Between the Storms

>> Friday, August 8, 2008

Peej, Chrissy, and I are having a great time at Dee's house. We went to Holmes County today and met Dee's husband's cousins who are Amish. We got some great pictures. We had some good food and wonderful views of the countryside.

Drippiness and Coasters that Roll:)

>> Monday, August 4, 2008

I am experiencing all sorts of emotions - anger, irritation, extreme love, happiness, joy, loneliness... I am very hard to keep up with. Just try to live with me and you will realize why my husband's hair is white! Its so hard being a woman anyway, and then on top of that I am dealing with a new medicine that I'm pretty sure is messing up my moods, and then being in pain so much makes me very irritable. I am having a hard time handling it all. It is definitely a roller coaster ride and if you are even a little close to me, you've ridden that coaster with me too.

I am praying for discernment. I need to know when enough is enough for this medicine. I don't want to get in too deep before I decide there is a problem and then have to try to dig out of it. Been there, done that, don't want to do it again. Uh-huh.

On Wednesday I am off again. This time Peej, another FW friend, is picking me up and we are traveling to Ohio to visit other FW friends. I can't wait. We are going to have a wonderful car trip, I am sure of that! Peej and I have never met before, which is very sad, since we both live in Illinois, but you all do realize how LONG Illinois is? I think she's about 4 hours away. We'll know for sure on Wednesday when she actually makes the drive.

I'm sure we're going to have late nights talking and giggling (well, Dee, Chrissy, and I anyway) I think Peej goes to bed early. I'm sure we'll have times we pray, too. Chrissy loves to pray and I can't wait to be able to experience that with her. Chrissy's from Australia, by the way. She's traveling across the US to meet her FW friends. I'm praying for her safety as she does that. Right now, I believe, she's in Arizona visiting the Grand Canyon and Beth:)

The sad thing about internet friendships is that you most probably will never meet face-to-face. That is really hard to accept. And a sad thing about friends that live near is that we are able to get together more but don't. Ugh... which is worse? One there is nothing we can do about but the other there is. We just have to make the time. Someone needs to push things along. Be the bully. Set things in motion. Once a month that my "home" friends and I try to get together just isn't cutting it so much anymore. Its crazy when I sit in church and long to be with one of my friends who is on the Amen side or the hallelujah side or whichever:) I think I'm at a time in my life when relationships are very important to me.

While I figure all this out, I strap on my seatbelt, take along whoever is brave enough, and let the ride begin. Along the way I wipe the tears that fall down my cheeks at the oddest of times. I drip and I coast and I roll. Anyone want to come along? I saved a seat just for you!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

ZOE!

>> Sunday, August 3, 2008

Today in church, I heard an excellent sermon and it goes right along with my quest to find my friend, Joy. Our minister, Greg Taylor, preached about abundant life from John 10.

"I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Greg taught us that zoe is Greek for new life, an incredible life, an abundant life. That is what we get when we take Jesus at His Word and believe in Him. But we, or I should say, I, don't always walk abundantly. Sometimes I let little things like fences get in the way. Mari said this in my last blog:

"Don't let that fence keep you from such beautiful joy. You have friends on the other side ready to break your fall, 'cuz I am about to push your butt over that fence. And when I tumble after you, the whole lot of us will laugh and bubble over in a tremendous party of joy!"

Joy is with me. She's just been hidden the past few days. She has occasionally stuck out her head and waved at me. I get great joy from spending time with my family. One day Jim and I were at Walmart and Nik was walking along behind us. He threatened to give us points for PDA (public display of affection) That was so much fun, especially when I gave him a reason to be embarrassed!
It gives me joy to spend time with our neighbor kids. They make me smile BIG.
I get lots of joy from my newest addiction, texting on the cell phone:) its fun to send little messages to Mari and Laura throughout the day.
I also get loads of joy from being with my friends, whether it is online or actually being with them in person!
I enjoy praying with others on the phone or online. That always gives me lots of joy.

But ultimately, Jesus is the source of all my joy. Its to Him I need to go when I get down and overwhelmed. He is my joy and my salvation.
Psalm 51:12, " 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
Psalm 95:1, "1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation."

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Joy Comes in Costume Sometimes

>> Saturday, August 2, 2008

hungry by D'Arcy Norman.
The picture of this giraffe gives me joy. I don't know why. Maybe because she's so content. She has an odd body but she fits it and it fits her. When she's hungry, she just reaches up to a high branch and nibbles at some leaves. This giraffe makes me smile:) I'm sure God smiled when He created it. How could you not smile when looking at it?

"Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in Him! Make it as clear as you can
to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them.
Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute.

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your

worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense
of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.
Its wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
Philippians 4:4-7

Mari agreed that I am stubborn, just like a mule stuck in the mud, but she's committed to pulling me out, no matter how long it takes. She said I could stand on her back to get over the fence. I have so many friends like that, I am very blessed. Laura texted me and when I told her that I was looking for joy today but couldn't find her, she said this, "Joy comes in costume sometimes." I suppose she's dressed as a giraffe for me right now:) Joy the Giraffe. There you go. The giraffe now has a name. And Shirley, a cyber friend has invited me for cookies and tea but we are busy deciding just what kind of tea I would like. Yes, I think I found joy. They are disguised as jewels:) as awesome friends, as God's creation. Maybe I just stepped on one wrung of the fence, you think? A little closer to getting to Joy.