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An Example Worth Following

Posted on May 9, 2010 by auburnchick

I don’t know if you read comments that people post on blogs, but it can be fun and interesting.

I want to share the comment that Coupon Queen posted on my post from yesterday:

I loved you before you & our son got married as we seemed to click from day one. When the harder times came, God used them to show me that real love doesn’t stop when things are tough but it sees us through the tough times. As I taught my kids, I might get aggravated with one of you, but my love will never be withheld because of that. If I can’t love when things are tough, it’s not real love at all. My love for all of my children – the 2 boys as well as their wives – is unconditional and will continue on and on. Love you bunches, girl.

Yeah.  For a fairly non-emotional gal, I’ll admit that I cried when I read it.

Coupon Queen has been the ultimate Titus woman.

Not familiar with the verses from the Bible?  Allow me to share:

Titus 2:3-5

3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Coupon Queen and I have had our issues over the years.  I believe the bulk of the blame lies in my half of the court.  And yet, she and Grand Pooba have always been there to welcome me back in the loving folds of their arms.

This is something I have often rejected…too scared, I suspect, that it would fade.  In some weird way, I wonder if I’ve subconsciously been testing them.  You’d think, after 20+ years, I would have figured out that they are here to stay.

For a teacher, I sure am a slow learner, eh?

Anyhoo, Coupon Queen and I had a really long talk today.  Some of it was deep.  Some of it was about simple every day stuff.

It was a conversation any “normal” girl would have with her “normal” mom.

Imagine that.

I might actually be normal, in my warped kind of way.

Her’s is the example I want to emulate…focused on the Lord and service to Him by loving, unconditionally, those around her.

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Are You a Thermometer or a Thermostat

Posted on April 26, 2010 by auburnchick

…continued from the last post…

After singing praise songs, the congregation settled in for a sermon titled “Blindsided by Cultural Consumption.”

Oh yeah.

It was good.

My pastor listed several ways Christians respond to cultural influences, and he warned us not to be changed by the culture.

And then, my pastor put two pictures on the big screen…

A thermometer reflects the temperature of the air that surrounds it; whereas, a thermostat controls the temperature.

The pastor challenged us to be thermostats…ever steady and not affected by outside influences.

Folks, can I just tell you just how relevant this message is?

We live in a time when we are bombarded by influences that seek to draw our attention to what will please ourselves.  In the process, we are changed…molded into beings that are quite different in nature than what God intended.

Some might think we need to go with the flow.  I can’t tell you the flak I’ve caught when voicing my displeasure at the movie Transformers 2 (do you remember my heated post?).

Oh, I don’t seek to elevate myself to a higher station just because I took the high ground on that one.

I merely wanted to give you an example of how we, as a culture, allow ourselves to be fueled by other things in this world.  It is so easy to make allowances – to let little things slide – to the point where suddenly our values do not resemble what they originally started out as.

I truly want to be more like a thermostat.  I desire the willingness to allow God to program my heart, mind, and soul so that I might walk with a confident step, unwavering in my decision to follow Him and make choices that reflect that I serve a LIVING God.

In such a way, may I be used by Him to change the air around me…electrify it, if you will, so that He will be glorified.

Such a simple question…my title.  And yet, it will make me think twice from here on out.

Filed under: Christian | 2 Comments »

Praise Songs from this Week

Posted on April 25, 2010 by auburnchick

Ahhh, Sundays…you’ve just gotta love the day.

Our praise songs at church included the following…

I could have easily gone home after singing these.

But, I didn’t.

Good thing too, because I heard a great sermon.

To be continued…

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

A New Beginning and a Lesson in Trust

Posted on April 9, 2010 by auburnchick

Look what Chicky was up to this week…

I don’t know if you can tell, but that box contains graduation invitations.

Yet another milestone for the girl…for all of us, actually.

As I write this, Chicky and the Mr. are on their way home from an out-of-town visit.

They were down south, visiting a college.

But it wasn’t Rollins.

It was another college.

You see, the hard week I referred in one of my recent posts was about Chicky’s recent announcement that she wants to attend a different college.

In a way, I wasn’t completely surprised, but the news still came as a shock.  It’s been something I’ve been coming to terms with over the last two weeks.

This has been similar to a grieving process.  Rollins seemed like the perfect fit – academically, athletically, and socially.

I was numb at first.  Then, I got angry.  I asked a lot of questions.

In between those phases, I cried a lot.

I tend to be a woman of my word, so for me, her going back on her promise to play soccer at Rollins just reeked of poor judgment.

