Your Grace Still Amazes Me

Tomorrow morning I will be sitting in class trying to keep my eyes open and looking engrossed in people's speeches. It will be a typical Saturday morning for most people. For me it will be the new normal for this spring. Taking a speech from a feminist teacher at the local college isn't my idea fun but it's what I'm doing.

One year ago if you would told me that's where I would be I wouldn't have imagined it. But I'm here, because of God's grace.

What was I doing one year ago from the 28th day of February? I was weeping. Mom was weeping. Something terrible and tragic had not happened. No in its place was a milestone for both mom and me. Eagle Training Center, my parent's school, closed its doors that day simply because it was no longer needed. I the final student ended my studies that day.

The day I had watched and heard of my siblings have was lastly mine. It felt so surreal, like it shouldn't be. Surly I was not on the brink of my 18th birthday about to obtain a diploma. No I was still the little girl that came to school in dress up clothes and fought with my brothers instead of doing school. Yet it was I.

Frustration over algebra that brought ever so many tears now was gone forever. English sentences that never were diagramed right would never haunt me again. Papers that were written long after they should have been were now distance history. The turbulent high school years were over, gone forever.

There had been the rough spots but there had been the joys. Roles in three plays were pure delight to me. Spending time with friends and exploring deeper things of life excited me. On a cold February Sunday I had been baptized. I loved the times our family gathered often I being the assigned cook.

Distant in my memory is the dark moments. Times where both mom and I weren't sure if we would finish the race. Words that ought to have never been uttered came out of my month. Matters that were so little yet seemed so offensive at the time. Now however they were gone.

So why the tears on that day? Because of the grace of our Lord. I know I never would have finished without our great God. Instead I would have washed up mangled on the shoreline of life. Still I was mangled but it was God's grace that was setting me high and saying "look what I have done".

I listened to this song many times on that day, "Your Grace Still Amazes Me". (You will find it towards the end of my playlist) God's grace by no means has ceased and never will cease to amaze me. Humble sinner though I am still He has covered me.

So this is where I am, looking for the next foothold in life. Job, college, missions, who knows? Tomorrow I will live because of God's grace.

Boys will be Boys

Today was interesting to say the least.

I was treated to a ring side seat at a burping and "tooting" contest during my Bible class. No I didn't laugh nor did I glare because little boys only do such---noises for those reasons.

Reminded me of meal times with my brothers. I never could win a burping contest against them. Mother was always grateful of that. Of course we are much more civilized now. Obligingly though the nephews take up the trend now. Speaking of which we will entertaining nine nieces and nephews tomorrow, all day.

I'll probably have stories to share with you for weeks to come by the time the sun sets.

I promise to be the perfect aunt and give them unlimited suckers while they watch Pooh Bear all day. Oh did my sisters just read that?

Opps ! Time for bed!

Don't let your Love Burn Out

Lit CandleEverywhere I turned it seemed that everyone was talking about the blockbuster film "Fireproof". To put it mildly people weren't talking they were raving! Even though theaters in my home town are still showing it I never bought a ticket. However I looked forward to watching the DVD. I was skeptical though. Could a movie be really that good? My frugal mind couldn't grasp the fact that people would pay to see it twice. Seriously, they were probably just overrating it.

When everyone is chatting about something you just have to experience so you can have a decent conversation. So I couldn't have been more pleased to watch it with my girl friends the other night.

Great was the sacrifice of giving up two hours of fellowship. It was worth it. Never before has a film impacted my life so greatly. Never.

I wept through moments that should never be. Yet is reality in so many American households. Laughed through the ever strangeness of how our actions appear to others. In between all that I reminded myself to breath during some very intense moments. Stellar acting combined with a breathtaking plot made to be an incredible combination. When it was over I proudly admitted that I had been wrong. Then I added it to the very short list of movies that I recommend.

I don't wear a diamond ring on my left hand, nor do I have anyone to even conceive the idea of giving one to me. Yet as the characters portrayed the story suddenly they weren't actors, they were me. Marriage was the theme but I just the adolescent was learning. As Dennis Rainy put it” somewhere in the story you see yourself".

How often with a radiant smile do I joyfully serve at church putting others in front of myself? Once home it's all me. Good grief I'm tired and have stuff to do. And really girls are emotional so it's okay to get angry and frustrated at those around me.

When we died to Christ that didn't mean just when we are serving Him outside of our home. Usually that's the easy part. Behind closed doors the selfish attitudes sets in before we even know it. Devastating our lives and hurting those most close to us. As so painfully portrayed in “Fireproof”, Caleb and Katharine, the estranged couple, probably didn’t realize where they were sliding until they felt it was too late. Sometimes before you know it you find yourself digging your own grave and standing in the hole. The wrecked lives of Caleb and Katharine weren’t too much for Christ to fix. And He’s waiting to fix ours.

But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

No Excuse

Please forgive me won't you? Let's just say I've been neglecting my little blog but no more. My head is filled with ideas and I intend to share them all with you. So don't leave me yet!

I have question for anybody who would like to answer. If I could I'd give everyone who answered a piece of Hersey's Special Dark Chocolate. Just to sweeten the deal a little.

I know I'm good.

But I digress.

Would you all like to hear more about me? As in what I do on a day to day basis. You know cleaning toilets, changing diapers, and driving around in my really hot car. Not.

So I will let the jury commence and let me know with your verdict.

Thoughts from "Fireproof" coming up next week. Yes I finally got to see it!

Young Love

Mom and Dad hosted the annual cousin party sleepover this past weekend. As always it was a huge hit despite the fact that a very uncaring aunt sent the little girls back to bed when they were so very board. Ahem.

In the midst of the fun activates there was a sadness lined around my heart. You see it was last year when my little nephew promised to marry me. Of course I was quite joyfull at the news of my betrothal. However we didn't it even make it one year. Because Friday the little guy told me he wouldn't marry me. I was assured though he wasn't leaving me for someone else because he further stated he would never marry.

Naturally there was far too much chocolate consumed over such heartbreak. My little niece knew it would never work. Because well I would die before he was old enough she kindly explained. I must look pretty hold then.

Throughout the party the dear little man kept reminding me he would never marry. I carefully stored this piece of information away to brought out at just the right moment. Perhaps as a toast at his wedding rehearsal;)

Ah the joys of having the most adorable nieces and nephews ever.