I have been tagged twice!

Same questions from Gayla and daisymarie. I am to answer any 5 of the following "if" questions.

The "questions": If I could be a scientist...If I could be a farmer...If I could be a musician...If I could be a doctor...If I could be a painter...If I could be a gardener...If I could be a missionary...If I could be a chef...If I could be an architect...If I could be a linguist...If I could be a psychologist...If I could be a librarian...If I could be an athlete...If I could be a lawyer...If I could be an inn-keeper...If I could be a professor...If I could be a writer...If I could be a llama-rider...If I could be a bonnie pirate...If I could be an astronaut...If I could be a world famous blogger...If I could be a justice on any one court in the world...If I could be married to any current famous political figure...

If I could be a musician, I would set the words of the Bible to music. Musical tunes are almost always running around my head--and it would be so great if it were scripture, too.

If I could be a missionary, I would go to Africa. I have been interested in Africa for missions since I was in sixth grade. What I hear lately though is that now Africa is sending missioneries to America.

If I could be a psychologist, I would get a television show and call it Dr. JettyBetty and try to help people from a scriptural perspective.

If I could be a writer I would write like Oswald Chambers, Max Lucado and Beth Moore combined!

If I could be a llama-rider, I would save a lot of money on gas and I would look really cool.

Anyone looking for some great blogging material?
You are tagged!

Confessions

I have something to confess. I get bored easily. I get bored loading/unloading the dishwasher before the job is done, so I wonder around and fold about a third of the laundry, make part of the bed, then go back and work on the dishwasher again--and might not finish it the second time.

Waaay back when I was dating, if the guy I was going out with bored me, I pretty much knew he wasn't for me. One of the things I added pretty early in my must-have's for a spouse was someone so interesting and fascinating it would take me a life time to get to know him.

I found that person in my perma honee. He still totally holds me spellbound.

I want to confess something else. The years we had children at home, I got so wrapped up in raising them, enjoying the minutes I had with them, some of the time just surviving, I sometimes put my quest to get to know him on hold. Thankfully, somehow, he seemed to understand. (I am so grateful for those honeymoons every year!)

One of my major joys now that the kids are out on their own, is to really focus on the gift that God has given me through my honee. I'ts been incredibly fun. I do think it will take the rest of my life and I still won't know all about him.

"Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Ephesians 5:33

Letting Go

We started letting go of our children the day they were born. It's been a very gradual, day by day thing--so gradual you can only tell looking back.

We loved them, nurtured them, taught them, trained them, and let go of them. We knew that we wanted them to become day by day more dependent on God and less dependent on us. By the time they went to college, we wanted them 100% dependent on God.

We knew they would be put in compromising situations in their lives. As parents, we would not always be there. Their heavenly Father, would be there--of that we can be certain. We desired them to feel accountability to God.

The first time the kids spent the night with a friend was hard for me as a parent. I had no control what would go on for that evening. Watching them all drive out of our driveway for the first time in the rust/maroon Olds was even harder. They could go anywhere a fashionable 84 Olds could take them. Moving all their "stuff" into a college dorm was even harder.

I am still letting go of aggie-ed that we dropped off 8 months ago now. It's not that I go around with a box of tissues all the time, but I still grieve the loss of having him just up the stairs. I still have not completely adjusted to the quiet. God has been so good to bless me with specific ways to adjust, just at the times I needed it the most. Letting go is hard for me, but I am determined with God's help to do it.

It's made easier, because I have done it twice before. Aug and crittermer aren't upstairs anymore either. We have different relationships now, but I will say the new relationships are quite wonderful. I know I will get there with aggie-ed, and it may not be far away.

I think I have three more major times of letting go coming up in my life--when they all get married. Right now, I still have them for holidays--then, I will have to share them. I will inform all who read this blog before time--you will most likely want to buy shares of Kleenex stock about then!

Change is hard for me, but the life of a Christian is not about sameness. It's about change.

I am soooo thankful I have God to hold my hand through it all!

