Sunday Songbook

For a while I have desired to share something from my heart on Sundays, The Lord's Day. Something reverent and relevant. I am not a great teacher nor do I feel that I make good Biblical analogies out of life experiences. However, I do have a deep love for good, old fashioned, traditional hymns sung in a traditional way or even a capella. A little bit of a beat or extra accompaniment is okay, but I prefer to just belt them out with an accomplished piano player. So on Sundays I will be sharing the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns, an accompanying verse, a little about the author, and perhaps how the hymn speaks to me.

And lest you all begin to think that I possess any of this information off the top of my head or you want to know more I will include the references I used so that you may not think too highly of me and quench your insatiable quest for knowledge for yourselves.

"How long and wide and high and deep is the love of Christ." Ephesians 3:17-18

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

Samuel Trevor Francis

1834-1925

A Lon­don mer­chant and ar­tist’s son, Fran­cis pub­lished a num­ber of hymns in re­li­gious news­pa­pers and per­i­od­ic­als. He be­longed to the Ply­mouth Breth­ren con­gre­ga­tion in Lon­don, and served as an open air preach­er. His hymns and po­ems ap­peared in The Life of Faith and other pa­pers and per­io­dicals.

The Cyber Hymnal

Pillow Talk

So I'm in bed watching the exciting news on TV about McCain's veep pick. I'm so excited not because I know anything about politics (although I really like Mrs. Palin so far) but because My Love is lovin' that Obama's thunder has been stolen. So I'm wiggling. Ya know... Jimmy legs, giggly foot, twitchy toes. Anyway, the following conversation ensues...

My Love: Are you all hyped up on venti Mocha frapplappadingdong?

Me: No! I didn't have a venti.

My Love: A venti Pepsi?

Me: No its not Pepsi, I had a grande.

My Love: Whats that the biggest size?

Me: No, its the middle.

My Love: But grande is big.

Me: Venti is bigger.

My Love: Then what is small?

Me: Small is tall.

My Love: Thats an oxymoron! Maybe you should blog about Starbucks' oxymoronic sizes.

Me: *sigh*

My Love: *smirk* G'night My Love.

My Love doesn't drink Starbucks unless held down and forced. Those who do not partake will never accept. Just leave me alone with my venti mocha frappalappadingdong. And a tall small isn't really an oxymoron. An oxymoron would be a big small, see. OR, a short tall. Which it actually is, but we don't call them shorts, we call them smalls. So its a small tall... just deal with it.

Words in Bloom

Spring.
Newness.
Awakenings.
Bright green.
Never been seen.
Buds tease.
Nights warm.
Colors pour forth.
Fuchsia.
Burgundy.
Crimson.
Gold.
Royal blue.
Perky periwinkle.
Dainty pink.
Play.
Dance.
Sing.
Sway.
Laugh.
Whisper.
Giggle.
Sigh.
Days lengthen.
Time waxing.
Lost in thought.
Lost in love.
Creating.
Growing.
Life unfolding.
In full bloom.
Under sky bright blue.
A fair weather hue.
Flowers fill lungs.
Following the sun.
Warm and clean.
And yet to be seen.
The heat.
Unbending.
Unrelenting.
Blinding.
Intensifying.
Hot high noon.
Coolness craved.
Stifling haze.
Summer days.
Beauty fading.
Petals squint.
Edges curl.
Hues dull.
Blooms fall.

Through the heat.
Few compete.
Temps are rising.
Passing shade.
Dry clouds fade.
Taunting.
Just a drop.
There is not.
Stalks bent low.
No strength to grow.
The best has past.
Blooms the last.
Wilting.
Waiting.
Wanting.
Flower's bane.
Heat insane.
Days waning.
Stop complaining.
Clouds come.
Breezes blowing.
Breath renewed.
Spirits lifting.
Colors return.
One more show.
Before Fall winds blow.
Dog days linger.
A chill.
Nights cool.
Now radiant relief.
The sun beams sweet.
Stays off frost.
A battle lost.
Dying down.
A seeded crown.
Next crop released.
Sleep.
Silent.
Still.
Through the chill.
Blanket of white.
A lovely sight.
Bare sticks deceive.
Life waits within.
The sun stays low.
Shadows grow.
Winter.
Hush.
Snow turns to slush.
Torrents to sprinkles.
After so long.
A quiet song.
A single note.
Once was brown.
The thawing ground.
New sprouts found.
White melts away.
Slowly at first.
Then with a burst.
Sprouting.
Stretching.
Spring.

An Answer to Prayer

Even though it was not necessarily the answer we were hoping for it was an answer nonetheless.

