After an extended break

I'm posting again. I can't believe it's been almost a year. I guess I've either been too busy or felt I had nothing to say.

It has been a busy year; Aaron graduated from high school. He was going to go to college in AZ, then changed his mind and wanted to enter the Coast Guard, changed his mind again about going to school, and now we're back at going into the Coast Guard. We'll see what happens.

My oldest daughter, Mary-Hannah, will be entering high school and has spent the summer babysitting, raking in the money. Emma is going into middle school and poor 'ole Luke will be all alone at the elementary school. They've been hanging around the house with me, playing with their little brother Brian and the neighbor kids. We've had some really hot weather, some surprisingly cool weather, and a lot of thunder storms.

We're still trying to get the house situated. David has built us one bookcase, which he is painting at present. I started painting the dining room yesterday (where the bookcase is going to be) and that makes me want to paint EVERYTHING. Mind you, I'm not really into painting; I don't mind the actual act of painting, but hate the prep work, cleaning it up, etc. Everything just looks so much better when it's all done.

There was a reason that I wanted to post today, Brian cut his finger. It was no big deal, actually pretty small, but it bled. It doesn't matter how severe his injuries are, if there is blood it is a cause for hysteria. You know immediately that there is blood involved by the pitch of his voice when he screams "Mom! I need you!!!!" He's screaming like he's being murdered, holding tightly to the injured area, and won't budge from the spot he's occupying - he can't, there's blood! I have to coax him into the bathroom, try to get him to let go of whatever part of his body is bleeding so that I can see how bad it is, clean it up, and then apply the absolutely necessary bandage. His recovery is instantaneous. He goes from screaming at the top of his lungs, snot and tears running down his face, to "Okay, it's better, Mommy fixed it" and he's off, wiping away the tears, to whatever he was doing before the tragedy occured. It's just like it never happened. Wouldn't it be nice if all of the world's problems could be solved with a Band Aid and a kiss from Mommy?

Rich Mullins Concert Part #4

Reverence

Main Entry: 1rev·er·ence
Pronunciation: \ˈrev-rən(t)s, ˈre-və-; ˈre-vərn(t)s\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin reverentia, from reverent-, reverens respectful, reverent
Date: 14th century
1: honor or respect felt or shown : deference; especially : profound adoring awed respect
2: a gesture of respect (as a bow)
3: the state of being revered
4: one held in reverence —used as a title for a clergyman

My family and I visited a new church yesterday. I liked the service and the sermon, it was a nice surprise. As I was leaving a new acquantance introduced me to an older lady that has been part of the congregation for many years. I commented about the service, the beautiful building, the pastor, etc and the older woman tells me that things have really changed there. When I asked in what way she said that people just aren't reverent anymore, that people don't show reverence when entering the church.

I thought about her statement throughout the day and last evening I started thinking about Jesus. My feeling is this: The most important thing about church, or going to church, is to grow in the Word. The building isn't important, the people aren't important (it's really not a social club), the music isn't important...what's important is that you are being fed. While I agree that people should be courteous to others, manners should be observed, etc - are we really supposed to revere a building? Think of Jesus....where did He do His preaching? Was He in a fancy church building? Of course not. He was outside preaching to the masses most of the time. Can you imagine what it must have been like? Hoards of people bustling about, kids running around, babies crying, animals; I imagine He even had to deal with His share of hecklers. These people followed Him wherever He went just to hear Him speak. I kinda doubt He was keeping an eye on His watch to make sure He got them home in time for lunch!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

I'm not totally sure if my post even has a point; I know it did when I started, but I've had an overtired 3-year-old screaming in my ear!

Just remember to revere the only one that deserves reverence, Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Rich Mullins Concert Part #3

The third part of the concert.

Rich Mullins Concert Part #2

Part 2 of Rich Mullin's concert.

Rich Mullins Concert Part #1

This is wonderful - Rich was such an awesomely talented guy. It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since his death.

Trying This Blog Thing Again

It's been a while. Life has been hectic. We've been in NY now for about five weeks (maybe six?) and are still trying to get unpacked. The kids seem happy, Brian says this is "his NEW house in his NEW York," LOL - oh to be 3 again and so excited about everything.

The weather has finally started to cool off and it's feeling like fall, my absolute favorite time of year. There was a Scarecrow Fest in town this past weekend, which was very nice. The kids had a great time making a scarecrow and playing games. We went afterward and got some pumpkins and corn stalks; time to decorate the front porch. Emma is on a mission to make our front porch better than the neighbors; let the games begin! I'll post pictures as soon as I get them developed. Yes, I said developed, as in they are on F-I-L-M, remember that stuff? Actually, I forgot my digital, so had to go to good 'ole Wally World and buy a disposable camera. No instant gratification.

David and I finally moved into our bedroom this weekend. We bought a new mattress set that has a two-piece box spring, so it fit up our stairs. Brian is a bit confused as to why we aren't sleeping in the dining room anymore LOL. My next project in the new bedroom is to get our clothes hung (David put up a rod in the closet, woohoo!), move my dresser upstairs and put my drawers in it so that I can put more clothes away, and convert the gorgeous, lined pinch-pleat drapes I found at the thrift store (for $4.00!) to pole top. I don't have traverse rods, and can't afford them right now, so the curtains must be made to accommodate, whether they like it or not. It'll be so nice to get everything put in it's proper place....then we can start with the painting and tear it all up again!

Off to make Master Brian his lunch.