Red Letter Days

For some reason lately, I have just wanted to read the words of Jesus--so I pulled out my red letter Bible and have been spending time with my the words of my Savior. I still believe the black words are inspired and extremely important, but I thought perhaps I could draw a little closer to His heart by feeding only on His words.

One of the things that has impacted me is his amazing compassion towards the sick, suffering, helpless and humble that crossed his path.

I think I can apply at least some of what He is saying to my life.

1. Without Jesus I am sick with sin and suffer with the world that suffers from sin. Without Jesus I am helpless and thus I have no reason for pride. I need to live to display this belief in my daily life.

2. Jesus wants me to follow his example and reach out to people that are the "rejects" of the world, those that have illness, suffering and are helpless and allow God to love them through me in a powerful way.

Another thing that has shouted out to me from the red letters is the direct way, even with anger and rage in his voice, Jesus deals with the Pharisees, the spiritual-know-it-alls, the proud. A couple of times I have stopped and said "grace, please give these people some grace." Then, I remembered these are the words of Jesus and he is the author of grace. He obviously meant to come across with a very firm tone.

I have a bit more trouble applying this to my daily life.

1. I do get--God is not pleased with the "spiritual elite" that seem to be spiritual without humbling their hearts in the process, and admitting the true power in this world is all from God. Unfortunately, it easy to be a Pharisee. I confess I have been and as much as I don't want to be I need almost "shocking" reminders as I see in the words of Jesus to keep me from slipping back into that behavior. God wants me humble and dependent--nothing else works for him.

2. The part that troubles me is: Jesus judged these people--he called the "kettle black" so to speak over and over. Not many people call themselves Pharisees anymore, but I think most of us will agree there are "Pharisees" all over. Since Jesus took firm stands condemning them, should I? Is this a real problem in the church today? I have already confessed I can have a big chunk of wood in my eye when it comes to this, but he was clear to these people they were not the people in the world he want to represent Him at all.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

"I have compassion for these people, they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way." Matthew 15:33

"You Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside, make also the inside?"
Luke 11:39, 40

Flippin and Floppin

I didn’t sleep well last night.

It could be I missed the waves lapping the beach outside my window.

It could be I read so many blogs.

My mind just would not quit thinking how we use scripture to justify what we do (I include myself in the we)—and then we feel so sure we are right that we build walls between ourselves and other believers—because, well, you know what scripture says—and since I read it correctly—they must be wrong—and so my “wall” is valid. But then I flip—because I remember Jesus praying “so that they may be one as we are one”.

My mind can’t let go of the fact that we take tradition and hold it so tightly we hurt the people God loves. I think there are some wonderful things about traditions—but last night it made me flip and flop—because I think God loves His people more than traditions—and I just keep hearing Him say “love one another”.

I don’t have all the answers. I am not for holding a camp fire and singing Kumbyah and saying anything goes.

So I quit flipping and flopping and got on my knees. All I could see was the cross—Jesus didn’t just tell me he loved me on the cross—he showed me. He showed His mercy, His grace, at high cost.

“Father, please forgive me for inserting me into places that only You belong. My body is weak and tired today, but I know your power is unlimited, so I pray that you will use it to show the people in my path today how much you love them. Please empower me to live my life like it’s all about You, and none about me.”

50 Years ago today!!!

...One of the most important things in my life happened. Of course, I was not even 6 months old and no idea what was going on until almost 20 years later. Today perma honee joins me with having his age start with a 5.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEE!!

My favorites

These are my favorite things in Kauai:


Sunrise on the beach. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23



We love to snorkel. "And God said, 'Let the water teem with living creatures.'" Genesis 1:20a


I love to find beautiful secluded beaches! Look at all the people around! "You rule the swelling of the sea; when it's waves rise, You still them." Psalm 89:9


We love to hike and find breath-taking vistas. "Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain." Psalm 30:7


Sunset is an event every night! "You make the dawn and sunset shout for joy!" Psalm 65:8

Okay, now I will move on to something other than Kauai!!!

