Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful Summer has finally arrived here in the Northwest and we are not being singed or scorched. In fact, we sat on our deck last night and,I'm not gonna lie, we fought over a blanket. I'm thankful I won.






Because God says to give thanks in all circumstances,(grrrrr) I am thankful for these migraines that are visiting me lately....very thankful that they are not strokes, thankful that they deal-able, thankful that they are not interrupting too much of our schedules.






I'm thankful that God is in a season of shaping me, or disciplining me, or whatever you want to call it. It makes me happy and gives me hope that even though he is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow,which is a GOOD thing, I am not stuck where I am. (Thankful!)









Oh, and I'm thankful for our two goats, Ranger and Ruby. (Yes, I am aware that Ruby has no ears. Please do not mock her as she is very sensitive. Plus, she will know you are doing it because she can read your lips.)






If you click on the Thankful Thursday link, theoretically, it should take you to the delightful host's of today's blog roll. Enjoy your day!

Sometimes, I want God to PhotoShop me

Actually, He is welcome to use Corel Paintshop Photo Pro X3. I downloaded a free trial copy today. And it is SWEET! (said is highest falsetto possible.)

The special effects and ease of use were what excited me most. I started with a picture of Lucy and made her sepia to a rainbow kaleidoscope.

Then I put up a pic of Rod and me at the beach last year and kind of grimaced when I saw my quadruple face rolls. no doubt caused by all the beer batter halibut and chips at the Pelican Pub in Pacific City. I'm seriously considering a lawsuit.

Anyway, the Corel program has a nifty little tool called "makeover."

Are you still breathing?

There are a variety of buttons to play with including:

*Suntan

*Blemish removal

*Toothbrush

and...

wait for it...

*Thinify.

I'm not going to tell you if I used it or not, but I'll post the picture at the end of this blog.

Anyway, it got me to thinking about how God kind of does photo shop me sometimes. Not physically (although I'd appreciate you considering it, Lord) .

But he works on my heart like that.

All day long. All the time. All year long. He shapes me and molds me and chisels me into a closer image of his son.

And I am telling you this: it is taking some mighty work by the hand of God.

Amen.

Sometimes I don't recognize my faults as faults so I wonder why in the world God is working on THAT.

I'm surely NOT being gossipy.

I'm helping someone understand a certain situation better.

Bless my heart.


Sometimes, if I downplay my faults, they become no big deal and I find I can live with them more easily.

If I justify my sins, I play into satan's hands, follow his playbook, and turn away from God.

The Holy Spirit is the voice that says, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Satan (who sounds eerily like me at my most nasally and sarcastic self) will say, "Seriously? You didn't even say anything wrong. You may have even helped the situation. You'll probably cause more harm than good by bringing it up now."

Ewww.

I don't even want to hear that voice, do you?

Bring on that photo shop pro program, Lord. And go ahead and use that blemish removal tool. Because I guess I have a few that I need work on.

Here is the photo I have from last year that may, or may not, have been worked on. Also, you may have to question the validity of every photo you see of me from now on.

"

I love a rainy day

Just not on July 21st when it seems like we have had our fill of rainy days and then some.
I have been complaining and whining and moaning about the dark and gloomy weather here with the best of them.

Please see my Facebook status' and comments.

But I made a whiny comment to a friend who lives under the "weather dome" in TX and she told me about all the deaths being caused by the extreme heat down there. (thank Jennifer) They are really suffering.

And I want some sunshine.

Wah wah wah.

Last night, I was falling asleep and I felt the Lord nudging me to be thankful for our cool weather.
I was actually thankful for my snuggly down comforter and I did enjoy the smell of the approaching rain. (again)

I am thankful that I can run in the morning and not have to worry about the sun burning down on me.
It's nice that I don't have to water my outdoor plants. (the ones that haven't drowned. I'm just sayin'.)
I'm very thankful there are hardly any gnats or no-see-ems or what-ever-you-call-ems this year.
I am glad that we don't have to hurry from air conditioned building to air conditioned car to air conditioned building.
I am glad that my sun cancer survivor friend (Look, Jen! You made the Blog!!) doesn't have to cover her face with her arms and scurry out of the blazing sun like a sparkly vampire. Or a movie star hiding from the paparazzi. Whichever.

I am thankful that it is a rainy day and I have some coffee to make and a great book to read on my Kindle while I answer work calls. And check Facebook. And check out Nordstrom Anniversary sale.

I'm thankful for the bottle of Pendleton Whiskey hidden waaaaay up top in the back of the cupboard, maybe for such a time as this. It is awful cold and damp out, ya know. They say whiskey takes the chill off, and everything in moderation....

