Ok, ok, ok

Man, it is takening longer to get myself geared towards getting more done than I thought! My beloved has been back in the work force for a little over two weeks now, and I can't seem to get my act together. I get the homework done, and the dinner made, and make sure the baths are done... but once all the kids are in bed it seems like all I want to do is veg.

I've been playing a game called Highlander over on Facebook, watching the Australian Open, or just day dream! It's like I feel lost or something. I have gotten some really small project done, but I know I can be doing a whole lot more. And to my beloved's credit, she has not harped me not getting things done. On the contrary, she has been incredibly encouraging. Still, I would like to get the realitively small projects done. Things like replacing the gasket around the garbage disposal... that would be a good place to start.

I've started forgetting to carry around my little notebook - and I've had some good ideas too... it is sitting in my pocket now. :-)
Verse for today:
James 1:2-11, ESV
Count it all joy, my brothers, [2] when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass [3] he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Remembering when

I am going through a mid-life... um, crisis is to 'harsh' of a word... a mid-life re-evaluation? I have been waxing nastolgic of the 'old days' - mostly of the 80's. Sad, I know. :-)

It all started with 'Juke Box Hero', and recently movies like 'Terminator' or 'Highlander' come to mind. Now, I am fighting a lot of these impulses because they are not the most nurturing of my faith if you get my meaning.

It's not like the 80's were really all that great to me. In high school I was given the nickname 'Brainiac' - and it was not meant as a compliment. I dropped out of high school when someone broke into my toolbox and stole all of my tools (I may have accidentally left it unlocked) and I could not afford to replace them. In the 9th grade I lived in four different homes, and went to three different schools in the span of one school year (add two more homes if you extend that to a full calander year).

I was wondering how many other people wander down memory lane... and is it healthy? Or just risking turning into a pillar of salt?
Verse for today:
1 Corinthians 10:23-31, ESV
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Musical Monday - and miscellaneous ramblings

My that was a refreshing weekend. With the snow and paranoid bureaucrats the kids had Thursday and Friday off, although I did not (I am considered an essential employee), my beloved had Thursday off. The result was a semi-long weekend. Our schedule was a normal one (i.e. something going on pretty much every day), but it still seemed to slow down a tad. We watched the Australian Open (some really good matches this weekend), a little bit off NFL football (Go Giants!), and I joined yet another App in Facebook (good grief!).

Well, my song for this week is another one that really speaks to me as to where I stand before God...

WHO AM I

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

(Chorus)
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
(end chorus)

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

(chorus)

(repeat chorus)

Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

This song really speaks to me, especially when I am feeling a little arrogant. I mean, who am I really? In the scheme of things I really am a vapor in the wind. A mere whisper in time. And yet I am His. I am a child of God, not because of anything I have done, but all because of what He has done, because of who He is. And that is an awesome thing to meditate on.
Verse for today:
Psalm 106:1-3, ESV
Praise the Lord!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord,
or declare all his praise?
Blessed are they who observe justice,
who do righteousness at all times!

Long weekend

I feel like I've hit a wall today, and I am so looking forward to the long weekend. I wish I had more... instead I will be going back to reply to some of the very nice replies to some posts this week.
Verse for today:
Matthew 25:25-30, ESV
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Let it snow

We are getting our first real snow fall of the winter season today. We had a dusting earlier, but it was pretty much gone by the time I got home from work. This one should be enough to build a small snowman out of. I might even have to shovel the driveway! :-)

This may be a surprise to some, but I can be annoying at times. For instance I like to whistle "Let it Snow" when it snows... or even when it just gets cold out. It kind of got started while I was on active duty. From about mid-December right through our re-integration training in early April it must have snowed three out of every seven days. I don't mind foul weather. I actually kind of enjoy it (and no, I don't know why). I like to stand out in the rain or snow. I like to listen to it fall, and watch it come down. What I would do, in a pretty poor attempt to rally the troops, I would sing and/or whistle "Let is Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow". I mean, you can't do anything about the weather, and you have a job to do, so you might as well enjoy it. In the end the guys tolerated my singing because I was always willing to be out in the mess and shovel.

One of my favorite pictures from our re-integration training is of one of the sections while they were training for their safty certification.

Man was that cold. Now my fellow soldiers are enjoying snow where it does not do it all that much, and I am waiting until they return to retire.
Verse for today:
Psalm 84:1-4, ESV
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise!
Selah

I have found something I have in common with my sister

LOL - I recently found out that my sister likes to pull all of the M&M's out of the bag, group them by color. Once she has done this she will eat one from the group with the most M&M's until it is equal with the next most, then she will eat from those two (or more) groups equally until they are equal with the next group, and so on... until they are all gone. Yup, when I get a fist full of M&M's I do the same thing! :-) So now, when I have a bag of them, I just resist this temptation by not dumping them all out. I only pull one or two out at a time. :-) Sad, I know.

I also find that I compulsively do things until I feel that they are at an 'even' point. I like to do things that count until they are at intervals of 5/10, or what ever the next tier is... but I have been known to surpasas the standard until I get to an 'even' number.

My beloved told me that the state Autism 'guy' (that we meet with twice a month in a support group) told her that it was 'interesting' to see me interact with DS2. Now, I am not sure what he meant by that, but I know my beloved refers to DS2 as my twin. "I was just the host" is often her claim. LOL :-)

I have no idea where I am going with this post. It's been one of those days...

In recent weeks I have had several people from my unit approach me about staying in the Guard. To be honest, I am torn. I really like serving. I enjoy the work. But I don't like being away from home. Mostly it's because I see the affect it has on my beloved. Only a few more months to go...

Verse for today:
Luke 17:11-19, ESV
On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, [6] who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” [7]

Wierd dreams

I cannot remember the last time I woke up in a cold sweat, but last night broke the trend. I am having a hard time remembering the specifics as I write this but it went something like this.

Me and one other person, I can not remember who it was (if I know them at all), were standing around what seemed to be some sort of heavy duty well cap. There was something inside really trying to get out, and it was pounding really hard.

This dream cycled through at least three times. All I know is that when I woke up I was wide awake, and I went to my knees in prayer. I have never really been any good at interpreting dreams - especially my own - but I do know that I was pretty disturbed by it.

Verse for today:
Romans 7:18-25, ESV
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.