PH and I are off celebrating our 30th honeemoon. We are at a place so remote that our cell phones don't work (and that's mostly a good thing)--I am not sure what time it is or even what day it is (and it's really not that important right now)--I get to live in flip-flops and shorts (and I've forgotten what make-up is)--but I found an internect connection--so I had to stop and blog just wee bit.

I am thankful for these times--because I get to reconnect with PH. Even though we don't have young children at home any more, it seems there are always demands on our time and energy--and it's so wonderful just to leave all that behind for just a few days.

I am also thankful for the time I get to re-connect with God. I will probably write more about that later--but it's already been an incredible spiritual experience for me. I learn more every day just how big He is--and I am beginning to doubt I will ever fully understand how blessed I am.

Thursday Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for Perma Honeee! I am thankful that God has allowed me to be married to him for 30 years--I know that is something that can only happen with God's blessing--and am amazed and thankful for God's mercy towards us.
(And, I am thankful for the wonders of technology, so I can post this on Wednesday!)

We are doing a Beth Moore study on Monday nights now--and something she said in the video portion of our lesson last week has had me thinking all week.

She said something along the lines of we get confused, disappointed, frustrated, upset because we spend so much time trying to figure God out--like why certain things happen/don't happen. The Bible is clear--God's thinking/plans are above us and we will never be able to figure Him out--but we try any way. I suppose we just want to understand what's going on--but some of the time--we just can't and it leaves us bouncing all around emotionally.

What Beth encourages in the video is to seek to understand the heart of God. The Bible tells us He loves us unconditionally--He has a plan for our lives. I am going to start looking as I read the Bible of other ways I can understand His heart.

Horrible, awful things happen. I may not ever understand why they do. Just in the past week, trying to focus on understanding God's heart instead of understanding why bad things happen has brought me much peace. He is sovereign and in control. Perhaps getting to know His heart even more will help me let go of trying to understand why things happen.

Yesterday I had a double blessing! I got to spend time with my sweet friend, Niki, and meet a new blogging friend, Paula. Paula and I can't even remember how we *found* each other's blogs, but we might have been blogging friends before she met Niki--Niki lives near her and now they share a very sweet friendship. I loved my time with them--we all jabbered like we had known each other forever--having a love for Jesus in common is all we needed--I left my time with them encouraged, excited, and blessed! Spiritual siblings rock!

PH and I had an interesting night here at the hotel. While we were in a deep sleep, about 2 am, our next door neighbors slammed into their room and started a LOUD fight. (I could almost give you an almost word for word transcript.) It lasted off and on, but mostly on until 5 am.

So when the alarm went off in our room at 6:30 (PH had a breakfast meeting) it was very tempting to interpret the Golden rule as one of our children did when we were trying to teach it to him at the age of 3--"Do unto others as you've been done unto". I asked PH if he would like to put the alarm clock at it's highest volume on our mutual wall. (It was just our fleshly nature, and we didn't do it--we were both tempted.)

Which makes me ask another pertinent question. Don't all parents teach their children hotel etiquette--as in quiet voices, feet, tv volume, music volume, quiet everything from 11 pm to 7 am? Of course, I've probably not been perfect in following such etiquette, but it is an attempt to interpret scripture correrectly--"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Today I am thankful I have relatives that travel on business fun places I can join them. Currently, I am in Denver with PH. While he's busy working I am enjoying a fabulous view of the Rocky Mountains, drinking lots of hot tea and coffee, reading and studying. I even watched tv for a while--there was a fascinating show on the history of the Bible on the history channel. The conclusion of the program was that the more we learn about the Bible, the more we learn we don't know. I don't think God planned for us to figure it all out!

I've been blessed to come to Colorado several times, but never in winter. It's really different from what I expected--mostly in a good sort of way. There was lots of snow when I arrived, but it's warm today and melting quickly.

I'm hoping to get a visit in with Niki before we head back to Texas, too!

Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Thursday Thanksgiving

I am so very thankful:

God pursues a relationship with me.

For God's mercy and forgiveness.

For prayer.

For blessings instead of pity parties.

For quiet time to listen to God.

For wonderful visits with my mom,
College Roomie,
Aggie-Ed.

A fabulous Valentine's day!

Bison prime rib.

Bailey McBride's life has blessed our family for many years now. His articles in the Christian Chronicle are always among my favorite pieces in that publication--because strangely enough--it seems he nearly always writes on something I have been searching and seeking--His wisdom always blesses me.

In his latest article he speaks on silence and listening to God. I highly recommend the whole article, but here are just a few quotes:

"So whether you love to be surrounded by sound or retreat to a quiet place, you need to attune yourself to listen to the Spirit of God. Many believe that God speaks only through the Bible and communicates no other way to the minds of men. A few believe that God speaks to them directly about every circumstance of life. Most believe that God speaks through the Bible and his Spirit prompts their spirits to understand what to do or say in circumstances.