Today when My Love walked through the door after work I asked the usual "how ya doin'?"

"I'm gonna vomit." He replied in a rather mellow dramatic voice.

"Oh No! What happened?"

He handed me an enveloped from the county. "I'm too nervous, I can't open it." He said. I had no such inhibitions... I ripped it open and read it fast... then read it again aloud. *sigh* Its a no-go My Love... I'm sorry."

"Eh, I kinda knew it when I saw the letter but I was still hoping."

Beyond the initial disappointment there is a feeling of peace in knowing that God's timing is perfect and since this wasn't the job meant for My Love there must be something better out there. Thank you all for your prayers and hopeful thoughts. God bless!

He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are judgment;
A God of truth and without iniquity,
just and right is He.

Deuteronomy 32:4

Oo, oo, I'm It! x 4

Julie tagged me with this cute little questionnaire...

4 Things I like about my husband...
He loves me unconditionally
He never fails to make me laugh (although at times out of disbelief)
He is an amazing lover :-0 :-D
He never hesitates to give me a break from the kids

4 Movies I have watched more than once...
Everafter
Luther (modern version)
The Little Mermaid (surpassed 100+ viewings even before I had kids)
You've Got Mail

4 TV shows I watch...
The Office
American Idol
Star Trek: The Next Generation
PBS (Any thing before 12:30 PM is game)

4 Places I have been...
Fort Bragg, Ca
Hillsborro, Or
Colorado Springs, Co
Super Walmart :-) heeheehee

4 People who email me regularly...
Let it be known that I usually correspond by snail mail but since the question says "people" I will just list 4 who have emailed me more than once this year.
Jana
Julie
Debbie
Amelia

4 Favorite foods...
Day old pizza, cold, straight from the fridge... MMMMmmmm *drool*
Denali's Bear Claw ice cream
Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino (its food to me! >:-[ )
Spinach dip

4 Places I would like to visit...
Hawaii
Deutchland/Europe
Disneyland
Maine in the Fall

4 Things I am looking forward to in the coming year (2009)...
My Love getting a new job
Home schooling my kids and teaching James to read
Losing weight (starting now... no wait, now... no... NOW! OK, Right after I eat these Milanos)
NO MORE DIAPERS!!!!!l

4 Friends I tag...
Plant Lady
Tabi
Linda
Chickadee



Well, there it is in black and white.

*snort*

BWAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... ah... I ... get it?... black and whi... *ahem*...never mind.

Mamma Mia!

No, S.O.S. needed :-)

Yes, I went to see it. And despite the frantic pace and the painful expression on Pierce Brosnan's face as he sung, it was actually a good movie. One of the only reasons I went was because Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee admitted to liking it. Well, that and my Dad said he would watch the kids so I could get out of the house. Yippee!!! How could I say no?




Anyway, if you grew up listening to ABBA like I did you can at least enjoy the music. I think my favorite scene was all the guys dancing around on a dock to the tune of Lay All Your Love on Me. The sets were fantastic and whimsical and the costumes were classic 70s. Even if your childhood memories of ABBA bring you pain and anguish the story line is sweet, well put together, and at moments hilarious. All parts were very well cast with the exception of Pierce and for no other reason than the fact that this IS a musical and he CAN NOT sing. The feelings I had from watching him sing were akin to the feelings I had while watching John Travolta sing in drag in Hairspray :-/ Can we say HEEBIE JEEBIES and please stop...stop it now! However, the view was nice (Hubba Hubba).



It is an unpretentious, jubilant film that was probably more fun to be part of the cast than it is to watch. Even though I throughly enjoyed Mamma Mia I could have done without the constant use of my Lord's name in vain, a few vulgar moments, and a homosexual (albeit brief and underplayed) storyline. I will see it again just because it was such a blast to watch and *sigh* I did enjoy the music. :-0

Mommy Long Legs

I caught a glimpse of spider life today and was actually encouraged by it. In my doorway there was a common Daddy Long Leg spider. At first it appeared to me that the spider's web was filled with tiny gnats and I thought, "Super! Better your web than my face! What a good little spider." However, upon closer inspection I found that the gnats were actually tiny baby long legs... er... well, short legs for now.




Mommy long leg? I never really thought about it and I don't know the difference between or the duties of the sexes of this particular species but I am assuming that this is Mom. Unless of course there was a huge sale on eight legged skinny jeans at Old Navy and she left the web early that morning to be sure she could get her size thus leaving Dad in charge. But lets pretend for a moment that spiders don't wear skinny jeans and talk about this Mommy long leg.