Poor Chicky.  I know it was hard for her.  She had wrestled with this decision for a while before getting up the courage to speak her mind.

She told us that she believes that God is leading her somewhere else.  She recently found out that Rollins’ head coach accepted a position at a larger school in a different state.  She took this as a sign from God that this was not the school for her.

She wants to attend a small, Christian college – Southeastern University.  It also happens to be the college that Guy Friend attends, although she made quick assurances that his presence there isn’t the reason she wants to attend (I’m not completely sold on that).

The thing about this college is that the environment is Christian-oriented.  Chicky wants to immerse herself in this atmosphere where partying isn’t the main reason students choose to attend.

The school has a number of athletic teams, including a women’s soccer team.  Guy Friend plays on the men’s team.

I’ve gotta tell you that this has been a defining moment in her life and mine as well.

As a mom, Chicky’s decision has become the event that has led me to let go of her.  I have come to the realization that Chicky is her own person, and this is her life.

For her, I think it has become important that she be the “driver” of her life, so to speak.  I pray she understands that she’s only riding in the front seat beside God, who is really the One in control of her life.

This decision, though, has caused Chicky to take up the reins and drive the vehicle that has turned off the path already paved into the unknown.

She spent the following days calling Rollins’ coaches (oy, but this grieves me so much as I LOVE them), getting her soccer release taken care of, and applying for admission to the new school.  She has also been applying for scholarships and financial aid, as this is another private college and not cheap.

She wants to go, and she’s making every effort to make it happen.

This is a new beginning for her.

It has become a huge lesson of trust for me.

I know that God has a plan for her life.  I don’t know if she’s making a mistake.  I thought, at first, that she was.  Now, I’m not so sure.

But I know that whether it’s a mistake or whether it truly has been God’s plan for her all along, God will use whatever comes to shape her life and make her into the woman He intends for her to be.

The trust comes in letting God do His thing without my worrying about it.

I am also having to learn to trust Chicky.

In the middle of my huge sob-fest, Chicky drew near, tears running down her own face, and asked me to trust her.

I’m trying.  It’s hard.  But God is working on my heart.

This is, quite obviously, a new beginning for me as well.

Filed under: children, Christian | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

What are You Really Celebrating?

Posted on April 4, 2010 by auburnchick

First of all, Happy Easter to you!

My family spent a portion of the morning at church, listening to our Youth Pastor give a very stirring sermon.

Then, in true Family With Teenagers style, we parted ways…Chicky leaving to eat lunch with Guy Friend’s family (he came home for the weekend), the Mr. and Rooster headed out to grab lunch, while I took Molly on a 40-minute walk.

As I booked it (cause that’s what I do when I walk…not a stroll, mind you), I pondered something I’ve been pondering for a while.

What do people celebrate at the major holidays like Christmas and Easter?

I mean, these are probably two of the most important holidays of the year.  Although these are Christian holidays, they are accompanied by many secular traditions that invite all to participate.

This gets me to thinking…

What are people really celebrating when these holidays roll around?  Are these days just days of fun for those who do not have a relationship with God?

Let’s take this train of thought a step further.

Why don’t the masses participate in other “religious” holidays, such as Hanukkah or Kwanzaa?  Both involve the giving of presents.  I found this site, which is geared toward Kwanzaa-themed gifts and this one for Hanukka gifts.

Now, I’m not saying that other holidays are bad, mind you.  That’s not what this post is about.

I’m just curious how and why people choose the holidays they want to celebrate, and what kind of meaning they get from them if they don’t actually believe in what those holidays are about.

My family does not celebrate Hanukkah because we are not Jewish.  When we lived in South Florida, which has a very large Jewish population, my children tried their best to talk me into the Hanukkah tradition of eight days of gift giving.

However, this holiday is steeped in deep, spiritual undertones that we are not a part of.  So, we don’t celebrate it.

What about people who do not attend church?  Why do they participate in the Santa or Easter Bunny traditions?

This was something I wrestled with when my children were babies…should I also participate, or shouldn’t I?  I had grown up in a family that was active in church, so I understood the tie-in.  As far as the AuburnChick children were concerned, I knew that I would be bringing them up in a Christian environment, and that I would find a way to turn their eyes toward the real reason for the holidays.

I have found it fascinating…the way that churches swell during these two pivotal holidays.  Chicky calls people who attend at Christmas and Easter “Chreasters,” a blend of the two words.

