,” I said, “carry them around and... Read more
(Not In Order Of Importance)1. That’ I’m not turning 36 yet, only 35.2. That I’ve convinced my children not to pretend to be in a band and perform rock music as a present.3. My mom and dad4. That for ten years I had a beautiful cat.5. My big beautiful red living room rug.6. Elphine7. Alouicious8. Romulus9. Gladys10. Marigold11. The Baby (who still needs a blog name)12. That we got a proper holiday this year.13. Matt’s parents.14. The remarkably good sermon... Read more
Preventing Grace
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