She hung in her web, surrounded by her offspring, dutifully showing them the proper way to wrap a fly and suck it dry. What a good mom! And look at all those babies. I'm sure she had to smack away a foot or two during her demonstration... "Don't touch that!" "Quit talking" "Don't web your sister"... LOL! Good thing she has 8 legs of her own. I count at least 37 baby spiders in that web! If she can web school with 37 surely I can home school with just 4. :-)

As I gear up to start home schooling my kids I am met with an uncontrollable fear that I will certainly do a terrible job and that my kids will become lazy mooches. I often feel inadequate, uneducated, scared and overwhelmed. Tonight James was talking about having school at home and I asked him why he thought we home schooled. He answered with something about not listening and disturbing the other kids. I smiled and assured him that I knew my kids would be the best in the class. I went on to say that we decided to home school because we wanted God in every part of our lives. And who better equipped to teach a kid then his very own Mommy? As soon as the words were out of my mouth a calm swept over me. I was their Mommy. God had chosen me to be the steward of these beautiful children... and surly He knows what He is doing.

Now, if only I could sprout six more arms...

Yes, God is Good

And even though we still haven't heard any news about the new job, I do have a little tidbit for you to chew on.

Later in the evening on the day of the interview I was wandering through the Goodwill Thrift store. My Love's words and feelings of excitement and anticipation were dancing through my head. I felt nervous and excited for him as I mindlessly gazed at shelves burdened with trash to treasures. My eyes awoke to notice a decorative cross bearing these words,

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

Jeremiah 29:11

I stood there in the isle holding the symbol of sanctification and hope in my hands, in awe of how God can reach out and so timely touch my heart in the most unlikely of moments. I ran my fingers over the words and read them again. I gently placed the promise in my hand basket with the other trinkets that were being invited into my home. I called My Love and told him that I had found a surprise for him.

He was asleep when I got home so I left it on his place mat to find at breakfast. He was also amazed at God's divine providence in reminding us of this promise the very day My Love had taken a step of faith in bringing a better future to his family.

Thank you God for being omnipresent. For touching my heart with your relevant and life changing words. Thank you for knowing my future and making plans for me and my family. I praise you for your great provision. You are an Awesome God.

In His Hands

Thank you everyone for your prayers. My Love was nervous but felt that he did well overall. He had to answer questions in front of a four man board then take a computerized exam in a separate room. We will hopefully know some time this week whether he has been chosen for the position. We are resting in the fact that the entire situation is in God's hands. I will post any updates on my blog as we recieve them. Again, thank you. :-) God Bless!

If You Please... a Prayer Request

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:22-26

My Love's hard work over the last two years in gaining his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice is about to be rewarded. He has been submitting his resume wherever a position would open here and in neighboring counties. Well, tomorrow he has an interview in Truckee and if all goes well... a new job.



Our prayer is that he will have clarity of mind and speech and confidence in front of the interview board. Also, that no matter what happens we will rest in the fact that it is all in God's timing and control. We are thankful just for the interview. At the least it will be a learning experience and he will be meeting some important people. He is up for Probation Officer and the interview begins at 11:30a.m. Thursday, August 14th. He has to drive about an hour to get there so a prayer for a safe trip would be appreciated also.

Thank you in advance for your positive thoughts and prayers.

Go get 'em, My Love! *mwah*

A Day to Write (from) Home About

And I am so glad its over. :-p In hindsight it wasn't all that bad... Just that the kids all wanted something different from me all at the same time, they were all constantly hungry, whiny, clingy, fighting, crying, messing, biting, etc. etc. etc. I decided that what they needed was a little one on one time with Mommy. I sent the older three out to the yard and sat on the floor with Marli and a board book. Five minutes later James and Eden came back into the house crying and Kiah wasn't far behind. Lucky for me Marli had lost interest in the book we were reading so James moved in. "Mommy, can you play cars with just me?"

~sigh~

"Sure, Bud. Go set everything up in your room and I'll be there in a sec."

30 seconds later there was a pile of cars in the middle of the living room on top of his road map rug. I tried to convince him that playing in his room was a better idea but he wouldn't hear it.

~sigh~

I tried to convince Kiah to take Eden and Marli into her room and set up Tea but the cars seemed more entertaining. Soon all the girls had picked out their favorite minimobiles and had taken over the rug. I tried to tell them that there was enough room for all of them to play and retried to order Kiah to her room for Tea, however, they were all too caught up in their own squabbles to listen. Eden Screamed at Marli who then began crying. I went to give her a hug only to be bitten on the shoulder. Meanwhile, Kiah and James were re-enacting a scene from WWF.

