Snake Bite

After I picked up the kids at school the other day, Katie's 15 year old boy was very excited to share about science class. He went on to describe in gruesome detail how the snake, that the teacher has in the classroom, devoured a mouse.

"The snake squeeeeeeeeeeeezed it and crushed it until it was stretched to like two times it's normal length."

Me "ewwwwwww".

"yeah, but I think the venom probably made that painless for the mouse".

Me "ick".

"It only took like 3 seconds for the mouse to die!"

Now, Katie's boy has a big heart for animals, so I was surprised that he was so excited to share about the death of the poor, defenseless mouse. I asked "but what about the mouse?" and he said "well, I'd rather die in 3 seconds than in 4!"

Kids never cease to amaze me with their insight.

Wow, We Won an Award!

Yay!

Thank you Tennessee Bloggers!

His Plans

Author:  Katie

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Several years ago God used this passage to remind me of a calling He has placed in my life. It's a calling I have never been able to abandon completely but one I have always felt unworthy and incapable of fulfilling.

I first accepted Christ at age 16 and received this calling almost immediately. I envisioned myself teaching other women and pointing them to Christ(women's ministry). I was only 16 and I could see myself in the future as a teacher of adult women. I knew I had a lot of growing and maturing to do before that could happen but I knew in my heart that it was my destiny as His child on this planet. But,I have always been a dreamer and just passed this off as another dream...I have always thought, "God would never use me that way...I am not qualified, nor will I ever be".

Shortly after being saved, my life took a turn for the worst. I turned my back on my salvation and on God and decided to go back to my old lifestyle. This caused me to make many mistakes from which I still suffer consequences even today. However, as the saying goes, "every cloud has a silver lining", I have found that there is a brighter side to my poor choices.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and have been called according to his purpose.

God has used the circumstances in my life to draw me back into His presence and to know that He loves me just as much today as He ever did or ever will. I have an undying passion for women's ministry and yes I do dream of the day when I will see my dreams become a reality. However, in the process of it all, I find myself not content with my life as it is because I'm always reaching for something that seems to be so far away.

Sometimes I just think that I am just a dreamer and this is one of my dreams that will never be a reality but, "I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever". Hosea 11:1 If indeed God has called me to this, then I must believe that He will bring things about in His time.

I want the Lord to direct my heart into God's love and Christ's pererverance (Thes 3:5). If I have dreams I want them to be His dreams for me and not my dreams for myself. I want whatever I do to be for His glory and not mine.

Sue told me this morning that being a dreamer causes me to constantly be unsatisfied. I guess this is true. I was heartbroken at first when I got that much needed slap in the face. However, if I should be satisfied where I am and I stop dreaming about my call,I may become complacent and never strive to achieve the dreams that I believe are from God. Then where will I be?

I can't give up. Every time I have doubted my call in life, I have had somebody or some circumstance to bring me back to knowing that I know that I know that this is where He wants me to be and I have to keep reaching higher for that goal. I want to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I want everything I do to be for His glory because He is the only one who deserves it. I will write that book and I will come to a point in life where I can fully commit myself to serving God through women's ministry. I will continue to be unsatisfied where I am so that I will always be moving forward and pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:13).

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matt 28:19).

It's not a dream. It's a commission.

First Job Meme

1) What was your very first job where you received a paycheck?

I delivered the Akron Beacon Journal. I lived in the country, so the distance between homes was great. This wasn't so much an issue in the summer when I could ride my bike to deliver, but during winter months or rainy days it wasn't so fun. I think my mom hated when it rained, but she never complained when she would wake up early on Sunday morning to drive me through the route.

2) How old were you?
10 or 11? It was fifth grade

3) Did the job require you to wear a uniform – - take a moment and describe?

no uniform

4) How long did you keep your first job?

I don't remember exactly, possible a year, if I made it that long. I had that route during the winter of 1977-1978 and it was a BAAAAAAAAD winter, BIGTIME blizzard. There were a couple of days I couldn't even deliver the paper because the snow was piled higher than I was tall. No one could go anywhere, so my customers had to do without the news for a few days. Ugh.

I did have the job long enough to earn money to buy a big tent and a 10 speed bike though.

5) When you left your first job was it because you quit or were you fired?

