ALL-ER-GEEZ

Photo Source (via google images search)

I'm spending a perfectly lovely (although unseasonably cold) day stuck indoors. Why, you may ask? Because of cherry blossoms. Beautiful, fleeting, symbol-of-international-relations cherry blossoms.

I have lived in DC for 5 years now and every single year, without fail, my allergies go WILD when the cherry blossoms bloom. The thought of getting near the Tidal Basin causes me to recoil in ... pain? fear? not really sure, but it is the last place I want to be.

I read a really funny post from Jon Acuff of Stuff Christians Like on why God created allergies, and did it ever hit home! Isn't if funny how nice it is to have someone else understand how you feel? Vindication, in a way.

I think my favorite is that bees need pollen - "God created allergies because honey is so fantastic." I mean, I do love me some honey!

So I'm stuck inside with my netti pot; blowing my nose and watching movies. I've read some pretty good blog posts today:

'That's Odd': On Bias Against Single Pastors, which led me to this - Love's Permanence.

From the former: "The resurrection will change our thinking in many ways. Human identity as married or single is most certainly one of them."

And the latter: "When Christians love each other like this, that love is heaven on earth. How wonderful to realize what love’s permanence means. All Christian love between Christians will endure forever."

Then, A Love Story which is by a friend of a friend. And it's awesome.

"It is by faith from first to last, and following a list of rules or trying to “wear Saul’s armor” when you’re David the shepherd boy—dishonors God and is not of faith (thus it is sin)."

And I re-read this post from yesterday - What are we - tadpoles or tumblers?

In summary: 2 Timothy 2:7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. - If we think/meditate on God's word, then by His Holy Spirit He promises to give us understanding.

Well, guess I'll get back to my day stuck indoors. Hope you are having a wonderful day, wherever you are and whatever you are doing! :)

Babysitting & Bumps & Honeysuckle

Babysitting. Lots and lots of babysitting.

Last week

Monday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (Paige, Maggie, William & 'Sizie' - really good, fun, imaginative kids!)

Tuesday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm (Beckett's day changed because of the Federal holiday)

Tuesday through Friday from 7:25 am to 8:00ish am (Will & John - easy and fun and earrrrrly)

This week

Monday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm (Becks!)

Tuesday from 9:45 am to 1:00 pm (Adelaide!) & 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm (Benjamin!)

Thursday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm (Drew & Evelyn - two cutie pies)

And I've turned people down. Mainly because I had other plans set already. But also because it's tiring. For me it really is. I think it's partly because:

1. Babysitting different kids from different families is so interesting. I'm trying to learn how each child is. And they certainly are all wonderfully different! :)

2. It's humbling, which is easy to ask for, but hard to realize. Seeing my pride hurts. Kinda like growing pains - hopefully.

3. It's difficult, because I really do want my own children some day (which means the hubby first, naturally).

But it truly is the LORD's provision for me through His people (all families from my church). It's sweet to know that they trust me with their children. It's sweet to get to know their children. It is overall FUN. So it's worth being tired over.

Funny thing is, I eat better at houses where I babysit!

Just this week

Monday lunch - Butternut Squash Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

Tuesday lunch - Carnita Burrito Bowl from CHIPOLTLE(!) and I was sent home with frozen brisket chili (YUM!).

Tuesday dinner - short ribs and baked potato

Lessons learned:

1. God is in control of my life. Even when there are big bumps ahead, He is leading me home. :) And I can trust His leading implicitly, because I trust in His Word.

2. Stop and smell the honeysuckle.

Oh and PS: I had a phone interview for a job today!! :)

8 October 2010

Lovely day.

After volunteering at the Air & Space Museum,

I saw this:

Sailboats in the reflecting pool! Could it be that tiny humans were sailing on this fine day?

Nope, just some folks sailing by remote.

And here is a picture from my walk tonight:

Yep, lovely day. :)

Love Lines

I gave the following (solicited) advice to a brother in Christ yesterday about dating (summarized):

* Look for someone who reads God's word.

* When considering asking someone out, PRAY about it.

I told him the first suggestion, because that is what I'm praying for in a husband.

Psalm 1

BOOK I : Psalms 1-41

¹ Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

⁴ Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

(emphasis mine)

I mentioned the second suggestion, because talking to the LORD about it is just the wise thing to do! :)

Cure for the Common Cold...

Did I find it? After watching So I Married An Axe Murderer...

...and eating cheese dip - I feel SOOOOOOO much better!

Sick

Well, one good thing about being unemployed - when I'm sick I don't have to go to work and be miserable! I can just be miserable at home. Hmmm on second thought, not sure if that is a good thing or not.

Okay, just made up my mind, it is a good thing.

:)