I could feel the Mommy Hulk welling up inside. Amidst the total chaos of the moment I overflowed with a primal scream of my own, a barbaric yawlp if you will. The kids were reduced to sniveling lumps but at least I had there attention.

**knock*knock*knock**

"Come in," the kids all whined together. "Who is it?" I followed, expecting the voice of one of my parents responding, But what I heard was, "Sierra Timberline."

Oh poopy caca! I had completely forgotten that a service man was coming to finish installing our new wood stove. My mind spun with thoughts of my noon time bed head and the fact that all my kids were crying and he had to have heard my yawlp. At least I had showered and put on a bra that morning. :-0

I let him in, pointed to the stove, then herded the kids into my room to watch Reading Rainbow. The service man finished the instillation of our stove fan before the show ended. I showed him out then I went into my room and collapsed on the bed amidst all my puffy eyed children. They all found a place on Mommy to rest their heads and all transgressions were washed away within five minutes of snuggles.

~sigh~

Really, just a typical adult deprived day ;-)

Acrostic

More than I could ask for.

Yahweh has brought us together and joined us as one.

Love and laughter is abundant.

Only , always, thinking of what is best for me.

Virtuous, God fearing, spiritual leader.

Evermore will you be my friend, my companion, my confidant, My Love.



If you have a man in your life, whether he be your husband, son, father or uncle, I'm sure he could glean many life lessons from this CD called Why Christian Manhood Must Prevail by Douglas Phillips. Go to Our Family Highlights to enter to win it. I did.

Get Your Soap Here... PLUS, More Ramblings

Who wouldn't love to win some soap? Especially ones of such delectable fragrances... Whenever I smell a food flavored soap I am always tempted to taste it :-p But I don't. Enter to win... Today is the last day! Go to Plant Ladys Ponderings.

A SPY AMONG US!

If you feel like someone is watching you as you read this, don't worry, its just My Love. He confessed this morning that he quite enjoys going through all the blogs I have bookmarked. Then he re-reads all my current ones. Awwwww... he really loves me. His recent fave is A Face in the Crowd. After discussing it we decided that it should have been titled Pot Head! LOL... wish I would have thought of that at the time. I love My Love!

WORK CAN BE FUN!

I am perfectly aware that raising kids should be fun most of the time and not feel like work or a burden, but with four kids six and under it sure feels that way some times. I love them with all of my heart and their kidified antics keep me quite entertained. They are all healthy, witty, cute, charming, and smart too. I am truly blessed. However, they are also high maintenance pets (inside joke). It is nice now that Kiah, my oldest, can help out and James is getting their in his own awkward growing boy way but BY GOLLY by the end of the day I am exhausted and I haven't even left the house, LOL! Even if it is trying at times and I long for nothing more than a long weekend away by myself I do love my job, I really do! Hence, I feel that work can be fun if you make an effort to enjoy it :-D

EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK... (shhhh its from the bathroom)

And to my new friend Plant Lady who has a sink planter... I pointed this out to My Love (because that was my original intent for mine) and he responded by saying, "And see, she says she is nuts too!" *rolling eyes* Men just don't get yard art :-p

$3.93... rambly

The $3.93 is the price of gas in our area. I was quite shocked when saw it and relieved because I had just driven for thirty minutes with the gas gauge needle below the E. My Love hates when I do this but the trip was all downhill so I figured that even if I did run out of gas completely I would be able to coast to my destination and call AAA when I got there. :-)

The "rambly" refers to what the rest of this post will be. Tonight I went on an impromtu shopping trip. I was supposed to go tomorrow (today) but My Love was run ragged at work and decided to stay home from Bible study. Anyway, I drove an hour (not including a quick stop at a Goodwill store where I found the most delightful Marjolien Bastin/Hallmark ceramic bird house for $4!!! I'm sure it must have been at least $20 had I bought it MSRP. I LOOOOOOOOVE thrift stores. Really just as much, if not more, than the dollar store and yard sales... )

Whoa... rabbit trail...

???What was I saying???

Ahhh, yes...

I drove an hour to get to a Super Walmart where I spent three and a half hours wandering around in a false glow of flourescent lit bliss, buying groceries, garden supplies, and things I couldn't live without, like Wall-E toothpaste.