I am thankful for being able to breath in great big lungfuls of cool, clean air.

I love how very green everything is. God has so blessed this place.

No matter how much we rail, rain really is a blessing.

I.Love.It.Here.

"...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

Grass is Greener

My sweat pants are soaked from the ankle hem (which is underneath my soaking wet sock) up to my knees. I went for a wog this morning on my trail loop and it is kinda misty outside.Oregon can do a mighty fine mist, dontcha know.

The ground is pretty wet, which means all the flora and fauna that I run through are wet, which means I get soaked.

I didn't even feel like running today.

I did, but only half heartedly and halfway.

My heart's not in it today.

Don't know why, but I'm feeling a little discontent with my lot in life, which is unusual for me.

Please understand that I love my life up here on the mountain, my husband and family, my job, the animals and everything.

Maybe its because the kids all moved out and took all their noise and their mess and their love and their laughter with them.

Maybe it's because everyone is traveling and vacationing and going on summer missions trips all over the world.

Even Reader Brenda is is Montana at a family wedding.

Why does Montana suddenly sound so exotic and chic?

So many friends are leaving and returning from Slovenia, Greece, Malta/Rome and other locales that I can only dream about. (Holla, Jill! Holla, Hailey!)

Daughter Amy is heading to Georgia next week to meet her BFF's family. (That is Boy-Friend-Forever. We will not allow our baby girl to get married. Ever)

Josiah is heading back to Afghanistan, Mike (Amy's BFF) is still there.

My friend, Randy Alcorn, is in Atlanta at the Christian Retailer's Show (ICRS) and as a blogger friend of mine, Linda, from "Mocha with Linda" was also going to be there, I told her to go say hey to him.

I get the feeling that maybe she thought I didn't really know him, as I read between the lines in her funny post this morning. Pretty amusing. The picture of Linda and Randy waving hello from Atlanta is great. It would be greater if I wasn't feeling all envious and upset that EVERYONE IS GOING SOMEWHERE AND DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT. Except me.

How whiny am I today?

Don't really answer that because we both know the answer.

Everybody elses lives can look better than mine at times. Their grass is greener.

But if I know that I am being where he wants me to be, and doing (pretty much) what he wants me to do, then it is all GOOD. I am thankful for the place he has put me, and for the work he gives me.

I am.

I am, I tell you.

Or I will be, after I spend a little time being thankful for everything he has given me, Starting with green pastures.

Have a good Tuesday.

The rhythm of Monday

Howdy good neighbors and welcome to Monday.




Generally speaking, I like Mondays. They have their own special feel and set the tone for the week. They have their own special chore list.




Do you do that?




After a weekend with both a memorial service and a wedding I am so ready for this routine Monday. I'm a morning person, so I jump out of bed ready to go.





I went for a run. No, I didn't. My knee still hurts from yesterday, so I'm waiting until this afternoon or even tomorrow morning. I'm scared of injuries that will stop me from running for a week or more So I'm being cautious.





I went out and fed the horses, Drifter and Cabela, and the goats, Ranger and Ruby.

I ate my oatmeal. No, I actually had raisin bran. What? Yes, raisin bran. Sometimes, I like to live on the edge like that. If I really want to shake things up, I have eggs or cake batter.

I sat outside to spend a few moments with coffee and my Kindle. I'm reading Half-Broke Horses right now and love it. What a fun story! But this morning, I started my new Lysa TerKeurst book, Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl. Just finished her "Made to Crave" but that, my sisters, is a whole other blog post.

Time to clean the house, so I move around like a tornado with ADD. Dusting, sweeping, picking up whatevers and returning them to wherever. While I do this, I listen to Dan Franklin on Groupthink Rescue. He talking about Joseph this morning. I love his podcasts. (I haven't finished listening yet because I stopped everything I was doing in order to bring you this absolutely riveting post. You're welcome.)

I also change the sheets every Monday. Don't know how that started, but that's what I do. Yes, you get a picture of my undressed bed waiting for clean sheets. Can this Monday get any better??

Sometimes, like today, I get moving too fast. I'm in such a rhythm that I'm not really thinking about what I'm doing. It's all routine.

Until I go to clean the filter out of the coffee pot, spin around to dump it in the garbage and this happens.

I forgot to replace the garbage can after I swept behind it. Nice.

Well, now that I've completely bored you as well as myself, I'll end this sad,little Monday past.

Do you get in a Monday rhythm? What does your Monday look like?

My beauty secrets...You're welcome.