The good thing about having a large amount of attention on these holidays is that many people do walk into churches on these days.  Only the Lord knows when their hearts will be ripe to receive His Word.  It could very well be one of these special days.

However, for the rest of the people, I’m simply as a loss.

It’s times like these…when my brain goes into overdrive on the philosophical thinking, that I am glad that God is in control…that He had a plan from the beginning of time.

I am so thankful that God knew His creation, as perfect as it was, would falter (thanks to free will) and need a Savior.  I am so thankful that He willingly gave up His own, and that Jesus willingly became the sacrifice that would serve as payment for my sin.

I just pray that those who mark these days in secular ways will pause a moment to consider why.  Perhaps their eyes will be opened to God’s truths…His mercy…and His love.

Every day that the Kingdom gains a new believer is TRULY a day of celebration!!

No Easter Bunny required.

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

True Belief

Posted on March 11, 2010 by auburnchick

I don’t know about you, but I read blogs…quite a few, in fact.  These blogs encompass different areas of interest…Christianity, knitting and couponing.

One blog I subscribed to a few weeks ago was Provers 31 Ministries:  Daily Devotions.  You guys…this is one you will want to subscribe to in your blog reader (or email, if that’s how you receive feeds).

I love this blog because the truths are hard-hitting, making you catch your breath as conviction sets in.  That’s a good thing, by the way, as it is my opinion that the scariest thing is apathy.

Today’s post on that blog is titled “What Does it Mean to Believe?”

Go read it.

I’ll wait.

Hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm.

Did you read it or are you skipping down to see what else I’ve got to say?

LOL

Well, I DID read it (of course), and oh my.  It was almost like hearing a really good sermon.  It was something I could totally identify with.

See, I live in the South.

The “real” South, as in Bible Belt South.

It’s a given that you believe in God down here.

I grew up in the South and moved to South Florida, or what I not-so-affectionately refer to as “Little New York,” (sorry my northern friends).

Just cause you live down South doesn’t mean you’re in the South.  Southerners will understand.

Anyhow…

When we back to the “real” South from Little New York, I was THRILLED!  As we house-hunted, we saw Bibles out on tables, crosses on the walls, etc.  Basically, we eyed tangible “evidence” that “Jesus Believers” lived in those homes.

I was so happy!  I had just come from a place where I was the minority.

Folks, as I started making new friends and spent time really getting to know them, I figured out something.

These people believed in Jesus, but they didn’t really know Him.  And obeying Him?  Well, this principle was given lip service.

Now, I’m not trying to sound judgmental, because I am not even going there.  I am fully aware that my life does not reflect obedience 100% of the time.  We won’t play the Price is Right game of “Lower/Higher.”  I’d embarrass myself.

But you see what I’m saying?

It’s easy to claim you believe in something or someone, but it’s another thing entirely to ACT on that belief.

Take, for instance, a cause you might “believe” in.  Let’s say couponing (boy, I didn’t have to stretch my brain too much to get that idea, eh?).

Couponing is something I really believe in.

It’s not something I pay lip service to, occasionally clipping a coupon.

Oh no.  I have talked about it to almost everyone I’ve encountered.  I have even gone out of my way in the grocery store to inform a shopper that the item she is purchasing is B1G1, and that the Yellow Advantage Flyer has coupons that she can use to get them almost free.

Folks, I’ve shared so much that I now have converts.

Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding.

Belief is action.

Obedience.

Willingness to be changed.

Now, couponing has “rules” that I have a much easier time bending to than, say, God’s Word.  His standards are so high that sometimes I feel overwhelmed or I just don’t wanna (I’m sounding like a kid now).

But still, I do try.

My belief is not mere words that come from my mouth.  It manifests itself in the way I conduct myself, hold others accountable, and am held accountable.

There are times when I do the right thing (i.e. follow God’s way) and not my own desires.  Granted, these times aren’t as often as they should be, but they do happen.

I guess my overall point is that I challenge you to examine what you believe.  Are you just spouting off stuff you’ve heard others share without backing it up with action?  Do you really believe in THE God who sent His Son to die because of YOUR sin?  Are you willing to allow that belief to change your life?

Last Spring, I had the opportunity to talk, at length, with a student.  I had been subbing in his classroom on-and-off for a few weeks.

This was a troubled young man…always up to no good.  However, he was always respectful to me to the point that he would actually show up for class if he found out I was subbing in it.

One day, while the class was watching a movie, we had a chat.  He told me his girlfriend was pregnant (I already knew this)…for the second time.  They were both juniors.

He told me he was a Christian, and that he went to church every week.

