I love spring, but really! It comes late and it ends early. And in between the coming and going it's fickle as all get out. Every day it's a guessing game -- how to dress? Do I wear long sleeves or short sleeves, tank top or sweat shirt, jeans or shorts? The answer is, all of the above. And sometimes, all of the above on the very same day.
We opened the pool the first week of May, a bit later than usual, only to find the heater was kaput. Well you can't swim in an outdoor pool in these here parts without means to heat up the water. So,there was no swimming until the heating situation was remedied. Unfortunately, that wasn't accomplished in time for the grad party, which was a disappointment, but oh well. I think a good time was had in spite of it.
Early the next week we got the heater installed (and by we I mean Tom) and were thoroughly enjoying 86 degree water on 80 degree days. Then the outside temps dropped to the 50's. It wasn't so inviting to suit up, splash in, lap back and forth -- because -- you had to get out eventually. The getting out part is goosebumpily painful on cool windy days! But just wait a few days or even a few hours and who knows? It might be warm and sunny. Schizo season, schizo days.
Hmmm, that's like some people I know. No, that's like all of us. Schizoid. God's creatures given this wonderful gift of life. Some days we love it and we're all sunshine, smiles, and happiness. Other days gloom and doom dampens our spirits. But just wait a few days or even a few hours and who knows? Joy may chase away sadness.
"Weeping endures for the night, but joy comes in the morning." Ps. 30:5
Joy comes sooner when I cry out for help.
"I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth." Ps. 121:1
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Party Hearty!
We had a graduation party for David and his girlfried, Mel, on Saturday. They don't actually graduate until next week -- so the celebration was in good faith that neither of them will let us down! No problem, finals were completed on Friday. So college courses (an undergrad degree with dual majors for Dave, and an MBA for Mel) are completed, done, terminated, finished. Yippee. Hooray. Congratulations to the kids. And now Tom can take that bumper sticker off his car. The one that says, my kid and all my money goes to PENN STATE.
Some party scenes:
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
You Don't Know Jack
My kids used to play a trivia game by that title. I rarely played. I'm smart enough to know, I don't know squat. Proving it and calling it a game never really appealed to me. But I have been thinking how people make huge decisions and or pass judgments with out knowing enough. Here's an example. This idea was not original to me -- I just embellished it and made it into a story. It didn't happen to me, but it could. Most anyone of us could find ourselves here.
You’re driving down the highway, off to visit a friend who has just had a new baby. There is a bouquet of flowers and a brightly wrapped baby gift on the seat beside you.
A glance in the rear view mirror warns that a car approaching from behind is coming up way too fast. Shaking your head, and muttering something about that idiot who is in so much of a hurry, you ease off the gas a bit to slow him down. He flashes his headlights at you to show his impatience and you chuckle thinking, "yeah, yeah, just cool your jets fella." It happens to be a no passing zone, so you slow down even more to teach him a lesson. He beeps his horn and flashes his lights again. You dub him a maniac and check to make sure you’re holding steady -- a good 10 miles below the speed limit. "That'll show him," you think.
Then, still in a no passing zone, that idiot pulls out around you and speeds off down the road. As he passes you get a glimpse at his longish shaggy hair. He’s a fairly young man, but old enough to know better than to drive like a hot-shot hot rodder. You offer a few choice words and voice some notion like, "It’d serve him right if he wrecks." You could care less if he kills himself, but he’s endangering other drivers in the process. Jerk.
As you approach the hospital and pull into the visitor’s entrance there sits the maniac driver’s car parked at the emergency entrance. The driver’s side door is hanging open. Medical personnel are rushing toward the car. The young man with the long shaggy hair lifts a limp child out of the back seat and runs toward the white coat people. They motion to the father who is cradling a seemingly lifeless little body. “This way," they shout, "Hurry!”
Go ahead, say it with me..."Oh dear. Poor man. I hope his child will be okay." The speeding driver wasn’t an idiot, a maniac, a hot-rodder, or a jerk. He’s a desperate parent trying to help his child.
But there is a jerk in the story. Someone who jumped to conclusions. Someone who didn't know jack. It could have been me. You?
"...take every thought captive to obey Christ." "In your anger do not sin."
"Judge not, lest you be judged."
"And finally...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Phil.4:8
You’re driving down the highway, off to visit a friend who has just had a new baby. There is a bouquet of flowers and a brightly wrapped baby gift on the seat beside you.
A glance in the rear view mirror warns that a car approaching from behind is coming up way too fast. Shaking your head, and muttering something about that idiot who is in so much of a hurry, you ease off the gas a bit to slow him down. He flashes his headlights at you to show his impatience and you chuckle thinking, "yeah, yeah, just cool your jets fella." It happens to be a no passing zone, so you slow down even more to teach him a lesson. He beeps his horn and flashes his lights again. You dub him a maniac and check to make sure you’re holding steady -- a good 10 miles below the speed limit. "That'll show him," you think.
Then, still in a no passing zone, that idiot pulls out around you and speeds off down the road. As he passes you get a glimpse at his longish shaggy hair. He’s a fairly young man, but old enough to know better than to drive like a hot-shot hot rodder. You offer a few choice words and voice some notion like, "It’d serve him right if he wrecks." You could care less if he kills himself, but he’s endangering other drivers in the process. Jerk.
As you approach the hospital and pull into the visitor’s entrance there sits the maniac driver’s car parked at the emergency entrance. The driver’s side door is hanging open. Medical personnel are rushing toward the car. The young man with the long shaggy hair lifts a limp child out of the back seat and runs toward the white coat people. They motion to the father who is cradling a seemingly lifeless little body. “This way," they shout, "Hurry!”
Go ahead, say it with me..."Oh dear. Poor man. I hope his child will be okay." The speeding driver wasn’t an idiot, a maniac, a hot-rodder, or a jerk. He’s a desperate parent trying to help his child.
But there is a jerk in the story. Someone who jumped to conclusions. Someone who didn't know jack. It could have been me. You?
"...take every thought captive to obey Christ." "In your anger do not sin."
"Judge not, lest you be judged."
"And finally...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Phil.4:8
Sunday, May 3, 2009
May Day! May Day!
This blog appears to be in trouble. The posts are fewer and fewer. My enthusiasm for writing is faltering even while my enthusiasm for life in general is going strong. Just thought I'd let someone out there know that I'm fine. I like to run a tight ship. Unfortunately I'm not all that good at it. So maybe the ship is leaking...sinking?...May Day, May Day!
Don't worry, there is a Heavenly Father who knows all about it. He'll breathe new life into these oldish, dryish bones. He's in the business of regenerating.
Ezekiel 37
The Valley of Dry Bones
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
Regeneration -- watch for it...wait for it!
Don't worry, there is a Heavenly Father who knows all about it. He'll breathe new life into these oldish, dryish bones. He's in the business of regenerating.
Ezekiel 37
The Valley of Dry Bones
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
Regeneration -- watch for it...wait for it!
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