The sound of silence can be frightening, or it can be comforting. Drawing closer to God may require that you establish silence so that your mind and spirit can focus on God and his communication. Silence often helps us sort out ideas and options that we are contemplating. I worry about people who cannot bear to have no sounds around them: I am not judging them. I am encouraging all Christians to seek God in silence. The sound of silence opens minds and hearts to experiencing God."

On hosting pity parties

I live this incredibly blessed life--however, occasionally I get invitations to a pity party. I know who sends the invitations--it's that devil trying to gobble me up--but he does so much pre-party work--like helping me see the negative side of most everything in my life, how abused and neglected I am, and other such stuff--that the invitation seems inviting--especially since it usually involves some of the best chocolate in the house and some other great food. The guest list is short--just me, myself and I.

I share this because the last couple times I received such invitations and I was ready to go into full party mode--I heard this quiet voice--telling me I did not want to do that. I've heard it before, and decided on the chocolate and tissues anyway--but now I've listened and walked away without a party.

During the time I would have been at the pity party--God had some pretty incredible blessings for me--I suppose I would have just missed them if I would have gone to the party. It makes me wonder how many thousands of blessings I've missed through my life because I didn't listen and decided to drown in my own selfishness.

Random Fun Stuff

I spent some time with my mom in OK this week. We both had new purses--and it was the same purse! Out of the kazillions of purses we could have picked--we picked the same one. She must have really good taste! A friend just gave her the "Firstborn" series to read--and Robin just gave me the same series. Fun times!

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I spent about an hour with my college roomie while I was there. As I was parting (like my plane was boarding) we remembered it took us about 6 hours just to get started. She did point me to Oprah yesterday as one of her daughters has just returned from a 6 month volunteer trip at Village of Hope. Pam Cope was on Oprah talking about rescuing children in slavery. I was disappointed that Pam said "God" and the rest of the statement was edited out. Did anyone else catch that?

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Aggie-ed is here for the weekend! *huge smile* After he got in last night, we were talking about how youtube was impacting religion/politics/culture/everything--and he showed us some of the most hilarious ones! I expect to be laughing a lot this weekend! Hope you do too!!!

Thursday Thanksgiving

Today, I am thankful for all my blogging buddies--I've met quite a few of you--many more than in these pictures--but there's many of you I have not met--and I am thankful for each of you!!!
(Pictured from top left: Sojochick/Critter, Jacinda, Nancy, Malia, Niki, Gayla, Beaner/Donna/Terri/Jenni/Mae, Sandy, Jenn)

My reading habits have become fairly predictable. When I am at home I read to study. I usually have a book or two with a heavy theological bend that I am digging on. I have two or three versions of the Bible along with a commentary and a big highlighter and I enjoy my books.

When I travel, I read Christian fiction (usually Francine Rivers or Karen Kingsbury). I get so involved in the story I never know when we take off or land. I also laugh and sob out loud, so I can hope I have not disturbed too many of my seat mates.

Several weeks ago, one of my best friends ever and job share buddy, Robin, gave me Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series--all five books. I have been reading about one per trip lately--and finished number 4 about the time I landed back in North Texas returning from my St. Louis trip. However, I was so hooked in the story line, I got home and decided to just read a couple chapters of number 5. I felt like I would be pretty safe because the only fiction book I've never been able to put down was Redeeming Love. Now, I can add Reunion to that short list. On an already busy week, I've given up eating, sleeping and blogging to read my book. I just finished it and I will let you guess it I liked it or not!

A Critter Adventure

Critter is in St. Louis on business this week and she allowed me to come up and explore St. Louis with her during some of her free time. We went up in the arch and had a wonderful time finding some wonderful Missouri cuisine! Don't want to shock anyone, but I had a blast!

I sat by a lady on an airplane that had THREE sets of twins. She had twin girls, twin girls, and then twin boys! After having just one set of twins, I cannot imagine have three sets! I am thinking serious sleep deprivation.

Thursday Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful:

Jesus saves--I am not perfect--but He is.

My satisfaction is in God.

God loves me too much to leave me where I am at--and He is with me as He moves me on.

God listens when I talk to Him.

For the times I get to worship, encourage, learn, pray and praise with my church family.

For my wonderful blogging family!!! =-)

Aug and I had an afternoon at the movies (we saw "Freedom Writers" and I loved it!)

Time with Gayla this week.

Emma is home with her family.

For sour cream chicken enchiladas.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever."
I Chronicles 16:34