They say that your eyes are the window to the soul. If this is true, my eyes are windows to a very old soul.

And the windows may need a little work.

A little pick-me-up, if you know what I mean.

When I was younger it took me mere moments to get ready to leave the house.

Who am I kidding? I didn't get ready. I just left. I looked fine. There were no wrinkles or crevices that needed to be filled in with industrial grade Spackle. My eyes hadn't sunk into my skull like a special effect on "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." I could get away with wearing extra-glittery eyeshadow.If I did that now, it would just draw attention to the fact that they look like last year's jack-o-lantern.

Not the look I'm going for.

Not that I want a look that says, " I am twelve years old and Lady GaGa is my mentor."

But a look that says "She looks too young to be a Gramma! Are you sure? How can that be?"

or at least , "She doesn't try too hard. And she's not overly scary."

To be honest, I have never spent much time on my make-up or hair. I kind of resent that I am feeling like I have to spend more time on that as I get older.

Usually, I cut corners on make-up and hair care. For instance, as my friend and hair dresser can attest to, I never fix the back of my hair. I can't see it, therefore it doesn't exist. Please don't burst my bubble by telling me of my rooster tail or woman-bald spot in back. Thank you.

Also, I forget, or never knew, the correct way to apply make-up. A few times, I have applied foundation primer and left the house completely forgetting to then apply the actual foundation. (if you need to ask what foundation primer is, please leave now. You are too young to be reading this.)

Another thing that rankles (that word is awfully close to "wrinkles." Dang it.) is concealer. This is my go-to product. This is the product I would take with me to a desert island. This is the product I would fight for should a mugger try to steal my purse. Actually, I have a few (dozen). Some have more coverage. Some are sheer. Some make promises they can't keep, like they will firm and reduce wrinkles and make my eyes bright and awake.

Listen, sister, NOTHING can make my eyes look younger except a time portal from Star Trek. The most they do is make it slightly less horrific to go to the store and pick up the milk before hurrying home and reapplying.

If you see me out somewhere, please do not mention my the white circles encompassing my old, old eyes. If you don't mention that I look like I have Scary Circus Clown Eyes, then I won't.

I don't believe that hair and make-up are the only things that make a statement about who you are, or who you want to be. You can project a certain image with your clothing, as well. Here's a little trick I like to rock sometimes. Not always on purpose, but whatever.

Try wearing your cotton, highwaisted,Granny underwear with your cool, low slung. hip hugging Ann Taylor Loft jeans. This can make a statement. It says "I am hip and happening, but still of a repectable age."

Not guilty

I have been arguing with myself about whether of not to write this. I don't want to say this.
It is just so obvious to me.
The Casey Anthony verdict was handed down yesterday and her sentencing, for lying to officials, will be today.

I feel it every time some says "I can't believe she was found not guilty. She killed her own child.Who would do that?"


and



"It's not fair. Our justice system is so messed up, She should burn in hell."





I feel the slam in my heart and I cringe.


I want to hide under my bed until everyone is done talking about Casey Anthony and how she should have been convicted and put away forever in the darkest prison cell imaginable.


She is a mom who probably killed her own daughter and got away with it.


I am ,too.


If she did it, she deserves a prison sentence and Calee deserves justice.


I deserve prison sentence, too. And the two children I killed via legal abortion deserve justice. (Click here and here for more info on that.) The way I see it, I AM Casey Anthony, and so are the other women who have had abortions.

I know.

You think I'm CRAZEE. I get that.

Before you roll your eyes and click back to your email or Facebook, I just want to ask a few questions:

Why are we not angrier and more outspoken about the deaths caused by abortion?

Why are we not mourning the deaths and bemoaning the lack of justice for these children?

Is the only difference that one death is legal and the other is not?
Is it because Caylee was older? Because she was born?
I don't get it.
What is the difference? Why is one life more valuable than the other?

The justice system seems so skewed, so schizophrenic and wrong. People keep saying how messed up our system is while pointing at the Anthony verdict.

I agree. It is messed up because it doesn't recognize the value of our children, born or not.
Wearing size 3 OshKosh overalls and pigtails or still safe in her mother's tummy.

Where is the justice for them?


Where is the outrage for them?


Nancy Grace said of the not guilty verdict, "The devil is dancing."


Yes, but he is rejoicing everyday as abortion is allowed to continue virtually unhindered in these United States.
I am outraged and I am mourning.
Even though I am guilty based on the evidence and my own confession,and I deserve punishment, I am not paying the penalty.
It was paid for me.
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." Eph.1:7

Talk about unfair...