There is no God

I love NPR. I listen to it while I’m cooking, during the kids’ naps, or when I’m driving. It’s such a window. Lately I feel as though I’ve been looking out to Nineveh with my ears.

“I’m not greedy. I have love, blue skies, rainbows, and Hallmark cards, and that has to be enough… It seems just rude to beg the invisible for more. â€� (quoted earlier last week on This I Believe); “It seems just rude to beg the invisible for more. Just the love of my family that raised me and the family I’m raising now is enough that I don’t need heaven. I won the huge genetic lottery and I get joy every day.”

You can click the above link, also, to hear the audio article.

Comments?

… And then …there is THIS! Tears. I love God.

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November 30, 2005 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments 

Lydia’s Birthday Song

Eric and I wrote Lydia’s Second Birthday Song and sang it to her; here are the lyrics:

Lydia, sweet Lydia, I’ll sing you a song
Daddy will play it as Mommy goes along
Birthday Number One was so much fun
Remembering the day is fun, too
Pizza and candles & a purple balloon
Poor Bekah got sick and had to go home too soon

Doo Doo da Doo Doo
A birthday for you
Do da A birthday for you

Today is your birthday
We’re celebrating you
When we ask, “How old are you?”
Now you can say, “Two!”

Doo Doo da Doo Doo
A birthday for you
Do da A birthday for you

Lydia, this year has been full of memories
Dancing, and laughing, and saying, “More peeeees,”
God made you very special, and we thank Him that we share
These moments, wild and beautiful
Just like your hair

Doo Doo da Doo Doo
A birthday for you
Do da A birthday for you

November 29, 2005 | Filed Under Celebrate!, Lydia | 1 Comment 

Time for Thanking

I’m going to take a brief hiatus from my computer and come back after Thanksgiving. I’m looking forward to this, and I know I’ll enjoy spending time with family in SC when we are feasting together and enjoying my daughter’s birthday celebration. I cannot believe she has been in our lives for two years already, yet at times it seems like she has been here more than that. She is such a joy, and I thank God for her.

this is an audio post - click to play
This is Lydia singing, “Happy Birthday.” Although her Uncle Harold’s birthday is today, we suspect she is singing it to herself. (“Happy Birthday….Happy Birthday….to you!”)

“Truly expressing gratefulness for others is only possible because of the one act in history for which we ought to be supremely grateful: when our perfect, holy, Savior died in our place. It is only by the grace that flows from the cross that truly difficult people can genuinely thank God for other difficult people.” I read that about Thanksgiving on a blog today, and it is so true. I am thankful today for the grace of God. I need it so much! Today has been one of those hard days; I haven’t been able to play with Lydia hardly at all because Steven has been so fussy and needy. The laundry is piled up, and I was trying hard to get some chili made for us to eat on today and save for later in the freezer, not to mention beginning to pack our luggage so we can leave on time for our trip on Wednesday and not be rushed. I have been angry because I wish Steven would be content so I can get things done and not step over Lydia all day but enjoy her. So, I am thankful that God gives me just enough grace to help me live beyond my emotions and frustrations today. I know in the grand scheme of things, that is not what I’ll solely be thanking God for on Thursday, but I will be thanking him for his sufficient sacrifice on the Cross, which gives me true peace in all circumstances!

Eric and I are going to try to start a birthday tradition this year by writing her a song and singing it to her at her party. Hopefully I will post the lyrics here (or an audio clip!) after this weekend. She is looking forward to her party, and she keeps saying, “Caaaake” all the time! I’m sure I’ll post pictures of that! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, whether it’s you and chinese take-out or a mad house of tons of pilgrims!

Here’s the chili I made today in case you want the recipe. It’s so hearty and great for a cold-weather day! Courtesies to my friends Cindy and Tammy for the recipe!

Mmm, Mmmmm, MMMMMMMmmm!

You can name it yourself, but I call it Sweet and Spicy chili.

3 T extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 t chili powder
1 t salt
3/4 t cinnamon
3/4 t coriander
3/4 t cumin
1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes (I use a dash since I have a toddler!)
12- oz. bag ground beef substitute
1 medium onion, diced
2 T soy sauce or tamari
2 cloves garlic, minced
28- oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 c water
2 15-oz. cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 c corn kernels (frozen or canned)
3/4 pound sweet potatoes, cut in small cubes (equals 1 large potato)

Combine oil, chili powder, salt, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, & red pepper in large saucepan over medium high flame. Heat 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until spices are very fragrant. Add ground meat substitute, onion, & soy sauce. Saute, stirring frequently, until onions are just translucent. Add remaining ingredients and stir well to combine. Heat until mixture reaches a strong simmer (about 5 minutes). Then reduce to low, cover, and let cook for about 25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Serve hot. Serves 4-6.
(I like to use a can of red beans, too, because we just love those!)

This is a nice variation to your Thanksgiving weekend after you are sick of turkey leftovers!

Gotta go! “Fussy man” calls!

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November 21, 2005 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments 

Baby, it’s Cold Outside

We lit the first fire tonight inside our living room. We had some friends over to eat (and have ice cream for dessert – funny!), and it was so nice to have the warm fire. Yes, it does get cold sometimes down here in Florida. I remember the day we brought Lydia home from the hospital two years ago (two years ago next week)! The hospital discharged us at MIDNIGHT, and we were shivering getting our three-day old daughter into the car for our one minute and thirty-second commute home. At least we had warm beds waiting on us.

One of my good friends who lives in Manhattan emailed me today and said it was finally getting really brisk up there. I cannot imagine what it feels like to walk down Fifth Avenue feeling the freezing wind on my face! Brrrr! During the winter I’m kind of happy to be in “hot” Florida. I get out a few sweatshirts and say, “Bring on the cold!”

Enjoy the cold front wherever you are. I hope you have some blankets!

* Fireplace fun fact: you can throw into the fire old cores of apples or orange peels for a fruity scent; or you can dab some essential oil on to pine cones and toss them in — I tried lavender oil tonight, and it was nice.

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November 18, 2005 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment 

Heath’s surgery went well, and he is hopefully on his way home from the hospital this afternoon!

“1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
14 The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever” (Psalm 145).

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November 16, 2005 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment 

The Four Purposes of Blood

I went to my friend’s school co-op group today, and I learned something new, which is that there are four main purposes of blood. Do you want to know what they are?

  1. Transportation
  2. Communication
  3. Protection
  4. Regulation (temperature)

Does that fascinate you? Well, I was mighty impressed. The children there made me laugh, and I am happy to see what they are learning. When it was time for the 1-3 graders to get out their “body parts,” one of them exclaimed, “My bladder! It fell in my book bag!” :) So I had to help him find it. One cannot concentrate without a functional bladder nearby! :) I babysit my friend’s youngest of 4 kids once a week so that she can co-teach with other mothers of all of the children, and today I got to drop in and visit them. What a blessing it was. The curriculum they are using seems superb.

That leads me to a thought, which I will post later. I hope I never stop learning!

* Heath is having surgery tomorrow. Please pray that God heals him of this sickness.

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November 14, 2005 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment 

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