Honeymoon #28

The perma honee and I are back from honeymoon #28. God gets to make most of the rules in marriage, but we get to make a few. Our first honeymoon was so much fun, we decided we would just take one every year. We take time, not to figure out if this is the year to redo the kitchen, but to just remember why we got married.

Our destinations have become more exotic since I went to work for the airlines. We lived in Oklahoma for many years, so we had some great honeymoons to Branson, Eureka Springs, and even Grand Lakes, Oklahoma. The destination is really not the important thing. Concentrating on the gift God has given us in each other is.

This year we were back in Kauai. This is one of our favorite places on earth. Kauai smells wonderful from the time you step off the plane, there are flowers everywhere! The beaches are so gorgeous, I don't know how anyone could experience them and not believe in The Creator. Then, there is the sound of the ocean waves crashing--we can sleep incredibly well and incredibly long with those within our hearing. I can relax now just thinking about it all!

We had the laptop--and we tried to use it only when it didn't take time away from our together time. So, I have only visited the blogosphere about 40 minutes in the last 10 days. I am seriously behind with what is going on.

I am so thankful to my Father--I understand no marriage can last 28 minutes let alone 28 years without His blessing. We experience his blessings over and over and we are grateful!


Official picture of honeymoon #28

God of the Nations

This is a great song from the Newsboys' CD "Devotion".

God of all nations
Lord of creation
It's in the bonds of love we meet
We come together at Your feet

Equal in Your sight
Made one by Your might
You've called us to restore Your lands
And place them back within Your hands

So tonight
Be glorified
Be magnified
As every nation lifts you high
Oh, Father, tonight
It's our desire
To see Your kingdom shine
On earth as in Heaven tonight

God of all nations
Lord of creation
Your purpose is our hope, our bread
All You've planned and all You've said

Lord of the heavens
Lord of the ages
It's our desire
So tonight
Be glorified
Lifted up high
It's our desire
Oh, Father, tonight
It's our desire
You're magnified
Lifted up high

Praise

One of my mentors said recently, we don't praise God enough. Well said, NS. So today I want to devote my blog to praising Him!

I want to praise Him for Who He is: Creator, Savior, Almighty, All-powerful, Sovereign, Love, All-sufficient, Provider, Protector, Healer, All knowing.

I want to praise Him for all the things he does in my life. He does know the number of hairs in my head--and he blesses me in big and small ways every day--I just don't always take time to stop and praise Him.


Do you have praises today you would like to share?

5Q4 daisymarie

1. Most of your blogs are so positive--can you tell us why?

2. Does your family know you blog? What do they think of it?

3. If/when you and your granddaughter, Penelope, spend a day together, what would you choose to do?

4. You say you would like to write a book--what do you think it will be on?

5. You have gobs of graduate hours in religion/ministry. How has taking academic classes in Bible changed you?

Thanks for playing along daisymarie!

I really want to enjoy the journey

I believe it is so important to enjoy each day God has blessed us with.

I have reminders about this as I work in pensions. This week, we had a retiree, that died the day after he retired. I am going to guess he was looking forward to a wonderful retirement.

I know people that are looking forward to:
Getting out of school
Getting married
Having children
Buying their first house
Having all their children leave the house
Having grandchildren
Going to Hawaii
Going on a cruise
Retiring
??? What have I missed?

I just pray that we all enjoy every blessing of the journey getting to wherever God is leading us here on earth!

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. "
Ps. 118:24

5Q4 Ann

My friend Ann, has volunteered to submit to my questions, so here goes!

1. What is the biggest challenge for you by living in Japan? Biggest joy?

2. You mention Bailey McBride several times as someone you admire. How has he impacted your life? Do you have any other "mentors" you would like to mention?

3. What songs have you downloaded off Walmart.com lately?

4. You say "some of the time I do things I say I won't". What have you done lately that you thought you never, ever would?

5. What do miss most about living in the US??

Okay some are double questions and they are related, so they just count as one.

Thanks for playing along Ann!

5 Questions from Donna

Working for an airline you get to fly a lot. What has been your scariest experience in an airplane?