Alarm bells went off in my head.

I know that everyone makes mistakes, no matter if you’re a Christian or not.  However, he told me that he just couldn’t stop having a physical relationship with his girlfriend, even though he knew it was wrong.

I wondered if he really believed.  You see, he wasn’t willing to change his life to follow his belief in God.  I walked away from the conversation with a very heavy heart.

Do you see why the post I linked to above really hit home for me?  It’s something I experience in my own life and something I witness every day.  I’d venture to bet that you do too.

Don’t be like me and assume that you or others believe just because they wear crosses on their necklaces, know a few Bible verses, or attend church regularly.  When someone tells you they believe in God, question them further.  Ask the hard questions without judging because we are pretty much all in the same boat…sinners in need of a Savior.  Examine your own life and see what fruits you are producing.

And then go and REALLY believe.

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

Gifts from Kate

Posted on February 22, 2010 by auburnchick

Today was a good day.

For one thing, I didn’t have a subbing assignment, and the timing could not have been more perfect.

I kept myself busy burning DVDs and completing other tasks in between…multi-tasking like a pro.

One of my chores involved folding a huge mound of clean clothes.  Because of the crazy schedule I’ve had the last few weeks, I’ve had a difficult time keeping up with the housework.

As I folded, I came across several washcloths and dishcloths that I made during the 2008 Summer Olympics.  You might remember my posts about them.

Well, life happens, or rather DOGS happen, and Molly got a hold of a few of them.  She has made a game out of stealing socks and dishcloths and running under the bed with them.

So, a few of my treasured cloths are deteriorating.  It has been rubbing me the wrong way (pun intended, sort-of) to see the frayed ends.  I’m anal.  I like things to be fairly neat.

Today, I gave in and threw two or three of them in the garbage.  Oh, but it broke my heart, but they were well-loved and heavily used.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been toying with the idea of making new ones…even considering purchasing more Sugar ‘n Cream.

“Say it ain’t so!” said my friend, Rabbitrescuer, who enjoys teasing me of my dislike of cotton yarn.  During the last Olympics, I had made so many dishcloths that my hands hurt.  The yarn is not very soft when you first knit with it, and it is also thick and, thus, hard on the hands.

Of course, wanting to get more yarn and having the funds to do so are two totally different things.  Given my job situation, knitting dishcloths has been put on the back burner.

And then I received a package from my friend, Kate.

She’s a sweet gal…one of my internet knitting buddies who has a generous, tender heart.  She has commiserated with my coupon frustrations and has been sending me the inserts from her paper.

A few days ago, she sent me a message, telling me to keep an eye out for the mail.  She hinted that she “might” be getting me a little something extra if she had time.

Hence, my anticipation when the mailman arrived.  I caught him before he could reach for the doorbell, a huge smile on my face.

“Did I do good?” he asked.

“Only if you didn’t bring any bills,” I replied with a grin.

I happily carried my box inside.  When I cut through the tape, I saw this…

Underneath the goodies on top were my promised coupons…

But on top of the coupons…

Oh my…

Take a look at the little somethings (as in plural) she had alluded to…

Now…are you seeing something here?

Yep.  Yarn and a new pattern booklet!

You see, I believe that God heard the small, inconsequential, material yearning of my heart and put my name on Kate’s heart.

I had tears in my eyes as I felt a great sense of awe.

God is incredibly wonderful and ever mindful of His creatures’ needs and desires.  He knew I needed an emotional lift and a reminder that He hasn’t forgotten about me.

Though I have not been granted my dream position yet, He will give it in due time.

In the meantime, I’ll be making more dishcloths (as soon as I finish another secret project and a comfort shawl already on my needles).

To Kate, thank you, my sweet internet Friend.

Thank you for heeding the Holy Spirit’s prompting.  Thank you for seeing a need (the coupons) and being willing to fill it.  I know you have a busy schedule with school and work.  The fact that you took time out of your week to shop for me is a reminder that, though my family teasingly describes my internet friends as “imaginary,”  you are all very real indeed.

You have a very special place in my heart.  ♥

Filed under: Christian, Knitting, Saving Money | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

I Know the Plans I Have for You

Posted on February 20, 2010 by auburnchick

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

Jeremiah 29:11

This is a verse I am holding on to during my long season of semi-unemployment.  Once again, I did not get a job I interviewed for…the subbing position at the Christian school (the one I told you about yesterday).

