Between the Storms: June 2013

I'm cleaning my oven right this second while I sit comfortably on my couch, laptop where it should be: on my lap. I'm really glad I was born here in the United States and in this century.

Self-cleaning ovens, washing machines & dryers, dishwashers. Do I need to continue?

Running water. Pure, clean. We don't have to search for it with jars balanced on our heads. Oh! Air conditioning! A car or two to drive us where we want/need to go to allow us to buy what we want/need.

Have you ever wondered why us? Why were we born here? Privileged. Middle-class citizens. Even our homeless have it better than most of the world. Why us? Why the United States? And the scary question...how much longer will it continue?

In God we trust? Do we? Does our President? Do we as a nation still trust our God? How much longer before God takes His hand of protection off of us as a whole?

Even googling our Pledge of Allegiance, there is a discrepancy.

Change is in the air.

One nation - indivisible...

in·di·vis·i·ble

Not divisible; unable to be divided or separated.

Okay...So God is being taken out of the equation...just 'one nation, indivisible'...and we are far, far from the the definition. So...if the powers that be want to change the Pledge of Allegiance and take God out, let's call it like it is..."one nation, divisible,' because that is certainly what we are.

It's scary, and yet, right now I'm still glad to live here. Honestly. I get chills and goosebumps when I hear the Star Spangled Banner. When something horrendous happens, we all ban together to help each other and...Pray! When things get bad, we pray. So deep down, I still think this is a nation under God, indivisible.

We're not completely gone...not yet anyway.

I'm not a political person. I'm just a citizen of the United States of America. I love my country. I want to see it prosper. It needs to so we can help other countries. I'm so thankful for all I have and what we have as a nation, and I'm also a little ashamed and embarrassed too, when I see the desperate need of others.

So...as my oven finishes up cleaning itself, and I close this post , I'll pray for our government, and we, the people will do as God tells us:

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." -- (James 4:7-10 NIV)

I made it through another school year. It was an interesting one, for sure. I was here and there and then here again. I loved both places but the here was what I absolutely loved and I miss it. I miss the students lots and I hope I get to work with them again next year.

That was only a part of my year. I also went through a hysterectomy. That was the good part. Before that, I was led around by my body which sweat profusely and was prone to an onset of tears at any second, night or day and for being most unreasonable - which so isn't me. The hysterectomy solved most of that plus the hormonal severe headaches I'd been having for years and could never get under control. Wow! My life is so much better now.

Let's see, my daughter got married too. Kristen is now Kristen Dennis. That's very strange to hear her called that. So that also means I gained a son named Jordan. I'm also going to be a grandma to a little baby boy the last of August. So many changes.

All is this happened during the school year, and now...summer is here. I already went to Illinois Special Touch Get Away. Awesomeness! We all had a reeeeaaally good time and felt God's touch. I'll write about that another time. I met more new friends this year, which is always good. I'm ready to go again.

Mari has come and gone. We had a good time. A very low key visit but fun. We did have one Lucy/Ethel moment but that one was big. Why we have those, I sure don't know, and most of the time they aren't our fault. Well, many times they are but this time it wasn't. Sure do make good memory makers though.

Now I have the rest of the summer looming before me and not quite sure what God has in store for me. I have the time to do. What is it God has for me? Not everyone has a whole summer and I want to use it for God's glory but I need to know how. I don't want to look backwards and know I frittered it away.

I will do this while I wait:

"Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live..." Isaiah 55:3

-- so that is my plan for now. Listen. Read. Study God's Word. Be prepared for whatever He has for me to do. Sounds like a good plan!