~~ Aw SHOOT! I just remembered that I forgot to get Q-tips. $2.50 for something like 22,000 little ear cleaners... you just can't beat that deal. ~~

I got home about 1a.m. and unpacked everything pretty quickly. On the counter were the two plastic cages filled with mice of various sizes (snake chow) from an earlier trip into town. Oh bother! I put Red in the feeding cage and tossed in some mice then proceeded to see what I could find to entertain me on the boob tube. Hmmm... all those channels and still nothing on :-p So I end up here in blog land catching up on what all my faves have been up to today. I ate a few chocolate covered macadamias and needed to wash them down (why isn't macadamia in my spell check?). I grabbed the milk and took a swig (right out of the carton too... I can hear some of you gagging... not just from my lips on the carton but you are still thinking about those mice aren't ya ...lol) *sputter* It was a little warm. I checked the temperature gauge of the fridge and it was set to "off". GRRRRRRRR... I'm not sure which one of my lovely, darling children does this trick but it is not the first time it has happened.

So, with my warm milk, coated mouth, the snakes all lumpy with rodents, and the knowledge that I will be getting up in one hour to pack a lunch I bid you an adieu. Good night blogger friends ...and good morning My Love ;-)

Happy Feet...

...not the penguin kind... more like the Steve Martin kind. Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee has mentioned that everyone needs a pair of "happy shoes". Hers were polka dots... mine are floral with bugs, ladybugs to be exact. I found them at Target in the clearance isle and convinced myself that for three bucks, I couldn't live without them. When I wear them I feel girly, feminine, flirty, and in the know. I have even been known to slip them on to just take a stroll around the yard. With my toes enveloped in the perky floral print I can still feel the texture of the ground and I feel connected to my garden. They truly are my "happy shoes". :-)

Notice the silver lining. ;-)
How could I not smile with a reminder like that.

Now, I'm not sure how to go about making this into a meme but I would like to know about your "happy shoes". I am tagging Julie, Debbie, Katrina, and Kris. Tell me about ONE pair of shoes that make you happy when you wear them and why. Then tag three others with the same question.

If I have done this the wrong way please let me know so I can fix it... its my first time starting one myself... I am a meme virgin. :-p

Fisherman, Fisherman, Does Whatever a Fisherman Can

For his fifth birthday James received a Spiderman fishing pole. My Love took him out at 5:30am for a man breakfast (donuts) and a day of bonding. James caught two large-mouth bass and five perch. Good Job Buddy!

My Birthday Boy

"I want a sharp tooth birthday!" I heard endlessly through the month of June and the better part of July. The boy made it clear that only dinosaurs would make his birthday worth having. Sharp tooths or T-rexes to be exact. Thank goodness for The Dollar Tree! The cake was store bought but I fashioned the volcano myself. :-)



July 17th was the big day and James was turning five! WOW! Where did the time go? My Big boy is turning into a little man. *sigh*



Seeing as how his birthday fell on a pool day we had to make it a pool party, and while I didn't actually get any pictures of the party goers in the pool that does explain why all the little ones are wearing life vests.



After cake it was time for presents. Everything boy was received! He is not spoiled... just well loved. LOL!



Stuffed with cake and filled with happiness my little man had a birthday to remember.

I love you my little man! You are charming, passionate, sensitive and all boy! *mwah*

I Did the Un- sink -able

Yes, it's a sink. Yes, it's a fountain. Yes, I made it.
Yes, I'm a little nuts.

Makers of yard art UNITE!

LOL!

A Face in the Crowd

Despite his jovial appearance the price tag clung to his cheek like a sad tear of loneliness and neglect. I invited him home to show him seven ways to realize how good life really is.

1. Change something about yourself. Be daring.

2. Find something you truly enjoy.

3. Make a friend.

4. Stop and smell the roses.

5. Find a happy place

6. Take a walk

7. Sway and pray

Merry Christmas!

Yeah... you heard me. Merry Christmas AND (bitterly) Happy New Year. >:-[ I was shopping in Longs today and found an entire isle in the hot, very Summer month of August, totally dedicated to Christmas! ARG! Like a pirate I say AARRRRRRRRRG!!!

I was ashamed because like a tragic accident I could not look away. I found myself drawn toward it like a bee to a flower. I craved the sweet nectar of holiday spirit, albeit, out of season. Now enveloped in my own private heaven in the form of a wall of hallmark ornaments I scanned for prospective additions to my very real looking-artificial tree.

Hmmm... A Little Mermaid for Kiah... Hotwheels... no, no, Wall-E for James... Rudolf and his elf friend for Eden (my little misfit) and The Very Hungry Caterpillar for Marli. Of course I noticed the garden wheel barrel for myself. Huh... whu... I am so ashamed... :-(

What ever happened to Fall?