I am choosing to look at the positives…

  1. God loves me and has my best interest at heart.
  2. I put my name and face out there and received very good feedback from the principal who interviewed me.
  3. I have subbing assignments already lined up for Tuesday through Friday next week.  I was going to have to cancel these because long-term assignments trump one-day gigs, but now I won’t have to.
  4. I don’t have to be concerned about getting off of work early on Wednesday.  This is the day Chicky has her signing ceremony at school.  I will already be there, so that takes care of one thing on my to-do list.

Sounds like I’m reaching for straws, eh?

Not really.  You see, I’m learning that complaining doesn’t do anything but make me miserable.  It certainly doesn’t improve a situation.  I know that I am doing everything I can to find a regular teaching job.

Even though some people may believe that subbing isn’t a “real” job, I have never treated it as anything but THE job.  I have always given my responsibilities 110% no matter what the job title or pay scale.

I have often been over-qualified for the positions I’ve held, but I’ve always taken pride in my work.  I realize that I can use my skills to glorify God no matter where I am.

And so, I continue to trust.

It’s not always easy, but I’ve made the decision, and I’ll stick to it no matter how disappointed I may get.

God will provide.

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

AuburnChick Visits the Dentist

Posted on January 25, 2010 by auburnchick

So, after Chicky’s fabo 18th birthday, I didn’t post on my blog.

Why?

Because I had a little something called a toothache.

No ordinary toothache.

The kind that makes you cry.

Right before Christmas, I lost part of a filling from one tooth.  I didn’t think I needed to do anything, because I didn’t have any pain.

Apparently things changed this weekend.

Ouch!

Why wouldn’t I call the dentist immediately, you might wonder?

Well, because I have this crazy fear of these drill-bearing doctors.

It goes back to childhood.  My mom took my sister and me to our semi-annual cleanings.  I don’t remember her actually threatening bodily harm if cavities were found, but I think she somehow got her message across, because I was always deathly afraid that the dentist would find something wrong.

My record stayed clean until I was 17, when I had two cavities!  My mom made me drive myself back to my appointment (40 minutes away) to get those suckers filled.  I was by myself and deathly afraid.

Fast forward ten+ years to a toothache that resulted in a root canal.

Oh my, but that was a very traumatizing experience.  I couldn’t eat without pain for a couple of weeks.

Added to the physical pain was the financial ouch of a $400 crown during a time when every single penny went to paying monthly bills.

I think you get my point.

For me, going to the dentist is a torture equally as bad as water boarding.

I sucked it up today, girded with a dose of Midol which, by the way, says on the box that it’s good for toothaches, and called.

The office had an opening for 3pm…perfect since I have been subbing regularly.

I called Super Sis who empathized as only a sister can and offered to pray for me.

Then I went.

And I sat.

I cried as the assistant tried to take an x-ray…another reason why I cannot stand the dentist.  My mouth is very small, and I cannot hold the x-ray films between my teeth without getting all gaggy-feeling.

I was mortified that I was losing it over x-rays.  The technician wasn’t lovey-dovey, but she did an amazing thing.  She applied topical anesthesia to my gums so that I wouldn’t feel the film.

It did the trick, and we were able to finish taking photos.

The dentist came in a bit later and declared that I needed a root canal.

Rrrrronnnnkkkkk.

Wrong answer.

I told him so, in pretty much the same words.

I asked if he could pull the tooth, and he said, “Sure, although it might be hard given the location of the tooth beside it…”

The wisdom tooth is the last tooth on the right...laying sideways beside another tooth...the one causing me pain.

After a few shots…yet ANOTHER reason why I don’t like dentists…I was ready.

Now, I have to ask a quick question.

How many of you watched the television series Alias, which starred Jennifer Garner?  It was on in the early 2000’s.

Well, in the first episode, Sydney (Jennifer) gets her teeth removed because she’s caught spying and they are trying to torture her.  The guy approaches her with dental clamps.

Let me tell you…that is the scene I thought of as the Dr. E came at me with his own stuff.

Now, if you’ve been following my blog for any length of time, you know that anything I do is not done the easy way.

Such it was with this tooth extraction.

Apparently my teeth are as stubborn as my emotional state, because the tooth refused to budge.

He decided to break it apart.

Fine with me.  My mouth was numb.  I cared not one iota.

Now, one of the worst sounds ever is that of a drill.  Ugh.

But I was such a trooper, if I do say so myself.  I didn’t cry.  I was numb.  Dr. E was removing the reason why I had spent Saturday curled up into a ball crying in pain.

Even after breaking the tooth, he could not remove it.