I quit! Delivering papers isn't as easy as it seems!

6) What was your second job?

I started working at the office my mom worked at and was paid out of petty cash. I would do odd jobs just to help out. Some of those odd jobs were pulling staples out of the carpet, filing invoices, and whatever else I was asked to do. All that was fine until I was asked to take on a part-time position as a coupon counter. Coupon-counting was NOT for me!

7) Were you ever "counselled" about your performance on a job? What for?

I was only ever counselled once for poor performance and that was as a coupon-counter. My productivity wasn't up to standards apparantly and I spent too much time talking and joking around. I distracted others. I soon moved out of that department and started distracting others somewhere else!

Let's spread some "It's Blogcess" linky love?

Found at Uptown Girl.

Upcoming ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAADTRIP!

Katie and I will be going on a rooooooaaaaaaaaaaaadtrip in a couple of weeks. I'm very excited about this because one, it's always fun to spend time with my best friend; two, it will be an adventure to drive all the way to IA (from TN); three, I'm going back to a place that I lived and made connections in for three 1/2 years. I haven't returned since I left in January 2000.

I am going back to IA for the wedding of T, who was once my very best friend. She and I roomed together in college at Akron U, and eventually moved in and shared an apartment as we both got jobs and started careers. We were both dedicated to our careers, at the time I was a teacher and she was a nurse, and eventually her career upgraded into administration and led her out of state to MI. I joined her there for an adventure and when I couldn't get a teaching job in Traverse City, I followed her to IA where I really started in my retail career, and she started up Home Care Plus, a home care agency, with the Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center. (I have to tell you...I came up with the Home Care Plus motto: Home is where your health is, I was so proud of that!) T and I shared a home for almost 15 years total, but then she met a man and started dating so it was time for me to move on and so I did.

I'm excited to go back to see T and meet her "husband", I don't even know him. Weird. It is so weird how people, who were once a part of my everyday life, are not really even thought about much unless it's a special occasion. She's not even marrying the same man she started dating when I left. I've really never met this guy and at one time T and I shared all our thoughts, feelings and things friends share. It will be nice to catch up a bit with her, and I know she'll be all tied up in the wedding and stuff, so we really won't have time to chat much. I will enjoy seeing her family again, the people she works with, and chatting with them some before and after the festivities.

Another thing I hope to do is see Brad, but it seems his prognosis isn't good. (See prior posts) I haven't heard anything in days. I hate this waiting.

Most of all I am so looking forward to visiting my church. First Baptist Church of Marshalltown, IA will forever be engrained in my memory because it was the place where I was baptized. It was the place where I discovered my Savior, and took my very first steps as a Christian. I made lasting friendships there and as a matter of fact, when Katie and I go to IA, we will be staying with one of my friends, Deleana. IT'S GONNA BE A BLAST!

Deleana is also organizing a get together sort of deal so that I can meet up with all the women that we had bible study with that summer of 1999. About twenty women met weekly to do the Experiencing God study and it was AWESOME! I can't wait to share all the ways I've been experiencing God since that study! THAT'S GOING TO BE SOOOOOO COOL! Those ladies have no idea what an impact they made in my life! It will be so neat to see them all again! Only bummer is that one of my spiritual mentors has since moved to WI, so Noni won't be there, but I will be seeing many of the women I studied with. It's gonna be so fun!

I'm hoping to get a chance to eat at Rube's Steakhouse too. I don't know if I'll be able to work that into the trip and that will be a bummer. YUM! Fresh cut steaks that you grill yourself over open flame! My mouth is watering! I might just HAVE to MAKE time to get there...it may be my only chance!

YAY! Gotta go, Katie's home early!

I Called Brad

I called Brad, a former manager of mine who is dying from cancer. I received an email from a mutual friend earlier this week encouraging me to contact him if I ever wanted to talk to Brad again because he was fading fast.

I called, no answer. I left a message. I've emailed too and hope to hear something soon. I would like the chance to talk to Brad again. In the meantime, I pray for him and his family.

Here's an Idea...

How about a backspace key on phone keypads?

I hate when I dial a number, get to the second to last digit, hit the wrong key (because phone keypads are opposite 10-key keypads), and have to start all over! UGH!