Memorial Day Weekend

What do I remember most? I don't have many memories of war times. I know my dad and mother married during WWII and they struggled through a lot of financial times because of it. My husband has never gone to the military. My boss was in the Korean war. I don't have many friends in the military. Only one friend that I know of in Iraq now, Scotty.

So.....thank you to all the men and women who have sacrificed for my large living and fun life. I know that my personal freedoms come from those who have decided to fight for this country and all that we stand for. Sometimes I wonder what we really stand for anymore. But I am still thankful for their courage and persistance in keeping our country whole.

Freedom is a tricky thing and I think the more we grow in this century and country the more it will question what is my freedom and your rights. Freedom allows me to do many things but human responsibility should outweigh my freedom every time! I think we are losing responsibility and just plain common sense in this country. We have become a nation who desires so much that we are willing to put aside common sense and responsibility.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Blueberry picking time!

I picked blueberries this morning. Two friends from work and I got up early, at least earlier than usual and went to a nearby blueberry farm and picked berries. I had come prepared with mosquito cloths and plastic gloves. I was afraid our fingers would be blue after picking and the two were going to have to go to work. They thought it was a great idea. I thought so too. It seemed easier to pick the blueberries with the gloves on.

I got a gallon and also bought some recipes and honey. I am anxious to use the blueberries in a recipe. I think I will begin by making some muffins. Mindy will be here tomorrow night and I also plan to make some cinnamon rolls this afternoon.

I need to go to Abilene to help move Gina but I really can't afford to go right now. I need the money from work. She understands and will be here soon, but my heart is there in Abilene this weekend. Probably we will have a quiet weekend. The girls are coming over tomorrow, I am sure, to swim and I guess they will spend the night. We will have them next weekend, too as Jamie and Paul are going out of town with the teens. Life just continues to roll on.

Thanks you God for lives little presents and I appreciate so much how much you do for me and my familiy. Thank you Lord for every blessing.

I have to find a new hobby!

I have spent the last hour reading blogs and trying to figure out what the Emergent group is all about. In some aspects it is interesting to me and in others it is frightening. I will continue to read and find out all I can but I think the most frightening part is that it encompasses all people. I would consider some of them unchurched, but they talk like they are a part of a church. Certainly no church I relate to!

Anyway, I will continue to search out and read the blogs. I would like to know more and understand more and I am trying hard to fit my needs to what is going on in the world. If that makes sense!?!

I'm Learning

I responded to Mike Cope's blog yesterday or the day before and felt pretty good at what I wrote. But then today, when I went back to his blog, he sort of downed what I had written. I know he didn't mean it personally, but he didn't get the essence of what I was saying. The blog was concerning the t-shirt he saw in a family resturant which had profanity on it and wanted to know what our stance should be on the subject. I think he phrased it as what is our community responsibility? He got all sorts of responses, some negative, some positive, but I think my disappointment was the fact he overlooked or did not see what I was saying. I guess in reality that is not his fault, but mine alone. I am not able to write what I am thinking. My point was that what is someone else's freedom may infringe in my rights. Where do we draw the line? Who is the dictator of that? In our minds it should be God, but the world does not recognize him, so where do go from there? Obviously, we are not all on the same page. But isn't that what Christianity and warfare into the darkness is all about? We can shelter our selves from the darkenss all day long, but we are still of the world. It is all around us and at some point, we are not able to shelter ourselves or our children any more. I think someone on the blog had the right idea that we need to be particular in teaching our children to protect themselves and give the tools to combat all this. It is like us telling our girls to look for the right mate, but more importantly, be the right mate. We need to tell our children to watch for danger, but more importantly be prepared for the danger.

That is what I was trying to say yesterday. I gave the example that my dad will not even watch TV or a movie if a curse word is spoken. He just shuts himself out. I don't want to do that but to enable myself to arm against it. Be ready for it. If I never allow it to hit, then how can I be prepared for when the strong one comes. It is like a vaccine. Given in small doses it doesn't inflict the germ and we become immune. But there is danger in that immunity also. So, it is a fight to become injected in small doses to prepare for the big fight and not become totally immune. Hmmmmmm.......How do we do that? How do we accept others and still stay true to our convictions? How do we take small doses of wrong to prepare us for the big war but not become complacent? These are thoughts to ponder.

Mindy may come home this weekend. I hope so. I am ready for another dose of her smile. I want to hear more about Trent and see her light up when she talks about him.

The kids will be out of school this week. I know they are ready and I hope the summer is good for them and doesn't go by so fast they cannot enjoy it.

Life is getting interesting

Our second daughter, Mindy, is in her early twenties. Old? Certainly not. But much older than I was when I married. She is the same age as her sister was when she married, or a little older anyway.

But I think we have finally arrived! We met her beau a couple of weeks ago and we really like him. Trent is a godly, wonderful young man just starting his career of ministry. He is the associate minister of a Union Christian church. A denomination I had never heard of but seems to be okay. Of course, that is hard to say since I have never been to one of their assemblies and I try to never judge someone else's family without being at least a visitor to that family.

That is one of my pet peeves, by the way, for people to judge and complain or gossip about a group of church members. If they are not a part of them, how would they know and why do they care? Anyway, Trent is starting his new job next week and I wish him well and want to give him lots of encouragement as he starts his new job.

How do I feel about my daughter being the wife of a minister of a Union Christian church? I'm not sure yet. Of course, he has not formally asked her but I think we knew this was coming early on......certainly before they admitted they were in love. I could see the differences in this relationship as compared to others. Mindy was allowing Trent to make all the moves. A big change for her. She was known as "make out Mindy" as a teen. And she seemed to make all the moves and choices for her last relationship, which ended badly, I might add. She will tell you herself that she cries when she thinks how toxic the relationship was. She had red flags all the time, but ignored them or just didn't want to see them. Fortunately, there have no red flags, no flags at all, to my knowledge. She is so confident and happy! That is the real change. She is not second guessing what is happening, she knows because they are talking and exchanging ideas and hopes and dreams. They are honest with their feelings and tell each other what is going on. That is a real change for her. I told her the other morning, "that is what real love is about" sharing and being able to be yourself. Her smile widened even more.

I think the best part is our family loves Trent and she knows it. So....she doesn't have to justify his actions to us. She can relax and know that we will get to know him in our time. I am so happy his family loved our Mindy, too. Of course, I knew they would.

Love is a happy time and young love, growing and changing and developing is happy to watch. Makes me re-think our love and want to refreshen it!

Have a happy, lovely day.