Can you believe it?

He tried.  Boy, did he try.

He actually stood up and leaned over me…putting his muscle into the work.

Nada.

That’s when he decided this called for extreme measures.

The wisdom tooth beside it had to go.  Did I mind?

Um, no.  I had the other three extracted almost 15 years ago.  No biggie.  I was numb.  I didn’t care.  Just keep the pain medicine coming, I warned him.

Another shot went in.

I stayed semi-happy.

I’ve never felt so loved…two adults hovering over me…one with an air sucker thing and the other welding all sorts of metal objects.

And all it took was a little toothache.

So, the dentist worked and worked.

The wisdom tooth was proving to be almost as stubborn as the other one, but once he had shaved it down, there was no turning back.

I tried to relax, and I prayed.

Finally, that wisdom tooth came out.  I actually took a picture of it, cause I’m a good blogger, but because I’m a better blogger, I’m not going to post it.  It’s a little icky looking.  But it was HUGE!  Trust me.

Anyhoo, one would think that the other tooth would come out easier now that the obstruction was removed.

Not!

The doctor worked and worked.

I prayed.

And then, finally, one of the roots came out.  He held it up proudly for me to see and explained that the roots of this tooth and the wisdom tooth had gotten tangled around each other…hence the reason why he couldn’t remove one without the other.

I was excited.

One down, one to go.

Stubborn little booger.

A good 15 minutes later, the second root came out, but only after the doctor had to make an incision in my gum.  I didn’t care.  I was numb.

And for the record, yes, I was fully aware that although numb during the procedure, I’d be paying for it later.

I didn’t care.

I was numb.

The doctor sewed me up after he finished removing that second root.  The nurse stuffed my mouth with cotton gauze and sent me on my way with three prescriptions in hand.

I walked out of there paying a little over $100 (a bargain since the crown I’d had for my last root canal cost me an arm and a leg).

On the way home, I picked up Rooster, and we went to CVS to get my meds.  I was lucid enough to use a coupon I had printed out which entitled me to a $25 gift card with a new prescription.

Might as well get something out of my ordeal, eh?

Then, I took Rooster home and attended a soccer board meeting.

Now I’m home, a Loritab is working its way into my system, and I’m settling down.

I’ve gotta say that there is a huge lesson that I’m taking away from the day.

Never let fear stop you from doing what you need to do.

I’ve been reading a number of Christian blogs lately, and one theme that has run through them has been fear.  This is something I struggle with in several areas of my life.  My head tells me one thing, but I let my emotions rule.  I just can’t do this anymore.

I feel so good right now, except for the pain from two holes in my mouth where bone previously existed.

I’m praising God for a knowledgeable dentist (how many regular dentists will readily extract wisdom teeth and cancel other appointments because your’s took so long)?

I am grateful for a supportive family and friends willing to drive me home from soccer meetings because the med instructions say, “Do not drive.”

Wanna know what else I’m thankful for?

Sweet iced tea.

Tea has healing qualities that are perfect for tooth extractions.

So yeah.  I’m thankful.

And not afraid of the dentist any more.

Filed under: Christian, This-n-That | Tagged: , , | 8 Comments »

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2010 by auburnchick

Happy New Year!

I am not one for New Year’s resolutions.  I know myself and how quickly I tend to forget things.

However, a few evenings ago, I made an attempt to begin a list…

  • Drink 64oz of water every day
  • Give up my beloved Mt. Dew
  • Eat salads at least four times a week

All somewhat superficial sentiments, I’ll admit.

As I’ve read blogs this week, I’ve been challenged to go a little deeper.

And so I’ve been thinking…

And thinking…

And praying…

The word I’ve heard is FORGIVENESS.

I’m embarrassed.  I’ve had a problem in this area.  But I didn’t realize it until recently.

It’s easy to pay lip service and “forgive,” but when I allow ill feelings about a situation or person to continue to permeate my being, then I haven’t really forgiven.

So, I think that 2010 will be about digging through my past and forgiving old hurts.

It’s also going to be about learning how to instantly forgive.

Ouch.  This one is going to be hard.

I like to hold onto my hurt feelings and my angry indignation.

But that’s wrong.  I know it in my head, but bending my will to His is challenging as I continue to fight my human-ness.

Ultimately, though, I cannot call my self a follower of Christ if I do not learn how to forgive.

Jesus forgave ALL…even while dying on the cross for crimes He was not guilty of.

I told you I went deeper.

I pray that 2010 is a year of growth for all of us.

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

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