My first plane ride was when I was 17. I was flying by myself from Oklahoma City to Philadelphia. Every leg of the trip had a problem and at one point I was in DC and put on one of those wee little planes to get to Philly. My nerves were frazzled and as we took off and smoke started coming from somewhere and I might have started screaming the thing was on fire or something. I have no recollection until a flight attendant (then known as a stewardess) came and informed me it was the air conditioning. Everything has been pretty much down hill since then.

You mentioned that you are 50 years old. Was this your toughest birthday? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a little older?

My most difficult birthday was 30. I have no idea why now, that sounds so young, but I remember vividly it was. I really don’t mind being 50. The advantage is easy. I can look back on my life and see God’s faithfulness through EVERYTHING. It makes it much easier to trust Him now. I really can’t think of a disadvantage. There surely must be at least one. Someone please help me out.

At one time you stated that you checked out other people’s blog rolls for new blogs to read. Do you still look for new blogs? Would you say you spend more or less time in blogland than you did in the beginning?

Yes, I still look for new blogs to read. I try to do my blogging when it doesn’t take away from any of my family that might be around. So, if I don’t blog for a few days, I am probably getting some quality time in with at least one person from the fam. I probably spend about the same amount of time now that I did in the beginning—I try to discipline myself and only allow my a specific number of minutes so I can still do the really important things. I wonder if I will get comments from my family on this one?

In November you visited Puerto Rico. Was this the prettiest place you have ever visited? What is the most memorable location that you have visited?

Puerto Rico is beautiful. We were on a gorgeous beach. It’s only a 4 hour flight. However, driving in San Juan was crazy (necessary to get where we were going) and not knowing Spanish made it difficult.

The prettiest place for me is Hawaii—Kauai or Maui. I LOVE them both. They are 8 hours away and worth every minute in my opinion.

The most memorable place (I LOVE them all!) would probably be The Great Smokey Mountains. J and I were there on September 11, 2001. We drove the rental car back to Texas. At least we knew how long it took to drive when Mer decided to go to school at the University of TN less than 2 years later.

Reading is obviously very important to you. Other than your church history books what have you read in the last three months that has touched you most? Why?

Paul ,Women and Wives (Keener) I have labored with the book. I don’t think my theology of the role of women in the church is consistent within itself—and I want it to be consistent.

Saint Augustine Confessions Meg had read this one and suggested it. If my kids suggest a book, I read it. This one was super deep and took my forever to get through. It was worth the dig. Augustine is considered a church father, so I hope you don’t consider it church history.

Screwtape Letters (Lewis) It had been nearly 30 years since I read this one and I decided it was time again. I had forgotten gobs of the specifics, or perhaps they just didn’t impact me first time around. I don’t want to give Satan too much or too little credit for what happens in my life.

My next read: Traveling Mercies (Lamont) It has been recommended by several and I am ready to jump in.

These are great questions! Thanks Donna!

Here's the game, if you want me to ask you 5 questions you can answer in your blog, then leave me a comment and tell me. I will warn you, I know I have some major family commitments coming up, so please be patient. I will get back to you!

Slooooowww weekend

We have really slowed down for a bit. We got some important things done--like our taxes (I am so thankful for Turbo Tax!). Also we have been busy puttering around the house and yard doing all that stuff that has to be done, then re-done.

I discovered something about myself, though. I don't know how to go really slow. After 23 years of keeping of with the kids, with hardly a free moment--I don't know how to just sit and listen to the crickets with J. I will learn to slow down, just as I had to learn to speed up when we had 3 children in less than 4 years.

Perhaps the most amazing thing is how much more I am in tune with God--how I experience Him when I am not running at break neck speed. I definitely need to slow down more often!

Another amazing thing is why do I have to get the car manual out ever April and October to set the new time? Don't you think an adult woman could remember how to re-set the car clock sometime???

Since I am all over the place in this blog--I want to say how thankful I am for our beautiful spring weather! I LOVE spring!

My scripture for this weekend is:
"I am the Lord you God
who teaches you what is best for you
who directs you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to my commands
your peace would have been like a river,
your righteousness like the waves of the sea."
Isaiah 49:15